After Kevin devoured Magellan, a mysterious energy surged and spiraled within him.
It replenished part of the energy he had lost.
As for the Doku Doku no Mi (Venom-Venom Fruit) ability—due to Kevin's unique physiology—the power recondensed into a Devil Fruit, which was now stored inside his internal sac capsule.
Absorbing Devil Fruit users to restore energy—this was one of Ghidorah's inherent abilities.
After all, this world didn't have nuclear energy. Back when he consumed the Ancient Titan Fruit, he had already planned for such a contingency.
This was one of the many reasons why, a thousand years ago, his name alone struck fear into the world.
---
"Hey hey, Blackbeard's getting away," Kevin remarked, watching the retreating warship.
"Run?"
Ghidorah's golden eyes flashed with disdain.
"The world's not that big. Where could he possibly run to?"
"We'll meet again—soon."
With the Paramount War (Marineford War) about to begin, Ghidorah wasted no time. He cast one last look at Impel Down, the prison that had held him captive for 800 years.
WHOOSH!
His enormous fleshy wings spread wide and, with a single powerful flap, lifted him high into the sky.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
His three terrifying dragon heads let out a deafening roar—and with a HUM, three Graviton Beams shot down.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The blasts, imbued with sheer rage, crashed into Impel Down's central tower.
The overwhelming energy instantly disintegrated the structure. But Ghidorah wasn't done yet.
His wings trembled—
The skies shifted.
Storm clouds rolled in, black as ink, pressing down on the remnants of Impel Down.
CRACKLE...
Snakes of lightning slithered from cloud to cloud.
ZAP—
Countless bolts of lightning began falling—some striking Ghidorah himself, others hammering what remained of the prison below.
The Graviton Beams surged, doubling in intensity as chaotic energy ripped through the main tower.
Lightning poured like rain, striking every building in sight.
Heaven and earth connected through sheer force.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Beams, hundreds of meters thick, blanketed the sky, while flames and smoke spiraled in the hurricane winds.
Thunder and lightning bombarded everything in sight.
Even the surrounding sea began to boil. Enormous Sea Kings floated belly-up, eyes rolling back.
Under this apocalyptic fury, the entire sea region turned to chaos. With a final wave of destruction—
Impel Down, the prison that stood for 800 years, collapsed beneath the waves, lost to the sea.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Ghidorah let out a triumphant roar, glancing once more at the sunken ruin below.
Then, with another wingbeat, he shot off in the direction of the fleeing Kizaru.
"Paramount War… I'm coming!"
---
Marineford – Marine Headquarters
At the massive bay port, 100,000 elite Marines stood assembled. Warships filled the outer perimeter.
"Move faster!"
"Get everything in position—no slacking!"
Marine officers barked orders, directing troops to carry supplies and weapons for the coming war.
Shells were stacked beside massive cannons atop the inner bay walls.
"Stay sharp. No matter what happens—
Justice will never lose."
"Today, the Navy ends it all—
We will end this evil age."
A Vice Admiral, stern-faced and commanding, spoke with deep, resounding authority.
His voice echoed into the ears of every Marine on the bay, igniting their fighting spirit and firming their resolve.
"RAHH!!"
A deafening battle cry rang out.
This was a steel-blooded army—an unyielding force of "Justice."
Whitebeard?
So what?
They were the Navy's finest.
100,000 strong.
---
"Ahh… This atmosphere—gets your blood boiling!"
Among the front ranks, several giant Vice Admirals felt their fighting spirit blaze to life with the rallying cries.
As shouts of unity rose, top-tier forces began arriving. First came the pirates bearing the title of Warlords of the Sea:
Bartholomew Kuma
Gecko Moria
Donquixote Doflamingo
Dracule Mihawk
Boa Hancock
All were present—except Crocodile and Jinbei.
Seeing five Warlords together, most Marine soldiers were pumped with excitement and confidence.
Yet… a select few couldn't help but break into cold sweat.
Yes, they were allies—but these five were notorious criminals, far from paragons of justice.
---
FWOOOOOOSH!!
A fierce wind whipped through, making the Marine flags flap violently.
Atop the execution platform's wall—a figure appeared.
"Look! Up there!"
"An Admiral!"
As the cry echoed, two of the three Marine Admirals—Akainu and Aokiji—took their seats.
But something was wrong.
One seat remained empty.
All the Marines began to murmur.
Where was Admiral Kizaru?
At a moment as critical as this, the absence of a top Admiral was deeply unsettling.
"What's going on?"
"Did something come up?"
Still, the Marines did not let it shake their morale. In fact, their war cries grew even louder.
100,000 strong, united in purpose—the sound of their shouts and cheers drowned out fear.
-
"Look! The man at the center of it all has arrived."
Attention shifted to the staircase of the execution platform.
Two soldiers marched up with rifles in hand, escorting a single prisoner.
"Is that the one responsible for starting this global war?"
"That's Fleet Admiral Sengoku!!"
Cheers erupted as Sengoku, clad in full admiral's uniform and the iconic Marine hat, stepped onto the execution platform.
The soldiers below roared with pride, unable to contain their excitement.
Sengoku raised a hand—and silence fell.
He took out a broadcasting Den Den Mushi and began to speak:
"There is something I must announce—"
After a brief pause, he continued:
"Portgas D. Ace."
"Today, we execute this man—for a reason far greater than mere piracy."
"Ace… tell everyone your father's name."
Ace slowly looked up, his thoughts flashing back to his conversation with Garp in Impel Down, Level 6.
After a moment's hesitation, he answered:
"My father… is Whitebeard."
The name stuck in his throat.
"That's not true."
"No—it is. It's only Whitebeard. No one else."
Ace shouted, filled with anger and defiance.
For that other man—he felt only distance. He couldn't even say his name.
---
Sengoku continued:
"When we began investigating, we suspected a child may have been left behind—hidden away on some island."
"Using intel from CP, we conducted full investigations into all newborns and pregnant women…"
"But found nothing."
"Which, in hindsight, made sense—"
"Your birth cost your mother her life."
"That alone suggests a secret—
Because you inherited the most dangerous bloodline in the world."
Sengoku paused, inhaled deeply—then shouted:
"Your father… is the Pirate King—
Gol D. Roger!!"
---
His voice echoed across Marineford, carried by the broadcast Den Den Mushi—and transmitted to the world.
At that very moment, the entire globe was shaken.
"EH?!?!?!"
Everywhere—people froze, mouths agape.
The Pirate King…
Gol D. Roger…
has a surviving heir?!
"Fire Fist Ace… is Roger's son?!"
"This is the biggest news of the century!!"
"Contact the presses! Print a special edition!"
"He's alive…"
"The Pirate King's bloodline…"
"Good thing the Navy caught him. A son of Roger would be insanely dangerous!"
PS: Access advance (40+) chapters at
https://www.patreon.com/c/NanamiTL