No one could blame Whitebeard for being furious.
Even now, in his old age, he was still hailed as the strongest man in the world.
And yet—
he couldn't even protect the daughter of an old friend.
Fish-Man Island still proudly flew the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates.
And the Revolutionary Army's actions today—
It was nothing less than a direct slap to his face.
They didn't even bother to show him respect.
"Father, calm down!" Marco shouted, trying to ease the old man's rage.
"The Navy's already surrounded them.
The Revolutionary Army has nowhere to run!"
But Whitebeard wasn't listening.
"MARCO!!"
His thunderous roar silenced the entire deck of the Moby Dick in an instant.
Everyone held their breath.
The sea itself seemed to shudder under the weight of his anger.
Whitebeard slammed his massive bisento into the deck, cracking the wood beneath him.
"I'M NOT DEAD YET!!" he bellowed.
"What's a bunch of Navy dogs to me?!"
"If I can't even save my old friend's daughter—"
"—then I might as well drown myself in booze and die!"
His eyes burned with unstoppable fury.
Marco stood frozen for a moment.
Beside him, Vista the Foil Swordsman stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Marco," Vista said gently,
"let the old man do as he pleases."
"Besides, the Navy's got their own battle.
We're here for our own reasons.
As long as we don't clash directly, let them fight their fight—and we'll fight ours."
Marco grit his teeth but finally nodded.
"Fine.
But everyone—stay close to Pops!
Protect him at all costs!"
"Aye, Captain!"
As the Moby Dick and Whitebeard's fleet surged forward, their movement immediately caught the Navy's attention.
Tension skyrocketed across the surrounding waters.
On the lead warship, Admiral Kizaru lazily adjusted his sunglasses and muttered:
"Looks like Whitebeard's not here to help the Revolutionary Army after all... hmm~."
He pointed lazily toward Belmont Island.
"They're steering around us.
Heading straight for the island from another direction."
Marshal Sengoku frowned.
"Fish-Man Island still flies Whitebeard's flag.
If the Revolutionary Army captured Princess Shirahoshi—
he's not going to sit still."
Sengoku tapped his fingers against the railing, his mind racing.
Dammit... Whitebeard's involvement makes this situation ten times worse.
Even now, an aging Whitebeard could shake the foundations of the world if he chose to.
If he threw his full strength behind this battle—
the New World itself might crumble.
Above the restless sea, the clouds began to churn unnaturally.
The air itself grew heavy.
And far off on Belmont Island—
the golden altar gleamed brighter and brighter, as if heralding something unimaginable.
The moment of divine descent was drawing near.
———
Belmont Island.
Around the gleaming golden altar, the Revolutionary Army stood silently, tension thick in the air.
Sabo watched nervously as the massive silhouette of the Moby Dick grew closer across the waters.
He couldn't help but drum his fingers against his belt.
"Boss... will the God really respond?" he whispered.
Dragon stood at the altar's base, his expression calm and unwavering.
"Don't worry," he said.
"The altar is complete. The time is now."
With that, he strode to the front of the altar.
All around, the gathered forces—Navy, Pirates, Revolutionaries—watched in wary confusion.
Dragon straightened his clothes.
He dropped to his knees, bowing deeply, voice ringing out with thundering clarity:
"I, Monkey D. Dragon, humble servant of the Great Eternal God, offer my prayers..."
"You are the supreme being, whose eyes outshine the sun itself."
"Today, we offer you twenty Devil Fruits, the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, and the blood of our enemies, to thank you for your divine grace."
His voice echoed like thunder over the sea.
Everyone heard it.
The Navy, the Pirates, even distant ships lurking beyond the horizon.
The world's strongest—those with awakened Haki—could hear it clearly.
———
Across the Navy warships, confusion turned into disbelief.
The Revolutionary Army's leader... a cultist?
All that stolen heavenly gold,
all those battles,
all those sacrifices—
Just to build a giant altar and pray to some so-called God of Eternity?
———
On one flagship—
Garp sat frozen, his face slack.
His heart twisted painfully.
The child he had once let walk his own path…
The boy he had quietly supported despite disagreeing with him...
Had become a zealot.
He ground his teeth until his jaw ached.
"Dragon...
You rebellious fool...
Maybe I never should've let you go to start a 'Revolution.'"
Nearby, the young marines who overheard him turned pale.
Vice Admiral Garp... knew this would happen all along?!
———
On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard burst into laughter so loud it shook the waves.
"Ulalalala! So this is what the Revolutionary Army has become?"
"A bunch of deluded fools playing at gods!"
His laughter turned into a furious roar.
"You dared steal my old friend's daughter—
And for this nonsense?"
Whitebeard's aura exploded outward.
He soared into the sky, fist wrapped in a terrifying white shockwave of pure destructive power.
If his punch landed—
Forget the altar.
The entire island would be pulverized.
But just as Whitebeard's fist swung down—
"When I first existed, the world itself had not yet formed."
"When the seas roiled and chaos reigned, I alone stood above all."
"Now, after countless ages... I awaken once more."
Space froze.
The air thickened.
Reality itself shuddered.
It was as if someone had pressed pause on the entire world.
Whitebeard hung suspended in the air, frozen mid-strike.
His mind still worked—he could think, he could feel—
But his body refused to move even a millimeter.
All across the fleets—Navy soldiers, pirates, lieutenants—everyone froze in place.
Their eyes widened in horror and awe.
Only the Revolutionary Army remained free.
Believers of the Eternal God were immune.
Tears welled in their eyes as they gazed upward.
Because at that moment—
Their God had come.
———
The skies above Belmont twisted and gleamed.
Golden clouds split apart, forming countless rays of dazzling light.
And from the center of that celestial storm—
A figure slowly descended.
He was colossal, vast enough to blot out the world itself.
Every breath, every movement, seemed to ripple across reality.
The world lost its color before Him.
Even the ocean stilled.
The overwhelming presence of the Eternal God had descended upon the One Piece world.
On the altar—
Shirahoshi, trembling in terror, caught one glimpse of the figure—
And fainted on the spot.
Within the golden light, Lucian Carter, the Eternal God, watched the scene unfold with mild amusement.
Ahem. Gotta stay serious.
This is supposed to be an important divine moment…
Not the time to laugh at how cute that mermaid looked fainting.
Holding back a chuckle, Lucian's divine voice rumbled across the frozen world.
At the altar's base, Dragon bowed lower, forehead touching the ground.
His voice cracked with emotion.
"Great God of Eternity, thank you for your descent!
Please accept our humble sacrifices!"
He kowtowed again, tears staining the earth.
The golden figure smiled.
Lucian Carter spoke:
"Rise, my divine envoy."
"I have heard your prayers."
"I hereby grant you the title of Two-Star Priest."
"Spread my faith across this world.
When all souls kneel before me—
Then shall you ascend,
and join me in the Realm of Gods."
The Age of Revolution had ended.
The Age of Divine Conquest had begun.