Chapter 514: Collision of Dreams on the Battlefield

“So you chose to side with Straw Hat Luffy. Is that your answer, Jinbei?”

Sengoku’s face darkened. They’re live on air—if a Warlord joins forces with pirates, it’ll back the Navy into a corner.

“That’s right. I’m done being a Warlord,” Jinbei answered without hesitation.

His reply was decisive and clear.

He’d only joined the Seven Warlords to add an extra layer of protection to Fishman Island, but now, that need was gone.

“No matter how you look at it, that group’s odd—prisoners, Revolutionary Army officers…”

“And a whole bunch of strange folks, with Crocodile among them.”

“I doubt you’re all after the same thing. At least, not on this battlefield.”

Garp knew a bit more than most. Ever since Karl scattered his crew in secret and let them grow on their own…

Everyone had grown at their own pace. The one Crocodile probably wanted to kill most was Whitebeard—after all, the scar on his face came from him.

Garp saw right through it. Crocodile just coldly scanned the battlefield, catching sight of a massive shadow lurking in the mist behind.

In the blink of an eye, Crocodile turned to sand and vanished into thin air.

“Hey, where’d that guy Crocodile go?”

“Probably ran off scared.”

Buggy, still riding his high, didn’t care where Crocodile went. What mattered now was making a name for himself here.

“Hey, look! Crocodile’s after Whitebeard!”

“Dad!”

The pirates crowded around the Moby Dick dashed toward Whitebeard, determined to block Crocodile’s attack.

“Sashi Burida na, Whitebeard.”

Crocodile hovered in midair thanks to his Devil Fruit power. His cold eyes blazed with bloodlust.

Enemies meeting face-to-face—the tension was electric.

Coming up behind Whitebeard, Crocodile swung his golden hook, aiming for the old man’s back to settle the score.

“You just never learn, do you?”

Whitebeard didn’t even bother turning around. His Observation Haki had already caught sight of another fiery figure flying his way—Crocodile.

“Boom!”

Luffy, his skin dark red, appeared in front of Crocodile in a flash. He kicked Crocodile’s golden hook aside and sent him crashing onto the deck.

“Our deal’s done now that we’re here.”

“Why are you protecting Whitebeard?”

Crocodile eyed the damp splotches on Luffy’s shirt and the dark sheen on his fists.

He could tell Luffy was ready for a real fight.

“So this geezer really is Whitebeard, huh.”

“Then don’t touch him. Ace really likes this old man.”

Luffy knew what was what. He was here to save Ace, but he couldn’t let anyone he brought along hurt Whitebeard either.

“Not bad for Ace’s little brother.”

A few division commanders who’d stayed at the back paused, watching the standoff.

“Don’t let that guy get near Pops.”

A dozen pirates quickly leaped onto the deck, encircling Crocodile and blocking his way forward.

Whitebeard was amused by the scene. He tilted his head back, spotting Luffy—short and scrappy—with the iconic straw hat sitting square on his head.

All at once, he remembered a young man—Red-haired Shanks—and Shanks’ words: “I’ve placed my bet on the New Age.”

“Kid, that straw hat… looks a lot like the one Red-Hair used to wear.”

Thinking of Shanks took Whitebeard back to their old captain, his good friend Roger.

That very hat had been passed from Roger to Shanks, then from Shanks to Luffy.

“You know Shanks, old man? He asked me to look after this hat for him.”

Luffy hadn’t expected Whitebeard to know Shanks too. Looks like Shanks had quite the reputation here in the New World.

Whitebeard grunted, not answering his question. “You here to rescue your brother?”

“You got it!”

“You know who your enemies are, right?”

“This road could kill you, you know that?”

Whitebeard stared Luffy down, his will and aura bearing down to test him. Was Luffy brave enough? Had Shanks made the right call?

“Quit nagging. That’s not for you to decide.”

Luffy’s tough stance made Ivankov, Buggy, and the others nearby cover their faces in silent dread. They prayed not to anger Whitebeard.

They’d come to save Ace, not to start a fight with the Whitebeard Pirates.

“I’ve heard of you.”

“The one who’s gonna be Pirate King—it’s me!”

The roar was so fierce, everyone nearby went slack-jawed.

He was downright arrogant, yelling about becoming Pirate King right in Navy Headquarters. Didn’t spare a thought for the Marines’ pride.

“Pretty brazen, aren’t you?”

“If you hold us back, I won’t forgive you, Snot-nosed brat.”

“I do things my way. Saving Ace is on me.”

“He’s actually challenging Whitebeard,” Ivankov muttered awkwardly, holding her huge face.

Their young master truly had no fear. Opposite him stood Whitebeard—Edward Newgate, a man with power to destroy the world. Who knew what would happen if he got mad.

“Old man, I just overheard something about warships.”

Buggy: “Let that fool die at Whitebeard’s hands. Idiot. Idiot.”

Ivankov: “That kind of nerve… He really is his son.”

“They’re talking about executing Ace early? Are you sure?”

Whitebeard heard Luffy and instantly saw through Sengoku’s scheme. So he wasn’t just targeting Ace—he wanted to trap the whole Whitebeard crew here.

Question was, did the Navy really have the stomach for that?

“Uh, they said something about making preparations first, but then switched to code. I couldn’t figure out what they meant.”

“We all want to save Ace. That’s why we told you.”

“I see. That’s valuable intel. Sorry.”

Grateful for the information, Whitebeard thanked Luffy.

If they really were moving up the execution, he’d have to make his move sooner—the only way to break Sengoku’s plan was to act himself.

Only by jumping in could he shatter Sengoku’s strategy.

“Don’t sweat it. No big deal.”

“How’s that guy chatting with Whitebeard like equals?”

Buggy, hoping Luffy would get squashed, couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The two talked like old friends. Buggy couldn’t accept it—since when was Whitebeard so easygoing?

Back on Roger’s ship, they fought with Whitebeard’s crew all the time—Buggy couldn’t remember Whitebeard treating anyone but Roger himself this casually.

“Alright, Ace, I’m coming!”

Inspired, Luffy crouched down and leapt from the Moby Dick, sprinting straight for the execution platform and thrashing every Marine blocking his way.

“Where’s he get all that confidence?”

“Let’s go!”

Ignoring Buggy’s words, Ivankov rallied the pirates. They leaped from the warship and charged straight at the Marine lines.