Chapter 142: Plans

Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Plans

Two of the world's strongest collided, their red and white energy waves clashing violently at the point of impact, forming a stark divide.

The shockwaves rippled outward, blasting away nearby Marines and pirates alike. Those unlucky enough to be too close were severely injured by the aftershocks alone. Without timely rescue from their comrades, death would have been inevitable.

Witnessing this, the surrounding crowd shrank back in fear, shouting:

"Stay away! This is not a fight we can interfere with!"

The battle between Whitebeard and Akainu had escalated far beyond Luffy's earlier clash with Akainu.

Whitebeard's goal was not to fight but to rescue Fire Fist Ace. He deliberately aimed his and Akainu's attacks to devastate Marineford, attempting to sink the entire island and force the Marines into self-preservation.

But Akainu wouldn't let him succeed so easily. While restraining the destruction of his own attacks, he intercepted the majority of Whitebeard's strikes.

However, this Whitebeard was not the weakened, dying man of the original timeline, riddled with illness and fatal injuries. Conversely, Akainu had already expended much of his energy in two grueling battles against Luffy. Now, he struggled to withstand Whitebeard's relentless assault.

As the meat grinder of war churned on, only the strong remained standing. The weakest fighters had already fallen, save for lucky individuals like Buggy, who managed to escape harm. By this stage of the battle, while fewer combatants remained, the intensity of the clashes had only escalated.

Seeing the pirates drawing closer to the execution platform, Sengoku urgently commanded his soldiers:

"Carry out the execution of Ace immediately!"

But the executioners, having fallen unconscious earlier due to Luffy's Conqueror's Haki, lay unresponsive. For the moment, no one heeded the Fleet Admiral's orders.

---

Meanwhile, Alex observed the unfolding battle from his vantage point.

Fire Fist Ace, seated nearby, suddenly slammed his head onto the table, knocking over an assortment of snacks. They scattered toward the ground, seemingly doomed to fall.

Just before they hit the floor, Alex snapped his fingers. Miraculously, the snacks reversed their motion, returning to the table as if time had rewound.

Alex frowned and asked impatiently:

"Kid, what's gotten into you?"

Ace, his face filled with anguish, replied: "Damn it, I'm so twisted! At a time like this, when my father, my brother, and my comrades are bleeding and sacrificing themselves, I'm sitting here... crying tears of joy. It's only now that I truly understand the value of life..."

Sengoku ignored Ace's outburst, and Alex seemed equally indifferent. Yet a mischievous smile crept onto Alex's face, one that only a person truly enjoying the chaos could wear.

In a calm tone, he said:

"The value of life? No, you're wrong. For the strong, life is not precious."

Ace, ignoring the fact that Alex was a powerful ally who could kill him in an instant, erupted in anger. His gaze burned with fury as he shouted:

"What do you know? Do you even have comrades? Have you watched your family die before your eyes? No! You're nothing but a lofty, solitary figure. How could you possibly understand my feelings?"

Alex regarded Ace with a look of utter disdain, as if he were addressing a fool.

"Your family is dying before your eyes because you're too weak. And besides, for the strong, life and death are never irreversible outcomes."

As he finished speaking, Alex lightly tapped the table. Ripples of visible energy spread outward, enveloping the surrounding area.

Within moments, dozens of fallen pirates and Marines, whose lifeless bodies had littered the battlefield, began to twitch. Slowly, they stood up, their eyes filled with confusion.

"What... what's happening? Wasn't I already dead?" they murmured, bewildered by the situation.

Ace stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded. His worldview had been completely upended by Alex's display.

"This... this... this..." Ace stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

What kind of Devil Fruit ability was this?

The power to resurrect the dead—how was such a thing even possible?

In that instant, Ace realized something. His fiery gaze locked onto Alex. Did this mean that, as long as Alex was willing, everyone who died in this war could be brought back to life?

On the other side, Sengoku abruptly stood up. Despite his strength, his steps faltered slightly, revealing the depth of his shock.

The most notorious criminal, Alex, actually wielded the power to resurrect the dead?

If that was true, then what was the point of this entire war?

If Alex so desired, he could simply resurrect Ace after the execution. In doing so, the intended deterrence of this public execution would fail miserably. Instead, the Marines would become a laughingstock, and the only victor in this war would be Alex, standing atop the corpses of Marines and pirates alike, his reputation spreading far and wide.

Understanding their reactions, Alex chuckled softly but said nothing further. He hadn't come to this world to rule or dominate it; his goals were simple: to grow stronger and to enjoy himself.

---

The events unfolding quickly drew the attention of others. A Marine stared wide-eyed at the scene before him and stammered: "They... they've come back to life!"

Whitebeard, restored to his prime, shaking the very seas.

All of these were evidence that Alex's words weren't empty boasts. He could indeed deliver everything he promised.

In Sabaody Archipelago, reporters stood frozen before the giant screen. Some, overwhelmed by excitement and disbelief, fainted on the spot. Others scrambled to broadcast Alex's words across the seas, ensuring that every corner of the world—from the Four Blues to the Grand Line and the New World—would hear of this new treasure, greater than any that had come before.

---

Alex calmly returned to his seat, watching the world descend into chaos.

His earlier actions, though seemingly random, had all been calculated to lay the foundation for this moment. His ultimate goal was not merely to enjoy himself or right wrongs but to use this world as a proving ground.

By exploiting the powers of his Level 5 Six Eyes and energy absorption abilities, Alex had achieved perfect control over his energy. In this world, he could lend his power to others, allowing them to grow stronger, but at a cost. The energy they borrowed—and their very souls—would be returned to him as something far more potent.

This was Alex's grand experiment. To ascend further as a Dimensional God, he needed to harvest energy through loans, collecting interest in the form of souls and enhanced power. While devouring other dimensional gods and universes remained an option, this method was more systematic and efficient.

---

At Mary Geoise, the Five Elders closely monitored the battlefield. Alex's words sent chills through them.

If Roger's declaration destabilized the World Government, Alex's proclamation was nothing short of apocalyptic.

Unlike the slaves of the Celestial Dragons, who followed out of fear and plotted rebellion at every chance, those drawn to Alex would willingly serve, even at the cost of their freedom or lives. For the promise of power, people would abandon the World Government in droves, becoming loyal to Alex without hesitation.

The Elders realized that Alex's influence, fueled by his promises, could dismantle their regime with a single call to action.

The Five Elders, though deeply aware that annihilating Alex immediately was the wisest course of action, hesitated. Greed for the secret of resurrection shackled their resolve.

Suddenly, a transponder snail rang. Recognizing its unique tone, the Five Elders' expressions darkened—it was the direct line to Imu, the supreme ruler of the World Government.

Finance Warrior God Ethanbaron V. Nasjuro answered the call. From the snail came a commanding, authoritative voice: "At any cost, capture Alex, alive!"

The command mirrored their own thoughts, and the Five Elders bowed in unison. "Understood!"

As the call ended, Saint Nasjuro looked at his peers, his voice heavy with determination: "It seems we must take action ourselves."

---

Meanwhile, at Marineford, Alex sat atop the execution platform, calmly observing the battle below.

Luffy, despite his awakened powers, struggled against Admiral Kizaru and Aokiji. Exhausted and gravely injured, he was ultimately defeated and sent flying by a powerful kick from Kizaru. By a twist of fate, Luffy's trajectory led him directly toward Whitebeard.

Catching the young pirate mid-air, Whitebeard studied him. Despite his condition, Luffy's raw strength rivaled his own, and he had inflicted significant injuries on both Admirals.

Luffy, breathing heavily, protested:

"Old man, let me go! I need to save Ace!"

Satisfied that Luffy was still capable of fighting, Whitebeard grinned and set him down. "Then go, Straw Hat Boy!"

—-—

On the battlefield, Inazuma, the Scissors-Scissors Fruit user, crafted a bridge from the ground to the execution platform. Seeing the path open, Luffy dashed forward.

Kizaru attempted to intercept him, but Whitebeard's blade struck him, forcing the Admiral to redirect his attention to defense.

The other Marines unleashed a barrage of cannon fire, but the Whitebeard Pirates' commanders blocked the assault, clearing Luffy's path.

As Luffy neared the platform, a solitary figure stepped into his path—Vice Admiral Garp.

—-—

Luffy skidded to a halt, confusion clouding his face. "Grandpa, move out of the way!"

Garp, unmoving and resolute, shouted back: "How can I? I'm a Vice Admiral of the Marines!

Long before you were even born, I've been fighting pirates!

If you want to get past me, then step over my dead body!

Straw Hat Luffy, this is the path you chose!"

The legendary Marine unleashed his full power, a pressure equal to that of Whitebeard's shaking the air around him.

For a moment, Luffy's heart faltered. Faced with the unyielding will of his grandfather, he felt the true weight of his chosen path.

°°°

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