Chapter 569

Short summary
(I'm not the usual columnist of this section but this is the chapter we've all being waiting for and I jus gotta get first crack at it)

Just having being dosed with vigour hormones, luffy races towards the execution platform where the blades are risen in preparation for their descent upon Ace-chan's neck. Iva-chan reminds Luffy that he is still severly injured as he clears Luffy's path to his (Luffy's) brother. Suddenly, Luffy spots Coby blocking his direct path to Ace. Coby strengthens his resolve to fight and grow and attacks Luffy, however, despite Coby's use of Soru, Luffy seemingly sees past the technique and lands a crippling blow (gomu gomu no bullet) right in Coby's face leaving him destitute and bloody on the ground. With that hurdle jumped, another rises up in the form of the World government commanded and marine-allied pacifista. Conviniently, Shichibukai Boa Hancock appears and throws herself infront of Luffy rendering the pacifista unable to attack because their programming hinders them from attacking allies. Luffy thanks the Pirate Empress and she in turn swoons when he says her name.

The scene is then refocused on First-division Commander Phoenix Marco who is trying to recover just having been hit by a light attack from Admiral Kizaru when the attack on Whitebeard had him distracted. Marco tries to continue the fight but a marine sneaks up behind him and effectively seals off his devil-fruit power with sea-stone consequently leading to Admiral Kizaru *seemingly* finishing him off with light lances to the chest. The Whitebeard allied pirates cry out at the sight of the defeated commander.

Also defeated is Jaws (Jozu) having been frozen solid by Admiral Aokiji who also took full advantage of the moment Commander was distracted by the blow to Whitebeard. Aokiji walks off stating that the whitebeard pirates are done for correcting the pirate who were crying out 'Commander Jaws is donr for!'.

With the commanders 'falling like flies', Fleet Admiral Sengoku demands no hesitation on the deliverance of Whitebeard's head which sparks a full frontal attack on Whitebeard leaving him lanced, pierced and bullet ridden but remarkably still standing. The pirates cry out their 'father's' name as Whitebeard's eyes shadow over and with a srong evocation of resolve he brushes away the attack claiming that he needs no assistance and can hold out a little longer. He roars out,'I AM WHITEBEARD!!!'

Seeing Whitebeard brandish off quite a number of marines with one felling swoop, the Marines come to the conclusion that he's a 'm..m..Monster'. Whitbeard, to Vice Admiral Garp's speechless recievership, claims that he knows what his death entails and that he will not perish until the future of his children (Ace) is secured by his own hand.

Whitebeard's 'children' take up formation behind him to aid him but Fleet Admiral Sengoku states that he will show Whitebeard the future of his 'children' and orders the commencement of Ace-chan's excecution. Sengoku tells Whitebeard to watch closley as the executioners' blades swing down in a wide arc. With Ace resigned to his fate and Whitebeard still too far away to do anything, the only thing that the pirates can do is look on as the fruit of their efforts proceeds to ge sliced open.

With his brother's demise impending, Luffy lets loose a haki-imbued yell 'STOP IT ALREADY!!!' that renders the executioners (and some weak willed individuals caught in the crossfire- notably Jango) unconscious. Fleet Admiral Sengoku's eye's shadow over in shock and the Knowledgable pirates note that it is the King's disposition. Flabbergasted, Aokiji states that Luffy *must* be using magic. Goaded on by Iva-chans praise, Luffy sets his sights on rescuing Ace-chan.

Whitebeard looks on, just as shocked, increduled and shadowed over as the Fleet Admiral himself and mutters to himself, "That little snot nosed...!!!"

- By Kevin Abwao, Kenya( yes...we read one piece in Africa too :p )