One Piece: King of the World-Chapter 350: A Grand Funeral!

Shiki had already begun his retreat.

Charlotte Linlin, seeing the situation deteriorate rapidly, also decided to cut her losses. She wasn't about to stick around and risk being captured and thrown back into Impel Down. The battle had clearly turned against the pirates, Marineford had been too well-prepared. Even with Whitebeard's forces and the chaos sown by Shiki and others, the Marines had maintained control of the battlefield.

Newgate was dying. Once he fell, the Marines would have more resources to spare. If she didn't escape now, she'd be next.

Garp, watching Charlotte Linlin disengage, hesitated briefly. He then shifted his focus and delivered a crushing punch to Marco, sending the Phoenix crashing to the ground.

Let Big Mom go, Garp thought.

He wasn't acting out of mercy but strategy. The remnants of the Big Mom Pirates would likely end up with Kaido. If that happened, the two Yonko wouldn't coexist peacefully for long.

Either Charlotte Linlin would challenge Kaido's authority, sparking internal strife, or Kaido would try to crush her to maintain dominance. Regardless of the outcome, it would throw the New World into chaos, chaos that would benefit the Marines when they eventually launched their offensive there.

---

Claudius had initially planned to use Teach to stir unrest in the New World. But with Teach dead and Shiki now on the run, Claudius saw a new opportunity.

Shiki will serve as the catalyst for the New World's chaos, Claudius thought. He's too arrogant to sit still and too ambitious to give up.

With Teach gone, Shiki would inevitably try to claim territory, pushing the New World's pirate factions into conflict.

Better him than Teach, Claudius concluded.

---

The battlefield had descended into chaos.

The Whitebeard Pirates were desperately trying to escape. The Marines pursued with relentless aggression. Shiki's forces scattered, and no one cared enough to chase them.

In the center of it all stood Newgate, facing the combined assault of Claudius, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino.

The four high-level combatants worked in perfect harmony. Their attacks came from all directions, Kuzan's ice, Borsalino's light, Sakazuki's magma, and Claudius's ruthless swordplay.

Newgate fought valiantly, but his injuries were taking their toll. His reactions slowed. His movements grew sluggish. Defending against Sakazuki left him open to Borsalino's lasers; blocking Kuzan's ice left him vulnerable to Claudius's strikes.

His body already riddled with wounds, suffered more damage with each passing second. Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, and his vision began to blur.

---

Despite the worsening injuries, Newgate remained conservative in his attacks. He wasn't afraid of dying, he'd accepted that fate the moment the war began. But he needed to buy time for his sons to escape.

He could go out in a blaze of glory, but that would end the battle too soon. If he could survive for just a few more minutes, that might give Marco and the others the window they needed to retreat.

"Ugh…"

Newgate took a powerful kick from Borsalino. His knees buckled, and his left leg collapsed beneath him. Blood sprayed from his mouth.

Sakazuki seized the opportunity.

"Hellhound!" he roared, launching a magma-coated fist directly at Newgate's skull.

Newgate twisted his head to avoid a direct hit, but the blazing attack still clipped him.

Half his scalp and his left ear were incinerated on impact. The pain was blinding. His vision blacked out for a second.

Before he could recover, Claudius struck.

His blade Shindō pierced Newgate's chest.

"Freeze—Winter!" Claudius intoned.

Cold, white mist billowed from the blade. Frost spread outward from the wound, crystalizing across Newgate's torso. A jagged ice flower bloomed over his heart.

Claudius pulled the sword free. The wound didn't bleed; the ice had sealed it shut.

Newgate staggered, his breath coming in short, shallow bursts. His legs trembled. His eyes dimmed.

But then…

A smile appeared on his face.

"Heh… What a grand funeral," Newgate murmured.

---

Claudius turned and surveyed the battlefield.

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Marineford, once an imposing fortress of justice, lay in ruins. The great walls were shattered. The plaza was a graveyard of corpses. Fires crackled amidst the debris, while smoke billowed into the sky.

Iron. Blood. Fire.

The perfect setting for the death of the Strongest Man in the World.

Claudius exhaled softly. "As far as pirate funerals go… you're right."

He waved his hand. Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino understood immediately. They ceased their attacks and turned their focus to chasing the retreating Whitebeard Pirates.

Claudius sheathed his sword and looked down at Newgate.

"As a pirate, you should feel honored. Few get to die with this kind of send-off," Claudius said. His tone was devoid of sympathy. "It's a shame about the Marines who died in this war. They sacrificed themselves for justice. To honor them, I'll ensure the Whitebeard Pirates are completely eradicated today."

Newgate didn't respond. He was barely conscious.

"He's done," Claudius thought.

Newgate's breaths were slow and shallow. His legs swayed. But still, he stood.

The pirate raised his head and forced out a raspy chuckle.

"Didn't expect… it'd be you in the end…"

Claudius said nothing.

Newgate coughed violently. Blood trickled down his chin. Yet, despite the agony, he shifted his weight and planted his feet more firmly.

"What's he doing…?" Claudius wondered.

Newgate tightened his grip on Murakumogiri and used it to push himself upright.

Claudius watched without intervening. He understood the significance.

Newgate was choosing to die standing.

The Yonko drew one last, labored breath and stared toward the horizon.

"The era of chaos ends here… huh?" Newgate rasped. His gaze flicked toward Claudius. "You… you're right. My time is done. Yours begins now. But remember this…"

Claudius frowned.

"The One Piece…" Newgate's eyes burned with final defiance. "…is real."

The words resonated like a cannon blast across the battlefield.

Pirates nearby froze. Marines glanced at each other with anxious expressions. The declaration spread like wildfire.

Newgate's strength gave out.

His body locked in place, held upright only by the weight of his naginata. His eyes glazed over. His breathing stopped.

But he did not fall.

Claudius stood there for several seconds, silent.

Then he pulled the Den Den Mushi from his coat and spoke into it:

"Whitebeard is dead. All units, proceed to phase two. Exterminate the Whitebeard Pirates."

The command crackled across the battlefield.

But before the Marines could respond, a powerful slash of compressed air shot in from the sea. It tore through the ice Kuzan had laid across the bay.

The frozen surface shattered into jagged shards.

Sakazuki intercepted the slash with a magma-coated fist. The two forces collided with a deafening crack, sending steam billowing into the air.

***

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