472: Akainu's Scheme! Whitebeard Ensnared
Squardo's surprise betrayal manages to bring the entire battlefield to a halt as everyone gapes in shock at what they've witnesses, with the stolen telesnail transmitting the footage back to the audience on Sabaody. Squardo manages to pull his massive sword out of Whitebeard and stands there, overwhelmed at what he just did, until Marco flies over and smashes him to the deck, demanding to know why he'd do such a thing.
Squardo accuses Whitebeard of making a deal with the Navy in order to ensure Ace's survival. He goes on to say that he had no idea that Ace was Gold Roger's son, a man who killed his entire crew, leaving Squardo to starting drunken barroom brawls when Whitebeard first found him. Squardo already felt betrayed and belittled by that knowledge, as he had befriended Ace during his time with Whitebeard, but to add to that, he claims that the alledged deal would result in the New World fleet being sacrificed so that Ace and the Whitebeard Pirates would go free. Indeed, once the Pacifistas came out they began targetting the New World pirates exclusively, and the man who approached him and gave him all of this information was none other than Akainu.
As they are cut to pieces with no escape route, the pirates cry out in desperation to Whitebeard, pleading for him to deny these accusations.
Eyecatches: Zoro and Usopp
Sengoku says that this is enough and has Aokiji zip over to Buggy's group and freeze them solid, cutting the transmissions to Sabaody, then gives the order to mobilize the walls. Crocodile meanwhile yells at Whitebeard, infuriated that he'd get hit like this, as the man that defeated him wasn't this weak. Marco silently agrees, since Whitebeard would normally have dodged an attack like that. His health is weakening, and before the battle Whitebeard removed his breathing tube and IVs despite the protests of his men to avoid looking weak.
Despite his serious wound, Whitebeard still manages to loom intimidatingly over Squardo. He calls him a stupid son for turning his blade against him, yet instead of striking Squardo, he embraces him, saying that even if he is a fool, he still loves him. Squardo insists that it's a trick, but eventually admits that Akainu put him up to this, claiming that he'll save the pirates if Whitebeard is killed. Whitebeard tells him that it's wrong for him to despise Ace for what Roger did. They fought together, befriended each other, and they are both members of the same family, thanks to chance meetings on the vast sea. Hearing these kind words despite what he did, Squardo drops his sword and tears up at the realization of his mistake.
Whitebeard leaves him and steps out on to the edge of the Moby Dick's prow, saying that the idea of him selling out his men is ridiculous, and punches the air, releasing a seismic wave that destroys the giant ice walls surrounding the bay, giving the pirates an escape route, before yelling out to the men that they can decide what path to take on their own. Realizing the truth, the pirates roar with renewed vigor.
Whitebeard recalls Crocodile's words to him, and admits to himself that he's only a single person, he can't go on being the strongest forever. Yelling for his men to follow him, he leaps off of the prow in order to join the fray. Sengoku yells for his own men to stand strong, for the world's strongest man is about to attack.
Not really impressed with that plan, really. It's obviously a lie, as the Whitebeards themselves had already gotten roughed up pretty well, and it's Obviously Evil Akainu! So at the end when Squardo went into the orz position I didn't really have much sympathy for him. Especially since we'll probably never see him again after this arc.
I admit it's a little hard to reconcile this forgiving father persona of Whitebeard's with his earlier characterization of a stubborn man who pretty much did whatever he wanted, even if he was clearly in the wrong. But I suppose that that's the point, to make us think one thing and then show that it's actually another. I do find it quite silly that he's able to run and leapt off of a battleship, but is somehow unable to dodge a giant sword that's right in front of him, and impossible to not see coming.
The skies are starting to get overcast. Meaning that, even though there are around, oh, three more months of this arc left, we're beginning to hit the climax.
