Was Whitebeard Sick or Just Old? Understanding His Decline in 'One Piece'
In the *One Piece* world, characters' lifespans are notably long, but Edward Newgate, better known as Whitebeard, was visibly suffering long before his final battle. The question that has puzzled fans for years is whether his failing health was due to a specific illness, or simply the effects of old age combined with his incredibly hard life. A careful examination of events leading up to the Marineford War suggests a combination of both factors, significantly impacting his final days.