A few hours later...
The ship was now back at the surface, after spending months down at Fish-Man island, the fresh air above was relaxing.
Ray sat at the edge of the ship, he wasn't thinking about anything in particular. Just admiring the view, the One Piece world was truly beautiful at times.
As he was relaxing, Ray spotted something in the distance, heading slightly in their direction. Ray's pupils flashed in a dim red glow as he focused his Observation Haki.
'Hmm, that's quite a large crew' thought Ray.
"Hey boys! Speed up a little, there's a ship ahead that I want to get a look at" commanded Ray.
"Yes, Vice Admiral!" shouted some of the men at once.
A few minutes later, Ray managed to get a clear view of the ship, and he instantly recognised it. The Moby Dick was a large battleship with a cachalot figurehead. The ship's Jolly Roger featured a largely standard skull bearing a moustache, and vertically arranged crossbones.
'Whitebeard pirates, what an eventful day this is turning out to be' thought Ray.
The Whitebeard Pirates was one of the strongest pirate crews in the world, as their captain, Edward Newgate, better known as "Whitebeard", was one of the Four Emperors and the only man to have ever been a match for the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, in a fight.
Similar to the Red-Hair Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates weren't much of a violent crew who attacked anyone they came across, unless challenged. Despite being a high ranking Marine, Ray felt he could still have a little conversation with the infamous Pirate.
Gradually, both ships approached one another, the Moby Dick completely dwarfed Ray's Marine Ship, which also somewhat signified their statuses in the New World.
"Slow down and stop next to their ship, boys" commanded Ray
"B-but sir! It's the Whitebeard Pirates" said a subordinate in fear, Ray understood his fears but the Whitebeard Pirates weren't tyrants.
"It's fine, relax" said Ray trying to calm them down.
Eventually, both ships stopped next to one another, Ray using his incredible physical might, leaped onto the Moby Dick with little effort.
Ray then landed on the deck and stood there in front of all the Whitebeard Pirates with complete confidence. Some wondered if he was a fool, the others unbothered or slightly amused.
Looking around, Ray eventually spotted the man himself. Whitebeard was an abnormally large man, with a height of 666 cm (21'10").
Unlike other large-sized humans, however, he was well-proportioned. He had a long face, ploughed because of the advanced age with many wrinkles around his eyes, and many scars running along his chest, and was very muscular.
He wore a black bandanna around his head and adorned himself with a white captain's coat, which hung loosely from his broad shoulders and bore his Jolly Roger symbol.
He was bare-chested, and wore light, loose pants tucked inside his large black boots, and a dark pirate sash around his waist. Whitebeard was on oxygen and attached to several medical sensor machines, due to health issues concerning his age.
'What a intimidating man' thought Ray, but his thoughts were soon interrupted.
"Could I ask what a Vice Admiral is doing on our ship?" asked a voice nearby, Ray turned and glanced at him, smiling slightly.
A tall, lean, muscular, man with a rather sleepy look on his face and some stubble around his chin.
He had short blond hair sticking in the top of his head similar to a pineapple's crown and he wore an open purple jacket and a light blue sash adorned with an elaborate golden-yellow belt around his waist.
"If it isn't the famous, Marco the Phoenix, 1st division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates" said Ray, ignoring Marco's question.
"Forget that, what do you want Marine?" responded Marco
"Ah impatient are we?" said Ray with a bigger smile.
"Just answer the question" said a large man bluntly, it was "Diamond" Jozu, 3rd division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, serving as one of the crew's most prominent members.
"For a chat, that's all" replied Ray in a casual tone.
"You think you can just come aboard pop's ship and have a chat?" said another voice, it was 'Vista of the Flower Swords', is the 5th division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Yup" responded Ray once again in a casual tone.
"Bastard, who do you think you are?!?" shouted some of the lower ranking crew.
However, Whitebeard raised his hand suddenly, causing them all to remain silent.
"What does a Marine brat like you, want with me?" questioned Whitebeard with authority.
"I can't help but be curious, a Pirate hailed as "Strongest Man in the World", yet despite that you don't seek that one treasure" stated Ray, Whitebeard was one of the few Yonko that held no desire for the One Piece.
"Gurararara, what's it to you? Doesn't that make your job easier, brat" responded Whitebeard with a laugh.
"HAH HAH HAH HAH, despite being a Marine, my views are quite different from my fellow comrades, old man" said Ray.
"Old man? What a brave brat..."
"You see, I could care less if Pirates seek the One Piece" announced Ray before continuing to speak.
"However, if they harm the vulnerable and weak in their path towards glory, then I will erase them from the world" stated Ray, his tone turning serious.
A brief silence filled the Moby dick before...
"Gurararara, it seems you're a little different from the rest, brat" said Whitebeard. He didn't hate Marines unlike other Pirates, he understood most of them wanted to protect the weak from those who didn't abide by law.
However, there were certainly quite a few who had hypocritical views on their Justice.
"Also... I want to witness the power of the man who rivalled the Pirate King himself" said Ray, unsheathed Kurenza slowly out of its scabbard.
The rest of Whitebeard's crew suddenly got tense and prepared to assault Ray, however they were halted by Marco.
"Let Pops handle it" said Marco, as he signalled them to sheathe their weapons.
"You're way too young to be challenging me, brat!" declared Whitebeard as he got up and swung his massive Murakumogiri with precision and power towards Ray.
Murakumogiri was a naginata and one of the 12 Supreme Grade swords.
Responding with confidence, Ray held Kurenza with his right hand swung it in full force at Whitebeard, shortly clashing with his naginata.
Both their Haki were imbued in their weapons as they clashed... without touching one another. As Ray had expected, Whitebeard also coated his naginata in Conqueror's Haki, as a result the sky suddenly split apart.
ZzzZt
ZzzZt
Intense and overpowering waves of Conqueror's Haki flowed out from them both at the same time, shortly enveloping the entire surrounding area as the weaker members of the Whitebeard crew were directly knocked out.
Even the higher ranking crew members weren't spared, they could still feel the pressure bearing down upon their minds and bodies.
Their Conqueror's Haki violently clashed with one another, the overbearing willpower of Whitebeard was put to display as even Ray's own was slightly weaker.
"So he has it as well?!?" stated Marco in shock, so far he'd only seen a few number of individuals possess colour of the supreme king.
"HAH HAH HAH, what's wrong old man?!? Is this all the man who rivalled Roger has to offer?!?" shouted Ray, provoking Whitebeard into using more power.
"Gurararara, like I said, it's too early for you brat!" replied Whitebeard as he applied more power into his blow.
They were in a stalemate until Whitebeard eventually overpowered Ray; knocking him back a few metres across the deck of the Moby Dick.
'As I thought, his physical strength is ridiculous' thought Ray, despite declining, Whitebeard was still a powerful man.
"Not bad old man, shame you can't use your full power with them around" voiced Ray disappointingly, as he sheathed his katana.
"It seems that the Marine have developed quite an interesting individual" concluded Whitebeard as put his naginata away as well.
"It was a fun chat, but I gotta go clock into work, cya!" announced Ray in a playful tone, whilst waving his right hand at the Whitebeard Pirates, he vanished from his spot.
A few minutes later...
"Pops, are we just gonna let him go like that" asked Marco as he approached Whitebeard who was sat back down.
"It's pointless, you saw his power didn't you?" reminded Whitebeard. Although Whitebeard could release short bursts of power like in his prime, his deteriorating health prevented him from maintaining it for long period of time.
He would eventually unable to use even basic forms of Haki if he carried on...
Marco simply didn't respond, he felt Ray's power clearly and even he couldn't follow Ray's speed the moment he decided to leave...
"It seems it's nearly time for the new generation... Gurararara!"