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The New World, the second half of the Grand Line.
Ian and Tashigi's small sailing ship, its presence masked by Ian's powers, navigated the treacherous waters, unnoticed by the watchful eyes of countless factions. They bypassed the territories of the Beasts Pirates, heading straight for the domain of the only remaining pirate legend, Edward Newgate.
Whitebeard's territory was the most extensive of all the Yonko, encompassing not only vast swathes of the New World but also numerous other regions under his protection, marked by the fluttering flag bearing his symbol.
Fish-Man Island, at the entrance to the New World, was one such territory, shielded by Whitebeard's formidable reputation.
Even Big Mom, with her insatiable craving for sweets, a craving that had driven her to destroy entire countries, coveted Fish-Man Island, yet she did not make a move.
Whitebeard was more than just a pirate; he was a symbol, a shield protecting countless islands and nations from the ravages of greed and ambition.
Though age and countless battles had taken their toll, Whitebeard's power remained unchallenged. No one underestimated him, and the title of "World's Strongest Man" remained firmly his.
Twenty years ago, he was the last of the three legendary pirates standing. Twenty years later, he remained the undisputed king among the Yonko in the eyes of many.
Although Ian had consecutively defeated Kaido and Big Mom, the former victory attributed by some to the involvement of several Marine Admirals.
The latter a resounding solo triumph against an entire Yonko crew, a feat that echoed throughout the world, many still believed that only Whitebeard, the legendary figure with the power to destroy the world, could stand against him.
The Whitebeard Pirates were universally acknowledged as the strongest among the Yonko crews. Anyone seeking to claim the title of Pirate King and rule the world would first have to overcome this colossal obstacle.
Since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, nearly seventeen years ago, no one had managed to surpass Whitebeard, the towering, unshakeable peak standing between them and the end of the Grand Line.
During the Marineford War in the original timeline, Whitebeard's power had been significantly diminished by age and accumulated injuries.
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A small sailing ship, its white sails billowing in the wind, glided across the shimmering surface of the sea.
The weather was calm, the sea tranquil, the sun shining brightly. Yet, strangely, cherry blossoms drifted down from the sky, blanketing the ship and the surrounding waters in a delicate layer of pink.
"I didn't know the New World had such beautiful scenery." Tashigi emerged from the ship's cabin, her eyes fixed on the falling blossoms.
Thanks to Ian's mastery of Shiki's Float-Float Fruit, the ship moved at an incredible speed. They had crossed two islands in under two weeks, and Tashigi's Clear-Clear Fruit had helped them avoid numerous dangers.
Though pirates now fled at the sight of him, Ian had no interest in engaging with such small fry.
"It's probably carried by the strange winds of the Grand Line from some nearby island." Ian stepped out from behind her, his gaze turned towards the sky.
His enhanced senses confirmed that the blossoms were indeed just ordinary petals. However, the scene reminded him of a certain individual's abilities, a character from another world, not this one.
A glint flickered in Ian's eyes. His soul-sensing abilities, combined with his advanced Observation Haki, swept across the surrounding sea, locating the source of the blossoms.
On the shore of a nearby island, a large group of people had gathered in a clearing. They all bore a distinctive tattoo: a skull and crossbones with a crescent-shaped mustache.
"Those are…"
"The Whitebeard Pirates!"
They were the undisputed rulers of the sea, especially after Roger's execution and Shiki's disappearance. Whitebeard had become the uncrowned king, his power unmatched in the current era. He could have easily gathered the four Road Poneglyphs and reached Laugh Tale, the final island.
But Whitebeard didn't desire wealth, fame, or power. He craved only family and the freedom of the open sea. The title of Pirate King held no allure for him, despite being within his grasp.
"That Black Winged Devil really wreaked havoc on Big Mom's crew. Decades of work, gone just like that. And Big Mom herself has defected. She'll probably head to Kaido. They were pretty close back in the Rocks Pirates."
The Whitebeard Pirates' commanders, along with Whitebeard himself, were gathered on the shore, engaged in casual conversation. Thatch, the 4th division commander, suddenly frowned. "I wonder who that Black Winged Devil will target next. Shanks? Or Kaido?"
The mention of Ian's name brought a somber silence upon the group. They had witnessed his rise, their initial dismissal evolving into cautious respect, and finally, outright fear. The news of Ian single-handedly defeating the Big Mom Pirates had sent shockwaves through their ranks.
While the Big Mom Pirates were considered the weakest among the Yonko, they were still a formidable force. To single-handedly destroy an entire Yonko crew seemed impossible.
After a moment of silence, Marco, Whitebeard's first division commander, glanced at his captain, who continued drinking unconcerned. He took a deep breath, a hint of pride in his voice. "He's a powerful foe… But we're not the Big Mom Pirates. Even if he comes after us, with Pops here, he'll need to bring the entire Marine Headquarters to stand a chance."
Marco's words were met with nods of agreement. The commanders chuckled, their confidence bolstered by the presence of their indomitable captain. Any foe, no matter how powerful, would eventually face the insurmountable obstacle of Whitebeard, the unyielding mountain standing between them and their ambitions.
The tension dissipated, replaced by laughter and camaraderie. Whitebeard, after taking a swig from his sake jug, set it down and glanced at his sons, shaking his head with a wry smile. "You're a bunch of foolish sons…"
He wanted to scold them for their unwavering reliance on him, but the words caught in his throat. He didn't dislike the feeling of being depended upon, of being the anchor for his beloved crew. Their trust and reliance were his greatest treasures.
As the commanders continued their revelry, a seemingly affable, gap-toothed man, standing near the edge of the group, overheard their conversation. He glanced at Whitebeard, a subtle glint of ambition flickering in his eyes, unnoticed by the others.
It was Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard.
"No one stays at the top forever… not even you, Pops. Deep down, you know that Black Winged Devil is a threat, don't you? Even if he can't beat you now, he will eventually." A sense of urgency gnawed at Blackbeard. He had coveted the Dark-Dark Fruit for years.
But the fruit hadn't appeared yet. Did he truly have a chance of obtaining it? He began to doubt himself. Would he be stuck on this ship forever?
"Black Wing… I need the Dark-Dark Fruit. It's the only way to defeat a monster like him." Blackbeard muttered, his gaze darkening. That unprecedented Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, with its mastery of multiple elements, lightning, wind, sand, snow, wielded with a skill rivaling a Logia user, combined with swordsmanship on par with Mihawk…
Each of those abilities, honed to perfection, was enough to place someone at the pinnacle of power. The thought was terrifying. Could even the Dark-Dark Fruit guarantee victory? After all, Devils originated from darkness, from the depths of hell.
"I still have time. Pops won't be defeated so easily. Staying here is the safest option, and it gives me the best chance of finding that Devil Fruit. Whether I can win or not… I'll find out when I get it. There's no other way."
Despite his worries, Blackbeard took a deep breath, clenching his fists, his eyes gleaming with renewed determination. He would continue to believe in himself.
Just as he was about to relax and take a sip of his beer, a flicker of movement caught his eye, reflected in the bottom of his glass. A ship appeared on the horizon.
"Gurararara! I smell the stench of a wild beast!" Whitebeard, the world's strongest man, rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on the approaching vessel.
"A beast? I don't smell anything." Curiel, the 10th division commander, sniffed the air in confusion.
"You'll see soon enough. Prepare for battle. We've been targeted." Whitebeard's eyes locked onto the small ship hundreds of meters away, a rare spark of interest flickering in his aged face.
"No way… Could it be…?"
Blackbeard and the other commanders watched as the ship drew closer, their eyes widening in disbelief. The small vessel grew larger, its figure becoming clearer.
Under the clear blue sky, on the vast expanse of the sea, a figure clad in white, a white skull mask covering half his face, black tear marks streaking beneath pale green eyes, approached like a Devil from the depths of hell.
A Marine Vice Admiral… no, a new Warlord of the Sea… Black Winged Devil. He was here.
Blackbeard, his forehead slick with sweat, retreated into the shadows of the ship, his gaze fixed on Ian, his presence concealed. He did not attract the attention of this demonic figure, a being who represented utter annihilation.
Blackbeard's efforts to conceal his presence were successful. Ian, standing on the deck of his small ship, the audacity of sailing the New World in such a small vessel rivaled only by Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, didn't notice him.
Ian's gaze was locked on the group gathered on the shore, Marco and the other commanders, and… Whitebeard himself.
Whoosh! Blackbeard's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Ian approach the shore, heading straight for Whitebeard and his crew.
He gasped, his back drenched in cold sweat, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with a burning ambition. "I will obtain that Devil Fruit! This sea will be mine! I won't let a monster like you stand in my way!"
"He's here!" Marco and the others, snapping out of their initial shock, watched as Ian's ship approached, their faces etched with tension.
They weren't overly concerned. As members of the Whitebeard Pirates, with their captain by their side, they feared no other crew. But Ian was different. He had recently defeated both Kaido and Big Mom, single-handedly annihilating the entire Big Mom Pirates.
He was a force of nature.
Even Whitebeard's eyes held a rare flicker of caution. He couldn't discern Ian's intentions. While he didn't believe himself to be weaker, he wasn't certain of victory either. Ian's Haki, his strength, his speed, his Devil Fruit abilities, his swordsmanship… all were at the pinnacle of power.
And most importantly, Ian was a lone wolf. When he had defeated the Big Mom Pirates, the Marines had simultaneously announced his resignation from the Marines and his appointment as a Warlord of the Sea.
Such individuals were the most dangerous. Even if Whitebeard could handle him, his crew would be vulnerable.
Ian could rampage freely, decimating the Whitebeard Pirates, and there would be little they could do in retaliation. They couldn't even seek retribution from the Marines. Even Whitebeard hesitated to fight such a dangerous individual, knowing the potential consequences.
Many of Whitebeard's crew members noticed Ian's approach, their movements ceasing as they stared in disbelief, rubbing their eyes in astonishment.
Their hearts pounded in their chests. Some instinctively gripped their weapons, but none approached or interfere. The commanders had fallen silent, their laughter replaced by grim anticipation.
They hadn't expected Ian to appear here. Even though he was no longer a Marine, as a Warlord, he was technically on the same side as the Yonko. And they were the Whitebeard Pirates.
He hadn't come here for a friendly chat. He was here for a reason.
He hadn't even dealt with Shanks or Kaido yet, and he was already here. It was unexpected, to say the least.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire Whitebeard crew, Ian's ship finally reached the shore, its anchor plunging into the water. Ian, standing tall on the deck, didn't jump down. Instead, he calmly descended the gangplank, Tashigi following close behind.
They stepped onto the shore, walking towards the assembled pirates.…
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