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A hush fell over the coastline. The only sounds were the gentle lapping of waves against the shore, the soft crunch of Ian's boots on the sand, and the rustle of his white cloak as he walked.
Crunch
Another step.
This time, the sound wasn't so gentle. A tremor rippled through the sand beneath Ian's feet, spreading outward in a visible wave. Another step, identical to the last, yet the sand dozens of meters away vibrated noticeably.
The Whitebeard Pirates, gathered on the shore, watched Ian with a mixture of awe and apprehension. A suffocating pressure descended upon them, and several pirates crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Only those with bounties exceeding 100 million berries remained standing, though their bodies trembled and sweat beaded on their foreheads.
It was Conqueror's Haki, the manifestation of one's willpower, a force that directly impacted the spirit. And in the domain of spiritual power, no one in this world could compare to Ian, the Devil in human form.
Even Marco, Jozu, and the other commanders felt the oppressive weight of Ian's Haki, beads of sweat forming on their brows. His reputation had preceded him, but the reality was far more intimidating.
"What a Haki…"
"It feels… stronger than Pops'."
Marco's gaze was fixed on Ian as his Haki intensified, spreading like wildfire. Even pirates with bounties in the hundreds of millions began to falter, leaving only the most resilient, those whose names held weight even in the New World, still standing.
Crunch, crunch, crunch
Ian continued his approach.
Whitebeard remained seated, his expression unreadable. While Marco and the other commanders maintained their composure, the newer and weaker members of the Whitebeard Pirates struggled to withstand the oppressive aura.
It felt as though an invisible tidal wave was about to crash down upon them. Suddenly, Whitebeard slowly rose to his feet.
As he stood, the full force of his own Haki, the power of the World's Strongest Man, surged outwards, causing the calm sea to churn and roil. It was Whitebeard's Conqueror's Haki.
While not as potent as Ian's, it carried an undeniable weight, an aura of indomitable strength and unwavering resolve. He stood there.
His already imposing figure seemed to grow even larger, his presence radiating an aura of unparalleled power, a battle-hardened warrior. Even before he had made a move, the pressure was immense, suffocating those around him.
"This presence… befitting the World's Strongest Man." Ian's lips curled into a slight smile as he felt the weight of Whitebeard's Haki.
While he was confident in his own strength, even against Whitebeard at his peak, he respected the old man's power. Whitebeard had reached the pinnacle of strength through his own efforts, his unwavering determination, and his indomitable will.
this Kind of individuals deserved respect.
Moreover, Ian didn't dislike Whitebeard. Few pirates possessed his charisma and sense of honor. Ace's loyalty to Whitebeard stemmed not only from his strength but also from his unwavering commitment to his crew, his family.
The Whitebeard Pirates stood at the apex of power, yet they were among the poorest of pirate crews.
They rarely engaged in plunder, and even when they did, their targets were usually other pirate crews. Furthermore, they rarely demanded tribute from the territories under their protection.
...
A tense silence fell upon the Moby Dick. If Ian's defeat of Gecko Moria had spread his name throughout the sea, his subsequent victories against two more Warlords, Rayleigh, Shiki, Kaido, and Big Mom had sent shockwaves throughout the world.
Now, even normal citizens who had never seen him knew his name, his reputation rivaling that of legendary figures like Whitebeard.
The Whitebeard Pirates, having clashed with Gol D. Roger since before the Great Pirate Era and now standing as one of the Four Emperors, had been considered the strongest pirate crew for over two decades.
The World's Strongest Man, the crew that had challenged the Pirate King… Compared to the other Yonko, the Whitebeard Pirates carried a heavier weight of legend and history, their names etched in the annals of piracy.
Under the watchful eyes of the crew, Ian approached Whitebeard, stopping ten meters away.
While not a giant, Whitebeard was an imposing figure, nearly half the size of a giant. Compared to him, Ian, of average human height, seemed almost insignificant.
But no one underrate him. The man standing before Whitebeard was also known as the strongest.
Ian's gaze met Whitebeard's.
"Forgive my earlier display. I've been looking forward to meeting you for a long time."
His white cloak billowed in the wind as he looked up at the towering figure before him, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, the World's Strongest Man."
Whitebeard's eyes twinkled. "I had a feeling we'd meet someday. The sea is full of surprises."
"I'm not here to cause trouble," Ian replied with a smile. "I've simply come to pay my respects."
Whitebeard chuckled. "Is that something a man who unleashes his Haki indiscriminately would say?"
"Perhaps not…"
Ian's smile widened as he placed his hand on the hilt of his katana, slowly drawing the blade. "But I'd still like to offer a greeting."
In this world, no one could surpass Whitebeard in terms of pure strength. He was the perfect opponent to test his Haki and swordsmanship.
The sight of Ian drawing his sword caused Marco and the others to tense up. Whitebeard, however, grinned. "Gurarara! You've defeated Kaido, Big Mom, Rayleigh, Shiki… and you're still not satisfied?"
Ian had made his intentions clear. He wasn't here to fight. This "greeting" wasn't a duel to the death. Nevertheless, Whitebeard's eyes glinted with anticipation. There weren't many opponents who could pique his interest, but Ian was undoubtedly one of them.
"They were too weak. Their defeat was inevitable." Ian's smile remained friendly, yet his words were undeniably conceited.
A hush fell over the deck of the Moby Dick.
The Whitebeard Pirates stared in disbelief. Even Marco and Jozu were stunned by his audacity.
They had accepted his earlier display of Haki as a greeting, a show of strength between powerful individuals.
But now… was he challenging Whitebeard, the World's Strongest Man?
"He's… a battle maniac." Marco muttered under his breath.
After Kaido, he was now targeting their Pops. This battle couldn't happen. He had to stop it.
As the Whitebeard Pirates' doctor, Marco knew Whitebeard's health was deteriorating. A full-blown battle against Ian would shorten his lifespan considerably. And Whitebeard wasn't one to refuse a challenge.
He was a battle maniac himself. Just as Marco was about to intervene, to deflect Ian's challenge onto himself, Whitebeard's booming laughter echoed across the deck.
"Gurarara! What an arrogant Brat! But I suppose you've earned that right."
"Marco, bring the sake!"
"Yes, Pops!"
Even Marco, who usually restricted Whitebeard's alcohol intake, wouldn't deny him on such an occasion. Two massive barrels of sake were placed before Whitebeard and Ian.
"Gurarara! Don't hold back! I'll drink to that!" Whitebeard, having been deprived of alcohol for so long, seized the opportunity and took a long swig.
Ian, understanding pirate customs, poured himself a large bowl and matched Whitebeard drink for drink.
In his past life, Ian hadn't been much of a drinker. He hadn't had the time or the luxury. Even celebratory drinks came with a price, the lingering fatigue impacting his performance the next day.
But now, standing at the pinnacle of power in this world, he could indulge.
"Gurarara! Refreshing!" Whitebeard lowered his tankard, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he studied Ian. "A man like you could easily become Fleet Admiral."
"But why join the Seven Warlords? Become a pirate? Aren't you throwing away your future?"
"The Marines? It was a stepping stone. I have my own sense of justice. I won't tolerate evil, and I won't stand by and watch good people be slaughtered. Now that I have the power to act, I no longer need their authority. And I value my freedom."
"Forgive me for coming empty-handed. I should have brought some fine liquor." Ian admitted, realizing his oversight.
"Justice unbound by any faction… Gurarara! How interesting!!"
"It's been a long time since a young man like you has appeared in this sea." Whitebeard roared with laughter.
"So, what do you think of my ship? Can it carry a Devil like you?" Whitebeard asked, his words laced with a deeper meaning. "Pops, is he…?"
Marco and the others exchanged glances, their eyes widening in realization. As Whitebeard's sons, they understood what he was about to do. He had entertained this idea ever since Ian's victory over Gecko Moria.
As expected, Whitebeard grinned, uttering his iconic invitation.
"Join my crew! Become my son!" He extended his hand towards Ian.
Silence descended upon the deck.
Marco, Jozu, Vista, Izo, and the other veteran commanders stared in disbelief, their jaws agape. He had said it.
The brief silence was shattered by a wave of excited chatter. "Pops just invited the Devil to join our crew!"
"Will he accept?"
"If he does, the Whitebeard Pirates will be unstoppable! Will he become the captain of the 17th division?"
The Whitebeard Pirates erupted in a frenzy of speculation, their voices filled with shock, excitement, and anticipation.
"Marco, what's gotten into Pops today?" Vista, the Flower Sword, asked, his face etched with confusion.
"It's definitely something Pops would say. I don't know his true intentions…" Marco shook his head, a flicker of concern in his eyes.
Ian, facing Whitebeard's outstretched hand, the eager gazes of the crew upon him, couldn't help but twitch. Even Tashigi struggled to suppress a smile.
He had sensed something was amiss ever since Whitebeard had asked about his ship. Now, his suspicions were confirmed. Whitebeard's earlier words had been a setup, a prelude to this very moment.
The old man still had a penchant for collecting sons. There was no way Ian would accept. He had already reached the pinnacle of power in this world. He had no desire to become anyone's subordinate. He had come to this world, acquired immense power, and he would forge his own path.
"So? What do you say? Want to carry my name and wreak havoc upon the seas? You're free to do as you please now."
"I've been wanting to do this for a long time. Big Mom wanted you as her son-in-law, Kaido offered you his daughter, even Shanks has been eyeing you…" Whitebeard's grin widened.
"But you joined the Marines. Now that you're a pirate again, it's the perfect opportunity!"
His fondness for Ian had grown ever since he had defeated the Warlords, Shiki, Rayleigh, Kaido, and Big Mom, figures from the previous era with whom Whitebeard had a history. Now, his desire to have Ian as his son was almost overwhelming.
After a long, tense silence, Ian finally spoke, a playful smirk on his face. "I'll have to pass. You'll have a son you're proud of soon enough. Whether Pirates or Marine, it's all the same to me. Constraints. We'll have plenty of opportunities to spar in the future."
He was, of course, referring to Ace...
...
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