"Boom!"
The sea roared as a massive ship, coated for underwater travel, surged from the depths. Its bow, shaped like a whale's head, broke through the surface with an earth-shaking crash.
"Boom! Bang!"
The sound of bubbles popping echoed as the colossal ship settled into the ocean, its great sails unfurling with the wind. At the center of its flag, flying high, was the unmistakable symbol of a white crescent-shaped mustache—a mark of the infamous Four Emperors.
It was the flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates, the legendary Moby Dick.
"Gura la la la! Has the battle already ended? Looks like I'm late."
Standing tall on the deck, over six meters in height, was a man covered in scars—stabbing wounds and bullet holes decorating his chest, testaments to decades of roaming the seas. Most striking of all was the white crescent-shaped beard that defined his face.
This was none other than Edward Newgate, known across the world as Whitebeard, the strongest man alive.
"Dad, since the war's over, why don't you start with your treatment?" Marco, the ship's doctor and the captain of the first division, gestured toward the medical equipment scattered behind them. As Whitebeard aged, even Marco's phoenix powers, derived from the mythical Zoan-type Bird Bird Fruit, couldn't keep the old man's body in check. Constant use of advanced medical devices was the only way to maintain his health.
Whitebeard chuckled heartily, his booming voice laced with Haki. "You're talking nonsense again, my silly son. I didn't come here for treatment—I came to drink!" Turning his attention to Ace, he grinned. "Hey, Entei, you got the good stuff, right?"
Ace smirked and replied with a nod, "Of course."
Ace admired Whitebeard, not just for his strength, but for his character. In another time, Whitebeard had fought to protect Ace, leading the charge at Marineford and uttering those famous words: "There is no ship that can carry me into the new era." Even without all that, Ace respected the man for simply coming to his aid in Sabaody Archipelago.
"Whitebeard, it's been a long time." Rayleigh's voice broke through the moment, his eyes filled with nostalgia as he regarded the old rival.
Back in the day, the Roger Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates had been the two most powerful crews after the fall of the Rocks Pirates. At his peak, Whitebeard, armed with the power of the Gura Gura no Mi, had the strength to rival Roger himself. If Whitebeard had wanted to, he could have claimed the title of Pirate King before Roger did—especially with Kozuki Oden, a man capable of reading the ancient Poneglyphs, in his crew. But Whitebeard's treasure was never 'One Piece'; his true treasure was his family.
That's why, even though Roger offered Whitebeard the path to Raftel, he declined. His heart had already found what it desired most—his family.
Rayleigh had thought they might never meet again. Yet here they were, brought together by Ace.
"Rayleigh! It's been ages. Looks like you're out in the world again! Gura la la la!" Whitebeard laughed, a glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes as he looked at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth lifting. "And you're out here, too."
There was a bond between Whitebeard and Roger that few could understand. Despite being rivals, their connection ran deep, like family. Before Roger's death, his final drink had been shared with Whitebeard. And now, after hearing about Ace's lineage, Whitebeard had rushed from the New World, proving the depth of his care.
The two old legends, Rayleigh and Whitebeard, exchanged a glance before both broke into booming laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Gura la la la!"
Whitebeard lifted a giant bowl of wine, downing it in one gulp. "Good stuff, Entei! Your chef's a real treasure," he laughed.
Ace chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "I'll pack some for you when you leave."
After downing more wine, Whitebeard gazed at Ace, Shanks, and Rayleigh, his expression softening for a moment. He found it surreal to be drinking with Roger's son, the red-haired pirate who had once been a mere apprentice on Roger's ship, and Rayleigh.
Shanks, who had now become one of the Four Emperors, had grown into a man who controlled vast swaths of the seas. Ace, the son of Roger, had shaken the world and brought monumental change. The events unfolding now, triggered by Ace's actions at Sabaody, were comparable to the Great Pirate Era that Roger had sparked with his dying words.
Whitebeard couldn't help but think how proud Roger would be. The boy who bore his blood was truly a force to be reckoned with.
Rayleigh had also resurfaced, making an appearance once more. Whitebeard's smile curled slyly as he thought to himself, 'Roger, you bastard, you're not truly gone at all!'
He chuckled deeply, lost in the nostalgia of his old rival.
"Hey, Ace, we can't let Dad drink so recklessly," Marco said, glancing at Whitebeard, who had taken a liking to Ace and was drinking heavily. Marco sighed, his expression helpless as he turned to Ace.
At the banquet, for this legendary "Fifth Emperor"—the man behind the infamous Entei incident that had shaken the world—Marco had come to learn much.
Through just one banquet, Marco could see why Ace had risen to become one of the Emperors of the Sea. He could gather legends like Rayleigh, and inspire men with unshakable principles and strength, comparable even to an Admiral of the Navy, to follow him willingly. He could even bring Kaido, originally here as an enemy, to join them in their revelry.
This man, Ace, possessed a unique charisma—strong, yet approachable. He had become the catalyst for the infamous Flame Emperor incident, which sent shockwaves across the globe. He had singlehandedly defeated Fleet Admiral Akainu in battle, outsmarted the legendary strategist Sengoku, and humiliated the Five Elders, the highest authorities of the World Government, by smashing their heads live—an unprecedented act seen by the entire world.
In terms of both power and renown, Ace now stood at the very summit of the seas. Yet, despite this, he mingled with everyone at the banquet, sharing drinks and laughter, always elevating the mood with ease.
In Ace's words, "The purpose of a banquet is to make sure everyone's well-fed and drunk!" A simple sentence, but one that encapsulated the true essence of a gathering.
It was surreal to Marco that the man who now stood as one of the most powerful figures in this era was there, casually tugging at Whitebeard's iconic crescent-shaped mustache, bragging about how he'd defeated the Marines and the World Government in the great war.
And, under Ace's infectious enthusiasm, even Whitebeard had found unexpected joy in it all. Rather than resent Ace's playful antics, Whitebeard spread his arms wide and began boasting about his own exploits from his years sailing the seas, especially his adventures with Roger—stories that never failed to stir excitement.
Even men of their caliber, who ruled the seas, were not immune to the joy of drinking freely and boasting. Yet, in all the seas, there were very few who could share in such experiences. Tonight was one of those rare moments where they could truly enjoy themselves.
"'Gura la la la!' My foolish son, you do care for me after all," Whitebeard laughed heartily, a little tipsy, as he heard Marco's words.
"Showing off, are we, Whitebeard?" Rayleigh joined in, chuckling as well. At that moment, the famed "Dark King" looked nothing like the formidable pirate of legend. Instead, he resembled a carefree old man, slouched and drunk, wearing a wide, mischievous grin.
"Of course I'm showing off! My sons are my greatest treasures, Gura la la la!" Whitebeard boasted, pride evident in his laughter.
Kaya, smiling sweetly, stepped forward with a bottle of medicine. "Here's a hangover remedy, it'll ease the strain alcohol puts on your body." She handed the bottle to Ace, her eyes full of affection.
Kaya had specially prepared this medicine for Ace. Knowing how much he loved celebrations, and as his ship's doctor, she never discouraged his drinking. Instead, she developed a remedy to help reduce the effects of alcohol on his body.
Ace grinned and scratched Kaya's nose affectionately. Though his body could handle any amount of alcohol without trouble, he appreciated Kaya's thoughtfulness and took the remedy without hesitation.
Kaya's eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she watched Ace take the medicine. "This is for you as well," she said, offering another bottle to Whitebeard.
Kaya had immense respect for the man who had traveled from the New World to help Ace. To her, Ace was her world, and anyone who treated him with kindness earned her gratitude. She was more than willing to lend her medical expertise to those who helped him.
"What about me, Kaya? Don't I get one too?" Rayleigh asked, teasingly.
"Of course, Uncle Rayleigh. Here you go." Kaya smiled, handing him a bottle as well.
Rayleigh burst into laughter. "Just hearing you calling me 'uncle' sobered me up a little," he said, glancing slyly at Whitebeard.
Whitebeard twitched at Rayleigh's remark, catching on to his playful antics. This old man was even using Ace's beloved to one-up him. But, Whitebeard thought to himself, Ace had grown into such an impressive man, and Rayleigh, the old fox, now had a whole group of outstanding young pirates around him.
'Roger, your legacy is something remarkable.'
Whitebeard glanced at Ace and sighed inwardly. But then, he looked over at Marco and his other sons, his expression softening into one of warmth and pride. His sons were equally remarkable.
For decades, he had ruled the seas as the world's strongest man. But now, it was clear that his most valuable treasure had always been his family.
"Indeed!"