{🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please support me.🥰 You can access upto 100+ advance chapter through Patreon by using the link:
"But then again, Ayr, with your strength… if you formed your own pirate crew and gathered enough strong followers, perhaps even world domination wouldn't be out of reach one day." Whitebeard looked solemnly at Ayr as they boarded the ship together.
"Dominate the world? I've thought about it," Ayr said, shaking his head slowly. "But right now… it's still impossible." Unless his Tenseigan evolved to its highest form—awakened with all its celestial techniques—and unless he fully harnessed the power of the Ten Tails inside him, Ayr knew he could never truly embody the terror of the Jinchūriki of the Ten Tails, a being that defied the very laws of chakra and haki. Only then could he face off against Im-sama with confidence. But even then, victory would depend on a head-on clash—no schemes, no hidden powers—for if Im utilized any of the ancient weapons or drew upon strange, secret Devil Fruit abilities that the World Government had hoarded for 800 years, even Ayr's immense strength might not be enough. There were Devil Fruits that broke logic itself, like the Hobi Hobi no Mi, which could turn enemies into toys with a single touch, erasing them from memory. And that was just one of many horrors.
Ayr's sharp gaze turned thoughtful, but Whitebeard broke the silence with a booming laugh. "Gu la la la… I don't buy that!" Ayr's destructive performance in the Holy Land Mariejois had shocked even him. Not since Rocks D. Xebec's heyday during the Valley of the Gods War had anyone demonstrated such overwhelming power—and even Rocks couldn't match the fear Ayr had sown across the Holy Land. To Whitebeard, Ayr was a legitimate contender for world supremacy.
"The World Government… it's not as simple as it appears, Edward," Ayr replied with a faint smile. That Im dared allow him to walk out of Pangaea Castle alive could only mean one thing: confidence. Absolute confidence. Im had measured Ayr and still allowed him to live, which meant she was not afraid—and Ayr understood why. His own power wasn't enough yet.
Whitebeard stroked his beard, lost in thought. "That woman—Im—is no joke. But… I don't think you've reached your peak, Ayr." After all, Ayr had beheaded three of the Five Elders in the battle within the Holy Land, and his Susanoo-armored Tenseigan avatar had eclipsed even Sengoku's shockwaves and Garp's punches. When Im finally appeared, their brief clash distorted the space above Mariejois itself—like Tengai Shinsei colliding with an ancient weapon's firepower. And yet, she had allowed him to walk away. That could only mean she had seen through him and knew he wasn't done growing yet. Whitebeard could sense it—Ayr was still evolving. No matter how powerful Rocks had been, he lacked Ayr's patience and vision. And Ayr? He was still so young.
"Don't place too much hope on me, Edward," Ayr said with a half-smile, raising his hands casually.
Whitebeard met his eyes with steel resolve. "If you ever decide to take that step—to dominate the seas—I will support you fully, Ayr." He hadn't pledged his loyalty to Rocks, but to Ayr? To the man who had risked everything in Mariejois not for power, but for freedom? Whitebeard would gladly offer his support. Because to him, Ayr was no longer just a comrade—he was family.
"Thanks, Edward. But for now… let's leave this place behind." Whitebeard gave a brief nod. Together, they stepped aboard, sails unfurling toward the horizon.
---
A few days later, in unknown waters of the New World, a colossal ship sailed steadily through the sea fog. Within the captain's cabin, Kaido of the Beasts sat on a massive sofa, a gourd of strong liquor in hand. Though the Beasts Pirates hadn't yet claimed the title of Yonko, they were already infamous across the New World. Standing beside Kaido was a tall figure clad in black armor and a horned helmet, Jhin the Wildfire, his obsidian wings folded neatly behind him.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the chamber before a rotund man burst through the door, panting and waving a stack of bounty posters—it was none other than Queen the Plague. Jhin glanced at him coolly, arms crossed. "Quinn, what's with the rush?"
Queen scowled. "Shut up, Jhin. This isn't about you. I've got urgent news for Boss Kaido!" Though both were among the Three Disasters, they constantly bickered like old enemies.
Kaido looked up lazily, sake sloshing in his gourd. "Is that a bounty notice, Quinn?"
"Yes, Boss Kaido," Queen confirmed.
Jhin scoffed. "You're seriously this worked up over a bounty increase? After the Rocks disbanded, bounties rise all the time. You've never acted this panicked before."
Queen shot him a glare. "You dumb flame-brain! Do you think I'd barge in like this if it were just anyone?"
"Enough. Hand it over," Kaido commanded, waving them down with little interest in their quarrel. Queen quickly passed the papers to him. At first Kaido's expression was indifferent, but as his eyes scanned the name and the number, his lazy demeanor vanished. He sat up straighter and frowned. Jhin's eyes narrowed as he peeked over Kaido's shoulder, and cold sweat slid down his temples.
"Ayr… a bounty of six billion berries?!" he muttered. He remembered clearly—after the Valley of the Gods War, Ayr's bounty had been 4.75 billion. Since then, that number hadn't changed—until now. An increase of 1.25 billion… overnight?
Kaido stared at the poster in silence, his gaze lingering on the cold look in Ayr's eyes. The image had been taken recently, probably during or after the Holy Land assault. "Quinn… any word from the sea? Reports? News?" he finally asked.
Queen shook his head. "Nothing. Only the bounty poster was released. No article. No announcement."
That alone sent a chill through the room.
"If there's no news," Jhin said darkly, "that means whatever Ayr did was too terrifying to publish." It was the same pattern as before: every time Ayr's bounty rose dramatically, the World Government suppressed the news. Why? Because what Ayr accomplished would shake the world's foundation.
Now, another massive increase. Another silent update.
Kaido clenched the poster, his voice low. "This bastard… did he slaughter another Celestial Dragon?"
No one answered. Only the creak of the ship and the distant crashing of waves filled the silence. But deep down, Kaido knew—Ayr had made another move. A move big enough that even the World Government had to acknowledge him again… in silence.
And that silence was louder than any headline.
{ Enjoying the chapters? Please Support me on Patreon and unlock 100+ advanced chapters, with 3 new chapters released every two days!
The fanfic is also available for one-time purchase on Patreon – unlock lifetime access to the full collection, no membership needed! Don't miss out –support and own it forever!
patreon.com/Oreski}