"Whoa!! He's finally here!"
"The World's Greatest Swordsman, Xiano!"
"Hey, stop pushing! You stepped on my foot!"
The moment the lookout's words rang out, the deck erupted in chaos. Pirates from every division rushed toward the starboard railing, jostling for a better view.
Marco was momentarily stunned before unfurling his Azure Flame Wings and soaring into the sky.
Squinting into the distance, he spotted Vista's speedboat, adorned with a rose-patterned flag, cutting through the waves. And standing aboard it was a figure he hadn't seen in a long time.
"He really came."
Marco chuckled, landing back on the deck with a light thud. Watching the crowd of eager crewmates, he rubbed his temples and shook his head.
"Hey, newbies! Stop gawking and get below deck while you still can."
"Huh?"
A recently recruited pirate blinked in confusion. "Why, Marco?"
"Ha, dumbass."
The seasoned veterans nearby burst into laughter.
"When a Sea Emperor pays a personal visit, there's bound to be a clash of auras. Even a fraction of that level of pressure would crush you lot!"
"Us old-timers might just barely handle it, though…"
One veteran trailed off, suddenly unsure, and turned to Marco. "Hey, think I can take it, Captain?"
"Hard to say."
Marco mused, "His Conqueror's Haki is rumored to be among the strongest in the world—maybe even on par with Pops'. Hm?"
His expression abruptly shifted as he sensed something and snapped his gaze skyward.
The once-clear heavens had darkened without warning, now choked with ominous clouds.
Streaks of black-red lightning flickered within the roiling mass, and the very air over the sea grew thick and oppressive.
"From that far away…? Tch, what an insane presence."
Marco narrowed his eyes.
Diamond Jozu, commander of the Third Division, and Satch of the Fourth soon joined him.
"Coming alone, huh?"
Jozu cracked his neck, grinning. "Too bad. I was hoping to see what kind of monsters the Curtain Closer's Three Calamities really are."
"Probably tied up with business."
Satch, dressed in his usual chef's attire, lit a cigarette with a chuckle. "Otherwise, with you two and Vista here, we'd have a perfect matchup for a little sparring session."
"Zehahaha! Don't sell yourself short, Captain Satch!"
A gap-toothed veteran chimed in from behind, slapping Teach on the back. "You're one of our top officers too! Can't leave yourself out!"
"Me?"
Satch felt a warmth in his chest and patted Teach's shoulder with a silent smile.
Teach was a straightforward guy—his words were comforting. But Satch knew his own limits. As a semi-logistics officer, he couldn't quite measure up to the higher-ranked commanders.
Against the Three Calamities? He'd likely be outmatched.
Just then, thunder rumbled across the sky. The black-red lightning intensified, and the entire sea began to tremble violently.
Marco's expression turned serious as he muttered under his breath, "He's here!"
Almost simultaneously, Vista's speedboat came to a halt beside the Moby Dick.
A handsome black-haired youth carrying a sword stepped lightly onto the Moby Dick's gangway at Vista's respectful invitation.
Thud.
With his first step.
The entire Moby Dick suddenly sank slightly, sending silent ripples across the surrounding sea.
The clamor on the deck ceased abruptly. Everyone instinctively held their breath, their eyes wide as they stared at the tall figure approaching the deck.
Thud.
The youth's face remained calm as he lifted his right foot and took his second step.
A rookie standing nearest to the gangway felt his vision darken before collapsing limply to the ground.
"Hey! What's wrong with you?"
His bald companion hurriedly reached out to catch him, only to be shocked as the other rookies around them began falling uncontrollably like dominoes being toppled.
"What's happening to you all?"
The bald man's eyes widened in alarm, but before he could say anything more, he too collapsed with a thud, unconscious.
Thud.
With the third step, the youth finally set foot on the deck and raised his head slightly.
At that moment, the air aboard the Moby Dick seemed to freeze. Even the churning waves around the ship's sides hung motionless in midair.
This pressure... it's even more overwhelming than I imagined...
Marco's expression darkened as he glanced around. Not only the rookies, but even many veterans had dropped to one knee, clutching their chests and struggling to breathe.
Teach, who had been standing closest to him, was already sprawled on the deck, foaming at the mouth and convulsing.
Thud.
With the fourth step, Whitebeard—who had been watching from the bow—finally burst into laughter and rose to his feet, slamming his naginata heavily onto the deck!
"Gurararara! That's enough, you little brat, Xiano!"
Boom!
An equally terrifying surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted at that moment, colliding violently with Xiano's oppressive aura!
Crack!!!
The thick clouds above were instantly split apart!
Two massive, serpentine bolts of black-and-red lightning surged wildly into the distance, stretching beyond the horizon—impossible to tell just how far they reached.
Because there was simply no end in sight.
The scene looked as if...
As if the entire sky had been torn in half!!!
"Is this... the clash between the strongest Conqueror's Haki users on the seas...?"
Marco's scalp tingled, cold sweat beading at his temples.
Since that battle years ago, it had been so long—no, he had never seen anyone whose Conqueror's Haki could rival the Old Man's!
Looking around.
Aside from the division commanders, only a handful of the strongest veteran crew members remained fully conscious on the deck.
"Gurararara! I never expected such astonishing spirit from you, Xiano, you little brat!"
Whitebeard laughed even more heartily, striding forward with steps that made the deck tremble slightly.
The legendary figure of the old era, the man hailed as the World's Strongest, had a gleam of excitement in his eyes—as if he had finally found a worthy opponent.
"You're not so bad yourself, Whitebeard."
Xiano took a few steps forward, his black hair fluttering lightly in the residual waves of Conqueror's Haki.
He met the legendary Pirate's gaze, lips curling into a grin, his own eyes alight with eager battle intent.
Their gazes locked midair, sparks seeming to fly between them.
"Hey hey, the atmosphere seems a bit off, Marco!"
Jozu's expression changed as he turned his head nervously, "Using Conqueror's Haki was one thing, but why do I feel like Pops and this guy are about to have a full-on sparring match?"
"Don't just feel it - that's exactly what's happening."
Marco gave a bitter laugh. He took a few steps forward, took a deep breath, and cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone to shout:
"Hey! Pops! Stay calm! This is a guest, not an enemy! Besides, you just had your bandages changed yesterday - your body might not be able to handle this!"
"That's right!"
Vista had just stepped off the speedboat when he saw the scene and rushed between the two men, spreading his arms wide:
"Hold back a little, Pops! Even if you're fine, the Moby Dick and the new recruits on board won't be able to take it!"
"Huh?" Marco froze, turning to stare blankly at the newcomer, "Who are you?"
"It's me, Vista! Idiot!" Vista flew into a rage, "Just because I shaved my beard, you don't recognize me? Watch me pluck that pineapple head of yours!"
That damned woman - even death wouldn't be enough to satisfy his hatred!
Wait, this was Vista?!
Marco skeptically examined his face from all angles. Even when they first met over thirty years ago, Vista hadn't looked this young!
"Gurarara! Fair point."
Whitebeard glanced at the two of them and grinned, being the first to retract his aura as he sat back down with a hearty laugh:
"Relax, I know my limits. It's just been too long since I've faced an opponent of this caliber - can't help getting excited."
As the auras of the two Sea Emperors dissipated, the frozen air on the deck finally began to flow again.
"Kid Xiano! Come! Let's drink!"
Whitebeard tossed a large liquor jug across while somehow producing that enormous drinking cup again, raising it high in invitation:
"Drink to your heart's content! This is twenty-year aged premium liquor! If you hadn't done us a favor, I wouldn't have brought out these treasures from my private stash!"
"Is that so? Then I'll gladly accept."
Xiano caught the jug with a faint smile.
He calmly walked over to Whitebeard and sat down at the center of the deck. Removing the jug's stopper, he clanked cups with Whitebeard before both tilted their heads back for massive gulps.
"Truly excellent liquor!"
"Hahaha, I don't lie about such things!"
The two Sea Emperors drank freely, finally easing the tension and returning to normal atmosphere. Marco and Jozu exchanged glances, both sighing in relief.
Meanwhile.
The pirates who had been knocked unconscious by the earlier clash began gradually waking up, looking around in confusion.
"What... just happened?"
"I think I saw the sky split open... was that an illusion..."
"Me too... is this the power of Sea Emperors? So terrifying..."
After some hushed whispers, the new recruits huddled together trembling.
The veteran crew members rubbed their still-racing hearts, equally shaken by the experience.
This level of clashing auras... it was just like that day when they fought Roger!
"Hey, Teach, you alright?"
Satch noticed something and crouched down, patting Teach on the shoulder. The latter was barely supporting himself, leaning against the railing with a pale, bloodless face.
"Zehahaha..."
Teach looked up at him, forcing a weak smile. "I'm fine, Captain Satch. That guy... his presence was terrifying. Almost thought I was gonna die there..."
"You're a veteran crew member. Normally, you shouldn't be so easily overwhelmed like this."
Satch sounded puzzled, then suddenly smacked his forehead in realization. "Oh, I get it now..."
Damn it, did I overact?
A shadow flickered through Teach's eyes, but before it could settle, Satch wrapped an arm around him and laughed heartily:
"You idiot! You haven't eaten since last night, have you? No wonder you're so weak from hunger! What were you thinking, worrying me like this! The banquet in the kitchen is still being prepared. Here's what—I'll go grab you a plate first to tide you over!"
"Heh, you saw right through me... Thanks, Captain."
Teach immediately put on a simple, honest smile, scratching the back of his head. Only after Satch headed toward the kitchen did his grin gradually fade.
Truth was, he wasn't hungry at all.
Just like how he never felt tired, even if he hadn't slept in days.
Not needing sleep was an innate talent—he wasn't entirely sure why—but he knew exactly why he wasn't hungry...
It was because of that damn fruit!
Teach's gaze involuntarily drifted toward the center of the deck.
That handsome black-haired boy was clinking glasses with the old man, chatting and laughing with an effortless grace that made Teach's hidden fists clench unconsciously.
"It's all your fault..."
Afraid of being noticed, he glanced briefly before turning away, teeth grinding audibly.
If not for this guy...
If not for this guy bringing out that Fly Fruit, how could he have ended up like this?
Normal food held no appeal anymore. Instead, he'd developed a peculiar fondness for leftovers—half-eaten scraps others had abandoned.
Especially those spoiled, rotting dishes in the sweltering heat—they'd become his favorites at a glance, making his mouth water uncontrollably.
To satisfy this craving, he'd sneaked into the kitchen multiple times under cover of darkness, lifting entire buckets of slop to his lips and gulping them down.
Once he started, he couldn't stop, even licking every last residue clinging to the edges.
In those moments, he felt overwhelming satisfaction, yet also endless shame and fury.
But...
That wasn't even the worst part...
Every time he passed the restroom or relieved himself, that pungent, distinctive odor would make his hands twitch with an almost irresistible urge.
The intensity of that craving...
If not for his iron will, he might have truly succumbed by now!
"Zehahaha..."
Teach suddenly let out two low, manic chuckles. He glared at Xiano's back before quickly looking away again, cold hatred flashing in his eyes.
Just wait...
Just wait, Xiano.
Whether intentional or not, whether you knew what that fruit really was back then...
Not getting the Dark-Dark Fruit is one thing. But if that day ever comes—if I truly stand among the pinnacles of this sea—
I'll make sure you experience this same unbearable humiliation!
"Hey, you there."
Xiano, who had been chatting and laughing with Whitebeard, suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned his head. His gaze cut through the boisterous crowd, landing squarely on Teach.
"..."
Teach stiffened instantly, quickly forcing an innocent smile onto his face. After glancing around, he pointed at himself and said, "Huh? Are you calling me, sir?"
"Of course it's you."
Xiano chuckled dryly. "I remember you. You followed Marco to meet me last time on Fish-Man Island, didn't you? You even ate that trashy Devil Fruit. I feel somewhat responsible for that. As an apology, why not have a drink with me?"
With that, he casually tossed his flask over.
Teach hurriedly caught it and instinctively gave it a shake—there was still about a quarter left.
No one noticed that within the flask, an almost transparent liquid silently dispersed into the alcohol. In the brief moment between the throw and the catch, the final fusion was swiftly completed.
The ripples faded, returning to calm.
(End of chapter)