The heavy silence hanging between the two massive vessels was suddenly broken by a voice so sweet and innocent that it seemed to ripple across the mirror-like water like a song.
"Uncle Beard... is that really you?" the cute voice asked.
Every head on the Marine deck snapped around in unison. Shirahoshi stepped forward from the group of students, looking every bit the celestial princess. She stood at a graceful 6'4", her height giving her a commanding yet gentle presence. She wore a long white gown that flowed around her like a cloud, the fabric catching the salt-tinged breeze. Her beauty was so radiant that it felt almost otherworldly; the gown accentuated her elegant figure, and her long white legs moved with a regal poise.
For the male students, all eighteen years old and full of energy, the sight was overwhelming. A wave of deep crimson blushes swept through the crowd. Luffy, Zoro, Bakugo, and the others hurriedly looked away, their faces heating up as they found themselves unable to meet the gaze of such a stunning girl.
On the Moby Dick, the reaction to the boys' wandering eyes was instant and protective.
"Hey! You brats!" a man with yellow hair shaped like a pineapple roared. This was Marco, the First Division Commander. He leaned over the ornate railing, his rectangular face set in a stern expression. He wore a distinct violet jacket that fluttered in the wind as his eyes ignited with a protective fire. "How dare you look at our niece like that? I'll burn every one of you!" Marco shouted, his voice echoing across the gap.
Beside him, a massive man whose skin shimmered with the hardness of unbreakable diamond—Jozu—slammed his heavy fist into the wood of the ship. "You little motherfuckers! That's our niece you're gawking at! She is respected by every single man on the ship of Whitebeard! Show some respect!"
Whitebeard himself, the titan of the seas, let out a laugh that originated deep in his massive chest and shook the very air. "Gurararararararara! Listen well, brats! If any of you are planning to take a move on my niece, be prepared. For I will test your worth myself! Gurararara!"
The boys who were listening collectively gulped, their throats tight as the sheer weight of his title was a threat made their hearts skip a beat. "What the fuck..." Bakugo muttered under his breath, a rare bead of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Uncle, I am here as well," another sweet and elegant voice added, slicing through the tension. Hiyori stepped up beside Shirahoshi. She carried herself with a quiet dignity, her hand resting firmly on the hilt of her katana. The boys wanted to turn and look at her, but the men on the pirate ship were now watching them closely, one by one, with eyes like hawks.
"Gurararara! Hiyori! You're also here..." Whitebeard said, his golden eyes softening momentarily.
"Hehehe... well, I needed to come," Hiyori replied softly.
Those few words caused the good atmosphere to die down instantly. A chilling gravity settled over the deck. Whitebeard looked down at his two nieces with a piercing gaze. "Are you two really going in?" he asked solemnly.
Shirahoshi didn't answer with words, but the determination in her eyes said it all. Hiyori remained equally silent, her fingers clutching her katana with a white-knuckled grip.
"Gurarararararara! My nieces... always strong and never backing down!" Whitebeard boomed. All the men on the Moby Dick began to cheer wildly. "Oh, they have really grown up strong! They don't even need us anymore! May the gods bring our cute little nieces back to us safely!" the pirates shouted, their rough voices full of genuine love.
The Legend of the Sea
"Are they really pirates?" Bakugo asked, his eyes darting between the cheering, rowdy crew and the terrifying old man.
"You're really being a kiddo, Bakugo," Hina said, stepping up beside the explosive student. She stood tall in her signature pink suit, her expression cool and professional.
"What did you say, Pink Suit?!" Bakugo snapped, but Hina didn't care about his aggressive mess.
Hina looked toward the legendary ship and spoke clearly so the students could hear. "Every one of those men is worth at least 2 billion berries. Every single one on that ship. And that old man leading them? He is worth 7 billion berries. But we don't just issue those bounties for crimes. They are the real pirates who have roamed this sea for many years. They own these waters. Their ancestors started by hunting sea beasts and trading goods, generation after generation. That old man right there is the new leader of this ship and one of the strongest beings alive."
Garp let out a loud, thunderous laugh. "Whahahaha! Why are you here anyway, Whitebeard?"
Whitebeard looked at Garp, his expression darkening. "You don't get it, Garp. This island... this very place... you know nothing about it at all. I assume you're going in to find the fruit and let these kids have a try at it, right?"
Zephyr walked out onto the deck, his mechanical arm clicking. "Well, that's the plan, Whitebeard," he said firmly.
Whitebeard looked at Zephyr and grinned. "Gurararararararara! So you're also alive, Z?"
"Hey, hey! I wasn't dead yet! Hahaha!" Zephyr replied with a smirk.
Tsuru stepped forward, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Newgate... what do you mean by that? What are you implying?"
"Oh, even Tsuru? You really went all out for this mission," Whitebeard mused. He gripped his massive bisento and looked toward the horizon. "Anyway, it's hard to explain. Come, follow me. We will act as your guards for this final stretch. But let me tell you... you are the last ship that has arrived. Many other fleets are already waiting there, and they will all try their luck."
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To be continued