Chapter 182 – Whitebeard Restores His Youth
"He'll come and take your life soon, you disgusting fat pig!"
At this moment, Jewelry Bonney, having finally finished devouring mountains of food, staggered to Whitebeard's side. She placed her palm on his massive chest and activated her ability.
Before the eyes of the entire battlefield, time began to flow backward on Edward Newgate—Whitebeard. His aged, scarred features started to rejuvenate, his body regaining its vigor at a speed visible to all.
"No… it can't be!!"
The Navy was shaken to its core. Even Blackbeard's face twisted in fear as he watched Whitebeard grow younger before his very eyes, the thought of fleeing gnawing at his mind.
"So it's this woman's power… Bonney! Whitebeard, is this what you've been waiting for?" Sengoku muttered grimly from the execution platform, his expression darkening.
"Eh? Not good… a monster like Whitebeard, returning to his youth?" Kizaru raised his brows, genuine surprise flashing across his face.
"Hmph. So what? Even younger, he's still just one man." Akainu's voice was as cold as ever.
Aokiji, however, said nothing—his gaze hardened as he watched the transformation.
On the deck of the Moby Dick, Bonney's ability continued its work.
Seventy years old…
Sixty years old…
Fifty years old…
After regressing his age by about twenty years, Bonney's body collapsed with exhaustion. Her skin withered, her frame thinned, and she looked decades older.
"Is it just me… or has Pops gotten younger?"
"No, you're not seeing things! That woman's ability really made Pops younger!"
"In that case… Dad's gonna fight like in his prime again!"
"Hahahaha! Marines, and that traitor Teach—tremble! You're about to see what it means to face a young Whitebeard!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates roared in excitement, their morale surging. Only those who had once witnessed the true might of Whitebeard in his youth understood what a terrifying sight this was.
"Food! Quick… or I'll die!" Bonney gasped weakly.
"It's ready!" Ace caught her as she stumbled, dragging her to a mountain of provisions. Bonney immediately devoured everything at a frenzied pace.
Bonney's power—the ability to manipulate the age of herself and others—came with a steep price. Affecting ordinary people cost her stamina. Affecting a monster like Whitebeard consumed her entire being. She had eaten nonstop for three days to build up enough strength, and even then, she could only rewind Whitebeard's age by twenty years.
"Dad, how do you feel? Have you returned to your peak?" Ace asked eagerly.
"Idiot," Whitebeard chuckled, cuffing him with a smile. "My decline isn't just age. You think I'm weak because I'm old? No. It's this cursed illness eating away at me."
Indeed, Whitebeard's body had long been wrecked by disease. Even Trafalgar Law's surgical abilities could only ease his suffering, never cure it. That the old man who needed IV drips to sleep could still stride onto this battlefield was proof of his willpower alone.
Still, Whitebeard's smile never wavered. "This much is enough. Enough to kill Teach with my own hands… and avenge that fool Thatch."
Bonney gasped between mouthfuls, "My power… only lasts for one hour on you. Don't forget!"
"Gurararara! One hour's plenty. Ten minutes is all I need to deal with that bastard Teach!"
Whitebeard rose, his naginata Murakumogiri gleaming in hand. He glared across the bay at Blackbeard, laughter booming.
"Ku la la la la! Teach! Didn't you want my power? Then I'll deliver it myself—make sure you catch it!"
BOOM!
The quake of his landing shook the bay as Whitebeard leapt from the Moby Dick to the battlefield ice, charging straight for Blackbeard.
"Take your life, Teach!!"
Whitebeard's massive left fist crackled with the devastating power of the Gura Gura no Mi, the Quake-Quake Fruit. He swung it down with earth-shattering force.
"Dark Vortex!!"
Blackbeard thrust out his hand, the Yami Yami no Mi's darkness spiraling, dragging Whitebeard's quake energy into its abyss.
BOOM!!
The tremor dissolved into the void, swallowed whole by darkness.
"Zehahahaha!! Pops, even if you're young again, I now wield the most fearsome power in history! No Devil Fruit ability can escape me! With this power… we'll see who truly wins!"
"The most fearsome power?" Whitebeard's lip curled in disdain. He raised Murakumogiri high and slashed with the force of a storm.
"Lion Power: Earth Scroll!!"
Blackbeard crouched, slamming his hand into the ground. The stolen ability of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, once belonging to Golden Lion Shiki, erupted. A massive lion head surged from the earth, jaws gaping to devour Whitebeard.
"So, Shiki's ability…" Whitebeard muttered. His eyes narrowed—then with a single stroke, Murakumogiri cleaved the colossal lion in two. The blade did not slow, slicing past the construct to strike down toward Blackbeard himself.
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