Just as the massive stone of worry in Kyle's heart had finally settled, and before he could enjoy more than a few days of peace, work came looking for them.
The Oro Jackson sailed at a leisurely pace, the atmosphere on board as lively as ever. Shanks and Buggy were in the middle of their daily spar, but their duels had evolved. They were no longer just swinging swords blindly; they were now starting to incorporate the basic skills they had learned from Roger, Kyle, and the others into their fights.
"Take this, Red-Nose!" Shanks roared, stomping his foot on the deck to suddenly accelerate his charge.
Buggy was ready for it. He let out a strange cry as he dodged to the side, his dagger tracing a tricky arc. "This great me won't fall for that twice! That move of yours doesn't even have one-tenth of the power of Kyle-bro's!"
"Shut up!"
The deck rang with the clang of steel, bustling with energy. Roger, wearing a flamboyant pink shirt, sat on the ship's figurehead, sipping sake and loudly cheering the two boys on. Rayleigh leaned against the mast reading a book, a faint smile playing on his lips. Kyle reclined in a lounge chair, the orange juice in his glass swirling gently. Everything seemed tranquil, as peaceful as a painting.
That serenity was shattered by an urgent shout from the crow's nest.
"Huge ship spotted at three o'clock! It's approaching us at high speed!"
In an instant, all the playful noise on the deck ceased. Every crew member froze, their heads snapping in the direction Dolinger had indicated. Where the sea met the sky, a colossal shape was cutting through the waves, its outline far larger than any ordinary ship. It looked less like a vessel and more like a moving mountain, its bow carved into the majestic shape of a great white whale. Just looking at it from a distance, one could feel its overwhelming presence.
"You've got to be kidding me… What kind of monster is that?" a crewmate muttered, swallowing hard.
Buggy frowned, instinctively positioning himself in front of Shanks and poking his head out from behind him. "That ship… it looks like it's going to eat us!"
While Shanks was a little nervous, he was mostly thrilled. He gripped his cutlass tightly, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the colossal ship that was gradually coming into focus. As the distance closed, the vessel's iconic pirate flag came into view—a skull with a crescent-shaped white mustache.
"It's 'Whitebeard' Newgate…" Rayleigh said, closing his book as his expression sharpened.
"Kuhahaha!" Roger leaped to his feet on the figurehead, his face erupting with an infectious excitement and fighting spirit. "It's Newgate! Been a long time!"
Kyle also stood up and walked to the ship's rail, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. The Moby Dick. The legendary ship that carried the strongest man of the era and his countless "sons" had just unexpectedly burst into view. He could clearly see the giant of a man standing at its bow—none other than the "Strongest Man in the World," Edward Newgate himself.
But it wasn't just Whitebeard that caught Kyle's eye. He also saw a young man with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle and a lazy expression, yawning as he leaned against the railing. He spotted a sturdy, square-jawed young man with his arms crossed, vigilantly observing their ship. And there was another young man with a thin mustache and a rapier at his waist, talking animatedly with a companion… Marco, Jozu, Vista. The future commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, men who would one day shake the New World to its core, were right now just a group of teenagers, still with a hint of childishness in their faces, gathered around their "Pops" and curiously sizing up the Roger Pirates.
"Hey, Shanks, look!" Buggy whispered, tugging at Shanks's sleeve. "That guy's ship is huge! It must be hiding countless treasures!"
"Idiot! Is this really the time to be talking about that?" Shanks whispered back, though he couldn't hide the excitement in his own eyes. "That's the Whitebeard Pirates! They're legends, just like Captain Roger! And look, they have guys our age on their ship, too!"
As if by an unspoken agreement, the gazes of the two young apprentices met those of the teenagers on the Moby Dick. Invisible sparks seemed to crackle in the air between them—the initial rivalry of a new generation.
The two legendary ships drew closer and closer, finally stopping less than a hundred meters apart. The sea breeze ruffled their equally defiant pirate flags.
"Gurararara…" Whitebeard's iconic laugh boomed across the water, so powerful it seemed to make the sea itself ripple. "Roger! You troublesome bastard! What are you doing in my territory instead of staying in your own rat hole?"
"Kuhahaha! This ocean isn't your private garden, Newgate!" Roger shot back, placing his hands on his hips and laughing just as loudly. "I heard there's a gourmet island up ahead, and I was just about to go have a feast! What, you want a piece of it?"
"Hmph, my sons are hungry, too," Whitebeard grunted, lightly tapping the deck with his Supreme Grade blade, Murakumogiri. "But before that, why don't we stretch our muscles a bit? We still haven't finished our last fight!"
"That's exactly what I was thinking!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth, Roger drew his cutlass, "Ace." At the same time, Whitebeard lifted Murakumogiri with one hand. Two overwhelming surges of Conqueror's Haki, powerful enough to tear the heavens asunder, erupted from the two captains and clashed violently in the space between them.
The sky above them split apart. Dark clouds gathered instantly, and lightning flashed as the very air became thick and heavy with their power. Kyle stood by the rail, the black and red cracks in the sky reflected in his golden eyes. He looked at the two men, who stood facing each other like gods among men, then at the battle-ready crews behind them, and at the eager look on young Shanks's face. This was the true landscape of this era. No schemes, no conspiracies, just the purest greeting pirates could offer—fight first, talk later.
"Hey! Pops! Let us join in, too!" the young Marco shouted, his usually sleepy eyes now wide with excitement.
"Newgate, your sons seem full of energy!" Rayleigh said with a grin, drawing his own sword.
Jabba hoisted his twin axes, a wide smile on his face. "Perfect! My muscles and my axes have been getting a bit rusty lately!"
The pirates on both ships drew their weapons. A top-tier battle that would shake the seas was about to begin. However, at that tense moment, Roger suddenly shouted, "Hey! Newgate! Let's make a deal! After the fight, we have a banquet together! I brought the best rum from the East Blue!"
Whitebeard paused for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh. "Gurararara! Well, that depends on if you have the skill to snatch any food from me! My ship has a world-famous chef!"
The tense atmosphere instantly vanished, replaced by an even more fervent, uniquely pirate-like sense of festivity.
"Alright, lads! Prepare to board! Time to grab some booze!" Jabba roared.
"Sons! Show them who the strongest pirate crew on this sea is!" Whitebeard bellowed, raising his arm.
The two colossal ships began to slowly move toward each other, their crews already itching to jump across. Kyle couldn't help but laugh at the chaotic yet harmonious scene. He drained the last of the orange juice in his glass. From this point on, there would be no time for drinks.
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