When Lucian Thorn opened his eyes once more, the entire world felt completely different in his perception.
He hadn't been "unconscious" for long. Most of the crew on deck were still lying on the ground groaning, while a few of the tougher veteran members were, under Marco's command, helping their companions up one by one.
But none of that was Lucian's focus.
In his mind, a strange black-and-white vision had appeared.
This wasn't an illusion.
It was the result of him exchanging for Whitebeard's Peak Observation Haki, and after absorbing the terrifying clash of Conqueror's Haki between Whitebeard and Shanks, it had been forcefully catalyzed and distorted into a unique form of Observation Haki that belonged solely to him.
'Is this… a form of Observation Haki that I've birthed for myself?'
"Lucian? You're awake? How do you feel?"
Marco's voice came from nearby, tinged with concern.
Seeing Lucian's pale face, drenched in cold sweat, he assumed Shanks' Conqueror's Haki had damaged his very foundation.
"I'm fine."
Lucian sat up abruptly, grabbing Marco's arm.
His gaze no longer carried the flattering, obsequious smile he usually wore.
Instead, it was filled with unprecedented gravity and urgency.
"Brother Marco, where's Pops? I need to see Pops!"
Several of the crew caring for their comrades looked up in surprise.
This monster of a little brother who had just joined… something about him felt completely different today. His urgency wasn't an act.
Marco sensed it too. Frowning, he pointed toward the bow of the ship.
"Pops is over there. Do you have urgent business with him?"
Lucian didn't answer.
Releasing Marco, he staggered to his feet and nearly stumbled as he rushed toward the bow.
Whitebeard stood alone at the prow, naginata in hand, staring at the horizon where Shanks had departed. His towering figure, bathed in the glow of the sunset, cast a shadow as immense as a mountain.
But at this moment, there was a heaviness about him that words couldn't capture.
"Pops!"
Lucian rushed up behind him, panting hard from running so quickly, his voice trembling.
Whitebeard slowly turned. His eyes, which had witnessed countless tides, carried a faint, almost imperceptible weariness.
"What is it, brat? Why are you in such a rush?"
Marco, Jozu, and the others followed close behind, watching Lucian warily. They were afraid their new little brother might once again stir up something earth-shaking.
Lucian took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
He knew this was his last chance—his only chance.
"Pops, Brother Marco…"
His gaze swept over the two of them, his tone deadly serious, even pleading.
"While I was unconscious, I used Observation Haki!
"I foresaw… I saw a very, very terrible future."
(As a transmigrator, of course he already knew Ace's fate—so he needed a reason, however far-fetched yet plausible, to explain himself.)
He paused, swallowing hard, then spoke the most crucial name.
"It's about… Ace."
The moment the words left his mouth, silence fell.
The sea breeze flapped Whitebeard's cloak, whistling in the wind, yet it couldn't break the suffocating stillness.
Marco's casual concern vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, solemn expression.
"Lucian, do you realize what you're saying?"
"I know exactly what I'm saying!"
Lucian's voice rose sharply. He stepped forward, eyes locked on Whitebeard.
Because he knew Ace's ending from his previous life's anime!
And now, with his newly awakened Observation Haki!
"Ace will die!"
The last three words tore from Lucian's throat like a roar.
Whitebeard's eyes sharpened, and the aura of the world's strongest man seeped from his body, thickening the very air.
Everyone thought Whitebeard was about to explode in fury—
—about to give Lucian a proper thrashing!
But instead, after a long pause, Whitebeard let out a deep laugh. Yet unlike his usual boisterous mirth, there was something complicated in it.
"Gurararara…"
He reached out his massive hand and gently placed it atop Lucian's head.
"Brat, your talent exceeds even my expectations. To sense a disastrous future? Remarkable."
Hope flickered in Lucian's heart.
"Pops… you believe me?"
"Of course."
Whitebeard withdrew his hand, his gaze returning to the endless sea, his voice distant and heavy.
"In truth, ever since that boy Ace left, I've felt uneasy. I too… have a very bad premonition."
At that, Marco's expression changed.
He knew Pops never spoke without reason. If even he said this, then… could it be true that Ace would…?
Lucian cried out, "Then what are we waiting for, Pops! We need to contact Ace right now and make him return! Whatever it takes, he must stop chasing Teach!"
But Whitebeard slowly shook his head.
"No."
"Why not?"
Lucian couldn't comprehend it, his voice cracking.
"Why not?! Are you just going to let him die?!"
"Lucian!"
Marco barked sharply, grabbing Lucian's shoulders and shaking him.
"Calm down! Let Pops finish!"
But Whitebeard wasn't angry. He merely looked at Lucian with eyes filled with a strong man's love… and resignation.
"Brat, remember this.
"Ace is my son, and the commander of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates."
"He is no hothouse flower. He is an eagle soaring across the seas. His comrade was killed. To hunt down a traitor is his duty as captain—and his pride as a man, something he cannot turn his back on."
"We are pirates. No one can stop a man from stepping onto the battlefield that belongs to him."
"That is the law."
Whitebeard's words were calm but carried an unshakable finality.
Marco sighed, softening his tone. "Lucian, I know you're worried about Ace. But you have to trust him. This is Ace we're talking about—the Flame-Flame Fruit user, one of Pops' proudest sons. Even if… even if he can't beat Teach, with his strength, escaping with his life is hardly impossible."
"Yeah, newbie," Jozu rumbled, "Ace's flames aren't something to scoff at. Don't scare yourself."
Their words cut into Lucian like blunt blades.
Trust Ace?
Escape safely?
Lucian knew better than anyone: it was precisely Ace's pride as a strong man that would drive him straight into the trap Teach had laid.
He would be defeated.
He would be sent to Impel Down.
And in the end, he would die under Akainu's magma fist.
Lucian opened his mouth, wanting to argue further.
But when he saw Whitebeard's unyielding gaze, and Marco and Jozu's unquestioning faith in their comrade, he understood.
It was useless.
Completely useless.
His prophecy, his warnings—against the pride and conviction of these men who ruled the seas—they were powerless.
All he could do was echo in vain.
"…I understand."
Lucian lowered his head, his voice hoarse, as though all his strength had drained away.
Whitebeard, thinking he had come to terms with it, patted his shoulder again, his tone gentler.
"Gurararara… Go rest, my son. Don't dwell on this anymore."
Lucian didn't reply. He turned silently and walked back to the cabin.
To the others, his back looked defeated and broken.
But only Lucian knew the truth.
Beneath his lowered eyelids, the urgency and fear in his dark pupils were already fading.
What replaced them was helplessness.
The helplessness of knowing the ending—yet being powerless to change it.
But it wasn't over. Lucian still had a trump card.
The System!
If he couldn't change the direction of fate—
Then before fate swallowed everyone whole, he would use any means necessary to change the final outcome!!
His consciousness sank into the system interface.
The two SSR pools gleamed temptingly before his eyes.
[SSR Character Pool: "The World's Strongest Man" — Edward Newgate (Peak)]
[Current Analysis Progress: 45.88%!]
[SSR Character Pool: "Strongest Conqueror's Haki" — Shanks (Peak)]
[Current Analysis Progress: 40.15%!]
From Shanks' exchange list, one S-rank skill stabbed at his eyes.
[S-Rank: Divine Departure Swordsmanship Insight (Fragment)]: Requires 30% "Shanks" Analysis Progress to exchange.
He had enough progress to trade for it.
But he knew—this alone wasn't enough.
A fragment couldn't change anything.
His gaze locked firmly on Whitebeard's pool.
45.88%.
Still more than half to go.
Just a little longer…
And he could make this world once again witness the terror of Whitebeard at his peak!