Whitebeard gazed at the approaching Sun and Moon Pirates, his eyes filled with curiosity and caution as he looked at Kuke.
It had been ten years since they last met.
Whitebeard noticed that Kuke and his crew had barely changed. The only difference was the presence of a few unfamiliar faces.
"You're Charlotte Linlin?"
Whitebeard was taken aback when he saw a youthful Charlotte Linlin.
She looked even younger than before.
Glancing at everyone else, they all appeared just as youthful.
"It must be Kuke's mysterious ability again," Whitebeard muttered, staring at Kuke in a daze.
He speculated that everyone was thinking the same thing, gazing at Kuke as if he were an enigma—an unfathomable mystery.
"There shouldn't be anything here worth you coming for personally," Whitebeard asked curiously, puzzled by Kuke's reason for visiting.
"There is."
Whitebeard was stunned.
He looked at himself, then at his sons.
What could it be?
Whitebeard wasn't demeaning himself, but he genuinely couldn't think of anything that Kuke would be interested in. If Kuke had wanted something, he would have taken it ten years ago.
The women standing behind Kuke mostly wore indifferent expressions, some exuding an air of pride as they faced the Whitebeard Pirates.
Only the newcomers like Nami and Princess Vivi appeared uneasy.
They had heard of Whitebeard's legendary name.
With the World Government deliberately suppressing news about the Sun and Moon Pirates, Whitebeard was still regarded as the most renowned pirate on the seas.
"A living legend among pirates… seems surprisingly easy to talk to," Nami murmured in surprise as she observed Whitebeard.
She had been nervous throughout the journey.
She had already learned that Captain Kuke's goal was Whitebeard's Devil Fruit.
When she first heard about it, she had been scared stiff.
That was Whitebeard they were talking about!
Trying to seize his Devil Fruit—wasn't that bound to cause an all-out war? People would die!
Even though Gion and the others kept reassuring Nami and the new recruits, telling them they had absolute certainty of victory and that Whitebeard couldn't cause any trouble, she was still terrified.
She had heard too many tales about Whitebeard.
Nami hid behind Gion, only daring to cautiously peek out.
"Marco, Jozu, stay. The rest of you, leave," Kuke ordered Whitebeard's sons.
Marco possessed the Mythical Zoan—Phoenix form.
Jozu wielded the Paramecia—Shining Fruit.
Both were exceptional Devil Fruits.
And then, there was Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
The Whitebeard Pirates had other ability users, but only these three fruits were worthy of Kuke's attention.
The division commanders looked conflicted.
This was their home territory.
Being given orders by an outsider felt humiliating.
But the one issuing the orders was Kuke.
They could only endure it, unable to even show their discontent.
This man—
He was a true monster who could wipe them all out.
The most visibly shaken one was Nami.
Her body trembled.
She wailed internally: It's over, it's over! Giving orders like that—Whitebeard is definitely going to get angry and attack! A battle is inevitable!
Even though Gion and the others reassured her that Whitebeard stood no chance against Kuke, she was still terrified.
"Leave," Whitebeard waved his hand dismissively.
He didn't see it as shameful.
On the seas, strength was the ultimate rule.
The rest of the crew retreated to nearby ships, leaving only Whitebeard, Marco, and Diamond Jozu on the main ship.
"He agreed just like that?"
Nami's mouth formed an "O" shape.
A living legend… was he really this mild-tempered?
"Speak. What do you want?"
"The abilities you possess—hand them over to me."
Pfft- Nami nearly had a heart attack.
She looked at Kuke in disbelief. Captain, that direct?! Is this really okay?!
Shouldn't he at least try to negotiate first?
Maybe there was a way to get it without resorting to violence?
"What?"
Whitebeard stared at Kuke in shock.
Marco and Jozu's expressions changed drastically.
"You want to kill us? You think killing us will let you take our abilities?" Whitebeard's tiger-like eyes widened in fury, instinctively stepping in front of Marco and Jozu protectively.
"That's not for you to worry about."
Darkness slowly swirled in Kuke's hand.
"Cooperate, and you live. Refuse, and you die."
Ten years ago—
He had spared Whitebeard's crew for this very moment.
"We can live?"
Whitebeard's clenched fist slowly loosened. He wasn't afraid of death, but he didn't want to see Marco and Jozu die.
His eyes scrutinized Kuke suspiciously.
Taking abilities from a Devil Fruit user—
Could the user even survive after that?
Whitebeard had never heard of such a thing before. If it were anyone else, he would have thought they were lying.
But this was Kuke.
Compared to some of the bizarre things Kuke had accomplished, stealing abilities without killing the user didn't seem so far-fetched.
"Ten years ago, I left empty-handed for this moment," Kuke said.
Whitebeard chuckled bitterly.
Compared to Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, he had fared much better. Ten years ago, he had only lost his reputation—not his sons or his home.
"I am Whitebeard, after all. If you want my Tremor-Tremor Fruit, you should at least make me accept it willingly, right?"
He wasn't just going to hand it over.
That was too humiliating for his pride.
Whitebeard erupted with a terrifying aura.
His presence soared into the sky.
The calm sea raged violently, and his Conqueror's Haki flooded the entire area, making the air heavy and oppressive.
"So terrifying…"
Nami clung to Gion, who shielded her from the overwhelming pressure.
"But as scary as it is… his words don't really sound that imposing," she muttered.
Her mouth gaped wider.
Could Gion and the others really be right? Does Whitebeard truly stand no chance against our captain? Otherwise, why would he be so submissive?
"Sit down."
In an instant, Kuke appeared in front of Whitebeard.
He placed his hands on Whitebeard's shoulders.
Boom!
Whitebeard was forced back into his chair, unable to move.
"I am Whitebeard!"
Whitebeard roared, his clenched fist cracking the air itself.
The massive ship plummeted.
The sea beneath them sank into a thousand-meter-wide chasm, sending monstrous waves crashing outward.
Yet, Whitebeard remained stuck in his chair.
No matter how much the ocean churned, he couldn't rise.
His muscles bulged, veins popped, and—
Crack!
The air continued to fracture.
Boom!
The ship crashed into the seafloor, yet Whitebeard remained seated.
He sighed, releasing his strength.
If he continued, he would destroy the ship and be buried at sea.
The water slowly flowed back.
The massive chasm disappeared.
The Whitebeard Pirates resurfaced.
Marco and Jozu, who had witnessed everything up close, stood frozen like statues.
"Ten years ago, at least Pops could fight back and last a few dozen minutes."
This time—
He couldn't even stand up.
"Is his power truly limitless? Is he even from this world?" Marco collapsed onto the deck.
Whitebeard sighed.
"You can have the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Marco, Jozu…"
"Old man, it's fine. We don't need our abilities," Marco responded, accepting reality.
"You must guarantee their survival," Whitebeard demanded.
"That's not cooperation. If you want to negotiate, bring me fifty ability users within three years. Any ability will do, Devil Fruits included," Kuke said.
The more abilities he acquired—
Who knew? Perhaps a certain combination could evolve into something godlike.
"I understand," Whitebeard agreed through gritted teeth.
Minutes later, Kuke held three Devil Fruits in his hands—
The legendary Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the Mythical Zoan—Phoenix form, and the Paramecia—Shining Fruit.
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DONT FORGET POWER STONE
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