The latter half of the New World, the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Just as it had been years ago, a small boat, tiny as a minnow, stood in a standoff against the massive, whale-like Moby Dick. On the small boat sat only Alucard, while atop the Moby Dick and its two escort ships stood over a thousand members of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Whether it was the men themselves or the crews bearing their names, "Whitebeard" and "Immortal", both had grown increasingly powerful over the years. But the greatest difference lay in the fact that Edward Newgate had grown old, while Alucard remained eternally young.
"I see him in the newspapers all the time, but this is just ridiculous, isn't it?"
Standing to Whitebeard's left, Marco stood with his arms crossed. Now over forty, a close look revealed deepening wrinkles around his eyes and prominent nasolabial folds. This mattered little; at this age, he was still in the golden era of his strength.
However, compared to the last time they had met over a decade ago, time had failed to leave a single mark on Alucard's face as he sat in the boat below.
Is he truly undying and unaging?
"You've grown old, Whitebeard."
Alucard leaned the back of his head against his chair, his tone sounding half-reminiscent and half-mocking. "That's why Blackbeard dared to murder a crewmate and defect right under your nose."
Blackbeard?
The Whitebeard Pirates were stunned for a moment upon hearing the name. But at the mention of "murder and defection," they knew exactly who Alucard was talking about: Marshall D. Teach.
Fury erupted instantly. It was an ironclad rule on Whitebeard's ship that one must never harm a comrade. That bastard Teach had committed an unforgivable crime.
"A man of your own was killed, yet you're still nesting here. Are you afraid of Blackbeard?"
Alucard's gaze swept across Marco, Vista, and the others standing beside the Great Pirate. If his tone toward Whitebeard had been a mix of acknowledgment and mockery, his words now were pure, unadulterated vitriol.
BOOM!!
Izo and the others had just begun to show their rage when they felt a sudden tremor beneath their feet. They turned to see Whitebeard's face completely dark. Clutching his naginata, he said coldly, "Immortal brat... if you speak another word of nonsense in my presence, I'll sink you into the sea right now!"
Normally, Alucard would have shot back with a "Can you even still do it?", but instead, he looked at Whitebeard with furrowed brows and a hint of pity.
It was that specific look that ignited Whitebeard's true wrath.
What is the most infuriating thing? An enemy shaming you? No. An enemy insulting you? No. It is an enemy pitying you. That is the ultimate provocation.
Just as Whitebeard's anger reached its breaking point, Alucard slowly stood up from the high-backed chair on his boat. He raised one hand horizontally. Suddenly, the vast blue sea in everyone's vision was flooded by a dense, crimson pool of blood. In an instant, the blue ocean became a River of Death, filled with countless rolling eyeballs that watched everything. The sight alone was enough to make one's skin crawl.
"So... so disgusting."
One crew member covered his mouth, looking at the dense clusters of eyes on the surface of the sea, feeling a wave of nausea.
"What's more terrifying is the range of this technique."
Marco's brows were knit tight. "He covered the entire ocean within our sight in a single breath. That's at least several nautical miles... and he did it so easily..."
Tad, tad!
Alucard stepped off his boat, standing firmly atop the pool of blood. He crossed his arms and reached into his coat, drawing his twin pistols, Casull and Jackal.
"I came here for one purpose: to fight you one last time before you die."
Fight?
The faces of the Whitebeard Pirates darkened. Was Alucard the Immortal finally making his bid for the title of the "World's Strongest Man"?
But something sounded off. Why did he say "before you die"? Was he referring to Pop's health? Was he saying the old man didn't have much time left?
"Gurararara~!"
Whitebeard let out a booming laugh. Before anyone could stop him, he reached out and tore every medical needle and IV tube from his body. One could see droplets of blood spray into the air the moment the needles left his flesh.
"Pops!!"
Vista and the others shouted in panic, moving forward to stop him. But Whitebeard gave a sudden leap, jumping from the bow of the ship directly onto the surface of the blood pool.
Looking at the needles scattered across the deck, Marco's expression was a complex mix of worry and a touch of despair. He knew Whitebeard's current condition all too well. He knew exactly what would happen if the old man fought a Yonko-level opponent right now.
Once the battle began, Whitebeard's body would suffer irreparable damage.
"Pops, we'll help you!"
Izo, dressed in his traditional kimono, prepared to jump from the bow. But at that moment, the blood pool beneath the Moby Dick and its escorts began to rise, forming the silhouettes of giant hands that started pushing the three massive ships away.
"Ggh...!"
Joz gritted his teeth in fury. His entire body, save for half his head, turned into diamond. He slammed his fists together, growling, "You want to drive us away from Pops? Don't even dream of it!"
Joz prepared to leap down, intending to use his incredible strength to stop the Moby Dick.
But before Joz could jump, the silent Whitebeard acted. He condensed the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit in his left hand and gave a gentle swing. The resulting shockwave created a massive thrust, vibrating the Moby Dick and the escort ships hundreds of meters away.
"P-Pops?"
The crew stood frozen, staring in disbelief as they realized it was Whitebeard himself who had pushed them away. Those who had intended to jump with Joz were left speechless.
"Stop, everyone."
Marco, who held the status of a First Mate, finally spoke. "It's no use trying to stop him. Don't you understand the meaning of that move?"
"Whew~"
Alucard whistled, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "So you've chosen to accept the challenge?"
He had half-intended to grab one of the "sons" to use as leverage, but it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.
"How could I ever back down from an enemy?"
Whitebeard raised his naginata, swinging it with such force that it created a whirlwind. A second later, he slammed it down onto the blood pool and charged forward with his massive frame.
"I am... WHITEBEARD!!!"
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