"Distant water can't put out a nearby fire."
Marco's final sentence brought everyone's raging will to fight crashing back down to reality.
The burning fury didn't dissipate—it was simply suppressed, transforming into a more agonizing sense of helplessness and anxiety.
"Damn it!"
"Are we really just going to stand here and watch Fish-Man Island get trampled by those bastards?"
"That's the place Pops protected for decades!"
Exactly.
They had just emerged from a deadly war with the Navy. Everyone was wounded, exhausted.
The Moby Dick was battered and couldn't even sail at full speed.
To reach Fish-Man Island, which was located in the first half of the Grand Line, from the New World—even without rest—it would still take significant time.
By the time they arrived, it would already be too late.
"Gurararara..."
Whitebeard's laughter was low and deep. Gone was the usual boldness—in its place remained only suppressed fury and a trace of fatigue.
Of course, he wanted to turn the ship around immediately and blast Charlotte Linlin and her Whole Cake Kingdom straight into the sea.
But looking at the deck full of sons wrapped in bandages—still radiating killing intent despite their wounds—his heart ached.
They had just come out of a massive battle. Everyone was at their limit.
In the middle of this suffocating silence, a voice rang out—not loud, but crystal clear in everyone's ears:
"I'll go."
It was quiet, yet it caused every motion on the ship to freeze.
Lucian.
No one knew when he had walked up to the bow. The sea breeze tugged at his robes, and his figure was eerily calm.
"Lucian?"
Marco blinked, then immediately shook his head.
"You're going alone? Isn't that too dangerous?"
"Marco, come on—you've seen what I can do. If I can beat down a Five Elder, what's one Charlotte Linlin to me?"
"And besides..."
"I'm not going alone."
He paused, eyes falling on Marco.
"You're coming with me."
"...Us?"
Marco looked even more confused.
"Just the two of us? That's still—"
"We can fly."
Lucian said it calmly—four simple words.
Boom!
Compared to "I'm going to overthrow the World Government," this sentence didn't have quite the same earth-shattering weight.
But at this moment, in this deadlock—it hit harder than any bold declaration.
The deck went silent again.
Of course!
Fly!
Marco possessed the powers of the Phoenix-Phoenix Fruit, allowing him to transform into a great blue phoenix and soar across the sky!
And Lucian...
Everyone's minds flashed back to the golden light blade that tore through the heavens during the war at Marineford—to his Sun God Apollo form!
That man could fly too.
And his speed—
Was utterly absurd.
"That's right..."
Marco's eyes lit up, his thoughts suddenly clear.
How had he forgotten this?
He and Lucian were the two most mobile fighters in the entire Whitebeard Pirates.
If the two of them flew there directly, they could cut down the travel time to a fraction of what it would be by sea.
And with Lucian's current strength—there were few in the world who could challenge him. What was one Charlotte Linlin?
"This..."
"This plan could work!"
"That's brilliant!"
The stagnant air shattered completely. The dullness in everyone's eyes was replaced with burning hope!
Jozu and Vista exchanged glances, both seeing the excitement in each other's eyes.
This was the most effective—and only—solution at the moment.
"Gurararara——!"
Whitebeard's thundering laughter exploded, silencing the rising chatter.
He looked at Lucian, those aged eyes gleaming with appreciation and pride like never before.
All the anger and fatigue vanished in an instant, replaced with pure, heartfelt excitement.
"Gurararara... good boy! Well said!"
Whitebeard raised his massive naginata and slammed it into the deck with a thunderous crash!
BOOM!
The entire Moby Dick shook violently!
He swept his gaze across everyone, his voice like rolling thunder.
"Then it's settled!"
Whitebeard pointed his giant finger at Lucian and addressed all his sons with a commanding roar:
"From this moment on, Lucian's words are my words!"
"His orders are my orders!"
"Everyone is to obey without question!"
This declaration was the true transfer of power—the formal handing over of supreme authority aboard the Whitebeard Pirates.
He hadn't just suggested Lucian become captain. He had publicly entrusted him with absolute command.
Marco, Jozu, Vista—all were deeply shaken.
But this time, no one objected.
They all turned to look at Lucian in unison, their eyes full of trust and respect.
"Yes, Pops!"
"Understood!"
The deafening response thundered through the skies like a tidal wave.
Lucian nodded to Whitebeard without speaking further.
He understood that this was the heaviest form of trust this old man could give.
"Marco."
Lucian turned toward the Phoenix.
"You ready?"
"Of course!" Marco grinned, his fighting spirit igniting.
"I've been waiting for this!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth—
Screeeech!
A phoenix cry pierced the heavens!
Blue flames soared into the sky, instantly forming a majestic and mighty undying phoenix.
Its flaming wings spread wide, releasing a blast of heat as they unfurled.
And at that moment—
Buzz—!
An explosion of golden light erupted from Lucian's body, shooting skyward like a beam from the sun!
He didn't take on the Apollo form—he didn't shift into any transformation.
He simply stood there—yet his entire being radiated like a living sun, emitting boundless light and searing heat.
The brilliance was so intense, everyone on the deck had to squint.
The next second—
Whoosh!
A figure of golden light soared into the sky and hovered beside the phoenix.
One gold, one blue.
One of light, one of flame.
The two figures stood side by side in the air, their combined presence shaking the sea itself.
"We're off."
Lucian's voice echoed from the sky.
"Pops, everyone—wait for our good news."
Before the words had even faded—
BOOM——!!!
Two beams of blazing light shattered the sound barrier as they shot into the distance!
One gold, one blue—tearing through the clouds and trailing massive blazing tails across the sky, rocketing toward the far horizon!
In just a blink,
They vanished from view.
Everyone on deck stared dumbfounded at the empty sky, unable to recover from the shock.
That speed…
Could no longer be called fast.
It was a law of nature.
After a long pause, Whitebeard finally lowered his gaze, the smile on his lips impossible to hide.
"Gurararara... truly... something worth looking forward to."