Hiss!
Both the Marine soldiers and Whitebeard Pirates gasped when they heard Victor's words.
He was strong, sure—but could anyone really demand something from Edward Newgate, Whitebeard himself, the man standing at the very peak of the pirate world?
This kid had to be crazy.
"Little brat Victor, are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
Even Crocodile, who never lacked arrogance, secretly gave Victor a thumbs up.
He himself had once attacked Whitebeard, but that was more out of compulsion than confidence. He knew very well just how terrifying Whitebeard was.
To put it bluntly—on this battlefield, Whitebeard was still the strongest man alive.
And this was Whitebeard past his prime.
For Victor to openly demand Murakumogiri from him? Madness.
Even Straw Hat Luffy wouldn't try something this insane.
Or… did Victor actually believe he could surpass Whitebeard?
Crocodile didn't dare think too much about it. Ever since Impel Down, Victor had consistently broken the limits of what he thought possible.
At first, he had been shocked enough by the rise of Straw Hat Luffy. But this brat Victor? He was something else entirely.
Judging by his feats so far, Victor had long since left the realm of "newcomer." His power was already brushing shoulders with the legendary figures of previous generations.
Ask yourself this: among the so-called "twelve Supernovas," who else besides Victor could last more than ten rounds against Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman?
Victor had done it.
Not only that, but Mihawk had been forced to fight him seriously.
Victor hadn't won, but he sure as hell hadn't lost either.
Victor knew exactly how shocking his words sounded, but he wasn't panicked.
Whitebeard's strength wasn't the only reason he had achieved what he had. His strategy and battlefield control were just as terrifying.
If not for betrayal and illness in the original story, Whitebeard might have completely flipped the outcome of this war. In that sense, he was on the same level as Sengoku in terms of tactical brilliance.
So Victor was certain Whitebeard could see through him. He wasn't demanding Murakumogiri just for the hell of it—this was his excuse to join the fight for Ace.
If Victor rushed in recklessly, the Marines would brand him an enemy outright, and Hancock would be dragged into the storm with him. That was unacceptable.
But with a legitimate reason—like a deal with Whitebeard—he could act as a "mercenary," not a true ally.
The Marines might still see him as hostile, but they wouldn't risk provoking him too far. They couldn't afford to, not with Hancock on the line.
It was perfect. A move that killed three birds with one stone.
Complete the system's task.
Protect Hancock.
Gain the favor of both Whitebeard's crew and the Straw Hats.
Even the system had to admit—this host wasn't just strong, he was clever.
"Gurarara! Little brat, I haven't seen a youth like you in years. You're truly the face of the new era!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily, showing no hostility. This shocked many, but Sengoku and Akainu's faces twisted with fury. They both immediately saw through Victor's ploy—and worse, they realized Whitebeard saw it too.
"Victor."
"Victor."
Both Sengoku and Akainu muttered his name under their breath, their hatred swelling.
"I'll accept your terms! Little brat, if you can save Ace, Murakumogiri will be yours. Though you'll have to grow a bit taller first, gurarara!"
"...You're too tall, Uncle Whitebeard," Victor muttered, deadpan. Heights in this world were ridiculous anyway. He was taller than Hancock, sure, but next to Whitebeard? Forget it.
Luffy was the real problem—he wasn't tall, but his appetite made up for it.
"Gurarara! Then let's go, Victor! Help me rescue Ace!!!"
Whitebeard's laughter thundered across Marineford, sealing the agreement. His men erupted in cheers. Their morale skyrocketed, for their side had just gained an incredible ally.
The Marines, on the other hand, felt their morale sink.
The thunder dragon Victor had unleashed earlier was still etched in their minds—if it could tear through darkness itself, what chance did ordinary soldiers of flesh and blood have?
Sengoku and Akainu's hatred for Victor deepened. Akainu especially—it took all his restraint not to obliterate Victor on the spot.
Victor, meanwhile, had recovered enough stamina to leap back into the battle for Fire Fist Ace.
Before leaving the Moby Dick, he leaned in close and whispered, "Uncle Whitebeard, be careful of your son Squard."
Then he vanished in a flash.
Whitebeard's weakness had always been his blind, absolute trust in his "sons." Victor couldn't expose everything without drawing suspicion, but at least he could leave a warning.
"Borsalino! Stop Victor!"
Sengoku's voice thundered. He couldn't allow this boy to move freely any longer. Admiral Kizaru, the fastest man alive, was the only one who could intercept him.
"I know, I know. What a troublesome brat~"
Kizaru wore his usual lazy smile as his body blurred into golden light and disappeared.
[Ding! Mission complete. Reward: Diamond-level physique!]
As Victor charged toward the battlefield, power surged into him. His body strengthened, Haki and the Navy's Six Styles fused seamlessly into his being, and his endurance skyrocketed.
The Thunder Fruit had nearly wrecked his body before. Now, with his new physique, he could finally handle its power.
Crackle! Lightning sparked as his body transformed. Muscles and bones thrummed with energy, his speed surging to even greater heights.
But then—
A figure appeared ahead of him, moving just a little faster.
"Ohhh~~ kid, you're pretty quick~"
Admiral Kizaru.