Chapter 6: Chapter 6 - Be my son!
"Hey, pineapple guy, I mean, Marco, why is there a new hole in the deck?" Damon asked curiously, feeling better now with his stomach fuller, while Marco offered him a juice.
His question was met with a sudden silence from the crew.
"You guys are so strange..." The boy commented, observing the intrigued looks of those present.
"YOU DID THIS!" Everyone shouted at the same time.
"Hm? Me?" The boy asked, raising his eyebrows, genuinely surprised.
"Yes, it was you," Marco said, snapping out of his daze.
"But I don't remember that! So it wasn't me!" The child said, lifting his head with dignity.
"WHAT KIND OF LOGIC IS THAT?!" Once again, everyone shouted.
"GURARARARA! What a fun kid!" Whitebeard began to laugh loudly, his laughter echoing across the deck.
Jozu, another commander of the crew, approached with a mischievous smile. "You have a unique way of making an impact, kid. That was good!"
"Yeah, really unusual," agreed Vista, another pirate, while watching the boy with curiosity.
The boy was a little taken aback by the attention but stood firm. "Well, if I really did that, it must have been by accident!"
The crew continued to exchange glances and laughs as Marco explained the situation. "It seems that what you call Susanoo is still a bit out of control..."
"You called it Susanoo?" Vista, one of the commanders, inquired.
"Yes, that's the name the kid gave. Kind of scary, don't you think?" Marco replied, smiling.
"Hey, kid, what else can you do with this Susanoo?" Thatch, another pirate, asked.
The boy shrugged. "I have no idea. It was the first time that happened."
"That's impressive!" exclaimed Izou, as other members approached to get a closer look at the boy.
Whitebeard, still laughing, looked at the boy. "Welcome aboard, feel at home, kid. Looks like we'll have fun with you today."
The boy, even in the strange situation, couldn't help but smile a little. He had gained the attention and somehow the acceptance of the powerful Whitebeard Pirates.
"Hey?! But don't laugh at me, I'm your adversary, Whitebeard!" The boy shouted to the man, while other members laughed cheerfully.
"GURARARARARA! You've made that clear, but how about we talk a bit about it after the feast, stinky brat." Whitebeard smiled, ignoring the boy's provocations.
Damon entered contemplation for a moment and looked directly into the eyes of the world's strongest man without looking away.
"Alright... Hmm... That's delicious!" The boy simply said, diverting attention to the plate Marco had brought him, exclaiming happily as he enjoyed the food.
Everyone fell to the ground again with stunned eyes. "GURARARARARA!" Whitebeard was having fun with everyone's reaction.
"Hahahahahaha! I have to admit, the new little brother is quite fun, isn't he?" J said excitedly, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.
"It's true, I think we've never been through something so peculiar before, considering we're the strongest pirate crew in the world," he said, nodding his head.
The banquet continued, and while the boy indulged in the offered food and orange juice, the crew began to approach him, especially the captains.
"Hey, don't eat my food!" Damon yelled as some members approached to grab a bit of the food.
"We're brothers now; we should share all the food..." protested one of the members.
"Brothers, I don't remember that... although it's not a bad thing..." The boy murmured, accepting the situation and letting them share his portion.
The captains chatted among themselves while enjoying the party, some praising the unique behavior of the new crew member. Damon, even initially reluctant, began to get used to the idea of being part of that peculiar pirate family.
While the imposing ship glided through calm waters, the boy, still excited, continued his banter with some crew members throughout the rest of the day. The sun, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink, gradually hid on the horizon, giving way to the majestic moon of the night.
The atmosphere on board transformed as the day bid farewell. The energy that had pulsated with the celebration now acquired a calmness of the night. The crew, visibly content with the celebration, lay scattered on the deck, some leaning, others fallen, all subdued by the alcohol they had consumed during the party.
The silver rays of the moon illuminated the scene, revealing unconscious bodies, muffled laughter, and sporadic singing echoing across the deck. Some lanterns swayed gently, casting dancing shadows on the wooden floor, while the night breeze whispered through the ship's masts and sails.
Despite the earlier excitement, the tranquility of the night now enveloped the pirate ship, providing a fascinating contrast to the festivity that had taken place hours before. The boy, after his tumults, found a moment of pause, observing the transformation of the scene as the vessel sailed under the serene moonlight.
"So, brat..." Whitebeard's voice broke the festive buzz, capturing Damon's attention. The boy looked at the imposing six-meter man, still trying to recover from the extravagant food party.
"Hm?" Damon responded cautiously, watching closely as only a few remained conscious, all with their eyes fixed on him.
"Do you still want my title?" Whitebeard asked, displaying a challenging smile.
"I... I want to!" Damon replied with newfound determination, a gleam of courage in his eyes.
"Why do you want this, kid? Marco told me about some things you talked about." Whitebeard probed, his voice laden with curiosity. Damon hesitated for a moment before opening his heart.
"Because I want to be strong! I want to protect my friends and not be alone anymore..." He confessed timidly.
"That's a noble goal. Do you already have friends, then?" Whitebeard questioned, sensing the hesitation in Damon's tone.
"I... I don't know. I met a lion and a monkey on the island where I stayed for a few years, does that count?" Damon said, his childlike voice carrying a touch of loneliness as he realized he still didn't have friends.
"GURARARA, I guess it does, kid. But that doesn't matter now... You won't need to protect anyone." Whitebeard's voice sounded gentle, almost paternal.
"What do you mean?!" Damon asked, confused.
"Because I've already decided, you will be my son!" The declaration echoed on the deck, waking up even some unconscious members, while the captains smiled, witnessing a scene that had always been incredible to them.
"What?! What do you mean? I had a father; I can't just have a new one like that!" The boy exclaimed, surprised.
"GURARARARA! It doesn't matter, kid. I've decided that you will be my son; now you will sail with me, and if one day you still want my title, I'll be waiting for your challenge!" Whitebeard exclaimed with conviction.
"I... I don't know what to say..." The boy was stunned by the surprise.
"I don't need you to say anything! I've already decided, my foolish son! GURARARA." Whitebeard laughed loudly, a laughter that echoed across the deck.
"You can't just decide something like that out of nowhere!" Damon protested.
"Oh? If you want my title and want to get rid of me, you can come anytime; I challenge you," he said to the tiny brat.
"How so?"
"Simple, if you want to defeat me, I accept anything, murder, poison, traps, you choose," he challenged the boy.
"WHY WOULD I DO THAT?!" The boy exclaimed, refusing methods that didn't align with his father-taught honor.
"Ah, so little Damon wishes to challenge the power of old Whitebeard fairly?" The giant with a white beard enjoyed the idea.
"I'm not little, and I..." Damon began, but was interrupted by Whitebeard's thunderous laughter.
"GURARARARARA! You're small compared to me, kid. But back to our challenge, you wouldn't do that because you have honor, right? So you're better than I thought. That's great!" Whitebeard scrutinized Damon with a penetrating gaze.
"Yes! My father always taught me to fight with honor and courage. Assassination or using poison is not my style!" Damon asserted firmly.
"I understand, I understand. Honor is rare in these seas. But you need to understand that not everyone follows that code. Here, what matters is strength, determination, and sometimes, a bit of cheating." Whitebeard explained, his serious gaze conveying wisdom acquired over the years.
Damon pondered on the captain's words as he looked around at the bustling deck.
"Your challenge will always be open; by the way, if you want to leave, you'll have to defeat me, brat. GURARARARARARA!" Whitebeard slapped Damon on the back.
"Hm? Don't expect that just because I won't use dirty tricks, it doesn't mean I won't want your title! I'll challenge you and take it, eventually!"
"Very well, my foolish son!" Whitebeard exclaimed.
"You can't just choose me as your son!" The boy was bewildered by this man.
"GURARARARARARA! That's right, my boy! Life is made of choices, and I've chosen that you will be my son." Whitebeard placed his enormous hand on Damon's shoulders, conveying a mixed feeling of strength and tenderness.
Damon, still adjusting to the idea, frowned. "But I had a father..."
"Your old father, your new father, what matters is that now you are part of the Whitebeard Pirates family! And about the challenge..." Whitebeard winked at Damon, maintaining a challenging smile. "I accept any form of duel you choose, my little future commander!"
"Are you kidding me?" Damon looked at Whitebeard, incredulous.
"GURARARARARARA! Maybe a bit, but remember, kid, you are free to make your choices. Now, let's celebrate this new alliance!" Whitebeard raised his tankard in a toast.
As the crew joined the celebration, the other captains approached Damon, each with a different expression.
"You really won Whitebeard's heart, kid!" Jozu, the spirited man, exclaimed.
"It's rare to see him so animated. You must be special," said one of the other captains, looking at Damon with curiosity.
Damon, still perplexed by the turn of events, smiled timidly. "Well, I guess I'm officially part of the crew now... until I defeat him..."
"We're all family here now, Damon!" Marco, Whitebeard's right-hand man, said, offering Damon a tankard of orange juice.
As the party continued, Marco approached Damon for a more private conversation. "Don't worry too much about the title. Pops is a bit eccentric, but he has a big heart. You'll get used to the madness."
Damon nodded, still processing the twists and turns of his life. The night unfolded in laughter, stories, and a sense of camaraderie that Damon didn't expect to find when he boarded that ship.
And so, the Whitebeard Pirates gained a new member, and Damon embarked on an unlikely journey as the son of the world's strongest man, unaware of what his life would be like in the coming years.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone