The New World
An uncharted island lay before them, its wild beauty illuminated by the gentle glow of the moonlight. The sea whispered softly as it caressed the shoreline, and a soothing breeze rustled the palm leaves, creating a tranquil symphony of nature.
Along the coast, a collection of magnificent three-masted sailboats rested at anchor, their dark silhouettes contrasting with the serene night. Among these vessels, one stood out, dwarfing the others with its sheer size and imposing presence.
This magnificent ship bore the name "Moby Dick." It was the flagship of the notorious pirate crew led by the indomitable Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors ruling over the New World.
Inside a lavishly appointed cabin on the Moby Dick:
Seated upon an ornate bed, a robust man with a penchant for distinctive fashion choices donned a black hat and sported a crescent-shaped white beard that gave him an air of gravitas. His eyes held a depth that seemed to penetrate the very soul.
This formidable figure was none other than Whitebeard, the renowned and unrivaled power in the world. Yet, at this moment, Whitebeard's spirit had merged with that of a soul from another realm, adding a layer of complexity to his already legendary existence.
"Blackbeard has obtained the powers of the Dark Fruit. Ace has been captured, and the Marines have declared Ace's impending execution," Whitebeard muttered in hushed tones.
"Furthermore, my predecessor has rallied the entire Whitebeard Pirate Group, preparing to make a move towards Marineford to rescue Ace."
"In essence, what awaits me is... an impending war!"
His words hung in the air, and the room fell into a profound silence. The six-day countdown was ticking away, a mere heartbeat in the grand scheme of things, hardly enough time to devise a solid plan that could change the course of fate.
But Whitebeard understood that blindly following the original path, charging headlong into Marineford, would lead to his inevitable demise on the battlefield. And the Whitebeard Pirates would suffer the same fate as they did in the original storyline—disbandment.
Yet, the path to altering destiny remained shrouded in uncertainty.
The reason was clear—Marine was a formidable force to reckon with. Figures like Sengoku the Buddha, Garp the Hero, the three Admirals, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea posed an overwhelming challenge.
Moreover, a multitude of Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals, supported by one hundred thousand elite Marines, awaited him at Marineford, like a spider's web ready to ensnare its prey.
Although it might seem that the Whitebeard Pirates put up a fierce fight against Marine in the original narrative, nearly reducing Marineford to rubble, the end result remained the same—a crushing defeat. Whitebeard himself fell in battle, Ace met a tragic end, Joz lost an arm, and the pirates suffered devastating losses before collapsing.
And what about the Marines?
With the exception of some lower-ranking combatants, they emerged from the conflict relatively unscathed. They remained the dominant force on the seas, having dismantled an Emperor's crew with minimal losses.
This underscored the staggering might of the Marines.
If Whitebeard repeated the same mistakes of the past by charging into Marineford unprepared, even with knowledge of the plot, his destiny would remain unchanged—his demise.
"I've inherited Whitebeard's legacy, and I won't allow history to repeat itself!" Whitebeard declared with determination.
He vividly remembered the tragedies that befell the Whitebeard Pirates after Whitebeard's death in the original tale. Their strength splintered into various factions, and his crew's captains were relentlessly pursued, scattering the once-mighty pirate alliance.
Now, as the new Whitebeard, he was resolute in preventing that tragedy from happening again.
"And perhaps this card holds the key to changing my destiny."
He extended his palm, revealing a mysterious card that bore extraordinary power—a bound super-card system that only he could comprehend.
As long as you defeat the enemy in battle, you can acquire cards with various effects. And this card is from the novice gift package granted by the system upon first binding.
[Life Recovery: This card holds within it the essence of vitality, capable of mending hidden injuries and ailments within the human body, bestowing rebirth upon its holder.]
"In the original narrative, Whitebeard's fall in battle, aside from the relentless onslaught, was exacerbated by his deteriorating health and advancing age."
"As he neared the climax of the war, Whitebeard fought with a mere 50% or 60% of his former strength."
"But with this card, my body can be returned to its prime!"
Whitebeard grasped the card firmly, his determination etched across his face.
A surge of invigorating vitality coursed through his veins, revitalizing his failing organs, dispelling his maladies, and gifting his limbs with newfound vigor.
It was as if he could pulverize a mountain with a single blow.
Not only did his body recover, but his Haki, which had waned with his physical decline, also returned to its zenith.
The sounds of his surroundings became exquisitely clear to him.
"Is this the pinnacle of my strength?"
A fiery determination flickered in Whitebeard's eyes.
With unwavering resolve, he removed the IV tube from his body, rose from the bed, and exuded a powerful aura.
Clang! Clang!
Objects in the room trembled in response to the sudden release of energy.
"Old man?"
His waiting crew members were perplexed by the commotion. They couldn't comprehend why their captain had awakened so late.
However, they soon felt an overwhelming presence.
This unanticipated aura left the crew gasping for breath.
Their widened eyes and instinctive clutches at their necks made them resemble fish out of water.
"Captain... Pops' aura is more formidable than ever!"
A crew member grasped his neck, face flushed from the suffocating pressure, yet he couldn't tear his gaze away from the astonishing transformation of Whitebeard.
While Whitebeard's former aura was impressive, it bore the weight of twilight, akin to an aging lion.
Now, he radiated the majesty of a true jungle king, overflowing with vitality.
Ignoring the bewildered calls, Whitebeard strode onto the deck and moved toward the bow of the Mobile.
Tread! Tread! Tread!
The rhythmic resonance of his steps filled the air.
His aura continued to surge, even affecting the neighboring ships.
Upon reaching the pinnacle of the bow, Whitebeard's fists clenched.
"Roar!"
A deep, thunderous bellow erupted from his lips.
His colossal fist sliced through the air on either side, like an unstoppable force.
Click!
The fist appeared to collide with an invisible barrier, causing the air to shatter like fragile glass, sending ripples radiating outward.
As the ripples expanded, an imposing wave of power surged forth.
Witnessing this spectacle, Whitebeard did not pause. He forcefully extended his arms, and the potent shockwaves rippled like a tempestuous sea.