• {Year: 20.5} •
Traveling through the cloudy sky, Ryu gazed at a direction. It was where the Whitebeard Pirates was now, having recently left Red Line that separated New World and Paradise.
The Whitebeard Pirates did not move after landing aboard a island for some reason. Ryu shrugged and went there to meet Edward Newgate.
...
"I wanted to say something before we declare the war against Marines—no, the World Government." Whitebeard's hardened voice rang out, as his whole crew listened. "Even though I am considered as the strongest man in world, we all have a end. This war... it is where I may or will die for my family."
The people looked like they were going to protest but Whitebeard held his hand out, stopping them.
"Let me finish." He sighed and stood straight as the medical tubes flicked out of his aged yet muscular and tall body. Taking his Bisento, he slammed it upon the ground. "Even if I die, you all are still a family! No matter what, do not forget that! You all are my legacies, my sons and daughters! Even if one of you become the new Captain, you all are still family no matter what!"
"Do you all understand?!" His solid and serious voice boomed loudly, following which was a series of cheers with few cries.
"No, I don't." A nonchalant voice suddenly interrupted. They immediately looked around and saw the Solitary Pirate, Ryu, floating in the sky. They relaxed slightly, knowing this man wouldn't attack them for some reason.
"Hoh, it's you brat." Whitebeard stated. "What's your business with us?"
"Let's just say, I don't want you to die with regrets." Ryu smirked when he saw Whitebeard's face warp into sadness slightly before resuming to normal.
"What do you mean? I won't have any regrets after saving my sons..." His voice faltered slightly, but that was all that his family needed to know. They understood that Whitebeard did not really want to die with regrets. "...Besides, what's it matter to you?"
"Me? Well, I have a relation with Ace, so it does matter to me." Ryu stood in front of the tall and muscular man who held his Bisento upward. "And I already planned to restore your body to its peak, thereby allowing you to fight at your all and live longer to watch your legacies grow up."
"..." Whitebeard's face was shadowed by the sun's hitting the back of his head. "Normally, I would have rejected you but... I do not want to fight at my weakened state and fail to save my sons. So, I thank you for doing this..."
"Yeah, yeah." Ryu lazily waved his hands as if it was nothing. He held out his right palm towards the center of Whitebeard's large chest. 'Do it, system.'
*Ding*
[Progression of Restoration : 23%...]
[Progression of Restoration : 51%...]
Whitebeard already felt stronger but he also felt something disappearing from him. He shrugged it off to his disease leaving him.
[Progression of Restoration : 87%...]
[Progression of Restoration: 100%]
*Ding*
[Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, now at his peak state. Capable of holding his ground against 25% of your prowess, however should you go all out, he will be easily defeated.]
'Well, that's strong enough.' Ryu chuckled inwardly. Even Mihawk would not be able to fight against him at 25%, but Whitebeard would be able to hold his ground... His blood boiled for battle but he decided to be patient, after all, Whitebeard still needed time to adjust. "It's done."
"Yes." Whitebeard nodded in response, already feeling stronger than ever. He even felt that he was stronger than his times. Relaxing his body and stretching slightly, Whitebeard sighed. "It looks like I need to adjust to it while we go."
"Mmn." Ryu shrugged and added, with his battle intent boiling. "Next time we meet, we fight. You better make it or else I will revive you and torture you for not making it."
Sweat dropped on their bodies. 'Hey! How are we supposed to take that as?!'
"My family!" Suddenly, Whitebeard boomed out with his deep voice. They all turned their attention to their 'Pops' while Ryu just stood aside and watched on interested in what he was going to say next. "We all know that the Impel Down will be difficult to raid without any attention upon us. So, I will only send a division to raid Impel Down... Should they be late, rescue the Warlord who has protested against the war, Jinbe!"
At this, they solemnly nodded. Jinbe was the only warlord against the war, since he had connections with the Whitebeard Pirates.
Seeing that they were going to start planning for their raid and war, Ryu left without any concern. Now that Whitebeard was back to his peak and even stronger, he was sure they wouldn't fail in the rescue as long as he didn't underestimate any opponents met on the battlefield... even any betrayals.
…
"Hmm, I don't have anything much to do in Paradise of Grand Line..." Ryu muttered, thinking he should return to New World. Nodding, he began his path to the Red Line, however, he wasn't going under it.
Ryu smirked, thinking what would happen if those haughty and arrogant Celestial Dragons saw him in their territory.
…
Several hours later...
Finally arriving before the large and tall Red Line, Ryu looked up and thought. "Maybe I should just take my time and climb it instead, like that Fisher Tiger did."
He nodded and approached the large mountain, slamming his fingers into it. Even without Armament Haki, his body was god-tier physique so he easily planted his fingers in as if it was pudding.
Since this was the case, he just took his time climbing, slowly going upwards and enjoying the harsh wind that struck him often. His stamina didn't even diminish by much by the time he arrived to 5% of the tall mountain.
[5.1%]
…
Two days later...
[26.3%]
'The Impel Down should have been raided by now' Ryu thought as he sat in a huge caved-in spot in the Red Line. The ocean was beautiful from a higher view, seeing the sun shimmering the water, and at least three islands in the far distances away. Even though the harsh wind was there, it was merely a breeze for Ryu.
"It'd be funny if I made a house here... No one would dare to do so, thinking they would be courting death for living right under the territory of Celestial Dragons." He chuckled. There was also the fact that no one thought that their house would survive the harsh conditions of the Red Line and that they found those self-proclaiming Gods disgusting.
[Impel Down has been breached in, prison wardens has yet to discover them as one of their member has a Devil Fruit that would redirect their sight away from them. Surprisingly, the Devil Fruit User has awakened it and could redirect any attacks away and even repelling it towards the attacker.]
The reason why it was a surprise that a Devil Fruit User awakening their Devil Fruit's abilities was because even in New World, only few had done so. Yet, there was one in Whirebeard Pirates without them realizing that the user had awakened it.
"They don't really have much of information on awakening them anyways, not like the scientist, Vega Punk, would actually travel all over the world just to gather information on every Devil Fruit's awakened abilities when they vary on their users' imagination." Ryu shook his head, though he himself could do so, Vega Punk was simply a mortal.
[You have yet to eat a Devil Fruit... When will you do so or would you ever?] Curious, the system asked its host.
"Eh, devil fruits aren't much to me now... I'm already the strongest person in the world." He frowned. Sometimes being the strongest was boring, since he always had to seal himself to the First Level to evenly fight against the Seven Sea Warlords.
Ryu sealed himself with Ten-Level Prowess Seal. As the name said, he effectively sealed his prowess in ten levels. First Level would make him equal to the Seven Sea Warlords, while the Fifth Level would make him equal to the Four Emperors. He could use Seventh Level to defeat the Emperors, while Tenth Level would allow him to casually kill them as if they were ants.
"I'm overpowered, making this much boring!" He complained to no one in particular.
[You could always ascend to godhood which would in turn allow you to travel to other worlds.]
"Speaking of godhood, what exactly is that?" Ryu rubbed his chin.
[...Ascend to godhood and you will know.] The system emotionlessly replied.
"Screw you too." He stood back up and walked to the edge before jumping to the top of caved-in hole in Red Line. Ryu began to resume climbing the tall and red mountain.
[26.4%]
…
Another two days later...
[54.8%]
Having found a spot to relax on, Ryu looked through the sight he was met with. Darkened clouds roamed at his level, looking menacing yet not acting at all. The ocean was not able to be seen from his current height, the dark clouds covered them and the harsh wind was even harsher than before with the temperature chilly.
Even so, Ryu was not affected by those. In a way, he found the dark scene somehow refreshing.
"How are they going?" He asked his system, curious about their current progress.
[The Impel Down's prison wardens has found the pirates who sneaked in, however they still escaped in the end, with Jinbe, Knight of the Sea. Unfortunately for them, Ace was taken away before they could rescue him, he and his escorts are going towards the Marineford. Thatch was not taken away as he only had the value of being a crew mate of one of the Four Emperors' crew, so they did rescue him with several others.]
"Huh. In the end, Ace would still only be the one to be taken to the Marineford." Ryu just shrugged, not worried. By now, Whitebeard should be used to his strength if he was still the warrior as he was in the past. "What of Monkey D. Luffy?"
The system took a moment to check and answered in its emotionless tone.
[...Monkey D. Luffy is currently with the Whitebeard Pirates' division that raided Impel Down for his sworn brother, Ace. He and his crew was still split off by Bartholomew Kuma, with them being sent in the same direction, so Luffy arrived at Amazon Lily. Due to his honesty and morals as well as his actions towards the Celestial Dragon at Sabaody Archipelago, Boa Hancock agreed to help him since she was not really loyal to the World Government, let alone the Marines.]
"Mmn." Ryu nodded. It was all the more better if Luffy went as well, he would suffer through the war and find himself useless and incapable of saving his crew mates should anything similar to Kuma's action happen again. By the war's end, Luffy would have decided to take advantage of his crew's situation to began their training phase for stronger prowess.
The stronger Luffy became, the better, after all, Ryu wanted to battle him when he was strong.
*Ding*
[Spiritual Transmission found, Sashi is the sender.] [Accept / Decline]
"Oh! She's finally found out her jadestone's usage!" He smiled, but groaned when he realized that Sashi was probably going to yell at him. "Uh, even though I don't really want to, accept."
[Transmission received.]
<Hello?> A feminine voice suddenly appeared in Ryu's mind, but he already expected so.
<Hey, Sashi.> Ryu smirked, imagining her startled look.
A pause.
<Huh?! Ryu?!> Sashi was stupefied, she looked around and didn't see the little human, so that mean he just spoke to her in mind. <What the hell is going on?>
<Uh...> He sighed and explained that the jadestone was actually used for long-distance transmission through mind.
Understanding, Sashi just nodded and started. <So... how was the world?>
<At start, it was fun... but as time went and I grew stronger, the trip began to become boring.> Ryu frowned. He didn't really find this unexpected but it was so soon... It looked like that he would ascend to godhood within at least twenty years. <What about you? How's life on the island?>
<...Honestly?> Sashi sighed. <I can relate to your views as being the strongest. After all, I have been stuck on this island with me being the strongest for a long while. Not a single human has- Actually, there was someone that somehow managed to find this island.>
<Oh? Do you know their name?>
<Yeah, she's... um... what was it again...?> The tiger tilted her head and tried to remember, having a difficult time remembering. <I forgot. Her name was something related to orange and food, that much I remember... and she was a rabbit beast woman.>
Ryu sweat dropped, having realized who it possibly was. <What happened to her?>
<Nothing. She just visited and left after few weeks.> Sashi was actually confused by her actions as well as why the other beasts on the island didn't eat her. <It was as if she came on a vacation.>
<Oh... Say, where is your island currently at?> Glad that the rabbit was fine, Ryu changed the topic.
<Still within New World. The island has been moving around the New World and never exited it or even touched the Calm Belt.> The tiger explained. <In truth, the island itself has an conscience of its own. So, if the island wanted to leave the New World, it would do so on its own.>
The island that she was on, was a moving island without any help from anything. It wasn't even an animal, it was literally an island. Its root was not connected to the ground within sea, so it made it easier for it to move freely, however, no one understood how it received its own conscious. Sashi didn't even exist when the island received its conscious, she only understood from her ancestors' stories that were passed on and spread through the living residents on the island, which were the beasts.
'Hey, do you know what exactly the island is?' Ryu asked his system.
*Ding*
[Ancient Relic : Island of Beast Gods
An island created by the First Beast God, a gold-furred lion, originally created for his relaxation until he decided to raise several beasts. Due to his advancement to False God, he was able to provide a small wisp of consciousness and nurture it. It has lived through countless years, becoming known as an Ancient Relic for beasts that yearned for absolute strength.
Ever since the First Beast God ascended to True God, only two had followed him.
The first was Sashi's ancestor, Tora, a white-furred with gold stripes tiger. He was one of the ten chosen young beasts that First Beast God decided to raise. Originally, he was a normal tiger with feeble potential, but due to the First Beast God's teachings, he grew and evolved.
The second yet not last beast that followed after Tora ascended, was an large green turtle that could be mistaken as an wide island due to the large and overgrown forests on its solid green shell, Kame. Though he ascended to True God too, he sacrificed his soul for the betterment of the Island of Beast Gods.]
'...' Ryu was astonished at the island's history. Though he knew any beings could ascend to godhood, he never expected for such legacy left behind by the First Beast God and Kame.
Ryu also now understood why the island was so hard to find unless he asked his system to teleport to it, it was due to Kame's sacrifice. Kame had sacrificed its own soul so that no humans and weak beasts would find it, only those worthy would be able to find it. Though the system said that Kame sacrificed his soul, his conscious of True God was integrated in the nurturing wisp of consciousness of Island of Beast Gods. Therefore, the island was able to move on its own.
<Hey Sashi, you got any ancestor called Tora?> A glint flashed through his green eyes.
Sashi took a moment to remember and nodded. <I do remember some stories that my parents told me of our ancestor... Apparently Ancestor Tora had ascended to godhood on the very island I'm on. I didn't really believe it though. Why?>
Ryu smiled and asked instead of answering. <What if ascending to godhood was real? Would you want to do so?>
<Mmn. Not really, I like being lazy but if ascending to godhood would provide me to a bunch of fun... Yeah.> Sashi took a moment to think and added. <I also remember something about a lion and turtle ascending to godhood as well. The lion being the first to ascend, and also perhaps the one who made the island...>
As if a lightning bolt struck through her mind, Sashi was momentarily startled.
<I just remembered that my great-grandparents would often tell stories of the lion creating the island to raise beasts to gain absolute power.> The tiger was in a deep thought as she muttered. <If my ancestor ascended to godhood after the lion, then maybe Ancestor Tora was one of those 'ten younglings' that the lion chose? But if so, why wouldn't Ancestor Tora hand down any teachings...? No, maybe it was lost and my race couldn't find it anymore.>
As she kept muttering, Ryu closed off the Spiritual Transmission. He grinned and was satisfied with Sashi's path of thoughts. If she managed to ascend to godhood somehow, he would be glad to show his future children for Sashi to babysit.
He nodded as he returned to climbing the Red Line. 'Sashi will make a good babysitter, after all, she's such a hard-assed tiger that will make my 'good' image soar to its utmost for my future kids.'
[...] The system was at loss of words, having known of his thoughts.