047 Brushing Past Legends...

Thud... thud...

Each step sent a tremor through the earth, an overwhelming force like a mountain pressing down, rendering the entire beach silent and still.

A hard, chiseled face, eyes gleaming with spirit, whiskers curling upward, a massive figure, barehanded and unarmed, exuding the wildness and dominance of a primordial beast—his very presence radiated vastness and power.

Tensing all over, hair standing on end, Xuan Ye felt the incomparable pressure and stood ramrod straight, his expression grave.

No wonder he was hailed as the world’s strongest man. In his prime, Whitebeard was truly a terrifying sight.

“Navy brat, I wonder if you’ll let my child go.” His rough, booming voice permitted no resistance.

“And if I don’t?” Xuan Ye took a step forward, withstanding the crushing aura, lifting his gaze, eyes blazing.

Whitebeard paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. “Interesting kid.”

“I want to know how far I am from you, because one day, I will arrest you.” His words rang with strength, the fierce spirit of battle spreading across the field.

“Bastard, what did you say?” On the deck, the Whitebeard Pirates erupted in curses.

“Insolent fool.”

“You think you can stand against our old man?”

“You’re not even worthy to face him—let me test your skills myself!”

“Gurarara... All of you, stay where you are. This kid has caught my interest.” Whitebeard waved his enormous hand, his eyes fixed with amusement on the child barely up to his knee.

“I know I’m not your match, but I still want to see the gap between us.” Drawing a deep breath, flames burst forth, a tidal wave of heat surging like an avalanche.

“If you’ve got the guts, show me the strength of the new generation of Marines.” Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, utterly fearless.

“Hmph!” With a cold snort, Xuan Ye’s eyes blazed with fury. “Full Beast Form. Five Million Degrees. Supreme Fire God Spear!”

A piercing cry tore through the air; the sand melted, flames swirling in the sky, the terrifying gale dissipated, and the earth itself trembled.

Clang... clang...

Whoosh... whoosh...

In an instant, the sky was awash in gold and crimson. Countless flames fused into a colossal spear of fire, stretching for thousands of meters and suspended above.

Golden-white fire, mysterious runes, like a pillar of heaven, the spear’s tip pitch-black, turned into a streak of light, rending the atmosphere as it plummeted straight down.

The roar of its passage split the air, the boundless force stirring the entire sea into a frenzy.

“Interesting.” Whitebeard looked up at the oncoming spear, his right fist closing slightly as a white ring of light coiled around it, emanating an aura that could move mountains and fill seas.

“This guy...” On the sidelines, Aokiji looked at Xuan Ye’s wild form, his heart tightening.

The Whitebeard Pirates, too, were grim-faced, heads raised to watch the fiery spear descending as if cast from the cosmos, a solemn silence gripping their hearts.

Crack... crack...

A meteor plummeted, fissures spreading through the sky. A monstrous shockwave erupted as heaven and earth collided, a hurricane exploding outward.

Blood spurted from his mouth. Xuan Ye was sent flying, crashing hard into the ground, his breath in utter chaos.

Feeling pain in his internal organs, he gritted his teeth, trembling as he struggled unsteadily to his feet.

The world’s strongest man had gravely injured him with a single blow. Xuan Ye’s heart was anything but calm.

“Kid, I’m taking my child with me. You have no objections, right?” He stood tall as a mountain, his overwhelming aura dominating everything.

Coughing blood, bending over, Xuan Ye raised his chiseled face, his eyes burning gold and crimson. “No objections.”

“Gurarara... I’d like to keep you all here, but then peace would be out of reach, and I have no wish to be chased across the world by Zephyr and Garp... Gurarara...”

“Kid, we’ll meet again at sea. I hope you’ll make me go all out then.” Turning, Whitebeard strode toward the pirate ship.

“Wait.” Xuan Ye rasped, wiping blood from his lips, stopping Whitebeard.

“What is it? Want to detain me?” Whitebeard turned, his eyes narrowing.

“I’m no match for you. I won’t make the foolish mistake of overestimating myself. I only want to ask you something.”

“Interesting. You’re different from the other Marines.”

“Where is Golden Lion now?”

“Hmm?” Whitebeard froze, his gaze sharp and strange as he looked at Xuan Ye.

“With your strength, I advise you not to provoke that man. He could kill you with a flick of his hand.”

“I know, but I have no choice.”

His face twisted with fierce determination and violent intent.

“This kid...” Whitebeard’s eyes flickered, hesitation in his gaze, but in the end he laughed heartily. “Haven’t seen that guy in ages. Ever since his battle with Roger in the Waters Sea, he’s disappeared without a trace.”

“Thank you.” Xuan Ye’s face darkened as he drew a deep breath.

“Boy, I hope you bring some excitement to this quiet sea.” With those final words, Whitebeard boarded his ship, giving Xuan Ye and the figure behind him a long, deep look before slowly disappearing over the horizon.

Blood dripped from his mouth as he watched Whitebeard leave. Xuan Ye half-knelt on the ground, blood steadily pooling beneath him.

“Are you alright?” A strong arm supported him, the face beside him grave.

“He truly is the overlord of the seas. That world-shattering power is utterly intoxicating.” Xuan Ye managed a pained smile, his eyes burning with fervor.

“Good thing he didn’t attack us,” Aokiji said, still shaken.

“With that kind of spirit and pride, he’d never stoop to something so contemptible.” Xuan Ye shook his head and then said, “Let’s go back. I’m in agony.”

He sucked in a sharp breath, leaning his entire weight on Aokiji.

“Idiot, walk by yourself.”

“I have no strength left.”

Limping and battered, the two staggered from the beach.

The ground was a mess, the field blackened, bearing silent witness to the fierce battle that had taken place.

As the two limped away, two figures emerged from the shadows, their faces revealed.

“What a terrifying brat...”

“Captain, Edward spotted us just now.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. Right now, I’m very interested in that... what was his name again...?”

“Tianbird Xuan Ye Tang,” replied a blond man with glasses, rubbing his forehead and explaining helplessly to the man beside him.

“Ah, yes, yes... almost forgot.” The deep, rough laughter was oddly comforting, warm and inclusive rather than intimidating.

“Roger, are you really going to do this?” The blond man—Reilly—sighed as he gazed at the blue sky and white clouds.

“Haha... Reilly, don’t you think the seas have become too quiet?”

A plain coat, an extraordinary face, and a beard of curly hair—the man’s smile was unrestrained and straightforward.

“What’s more, a new chapter of history is about to open after centuries.”

“The Descendant of the Dragon.”

“As one of the D clan, I don’t know who’s right or wrong. Perhaps it’s the world itself that’s wrong.”

“Sometimes, breaking the old order may bring light.”

“And what if it brings darkness?”

“I believe in this world. The Descendant of the Dragon, the Will of D, and the authority of the World Government are all about to be reshuffled.”

“But the Descendants of the Dragon and the D clan have lost once before.”

“Reilly, do you think, in this age, the Descendant of the Dragon and the D clan will lose again?”

“But they’re still outsiders, after all.” Reilly frowned, then his eyes widened sharply. “It’s happened?”

“That’s right. The Three-legged Golden Crow—it's their legend. But now it’s appeared here. You must know, such power doesn’t belong in this world.”

“Then let’s just wait and see. I hope your choice is the right one.”

“Myth turned to sun, Descendant of the Dragon—let this world boil over.”

The sea rose and fell, and peace returned once more.

...