An Inevitable Battle
"What a cruel realization. No wonder you've gone further than most kids." The Whitebeard said indifferently. At Roy's age, he should be full of dreams and aspirations for the future, but he has torn apart the beautiful facade of this era, revealing its bloody and cruel essence, adhering to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak. Such a person is undoubtedly the most fearsome and troublesome dangerous individual!
"So, I came here today hoping to get your answer." Roy said to himself, "Actually, even I didn't expect that Whitebeard, the great pirate who is more terrifying than the Demon King in the eyes of the world, is actually a kind-hearted person with overflowing love."
"You planted the Whitebeard Pirates' flag over Fish-Man Island simply to deter the increasingly rampant pirates since the start of the Great Pirate Era. By using your reputation, you wanted to prevent those pirates from causing too much damage to Fish-Man Island when they march into the New World."
Seeing Whitebeard's noncommittal expression, Roy continued, "The purpose of what I'm saying is simply to tell you that what you can do, I can do as well. Besides, given your current situation, how many more years can you protect Fish-Man Island? But I'm different; my name is enough to protect Fish-Man Island for a hundred years. So, you really don't need to cling to Fish-Man Island so desperately. Although I truly have no intention of starting a war with you, if you keep refusing, I'll get quite annoyed."
"Purpose!" Whitebeard said coldly, causing Roy's expression to falter.
"Someone as profit-driven as you would never do something so thankless. Tell me your purpose, and if it satisfies me, I can indeed entrust Fish-Man Island to you," Whitebeard explained.
"Heh, Whitebeard, aren't you being a bit too nosy?" Roy said, squinting. "Besides, both humans and Fish-Man are forgetful. Fish-Man Island has long forgotten everything you did for them, only remembering my kindness. Even their king has offered to annex Fish-Man Island to my name. Under these circumstances, do you still want to stick to your previous idea?"
"Idiot, I'm Whitebeard! When have I ever needed to care about what other people think? I can do whatever I think is worthwhile. Whether others hate me or are grateful to me is meaningless! Kurarara!" Whitebeard downed his drink in one gulp and then slammed the wine jar to the ground.
"So it seems we can't reach an agreement?" Roy stood up calmly, looking directly into Whitebeard's eyes without fear.
"Idiot, negotiation is a game for politicians. We're pirates, so let's decide the ownership of Fish-Man Island using pirate methods, 'Kurarara!'" Whitebeard's laughter shook the heavens as he raised his Naginata and slashed at Roy with unstoppable momentum.
"The pirate method? Hahaha, well said. The law of the jungle is the truth among pirates. I didn't expect you old man to still be as bold as ever. Let me play with you then." Roy's chest was filled with heroic spirit. He grabbed the Seven Star Sword that slipped from his hand and charged forward. The demonic flames surged and were incomparably fierce.
Sizzle... Rumble...
Space was folded and distorted, as if black lightning was faintly visible around the two. A terrifying torrent of energy raged and poured out in all directions from the two of them. Seawater poured in, the sky cracked, and the Whitebeard Pirates who had retreated to the deck were almost instantly swept into the sky and fell into the sea.
Only the captains of the higher-ranking squads managed to maintain their figures, but they all wore expressions of horror, making it hard to imagine the terrifying pressure the Moby Dick was enduring.
"Oh no! Squad leaders, and Jinbe, quickly bring those crew members who ate Devil Fruit aboard!" Marco, being the strongest and least affected, immediately flapped his wings and flew into the air to issue orders. There was no other way; for the Whitebeard Pirates, Devil Fruit were no longer a rare commodity. At least one-fifth of the crew had eaten Devil Fruit, and if they weren't rescued quickly, there was a real risk of heavy casualties.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of the safety of all the brothers." Jinbe decisively jumped into the sea, summoned a large number of sharks, and sent the weak Whitebeard Pirates members to the surface.
"Phew, thanks to you this time, Jinbe," Vista said with a sigh of relief.
"It was nothing." Jinbe shook his head, looking at the gradually distorting space, and said worriedly, "So, a battle between the two sides is indeed inevitable?"
"What does that brat Nightmare want to do to Old Man?" Jozu asked in an unfriendly tone, and then prepared to walk towards the center of the ship.
Marco, quick as a flash, grabbed him and stopped him, saying, "Jozu, calm down. The central battlefield where Old Man and Nightmare are fighting is not something we can get involved in. Even if you are the Diamond Devil Fruit User the strongest physical defense, you won't be of much use in a battle of this level. Besides, you should trust Old Man. Old Man is the World's Strongest!"
Boom boom boom...
Before Marco could finish speaking, the situation, which had been deadlocked for half a minute, finally changed. With a thunderous roar, a figure slammed heavily onto the deck in front of them at a speed beyond the reach of the human eye.
Roy stood up from the wreckage, rubbed his almost broken wrist, and exclaimed, "Your strength is truly terrifying, old man!"
Roy finally understood why the future idiot "Whitebeard Jr.." Edward Weevil, who only possessed the same strength as Whitebeard, was able to defeat 16 captains under Whitebeard's command and even sever one of Admiral Black Arm Zephyr's arms. It was simply because Whitebeard's strength was excessively powerful.
"Great! I knew Nightmare wouldn't be a match for Old Man!" Jozu exclaimed with delight.
"No, it should be said that each side has its victories and defeats." Marco, who had been watching Whitebeard, said something that made Jozu and the other captains' expressions change drastically.
"You little brat, you're really quite capable. Now I'm starting to believe that Kaido, that idiot, really did fall to you." Whitebeard laughed wildly, and with a gentle breeze, the Naginata in his hand turned into dust and vanished before everyone's eyes.
"How is this possible? Old Man's Naginata... was actually cut in half by Nightmare!" Jozu said in disbelief.
Ace, standing to the side, was also deeply disturbed. "I couldn't even withstand a single strike from Whitebeard, yet he shattered Whitebeard's weapon with a single sword strike. Has the difference in skill really become that great?"
"Don't worry too much. Nightmare is indeed powerful, no one can deny that, but Old Man's strength is far more than that. For Old Man, the Naginata is just something he's comfortable using; power is his most powerful weapon!" Marco reassured the troops.
Just as everyone's expressions calmed down, Vista, who had been staring intently at the Seven Star Sword Vista in Roy's hand, could no longer suppress his panic and muttered to himself, "Something's wrong, something's wrong, how could this be, how could this be?"
"Vista, what's wrong?" Marco asked, puzzled.
"The sword in Nightmare's hand... is definitely not the legendary Supreme Grade Sword!"
"Vista, you're giving Nightmare way too much credit," Jozu said, clearly annoyed. "Even Hawkeye couldn't cut through Old Man's weapon with just a Great Grade Sword."
"No, what I mean is..." Vista took a deep breath and said with an extremely solemn expression, "The Seven Star Sword in his hand has completely Above Supreme Grade Sword. If Hawkeye is the strongest Great Sword Master, then Nightmare's Seven Star Sword is the strongest sword!"