The Last Farewell

Following his father's words, Monica looked at Teach. Teach had already gotten up from the ground and was unsteady on his feet, supporting himself with a nearby stand to steady himself.

"Teach, are you alright?" Monica ran to Teach's side, placing her hands on him. "Hahahaha, how could I be alright?" Teach laughed, raising his sleeve to wipe his mouth. "What a powerful punch."

Tilting his head slightly, Teach's gaze shifted forward, fixing on Mody's figure. The previous scene flashed through his mind – that irresistible strength and speed were terrifying. He could become a Great Pirate on the seas with such power.

"Hahaha, Uncle Mody, your way of greeting is truly unique. Thank you for going easy on me." Teach chuckled. "You freeloading brat, get lost. Don't disturb my Monica." Mody raised his fist and said impolitely.

"Don't say that, I brought a gift this time." Teach, with his thick skin, ignored Mody's tone of wanting him gone. He walked outside and brought in two large bags, filled with a strong medicinal scent. "These herbs were all picked by me on the mountain. I'll leave them to you to process; they should be useful." "Oh no, Teach, this is too valuable." Upon opening them, Monica, who was skilled in pharmacology, immediately recognized these herbs. They were all extremely rare and precious herbs on the market, and their age was considerable. They still carried the scent of soil, only found deep in the mountains where poisonous insects and fierce beasts roamed, making it very dangerous. She wondered how Teach had found them.

"Hahaha, only with you can these things be put to their best use. I can't wait much longer; I'm setting sail soon. Thank you for your care over these past few years." Teach laughed heartily and turned to leave. According to the news, the Whitebeard Pirates had arrived in this sea area and would soon reach Arcas Island to rest. That would be Teach's opportunity to join the Whitebeard Pirates.

Teach was not an unfeeling person. While he still had time, he would bid farewell to those he needed to.

Watching Teach's retreating back, Mody remained silent, but his gaze softened.

In a quiet room at the Blazing Flame Dojo, two men sat on opposite sides of a square table. Hael quietly took a sip of tea and closed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. A gentle breeze blew outside. He opened his eyes, "Have you made up your mind? Teach." The dojo master, Hael, asked with a serious expression. "Yes, I've made up my mind. I will board the Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick." Teach nodded without any hesitation.

Seeing Teach's determination, Hael sighed, then a smile of relief appeared on his lips. "Alright, a true man's ambition lies in all directions. You can't be bound to this small place. Your talent in swordsmanship is exceptional. I've taught you all I can these past few years. Your future path requires your own enlightenment." Hael said slowly.

He stood up, walked to the back, and took down a sword hanging on the wall. It was a long sword with a deep red blade, featuring flame-like patterns. Holding the sword with both hands, he placed it before Teach. "This, this is..." Teach's eyes widened as he looked at the sword before him. Although he didn't know its name, he had seen it many times. With his discerning eye, he knew it was undoubtedly a famous sword. Through the scabbard, he could faintly feel a trace of heat.

This was a treasured sword of Hael's, very precious. What did it mean for it to be placed before him now? He had a premonition but couldn't quite believe it.

"Teach, I'm giving it to you. My grandfather was a great swordsman. To have a sword that better matched his Flame Style Swordsmanship, he went through immense hardship, bringing precious ores to Wano Country and inviting the best craftsmen to forge this sword, the Famous Sword: Purgatory." As he spoke, his gaze drifted, filled with emotion and perhaps reminiscence.

"But..." Teach wanted to say something, but Hael interrupted him. "I know what you want to say. This sword has been gathering dust here. Although you are not a pure swordsman, it will shine in your hands, or perhaps you can help me find a more suitable owner for it."

Hael looked intently at Teach. Seeing his expression, Teach nodded. "Clang!" He bowed deeply to the ground, "I will definitely make Purgatory's name known throughout the seas and let it shine with its own brilliance."

Hearing Teach's words, Hael's face broke into a smile. "Take it. If you have no ambition, don't come back." "Yes."

Teach shouldered the sword and turned to leave. Who knew when he would return. Perhaps five years, perhaps ten, or even longer.

Walking on the street, "Yo, it's Teach! You've gotten much stronger." "Haha, Uncle Tom! You look good too. Do you and Aunt Mary want to have another child? I have some fresh tiger penis here, a gift for you to soak in wine."

"Young Teach, you've gotten even more handsome! Want me to introduce my daughter to you?" A robust middle-aged woman waved at Teach.

"No, no, Aunt Kali, I'm still young. Let's forget it." Teach smiled and quickly ran off. However, the image of Aunt Kali's daughter flashed in his mind. Putting aside other things, she was quite good-looking.

Teach was a celebrity in the town. At a young age, he could hunt fierce beasts in the mountains, was a direct disciple of the Blazing Flame Dojo, and had single-handedly cleared out all the thugs in the town.

Teach returned to his residence, a small house situated on a slightly elevated hill. It was kept meticulously clean. Though small, it had everything one needed. Teach also had some belongings stored here. He moved his bed, opened a square wooden board, revealing a cellar. Inside sat a wooden chest containing some of Teach's hidden treasures.

Opening the wooden chest, he found a saber, a sword, a Devil Fruit, a small booklet, and a manuscript on the Lightning Current Sword Technique.

The booklet was the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, which included the Dark-Dark Fruit. Teach had memorized the name and appearance of every Devil Fruit within it.

This was an incomplete collection. While not all Devil Fruits were included, at least half of them were.

One of the sabers was taken by Teach when he stole the Lightning Current Sword Technique manual. It was also a famous sword, the Famous Sword: Thunder Fang. The Devil Fruit and the other sword were found by Teach while exploring ruins on the island.

On Arcas Island, hundreds of years ago, there was a kingdom, the Arcas Kingdom, which was destroyed for reasons unknown. After many years, it left behind ruined remnants, now covered by primeval forests. Apart from Arcas Town, the rest of the island was vast tracts of dense jungle.

Having endured for centuries without decaying, it could be used after a bit of polishing. It was undoubtedly a good sword, about 1.8 meters long. The blade was forged from deep blue ore, and the hilt was dark purple, inlaid with large, dazzling gemstones.

Such a sword was a treasured weapon favored by many nobles and kings. This was a Sword of Kingship. Its original name was unknown, but Teach had now named it Dragon Abyss. The Devil Fruit was an Ancient Species: Night Blood Bat, but Teach had no intention of eating it. He wouldn't eat any other fruit before obtaining that specific Devil Fruit.

The ruins contained many dangerous areas: poisonous fog, swamps, and fierce beasts. During the exploration, there was also much treasure, but Teach did not take it, storing it away instead. Treasure stirs the heart and can bring disaster.

Arcas Island was a medium-sized island with only one town, Arcas Town, and its population of 100,000 residents. It was located in a remote part of the New World and had no precious ores or special products, so pirates rarely targeted it, except for fixed merchant ships and occasional pirates coming to replenish resources.

The local customs were simple. Coupled with the harsh environment of the New World and the chaotic pirates, most young men possessed considerable strength, enough to fend off weaker pirates. Moreover, powerful monsters like Hael and Uncle Mody lived in seclusion there.

"Hahahaha, after waiting so long, they're finally here." Teach looked at a colossal pirate ship appearing on the coastline, resembling a giant whale. He then looked through his telescope from afar. The fluttering pirate flag confirmed it – it was the Whitebeard Pirates' ship, one of the top pirate crews in the world today. It was also the Moby Dick that Teach had been waiting for.

This was Arcas Town's only port, the channel for communication with the outside world. Various merchant ships, pirate ships, and fishing boats were docked there.

According to the original course of events, Teach was still just an ordinary fisherman at this time.

Teach had already packed his belongings and was ready to bid his final farewells. He wore two long swords at his waist: the Famous Sword: Purgatory and the Famous Sword: Thunder Fang. The Dragon Abyss sword, taller than his body, was slung diagonally across his back. A large backpack was on his back, containing daily necessities, clothes, and the like. Teach's collection was stored in a compartment at the bottom of the chest.

"Teach, are you leaving?" As Teach approached, Monica sat alone by the door, as if waiting for something. Seeing Teach fully dressed and with a large backpack on his back, she had already guessed that Teach was leaving. She just hadn't expected this day to come so soon.

"Hahahaha! My chance has come, and leaving is inevitable." Teach smiled. "However, when I become a Great Pirate, I will definitely return."

Hearing Teach's words, Monica smiled, feeling a sense of relief. There was no reason to stop a man from setting sail. "I understand. I'll wait for you." As she spoke, she couldn't help but hug the man before her. She knew she had fallen in love with him.

Teach left, running towards the port.

"Aren't you going to watch him board one last time?" As Monica watched Teach's figure, a voice appeared beside her. "Yes, Dad." Mody had appeared beside her at some point.

"I approve of that kid," Mody said. "Take one last look. Who knows when we'll meet again?"

He had already delayed for some time. "Huff, huff, huff!" Teach sprinted, panting. The giant whale-like Moby Dick was docked at the port, getting closer. It was Teach's first time seeing such a massive ship.

Not long after the Moby Dick docked, crew members began disembarking to gather supplies. Teach saw many familiar faces, among whom the most striking was Whitebeard, his six-meter height like a giant, with long golden hair and a crescent-shaped white beard. Beside him were Marco, Kozuki Oden, and others.

Seeing them, Teach quickened his pace, heading straight for Whitebeard. Teach was too eye-catching, and with his clear target, Whitebeard and the others also noticed him.