By then, night had fallen. The dark clouds that had gathered earlier had long since blotted out the moonlight, leaving the sky pitch-black.
Now, a savage rift had been torn through the dim clouds, like an abyss cleaved open by someone.
Bright moonlight spilled down from above, unveiling the opening of the battle.
"Little girl, I underestimated you. It seems the chapter of the new era has already begun."
Even before they had officially exchanged blows, their clash of Haki was enough to explain everything. Someone with such powerful Haki could never be weak.
If he had encountered a young person of this strength under normal circumstances, Whitebeard would probably have happily thrown a banquet, invited them aboard, and finally asked whether they wanted to become his child.
Even the current situation was not entirely impossible. Squard the Great Eruption Spider's pirate crew had been destroyed because of Roger, yet Whitebeard had still taken Ace in as his son.
Octopus Fish-Man Karma had even kidnapped Toki while working as a human trafficker, yet he had later become one of Whitebeard's subordinates all the same.
If she truly chose to join the Whitebeard Pirates, then this would simply become a squabble between family members.
But with things having reached this point, there was no way this fight could be avoided.
"Little girl, your name."
"Siderial Lilianna."
"Very well. Then I won't hold back. You hurt my son, and that can't simply be brushed aside."
"You should spend more time learning how to educate your sons. Otherwise, they'll bring disaster upon you sooner or later!"
"That is not for you to teach me!"
With a turn of his wrist, Whitebeard raised his blade one-handed and pointed it at Lilianna.
Murakumogiri, one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords, had followed Whitebeard through countless