"Pops, Marco."
"The Space-Time Door can be opened now."
The words struck Marco's mind like thunder!
He suddenly looked up, staring fixedly at Chen Ye. His perpetually sleepy eyes were once again filled with excitement and shock!
"Y-You... what did you say?"
The Space-Time Door could be opened?
Whitebeard's laughter beside them came to an abrupt halt as well.
An unprecedented gleam burst from his Emperor's Haki-filled eyes as he locked onto Chen Ye.
He could tell Chen Ye was not joking.
This kid was telling the truth!
"When?"
Chen Ye grinned.
"Now."
"Any time."
Upon hearing this, Whitebeard's aura surged, as though he was about to set off the very next second.
"Then what are we waiting for? We—"
"Wait, Pops!"
Marco finally tore himself free from his shock. In a flash, he stepped in front of Whitebeard, his face filled with anxiety.
"No! Not now!"
Whitebeard frowned and looked at him unhappily. "Why not?"
Marco was sweating profusely as he explained at a rapid pace, "The commotion was too huge! Everyone on the Moby Dick saw the fight between you and Chen Ye just now!"
"Everyone was awakened!"
"If we suddenly disappear in front of everyone like this, the news will definitely leak out! If the Navy notices, they will surely increase their guard around Ace, or even carry out the execution early!"
Marco's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Whitebeard's blazing head.
He fell silent.
He knew Marco was right.
Saving Ace came first. Any risk that could create unforeseen complications in the plan had to be eliminated.
Chen Ye nodded in agreement. "Commander Marco has a point. The fewer people who know about this, the better."
Whitebeard pondered for a moment before looking at Marco. "Then what do you suggest?"
Marco took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as his mind raced.
Very quickly, he offered a suggestion.
"Wait!"
"Wait until late at night, when everyone on the ship is asleep. Then we'll quietly leave and gather here again!"
"That way, no one will notice a thing!"
Upon hearing this, Whitebeard's tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed.
"Gurararara... good idea!"
Chen Ye agreed as well. "We'll do that."
The three reached an agreement and did not linger any longer.
Whitebeard and Chen Ye used Geppo while Marco transformed into a Phoenix. The three quickly returned to the Moby Dick, which was quietly anchored in the distance.
By the time they returned to the ship, the deck was already packed with people.
All the division commanders and every crew member had gathered there, each with lingering fear on his face as they stared toward the Deserted Island, now reduced to ruins.
When they saw Whitebeard, Marco, and Chen Ye return safely, everyone let out a long breath of relief.
But immediately afterward, even deeper confusion and shock welled up within them.
Especially when their eyes fell on Chen Ye.
They could sense that Chen Ye... was different.
They could not say exactly how he was different, but they could feel that this newcomer now carried a terrifying aura that made all of their hearts tremble.
"Pops, what was that between you and Chen Ye just now..." Diamond Jozu could not help stepping forward and asking in his deep voice.
Whitebeard waved a hand, cutting him off. His booming voice carried across the entire ship.
"Nothing. I just got itchy hands and gave the new son a few pointers!"
"Get back and sleep!"
"We still have a long journey tomorrow!"
His words were domineering and left no room for doubt.
Although everyone felt that the commotion from those "pointers" had been far too great, Pops had spoken, so none of them dared ask further. They dispersed with bellies full of questions.
The deck soon returned to silence.
Late at night.
The sea breeze was cool, and moonlight flowed like water.
Most of the crew members aboard the Moby Dick had already drifted into dreams. Only a few night watchmen still patrolled the deck.
Three figures slipped away from the ship like ghosts, silently flying toward the ruins of the Deserted Island where the battle had taken place during the day.
They were Whitebeard, Marco, and Chen Ye.
The three landed once more on the jagged rocks that had been destroyed beyond recognition.
This time, there was no unnecessary chatter.
Whitebeard and Marco fixed their gazes on Chen Ye at the same time, their eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity and anticipation.
Meeting their gazes, Chen Ye took a deep breath.
He closed his eyes and issued the command that could change the world's balance in his heart.
"System!"
"Open the Space-Time Door!"
"Target: Edward Newgate, peak period!"
The next second.
A cold, mechanical notification sounded repeatedly in his mind!
"SSR Whitebeard analysis progress: 100%. Travel conditions met." "Locking Space-Time Beacon..." "Lock complete! Target era: the period when Peak Whitebeard and Roger competed for the title of Pirate King!" "Space-Time Door... opening!"
Boom—!
An ancient and boundless aura beyond description appeared out of thin air!
Before Chen Ye, Whitebeard, and Marco, the tranquil night sky suddenly seemed to be torn open by an invisible hand!
Golden light seeped from that tear!
The radiance grew brighter and brighter, twisting, spiraling, and intertwining!
At last, under the three men's stunned gazes, a majestic gate formed entirely from pure golden light condensed out of thin air with a deep rumble, standing before them!
There were no particularly intricate patterns on the gate. It looked like nothing more than a simple door radiating golden light, yet all three could sense that this seemingly ordinary gate carried a temporal aura that did not belong to this era.
Beyond the gate was no longer the nighttime sea.
Instead, it was a bright blue world beneath fair skies and daylight!
The sun shone brilliantly, Seagulls flew through the air, and even the air was filled with freedom and adventure!
Whitebeard stared fixedly at the sight beyond the gate. A trace of incomparably complicated nostalgia flashed through his weathered eyes.
He could feel it!
That was his era!
It was the true Legendary Era, when powerful figures emerged in endless succession, heroes rose together, and the seas had not yet been bound by the order of today!
He could even sense the presence of Roger, Golden Lion, and those old friends and rivals upon that sea!
"Gurararara..."
Whitebeard laughed deeply. He turned his head and looked at Chen Ye and Marco.
Then, without any further hesitation, he took a huge stride and became the first to step into the golden Space-Time Door!
The instant his figure passed through the Light Gate, it vanished.
Marco looked at the magnificent gate, then at Chen Ye beside him. He swallowed hard, feeling as if his heart was about to leap out of his throat.
Chen Ye smiled at him.
"Let's go, Brother Marco."
"Let's relive... the true Legendary Era."
With that, he stepped forward and followed.
Gritting his teeth, Marco transformed into a Phoenix and followed close behind, plunging headfirst into that golden radiance!
Before you continue