Spatial Imprint, Communication Between Two Eras!

Chen Ye and Marco stood frozen like prairie dogs struck dumb by lightning, their worldview undergoing reconstruction after a magnitude-twelve earthquake.

What did it feel like to fight yourself?

All for such an absurd reason?

These two... these two World's Strongest Men had actually used an entire island as a testing ground, fighting until the heavens and earth seemed to collapse!

Yet the Perpetrators, the two identical Whitebeards from different eras, felt absolutely nothing about it.

They exchanged a glance, as if each saw in the other that hopelessly willful streak unique to a King, and then...

"Gurarararara!"

"Gurarararara!"

Two bold, wild, ear-splitting laughs rang out in unison once more, intertwining into rolling sound waves that shattered the last few stubborn rocks along the shore.

Elderly Whitebeard laughed so hard he clutched his aching lower back, gasping for breath, his face filled with unrestrained delight.

"Hey, young me."

Panting, he lifted the Sake Gourd and took another huge swig, looking teasingly at his endlessly energetic younger self.

"Want to know... what interesting things happened in the future?"

"For instance, how that bastard Roger ended up, or... the final fates of the formidable enemies we fought!

This question instantly made Marco prick up his ears, even briefly holding his breath.

However, Peak Whitebeard merely curled his lip in disdain.

He drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"Hmph, not interested."

He slammed the Sake Gourd heavily onto the ground with a dull thud, flames of contempt for the world burning in his eyes.

"The future is meant to be forged and experienced with your own hands, not heard about!"

"If you know the outcome beforehand, what's the point of the journey?!"

"Whether it's glory or death, I'll see it with my own eyes and experience it with my own hands!"

Those words were filled with the domineering confidence unique to Edward Newgate.

Rather than getting angry, Elderly Whitebeard smiled nostalgically and nodded.

"Gurarara... You're right. That's who I am."

Peak Whitebeard studied him, a trace of complexity flickering through his golden eyes.

"Old man, do you regret it?"

He pointed at the hideous scars on Elderly Whitebeard's body and his disease-ravaged frame.

"For all those so-called battles, for all those so-called family members, you turned yourself into this ghostly appearance where even standing straight is difficult."

The question instantly made the atmosphere heavy.

Marco's heart clenched as he looked anxiously at his Pops.

Chen Ye stopped thinking as well. He too was curious about the answer.

Elderly Whitebeard fell silent for a moment. He lowered his head and looked at his frail, wounded body and scarred arms, then raised his head to meet his younger self's gaze.

There was not the slightest regret on his face. Instead, he wore the calmness and pride of someone who had seen through everything.

He did not answer directly, but asked in return.

"You and I are the same person."

"Would you... regret it?"

Peak Whitebeard was momentarily stunned. Then he grinned, revealing a smile beneath his iconic crescent-shaped mustache.

"Gurarararara!"

"Of course not!"

"Gurarararara!"

The Kings of two eras, one and the same, burst into perfectly synchronized laughter once again.

One question and one counterquestion contained every answer.

Edward Newgate had never regretted his choices!

As the laughter gradually faded, the atmosphere shifted from absurdity and boldness to a solemn understanding that crossed space-time.

Elderly Whitebeard set down the Sake Gourd in his hand, his expression turning serious.

"Alright, young me. The joking ends here."

"We crossed the river of time this time to ask for your help."

Peak Whitebeard raised an eyebrow and looked at them with interest.

For his Future Self to bring two sons and risk temporal chaos to come back for help, the seriousness of the matter was self-evident.

"Go on." He kept it brief.

Chen Ye took a Deep Breath and stepped forward, replacing Elderly Whitebeard as he concisely explained the entire situation.

From Ace pursuing Blackbeard, to being defeated, to the news of his impending Public Execution by the Marines...

When the name "Portgas D. Ace" left Chen Ye's mouth, Peak Whitebeard's expression did not change much. Only his eyes shifted slightly.

But when he heard that Ace had been captured by the Marines and was about to be publicly executed at Marineford...

Boom!!!

An indescribably terrifying Killing Intent erupted from Peak Whitebeard's body like an awakened ancient beast!

In that instant, the air across the entire shore seemed to have been drained away, congealing into solid iron!

Marco and Chen Ye felt as if an invisible mountain had suddenly pressed down upon the depths of their souls. Even breathing became incomparably difficult, and their bodies nearly fell to their knees against their will.

Peak Whitebeard slowly rose to his feet. His mountain-like body cast a vast shadow, and his golden pupils had become icy whirlpools of killing intent.

"The Marines..."

He spoke one word at a time, his voice low as a whisper from hell, yet containing enough fury to make the world tremble.

"What audacity!"

"How dare they touch my son!"

At this moment, he was no longer the willful King who fought himself. He was the Emperor of the Sea who ruled these waters! Whitebeard, who valued the word "family" more than his own life!

Watching him, Elderly Whitebeard nodded in satisfaction.

Good. That fury, willing to make an enemy of the world for his family, had not diminished in the slightest with the passage of time.

Peak Whitebeard turned around, his flame-filled eyes fixed on Chen Ye.

"No need to say more!"

He made his decision without hesitation, so domineering that no argument was possible.

"Saving your own son is only natural!"

"Tell me, how do I get there!"

It was happening!

Chen Ye was overjoyed!

The most crucial part of the plan had succeeded!

Suppressing his excitement, he immediately questioned the system in his mind.

"System! Given the current situation, how can I bring young Pops to our era?"

[Ding! Detected that the host possesses a 100% analyzed summoning Illustrated Handbook—"SSR Whitebeard"!]

[For fully analyzed targets, the host may apply a "Spatial Imprint"!]

["Spatial Imprint": A coordinate mark that crosses temporal dimensions. Once successfully applied, regardless of what time or place the host is in, energy may be consumed to summon the marked target to a designated location!]

[Note: The duration of the summon is directly proportional to the energy consumed!]

Perfect!

This was practically an ability tailor-made for the current situation!

The joy in Chen Ye's eyes could no longer be concealed. He stepped forward, stopping before the imposing Peak Whitebeard.

"Pops, please extend your arm."

Though Peak Whitebeard was puzzled, out of trust in his Future Self, he still did as instructed and extended the massive arm capable of crushing steel.

Chen Ye took a Deep Breath and gently placed his palm against Peak Whitebeard's bicep.

"System, apply the 'Spatial Imprint'!"

Buzz—!

In an instant, incomparably dazzling golden light burst from Chen Ye's palm!

Countless complex, ancient runes carrying the aura of time flowed from his hand as though alive, swiftly forming a mysterious circular imprint on Peak Whitebeard's arm.

At the center of the imprint was the iconic skull emblem of the Whitebeard Pirates!

The golden light flashed and vanished, and the intricate imprint faded from sight as well, as if it had never existed.

Yet Peak Whitebeard could clearly feel that somewhere deep within his soul, there was now a faint, wondrous connection to the young man before him.

Chen Ye slowly withdrew his hand, a confident smile appearing on his face.

He looked up at this legendary Sea Emperor and spoke in an incomparably certain tone.

"Alright, Pops."

"You don't need to worry about anything!"

Just wait for me to summon you!