A Minute of Reality, Greater Ambition!

"All right, younger me. Wait for my summons."

Elderly Whitebeard rose to his feet and dusted himself off. Boundless passion reignited in his aged eyes.

Peak Whitebeard grinned and tossed over the last Sake Gourd.

"Gurararara! Take it easy, old man! Don't go dying before I even get there!"

"Once I get over there, I'll turn Marine Headquarters upside down for you!"

Elderly Whitebeard steadily caught the Sake Gourd, tipped back his head, and took a huge swig before bursting into hearty laughter.

"Gurararara! Same to you!"

The kings of two eras drank together amid the ruins. Everything was understood without a word.

Chen Ye did not delay any longer. With a Thought Moved, the grand golden Space-Time Door slowly emerged behind the three of them once more, radiating a gentle, mysterious glow.

"Pops, Brother Marco, it's time to go."

"Take care, younger me."

Elderly Whitebeard gave one final look at his energetic, invincible younger self, his eyes carrying a trace of nostalgia. Then he resolutely turned around and stepped into the Space-Time Door first.

Marco followed close behind. At the instant of crossing over, he could not help looking back at Peak Pops, who stood there carrying the Sake Gourd and watching them leave. His heart was filled with countless emotions.

Chen Ye nodded to Peak Whitebeard as a final farewell, then stepped into the golden curtain of light as well.

The light flickered. Once the three figures vanished, the Space-Time Door rapidly contracted into a point of light before completely disappearing into the air of that era.

Peak Whitebeard remained where he was, sensing that strange connection between souls. He then looked at his empty arms, and a wild smile curved across his lips.

"The me from the future..."

"Gurarararara! How interesting! This is too interesting!"

"Marines... just wait! No one gets to lay a hand on my sons!"

Shifting Light and Shadow, the stars and heavens turned.

When Solid Ground touched their feet again, Chen Ye, Elderly Whitebeard, and Marco had returned to the Deserted Island, which had been ravaged beyond recognition by battle.

Everything was exactly as it had been when they left.

It was as though that bizarre and fantastic adventure across space-time had been nothing more than a dream.

"We're back..."

Marco took a Deep Breath, taking in the familiar air. The enormous weight hanging over his heart finally fell away.

"Gurarara... What an incredible experience."

Whitebeard stretched his limbs, the excitement from his exhilarating battle with another version of himself still lingering on his face.

He turned to Chen Ye, his gaze full of approval and curiosity.

"Chen Ye, even I can't see through that ability of yours."

Chen Ye smiled, about to modestly say a few words, when an instinctive movement made his entire body freeze.

He raised his wrist and glanced at the most ordinary Electronic Watch he had brought from his homeland.

The time displayed on it was crystal clear.

Only one minute had passed since they left.

"How..."

Chen Ye's voice turned dry and trembled from extreme shock.

"Pops... Commander Marco..."

"I... we... we were only gone for one minute!"

What?!

Marco abruptly turned his head, disbelief written all over his face.

He rushed before Chen Ye in a single stride and stared fixedly at the watch. When he saw the changing numbers, the Phoenix, Brother Marco—the Whitebeard Pirates First Division Commander renowned for his composure—felt his mind go blank.

"One minute? That's impossible!"

Even Marco's voice had changed pitch.

"Chen Ye, is your watch broken? We clearly stayed in the past for at least a day! Just... just Pops's battle with that other Pops alone took ages!"

Chen Ye also put on an appropriately helpless look. He vigorously shook his wrist and patted the watch face, but the time continued ticking steadily, without the slightest sign of disorder.

Elderly Whitebeard slowly walked over, the shadow cast by his massive body enveloping the two of them.

He did not look at the watch. Instead, he merely gazed deeply at Chen Ye, uncertainty flashing in those eyes that had seen the tides of countless years.

"Gurarara..."

His low laughter broke the eerie silence. Yet it contained less boldness than before, replaced by a profound shock.

"It seems the secrets you carry, brat, run far deeper than I imagined."

The flow of time was different!

That was the only explanation!

They had spent a day in that past era, while only one minute had passed in the real world!

What a heaven-defying, unimaginable ability!

Chen Ye was ecstatic inside, but his face still maintained an expression of lingering fear.

Whitebeard did not press further. He knew everyone had their own secrets.

He patted Chen Ye's shoulder, his huge palm carrying a reassuring strength.

"All right. No matter what, we achieved our goal."

"Let's go, my sons. Back to the ship! We need to prepare properly for the war ahead!"

"Yes, Pops!"

Marco forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart and nodded.

However, just as the two turned to leave, they realized Chen Ye was still standing in place, completely motionless.

"Chen Ye?" Marco turned back in confusion.

Chen Ye had his head lowered, his body trembling slightly, as though he were still unable to pull himself free from the shock just now.

But if anyone could have seen his expression at that moment, they would have been utterly startled.

There was not the slightest trace of fear on his face. Instead, an extreme excitement, an almost crazed light, burned wildly in his eyes!

A Peak Whitebeard!

That truly was a Trump Card capable of overturning the entire battle!

But... was it really enough?

Their opponents were Marine Headquarters, the Three Admirals, Sengoku, Garp, countless Fleet Admirals, and one hundred thousand Elite Marines! There were even the Shichibukai!

And behind the Marines stood the support of the World Government!

This was practically the combined power of the entire world, gathered to snuff out the Pirate King's Bloodline!

A single Trump Card could not guarantee victory in this battle!

No! It was not enough!

It was far from enough!

Since he had already opened the Space-Time Door, couldn't he be bolder? Couldn't he be crazier?!

Why not give the Marines—and even the World Government—a little shock?

A thought spread wildly through his mind like a prairie fire, instantly becoming impossible to contain!

Chen Ye Slowly Raised His Head.

He looked toward the Moby Dick, lying quietly upon the sea like a giant beast. He looked at Whitebeard and Marco walking ahead of him, and the corners of his lips curled up once more into a crazed smile that made Marco's heart pound with dread.

"Wait, Pops, Brother Marco."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached Whitebeard and Marco's ears, making them both stop in their tracks.

Whitebeard slowly turned around, his eyes locking onto Chen Ye once more.

He could sense it. Something about this young man had changed.

"I think..."

Chen Ye faced the ambition of the World's Strongest Man.

"One Peak Whitebeard might not be lively enough."

Those words nearly made Marco's eyes pop out of their sockets.

What did he mean... not lively enough?

That was Peak Whitebeard! A being who could turn Marineford upside down all by himself!

And that was still not enough?!

Even Elderly Whitebeard wore a stunned expression.

Chen Ye ignored their shock and spoke on his own, word by word, in a tone that was almost a declaration.

"I'm planning..."

"To find two more Crazy Helpers!"