Creating an Opportunity

Over the course of three months, Rune immersed himself completely in training. Feeling himself grow stronger every day was addicting.

While training his Haki, Rune had not neglected the development of the Dark-Dark Fruit either. Now, his Dark-Dark Fruit had gained a new application.

Dark Erosion.

Through elemental transformation, Rune attached his "hands" to his opponent's body, nullifying their Devil Fruit abilities.

This way, he no longer had to get close to restrict his opponent's movements. It gave the current Rune another long-range option.

That day, Rune confidently took Whitebeard's Serious Punch without falling asleep on the spot. He threw a full-force punch at Whitebeard, but it never landed.

"Why did you stop attacking?"

Whitebeard looked at Rune, waiting for his answer. Rune bared his teeth and scratched his head, though he was actually rubbing the huge bump on it.

"How could I attack Dad..."

Although Rune knew he could not do much damage to Whitebeard, he still did not want to continue. After all, Whitebeard's condition was getting worse by the day.

Letting him move around and hit Rune might not affect his health, but making Whitebeard endure an attack left Rune uneasy.

"Heh heh. Go rest. We'll continue tomorrow."

Whitebeard did not say much, but there was a hint of gratification in his eyes. When he returned to the captain's quarters, he could not help recalling his younger self.

This Rune seemed to value "family" even more than Whitebeard had in his early years.

Outside, Rune blinked as he realized there would be no sleep-inducing session today. Just as he was about to rest for a while and grab something to eat—

A strange bird flew over the Moby Dick, scattering a pile of newspapers.

"Whoa, Ace, your little brother's something else! He even dared to hit a Celestial Dragon. He's got guts!"

The crew looked at the news in the papers and could not help laughing. Hearing that, Ace smiled as well.

That guy was still as reckless as ever!

Rune picked up a newspaper too. Looking at the headline, he could not help frowning.

According to the timeline, this should have been when Ace was defeated by Teach, right before the Summit War broke out. But because Rune had taken the Dark-Dark Fruit, that had not happened.

Yet Luffy had still beaten up a Celestial Dragon and caused chaos in the Sabaody Archipelago.

At this time...

Had Luffy been sent flying to Amazon Lily?

Rune looked at Ace beside him, and suddenly had an idea.

If I make use of this, perhaps...

I can kill Teach!

Rune walked over to Ace and put a hand on his shoulder. Holding the newspaper, he pointed at Luffy's picture.

"Ace, your little brother is amazing! He even dared to hit a Celestial Dragon. I want to meet him too."

"Haha, when we get the chance, I'll introduce you."

Ace laughed happily. No matter who praised Luffy, Ace would always be delighted.

"No need to wait. Let me tell you something..."

Rune leaned close to Ace's ear mysteriously. "My Observation Haki tells me that if we go to Amazon Lily, we'll find Luffy. It's just that I can't get off the ship right now."

"But I really want to become brothers with that guy immediately. Ace, let's sneak away tonight. Once we find Luffy, we'll come back."

"This..."

Ace hesitated, but seeing how much Rune seemed to be looking forward to it, he did not refuse. Rune was no weakling now. If the two of them sailed out together, they would have nothing to fear even in a place like Amazon Lily.

Ace just did not understand why Luffy would be on Amazon Lily.

And Rune...

Had his Observation Haki become capable of foreseeing even such things?

Night fell.

Rune and Ace secretly found a small boat, preparing to slip away under cover of darkness. When they jumped off the ship, Marco got up helplessly and leaped onto the sail to watch the two of them.

"Captain..."

Rune blinked. He had deliberately made enough noise for Marco to notice them. That way, Teach would most likely notice too.

Then Teach definitely would not let such a perfect opportunity slip away!

With Rune and Ace joining forces, Teach was absolutely no match for them now!

As long as Teach followed them, Rune planned to kill him. Without the Dark-Dark Fruit, Teach had no way to threaten the current Ace.

"Run, run! I don't want Marco lecturing me."

Rune sat in Ace's little boat, and the two of them shot off in a flash. In the captain's quarters aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard watched the two figures sailing away and smiled helplessly.

However, Whitebeard did not change the ship's course.

Those two little brats were children he thought highly of, but everyone else aboard the ship was Whitebeard's son as well.

Once those two had had their fun, they would come back eventually.

There was no need to worry too much.

It was also time for Rune and Ace to go out and make their way in the world together. With Ace there, Whitebeard was quite reassured about their safety.

With their strength, even if they encountered one of the famed Seven Warlords, they could still protect themselves.

"Strange..."

Rune and Ace had sped far away, yet they had not sensed Teach's presence catching up. Rune's Observation Haki had not told him anything either.

Did that guy not think this was a good opportunity?

Because Ace was here? Was that why he did not dare follow?

Rune felt helpless. Teach was being far too cautious!

But now that they were already out here, Rune could not immediately turn back. He could hardly tell Ace that he had just been messing with him and had never wanted to meet Luffy at all.

Ace would probably beat him up for that.

Since they were already here, they might as well go to Amazon Lily first.

After all...

With Dad's reputation, even if they ran into the Pirate Empress, they would not be killed.

And Rune could see what Boa Hancock looked like—whether she was really as beautiful as he imagined.

"Are you sure Luffy is on this island?"

Luffy and Rune had stowed away onto Amazon Lily and were sneaking through the jungle. Normally, Amazon Lily forbade outsiders from landing on its shores.

But Rune and Ace had used the abilities of the Dark-Dark Fruit and Flame-Flame Fruit to disguise themselves as a meteor falling from the sky, so no one had come after them.

"He's definitely here. That's what my Observation Haki told me!"

Rune made up an excuse as he and Ace moved through the jungle. Suddenly, he raised his hand.

Not far away, Rune saw a tall woman with daring clothes and slightly upturned short golden hair.

After thinking for a moment, Rune recognized her.

Margaret!

"Let's follow her. We'll find Luffy soon enough."

Rune remembered that when Luffy arrived on Amazon Lily, Margaret had been the one to save him. If they followed her, they would definitely find Luffy.