Sworn Brotherhood

"Lin Feng!"

"Captain Lin Feng!"

The pirates cried out in alarm.

"Ace, you really are incredible!"

Lin Feng struggled to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"You're not bad yourself. You actually managed to take my Entei!"

Ace said, his face somewhat pale. Clearly, that move had drained him considerably as well.

"Heh, let's go again!"

Lin Feng grinned and charged at Ace once more.

"Who's afraid of who!"

Ace showed no weakness as he rushed forward to meet him.

The two clashed again, blades flashing and flames scattering as they fought fiercely without either gaining the upper hand.

"Those two really have endless energy!"

Marco watched the two resume their battle and shook his head helplessly.

"Haha, that's how young people should be!"

Vista laughed.

"Gurararara, interesting. Truly interesting!"

Whitebeard sat in the seat of honor, watching the intense battle with admiration in his eyes.

"Again, Ace! Armament Haki: Hardening: Jet Black!"

Lin Feng pushed his Armament Haki to its limit. His already dark skin became as black and glossy as charcoal.

"This is..."

Ace's pupils suddenly contracted. He sensed a dangerous aura coming from Lin Feng.

"Sun Breathing: Eighth Form: Fire Wheel!"

Lin Feng vanished from where he stood. The next instant, he appeared before Ace, Frost Gale in hand, its sharp, icy gleam slashing toward him.

"Not good!"

Ace was shocked. He tried to dodge, but it was already too late.

Clang!

Frost Gale struck Ace's body with the sound of metal colliding.

Pfft!

Ace spat out blood as his body flew forward.

"Ace!"

"Captain Ace!"

The pirates cried out in alarm.

"Cough, cough..."

Ace struggled to rise from the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"You really are incredible!"

Ace stared at Lin Feng, his eyes full of shock.

"Heh, you let me win!"

Lin Feng grinned, showing his white teeth.

"I lost!"

Ace said, without the slightest trace of dejection on his face. Instead, he was filled with excitement.

"But I won't keep losing forever. Next time, I'll definitely beat you!"

"I'll be waiting."

Lin Feng said with a smile.

"Gurararara, good! Good! Good!"

Whitebeard laughed loudly. "Boys, it's time for a feast!"

"Oohhh!"

"A feast!"

"Lin Feng, Ace, come drink!"

The pirates cheered and crowded around Lin Feng and Ace.

"Come, come, Lin Feng, Ace, drain this bowl!"

"Lin Feng, you're seriously amazing! Let me toast you!"

"Ace, you're not bad either. From now on, we're brothers!"

The pirates all raised cups to Lin Feng and Ace. Neither refused, drinking every toast they received.

"Gurararara! Lin Feng, Ace, you're both fine men!"

Whitebeard laughed as he watched Lin Feng and Ace surrounded by the crowd.

"Yeah, Pops. Those two have a bright future ahead of them!" Marco said with a smile.

The feast lasted until late at night. The Moby Dick was brightly lit, filled with constant laughter and cheerful voices.

"Lin Feng, Ace, you two are really something!" Vista said with a laugh, raising his cup. "The Whitebeard Pirates are going to be much livelier from now on!"

"Haha, of course!" Lin Feng threw an arm around Ace's shoulders and declared loudly, "With us brothers joining forces, we'll be invincible under heaven!"

"Well said!" Ace raised his cup as well. "To our brotherhood, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their cups and drained them in one gulp.

"Gurararara! Good! Good! Good!" Whitebeard sat in the seat of honor, looking at Lin Feng and Ace with satisfaction in his eyes. "You two are both my good sons!"

"Old man, the way you say that makes it sound like we weren't your sons before." Lin Feng curled his lip.

"Gurararara! You brat, you still dare talk back!" Whitebeard laughed as he scolded him.

"Heh, old man, let me toast you!" Lin Feng lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp.

"Good!" Whitebeard also raised his bowl of wine and drained it.

"Lin Feng, your Sun Breathing is very special. Like the Flame-Flame Fruit, it has the properties of fire. I can feel it. Could we exchange pointers? I think it would greatly improve my abilities!"

Ace suddenly said, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Of course. We're brothers, after all!" Lin Feng said with a smile.

"However, Sun Breathing is a secret art from my side, and it requires a special breathing rhythm to unleash its power. It's not that easy to learn. I'm afraid you'll find it difficult."

"Don't worry, I'm very talented! And I'm confident in my control over flames. I believe I can grasp its essence!"

Ace said confidently, his eyes shining with a thirst for strength.

"Alright, then starting tomorrow, I'll teach you!" Lin Feng said.

"That's great!" Ace said excitedly. "Thank you, Lin Feng! I knew you, big brother, were the most loyal guy around!"

"We're brothers, so why thank me? Your growing stronger is a good thing for me too. In the future, we brothers will make an even greater name for ourselves on these seas!"

Lin Feng patted Ace on the shoulder and spoke boldly.

"Right, we're brothers!" Ace nodded heavily.

"Gurararara! Good! Good! Good!" Whitebeard laughed heartily, his eyes full of praise as he looked at Lin Feng and Ace.

"You two are close in age and both value loyalty and brotherhood. You're natural brothers! Since you get along so well, why not become sworn brothers today?"

"Sworn brothers?" Lin Feng and Ace exchanged glances, each seeing the surprise in the other's eyes.

"Sure, old man. That was exactly what I had in mind!" Lin Feng said.

"Me too!" Ace said.

"Gurararara! Good! Someone, prepare an altar!" At Whitebeard's command, crewmen immediately went to prepare the items needed for the oath ceremony.

Before long, the altar was ready. It held offerings of three sacrificial animals, while three sticks of incense burned in the censer.

"Lin Feng, Ace, come here!" Whitebeard said.

Lin Feng and Ace walked to the altar and stood side by side.

"You two will become sworn brothers before my witness today. From this day onward, you will share blessings and hardships alike, and never betray one another!" Whitebeard said.

"Yes, Pops!" Lin Feng and Ace answered in unison.

"Good. Now, seal your oath with blood!" Whitebeard said.

Lin Feng and Ace picked up daggers, cut their fingers, and let their blood drip into the bowl of wine.

"I, Lin Feng!"

"I, Ace!"

"Today, we become sworn brothers. From this day onward, we will share blessings and hardships alike, and never betray one another! Should we break this oath, may heaven and earth destroy us!"

Lin Feng and Ace spoke in unison, then drained the blood wine from the bowl in one gulp.

"Good! Good! Good!" Whitebeard laughed. "From today onward, you two are true brothers!"

"Big Brother!" Ace clasped his hands toward Lin Feng.

"Second Brother!" Lin Feng returned the gesture.

"Gurararara! Boys, continue the feast to celebrate Lin Feng and Ace becoming sworn brothers!" Whitebeard laughed loudly.

"Oohhh!"

"Big Brother! Second Brother!"

"Lin Feng is mighty! Ace is awesome!"

The pirates cheered and crowded around Lin Feng and Ace.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, let us toast you!"

The pirates all raised cups to Lin Feng and Ace. Neither refused, drinking every toast they received.

"Gurararara! You are all my outstanding sons!"

Whitebeard looked at Lin Feng and Ace and laughed loudly.

The night grew deeper, yet the Moby Dick remained brightly lit. Laughter and cheerful voices continued without end, rising wave after wave like the sea itself.

Lin Feng returned to his room alone, the heavy wooden door shutting out the clamor.

He walked to the bed and dropped onto it, his body sinking into the soft bedding as he let out a long breath.

Outside the window, waves struck the hull in a steady rhythm, like a lullaby.

Lin Feng's thoughts drifted to Ace, to that tragic ending that was destined to come. He clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white.

"Blackbeard, Ace, the Paramount War..." Lin Feng muttered. "It seems I need to hurry up and grow stronger too."