Blackbeard's Shadow

"Old man, the mission this time has been completed."

After finishing his spar with Lin Feng, Ace returned to Whitebeard's side and reported on the recent mission. His expression was solemn.

"Gurararara, thanks for the effort, Ace."

Whitebeard said with a smile, lifting his bowl of wine and draining it in one gulp.

"But, old man, there's something I need to report to you."

Ace suddenly said, his voice carrying a trace of anger and resentment.

"Oh? What is it?"

Whitebeard asked, noticing the change in Ace's expression.

"It's about Blackbeard, Teach."

Ace gritted his teeth as he spoke the name.

"That bastard killed Thatch, the commander of the Fourth Division, to seize the Dark-Dark Fruit, then deserted!"

Ace described in detail how Blackbeard had murdered his comrade Thatch for the Dark-Dark Fruit before fleeing. Every word seemed to be forced through clenched teeth, filled with fury and hatred.

Upon hearing this, Whitebeard's relaxed expression instantly froze.

His distinctive crescent-shaped mustache trembled slightly. Even the surrounding air seemed to solidify, and the atmosphere became suffocatingly oppressive.

"Gurararara... Teach, that bastard!"

Whitebeard roared, his voice exploding like thunder and making the Moby Dick tremble slightly.

A powerful burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted instantly, knocking several weaker crew members unconscious.

"Old man, please allow me to pursue Blackbeard!"

Ace dropped to one knee and requested permission from Whitebeard.

"I cannot forgive his betrayal, much less the cruel murder of a comrade!"

Ace's words were earnest, his gaze unwavering, and his tone full of resolve.

"Ace..."

Whitebeard looked at Ace and remained silent for a long time.

"Teach has his own destiny. Everything is fated. You should not force it."

In the end, Whitebeard rejected Ace's request.

"But, old man!"

Ace could not understand Whitebeard's decision. Agitated, he argued his case.

"Thatch's death cannot go unavenged! I can't sit by and watch the murderer of a comrade roam free!"

"Ace! That is an order!"

Whitebeard's tone hardened, leaving no room for doubt.

Standing nearby, Lin Feng watched the two argue, his heart filled with anxiety.

Lin Feng knew Ace's personality, understood Whitebeard's concerns, and was even more aware of the cruel fate behind this dispute.

"Ace, calm down!"

Lin Feng tried to dissuade Ace.

"The old man has his own reasons. If you insist on doing this your way, you'll only make him worry more!"

"Brother Lin Feng, you don't understand!"

Ace shook his head, his eyes full of pain and struggle.

"Thatch was an important companion to me. I can't just watch him die with his eyes still open!"

"But..."

Lin Feng wanted to say more, but Ace interrupted him.

"Brother, I know you mean well, but I have to do this!"

Ace had already made up his mind and would not listen to any persuasion.

"He was a member of my division. How can I just stand by?"

Lin Feng understood that Ace, like himself, had his own convictions and his own path to walk.

He could not forcibly change Ace's decision. He could only support him in silence.

"Ace, be careful."

Lin Feng patted Ace on the shoulder, his eyes filled with concern.

"I will."

Ace nodded, then turned and walked toward his Stryker.

"Ace!"

Lin Feng still wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing. At this moment, any words would have been weak and meaningless.

Ace departed alone aboard the Stryker, sailing into the vast sea.

Lin Feng stood on the deck and watched Ace disappear into the distance, his expression complicated and filled with worry and helplessness.

"Old man, do you really believe in fate?"

Lin Feng looked at Whitebeard and asked softly.

"Gurararara..."

Whitebeard did not answer. He merely threw back his head and laughed, his laughter filled with bitterness and helplessness.

Lin Feng understood that Whitebeard did not truly believe in fate. He simply did not want Ace to take such a risk.

But the wheels of fate had already begun to turn, and no one could stop them.

Lin Feng clenched his fists tightly.

"Ace, you must come back safely!"

He silently prayed in his heart.

Hopefully, it was not too late yet.

Lin Feng stared in the direction Ace had left for a long time without speaking, his heart a chaotic mix of emotions.

Lin Feng returned to his room and shut the door, cutting off the noise outside.

He pulled a wooden box from beneath the bed and opened it. Inside, swords were neatly arranged one after another.

They were all "casualties" of his sword-swinging training over this period.

Every one of them was covered in cracks and even chips, showing just how intense his training had been.

Lin Feng picked up a broken sword and gently ran his fingers over the cracks in its blade, his gaze complicated.

"Ace, you always have to be so impulsive."

Lin Feng muttered, his tone full of concern.

"That bastard Blackbeard definitely won't be easy to deal with."

Lin Feng took a deep breath, placed the broken sword back in the box, then picked up Frost Gale from nearby.

"Right now, all I can do is become stronger!"

He gripped Frost Gale tightly, his eyes firm.

"Only then can I protect the people I want to protect in the storms ahead!"

Lin Feng walked out of his room and onto the deck.

He stood by the railing, looking in the direction Ace had departed, his eyes deep and distant.

"System!"

Lin Feng called for the system in his mind.

"Display my status panel!"

A blue screen visible only to Lin Feng appeared before his eyes.

[Host: Lin Feng]

[Slash Points: 81374]

[Attributes: Strength: 341, Speed: 272, Constitution: 387, Reaction: 98, Perception: 153]

[Skills: One Sword Style: Iai Slash LV2 (Proficiency: 190/200), Sun Breathing (Complete Version) (New: Total Concentration: Constant), Six Powers LV2 (Proficiency: 60/300), Observation Haki LV3 (Proficiency: 37/300), Armament Haki LV4 (Proficiency: 123/1000), Conqueror's Haki LV2 (Proficiency: 0/500)]

[Evaluation: You have preliminarily gained the qualifications to become strong, but you still need to keep working hard!]

Lin Feng looked at his status panel and frowned slightly.

After this period of frenzied training, Lin Feng's strength had improved considerably.

But it was still not enough!

Not nearly enough!

Lin Feng's gaze fell on his Slash Points.

More than eighty thousand Slash Points seemed like a lot, but he was still a little short of exchanging them for a gravity chamber.

"Looks like I'll have to keep swinging my sword!"

Lin Feng muttered to himself.

He sheathed Frost Gale at his waist, then closed his eyes and began recalling every detail of his battle with Ace.

"Ace's Entei really was terrifyingly powerful."

Recalling that fireball as dazzling as the sun, Lin Feng still felt deeply shaken.

"If my Armament Haki hadn't been strong enough, that strike alone would probably have severely injured me."

Lin Feng opened his eyes, and a trace of realization flashed through them.

"My attack power is still not enough!"

Lin Feng needed greater attack power to gain an advantage in future battles.

"Looks like it's time to improve my Sun Breathing."

Lin Feng thought to himself.

He closed his eyes again and began practicing the various forms of Sun Breathing in his mind.

The essence of Sun Breathing lay in perfectly combining breathing techniques with swordsmanship, thereby unleashing tremendous power.

Lin Feng practiced it again and again, constantly adjusting his breathing and the angle of his strikes.

He wanted to train every move and form of Sun Breathing to the utmost limit!

"Only then can I create even stronger techniques!"

Lin Feng suddenly opened his eyes, excitement gleaming within them.

He drew Frost Gale and began swinging his sword.

Sun Breathing: Total Concentration!

Lin Feng's breathing became long and slow, each breath seeming to harmonize with heaven and earth.

The air around him began to distort, and an invisible wave of force spread outward from Lin Feng in all directions.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Frost Gale carved brilliant streaks of sword light through the air, producing sharp whistles as it tore through the wind.

Every swing of Lin Feng's sword was more powerful and precise than before.

He kept trying, kept improving.

He was searching for the right opportunity to merge Sun Breathing with other sword techniques.

One Sword Style: Iai Slash!

Lin Feng suddenly sheathed his sword, then violently drew it and slashed.

A fierce streak of sword light flashed forth, carrying boundless sharpness as it cut toward the front.

Boom!

The sword light struck the air and erupted with a thunderous blast.

"Still not enough!"

Lin Feng shook his head, dissatisfied with that strike.

"Again!"

He sheathed his sword once more and began gathering strength for the next attack.

Sun Breathing: Total Concentration!

One Sword Style: Iai Slash!

Sun Breathing: Total Concentration!

One Sword Style: Iai Slash!