Bon-chan!
Is that you, Bon-chan?!
That’s right!
He could just imitate someone else!
Change his face? No…
Wait—no. The system’s description clearly wasn’t just about changing faces.
This had to be perfect replication.
Vir hadn’t really looked at this ability carefully before.
But this power was absolutely trustworthy.
All he needed was to swap to any random face—as long as it wasn’t his own.
Then he could definitely do it. He absolutely could go wild at Marineford!
Vir’s mind was exceptionally clear at this moment.
This plan was completely feasible.
Once he changed his face, he could assume the role of a top-tier rescuer!
Charging in and saving everyone with absolute dominance!
It was totally doable.
While Vir was busy plotting his Marineford adventure, the Whitebeard Pirates were still reeling from the earlier crying, unable to snap out of it.
Time passed quickly.
The needles embedded in Whitebeard’s body had also reached the point where they could be removed.
Vir was in an excellent mood.
Even though he hadn’t gotten stronger himself, at least he could go to Marineford.
As long as he later obtained or awakened Conqueror’s Haki, he’d soar straight to the top.
The grin on his face was hard to suppress.
If it weren’t for the slightly off atmosphere right now, he would have started humming a little tune.
*Plop! Plop!*
Soon, the sound of two objects being removed from a body echoed.
Vir yanked out both the drill and hammer bits, carefully storing them.
Yet, the places where Whitebeard had been pierced—
Had not a single visible wound!
It was as if he had never been drilled through at all.
However, at this moment, no one was paying attention to that.
No one…
Not even Whitebeard himself.
Vir, having wrapped everything up, looked at the heavy atmosphere around him.
He couldn’t sit still anymore.
No way.
After all, he was responsible for this.
And he had received such an overpowered reward.
How could he just sit back and watch their grief unfold before his eyes?
No!
It was time for him to step up!
Vir walked right up to Whitebeard!
Looking down at everyone below!
With a serious expression, he said, “What’s with those faces? Who are you putting on this act for?”
“Do you even realize what your old man just went through?!”
As Vir spoke, Whitebeard turned his head to look at him expectantly.
Was he finally going to explain?
That would be great…
The people below also seemed to be contemplating his words.
Vir continued, “Let me tell you! That sobbing you heard just now was your old man’s most genuine cry!”
“He was so scared he cried like that! And now, not a single one of you is stepping up to comfort h—”
*Pop!*
*Crackle—*
*BOOM!!!*
Whitebeard couldn’t take it anymore—he struck!
This damn brat! Not only did he not help clear things up—
He made it even worse!
His fist shot toward Vir!
Space shattered layer by layer!
The immense power of his Gura Gura no Mi nearly fractured space itself.
But Whitebeard hadn’t gone for the kill.
He was just too pissed off.
He’d only used less than half his strength.
Yet the moment he struck,
Vir had already blasted through space and fled.
Whitebeard’s punch hit nothing but air.
But the space where Vir had been still shattered.
This outcome left Whitebeard slightly stunned.
What just happened?
That punch…
Shouldn’t have missed.
The sudden turn of events startled everyone.
But when Vir reappeared on the mast, they all sighed in relief.
“Your old man is embarrassed! He’s trying to stop me from talking! Aren’t you gonna comfort him?!”
Vir’s teasing voice rang out from above.
Whitebeard’s forehead was covered in black lines!
Why did the urge to kill him keep getting stronger!?
Hearing Vir’s words, the others finally snapped out of it.
Yeah.
Pops had cried like… that.
We have to do something, right?
“Pops!”
Jozu was the first to charge forward.
He immediately knelt down next to Whitebeard’s head.
But Whitebeard closed his eyes in resignation the moment he saw him.
It’s over.
Who knows what this fool is going to say now.
“Pops! Don’t be scared! Jozu will always be by your side! From now on, I’ll protect you like you’re my own son!”
Jozu was truly pouring his heart out, tears and snot flowing.
His emotions were deep and sincere.
Vir successfully secured one last batch of negative points.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You’ve earned 100,000 negative points!]
But—
“Crane Talons!”
Before Jozu could finish his words, a burning claws once again smacked his face.
*Boom!*
*Sploosh!*
“This time, no one is saving him! Let him drink all the seawater! If he can’t finish it, he can die down there!”
Marco shouted furiously.
Whitebeard gave him a firm nod.
Good job.
Seeing this, Marco also moved to kneel beside Whitebeard.
Ready to comfort his Pops.
But Whitebeard lifted him up with one hand.
“No need. I’m fine now.”
Whitebeard’s deep, magnetic voice rang out, giving an inexplicable sense of security.
As he spoke, he slowly stood up.
Watching as the others genuinely wanted to rush forward and comfort him, Whitebeard wasn’t sure if he should feel touched or just plain annoyed.
“Alright!”
Whitebeard’s powerful voice echoed!
It was an incredibly deep and resonant sound.
The moment everyone heard it, they all stopped what they were doing.
And they looked at Whitebeard in surprise.
Even Whitebeard himself was a little shocked.
Because it had been a long time since his voice had carried such strength.
Could it be that…
He was healed?
Whitebeard closed his eyes.
After a moment of internal examination, his eyes suddenly widened!
He was completely astonished by the state of his body.
He was fine.
Truly fine.
His damaged and failing organs…
Were now completely restored.
His muscles, veins, and even his senses—all had seemingly returned to peak condition after just those two “needles” from that bastard!
And more importantly…
His body didn’t just feel healed.
He felt… stronger?
No.
Much stronger.
The thought made him pause in disbelief.
But it seemed to be true.
He had really gotten stronger!
To confirm his suspicions, Whitebeard strode toward the railing.
Though the railing barely reached his calves, those few steps forward felt incredibly smooth.
No more tearing pain in his muscles.
No more burning ache with every breath.
At this moment, Whitebeard felt nothing but exhilaration!
He had never imagined that he could ever return to such a state.
This sudden recovery, this healthy body…
It made his eyes slightly misty.
And as he processed this overwhelming change, his gaze inevitably turned toward Vir, who stood on the mast with a smug grin.
Sigh…
He owed this damn bastard his life.
How annoying.
Even as he thought that, the corners of Whitebeard’s mouth couldn’t help but lift into a smile.
He then turned his attention back to the sea before him.
Not far ahead, there was an uninhabited island—perfect for a test.
He slowly closed his eyes.
A tremor began to form around his right hand.
A faint white glow gradually enveloped it.
In just a few seconds, the glow intensified to a dazzling brilliance!
The nearby railing cracked inch by inch from the sheer force of the escaping vibrations!
Suddenly—
Whitebeard’s eyes snapped open!
And he threw a devastating punch toward the distant island!
Immense and unstoppable!
A pure display of destructive beauty!
*Pop~*
*CRACK!!!*
In an instant, the space before him split apart in a massive hundred-meter fracture!
The sea surged violently!
In the blink of an eye—
Fierce winds howled!
The entire world seemed to tremble!
The shockwave reached the island in an instant!
*BOOM——!!!*
A deafening explosion erupted!
The sound alone sent everyone into a momentary state of ear-splitting agony.
Even Vir wasn’t spared!
The piercing noise forced them all to instinctively turn their heads away.
Just from the sound alone, it felt like it could rupture their eardrums.
And that wasn’t even a direct attack—just the residual blast of the impact.
This… this was the power of the Gura Gura no Mi?
Absolutely terrifying!
And when they looked back toward the island—
Every single one of them was left wide-eyed in shock.
Because the island…
Had vanished without a trace.
Not a single remnant left behind.
That island—large enough to support thousands of people—
Had been erased from existence…
The crew struggled to believe what they had just witnessed.
Their father was strong, no doubt about that.
But wasn’t this a little too much?
That massive island?
Gone?
In mere seconds?
What the hell?!
Did he take some kind of super drug?
Even Vir’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
Sure, in his prime, Whitebeard could destroy islands with a full-powered, charged-up attack.
But that was just sinking them.
Completely obliterating them into nothingness?
What the hell was that supposed to mean?!
The world’s strongest man gets a mere ten percent power boost and turns into this kind of monster?!
If he unleashed a punch like that at Marineford…
And no one stopped him…
Wouldn’t the whole damn place just cease to exist?!
Holy hell, Old Man!
Did I overdo it?!
But at this moment, no one was more shocked than Whitebeard himself.
Though he had a smile on his lips, his eyes were filled with disbelief.
This power… felt foreign.
Unfamiliar.
It had been so… so long… since he had unleashed an attack like that.
For years, he had been plagued by illness, restrained by his failing body.
But today…
It all seemed to be over.
The era of the Whitebeard Pirates…
And his own adventure…
Might yet continue!
Once more, he had the power to protect his sons.
At this moment, Whitebeard finally understood what Ace had meant.
Those treated by Vir… truly did receive a ten percent power boost.
And there was no limit.
Anyone who underwent his treatment would grow stronger!
Even himself!
It was simply unbelievable!
Thinking back, those agonizing treatments now seemed like a small price to pay!
Even Vir… didn’t seem quite as annoying anymore.
Vir…
What a ridiculous veterinarian.
Whitebeard couldn’t help but think.
—–
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