Chapter 122: Heading to Whitebeard's Diou!
The next day, Ryuunosuke and his crew arrived at Kahalo Island.
The island's climate was surprisingly pleasant—neither too hot nor too cold. However, the soil didn't seem very fertile. If someone tried farming here, they probably wouldn't harvest much.
Just as Ryuunosuke had imagined, there was a small town nestled on the island. The locals made their living primarily through farming.
This was Whitebeard's territory, so other pirates didn't dare cause trouble here. As a result, the townspeople lived peaceful, content lives.
It had to be said: while the so-called righteous Navy claimed to maintain order across the seas, the presence of a powerful pirate like Whitebeard often provided even more security. In many places, it was the pirates who actually brought stability.
As Ryuunosuke and his group entered the town, a familiar face came to greet them.
"Captain Ryuunosuke, my father sent me to bring you in," said Vista with a smile.
"Vista?" Ace blinked, looking him up and down. "You look stronger than before."
He wasn't joking. Vista's entire presence felt sharper, more refined, like a blade that had been honed.
"We've been training like mad lately," Vista replied with a chuckle. "Come on, Ace—Pop's waiting. He's got something to tell you."
They followed Vista through the town until they reached a large, secluded courtyard—Whitebeard's base on the island.
Only a few captains were present—Marco, Jozu, and Vista. The others were away on assignments.
"Uncle Whitebeard, you're looking more energetic than ever!" Ryuunosuke grinned as he approached the old man.
Whitebeard no longer had IVs hanging from his arms. Clearly, the life essence potion Ryuunosuke had given him was doing its job.
"Gu ra ra ra… Thanks to your potion, brat," Whitebeard laughed heartily. "By the way, you saw the battle with Teach, didn't you? What do you think of his strength?"
"Teach?" Ryuunosuke raised a brow. "Weaker than me. If we fought, I'm confident I could kill him."
He paused, then added, "That said… your commanders might give him more of a challenge. Marco, for instance, could probably go toe-to-toe with him in hand-to-hand combat."
Ryuunosuke spoke calmly, but a hint of uncertainty crept into his voice.
After all, Blackbeard was an enigma.
From the fight with Thatch to his duel with Ace, Teach had always held something back. He never went all out, making it hard to judge his true strength.
But the fact remained: he had defeated Ace.
"You're saying Teach is that strong?" Vista asked, skeptical.
Back on the ship, Teach had been a nobody—a wallflower. He rarely stepped into the spotlight, and even when he did, his performances were mediocre at best.
"Listen," Ryuunosuke said, his tone serious. "Ace lost. And not barely—he was completely defeated. Can you say with confidence that you could do what he couldn't?"
Vista fell silent.
He knew the answer. Even in a straight fight with Ace, a full victory wouldn't be guaranteed.
"…Tch."
Vista clenched his fists but didn't argue.
Whitebeard changed the subject, tossing Ryuunosuke a Den Den Mushi.
"This is Morgans's line. If you need to reach him, use this. But tell me something, Ryuunosuke—what exactly are you aiming for?"
"My goal?" Ryuunosuke smirked, raising his head.
"To stand at the very top of the world," he declared. "I want to live free—unbound, untouchable. No one will restrict me. And when they hear my name, they'll know it's the Dragon Hunter Pirates."
As he finished, Ryuunosuke's Conqueror's Haki burst forth like a tidal wave.
Whitebeard's eyes widened in shock.
"This presence…! He didn't have this the last time we met."
In just a short span of time, Ryuunosuke had grown again. And when Whitebeard looked at his own sons, he felt a pang of frustration.
Under his protection, they had grown complacent.
"Ryuunosuke, if I remember correctly… you use a sword too, right?" Whitebeard suddenly said with a grin. "Why don't you spar with Vista? Show them that the new generation has already surpassed the old."
"Pops!" Vista cried, startled.
He hadn't fought Ryuunosuke before, but from Ace's stories—and from what he'd seen of Ryuunosuke's crew—it was clear the young captain wasn't weak.
Fighting him here would be like asking to be humiliated.
"Well, swordsmanship isn't really my specialty," Ryuunosuke replied casually. "I dabble, but my real strength lies elsewhere."
He glanced over his shoulder.
"Kuina, you handle this. Show them what real swordsmanship looks like."
From behind him, a calm, composed young woman stepped forward.
"Hello, Uncle Whitebeard," Kuina greeted politely.
She held a long sword by her side. One look was enough to tell she was a seasoned swordswoman. The sharp aura around her was undeniable.
Whitebeard raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed.
For a woman to reach this level with a blade, she must have put in an incredible amount of time and effort—perhaps more than most men.
"Vista," Whitebeard said, locking eyes with him. "Don't embarrass me."
"Well," Vista sighed, chuckling awkwardly, "if I get to spar with a beautiful lady, I guess it's not so bad."
He drew both swords and held them respectfully in front of him—his school's signature stance.
"Please," Kuina said softly, drawing her sword.
A soft breeze picked up around her, and her hair fluttered in the wind. The presence she exuded was razor-sharp.
Shh...
Without warning, Kuina dashed forward.
Her Isshin-ryu sword style, combined with the wind-infused sword, elevated both her speed and strength. She moved like a storm—fast, clean, and precise.
Vista responded, but not with a slash. Instead, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a handful of rose petals, and tossed them into the air.
Ryuunosuke blinked, confused.
"…Wait, that's why he's called the Flower Sword?"
He thought the petals came from some special sword technique—not that Vista just threw them by hand.
Even Whitebeard turned away for a moment, clearly embarrassed.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Check my Pâtreon for (40) advanced chapters
Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03
Change (â) to (a)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Discord Link Here:
https://discord.gg/VvcakSux