The golden light shone so brilliantly that many couldn't even open their eyes. The dazzling radiance was unlike anything an ordinary person could produce. At first, some doubted whether the newcomer was truly powerful, but the overwhelming pressure quickly crushed those doubts.
From the center of the glowing circle, a golden-armored foot stepped forward, treading on what seemed like invisible ground. A man clad in resplendent golden armor emerged, his entire presence radiating divine majesty.
It became clear—the blinding golden light had been released from the magic circle itself, summoned by the man now walking out. To the crowd, he looked less like a human and more like a god. If gods truly walked the earth, then surely this man was one.
"God Falls…"
Whitebeard placed down the massive bowl of sake in his hand and casually reached for his naginata, the legendary Murakumogiri, one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades. With practiced ease, he spun it several times, releasing a powerful aura that shook the air.
"Gurararara…" Whitebeard laughed. "God Falls!"
The words thundered across the deck, and the Whitebeard Pirates froze. Even before opening their eyes, those who heard that name were stunned.
"God Falls!?"
No wonder Whitebeard himself acknowledged this arrival. The name belonged to none other than Vane—the youngest Emperor of the Sea. In recent months, the world had been shaken by his actions. At barely sixteen, Rhett Vane had become the center of global turmoil.
Vane descended from the golden circle, his figure floating above the sea like a god descending to earth. Even Whitebeard couldn't help but be impressed by the boy's grand entrance.
"What a terrifying brat," Whitebeard muttered, smiling. To him, even Kaido or Shanks were still youngsters, mere brats compared to his age and experience.
As the golden radiance faded, Vane's figure finally revealed itself fully to Whitebeard and his men. The pirates stared at him in awe and disbelief. He was far too young, yet his presence alone placed him on equal footing with their "Oyaji." Whitebeard could casually call him a kid, but for the crew, Vane was anything but.
After all, even the youngest among them—Ace, the Fire Fist—was already nineteen. Vane hadn't even reached sixteen. His strength was beyond comprehension.
Too strong.
Far too strong.
When their gazes met, the air trembled.
"What a scary little devil," Whitebeard repeated, this time releasing his full aura. In an instant, the oppressive weight of his Conqueror's Haki swept across the sea.
The sheer force made countless crewmates collapse unconscious on the spot. The weak fainted instantly, falling like dominoes.
"A greeting between men!" Whitebeard declared.
Vane smirked. Naturally, he would not back down. His own Conqueror's Haki burst forth, clashing against Whitebeard's with devastating force.
The sea churned violently. Ships trembled as if caught in a storm. The sky itself responded—dark clouds rolled overhead, and the stars vanished behind the crackling pressure. A massive rift tore through the heavens, as though the sky itself had been split apart.
"It's as terrifying as Oyaji's!" Marco gasped, sweat trickling down his forehead.
Even Vista and the other division commanders turned pale. Few in the New World possessed Conqueror's Haki. Fewer still could wield it at this level. Yet here was a boy under sixteen, clashing evenly with Whitebeard himself.
The confrontation lasted a full thirty seconds before the two auras dissipated simultaneously, as if by unspoken agreement.
Whitebeard chuckled. "A terrifying little devil… to have Conqueror's Haki this strong at your age."
Vane landed gracefully on the deck of the Moby Dick. Whitebeard sat back in his chair, his grin widening. He could feel no malice from the boy. At first, he had suspected an enemy seeking to harm his family. But no—the intent wasn't there.
The crewmates who had fainted would wake soon enough. Those too weak to withstand such overwhelming Haki simply needed to grow stronger. That was the way of the sea.
____
Milestone,
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter