Chapter 131: Nah, I'd Run

Whitebeard chuckled, a hearty sound despite the underlying worry. "You damn fools! I don't need you as shields, I'm Whitebeard!"

This defiance was why he cherished his family. They wouldn't abandon him in a crisis. But Whitebeard's idealism, his belief that kindness begets kindness, was a flaw. True for most, it faltered with a select few. With such a large crew, complete unity was a fantasy. Blackbeard, for one, was always a wildcard.

"Pops, don't push us away," Marco said with a smile. He knew his brothers' loyalty. Few would choose to leave their captain behind.

"Stubborn sons, the lot of you!" Whitebeard conceded. With their minds made up, he wouldn't force them apart.

So, instead of dispersing, the Whitebeard Pirates stood united.

Except for Marshall D. Teach, that is. Teach had only one purpose aboard Whitebeard's ship: protection and the elusive Dark Fruit.

In the Original Story, Marco had once noted Teach's unusual physique, perhaps a legacy of the Dark Fruit within his bloodline. After all, those with the initial D were not to be underestimated.

Teach would stop at nothing to claim the Dark Fruit. It had been his goal from the very beginning. He knew, somehow, that wielding two Devil Fruits was possible. There had to be a precedent.

Unsurprisingly, Teach's family history likely played a role. He joined the Whitebeard Pirates for the Dark Fruit from the outset, while simultaneously seeking safety under Whitebeard's powerful wing. Back then, Whitebeard was practically invincible, making it near impossible for Teach to die under his protection.

Teach's plan was straightforward: remain with the Whitebeard Pirates until he found the Dark Fruit. Even if it meant retiring with them later, the crew's camaraderie appealed to him.

Without the Dark Fruit, despite scarring Shanks, consider when that injury occurred. It happened in Impel Down, where he couldn't even swiftly defeat a weakened Luffy and ended up bleeding from their fight. While Teach was strong, surpassing Ace, the truth is, he wasn't even the strongest among the Whitebeard Pirates.

He wouldn't have been constantly mocked by others if his raw strength had been so impressive. Without a Devil Fruit power, he even cried for his parents when a dying Whitebeard pummeled him.

He came to Whitebeard for safety, but the current situation with Luo Ning was entirely different. Even with past connections to Roger, Golden Lion, and others, Teach didn't flee back then because he knew they wouldn't kill Whitebeard. He wasn't afraid of anyone except the top tiers of power.

So, he stayed. But things were different now. Luo Ning was like a mobile Marine Headquarters, even more powerful. Furthermore, with Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors, already dead, Teach couldn't guarantee his own survival against Luo Ning.

He prioritized self-preservation and the Dark Fruit over dying for Whitebeard. So, he ran. Others made the same choice, infuriating Marco and the others. Whitebeard, however, didn't stop them.

After all, Whitebeard valued family. While these deserters had fled, forcing others to stay wouldn't make them loyal. The risk of death here was significant.

Whitebeard, understanding this, allowed Marco and the others to stand down and let the deserters leave.

"Those cowards, especially Teach! Always acting righteous and unambitious. Who knew he'd be such a scaredy-cat!"

The second division lacked a captain, and Teach, with his impressive combat power, should have been there. He didn't flaunt his strength often, but it was enough to earn him the captaincy and the respect of a seasoned pirate. But no one expected this seemingly honest man to flee at such a critical moment.

"Their choice to stay or leave is theirs alone. We can't force them. But from this moment on, they are no longer family," Whitebeard declared. He had no need for children who only celebrated victories but abandoned him in hardship.

"I understand, Pops," Marco replied, his anger still simmering. He wasn't alone. Most captains had crewmates who deserted, unsurprising for such a large crew.

The existence of someone like Luo Ning was truly terrifying, a force even pirates feared. Why wouldn't they run? Who stays for a celebration under such circumstances?

"According to schedule, those men should be arriving soon," Whitebeard said, changing the subject. He was more concerned about Luo Ning's whereabouts.

Though unafraid of death himself, Whitebeard dreaded the potential massacre of his sons. He couldn't bear to witness their demise before his eyes.

"The scouts report a sighting!" Marco relayed the information after a call via Den Den Mushi.

"They're here!"

Whitebeard ripped out the needles and tubes that littered his body. His physique resembled a pincushion, normally requiring daily infusions. But now wasn't the time.

"Pops!"

Everyone around him watched in shock.

"They're coming," Whitebeard rasped. "Don't I look pitiful with these clinging to me?"

Heeding the need for action over treatment, Whitebeard wouldn't let his crew tend to him. Alone, he wouldn't be able to manage infusions during the fight anyway.

Soon, a warship bearing the Impel Down flag materialized in the distance, steadily growing larger. A multitude of pirate ships lay anchored nearby, yet an unsettling silence blanketed the sea. Understandably, Luo Ning's reputation cast a long shadow. Such a tense atmosphere wouldn't arise with other Emperors. Now, faced with a weaponized ship capable of annihilating their entire crew, the Whitebeard Pirates remained eerily quiet.