Chapter 2: Final Farewell

Monica glanced at Teach, who had managed to get up from the ground. Teach's body was a bit unsteady.

"Teach, are you alright?" Monica hurried over to his side, supporting him with her hands. "haha, how could there be anything wrong with me," Teach laughed, lifting his sleeve to wipe his mouth. "That was quite a punch."

Teach lifted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on Modi's figure, as images of their previous encounter flashed through his mind. The overwhelming power and speed had been truly terrifying, making Modi a formidable opponent.

"haha, Uncle Modi, your way of saying hello is certainly unique. Thanks for showing me some mercy," Teach laughed. "You little brat, get lost and don't disturb my Monica," Modi retorted, clenching his fist in response. "No need to say that, I brought a gift this time," Teach boldly continued, ignoring Modi's tone of wanting to drive him away. He went by a tree nearby where he had stationed his belongings, and returned with two large bags filled with a strong medicinal scent. "I collected these herbs in the mountains. I'll leave them to you for processing. I don't know if they will be useful, just picked them since they looked cool and medicinal." Monica recognized the herbs immediately. They were rare and precious, not commonly found in the market. Judging by their age and the lingering earthy scent, they could only be found in the mountains, where dangerous poisonous insects and beasts roamed. She wondered how Teach managed to find them.

"haha, these things will be most effective in your hands, take it as a gift for taking care of me all these years. I can't stay any longer, I'll be heading to the sea soon. I've relied on your care these past few years," Teach laughed, turning to leave. The Whitebeard Pirates should arrive in this sea area any day now, and would soon dock at the Island for a rest. That's when Teach would board the Whitebeard Pirates' ship.

So he knew that farewells had to be said while there was still time.

Watching Teach's retreating back, Modi said nothing, but his eyes softened slightly.

In the dojo, in a quiet room, a men sat on a side of a square table. Haier quietly sipped his tea, his eyes closed as if lost in thought. A breeze blew in from outside, prompting him to open his eyes. "Have you made your decision, Teach?" Master Haier asked with a serious expression.

"Yes, I've made up my mind. I'll board the Moby Dick of the Whitebeard Pirates," Teach replied without hesitation.

Seeing Teach's determination, Haier sighed and smiled with relief. "Very well, a worthy person should not be confined to this small place. Your talent in kendo is exceptional. I've taught you everything I can in these past years. From now on, you must learn and grow on your own," Haier said slowly.

Standing up and walking to the back, Haier took a weapon off the wall. It was a long crimson blade with a flame-like pattern. Holding it in both hands, he placed it in front of Teach. "This, this is..." Teach widened his eyes, recognizing the the weapon in front of him. Though he didn't know its name, he had seen it many times. From his perspective, it was undoubtedly a famous blade. Even through its scabbard, he could sense a hint of heat.

"This is for you, Teach. My grandfather was once a great swordsman. He went through countless hardships to bring this precious ore from who knows where, to create this blade. It is called Purgatory, a renowned weapon," Haier explained, his eyes filled with emotion as if reminiscing.

"But..." Teach wanted to say something but was interrupted by Haier. "I know what you want to say. This blade has been collecting dust with me. Although you are not a pure swordsman, only in your hands can it be carried forward or find a master more suitable for it," Haier said, his gaze fixed on Teach. When Teach saw him like this, he nodded. "Thump!" He knelt down on the ground, bowing deeply. "I will make the name of Purgatory resound throughout the seas, Thank you."

Hearing hid words, Haier smiled. "Take it, I hope you succeed in your adventures," he said.

"I will," Teach replied, standing up and leaving with the blade on his back. He didn't know how long it would be until he return. It could be five years, ten years, or even longer. Or maybe never.

As he walked down the street, Teach was greeted by familiar faces. "Oh, it's Teach. You look even stronger now." "Haha, Uncle Tum, you're looking good too. And Aunt Mar, would you like another one? I have fresh tiger skin."

"Teach, boy, your looking sharp as ever", A burly aunt waved at Teach.

Teach smiled and trotted away.

Teach had become quite famous in the small town. At a young age, he could hunt beasts in the mountains and take on all the small-time gangsters in the area single-handedly, eliminating them.

Returning to his dwelling, a small house he made, on a slightly elevated hill, Teach entered the clean and tidy space. Though small, it was well-equippd. Teach had also stored some belongings here—a portable bed and a square plank that opened up to reveal a cellar underneath. In the cellar, there was a wooden box containing some treasures, clothes, and everyday necessities, as well as his collection of valued items.

Opening the wooden box, Teach took out a sword, a devil fruit, a booklet, and manuals on Thunder and Flame Swordsmanship. The booklet was the Devil Fruit Illustrated Book, containing information on various devil fruits. Teach had memorized the names and appearances of each fruit listed within.

The sword was a decent one, called Thunder Tooth, one that Teach took when he stole from the Kendo Dojo. Both the devil fruit and the sword was found during his exploration of the island's ruins. This Island had once been home to a kingdom hundreds of years ago. For some unknown reason, it had been destroyed, and only ruins remained. Probably something to do with the World Government. Covered by virgin forests, the ruins were hidden except for the small town.

Another sword he had found was in a decent condition despite its age. With a little polishing, it would make a fine weapon. It was approximately 1.8 meters long, with a blade made of dark blue ore iron and a dark purple hilt adorned with large gems that sparkled brilliantly. This kind of sword was highly sought after by noble kings as a collector's item—a weapon of royal power. Teach didn't know its original name, so he named it Yuan. As for the devil fruit, it was a zoan model, Vampire Bat, that he had no intention of eating. He wouldn't consume any other fruits until he obtained the Devil Fruit he truly desired.

This Island was a medium-sized island with only a small town and a population of about 100,000. Located in the New World, it was a relatively remote location without any valuable ores or specialties, which meant that few pirates paid attention to it. Other than occasional visits from merchant ships and the need to replenish resources, pirates rarely set their sights on the island.

The people of the Island had simple customs, and the harsh environment of the New World combined with the presence of chaotic pirates meant that the average young man had to possess strength to defend themselves against weaker pirates. Teach himself had grown up in seclusion with the guidance of a powerful figure like Master Haier.

…

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…

A few days later.

"The long-awaited day has finally come," Teach muttered as he watched a giant pirate ship appear on the coastline. The ship resembled a colossal whale, and through his telescope, he could make out the flying pirate flag. It was none other than the Moby Dick—the flagship of the renowned Whitebeard Pirates. This was the moment Teach had been waiting for.

The only port in small town served as the lifeline connecting them to the outside world. Merchant ships, pirate ships, and fishing boats of all sizes frequented the port. Following the original course of events, Teach had also been a fisherman.

Teach had packed his belongings and was prepared to bid his final farewell. He wore two long swords at his waist—the Purgatory and Thunder Tooth swords. The Yuan sword, taller than his own body, was placed diagonally on his back . A large backpack contained his daily necessities and clothes, while his collection was stored in the lower compartment of the box, which was also in the bag.

"Teach, are you leaving?" Monica sat alone at the doorstep, seemingly waiting for something. She had already guessed that Teach was about to depart when she saw him dressed up and carrying a large backpack. However, she didn't expect this day to come so soon.

"haha! My opportunity has arrived, and leaving is inevitable," He smiled. "But when I become a great pirate, I'll definitely come back."

Hearing hid words, Monica smiled and felt relieved. There was no reason to stop a person from venturing out to sea. "I know, I'll be waiting for you," she said, hugging the man in front of her. She knew she had developed feelings for him.

Teach left and ran towards the port.

"Don't you want to take one last look? Watch him board the ship," a voice said beside Monica. "Well, Dad," Monica replied. Modi had appeared beside her without her notice.

"That kid, I approve," Modi said. "Take one last look. We don't know when we'll see each other again."

Time had passed, and Teach dashed towards the port, panting heavily. The colossal whale-like Moby Dick had docked, and crew members were disembarking to collect supplies. Teach spotted many familiar faces, but the most prominent was Whitebeard himself—a towering figure standing six meters tall with a crescent-shaped white beard.

As he got closer, he ran straight towards Whitebeard, becoming increasingly conspicuous. With his goal clear, Whitebeard noticed Teach as well.

And then a crewman killed him for his suspicions activity…

The End.

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Just kidding of course.