3 The Birth Of A Legend
After 20 minutes or so of Edward kneeling whilst thanking the Elder profusely, the latter finally got him to stand up and return to the conversation at hand. By now, the Elder had told the man in front of him almost everything that he had asked, from the small to the deeply profound. However, there was one last thing that he needed to know before he left, likely the most important of all.
"Edward... It's fine, you have already conveyed your thanks to me... My gift should be able to help you once you reach the first plane. However, there is something else you should know..." (Freisor)
Hearing the Elder's grave tone, Whitebeard immediately sat back down and paid as close attention as possible. Even though he had only been here a short amount of time, simply a few hours, by his perception anyway, the Elder had never taken less than an amicable tone, so the change slightly surprised him.
"As is... fairly obvious... you are dead. Your body has already passed on, while I managed to salvage your soul and bring it here. Here is where the problem begins however. Your body is dead, and a soul that has left its body can never return to it again, regardless of the process..." (Freisor)
"So, you mean..." (Edward)
"Yes... I must make you a new body... Without your Devil Fruit..." (Freisor)
As if fearing his anger, Freisor lowered his head in wait, hoping that he wouldn't change his mind. 1 second passed, then 5, then 10, with no sign of Edward speaking, the Elder lifted his head slowly, only to find the man in question grinning before him. Before he could question him, the taller man placed his hands on his knees before releasing a hearty laugh, joy evidently mixed within. Again, the Elder was confused, isn't this usually the part when he blows up and refuses the deal?
"GURARARARARA... You thought that would be a problem for me? Regardless of the body, I am, and always will be, Whitebeard! I could only watch those brats catch up to me while the years did the same... A new body is all I need!" (Edward)
The Elder let out a small smile and looked as if a mountain had just been removed from his shoulders.
"Well then, I'm not my brother, so I can't create a life from nothing. However, every soul that has passed by, has been stored in my mind. If you will, please choose from the group." (Freisor)
Suddenly, the Elder raised his hand before ever familiar cracks started to attack the space above. From these cracks, Edward saw a multitude of faces, all clearly those that had died in the past. A few had caught his eyes, a young man with bright blonde hair and whisker-like marks covering his cheeks, a similar young man with short silver hair and a heroic look in his eyes and a middle aged man with long black hair and a handle-bar moustache.
As he continued to look through, his eyes were drawn to a single body. Tall, short dark hair, muscular, covered in scars, similar to Edward himself in his younger years. Noticing his gaze, Freisor began to speak.
"Ah, him... That young man was one of the first people that came to me after I was sealed here. He had such a poor life, right from the very beginning... Though he could have reincarnated, he chose not to, choosing instead to simply end his life in peace, saying something about his 'revenge' finally being over." (Freisor)
The more he looked at him, the more Whitebeard wanted to know. However, he simply shook his head and spoke once more.
"What was his name?" (Edward)
"Guts..." (Freisor)
After deliberating for a while, he finally came to an answer.
"I'll do it..." (Edward)
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The pain was excruciating. Nothing like Edward had ever experienced before. He had bullets and cannonballs shot into him, stabbed countless times with countless different weapons, hell, he even had a fist of magma punched through his stomach. Even so, nothing compared to the feeling of forcefully changing the structure of his body.
His teeth clenched as sweat poured from his face, even so, he didn't let out a single sound, no matter how excruciating it was. As if rewarding him for his efforts, a message popped up in his vision.
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[Congratulations! You have shown unbreakable willpower in the face of tremendous pain!]
[As a result of your effort, you have received:]
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[Willpower + 30]
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[Title: Ruler]
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[Skill: Unbending Will]
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Just as he was about to question the contents of the message, another appeared just as quickly, before he suddenly blacked out.
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[Congratulations! You have integrated your soul into the body of 'Guts'!]
[As a result, you have received:]
[Strength + 50]
[Endurance + 30]
[Vitality + 30]
[Agility + 30]
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[Title: The Forgotten]
[Title: Sacrifice]
[Title: Demon Slayer]
[Title: Survivor Of Fate]
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[Skill: Heavy Weapons Proficiency]
[As you already have this skill, skill level increases by 5 instead]
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[Skill: Great Endurance]
[Skill: Great Strength]
[Skill: Great Agility]
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[Skill: Unbending Will]
[As you already have this skill, skill level increases by 5 instead]
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[Skill: Great Reflexes]
[Skill: Lone Wolf]
[Skill: Berserk]
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As he opened his eyes again, Edward sucked in a mouthful of air abruptly. Not that he had much choice in the matter anyway, after all, he was currently falling from the sky! He didn't even have time to check his new body, he needed to find a way out of his situation! Just like a blessing from the heavens, the voice of his son appeared in his ears.
{Pops, you need to find a way to break your fall! Aim for that building over there!}
As if pointing with his mind, Ace directed his attention to a strange building, just slightly over to his right. A peculiar tavern, moulded into the shape of a coned hat, sitting atop a deep green hill.
