Chapter 29

Title: Awakening Of Whitebeard's Fruit — Cash Opportunity

A thunderous slap resounded, a cruel symphony of violence etching its indelible mark upon Ace's face.

The sheer magnitude of the blow propelled Ace into an involuntary acrobatic somersault, leaving him sprawled upon the unforgiving ground. As he landed, his face bore the crimson emblem of a grievous tear at the corner of his mouth.

A profound sense of humiliation left an indelible mark upon his soul, as if a dark inkwell had spilled its contents within the chambers of his heart.

Although the blow he received wasn't fatal, its insult cut deeper than any physical injury. It transcended mere tolerance.

"You, you bastard! I challenge you!"

In the face of ignominy, Ace's resolve blazed like a fervent fire, propelling him to rise with unwavering determination. Xilan mirrored his every move, bridging the gap in a mere heartbeat before unleashing a punch of lightning-like swiftness.

A thunderous crescendo, akin to the rumble of distant thunder.

A devastating blow struck Ace's abdomen, triggering an immediate and violent expulsion of blood. He crumpled to his knees, anguish etched upon his features as he clutched his tortured stomach.

The torment was excruciating, an unrelenting agony that threatened to engulf him entirely, like a tempestuous sea seeking to drown its hapless victim.

With every ounce of his remaining strength, Ace raised his head, his eyes blazing with an ever-intensifying maelstrom of hatred. "You... Bang!"

Another stinging slap descended upon Ace's right cheek, rending flesh and unleashing a torrent of scarlet from his trembling lips.

"Ace!"

"Stop this madness bastard!"

"You, you fucking asshole!"

The Whitebeard Pirates, with fury, rushed to their comrade's aid but... when Xilan's predatory gaze swept across them all... his eyes like twin abysses of malevolence, stoped them on their tracks.

"Damn it! Why are you stopping, stupid legs? Come on, he's tormenting Ace!"

Marco's inner turmoil erupted into wild exclamations, his voice a cacophonous chorus of anger and frustration; ensnared by Xilan's malevolent stare, he found his limbs blocked in a paralyzing grip, rendering him utterly immobile, like a statue carved from fear.

"How dare you bully my son?!"

Kaka Kaka...

A chilling sound pierced the air, followed by the ominous quiver of a shattered atmosphere. The heavens themselves seemed to splinter, cracking with a sinister fissure, creating a scene of unparalleled dread that would be etched into the annals of history.

The cataclysmic force emanated from the northeast, where Whitebeard, shrouded in bandages like a battle-worn titan, stood resolute, a living testament to indomitable will.

"How dare you emerge to participate in this battle in your current state, Whitebeard," Xilan remarked with a casual, almost imperceptible air of reproach. "In your prime, perhaps, but now..."

"And what of it? Age will never be the reason for my retreat!"

Whitebeard's voice reverberated with undying pride, its echoes resonating throughout the tumultuous scene, like the timeworn anthem of an unyielding warrior.

"Father!"

"Pops!"

Marco and his comrades were overcome with tears, their guilt weighing heavily upon their hearts. This was the moment they had awaited, the moment to rise as loyal sons.

"Very well, Whitebeard, you remain the man I have always known. Despite the passage of time, your spirit burns as fiercely as ever. You are, undeniably, the unchallenged sovereign of the sea."

Xilan extended a resolute thumbs-up, a glimmer of admiration infused in his words, a salute to a legend that had refused to bow to the ravages of time.

Dying standing or dying kneeling—the distinction was stark, and Whitebeard unquestionably belonged to the former.

"Hmph! I nearly forgot to mention, Xilan, while I may be old... you are still older than me!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Whitebeard directed his fury forward, obliterating the atmosphere, as the visible shockwave surged forth, a testament to the enduring vigor of a true legend.

The entire island quaked incessantly, as if caught in the throes of a relentless earthquake.

Xilan, aware of the gravity of the situation, wrapped his right fist in Conqueror's Haki and unleashed it with unrestrained force.

Bang! Bang! Ka! Ka! Ka!

The shockwave abruptly halted before Xilan, displaying prominent cracks upon its surface as its power rapidly waned.

"Damn pervert, as resilient as ever," Whitebeard muttered, his countenance composed, but a trace of bitterness tainting his heart.

This man was older than him, yet his strength remained at its zenith.

Under the watchful eyes of all, the destructive force rapidly dissipated, succumbing to Xilan's assault in less than three seconds.

Such formidable might sent shivers down the spines of Marco and the others.

"Do not lose hope, my beloved sons!"

Whitebeard put down his weapon, arms outstretched toward the heavens, his eyes brimming with unwavering confidence.

"This stance... I've never seen it before."

"Could it be a new technique from Dad?"

"Marco, have you ever witnessed this?"

"I haven't either, um, could it be that daddy's fruit has awakened?!"

...

The prospect of a Devil Fruit awakening filled them with jubilation.

An aging figure, plagued by injuries, could their father still muster an awakening-level feat?

Even Xilan found himself taken aback; this posture was entirely foreign to him.

"An opportunity!"

A gleam lit up Ace's eyes as Xilan's full attention remained fixed on Whitebeard.

Swish!

Ace silently materialized behind Xilan, every fiber of his being infused with unrelenting determination.

"Fire Fist!"

Boom!

A colossal fist of incandescent flames, reaching tens of thousands of degrees, engulfed Xilan. The golden inferno appeared as though it emanated from the very heart of the sun, reducing the surrounding stones and substances to vapor in an instant.

"Success!"

Ace exulted, only to find himself collapsing the next moment.

Whoosh!

Xilan swiftly escaped the searing sea of flames, his enormous hand resembling an eagle's talon as it locked onto Ace's throat.

"It's over!"

A chill swept over Ace as he perceived the fury lurking within Xilan's eyes.

He had truly enraged this man.

Witnessing this, Whitebeard boldly raised ten fingers and bellowed, "Ten billion berries to purchase my son's release!"

Upon hearing this, Xilan seemed momentarily entrapped, restraining himself from any further actions. The dragon claw that had clutched Ace's throat released its grip, allowing the young man to descend safely.

After a while, Xilan regained his composure, his demeanor softening. He took cautious steps back, fearing that he might startle Ace, the God of Wealth, lest the promised ten billion berries elude his grasp.

...

—

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