Chapter 218

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As the sun set, the orange hues of twilight bathed the shattered island, reflecting off the winding sea in a warm glow.

Sizzling sounds filled the air as the flowing lava from the earlier battle with Whitebeard cooled upon reaching the ocean, forming volcanic rock that seemed to stubbornly adhere to the fractured ground.

—Under the clash between Zyhark and Whitebeard, the landscape of this sizable island had been entirely transformed.

Blue electric arcs lingered in the air, their presence ominous as night gradually took hold, filling the surroundings with a sense of mysterious danger.

Although Zyhark's Goro Goro no Mi abilities hadn't fully awakened yet, they were beginning to have a lasting impact on the environment!

On a wide, raised mountain area, a bonfire crackled, and lively chatter filled the air. Zyhark's crew, Whitebeard's pirates, and Buggy's crew had surprisingly reached an agreement and were now celebrating with a grand post-battle feast.

"Gurararara, after just half a day of fighting, my body's already feeling the strain. It's true, age spares no one."

Sitting among the pirates, Whitebeard couldn't help but laugh at himself, gulping down large swigs from his sake cup.

From the steady rhythm of his breathing, it was clear that his words were more a reflection of his thoughts rather than a serious admission of weakness.

After the intense battle, as one of the old era's leading figures, Whitebeard had fully recognized Zyhark's potential as a new force to be reckoned with.

That was why he now sat as an equal, drinking with him. This young man with boundless potential had earned that right!

"Hey, hey! Pops, you should really cut back on the booze."

Marco, sitting beside Whitebeard, looked concerned, instinctively voicing his worry.

Having been by Whitebeard's side for over a decade and serving as the main ship's doctor, Marco was more aware than anyone of the old man's current condition.

Although it wasn't yet dire, many signs indicated that Pops was no longer the same "monster" who once rivaled Roger in power!

"Ah, don't worry, Marco. What pirate can resist a drink after loosening up their muscles?"

Whitebeard dismissed the concern with a wave, "Besides, this is sake that Zyhark brought from his ship!"

"Isn't that right, Zyhark?" He turned to the young man across from him.

"I'm just a law-abiding businessman, so I don't really know much about pirate customs."

Despite his words, Zyhark smiled as he downed his drink. "But this feeling is definitely refreshing!"

"Gurararara! That it is!" Whitebeard roared with laughter.

"If someone like you counts as law-abiding, then there are no true businessmen in this world…" Marco muttered under his breath.

Even the most cutthroat of the Underworld's emperors, like Du Feld and Stussy, weren't as daring as Zyhark.

Attacking Celestial Dragons and challenging the World Government's authority with reckless abandon!

"Well, I'll take that as a compliment."

Zyhark shamelessly accepted, then turned his attention to Marco. "Speaking of which, are you sure you don't want to reconsider my earlier offer, Marco?"

"What a joke! Zyhark, there's no chance!" Marco's rejection was just as firm as before.

"Ah, well, that's a shame."

Zyhark sighed in mock regret before turning his sights elsewhere. "Jozu, Thatch, Vista, what about you guys?"

"Stop dreaming, you bastard!!!" x3

"Looks like my sons don't seem to like you very much," Whitebeard chuckled heartily.

Their expected response didn't bother Zyhark in the least. He just scratched his head in mock frustration. "What a headache…"

As one of the three leaders on the island, Buggy also sat with Zyhark and Whitebeard.

However, unlike Zyhark's relaxed demeanor, Buggy—forced into his position by his subordinates—was a bundle of nerves, his body stiff with tension.

Sweat beaded on Buggy's face, hidden under his clown makeup, and his limbs trembled uncontrollably beneath his red captain's cloak.

He did everything he could to make himself smaller, hoping to reduce his presence and avoid drawing Whitebeard's attention, lest the man decide to crush him like a bug.

After all, this was Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world, a monster on par with Captain Roger!

As for Zyhark…

For some reason, despite their past conflicts, Buggy didn't feel nearly as afraid of him, viewing him with the same mindset he held toward Red-Haired Shanks.

—Even though he had witnessed Zyhark's terrifying power capable of decimating entire islands!

It was as if being in class, desperately praying not to be called on, only made it more likely to happen.

"Oh right, Red-Nose, your old friend Shanks has been making quite the waves in these seas lately."

Whitebeard lowered his cup, his steady gaze shifting from Zyhark to the hunched-over Buggy.

His brow furrowed slightly, unable to understand why two apprentices from Roger's ship had ended up so vastly different—one a powerful captain, the other a cowering clown.

"That damn bastard, he's not my friend! We've got a blood feud!"

Mentioning Shanks, Buggy's anger flared, momentarily overcoming his fear as he corrected Whitebeard.

This outburst was caught by the nearby Buggy Pirates, who were quick to react.

"He, he actually yelled at the world's strongest man—no doubt, Captain Buggy is incredible!"

Their admiration for Buggy shot through the roof once again.

In terms of sheer fanaticism, the Buggy Pirates might just rival the devout members of the Axis Order…

Little did they know that their valiant captain was on the verge of a heart attack from sheer terror.

I'm dead, I'm dead, I actually yelled at that man…

Shanks, damn you to hell!

Naturally, Buggy blamed Shanks for this predicament.

But to his immense relief, Whitebeard wasn't offended by his "outburst." Instead, the older man sighed softly, saying, "A nemesis, huh? That's a term I haven't heard in a long time…"

Looking at the familiar red nose, Whitebeard's thoughts drifted to the glory days when he, Roger, and Shiki stirred up chaos across the seas.

In the blink of an eye, he was about to become one of the "relics of the past."

Soon enough, Whitebeard shook off the momentary nostalgia and turned a serious gaze back to Zyhark. "Tell me, boy, what do you intend to do with the red Poneglyph?"

His question, though simple, brought an abrupt tension to the previously relaxed atmosphere.

Understanding that this was the final test, Zyhark put down his cup, his deep gaze drifting from his crewmates, who were having fun with the Whitebeard Pirates, to the distant sea and sky.

After a few moments of contemplation, he replied nonchalantly, "I'm collecting it for fun."

There was no way he could reveal that he intended to offer it to the Wishing Pool—his greatest secret and the foundation of his power.

As for the clichéd goals like becoming Pirate King or seeking freedom, those were too mundane. It might not matter to others, but for someone like Whitebeard, who had already reached the pinnacle, they held little appeal.

As expected, everyone from Buggy to Marco and even Whitebeard himself was momentarily stunned by his response.

"Just for fun, huh…"

Whitebeard glanced over at Aqua, who was delighting the pirates with her antics, and at Zyhark's crew, who were laughing heartily. A smile tugged at his lips.

"Gurararara! You really are an interesting brat!"

"Since I had such a good time fighting today, fine, fine. If you want that dangerous thing, you can have it." He waved his hand dismissively.

Marco's eyes widened. "Pops…"

It was because Roger had collected all four of the red Poneglyphs that he was able to reach Raftel, become the Pirate King, and start the Great Pirate Era.

The significance of those Poneglyphs was undeniable—they had the potential to reshape the world's entire power structure!

Yet here Pops was, offering such a crucial piece to this rookie who had only recently set out to sea?!

"My era… it's finally becoming a thing of the past."

As if answering Marco's unspoken question—or perhaps simply reflecting on his own fading strength—Whitebeard looked down at his empty cup and sighed.

With Zyhark and Shanks leading the charge, the new era was rapidly rising. Why should he try to suppress it?

That was the World Government's job, not the duty of an old pirate who just wanted to protect his family.

"Thank you," Zyhark said, expressing his gratitude sincerely.

"Forget about that—just be ready for the trouble it'll bring. That thing isn't something ordinary people can handle," Whitebeard warned.

"Of course," Zyhark nodded.

Besides, he planned to offer the Poneglyph to the Wishing Pool right after obtaining it, so he had no need to worry about that!

"Wait, what? What?!"

Buggy, who had been silent throughout, stared wide-eyed.

You guys just agreed on this deal so easily? Shouldn't you at least ask for my opinion as the current owner? It was one thing for Whitebeard to take it, but what gave Zyhark the right to take Buggy's possession?!

Before Buggy could protest, Zyhark, anticipating his reaction, interjected, "By the way, Buggy, during one of my sea adventures, I happened to come across a map to Captain John's treasure. How about…"

Before he could finish, Buggy's expression did a 180. "Deal! You've got yourself a deal!"

As the pirate most deserving of the title "pirate," Buggy had zero resistance to the word "treasure map." He was like Aqua with booze—unable to refuse!

The idea that he could trade a stolen rock for a treasure map without risking his life made Buggy grin with glee.

I'm totally making out like a bandit here. This is pure profit!

And so, the three parties reached an agreement.

"Woohoo!!!"

Just then, another loud cheer erupted from the bonfire.

Aqua, draped in her goddess attire, stood atop a water fountain, holding a fan and performing her ultimate party trick, "Hyakushiki no Ono."

It was said to be a technique so advanced it could keep an audience entertained for an entire day.

For the pirates, whose idea of fun was usually limited to crude nose-picking dances, Aqua's bizarre and mysterious tricks were the highlight of the night—no contest.

Even more impressive, Aqua could drink like a champion, matching the hardest of pirates drink for drink!

As a result, even the battle-hardened Whitebeard Pirates couldn't resist falling under her spell.

However, their loyalty to Whitebeard was unwavering, so none of them were converted to the Axis Cult.

Meanwhile, the talking cat Meowth, the adorable dragon Kanna, and the imposing King all attracted significant attention from the pirates.

It's worth noting that the future Blackbeard, Teach, was among the crowd, blending in and cheering along.

At this stage, Teach was still playing the role of the honest, naive crewmate.

Since this man had no direct connection to him at the moment, Zyhark couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

After all, what kind of person Teach was, that was something the Whitebeard Pirates had to figure out for themselves!

The lively feast lasted until the early morning.

The idiot goddess, who had vomited rainbows, was slung over Zyhark's shoulder and carried back to the Endless Dream.

At Whitebeard's command, the Moby Dick sailed away first, leading the Whitebeard Pirates away from the now-ruined island.

Buggy's crew followed closely behind.

Buggy had barely been able to contain his excitement, trembling with anticipation at the thought of his treasure hunt! As for the red Poneglyph's location, Buggy had shared it with Zyhark the previous night.

—Apparently, after stealing the Poneglyph, Buggy had found it too heavy and cumbersome, so he'd just dumped it on some uninhabited island near the New World's entrance!

What a waste.

With Whitebeard as a witness, Zyhark had no concerns that the crafty Buggy would try to double-cross him.

Given his current strength and connections, tracking down Buggy in the New World wouldn't be too difficult anyway.

Besides, the so-called Captain John's treasure map he'd given Buggy was just a doodle Kanna had made!

While Meowth steered the Endless Dream toward their destination, Zyhark spent the time reflecting on his battle with Whitebeard.

This kind of practical experience was invaluable, and fully digesting it would significantly enhance his skills.

King, as usual, was busy training his muscles. Although the second-generation mecha had somewhat redeemed his status, seeing the Whitebeard Pirates' strength had only reinforced his resolve to become stronger.

Kanna, with nothing else to do, lay sprawled on the deck's grass, basking in the sun and occasionally playing with a stray bug.

By the time they crossed the vast ocean and reached the island, night had already fallen.

And the idiot goddess, still passed out like a dead pig, was drooling on her bed, scratching her belly. After calling her name twice and getting no response, Zyhark decided to let her sleep.

And so, Zyhark, King, Meowth, and Kanna made their way to the uninhabited island where the red Poneglyph was hidden.

Navigating through a forest filled with lurking beasts, it didn't take long for Zyhark to locate the massive stone block abandoned in a clearing, thanks to his Observation Haki.

Its surface, engraved with cryptic symbols, glowed faintly red under the moonlight.

It was indeed the red Poneglyph required by the Wishing Pool!

"Oh~ Maji yabakune!"

Kanna craned her neck, her purple dragon eyes wide with wonder.

In contrast, King and Meowth, who had already seen something similar on Skypiea, remained calm.

"Zyhark, what's next? Can that pool of yours even hold something this big, meow?" Meowth asked.

"Not sure, but it should be fine." Zyhark nodded slightly.

That was why he'd chosen to perform the wish outside; hauling this massive block onto the ship would have been a pointless hassle! "But before that…"

Zyhark snapped his fingers, and bright lightning illuminated the darkness.

Then he pulled out a camera he'd prepared earlier and carefully photographed the Poneglyph's inscriptions.

He wasn't sure if it would be useful, but it couldn't hurt to have a backup. Who knew what the tricky Wishing Pool might ask for next? It might even be related to Raftel!

Ensuring everything was in order, Zyhark pocketed the camera, closed his eyes, and delved into his consciousness, summoning the long-absent Wishing Pool.

A mysterious light swirled as the pool's basic form materialized before everyone.

Zyhark first tossed in the three Devil Fruits he'd gotten from Morgans, then used his electric powers to lift the massive Poneglyph and shove it into the pool.

Buzz, buzz, buzz! The Wishing Pool's surface shimmered with light, easily absorbing the enormous cube.

[The required three Devil Fruits and the red Poneglyph have been confirmed]

[Please provide a description for this wish]

Staring at the familiar, tricky interface, Zyhark took a deep breath.

Ever since his first wish, he'd had a certain wild idea.

But back then, he didn't have the strength to take risks, fearing he might cause irreparable harm.

After all, the Wishing Pool was too important to him, and he had to follow its basic rules when making a wish.

But now, his crew could hold their own, and his power was strong enough to challenge top-tier fighters.

So, Zyhark decided to use this wish to fulfill that once-crazy idea!

Given the Wishing Pool's unpredictable nature, the chances of failure were high, but what if it worked? Take a risk, and you might end up on top!

[Saiyan Warrior + Kamehameha]

[Description confirmed. Beginning dimensional world search… search complete]

Buzz!!! A dazzling golden light erupted, and the sound of rushing air filled the island.

Amidst the billowing dust, a man in a red battle suit with a spiky head of golden hair stood tall and proud.

(End of Chapter)