Chapter 2:

Hearing her father's words, Monica glanced at Teach, who had just picked himself up from the ground. Struggling to steady himself, he leaned on a nearby support with his right hand.

"Teach, are you alright?" Monica jogged over to Teach, her hands reaching out to support him. "Hahaha, how could I not be?" Teach laughed, rolling up his sleeves and wiping his mouth, "What a powerful punch that was."

Lifting his gaze, Teach stared at Modi, who was standing before him. Recalling the scene from earlier, the overwhelming power and speed struck Teach with awe. Modi had the makings of a fearsome pirate in the grand sea.

"Haha, Uncle Modi, your way of greeting is quite unique! Thanks for holding back," Teach laughed. "You freeloader! Get out of here and stop bothering my Monica," Modi replied, raising his fist without any courtesy.

"Come on, don't be like that! This time, I've brought gifts," Teach said thick-skinned, ignoring Uncle Modi's hostile tone. He walked outside, brought in two large bags filled with a strong medicinal scent. "These herbs are all handpicked from the mountains. I'll leave them to you. They should be useful."

"No, Teach, they're too valuable." Monica, who was well-versed in herbal medicine, recognized the rare and precious herbs at a glance. They were covered with the scent of earth, indicating they could only be found deep in the mountains, a place filled with poisonous insects and ferocious beasts. It was a wonder how Teach had managed to find them.

"Hahaha, these things will be most effective in your hands! I won't be here much longer. I'm setting sail soon. Thank you for your kindness over the years." Teach laughed heartily, turning to leave. He had heard that the Whitebeard Pirates were in the area and would soon be docking at Arcas Island for a rest. It would be his chance to join their crew.

Teach was not an unfeeling person, and he wanted to say goodbye to those who mattered while he still had time.

Watching Teach's retreating figure, Modi remained silent, though his eyes softened.

Inside the Flame Dojo's quiet chamber, two men sat across a square table. Hael took a sip of tea and closed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought as a gentle breeze swept by. Opening his eyes, he asked solemnly, "Have you made up your mind, Teach?"

"Yes, I am determined. When the time comes, I will board the Moby Dick, the Whitebeard Pirates' ship," Teach replied, nodding without any hesitation.

Seeing Teach's resolve, Hael sighed and a relieved smile spread across his face. "Alright then. A true man seeks adventure far and wide, and cannot be confined to a small place like this. You have great talent in swordsmanship. I have taught you everything I can over the years, but the path ahead is for you to discover on your own," Hael said slowly.

Standing up, he walked over and took down a sword hanging on the wall. It was a long, deep red blade with flame-like patterns. Cradling the sword in both hands, he presented it to Teach.

"This, this is..." Teach's eyes widened as he stared at the sword before him. Though he didn't know its name, he had seen it many times before, and there was no doubt in his mind that it was a famous sword. Through its sheath, he could faintly sense a burning heat.

This was a treasured sword that Hael had kept safe, and it was incredibly valuable. Now, as it lay before him, Teach couldn't help but wonder what this meant. He had a hunch but dared not believe it.

"Teach, I'm entrusting this to you. My grandfather was a great swordsman, and he sought a sword that could perfectly complement his Flame Style swordsmanship. He went through great hardships, procuring precious ores, and journeyed to the Wano Country, commissioning the finest craftsman to forge this sword. It's called the Purgatory Sword," Hael said, his eyes filled with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy as he reminisced.

"But," Teach wanted to say something, but Hael interrupted him, "I know what you're thinking. This sword has been gathering dust with me. Although you're not a pure swordsman, only in your hands can it truly shine, or perhaps you can help me find a more suitable owner." Hael stared intently at Teach as he spoke.

Seeing Hael's expression, Teach nodded and bowed deeply. "I swear I will make the name of Purgatory resound across the seas and let it shine with its own brilliance." Hael smiled at Teach's words. "Take it, and don't come back if you don't make something of yourself."

"Yes." With the sword on his back, Teach turned and left, not knowing when he would return – perhaps five years, maybe ten, or even longer.

Walking down the street, someone exclaimed, "Hey, it's Teach! You look even stronger now." Teach laughed, "Haha, it's Uncle Tom! You're looking good too. Why not have another child with Aunt Mary? I've got some fresh tiger whip here. I'll give it to you, and you can soak it in wine later."

"Teach, you're looking more handsome. Want me to introduce my daughter to you?" a robust woman waved at Teach. "No, no, Aunt Kari, I'm still young. Let's forget about it." Teach chuckled and jogged away, but the image of Aunt Kari's daughter lingered in his mind – she was undeniably beautiful.

Teach was a local celebrity in the small town. At a young age, he could hunt fierce beasts in the mountains, was a direct disciple of the Flame Dojo, and single-handedly eradicated all the ruffians in town.

Teach returned to his home – a small, tidy cabin on a slightly elevated hill. It was small but complete with all necessities. He had some belongings stored there, including a hidden cellar beneath a square wooden board. Inside was a wooden chest containing Teach's secret treasures. Opening the chest revealed two swords, a Devil Fruit, a booklet, and a manual on the Lightning Sword Technique.

The booklet was a Devil Fruit encyclopedia. Teach had committed the names and appearances of each Devil Fruit to memory. Although incomplete and not containing every Devil Fruit, the booklet covered at least half of them.

One of the swords, the famed Raiu, was taken by Teach when he stole the Lightning Sword Technique manual. The Devil Fruit and the other sword were discovered during an adventure on the island's ruins.

On Arcas Island, hundreds of years ago, there was a kingdom called Arcas. For unknown reasons, it perished, leaving behind broken relics covered by the primeval forest. Now, apart from Arcas Town, the island was densely covered in forests.

The other sword, which remained uncorroded and in good condition after a slight polish, was undoubtedly an excellent weapon. Measuring about 1.8 meters, the sword was forged from deep blue mineral iron, while the hilt was dark purple with large, eye-catching jewels embedded. Many nobles and kings would treasure such a blade. Its original name was lost, but Teach named it Dragon Abyss.

The Devil Fruit was an Ancient Zoan type called Bat Bat Fruit, Model: Desmodus Draculae, but Teach had no intention of consuming it. Before obtaining that specific Devil Fruit, he wouldn't eat any others.

Many dangers lurked within the ruins, such as poisonous mists, swamps, and ferocious beasts. In his explorations, Teach had discovered countless treasures but chose to leave them behind, as they were too alluring and could bring disaster upon him.

Arcas Island was a medium-sized island, home to a small town, also called Arcas, and around a hundred thousand inhabitants. Located in the New World, the island was relatively remote and lacked precious ores or specialty products, so it was rarely targeted by pirates. Aside from the occasional pirate ship stopping by for supplies, it was mainly visited by regular merchant vessels.

The locals were simple and honest, and due to the harsh environment and chaotic piracy in the New World, most young men possessed considerable strength, capable of fending off weaker pirates. Moreover, powerful individuals like Hael and Uncle Modi lived in hiding on the island.

"Ha ha ha! I've waited so long, and they're finally here!" Teach exclaimed as he saw a giant pirate ship appearing on the horizon, resembling a massive whale. He peered through a telescope and spotted the unmistakable flag of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the top pirate crews in the world, and the Moby Dick, the ship he had been waiting for.

Arcas Town had only one port, serving as a gateway for interactions with the outside world. It was home to various merchant ships, pirate ships, and fishing boats. If his life had followed the original trajectory, Teach would still be an ordinary fisherman.

Having packed his belongings, Teach was ready for his final farewell. He wore two renowned swords at his waist: the Purgatory and the Raiu. The Dragon Abyss, taller than Teach himself, was slung across his back. A large bundle on his back contained living necessities and clothes, while his precious collection was stored in a secret compartment near the bottom.

"Teach, are you leaving?" Monica sat alone by the door, seemingly waiting for something. As Teach approached, dressed for travel and carrying a large bundle on his back, she knew he was about to depart. She just hadn't expected the day to come so quickly.

"Ha-ha-ha! My opportunity has arrived, so leaving is inevitable," Teach laughed. "But rest assured, I'll return once I've become a great pirate."

Hearing Teach's words, Monica smiled, feeling somewhat relieved. She couldn't find any reason to stop a man from pursuing his dreams at sea. "I understand. I'll wait for you," she said before embracing the man before her, realizing she had fallen in love with him.

Teach took his leave and sprinted towards the harbor.

"Aren't you going to take one last look? Watch him board the ship?" A voice emerged beside Monica as she watched Teach's retreating figure. "Hmm, Dad," she responded to her father, Modi, who had appeared beside her.

"I approve of that boy," Modi declared. "Take one last look, for who knows when we'll see him again?"

Panting, Teach raced towards the massive Moby Dick, a ship as huge as a colossal whale. He had never seen such a gargantuan vessel before.

As the Moby Dick docked, its crew disembarked to gather supplies. Teach spotted many familiar faces among them, with Whitebeard the most striking of all. Standing at six meters tall, he resembled a giant, his golden hair flowing and his crescent-shaped white beard gleaming. Beside him were Marco and the others.

Upon seeing them, Teach quickened his pace, heading straight for Whitebeard. Teach was hard to miss, and with such a clear target, Whitebeard and his crew noticed him as well.