Chapter 3

"Let me witness it myself."

Right after Dak finished speaking, Marco transformed into a phoenix and soared into the sky, looking down at Darkrai from above.

"Dak."

Darkrai glanced at Dak, and after receiving a nod, also took to the sky.

In the realm of legendary Pokémon, there are hardly any that can't fly.

"Go ahead."

Marco was confident, not wanting to bully the weak. In his eyes, this mysterious creature before him couldn't possibly be stronger than him, so he didn't plan to make the first move.

If it could land a hit on him, then this creature would be considered formidable.

"Dark Void."

This was the first time Dak was commanding a Pokémon in battle, and he was a bit excited.

He started with one of Darkrai's signature moves.

Darkrai raised its hand towards Marco.

In an instant, the space around Marco twisted dramatically, and a giant black hole with a fifty-meter radius spontaneously formed, swallowing Marco into it.

Marco didn't have time to react, or rather, he intended to withstand Darkrai's move to test its power.

But he didn't expect the move to originate not from Darkrai's raised hand but directly in the space around him.

In this world, most ability users release their moves outward from themselves, with only a very few Devil Fruits able to manifest effects directly from a point in space, and even those require conditions, like the Room of the Ope Ope no Mi.

Darkrai's move caught everyone off guard.

The hundred-meter-diameter giant black hole that appeared in the sky overwhelmed everyone with a sense of oppression, and Marco's disappearance left everyone dumbfounded.

"Gentlemen, don't worry, he's fine. He's just been put to sleep in a dark space."

Dak, sweating slightly on his forehead, spoke before the Whitebeard Pirates could react.

He feared that once they came to their senses, he wouldn't have a chance to explain before being attacked.

Hearing Dak's explanation, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates turned their gaze towards him, their eyes filled with danger and suspicion.

Even if Marco was taken down in an instant, they felt even more at risk.

No one noticed a fat man with black hair in the crowd, his head bowed, his eyes filled with madness and disbelief.

Darkrai returned to Dak's side and cleverly gestured with its hand, creating a two-meter-diameter black hole next to it, from which Marco fell out.

"Huff, huff."

Marco was lying on the deck, sound asleep with drool leaking out.

However, he was unharmed and appeared to be in good condition.

Thatch rushed over to wake Marco, who woke up bewildered and confused.

"Idiot. You're something else, kid."

Newgate glanced at Marco, shook his head in resignation, and then turned his attention to Dak and Darkrai.

"Breeding, is this your Devil Fruit ability?"

Izo, the sixteenth division commander, who looked as beautiful as a woman, asked.

"Um, no."

Dak thought for a moment and then shook his head.

He had considered claiming it as such but ultimately decided against it. After all, he would be selling Pokémon eggs and Pokémon to customers later, and they would realize that this wasn't some unique breeding ability but the Pokémon's own limitless potential.

"You possess such power but choose to sell it instead of keeping it for yourself?"

Jozu, the giant, was surprisingly sharp. To him, the power like Darkrai's could dominate the world if enough of it was available.

Yet this man intended to sell it?

What was his intention?

"Pokémon don't belong to me alone. They are born with their own will and should explore the world with their companions. I just hope they can grow up happily and lead a wonderful life."

Dak understood what Jozu was implying, but dominating the world was not his intention.

He wanted to complete the system's tasks, yes, but if his Pokémon were unhappy or dissatisfied after being sold,

He would rather not complete the task at all.

After all, there was no penalty.

Many in the Whitebeard Pirates were skeptical of this claim, accustomed to the cutthroat world of the sea, they weren't easily convinced.

"I believe him."

Newgate spoke up.

In that moment, the look he gave Dak was filled with recognition.

What Dak said could only be understood by someone who was also a 'parent' like himself.

He was the strongest in the world, and many outside speculated he harbored great ambitions, like becoming the Pirate King or ruling the world, among other things.

But in reality, he only wished for his "sons" to grow up happy and safe.

As the leader of the Whitebeard Pirates, Newgate's word changed the crew's perspective, making them trust Dak as well.

This level of leadership and influence was truly astounding.

"Does every Pokémon have abilities like that?"

Now, Marco had regained his senses and looked towards Darkrai.

Darkrai's move had left a significant impression on him; suddenly falling asleep was hard to withstand, and even his Observation Haki didn't catch it.

"No, that's a unique ability of Darkrai."

Dak shook his head, openly explaining to the crowd, "Darkrai's Dark Void directly affects space, creating an extremely unstable void that connects to a dark space. If any of you can influence space, then that move might fail."

Dak's explanation was speculative, but not without reason.

If Newgate used his Gura Gura no Mi abilities on the Dark Void, it probably wouldn't hold; similarly, abilities like the Door-Door Fruit or Ope Ope no Mi could evade the Dark Void's effect.

Not every Pokémon has space-affecting powers; some are even more terrifying, capable of influencing time.

"Phew, that's a relief. Wait, not all of them are that strong, right?"

Marco just relaxed when he suddenly became alert again.

"No, Pokémon are very weak when they're born, almost like human babies. However, their potential is theoretically unlimited. With proper care and training, they can become very strong."

Dak didn't overpromise but also didn't undersell the potential.

It's not only the near-divine or divine beasts that can reach Darkrai's level; even Pokémon like Beedrill and Raticate could become devastatingly powerful with the right training.

"Gurarara, interesting."

Newgate was now very interested in the Pokémon Dak mentioned, wanting to witness each type for himself.

"Oh? Then, would you like to visit my shop and pick a Pokémon egg?"

Dak's eyes sparkled, seeing a chance for the Whitebeard Pirates to become his first customers.

All members of the Whitebeard Pirates looked to their captain for the decision.

"Of course, but before that..."

Newgate nodded, stood up, and approached Dak,

"Would you like to be my son?"

(End of Chapter)