Chapter 133: More Gurarara!

Luo Ning's words struck a chord with Whitebeard and the others. There was a kernel of truth in his proposition. While the "threat" at the end carried some weight, was it truly necessary? Whitebeard wouldn't underestimate Luo Ning, but realistically, even facing one Admiral wouldn't be a problem. Two? Three? The combined might of the Marines' top brass wouldn't faze him. Whitebeard retained a healthy sense of self-awareness; Luo Ning's threats were superfluous.

However, the underlying facts Luo Ning presented were undeniably threatening.

"It seems you understand," Luo Ning said, dispelling the notion of threats. "This is a proposition, a deal. You abandon the pirate moniker and establish a nation. In return, I let your people be."

"Though you rarely engage in wanton pillaging yourself, the same can't be said for some under your banner. Yet, most follow your code, primarily targeting the Seven Warlords. Even when they plunder, they rarely take lives. Otherwise, I wouldn't be offering this deal."

Luo Ning had a keen understanding of the Whitebeard Pirates. While they did raid, they shed less blood compared to other pirates. Whitebeard's leadership kept the worst in check. The true scum had mostly fled, leaving behind those who valued loyalty and righteousness. They weren't inherently bad.

"One more point. A battle – a transaction. The price of this transaction is your restored health. Your body harbors numerous hidden injuries, a consequence of both age and past battles. But the injuries are the bigger culprit."

Luo Ning acknowledged Whitebeard's declining physical strength due to age. However, he pointed out that Whitebeard's Devil Fruit mastery continued to grow. Similar to Golden Lion Shiki, whose Haki had weakened but whose Devil Fruit powers had become stronger.

"The drawback of relying solely on Devil Fruit abilities is significant," Luo Ning explained. "Neglecting other aspects can lead to a one-dimensional fighter, like Shiki in his later years."

"With your injuries healed, depending on your physical condition, you could have another ten to twenty years!" he declared. The immense resilience of these powerful figures meant their decline wouldn't be as drastic once their injuries were addressed.

Unlike the elderly who experience weakened immune systems and increased susceptibility to diseases, Whitebeard's underlying health, once the hidden wounds were treated, would surpass even a young man's. This could translate to a significant lifespan extension.

"You can truly heal Pops' body? We'll abandon the pirate life if it means his health is restored!"

Marco and the commanders exclaimed, their priority clear. Whitebeard's well-being trumped their pirate status. They'd readily give up their lives for their father figure.

"You've got me cornered," Whitebeard rumbled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "These sons of mine would do anything for me, even give up being pirates. I'm not particularly interested in becoming Pirate King anyway."

"But my current condition hinders my full potential," he admitted, a spark of battle-lust reignited. His sons' unwavering support and the prospect of a fight were persuasive. After all, abandoning the pirate moniker wasn't a deal-breaker for him.

Whitebeard, from the very beginning, had only ever been a pirate for his family. The allure of Pirate King held no sway over him; it was a meaningless title in his eyes.

"A wise decision," Luo Ning said. "Let's start with healing your body."

Focusing his power, Luo Ning channeled his phenomenal healing abilities into Whitebeard. Fantasy itself could breathe life into existence, and mending Whitebeard was child's play in comparison.

However, as the process unfolded, a wave of emotion washed over Luo Ning. "Your body... it's like a beehive! Riddled with holes!" he exclaimed.

Now it was no surprise why, in the original story, Whitebeard rarely took direct attacks and often stopped after a single blow. Only in the most desperate situations did he unleash his full power. With such a body, any ordinary man would have succumbed long ago. It was a marvel that Whitebeard could even move freely.

The Summit War was still years away, and Whitebeard's condition would only deteriorate further with time. But thanks to Luo Ning's intervention, all the hidden wounds plaguing Whitebeard vanished. The captain himself felt the immediate restoration of his injuries. These afflictions had constantly hindered his true strength, but now it felt as if shackles had been lifted from his body.

BOOM!

A mighty burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Whitebeard upon his recovery. Reacting instantly, Luo Ning unleashed his own Reiatsu, forming a protective barrier around Robin and the others. Whitebeard's Conqueror's was a force they couldn't withstand.

The clash of these two overwhelming auras mirrored the collision of Conqueror's Haki, splitting the very clouds above the Moby Dick.

This clash mirrored the effect of colliding Conqueror's Hakis, a phenomenon only witnessed between top-tier users. Simultaneously, Luo Ning used his own Reiatsu to subdue all but the Whitebeard Pirates' commanders, effectively scoring some free points. After all, why not capitalize on such opportunities when they arise?

The captains witnessed the spectacle with a mix of awe and terror.

"The sky... split!" one stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

"Gurarara! Recovered! My body is healed!" Whitebeard boomed, rising to his full height with Murakumogiri in hand. His Conqueror's Haki radiated outward with unrestrained intensity.

"Whitebeard, hold back on the Conqueror's! You can ease off a little!" Luo Ning said, slightly exasperated. While the display of Haki was impressive, continuously unleashing it wasn't sustainable.

Of course, this was Whitebeard, and the current Whitebeard seemed unbound from countless shackles. Unlike Golden Lion Shiki, whose Haki had regressed, Whitebeard's hadn't.

His previous injuries acted as shackles, hindering his true potential. They weren't comparable to Shiki's regression. While Whitebeard's peak resided in superior physical strength, his current state boasted a far more developed Devil Fruit mastery.