Three days later, the sea was calm, but the weather in the New World was as unpredictable as ever; one moment it was sunny and cloudless, and the next it turned overcast and stormy, just like now.
The previously calm sea suddenly erupted into a heavy downpour, and fierce winds howled, whipping up massive waves that lunged like hunting beasts at the solitary small boat.
“Shaq!
Lower the sail quickly!” Newgate sensed the sudden shift in weather and burst out of the cabin.
Shaq, who had just fallen asleep during a rare break from training, was jolted awake by Newgate’s shout.
Trusting his old man completely, he rushed toward the mast without hesitation.
Only after stepping outside and seeing the raging storm did he fully grasp the urgency.
It was important to remember that both of them were Devil Fruit users; if they fell into the sea, they would be utterly powerless, doomed to sink without resistance.
Amid thunder and lightning, Shaq braved the violent winds, climbed the mast, and struggled with the halyard, trying his best to furl the sail.
Meanwhile, Newgate stood firmly at the center of the deck; the violently rocking boat did not shake him in the slightest.
His right arm muscles bulged as he threw a powerful punch toward an incoming wave.
A gray-white quake halo appeared around his fist as space itself fractured, blasting the massive wave into scattered spray.
In this way, Newgate alone resisted the fury of nature, shielding the small boat that carried his family.
As more waves crashed down, even Newgate began to feel the strain.
Just then, a colossal creature surged out of the turbulent sea, opening its blood-filled maw as it lunged toward the stern.
“Beast, how dare you!” Newgate noticed it instantly and was about to release Haoshoku Haki to suppress it but Shaq interrupted from above.
“Leave it to me, Old Man!”
Shaq leaped down from the mast, drawing Flower Fish mid-air and gripping it with both hands.
Gathering all his strength, he channeled the Natural Life Force within his body into the blade and brought it crashing down onto the creature’s head.
A radiant slash burst forth.
“One-Sword Style: Flower Whale Fall!”
As the technique was unleashed, a mournful, whale-like cry echoed from the blade, as if mourning a fallen giant.
The slash cut cleanly through the Sea King’s head, splitting its massive body in two with terrifying ease.
Blood mixed with rain, drenching Shaq as he landed on the deck.
After shattering another wave, Newgate saw his son had already handled the threat and burst into laughter.
“Gurarararara, well done, Shaq!”
Shaq grinned widely, clearly pleased with the results of his recent training.
The blade technique he used was a new application of Natural Life Force he had developed over the past three days.
With his current reserves, he estimated he could only unleash such an attack two more times.
The storm raged for about half an hour before the clouds gradually cleared.
The sea calmed once more, as if nothing had happened, though the blood-stained waters told another story.
Newgate brushed his soaked golden hair back and tugged at his damp, drooping mustache with annoyance before sitting down heavily.
Then, recalling Shaq’s performance, he laughed again.
“Gurarararara, not bad, little Shaq, you truly are my son!”
Shaq placed his hands on his hips proudly.
“Of course!
I am the man who carries the name of Whitebeard!”
Seeing his attitude, Newgate laughed even louder.
After a brief rest, the two began inspecting the damage to the boat.
Even someone like Newgate could not completely ignore the overwhelming power of nature.
Fortunately, the boat was still in decent condition; aside from a few cracks, there were no serious leaks.
“We haven’t replenished materials in a while.
We’ll need to find an island to repair,” Newgate said, taking a gulp of sake.
“Then I’ll go check from the crow’s nest,” Shaq said, climbing the mast again.
Scanning the horizon with a telescope, a small green dot soon appeared in his vision, standing out against the endless blue sea.
“Old Man!
There’s an island at seven o’clock, lots of trees!” Shaq shouted excitedly.
Hearing this, Newgate immediately adjusted course.
“Then let’s go!
Gurarararara!”
…
As the saying goes, “a mountain seen from afar is far to reach.” After several more hours of sailing, the island finally came into clear view.
By evening, they arrived.
For Shaq, who had only experienced the sea since transmigrating, stepping onto land again made him extremely excited.
“We’re here, Old Man!”
“Gurarararara, it’s not just us,” Newgate said as his Observation Haki swept across the island, detecting another group landing on the opposite side.
“Ah?
Who else?” Shaq asked, confused.
“Gurarararara, my old rival…
Roger!”
Newgate picked up Murakumogiri, battle intent flashing across his face.
“I’m going to greet him.
Stay back for now.”
With that, he stomped the ground and leaped into the air, moving across the treetops toward the other side.
Shaq froze for a moment.
Gol D.
Roger the future Pirate King!
One of the greatest legends of the sea.
Suppressing his excitement, Shaq stayed put.
He understood what “greet” meant at their level; even the aftershocks could kill him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, Roger had just disembarked from the Oro Jackson.
Sensing Newgate’s presence, he laughed loudly.
“Ya hahahaha!
It’s Newgate!”
He immediately headed toward him.
Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban followed behind, exchanging helpless smiles.
Newgate descended from the sky, gripping Murakumogiri with both hands and bringing it down with overwhelming force.
Black-red lightning crackled around the blade Conqueror’s Haki coating.
“Gurarararara, Roger!”
“Ya hahahaha, Newgate!”
Roger stepped forward, gripping his sword Ace, also coated in Conqueror’s Haki, and met the attack head-on.
The clash split the sky.
Black-red lightning tore through the air.
Trees within a hundred meters were obliterated, the ground shattered, and shockwaves rippled across the sea.
Even from afar, Shaq felt the pressure.
Barely able to stay conscious, he stared at the sky filled with raging Haki.
“Monsters…” he muttered.
The clash was brief.
Neither used their full strength; at their level, a true battle could last for days and destroy the island entirely.
Soon, both withdrew their weapons, laughing as they faced each other.
Rayleigh, Gaban, and the others approached, carrying food and sake.
Roger grinned.
“Ya hahahaha!
Let’s have a banquet, Newgate!”
“Gurarararara!
Fine but I need to call someone.”
“Your crewmate?”
“My son.
My family.”
Roger paused briefly, then laughed and slapped Newgate’s shoulder.
“Then bring him!
I want to meet him!”
Before Newgate could move, Shaq’s voice rang out from behind.
“Hahaha, Old Man, I’m here!”