svetikya Chapter 4 First Encounter with Whitebeard: A God-Sent Opportunity!
Chapter 4 First Encounter with Whitebeard: A God-Sent Opportunity!
Chen Ye's feet slammed heavily onto the solid deck, making a dull "thud".
Before he could even catch his breath, the giant hand that had been gripping the back of his neck like an iron clamp released its grip.
Suddenly losing his support, Chen Ye, already exhausted, stumbled and nearly collapsed to his knees. He forced himself to stand up, supporting his weak legs and knees with his last bit of strength.
The dizziness I felt finally subsided a bit.
He slowly raised his head and began to look around at his surroundings.
This is an incredibly spacious deck, wide enough to accommodate a small football match.
The air was filled with a complex and strange aroma—the scent of fine wine, the dry smell of wood repeatedly eroded by the sea breeze and the scorching sun, and a faint, almost imperceptible, smell of gunpowder.
The deck was packed with people.
No, to be precise, it was filled with monsters.
The crew members, each as burly as a small giant, were shirtless, revealing granite-like muscles and hideous scars.
Some of them were wiping cannon barrels, thicker than Chen Ye's thigh, in a corner, oblivious to everyone else; others sat in groups of three or five, gulping down wine from wooden buckets, their laughter rough and unrestrained.
Their gazes inadvertently swept over Chen Ye, carrying a pure, condescending scrutiny.
That wasn't contempt, nor curiosity; it was more like looking at a weakling.
Chen Ye continued to observe the surrounding environment and the people around him.
His gaze was fixed on a man leaning against the mainmast not far away.
The man sported a signature blond pineapple-shaped hairstyle, his eyes half-open and half-closed, his expression languid, as if he could fall asleep at any moment. He wore an open purple shirt, revealing the huge, iconic tattoo on his chest.
"Whitebeard, the captain of the First Division of the One Piece Pirates!"
"The Phoenix... Marco..."
Chen Ye's gaze moved stiffly, then fell on the other side.
A man with an exaggerated mustache was carefully wiping two Western swords in his hands with a piece of silk. His movements were elegant, and his expression was focused, as if the two swords were the most precious works of art in the world.
"Foil... Vista..."
Chen Ye's Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty, his throat feeling as dry as if it were on fire.
He saw it all.
Those characters who only exist in manga panels and anime scenes. Right now, in Chen Ye's eyes...
And they all exuded a suffocating sense of oppression as they stood before him.
This is not a cosplay party.
This is not a 3D experience.
This is reality.
Just then, the diamond-like man who had pulled him from the sea, the Third Division Captain Jozu, spoke in a deep, resonant voice.
"Hey kid."
Chen Ye's body stiffened, and he slowly turned his head.
Joz's rugged face remained expressionless; he simply gestured with his chin toward the bow of the ship.
"Dad wants to see you."
Dad?
Chen Ye's mind went blank with a buzz.
Walk forward slowly!
The pirates on the deck automatically parted to the sides, making way for a passage.
He made his way through the crowd and finally reached the bow of the ship.
Then, he saw that figure.
A figure so enormous it defies imagination.
The man sat in a huge chair specially made for him, his figure resembling a small mountain. Various medical lines were inserted into his body, and he was hooked up to IV drips. These medical devices created a stark contrast between his domineering and kingly image.
Even with an IV drip attached to his body, his domineering aura remained undiminished.
He simply sat there quietly, as if he were the center of the ocean. Everything around him, whether it was the roaring sea wind or the valiant crew, became a backdrop to highlight him.
That iconic, crescent-shaped white beard, those arms thicker than a normal person's thigh, and that naginata, wider than a door panel, resting quietly beside the chair...
Chen Ye's pupils shrank to the most dangerous pinpoints.
"The strongest man in the world..."
"The Four Emperors, 'Whitebeard'..."
"Edward Newgate!"
In that instant, Chen Ye felt his very soul tremble.
It was an absolute suppression stemming from the level of life itself. He had no doubt that this man before him, even if he was seriously ill, could crush him into the most insignificant dust with just a thought or a glance.
This was the only thought in Chen Ye's mind.
From being chased by a small-time pirate crew to falling off a cliff and being rescued by a Yonko's ship... this dramatic experience is even more thrilling than riding a roller coaster.
At this moment, Chen Ye's entire being was filled with only two words!
fear!
Faced with such an existence, any lies and schemes seemed pale and laughable. He didn't even dare to look the other person in the eye.
In the midst of this extreme fear and despair, deep within his mind, that cold, mechanical voice resurfaced like a ghost.
God-level Time-Space Summoning System
Current Energy: 0
Time travel is impossible.
Unable to perform any spacetime summoning.
These few lines of text were like a black lightning bolt, cleaving through Chen Ye's consciousness, which was consumed by fear.
energy……
Yes, energy!
The system needs energy to start!
Where might the quantity come from?
Chen Ye's mind began to work at an unprecedented speed.
He recalled the conditions for the system's activation—[The system detected a strong will to survive in the host].
This shows that the system is directly linked to his spirit, or rather, his state of being.
So, where does the energy come from?
Robbery? Murder? Mission?
No, that's too slow and too unrealistic. In his current state, completely powerless, even a lowly soldier could kill him.
There must be a more direct and efficient method!
Chen Ye's gaze began to move upwards uncontrollably, inch by inch.
His gaze finally settled on the white-bearded man's arm with the IV tube inserted.
He saw it; beneath the deep furrows of his skin lay countless scars!
That's a symbol of manhood!
White beard...
The strongest man in the world.
This title represents not only destructive power, but also authority!
A thought, an incredibly bold, even insane thought, suddenly exploded in Chen Ye's mind!
"if……"
"What if the energy the system can draw upon comes from other life forms?"
"So, this man in front of me..."
Chen Ye's breath instantly became scalding hot.
He looked at the white-bearded man, and his expression completely changed.
It's no longer about watching a legend or a powerful figure.
It's more like seeing a giant lucky bag!
The man in front of you is, without a doubt, the world's biggest "experience pack"!
Even if he grows old and becomes seriously ill, the rate at which his life force dissipates may be greater than the energy that an ordinary strong person possesses in their entire life!
As long as we can extract even the slightest bit of energy from him, like scooping a ladle of water from a great waterfall...
That's enough to get his system up and running!
Let him have the means to survive in this damn world!
This insane plan, like a seed, instantly took root and sprouted in Chen Ye's heart, growing wildly into a towering tree in a twisted manner.
risk?
Of course! Vast and boundless!
Once discovered, the consequences would be a thousand times worse than being hacked to death by "Rotten Tooth" Buck.
But what about opportunities?
The opportunities are equally boundless!
This is his only and best chance!
Being picked up by the Whitebeard Pirates wasn't a dead end, but a godsend! It was a huge gamble!
If you win the bet, you'll rise to the top!
He lost the bet... anyway, he wasn't going to survive anyway.
In an instant, the fear, confusion, and despair in Chen Ye's heart were all replaced by a cold, burning ambition.
His blood seemed to boil at that moment.
He slowly straightened his back, which had been slightly hunched over with fear.
He raised his head, meeting the mountain-like shadow, and for the first time, boldly and proactively looked into the man's eyes.
At that moment, the man who seemed to have fallen asleep twitched his eyelids and slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze fell on Chen Ye, calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.
Immediately afterwards, a voice as loud as thunder, yet carrying a hint of laughter, echoed across the entire deck.
"Gurala la la la..."
"Little brat."
"Who are you?"