Chapter 3: Chapter 3 - Echoes of the past.
"WHITEBEARD! GET READY!" The boy returned to the deck once again, facing the already cracked and destroyed area due to the intense sequence of battles that had occurred in the past week.
This routine repeated for seven entire days. Whitebeard, anchoring the Moby Dick in that specific part of the sea, patiently awaited the daily arrival of the child. At the same time every day, the boy challenged the legendary pirate for the title of the world's strongest man, showing no sign of fear despite consecutive defeats.
The crew's commanders had grown accustomed to the boy's presence, always preparing for the spectacle between him and Whitebeard. After each fight, they dedicated the rest of the day to festivities, celebrating with food and drink.
Marco, in particular, took care of the child daily. The boy always woke up from exhaustion to a variety of fresh foods, succulent meat, and orange juice in his boat. Interestingly, the boy didn't find any of it strange, accepting the generosity without questioning and devouring the meal with a happy expression at the quality of the food in his small boat.
This routine became common for everyone on board, becoming the new normal. The boy's remarkable persistence, climbing the ship daily to face Whitebeard, and his Devil Fruit abilities were admirable. Even in the face of Whitebeard's powerful Haki, the 10-year-old boy managed to stand firm, an extraordinary achievement for someone his age.
"Pops, when are you going to recruit the little Damon?" Marco inquired, revealing his curiosity as a week had passed since they learned the boy's name and started discovering a bit of his personality. Although the boy was reserved and resistant to open up to them, Marco, being a charismatic man, made several attempts to start a conversation. However, Damon continued to refuse, claiming they were enemies and could only talk after defeating Whitebeard. His only interaction consisted of challenging Whitebeard to a fight, returning to his small boat once he lost.
"Gurararara. Soon, Marco, soon," said Whitebeard, maintaining his usual smile as he watched the exhausted boy who had just lost the fight.
Everyone on the deck watched the boy limping exhausted towards the edge of the ship after another clash with Whitebeard. It was a common sight in recent days: despite not suffering injuries, the boy was always pushed to the limit of his energy. Like Marco, everyone began to suspect that Whitebeard wanted to witness his growth before considering him as his new son.
"He's really growing..." remarked Vista beside him.
"Increased his energy by 10% in the last week... Must be because he belongs to that race," added Whitebeard, sharing his observations.
"That's absurd growth. We could be talking about a 40% increase in a month and almost 500% in a year if he doesn't reach his limit. However, he can only maintain those bones for about five minutes. I wonder if that's the limit of his Devil Fruit..." analyzed Jozu.
"It seems to be a deeper process than we realize now," added Marco, watching the boy rowing forcefully to distance himself from the ship.
The day unfolded following the established routine, with Damon miraculously finding good food in his boat. Upon waking from exhaustion, he delighted in the meal, while on the Moby Dick, everyone celebrated until they grew tired.
"Am I still not strong enough?" the boy questioned himself, his eyes reflecting a hint of sadness as he looked at the boat.
"I... I won't give up... I'll get stronger and prove that I'm worthy of being powerful... I made a promise!" Quickly, he changed his expression from sadness to a determined look, reaffirming his determination.
The boy returned to training after eating, and the day unfolded until nightfall. Soon, the sea became silent as the boy slept in the boat and Whitebeard's crew rested in their cabins. However, on the ship, a shadow remained on the edge of the deck; Whitebeard, alone, contemplated the small boat with a thoughtful gaze.
The next morning, the boy devoured the food left by Marco in his boat, unaware that a silhouette emerged from the sea behind him. The figure observed the boy strangely and curiously, watching him consume the food with fierceness.
"What is this child doing in a boat next to Pops' ship in the middle of the sea?" the newcomer pondered internally, finding the sight quite peculiar. Then, he dove back into the water, knowing that these questions would be answered upon reaching the Moby Dick and talking to Whitebeard.
On the Moby Dick, the figure leaped from the water directly onto the deck, promptly recognized by all who had not yet sensed their presence through observation haki. A chorus of greetings echoed to welcome the newcomer.
"JIMBEI!" shouted the welcoming cries.
"Old-San, everyone!" Jimbei greeted back.
"I see you decided to show up, Jimbei," finally spoke Whitebeard, seated in his chair.
"Are you throwing a party?" Jimbei asked, observing the scattered drinks and cheerful atmosphere.
"HEHE. Not yet, we're waiting for the main event to begin," said Marco, with a mysterious tone.
"What? Main event? Is it about that boat with the child? What is that, and what is the boy doing in the middle of the ocean? Did he come from a shipwreck or something?"
"HAHAHAHA. Wait a while, and soon you'll know," said Vista with an enigmatic smile.
"I see..." Jimbei didn't delve too much into what they were talking about as he came to discuss matters related to Fish-Man Island, now under Whitebeard's territory, and about his current group, led by Fisher Tiger, the Sun Pirates.
Half an hour later.
"So, Neptune had a daughter?" Whitebeard inquired, intrigued.
"Yes, she was born a month ago. The princess was named Shirahoshi," Jimbei concluded while savoring his sake in front of the man.
"Gurararara. I hope they're well and happy. That reminds me, I'll also have a son soon," said Whitebeard with a big dreamy smile.
"The boy in the boat?" Jimbei asked intrigued.
"Yes, the brat is stubborn and insolent, perfect to be my son! Gurararara."
Jimbei was about to ask another question but fell silent when he felt the boat approaching the ship. Everyone stopped drinking and talking, gathering by the side of the ship, creating a space in front of their pops, as if they were ready to witness a spectacle.
Jimbei, if you'll excuse me, I have a young one to educate here and now..." declared the man considered the strongest in the world. Jimbei left, leaving curiosity pulsating among the crew members, waiting to witness the unfolding events.
A little hand soon manifested on the edge of the boat, and a child jumped in, falling as usual. The boy exhibited a slightly more bronzed tone due to exposure to the sun during the week. Rising, he faced Whitebeard, whose height of 6.66 meters made him seem like a flea in front of a mountain. In terms of power, however, the difference was undeniable, though the boy maintained a determined look.
"WHITEBEARD! I'M HERE AGAIN TO DEFEAT YOU. I HOPE YOU'VE RESTED. I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU CRYING AND MAKING EXCUSES WHEN I EMERGE VICTORIOUS FROM THIS BATTLE!" the young one shouted.
Whitebeard stood up, radiating a smile, as did the rest of the crew, with one notable exception: Jimbei. The fish-man displayed a comical expression, his jaw on the floor, eyes wide, and a runny nose, revealing bewilderment and incredulity.
"NANI!?" he exclaimed.
"Hey, insolent brat, come here so I can start educating you," said Whitebeard, without losing his smile.
The boy chose not to attack with his sword, realizing he couldn't harm Whitebeard. Instead, an explosive aura emanated from his body, and bones began to form, as had been happening in the past few days.
"What is that? A Devil Fruit?" exclaimed Jimbei, still stunned.
Marco began to explain succinctly the recent events and the mysterious fruit of the boy. "Basically, the boy is a daredevil, going into the sea without food and wanting to face Whitebeard right away," he concluded.
The child had already been thrown onto the deck five times, returning to face more Haki attacks. "Why is it so difficult..." the boy murmured, panting amidst exhaustion. Since the previous day, doubts about his abilities had started to arise, a feeling not unnoticed by others.
Whitebeard remained silent. Marco and the others exchanged complex looks, aware of Pops' invincibility. They knew a child could never defeat him but recognized the boy's determination. They chose not to say anything that could break his spirit. However, there was one person present who had met the boy on the same day and commented without worrying about the young Damon's spirits.
"You're too weak to face Whitebeard, brat!" declared Jimbei. His words were not ill-intentioned but reflected a certain arrogance, especially during the time he was part of Fisher Tiger's crew.
The boy opened his eyes upon hearing this, already cultivating a sense of doubt in his heart. He was beginning to believe that perhaps he couldn't defeat Whitebeard. To him, not defeating Whitebeard equated to considering himself weak in his own world.
Though far from weak, the boy had the ability to hold his own against Haki beginners for a few minutes, thanks to his Devil Fruit power. However, the logic guiding his thoughts was clear: to truly become strong, he needed to defeat the man considered the strongest alive. Since the age of three, he had always heard that Whitebeard held that title, fueling his desire to surpass him. This yearning grew even stronger at the age of five after an incident that led him to make a promise to become genuinely strong.
Jimbei's words echoed in his mind, bringing back the memory of the incident: "You have to run, son. We'll hold them off so you can escape."
"Please, my love, you have to go. Mom and Dad will hold them for a while so you can escape..."
"NO!!! I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MOM AND DAD!" cried the child in tears of despair, facing his parents.
"I know, my dear son, but we're not strong enough to stay together. This is my greatest regret. I hope that one day you'll be strong enough to protect your own wife and child, something I failed to do now," said the man with tears in his eyes, embracing his son.
"BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE, DAD!"
"Listen, listen, my son. You have to survive! Mom will always be with you, no matter how far we are. But you have to survive, my son. You carry a legacy on your shoulders, and you're the last of us. Don't let anyone control you. Stay strong and carve your own path, my love," said the woman, tenderly caressing the boy's face.
"DARLYNI, THEY'RE COMING!" the man exclaimed quickly, and the woman hugged the child as they both cried more intensely.
"Take care of yourself, my son! Mom and Dad will always be with you!" said the woman, raising her hand, on which a bear paw was exposed.
"NO!!! PLEASE, DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE! MOM..." Amidst the plea, the boy received his own mother's bear paw and disappeared instantly.
*POP*
He was thrown into the air, following a defined trajectory.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" The woman let out a scream of despair, sending her own son away with the painful intention of ensuring his survival. It was an unprecedented pain, an anguish she had never experienced before.
For six years, they lived on an island in the New World. Since she became pregnant, they hid from pursuers, remaining isolated from the outside world.
"Please, Darlyni, they still don't know about Damon. He'll be fine. Now we need to hold them off before they realize the existence of our son!" pleaded the man.
"Darvey, I can send him too. At least this way, you can take care of Damon!" suggested the woman, rising amidst tears.
"We can't, Darlyni. They must have already noticed that we sent something out of the island. I need to hold them so they can't follow Damon with Geppo. They still don't have knowledge of his existence and believe we sent only the documents and the relic..."
"I understand..." she said, saddened. Then, she added with determination: "Let's hold them so Damon can survive, together!" A look of hatred mixed with her determination.
"Together!" replied the man with the same gaze.
Soon, the island they harbored began to be attacked, with forests, villages, and cities being consumed by flames.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone