The crowd rubbed their eyes in disbelief, scrutinizing the scene before them again and again.
To their astonishment, the three identical Devil Fruits laid out in front of them were real—
Each one was the Mythical Zoan type·Bird-Bird Fruit·Phoenix!
Marco's eyes widened in shock, his face filled with disbelief.
Trembling, he took two steps forward, barely able to trust his own vision.
He reached out cautiously, his fingers brushing the surface of one of the Devil Fruits to confirm its reality.
The smooth, cool texture only reinforced his conviction—this was no illusion.
His voice quivered as he muttered to himself, "This… this is exactly the same as the one I ate! Unbelievable!"
The others quickly gathered around, each wearing expressions of amazement and bewilderment.
"Ron is incredible!"
"He actually pulled it off! Someone slap me—am I dreaming?!"
"Damn it! Why'd you kick my balls—ow, that hurts like hell..."
An air of disbelief hung thick in the space as everyone was stunned by this miraculous invention.
Marco took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart.
"It's real," Ron stepped forward, picking up one of the Devil Fruits and handing it to Whitebeard.
"Captain, give it a try."
Whitebeard chuckled, not hesitating as he accepted the fruit from Ron.
He gave the young man a long, meaningful look.
"I won't explode into a bloody mess right?"
"Uh… no," Ron scratched his head awkwardly, surprised that Whitebeard still had such concerns at this moment.
He was about to explain when the older man cut him off.
"Gurararara! Thanks, brat. If this works, you'll become my son."
Ron: "..."
The others burst into laughter, their gazes toward Ron now filled with warmth—a silent acknowledgment of his place among them.
Without further delay, Whitebeard took a bite under the watchful eyes of the crew.
He closed his eyes slowly, as if focusing intently on every subtle sensation.
The onlookers held their breath, their movements stilled as if even the slightest noise might disrupt the moment.
Their tension grew with each passing second, palms slick with sweat and cold to the touch.
Every pair of eyes remained locked on Whitebeard, brimming with hope and anxiety.
The air was thick with tension, yet it also carried a glimmer of hope.
In their hearts, they silently prayed: 'Please, let it work, Pops!'
Ron, however, had no doubts.
The moment he had picked up the Devil Fruit, he had already activated [First Attempt: 100% Success Rate] in his mind.
Failure was impossible for Whitebeard.
Sure enough—
Before long, Whitebeard's body began to ignite with pure white flames.
These flames didn't radiate heat but instead exuded a vibrant lifeforce.
Over time, it became visibly apparent that the wounds on his body were healing at an astonishing rate, the damaged tissues were gradually replaced by newly regenerated ones.
The entire process was like time flowing backward—every wound inside and outisde of his body was completely healed!
Subsequently, his breathing also began to stabilize, no longer as rapid and labored as before.
He looked as though he had shed twenty years of age, with not only a striking transformation in appearance but also a rejuvenated spirit!
The dullness in his eyes was now replaced with a radiant gleam, exuding a sense of power.
At this moment, even the surrounding air seemed to be invigorated by his newfound vitality, becoming exceptionally fresh and brimming with energy.
"Pops... it worked! Pops really gained another devil fruit abilities!"
"Amazing! That fool Teach schemed so hard to obtain dual devil fruit powers, yet Pops achieved it effortlessly!"
"Thank you, Ron!"
"Step back—Pops' flames are expanding!"
Seeing this, everyone hastily retreated, quickly clearing the area as they watched the flames enveloping Whitebeard grow fiercer and more expansive.
The flames roared like an inferno, radiating scorching heat that deterred anyone from approaching.
Then, abruptly, the flames contracted violently, forming a cocoon-like structure that encased Whitebeard completely.
This cocoon was peculiar—composed entirely of flames, yet it managed to wrap around Whitebeard seamlessly.
Everyone could sense Whitebeard's life force growing increasingly vigorous, as though a ferocious beast were sealed within!
They couldn't help but marvel—what immense power this was!
Whitebeard could actually control such violent flames and convert them into his own strength.
"Phoenix Cocoon!" Marco exclaimed in awe, staring at the flaming cocoon with unrestrained excitement.
"In this form, the user body can recover to its optimal state—it can heal long-standing injuries and chronic ailments!"
Before long,
A crisp crack echoed, like fragile glass shattering under immense pressure.
Immediately afterward, the massive cocoon woven from white flames suddenly disintegrated, scattering into countless tiny embers that drifted through the air before vanishing without a trace, as though they had never existed.
As the last wisp of flame faded from sight,
Everyone present saw Whitebeard standing firmly in place, his broad and majestic cloak swaying gently in the wind.
His body, now restored to full health and he bore no trace of wounds or scars.
The sight left all who witness it utterly awestruck—this was the power of the Phoenix!
Not only could it heal all injuries sustained by the user, but its strong regenerative abilities and vitality could even restore Whitebeard to his prime!
Such an overwhelming and mystical power was almost hard to belief, even though they already see Marco power in action a lot!
"Haaaaaah—"
Whitebeard exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was sharp and vibrant, like he was capable of perceiving the essence of all things, brimming with vigor and vitality.
He flexed his body lightly and found himself completely at ease, without the slightest hint of pain or fatigue.
All the lingering aches and pains that had plagued him for years had vanished entirely, as though they had never existed.
He felt as though he had been reborn, every cell in his body cheering with boundless energy.
His heart beat powerfully, each pulse seeming to declare his rebirth to the world.
His muscles were taut and strong, each one brimming with infinite power.
"Life... is truly beautiful..."
At this moment, he truly understood the beauty and strength of life.
He knew he was no longer the weary, sickly old man of the past.
He had been reborn, now possessing the courage and strength to pursue his dreams anew.
Turning around, he looked at Ron with deep affection and extended his right hand while gently saying.
"Ron, my boy, become my son!"