"Oh? Teach those two brats?"
Old Rayleigh took a swig of sake, his eyes glinting with curiosity as he looked at Lucian.
He had originally come to train Luffy anyway, but something about Lucian's tone suggested there was more to it.
"Why?"
Lucian's gaze landed on the Luffy of this timeline—laughing freely, wide and carefree.
"'The Sun God Nika' awakening early means that from this moment on, Luffy of this world will be hunted relentlessly by the World Government—at any cost, by any means, with everything they have."
"Their pursuit will be far more intense than what they once unleashed upon Gol D. Roger."
Lucian looked back at Rayleigh, his expression solemn.
"That's why I need you to teach them everything you know."
"With your strictest methods."
The drunken haze vanished instantly from Rayleigh's face.
Of course, he understood what the awakening of 'Nika' meant to the World Government.
It was the most terrifying threat to the foundation of the Celestial Dragons' rule.
The World Government would go insane.
"I understand."
"Don't worry."
"My training isn't something just anyone can survive."
"If those two brats slack off, I won't go easy on them."
Satisfied by Rayleigh's firm response, Lucian nodded.
...
He stood and clapped his hands lightly.
The crisp sound wasn't loud, but it rang clearly through the entire lively banquet.
In an instant, all eyes turned to him.
The festive atmosphere fell silent.
"Everyone!"
Lucian looked around the crowd, a faint apologetic smile on his face.
"It's time to bring the celebration to an end."
"Because the guests I invited from the 'future' and the 'past'… their time is almost up."
As his words fell—
The cheerful and rowdy mood was immediately replaced with solemnity and reluctant understanding.
Marco, Vista, Jozu, and the others instinctively looked toward the towering Peak Whitebeard, still drinking heartily.
Peak Rayleigh and Old Rayleigh exchanged a glance, setting down their cups in unspoken agreement.
The Luffy and Ace of this timeline also stopped their scuffle and turned to the ever-smiling Nika Luffy.
The moment of parting had come at last.
Just then—
Peak Whitebeard set down his enormous sake bowl.
He ignored the gazes around him and walked slowly, heavily, toward Old Whitebeard.
Looking at this scar-covered, pain-ridden, but unyielding version of himself, Peak Whitebeard's expression turned complicated.
He knew—his time here was ending.
He also knew this version of himself probably didn't have much time left either.
After a brief silence—
Peak Whitebeard suddenly grinned!
"Gurararara!"
He extended his massive hand and slapped Old Whitebeard hard on the shoulder.
"You old bastard!"
"You did great!"
"You protected our sons!"
Old Whitebeard blinked, then tilted his head back and burst out laughing.
"Gurararara!"
Peak Whitebeard went on, his voice like rolling thunder.
"From here on out, let the sons take over!"
"As for you—"
"You can finally rest!"
That single sentence was like a key, unlocking the final burden inside Old Whitebeard's heart.
All this time, he had carried the Whitebeard Pirates on his shoulders, bearing the title of an 'old relic of the past,' forcing his broken body to endure, never daring to waver.
He feared that if he fell, this vast family would fall apart.
But now, he had seen—
Ace rescued.
A stronger, peak version of himself.
And Lucian—this unbelievable, logic-defying, absurd "son."
At last, he could let go.
"Gurarara… Got it, other me."
Old Whitebeard wiped the tears from his eyes and laughed heartily in return.
"Keep ruling the seas in that timeline!"
"Don't let the name of Whitebeard fade!"
The two Whitebeards from different eras laughed together, their mirth filled with relief.
"Pops…"
Marco's voice trembled as his eyes turned red.
The other commanders quietly wiped away their tears as well.
Lucian watched the scene with a faint smile.
He raised his hand—and multiple glowing spatial rifts slowly opened across the beach.
"Everyone, time's up."
Peak Rayleigh was the first to rise. He walked up to Old Rayleigh and punched him hard in the chest.
"Old man, drill those two kids properly! Don't embarrass me!"
Old Rayleigh grinned.
"Don't worry. I'll train them until they're crying for their mothers!"
Zoro from the other timeline also stepped in front of his portal. He wasn't sentimental—he was just waiting for Nika Luffy.
Because Zoro's destined final battle… still lay ahead.
Nika Luffy ran up to this era's Luffy, raised his fist, and smiled.
"Hey, me!"
"Make sure you become the freest Pirate King!"
"Yeah!!!"
This Luffy laughed just as brightly and pounded his fist in reply.
One by one, the warriors from different timelines bid brief goodbyes, then turned and stepped into their respective space-time rifts, their figures gradually vanishing.
At the end, only Peak Whitebeard remained.
He stood before the largest rift, his towering figure like an unshakable mountain.
He turned slowly, sweeping his gaze over Marco, Jozu, Vista… over every "son" on the ship.
Then, he pulled a wide, brilliant grin and shouted with all his might:
"Sons!!!"
"Take care!!!"
BOOM!!!
Without another word, he turned around.
That massive, majestic back vanished into the rift, swallowed by radiant light.
The space-time portals closed slowly.
And the beach returned to silence.
As if that time-bending banquet had been nothing but a dream.
But everyone knew—
It wasn't a dream.
They had really met Peak Pops.
...
Dawn broke.
The celebration had ended.
The farewells were done.
Old Rayleigh looked at the ever-energetic Ace and Luffy, eyebrows twitching as he muttered to Lucian:
"Looks like I've got my hands full."
"These two little devils are anything but easy."
Lucian chuckled.
"I'll be counting on you, Mr. Rayleigh."
Just then, Luffy came running over, scratching his head.
"Oh yeah!"
"I need to let my crewmates know I'm okay!"
He suddenly remembered the companions scattered by Bartholomew Kuma—he had to make a promise now. That though they were weak today, they'd grow stronger and reunite in two years.
Lucian nodded.
"Of course."
He looked at Rayleigh.
"Mr. Rayleigh, I'll leave it to you to accompany him to Marineford again. It's a good chance for your 'training' to begin right away."
"No problem."
Rayleigh agreed immediately.
Just then—
The cry of a bird echoed from the sky!