As expected of "brothers" who once shared the same father, Whitebeard—
The moment Marco's Whitebeard remnants met the Blackbeard Pirates—
They went at each other fiercely.
Very physically fiercely.
Look at that bond—
Reuniting and immediately trying to rip each other apart.
Meanwhile, on another route—
Leno's ship encountered an unexpected figure.
It could only be said—
The pirate world really was one big symmetry.
"Captain, there's an unidentified pirate ship ahead. It's approaching us."
Kalifa lowered her binoculars.
She'd been handling lookout duties these past few days.
Leno lazily raised his gaze.
When he saw the faint outline of the flag—
A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Bondi… World?"
He muttered the name.
If not for reviewing Impel Down's Level 6 records—
He might not have remembered him.
The so-called "World Destroyer"—
Had been frozen in the lowest level for over thirty years.
If you didn't specifically look him up—
He was easy to forget.
Back when Leno was imprisoned—
He hadn't bothered with him.
World's strength relied heavily on the Momo Momo no Mi.
Nothing particularly appealing.
And unfreezing him?
Troublesome.
Better to ignore him as background.
Unexpectedly—
The chaos in Impel Down had freed this old monster as well.
Recalling fragments of information—
Leno quickly understood.
In the original timeline, after escaping—
World had headed toward Amazon Lily because of the Warlords.
Running into him here?
Perfectly reasonable.
At the same time—
On World's ship—
His crew also noticed Leno's vessel.
"Captain World! There's a pirate ship ahead!"
Bondi World—
Freshly freed after thirty years.
Having just crushed a World Government fleet—
Was currently at peak arrogance.
He glanced at the unfamiliar ship.
Searched his memory.
Didn't recognize it.
Conclusion:
Small fry.
A disdainful grin spread across his face.
"Move in!"
"Let's welcome the newcomers properly!"
True to his reputation—
A man who loved getting close.
"World! Wait!"
A tiny figure on his shoulder suddenly shouted.
It was his brother and strategist—
Binz (Binjack).
Holding binoculars, his expression grew increasingly serious.
"That ship… something's off!"
"The people onboard… that man… he looks like—"
"—'Fallen One' Leno!!"
"What?! Leno?!"
The name alone—
Changed everything.
Several crew members turned pale.
Fear crept into their eyes.
Even World himself stiffened slightly.
A trace of seriousness flickered within.
Though frozen—
He hadn't been completely unaware.
He knew the name.
The monster rookie from Marineford.
Defeated an Admiral.
Became a Yonko.
"Are you sure?" World asked.
"Absolutely! It's him! And that woman beside him—Pirate Empress Boa Hancock!"
Binjack's voice grew urgent.
"World, we need to turn around! Now's not the time to provoke someone like him!"
"His strength… is unfathomable!"
Naejin (the ship doctor) also urged:
"We just regrouped. There's no need to clash with someone like that!"
After thirty years apart—
The crew wasn't even fully synchronized yet.
But—
All of that…
Was just hearsay to World.
He hadn't witnessed Leno's strength personally.
To him—
It was exaggerated rumor.
He—
A legend who once stood alongside Roger and Whitebeard—
Retreat?
Impossible.
Thirty years imprisoned.
Now finally free.
He needed the world to know—
Bondi World had returned.
"If I defeat Leno…"
"My name will shake the seas again…"
Greed and arrogance—
Overpowered reason.
"Enough!"
World roared, cutting them off.
"We're already this close!"
"You expect me to run without fighting?!"
"I am Bondi World!!!"
By the time he finished speaking—
The two ships were already within striking distance.
Leno stood at the bow.
His gaze swept across World's crew.
Then—
It paused.
On a woman.
Wearing a qipao.
Mature. Composed.
The ship's doctor—
Naejin.
Leno's expression shifted slightly.
(Where exactly shifted? Don't ask.)
"…A doctor, huh."
"We really are missing a proper ship doctor."
Her medical skills seemed solid.
She could fight too.
Though…
A bit older.
A thought formed.
Leno looked at World's tense crew.
And spoke lazily:
"Bondi World."
"Just escaped Impel Down and already looking to die?"
World's face darkened.
"Leno! Don't get cocky!"
"When I ruled the seas, you didn't even exist yet!"
Leno waved dismissively.
No interest in arguing.
He pointed directly at Naejin.
"I don't care about your old bones."
"But your ship doctor—"
"I like her."
"Leave her behind as compensation for offending me."
"And you can get lost."
Silence.
Then—
Uproar.
Naejin's eyes widened in disbelief.
World froze for a moment—
Then exploded in rage.
"YOU LITTLE BRAT!!!"
Veins bulged.
His entire body trembled with fury.
"You dare look down on me?!"
"And steal my crew?!"
"Dream on!!!"
Handing over a trusted companion?
A doctor?
As compensation?
Impossible.
Leno shrugged.
"So that's a no."
"Shame. I was hoping to save some effort."
Then—
Casually:
"Do it."
"Quick fight."
"The doctor—alive."
"Understood, Captain!"
Domino.
Hancock.
Robin.
All ready.
After all—
They did need a doctor.
And no—
This definitely wasn't about Leno being attracted to her.
Absolutely not.
She was clearly older than them.
Surely Leno wouldn't ignore young ones for someone older…
Right?
"Momo Momo no Mi—Hundredfold Speed!!"
World roared.
His speed multiplied a hundred times.
He launched himself straight at Leno—
A blur.
His plan:
Take down the captain first.
Speed is power.
("Kizaru: ?")
But—
Leno simply raised his hand.
"Annihilate All Things."
Punch met punch.
BOOM!!!
Speed…
Can be dismantled too.
The power of the Momo Momo no Mi—
Was broken apart.
What remained—
Was just Haki.
And that—
Was nowhere near enough.
The recoil alone sent World staggering backward.
His beard trembled.
Eyes wide with shock.
"How…?!"
"Your power… it's this strong?!"
In just one exchange—
World realized something terrifying.
The rumors—
Weren't exaggerated.
If anything—
They had understated Leno.
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