A faint, contemptuous smile curled at the corners of Eli Winters's lips. The fierce glares of those around him did not faze him in the slightest. To him, such aggression was nothing more than powerless venting.
He walked steadily, each step deliberate, straight toward Whitebeard. Upon reaching the injured captain, Eli Winters's calm smile returned. He spoke softly, yet with chilling intent: "Whitebeard, do you and your sons wish to live?"
The question instantly snapped the tension taut.
Whitebeard himself did not respond immediately, but the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates behind him could no longer contain their fury. Faces flushed red, chests heaving, they shouted and roared with unrestrained anger.
Most impulsive of all was Diamond Joz. His eyes blazed, veins bulging on his forehead as he clenched his massive fists and swung a devastating punch toward Eli Winters's head. He bellowed, "Arrogant brat! Today is the day you die!"
But what seemed like an earth-shattering, mountain-splitting blow appeared, to Eli Winters, as feeble as a child's fist. Without moving a step, Eli Winters casually extended a hand, catching Joz's incoming strike effortlessly. With a slight flick of his arm, a surge of force shot through, propelling the massive Diamond Joz like a cannonball.
With a deafening crash, Joz's towering form collided with one of the masts of the Moby Dick, sending splinters flying. The sturdy mast snapped and collapsed under the impact.
Eli Winters's cold smile deepened as he looked at Whitebeard. His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge. "Whitebeard, that was merely a small lesson for him. If you cannot control your men, do not blame me for unleashing true carnage next."
Whitebeard's face, carved and unyielding as if sculpted from stone, betrayed no hint of submission. His booming voice thundered across the massive Moby Dick: "Ha ha ha! Eli Winters, I must admit, you are indeed the strongest opponent I have ever faced. Not even the famed Captain Rocks or the legendary Roger could compare! Yet, you have mercilessly slain three of my sons. Such blood debt can never be forgiven. Even if every member of the Whitebeard Pirates must fall today, we will never bow to you!"
Eli Winters paused, taken aback for a moment, before a wry, playful smile spread across his lips. He shook his head slightly and murmured, "Heh, truly a Whitebeard to match his reputation! Your resolve is admirable. But is it worth it? Only to avenge three fallen men, you are willing to sacrifice countless more lives. Have you ever considered what they would have truly wanted?"
"Damn brat! Do not underestimate the resolve of the Whitebeard Pirates!" someone roared from the ranks, igniting a chorus of shouts and curses.
"Ha! You dare slay our brothers? Today, we will tear you to pieces, or we have no right to survive!" another pirate growled, brandishing a gleaming blade, teeth clenched in fury.
"Brothers, no need for words! Together, side by side, we strike this fiend! The honor of the Whitebeard Pirates will not be sullied!" bellowed a towering man, his voice echoing like a thunderclap across the deck.
The shouts and cries surged, a tidal wave of tension, as though an epic battle was about to erupt.
Suddenly, Whitebeard's own laughter rang out, deep and hearty, shaking the air: "Ha ha ha! Sons, it's time we go home!"
He pushed aside Marco, who had been tending to him silently, and rose to his full imposing height. Even battered and bloodied, his presence radiated an unyielding authority, compelling respect and awe.
"Father…" Marco looked on with concern at his bloodied but still formidable captain. Whitebeard merely patted his shoulder, signaling that words were unnecessary.
Eli Winters's grip tightened on his black, frost-tinged sword, Annihilation. His gaze was hawk-like, fixed unwaveringly on Whitebeard. Whitebeard met it without fear. The tension between them was electric, teetering on the brink of combat.
Just as the confrontation seemed about to explode, a shadow fell from the sky, crashing onto the Moby Dick's deck with a resounding thud. It was Red-Haired Shanks. Having seen Eli Winters ignore his earlier warnings, Shanks had hurried alone to prevent an all-out massacre.
Shanks moved swiftly to stand beside the Whitebeard Pirates. His gaze first swept over the wounded Whitebeard, then fixed on Eli Winters with grave seriousness. "Lord Eli Winters, please end this senseless conflict immediately."
A teasing smile curved Eli Winters's lips. "Oh? And if I say no?"
"Then I will stand with the Whitebeard Pirates against you," Shanks replied earnestly.
Eli Winters regarded Shanks for a long moment, then turned to Whitebeard: "Remember, you owe me a favor."
With that, Eli Winters vanished. A spatial vortex opened, and two figures tumbled out.
The Whitebeard Pirates stared in disbelief. Emerging from the vortex were none other than Bruhnheim and Atmos, whom they had long believed dead!
"Thank goodness! Atmos, Bruhnheim you're alive!" The crew shouted, joy and relief spilling over.
Whitebeard's stern voice cut through the excitement. "Explain yourselves, Bruhnheim, Atmos. What happened?"
Initially stunned, the two exchanged glances before recounting the harrowing ordeal. They revealed that in their moment of near-certain death, it was Eli Winters who had secretly left them spatial markers. At the instant of the explosion, Eli Winters transported them to his unique spatial domain, saving their lives.
The revelation stunned the Whitebeard Pirates, and fury rose as well. One hot-headed captain roared, "That traitor Defados was a World Government spy among us!" Others echoed in righteous anger.
But Whitebeard laughed heartily: "Ha ha ha! Sons, it's time to go home!"
Relieved and joyous, the crew cheered: "Yes, Father!" The atmosphere shifted from tension to warmth and camaraderie.
While Eli Winters treated the Whitebeard Pirates with measured restraint, he was far more brutal with the Big Mom Pirates and the Beast Pirates. He unleashed his full power upon them, striking with unstoppable force, each blow punishing the arrogant crews without mercy.
Satisfied, Eli Winters opened the gates of his spatial domain, releasing the battered crews.
But he was not done. Boldly, he confronted Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, issuing strict demands and collecting substantial compensation. Even these notoriously stubborn and tyrannical pirates could only grit their teeth and comply.
With all three pirate crews dealt with, Eli Winters clapped his hands and vanished in a flash, racing toward the sky like lightning.
The onlookers were stunned, and moments later Eli Winters reappeared, this time clutching a captive. It was none other than the Golden Lion Shiki, who had been secretly observing from above.
Having sensed the eyes watching earlier, Eli Winters had quickly pinpointed Shiki's position. After a fierce pursuit, he had captured the legendary Golden Lion. Shiki's formidable powers were no match for Eli Winters's overwhelming strength.