OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#194+195: The Might of Whitebeard! A Clash of Eras and a Storm of Conqueror's Haki!

A frigid gale swept across the island.

The arrival of the Moby Dick was not merely the arrival of a ship—it was the coming of a storm. Waves churned, lightning tore through the churning atmosphere, and the very world—sky, land, and sea—seemed to tremble in its presence.

This was the raw, untamed power of a Yonko and his crew.

In that instant, every heart on the island hammered against its owner’s ribs.

An oppressive aura washed over them. It was a primal, suffocating pressure, the kind that precedes the charge of a beast—a feeling that made the skin crawl and the hair on their arms stand on end.

The sense of crisis was a physical thing, tightening their scalps and stealing the air from their lungs.

"He's... he's really here."

"Are we actually supposed to fight them?"

"There's no way... We can't win."

The G-5 Marines trembled. The only thing keeping them from breaking formation and fleeing was the knowledge of Jin’s execution squad positioned behind them—a single step back, and a sniper’s bullet would be the last thing they ever knew.

"So that... is one of the Four Emperors, Whitebeard?"

Law took a sharp breath. Even from this distance, he could feel it—a palpable, overwhelming presence that seemed to press down on his very soul.

"It's terrifying," Wilson gasped, trying to draw a sliver of oxygen from the suffocating atmosphere to slow his frantic heart.

They were about to fight a being like that?

Three years ago, when he was still repaying his debt to Captain Sherlock, the very thought of facing a Yonko was unimaginable.

But now...

Wilson glanced at the figure standing before them, still impossibly calm and composed, and a surge of profound admiration burned in his chest.

Wyper and Raki, however, remained impassive. Hailing from a sky island, the titles of "Yonko" and "Whitebeard" were just words to them, devoid of the weight they carried on the blue sea. Ignorance was, in its own way, a kind of courage.

Reiju let out a slow exhale. Challenging a Yonko... it was truly unbelievable.

Beside her stood the Germa 66 clone soldiers, emotionless weapons of war. Using the Lineage Factors collected from Enel, Hanafuda, and Kuma, Judge was in the process of developing a new generation of soldiers—a "mass-production model" of the Seraphim. The research was slow, however, as he had not yet managed to acquire Vegapunk's technology through Reiju.

Robin was perfectly calm. Having been at Jin's side for so long, she had come to understand his audacity and his brilliant, calculating mind.

He would not have started this fight if he wasn't certain of the outcome.

Maya sat atop the massive head of "Shiro," the giant sabertooth tiger, its eyes narrowed to slits, its fangs bared as it watched the approaching ship.

Doma and his crew were a mixture of excitement and dread. Excited, because they were finally meeting the legendary Whitebeard. They were about to witness a battle for the ages.

But the dread was a cold knot in their stomachs. The sheer pressure radiating from Whitebeard was enough to make them swallow hard, the hair on the backs of their necks standing on end.

"That's... that's Whitebeard," Doma whispered, his eyes locked on the figure that stood at the prow of the colossal ship. "This is completely different from anyone we've ever faced. Even Ace and Vista... this is on another level. This is overwhelming."

His gaze shifted to the king, standing on the high platform.

Did he really have a chance?

It didn't matter. They had come this far. There was no turning back. They would fight to the death.

Jin stood at the forefront, both hands resting on the hilt of Shusui, the scabbard pressed against the ground. He was completely unmoved.

In fact, his eyes were burning with excitement.

Whitebeard. A living legend from the last era. The World's Strongest Man.

Finally. We meet.

The Moby Dick crashed against the shore.

Vergo ordered the Marines to open fire. He didn't want to, but he had no choice.

That king controlled everything.

Even Marine Headquarters had agreed to his terms. It was unbelievable.

Whitebeard casually swung his bisento, the force of the blow creating a wall of wind that deflected the cannonballs, sending them exploding harmlessly in the sky.

"CHARGE! FOR VISTA AND ACE!"

With a deafening roar, Marco, Jozu, and the other commanders leaped from the ship, followed by a tide of over a thousand pirates.

"Hold your positions! Stick to the plan!" Marco commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. "First, Third, Fifth, and Sixth Divisions—you're on assault! Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth—find and rescue Ace and Vista! Fourth and Eleventh—support the medical teams and keep an eye on Pops' condition! Twelfth and Thirteenth—protect the Moby Dick! Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth—you're the reserve! Watch for Marine reinforcements or any other crews looking to interfere!"

He rattled off the orders with practiced ease.

"YEAH!"

"UNDERSTOOD!"

The divisions broke off, moving with the disciplined precision of an army. These were the elite of the Whitebeard Pirates, veterans of a hundred battles.

And Whitebeard... he simply stood there.

With a thunderous THUD, he slammed the butt of his colossal bisento onto the deck.

"WHERE IS THE MAN WHO HARMED MY SON?" he bellowed, his voice a physical force that rolled across the battlefield. "They say Whitebeard is old! They say he's finished! LET MY BLADE BE THE ANSWER!"

The roar was a tangible shockwave, rippling out in all directions. His coat billowed in the wind, his presence an storm of killing intent.

The sky, the sea, the island itself—everything fell silent, crushed beneath the weight of his voice, his Haki.

That colossal figure radiated the undeniable aura of a king.

The man who had once clashed with Roger, the great pirate who lived by a code of honor and family... his power had not waned with the years.

The Marines stared in terror, their skin crawling.

So this was a monster who stood at the pinnacle of the world.

"Right here," a calm, steady voice replied.

Marco and the other commanders looked toward the sound. At the far end of the battlefield, on a high platform, a lone figure stood.

All eyes were on him.

"No need to shout," Jin said with a small smile. "You'll hurt your throat. But that was quite a roar. It seems the old dog still has some bite."

"You're the one," Whitebeard said, his eyes narrowing. "You're the one I'm after. Hand over Vista and Ace, and I will be your opponent."

"They're on the island," Jin replied. "Whether you can get them back or not... that depends on you."

Whitebeard just snorted.

"Alright, men! Let's move!" Marco yelled.

"Third Division! With me!" Jozu roared.

Half of his massive body transformed into diamond. He was a living tank, charging forward through a hail of bullets, the rest of his division following in his wake, smashing through the Marine lines.

The other assault divisions surged forward as well.

"HOLD THE LINE!" Vergo bellowed, his entire body coated in black Armament, as he charged to meet Jozu.

Jin glanced at the battle. The G-5 defensive line wasn't just crumbling; it was on the verge of complete collapse.

It was no surprise. The morale of the G-5 Marines had always been low. They were only on the front lines because of the execution squad at their backs. The fact that they hadn't mutinied already was a miracle.

So why put them on the front lines at all?

To die?

Yes.

Exactly.

Headquarters was well aware of the situation with G-5. They were infuriated by their constant insubordination. But the Marines' presence in the New World was limited, and dealing with the non-affiliated nations and pirates of the region was a logistical nightmare. So they had let it slide.

Now, Jin was challenging Whitebeard, and he had asked Headquarters for troops. If he could use them to wear down Whitebeard's forces... it was a worthy sacrifice.

When Jin had made the proposal, Sengoku, the old fox, had immediately seen the opportunity and had already begun making plans to rebuild G-5.

No matter how this turned out, the Marines wouldn't lose. That was why they had supported Jin.

"You all go, too," Jin said to his own commanders. "Get a taste of what a Yonko's crew can do."

"Yes, sir!"

Law, Wilson, Wyper, Robin, and Reiju, with her Germa 66 soldiers, all joined the fray.

"ROOM!"

Law unleashed his ability. Within the surgical space, he swung his blade at the charging Whitebeard Pirates.

His cuts passed through everything.

The pirates were sliced apart—an arm here, a leg there—but strangely, they weren't killed.

<><><><><><><><>

"A Devil Fruit user?" Marco said. He transformed into his phoenix form and shot toward Law, his talons extended.

Law raised his sword to block, but Marco's speed was blinding. All he saw was a flash of blue flame.

Then he was sent flying.

"Fish-Man Karate!" Wilson roared, engaging the Eighth Division commander, Namur—a Fish-Man vs. Fish-Man duel.

"Impact Dial!" Wyper shouted, facing off against the Sixth Division commander, Blamenco, who wielded a massive hammer.

"Cien Fleur: Delphinium!"

"Two-Sword Style: Dance of the Blade!"

Robin, Reiju, and Raki all threw themselves into the battle.

Only Maya remained at the edge of the battlefield, perched atop Shiro's head, acting as a sniper.

They were immediately hit with the terrifying reality of the Whitebeard Pirates' strength.

Of the sixteen divisions, with the exception of the long-vacant Second Division command, all fifteen commanders were roughly equal in strength.

One by one, Jin's forces were beaten back, injured.

Jin watched calmly. Strength doesn't just appear out of nowhere. To become strong, you have to be baptized in the fires of battle.

He looked up at Whitebeard.

The two of them, separated by the chaos of the battlefield, stood in a pocket of absolute silence.

Jin took a step forward, his foot landing on empty air.

He had mastered the Six Powers, Moonwalk and Shave, to the point where he could move through the air as if it were solid ground.

He walked forward, his steps even, steady, as if he were walking on invisible drums.

Marco looked up and saw him. He unleashed a wave of blue flame, sending Law flying back, then spread his wings and shot into the sky.

"Hey! You want to fight Pops? You'll have to get through me first!" he screeched, diving down, his talons wreathed in flame, his speed incredible.

Jin shot him a sidelong glance.

BOOM!

The two of them collided.

In an instant, a shower of blue flames rained down.

Marco was sent flying back.

Not just flying, but tumbling through the air.

A single fist had met his attack, a brutally simple, overwhelmingly powerful blow.

The force of the impact had sent him reeling.

Marco grit his teeth, the taste of blood in his mouth. A powerful, penetrating force was tearing through his body.

What kind of Haki is that?

He got past Marco?

Jozu was stunned. He smashed Vergo aside and strode over to a massive cannon emplacement. With a roar, he ripped the multi-ton, bronze-cast cannon from the ground.

"STAY RIGHT THERE!" he bellowed, and with a mighty heave, he threw the entire cannon—shells, soldiers, and all—at Jin.

The sheer force of Jozu's throw, combined with the weight of the cannon, was immense.

Jin met it with a single, mid-air kick.

The shells on the cannon exploded.

But the massive cannon itself shot through the flames, heading straight for Whitebeard.

"Pops!"

"Look out!"

"Dammit! That guy...!"

The commanders all cried out in alarm.

Whitebeard just glared. "Hey, you foolish sons! Stay out of this!" he roared, and with a single swing of his bisento, he brought it down.

"I'm not so weak that I need you to protect me! I'm not on my deathbed yet!"

The slash flew through the air.

It not only sliced the cannon in two, but the shockwave from the blow shattered it into a thousand pieces.

The commanders who had been about to rush to his aid all froze. They remembered. This was Whitebeard.

For so long, they had been sheltered under his wings. When had it become their job to protect him?

He had let them, for their own sake. But now... this was his fight.

"We understand, Pops!" Marco said. "All hands, stick to the plan! Our objective is to rescue Vista, Ace, and the others! Leave this to Pops!"

"YEAH!"

The Whitebeard Pirates roared, their morale soaring.

To have such a powerful, reliable father... they were truly blessed.

"Hey! We're not done yet!"

Law was standing in front of Marco again. He blocked Marco's kick with his long sword, sparks flying.

"You're still standing?" Marco said, his gaze intense.

Law took a deep breath. He could feel the immense pressure from the man's gaze.

And this was just one of Whitebeard's commanders.

'Just how strong is Whitebeard?' he wondered. 'Can he really be defeated? No... the Boss has a power that is just as unfathomable.'

Hadn't he dealt with the terrifying, mysterious, and bizarre Tot Musica?

"It doesn't matter what tricks you have up your sleeve," Marco said, his wings spreading wide, a torrent of flame erupting from his body as he charged at Law. "In the face of absolute power, all of it is meaningless."

"Power?" Law said, undeterred. "Calm."

He unleashed the domain of his second fruit.

The Paramecia Calm-Calm Fruit.

Layered with his ROOM.

"Aural Deprivation."

As the ship's doctor, after the ordeal on the island of Mors, Jin had granted him a second Devil Fruit. He had chosen Corazon's Calm-Calm Fruit. It was a sentimental choice, but it meant the world to him.

Hm?

Law... was gone.

Not just Law, but all sound had vanished. Even his Observation Haki could sense nothing.

Observation Haki was, at its core, the ability to "listen" to the world. By layering his two abilities, Law had created a zone of absolute silence—he had stolen Marco's ability to hear.

A flicker of danger sparked in Marco's mind.

Law appeared out of nowhere, without a sound, and the Kikoku flashed.

Though Marco's instincts screamed at him to dodge, he was a fraction of a second too slow. To his utter astonishment, his arm, wreathed in blue flame, fell away.

—————————

Before the Moby Dick.

"You've got a fine crew, Whitebeard," Jin said, walking out from the fiery explosion, his clothes untouched by even a speck of dust.

"Don't stand there talking like an old man," Whitebeard said, his bisento pointed at the ground.

The oppressive atmosphere suddenly became violent. The already fierce wind whipped into a frenzy.

"A punk like you should learn some manners."

His eyes blazed, and sparks of lightning shot from his pupils. He unleashed a massive wave of Conqueror's Haki.

Even in his old age, at this moment, the king's aura shook the heavens and the earth. The wind howled, and the sea in the harbor was pulled back, as if by an invisible hand.

The legend who had once ruled the seas radiated an aura of absolute, indomitable conviction.

He swung his bisento, wreathed in Conqueror's Haki, and brought it down on Jin.

The seemingly "ordinary" blow carried the weight of the sky, of a mountain range.

"Manners?" Jin said, drawing his sword and bringing it up in a single, upward slash to meet the bisento. "The relics of the old era should have made way long ago."

A golden light shot from his eyes.

CLANG!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Sparks of black and gold lightning arced between the two blades before they even met, the space between them vibrating, crackling with raw power.

One shockwave after another rolled out, and pirates and Marines alike fell to the ground, unconscious.

"This is..."

Jozu, Robin, and the others all turned to look. A brilliant light, brighter than the sun, exploded between the two men, banishing the night and illuminating the world in stark relief.

In that moment, everyone felt as if a mountain had been dropped on their shoulders, the pressure so great it was almost suffocating.

The sea and the sky roared.