30 Years in Whitebeard’s Crew, I Became Invincible

"Big Bro, we want to join the fight too."

Ace and his crew had returned, standing at the entrance as Ace addressed Roy.

"No need." Roy glanced at him, then his eyes landed on Deuce behind Ace.

"What's up, Big Bro?" Deuce took a step back, unnerved by Roy's stare.

"Blamenco, give him one. He's a doctor, he's suited for it," Roy said to Blamenco, who was busy working.

"Got it, Big Bro." Blamenco reached into the pouch-like opening on his neck.

It looked creepy, who has pouch openings in their body?

Ace and Deuce watched as Blamenco rummaged through his neck pouch.

"Blamenco, what are you doing?" Ace asked.

"Oh, found it. Here it is." Blamenco pulled out a white Devil Fruit.

"Deuce, it's for you!"

"This is… a Devil Fruit?!" both Ace and Deuce gasped.

"Yep. It's the Phoenix Fruit. Deuce, you're a doctor, right? Big Bro's right, this suits you." Blamenco said.

Th-This…" Deuce's eyes widened in shock. He took the fruit from Blamenco.

"I… can I really have this?" he asked, gulping.

He had once nearly eaten a Devil Fruit, back when he first met Ace in the East Blue. They had fought a bit and got stranded on a deserted island. Hungry and desperate, they found a single fruit.

Knowing it was a Devil Fruit, they split it in half. Ace ate his portion a few seconds faster, gaining the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit, while Deuce got nothing.

They later became comrades, adventured together, and joined the Whitebeard Pirates.

Now, a fruit far more suited to him had appeared.

As a doctor, he knew exactly how valuable the Phoenix Fruit was, healing wounds, regenerating limbs. With this power, his abilities would skyrocket. He'd never again be unable to treat his comrades because he was too injured himself.

"Deuce," Ace said with a smile, watching his friend.

"Big Bro… are you sure?" Deuce asked.

"Eat it. There'll be more later." Roy waved him off.

"Alright!" Deuce didn't hesitate; he took a small bite, clearly having learned his lesson from last time.

Moments later, white flames erupted from his body, transforming him into a pale peacock-like phoenix.

"HAHA! Ace, I'm a Devil Fruit user now too!" Deuce flew a quick lap around the sky before landing.

Deuce was already a capable fighter, and now, with this power, he was even stronger.

"Congrats, Deuce!" Ace clapped him on the back.

"Alright, you two. Get lost now." Roy said.

"Big Bro, the Marines are coming in full force. We want to join the fight," Ace insisted.

"Yeah, we're part of the Whitebeard Pirates too! Let us fight!" Deuce added, puffed up with confidence from his new power.

"Who said we're fighting the Marines?" Roy shook his head.

"Huh? We're not fighting them?" Ace asked, confused.

"Idiot. Why do you think the Marines are going to attack us?" Roy asked.

"Because you developed the tech to clone Devil Fruits, and the World Government's panicking!" Ace said.

"Exactly. Given more time, we could mass-produce even more Devil Fruit users." Roy said.

Ace and Deuce nodded in agreement.

"So what we need is time. Haven't I told you before? 'As long as the green hills remain, there'll never be a shortage of firewood.' Why the hell would I be stupid enough to fight the Marines head-on? You think I'm an idiot?" Roy scoffed.

"But Big Bro, you publicly declared you weren't afraid of the Marines and were ready to fight!"

"Use your thick skull for once. That's called strategy. They're mobilizing their entire force, only to find nothing. All they're doing is wasting their own time." Roy said.

"Big Bro would never actually fight the Marines right now. We need time to develop, no reason to start a war yet." Blamenco added.

"So… we avoid the Marines?" Ace asked.

"You two aren't even official Whitebeard Pirates anymore. Stop asking questions and scram." Roy said.

"But Big Bro, we...."

"Get out. Or I'll treat you as spies."

"…Got it."

With their heads down, Ace and Deuce left. Roy and Blamenco returned to their work.

"Big bro… are we really giving up this place?" Blamenco asked.

"We'll leave. Even if the Marines destroy everything here, as long as we're alive, we can rebuild." Roy shrugged.

"Let's give the World Government a little surprise," Roy smirked.

....

Saint Saturn had descended from Mary Geoise. The Marines had mobilized their full force, and Fleet Admiral Akainu himself was leading the operation, while Admiral Kizaru remained at headquarters. Over half of the Marines' total military strength had been gathered, an expenditure of resources beyond imagination.

This battle would be the Marines' all-out purge of the Whitebeard Pirates.

On a lavish, gold-trimmed ship, Akainu stood before Saint Saturn.

"Do we have intel on the Whitebeard Pirates' movements?" Saturn asked.

"None so far. All our scout ships have been destroyed before they could get close. But we've confirmed their forces are consolidating, they're preparing for a decisive battle." Akainu reported.

"What about their allied pirate crews?" Saturn asked.

"According to our intel, they've gathered as well," Akainu said grimly.

"No matter what, we must wipe them out in one blow," Saturn declared.

"The Marines have deployed our strongest combatants. There will be no retreat this time." Akainu vowed.

"That man… remains a threat. It's best to keep him off the battlefield," Saturn said.

"I'll deal with him personally. The rest will be left to Fujitora and Ryokugyu."

Every major power in the New World had received the news that the Marines were on the move, and some had even spotted World Government ships, speculating that one of the Five Elders had appeared.

The news shocked the entire world.

Every pirate crew in the New World kept their distance. This wouldn't be like Egghead, there would be no retreat. Only one side would walk away.

"Concentrate our forces. Don't make any reckless moves. No matter who wins, someone's going down for good," Charlotte Linlin said with glee.

The best outcome would be mutual destruction. The World Government and Marines were the strongest organizations in the world; no single pirate force could stand against them.

But under Roy's leadership, the Whitebeard Pirates had grown unprecedentedly powerful, both economically and militarily. Their influence in the New World was expanding rapidly, even creeping into the West Blue. If this continued, they wouldn't just dominate the New World, they'd spread across the entire world.

Big Mom had established Totto Land as a kingdom. Could the Whitebeard Pirates do the same?

The World Government would never allow such a force to grow unchecked.

Now was the best time to strike, before the Whitebeard Pirates grew even more powerful. If they missed this window… no one knew how strong they might become.

.....

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

[email protected]/DaoistJinzu