Strongest Possessor of One Piece

"Vice Captain..." The young man spoke with a hint of sadness in his face. Behind him, a red-nosed boy tugged at his hand and shook his head. 

"All right, now that Roger's younger brother has left safely, it's time for us to move on," The middle-aged man with the glasses said with a smile, his eyes filled with the wisdom of someone who had seen it all. 

"Disperse. You all have your own paths to follow, and I need to visit someone I've never had the chance to see." 

The others exchanged glances but remained silent. 

The formation of a pirate crew was filled with hopes and dreams for the future. But its dissolution meant separation, a farewell to shared adventures and camaraderie. 

No longer would they be comrades fighting side by side on the same ship. The bonds of friendship might endure, but they would never be as close as they once were. 

The small wooden boat slowly approached the shore. One by one, five or six figures dressed in black disembarked. Their large cloaks hid their faces completely. 

"Take care!" 

"May your future be a smooth one." 

"Shanks, Buggy, give it your all. The future is yours." 

The two smaller boys nodded earnestly, their expressions solemn. 

In this moment of parting, everyone seemed deeply serious and thoughtful. The youngest, Shanks and Buggy, had tears in their eyes. 

About five minutes later, the remaining members embraced, their expressions a mixture of complex emotions. 

Then, nodding to each other, they each turned and walked away in different directions, symbolic of their divergent paths. From that day forward, those who had once sailed in the same ship would embark on separate futures. 

"Let's go, you two. Why are you standing there?" Rayleigh's voice was heavy as he scolded the two boys. 

"Vice Captain!" Shanks and Buggy shouted, unable to forget the days of laughter and tears they had shared. 

Shaking his head, Rayleigh turned and walked away. His steady pace carried him farther and farther, until he disappeared from their sight. 

"Buggy, let's go together. Be my partner. We'll form a pirate crew that will make waves on the seas," Shanks said earnestly, wiping away tears as he looked at Buggy. 

At that moment he made a decision. He would remain a pirate, carry on the legacy of the Roger Pirates, and once again seek the pinnacle of glory. 

"Who wants to go with the likes of you?" Buggy snapped, shaking off Shanks' hand. "Don't forget, you still owe me a treasure map!" 

"Hmph!" 

With that, Buggy turned and ran off. 

Shanks watched Buggy's retreating figure and sighed helplessly. Then his gaze turned distant as he looked out over the vast sea. 

The surface of the ocean resembled a huge, menacing beast, its waves crashing violently and roaring like thunder. 

"This wild, beastly sea... Someone must conquer it!" 

"This 'Era of Violence' - who could possibly stop its relentless march forward?" 

Murmuring to himself, Shanks turned and disappeared from the scene. 

---

Meanwhile, on the distant horizon, a bird cried out in despair. 

"Caw!" 

Its piercing scream echoed through the air. Rojen, crouched low on the White Phoenix, clutched at his shoulder with his right hand. Blood seeped through his fingers in bright red streaks, flowing uncontrollably despite his efforts. 

Sweat dripped silently from Rojen's forehead, falling into the seawater below, only to be instantly diluted and lost. 

"Time is running out. I must find a place to rest as soon as possible," he thought grimly, his expression cold and serious. He patted the White Phoenix beneath him. The bird let out another sharp cry, flapped its wings vigorously and accelerated towards the horizon. 

The duration of the 'Possessed System' was only about an hour. It had been barely thirty minutes, yet Rojen already felt his control over the White Phoenix's power slipping. This realization struck him like a jolt. 

"The duration of this system's possession depends on the user's physical condition," He deduced. 

Sweat streamed down his face in rivulets, and he felt the strength of the White Phoenix beginning to wane like it was slowly leaving his body. 

"Faster. I need to move faster!" 

The vast sea lay calm and serene under the warm sunlight, a deceptive tranquility. Yet Rojen could sense the shadow of impending doom looming over him. 

Amid this endless expanse of ocean, without a place to land, even the greatest power would be rendered futile. His wooden boat had already been destroyed by the Commodores' cannon fire, sinking to the depths. The only things he had left were the bag of belly slung across his back. 

"If I don't find land before the White Phoenix's power fades, I'll die for sure!" 

The looming crisis of life and death weighed heavily on him, his heart racing wildly. 

"Faster! Faster! Faster!" 

Summoning every ounce of inner strength, Rojen urged the White Phoenix forward. The bird let out sharp, piercing cries as it soared ahead, racing across the open sea. 

Three minutes later, Rojen's entire body felt weak, his muscles aching unbearably. The White Phoenix's strength had dwindled to less than half. Fatigue and pain were draining his energy rapidly. 

"Keep going. I cannot die here!" 

Gritting his teeth, he forced out the words and commanded the White Phoenix to press on. 

Five minutes passed, but the scene ahead remained unchanged— rolling waves as far as the eye could see. A few fish leaped joyfully out of the water, playfully splashing back into the depths. Seagulls flew in flocks across the sky. The beauty of the scene was starkly at odds with the despair in Rojen's heart, which felt as heavy as lead. 

There was no land in sight. The possession time was nearly up. At most, he had five minutes before the White Phoenix's power would vanish entirely. 

Meanwhile, the wound on his shoulder had gone completely numb— a troubling sign that his right arm was losing all sensation. 

"Keep flying! It's not over until the very last moment!" 

Sweat poured from his face, but his determination remained unbroken. 

The White Phoenix continued its swift flight across the ocean, but its pace slowed. It was now flying closer to the water's surface. The great bird, which had carried him so far, was nearing its limit, its strength almost spent. 

Three minutes later, Rojen's eyes suddenly brightened. 

On the horizon, a small black dot appeared. 

"A ship! It's a ship!" 

The White Phoenix let out a joyful cry, flapping its wings with renewed vigor as it sped toward the distant vessel. 

One minute later, the White Phoenix gave a pained screech and plummeted heavily toward the ship below, which was slowly moving across the waves. 

At that same moment, Rojen reached his absolute limit. The power of the White Phoenix dissipated silently, leaving his body. Darkness consumed his vision as he fell into unconsciousness. 

(End Of The Chapter)