One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 7: The Time-Space Summoning System! Target: Peak Whitebeard!

Dead silence.

Chen Ye's shout, delivered with all his might and almost tearing his throat apart, plunged the already oppressive area at the bow of the Moby Dick into an even more utter silence.

The wind stopped.

The sound of the waves seemed to disappear as well.

Everyone's movements seemed to freeze.

First Division Captain Marco opened his half-closed eyes wide, his scrutinizing gaze undisguised.

For the first time, a hint of surprise appeared on the diamond-hard face of Jozu, the captain of the Third Division.

The Fifth Division Captain, Vista, gripped the hilt of his sword unconsciously.

They had seen many who challenged their father right away, many who came just to watch the spectacle, and many who were so scared by their father that they ran away in terror.

But this is the first time I've seen someone come up here and immediately prostrate themselves, crying and begging to be their "son".

What strange thoughts is going on with this kid?

Chen Ye slammed his head against the deck, using the pain in his forehead to keep himself conscious.

He could feel dozens of sharp, knife-like gazes focused on him, the heaviest and most terrifying of which came from the man directly in front of him.

That was the king who reigned over this sea, the strongest man in the world, Edward Newgate the Whitebeard.

Chen Ye didn't dare to look up.

He staked his life, the activation of the system, and everything else on this high-stakes gamble.

The gamble was on this man's legendary obsession with the word "family."

Time passed second by second.

Every second felt like an eternity.

Just as Chen Ye felt his heart was about to burst from this invisible pressure, a loud voice that seemed to shake the sky broke the silence.

"Gurala la la la..."

The laughter started low and deep, then grew louder and louder, eventually turning into a wild, unrestrained laugh that swept across the entire deck.

The laughter was filled with undisguised appreciation and amusement.

Chen Ye suddenly raised her head, her face still bearing the marks of tears she had just managed to hold back, her eyes filled with a hint of humble expectation.

He saw the mountain-like man bring the huge bottle in his hand to his lips and take a big gulp.

The liquor dripped down his crescent-shaped white beard.

"Guralalalalala!"

The white-bearded man put down the wine bottle, his golden eyes looking down at Chen Ye kneeling on the ground, his majesty tinged with a rare gentleness.

"Little brat."

"Would you like to be my son?"

Chen Ye's heart pounded wildly. He nodded with all his might, making "hmm" sounds, afraid that if he opened his mouth, he would reveal his inner ecstasy.

"Guralalalalala!"

The white-bearded man laughed again, extending his enormous hand, large enough to cover Chen Ye's entire body, and pointed it into the distance.

"Then come on up!"

"From this day forward, you are my son!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the stagnant air around him instantly melted away.

"Oh oh oh oh oh!"

"A new brother has arrived!"

"Dad really likes taking in sons, hahaha!"

"Hey! Kid, get up! From now on, we're family!"

The crew erupted in thunderous cheers and laughter. Marco scratched his pineapple-shaped hair in exasperation, and Vista loosened his grip on his sword, a smile spreading across his face.

The oppressive atmosphere was completely dispelled.

The gloom that had hung over the ship because of Sachi's death and Ace's departure seemed to have been somewhat diluted by this unexpected episode.

Amidst the hearty laughter, just as Chen Ye felt himself almost overwhelmed by happiness, that cold, mechanical voice, once again, and the one he longed for most, resounded in his mind.

【Ding! 】

[A core change in host identity has been detected...]

[Identity confirmed: Trainee crew member of the Whitebeard Pirates!]

The Time-Space Summoning System has been activated.

[Initial energy injection complete...]

[Core Feature S-Rank - Divine Analysis... Fully Activated!]

coming!

Chen Ye's body trembled slightly with excitement. He suppressed his excitement and managed not to laugh out loud.

He forced out two more tears, wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve, and, while making choked, grateful sounds, staggered to his feet with the help of the other crew members.

"Thank you... thank you, Dad..."

"Thank you, everyone..."

His performance was flawless.

No one noticed that the boy, who appeared to be moved to tears of gratitude and joy, was actually incredibly excited inside.

It worked!

I made the right bet!

From a lowly servant who could be thrown off the boat to feed the fish at any moment, he rose to become Whitebeard's nominal son!

More importantly, the system... has finally been activated!

"Kid, what's your name?"

Whitebeard's voice came again.

Chen Ye jumped in surprise and quickly bowed, replying, "Father! My name is Chen Ye!"

"Chenye?" The white-bearded man nodded. "Gurararara, a nice name. Marco!"

"Yes, Father." Marco responded and stepped forward.

"This kid will be working for you from now on. He'll start as a trainee crew member."

"I see."

After arranging all this, the white-bearded man seemed a little tired. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

But for Chen Ye, this was a radical change.

He suppressed the urge to immediately study the system, but his gaze involuntarily fell on the white-bearded man's massive body.

Divine Interpretation?

How do I use this feature?

[Divine Analysis: Through physical contact, data analysis can be performed on targets with legendary status.]

[After analysis, an SSR-level summoning pool for the corresponding character will be created.]

Physical contact?

Chen Ye's pupils dilated slightly.

His gaze fell on the white-bearded man's enormous hand, which was resting on the armrest and covered with needle marks and scars.

The opportunity seems to be right in front of us.

But... how can I do it without arousing suspicion?

Why would someone who has just been adopted as a "son" be so eager to touch the "world's strongest man"? This behavior itself is full of suspicion.

Chen Ye's brain was working at lightning speed.

Got it!

He immediately put on an incredibly "filial" smile, took a step, and carefully walked around to the back of the white-bearded man.

"Um... Dad."

His voice was soft, tinged with timidity and ingratiation.

The white-bearded man didn't open his eyes, but only made a "hmm?" sound from his nose.

The crew members around him looked at him curiously, wondering what tricks this new recruit was up to.

Chen Ye took a deep breath and spoke in the most sincere and respectful tone.

"You look...very tired."

"I...I used to massage the backs and shoulders of my elders at home, and my technique was pretty good."

"How about... your son gives you a back massage as a sign of filial piety?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent once again.

Even Marco showed a strange expression.

Give Dad a back massage?

This kid... he really knows how to get things done.

However, to everyone's surprise, the white-bearded man, who was resting with his eyes closed, had a slight upward curve at the corner of his mouth.

"Gurarara... What an interesting son."

He did not refuse.

This is tacit approval!

Overjoyed, Chen Ye stepped forward without hesitation, stood on tiptoe, and gently and tentatively placed his still trembling hand on the white-bearded man's broad, ridge-like shoulder.

The instant his palm touched the white-bearded skin.

【Ding! 】

[Legendary target detected: Edward Newgate!]

[Character Status: Elderly, seriously ill.]

[Strength: Less than one in ten remaining]

[Meets analysis criteria, S-rank Divine Analysis, activated!]

[Begin analyzing the target individual's data model during their peak period...]

[SSR-level character gacha pool under construction...]

[Gacha Character: Edward Newgate (Peak), the "Strongest Man in the World"!]

[Current parsing progress: 0.01%...]

A stream of information swept through Chen Ye's mind like a waterfall.

While vigorously waving his little fists and pretending to massage the white-bearded man's back, he was internally processing this shocking information.

It can be parsed!

Really!

Moreover, the target of the analysis is not the old man in front of us, who is covered in tubes and seriously ill, but his peak performance!

"Gurgle gurgle... Give it your all, kid, didn't you eat?"

The white-bearded man's contented voice drifted over.

"Yes, Dad!"

Chen Ye quickly responded, increasing the pressure on his hand, and the progress bar in his mind slowly but steadily jumped upwards.

0.02%...

0.03%...

Just then, the system's last and most crucial message finally appeared.

[God-tier Summoning Description: When the resolution of any SSR character in the card pool reaches 100%, the host will gain one opportunity to enter that character's 'Peak Time and Space'.]

In the "Peak Dimension," the host must, within a limited time, persuade a target in their peak condition, through any means, to agree to become the host's "Summoner."

[Once the contract is established, the host can summon the legendary figure in peak form at any time within this timeline to descend into battle!]

boom!

Chen Ye's mind felt as if it had been struck by a thunderbolt.

He stopped patting his back and froze on the spot.

Summon... Whitebeard at his peak?

His gaze pierced through the man's back, as if he saw in another time and space, a man without injury or betrayal, wielding the supreme grade sword "Murakumogiri," capable of shattering islands and overturning the sea with his own strength... the true king of the sea!

So this is how the system is actually used!

"Um?"

Seemingly sensing something amiss behind him, the white-bearded man made a questioning nasal sound.

"What's wrong, kid?"