30 Years in Whitebeard’s Crew, I Became Invincible

Charlotte Linlin had never felt such searing, piercing pain before.

It was excruciating.

Her eyeball had burst, and she could feel her right eye being blown apart.

"AAAAHHH!!!"

A bloodcurdling scream pierced the skies. Charlotte Linlin clutched her eye, wailing in agony.

The sudden turn of events shocked the members of the Charlotte Family. They watched in horror as Linlin rolled on the ground in a frenzy, her face drenched in blood.

"M-Mama's injured?!!"

Perospero stared in disbelief at the blood gushing from Linlin's eye.

"MAMA!!!"

The others rushed to her side in a panic.

Meanwhile, Marco and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the figure standing in front of Whitebeard made them feel at ease.

Of course.

They had almost forgotten their Big Bro was here.

Why were they even worried?

If Whitebeard were in danger, Roy would be the first to act.

In the future Roy had foreseen, Whitebeard did indeed fall to his knees, but Charlotte Linlin hadn't been able to kill him.

At a crucial moment, Whitebeard had chosen to trade injuries. He was slashed by Linlin, but he also landed a blow on her.

The fight ended with both sides badly wounded, but Whitebeard, being older, clearly couldn't hold on much longer.

After he stabbed Linlin, her two Homies, Zeus and Prometheus, responded with lightning and fire.

Whitebeard experienced firsthand what it meant to be caught between thunder and flames.

"I've told you a hundred times, you're too old to be drinking like this," Roy said, shaking blood off his fist and turning to Whitebeard.

Whitebeard was past the worst of it now and could stand again.

"I'm an old man, can't you let me enjoy myself? Who cares when death's knocking? Living joyfully is what matters," Whitebeard scoffed.

"You really are a stubborn fool," Roy said with a sigh. "If it were me… maybe I'd be the same."

Roy remembered what he had seen in his previous life in hospitals.

Old people who fell ill often just wanted to die.

Nearly every elderly person Roy had met thought the same. Once they knew they were gravely ill, they didn't want to keep living.

They feared becoming a burden to their descendants.

Yet their children and grandchildren clung to them selfishly, they did everything they could to prolong their lives in the name of love.

Now, Roy just wanted Whitebeard to stay alive. As long as he lived, the family would stay together. But once he was gone, the family would surely fall apart.

"Gurararara! That's more like it," Whitebeard laughed. "You've always said: 'Drink today, for tomorrow we may die.' That's how it should be, living freely and fully. Roy, you're living too hard. Why push yourself so much?"

"Have you ever thought about what happens to them if you die?"

"You're here, aren't you?"

"Me?"

"Who else? I can rest easy because you're here."

"And if I'm gone? Who'll look after them then?"

"Why worry over what you can't control? Everyone walks their own path. You can't cover every base. Relax a little. We're pirates, we're meant to roam free on the seas.

"If we're chained down, what's the point of freedom?"

"Maybe you see things differently, but ask Loxus, does he want you watching him his whole life?"

"Respect their choices. Let them walk their own path. Don't interfere too much."

"That's easy for you to say. Who can really let go? We're human because we have emotions."

"Emotions are good. You have a compassionate heart, you care about the world.

"I'm different. I only care about our little family."

"You've read more books. You understand this world better. Keep walking your path."

"No matter what happens, this family will always be waiting for you. I'm not dead yet."

"That's why you can't die."

Roy smiled.

The two of them were so absorbed in their talk, they'd completely forgotten Charlotte Linlin.

She was still on the ground, howling and writhing in pain.

After a while, she finally came to a stop. Clutching her eye, her hand was soaked in blood.

Where her eyeball used to be, now there was just a bloody hole.

She had lost an eye.

"MAMA!!"

Seeing her blood-covered face, twisted in rage, the entire Big Mom Pirates crew was shocked.

"Who… who AMBUSHED ME?!"

Charlotte Linlin searched frantically for her attacker, then locked her gaze on Roy.

"It was you, wasn't it?! I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!!!" she screamed, charging with her sword.

VMMM!

Roy looked up at her and suddenly unleashed Conqueror's Haki.

In an instant, dozens of Homies collapsed.

Linlin's body froze, stunned by the sheer pressure of his Haki.

It was too overwhelming, even her main Homies began to shrink under its force.

"Mama, my head hurts!!" Prometheus wailed.

"It's so painful! I'm dying!" Zeus cried out.

Even the core Homies created from Devil Fruit powers couldn't withstand Roy's Haki. The others stood no chance.

For the first time, Charlotte Linlin felt true fear from someone's Haki.

Unprecedented fear.

"How can this be… This Haki… It's stronger than that red hair," she muttered in disbelief, staring at Roy.

Linlin had clashed briefly with Shanks in the past. Four years ago, Loki had fallen in love with Lola at first sight. After being rejected, Lola fled Whole Cake Island.

Loki, prince of the giants, forced his way out of Big Mom's territory, making his name known across the New World.

Shanks got involved in the Loki matter and fought Linlin at Totto Land.

Later, Shanks captured Loki and, from that, he cemented his position as an Emperor of the sea.

Linlin had witnessed Shanks' Haki, but Roy surpassed even his.

Just his Conqueror's Haki alone was suppressing her Devil Fruit abilities.

CRACKLE!

Thunder boomed. Black lightning crackled and pulsed from Roy's body, passing through Linlin and sending waves of agony through her.

Her fruit powers were being sealed, just from the Haki alone.

"No… something's wrong with his Haki…" Linlin narrowed her remaining eye at Roy.

"RETREAT! We have to go!" she shouted.

With Whitebeard here too, staying meant certain death.

She saw bones, her clothes, her own bones.

One Emperor she could deal with. Whitebeard, though old, could still be challenged.

But Roy, even bandaged as he was, was clearly still at full strength.

Looking at the fallen Homies, Linlin swung her arm, drew out her soul energy, and fled with Katakuri and the others.

"CHARGE!!" Marco led the assault, chasing after them.

Whitebeard looked down at Roy.

"You're letting her go?" he asked.

"I'm not letting her go," Roy said, turning toward the sea. "It's just getting too lively. More guests are arriving."

...

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

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