Inside the laboratory, the air seemed to solidify.
All eyes were focused on Whitebeard's enormous palm, where the pink, spiral-patterned Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, lay quietly, emitting a faint and peculiar glow.
Whitebeard looked down at the fruit, which concerned his future and carried the hopes of all his sons.
His rugged face showed little emotion, but his deep eyes surged with imperceptible ripples.
He looked up at Ace beside him.
Ace met Whitebeard's gaze and nodded heavily, flames burning steadily in his eyes.
"Gurararara… A pink dragon, huh? It suits my beard quite well!" Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh, breaking the silence.
The next moment, he no longer hesitated, directly putting the pink Devil Fruit into his mouth, chewing a few times, and then swallowing it!
Almost as soon as the fruit went down, an anomaly occurred!
A massive, ancient, and powerful energy suddenly erupted from Whitebeard's body!
His body visibly expanded further; his already mountain-like physique seemed to become even more robust and imposing, and a faint pink glow appeared on his skin.
His skin, which had become somewhat loose due to age and injuries, tightened and became elastic at an astonishing speed, as if time had reversed on him!
"Crackle… crackle…"
Bone-cracking sounds, like popping beans, emanated from his body, indicating a deeper level of enhancement was taking place!
His muscles bulged all over, containing explosive power, and an unprecedented, vibrant life force, like a scorching sun, swept through his limbs, dispelling the chronic illnesses and old injuries that had accumulated for years!
The most significant change occurred on his head; the white bandages that had been wrapped around it for years, symbolizing illness and weakness, were directly snapped and torn by this powerful new force!
Fragments of bandages fluttered down, revealing the true situation beneath: a pair of thick, ferocious dragon horns, shining with a pink metallic luster, grew out from both sides of his forehead at a visible speed, pointing proudly towards the sky!
A terrifying pressure, mixed with majesty and a wild life aura, spread out from Whitebeard like a tangible force, engulfing the entire laboratory!
At this moment, the former "Strongest Man in the World" had truly—returned!
And he had become even stronger!
As Whitebeard's ferocious dragon horns pierced through the bandages, his iconic long white hair, like a lion's mane, was also completely exposed to everyone, no longer bound.
However, the changes did not stop there.
Just as everyone was still immersed in the shock brought by his hybrid form, an even more unbelievable scene occurred—
Whitebeard's flowing white hair, starting from the roots, as if infused with the essence of life, rapidly transformed into a dazzling golden color at a visible speed!
The gold was like the burning fire of the sun, carrying an incredibly vibrant life force, spreading downwards irresistibly; wherever it passed, paleness receded, and brilliance reappeared!
The entire process was astonishingly fast, as if it only took a few breaths!
One second it was snow-white hair, the next it had all turned into a dazzling golden hue!
The brilliant color was richer and more intense than when he was young, as if it echoed the mythical beast power surging within him, emanating a sense of majesty and power that no one dared to look directly at!
"!!!" The entire laboratory fell into a deathly silence; everyone was so shocked by this extraordinary change that they forgot to breathe!
Even Whitebeard himself subconsciously raised his huge hand, now covered with pink dragon scales, and gently stroked the golden hair falling over his shoulders.
A rare trace of astonishment and disbelief appeared on his rugged face.
His booming voice, with unprecedented vibration, echoed in the silence:
"Gurararara… This is… astonishing!"
He felt the unprecedented surge of vitality within him and the power that had returned to its peak, even surpassing his past, his eyes burning.
"I never thought that a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit could bring such… earth-shattering changes to an old man like me!
Even this color, dormant for many years… has returned!"
Dazzling golden hair, pink dragon scales, ferocious dragon horns, and an aura that looked down on the world… At this moment, Whitebeard reappeared in the world in a state that surpassed his prime!
Just as everyone was still immersed in the shock of Whitebeard's drastic physical transformation, First Division Commander Marco was the first to react, taking quick strides to reach Whitebeard's front.
"Pops, let me check you!"
He then professionally took out a stethoscope and began to carefully observe Whitebeard's current condition.
He could even feel a warm and powerful energy field naturally emanating from Whitebeard's body, along with the surging vitality, strong physique, and life force contained in every strand of his hair.
A moment later, Marco's face showed an expression of immense surprise and certainty.
He turned to his companions, who were all holding their breath, his voice slightly raised due to excitement:
"Everyone, don't worry! He's recovered!
This isn't just about his hair changing color! This is a direct manifestation of Pops's internal vitality being completely restored, even far surpassing before! His cellular activity, his life energy… have reached an incredible level!"
Marco's voice was filled with unbelievable excitement: "According to this trend… Pops might truly have become an 'immortal creature' like that monster Kaido!!"
"Immortal creature?!"
"Like Kaido?!"
"Could he be even stronger than Kaido?!!!"
Marco's words were like lighting a fuse, instantly igniting the entire laboratory!
All the Whitebeard Pirates members were stunned for a moment, then erupted into deafening cheers of ecstatic joy!
"Oh—!!! This is great!!!"
"Pops!!!"
"This is wonderful! This is truly wonderful!"
The enormous roar almost tore off the laboratory roof; everyone's faces were beaming with uncontrollable joy and excitement, many even shedding tears of emotion.
They had painstakingly searched, endured many hardships, and finally witnessed a miracle happen with their own eyes!
Ace rushed to the front, looking up at Whitebeard's new, mountain-like, golden-haired, and ferociously horned attitude, his eyes burning with immense joy and pride, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Pops! This is great! You've finally… finally recovered! And you look even stronger than in your prime!"
....
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