The days were winding down. Lupin had fought, bled, and struggled his way through twenty grueling battles. His body ached from the unrelenting pace, but his spirit remained unbroken. Each victory had been hard-earned, and each defeat had only strengthened his resolve. The respect of the commanders was no longer a distant dream; it was within his grasp.
But there was one commander left: the 2nd Division Commander, Kouzuki Oden.
Lupin had tried to make sense of it. Oden hadn't been around for years, and no one seemed to have any clue as to when he'd return from Wano Country. Lupin couldn't afford to wait. He had come too far, fought too hard. There had to be a way to complete the quest. And if he couldn't earn the respect of the legendary 2nd Division Commander directly, he would have to find another way.
His mind raced with an idea, one that seemed almost too absurd to even entertain. But desperation breeds creativity.
---
Lupin found himself on the deck of the Moby Dick, walking toward Whitebeard. The legendary pirate captain, his massive frame a force to be reckoned with, was standing with his back to the horizon, surveying the sea. The moment Lupin approached, Whitebeard turned his attention to him, a hearty grin on his face.
"Lupin," Whitebeard greeted him, his voice a deep rumble. "You've been busy. I hear you've earned the respect of most of the crew."
Lupin's heart pounded in his chest. He had been planning this moment for days, but now that it was finally here, the words felt strange in his mouth.
"I have a request, Dad," Lupin said, his tone serious. "I want to fight the 2nd Division Commander to complete my quest."
Whitebeard chuckled, his deep laughter shaking the air. "You want to fight Oden, huh? You know he's not here, right?"
Lupin clenched his fists. "I know. But I need his respect. The quest requires me to earn it from him, and I can't wait forever. If he's not here, then—"
Whitebeard cut him off with a booming laugh. "What, you want me to make someone the 2nd Division Commander for a day just so you can fight them?"
Lupin nodded, unwavering in his request. "Yes. I don't care who it is. I just need to prove myself to the 2nd Division."
Whitebeard looked at him, his expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"Well then, Lupin… You're asking for a hell of a challenge, but if it's respect you want, I'll give it to you."
Before Lupin could react, Whitebeard's giant hand shot out and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground with ease. Lupin barely had time to react before Whitebeard's grin widened.
"You're right," Whitebeard said with a chuckle. "You do need to prove yourself, but not to Oden. You need to prove it to me."
Lupin's eyes widened as he suddenly realized what Whitebeard was about to do. "What—what are you talking about?"
Whitebeard's voice dropped to a low growl. "If you want the respect of the 2nd Division, then you'll have to earn it from me first. I'll be your 2nd Division Commander today. And trust me, you won't be getting any favors."
Before Lupin could respond, Whitebeard's massive fist swung forward, the sheer force of it knocking Lupin off his feet and sending him sprawling across the deck. The wind was knocked out of him as he gasped for air, struggling to push himself up. But Whitebeard wasn't done.
In an instant, Whitebeard's huge boot came down hard on Lupin's chest, pinning him to the ground. Lupin grunted in pain, his body screaming in protest, but he refused to give up. This was the test. If he wanted the respect of the 2nd Division, he would have to prove he could withstand the most intense trial of his life.
Lupin gritted his teeth and pushed back against Whitebeard's boot. His hands dug into the wood of the deck, his arms straining with every ounce of strength he had left. He wasn't going to go down without a fight.
But Whitebeard only laughed. "You think you can take me on? You're not ready for this, boy. But I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."
With a sudden, brutal motion, Whitebeard swung his other fist down, hitting Lupin square in the chest. The force of the blow sent Lupin flying across the deck, his vision blurring and his body aching with each impact against the wooden floor. His limbs felt like jelly as he tried to push himself up, but the world around him started to spin. He could barely keep his eyes open before everything went black.
---
The Awakening
Lupin awoke some time later, his head throbbing and his body aching all over. He groaned and tried to sit up, only to be met with a sharp pain in his side. Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking against the sunlight. His vision cleared, and he saw that he was lying on the deck, the crew gathered around him, watching in silence.
As he took in his surroundings, he noticed Whitebeard standing nearby, his massive form towering over him. The old pirate was grinning, his arms crossed over his chest.
"You're still alive," Whitebeard chuckled. "Not bad, kid. You've got guts. I respect that."
Lupin's mind was a whirlwind as he processed the events. The pain was unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the realization that hit him like a ton of bricks.
The final test hadn't been about defeating Whitebeard. It hadn't been about winning. It had been about surviving.
Lupin had endured. He had faced the 2nd Division Commander in the most literal sense possible, and in doing so, he had earned the respect he sought.
---
[Quest Complete: Respect Earned from the 2nd Division Commander]
Objective Complete
Reward: 1 Creation Point, 1 Mystery Chest
Progress: 16/16
---
Lupin pushed himself to his feet, wiping the blood from his lip as he met Whitebeard's gaze. "Thank you," he said, his voice rough but sincere.
Whitebeard laughed again, clapping him on the back so hard that Lupin almost fell over. "No need for thanks, kid. You've earned your place here. Now, get back to your training."
Lupin nodded, his eyes burning with determination. He had completed his quest. He had earned the respect of the Whitebeard Pirates. And the path to his future — a future where he would rewrite the world's fate — was now wide open.