The arm, bulging with raw power, instantly turned a brilliant gold, radiating a terrifying kinetic energy.
However, Blackbeard didn't flinch. In their brief exchange, he had already identified the man's weakness. He unleashed a massive swirl of darkness, catching the man's golden arm. The moment they made contact, the golden luster vanished instantly, as if extinguished.
Simultaneously, the members of the Blackbeard Pirates raised their weapons, unleashing a synchronized, point-blank barrage.
Bang! Bang! Bang!Boom! Boom!
Splat... Bloody holes tore through the man's body. He stared at Blackbeard in sheer horror, his expression asking a silent question: Why...?
"You find it strange, don't you? Zehahahahaha!" Blackbeard smirked wickedly. Behind him, the rest of the crew remained expressionless, cold as ice.
"But... you should focus on dying instead."
With that, Blackbeard pulled a pistol from his waist and fired a single shot into the man's forehead.
Bang—!
The man slumped, dead before he hit the ground. His eyes remained wide open, staring into a void—he had died without peace.
Blackbeard's mood was foul. He had barely escaped Whitebeard's wrath only to nearly be captured by Aokiji. Though they had fled, Burgess had been taken. Furthermore, while he appeared fine on the surface, he was severely injured. He hadn't even been able to finish off a man who relied entirely on fruit abilities by himself; he had to rely on his crew's combined firepower.
"Begin," Blackbeard said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Understood." Lafitte and Van Augur produced a massive black cloth, draping it over the corpse of the golden-armed man. Blackbeard inhaled sharply and stepped beneath the shroud.
The rest of the crew watched with bated breath. Whether the Blackbeard Pirates could continue to ride the waves of this world depended entirely on what happened under that cloth!
Shiryu's eyes never left the inconspicuous black fabric. None of them wanted to see this crew dissolve before it truly began. Time slowed to a crawl in the heavy silence. The pirates held their breath, their nerves stretched thin.
"Captain, what are they doing?"
In a dense thicket not far from the Blackbeard Pirates, a group of men watched the scene intently.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it's a secret they don't want the world to see." Squard, Captain of the Maelstrom Spider Pirates, tightened his grip on his long blade.
Yes—this was the same Squard who, manipulated by Akainu at Marineford, had driven a blade through Whitebeard's chest.
During the chaos, Squard had seen the Whitebeard Pirates' burning hatred for Blackbeard. The fact that they hadn't been able to execute the traitor on the spot was a regret shared by the entire fleet. Ever since realizing he had committed an unforgivable sin against his "Father," Squard felt he had no face left to show the crew. Though Whitebeard had forgiven him and the others didn't hold a grudge, the kindness only made his shame more unbearable.
When he saw Blackbeard's crew fleeing, he hadn't hesitated. He took his men and pursued them immediately. His crew followed without a second thought. They knew the strength of the Blackbeard Pirates—especially Teach's ability—was extremely troublesome. If they could escape Admiral Aokiji with only one casualty, their combat prowess was undeniable.
"Why are they covering that gorilla with a black cloth?"
"Who knows? But we can't wait any longer. On my signal, we strike. We need to take them down as fast as possible." Squard decided he couldn't afford to wait for Blackbeard to finish whatever he was doing.
"Yes, sir!"
Once he was sure there were no other movements, Squard signaled the attack. He and his men charged from the brush.
"Hmm?" When Squard was about thirty meters away, Shiryu and Van Augur snapped into high alert. Seeing the Maelstrom Spider Pirates rushing them, the Blackbeard crew was momentarily surprised.
"Who are you!?"
Squard didn't waste breath on an explanation. He barked a single command: "Finish them!"
The Spider Pirates swarmed in, encircling the Blackbeard Pirates.
SHING! Squard unsheathed his blade. Before the Blackbeard crew could fully react, he swung his sword directly toward the black cloth.
"Not good!" The Blackbeard Pirates gasped.
Shiryu, a cigar clamped between his teeth, looked murderous. He hadn't expected an ambush at this precise moment. Any other time would be fine, but right now was the turning point for their crew's survival!
KABOOM! Shiryu struck out in rage, a single slash sending several Spider Pirates flying. However, he was immediately swarmed by more men. Meanwhile, Squard's blade reached the black cloth.
Rip! The fabric tore apart. Squard felt a surge of joy—if he could take Blackbeard's head here, he could atone for his sins. At the very least, he could live with himself again.
But in the next heartbeat, the unexpected happened.
CLANG!
The sound of metal on metal rang out. The remnants of the black cloth drifted to the ground, revealing the scene beneath.
"This... this is impossible..." Squard's eyes bulged. His mouth hung open, but no sound came out.
"Squard... it's you."
"Teach... what... what have you done!?" Squard stammered, his words failing him.
"Hmm?" Blackbeard flashed a sinister, ecstatic grin. "Zehahahahaha! It seems Heaven hasn't abandoned me yet! Allow me to show you the greatest show on earth!"
Suddenly, a golden radiance erupted from Blackbeard's body, intensifying until it looked like golden flames. Gradually, the light solidified, coating him like a suit of armor. His frame grew, expanding until he stood four or five meters tall. He looked like a massive, golden Great Ape, his sheer physical bulk radiating explosive power.
"Squard, are you here to kill me?" Blackbeard asked, looking down at the stunned captain.
Squard, a veteran who had made a name for himself in the New World, quickly regained his composure. A grim smirk touched his lips. "That's right! I'm here to wipe out a traitor for the Whitebeard Pirates!"
He lunged, driving his blade toward Blackbeard with everything he had.
"Go for it, Captain!" the Maelstrom Spider Pirates roared.
If they could kill Blackbeard here, they would finally be able to hold their heads high among their brothers once more.