After leaving Luffy's crew aboard the Going Merry, Xpovac and Mew teleported back to PokeIsland. The tranquil setting was a stark contrast to the chaos and adventure that Luffy and his crew were experiencing. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the calls of Xpovac's Pokémon team provided a sense of peace that he hadn't felt in a while.
As Xpovac walked around the island, he couldn't help but think of Shanks' daughter, Uta. He hadn't seen her in years, and while her father was always in the spotlight, Uta seemed to move in the shadows. He wondered how she was doing and where she could be now. The thought tugged at him for a moment, a curiosity left unaddressed.
"I wonder where Uta's been lately…" Xpovac murmured to himself, staring up at the sky. "Maybe I should look into her whereabouts when I get the chance. It's been too long since I've heard anything about her."
Three days passed in relative peace. Xpovac spent his time training, meditating, and bonding with his Pokémon. PokeIsland was a perfect retreat—far enough from the chaos of the Grand Line, but close enough that Xpovac could keep an eye on things when necessary.
Suddenly, while he was resting in his hut, the system's voice echoed in his mind.
> System Notification: Luffy has encountered Blackbeard.
Xpovac shot up from his bed, eyes wide with concern. Blackbeard was dangerous—far more dangerous than most people knew. The fact that Luffy had crossed paths with him this early in his journey wasn't something to be taken lightly.
"Damn it," Xpovac muttered under his breath. "Mew! Get over here, now!"
Mew, who had been playing with some of the other Pokémon on the island, immediately appeared by Xpovac's side, sensing the urgency in his voice.
"Teleport me to Luffy—NOW!"
In an instant, the world around Xpovac shifted, the familiar sensation of Mew's teleportation taking hold. When the blinding light faded, he found himself on Luffy's boat, the young pirate standing at the helm with a confused expression.
"Big bro?" Luffy said, his usual smile faltering as he noticed the serious look on Xpovac's face.
"Hey, Luffy," Xpovac said quickly, not bothering with formalities. "I'm not here to play around right now. Stay here—I've got something to take care of."
Without giving Luffy a chance to respond, Xpovac jumped off the boat, his eyes scanning the horizon as he honed in on Blackbeard's presence. His aura flared briefly, sensing the darkness ahead.
It didn't take long for Xpovac to find him. Blackbeard was aboard his own ship, his crew laughing and causing a commotion as usual. But as Xpovac landed on the deck, his presence alone brought everything to a screeching halt.
Blackbeard turned, his wicked grin faltering as he recognized Xpovac. "Well, well, well… if it ain't Xpovac. What brings ya to—"
Before he could finish, Xpovac unleashed his aura in full force, pinning Blackbeard to the floor of his ship. The weight of Xpovac's energy was overwhelming, crushing the air around Blackbeard and silencing everyone on the ship.
"I'm not here for pleasantries, Blackbeard," Xpovac said, his voice low and dangerous. He stepped forward, his eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. "I'm not Whitebeard. I'm not merciful. Let me make this very clear."
Blackbeard's eyes widened, his body trembling under the immense pressure of Xpovac's aura.
"Harm my brother," Xpovac continued, his voice growing even colder, "you die. Touch a strand of hair on my brother's head, you die. Even think about having any malicious intent toward him… you. die."
Blackbeard tried to speak, but the weight of Xpovac's aura kept him pinned. His usual bravado had vanished, replaced by a fear he couldn't hide.
"And to make sure you understand…" Xpovac raised his hand, summoning an enormous black dragon with a single, piercing eye. The creature loomed over Blackbeard, its sheer size and presence shaking the very earth beneath them. The dragon's aura was so powerful that the planet itself seemed to tremble.
"Feel this, fear it," Xpovac said as the dragon unleashed its full aura, suffocating the air around them. The ship creaked under the pressure, and even the sea seemed to retreat in fear.
Blackbeard gasped for air, his body paralyzed under the oppressive force. Sweat dripped down his face as he struggled to breathe, the fear in his eyes unmistakable.
"Remember this feeling," Xpovac said, his voice deadly calm. "Because next time, there won't be a warning."
With that, Xpovac released his hold on Blackbeard, retracting the dragon and its aura. Blackbeard collapsed onto the deck, gasping for air as his crew stood frozen in shock, too terrified to move.
Without another word, Xpovac turned his back on Blackbeard, vanishing from the ship in an instant.
---
Back aboard Luffy's boat, Xpovac appeared once again, startling Luffy and the crew.
"Hey, Luffy," Xpovac said, a bit more casually this time. "Everything's taken care of. Just keep going—I had to deal with certain 'people'"
Luffy tilted his head in confusion. "What did you do?"
"Let's just say they got the message," Xpovac said with a grin. "I'll be watching you, alright? Keep an eye out."
And with that, Xpovac vanished again, leaving Luffy and his crew in stunned silence.
---
Back on PokeIsland, Xpovac landed softly, his thoughts already moving to his next task. He walked toward the shoreline, Mew hovering beside him, sensing his focus.
"Mew," Xpovac said, his voice steady, "I want you to search the first half of the Grand Line. Find Uta for me. I need to know where she is."
Mew nodded and disappeared in a flash, off to complete its task.
As Xpovac looked out at the vast sea before him, he couldn't help but wonder where Uta had gone. Shanks' daughter was powerful in her own right, but she had a mysterious nature, always moving in ways that kept her out of sight. Still, he knew that wherever she was, she was making waves in her own way.
For now, though, Xpovac had to wait. There was more to do, more to protect, but he'd be ready.
---