"Alright, tie them all up!" Blackbeard clapped his hands, his face sporting a deceptively innocent smile. As he turned to leave, he suddenly felt his footing loosen.
'Not good!' Blackbeard's reflexes were sharp, and his Observation Haki quickly scanned the ground, detecting a figure beneath him, gripping his ankle.
The armament haki around his leg surged instantly, radiating outward with fierce intensity.
His intent was clear: he aimed to shatter the grasp on his ankle. But as his haki flared, the figure beneath his feet dissolved into a pool of mud.
Startled, Blackbeard's confusion lasted only a moment before a sharp, searing pain erupted from his back. Claws had pierced into his skin.
Fortunately, his quick response and full-body Armament Haki prevented the claws from digging too deeply, leaving only a painful surface wound. The attacker hadn't used full force; if they had, their chakra could have extended the claw blade by several inches, potentially reaching Blackbeard's lungs.
Furious but undeterred, Blackbeard unleashed a punch behind him, his fist cloaked in powerful haki, aimed directly at the "unconscious" Spade Pirate member who had attempted the attack.
"Boom!" The supposed pirate member shattered upon impact, bursting into scattered pieces of wood.
"That was close. Good thing I used a Substitution Jutsu," Shin's voice echoed, his eyes gleaming as he faced Blackbeard. "I didn't expect the Whitebeard Pirates to have someone with your level of strength. You're easily as powerful as any of the division commanders, right?"
Blackbeard's rage cooled slightly upon hearing this, but he noticed his crewmates watching him with curiosity and newfound respect. He cursed internally, realizing he'd shown too much of his strength.
He wasn't afraid of Shin, but if they fought here, it wouldn't take long before the other Whitebeard Pirates arrived for backup.
"Haha! I didn't know I had that kind of power myself," he chuckled, attempting to deflect suspicion. "But why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be by Ace's side?"
"Just a little trick," Shin replied calmly. When Ace had raised that wall of fire, Shin had used the opportunity to send in a clone. The figure standing near Ace was merely an Earth Clone.
Shin wasn't fighting just for the sake of it. He was here for something specific: a chance to acquire Blackbeard's body structure data.
Blackbeard was a cunning and careful man, vastly different from someone like Ace or Yamato. Gaining his trust, or even getting him injured, was no easy feat. Shin had been waiting for a rare opportunity like this, hoping to find a way to get close.
According to the timeline, Ace would stay with the Whitebeard Pirates for a year or two before Blackbeard acquired the Dark-Dark Fruit and betrayed them. If he missed his chance now, Shin might have to confront Blackbeard directly—a far more challenging task.
Today, however, luck seemed to be on his side. For reasons unknown, Blackbeard had intercepted the Spade Pirates here, offering Shin the opening he needed.
Seeing Blackbeard stalling for time, Shin didn't want to push the battle further. Winning wouldn't change the odds against the Whitebeard Pirates, who far outmatched the Spade Pirates.
The Whitebeard Pirates offered opportunities that Shin wasn't about to pass up.
The two of them exchanged lighthearted banter for the next ten minutes, each aware of the other's intentions. Blackbeard stole glances at the Spade Pirates tied up nearby, possibly wondering if Shin's reluctance was out of concern for his captured comrades.
Then, a flash of blue-green fire appeared in the sky, and Marco landed between them, his pineapple-like hair and half-closed eyes marking the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Huh?! Aren't you the Spade Pirates' doctor? Weren't you up there just now?" Marco asked, surprised.
"Ah, I tried sneaking in from the sea, but I was found out," Shin replied, feigning disappointment. "Turns out, even a seemingly ordinary member of your crew is quite the challenge."
Blackbeard chuckled awkwardly, still trying to blend in. Marco gave a proud smile, boasting, "Of course! Teach here has been with Pops for over twenty years. He's not just anyone."
Then Marco's tone shifted slightly. "By the way, brother, Fire Fist Ace has already been defeated. Do you plan on continuing?"
"Is our captain alright?" Shin tilted his head, his voice calm and without malice, as if there had been no conflict between the two pirate crews moments ago.
"No need to worry. Dad admires him and intends to keep him on the ship," Marco replied, his easygoing nature evident as he answered Shin's question.
"I see..." Shin sighed, retracting his claw blades. "In that case, I surrender."
Marco blinked, a bit taken aback by the calm surrender. Ace and Yamato had both fought hard, unwilling to admit defeat despite overwhelming odds. Both of them still harbored dreams of somehow overcoming Whitebeard's forces.
The idea of the third key member of the Spade Pirates surrendering so willingly left Marco a little surprised.
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Mass Release: [1/5]
For each power stones milestone—50, 100, 150, and beyond—I will release a bonus chapter.
I will also release a bonus chapter for every two reviews until it reaches ten reviews.
Review status: [9/10]