Hachinosu — Pirate Island.
Once the stronghold of the Rocks Pirates, later seized outright by a legendary Pirate King, and now firmly in the grasp of Marshall D. Teach—
This massive, skull-shaped island was now cloaked in a heavy, suffocating atmosphere.
The colossal skull itself, formed by the Island-Island Fruit ability of the "Corrupt King," Avalo Pizarro, loomed over everything. Its hollow eye sockets seemed to stare down coldly upon the town below.
Within the island's central settlement, the once-raucous taverns and gambling halls had grown unusually subdued.
Pirates gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves, their eyes drifting again and again toward the tallest structure at the center.
Inside that building—
Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, lounged back across an enormous sofa large enough to seat several men. One arm hung over the armrest, his ring-laden fingers tapping absently against the leather.
Compared to two years ago, he now wore a captain's hat bearing the emblem of his crew. His thick black beard had been carefully braided into three heavy plaits that draped over his chest.
But his trademark, arrogant grin—
Was gone.
In its place lingered a deeply furrowed brow and a pair of dark, brooding eyes.
Teach lowered his gaze, instinctively reaching up to scratch at his exposed chest—
At the massive "X"-shaped scar that stretched diagonally from both shoulders down to his abdomen.
Back then, during the Summit War—
That world-shaking blow from the Shiki had come this close to killing him.
Truly… just a fraction closer, and he would've died.
If not for the unique properties of the Dark-Dark Fruit—and the regenerative effects of the "Plague Doctor's" Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit—
He would never have made it back alive.
"…Damn it!"
A low snarl tore from his throat.
Teach suddenly grabbed the massive wooden mug brimming with liquor beside him and slammed it down violently onto the heavy table before him.
The cup exploded into splinters. Alcohol and wood fragments sprayed outward, and the nearby pirates instinctively shrank back.
"I was this close… this close to taking that Goro Goro no Mi for myself!"
His voice forced its way out through clenched teeth, thick with frustration and unwilling resignation.
"That self-righteous 'god' bastard… if it weren't for Borsalino and Dracule Mihawk barging in outta nowhere—ruining everything!"
He finished with a heavy breath, his chest rising and falling, the massive scar shifting with each inhale.
The plan to seize the Goro Goro no Mi had been a carefully calculated move—one he had prepared for a long time.
Among Logia-type Devil Fruits, it possessed top-tier destructive power and speed. If he could combine it with the abilities he already wielded—the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and the Dark-Dark Fruit—
His crew's strength would reach a level that no one could rival.
At that point, what "Four Emperors"? What Marine independence?
All of it would be crushed beneath absolute thunder and seismic force.
And yet—
At the most critical moment, everything had fallen apart.
Not only had he failed to obtain the fruit, but he had also fully exposed his opportunistic intentions—earning the undying enmity of the Marines under Gern Reginald Sigmar.
The moment he recalled that man's cold gaze… and the name "Skyquake" that echoed across the seas—
Even someone as arrogant as Teach felt a flicker of unease deep within his chest.
"Heh… Captain Teach."
A calm voice tinged with a faint, eerie softness cut through the oppressive silence.
The speaker sat to Blackbeard's right, slightly below him.
He was tall and thin, dressed in a dark purple robe woven with intricate, shadowy patterns. Half his face was covered in grotesque, fungus-like markings, leaving only his chin and a pair of faintly glowing green eyes exposed.
His left hand rested casually on the arm of his chair—long, pale fingers from which countless fine, multicolored fungal threads seeped out.
They wriggled as if alive, slowly creeping along the surface of the armrest, growing… then withering… then growing again in an endless cycle.
The air around him carried a strange scent—a mixture of decay and rebirth.
This man was the "Plague Doctor," Samuel Kronos.
A legendary pirate of a bygone era, once worth 1.14 billion.
Defeated by Gern in the past, cast adrift by fate, and eventually finding a new place here under Blackbeard—
He had taken the seat of the deceased "Heavy Drinker," Baskerville Shot, becoming one of the Blackbeard Pirates' core members—their chief physician… and a terrifying combatant.
"Regret won't change anything now," Samuel's voice drifted through his mask, carrying an oddly soothing cadence.
"The Goro Goro no Mi is valuable, yes. But if it wasn't obtained, then it simply wasn't meant to be."
"What matters now… is how we respond to what comes next."
"We failed to eliminate Enel. Instead, we exposed both our presence and our intentions."
"With Gern Reginald Sigmar's current methods—and the Marines' newfound independence—retaliation… will likely come very soon."
As he spoke, he gently raised his left hand. The writhing fungal threads instantly withdrew back into his fingertips.
"What we should be considering… is how to survive this storm."
"And perhaps… how to find a new opportunity within it."
Truth be told—
Samuel Kronos genuinely feared Gern.
Back when Gern had only been a Rear Admiral, he had crushed Samuel as easily as swatting a dog.
Hearing those words, Blackbeard fell silent.
They were like cold water thrown over his anger, extinguishing part of it—allowing reason to reassert itself.
His gaze swept across the officers gathered in the room.
To his left sat Shiryu, his expression cold as ever, calmly polishing his famed blade, Raiu.
The former Head Jailer of Impel Down—his strength was unquestionable. A master swordsman, ruthless and efficient—one of the crew's most reliable fighters.
To Shiryu's right, aside from Samuel, sat the alluringly dressed "Crescent Moon Hunter," Catarina Devon, casually touching up her makeup with a small mirror.
She looked careless—but was anything but.
With the powers of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Nine-Tailed Fox, her ability to deceive and manipulate was nothing short of dangerous.
After all, back in the day, it had taken Kuzan himself to capture her.
Further down sat the rest of the captains and senior officers—
The "Corrupt King" Pizarro, the giant Sanjuan Wolf with his severed hand, the "Champion" Jesus Burgess, "Supersonic" Van Augur, "Grim Reaper" Doc Q, and others.
On the surface, the lineup looked formidable.
But Blackbeard knew the truth.
The quality—and number—of their top-tier fighters was still a glaring weakness.
He himself, as a dual Devil Fruit user, stood at the pinnacle of power.
Samuel Kronos was a complete enigma, his abilities bizarre and unfathomable—his true strength impossible to measure.
Shiryu was a top-class swordsman.
Sanjuan Wolf possessed overwhelming strength—but lacked agility and intelligence.
Devon's abilities were unique—but she wasn't suited for direct frontal combat.
As for the rest—
They were strong by New World standards.
But against opponents on the level of Marine Admirals—or monsters like the "Calamities" under Gern—
Even facing a Headquarters Vice Admiral might push them to their limits.
And now…
They had provoked Gern.
That man commanded forces such as Enel, Dracule Mihawk, Douglas Bullet, Gild Tesoro, Boa Hancock—
Each one a disaster in human form.
And above them all—
Was Gern Reginald Sigmar himself.