-Real World-
The most unpredictable outcome still materialized before their eyes.
Boa Hancock, watching the Sky Screen, felt cold dread settle in her stomach like a stone. She had seriously—catastrophically—underestimated Blackbeard Teach's strength. Her dream of chopping that fat black man into minced meat and feeding the remains to dogs might have become nothing more than an unattainable fantasy, a bitter wish that reality would never grant.
Even Silvers Rayleigh had joined the battle against Blackbeard. The legendary Dark King himself, right hand of the Pirate King, had thrown his weight into the conflict. And yet he'd still gotten himself involved—permanently. Ended up becoming Marshall D. Teach's human bone drinking vessel, his skull hollowed out and polished smooth to serve wine to a monster.
Five years from now, Hancock thought, her hands clenching until her knuckles went white. Blackbeard's strength five years in the future is truly terrifying.
Silvers Rayleigh—the Dark King himself, deputy to Pirate King Gol D. Roger—had been one of the great trendsetters of the previous era. Though he'd retired long ago, retreating into relative obscurity in this new age, many weaker individuals would still turn pale whenever his name was mentioned. That reputation hadn't been purchased cheaply. Rayleigh had earned it bit by bit, battle by battle, over decades of legendary combat.
Boa Hancock shared a connection with Rayleigh that outsiders had no knowledge of—a relationship the Sky Screen would soon expose to the world. People were already wondering why the Dark King had appeared on Nine Snake Island at all. The Empress wouldn't explain anything to her fellow Warlords, wouldn't satisfy their curiosity with convenient answers. Soon enough, the Sky Screen would reveal the connection between Nine Snake Island and Rayleigh on its own terms.
"There's a second country of women in this world," someone murmured nearby, voice filled with wonder. "If Diana can stand as an equal to Empress Hancock, she must possess considerable hard power of her own."
Everyone possessed the right to appreciate beauty—even people of the same sex could find themselves attracted to each other's magnificence. Wonder Woman Diana and Boa Hancock represented two entirely different aesthetic styles, yet both commanded attention with natural authority.
If someone truly forced the issue and demanded a definitive answer about which woman was more beautiful, the people of the sea would fall into deep contemplation. The two camps—the flat-chested faction and the well-endowed party—would engage in their most intense confrontation yet. It seemed unlikely anyone would convince the opposition.
"Paradise Island," Doflamingo mused aloud, savoring the name. "What a grand designation. A paradise where only women live..." His smile widened, showing too many teeth. "If they don't possess sufficient power to protect themselves, it will eventually transform into hell instead."
The thought brought him genuine pleasure. If he ever had the opportunity to land on Paradise Island one day—if circumstances aligned just right—he wouldn't mind capturing a few more female slaves. The powerful people of this sea always appreciated new... varieties to sample. Doflamingo knew his clientele well.
There existed very distinct differences between the female citizens of Paradise Island and Nine Snake Island, even from the brief glimpses the Sky Screen had provided. The former possessed more muscular bodies with golden proportions—warriors sculpted by rigorous training, aesthetics built on functional strength. The latter displayed all kinds of body types, highlighting the natural diversity of humanity in all its chaotic glory.
Judging purely by the proportion of beauties, Paradise Island's quality was definitively much higher than Nine Snake Island's. If it weren't for Boa Hancock's singular magnificence leading the way and elevating her homeland's average, the gap would prove even more exaggerated.
Another target to remember, Doflamingo thought, filing the information away for future exploitation. Another paradise to potentially corrupt.
Crocodile exhaled smoke from his cigar, eyes narrowed as he watched the Sky Screen intently. His analytical mind was already working through the tactical implications.
"Kennen said it would be five against one," the former Warlord muttered, counting on his hook as he tracked each combatant. "But judging by the characters who've appeared so far, there are only four of them visible. Even with this lineup, they can't take down Blackbeard." His eyes hardened. "His future strength is genuinely unfathomable."
The mental tally ran through Crocodile's mind like an inventory: Admiral Kennen with his lightning powers. Empress Boa Hancock with her petrification and all three colors of Haki. Wonder Woman Diana—unknown capabilities but clearly formidable. Silvers Rayleigh the Dark King, wielding advanced Haki mastered over decades. And a mysterious fifth participant who hadn't revealed themselves yet.
Five powerful combatants, all presumably at or near Admiral-class, Crocodile calculated coldly. And Blackbeard Teach still emerges victorious. Kills at least one of them—Rayleigh—and defeats or maims the rest.
"Is this the King-class combat power the Sky Screen mentioned before?" Crocodile asked the empty air, though several subordinates stood within earshot. "The ability to stand against multiple Admiral-level opponents simultaneously?"
Kaido of the Beasts occupied that same tier. If these two titans—Blackbeard and Kaido—truly stood at the same level of power, then when they stomped their feet, the entire world would shake in response.
When Blackbeard grew to this terrifying point in the future, the ones who would suffer most were undoubtedly the Whitebeard Pirates. And they knew it.
Kingdom of Alabasta - Coastal Region
The anti-espionage team dispatched by Edward Newgate had already made landfall in the desert kingdom. Led by Phoenix Marco, they'd purchased intelligence at exorbitant prices on the black market, following breadcrumb trails and confirmed sightings.
Marshall D. Teach was definitely hiding in this desert country. The evidence was irrefutable.
Members of Blackbeard's crew had been photographed by black market intelligence operatives while purchasing supplies in port towns. The images were grainy but unmistakable—Doc Q's sickly frame, Burgess's distinctive wrestling outfit, Van Augur's peculiar hat. As long as the Whitebeard Pirates completely blockaded this country's coastline, Teach would have absolutely no avenue of escape.
The Kingdom of Alabasta would become his burial ground.
"This damned traitor is a living beast," Marco growled, his normally calm demeanor cracking as he watched footage of Blackbeard on the Sky Screen. "Pops shouldn't have let him on the ship in the first place."
The Dark-Dark Fruit—the very Devil Fruit Teach had murdered Thatch to obtain—now resided in his body. And somehow, impossibly, Edward Newgate's Gura Gura no Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit) had joined it including Sengoku Mythical Zoan. Three Devil Fruits in one person, a feat that should have killed him instantly, yet there Blackbeard manage to do it in the future.
And then there was that wine cup—Rayleigh's skull, polished and hollowed. Using human bones as drinking vessels. In terms of sheer perversion and cruelty, most people on this sea would fall short compared to Marshall D. Teach.
"If Pops hadn't taken pity on him..." Marco's fists clenched, blue flames flickering involuntarily at his knuckles. "Blackbeard Teach would have rotted on that miserable island forever. Would never have experienced a wonderful life. His ambition wouldn't have expanded to such an unimaginable level."
Flower Sword Vista stood nearby, both hands resting on his dual blades. "A born bad person like him should never have been given room for advancement," he agreed quietly. "Should never have been shown kindness."
For the Yami Yami no Mi (Dark-Dark Fruit), Teach had murdered his own crewmate—his brother in all but blood. And the Sky Screen had shown he would eventually kill Edward Newgate himself, his adopted father. Then he'd wantonly invaded Whitebeard's territory, claiming islands and crushing anyone who resisted.
Marshall D. Teach was simply not worthy of being called a human son. This time, this rebellious traitor absolutely had to be eliminated before he could grow into the monster the future promised.
"The Sky Screen entered Admiral Raizumi's memories," Vista observed, his tactical mind already processing the implications. "This can be regarded as a small favor to us—unintentional, perhaps, but useful nonetheless. We can learn some of Teach's attacking techniques from these broadcasts, study his combat patterns." His eyes narrowed. "So that when we face him, we'll be prepared. We can avoid making fatal mistakes."
Vista was the strongest pure swordsman in the Whitebeard Pirates after Edward Newgate himself. He absolutely refused to fight an unprepared battle. He looked forward with intense anticipation to the Sky Screen revealing more secrets—specifically, what kind of abilities the Logia-type Yami Yami no Mi truly possessed.
Marshall D. Teach had pretended to be a coward for decades, acting like an obedient son within the Whitebeard Pirates, enduring mockery and maintaining his facade—all for the Dark-Dark Fruit. What kind of ability did this fruit possess that could motivate such an ambitious man to endure for so many years? Curiosity throughout the watching world had been fully aroused.
After all, in the public's eyes, no Logia Devil Fruit was ordinary. If a Logia user appeared weak, the fault lay with the individual, not the fruit. The solution was simple: practice more, train harder. Don't blame the Devil Fruit for your own inadequacy.
"I won't act rashly this time," Portgas D. Ace declared, his voice carrying an unusual weight of maturity. "I'll cooperate with you to kill Blackbeard. To avenge Thatch properly."
After experiencing the Sky Screen's revelations—watching his own death, seeing the consequences of his recklessness—Ace's carefree and impulsive personality had been significantly restrained. He didn't want to repeat the same mistake again. The Whitebeard Pirates must not fall into danger because of his foolish pride.
At only twenty years old, with so many more people to care about now, Ace didn't want to leave this world prematurely. There was still plenty of wonderful life waiting for him to explore and discover.
He'd already decided: after dealing with Blackbeard Teach, his first priority would be finding Buggy the Clown. He'd ask—or if necessary, beg—Buggy to reveal the whereabouts of his biological sister, Ann. The boy who'd been starved for family affection his entire life desperately wanted to see his sister with his own eyes.
His second priority was staying by Pops' side. The old man had fought battles for most of his life, had bled and suffered for his sons for decades. Ace wanted to ensure Edward Newgate could live comfortably in his remaining years. Even if the old man refused to put down his bisento completely, Ace would work to reduce large-scale Marine confrontations, minimize the frequency of Pops needing to fight at all.
But the major premise underlying both these goals was simple: Fire Fist Ace had to continue growing stronger. Right now, he was at most a mid-to-lower tier Warlord in terms of power. In the future world shown on the Sky Screen, he'd be classified as a third-rate fighter at best—competent but ultimately forgettable.
If he didn't want to become a burden to the Whitebeard Pirates, he needed to constantly surpass himself. Needed to provide a solid foundation of strength for Pops and his brothers to rely on.
Portgas D. Ace believed he could do it.
Sabaody Archipelago - Shakky's Rip-Off Bar
Silvers Rayleigh, victim in every conceivable sense, was sneezing wildly in his usual seat at the bar. He could feel it—many acquaintances were definitely talking about him right now. The sensation was unmistakable.
Bar owner Shakuyaku stopped smoking her cigarette mid-drag, just staring at her man with heavy-hearted concern weighing down her expression.
The handsome old man with gray hair and simple glasses had never imagined this particular sequence of humiliations. First, he'd been accused by the Sky Screen of misleading young people—of teaching Luffy incorrectly, of prioritizing Haki over Devil Fruit development. Then, before he could even process that character assassination, the broadcast had revealed his body would be dismembered, his skull transformed into a trophy for the enemy.
Isn't the Sky Screen just bullying an honest man at this point? Rayleigh thought bitterly, suppressing another sneeze.
He was the Dark King—the right hand of the Pirate King himself, a legend of the previous era. And the Sky Screen had reduced him to a cautionary tale and a drinking cup.
The indignity was almost worse than the implied death.
"Rayleigh..." Shakky began softly, not quite sure what words could provide comfort in this situation.
"I know," he interrupted gently, managing a wan smile despite everything. "The future isn't set in stone. What the Sky Screen shows are possibilities, not certainties." His hand found hers across the bar. "I'll be more careful. I won't let some upstart with delusions of grandeur turn me into furniture."
But even as he spoke the reassuring words, Rayleigh couldn't quite suppress the chill running down his spine.
Five against one.
And Blackbeard Teach had still won.
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