The port of Loguetown was packed with people. The noise rose and fell like waves.
That's right. The timeline had reached the moment of Roger's execution.
Rhett — or rather, "Roger" at this moment — stood on the execution platform. "Seastone chains" locked his wrists, but his back was still straight.
He lowered his head slightly. Only the familiar smile on his lips remained.
'Wahahaha, immersive role-playing? This is kind of interesting...' Rhett thought. 'The one standing here right now is me.'
In the distance, on the horizon, a crimson light suddenly appeared.
"Wh-What is that?!" Someone in the crowd shouted.
Rhett looked up. His gaze passed through the sea of people and toward the port.
A massive black ship cut through the waves. The dragon head at the bow had blood-red eyes. Blood-red lightning wrapped around the hull. It was like a beast charging out of hell.
'The Bruma Jackson...' Rhett's lips curled up. 'Even though so many years have passed, I still think I was incredibly handsome. How could anyone have such a cool entrance? Which genius came up with this entrance? It's way too cool!!!!'
......
"The Blood Dawn Pirates have arrived!!!"
Young Rhett stood at the bow. His blood-red cloak billowed in the wind. He raised his hand. The blood mist in his palm condensed into a shining ball of light.
"Dragon God's Wrath, fire!!!"
BOOM—!!!
A crimson beam tore through the air, heading straight for the execution platform. The buildings between the port and the center of Loguetown collapsed instantly under the terrifying shockwave. Dust exploded everywhere. Debris flew in all directions. But the beam of light disappeared just before it reached the platform, leaving only a straight path behind.
It was like a blood-red road leading to a throne.
On the execution platform, Rhett looked through the dust and saw his younger self clearly.
'Tch, from this angle... I really am a natural. How are other people supposed to compete? In a world where most men in One Piece are physically deformed, my existence is just unfair.'
He watched his younger self show off with satisfaction. He was so proud. Look at all the people he had shocked.
Just then, young Rhett looked up at "Roger."
"Roger" smiled at him approvingly.
"Good job. You didn't embarrass me."
......
"Enemy attack?! It's an enemy attack!!!" The Navy soldiers shouted in panic.
Sengoku's face darkened. "That ship... is that..."
Kong immediately gave the order. "Execute him!!! Execute him now!!!"
In the distance, on a rooftop, Buggy almost ran forward. "No! We can't just—"
Shanks grabbed his shoulder. His voice was low. "Buggy. Don't move."
"But—"
"This is the captain's will!"
Buggy froze. His fist slammed into the roof.
'Yes. That's right. That's the feeling. Cry. All of you, cry. Is there anyone who didn't cry watching this execution?'
......
On the execution platform, Rhett waited silently.
'Next... it's time for that question, right? Come on, come on! Shout it out already!!!!'
Sure enough, at the most intense moment, someone in the crowd shouted loudly.
"Hey, Pirate King! Where did you hide your treasure?!"
At that moment, the two executioners were about to lower their spears.
'Don't move. Let me finish showing off first.'
He controlled the mist seeds. The two executioners looked like they were frozen by the Pirate King's presence. Controlling the Admirals was hard. Controlling these low-level soldiers was easy.
Rhett — the "Roger" at this moment — slowly looked up. A wild smile spread across his lips.
"Do you want my treasure?"
The whole crowd fell silent.
"If you want it, go find it! I left everything in the world there!!!"
BOOM!!!
Thunder exploded in the sky. Rain poured down.
Rhett knelt on the execution platform. Rain ran down his face. He looked at his younger self in the distance. He watched the "Blood Dawn" flag flying in the storm. He watched Perona and Moria standing on the deck. He watched the little top hat on Laboon's head...
'This is so... nostalgic. Wait, why am I feeling nostalgic? I'll just go back and eat hot pot with them when this is over. Is this what happens when you get old? You start feeling nostalgic? Wait, I haven't even gotten married yet. Who said that a man past twenty-five is already sixty? Defamation!'
The executioner raised his sword with trembling hands.
Rhett closed his eyes.
'Captain, this time... let me put on this "performance" for you. This is so satisfying.'
The blade fell.
Blood sprayed.
The world stood still at that moment.
......
In the storm, Shanks pulled his straw hat down. Buggy's tears mixed with the rain.
Young Rhett stood at the bow. Blood-red mist surged around him. He stared at the execution platform, his fists clenched until they turned white.
On the execution platform, "Roger's" body slowly fell.
And no one noticed that the corner of the severed head's mouth was curling up.
'Good thing my mist was red. If it were green, I would be ruined. Hey, the Pirate King, the king of the seas, bleeding green blood. That would be ridiculous.'
Rain poured down. The blood on the execution platform was washed away by the rain, flowing through the gaps in the wooden boards.
"Roger's" head rolled to the edge of the platform. Thump, thump, thump.
The blood mist at the wound moved silently, perfectly simulating the changes after death. And Rhett was now lying under the platform, playing the part of a dedicated corpse.
'Tch, playing dead is harder than fighting. My face itches. It's a little far away...'
On the deck of the Phoenix, young Rhett suddenly drew the Black Tide Greatsword. Blood-red lightning wrapped around the blade.
"The Blood Dawn Pirates —" His voice resonated through the mist across the entire island. "Sending off the Pirate King!!!"
Perona's Negative Hollows circled in the air. Moria's zombie army saluted. The whole of Loguetown was covered in blood-red mist, like a strange funeral.
'Yes, yes! That's the spirit!' The old Rhett, playing dead, applauded in his heart. 'Young me really knows how to show off!'
Young Rhett leaped off the bow. The Black Tide Greatsword slammed into the ground. He looked directly at Sengoku, his voice cold.
"Give me back my captain."
Before Sengoku could answer, a Den Den Mushi suddenly rang. The voice of the Five Elders' blond member filled the air.
"Ghost Rhett... are you threatening the World Government?"
"It's not a threat." Young Rhett grinned, showing his white teeth. "It's a deal."
He slowly raised his hand.
"For every Celestial Dragon that steps out of Mary Geoise..." Young Rhett curled his finger. The mist in the image suddenly tightened. "I'll cut off one head."