NOVEL NEXT Chapter 008: Blackbeard’s Ambition
Impel Down – Level One.
After Blackbeard and his crew broke in, the guards suffered devastating losses.
"The Warlord Blackbeard has betrayed the Marines—send for reinforcements!!"
"Zehahahaha!!"
Blackbeard laughed wildly as he ignored the guards' desperate counterattacks, striding toward the stairs to the lower levels.
His crew followed behind, ruthlessly cutting down anyone in their path.
It wasn't a battle.
It was a slaughter.
"Such an arrogant bastard…"
Suddenly, a cold, low voice echoed through the corridor.
The guards froze as if they'd seen a ghost.
Cold sweat poured down their faces.
"W-Warden Shiryu?!
When did you get out?!"
Shiryu of the Rain stepped from the shadows, calmly smoking a cigar.
He walked straight toward Blackbeard's crew, his killing intent heavy and suffocating.
"Five of you, huh?"
Blackbeard eyed him with a wide grin.
"Who's that guy?"
"He looks tough…"
"Is that Magellan?"
"So, you're Marshall D. Teach… Blackbeard?"
Shiryu's voice was like a knife's edge.
"Zehahaha! That's right! And who the hell are you?" Blackbeard grinned.
"Heh…"
Without warning, Shiryu drew his sword and unleashed a powerful slash.
"Zehahaha, feisty, aren't you?"
Blackbeard immediately activated his Dark-Dark Fruit powers, absorbing the slash with a swirling mass of darkness.
His face twisted slightly in pain.
"Tch… Still hurts though."
"A Devil Fruit user?"
Shiryu raised an eyebrow at the black mist that swallowed his strike.
"Zehahaha… A strong swordsman, eh?"
"Say… Why not join my crew?"
Blackbeard made the offer with his usual manic grin.
---
"WHAT?!"
The remaining guards were stunned.
This lunatic just invited Shiryu to join him?!
Shiryu didn't laugh.
Didn't mock.
He just stared.
"A pirate crew, huh?"
> "Could be fun... But first—let me see if you're worthy."
He didn't care who he followed, so long as it let him kill freely.
But before he pledged loyalty, he needed to test Blackbeard's strength.
He grinned.
And tightened his grip on his sword, Raigou (Thunderstorm).
"One-Sword Style – Charging Tiger!"
With a powerful swing, a blood-red crescent slash tore across the ground, rushing toward Blackbeard like a descending beast.
"Zehahaha! Now that's what I like to see!"
A torrent of black mist erupted from Blackbeard's palm, his right arm engulfed in swirling darkness.
With a wicked grin, he roared:
"Dark Vortex!!"
BOOM!!
The red slash collided with the darkness in an explosion of force.
The entire corridor shook violently.
---
"AAAHHH!!"
"Run!!"
Panicked guards fled in every direction, trying to escape the storm of power.
The stone floors and walls began to crack and collapse from the sheer pressure.
"Zehahaha!"
Blackbeard grinned wildly, though his arm trembled with pain.
He poured more darkness from his body, consuming the red energy like acid melting steel.
"AAAGH— Damn! That hurts!!"
Even through the agony, he refused to back down.
With a roar, he charged forward, slamming his giant fist into Shiryu's blade.
"Zehahaha… Not bad, huh?!"
Shiryu held his ground, his sword vibrating under the impact.
He clenched his teeth around his cigar.
Then leapt back, eyes gleaming with killing intent.
"If you can withstand this one… I'll consider you captain-worthy."
He raised his sword.
A crimson aura wrapped around him — heavy, tangible, and filled with the stench of blood.
Blackbeard didn't move.
He watched in silence, evaluating.
If he wanted Shiryu as an ally, he needed to earn it.
So, for once, he stood his ground.
The red aura thickened.
The air crackled like bubbles popping.
A low growl resonated through the corridor.
Shiryu grinned.
"Take this—
Asura Hell Slash!" (OC)
WOOOOOOOSH!!
A flood of blood-colored energy surged from his blade, crashing down on Blackbeard and his crew like a tidal wave.
---
"Cough! That's it for my old bones!"
Doc Q, still slumped over his horse, cried out in horror.
The rest of the crew were silent — eyes wide in disbelief.
They'd never seen a slash like that.
---
Blackbeard's smile vanished.
His eyes narrowed, and he instantly pushed his powers to the limit.
"Dark Dimension!!"
A massive wall of black fog erupted in front of them, forming a towering shield.
Hisssss…!!
Crackling…!!
The red slash slammed into the dark wall.
Instead of an explosion, a sizzling, corrosive sound echoed as blood-red energy was consumed.
"Zehahahaha!
Let's see how you handle this!"
Blackbeard threw his arms wide, pushing his darkness to the extreme.
He wanted to crush Shiryu with overwhelming force — to break his spirit, and gain his loyalty.
---
"Ace…"
"Ace…"
Suddenly, from deep within Level Six, a familiar voice rang out.
So full of energy…
Are all Rubber Fruit users this wild?
Ghidorah, on the brink of breaking free, couldn't help but smirk.
He expanded his awareness.
Just like in the original timeline, Luffy had arrived at Level Six — and now stood before his old enemy, Crocodile, who demanded to be freed.
Nearby, Jinbei's voice echoed from his cell.
"Please, take me with you. I can help.
I've known Ace ever since he joined the Whitebeard Pirates.
He often spoke of his brother…"
Hearing this, Luffy instinctively ran toward the cell nearest Ghidorah's.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped.
His eyes bulged.
His tongue lolled out.
> "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!
WHAT IS THAT?!"
"You talking to me?"
Ghidorah, whose icy prison was now covered in melting water, groaned at the reaction.
---
"Over here, Straw Hat!"
Jinbei called out, exasperated.
"AAAAHHHHH!"
"Wha—?!"
Ivankov and the other escapees turned the corner…
…only to be met with the frozen, monstrous visage of Ghidorah's three heads.
Everyone's face went pale.
---
"W-What the hell is that thing?! A Sea King?!"
"Why does it feel so horrifying?!"
They all backed away, voices filled with shock.
Ghidorah was unfazed.
He'd seen that look countless times over the centuries.
---
"Straw Hat…
How about letting me out?"
He didn't need Luffy's help — his seal would break soon regardless.
But having the Straw Hat's cooperation might spare him a messy awakening.
"EH?!?!"
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