A Tyrant Has No Way Out, King of the World

"Come on up, everyone."

As Roman piloted the Sunny Merry into the air, the two expanded wings were filled with the Charlotte Family executives. Lying on the deck were the seriously wounded, and:

Luffy has fallen into a complete coma.

Luffy's Fifth Gear is indeed earth-shattering; Roman estimates that only his grandfather in his youth could rival him in hand-to-hand combat. However, it only lasts for a mere ten seconds, and the energy expenditure is even more terrifying.

"Tsk, all you do is show off."

Sanji looked at Luffy, who was lying unconscious and limp like a noodle, with displeasure. "With so many of us free to help, are we afraid that Teach can turn the tables?"

"That's not necessarily true. In fact, that Blackbeard guy... never mind,"

Splash splash~~

Sheets of white paper separated from Nami and transformed into Roman, and then:

"The rest is up to you, Nami, Zoro, and Yama—"

Snap,

He caught the unconscious Roman and laid him down next to Luffy. Although Roman appeared unharmed, he had withstood Teach's powerful attack and then single-handedly held off his opponent after Awakening. He was also exhausted and had fallen into a deep sleep, abandoning even his principle of never letting his guard down in front of 'outsiders'.

Of course, this is also because:

"If your Charlotte family wants to make a move, I'll take them on alone."

Facing Zoro, who was holding the Wado Ichimonji, Smoothie, sitting on the gunwale with her long legs dangling outside the ship, shrugged. "I don't want you to fight. A battle you know you're going to lose is pointless."

Meanwhile, Katakuri stood up and then:

As Luffy and Roman were being examined by Chopper, they bent over and lowered their heads.

"The Charlotte family owes your Straw Hat crew a life-saving debt, which we will never forget. We will serve you without hesitation, even at the cost of our lives!"

"Katakuri, this is a debt of gratitude from the entire Charlotte family! How can you be the only one to repay this debt?" As figures of varying heights stood up, they bowed in unison towards the direction of the Straw Hat crew.

"From now on, if the Straw Hat crew ever need us, we will fight to the death!!"

"If it's Luffy,"

Sanji instinctively reached for a cigarette, but glanced at the two people lying behind him and held back.

"They'll probably say something like, 'What does it matter to you if I beat up Blackbeard?'"

"The best way to repay our kindness is to treat our captain to a big meal after he wakes up."

Even the usually serious Katakuri n't help but reveal his fangs and give a fierce smile in response to Zoro's words.

"No problem, we'll definitely throw the best party ever!"

'Teach, Captain...'

"Elder brother!"

The familiar voice in his ear slowly woke Blackbeard up. His bloodshot eyes looked to the side, and Lia's anxious gaze with tears in her eyes gradually brought the burly man lying on the ground back to his senses.

"Am I... not dead...?"

"Captain, you are the man who is going to overturn this world, how can you die so easily?"

Lafitte, whose top hat had vanished, breathed a sigh of relief, while Van Augur, who was on guard on the other side with his beloved gun 'Senriku' in hand and his cloak tattered, also relaxed.

"Lafitte... Van Auger, is it just you guys?"

Still somewhat dazed from the fierce battle, Teach slowly sat up. He rubbed his temples, and his rationality began to return.

The Straw Hat crew, the Charlotte Family, the Navy...

Roman the White Dove whose abilities Awakening, and that Straw Hat Kid—

The thought of Luffy's ten-second invincible ferocity sent shivers down Teach's spine, even though he had just escaped death! However, he wasn't surprised that he was able to escape, because the 'Darkness-Dark Space' created by the Dark-Dark Fruit wasn't just for imprisoning people; it could also be used for long-distance teleportation:

However, the corruption within the Darkness-Dark Space is indiscriminate; anyone who isn't a master of Haki and tries to move using this method is committing suicide. Furthermore:

"Here it is···"

"This is Fruit Wine Island on the outskirts of the Whole Cake Island, a transfer route I prepared in advance."

Lia, with her black curly hair, replied that as one of Teach's more calculating sisters, she had already secretly prepared an escape route. She anticipated defeat before she even won.

"Thanks to Lafitte and Van Auger for moving my brother here, otherwise..."

As a girl who is one with Teach and who controls the strange 'Dark-Dark Fruit ability', she does not have the ability to 'move herself'.

"You did a great job,"

Teach swayed as he stood up and clenched his fist. He felt empty inside, and the physique that had once been cursed by the three of them now made his face darken.

"Brother, don't be sad, Sister Annie's sacrifice was worth it!"

As his younger sister, Lia immediately saw through Teach's thoughts and gently comforted him.

"We are not afraid of death. If we can change this corrupt and twisted world, what does it matter if we die?"

"That's right, zehahahahahaha!!!"

Teach straightened up and laughed as always. Only in this way could he put his only sister at ease, only in this way could he keep his only two subordinates at ease, only in this way could he prevent the tears from falling from the corners of his eyes.

"I am Blackbeard, the man who will become the King of the Pirates and overthrow the Celestial Dragons' eight-hundred-year rule! How could I possibly fall here?"

"What does not destroy me makes me stronger!"

As the black smoke of the Dark-Dark Fruit rose from Teach's body once more, Lafitte and Van Augur nodded in agreement.

This is the captain they are willing to follow!

Ruthless, audacious, and never giving up...

"That's right, as long as the captain's 'Dark-Dark Fruit ability' remains, we can make a comeback. This is fate—"

"That's a real shame,"

!?

"Your fate is to end here."

In an instant, it felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over them in the dead of winter! The remaining Blackbeard Pirates were all drenched in cold sweat! Van Augur, acting as the sniper, whirled around immediately, but:

With his hand empty, pulling the trigger was out of the question.

"Hmm, not bad."

The person behind him was playing with 'Senriku' while muttering to himself:

"In his words, it could barely be considered 'blue equipment'."

!

"Run!"

Van Augur suddenly drew a dagger from his waist and lunged forward, while Lafitte, without hesitation, grabbed Teach and rushed outside! But:

"Are you in such a hurry to die?"

Amidst the calm female voice, a gunshot rang out.

Bang!

The third Blackbeard Pirates fell backward with a bloody hole in his forehead. The scope of his right eye rolled to the side, and he died from his own gunshot.

!!

"Lia, the captain is in your hands now!"

Lafitte abruptly turned, brandishing his cane, and a pair of wings suddenly unfurled behind him! They obscured his captain's figure, like a pheasant trying to protect something. But what about his enemy, Leso, behind him?

"A boring struggle,"

"Ahhh!!!"

The screams behind him made Teach instinctively stop, but the next second he strode forward again!

"Let's go, Captain!"

Even wicked people need a savior—

'Come on, Teach!'

A father's furious roar, mixed with screams of agony, rang out behind him. Charge at Celestial Dragons? Impossible! That fat pig was just venting his anger at failing to hit his prey. In their eyes, nothing but Celestial Dragons was considered human.

Don't look back!

How could I possibly turn back? How could I dare to turn back? Those people held cold swords and blades, those people carried deadly firearms... Power, power, power!!

The wind howled in their ears, and the air was icy cold. Teach ran wildly, leading two small figures, their hands and feet feeling as heavy as lead. Every breath felt like a knife scraping across their mouths, and they desperately forced air, neither hot nor cold, into their lungs.

"Brother, let me go!" came Annie's breathless, broken voice. "I can... stall for time..."

"Shut up, I won't give up on anyone!!"

Teach's mutated roar suddenly rang out as she ran, causing the enemy behind her to glance strangely at the lone figure fleeing in a disheveled state. Then, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, but she still elegantly suppressed the condescending mockery that seemed to be watching the insect's futile struggle.

"Huff, huff, huff~~"

Everything in Teach's vision was shaking, and in a daze, it transformed into another scene:

Puff,

'Live on, brother.'

Pfft,

'I'm so unwilling to accept this, I have to live on...'

"She's here, brother!"

A girl with black curly hair 'split' off from Teach's body.

"I'll hold him off! My brother must live!"

Live on, live on, live on!!!

Teach, running wildly, didn't even notice Lia drifting behind him; all he could hear were those words that sounded like a curse.

' Bryce, I've only ever seen you use living things to create 'toys' before. What would happen if you combined corpses and living people with your devouring ability?'

'Ernst Salvatore Saint, these two little girls have only just died; they can't strictly be considered corpses yet...'

'I don't care! Combine those three right now!'

'What? It's still just one...'

'Throw him away! He's so ugly!'

······

"Ha ha ha! I am Blackbeard! I will live! I will not die here!!"

Closer, closer!

A large, dark ship was moored at the shore. Teach's eyes squinted as the sunlight reflected off the water, just like the smile of the tall man who had once reached out his hand to him.

It was incredibly dazzling, so dazzling that it pierced people's hearts!

"Ha ha ha! Old man! You're too old to protect anyone anymore. The next era will surely belong to me, Blackbeard— "

He jumped onto the deck and stood at the bow, familiar with the place. Looking at the vast blue sea before him, Teach opened his arms and laughed wildly as always.

"Let's go, my men! We'll overthrow the World Government, we'll conquer the entire ocean!!"

But what's going on? It's so quiet behind me.

"Burgess, take the helm!"

However, there was no sound behind him, and the loud laughter of "Wei Ha Ha Ha" did not ring out.

"Lafitte, assemble the warships!"

How could a consultant who used to take elegance and composure as his motto be so rude?

"What are you doing—"

Dissatisfied, Teach was about to turn around when he suddenly noticed a woman standing in front of him.

Wait, something's not right. Why are there women on my ship? They don't look like that slippery girl, Katrin Demi. Could they be hostesses hired by her subordinates?

Hehe~~

Ah, even the 'King of the Pirates' needs to relax, right? At times like this, Annie and Lia need to 'step aside' for a bit. Seriously, come to think of it, they've seen me naked since I was little, what a shame...

Teach reached out, wanting to touch the other woman's face, but the woman opposite him took a step back in disgust.

At the same time, a pair of cold eyes entered Teach's pupils.

Oh, not a hostess...

The next second, a woman in a flowing gown and a pointed crown standing atop the figurehead extended a finger.

Puff,

A sharp pain shot through my chest.

Teach lowered his head, his empty chest revealing the deck behind him: Burgess, Van Augur, Lafitte, Vajirus ... not a single one of them was there! Only the empty ship spoke the truth:

The Blackbeard Pirates no longer exist.

"How dare you! Even on the verge of death, you still dare to attempt to touch me?"

The cold voice in his ear brought Teach back to his senses, but the woman opposite him didn't even look at him, instead focusing on her cracked fingers.

"Is this the limit? Oh well—"

Splash splash~~

As a gentle breeze blew by, the mysterious woman turned into sheets of white paper and scattered, leaving only a pirate with a hole in his chest, waiting to die.

Thump,

His consciousness rapidly faded, Teach collapsed onto the cold deck of the warship, making no sound. In his final moments, he remembered that Charlotte family's brat, Ai, whom he had cleaved in two a few days ago—her howling had been so annoying...

This is the fate of pirates.

The blood, even the blood flowing on the ground, was exactly the same.