The afternoon sun had warmed the seawater. Gentle waves surged and shimmered with fragments of glittering gold as several white seabirds took flight in alarm. A massive log warship shaped like a raft slowly pushed through the waves.
From over a thousand meters away, smoke rising from fires could already be faintly seen across Hachinosu Island. Buildings in several areas had been shattered, leaving the place like a field of ruins.
"They turned my Hachinosu Island into this hellish state. Damn Straw Hat Crew!"
Teach stood alone at the bow, clenching his fists tightly. Seeing the devastation on the island, he gritted his teeth in hatred.
Creak~
The door to the cabin behind him opened, and a tall, lean figure walked out. Beneath a dark blue short cap was a head of black curly hair. Aokiji came to Teach's side and raised two fingers to adjust his sunglasses.
"What are you planning to do later? If we start fighting, we probably won't have much of an advantage."
"Hmph. That depends on whether they'll leave like this."
Teach turned to Aokiji and broke into a sinister grin, probing him as he spoke.
"At this point, you're not having regrets, are you, Kuzan?"
"Well~, since I got on the ship, I can only see it through to the end. At the very least, I won't go against a decision I made myself."
Aokiji held his head, speaking in a lazy tone.
He had left the Marines to find his own path and view this Great Pirate Era from another perspective.
When Blackbeard had invited him back then, he had not refused. He would not go back on his word now either.
The black sail bearing three skulls billowed full in the wind as the log warship continued toward Hachinosu Island.
"Luffy! They're