Shiryu's Sneak Attack and Death

At the center of the giant obsidian crater, Rain braced himself on a sharp blade forged from rock and slowly straightened up from the ground. The crystallized skin covering his body flickered with a cold gleam as he breathed. Though his Haki stirred faintly, that steady, mountain-like bearing remained completely undiminished.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Across the battlefield, from the pirate-filled open spaces that had been cleared by the Earth Core Hell Grand Funeral, dense, endless waves of Blackbeard's subordinate pirates emerged once more from underground and deep within the ruins of the buildings, accompanied by piercing, frenzied shrieks.

Watching those endless pirates surge forward again like a maddened tide of ants and hearing the faint whistles of Blackbeard's grand fleet from the distant sea, the rational crimson glow in Rain's dark gray eyes completely overwhelmed his bloodthirsty urge.

He knew very well that without Kuma's timely intervention to upset the balance, if they continued fighting one-on-one, his current overall combat strength would indeed fall just short against Blackbeard, who possessed the perfect combination of two Devil Fruits. If he truly fought Blackbeard to mutual destruction here, it would serve no purpose beyond allowing the Five Elders in the Holy Land, Red-Haired watching from the outer seas, or Cross Guild to reap the rewards.

Stopping now was the most rational choice.

"Teach, I'll let you keep that worthless life of yours on your neck for now."

A cruel, mocking smirk curled across Rain's lips as he waved his hand, making the stone blade vanish.

"Today, I can come and go from Hachinosu whenever I please. As for this pile of trash under your command whose bones I broke... if you're unhappy about it, come find me whenever you want to die. But next time, it won't end so easily."

Hearing Rain's