Blackbeard knelt among them all.
His knees were already shattered, bone fragments grinding against flesh.
His hands braced against empty space, his nails digging deep into that invisible plane.
He held his head up.
He watched the falling moon.
For the first time, true fear appeared on his face.
That gap-toothed face, always wearing an arrogant grin, was now twisted, his lips pale, the greed in his eyes replaced by another, more primal emotion.
"No..."
"No..."
"I can't die here."
Motherfucker, who the hell opened with their ultimate move without even talking trash or introducing themselves first?!!!
He whipped his head around toward the four-armed figure at the highest point of Guanghan Palace.
His voice changed.
From arrogance to pleading.
From greed to a desperate bid for survival.
"Hey!"
He shouted at Wangchuan.
"You'll die too, won't you?!"
"When that moon hits! You're here too! You can't escape either!"
He panted, speaking extremely fast.
"Your power! Your fruit! Your ambition! Everything you have!"
"It'll all be smashed! It'll all turn to ash!"
He paused, as though gathering his words.
"We... how about we work together?!"
"I'll let you go! I swear! I, Blackbeard, never break my word!"
His voice echoed through empty space.
Wangchuan looked down at him.
His four arms slowly drew back and folded in front of him.
His blood-red eyes watched the man kneeling in empty space, his face covered in blood and his knees completely shattered.
The corner of his mouth curved.
It was an exceedingly slight curve.
It held an indifference that saw through everything, almost merciful.
"Blackbeard."
"You're right."
"When the moon crashes down, everything in this domain will be destroyed."
Blackbeard's eyes brightened for a moment.
"But."
Wangchuan tilted his head slightly.
His long, purple-black hair drifted in the moonlight.
"I am the