Chapter 44: Darkness
The war halted as the square split open. The Whitebeard Pirates blocked most of the Marines, but Aokiji and Kizaru remained on the outer edge of the port, cutting off the pirates' escape route.
Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the other commanders had gathered together, forming a protective circle around Amu, who carried Ace on his shoulder. Jinbe and Monkey D. Luffy lay severely injured and unconscious.
Before the deep chasm, Su Xiao lit a cigarette and gazed across at Whitebeard on the other side. The war had reached its final stage. Given Whitebeard's current condition, being surrounded and killed by the Marines was only a matter of time, especially with Sengoku nearby.
"It should be soon. With such a good opportunity, those people won't miss it."
Su Xiao looked toward the distant Marine Headquarters. With the war having escalated to this point, a certain someone was bound to show up soon. If Whitebeard died at the hands of the Marines, it would be difficult for that person to obtain Whitebeard's corpse. Moreover, two Fifth Rank contractors lurked within the Marines—Apus and that unnaturally muscular man. Both had the strength to compete for the rewards of killing Whitebeard.
If Su Xiao killed Whitebeard, he would obtain a growth-type equipment chest. As for those two on the Marine side, their rewards would only be higher.
"Zehahaha."
A distinctive laugh rang out. Hearing it, Whitebeard's veins bulged on his arms.
"Long time no see. It's great to see you before you die, old man."
A man in a black coat with sparse chest hair stood at the base of the execution platform. Flanking him were eight vicious-looking criminals.
"Teach."
Whitebeard's expression darkened. Even when Sengoku had schemed against him earlier, he hadn't shown such a look.
"Zehahahaha..."
Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, crossed his arms and laughed down at Whitebeard from his high vantage point. He had hidden for decades, all for this moment.
On the other side of the chasm, Su Xiao breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Blackbeard appear. He even took out another cigarette and lit it.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang's bark came from beside Su Xiao's leg. Su Xiao first smelled burnt fur, then turned to see Bubu Wang, its entire body charred black.
"Akainu almost roasted you. We'll need to trim your fur when we get back."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Bubu Wang rolled around on the ground, clearly conveying: "This dog can't take this injustice."
After a few rolls, Bubu Wang looked at Blackbeard again.
"Woof~"
Bubu Wang's meaning was: "This guy is way too smug."
"Of course he's smug. After scheming for so long, he's finally caught Whitebeard at his weakest."
As Su Xiao spoke, he walked toward the outer edge of the port. This place wasn't safe.
Among the many Marines across the chasm, a pair of eyes kept watching Su Xiao. The owner glanced at Whitebeard, seeming somewhat reluctant, but still stepped out of the crowd and leaped to the other side of the chasm.
"How should I address you, friend?"
Apus, his arms semi-transparent and his green hair short, spoke. His aura was twisted and eerie.
Su Xiao paused mid-step, one hand resting on the hilt of his blade at his waist.
"We're both here to reap benefits from the Paramount War. Even if our factions are opposed, there's no need to fight to the death."
Apus grinned, his pale face devoid of any color.
"Kukulin Bai Ye."
Su Xiao wasn't inclined to fight this green-haired contractor either. The gains wouldn't match the cost.
"You can call me Apus. I have something I'd like to ask you."
"..."
Su Xiao didn't respond, simply readying himself for battle.
"You were a researcher for the World Government before, right? An expert in making explosives."
"Who knows."
"Are you... planning to leave now?"
Apus stared intently at Su Xiao, his eyes not only filled with ruthlessness and distortion but also with cunning.
"You talk too much."
Su Xiao drew Dragon-Slaying Flash. Beside him, Bubu Wang bared its fangs, ready to blend into the environment at any moment. This wasn't cowardice but preparation to assist Su Xiao in combat.
"Talk too much? Hmm, I suppose so. But before I entered Paradise, I was a fantasist. As a fantasist, I had nothing to do every day except engage in verbal debates with other fantasists. They always refuted me, but in that process, I learned a lot."
Apus glanced at the towering Marine Headquarters, then turned and walked toward the other side of the port.
"Woof?"
Bubu Wang looked at Su Xiao in confusion, meaning: "Master, what's a fantasist? Sounds pretty impressive."
"A mentally ill person."
"Woof~."
Bubu Wang's dog face looked awkward. It had a new definition for "fantasist."
On the other side of the battlefield, Blackbeard stood high, surveying the entire battlefield, looking down at Sengoku and Whitebeard.
"Shiryu, how did you escape Impel Down? What happened to Magellan..."
Sengoku could no longer contain his fury when he saw the people behind Blackbeard. These were all heinous criminals locked away on the sixth level of Impel Down.
"Magellan?"
Rain Shiryu, chewing on a cigar, let out a low laugh.
"Though I'm not obligated to answer your question, I'm in a good mood today, having regained my freedom. Magellan... was eaten."
As Rain Shiryu said this, a hint of lingering fear flashed in his eyes.
"Eaten?"
Sengoku clearly didn't understand what Rain Shiryu meant.
"That's right. Eaten. Someone used poison to devour him, leaving not even a trace."
"I originally wanted to recruit that guy, but he directly refused me. Quite embarrassing."
Blackbeard seemed to be mocking himself, or perhaps mocking Sengoku.
"Old man, you're already old. So old that the Marines dare to publicly execute Ace. I used to admire you, but... now you're no longer worth admiring. Zehahaha..."
Blackbeard's laughter echoed across most of the square. Sengoku didn't order an attack on Whitebeard, as he couldn't yet determine Blackbeard's intentions. If Blackbeard's group now blocked the Marines from behind, their situation would become dangerous.
"Old man, did you know? I once..."
Before Blackbeard could finish, Whitebeard threw a straight punch. The Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power formed a massive white sphere, hurtling toward the base of the execution platform.
The Blackbeard Pirates immediately leaped aside, and a large amount of rubble fell, burying Blackbeard alone beneath it.
Bang!
A stone slab was pushed aside. Blackbeard brushed the dust off his pirate hat, still smiling.
"Really no mercy. But that's fine, old man. Let me show you the strongest Devil Fruit ability. This is what I got after killing Thatch."
Black smoke emanated from Blackbeard's body. He placed one hand on the ground.
"Darkness Vortex!"
Darkness spread from Blackbeard as the center point, extending all the way to Whitebeard's feet.
"Captain Teach, I've been waiting for you."
A man of inhuman muscularity walked over.
"Good work. Thanks to the information you provided earlier."
Seeing this muscular man, Blackbeard's smile grew even more triumphant. This was the spy he had planted within the Marines.
"It was nothing, Captain. Don't be fooled by Whitebeard's injuries. He's still very strong."
"You're really talkative, but thanks for the reminder, Taylor."
Blackbeard seemed quite familiar with this contractor named Taylor. He valued Taylor almost as much as Rain Shiryu, Champion Burgess, and the others.
Blackbeard charged toward Whitebeard. Perhaps due to Taylor's warning, all members of the Blackbeard Pirates also rushed at Whitebeard, except for the overly massive Sanjuan Wolf.
The ten members of the Blackbeard Pirates quickly surrounded Whitebeard. If Whitebeard had been at his peak, he might have barely managed, but he had already faced the three Marine Admirals alone, then been besieged by Aokiji, Kizaru, and two Fifth Rank contractors. On top of that, he had been surrounded and attacked by a large group of Marines for nearly half an hour. Now, with the Blackbeard Pirates surrounding him, the fact that he hadn't fallen yet was enough to call him the strongest pirate.