The Demon King's Gamble
Just as Teach was lost in thought, Bai Yu pointed at the unconscious prisoner from Impel Down.
"He's a Devil Fruit user, but I have no idea what his ability is…"
Blackbeard's expression hardened.
Bai Yu continued casually, "So, let's begin."
He leaned in slightly, his voice turning sharp.
"Show me how to become a dual-fruit user."
"Or die."
Boom!
Sengoku and the others were stunned. Their faces darkened as they turned to Blackbeard.
Could he truly wield two Devil Fruits?
But remembering Bai Yu's overwhelming power, along with the former Pirate Empress controlling ice, Sengoku frowned.
"What did you just say?"
Blackbeard's fury exploded, black smoke rising from his body as his blood-red eyes locked onto Bai Yu.
"Can you read minds? Did you already know my plan? Is that why you played me for a fool three times in a row?"
Bai Yu didn't even look at him.
"Think whatever you want."
The reason Bai Yu was still here boiled down to two things:
1. Sengoku mentioned CP0 was on the way, and Bai Yu was curious to see how they would handle him.
2. He wanted to see if Red-Haired Shanks had enough influence to change the course of events.
As for Blackbeard?
He was nothing more than a tool for passing time.
Of course, there was a third possibility—if CP0 or Shanks arrived at the right moment, Bai Yu might get bored and just let Teach escape.
It all depended on his luck.
"Captain…"
Burgess and the others looked frustrated, hoping Blackbeard would fight back.
They had knelt in humiliation three times already, without even daring to resist. It was unbearable.
"Shut up!"
Teach roared, his rage barely suppressing his fear.
If he could kill Bai Yu, he would have done it already.
But the image of Bai Yu effortlessly crushing a Yonko and kneeling an Admiral in submission played over and over in his mind.
It wasn't enough.
Not even with the Gura Gura no Mi (Quake-Quake Fruit) would it be enough.
Teach needed more power—far more.
Bai Yu's voice was indifferent.
"Die, or gamble."
Blackbeard trembled for a moment. Then, his signature laugh erupted.
"Zehahaha! Since the great Demon King doesn't know what this prisoner's ability is, I'll take the gamble!"
His sinister grin widened.
"People's dreams… will never end! Zehahaha!"
Unwilling to die here, Teach made his decision.
Dark smoke gathered in his hands, swirling ominously.
Even as he calculated Bai Yu's distance, his survival instincts kept him from making any sudden moves.
Instead, he turned his focus to the unconscious Impel Down prisoner.
Bai Yu said he didn't know what power the man had. Teach had no choice but to believe him.
This was his moment.
If fate was kind, he would gain something extraordinary.
If not…
"Well then…"
Teach sneered.
"I'll bet everything!"
Thick darkness engulfed the prisoner, consuming him. A massive black cloth covered both Teach and the victim, hiding them from view.
No one could see what was happening inside.
Sengoku and the others were bewildered.
"Can he actually do it?"
Meanwhile, Bai Yu watched in amusement.
This was why he had asked Teach to demonstrate.
In the Dressrosa arc, during the battle for the Mera Mera no Mi (Flame-Flame Fruit), Burgess had carried a mysterious bag and a dagger, confidently believing he could steal the fruit's power.
Just what was inside that bag?
"Let's find out."
Bai Yu activated his advanced Observation Haki, piercing through the black smoke to observe everything happening inside.
A moment later, he chuckled, shaking his head.
"So that's how it works… Interesting."
Teach had unknowingly secured himself another reason to stay alive.
Before, Bai Yu had kept him alive out of interest and to use him as a distraction for his enemies.
Now, Teach had another purpose—gathering Devil Fruits for Bai Yu.
"Well then, let's see what power you gain."
Bai Yu was genuinely curious.
For now, he didn't want Teach's second fruit to be weak. That would make him a worthless tool.
He needed Blackbeard to be useful.
Suddenly, Bai Yu's attention shifted.
Far in the distance, a shadow appeared on the horizon.
A ship.
Everyone's gaze followed his.
The vessel had a red dragon figurehead, and its pirate flag bore the image of a one-eyed skull with two crossed swords.
"Them, huh?"
On the hovering spaceship, Boa Hancock scoffed.
"They picked the worst possible time to arrive. They're dead now—what a shame."
Kaya blinked in confusion.
"Brother Bai Yu… is he about to destroy another Yonko crew?"
Robin shook her head as she flipped through their information.
"No. Killing them wouldn't benefit us."
The Red Hair Pirates had no significant assets, few territories, and barely any resources.
Their only real value was their connections.
Killing them would bring nothing but a little prestige—a complete waste of time.
"So… why are they doomed?" Conis asked, tilting her head.
Nami pointed toward Sengoku and the remaining Marine officers.
"Because the Marines still have their high-ranking officers here."
She smirked.
"And they're full of pent-up frustration."
Indeed, Shanks had arrived at the worst possible moment.
Had he come earlier—before Bai Yu changed everything—he might have successfully ended the war with words alone.
But now?
Now, the Marines weren't exhausted.
Now, their elites had retreated safely.
Now, their strongest forces were itching for a fight.
And Shanks had just walked into the storm.
From the deck of the Red Force, Shanks' voice rang out.
"Stop! Stop fighting! You don't want to continue this war, do you?"
"Give me a little face, I—uh… wait, what's going on?"
As if he had just woken up, Shanks finally took in the battlefield.
He turned to Benn Beckman, puzzled.
"The war… is over? Then why the hell am I here?"
Beckman frowned, analyzing the situation.
"We were sailing nonstop, so we didn't watch the live broadcast. Looks like it ended early… because of him."
Shanks followed his gaze—straight to Bai Yu.
His expression darkened.
From admiration… to wariness… to complete disapproval.
Bai Yu had grown too strong, too fast.
The world had already shifted because of him.
And most importantly—Nika hadn't awakened yet.
Shanks had no choice but to act.
There could not be another Rocks Pirates.
Yet…
Bai Yu wasn't even looking at him.
Shanks felt a strange sense of embarrassment.
As if he was being ignored.
Bai Yu's attention remained fixed on the black cloth concealing Teach.
As if that was the only thing worth watching.
Shanks' grip on his sword tightened.
"Can… can you tell me…"
Marco finally spoke up, his voice trembling.
"Where's my father?"
Bai Yu's answer was cold.
"The old era? It has completely disappeared from this world."
Marco paled.
"Disappeared… completely? Not even a grave…?"
Tears welled in his eyes.
Silently, he turned and flew away.
Another legend had come to an end.
Watching him go, Sengoku exhaled and turned to Shanks.
"Red-Haired Shanks… why are you here? Do you want to be buried along with Whitebeard?"
The battlefield had changed.
And now?
Shanks was the new target.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Unlock the full story now—click here to download the complete novel in PDF and embark on the adventure today!"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ko-fi.com/abrahamsmith1b