"Predicting the future, huh...?" Shanks brought a hand to his chin, thoughtful, as his eyes gazed at the endless horizon of the sea.
The idea seemed absurd, almost laughable, but... considering Luffy's unpredictable personality, it wasn't entirely impossible. Even so… "Luffy... a Shichibukai? Hah!" The redhead let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "I never imagined that stubborn kid would agree to work with the World Government..."
But Shanks quickly brushed the thought aside with a serene and confident smile. "Well... that doesn't matter now." His eyes shone with determination. "We'll meet soon… and then I'll ask him myself."
He then turned to his crew gathered on the ship's deck. The wind blew fiercely, violently inflating the crimson sails.
"For now, we have a more urgent matter." The Yonko's expression turned serious, his voice heavy with authority. "It's time to deal with Kaido! Prepare for battle!" He raised his arm in a commanding gesture.
"OOOOOH!" All the crew members responded with shouts of enthusiasm and determination.
"As soon as we bring Kaido down," Shanks added with a confident smile, "we'll go after Luffy!"
The crew roared once again as the red ship cut through the waves, heading toward the inevitable confrontation.
---
Whole Cake Island.
The sweet aroma of confections and cakes spread across the island, but inside the imposing sugar castle, the atmosphere was dense, heavy.
"Mamamamama...!" The shrill and unmistakable laughter of Charlotte Linlin echoed through the walls as she read the information just brought by her subordinates.
"Whitebeard... has disappeared?" She raised an eyebrow, a sadistic gleam in her eyes. "Kaido is going on an expedition to take over the territories that were his... and that red-haired brat, Shanks, dared to intercept him?"
Big Mom tilted her head back and let out a laugh that made the ground shake. "Mamamama! It's been so long… so long since something this fun happened at sea!"
Katakuri, standing still beside his mother, watched in silence, like an unshakable sentinel.
"Mother… should we get involved too?" he asked, his voice calm but full of intent.
Big Mom smirked, revealing her sharp teeth as her eyes narrowed.
"Yes..." She licked her lips slowly, as if savoring the idea before acting. "Katakuri, gather your men and get ready. I want you to take Fish-Man Island!"
"Understood." Katakuri replied without hesitation.
Big Mom then leaned slightly forward, resting her powerful, plump hands on the confectionery throne, her eyes sparkling with ambition.
"Whitebeard... is finished." She exhaled heavily, triumphantly. "Fish-Man Island, which he protected so zealously... will soon be defenseless." She then let out a cold laugh. "Mamamama... that place is the gateway to the New World! Perfect for my collection of territories!"
With a voracious look, she concluded: "Power... never disappears. It just changes hands."
Katakuri nodded, already turning on his heels to carry out the order.
---
Impel Down.
Level 1 — Crimson Hell.
The suffocating heat made the air vibrate as torches cast dancing shadows on the stone walls.
In a hidden cell, inaccessible to any ordinary prisoner, an improbable feast had been served. Several jailers, with vacant expressions, pushed in a tray loaded with roasted meat, fresh bread, and wine.
Sitting carelessly, as if at a gala dinner rather than in one of the most feared prisons in the world, were Blackbeard and three of his most loyal subordinates.
"Zehahahaha..." The guttural and unmistakable laugh of Marshall D. Teach echoed through the cell as he tore a generous piece of meat with his teeth.
Buggy, beside him, watched the scene with wide eyes, his mouth twisted in indignation and disbelief.
"This is ridiculous…!" he muttered, crossing his arms. "How can you eat like this... as if you were in some damn restaurant?!"
Laffitte, dressed in prisoner clothes that barely hid his natural elegance, let out a chuckle and approached, tilting his head slightly toward the captain of the Buggy Pirates.
"Just a little hypnosis technique… enough to make any guard believe we're untouchable… isn't that right, Tontatta?" he teased with a treacherous smile.
Buggy widened his eyes. "What kind of hypnosis is that, damn it?!"
Reluctantly, he grabbed a piece of bread and took a bite, casting wary glances around.
"Blackbeard… how much longer are we going to stay here?!" he barked, nearly spitting out the bread. "I don't want to spend another second in this damn place! When, exactly, does the escape plan start?!"
Blackbeard wiped his mouth with his ragged sleeve and, with that sinister smile that seemed to tear his face apart, replied: "Zehahaha… Buggy, you're also a Devil Fruit user now… And those damn marines haven't even noticed..." He lifted the chain that once bound him and let it fall with a metallic thud to the floor. "The shackles they put on you are ordinary… no Kairoseki… Even without my help, you could escape."
"You too!" Buggy shouted, pointing his finger indignantly.
His eyes, however, were sharp. He knew very well: Blackbeard was also a Devil Fruit user, and his power of darkness was absurdly destructive. Teach's palm still exuded remnants of the darkness that had moments earlier disintegrated his chains.
He then recalled: when Blackbeard proposed an alliance, Buggy agreed without hesitation. Not that he had to… he already had his own escape plans well laid out. But with Blackbeard by his side, their chances of success were infinitely higher.
The problem was… it had been days. Days without any concrete action. And it was starting to drive him completely mad.
"Don't worry..." Blackbeard replied, chewing another piece of meat without the slightest hint of hurry. "You saw it, didn't you? Ace, the Fire Fist... was captured."
Buggy grimaced.
"The marines will execute him publicly… as a spectacle for the world." Teach raised his gaze, his dark eyes filled with hidden intentions. "Now… there are ten warships anchored outside the prison. They think they're safe… but in reality, it's the perfect opportunity for us."
Regarding Ace's capture by the marines, Blackbeard showed no surprise whatsoever. On the contrary, he even seemed satisfied. After all, some time ago, he himself used to call Ace "captain". And now… the irony of fate, Ace had come after him, determined to kill him, but ended up captured and shackled by the marines.
"Zehahaha… Whitebeard certainly won't let this slide!" Blackbeard raised his cheap rum cup, drinking long before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes gleamed with excitement. "War is about to break out… and it's in that chaos that our great opportunity will arise!"
Buggy, sitting in a corner, widened his eyes. He didn't know if Blackbeard was a lunatic or a genius.
Blackbeard continued, with a maniacal grin:
"When the time comes, we'll split up. You, Buggy, cause a huge commotion on the prison's first floor… something really explosive! Meanwhile, we'll head down… straight to Level Six!"
"Huh?!" Buggy leaned forward, surprised and suspicious. "What the hell are you planning to do on Level Six? Those prisoners… they're monsters!"
"Exactly." Blackbeard narrowed his eyes as if he could see the future clearly.
"Monsters the world fears and wants to forget. We're going to free them… and then, I'll handpick some to join our crew."
He slammed his clenched fist on the metal table, thrilled by his own plan.
"That… is the real objective."
For a moment, a memory crossed his mind: the unexpected clash with Aokiji at sea.
Faced with the Admiral's power, Blackbeard knew instantly he couldn't win. It was impossible to defeat him in that environment, where frozen water turned into deadly traps with every move.
Without resistance, he was captured. Defeated… but not broken.
And there he was now: imprisoned, but smiling as if he were free.
"Sometimes… you just can't help but marvel at the whims of fate!" He let out a guttural laugh. "Meeting you here, Buggy… Zehahaha… it must be fate!"
---
Subterranean Level Six — Eternal Hell
In a damp and dark cell, Ace and Jinbei were chained side by side.
"Ace..." Jinbei strained against the chains, his arm muscles tensed to the limit.
"No matter what happens… I'll find a way to save you!"
Ace slowly raised his head, his expression marked by pain but also by a cold resignation.
"Don't bother, Jinbei..." his voice was hoarse, weak, like the whisper of a flame about to go out. "I still remember very well… when you almost killed me."
Jinbei fell silent, gritting his teeth. There was no denying it.
Ace, hanging by his hands, had his body covered in wounds. The marks of battle, resistance, and torture were everywhere.
Jinbei, despite his monumental strength, still couldn't break the Kairoseki chains that drained his energy.
"Fish-Man Island..." Jinbei muttered, looking at the floor as if speaking to himself. "It's also under Whitebeard's protection… Just like dozens of other islands in the New World. If the marines really start a war against Whitebeard… and if that man dies..."
He raised his head and looked Ace in the eyes with an almost desperate intensity:
"...the entire world will plunge into absolute chaos!"
Ace closed his eyes, silent.
Jinbei clenched his fists:
"Ace, I have to stop this! I can't let this balance be broken!"
Jinbei's words pierced Ace's heart like spears.
He vividly remembered meeting Luffy in Alabasta…
Luffy had told him not to go, that he wouldn't be able to defeat Blackbeard.
But he didn't listen. Stubbornly, he sought information about Blackbeard's whereabouts, trusting an information broker… who betrayed him.
And then… he was hunted.
Aokiji appeared. A Marine Admiral, a true monster.
Against him… Ace didn't stand a chance.
The chain of mistakes, impulsive decisions, and betrayals led him there: a cold cell in hell, chained, wounded… and on the brink of execution.
(It was all my fault.) he thought, clenching his teeth tightly.
Ace could accept the price for his choices… but he couldn't accept the burden it would place on the entire Whitebeard crew.
Suddenly, a low, ironic laugh echoed from the cell across.
"Hahahaha… You really want me to help you?"
Jinbei turned sharply, his gaze full of disdain.
"How could a prisoner… like you… help us?"
A shadow shifted in the darkness, slowly moving into the light filtering through the bars.
"Jinbei..." the cutting, arrogant voice rang out.
"Unlike you… an idiot bound to a code of honor… If I wanted to leave this place… I would've done it already."
The figure was none other than the former Shichibukai… Crocodile.
---
(End of chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."