Chapter 364: Blackbeard Reappears, Mysteriously Attacks!
Not long after, a News Coo arrived, delivering the Eternal Pose to the Wallos Islands.
Without hesitation, Ryuunosuke and his crew decided to set sail.
"If we can snatch the Eternal Pose to Raftel," Ryuunosuke said with a grin, "then it's time we take a peek at the final island."
At the same time, a decision stirred deep within him. After this incident, he would begin the search for Pluto.
The Ship of Gods had now fully integrated with the Heart of Eternity. Some mysterious changes had taken place. Ryuunosuke had a hunch—Bullet might be in for a rude awakening.
With no time to waste, the Dragon Hunter Pirates set off.
…
On Jack Island, in the shadows of a cliffside tree, a cloaked figure observed the Dragon Hunter Pirates' departure through binoculars.
"The Dragon Hunters have already left Jack Island," the man muttered into a Den Den Mushi. "Judging by their heading, they're after Raftel's Eternal Pose."
"Do we continue surveillance?" he asked. "Or shall we move to the Wallos Islands?"
A gravelly voice responded from the other end, low and cold. "No need. Stay put on Jack Island. Someone else will handle the rest."
"Understood, sir," the agent replied.
But just as he turned to leave, his breath caught.
"...Huh?"
A sudden chill swept through the air, and before he could react, he collapsed to the ground—a lifeless corpse.
From behind him, a man stepped out of the shadows, flicking a blade clean.
"Hello there. I'm just a humble handyman for the Dragon Hunter Pirates," said Hawkins, adjusting his hat. "The captain sends his regards."
He looked down at the Den Den Mushi still transmitting.
"Though I don't know who you are yet," he said with a calm smile, "I'm sure we'll meet soon. Until then, enjoy what's left of your life. Goodbye."
He ended the call and immediately relayed the situation to Ryuunosuke.
…
Elsewhere, in a darkened chamber on a far-off island, a man lowered the Den Den Mushi with a murderous expression carved into his face.
His underling—killed. His plans—mocked.
The Dragon Hunter Pirates dared to taunt him.
"Ryuunosuke…" the man growled. "One day, I'll crush your entire crew beneath my heel."
"I'll take everything—your power, your name, your legacy. It will all be mine!"
This was none other than Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard—the man once believed to have perished during the chaos in Marijoa at the hands of Merlin's mysterious ability.
Originally, he had planned to plant spies at the base of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. With agents stationed close, he would've known every move Ryuunosuke made.
But even before the operation began, his spy was snuffed out.
"They even caught a scout before deployment… Their observation Haki's gotten that sharp?" he muttered through clenched teeth.
"Captain," said Lafite, stepping forward, "shall we proceed to the Wallos Islands? Will we join the race for the Eternal Pose to Raftel?"
Ever since Teach's solo infiltration of Marijoa—facing down the gods themselves and escaping alive—his crew's loyalty had shifted. What was once a fragile alliance had become true devotion.
None of them had followed that day. Teach had ordered them not to. And he returned alive.
"Let's go," Blackbeard declared with a grin. "The One Piece… If the Eternal Pose leads us there, then I'll seize the truth behind the 'great treasure' myself. Heihahaha!"
Indeed, Blackbeard had received an invitation too. Many believed him dead, so the letter had been sent discreetly—to Laffitte.
But the sea had yet to bury Teach.
…
Three days later, the Ship of Gods arrived at a vast, open sea.
"We've still got over a day's sail to reach the next island," noted Finks, peering into the horizon.
"And that's with Kun at full speed. If we were on any normal ship, it'd take twice as long."
Just then, Finks landed on the deck with a heavy thud. "Captain! There's a ship ahead—and a dangerous aura on board!"
Ryuunosuke cracked his neck. "Haven't had a decent warm-up in a while…"
Ever since the Dragon Hunter Pirates had become a taboo name on the Grand Line, very few dared challenge them outright.
"Captain!" Leona burst from below deck. "Can we fight too?! Please! I'm so bored!"
The long voyage had worn on her. She had been itching for a battle to relive the adventures Akame once described.
But before Ryuunosuke could answer, a pulse of immense force slammed into the ship.
Boom!
He whipped out his weapon and slashed a speeding marble mid-air, shattering it into dust.
The sheer force behind it numbed his arms.
"What insane power…"
Even for someone like Ryuunosuke, that blow wasn't ordinary.
Floating above the enemy ship, several figures hovered without wings, without any mechanical aid—just suspended in midair.
"Flying... without visible Devil Fruit tricks?" Ryuunosuke muttered. "These guys aren't your everyday pirates."
"Everyone, battle positions!" he commanded. "Najenda, take the Night Raid team and bury them."
Spreading his holy wings, Ryuunosuke launched into the sky.
Mine climbed to her sniping post, rifle primed. The Mink Tribe warriors stood to guard her.
Tatsumi released his Teigu and charged, second only to Ryuunosuke.
With a blast of frost, the ocean beneath them began to freeze.
Akame and the others rushed in with lethal precision.
From the enemy ship, the man who had thrown the marble grinned as he twirled another in his hand.
"I'll give you this, Dragon Hunter Pirates… You've got guts."
"But are you ready to die?"
The smug confidence in his voice was palpable.
"Boom!"
Another marble launched, this time strong enough to distort space. Cracks rippled in midair, as though the heavens themselves were splitting.
Ryuunosuke narrowed his eyes.
"Boundary Line!"
His blade descended, swallowing the marble's power in a vortex of attraction before it could reach him.
The sea drank the marble's remains.
"Before we trade blows," Ryuunosuke said coldly, "at least tell us your names."
"You working for the World Government?"
But the energy these enemies gave off felt… wrong.
There was no sense of order, no chain of command—only a raw, unnatural malice.
Even if they hadn't attacked, Ryuunosuke would've wanted to wipe them out.
"World Government?" the leader scoffed. "Those worthless dogs aren't even worth comparing to us."
"You fought Roy last time, didn't you?" he added with a sneer. "We're here on his behalf."
The moment Ryuunosuke heard that name, his grip on the hilt of his sword tightened.
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