The War on Top was truly tragic.
At Marineford, devastation stretched as far as the eye could see. The sky hung gray and heavy, shattered islands littered the waters, the air filled with the screams of wounded soldiers, severed limbs, and rivers of blood-streaked magma.
It resembled the depths of hell itself.
Even though Kaelen Tsukishiro had witnessed life and death countless times, he couldn't help but frown at the carnage.
Around him, the eyes of both pirates and Marines focused on his figure.
"Didn't expect him to be so young. Where did this guy even come from?"
"He fell from such a height and didn't even get a scratch. His strength must be something else."
"He doesn't look like a harmless sort either. Dangerous."
Whispers rippled through the soldiers and pirates alike as they curiously eyed Kaelen. With sharp, dark eyebrows, clear and intense eyes, striking features, a lean frame, and a close-cropped haircut beneath a black combat uniform, he cut an extraordinary figure. A faint scar at the corner of his eye only added to his dangerous charm.
"There's something about him that feels threatening. Seems like quite the character."
"Hahahaha, you think so too, Beckman?"
"This sea really hides some monsters in the shadows."
Kaelen followed the voices to the Red-Haired Pirates. Shanks and Benn Beckman gave him a slight nod, a trace of amusement on their faces.
These guys are way too laid back. If you didn't know better, you'd think they were sightseeing, Kaelen thought wryly, bowing slightly in return.
Ace's body lay nearby, watched over by the Red-Haired Pirates. Kaelen didn't want to stir unnecessary conflict, but across the ruined battlefield, Little Oars Jr.'s body lay exposed and unguarded.
Take care of Ace first, then Little Oars, Kaelen decided, preparing to move.
But before he could, a raucous voice burst out behind him.
"Zehahahaha! That was one hell of an entrance! Hey, how about it — want to join us and conquer this sea together?"
"A new era's begun! The relics of the old age will be swept away by the tides, and we'll be the rulers of this new era."
"Pirates, Marines, it doesn't matter. There can only be one King of the Seas — the Pirate King!"
"Roger opened the Great Pirate Era, but the next age belongs to me — Marshall D. Teach!"
Blackbeard's voice roared across Marineford, arrogant and unashamed as he bared his ambition for all to hear.
With the combined might of the Dark-Dark Fruit and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Blackbeard now wielded terrifying power and confidence.
"Blackbeard, you treacherous bastard…"
"He stole Pops' ability. That bastard's not getting away with this," the Whitebeard Pirates growled through gritted teeth, their hatred boiling over.
"Tch, that bastard Teach's become a force of nature. I doubt even the Marines can rein him in now," Marco muttered, his eyes cold and brimming with murderous intent. He'd lost too much today.
"Blackbeard…"
On the Marine side, Sengoku's expression darkened as he scanned the battlefield. His gaze lingered briefly on the Red-Haired Pirates before settling on Kaelen Tsukishiro.
He had no idea what this mysterious man's intentions toward the Marines might be.
Would he reignite this battle's dying flames?
It wasn't just Sengoku watching. Garp, Shanks, Marco, and countless spectators around the world, glued to their live broadcasts, waited for Kaelen's next move.
Under the weight of their gazes, Kaelen slowly turned.
"What a speech. Bold, arrogant — overflowing with ambition." Meeting Blackbeard's eyes, Kaelen smirked. "Unfortunately, you're too ugly. Doesn't really fit my aesthetic, so… no, I'll pass."
The moment those words fell, the battlefield fell silent.
Too ugly?
An absurd, almost comical reason.
Blackbeard's grin stiffened before he burst into raucous laughter, as though Kaelen's rejection were the best joke he'd heard all day. His crew followed suit.
"Ahaha, Blackbeard, you got turned down because you're ugly. That's a new one."
"Guess you're not captain material after all."
"Now that's funny!"
"Zehahahaha, what an interesting guy. Hope you don't die too soon — this sea could use a few more like you."
Blackbeard proved his resilience. Where a lesser man would have raged, he shrugged it off with a laugh.
Kaelen's lips curled into a faint grin. Truth be told, there was something about Blackbeard he grudgingly admired — cunning, ruthless, endlessly ambitious, able to endure and bide his time.
A born predator.
But that was precisely why Kaelen would never ally with him. His personality alone made it impossible, and the fact that he'd stolen Whitebeard's power was the final nail.
If the chance came to kill him, Kaelen wouldn't hesitate.
"How confident you are…"
Blackbeard's grin faded as a flicker of wariness entered his gaze. He could feel Kaelen's unshakable confidence and chose not to act impulsively. Especially not with the Marines, Red-Haired Pirates, and world's eyes all watching.
"Zehahahaha. So you're not the type to bow your head. Fine — someday, we'll meet again on these seas."
Blackbeard had the uneasy sense that their next encounter wouldn't end so peacefully.
"I'm sure of it," Kaelen replied meaningfully, locking eyes with him one last time.
Then, without another word, he turned and strode toward Shanks.
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