"Is it over?" Doc Q croaked, his voice rasping as he leaned against his sickly horse.
Van Auger, the sniper, adjusted his rifle on his shoulder and replied calmly, "Yeah… it's over."
He tilted his head toward the battlefield, his sharp eyes glinting.
"I've got a feeling, though… Captain's plan is about to begin at any moment."
The battlefield was in ruins. Smoke curled from shattered rocks, flames crackled across debris, and in the middle of it all, Ace lay motionless, his body battered and bloodied. Standing over him were two silhouettes Blackbeard and Ryuk.
"Is he unconscious?" Teach asked, his grin half-curious, half-mocking.
"Indeed, Captain," Ryuk answered, his crimson gaze fixed on Ace. His tone was calm, almost bored. "He's no longer conscious. We should deal with him before he wakes up and creates more hassle for us."
"Zeha ha ha ha ha!" Blackbeard's laugh boomed across the battlefield. "Finally! We can start our plan. Capturing Fire Fist Ace was the first step… and now it's done! The rest will follow! Zeha ha ha ha!"
He turned to Ryuk, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Ryuk's lips curved faintly. "Captain, Ace is more valuable than you think. More valuable than Whitebeard's entire crew. You'll see soon enough when the Marines themselves reveal it. For now… trust me. And Without Fire Fist Ace, we would've had to take a long, twisted path to reach our goal. But with him? We can achieve it in a single leap… and no one will even see it coming. Now, shall we go, Captain?"
"Zeha ha ha ha! Well said, mate!" Blackbeard bellowed, spreading his arms wide. He turned to his men. "Let's go, boys! It's time for us to turn the world upside down!"
He bent down, grabbed Ace's limp body by the collar, and hoisted him up like a trophy. Without care, he hurled him toward Burgess.
"Oi, Burgess! Make sure nothing happens to him! Zeha ha ha ha! We can't afford a single scratch on this prize!"
"Don't worry, Captain!" Burgess barked, catching Ace with one massive arm. He slung him over his shoulder like a sack of grain. "I'll guard him with my life!"
"Good! That's what I want to hear!" Teach roared with laughter.
The crew began to move, their boots crunching over broken stone as they strolled toward their next destination. Each step echoed with a sense of looming disaster, though none outside their group could yet imagine the catastrophe they were about to unleash.
As the laughter of Blackbeard's men filled the air, Ryuk followed quietly behind. His bored, indifferent face… now carried the faintest trace of a smile.
Finally… this is going to be fun. If nothing unexpected happens, that is, he thought.
---
Ryuk's gaze dropped for a moment, his thoughts drifting inward.
I am Ryuk. My first name was Damian… but I abandoned that name long ago. What do I mean by 'first'? Simple because I'm not a native of this world.
I transmigrated into One Piece, reborn as a nameless nobody. At first, I was happy. For the first time in my life, I was truly happy. Not because I was ignorant of what this world is. No… I knew exactly how brutal it was. The pirate world is hell. Every single day is hell.
Justice? Real justice doesn't exist here. The Marines give everything they have… but only for the sake of the World Government. And pirates? They're nothing but beasts killing, looting, burning, hunting, committing genocide, forcing, enslaving, destroying… wickedness without end.
Ryuk's eyes darkened slightly as his lips curled into a faint grin.
But even knowing that, I was still happy. My first life was hell literal hell. When I died, I smiled unknowingly, thinking I had finally escaped it. Who knew that death would only send me… into another hell?
He tilted his head, brushing stray hair from his face.
At first, I worried about survival in this brutal sea. But then… I got my cheat. Meguna. That's right Sukuna and Megumi's combined powers. Along with decent talent. That was it. No system, no sky-breaking genius template, no instant godhood. Just power that required me to bleed for it.
So I trained. Every day. Relentlessly. So I could carve out the life I desired in this world.
His gaze flicked toward Blackbeard walking ahead, his massive form commanding the battlefield.
I knew I had to join one of the main factions if I wanted even a chance to survive. Straw Hats? Out of the question. Too childish. Too innocent. Marines? The World Government's lap dogs. Not for me. Especially not with that hidden figure behind the curtain… better to avoid until I'm strong enough to rival it.
Shanks? Too little information. That man is a mystery, a former Celestial Dragon turned Yonko, tied too closely to Luffy. Too risky.
In the end, I chose Blackbeard. At least with him, I knew one thing: he doesn't care about loyalty. As long as his crew grows strong, he'll accept anyone. That means… I don't need to pretend. That's why I'm here. That's why I decided.
Why not form my own crew? Too much work. Too much spotlight. I don't need to be the center of attention. Blackbeard is my shield… and I won't throw that shield away.
His crimson eyes flickered with amusement.
Besides… the plan is about to begin.
Ryuk smirked faintly. Well then… let's see where this goes.
.....
The vast sea of the Grand Line stretched endlessly, the waves crashing with a rhythm that carried whispers of war. A medium-sized ship cut across its surfacenot grand, but sturdy enough to endure the treacherous waters. The vessel wasn't theirs originally; like many things the Blackbeard Pirates possessed, it was stolen. A pirate crew had once called it home until Teach and his crew slaughtered them and claimed it as spoils.
"Wiihahahahaha!" Burgess's booming voice rang out as he slammed a barrel of rum onto the deck, grinning ear to ear. "Captain, this war is gonna change the world! Aren't you excited?!"
He asked it without restraint, his emotions pouring out like a child waiting for a festival.
Blackbeard leaned against the railing, his shadow huge under the fading light of the sun. He grinned, his jagged teeth flashing as his signature laugh rolled out.
"Ze ha ha ha ha! Of course I'm excited, Burgess! A war of this scale hasn't happened in decades! The whole world will be watchin'!" His voice rumbled with madness. Then, he paused, his grin tightening. "But… we haven't reached our true goal yet. Until then, there's no point in celebrating."
The crew went silent for a moment.
Ryuk, standing calmly at the edge of the deck, let out a low chuckle and glanced toward Burgess. His crimson eyes gleamed faintly, reflecting the horizon.
"Burgess…" Ryuk said smoothly. "This war will indeed change the world. And yes, it will create a vacant position for the Emperor's seat. But the real question is…" He leaned forward slightly, his voice sharp. "Can we seize it? After all, we're not the only predators roaming this sea. There are other beasts… monsters… hungry for blood and power. The war will not just crown a victor it will awaken every vulture in the New World."
The ship creaked as if agreeing with his words, the sea breeze carrying tension across the crew.
Burgess scratched the back of his head, frowning. "Tch… well, I ain't worried! We've got the captain, and we've got you. Those other so-called monsters? They'll just end up as bones in the water!"
"Ze ha ha ha ha!" Teach burst out laughing again, his belly shaking. "That's right! But Burgess, Ryuk's got a point. Still… whether they like it or not, we're gonna take everything! And if all goes as planned, the Emperor's seat will belong to no one… but us!"
His words made the deck roar with approval. Van Auger merely smirked, adjusting his rifle. Doc Q coughed and muttered something about the stench of death approaching.
Ryuk finally turned to face the crew, his calm gaze sweeping across them. His voice carried weight, sharper than the ocean wind.
"Our next step is simple. We deliver Fire Fist Ace to the Marines… and prepare for the greatest battle this era has ever seen." He folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "The man who will be handed over, the one used as a bargaining chip… is the key to turning the world upside down."
He paused, then added coldly,
"As for the ones who'll negotiate with the Marines—it will be myself and Lafitte. The Captain and the rest of you will stay behind… and wait for good news."
Lafitte chuckled lightly, bowing with exaggerated grace.
"It will be my pleasure. Though I must say, Ryuk-san, you seem quite… invested in handling this step yourself."
Blackbeard's grin widened, but his tone turned more serious as he addressed Ryuk.
"Ze ha ha ha ha… I agree. But are you sure you want to go, Ryuk? You know how risky this is. The Marines ain't fools. One wrong step, and they'll slit your throat before they ever shake your hand."
Ryuk's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"I've made my decision, Captain. This step is essential. If we mess it up, everything collapses. That's why I'm going. And yes… I have a backup plan. Several, actually."
For a moment, silence hung over the ship, broken only by the crash of waves against the hull.
Then Blackbeard suddenly burst into thunderous laughter, clutching his stomach.
"Ze ha ha ha ha ha! As expected of you, Ryuk! You've got guts! Good… good! Then I won't stop you. You're the one who mapped out this whole scheme, after all. I'll trust your judgment."
He raised a fist high into the air, his eyes glinting with hunger and ambition.
"Bring back the good news, Ryuk! Once that's done… we'll shake the very foundation of this world!"
The crew erupted in cheers, weapons raised, the salty wind carrying their voices across the endless Grand Line.
Ryuk gave a calm nod.
"I'll try my best, Captain."
He bent down, grabbing the unconscious Ace by the chains. Ace had been kept under strict watch; every time he stirred awake, they made sure to knock him back out before he could make a sound.
"Then, I'll be on my way," Ryuk said.
Stepping to the center of the deck, his presence suddenly shifted. He pressed his index and middle fingers together like the beak of a bird, before spreading his hands downward like wings unfolding. Finally, he pushed his palm outward in a seal.
"…Nue."
The shadow beneath his feet rippled, expanding unnaturally across the planks of the ship. A distorted black circle twisted into existence. From the darkness, a massive clawed wing tore free, followed by the ear-splitting shriek of a beast.
Nue burst out of the shadow pool with a shrill scream, its giant form blotting out the sun. It flapped its colossal wings once, and the sea itself reacted a massive gust of wind struck the water, sending waves slamming against the ship's sides. Lightning crackled violently around its wings, splitting the sky with a blinding flash.
"Creeaakk!!"
Ryuk looked up at the monstrous creature with calm indifference.
"Well then… see you, Captain. Let's go, Lafitte."
Lafitte was momentarily stunned. His normally composed smile faltered as he gazed at the enormous bird, estimating its wingspan to be at least thirty-five meters wide. His thoughts wavered.
So huge… This is the Vice Captain's power? Is this the true ability of his Devil Fruit?
Even Blackbeard froze for a moment. But he quickly masked it with his signature booming laugh.
"Ze ha ha ha ha ha! You've got yourself a nice pet, Ryuk!"
He laughed loudly, but behind the grin his mind worked like a predator's.
So… he didn't even use his full power against Ace. He kept this hidden. Looks like I really picked a good nakama. Ze ha ha ha ha…
But his laugh carried a sharper edge now. Blackbeard wasn't afraid he was never afraid. Betrayal was the law of the sea. He himself had killed Thatch and betrayed Whitebeard without hesitation.
He turned back toward the horizon, the sea stretching endlessly before him. His maniacal grin lingered, but behind it, something darker stirred. In the reflection of his eyes, it was as if he could already see it Marineford engulfed in flames, the world itself trembling under the weight of what was to come.