Chapter 44: VILLAINS
On an icy, pure-white land, darkness arrived.
Drum Island.
Screams and shrieks echoed as crimson blood drenched the snow.
Corpses of armored soldiers littered the ground—thousands crushed and slaughtered without mercy. Only a few dozen still breathed, trembling amidst the carnage.
Among the shadows of the assailants, one man spoke in an elegant tone, cane in one hand and black top hat in the other.
"Captain, the target has already run away. You don't seem bothered in the slightest…"
Silence. Then the same man continued, voice sly.
"Was he even the target?"
A boisterous sneer erupted.
"Zehahahaha!! Laffitte, as always, so perceptive!!"
Another eerie laugh chimed in.
"Weihahahaha!! The captain doesn't even trust us! As expected of the captain, I'm impressed!!"
"Tsk. Burgess, shut up, you idiot. The captain is a fated man. You don't need his trust—you just need to follow him."
"Zehahahaha!! Van Augur, you can't say that. After all, we're nakama, right?! Zehahahaha!!"
Thud.
The last shadow toppled from his donkey. No one moved to help.
"Zehahaha, Doc Q, stop messing around. We've got a place to be."
"Ugh… haah… I'm trying, but I can't even stand! Help!!"
"Weihahaha!! I'll do it."
Doc Q was hoisted like a sack of garbage and tossed back onto his donkey.
The group strolled leisurely through the sea of corpses, until they stopped.
An old woman with a young body stood before them.
She regarded them with a piercing gaze. When her eyes locked on the man in the center, her expression faltered.
"…It's you? That kid from before?"
The captain of the villains threw back his head and laughed exaggeratedly.
"Zehahaha! Old woman, you look the same as decades ago. I'm curious—what's your secret of immortality?"
Gasps echoed from his crew. Their breath quickened.
The old woman's eyes narrowed.
"Did you come for the thing you once asked me about?"
The captain's grin widened in the shadows.
"Zehahaha, so you do remember. I hope you won't break our promise. I'd hate to do something bad to this beautiful island…"
"You dare?!" she hissed.
The silhouette raised his hands mockingly.
"I won't, I won't… But, Zehahaha, I suppose you wouldn't dare to break our promise either."
The old woman took a slow breath.
"That Edward boy was blind to let you sail with him. But for a rebellious D like you, it isn't strange. You're just like that man—blinded by ambition, racing toward death. Fine. Follow me. I'll give you the thing. But leave after, or you'll regret it."
"Zehahaha!! Don't worry. I've no interest in slaughtering innocents. I only want the thing. And yes, I am like that man—my ambition has already put me on track. Otherwise, why would I have defied my father so hastily?"
His crew looked awed. Their captain's power and mystery only grew deeper.
The old woman soon returned, carrying a box. Her teeth clenched.
"Here it is, Marshal D. Teach!"
Teach raised his brows in amusement.
"Zehahaha! You still remember my name."
She stared at him intently. From the first moment she saw him, she had felt it—he was a harbinger of doom.
"I never forget people with the name of D. Now take it, and get out."
Teach grinned.
"Zehahaha! Don't worry, I will."
He didn't bother checking the contents. He knew the old hag wouldn't dare trick him.
The crew followed him back to the port, admiration in their eyes.
At their docked ship, Teach crouched, placing the box before him. His crew—Laffitte, Van Augur, Burgess, and Doc Q—watched with anticipation.
"Zehahaha… with this, I'll become even stronger."
He opened it. Inside was a green serum.
His eyes gleamed with manic greed.
"The last piece is in place. The world is destined to be mine!!"
But just then—something horrifying descended.
Time, space, matter—all lost meaning.
A majestic presence loomed, eclipsing everything.
Time froze. Space shattered. Matter decayed.
Teach's crew blurred into grey silhouettes, as if erased from existence. Only Teach remained, trembling, drenched in terror.
He dropped to his knees, kowtowing, shuddering.
This was not human. This was… god.
"God! Please, God! I'll stop being a pirate! I'll go home, become a farmer! I'll atone, raise orphans, help the poor—"
The supreme thought spoke.
"Why a farmer? The world needs a villain like you. You're doing just fine."
Teach froze. His eyes widened. A wicked god?
"So… I'll stay a villain?" he asked hesitantly.
The thought ignored him, continuing.
"When I came into this world, I was shackled by this identity. So many things I can't do, bonds I can't break. It's suffocating."
Teach trembled, unable to comprehend.
"You know, I envy your role. You're the perfect villain template. Luck, ambition, power, divine help—and most importantly, you're the best trigger for this world's next dramas. I appreciate you, Teach."
Terror crushed him. He couldn't move, only stare.
"Don't worry. Teach will still be Teach. Your legend will only grow—so mythical even Davy Jones will envy you. Oh, and… you already had two guests inside. Bear with me."
Teach's eyes bulged in horror. His consciousness dissolved. His eyes turned grey, lifeless.
"Ooops. Sorry. I don't like crowded places."
This time, the voice came from Teach's body.
Reality snapped back.
Teach smirked darkly at his unconscious crew.
"World… are you ready? Next—upgrade or vanish."
His grin widened.
"Eh? Ace is approaching the island? What divine timing."
With a thought, his crew awoke, excitement burning in their eyes.
In their memories, they had stumbled upon a terrifying world secret—LOGIN.
They had sacrificed their World Traits and gained abilities.
Laffitte:Complete Hypnosis—enhanced beyond Aizen's power, (with upgrades to body, mind, and soul - a package that came with Conceptua Armament, becasue this ability works with this trinity as fuel.)
Burgess:Shockwave Release—destruction beyond Whitebeard could ever imagine.
Van Augur:Deadly Bullet—ignores distance and defenses, kills instantly unless the target's 'Trinity' surpasses his.
Doc Q:Poison.
Teach:Dark God—immune to all, assimilates everything, immortal, master of dark energy. Simply unsolvable.
Laffitte's laughter rang madly. With his new power, he could toy with the Navy Headquarters itself. But even he knew—his captain's ability was beyond broken.
They all shared the same mission: capture Ace and hand him to the Marines.
Teach's grin split his face.
"ACE… he's here."
Their eyes shone greedily as they spotted a small boat approaching.
"As expected, the captain is favored by fate."
"Zehahahahahaha!!!"