"Kaelen Tsukishiro... I didn't expect you to show up too. Zehahahaha..."
Staring skyward, Blackbeard grinned, revealing his jagged, yellowed teeth.
His expression was disturbingly familiar—like meeting an old friend… or an old enemy.
"Rebel Thunder?!"
"Hey, isn't that the guy who supposedly inherited the power of the Quake-Quake Fruit too? This is gonna be good!"
"Big news! Get the cameras ready! I want every frame of this. Clear shots!"
"Alert Marine Headquarters immediately. The Rebel Thunder has appeared!"
Blackbeard's words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
In a short time, Kaelen's power had risen close to that of the Four Emperors. He was no longer someone to be underestimated. All eyes, whether from pirates, Marines, or underground forces, were locked onto him.
From above the clouds, Kaelen Tsukishiro finally appeared.
High above the battlefield, he walked calmly through the air, each step silent but deliberate. Beneath his feet, it was as if an invisible staircase supported him—unseen but undeniable.
Step.
Step.
Step.
With each footfall, a heavy rhythm echoed like a drumbeat across the battlefield. To the onlookers below, it was like thunder hammering into their chests.
Boom. Boom.
Some pirates and Marines with weaker wills began to tremble uncontrollably. A few dropped to their knees, fainting from the sheer pressure alone.
The tension thickened—until Kaelen finally spoke.
"Why wouldn't I come, Blackbeard?"
With those calm words, it felt as though the skies had been unsealed. The stifling air lightened, and people around the battlefield gasped for breath.
"Gulp… That was insane. I really thought I was going to die just now."
"He wasn't even targeting me, and I still felt like I was being stared down by a sea king..."
"So this... this is what it feels like standing before a Yonko..."
The whispers of fear and awe swept across the sea.
Even those on Blackbeard's crew began to look more serious, abandoning their earlier mockery. Kaelen's strength was clearly on a different level than they had expected.
He had come with a clear purpose—and that purpose was their captain.
Still, Blackbeard, ever the schemer, kept his smile.
Rolling his beady eyes upward, he looked at Kaelen and said with exaggerated calm, "A man like you... it's impossible to ignore your presence."
"So, how about it? Join forces with me. Let's dominate the seas together."
It was a surprising offer. Last time, Blackbeard had wanted Kaelen to join as a subordinate.
This time, he was offering an alliance.
It spoke volumes of how Blackbeard's opinion of Kaelen had changed.
Strangely, the moment reminded Kaelen of a story—when Shiki had once tried to invite Roger to join forces too.
Smiling slightly, Kaelen responded, "Forget it. I told you before—you're too ugly. Doesn't fit my aesthetic."
Too ugly… not aesthetically pleasing...
There was a pause—then confusion spread among the nearby pirates.
Some reflexively touched their faces, then looked at their crewmates.
"...Wait. Do I look like him?"
"No wonder you've been staring at me all week."
"Tch, if we're ever recruiting new crew members, I vote we only pick good-looking ones."
Unwittingly, Kaelen's offhand comment created a ripple effect that would go on to influence recruiting standards across eras.
---
"Fall back. Stay out of this for now."
Taking advantage of the chaos, Marco quietly signaled the Whitebeard Pirates to retreat.
The battle was already lost—but thanks to Kaelen's timely arrival, their main force had been spared annihilation. Though injured, none of the captains had died.
They would need that strength. Especially when Whitebeard Jr. inevitably came knocking.
Jozu and Vista regrouped with Marco, while the rest helped evacuate the wounded.
The Blackbeard Pirates glanced their way, but didn't bother intervening.
To them, the remnants of Whitebeard's crew were no longer a threat. The real focus was Kaelen Tsukishiro—the man who had come down from the heavens with purpose.
---
"Zehahahaha! We both inherited Whitebeard's Quake-Quake Fruit. Looks like we're destined to settle this."
After a brief silence, Blackbeard let out his infamous laugh again.
Kaelen had just insulted his appearance, but Blackbeard didn't care.
He might be ugly—but in this world, power was everything.
He was strong. Women still came to him. He had fame, authority, and influence.
And Kaelen? Sure, he was better-looking. But that smile of his didn't look pure either. It didn't scream humility.
"It's a pity," Kaelen replied softly. "I hadn't planned to fight you so soon… but I guess I owe Whitebeard a favor. Today seems like a good day to repay it."
He glanced at Marco for a moment, then turned his eyes back to Blackbeard.
Despite everything, Kaelen could admit that Blackbeard had qualities worth respecting—his patience, cunning, and ambition.
They weren't so different in some ways.
But in the end… they were not the same.
---