"Former Impel Down warden, Shiryu of the Rain!" Adrian said, stroking the Empress's hair as he sat on his sand throne, his eyes cold.
Adrian didn't think much of most of the Blackbeard Pirates, but Shiryu was an exception. As the former warden of Impel Down, his strength was on par with the director, Magellan. His skill in swordsmanship was undeniable. He was a perfect fit for his crew.
"You are indeed qualified to be my subordinate," Adrian said, his tone flat, as if discussing the most common thing.
That's it? Shiryu's eyes flickered with a hint of fury. His right hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, Raiu. Blackbeard had been so gracious, but this kid was so nonchalant. It was a huge blow to his pride. I'm the best slayer in Impel Down! I come to you, and you treat me like this? Is my sword not fast enough?
"Mr. Adrian, your attitude makes me uncomfortable," Shiryu said with a smile. "Aren't you afraid I'll join hands with that Blackbeard guy to kill you? He hates you very much!"
Swish! Swish!
As soon as Shiryu finished speaking, two figures attacked him. The Empress and Death Song. The terrifying auras from the two of them made him break into a cold sweat. He didn't even have time to draw his sword before a mountain-collapsing fist and a weapon-petrifying kick were mere inches from his head.
"Stop!" Adrian's voice echoed.
The Empress's and Death Song's attacks stopped abruptly, less than a foot from Shiryu's head.
Gulp! Shiryu swallowed hard. He looked at Adrian with gratitude, not daring to hold his sword anymore. He hung it back on his waist. I was just bluffing! You two don't have to be so serious!Wait a minute... Van Augur, why are you pointing your gun at me? I can't beat them, but I can still kill you! I'll deal with you later! He stood there obediently, waiting for Adrian to speak.
"If you think Blackbeard has that ability, you can try it!" Adrian said, gesturing to Blackbeard.
"Hey, don't try, really don't try!" Shiryu quickly waved his hands. "I was just talking! Captain, your courage is much greater than Blackbeard's. It seems I made the right choice. If you didn't have this kind of arrogance, you wouldn't be worthy of being my captain!"
He consciously stood behind Adrian.
"Master Captain... what about me?" Van Augur asked, pointing at himself with a resentful expression. Since he met Adrian in Mock Town, he had been living a life of fear. He couldn't eat or sleep well, always on the lookout for Blackbeard and his crew trying to kill him. Now that he had completely broken ties with them, if Adrian didn't take him in, he would surely die.
"Welcome to the team!" Adrian said, smiling.
"Lord..." Van Augur's voice was choked with joy. Finally! I've found my place! Lord Adrian , I, Van Augur, will do my best for you!
"This situation is really... a bit unexpected!" Adrian said, looking at the people behind him. He had originally planned to turn the Summit War into his own stage, but now he had a small crew that was as powerful as any of the Four Emperors. If Bullet saw this, he would be depressed.
"Lord Captain, should we continue to stay here?" Shiryu asked cautiously. "With that idiot Blackbeard drawing fire, now is the perfect time to leave. Marine is extremely afraid of your multi-fruit ability. People from the World Government are probably already on their way."
"It doesn't matter!" Adrian shook his head, looking toward the harbor. "There's still a good show to be staged. We can't leave early!"
On the other side, the Blackbeard crew's siege on Garp had turned into a difficult stalemate. Garp's fighting power was beyond their imagination. Blackbeard felt cheated. I've never seen you this strong when you were fighting your son and that dead man, Ace! You're the real actor here...
"Captain Teach, that old Garp is too tricky. We've achieved our goal. What do you say... we retreat?" the cunning Avalo Pizarro suggested. He had just been hit by Garp and almost died.
"That's right! If we keep fighting, after the Whitebeard Pirates are wiped out, the Marines will come for us!" Catarina said, her face covered in blood. You have a mythical Zoan that can heal you, but we don't! We'll be killed!
"Captain, let's retreat!" Even Burgess, Blackbeard's most loyal follower, pleaded. His right arm was hanging uselessly.
"Damn it! I haven't destroyed Marineford yet!" Blackbeard roared. He had expected to crush Garp like he had Kizaru. But the old man was hitting harder and harder. He wanted to leave, but he wasn't willing to go just yet.
He wanted to surpass Adrian's previous performance. He wanted to leave gracefully after completely overshadowing his opponent. He had killed Sengoku, but when people talked about this war, they would first think of Adrian. This should have been his moment.
And when he saw Shiryu treating Adrian with such respect, Blackbeard felt his dignity was insulted. What's so great about that kid? I'm a multi-fruit user with a mythical Zoan too! Shiryu, why are you treating us so differently? You're a dog! Today you ignore my love, but tomorrow when I become an Emperor, you won't be able to climb up to me!
And Adrian! You bastard! You ruined my twenty-year plan, upstaged me, and now you're stealing my crew! This isn't something a human would do! Just you wait! I'll kill you sooner or later!
Blackbeard's mind collapsed. He let out a beast-like roar. "Little ones, end this battle quickly! Let's get out of this damn place!"
"Okay!" Burgess and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
Thump!
"Want to leave? Did you ask me first?" Garp's angry iron fist blasted Doc Q's head. His powerful body blocked their escape. "Today, all of you will die here!"