Natsuha, however, wore an utterly unbothered expression.
"Hey, gap-toothed uncle," he said lightly.
"You really are an idiot, aren't you? Haven't you noticed yet? Every path of escape you thought you had has already been sealed off by the Seraphim."
His childish voice carried a calm cruelty.
"This time, none of you are getting away. You'll die here."
As soon as Ace was safely under his control, Natsuha had issued his command to the Seraphim: surround Blackbeard's crew and cut off every possible route of retreat.
Burgess still hadn't caught on. He only ramped up his mockery.
"Hyahaha! What nonsense are you spouting, brat? Surrounded? By who? Don't tell me you mean your little friends?" He sneered. "You call your playmates 'Seraphim'?"
The rest of Blackbeard's crew burst into derisive laughter.
To them, Natsuha was nothing more than a pampered child of privilege—a spoiled officer's son who knew nothing of the real world. None of them believed this eight-year-old could understand the danger before him, let alone command it.
But for once, Blackbeard's grin faded into something heavier.
Seraphim?
A trace of doubt flickered across his face. His observation haki spread out to its fullest—and his expression darkened.
"Wait..." His voice boomed.
"Burgess! Watch those kids—they're not what they look like!"
Only then did the others sharpen their focus. Their own haki reached outward.
And the moment they sensed it, cold sweat rolled down their foreheads.
"T-This... is this really the aura of eight- or nine-year-old children?"
"How terrifying..."
Van Augur, with the sharpest observation among them, felt it most keenly. These "kids" weren't simple at all.
One after another, the crew stiffened as the oppressive intent of the Seraphim pressed against them.
Lafitte's eyes widened.
"What... what is this? I've fought plenty of strong men over the years, but never—never have I felt killing intent like this."
Even Burgess, whose haki was weak, felt the crushing force bearing down on them. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
"Each one... each one of them has the power of a pirate worth over a hundred million..." he muttered. "Ten of them at once, plus an old veteran Vice Admiral... Even for us, this... this could be too much."
The swagger and arrogance of the Blackbeard Pirates vanished like smoke.
Ace, guarded closely by one of the Seraphim, could feel it too. In fact, he felt it more clearly than anyone—these children weren't just strong, they were monsters. Stronger than even Burgess's panicked words could capture.
His eyes widened in shock.
"They're only seven or eight years old... But their strength... it's already beyond me!"
At his own age back then, Ace had only been hunting beasts in forests. His so-called talent paled to nothing in comparison.
"When did the Navy... when did they recruit children like this?" he thought in disbelief.
At that moment, Vice Admiral Comil stepped forward, pride gleaming in his eyes.
"Hmph! A bunch of arrogant pirates who don't know their place!" he declared.
"Let me be clear: every single one of these Seraphim already possesses the power of a Warlord of the Sea!"
"?!"
"!?"
Gasps and shocked silence fell across Blackbeard's crew—and even Ace's brow furrowed in disbelief.
Every one of them... Warlord level?
Reaching the level of a Warlord was no small feat. In all the seas, those seven titles represented one of the greatest powers alive—second only to the Marines and the Four Emperors.
Each one who bore the name of Shichibukai was a pirate whose name alone shook the seas. And now—these children?
Eight years old, and already "Warlord level"?
It was impossible.
It had to be a joke.
But if it was true... If every one of them had reached that level, then together they were ten Warlords. Ten.
A force like that could rival the Four Emperors themselves.
It was absurd. It was terrifying. It was a nightmare.
Even Blackbeard, that most cunning of schemers, and Ace, the reckless yet gifted son of Roger, could only doubt.
"Comil, do you take me for a fool?" Blackbeard spat.
"I'll admit it—these brats are stronger than I expected. But don't think you can rattle me with tall tales. Warlord level? At their age? Don't make me laugh."
His grin returned, forced but sharp.
"You think you can break my spirit before the fight begins? Impossible. If it comes down to it, we'll fight our way through, and you'll suffer losses too."
He bared his teeth.
"Why not compromise? You take Ace, and we'll take only the Warlord title. That's fair, isn't it?"
Lafitte, ever the smooth-tongued tactician, narrowed his eyes and backed him up.
"Yes... better we each give ground here."
The shrewd villain in Blackbeard showed itself—ready to back down when strength outweighed him.
"Zehahahaha!" Blackbeard barked.
"I apologize for my earlier arrogance. Take Ace. I'll play my part as a Warlord of the Sea, as the Navy requires."
But Natsuha stepped forward slowly, his childish face shadowed with something far older.
"Gap-tooth," he said softly, "you're imagining things."
"You think your crew can force its way out, and the Navy will suffer losses? That's a joke."
"The truth is..." His tone was airy, almost singsong. "To destroy the Blackbeard Pirates, we only need two people."
Then, like a little commander, Natsuha raised his hand.
"Seraphim, hear my command!"
"Four of you—cut off their retreat. Four more—protect our side. The rest—Seraphim Mihawk, Seraphim Akainu... exterminate the Blackbeard Pirates!"