"Rumble…!!!"
The sky roared.
An unimaginable rainstorm poured down in torrents, as though a god were emptying an enormous basin of water into the sea.
The soaring sea current vanished. At that moment, vast quantities of seawater lost their momentum and crashed back toward the ocean surface. The tremendous impact triggered another massive tsunami.
Mist, ripples, and towering waves intertwined across the sea.
Even Kojin, floating in the air, looked into the distance and, through the hazy spray, saw a seven-colored rainbow.
The scene before him was undoubtedly magnificent, something he had never witnessed in his life. The violently surging and trembling sea made it impossible to see the scenery ahead with the naked eye. Under the torrential rain, visibility had been reduced to its limit.
His Observation Haki spread outward, instantly covering a radius of one hundred thousand meters.
Very quickly, he saw the entire Blackbeard Pirates group struggling to survive amid the sudden storm.
"Quick! Save the captain!"
"Teach, you're not dead, are you?!"
"He's lost too much blood! Can he still survive?"
Standing atop a thick wooden log, Van Augur and the others' expressions changed dramatically.
As the sea current churned, they spotted Marshall Teach, who had long since lost consciousness and was still spraying blood from his wounds.
Perhaps it was luck. The current was carrying him directly toward them.
"Get him aboard first!" Doc Q shouted. "I don't believe that guy can die so easily!"
Burgess was still unconscious. Lafitte hesitated briefly, while Van Augur quickly slung his rifle onto his back and leaped from the log, swimming rapidly toward Teach.
A short while later, with the aid of the sea current, he brought Marshall Teach back and was helped aboard by the other two.
"He's actually still alive! What incredible luck!" After a quick examination, Doc Q exclaimed in admiration.
"You want him dead or something?" Van Augur said gloomily.
Nearby, Lafitte bounced around while observing Teach, astonishment filling his eyes.
"That man actually injured Teach to this extent. What a monster."
At the mention of that man, a trace of fear flashed through Van Augur's eyes.
Then he suddenly shouted: "Stop talking nonsense and save Teach! And Lafitte, start rowing immediately and get us out of here! If that guy comes after us…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but the other two understood instantly.
Nervousness and fear flashed across their faces.
Without a doubt, none of them wanted to face Kojin again. That overwhelming power, beyond all resistance and completely beyond their control, had made them realize just how vast this world truly was.
Doc Q solemnly worked to stop Marshall Teach's bleeding, while Van Augur and Lafitte rowed desperately, guiding the log farther away with the current.
At the other end of the log lay Burgess, unconscious, his head wrapped in thick bandages.
Everyone's mood was heavy.
Since setting sail, they had never experienced such a disastrous defeat.
It could be said that this battle had nearly wiped them out. Gradually, the log drifted out of the storm's range and entered calmer waters.
Sunlight shone down upon the utterly exhausted group.
"We survived..." Lafitte said weakly, collapsing onto the log.
"Teach's vitality is incredible. He's pulled through the worst of it." Doc Q wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned.
Then he pulled several apples from his cloth bag and offered them to the others.
"Have an apple. Recover some stamina."
However, both men looked at the apples with extreme caution and refused to take them.
A moment later, Marshall Teach, his body wrapped almost entirely in white bandages, suddenly opened his eyes.
Immediately afterward came a miserable scream.
"PAIN!!! It hurts so damn much!" He abruptly sat upright, startling everyone around him.
"Don't move around so much. This little log can't take much more abuse." Doc Q said tiredly.
Marshall Teach froze, then swept his gaze across the surroundings. When he saw the familiar faces around him, a twisted grin spread across his face.
"Zehahahahaha! I actually survived! I really survived that man's hands! My fate isn't meant to end here!"
His joy and relief were completely undisguised.
The others did not object.
After all, they too felt the satisfaction of having escaped death.
"Leave this place immediately. Find somewhere safe to rest." Teach quickly followed up with a vigilant warning.
"We're already far enough from where it happened. Our arms are about to fall off from rowing!" Lafitte complained.
"Better to lose your arms than your life! Now is not the time to complain!" Marshall Teach's expression changed as he barked sternly.
For some reason, he vaguely felt that everything they were doing was being watched by a strange gaze.
After that, everyone on the log rowed with all their strength.
Only after a very long time did that sensation finally disappear.
Sweat drenched Teach's forehead and cheeks.
"Just how terrifying is that guy...?" He muttered.
A cold glint appeared in his eyes. Looking down at the bandages covering his body and feeling the sharp pain radiating from his wounds, a cruel smile slowly spread across his face.
"The next time we meet… I definitely won't let you off… Kojin!!!"
His current strength was still insufficient, whether his own power or that of his companions. But as long as he followed his plans step by step, he would continue growing stronger.
And when that day came, he would repay the pain he suffered today several times over to that man.
No one knew how many more days they drifted across the sea.
Finally, an island appeared on the horizon.
"Let's rest and recover on that island." Marshall Teach smiled.
Van Augur and the others nodded.
A chilling killing intent flashed through their eyes.
The people aboard had already spotted the town on the island ahead, as well as the pedestrians moving back and forth along its streets. This place should allow them to replenish all the losses they had suffered in the previous battle.
Kojin watched from beginning to end as the Blackbeard crew escaped beyond the range of his Heart Network.
He made no attempt to pursue them.
First, the storm was still raging, the sea currents were turbulent, and the weather conditions were poor.
Second, he had already gained a rough understanding of Blackbeard's strength.
Third, this group would undoubtedly play a useful role in stirring up chaos throughout the world.
Slowly withdrawing his gaze, he turned around.
A pair of wings suddenly unfolded from his back.
They resembled fish fins, yet were covered with jet-black feathers.
With a gentle flap of the wings, the space around him seemed to distort and fold upon itself.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Kojin vanished from where he stood. When he appeared again, he was already standing atop Crocodile's golden scepter.
Crocodile looked at the man standing before him with his back turned.
As the black wings slowly retracted, his pupils contracted slightly.
Another Devil Fruit ability?
A Zoan type?
Just what had this man experienced over the years?
However, Crocodile was intelligent enough not to pry. Instead, he asked in a deep voice,
"Was there anything noteworthy about Blackbeard's group?"
"To think you personally went out to test them."
Clearly, it had been a test. Otherwise, Blackbeard's crew would never have had any chance of escaping from him. Even under the terrible weather conditions just now, that man still possessed countless methods of fighting without being affected.
"The Dark-Dark Fruit is quite interesting." Kojin replied with a faint smile.
"Interesting? That's one of the most vicious Devil Fruit abilities in existence." Crocodile said solemnly.
Kojin jumped down from the scepter and offered no further explanation. Instead, he pointed toward the island shrouded in rain and mist ahead.
"Let's head to Mock Town."
Fisher Tiger nodded.
Ever since boarding the ship, he had become its finest helmsman.
Naturally, for Fish-Men, the sea was their domain. Every Fish-Man was an outstanding navigator.
Crocodile narrowed his eyes slightly as he reassessed the strength of the superior standing before him.
Compared to before, the man had undoubtedly become even stronger. The black flesh wings he had briefly revealed represented yet another Devil Fruit ability and there was also the far more imposing physique now before his eyes.
But exactly how strong was he?
Had he already become powerful enough to roam the world without fear?
Nearby, Kuina swung her sword again and again. Her expression was serious and focused.
In his disciple's eyes, Kojin could see a powerful fighting spirit.
"What is it?"
"Did you see someone or something just now?"
He asked with a smile after changing into a fresh set of clothes with Tashigi's help.
"Yes." Kuina paused briefly before nodding.
"There aren't many people your age who could be your match." Kojin slowly shook his head. "All those life-and-death battles and desperate struggles you've experienced there have already left your peers far behind."
Yet Kuina's expression remained serious.
"This opponent is different."
"Oh?"
Kojin raised an eyebrow, smiling with curiosity.
"Whether he's stronger than me or weaker than me, I'll give it everything I've got!" Kuina declared firmly.
"It seems this is someone very important to you." Kojin laughed.
The young swordswoman nodded.
With a swing of her blade, a violent gust erupted, actually splitting a path through the sea ahead.
Tashigi watched the scene with reverence and excitement.
Her entire body trembled. She had never seen such a powerful female swordsman.
The battleship soon arrived at Mock Town. The moment the ship docked, Kojin's eyes narrowed slightly before a smile appeared on his face.
"What did you see?" Crocodile asked.
Smoker also looked puzzled.
They both knew of their superior's abilities.
Through the power of the Goro Goro no Mi, he could observe things from great distances, much like Observation Haki.
"A little guy," Kojin replied softly.
He leaped down from the bow and landed at the harbor, sweeping his gaze across the surroundings.
Without question, most of the people on this island were pirates.
When they saw the battleship and the Marine uniforms worn by its occupants, wary and nervous expressions appeared on their faces.
Crocodile and the others followed behind him, taking positions at his sides.
The group was large and imposing, making for a rather spectacular sight.
"The child from back then. Without realizing it, he's already grown to this extent."
There was both emotion and delight in Kojin's voice.
He stepped forward and began walking deeper into the island.
Questioning expressions appeared on Crocodile's and the others' faces.
(End of Chapter)
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