Hi guys Azza here!
Not dead, get hype!
Also, Volume I has now been updated to Chapter 19 as of the time of posting this, remember to often check the bottom of the newly added Editing Codex for updates on the Volume I work.
Apologies for being gone for so long, life sucks but I'm off for a month and a week after being flogged so hard at work so I'm hoping to get some chapters out at a consistent rate! Hopefully get this arc done at the bare minimum!
Anyway, enjoy!
I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.
The Fall Of Edward Newgate
/?/
The world revolves around conflict, a statement many historians preach to their eager charges as the best and worst of existence is recorded. For as long as history has been recorded, so too has conflict.
Across all timelines, across the vast array of potential existences, conflict will always appear in some form or another. Life breeds it, cannot progress without it, yet resents it all the more.
Comparison, the seed that sews the beginnings of conflict in all things. All compare to all; none refrain from such idle thought yet all refute it.
He has more money than I do.
My friend got promoted faster than me.
She's beaten my record.
They dress like they're poor.
Mine looks better.
I've eaten twice as many.
Comparison breeds negativity in some form, irrespective of how the individual ultimately responds. When one compares themself to another, the brain triggers a myriad of thoughts in turn, many often negative.
He doesn't deserve all that money when I work twice as hard.
My friend only got to where he is because of me.
She only beat my record because of her looks.
They're no good layabouts who expect what I have for free.
Mine is blue, his is just red.
They only at half as many, they clearly don't like it as much as I do.
Comparison spawn's negative potentials such as Envy, Disgust, Arrogance, Disappointment, Hatred and Scorn but to name a few. Many don't even truly realise such outcomes as they flit through the trillions of other responses the brain generates from any given scenario.
All who are told of such vehemently deny such, all the while reinforcing the absolute rule of Comparison.
I know better.
I empathise better.
I operate better.
I am better.
Tell yourself that these words are wrong, that these words are false. Such thoughts are fleeting, easily dismissed as you go about your day oblivious to the fledgling negative emotions seeded within toward a mere statement.
These emotions can be played upon, incited to evolve through further stimuli of both internal and external sources. Comparison leads to inevitable Conflict as mere thought gives way to action.
He doesn't deserve that money; I'll take it for myself.
I got my friend that position, I'll make sure he realizes that.
A few loose rumours ought to put her in her place quick enough.
Those destitute are an eyesore, I'll make sure they're placed with their own kind.
My blue one can't be worse than the red one, he'll see the truth once his is blue too.
They're disrespecting the Chef by only eating half, I'll see him ruined.
Comparison and Conflict are essential, without it, history would stagnate. Yet its very existence amidst creation often leads to stagnation. Progress begets stagnation which then generates Comparison that in turn begets Conflict.
An endless cycle that has destroyed and created across all existence since the first microsecond.
Yet the negativity generated from such a cycle, what becomes of it once the cycle is begun? Theoretically, energy from the spectrum of emotion can already be utilized in many forms and yet almost all save for a few truly understand it.
What if one were to theoretically feed upon the negative emotions of a world rife with conflict? How far can an entity born to Ever Exceed Their Opponent possibly go before they reach an apex?
Could any world possibly put a stop to such a theoretical entity?
/ The Sacred Holyland Of Mariejois – Room Of Repose/
Emerging from the portal the Five Elders had created for him, Tiberius looked around at the strange area in search of the one he was tasked in speaking to.
Lush fields of green, strong and sturdy oak trees with swarms of butterflies flitting about in a warm sunlight that appeared to be localized entirely within the space he was in. The place Tiberius had ended up is what one could consider a paradise, a Shangri La of sorts, though there was certainly an unnerving feeling permeating the area.
Walking slowly through the cheery meadow, sunflowers and daisies grew to form a path for him to take, the only sign he had to follow in this seemingly endless place. Following the path, Tiberius soon came across a small wooden pagoda with a small table and two chairs.
There wasn't anyone present at the pagoda, despite the fact that there was an empty plate on said table, the crumbs clearly fresh and a full glass of a reddish liquid that was clearly recently poured if the condensation was anything to go by.
Sniffing the air, the scent of blood hit his nostrils almost immediately as he turned around only to see the disgustingly cheerful meadow now populated by hundreds of white rabbits that charged over the fields for seemingly no other reason than mere spectacle.
Looking back to the table and sniffing again, he looked down at the glass and realized it was full of blood. A sadistic grin slowly wormed its way onto his face as he reached out and took the glass, the entire cheery vibe of the place literally pausing as he did so.
"Just when I was beginning to worry," Tiberius chuckled as he downed the glass in one go.
Just as the last drop passed his lips, the sound of a woman screaming could be heard as the clear sunny skies above cracked, the sun itself beginning to spin around before splitting in two as a Blood Red Moon emerged in its place.
Turning back around to the meadow, Tiberius could only laugh as it had been completely transformed from a paradise into a literal hellscape.
Where the endless lush fields of green once resided were now mounds upon mounds of bodies, each clearly upon the verge of death yet refusing to pass on as they bled through countless wounds upon their bodies.
Floating up off of the ground, Tiberius eagerly counted the number in a single pile that had once comprised the hill and grinned savagely. Almost one thousand people comprised a single hill with countless mounds being present all around him as their agonized wails and screams had the Demon God humming like he was listening to a soothing melody.
Then there were the trees which had been the crucified forms of Giants, the massive humanoids roaring in pain as their blood flowed freely from their various wounds and the points in which they had been staked to the crosses.
Following the trail of blood from one of the Giants, it led to a river of blood that gently flowed back the way he had come. This was clearly the replacement to the flowers that had guided him there and he eagerly followed it back.
As he flew, he passed by countless mounds, crucified individuals and fire pits with various races being roasted alive, unable to die as their agonizing screams ripped across the area until their vocal cords gave out.
Reaching the end of the bloody river, Tiberius could only widen his eyes at the literal mountain of fur before him. A steady rise and fall from the mass of fur was all the confirmation he needed to confirm the identity of the creature as he called out to it.
"OI! OI!"
The entire realm seemed to shake as the mountainous entity shifted, its form rapidly beginning to shrink until it was no larger than Tiberius was. The entity had become a fox-like humanoid with a massive white and silver tail with tresses of blue woven within swishing back and forth behind him.
The tail then rapidly began to grow as the hair strands each became as large as a tree trunk, shooting out into the area behind the figure where they rooted themselves into the ground and several mounds of bodies.
"Been looking for you," Tiberius continued unfazed at the display as the figure yawned and slowly opened their eyes dark purple sclera and Aqua Blue iris' locking onto Tiberius' form.
"Why have you come here, Demon God," the figure asked tiredly as they slowly lowered themself down until they were laying on their back, looking directly at the Blood Moon above them.
"Well, that war we talked about last time is in full swing," Tiberius began excitedly as he flew closer toward the half-asleep figure. "We're about ready to wrap it up now."
"I need not be informed of this Demon God," the figure yawned in response. "Though I slumber, I see all."
"Yeah, I know, but our mutual friend wanted me to check in on you to see if its satisfactory," Tiberius replied as the tired figure opened one eye again and looked in his direction.
"I do not answer to your creator."
"I think you misunderstand," Tiberius replied casually. "He wants to know if its good enough for you or if you want us to shake it up a bit more?"
"Shake it up," the figure yawned, stretching out their limbs in a dazed manner as they pondered his words. "This war has given me more power in a mere day than I've generated in almost a century. Not since God Valley have I harvested so much …"
"Exactly! Now imagine if we can squeeze out every last drop possible from this war," Tiberius replied with sickening glee as he flew right above the half-asleep figure. "All we need is for events to play out as they should a little longer and then … BAM!"
"Bam?"
"This next part depends on what you think," Tiberius replied in a much more subdued tone that had the tired figure open his other eye before narrowing both suspiciously.
"What is your creator planning?"
"Nothing! This is an idea of my own design," the Demon God replied gleefully. "But in order for it to work I need your help!"
"If this is a waste of time, I shall return you to your creator with less than your conceptual existence intact," the tired figure replied in a slightly more awake tone. "Now explain this plan before I find myself annoyed by your presence."
"Alright, so basically, I want to come back into Marineford and really fuck shit up!"
"And this concerns me … how?"
"Well, I can't exactly go in there and cause the chaos necessary to really give you a power boost because there are a few strong people there."
"Strong? You mean those weak Devil Fruit wielders and the Servants?"
"Yeah. But the thing is right, there's a version of the King Of Balance there," Tiberius continued as the dazed figure's eyes widened ever so slightly.
"Really? How far along is he," the figure asked with some interest. "Is he a Primordial yet?"
"Nope, it's the one that hasn't fully restored himself yet," Tiberius replied as the figure hummed with interest before yawning again as he felt his interest begin to wane once again.
"A pity, I wouldn't have minded an excuse to stretch my legs," the figure yawned. "If he's that weak then he isn't worth my time."
"But see, that's where my idea comes into play," Tiberius replied quickly. "What if I kill Dragneel at Marineford!?"
The figure sniffed, yawning once as he grabbed the ground and bent reality itself to pull it over himself like a blanket. Yawning again, he closed his eyes and sighed.
"Boring."
"Just think about it though, the amount of energy you could harvest from the world of the King Of Balance died here and now," Tiberius stressed, the figure seemingly ignoring him as he summoned a plush of his massive beast form and snuggled it. "I can guarantee you that I'll generate a massive amount of power doing it!"
"Then why don't you," the figure yawned with Tiberius sighing dejectedly.
"I'm not strong enough to take on all of them by myself," the Demon God huffed. "A few of them at once I could crush, but not every last one of the pests!"
"Again, I fail to see how this is my problem?"
"I'll cut to the chase," Tiberius sighed in annoyance at having to avoid being overly dramatic. "I want at least a strand of your power-?"
Before he'd even finished the sentence, everything had shifted so that Tiberius was now bound and hanging over a raging black and white fire. The tired figure was now fully awake and alert, a look of seething rage on his face as all the colour began to drain from the hellscape.
"WAITWAITWAITWAITWAIT! LET ME EXPLAIN BEFORE YOU STRIP ME APART," Tiberius screeched as the harvest of colour paused, but did not revert. "I just want to borrow it, not keep it! BORROW! BO-RR-OW!"
The figure looked at Tiberius for a moment, breezing through his entire being to determine the validity of his words. And, just like that, they were back where they had previously been only this time the figure wasn't tucked in for a nap and was merely laying down again.
"I must admit, I am shocked that you weren't trying to steal some of my power," the figure said with Tiberius rolling his eyes.
"You're literally on the same tier as my creator and we're on the same damn team, why the hell would I do that!?"
"Why indeed," the figure mused as another strand of his fluffy tail grew in size and made its way over toward Tiberius. "I shall grant you this and not a drop more. Win or lose, I shall be taking it back following the conclusion of the Marineford War."
"You won't regret this," Tiberius grinned savagely as he imagined all the ways he'd kill Natsu. "Hehehehehehe …. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The figure rolled their eyes before stabbing Tiberius in the neck with the tip of his tail strand as power began to flow into the Demon God, power unlike anything he had ever felt before.
"Just you wait Dragneel," Tiberius cackled with glee as he felt his power rapidly rising. "I'll kill you for sure this time!"
/Marineford – Same Time/
"ZEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I love the tension in the atmosphere," Teach laughed darkly as he locked eyes with Whitebeard. "A fitting vibe for the coming of the new era, don't you think old man?"
"You don't have the right to call me old man," Whitebeard growled in response as his Elder Devil's Aura washed over Marineford, the sheer hatred and malice within it solely directed toward Blackbeard.
Despite this, everyone else could still feel it and it was, to put it mildly, downright terrifying.
"Zehahahaha … I can't believe you'd be so cruel, you're breaking my heart," Blackbeard replied cruelly as he clenched his fists. "Could say you stabbed it, even, just like I stabbed Thatch's, eh!?"
"You vile piece of filth, I won't stop until you're six feet under," Whitebeard snapped back in response. "We settle the score here and now, Teach!"
"Fine by me," Blackbeard replied as the rest of his crew that were with him backed off, surprising many as the man clearly intended to fight Whitebeard one on one. "But don't be surprised when things don't end up going your way, old man."
To the complete shock of many, Blackbeard's eyes began to glow Crimson Red as he was surrounded by a similarly coloured Aura. Even Whitebeard's eyes widened in complete disbelief as the man chuckled darkly.
"O-oi," one Marine called out as he pointed toward Blackbeard. "Beneath the Red, what's that black stuff coming out of Teach's body!?"
Beginning on his shoulders, followed quickly by his arms and legs, some of Blackbeard's body was converted into a black smoke-like substance. Around his feet, a ring of it slowly began to form as the man held up his left hand, the entire thing fully converted.
"ZEHAHAHAHAHA! Let's see how you handle this," Blackbeard laughed as he slammed his converted arm down to the ground as a flood of the black substance began to flood the entire area. "Devil's Aura: Yami Yami – Black Hole!"
Many could only watch in shock as a massive tornado of the substance momentarily surrounded Blackbeard before quickly vanishing. The sea of it stretched out a considerable distance as much of the surrounding area began to be affected by it.
"Look," one Soldier shouted as they pointed to a bunch of dead Marines who had begun to sink into the murky black. "Its sucking everything on the ground in!"
And that statement couldn't have been truer with even Whitebeard himself slowly beginning to sink as he looked down at his slowly vanishing feet.
"ZEHAHAHAHA! You like it old man," Blackbeard asked as the older man looked back up toward his foe. "This is the Devil Fruit power that I stole when I killed the former Second Division Commander Thatch! This is the mightiest of all Devil Fruits, the power of DARKNESS ITSELF!"
Across the chasm Whitebeard had created, several of the Servants immediately recognized what Blackbeard's power was and they were all deeply concerned. Over with Natsu, he was frozen in shock before swiftly looking back to Artoria who was as equally stunned as he was.
"Oi, Artoria? Doesn't his power seem almost identical to-?"
"Identical to that of my Uncle Vortigern's," came the slow yet tense response as she gripped Excalibur just a little tighter. "To think that there was another who could wield such terrible darkness!"
Back with Blackbeard, the man continued to laugh as he sucked up everything within his immediate area with Whitebeard himself now ankle deep in the darkness.
"First Thatch died, now Ace, all thanks to your weakness," Blackbeard said as Whitebeard trudged forward several steps. "I used to respect and admire you and the way you crushed your enemies, but now you're just a washed-up old fart! You're so rusty, you couldn't even save one underling from being executed even after I went through all the trouble of keeping him alive after our fight!?"
In response, Whitebeard tensed his right arm and cocked it back, the Blood Red bubble of a cataclysmic sized Quake immediately forming that had many beginning to run for cover. Blackbeard however, merely laughed and raised his right hand which had now turned black.
"Ah, that won't work on me," Blackbeard laughed as the bottom half of his body fused with the darkness and he surged forward and blinding speed. "All Devil Fruits are completely useless against me!"
"We'll see about that," Whitebeard snarled in response. "Elder Devil's Aura: Quake Quake – Tectonic Crash!"
"Devil's Aura: Yami Yami – Kurouzu!"
Appearing right in front of Whitebeard's attack, Blackbeard placed his darkness coated palm up against the attack and, to the shock of everyone present, created a swirling vortex that absorbed the attack into his palm.
"What-!?"
"Well, what do you think about my darkness, old man!? By itself it can suck in the powers of Devil Fruit wielders, rendering them completely defenceless," Blackbeard taunted as he smirked cruelly at the ravaged old man. "In other words, you can't create any more Earthquakes!"
Lurching forward and grabbing onto Whitebeard's arm with the palm that had just absorbed his attack, Blackbeard coated his free hand in raw Devil's Aura and moved forward, punching Whitebeard directly in the lower hole in his chest as the old man lurched forward in agonizing pain.
Blood poured from his mouth as Blackbeard roared with laughter, delivering a fierce uppercut to his chin as many of the Allied Forces roared in outrage only to be held back by others from trying to help.
Flying upward for a moment, the old man was dragged back down by Blackbeard's grip as he prepared to punch Whitebeard again. This time, Whitebeard just barely managed to shake off Blackbeard's grip as he charged up another Quake Punch.
"You still don't get it, do you," Blackbeard snorted in response to stopping another Quake Punch with another Kurouzu. "That won't work on me!"
Blackbeard wasn't ready for Whitebeard to twirl his naginata at his side expertly, delivering a brutal upward slash to Blackbeard's right side that had the man roaring in pain.
Falling onto his back, Blackbeard growled, having taken double the damage thanks to his Devil Fruit as he barely managed to look over in the old man's direction."
"Damn you-!"
Whitebeard leant downward, his hand being large enough to get fully around Blackbeard's neck as the smaller man immediately began to gasp for breath.
"Overconfidence … Carelessness … Those have, and always will be, your biggest weaknesses," Whitebeard said firmly as he coated his hand in a Blood Red Quake bubble that also encompassed Blackbeard's entire head.
"O-OI! OLD MAN! DON'T DO IT, DON'T DO IT OLD MAN," Blackbeard gasped as Whitebeard prepared to blast him to bits. "I'M YOUR SON, AREN'T I!? OLD MAN-!?"
Blackbeard's cries were silenced by a massive explosion, courtesy of Whitebeard as the entire area shook violently. Without even so much as a second thought, Whitebeard blasted Blackbeard's head with a powerful Quake that had both sides running for cover.
When the smoke finally began to disperse around the focal point of the Quake, the Allied Forces began to cheer as Whitebeard stood tall, glaive at his side, towering over Blackbeard's downed form.
The darkness user panted heavily as he pushed himself up to his knees, his head covered in blood yet still somehow whole despite being smashed by an Earthquake. As he rose up, many across the other side of the ravine began calling for Whitebeard to kill Blackbeard, to end the man that had caused the entire war to begin with.
"Oi, old man!"
"Finish him!"
"Kill Teach!"
These calls for vengeance came from the common fodder of the Allied Forces, those who didn't possess the abilities of their superiors. As they called for blood, many of the Commanders of the battle were either wincing or on the verge of tears.
"Its futile," Iskandar muttered, refusing to look away as he clenched his fists.
"What's he talking about," one of the Whitebeard Pirates asked with one of the Knights of Eden shrugging in response.
"This battle has waged far longer than any could have anticipated," Caesar said aloud as he planted the tip of Crocea Mors into the dirt, leaning against it with a frown marring his face. "Just look at him and you will see the truth …"
"The old man," Marco added as he joined the two heroes at the front of the ravine. "He's not standing there by choice!"
"Before this war even started, Whitebeard was already afflicted by both an incurable illness as well as the eternal illness of old age," Iskandar continued softly. "Not only that, he has suffered countless wounds that even I would struggle to endure."
"To put it bluntly, Whitebeard's body has long since surpassed its natural limits," Caesar concluded as many on the Allied side felt their hopes come crashing down. "Without his mastery over Devil's Aura, Whitebeard would have died by now."
Natsu and Artoria couldn't tear their eyes away from the man, his body barely functioning yet he slowly began to advance toward Blackbeard regardless. Each step producing an audible thud as his skin began to slowly shift Blood Red.
"He's … using everything," Natsu gasped in shock. "He's pushing his Aura to its absolute limit!"
"He already declared his intent to die here so it is hardly surprising," Artoria muttered in reply as they both snapped their attention to a pair of approaching footsteps.
"Indeed, my dear friend Whitebeard is on his last legs and there is no hope of salvaging him."
"Caster," Natsu said in a mixture of surprise and understanding as Whitebeard's Servant slowly limped toward them.
His body had tiny golden particles coming off of it, a sign that he was on the verge of dematerialization, yet he stood before the pair clearly holding on as best he could. He'd clearly sustained some battle damage from his fight with Aokiji, a slight gash on his left arm and a hole in his right shoulder, yet it was obvious why he was beginning to fade.
Whitebeard was dying.
"I have failed my Master here, much as I failed a great many things back in my homeland during my long lease on life. Yet, there is still one thing I can do for my good friend that will undoubtedly be his greatest wish."
"What's that," Natsu asked as Caster held out his right hand, summoning a golden sphere of flame that had the Hybrid's eyes widening considerably.
"As a Lord of Fire yourself, you no doubt know what this is, don't you," Caster asked with Natsu nodding instantly, much to the confusion of Artoria. "Once again, I place my faith in you my friend for I know that if anyone can accomplish this task it would be you."
"Wh-what do you want me to do," Natsu asked carefully as the old man grinned as the goldens sphere of flame tripled in size, Caster's form beginning to disintegrate even faster than before. "What are you doing!?"
"Sometimes, the best way to solve your problems is to help someone else," Caster responded as the flame grew even larger. "At a time where I despaired for someone I held dear you appeared and although you had no reason to assist me as you had your own reasons for being in my world, you did so anyway. You saved my Nephew when he was on the verge of collapse, at a time when I could not be there for him … I would be honoured if you would accept my Flame Of Rebuke."
Natsu couldn't even respond, his body seemingly moving on instinct as he gently took the Flame Of Rebuke from the Caster Class Servant who smiled happily in response.
"What do you want me to do after I accept this?"
"Save the children he cherished," Caster said as he turned around and looked up at the darkened skies above. "If you can do that then I know my friend can die in peace."
"You do realize that once I eat this, you'll fade immediately, right?"
"I know, and perhaps it is for the best," the old man replied contentedly. "I am but a washed up General, a fool who thought he could try and circumvent destiny. As I grew older, I was harshly rewarded for my defiance. And yet, in a rather interesting turn of events, I was summoned by a Master who also attempted to defy his destiny and now look at where he is."
"Who are you," Natsu muttered as the old man's body began to disappear along with a gust of wind, golden particles being carried across the battlefield as the last word the man uttered reached his ears.
"Iroh," Natsu repeated quietly as he devoured the Flame Of Rebuke in one go. "I can't act quite yet, but I promise you that I'll use what you've given me to help all that I can!"
Back across the ravine, unaware that his Servant had even departed due to the sheer amount of rage and pain he was enduring, Whitebeard advanced toward a shocked and terrified Blackbeard who was scarpering backward as quickly as he could until he was backed up against some debris.
"H-how can you still fight," Blackbeard cried as he tried and failed to stand up so he could retreat. "You should be dead by now!? Why can't you just die!?"
Whitebeard's response was to simply surround his fist with a Blood Red coloured Quake bubble as he raised his fist and threw a punch toward Blackbeard. The man simply cried out in terror as he drew a pistol from his side and closed his eyes.
"Just die you pathetic old man," Blackbeard cried as he fired an Aura laced bullet directly at Whitebeard right as the man's fist was about to strike his face.
Whitebeard's eyes widened, his body slowly rising up to a full standing position as his vision seemed to come in and out of focus. In that one moment, his Aura control vanished and his exposed head began to spew blood along with the two holes in his torso as another Aura laced gunshot rang out, piercing him through one of the holes.
"KILL HIM GUYS, KILL HIM NOW," Blackbeard roared as he fired a third shot at the old man who couldn't even conceptualize where he was, an all-encompassing void laid bare before him despite the fact he could still feel every bit of damage he was now taking.
"OLD MAN," Marco cried as the entire Blackbeard Pirate crew, excluding San Juan Wolf, started attacking the Emperor of the Sea. Countless gunshots rang out, piercing through the man and his coat with slash attacks from swords and stabs from pikes hacking him apart as both Allied and World Government Forces alike watched on in horror.
Whitebeard's body refused to budge from its position, the bulk of the damage being focused on his upper body as the entire area was soaked in his blood. The once terrified cries of Blackbeard now turned to sickening howls of laughter as they tore into the man he once called Father.
"ZEEHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHA," Blackbeard roared as his own body was coated in Whitebeard's blood, the man relishing every single hit Whitebeard sustained as he kept firing until he ran out of ammo.
Discarding his first gun, he pulled out another and kept firing it, his grip so tight it bent the metal in as he again laughed whilst being coated in another spray of blood.
"To think that Teach hated Whitebeard that much," Iskandar growled in disgust as his form began to emit purple sparks of lightning. "That vile piece of filth …!"
"In all my campaigns, never have I seen a being such as he," Caesar added as he ripped Crocea Mors from the dirt and started to advance toward the ravine. "Never in all my years have I wanted to thrust this blade into the heart of someone more than I do now-!"
"I would hold off on that," Artoria's voice cut in as both King Servants looked toward the blonde. "We must focus on evacuating both the forces of Whitebeard and our own from Marineford."
"Tch-!"
"Do you think that the World Government will just let us leave King Of Knights," Iskandar replied sharply as he motioned toward their slowly reorganizing forces. "Once Whitebeard is done, our only option is to fight!"
"I don't think it will come to that, the future King Of Balance will have everything in hand," Artoria replied as she motioned over toward her former position where Natsu was on one knee, seemingly in some kind of trance. "Caster, Whitebeard's Servant, gave up all his power to revitalize him for this sole purpose and I will not let such a noble sacrifice be upended by revenge!"
Iskandar looked from Artoria to Natsu, his brilliant mind immediately seeing the possibilities as he formed the beginnings of a plan. Looking over to Caesar who was also pissed off but willing to listen, he focused back on Artoria.
"If Caster did as you said then we must honour his noble sacrifice, even if it be with our own," Iskandar replied as he turned to look toward Caesar. "You know what to do?"
"The evacuation plan? Yes, fully aware," Caesar sighed as he looked over toward Cleopatra who had averted her gaze from the Blackbeard Pirates who had been attacking Whitebeard for over five minutes now. "But I swear upon my very Spirit Origin that I shall avenge this devastating loss!"
"We act soon, spread the word of the evacuation amongst the ranks," Iskandar barked as he turned back to face the carnage before him which had seemingly died down as the Blackbeard Pirates ran out of ammo.
"Oi, I'm out of bullets! Someone give me another gun real quick," Blackbeard snapped as he tossed his empty one aside only for Shiryu to shake his head.
"There's no need for that," the traitorous former Warden replied as he motioned toward Whitebeard. "He's lost consciousness so he'd likely fall down if you poked him with a twig-."
"It's … not … you …"
All the Blackbeard Pirates immediately pointed their weapons at Whitebeard who glared down directly at Teach, the front of his body nearly unrecognizable.
"N-no way!? How the hell are you even still alive!?"
Whitebeard panted heavily, many questioning how he was even drawing breath with the sheer scale of damage he'd sustained. Yet, it was clear the monstrous man wasn't done quite yet, clearly having one last thing he wished to say.
"The man Roger is waiting for … is not you at the very least, Teach," Whitebeard panted heavily. "I can see it now; you aren't the one he spoke of."
"What the fuck are you on about," Blackbeard snapped in response only for Whitebeard to ignore him as his gaze shifted skyward.
"Just like there are those who will carry on Roger's will after he died, someday soon there will be those who will carry the will of Ace too," Whitebeard said as he caught the sight of Jimbei carrying an unconscious Luffy out of the area. "The notion of bloodline means nothing; their flame can be inherited by anyone … as was custom since ancient times long before the eight hundred years of darkness descended upon our world."
Looking across toward the World Government forces, he could see Sengoku, Rider and Erich all shocked at what he was saying, yet he continued to speak.
"In the future, someday soon, someone will appear, carrying all those centuries of lost histories upon their back, challenging the world itself for a fight," Whitebeard said in a much louder voice as he looked toward Sengoku directly. "Sengoku! You lot in the World Government all fear the immense battle that will one day unfold, a battle so large it'll engulf our entire world!"
"Whitebeard …"
"I've no interest in it myself, but … but once someone does one day find that great lost treasure, the entire world will be flipped upside down," Whitebeard continued as Sengoku looked downright shocked at what Whitebeard knew. "And let me tell you … and the Gorosei … and THAT THING you all serve, that someone certainly WILL find it."
"Don't you dare," Sengoku growled as Whitebeard smirked in his direction. "Don't-!"
Whitebeard took a deep, laboured breath that seemed to take every fibre in his being. Everyone was frozen in anticipation for what he was about to say, the sheer feeling of pressure alone overwhelming as Whitebeard grit his teeth and looked up at the sky.
"THE ONE PIECE … DOES EXIST," Whitebeard roared, his words sending shivers through the World Government forces and Allied Forces alike as those watching the broadcast remained frozen, unable to even budge an inch at the declaration that would undoubtedly go down in legend.
After roaring his final declaration, Whitebeard's remaining eye closed and he took one last breath. The remnants of his mind conjured up an image that had the man smiling as he saw himself alongside all his children in the Whitebeard Pirates, his mind slowly beginning to wander.
Forgive me … my children, I'm responsible for one hell of a fool.
But thanks to all of you, I had everything I ever wanted in life so …
This is the end for me.
I've travelled these seas for a long … long time.
When Roger offered me the position of Devil to this world … I refused it.
Overseeing an entire world, being responsible for its protection in exchange for being able to live forever?
Not a chance.
A Father should not outlive their children …
My job was to put them on a better path, help them avoid the one I chose initially …
After the fall of that certain crew … there was one dream I thought about, one I had abandoned in a deranged quest for power and glory.
Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted a family.
"It was a good voyage," Whitebeard muttered to himself as he felt himself begin to slip away, the image of himself with his family slowly beginning to fade to black.
I'll forever have a deep appreciation for all you have given me, my children.
…
…
Goodbye.
The entirety of Marineford felt a shift in the pressure surrounding the massive island, heralding the death of Whitebeard. The man's crew began to openly cry as many in the World Government breathed a shaky sigh of relief.
Most however, could only gape at Whitebeard himself however, and chief among them, was Blackbeard himself.
"H-he died … standing," Blackbeard gasped out as all eyes focused on Whitebeard's corpse, still standing strong even as powerful gusts of wind blew by.
Whitebeard had passed away!
Though dead, his body thoroughly refuses to collapse!
The way he mowed down his enemies whilst suffering grievous wounds across his body, certainly monstrous!
A look back on the wound suffered by this man paints a picture of his unquestionable place as the World's Strongest Man!
The number of individual sword wounds sustained during the war totalled no less than three hundred and fifty-five!
The number of individual gunshot wounds totalling no less than two hundred and twelve!
He was shot by a cannon no less than forty-six times!
His body had endured multiple Noble Phantasms from enemy Servants
Survived his innards being drenched in raw magma no less than two times, leaving gaping holes in his chest!
An entire section of his head was blown away, exposing his brain and destroying half his face!
And yet, upon his proud back …
No, his entire career as a Pirate …
There is not a single scar he endured whilst running away!
This is the legendary Edward Newgate!
The man who could have become King!
"Zehahahahahaha … ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA! What a fitting death for you, old man," Blackbeard roared, having fully regained his composure. "And here I thought you'd outlast us all!?"
"Captain, perhaps now is the time we capitalize on what we came here for," Shiryu muttered as Burgess came over with a black cloth.
"Yeah, let's do it!"
"WEEHAHA! I can't wait to see what kinda chaos this'll cause," Burgess roared as he tossed the black cloth over Whitebeard's corpse, concealing it from view.
"Go on now Captain," Laffite said as he strolled toward the cloth and held it up just high enough for the man's height. "The show must go on, no?"
"Of course," Blackbeard smirked as he got underneath the cloth with Whitebeard's body as both sides questioned what he was about to do.
"What the hell is he doing to the old man's corpse," one of the Whitebeard Pirates shouted with several of the World Government troops echoing that statement.
"They're no doubt up to something," one Soldier snarled as they aimed their rifle toward the Blackbeard Pirates.
"Whilst I admire your enthusiasm to continue playing with one another, I'm afraid I must insist that you restrain yourselves just a little longer," Laffite said as the Blackbeard crew stood around the black cloth in a protective circle.
"Murunfufufu! I can't wait for the chaos this will cause once he comes out from there," Catarina Devon laughed cruelly as Shiryu took a drag of his cigar.
"What if this plan fails though? Do we just go our separate ways after all this?"
"Heh, I'm glad I'm half sober for this," Vasco Shot," laughed with Burgess beginning to flex next to him for no apparent reason.
After several tense moments, everyone who could sense Aura felt an explosive shift followed by a drastically rising surge of Devil's Aura localised within the black cloth. All of them knew it was Blackbeard and all of them knew it wouldn't be good.
"With that, I do believe our Captain has succeeded," Laffite smirked as the Blackbeard Pirates roared in approval right as Laffite stepped up to the black cloth.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, mostly Gentlemen though, we are grateful for your patience," Laffite began as he twirled his cane around expertly like that of an actual showman. "Captain Teach and his merry men are proud to present to you a stunning spectacle by the likes of which you've never seen!"
Both Laffite and Burgess removed the black cloth, everyone expecting some sort of horror to emerge only for it to be Blackbeard standing in front of Whitebeard. Neither appeared changed in any way, not even minutely which had some wondering if they were simply being made fun of.
"Well, it's certainly been a wild ride, hasn't it," Blackbeard began as he pointed toward the World Government forces. "The whole Warlord Of The Sea gig I mean. It was pretty nice being able to do whatever I wanted without a chance of being attacked by you lot but here's the thing …"
Blackbeard's body began to emit the same terrible darkness as before as he laughed darkly before them. Slamming a darkness coated arm down onto the ground, he spewed forth a veritable sea of it which soon washed over dozens of shocked World Government troops.
"Devil's Aura: Yami Yami – Black Hole!"
The troops cried out in a mixture of shock and fear as they quickly sunk down into the endless abyss that was Blackbeard's Devil Fruit ability. Once they were fully devoured, Blackbeard recalled the sea as it went back up into his arm.
"You all know this ability well by now, my command over darkness itself," Blackbeard began as he held out both hands before him, one coated solely by darkness. "But this-!"
Many of the Whitebeard Pirates who had been running whilst also watching what was going on, froze, as Blackbeard entered a familiar stance.
Clenching his fist, Blackbeard cocked it back as a white coloured bubble appeared around it, the man's eyes full of madness as he smashed the air before him, right in the direction of the World Government troops.
"Quake Quake: Severe Earthquake!"
Everyone, save for one individual, was shocked as Whitebeard fired off a powerful Earthquake directly at the World Government forces. All of them hit the deck as the massive Quake smashed through their ranks and ripped apart the area even more than it already had.
Raising his fist high into the air, Blackbeard roared with laughter, his fist still coated by the power of the Quake Quake Fruit as the entirety of Marineford shook violently.
"I DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE, ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"How can he have two Devil Fruits," one of the Whitebeard Pirates asked shakily as the entire area was left at Teach's mercy.
"His body always was abnormal," Marco replied, shock clearly evident on his face despite his greater understanding. "But even still, eating more than one Devil Fruit should've killed him …"
"You all listen up now, this is MY new era," Blackbeard shouted as everyone was again knocked off of their feet. "And how should I begin such a glorious new era you might ask!? I know, let's knock out both sides in this war, leaving only mine standing! ZEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-!"
"I wouldn't be so confident in such a declaration, Teach!"
Blackbeard ceased laughing, his attention turning toward the person who had openly defied his declaration with confidence. Looking off to the side where neither Allied nor World Government forces resided, the smoke cleared to reveal Natsu.
His wounds sustained in the battle had vanished, only certain scars being left behind. Nobu's coat flapped with the wind, still slightly tattered yet permanently stuck to his shoulders as it should be.
"Dragneel," Blackbeard said with a dark chuckle. "Forgot you were even here …"
"You should've died at Impel Down when I blasted the place to bits Teach," Natsu replied firmly, his eyes flashing as he activated his Hybrid's Aura.
"You'd think so, wouldn't you," Blackbeard replied with a smirk as he activated his own Devil's Aura. "But it seems Fate had other plans!"
"Aura won't be enough to stop me Teach," Natsu replied as he slowly walked to Whitebeard's corpse. "You won't get away with what you've done here!"
"ZEHAHAHAHAHA! I'm glad you're actually willing to try me Dragneel, I needed someone durable to test my new power on!"
"You think I'm nothing more than a mere test," Natsu snarled as the entirety of Marineford began to shake violently. "Let me show you the real meaning of POWER!"
Sliding his right leg backward and his left leg forward slightly, both his hands began to glow a purplish colour as many on both sides were instantly bowled over.
"What the hell is Dragneel doing," one Whitebeard Pirate shouted as both Whitebeard and Ace's bodies were levitated across the now widening ravine where they were then placed with Marco.
"As reckless as ever," Iskandar grinned as he looked toward Artoria and Caesar who all nodded in unison. "The time to escape is now!"
"Wh-what the hell," Blackbeard gasped as he watched the gap between the ravine continue to widen. "What are you doing!?"
Natsu didn't respond, instead continuing to push the two sides apart until the sea itself began to flood the gap between, cutting off the two sides from one another. Once he'd done so, the shaking slowly began to subside as Natsu returned to his regular stance.
"He separated us from the enemy by widening the ravine," Rider muttered. "A smart move."
"You think a little gap is going to be enough to stop me Dragneel," Blackbeard scoffed only to meet Natsu's blank gaze and recoil in fear. "Wh-what!?"
"I haven't been at max power since Thriller Bark and I've only grown stronger since then," Natsu began as the half with himself, the Blackbeard Pirates and the World Government forces began to shake violently once again.
"You sure you can pull this off Natsu," Ahnk asked as he brushed over Natsu's plan. "You were stronger back then when you did this feat, are you sure you can do this?"
"With you two backing me up, I'm certain of it," came the stoic reply before he shot a small smile at the pair. "Besides, Whitebeard did half the work splitting Marineford in two for me!"
Closing his eyes for a moment, Natsu took a deep breath as power pooled at his feet. He focused hard, remembering the only other time he'd done what he was about to do and focused on replicating it to the letter.
Blackbeard recoiled as he opened his eyes, the same purplish colour that had previously coated his eyes now at the centre of his Blood Red and Midnight Blue eyes. He was about to demand an answer for what he was doing only for Natsu to answer it for him.
"Hybrid's Aura: Gravity Dragon Monarch's Tectonic Displacement!"
Everyone on Natsu's half of Marineford felt a momentary weightlessness as an ear-piercing rumbling sound smashed their eardrums. All save for the strongest were bowled over by tremors so violent they couldn't even see properly.
"What's going on!?"
"Is he creating Earthquakes too!?"
"Is he like Whitebeard!?"
All these cries and more came from the World Government forces only for Sengoku to grit his teeth, knowing full well what he was doing.
"There's only one other being capable of doing what Dragneel is doing right now," Sengoku growled in response as the Allied Forces across the gap seemed to sink lower somehow. "This is just like an ability Kaido can use!"
All the World Government forces were terrified at the mention of Kaido, looking back at Natsu knowing full well the other similarities between the two.
"He's not creating a mere Earthquake … HE'S LIFTED THE ISLAND FROM THE SEA!"
Sengoku's shout echoed across the area as Blackbeard's look of shock twisted into a cruel smirk.
"ZEHAHAHAHAHA! You're a man after my own heart, Dragneel," Blackbeard said as he started walking toward Natsu, activating both his Devil Fruits and his Aura. "To think you'd be so willing to demonstrate such power, all so I can take you out and become the most highly feared Pirate in history!"
"You really think it'll be that easy, Teach," Natsu replied as flame exploded from his back, slowly morphing into that of a giant Fire Dragon. "I'll save Whitebeard's children, no matter the cost!"
"ZEHAHAHAHAHA! That's a fine glare you've got there," Blackbeard smirked as the darkness being emitted from his back slowly morphed into a black skull. "I'll be sure to inscribe it onto your tombstone after I've killed you!"
Natsu clenched his right fist, Blackbeard doing the same as the pair both took one step forward. Within moments, both vanished and reappeared at the centre of the space between them as they prepared their respective attacks.
"Let's see how you match the power to destroy the world, Dragneel," Blackbeard roared as he coated his fist with a Crimson Red bubble and cocking back.
"I'll match it just fine," Natsu roared as he cocked back his own fist, orange sparks of lightning ripping through the air.
"Devil's Aura: Quake Quake – Severe Earthquake!"
"Hybrid's Aura: Crash Arts Secret Technique – Crushing Evil – Barrigan!"
The two threw their respective punches, neither actually locking fists with the other but instead a small singularity forming between the pair.
Grand Battle
Aspiring Emperor, Blackbeard Pirates
Marshall D Teach
"ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA! SUCH POWER," Blackbeard roared as the space between their attacks sent out shock waves that blinded everyone else on the floating island.
It was then that massive waves of Conquerors Haki washed over them, knocking out thousands with Sengoku, Rider and Erich gritting their teeth in frustration. There was nothing they could do to stop what was happening, only one among them could and he was laughing as much as Blackbeard was.
One look at Grand Avenger, they all knew he wasn't inclined to help them. His arms were wide as he reveled in the destruction and chaos.
The circumstances were dire, and they didn't even know who to root for as what was meant to be the end of the war reignited into a raging inferno that threatened to devour them all.
Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!