Aboard a battered pirate ship drifted none other than the Great Vortex Spider Scuyard and his crew.
Once, he had held a bitter grudge against the Pirate King Roger. For some unknown reason, Roger and his crew had wiped out Scuyard's original pirate group. Later, he was taken in by Whitebeard, who allowed him to operate as an independent crew under his command.
Not long ago, Roger reappeared in the New World. Upon hearing the news, Scuyard, still driven by hatred and pride, led his men to hunt him down—utterly underestimating his enemy's strength.
If not for Whitebeard's name, the Roger Pirates would have annihilated the Vortex Spider Pirates once again.
Since then, Scuyard had been immersed in despair, his hatred for Roger rooted deeply in his heart.
"Boss, let's return to Dad's territory and ask for help!"
"We've withdrawn from the New World for now. Who knows when we'll be able to return?"
"Boss, make a decision quickly!"
The pirates cried out through tears, desperate to pull their captain from the brink.
There were countless pirate crews who had been crushed by the overwhelming might of the New World's emperors. Most had perished; the lucky ones fled.
In a sea where nearly all the territory was ruled by monsters like Whitebeard, Golden Lion, or Roger, any pirate not content to cower in the shadows would eventually face those insurmountable walls.
To carve out a name in the New World, one had to confront its reigning overlords.
Yet, the vast majority were beaten down by that reality, left to rot in obscurity. Only a rare few clung to ambition and bided their time for a comeback.
"We can't trouble Dad any further!" Scuyard growled, wiping away his tears and swallowing his hatred.
When Whitebeard accepted him as a son, he had offered him a place aboard the Moby Dick. Scuyard refused—his sole obsession was avenging his lost crew by killing Roger. Going back to Whitebeard after being humiliated would be disgraceful. His brothers would look down on him. He would look down on himself.
This was a matter of principle.
"There's no place for us in the New World. Let's return to Paradise. One day, we'll come back and take Roger's head!" Scuyard bared his fangs, sharp teeth clenched.
"Where's the shipwright? Has the coating been completed? We're heading to Fish-Man Island!"
"Boss, it's ready!"
"Then dive!"
Gurururu...
The battered ship parted the water, slowly vanishing beneath the surface.
…
Beneath the sea, Asa, having just emerged from the tunnel beneath the Red Line, suddenly narrowed his eyes. A ship had appeared in front of him.
It was descending quickly. If neither side turned, a collision was inevitable!
Aboard the Vortex Spider Pirates' ship, the crew saw Asa's vessel below and immediately paled.
"No—Boss, there's a ship below! We're gonna crash!"
"Moron! Get out of the way!"
"Do you have a death wish?! Turn the wheel, quick!"
They shouted in panic.
A cruel sneer crept onto Asa's lips. "You want me to move? Hahahaha! Are you serious? Fine then—let's all die at the bottom of the sea!"
With a wicked grin, Asa spun the rudder, increased power to the engine, and drove the ship forward—making no attempt to dodge.
"This lunatic wants to drag us to the bottom with him?!"
"We're done for, Boss!"
The pirates watched in horror as Asa's ship sped straight toward them. Their pupils contracted to pinpoints.
BOOM!!
A violent underwater collision shook the deep sea. The pressure blast scattered the surrounding seawater, and the protective bubble wraps on both ships instantly burst.
CRASH!!
A thunderous sound echoed as the shattered sea rushed to fill the space, tearing both ships apart and scattering debris in all directions.
Gurururu!
Bubbles burst upward from the wreckage as Asa activated his protective stance and swam toward the surface.
…
Breaking the surface in a flash, Asa leapt into the air and hovered above the water, peering down at the fragments floating below.
Among the debris, a familiar and striking Jolly Roger appeared—crossed bones and a skull with a crescent-shaped white mustache curving upward at the lips.
"A member of the Whitebeard Pirates?" Asa licked the corner of his mouth, eyes gleaming with interest.
Whitebeard was infamous for his fierce protection of his "sons." Anyone who killed a member of his crew would be hunted to the ends of the earth.
"To challenge Whitebeard... the world's strongest man… hahahahaha! Just thinking about it gets me fired up!"
Moments later—
SPLASH!
Figures began to emerge from the sea, one by one, soaked and clinging to shattered planks like drowned rats.
"Where's the guy who rammed us?"
"He must be dead! If not, he'd better know that the Vortex Spider Pirates aren't to be trifled with!"
The surviving pirates were furious, bloodthirsty.
"Look up…" One pirate pointed skyward, his voice trembling.
"It's him, Boss Scuyard! I saw him just now—he was the one steering that ship!"
Upon hearing this, Scuyard's rage boiled over.
It was bad enough to be defeated by the Roger Pirates. That was at least understandable. But now a rookie who had just entered the New World dared provoke him?
"Who are you?! How dare you destroy my ship?!" Scuyard shouted, face contorted in fury.
"Oh?" Asa raised an eyebrow, his expression quickly twisting into a mocking smirk. "The so-called 'King of Pit Fathers'? Hah, I've heard so much about you."
Scuyard—the infamous betrayer. If there were a ranking for backstabbers, he'd be sitting comfortably at the top.
During the war, in one of the most critical moments in history, he had the audacity to stab Whitebeard—his own captain—under the manipulations of Akainu. Who would betray a father figure like that?
And the worst part? Whitebeard actually forgave him.
After the war, Scuyard wasn't even executed. He walked away from Marineford with nothing more than a few tears.
Asa rarely felt hatred—but Scuyard disgusted him. For once, that feeling ran deep.
He hadn't just failed to support Whitebeard. He had actively held him back. He'd become a tool in Whitebeard's downfall.
"Forgive me for meddling, Whitebeard—but clearly, you don't know how to discipline your sons. Let me handle it for you."
Asa didn't care whether this would provoke Whitebeard.
He wanted to meet him eventually. So what did it matter if it was now or later?
But one thing was certain.
Scuyard had to die.
(End Of Chapter)
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