Chapter 442: Arriving at Hachinosu
New World · Hachinosu · Dawn
Sea fog permeated the air, the night was as dark as ink, and a faint golden light shimmered in the clouds on the horizon—dawn was about to break.
In the waters outside Hachinosu, the tide surged, and the sea breeze churned up a salty mist.
At this moment, it was the Blackbeard Adventurers' night patrol shift.
High up in the watchtower, Van Augur stood alone. His cape flapped wildly in the wind, and his expression was as cold and stern as usual.
Two years had passed, and the Blackbeard crew was no longer the ordinary adventurer group of the past.
Under Teach's expansion and scheming, the entire alliance had formed a massive network of power.
Although Teach hadn't obtained the Dark-Dark Fruit, he relied on his formidable financial power and influence to find multiple rare Devil Fruits for his core officers, aiming to "mass-produce monsters."
Among them, Van Augur was one of the earliest beneficiaries.
—Paramecia-type: Vision-Vision Fruit.
This fruit's ability wasn't flashy, but under Teach's strategic planning, it became the team's most important "Eye of God."
Beyond-Visual-Range Observation: The user gains visual capabilities far exceeding any optical instrument, able to see through fog, the dark of night, and even solid walls.
Microscopic Resolution: Can capture the trajectories of high-speed targets, and even see subtle energy flows and air current changes.
Weakness Detection: Can "look directly" into the structural weaknesses, energy nodes, and potential fatal points of all living beings.
Vision Sharing: Projects what is seen in real-time to a designated target, becoming the "tactical eye" for the entire team.
At this moment—Van Augur's pupils contracted slightly, spinning like mechanical gears as they emitted a bizarre, blue data-like light pattern.
"...Vision, expand," he muttered softly.
In an instant, the night sky was sliced open.
His vision extended outward at a speed beyond common sense, piercing through the thick fog and moisture, sweeping across the boundless sea.
The direction of the wind, the flow of the waves, and even the ripples of moonlight reflecting on the sea surface were all reassembled into a clear stream of data in his eyes.
"...What is that?"
Van Augur frowned slightly, his finger lightly pressing against the side of his sniper scope.
A blurry silhouette gradually magnified in his vision until its outline became reality.
—It was a small warship.
It was breaking through the waves, the wake cut by its bow straight and steady, as if approaching with an extremely strong sense of purpose.
"To think they'd come at a time like this..."
Van Augur's voice was low. Without hesitation, he activated Vision Sharing.
A beam of blue light, like an electronic current, flashed across his pupils, and then—
Inside the main hall at the center of Hachinosu, Teach's sinister eyes suddenly lit up.
He was sitting in a large chair, holding a half-eaten cherry pie in his hand.
His previously thoroughly relaxed expression completely froze in the next second.
In Van Augur's Vision Projection, on the deck of that small warship—
Four silhouettes with auras so intense they were suffocating clearly entered his sight.
—Vice Admiral "Fire Fist" Ace.
—Rear Admiral "Flame Dragon" Luffy.
—Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral Zoro.
—Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral Kuina.
The corners of Teach's mouth twitched slightly, and his jaw, which had been chewing the pie, clamped shut with a clack.
He slowly sat up straight, his face as gloomy as a deep-sea abyss.
"...So they finally came, huh."
He set down the cherry pie and tapped his fingers against the armrest—thud, thud, thud.
The deep sound, carrying impatience and a chilling intent, echoed throughout the spacious hall.
The surrounding officers instantly fell silent.
Burgess stopped lifting his weights, Laffitte's smile gradually faded, and even Doc Q's sickly horse lowered its head.
"Boss?" Laffitte probed softly.
Teach slowly raised his head, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.
"All hands—on high alert."
Outside, the wind gradually died down.
The sky in the distance began to pale—dawn was approaching.
The air on Hachinosu, however, solidified like iron at this moment.
Meanwhile.
The sea breeze of the New World howled, and the waves roared like beasts.
The small warship steadily broke through the waves.
On the deck, four silhouettes stood facing the wind, their auras faintly discernible in the morning light.
Ace slowly raised his head, his gaze as sharp as a raging flame.
"...Something's not right."
Zoro slowly drew Enma from his waist. The blade reflected a cold gleam, and Haki flowed across the steel.
Kuina's fingers lightly rested on her sword hilt, her entire aura instantly freezing like frost: "Yeah... someone is 'watching' us."
Luffy also stopped grinning. The brim of his hat was pulled low, but a familiar smile hung on the corners of his mouth: "Heh... peeping isn't a good habit."
In the next instant—
"BOOM—!!!"
Four entirely different powers erupted at the exact same time!
Flames surged like a tidal wave, sword aura tore through the air, and the crimson lightning of Conqueror's Haki crackled wildly across the deck!
The distant sea surface fell abruptly silent in that split second.
That "gaze" hidden in the dark was severed as if by four sharp blades, instantly dissipating without a trace.
Ace gave a cold snort: "Hmph—so we've been spotted?"
"That's fine too."
He looked up at the increasingly clear silhouette of the island in the distance—that fortress swallowed by darkness and rocky cliffs.
"Since they know we're coming, it saves us the trouble of saying hello."
Up ahead, the outline of Hachinosu appeared before the dawn's light—
Hachinosu Port.
The sea breeze howled.
Blackbeard Teach stood with his hands behind his back. The smile on his lips seemed relaxed, but it couldn't hide the gloom in the depths of his eyes.
Behind him, Laffitte, Van Augur, Jesus Burgess, Doc Q, and the others lined up in a row, every single one of them wearing a solemn expression.
Teach took a deep breath, secretly pondering in his heart—
What a pain... At a crucial juncture like this, I really don't want to clash head-on with the Marines.
He narrowed his eyes, his smile carrying a trace of helplessness.
I just hope this matter can be resolved quickly.
—Right at this moment.
The distant waves were dyed red by raging flames.
Accompanied by a loud boom, the small warship broke through the waves, trailing a long tail of fire.
"They're here," Van Augur stated coldly.
The corners of Teach's mouth curled up, but his smile carried a biting chill: "Hmph, truly their usual style..."
The warship came to a steady stop at the port, firelight flickering on the deck.
Ace, Luffy, Zoro, and Kuina leaped down simultaneously.
The instant they landed, the rocks beneath their feet cracked with a crunch.
The sea breeze was crushed by their sword auras and Haki. The four stood at the front of the port, their imposing presence crushing forward like a mountain.
For a moment, the air practically froze.
The moment they got a clear look at the arrivals, the expressions of the Blackbeard crew's officers changed one after another—
The four young leaders of the Marines, all present.
"What's going on... aren't those the four Gods of War under Admiral Roy?"
"You've gotta be kidding me, the Marines actually sent them?!"
The core members' eyes grew solemn, but behind them, the recently recruited scoundrels wore faces full of disdain and arrogance.
"Hahaha—just these four brats?!"
"We are the third great power of the seas!"
"The Marines sent a few people over to put on a front, do they really think we're easily scared?!"
Laughter rose and fell, mockery filling the air.
Teach slowly raised his hand, and the laughter abruptly ceased. The atmosphere in the entire port instantly became oppressive.
He took a step forward, his smile widening, and spoke in a light, breezy tone: "Yo—if it isn't Ace?"
"Dropping by my crummy little island all of a sudden, what a rare sight—"
"What brings four big shots like you here?"
Ace's gaze was ice-cold. He spoke in a low voice, his tone so cold it could freeze: "Teach—"
"What your people have done..."
"—I shouldn't need to remind you, right?"
Over the sea, the air suddenly solidified as killing intent spread through the pre-dawn mist.
♧♧♧
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you