Chapter 64: Chapter 64: A Crew Built On Ambition.
From the beginning, Shiryu of the Rain had joined Blackbeard's crew, serving as the captain's right-hand man—not just in power, but also in influence. His decisions often swayed the minds of the rest of the fleet.
So when he surrendered first before the enemy in the midst of battle, it shook everyone's hearts—then, except for Blackbeard's core crew, doubt began to spread among the ranks.
Loyalty didn't matter in that moment. What mattered was that the enemy had just annihilated three powerful allies in a single blow. The opponent's strength far exceeded that of Blackbeard and the formidable fighters he had gathered.
The Blackbeard Pirates were united by ambition and greed, bound together by the promise of power. But now, with their plan in ruins and a ruthless enemy before them, the foundation of their unity crumbled.
Their target had been blocked from the start, unable to advance. Blackbeard himself had been crushed and humiliated—not only physically, but mentally as well.
With the crew on the brink of collapse, Teach abandoned the pride of a captain and groveled before the very enemy who had just slaughtered his comrades.
Strength? Strategy? Even his final shred of pride had been cast aside.
Following Shiryu's lead, the remaining crew emerged from the rubble and walked past their defeated captain, one by one, toward Iggy the Avenger.
"What are you traitors doing!?"
Blackbeard roared as he watched the very men he had assembled turn their backs on him, walking straight toward Iggy.
For a man who had built his empire by betrayal, he now experienced its sting firsthand.
Four of the ten Titanic Captains were dead. Four more had defected. Only "Big Drinker" Vasco Shot remained by his side.
"Zehehehehe… Now this is a loyal crewmate!"
Even while hiding in the ruins, Vasco had been shaken by Iggy's overwhelming power. But despite his fear, he refused to die before tasting all the wine in the world.
Back before his imprisonment in Impel Down, Vasco would down barrels of liquor before battles against strong foes. The alcohol gave him mad courage—mad enough to overwhelm even powerful enemies.
Clink, clink...
Like a grim reaper, Vasco drank from the gourd on his back as he approached, swaying yet focused.
The death of Sanjuan Wolf, Blackbeard's humiliation, and Shiryu's betrayal—it all passed over him like a breeze. For him, nothing mattered but his courage, and he stood his ground while others fled.
"Good."
The four defectors stood by Iggy. Blackbeard and Vasco still hadn't moved.
Iggy instantly understood. With a blur of motion using Soru, he vanished—reappearing before Blackbeard with a punch that drove straight for his face.
Clang! The blow struck Blackbeard's sea stone hook and deflected off, sending Iggy flying toward Vasco Shot.
Boom!
As he neared Vasco, a violent hiccup burst from the big man's lips. The scent of alcohol flooded the air, making Iggy dizzy.
The fumes were so potent, they seemed like toxic mist. Whatever Vasco had been drinking—it wasn't just strong, it was dangerous.
Whoosh! Iggy instinctively flew upward, narrowly dodging an attack in his haze.
The true danger of Vasco Shot was his unpredictability while drunk. In this state, his attacks were stronger, faster—and completely erratic.
"So fast—!"
Clearing the fog from his mind, Iggy turned—but Vasco was already gone.
Crack! A flying kick slammed into Iggy's back. His spine creaked from the force as he was driven into the earth like a hammer striking a nail.
The ground split open with the impact. Blood surged up Iggy's throat as he gasped.
"Fun, huh!?"
Vasco spun midair, bringing his other leg around in a sweeping kick meant to launch Iggy away.
But just before the blow connected, a dark mass surged from beneath Iggy—black tendrils whipped out and bound Vasco's leg.
"Don't move."
Blackbeard started toward them, claws ready, clearly intending to help Vasco finish off Iggy.
But a long black blade touched his neck, glowing faintly red. Shiryu stood behind him, puffing a cigar.
Van Augur cocked his rifle, the barrel resting against the back of Teach's skull.
Iggy's new allies had chosen their side—and they weren't holding back.
"Urgh!"
Vasco twisted violently, trying to break free. He spun like a hurricane, but the tendrils only stretched and multiplied.
With a final roar, he shattered the gourd on his back—alcohol spilling out—and then Iggy's hand clamped onto his exposed forehead.
"Time to sober up."
Bzzzzzz…
A low, vibrating hum echoed as Iggy's palm glowed white with the power of the Gura Gura no Mi.
Everyone nearby knew the destructive potential of the Quake-Quake Fruit. They dove for cover, expecting a blast.
But nothing exploded. Iggy had refined his control—channeling the vibrations to a tight, half-meter radius.
The quake traveled through Vasco's skull. His brain rattled inside like a bean in a jar.
Crack!
His huge nose snapped first. Then, his jaw trembled violently. Shocked, he bit off his own tongue.
Then—BOOM!
The left side of Vasco's head exploded like a melon, brain matter spraying across the battlefield. The remaining half of his face drooped grotesquely, teeth and blood exposed.
Saliva and crimson ooze poured down his neck, soaking his prison uniform.
The black tendrils retracted. The darkness faded. The land returned to normal.
The corpse of "Big Drinker" Vasco Shot collapsed, a pool of foul-smelling liquor leaking from what remained of his head.
Iggy shook blood and gore from his hand, took two calm steps forward, and stopped before Blackbeard.
He looked down at the man who once sought to rule the world.
"You're next, Teach."
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