Blackbeard’s Secret Plan

The sea was calm, unnervingly still in the wake of the chaos that had just unfolded. Blackbeard, battered and bruised from his defeat at the hands of Luffy, Ace, and Sabo, sat slumped in a large chair aboard his ship, the Saber of Xebec. His deep, rumbling laughter echoed across the deck despite his injuries. His crew watched him cautiously, their eyes flickering between Blackbeard and the distant horizon, where the Thousand Sunny had vanished. The tension in the air was palpable.

"Zehahaha!" Blackbeard's laugh broke the silence. His body still throbbed with pain, but his eyes were gleaming with a twisted excitement. "Those brats got the better of me this time... but this is far from over." He gripped his injured side, the searing pain a reminder of the battle, yet his voice was filled with dark anticipation.

Shiryu, standing nearby, wiped blood from his invisible blade. His eyes narrowed as he spoke, "We underestimated them, Captain. Luffy, Ace, and Sabo—together, they're more dangerous than we thought."

Blackbeard grinned, his teeth flashing in the dim light. "Zehahaha! You think I don't know that? I knew they'd put up a fight. But they don't realize I'm not after just a simple victory."

There was a pause as Blackbeard stood up slowly, ignoring the burning pain coursing through his body. His crew watched him in silence, waiting for him to speak. His grin widened as he looked at them, eyes filled with ambition and greed.

"I wasn't just fighting them for power," Blackbeard began, his voice dripping with malice. "Luffy's Gomu Gomu no Mi—it's no ordinary Devil Fruit. There's something about that fruit, something tied to the Void Century, something that even the World Government fears." His voice lowered, his eyes glinting with dark secrets.

The crew remained silent, listening intently. Laffitte, perched on the edge of the ship's railing, leaned forward slightly. "What do you mean, Captain? What is it about Luffy's fruit that's so special?"

Blackbeard's grin turned into a sneer as he looked out at the horizon, his mind racing with twisted thoughts. "The Gomu Gomu no Mi... it's connected to the Ancient Kingdom. That fruit is more than just rubber. It's part of something much bigger, something that could change the balance of power in this world. If I can get my hands on it... the One Piece will be mine, and I'll be the ruler of the seas."

Shiryu's eyes narrowed. "So, the plan is still to take Luffy's fruit?"

Blackbeard nodded slowly. "That brat has no idea what kind of power he's sitting on. The World Government has been hiding the truth about that Devil Fruit for centuries. But I've uncovered bits and pieces—just enough to know that it's the key to something far greater than we imagined."

The crew remained quiet, their expressions serious as they processed what their captain was saying. Blackbeard's lust for power had always been insatiable, but this revelation added a new layer of danger to their mission.

"Laffitte," Blackbeard said, turning to his navigator. "I need you to go to Mariejois. There's a certain person there—a contact who can give us the rest of the information we need. The World Government's been keeping secrets about the Gomu Gomu no Mi, and it's time we get our hands on the full story."

Laffitte, ever the mysterious and cunning one, grinned and bowed slightly. "As you wish, Captain. I'll get the information you need."

Blackbeard's eyes flicked to Shiryu. "You, Shiryu, head to Wano. The remnants of Kaido's old operations have some valuable resources that I want. Gather them. We'll need everything we can get for what's coming next."

Shiryu sheathed his sword, his expression as cold and ruthless as ever. "Consider it done."

As the two commanders left to carry out their missions, Blackbeard turned back to the horizon. His grin faded into a more calculating expression. He wasn't just after Luffy's fruit anymore. He was after something far more dangerous—something that could make him the most powerful man in the world.

"Zehahaha! This world is mine for the taking. Luffy doesn't know it yet, but he's holding the key to it all. I just need to bide my time... and then, the real game begins."

Elsewhere, at Marineford, the tension in the room was palpable. Sengoku and Garp sat across from each other, their faces grim as they discussed the latest developments. The defeat of Akainu, the chaos with the Straw Hats, and now the growing threat of Blackbeard had thrown the Marines into turmoil.

"He's too dangerous, Sengoku," Garp said, his voice rough with frustration. "We should've finished Blackbeard when we had the chance."

Sengoku, his brows furrowed in deep thought, nodded slowly. "I know. But it's not just Blackbeard that we have to worry about now. The reports we're getting suggest that he's after something bigger—something connected to the Void Century and the Gomu Gomu no Mi."

Garp's eyes darkened at the mention of the Void Century. He had always known that the World Government had its secrets, but this... this was something more.

"If Blackbeard gets his hands on that power," Garp muttered, his fists clenched, "he'll be unstoppable. We've already seen what he can do with just two Devil Fruits. If he manages to unlock the full potential of Luffy's fruit..."

Sengoku leaned forward, his voice low and serious. "That's why we need to move fast. We need to cut Blackbeard off before he can gather the information he needs. But the problem is, the World Government isn't willing to reveal the truth about the Gomu Gomu no Mi. They're afraid of what might happen if the world finds out."

Garp slammed his fist on the table. "Damn the World Government! This isn't about hiding secrets anymore. This is about stopping a man who could destroy everything we've worked for."

Sengoku stood up, his face grim. "I'm calling a meeting with the Admirals. We need to mobilize every resource we have to stop Blackbeard before it's too late. And we need to make sure that Luffy stays out of his hands."

As Sengoku and Garp prepared for the next phase of the struggle against Blackbeard, the tension in the air was thick with uncertainty. The pieces were falling into place, but Blackbeard's true plan remained shrouded in darkness.

Somewhere in the New World, Blackbeard's laughter echoed across the seas. The next phase of his twisted plan was already in motion, and the balance of power in the world was about to shift once again.