【Chapter 11】：Is the World About to End?
It goes without saying that the ability to fly is an absolutely OP perk in the world of One Piece.
If not for his flying skills allowing him to dodge several major storms while airborne, it would have been a real question mark whether a ship could have made the journey in even a month or two.
After soaring past the Red Line, Teach flew for over two more days, crossing the Florian Triangle without spotting Brook.
Having escaped another storm, night had fallen.
As long as he made it through tonight, he estimated reaching Water 7 by noon tomorrow.
Originally, Teach had planned to find some random uninhabited island to quickly restock on food. But he soon noticed a patch of crimson sky in the distance.
Seeing this, he altered course without hesitation and flew towards that ominous sky.
His reasons for setting sail were twofold: One, to accumulate ticks on the [Traveler's Clock] faster to accelerate his mastery of the Dark-Dark Fruit. Two, to personally take in the magnificent sights of the OP world - he possessed a heart yearning for adventure and free roaming of the seas.
So how could he not be curious upon encountering such an anomaly?
After flying for a while towards that blood-red sky, Teach spotted a tiny black speck in the distance illuminated by the moonlight.
Seeing this, he instantly understood - there must be an island up ahead.
Perhaps this strange phenomenon originated from that island. It would also conveniently serve as a place to rest for the night.
A few minutes later.
When Teach landed at the shore of this island, he was shocked to discover several dozen ships docked at the harbor.
The vessels varied in size.
Most surprisingly, there were even Marine battleships present - a whole ten of them.
Among them was one medium-sized Marine warship and nine smaller ones.
Based on his understanding of the Marines' force allocation in this world, this was at minimum the fleet of a Rear Admiral and not just any run-of-the-mill one at that.
Seeing this, his eyebrows shot up.
What truly gave him pause was that the island seemed to be enveloped by a dome of crimson light, obscuring the situation within from view.
Especially odd was the complete absence of people at the harbor.
Now this was exceedingly strange and eerie.
"Could it be some Devil Fruit ability?"
Teach searched his memories from his past life but couldn't recall seeing this kind of power or anything similar happening in the plot.
However, with full confidence in his own strength, he didn't falter.
Though he wouldn't just blindly charge in either.
He first raised his right hand enshrouded in Armament Haki to probe the light curtain. Sensing no obstruction, he then withdrew the Armament Haki but still felt nothing amiss.
Next, he extended the darkness of his Dark-Dark Fruit into the crimson light. Again, it entered smoothly.
Seeing this, Teach coated his entire body with Armament Haki and strode right in.
Upon entering the light screen, aside from the crimson sky, the harbor appeared quite normal.
Well, except for the total lack of people.
After surveying the scene, Teach unleashed his Observation Haki, quickly raising an eyebrow at what he discovered.
"Interesting. To think I'd stumble upon this island by sheer coincidence..."
"Hm?"
"Hold on, these people are... Marines? Tsk, seems I've uncovered quite the secret!"
As his Observation Haki spread out, Teach realized he saw many familiar faces from the plot in his past life memories.
Except, they were all caught in a rather bizarre situation at the moment.
Every one of them had glowing red eyes. If one didn't know better, it would seem like they were using Observation Haki.
But Teach's Observation Haki detected emotions of rage, terror, and struggle within them. They appeared to be under some form of mind control.
When his Observation Haki fully enveloped the island's center, he finally found the source of the situation.
In the middle of the island stood an altar dozens of meters tall. Almost the entire island's population had gathered at the base of this altar.
Most of them were being guarded by nearly a thousand red-eyed Marine soldiers.
Some ordinary citizens had already been shot dead or cut down by firearms and swords.
Atop the altar, a Marine Vice Admiral over 2 meters tall, draped in the Navy's Justice Coat, raised a nearly 2-meter long sword to the heavens as he cackled madly.
"Fascinating!"
Seeing this, Teach leapt into the air without hesitation and swiftly flew towards the island's center.
"Hahahahaha————"
As Teach approached, the Marine Vice Admiral's maniacal laughter grew increasingly clear:
"You fools who still dare resist this god, once I fully master the Seven-Star Sword, I'll use you lot as sacrifices!
Cower in fear!
Struggle in vain!
Tremble with rage!
This is the might of a god!
Hahahahaha————"
Just as this Marine Vice Admiral was cackling in deranged glee, Teach had already flown above the central plaza.
He watched as crimson energy from the blood moon in the sky descended incomplete streams, merging into the long sword the Marine Vice Admiral held aloft.
The sword's core radiated an eerie green glow!
After carefully observing the sword for a moment, Teach could finally confirm - this was the Seven-Star Sword from the movie "The Cursed Holy Sword" in his past life.
But while that Seven-Star Sword from his past life had impressive powers, it was clearly far too weak in Teach's eyes given his current strength.
However, the Seven-Star Sword before him now seemed quite different.
Even through Observation Haki, Teach could sense the sword's uncanny might, with a Supreme Grade Swordsman's aura faintly pulsing from it!
How was this possible?
Could that Marine Vice Admiral be a Supreme Grade Swordsman?
No, that didn't add up. The Marine Vice Admiral was clearly being controlled by the Seven-Star Sword.
Looks like the issue lay with this Seven-Star Sword.
Upon further reflection, Teach recalled that in the movie from his past life, the Seven-Star Sword's seal was never fully broken.
It was even sealed away again later by a girl named Maya using a gem.
But the Seven-Star Sword before him now seemed to be in a completely unsealed state and was absorbing energy from within this crimson light dome.
Teach's Observation Haki could clearly perceive the red light screen growing thinner from the moment he set foot on the island.
It was already showing signs of dissipating as the blood moon in the sky also gradually faded.
Seeing this, Teach simply hovered in the air with arms crossed. He was in no rush now. He wanted to see just how formidable this fully awakened Seven-Star Sword could be.
He happened to be in need of a weapon.
And this Seven-Star Sword looked plenty badass. Perfect.
Crash!
At that moment, the blood-colored light barrier in the sky shattered like glass, dispersing into countless specks of red light that vanished into thin air as silver moonbeams once again shone upon the earth.
Almost simultaneously, down in the plaza, a tied-up old crone who looked like a priestess let out an anguished wail:
"It's over! The evil Seven-Star Demon Sword has been fully unsealed. The world... is doomed!"