Chapter 49: "You're Not Human"

Chapter 49: "You're Not Human"

.

.

The lawless forest of the Sabaody Archipelago stood in eerie silence, the thick canopy of ancient trees stretching far overhead, interwoven like the fingers of giants. Their branches created a natural ceiling so dense that only faint slivers of sunlight managed to pierce through, casting ghostly shadows on the forest floor. The humid air hung heavy, thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying foliage, while the soft hum of nature—chirping birds, distant rustling, and the occasional pop of bubbles from hidden marshes—added an unsettling undercurrent to the scene.

At the heart of this ominous stillness stood a grim relic: a wooden sign, weathered and splintered, its dark message stark against the faded wood—No law here. Fight or die. Beneath the sign, a skeletal figure hung limply, held together by arrows driven through its brittle bones. The tattered remains of a Marine uniform clung to the bones, and a shattered Marine cap rested at a jaunty angle on the skull, as if mocking any who dared venture further. This ghastly sight was a silent sentinel, warning all who entered this cursed domain.

Plop.

A single droplet of blood fell to the forest floor, disturbing the quiet. The sound repeated, rhythmic and haunting, each drop adding to the growing pool of crimson at Marshall D. Teach's feet. His right hand clutched his left shoulder, where a deep, raw gash bled profusely, the result of a near-fatal blow. His broad frame shuddered with the effort to stay upright, each breath labored as blood dripped from his wound, the result of a close encounter with Susanoo's merciless sword.

All around him, the Blackbeard Pirates lay strewn across the grass, nursing their own wounds, their faces pale with shock. Their chaotic energy had been utterly quashed by the overwhelming force of one man—Uchiha Madara. He stood before them, towering, his eyes ablaze with the malevolent glow of the Mangekyou Sharingan, the red swirling patterns reflecting the terror in Teach's gaze. Madara's presence alone seemed to warp the very atmosphere, the air heavy with the suffocating weight of impending doom.

Breaking the oppressive silence, Madara's voice came, low and sharp like the crack of a whip. "..." His words cut through the tension like a blade, drawing every eye to him. He stepped forward, his gaze never wavering from Teach. "If I recall, you said you would kill me and claim the power of the Blue Giant Fruit. Is that correct?"

Teach's body trembled. Sweat poured from his brow, mingling with the blood that stained his clothes. He had never felt fear like this before, and the realization hit him hard. He and his crew were utterly outclassed. Whitebeard's victory in the great war now made sense—he had fought alongside this demon. The Blackbeard Pirates, for the first time, truly understood the power they were up against. Escape or death. Those were their only options, and even fleeing seemed impossible.

"I can!" Teach's voice cracked as he shouted, desperation breaking through the pain. "I can make you the king of this world!" His eyes widened, pleading. He could barely think, the pain overwhelming, but his instincts drove him to survive. "With your power, no one would stand against you. If you help me, I'll give you everything—my plans, my loyalty. You'll sit on the throne of this world!"

The Blackbeard Pirates stared in disbelief. Their leader—arrogant, relentless Teach—was on the verge of groveling, offering his very position in exchange for his life. Their own survival now hinged on Madara's decision, and they, too, began to murmur desperate pleas, offering their loyalty to the Uchiha in hopes of salvation.

For a fleeting moment, hope flickered in Teach's eyes. His mind raced—He's considering it. He's going to agree. He began to imagine his escape from this nightmare, controlling Madara's power from behind the scenes. A triumphant grin started to form on his face. But then—

Slash!

In a heartbeat, Susanoo's blade plunged into Teach's abdomen, slicing through flesh and bone as though they were nothing. Blood sprayed into the air, the scene exploding in horror as Teach's scream echoed through the forest. His body convulsed as he fell to his knees, blood pouring from his mouth, his crew watching in frozen shock, paralyzed by fear.

Madara stepped forward calmly, Susanoo's spectral form dissipating into the air like cold, azure flames. He stopped next to Teach, barely sparing him a glance. "You made two mistakes," he said in a voice that could freeze the air. "First, my power has nothing to do with Devil Fruits. It is the result of my own strength, born from relentless effort. Second, it was foolish to announce your intent to kill me. I had no quarrel with you, but now..." He paused, his cold eyes locking onto Teach's dimming gaze. "If you live, remember who you are talking to next time."

Teach's vision blurred as he coughed up blood. With the last of his strength, he rasped, "You... are not human... This... power... is not human."

Madara said nothing more, turning his back on the fallen pirate. He strode through the remains of the Blackbeard Pirates without fear, his Sharingan eyes fading back to their cold black, Susanoo gone. None dared to move. None dared to challenge him. The oppressive weight of his power suffocated them, leaving them powerless, broken.

The lush grass beneath their feet, once vibrant, was now stained with Marshall D. Teach's blood. His crew scrambled to his side, their hands fumbling as they tried to stem the bleeding, their hearts pounding with the knowledge that their captain's fate now hung by a thread.

Madara's silhouette vanished into the depths of the forest, swallowed by the shadows, leaving behind an atmosphere heavy with despair. The forest, once still and quiet, now seemed to pulse with the lingering aura of his devastating power.

.

.

~ More Chapters ;

patr eon. com/Sakana0