A Hidden Alliance

The Saber of Xebec sailed quietly through the dark waters of the New World, a ghost ship on the hunt for more power. Blackbeard, though freshly defeated, was far from broken. His twisted grin never left his face as his mind whirled with possibilities. He had sent Shiryu to Wano and Laffitte to Mariejois, but he had one more plan in motion, one that required a dangerous ally.

Sitting in his quarters, Blackbeard poured over ancient texts, maps, and documents that he had stolen during his ascent to power. The symbols, names, and stories connected to the Void Century were still a mystery, but the few pieces he had uncovered pointed toward something greater. Something tied to Raftel, the Ancient Weapons, and the One Piece.

"Zehahaha... but I won't be doing this alone," Blackbeard muttered, the eerie grin returning to his face.

The door to his quarters creaked open, and a figure entered. Tall, cloaked in a black cape, and with a face that radiated cold calculation—it was Crocodile, former Shichibukai and master of the underworld. The sand-man's return had been quiet, but his reputation remained formidable. Blackbeard had arranged for this meeting in secret, knowing that Crocodile could be useful to his plans.

Crocodile's sharp eyes glinted as he entered the room. "Blackbeard," he said in his smooth, deep voice. "You've lost to the Straw Hats again. And now you seek me out. Why?"

Blackbeard chuckled darkly. "I haven't lost anything yet, Crocodile. It's just a setback. Besides, I'm not interested in a fight with those brats right now. What I'm after... is much bigger. Something that you might find worth your while."

Crocodile raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued but hidden behind his calm demeanor. "You're talking about the One Piece," he said, his voice steady. "What makes you think I'm interested in that treasure?"

Blackbeard leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Not just the One Piece, no. I'm talking about Raftel, the Ancient Weapons, and the true history of the world. You and I both know that there's more to this world than what we've been told. The Void Century... the World Government... they've been hiding something, and I plan to expose it all."

Crocodile's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent for a moment, contemplating the offer. He knew Blackbeard was ambitious, but this was something deeper. He also knew that if anyone could uncover the secrets of the past, it would be someone like Blackbeard—someone with no regard for rules or consequences.

"And what do you want from me?" Crocodile asked finally, his tone cold and cautious.

Blackbeard grinned, leaning back in his chair. "I need your connections. The underworld is still yours, and you have ties to information that I don't. I'm looking for something specific—something tied to the Ancient Weapons. I believe the secrets are hidden in the ruins of the Ancient Kingdom, and the information we need to get there... is out there, in the hands of people who trust you more than me."

Crocodile smirked, his hand resting on his hook. "So, you need me to dig up information. In exchange, I assume you're offering me a share of whatever power you gain."

Blackbeard's eyes gleamed with greed. "Exactly. Once I unlock the full power of the Gomu Gomu no Mi, I'll be unstoppable. And I won't stop at ruling the seas. With your help, we can overthrow the World Government itself."

Crocodile's smirk widened, his ambitions aligning with Blackbeard's plan. "Fine. But don't think for a second that I'm working for you. This is a partnership. And if you double-cross me, I'll kill you myself."

Blackbeard laughed, his massive body shaking with amusement. "Zehahaha! Deal, Crocodile. Just remember—what we're about to unleash will change the world."

Meanwhile, aboard the Thousand Sunny, the Straw Hat Pirates sailed onward, unaware of Blackbeard's new alliance. The wind was calm, the sea steady, but a sense of unease lingered in the air. Luffy stood at the front of the ship, his eyes scanning the horizon. Despite their recent victory over Blackbeard, he knew their troubles weren't over.

"Luffy," Nami said as she approached, holding the Log Pose. "We're heading into deeper waters soon. We're getting closer to Raftel, but there's no telling what else is out there."

Luffy nodded, his expression serious but hopeful. "We'll handle whatever comes. We've gotten this far, right?"

Nami smiled slightly, though the concern never left her eyes. "Yeah. But we've been picking up signs that CP-0 is still following us. They're not backing down either."

At that moment, Sabo stepped out onto the deck, a grave look on his face. He had been communicating with the Revolutionary Army all morning and had just received some troubling news.

"Luffy, we need to talk," Sabo said, his tone urgent.

Luffy turned to face his brother. "What's up, Sabo?"

Sabo took a deep breath before speaking. "We've just gotten intel from our sources in the underworld. Blackbeard isn't done yet. He's still after something... and he's made contact with someone dangerous. We think he's forming alliances with powerful players in the underworld—people like Crocodile."

Luffy's fists clenched at the mention of Blackbeard. "He's not going to stop, is he?"

Sabo shook his head. "No. And the Revolutionary Army thinks he's after more than just power now. Blackbeard has been looking into the Ancient Weapons and the Void Century. If he finds out the truth about the Gomu Gomu no Mi, we could be in serious danger."

Nami's eyes widened. "The Ancient Weapons... if Blackbeard gets his hands on those, he could destroy entire islands. The balance of power would shift in an instant."

Luffy's expression hardened. "We can't let him get them. We'll beat him to Raftel, and we'll stop him before he can hurt anyone else."

Sabo nodded in agreement, but the tension between them remained. "We have to be careful, Luffy. Blackbeard's not working alone anymore. His alliance with Crocodile means he'll have resources and information we don't have. And the Marines are still watching us. CP-0 has been tailing us for weeks, and it's only a matter of time before they make their move."

As if on cue, Robin stepped forward, her voice calm but serious. "I've been keeping an eye on our surroundings, and I've noticed something strange. There are ships following us, staying just out of sight. I believe they're CP-0 agents."

Luffy's fists tightened. "Let them come. We'll fight them too if we have to."

Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the New World, Crocodile stood atop a cliff overlooking the sea, a cigarette in his mouth and his gaze distant. He had left Blackbeard's ship, knowing that the information he sought was out there, hidden among the ruins of the ancient world.

He smirked, his thoughts focused on the prize ahead. "The Ancient Weapons... Raftel... the true history of the world. It's all within reach now. And when the time comes, I'll make sure I get my share."

As the pieces began to fall into place, the race toward Raftel became more dangerous than ever. The Straw Hats, Blackbeard, Crocodile, and the World Government were all closing in on the same prize, but only one would emerge victorious.