The port of Mock Town was enveloped in dusky twilight. A salty sea breeze carried the clamor from taverns across the streets.
Luffy was feasting on a large chunk of meat. Usopp and Chopper were arguing over a strange seashell they'd just bought. Nami frowned, calculating if the newly purchased nautical chart was worth the price.
"Hey, Luffy, we should head ba—" Zoro's warning caught in his throat. His three swords were half-drawn simultaneously.
A tall shadow fell over their area, accompanied by an unsettling 'Zehahahaha' laugh.
"Isn't this Vice-Captain Ace's little brother?" Teach spread his arms as if welcoming an old friend. "What a coincidence, Monkey D. Luffy."
Luffy looked up, meat scraps still at the corner of his mouth, his expression blank. "Huh? You know me?"
Zoro facepalmed internally, reminding him. "Idiot, don't you remember? He's the enemy we met on Drum Island?"
Luffy tilted his head, thinking for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands. "I remember! He's the one who ate the Hiso Hiso no Mi!"
The corner of Teach's eye twitched violently, 'Is this a provocation? This must be a provocation!'
Usopp hid behind Sanji, shouting, "Why would a big shot pirate like you come looking for us? Go find the people chasing you!"
Ignoring Usopp's yelling, Teach stared directly at Luffy, a dangerous curve forming at his mouth. "I worked under your brother for two years. I know some interesting secrets... Like your grandfather is the Marine Hero, Garp..."
Sanji and the others were utterly shocked, 'Luffy's grandfather was the Marine Hero?'
A malicious light flickered in Teach's eyes. "And I happen to know that the Revolutionary Army's leader, Dragon, is Garp's son. That means... your father is Revolutionary Army's Commander-in-Chief, Dragon!"
"Huh? Is that so? Grandpa never told me," Luffy grinned widely. "So you came specifically to tell me who my dad is? You're a good person!"
"Idiot!" Nami whacked Luffy on the head with her staff. "He obviously has other intentions!"
Teach laughed. "The Revolutionary Army is the World Government's number one enemy. If I offer you to the World Government, a Warlord position would be within easy reach. Then I wouldn't have to worry about that man's pursuit anymore..."
"So you are an enemy?" Luffy rubbed his fists together. "I won't lose to your Hiso Hiso no Mi power!"
"Hiso Hiso no Mi?" A sudden mocking voice came from the alley entrance.
The Bellamy Pirates sauntered over. Bellamy pointed at Teach, doubling over with laughter. "Are you here as a comedian? What use does a garbage ability li—"
These words pierced through Teach's mental defenses. He appeared before Bellamy in a rage.
"You dare laugh at me?!" Teach's large hand grabbed Bellamy's shoulder, tearing him in half alive.
The sound of flesh tearing accompanied a rain of blood. The two severed halves crashed before the stunned Bellamy Pirates. Warm blood splattered over their pale faces.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
They let out a terrified scream, scrambling and crawling towards the port.
Teach shook the blood droplets from his hand. When he turned, his shadow completely covered Luffy and the others. "Now it's time to deal with you."
The Weakling Trio had already huddled together. Such a cruel killing method exceeded their psychological tolerance.
Luffy and the other two formed a battle formation.
"Gomu Gomu no Gatling!"
Luffy's fists shot out like cannonballs, but the moment they touched Teach's chest, they were caught dead-on by a pitch-black palm.
"Not bad power," Teach grinned savagely, activating Armament Haki hardening.
Crack!
An unpleasant sound came from Luffy's knuckles. He was smashed violently into the tavern by the street.
Amidst flying wood splinters, Zoro's blade light was already slashing towards the back of Teach's neck.
"Santoryu: Toragari!"
The cold gleam, at the instant of touching skin, was lightly pinched between two fingers wrapped in Haki.
"Too slow," Teach backhanded him. Zoro flew away like a kite with a broken string, crashing through three buildings.
"Concassé!" Sanji's kick carried violent air currents straight for Teach's temple.
Grinning ferociously, Teach actively rammed his temple towards Sanji's kick. Sanji was the one whose bones cracked.
The Weakling Trio trembled. The enemy was far too strong. Their main fighters joining forces were still no match.
"Gomu Gomu no Bazooka!" Luffy rose from the ruins, his bloody fist striking out again.
The air screamed under the violent impact. Scattered stones shot out like bullets.
Teach caught it with one hand, speaking mockingly. "As expected of Vice-Captain Ace's brother. Taking one punch from me and still standing. Given time to grow, you might become another monster someday."
Bam!
Luffy was smashed heavily into the ground. Teach stomped on his face repeatedly.
"Do you know why I didn't kill your companions directly?" A sick pleasure flashed in Teach's eyes. "Because watching you struggle is just too amusing. Zehahahaha..."
Teach's laughter died abruptly. Looking at the distant sea, cold sweat unconsciously streamed down.
"H-he... what's wrong with him?" Usopp turned, trembling, then slumped to the ground the next second. "The s-sea god... is angry!"
A shadow dozens of times taller than Mock Town's tallest lighthouse rose from the sea. The ensuing tsunami instantly submerged half the town.
Sitting atop the serpent's head, Setsuna's black hair flew in the wind. Under the sunset, he looked like a descending deity.
"Teach..." His voice wasn't loud, yet it overwhelmed all other noise. "Do you know the consequences of betraying me?"
Sweat instantly beaded on Teach's forehead. He almost instinctively grabbed the severely injured Luffy. "Don't come any closer!"
His voice warped with fear. "Do you want to watch your Vice-Captain's brother die here?!"
Setsuna's expression didn't flicker. He gently patted Titan's head. The terrifying beast immediately stopped moving, but its vertical pupils remained fixed on Teach.
"Quite courageous, daring to use a hostage threat in front of me," Setsuna laughed. After three years in this world, he finally got to experience being threatened with a hostage.
"How about this? I'll give you a chance," Setsuna sat cross-legged on the serpent's head, even resting his chin leisurely in his hand. "You let him go. I'll stay right here without moving. I'll let you attack for three minutes. If, within that time, you can injure even a single hair on my head, I'll let you leave."
Teach's eyes darted around frantically, weighing the proposal's authenticity. "Y-you're serious?"
"You're not qualified for me to lie to," Setsuna yawned, inwardly sighing. 'The Saiyan bloodline is truly troublesome. Even I've become 'reckless'.'
The moment this thought passed, Teach's attack arrived.
The air exploded. A gigantic storm formed by the shockwave swept through the surroundings.
Yet the barrier formed by Setsuna's Conqueror's Haki remained utterly motionless. Not even a strand of his hair was disturbed.