Chapter 37: Chapter 38: The Shadow of Blackbeard
A New Arrival
The air in Wano felt thick with tension, the aftermath of the monumental battle between Thorkell and Big Mom still lingering. The island, scarred and broken from the destructive clash, now stood silent. The Luna Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates were regrouping, weary but victorious. But the uneasy peace would not last.
The skies above Wano darkened once more, not from a storm, but from a foreboding presence. A massive ship appeared on the horizon, its sails black as night. It cut through the sea with grim determination, and as it drew closer, the distinct Jolly Roger of Blackbeard could be seen fluttering in the wind.
The Luna Pirates tensed, and Thorkell, still catching his breath from his battle with Big Mom, turned to the sky. His heart sank as he saw the ship approach—this was no ordinary pirate ship. It was a ship that struck fear into the hearts of all who saw it, a ship that bore the name of Blackbeard.
The Reveal
As the Blackbeard Pirates landed on the shores of Wano, their notorious captain Marshall D. Teach, known as Blackbeard, stepped forward. His large, imposing figure loomed over the wreckage of the battlefield, a sinister grin spreading across his face. His eyes locked onto Thorkell, the son of Whitebeard, and his smile only grew wider.
"Well, well, well…" Blackbeard's voice echoed, low and menacing. "Look what we have here… The boy who thinks he's the heir to Whitebeard. I've been looking forward to meeting you."
Thorkell's heart raced with fury. His eyes narrowed into slits, recognizing the man before him, the very person who had caused the greatest betrayal in the pirate world. The memories of Whitebeard's final moments flashed before him—Blackbeard had killed his father. The shock, the pain, the heartbreak—it all came rushing back.
"You…" Thorkell growled, his fists clenching so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "You killed him. You killed my father!"
Blackbeard chuckled, unfazed by Thorkell's fury. His Devil Fruit-enhanced laughter was dark and echoing, almost mocking.
"Yes," Blackbeard replied, his grin widening. "I killed him. The Strongest Man in the World, dead at my hands. He was nothing but a stepping stone to my future. I used him to gain the power I need to conquer the world."
The words hung in the air like poison. Thorkell's body trembled with raw emotion, a mixture of anger and sorrow that threatened to tear him apart. His heart felt like it was being crushed under the weight of betrayal. His father—Whitebeard—was gone, and it was because of this man standing before him.
"You're nothing but a coward," Thorkell spat, his voice shaking with hatred. "You couldn't defeat him fairly, so you stabbed him in the back. You took everything from me."
"Don't pretend like you know me, boy," Blackbeard sneered. "You're just a puppet of a dead legend. The world belongs to the strong, and I'm the strongest now. Your father's dream? It died with him."
The Battle Begins
Before Thorkell could charge, the Luna Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates on the battlefield tensed, ready for the inevitable clash. Blackbeard was no ordinary pirate. His Yami Yami no Mi and Gura Gura no Mi made him an unstoppable force, a man capable of destroying entire islands.
"Luffy, Ace, Sabo!" Thorkell shouted, his voice strained with emotion. "Stay back! This is my fight."
But Luffy, despite his usual brashness, understood the gravity of the situation. He nodded and drew his fists, ready to stand beside his older brother. Ace and Sabo also prepared for battle, knowing that the clash of titans was about to begin.
Thorkell's fury was palpable, his Conqueror's Haki crackling through the air as he advanced toward Blackbeard. He wasn't just fighting for vengeance anymore—he was fighting for his father's legacy and to prove that he wasn't just some child living in the shadow of a legend. He was Thorkell, and he would carve his own path.
"I'll make you pay for everything!" Thorkell roared, charging at Blackbeard with a burst of speed that surprised even the seasoned pirate. His fists, enveloped in the power of the Gura Gura no Mi, struck the ground with enough force to shake the earth.
Blackbeard smirked. With a swift motion, he activated his Yami Yami no Mi, summoning a massive black hole to absorb Thorkell's attack. The shockwaves from the collision were so violent that they sent ripples through the sea itself.
"You think you can defeat me, boy? I've taken down men stronger than your father," Blackbeard taunted, his voice full of arrogance. "You're just a child pretending to be something you're not."
Thorkell, undeterred by Blackbeard's words, gritted his teeth and pulled his hands back, using his Haki to channel a massive wave of destructive energy. The Gura Gura no Mi sent shockwaves that could tear apart entire cities, but Blackbeard's dark powers countered the blast with ease, drawing in everything around him with the pull of his Yami Yami no Mi.
The battle escalated into a clash of gods, the ground beneath them trembling with every attack. Thorkell's fists collided with the black hole of Blackbeard's power, causing explosions that sent debris flying in all directions.
The Aftermath of the Clash
As the fight raged on, Thorkell could feel himself growing weaker. The toll of wielding the Gura Gura no Mi and his anger was beginning to wear on him. Blackbeard, on the other hand, seemed to feed off the destruction, his grin growing ever wider.
"This is it, Thorkell. Your father's will dies here," Blackbeard mocked, preparing his next attack.
But in that moment, something changed. A surge of power—of willpower—awoke inside of Thorkell. He couldn't let his father's legacy die here. Not now. Not by this man's hands.
With a roar, Thorkell unleashed a massive burst of Conqueror's Haki, flooding the battlefield with an overwhelming force. Blackbeard's grip on the Yami Yami no Mi faltered for just a moment, and that was all Thorkell needed.
Thorkell's fist collided with Blackbeard's chest, sending shockwaves that caused the very air to tremble. The force of the blow shattered Blackbeard's defenses, but the pirate king refused to fall.
"You're strong, boy," Blackbeard snarled, spitting blood. "But I'm still the one who will rule the world."