126 The Appearance of the Blackbeard Pirates
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Shiki is dead!
He was a powerful pirate from a bygone era, known for fighting against some of the most powerful figures of the seas, like Whitebeard and Big Mom.
Shiki's life was one of adventure and grandeur, having crossed paths with the young Roger in the first half of the Grand Line.
Shiki was the very definition of a pirate from that time, engaging in looting and pillaging without any second thoughts.
In contrast to Shiki, Roger had a sense of compassion, often avoiding causing harm to innocents.
However, Shiki was as fierce as today's Big Mom and Kaido.
Unfortunately, his journey came to an end when he encountered Brontes. Shiki's storied life was cut short by Brontes, marking the end of his era.
...
Following this event, the marines stumbled upon Shiki's island and Garp was among them.
The sight of a fierce pirate like Shiki lifeless on the ground brought a look of compliance to Garp's face.
Despite having been opponents, Garp felt a complex mix of emotions as he said goodbye to a rival from his time.
Following in Roger's footsteps, Shiki became the second great figure from their era to pass away in the last two decades.
"Shiki." Whispered Garp softly, signaling for a white cloth to be brought over to cover Shiki's body.
...
The day after Shiki's death, the news spread across the seas, marking a significant moment that demanded widespread attention.
"Pops! Pops!!"
A pirate on lookout duty at the top of the ship's mast got his hands on a newspaper from a bird that delivered messages.
The moment he looked at it, his eyes popped open in astonishment, and he quickly made his way down from the mast to share the news with Whitebeard.
"What's going on?" Whitebeard's voice was as calm as ever.
"Pops! Something major has happened..." The pirate handed over the newspaper to Whitebeard, his voice filled with urgency.
Before he even read the headline, Whitebeard's eyes were caught by an image on the front page.
"Shiki!" He couldn't hide his disbelief as he looked at the picture.
Feeling the shift in Whitebeard's mood, Marco and the rest of the crew gathered around him, looking on with concern.
"What happened?" Marco asked the pirate who had brought the news.
"It's Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok... He... He killed the Golden Lion yesterday." The pirate managed to say, still in disbelief.
"What?!" Marco couldn't help but express his shock.
"Shiki is dead?!" The news also shocked the rest of the pirates.
"Gurarara! Another legend has fallen. Shiki, he managed to live twenty more years in secrecy, only to fall to Brontes in the end." Whitebeard laughed heartily, raising his goblet to his lips despite the somber news.
Sensing Whitebeard's complex mix of emotions, Marco and the others gradually stepped back, offering him space to process Shiki's death.
They remained close, ready to offer their support during this moment of reflection.
...
In the territories controlled by the Red-Hair Pirates.
Shanks, upon reading the newspaper, let out a thoughtful sigh: "He was once a formidable opponent who nearly defeated our Roger Pirates. It's hard to believe he has met such an end."
"Imprisoned in Impel Down, he managed to escape, only to cross paths with Ragnarok, leading to his demise. The Golden Lion was no longer in his prime, and after losing his legs, how could he hope to stand against Ragnarok? His defeat marks the fall of an old legend." Beckman commented from the side.
"Captain, everything's ready. Whitebeard has agreed to the meeting." Lucky Roo interjected, tucking the Den Mushi back into his pocket.
"Then it's time we paid Whitebeard a visit." Shanks decided with a nod.
....
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land Mariejois, within the office of the Five Elders tensions were high.
"Where did that guy disappear to again? The World Nobles are getting out of control. Saint Rosward took his family and ran to the Sabaody Archipelago." The bald elder with the sword said.
"Did he find out what happened in Alabasta? Is that the reason he rushed out of Mariejois?" The blonde elder asked.
"Are you suggesting that Cobra got in touch with him, informing him of Crocodile's deeds in Alabasta, and requested his intervention?"
"That's a strong possibility. Considering Cobra's daughter is his goddaughter, Cobra could have reached out to him. Six years ago, you all should have noticed, Brontes was already starting to reveal his true nature."
"Regardless of whether he intervened or not, the plan was bound to fall apart.
On the desk, a wanted poster featuring a young boy wearing a straw hat caught everyone's attention.
"Monkey D. Luffy, the grandson of Garp, son of Drogue, this entire family spells trouble to us." Commented the bald elder with a big mustache.
"Should we take action against him?"
"With Garp at Marineford, moving against him could escalate matters beyond our control. For now, let's keep his identity a secret and allow the Marines to handle him." The blonde elder suggested, indicating a preference for caution.
"It's likely that Brontes encountered him in Alabasta but chose not to arrest him, probably due to Garp's influence." The elder with long hair speculated.
"That sounds plausible. Garp did look after him during his tenure in the Marine." The other elders agreed, nodding in acknowledgment.
"The current issue, however, is pinpointing Brontes's location. The death of the Gold Lion might, in fact, be beneficial, considering the dangerous potential of his research."
"The island is now overrun by fierce beasts. These creatures are powerful and cunning, difficult to control. Shiki planned to use them to fulfill his original ambitions."
"For the moment, our priority should be to locate Brontes and bring him back."
With Shiki's demise, the legend of Brontes, also known as Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok, resurfaces more prominently than ever.
Having kept a low profile for years, his recent act of killing Shiki has brought him back into the limelight.
As a force to be reckoned with, on the same level as Whitebeard was years ago, the elimination of Shiki has catapulted his fame to new heights.
...
Sabaody Archipelago
An elderly man with silver-white hair sat reading a newspaper and sighed, adjusting his glasses.
"Shiki's departure signifies that our era is about to end." He remarked with a sigh.
"Are you thinking about Shiki?" A woman with a cigarette in her mouth approached him.
"Yes, Shiki is gone, taken out by Ragnarok. I must admit, that young man's strength surpasses expectations." Rayleigh acknowledged with a nod.
"I've gathered some intel on him. Ragnarok apparently slipped out of Mariejois. It was unexpected that he encountered Shiki. I suppose their meeting was purely coincidental." Shakky added.
"He slipped out of Mariejois?" Rayleigh was intrigued.
"Yes, sneaked out. Both the World Government and the Marines are in a frenzy trying to track him down. Notice how the World Nobles on Sabaody Archipelago have become more active? With him overseeing the World Nobles and various nations' military forces, his absence from Mariejois has unleashed chaos." Shakky explained, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"I see now." Rayleigh nodded in understanding.
...
"Hahaha! Shiki met his end at Ragnarok's hands." Doc Q, a man with long hair and a black hat, exclaimed with hearty laughter.
"Brontes, the renowned Fleet-Admiral. Back in the West Blue years ago, I heard numerous tales about his reputation." Another man, with a cane and a tricorn hat, chimed in with amusement.
"Oh, Rafitte, you're familiar with him too?" Doc Q inquired of Rafitte.
"How could I not know him? Around twenty years ago, when the Pirate King Roger passed away, Brontes made his mark in the West Blue. People couldn't stop talking about him." Rafitte responded.
"He's incredibly strong! I still remember his clash with Whitebeard in the New World. After Vice-Admiral Zephyr got hurt, Brontes faced off against Whitebeard's crew single-handedly for three whole days. Given his power, it's no surprise that Shiki met his end at his hands." Blackbeard recounted with a serious tone, recalling Brontes's strength when he was part of the Whitebeard Pirates.
During this time, Blackbeard had seized the Dark-Dark Fruit and left the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Is he truly that formidable?" Van Augur inquired.
"Without a doubt, he's a powerhouse. I believe he's the strongest within the Marines. His overwhelming strength has kept the World Government on edge." Blackbeard affirmed.
...
Shiki's death had a profound impact, shocking many who struggled to believe the news when they saw it in the newspapers.
The demise of a legendary pirate like Gold Lion who almost led to the downfall of Roger's pirate crew. Fear of Brontes's power now loomed larger than ever.
The world was indeed shaken by these events, while the Marines found themselves in a dilemma.
On one hand, Brontes, as Fleet-Admiral, eliminating Shiki boosted morale and unity among the marines. On the other hand, his sudden disappearance after Shiki's death left them scrambling.
"We need to locate him as soon as possible. That man can't have gone far. Damn it! His airship is too elusive to hard track." Sengoku expressed frustration in his office.
"We're clueless about his whereabouts, which complicates matters." Kuzan chimed in from the side.
"It's a hassle for sure. Brontes's actions are often unpredictable." Borsalino, who had returned to Marineford, remarked nonchalantly while seated.
"Let's deal with some urgent matters. With Crocodile out of the picture, there's a void to fill. Initially, Brontes was handling this, but now it falls to me. What a mess!" Sengoku stood up, ready to take charge.
