One Piece: The Template System-Chapter 147: Thriller Bark - 11

The northern perimeter of Thriller Bark was a jagged coastline of shattered stone and dense, creeping fog. The eternal gloom of the Florian Triangle usually swallowed all light, but today, the sky above the island was about to be torn apart.

Moving swiftly through the air, high above the crumbling gothic walls, was the squad assigned to intercept the Blackbeard Pirates.

Ace led the formation. He wasn't using a vehicle or a gadget. Twin pillars of concentrated, white-hot fire blasted from his boots, propelling him through the sky with the speed and precision of a missile. His eyes were locked dead ahead, his face a mask of absolute focus. The reckless, blinding rage that had consumed him on Banaro Island was gone, replaced by the cold, disciplined resolve forged during his fourteen months in the Time Chamber.

Flanking him to the right was Vivi. She flew with effortless grace, the massive, radiant wings of the Simurgh beating a steady rhythm. The golden and fiery orange feathers cast a warm, illuminating glow through the fog. She gripped her Vibranium spear tightly, scanning the ground below for any movement.

To Ace's left flew Usopp. The sniper's falcon wings snapped through the air, his flight pattern erratic but highly controlled. His customized sunglasses shielded his eyes from the wind, and his hands firmly gripped the Transforming Bow-Rifle in its rifle configuration.

Slightly below them, Chopper sat cross-legged on his Flying Nimbus. The magical yellow cloud zipped forward like a golden bullet, perfectly matching the speed of the winged fighters. Chopper looked entirely calm, his hooves resting on his knees, his Gauntlets gleaming.

Taking up the rear was Brogy. The Captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates, currently shrunk to human size by Ben's magic, didn't have wings or fire. Instead, the heavy, bearded warrior simply ran on the sky.

BAM. BAM. BAM.

Brogy kicked the empty air with terrifying physical force. The sheer kinetic energy of his Geppo (Moonwalk) created miniature sonic booms beneath his boots, propelling his massive, dense frame forward to keep pace with the flyers.

"Target area approaching," Usopp called out over the rushing wind, his enhanced vision piercing the dense fog. "Northern harbor ruins. I see a massive wooden raft."

"That's his ship," Ace confirmed, his voice carrying clearly. "Keep your guard up. They aren't normal pirates."

Two miles ahead, standing amidst the rubble of the shattered northern wall, Marshall D. Teach watched the sky. His crew—Jesus Burgess, Doc Q, Lafitte, and Van Augur—stood behind him.

Van Augur, the Supersonic Sniper, calmly raised his impossibly long rifle, Senriku. He didn't use a scope. His right eye simply focused, tracking the five fast-moving thermal signatures cutting through the fog.

"We have incoming, Captain," Augur reported in his usual flat, emotionless tone. "Five targets. Airborne. Approaching at high velocity."

"Zehahaha!" Teach laughed, crossing his arms. "Already? Moria's welcoming committee must be eager. Shoot them down, Augur. Let's see what they're made of."

"Understood."

Augur leveled his rifle. He calculated the wind resistance, the density of the fog, and the speed of the lead target—the man made of fire. He didn't aim for center mass. He aimed precisely for the space Ace was about to occupy in the next two seconds.

He pulled the trigger.

BANG.

The gunshot was deafening. A specialized, high-caliber lead bullet tore through the air, spinning flawlessly as it cut through the mist.

High above, Usopp didn't hear the gunshot. The bullet was traveling faster than the speed of sound. But he didn't need to hear it.

His Observation Haki flared. He saw the exact trajectory of the projectile heading straight for Ace's temple.

Usopp didn't shout a warning. He simply raised his rifle, exhaled a breath, and pulled his own trigger.

BANG.

From Usopp's weapon, a customized, dense iron round shot forward.

Mid-air, exactly halfway between the Blackbeard Pirates and the approaching Vanguard, the two bullets met.

CLINK.

The collision was a perfect, microscopic impact of metal on metal. The energy cancelled out perfectly, flattening both bullets into unrecognizable discs of lead that dropped harmlessly into the ocean below.

On the ground, Van Augur lowered his rifle slightly. His usually impassive face registered a flicker of genuine surprise.

"My shot was intercepted," Augur stated softly. "Mid-flight."

"Intercepted?" Burgess scoffed, crossing his massive, wrestler arms. "It probably just hit a bird, Augur! Shoot again!"

Augur didn't argue. He raised Senriku again. His eye narrowed. This time, he didn't fire a single shot. His finger blurred against the trigger mechanism, unleashing a rapid, continuous volley of suppressing fire.

BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!

Five bullets tore through the sky, aimed at the wings, the cloud, and the fire.

In the air, Usopp's hands moved with practiced efficiency. His eyes tracked the invisible lines of intent cutting through the fog. He adjusted his aim in micro-increments, firing his rifle in rapid succession.

CLINK. CLINK. CLINK. CLINK. CLINK.

Five distinct, metallic rings echoed through the foggy sky.

Every single one of Van Augur's bullets was met by one of Usopp's. Sparks flashed in the mist as the projectiles annihilated each other perfectly.

"They have a sniper," Augur murmured, lowering his rifle completely. He adjusted his monocle, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. "And he is exceptionally skilled."

"Forget the guns!" Teach laughed, watching the five figures break through the last layer of fog and begin their descent. "They're landing! Let's greet our guests!"

The Vanguard squad landed fifty yards away from the Blackbeard Pirates.

Ace touched down first, the flames on his boots extinguishing instantly. He stood up straight, adjusting his orange hat. Usopp and Vivi landed softly on either side of him, folding their respective wings. Chopper hopped off the Nimbus, the yellow cloud zipping up to rest behind his head, and Brogy landed with a heavy, earth-cracking thud.

The two crews stared at each other across the ruined, rocky terrain of the northern harbor.

Teach's eyes widened as he took in the sight. He looked at the Falcon wings, the golden bird-woman, the floating cloud, and the shrunken giant man.

But his gaze ultimately locked onto the man standing in the center.

"Zehahaha!" Teach threw his head back and laughed, a deep, booming sound that vibrated the loose stones around them. "Well, well, well! If it isn't Ace-taichou! You left the raft without saying goodbye! That hurt my feelings, you know!"

"I decided I didn't like the accommodations," Ace replied, his voice cold and steady. He didn't take the bait. He didn't lose his temper. "So I came to welcome you properly now. Why don't you let my fists say hi?"

Teach chuckled, rubbing his patchy beard. He looked past Ace, his eyes scanning the rest of the group. He recognized the Jolly Roger on Usopp's lapel.

"I came here for Gecko Moria and his Devil Fruit," Teach said, his dark eyes glinting with opportunistic greed. "But it looks like you and the Straw Hat Pirates are here as well. I have to admit, I'm confused. What is your connection with this crew? Why are you with them?"

"That's none of your business, Teach," Ace stated flatly.

Ace's hands clenched into fists. The air around him distorted with intense, rippling heat.

"I told you before," Ace said, taking a slow step forward. "I'm going to stop you. Right here. Right now."

"Zehahaha! You couldn't stop me on Banaro Island, Ace!" Teach taunted, holding his hands out. The inky, absolute blackness of the Yami Yami no Mi began to seep from his pores, pooling on the ground like liquid shadow. "And you can't stop me now! The darkness consumes all!"

"We'll see about that."

Ace launched himself forward, closing the fifty-yard gap in a fraction of a second. His speed, enhanced by the Super Soldier Serum and refined by months of fighting Prime Garp, was blinding.

He appeared directly in front of Teach. Ace pulled his right arm back. The skin of his fist turned black with Armament Haki; it took on a deep, metallic, obsidian sheen.

He threw the punch directly at Teach's face.

Teach, despite his bulky size, possessed incredible reflexes. He brought his own massive, dark-coated fist up to intercept the blow.

"Kurouzu!" Teach roared, expecting his darkness to nullify the impact.

But as their fists collided, something entirely different happened.

The collision didn't result in a standard shockwave. It wasn't just physical force.

KRA-KOOOOOOM!

A deafening, world-shattering roar erupted from the point of impact.

Thick, jagged bolts of black and red lightning violently exploded outward from their clenched fists, arcing wildly across the ruined harbor. The sheer atmospheric pressure in the area vanished, replaced by an overwhelming, suffocating weight that drove the surrounding rubble into dust.

Usopp, Vivi, and Chopper dug their heels into the ground, bracing themselves against the intense gale. On the other side, Burgess, Doc Q, and Lafitte were forced to shield their eyes and step back.

The clash of wills was physical. It was absolute.

Above them, the thick, eternal fog and heavy gray clouds of the Florian Triangle suddenly rippled. Driven by the catastrophic clash of Haki, the sky itself tore open. A massive, clean fissure split the heavens perfectly in two, revealing a sudden, startling line of clear blue sky in the middle of the gloom.

Ace stood his ground, his fist locked against Teach's.

But Ace's eyes were wide with genuine, unadulterated shock. He stared at the black and red lightning sparking from Teach's arm. He felt the crushing, dominating pressure of the man's spirit pushing back against his own.

"You..." Ace whispered, the realization hitting him like a physical blow. "You have it too."

Teach didn't just possess the Yami Yami no Mi. He didn't just have physical endurance.

He possessed the Color of the Supreme King. Conqueror's Haki.

"Zehahaha!" Teach laughed, his face inches from Ace's, their fists grinding together. "What's the matter, Ace? You look surprised!"

Teach shoved forward, breaking the clash. Ace flipped backward, landing lightly on his feet, his eyes locked onto the towering pirate.

"You thought because I stayed on Whitebeard's ship for twenty years, sweeping the decks and eating cherry pies, that I was just a background extra?" Teach sneered, the black lightning fading slowly from his knuckles. "Did you really think I wouldn't have learned Haki? That I wouldn't possess the qualities of a King?"

Ace gritted his teeth. "You never showed it. Not once."

"Just because I didn't show it doesn't mean I don't have it," Teach said, adjusting his coat. "I am a patient man, Ace. I chose not to reveal my cards to anyone. Not to Pops. Not to Marco. And certainly not to you. A smart pirate only shows his hand when he's ready to take the whole pot."

Teach cracked his thick neck. The darkness swirled around his feet again, but this time, it was laced with the dangerous, crackling energy of his Haki.

"On Banaro Island," Teach continued, his tone turning dark and malicious. "I thought there was no need to use Haki on you. You were a Logia user who relied entirely on your fire. My darkness was enough to crush you. That was my mistake."

Teach pointed a thick finger at Ace.

"I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to learn Armament in the heat of battle. You caught me off guard and nearly broke my ribs."

Teach's grin returned, wider and uglier than before.

"But I don't make the same mistake twice," Teach declared, taking a heavy step forward. "This time, I'm not holding back. I'm not just going to capture you. This time, I will make sure your life is hanging by a thread when I deliver your broken body to the Marines!"

Ace didn't flinch at the threat. The shock of the revelation faded, replaced by the cold, calculating mindset Garp had drilled into him. Teach was a monster. A Conqueror who had hidden his ambition for decades.

This wasn't a brawl anymore. This was war.

Ace jumped back, creating a solid fifty yards of distance between himself and Teach. He landed next to his squad.

He didn't turn his head, keeping his eyes locked on the Blackbeard Pirates.

"Everyone," Ace said, his voice low, steady, and completely devoid of fear. "Be careful. Do exactly what we trained for. Do not let them touch you. They are playing for keeps."

Usopp adjusted his sunglasses. He shifted his grip on his Transforming Bow-Rifle. He didn't look at Teach. He looked straight past the massive captain, locking eyes with the tall, thin sniper standing in the back.

Van Augur was looking right back at him.

Without a word, Usopp took a step backward. His wings flared, and he kicked off the ground, flying backward into the air to gain altitude and distance.

Van Augur recognized the tactical retreat. A sniper duel required space. Augur immediately turned and sprinted backward, using the ruined stone pillars of the harbor to find a high vantage point, putting distance between himself and the impending melee.

"I'll handle the big one!" Brogy roared, stepping forward and gripping his Uru-metal axe with both hands. He locked eyes with Jesus Burgess, the massive, masked wrestler who was already flexing his enormous arms.

"WEEHAHAHA! A small giant?!" Burgess laughed, slamming his fists together. "I'll crush you into paste!"

Vivi twirled her Vibranium spear, the blue energy humming at the tip. She stepped to the left, her eyes fixed on Lafitte, the pale, tap-dancing navigator who was spinning his cane with a sinister smile.

Chopper simply cracked his hooves, staring down Doc Q, who was slumped over his sickly horse, Stronger, holding a massive scythe.

Ace stood in the center, his fists igniting with white-hot flames, heavily coated in black Armament Haki.

Teach stood opposite him, his arms wrapped in crushing, absolute darkness, red lightning sparking across the void.

The wind howled through the ruined harbor, carrying the scent of sea salt and impending destruction.

"Let's go," Ace commanded softly.

"KILL THEM!" Teach roared.

With a simultaneous, explosive burst of speed, the two groups charged.

The gravel shattered beneath their boots. Fire and darkness, steel and muscle, surged forward to meet in the center of the ruins. The true battle for the northern wall had begun.