Bonney was bound by thick chains, her wrists locked high above her head as her body was forced against a cold stone pillar. Her long legs stretched across the ground, and her posture left her completely exposed.
Her pink hair was disheveled, partially covering her face, but it could not hide the fury burning in her eyes. Her teeth were clenched tightly, her expression filled with anger and deep hatred directed at Blackbeard.
After the Bonney Pirates were wiped out at the Sabaody Archipelago, she had spent a long ti rebuilding her crew. She finally set sail again, only to suffer the sa fate in the New World.
The ones responsible stood right in front of her.
They had attacked without hesitation the mont they crossed paths. Her crew had been slaughtered without rcy, and the rage inside her burned stronger than anything she had ever felt, even surpassing what she felt toward that certain man.
At the sa ti, she rembered what he had told her more than ten days ago, warning her not to challenge the Blackbeard Pirates. But this was not her choice. They were the ones who attacked her crew.
"Zehahaha!"
Under the crimson sky and the flas that lit the surroundings, Blackbeard's grin looked even more grotesque.
"So this is a Supernova worth over a hundred million Berries? You are far too weak. Coming all the way from the South Blue to the New World just to end up like this, what a waste, Zehahaha."
The rest of the Blackbeard Pirates burst into loud laughter.
Blackbeard stepped closer, lifting Bonney's chin with a finger as he looked down at her with mockery in his eyes.
"You are too weak to be my comrade, not even close to qualifying. But if you beco my woman, I might consider letting you follow into the seas ahead."
Bonney's eyes flickered.
Blackbeard leaned in slightly, thinking she was wavering.
Then she snapped.
"Stop joking, you bearded pig!"
She kicked him away without hesitation, sending him stumbling back and losing face in front of his crew.
"Haha, the captain got rejected!"
"That was embarrassing."
Blackbeard stood up again, irritation clear on his face.
"What a troubleso woman. A woman should know how to behave. With that temper, you are only fit to be a partner at best. Since you refuse to cooperate, we will stick to the original plan and hand you over to the Marines in exchange for a warship."
He spoke casually, as if deciding her fate ant nothing.
The crew laughed even louder, completely indifferent. In the New World, people like Bonney were nothing more than expendable. Every day, fools who overestimated themselves t their end.
Suddenly, Laffitte, who was acting as lookout, spoke up.
"Captain, I see a warship approaching."
Blackbeard's eyes lit up imdiately.
"Is it the Marine ship for the exchange? Who is leading it?"
A cold gleam flashed in his eyes. If the one arriving was not strong enough, he had no intention of keeping his promise. He would simply take the warship along with Bonney.
But Laffitte's next words changed everything.
"I do not think it is the Marines. On the deck, I can see Roger. This is not a Marine ship, it belongs to pirates."
"Roger?"
"That is impossible..."
The entire crew fell silent for a mont.
The na alone carried weight. During the Marineford War, the Pirate King's presence had overshadowed even Whitebeard.
Bonney, still chained, heard the na and froze.
That man from Sabaody ca to mind instantly.
Could it really be him?
The already tense atmosphere grew heavier.
Blackbeard narrowed his eyes.
"How many are with him?"
The idea of fighting the Pirate King stirred sothing in him, but caution held him back. If it was only Roger, they might stand a chance. He still had unfinished business from Impel Down and Marineford.
Laffitte observed again, then spoke.
"I do not see many. Wait... Rayleigh is with him. Dark King Rayleigh, and he looks younger."
That was enough.
Blackbeard turned imdiately and ran toward the opposite shore where the Bonney Pirates' ship was docked.
"I am not afraid of them. There is just no reason to fight them now. Retreat!"
The crew did not argue. None of them wanted to face Roger and Rayleigh without certainty of victory.
They quickly withdrew, kicking up dust as their laughter faded into the distance.
"That was a poor showing."
"It is Roger and Rayleigh, what did you expect?"
Bonney was left behind, still bound and abandoned.
To them, she was not worth the trouble.
"Damn it... I will make you pay for this..."
anwhile, on the deck of the warship belonging to the Aether Pirates, Aether lay back on a lounge chair, calmly checking his system interface.
It had been five days since they set sail.
With the modified warship's speed, he and Rayleigh had already completed patrols across a third of their territory. Most of the islands had accepted the change in leadership and welcod Aether's protection.
So, however, resisted. Those who tried to break away were quickly suppressed by Aether and Rayleigh.
In the New World, strength determined survival. Without protection, ordinary people would only be swallowed by chaos.
Along the way, they encountered subordinate pirate crews dealing with intruders and received reports from across the territory.
For now, the situation remained stable.
The Beasts Pirates' forces advancing from the north had not pushed deeply into their territory. Diamond Jozu was leading several crews to hold them back, clashing with Jack without escalating into a larger conflict.
The pressure from the Big Mom Pirates in the west was more intense, likely due to Aether rejecting Charlotte Linlin's proposal.
Even so, Marco and Vista were holding the line, preventing any advance.
Charlotte Linlin herself had not taken action yet. If an Emperor stepped in personally, the war would escalate beyond control.
Even Charlotte Katakuri had only appeared briefly in the early stages before disappearing again for unknown reasons.
The subordinate crews were defending the territory well, maintaining balance.
Still, not everything was under control.
So opportunistic pirates continued to slip through.
Among them was a Supernova who had recently entered the territory and begun causing trouble.
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