One Piece: Rinnegan Is My Golden Finger.

After handling everything, Chiga prepared to leave. But before departing, he gave a last glance at Blackbeard's motionless body lying on the ground.

Originally, he'd intended to destroy Blackbeard's corpse, but changed his mind—he would leave it to the people of this country. After all, Blackbeard had nearly wiped them out. Giving them a chance to vent their rage might bring them closure.

Casting one final look at his "Three-Bedroom, Two-Living-Room Technique," Chiga transformed into a bolt of crackling purple lightning and vanished into the sky.

As the last traces of lightning faded, King Gustav dropped to his knees and bowed repeatedly toward the spot where Chiga had disappeared. In his heart, he had already resolved to commission a statue of Chiga at the heart of the royal capital—for all to admire.

When he shared this idea, both ministers and citizens agreed enthusiastically. Chiga had already become a godlike figure to them. A statue felt only natural.

Some even suggested that the statue should be made entirely of gold, with amethyst eyes to capture the beauty of his Rinnegan.

Hearing this, Gustav's expression darkened. Pure gold? Amethyst? Where do they think we'll find that? This country barely has people left, let alone treasure…

But when he saw the hopeful faces around him, he clenched his fists in determination.

He would make it happen—no matter what.

As the crowd began discussing materials for the statue, Gustav turned back to look at Blackbeard's body—his eyes now brimming with fury.

They had all heard it in Chiga's Door-Door Space: Blackbeard hadn't destroyed their country for revenge or conquest. It had been a demonstration. A test of power.

He sacrificed an entire nation to showcase a Devil Fruit. Just that.

If not for Chiga, they'd have all rotted away in that eternal void.

Consumed by rage, Gustav unsheathed a saber from one of his guards and strode toward Blackbeard's body.

He raised the blade high, aiming to cut the corpse into pieces—but the moment he looked at Blackbeard's face, an eerie chill shot down his spine.

Why… why am I scared? He's dead!

Gustav stood frozen for a long time, then lowered the saber with trembling hands.

"Guards! Drag this filth to the shore and let the sea carry him off. Let the fish deal with him!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

---

On the shoreline, Blackbeard's body lay half-buried in wet sand, waves lapping closer and closer. His weight had kept him grounded, but it was only a matter of time before the tide pulled him in.

Then—suddenly:

Buzz!

A mass of black energy surged from beneath the body. Though the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit had already been stripped from him, darkness once again rose, swirling into a black vortex.

The crashing tide suddenly curved toward the void—sucked into the forming black hole.

Then came the sound.

"Hehehehehehe…"

The corpse twitched.

Blackbeard's body jerked upright, wearing a twisted grin.

One of his arms, now formed from pure darkness, rose into the air as he whispered to himself:

"You knew Purple Kirin was hunting down ability users, and still you flaunted the Dark-Dark Fruit… Truly foolish, Teach."

Had anyone heard him at that moment, they might've assumed the trauma had splintered Blackbeard's mind.

But was that truly the case?

The figure looked toward the sea, spread his arms wide, and inhaled deeply, as if savoring the salty air.

"So nostalgic… I didn't think I'd feel this again. I should thank that Purple Kirin… If not for him, I would've been devoured by that idiot Teach."

He clenched his fist, and the darkness on his hand flickered and faded.

His expression turned grim.

"The power's running low… I need to find a new host before it's too late."

He pondered for a moment. A specific Devil Fruit came to mind—a powerful one.

A grin crept back onto his face.

That's the one. Teach may've been an idiot, but his knowledge of Devil Fruits was encyclopedic. He was useful, at least in that regard.

Having chosen his next target, the figure began walking, his direction clear: toward the docks, where Teach's old ship awaited.

He ignored the island's people—he had no interest in them anymore. Besides, if he stirred up trouble now, Purple Kirin might return.

Just thinking of that name made him shiver.

"Damn monster… Even at my peak, I might not have stood a chance."

As he trudged forward, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the sky:

"TEACH! YOU BASTARD!!!"

He froze.

Every muscle tensed.

Had Purple Kirin returned!?

Slowly, he turned toward the source—and then relaxed when he saw the figure descending.

A massive bird, cloaked in blue flames, was soaring toward him: Marco the Phoenix, First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Marco's sharp eyes locked onto him from above. Flames flared brighter across Marco's wings, fueled by fury.

The memory of Thatch burned in Marco's heart, and it ignited his power.

Still mid-air, Marco transformed into his hybrid form, blue fire swirling around him.

With a fierce cry, he launched his attack:

"Blue Flame Gull!!!"

A great flaming bird detached from Marco's body, screeching as it plummeted toward the shore.

The figure formerly known as Blackbeard grinned and raised a hand.

"Hehehehehehe! Marco, you're too late! Black Hole!"

Buzz!

Darkness erupted from his palm, forming a swirling vortex.

The flaming gull dove directly into the blackness—struggling, burning, and finally vanishing into the void.

Only a few fading blue embers remained.

---

Thank you for the "Generous" Powerstones ರ⁠_⁠ರ