Chapter 129: The Shattered Calm....
The captain stood before the window, his back to the table, gazing out into the distant horizon. The molten world outside roiled and pulsed with fiery intensity, its glow casting an ominous hue over the chamber. The window—known among the crew as the Resilient Mountain Window—was made of reinforced obsidian, giving him an unbroken view of the rugged volcanic landscape. The weight of the scene outside seemed to seep into the room, pressing upon the gathered crew like a storm gathering force. The low hum of the volcanic tremor reverberated through the floor, adding to the tension that hung thick in the air.
A faint chuckle escaped the captain's lips, and his grin spread wider, though he did not turn away from the window. His presence seemed to grow larger, even without facing them. The crew could feel his commanding aura, palpable even from the rear of the room. His laughter was unsettling—warm, yet laced with an edge that spoke of something far darker beneath. The captain reveled in the discomfort of his crew, a silent predator watching from the shadows, content in the anticipation of what was to come.
Without breaking his gaze from the horizon, the captain slowly raised a glass of dark wine in his hand, swirling it in a deliberate motion. The liquid swirled, reflecting the eerie light of the volcano in its depths. Each turn of the glass seemed to stretch the silence, his every movement deliberate, controlled. The crew remained still, almost afraid to disturb the moment, knowing the captain's words would be as deliberate as his actions.
"Since you're all here," the captain finally spoke, his voice smooth and measured, though tinged with an unmistakable authority. "I have some interesting news to share, courtesy of our dear friend, Jaro." His words were punctuated with the faintest pause, the weight of them sinking into the room like a heavy stone dropped into water. The crew leaned forward instinctively, their ears straining for the next piece of information. The captain's hand continued to swirl the wine, its motion hypnotic, almost ritualistic, as if he were savoring the moment before the storm.
Malakai, ever the perceptive one, broke the silence with his usual calm precision. His sharp eyes flickered briefly to the captain's back, a sign of respect and caution. "There is no doubt that its about our ambush plan for the Black Seraph lieutanants and more" he said, his voice calm but laced with the eagerness of a soldier who had been waiting for action. "Has it been delayed, or perhaps canceled entirely?"
The captain's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile, though his gaze never wavered from the molten horizon outside. He took a slow sip of the wine, savoring its taste before answering, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "That's right, Malakai. It seems the Black Flame Pirates are on the island as well." His words seemed to linger in the air, heavy with meaning, as if they had just unleashed something far darker on the horizon.
The room fell silent. The flickering torchlight seemed to dim, as if the very walls of the chamber were holding their breath in anticipation. Each crew member processed the captain's words, their minds racing with the implications. The captain's presence remained unshaken, even as the tension in the room grew to an unbearable level. The molten world outside pressed on, and within the chamber, the crew could feel the storm that was about to break.
After a long pause, it was Rurik it who finally broke the silence. His expression was one of confusion, his brow furrowed in thought as he glanced between the captain and the rest of the crew. "What do you mean by that, Captain?" he asked, his voice sharp with uncertainty.
The captain, still gazing out at the volcanic horizon, allowed the question to hang in the air for a moment before turning slowly. His face remained unreadable, but the aura of command around him seemed to intensify, heavy with the weight of what was to come.
The captain's voice was smooth, almost leisurely, as he replied to the growing tension in the room, "As I said, the Black Flame Pirates are on Calamity' Rest, the same island as the Black seraphs pirates,"
"I get it." "But how can the Black Flame Pirates be there?" Rurik muttered, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of it. "They should be locked in a fierce battle with those guys on No Name Island. They're supposed to be occupied, not..." He trailed off, unable to reconcile the information.
A murmur of disbelief rippled through the room, as if each crew member was struggling to piece the puzzle together. Is this some sort of joke? Could it be that the captain had been misinformed? The confusion only deepened as they tried to understand how the Black Flame Pirates could suddenly appear on Calamity's Rest. This didn't add up. Something was off.
The captain's smile remained, his voice steady as he spoke. "There's no need for confusion. Jaro said it himself. The Black Flame Pirates confirmed it with their own words—they've defeated or rather destroyed the Navy plus Crocodile by themselves."
A stunned silence fell over the room. The crew exchanged looks, shock painting their faces, as the weight of his words settled in. The atmosphere thickened, each member struggling to process the sheer scale of what had just been revealed.
As the group tried to process the information, the quiet figure at the corner of the rectangular table shifted. Enira Velis, the Venom Fang Pirates' navigator, had remained almost invisible until this moment, her attention absorbed by the logpose in her hands.
Her presence, while unnoticed at first, became undeniable. Seated near the edge of the table, her striking features barely visible beneath the dark cloak of her jet-black hair, Enira had been a quiet observer of the discussion. As the captain's words lingered in the air, she slowly looked up, her golden eyes meeting the room with a calm, unblinking gaze.
For a moment, the crew was struck by the shift in the room—how the tension seemed to radiate even more when Enira's gaze landed on the captain. Her sharp, calculated expression reflected an understanding of the situation far beyond what was immediately obvious.
Enira's voice, smooth and measured, cut through the silence. "So that's how it is."
Her appearance, as striking as it was mysterious, seemed to heighten the charged atmosphere. She wore a sleek, black bodysuit, the intricate patterns faintly visible against the dim lighting of the room. It was clear that she was no mere figure in the background; her reputation spoke for itself. With a bounty of 90 million, and the nickname "The Abyss Siren,".
Image here...
"No wonder we haven't executed the plan from long ago." Her eyes flickered briefly to the crew, as if weighing their reactions before she continued, her piercing stare now turning toward the map.
Despite her stunning beauty, it was her unmatched navigational skills that made her irreplaceable to the Venom Fang Pirates—skills that were often described as bordering on the supernatural.
As she adjusted the logpose in her hands, her gaze lingered on it for a moment, the sea's unpredictable movements reflecting in her eyes. It was clear that in this moment, she understood the gravity of what had just been revealed.
Malakai, ever perceptive, tilted his head slightly as he let out a soft chuckle. "Who would have thought-," he muttered, shaking his head.
The captain's smile deepened ever so slightly, savoring the moment. He then moved away from the window and walked to the head of the table, his footsteps quiet but purposeful. He paused, standing there for a moment, before lowering himself into his seat. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows on the walls, adding to the mysterious, almost dangerous atmosphere.
"Yes," the captain said, his voice low and filled with a touch of amusement. "Who would have thought the navy would lose again—and lose another warlord on top of it? Even after all that preparation, the line-up... truly unexpected."
Rurik's sharp voice cut through the tension. "But do you really believe that?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism as he glanced around the group. His eyes flickered with doubt. "Can it really be true? Could they have really defeated them? For it has not been a long time since they have been out at sea, so having some doubt is not suprising.
Malakai leaned forward, his usual smirk replaced by a look of seriousness. "Why would Jaro lie about something like that?" he said, his voice steady. "There's no reason to fabricate such a bizarre story. It must have happened. There's no other explanation for it."
"The intel should not be false, else Jaro not not value his life."
Rhea Ishida, her twin katanas—Fang and Venom—resting at her sides, gave a sharp, practiced flick as she cleaned one of her blades. Her gaze never left the captain as she spoke, her voice cool and precise. "The Black Flame Pirates... It's been two years since they started their journey from the West Sea to the Grand Line. They've grown since then. But it's not just their strength that's pushed them to where they are now." She paused, eyes narrowing slightly, a sense of realization dawning upon her. "They've come this far because of the captain."
Her words hung in the air, a silent weight to them. Rhea's statement made it clear—the Black Flame Pirates, unlike the other Supernovas, weren't simply a force of nature. They were where they were because of the captain's influence, his leadership. Even though the crew had been in hiding for some time, the mark he had left on the world was undeniable.
Enira nodded, adding another layer of insight. "But it's not just one Supernova," she said, her voice steady and sure. "There are two in this mix. Many Supernovas have fallen—bounty hunters, pirates, entire fleets wiped out. The River of the seas has claimed them, killed them off. Yet the Black Flame Pirates didn't just survive; they were able to step out of the shadows and truly stand in the same league as the remaining Supernovas. And that's something no one could have predicted. They're now among the very few who control the seas."
"Even so, is Jaro dead?" Rurik asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
The captain's smile didn't waver, even as he leaned back slightly. "Even if he is dead or alive, the Black Flame Pirates have already crossed the line with us. They've grown into a much bigger threat than we anticipated, and that threat needs to be eliminated."
There was a shift in the room at the captain's words. It wasn't just the weight of the statement—it was the realization that the Venom Fang Pirates' plans had been disrupted by the Black Flame Pirates. They were no longer just another obstacle. They had become an undeniable enemy of the Venom fang piartes. A faint ray of light flashed in each crew member's eyes. The very thought of the Black Flame Pirates' interference caused killing intent to slowly to rise and spread in the room.
"Well, then, captain," Rurik spoke again, his tone filled with a quiet anticipation. "Let go and kill the Black Flame pirates, we will show those out in there in the seas not very and anyone can be an enemy of us."
The captain, still with that unshakable calm, took his seat at the front of the rectangular table. His eyes swept over the crew, his fingers absentmindedly carry his finger around the rim of the wine glass which created a soft beating hum. He continued with a cunning a smile, his voice low but full of purpose." What's the rush? "Why bother doing all the hard work ourselves don't we have friends who can help ?"
They all know that once this information spreads out in the seas, there will definitely be alot of uproar and so other pirates, bounty hunters alike will want to kill them whether may be there growing threat, eliminating a competitor or money eyes will be on them. But they are not the focus currently.
The crew paused, realizing at once who the captain meant—the Black Seraph Pirates. Their interest in the treasures was just as undeniable as the Black Flame Pirates'. The captain leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing with calculated intent.
"They won't let the Corbin, Violent and the rest of the pirates leave with the treasure and while at it why not clip off the wings of the black Seraphs pirates while they're at it. The shadowy figure of the captain which became clearly by the second took a taking a sip from his glass of red wine. "They'll fight for it and so a confrontation between them is inevitable...and when they do clash..." He paused, letting the tension build.
"The weaker side will definitley not fare off well." Malakai who was looking through at a deep purple potion close to his eyes added.
Rhea's gaze sharpened as she leaned forward, her voice low but laced with a hint of curiosity. "What now, Captain?
The captain, seated in the shadows, tilted his head slightly, his stitched face partially hidden from view. The faint glimmer of light reflecting off the edges of his sharp, scarred features gave him an air of menace. His crimson eyes, glowing faintly even in the dim light, caught Rhea's attention as he let a sly smile stretch across his lips.
Erina, standing nearby, interrupted the heavy silence, her tone casual yet pointed. "Haven't you heard of the phrase? The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Rhea's eyes flashed with realization, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. "Are you saying...?"
Erina cut her off, her smirk growing wider. "You're smart. I think you've figured it out."
The captain chuckled, his voice low and grating, sending a chill through the air. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers brushing against the jagged stitches across his face. "It seems," he said, his voice deep and laced with malice, "I'll be visiting an old friend in the next few days."
"Erina," he continued, his tone commanding, "have everything prepared. We'll move out soon."
Erina who had, her gaze fixated on the log pose in her hands. "Understood." The intensity of her expression spoke volumes; preparations were already underway, her mind racing to ensure every detail was accounted for.
As he spoke, his fingers traced the stitches near his eye. His scarred visage shifted slightly in the dim light, revealing the full extent of his mutilated features—a patchwork of scars and stitching that told stories of bloody battles and near-death escapes. For a moment, his crimson eyes flared with a killing intent so palpable it made the air heavy.
The captain's fingers traced the jagged stitches across his face as he leaned back in his chair, the faint glow of his crimson eyes cutting through the dim light. "You all can do whatever you want for now....," he said, his voice calm yet carrying an undercurrent of menace.
The captain smirked at the mix of activity around him, his scarred face catching more of the light as he adjusted his posture. His dark coat shifted, the chains and talismans on it clinking faintly.
As the light fully illuminated him, his fearsome appearance became undeniable. The captain was a towering figure, his broad shoulders draped in a tattered black trench coat adorned with venomous snake motifs and sinister talismans. His disheveled black hair fell in uneven strands across his stitched and scarred face, the markings speaking of countless battles and betrayals.
Piercing crimson eyes glowed with malice and cunning, sharp enough to pierce through even the bravest of souls. His jagged grin revealed serrated teeth, only adding to his aura of menace. The multiple rings in his left ear gleamed faintly, while the faint mist surrounding him carried a venomous tang.
At his side rested his signature weapon: a chain scythe with a serrated blade, its links stained and rusted with poison. His very presence exuded power and danger, making the air around him feel heavy with dread.
He leaned back in his seat again and placed his feet on the table, his grin widening. "For the next few days here will be alot of noise in the Grand Line."
"Hahahahaaaa....!"His crimson eyes flared as he laughed, a sinister and cunning sound that sent shivers through the room.
Captian of the Venom Fang Pirates-
Draken-The Venemous Shadow
545,000,000 million berries
Image here....
...
A few days later, the Grand Line was shaking, and the seas were in an uproar.