[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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Blackbeard laugh, his voice echoing through the corridor.
Tatsumi, already prepared, immediately broke into a sprint. As he approached the swampy mire conjured by Blackbeard, he leaped like a carp breaching water, plunging headfirst into the quagmire. The swamp churned violently as he was sucked in.
In any ordinary swamp, the more one struggles, the deeper they sink. This principle applied even more to Blackbeard's Swamp Fruit ability.
Under this artificial acceleration, Tatsumi's figure soon disappeared into the murky depths.
It was only then that Mine snapped out of her shock from having her Teigu stolen. She scrambled to her feet, her hands trembling with anger.
However, without her 'Romantic Turret', her combat effectiveness was significantly diminished. Stripped of her Teigu, Mine was reduced to being just an ordinary young girl, albeit one trained in fighting and assassination.
And with the display of Blackbeard's overwhelming powers, Mine assumed he was a fellow Teigu user. Fear kept her rooted in place, unable to act rashly.
Fortunately...
From the opposite end of the corridor, a golden streak of lightning shot toward them.
It was none other than Leone, another prominent member of Night Raid!
The user of the Teigu The King Of Beasts Transformation: Lionelle!
Leone's Teigu, a belt-shaped weapon, granted her beast-like strength and unparalleled regenerative abilities. Even severed limbs or gouged-out eyes could be reattached with this power, making her nearly immortal.
As Leone arrived, her powerful presence filled the corridor. Without hesitation, she approached Mine, her face etched with concern.
"What happened, Mine?!" Leone asked, her voice sharp with worry.
Seeing her ally arrive, Mine felt a surge of courage. She pointed angrily at Blackbeard and declared, "He... he took my 'Romantic Turret'!"
"What!?" Leone's eyes widened in shock as she turned her fierce gaze on Blackbeard.
The Teigu were invaluable weapons, with only 48 ever created across the empire. Their power was the backbone of Night Raid's success in their dangerous assassination missions within the imperial capital.
Losing a Teigu was a catastrophe—an incident that Night Raid could never take lightly.
"Hey! You disgusting old man!" Leone shouted, her tone filled with venom. "Hand over Mine's Teigu immediately, or I'll make sure you regret the day you were born!"
She punctuated her threat with a feral snarl.
"Zehahahaha..." Blackbeard chuckled in his signature, menacing way. He didn't seem fazed in the slightest by Leone's words.
"Regret the day I was born? Tsk, tsk, tsk..." he said mockingly. "Let's see just how strong you are, little girl."
"You arrogant bastard!" Leone growled, fury blazing in her eyes.
Before she could attack, Mine quickly interjected, "Don't underestimate him, Leone!"
"He's a Teigu user too! I saw him absorb the 'Romantic Turret'—and someone else—into that swamp of his!"
"What? A Teigu with that kind of ability?" Leone muttered, her brows furrowing in surprise.
But she didn't have time to dwell on the thought. With a surge of energy, Leone crouched, then launched herself forward like a cannonball, her muscles rippling with beast-like power.
'BOOM!'
Her flying kick connected with brutal force, smashing directly into Blackbeard's head.
However...
Instead of blood and bone, a torrent of mud exploded from the impact, splattering across the entire corridor.
"Is he dead?"
Leone frowned, a trace of doubt flickering in her eyes. She was surprised—could a Teigu user really be defeated so easily by her?
But as she turned to look back, her expression shifted dramatically.
The headless body she had just struck began to ooze mud. The viscous substance surged upward, quickly reshaping itself into the form of a head on the figure's shoulders.
In mere moments, Blackbeard stood before Leone and Mine once more, his head fully restored.
Grinning broadly, he let out a sinister laugh.
"Zehahahaha, what a powerful blow!" he said, his voice tinged with mockery. "Girl, someone with your talents is wasted on the Night Raid! Why not join me? Together, we could turn this world upside down!"
Blackbeard's eyes gleamed as he spoke, clearly admiring Leone's graceful form and formidable strength.
"What a joke!" Leone scoffed. "Have you even looked in a mirror? With a face like that, who would ever want to work with you?"
Her words dripped with disdain, but her eyes grew more cautious.
Until now, Leone hadn't been able to discern the true nature of Blackbeard's abilities.
How could someone survive a direct, decapitating blow and recover as if nothing had happened?
Could his ability be even more absurd than her own Teigu, 'Beast King Transformation'?
Leone's mind swirled with questions, but Blackbeard, having been rejected, didn't seem inclined to linger.
"Tch, what a shallow woman," he sneered, feigning hurt. "You'll regret this decision!"
Without waiting for a response, Blackbeard dashed toward a nearby window, shattering it as he leaped out and plummeted to the ground below.
"No! He's trying to escape!" Mine cried out in panic. "My 'Romantic Turret'! It's gone!"
"Relax, he won't get far!" Leone assured her. With that, she crouched low before launching herself out of the same window in pursuit.
However, before Leone could land, a shadowy figure soared into the sky beside her.
Standing on the back of three headed menacing dragon, Blackbeard grinned wickedly.
"Zehahahaha... little girl, you're still far from catching me!"
The three headed dragon flapped its wings with immense force, propelling Blackbeard and his mount high into the air. Together, they swiftly flew toward the heart of the imperial capital.
"Damn it! He got away!" Leone cursed, watching helplessly as Blackbeard vanished into the night sky. Frustrated, she punched the ground, her anger echoing in the stillness.
'Boom!'
Just then, a piece of metal armor descended from the sky and landed beside her with a resounding clang.
"What happened, Leone?" a low, metallic voice asked from within the armor.
The sheer size of the mansion had forced the Night Raid members to split up, ensuring that no one inside would survive the attack.
This was why Leone had been the only one close enough to hear Mine's cries for help. If Blackbeard hadn't made such a racket during his escape, no one might have realized anything was amiss until it was too late.
As Blackbeard and his dragon faded into the distance under the crimson glow of the blood moon, Leone knew deep down...
Their assassination mission was a failure.
---
The silence of the night stretched on, unbroken until dawn.
The day after Blackbeard stole the 'Romantic Turret' marked the third day since his arrival in this world.
At noon, within the bustling training camp for imperial special forces recruits, Blackbeard and Tatsumi stood in line, each holding an application form as they prepared for their assessment.
The night before, the duo had found a secluded spot to bury the poor souls murdered by Aria's family, offering them a simple but respectful rest.
Among the corpses, Tatsumi had discovered the lifeless body of his fellow villager, Ieyasu.
Overnight, Tatsumi's world crumbled.
The three of them—once proud warriors capable of defeating high-level danger beasts—had been utterly undone by the cruel depravity of the imperial capital.
In that moment, all the dreams and hope Tatsumi had once harbored for the imperial capital disintegrated like a mirage under the harsh light of reality.
If not for Blackbeard's constant whispering in his ear—encouraging him to grow stronger, steal a Teigu, and resurrect his fallen companions—Tatsumi might have succumbed to despair and considered ending his own life.
Fortunately...
Blackbeard gave him the courage to continue living.
Resurrection!
Although it sounded a bit fanciful, after witnessing Blackbeard's miraculous abilities, Tatsumi was willing to trust this Uncle Teach, whom he had only recently met.
At least...
along the way, nothing Blackbeard had done so far had been harmful to Tatsumi.
After observing Mine and Leone's reactions yesterday, Blackbeard also realized...the gun he had obtained must be incredibly precious!
But no matter how valuable it was, it was still just a weapon.
Considering that a killer organization lurking in the shadows of the imperial capital could possess so many mysterious weapons...
Blackbeard reasoned that the empire, being far more powerful, must have even more!
This was why he still wanted to take Tatsumi to join the special forces.
---
After a short wait in line, the assessment team finally reached Blackbeard and Tatsumi.
The two submitted their forms and then completed a series of physical fitness tests as per the examiners' requirements.
Over the past few days, Blackbeard's strength had recovered to some extent.
Although it was only a fraction of what it had been at his peak, it was still far superior to that of an ordinary person!
Soon enough...
Blackbeard and Tatsumi passed all the assessments one after another.
Moreover, the strength they displayed drew attention from many among the group of new recruits.
Upon officially joining the army, Blackbeard and Tatsumi discovered something unexpected—
the special forces weren't the powerhouse they had imagined.
Instead, this unit was a specialized academy designed to train elite warriors and imperial officers for the empire's various departments.
In a sense, it was like a military academy from another world.
Thus, Blackbeard and Tatsumi began their journey at the empire's military academy, undergoing both rigorous training and indoctrination.
---
Time flew by.
Before they knew it, a month had passed.
Blackbeard and Tatsumi's reputations began to spread throughout the military region.
In an effort to cope with the grief of his partner's death, Tatsumi threw himself into training.
Thanks to his natural talent and the instructors' meticulous guidance, Tatsumi grew stronger by the day.
Now, he has reached level 50!
For someone of his age and strength, he was the epitome of a young general.
This potential drew offers from many military divisions, all hoping to recruit Tatsumi. Yet, he declined them for various reasons.
There was only one reason behind his refusals—
these units couldn't provide what he sought most: Teigu!
Through intense study, Tatsumi had gained a deep understanding of the Teigu. He had even memorized the abilities and weaknesses of most of them.
Such information wouldn't normally be disclosed to a new recruit, but Tatsumi's clever tactics earned him insights others couldn't.
Many military officers, eager to curry favor with the promising recruit, invited Tatsumi to private dinners. Over time, these gatherings became a treasure trove of information for him.
As for Blackbeard, his presence at the training camp also garnered attention.
While older and less striking in appearance, Blackbeard's strength—equivalent to level 40—secured him the second rank in the camp.
But what truly captivated others was not just his power; it was his unwavering patriotism!
Whenever there was a political class, Blackbeard could always answer the teacher's questions with perfect precision.
And when he looked at the flag of the empire, the sincerity and loyalty in his eyes were unmistakable!
This was precisely what the military leaders admired the most... honor guards!
Decent strength, impeccable manners, and a pathological loyalty to the empire.
Anyone fortunate enough to have such a subordinate in their ranks, especially one noticed by the emperor and his ministers, would undoubtedly earn a moment of glory!
From start to finish, no one questioned whether Blackbeard's fanatical loyalty was genuine.
After all, Blackbeard had over 20 years of experience in infiltration and espionage—his acting skills were nothing short of masterful.
He took full advantage of the political classes at the training camp, gradually shaping his emotions to exude unwavering loyalty, as if thoroughly brainwashed.
This, of course, was the primary purpose of holding political classes in the first place.
Blackbeard believed...
it wouldn't be long before someone sought him out.
After all, no matter how talented Tatsumi was, his potential was still something for the future.
But Blackbeard, as a perfect "tool," could deliver results right now.
As expected...
It took less than a week.
One day, while training for the glory of the empire, Blackbeard was abruptly summoned out of the camp.
Escorted by two soldiers, Blackbeard, clad in his recruit's uniform, was led to a conference room.
The moment he entered, a powerful voice rang out:
"Welcome, Marco."
In the center of the room sat a man clad in metal armor, his posture composed and imposing.
A massive scar stretched across his left eye, completely obscuring the socket.
His right eye, in stark contrast, glowed a devilish scarlet.
At the sight of this man, Blackbeard instantly recalled everything he knew about him.
Ogre!
The Captain of the Imperial City Guard!
While rumors suggested that Ogre's strength wasn't exceptional, his fearlessness in battle had ensured his survival through countless conflicts.
He was, without a doubt, a ruthless individual.
Blackbeard smirked inwardly.
Ogre commanded the most formidable troops in the imperial capital. His political power was immense, even if his personal combat abilities were average.
He was exactly the kind of superior Blackbeard had been hoping for—a stepping stone to his ambitions.
It seemed his grand plan to infiltrate and overthrow the empire could finally begin!
As for why Ogre addressed him as "Marco"... that was because Blackbeard had written the name Marco Teach on his recruitment form.
After all, in a world filled with mysterious artifacts, who knew if there was a tool that could manipulate or harm someone using their real name?
It never hurts to be cautious.
Unlike dimensional merchants or investigators, Blackbeard couldn't use his original powers freely.
So, he approached everything with utmost care.