[One Piece: My Crew Is Trash!] Chapter 283/284/285 (Patreon)

"Back for barely a day, and you've already made waves, even daring to break into Impel Down for a jailbreak! You're the first to ever attempt something so audacious!" Morgans exclaimed after a few quick pleasantries.

Naturally, the World Government wouldn't publicize the humiliating incident of Zyhark's raid on Impel Down. The report on Hancock's escape merely said, "prison break." Such a cover-up might fool the ignorant masses, but for the major players, it was far from a secret.

"I never expected you'd fall so quickly," Zyhark teased. "Replaced by the World Government in just three years."

Surviving a relentless manhunt by the World Government was impressive, but Zyhark couldn't resist poking fun at the cocky birdman.

"Shows what you know! Sacrificing everything for the story of the century—that's a real man's dream!" Morgans shot back, raising his head proudly, feathers ruffling with pride.

Three years ago, the expose on the Celestial Dragons' atrocities had been his crowning moment.

"Pity. I was hoping to give you even bigger news. Seems you're not up for it, though," Zyhark replied with a hint of disappointment.

"What are you planning now?" Morgans's eyes gleamed with madness and excitement.

Morgans had no doubts about his "temporary ally" Zyhark's knack for making headlines. If Zyhark announced plans to storm Mariejois itself, it wouldn't come as a shock. The Demon King Organization, in terms of top-tier strength, now rivaled the Marine Headquarters.

"To gather all the Poneglyphs and reach the final island—Raftel."

"What did you say?!"

Even prepared for surprises, Morgans was taken aback. The Den Den Mushi's expressive face showed his birdman persona with wide eyes popping in shock.

"Here's the truth: I already have three Poneglyphs. I've even confirmed the location of the final one," Zyhark said coolly.

Naturally, his goal wasn't the empty title of Pirate King. Branded "Demon King" by the World Government, he was already seen as a force equal to a Pirate King.

His true purpose for reaching Raftel was to sacrifice the One Piece itself to summon new allies, pushing his power to the next level. Not to mention, Raftel likely held countless other treasures, which, along with the Golden City on Skypiea, would be pivotal in his negotiations to sway the Marines.

Yes, his ultimate goal had always been the World Government alone.

While mountains of gold might not sway Sengoku, Garp, and others, they would be indispensable bargaining chips for an alliance against the World Government.

"Raftel, huh? That name brings back memories…" A new voice interjected as the Den Den Mushi's appearance shifted, now wearing round glasses with a scar over its right eye.

"Rayleigh?!"

This time, Zyhark was the one taken aback.

Both the voice and the image of the Den Den Mushi left no doubt—the caller was none other than the long-vanished "Dark King," Silvers Rayleigh!

He had been mulling over how to track down the old guy, only to find him chatting with Morgans.

"Well met, Zyhark," Rayleigh greeted with his trademark smirk.

"Old M—cough, Rayleigh-sensei, where are you? Is Shakky and the Amazon Lily crew all right?" Zyhark barely contained his excitement.

"You rascal, just when I was figuring out how to reach you, here you are calling me," Rayleigh laughed.

Previously, Zyhark had lost the secret Den Den Mushi he'd used to contact Morgans due to Aqua's antics in the Konosuba world. Thus, Morgans had no way to reach him.

As Rayleigh's voice faded, the Den Den Mushi transformed again, sprouting a delicate antenna with a lady's cigarette in its grip.

"Thanks for your concern. I'm fine, as are the ladies," Shakky's soft, steady voice reassured him.

"Hehe, you owe me for this, Zyhark! Sneaking an entire kingdom's people away was no easy feat!" Morgans boasted.

Of course, he tactfully left out the part where Rayleigh's sword had been pressed to his neck.

"What happened?" Zyhark asked, bewildered.

After a lengthy explanation, Zyhark finally understood.

Three years prior, love-stricken Hancock had been unstoppable, even defying Rayleigh and Shakky's attempts to dissuade her.

Forced to evacuate Amazon Lily, Rayleigh and Shakky had prepared for the worst.

Meanwhile, Morgans, relentlessly pursued by CP agents, had arrived on Amazon Lily, seeking refuge as Zyhark's ally.

Rayleigh had swiftly dealt with the assassins, and, with a serene smile, "requested" Morgans's assistance.

Given that the entire ocean was under the World Government and Marine control, finding a truly safe haven was nearly impossible. So, Rayleigh and Shakky decided to head to Skypiea, specifically the Axis Order stronghold on Birka, which Zyhark had once mentioned.

The end result was Morgans, under immense "persuasion," reluctantly dumping all his news equipment from his airship to transport the citizens of Amazon Lily to Birka in several covert trips under cover of darkness.

There, they settled on the "Trial of God" island, shielded by the perpetual lightning barrier, hiding from prying eyes to this day.

No wonder Moriah had been clueless!

After learning of the harrowing evacuation, Zyhark felt a surge of admiration for Shakky's foresight and Rayleigh's grit.

Who would have guessed that the lightning field left intact to preserve the moon relics in the Trial of God would end up playing such a vital role!

It was a perfect full-circle moment.

After hanging up, Zyhark promptly found Hancock, who was fiercely training with dragon-transformed Kanna in the back hills, and informed her of Rayleigh, Shakky, and Amazon Lily's safety.

"Thank goodness… they're all right… they're really all right!" Hancock couldn't hold back her tears, emotions of relief and guilt flooding out uncontrollably.

Despite her usual remarks about people dying for her beauty, Hancock was a true tsundere at heart, deeply caring about those close to her.

Without delay, Zyhark took Ishtar and Darkness on the Endless Dream to Bilca.

The situation was growing increasingly urgent; he needed to obtain the final Poneglyph from Wano Country to stand a chance against the World Government.

But first, Shadow Island, his temporary base, needed reliable defenders.

While his crew was formidable, Zyhark couldn't shake the uneasy feeling of leaving his unrestrained companions behind, especially when facing Kaido at his peak.

Thus, retrieving Rayleigh and Shakky became essential.

As for bringing along the second clumsy goddess and the eccentric knight, it was a chance for them to get a firsthand look at this strange new world.

After all, two clumsy goddesses couldn't coexist peacefully for long.

Leaving Aqua and Ishtar together unsupervised… he shuddered to think of what state Shadow Island would be in by his return!

(End of Chapter)

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"Curse it! Who knew that up in the skies, this island would still have believers of that idiot!" Ishtar huffed, kicking the figurehead of Aqua on the Endless Dream's prow, throwing any semblance of a "goddess-like" image to the wind.

Despite being a goddess summoned by Zyhark's wish, unlike Aqua, she didn't gain more divine power through faith from followers. But this wasn't about divine strength; she just couldn't stand the thought of Aqua outshining her!

"Ohhh, that lightning! Just reminiscing about it makes me want to stay up there even longer!" Darkness purred, her battered armor barely covering her, as she writhed on the deck, reminiscing over the pleasure of being struck repeatedly by Birka's lightning bolts. Compared to Ishtar's determination, she left far greater shock and awe among Birka's residents.

Meanwhile, at a corner tea table on the deck, Zyhark, Hancock, Rayleigh, and Shakky leisurely sipped tea, catching up.

"Haha! So these are the new allies you've invited? Lively ones, indeed!" Rayleigh chuckled as he watched Ishtar and Darkness, neither of whom could be considered "normal" by any stretch.

"They do fit your… unique recruiting standards," Shakky teased, taking a delicate sip of her tea.

"Ahaha… it's all fate, really," Zyhark replied, scratching his head awkwardly.

Nyaban and the Snake Pirates, including Granny Nyon and Hancock's sisters, had stayed behind on Birka. Given the scale of their impending war with the World Government, their strength, though commendable, wouldn't tip the balance. No need to risk them unnecessarily.

They wouldn't be idle, however, as they aided Morgans in rebuilding the once-great World Economy News from the shadows, reassembling the network and personnel the World Government had scattered over the last three years.

Control of public opinion was essential; Zyhark had no intention of overthrowing the World Government only to be stabbed in the back by a misinformed global populace.

All the preparations were falling into place. Amid the banter and squabbling of Ishtar and Darkness, the Endless Dream sailed through the air, finally returning to Shadow Island.

Surprisingly, the World Government and Marines had not launched an assault here. On the contrary, ever since news of the Demon King Organization's return broke, there had been an eerie silence—even Marine bases around Shadow Island had been evacuated.

Everyone knew that this silence was no surrender. It was the calm before the storm.

With Rayleigh and Shakky now on board, Zyhark gathered his core team—minus the two clumsy goddesses—to plot their strategy deep into the night.

Under the cover of darkness, Zyhark became a streak of lightning, crossing the sea toward the New World's Marine Headquarters.

With his Observation Haki blanketing the area, he deftly evaded the guards, slipping undetected into Fleet Admiral Sengoku's quarters.

The abilities of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit allowed such infiltration to be effortless. So long as he suppressed his killing intent, detection was nearly impossible.

Having mastered the three forms of Haki, Sengoku sensed Zyhark's presence almost immediately.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Zyhark greeted with a smirk, standing atop a makeshift high-voltage lamp made of lightning, with countless legendary weapons floating menacingly around him.

"Zyhark…" Sengoku's pupils narrowed. He hadn't expected Zyhark to be bold enough to waltz into Marine HQ alone. More astonishing, though, was the sheer power he now wielded—each weapon hovering around him was at least on par with the Great Swords.

"If you don't mind, Sengoku-san, I have a matter to discuss," Zyhark said, stowing away his weapons and descending from his lightning perch.

Sengoku's expression grew somber, though he didn't reject Zyhark outright.

…

Their covert discussion lasted nearly two hours, with the exact details unknown.

However, by dawn, a bombshell announcement sent shockwaves through the New World, already bubbling with tension:

"Captain Zyhark of the Demon King Organization publicly challenges Kaido, Emperor of the Beasts, to a duel!"

Though many wondered why Kaido, and not the World Government, had become the target, it didn't deter the pirates already preparing to set sail.

Of all the pirate crews in the New World, Kaido's alliance with Big Mom made them the strongest, surpassing even Whitebeard's forces.

The Demon King Organization, having taken on the Marines and World Government head-on, needed no further introduction.

The impending clash between these two titanic forces—powerful enough to reshape the New World—had every pirate scrambling toward Wano.

Meanwhile, atop Onigashima's roof, Kaido's forces had assembled, joined by Big Mom's officers. Facing them were throngs of hardened pirates.

A chilling wind swept through the crowd, the silence broken only by an ominous aura suffusing the air.

This was the might of two Emperor crews—a gathering of such caliber was unprecedented since the beginning of the Great Pirate Era.

At the front, flanking the skull throne and the confectionery throne, stood Kaido and Big Mom.

"Mamamama! That brat's strong, Kaido. Think you stand a chance?" Big Mom cackled, stuffing cake into her mouth.

Kaido grinned, downing a few gulps of sake. "Sorry, Linlin, but I don't see myself losing."

Excitement danced in his eyes. This duel with Zyhark would be a highlight of his life, a fight worth remembering.

"If you say so. Should be quite the show," Big Mom replied, casting a wary glance forward. "Still, his companions won't be easy pickings either."

In her mind, only Zyhark and his so-called "strongest under the sun," King, were the most concerning. The memory of King's apocalyptic punch remained vividly etched in her mind.

After the God's Kingdom battle, many speculated that King's attack had been a one-off, fueled by his very life.

However, the recent Impel Down incident had proven them wrong—King was very much alive and still a force to be reckoned with.

If he joined the fray, Kaido and Big Mom would stand little chance.

"If that were the case, they'd already be here. They wouldn't bother with an official challenge," Kaido replied, unfazed.

What he sought was a battle that would push him to the brink, whether it was one-on-one or not. He would face the Demon King and his crew without fear.

"True enough. Besides, I'll be here to back you up," Big Mom's eyes gleamed with a deadly glint.

If the Demon King Organization wanted war, they wouldn't cower in fear—they were kings of the seas.

"They're here," Kaido muttered, stopping the conversation short.

Lightning crackled across the sky, announcing Zyhark's arrival over Onigashima.

Boom!

With thunderous force, lightning struck, illuminating Onigashima and all of Wano.

As the dust settled, two distinct figures emerged.

All eyes snapped to the scene, some pirates quaking in terror, barely able to hold onto their weapons.

Kaido sensed Zyhark's aura, his muscles trembling—not in fear, but in raw anticipation.

"Dammit, Master! Did you have to go this fast?!" came Ishtar's voice.

Headfirst in the ground, Ishtar struggled upright, covered in dust and frustration.

"Smoke's clearing, Ishtar. Don't want to ruin your grand debut with that embarrassing look, right?" Zyhark smirked, ignoring the dust Ishtar had sprayed on him.

Ishtar scrambled to compose herself, posing dramatically atop her bow-shaped Noble Phantasm, pulling off a haughty grin. But to her dismay, no one paid her any attention; all eyes were on Zyhark.

Curse you, Master, for stealing the spotlight! She fumed, considering giving Zyhark a good smack on the head.

Just then, Kaido's ominous Conqueror's Haki, laced with a fiery red aura, surged forward.

With each step he took, Kaido's body expanded, covered in azure dragon scales, his horns twisting menacingly as he transformed into his most powerful hybrid form.

"Brat, did you bring back my sake gourd?" Kaido demanded, his beastly gaze intensifying under the weight of his Haki.

"Right here. Care to come and take it?" Zyhark smiled, tapping the gourd hanging from his waist.

He activated his Ashura Haki, his aura clashing fiercely with Kaido's, sending out a wave of spiritual pressure.

Encased in a dazzling electric armor, Zyhark's form grew to match Kaido's height in his dragon form.

"Interesting," Kaido smirked, vanishing instantly, reappearing before Zyhark within a heartbeat.

His kanabo, Hassaikai, crackling with red lightning, swung down with unstoppable force.

In a split second, Zyhark's eyes glowed red as he drew his twin swords, their jet-black blades imbued with Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki.

"Raimei Hakke!"

"Stellar Burst Slash!"

Boom!!

The kanabo and twin blades clashed with explosive energy, tearing through the skies over Wano, rending the heavens themselves apart.

(End of Chapter)

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The Four Emperors Meet, Splitting the Heavens as a Greeting

Their Haki clashed with such intensity that the very ground of Onigashima seemed ready to split, dark red lightning crackling and roaring furiously across the skies.

The fierce collision of their top-tier Conqueror's Haki created an unparalleled mental shockwave, sweeping through the gathered crowd. Wherever it touched, members of the Beast Pirates and Big Mom's crew alike collapsed instantly, foaming at the mouth as they fell unconscious.

"It's been three years, and that brat's Haki has grown strong enough to contend with Kaido..." Big Mom murmured, her bloodshot eyes fixed intently on the two as their Haki clashed.

Despite knowing Zyhark possessed unique racial talents, the rate of his growth still made even the "Iron Balloon" feel uneasy.

"Yes... I must obtain this man. The child we could have together would be an invincible force!" Big Mom clenched her fist, her eyes glinting with unmasked greed.

"So, this is the man the World Government named the Demon King… truly a monster through and through," King muttered. "Still, Kaido-sama won't lose; he's the one who will become the Pirate King!"

"Look at his Haki… the guy doesn't even look older than me!" Katakuri and other Four Emperors' crew members like Jozu and Daifuku watched Zyhark, who had just blocked Kaido's Thunder Bagua, with grave expressions. They finally understood the immense gap between their strength and this young man.

"Wow! So strong! So cool! Is he really the Zyhark everyone talks about, the man who dared to kill Celestial Dragons?" Yamato, hidden among the pirate officers and wearing her ghost-face mask, looked at Zyhark with shining eyes. The sight of him, clad in his thunder-god armor, made her blood race with excitement.

At only nineteen, Yamato had mastered all three forms of Haki, reaching a level that could overpower many officers. This allowed her to clearly feel the sheer force Zyhark's Haki exuded—a power capable of going toe-to-toe with Kaido, the power she had longed for her entire life!

"Hm? Is this the pirate world's way of fighting? Splitting the sky before they even throw a punch?" Unlike the Four Emperors' stunned onlookers, Ishtar sat calmly on her divine bow. As the goddess of war, the Haki clash between Zyhark and Kaido hardly fazed her. Instead, she was intrigued by this ability to convert will into raw, tangible power.

At that moment, the raging Haki storm came to an abrupt halt, and a strange silence enveloped the battlefield.

Seconds later, the earth erupted with force, shattering the calm.

"Cliff Sword!"

A massive magma sword, red with heat, erupted from the ground, surging upward toward Kaido, splitting the earth in its wake.

Boom!

The tremendous explosion echoed through the skies over Onigashima, waves of flame distorting the air with their heat.

With every battle and physical enhancement, Zyhark's summoned Cliff Sword grew in power. But…

With a swift swing of his kanabo, Kaido unleashed a fierce wind blade that shredded the flames to ashes. His face alight with excitement, he opened his massive, fanged maw, gathering countless points of light within.

The compressed energy formed a blinding beam.

"Heat Breath!"

The searing energy wave vaporized the air, causing space to warp around it. Zyhark, undeterred, stepped forward with his twin blades crossed in front.

"200 Million Volts: Thunder Cross!"

The raging wind met the cross-shaped lightning strike mid-air, detonating in a deafening explosion.

The shockwave alone tore the ground, creating cracks stretching hundreds of meters wide.

Kaido, in his dragon form, launched himself through the dust and debris, appearing above Zyhark in an instant. His muscles strained as he gripped his kanabo, Hassaikai, high above his head, now covered in dark lightning.

"Try taking this one, Zyhark! Don't faint like you did on Skypiea!" Kaido sneered, bringing his weapon down with titanic force.

Boom!!!

The terrifying impact tore through the ground, causing all of Onigashima to quake. Pirates stumbled, many collapsing, unable to withstand the sheer intensity.

Even Ishtar was thrown back, forced to retreat from the center of the battlefield. Regaining her stance, she settled in to observe the fight in comfort. This, after all, was exactly why Zyhark had brought her here.

Unlike Aqua, who focused on support, Ishtar, though summoned as an Archer, excelled in combat. This was a golden opportunity for her to witness Haki at its peak, helping her adapt to the layered powers of the pirate world.

As for concern? The goddess barely stifled a yawn, nonchalantly scratching her ear. She knew, thanks to the link between them, that such an attack couldn't possibly bring down Zyhark.

And indeed, Zyhark was nowhere to be found in the pit Kaido's blow had carved.

"Evaded, huh? That insane speed of yours…" Kaido muttered, his savage eyes narrowing, catching a glimmer of red light in his periphery.

The next instant, a powerful Haki-infused slash tore through space, aiming directly for Kaido's exposed back!

Kaido intercepted it, though the force sent him skidding backward.

"Hraaah!" Kaido roared, stomping down to steady himself, his kanabo swiping away the blood-red slash.

With Zyhark's position locked by Observation Haki, Kaido's kanabo arced back in a deadly counterstrike.

"Indra Meteor!"

A crimson energy blast shot forward, slamming into Zyhark, tearing open cracks in his armor. Sent hurtling back, he smashed through pillar after pillar, landing in a crater a thousand meters away.

"Cough… seems that impulsive strike of mine hasn't reached Roger or Shanks' level just yet…" Zyhark grinned, steadying his arm as he wiped a trickle of blood from his lips.

It was, in fact, a move he had learned from Rayleigh, one of Pirate King Roger's signature techniques: Divine Departure.

"Then again…" His eyes locked on Kaido, who was bleeding slightly from the mouth, and he chuckled.

"A technique from Roger… reminds me of a battle or two," Kaido said, grinning through bloodstained fangs, looking even more menacing.

"Even my blood feels like it's boiling, my heart's racing. You really are worth the wait!" Kaido advanced toward Zyhark with slow, deliberate steps.

Zyhark met him, his body crackling with black lightning as he repaired his broken armor, draped in Haki-charged dark energy.

Under the watchful eyes of the gathered pirates, the two closed the distance until they were nearly toe-to-toe, their gazes locked.

"A mythical Zoan fruit, the strongest of its kind, and you're barely scratched after my full-power strike. Still…"

Zyhark's eyes blazed with powerful Haki. "Only Haki can reign supreme over all abilities!"

Kaido: "…"

Your own Devil Fruit is considered one of the most invincible powers, you know!

And you stole the very words I was about to say!

Kaido's jaw twitched in frustration. If he didn't have absolute confidence in his own Haki, he might have thought Zyhark's precognition surpassed even his own.

Those words alone almost hit harder than Zyhark's previous attack.

Kaido gripped his kanabo, the gleam of battle-lust deepening in his eyes.

Since words failed, it was time to resort to overwhelming force and crush this brat.

"Arrogant brat! Prepare to pay for your audacious sermon."

"Military Deva: Dragon Army Strike!"

Boom!

Kaido's kanabo moved so quickly it left afterimages, layering upon each other to cover Zyhark in an inescapable attack.

Zyhark's mind raced, his Observation Haki pushed to its limit. Despite searching for an opening, he found none.

There was no way out. His only option was a head-on clash with greater speed and power!

"Stellar Thunder Slash!"

As Kaido's attack closed in, Zyhark transformed into a bolt of lightning, his twin blades whirling in a storm of slashes.

The moment electricity met the barrage of shadows, time seemed to slow as the battlefield was drenched in crimson lightning.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Their strikes reached a blinding pace, hundreds of swings landing every second, creating a hellscape of slashing energy and raging Haki.

Onlookers were completely bewildered.

All they could perceive were the deafening sounds of clashing weapons and the fierce, red lightning from their Haki battle—neither Zyhark nor Kaido were even visible through the barrage.

(End of Chapter)

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