One Piece: Davy Jones, Captain of the Terror Ghost

Chapter 178 178: Sengoku’s Fears Become Reality

Davy Jones heard the gunshot and saw that pink-haired youth tumble lifelessly into the surging waves.

He turned his gaze to Alvida, the one who had fired, and asked curiously:

"You knew who he was?"

Truth be told, Davy Jones had little impression of the boy.

Alvida waved her hand dismissively.

"Captain, that was Koby, the one from the East Blue who had his little schemes. You tore off his arm as punishment back then. Hardly worth remembering. I didn't expect him to show up here, babbling that childish nonsense."

Only then did Davy Jones recall. Ah yes, that boy had even wet himself in fear before him. Months had passed, yet it seemed he had gained no real strength at all.

He gave a slight nod. Since the boy was already dead, there was no need to spare him another thought.

He glanced once more at the screaming Helmeppo on the opposite deck but, finding him unfamiliar, dismissed him entirely and strode toward the cabin.

That one he truly did not recognize.

"Captain?" said Law, leaning against the mast with his long blade Kikoku in hand. Seeing Davy Jones pass, he tilted his head in curiosity. "Where are you going?"

"It is time," Davy Jones replied, "to play the Song of Souls."

The door before him creaked open of its own accord, cold mist seeping out from within. Davy Jones entered with heavy steps.

The crew stiffened at the words Song of Souls. Their eyes flickered as they exchanged glances in uneasy silence.

It was Crocodile who first sensed something, his gaze lifting instinctively toward the sky.

Almost forgot about him, Crocodile thought grimly.

At that moment, a figure descended from above, landing in a crouch upon the deck before standing tall, adjusting the long sword at his hip.

The crew bristled at first, hands tightening around their weapons—until the man's face came into view. Then their tension eased, replaced by surprise.

"Rayleigh!" Buggy shouted in shock.

"You little rascal…" Rayleigh muttered with a laugh.

He looked somewhat disheveled, a streak of his silver hair shorn away, but he bore no serious wounds. Dusting off his shoulders, he let out a hearty laugh:

"Buggy, if I hadn't chased after you myself, would you have just abandoned me? Wasn't it you, back on Fishman Island, begging for my help? And now, when the deed is done, you'd leave me behind?"

He had been locked in battle with Admiral Kizaru until only recently, neither side able to claim victory. With the conflict at Marineford drawing to a close, Rayleigh finally managed to slip away.

Even Borsalino had failed to stop him.

In truth, their fight had been restrained—far from their full power. Rayleigh even found a moment mid-battle to exchange a few words with an old acquaintance: the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.

Hancock, after all, was not only an Empress but the ruler of Amazon Lily, that kingdom of women deep within the Calm Belt. Its former empress, two generations prior, was Shakky—the very woman Rayleigh now shared his life with in the Sabaody Archipelago.

Because of Shakky, Hancock naturally lent no hand to Borsalino. Instead, she cleared nearby Marines from Rayleigh's path before vanishing.

Buggy rubbed his nose awkwardly, his tone rising a shade too high.

"Ah… I was just about to come find you."

"Liar. You always touch your nose when you lie. You only remembered me just now," Rayleigh chuckled knowingly. He shrugged it off, asking instead, "Where's your captain?"

"Uh… in the cabin."

Rayleigh didn't press further. Instead, he walked to the ship's rail.

His eyes swept across the deck of the nearby Marine vessel—until they found Ace.

So alike. So very alike. How had I never noticed, back when I first saw Fire Fist Ace's wanted poster?

Perhaps because I never believed Roger could have left behind a child…

"Overboard with you!" Ace suddenly barked, booting Helmeppo into the sea.

With a scream, the youth splashed into the waters below. For a moment, nothing—but then he broke the surface, thrashing desperately.

If fortune favored him, another Marine ship might pluck him from the waves—or he might claw his way back to shore. If not… he would simply drown.

Ace watched him for a beat, then felt a strange presence. Turning, he locked eyes with Rayleigh across the distance.

Who is this man? And why is he staring at me?

Rayleigh merely smiled and gave him a small nod before turning away, vanishing from sight.

"Who was that?" Ace asked, glancing at Sabo, who stood nearby gripping his steel pipe.

Sabo, finally able to let Ivankov tend to the unconscious Luffy, answered after a pause:

"If our intelligence is accurate, that was the 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh. Your father's right hand. He's been living in seclusion on Sabaody."

Rayleigh… "Roger's Right Hand."

Ace fell silent. At last, he turned toward Whitebeard's corpse and said quietly:

"I have only one father. But I will not forget the debt we owe Rayleigh—and Captain Davy Jones."

Sabo nodded. "As long as you're clear on where you stand."

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" snarled Vice Admiral Onigumo, his eight arms thrashing in agitation. "Are we just letting them go?"

He meant, of course, Davy Jones' crew, the remnants of Whitebeard's pirates, and the escaped Impel Down convicts—all sailing out of Marineford's bay.

Sengoku's eyes, behind the gleam of his glasses, lingered on the stretchers where Aokiji and Akainu were being treated. His voice sank low:

"Let them go."

"Fleet Admiral!" Onigumo barked. "They killed Vice Admiral Strawberry!"

Sengoku froze. Only now did he realize they had lost a Vice Admiral as well.

His brows knitted tightly.

"We killed Whitebeard. Little Oars Jr. too. This is war. Casualties are inevitable."

But the truth was grim—the losses already far exceeded his expectations.

At first, the battle had been under Marine control. But then the tide turned—sharply, brutally.

All because of the Ghostly Terror Ghost and Davy Jones' crew.

Sengoku clenched his jaw, fingers tugging at his beard like the lash of a whip. He had to stay composed—for if even he lost control, what chaos would sweep through his ranks?

Onigumo opened his mouth to argue again, but Sengoku had already turned away.

He beckoned a nearby captain.

"Where is Kizaru?"

"Report, Fleet Admiral! Admiral Kizaru was last seen in pursuit of the enemy!"

Sengoku stiffened, his expression shifting in alarm. He snatched a Den-Den Mushi from his robes, dialing furiously.

"Quick! Contact Kizaru and recall him immediately!"

"Yes, Fleet Admiral!" the captain answered, rushing off.

The Den-Den Mushi clicked and whirred as Sengoku turned the dial, but his heart weighed heavy with dread.

Aokiji had nearly been crushed to death in the deep by Davy Jones. Akainu lay broken from Whitebeard's final strike, clinging to life.

If Kizaru too were to fall… the consequences would be catastrophic.

For half a month at least, the Marines would be without their three Admirals—the core of their supreme power.

And Whitebeard's death was certain to throw the New World into chaos.

Without the Admirals, how could the Marines possibly stabilize it?

The balance Sengoku had sought to reshape would collapse. The spoils of this war would fall instead to Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks.

The Marines wouldn't even be left with scraps.

This was why Sengoku dared not give chase.

His forces still included himself, Garp, and the Vice Admirals. But their enemies still counted among them Davy Jones, Rayleigh, Crocodile, Marco, Ace, Jinbe, Sabo, Ivankov, and more.

If battle erupted again, their losses would only multiply. The Navy might not even have the strength left to defend its branch bases.

As for the Shichibukai? Sengoku had never trusted them fully—and their half-hearted showing in this war had only proven him right.

"Damn it! Why isn't he answering?" Sengoku hissed, jabbing at the Den-Den Mushi. "That fool Kizaru—he must've forgotten his standard line and taken the black surveillance snail instead!"

The Terror Ghost and the commandeered Marine ships had put some distance between themselves and Marineford, but none dared relax.

A blinding light flashed across the sky, bearing down upon them with impossible speed.

"Kizaru…" Marco muttered, glaring upward at the descending Admiral. "Persistent bastard."

All eyes turned skyward, every pirate tense and braced for battle.

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