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Published:
2022-12-15
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2025-08-26
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275/?
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One Piece: Grand Journey

Chapter 265: Just a Pawn

Summary:

A betrayal shocks the battlefield as Genius meets a tragic end, revealing a past tied to the legacy of the greatest of pirates...

Chapter Text

In the main room, a large explosion is seen as Jordan attempts to attack Genius with ranged artillery. Genius deftly dodges, prompting Jordan to angrily order her to stay still. As he rushes close to using Tekken , Genius takes her morningstar and wraps its chain part around Jordan’s leg, tripping him. As he falls, she bashes him on the head with the mace part, damaging him. However, Jordan laughs, stating that he’s got her now, as he is revealed to have caught the chain as she attacked. He pulls her in close, before ramming her into the ground with his body. He tells her he doesn’t really like fighting opponents like this, but he has to to save his friend. 

A few feet away, Angel is shackled weakly to the harness, pleading with Jordan to not hurt Genius, though she is too weak to be heard. Lory, facing off against Shocker, uses Doon Shout to send a wave that pushes Jordan off of Genius. Genius thanks her captain, stating she won’t let that happen again. However, the captain of the Jolly Pirates merely looks at Genius’s predicament and sighs. He says that Genius has served her purpose, but now she is no longer useful to him. To everyone’s immense shock, he uses Star Scream , sending a shout like a laser that strikes at Genius' heart, dealing a fatal blow. 

Angel shouts, with Shocker and Jordan being shocked at Lory’s cruelty. Jordan asks him how he can do such to his own comrade, but Lory scoffs, telling them not to bore him with such ideals, as he never considered her as anything more than a tool. As Genius lies on the ground, bleeding out, she begins to tear up, weakly saying she only wanted to fulfill her dream, as she enters into her flashback.

20 years ago, Genius was simply known by her real name, Natasha, a member of the legendary Whitebeard Pirates captained by none other than Edward Newgate himself. She was merely an apprentice nurse, but at 19, she showed amazing promise with her medical knowledge. However, she always wanted to be considered a proper crewmember. Whitebeard had told her that the seas are too dangerous for an untrained person, but he will always consider her a part of their family regardless. Genius had suggested that Whitebeard teach her to be strong like him, but Whitebeard wisely advised her that there are different forms of strength, and that hers came in the form of intelligence, calling her his genius. Marco, eating a pineapple, had said he’d be glad to teach her, but Whitebeard comically became angered, ordering him to stop encouraging such behavior.  

Around 19 years ago, the Whitebeard Pirates arrived on Scova Terra, prior to it becoming a World Government-led island. As the crew ventured into Lunen, unbeknownst to them, someone had managed to reawaken the slumbering super weapon, Bellona. As it activated, the massive warship rose out of the land, ravaging the land and destroying many rural villages. As it stuck its large chains into the ground, beginning to use its memory-altering powers, the Whitebeard Pirates took it upon themselves to save the country. Jozu and Vista each managed to break multiple chains with their diamond powers and sword skills, respectively. As Marco broke through more of the chains, he noticed Natasha behind them, trying not to get swept up in the attack. He told her to get back to the ship, but she stood her ground, stating that as a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, she’ll stay. 

Whitebeard himself had been fighting back against Bellona itself. Reaching its main room, he used his quake powers, breaking the warship into pieces and destroying it as his crew finished off the last of the chains. Though much of the country was annihilated in the attack and in desperate need of repair, the Whitebeard Pirates were celebrated, hailed as the heroes who had protected the people. As a large feast was held in their honor, Whitebeard officially claimed Scova Terra as one of his territories. 

However, as they were partying, Marco informed Newgate that he had seen the marines on their way as he flew around the island’s perimeter. Whitebeard told his crewmates to pack it up, as they were shipping out as soon as possible. However, he called over to Natasha, beckoning her close. As she asked why he wanted to see her, Whitebeard revealed that after breaking, the super weapon transformed into a smaller form, being a grandfather clock, whose parts need to be kept separate in order for the warship to remain dormant. To her shock, Whitebeard revealed that he wanted Natasha to stay on Scova Terra and safeguard the pieces, hiding them to ensure no one comes for them again. Natasha began to cry, stating she wanted to stay with the crew for longer, but Whitebeard told her that this would be her way of showing him she’s strong, as this is a mission he was entrusting to her. Natasha agreed, promising to do so if that would make him proud of her. Whitebeard hugged her, stating that he had many sons, but she was the first person he thought of as a daughter, making her cry emotionally. 

Natasha had stayed on Scova Terra since that day, protecting the pieces as she helped with the rebuilding efforts and eventually became a scholar. However, 10 years ago, after hearing about Whitebeard’s death at the Summit War of Marineford, she became distant, closing herself off from her friends and becoming cold. Around four months ago, Lory, a pirate crew captain, had tracked her down, asking if she knew anything about Bellona. She had said no at first, but after he continued to press her, she revealed that a secret about Bellona may lie on this island. Lory said he wanted to use its memory powers to make him the king of the pirates. Natasha had refused at first, stating that that power should not be in anyone’s hands. However, Lory said that with Bellona, she could have the dream that she longed for, as it could change her memories to still being with her old crew. Convinced by her melancholy, Natasha had agreed to join the Jolly Pirates under the codename Genius. 

As her flashback ends, she whispers out, telling Whitebeard that she’s coming to meet him soon. She sheds a last tear, before dying, her eyes closing. Angel screams, Bellona reacting to her agitated state. Jordan, shocked, tells Lory that he’s disgusting for treating people that way, but Lory says that he is a chess player and he does what he needs to to win, and that Genius was just a pawn on his board. As Angel continues to scream, anguished by the loss of someone she considered a friend despite them being on different sides, Shocker merely tells her to stop. As Angel and Jordan are shocked, Jordan asks his captain how he could turn a blind eye like that. Before he can finish his sentence, Shocker decks Lory hard in the face, sending him crashing into the floor. As Lory looks up, he sees only fury in Shocker’s eyes. Shocker, enraged, tells Angel to stop shedding tears, as he doesn’t like to see his friends cry. He then screams at Lory, stating that he shouldn’t dare call himself a pirate if he doesn’t value his friends. He orders him to get up, declaring he’ll beat him to a pulp for Genius’s sake.

 

Move Index

Original Name 

English Name

Star Scream

Star Scream