### **Chapter: Immortality and Fire**
Had Ezekiel known Fujitora's thoughts about marriage, he would've laughed. **Eighteen was too young**—especially in a world where Devil Fruits could grant **immortality**!
*If I, as Poseidon's wielder who controls life and death itself, can't obtain an immortality-granting Fruit...*
The **Ope Ope no Mi** reportedly allowed both miraculous surgery and **bestowing eternal life**—at the cost of the user's death.
*But what if clones used it?*
**Infinite immortality.**
Not just for Ezekiel—**all his top subordinates** could achieve it!
This was Ezekiel's **deepest secret**, unknown even to Fujitora.
However, the **Perennial Youth Operation** likely required the Fruit's **awakened state**. In the original timeline, Law hadn't immediately grasped its full potential—and he'd **die** performing the procedure.
Ezekiel needed patience. **Law must grow stronger first.**
The possibilities stretched further:
- **Time-Time Fruit**—defying temporal laws to **journey into the future**
- **Smartphone-Smartphone Fruit's** unlimited potential—**1-2 billion users** within a decade
....
**Marine HQ – Classified Files**
Days passed without official statements about **Impel Down's breach**. The incident was **buried**—the attacker "dead," his motives unclear.
Yet Sengoku and the Elders **couldn't reconcile**:
- *Where did this monstrous swordsman come from?*
- *Why did his final attack target the sea?*
- *Was his death faked via Devil Fruit?*
Forensics confirmed: **No trickery. The corpse was real.**
*But the missing sword...*
Raiu had been **hurled into the ocean**, yet **never recovered**. Only one power could've stealthily retrieved it:
**Poseidon's command over Sea Kings.**
*"This was Alabasta's doing."*
The conclusion seemed **absurd**—that a warrior of such caliber fought **just to steal a sword**—yet it was the only explanation.
The case was sealed as the Marines' **greatest unsolved mystery**... until Raiu resurfaced.
...
Meanwhile, **Luffy's reputation** grew. His bounty neared **hundreds of millions**.
Ezekiel paid little attention, but recognized the boy's **destined rise**. Within **2-3 years**, Luffy would:
1. Surpass **Vice-Admirals**
2. Challenge **Admirals**
3. Rival the **Emperors**
*Such terrifying growth speed...*
.....
**Alabasta Desert – Present Day**
Scorching sunlight baked the dunes.
**Blackbeard panted**, sweat-drenched, facing **Ace**—the Whitebeard Commander who'd hunted him relentlessly.
**"You'll regret this, Ace!"**
Teach's resilience was remarkable. After surviving **Oars' pursuit**, he'd **lingered** in Alabasta, awaiting opportunities. Now, cornered without his crew, he faced Ace alone.
**Flames vs. Darkness**
The battle raged for hours. Though Teach's **Yami Yami no Mi** nullified Ace's fire, the strain was immense.
**"Dai Enkai: Entei!"**
Ace's **sun-sized fireball** engulfed Teach, who howled:
**"Hot! HOT!"**
Yet the darkness **shielded him**—the pain severe, but **no fatal burns**.
**"ZEHAHAHA!"** Teach rolled aside, grinning through singed flesh. *"I survived that monster Oars! I'll stand atop the world!"*
...….
**Next Dawn**
The desert was **glazed black**, sand crystallized into glass.
Teach lay **exhausted** beside an **unconscious Ace**, their duel ending in mutual collapse.
Then—**footsteps**.
Flames parted as four figures emerged:
1. **Jesus Burgess** – "Champion"
2. **Laffitte** – "Demon Sheriff"
3. **Doc Q** – "God of Death"
4. **Van Augur** – "Supersonic"
**"Captain!"** Burgess boomed.
Teach's eyes opened—**that signature grin returning**.
*"Alabasta... it's payback time."*