Facing the overwhelming deluge of lightning, Teach didn't retreat. He thrust both palms forward—
"Dark Vortex!"
A swirling maelstrom of pitch-black energy erupted from his hands, rotating wildly like a gaping maw from the abyss. A horrifying sight unfolded: the billions of volts of lightning unleashed by Enel were completely devoured by that consuming darkness, as if countless raging rivers were pouring into a bottomless ocean!
"What?!" Enel's pupils, within his lightning giant form, contracted to pinpricks. His proudest power was vanishing without a trace!
Even more terrifying was the irresistible suction the darkness generated. Before Enel could react, his massive Raijin form was dragged inward uncontrollably, shrinking rapidly as it was pulled, until it collapsed back into his human form—
"Got you!" Teach's rough, powerful hand clamped around Enel's wrist like a vice.
"Insolent!" Enel roared, attempting to dissolve back into lightning, but he discovered to his horror that his ability was utterly unresponsive!
"It's useless," Teach's grin was a hideous thing. "Anyone touched by my darkness loses their power! They become... ordinary."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, his other fist, sheathed in darkness, smashed squarely into Enel's face!
CRUNCH!
Blood and fragments of teeth sprayed through the air. Enel's golden headband shattered. The man who had proclaimed himself a god was now a bloody, broken mess, genuine fear flashing in his eyes for the first time.
"Your close-quarters combat is pathetic, 'God'!" Teach sneered, driving another powerful fist into Enel's solar plexus.
"Guh—!" Enel folded over like a snapped twig, bile rising in his throat. His prized Mantra was useless in such a brutal, intimate brawl.
A hook, an elbow, a knee—and finally a devastating uppercut—
"It's over!"
Enel's body was hurled high into the air before crashing back to the cloud-covered ground with a sickening thud, completely unconscious. His long white hair was matted with blood and dirt, his four Drums of Thunder scattered around him, stripped of all their divine grandeur.
The battlefield fell into a stunned silence.
Van Auger let out a low whistle. "Captain, we've struck gold."
Doc Q's sick horse, Stronger, snorted weakly. "Cough, cough... A fine new addition..."
Burgess excitedly flexed his colossal muscles. "Wehahaha! So much for being a god!"
Teach bent down and hoisted the unconscious Enel over his shoulder like a hunter's prize stag. "ZEHAHAHA... From this day forward, the power of the Goro Goro no Mi belongs to me!"
"Who said it belongs to you?"
A cold, clear voice cut through Blackbeard's triumphant laughter.
His gleeful roar died in his throat. He slowly turned his head to see Ron leaning casually against a jagged outcropping of cloud-rock, his robes stirring gently in the post-storm breeze.
Those sharp eyes were narrowed slightly, currently regarding Teach with keen interest, a faint trace of mockery playing on his lips.
"Hmm?" A muscle in Teach's cheek twitched. "Is Captain Ron interested as well?"
Ron pushed himself upright and stepped down from the rock. "The Goro Goro no Mi... it is a truly formidable Devil Fruit." His gaze drifted to the unconscious Enel. "So, I want it."
Teach's face darkened, his eyes slitting as he stared intently at Ron, his body tensing for a fight.
Then, Ron let out a soft chuckle. "But even if we had no use for it... we couldn't possibly allow it to fall into your hands."
As the final word hung in the air, the atmosphere on the battlefield solidified into ice.
Van Auger's sniper rifle clicked as he quietly chambered a round. Doc Q's sick horse pawed restlessly at the ground. On the Straw Hats' side, Zoro's three swords slid from their sheaths in unison, and Sanji stamped out his cigarette with a leather-clad heel.
A cold light flashed in Teach's eyes. "ZEHAHAHA... Captain Ron, do you intend to steal my prize?"
Ron didn't answer. He simply raised a hand.
At the gesture, his crew instinctively fanned out into a battle formation. Nami's body shimmered, her metal skin gleaming—the power of the Bata Bata no Mi. Robin crossed her arms over her chest, ready to bloom into action. Chopper already had a Rumble Ball in hoof.
"How interesting..." Teach licked his lips, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "You'd start a war with the Blackbeard Pirates over a single Devil Fruit? You've got nerve!"
Ron offered a genuine, chilling smile. "A correction: It's 'annihilate' the Blackbeard Pirates. To stop your ambitions here and now."
"ZEHAHAHAHA! Such arrogance! I wonder, Captain, what a man with no bounty to his name is truly made of." Teach stared him down, the false mirth not reaching his eyes.
The tension was now a physical, palpable force.
The two leaders stared each other down, both knowing this battle was now inevitable.
Just then,
Luffy was poised on the sidelines, waiting for Big Brother Ron's signal to charge and pummel Teach, when a system prompt suddenly chimed in his mind.
[Ding! God-Tier Choice System triggered!]
[Choice One: Repel Blackbeard. Reward: 100 Jin of Premium Sea King Meat!]
[Choice Two: Defeat Blackbeard. Reward: Gear Second Awakening!]
[Choice Three: Kill Blackbeard. Reward: Kenbunshoku Haki Awakening (Beginner)!]
He was dumbfounded. All three rewards were incredible, making the choice agonizing. His rubber fists creaked as he clenched them. Then, overwhelmed by indecision, he made his choice: "Why choose? I want all of them!"
[Host has made a selection. Rewards will be distributed upon completion of the objective.]
Luffy's eyes widened. He could really have them all?!
But then the previous Sea King meat... wouldn't that be gone?!
"Damn it! This system is messing with me! TEACH, I'M GONNA PUNCH YOU INTO NEXT WEEK!"
Teach: "???"
Before anyone could react, Luffy shot toward Teach like a human cannonball!
"Gum-Gum—ROCKET!"
"ZEHAHAHA!" Teach laughed, spreading his arms wide. "Straw Hat! Perfect timing! Dark Vortex!"
The moment Luffy's rubber fist touched the swirling darkness, a strange, draining sensation swept through his body. He was shocked to find his freely stretching arm had reverted to that of a normal human!
"What's the matter?" Teach grinned, seizing Luffy's now-vulnerable wrist. "How does it feel to be powerless?"
But to his surprise, instead of panic, Luffy flashed a fierce grin. "Who said I only rely on my Devil Fruit?!"
Jet-black Busoshoku Haki instantly sheathed Luffy's fist, and a powerful, Haki-infused punch smashed directly into Teach's face!
BAM!
Teach staggered backward several steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Armament Haki?! How could a rookie like you... have Haki this strong?!"
Luffy laughed boisterously. "It's just Haki! I've got Conqueror's Haki too, you know! Wanna see?"
"Heh. Conqueror's Haki. A simpleton like you?" Teach clearly didn't believe him.
His eyes flickered back to Ron, noting the other captain still showed no intention of intervening. A wave of relief washed over him. If that was the case, he'd deal with these irritating rookies first
....
The journey continues right now for our Jade Dragons! 🐉
For just $6/month, you can step into the advanced chapters and never face a cliffhanger again. Gain instant access to 50+ chapters immediately, support the story you love, and help decide its course.
🔗 Become a Jade Dragon:https://patreon.com/J_Dragon