Boom!
A devastating shockwave slammed straight into San Juan Wolf. His colossal body slowly lost balance before crashing down like a falling mountain. The already-ruined Justice Tower was utterly annihilated as his immense weight crushed it into nothing but rubble.
Blackbeard witnessed the scene—but he had no spare attention to give it. The darkness around him surged violently, thickening and expanding as it swallowed Whitebeard's corpse whole. Soon, the old man's body was completely concealed within a mass of writhing black mist. From the outside, only an enormous, ominous black silhouette remained.
"No—! We can't let him succeed!" Sengoku roared.
Even if he wasn't certain Blackbeard could truly steal Whitebeard's Devil Fruit, there was no chance he would allow the attempt to continue.
"Ice Age—!"ew
Aokiji thrust his hand forward. A terrifying wave of freezing air exploded outward, instantly engulfing the entire plaza. The sudden cold caught Jesus Burgess, Doc Q, and Vasco shot completely off guard—freezing them solid into lifeless ice sculptures.
"What?!"
The remaining Blackbeard Pirates felt the pressure spike sharply.
Three fighters—neutralized in an instant.
What kind of monster is this…?
Seeing Aokiji eliminate opponents so effortlessly while he himself was still being stalled by Shiryu, Akainu's fury finally boiled over. Magma surged violently around his elbow, forming a blazing thruster as he roared, "Get out of my way…!"
Cold sweat poured down Shiryu's back.
The pressure bearing down on him was overwhelming—one misstep and he would be erased. Seizing the briefest opening, he hurled himself backward.
Boom!
Akainu's magma fist smashed into the ground instead, causing molten lava to churn violently.
Akainu clicked his tongue, glaring at Shiryu—who had retreated dozens of steps—before shifting his gaze to Blackbeard.
At this point, the darkness had fully condensed, forming a massive black sphere around Whitebeard's body.
Akainu roared, "Die—Great Eruption!"
A gigantic magma fist shot toward Blackbeard at terrifying speed.
Shiryu's face went pale. But remembering Blackbeard's goal, he grit his teeth and took the gamble. Leaping into the air, he unleashed a desperate, full-powered slash—
Splitting the magma fist cleanly in two.
"Damn you, Shiryu…!" Akainu bellowed in rage.
First Marco.
Now Shiryu.
Was anyone allowed to block an Admiral now?!
Shiryu, however, felt no relief. His expression was grim as his arms trembled. Blocking that attack had required everything he had—and even then, he'd barely managed it.
'Hurry up, Teach…' he cursed inwardly. 'If this drags on any longer, I'm finished.'
Meanwhile, just as Aokiji prepared to move again, two figures stepped into his path—Catarina Devon and Avalo Pizarro.
Aokiji frowned.
"Why are you helping Blackbeard?" he asked coolly. "You've only known him for a few hours. Even if he's shown you some kindness, you're not the type to repay it so blindly."
Pizarro grinned, eyes glinting with madness.
"It's curiosity—or maybe a gamble. We're betting on Teach."
Catarina Devon sneered.
"Teach has a secret. Something special. That's why we're willing to stake everything on him. If he succeeds…" Her smile widened. "We'll reach the very top of the world."
Hearing this, Aokiji's expression darkened. Any lingering doubt vanished as he spoke gravely,
"So it's true… Blackbeard is trying to steal Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit."
Pizarro and Catarina Devon stiffened simultaneously.
"How did you know?!"
"If that's the case…"
Sengoku's eyes turned icy. "Then I absolutely cannot allow you to succeed."
Raising his palm once more, Sengoku unleashed another devastating shockwave, its force aimed directly at Blackbeard.
"Don't even think about interfering with our captain!"
At that critical moment, Laffitte threw himself forward, wings beating violently as he placed his own body between Blackbeard and Sengoku. The shockwave struck him head-on.
Crack!
Blood spilled from Laffitte's mouth as he was blasted backward, his body tumbling through the air.
"Damn it…" Sengoku's expression darkened further.
Seeing Laffitte willingly risk his life to shield Blackbeard only deepened Sengoku's unease. If Blackbeard truly acquired Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit, then with two Devil Fruits, he would possess terrifying potential. Given time, such a monster could grow into an existence no weaker than Whitebeard himself.
And worse still—
According to the intelligence Aokiji had received from Marco, Blackbeard might even be capable of wielding three Devil Fruits.
If that were true, the future Blackbeard represented would be nothing short of catastrophic.
Just then—
A figure burst into motion.
The man who had remained silent since being struck down by Luffy at the very beginning of the war finally moved.
Navy Hero Garp.
With astonishing speed, Garp appeared before Blackbeard, his fist slamming into Blackbeard's face at point-blank range.
"Bone Fist—!"
The impact sent Blackbeard flying.
"It's Vice Admiral Garp!"
The Marines erupted in cheers.
"Damn it—! It hurts! It hurts like hell!"
Blackbeard clutched his face, groaning as he skidded across the ground. His expression was pale as he stared at Garp. He had been so close—just a moment away from success—yet Garp had appeared at the worst possible time.
"Captain! Are you alright?" Van Augur rushed to his side at once.
"I'm fine…" Blackbeard growled as he pushed himself up from the ground.
One by one, the rest of the Blackbeard Pirates gathered around him. Shiryu stepped forward and asked grimly,
"Teach… did you succeed?"
Blackbeard's face twisted with frustration.
"No. I was just a little short."
Sengoku finally let out a breath of relief.
"Oh my," Aokiji said lightly, glancing toward Garp. "Garp-san, we really owe you this time. If you hadn't stepped in, that Blackbeard fellow might've pulled it off."
Garp's expression was firm.
"I'm a Marine," he replied. "Stopping scum is my responsibility."
In truth, Garp loathed Blackbeard. If not for him, Ace would never have been captured. The Marines would never have been forced into open war with the Whitebeard Pirates. The devastation of Marine Headquarters—all of it traced back to Blackbeard.
Akainu, however, scoffed inwardly.
Earlier, when facing his own grandson, Straw Hat Luffy, Garp had clearly held back—allowing himself to be knocked down by a single punch. Yet now, against Blackbeard, he suddenly remembered his duty as a Marine.
Still, Akainu kept those thoughts to himself. Garp's prestige within the Marines was far too great to challenge openly.
Meanwhile, Catarina Devon spoke in a low, solemn voice, "Teach… it seems the Marines have figured out your plan. They've been on guard against you stealing Whitebeard's power."
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