"Vice Admiral Yamakaji!"
Amidst the Marines' roars, just as Bullet's robot's giant fist was about to crush Yamakaji, a crimson Cursed Energy impact slammed the robot heavily into the ground.
"That's... Captain Renji!"
"Captain Renji has made his move!"
"Boss!"
Miguel looked at the black-haired, blue-eyed figure in mid-air with excited eyes.
Compared to Marines' renewed encouragement upon seeing Renji act again, the Whitebeard Pirates were even more terrified. Blackbeard, who was directly facing Renji's pressure, also had an extremely grim expression.
He hadn't seen the scene of Renji killing Whitebeard, but the Pirate Empress Hancock had undeniably died right before him, and Renji had just suppressed Bullet, whom all the Vice Admirals combined couldn't handle, with a single move. The speed of that attack was extremely difficult for even him to react to.
Renji's strength was far, far greater than it had been at the Warlord Meeting held in Mary Geoise that day.
Drops of cold sweat seeped from Teach's forehead. His mouth was slightly agape, and his mind raced for a countermeasure.
However, his crewmates didn't think the same way.
"Hahahahaha! You bastard, you're too presumptuous! Take a punch from me!"
A burly, masked figure leaped towards Renji. It was Burgess, one of Blackbeard 's subordinates.
Renji, suspended in mid-air, maintained an unperturbed expression. He simply extended his palm towards Burgess, and a blue-white light surged behind Burgess. A terrifying gravitational pull dragged Burgess, who had leaped into mid-air, back.
"What is this?! Ugh…"
As Renji flicked his hand—
Boom!
The blue-white light enveloped Burgess and flung him into a pile of ruins, causing a violent explosion.
Almost at the same instant Renji flicked his hand—
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
Van Augur said with a cold expression, "Who allowed you to speak to Captain Teach like that?"
Renji didn't even blink as he watched the bullet approach.
Just as Van Augur was secretly delighted, thinking he had caught Renji's weakness and was about to land a hit, a terrifying scene unfolded before him.
"What… the bullet stopped?"
Augur's eyes widened, and a deep sense of disbelief flickered in their depths. He then saw Renji's gaze turn towards him.
As their eyes met, Augur's heart pounded.
The next second, Renji appeared in front of Augur. Armament Haki and blue Cursed Energy surged on Renji's fist, carrying terrifying suction force. He then threw a punch.
Boom!
A terrifying force spread throughout Augur's body. He felt as if all his bones were about to shatter. His body instantly curled up due to the intense pain. He vomited a mouthful of blood and was then sent flying by the force, disappearing from sight.
"Hey! Wait a minute!"
Seeing this situation, the remaining Blackbeard Pirates all looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy, adopting fighting stances.
Blackbeard then shouted in a hurried panic, "How can you act without my command!"
Renji silently observed their reactions. If he remembered correctly, the Blackbeard Pirates were founded on shared interests. In a life-or-death situation, they would undoubtedly scatter.
Now it seemed their behavior was indeed like that. Although they all adopted fighting stances, in reality, under the observation of Renji's Lv. 5 Heavenly Six Eyes, he knew that the remaining Blackbeard Pirates were ready to slip away at the first opportunity.
Renji turned sideways, looking at Teach beside him. "Interesting."
Looking at those azure eyes, Blackbeard felt a sense of unease. He hastily retreated, creating distance between himself and Renji.
The blade of Kurai reflected a chilling glint. Teach did not want to be cut down at close range like this. His grand ambition had only just begun to unfold.
"Zehahaha…" With that thought, Teach chuckled.
"Renji, we've worked together before. You're being too ruthless."
"Enough with the nonsense, Teach. I know your objective." Renji said in a voice only a few could hear.
"…Huh?" Teach's expression suddenly changed.
Although he was extremely surprised, being skilled at discerning people's hearts, he knew that Renji was not lying.
This guy, does he really know the secret of the Dark-Dark Fruit?
Teach laughed. "Zehahaha, I didn't expect you to know so much. After this is done, I will fulfill one wish for you in the future, how about it?"
Upon hearing this, the other members of the Blackbeard Pirates all changed their expressions. They didn't even ask what the wish was. Teach hadn't offered such a significant temptation before.
Teach continued, "Becoming an Admiral, or joining me, either is fine."
In response, Renji merely sneered, "You seem to have misunderstood something."
"What?" Teach was puzzled.
Renji said, "You, kneel down and kowtow three times to me, and I'll let you pass."
"…"
"Huh?"
Teach's face changed, and the other Blackbeard Pirates members reacted similarly.
Avalo Pizarro asked, "Kowtow? Do you think pirates don't care about their dignity?"
Laffitte said, "Young man, you have some strength, but you definitely lack education."
Catarina Devon said, "Such a handsome guy, leave him to me in the end."
Vasco Shot let out a drunken "Hiccup."
Doc Q and Sanjuan Wolf trembled.
Shiryu said nothing, but his eyes surged with killing intent, and his grip on the sword hilt tightened. His long-standing sense of crisis told him that this Renji was very strong.
Although it was for profit, they still needed at least some dignity.
Such an insult to their captain was something even these maggots, united by profit, found somewhat unbearable.
However, just as several Blackbeard Pirates members were preparing to seize an opportunity, Renji moved first.
The next moment, his figure vanished, and to everyone's horrified gazes—
Swish!
An ugly head flew high into the air.