Chapter 179: Blackbeard VS Fire Fist!
A Little Earlier - Near the Unnamed Deserted Island in the New World
The sea breeze whipped, and waves lapped gently against the hull.
The massive Moby Dick slowly approached the shore of the deserted island. Its snow-white whale figurehead cut through the waves, the ship towering like a fortress on the sea.
On the deck, members of the Whitebeard Pirates were busy, laughing and chatting.
"Oi—over there!"
A shout broke the calm.
Diamond Jozu pointed to the sea not far away, frowning slightly. "What is that?"
Everyone looked in that direction.
Bobbing gently among the reefs was a dilapidated small wooden boat, floating alone on the water.
A wooden sign hung crookedly on the bow, with crudely carved words: "S.S. Salty Fish."
"Pfft-hahaha! What kind of name is that? That's way too half-assed!"
Thatch couldn't help but burst out laughing, shaking his sake jug as he teased, "Sounds like some nobody who got dumped by a Sea King."
"Is there someone on the island already?"
Vista furrowed his brows. "Could it be the Marines?"
"Looking at the state of that boat, looks like it was cobbled together at the last minute. Shouldn't be the Marines," Marco said softly, his tone carrying a hint of indifference. "Maybe it's just some unknown bounty hunter scouting the path."
"Whoever it is, once Pops' ship docks, they'd better know their place."
Jozu grinned, his muscles looking ready to crush rock at any moment.
Just then—
"SWISH—!"
A figure leaped off the edge of the deck without warning.
It was a burly silhouette, heavy-footed yet eerily agile.
It was the member of the Second Division—Marshall D. Teach.
"Oi, Teach?! Where are you going?" Thatch called out from behind.
Blackbeard didn't look back, shouting as he ran, "I'm going ahead to check the island! Might be some fun to be had!!"
His figure quickly disappeared into the forest.
"Tsk, running off on his own again."
Marco shrugged, looking like he was used to it. "That guy always loves to dash off at weird times. Can't be bothered with him."
"Anyway, with us here, no one dares to act wild in front of the Whitebeard Pirates."
Vista waved his hand, ordering, "Men, prepare the banquet! Bring out the good booze. We're docking today, perfect time to relax."
"YEAH—!" the pirates responded loudly.
Steady, certain, fearless.
This was the attitude of the Whitebeard Pirates.
And it was the confidence Whitebeard gave them.
However—
No one noticed that at the end of the deck, that magnificent figure hadn't moved a single step.
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, stood in the shadows, arms crossed, his massive bisento standing quietly beside him.
He seemed deaf to his subordinates' noise and unresponsive to Teach's departure.
He simply watched that black figure running toward the deserted island in silence.
His deep gaze seemed to pierce through time and fate, written with complexity and heaviness.
"...Teach."
He murmured low, his voice like an undercurrent surging at the bottom of the sea. "That smell of 'darkness' on you... has gotten heavier again."
Behind him, the sea breeze howled, and seagulls startled into flight.
Whitebeard frowned slightly. In the depths of his eyes, a looming premonition surfaced—
"This landing... I fear it won't be peaceful."
Timeline Return - Center of the Deserted Island Battlefield
"BOOM—!!!"
A heavy punch wrapped in thick Armament Haki, striking like a sledgehammer against a bell, smashed straight toward Ace's face!
Ace ducked and slid instantly. The fist wind scraped a scorching bloody mark across his cheek, lifting a lock of his short hair!
"Tsk... this fatty... his strength is wilder than Luffy's."
Flames erupted beneath his feet as he retreated rapidly to create distance. Fire swirled around him like a vortex as he stared coldly at the figure wrapped in black aura.
Blackbeard Teach panted heavily, eyes bloodshot, blood at the corner of his mouth. Like a beast broken out of its cage, he roared, "Hand it over!!!"
"GIVE ME THAT FRUIT!!!"
He roared, stomping the ground to charge again. The earth cracked inch by inch!
"BOOM!!!"
Before his fist even arrived, the ground caved in!
His fist smashed into the ground, tearing the rock layer like a rag. Shockwaves spread instantly, rippling Ace's flame shell!
Ace's gaze sharpened. He swung his arm. "Fire Flash!!"
He sprinted behind Blackbeard like a teleportation, his right fist ignited with white-hot temperature!
"Flame Burst: Armor Piercer!!!"
The flame compressed like a drill, spinning violently in his palm!
"THUD!!!"
The fist slammed into Teach's spine, but Blackbeard twisted his body. His back muscles tightened, Armament Haki hardening rapidly to take the hit head-on!
He slid his feet and threw a backhand elbow strike!
Ace used Observation Haki to predict it, using flame jets to slide away.
"Zehahaha!! Fire Fist Ace!! You live up to your reputation!!!"
Blackbeard licked the blood from his lips, revealing missing teeth. His expression was manic as he charged and roared, "Do you think you can protect it?! You're not worthy!! You don't understand the meaning of this fruit at all!!!"
Ace's gaze darkened.
"What exactly... do you want it for?"
Blackbeard didn't answer. Instead, he crouched low, hugging the ground.
"SWISH—!!!"
With a sonic boom, he closed the distance instantly!
"Five Claws: PIERCE!!!"
"SPLAT—!!!"
His right hand formed a claw, fully coated in thick Armament Haki, and stabbed violently into Ace's left shoulder! Blood sprayed instantly!
"Guh—!!"
Ace fought back the pain, flames exploding beneath his feet to blast Blackbeard back!
He knelt on one knee, blood pouring from his left shoulder, but his eyes grew even colder.
"...You're not an ordinary madman."
"Zehahaha! Madman? Wrong, brat!"
Blackbeard spread his arms, laughing at the sky. "I am the one who truly understands this world!!!"
"This world has never been about right or wrong, ONLY POWER!!!"
He spread his hands, tilting his head to look at Ace, his voice low and hoarse. "And that fruit is the starting point for me to become KING!!!"
Ace glared, flames rising violently around him, scorching the air, melting the ground, turning dust to ash!
"...You'd throw away your life for a fruit?"
Blackbeard licked the corner of his mouth, grinning hideously. "If I can get that fruit—I'd remake my life from scratch!!!"
Ace stood up abruptly, raising his right hand. Flames spiraled and compressed to the limit!
He whispered, "Then... die in front of it."
"Great Flame Commandment: BLAZING SPEAR!!!"
Not the massive fireball of "Flame Emperor," but a flame spiral compressed into a "single-point piercing" move!
"BOOM—!!!"
A scorching white spear of heat pierced the air, falling like a comet, aiming straight for Teach's heart!
Blackbeard was shocked. He crossed his arms, covering them in Armament Haki to block with full force!
"CLANG—!!!"
"GAAAAHHHH—!!!"
The fire spear pierced through his crossed arms, tearing his Haki apart! The explosive impact blasted him dozens of meters away, smashing him heavily into a volcanic rock wall!
The wall cracked, flames scorched. He was charred black, and another one of his already missing teeth was knocked out!
"Cough—! Cough, cough, cough...!!!"
Blackbeard rolled out of the rocks wretchedly, his body twitching, but his eyes were still fixed deathly on the wooden box in Ace's chest!
Ace stood in the center of the sea of fire, one fist raised high. Flames danced at his fingertips, condensing into a crown of fire.
The intense light illuminated the bloodstained side of his face, his gaze sharp as a blade. "...Want to steal the fruit?"
"You aren't qualified."
BOOM!!!
He stomped his foot, and the earth roared instantly!
Flames that could burn the heavens rose like a startled dragon, carrying rage and high heat, sweeping across the entire battlefield!
Scorched earth crumbled, rocks melted, and the remaining forest turned to ash amidst the roar.
And the black shadow lying amidst the rubble and scorched mud was swallowed up by this blazing tornado!
"WAAAAAHHHH————!!!"
"AAAAACE————!!!!!"
Blackbeard's scream pierced through the sea of fire—sounding like pain, rage, and a mad curse!
High heat scorched his skin, bones cracked under pressure, as if his entire body were melting into the flames!
But Ace didn't look back.
He walked through the fire, standing alone at the peak of the battlefield.
The flames gradually subsided, the battlefield returning to silence, leaving only hot smoke lingering.
On the charred earth, Ace was covered in wounds. His left shoulder was stained with blood, sleeves burned away, abdomen slightly scorched, fists trembling—but his back remained straight.
He looked down at the black wooden box held tightly in his arms.
The lid was slightly open. The mysterious fruit lay quietly inside, its purple veins pulsing slowly like a heartbeat, seemingly still throbbing.
Ace looked at it, murmuring softly, "Why exactly... does Big Bro Roy want it?"
"This thing... no matter how I look at it, is uglier than a pineapple."
He gave a bitter laugh, closed the box, and tucked it inside his clothes.
Turning around, step by step, he walked toward the coast.
The flames were gone, the wind remained. Only the scars of battle and charred remains were left on the scorched earth.
...
But Ace didn't notice.
After he turned around...
Under the charred rocks, the massive, obese body that had been burnt almost to charcoal by the flames twitched slightly.
Click.
A soft sound.
On that face which should have been scorched and twisted, a tooth gradually took on an unnatural metallic sheen. With a click-clack, broken teeth fell out, and new ones grew in their place.
Moments later, the corners of the mouth grinned slightly, revealing a full set of teeth, displaying a instinctive, beast-like sneer.
It was the echo of an obsession and greed that could not be burned away.
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