Teach stood, his coat draped casually over his broad shoulders, and looked at the golden-armored Ant King before him.
"On this vast ocean, there are countless islands like this," he said, his voice calm but resonant. "And countless powerful individuals—many far stronger than us." His grin widened, sharp and confident.
The Ant King tilted his head, disbelief flickering in his gaze. Yet curiosity stirred within him. From the very first day Teach arrived, a small fire had been smoldering inside—a longing for the sea.
"Soon, I'll set sail again. I'll defeat those powerful opponents and become overlord of this sea." Teach's aura surged, spilling out not just toward Ares but to the island, the sky, and the vast ocean itself. "But for that, I need powerful companions. Ares… I hope you'll join me. We're partners, we're friends. You can leave whenever you wish."
Teach placed a flesh-colored Devil Fruit on the ground before him. "This is something I prepared for you. Eat it, and you can take human form like me, while still reverting to your original body whenever you wish. But know this, you'll gain a weakness. Seawater will become your enemy."
The Ant King looked at Teach, then at the island that had been his home. Once, he had battled tirelessly here, crushing rivals and ascending to the peak. But now, it was barren. Empty. Boring. There were no equals left to fight, only prey.
The sea, however, promised something greater. Stronger foes. Endless horizons. And at the heart of it, Teach—the one being he had never truly conquered.
"Giel! Giel!" Ares roared, his eyes burning with resolve as he locked onto Teach.
Teach threw his head back and laughed. "Zehahahaha! That's more like it! But don't think you'll ever surpass me. If you grow stronger, I'll grow even stronger. If you have the guts, try to defeat me!"
It was the essence of their bond: rivalry wrapped in camaraderie. Neither would ever bow.
Teach still held the upper hand, thanks to his mastery of Observation Haki. In their battles, however, he often restricted himself, dulling his foresight to its simplest form, forcing himself to fight raw. He was chasing something more—the elusive ability known as future sight.
Though stories claimed only Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates had awakened it, Teach knew that was false. Rayleigh had shown him the truth firsthand. The future was never fixed, always shifting and Teach had found ways to break through its certainty. That pursuit burned in him still.
The Ant King, however, had only one condition: he would sail with Teach for now, but the day Teach's strength fell below his own, he would leave.
Teach accepted it with a confident grin. His body, once limited, was now breaking past its shackles. His stamina, his strength, his very being surged daily, even without training. He was climbing a slope of endless growth.
That was enough for Ares. His agreement lit a spark in Teach's chest—joy, pride, and anticipation. A true monster had joined his cause.
The Ant King reached down, took the Devil Fruit in his claw, and bit down. Crunch. Gulp.
His body stiffened. His face twisted in disgust. He gagged, retching violently but producing nothing.
"Hahahaha! Ares, did you forget? I told you Devil Fruits taste awful!" Teach roared with laughter. Even monsters weren't spared that curse.
But as Ares trembled, power exploded within him. His body swelled, his golden exoskeleton fading into flesh and blood. Muscles bulged, horns of gleaming gold curved back over his head, and a mane of golden hair cascaded to his shoulders. His silver eyes glowed like twin moons.
A seven-meter-tall half-demon stood where the Ant King once was, his aura oppressive, godlike.
Teach's smile widened. "Perfect… You're even more magnificent than I imagined."
The fruit he had given Ares was the Zoan-type, Human-Human Fruit: Half-Demon Model—a prize Teach had scoured the world for. Rare and overlooked, it granted a human form fused with the vitality and demonic bloodline of a half-demon. Its power lay not in raw boosts, but in limitless potential.
Kaido and Moria were rumored to carry such blood in their veins—monsters from youth who carved their names in legend. That bloodline, now awakened in Ares, would take him even higher.
Ares clenched his new fists, marveling at the pulse of blood, the rhythm of a heart, the flex of muscle. With a thought, two more arms sprouted, restoring his six-limbed nature, while golden claws and armored luster returned to his flesh.
This body… this human body… was stronger. More adaptable.
"Te… Teach!" The name slipped from his mouth. For the first time, his roar became speech. His own voice startled him.
Teach chuckled warmly. "Not bad! You'll get used to it. Soon enough, you'll be speaking fluently. But before that—how about another fight?"
Ares's lips curled into a grin. He nodded eagerly. His blood boiled.
The two clashed again, this time not as enemies but as partners in training. Teach taught, demonstrating technique, guiding Ares's raw power into refined strikes. Ares absorbed it all, his genius blossoming in real time. The Six Powers of the Navy, once impossible in his insect form, now became accessible. His punches grew heavier, sharper, deadlier.
Half a day passed before they finally stopped.
Teach wiped sweat from his brow and grinned. "That's enough. We leave now. I'll take you somewhere first."
At the shore, a sturdy vessel waited, prepared by Mostima. Teach boarded, and Ares followed, curious yet wary. The ocean stretched endlessly before him, its waves rocking the ship gently.
For the first time, the Ant King left his island, his heart pounding with both fear and excitement.
"Remember," Teach explained, "Devil Fruit users lose all strength in seawater. Touching a little is fine, but if you're submerged, you'll sink like a stone. With training, you can learn to resist it somewhat—but your powers will always be sealed."
Ares nodded silently, listening intently. His instincts still recoiled at the ocean, but his resolve to face it was stronger.
When they arrived at White Sand Island, the white castle awaited. Inside, Hadena and Hademan froze in shock.
"Boss Teach… what kind of monster did you bring back?" they whispered, staring at the towering, golden-horned giant whose aura suffocated the room.
Mostima, calm as ever, hid his surprise well, though even his sharp gaze lingered on Ares. Compared to Teach's carefully veiled presence, Ares radiated raw, untamed might. His golden horns, mane, and silver eyes made him unforgettable.
Teach sat opposite Mostima and gestured to Ares. "I'll be gone for a while—back to the Moby Dick. In the meantime, take care of him. And explain the state of the sea to him. He needs to learn fast."
Mostima nodded slowly. "No problem. When will you return?"
"Soon," Teach replied with an easy grin.
Ares said nothing. He simply sat, silent and watchful, still adjusting to his new body. But inside, his blood burned. The sea awaited.
And with Teach, he would conquer it.