Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
— Boom!
Like the roar of thunder and lightning above the sky.
At this time, terrifyingly violent noises echoed sporadically across the entire town of Banaro Island.
Flames flickered under Ace's feet as he leaped forward swiftly, his fists wreathed in fire and hardened by Armament Haki.
The moment his fist struck Teach's body, a massive pillar of fire surged forth, engulfing Teach in violent flames, resembling a roasting pig over an open fire.
Teach's hair was nearly burnt to ashes, but his skin, reinforced by Armament Haki, withstood the blistering heat without giving way.
Teach quickly shook off Ace's attack, his Haki condensing to bolster his defense further.
"Zehahaha..."
A burst of arrogant laughter rang out amidst the flaming chaos.
Although his body bore numerous burn marks, Teach's Zoan resilience and formidable recovery ability had mitigated much of the damage. His Armament Haki had absorbed the brunt of the attack, leaving him largely unscathed.
"Ace, you are no match for me!"
Teach sneered, his ferocious face radiating contempt and smug confidence.
Having served aboard Whitebeard's ship for over 20 years, he knew his strength vastly surpassed that of the younger Ace.
Ace, ignoring Teach's taunts, allowed his entire body to ignite in flames, which rapidly gathered on his arms.
"Swoosh——"
Two cross-shaped streams of fire erupted from his crossed index fingers, enhanced by Armament Haki, and hurtled toward Teach.
With a half-twist of his body, Teach countered, emulating Whitebeard's technique. He summoned immense power into his fists and unleashed it with a forward strike.
In an instant, a terrifying gust of wind, fueled by pure strength, roared through the area, extinguishing the fiery onslaught with ease.
Such mastery of raw power was rare, a feat few could hope to achieve.
Ace, momentarily stunned, glanced at Teach. Despite Teach's resemblance to a wild boar, something seemed amiss.
His pupils contracted sharply as he realized the change. "Your appearance—it's different somehow."
Ace's memory was sharp. The man before him had undergone subtle yet unmistakable changes—his features were younger, softer, even slightly androgynous.
"You've noticed, Ace." Teach smirked, touching his face where old scars had vanished. "Have you met my adorable sisters?"
Stepping back cautiously, Ace scrutinized Teach with confusion.
"Ace, do you know why I joined Dad's crew at the age of ten? It was all for the most fearsome Devil Fruit in history. I killed my own comrades, betrayed Dad—everything for this one goal.
"This Devil Fruit, with its immense gravitational pull like a black hole, nullifies the abilities of others. People call it the Devil's Gravity."
Teach's voice grew fervent, his words tinged with long-simmering hatred. "But that's not all. With deeper mastery, the Dark-Dark Fruit's power can fully extract and transfer abilities.
"The rule of this sea is that no one can possess more than one Devil Fruit. But my unique physique, Ace—" Teach's grin widened—"it's not just me. My lovely sisters reside within me. Together, we can wield multiple powers, like that Air General! Once I gain the Dark-Dark Fruit, I'll take the abilities I desire, even Dad's!"
Ace's flames flared violently, his fury matching their intensity. "How dare you speak of betraying Dad after all he's done for you! You ungrateful monster!"
"The road to becoming a king is ruthless and arduous!" Teach spread his arms wide, a smug grin on his face. "But since I've revealed my true purpose to you, it means that path is no longer an option for me!"
"This Dark-Dark Fruit was nothing more than a trick by the Flying Admiral. It's essentially a Pig-Pig Fruit Model: Boar. Because of it, I've lost my most crucial opportunity."
Teach's tone darkened as he continued, "To compensate for its shortcomings and to truly embody the boar's abilities, I happened to gain a second power."
As he spoke, a heavy aura burst forth from his body, raw energy radiating from him. His muscles swelled grotesquely as his power surged.
Teach exhaled deeply, steam escaping his mouth as his internal energy churned.
"This is the power of my second fruit—the Strong-Strong Fruit! It grants me infinite strength, beyond the limits of any human!"
—Boom!
Teach stomped the ground with tremendous force, shattering it into a deep crater stretching tens of meters.
Then, in an instant, he vanished. The explosive force propelled him forward with terrifying speed, and his domineering punch hurtled straight toward Ace.
"Fire Punch!"
Caught off guard by Teach's revelations, Ace hesitated just long enough to lose the chance to dodge. With no other option, he gathered intense flames once more, launching a fiery punch to meet Teach's attack head-on.
The firestorm expanded rapidly, engulfing the area in searing heat that distorted the air itself.
Undeterred, Teach pressed on, his punch imbued with an overwhelming Haki. The sheer force extinguished the blazing flames in an instant, like tenfold power obliterating its opponent.
Boom!
Ace was struck by Teach's punch, sent hurtling like a cannonball into the mountains hundreds of meters away. The impact sent rocks flying and left a trail of debris.
"Hah... hah..."
Amid the rubble, Ace panted heavily, his body battered and scarred. For him, this was the worst defeat he had suffered since joining Whitebeard's crew.
"Zehahaha..."
Teach's arrogant laughter grew louder as he approached.
"What a pity, Ace. They ordered me to capture you alive, or else I'd hate to waste such a talent. Together, we could've taken this world by storm."
Ace sneered, his expression resolute. Supporting himself on shaky arms, he glared at Teach with unwavering determination. "For the rest of my life, I'll only choose Whitebeard as my king!"
Flames erupted from Ace's body, spreading outward in fierce waves.
"Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor!"
Ace compressed a massive amount of flame energy into a colossal sphere, glowing like a miniature sun, radiant and blinding.
Holding the sphere in his hand, he fixed his gaze on Teach, who continued his approach.
The next moment, Ace hurled the flaming sun toward Teach with all his might.
The colossal fireball collided with Teach's immense power, resulting in a battle more cataclysmic than anything before.
The energy released in the clash reverberated across the island, shaking it to its core.
—Boom!
The explosion lit up the sky and sent tremors through the land. Deep cracks raced outward in all directions as the two forces battled for dominance.
For over ten minutes, the light illuminating the sky gradually dimmed, leaving behind smoke and devastation.
"Zehahaha..."
Amid the smoldering ruins, Teach's triumphant laughter echoed.
A hat with a sad and smiling face lay abandoned among the debris.
Fire Fist Ace lay unconscious in a massive crater.
Teach, now back in his human form, stood atop the pit, his laughter filling the air.
"The stepping stone to Shichibukai... here it is!"