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After spending two or three more days in Water 7—and nearly clearing out every notable shop in the city—the mission team from the Sky Kingdom finally departed from the famed shipbuilding island.
It wasn't until their departure that CP9, which had been carefully maintaining law and order during their stay, sprang into action. With confirmation from Stussy that the Pluton blueprints had fallen into the hands of the visitors, Spandam scrambled to make amends. He immediately ordered the arrest of Iceburg and Franky, commanding their transport to Enies Lobby.
Though the course of events deviated from the original timeline, the Straw Hat Pirates still found themselves boarding the sea train bound for Enies Lobby. What followed was nearly identical to the infamous incident chronicled in the original story.
The Straw Hats faced off against CP9, Enies Lobby was utterly destroyed, and the Straw Hats made the bold move of burning the World Government flag—declaring open defiance.
The key difference is that during the battles, Enel joined the fray, and Luffy not only awakened his Second and Third Gear techniques but also awakened the the Observation Haki. With these newfound abilities, he overcame Rob Lucci in a decisive victory.
In less than a month after the Alabasta incident, the Straw Hat Pirates once again made global headlines. Luffy's bounty skyrocketed from 100 million to 300 million berries, marking them as a force to be reckoned with in the Grand Line.
Grand Line
Banaro Island
On the crumbling streets of the island, a group of four individuals, accompanied by a pale, sickly-looking horse, strolled leisurely.
"Zehahaha, those Straw Hat brats have done something incredible!" Teach, better known as Blackbeard, laughed as he read the newspaper in his hand. He tossed it toward his crew. "It says here they captured Enies Lobby, and now Straw Hat Luffy's bounty has shot up to 300 million berries!"
Burgess let out a hearty laugh. "What a transformation! Not long ago in Mock Town, he was just some greenhorn with a bounty of 30 million."
Van Augur, ever stoic, added, "Enies Lobby is near Water 7, which isn't far from here. It's almost as if fate keeps tying us together."
Teach's grin widened, his malicious intent shining through. "Fate, huh? It's true—Straw Hat Luffy's bounty can serve as motivation for our plans. But more importantly, it will fund us for a long, long time! Zehahaha!"
Burgess chimed in, "Uiihahaha! Then let's go, Captain!"
"Not yet," Teach said, raising a hand to stop his overeager crewmates. "We're waiting for someone first."
Just as the words left his mouth, a voice called out from the rooftops above.
"Teach. I've been looking for you."
Teach froze mid-step, his crew turning in unison toward the source of the voice. A figure emerged from the shadows—a familiar face cloaked in the weight of purpose.
"Ace," Teach said, surprise flickering across his face before shifting into a sinister smile. "Well, well... Ace, my old captain."
"Shut up," Ace retorted coldly, his eyes blazing. "I'm not your captain anymore. And don't use that title when you've done nothing to earn respect."
Ace's voice carried an edge that made Blackbeard's crew uneasy. "You're a captain now too, aren't you? Of the Blackbeard Pirates? How fitting for a man like you, Teach."
Though his tone was calm, the killing intent radiating from Ace was unmistakable, pressing down on everyone like a physical weight.
Teach, unfazed, threw his arms wide and laughed. "Zehahahaha! That's right—Blackbeard! That's my name now."
"I know why you're here, Ace. But let me explain first!" Teach said, his tone suddenly serious. "The Whitebeard Pirates are dead! Maybe you haven't realized it, having not seen the battle nine years ago, but I saw it with my own eyes! That was the moment I predicted the future of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Whether it's overall crew strength or a confrontation between elites, the Whitebeard Pirates are no match for the Sky Kingdom," Teach declared, his voice calm but cutting. "Even the old man—Whitebeard himself—is no longer the man he once was."
Teach's words grew colder as he continued. "He's over seventy now, Ace. His days as the world's strongest man are behind him. Time takes its toll on even the greatest of men. A once-mighty warrior, now bound by illness and age, his power is only a shadow of what it used to be."
His gaze darkened. "The Whitebeard Pirates have no future, Ace. And deep down, you know it too—you've seen him, fragile and chained to sickness every day."
"Enough!" Ace's voice rang out, cutting through Teach's tirade. His fists trembled, his body radiating heat as flames began to crackle and flare around him. "Are you seriously trying to justify betraying the man who took you in and cared for you for over twenty years?! You even killed your friend—your brother—Thatch for this madness!"
Ace's anger boiled over, the flames around him surging as he clenched his fists. His grief and fury over Thatch's murder were palpable.
Teach, however, showed no remorse. Instead, he smiled grimly and spread his hands, as though his actions were self-explanatory. "There was no other choice. Thatch found the Devil Fruit I wanted, the one I had been waiting for... I didn't want to kill him, Ace. But he got in my way. That fruit wasn't meant for him—it was meant for me."
His voice turned sharp, a hint of conviction in his tone. "No matter what happened, Ace, I had already made my decision. I couldn't keep following a man whose era has passed. I needed to carve my own path to power!"
Teach's demeanor shifted, his grin widening as his eyes gleamed with ambition. "The age of Whitebeard is over. I've planned everything carefully, Ace. I'm going to rise to the top!"
Then, with a sinister laugh, Teach added, "And you, Ace—you should feel honored. You'll play an indispensable role in my ascent! Zehahahaha!"
Ace narrowed his eyes, his body still wreathed in flames. The implication in Teach's words wasn't lost on him. His voice dropped, cold and resolute. "You think you've already won? You think I'll let you get away with killing Thatch—or with involving my brother in your schemes?"
Teach tilted his head, curious. "Your brother?" The name "Straw Hat Luffy" came to mind—someone Teach had taken an interest in after their encounter in Mock Town. Not only had Luffy stood out, but his iconic hat bore a striking resemblance to the one Shanks once wore.
Ace's fists ignited fully, flames roaring to life as he bellowed, "Luffy is my brother!"
With a fierce roar, Ace launched himself into the air, flames spiraling around him and condensing into his fist in an instant.
"Fire Fist!"
A massive, blazing fist erupted from Ace's attack, hurtling toward Teach and his crew. The inferno consumed the area, reducing buildings to ash and leaving trails of scorched earth in its wake.
Teach and his crewmates dodged the fiery onslaught, stumbling away in disarray. The destruction was overwhelming, forcing Teach to call out to his crew.
"Stay back! Don't interfere—you're no match for him!" Teach barked, waving them away.
Though hesitant, his crew obeyed, retreating to a safe distance. They understood that a fight with Ace would be beyond their abilities, and Teach was well aware of Ace's power from their time together under Whitebeard.
Amid the chaos, Ace stood tall, surrounded by his raging flames. His presence was commanding, like a king standing atop the ruins of his domain. His sharp eyes locked onto Teach.
"So, Teach, what about your so-called power? You killed Thatch for that Dark-Dark Fruit—show me what makes it so special!"
Teach snarled, his usual mocking demeanor replaced by fury. "You'll find out soon enough!" he roared.
As his voice echoed, Teach's body began to shift. His hair grew wildly, his frame contorted, and razor-sharp fangs sprouted from his mouth. His transformation began, the terrifying power of his Devil Fruit now ready to reveal its true might.