The Whitebeard Pirates' Darkest Hour!

"Boom--!"

Flames rolled, Scorched Earth trembled.

During the brief standoff between Ace and Thatch, sparks flew and air pressure soared, the tension as palpable as a string about to snap!

Suddenly, Fossa and Haruta, who were on guard nearby, sprang up and launched a fierce attack!

"Flame Slash - Spiral Blade!!"

Fossa roared, and the square-handled longsword in his hand burst into crimson flames. The flames spun rapidly along the blade, sweeping across the area with scorching heat!

"Flash Blade - Triple Strike!!"

Haruta darted out like lightning, his yellow-hilted sword flashing out three crescent-shaped sword beams in quick succession. The speed was so fast that it was almost just a distorted afterimage, and a sonic boom Sky Splitter air!

"Don't get in my way!!"

Ace glared angrily, then suddenly raised his left arm, unleashing a fountain of flames to meet Fossa's scorching flames head-on.

At the same time, he leaned back sharply, barely dodging Haruta's deadly series of stabs!

But in the instant he flipped over in mid-air—

"Hiss--!"

A thin, deep gash suddenly appeared on his left shoulder, and blood splattered everywhere!

"Ugh--!"

Ace's expression froze. His shoulder injury hadn't healed, and Haruta seized the opportunity to slash him with his sword. A sharp pain shot through him, and he briefly lost his balance!

The moment this flaw was revealed—

"Brush!!"

His clothes Hunting Roar in the fierce wind, and a black wooden box flew out of his arms in the chaos, tracing an eerie arc!

"That's--!"

Thatch's eyes narrowed sharply, and his pupils dilated abruptly!

The black wooden box, like a die of fate, tumbled in the air before finally falling with a "thud" onto the Scorched Earth at his feet!

Thatch quickly bent down without hesitation, scooped up the box, and held it tightly to his chest. At the same time, he pulled up Teach, who was still panting on the ground, and quickly retreated!

"Back off!" he hissed sharply. "This thing might be important naval supplies. Take it back to Pops and let him see it!"

Teach, who had been helped up and was running wildly, now had a stiff expression, rapid breathing, and seemed to be in a state of brief daze.

He looked down at the black box in Thatch's arms—

His fingers trembled involuntarily as he stared at Thatch's chest, where the key that could completely change his fate was now hidden, a barely concealed greed flashing in his eyes.

"Thatch!!" Ace roared, flames erupting from beneath his feet, transforming him into a fiery meteor that hurtled towards them!

"Give me back the box!!"

But at that moment—

"Boom!!"

Three figures descended from the sky, crashing down with terrifying air pressure!

"Kingdew!! Atmos!! Speed Kir!?"

Kingdew's iron arms roared as he clenched his fists together, slamming them down like two hammers!

Atmos wielded two giant swords, his Haki overwhelming, and unleashed two storm-like slashes, forming a cross-shaped blockade of intersecting wind blades!

Speedo Gil unleashed his spear and shield, the spear thrusting like a snake, the shield pressing down like a city wall, completely blocking Ace's path!

"Fire Fist brat! You've gone too far!!"

At the same time, Fossa and Haruta charged in from behind again, their fire blades and afterimages radiating murderous intent. The five-man encirclement was like an iron barrel pressing down, with waves of energy pushing forward in layers!

Ace appeared to be raging through gritted teeth, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"The box... has successfully landed in front of Teach."

"Now, let's see what 'choice' he'll make..."

Boom!!

Ace slammed his fist into the ground, and intense flames suddenly surged up, the burst of heat like a blazing sun, completely obscuring the surrounding view!

But the net of encirclement has already been cast, and there is no escape!

While protecting Teach as they retreated, Thatch quickly stuffed the black box into his pocket. "Don't think too much, let's get out of here! We'll leave this to Pops to judge!"

But he didn't realize that the look in the eyes of the people he had been protecting during the evacuation had changed.

Teach remained silent.

He stared intently at Thatch's chest, his gaze fixed on the black wooden box.

Greed surged into my heart like a tidal wave.

"As long as I get it..."

"If only..."

His Right Hand slowly and silently reached for the sharp dagger at his waist.

The blade was drawn, and a murderous intent quietly emerged.

Just as Roy and Whitebeard's battle intensified, Ace was surrounded by five people and was in a critical situation!

A soul-rending scream suddenly ripped through the smoke-filled Battlefield!

" --Teach!! You!!"

The voice contained unbelievable shock, the astonishment of being betrayed, and pain that went to the bone!

The Whitebeard Pirates were startled and turned around, looking in the direction of the sudden, familiar voice.

On the edge of that somewhat desolate Island, under the sunlight, a scene that chilled the heart suddenly came into view!

Thatch staggered backward, a bloodstained dagger lodged in his chest, bright red blood dripping down the blade and soaking his clothes.

He swayed, his eyes wide open, as if he still couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Standing before him was Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, panting heavily, his eyes burning with greed and madness!

That familiar smile has long since vanished, replaced by a twisted and sinister look, a result of being consumed by desire!

His Right Hand was still in the stabbing position, while his left hand tightly clutched the stolen black wooden box, as if holding the whole world in his arms.

"This... this can't be real..."

Thatch murmured to himself, looking down at the wound on his chest, as if trying to confirm whether this was a nightmare.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, yet he still managed a bitter smile, "Teach... you... you actually..."

"Is that fruit... really more important than our brotherhood of over twenty years?"

Thatch's voice was faint, yet it rang out exceptionally clearly in the silent air.

He reached out his hand, trembling, as if trying to grasp something, even if it was just the hem of Teach's clothes:

"You want it... I can give it to you... You don't need... like this..."

Before he could finish speaking, his body finally gave way, and he slowly collapsed, crashing heavily onto the scorching hot Scorched Earth.

His eyes were fixed on the receding figure, his brother who had fought alongside him countless times over the past twenty years, now turned into the cruelest betrayer.

He couldn't even close his eyes in death.

"Teach--!"

The next moment, a thunderous roar exploded from the center of the Battlefield!

A tsunami-like surge of air swept across the entire island, as if even the sky itself trembled!

The Whitebeard figure stood like a mountain, his face filled with uncontrollable pain and anger.

His eyes were bloodshot with rage, his chest heaved violently, and his heavy breathing sounded like the roar of an old beast.

His voice trembled, and his throat was hoarse as if it had been ripped apart by a knife.

"You beast!!"

Whitebeard slammed his massive Naginata into the ground!

Boom--!

The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was released instantly, the earth's crust cracked, and the entire island seemed to wail!

Rocks flew everywhere, seawater surged in, the air distorted, and the earth churned like a raging sea!

"Thatch... was... killed by Teach?!"

"Teach... stole the fruit?!"

The Whitebeard Pirates were stunned, their faces filled with disbelief and rage, and the entire Battlefield instantly descended into chaos!

"Teach!! You betrayed Pops!!"

"You actually... attacked Thatch?!"

Fossa, Haruta, and the others were visibly horrified, their eyes wide with rage and their bodies trembling!

Roy seized the Teleportation to teleport Ace to safety and helped stop his injuries. Ace was also shocked. "He actually attacked his own brother..."

At this moment, Teach seemed to hear nothing at all, clutching the black box and running away frantically!

His face was a mixture of sweat, blood, and tears of excitement.

"Almost there... I'm almost there!!"

"As long as we leave this island... as long as we escape!!"

"I, Teach... will make this entire ocean remember my name!!"

Ahead, a lone boat bobs in the wind and waves, as if summoned by destiny.

"My chance! My time has come!! Hahaha--!"

"You idiot, run now!"

He roared and charged toward the ferry of fate like a madman, his legs sprinting like the wind!

But just then--

The sky suddenly darkened!

A scorching storm roared in from the horizon, its flames spreading like a phoenix's wings, blotting out the sun!

A furious roar descended from the heavens!

"Phoenix Brand!"

Boom--!

Golden flames converged, like a burning comet falling from the sky, carrying the fierce force to incinerate everything, and crashed fiercely onto the coast!

"What?!"

Teach looked up in horror, only to see flames raging before him and waves of heat crashing down like a wall. He only had time to open his mouth and roar, "No--!"

The next moment--

Boom--!

Flames exploded, waves crashed back, and the entire beach was Impact in a raging heatwave, the flames like a blazing sun falling and scorching the earth!

The black wooden box flew from Teach's arms, cutting through the lingering smoke, tumbling several times on the sand, and finally settling in the scorching embers, burning silently... like a silent judgment.

Teach, on the other hand, was slammed into the Phoenix Fire and sent flying, crashing into the Reef, coughing up blood, looking utterly disheveled!

He lay on the edge of the beach, his body charred black, his pupils trembling with pain and horror, yet he stared intently at the box.

Just then, amidst the howling hot wind, a figure with azure flame wings descended on fire!

Phoenix the Marco, his blue flames undiminished, his wings spread like wildfire, his eyes cold as frost, looking down at the man who had fought alongside him for 20 years and called him "Pops."

"Teach..."

His voice was low and heavy, as if a thousand pounds were pressing on his chest. At this moment, the anger and grief he had been suppressing completely broke down!

"You killed Thatch with your own hands for a mere fruit!"

"You betrayed Pops's Trust, you betrayed the hearts of all of us!!"

He suddenly spread his wings, and blue flames rose into the sky, the firelight reddening the heavens!

You are not worthy to stand under this flag!

"From the moment you stabbed me—"

Marco gritted his teeth, his eyes reddening, his tone sharp and piercing:

"You're no longer a member of the Whitebeard Pirates... You're just a filthy piece of trash who would betray even your own shadow!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the flames coalesced once more!

The blue flames surged like a raging torrent, crashing down upon Teach!