Whitebeard's Grief!

Just as Marco's "Phoenix Brand," carrying the raging flames of world-destroying fury, was about to end Teach—

"Whoosh!!"

A figure arrived in an instant!

Roy's figure appeared like a ghost, his palm clenched, instantly grabbing Teach's scorched neck and throwing him violently!

"Roll!"

Teach was flung away like a tattered sack, crashing heavily onto the Scorched Earth of the beach, rolling right next to the black wooden box.

The flames exploded with a roar, but Roy simply raised his hand and wiped them away, causing the space to tremble and crushing the aftershocks!

Marco's eyes widened in fury, blue flames surging, and he turned around, roaring, "Navy!! What do you want to do?!"

His tone was no longer restrained; his anger bordered on murderous intent!

"That bastard deserves to die!! Don't stop me!!"

Roy ignored him.

He simply stood quietly in the afterglow of the flames, his black hair slightly tossed, his gaze as cold as the night, fixed on Teach before him.

It was as if everything was under their control.

On the other side, Teach, his body charred black, lay panting on the sand, his cheek pressed to the ground, looking utterly wretched.

But his eyes lit up with a final hope when he saw the box in front of him!

"It's still there! It's still there!!"

He frantically clawed at the sand with both arms, his blood mixing with the Scorched Earth to form mud, dragging his battered body inch by inch toward the box!

"Just eat it..."

"As long as we eat that fruit..."

"I still have a sliver of hope!! I can still turn my fate around!!"

The image of the notebook his father had left behind flashed through his mind—

"Your final 'fate' lies within that fruit."

Finally, trembling, he lunged at the box and, with all his might, flipped it open.

"Click!"

The moment the lid popped open, his pupils contracted sharply, and his breath froze!

"No... no... this isn't..."

Inside the box lay a dark green fruit with a rough skin and tortoise-shell-like patterns.

--It's the Zoan Brazilian Tortoise Fruit!

"What the hell is this?!"

"Where are my fruits?!"

"What about my huge Dark-Dark Fruit?!"

Teach was as if struck by a thunderbolt, instantly plummeting from the pinnacle of hope into the abyss of despair, almost to the point of madness!

He whirled around, his eyes bloodshot, and roared hysterically at Roy, "Where did you hide my fruit?! Give it back to me!!"

"That's my life!! My future!! My Throne!!"

But his response was a dismissive and cold laugh.

Roy slowly raised his Right Hand, clenching his fist in mid-air, causing the space to tremble slightly.

Immediately, a pale purple fruit, seemingly devouring light, appeared in his palm, its spiral patterns resembling the undercurrents flowing in an abyss.

That one--

Dark-Dark Fruit!

Roy gently raised his arm, his voice calm yet like the pronouncement of death. "Are you looking for this?"

Teach was jolted, as if struck by lightning. He collapsed to the ground, his pupils contracting sharply, his lips trembling. "No... impossible... you already...!!"

"You planned all of this from the very beginning..."

He trembled all over, his teeth chattered, and his eyes no longer held the confidence and cunning of the past, only terror, despair, and utter despair!

He finally understood.

In this game where betrayal is the stake, he is nothing more than a pawn that has been placed in the game.

The mastermind who coldly observed everything, from beginning to end, even included his own "struggle" in the script.

Just as Teach collapsed onto the sand, his eyes completely broken, a series of heavy but rapid footsteps boomed from the distance of the Battlefield!

--Whitebeard and the other captains have arrived!

"Get out of the way!"

Atmos, his face covered in blood, clutched the lifeless Thatch tightly in his arms, running and crying out, tears mingling with the dust as he ran.

He rushed to Marco, his voice trembling and almost cracking. "Brother Marco!! Please save Thatch!! He's... he's not dead yet... right?!"

Marco was stunned, frozen in place.

He slowly knelt down, his hands trembling as he touched the wound on Thatch's chest.

It was a bottomless blood hole, with the dagger plunged straight into the heart, and faint traces of Armament Haki still lingered around the wound.

As the ship's doctor, Marco understood at a glance: this was a fatal blow, leaving no chance of survival.

"Teach... you're not even leaving him a sliver of hope?!"

His throat was dry, his jaw clenched so tightly it made a "crunching" sound, and his fingertips trembled as he pressed against Thatch's neck, but he couldn't feel even the slightest pulse.

He finally shook his head slowly, tears silently rolling down his cheeks, wetting the scorched earth.

"Thatch... is already..."

He could never bring himself to say "I'm leaving."

His voice choked with emotion, and he could no longer speak.

"No--! That's impossible!!"

"Brother Thatch!! Wake up!"

"Teach!! I'm going to kill you!! I'm going to tear you to pieces!!"

The crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates instantly broke down!

Crying, roaring, howling!

Jozu roared and smashed a chunk of rock to pieces with his fist, his entire arm turning into Diamond, veins bulging!

Vista drew his twin swords, blood dripping from their tips, his eyes as cold as frost!

Blamenco knelt down, clutching his head, and frantically pounded his chest, as if trying to bury his regret deep into his bones!

Those were their brothers who had fought side by side for over twenty years.

They died at the hands of their most Trust and tolerant "family"!

Amidst the flames, the wind howled, as if even heaven and earth were mourning the end of this brotherhood.

Whitebeard walked heavily but firmly to Thatch, his massive figure slowly kneeling down like a mountain.

His hands were rough and calloused, yet incredibly gentle when he touched Thatch's cheek.

"Thatch..."

Whitebeard's voice was hoarse and broken, low and deep like snapping old wood. "It's my fault... I've ruined you..."

He closed his eyes briefly, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"If only I had noticed Teach's ambition sooner..."

"If I hadn't repeatedly sheltered and indulged him..."

"You... won't die at his hands..."

He slowly lowered his head, his forehead gently touching Thatch's temple. At that moment, the "strongest man" who once conquered the New World seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

Meanwhile, Teach sat trembling on the sand, watching the increasingly enraged Whitebeard crew, and finally realized—

He had nowhere to run!

"No... no!! I can't die yet!!"

"I still have my father's bloodline! I have a backup plan!! I still have a future!!"

He jerked his head up, as if grabbing onto a last piece of driftwood, and roared at Roy, "Roy!! Give me the fruit!!"

"I can help you fight Whitebeard! We can join forces!! And rule the seas together!!"

"Aren't you in the Navy? You want to rid the old era of its scourges, don't you?!"

He went berserk, spitting as he reached out to Roy with a ferocious expression.

But Roy just stared at him coldly, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

"Cooperate?"

He smirked, a slight sneer playing on his lips, and slowly pocketed the Dark-Dark Fruit, his tone as if delivering a death sentence:

"You dare to challenge me?"