"Haaaaah!!!"
The steam pouring from Luffy's body suddenly surged.
"I'm taking that fruit back with me!"
"I'm going to sail that sea!"
"I'm going to be the Pirate King!"
"Gum-Gum Nika! Ragnarok!!!"
The enormous fist, blazing with golden-red flames and carrying that utterly pure power of freedom, crashed down toward Blackbeard.
"Ku la la la la! Good!"
Blackbeard laughed and gathered every last ounce of strength he had.
He raised his fist, wreathed in the twin powers of darkness and quakes, and fearlessly struck up at the gigantic golden-red fist.
"Black Abyss Tremor!!!"
Rumble, rumble, rumble!!!!!
The two destructive forces collided violently in the very center of the arena.
In that instant, golden-red light swallowed the entire Colosseum.
A terrifying storm of energy swept wildly outward.
The protective barrier shuddered violently under the impact, letting out a mournful hum.
Countless spectators were knocked off balance by the blast, their startled cries ringing out.
And when the dazzling light gradually faded...
At the very center of the arena...
Blackbeard knelt on one knee.
His bandage-wrapped arms hung completely limp now, unable to lift even an inch.
Every one of his old, unhealed wounds had burst open. Blood seeped through his bandages, drop by drop, gathering in a small pool beneath him.
Before him, Luffy's body slowly shrank, returning from Nika Sixth Form to his normal shape.
He was drenched in blood and swaying on his feet, yet he stubbornly remained standing.
"Huff... huff..."
Blackbeard knelt on one knee, drawing great, ragged breaths.
His head was lowered, leaving the expression on his bandaged face unreadable.
A long while passed.
"Ku la la la la!"
Suddenly, he laughed.
The laughter slowly spilled from his bowed head, quiet at first, then growing louder and freer.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
There was not a