Blackbeard Appears

"Whoosh—!!!"

A faint sound of something cutting through the air rang out.

A barely perceptible flicker of pale purple light flashed past the edge of the strange "black curtain" at the battlefield's perimeter.

The next instant—

Less than twenty meters in front of Whitebeard, the air rippled violently like water, twisting and warping.

"Bzzzz—!!!"

Amid a low, strange spatial tremor, a bloated figure seemed to be forcibly "squeezed" out of another dimension, solidifying from a blurred phantom into flesh and blood.

"Boom!"

The newcomer's feet slammed heavily onto the ice, cracking it in a spiderweb pattern.

It was the traitorous former member of the Whitebeard Pirates, the newly appointed Shichibukai, "Blackbeard" Marshall D. Teach.

This ghostly entrance from thin air was a special application of Van Augur's Teleport-Teleport Fruit.

Van Augur had used Blackbeard as a "bullet," precisely "firing" him into the designated position.

Countless uncertain, startled gazes instantly focused on the uninvited guest.

"Who... is that?"

"How did he suddenly appear?"

"That outfit... looks familiar."

All doubts and murmurs were completely drowned out by a roar filled with towering rage and bone-deep hatred.

"Teach—!!!"

Ace's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, as though flames might burst from them.

He stared fixedly at the culprit who had betrayed Pops, murdered Thatch, sent him to Impel Down, and caused today's bloody tragedy.

Had Luffy not held him tightly, he would have already charged forward without regard for anything else, determined to tear this traitor apart with his teeth if necessary.

Whitebeard's icy gaze fell upon Blackbeard.

There was only one thing in that gaze: disappointment and heartbreak that seeped into his bones.

Yet the terrifying pressure radiating from his body seemed to freeze the surrounding air solid.

Blackbeard's heart pounded uncontrollably, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

The awe he had accumulated