Ace stared at the dark figure, a terrifying aura surging from his body before hardening into murderous intent. "Teach... you killed Thatch. I'll kill you!"
The attacker was Teach. The moment he heard that the Dark-Dark Fruit had appeared, he raced here, even leaving Namur and the others behind to cross the sea alone. Driven by his obsession and powerful body, he rushed toward Ace. A spy's Vivre Card made Ace easy to find. When Teach arrived, he saw Tia begging for mercy and Thatch holding the Dark-Dark Fruit.
Teach had intended to stay hidden and find a way to take the Dark-Dark Fruit once this affair was over. But then Ace said he would give it to Ryder. Teach could not let that happen. He had waited years for the fruit, and if it reached Ren, he would never get it. So he struck from hiding, aiming to snatch it. He paid no heed to Thatch, who held it.
Teach was even glad Thatch had the Dark-Dark Fruit instead of someone as strong as Ace. Ambushing Ace to take it would have been difficult. But Thatch was no match for Teach, whose fighting strength rivaled the Five Emperors. A single blow killed him.
Teach seized the Dark-Dark Fruit and swallowed it in one bite, then burst out laughing. "Zehahahahaha... zehahahaha! I finally have the Dark-Dark Fruit! The fruit I've dreamed of! Zehahaha!"
Teach laughed wildly. He had bided his time for more than a decade to obtain the Dark-Dark Fruit. News of it had even driven him to expose himself and ambush Akainu. None of that mattered now. He finally had it.
Black smoke billowed from Teach's body, as though it meant to swallow everything around him.
Murderous rage filled Ace as he looked at Thatch's body. He roared,