Teach clutched his chest as he slowly emerged from the ruined rock wall, rubble tumbling down around him.
Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, his chest heaving violently, yet his eyes remained fixed on the towering figure ahead, as imposing as a demon god.
"Devil... Bullet."
Teach spoke in a low voice, a few more traces of gravity in his tone.
"A monster like Garp, relying purely on Haki and physical combat..."
That punch had felt like it had shifted all his internal organs. The Dark-Dark Fruit was indeed powerful, but its side effects were equally obvious.
When he took an attack, the pain was amplified several times over.
Taking a punch from a monster like Bullet head-on was anything but pleasant.
But Teach had not fallen.
He was no ordinary pirate now. He was the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division.
Years ago, even before obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit, he had left an indelible scar on Red-Hair Shanks's face through nothing but pure physical skill and Haki.
Years of battle.
Years of slaughter.
Teach had long been forged by the storms of the New World into a true monster.
Even without relying on the Dark-Dark Fruit, he was still a formidable master of Haki and physical combat.
Teach slowly steadied himself.
His five fingers curled into claws as jet-black Armament Haki gradually wrapped around his fingertips.
Seeing this, a glint of excitement flashed through Bullet's eyes instead. He stomped down hard with both feet.
Boom!
The ground exploded.
Bullet bared his teeth in a savage grin.
"Good."
"Now this is getting interesting."
He raised his fist, dense Armament Haki coating his arm like steel.
"Come and fight to the death!"
The moment his words fell—
Teach stepped forward first, darkness spreading around him like rippling water.