Blackbeard's Invitation

In the passage from Impel Down's Level 3 to Level 4, Jiang Lin walked alone past more than a thousand prison guards armed with prison-bullet rocket launchers. Frost spread from beneath his feet, freezing everyone along his path.

"Move!"

"No way!"

Luffy and Hannyabal's voices rang out from beyond the passage. Reaching its end, Jiang Lin slowly raised his eyes and looked outside.

Beyond the passage, Luffy and Hannyabal faced off, ready to fight. Their heated argument echoed throughout Level 4.

"Jiang Lin!"

The moment Luffy saw Jiang Lin, he excitedly tried to rush over and greet him.

But as Luffy moved, Hannyabal stood firm in his path, Blood Sucker in hand.

"Don't underestimate me!"

Sweat had soaked Hannyabal's back, but his gaze remained resolute. Even facing Jiang Lin, he refused to yield an inch.

"Move... I'm in a very bad mood right now!"

Ice spread ahead of Jiang Lin. A bone-chilling wave of cold swept out, making the already frigid Level 4 colder still.

"Take this! Frenzied Hannya Dance... Scorching Hell Chariot!"

Hannyabal whirled Blood Sucker with both hands until flames engulfed both ends, then charged at Jiang Lin.

"Ice Ball!"

The blazing fire did nothing to warm Jiang Lin's heart. With a quiet shout, he sealed Hannyabal and his weapon inside a massive ball of ice.

"Jiang Lin, did you see my brother?"

As soon as Luffy saw Hannyabal frozen, he hurried over to ask about Ace.

"I saw him, but..."

Jiang Lin's hands trembled slightly, and his expression darkened.

"But what?"

Luffy pressed him anxiously.

"It's nothing. Let's go to Marineford together. This time, I'll save Ace!"

Jiang Lin took a deep breath and pushed aside every distracting thought.

A brief setback wasn't frightening. What was frightening was giving in to despair forever.

I failed once. Then I'll make my next success erase the pain of this failure.

Marineford was Jiang Lin's last chance, Ace's last chance, and Luffy's last chance.

This time, Jiang Lin would not fail again.

"Oh! Then let's hurry!"

Luffy missed what was wrong with Jiang Lin's words. Seeing that the way ahead was clear, he set off.

Just then, a thick black mist poured from the passage.

The prison guards Jiang Lin had frozen inside were flung out in a heap as the mist spread.

"Well, well, well... Quite a few big names gathered here!"

Dressed in black, Blackbeard emerged with his crew after clearing the passage.

One minute has elapsed. Gum-Gum Fruit copying complete.

After glancing at the system message, Jiang Lin turned his attention to Blackbeard. Since Blackbeard had come to him, he had no intention of letting him go.

The Dark-Dark Fruit was called the most sinister power in Devil Fruit history. Jiang Lin had wanted that power for a long time.

"So you're D, the one with a bounty of six hundred million and one Beli? Join us!"

Blackbeard's gaze swept the area. When it landed on Jiang Lin, naked greed crossed his face.

Blackbeard had come to Impel Down to find crewmates. A powerful pirate like Jiang Lin, who had only just made a name for himself, was exactly the kind of recruit he wanted.

Jiang Lin's face took on a mocking look as Blackbeard raised his hand.

"Sure! Beat me, and I'll join your crew!"

Jiang Lin reached out and clasped Blackbeard's hand firmly.

"Jiang Lin!"

Luffy looked visibly alarmed by Jiang Lin's answer.

"Don't worry! I'm strong!"

Jiang Lin smiled faintly, then turned back to Blackbeard.

"Well? Do you dare?"

Blackbeard accepted Jiang Lin's "challenge" without a moment's hesitation.

Blackbeard wanted to test the newly risen pirate's strength for himself. He released Jiang Lin's hand and grinned excitedly. "Welcome aboard, D!"

Glint-Glint Fruit (Love-Love Fruit amplification) loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds.

As the system spoke, Jiang Lin slid backward with the grace of a dancer, putting distance between himself and Blackbeard.

The Dark-Dark Fruit favored close combat, while the Glint-Glint Fruit was better suited to ranged attacks. Jiang Lin had no reason to trade blows with Blackbeard up close.

"Laser Beam!"

A dazzling ray flashed from Jiang Lin's finger and shot straight at Blackbeard.

"Black Vortex!"

Thick black mist billowed from Blackbeard's hand. A powerful pull seized Jiang Lin and dragged him toward Blackbeard.

"Light-Speed Kick!"

As Jiang Lin was pulled in front of him, he struck before Blackbeard could use his power.

The fierce kick sent Blackbeard flying, sparing Jiang Lin from having his ability nullified.

"Your power really is a nuisance!"

Jiang Lin watched Blackbeard through the black mist, irritation creeping across his face. If Blackbeard pulled him in, his ability would be nullified. For someone who relied on it, that was bad news.

"Hahaha... My power is far greater than you've seen, D! Become my crewmate. I'm the man destined to become the Pirate King!"

Blackbeard stood there laughing arrogantly. Across from him, Luffy's face burned with anger.

Blackbeard had captured Ace. Now he had set his sights on Luffy's companion, Jiang Lin, too. Luffy's fury reached its peak.

If Jiang Lin hadn't confronted Blackbeard first, Luffy would have stepped in and taught him a lesson himself.

"The Pirate King? You're not just offending me with that—you've offended every reader who loves the Pirate King! I'm going to be the Pirate King!"

Light flared around Jiang Lin's hands, and he unleashed his ultimate attack!

"Yasakani Sacred Jewel!"

A dense barrage of light bullets, endless as rain, filled every inch of space around Blackbeard in an instant.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Light bullets struck all around Blackbeard. After a barrage of violent explosions, everything they touched turned to stone.

Dense patches of blue-white stone covered the blast wounds like bandages.

"Hahaha... That really hurts!"

An angry laugh rose from the smoke. Wounded all over, Blackbeard emerged slowly, wreathed in black mist and walking across ground completely covered in stone.

"Captain!"

"Captain!"

"..."

Seeing Blackbeard in such a sorry state, his crewmates rushed forward to help him face Jiang Lin.

"What? Planning to gang up on me?"

Dazzling light radiated from Jiang Lin as he faced the entire Blackbeard Pirates. His voice was cold.