Blackbeard's Defeat

"Hahaha... Come on, then!"

Blackbeard waved his men back and stepped forward alone. Thick black mist poured from his body and wrapped around the unfortunate Prison Guards Jiang Lin had frozen, then Blackbeard had "liberated" once already.

"Liberation!"

Blackbeard did it again, hurling a mass of "ice men" at Jiang Lin and blocking his view.

"Black Vortex!"

With Jiang Lin's sight obscured, Blackbeard aimed his right hand at him and unleashed his power.

A powerful pull seized Jiang Lin, dragging him rapidly toward Blackbeard.

"Light-Speed Kick!"

As Jiang Lin was pulled in, he struck first, before Blackbeard's power could take full effect.

Dazzling yellow light filled the entire Level 4 floor. Before anyone could react, the fierce kick slammed into Blackbeard.

Jiang Lin had been hurtling toward Blackbeard, but that kick not only stopped him in his tracks—it sent Blackbeard flying backward ahead of him like a cloud of black mist.

"Captain!"

"He's so strong! Is this what a pirate with a six-hundred-million-Beli bounty is like? He might already be far stronger than a Shichibukai!"

Jiang Lin's strength left the Blackbeard Pirates, Jinbe, and the others staring openmouthed.

As a Shichibukai, Blackbeard was certainly no weakling. Yet against Jiang Lin, he had been helpless. That could only mean Jiang Lin's strength had surpassed that of a Shichibukai!

A pirate who had only just made his name had not only received a staggering bounty of 600,000,100 Beli, but also possessed power beyond a Shichibukai.

Once a man like that entered the Grand Line, he could shake its entire balance of power.

"Hahaha... D! Join me! I'm the man destined to become Pirate King, and you... By helping me claim the throne, you'll become a world-famous powerhouse. Even the Four Emperors won't come close to your standing!"

Despite the beating Jiang Lin had given him, Blackbeard showed no sign of backing down. He laughed more wildly than ever, trying to recruit Jiang Lin into his crew.

"I refuse!"

Jiang Lin's voice was firm as iron. He had never intended to join the Blackbeard Pirates. He was not even sure whether he would keep traveling with the Straw Hat Pirates.

Perhaps the only man Jiang Lin would willingly and wholeheartedly serve would have to be stronger, more charismatic, and more handsome than he was!

"You haven't seen all I can do. Watch closely—this is the true power of my Dark-Dark Fruit!"

Blackbeard wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The mist around him spread rapidly, no longer confined to his body as it surged outward in every direction.

The thick black mist crept across the ground, swallowing and crushing everything it touched.

"Hey, hey, hey! The captain's gone way too far!"

The Blackbeard Pirates, seeing the mist spread, hurried toward the Prison Guards.

The guards Blackbeard had already thrown twice were swallowed by the mist yet again. This time, they were unlikely to come out alive.

"Everyone, fall back!"

Jiang Lin did not underestimate Blackbeard's attack. After shouting for Luffy and the others to retreat, he switched Devil Fruit Cards.

"Venom-Venom Fruit loaded. Duration: ten minutes. Cooldown: thirty seconds."

As soon as the system message sounded, Jiang Lin sent his venom into the attack.

"Poison Dragon!"

Thick venom shot from Jiang Lin's right hand and took the form of a fierce dragon. It charged forward and engulfed Blackbeard as he attacked.

"Argh! Aaargh!"

The moment the venom entered his body, Blackbeard clutched his head and howled in agony, losing control of the mist.

Freed from his control, the mist spread even faster. Blackbeard had kept it within five or six meters of himself, but now it raced outward unchecked.

Trouble. I didn't expect this mist to be so hard to deal with!

Jiang Lin was about to retreat when the system spoke first.

"One minute elapsed. Dark-Dark Fruit replication complete."

Jiang Lin did not hesitate. He loaded the Dark-Dark Fruit, raised his right hand, and pressed it toward the approaching mist.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

A rush of wind filled the air before Jiang Lin, threaded with faint sounds of things being swallowed.

The mist that had run out of control was drawn toward Jiang Lin's right hand and absorbed into his "body."

"You lose, future Pirate King!"

With the mist under control, Jiang Lin walked slowly toward Blackbeard, who was rolling on the floor in agony. Under the horrified gazes of the Blackbeard Pirates, Jiang Lin spoke with a mocking smile.

"What exactly is your power...?"

Blackbeard stared at Jiang Lin in shock. His Dark-Dark Fruit was already absurdly powerful, yet he had been utterly helpless against him. If Jiang Lin had not beaten him in a single move, Blackbeard might still have thought their strength was roughly equal!

"And what exactly is yours?"

Jiang Lin's words carried a pointed meaning, but Blackbeard looked completely lost.

"Forget it! Luffy, I'll leave him to you!"

Jiang Lin pulled Blackbeard into his hand and casually tossed him to Luffy nearby.

Blackbeard was the one responsible for Ace's capture. Luffy had far more right to decide what to do with him than Jiang Lin did.

"Blackbeard!"

Luffy walked toward Blackbeard with his teeth clenched. His hatred had been surging ever since he first heard that name.

"Ace was captured by a pirate named Blackbeard and handed over to the World Government."

That was what Gloriosa had told Luffy before he came to Impel Down.

Now Blackbeard stood right before him. Luffy could not simply let him go!

"Gear Second!"

Luffy called out and charged.

"Wait! Luffy, stop! Not now—hold back!"

Just as Luffy moved to strike Blackbeard, Jinbe stepped in front of him and blocked his way.

"Luffy! Think carefully about what matters most right now!"

Jinbe's words made Jiang Lin frown slightly. Blackbeard's continued existence was hardly good news for the New World.

"Luffy, if you can't do it, then I'll handle him!"

Jiang Lin reached out and hauled Blackbeard off the floor with his right hand. Lit by the dazzling white ice, the thick black mist looked especially sinister.

"BOOM!"

A violent explosion suddenly rang out across Level 4. The prisoners, who had been stunned by Jiang Lin's strength, erupted into motion.

"It's Magellan! Magellan's here!"

At the terrified shouts, the pirates scrambled toward the passage leading to Level 3.

"Magellan!"

Jiang Lin gripped Blackbeard's throat tightly with his right hand, unable to hide the anger on his face.

"D! Let's get out of here!"

After dodging Sadi's whip, Ivankov leaped to Jiang Lin's side and spoke urgently.

"Jiang Lin, let's go."

Luffy looked at Blackbeard with bitter reluctance. But he knew what mattered most right now, so he chose to let Blackbeard go for the time being.

"You go ahead. I'm going to find Magellan... and have a little talk!"

Jiang Lin tightened his right hand, then slammed Blackbeard to the floor like a ragged sack. He turned against the flow of people and walked slowly toward the Prison Guards.