"Crack!"
The punch struck Marshall D. Teach square in the face. Its tremendous force instantly crushed and shattered the bones on one side of his face.
His eyes began to roll back, and the space around his head cracked apart.
Then his body flew high into the air and slammed heavily onto the ground.
"The same attack, the same stance, yet the result seems completely different, Teach!"
River stepped forward.
Marshall D. Teach remained dazed for several breaths before finally regaining his senses.
Half his face had caved in. Blood ran down his chin and dripped onto the ground. He was in so much pain that he seemed unable even to scream.
Sweat poured from his entire body, born of both pain and fear.
At that moment, he finally recognized the gap between them and realized just how terrifying River's strength was.
"Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap!"
Footsteps rang out, and the flames on the ground swayed from side to side.
Sweat dripped from Marshall D. Teach's chin, and his pupils contracted.
Suddenly, he thrust out his right hand.
"Black Vortex!"
A powerful pulling force instantly dragged River toward him, and he seized River's shoulder.
At the same time, however, River's right hand grabbed him too.
"Hum!"
A strange power swept over Marshall D. Teach. His whole body shuddered, and terror filled his eyes.
His power had been suppressed again. His opponent possessed the Dark-Dark Fruit's ability too.
"Damn it!"
Marshall D. Teach reacted quickly. Since he could no longer use his Devil Fruit ability, he would fight with pure Taijutsu.
His Taijutsu was far from weak either.
"Armament Haki!"
A layer of Armament Haki instantly coated his other fist and arm.
Then he swung it fiercely.
But River moved faster, striking his nose a second before his punch could