And all of this was clearly "seen" by Imu within the dark head perched high on the back of the mutated Fengxi (Saint Warcury).
Its eyes remained fixed on Blackbeard, who was still roaring and fighting like mad despite Gern's savage attacks and its own dark interference.
It watched him recklessly unleash his Two-Devil-Fruit Ability, sensing his desire...
What... perfect "material"! Imu marveled inwardly.
Compared with Rocks, whom it had forcibly "demonized" at God Valley all those years ago...
This Marshall D. Teach possessed the far more compatible Dark-Dark Fruit, which countered most ability users, including Heavenquake.
He possessed the equally top-tier Tremor-Tremor Fruit, and even the aptitude for Conqueror's Haki!
Together, these qualities formed an exceptional "vessel" with limitless potential and extraordinary malleability!
The Rocks of those days had been a puppet it forcibly "corrupted" and "catalyzed" with its power.
Though obedient, he had ultimately lacked "spirit" and "room to grow." (A puppet created purely through dark conversion.)
But Blackbeard... Imu preferred to have him "willingly" embrace the abyss of his own accord.
And in the end... it would "personally" inhabit him, taking complete control of this perfect body!
Just as now, with Blackbeard driven into a corner and unleashing unprecedented power to fight Gern...
Was this not the finest "test" and "selection process"?
Let him battle Heavenquake, the strongest "whetstone," squeezing out every last bit of his potential while it observed the limits and compatibility of his abilities...
Once he was utterly spent, or Gern was gravely wounded...
That would be the ideal moment to harvest this most perfect "fruit"!
For the moment, Imu was like a patient hunter, waiting quietly in the darkness.
Waiting for Blackbeard, this beast driven mad, to exhaust his final reserves of strength and expose his vulnerable neck.
Waiting for Gern, this sharp