News of Jesus Burgess's death in battle, Shiryu's demise, and the successive falls of Honey Island and Liquor Island reached the main island of Hachinosu like a bolt from the blue.
Inside the great hall of Blackbeard's royal palace, the atmosphere was suffocating. Blackbeard sat on his throne with a bottle of liquor in hand, yet he could not swallow a single mouthful. His face was thunderous, his lone eye filled with terror and rage.
"Useless! All of them useless!" Blackbeard smashed the bottle against the floor and roared, "That idiot Burgess! That worthless Shiryu! They couldn't even hold out for two hours! What's so frightening about the Hua Empire?!"
"Captain, this isn't the time to be angry." Van Augur stood and said gravely, "The Hua Empire's Million-Strong Army is already at our gates, and eight Pluton Battleships are right outside. We're no match for them. Why don't we... retreat for now and make a comeback when we get the chance?"
"Retreat?" Blackbeard sprang to his feet and roared, "Why should I retreat? This is my Hachinosu! This is my territory, Marshall D. Teach's territory! I have the strongest Logia, the Dark-Dark Fruit, and the Mythical Zoan Yamata no Orochi Form fruit! I'm the strongest man in the world! I won't lose to that brat Chen Yu!"
He spread his arms and pushed the powers of both Devil Fruits to their limits at once. Black darkness and black, serpentine energy intertwined around him, and the entire hall shook violently.
"Zehahahaha!" Blackbeard threw back his head and laughed wildly. "I have the two strongest Devil Fruits! I'm invincible! So what if Chen Yu comes? I'll steal his powers too! Then the whole sea will be mine!"
Watching the crazed Blackbeard, Van Augur and Doc Q exchanged a glance, each seeing helplessness