"Ahhh, it's so hot! So hot!"
"Captain?!"
Amidst the cries of alarm from the other crew members engulfed in flames, Blackbeard Teach, writhing in pain on the ground, rolled over and got to his feet.
"Shut up! Get out of here!"
" Äs, I know you're here to kill me! But you're destined not to."
Although Teach's behavior of rolling around on the ground and yelling was a bit uncool, he was actually not injured.
The Dark-Dark Fruit doesn't grant Blackbeard elemental powers, but it does give him the ability to absorb all damage. In other words, as long as it doesn't exceed his tolerance level, Teach won't get hurt.
Your body is fire, isn't it?
As Blackbeard Teach stood up, layers of ominous darkness began to emanate from him, revealing his madness!
"Then I am the darkness!"
"This is the most vicious Logia Devil Fruit in the world."
" Dark-Dark Fruit!"
A billowing darkness emanated from Marshall D. Teach, encompassing both matter and energy, abilities and Haki, all within the range of the Dark-Dark Fruit's ability to capture and absorb.
"Captain Äs... I'll show you the power of the strongest Devil Fruit I've been waiting for for decades!"
Despite Teach's declaration, Äs remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was already on guard.
" Dark Water!"
In that instant, Blackbeard Teach reached out and grabbed at Äs, a ball of light, like a miniature black hole, swirling in his palm.
At the same time, an immense and irresistible attraction suddenly fell on Äs, as if a category 12 typhoon had suddenly appeared behind him, or as if countless invisible arms were pulling him forward through the air.
What's this?
Before he could think, Äs, who was suddenly pulled away, spread his arms in mid-air, and raging flames gathered in his palms.
With a sudden grab and press of his five fingers, the pure energy flame was forcibly transformed into a solid spear, which immediately flew out of his hand and thrust towards his opponent.
"Sacred Fire Shiranui!"
Two fiery spears, glowing with a platinum hue, pierced Teach's chest in an instant, while Teach's swung palm strike landed on Äs's neck at the same time.
In an instant, Äs could feel the fire power within his body rapidly disappearing. It wasn't a loss from leakage or depletion from overuse, but a complete and utter vanishing into thin air!
Ever since he ate the Flame-Flame Fruit, the flames that he once commanded no longer responded to his calls, as if he were no longer Devil Fruit user.
Pfft! x2
winter!
"Aaaaaah, it's so hot!"
Teach screamed again, patting the flames on his chest. Surprisingly, however, there was no wound on his chest. Just as he himself said, the Dark-Dark Fruit can absorb all damage, at least in most cases.
"Damn it, it's a flamethrower!"
"Tsk, his neck was almost broken."
Äs, who was thrown out, didn't fare any better. Having just lost his Devil Fruit powers, he took a direct hit from Blackbeard's chop.
Although he activated Armament Haki, it was clearly not as powerful as his opponent's Haki.
"You were really that strong, Teach!"
With his index fingers crossed, he figured that since he would lose his Devil Fruit powers if someone got too close, he might as well use ranged attacks.
" Cross Fire!"
A highly concentrated Cross Fire, as sharp as a laser, shot towards Teach, and the battle instantly intensified.
Boom boom boom!
When two Logia Devil Fruit users unleash their full power, it's a clash between natural disasters.
It's best for mortals to stay out of the way.
"I originally thought that Devil Fruit users would rely on their abilities and become vulnerable once they lost them."
Standing on a hillside to watch the battle from a distance, sniper Van Oka, observing the battlefield below, murmured a sigh of admiration.
Although neither of them is weak, two powerful Logia fighting at full strength could easily change the world and shatter mountains and rivers; getting too close would only lead to trouble.
"I didn't expect the Second Division Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates to be so skilled in physical combat and Haki. What a pity..."
They were still no match for their captain.
"So, today is what fate has ordained..."
"Turning point."
Äs is finished.
" Flame Commandment!"
With a stomp of Äs foot, clusters of flames surged in all directions, the raging, Infinity fire transforming into a vast, all-encompassing firestorm that instantly locked down all of Teach's dodging space.
However, Teach was very familiar with Äs's moves, and with his tall figure flashing, he had already avoided the most ferocious parts of the flames.
As the feet stomped down, darkness followed like a shadow, instantly engulfing and absorbing the flames on the ground.
At the same time, the swirling Dark Water in his hand caused Äs to stumble and fall, forcing him to lower his waist and immediately regain his balance.
Äs was startled. How strong was this guy?
Teach grinned.
Äs wasn't weak, but he was too young!
Äs is only 20 years old now. Although he is already a famous figure in the New World, he has not yet reached his peak.
The reason Teach was the captain of the Second Division of Whitebeard's army was simply because Teach had no interest in vying for that position.
Peng!
As the two figures separated, one stood still, black flames soaring into the sky, exuding arrogance and evil.
The other one tumbled and flew backward, its body writhing in flames, looking utterly disheveled.
"Hey, Äs! See that?"
"Although you are quite skilled, you are no match for me. Join us! Let's conquer this world together!"
Faced with Teach's renewed offer, Äs, covered in wounds, got up from the ground. "If someone like you submits, what dignity do I have left in living?"
The other party killed his partner, insulted his beloved father, and even tried to harm his younger brother...
"Hahaha, that's such a shame, Äs!"
" Great Flame Commandment!"
Rings of flame appeared beneath Äs's feet, " Flame Emperor!"
Facing Äs, whose massive fireball overhead resembled a blazing sun, Teach unleashed his own ultimate attack, his entire body enveloped in darkness that soared into the sky! Half of the island was ablaze with flames, while the other half was shrouded in darkness.
" Dark Sun!
The battle has ended.
The City of Water 7.
Franky became a bounty hunter because of his time on Enies Lobby, Franky Family hoped the Straw Hat Pirates would let Franky join their crew.
Luffy didn't refuse. He initially came to City of Water 7 to find a shipwright to join his crew, and Franky was just right, plus he was very strong.
They packed their things, preparing to leave immediately after viewing the ship.
It's time to embark on a new adventure.
Before leaving, Zoro called the Straw Hat Pirates together and explained Usopp's situation. He said that Usopp had to come and apologize to them in person before he could rejoin the crew; otherwise, he would disembark and leave the Straw Hat Pirates.
"This guy is a complete idiot."
Zoro grabbed Luffy's head and said, "But he's also our captain. If just anyone can come and go as they please, what kind of authority does the captain have?"
Sanji didn't object to what he said.
Backstreet, abandoned shipyard.
"Hey, I'm here, Franky! Give us the boat!"
Luffy loudly.
"Mmm! Iceburg Uncle!"
Iceburg looked at Luffy and said, "You've arrived. It's a pity Franky isn't here, but the ship is finished. I'll show it to you on his behalf."
This ship is amazing! When I first saw the blueprints, I was stunned. It can cross any ocean.
"This ship could easily take you to the ends of the earth. Franky asked me to pass on a message to you, Straw Hat."
Iceburg walked to the side of the boat, preparing to remove the cloth covering it.
"Show me now!" Luffy shouted impatiently.
"If you want to become the Pirate King, board this ship of the King of Beasts!"
The Iceburg lifted the entire sheet, revealing the full view of the Thousand Sunny to everyone.
Wow, it's huge! It's so cool!
"It looks like it's about to spread its wings and take flight."
"Not bad... twice the size of the Going Merry."
"What huge sails! It's a sloop!"
"The kitchen, let me see the kitchen!"
"The gym! Let me see the gym!"
"What an impressive ship!"
The Straw Hat Pirates looked at the Thousand Sunny and exclaimed in amazement.
What flower is on the bow of the boat?
Luffy looked at the bow of the Thousand Sunny and asked.
"Yeah, I think it's a lion, of course."
Iceburg responded.
"That place is great too!"
"Da da da!"
Everyone boarded the ship.
Luffy rolled around on the deck, exclaiming, "A deck with grass!"
"There's a slide!" Chopper exclaimed, sliding down the slide.
"We can plant flowers here!" Robin was also very satisfied.
"That sail looks really powerful!"
Nami pointed to the sailway.
"That's called a vertical triangular sail. A single-masted sailboat can be driven with great ease; how well it's used depends entirely on the navigator's skill."
Iceburg explained.
"Yeah, I can't wait to show off my skills!" Nami raised her Riot Games, her face full of excitement.
"The kitchen is huge and fully equipped, so we can cook even more delicious dishes now."
Sanji walked into the kitchen and inspected it. "Ah, there's a lockable refrigerator I've always dreamed of! And a huge oven! Franky, thank you! This ship is amazing!"
"Uncle Iceburg, where's Franky? I wanted to thank him."
Luffy stood on the ship and asked the Iceburg.
"He seems to not want to see you."
Iceburg looked at Luffy and asked, " Straw Hat, are you thinking of hiring him as a shipwright?"
"Hmm! You're really smart! I've decided to make him a ship repairman!"
Luffy smiled and nodded.
"He seems to understand too!"
"He doesn't want to come?"
"On the contrary, if you invite him in person, he definitely won't be able to refuse, so he simply hides away."
Iceburg said with a face full of regret, "Actually, he wanted to go to sea with you. You can tell from the fact that he entrusted you with the dream ship that he had painstakingly built."
Franky likes you all from the bottom of his heart, but he feels obligated to stay on this island!
"Obligation?"
"In my opinion, that's just foolish obsession. If you really want to take him away, you have to use any means necessary to forcibly take him away. That's the only way to free him."
"Using any means necessary? Really? Is that possible?" Luffy asked in surprise.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Franky Family stole Franky's pants, hoping to force Franky to join the Straw Hat Pirates.
But even without pants, that old pervert Franky...
He still couldn't stand it, so he followed the Franky Family to where the Thousand Sunny was.
Franky Family handed Franky's pants to Luffy.
Franky!
Luffy, standing on the Thousand Sunny, lifted Franky's pants and shouted, "Thank you for the ship! It's amazing, we'll cherish it!"
Franky laughed and said, "Oh, then I wish you a safe journey."
"If you want your underwear back, you'll have to become our partner!"
Luffy shouted at Franky.
"No way! Give me back my underwear, you Straw Hat!"
Franky pushed his sunglasses up and glared fiercely at Luffy.
"Then you have to join us!"
"Stop talking nonsense... Don't think you can get me on the boat just because you took my underwear!"
Franky gradually got used to it along the way, and now he's even posing for photos right there in the street.
Fearless, a man should run naked, stand at the forefront of the tide, a lion over all beasts.
"Ugh, he's posing with his butt exposed! That's so perverted, this guy's hopeless."
Nami was speechless.
Luffy panicked and shouted, "Oh no! I underestimated him... I never expected him to be so stubborn. He's a true man among men!"
"He's just a pervert!" Nami shouted.
Robin smiled and said, "If you don't mind being a little ruthless, I can help."
" Dos Fleur!"
"Um?"
"Grasp!"
Oh oh oh--oh!
Aaaaaah!
"Um--Is it okay, Robin?"
"Gotcha!"
"You'll hurt him, Robin!"
"It hurts so much! It hurts so much!"
Aaaaaaahhhhh!
Will I get hurt?
"You'll get hurt!"
"Hey, Robin, I just want him to join us, don't turn him into a woman."
"Just looking at it makes me feel so much pain..."
Even so, Franky did not give in and insisted that he had something he wanted to do here.
Iceburg couldn't bear to watch any longer. "What you want to do? No, everything you're doing on this island right now is atonement. You always think you caused Mr. Tom's capture, so you've always been filled with regret."
But Mr. Tom forgave you that very day and showed you the way.
You organized the backstreet thugs into bounty hunters, waging raids, all to protect City of Water 7 Mr. Tom loves dearly.
You want to atone for your sins with this.
Although you don't look like it, have you given up your beloved shipbuilding industry, suppressed your true nature, and decided to live like this for the rest of your life?
Mr. Tom forgives you, and I forgive you too. What's past is past; it's time to end it.
Forgive yourself, Franky!
Iceburg comforted his younger brother with the expression of an older brother, Franky burst into tears.
"You should live for your dreams!"
The Franky Family appropriately tossed Franky's luggage over.
"It hurts so much!"
Franky cried and yelled, "Hey, Robin! Go easy on me! You're really going to turn into a woman if this keeps up!"
"I didn't do anything. That guy's so slippery, faking pain to hide his tears."
Robin shrugged.
Shiraishi really wanted to complain, "Why are you still holding that?", but he didn't say anything. Instead, he smiled and said, "Most men are stubborn creatures, especially the tough guys."