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"Is this... Conqueror's Haki?!"
Observing Blackbeard's rising aura that seemed to make him suddenly more powerful, Luffy's eyes showed a rare contemplative expression.
Red had told him that both he and Zoro possessed the potential to awaken Conqueror's Haki.
He hadn't understood before, but after experiencing Blackbeard's overwhelming presence...
He seemed to grasp what Conqueror's Haki truly was!!!
"This is great!"
"It's incredible to meet such powerful opponents one after another on the Grand Line..."
"It's really amazing!!!"
Luffy's mouth curved into a slight smile. Even while facing Blackbeard, whose presence vastly outweighed his own, he maintained his composure and prepared to attack without hesitation!
"Gear Second~!"
A burst of hot steam suddenly rose from Luffy's body, his skin turning a vibrant red as if blood flowed just beneath the surface.
Under a sky already shrouded in darkness, Luffy placed his thumb in his mouth once more.
"Gear Third! Bone Balloon~!"
Whoosh~!
Another gigantic arm appeared before Blackbeard's eyes.
"Zehahahaha..."
He laughed loudly: "The same move won't work on me!!!"
"Whether it works or not... you'll have to find out!"
Luffy leaped down from his position, dark Armament Haki suddenly coating his massive fist, followed by crackling bolts of lightning!
Being on Laboon's surface, Luffy couldn't utilize the advantage of height. Instead, he employed Soru, the lightning-fast movement technique of his Gear Second, and instantly appeared just meters from Blackbeard.
"Gomu Gomu no... Gigant Thunder Axe!!!"
The gigantic lightning-charged fist burst forth with tremendous power, hurtling toward Blackbeard's body.
At that moment, Zoro and Sanji, positioned not far from Blackbeard, immediately sprang into action.
Although their current strength made it difficult to pose an effective threat to Blackbeard alone, they could certainly help Luffy break through his defenses.
"Three Sword Style Secret: Flame Dragon Descent!"
BOOM!!!!
As powerful dragon-type energy surged outward, an enormous fire dragon materialized above Zoro, spreading its flaming wings and soaring into the air.
The blazing flames pierced the darkness of the sky, restoring light to the shadowed world.
In the next instant, the black blade emanating Armament Haki unleashed several swift, burning slashes, like a beacon guiding the flaming dragon toward Blackbeard.
Since gaining power from the Pokémon world, Zoro had successfully evolved from a close-range swordsman to a fighter capable of long-range attacks.
Sanji, on the opposite side, refused to be outdone.
Compared to Zoro, his repertoire of long-range attacks was limited, preventing him from exerting his full strength.
Fortunately, his extraordinary leg power allowed him to move at speeds surpassing even the Soru technique, with endurance far beyond what Soru's brief bursts could offer.
Whoosh!
Sanji, his body wreathed in flames, had already positioned himself at Blackbeard's side and rear. His legs were instantly enveloped by a blazing move guaranteed to sear his opponent.
In fact, both Luffy and Zoro had incorporated attacks that inflicted additional effects on enemies.
However, triggering these effects against someone of Blackbeard's caliber wouldn't be simple.
Three attacks converged on Blackbeard from the front, left, and behind.
Red, observing everything from above, refrained from joining the assault.
His current combat capabilities weren't suited for such a confrontation.
Rather than wasting energy on ineffectual attacks, waiting for an opportunity where his Surf might restrict Blackbeard's movement was better, creating openings for Luffy and the others.
Usopp, recognizing his limitations as well, maintained his position at a distance on Laboon's tail fin.
His slingshot and Super Green Vine Launcher remained ready to provide support when needed.
"Impressive coordination!"
"But you're still far too inexperienced!!!"
Facing the combined assault from the Straw Hats' three powerhouses, Blackbeard showed no panic. His overwhelming aura surged as he swung his arms forcefully!
Instantly, massive black fog condensed around him like a vortex, quickly forming a dark barrier that expanded rapidly outward!
BOOM!!!
Once again, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji's attacks collided with Blackbeard's darkness, and just as before, their force and energy were rapidly devoured by the void.
But this time...
Luffy's attack wasn't finished!
Still in Gear Second, he grinned as his other arm—already prepared—stretched forward.
Dark Armament Haki swiftly coated it, making it particularly formidable!
"Gomu Gomu no... Play Rough!!!"
"Huh?!"
Observing Luffy's suddenly extended arm, Blackbeard immediately displayed confusion.
The next moment, the arm began vibrating erratically in mid-air like a plucked rubber band, creating multiple afterimages.
Just as Blackbeard's confusion peaked, the wildly dancing fist abruptly changed direction without warning and struck his face with incredible speed!
The velocity exceeded even Blackbeard's Observation Haki perception...
No!
The truth was that his Haki couldn't track the rhythm and direction of this attack from beginning to end!
It was as if that arm... had completely transcended normal physical behavior!
This was the new characteristic granted to Luffy by fairy-type moves...
Unpredictable, capricious, and untrackable!
This was the essence of the fairy type!
The power that belonged to Luffy!
CRACK!!!
The swift, powerful fist connected squarely with Blackbeard's face, instantly distorting his features under the tremendous force.
A bloody tooth shot out like a bullet, disappearing into the distant sea.
As his head snapped back from the impact, the dark barrier he'd maintained scattered and vanished!
With the black curtain dispelled, Zoro's slashes, Sanji's flaming kick, and Luffy's giant fist continued their trajectories, bombarding Blackbeard's body!
Though most of their energy had been absorbed by the darkness, Blackbeard still released an agonized howl due to the Dark-Dark Fruit's doubled pain effect!!!
"AAAAHHH--!!!!!!!"
Thunder, fire, impact, slashes...
Various attacks descended upon Blackbeard, erupting in blinding light that dispersed the surrounding darkness, allowing sunlight to penetrate once more.
After a moment, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji leaped back in unison, quickly steadying their ragged breathing.
Blackbeard, his body covered in wounds, staggered several steps before collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Did we... win?"
Usopp lowered his slingshot, his expression a mixture of confusion and shock.
At that moment, Red frowned from his aerial position, shaking his head slightly as he said:
"Win?"
"It's far too early for that!"
"Luffy and the others merely managed to briefly breach Blackbeard's defenses..."
As expected.
The moment Red finished speaking, Blackbeard, who had fallen, suddenly let out another pained groan.
"It hurts! It hurts so damn much!!!"
Blackbeard gradually stood, one hand braced against the ground.
On his shoulder, where Sanji had struck, the additional effect from the blazing flame had left a persistent fire, continuously burning his flesh.
Yet despite being covered in wounds, Blackbeard seemed strangely invigorated by the pain.
"It hurts like hell! You bastards!"
"Also... won't this fire extinguish itself?!"
Eyeing the flames on his shoulder, Blackbeard's mouth twisted into another wild grin.
He placed one hand over the burning area, and dark mist immediately enveloped it.
"Black Vortex!"
Under the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, the Pokémon-move-generated flames were absorbed bit by bit until they completely vanished.
"What a formidable enemy!"
Witnessing this, Sanji frowned, removed a silver lighter from his pocket, lit a cigarette, and exhaled slowly.
"Didn't you realize that from the beginning?!"
Zoro, having already retied his bandana around his head, grinned and taunted Sanji:
"What's wrong? Getting scared?!"
"Scared?!" Sanji's eyes instantly blazed with fire, "I'm just worried you'll hold us back!!!"
As he finished speaking, Sanji's entire body erupted in flames once more, transforming him into a fiery knight. His figure, resembling blazing lightning, charged toward Blackbeard again.
"Yeah!"
Simultaneously, Luffy and Zoro moved with perfect synchronization, employing their respective techniques and launching another fierce assault on Blackbeard!
...
...
Meanwhile, on the deck of the Going Merry.
Nami and the others watched with anxious expressions.
"No! It seems Luffy and the others aren't strong enough to defeat him..."
"We need to find a way to support them!!!"