In the next moment—
All ten Seraphim unleashed their attacks simultaneously.
A massive explosion erupted.
BOOM—!!
The dark force spreading across the ground was instantly blown apart.
Xia Yu and the others, who had been dragged underground by the darkness, reappeared on the surface.
Ace: !
Feeling the sunlight after being surrounded by darkness, Ace stared in disbelief.
What the hell…
We actually came out?
And not a single hair on his head was harmed.
The darkness that he himself couldn't resist no matter what he did—
Had been broken so easily by the robots created by Xia Yu.
It felt like his entire worldview had shattered into pieces.
So this…
Is the defense that only someone at Rocks' level could break?
Ace's lips twitched.
His strength…
Was actually inferior to a robot.
What had the world come to?
Momonga was equally shocked.
The more he looked at the Seraphim, the more he liked them.
These machines…
Were truly treasures.
With ten Seraphim standing beside you—
The sense of security was overwhelming.
Wait…!
His expectations were too unrealistic.
The Marines only had twenty Seraphim in total.
If one day he could have even one Seraphim accompany him during missions—
He would already be extremely satisfied.
Even a single Seraphim would provide a huge sense of security.
Meanwhile—
Blackbeard stared with his mouth wide open.
His eyes bulged, his lips trembling uncontrollably.
At that moment—
His heart completely collapsed.
That had been his strongest attack.
The power of a black hole—
Capable of devouring and crushing everything in the world.
Yet somehow—
These people standing before him…
Even that brat with nearly zero combat power…
Had come out completely unharmed.
Were those machines really that terrifying?
For the first time in his life—
Aside from when he once faced Whitebeard in his youth—
Blackbeard felt true fear.
These war machines were too terrifying.
Each one possessed tremendous combat power.
And their abilities were strange and unpredictable.
They could absolutely replace the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Why… why…"
"Even my Black Hole couldn't stop you?"
"You were already swallowed by it…!"
Blackbeard said, blood dripping from his mouth, fear written across his face.
Xia Yu answered in his childish voice.
"Oh, that?"
"It's something I developed."
"Combined Defense."
"When ten Seraphim stack their defenses together…"
"Unless someone has attack power at the level of Rocks…"
"No one can break through it."
Blackbeard finally understood.
But he still couldn't accept it.
In the end—
The one who truly defeated him…
Was this eight-year-old brat standing before him.
He had endured humiliation for so many years.
Everything for the sake of finding One Piece and becoming the Pirate King.
And now—
It all ended here.
At the hands of a child.
His body was exhausted.
His injuries were severe.
Blackbeard knew it himself—
This time…
He would die here.
"DAMN IT!"
Blackbeard slammed his fist into the ground in rage.
Meanwhile—
Xia Yu had no intention of wasting time.
He was still waiting for the Universe Tree reward.
Whoosh—
The next moment—
Seraphim Mihawk suddenly used Shave.
In an instant—
He appeared in front of Blackbeard.
Using the powerful inertia from the movement—
The Mihawk Seraphim raised its blade.
And swung down.
A strange arc sliced through the air—
Aimed directly at Blackbeard's neck.
The massive slash grew larger and larger in Blackbeard's vision.
Until finally—
It completely filled his eyes.
"A man's dreams will never die!!"
Blackbeard roared.
Slash.
Blood sprayed.
Blackbeard's head flew off his body.
It rolled across the grassy ground, leaving a long trail of blood.
Finally—
The head stopped.
Even then, Blackbeard's eyes remained wide open.
A tragic sight.
Momonga spoke coldly.
"Dreams?"
"That was nothing but selfish ambition."
"That was your dream alone."
"You even betrayed your own crew for it."
"Someone like you deserves death."
Ace stood frozen.
His eyes widened in shock.
Blackbeard…
Was really dead.
That was the man Ace had always wanted to kill.
Yet his own arrogance had caused him to lose to Blackbeard.
Only after that defeat did Ace realize—
Blackbeard had been hiding his strength all along.
But…
Ace never imagined that such a cunning pirate…
Would be so helpless against these machines.
He had been completely overpowered.
In the end—
His head had been cut off.
Looking at the Seraphim standing nearby—
Then at the harmless-looking child, Xia Yu—
Ace felt a chill run down his spine.
This kid…
Might one day change the entire world.
In fact—
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say:
Whoever has Xia Yu… controls the world.
Ace sighed.
Why hadn't Whitebeard recruited someone like this?
With Xia Yu around—
The future of pirates looked bleak.
Including Whitebeard himself.
"Dr. Xia Yu."
"I suggest we eliminate the rest of them."
Momonga narrowed his eyes.
Whether Marine or pirate—
Traitors were despised everywhere.
And someone like Blackbeard, who betrayed his own captain—
Was particularly contemptible.
Xia Yu nodded.
After all—
He had already killed Blackbeard.
But the system reward hadn't appeared yet.
Which meant—
Blackbeard…
Wasn't completely dead.
Just as expected…
Does that guy's body really have some kind of special secret?
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