Chapter 34: Blackbeard's Combo

Lucas's body was hidden in the clouds high in the sky, silently observing the Blackbeard fleet below.

In the chat group:

Lucas: "Do you see that fleet down there? That's the Blackbeard Pirates. Wow, Blackbeard's taste in ship design is still as peculiar as ever."

Whitebeard: "Teach, that guy is really something. It hasn't been long, yet he's already assembled such a huge fleet."

Lucas: "There was no other way! After obtaining the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Teach has reached the level of a Pirate Emperor. Not only that, but he's also intimately familiar with your former territory. More than half of what used to belong to the Whitebeard Pirates is now under his control. If he defeats your remaining crew, he'll officially claim the title of Emperor."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Lucas, what are you waiting for? Go down there and beat him up! This is the ocean, your home turf. Whether it's the Tremor-Tremor Fruit or the Float-Float Fruit, you can create tsunamis and sink his fleet in an instant!"

Golden Lion Shiki was growing impatient, urging Lucas to take action immediately.

However, Whitebeard had a different perspective.

Whitebeard: "Wait! Let my sons fight him first. I want to see their strength."

As a father, Whitebeard was torn. On one hand, he believed his sons were capable pirates who could stand against any challenge. On the other hand, he saw them as his children, unprepared for the real dangers of the sea.

This was a rare moment of a father's dilemma—pride and worry clashing in his heart.

Lucas: "No problem!"

Since Whitebeard wanted to see how his sons fared, Lucas was happy to oblige.

The Blackbeard Pirates' fleet advanced into Sphinx waters, immediately drawing the attention of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Phoenix Marco led the charge, guiding the remaining commanders of Whitebeard's crew to the island's edge, where they prepared to confront the Blackbeard Pirates head-on.

"Zehahaha! This is a matter between me and the Whitebeard Pirates. No need for any of you to interfere. I'll handle it myself!"

Blackbeard laughed heartily as he gave his orders, then charged directly toward Marco and the others.

Dark Water!

Seaquake!

Black mist erupted from Blackbeard's left hand, spreading rapidly across the ground. The darkness exuded an eerie gravitational force, swallowing objects and pulling in Whitebeard Pirates' crew members who weren't quick enough to react.

At the same time, his right hand formed a glowing white halo as he punched the air in front of him. The resulting shockwave shattered the very air itself, sending a powerful tremor outward like a tidal wave.

Marco and the others, who had been rushing toward Blackbeard, were thrown back mid-charge. The tremor forced them to stagger, and the black mist beneath them restricted their movement, turning the battlefield into a death trap.

Lucas, watching from above, sighed and shook his head.

In the chat group, Golden Lion Shiki wasted no time mocking Whitebeard.

Golden Lion Shiki: "Whitebeard, these are the sons you're so proud of? They look pretty weak to me. No wonder they were so eager to call someone else their father."

Whitebeard: "Shut up, you don't know a damn thing! It's not that they're weak—it's that Teach, who now possesses the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, has become too strong! That's right, that's it!"

Whitebeard refused to admit his sons were lacking. He had to blame someone else.

Pirate King Roger: "Whitebeard, you need to face reality. Did you see it? Blackbeard Teach, now a dual-fruit user, is combining his abilities masterfully."

"The Dark-Dark Fruit spreads across the ground, suppressing and weakening anyone who touches it. Even close fighter like Vista and Marco find their movements sluggish in the black mist."

"Naturally, to counter this, people will try to leap into the air and attack from above—like Marco is doing right now. But in midair, there's no leverage. Unlike those on solid ground, they can't brace themselves against attacks. So when they get hit, they're sent flying."

"And those who stay on the ground? Well, they're stuck in a swamp of darkness, unable to move freely. Either way, they're at a disadvantage."

For once, Roger spoke in a serious tone, analyzing Blackbeard's tactics with precision.

Though often perceived as a reckless warrior, Roger was a battle-hardened pirate who had fought countless life-and-death struggles. His instincts and understanding of combat were second to none, and he immediately grasped the essence of Teach's strategy.

Golden Lion Shiki: "It's a solid tactic, I'll give him that! But…"

Lucas: "Yeah, what a shame…"

Fire Fist Ace: "What are you two regretting?"

Golden Lion Shiki let out a smug laugh. "It's a pity that this move is useless against someone with the Float-Float Fruit. A real aerial fighter can treat the air like solid ground and move freely. Hahahaha!"

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