The Vanishing Surface

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*Clang, clang…*

*Boom… Bang…*

*…*

The battlefield was engulfed in cannon fire and thick smoke. As time wore on, the fighting onshore grew even more intense.

The pirates, now utterly desperate, threw themselves into reckless attacks against their opponents. Even in death, they were determined to take a few enemies down with them.

Even Mike and Law weren't spared from injury. Though their opponents might not be considered remarkable by someone of Ichiji's caliber, these pirates—officers with bounties in the tens of millions or nearing 100 million Berries—were no small threat when facing them head-on.

"Bzzt… Bzzt…"

"This is Vinsmoke Ichiji."

Ichiji furrowed his brow slightly, pushing aside his thoughts as he answered the Den Den Mushi.

"Ichiji, it's me…"

The snail phone mimicked the face of a stern man with a neatly trimmed mustache. His expression carried both expectation and concern. "How did it go? Did you get that Devil Fruit?"

"Yeah, I've got it."

Ichiji didn't mince words. "It's an impressive ability."

"That's good to hear!"

Vinsmoke Judge couldn't help but smile at the news.

Even among the so-called strongest Logia-type Devil Fruits, abilities varied greatly in strength. Judge knew well how picky this son of his could be; if Ichiji was satisfied, it meant the fruit was nothing to scoff at.

"What kind of ability is it?"

"The Dark-Dark Fruit—or perhaps the Darkness Fruit. It's one of the top-tier Logia types. No need to worry about it." Ichiji gave a concise explanation without elaborating further.

"The Darkness Fruit, huh?"

Judge paused for a moment, unfamiliar with the name. Still, it sounded like a formidable power. He asked gravely, "So, when will you return?"

Now that the fruit was secured, it was time to fulfill their promise.

After all, if the deal went smoothly, Feldt Holz would essentially be bound to Germa's war machine. Indirect control over CP7, the intelligence agency under the World Government, would be a significant boon for Germa.

"No need to rush. CP0 isn't your average intelligence agency—it's a matter of great importance. This isn't just about killing someone and being done with it. We need a meticulous plan. Germa can't afford to attract attention from those Celestial Dragon lapdogs right now."

"Click."

After exchanging a few more words, Ichiji ended the call.

"So… what's next?"

With a swift leap, he descended from the mast, landing on the shore where the two sides were still locked in chaotic battle.

"Your Highness…"

"Is he going to make his move?!"

Both sides paused their fighting, retreating to opposite ends of the battlefield, forming a tense standoff.

The pirates' faces paled, sweat dripping down their foreheads as panic set in.

"My apologies, Your Highness. I have failed you," Mike said, his body drenched in blood. A deep gash on his right shoulder oozed crimson as he knelt before Ichiji, his face filled with shame.

Law wasn't faring much better. Two bullets had pierced his abdomen, and the flesh of his left hand was torn. He staggered unsteadily.

But the officers of the Geoffrey Pirates were in no better shape. One of them had been impaled through the chest by Mike's Finger Gun technique, while another had been brutally dissected by Law's Ope Ope no Mi powers.

"Forget it. Fall back, all of you."

Ichiji's expression remained calm, but eerie black smoke began to rise from his body. "I'll test out my new ability now."

His hands turned pitch-black, unlike the metallic sheen of Haki-coated limbs. This darkness seemed to devour light itself—a sinister, ominous aura that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

"What is this…?"

Law's pupils contracted as he stared at Ichiji, who now exuded an unsettling malevolence.

That strange black smoke emanating from him gave off an overwhelming sense of danger, making Law instinctively want to keep his distance.

"Whoosh…"

Ignoring the pirates' pleas for mercy and surrender, vast waves of dark mist spread rapidly from beneath Ichiji's feet, expanding outward at an alarming speed.

The entire surface of the land seemed to transform into a massive void. Even light couldn't escape its pull, being swallowed whole. The absolute darkness resembled an endless abyss, drawing everything in and leaving those who witnessed it with chills running down their spines.

"Run! Run!"

"Don't let that black smoke surround us! It feels like we're being sucked in!"

"Forget about honor—just get out of its range! Whatever it is, it's not good!"

"Damn it! The darkness is spreading too fast—we can't escape!"

The pirates of the Geoffrey crew, who had clung to a sliver of hope and considered surrendering, were now overcome with terror. Instead of daring to attack Ichiji, they fled desperately toward the island's interior.

But the black smoke advanced at an impossible pace.

Before the pirates could escape, the entire surface of the island was already shrouded in darkness. Only the shoreline where Law and his group stood remained untouched.

"All of you—be consumed by the darkness!"

A cold smirk crossed Ichiji's face as he slammed his right hand onto the ground. "Dark Void!"

"Whoomph—"

An invisible force surged outward violently.

The pirates screamed in sheer panic and despair, their bodies completely out of control as they were pulled into the terrifying darkness, swallowed whole without resistance!

To the stunned gazes of Law, Mike, and the others, not only the pirates but also the distant trees, boulders, grass, animals—everything on the surface of Bridge Island—was sucked into the colossal darkness at a visible pace, vanishing entirely.

"They've all been swallowed by the darkness?"

Beppo's bear-like mouth hung open in shock, his eyes wide and vacant.

"So this is the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit?" Law murmured, staring at Ichiji standing amidst the eerie darkness. He, too, was shaken.

"Whoosh…"

The vast darkness began to contract rapidly, withdrawing back toward Ichiji.

"What…?"

"The forest, the boulders…"

"Everything on the surface… it's all gone!"

The shocking sight unfolded before Law, Mike, and the others, leaving them slack-jawed and speechless.

The once lush island was now barren. Trees, rocks—all had vanished without a trace.

"Whoosh—" Massive plumes of black smoke surged from Ichiji's body, blotting out the sky and plunging the surroundings into dimness.

"Release!"

Ichiji clenched his raised right hand tightly.

"Bang, bang…"

In the disbelieving stares of Law and the others, countless fragments of stone, wood chips, and bloody remains of bodies rained down from above, crashing to the ground in a chaotic heap.

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