Chapter 42:The Death Of A Division Captain.

"Tomorrow at midnight, meet at the cargo warehouse of Ship Four. We'll kill Thatch together and claim the fruit."

After setting the time with Teach, Iggy said nothing more. Bathed in the moonlight that spilled across the deck, he quietly stepped back into the cabin.

Teach remained standing where he was, letting the surge of excitement wash over him, unable to calm his racing thoughts.

The Dark-Dark Fruit was within reach. Twenty-five years of hidden ambition now roared to life, making his blood burn with anticipation.

He lifted his arm, studying his newly grown palm—down to the fingerprint, it was an exact match. Teach couldn't help but smirk.

"I didn't misjudge him. That brat's ability is terrifying… I have to recruit him someday."

As Iggy's figure vanished into the shadows of the deck, Teach recalled the moment they first met, two years ago.

It had been during a great clash where Whitebeard repelled the Navy with an earth-shaking blow. Amid that chaos, the boy had stirred up a storm all on his own.

The moment Teach saw him, he could tell—this kid wasn't ordinary. There was something dark and twisted in Iggy's soul… something he recognized in himself.

Over the two years, Iggy had occasionally revealed flashes of impressive strength and cunning. That alone had made Teach wary—but also drawn to him.

Now, to think that the boy had been hiding this much power… and such a bold plan.

"But if you're thinking about taking the fruit for yourself… I'll kill you without hesitation."

Flexing his arms, Teach leapt effortlessly across the deck, landing atop the observatory.

He stared out at the dark, endless sea. A gleam of steel flashed from the claw-like hook fitted to his right hand. With his left, he uncorked a small bottle hanging at his waist. A faint green mist slithered from its mouth.

He held the bottle to the claw's edge, letting the poison drip down the sharpened blade. His expression twisted into a smile brimming with murderous intent.

Having survived countless dangers, Teach knew well: in this savage sea, only strength commands loyalty.

"If you want to rule the world, strength, strategy, and ambition… you need all three. The strong will always have followers."

---

The following night, Ship No. 4 drifted quietly through the open sea. The captain's quarters glowed brightly with candlelight.

Inside, Thatch—like an obsessed collector—admired the Dark-Dark Fruit with near-religious fervor.

From managing logistics for the entire fleet to secretly placing informants across the Whitebeard Pirates, Thatch had worked tirelessly for this moment.

Half a month ago, while the Second Division dealt with the Black Pearl Pirates, his plan came to fruition.

After five long years, he had finally laid hands on a Devil Fruit rumored to grant one of the most terrifying powers in the world.

But Thatch wasn't interested in power. As captain of the logistics team, his obsession was wealth.

The moment he secured the fruit, he secretly leaked word of it to the black market. The auction price? A jaw-dropping 6.6 billion Berries. The deal was set for the day after tomorrow.

Bathed in the warm candlelight, the fruit's dark, swirling patterns reflected on Thatch's face, giving him an eerie, violet hue. His eyes burned with greed.

To him, the fruit was nothing less than a printing press for endless money. He snorted with satisfaction at the thought of a future overflowing with riches.

But just then… a faint creak echoed across the wooden floorboards, like the eerie laughter of a child.

"Who's there?!"

His dream shattered instantly. Heart pounding, Thatch spun around—but saw no one.

Silence fell. Then—

Pffft.

A barely audible hiss, like a whisper of wind. An invisible projectile sliced through the wooden wall, snuffing out the candles. Darkness swallowed the room.

Before he could react, a shunk echoed behind him. Something sharp had pierced the wall—and now, it pierced him.

"Ugh!"

Three blades tore across his chest, knocking him flat. Pain exploded across his torso. Blood gushed freely.

A second later, a crash blew out another part of the wall. Thatch felt a hand wrap around his throat and lift him into the air.

"Y-You're… trying to—!"

He tried to speak, but a cold edge pressed to his neck—and he felt everything slip away.

"This is the great captain of the Fourth Division?" a cold voice sneered. "All ambition, no strength."

Even in death, Thatch's hand clutched the fruit tightly.

Slash.

The attacker cleanly severed Thatch's hand, letting the fruit roll free onto the blood-stained floor.

The shadowy figure casually tossed the lifeless body aside and picked up the hand still grasping the fruit.

With a twist, he peeled the fruit free and stared down at it—glossy, dark, and flecked with blood.

"Hmph. What a hassle you've been, you little treasure."

He took a bite. The flesh was bitter, almost revolting. He gagged.

After forcing down half of it, he tossed the rest aside in disgust.

Then… something began to change.

In the suffocating darkness, a strange sensation spread through his body. The power of the Yami Yami no Mi—the Dark-Dark Fruit—was awakening.

And in that same darkness, the man who devoured it began to transform.

---

Holy Moly.... Guess who ate the fruit?

Teach or Iggy.

__

I changed the cover art for all my fanfics, you can check it out.

Join my P@treon for 30+ Exclusive Chapters

patreon.com/Zphyr_

All fanfic are under my collections.