Chapter 48: Blackbeard's Debut.
"Dr. Kureha, be careful!"
Though the doors and windows were closed, everyone inside the room struggled to breathe under the sudden rush of strong air pressure.
A murderous aura filled the entire cabin, sweeping through like a storm in the snowy land, making it feel as if the very air had frozen.
The situation turned tense instantly. Chopper hurried over to a nearby cupboard, opened a drawer, and pulled out a small box.
"Foot Strengthening!"
Chopper took out the yellow-and-blue stone ball from the box, popped it into his mouth, and crushed it with a snap.
Wild power surged instantly. Chopper's childlike body grew dramatically. His forelimbs pressed to the ground as he transformed into the shape of a reindeer.
The giant reindeer figure dashed forward, kicking up a cloud of snow as he rushed toward Doctor Kureha.
"Fur Strengthening."
Without pausing, Chopper entered the next stage of his transformation. Brown fur sprouted wildly all over his body, covering his limbs.
He straightened his legs, raised his forelimbs to his chest, and grew at an alarming rate until he towered above everyone.
In just seconds, Chopper had turned into a huge ball of fluff, standing guard in front of "Mother" in his strongest defensive form.
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"I understand how you feel, Chopper, but like me, you need a tough lesson."
As if recalling his own past, Iggy's tall shadow stretched across the room.
A flash of déjà vu passed through his mind as he fixed his determined expression and reached into Chopper's fluffy fur.
"Blackwater."
The moment his palm made contact, the power of darkness surged forth. Chopper's brown fur rapidly shrank.
The incredible transformation continued. With the Stone ball stabilizing the Devil Fruit power, time seemed to collapse into chaos.
The reindeer's body twisted uncontrollably. Iggy swiftly moved behind him and wrapped his arms around Chopper's neck.
By the time he restrained him, Chopper had weakened into a small blue-nosed reindeer, no longer able to maintain even his human form.
The unprecedented power left the centenarian doctor frightened and speechless. She looked at the "son" who had reverted to an animal and felt a rush of pain.
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Iggy watched as Kureha bent and forced Chopper's neck bone, hearing the crunch under his crushing grip.
As an avenger, his first truth was to hold in his hands what his enemies cherished most.
"Now, tell me about Teach."
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Meanwhile, Marshall, who had severed ties with the Whitebeard Pirates, stood alone in the Navy Headquarters' conference hall.
Facing the admirals seated around the long table, he showed no fear, locking eyes with Sengoku.
Then he threw a package onto the table with a grunt, revealing a bloodied human head.
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"Presumptuous!"
"What are you villains trying to do?"
"Anyone recognize this?"
A pirate dared such insolence in Marineford. Several vice admirals stood up, ready to attack.
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"Ha! It's just a human head. Everyone here is a high-ranking officer—why are you so jumpy?"
Seeing the vice admirals tense, Teach mocked them with disdain.
"This is the head of the Fourth Division Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, with a 220 million Berry bounty—Thatch."
Admiral Sengoku glanced at the gruesome head. A word from him silenced the noisy room.
"Speak your mind, Marshall. Teach."
With his status and strength, Sengoku's commanding presence crushed the tension, regaining control.
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" In fact, my terms are simple—I want the title of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
Though Sengoku had the power to refuse, Teach's audacity was clear.
Daring to challenge Whitebeard and sacrificing the head of one of his captains showed Teach's courage and strength.
However, the Seven Warlords' seats were already filled by powerful figures with no vacancies.
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"I respect your ability, but with just a 200 million Berry bounty and ambition, I can't grant you a seat among the Seven Warlords."
Sengoku had years of negotiation experience with pirates. Though refusing on the surface, he left room to maneuver.
Teach's eyes lit with anticipation, awaiting Sengoku's next words.
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Teach had stormed into the naval headquarters alone, well aware that the Seven Warlords no longer had openings.
The assassination of Celestial Dragons had shaken the world years ago, and the Whitebeard Pirates' crimes had severely damaged Akainu's Devil Slayer fleet.
Countless incidents had confirmed the power imbalance between the Navy and pirates, and Teach was sure reforms were coming.
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"I'll consider that bounty for you. But if you want to join the Seven Warlords…"
Sengoku's voice softened, downplaying Saatchi's head as a mere bargaining chip.
"You need to bring in pirates who are as strong as the current Seven Warlords!"
The promise of a Marshal's seat was huge, and Teach nodded in agreement.
The World Government was reportedly expanding the Seven Warlords from seven to ten members to rebalance power.
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"Ha! It's settled then, Sengoku. We'll meet again!"
Since this was a negotiation, Teach couldn't just give up the bounty's value. He'd thought of a way to make up for it.
After agreeing, Teach extended his arm, revealing a steel hook as he clenched his fist.
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"I want to borrow Navy-exclusive materials to craft a weapon suited to me."
With that, Teach left the room but paused at the door.
He turned to face all the admirals and said with a grin:
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"Also, call me 'Blackbeard' from now on!"
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100 Powerstones = 5 Bonus Chapters.
So spam those stones.