Luffy wrapped his forearm in Armament Haki and opened his mouth to bite into it. "Fourth Gear!" As he blew air into his body, his muscles expanded instantly. Blackbeard's expression changed, and he immediately soared into the sky, attempting to escape Luffy's immediate reach. However, Luffy's speed was immense; he transformed into his elastic form in the blink of an eye. His calves kicked the air rapidly, propelling him toward Blackbeard like a rocket.
"Gum-Gum—"
"Wait! Straw Hat Luffy! Everything is negotiable..."
"Ape King Gun!"
Luffy coated his massive fist in both Armament and Conqueror's Haki and slammed it forward. Seeing that Luffy would not listen to reason, Blackbeard had no choice but to resist, his hands cloaked in black mist to block the strike. However, before Luffy's fist even connected, the surge of Conqueror's Haki shattered the black mist in the air, knocking Blackbeard's hands aside. Before he could react, Luffy's fist slammed into him.
A roar echoed through the air, sounding like thunder exploding in the clear sky. Blackbeard plummeted like a cannonball, but he was fortunate; he crashed directly onto the land carried by the Germa Kingdom's snails, punching a massive hole through several of the castle walls and into the ground. It seemed as though fate simply did not want Blackbeard to die so easily. Although it was a naval battle, the presence of the Germa Kingdom's mobile landmass provided a surface that prevented him from falling into the sea, where he would have been in immediate danger.
Blackbeard lay in the crater, his body dripping with blood. His appearance was ghastly, and several teeth had been knocked out of his already gap-toothed mouth. "Damn Straw Hat brat! I will never be finished with you!" As he spoke, he pressed his right hand into the ground, activating his Lion Fruit ability. The small patch of land and the snails immediately began to float into the air, and Blackbeard rose to the top of a castle tower, his eyes fixed on Luffy with rage and hatred.
"Straw Hat boy, since you want to die, I will fight you to the end!"
Blackbeard's eyes were fierce as his thick body began to transform. His limbs became claws and his head shifted into that of a dog, making him look even more monstrous. It seemed Blackbeard no longer cared about his dignity, fully embracing his transformation into the "scabby dog" form. Although the appearance was unsightly, the Zoan-type ability proved beneficial, as his serious injuries began to heal rapidly and his energy returned.
No one present laughed; instead, everyone swallowed hard. Blackbeard had been pushed to this point, appearing to lose his sanity to the degree that he no longer cared for the prestige of an Emperor of the Sea. While he had been at a disadvantage, the outcome of the fight remained uncertain. A desperate Emperor was a terrifying force.
Luffy did not show any weakness. "Come on! No matter what method you use, I will defeat you completely!"
As Luffy and Blackbeard clashed, the rest of the crew continued their own battles. Tashigi faced off against Big Mom's third daughter, Charlotte Armand, known as "Mrs. Ghost." Armand was a tall, slender woman with a long neck and was a cruel female swordsman of the Snake clan. Tashigi had chosen this opponent herself, specifically for the blade Armand carried. "That is the famous sword, Shirauo, one of the Fifty Grade Swords! Since I have encountered it, I must take it back. A famous blade cannot be defiled by someone like you!"
Tashigi was visibly excited. Beyond her duty to Marine justice, she held a personal dream of reclaiming famous swords from criminals. Even against a high-ranking cadre of the Big Mom Pirates, she felt no fear. "Shirauo is thirsty for blood; I will make your death a painful one!" Armand said, beginning to slowly dance with the blade. "Adagio Waltz!"
A horizontal slash formed, cutting toward Tashigi. Her expression tightened, and she dodged using Soru, drawing her swords, Kashu and Shigure. She charged toward Armand, mimicking Roronoa Zoro's Two-Sword Style, ascending with a powerful strike aimed at Armand's abdomen. The speed and power were masterfully executed, yet Armand was no mere amateur.
Armand danced with the famous Shirauo slowly; though the movement appeared lethargic, it effortlessly caught Tashigi's dual blades with unexpected strength. Tashigi frowned. She had encountered thousands of sword techniques across the sea, but this was the first time she had seen anything like this. She soon realized it was Armand's unique style; because of her special physiology, Armand could move like a snake. The slowness was a visual illusion; in reality, Armand's blade and body moved in perfect, rapid synchronization.
"I cannot underestimate anyone. If every opponent surprises me, it only proves I am still too weak," Tashigi thought. She sheathed her dual swords and slowly drew the black blade, Shusui. While imitating Zoro's techniques was effective, Tashigi was naturally more skilled in the One-Sword Style. Facing a master, she decided to utilize her strongest technique.
"One-Sword Style: Shigure Slash!"
"Adagio Waltz!"
Bang! The two slashes collided, creating a muffled thunderclap in mid-air. Tashigi rushed forward, gripping the handle with both hands, delivering strikes that were fast and ruthless. However, Armand relied on her slender frame to sway and dodge continuously, parrying Tashigi's attacks with Shirauo while maintaining an elegant, ballroom-like grace.
"Slow Ballad!"
Armand's blade slashed downward slowly from overhead. Relying on her height advantage, she pressed the attack against Tashigi. Tashigi gritted her teeth, desperate to dodge, but found that Armand's blade had effectively locked onto her. She had no other choice but to brace herself, holding Shusui horizontally above her head. The famous Shirauo struck Shusui with such immense force that Tashigi was slammed down, falling to one knee with a sharp, sickening pain. Tashigi nearly burst into tears from the agony, but she gritted her teeth, gasping, "As expected of a Big Mom Pirate cadre, this is truly difficult to handle!"