"Chirp..."
"Hmm, hmm..."
In the area leading to the New World's first half-entrance, on a certain uninhabited island.
Waves surged on the sea, tides rose and fell, and a few seagulls circled in the sky, chirping.
"Heh heh..." Ichiji, sitting by the seashore, casually threw away the newspaper he had just bought from a news bird, chuckling indifferently.
For three consecutive days, newspapers from all over the world incessantly reported the same event.
The death of Admiral "Akainu" caused a huge stir, and the sea became turbulent.
While countless civilians were shocked, they also became somewhat fearful and uneasy about the loss of the Marines' strongest combat power, an Admiral, at the hands of pirates and the Revolutionary Army.
An invisible undercurrent was slowly building!
Perhaps the major powers, including the Four Emperors, would surprisingly choose silence, observing the changes.
But Ichiji wouldn't feel that the fall of the Marines' strongest combat power would be as if nothing happened, having no impact whatsoever on the world situation. It was merely that in just two or three short days, the true eruption had just begun.
"In a few more days, when the impact of the incident truly ignites, 'September 30th' will probably be when the Marines hit rock bottom!"
When the Marine Headquarters' heroic memorial service for Admiral "Akainu" Sakazuki was completed, Sengoku, who had been persuaded to stay despite resigning, still replaced the Marine Fleet Admiral's position. He even directly announced that he would build a punitive fleet of over 100,000 soldiers (not all of whom were elite above school level, including ordinary soldiers) to enter the South Blue and punish the Revolutionary Army!
The South Blue could be said to be the epicenter of the revolution. The World Government planned to send a Marine Admiral to flatten the South Blue. This was undoubtedly a blood-soaked, iron-fisted method of suppression, killing chickens to scare monkeys, thereby deterring those restless forces and ambitious individuals on the great sea.
"Unfortunately, the South Blue is destined to run red with blood!"
Ichiji's face was indifferent. He looked directly towards the sea.
At this moment, a gigantic pirate ship slowly sailed from the sea.
It had a black flag with three skulls, full of arrogance and savagery, fluttering in the wind, welcoming him.
If the Marines were here, they would definitely recognize that this was the Blackbeard Pirates, who had recently joined forces with the Fish-Man Pirates, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and began to sweep across the New World.
"Wahahahaha, finally going to meet that Lord..."
"Champion" Burgess raised his arms and laughed loudly, carrying a fruit basket that seemed heavy enough to make the deck creak. One could clearly hear his movements even from the main cabin.
Blackbeard Teach, standing at the bow, felt that perhaps the Quake-Quake Fruit back then wasn't meant for him to eat, and choosing to keep it might be more suitable for Burgess.
"I'm indeed a bit excited!"
Laffitte, whose skin was pale, adjusted his top hat, twirling an exquisite cane, and said with a slight smile.
The reason he joined the Blackbeard Pirates was because of the invitation from that Lord of Germa. Otherwise, he might not have accepted Teach's invitation.
"This is also fate's arrangement! Cough cough,"
Death God Doc Q coughed up blood, sitting to the side and laughing.
"That Lord has been waiting there for a while!"
Van Augur, with his long rifle on his back, observed Ichiji, who was sitting on the rocks, through the precise scope of his right eye, a smile appearing on his face.
"Truly exciting!"
It wasn't that he didn't know the specific situation, but simply because he was going to meet that Lord, the cadres of the Blackbeard Pirates, such as Burgess, felt equally excited and expectant, even trembling with excitement!
Because he was about to attempt to eat a third Devil Fruit.
If successful, he would possess the Lava-Lava Fruit ability of Admiral Akainu, and his strength would reach a whole new level!
If he was truly destined to fail and could not obtain a powerful force to confront the World Government and take revenge on the Celestial Dragons, then Blackbeard Teach had no intention of continuing to live in this world!
The pirates Blackbeard Teach brought with him did not include those he had taken in recently.
Only the core members of the Blackbeard Pirates and the doctors who were originally allocated from Germa 66's fleet to assist the pirates.
Not long after, the gigantic pirate ship docked at the seashore.
"Lord!!!"
"Lord Ichiji..."
Blackbeard Teach, leading Laffitte, Van Augur, and others, walked over one after another.
The burly Burgess also carried a large fruit basket.
Although he and Laffitte didn't know why their captain insisted he carry so many fruits, it couldn't possibly be for this Lord to eat, could it?
"Wahahaha, finally met the real person!"
Burgess gnashed his teeth, looking at Ichiji, who sat calmly, seemingly not intentionally displaying strength. However, the noble aura and superior presence emanating from him made Ichiji, who dared not show the slightest disrespect, laugh loudly.
"No need for pleasantries, I won't say more..."
Ichiji looked at Laffitte and Van Augur, who were half-bowing, then stood up directly and said with a slight smile, "But after all, it's our first meeting, so I'll say it again, welcome to Germa!"
"Being able to join Germa is our honor!" Laffitte and the others said, laughing one after another.
They didn't know Germa's true strength, but they had gradually witnessed the tip of Germa's iceberg in recent days, realizing it was full of mystery and power.
Even someone as strong as Blackbeard Teach could only be a member of Germa.
Having self-awareness, they naturally knew that by relying on this great figure of Germa, they might achieve their respective ambitions, dreams, and goals in the future.
"Let's all sit down and talk..."
After a brief exchange of polite words, Ichiji sat down on a smooth rock.
He looked at the somewhat excited and nervous Blackbeard Teach, and under the bewildered and confused gazes of Laffitte and Doc Q, he asked directly with a serious expression: "Have you truly decided?"
What he was referring to was not whether Blackbeard Teach wanted to eat the Lava-Lava Fruit, but whether the other party chose not to directly use Law's ability, using the Op-Op Fruit's power to transfer its soul, avoiding failure and direct death...
Teach's face hardened, and his expression showed great resolve.
He clenched his fists tightly, gnashing his teeth with some unwillingness: "Even if I survive failure, what's the difference between me and a piece of trash if I lose my powers?"
"Wait, Your Lordship, Captain, what are you talking about?"
Feeling somewhat lost, Burgess couldn't help but ask directly.
"You'll know soon..."
Ichiji glanced at Laffitte and Van Augur, who were equally bewildered, and without further hesitation, directly took out a Devil Fruit that was entirely dark red with strange patterns.
"What is this?"
"It's not a Logia type, is it?"
Doc Q and Burgess, among others, were incredibly surprised.
But before they could take another look, Blackbeard directly took the Devil Fruit and walked away from the others on the beach.
"Captain, you're...!"
Laffitte's eyes flashed, a hint of surprise and uncertainty on his face.
"Heh, perhaps you still don't know, but I'm actually not a Zoan-type ability user, but I possess two different Devil Fruit abilities..." Blackbeard Teach laughed loudly, carrying both a fear of death and an intense desire for power.
"What!?"
"Two abilities?"
"This... how is this possible?"
Van Augur and Burgess, among others, couldn't help but widen their eyes, revealing expressions of disbelief.
They had always thought that their captain's ability was a Mythical Zoan ability, even rarer than a Logia type. But now, Blackbeard Teach actually said he wasn't a Mythical Zoan ability user, but possessed two different Devil Fruit abilities. How could this not shock them?
"If it succeeds, I will have a third Devil Fruit. If it fails, heh heh..."
Without much explanation, Blackbeard, who was far enough away, directly bit into the Logia-type Devil Fruit under the gazes of Laffitte and others, his eyes filled with stubbornness and fervor!
"Captain—"
"Gulp! He really ate it..."
"Did the 'devils' in his body not conflict?"
Nothing happened. Burgess and the others gasped, unable to help but be stunned.
How could such a thing happen in this world? Eating more than two Devil Fruits, and nothing happened?
"You won the bet!"
"It looks like you succeeded. Congratulations to you, and to me!"
Looking at the unharmed Blackbeard, Ichiji's entire being broke into a smile. He slowly began to laugh loudly: "Haha~~ Hahaha~~"
Then, this meant that he could also possess a third Devil Fruit!
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