BOOM!
A terrifying shock wave exploded, blasting countless Marines off their feet and decimating the surrounding ground. Casualties mounted instantly as the entire island of Marineford trembled violently. The destructive power was no less than Whitebeard's own.
"What the hell is going on? What's with that bastard Blackbeard's demeanor?"
"That's Marshal Sengoku's... Great Buddha Fruit ability?!"
"Are we having a nightmare? Why is this happening..."
"But… how can that guy use the abilities of the dead Marshal Sengoku?"
"Damn it, is there going to be another multiple Devil Fruit user?"
"Is it a lie that you can't eat a second Devil Fruit?"
"What's going to happen to this world now?!"
The Marines were even more terrified than the Whitebeard Pirates had been. Not only was Marshal Sengoku killed by Blackbeard's gang, but his Devil Fruit ability was now in Blackbeard's possession. It was a crippling blow to Marine morale.
"Weihahaha! It worked, Captain! I knew you could do it!" Burgess cried out.
"Ahem, cough, cough… it seems fate has favored us!" a half-dead Doc Q said with a weak smile. Now that Blackbeard had the Buddha Fruit, their internal conflict could be put to rest.
"This way we won't have to disband," said Catarina, a sinister grin on her face. "Following Captain Teach seems like a good choice after all." They had no loyalty to Blackbeard; they were simply taking advantage of the situation. By killing Sengoku, their fame would skyrocket.
"Xiehahahaha, this feels great! My power is surging out of my body!" Blackbeard cackled. "I didn't expect the power of a mythical Zoan to be this strong. Even without Whitebeard's Shock-Shock Fruit, I can still control everything in this world at will!"
"I have the dark gravity that can turn everything into nothing, plus a shock wave that is comparable to the Shock-Shock Fruit!" he boasted, spreading his hands wide. Dark power surged from his left hand, while a white shock wave pulsed from his right.
"Now I am invincible… I am the strongest!"
He looked down at the terrified Marines and laughed wildly. "Hey, you useless trash, did you see that?"
"Tell the whole world what you saw!"
"Tell those foolish people who love peace—the Marines, the World Government, and the pirates—that the future of this world is set in stone..."
"That's right, from now on... this world belongs to my Blackbeard era!"
"And first… I'm going to sink this Marineford into the sea!"
BOOM!
A terrifying blow fell again, and the ground cracked open. In the blink of an eye, the entire square was torn apart like a smashed cookie. The Marine camp was plunged into chaos. Countless soldiers fell into the gaping abyss. Casualties were even more serious than when Whitebeard had died.
Blackbeard didn't stop. He intensified his assault, ready to sink Marineford completely, in front of the entire world. His ambition was great and his methods were cruel, causing the whole world to tremble.
"Blackbeard, even if Marineford is destroyed, you will never get out of here today! I will use your head to pay homage to the heroic spirit of Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" Kizaru's voice rang out from above the Blackbeard Pirates.
This time, Kizaru's face held none of its usual wretchedness. He was serious and solemn. Sengoku's death had far exceeded his expectations. Although he was typically lazy, he now understood the gravity of the situation. The Blackbeard Pirates were unforgivable.
Kizaru crossed his hands in front of his chest and shouted, "Eight-Foot Magatama!"
Countless dazzling light bullets rained down like a storm, enveloping Blackbeard's group in a massive explosion. The entire island trembled violently.
"My lord, should we go help that culprit?" the Empress asked. "After all, Admiral Kizaru is attacking now. If he continues, that ugly trash will be in danger."
The Empress didn't care about Blackbeard's life. She only cared that he fulfilled Adrian's plan to draw firepower after the war. If Blackbeard died prematurely, it could affect his next moves.
"It doesn't matter, Hancock. The self-healing ability of a mythical Zoan is much stronger than you imagine. Even with an Admiral's attack, they won't be easily defeated." Adrian caressed her hair, his eyes like daggers piercing through the smoke. "Besides, I might not even be able to win against the current Blackbeard!"
Sengoku's Buddha Fruit was incredibly powerful. It had the super-recovery of a mythical Zoan and immense destructive power. Combined with the Dark-Dark Fruit, which could nullify all Devil Fruit abilities, Blackbeard was now a legitimate threat to an Admiral. He was even stronger than the Blackbeard who had taken the Shock-Shock Fruit in the original story.
"Can he rival an Admiral?" The Empress's face was filled with worry. "My lord, is Blackbeard too strong?"
Adrian pinched her cheek and looked at her with a cold expression. "Woman, are you doubting me?"
"Ah...no...it's not what you think..." she stammered, flustered. "How could I not have confidence in you, Lord Adrian! I was just... a little worried."
SNAP!
Adrian slapped her rear. "Don't do it again!"
"Ah… I'll remember it closely!" the Empress whimpered. Adrian couldn't help but frown. This is a battlefield! How can I be distracted? He spanked her a few more times, and the Empress begged for mercy, promising she wouldn't do it again.
Adrian wasn't worried about Blackbeard. He had planned the rise of this "inspirational" ugly man, and he also had plans to destroy him. With the Summit War and Sengoku's death on his shoulders, Blackbeard's life wouldn't be easy. Adrian was looking forward to seeing how this pirate would handle the situation.
And just as Adrian expected, when the Marines thought Kizaru had wiped out Blackbeard, a giant palm emerged from the smoke.
"Dark Water!"
A swirling black mist appeared in the palm's center. It absorbed all of the incoming photons, then sucked Kizaru in from mid-air.
"What?!" Kizaru's face turned pale. He couldn't resist the darkness in Blackbeard's palm.
Hum!
Another giant palm, this one glowing with a white halo, pushed horizontally.
BOOM!
A terrifying shock wave enveloped Kizaru, sending him flying like a cannonball into the ruins of Marine Headquarters. The entire square fell into a deathly silence. The exhausted Marines looked on in horror.
"This... this can't be real! Admiral Kizaru was blown away in one hit?"
"How... how did this happen?"
"How strong is that guy? Not even an Admiral is his match?"
Despair and fear filled the Marines' hearts. Blackbeard's terrifying strength had shaken them to their core.
"Xiehahahaha! A Zoan's recovery is too powerful! Even an Admiral's attack can be healed so quickly!" Blackbeard's wild laughter echoed. "Hey, did you all see that? This is my current power!"
The wounds on his body from Kizaru's attack healed at a visible speed. Blackbeard himself was amazed. The Buddha Fruit was so powerful it had elevated him to the level of an Admiral.
"Who else?!" he bellowed, his hands on his hips. "I can handle anyone now! Why is no one left but an Admiral? You Marines are a bunch of useless cowards... BANG!"
He hadn't finished his taunt when an angry iron fist descended from the sky, blasting his nearly 100-meter body away.
"If the headquarters building is destroyed, it can be rebuilt!" Garp's face was grim as he landed on the ground. "But Marineford represents a justice that will never be eliminated! As Marines, how can we let pirates sink this place?"
"Blackbeard, let me be your opponent from now on... I will avenge Sengoku!"
Blackbeard's mouth dropped open. Nani?! Old man, that's not what you said when you were fighting your son and two grandsons! I knew it... you're a two-faced dog!