At those words, the members of the Blackbeard Pirates trembled.
Was there really no way out today?
A flicker of ferocity crossed Blackbeard's face.
"I can't die here.
I've spent years planning all of this.
My life has only just begun!
There's no way I'm dying here!!!"
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"Zehahahahaha!!! Admiral Zanka no Hi, since you won't let me leave… then we'll just carve out a path of blood and fight our way through!!"
Boom!
The moment his voice fell, a surge of dense darkness exploded from Blackbeard's body.
He turned to the people beside him.
"Move!!"
"Yes, Captain!"
In an instant, Shiryu and Gibbs rushed toward Ezra D. Vale.
Meanwhile, Van Augur seized the opportunity to search for a sniping position.
Doc Q, Sanjuan Wolf, and the others immediately retreated, looking for a chance to board the ship.
They understood their captain well.
In a situation like this, there was no way he intended to fight head on.
This was clearly an attempt to escape.
Ezra's gaze swept calmly over the two men charging toward him.
"Fodder shouldn't try to join the show."
His right hand clenched into a fist, then shot forward.
The punch landed squarely on Shiryu and Gibbs.
Crack!
Two thunderous impacts echoed as both men were blasted away instantly, smashing hard into a distant wall.
Pfft!
They dropped to one knee, coughing up blood.
A single strike had completely robbed them of the ability to fight.
Blackbeard's pupils shrank in shock.
"So this is the strength of the Admiral…"
Were Shiryu and Gibbs weak? Not at all.
But in front of Ezra, they looked like toddlers learning to walk.
Completely helpless.
Ezra extended his right hand and crooked his index finger at Blackbeard.
"Come on. Let me see what you're capable of."
The provocation hit full force.
Blackbeard's blood pressure spiked instantly.
"Zehahahaha!! Don't look down on me, Zanka no Hi!!"
"Dark Vortex!!"
A torrent of darkness surged from his hands, racing toward Ezra at incredible speed.
"Be swallowed up!!"
A vicious gleam filled Blackbeard's eyes.
But Ezra simply stood there, motionless.
Boom!!
The overwhelming darkness slammed into him as if it had struck an invisible barrier.
It could not even touch him.
Disbelief spread across Blackbeard's face.
"How is this possible?!"
This was the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit!
Why was it useless against this man?!
Ezra tilted his head slightly, his expression full of disdain.
"That's it?"
Blackbeard roared and poured out even more power.
"Die!!!"
An even greater tide of darkness surged forward.
This time, Ezra finally moved.
He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing Blackbeard.
"Hado Thirty Three: Blue Flame Crash."
The instant the words fell, scorching spiritual pressure erupted from his body.
Blue white explosive flames instantly obliterated the darkness in front of him, yet the attack did not stop there. It continued roaring toward Blackbeard.
"What?!"
Blackbeard panicked but reacted immediately, thrusting both hands forward.
"Dark Water!"
He tried to absorb Ezra's spiritual energy.
In the distance, Ezra's lips curled slightly.
"You're too naive."
Darkness and explosive flame collided.
The moment they made contact, Blackbeard realized something was terribly wrong.
"This energy… I can't absorb it?!"
The thought flashed through his mind.
Acting on instinct, he dodged to the side.
Boom!!!
A violent explosion erupted behind him.
When the flames cleared, Blackbeard looked exactly like his name suggested, charred and smoking.
He shook his dizzy head and looked toward Ezra, suppressing the fear rising deep in his eyes.
"As expected of the Admiral…
I really am no match for you."
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"Then go to hell."
Blackbeard froze.
He truly did not want to die.
Thud!
To everyone's shock, he suddenly dropped to his knees before Ezra, his forehead slamming heavily against the ground.
"Admiral! I was wrong! Please show mercy and spare my life!!"
"No matter what, I'm still one of the Seven Warlords!"
"I'm willing to become your blade!"
Ezra's raised hand paused.
His crimson eyes looked down at Blackbeard.
"Do you even understand what you're saying?"
Blackbeard trembled.
"I do!"
Ezra shook his head slightly.
"No. You don't.
If you want to work under me, you're not qualified."
Blackbeard's mind raced frantically.
Then suddenly, he thought of something.
"Admiral! I know where the Red Count is!"
"I'll trade that information, along with the entire Blackbeard Pirates, for your trust!!"
Ezra rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Now this was interesting.
"You're sure?"
The Navy had spent enormous manpower searching for Redfield without success.
How had Blackbeard found him?
Blackbeard swallowed nervously and nodded repeatedly.
"During our last voyage, we saw him in a town! It was only for a moment, but I'm certain it was him!"
"Which town?"
Blackbeard hesitated, falling silent.
Ezra immediately understood.
He was afraid Ezra would kill him after getting the information.
"You can speak or stay silent. I'll find him eventually anyway."
Only then did Blackbeard panic.
"I'll tell you! I'll tell you! He's on Long Ring Long Land in the Grand Line!!"
After saying it, he looked like a deflated balloon.
His life now depended entirely on Ezra's decision.
Ezra searched his memory about that island.
"I remember everything there is unusually long…"
He shook his head.
Not important right now.
His gaze returned to Blackbeard, and a dark, mischievous smile appeared.
"You want to live, right?"
Blackbeard nodded frantically.
"I'll do anything to survive!!"
"Good. I like that attitude."
Ezra clapped his hands lightly.
"Then I'll give you a chance to live."
Blackbeard's eyes lit up with hope.
"But there's a condition."
Ezra's voice turned cold.
"You must kill every member of the Blackbeard Pirates."
Silence fell instantly.
Not only was Blackbeard stunned, but Doc Q and the others in the distance were also horrified.
"Captain! You're not seriously going to listen to him, are you?!"
Gibbs shouted through blood stained lips.
Blackbeard lowered his head deeply.
Ezra waited patiently.
Moments later, Blackbeard slowly raised his head.
And now, his face was filled with a twisted smile.