Gar finally appeared on screen, facing two Devil Fruit users at once: one with the Black Panther Fruit and the other with the Rage Fruit. He was being pushed back, yet no one watching believed he would fall. The question spread through the crowd. Was this Mink hiding a Devil Fruit ability of his own?
That familiar white figure sent ripples through two corners of the world. People had noticed him earlier, although their focus had remained fixed on Teach.
Across the first half of the Grand Line, on a mysterious island where hunters and craftsmen lived among monstrous beasts, a man with a wine gourd jolted upright.
"It is Gar. It really is him. He is even using the weapons I forged for him." His eyes shone as he stared at the double-edged short sword and the adamantium claws in Gar's hands.
"I never thought he would join the Nightfall Pirates after disappearing," someone nearby said.
Although this island was perilous, information still flowed in through the hunters who sailed to nearby islands. Their rare hides fetched high prices among nobles, and while many had tried to seize those hides through force, the invaders always met disastrous ends.
Thanks to the hunters' occasional trips and the spread of video Den Den Mushi, even this remote island stayed connected to the world. They knew about the Nightfall Pirates, but had not immediately recognized Gar in earlier footage. Nearly two years had passed, and the boy had grown stronger, taller, and far more powerful.
"Rex, ha, I knew Gar would not die," a hunter said to the elderly man standing proudly at the center of the group. Respect colored his tone.
Rain Rex had been Gar's adoptive father, a legendary hunter known for taking down the fiercest beasts.
The old hunter smiled softly. "I always believed Gar would be fine." Even so, a flicker of excitement betrayed him.
"It looks like Gar will surpass you soon. And Slader too. Hard to imagine. You are the strongest hunter this island has seen in two hundred years, and yet two successors have already appeared," the man continued, glancing toward a giant figure in the corner.
Slader stood nearly six meters tall, muscles bulging across his entire body. A massive ship anchor rested across his back. His natural strength was terrifying, and he wielded the anchor with casual ease.
Slader watched the footage with bright, eager eyes, relief washing through him now that Gar's survival was confirmed. Although they were called the Twin Stars, they had never been rivals. Their relationship was friendly. Slader often sought Rex's guidance as well, and their paths crossed often.
Gar had inherited Rex's mantle, blending speed and strength into a deadly style. Slader was the opposite, chasing raw power, driven by the thrill of overwhelming opponents through sheer force.
Now, seeing Gar fight and witnessing the vast world beyond their island, Slader found himself wanting to leave. Life on the island, dangerous as it was, had grown monotonous, and the outside world looked far more exciting.
Far away in the New World, atop the back of Zunesha in the Mink Kingdom, several Minks stared in disbelief at the white figure on screen.
"Is that Gar? The name matches, and he is a rare white lion Mink."
"It has to be him. I cannot believe he is alive. Thank the ancestors," one Mink said, wiping tears.
They had all believed the boy dead. Falling from Zunesha's back was usually a death sentence. Even though search parties had been sent, he had never been found. They had eventually built a tomb for him in the Mokomo Dukedom.
Suddenly, their eyes widened. The Gar on screen roared toward the sky, and his body began to shift. Electricity crackled. Fur bristled. His form elongated.
He entered Sulong.
"That is impossible. Gar can transform into Sulong without the full moon," an adult Mink shouted. His voice trembled. Minks across the Dukedom reacted the same way, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.
Even in lands far across the sea, word spread quickly. In Wano Country, where Oden had long since returned and risen as Shogun, samurai and retainers watched the footage within the Flower Capital's palace.
Kin'emon leaned forward. "Did you not say the Sulong form requires a full moon? How can that Mink boy transform without it?"
Inuarashi opened his mouth and then faltered. "I have no idea. Moonlight is normally required. Unless Gar has discovered some new medium."
Nekomamushi scratched his head in bewilderment. "This breaks every rule we know."
Oden rested his chin on his hand and smiled. "Do not rush to conclusions. Look closely. The form is unstable. He cannot maintain it for long."
His retainers nodded. The logic made sense.
Most viewers who knew nothing of Mink biology assumed it was simply Gar's Devil Fruit ability. Whatever the case, once he transformed, his strength exploded. Lightning surged and his suppressed momentum reversed instantly.
The transformed Gar was a monster. His raw force surged to a level that could pressure an ordinary Marine Vice Admiral. Within moments, he crushed his opponents.
The video returned to the main battle. Teach moved like a living force of nature, condensing shockwaves into his fists and clashing against Jones's massive tentacles. His Observation Haki read every attack, and his body blocked every blow.
Jones, though a powerhouse known throughout the New World, was forced into a corner. His immense recovery kept him in the fight, but Teach had not taken a single injury. His physical power, speed, and mastery over all three types of Haki showed a terrifying lack of weakness.
More importantly, Teach was only eighteen and had not eaten a Devil Fruit yet.
Many veterans watching the video silently compared him to the legends. Garp. Zephyr. Monsters of the old generation. Even they had not reached this level so young.
Teach already had the strength to carve out territory in the New World. Perhaps not to rule yet, but the foundation was undeniable.
And once he gained a Devil Fruit, his strength would spike further. No ruler in the New World could ignore the threat. A young conqueror with explosive growth was more dangerous than an established emperor.
The video approached its climax. Nelson appeared, and his exchange with Teach revealed the truth behind the invasion. This was all for the Devil Fruit stored within the Kraken Kingdom.
Many wondered what kind of fruit could drive the entire Nightfall Pirates to attack a kingdom whose king alone could rival top pirates. Others realized that if the Dark-Dark Fruit had not existed, the Nightfall Pirates would have been in trouble.
Finally, Teach ate the Dark-Dark Fruit. Darkness poured from his body, swallowing the light. The sky dimmed as if night had fallen across the entire kingdom.
"What is happening?" someone at Marineford muttered.
"It is the ability of the Dark-Dark Fruit. It devours light. Without light, the sky darkens," Tsuru explained. Several officers glanced at Borsalino.
"Does this counter Vice Admiral Borsalino's ability?" one asked foolishly.
Borsalino slowly turned toward him. "Now, now. I cannot say I agree with that." The officer almost fainted under the weight of Borsalino's killing intent.
Tsuru continued calmly. "There is no absolute counter. Both fruits are top-tier Logias. Each has strengths and weaknesses. If the Dark-Dark Fruit were not exceptional, Teach would not have pursued it so aggressively."
On screen, the newly empowered Teach became the center of a spiraling abyss. Darkness spread across the battlefield, swallowing everything it touched. Winds tore through the city. Reporters struggled to hold their cameras steady as shadows consumed the palace.
The world held its breath while the Dark Emperor was born.