"Only Haki can transcend everything."
Time would verify just how high the gold content of Teacher Kaido's words was!
Although Burgess also knew Armament Haki, he was currently still in the initial stages of development.
Although he could partially coat his body with Armament Haki to strengthen his defense, the flow of black hardening took time.
Chrollo wouldn't give him that reaction time at all.
There was a significant gap in their Armament Haki levels.
Chrollo's Haki was already approaching high-level, while Burgess was just getting started.
Chrollo's current physical stats also crushed the opponent.
This created the result on the scene. With just one strike from Chrollo...
The future Captain of the First Ship of the Blackbeard Grand Fleet, the primary contributor to destroying the Revolutionary Army's base, and the user of the Strong-Strong Fruit, Burgess,
Fell here forever because he mistakenly provoked someone he shouldn't have.
Chrollo slowly pulled the poisoned dagger out of Burgess's chest and shook off the blood.
Then he stared coldly at the remaining members of the Blackbeard Pirates.
No one present made a move.
Even though their companion Burgess had fallen, not a single person in the Blackbeard Pirates dared to strike first.
All of them were deterred by Chrollo, rooted to the spot, not daring to act rashly.
Teach revealed a look of astonishment, staring fixedly at the pitch-black dagger in Chrollo's hand.
"Is that... High-Level Armament Haki?!!"
How could a strong person with High-Level Armament Haki appear in the first half of the Grand Line?!!
Is this still 'Paradise'?!
At this time, Teach himself had only just developed Armament and Observation Haki. Facing such an opponent...
Even with his big heart, he couldn't help but swallow hard.
Van Augur's face beside him was equally solemn. On this sea... it was the first time he met someone of his kind who possessed the "same ability."
"Is it also... a teleportation ability?" Van Augur muttered in a low voice, his usually calm expression fluctuating continuously.
The abilities might be similar, but the opponent's crushing physique and the absolute power that pierced through Burgess like tearing thin paper made him feel a fatal gap.
Without any hesitation, he grabbed the bound Kortopi beside him and pulled him in front as a hostage.
Facing an enemy with both extreme speed and power, this was the only choice.
Doc Q's reaction was identical.
He sinisterly blocked Machi in front of him.
At the same time, a dark green plague miasma spread from his feet like a living creature, trying to erode everything in front of him.
However, when the lethal poisonous gas advanced to Chrollo, it was as if it hit an invisible wall, blocked by a majestic aura.
It formed a clear dividing line on the ground, separating the two camps.
It had to be said that although intelligence was insufficient, the combat instincts of these two strong individuals allowed them to make the most correct response in an instant.
Just now, it was precisely because of Burgess's negligence, holding Shizuku by her hair without restraining her, that gave Chrollo the opportunity to activate his ability.
Now that Machi and Kortopi were tied up and held in hand, [Instant Displacement] could not be activated on people who were controlled like this.
Chrollo couldn't launch another fatal attack using [Instant Displacement].
But at the very back of everyone, Hisoka's reaction was completely different from theirs.
He lowered his head slightly, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably, the corners of his mouth grinning in a near-mad arc, a flush spreading across his cheeks.
"Mmh ♡~ Stronger again..."
He panted silently, a look of extreme excitement and intoxication surging in his eyes.
"Chrollo... as expected, you are the best ♡!!!"
Chrollo's scrutinizing gaze slowly swept over the few people...
Blackbeard and his crew held a pivotal position in the future pirate world, and their influence on the future was profound.
It could even be said that they were the dark side protagonists opposing Luffy's path of light.
Such people were bound to have so-called destiny wrapped around them, just like Hisoka once was, extremely difficult to kill completely.
Chrollo didn't expect to meet them so early.
However... Chrollo's gaze finally landed on the last person.
Did something strange mix in here?
He raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised inside.
It wasn't surprising that Hisoka wasn't dead and appeared on this sea.
What really surprised him was...
What did he see?
Hisoka and Blackbeard were mixing together?
But... Hisoka standing with this group of people really felt completely natural...
Chrollo then revealed a strange expression.
He first looked at Hisoka, then glanced discreetly at Teach and the Blackbeard crew.
Why did this scene look somewhat familiar...
Oh no, dead memories are starting to attack me.
agreeing to recruit Hisoka into the group... Teach is done for in this life...
Teach didn't read Chrollo's strange expression, looking incredibly wary.
Just then,
Uvogin and the others slowly landed behind Chrollo on icicles. Uvogin gently put down Shizuku, whom he was carrying on his shoulder, and handed her to Bonney with incredibly gentle movements.
The Troupe members saw the miserable state of the Procurement Squad at a glance, and everyone's face froze instantly.
Especially when they glimpsed the face with the punchable smile behind the Blackbeard crew—Hisoka—their eyes turned iron-green, killing intent surging like boiling magma.
"Meeting again~ Everyone~" Hisoka greeted them with a smile, as if he didn't see the murderous looks in everyone's eyes.
Blackbeard glanced at Hisoka in surprise. having traveled with Hisoka for a while, this was the first time he saw Hisoka take the initiative to greet someone.
Uvogin was furious watching this scene and was about to attack immediately, but was stopped by Nobunaga raising his arm.
Nobunaga signaled with his eyes that Machi and the others were still in the opponent's hands.
Uvogin's face was ferocious, fists clenched tight, but he ultimately held back.
The two sides confronted each other like this.
The atmosphere on the field was so heavy it could almost drip water.
Time passed second by second in this heavy atmosphere.
Blackbeard looked at Chrollo with incomparable wariness and spoke first:
"Captain of the Phantom Pirates, Chrollo Lucilfer, bounty 720 million Berries..."
"As expected, those Navy guys aren't all trash. You are worthy of your bounty."
Then, unexpectedly, a smile appeared on his face, revealing two missing front teeth.
"Although we touched your crew members."
"But you also killed my crew member."
"Why don't we each take a step back?"
"I'll return the remaining crew members to you."
"We both go our separate ways, how about it~"
Chrollo watched this silently, sighing inwardly. Blackbeard was indeed a formidable figure; he could really endure—
He was a true turtle before he had enough strength!
---
In the distance, Buggy, hiding in the dark, peeked at this scene, and immediately revealed a terrified expression of "just as I expected."
That man... was really here!
"Why can't I escape him no matter where I go?!!"
Too terrifying!
That man is here again!!
Behind him, his subordinates watched this scene, and the "Greatness Filter" returned once more.
So Captain Buggy was training them!
"Yeah, that man who was scared motionless by Captain Buggy earlier killed his opponent in one strike. Captain Buggy definitely can too!"
"So... Captain Buggy didn't make a move to test us! To train our courage to face strong enemies alone!"
"Captain Buggy really put a lot of thought into this!"
"You said it—"
"Mighty... Mighty... Buggy! Buggy!"
...