Chapter 232: Even Jesus Can't Keep Him Alive, I Said It!
It turns out that favorability points aren't just gained by being a companion—being an opponent works too.
But this level isn't just being an opponent anymore—it's being an enemy!
Hmm... Haven't tried this approach yet. Could plan it out.
Though risky, it's worth learning from.
Thinking this, Ralph picked up the Thousand Land Rifle from the rubble.
The little dinosaur Munch-Munch had, at some point, reverted to its original size and was squatting beside Ralph's feet, staring eagerly at the gun in its owner's hands.
Ralph glanced down at it and directly shoved the barrel into its mouth.
Munch-Munch's eyes lit up, and it began crunching away as if enjoying a tasty snack.
From the rubble, a faint voice sounded.
Van Augur struggled to prop himself up, watching helplessly as his beloved rifle was chewed up and swallowed by a dinosaur, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head:
"F... Fuck...!"
Ralph glanced at him, his tone calm:
"Can't be helped. That's fate."
This was Van Augur's catchphrase, often spoken just before eliminating his targets.
Hearing it now was like a fatal blow.
Van Augur spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed again, this time unable to rise.
Ralph turned his attention back to the battlefield.
The fight between Lufia and Blackbeard had reached a fever pitch.
Blackbeard endured double the pain, each punch landing with devastating force.
As for Lufia... she was knocked down far more times than Blackbeard, but she kept getting back up, growing more spirited with each fall.
You, Blackbeard, endure double the damage without falling.
But Straw Hat Girl Lufia's sit-up ability is also world-class!
Previously, Ralph had protected her too well, leaving no chance for it to shine. Today, she could finally fight to her heart's content.
Yet Blackbeard couldn't hold on.
He was facing Straw Hat Lufia, who had mastered Armament Haki ahead of time.
Though this little girl couldn't kill him anytime soon, he couldn't defeat her either!
Even worse, her companion, that guy named Ralph, had already taken care of all his men.
If this dragged on, the Blackbeard Pirates might be left with only their captain standing alone!
"Black Hole!"
Blackbeard endured another punch, spread his hands, and darkness surged out, instantly enveloping the surrounding area for dozens of meters.
Lufia couldn't dodge in time. Her footing gave way, and she was sucked into the dark swamp.
From watching earlier, she knew that being pulled into this darkness meant being crushed like those buildings.
She struggled, but the darkness seemed alive, coiling around her and dragging her toward the abyss.
In the distance, Ralph's pupils contracted, his fists clenched tight.
But he held back.
He knew Lufia would get hurt, but he also knew she wouldn't die.
She needed this kind of tempering, needed to truly experience the feeling of life and death on the line.
Today's battle was fitting enough.
At the same time, every injury Lufia suffered would be another reason Blackbeard had to die.
Munch-Munch sensed the killing intent emanating from its owner and automatically transformed from dinosaur form into a long blade, flying into Ralph's hand.
The Famous Blade Taotie trembled slightly, as if thirsting for blood.
As Black Hole finished releasing, Blackbeard brought his hands together and activated Liberation—
Lufia was thrown out of the darkness!
However, everyone was stunned by what happened next.
She was still standing!
Her clothes were tattered, her body covered in blood, as if she had endured a 360-degree, no-holds-barred beating.
Even with Armament Haki protecting her body, she would have been left with broken bones and half-dead otherwise.
But she stood there, grinning, still smiling.
Blackbeard looked at the girl standing firm before him, feeling a sense of absurdity rising in his heart.
Since I, Blackbeard Teach, have already been born in this sea, why would someone like you appear?
Straw Hat Girl!
Originally, he only planned to exchange Ace with the Navy for a seat among the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
And incidentally, teach this ignorant little girl a lesson.
But after truly clashing with her, Blackbeard realized that this Lufia was worthy of being his companion!
Now, after fighting to this point, Blackbeard only wanted to kill her immediately!
It was an intuition!
Ace was the kind of stumbling block on the path to his dreams!
But Lufia was the kind of existence who could sail on the sea and collide head-on with him!
"Straw Hat Girl!"
Blackbeard said in a low voice, his eyes filled with murderous intent,
"I admit, you are the only opponent worthy of me, Blackbeard Teach, in this sea!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Ralph in the distance immediately disagreed.
You toothless bastard, what makes you think you deserve such an important place in Lufia's heart?
The only opponent?
Are you worthy?
But he had no time to refute.
A massive amount of darkness gathered in Blackbeard's hands, compressing into a huge sphere—
It was the same move he had used to clash with Ace's Flame Emperor!
"Dark Matter!"
Lufia's eyes lit up, burning with fighting spirit.
She bit her thumb and blew hard—
"Gomu Gomu no Yari!"
Her arm swelled to an enormous size, turning pitch-black under the coverage of Armament Haki. She shot forward, throwing a domineering punch toward the sky!
The next moment, the sphere of condensed darkness was shattered in mid-air!
"Boom—!"
Mock Town experienced its second massive explosion.
The shockwave spread outward with overwhelming force, plowing through the already shattered ruins once again.
The sea around Jaya Island was shaken by huge waves, and even the Going Merry anchored in the distance swayed violently.
The dust slowly settled.
In the center of the battlefield, Lufia, due to the side effects of her giant technique, had shrunk to the size of a seven- or eight-year-old child, lying on the ground and gasping for breath.
Though covered in wounds, her eyes still sparkled brightly.
Opposite her, Blackbeard Teach sat on the ground, equally exhausted, panting heavily.
His injuries were even more severe, and the darkness around him seemed to be dispersing.
Footsteps sounded.
Ralph, carrying the Famous Blade Taotie on his shoulder, walked step by step toward Blackbeard.
Blackbeard looked up at him and grinned:
"Zehahaha... Nameless Ralph, are you here to take my life?"
Ralph didn't answer, only continued walking forward.
Murderous intent, as tangible as substance, enveloped the entire area.
"Wait, Ralph!"
A voice rang out.
Ace struggled to his feet, clutching his injured shoulder, limping as he approached.
"I hope... you spare Blackbeard's life!"
"He is a traitor to the Whitebeard Pirates," Ace endured the pain and pleaded, "I ask you to hand him over to me, so I can take him back to the Whitebeard Pirates and let Pops deal with him."
Ralph stopped and turned his head to look at him:
"Brother Ace, you almost died at his hands just now."
"I know."
Ace gritted his teeth, "But this is my responsibility."
"It was my failure to capture him that led to this situation."
"If I let you kill him like this, how can I explain it to Pops?"
Ralph fell silent for a moment, sorting out the logic.
"That's your problem if you can't explain it."
The Famous Blade Taotie was already raised high.
"Blackbeard is done for!"
"Not even Yasopp can save him, I say!"
On an island where the Red-Haired Pirates were stationed in the New World, Usopp's father, Yasopp, suddenly sneezed out of nowhere!