The war raged on. Two hours had passed since the Big Mom Pirates and the Blackbeard Pirates initiated their assault. Many fighters from both crews had fallen, including Charlotte Armand, Poison Q, and Perospero, who had all been knocked down in succession. The morale of both pirate groups had plummeted to extreme lows.
In contrast, the Straw Hat crew held the advantage. Except for Franky, who remained seriously injured, the crew had suffered no attrition, and even the Vinsmoke family members were still active and fighting. Despite holding the upper hand, the situation remained tense; the enemies facing Nami, Chopper, and Franky were powerful enough that a single mistake could prove fatal. Consequently, everyone felt a sense of urgency to defeat their respective opponents quickly to provide support. Fortunately, Tashigi had just defeated Armand, and Robin—having finished her fight with Perospero—rushed to assist Nami, providing a much-needed moment of relief for the crew.
"Thief hahaha! Straw hat boy, you guys really are close companions!" Blackbeard shouted as he observed the battlefield. He suddenly turned to his subordinates and barked, "Pizarro! Devon! Do not hold anything back. Cruelly kill your opponents!".
Pizarro and Devon were taken aback by the order, but they nodded indifferently. Although they had joined the Blackbeard Pirates, they were not particularly obedient; Pizarro had always coveted the captain's position, and the crew was rife with internal conflict. However, in front of outsiders, they maintained a facade of obedience. Since Blackbeard commanded them to kill, they complied. They had originally intended to enjoy the fight, as it was the first time they had encountered such worthy opponents since being released from prison, and cutting the battle short felt like a waste.
Luffy was consumed with fury upon hearing the command. "Blackbeard! You bastard, you are looking for death!". For Luffy, his companions were more important than his own life, and Blackbeard's callous remark was a direct provocation that ignited his rage.
"Gum-Gum... Ape King Gatling!".
Luffy pulled his fists deep into his body before launching them outward in a rapid, frenzied barrage. It was a Fourth Gear version of his signature attack, possessing vastly superior speed and power. Blackbeard did not attempt to dodge. Instead, he utilized his Lion Fruit abilities to manipulate the geography of the Germa Kingdom's land, causing massive waves of seawater to surge into the sky. The water took the shape of enormous lions that pounced toward Luffy.
Luffy showed no fear. He maintained his output, smashing through the landmasses and the seawater lions with his relentless barrage of fists. Blackbeard, now in a monstrous form, utilized his enhanced physical strength and speed to accelerate his flight, closing the distance to Luffy in a split second.
"Dark Vortex!" Blackbeard roared, his hand shrouded in black mist as he attempted to grab Luffy.
"I have already predicted your movements!" Luffy countered calmly. He suddenly kicked Blackbeard's wrist, forcing his hand away before the suction could take effect. Luffy's Gatling barrage shifted trajectory, striking Blackbeard's body with countless fists in an instant.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blackbeard was forced to endure the full force of Luffy's terrifying attack. Screams and roars echoed across the battlefield as Luffy unleashed everything he had, finishing the sequence with a final, ultimate punch that sent Blackbeard flying through the air. Blood poured from Blackbeard, and his appearance was gruesome. However, to everyone's surprise, he did not lose consciousness. Gasping and coughing up blood as he fell toward the sea, he managed to use his Lion Fruit power to halt his descent just above the water.
"Damn straw hat kid! I will fight you to the death! Dark Cave!".
Thick black mist rose from Blackbeard's body and spread across the surface of the sea. The water began to swirl into a massive vortex, rushing into the mist as if being greedily consumed. Within three seconds, the sea level dropped visibly.
Blackbeard was clearly desperate to unleash a devastating technique. Luffy did not approach, relying on his keen instincts to sense the incoming danger.
Carl took the opportunity to knock Big Mom back, casting a wary glance toward Blackbeard. From Carl's perspective, while Blackbeard often acted arrogant and foolish, he was a man of deep, dangerous secrets who required extreme caution. It was infuriating, however, that the man was so resilient; even an attack like Luffy's Ape King Gatling, which would have incapacitated someone like Kaido, had failed to knock Blackbeard unconscious.
"Well, well! You bastard Carl, you dare to be distracted while fighting me? How much do you despise me?!" Big Mom shrieked, her anger peaking as she raised her lightsaber to strike.
Carl thought quickly and then flashed a malicious smile before turning and sprinting away. Big Mom, confused but enraged, gave chase with her sword, Napoleon, in hand. Seeing Carl stop abruptly as if preparing for a final stand, Big Mom swung her blade without a second thought.
"I have been waiting for this move!" Carl smiled. He suddenly dodged to the side.
Big Mom was stunned for a moment, only to realize her lightsaber strike was heading directly toward Blackbeard. Carl had deliberately manipulated her into a formation where the three of them were aligned, ensuring that every time he dodged, she would accidentally attack Blackbeard instead. Because she was focused on Carl, she had failed to notice the positioning until it was too late. The slash, imbued with fire and lightning, slammed directly into Blackbeard.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Blackbeard's agonizing screams resonated across the North Blue, chilling everyone who heard them. Having taken Big Mom's powerful strike without any defense, the damage he sustained was catastrophic, making it impossible for him to remain unscathed.