This is King's Mega Evolution, which is very unique for Aerodactyl.
As Aerodactyl is an ancient Pokémon, there has never been a definitive conclusion on its exact form.
After Mega Evolution, Aerodactyl's entire body is covered with a layer of sharp rocks, which seem like ordinary rocks, but these rocks are very special; they are harder than diamonds.
The Aerodactyl, armed with this rocky armor, becomes even more ferocious than before, in both defense and attack.
However, some scholars claim that this form is the true Aerodactyl. In their view, Aerodactyl's Mega isn't a super evolution, but a return to its original form.
Whether this should be considered a primal regression or a Mega Evolution is something scholars in the Pokémon World have to think about, but for King, there's only one feeling: the power surging from his body.
The Aerodactyl in the sky folded its wings, and when they unfolded again, King's missing arm had returned, but the dragon wings of Aerodactyl were still behind him. In his Human-Beast Form, he had now become serious.
"The sky is my domain."
With a flap of the wings, King had already appeared in front of Blackbeard, with blazing flames burning on the edge of the blade, faintly audible was the roar of a fire dragon.
"Karyu Zanko!"
"Ah! Ah!!"
A powerful and heavy strike hit Blackbeard's shoulder. The edge of the blade had already completely cut into Blackbeard's body, the burning flames scorching his body. Amid Blackbeard's screams, King slashed him from the sky to the ground with one strike.
Moreover, King didn't stop. Empowered by his wings, he kept pressing Blackbeard from the sky to the ground.
In sky battles, Blackbeard had no advantage. Without support points, he was purely King's plaything, which only his subordinates found fortunate, as the shift in King's target was a great relief for them.
"Monster...."
The pain felt on the wings reminded Laffitte that he had just been a hair's breadth away from death. Since being recruited by Blackbeard, it was the first time he felt death so close.
The two below went without saying. Doc Q and Stronger were always in a frail and sickly state, and being alive at this moment was thanks to Burgess, the simple-minded one.
With Ace carried over his left shoulder, and Doc Q and Stronger over his right, he survived the rain of fire, though not without significant injuries.
"Captain Teach...."
Burgess might not be strong, but he was loyal enough to Blackbeard. This was the first time he had seen Blackbeard being thoroughly beaten; before, even in dire times, Blackbeard could at least fight back.
But this time was different. Even when Blackbeard's fists landed on King, they had no effect, and he would instead be counterattacked by King.
...
Boom!
The ground cracked inch by inch. In the massive crater, darkness constantly surged towards the surroundings, and the flames burned intensely, yet King sensed something was amiss.
"Your body is really sturdy."
His target was to directly slash Blackbeard in two. The blade left a huge scar on Blackbeard's body, but didn't cut further.
Haki and darkness, both forces simultaneously resisted his slash.
Previously in the air, after King's attack, Blackbeard started to fall. King didn't notice anything unusual during the descent, only detecting Blackbeard's body's peculiarity upon contact with the ground, which served as a "chopping board".
"Zehahaha, it's useless. Whether it's slashes or flames, they are ultimately useless. Although I don't know why your abilities can ignore darkness, your attacks can ultimately be absorbed by darkness!"
"When I cut off your head, I hope you'll still be so tough."
King had only one blade, but he also had wings.
At this moment, King used the blade to hold down Blackbeard's right arm, while his left foot stepped on his left hand.
Although Blackbeard's strength temporarily blocked his blade, his wings had already formed a guillotine posture, ready to strike at Blackbeard's head.
"Dark Acupoint Path!"
Darkness surged, but the target wasn't King; it was Blackbeard himself. As a Dark-Dark Fruit user, the expression of the Dark-Dark Fruit is similar to a black hole, but its essence is darkness. He cannot become elemental, but can merge into the darkness.
Apart from devouring external objects, he also has the ability to enter his own darkness, turning the Dark Acupoint Path into his escape route.
However, this action is much slower than the elementalization of other Logia-types. Although he avoided a fatal blow, he still got three bloody wounds on him.
The wounds were deep, exposing bone, yet gradually being merged by the darkness, with even less wailing. For Blackbeard, wailing was a way to alleviate pain, but now he didn't have the stamina to waste on it.
"Zehahaha, I won, Flame Disaster, now it's time for you to retreat."
The location of their battle was close to the coast. Though the island was abandoned, the port could still accommodate large ships, which was also why Blackbeard chose to transact here.
After transferring through the darkness, Blackbeard also reached a relatively safe position, with the Navy personnel dispatched by him appearing at his back.
If pirates were to be ranked for the least dignity, Blackbeard would probably be on the list. Begging for mercy is not something he hasn't done before, and he has no problem relying on the Navy.
After all, his plot to gain the position of the Seven Warlords of the Sea was also with the intent of utilizing the Navy's power.
"Hey, hey, I have, as promised, prepared Fire Fist Ace. I should now be one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
This guy is a high-level official under the Hundred Beasts Kaidou, let's take him down together!"
"Get out of the way, don't block the path."
Regarding Blackbeard's words, Momousagi didn't take them seriously, instead kicking him aside.
Most of the Navy wouldn't care about the suggestions of the Seven Warlords of the Sea unless there were orders from above.
The order Momousagi received was merely to escort Ace; King was not within the mission objectives.
The Navy executing this escort mission wasn't of the hawk faction, with the mindset that pirates must be destroyed upon sight.
"Flame Disaster, King, you're not the target of this mission. I don't want to engage in meaningless battles."
The World Government's order was to prioritize transporting Ace back, and she didn't know why but chose to carry it out nonetheless.
"It's a coincidence. I'm not interested in you either. Whatever happens to that Ace doesn't concern me, but Blackbeard's life belongs to me."
"Pirate, we have no deal with you."
"I'm just... informing you!"