Within the Beast Pirates' section, the towering figure of "Calamity" Gates stood like a living fortress. His thirty-meter frame fit within the vast palace with surprising ease, casting a long shadow over the members gathered around him.
Beside him, Lemor turned his head slightly, glancing at Kreeler.
"Kreeler, your ability… it's quite similar to hers."
Kreeler gave a quiet nod, his eyes fixed on Catarina. A faint smile tugged at his lips as a sharp glint flickered in his gaze. He was already analyzing her Nine-Tailed Fox form, comparing it to his own power.
Both were Mythical Zoan, Fox-Fox Fruits. Naturally, there were similarities.
Yet the differences were just as striking.
Catarina's ability was absurdly elusive, almost broken in its execution. Its transformations were seamless, its deception nearly impossible to detect, even by seasoned fighters.
Kreeler's power, the Fox-Fox Fruit, Model: Spirit Fox, leaned toward illusion and charm. It could distort perception and influence weaker minds with ease.
Against the strong, however, its effectiveness dropped sharply. Those with firm willpower or advanced Observation Haki could resist it, reducing the ability to a supporting role.
Still, Kreeler possessed something Catarina did not.
Ice.
His Spirit Fox form granted him control over frost, earning him the name Ice Fox. In direct combat, that elemental advantage made him far more lethal.
Not far away, Catarina stood tall, confidence radiating from her posture.
She had no doubt in her value.
The Nightfall Pirates were expanding rapidly. A force like theirs needed powerful individuals, and she was more than qualified. A bounty hunter, a pirate, and a user of a Mythical Zoan, with a bounty of 300 million Berries.
Her ability alone made her indispensable.
At least, that was what she believed.
"I'm very sorry," Teach said coldly, his voice cutting through her thoughts, "but you overestimate yourself. Your usefulness to the Nightfall Pirates is not as great as you imagine."
The words struck like a blade.
Catarina froze.
In Teach's mind, the truth was simple.
The only thing of value… is your Devil Fruit.
Around him, several executives of the Nightfall Pirates sneered openly. Their eyes carried naked disdain, as though they were looking at nothing more than a fool putting on a show.
They had no intention of accepting Catarina.
A person like her was a liability.
Someone who could betray others so easily would never earn their trust. Worse, her ability itself posed a threat. A shapeshifter who could infiltrate undetected was the last kind of ally they wanted near their core.
And beyond all that…
Her appearance alone was enough to make them reject her.
"What?" Catarina's eyes widened, disbelief flooding her face.
She had been rejected.
The surrounding factions were equally surprised.
A Mythical Zoan user, turned away just like that?
To most forces, someone like her would be a prized asset.
"Also," Teach continued, his tone growing colder, "we've already located those missing pirates."
Catarina's leverage vanished in an instant.
Her so-called hostages were meaningless now.
"As punishment for disrupting the World Expo…"
Teach slowly raised his hand.
"You will die."
Darkness gathered in his palm.
A sphere formed.
Not solid, not tangible, but something far more terrifying. Pure energy condensed into a tiny, pitch-black core.
The moment it appeared, the entire hall seemed to shudder.
It was small.
Yet it felt like the embodiment of destruction itself.
Like a black hole compressed to its absolute limit.
Catarina's instincts screamed.
Run.
Escape.
Survive.
But her body refused to move.
An overwhelming force locked her in place. Gravity itself bent around her, crushing down from all directions. For a Devil Fruit user, the suppression was even more absolute.
She could only watch as the black sphere drifted toward her.
Slowly.
Inevitably.
A ten-meter void cleared around her as others instinctively retreated.
Some recognized the technique.
The Star of Destruction.
The attack capable of annihilating an island.
Sweat formed on the brows of even the strongest individuals present.
They knew Teach would not target them.
And yet, standing so close to that power made their hearts tremble.
The sphere reached her.
It touched her.
Time seemed to stop.
Then it expanded.
Space itself warped, collapsing inward toward the core. The distortion was visible, tangible, as though reality itself was being crushed.
It was different from the tremors of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
But the result felt just as absolute.
Catarina's body twisted violently.
Pulled.
Crushed.
Distorted beyond recognition.
She could not even scream.
Darkness swallowed her whole.
And just like that—
She was gone.
Silence.
The black sphere shrank once more, condensing into a single point before vanishing entirely.
No trace remained.
Even now, many could not believe what they had witnessed.
A powerful pirate. A Mythical Zoan user.
Erased without resistance.
Vice Admiral Garp and Tsuru watched in grim silence. Gion's eyes remained wide, shock written plainly across her face.
What they had just seen defied common understanding.
Across the world, those watching the broadcast reached the same conclusion.
"Dark Emperor" Teach had grown even stronger.
Far stronger than before.
That had been the point.
A display.
A warning.
A declaration.
For nearly a year, Teach had not acted personally. His subordinates had carried out his will across the seas.
Now, with a single move, he reminded the world exactly who stood at the top.
The effect was immediate.
Fear spread.
Respect deepened.
And countless pirates began to reconsider their allegiances.
After a few moments, Teach lifted his gaze to the great clock mounted on the palace wall.
"It's time," he said calmly. "Let the auction begin."
He returned to his seat.
The hall remained quiet for a few seconds longer, still recovering from the shock.
But the Nightfall Pirates were already prepared.
They knew exactly how to reignite the atmosphere.
The sound of heels echoed across the floor.
Baccarat stepped forward.
Dressed in a sleek evening gown, her wine-red hair cascading down her back, she carried herself with effortless elegance. Her hips swayed lightly as she walked, and a confident smile curved across her lips.
The moment she appeared, countless eyes were drawn to her.
Among the Marines, Gion narrowed her gaze slightly.
She recognized her.
The woman from the casino.
"Welcome, everyone," Baccarat said with a soft, alluring laugh. "To the World Expo hosted by the Nightfall Pirates."
"I am Baccarat, and I will be your host for today's auction."
She wasted no time.
With a simple gesture, the platform at the center of the stage rose.
A Devil Fruit emerged.
"Animal-Animal Fruit, Model: Bear."
"Starting bid… one Berry."
The silence shattered.
"One Berry?!"
"Are they serious?"
For a brief moment, disbelief spread through the hall.
But it didn't last.
Everyone understood what this meant.
The starting price was meaningless.
The real battle would come in the bidding.
"Fifty million!"
"Two hundred million!"
"Three hundred million!"
The numbers skyrocketed instantly.
Within seconds, the price surged past four hundred million Berries.
In one corner, the Donquixote Pirates watched with mixed expressions.
Doflamingo leaned back casually, unfazed.
"That's the fruit we handed over," Trebol muttered, eyes wide.
Doflamingo smirked faintly.
He wasn't surprised.
Once it was in the Nightfall Pirates' hands, they could do as they pleased with it.
"Four hundred million. Sold."
The first item set the tone.
One after another, Devil Fruits were brought onto the stage.
Rabbit.
Weasel.
Honey Badger.
Grass Snake.
Camel.
Squirrel.
Sea Lion.
Macaque.
Pangolin.
Each one sold for over three hundred million.
Even the weaker ones fetched staggering prices.
Only the Beast Pirates showed consistent interest, bidding aggressively on select Zoan types.
Other major factions remained mostly silent.
They were waiting.
These were merely the opening acts.
Despite the high prices, the truth was clear.
None of these were truly rare.
They were expendable.
The Nightfall Pirates were simply clearing out lesser stock.
Behind the scenes, their reserves were immense.
From Doflamingo.
From the Dark Council.
From their own expeditions.
From stolen caches across the seas.
More importantly, Teach had already begun something far more ambitious.
A Devil Fruit Development Department.
Scholars.
Scientists.
Researchers.
All gathered to study and expand the potential of Devil Fruits.
Because in the end, power was not just about rarity.
It was about imagination.
And this—
Was only the beginning.