Teach looked up at Rolan with a faint grin, "Zehahaha, A name is just a title."
But when Luffy heard that name a surge of anger flared within him.
"What You're Blackbeard"
Luffy sized up Teach carefully and confirmed he was indeed the Blackbeard from the news — the Blackbeard who had defeated Ace, placing Ace in the fate he now suffered.
By that logic, there was a deep grudge at play — almost fratricide.
Blackbeard turned his gaze to Luffy, amusement in his eyes.
"Monkey D. Luffy I've wanted to meet you for a long time Captain Ace spoke of you often aboard his ship."
At those words Luffy exploded with fury.
"Shut it What right do you have to call him Captain Ace now"
He released Hannyabal, his stance tightening.
"Haki Armament"
As Luffy spoke his right fist darkened like ink and crackled with a faint pink glow of Haki.
He thrust his arm forward, punching Blackbeard square in the face.
Blackbeard did not expect Luffy's sudden attack, its speed giving him no time to react.
Luffy's fist connected directly with his nose.
Bang
Blackbeard flew backward like a tethered ball, smashing into Impel Down's stone wall.
"Captain"
"Captain"
Burgess and the others cried out in alarm.
"Ouch It hurts so much it hurts"
Blackbeard clutched his shattered nose and writhed on the floor.
Due to the Dark‑Dark Fruit his pain threshold was magnified — the same injury inflicted far worse agony than it would on others.
He blinked, secretly stunned.
Ace's younger brother was strong.
He even wielded Haki Ryuo.
Boom
A bullet whistled toward Luffy's brow.
Rolan saw it clearly — Van Auger the Supersonic had fired.
But Rolan did not stop it.
First he knew it wouldn't hurt Luffy.
Second he had zero interest in interfering with Luffy's fight.
The bullet struck Luffy's forehead, embedding into his skin and pushing it back.
With a slight flex, Luffy forced the bullet to eject back toward Van Auger.
Van Auger tilted his head as the bullet flew back toward him, barely dodging it awkwardly.
And at that moment Burgess's fist shot toward Luffy.
But Luffy didn't dodge.
He allowed Burgess's punch to connect with his forehead.
The impact sent him sliding back five or six steps under sheer force.
Burgess laughed loudly, "Wehahaha I landed a hit His head must be mush!"
But before he could savor the moment Luffy's hand shot out and grabbed Burgess by the neck.
"How is this possible After taking that punch how are you still fine" Burgess gasped in disbelief.
Luffy pulled Burgess in front of him, then channeled Armament Haki into his right fist and punched Burgess away.
Burgess crashed directly into Blackbeard who had just staggered up.
"Van Auger Burgess Stop This isn't a fight you can handle now"
Teach rose slowly toward Luffy.
He was bleeding and disfigured from the earlier punch.
"Zehahaha as expected of Captain Ace's younger brother your strength is indeed great But you're still a bit weaker than your brother Ace."
As Teach spoke he kept scanning Rolan from the corner of his eye.
Seeing that Rolan had no intention of interfering with the fight, Blackbeard decided not to hold back further.
Luffy blinked at Blackbeard's battered state and raised his brow.
"He really can take a beating," Luffy murmured.
He knew the punch he had thrown had been nearly full power.
Yet it only gave Blackbeard minor injury.
So he stopped overthinking it.
He suddenly shot his right arm backward, stretching it dozens of meters long.
Armament Haki coated his entire right arm, turning it pitch black.
"Gum‑Gum Pistol"
His arm fired forward like a giant projectile aimed straight at Blackbeard.
"Zehahaha" Blackbeard laughed, also covering his right fist with Armament Haki.
He met Luffy's fist head on.
Bang
Blue flashes erupted like lightning from their clash, the impact cracking the stone floor beneath them.
After seconds locked in force neither gave ground, and both were pushed back a dozen steps.
Luffy stared at the gap‑toothed Blackbeard before him, his eyes narrowing.
At this moment Blackbeard lacked the ability to defeat Ace. Luffy wondered why his brother had lost to this gap‑toothed man.
Blackbeard met Luffy's gaze with a mixture of shock and respect at his strength.
"Zehahaha Ace's younger brother You truly are strong You even know Armament Haki Ryuo in the first half of the Grand Line!"
Then he raised his hand, palm toward Luffy.
A small black sphere appeared in his palm.
Suddenly Luffy felt an overwhelming gravitational force pulling him in.
It felt as if his entire body were being drawn straight toward Blackbeard.
"What is this ability"
As Blackbeard poured more strength into his palm the pull grew stronger.
Luffy lost control of his body and flew directly toward Blackbeard's palm.
Realizing he could not stop his descent, he focused Armament Haki on his forehead.
His forehead darkened completely as the Haki spread.
Then he pulled his neck back.
"Gum‑Gum Bell"
With that Luffy's head rocketed forward like a cannonball.
Blackbeard stood his ground unflinching, also centering Armament Haki on his forehead so they collided head‑on.
Bang
An explosive shockwave rippled outward in every direction.
And in that moment, Blackbeard reached out and grabbed Luffy by the neck.
"Gum‑Gum Pistol"
Luffy stretched his arm backward, but his rubber ability did not respond.
"What What"
He stretched once more.
Still nothing.
His Devil Fruit powers were gone.
It wasn't Sea‑Stone it wasn't the sea — his Gum‑Gum ability had simply vanished.
Blackbeard grinned as he lifted Luffy by the throat.
"Zehahaha Do you feel your Devil Fruit power disappearing This is the power of the strongest Logia the Dark‑Dark Fruit."
Laffitte and the others exhaled in relief.
They knew most Devil Fruit users depended heavily on their abilities.
Without them a fighter's strength could drop dramatically.
The outcome now seemed apparent.
"Dark‑Dark Fruit?" Luffy's eyes flickered with disbelief.
He never thought a Devil Fruit could strip other Devil Fruit users of their powers.
Knowing Luffy's expression Blackbeard chuckled with satisfaction.
"Zehahaha Ace had that same expression back then."
"Cough cough cough"
As Blackbeard tightened his grip Luffy coughed violently struggling for air.
Right then Rolan's voice cut through the tension like cold steel.
"Alright this farce ends here."