Ivankov knew that even Impel Down couldn't withstand a battle of this level.
One had to understand that the lower levels of Impel Down were basically underwater. Once the main structure suffered large-scale collapse and seawater rushed in, it would be a disaster for the vast majority of ability users present.
Moreover, Luffy and Blackbeard's battlefield wasn't the only one causing structural collapse.
On the other side, the battle between Golden Lion Shiki and Marine Admiral Aokiji Kuzan had also entered its white-hot phase!
"Gehahaha! Ice brat, is that all your ability is capable of?!"
Golden Lion laughed, his body nimbly maneuvering through the air, easily dodging dozens of massive ice spears that shot toward him.
Although he wasn't in his prime—with that ridiculous ship's wheel still stuck in his head—his absolute air superiority granted by the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi and his seasoned combat experience still allowed him to go blow-for-blow with Aokiji.
This wasn't the kind of place where one move decided victory or defeat.
"Arara. If you could just be frozen by me, there wouldn't be so many problems." Aokiji was merciless, not even caring about the impending collapse of the hell below.
"Hey, hey, hey, there's seawater everywhere out there!"
Golden Lion manipulates gravel to smash toward Aokiji like cannonballs while calling out in a mocking tone, "If you don't want everyone here to sink into the sea, how about using your ability to freeze this ocean for this old man? Otherwise, this war is going to be way too boring!"
He was already thinking about what came next.
The parts of Impel Down floating on the sea didn't even add up to the size of a small island. Fighting here was restrictive and completely unsatisfying.
Aokiji's ability looked pretty good.
"Why should I take orders from a pirate?"
Aokiji's face was expressionless. Senbai cold air exhaled from his mouth as the ice beneath his feet rapidly spread. "If Impel Down really collapses and sinks to the bottom of the sea, I'll just freeze all of you and fish you out slowly."
"Gehahaha!"
Golden Lion laughed wildly. "Then there's no fun in that! If that's the case, this old man will just fly them all away right now."
Aokiji's gaze suddenly turned cold. "Are you threatening me?"
Of course, he wouldn't compromise with a pirate.
However, the plan Golden Lion proposed, objectively speaking, bizarrely aligned with the Marines' most urgent strategic objective at this moment.
If Golden Lion actually used his Fuwa Fuwa no Mi ability to fly Straw Hat, Fire Fist, and the others away from this sea, the Marines' massive deployment would become a complete joke.
Not only would they fail to execute Fire Fist Ace, but they would also lose Impel Down and release a large number of vicious pirates—including Golden Lion and Crocodile. That would be a devastating blow to the credibility of both the Marines and the World Government.
On the other side, the dust from the clash between Luffy and Blackbeard hadn't yet settled. Through the thick dust cloud, Teach's staggering figure gradually came into focus.
"Having an effect?"
Luffy looked at Blackbeard, narrowed his eyes, and glanced at the blade in his hand—Magi.
"As expected, that kind of attack is the most effective."
Attacks infused with Conqueror's Haki.
Even Blackbeard's Yami Yami no Mi couldn't absorb them completely.
He had always said that there was no such thing as an unkillable person in this world.
If there was, it just meant the strength wasn't at that level yet.
Even a monster would die if killed!
Luffy was very confident, especially after learning Conqueror's Haki Infusion. It symbolized his entry into the circle of the very strongest on this sea.
As strange as Blackbeard's ability was, it was still just a Devil Fruit ability.
Haki reigned supreme over everything!
After fighting more and more enemies, this was the conclusion Luffy had reached.
Teach was indeed a true monster. He could endure any amount of pain, and the Yami Yami no Mi was truly compatible with him.
Ordinary attacks, Teach could absorb completely with his fruit ability, not even needing to feel the pain.
But Luffy was different.
Every punch and every slash caused him immense pain.
Take the last attack, for example.
Visible to the naked eye, two terrifying wounds had appeared on Teach's crossed arms—gashes deep enough to see bone.
Dark red blood gushed out, dripping onto the ground with a sizzling sound.
Dark matter was still writhing at the wound sites, trying to heal them, but the speed was noticeably much slower than before!
Conqueror's Haki counters any kind of flashy ability.
"Ze ha ha, yeah. That kind of attack is very effective."
Blackbeard Teach panted heavily, a glint of jealousy in his eyes. "That power is also rare on the sea. It's a technique that only true strong men who have entered the realm of kings can use!"
He paused. The ominous dark aura around him began to surge, and faintly, it began to form a flowing pitch-black arm or on the surface of his body!
"But Straw Hat! Can you keep using that level of power? Haki consumption must be intense, right?!"
"Honestly, I didn't want to use this form this early either. Maintaining it isn't very comfortable."
Teach grinned maliciously as that black armor gradually solidified. On his chest, the dark matter formed two black skulls that seemed almost alive!
In the hollow eye sockets of the skulls, two points of dim red light flickered.
"You've heard of Devil Fruit awakening, haven't you?"
Blackbeard spread his arms as if embracing the darkness gushing forth. "Awakening for Zoan types grants superhuman recovery and vitality. Awakening for Paramecia types affects the surrounding environment, giving abilities rule-based properties.
"So what does Logia awakening look like? Have you ever seen it?"
Luffy's gaze condensed slightly.
He had personally experienced Zoan-type Devil Fruit awakening and had heard of Paramecia-type awakening.
But this was indeed his first time seeing Logia-type awakening.
"It's not yet a complete form. I really didn't want to use it. But I can't stand how pleased you look!"
Even as Blackbeard said this, the arrogance on his face grew more pronounced.
The two black skulls on his chest seemed to sense his emotions. Their jaws opened and closed, emitting silent roars.
"Anhō!"
The skull on his left suddenly opened its mouth wide. A pitch-black light beam, deep enough to seem like it could devour all light, shot out like a laser cannon, heading straight for Luffy's face!
Wherever this black light passed, even the air seemed to be annihilated, leaving behind a brief vacuum trail!
This wasn't something he could tank with Haki.
An extremely dangerous feeling instantly seized Luffy.
Luffy's figure flashed to dodge.
This was the trouble with elemental attacks.
It felt just like fighting Kizaru.
Haki was an extension of will—the armor and blade of defense and attack.
But it was difficult for Haki to maintain a long-term physical barrier to block pure elements like fire, ice, lightning, or this strange dark energy.
To withstand elemental damage through sheer physical strength and willpower was itself an astonishing ability.
Teach was an anomaly—one of the most exceptional anomalies—a product of the fusion between Devil Fruit properties and his own body, allowing him to endure more damage.
"Don't try to run, you bastard Straw Hat."
Blackbeard turned himself into a human cannon, firing at Luffy's position. Luffy's body retaliated as he kept dodging.
"Jet: Raika Kōshahō!"
Rather than taking the hits head-on, Luffy took a deep breath and assumed a striking posture. Lightning and fire exploded in the air. His fists compressed the air, creating countless visible transparent air bullets. The core of each air bullet compressed scorching flames and violent lightning!
They collided with the dark cannon blasts.
Boom boom boom!
The air bullets and dark light beams clashed in midair, exploding into chaotic clouds of energy!
"I'm not done yet, Straw Hat!"
Luffy had barely dodged when Blackbeard charged up from below, roaring. The black skull on his right chest also opened its mouth!
The gushing darkness instantly coalesced into a ferocious giant dragon.
The pitch-black dragon roared silently, opening a gaping mouth large enough to swallow a small boat, and lunged at Luffy with the terrifying force of annihilation.
"Anryū!"
Thud thud thud.
Luffy's pupils contracted. He defended, but his body was pushed backward by the immense force.
"Straw Hat, how's that? That kind of attack isn't pleasant, is it? Ze ha ha."
Blackbeard watched and laughed. "Darkness can devour everything. You have nowhere to hide from my darkness!"
Having been on the passive receiving end, Teach had pent up a lot of frustration.
But he was no rookie pirate.
His goal, his plan, was to take his place among the Four Emperors of the New World—not to fight to the death here with some single-minded bastard.
He had endured for so many years in the Whitebeard Pirates. He could endure this kind of frustration, too.
So he took the initiative to propose peace.
"Stop wasting your time here. You can't kill me. As an awakened Devil Fruit user, my vitality is super tenacious!"
Blackbeard extended his hand. The huge dark dragon behind him was vivid and lifelike. He smiled. "Let's end this fight here. We both have things we need to do, don't we?"
"What I need to do is take you down."
Luffy lightly tapped the ground with his right foot and bared his teeth. "Did you think you're the only one who's awakened a Devil Fruit?"
A drumming sound rang out.
Bam! Bam!
The ground beneath Teach's feet suddenly turned into rubber, and a huge fist instantly rose up from below, slamming upward into his abdomen!
"Gomu Gomu no Mogura Gun!"
"Gwah!"
Caught off guard, Teach was punched off the ground, floating upward. "Damn it, Anryū, devour him!"
The giant dark dragon charged again.
"Turn into rubber!"
Luffy extended his arm, covered in white flame clouds and Haki, and reached directly into the dragon's wide-open mouth.
Then, he coiled, pulled, and swung his arm like a rope!
That terrifying dark dragon was actually tied into a knot by his arm, turned into a plaything that could be casually manipulated—a piece of rubber putty.
"Here, take it back!"
Luffy swung the dark dragon, now tied into a bow shape, back at the off-balance Teach in the air like a hammer throw!
"Your ability is so strange!"
Blackbeard was in midair, barely adjusting his posture. He used darkness to form a vortex in front of him, trying to absorb the returning dark dragon. "We really don't get along!"
This feeling of being countered made him feel utterly miserable.
"Who wants to get along with you?"
Luffy sneered, but his gaze grew even sharper. "Get ready for me to chop you to death."
The Haki within his body was being consumed at a rapid pace.
Maintaining the Nika form and using Conqueror's Haki Infusion frequently both took a huge toll on his spirit and stamina.
He couldn't keep this up any longer.
Luffy wasn't naive enough to think that Blackbeard was his only enemy.
Continuing this fight would only hurt him. The entire Marine Headquarters was still out there, watching hungrily!
He needed a quick resolution!
Luffy's gaze locked onto Teach, who was suspended in the air. He took a deep breath.
The next moment, Luffy's body expanded. His entire being ballooned outward.
"Hm?"
Teach was taken aback. "Out of ideas already? Getting bigger just makes you an easier target for me."
His expression gradually shifted to surprise. "Shrinking again?"
After expanding to a certain size, Luffy's inflated body began to contract inward.
The white flame clouds around him compressed.
Muscles, bones, rubberized body tissues—all were forcefully condensed toward the core under the command of his will.
His size shrank, but the aura emanating from him—like a volcano suppressed to its limits—only grew more terrifying.
"Compress, compress, compress some more!"
Just as he compressed the power of Gomu Gomu no Hakoku into a single point for release, now he was trying to compress his own form!
If techniques could be compressed to amplify their power, then what about compressing his size?
This was one of the results of Luffy's training over the past few days while traveling to Impel Down.
The slash he had treated Magellan to earlier was only a half-finished product. This was now the completed form!
"Ze ha ha, this is so strange. Why do you have a form like this? Aren't you a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user?!"
The arrogant expression on Blackbeard Teach's face began to stiffen.
"What's wrong with the Gomu Gomu no Mi being a little special? What, you got a problem with that?"
The inflating rubber giant shrank from dozens of meters down to ten meters, then eight meters, then five meters!
Luffy, whose original height had only reached Blackbeard's chest, was now looking down at him.
His entire body was wrapped in condensed white flame clouds. On his surface, pitch-black Armament Haki patterns and leaping dark red Conqueror's Haki lightning spread, forming complex and majestic totems.
Black-red arcs of electricity sputtered uncontrollably, further shattering the already pitted ground around him.
An indescribable heavy pressure, like a tangible mountain, covers the entire battlefield!
"Nika: Meiō Shisei!"
Luffy slowly opened his mouth. His voice carried a strange echo as he stared at Blackbeard and shouted, "I'm not done yet."
Crack, crack.
The black blade Magi in his hand seemed to sense its master's transformation. It hummed and automatically elongated and widened, turning into a massive black blade that matched his current five-meter height!
This feeling reminded Luffy of the form he had taken back on Thriller Bark when Moria's shadows had been stuffed into him.
But now, this feeling was even stronger.
"Your ability is supposed to counter Devil Fruits, isn't it?"
Luffy raised his enormous head, his eyes looking down at Teach. "If you're so capable, try nullifying my ability now."
The corner of Blackbeard's mouth twitched violently.
He wanted to use Kurozu to pull the guy in and forcefully nullify his ability.
But from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Luffy's body—compressed to the extreme and containing destructive energy—and that massive black blade that sent chills down one's spine.
His reason was screaming warnings!
He had no doubt that if he used Kurozu and momentarily left himself open, that Straw Hat kid in that state would charge at him at a speed he couldn't possibly track—and then his head might actually get cut off!
But just because Teach didn't move didn't mean Luffy's form was just for show.
Swoosh!
Without giving Teach any more time to think, the ground beneath Luffy's feet exploded!
A massive body should be cumbersome, but his now showed explosive speed contradicting his size.
Like a compressed white lightning bolt, he instantly tore through space and appeared in front of Teach, who was still suspended in midair.
The massive blade rose. Simple and direct—a cleaving strike!
Even before the blade fell, the impact and wind pressure it generated made Blackbeard's pupils shrink to pinpricks.
If that blade came down, the pain would kill him.
Blackbeard condensed his awakened darkness armor around his right fist. His entire right arm swelled with devouring, deep darkness.
"An Tei!"
Clang!
The moment they touched, black-red Haki squeezed out a vacuum zone, which then rapidly exploded.
At the center of the collision of these two extreme energies, a burst of blazing white light erupted, swallowing all senses!
A gigantic shockwave was generated.
Visible to the naked eye, a ring-shaped shockwave spread in all directions at a terrifying speed exceeding the speed of sound!
Wherever it passed, Impel Down's indestructible rock walls instantly turned to nothing.
The upper structures completely collapsed with a groan. Countless huge rocks fell like rain.
A tremor came. The entire Impel Down—no, the entire seabed on which this underwater prison rested—trembled violently under the clash of these forces!
Above the sea, enormous waves surged!
"Gyaaaaaa!"
Teach let out an inhuman scream. He felt like he wasn't fighting a blade but an entire collapsing world.
Bones in his arms cracked. The darkness armor cracked inch by inch.
Before he could even get a breath in amid the screaming, a figure flew out of the light and rushed straight for him.
In this form, he looked like a monster!
The white flame clouds and pitch-black Haki tattoos had an extremely strong sense of oppression. In his field of vision, a flash of red light suddenly appeared in the monster's eyes, which burned with white flames.
"Right now!"
Blackbeard's pupils suddenly dilated. Under that superhuman force and the spiritual impact of Conqueror's Haki, his body momentarily froze—extremely briefly!
For a strong man of Luffy's level, that 0.1 second was enough to determine life or death!
"Straw Hat!"
In that instant before the freeze, Teach let out a desperate and unwilling roar.
"I won't let you escape!"
The muscles in his arm wielding the massive blade Magi bulged to an extent that violated biological structure!
The black-red light condensed on the massive blade instantly retreated inward, compressing to a single line on the blade's edge, as if even space itself was about to be cut open by this extreme condensed sharpness.
"Mujō Dai Hatō!"
The blade fell!
At the very last moment, Blackbeard desperately twisted his body with a beastly survival instinct.
The slash that should have split him in two from head to toe shifted slightly—from straight down the middle of his head to cutting in from above his left ear!
Pfft.
The sound of the sharp blade sinking into flesh and bone was faint but distinct against the roaring backdrop.
***
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