Chapter 239: This Slash, For the Green-Turning Hair!
The massive raft of the Blackbeard Pirates rose and fell with the waves, gradually drawing closer.
Through the howling sea wind and the spray flying everywhere, everyone aboard the Going Merry could clearly make out those figures.
Blackbeard, grinning with missing teeth; Van Augur, holding a long rifle; Burgess, flexing his fists; and Doc Q, sitting weakly in a corner, coughing.
Usopp's thin legs began to tremble:
"A-Are they the Blackbeard Pirates?"
Chopper hid behind the mast, peeking out with just his eyes: "They look... really scary!"
Sanji, cigarette in mouth, wore a grave expression:
"Is that the guy who nearly killed Ace?"
Zoro's hand rested on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, a flicker of fighting spirit in his eyes:
"They look like they can put up a fight."
"Work with Nami to steady the ship."
Ralph's voice rang out, "I'll hold them off alone."
Everyone was stunned.
Ralph wasn't usually this aggressive!
"Ralph?"
Lufia's eyes widened.
Ralph looked at her, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "Don't worry, I have a whole list of scores to settle with him."
Blackbeard's distinctive voice cut through the howling wind, reaching the ears of the Straw Hat Crew:
"Straw Hat Girl—! Nameless Ralph—!"
He stood at the forefront, darkness churning behind him:
"We meet as foes!"
"Since you chose to set sail at this time, of course we must give you a memorable farewell!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised both hands.
Darkness gathered frantically in his grasp, transforming in the blink of an eye into a massive sphere—
The sphere was pitch black, and the surrounding space twisted as if even light was being devoured.
"Dark Matter!"
The enormous dark sphere, carrying terrifying gravitational force, hurtled straight toward the Going Merry!
Wherever the sphere passed, seawater was pulled by the gravity, forming swirling water spouts.
Even from dozens of meters away, everyone on the Going Merry could feel the force threatening to tear them apart.
Lufia's pupils contracted.
She had seen this move before.
Just yesterday, the attack she and Blackbeard had clashed with was this very Dark Matter.
Its power could flatten half of Mock Town.
If the Going Merry took a direct hit now, it would be utterly shattered!
"Gomu Gomu—"
Lufia bit her thumb, about to blow.
"Lufia!"
Ralph's voice cut her off.
Lufia turned. She could tell Ralph's tone was resolute,
"Leave it to me."
The next moment—
Ralph's eyes instantly turned crimson!
His entire aura had completely changed.
If the usual Ralph was gentle with a hint of cunning, occasionally revealing a sinister side,
then the current him was a blade fully unsheathed.
A blade with its edge fully exposed, radiating killing intent!
A powerful aura erupted from within him. His emerald-green hair stood on end, rapidly lengthening under the surge of energy, transforming from its usual medium length into a cascade of waist-long hair.
Red and black lightning crackled and danced around his body, emitting sharp, popping sounds.
"Ralph's hair grew out!"
Lufia exclaimed in surprise, "It's black!"
Zoro narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on that figure:
"He's entered that state again."
"Is the Tyrant Blade about to appear?"
"Blade, come!"
Ralph commanded in a low voice.
Munch-Munch understood immediately. He opened his mouth and swallowed himself whole.
The action looked comical, but in the next instant, a viciously designed longsword flew into Ralph's hand.
Famous Blade Taotie.
Munch-Munch opened its large mouth to serve as the hilt and guard, spitting out a snow-white blade.
Ralph's feet tapped rapidly, executing Geppo as his entire body shot skyward, charging straight toward that Dark Matter!
Blackbeard watched the figure ascending against the heavens, his eyes lighting up.
"Zehahaha!"
He laughed heartily,
"That strange personality has appeared again!"
"And it seems to have reached an agreement with the original Ralph!"
"What an interesting guy!"
"Is it to deal with me, Blackbeard?"
Of course, he didn't know that Red-Eyed Ralph's enthusiasm wasn't for Blackbeard—it was aimed at the green-haired one.
"Watch closely!"
Red-Eyed Ralph's voice rumbled from his throat.
He gripped the blade with both hands, channeling Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki simultaneously into the sword—
Taotie's form began to change!
The originally ferocious blade seemed to come alive under the stimulation of Haki.
Or rather... Munch-Munch was already alive, but now it grew agitated!
Its eyes glowed red, its gaping mouth opening and closing as it emitted a silent roar. The snow-white blade flowed like waves, layer upon layer of black covering it until the entire sword turned into a glossy black, wrapped in crimson-black lightning.
"This is how Taotie is used!"
Red-Eyed Ralph raised the blade with both hands, aiming at the oncoming Dark Matter.
"Tyrant Blade, Fourth Form—"
"Devouring Heaven!"
With a single slash!
A pitch-black sword aura tore through space, transforming into a ferocious maw that viciously bit toward the Dark Matter!
Under Ralph's training, Taotie, transformed from Munch-Munch, inherently possessed this trait.
The slashes it unleashed were accompanied by Munch-Munch's tearing and devouring.
But against Blackbeard's Haki and the power of the Yami Yami no Mi, it was helpless.
Red-Eyed Ralph enhanced Munch-Munch by intertwining Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki.
Moreover, this slash was a move tailor-made by Red-Eyed Ralph for Munch-Munch.
Munch-Munch inherently possessed the trait of devouring, and this slash pushed that trait to its extreme—
Whether facing ice or fire, light or darkness, it could devour it all!
This is how Munch-Munch should be used!
The moment Devouring Heaven collided with Dark Matter, even the howling winds and waves stilled for an instant.
Then, that massive dark sphere vanished without a sound.
It had been eaten.
The entire Straw Hat Pirates: ??
The entire Blackbeard Pirates: ??
Lufia rubbed her eyes, doubting what she had just seen.
That was a move capable of flattening half a town—and it just disappeared like that?
Usopp's jaw dropped so wide it could fit an egg:
"R-Ralph... seems to have grown stronger again, but his condition... is it okay?"
Zoro's gaze was more serious than ever before.
He could sense the terror of that slash, as well as the realm it contained—one that rivaled Hawk Eye's, yet was distinctly unique.
The smile on Blackbeard's face froze for a moment.
But before he could react, Ralph's blade had already completed its arc, and a second slash was unleashed!
"Tyrant Blade, Fifth Form—Double Repayment!"
As the name implied, it was the move Devouring Heaven had just swallowed, returned with double the force!
An identical Dark Matter shot out from the blade, but larger and faster than the previous one, hurtling straight toward Blackbeard!
Blackbeard's pupils contracted sharply.
He raised both hands, intending to use the power of the Yami Yami no Mi to neutralize this move—
But the moment darkness touched that Dark Matter, a terrifying force transmitted through the contact!
Conqueror's Haki!
That Haki struck his spirit like a tangible force.
Blackbeard felt his mind explode with a deafening roar, nearly sending him flying backward!
"Guh—!"
Gritting his teeth, he mustered all his strength to retract the darkness. The Dark Matter dissipated, but he himself staggered back two steps, almost tumbling off the raft.
Though he suffered no external injuries, Blackbeard gasped for breath, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Damage to the spirit was far more agonizing than physical harm.
He lifted his head, glaring intently at the figure hovering mid-air, blade in hand.
No mistake—it was Conqueror's Haki.
He had glimpsed it yesterday and could never forget the visage of Ralph's Haki.
Today, he finally experienced firsthand the caliber of his opponent's Haki.
Van Augur and Burgess were equally stunned.
Yesterday, they had passed out too early to witness the full extent of the battle.
Only now did they realize how terrifying this Nameless Ralph truly was!
Someone like this was merely the captain's subordinate?
Then... just how strong must that Straw Hat Girl be?
Moreover, judging by their small ship and few crew members, they likely followed an elite path, just like them.
The others... probably weren't pushovers either, right?