Chapter 84 – A Shared Destination: Dressrosa
In the New World…
On the walls of the former Underground Kingdom, Riel Callander, the battle had already reached its final stage.
Ten minutes earlier, the "Evil King" Avalo Pizarro had seized control of the massive laser cannon mounted on the city gate.
Without hesitation, he turned the weapon on the approaching armored troops.
The Iron Armored Corps of Riel Callander never imagined that the weapon they were most proud of…
Would one day be used against them.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Laser blasts rained down from the walls, obliterating the forces advancing toward the gate.
"Hahaha! The gate is completely under control!"
Pizarro tore off the iron armor he had been wearing and shook the fur on his body proudly.
"Captain Teach will definitely reward me for this!"
"You should make me captain of three more fleets!"
From the wall, Pizarro could already see the massive battleship "Jackal" entering the interior of Riel Callander behind him.
But suddenly—
A huge crimson slash erupted beneath the city wall.
Before Pizarro could understand what had happened, he saw a large coated ship diving into the sea.
"Huh?"
"Is that one of the trading pirates escaping?"
Pizarro waved dismissively.
"Forget it."
"Too lazy to care."
He turned and began walking down the wall with the gathered troops.
Just moments earlier, he had seen the tremor shockwaves repeatedly destroying the town.
In his mind, the outcome was obvious.
Blackbeard had surely already killed Ariel, the former admiral who ruled Riel Callander.
"Hahaha!"
"I should hurry and ask the captain for my reward!"
Pizarro laughed as he ran toward the exchange building.
What he didn't know…
Was that at this very moment—
Blackbeard had been crushed in Susanoo's grip, his body cracking under the pressure…
And was now being consumed by Amaterasu's black flames.
Blackbeard struggled, raising his hand with difficulty.
Darkness gathered.
"Dark Water…"
The swirling darkness spread across his body, attempting to swallow the flames.
Beneath the Sea
Deep beneath Riel Callander, Freys carefully studied the ocean currents through the ship's observation system.
Using extremely fine sight lines, he guided the ship's direction.
On deck, Itachi, Law, and Sabo had removed their masks and black robes.
When Sabo heard Itachi's explanation about Blackbeard's supposed "physical absorption," he nearly jumped in anger.
"So that bastard was just covering his body with Armament Haki beneath the darkness?!"
"And using the Dark-Dark Fruit's suction to make it look like he absorbed physical attacks?"
"What a despicable trick!"
Law nodded calmly.
"My guess is that he wanted to create an image of absolute invincibility."
"If everyone believes he can absorb any damage…"
"Then fighters who rely on physical techniques will hesitate to challenge him."
Itachi had already closed his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"I think so as well."
Sabo leaned closer to Itachi.
"By the way, friend… that ability you used earlier."
"What was that?"
"Was it a Devil Fruit?"
"And… did Blackbeard die?"
Itachi didn't answer the last question directly.
"If he still had enough strength…"
"He might have been able to absorb the Amaterasu burning on his body."
In the final moments of their fight, Blackbeard had released a powerful shockwave.
That blast had even shattered Susanoo's skeletal arm.
Itachi still wasn't certain whether Blackbeard's darkness could extinguish Amaterasu, a flame far beyond ordinary fire.
He raised his right hand slowly.
The muscles in it were still injured.
"So… you're not sure if he's dead or alive?" Sabo asked.
"What difference would it make if he died?"
Law replied calmly.
"If Blackbeard dies here…"
"His crew in the New World would hunt us endlessly."
At the last moment, Law had stopped Itachi from finishing him off.
The reason was simple.
Their objective in coming to Riel Callander had already been achieved.
The chaos here had nothing to do with them.
If they had come intending to seize Blackbeard's territory, killing him would make sense.
But killing a Yonko without preparation…
Would only bring endless retaliation.
Besides—
They had already captured Caesar Clown.
And both Doflamingo and Kaido were already watching their movements.
"This already counts as hostility with Blackbeard," Law said.
"And Luffy has only just entered the New World."
"We need to move carefully."
Itachi remembered something.
Before leaving Fish-Man Island, Luffy had already declared war on another Yonko.
Then there had been the battle with the Marine Admiral at Punk Hazard.
They had only been in the New World for a few days…
And already enemies surrounded them.
"…You're right."
Sabo nodded.
He looked out over the sea behind them.
"I hope that guy didn't die."
"One day, I'd like to fight him myself."
What to Do With Lafitte?
At that moment, Panxi shouted from the deck.
"Brother Trafalgar! Brother Itachi!"
"What should we do with this guy?"
Panxi was holding Lafitte, who was still unconscious.
After discussing it briefly, Law and Itachi made a decision.
They tied Lafitte to a small raft and released him into the sea.
Whether he lived or died…
Was up to fate.
Originally, they had planned to keep Lafitte hostage to ensure a safe escape.
But since Blackbeard had been defeated—
That plan was no longer necessary.
The Next Destination
"All right," Law said.
"Our next destination is Dressrosa."
"We'll meet up with Luffy there."
Then Law glanced at Itachi.
"Speaking of which… that fruit you obtained—"
Suddenly Sabo froze.
"Dressrosa?!"
"You're going to Dressrosa?"
"Yes," Law replied.
"Why?"
Sabo's reaction surprised him.
"That's also my next destination."
Law frowned.
"Is the Revolutionary Army planning something there?"
"How did you know I'm with the Revolutionary Army?!"
Sabo pointed at himself in shock.
Before he could say anything else—
Panxi casually handed Law a wanted poster.
Law waved it in front of Sabo.
"What do you think?"
"…Right."
Sabo laughed awkwardly.
"Guess there's no point hiding it."
"I'm looking for a Devil Fruit."
Law immediately understood why Sabo had appeared in Riel Callander.
"So when you confirmed it wasn't here…"
"You decided to go to your next lead."
"Exactly."
Sabo nodded.
"I heard that Dressrosa will soon open a colosseum tournament."
"The final champion will receive a Logia-type Devil Fruit."
Law spoke immediately.
"The fruit that appeared after the death of Portgas D. Ace…"
"The Flame-Flame Fruit."
Back on Punk Hazard, Law had heard rumors that Doflamingo had somehow obtained it.
But he didn't know if the rumors were true.
"Yes."
Sabo's eyes filled with determination.
"It's the Flame-Flame Fruit."
"Then why were you here earlier?" Law asked.
This time, Itachi answered.
"You were worried the fruit in Dressrosa might be a fake."
"So you came to the underground black market here to confirm whether the real one had appeared."
Sabo nodded.
"Exactly."
On his way from the Revolutionary Army headquarters to Punk Hazard, he had passed near Riel Callander.
So he decided to check the underground market first.
Just as Sabo was explaining how he had ended up there—
The miniature Den Den Mushi in his pocket suddenly rang.
Brrr… Brrr…
Sabo pulled it out.
The moment he saw the snail's expression…
He immediately recognized who was calling.
(End of Chapter)
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