บท 89: Chapter 89: Destroy Blackbeard, This Guy Is Really The Toughest

Chapter 89: Destroy Blackbeard, This Guy Really Is the Toughest

Blackbeard's small eyes were filled with shock and fear. Suppressing the uneasiness in his heart, he forced a smile as he looked at Chiba. "Heh, hahahaha! Long time no see, Chiba. I didn't expect we'd meet here... in this way."

Blackbeard was trying to buy time, cursing inwardly, *"Shiryu, what are you doing? Didn't we agree that if this guy came after me, you'd act to stop him?"*

*"What are you doing now?"*

*"And this guy... could he really know my secret—that I can absorb Devil Fruit powers?"*

At that moment, Shiryu was still reeling from Chiba's display of strength and speed. Chiba's attack had been so swift and unexpected, leaving him completely off guard.

"Don't come any closer. I don't know what you're planning, but from what I saw, it seems like you're drawing out the power of Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi. Could it be that you can absorb Devil Fruits?" Chiba taunted, his gaze fixed intently on Blackbeard.

Blackbeard's forehead began to bead with cold sweat. From Chiba's tone, it seemed like he was only guessing. Desperate to deny it, he forced out a laugh. "Heh, hahahaha! Chiba, you really know how to joke. My body is as plain as it gets. If I had such an ability, do you think it would escape your notice?"

Blackbeard tried his best to explain, oblivious to the fact that Chiba already knew the truth. Chiba, however, chose not to expose him just yet, knowing that Blackbeard's chaos would still be useful in creating trouble for the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

"The more chaos you cause, the bigger a thorn you become for the World Government. That suits me just fine," Chiba said, smirking. "After all, it's common knowledge that one person can only eat one Devil Fruit. I must be overthinking things."

"But I think I'll hang around a little longer to study you," Chiba added, smiling menacingly. Blackbeard's face turned ashen.

*If he lets Chiba keep studying him, his secret will definitely be exposed.* Blackbeard knew Chiba would covet his abilities if he found out the truth, and he couldn't allow himself to fall into Chiba's hands.

Thinking quickly, a black mist began to form in Blackbeard's hands. But before he could make a move, a massive fist suddenly appeared in his line of sight, growing larger by the second.

With a loud *boom!*, Chiba's punch smashed directly into Blackbeard's eye socket, sending him flying back tens of meters.

Clutching his face, Blackbeard howled in pain and shouted, "Shiryu! What the hell are you still doing there?"

"Are you going to take care of this guy or not?!"

*Bang!*

A shot rang out, and Van Augur fired at Chiba. Chiba tilted his head, narrowly dodging the lethal bullet. He turned to look at Van Augur, who immediately pulled the trigger again, firing shot after shot.

Chiba's body swayed effortlessly, leaving afterimages in his wake. Within moments, he stood still, holding the bullets in his hand, unharmed.

Van Augur's mouth twitched. *How powerful is this guy's Observation Haki?* He'd dodged every single bullet—and even caught one with his bare hands. *This guy is terrifying.*

Chiba then lunged forward, his right hand pulled back, muscles bulging as he readied to throw. Van Augur's eyes widened as he realized what was coming. He turned and started to run, his heart sinking with regret. *I knew he was a monster, so why did I provoke him?*

Chiba's hand snapped forward, releasing the bullets he'd caught.

*Whoosh whoosh!*

The bullets tore through the air, speeding toward Van Augur. Although he could sense their trajectory, the speed was overwhelming, blocking all escape routes.

*Am I really going to die?* Van Augur thought in despair. He cursed himself for ever crossing paths with this monster.

Just as he was bracing for the end, a figure appeared in front of him, slashing down with a blade. Two of the bullets shattered mid-air, while the remaining three grazed Van Augur's scalp and arm.

Van Augur exhaled in relief and looked up at his savior. It was a tall man, over three meters in height, muscular and clad in a white Marine cloak with a cigar clenched between his teeth and the famed sword Thunderstorm at his waist.

"Shiryu finally decided to join the fight," Van Augur thought, reassured. Among the Blackbeard Pirates, Shiryu's strength was second only to Blackbeard himself. But unlike Blackbeard, who relied on his Devil Fruit, Shiryu's power stemmed from his swordsmanship, raw strength, and formidable Haki.

Meanwhile, Sengoku was watching the scene unfold from a distance. He'd seen the white energy flowing into Blackbeard's palm before Chiba interrupted him. A thought crept into his mind. *Could Blackbeard really be absorbing Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi powers?*

"No… that's impossible," Sengoku muttered to himself. "One person can only have the power of one Devil Fruit. Blackbeard already has the Yami Yami no Mi. How could he absorb another?"

"But if he's not after the Gura Gura no Mi, then why did he fight Ace and Marco, risk his life against Whitebeard, and even face the Marines? If not for the Shock Fruit, what else could it be?"

The World Government had conducted numerous experiments, all proving that consuming multiple Devil Fruits led to a person's death. Yet here was Blackbeard, seemingly defying the iron rule. Sengoku couldn't comprehend it, but he knew one thing—Blackbeard could not be allowed to succeed.

"Garp, go help Chiba! He might not be a match for Shiryu alone," Sengoku shouted.

Garp, however, merely shrugged. "I'm tired. My battle with Whitebeard took everything out of me. I'm going to rest." He turned to leave, weary of the endless fighting. After a lifetime of battles, he found little satisfaction in further bloodshed.

Sengoku watched him go, frustrated. "Garp, Chiba is your grandson! Don't be so quick to think he'll be fine just because he defeated Marco and Jozu in one punch. Those two relied heavily on their Devil Fruits, but Shiryu is different. His strength comes from pure Haki and swordsmanship."

Across the battlefield, the crew of Buggy's pirate ship huddled around their captain, asking, "Captain Buggy, who do you think will win—Shiryu or Marine Chiba?"

Buggy scratched his chin, laughing nervously. "Heh, I know Chiba pretty well. We had a nice chat once and came to an understanding. So, from where I stand, I think Chiba's got this in the bag."

Buggy was calculating. *These idiots… This world still belongs to the Marines. If I say Shiryu will win, I'll be on the wrong side of Marine and Chiba. And if Chiba ever finds out I doubted him, my business dealings with him will be over!*

Buggy's pirates exchanged confused glances. "Captain Buggy, are you sure? Shiryu defeated Magellan, and we saw him almost take out Whitebeard."

"Yeah, Captain! If not for him, Whitebeard might still be alive. How can you say Chiba will win?"

Buggy cleared his throat, shouting, "Enough! Chiba is my close friend, and I'm telling you, he will win. Now, repeat after me: 'Chiba will win! Chiba will win!'"

Meanwhile, Hancock watched Chiba with concern, sensing the intense killing intent radiating from Shiryu. The aura around him was powerful, almost on par with Mihawk's.

Standing nearby, Crocodile adjusted his fur coat and asked Mihawk, "Hey, world's strongest swordsman—what do you think of Shiryu?"

Mihawk narrowed his eyes, observing Shiryu. "He's strong. Among swordsmen, he'd rank in the top five."

Crocodile raised an eyebrow. "That strong?" The swordsmen Mihawk considered strong were all legends in their own right. Top five was no small feat.

"Compared to you?" Crocodile asked curiously.

Mihawk shrugged dismissively. "Against me, he's nothing." Crocodile rolled his eyes. *This guy really knows how to brag.*

"So who do you think will win—Chiba or Shiryu?" Crocodile pressed.

Mihawk pondered for a moment before replying, "From what I can tell, Chiba's faster, but Shiryu's swordsmanship is superior."

"So you're saying they're evenly matched?" Crocodile asked, eager for Mihawk's answer.

Mihawk nodded. "At least for the first thirty moves, I'd say it'll be a draw."

Crocodile burst into laughter. Mihawk frowned. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing. I just think your famed 'Hawkeye' might be failing you. Just watch—Shiryu won't last ten moves against Chiba."

Crocodile laughed, recalling his own defeat. Chiba's Haki was something he would never forget. It had crushed him with a single punch—overwhelming and terrifying. And that was not all; Chiba's genius in developing powerful techniques and potions only made him more formidable. He could strengthen others like Ace or crush even the toughest like Whitebeard.

In his mind, Shiryu was nothing compared to Chiba. This fight would simply be a stage for Chiba to display his terrifying power.

In the distance, Blackbeard watched Shiryu finally engage Chiba and roared with excitement, "Hehahaha! Shiryu, hurry up and get rid of this guy!" He knew Shiryu couldn't fully defeat Chiba, but if Shiryu could hold him back, that would be enough.

*If I get enough time, I can finally take Whitebeard's power for myself.*

But Blackbeard also knew that if this chance slipped away, the power of the Gura Gura no Mi would vanish along with Whitebeard's body, potentially reappearing in a random fruit somewhere in the world. Finding it again would be as impossible as finding a needle in a haystack.

Meanwhile, Sengoku couldn't sit back any longer. He turned to Kizaru, who was watching from afar. "Kizaru, go help Chiba. We can't let Shiryu kill him."

Kizaru adjusted his glasses and gave his usual nonchalant smile. "Oh my, Shiryu of the Rain… betraying the Marines. That's so scary."

With that, Kizaru lifted his right index finger, gathering golden light at the tip and aiming it at Shiryu.

*Bang!*

A gunshot echoed, and a bullet pierced through Kizaru's head—only for it to pass harmlessly through his body of light.

Kizaru turned to Van Augur with an amused expression. "Oh my, what excellent marksmanship. Scary indeed."

In a flash, Kizaru transformed into a beam of light, appearing beside Van Augur and kicking him away, sending him flying dozens of meters.

At the same moment, Jesus Burgess let out a war cry and charged at Kizaru, while Shiryu, sensing he couldn't afford to waste any more time, drew Thunderstorm and slashed toward Chiba.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.