Teach looked at Ace and swallowed hard. At this moment, Teach's mind was filled with Ace's words, "Do you want to know what kind of Devil Fruit you can attract?"
Teach did not expect that the Entei Pirates' fleet, known for their exceptional cadres, included two women who might become as powerful as Big Mom herself. One of them was Laki, the chef of the Entei Pirates, who wielded the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Suzaku—a fruit that stood at the pinnacle of the sea, attracted to her by Flame Emperor Ace's special ability.
In this sea, strong women were far fewer compared to strong men. Women were naturally born with weaker physical strength than men, putting them at a disadvantage in the three major forces that determined strength in the sea: Devil Fruit abilities, martial arts (kendo), and Haki. Even the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, was more famous for her beauty than her power. The only woman who truly ruled the sea was Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, thanks to her monstrous physique and powerful Conqueror's Haki. However, Big Mom's strength had declined due to her focus on having children and holding tea parties instead of training, and her Soul-Soul Fruit, while powerful, couldn't compare to Whitebeard's Shock Fruit or Kaido's Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon.
Despite this, Big Mom remained the only woman dominating the sea. However, after the Flame Emperor incident, the world saw two women who might follow in her footsteps: "Firebird" Laki and "Little Thieving Cat" Nami, both under the command of Entei Pirates. Laki, with her Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Suzaku, and Nami, a Thunder Fruit user, displayed Admiral-level combat power during the Entei incident, capturing Kizaru with the help of "Pluton" Rayleigh and "Ranger".
The reason these two women were considered likely future rulers of the sea was their Devil Fruit abilities. The Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Suzaku, stood at the pinnacle of all Devil Fruits, comparable to Kaido's Azure Dragon form. As long as Laki could awaken her fruit's ability, she could reach Admiral level. Although Laki did not show potential for Conqueror's Haki, being under the command of Ace, who led with the strongest Conqueror's Haki of this era, ensured she would develop powerful Armament Haki.
Portgas D. Ace's ability to hunt Devil Fruits was well-known. His subordinates, like Nojiko with the Gate Fruit and Vivi with the Sand-Sand Fruit, had their abilities because Ace hunted these fruits from CP9 and Crocodile. Similarly, Nami's Thunder Fruit, obtained from Enel of Sky Island, confirmed Ace's prowess in acquiring top-notch fruits. Teach had originally thought Laki's Suzaku Fruit was hunted by Ace, but now he understood that Ace not only hunted but could also attract and enhance others' appeal to Devil Fruits.
Ace's ability to attract top-tier fruits like the Suzaku form for Laki was incredible. Laki's ordinary qualifications would never have attracted such a powerful fruit on their own. Ace's influence was what made it possible. This realization made Teach, who always desired the Dark Fruit, understand the full extent of Ace's power. If Ace could help him attract the Dark Fruit, which he had coveted for so long and was known as the most vicious ability in history, he could achieve his ambitions.
Teach, hidden behind his optimistic demeanor, felt his desire flare up. If Ace could really help him, he could finally obtain the Dark Fruit. He looked at Ace with a newfound determination, ready to see if his dream would become a reality.
As soon as the name and appearance of that Devil Fruit appeared in Teach's mind, Ace, Shanks, and Whitebeard all stared blankly. Teach's mood swings were bizarre. A person's mood may shift between happiness, anger, or depression, but these emotions are typically different expressions of the same person's feelings. However, Teach's current mood swings were different—completely separated, as if multiple people's emotions existed within him.
Shanks looked at Teach, his eyes slightly suspicious. "Sure enough, this is your true face, Teach!" he thought. That optimist, desireless look was just a facade. Hidden inside Teach was a monster with immense ambitions, a bottomless abyss seeking to devour everything. Such a monster did exist in this sea, a vicious bloodline capable of consuming multiple Devil Fruit abilities. Teach's temporary loss of control due to Ace's words confirmed Shanks's suspicions.
Teach laughed awkwardly, trying to regain his composure. "Hahaha, what Mr. Ace said made me curious, but I still don't need a Devil Fruit. I have no ambition to eat one; if I did, I'd become a landlubber and face many inconveniences. The Marshal of the Naval Headquarters, Buddha Sengoku, was defeated because of the weakness of the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Buddha, wasn't he, Mr. Ace?"
Touching his head with a smile, Teach managed to conceal his earlier out-of-control emotions. If Shanks hadn't already suspected Teach's identity, and if Ace hadn't known it as well, even the most practiced Observation Haki might not have detected the fragmentation of Teach's emotions. Whitebeard, sensing something was off, didn't catch the full extent of Teach's separation.
"Gu la la la! Your method of defeating Sengoku is indeed wonderful, Ace-boy," Whitebeard laughed, not bothering with Teach's strangeness. This laughter signified his support for Teach, which didn't surprise Ace or Shanks. Before Teach was fully exposed and committed an unforgivable act, Whitebeard would stand by his son.
"Don't worry, after attracting it, it's your decision whether to eat it or not. I'm also curious about what kind of Devil Fruit you can attract," Ace said, his lips curling into a slight smile. The carrier of this era's Dark Fruit was here, and Ace wouldn't let Teach escape. Revealing his ability to help others attract Devil Fruits was no concern for Ace, who stood at the pinnacle of this era with king-level strength. For him, strength information wasn't a weakness; it was a deterrent. The Four Emperors were known for their overpowering might, making their names alone strike fear into countless strong men of the sea.
"I'm curious too, Teach. Can you give me some face?" Shanks added, his smile mirroring Ace's. Teach's happy expression froze.
Teach looked at Shanks and Ace with an extremely stiff expression. The proposition of using Portgas D. Ace's ability to attract a Devil Fruit was tempting beyond measure. Teach had an intuition that with Ace's help, he might finally fulfill his long-cherished wish of obtaining the most vicious power in history, the Dark Fruit. This desire, so deeply ingrained in his heart, momentarily caused his emotions to spiral out of control.
For over 20 years, Teach had lurked on Whitebeard's ship, pretending to be an obedient son, all the while waiting for a chance to find the Dark Fruit. Now, that opportunity was right in front of him, and the temptation was almost unbearable. However, he hesitated, knowing the danger of exposing his true ambitions.
Those present were the top figures in the sea. If the Dark Fruit were indeed attracted, it wouldn't go unnoticed. Shanks, aware of some of Teach's secrets, would never allow him to eat the Dark Fruit without a fight. And Portgas D. Ace, with his immense power and strategic prowess, brought an overwhelming sense of crisis.
Teach had never met Ace before. He was just a low-ranking member of Whitebeard's Second Division, while Ace had risen to stand at the pinnacle of this era, his power surpassing even the Four Emperors. The Entei Pirates, under Ace's command, were becoming a hegemonic force, akin to the legendary Rocks Pirates.
Unlike the chaotic and self-serving Rocks Pirates, Ace's fleet was united and fiercely loyal. The Entei Pirates were not a loose collection of power-hungry individuals but a cohesive and disciplined force, comparable to the Iron Wall Pirates of the Red Hair crew. Ace's command turned them into a devastatingly sharp sword, capable of crushing any opposition.
This cohesion and loyalty had been proven during the great incident of Entei. Ace's supreme status in this era was unquestionable, making him a figure of unparalleled influence and power. The suggestion of attracting a Devil Fruit was not just about obtaining power but about aligning with or opposing a force that could reshape the very balance of the sea.
Teach's mind raced. He knew that if he showed too much eagerness, it would arouse suspicion. On the other hand, rejecting Ace's offer might be seen as weakness or fear. Balancing these conflicting thoughts, Teach finally spoke, attempting to mask his internal turmoil.
The weight of the situation pressed down on Teach. He realized that his every move was being scrutinized by the most powerful men in the sea. Any slip could reveal his true intentions and jeopardize his long-term plans. The choice before him was fraught with peril, and Teach knew that whatever decision he made would have profound consequences for his future.
With power exceeding the Four Emperors, Portgas D. Ace stood as the strongest man in the world, leading the Entei Pirate Fleet, the undisputed strongest pirate group on the seas. Such a terrifying man, standing at the very top, suddenly taking notice of him—a relatively unknown figure—was beyond comprehension for Teach. Even with both of them bearing the "D" initial, it seemed too improbable.
If Teach were in Ace's position, someone like him would never even be on the radar. But Teach was no fool. From Ace's performance during the Entei incident, it was clear that this man, like the red-haired Shanks, knew some of the world's hidden secrets. When Ace offered to help attract the Devil Fruit best suited for him, Teach felt a chill. Could Ace possibly know his deepest secret?
Teach couldn't believe it. He had never met Ace, and only Shanks and a few others knew bits and pieces of his ambitions and unique characteristics. His true nature was concealed deep within, undetectable even by the most advanced Observation Haki. So why did it seem like Ace knew him better than anyone?
One thing was certain: Teach was being targeted by Portgas D. Ace. The suffocating pressure of being in the crosshairs of such a powerful man was almost unbearable. If Ace's goal was truly the Dark Fruit and he used his ability to attract it, the situation would turn dire. Even with Whitebeard's help, Teach wouldn't be able to protect the Dark Fruit from Ace and Shanks.
The thought of the Dark Fruit falling into Ace's hands and being forever out of his reach filled Teach with dread. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he faced the realization.
"Teach, what are you hiding?" Whitebeard's eyes narrowed as he observed Teach's frozen face and the sweat pouring down. Whitebeard loved his sons but wasn't naive. He knew each of them well. Teach, usually indifferent and optimistic, was actually arrogant and rash. This time, however, Teach was clearly hiding a significant secret, one known to both Ace and Shanks, but not to his own father.
Teach gritted his teeth under Whitebeard's scrutinizing gaze. He had joined the Whitebeard Pirates to increase his chances of finding the Dark Fruit, believing that the powerful crew offered the best opportunity. But after years of fruitless searching, he had almost resigned himself to staying with Whitebeard for the rest of his life.
Faced with Whitebeard's suspicion, Teach hesitated. The odds of finding the Dark Fruit on his own were slim. If he lost Whitebeard's trust, his last refuge would disappear. Instead, he decided to take a gamble. If Ace could indeed help him attract the Dark Fruit, he would expose all his power and consume it immediately. If successful, Whitebeard would protect him, as long as he didn't commit any unforgivable acts.
If he failed, the Dark Fruit would be lost to Ace forever, and he would have to live out his days with the Whitebeard Pirates. Given the near-zero probability of finding the Dark Fruit on his own after more than twenty years, this opportunity was worth the risk.
Teach's face set with determination. "Let's see if Portgas D. Ace can help me attract the Dark Fruit. If it comes, I'll seize it first. If I succeed, I'll have my father's protection. If I fail, I'll accept my fate with Whitebeard's crew. But I can't afford to let this chance slip by."
"Okay, Mr. Ace, I'll trouble you," Teach said, regaining his smile and speaking sincerely.
"No trouble," Ace replied, the corners of his mouth curling upwards.
"Buzz!" The mysterious fluctuation immediately enveloped Teach. With his strength now at its peak, Ace's control over the field of understanding, or rather, the control over "Nika's" imagination, had reached a new level. He didn't need to enhance Teach's strength but simply amplify the desire within him to attract the corresponding Devil Fruit.
Ace would not resort to trickery. The hunt for the Dark Fruit began!
"This, this is..." Teach's eyes widened as he looked at the light surrounding him, astonishment etched across his face.
"This is really, really interesting," Ace said, starting to laugh.
"You used the field of understanding to strengthen the desire in Marshall D. Teach's heart, and Dark Fruit was attracted to it.
Dark Fruit noticed the power of 'Nika' in Marshall D. Teach and has been hidden."
These two lines of text appeared in Ace's mind, making him laugh out loud, finding it all very interesting. Marshall D. Teach was indeed the most suitable carrier for Dark Fruit in this era. His bloodline, ambition, power, and the determination to remain undercover on Whitebeard's ship for over twenty years were exactly what Dark Fruit sought.
Just as Ace anticipated, after using the field of understanding to amplify the desire in Teach's heart, Dark Fruit was drawn to him from the depths of the sea. But what amused Ace even more was that Dark Fruit, upon noticing the power of 'Nika,' chose to hide.
The field of understanding was Ace's heaven-defying comprehension, combined with the power of 'Nika' derived from the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, which his brother, Monkey D. Luffy, possessed. This fusion allowed the user to wield an exclusive imagination and the power of creation. It was, in essence, an enhanced version of Nika's power.
The Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, often deemed the most ludicrous ability, gave its user a rubber-like body, a mere symbol of its true potential. Its real strength lay in granting users the freedom to battle with boundless imagination. With this imagination, an awakened Nika user could manipulate thunder and lightning, create flashes of light, conjure things out of thin air, and perform any incredible feat. With sufficient imagination, it was not an exaggeration to say that Nika could wield or control all Devil Fruit abilities to aid in combat.
Because of this, Ace could utilize the field of understanding—a blend of Nika's power and his own profound comprehension—and harness various devil factors, including the abilities of Devil Fruits.
Now, Dark Fruit, recognizing the power of 'Nika' within the field of understanding, chose to conceal itself. This confirmed Ace's judgment. Dark Fruit, historically known as the most vicious ability, could deprive all Devil Fruit abilities and bestow its user with the power to hunt Devil Fruits. It was the natural antithesis of the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, which granted omnipotent imagination to its user.
No wonder Luffy and Blackbeard on Jaya Island were like natural enemies. They cherished completely opposite things and felt an inexplicable aversion toward each other. This was their fate as carriers of Dark Fruit and the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, in the sea of this era. As polar opposites, Dark Fruit and the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, were destined to clash violently whenever they appeared together.
The Dark Fruit seemed to dislike the power of Nika. Faced with the 'Nika' power Ace wielded, this historically most vicious Devil Fruit chose to hide. But what intrigued Ace the most was that Dark Fruit sensed the fluctuation of Nika's power within Teach.
Did Blackbeards Dream just end? As Ace observed Teach, who appeared a bit dazed, his smile widened with fascination.
"Why, nothing happened?"
Teach watched blankly as the mysterious light that shrouded him gradually dissipated. He swallowed hard. If the man in front of him hadn't been the overlord of the sea in this era, Flame Emperor Portgas D. Ace, Teach might have suspected someone was playing a cruel joke on him. But precisely because the man in front of him was Portgas D. Ace, Teach felt an intuitive burning sensation in his heart. Something terrible had happened, something beyond his control.
"What happened, Ace?" Shanks looked at Ace, suspicion in his eyes. Ace's actions never missed their mark. In the epic war known as the Entei incident, Ace had demonstrated terrifying power that overwhelmed the Four Emperors, asserting himself as the strongest in the world. His wisdom had outmaneuvered Sengoku of the Buddha, and his skill and decisiveness had checked the Five Elders, halting the Buster Call—an act previously deemed impossible. Ace's comprehensive strength, wisdom, and charisma made him truly the strongest man in the world.
Yet, despite Ace's intervention, Teach had not attracted any Devil Fruit abilities.
"What happened, little boy? Teach, can't you attract a Devil Fruit?" Whitebeard's eyes narrowed slightly, his deep voice tense. He didn't doubt Ace's words or power, proven during the Flame Emperor incident. What made Whitebeard uneasy was the possibility that something had happened to Teach, rendering him unable to attract a Devil Fruit even with Ace's help.
"No, the attraction was successful. It attracted one of the two strongest Devil Fruits in this sea." Ace looked at Teach, a slight smile on his lips.
"!!!"
Teach's pupils shrank, and his entire body trembled violently.
"One of the two strongest Devil Fruits?" Whitebeard and Shanks' eyes widened simultaneously. Kaido, who had been drinking and watching the scene from a distance, now wore a serious expression. The power of such a Devil Fruit was absolutely terrifying. Top-level Devil Fruit abilities, like Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi, Nami's Goro Goro no Mi, Kaido's Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu, Laki's Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Suzaku, and Akainu's Magu Magu no Mi, were formidable, but none could be definitively ranked as the strongest. Each had its unique advantages.
However, to be labeled as one of the strongest Devil Fruits implied a level of power far beyond these top-tier abilities. Shanks, contemplating this, could only think of two possibilities: the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, which Luffy had eaten, and one other.
"The most special ability among Logia, the Yami Yami no Mi," Ace said, his gaze fixed on Teach. "The most vicious ability in history."
Teach's pupils shrank further, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
"Sure enough! It's the Yami Yami no Mi!" Shanks looked at the sweating Teach with sharp eyes.
"Yami Yami no Mi? Hey, this is no joke, Whitebeard." Kaido walked over, his deep voice serious. He looked at the humble-looking Teach. "How could this unknown little person attract the Yami Yami no Mi?"
"Then why didn't the Yami Yami no Mi show up? Why?!" Teach was completely out of control, watching Ace with a trembling growl. The Yami Yami no Mi, the Devil Fruit he had dreamt of for over twenty years—why hadn't it appeared?
"Because it was scared away by my ability, which is naturally opposed to it—the power of 'Nika'." Ace looked at the out-of-control Teach, his smile widening.
"!!!"
Shanks, Whitebeard, and Kaido's pupils shrank to the extreme.
"Nika?!!!"