The air was thick with tension as Kikidori stood face to face with Blackbeard, the man who had haunted his past. The battlefield seemed to fade, the chaos dimming as the two locked eyes. Kikidori clenched his fists around *Ophiophagus Hannah,* knowing this fight was inevitable.
"You've grown, Kikidori," Blackbeard sneered, his grin widening. "But it ain't gonna matter. I'm still the strongest out here!"
Kikidori didn't reply. Instead, he rushed forward, his sword gleaming in the sunlight as it sliced toward Blackbeard. The pirate captain countered, his *Yami Yami no Mi* powers absorbing the blow with a swirl of darkness. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the ground, shaking the battlefield.
Despite his speed and skill, Kikidori found himself outmatched. Blackbeard's punches were like cannonballs, each one sending him sprawling. Blood dripped from Kikidori's lip as he staggered to his feet, only to be knocked down again.
"This is it for you, boy!" Blackbeard laughed, his voice booming.
Suddenly, Blackbeard's crew surrounded them, forming a wall of bodies. Kikidori's eyes widened in confusion, and before he could react, Blackbeard's massive hands grabbed his face.
"No!" Kikidori screamed, struggling against Blackbeard's grip.
The darkness swirled, and the world around Kikidori turned pitch black. He felt an unbearable pressure, as if his very essence was being ripped apart. When the shadows finally receded, Kikidori collapsed to his knees, gasping for air.
"It's mine now!" Blackbeard roared, holding up his hand as a snake-like aura coiled around him—the manifestation of Kikidori's *Zoan* Devil Fruit.
Kikidori looked up, panting and weak. For a moment, despair gripped him. His fruit, his powers, were gone. But then, something unexpected happened.
His dizziness vanished. The fever that had plagued him disappeared. For the first time since arriving on Laugh Tale, he felt... clear-headed.
Blackbeard chuckled, savoring his newfound power. But Kikidori's lips curled into a smirk.
"You made a mistake," he said, standing tall.
"What're you talkin' about, brat?" Blackbeard barked.
"Without my Devil Fruit, I'm not sick anymore." Kikidori's eyes gleamed with confidence. "And that means I'm faster, sharper, and stronger than ever."
Before Blackbeard could respond, Kikidori lunged, his sword flashing like lightning. He moved with blinding speed, his strikes precise and relentless. Blackbeard blocked and countered, but Kikidori's newfound clarity gave him an edge.
But Blackbeard was no easy foe. With his overwhelming strength and mastery of darkness, he pinned Kikidori by the neck, slamming him against a broken mast.
"This ends now!" Blackbeard growled, darkness swirling around his fist as he prepared to crush Kikidori.
Suddenly, a pellet struck Blackbeard in the shoulder, making him stumble.
"Who dares?!" he snarled, turning to see Usopp standing a distance away, his slingshot in hand.
"Usopp...?" Kikidori gasped.
Usopp didn't flinch. He stood firm, his hands steady as he loaded another pellet. "I'm Usopp, the Brave Warrior of the Sea! And I'm not afraid of you, Blackbeard!"
Blackbeard charged, but Usopp unleashed a volley of attacks. Smoke pellets exploded, obscuring Blackbeard's vision. Sticky traps latched onto his feet, slowing him down. Explosive pellets detonated around him, leaving scorch marks on his coat.
"You're annoying, little man!" Blackbeard roared, finally closing the distance. With a swing of his darkness-coated fist, he sent Usopp flying.
"USOPP!" Kikidori shouted, struggling to free himself.
Despite the hit, Usopp pushed himself up, blood dripping from his mouth. He raised his slingshot again, his eyes filled with determination.
Before he could fire, another shot rang out, striking Blackbeard in the chest.
Blackbeard turned, his eyes narrowing. "Who—?"
Standing on a nearby ledge was Yasopp, Usopp's father, his rifle still smoking.
Usopp's eyes widened. "Dad...?"
Yasopp gave his son a small nod before reloading his rifle. "Let's take him down together, Usopp."
Kikidori seized the opportunity. Freeing himself from Blackbeard's grip, he joined the father and son duo. Though his body was battered, he refused to back down.
"Let's end this," Kikidori said, gripping his sword tightly.
Together, the three launched a coordinated assault. Usopp's precise sniping, Yasopp's sharpshooting, and Kikidori's relentless swordsmanship overwhelmed Blackbeard. Blow after blow landed, pushing the infamous pirate captain to his limit.
Finally, Kikidori delivered a devastating strike, slashing across Blackbeard's chest. The impact sent Blackbeard crashing to the ground, motionless.
The battlefield fell silent, everyone staring in disbelief. Had they really defeated Blackbeard?
Kikidori panted, his sword shaking in his hand. He glanced at Usopp and Yasopp, nodding in gratitude.
But deep down, he knew it wasn't over.
As the chaos resumed, Luffy found himself surrounded by enemies. Despite his sickness, he stood firm, prepared to fight.
Kikidori and Zoro rushed to his side, their weapons ready.
"We've got your back, Captain," Kikidori said, his voice resolute.
Luffy nodded, his eyes filled with determination.
But then, a new figure stepped onto the battlefield, radiating an overwhelming presence.
Imu had arrived.
End of Chapter 105