Chapter - 23

On the other side of the island, Luffy was still raging against Blackbeard unable to see an opening at the moment. Noticing Blackbeard's look of awe, turning he saw an enormous thundercloud and an even larger lightning bolt strike the island.

"Nami..." Luffy said in awe continuing to stare in the direction of his crew.

Blackbeard was in amazement at the sheer size of the cloud. There was only place where that cloud came from. His grin grew he would have that power as well. Seeing straw hat's attention was not on him he became quickly infuriated.

"We still have a duel going on jackass!" Blackbeard shouts readying himself. This was bad, though he was barking like a big dog, he only had one big dog bite left; his power was fading. He would try to end this with a single blow to put an end to the lucky rubber captain.

Turning his attention with renewed focus back to the battle. "Ready when you are." He spoke confidently.

"That so? Then let it all end here. With one final blow." Blackbeard said venom dripping from his voice.

"Fine by me! Let's go!"

~~~

The battlefield was now war torn, with shoreline being unrecognizable after the battle. All enemies on the ground began to shake uncontrollably before darkness slowly began emerging from their bodies. Quickly dispersing into the sky flying back towards the owner: Blackbeard.

Nami seeing the battle leaned against the railing. Breathing a sigh of relief as her crew and Tra-guy's seemed relatively unharmed. Everything seemed to be okay. Suddenly the ground began to shake violently then even causing the Sunny to start shifting in the water.

The other side of the island which held Luffy and Blackbeard began to emit energy so vast it could be seen very clearly from their perspective.

"Luffy..." Nami says softly before composing herself. She had to make sure he was ok.

"Franky give us a burst, we have to get to the captain."

"Yes Ma'am. I'm on it! Coup de Burst! Franky shouts sending the ship in the direction of the battle.

Bepo ran up to his superiors out of breath.

"What...do we-uh I'm so tired and h-" a fist to the head broke the bear out of his rambling.

"Shut up you overgrown heater! Ask the damn question already! Penguin shouts in the polar bear's face.

"Oh you want an ass whooping do ya?!" Before Bepo and Penguin starts the captain and vice captain pulls them apart by their collars.

"We help Luffy-ya see this battle to the end!" Law said pointing onwards. Less than a second later the Heart Pirates were dashing to the shore heading for mountain ridge to see the climax of the fight.

Before they were able to leave the shore they saw the zoan fruit users were starting stir standing up one by one.

"HALT!" Jean says turning towards the rising threats.

Before striking one of them spoke which they previously hadn't done.

"Where the hell am I?" She asks slurring his words. Clearly it wasn't a ploy.

"You don't remember lady? Damn.. it's a long story. Just tell your people to stick with us." With that the vice captain was off again trailing Law.

The man did as he was told telling his followers to follow the Heart Pirates! With a renewed purpose the fruit users jumped into fray.

~~~

Blackbeard feels his darkness returning to him granting a power boost.

"Now watch as I show you, the power to conquer the world. Blackbeard placing his palm on the ground began gathering haki, finally unleashing the untamed power of two devil fruits.

Seeing the danger everyone was potentially in Law made a bold decision. Turning to his crew mates he spoke only the way only a respected captain would.

"Heart Pirates, Zoan Users, we have to stop Blackbeard here and now, put your lives on the line ya!"

Jean let out a warrior screech with everyone else soon following suit. It if it was going to be their last day on earth let them go out with glory.

Without another word the Surgeon of Death made his way towards Blackbeard, crew mates and allies tailing right behind him.

Zoro noticing Trafalgar's crew mounting a full frontal assault, quickly deciding it was time for them to intervene. "Oi Franky, Cook, Usopp let's bring our captain home and finish this bastard." Zoro said hoping off the Sunny heading for their captain's position, the others unquestioningly following their vice captain.

Blackbeard noticing the full assault on him began to laugh. "It's too late for that." He said grinning sinisterly. Raising his palm in the air he began again , "May darkness consume the light! Darkness Falls!" Blackbeard said bringing his palm on the ground.

Immediately darkness began swirling out of the ground unpredictability shooting towards the assault's forces easily critically injuring some. Law could tell it was too late to get close now they would need to think of something else.

"Room." Trafalgar said trying to shield as many people with his ability. Slashing at the darkness as it tries enter the vicinity near his room technique. He knew it wouldn't hold out that long.

Darkness hit a lot of the zoan fruit users who were attempting to take down their former enslaver. They would be slaves no more; it was liberty or death.

For most it was in vein, Blackbeard was out to kill everybody. The straw hats were currently heading towards Luffy's position but were having a difficult time dodging the darkness.

Zoro couldn't keep slashing it forever, his energy would give out. Usopp was trying to distract the darkness shooting any capsules he could get his hands on desperate to reach the captain. Franky was unlucky being struck by the darkness as he tried shield a fruit user from getting killed. Sanji finally reaching the captain was relieved they had a chance now.

"Luffy! What's the plan we're here to help you!" Sanji said yelling out to his captain.

The captain remains silent; observing his opponent for any opening he could get, so far there was still none. Even if he were to get close he would obliterate in no time.

He was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. Turning to see his chef who was asking what the plan was.

"Dammit! Luffy man what do we! Everyone will be killed if we don't do something! OI SHITTY CAPTAIN ARE YOU-"

Luffy clearly has enough of his bitching.

Grabbing the chef by the scruff of his collar pulling him so he could see the seriousness in his face.

"Get the hell out of here NOW!" Luffy screams. "While I figure out how to beat this bastard, get all the injured off the island."

"What? We can't just-" Luffy cut the chef off pulling his collar even higher his hat covering his eyes. "You want to save lives right?"

Sanji was at a loss for words. "Yeah of course-"

Luffy placing the chef back on his feet. "Then save one person." The rubber man said letting his cook's collar go.

"Save one person then what?!" Sanji said still not getting it.

"You'll know." Luffy says without looking back leaving Sanji to a realization. Save as many lives as he could was the plan, not trying to fight Blackbeard. He had to admit it was a great plan. Running as fast as he could the chef began his rescue orders.

Luffy knew without his Bounce man, or Snake man form it would be near impossible to take this guy down. He still had to try no matter, to protect his family.

Getting into his infamous stance, squatting down to a fist releasing his haki. He had to give it all he had.

"I TOLD YOU ITS USELESS STRAW HAT NOW WATCH AS I-" Blackbeard began to raise his fist ready to destroy everything and everyone. Luffy rears back ready to spring at any moment.

"ULTIMATE ATTACK: RYUSOKEN FIRE FIST!" A great flame broke through the darkness creating an incredible white light engulfing the entire island.

The battlefield was frozen in time. One moment everyone was expecting doomsday the next, salvation had come.

Luffy blinks a couple of times only to hear the same voice.

"Well good thing I showed up when I did huh brother?" Sabo says appearing with a grin.

Luffy was still in shock only responding with "Y-Yeah." It was truly like Sabo was truly looking out for him. He could've sworn the man has more pressing commitments being the Chief of Staff in the Revolutionary Army.

"Why are you here brother?" Luffy said simply, it was all he could manage.

"Now what kind of older brother be if I didn't look out for my baby brother." Sabo beams with a smile reminding Luffy of their older brother Ace.

"Thanks you, Sabo." Luffy said embracing his long lost brother.

"Anytime Luffy, now what'd ya say we finish this bastard huh? For Ace!" The heir of Flame Fist turning his attention to the still stunned Blackbeard.

"You... Without your intervention I would've achieved victory." Blackbeard said still stunned about his ultimate attack being negated.

"Yeah...well I'm here now! Let's finish this!" Luffy yells preparing to finish Blackbeard once and for all.

Trafalgar couldn't believe the what he witnessed. Blackbeard's attack was negated by the Mera Mera no Mi Fruit. That fruit was truly spectacular to witness up close. The only person more in shock than Law was the fourth yonko himself. He had believed he earned total victory.

"Everyone! We finish this!" Jean yells earning a nod from Law. The captain releases his barrier allowing the warriors to make their way to Blackbeard.

Turning around Law could see a lot were injured. Not any of his but zoan fruit users desperate for help. Noticing the straw hat's he could see they were desperately picking up survivors. Calling on his ability once more to transport the survivors within support distance of the straw hats.

Law teleports next to Sabo and Luffy joining them. "His power has faded, it won't be long until he's flanked right to us." Trafalgar states raising his sword over his shoulder.

"So the Surgeon of Death! Nice to meet you, I'm Sabo." The tall blonde man said offering his hand to shake.

"Trafalgar Law." The Surgeon says simply accepting Luffy's brother handshake.

"Uh... Tra-guy. I can dig it!" Sabo says laughing while hitting his knee.

Luffy starts bursting out laughing as well. It doesn't take much but Law assumes that their brothers. Law was seriously considering accepting Surgeon of Death as his first name after all the disrespect thrown his way. He couldn't help but laugh as well after glancing at the brothers who were still gripping each other laughing as if there wasn't a serious situation at hand.

Law stops laughing as he notices the brothers now looking at him strangely.

"I never heard Tra-guy laugh before." Luffy says to his brother.

"Ah, that explains it, Tra-guy's laugh did sound a little weird." Sabo adds.

"ALRIGHT THAT'S IT!" Law shouts losing his cool. Before he was able to say anything further, their target was on the move.

Blackbeard uses his final quake attack to make an escape back towards his ship. He was aiming for the mountain ridges knowing if he made it there was a chance. As the three men gave chase, they saw Blackbeard stops in his tracks. The entirety of the remaining zoan users, Heart Pirates, and Straw Hats all stood ready to fire on the Now desperate yonko.