【Chapter 3】: One Punch KOs Ace!

Huaaa————

As soon as Blackbeard said this, it immediately caused an uproar on the entire Moby Dick.

You have to understand, the previous Blackbeard had always acted as a good-natured fellow on the Moby Dick.

This sudden change in image made it hard for everyone to accept, while also feeling that he was being a bit too wild!

Especially since Ace's popularity on the Moby Dick was definitely second only to Whitebeard's.

Now, hearing Blackbeard look down on Ace like this, the crew members immediately started ribbing him.

"Hey hey hey, Teach, are you still not fully recovered from your injuries? What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Exactly, exactly, how dare you look down on Commander Ace like that? He's an invincible Logia ability user!"

"Looks like Ace has been too easygoing with you, giving you the wrong idea, Teach!"

"Teach, just how arrogant are you? Hahaha!"

"You should go back and rest up first before coming back. That hit from Katakuri and Oven must have scrambled your brains!"

"Ace, teach this inflated bastard Teach a good lesson! Make him cry! Hehehe————"

...

Hearing the mocking and disdainful voices of the crew members, Blackbeard still grinned without any displeasure.

Seeing this scene, although Ace was a bit surprised, his youthful pride couldn't tolerate such words.

Hoo hoo hoo————

In the next instant, Ace raised his burning index finger to lift the brim of his cowboy hat and looked at Blackbeard with a smile:

"Teach, I can't pretend I didn't hear what you just said. The consequences of underestimating a commander are very serious!"

"Gurararara————"

Before Blackbeard could speak, Whitebeard let out a wild laugh. When he looked at Teach, there was already a hint of relief in his eyes:

"Teach, you bastard, are you finally done hiding? Can you tell me why you're revealing it at a time like this?"

Eh???

Hearing Whitebeard's words, the Whitebeard Pirates were all dumbfounded and confused.

From what their Pops said, it sounded like Teach had been hiding his strength all along?

Could it be that Teach was really very strong?

Just as everyone was puzzled and confused, Blackbeard solemnly spoke up:

"Hiding? There's no point in that anymore, Pops!

This incident has taught me a lesson.

It made me realize that if you play the pig for too long, you really can easily turn into a pig.

If I didn't have a solid foundation, I might have really died for good this time!

Originally, I joined under you, Pops, hoping to live a peaceful life.

But this incident has made me understand that in this chaotic Great Pirate Era, it's impossible to keep a low profile and hide one's strength, especially as a member of our Whitebeard Pirates.

Since I can no longer hide, then I'll just become stronger!

Moreover, with your deteriorating health, Pops, all of this has been a rude awakening for me!

So, I'm done pretending, I'm laying my cards on the table!

I, Blackbeard - Marshall D. Teach, will be the one to protect the future of the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Silence.

Dead silence.

Even Whitebeard almost made an Enel face out of shock!

He never imagined that he would hear such passionate words from this good-natured, silly Teach.

The other members of the Whitebeard Pirates were equally stunned.

"Gurararara————"

Just as everyone was still shocked by Blackbeard's words, Whitebeard's laughter rang out, accompanied by a powerful burst of Conqueror's Haki and blue-black lightning spreading in all directions.

This instantly snapped everyone out of their shock, while also feeling their knees buckle as they knelt on the ground. The weaker crew members directly fainted.

Ten-odd seconds later.

The only ones still standing on the entire Moby Dick were the few division commanders and some barely standing combat members.

But Blackbeard, who was closest to Whitebeard, seemed completely unaffected.

"Teach, I really didn't expect to hear such words from a guy like you. But I'm not so feeble yet that I need a foolish son like you to take up the Whitebeard flag!"

Whitebeard's laughter stopped along with his Conqueror's Haki, but his face still held a thick smile as he continued:

"If you want to protect the future of our Whitebeard Pirates, then first show me just how strong you've become!"

Hearing this, although Blackbeard really wanted to say something like "Whitebeard, have you ever been defeated?" at this moment, he still decided to abandon that inflated idea, considering this was still Whitebeard two years before the Summit War.

"Hmph! Pops, let me teach Teach a lesson first! Teach, come with me to the island!"

Ace's temper had also flared up a bit by now. Being looked down on by his own crew member, he couldn't pretend he didn't hear it.

Hoo hoo hoo————

After saying that, Ace's body surged with orange flames, about to fly off the Moby Dick.

However, at this moment, Blackbeard chuckled lightly:

"There's no need to go to so much trouble, Ace.

I'm going to make my move, are you ready?"

"Nani? How arrogant!"

In an instant, Ace's body dematerialized, and he was really a bit angry now. Without regard for being on the Moby Dick, he raised his fist and smashed it towards Blackbeard.

"Fire Fist!!!"

Accompanied by Ace's shout, a giant orange-red flaming fist several meters long instantly arrived in front of Blackbeard.

From the perspective of the people behind, Blackbeard was almost instantly engulfed by the Fire Fist.

But Blackbeard, with his back to Whitebeard, merely raised his right hand that was instantly enveloped in Armament Haki, and there was also a purple-black stream of energy flowing along his entire right arm.

The highest level of Flowing Sakura Armament?

Whitebeard, Marco, Diamond Jozu, and Vista behind him couldn't help but narrow their pupils when they saw Blackbeard's move.

Although they had guessed that Teach's strength shouldn't be weak, they never imagined that he could already use this high-level Armament Haki so easily!

Smack!

At the same time, Blackbeard's right palm, wrapped in high-level Flowing Sakura Armament Haki, directly grabbed the smashing flaming giant fist, then his five fingers closed and squeezed hard!

Sizzle————

In an instant, that giant fire fist was like a bonfire that had been instantly disintegrated, turning into countless specks of flames that vanished into the air.

"What!"

Ace, who was behind, was instantly shocked and cried out when he saw this scene.

The other members of the Whitebeard Pirates were equally shocked.

Bang!

Swish————

But before they could react, Blackbeard's sturdy figure had already shot out like a cannonball to appear in front of Ace.

"Normal Punch."

Accompanied by Blackbeard's calm voice, under Ace's shocked gaze, his right fist wrapped in purple-black Armament Haki like flowing water viciously smashed into Ace's abdomen.

Bam!

"Urgh!!!"

Swish————

Boom——— Rumble!!!

Immediately after, Ace's dematerialized body arched like a big shrimp. He vomited a mouthful of fresh blood mixed with stomach acid, then his body turned into a streak of orange-red light, smashing through the railing of the Moby Dick and crashing into the seawater tens of meters away, splashing up a hundred-meter-high wave.

Gurgle————

Seeing this scene, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates were all dumbstruck, and some even kept swallowing their saliva.

They never imagined that Ace, the commander of the 2nd Division, would be one-shot like this?

A true one-punch KO!