Bright Night (VI)

Ace POV:

Ace sighed in relief as he saw Teach shriek in horror and stumble back. Honestly, he wasn't sure if it would work or not.

He remembered what Pops had told him about haki. It was a power one drew not from external forces but from within. It was the strength cultivated through endless struggle, the determination and fortitude that allowed a haki user to bypass even the seemingly untouchable defenses of a Logia-type devil fruit.

However, Ace understood haki had limits. It wasn't invincible—if a devil fruit user's raw power overwhelmed the haki wielder, then even the best-trained haki might falter. Yet haki could, even for just a moment, theoretically negate the effects of a devil fruit.

Ace knew how to use haki, but he wasn't an expert. He couldn't use the advanced techniques of any three forms of haki. But he had heard stories from Pops. Stories about his biological father and former Pirate King, Gol. D. Roger. He was a man who rivaled Whitebeard in power without the help of any devil fruit power. A will so strong that it could go against a devil fruit that is said to have the power to destroy the whole world. It was simply preposterous.

He remembered this story when he punched Teach in the face for the first time. In that split second that his haki-infused fist had crashed into his jaw, he'd sensed something—his powers had felt fully present again, as though the darkness had loosened its grip. He wasn't certain if this was due to his haki or if it was just because he'd broken contact with Blackbeard's hand. But this was his theory, and he was banking on it. By channeling haki directly into the point of contact, he believed he might counter Teach's powers. But there was another issue.

Was his haki strong enough to resist the darkness?

What Ace didn't know was that, in this fight alone, his haki had grown stronger. The desperate struggle had forged his spirit, elevating his willpower just enough to resist the darkness. There were way too many variables involved, and somehow Ace had checked all of them. To any other person, they would think that fate was on Ace's side.

But Ace wasn't so sure about that as he saw the darkness expand faster than before, consuming everything with a vicious hunger. Teach was screaming from the pain. The flame blade had severed and cauterized his wound within an instant. The pain must've been unimaginable. And the darkness was feeding off the pain. It was becoming stronger.

Blackbeard might've lost a leg, but Ace wasn't doing any better either. He had multiple broken ribs along with a minor concussion. His haki reserves were almost depleted, and he was mentally exhausted. He swore to himself in his mind that if he got out of this ordeal today, he's going to focus more on haki. He was among the rare few in the world who possessed all three forms, yet he had grown complacent, comfortable with the power his devil fruit granted him. He had forgotten the hunger and the drive that had propelled him when he first set sail.

With a renewed sense of determination, he stood up, this time aiming to properly finish the job. Last time, Teach's neck had not been in range, so he had to suffice for only one leg. But this time, it would be different.

On the other hand, Marshall D. Teach was suffering from the worst pain in his life. He still couldn't believe that he had lost a leg. He gave mental command to his devil fruit to cover his severed leg. He just wanted the pain to go away. He just wanted his frustration to go away. The darkness heeded his command but seemed hesitant.

Teach did not believe that devil fruits had a personality, but he knew that devil fruits themselves knew how to use their power in the best way possible. Some people call this 'Devil Fruit Mastery'. But he didn't think that was right. He believed that Yami Yami no Mi had chosen him as the wielder. He believed that it was his fate to use this fruit.

Why was it resisting him? Why was it hesitant? Does it not want him to survive?

Then he noticed it. His darkness was much larger than before. It was now consuming the whole town. And the most surprising thing was that he hadn't even given it command to do that. He hadn't even summoned the energy to make it happen—it was happening on its own. When had he gained this ability?

His mind scanned every memory he had of this fight. In an instant, something clicked in his mind. All the missing pieces came into place.

It had all started after the explosion—after he'd realized his crew was dead. After that gnawing, hollow pain had torn through him. The darkness was feeding off his suffering, drawing strength from his anguish.

As realization dawned upon him, he felt as if an ethereal, invisible hand was urging him to join.

Do you want power? Are you ready to feel an unimaginable amount of pain? Are you ready to risk... everything?

He asked himself if he was ready. On the outside, he appeared a madman, but he was also a cunning strategist, aware of the sacrifices this power would demand. And he knew very well that the power that the darkness offered him wasn't without its cost.

Darkness consumed everything; that was an undeniable fact. If left unchecked, it had the possibility of consuming Blackbeard himself. It had the power to consume his dreams, his hopes, and his ambition. It had the capability to consume everything that he was and everything that he ever will be.

And then there was the pain. He wondered if he had the mental resilience to survive it. Would he still be himself afterward?

Ultimately, it came down to a single question:

Was he willing to risk it all?

For Teach, the answer had always been "Yes."

Memories replayed in his mind, twisted and haunting, searing his consciousness. He felt his leg being chopped off over and over, the sight of his crew falling, dying without him to protect them—a ceaseless cycle of torment. His vision blurred, pain radiating from every nerve, every memory. He was pushing himself to the edge of sanity; a test few could survive. But through it all, a manic grin spread across Teach's face. After all, Marshall D. Teach had always thrived in the madness.

Ace watched as the man before him transformed into something else. Something that was more of a beast than a human. But he wasn't surprised, nor was he afraid. He knew that it wouldn't be that easy to defeat this man.

A loud laughter boomed through the air as Teach stood up. A makeshift leg was made using his darkness. His face loomed with mania. His eyes had lost all sense of sanity.

And seeing Teach like this, Ace also grinned. He was enjoying this. A fire blazed in his eyes; he could feel the thrill surging through his veins, the excitement of a challenge he hadn't felt in ages. This was what he'd been searching for, what he'd missed.

Seeing Ace's grin, Blackbeard let out a deep, loud laugh.

"You are enjoying this too, aren't you, commander?"

Ace didn't bother to correct him. Still grinning, he replied,

"Let's see who wins, Teach. Or should I say... Blackbeard?"

"Winner takes all!" Blackbeard snarled, the darkness writhing around him.

"Winner takes all!" Ace echoed.

Raising his right hand, Ace summoned fire hotter and more intense than ever before. The flames gathered, coalescing into a massive inferno, a fire so hot it seemed ready to engulf the world itself. The blaze grew larger and larger, eventually covering nearly half the island. Ace had poured every last ounce of his energy into this attack, his very essence burning within that flame.

Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor

Not to be outdone, Blackbeard closed his fist, his darkness swelling in response. The darkness that had spread throughout the battlefield compressed into his hand, devouring everything they touched—trees, buildings, streets, and even those who had been too slow to escape. While Ace's flames expanded, the darkness condensed, shrinking with each passing second but growing denser, heavier. Blackbeard's fist trembled with the weight of it, the darkness consuming every shred of energy it could reach, dissecting matter into particles. His arm ached, the strain unbearable, yet he endured, steeling himself to deliver a final, decisive blow. He too gave everything he could, because he knew that this was just the bare minimum if he wanted to defeat his former commander.

Black Hollow

With mad, unrelenting grins, the two pirates unleashed their ultimate attacks, blazing fire and consuming darkness colliding with earth-shattering force. Their powers met, clashing and writhing, each pushing against the other with all they had. Fire burned brighter, darkness deepened, and the world seemed to tremble under the weight of their wills.

And on that day, history was made.