Chapter 383: Chapter 383: So You’re Going to Fight Luffy in a Melee, Huh?
Chapter 383: So You’re Going to Fight Luffy in a Melee, Huh?
The turbulent sea surface returned to calm, and the dark clouds that had covered the sky also gradually dissipated.
At some point, the sun had already sunk below the horizon. The remaining twilight glowed yellow on the western horizon, and in the Klein-blue sky in the east, a crescent moon had appeared at some unknown time.
"Phew—, that should do it."
Slap! Slap!
Until his Observation Haki sensed that Teach was completely without a breath, Reiner finally stopped his movements and let out a sigh of relief. He clapped his hands with satisfaction and, after landing on the ground, walked towards the crater that had been blasted out of shape.
The scorched black earth was still emitting heat. Green smoke rose, and the moment his feet touched the ground, he could feel a scorching sensation through the soles of his shoes.
"Ah-da-da-da! So hot, so hot!"
Luffy shouted as he jumped back and forth. His two feet were red and swollen from the heat, and his clothes were in tatters.
Seeing Reiner come over, Luffy rolled his eyes and pointed his finger at him, shouting resentfully:
"You almost burned me to death, you bastard! Were you trying to kill me too!"
"You’re still alive? Tch."
Faced with Luffy’s accusation, Reiner just sneered and turned his face away with regret.
"What a pity. I was almost the captain."
"What!"
Luffy’s eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropping. He shouted with a flushed face and angry eyes:
"I knew you did it on purpose, you bastard! In your dreams! The captain’s position will never be yours!"
"Got it, got it. It’s not like anyone’s eager to be the captain."
Reiner picked his ear, and walked directly towards the depths.
Teach lay motionless. His body was covered in cuts, and his flesh and blood had coagulated into charred scabs under the high temperature.
There was not a single wail, nor was there any black mist spreading over the surface of his body to absorb his injuries. His life force had completely dissipated. It could be confirmed that he was completely dead.
"The others’ battles are also about over. Let’s go back after Chopper has treated their injuries."
Reiner squatted down beside Teach, placed his hand on the other’s body, and released an azure flame.
Only then, hearing the sound of the battle completely ceasing, did a few pirate figures poke their heads out from the surroundings to check the situation.
"The Admiral..."
"He’s... he’s really dead."
"What do we do now? They’re not going to wipe us out, are they?"
The few pirates looked at each other, all of them seeing the worry for their own lives in the other’s eyes.
A pirate tentatively suggested:
"Why don’t we surrender and join them?"
"How could we? They probably look down on us."
"I heard that they don’t even look at pirates with a bounty of less than 200 million,"
a pirate whispered. Who knows where he heard this rumor.
From the Straw Hat crew’s initial surprise attack, the defeat of several cadres one after another, to now the successive fall of Aokiji and Teach, there was no more suspense in this battle on Hachinosu.
Just when everyone thought so...
"Kurouzu~"
A wisp of black mist slowly rose from the ground.
Hearing this low, hoarse voice, Reiner, who was in the middle of collecting Teach’s template, his face changed. A large, thick hand suddenly gripped his ankle!
"How is this possible!!"
The azure flame in his hand instantly disappeared. Feeling his ability being sealed, Reiner’s pupils constricted in shock, and he whipped his head down to look!
The life force that had already completely vanished was now rekindling like a candle in the darkness. Teach’s lips curled into a sinister smile, a cunning glint in his eyes.
"Reiner!!"
Luffy and Sanji cried out in alarm. The sudden change of events made their faces instantly change.
"What’s going on!"
"Why is this guy still alive!!"
Sanji stared at Teach with disbelief.
His Observation Haki had clearly sensed the other’s presence fading just now. This could not be wrong. But what was happening now?!
Resurrection?
Could it be like Brook’s Yomi Yomi no Mi, which can bring people back from the dead?
How many abilities does this guy have!
"Zehahaha! I’ve finally caught you, Black Snake Reiner!"
Teach sneered, maintaining his lying position on the ground. His left hand released the power of darkness, gripping Reiner’s ankle tightly. The steel claws on his right hand fiercely stabbed at Reiner!
Faced with the whistling, stabbing attack, Reiner hurriedly raised his arms and crossed them in front of him. Armament Haki coiled around his wrists to block the sharp claws.
Ding!!
The fierce collision sent a shower of sparks. The powerful force made both of their eyes show a hint of surprise.
At the same time.
The moment Teach erupted, Luffy and Sanji immediately made their move and charged up.
"Gear Fourth!!"
Luffy bit his arm and blew hard. His body swelled up, and Haki patterns quickly spread over its surface. His four limbs were like dark red serpents.
"Diable Jambe!!"
Sanji pushed off the ground with both feet, and like a spiral arrow, he spun and flew out, his right foot摩擦 out scorching flames in the air.
Faced with the charging duo, Teach paid them no mind. Instead, he withdrew his steel claws, and black mist seeped from between his fingers. His right palm, which had turned pitch-black, clenched into a fist.
For him, Reiner, who possessed all sorts of methods to break his abilities, was the most troublesome enemy.
Taking advantage of the current situation where his ability was sealed, as long as he could deal with him first, the remaining Luffy and Sanji were nothing to fear in the face of the Dark-Dark Fruit.
"Darkness Gravity: Crush!!"
Teach’s expression was ferocious and ruthless. His fist, wreathed in dark mist and like a black hole, swiftly smashed towards Reiner’s head!
Faced with this punch, which contained a terrifying gravitational pull, Reiner quickly raised his left elbow to block.
He did not choose to use all his strength to block, but instead concentrated all his strength and Haki into his other arm, and drew back his right fist.
Bang!!
The elbow and the black fist collided, and a circle of wind pressure was blasted out. The thick fist was like a hydraulic press pressing down, and the gravity almost crushed Reiner’s arm.
Crack—Crack!
In less than half a second of contact, Reiner’s arm began to twist, emitting a crisp sound of bone breaking!
And just at this moment.
A scarlet light flashed in Reiner’s two pupils. The bulging muscles on his body had veins popping. His charged-up right fist faintly sparked with black lightning.
"Bursting Annihilation Fist: Martial King Pierce!!"
Bang!!
With an explosive roar from Reiner, his fist shot out at Teach, and almost his entire forearm viciously pierced his chest!
"Puwaah—!"
Teach’s eyes looked as if they would split. He opened his mouth and spat out blood. His bloodshot eyes were filled with pain, and also a hint of disbelief.
It seemed he had not expected that after losing his Devil Fruit ability, the other could still erupt with such terrifying strength in an instant.
His five viscera and six bowels felt as if they had been churned into a mess. A sense of nausea and dizziness stung his temples. Under the intense pain, which was several times that of an ordinary person’s, Teach’s palm finally released Reiner.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
"Vibrato—"
And it was at this moment that a pair of explosive fists and feet suddenly arrived!
"Gatling Gun!!"
Bang!!
The fist, wreathed in black lightning, carried the force of a thousand armies, and along with the flaming foot, which contained the power of vibration, they smashed into Teach’s body together!
A scorching golden flame burned on Teach’s rough skin. It spread outwards from his foot, and the shockwave from the tremor then bombarded his entire body.
The Haki that had shot out from the dark red snake fist had even more so冲击 into his body, furiously ravaging his four limbs and hundred bones.
The powerful combination attack of Luffy and Sanji had made Teach’s eyes roll back. His tall body was directly bent like a shrimp, and then he was sent flying by this terrifying residual force!
Swish—
Boom!!
A black meteor streaked across the sky. Teach tumbled countless times in the air before crashing heavily into a mountain, causing a violent tremor. Dust and smoke kicked up.
Luffy landed on the ground and hurriedly turned back.
"Are you alright, Reiner!"
"Ah. It’s a small problem."
Whoosh!
A wisp of azure flame ignited out of thin air. Reiner nodded in response, and his body transformed back into his skeleton form. The twisted left hand slowly healed in the azure flame.
As long as he could break free from the ability’s seal, no matter what kind of injury, he could recover. This was the great strength of the phoenix.
"I almost thought you were going to die. Honestly, you scared me."
Sanji let out a sigh of relief and said with a relieved expression.
If Teach had used the ability of the Corrode-Corrode Fruit, this one blow would have been much more dangerous. But...
...why didn’t the other use the ability of the Corrode-Corrode Fruit?
Sanji looked at Teach in thought.
In terms of power, the Corrode-Corrode Fruit, which represented pure destructive power, was clearly stronger than the Dark-Dark Fruit.
In the previous battles, Teach had also habitually used corrosive energy to attack. The power of darkness was more for defense, attracting enemies, and healing injuries to assist in battle.
With such a good opportunity to grab Reiner just now, the other had no reason to give up a more powerful move.
"You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you?"
As if seeing through Sanji’s confusion, Reiner suddenly spoke, his gaze fixed on the figure wreathed in black mist, who was struggling to break free from the mountain.
Teach’s face was ferocious, his two scarlet eyes staring deadly at Reiner. The gaze was as if it would eat him alive, full of overwhelming hatred.
Reiner did not charge up. The other’s teleportation ability meant that this kind of long-distance pursuit was just a waste of his energy. Instead, he turned his head and asked tentatively:
"Is it possible that he has already lost the ability of the Corrode-Corrode Fruit?"
"...Ah. I was guessing the same thing."
Sanji’s gaze was grave as he replied casually.
A person can only eat one Devil Fruit. If one were to forcefully eat a second one, their body would explode. This was common knowledge for almost all ability users.
However, Teach’s body could coexist with three different fruits. This could not be explained by common sense at all.
Either the rule that a person can only eat one Devil Fruit is false, and anyone can eat multiple fruits, but no one has gambled with their life.
But this could not be verified. After all, no one had personally seen the scene of someone’s body exploding after eating two fruits.
Sanji still thought this possibility was not high. Then there was only one other possibility.
Teach was not ’one’ person at all!
Reiner and Sanji thought of this at the same time.
In comparison, Reiner also knew more clues. But after personally seeing Teach come back from the dead, those guesses were no longer important.
One life, one ability... that’s how it should be understood. If you kill him a few more times, he’ll die eventually!
"You should get out of here first, Sanji. I’m going to use a large-area covering move."
Reiner said faintly. Dense lightning began to flicker on the surface of his body. One after another, arcs of lightning containing terrifying energy, like swimming snakes, shuttled through the gaps in his skeleton.
To capture Teach, who possessed a teleportation ability, fast and powerful lightning that could cover a large area was undoubtedly the most suitable ability.
And it just so happened that Luffy was immune to lightning damage. Reiner could carry out an indiscriminate attack at will.
"I understand. You guys be careful."
Sanji understood Reiner’s idea at a glance. He gave him a heavy look and then retreated.
And the lightning on Reiner’s body also became more and more violent, gradually spreading to the surroundings.
Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!
The earth spewed out countless blue rays of lightning that shot up into the sky. Each pillar of light was connected to a dense web of electric arcs, containing the ultimate destructive aura.
Teach, standing on the mountain cliff, looked down and, feeling the heart-pounding,虐雷霆, he probably also guessed Reiner’s idea.
Should I activate that move...
He had a move that could seal the opponent’s ability without contact, but he himself would also be affected.
The punch just now had already proven that Reiner could still erupt with powerful combat strength even when his ability was sealed. And with Straw Hat, he had no advantage in a pure melee.
But if he let the other use his ability, his situation would only become more passive. Reiner was basically invincible in his Necro-Lord state.
Teach’s fists cracked. He had thought through all the methods in his mind, but he couldn’t find a way to defeat Reiner in his Necro-Lord form.
His heart struggled with the trade-offs. No matter what he did, it was not good for him. But...
...of two evils, choose the lesser.
Since it had come to this, if he didn’t kill Reiner, he had no chance of leaving this island alive, and he couldn’t be reconciled!
Thinking of the life he had lost, a fierce glint appeared in Teach’s eyes. He leaped directly from the high altitude!
"Black Sea—!!"
Boom!!
With an explosive roar, Teach’s two feet stomped heavily into the earth.
A dense web of cracks spread out with the collapsing ground. The power of darkness was released from his feet, and like a black tide, it quickly spread out, surging and washing over one street after another.
At the same time, the black mist behind him, like a tornado, rushed up into the sky and gathered into a ball.
"Darkness World: Dark Star!!"
Teach’s sinister laugh was like that of a madman. He spread his hands and roared, and all the power of darkness was released, condensing into a giant, pitch-black black hole in the sky!
"What is that thing?!"
Having just retreated to the edge of the scene, Sanji’s face showed shock.
He saw that the earth, for a thousand meters, had turned into a black sea. Teach stood in the center of that black sea with his legs spread, and a giant black hole hung high in the sky above his head.
The moment the dark star was formed, the surrounding lightning pillars instantly dimmed and dissipated.
All the things in the black tide began to sink at a slow speed. The bottom, where it touched the darkness, was gradually crushed by the powerful gravity.
Reiner and Luffy’s eyes widened in shock at the same time. They immediately jumped to a nearby building. They could clearly sense the ability in their bodies being sealed again.
The azure flame disappeared from the surface of his body. Reiner quickly exited his skeleton form and returned to his human form.
"Zehahaha! You can’t use your abilities anymore!"
"The Dark Star will indiscriminately suppress all ability users in the vicinity! As long as you are within the Darkness World, all abilities will be nullified!"
Teach’s face was ferocious as he grinned and stared at Reiner.
Although he himself also bore the risk of being unable to use his abilities, as long as he could kill Reiner first, he could then undo the Darkness World and deal with Straw Hat.
"In other words, from now on, it will be a pure brawl of physical strength and Haki, right?"
Reiner unbuttoned his collar, twisted his neck left and right, and unhurriedly rolled up his sleeves.
"I see. That suits me just fine."
A fiery glint flashed in the depths of Luffy’s eyes as he cracked his knuckles.
Seeing the two’s stance, Teach paused in his steps, and his heart suddenly felt a little inexplicably flustered.
Little did he know that without the enhancement of his fruit’s ability, in a pure melee of physical skills and Haki, Luffy’s strength was only stronger, not weaker, than Reiner’s.
This black fatty had really kicked an iron plate today. A corner of Reiner’s mouth lifted into a contemptuous smile.
Today, I’ll let him see the importance of a good workout.
(End of Chapter)
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