Fire Fist vs. Blackbeard

The chapter opens with the world reacting to the Straw Hats' attack on Enies Lobby. At the Baratie in East Blue, Zeff reads the news and understands the scale: "JUDICIAL ISLAND, ENIES LOBBY... THE GATEWAY TO THE ENORMOUS WORLD GOVERNMENT..." He says, "BECAUSE THEY TOOK IT DOWN, I'M SURE THAT EVERY MARINE AND PIRATE OUT THERE CAN'T JUST LEAVE THEM UNNOTICED. WE CAN SAY THE STRAWHATS ARE NOW KNOWN TO THE ENTIRE WORLD," and points to Sanji's wanted poster: "AS IS THIS WANTED POSTER." Inside the restaurant, the cooks roar with laughter at Sanji's crude drawing. They shout, "SANJI IS THE BEST!!" and "GYAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Someone calls, "HIEEEKK!! DAHAHAHAHA!" while another says, "EEEH, WE ARE GIVING OUT WANTED POSTERS OF OUR FORMER ASSISTANT CHEF." The Baratie proudly advertises the poster to customers: "TO WHOMEVER VISITS THE RESTAURANT NOW!!" and "BE SURE TO COME BACK TO THE MARITIME RESTAURANT BARATIE, KNOWN TO HAVE HOUSED BLACK LEG SANJI WITH A 77 MILLION BERI BOUNTY ON HIS HEAD!!"

In Fuusha Village, Luffy's hometown in the East Blue, the whole village celebrates. The town cheers, "FEAST!!" "WE'RE HAVING A FEAST TODAY!!" "IN HONOR OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PIRATE FROM THE EAST!! A HEAD WORTH 300 MILLION." They raise cups and shout, "CHEERS TO OUR LUFFY!!" Makino looks at the poster and smiles: "HE SEEMS TO BE HAVING FUN. HE HAS SUCH A CUTE PET, TOO..." Someone asks, "SO THESE PEOPLE ARE LUFFY'S FRIENDS," and another wonders, "DO PIRATES LOOK LIKE PEOPLE YOU'D CALL 'FRIENDS'!?" Makino answers simply, "TRUE." The village mayor is furious instead. He shouts, "SHUSH, GUYS!! YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED!!" while the villagers yell, "GYAAAH, VILLAGE MAYOR!!" The mayor complains, "I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A PIRATE PICKING A FIGHT WITH THE WORLD GOVERNMENT!!" and fears for the family line: "ALL THREE GENERATIONS OF THAT FAMILY ARE CRAZY... I WONDER IF DADAN KNOWS ABOUT IT..." He asks, "WHAT IS GARP DOING? HOW COULD HE LEAVE HIS GRANDSON ALONE AND ALLOW HIM TO CAUSE SO MUCH TROUBLE!?"

In Syrup Village, Usopp's hometown, Kaya reads the news and recognizes the truth immediately: "'KING OF SHARP-SHOOTERS'...!! IT'S REAL!!" She says, "NO DOUBT, IT'S USOPP-SAN!!" Usopp's old friends stare at Sogeking's wanted poster and argue that the nose proves it: "THIS NOSE HAS GOTTA BE THE CAPTAIN'S!!" "RIGHT--!!?" They insist, "NO ONE IN THE VILLAGE BELIEVED US!!" and "THEY DON'T KNOW HOW AMAZING THE CAPTAIN IS!!" because "THE CAPTAIN IS A MAN WHO CAN CHANGE LIES INTO THE TRUTH!!" Kaya says she wants to become "A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL AS SOON AS I CAN... SO THAT I CAN HEAL USOPP-SAN WHEN HE COMES BACK, REGARDLESS OF WHAT INJURIES HE HAS!!" The boys play pirates in the village, shouting, "THE MASK LOOKS SO COOL," while Kaya leaves to study: "I'M GOING BACK TO CONTINUE STUDYING TO BE A DOCTOR!"

In Shimotsuki Village, Zoro's old dojo learns that the pirate hunter once trained there. A child reports, "THAT PIRATE HUNTER ZORO WAS A STUDENT OF THIS DOJO!?" and the students swarm the teacher: "SENSEI, SENSEI!! IS IT TRUE?" Koushirou answers calmly, "... YES. IT'S TRUE." The children are thrilled: "EEEH!? WHY NOT!!? HE'S SUPER COOL!!" and "TEACH US HOW TO BE PIRATES, TOO!!" Koushirou refuses: "BUT YOU SHOULDN'T ADMIRE HIM. I DON'T TEACH HOW TO BE A PIRATE." One child says, "FOR REAL? DON'T LIE TO US, SENSEI!!" and another admits, "WHOA, I WANT TO BE A SWORDSMAN LIKE HIM, TOO." Koushirou accepts only that part: "AS LONG AS YOU TREASURE YOUR SWORDSMANSHIP, THAT'S ENOUGH... WHOMEVER YOU BECOME..." In private, he smiles and thinks, "THE JUDICIAL ISLAND INCIDENT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE, BUT ZORO-KUN, I DON'T SEE ANY DOUBT IN YOU."

In Cocoyashi Village, Nami's hometown, Nojiko says, "NAMI-CHAN HAS BECOME SEXIER AGAIN. NOJIKO! EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND IS TALKING ABOUT THAT INCIDENT!!" Genzo fumes because villagers have brought posters to him again. He yells, "WHAT, YOU BROUGHT THEM OVER AGAIN?" and "I TOLD YOU I'D BUY THEM AT STORES!!" Nojiko laughs that the wanted poster only shows Nami as a criminal: "AHAHAHA... SILLY. IT JUST SHOWS THAT SHE'S A CRIMINAL." She gives Nami's old guardian a bag of fruit and says, "HERE; YOUR MIKANS." Genzo, still emotional, says, "MY, DON'T BE A STRANGER. TAKE THEM. NAMI AND I THINK OF YOU AS OUR FATHER, GEN-SAN." Nojiko teases, "WELL? WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?" and Genzo claims, "I'M TRYING TO CALL AND PROTEST TO THE MARINE HEADQUARTERS WITH A DENDEN-MUSHI," but it will not connect. He protests that such an obscene poster should not be shown to the world: "HOW CAN WE LET SUCH AN OBSCENE WANTED POSTER BE SHOWN TO THE ENTIRE WORLD!? SHE'LL GET MORE SUITORS THAN BOUNTY HUNTERS!! UNFORGIVABLE!!" Nojiko points out the truth: "BUT YOU REALLY LIKE THE PICTURE YOURSELF, DON'T YOU? YOU ENLARGED IT SO MUCH..."

At the grave overlooking Cocoyashi, Nojiko remembers Genzo's old promise to Bell-mere: "IF YOU EVER TAKE NAMI'S SMILE AWAY FROM HER, I'LL COME AND KILL YOU!!!" She smiles and says, "FUFU... BUT IT'S OKAY, ISN'T IT? IT MEANS THEY ARE KEEPING THE 'PROMISE' WITH YOU, GEN-SAN." Genzo agrees through his stubbornness: "...!! YEAH, THEY ARE!! BUT THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THOSE PIRATES!!" Nojiko jokes, "... THEN WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A STERN-LOOKING PICTURE?" and Genzo answers, "NO, THAT'S UNFORGIVABLE!!!" The scene shifts to the snowy Sakura Kingdom, Chopper's hometown, where Dr. Kureha streaks down from the castle on a Lapahn. Villagers cry, "HIIEEKK HEE HEE HEE HEE HEE!!" "GYAAAH, DR. KUREHA IS COMING DOWN FROM THE CASTLE!!!" "SHE'S RIDING LAPAHN!!" and "WATCH OUT, STAY AWAY!!"

Dalton asks Dr. Kureha what she called him for: "DALTON! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU CALL ME FOR? I'M BUSY!!" Dalton apologizes, "HELLO, SORRY, DR. KUREHA. I REALLY WANTED YOU TO SEE THIS!!" while someone scolds, "DR. KUREHA!! DON'T TALK TO THE KING LIKE THAT." Kureha immediately mocks the title: "WHAT? YOU WANNA HEAR THE SECRET OF YOUTH?" Dalton tells her, "FIRST OF ALL, DALTON, WHY DON'T YOU LIVE IN THE CASTLE LIKE KINGS DO? I'LL RENT YOU A ROOM." Dalton answers, "NO... I PREFER THIS VILLAGE. I'VE GOTTEN USED TO IT." Kureha notices the poster and says, "CHOPPER..." while Dalton explains, "THEY PUT OUT WANTED POSTERS AFTER THE INCIDENT FROM THE OTHER DAY..." He adds, "... MY, MY, MY. WOULD YOU LOOK AT THESE STRAWHAT KIDS..." and admits, "I PRESUME HIS BOUNTY AMOUNT IS SOME MISTAKE, BUT..." Kureha does not care about the number. She lifts her glasses and says, "HEE HEE HEE HEE. I DON'T CARE AS LONG AS I CAN SEE HIS FACE." Her conclusion is warm and proud: "... I SEE. ... IT'S THE BEST POSSIBLE NEWS I CAN HEAR ABOUT HIM..."

On the island of White Soil, Vertigo, the Revolutionary Army learns of another uprising. The report says, "THE REBELLION AT CENTAUREA OF SOUTH BLUE ENDED IN TRIUMPH. ... ANOTHER KINGDOM TAKEN DOWN..." Inside, people discuss the news from Enies Lobby. One asks, "WHO IS THIS?" and another answers, "STRAWHAT LUFFY. HE'S THE ONE WHO TOOK DOWN CROCODILE IN ARABASTA." They say, "THIS IS GREAT!! WITH NORTH BLUE FROM THE OTHER DAY..." but Dragon cuts through the celebration: "DON'T ENJOY THIS VICTORY!! THIS IS A WAR." Someone apologizes, "AH... S-SORRY." A revolutionary notes, "HIS PIRATE CREW HAS GROWN SO BIG THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T HIDE IT ANY LONGER. TOTAL BOUNTY OF THE CREW IS 667 MILLION BERI... AND SO. I'VE HEARD THEIR CAPTAIN AND GARP FROM THE MARINES ARE..." Dragon listens in silence, then turns away: "GONNA GET SOME FRESH AIR..."

Outside, Dragon thinks of Luffy and speaks as if sending him a message across the world: "LUFFY... LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT, OCCASIONALLY, THE TIMES... USE EVERY POSSIBLE CHANCE AND DETERMINATION." His face is finally named: "The Worst Criminal in the World," Revolutionary Dragon, Monkey D. Dragon. He says, "TO QUESTION THE WORLD!! THE DAY WE SHALL MEET AGAIN WILL EVENTUALLY COME..."

The story moves back three days to Banaro Island on the Grand Line, where "an event of great importance was about to unfold." In the ruins of the town, Blackbeard sees Ace and calls out, "OOH... ACE... COMMANDER ACE...!!!" Ace replies coldly, "DON'T... DON'T CALL ME 'COMMANDER' ANYMORE... ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN RESPECT OTHERS USE THAT WORD... YOU'RE MOCKING ME...!!" Blackbeard recognizes him: "... OH, YOU'RE... FIRE FIST ACE." Ace answers, "YES, I AM. HELLO THERE." He identifies his target fully: "YOU... HAVE BECOME A FINE CAPTAIN ON YOUR OWN, HUH...? BLACKBEARD PIRATES, CAPTAIN MARSHALL D. TEACH?"

Teach greets him with a laugh: "ZEHAHAHA... WHAT'S GOING ON, ACE? LONG TIME NO SEE!!" Ace asks, "WHAT'S UP!? HOW DID YOU KNOW I WAS HERE!?" and sits calmly in the middle of the destroyed street. He says, "TEACH, LET'S STOP BEATING AROUND THE BUSH. YOU'VE LIVED TWICE AS LONG AS I HAVE; THERE'S NO WAY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION." Teach answers, "... ALL RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND... THEN... LET ME ASK YOU ONE THING." He makes his offer: "ACE!! WHY DON'T YOU BECOME MY NAKAMA!? CONQUER THE WORLD WITH ME!!! I'VE ALREADY PLANNED HOW TO DO IT!!!" His ambition is naked: "WHITEBEARD'S ERA IS OVER!!! I WILL BE THE PIRATE KING!!! TO START WITH..."

Teach reveals the first step of his plan: "I'LL FINISH OFF STRAWHAT LUFFY IN WATER 7 JUST AHEAD OF HERE, AND DELIVER HIM TO THE WORLD GOVERNMENT MYSELF." Ace immediately reacts: "... LUFFY? WHAT!? HRMM!? YOU KNOW HIM?" Teach answers that Luffy is "YOUR NAKAMA." Ace's face hardens: "MY 'YOUNGER BROTHER'!!!" Teach grins at the discovery: "LOOKS LIKE I REALLY CAN'T LET YOU ROAM AROUND... HE'S YOUR NAKAMA." Ace refuses even before the fight begins: "AND OF COURSE, I WON'T BE." As the Blackbeard Pirates watch, one says, "... HEE HEE... WE'VE GOT SOMEONE WITH BAD MANNERS HERE."

Ace strikes first. He fires his "HIGAN"!!, a fire-gun attack that punches through the street with burning shots and explosions: "BOBOBOBO!!!" The Blackbeard Pirates scatter with startled cries: "!!!" "POH!!" "JAKIN!" Teach laughs wildly, "WEE-EEEE!!" as flames and bullets tear across the ruined town. Ace stands below as smoke curls around him, ready for the fight to escalate.

Ace gathers a ring of fire and calls "ENKAI," his flame commandment. The blaze rises into a towering pillar as he unleashes "HIBASHIRA"!!! The street erupts. Teach's crew panics: "SHIT!!" "AUGER!! BURGESS!! DON'T BUTT IN!!" "YOU WOULDN'T STAND A CHANCE AGAINST HIM!!" "STAY BACK!!!" Ace names the follow-up, "HIKEN," while one of Teach's men is blasted aside and cries, "DWA-AAH!!!" Burgess can only answer, "... SORRY."

Ace's fire blast tears through Banaro Island, throwing wreckage and bodies through the air. Teach's men scream, "OWA-AAH!!!" and "GYAA-AAH!" as the heat rolls over them. From the smoke, someone yells, "CAPTAIN!!! CAPTAIN!!!" Teach rises from the flames, battered but still laughing: "GWAH, HOT, HOT, HOT!! HOT!!!" He tells his crew, "SH-SHUT UP GUYS, AND STAY BACK!!!" Even injured, he keeps laughing through the pain.

Ace asks directly, "YOU WANT TO KILL ME, RIGHT?" Teach admits it without flinching: "YEAH, I KNOW, ACE. ... YOU'RE RIGHT... KILLING YOUR OWN NAKAMA IS A BIG CRIME." Ace names the murdered man: "COMMANDER SACCHI...!!" Teach says, "I ADMIT; I KILLED FOURTH DIVISION. I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE..." He explains why: "HE HAD OBTAINED THE DEVIL FRUIT THAT I WANTED!! OUR SHIP'S RULE WAS THAT ANYONE WHO FOUND A FRUIT COULD EAT IT. I MEMORIZED ALL OF THE FRUIT SHAPES LISTED IN THE ILLUSTRATED REFERENCE BOOK. SO I KNEW IT WAS THE FRUIT I'D BEEN LOOKING FOR RIGHT AWAY." Teach says he waited for decades on Whitebeard's ship because he thought that crew gave him the best chance to obtain it; if he never found it, he had decided to give up. "BUT THEN MY NAKAMA FOUND THE FRUIT...!!!" Ace asks, "IS THAT WHY YOU KILLED SACCHI... AND TOOK THE FRUIT?" Teach answers that the ability chose him: "WELL, IT WAS JUST A TWIST OF FATE, THIS ABILITY CHOSE ME, ACE. ZEHAHAHA!!! NOW I'VE BECOME THE STRONGEST WITH THIS, ACE!!!" A horrified onlooker realizes, "LOOK... THIS IS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF LOGIA...!!!"

Blackbeard unleashes the power he stole. Darkness pours from his body like black smoke as he laughs, "ZEHAHAHA!!! I AM..." and names it: "DARK-NESS"!!! Ace watches, tense, as the black mass spreads around Teach. Someone cries, "ACE!! YOUR BODY... IS FIRE, RIGHT?" Ace, seeing the unnatural power in front of him, answers only with a grim "...!" The chapter ends on Teach's monstrous grin and the reveal that the darkness he controls is unlike ordinary Logia fire or smoke.

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