The fruit Blackbeard Teach desired most was still the Dark Dark Fruit he had dreamed of since childhood—even though he didn't sleep and didn't dream.

If he didn't obtain the Dark Dark Fruit, Teach would have to spend the rest of his life on Whitebeard's ship.

After the Forum Tabloid became popular, Blackbeard learned of some powerful fruits not recorded in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia as alternatives.

For example, the most mysterious fruit, the Face Face Fruit!

The ultimate Devil Fruit, the Grilled Skewer Fruit!

"There will never be another chance like this!"

Teach didn't ponder for too long.

Besides, he still had an Angel Fruit in his hand.

After eating the Angel Fruit, coupled with his physique, he could eat two more fruits!

Blood profit!

In the darkness, Teach was extremely excited, almost unable to hold back his laughter.

But just at this moment of ecstasy.

A golden light flashed rapidly in the distance, striking towards him from far to near.

This momentary golden light directly illuminated Blackbeard's face.

His eyes widened, his expression almost frozen, and alarm bells instantly rang in his mind.

It was Sengoku! Marine Headquarters Admiral Buddha Sengoku had discovered him!

Careless!

Bang!

Amidst the earth-shattering roar, Teach's body was grazed by the golden shockwave, and he flew backward dozens of meters like a kite with a broken string.

But just before landing, Teach managed to adjust his body posture, placing the bag in his hand on his belly, using his body as a cushion to protect the bag of fruits.

Pfft--

Teach stood up from the ground but couldn't help spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Several of his teeth were also knocked out by the blow just now, making him look somewhat miserable.

Teach didn't have time to focus on his injuries; he looked up with an ashen face.

Just in time to see the glittering giant Buddha standing in the distance, looking down at him.

"Angel Fruit... You're the culprit who stole the Angel Fruit? Sneaking around, what are your intentions?"

Sengoku narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice.

"Hahaha... Marine Headquarters Admiral, Buddha Sengoku..."

"Truly the Marine's highest combat power capable of killing Sig. You're even stronger than I expected..."

Teach spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with broken teeth, yet his face wore a strange smile.

Right now, escaping from Sengoku's grasp would be extremely difficult.

But... if he ate Sig's Grilled Skewer Fruit, his chances of survival would definitely be greater!

An image suddenly appeared in his mind.

Sig was dead.

But his words remained in Teach's heart.

Teach looked at Sengoku, his gaze slightly dazed.

Shanks, a rookie from the Roger Pirates of his era, had already become a Yonko, while he, Teach, was still an unknown nobody.

Hadn't he endured for so many years precisely for the ambition in his heart?

Now, this opportunity had arrived so quickly.

Thinking of this, Teach sneered, glanced sideways at Sengoku, and smiled arrogantly.

"You ask what my intentions are?"

"I, Teach, have acted my whole life, why should I explain to you?"

Sengoku's face darkened. Without replying, he clenched his fist and sent another golden shockwave striking.

This time, Teach was prepared. With a stomp of his foot, he shot sideways like a cannonball, narrowly dodging the attack.

While dodging, Teach laughed wildly.

He no longer needed to endure and pretend to be a son; he was about to embark on the path to becoming the Pirate King!

"The world's first multi-ability user was Sig."

"But the world's strongest multi-ability user will definitely be me, Teach!"

Facing a Marine Headquarters Admiral, he didn't have the spare strength to protect both fruits.

Blackbeard grinned, no longer holding back, and directly took a large bite of the Devil Fruit beside him.

Hmm... as expected, it tasted bad.

Time was extremely tight. Teach had no time to think further and swallowed the other Angel Fruit whole in a few large gulps.

But after eating, his expression turned a bit strange.

It seemed... not quite as expected? It didn't seem that delicious either?

It tasted like... apple?

However, Teach didn't have time to dwell on such minor details.

Admiral Sengoku seemed to have been enraged by him. During the brief moment he ate the fruits, Sengoku's golden giant fist was already right in front of him.

But this time, Teach wasn't as panicked as before.

He gave a ferocious grin, his aura soaring, stood his ground without dodging, and even raised his fist.

"It's useless, you can't stop me anymore."

"From today onwards, it's my era!"

Amidst loud laughter, Blackbeard looked at the golden shockwave almost engulfing him and raised his fist.

"The ultimate Devil Fruit, Grilled Skewer Fruit, let me see what kind of power it possesses!"

"Fire Fist!"

Teach roared, his momentum reaching its peak, his entire body's strength twisting into one, and he fiercely punched out.

But what made his eyelids twitch was... nothing changed on his fist. There were no expected flames, not even the slightest heat.

Boom!

He was hit head-on by the golden shockwave from Sengoku, sent flying backward like a meteorite hitting the ground, the terrifying impact instantly cracking the ground into a spiderweb pattern.

Teach struggled to stand up from the ground, then looked blankly at his hands.

"What's going on?"

"Where's the power of the Grilled Skewer Fruit?"

A ominous premonition suddenly arose in Teach's heart.

He glanced at the pursuing Sengoku, his soul almost leaving his body.

"Sengoku, die!"

Teach roared, his face resolute, then decisively turned around the next moment and fled into the night at top speed.

This abrupt change even made Sengoku stand there stunned for a moment.

"Chase!"

Sengoku ordered.

"This person ate the Angel Fruit. Whether it's real or fake, we absolutely cannot let him get away!"

Saying this, Sengoku led the Marines behind him, continuing the pursuit in Teach's direction.

........

Long after the Marines and Teach had left.

At the edge of this battlefield that had quieted down again, a man bearing some resemblance to Sig struggled out of a mud pit.

He looked fearfully at the deep pit nearby, dozens of meters wide, created by Sengoku's single blow...

"I really can't keep pretending to be a powerhouse anymore, it's too dangerous..."

The fake Sig's face was pale, almost unable to catch his breath.

He was the user of the Phantom Phantom Fruit. Impersonating powerhouses wasn't something he'd done for just a day or two; he had a few small tricks to save his life.

For example, creating an illusion of Sig beforehand to attract the Marines' attention, while his real body hid in the dark....

"I really have to thank that guy who snatched the fruit for attracting the Marine Admiral's attention... Otherwise, no matter how I hid, I would eventually be found by the Marines.."

Thinking of facing Marine Headquarters Admiral Sengoku directly just now, the fake Sig felt a chill in his heart.