Chapter 34: Marshall D. Teach’s Despair

The news exploded across the world like a massive bomb, sparking endless speculation and discussion.

People began wondering whether Whitebeard truly possessed three Devil Fruit powers.

If that were true, just how terrifying would his strength become?

Even more unsettling was the possibility that if Whitebeard really became a Three-Devil-Fruit User, he would stand as the absolute ruler of the seas, with no one capable of opposing him.

"My God, this is unbelievable! Whitebeard might actually have three Devil Fruit powers!"

"What the hell? That would break the world!"

"Damn... now I’m starting to feel sorry for the Marines."

"Wait a second! Isn’t the ice power Admiral Aokiji’s ability? Why does the Whitebeard Pirates crew have it too?"

"That’s nothing. Did you see how many phoenix users they have now?"

"Marco’s Phoenix Form?"

"Of course! The Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix is a Mythical Zoan! That’s even rarer than a Logia!"

"According to the list, the Whitebeard Pirates have at least five or six Phoenix users now!"

The speaker involuntarily Inhaled sharply .

The crowd listening nearby looked completely stunned.

One person spoke with a trembling voice.

"The seas are about to change..."

"I thought the Whitebeard Pirates were declining."

"Who would’ve imagined they were hiding something this terrifying?"

"Yeah."

"Everything’s about to be reshuffled."

On a secluded island near Jaya—

Marshall D. Teach stood alone on a barren shoreline.

A newspaper was clenched tightly in his hand.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Rage.

All of it filled his eyes.

Several headlines were printed across the front page.

Marco — User with Two Devil Fruit Powers!

Portgas D. Ace — User with Two Devil Fruit Powers!

Jozu — User with Two Devil Fruit Powers!

Each headline struck Teach like a hammer blow.

Since leaving the Whitebeard Pirates, everything seemed to have gone wrong.

He had believed that obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit (Yami Yami no Mi) would make him unstoppable.

Instead, he had fallen into an unprecedented predicament.

Not only was he now hunted by his former crewmates, but the Dark-Dark Fruit’s weaknesses had begun showing themselves more clearly.

Even the slightest wound inflicted unbearable pain upon him.

Everything felt as though it were working against him.

What truly pushed him toward despair, however, was Whitebeard’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit (Gura Gura no Mi).

Teach had coveted that power for years.

He believed that once he obtained it, he would become the true ruler of the seas.

But now—

As more and more Whitebeard Pirates acquired multiple Devil Fruit powers, that dream seemed increasingly impossible.

While Teach was confident in his physical strength, it meant little when facing opponents wielding two Devil Fruit powers simultaneously.

Standing upon the silent island, facing the endless sea, he felt lost.

And unwilling to accept reality.

He knew that if he wanted to survive and achieve his ambitions, he would need to find another path.

Yet he also knew that road would be filled with danger and uncertainty.

"Damn it!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

"How did things turn out like this?!"

His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

After a long silence, his expression darkened.

For a brief moment, despair appeared deep within his eyes.

"No wonder Jaya has been experiencing earthquakes every day."

"And all those strange flames and ice powers..."

His voice was filled with unwillingness.

"If I’m right, their second Devil Fruit power must be the Tremor-Tremor Fruit!"

"Damn it!"

"That power was supposed to be mine!!!"

Teach’s hysterical roar echoed across the island.

He tore the newspaper into pieces again and again.

The shredded paper scattered in the wind.

Each fragment seemed to carry his frustration and resentment.

After venting for some time, he gradually calmed down.

Then he sank back into thought.

"No."

"I can’t just sit here and wait to die."

"Absolutely not."

His eyes slowly regained a trace of determination.

"There must be something I don’t know."

Then—

A memory flashed through his mind.

A golden light.

"..."

"...That’s right!"

Teach’s eyes suddenly widened.

"The golden light!"

"It has to be that strange golden light!"

At that moment, it felt as though he had grabbed onto his last hope.

"If I can figure out what that golden light is..."

"And where it comes from..."

"Then I can obtain the Tremor-Tremor Fruit’s power too!"

A smile finally appeared on his face.

After gathering himself, Teach concealed his presence and disappeared deeper into the island.

Wano Country.

Onigashima.

The atmosphere throughout the island was lively and festive.

Kaido sat at the center of a massive banquet, drinking heavily.

His face was flushed from alcohol, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.

King the Wildfire and Queen sat nearby, repeatedly clinking cups with him.

The Flying Six were also present.

Around them, countless Beast Pirates danced, sang, and celebrated.

"Hahaha!"

Kaido’s booming laughter echoed throughout Onigashima.

"King!"

"The success rate of the artificial Devil Fruits this time wasn’t bad!"

"Our Beast Pirates’ strength has increased tremendously!"

He raised a gigantic sake bowl and drained it in one gulp.

For Kaido, few things brought more joy than growing stronger.

King’s expression became somewhat awkward.

Almost instinctively, he touched the newspaper hidden at his waist.

This was clearly not the right occasion to reveal the information he had just received.

In the end, he could only force a response.

"Y-Yes, Kaido-san."

However, Kaido immediately noticed something was off.

His instincts regarding people’s emotions were surprisingly sharp.

"King."

His voice remained calm.

"If you’ve got something to say, then say it."

"I know you well."

"Keeping secrets from me won’t do you any good."

The moment Queen heard that, his eyes lit up.

Anything that could embarrass King interested him immensely.

Immediately, he set down his microphone and leaned forward dramatically.

"Oh?"

"King, you’ve actually been hiding something from Kaido-san?"

His loud voice attracted everyone’s attention.

People throughout the banquet began looking over.

Seeing the growing audience, Queen became even more excited.

"Come look!"

"King’s keeping secrets from us!"

Whispers spread through the crowd.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Still unsatisfied, Queen pushed even harder.

"Come on, tell us!"

"What is it?"

"Or are you planning to betray Kaido?"

...

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