(A slight revision based on a friend's suggestion. Ace's cooperation period with the protagonist is set at four years. Serving as a subordinate for too long. Originally, I planned for Ace to fight for the protagonist three times, but due to the plot being too long, I intended to delete the plot for two of those fights. Even three fights wouldn't be enough to repay the favor, so I didn't consider limitations afterward. However, being a subordinate for too long isn't suitable, so it's now changed to working for him for four years.)
"How did the battle turn out?"
Amidst the clash of flames and black smoke, the fight between the Blackbeard Pirates and Hachi, Heckle, and the others slowly came to a halt as they retreated into the distance.
Having retreated to a safe zone, the eight did not immediately resume fighting.
Their strength was relatively equal, making it difficult to gain an overwhelming advantage.
Bασσας had sustained the most severe injuries: his right arm was crippled, his left hand was fractured, and his body was covered in wounds. However, through his desperate struggle, Heckle had reached his limit, finding it difficult to even lift his arms.
Both Hachi and Lafitte had been shot, but they maintained a certain level of combat effectiveness.
As for Van Augur and Mr. Christmas, they were unharmed but their nerves were taut, not daring to relax for a moment.
Regarding Cecilia and Doc Q, the latter held the upper hand. Cecilia was suppressed by his peculiar weapon and was temporarily at a disadvantage.
"Perhaps we should wait a moment."
Lafitte said with a smile, "If Ace wins, then we naturally won't be able to escape. But if Blackbeard wins, you will all surely die."
Hearing this, Hachi felt uneasy. He believed in Ace's strength, but judging by the outcome just now, the amount of black smoke at the end of the battle indicated that Blackbeard had gained some advantage.
Therefore, he hoped to continue fighting, strive for victory, and then go help Ace.
Mr. Christmas did not reply. Cecilia looked at Heckle, who moved his injured arm and said, "Then let's wait a moment."
They weren't worried about who would win between Blackbeard and Ace. Because the President was there, victory would inevitably be his.
The eight waited there, time ticking by, none daring to relax, their eyes fixed on each other with full alertness.
Just then, footsteps suddenly echoed from the darkness.
Thump, thump, thump.
The immense sound approached slowly.
"What is this?"
The members of the Blackbeard Pirates and Hachi looked surprised, but Heckle showed a look of joy.
"Something's wrong."
Lafitte sensed the expression on the other's face, his own expression changed, and he said, "A third party is present, let's leave first."
Following his words, they immediately prepared to depart.
But Hachi and the others had already grasped their movements.
As Lafitte took flight, Cecilia leaped high into the air and delivered a kick.
Having no choice, Lafitte had to slowly descend.
Van Augur intended to rescue Lafitte, but Hachi had already pounced. Doc Q planned to stop Hachi, and Mr. Christmas's bullets were already flying.
As for Heckle, he walked in front of Bασσας, blocking him.
While the eight were fighting, a colossal figure walked from the distance, slowly appearing before everyone.
"What kind of monster is that?"
Bασσας gritted his teeth, looking into the distance. The terrifying Giant Beast carried an oppressive aura, its speed increasing.
Boom.
The Giant Beast charged directly at Bασσας.
"Die for me."
Bασσας directly raised his left arm, bent his elbow, and punched towards the Giant Beast.
Bang.
The Giant Beast's ramming horn collided with Bασσας's elbow, emitting a loud noise.
Whoosh.
Bασσας's left arm exploded, and he was sent flying backward, falling into the distance.
The moment he landed, Heckle appeared behind him, his right arm bulging, and delivered a fierce blow to Bασσας's back.
Boom.
Bασσας felt as if he had been struck by a shield, spitting out a mouthful of blood and collapsing to the ground.
Xia Qiu, after knocking him away with a single blow, did not pursue. Instead, he swung his tail, striking at Lafitte, who was attempting to fly up.
"Not good."
Lafitte felt the force of the wind approaching and dared not meet it head-on. He flapped his wings and leaped diagonally upward.
But the moment he dodged, Cecilia appeared above him and delivered a powerful kick towards his head. A fierce wind surged, and the mere power emanating from it could shatter giant rocks from a distance.
Damn it.
Behind him, the Giant Beast's tail swept toward him, and above him, Cecilia's kick descended.
If he continued upward, her leg would strike him. Even if he managed to block it, he would still be hit by the tail.
In that case.
Lafitte sank down, dodging the kick, and simultaneously thrust his long sword towards the tail.
Clang.
The long sword struck the tail's bone plate, but it didn't stop the tail's advance one bit, still striking with immense force.
Bang.
Lafitte was directly hit, spitting blood, but at the moment of impact, his wings trembled, his feet stamped, and using that momentum, he flew far away.
Whoosh.
Lafitte flew straight, close to the ground, but Cecilia suddenly descended, stepped on Xia Qiu's tail, and then used Soru.
Whoosh.
Cecilia instantly caught up, kicked out, and smashed towards Lafitte's head.
"Bastard."
Lafitte was blocked again, raised his long sword, and slashed forward.
Cecilia's foot naturally wouldn't kick towards the blade, so she stopped immediately. Lafitte, feeling a strong wind behind him, quickly turned around.
A huge tail had silently arrived, lashing towards his back.
And from behind, Cecilia kicked again.
Just as Xia Qiu thought he would block her, his tail, without any obstruction, directly slammed into Lafitte's chest.
Puff.
Lafitte staggered back, and then was kicked by Cecilia. With a crack, his wings broke directly.
But at the same time, Cecilia's expression changed.
She saw a long sword inserted into her lower abdomen.
This sword was one Lafitte had thrust backward. He couldn't withstand the attacks of two people, and even if he survived temporarily, he would surely die.
Since that was the case, he might as well injure someone.
It was just a pity it didn't hit a vital spot.
Lafitte fell heavily to the ground, and Cecilia's abdomen bled profusely.
Seeing Lafitte fall, Xia Qiu shifted his combat focus.
Van Augur dodged Hachi, turned sideways, and slowly created distance.
But at this moment, a Giant Beast lunged at him.
"Perfect."
Van Augur saw the Giant Beast attacking and remained unhurried. As it approached, he suddenly leaped backward.
He dodged Xia Qiu's pounce, and Xia Qiu's massive body perfectly blocked Hachi.
Just as Van Augur was about to seize this opportunity to escape, two tentacles suddenly attacked.
"What is this?"
Van Augur dodged one tentacle, aimed his gun at it, and pulled the trigger.
Bang.
The bullet hit the tentacle, but the tentacle was unharmed and swept towards him.
Boom.
Van Augur was directly hit, flew backward, landed on the ground, and coughed up blood.
He was a gunman, not slow in movement, but his physical conditioning was slightly weaker.
And after he landed, Xia Qiu lunged with a bite.
Facing the enormous mouth, Van Augur raised his gun to fire, but before he could pull the trigger, a flash of a blade streaked past. Van Augur's body stiffened, several bloody gashes appeared, and with a look of unwillingness in his eyes, he fell backward.
And behind Van Augur, Hachi stood there.
"It's him."
Xia Qiu slowly withdrew his head, not expecting to encounter Hachi again, and that he had already grown to this extent.
Xia Qiu glanced at Hachi and intended to help Doc Q, but found that Heckle had already gone to assist. Cooperating with Mr. Christmas, Doc Q was already showing signs of defeat.
Another four people were in a tense situation.
Although the Reinforcement Energy of these four couldn't compare to the heat flow from Blackbeard in Xia Qiu's stomach, which was comparable to a Vice Admiral's, it was still a considerable improvement.
This time, the gains were significant.
Reinforcement Energy provided by the Blackbeard Pirates.
Ace becoming his subordinate.
This was the biggest gain today, but the gains weren't just this. If nothing unexpected happened, there was also a Dark-Dark Fruit.
Although fruits were prepared in the submarine, it was not impossible to transfer them to other fruits.
This fruit had to be obtained.
Xia Qiu had already found the most suitable recipient.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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