"Luffy?"
"Ace stared at Teach."
"Teach, you are planning to capture Luffy?"
His voice shook with fury.
Teach froze for a moment.
He clearly had not expected Ace to know the Straw Hat.
"You know that kid?"
Blackbeard's expression changed instantly.
"He is my little brother."
Flames exploded around Ace's arm.
"Fire Fist."
His arm transformed into a massive torrent of blazing heat, a burning fist of pure fire that slammed straight toward Blackbeard.
Teach snorted.
"Dark Water."
Darkness wrapped around his body as he raised one hand.
Ace's flames were swallowed whole, vanishing into the black void.
Teach turned to his crew.
"You cannot handle him. Get back to the ship. Leave this to me."
"Yes, Captain."
"Understood."
As his crew retreated, Teach refocused on Ace.
"Zehahahaha. Ace, I have changed my mind."
"Compared to Luffy, your bounty is far more valuable."
Ace immediately understood.
Teach planned to turn him over to the World Government.
He smiled coldly.
"Perfect, Teach."
Ace raised his hands like twin pistols.
"Fire Gun."
Dozens of blazing bullets tore through the air toward Blackbeard.
Teach laughed.
"Dark Water."
Once again, the flames vanished into the darkness.
Ace's expression tightened.
That power was unfairly broken.
But his rage would not be stopped.
He stomped forward, closing the distance in a flash.
Green flames ignited across his hands.
"Firefly Swarm."
Tiny fire orbs appeared all around Blackbeard.
"What?"
"Explode."
They detonated all at once.
Blackbeard was hurled backward, smashing straight through a building as smoke filled the battlefield.
Ace narrowed his eyes.
"Teach. Stop pretending you are dead."
Laughter echoed from the smoke.
"Zehahahaha. Impressive, Ace. A commander of Whitebeard's Second Division indeed."
"But try dodging this."
"Dark Abyss."
Teach slammed his hand into the ground.
Darkness spread like a living pit, swallowing everything it touched. Buildings, debris, even the earth itself began sinking, compressed and crushed inside the void.
Ace's eyes widened.
That power was twisted beyond logic.
"So this is what you have become."
Flames erupted around Ace's arms as he spun them, creating a towering pillar of fire that shot into the sky.
"Flame Ring, Fire Pillar."
The massive inferno crashed down toward Blackbeard.
Teach smirked.
"Release."
The darkness suddenly vanished.
A black vortex exploded from his body, launching all the absorbed debris straight into Ace's attack.
Fire and darkness collided violently, canceling each other out.
Ace landed on the ground, breathing hard.
Teach was sweating slightly but still standing.
"Zehahahaha. Ace, come quietly with me."
Ace sneered.
"Not in your dreams."
"Great Flame Ring."
He crossed his arms as spiraling fire erupted around him, burning everything in its path.
Then all the flames rushed back into his hands.
A massive sphere of fire formed.
"Die, Teach."
"Flame Emperor."
Ace hurled the blazing sun straight at Blackbeard.
Teach's grin vanished.
"Dark Water."
Darkness roared from his body, colliding with the fireball.
The impact shook the island.
Teach forced the darkness forward until the flames were swallowed whole.
Ace froze in disbelief.
Teach raised his hand.
"Dark Water."
Ace felt his body yanked forward by an unseen force.
In an instant, Blackbeard's hand locked around his throat.
Ace tried to summon his flames.
Nothing happened.
"My powers… they are gone?"
"Teach, what did you do to me?"
Teach grinned, breathing heavily.
"This is the power of the Dark Dark Fruit. Anyone I touch loses their Devil Fruit abilities."
Ace's eyes widened in shock.
Before he could react, Teach slammed a fist into his stomach.
Ace coughed blood.
"Stay down, Ace."
Teach struck him in the neck.
Ace collapsed, unconscious.
Blackbeard did not relax.
Van Augur and the others arrived with the ship.
Teach leaped aboard.
"Drug him. Drain his strength. Then chain him with Seastone cuffs."
"Yes, Captain."
Doc Q wasted no time.
Ace was poisoned, weakened, and shackled in Seastone.
Blackbeard finally allowed himself to smile.
"Zehahahaha. Five Elders, I wonder how much you will enjoy this gift."