The Ant King's claws fused into a spear-like spike, thrusting straight for Teach's chest.
"Clang!"
Teach caught the blow with his left palm, Armament Haki hardening his hand.
Even so, the force still drove the spike against his guard, pressing closer and closer. Teach snarled and lashed out with his right claw, aiming for the Ant King's head.
But the creature had anticipated it. Two of its upper limbs slammed forward, smashing into Teach's chest with bone-shaking impact.
BOOM!
Both attacks landed at once; Teach's talons crashing against the King's metallic skull, the Ant King's claws hammering into his chest. Shockwaves tore through the pit.
Teach's body was hurled backward, smashing through tree after tree, carving a trail nearly a thousand meters long before finally skidding to a halt.
"Guh—!" He spat blood, his insides roiling. Only his Armament had prevented the attack from caving in his chest.
The Ant King was also blasted into the crater floor. The stone dented under its golden body, but when it rose, its head showed not a single mark. It had reinforced it with Armament Haki.
"Zehahaha!" Teach roared, staggering upright. "Such monstrous strength… this is what I live for!"
The King answered with a thunderous screech, its aura flaring.
Both charged again, the battlefield shifting into the forest.
Their silhouettes clashed through the canopy, golden flashes colliding with streaks of black. Teach's kick slammed the Ant King across a clearing, only for it to reappear before him in an instant, claws carving arcs of light.
Teach dug his heels into the dirt, gouging two furrows dozens of meters long. He launched back in, every limb a weapon, punches, kicks, and claw slashes chaining together.
He even smashed his forehead into the Ant King's own.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal rang with each headbutt until stars danced in Teach's vision.
The King capitalized, driving a brutal kick into his chest, sending him reeling. Then it unleashed a storm of dozens of strikes within meters, claws hammering from every angle.
Teach blocked with hands, feet, and Haki-coated arms, but he was overwhelmed. The creature had six bladed limbs, each moving with machine-like precision. Finally, its claws pierced his left shoulder. Blood sprayed.
"Rrghhh!"
Snarling, Teach seized its torso with both claws, pouring all his power into one brutal heave. The Ant King was ripped away, sent flying through the trees.
For a moment, Teach sagged, panting. Then he forced the venom from his wound with a pulse of Life Return, black ichor dripping onto the ground. His flesh knitted together, steam rising from his skin.
"Not bad," he growled, grin splitting his face. "But I'm not done yet!"
Shadow blurred as he vanished, reappearing in a crater of broken roots. The Ant King was already rushing him, its aura flaring with savage intent.
The clash resumed, faster and fiercer. Each exchange splintered stone, uprooted trees, and sent shockwaves tearing through the forest.
...
Elsewhere, on the island's edge, the Old Captain stood over the corpse of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. His longsword dripped blood. His chest heaved, his ragged clothes soaked in sweat and gore.
"At last… it's done," he wheezed.
The beast's body was riddled with sword wounds, its blood painting the soil crimson. Hours of circling, slashing, and evading had finally brought it down. Yet even as it bled, the monster had nearly killed him, its tail had caught him once, snapping ribs and sending fire lancing through his chest.
He spat blood, shaking his head. "I really am getting old… A few years ago, this wouldn't have cost me so much."
His surviving crew ran up, relief plain on their faces.
"Captain, are you alright?!"
"I'll live," he muttered, sheathing his blade.
His eyes darkened as he gazed into the forest. "But we leave, now. If beasts from the inner island are spilling into the outer edge, it means something stronger is fighting deeper within. And when kings clash, everything else flees."
The men nodded quickly. They had already seen too much death.
Back in the forest's heart, Teach and the Ant King had fought without pause for hours.
Neither gained decisive ground.
Teach's claws raked lines into the King's golden carapace, leaving scorch marks from black lightning and black flames. The King's claws, in turn, tore open Teach's flesh again and again, metallic venom searing into his body. But Teach endured, regenerating through sheer will, stamina, and Life Return.
Their battle dragged on. Five hours passed in a blur of violence.
Teach's hair was loose and wild, his coat shredded, one shoe lost somewhere in the forest. The Ant King's once-perfect armor bore dents and scratches, its antennae twitching erratically.
Both combatants were breathing hard, but neither yielded.
At last, Teach stepped back, black flames and lightning dancing across his claws.
"Devil's Claw… Hell's Walk!"
He vanished, reappearing midair with claws glowing black-red, coated in Haki so dense it bled sparks.
The Ant King's six limbs ignited with black-gold light as it answered with its own full power. They clashed, each strike detonating like thunder.
Teach's claws cut the air into five slashes. The King caught and deflected them, roaring as it threw them aside. And then Teach was already upon it again, claws raised for another round.
Far from the battlefield, on the merchant ship, frantic repairs had finally been completed. Fear drove the crew to move faster than they ever thought possible.
They could feel the island itself trembling with distant shockwaves.
Night fell. No one wanted to remain a second longer.
Mobius paced on deck, eyes fixed toward the forest. "Why isn't Boss Teach back yet? The ship's leaving…"
Suddenly, a shadow slipped in through the cabin window.
"Boss Teach!" Mobius gasped in relief.
Teach stood there, disheveled beyond recognition. His long hair was a tangled mane, his coat hung in tatters, his body smeared with dirt and blood.
Yet the grin on his face gleamed sharper than ever.
"Zehahaha!" Teach chuckled, wiping his face with a damp towel. "That… was an interesting fight."
"Boss, what was it? What did you fight to cause such chaos?"
Teach's laughter boomed. "An Ant King. A true monarch. We fought from dawn till night… ten hours straight. And still, neither of us won."
He could still feel it, the creature's unyielding spirit, its silent roar echoing in his chest. Even as he left, he knew it had wanted to continue.
Teach slung his ruined coat over one shoulder, turning toward the sea.
"Zehahaha… next time, Ant King. When we're both stronger, we'll finish it."
And in the depths of the forest, the golden figure stood silent, antennae twitching faintly, as though acknowledging the promise.