"Go!"
Teach flew back to the Queen Anne's Revenge and landed on the deck, his body swaying as though he might collapse at any moment.
Although he appeared fine on the surface, his injuries were actually extremely serious and would require considerable time to recover.
As the battle had progressed, Teach's injuries had worsened with every clash against Whitebeard. The damage inflicted by the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was not something that could be judged from the wounds visible on the outside.
"Captain, the food is ready," Mostima said with a nod.
The aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air. He had anticipated this situation and ordered the crew to prepare a feast as soon as he realized the battle was nearing its end.
Teach's stamina was already at its limit, and he desperately needed an enormous amount of energy to recover. With sufficient energy, his powerful physique could heal his injuries rapidly.
"Mm."
Teach's depleted body craved energy. He walked over to the large table covered with delicacies and immediately began devouring everything in sight.
Teach ate like a glutton, rapidly clearing the food from the table, yet his stomach showed almost no change. Once the food entered his stomach, it was quickly digested and converted into energy, which was then distributed throughout his body to replenish his depleted reserves.
A physique with such powerful digestive capabilities could almost be considered essential for becoming a true powerhouse in the New World.
Every cell in Teach's body was desperately yearning for energy. His final move, Dark Sun, had pushed his reserves to the absolute limit.
Plate after plate of meat dishes was continuously brought over and devoured by Teach.
A similar scene was unfolding among the Whitebeard Pirates. Although Whitebeard was in considerably better condition than Teach, his consumption had still been enormous, and he had suffered substantial injuries as well.
They needed to recover their strength as quickly as possible so they would not give other forces an opportunity to take advantage of their weakened state.
Both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Nightfall Pirates had already begun withdrawing with their massive fleets, while the forces that had gathered to observe the battle also had no reason to linger.
Morgans was even more eager to leave. The moment the battle ended, he flew straight back toward his base, determined to present the world with a clearer and more exciting account of the battle in the shortest possible time.
After a short period of consuming large quantities of food, Teach's stamina had recovered to roughly seventy or eighty percent, and his external wounds were visibly healing. However, his internal injuries would require a considerably longer recovery period.
Only the gruesome scar across his chest remained.
"Hoo!"
Teach exhaled a hot breath, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and finally looked up. The members of the Nightfall Pirates were gathered around him.
Seated upon his throne, Teach tapped his index finger against the armrest before speaking.
"We retreat. Aside from the predetermined target, return the rest of the territory to them."
"Mm."
Mostima nodded. He understood why Teach had made this decision.
Although the war had ended, the Whitebeard Pirates would certainly not let the matter pass so easily. After all, they had lost such a vast amount of territory. How could they possibly do nothing?
Returning the territory was also a way of giving the Whitebeard Pirates sufficient face.
More importantly, Whitebeard was simply too strong.
He was terrifyingly strong.
The awakened Whitebeard was not someone Teach could defeat in a direct confrontation.
That double-layered, agonizing pain had nearly caused Teach to lose consciousness. It was difficult to imagine how he had managed to endure it.
Such an extreme amplification of attack power was something even Teach could not compare with, despite having awakened his own Devil Fruit.
Of course, Teach had only just awakened the Dark-Dark Fruit and had not yet fully mastered the abilities brought about by its awakening.
As time passed, the gravitational pull of the Dark-Dark Fruit would increase further. Even if it could not completely suppress the vibration power of Whitebeard's awakened Tremor-Tremor Fruit, it should eventually be capable of absorbing a considerable portion of its force.
Furthermore, the objective of the Nightfall Pirates had already been achieved. Rather than continuing to entangle themselves with the Whitebeard Pirates, it was better to return most of the territory to them.
Unfortunately, the buffer zone Teach had originally anticipated could not be established. After demonstrating such terrifying strength, Whitebeard's deterrent power had increased even further.
However, now that the Whitebeard Pirates had recognized the immense strength of the Nightfall Pirates, they would not casually clash with them as long as the Nightfall Pirates did not initiate an attack.
Naturally, the Nightfall Pirates would not simply abandon their interest in the ceded territory. They would leave hidden agents behind to gradually develop their influence.
The Whitebeard Pirates could not effectively manage such a vast territory forever, especially in the peripheral regions where their control was already relatively weak.
Whitebeard would eventually grow old, and without him, even if the Whitebeard Pirates found a successor, they would likely have to relinquish at least half of their enormous territory.
Teach naturally had no intention of letting such enormous benefits slip away. The Nightfall Pirates also needed to prepare for that future in advance.
They would slowly infiltrate these territories while maintaining a low profile. Besides, some of those islands had already been occupied by the Nightfall Pirates for quite some time.
Teach's gains from this battle were also considerable.
More importantly, every member of the Nightfall Pirates was genuinely excited.
Because Teach had officially become an Emperor.
The fifth Sea Emperor of this ocean.
There was no doubt about it. The strength Teach had displayed during this battle had fully proven that he possessed the qualifications to become an Emperor.
Combined with the formidable power of the Nightfall Pirates, their prestige instantly surpassed that of the Big Mom Pirates and the Beast Pirates, and even approached the Whitebeard Pirates.
If Whitebeard had not displayed such terrifying strength, the difference would have been even more obvious.
Although this battle had ended, the storm it created was only beginning. It swept across the entire world like a terrifying tempest.
The battle between the two had lasted only five days, yet the shock it generated and the power they displayed completely surpassed the battle between Kaido and Oden.
Although most people had been unable to clearly see the details of the battle, the destruction they had witnessed was deeply imprinted in everyone's minds.
The darkness that devoured the world, the Star of Destruction, the Dark Sun, the torn fabric of space, and the ultimate collisions between two monsters were all unforgettable sights.
At the same time, countless people were eagerly awaiting the battle footage edited by the World Economic News Agency, hoping it would allow them to witness the battle in greater detail.
Everyone already knew the outcome of this great battle.
The Dark Emperor had lost, yet he had not truly lost.
Facing such a terrifying Whitebeard, even losing was something worthy of glory.
And through this battle, the Dark Emperor had completely solidified his position as an Emperor.
Reporters and media agencies around the world had already sprung into action, extensively reporting on this astonishing battle.
Their efficiency was astounding. The five-day battle had given them ample time to gather information, and not long after the fighting ended, newspapers covering the battle were already being produced, with the event undoubtedly occupying the front page.
They were printed and distributed across the world, while news coos rapidly transported copies to every corner of the ocean.
"Dark Emperor Battles Whitebeard, Crowned Emperor!"
"The Fifth Sea Emperor of the Great Sea! The Darkness That Devours the World!"
"The Power to Tear Space, Defending the Title of World's Strongest!"
...
This epic battle was destined to be recorded in history and spread throughout the ocean.
It was a contest between a Legend and a New Emperor.
The battle also had a significant impact on the other Sea Emperors.
Barbarossa Kingdom, Royal City...
Kaido was no longer in the mood to drink.
Not to mention the Dark Emperor, who had risen like a shooting star and completely caught up to the old generation. At only twenty-seven years old, the Dark Emperor had already reached the level of a world-class powerhouse in every aspect, while still possessing enormous room for further growth.
Then there was Whitebeard.
The strength Whitebeard had displayed had also proven that Kaido's so-called immortality was not invincible. Whitebeard completely possessed the power to kill him.
Kaido could no longer remain immersed in the satisfaction of his steadily increasing strength. He now felt a genuine sense of urgency.
Not only did his pirate crew need to grow stronger, but he himself needed to continue increasing his strength.
Kaido was a Sea Emperor, and he was arrogant by nature. Not only had he been surpassed by a newcomer, but there was also such a considerable gap between himself and Whitebeard.
How could he tolerate that?
"Governor, should we give up our territory?" Cracker asked tentatively.
The battle between the Dark Emperor and Whitebeard had left him deeply shaken.
Kaido's expression was grave, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
"Hmph! Why should we give it up? This is merely a squabble between juniors. Whitebeard won't interfere."
Kaido snorted coldly before continuing, "However, a fight is necessary. I'll go bother him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kaido left the palace, transformed into his blue dragon form, and flew into the sky toward Whitebeard's territory.
Kaido wanted to become stronger.
He wanted to become even stronger.
The sense of urgency in his heart had also made him crave battle and power.
Only by fighting opponents stronger than himself could he become stronger at a faster rate, and Whitebeard could provide precisely that kind of pressure.
Although Whitebeard possessed the power to kill him, that did not mean Whitebeard could actually kill him.
Whole Cake Island, Totto Land...
Big Mom crushed the armrest of her throne.
After witnessing the battle, she was completely distraught, and whatever joy she had felt after the tea party had vanished without a trace.
She had gained a powerful Homie, Earth Cashew, with the ability to control earth and gravity while possessing terrifying defensive power. It had greatly increased her strength.
Yet Whitebeard's power still filled her with an instinctive fear.
A terrifying aura emanated from her body, and her expression became frighteningly grim. Big Mom's children who were present, with the exception of Katakuri, all lowered their heads and dared not speak.
"Mama, Mama!"
Big Mom's face suddenly broke into a smile.
Compared with an enraged Mama, however, Big Mom's smile at this moment was even more terrifying.
Her children trembled and dared not look directly at her.
Big Mom's gaze then fell upon her second son.
"Katakuri, from now on, after dessert every day, you'll train with me."
After saying this, Big Mom stood up and left.
She had watched the battle for such a long time that even she was somewhat tired and needed a good sleep.
Big Mom's figure gradually disappeared from sight, leaving the children behind in stunned silence.
"Brother, what did Mama mean?" Cracker asked Katakuri in confusion, while the others looked at him with similar expressions.
Katakuri frowned in thought. His expression was noticeably different from his usual calm composure, and even his tone carried a trace of uncertainty.
"She... she probably wants to strengthen her power through training."
"Eh?!"
Cracker and the others stared at him in disbelief, their mouths hanging open and their eyes nearly popping out.
They could hardly believe what they had heard.
Since birth, they had never seen Mama train. It had always been that way.
However, since Katakuri had said it, there had to be a reason.
"She must have felt pressure from the Dark Emperor and Whitebeard and doesn't want to fall too far behind," Smoothie said after calming herself and thinking it over carefully.
Hearing this, the others finally reacted. When they recalled the terrifying strength displayed by both the Dark Emperor and Whitebeard, fear and unease filled their hearts.
Whether it was Whitebeard's overwhelming strength or the Dark Emperor's terrifying techniques, they found both extremely difficult to resist, and in some cases, practically impossible to fight against.
"This is good too."
Now that their opponents were so terrifying, the stronger Mama became, the safer they would feel.
"Let's do it together, then. I won't last long against Mama by myself," Katakuri said seriously.
The reason Mama had singled out Katakuri was because he was the only person in the entire Big Mom Pirates capable of fighting against her.
The others would be killed almost instantly. They knew how terrifying Mama was. Her indestructible body and monstrous physical strength alone were enough to place her among the world's top powerhouses.
Furthermore, Big Mom possessed powerful Homies and could even control the weather through them. She was truly a monster who had earned the title of Weather Queen.
"Ah, how can we do that?"
They instinctively wanted to refuse. They feared Mama from the bottom of their hearts and did not dare attack her.
"It's fine. More people will make it more effective. If your strength isn't enough, then forget it," Katakuri said.
They had already considered this point. Facing Mama's terrifying pressure would allow them to grow faster.
"Mama wants to become stronger, so we can't fall behind either."
Moreover, the Chaotic Seas had already signed an agreement, meaning there was no war. Big Mom's territory was located in the northern part of the New World, near its front.
A few islands to the east belonged to the Flying Pirates, and the Big Mom Pirates did not want to clash with them, so they had not expanded in that direction.
To the south, various factions were fighting for power, creating strong resistance against further expansion. As a result, the Big Mom Pirates could only expand westward, toward the front of the New World.
Now that the overall power structure had largely stabilized, the Big Mom Pirates had few opportunities to fight and grow stronger.
The most chaotic period of the New World had already passed.
When Katakuri said this, the others agreed. There were actually very few people capable of fighting alongside him.
The Sweet Commanders had not appeared yet. Among those who could currently be considered strong fighters were the eldest son, Perospero; the second son, Katakuri; the third son, Daifuku; the fourth son, Oven; the tenth son, Cracker; the eldest daughter, Compote; and the fourteenth daughter, Smoothie, who had only just begun to grow stronger.
There were seven of them in total.
Although the other members of the Big Mom Pirates also possessed considerable strength, in a battle of this caliber, they would merely be making up the numbers.
Even among these seven, apart from Katakuri as the main attacker, the other six could only provide support.
Despite maintaining a low profile, the eldest daughter, Compote, was one of the monsters of the Big Mom Pirates.
Snack, who would become one of the Sweet Commanders in the future, was still relatively young and had not yet grown strong enough.
Just as they had guessed, Big Mom herself was also feeling a sense of crisis.
She was the Empress of the Sea.
How could she allow herself to fall behind?
Therefore, after watching the great battle between the Dark Emperor and Whitebeard, the idea of training to become stronger arose in her heart for the first time.
This had never happened before.
She was a natural monster, a natural destroyer.
At the age of five, she had destroyed the village of Elbaf and been called an evil god by the Giants.
Even if she simply ate and drank every day, she would naturally grow stronger with age. As soon as she joined the Rocks Pirates, she became one of their executives.
She possessed terrifying talent and could easily master things such as Haki. After joining the Rocks Pirates, her strength increased rapidly through countless battles.
After the Rocks Pirates disbanded, Big Mom rarely fought, instead remaining in Totto Land. Even so, her strength continued to increase.
The fact that Roger had chosen to steal a rubbing of Big Mom's Road Poneglyph rather than confront her directly was itself proof of how terrifying her strength was.
When Big Mom, the natural destroyer, took things seriously and realized that she needed to become stronger, she would only become more terrifying.
Previously, Big Mom had faced too little pressure, but now she felt immense pressure, and that pressure naturally generated motivation.
....
"As expected of Newgate! That kid Teach isn't bad either."
In the empty palace, Golden Lion Shiki spread his arms and laughed excitedly.
"But soon, with a grand fireworks display, you and the entire world will realize whose era this truly is! Jiehahahaha!"
During this period, the Flying Pirates had remained relatively quiet, but they were secretly preparing for a major move that would shake the world.
"Is Vermeil doing well?" Shiki calmed down and asked Rhine, who stood beside him.
"Yes. We have tight security and have been protecting her very carefully. However, the number of spies from the World Government and the Marines in the Sky Kingdom has increased. Although we've caught some of them, many more are still hidden," Rhine replied with a frown.
"It should be because of the Pure Gold, and they might have also discovered Vermeil's existence. Our plan hasn't been exposed yet, but Vermeil is no longer safe."
Few people knew about the Flying Pirates' grand plan, but many members of the Flying Pirates knew about the major operation targeting Vermeil.
Naturally, other forces, especially the Marines and the World Government, which had been closely monitoring the Flying Pirates, would eventually discover something.
They had realized that the Flying Pirates were harboring a massive conspiracy, so they continuously dispatched spies to investigate them.
"Then transfer Vermeil. Anyway, the SIQ research should be successful soon. Once it is, we'll give them a big surprise."
Shiki was extremely satisfied with the progress of the SIQ research, having gathered a large number of scientists and researchers for the project.
However, they had discovered that famous scientists had frequently disappeared several years ago.
Someone had been collecting scientists long before them, including many renowned top-tier scientists.
If not for this, the Flying Pirates' SIQ research might already have been completed.
...
On Barrett's side, a surging fighting spirit erupted from his body, placing immense pressure on Hot and making his body temporarily unable to move.
Fortunately, Barrett quickly reined in his fighting spirit.
"I didn't expect those two guys to have reached this level."
Barrett spoke excitedly, his eyes flashing with intense fighting spirit as though he wanted to immediately challenge both Whitebeard and the Dark Emperor.
"Should we change our target? Both the Dark Emperor and Whitebeard are terrifying, and Whitebeard's power..." Hot asked.
Although he did not finish his sentence, Barrett understood exactly what he meant.
Even Barrett and Hot believed they were no match for Whitebeard's terrifying awakened power.
It was a rational judgment based on their instincts.
"The plan remains unchanged, but after this operation, I will also challenge Whitebeard. Roger isn't that easy to surpass! Isn't it better to have stronger enemies? Hahaha!"
What Barrett needed was a goal.
The stronger his opponent, the happier he became.
What he feared most was having no goal at all. That was why Roger had become his obsession. He had failed to surpass Roger before Roger's death.
Since he wasn't strong enough to challenge Whitebeard now, he would simply continue growing stronger.
He still had time.
"Then we'll act in half a month. By then, the sea should have calmed down somewhat. With so many explosives involved, even acquiring the raw materials through our channels will take some time," Hot said.
"Hmm, then we'll wait."
Barrett naturally hoped the plan would succeed, allowing him to better enjoy the battles that followed.
Marine Headquarters...
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, a serious meeting was underway concerning the battle.
Everyone's expressions were extremely grim.
The power displayed by both Whitebeard and the Dark Emperor had been terrifying to the extreme, almost suffocating them, especially Whitebeard.
Even Garp had none of his usual carefree demeanor.
"Both Whitebeard and the Dark Emperor pose immense threats, but given Whitebeard's personality, the Dark Emperor's threat is greater by comparison."
"He's too young, and his growth rate is far too fast. The Dark-Dark Fruit has already awakened. He's possessed the Dark-Dark Fruit for less than nine years, hasn't he?"
The three Logia Admirals were present.
Kuzan and Sakazuki wore grave expressions, while Borsalino also looked serious, although the strange glint in his eyes made it impossible to determine what he was thinking.
They knew how difficult it was to awaken a Logia Devil Fruit. It was far more difficult than awakening most other Devil Fruits.
They were still stuck at the bottleneck of awakening, without even a clue as to how to proceed.
Yet Teach had awakened the Dark-Dark Fruit in less than nine years.
"Moreover, the Nightfall Pirates have only existed for ten years, and they've already reached such a terrifying level. The Dark Emperor has become an Emperor at only twenty-seven years old, and his potential clearly hasn't reached its limit!"
This was what made Teach the most terrifying.
His threat had actually surpassed Whitebeard's.
Given Whitebeard's personality, he would not pose too great a threat to the Marines and the World Government unless something forced him to act.
The Dark Emperor, however, was different.
Like the Golden Lion, he was ambitious.
The overall strength of the Nightfall Pirates filled them with even greater fear. It was difficult to imagine that this was a pirate crew that had existed for only ten years.
Both Whitebeard and the Dark Emperor had become the Marines' main focus because of the terrifying power they had displayed.
Who could guarantee that Whitebeard would never do something irrational and terrifying?
Even the World Government could not afford to let its guard down.
"Additionally, although the Nightfall territory is not blockaded and remains relatively open, it has been built into an ironclad fortress by the Nightfall Pirates. A large number of our intelligence personnel have disappeared recently," Tsuru said.
Everyone understood what that "disappeared" meant.
"Throughout the entire Nightfall territory, a large number of mechanical beings have appeared, specifically mechanical dogs, mechanical birds, and mechanical eyes. We can't rule out the possibility of mechanical beings existing in the sea as well. They monitor everything across the entire Nightfall territory, and whenever something happens, the Nightfall Pirates can learn about it immediately."
"The technology used should be related to that mechanical arm."
Tsuru took out several photographs depicting the mechanical beings.
There were mechanical eyes positioned in corners, mechanical dogs with four red eyes patrolling everywhere without blind spots, and mechanical birds flying through the skies and providing an unobstructed view of the surrounding area.
There might even be unknown mechanical beings lurking beneath the sea.
"With these mechanical beings, the entire Nightfall territory is effectively under the control of the Nightfall Pirates. According to Vegapunk, these mechanical beings possess no intelligence of their own and are controlled by someone, just like the mechanical arm."
"Given the Nightfall Pirates' technological capabilities, we can't rule out the possibility that some of these mechanical beings possess powerful destructive capabilities. That further increases the overall threat posed by the Nightfall Pirates."
"Although we haven't obtained any intelligence confirming this yet, the key figure is the Nightfall Pirates' executive scientist, Otto. He needs to be monitored."
Tsuru's expression remained grim and serious.
"Finally, what I want to say is that the threat posed by the Nightfall Pirates is already approaching that of the Flying Pirates, and may even be on par with them. Their conduct is far beyond that of ordinary pirates, and their threat will continue to increase."
At present, the greatest threat to the World Government and the Marines remained the Flying Pirates.
They were not only an enormous force, but were also secretly preparing a terrifying conspiracy.
Even now, the Marines did not believe that the Nightfall Pirates had surpassed the Flying Pirates.
However, Tsuru had fully recognized the threat posed by the Nightfall Pirates, and the others had also begun to understand it.
The Nightfall Pirates possessed powerful technological capabilities, something no previous pirate crew could compare with.
Through technology, the Nightfall Pirates had created a vast surveillance network covering their entire territory, similar in some respects to the Big Mom Pirates' Homies.
By the time the Marines realized the extent of it, it was already too late.
"Increase surveillance. Additionally, the overall bounties of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Nightfall Pirates must be raised!"
Sengoku finally set the tone.
For the time being, they did not want to intervene directly in the affairs of the New World, but when it came to intelligence, they would not fall behind.
The greater the threat, the more attention they needed to pay.
Soon, the new bounties of Whitebeard and the Dark Emperor were confirmed, and the figures were astonishing.
Whitebeard's bounty had not increased for many years, but the power he had displayed during this battle elevated his threat to an entirely new level, meaning his bounty also had to increase.
Edward Newgate, "Whitebeard", 5,387,000,000 Beri.
His bounty increased by a full 341,000,000 Beri, bringing him extremely close to Pirate King Roger's 5,500,000,000 Beri.
Marshall D. Teach, "Dark Emperor", 4,032,000,000 Beri.
He had officially entered the terrifying four-billion-Beri range.
Although he had not surpassed Big Mom and Kaido, he had nevertheless crossed the four-billion mark.
It was worth mentioning that Teach's previous bounty had been 3.2 billion Beri, which had already risen following the Golden Sea Battle.
His achievements had been astonishing. He had even come close to killing Fleet Admiral Kong, nearly taking the legendary Marine's life.
An increase of 800 million Beri in a single jump was enough to demonstrate just how enormous the threat posed by Teach had become in the eyes of the Marines and the World Government.
And their new bounties soon spread throughout the world.