Chapter 233: If I Am Destined to Be Beneath Only One Person, It Can Only Be Lufia!
Ace opened his mouth, unable to come up with any more reasons.
He knew that as the one who had lost the battle, he had no right to stop Ralph.
He simply couldn't accept the fact of his defeat for a moment, and he was also regretting that his strength was too weak to uphold the honor of the Whitebeard Pirates and Old Man Whitebeard.
At this moment, no one could stop Ralph anymore.
In the distance, the pirates led by Bellamy had already retreated far away.
The earlier battle had shown them what real monsters looked like.
That Straw Hat Girl's clash with Blackbeard had flattened half of Mock Town!
Who would dare approach now?
Bellamy was drenched in cold sweat again and again. Remembering how he had tried to smash a bottle over that girl's head in the tavern, his legs trembled with fear.
Just then, one of his subordinates stumbled over, holding up two wanted posters:
"C-Captain! Just arrived! The latest bounties for the Straw Hat Girl and Nameless Ralph!"
Bellamy snatched them over, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
Straw Hat Girl Lufia: 120 million Berry!
Nameless Swordsman Ralph: 70 million Berry!
"One… two…"
Bellamy muttered repeatedly, his hands trembling.
His proud 55 million bounty was nothing compared to these two!
The surrounding pirates erupted in chaos:
"That girl's bounty is over a hundred million!"
"How long has she been at sea? What kind of monster is she?"
"Look, that girl has shrunk! Is it a side effect of that move earlier?"
"She's at her weakest now! If we go kill her now…"
"Are you insane? Didn't you see the 70 million guy is still there? And Fire Fist Ace too!"
Amid the chatter, Ralph had already walked up to Blackbeard.
Blackbeard sat on the ground, panting heavily, covered in blood, looking utterly exhausted.
Watching Ralph approach, he grinned with his missing teeth, revealing a bloody smile:
"Zehahaha… Nameless Ralph, are you here to take my life?"
Ralph didn't answer, only raising his sword.
A flash of blade light—
"Clang!"
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the ruins.
Ralph's pupils contracted.
The hand Blackbeard had raised was covered in pitch-black Armament Haki, firmly blocking the descending blade.
This guy still had strength left!
Ralph inwardly marveled, truly worthy of Blackbeard!
Using the Yami Yami no Mi's ability to absorb force, and Haki to enhance defense!
Thoughts flashed through Ralph's mind as his body reacted instinctively.
He retreated sharply!
Almost simultaneously, Blackbeard's other hand was already raised, darkness swirling in his palm:
"Kurouzu!"
A powerful gravitational force instantly locked onto Ralph, trying to pull him in!
Ralph planted his feet firmly, Soru Step activated at full power, forcibly stabilizing his stance while swinging his longsword repeatedly.
"Tyrant Blade: Dominate the World!"
A cross-shaped slash shot through the air!
Under the pull of Kurouzu's gravity, this slash seemed to fly even faster, striking Blackbeard squarely!
"Thud!"
Blood sprayed as a deep cross-shaped scar was carved into Blackbeard's chest, flesh torn open to reveal bone.
But he didn't make a sound, instead increasing the intensity of Kurouzu!
The gravitational force suddenly intensified, and Ralph lost control, being pulled toward Blackbeard!
The moment Blackbeard's hand grabbed him, Ralph knew he was going to take this punch.
The question was how—
Tekkai?
Too ominous!
As he thought this, Blackbeard's fist was already upon him!
At that moment, the Famous Blade Taotie in Ralph's hand suddenly flashed with light.
Munch-Munch automatically changed form, transforming from a long blade into a suit of golden, shining armor that instantly covered Ralph's entire body!
"Boom!"
Blackbeard's fist smashed into the armor, and Ralph flew out like a cannonball, rolling over a dozen times on the ground before crashing through half a ruined wall and coming to a stop.
The golden light faded, and Munch-Munch reverted from its armor form back to its original shape.
A half-meter-tall little dinosaur lay limp beside Ralph, its eyes spinning in circles as a small puff of smoke drifted from its mouth.
"Munch-Munch!"
Ralph struggled to get up, his whole body in excruciating pain, but his heart ached even more for Munch-Munch.
This armor fusion was originally meant to show off in front of Lufia and earn some favor.
Now, it had been used to tank damage!
The little guy had taken the brunt of the force for him and had now passed out completely.
The onlookers were stunned by the rapid exchange of attacks.
Especially Ace, who couldn't help but think—
Had Blackbeard been holding back this much power when fighting him earlier?
If Ralph had truly listened to him and held back against Blackbeard, both of them might be lying on the ground right now!
Another possibility was that Blackbeard had pretended to surrender and let himself be taken away.
In that case, could he really have controlled Blackbeard?
"Ace!"
Ralph's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Ace looked up to see Ralph grabbing the unconscious Munch-Munch and throwing it forcefully toward him.
"Protect Munch-Munch and Lufia!"
Ace instinctively caught the limp little dinosaur, but before he could react, he saw the darkness in Blackbeard's hands surge forth once again, covering the sky—
"Black Hole!"
The dark swamp instantly swallowed Ralph!
"Zehahaha!"
Blackbeard laughed loudly, but there was a trace of barely noticeable fear hidden in his laughter, "Too terrifying!"
"A captain with dreams and unwavering will, paired with a decisive, ruthless first mate!"
"You two are simply too terrifying!"
He stared at Ralph within the darkness, his eyes gloomy:
"I must end you here!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he clasped his hands together—
"Release!"
Ralph was thrown out of the darkness!
When Lufia had been expelled by this move earlier, she could still stand.
But Ralph... he rolled several times on the ground, covered in blood, his clothes torn to shreds as if he had been sliced by a thousand blades.
He forced himself to turn over, kneeling halfway on the ground, his body swaying unsteadily.
"Ralph!"
Little Lufia lay on the ground, clearly unconscious, yet she weakly called out his name as if sensing something.
Ralph gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up.
Though his body still swayed, he stood upright.
Blackbeard glanced at him and laughed again:
"Zehahaha... No wonder you're subordinate to a woman. Your physique is far inferior to your captain's!"
Ralph let out a bitter laugh, his body continuing to sway, his head wobbling left and right as if he might collapse at any moment.
His gaze was unfocused, as if he were looking at Blackbeard, yet also at something else.
"That's a fact. I've never denied it."
"You can't fight anymore!"
Blackbeard stood up, his imposing aura undiminished despite his injuries, "Choose to join me now, and there's still time!"
"Someone like you is perfect for our Pirate crew!"
Ralph continued swaying.
In his vision, it wasn't himself swaying—it was the world, it was Blackbeard standing before him.
Everything spun and blurred.
Blackbeard's words seemed to drift from a distant place, barely audible.
"...You can no longer fight..."
"...Join me..."
A faint smile curled at Ralph's lips.
"Don't dream on!"
"If I am destined to be second to anyone, that person can only be Lufia!"
"And—who says I can't fight anymore?"