Chapter Forty-Four: The Monster Aboard the Juventus (Part Two)

Perona, tangled up in Buffon's silk threads, made no attempt to struggle, allowing herself to be pulled over without resistance. Buffon loosened the threads, then glanced back at the ship, where Moria had already engaged in combat with the sickly giant.

As for this sickly man, Buffon paid even more attention to him than to Blackbeard Teach, not only because they shared similar professions—both were doctors and undertakers—but also because, in the original story, this fellow’s strength had always been shrouded in mystery, yet he became Teach’s companion. With a moniker like "the Reaper," Doc Q was certainly no ordinary character.

Doc Q had already taken out the scythe wrapped in burlap from his back, the hangman’s rope as thick as a forearm dangling from his neck, exuding a terrifying aura. Buffon drew Perona behind him, watching the battle unfold with calm eyes.

First, there was Baggio. He was obviously strong enough to finish off Auger in an instant, but instead acted like a hunter toying with his prey. Each strike drew blood without killing, as if the shadow of Shiryu’s personality still lingered within him. Auger, a long-range sniper, was helpless in close combat, able only to parry without any chance of counterattack.

Before long, Auger was covered in blood and gasping for breath, but Baggio showed no impatience, still intent on tormenting his prey. On the other side, Sauro and Burgess, both powerhouses, clashed with sheer force—but the difference in their physiques was obvious. No matter how hard Burgess struck, Sauro needed only one punch to settle the exchange. With Blackbeard’s raft being so small, the two fought with extra caution, but any observer could see Burgess’s defeat was only a matter of time.

Ace and Teach, who had been facing off, finally made their move. Ace declared, “If you want to wipe out Buffon's crew, then I have even more reason not to let you go!” With that, Ace crossed his index fingers into an “X,” from which a cross-shaped beam of light shot toward Teach’s chest, followed by a stream of flames.

In an instant, Teach was engulfed in fire, rolling on the deck and howling in agony. Perona, peering from behind Buffon, remarked with curiosity, “That big black fatty doesn’t seem so tough. Why does everyone seem so wary of him?”

Buffon shook his head solemnly. “Don’t underestimate him. He’s also a Logia-type Devil Fruit user. His power is darkness.”

“Darkness, huh?” Perona seemed unfazed by Buffon's warning.

Teach continued to roll on the deck, screaming, “So hot, so hot!” After finally extinguishing the flames, he sat up with difficulty, sweat pouring down his face.

“Ace, I know you want to kill me. Who could blame you? Killing a comrade aboard Whitebeard’s ship is an unforgivable crime! Yes, I killed Thatch, but I had no choice. He held the Devil Fruit I desired, and the rule on our ship is that whoever finds it first gets to eat it. I had already memorized all the fruits from the encyclopedia. The moment I saw this one, I knew it was the fruit I’d longed for all my life!”

As he spoke, Teach slowly got to his feet, his tone shifting from calm to agitated. “I stayed on Whitebeard’s ship for all those years because it was the place I was most likely to find that fruit. If it had been anyone else, I’d have accepted my fate. But it just had to land in my friend’s hands!”

“Friend? Hearing that word from your mouth is disgusting,” Ace spat, advancing toward Teach.

Teach grinned. “Thatch’s death was an accident. Ace, this fruit chose me!” He paused, then went on, “Like me, this fruit is an anomaly, even among Logias! Watch closely, Ace!”

Now fully hysterical, Teach burst into manic laughter, raising both hands high. His arms blurred, dissolving into granular darkness, which began to spill out behind him, swirling into a vortex like a tornado.

“So Ace, your body is fire, mine is darkness. You can never kill me!” With that, Teach brought his hands to his chest, and the black matter beneath his feet began to spread outward from him as the center.

Seeing this, the Blackbeard Pirates were momentarily stunned. Auger was the first to shout, “Get away from here! Captain Teach is losing it—we don’t want to get caught up in this!” With that, he turned to run, but Baggio, who’d been watching him, had no intention of letting his prey escape.

“Trying to run? Then I’ll end this boring game now!” With a flicker, Baggio appeared directly in front of Auger. Before Auger could react, Baggio slashed horizontally.

Auger managed to block with his musket, but Baggio’s left arm, shrouded in Armament Haki, punched him squarely, sending him flying—straight toward the Juventus!

Watching Auger hurtling through the air, Buffon couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, “A swordsman who can box—even thugs can’t stand up to that, let alone a sniper like you.”

He raised his hand, catching Auger’s body and knocking him out with a swift chop. Seeing Auger’s body, slashed and battered as if he’d been tortured, Buffon frowned. With a flick of his needles, he swiftly stitched up all the wounds.

With the boost of over ten thousand vision points from the Character Index, Buffon was amazed.

“A true sniper indeed,” he murmured. Tying Auger up with silk threads and tossing him at his feet, Buffon turned his gaze back to the opposite ship.

Perona watched Buffon’s seamless performance, marveling inwardly, “Just how strong is Buffon now? Could he have surpassed Lord Moria?” She quickly dismissed this “ridiculous” thought, believing that, although Buffon had trained diligently over the past year, he was likely still a ways behind Moria.

Meanwhile, Baggio, having dealt with Auger, landed on the deck. As the black darkness crept toward his feet, he showed not the slightest fear. Fully clad in Armament Haki, he strode steadily toward Teach.

He raised the black blade Autumn Water and said coldly, “Ryoma, catch!” Ryoma turned, caught the sword, and replied, “Yohohoho! Baggio, be careful.”

With that, he held Autumn Water before him. The blade reflected his face; in the next instant, he vanished.

When he reappeared, the tip of Autumn Water was already before Lafitte.

“Dawn Song: Aurora Thrust.”

Before Ryoma finished speaking, a violet light shot from the blade straight at Lafitte’s chest. Lafitte reacted quickly, twisting in midair with his wings. Though he avoided a fatal blow, one wing was struck.

In an instant, Lafitte’s wing vanished, and he crashed to the deck!

Clogs striking wood, Ryoma advanced step by step. The rhythmic “ta-ta” echoed like the death knell of the Reaper, pounding in Lafitte’s heart.