Teach spread his arms wide, his fists wrapped in translucent tremor waves as he burst into loud laughter.
"Zehahaha! I really love this power!"
Lindbergh stared at the arrogant man before him, then at the Revolutionary Army soldiers collapsing around him. Anger surged through his chest. His gaze sharpened, and in the next instant, his figure vanished.
Before Teach could react, a sharp pain struck his left side, accompanied by a numbing sensation.
Lindbergh's claws had sunk into his waist, crackling with electric arcs. Behind Teach, Chiffon cried out in alarm.
"Husband!"
At the same time, the Revolutionary Army cadres rushed forward together, launching coordinated attacks toward Teach.
Teach gritted his teeth as the tremor waves around his fists intensified. He swung his arm, and the violent shockwave that followed forced all the attacking cadres backward in an instant.
Lindbergh tried to withdraw his claws and press the advantage, but before he could move, a dark hand clamped onto his face.
Teach roared in fury.
"That hurts, you bastard!"
A sharp cracking sound rang out as Teach slammed Lindbergh into the ground, gripping his face tightly. The force of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit distorted the impact, nearly twisting Lindbergh's features under the pressure.
When the dust settled, Teach slowly lifted his hand and looked down at Lindbergh, who lay embedded in the shattered ground, unable to move.
A sneer spread across his face.
"Naughty kitty needs discipline."
The moment he finished speaking, Lindbergh's body twitched. Teach's expression shifted, and he reached down again, intending to pin him in place.
But Lindbergh moved too fast.
Before Teach's hand could land, Lindbergh had already slipped free and leaped away. After flipping through the air, he landed in front of the Revolutionary Army cadres who had just regained their footing.
The moment he touched the ground, his body swayed, nearly collapsing.
Gambo and Hark rushed forward to support him. Up close, they could clearly see his condition.
Blood stained Lindbergh's fur, and as he spat onto the ground, several broken teeth fell with it.
He wiped his mouth and clenched his jaw.
"Damn it. I underestimated him. His strength is overwhelming, and his body is incredibly tough."
Kildeo stepped forward, his expression serious.
"This is my fault. I didn't gather enough information on Teach. He kept a low profile before, but I never expected him to be this powerful."
Lindbergh fixed his eyes on Teach, breathing heavily.
"That's not the priority right now. He's extremely skilled with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. His destructive power is on another level. In this situation, numbers won't make a difference. I'm already injured, and if this continues…"
Frustration flashed across his face.
"Damn it! Is there really no way out for the Revolutionary Army?"
On the other side, Chiffon crouched beside Teach, gently blowing on his injured waist. Teach grimaced and muttered,
"That cat is tougher than I expected. Took that hit and still got away."
Chiffon looked up at him with concern.
"Husband, are you feeling better? Does it still hurt…"
"Get lost!"
Before she could finish, Teach grabbed her and flung her backward.
It might have looked harsh, but at that exact moment, a pale blue beam shot forward and struck Teach directly.
Laffitte reacted instantly, catching Chiffon midair before she could fall.
Moments later, Chiffon steadied herself and looked back at Teach, her eyes widening in shock.
Teach, who had been standing there moments ago, was now frozen solid, transformed into a human-shaped ice sculpture.
Not far away, Lindbergh held a black-and-white gun with both hands. Unlike ordinary firearms, the muzzle emitted freezing mist instead of smoke.
Lindbergh was not only a fighter but also an inventor. This weapon was his own creation, a freeze gun capable of releasing an instant freezing beam, powerful enough to rival the abilities of Admiral Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit.
Taking advantage of Teach's distraction, he had fired without hesitation.
Seeing Teach encased in ice, Lindbergh allowed a faint smile to form. He slung the freeze gun over his back and raised his claws, their tips gleaming sharply.
If nothing interfered, Teach would soon be reduced to shattered ice.
With a burst of speed, Lindbergh rushed forward and arrived in front of the frozen figure in an instant.
He struck.
The ice sculpture shattered with a loud crash, fragments scattering across the ground as Lindbergh landed lightly.
But instead of relief, shock filled his expression.
Among the scattered ice pieces lay something intact.
A mouth.
With black stubble and several missing teeth, it was unmistakably Teach's.
Lindbergh's brow furrowed. He could not understand how that part remained untouched. Looking up at the Blackbeard Pirates, he saw no panic on their faces. Aside from Chiffon's concern, the others looked almost entertained.
Everything felt wrong.
Lindbergh stayed alert. Silver electricity flared around his feet as he lifted his leg, intending to crush the mouth.
At that moment, something strange happened.
The mouth began to expand, stretching unnaturally as if it were about to swallow him whole.
Lindbergh immediately abandoned the attack and tried to retreat, but a thick arm suddenly emerged from the widening mouth.
The situation turned even more bizarre. Lindbergh's instincts flared, his fur standing on end.
He leaped into the air, but in his hurried movement, the freeze gun slipped from his back and fell, only to be caught by the emerging arm.
Lindbergh did not hesitate. He gave up the weapon and retreated rapidly.
When he regained his footing, a muscular figure had already climbed out from the grotesque mouth.
Lindbergh and the Revolutionary Army cadres behind him froze in disbelief. They recognized him as Teach, yet none of them understood how he had reappeared in such a way.
Under their stunned gazes, Teach, his appearance slightly altered, broke into a wide grin.
Then, tilting his head back, he opened his mouth and shoved the captured freeze gun straight inside.
===
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