Taro's groans were heard only by Garp beside him. Just as Garp was about to take action, an officer among the surrounding Marine Soldiers pushed through the crowd and ran over.
"I'm a doctor on the ship. Let me treat Vice Admiral Taro's injuries!"
His gaze toward Taro was filled with reverence as he knelt down beside him.
The appearance of this Military Doctor interrupted Garp's movements; clearly, Garp was more concerned about Taro's injuries at this moment.
"I... f*ck... you..."
Seeing this, Taro's chest heaved violently with anger, and he hesitated to speak.
Every time he opened his mouth, his internal organs felt a burning pain so intense that he couldn't even manage a classic national curse.
Seeing the murderous intent in Taro's eyes and the bloodshot gaze fixed on him, the Military Doctor's heart shook.
"Vice Admiral Taro's condition is very poor. Although the bleeding from his nose and mouth has stopped..."
"However, his eyes still seem to be bleeding. This is a symptom of severe internal organ damage. Generally speaking..."
The Military Doctor kept blabbering. Garp's cheek twitched, and he almost smashed a fist into the man's head.
"I'm not here to listen to your nonsense. Treat him now, immediately!"
Taro's gaze toward the doctor was full of murderous intent. If he could still move, he would have loved to hack this guy to death!
But now was not the time for that. He tried his best to lift his head.
"Vice... Admiral, stop..."
Taro managed to say a few words before panting violently again, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth once more.
Then, another voice came.
"Heh fufufufu, how interesting," Donquixote Doflamingo sneered, seeing Blackbeard's actions.
"What on earth is that bastard Blackbeard planning?"
At this time, everyone was immersed in the huge shock caused by Whitebeard's death—both because of his passing and his final words.
Hearing Donquixote Doflamingo's words, a thought suddenly flashed through Taro's mind.
In the original story, both Whitebeard and Ace died, and Blackbeard stole the Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability under a black cloth.
Coincidentally, Ace's Mera Mera no Mi also fell into Donquixote Doflamingo's hands, appearing as a tournament prize two years later.
These two must be in cahoots. They must know some deeper secrets about Devil Fruits.
Thinking about Donquixote Doflamingo's past as a Celestial Dragon and the fact that he seemed to possess other secrets the World Government feared, the more Taro thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
Just then, the pirates snapped out of their grief and continued to flee under the leadership of their captains.
"The pirates are escaping!"
After a startled cry, the Marine's artillery roared again, once more interrupting Garp, who was about to act.
Damn it!
Overwhelmed by rage, Taro finally spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.
Sengoku looked at Taro, who was being supported by Garp, and said in a low voice, "Garp, stay here and look after him."
He then shouted loudly, calling for the Three Admirals to lead their subordinates in pursuit of the fleeing pirates, while the remaining Marines stayed behind to keep a wary eye on the Blackbeard Pirates.
The black cloth was removed. Covered in blood and sword wounds, Blackbeard wore a sinister smile.
"Zehahaha! Marines, let me show you my power!"
He pointed a finger at the surrounding Marines on guard and said contemptuously:
"In other words, we are officially enemies again!"
After speaking, thick dark energy emanated from his right hand, and rolling black clouds suddenly appeared behind him.
"Black Hole Path"
The dark area spread, swallowing everything.
"This is the power of my Dark-Dark Fruit, and also..."
Then he raised his left hand, performing Whitebeard's standard Quake Fist movement, twisted his body, and threw a heavy punch.
"This is..."
With a crisp "crack," space shattered, and a powerful vibration struck.
"This... this is..."
Everyone was stunned. Whether Marine or pirate, their minds were buzzing.
Bang!
That vibration energy broke through all obstacles and charged straight toward Marineford.
Rumble!
The main fortress of the headquarters, which symbolized the dignity of the Marines, saw its last remaining small section collapse.
Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and the Three Admirals were all incredibly shocked, and they all looked at the unconscious Taro at the same time.
Now, they finally believed what Taro had said earlier: Blackbeard's body was an anomaly, capable of possessing at least two Devil Fruit abilities simultaneously.
"Zehahahaha!"
Having obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability, Blackbeard felt invincible again and laughed wildly.
"Taro, you went to great lengths to ruin my plans, but in the end, I still succeeded!"
"Zehahahaha! I am the strongest!"
"Did you see that? Zehahahaha! Announce it to the world, tell those boring, peace-loving civilians... the Marines, the World Government, the pirates..."
"And that damn Taro, the future of this world is already set."
"From now on, it's my era! Zehahahaha!"
The Marine big shots all gritted their teeth as they looked at Blackbeard, but only his unbridled laughter rang in their ears.
Blackbeard threw Quake Fists again and again at the main fortress, eventually destroying the Marine headquarters completely.
The dignity the Marines had built over hundreds of years was completely lost at this moment.
"Zehahaha! What's wrong? No one dares to step up? Is Taro the only one in the Marines who dares to attack me?"
"Right now, never mind Taro, no matter how many people there are, I can handle them easily!"
"How boring. Well then, let this Marineford sink into the sea!"
"Zehahaha... hic"
As Blackbeard laughed, a massive figure appeared above him, shrouding him in shadow.
Sengoku, in his Golden Buddha Form, appeared above the Blackbeard Pirates. A palm strike descending from the heavens, carrying immense energy, slammed down.
A Shockwave suddenly erupted, instantly making the Blackbeard Pirates spit blood as the ground shattered.
"If the fortress is gone, it can be rebuilt. But this is Marineford, the island at the center of the world. Justice will never perish! Don't you dare talk about sinking this island so lightly, you bastard!"
Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Pirates were utterly defeated after losing their strongest fighter, Whitebeard. Shouts of Marines "suppressing the pirates" echoed everywhere.
Jinbe, carrying Ace and Luffy, finally reached the edge of the plaza and leaped high, about to jump into the bay.
Only after leaping into the air did he realize that the bay had been frozen over again by Aokiji.
Akainu had also caught up, his entire body turning into crimson lava as he flew into the air.
"You have nowhere left to run!"
With a loud shout, Akainu unleashed a "Nether Dog," striking Jinbe squarely in the back.
The scorching lava instantly pierced through Jinbe's body, and a pillar of molten rock erupted from his chest.
"Agh!"
Jinbe screamed in pain, his body spinning out of control as he fell from the air.
Ace, who was under his right arm, was also thrown out.
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