Based on Blackbeard's previous performance, the audience was shocked, thinking he was powerful and that Straw Hat Luffy would have a tough fight ahead.
But who knew that after he was sent flying by Luffy's punch, the viewers on the sky screen had a different opinion.
[Pirate 1: What the heck? I take back what I said. This Teach is too weak! He was sent flying by Straw Hat kid in one hit!]
[Whitebeard Pirate Crewmember 1: Hahahaha! Teach, you're still so weak! Completely no match for Ace's little brother!]
[Whitebeard Pirate Crewmember 2: He seemed so mysterious when he first appeared, but he couldn't even withstand one move! This is hilarious!]
[Whitebeard Pirate Crewmember 3: Hmph! Teach, this is all you're capable of. You must have ambushed Commander Ace to capture him back then!]
[Pirate 2: If Blackbeard is so weak, how did he become a Warlord?]
[Pirate 3: Rumor has it he captured Ace and handed him over to the Marines to get the Warlord position.]
[Pirate 4: I see. But if that's the case, does that mean this Ace is even weaker than Blackbeard?]
[Whitebeard Pirate Crewmember 4: Hey! What are you saying?! Our Commander Ace is much stronger than Teach! Commander Ace was only captured because Teach used some underhanded trick! In a fair fight, he's definitely no match for Commander Ace!]
[Whitebeard Pirate Crewmember 5: Right, right! Our Commander Ace isn't someone any random nobody can compare to!]
On the sky screen, many Whitebeard Pirates members began speaking up in support of Ace.
Others continued watching the subsequent video.
〖After knocking Blackbeard flying, Luffy wanted to press his advantage and attack again with Gear Second.
But by then, Blackbeard had recovered. He swung his arm, using "Black Vortex."
Luffy felt an incredibly strong suction force around him. The next second, he was under Blackbeard's control, slammed heavily onto the ground.
"Ah—!"
Luffy screamed in pain, bleeding profusely.
But Blackbeard wasn't done.
He spoke menacingly to Luffy.
"Zehahahaha! You know? The way you look now, like you don't understand what's happening, is exactly how your big brother looked back then.
The moment my darkness grabs you, you should have realized.
My darkness can suppress your Devil Fruit power.
Before me, you can't use your Devil Fruit abilities.
You can only be caught by me, just like an ordinary person." 〗
[Pirate 1: What's with that Blackbeard's ability? Isn't Straw Hat kid a rubber man? Why is he injured and bleeding?]
[Pirate 2: Not sure. It looks like he used Haki, but there's no sign of Haki being used.]
[Pirate 3: Look! Blackbeard revealed it himself! His Devil Fruit power can actually absorb other ability users' powers!]
[Pirate 4: How is that possible? He just touched Straw Hat kid and directly nullified his Gomu Gomu no Mi power?]
[Pirate 5: It's just like Seastone!]
[Pirate 6: This ability is practically unbeatable! How can there be such an amazing Devil Fruit power? I've never heard of it before!]
[Pirate 7: What can Straw Hat kid do? How did he escape from Blackbeard's grasp?]
[Pirate 8: Just keep watching and you'll find out.]
Blackbeard's Devil Fruit ability caused a huge stir on the sky screen.
The audience was extremely curious about how Luffy escaped from him and began watching the video even more carefully.
〖Blackbeard displayed his formidable darkness power, expecting Straw Hat Luffy to retreat in the face of difficulty.
Instead, Luffy ignored Blackbeard's words, calmed himself, and sought to break through the current obstacle.
He activated Gear Second again, wanting to fight once more, planning to brute force his way through. Fortunately, Jinbe stopped him.
"Please wait, Luffy-kun. I don't think now is the time. You need to think carefully about what is most important to you.
I hope you won't waste your time and stamina here. The most important thing right now is to find a way to save Mr. Ace.
Don't engage in pointless battles. Even if you win, it's useless. You should leave here quickly and get to Mr. Ace."
Before Luffy could respond to Jinbe's advice, Blackbeard nodded first.
"A wise choice. What you said makes sense. So? Straw Hat kid, will you still fight me to avenge your brother?"
Luffy still didn't answer. Meanwhile, Crocodile couldn't help but interject.
"You're called Blackbeard, right? Although I'm in prison now, I've also heard about a once-unknown nobody on Whitebeard's ship suddenly becoming the new Warlord, taking my place.
That was strange enough. But what's even stranger now is that you, as a Warlord, should be at Marine Headquarters fighting pirates, right? Why are you here? Isn't this the Warlord position you went to great lengths to obtain? Aren't you afraid of losing it?"
"Zehahahaha!" Blackbeard was unconcerned, speaking calmly. "It's fine. Everything is going according to my plan. But do I need to tell you? Former Warlord, Mr. Crocodile."
Hearing this, Crocodile smiled faintly. "It doesn't matter. Actually, I'm not that interested anyway."
The moment he finished speaking, a loud rumbling sound suddenly came from afar.
Then an okama panicked and shouted, "M-Magellan is coming!"
Everyone present was somewhat alarmed. After all, Magellan's Venom-Venom Fruit power was nothing to scoff at.
At this critical moment, Ivankov directly urged Luffy to leave first.
"Straw Hat boy, you and everyone else go ahead quickly. I'll hold the rear. You've already been poisoned by Magellan before. If you get poisoned again, you'll really die."
As soon as he finished speaking, the other prisoners on the scene had already fled.
Luffy didn't say anything, just calmly walked past Blackbeard and continued forward.
The guard beast Minotaurus suddenly appeared before him. Luffy directly blocked its attack, entered Gear Second, and punched it, sending it flying into a wall.
Meanwhile, Blackbeard and Magellan finally met, greeting each other calmly.
"Zehahahaha! You must be Magellan."
"Correct. And you must be Blackbeard." 〗