Meanwhile.
In the research institute of Pangoo City.
Cold lights illuminated Blackbeard's body, which had been divided into several sections.
The frigid metal countertop reflected a ghastly white light, and the surrounding air seemed to congeal, a deathly silence enveloping the entire laboratory.
Researchers toiled under the lights, heads bowed in concentration as they analyzed data and monitored equipment, completely oblivious to the subtle changes occurring in the seemingly lifeless body on the table.
Blackbeard's corpse was torn apart, his severed limbs carelessly strewn across various experiment tables.
CP agents had long since completed their mission, transporting the body here as experimental material for the "Pacifista" project.
For them, Blackbeard was dead, but his body still held immense research value.
After all, this body was far more resilient than that of any other Warlord of the Sea—bordering on non-human.
However, during this night when the researchers were buried in their work and their nerves were on edge, a strange aura quietly permeated the laboratory.
Blackbeard's mangled body began to change slowly and silently.
Snap…
A faint sound, as if some incredible power was flowing weakly between the limbs.
Those segments of flesh, already cut into pieces, began to sprout dense, fine black lines under the influence of some bizarre force.
These black lines, like self-repairing spiderwebs, slowly spread from the severed points of the limbs, quietly stitching the scattered body back together.
The entire process was silent, the movement of the black lines extremely subtle, with only a faint "buzzing" sound echoing in the air.
The researchers remained completely unaware, still recording various data under the lights, paying no attention to the anomalies behind them.
The black lines moved like living things between Blackbeard's severed parts, gradually piecing him back together.
As time passed, this bizarre process accelerated.
The stitching between the limbs gradually became complete, the black lines constantly contracting, tightly binding the broken flesh as if to mold them back into a complete whole.
Thump!
A sudden, violent heartbeat broke the silence in the laboratory.
Blackbeard's body twitched violently, the black lines on his limbs trembling intensely.
With each heartbeat, his body gradually regained its vitality, and the demon who had once slaughtered countless people was returning from the brink of death.
Blackbeard's chest heaved violently, and his breathing gradually became clear and rapid.
Those eyelids, which had been tightly closed, suddenly snapped open, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
Those eyes revealed a mockery and disdain for death, as if everything was under his control.
"Zehahaha… I, Blackbeard, cannot be killed!"
Accompanied by a deafening burst of laughter, Blackbeard suddenly sat up, his chest rising and falling sharply.
His voice seemed to echo throughout the laboratory, shrill, arrogant, filled with endless malice and triumph.
The equipment in the laboratory emitted a low "hum" due to the vibrations, and the researchers, startled by the sudden movement, turned their heads to look at the "dead" man who should have been impossible to revive.
Extreme horror and disbelief instantly appeared on their faces.
Blackbeard's resurrection was like a nightmare descending, completely subverting their understanding of life and death.
Just a few hours ago, this body was completely broken and lifeless, but now, the dead pirate king was standing before them again, laughing wildly, as if returned from the depths of hell.
Blackbeard stood on the experiment table, moving his reassembled limbs, his smile growing more and more sinister.
Some black lines still remained on his body, but these traces did not weaken his aura at all, instead making him look even more like a demon crawling back from the abyss.
"The World Government guys are really naive…"
Blackbeard muttered to himself, his eyes filled with bloodlust and greed.
His voice was low and cold, but filled with unparalleled confidence, as if nothing in this world could stop his ambition.
The researchers stood frozen in place, not daring to make any sound.
They knew that the Blackbeard before them was no ordinary pirate, but a complete monster.
Their bodies trembled, and even their breathing became cautious, for fear of attracting the attention of this ferocious beast.
Blackbeard took a deep breath, as if savoring the feeling of rebirth.
He gently raised his hand, looking at his intact body, the smile in his eyes growing stronger.
This world seemed never to be able to truly erase him, and he was destined to stir up an even greater storm on this sea.
Blackbeard slowly walked towards the shivering researchers, a chilling smile on his face.
His smile was hideous and full of malice, as if enjoying the thrill of controlling the fate of others.
His gaze swept over the researchers in white coats before him like a knife, their eyes full of horror, none daring to look him directly in the eye.
Blackbeard's voice was low and cold, "Where is the vault here?"
A chill ran through the researchers' hearts, and facing this demon who had crawled back from hell, they knew they had no choice.
Pride and dignity became worthless in the face of life and death, and the only thing they could do was submit.
The leading researcher suppressed his trembling and took a step forward, whispering, "It's ahead… please follow me."
Blackbeard looked at their submission with satisfaction, put his hands behind his back, and followed the researchers leisurely, his steps steady and powerful.
His aura made everyone breathless, as if the air was filled with the shadow of death.
As they arrived in front of a huge metal door, the leading researcher trembled and pressed the button to open the door.
The door slowly opened, and a cold air rushed out from inside.
Blackbeard's eyes narrowed, and he was secretly delighted—this was the place he was looking for.
The moment he stepped into the room, his eyes were instantly drawn to the shelves around him.
"Hmph…"
Blackbeard sneered, his eyes wandering around the room filled with research materials and Devil Fruits.
The walls here were filled with metal shelves, on which were neatly arranged several Devil Fruits of different shapes and colors.
Each fruit emitted a faint light, as if it contained endless power.
Blackbeard narrowed his eyes, greedily looking at these Devil Fruits, his heart filled with joy.
"These guys really found a treasure…"
Blackbeard thought to himself, the smile on his lips growing deeper.
He stood in the center of the room, looking around, his eyes full of possessiveness and the pleasure of a victor.
And the moment he stepped into the room, the metal door behind him suddenly slammed shut, making a heavy sound.
"Bang!"
The sound was like a muffled thud, startling the researchers and turning their faces pale.
They looked at each other, their eyes revealing a trace of tension and unease.
Blackbeard just shrugged, not caring at all.
He had already expected that the World Government would not easily let him leave, but he had no fear in his heart—he didn't care about these humble means.
He sneered, as if he saw through everything.
"Closing the door?" Blackbeard chuckled, "Do you think you can trap me like this?"
He ignored the changes behind him and walked straight towards the Devil Fruits.
His pace was steady, his aura like a mountain, the dark power surging within him, as if to devour everything.
His fingers trembled slightly, as if sensing some powerful gravitational pull.
His eyes finally locked on a fruit, the fruit emitting a stronger aura than the other fruits, as if calling to him.
Blackbeard walked to the Devil Fruit, his eyes greedy and fanatical.
He could feel the dark power in his body resonating with this fruit in a wonderful way, as if they were born as one.
This power made him extremely eager.
Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed the fruit in his hand, his rough palm stroking the patterns on the surface of the fruit, feeling the power contained within.
"Zehahaha…"
Blackbeard laughed, his eyes filled with fanaticism and excitement.
Without any hesitation, he opened his mouth and swallowed the entire Devil Fruit.
The bitterness and strange taste of the fruit spread on his tongue, but he didn't care at all.
As the fruit was swallowed into his stomach, he felt a strong force erupting in his body, as if the darkness in his body had gained endless space for expansion.
"Zehahaha… This is power!"
Blackbeard laughed wildly, his body seemed to be filled with this power, darkness surrounded him, raging wildly, and the entire room seemed to be swallowed by this darkness.
At this moment, the researchers standing behind him had completely collapsed to the ground, their faces as pale as paper, their eyes filled with despair.
They knew that the Blackbeard in front of them was no longer an ordinary pirate.
He possessed power beyond ordinary people—perhaps even beyond what they could understand.
At this moment, Blackbeard completed his resurrection, and at the same time, his ambition and power reached a new height.
He was no longer a pirate that could be manipulated by the World Government, but a strong man who was about to subvert the rules and create a new order.
...
