Jin An's gaze swept over him coldly, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, as if looking at a struggling prey.
"No, it's not just me."
He reached out, his fingertip gently pointing at Blackbeard,
"You don't even understand the most basic rules. You're just a puppet pushed along by fate.
It's time to give yourself an end."
Blackbeard still struggled unwillingly, trying to surround Jin An with darkness, intending to devour him.
However, every time the darkness touched Jin An's body, it was like hitting an iron wall, unable to break through.
Jin An's body seemed to be wrapped in an invisible barrier, and the struggle between darkness and light became extremely obvious.
"Can you stop my darkness?"
Blackbeard's voice was almost hoarse, but the light in his eyes still hadn't been extinguished.
Jin An didn't respond to his words, his eyes were as cold as ice, his gaze locked onto Blackbeard's neck.
His blade had already been raised high, and in this silent space, it seemed as if the sound of the blade cutting through the air could be heard.
Blackbeard's darkness began to spin violently, but Jin An remained unmoved. His body was like it was fixed at the axis of time, tightly grasping the last rope of fate.
"You're just a rat."
Jin An said coldly,
"I can't wait any longer."
The moment the blade cut through the air, Blackbeard only had time to let out a deafening scream, and then his body was suddenly torn apart by a powerful force. The darkness was completely defeated and disappeared into this empty space.
Blackbeard would never have a chance to laugh again.
Jin An's face still didn't have any expression. He took a deep breath, sheathed his blade, and a trace of fatigue flashed in his eyes, but more of it was a cold determination.
The battle was over, and victory belonged to him, but how much was there to celebrate about the cost of this battle?
Blackbeard's dry laughter echoed in the air, with a hint of reluctance and disdain.
His eyes flickered, as if trying to find a chance to escape, but when he noticed the unwavering indifference in Jin An's eyes, his smile gradually stiffened.
That sense of oppression was like dark clouds looming, making him feel a chill in his heart.
"Jin An, weren't we close comrades before? How about letting me leave?"
Blackbeard's mouth curled up slightly, his tone full of ridicule and provocation.
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt an invisible pressure coming towards him, as if he was being tightly pinched by the throat.
Although he didn't show too much panic, the anxiety in his heart was constantly surging, as if he was standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall into the abyss at any time.
Jin An stood in place, his expression as cold as ice.
His eyes didn't waver at all, his gaze was as cold as a knife, tightly locking onto Blackbeard's every movement.
"You also know that we were comrades?"
Jin An chuckled, his voice low and calm, as if talking about something ordinary.
"Then who ambushed me before?"
Blackbeard's smile froze instantly, a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, his lips trembled slightly, as if thinking about how to respond.
At that moment, a faint unease surged in his heart.
There was no warmth in Jin An's eyes, as if every word he said was reminding Blackbeard that the price of this betrayal had arrived, and there was no escape.
"Wasn't that forced by the situation…"
Blackbeard forced a smile, trying to defuse the heavy atmosphere.
But he himself knew that this sentence sounded more pale and weak than any excuse.
That ambush, he knew very well, was not just forced by the situation, but his betrayal of Jin An, his trampling on their former friendship.
The moment that knife pierced his back, how could he not know that he was choosing to take sides, rather than a "forced" choice in battle.
Jin An's eyes gradually became sharper, like a sharp blade piercing Blackbeard.
He no longer gave Blackbeard more opportunities to defend himself, nor did he intend to let this scene continue to play out.
The corners of Jin An's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a hint of sarcasm, and he whispered:
"Forced by the situation?"
He slowly approached, his steps steady and powerful, each step like tearing Blackbeard's lies to shreds.
"Blackbeard, remember, your so-called 'forced by the situation' is just your own choice."
Jin An's voice was cold and decisive, his words hitting Blackbeard's heart like a blunt weapon.
Blackbeard was slightly stunned, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes for a moment, but he quickly suppressed it deeply.
He didn't dare to meet Jin An's eyes, but lowered his head instead, trying to hide the deep fear in his heart.
However, Jin An no longer gave Blackbeard any chance to fight back. His pace was getting closer and closer, each step like announcing the end of this betrayal.
There was no pity in his eyes, only calmness and determination.
On this battlefield, the fate of the victor and the loser was already destined, and Blackbeard had obviously underestimated Jin An's determination and ruthlessness.
Blackbeard's heartbeat gradually accelerated, and the fear that had once prevented him from defeating Jin An resurfaced in his body.
At this moment, he understood that Jin An was not someone who would show mercy because of past friendship, especially after he had betrayed him.
He was no longer the comrade who could be easily fooled, but an enemy burned by the fire of revenge.
Jin An stopped, less than a step away from Blackbeard.
The two's eyes met at this moment, Jin An's mouth curled into a cold smile, and he asked without hesitation:
"Don't you think that a person like you, living, is the biggest irony to the world?"
Blackbeard was suddenly stunned, his mouth opened slightly, as if wanting to refute, but seeing the coldness and determination in Jin An's eyes, he suddenly felt a strange chill spreading from the bottom of his heart, making him unable to breathe.
At this moment, Blackbeard understood - his ending was already doomed.
Blackbeard's legs trembled slightly, his eyes full of unbelievable fear.
Once, he was the strong man who could destroy everything at any time, but the Jin An in front of him was like an insurmountable mountain. He had always disdained such humiliating situations, but now he was powerless to resist.
The alliance a few minutes ago still appeared in Blackbeard's mind.
He remembered how unwilling he was to accept the cooperation with Jin An at that time. At that time, he had always harbored that desire for the "strong", believing that his ambition, ability, and the power of the fruit could bring earth-shattering changes, and even no longer need to rely on anyone.
However, as time went by, he gradually realized how wrong he was.
The cooperation between Jin An and himself was destined to be only temporary.
Blackbeard at that time thought he could cleverly use this "comrade", but betrayal is always the easiest thing to suffer from.
He put his own interests first, but ignored Jin An's unfathomable calmness and determination, and ignored Jin An's unyielding tenacity.
"I have no friendship with you anymore."
Jin An's voice was so cold that Blackbeard's heart chilled.
He felt his body gradually stiffening and his consciousness gradually blurring, but the tension and fear in his eyes became more and more intense.
In the past, he had never been so vulnerable, just as he had never thought that one day he would succumb to Jin An like this.
Blackbeard had told himself countless times - as long as he became stronger, he could control everything.
But at this moment, he realized that his so-called strength was ultimately a castle in the air, far less indestructible than he had expected.
