Boom—

Flames burst outward. This time, the hull of the black ship did show a crater.

However, not long after, the attackers were shocked to see chunks of wood and iron from the Trade Goddess dislodge from their original positions and fuse into the hole—sealing it shut!

What on earth was that?!

Creak—crack—

All they could do was watch in horror as the black ship, unstoppable as a blade, continued barreling forward, cleaving the Trade Goddess in two.

Boom!

Amidst a chorus of terrified screams, the Trade Goddess keeled over and began sinking, waves crashing against her wreckage and dragging her into the depths.

Those aboard, regardless of whether they could swim, had no choice but to throw themselves into the sea—they had no desire to be buried with the doomed vessel.

The lucky ones managed to cling to scattered planks and debris, bobbing in the waves.

But across the vast ocean, not only had the Trade Goddess been sunk—even the three escort ships had vanished without a trace!

Clearly, they'd already been destroyed.

As they floated in shock, drenched in cold sweat, the survivors could only watch helplessly as the black ship sailed away into the distance.

They all felt as if they had just survived a living nightmare—one they almost never woke from.

Meanwhile, aboard the Terror Ghost—

Feeling the "spine-chilling" fear pouring in like a tide, Davy Jones channeled the collected dread into another round of self-enhancement.

This time, he used all of it to strengthen himself.

First, his right tentacle arm increased from two to three tentacles.

Then, his pistol gained a new ability: Gun Parry.

This ability allowed Davy Jones to fire a shot at the precise moment an enemy was about to strike—interrupting the attack and causing a brief stun. During this window, any follow-up attack—especially his Crab Claw's Charged Smash—could inflict massive damage.

Updated Stats: "Davy Jones, The Dread Lord of the Deep"

Left Hand - Crab Claw:

1. Hard as steel

2. Charged Smash

Right Hand - Tentacles:

1. Now three tentacles

2. Extend and retract at will

Right Hand - Pistol:

1. Single bullet, no rapid fire

2. Bullet formed from fear essence

3. Gun Parry (interrupts enemy attack)

Blink:

1. Short-range teleport

2. Can carry one person with him

Undying Regeneration:

1. Can heal all non-heart injuries

2. Healing speed accelerated

Fear Harvest:

1. Increased fear absorption range

2. Enhanced emotional impact ratings

3. Can use fear to upgrade himself or the Flying Terror

The Terror Ghost:

1. Telepathic control over the ship

2. Absorbs wreckage into hull

3. Storm follows its wake

4. Hidden cannons—auto-targeting

5. Faster travel speed

6. Reinforced hull

7. Expanded interior

8. Temporary "Ghost Ship" state—can phase through terrain and avoid most attacks

---

At that moment, Buggy approached with a grin, holding out the Slip-Slip Fruit in both hands.

"Captain, here's our loot!"

Truthfully, after witnessing the Terror Ghost destroy the escort ships and cleave a trade ship in half while absorbing its scraps, Buggy had developed a newfound respect—no, fear—for the vessel beneath his feet.

Still, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Aside from this fruit, they hadn't plundered any gold or jewels from those fat-cat elites.

Davy Jones took the Slip-Slip Fruit, examining it closely. He even used a tentacle to prod it, though he couldn't tell what made it so "special."

"Buggy," he asked suddenly, "you ate the Chop-Chop Fruit. What would happen if you ate the Slip-Slip Fruit as well? Would you gain both powers?"

Buggy's face turned pale in an instant. He frantically waved his hands.

"Captain, don't joke about that! No one can eat two Devil Fruits. The moment you eat a second one—boom—you die instantly!"

"No exceptions?"

"Er… I've never seen anyone survive two powers, that's for sure."

So it might be theoretically possible—however unlikely.

Davy Jones nodded, tentacles playing with the fruit again.

Buggy wasn't sure whether the captain took his warning seriously, so he tactfully slinked away, hoping he wouldn't become the test subject.

Then Davy Jones stopped toying with the fruit and called out in a booming voice:

"Alvida!"

A head popped out from the crow's nest, glanced down, and then a large figure climbed down the rigging.

Thump thump thump—

Moments later, the bear-like woman stood before him on the deck, her iron club laid aside.

"You called, Captain?"

"Yes." Davy Jones extended a tentacle to pass her the fruit. "Eat this."

Both Alvida and Buggy were stunned.

They had assumed that Davy Jones had stolen the fruit for his own use—but now he was giving it to Alvida?

Davy Jones explained calmly, "I have no interest in becoming a Devil Fruit user. But if making you one improves our fighting strength, it's a worthwhile investment."

He didn't say the rest aloud: that a Devil Fruit user loses the ability to swim.

Which meant that both Alvida and Buggy, as Devil Fruit users, would be at his mercy aboard a ship he controlled with his mind.

With just a thought, he could open sea hatches beneath them at any time.

He honored contracts—but didn't trust anyone to honor theirs.

"Captain… are you sure you're giving this fruit to me?" Alvida hesitated, though her eyes sparkled with desire. "It's such a precious treasure…"

"Eat it," he ordered. "I expect you to master its power."

"Yes, sir!" Alvida, covered in pockmarks, beamed with joy.

Hands trembling, she raised the fruit to her lips and took a bite.

"Ugh… tastes horrible…"

She gagged slightly but forced herself to swallow. Just one bite was enough to gain the power, but under Davy Jones' cold stare, she gulped down the rest—eyes shut tight—forcing it all into her belly.

Looking at her limbs, Alvida found no visible changes and frowned in confusion.

Davy Jones frowned too.

Buggy, however, knew what was coming. He remembered how long it took for his own powers to activate and knew Alvida would soon start to change.

Sure enough, she began to sweat profusely—so much that a puddle formed at her feet.

Soon, she even started to emit steam.

Feeling sticky and awkward, Alvida asked, embarrassed, "Captain, may I use the ship's bath?"

"Go," Davy Jones said with a nod.

Like a prisoner receiving pardon, she ran off down the deck—strangely nimble for someone her size.

Just then, Buggy spotted something on the horizon.

Stepping onto a barrel, hand over his ruby-red nose, he narrowed his eyes.

"Captain! Pirate ship ahead!"

Davy Jones didn't move his body—but his head spun unnaturally like an owl's to look.

From behind a small island, a ship sailed into view.

It flew a pirate flag: black, with a white skull.

But this time, the skull resembled a cat's face—and the ship's prow was shaped like a slitted-eye black cat.

"The Black Cat Pirates?"

Buggy had been around the East Blue for a while and recognized the symbol.

"I heard they were crushed by the Navy. Their captain, 'Thousand Plans' Kuro, got caught by that Captain Morgan and was executed. So why is a Black Cat pirate ship sailing around again? Did the crew… come back from the dead?"

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