Ed, with patience and expertise, instructed Stede on the art of enduring stab wounds safely. He boasted that his survival through dozens of such attacks was due to his method of receiving the blade's thrust on the lower left side of his abdomen, claiming it to be a void of vital organs. Izzy, eavesdropping on their conversation, fretted that Ed's affection for Stede had grown too profound to carry out the intended murder.
One starry night, the crew lingered awake, swapping spine-chilling tales. Ed recounted a harrowing story of witnessing the Kraken slay his father as a young boy. He imparted to the crew a profound lesson: one could wield control over an enemy by harnessing their deepest fears, a tactic he aptly named "the art of fuckery." The very next morning, he demonstrated this artistry with a diabolical performance that left the crew trembling in terror. Stede, however, found immense joy in this theatrical display of "fuckery."
Izzy, Fang, and Ivan confronted Ed, confronting him on his growing fondness for Stede and urging him to sever this bond. After much hesitation, Ed reluctantly concurred, deciding to end Stede's life while he was indulging in something he cherished. Stede proposed a scheme to execute a fuckery upon the Dutch merchant ship, the Revenge, which was destined to cross their path. Izzy supported this idea, seeing it as an opportune moment for Ed to fulfill his grim duty.
Stede and his crew orchestrated a cunning theatrical ruse, enticing the Dutch merchants aboard the Revenge with the intention of covertly pillaging their ship. Ed, concealing himself behind a curtain, observed the performance with grim determination, preparing himself for the moment to strike Stede down. However, as the finale unfolded, with some of the crew transforming into terrifying visions of the Kraken, Ed's resolve shattered, and he stumbled out from behind the curtain in a state of panic. The sight of Blackbeard's menacing form sent the merchants fleeing in terror.
Ed scurried away to hide, finding refuge in Stede's bathtub. It was there that Stede discovered him, and Ed revealed a dark secret: he was the Kraken. His father, a cruel drunkard, had pushed him to the brink, forcing Ed to take his life in self-defense and to protect his mother. He confessed that, apart from his father, he had never taken another life and disclosed his failed plot to assassinate Stede and assume his identity. Unable to carry out such a heinous act, Ed found solace in Stede's compassionate words, who assured him they could simply put the murder plan behind them.
As Ed and Stede emerged onto the deck, Izzy stepped forward, determined to end Stede's life with his own hands. The duel was swift and brutal, Izzy disarming Stede and lunging with his sword. But Stede, remembering Ed's teachings, managed to deflect the blow, taking the sword's impact on his left side. Izzy's sword became wedged in the mast, shattering as he tried to free it. With his weapon useless, Izzy was technically defeated and banished from the ship. Seeking revenge, he approached Spanish Jackie and proposed a partnership to exact vengeance on Stede.
