The voice gently stirred Marco's slumbering soul.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Upon waking, he found himself no longer inside that deadly pot—instead, he was lying on a slab of cold ice.
Yet, the moment he opened his eyes, he felt utterly drained.
A natural side effect of being stewed for so long.
Given another few dozen seconds, Marco would surely regain his vigor and rise once more in all his glory.
But just as he forced his heavy eyelids open—
He saw a man standing before him, eyes brimming with curiosity, a faint smile playing on his lips as he gazed down at him.
That sight alone sent Marco's heart plummeting.
Why?
Because the man was holding a fork in his left hand and a knife in his right.
Wasn't this the unmistakable posture of someone about to dig in?!
Instantly, Marco's grogginess vanished.
His entire body snapped to full alertness!
The situation made it impossible for him to stay calm.
His forced composure was utterly unconvincing.
He managed a strained smile.
The message was clear:
"Just kidding, right?"
"You're not actually gonna eat me, right?!"
"Phoenix meat tastes terrible, I swear!"
"Not delicious at all!"
The gazes of those around them were once again drawn to the scene.
All the Den Den Mushi cameras swiveled in unison to focus on them.
Not because the Marines particularly cared about this moment—but because this was the only footage that could actually boost the Marines' reputation right now.
Over there, the battle had been raging for ages.
The fact that they still hadn't taken down a single enemy after so long was... kind of embarrassing.
And Ace's escape? Absolutely couldn't be broadcast.
That was straight-up bad press.
No way they could show that to the public.
Which meant... the only thing left to broadcast was... this?
A goddamn mukbang livestream?!
Even so, the Marines had no choice.
Multiple Den Den Mushi cameras zoomed in.
One Rear Admiral even held a snail up close for a better shot...
Meanwhile, the people watching from outside gasped as Chiba actually picked up his knife—even licking his lips.
This guy...
Was he really about to eat Marco the Phoenix?!
The Marines had people like this?!
Fighting a war while eating on the side?
What was this, his personal fridge?!
Everyone stared intently at the screens.
They had to see if this madman would actually go through with it.
If he did, he'd instantly become world-famous as the ultimate savage.
"The Summit War: First Course, Phoenix à la carte"
Tomorrow's headlines wouldn't be about the clash of Marines and Pirates—it'd be this.
Big Mom and her family watched with furrowed brows, visibly disturbed.
Dragon and the Revolutionary Army watched with furrowed brows, visibly disturbed.
Rayleigh and the folks on Amazon Lily watched with furrowed brows, visibly disturbed.
The Five Elders in Mary Geoise, Law, Kid—even the crowded plaza in Fish-Man Island was packed with wide-eyed, horrified fish-men.
Though the battlefield was still a life-and-death struggle, everyone's eyes kept drifting toward this spectacle.
Even Kong, currently being held back by Ace, Luffy, Little Oars Jr., and Yamato, couldn't help but glance over.
Doflamingo, abandoning his fruitless fight with Yamato, floated mid-air with a grin, watching eagerly.
Hancock remained expressionless, but Hina, trembling nearby, and Momousagi beside her had their eyes wide open.
What the hell?! Since when did he have this kind of habit?!
He never showed any signs before! Sure, he had some weird tastes, but this was next-level!
He won't actually do it... right?!
And then—
Vir moved.
Under Marco's trembling gaze, he slowly crouched down.
With a faint smile, he glanced around at the onlookers.
Then, in a casual tone, he asked:
"Anyone hungry?"
But all he got in return were disgusted grimaces.
"Ah well. Looks like you're all vegetarians. Guess I'll have to enjoy this delicacy alone."
With that, Vir cheerfully brought his knife and fork toward Marco's chest.
Marco's inner monologue: 'NO NO NO NO NO! I've been nothing but good to you! I gave you my all, my heart and soul! Is this how you repay me?!'
"Oh? You gave me your heart and soul? Then I should return the favor—by taking it!"
'WAIT, NO—!'
Under Marco's wide, panicked stare—now more like a bull's than his usual dead-fish eyes—
Vir smoothly sliced the knife across Marco's chest.
A clean incision opened up.
And before the eyes of the entire world—
A still-beating heart, faint smoke curling from it, was speared on Vir's fork and lifted out.
He took a deep whiff, savoring the aroma.
His face twisted in pure bliss.
Then, with a flick of the knife, he neatly bisected the heart.
Skewering one half, drizzling it with a dash of "soul juice", Vir leisurely popped it into his mouth.
*Chew... chew...*
From start to finish, his expression was one of absolute ecstasy.
As if he'd just tasted the finest delicacy in existence.
He looked downright high.
Glancing at the utterly dumbstruck Marco, Vir sent a telepathic message:
"Happy?"
Marco: "Whether to open it or not isn't up to you to decide. And... you've already opened it..."
Watching as his own heart was devoured in two bites—
Marco, pushed beyond the limits of horror, finally let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"MY F*ING HEART!!!"
Vir snapped his fingers.
A sudden melody began to play—
"Whose heart is this~... falling so lonely~..."
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've earned 1,000,000 negative points!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've earned 600,000 negative points!]
Every single spectator—every person watching around the world—
Exploded into uproar.
"HE ACTUALLY ATE IT!!"
"HOLY CRAP! THIS GUY! HE REALLY DID IT! HE ATE MARCO!!"
"Whose heart is this~... falling so lonely~..."
"HE ATE IT! HE REALLY ATE IT! IS THIS GUY EVEN HUMAN?! HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S ENJOYING IT! WHAT THE HECK!!"
"TOO SCARY! THIS GUY IS TERRIFYING! SINCE WHEN DID PEOPLE GET THIS DERANGED?! AND HE'S A MARINE?! I QUIT BEING A PIRATE! NOPE! NOPE NOPE NOPE!"
"HEY, WAIT FOR ME! I'M OUT TOO!"
The entire plaza erupted into chaos.
Screams filled the air.
Some of the more cowardly folks even started running away.
Or rather—they were already running.
The sight left Akainu stunned and Whitebeard frowning.
Akainu: "Huh? This works? Maybe we should push the mukbang industry hard from now on. Any kid who wants to be a pirate, just show them this video!"
Whitebeard: "This is allowed?"
Meanwhile, civilians watching the broadcast were frozen in horror.
Children wailed, covering their faces.
Men, women, old and young—all were utterly shell-shocked.
This... this is a Marine?!
This guy... he looks downright demonic!
Have... have we really been protected by people like this all along?
And yet... you know what?
It kinda... feels safer somehow...
A Marine who eats pirates... now that's rare...
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