On Whole Cake Island, the battlefield had turned into a sea of ruins. Crumbled buildings and shattered towers stretched across the horizon, yet the atmosphere was anything but grim. Using their abilities, Katakuri and Perospero created long rows of sturdy tables and chairs, arranging them neatly across the broken landscape. Soon, the tables were covered with food in staggering quantities.
Although Whole Cake Island had been devastated, the Three Emperors Alliance had successfully repelled the joint assault of the Marines and the World Government. That victory overshadowed the destruction. Triumph washed away despair, and celebration replaced sorrow.
A grand banquet began in the midst of the wasteland. Tens of thousands gathered, feasting loudly under the open sky.
Inside a massive room constructed by Katakuri's powers, Marco, Kaido, and Big Mom sat together at a separate table. Among them, Big Mom's appetite was, as always, astonishing. Plates emptied one after another at a remarkable speed.
No one could blame her. Eating was the quickest way for her to recover her stamina.
She had fought Sakazuki, Aramaki, and even the Five Elders in succession. Earlier, Sakazuki's magma had inflicted serious injuries on her. Later, during her clash with Saint V. Nusjuro, she suffered repeated internal damage from his Haki attacks, leaving her in considerable pain. If not for her monstrous constitution, she would not have endured it.
Kaido tilted his sake gourd and took a deep drink before glancing at Marco and Big Mom.
"Speaking of which, you both fought the Five Elders directly. Have either of you figured out a way to deal with their immortality?"
Big Mom snorted, clearly irritated.
"How would this old lady know? Still, during the God Valley incident, I remember Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban seemed to have killed members of the God's Knights."
She paused briefly, recalling distant memories.
"Those God's Knights also appeared to possess a similar kind of immortality. As for how they were killed, I do not know. After God Valley, I never encountered them again."
Kaido nodded thoughtfully. He was not particularly surprised.
"I have heard something similar," he said, stroking his chin. "Roger once said that only Haki can transcend everything. If that is true, then overwhelming Haki should be capable of killing them."
His expression darkened slightly.
"I tried using Conqueror's Haki Infusion against them. Their wounds still healed, but the recovery was noticeably slower. That means Conqueror's Haki does have an effect."
Marco, who had been calmly eating bread, spoke up.
"They all bear a special mark on their bodies. During my fight with them, I noticed something like a Magic Circle engraved on their backs. I suspect their immortality is connected to that."
"Magic Circle?" Kaido frowned, the term sounding unfamiliar yet strangely fitting.
Marco took a sip of juice before continuing.
"They did not all arrive on Whole Cake Island together. Saint Mars, the one who transforms into a large bird, appeared first. After he arrived, the other four manifested through some kind of teleportation technique that resembled a Magic Circle. It seemed as if Saint Mars summoned them."
"Summoned?" Big Mom's brows furrowed. She had witnessed it herself, and it had unsettled her.
"That looked like something out of a legend. Are we supposed to believe their immortality is some kind of sorcery?"
Marco let out a faint chuckle.
"Whatever it is, it is not absolute. Their bodies can be damaged. Strong enough Haki can slow their regeneration. That much is certain."
He had already formed a rough conclusion.
When struck by ordinary attacks, the Five Elders recovered almost instantly. However, when hit by Conqueror's Haki Infusion, their recovery speed clearly decreased. The difference was undeniable. The reason they could not be killed likely stemmed from the level of Haki used against them not being sufficient.
Marco calmly shared his analysis without revealing more than necessary.
"That special mark may be their weakness. Of course, this is only speculation. We will know for sure when we target it directly in our next confrontation."
Kaido and Big Mom exchanged glances and nodded slightly.
"Setting immortality aside," Marco continued, "their individual combat abilities are not particularly overwhelming. Compared to an Admiral, they are weaker in direct battle. The real trouble lies in their regeneration and their unusual powers. They also do not seem to be affected by Sea Stone."
Kaido raised an eyebrow.
"Not affected by Sea Stone?"
Marco nodded.
"Izo shot one of them with a Sea Stone bullet. It had no effect."
Kaido's eyes sharpened.
"Does that mean if a Devil Fruit user reaches Awakening, they can overcome the Sea Stone weakness?"
"No," Marco replied calmly. "Their case should be different. I am certain they are not Devil Fruit users."
Both Kaido and Big Mom fell into silence, pondering the implications.
After a moment, Kaido waved it off.
"We will deal with the Five Elders later. The priority now is the One Piece."
Marco's expression remained steady.
"I have no interest in the One Piece. I would rather march on Mary Geoise and publicly execute the Celestial Dragons."
His tone was firm, not emotional, simply resolute.
For Marco, dismantling the World Government struck at the root of the problem. Treasures meant nothing compared to absolute power and control over the era.
Big Mom laughed teasingly.
"As a pirate, you truly have no obsession with the One Piece."
Marco's lips curved into a faint smile as he looked toward Kaido.
"Since we are allies, we should be honest with each other. Is your true goal the One Piece, or is it to overthrow the World Government?"
Kaido narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Is there a difference? The One Piece is the treasure Roger left behind. If we obtain it, we may find the means to topple the World Government."
Marco's gaze sharpened, his tone calm but probing.
"And after obtaining the One Piece, how would it be divided? Between us three?"
He leaned back slightly.
"Instead of chasing an unknown treasure, it would be far simpler to overthrow them directly with strength."
The air between the three Emperors grew heavier. Outside, the banquet roared with celebration, but inside the room, the conversation had shifted the direction of the era itself.