In the New World, atop the sovereign territory of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Moby Dick sat anchored by the shore.
This was Whitebeard's land. But not long ago, the Blackbeard Pirates had seized it and declared total war! Now, the eyes of the entire world were fixed on this spot. While many believed the outcome was a foregone conclusion in favor of the veterans, they also knew Teach was no fool. If he dared to move, something was different.
"First Division Commander, Marco!"
Aboard the Moby Dick, the Whitebeard Commanders stepped onto the deck, staring down at the Blackbeard Pirates gathered on the island. The local residents had long since gone into hiding; they had witnessed the cruelty of Teach's crew and knew they could only be silent observers in this clash of titans. Deep down, they prayed for a Whitebeard victory, longing for the days of stable protection.
"Teach! Is this your final answer?" Marco stood at the prow, looking down with an expressionless face.
The Commanders were already cracking their knuckles. To them, this battle was inevitable—the traitor of the Whitebeard Pirates had to be executed by their own hands.
"Zehahahaha!" Blackbeard threw his head back and laughed. His expression then turned sharp and serious. "Commander Marco, the Whitebeard Pirates are a relic of the past. The New Era has arrived."
"Where's the old man? Bring him out! I have a massive surprise to show him."
"Teach, to deal with the likes of you, Pops doesn't need to lift a finger," Marco retorted. He gave a grand wave of his hand, and blue flames began to swirl around his body.
"Vista!"
"Understood!"
Whoosh! Marco transformed into the Phoenix, soaring into the sky like a brilliant streak of azure light before diving straight toward Blackbeard. Simultaneously, the other Commanders leaped into action, intercepting the members of the Blackbeard Pirates.
Their mission: hold off the rest of the crew. Teach... was Marco's!
Vrumm— Marco's talons lashed down!
BOOM!
The earth shook, and dust billowed into the air. As the wind cleared the smoke, the figures of the two men emerged. Blackbeard's arm was radiating a strange, golden light, blocking Marco's devastating dive.
"This is..." Marco's eyes narrowed. He beat his wings and retreated back into the air.
Even with that single clash, Marco felt the staggering physical force and the indestructible hardness emanating from Blackbeard's arm.
"Commander Marco..." Blackbeard's eyes were cold. His arms were now completely encased in a golden sheen. He laughed manically. "Look at this! The strongest Mythical Zoan!"
As he spoke, the gold on his other hand vanished, replaced by a swirling, pitch-black energy. "Yami Yami no Mi... and this!"
"This..." The Whitebeard Pirates watched in utter disbelief at the two distinct powers in Blackbeard's hands. It was common knowledge that a person could only hold one ability. Yet Teach now wielded two.
The mood turned grim. While they didn't know the exact nature of the Mythical Zoan, everyone knew that "Mythical" meant power on a completely different scale.
"A dual-ability user..." Even Marco's face darkened. He remembered Blackbeard's unique physical constitution and braced himself for the fight of his life.
Whoosh! Marco dived again. "Teach! No matter what tricks you have, I will purge the traitor of this family today!"
"Zehahaha... then come and try!" Blackbeard's gold-clad arm threw a heavy punch at the incoming Phoenix.
BOOM!
Fist met talon, sending shockwaves through the surroundings. In the moment of impact, Marco's face shifted. He felt as if he had struck an immovable mountain.
"Is that all, Commander Marco? If this is your limit, you won't be stopping me!"
Blackbeard's other hand activated the darkness, and the ground began to be swallowed by shadows. As the darkness pulled at Marco, the golden fist struck again!
"Diamond Arm!" Blackbeard roared.
Marco was prepared for the darkness, his Armament Haki surging to its peak. He fought with extreme caution, weaving through the darkness while looking for an opening.
Blackbeard, however, was growing more intoxicated with the fight. Nothing felt better than suppressing his former superior.
"Marco!" the Whitebeard crew cried out in worry.
Vista, currently locked in a fierce duel with Shiryu of the Rain, looked on with a heavy heart. Blackbeard had clearly come prepared—he was ready to fight Whitebeard himself. But Whitebeard wasn't even here. He had taken Ace and vanished.
Clang! The sound of metal on metal echoed as the "Great Battleship" Sanjuan Wolf loomed like a mountain. Third Division Commander Jozu stepped forward, his body turning into shimmering diamond to intercept the giant.
The war between the two fleets had officially ignited.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Aboard the Magic Protector, currently one day's journey from the Dark Clan's island, the Dragon Flag Pirates were finishing breakfast. In the short time they had spent together, the crew had begun to bond. Ann's gentle nature made the atmosphere comfortable, and Locke proved to be a man of strong principle.
Drake was pleased. Although the recruitment had been somewhat spontaneous, it felt like fate. They each had their secrets and pasts, but he could feel the seeds of a crew that would eventually be able to trust each other with their lives.
As Bell busied himself in the kitchen, Drake stood up and headed for the deck.
"This is..."
By the railing, Kenshin's pupils constricted. He shouted, "Drake! Get over here and look at this!"