"Agh..." A chorus of screams suddenly erupted. Looking toward the source, it was clear that Blackbeard had finally made his move. While the other captains of the Blackbeard Pirates pinned down the Whitebeard Commanders, only Marco remained unengaged until now. Darkness—darkness everywhere. A massive amount of shadows seeped from Blackbeard's body, spreading continuously and swallowing countless members of the Whitebeard fleet.
"Zehahahaha..." Blackbeard's gaze locked onto Marco. "Marco! Is the old man already dead? Eh?" He laughed, then shook his head with mock regret. "What a pity. I wonder exactly when Pops breathed his last?" As he spoke, a sharp, predatory glint flashed in Blackbeard's eyes.
"Teach..." Marco gritted his teeth. By now, it was no secret that Blackbeard possessed the ability to plunder the powers of others. Marco knew exactly what he was after: he wanted the Tremor-Tremor Fruit power that belonged to Pops.
"I also heard that Ace's brother seems to have acquired the old man's power? Hmm? What's that all about? Surely you know something, Marco!?" Since Drake's battle with Akainu, where he used spatial vibrations, the news had spread across the world. While the Whitebeard Pirates didn't believe the rumors—especially since Drake had been inactive for two years—others did. Even Blackbeard suspected that Drake might have obtained the power from the deceased Whitebeard. To him, the possibility was not only real but highly likely.
Marco snorted coldly, his blue-and-yellow flames erupting. Just as he was about to take flight, a deep wound suddenly appeared on his back.
Slash!
Marco stifled a groan as his Flames of Restoration began slowly healing the injury.
"Commander Marco!" the Whitebeard crew cried out in alarm. Vista's pupils shrank, his heart tight with anxiety. If Marco were severely wounded now, the consequences would be dire.
"Zehahahaha... Marco, you were careless! Eh?" Blackbeard laughed, his eyes fixed on the Phoenix. Marco's expression was grim as he scanned his surroundings; he knew he had been blindsided by a hidden attacker, likely someone with an invisibility-type ability.
Teach has such a troublesome ability user on his ship... Before he could think further, Marco beat his wings to soar higher, but that chilling sense of dread returned.
"Phoenix Brilliant Sky!" Marco spun his body rapidly, his flames surging.
Clang!
A blade struck Marco, but it met the sound of clashing metal. Marco had transformed his feet into talons to catch the strike. The figure of the attacker slowly materialized—it was the former Head Jailer of Impel Down, Shiryu of the Rain!
Drake's eyes flashed with intensity. He flapped his wings and lashed out with a talon.
Bang!
Shiryu quickly held his blade horizontally in defense, but the force of the kick sent him hurtling backward. With a single glance, Vista understood Marco's intent; he broke away from Aokiji and lunged toward Shiryu. Shiryu's ability was far too dangerous; he had to be dealt with immediately.
Marco dove toward Blackbeard, his talons infused with powerful Ryuo. He hadn't spent the last two years idling! Seeing this, Aokiji moved to intercept, but a massive figure blocked his path.
Crash!
Jozu, his body encased in shimmering diamond, confronted the former Admiral. "Diamond Jozu!" Aokiji muttered, his face darkening.
Boom! Suddenly, the ground shook violently as Marco and Blackbeard collided.
"Zehahahaha... Commander Marco, your strength has improved!" Blackbeard shouted excitedly. A faint golden light emerged from his hands; he seized one of Marco's talons with one hand and threw a punch with the other. Marco refused to back down, meeting the blow with his other talon coated in Ryuo.
Boom!
The massive shockwave sent the surrounding fighters flying. After the exchange, the two backed away, Marco spreading his wings wide in a defensive stance.
"Again!"
Blackbeard became enveloped in golden light, forming a suit of armor across his body. He shattered the ground beneath him and launched himself at Marco like a cannonball.
"Zehahahaha!"
With his right fist glowing gold, Blackbeard threw a devastating punch. Marco beat his wings and leaped into the air, transforming into a mass of blue flames to meet the assault.
Boom!
The two clashed again, Marco gritting his teeth to withstand Blackbeard's power. The battle between the two crews raged with terrifying intensity. From the moment the war began, the roar of cannons had never ceased.
"We-hahahaha!"
"Superweight Elbow Strike!"
While Marco was locked in combat with Blackbeard, a sudden gust of wind preceded a blow that struck him square in the chest.
Boom!
Caught off guard, Marco was sent flying. Blackbeard, never one to miss such an opening, lunged after him.
"Vajra Fist!"
The timing was impeccable. Just as Marco hit the ground, Blackbeard's fist descended from above. Blinding golden light flooded the area; every member of the Whitebeard fleet who saw it felt their heart leap into their throat. If that hit connected, even with the Phoenix's incredible regeneration, Marco might not survive! Everyone glared at Burgess; it was his sneak attack at the critical moment that had created this disaster.
Boom!
The fist slammed down, causing a massive crater. Dust and debris filled the air, and even the shockwave cleared everything in the vicinity. A heavy silence fell over the field. No one saw Marco escape—it seemed he hadn't been able to dodge the blow.
"Kill them all!"
The Blackbeard Pirates' morale surged as they charged forward relentlessly. The shockwave from Blackbeard's strike was visible even from outside the island. Golden light filled the sky over Alteila Island, and ripples spread continuously across the sea.
"Everyone..."
Not far from the rear of Alteila Island, a small solo rocket-boat was speeding toward the battlefield at incredible velocity. Onboard was Ace, his feet erupting with flames to propel the vessel even faster. His expression was frantic as the intensity of his flames sent massive wakes across the water.
Over the last two years, Ace believed he had pushed every aspect of his training to the limit. Compared to two years ago, he had undergone a complete metamorphosis. He even believed his current strength surpassed that of his father, Whitebeard—though he had never truly tested himself against the old man. Sometimes he wondered if his "bastard father" were still alive, he would love to have a real fight with him—ideally, to give him a good thrashing.
Pirate King!? Is he really that strong? I'll test my current power soon enough!
Ace hadn't just improved his strength; his mindset had matured as well. In the past, he would have been consumed by his inability to reach the island instantly, but now he knew that rushing was pointless.
"Teach..."
He didn't lose his composure. He simply gathered his strength in silence. This time, he would eliminate Blackbeard with his own hands. As for whether he could win, the question never crossed his mind—he believed he was the strongest. The power within him felt inexhaustible. No matter who came, they would not stand in his way!