The expression on Charlotte Katakuri's face had, at some point, shifted from horror and pain to cold indifference and a sneer.
He opened his bloodstained mouth and smiled. "I can't die… Burp!"
It was a strange smile.
Everyone around him felt an overwhelming sense of dread, their skin crawling as goosebumps rose.
The sight of his two rows of sharp, bloodstained teeth made the onlookers involuntarily shiver and gasp for air.
Even Marco found it hard to believe, the scene before him reminding him of certain moments from the original story.
"Ding!"
"In a life-or-death battle between the host and a master of physical techniques, the system's auxiliary mechanism has activated, creating space for physical improvement…"
At that moment, the system's notification tone rang out repeatedly:
"Ding!"
"In a life-and-death struggle against a powerful user of advanced Armament Haki, the system's auxiliary mechanism has opened up significant space for improvement in Armament Haki…"
"Ding!"
"In a battle to the death with a top-tier Haki user, the system's auxiliary mechanism has enabled the host to greatly enhance Observation Haki…"
Marco was pleased to see the room for improvement in his Haki abilities finally expanding!
Luckily, Marco's Haki was already at an elite level; otherwise, against Charlotte Katakuri, he might have had to endure the agony of struggling with Observation Haki throughout the fight!
From now on, though, that worry was gone.
"Ding!"
"Congratulations, host! Through the system's auxiliary mechanism, you've gained the opportunity to further develop your Devil Fruit abilities following this life-and-death battle against an awakened Devil Fruit user!"
Marco had been waiting for this message from the system!
Now that the Immortal Phoenix's Devil Fruit abilities would evolve further, he was on the brink of unlocking new potential.
"The Four Emperors…!"
"With my current strength… soon, I'll be able to stand against the Four Emperors without fear!"
Even Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors ruling the New World, seemed invincible, her position unshakeable by anyone.
But then, there was also the terrifying Blackbeard, who now wielded both the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and the Dark-Dark Fruit.
Not only Big Mom, Kaido, and Blackbeard, but even the Navy Headquarters itself was out there in the sea, ready to hunt Marco down at any moment.
His 1.5 billion berry bounty was solid proof of the danger he posed.
Sooner or later, Akainu and the entire Navy Headquarters under his command would strike.
"So, I need to keep growing… I need to become even stronger!"
Marco's resolve was unwavering.
Step.
Marco slowly walked toward Charlotte Katakuri.
There was no rush.
Step by step.
His gaze was calm as it fell upon Katakuri. Though he held some respect for the iron-willed man, enemies would always be enemies, and he could not show any mercy.
From the very beginning, the two of them had been on opposing sides.
Charlotte Katakuri had risked his life to protect his family, while Marco had killed Katakuri's siblings. The enmity between them was something that could never be forgiven.
Although Katakuri might not have realized how coldly his own family had treated him…
For Marco, his motive was simple—he wouldn't let anyone who stood against him live.
Since he couldn't subdue Katakuri and make him an ally, there was only one option: eliminate him.
Marco had been reborn, rising from the ashes like a phoenix, and he wouldn't allow himself to die now.
He would walk on the bones of those who wanted him dead, carving out his own path of invincibility!
"So…"
"You only have one fate left—death."
Marco's expression remained calm as he walked closer to Charlotte Katakuri.
"The loser… I think, even if you die, there's nothing more to say."
Charlotte Katakuri tried to smile. He wanted it to look natural, but it remained twisted, cold, and pitiful.
"My physical abilities, my Armament Haki… all lost to you. Even my Observation Haki, the one thing I took the most pride in, couldn't overcome you. Even my awakened Devil Fruit abilities have been defeated."
"It's truly… a complete defeat."
"Even in death…"
"It only proves… I'm just this kind of man."
"No complaints."
Charlotte Katakuri had no resentment.
A loss was a loss.
Death was just the next step.
From his physical abilities to Armament Haki, to Observation Haki, and finally to his Devil Fruit powers, he had lost completely to Marco.
"Have you lost all your strength to fight?"
Marco stopped, lifting his head as he looked at Katakuri, just a few meters away. "From the very start, I told you… the one who's going to die is you."
The smile on Charlotte Katakuri's face froze.
He could feel a powerful aura of death enveloping him.
"Let me… fight you one last time!"
Charlotte Katakuri's severely injured and dying body suddenly surged with a burst of energy, like a final flare of life. He raised his foot and stomped fiercely towards Marco!
Boom~~!
A wave of top-tier Conqueror's Haki, as tangible as a physical force, swept from Charlotte Katakuri straight towards Marco!
"Conqueror's Haki, huh?" Marco muttered as he raised his own foot to meet Katakuri's attack.
In an instant, Marco unleashed his own top-tier Conqueror's Haki.
Rumble~~!
Their feet collided almost simultaneously, and the clash of their two Conqueror's Haki was like a physical impact, causing a terrifying roar to echo across the island.
At the moment of impact, both Conqueror's Haki transformed into visible energy, shooting straight into the sky!
Dark purple waves of energy instantly formed behind both of them, raging uncontrollably in the sky.
Crack~~!
It was as if the sky itself was splitting apart, the clouds above tearing open and rolling in upheaval, the overwhelming power shaking the heavens.
Thump!
Thump!
The pirates surrounding the battlefield dropped to their knees, overwhelmed by the immense pressure. Some of the weaker ones even fainted from the sheer force of the clash.
In the sky, Big News Morgans flapped his wings in terror, rushing to distance himself from the scene. His bird-like face twisted in shock. "Such powerful Conqueror's Haki… I've never seen anything like it!"
Crack~~!
Charlotte Katakuri felt an unprecedented, astonishing force ravaging his body, tearing him apart from the inside.
The ground beneath his feet shattered as his body was driven downward, sinking deeper into the earth.
Marco's foot pressed harder, relentlessly stomping down on Charlotte Katakuri's body.
Boom!
With a sickening crunch, Katakuri's raised leg shattered.
He… had lost a leg!
Death was closing in on him.
In that moment, in the brief flash of life and death, Charlotte Katakuri's Observation Haki triggered a vision, one that chilled him to the bone.
What he saw had nothing to do with Marco.
He saw… a vision of Big Mom and the Charlotte Family reigning supreme.
He couldn't believe what his Observation Haki was showing him, his eyes filled with disbelief. He even began to question if, during his fierce battle with Marco, his Haki had somehow broken…!
But deep down, he knew the truth.
Observation Haki doesn't degrade once it reaches such a level.
Once improved, it remains unshaken.
Suddenly, the burning determination in his heart—to protect his family at all costs—began to cool.
Rumble~~!
Marco's relentless stomp drove Charlotte Katakuri into the ground, creating a deep pit.
The earth exploded in all directions under the terrifying force.
At that very moment, Marco's Observation Haki flared, sensing something.
His head snapped upward, alert.