"Yes! This time you've won!" Marco exclaimed angrily. His entire body was engulfed in earth flames, transforming into a magnificent blue phoenix that soared into the distance.
With Bullet defeated, the Marines held absolute advantage. Katakuri could not contend with them, and with Kizaru present, the Eternal Pointer was beyond reach for anyone else. Why linger here if it could not be obtained?
"Yeah!" Not long after taking flight, Marco sensed an overwhelming presence around him, the subtle pressure from three figures making him tense. His expression darkened—each of the three radiated strength far above him.
"Oh? It seems we've been discovered," a faint voice echoed, and three figures materialized before Marco.
"Red! Red Count?" Marco's eyes widened in shock.
As one of the earliest recruits of the Whitebeard Pirates, he had heard of the Red Earl and even witnessed the legendary battle between Whitebeard and the Red Earl. The scene of heaven and earth shattering remained unforgettable.
"Oh? You know me? You! You were the one following Whitebeard back then! What a change," Redfield said, momentarily stunned, then sighed.
"You! How did you escape? Weren't you killed by the Marines?"
"No! I fell six stories down in Impel, but now our captain has emerged," Redfield explained, having rarely encountered such characters despite being a junior.
"Captain?" Marco frowned in surprise.
Taking a closer look at the three figures, Marco's eyes widened—Ayanami Kaito stood at the forefront, the very figure dominating headlines recently. A bold thought surged in his mind. Pointing at Kaito in shock, he exclaimed, "The captain you're talking about isn't him, is it?"
"Yes! Exactly what you think!" Redfield confirmed with a nod.
Marco swallowed hard, his scalp tingling. Kaito had actually formed a pirate crew, and the Red Earl had joined it! The revelation sent shockwaves through his heart. Kaito's strength was undeniable; the Red Earl's power was legendary, and the blind companion there radiated a presence even stronger than them in sheer energy.
If this pirate crew announced its members, the seas would tremble. With the Red Earl onboard, Kaito's crew already reached a level comparable to the Four Emperors. It was only a matter of time before the Fifth Emperor appeared.
Marco's anxiety flared. He wanted to return to Whitebeard immediately to report this startling news.
"And what are you doing here?" Marco asked boldly, seeking insight into Kaito's presence and his pirate crew.
"Well! If you must know, my idiotic crewmate was creating havoc on his own, but ultimately, I, as captain, will resolve it," Kaito said with mild annoyance.
"Bullet! Crew?" Margao asked.
"Yes!" Kaito replied, giving a plain answer.
"Uh! Busy as you are, I won't disturb you," Marco said, transforming into a dark blue phoenix, swiftly vanishing into the sky.
"Is it wise to just reveal our crew's information to him?" Issho asked with a smirk.
"Don't worry! After this battle, our pirate crew will command the seas. Even if we remain silent, underground intelligence networks will report it," Kaito said, waving dismissively. After a pause, he added, "Well, for now let's resolve this matter. Hopefully, after being beaten, he can finally live in peace."
With that, the three of them streaked down toward the base of Treasure Island.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Kizaru appeared before Katakuri and the others, holding the Eternal Pointer in his palm. "Here! The pointer is here. If you want it, it will mean war against our Marines."
Bullet, meanwhile, remained unconscious from blood loss.
"Humph!" Cracker snorted coldly.
"Are you sure?" Kizaru replied with a sly smile, his gaze fixed on Katakuri.
As he spoke, his attention shifted toward the three descending figures. "Truly! They've caught their attention!"
"Yo! Kizaru! We meet again!"
Kaito and Kizaru exchanged greetings and approached Bullet. Chakra surged from Kaito, green energy filling the air. The sky above Bullet began rapidly stabilizing, wounds closing before the eyes of those watching, returning him to a normal state in an instant.
"Healing ability! Another new power! What a terrifying pirate," Kizaru murmured.
"It seems the Eternal Pointer is in your hands," Kaito observed, glancing at Kizaru.
"If you want, I can hand it over directly," Kizaru offered without hesitation.
Momousagi and the others remained silent, aware of Kaito's power. If he were provoked, they might be trapped here indefinitely.
"No! I'm not interested. This mess was all Bullet's doing," Kaito shook his head.
"Since the Record Pointer is in your hands, let this farce end here. I'll take care of Bullet."
"No problem!"
As the two spoke, the conflict effectively ended. The Big Mom Pirates who had been present were forgotten in the aftermath.
"You're Kaito? I know you! You're the one who killed Baron Egg!" Cracker said, irritated, scanning for his presence.
Kaito turned to face him, indifference radiating. His aura surged outward, like Poseidon rising, the atmosphere around him thick and oppressive.
"What? Who are you? Shut the fuck up!"
Kizaru frowned slightly, gesturing to Momousagi and the others to step back, quietly observing. To them, Kaito and Katakuri were just pirates—predators among predators.
Boom!
A monstrous roar echoed, and Hancock appeared before Kaito, her expression grim. "What? You dare bully my future husband?"
"Boa Hancock? Since when is Kaito your husband? Why is there no intel from the seas? Are you protecting him?" Cracker asked, initially puzzled, then disdainful.
"For your information, Shichibukai are strong, but outside of Hawkeye, none are worth noting," Redfield quipped.
"Yo, Captain! Haven't seen you in days! And yet, you've gotten the most beautiful woman in the seas, the Pirate Queen!" Redfield joked.
"Don't overthink! I'm just… nah, forget it," Kaito shook his head.
"Haven't you heard of love at first sight?" Hancock pouted, displeased.
"Cracker! Let's go!" Katakuri's serious gaze swept over Kaito and the others. "We act now."