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The blue flames of regeneration flickered helplessly along the edge of the wound, like a fire meeting its natural enemy. They could neither stop the blood from flowing nor mend the torn flesh that had been pierced clean through.
A strange, destructive energy clung to the wound like poison, eating away at Marco's very life force.
"My flames… why…"
Sweat beaded on Marco's forehead. He could feel it—his vitality was draining away with every drop of blood.
He'd never experienced anything like this before.
The Phoenix's regeneration was his greatest trump card—the very reason he'd been able to roam the New World freely, surviving battles against countless powerful foes.
But now, that confidence—his unbreakable defense—had been shattered by a single touch from that brat.
"Impossible! That's impossible!"
Marco tried again to activate his Devil Fruit power, and the blue flames flared brighter than ever. But the purplish aura of destruction clinging to his wound refused to yield, burrowing deep like maggots into bone. No matter how much energy he poured in, it was useless.
Below, the cheers of the Whitebeard Pirates died instantly. The smiles on their faces froze.
Something was wrong.
"Captain Marco's wound—what's going on?!"
"Why isn't it healing?!"
"That blue fire… it's not working anymore!"
Panic spread through the crowd like wildfire.
Even the Red-Hair Pirates exchanged alarmed glances.
"Even the Phoenix's regeneration doesn't work? What kind of trick is that kid using?!" Lucky Roux gawked, his half-eaten drumstick forgotten in his hand.
Ben Beckman bit down on his cigar, brows deeply furrowed, his gaze dark and heavy.
Yasopp looked at the gaping hole in Marco's chest, then rubbed his still-sore arms, shuddering.
That kid was pure nightmare fuel.
Every move that monster child made defied all logic.
"Eee-ya."
The babyish voice broke the silence.
Dan's dark, pure eyes looked calmly up at Marco, whose face had gone pale as paper, body trembling midair.
Then, that chubby little finger slowly rose again.
At its tip, the same ominous purple energy began to form—condensing, rotating, compressing—tighter, sharper, deadlier than before.
"He's—he's doing it again?!"
Marco's pupils shrank in terror. A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
He tried to move, to dodge, to escape this zone of death—but the searing pain in his chest and the rapid drain of his life made his body sluggish, unresponsive.
That purple beam of annihilation was about to fire again—
"STOP!!!"
The thunderous roar erupted from the Moby Dick.
It was Whitebeard.
The massive old man trembled—not from age, but from fury and fear. His hawk-like eyes, bloodshot and burning, locked onto Dan.
He took one heavy step forward, and a wave of Conqueror's Haki burst from him like a tsunami, shaking the very air as it tried to smother Dan's presence.
"Whitebeard, you trying to back out now?!"
Kaido's own Conqueror's Haki answered instantly, clashing in the air and shielding Dan from harm.
The sky dimmed as their auras collided, the world itself groaning beneath the pressure.
"Father! I can still fight!" Marco grit his teeth, forcing the words out.
Whitebeard drew in a deep breath, his massive chest heaving.
"This round…"
His voice came rough and low, every word like a hammer striking steel.
"…We concede."
"!!!!"
The entire sea went silent.
When the words "we concede" came from the mouth of the world's strongest man, time itself seemed to stop.
The air froze.
The Whitebeard Pirates stared in disbelief. The Red-Hair crew frowned, equally stunned.
"Father!!!"
"No—we're not giving up!"
"Let me at him! I'll teach that brat some respect!"
"Me too! I'll risk my life if I have to, but I won't let that kid walk away unpunished!"
One after another, Whitebeard's men roared in outrage.
Jozu's massive fists cracked the air as he clenched them, teeth grinding. Vista and the other commanders all stepped forward, demanding to continue the fight.
To surrender—to a toddler in a diaper? That humiliation burned worse than death.
"Father—"
Marco tried to protest again, but Whitebeard raised a massive hand, silencing him.
Pride, or his son's life—he'd made his choice.
"Whitebeard…"
Shanks' eyes softened with understanding. He could read the old man's decision clearly.
That child's power was beyond anything they'd imagined.
If the fight continued… Marco wouldn't survive.
"Whitebeard… actually gave up…" Yasopp muttered under his breath, shock written across his face. Somehow, his own earlier defeat to the little monster didn't sting quite as badly anymore.
Ben Beckman took a slow drag on his cigar and exhaled, a cloud of smoke curling around his head as his gaze deepened.
The purple glow at Dan's fingertip faded away.
[Ding!] Congratulations, host! You've defeated a Shichibukai-level opponent (Marco the Phoenix, 1st Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates)!
[Mission 3: Defeat four Shichibukai-level or higher opponents — Progress: 2/4]
Only two more to go.
"Worororororororo!!!"
Kaido's booming laugh shattered the heavy silence, echoing across the waves.
The massive dragon bent his head down, rubbing his snout affectionately against Dan's chubby face—spattering drool everywhere, some even landing on Whitebeard's ship.
"Did you hear that, old man?! Red-haired brat?!"
"My son's unbeatable!"
"Your so-called 'Emperor Commanders' are jokes next to him! Worororororo!!"
Each word cut like a blade straight into the hearts of the Whitebeard crew.
Whitebeard's face darkened, veins bulging across his forehead—but he said nothing.
He'd lost. Fair and square.
"Kaido, haven't you had enough?"
A calm, steady voice sliced through Kaido's laughter.
From the Red-Hair ship, Ben Beckman stepped forward, cigar between his lips, rifle in hand.
The barrel pointed loosely downward, but the invisible pressure he exuded sent chills through everyone nearby.
"This farce has gone on long enough," he said quietly.
His sharp eyes swept over Kaido before locking on Dan's small figure. His gaze turned razor-sharp—like a blade cutting through fog, seeing straight to the core.
"...!"
Gasps rippled through both crews.
"Mr. Beckman?!"
"The Vice-Captain's stepping in?!"
"He's actually fighting personally?!"
The Red-Hair crew could hardly believe it. Their calm, composed first mate—who rarely involved himself directly—was now volunteering to face off against a toddler.
That alone spoke volumes about how dangerous Dan really was.
"Red-Hair's right hand, huh?" Kaido's laughter finally subsided. His draconic eyes narrowed, studying Beckman with genuine caution.
He knew this man's power wasn't to be taken lightly.
Across from him, Marco, Jozu, and the other Whitebeard commanders felt a flicker of hope.
Ben Beckman—the one whose strength was said to rival even the Four Emperors themselves.
Maybe… he could stop this monster child.
"Eee-ya!"
Dan's eyes lit up in delight, his tiny fists pumping in excitement.
Ben Beckman's power wasn't just above the Warlord tier—it was on par with an Admiral.
Which meant…
His second and third missions could both be completed in one go.
"..."
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