In a flash, Marco's talons snapped shut around the heads of two rear admirals, lifting them clean off the ice and dragging them skyward.
The two men stared in horror, thrashing wildly as the ground vanished beneath them.
Once he reached a sufficient height, Marco released his grip.
They plummeted.
The Rear Admirals immediately activated Moonwalk, desperately trying to stabilize themselves midair—but it was already too late.
Marco appeared above them, two swords gleaming in both hands.
With ruthless precision, he drove the blades straight through their hearts and smashed their bodies down onto the frozen battlefield.
"Rear Admiral Bud… Rear Admiral Will…"
Grief rippled through the Marine ranks.
Two Rear Admirals—slain in moments by the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Cough—cough—you damned pirate…"
Even as death closed in, the two rear admirals clung desperately to Marco's arms, blood spraying as they shouted hoarsely.
"Now! Do it now—kill him!"
Their sacrifice bought an opening.
Marines swarmed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets tore into Marco's body. Several Marine officers followed up instantly, ramming their sabers straight through him.
For Marco, trading injuries was still a profit—but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.
No blood spilled.
Blue flames erupted instead.
"Marco—!" The Whitebeard Pirates cried out in alarm.
Even with the Phoenix Fruit's terrifying regeneration, there was a limit. Push it too far, and death was still possible.
"Don't get carried away—Phoenix Flames!"
Marco roared as blue fire exploded outward, blasting the surrounding Marines back.
The blades impaling him were violently forced out, drawing a sharp gasp of pain from his throat.
But the pain didn't last.
Bathed in blue fire, the wounds closed at a visible rate, sealing completely in mere seconds.
"What—?! The wounds are gone!"
"Is this the power of a Mythical Zoan?!"
"How the hell do we fight a monster like this?!"
Fear spread rapidly among the Marines.
As his body stabilized, Marco could feel it—his stamina was draining fast.
'I'll need to invest in stamina later,' he thought grimly. 'Otherwise, I won't even make it to the end of this war.'
He rolled his shoulders and smirked at the surrounding Marines, his eyes cold and predatory.
"That last attack wasn't bad," Marco said lightly. "It actually hurt."
At his feet, the two rear admirals were still barely alive, clinging to their final breaths.
'People in this world really are absurdly tough,' Marco noted.
He drew his pistol.
Bang.
Bang.
Two clean shots ended it.
Killed Navy Rear Admiral — Reward: 35 Attribute Points.
Killed Navy Rear Admiral — Reward: 35 Attribute Points.
The blue flames flickered softly as Marco raised his head—ready for the next wave.
"Attack together! Even if his regeneration is monstrous, it has to have a limit!" Rear Admiral Yukimura roared.
"That's right—everyone at once! Take Marco down!"
Rather than being shaken by the deaths of three Rear Admirals, the surrounding Marines grew more aggressive, their fighting spirit surging.
But the Marines weren't the only ones with reinforcements.
Zack stepped forward and shouted, "First Division—follow Captain Marco! Crush the Marines!"
"Kill them all!"
"Break through!"
"This time, we will rescue Ace!"
The battlefield erupted once again as both sides collided in brutal close combat—and Marco continued reaping Marine lives.
"The casualties are getting out of hand…" Even Kizaru could no longer remain idle.
From above Crescent Bay, he watched the commanders spearheading the charge, carving through Marine ranks with unstoppable momentum.
Under normal circumstances, Marine Vice Admirals would have stepped in to counter them—but nearly all Vice Admirals had already been deployed outside Crescent Bay to hold back the Whitebeard Pirates' allied fleets. Only the Giant Vice Admirals remained inside.
Among all the captains, Marco stood out the most.
The others knocked Marines aside and pressed forward—but Marco finished every single one.
Any Marine left breathing on the ground was executed without hesitation.
In just a short span of time, hundreds had fallen by his hand.
Kizaru frowned.
According to intelligence, Marco had never been particularly bloodthirsty.
So why now?
Was it because this was war?
Or because Ace's life was on the line?
Whatever the reason, Kizaru couldn't allow it to continue.
"There's no helping it," he muttered.
"If this goes on, the losses will be unacceptable."
"To capture the bandits… first capture their leader."
As his words faded, Kizaru's body began to dissolve into shimmering particles of light.
If he targeted Whitebeard, Marco would be forced to return and defend him.
High above Marineford, a blinding golden glow flared into existence—so radiant it looked as though a second sun had risen in the sky.
Pirates and Marines alike instinctively narrowed their eyes.
The next instant, Kizaru crossed his arms.
"Yasakani no Magatama."
Countless beams of light rained down—aimed straight at Whitebeard.
"Pops—!"
Several members of the Whitebeard Pirates cried out in alarm.
Marco saw the attack clearly. He could have intercepted it—but he didn't.
Blocking it completely would drain a massive amount of stamina. And more importantly, Marco trusted Whitebeard.
Sure enough, veins bulged across Whitebeard's arm as he drew back his fist.
He punched forward.
The air shattered.
Invisible cracks spread through space itself as the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's shockwave erupted. The incoming light beams were violently repelled, ricocheting back toward the plaza.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
The reflected light slammed into Marineford, erupting into a chain of fiery explosions.
Kizaru reformed midair, clicking his tongue in mild annoyance.
"…Looks like I caused quite a bit of collateral damage."
Whitebeard tilted his head back and laughed thunderously.
"Gurararara! You here to entertain us, Flash Boy?"
Before Kizaru could respond, a razor-sharp sword slash cut through the air.
"Rose Rondo."
Kizaru dispersed into light again, landing smoothly on the ground as the attack passed.
He looked at the man before him and smiled lazily.
"Oh my… Fifth Division Commander—Flower Sword Vista."
"You know me?" Vista replied with a polite smile.
"What an honor."
Then his expression sharpened, sword raised.
"I've heard that you're also a master swordsman, Kizaru. Would you grant me the honor… of exchanging a few moves today?"
The clash of monsters was about to begin.