The Moby Dick.
Marco strode across the deck with a grave expression, weaving past crewmates who were drinking and laughing near the rail. He stopped at the center of the deck and looked toward that towering figure who was gulping down booze without restraint.
"Dad, something's wrong," Marco said seriously.
"We just received an emergency distress call from the Witch Pirates. Big Sis Whitey Bay is in critical danger!"
Bang!
The massive hand slammed down.
"Who is it?"
"Who dares touch my people?!"
The noisy deck instantly fell silent as everyone pricked up their ears.
"It's the Marines," Marco answered.
Whitebeard wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and frowned.
"The Marines dared to lay hands on my family?"
"Who was it? Akainu? Aokiji?"
"Neither," Marco replied, shaking his head.
"It was a Marine major named Karl. He went in alone and wiped out the entire Witch Pirates. Even Big Sis Whitey Bay wasn't his match."
Hearing that it was only a Marine major, a cold glint flashed through Whitebeard's eyes.
"Gurarararara— a mere major dares to touch my people? Truly doesn't know the meaning of death!"
"Marco," Whitebeard asked,
"Do you know the location?"
Marco nodded calmly. "Of course. Big Sis isn't that far from us. I can get there in about half an hour."
Whitebeard downed an entire bowl of wine in one go.
"Go immediately and support Whitey Bay," he ordered.
"No matter what, make sure she comes back alive."
"As for that major—kill him."
"The Whitebeard Pirates aren't someone any random brat can step on!"
"Go, Marco! Teach those damn Marines a proper lesson!"
"Captain Marco, come back quick! Bring Whitey Bay with you—let's drink together!"
"OOOOOOH!!"
Whitebeard watched his boisterous family with a deep, satisfied laugh.
This… this is everything I live for.
And anyone who dared harm his family—
Would pay a devastating price.
Marco smiled faintly and nodded.
A Marine major? Even if he could overpower Whitey Bay, it meant nothing.
He was Marco the Phoenix.
With a beat of his wings, blue flames erupted, and he transformed into the Undying Phoenix, soaring into the sky.
The Witch Queen.
"No…!"
Pinned brutally to the deck, Whitey Bay let out a despairing cry—rage mingled with helplessness.
Karl had not killed her.
Instead, he slaughtered her subordinates one by one right in front of her eyes. In no time at all, the deck was carpeted with corpses.
The surviving pirates, having lost their backbone, scattered in panic—playing a hopeless game of cat and mouse with Karl.
Unfortunately for them, before Karl's Observation Haki, there was nowhere to hide.
Slash—
Another pirate fell.
Karl slowly drew back Umaru. His white Marine uniform had long since turned crimson with blood.
"Now," he said calmly,
"you're the only one left."
"You devil!" Whitey Bay screamed.
"You'll pay for this—!"
Karl crouched beside her and lightly patted her face, his expression full of disdain.
"A devil? Sure," he replied coldly.
"To trash like you, I suppose I am."
"You're very lucky," he continued slowly,
"You have Whitebeard's protection…"
Buru-buru-buru~
Karl picked up the sunglasses-wearing, extremely punchable-looking Den Den Mushi.
"Hello?"
"Uwo~ you actually answered!" Kizaru's voice came through.
"So scary! I thought you'd already be dead~"
Karl: ...
How little faith do you have in me?
Whitey Bay is a one-kick problem for you—if she could kill me, I'd admit she's impressive.
"You should be saying that to the Witch Pirates," Karl replied flatly.
"This is troublesome," Kizaru continued lazily.
"If I remember correctly, that Ice Witch is one of Whitebeard's veteran crew, right~?"
Karl looked down at Whitey Bay, her eyes filled with venom, and sneered.
"Relax. She's alive."
"I just killed everyone else."
"…You really are ruthless, kid," Kizaru said with amusement.
"Alright, since she's alive, don't touch her anymore. I'm on my way now~"
The call ended.
Karl pocketed the Den Den Mushi and sighed inwardly.
Still too weak…
This world respected only strength.
Because Whitebeard was powerful enough, the Navy hesitated—unwilling to gamble everything on an all-out war.
And because of that, Karl was stuck in this annoying situation.
He could easily finish Whitey Bay off—
But doing so would invite Whitebeard's fury and drag countless Marines into the consequences.
"…You got lucky."
Karl ignored the immobilized Whitey Bay. He leaned against the railing, pulled out a cigar, lit it, and calmly waited for Kizaru.
High in the sky, Marco was drawing closer and closer to the Witch Queen.
"That's… no doubt about it. Big Sis Whitey Bay's ship. But why—"
Descending further, Marco saw the bodies scattered across the deck. A surge of anger welled up in his chest.
Did the Marines do all this…?
Then he spotted Karl—leaning casually against the rail, Marine uniform dyed blood-red, calmly puffing on a cigar.
"DIE, MARINE!!"
Karl's gaze sharpened. He retreated explosively from the railing—
Boom!
The guardrail exploded as a blue-flamed birdman slammed down where Karl had been standing.
"Marco?! Is that you? Save me!" Whitey Bay screamed hoarsely.
Marco snapped his head up. Only then did he notice her—nailed to the deck by blades. At first, he'd thought it was just another corpse.
"Big Sis Whitey Bay!"
"…Damn it!"
Marco turned slowly toward Karl, fury blazing in his eyes.
"You did this…?!"
Karl shrugged indifferently.
"I'm a Marine," he said.
"Problem?"
"…Hmph. Very well," Marco said coldly.
"Then prepare to die."
Marco flapped his wings and shot straight into the sky, shrinking into a black dot as he soared upward—until he vanished completely.
Karl did not relax for even a second.
His Observation Haki expanded fully, eyes locked on the sky.
A violent whistling sound tore through the air.
Karl slammed his left foot down and used Soru, vanishing from his spot—
In the next instant, Marco's kick obliterated the place where Karl had stood.
"Fast reaction," Marco commented.
"Observation Haki, huh? No wonder you beat Big Sis."
Shedding his earlier contempt, Marco reverted to human form and threw a punch straight at Karl.
Too fast. Almost impossible to dodge.
Karl crossed both arms and coated them in Armament Haki, blocking the blow head-on.
"Armament Haki too?" Marco said, eyes narrowing.
"A Marine major who's mastered both types… you've got some real skill."
"Haha, you flatter me," Karl replied lightly.
"I only awakened them recently."
Marco's face darkened.
"Don't flatter yourself," he snapped.
"I wasn't praising you."
The next moment, Marco unleashed a storm of attacks—fast, heavy, relentless.
Karl was immediately pushed to the brink.
Marco's strength was on an entirely different level from Whitey Bay—far superior in physique alone, not to mention his Haki mastery.
Karl could only barely hold on, relying on the Holy Light's constant healing to survive.
Boom!
Marco's kick sent Karl flying. His body slammed into the mast, nearly snapping it in two.
"Kid," Marco said coldly,
"weren't you awfully arrogant just a moment ago?"
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