"Fufufufufu, how fitting for a legendary monster. Haki that overwhelming right from the start."
Doflamingo's twisted smile widened, his tone mocking as he watched the enormous waves rising like mountains. The other Shichibukai barely reacted, as if such destruction was nothing unusual.
In that moment, Kuzan stepped forward. He pushed off the air with Moonwalk, rising above the battlefield. His voice resounded, low and powerful. "Ice Age."
Frost surged from both his hands the instant the words left his lips. Spears of ice formed, shooting straight toward the colossal waves. The temperature plummeted. In one breath, the roaring tsunami froze solid, locked in place as a glimmering wall of ice stretching across the bay.
"It stopped."
"It's Admiral Kuzan."
The Marines snapped out of their terror, still shaken by how close the tsunami had been to swallowing Marineford whole.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes. As expected, Kuzan had handled the waves with ease. The quake attack earlier had merely been a warning, a way to unsettle the battlefield.
"Ice Block: Partisan."
Kuzan's follow-up attack came instantly. Countless ice spears shot downward.
Whitebeard didn't spare them a glance. He simply clenched his fist and threw a punch. The air cracked. The ordinary Quake shockwave shattered Kuzan's assault and smashed apart Kuzan's body, sending him crashing into Crescent Bay.
The sea erupted in a froststorm. Within seconds, the entire bay froze solid. The water around Marineford hardened, and the Moby Dick became immobilized on the ice like a trapped titan.
"It's frozen!"
"Good! We can move now!"
"Brothers, attack!"
The Whitebeard Pirates leaped from the ship and charged forward across the frozen battlefield.
"Don't fear them! We have a hundred thousand elite Marines, the Three Admirals, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"That's right, take down the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Charge!"
Marco's wings ignited in blue flames as he shifted into his hybrid Human-Beast form. His voice carried steady determination. "Jozu, I'm counting on you to protect Pops."
"Leave it to me." Jozu grinned, confident and solid as ever.
Marco didn't waste a heartbeat. He dove straight into the mass of Marines. His leg swept out with explosive force, sending three Marines crashing to the ground. In the same fluid motion, he drew a short sword from his waist and struck, driving the blade cleanly into the throats of all three. Blood splashed across the ice.
'Killed Marine Sergeant, rewarded 3 attribute points.'
'Killed Marine Corporal, rewarded 2 attribute points.'
'Killed Marine Corporal, rewarded 2 attribute points.'
Marco glanced at the notifications but didn't allocate anything yet. There was no need. He continued forward, cutting down Marine after Marine. In this world, fists were rarely fatal. To kill someone outright, his strikes had to hit the throat or remove the head entirely. Otherwise, an enemy could still get back up.
On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard watched Marco's relentless advance with visible surprise. Marco had never been one to use a sword. Yet today, he fought with ruthless precision, finishing every downed enemy without hesitation.
Whitebeard exhaled deeply. At least Marco understood the truth of war. Against the Marines, mercy meant death. In this battle, hesitation had no place.
"Pops…"
Jozu approached quickly.
"Hm? Why are you here?" Whitebeard asked with a puzzled look.
"Marco told me to protect you." Jozu answered plainly.
Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh, the sound rolling like thunder. "Gurara… This old man doesn't need protection. The one who can kill me hasn't been born yet!"
"Of course. Pops is the strongest," Jozu agreed firmly. But even so, he remained at Whitebeard's back, silent and immovable.
Whitebeard didn't press the issue, though his brows drew together slightly as his gaze returned to Marco.
Marco, in the meantime, continued sweeping across the battlefield. After knocking Marines unconscious, he darted back to finish them cleanly. It wasn't noble, but it was efficient. He gained strength faster, and it preserved stamina. His kills mounted rapidly — more than five hundred attribute points gathered in a short span.
The war had only just begun. The Marines still held overwhelming numbers. And when Ace was freed, Marco knew he would eventually have to face Akainu. In the original timeline, Marco had been completely outmatched. Even with the Phoenix's regeneration, he could not stop Akainu's magma.
Marco didn't expect victory. But he needed the strength to stall him.
Jozu, watching the chaos, hesitated. Marco's warning lingered in his mind. He wanted to join the fight, but he also felt responsible for informing Whitebeard.
"Pops, I'm heading to the battlefield."
"Go." Whitebeard nodded.
Just as Jozu turned, he paused. "Pops, there's something else. Marco warned me about Squard. He said Squard's former comrades were killed by Roger, and if he learns Ace is Roger's son… the Marines might manipulate him. He might target you."
Whitebeard's eyes sharpened. "I understand. The Marines would indeed use such tactics. Very well. Go."
"Yes, Pops."
Jozu sprinted off.
Marco continued carving through the ice-filled battlefield. Every Marine he cut down yielded more attribute points. He saved all of them, waiting for the moment when he would need overwhelming strength.
"Phoenix Marco, die!"
A group of Marine officers rushed at him, blades raised.
Marco's gaze chilled. His short sword darkened with Armament Haki as he charged straight toward them.
With a sharp clash, his blade cut cleanly through their sabers. Two Marines collapsed immediately, wounded and unable to rise.
"You exposed yourselves."
Three more Marines attempted a surprise attack from behind.
Marco didn't even turn fully. Blue flames wrapped around his sword. "Blue Flame Sword."
One sweeping strike cut through all three. They hit the ground, gasping. Marco strode toward them, drew his pistol, and without hesitation pressed the barrel to their skulls.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Five shots. Five kills. The ice beneath him stained red.
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