In the blink of an eye, a wave of icy mist surged across the battlefield. Aokiji's frost swept in from behind, coating half of Jozu's body in solid ice before he could even react. He attempted to harden his body with Haki, but the cold had already invaded too deeply. Within seconds, his entire form was frozen from head to toe.
"Captain Jozu!"
Members of the Whitebeard Pirates cried out, their faces pale with shock.
"Jozu…" Ace's voice trembled with grief as he watched his comrade immobilized.
Akainu let out a cold snort. "At a moment like this, you still have the time to worry about others?"
"Don't even think about touching Ace, Akainu."
A fierce voice cut through the heat and ice. Marco descended from above, blue flames trailing behind him. He gathered Armament Haki around his right leg and struck with all the force of his Mythical Zoan. "Phoenix Seal!"
The impact created a violent shockwave. Akainu blocked with his arm, the magma on his body rippling from the force. He slid half a step back before regaining his footing.
Marco landed in front of Ace, wings spread, and shouted, "Ace, move now!"
Akainu's eyes hardened. He knew Marco's flames were nothing like Ace's. Marco was not only physically stronger, but his regeneration made him incredibly difficult to put down quickly.
"Marco of the First Division," Akainu said, his tone low and dangerous, "you possess Conqueror's Haki, and your talent is undeniable. A pirate like you will be erased by this old man. But if you step aside now, I can consider letting you live."
Marco smirked, completely unfazed. "We came here with the entire Whitebeard crew and forty-three allied fleets, more than fifty thousand people, for one purpose: saving Ace. Both sides have lost too many already. Why don't we stop this here? Tend to your wounded, and once we return to the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates are willing to pay ten billion Berries as compensation for Marineford's damage."
Akainu's expression darkened instantly. The magma coursing along his arm surged violently, sparks flying from the intensity of his anger.
"Then you can die!"
Marco was already prepared. Blue flames erupted around him as he braced. Magma and fire collided when Akainu thrust forward, but Marco's left hand, wrapped in both flame and Haki, snapped forward like a blazing talon and caught Akainu's fist directly.
"What?"
Shock flickered across Akainu's eyes. Marco had stopped his punch… with one hand.
Inside, Marco felt a fierce surge of relief. He had barely managed to block it, but the fact he could meant his power was growing. He shouted over his shoulder, "Ace, go! So many comrades risked everything to pull you out of this place. If you fall here, all of their sacrifices will be meaningless. As long as you reach the New World alive, that is our victory!"
Ace's expression tightened with determination. Everyone had fought and bled for his sake. He could not throw that away. "I understand. Stay alive, Marco!"
Akainu roared, fury twisting his voice. "You think you can run from this old man?"
His other arm transformed into another blazing magma fist, swinging straight toward Marco's head.
Marco had anticipated it. His right arm rose instantly, flames and Haki reinforcing his block. The collision sent molten fragments scattering. Akainu snarled and suddenly clamped down, gripping Marco's arms with both magma-coated hands. Intense heat tore into Marco's skin, but his Phoenix flames rapidly regenerated the burns as they appeared.
"Step aside, Marco!" Akainu bellowed. The magma along his back exploded outward in a powerful burst, pushing forward like a volcanic eruption.
"Don't look down on me, Akainu! Aahhhhh!"
Marco's entire body ignited in blue fire. His regenerative flames burned brighter as he poured every ounce of strength into resisting the Admiral. Blue fire clashed with molten magma, the two forces tearing open the very ground beneath them. Stone cracked. Dirt liquefied. The earth sank where they stood.
The pressure of their collision created violent winds sweeping across the battlefield. Debris was blasted away, and neither pirates nor Marines could approach this furnace of heat and flame.
"Marco…"
Gasps rippled through the Whitebeard Pirates. Seeing Marco hold Akainu head-on left everyone stunned—Ace included.
They all knew Marco was strong, but he was so low-key, so easygoing, that few truly understood the depth of his power. Even as First Division Commander, he never flaunted anything. Ace had always believed they were close in strength.
But now, witnessing Marco withstand the Admiral's full power, Ace finally understood how far above him Marco truly was.
Akainu's face twisted as he felt Marco's unyielding force. "This brat… His strength has grown. Why? He wasn't like this before. Is this what happens when a man fights to protect his comrades? Or is he ready to die?"
A dangerous glint flashed in the Admiral's eyes.
"It seems this old man underestimated you. If I don't eliminate you today, you'll become a threat to the Marines."
His grip tightened, magma surging with lethal intensity. He stepped forward with crushing force.
The ground trembled.
Marco was forced back a step, deep tracks gouged beneath his heels.
"No… What kind of monstrous strength is this?" Marco gritted his teeth as heat surged around him. "Even with my strength over seven thousand, I still can't stop him…"
Akainu's power continued to rise. The pressure crushed down on Marco like a blazing mountain. Blue flames wrapped his entire body as he fought with everything he had, pushing his limits further than ever before.
Akainu roared, magma erupting from every inch of his body, and shoved forward with overwhelming strength.
Marco strained under the weight, lungs burning from the heat.
'Not enough… This strength… I still can't hold it…'
Flames and magma raged, their clash threatening to tear Marineford apart.
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