Meanwhile, on Beehive Island, Wang Zhi had been unable to find peace for days.
His scouts had already confirmed the reports. Dozens of pirate ships belonging to the Phoenix Pirates had gathered at Shihblan Island and were now advancing directly toward Beehive Island. There was no longer any doubt. The war had arrived.
Along the island's coastline, hundreds of cannons were already in position. Three large pirate battleships floated in the shallows, accompanied by dozens of smaller vessels, all prepared to engage at a moment's notice.
Suddenly, figures appeared on the horizon.
One pirate ship after another came into view.
"The Phoenix Pirates are here!" someone shouted.
Wang Zhi's eyes sharpened as he raised his voice.
"Fire! Do not let their ships get close to the island!"
In the next instant, thunderous cannon fire erupted. Smoke and flames filled the air as iron shells tore across the sea.
However, in a direct naval confrontation, the difference was obvious.
In battleships, artillery, manpower, and high-level fighters, the Phoenix Pirates completely outmatched the Wang Zhi Pirates.
"Brothers, follow me!" Ace shouted.
He leaped straight off his ship and landed on his rocket boat. Flames burst beneath his feet as he surged forward, instantly leaving the rest of the fleet behind.
"Captain Ace…" some of the crew muttered helplessly as they watched him rush ahead alone.
Rakuyo shook his head with a faint smile.
"He's still as impatient as ever. But with Ace's strength, even if he runs into Wang Zhi head-on, he won't go down easily."
Ace weaved through incoming cannon fire with ease, his movements sharp and precise. Flames gathered around his fist as he roared.
"Fire Fist!"
A massive column of fire surged forward, dozens of meters wide. A battleship was engulfed instantly, reduced to wreckage in a blink. The flames did not slow, continuing straight toward Beehive Island.
Just as the attack was about to strike land, the island itself shifted.
A colossal stone arm rose from the ground, more than a hundred meters thick.
Ace's Fire Fist slammed directly into it.
Boom!
The impact shattered the stone arm completely. Burning fragments and rubble scattered through the air, crashing into the sea below.
"This is…"
As the Phoenix Pirates drew closer, their expressions grew heavy.
A massive stone giant slowly rose from Beehive Island, towering hundreds of meters into the sky.
"What is that?"
"Is that Wang Zhi?"
"Is that his Devil Fruit?"
Someone shouted an answer.
"Calm down. That's the Island-Island Fruit. Wang Zhi merged with the island itself. Beehive Island is completely under his control."
The sight of the stone giant, towering over five hundred meters tall, made the situation unmistakably clear.
Marco observed quietly, his eyes steady.
Based on his assessment, Wang Zhi's strength was limited. Even at his peak, he was only at the level of a top Emperor subordinate.
The stone giant opened its eyes, its voice echoing across the sea.
"Marco, it's not too late to turn back. I've already informed Kaido and Linlin of your actions here. If you're smart, you'll leave immediately. Beehive Island is my territory. It is not something you can take."
Wang Zhi's strategy was simple and brutal. Defend the island at all costs. As long as he held out for two or three months, he was confident the Phoenix Pirates would be forced to retreat.
Marco did not appear shaken.
To him, Wang Zhi was no true threat.
Even without Marco stepping in personally, several of his division commanders were more than capable of fighting him.
His voice was calm, carrying clearly across the battlefield.
"Wang Zhi, you've sailed these seas for decades. You should understand better than anyone that there is no such thing as regret in this world. The moment you attacked us, this outcome became inevitable."
He paused briefly.
"I'll give you one chance. Hand over Beehive Island willingly and become an affiliated crew under the Phoenix Pirates. Do that, and I'll spare your life."
Wang Zhi burst into harsh laughter.
"Gyahahaha! Marco, when I was carving my name into the seas, you hadn't even risen to prominence yet. Even when Whitebeard was alive, I never submitted to him. And you think I'd bow to you now?"
His laughter turned vicious.
"I'll start by smashing your flagship!"
The stone giant's arm expanded, growing thicker and heavier as it swung toward the Moby Dick with crushing force.
Some of the Phoenix Pirates tensed, but fear did not take hold.
They had survived Marineford. They had fought the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates. Compared to those battles, this pressure was nothing.
"Don't think you can pull that off!" Ace shouted.
He surged forward and slammed another Fire Fist into the descending stone arm.
Boom!
The massive fist shattered again.
Ace did not stop.
"Crossfire Blast!"
Flames exploded outward.
"Firefly, Fire Swirl!"
"Mirror Flame!"
"Explosive Flame!"
One attack followed another in rapid succession. Ace's flames tore through the battlefield with terrifying efficiency, obliterating the remaining battleships and shore-mounted cannons in moments.
"As expected of Ace."
"A Logia user really is on another level."
"Now, release the surrender notices!"
Cannon fire rang out again, but this time the shells exploded high above Beehive Island.
From the smoke, countless surrender notices rained down across the island.
As pirates picked them up, hesitation spread through the ranks.
At that moment, Doran rushed to Wang Zhi, holding one of the notices in his trembling hand.
"Captain, look at this…"
Wang Zhi snatched it, his face darkening instantly.
"That damned Marco!" he roared. "Trying to break my men from the inside!"
He crushed the notice in his grip.
"Burn them all! Anyone who dares keep one, I'll kill them myself!"
By now, the blockade was complete.
More than forty Phoenix Pirate ships encircled Beehive Island from every direction, sealing it off completely.
The island was trapped.
___
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