In the blink of an eye, a terrifying cold swept across the battlefield. Frost surged over Jozu's body, locking half of him in solid ice. He tried to activate his Haki to resist—but it was already too late.
Less than three seconds later, Jozu was completely frozen, transformed into an immobile ice statue.
"Captain Jozu—!"
"Jozu!" Ace cried out in anguish.
The Whitebeard Pirates were thrown into panic.
Akainu merely snorted, his voice dripping with contempt. "At a time like this, you still have the luxury of worrying about others?"
"Don't even think about touching Ace, Akainu!"
Marco had already arrived. Blue flames flared violently around him as Haki surged into his right leg. He roared,
"Phoenix Seal—!"
Akainu raised his arm to block. A violent shockwave exploded outward as their attacks collided, the air screaming under the pressure. Even Akainu felt the force and was pushed back half a step.
Marco landed firmly in front of Ace, wings spread wide.
"Ace, go! Now!"
Akainu narrowed his eyes. Marco was different from Ace—his strength alone wasn't overwhelming, but his regenerative ability made him infuriatingly hard to put down. Killing him would take time.
Coldly, Akainu spoke. "First Division Commander Marco… I'll be honest. A pirate who possesses Conqueror's Haki like you deserves death. Still—step aside now, and I will spare your life."
Marco sneered. "We brought over fifty thousand men here—Whitebeard Pirates and our allied crews—just to save Ace. At this point, both sides have suffered heavy losses."
"How about we end it here?"
"You Marines treat your wounded. We return to the New World. And the Whitebeard Pirates will pay ten billion Berries as compensation for Marineford."
Akainu's expression darkened instantly. Magma churned violently across his body.
"Then," he said coldly, "you can die."
Marco was ready.
Blue flames erupted around his body as Haki wrapped tightly around his palm. His left hand formed a claw and slammed forward—and caught Akainu's punch head-on.
"What?!" Akainu's eyes widened in disbelief.
Marco was just as shocked internally. It wasn't easy—his arm screamed under the heat—but he had blocked Akainu's fist with one hand.
Finally.
He shouted over his shoulder, "Ace, run! Everyone we lost today died to save you! If you fall here, all of it means nothing! As long as you return to the New World alive—then this war is our victory!"
Ace clenched his teeth, then nodded fiercely. "I understand… You have to survive too, Marco!"
As Ace turned to flee, Akainu roared in fury, "You think I'll let you escape?!"
His left arm transformed into magma and smashed down toward Marco's head.
Marco anticipated it. His right hand snapped up, blocking the second punch as well.
Akainu's shock deepened as he seized Marco's arms, molten heat flooding through them. Marco's flesh burned instantly—and regenerated just as fast, blue flames roaring defiantly against the magma.
The clash between Phoenix and Magma intensified, neither side yielding, as Ace finally sprinted away from the battlefield.
"Get out of my way, Marco!" Akainu roared.
Magma erupted violently from his back, releasing a terrifying propulsive force that surged forward like a volcanic blast.
"Don't underestimate me, Akainu—AAAAAAHHHH!!"
Marco answered with a furious roar of his own. Blue flames exploded from his body, crashing head-on against the dark-red magma. Every time the searing heat scorched him, his regeneration flared, flesh restoring itself in an instant. Blue and crimson clashed without pause, and the ground beneath them cracked violently before collapsing inward.
The collision of their powers unleashed hurricane-force winds, sweeping away rubble and debris. The temperature soared so high that neither Marines nor pirates dared approach—this battlefield had become a living furnace.
"Marco…"
The sight stunned the Whitebeard Pirates—and Ace most of all.
They had always known Marco was strong, but he had never flaunted it. Even as First Division Commander, he was easygoing, approachable… almost unassuming. Ace had once believed Marco's strength was close to his own.
Now, that belief shattered completely.
"Tch…" Akainu's expression darkened. He could feel it clearly—Marco was stronger than before. Significantly so.
What was this?
A last burst of hidden potential?
Or the resolve of a man prepared to die to protect his comrades?
"It seems I truly underestimated you," Akainu growled. "If I don't kill you today, Marco, you'll become a catastrophic threat to the Marines in the future!"
His grip tightened. Magma surged harder, crushing down on Marco's arms as Akainu took a massive step forward.
The instant his foot hit the ground, Marco was forced back. His boots carved two deep trenches into the earth as he struggled to hold his ground.
'Impossible…!'
Marco's heart pounded. 'My strength is already over seven thousand—and I still can't stop him?!'
Akainu's power kept rising, relentless and overwhelming. Marco pushed every ounce of strength he had, blue flames engulfing his entire body as he squeezed out every last bit of potential. He couldn't afford even a second of hesitation.
"RAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
Akainu roared, his body erupting completely in magma. At first, he advanced slowly, methodically forcing Marco backward, each step carving deeper scars into the battlefield.
Then—he accelerated.
Long strides. Crushing momentum. The magma pressed down like a mountain, the heat so intense Marco could barely breathe.
'No… this strength… I still can't stop it…'
Marco felt his entire body burning. Even the Phoenix's regeneration was beginning to lag, struggling to keep pace with the relentless damage.
For the first time since the battle began, Marco realized—
He was being pushed to the absolute edge.
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