'Why are there new missions again…?'
Marco frowned inwardly, a trace of curiosity surfacing even amid the chaos. He opened the system panel, tapped into the mission tab—and found that three missions had been issued simultaneously.
New Mission: Become Captain
With Whitebeard fallen in battle, the Whitebeard Pirates cannot exist without a pillar.
Become the new Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Reward: 1,000 attribute points.
New Mission: Retrieve the Body
Whitebeard has died in battle. As his son, you are obligated to retrieve his remains and bury him in his homeland—Sphinx.
Reward: 3,000 attribute points.
New Mission: Revenge
Whitebeard was killed by the Blackbeard Pirates.
Eliminate the Blackbeard Pirates and avenge your father.
Reward: 10,000 attribute points.
Bounties:
Captain Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach—3,000 attribute points
Crew Members: Shiryu, Jesus Burgess, Van Augur, Lafitte, Avalo Pizarro, Catarina Devon, Sanjuan Wolf, Doc Q, and others—500 attribute points each.
Marco's gaze hardened.
Even without these missions, he would still hunt Blackbeard down. He would still inherit Whitebeard's will, shoulder the responsibility of the Whitebeard Pirates, and exact revenge.
But now that a mission to retrieve Whitebeard's body had appeared, it only strengthened his resolve.
Ace was still alive. And even if Shanks truly arrived… relying on another Yonko was never guaranteed. Whitebeard's body had to be taken back—by his own hands.
"Hey, hey, hey~ what are you spacing out for?"
Kizaru's voice suddenly rang out. "Facing me, and you still dare to lose focus?"
In the next instant, light gathered around Kizaru's toes. A blinding flash—
A light-speed kick slammed straight into Marco.
"Oh—!"
Marco hastily coated his arms in Armament Haki to block, yet the overwhelming force still sent him flying thousands of meters away like a comet hurled through the sky.
"Marco!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates cried out in alarm.
Kizaru raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised at how far Marco had been launched. Still, he didn't dwell on it. With his usual lewd drawl, he smiled.
"Well then~ the troublesome guy's been kicked away. Now… would you kindly hand over Fire Fist Ace?"
"Damn it… he still wants to kill Ace!"
Every member of the Whitebeard Pirates instantly tensed.
"We'll never let you touch Ace," Vista declared, gripping his twin blades tightly.
Though he knew he stood no chance against Kizaru alone, he wasn't fighting alone anymore. As long as they could hold out until Marco returned, there was hope.
And without realizing it, even Vista had begun to rely on Marco.
Perhaps it was Marco's overwhelming strength and calm judgment throughout the war.
Or perhaps it was the aura of a king—Marco's awakened Conqueror's Haki—that subtly drew others to him.
Far away, after being kicked aside, Marco did not rush to return.
In fact… everything had gone exactly as he hoped.
This was the perfect chance to reclaim Whitebeard's body.
Mid-flight, Marco reached into his coat, pulled out a Den Den Mushi, and dialed a number.
Marineford—Plaza
Standing atop Whitebeard's fallen body, Blackbeard grinned wickedly.
"Zehahahahaha! What a fine final speech, Pops!"
With that, he slowly straightened his back—preparing to claim the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit for himself.
"Enough, Blackbeard."
Sengoku stepped forward, his voice cold and resolute.
"When you accepted the title of Shichibukai, you entered into an agreement with the World Government. Yet you violated it the moment you unlawfully invaded Impel Down and released the criminals of Level Six. Both are unforgivable crimes."
His gaze hardened.
"As Fleet Admiral, I hereby revoke your title as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Marshall D. Teach—surrender immediately. You are under arrest."
Blackbeard froze for a split second.
So this was how it ended—discarded the moment he was no longer useful.
His eyes flicked toward Sengoku… then Akainu… then Aokiji. His face darkened, yet a crooked grin soon crept across it.
"Zehahahahaha! I knew this moment would come sooner or later."
He spread his arms wide.
"Brothers—move! Buy me a few seconds!"
"Tch… don't screw this up, Teach."
Shiryu drew his katana, Raikiri, its edge gleaming ominously. A sinister smile curved his lips.
"If you fail, we'll just go our separate ways."
Blackbeard laughed loudly.
"Zehahahahaha! What dependable comrades! Shiryu, I'll leave it to you."
Shiryu and the others stepped forward in unison, grinning as they blocked the Marines' path.
"Sorry," Shiryu said lightly. "No passage right now."
Akainu snorted, molten magma bubbling over his clenched fists.
"This is Marineford—not some back alley where trash like you can run wild."
Seeing Akainu on the verge of unleashing devastation, Sengoku barked sharply,
"Sakazuki! Do not use large-scale techniques. You'll destroy Marineford itself!"
Akainu clicked his tongue, clearly displeased. He had fully intended to bury both the Blackbeard Pirates and Whitebeard's corpse in a single Meteor Volcano. Forced to restrain himself, he growled.
"Hmph. I know."
In the next instant, his legs transformed into rolling magma as he charged straight at the Blackbeard Pirates.
"Meigō—!"
Akainu unleashed his most lethal single-target attack. Shiryu raised Raikiri just in time to block.
The moment magma fist and blade collided, Shiryu's pupils shrank.
'So heavy…!'
He had believed he could contend with an Admiral—but the pressure crashing down on him shattered that illusion instantly. Even after being battered to the brink of death by Whitebeard, Akainu's power remained monstrously overwhelming.
Still, Shiryu couldn't afford even a hint of hesitation. Against Akainu, a single mistake meant death.
"Teach—hurry!" Shiryu roared. "I can't hold off an Admiral for long!"
"I know!" Blackbeard shouted back.
At the same time, he reached Whitebeard's corpse. Black smoke surged into his palm as he slammed his hand down onto the fallen Yonko's body. Darkness spread rapidly, engulfing Whitebeard like a living shadow.
Aokiji's expression shifted.
"I won't let you succeed."
He leapt into the air, frigid energy gathering in his hand.
"Ice Age—Capsule!"
"Don't even think about interfering with Teach!"
San Juan Wolf thrust his massive hand forward, blocking Aokiji's attack head-on.
The ice crashed into his palm—and instantly began freezing it solid.
"Aaaahhh—!" San Juan Wolf howled in panic. "My hand—it's freezing!"
"Get out of the way, giant."
Sengoku leapt skyward, palm aimed directly at San Juan Wolf. His voice boomed like thunder.
"Shockwave—!"
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