Big Mom's face darkened at his words. She knew—perfectly well—that Marco had accepted her conditions solely to hear this moment. Though humiliation burned in her chest, she finally ground out the words:
"Consider it your victory. This time… I, Charlotte Linlin, admit defeat."
"We won!"
"Captain Marco won!"
"That's incredible—Captain Marco really did it!"
The Phoenix Pirates erupted in cheers. After ten days of watching from the sidelines with clenched fists and held breaths, they finally broke, rushing toward Marco in a wave of unrestrained joy.
At the same time, the Big Mom Pirates quickly gathered around their captain, wary and tense. Both leaders were at their limits—one careless move now could still ignite disaster.
Marco finally allowed himself to smile.
Almost immediately, the cold, mechanical voice of the system echoed in his mind:
Mission complete. Challenged a Yonko. Defeated Yonko Charlotte Linlin.
Reward: 10,000 attribute points.
"Marco! You did it!" Ace charged over and wrapped him in a tight hug.
The sudden weight made Marco stagger, nearly collapsing on the spot. Ace reacted instantly, supporting him before he could fall. He could feel it—after ten days of nonstop battle, Marco was running on nothing but willpower.
Fossa laughed heartily, his eyes shining.
"Let's see who dares to touch the Phoenix Pirates now! Even without Pops, we'll keep moving forward under Captain Marco!"
Big Mom's expression twisted in irritation.
"Enough. This island is now my territory. Release Katakuri and Snack at once, then get out of my waters."
The Phoenix Pirates bristled, their tempers flaring like old times.
"What did you say?!"
"This battle was Captain Marco's victory—watch your mouth!"
"That's right! Even without our old man, Captain Marco will lead us to the top!"
The Big Mom Pirates flushed with anger, but before things could escalate—
"Enough."
Marco's voice wasn't loud, but it carried unmistakable authority.
In that instant, the deck fell silent.
For a brief moment, many of the Phoenix Pirates felt as though they were seeing their old captain again. The shadow of Whitebeard seemed to stand behind Marco's back.
In their hearts, their belief solidified: Marco would lead them forward—just like the old man once did.
"Fossa," Marco said quietly, "release them. We're leaving."
"Yes, Captain."
Fossa answered with genuine reverence.
Before this war, he had respected Marco. After this battle, that respect had turned into something closer to awe. Marco might not yet stand where Whitebeard once did—but Fossa firmly believed he would one day reach that height… perhaps even surpass it.
Soon, the Phoenix Pirates returned to their ship. Katakuri and Snack were released, and the vessel slowly sailed away from the Kohn Islands.
Standing on the deck, Marco watched the island grow smaller and smaller in the distance.
Only then did the breath he had been holding finally escape.
His vision blurred. The world tilted—and went black.
"Ship doctor! Ship doctor—quickly!"
Ace caught him just in time, shouting urgently as Marco collapsed into his arms.
—
Meanwhile, at Marineford—Marine Hospital.
Admiral Sakazuki lay on a hospital bed, his body wrapped in layers of bandages. The wounds from his duel were still fresh, but his eyes were sharp and alert.
The door slid open.
"Sakazuki, it seems your recovery is going smoothly," Sengoku, now the Marine Inspector General, said as he entered, followed closely by Kizaru.
Sakazuki glanced at the two of them and snorted. "Inspector General Sengoku… Borsalino. What brings you here?"
Kizaru clasped his hands together, wearing his usual lazy grin. "Ohhh~ nothing much. We're here to congratulate you. The Gorosei just issued the appointment letter. From today onward, you are officially the new Fleet Admiral. Congratulations, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
Sengoku took a seat nearby and added solemnly, "The doctors say you still need time to recover. We've arranged for Saint Topman Warcury to personally come to Marineford in five days to preside over your promotion ceremony—once your condition improves a little."
Sakazuki's gaze remained steady. This outcome had never been in doubt. The rules had been clear from the beginning: the victor would rise, the loser would step aside. And Sakazuki had won.
"Five days isn't necessary," he said coldly. "Three days of rest is more than enough."
"Ohoh~ that won't do," Kizaru replied lightly. "This is a decision from the Gorosei themselves."
"Hmph." Sakazuki clicked his tongue, displeased—but said nothing more.
Sengoku sighed. "Still, you went too far. You shattered Kuzan's leg. He's still unconscious. Thankfully, he's out of immediate danger."
Sakazuki's expression hardened. "And he left me half-dead as well."
Sengoku didn't pursue the topic. No matter how highly he regarded Kuzan, the result was irreversible. Sakazuki was Fleet Admiral now—an unchangeable fact.
"The seas haven't been peaceful," Sengoku continued. "While you were fighting Kuzan, another major conflict erupted elsewhere. Big Mom clashed with Marco. The battle lasted ten full days… and ended with Marco's victory."
"What?" Sakazuki's eyes widened. "Marco defeated Big Mom?"
"Yes," Sengoku confirmed.
"That's impossible," Sakazuki said sharply. "I know Marco's strength. At Marineford, he was no match for me. And Big Mom—she's a veteran Yonko. I fought her more than twenty years ago. I know exactly how terrifying she is."
Then realization dawned.
"…So even that old hag has begun to decline," Sakazuki muttered.
Big Mom was already past sixty. After Whitebeard's death, she had become the oldest of the Yonkos. Just like Whitebeard, time must have eroded her strength.
Kizaru tilted his head and interjected, "Still, I don't think Marco truly defeated her in a straightforward fight."
Sakazuki turned to him.
"I heard Marco took Sweet Commanders Katakuri and Snack hostage," Kizaru continued lazily. "Big Mom couldn't act recklessly. In the end, Marco even ceded three islands to her."
Kizaru's doubts were clear. He, too, had clashed with Big Mom in the past. The image of that near-indestructible 'Steel Balloon' was etched deeply into his memory.
Only a little over two months had passed since Marineford. Even if Marco had awakened Conqueror's Haki, no amount of growth in such a short time should have been enough to truly defeat Big Mom.
The most likely answer was simple.
"An agreement," Sakazuki said flatly.
Kizaru smiled faintly. "That's what it looks like."
The room fell silent, the weight of the shifting era pressing down on them both.
Sengoku, however, remained composed and spoke earnestly. "I find it hard to believe as well—but the facts are undeniable. According to our intelligence, Marco and Big Mom fought on the Kohn Islands for ten days and ten nights. Every day, the battle lasted from seven in the morning until eleven or even midnight. That kind of confrontation cannot be fabricated."
Both Sakazuki and Kizaru listened in silence, acknowledging the weight of the report.
Sengoku continued, "It's likely that after the Marineford War, Marco finally broke through his bottleneck. His strength must have surged. Regardless of how unexpected it is, the outcome is clear—Marco won, and Big Mom herself admitted defeat. His combat power has long surpassed a mere 1.8 billion bounty. There's no longer any doubt: Marco now stands firmly at the level of a Yonko."
Sakazuki clicked his tongue in irritation. "To think that after finally eliminating Whitebeard at Marineford, when we believed a Yonkos' crew had been crushed… Marco immediately stepped in to inherit everything. And worse—after Whitebeard's death, he's grown even stronger."
Sengoku looked at him seriously. "Then what about Marco's bounty? What do you think would be appropriate?"
For an ordinary pirate, such a decision wouldn't require the Fleet Admiral's attention. But Marco was no longer ordinary—he was a newly acknowledged Yonko. Every move involving him carried enormous implications.
—
Meanwhile, aboard the Moby Dick, Marco finally regained consciousness.
He found himself lying in bed, his body still wrapped in bandages, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion pressing down on him.
"Captain Marco, you're awake!" A crew member who had been standing watch nearby cried out in excitement.
At once, footsteps rushed toward the cabin. Ace burst in first, visibly relieved. "Marco! You're alright, right? Doctor—go get Law, quickly!"
Moments later, Law arrived and conducted a brief examination. "He is fine," he concluded calmly. "You're simply suffering from extreme exhaustion after prolonged combat. Rest for a few days and you'll recover. Just avoid intense battles for a while, or it could leave lasting damage."
Everyone finally relaxed.
Marco nodded lightly. "I'm a doctor myself. I know my condition. Don't worry—I'll be careful."
He then pushed himself upright and asked, "How long was I out?"
Fossa answered, "Two full days. You ran a high fever the whole time, but you've stabilized now."
Marco let out a slow breath, swung his legs off the bed, and stepped outside the cabin. The bright sunlight greeted him as he looked up at the clear sky.
After a brief pause, he asked, "So… what's the situation now with Vista and Jozu?"
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