"Coincidentally, I also don't want anyone disturbing Sage's battle, especially you, Marco."
Lily raised her White Thunder, the few rays of sunlight that streamed through the trees outside reflected off the blade and into her eyes.
Unlike others, Lily had been searching with a Life Card, but instead of finding the person, she encountered a Cyan Flame bird flying through the forest.
And that Cyan Flame bird also noticed Lily, as soon as they saw each other, they attacked simultaneously.
The goal was simple: neither would allow the other to reach Sage's battlefield.
This one is not easy to deal with.
Though he had no formal title, he was definitely the true Vice Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates.
The Emperor's Right Hand, Bird-Bird Fruit - Mythical - Phoenix Model, with a bounty of 1.374 billion Belly, the 'Phoenix' Marco!
One of the only five recognized flying Zoan-types on the sea.
Not only does he possess super-fast regenerative ability, but that 'Flame of Rebirth' can heal everyone's injuries, and is even effective against viruses.
When they decided to invade Whitebeard's territory, Lily had already been gathering intelligence on the Whitebeard Pirates.
She had a certain understanding of this pirate crew.
Although Lily didn't think Sage would lose, letting this guy through, with such a speed-healing ability to cure others, would definitely be a hassle for Sage.
The most noteworthy members of the Whitebeard Pirates were Marco and that Ace who died during the Summit War.
"You think the same way, huh..."
Marco landed on a tree branch, his wings flapped, and the Cyan Flames scattered around.
But the flames only illuminated the trees in a ghostly blue, without setting them afire, not burning vigorously, but neither extinguishing for lack of fuel.
"Then let's just chat..."
"Not interested."
Lily swung her sword first, unleashing a slash like a bird in flight.
Marco spread his wings, quickly dodging the slash, letting it break the thick branch beneath his feet, transforming himself into a blur, swooping forward with a claw strike.
"Crane Claw!"
Whoosh!
The powerful kick launched from the inertia of high-speed flight passed through Lily's afterimage, and in a flash, a cold gleam appeared above, like a thunderbolt crashing down.
"Extreme Thunder!"
Whoosh!
Waves of Cyan Flame welled up from Marco's wings, spiraling upward and shielding against the descending thunderbolt.
"This place is Dad's hometown, a well-hidden island on the sea with no magnetic field. I thought few would find it, and even if they did, they wouldn't find it interesting as it's so desolate."
As the Cyan Flame surged, Marco accelerated, withdrawing quickly, and the massive tree nearby split smoothly under the falling thunderbolt.
As it cleaved downward, the tree that should have split into two halves suddenly exploded into splinters.
"Thunder Net!"
Amid the debris, the figure within the thunderbolt barely steadied before it dispersed again, with irregular lightning forming around Marco, ensnaring him like a net.
"But Jekai said you guys would definitely pass by here. Rather than letting him wipe this place out and then dealing with them, it's better to make this our battleground, as he'll assist us."
Marco spoke while his eyes scanned around, suddenly wrapping himself in his wings, transforming into a burning Cyan sphere.
The sphere quickly bloomed again, turning into a large Cyan Flame bird, wings spread, flying upward, breaking through the entanglement of the thunderbolts like a net.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!
As the bird passed through the Thunder Net, several cuts were visible on its body, but as it broke through, those cuts were swiftly enveloped by the Cyan Flame, restoring them to their original state.
With the final flicker of the Thunder Net, Lily's figure emerged, her rapier held horizontally before her eyes, as if she had just swung it. Her beautiful eyes glanced upward, chillingly declaring:
"You think you can escape?!"
The blade emitted a spiral of black as Lily, who had just stopped, pushed off forcefully, shooting upward in a straight line of black lightning, catching up to the high-speed flying Marco.
Sizzle!
The black lightning struck, cutting through the wing of the flying Cyan bird inches apart!
"Oh no..."
The giant bird with the severed wing tilted outward, suddenly transforming into Marco's semi-human form, the left arm that should have been cut off continually spewed Cyan Flame, reforming into a complete arm.
Meanwhile, he clasped his fingers together, the flames at his fingertips connecting with the severed Cyan wing, and with a swift flick to the side.
"But I don't really trust what Jekai said... Cyan Flame Dove!"
The detached Cyan Flame wing turned into a blue fireball under his hand's motion, charging toward Lily, who had emerged from the black lightning nearby.
His flames might not burn others, but that doesn't mean they're useless.
The impact force is fundamental. Using this, he could launch a powerful attack, and taking a hit wouldn't be pleasant.
Sizzle!
But just as the fireball was about to hit Lily, the black cold gleam appeared again, forming a straight line around the fireball's orbit, splitting the flame in two.
"Flying Bird!"
From the center of the divided fireball, a Cyan bird shot out along with the slash, hitting Marco directly in the chest with incredible speed.
This forced Marco back a few steps, taking off into the air, gazing down at the girl, sword glinting in the Cyan Flame below.
"Oh no... To think you'd even cut through fire? Without Observation, I've become quite dull."
He shook his head with a wry smile, continuing, "In any case, though I don't believe it, I can't gamble on it either."
"Moreover, Jekai doesn't seem the type to easily give up. Even if I don't agree, he'd probably still force this place into a battlefield, making the situation more passive."
"To avoid being passive ourselves, let's just accept it. You occupy here, we fight you. That Jekai occupies here, we deal with Jekai."
"That woman called Buckin is already dead, right? Only she wanted to find Dad's inheritance, but there's nothing here left by Dad. We just want to live quietly now, can't we negotiate for you to leave here?"
"There's no such option."
Lily said coldly, "It has nothing to do with Whitebeard's hometown. This island is within our designated territory, and here, it's not that it hasn't been discovered, it's just there's no logic for something undiscovered to be unconquered."
"No one can stop Sage's plan! If you want to live quietly, then go elsewhere. Here, you either move the island away, run away yourself, or..."
She raised the White Thunder directly towards Marco, "If you die, that's also very quiet!"
"As expected..."
Marco said, "If that's the case, we'll have to continue fighting. Dad's hometown is the last sanctuary I have to protect, and I won't allow anyone to destroy it!"
Kuma!
The cyan flames surged in the dual-hand grip, and as Marco swung down, countless Cyan Flame Bullets fell.
"Phoenix Feather!"
The cyan flames didn't burn, but as they fell, they shattered the dense trees. From a bird's eye view, the sealed forest was torn open by these cyan flames, as if bitten off by someone.
"Impact force? Gale Attack!"
Lily twisted the White Thunder, the blade swung up, and Haki split into three enormous Haki Slashes, resembling a barrier, colliding with the falling Cyan Flame Bullets.
"Phoenix Seal!"
Without waiting to push up the Haki Slashes, Marco's cyan flame figure was already up close, a claw kicking straight over.
In a high-altitude dive, his speed was not slower than Lily's!
Lily's pupils contracted, she instinctively placed the sword she was swinging upward in front to block.
Boom!!
The claw kicked the White Thunder, a huge impact force spread out, forcing Lily's arm numb, sending her flying back, crashing into trees.
"Undying Thistle!"
After landing a kick, Marco didn't pursue, but opened his wings carrying cyan flames, forming a massive dark path-shaped shield.
Bang!
The next moment, from the hole in the tree flashed a black thunder, a thin sword imbued with Haki thrusting against the shield.
Lily held the White Thunder, maintaining the charging stance, her brows furrowed, "Experience?"
"Precisely!"
Within the shield, Marco smiled at her, the cyan flame shield suddenly exploded, forming a shockwave from the shield's area.
At this moment, Lily instantly drew her sword, her foot tapping in the air, propelling herself with Moon Step straight up, evading the cyan flame shockwave.
Boom!!
The shockwave passed, shattering the trees ahead, creating a deep path in the dense forest.
Sizzle!
Another burst of black light, Lily flashed from mid-air, with extreme speed slicing Marco's head, carving a notch.
Bam!
Marco launched a flying kick, the bird claw precisely kicking Lily's attacking side waist, the cyan flame ignited, carrying Haki, this time hitting Lily squarely, producing a dull impact, sending Lily flying far away.
His head with the notch, at this moment, slowly healed amidst the cyan flames.
"Useless, your Haki is impressive, but I am the 'Phoenix' after all." Marco laughed.
If it were so simple to be harmed by someone who possesses Haki, then the Mythical wouldn't be called Mythical.
Last time in the Summit War, a punch from Garp injured him, but it used a considerable amount of Haki.
Even so, it only resulted in him bandaging for a short while.
Sssss!
As his words ended, a tree with a hole was sliced straight into several pieces by the sword light.
Lily emerged from the trees, disregarding the crimson on her waist, her gaze cold, she said:
"Indeed, ordinary Haki Slashes aren't of much use against you. Additionally, your style is quite troublesome."
That kick was also full of force, right during Lily's sword swing gap, enduring damage to create an opportunity for attack.
This 'exchange of injuries' fighting style, Lily has seen before.
Sage was the most adept at this style, his transformed state also possessing 'immortality.'
Knowing this fighting style, she wouldn't attack directly.
"So, are you planning to cease fighting? Bring your Captain here?" Marco smiled.
"Stop joking, it's just a capability, who do you think I am?"
Lily's eyes narrowed slightly, "Using intuition to fight, I'm not your opponent, but I also have my own fighting style!"
Both sides lack Observation, but Marco's combat experience is clearly higher than hers, coupled with the immortality exchange of injuries, continuing this fight will eventually lead to failure.
This guy opposite, is not inferior to Katakuri.
So...
"Abilities can indeed be sliced, first, remove this power obstructing Observation..."
Ka.
Lily sheathed the White Thunder, took an Iaido Stance, as her eyes opened, a stream of light flashed.
"Cut through!"