"I apologize."
"As a swordsman, what I did may be disgraceful…"
"But I refuse to stand by and watch my family die before my eyes."
Marco's calm voice echoed across the frozen battlefield.
Still partially transformed into his phoenix form, he hovered above the ice.
Brilliant blue regenerative flames surrounded his body as his sharp golden eyes remained fixed on Saint Roselith Seraphina below.
He made no further attack.
Instead, after a brief moment of silence, he descended from the sky.
The blue flames surrounding him gradually faded as he returned to his human form.
Landing beside Vista, Marco immediately examined the wound in his chest.
Blue flames enveloped Vista's body once more.
Unlike ordinary fire, the Phoenix Flames possessed extraordinary regenerative properties.
They accelerated healing and greatly reduced pain, although they could not instantly restore severe injuries.
Fortunately…
Seraphina's blade had missed Vista's heart by only a few centimeters.
Had the thrust deviated even slightly…
The Fifth Division Commander would already be dead.
"Marco!"
Vista frowned.
"Move aside."
"This was a duel between swordsmen."
"You had no right to interfere."
There was obvious dissatisfaction in his voice.
Although he had lost fairly…
A swordsman's duel was sacred.
Victory and death were both acceptable outcomes.
Outside interference was not.
Marco sighed helplessly.
"You lost."
"I couldn't simply watch you die."
He knew perfectly well that Vista was correct.
According to a swordsman's code…
He had broken the rules.
But Marco was a pirate before he was anything else.
More importantly…
He was family.
Saving a brother always came first.
"We're the Whitebeard Pirates."
Vista spoke quietly after a long silence.
"If we're going to continue this fight…"
"The least we can do is allow her time to recover first."
Even after losing, Vista still refused to abandon his principles.
Respect between swordsmen demanded fairness.
Seraphina looked at him with genuine admiration.
"Vista."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"But it isn't necessary."
"The Marines do not require the sympathy of pirates."
Her voice remained calm.
Accepting mercy from an enemy…
Especially from a pirate…
Would only prove the Marine's own weakness.
That was not something she would ever accept.
Marco shrugged.
"You heard her."
Without another word, he bent down and pulled Winter Solstice from the frozen ground where Vista had planted it.
With a casual motion, he tossed the sword back.
Seraphina reached out and caught it effortlessly.
She looked silently at the weapon in her hand.
The Whitebeard Pirates…
Were certainly unlike ordinary pirate crews.
Even among enemies, they possessed a remarkable sense of honor.
…
"Then let's continue."
Seraphina slowly raised Winter Solstice.
The wounds Vista had left upon her shoulders had already begun to close.
Her mysterious armor had absorbed most of the impact.
Combined with her remarkable vitality, the injuries no longer affected her movements.
Originally…
Her intention had simply been to delay Whitebeard's fleet before withdrawing.
However…
After crossing blades with Vista, her thoughts had changed.
She wanted to experience the true strength of Whitebeard's commanders firsthand.
"Come."
She pointed her sword toward Marco.
"Let's fight."
Marco nodded.
"In that case…"
"I won't hold back either."
Blue flames erupted once again.
His arms transformed into massive phoenix wings.
His legs shifted into powerful talons.
Half-human.
Half-phoenix.
The Mythical Zoan user immediately took to the skies.
"Phoenix Brand!"
Blue flames gathered around his claws as he accelerated downward.
His body became a streak of blue fire diving straight toward Seraphina.
She refused to remain on the defensive.
Instead of waiting for Marco's attack…
She charged directly toward him.
Her body exploded forward.
At the same time
She drew Awakening Sparrow.
The dark azure blade emerged from its scabbard with a brilliant flash.
"Secret Sword "
"Lightning Blade!"
A surge of blue lightning burst from the sword.
The two figures collided head-on.
Boom!!
Blue lightning and azure phoenix flames erupted violently.
The immense impact shook the frozen battlefield.
Although Seraphina's swordsmanship was extraordinary…
Marco still possessed overwhelming physical strength in his full Zoan transformation.
Unable to maintain her upward momentum, Seraphina immediately twisted her body and narrowly avoided Marco's razor-sharp talons.
Marco believed he had gained the advantage.
Then
"Soru…"
"No."
"Geppo."
The instant she began falling, Seraphina kicked the empty air.
A loud explosion echoed beneath her feet.
Using Geppo (Moonwalk), she completely reversed her trajectory.
She appeared above Marco almost instantly.
Her speed far exceeded his expectations.
Winter Solstice descended.
This time…
The blade was coated in powerful Armament Haki.
Slash!!
The sword cut cleanly across Marco's transformed wing.
Blue flames scattered across the battlefield.
"What?!"
Marco's eyes widened.
His enormous phoenix wing was severed in a single strike.
Losing his balance, he crashed heavily onto the frozen sea.
Boom!!
Fragments of ice flew in every direction.
"Marco!"
The commanders aboard the Moby Dick immediately cried out.
Shock spread throughout the Whitebeard Pirates.
Whitey Bay had been defeated.
Vista had suffered a serious wound.
Now…
Even Marco had been injured.
Who exactly was this Marine Rear Admiral?
How could someone so young possess such terrifying strength?
"Gurarararara!"
Whitebeard laughed loudly.
"What an incredible Marine!"
Despite seeing Marco wounded, Whitebeard remained completely relaxed.
He casually lifted his enormous sake jug and took another drink.
"Father!"
"Shouldn't we help Marco?"
One of the commanders asked anxiously.
Whitebeard simply shook his head.
"No."
"Marco is the Phoenix."
"He hasn't even begun fighting seriously."
His confidence never wavered.
He knew Marco better than anyone.
The injury looked severe…
But against the regenerative power of the Phoenix Fruit…
It was far from fatal.
…
"The legendary phoenix…"
Seraphina narrowed her eyes.
She watched silently as blue flames completely covered Marco's wound.
Before long…
The severed wing regenerated.
The flesh restored itself.
The feathers returned.
Within moments, Marco stood once again without any visible injury.
"What astonishing vitality."
Seraphina couldn't help but admire it.
"The regenerative power of the Phoenix truly deserves its legendary reputation."
Marco slowly flexed his restored wing.
He smiled bitterly.
"I have to admit…"
"You're stronger than I expected."
"I won't underestimate you again."
The blue flames surrounding him intensified.
The playful attitude he had shown earlier disappeared completely.
This time…
He would fight with everything he had.
Not because of pride.
Not because of anger.
But because the Marine standing before him demanded his full strength.
"Be careful."
"I won't show mercy anymore."
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"Good."
She switched entirely to Awakening Sparrow.
Holding the dark blue blade horizontally before her, she placed her other hand lightly against the spine of the sword.
Powerful Armament Haki flowed across the blade.
Blue lightning crackled continuously around it.
The surrounding air trembled beneath the pressure.
Marco charged again.
The frozen battlefield exploded into another fierce exchange.
Boom!
Boom!!
Boom!!!
Blue flames collided repeatedly with crackling lightning.
Neither combatant could gain a decisive advantage.
Marco's regeneration made him nearly impossible to kill.
Meanwhile…
Seraphina's swordsmanship, armor, and Haki prevented Marco from landing any meaningful blow.
The battle entered a temporary stalemate.
At that exact moment
A powerful flying slash suddenly escaped the clash between them.
It streaked toward the Moby Dick.
Before anyone else could react…
Whitebeard casually stepped forward.
He coated his fist with Armament Haki and threw a single punch.
Boom!!
The tremendous impact shattered the incoming slash before it could reach the ship.
The sea itself trembled beneath the collision.
The two combatants immediately separated again.
Marco no longer attacked recklessly.
He realized that defeating Seraphina quickly was impossible.
Likewise…
Seraphina understood that Marco's regeneration prevented her from ending the battle through ordinary means.
Marco finally asked the question that had been bothering him from the very beginning.
"Saint Roselith Seraphina."
"What exactly are you doing here?"
"Did you come only to fight us?"
Seraphina answered without hesitation.
"It was a mistake."
Her reply was brief.
Then she immediately unleashed another flying slash.
Marco narrowly avoided it while sighing helplessly.
"So…"
"This entire battle began because of a misunderstanding?"
He genuinely had no desire to continue fighting.
The Whitebeard Pirates had not come seeking conflict with the Marines today.
If both sides could disengage peacefully…
That would be the best outcome.
Seraphina's expression remained unwavering.
"A misunderstanding?"
She slowly raised Awakening Sparrow once more.
"There is no misunderstanding."
"The Marines hunt pirates."
"The Whitebeard Pirates are pirates."
"From the moment we crossed paths…"
"A battle was inevitable."
Her silver eyes remained as calm as ever.
To her…
Justice required no further explanation.
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