"So…"
"We're only going to decide a winner?"
Marco hovered high above the battlefield, his blue flames illuminating the fog-covered sky.
"If this keeps going…"
"You'll be the one who loses."
The moment his words fell, Marco accelerated.
His phoenix body descended like a meteor.
Brilliant blue regenerative flames wrapped around his talons as he gathered all of his momentum into a single devastating strike.
"Phoenix Brand!"
Boom!!
Marco slammed toward Saint Roselith Seraphina with overwhelming force.
The combination of his immense physical strength, the momentum of his high-speed dive, and the impact of his Mythical Zoan transformation generated an explosion powerful enough to shatter the frozen battlefield.
Before the smoke even dispersed…
Marco was already airborne again.
Then he attacked once more.
Again.
And again.
Each dive resembled a blazing comet crashing into the earth.
Each ascent carried him safely back into the sky before Seraphina could counterattack.
…
Seraphina refused to remain on the defensive.
Every time Marco ascended…
She answered with swordsmanship.
Brilliant blue flying slashes erupted one after another.
Each slash tore through the thick fog, carving enormous openings across the sky.
The icy blades pursued Marco relentlessly, forcing even the agile phoenix to perform sharp aerial maneuvers.
Fortunately for Marco…
His mastery of aerial combat allowed him to evade most of the attacks.
Thus, the battle gradually settled into a stalemate.
Marco dominated the skies.
Seraphina controlled the battlefield below.
Neither side could land a decisive blow.
However…
Seraphina understood something Marco did not.
Her greatest weakness had never been talent.
Nor technique.
Nor Haki.
It was stamina.
If this battle continued indefinitely, exhaustion would eventually become her defeat.
She calmly observed the surrounding battlefield.
Her silver eyes silently calculated every possible escape route.
The Marines had already withdrawn far enough.
Remaining here any longer served no strategic purpose.
She was preparing to retreat.
At that exact moment
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
"I've changed my mind."
"Defeating Whitebeard is acceptable as well."
The familiar voice suddenly echoed within her consciousness.
Seraphina's pupils narrowed.
"Who…"
"Who exactly are you?"
Even while exchanging blows with Marco, she couldn't suppress her surprise.
The mysterious voice calmly answered.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
"Defeat Whitebeard."
"Once you accomplish that…"
"I'll tell you everything."
The implication was obvious.
Whatever this existence truly was…
It desired only one thing.
For her to challenge the strongest beings in the world.
Seraphina frowned.
"I couldn't even defeat Whitebeard's strongest commanders decisively."
"What makes you believe I can defeat Whitebeard himself?"
The voice responded almost immediately.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
"Don't you still possess… that power?"
Seraphina's expression changed.
"So that's your goal."
"You're trying to make me use… that power."
Everything finally became clear.
The mysterious voice had been guiding her toward one outcome from the very beginning.
It wanted her to unleash the black armor.
A possibility suddenly surfaced within Seraphina's mind.
When she had first manifested the armor…
She had completely lost control.
Yet…
The armor had continued moving.
If she wasn't controlling it…
Then who was?
The answer became increasingly obvious.
Perhaps…
The consciousness speaking to her now…
Was the will sleeping inside the armor itself.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
"Don't make it sound so unpleasant."
"That power belongs to you."
"You've already used it before."
"You can control it now… can't you?"
The voice didn't deny her suspicion.
Instead…
It acknowledged it indirectly.
Seraphina's gaze became colder.
"Who are you?"
"How do you know so much about me?"
The voice answered in a tone that gradually became more unsettling.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
"Everything about you…"
"Everything you've experienced…"
"Everything you will become…"
"I know it all."
Its once-gentle voice slowly twisted into something almost obsessive.
The words carried an unsettling madness.
For a brief moment…
Even Seraphina felt a chill.
She suddenly asked another question.
"Are you…"
"The System?"
Silence.
Then
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
"No."
"Stop asking."
"Those answers violate the rules."
"Fight."
"Release your power."
"Defeat Whitebeard."
"Only then will you receive your answer."
The voice disappeared.
Leaving Seraphina alone with her thoughts.
She continued exchanging attacks with Marco while analyzing everything that had just happened.
If the mysterious consciousness truly was the System…
Then its behavior made no sense.
The System she had relied upon for years had always remained impartial.
Cold.
Mechanical.
Outside of issuing missions, rewards, and notifications…
It had never spoken to her.
Never manipulated her.
Never attempted to influence her decisions.
The consciousness she had just spoken with…
Was completely different.
It possessed emotions.
Desires.
Intent.
It wanted something from her.
That alone convinced Seraphina of one thing.
This was almost certainly not the System.
Instead…
It was far more likely to be the mysterious consciousness connected to the ancient armor itself.
That possibility explained everything.
Yet one mystery remained.
How could the armor know so much about her?
She couldn't afford to dwell on the question.
Marco remained directly before her.
There would be time to investigate later.
After estimating the distance…
She concluded the Marine warship should already have retreated beyond the Whitebeard Pirates' immediate pursuit.
There was no longer any reason to continue fighting.
The black armor remained her final trump card.
Although repeated use had gradually increased her control over it…
She still disliked relying upon that frightening power.
If possible…
She intended never to wear it again.
While exchanging another series of sword strikes with Marco…
She casually released a flying slash.
The attack struck the frozen sea immediately beside Bruce.
That location had been agreed upon beforehand.
It was their retreat signal.
Bruce immediately understood.
He quietly prepared to cover her withdrawal.
Then
Boom!
Boom!!
Boom!!!
The sound of naval artillery suddenly echoed across the battlefield.
Several cannonballs exploded near the Whitebeard Pirates' fleet.
Seraphina's expression changed instantly.
"No…"
Her heart sank.
Those cannon shots…
Could only have come from one place.
Marine artillery.
"Damn it."
"Those idiots actually came back."
She had issued a direct order.
A retreat under penalty of death.
Yet…
Her subordinates had disobeyed.
Bruce immediately recognized the approaching vessel.
His expression darkened.
"Our warship…"
"They returned."
Unlike ordinary Marine vessels, this specially constructed warship possessed a distinctive appearance.
There was no possibility of mistaking it.
Bruce clenched his fists.
"These lunatics…"
"Are they really not afraid of dying?"
He immediately rushed toward Seraphina.
"Your Highness!"
"What should we do?"
Marco remained airborne.
His eyes quietly followed Bruce's movements.
Although he didn't attack…
He observed everything.
Seraphina took a deep breath.
"There isn't another option anymore."
"We fight."
"Bruce."
"Go to the warship."
"Order everyone to retreat immediately."
Her original plan had completely collapsed.
Now…
The battlefield had changed.
The mysterious voice had made her hesitate.
But her own Marines had removed every remaining choice.
If she didn't stop Whitebeard's fleet here…
The returning warship would be annihilated.
Bruce looked at her in disbelief.
"Your Highness…"
"You're planning to use…"
He already knew what she had originally intended to use against Red-Haired Shanks.
Now…
She intended to unleash that same power against Whitebeard.
Seraphina slowly nodded.
"Even Admiral Kizaru acknowledged the danger of this power."
She looked toward the distant figure of Edward Newgate.
"I want to see…"
"How it compares…"
"To the World's Strongest Man."
Then she looked back at Bruce.
"Go."
"Make them retreat."
Bruce saluted immediately.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Without another word, he sprinted toward the Marine warship.
Seraphina quietly watched him disappear into the distance.
Then…
Ancient magical power began overflowing from her body.
The surrounding atmosphere gradually became heavier.
Even the frozen sea trembled.
Marco's expression slowly changed.
Hovering high above, he instinctively sensed that something dangerous was about to appear.
For the first time since the battle began…
He chose not to attack.
Instead…
He simply watched.
Waiting.
Observing.
Even his instincts warned him against acting recklessly.
Then
Darkness spread across Seraphina's body.
Jet-black armor emerged piece by piece, wrapping around her form.
Unlike before…
This manifestation was noticeably more refined.
More compact.
The armor fit her body perfectly instead of appearing oversized.
Ancient crimson patterns slowly illuminated across its surface.
An overwhelming aura engulfed the battlefield.
The silver-haired Rear Admiral disappeared completely.
In her place stood a silent black knight.
The armored gauntlets slowly flexed.
A terrifying pressure spread across the frozen sea.
Even the commanders aboard the Moby Dick unconsciously held their breath.
The true battle…
Was only beginning.
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