Marco let out a cold sneer. "Of course I refuse."
After speaking, he glanced back at Big Mom and said with a teasing tone, "Big Mom, why not test the strength of this so called king of the world? If you defeat her, you become the new ruler."
For a brief moment, excitement flickered in Big Mom's eyes, but it quickly faded as reason took over. She could not even defeat Saint Peter, let alone the being above the Gorosei.
She let out a low laugh. "Mamamama, tempting as that sounds, I will leave this opponent to you."
Even as she spoke, she was already considering retreat. Only now did she realize how naive she had been. The idea that an alliance of Emperors could overthrow the World Government seemed laughable in the face of this overwhelming force.
Compared to this power, even the Marines seemed insignificant.
Admirals were already considered monsters, yet the Gorosei surpassed them, and now an even greater existence had appeared. If even the Gorosei were merely servants, then how terrifying must Imu truly be?
"That works for me," Marco replied with a faint chuckle as he fixed his gaze on Imu floating in the sky.
His expression grew serious. Because Imu was only possessing a body, even his system could not determine her Devil Fruit ability. However, judging from her form, it seemed similar to a Zoan transformation.
Imu remained indifferent to his refusal.
A strange magic circle appeared in her palm. The space before her distorted into darkness, and she reached into it, pulling out a massive black scythe nearly three meters long.
At that moment, Big Mom shouted, "Hey, Marco, Kaido, are you still planning to fight in this situation?"
Kaido remained silent.
Marco answered immediately, his voice firm, "Of course we fight. Even if we tried to leave, they would not let us go. When there is no path forward, only the brave prevail. You are Emperors, show some backbone dammit."
Without waiting any longer, Marco spread his wings and shot into the sky. Black flames ignited around his body as he roared, "Phoenix Flame."
A massive black flame phoenix surged forward, tearing through the air toward Imu.
Imu casually swung her scythe. A surge of purple energy sliced through the attack, instantly tearing the phoenix apart.
But Marco had already closed the distance from another angle.
Black flames and Haki wrapped tightly around his fist as he struck forward. "Phoenix Fire Fist."
A deafening explosion echoed through the sky as his fist collided with the scythe. Red lightning burst outward, and shockwaves rippled through the air from the sheer force of their clash.
A flicker of surprise appeared in Imu's eyes.
"For hundreds of years, this is the first time I have encountered a mortal of such strength," she said calmly. "No wonder you were able to slay a god."
"That arrogant tone is really annoying," Marco snapped.
Flames ignited at his elbow like a thruster, pushing his arm forward with explosive force. The stalemate shattered with another violent blast, sending Imu flying thousands of meters through the sky.
As she neared the massive dome behind her, dark wings spread from her back, generating a powerful hurricane that halted her momentum.
Below, both pirates and Marines momentarily paused their clashes, their eyes drawn to the battle above.
"So strong… is that the world's king?" one muttered.
"But Captain Marco actually pushed her back… can he win?" another whispered.
The battlefield had changed.
The intensity of the fighting had faded as both sides realized the truth. Compared to the beings above, they were insignificant. No matter how hard they fought, they could not influence the outcome.
Victory would be decided in the sky.
Imu watched Marco charge again, her expression calm. For centuries, she had stood at the peak, unmatched. Now that a worthy opponent had appeared, she found the moment… interesting.
They clashed again and again, fists meeting weapons, Haki crashing against Haki.
"I did not expect someone like you to exist," Imu said coldly. "Decades ago, a man named Rocks was impressive, but your strength surpasses even his."
Her voice turned colder.
"But this ends here."
A dark energy gathered as she spoke. "Dark Conversion."
In the next instant, a black five pointed magic circle appeared beneath Marco's feet, spreading rapidly.
His body began to sink.
Marco's eyes narrowed as his legs were swallowed into the circle. It felt as if another space existed beneath him, his lower body vanishing as though dragged into a different dimension.
"A spatial ability…" he muttered, his expression tightening.
He tried to pull himself free, but it felt like being trapped in a swamp, his body refusing to move.
Then suddenly, a powerful mental force surged into his mind.
An overwhelming wave of emotion flooded him, anger rising uncontrollably.
Fragments of memory resurfaced.
Things he had long buried began to emerge.
Marco's pupils trembled slightly.
He remembered… his past life.