Because Squard had been deceived, Whitebeard—still completely uninjured—leapt into the battlefield in a fury. Akainu had already been waiting there for quite some time!
Boa Hancock withdrew to one side. Anyone who approached her would be subjected to indiscriminate attacks, regardless of whether they were friend or foe.
Moria, meanwhile, faced Crocodile.
Okama King Ivankov confronted the treasure fanatic Mad Treasure, while Edward Weevil, who had nearly gone mad with excitement upon seeing Whitebeard, was intercepted by Vista of the Flower Swords.
"Damn it! Pops abandoned me because all of you were around!!"
Whitebeard Jr. roared, tears and snot streaming down his face, as he swung the naginata in his hands viciously down at Vista!
"Shatter: Wind-Cleaving Blade!!"
A strange power instantly wrapped itself around the blade, causing an extremely dangerous feeling to surge through Vista's heart.
I can't block this attack head-on!
The moment that thought appeared in his mind, his entire body swiftly retreated.
"BOOM!"
The blade smashed heavily into the ground.
With the blade as its center, a strange force rapidly spread in every direction.
Everywhere the power passed, the affected ground instantly shattered into countless tiny fragments before continuing to crumble into powder and scattering with the wind.
"A Paramecia-type Smash-Smash Fruit—or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it the Break-Break Fruit or Shatter-Shatter Fruit?"
Much like the Gods of Destruction in Dragon Ball, anything struck by destruction energy would be reduced to dust.
The Shatter-Shatter Fruit's power certainly could not reach the level of a God of Destruction, but the basic principle behind the ability should be fairly similar.
This was also why, in the original story, after Zephyr's arm was severed at the shoulder, the mechanical arm that the scientists installed for him was called the Battle Smasher.
"Because he's simple-minded, he has focused the Fruit's development entirely on the single direction of shattering physical objects?"
"If my sword were struck directly by that power, even if it were coated in Armament Haki, the blade would probably still be shattered."
As Vista spoke, a bead of cold sweat slid down one side of his face.
That had truly been close!
"No wonder you're said to possess the strength Pops had in his youth. However, this is as far as you go!"
"Death Sword: Wild Rose Dance!!"
...
As time passed, the War of the Best taking place at Marine Headquarters continued to rage at full intensity.
The sounds of killing, roaring, and shouting filled the air without end.
Some of the battles had gradually begun to reach their conclusions.
Jozu was certainly powerful, but there was still a considerable gap between him and a monster at the level of an Admiral.
Moreover, Aokiji had already accumulated a record of several failed missions. He finally steeled his heart and began fighting seriously in the War of the Best.
As a result, Jozu was frozen solid by Aokiji.
Whitebeard was old, after all.
He had to face Akainu's magma attacks while Cipher Pol agents occasionally leapt out to ambush him at the most critical moments.
Although Whitebeard killed every agent who attacked him, he himself still suffered serious injuries.
During a moment of disorientation, one of Akainu's cannon-like magma blasts struck him squarely in the abdomen.
"Pops!!"
In his panic, Marco immediately flew toward Whitebeard.
However, an elite Six Powers agent suddenly emerged from hiding and snapped a pair of Seastone handcuffs around him.
"Shhk!"
Several Blood Chains pierced straight through his body!
At the same time, the chains began draining the blood from his body at an astonishing speed.
"Pops...!"
Marco's face gradually turned pale and then ashen as he weakly stretched one hand toward Whitebeard.
He could clearly feel the vitality draining from his body.
However, he had no regrets.
Having met Pops, Jozu, and the others, Marco had nothing left to regret.
He seemed to see his younger self again, together with Jozu, Vista, Thatch, and the others, living through their old days aboard the same ship.
There were also Ace, Little Oars Jr., Bartholomew Kuma...
Wait?!!
Bartholomew Kuma?!
Marco's eyes suddenly widened.
Within his field of vision, in addition to Bartholomew Kuma, there seemed to be several division commanders of the Thunder God Pirates, former Marine Admiral Zephyr, and several others.
It looks like I really am hallucinating...
Just as Marco thought that, he suddenly felt the pressure on his body disappear.
The Blood Chains that had pierced through his body were cleanly severed.
"This is the War of the Best. While worrying about Whitebeard, I hope you will also remain mindful of your own safety."
Fujitora withdrew his gravity blade and walked over to Marco.
He then took out the Lightning Key that Roy had previously created on Raijin Island.
"Click!"
The Seastone handcuffs fell from Marco's body.
Layer after layer of phoenix flames instantly appeared around him, wrapping themselves around his body and healing his wounds.
"Commander Marco, are you all right? How serious are your injuries?"
Marco staggered to his feet.
The previous attack had clearly injured him badly.
"The captain of the Medical Unit, Bartholomew Kuma; Vice-Captain Chameleone; Division Commander Kasta; Vice-Captain Chalcis; former Admiral Zephyr; Jack the Drought; Queen the Plague... and someone I don't recognize?"
Marco looked around and directly named most of the people who had arrived.
The only exception was a beautiful, scantily dressed woman carrying a flag.
"Why are all of you here?"
"Fire Fist Ace has a history with our captain. It is only natural for us to come and rescue him."
Kuma spoke calmly while holding a medical book in his hands.
"Is that so? Then you truly have my thanks."
Marco gave the visibly uncomfortable Chameleone a slightly complicated look before bowing faintly to the group.
His arms then transformed into wings.
"Now isn't the time to talk. I'll go on ahead, everyone."
They watched as Marco flew toward Whitebeard.
Jack casually sent two approaching Marines flying.
His gaze gradually filled with bloodlust, as though it were silently declaring:
Then let's get moving too!
He clenched both hands into fists, his fingers cracking loudly, before charging forward alongside Queen!
"I should go settle things with an old acquaintance as well!"
Zephyr expressionlessly glanced at Edward Weevil, who was still fighting Vista, before striding in that direction.
His students, Ain and Binz, followed closely behind him.
(End of Chapter)
[200 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]