Marco descended from the sky, spreading his wings and stirring up a gust of wind.
The black coat draped over "Blackbeard" fluttered wildly in the strong wind, making the smile on his face even more distorted and eerily unsettling.
He seemed oblivious to the anger on Marco's face, and said in a relaxed tone,
"You finally found me, but you're too late."
Marco snorted coldly and replied.
"Am I too late? I think the timing is perfect!"
After saying that, Marco stared blankly at the darkness above "Blackbeard" that had not yet dissipated—the very darkness that had swallowed his attack.
After watching for a while, he suddenly turned his head and stared intently at "Blackbeard," gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"So this is the power you gained from killing Thatch, just like your heart—utterly black!"
"Hehehehe! Marco, you've got the wrong person. I wasn't the one who killed Thatch!"
"Damn it! What are you pretending for at a time like this?!"
Marco questioned angrily, but he was also puzzled because Teach's tone of voice was quite different from what he remembered; it sounded like a completely different person.
Especially Teach's laughter; doesn't he like to laugh like a thief?
What's going on? Is even this habit an act? That's terrifying!
Blackbeard smiled but didn't respond. He simply extended a hand towards Marco and said,
"I know you wouldn't believe me even if I told you now, so let's calm you down first, Dark Water!"
Marco's body jolted violently, then he was quickly pulled towards "Blackbeard" by the gravity of the darkness. He shouted in a panic,
"What!?"
However, Marco still has a wealth of combat experience.
Just as he was about to fall into Blackbeard's hands, he Zoan transformation one of his legs into a golden bird claw and kicked out at Blackbeard's palm.
Blackbeard's expression remained unchanged as he continued to release Dark Water to pull Marco towards himself.
Marco's golden bird claws retreated to their original shape the instant they touched Blackbeard's palm, and the force in his foot decreased sharply.
Taking advantage of the darkness, Blackbeard easily caught Marco's kick and firmly gripped Marco's ankle.
"Blackbeard" chuckled, enjoying the look of terror on Marco's face.
"It's not a pleasant feeling to lose your abilities, is it? This is the Dark-Dark Fruit Teach went to great lengths to obtain; it can make any Ability User lose their powers!"
As he spoke, "Blackbeard" added in his mind,
"Except for that Purple Kirin!"
"I see. No wonder you've been lying low for so long for this fruit. You're really good at enduring!"
"Hehehehe! Teach would probably agree with you, too bad I'm not him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, "Blackbeard" tightened his grip on Marco's ankle, and a crisp cracking sound rang out.
"Ah!!!"
Marco let out a painful scream, his right hand instinctively slamming towards "Blackbeard's" face.
Blackbeard didn't continue to harass Marco. He dodged the punch by tilting his head and then released Marco.
Marco, enduring the pain, used one leg to push off and create distance between himself and Blackbeard.
He tried to activate the Phoenix's regenerative abilities.
However, Marco soon discovered that he seemed to have lost his connection with the Phoenix Fruit.
This is the first time this has happened since he ate the Devil Fruit.
However, Marco is very strong in Taijutsu, so he can continue fighting.
Blackbeard looked at Marco with admiration in his eyes and couldn't help but extend an olive branch to him.
"Marco, Newgate is too old. He can only stay on the ship and play house. Why don't you come with me from now on? You'll have a brighter future!"
The word "light" sounded incredibly strange coming from the mouth of someone who possessed the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit.
Marco looked disdainful and said,
"Someone like you will never be as good as Dad. How dare you say such a thing!"
"Heh heh heh! But the old man you're talking about used to be one of my men!"
"What?! Teach, are you crazy?!"
"Hehehe!"
"Blackbeard" let out another strange laugh, then he spread his arms wide, looked up at the sky, and roared.
"Not only Newgate, but even Linlin and Kaido used to be my subordinates! Because I'm Rocks!!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a Domineering Aura erupted from Rocks, accompanied by jet-black Inazuma, and the ground beneath his feet cracked under the force of this aura.
Marco's pineapple head was also blown backward by the force of the wind. Looking at the apocalyptic scene around Rocks, a blank expression appeared on Marco's face.
He knew that this aura was Conqueror's Haki, and its intensity was not low, perhaps even comparable to Red-Haired'.
Furthermore, he knew that Teach didn't possess Conqueror's Haki, and even if she did, it wouldn't be enough to reach this level.
How could someone with such Conqueror's Haki have endured so much within the Whitebeard Pirates for so many years?
Considering what Rocks had just said, Marco was starting to believe it.
Whitebeard once mentioned his former captain to Marco, but only said that his name was Rocks; Whitebeard never said anything else.
Therefore, the name Rocks was an absolute secret, and it was almost impossible for Teach to have known it.
Marco asked, frowning.
"You say you're Rocks, then where's Teach? And why are you looking like him?"
"Hmph, I've always been inside his body, it's just that this idiot didn't realize it. As for him, that idiot is already dead at the hands of Marine Admiral Purple Kirin, you can just ask anyone on this island!"
However, Rocks made a mistake. After he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, everyone on the island had passed out, and even if Marco wanted to ask, he couldn't find a single person who was conscious.
Marco, head bowed, struggled to withstand Rocks' terrifying Conqueror's Haki. Suddenly, he noticed several wisps of blue flame rising from his feet.
Upon seeing those wisps of blue flame, Marco was overjoyed. He could now feel his connection with the Devil Fruit gradually returning!
Once he can use his ability, he can quickly heal his foot injury, which will make him less passive in the upcoming battle. If all else fails, he can make a strategic retreat!
It wasn't that Marco was cowardly; it's just that he felt he had to tell his father the news he received today. Compared to Rocks, Teach's matter seemed less important.
Thinking of this, Marco decided to buy some time. He looked at Rocks and asked,
"So how did you end up inside Teach's body? This seems really weird, doesn't it?"
"Heh, have you heard of the Battle of God Valley?"