The Navy had prepared for this campaign of subjugation for a long time. Besides Admiral Sengoku, they had also brought Aokiji and Akainu, two vice admirals of formidable strength. Several other vice admirals accompanied them, and there were naturally even more rear admirals.
But that did not mean they could completely overwhelm Whitebeard's side.
As one of the strongest pirate crews of this era, even though they had yet to rule the Grand Line, Whitebeard had countless powerful men under his command.
Many of the division commanders who would later become famous were already aboard this ship. Even against Navy vice admirals, they did not fall short.
Of course, that was assuming those vice admirals were not Aokiji or Akainu.
"Die, you ice-playing bastard!"
Spreading his azure wings, Marco shot into the sky like a phoenix reborn from fire. Under the burning blue flames, his injuries rapidly healed.
The fruit he had eaten was also known as the Phoenix Fruit, an Ancient Zoan Mythical Beast type. The flames covering his body possessed no other abilities, yet they granted extraordinary regenerative power—equivalent to another form of immortality.
Marco himself was no weakling, and with such powerful recovery abilities, he could fight even a Navy admiral.
He threw a punch. By the time Aokiji reacted, the fist was already in front of him.
Bang!
A crisp sound rang out as a crystalline ice shield appeared before Aokiji. Marco's punch was blocked outright.
"First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, I'll be taking your head!" Aokiji's gaze sharpened, and an ice blade appeared in his hand, piercing straight through Marco's chest.
The next moment, a flicker of astonishment appeared on Aokiji's face. Before his startled eyes, terrifying force erupted from Marco's fist. The ice shield creaked and began to crack before a heavy