Destroying the 16th Marine Branch (Part 2)

He had only come to understand this truth after forty years.

What others did had nothing to do with him. He only needed to keep moving forward. He could choose not to bully innocent civilians, or he could choose to help them.

But if someone blocked his path, then no matter how innocent they were, he would kill them without hesitation.

Cut through thorns and brambles, with a clear conscience.

If anyone wanted revenge on him, then let them come.

If he kept weighing gains and losses on the path to becoming stronger, then even with the Combat Bracer and the Dark-Dark Fruit's assistance, he would never reach the end.

With that mindset,

even without Jaba, he would still have become a pirate.

Because his personality and beliefs had already determined that in this world, he could only be a pirate, and only the path of a pirate suited him.

Mark led Chiu Chiu from deep within the forest atop the cliff, feeling his way toward the 16th Naval Branch.

Like the other naval branches, the 16th Marine Branch had blue gates and grayish walls.

From Mark's vantage point, not a single person was on the 16th Marine Branch's training grounds. Only a few scattered Marines were patrolling.

After finding a suitable spot, Mark climbed over the wall into the 16th Marine Branch, then quickly took down several patrolling Marines with Chiu Chiu.

"Boss, isn't this a Marine base? Why is it so quiet?" Chiu Chiu jumped down from Mark's shoulder, since the color of its feathers was far too conspicuous.

"No idea!" Mark had never been to a place like a Marine branch before.

He had only heard some information about the Marines from Jaba and did not know how Marine branches operated.

However, while Mark might not have known the layout, he possessed Observation Haki.

Mark spread out his Observation Haki and carefully sensed his surroundings.

Since his Observation Haki had only awakened recently, he still found it somewhat difficult to use.

But covering a quarter of the 16th Marine Branch was more than manageable.

"Found them!" Using Observation Haki to scout ahead, Mark quickly sensed a group of people.

"Chiu Chiu, follow me!"

Mark led Chiu Chiu as they made their way toward the place his Observation Haki had detected.

Inside the 16th Marine Branch's conference hall—

Dozens of Marines from the 16th Marine Branch were holding a banquet.

"Colonel, it seems Arlong handed over more supplies than usual today."

A Marine lieutenant from the branch, now Captain Nezumi's adjutant, stood beside Captain Nezumi. Bowing with a wineglass in hand, he said flatteringly, "Colonel, you truly have remarkable foresight."

Nezumi reached out and stroked his beard, smiling with feigned profundity.

"Of course. Our 16th Marine Branch is constantly growing stronger. Arlong is a pirate, after all. He still has to rely on us Marines."

"But, Colonel, Arlong is a pirate after all..." a newly recruited Marine said uneasily, but he did not finish.

Captain Nezumi narrowed his eyes slightly. After glancing at the Marine, he said, "So what if he's a pirate? Are you planning to carry out justice? Don't forget who provides the food and drink you're enjoying now!"

"The Colonel is right, kid... Do you know that if you relied solely on Marine stipends, you'd have starved to death long ago? And you still get to sit here enjoying fine food? Hurry up and thank the Colonel!" A Marine seated across from him frowned and scolded him.

He did not forget to offer Nezumi a flattering smile afterward.

Nezumi waved a hand and rebuked the veteran Marine. "Once you join our 16th Marine Branch, we're family. You need to teach your family the rules of the 16th Marine Branch. I don't want you ruining my business when I take you out."

"Yes, yes! The Colonel is absolutely right."

After that brief interruption, the banquet continued.

All the Marines offered Nezumi their blessings. Under the veterans' urging and the temptation of delicious food, the newly recruited Marines also successfully submitted to Nezumi.

Mark silently dealt with the Marines guarding the door. After overhearing the general content of their conversation outside, he sneered inwardly.

These Marines were rotten to the core. Even a pure little cabbage would quickly rot after entering this place.

When Mark heard that Captain Nezumi was here, killing intent unconsciously burst from his body.

"Nezumi, today... is the day you die!"

Darkness Power!

Bzzzz!

Pitch-black energy swirled around Mark, while immense Darkness Power surged across his palms.

Black Hole!

The range Mark could swallow with Black Hole now was worlds apart from Blackbeard's, but swallowing a branch conference hall was more than enough.

In an instant... the Darkness Power spread like a pool of water, rapidly blanketing the conference hall.

"What is this?" Captain Nezumi had just taken a gulp of wine when he suddenly noticed vast darkness appearing around him, leaving him puzzled.

It was the first time he had seen such a strange sight, and he could not tell what it was.

Just as he was wondering, the doors burst open with a bang.

A tall figure appeared outside the entrance. Beside him stood a majestic large bird radiating golden light.

"Who are you? How dare you break into the 16th Marine Branch!" Nezumi was startled by the sudden intruder, but quickly recovered. "Take him down!"

There were many Marines at the banquet, numbering several dozen.

The Marines of the 16th Marine Branch were usually idle, neither training nor carrying out their duties. They had long forgotten where their responsibilities had gone.

Having fallen in with pirates, they certainly did not protect civilians. To civilians, they were even more detestable than pirates.

People like them spent their days eating, drinking, and making merry. After receiving generous supplies from pirates, they would even hold banquets.

Mark had arrived at just the right time. Everyone from the 16th Marine Branch was here.

Hearing Nezumi's command, several Marines closest to Mark quickly drew their pistols, aimed at him, and prepared to pull the triggers.

Whoosh!

A golden figure tore through the air, accompanied by the deafening crackle of electricity.

Crack!

The Marines who had just raised their guns were instantly turned to charcoal by Chiu Chiu's million-volt electric strike.

"What was that?"

"So fast!"

"It's an electric bird! Fire... fire now!!!"

The dozens of Marines at the banquet raised their flintlock guns and aimed them at Mark!

"Too late!"

A cold curve formed at the corner of Mark's lips. He extended his right hand and clenched it slightly.

Dark Annihilation!

The Darkness Power within the conference hall seemed to boil, rolling and surging continuously as it gathered around Mark like Ace's Flame Emperor.

It then transformed into a massive sphere of darkness in Mark's hand, which he hurled toward the dozens of Marines.

Then—

Boom! Rumble!

It exploded!

The entire conference hall was shattered by the violent explosion.

The explosion lasted for nearly a minute. Once everything around it had been reduced to fragments by the blast,

something bizarre happened...