Phoenix, Marco

Moby Dick.

Marco made his way solemnly through the companions drinking and fooling around by the deck, then arrived at the center of the deck.

Looking at the imposing figure guzzling wine, he said, "Pops, this is bad. We just received an emergency distress call from the Witch. Sister Whitey Bay is in grave danger!"

Bang!

"Who was it? Who dared lay a hand on my people?"

The people drinking and laughing around them changed expressions and pricked up their ears.

"It was the Navy!"

Whitebeard wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and frowned. "The Navy dared attack my people? Who was it? Akainu or Aokiji?"

"Neither. It was a Navy Major named Carl. She defeated Sister Whitey Bay's Witch Pirates all by herself. Even Sister Whitey Bay was no match for her."

Hearing that it was merely a Navy Major, Whitebeard's eyes flashed coldly. "Gurararara~ A Navy Major dared touch my people? She truly didn't know her place!"

"Marco, do you know the location?"

Marco nodded. "Of course. Sister Whitey Bay isn't too far from us. I can get there in about half an hour!"

Whitebeard gulped down a huge bowl of wine before saying, "Go support Whitey Bay immediately. Make sure she comes back alive."

"As for that Major, kill her on the spot! The Whitebeard Pirates aren't someone any nobody can trample on!"

"Go, Marco! Teach those damned Marines a good lesson!"

"Captain Marco, hurry there and back! I haven't seen Whitey Bay in ages! Bring her back for a drink!"

"Ooooooh!"

Whitebeard couldn't help letting out a hearty gurararara laugh at the cheerful scene. Wasn't this exactly what he had pursued all his life?

And precisely because of that, anyone who dared hurt his family had to pay a terrible price!

Marco smiled and nodded. She was only a Navy Major. Even if she could suppress Whitey Bay, it meant nothing. He was Marco the Phoenix!

He immediately spread his wings, transformed into a phoenix, and soared into the sky.

The Witch.

"No!"

Whitey Bay, pinned firmly to the deck, let out a grief-stricken cry. Even in her fury, she was unwilling to accept this.

Carl had not attacked her, but right in front of her, she killed her subordinates one after another. In the blink of an eye, corpses covered the deck.

The pirates who had lost their backbone fled in every direction, playing a game of cat and mouse with Carl.

Unfortunately for them, they had nowhere to hide before Carl, who possessed Observation Haki.

Sshk!

Another pirate fell. Carl slowly withdrew Karasu. Her white Marine uniform had already been dyed red with blood.

"Now you're the only one left!"

"You demon! You'll pay for this!"

Carl crouched beside Whitey Bay and contemptuously patted her cheek. "A demon? That's right. To scum like you, I really am a demon!"

"You're lucky to have Whitebeard's protection..."

"Bulu bulu bulu~"

Carl picked up the sleazy-looking Den Den Mushi wearing sunglasses and said, "Moshi moshi?"

"Uoh~ You actually answered! How terrifying! I thought you were already dead!"

Carl: ...

Just how little faith did you have in me? Whitey Bay would only be worth one kick apiece in front of you. If she could kill me, I'd admit she was impressive!

"You should be saying that to the Witch Pirates."

"This is troublesome. If I remember correctly, that Ice Witch should be one of Whitebeard's veteran crew members, right?"

Carl looked down at Whitey Bay, whose eyes were filled with venom, and sneered. "Relax, she's still alive. I just killed everyone else."

"You really are ruthless, kid! Fine, since she isn't dead, don't touch her anymore. I'll be there soon."

Kizaru hung up, and Carl put away the Den Den Mushi, feeling somewhat helpless.

She was still too weak! This was a world of the strong, where strength decided everything.

It was precisely because Whitebeard was strong that the Navy feared him and was unwilling to risk an all-out war against him.

That was why Carl now faced this situation. She could kill Whitey Bay with a casual flick of her hand, yet she had to spare her life. Otherwise, she would incur Whitebeard's wrath and drag her fellow Marines into it.

"You got lucky!"

Carl couldn't be bothered with the immobile Whitey Bay. She casually leaned against the railing, pulled out a cigar from her clothes, lit it, and began puffing away as she quietly waited for Kizaru to arrive.

In the sky, Marco drew closer and closer to the Witch.

"That's... right, Sister Whitey Bay's ship. How could this be..."

Marco descended. Seeing pirate corpses strewn across the ship, he felt an inexplicable surge of anger. Was this really the Navy's doing?

But when he saw Carl by the railing, puffing smoke in a blood-red Marine uniform, he roared, "Die, Marine!"

Carl's gaze sharpened, and she sprang back from the railing. The next instant, a birdman wreathed in blue flames crashed down where she had stood.

Boom!

"Marco! Is that you? Save me!"

Marco hurriedly looked up and finally saw Whitey Bay pinned to the deck by swords and blades. Earlier, he had thought she was a corpse.

"Sister Whitey Bay! Damn it! How dare you do this!"

Marco glared furiously at the calm Carl nearby. Carl shrugged. "I'm a Marine. Is there a problem with that?"

"Hmph! Fine. Then prepare to die!"

In his beast form, Marco beat his wings and flew into the sky, rising farther and farther away until he became a black speck in Carl's vision and vanished.

But Carl did not dare let down her guard at all. She fully unleashed her Observation Haki and watched the sky cautiously.

A shriek came from above. Carl stomped hard on the deck with her left foot and used Shave to instantly leave her original spot.

The next moment, Marco kicked at the place where Carl had been standing.

"Observation Haki? No wonder you could defeat Sister Whitey Bay..."

Marco put away some of his contempt, returned to human form, and threw a punch at Carl.

The attack was incredibly fast, nearly impossible to evade. Carl could only cross her arms and use Armament Haki hardening to block Marco's fist.

"Armament Haki! I never expected a mere Navy Major to master both types of Haki! You do have some skill!"

"Hahaha, you flatter me. I only awakened them recently."

Marco's expression changed. "Don't flatter yourself! I wasn't praising you!"

Marco then launched a torrential barrage of attacks at Carl, making her suffer miserably.

Marco was far stronger than Whitey Bay. In terms of physical strength alone, he far surpassed Carl, not to mention his Haki mastery.

Carl could only barely hold on with the healing effects provided by Holy Light.

Boom!

Marco kicked Carl flying. She slammed fiercely into the mast, nearly snapping it in half.

"Kid! Weren't you acting pretty arrogant just now?"