Deputy Commander's Might

A month passed in the blink of an eye, fleeting as a white colt racing past a window.

The deck of the Moby Dick was packed with people, and the atmosphere was incredibly lively.

Everyone craned their necks in anticipation, waiting for this agreed-upon duel.

"Do you think that kid Lin Feng can beat Captain Marco?"

"Hard to say. Captain Marco is a powerhouse on the level of an Emperor's deputy. Although Lin Feng has improved at an astonishing rate, he's still too young."

"Yeah, but everyone has seen how hard that kid has worked lately. Even if he loses, there's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Not necessarily. What if he wins?"

"Hahaha! If he really beats Captain Marco, then we're in for a good show!"

The pirates discussed it animatedly, with all kinds of guesses and opinions rising one after another.

"Lin Feng, are you ready?"

Marco stood in the center of the deck, his pineapple-shaped hair gleaming in the sunlight. With his arms folded across his chest, he looked calmly at Lin Feng.

"Of course!"

Lin Feng grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. His eyes were filled with confidence and fighting spirit.

He slowly drew Frost Gale, the blade reflecting a cold gleam under the sunlight.

"Then let's begin!"

The moment Marco finished speaking, a powerful aura erupted from his body.

"Boom!"

The air on the deck seemed to solidify.

Everyone felt immense pressure bearing down on them.

"So this is the strength of an Emperor's deputy?"

Lin Feng was secretly shocked, but he did not retreat in the slightest. Instead, his fighting spirit burned even more fiercely.

"Soru-Sword Style Shadow!"

Lin Feng's figure vanished from where he stood.

When he reappeared, he was already behind Marco.

Frost Gale carried a sharp, icy gleam as it slashed toward Marco's back.

"Armament Haki!"

Marco shouted softly, and his right arm was instantly covered in a layer of black Armament Haki.

"Clang!"

Frost Gale struck Marco's arm, ringing out with the sound of metal colliding.

"What incredible defense!"

Lin Feng frowned. He could feel that Marco's Armament Haki was far stronger than that of his previous opponents.

"Is this all you accomplished over the past month?"

Marco turned around and looked at Lin Feng, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly.

"Of course not!"

Lin Feng roared and launched another attack at Marco.

"Sun Breathing Form!"

"Sun Breathing Form Blue Sky!"

"Sun Breathing Form Sun Red Mirror!"

Lin Feng continuously unleashed the techniques of Sun Breathing Method, launching a fierce assault on Marco.

For a moment, sword flashes filled the deck, accompanied by howling gusts of wind.

Every one of Lin Feng's slashes was as fast as lightning, striking from tricky angles.

Marco, meanwhile, was like a rock amid a storm, responding with steady composure.

Every block was perfectly timed, completely neutralizing Lin Feng's attacks.

"That kid's swordsmanship has actually improved this much!"

Marco was secretly astonished.

A month ago, Lin Feng's swordsmanship had been exquisite, but it was still far from reaching such a level.

Now, every one of Lin Feng's slashes contained terrifying power, and Marco had no choice but to take him seriously.

"Old man, looks like we really found a treasure this time."

Marco sighed inwardly.

"That kid can actually fight Captain Marco to this extent?"

"This is unbelievable!"

"A month ago, he was defeated by Captain Jozu with a single move. Now he can actually go back and forth with Captain Marco?"

"That rate of improvement is faster than riding a rocket!"

The pirates watching the battle exclaimed repeatedly, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at Lin Feng.

"Gurararara! What a fine boy. To grow this much in such a short time!"

Whitebeard sat at the bow of the ship, watching the battle on the deck with excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Old man, do you think Lin Feng can win?"

Vista stood behind Whitebeard and asked softly.

Whitebeard shook his head.

"Marco's strength isn't so easily overcome."

"Still, the fact that this kid has forced Marco to take him seriously is already quite impressive."

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The battle between Lin Feng and Marco continued on the deck.

Lin Feng's attacks grew fiercer and faster.

Marco's defense also became tighter, without a single opening.

"Armament Haki!"

Marco shouted softly. Both his arms were completely covered in a layer of black Armament Haki, gleaming with a metallic luster.

"Soru-Sword Style Shadow!"

Lin Feng's figure vanished from where he stood.

"Hm? His speed got faster?"

Marco's eyes narrowed. This was the first time he had seen Lin Feng move so quickly.

"Whoosh!"

Lin Feng's figure appeared behind Marco, and Frost Gale slashed toward Marco's neck with a sharp, icy gleam.

"So fast!"

Marco was startled and hurriedly twisted aside to dodge.

"Slash!"

Frost Gale grazed Marco's neck, leaving a shallow bloody mark.

"He actually wounded Captain Marco?"

"How is that possible?"

"Could that kid Lin Feng really create a miracle?"

The watching pirates cried out in alarm, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"What a fine boy. You actually managed to wound me!"

Marco touched the wound on his neck and grinned.

"But if you want to defeat me, you're still far too lacking!"

"Phoenix Flames!"

Marco let out a loud roar, and blue flames suddenly ignited around his body.

"This is... the power of the Phoenix Fruit?"

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. He could feel that the blue flames possessed powerful healing abilities.

"Kid, be careful!"

Marco's figure vanished from where he stood.

"So fast!"

Lin Feng was startled and hurriedly swung his blade to block.

"Clang!"

Marco's fist, wreathed in blue flames, slammed heavily into Frost Gale's blade.

"Boom!"

A tremendous force surged over, sending Lin Feng flying backward and crashing hard into the ship's railing.

"Pfft!"

Lin Feng spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale.

"So this is the strength of an Emperor's deputy?"

Lin Feng struggled to his feet and looked at Marco, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

"Lin Feng, you've already done very well."

Marco looked at Lin Feng, approval showing in his eyes.

"But you still lost."

"I... haven't lost yet!"

Lin Feng clenched his teeth and raised Frost Gale once more.

"Sun Breathing..."

Just then, a flash of inspiration suddenly passed through Lin Feng's mind.

Lin Feng recalled the general principles of Sun Breathing Method.

"Sun Breathing Method is the origin of every breathing method in the world. It encompasses everything and continues endlessly..."

"Continues endlessly..."

Lin Feng muttered to himself. Suddenly, he felt the power within his body begin to seethe.

"This is..."

Lin Feng's eyes flew wide, and they filled with delight.

"I understand!"

"Sun Breathing Method isn't merely swordsmanship. It's also a method of breathing!"

"Through a special breathing technique, I can draw upon the power within my body and unleash even greater might!"

"Sun Breathing Method Concentration!"

Lin Feng inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled.

His breathing became long and slow, each breath seeming to merge with heaven and earth.

"This is..."

Marco looked at Lin Feng, surprise flashing through his eyes.

He could feel Lin Feng's aura continuously rising.

[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have unexpectedly completed Sun Breathing Method and automatically comprehended the complete Sun Breathing Method Concentration and all its skills!]

The system's notification rang out in Lin Feng's mind.

"Hahahaha! So that's how it is!"

Lin Feng threw his head back and laughed, a powerful aura erupting from his body.

"This... what's going on?"

"How did Lin Feng's aura suddenly become so powerful?"

"Could it be that he... broke through?"

The watching pirates cried out in alarm, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"That kid..."

Whitebeard looked at Lin Feng, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.