Chapter 190: The Threat, The Promise of One PunchOn the calm sea, an object suddenly appeared, followed by a giant pirate ship slowly coming into view."The Moby Dick!"The flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates, with a whale-shaped figurehead, was a legendary pirate ship that had endured an entire era.The entire pirate ship was incredibly massive, housing over 1,600 people; this was just the main group of the Whitebeard Pirates, and it was no less than the giant warships of his previous life.On the ship, atop that giant whale head, a large group of people in various outfits stood. Counting carefully, there were thirteen of them—these were all the Division Captains under Whitebeard.Now, the Whitebeard Pirates were all assembled.The three marine warship were suddenly caught in a pincer attack. The Marines quickly scrambled across the decks, rushing to their respective posts as battle became imminent.Spitting out the cigarette in her mouth, Hinaapproached Marcus. Staring warily at the pirate ships in front and behind, she asked, "Marcus, what should we do? The Whitebeard Pirates have come with ill intent. We're trapped in a pincer attack. Should we break through or negotiate with Whitebeard?"Ain didn't say much, just stood quietly behind Marcus. No matter what Marcus did, she would always stand by his side and support him."Negotiate!"Without the slightest hesitation, Marcus replied directly. With the entire Whitebeard Piratesmobilized, they didn't have the strength to fight back, let alone break through.Facing them was Whitebeard, that legendary man; he alone was enough to annihilate them all, not to mention those captains under him, several of whom had strength comparable to a Admiral.On Marcus's side, aside from Marcus himself, their high-end combat power was pitifully low. Aside from negotiation, there was no other way.At the same time, Marcus secretly guessed that Whitebeard didn't actually want to attack them; otherwise, how could they still be standing here facing them without anything happening?Taking a few steps forward, Marcus's figure was fully revealed. The Marine Justice cloak behind him fluttered in the wind as he fearlessly met the gaze of the entire Whitebeard Pirates.Even the pirates on the other side couldn't help but be impressed by Marcus's Haki at this moment. Facing one of the world's strongest Pirate Crewalone without a hint of fear."As expected of the strongest genius of the navy; with this Aura alone, he is worthy of that title,"a Division Captain of the Whitebeard Piratesremarked with a sigh.This person was the Fifth Division Captain, Flower Sword Vista, a steady dual-wielding swordsman and one of the world's top Great Swordsmen, possessing immense strength.Nearby, another captain said, "I really want to fight this Genius. Rumor has it he has a move that can cut through any substance in the world. I wonder if it can break through my body."Diamond Jozu, the Third Division Captain, whose entire body can turn into diamond, possessing the world's strongest physical defense... Phew!Taking a deep breath, Marcus shouted loudly, "Whitebeard, I never thought that one day I would meet the worlds strongest man under these circumstances—on a battlefield.""Gurararara..." Whitebeard laughed heartily. "strongest genius of the navy, that name has shocked the world. I've always wanted to see what kind of disciple Garp has raised."Suddenly, his gaze darkened, and Whitebeard spoke with Killing Intent, "However, today you, the strongest genius of the navy, have fallen into my hands. Tell me, what should I do with you?"Silence! A total silence. No one expected Whitebeard to change so quickly; he was hearty just a moment ago, and in an instant, his Killing Intentwas exposed."Pops, Marcus is..."But before Ace could finish, Whitebeard raised a hand and stopped him. Although Marcus was strong, Ace didn't think he could defeat Pops; Popswas truly powerful.Just as Ace wanted to continue speaking, Marcograbbed him and signaled with his eyes not to say more, as Pops had his reasons.Even Marcus hadn't expected Whitebeard to change so rapidly. As expected of a powerhouse who survived that era, none of them were simple."Whitebeard, do you think you've already won?" Marcus asked back with complete composure.Whitebeard didn't speak but looked at Marcus with a half-smile, clearly asking: do you really have a way to lead all these Marines out of here?He smiled, and before anyone understood why, his expression suddenly changed. "Whitebeard, although I am no match for you, aren't you afraid of a fight to the death where both sides lose?"Everyone was startled, then burst into laughter—laughter filled with disdain and contempt. Even the captains who previously thought well of Marcuscouldn't help but shake their heads inwardly.Although you, Marcus, are worthy of the title of the strongest genius of the navy, far surpassing your peers and even many veterans, and your combat power is top-tier in this era...But Pops was one of the three legendary pirates from back then, known as the worlds strongest man. His name echoes across the four seas, and even children's nursery rhymes describe him as'scarier than a monster'.How could you, Marcus, talk about a fight to the death with Pops? That's a bit too arrogant.Ignoring the pirates' mockery, Marcus said calmly, "Whitebeard, I am indeed not your match, and as for the Marines of our G-1 Branch, they are even less of a match for your Whitebeard Pirates."Hearing Vice Admiral Marcus's words, many Marines felt greatly ashamed, but it was the truth, and no one could refute it. Their expressions were gradually replaced by frustration."But on this ship are my comrades and the person I love. Whitebeard, you must understand in your heart—do you think you can stop me?"Pausing, Marcus exuded an intense Killing Intent, as if the sky itself was stained red by it. "Whitebeard, do you think you can stop my unscrupulous revenge?"Silence! The world fell silent once again, whether because of Marcus's terrifying Killing Intent or his startling words, or perhaps both.But one thing was certain: no one dared to mock him anymore, because what Marcus said was a fact—an undeniable fact. No one doubted whether Marcus's combat power could achieve this.Just now, Marcus had been able to push back Whitebeard with his Aura; his combat power was unquestionable, and even Ace had said Marcus was extremely strong. Not to mention Marcus could teleport through space; if Marcus wanted to leave, even Whitebeard couldn't stop him."Is that so?" Whitebeard asked back, stomping his right foot and causing a gust of wind to rise out of nowhere. "Are you really so sure you can escape from me?"A powerhouse like Whitebeard would never be threatened by a few words. Marcus knew this, of course, but in the current situation, he had no other way besides using threats to force Whitebeard to the negotiating table."I think so," Marcus said, and just as the words left his mouth, his figure vanished into the Void Realmwithout warning.Seeing this, Ace's eyes narrowed. Marcus had used this move in their battle earlier; it was terrifyingly effective, as even he hadn't noticed when Marcusappeared behind him."This should be enough, right?"As the words fell, Marcus appeared—once again appearing before Whitebeard without warning. Looking up at Whitebeard, the two of them stared at each other.Secretly, Whitebeard was also astonished. Although he had noticed the moment Marcus appeared, even he hadn't seen what method Marcus used to move there.With a poof, Marco instantly transformed into a firebird. With a flap of his flaming wings, he charged toward Marcus like a bolt of light. Everywhere he passed, the air distorted; it seemed Marco's blue flames possessed an incredibly high temperature."Shun"Marcus vanished again. When he reappeared, he was back on the marine warship. Marco's attack missed, and he looked at the distant Marcus with frustration.Just as Marco wanted to rush at Marcus again, Whitebeard quickly spoke to stop him. "Marco, stop. You are not his match."Marcus stared at Whitebeard and asked again, "Well, Whitebeard? Do you think I can do it?""Gurararara... I didn't expect that after roaming the Grand Line for so long, I, Whitebeard, would be threatened by a brat for the first time," Whitebeardlaughed heartily, but Marcus detected a trace of deep loneliness in his tone.No matter how strong a master is, they still have a human heart and will one day be unable to escape death. When that time comes, he would likely be the same, eventually turning into a pile of yellow earth."Pops, we have the absolute advantage, how can we..." Marco said indignantly. Pops was the worlds strongest man; how could he submit to such a despicable tactic as a threat?Some other captains nearby also spoke up in persuasion, "That's right, Pops!""Say no more. It's settled," Whitebeard said firmly.Whether for Ace's Face or Garp's, Whitebeard never intended to keep them here. He had just been testing what this naval genius was truly like.The result had surprised Whitebeard; he hadn't expected to actually be threatened.Taking a small step, Whitebeard said magnanimously, "Marine, although I can let you go, you must agree to one condition."Marcus thought for a moment and replied, "Fine! As long as the condition isn't too difficult, I'll agree to it.""Gurararara..." Whitebeard laughed. "Don't worry, I won't ask you to do anything like murder or arson.""Your teacher is Garp, and Garp's most formidable skill is that pair of Iron Fists. As his student for so many years, you must have learned quite a bit."Marcus asked, somewhat uncertainly, "Could it be that you want to...""Exactly. How about it, naval genius? Do you dare to exchange a punch with me? Regardless of the outcome, I will let you leave."Fine!Without hesitation, Marcus nodded in agreement. Having encountered the legendary man Whitebeard, how could he not exchange a move or two? (To be continued.)
Chapter 191: One Punch, Whitebeard's InjuryWhitebeard's one-punch agreement; both the Marines and pirates present were incredibly shocked, as Marcus and Whitebeard were not on the same level.Whitebeard is known as the world's strongest man, especially with his ability known as the strongest Paramecia, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, which possesses the power to destroy the world; how could Marcus possibly be his opponent?"Marcus, why did you suddenly agree? Everyone in the world knows Whitebeard's power; that's a power that can collapse an island with one punch," Ain said reproachfully from the side.Her tone contained worry and displeasure besides the reproach; as someone close to Marcus, Ain was also the person who understood Marcus's strength best, but there was still a gap compared to Whitebeard.After all, he was the strongest man, and this was a competition of strength; Whitebeard possessed power enough to destroy the world; among the Marines, perhaps only Vice Admiral Garp could contend with Whitebeard.Hina also hurriedly tried to persuade him from the side: "Yeah, Marcus, I think you should think it through; this one-punch agreement is a bit... for you."Gently patting Ain's incredibly smooth small hand, a faint smile appeared on his face as he said dismissively, "Having been with me for so long, don't you know what kind of person I am? I don't do things I'm not sure about.""And when threatening such a powerhouse, it won't do without paying a price."Every powerhouse has their own dignity and bottom line; threats are viewed with great disdain and hatred by any powerhouse, just as it is for Marcus, let alone a top-tier powerhouse like Whitebeard.However, under the circumstances, Marcus had no other way besides threatening Whitebeard; in the face of absolute strength, any scheme was useless.On the pirate ship, Ace thought about it, gritted his teeth, and still pleaded with Whitebeard; there was a true brotherhood between him and Marcus; how could Ace do nothing in this situation?"Pops, at... at that time, I want to ask you to show mercy; Marcus is my brother."Whitebeard laughed heartily and said, "Don't worry, Ace, you don't need to remind me; I know what I'm doing; I won't hurt your brother."Hearing Pops say this, a smile appeared on Ace's face, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief; Pops was a man of his word.Moving slightly, Whitebeard looked at Marcusopposite him, a trace of caution flashing in his eyes; in fact, without Ace saying anything, Whitebeardwasn't sure he could resolve Marcus with one punch, not even sure of heavily injuring him.Just now, during the confrontation of their Auras,Although he had a slight advantage, Marcus had indeed forced him back; from this point, Marcus's strength could be seen.Even the terrifyingly strong Whitebeard was not certain about Marcus."Whitebeard, shall we do it right here, or find an island as the battlefield?" Marcus said loudly from the ship."No need, let's do it right here; I imagine you wouldn't feel at ease if you continued to be surrounded by us," Whitebeard replied loudly.Without hiding it, Marcus admitted straightforwardly, "That's right; as a Marine, being surrounded by the Four Emperors' Whitebeard, no one could feel at ease."Whitebeard's answer was indeed what Marcushoped for; after all, he wasn't facing an ordinary pirate; although the world knew Whitebeard was a man of his word, Marcus still couldn't be completely at ease."Since that's the case, let's stop talking nonsense. naval genius Marcus, let me see how much of your teacher Garp's essence you've learned."Whitebeard laughed heartily, his legs bent slightly, his hands clenched into fists and crossed at his abdomen; a powerful Aura burst out from his entire body, filling the space between heaven and earth.In this windless, incredibly calm sea, a gale rose out of thin air; Whitebeard's cloak flapped loudly in the wind, and the crescent-moon-like mustache on his face also trembled slightly.Feeling this powerful Aura, Marcus's heart couldn't help but boil; showing no weakness, his entire body also erupted with a powerful Aura, mixed with thick Battle Intent.Ever since he first arrived in the New World years ago, he had fought bloody battles one after another with those in the New World, but as his strength grew..."I haven't felt this way in a long time; the world says every Four Emperors is a monster; today, let me see what kind of strength a monster actually has," Marcus laughed loudly and said heroically.Opportunities to go all out and experience a real battle were becoming fewer and fewer; in the entire New World, those who Marcus wasn't sure about were only the Four Emperors and some hidden powerhouses in the shadows.Because of his Marine status, he couldn't just go and challenge the Four Emperors at will; the only one he had a relationship with was the free-spirited Red-haired Shanks, but Shanks himself didn't even know where he'd be every day; who could find him?Among the Four Emperors, Marcus had already seen Kaido of the Beasts, but since that time, Marcus never wanted to see him again; he was a freak, and even Marcus had no way to deal with such a freak.Being able to fight the legendary world's strongest man, Whitebeard, was something Marcus looked forward to; only by fighting such a powerhouse could he take another step forward on the path of the strong."Good! Good!..." Whitebeard said 'good' several times in a row and praised, "In decades, no young man has ever said such words to me.""Young man, big talk isn't that easy to say; sometimes, a price must be paid."After speaking, Whitebeard stomped his right foot, directly stepping the bow of the hundred-meter-long pirate ship down several meters, causing the huge oars at the stern to tilt high up.Marcus stomped with one foot and also soared into the sky; the high bow of the warship also sank. Many unprepared soldiers couldn't react in time and fell directly onto the deck, landing on their backs."Big talk certainly requires a price, but it depends on the person; if it's not big talk, then why would a price be needed?"Hearing Marcus's incredibly domineering words, both sides had their own views; all the pirates naturally felt Marcus was incredibly arrogant; no matter how high his talent was, a Genius needs time to grow.Pops was hailed as the world's strongest man; how could he be surpassed so easily? Otherwise, how could Pops still hold this title, having not been taken by anyone for decades?Needless to say, the Marine Soldiers naturally felt it was incredibly domineering; four years ago, Vice Admiral Marcus was able to resist the legendary Pluto Rayleigh; now his strength must be unfathomable.In the air, the two had already begun to clash!Whitebeard didn't use any fancy fist techniques, just an ordinary straight punch, but it possessed incredibly terrifying power, enough to easily destroy an island. This was Whitebeard's fist technique, relying solely on that unparalleled, world-destroying ability; 'overwhelming strength' was the best description.Marcus also didn't use the powerful Rising Dragon Fist or Lushan Rising Dragon Palm; although these two punches were incredibly strong, their advantage lay more in that unique way of punching, which still wasted a lot of power in the process.Facing a man like Whitebeard, all power must be concentrated on a single point; a single point explosion has even more powerful lethality.Bang!The two fists, carrying an invincible momentum, collided fiercely like meteorites, producing an earth-shattering roar.The people below had their ears ringing from the intense sound waves; many people's ears directly bled, and they quickly covered their ears to block the sound waves, only then feeling a bit better.Immediately after, a bright light flashed; under the dazzling light, even if countless people wanted to watch the battle between the two, they had to close their eyes; their strength was not enough.Suddenly, that intense light disappeared instantly; the crowd had no time to think about why and quickly looked up into the sky.They saw that in the high sky, the two fists had already collided, but the surroundings were surrounded by a patch of darkness; in the very center was a hole, and those dazzling lights were sucked into the hole.Creak, creak. Items on the deck actually started to move without anyone pushing them, and the direction they moved was towards the bow.Just as everyone was puzzled, someone's startled cry rang out, "It's not the bow moving, but our warship is tilting forward. The stern has already been raised."It turned out that on the sea surface, the calm sea suddenly dented downward, forming a huge whirlpool; now the entire marine warship was plunging toward the center of the whirlpool."Retreat, retreat quickly! Get the oars out immediately! All crew members return to your positions, don't let the warship capsize!" Hinagrabbed a rope nearby tightly and ordered loudly.Seeing the whirlpool ahead, Hina's face was filled with shock; she didn't expect the two of them to cause such destructive power, even high in the sky and from such a distance, they were still affected.In the air, the five-meter-tall Whitebeard—one could imagine how big his fist was; compared to it, Marcus's fist was like the difference between a watermelon and an apple."Brat, I didn't expect you to be so strong; you truly are that bastard Garp's only Disciple; you've learned quite a bit of Garp's Iron Fist," Whitebeard still had the strength to laugh heartily and praise.Gritting his teeth, Marcus forcibly gathered his breath and said, "Of course, as my teacher's only student, I won't lose face for him.""Is that so? To have such combat power at this age, you are the number one of this generation; however, your combat power is still a bit lacking, it's not enough yet."As soon as he finished speaking, the strength in Whitebeard's hand surged; Marcus, who could originally hold his own, was instantly suppressed."Ah..."Marcus let out an angry roar, but in the face of Whitebeard's powerful combat strength, he was still sent flying, crashing heavily onto the deck, piercing right through it all the way to the very bottom of the warship. This was only because Marcus had used his power to offset much of the impact; otherwise, the entire marine warship would have been pierced through instantly.Lying below, Marcus forcibly took a breath and leaped onto the deck with force. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood in succession, his face incredibly pale and bloodless; clearly, having withstood Whitebeard's punch, his body was not lightly injured.His body tilted, and just as he was about to fall, Ainhurriedly rushed over to support Marcus; using Ain's strength, Marcus maintained his standing position.After coughing a few times and spitting out the blood foam in his throat, he then ordered, "Quick, everyone retreat! This place is not suitable to stay for long, evacuate immediately.""Yes!" The Marines received the order and quickly gave orders to the two ships nearby.Bang! Bang! Bang!... He retreated several steps, each step making the entire massive Moby Dickshake; only then did Whitebeard dissipate the huge force on his body, a trace of blood hanging from the corner of his mouth."Don't stop them, let them go."
At the center of the Grand Line, the Marine Headquarters, the World Government, and the Holy Land Mary Geoise are all located here. This place can be called the center of the world's power.Those who live here are either high-ranking officials of the World Government, elite members of Marineford, or Celestial Dragons. It can be said that the people who control the world reside here.At this moment, in the massive harbor of Marineford, marine warships were constantly coming and going. Some were returning to report, while others were heading out to suppress disturbances elsewhere after receiving orders. It was a scene of bustling activity everywhere.The Marines stationed here were all elite forces from the headquarters, a place countless Marines aspired to be. It gathered all of the Marine's high-end combat power.Therefore, the world also referred to Marineford as the safest port in the world. In the eyes of most pirates, it was also one of the few forbidden zones in the world. Even among the Four Emperors of the New World, who would dare to rashly invade the Marine Headquarters?On the sea near the Marine Headquarters, a marine warship belonging to the G-1 Branch was slowly sailing towards the headquarters.On the deck, Marcus watched the approaching Marine Headquarters, a look of emotion and nostalgia appearing on his face. This was the place where he had grown and trained, where he had become a Marine.However, he had spent very little time here. Apart from his first year of training, the remaining time had been spent in the Grand Line or active in the Four Seas.After being promoted to Marine Vice Admiral, Marcus immediately took up his post as the commander of the G-1 Branch. Although he had visited many times due to missions, his stays were always very brief.This time, for some reason, Marcus had suddenly been summoned by Marine Headquarters. He didn't know the reason, but he guessed it was probably related to his battle with Whitebeard two days prior.Based on his connections within Marine Headquarters, he had obtained this news covertly. It seemed that the battle with Whitebeard had already made Marine Headquarters and the World Government recognize his strength. The specifics were unclear to Marcus; it was as if everyone was deliberately keeping him in the dark.A few days ago, during the 'One Punch Pact' with Whitebeard, there were thousands of people present. With so many eyes watching, the news spread with astonishing speed that very day.After some resourceful and dedicated reporters conducted their own investigations, numerous newspaper agencies revised their layouts overnight, printed countless copies, and spread the news across the world.When that incident spread across the world, one could imagine the immense shock and storm it caused. It was like a stone dropping into a pond, sending ripples across the world.Whitebeard, hailed as the world's strongest man, a legendary pirate, one of the few individuals in the past who could rival the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.Even in that era, he was already world-famous. Later, he was revered by the world as one of the Four Emperors, an emperor among pirates, possessing incomparably powerful strength. Even children around the world knew Whitebeard was more terrifying than a monster.For such a legendary man to be threatened by Marine Vice Admiral Marcus, and to ultimately back down... instantly, Marcus's name once again shook the world.Especially the 'One Punch Pact' with Whitebeard. Vice Admiral Marcus withstood a punch from Whitebeard. Although he sustained significant injuries, Whitebeard was also injured by that punch. This demonstrated what kind of combat power Vice Admiral Marcus now possessed.How many people in this world could injure the legendary Whitebeard? The fact that Marcus could do it was enough proof of his level of power.In comparison, the battle between the Marine's strongest genius and the Supernova Fire Fist Ace, which destroyed a small island, seemed somewhat less impressive.On the warship, only Marcus had come to Marine Headquarters. Ain had originally wanted to accompany him, but Marcus had a bad feeling about this trip to the headquarters. After some thought, he decided to leave Ain at the G-1 Branch, which put his mind at ease.As for Tashigi, she had also stayed at the G-1 Branch for a while. As one of the Marines with great potential among the soldiers.Tashigi's assignment to the G-1 Branch was actually a form of training. From Marine Headquarters' perspective, placing promising Marine Soldiers under the tutelage of the Marine's strongest genius would be more beneficial for their growth.Now that her training period was over, Tashigishould also leave. Next, they should independently command Marine Soldiers, garrison certain sea areas, grow gradually, and eventually become the mainstays of the Marine... As the Marine Headquarters, Marineford's security was, of course, extremely strict. Ordinary people could hardly sneak in, let alone such a massive marine warship.On the harbor's high watchtower, several Marine Soldiers on duty were using their binoculars to observe the surrounding sea. Although this was Marine Headquarters, and what pirate would dare to risk their life entering here, necessary vigilance was still required.Looking at the approaching G-1 Branch warship, the vigilant Marine Soldiers felt a flicker of confusion. Shouldn't the G-1 Branch be garrisoned in the New World? Why had it suddenly appeared here?Adjusting the binoculars and zooming in, they saw countless Marine Soldiers performing their duties on the deck. At the forefront stood a Marine Vice Admiral in his uniform, his pristine white cape dazzlingly bright."V-Vice Admiral... Vice Admiral Marcus, the Marine's strongest genius, Vice Admiral Marcus!" The Marine Soldier trembled all over, staring at the approaching warship and speaking with immense excitement."What?!" The surrounding Marine Soldiers exclaimed in shock.They hurriedly grabbed for the binoculars, wanting to see what the Marine's Undefeated God of War, the one who repeatedly created miracles, hailed as the Marine's strongest genius, Vice Admiral Marcus, actually looked like.But there was only one pair of binoculars, and everyone wanted to look first. Instantly, no one yielded, and they started fighting amongst themselves.Meanwhile, the Marine Soldier who had looked earlier quickly dialed the nearby den den mushi to notify headquarters: Vice Admiral Marcus had arrived.The huge hull sailed across the sea, leaving trails in its wake. Waves dozens of centimeters high dispersed to both sides. Although it was a wooden ship, propelled by the sea breeze, its speed was not slow at all.The news of Marcus's arrival soon spread throughout Marineford. Many Marines gathered at the harbor to look, all wanting to see the legendary Vice Admiral Marcus's true appearance.On the warship, Marcus was slightly surprised by the crowded crowd at the harbor, which included many female Marines. He rubbed his nose, thinking somewhat smugly, "I didn't know my charm was this great, all bowing to my charisma."With a loud flapping sound, the dozens-of-meters-high sails were slowly retracted by the combined effort of dozens of Marine Soldiers. It took a bit of time to bring the hundreds-of-meters-long warship to a stop."Thump!" A sound rang out!Accompanied by several Marine Rear Admirals, Marcus slowly descended the stairs. His handsome face, calm eyes, and his entire body exuded an indescribable Aura.Some female Marines immediately clasped their hands together, saying with starry-eyed expressions, "As expected of Vice Admiral Marcus! Not only is he incredibly strong, but he's also very handsome. I wish I could be assigned to the G-1 Branch."A female Marine beside her ruthlessly burst her bubble, "Sis, stop daydreaming. The G-1 Branch is very difficult to get into. Even if you did get in, you wouldn't be assigned to Vice Admiral Marcus's ship. Vice Admiral Marcus has a fiancée on his ship; you have no chance.""Mary, you little brat, do you have to ruin it for me? It's not like I don't know. Can't I just fantasize a little?" The two beauties started roughhousing, drawing the gazes of all the male Marines nearby.A Marine Rear Admiral, standing tall and straight, saw Vice Admiral Marcus disembark and quickly stepped forward, giving a solemn military salute. "Vice Admiral Marcus, Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the three Admirals are already waiting for you in the headquarters conference room."Marcus returned the salute and said calmly, "Alright, thank you for your trouble."Turning around, Marcus smiled at the several Naval Officers from the G-1 Branch behind him and said, "I'll head to Marine Headquarters for the meeting first. You all can do as you please. Go wherever you want; I'm giving you a day off."The group exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with pleasant surprise. They said happily, "Thank you, Vice Admiral Marcus!"As Naval Officers, they were often very busy at Marine bases. Aside from specific holidays, they rarely had time off, let alone time to play.Seeing their delighted expressions, Marcus gave a serious warning, "You can have fun, but there's one thing to note: don't go too far. If you cause any trouble, I'll be the first to deal with you.""Yes, sir!"Turning back, Marcus gave the Marine Soldier an apologetic smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting. We can go now."He had initially thought Vice Admiral Marcus was a serious person. Meeting him today, he realized he was completely unpretentious and approachable. The Marine Rear Admiral felt somewhat flustered and honored. "It's no trouble, Vice Admiral Marcus."With that, the Rear Admiral turned and led Vice Admiral Marcus towards the conference room. Marineford was so large that, of course, there were many conference rooms, which was why someone needed to guide Marcus there.Seeing the Rear Admiral leading the way, Marcusfollowed at a leisurely pace and began conversing with him. The Rear Admiral, seeing that the Marine's strongest genius, Vice Admiral Marcus, was talking to him, answered every question without holding back.However, the Rear Admiral's authority was somewhat limited, and he didn't know many things. As for why Marine Headquarters had suddenly recalled Marcus, he naturally didn't know either."However, Vice Admiral Marcus, there seems to be a rumor circulating in Marineford recently. It seems headquarters is preparing to promote you."The Rear Admiral glanced around and said in a low voice, looking at Marcus with admiration. If Vice Admiral Marcus advanced one more step, he would become a Marine Admiral. A 19-year-old MarineAdmiral would be unprecedented in Marine history.Hearing this news, Marcus's face showed no excitement, only a slight flicker of emotion. Regarding the matter of promotion to MarineAdmiral, Marcus had also heard some rumors.In his heart, Marcus wasn't particularly keen on this. In this regard, he was a bit like Vice Admiral Garp. While becoming an Admiral would elevate his status, authority, and reputation...The Marines were a complex place. After becoming a Marine Admiral, one would inevitably become entangled in various rules and regulations. Promotion to Admiral wasn't necessarily a good thing."Forget it, it's not confirmed yet. Thinking too much is useless. I'll wait until I see Fleet Admiral Sengoku, clarify the situation, and then decide," Marcussecretly shook his head and thought.Suddenly, Marcus's eyes flashed. He suddenly saw a large group of Marine Soldiers gathered nearby, carrying a stretcher in the middle. The person on it was covered with a white cloth. (To be continued
Chapter 193: The Death of a Close Friend, The ChoiceInside the port, Marcus's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the stretcher surrounded by the crowd.Seeing this stretcher pass by, the many Marine Soldiers around couldn't help but salute, and even the Marine Rear Admiral beside him did the same.From the eyes of these Marine Soldiers, a mix of grief, indignation, helplessness, desolation, confusion... and countless other emotions fused together, as if there was some shocking secret behind this person's death.Logically speaking, as one of the world's most dangerous professions, there would be no shortage of Marine Soldiers passing through this port every day, yet such a situation had never occurred before.What drew Marcus in was not the secret behind it, but rather, upon seeing this stretcher, a terrible premonition instantly surged intensely in his heart.At the same time, an inexplicable feeling of heartache rose in his heart, a feeling that couldn't be described in words, as if a piece of his heart had been torn out, that kind of pain.In just a few seconds, sweat poured down Marcus's forehead, his back was soaked with sweat, the pain in his chest was unbearable, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.His body bent unnaturally, as if he had suffered a severe injury, but this pain was several times worse than that, and even Marcus found it hard to endure."Vice Admiral Marcus, what's wrong with you? I'll go call a medic immediately."With such a big reaction from Marcus, how could the Rear Admiral not notice? Looking down, he saw Marcus's usually upright back now bent, with a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. Seeing this, the Rear Admiral was shocked. How could Vice Admiral Marcus be like this? He hurriedly asked."No need, I'm fine," Marcus quickly waved his hand to stop the Rear Admiral's action, pointing at the stretcher, his tone filled with extreme urgency as he asked, "Who... who is lying on that stretcher?"Seeing Marcus's current condition, the Rear Admiraldidn't believe it at all, but since Vice Admiral Marcussaid so, he could only obey the order.Although he didn't understand why Marcus was asking this, the Rear Admiral immediately replied, "The one on the stretcher is a Rear Admiral from the headquarters. Today is the day he was brought back, and many Marine Soldiers came specifically to welcome him."As he spoke, this Marine Rear Admiral's face showed a look of indignation, but his tone revealed a hint of sorrow, "He didn't die at the hands of pirates, but at the hands of the Celestial Dragons. He..."Suddenly, the Rear Admiral realized something, glanced at Vice Admiral Marcus, his face showing panic, sweat beading on his forehead—this was out of fear, as if he had said something wrong, something he shouldn't have said."Vice Admiral Marcus,Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the three Admirals are probably waiting impatiently in the conference room. Let's go there first."He quickly changed the subject, pretending to be calm, but Marcus could still sense the panic in his tone."What is this Rear Admiral hiding? Is it related to me, and he doesn't want me to know?" This was the first thought that popped into his mind.Without continuing to look at the Rear Admiral, Marcus's figure flashed, and in an instant, he caught up with the escorting Marines, shouting loudly."Stop!"Marcus shouted with all his might, the voice truly deafening, audible throughout the entire port. Countless Marines turned around, looking at Vice Admiral Marcus, especially at the trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, utterly shocked, whispering among themselves.With no time to care about these, Marcus walked directly toward the stretcher, his voice stern as he asked, "Tell me, who is lying on that stretcher?"Hearing Marcus's inquiry, the countless Marines around wore expressions identical to that of the Marine Rear Admiral. The Marines beside the stretcher quickly moved closer, blocking it."Move aside."This time, Marcus didn't shout loudly, but spoke calmly. However, anyone familiar with Marcus knew that the calmer he was, the angrier he became. In his heart, Marcus was already filled with immense rage.Although Marcus usually joked around, no one could withstand his anger, absolutely no one. Not even close ones like Ain, Hancock, or Ace could stop an enraged Marcus.Seeing that the crowd still wouldn't move aside, Marcus said again in a low voice, "Move... aside..."At the same time, an extremely strong Killing Intentburst forth from Marcus, the entire sky seeming to turn as bright red as blood. Everyone's eyes saw a world of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.Many Marine Soldiers were directly frightened unconscious by this Killing Intent. Those who could hold on wore expressions of terror. Under Marcus's beast-like, devouring gaze, the Marines involuntarily cleared a path.Just now, in the panic, the crowd accidentally shook the stretcher, and an arm fell out. Although it was quickly covered back up, Marcus still saw it clearly.It was a right arm, with a red thread tied around it, and a uniquely styled golden bell threaded on the red thread.Step by step, Marcus walked closer, the scene of when he first saw this bell slowly surfacing in his mind."Marcus, what do you think? Isn't this bell of mine nice? Ding-ding-dong-dong...""Haha, Roberts, are you kidding me? A grown man like you wearing a bell only a child would have, haha...""Stinky Kid, what do you know? This was a birthday gift someone gave me, very precious.""It was your wife, right? But your wife is also pretty awesome, giving you such a unique gift.""Hmph... this is my most precious gift. I'll wear it on my hand forever, never taking it off.""I never expected, Roberts, that you were so secretly sentimental inside..." Walking up to the stretcher, Marcus tremblingly extended his right hand, carefully lifting the white cloth. That familiar face appeared before him, somewhat pale yet calm, eyes still wide open—this was a death with unclosed eyes.But with his suspicions confirmed, Marcus's body trembled violently. Then, with a thud, Marcusdirectly knelt on the floor, the bluestone ground cracking apart.The Marines around watched this scene, quietly bowing their heads. All the Marines knew that Vice Admiral Marcus and Rear Admiral Roberts were close friends, closer than friends, like brothers.Rear Admiral Roberts usually had an excellent reputation in the Marines. Yet such a Rear Admiraldidn't die on the battlefield. Instead, he died at the hands of the Celestial Dragons, simply because he stopped one of them.This was why everyone, even at the risk of offending Vice Admiral Marcus, tried to hide the news of Roberts' death—they didn't want Vice AdmiralMarcus to know. But unexpectedly, he found out."Ah, Roberts!"Suddenly, Marcus let out a roar to the heavens—a roar of unwillingness, a roar questioning fate, a roar of utter despair... Boom, boom, boom... A series of explosions sounded from the ground, spreading outward continuously. Explosions also echoed from the sea, countless towering waves rising.The entire island of Marineford shook violently, as if experiencing an earthquake. The ground cracked, fissures appearing everywhere. Countless Marines lost their footing and fell.The roar stopped, and the world calmed again. But the many Marine Soldiers were already utterly shocked. Was this Vice Admiral Marcus's strength?Lowering his head, Marcus whispered beside Roberts, "Roberts, rest assured, I'll take care of your wife and my nephew. I won't let anything happen to them."After speaking, Marcus reached out his hand, gently stroking Roberts' face. Those open eyes finally closed.Ignoring the gazes of the other Marines, Marcusforcefully lifted the white cloth, flung it away, and carried Roberts on his back, walking toward the town."Let's go, we're going home!"...As Marine Headquarters, Marineford also housed many elite Marines. Of course, there was a town here, an extremely bustling one.On the streets, countless people were still discussing the scene just now—a madman carrying a dead man, walking down the street without any regard for their feelings.At this moment, in a bustling small house, as a Marine Rear Admiral, Roberts' living conditions were naturally much better than those of ordinary Marines.A beautiful woman was leaning over Roberts' body, crying. This was Roberts' wife, a virtuous teacher.Marcus was sitting on a chair nearby, quietly watching all this, holding a child about three years old in his arms—Roberts' son, also Marcus's nephew.The child was only three and didn't understand what death was. Seeing his mother leaning over his father and crying, he couldn't help but cry too.Adjusting his nephew in his arms, Marcus gently wiped away his tears, saying softly, "Ward, your father has just gone to a very faraway place. He might not see you for a long time, so your mother is crying like this."After thinking about it, Marcus still felt he couldn't tell him all this. Matters of revenge should be left to a brother like him. A child shouldn't grow up burdened with hatred.That's right, after thinking for so long, Marcus had made his choice. Roberts couldn't just die like this. Since Marine Headquarters was swallowing its anger, he would have to seek justice for Robertshimself.His brother couldn't die in vain like this. If he had died on the battlefield, Marcus wouldn't have done anything but kill those pirates. But his death was so stifling and unjust.Ward stopped crying, wiped the tears from his face, and said in a childish voice, "Uncle Tian, one day I'll become strong. I'll bring Father back and stop Mother from crying."Marcus smiled slightly, saying solemnly, "Ward, remember, you must become strong. Only by becoming strong can you protect your mother."Ward was still young and didn't understand the meaning of Marcus's words, but hearing about protecting his mother, Ward nodded vigorously—he could do that.Standing up, Marcus carried Ward toward the woman, saying softly, "Sister-in-law, accept my condolences. What Roberts worried about most after his death was you and Ward. Ward is still young and needs care. You must take care of your health."Under Marcus's persuasion, the woman slowly stood up, took Ward from Marcus's hands, and held him tightly, her cheek pressed against Ward's face, tears flowing uncontrollably."Sister-in-law, I promised Roberts I'd take care of both of you. You can't stay at Marine Headquartersmuch longer. I'll send you to a safe place," Marcuswhispered.The woman was a teacher, extremely intelligent, and instantly understood the implication of Marcus's words. She quickly said, "Marcus, what do you plan to do? That's the Celestial Dragons. Roberts is already gone. Let it be."Her tone was filled with resentment and helplessness. The other party was the Celestial Dragons, the rulers of the world. If Marcus really acted, he would be making an enemy of the entire world."As Roberts' closest brother, I must seek justice for him," Marcus glanced at her, his tone firm.The woman knew what kind of person Marcus was. Arguing was useless, so she could only nod and say, "Alright then. But Marcus, be careful."Patting Ward's head, Marcus took out a Devil Fruitand placed it in the woman's hand. "This was a gift I originally prepared for Ward. Let him eat it. When he's strong enough one day, tell him about today's events."This time, the woman didn't refuse and directly accepted it. In this chaotic era, with only mother and son left to rely on each other, this would benefit Ward both now and in the future.Immediately after, Marcus took out a few more letters, explaining some matters. After all, if he did what he planned, he wasn't sure how much turmoil it would cause. Some things had to be arranged.After speaking, Marcus directly took the mother and son away. It was better to leave early, lest delays lead to complications.Opening the door, before Marcus could step out, he saw the sea of pristine white Marine uniforms outside, a faint smile appearing on his face."Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you really think highly of me." (To be continued.)
Chapter 194: Marcus Confronts Marine HeadquartersAs Marine Headquarters, the level of vigilance and response speed at Marineford cannot be matched anywhere else.After learning that Marcus knew about the death of his close friend Roberts, the surrounding Marine Soldiers immediately reported to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, as only the Fleet Admiral could properly handle such a matter.At that time, Sengoku was discussing Marcus's promotion to Admiral with the other three Admirals. Aokiji, being Marcus's friend, naturally agreed without question.Even Akainu, who possessed a rigid personality but employed cruel and merciless methods in the Marine, held an approving attitude toward this.This was because Marcus was similar to Akainu in some aspects: he was equally ruthless in his actions and used cruel methods, instilling terror in countless pirates through slaughter.However, Marcus differed from Akainu; Marcusfocused on the matter, not the person, and had his own standards, only acting ruthlessly against the most heinous criminals, whereas Akainu insisted on Absolute Justice and could not tolerate the existence of even a hint of evil.Although Kizaru and Marcus were not particularly close, they were still considered friends, and given Kizaru's personality, seeing that everyone else agreed, he also nonchalantly gave his approval.As for Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there was no need to mention him, as he was the one who proposed it in the first place. But just then, the news arrived that Marcus had learned of Roberts' death.Immediately afterward, the ensuing tremor and Marcus's furious roar caused the faces of all the high-ranking Marine officials present to turn extremely grim, showing expressions of deep solemnity.Sengoku slammed his hands down hard. With a crash, the glass cup on the table fell to the floor. Suppressing his anger, he muttered, "What is going on? Didn't I issue a gag order? The matter of Marine Rear Admiral Roberts' death must not reach Vice Admiral Marcus yet. I intended to explain it to him myself."At this moment, Aokiji, the silent Admiral, spoke up: "It seems Marcus arrived and happened to run into it. Vice Admiral Marcus arrived early this time due to some circumstances."With a bang, Sengoku slammed the table again, roaring, "How come nobody notified me about such a huge matter? What is the Marine Staff Office doing?""It's usually difficult for a Marine Vice Admiral to reach their location. The Staff Office probably didn't anticipate this happening, especially since I only just found out he arrived myself," said Kizaru, who usually acted lackadaisically and spoke humorously, now speaking with extreme seriousness.Everyone understood the consequences of Marcusfinding out about this matter. Otherwise, Fleet Admiral Sengoku wouldn't have issued a gag order across the entire Marine Headquarters; everything was done just to keep Marcus in the dark.Akainu lightly hammered his chair.He muttered softly, "Now that Vice Admiral Marcusknows, there's no use in talking any further. We should consider what the consequences will be. Given his deeply loyal nature, it is certain he won't stand idly by.""Sigh..."Sengoku sighed, leaned back in his seat, and rubbed his temples, his face showing helplessness and exhaustion. It was precisely because he knew this that Sengoku had issued the gag order.The truth was, Marcus's popularity in the Marinewas too high, even surpassing Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself. Many Marine Soldiers were filled with admiration for him and treated him as their goal to strive toward.Furthermore, Marcus had excellent relationships with many high-ranking Marine officers. Many Vice Admirals and Marine Rear Admirals were friends with Marcus and had received his help, and the same was true for the Admirals, with Admiral Aokijibeing the one he was closest to.Currently, Aokiji had lost count of how many meals he owed Marcus, and every meal represented a favor. Not just Aokiji, but most Marines owed Marcus favors.At the same time, many of those old figures also thought highly of Marcus, such as Zephyr and Vegapunk... these people were extremely familiar with Marcus.Especially Zephyr, who recognized Ain as his adopted granddaughter—the entire Marine knew about Marcus and Ain. And that old man Vegapunkeven considered Marcus his confidant, calling him "Little Friend" all the time. Finally, there was that bastard Garp, who was Marcus's teacher.Therefore, if Marcus took action, it would cause a massive shock to the entire Marine Headquarters. Even Sengoku did not know what the consequences would be, but they would certainly be unbearable."Those bastards! It should be enough for them to stay honestly in Mary Geoise and live a comfortable life, but damn it, they still go out and commit evil from time to time! Usually, Marineford turns a blind eye, but now they even have a Marine Rear Admiraldie by their hands."Sengoku cursed internally. Did they realize how bad an impact this incident had caused at Marineford? It made the high-ranking officers in the Marine feel insecure, causing restlessness and plunging them into turmoil.Thinking of this, Sengoku's anger was hard to quell. He slapped the table again, and this time the table could no longer withstand it. Cracks spread across it, and it collapsed with a crash.Looking at the shattered wooden table on the ground, Sengoku asked, "Tell me, what should we do to handle this matter?""Marcus's influence in the Marine is too great. I believe we should arrest him first, and then decide based on the situation," Akainu said in a deep voice.Aokiji immediately rejected Akainu's suggestion: "Absolutely not! Marcus is extremely powerful. We should talk to him first, see what he has to say, and then make a decision."Hmph, Akainu snorted coldly and hammered his chair. "It is precisely because he is so powerful that we must arrest him. Otherwise, if something happens later, it will be too late. Even the slightest hint of evil must be eradicated.""I will not agree!"Compared to the arguing Aokiji and Akainu, Kizarusaid nothing, merely trimming his nails on the side and smiling as he watched the two quarrel."Enough! Stop arguing, both of you. I have made my decision. Let's hurry over there first," Sengoku finally decided, slamming his hand down... This led to the current scene: when Marcus emerged, leading the woman and Ward, the outside was filled with Marines, countless Marine Soldiers surrounding the house.The busy streets had long been emptied, subsequently filling up with countless Marines. Even the adjacent rooftops were crowded with Marines, who had even moved powerful naval cannons onto the houses.Not only had countless Marine Soldiers arrived, but all the high-ranking officers at Marine Headquarterswere also present: Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the three Admirals, several Marine Vice Admirals, and more than ten Marine Rear Admirals, not to mention the countless lower-ranking Marine officers.It could be said that aside from the Marines holding essential positions, every Marine had arrived here. Tens of thousands of Marines completely surrounded the area, and all these people had gathered for Marcus.Seeing that it was Vice Admiral Marcus who emerged, the many Marines immediately breathed a sigh of relief. They had thought Fleet Admiral Sengoku suddenly gathered all the Marinefordelites to surround the area because some powerful pirate had invaded Marine Headquarters.Now that Vice Admiral Marcus was out, they assumed the pirate must have been eliminated, and they spoke happily."As expected of Vice Admiral Marcus, solving the pirate issue so quickly! With Vice Admiral Marcushere, we don't even need to take action.""Hahahaha..."But at this moment, Lin looked up and laughed loudly. He only stopped smiling after several seconds, his face filled with rage, laughing out of extreme anger."Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I didn't expect you to think so highly of me, mobilizing the entire Marineford. But why didn't our Fleet Admiral Sengoku come out to uphold justice back then? You just hid in your office."Hearing Marcus say this, Sengoku's face alternated between green and pale, feeling deeply ashamed. How could Sengoku not understand Marcus's implication? Yet, Sengoku did not know how to refute him.He truly hadn't handled that matter well, but Sengoku had no choice. It wasn't that Sengokuhadn't argued with the Gorosei, but the other party was a Celestial Dragon.No matter what Sengoku did, there was no way, simply because they were Celestial Dragons—Celestial Dragons who were called gods. No one in this world could judge them.Taking a deep breath, Sengoku said with some guilt, "Marcus, I don't need to elaborate on what is behind this matter. You should be clearer than I am. Those people are not ones we can touch."Marcus naturally understood what Sengoku was saying, but Sengoku had truly gone too far. Not only did he fail to disclose the matter publicly, but he hid it, preventing Marcus from knowing."Is that so? Our Fleet Admiral Sengoku really works hard, using the death of his subordinates as a bargaining chip on the negotiation table."Marcus showed no regard for Sengoku's reputation, his words merciless, exposing his sarcasm completely. Having stayed in the Marine for so long, he knew clearly about the dark dealings within the organization.Feeling the suspicious gazes of the countless Marine Soldiers around, Sengoku's face turned extremely ugly. He hadn't expected Marcus to expose the darkness within the Marine so openly.He asked, "Marcus, are you sure you want to do this? Have you considered how Garp will feel when he finds out? You've been in the Marine for ten years; you should know what kind of impact your actions will have."How could Marcus not know what Sengoku was saying? Once he took this step, there would be no turning back. He would be placing himself in opposition to the World Government, and his life would undergo a massive turning point.But he recalled that year, when Roberts was the first person to talk to him, took the blame for him, and nearly sacrificed his own life to save Marcusduring a battle... leading to a tragic death.Those scenes echoed in Marcus's mind. How could Marcus endure this? Since the world was so unjust, he would personally uphold justice for Roberts.Marcus slowly stretched out his right hand, removed the Marine cloak from his back, gripped it with his right hand, and let it hang naturally. The cloak fluttered in the wind, and the two characters for "Justice" appeared before countless Marines.Seeing this sight, the faces of the Marines below were all struck with shock. As for the officers who were Marcus's friends, their faces showed deep reluctance and worry, besides the shock."Fleet Admiral Sengoku, thank you for looking after me for so long. Today, I must seek justice. Please tell my teacher that I am sorry.""Marcus, do you know what you are doing? Put the cloak back on, and I can pretend I didn't see this." Even at this final step, Sengoku still didn't want to give up on Marcus. Marcus was too important to the Marine, and Sengoku didn't want to see him turn against the Marine.With a loud bang, the Marine cloak emblazoned with "Justice" instantly shattered into countless pieces, scattering in all directions under the sea breeze. Marcus had used his actions to declare his resolution."Even if the Celestial Dragons proclaim themselves gods, today I will defy heaven and slaughter a god." (To be continued.)
Chapter 194: Marcus Confronts Marine Headquarters"From this day forward, I, Marcus, defect from the Marine, have nothing more to do with the Marine, and officially stand in opposition to the World Government."This declaration was no less than a bombshell dropped into the Marine, shaking the tens of thousands of Marine Soldiers nearby into complete disarray.In an instant, the tens of thousands of Marine Soldiers were all shocked; even after reacting, they still could not believe this news was true."How is this possible? How could it be like this? Marine Vice Admiral Marcus has quit the Marine. What on earth happened? Why would Marine Vice Admiral Marcus do this!" some Marine Soldiers muttered to themselves, their tones filled with disbelief, still unable to recover from the shock."Wasn't Marine Headquarters going to promote Marine Vice Admiral Marcus to Admiral? Yet now, Marine Vice Admiral Marcus has defected from the Marine. What exactly is hidden behind all of this?"After saying this, their eyes involuntarily turned toward Fleet Admiral Sengoku at the front. From the previous conversation, it was clear that Marine Headquarters had done something to chill Marine Vice Admiral Marcus's heart, which was why it had come to this.Some wise and well-informed Marine Soldiers immediately associated this with what happened in the Plaza just a moment ago. "Could it be that Marine Vice Admiral Marcus is doing this because of the late Marine Rear Admiral Roberts?""That's right, Marine Rear Admiral Roberts and Marine Vice Admiral Marcus were close friends. There must be something hidden behind the death of Marine Rear Admiral Roberts that induced Marine Vice Admiral Marcus to act that way."The matter of Roberts being killed by the Celestial Dragons was known only to a few high-ranking members of Marine Headquarters; most Marine Soldiers only knew that Marine Rear AdmiralRoberts had died, but did not know why.Although this Marine Soldier's voice was extremely low, it was still heard by the Marine Soldiers nearby. In an instant, the news spread like wildfire, and the entire Marine was talking about it.Seeing the elite, well-trained Marine Headquarterselite forces fall into chaos instantly at one sentence from Marcus, there was no longer any shadow of their elite status.The many Naval Officers in front looked somewhat unsightly, but in their hearts, they had to admire Marine Vice Admiral Marcus's influence within the Marine, which even Fleet Admiral Sengoku could not quite match.Regarding the death of Roberts, many informed Naval Officers also felt a sense of sympathy, like a rabbit mourning the death of a fox. A Marine Rear Admiral with distinguished military service had actually been killed just like that, under the pretext of stopping the Celestial Dragons from slaughtering. This made many Marines in their hearts wonder whether their insistence on justice was right or wrong."Quiet!"Fleet Admiral Sengoku let out a low roar, and the numerous noisy Marines immediately quieted down; after all, having been Fleet Admiral for so many years, Sengoku still held great authority within the Marine.Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Sengokuswept his gaze over them, only to see all the Marines lower their heads; their actions just now had indeed lacked Marine dignity.After a long while, Sengoku spoke: "All Marine Rear Admirals, lead the remaining Marine Soldiers and evacuate this place. No matter what happens, you are not to participate."After a pause, Sengoku continued: "From today on, Marcus is no longer a Marine Vice Admiral, but a Marine Traitor, an enemy of the entire Marine and the World Government. Every Marine has the obligation to capture Marcus.""Yes!"The matter of Marcus defecting from the Marineshocked all the Marine Soldiers. They now had no Battle Intent left, and staying here was useless. Besides, with their strength, they would be of no use in the upcoming battle.In his heart, Fleet Admiral Sengoku also wanted to preserve the Marine's face one last time. As Fleet Admiral, these things had to be done, even though the Marine's face would likely be lost anyway afterward.Under the command of the many Marine Rear Admirals, the tens of thousands of Marines on the side quickly and orderly retreated. In the blink of an eye, the place became empty.With all the Marine Soldiers gone, only Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the three Admirals Aokiji, Akainu, and Kizaru, Vice Admiral Mole, Vice AdmiralDalmatian, Vice Admiral Jonathan, Vice AdmiralOnigumo, Vice Admiral Yamakaji, Vice AdmiralDalmatian, Vice Admiral Bastille, and Vice AdmiralMaynard remained.The other Vice Admirals were not at Marineford; some were guarding their own territories, while others were out on missions. Therefore, Vice Admiral Garp and Vice Admiral Tsuru were also not present, otherwise, Marcus really wouldn't know what to do.Sengoku turned his body, saying somewhat unbearably: "Marcus! Can't you just endure it? Even if you want revenge, you could have done it secretly. Why make it so widely known? Do you really want to leave the Marine that much?"Hearing Sengoku's words, the many remaining Naval Officers were instantly stunned. Is this still Fleet Admiral Sengoku? He actually said such things, even mentioning killing the Celestial Dragons secretly.Subsequently, the Naval Officers present reacted in different ways: some looked at the sky, some stared intently at the ground, and some even closed their eyes... Their actions were different, but everyone's meaning was very clear: we didn't hear anything.In fact, in his heart, Sengoku indeed hated those Celestial Dragons to death. That incident had chilled the hearts of countless Naval Officers, and now that impact was still in the hearts of every Marine, likely difficult to erase."Haha... Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I don't need to say much about the situation within the Marine; you must know it better than I do. Don't look at the elites of Marine Headquarters or those elite branch Marines who still insist on justice.""But in the Four Seas, and some remote places in the Grand Line, the Marines there are oppressing ordinary people, and even colluding with pirates, providing cover for them."Pausing, Marcus looked at those Naval Officerswhose faces looked somewhat unsightly, and shouted sternly: "Furthermore, the justice maintained by the Marine, what kind of justice is it exactly?"Next, Marcus didn't say much more. The words had reached this point; that was enough. Continuing to talk would just be a waste of time, and there were more important things to do.At this moment, the silent Akainu suddenly spoke up: "Marcus, no matter what you want to say, today you have defected from the Marine, which means you have walked to the opposite side of justice, and you are an existence of evil, or rather, an existence of extreme evil. As Marines, it is our responsibility to eliminate evil."As soon as his words fell, Akainu stomped his foot, his figure flashed and disappeared into the Void Realm. When he appeared, he was already in the air above Marcus, his whole body emitting a wave of heat, and the temperature between heaven and earth seemed to have risen significantly.Seeing Akainu strike without warning, a look of caution appeared on Marcus's calm face. The three Admirals, reputed as the greatest fighting strength of the World Government, were truly very powerful, and in terms of combat power, they were indeed worthy of this reputation.The title of "greatest fighting strength of the World Government" was not given to themselves by themselves, but was fought for step by step with overwhelming strength. Perhaps they might be slightly inferior to the Four Emperors, but the gap between the two would not be very large."Great Eruption!"Akainu's right hand turned into a mass of magma and swung out violently. In the blink of an eye, that magma arm had transformed into a giant fist several meters wide, entirely composed of flowing fire-red lava, possessing extremely strong lethality.Seeing Akainu strike without a word, a trace of anger flashed across Sengoku's face. He hadn't even spoken yet, and he was already attacking. Did he even have any regard for him as Fleet Admiral?Armament Haki, a flash of light, and Marcus's fists turned pitch black, gleaming with a metallic luster. He stomped one foot, and his body shot out, rushing toward the fire-red fist above."Taijutsu Profound Truth: Iron Fist."Compared to Akainu's giant magma fist that was several meters large, Marcus's fist was pitifully small, but it possessed incomparable attack power.With a bang, a visible shockwave dissipated, blowing dust all over the place below. For those watching from below, it had no effect; they were all high-end combatants of Marine Headquarters.High in the air, Marcus blocked Akainu's giant magma fist with one punch. The scorching heat and pain coming from the surface of the fist made Marcus gasp a few times."Retreat!"With a low shout, the strength in Marcus's right hand increased, knocking Akainu flying out like a cannonball, smashing fiercely toward the ground and crashing into a building over ten meters high.A loud noise rang out, the ground shook, and the building collapsed instantly under Akainu's impact, kicking up countless dust and smoke, obscuring the scene inside.As the Armament Haki dissipated, Marcus looked at the back of his right hand, which was already charred black and still emitting a wisp of heat, with intense pain coming from it.That was a fist made of magma; even with the protection of Armament Haki, it was still difficult to insulate against that high temperature. One must know that even steel would instantly melt into molten iron if it fell into magma.Tap, tap...A series of footsteps sounded, and a figure walked out of the smoke. His red suit was not damaged in the slightest, not even the Marine cloak behind him was damaged, but a trace of faint blood still flowed from the corner of his mouth.After all, Akainu was a Marine Admiral, the greatest fighting strength of the World Government, and his combat power was extremely strong. In the move just now, both of them had suffered a slight injury.Wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth, Akainu said in a deep voice: "As expected of the strongest genius of the navy, you have perfectly inherited Vice Admiral Garp's strength and combat techniques. Because of this, I cannot spare you even more.""For a Genius like you, if you were given a few more years, I don't know what level you would grow to. By then, you would definitely be a major threat to the Marine. Today, I must keep you here."Just as Akainu was about to continue attacking, Marcus suddenly spoke up to stop him: "Wait!"Ignoring how Akainu reacted, Marcus turned around, brought out Roberts' wife and his own nephew, and looked at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, saying."Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I have one thing I still need to ask of you. Now, only the mother and son are left. They are innocent. I hope you can let them leave, do not make things difficult for them, and let them find a peaceful place to live. Marine Headquarters is no longer suitable for them."After thinking about it, Sengoku finally nodded in agreement. Regarding the matter of Roberts, he himself had not handled it well, and protecting the mother and son was also something he should do. Let this be some final compensation he makes.Akainu, who was walking over from the side, saw Sengoku agree and immediately objected: "I do not agree. He is Roberts' son. When he grows up and learns of today's events, he will definitely come to seek revenge on the Marine. Although this child is very small, he is also evil. As long as it is evil, its existence can never be allowed."Ignoring the expressions of the other Naval Officers, Akainu, who upheld absolute justice, would not allow even a trace of evil to exist, and Akainuattacked the mother and child."Hound Bite Crimson Lotus!"On his lava-fied arm, a giant mass of magma appeared, turning into a giant hound that was entirely fire-red, covered in flames, and emitting high heat.Its wide-open mouth made it clearly visible that the magma inside was flowing like liquid, and it swooped down at an extremely fast speed toward the mother and child in front, who had long been terrified by this battle."Akainu, you would actually not even spare this mother and child!"Sliding his right foot, Marcus stood in front of the mother and child with a look of anger on his face. He didn't expect that Akainu, as an Admiral, would actually attack a mother and child who were ordinary people. Without thinking too much, he gathered all his strength and punched out."Rising Dragon Fist!"
Chapter 196: Chasing the Wind, Fighting against Akainu"Roar!"A massive dragon head emerged from Lin Tian's hand, letting out a long roar to the sky. A sound wave emanated, causing explosions around, and buildings collapsed."What, is that a divine beast, a giant dragon?" Suppressing the buzzing in their ears, many Navy officers were shocked.Standing tall with its massive body, the giant dragon looked at the fiery giant dog charging below. As if sentient, it wiggled its huge dragon claws, revealing a hint of disdain.Lowering its enormous head, it swooped down towards the magma giant dog below with incredible speed, reaching it in an instant.With a 'boom,' a burst of fire erupted, followed by a mushroom cloud slowly rising. A visible shockwave surged out in all directions.The rows of houses, like standing paper, instantly collapsed under the shockwave, turning into ruins. The ground trembled, and cracks several meters long appeared on the ground, spreading outwards.The shockwave carried countless dust, shattered stones, and debris, assaulting the Navy officers who were silently watching from the side, not yet participating in the fight."Ice Age!"Aokiji made his move, waving one hand and exhaling white mist. The dust and airborne debris were all frozen solid.A ten-meter-high, but unknown-thickness, ice wall appeared before everyone. The shockwaves were also blocked by the thick ice wall.However, such powerful energy, confined in such a small space, accumulated and erupted with even greater force. The ice wall didn't last for more than a few seconds before cracks appeared, accompanied by a series of 'cracking' sounds.In a flash, the ice wall was covered with cracks, on the verge of collapsing at any moment. Yet, Kuzan showed no intention of reinforcing the ice wall, merely exhaling cold breaths slowly and staring at it.Finally, the energy storm within the ice wall ceased its rampage, gradually dissipating into the world. The ice wall did not collapse; it still stood. But looking at the countless cracks on it, there was no doubt that a gentle bump would probably bring it down.The energy storm subsided, but the commotion inside hadn't disappeared. Loud bangs echoed from within, and the ground occasionally trembled. The entire town was in ruins due to the aftermath of their battle.Although the ice wall blocked their view and they didn't know what was happening inside, the vibrations from beneath their feet alone conveyed the intensity of the battle within.After a while, a figure flew out from inside, crashing through the ice wall and creating a large hole. Without losing speed, it flew tens of meters further, collapsing dozens of buildings along the way, before finally coming to a stop with a loud 'bang'.Akainu's impact caused the ice wall to give way, collapsing with a roar. A streak of light, however, quickly shot out from the falling ice fragments.Within the streak of light, it was Lin Tian, carrying Roberts' wife and Ward, emerging from the battlefield. The figure that flew out, without a doubt, was Akainu, clearly defeated in the recent battle.Akainu's combat power was formidable, and Lin Tian hadn't escaped unscathed. Many parts of his clothes were ruined, revealing charred burn marks, and a good portion of his hair was singed. Fortunately, these were only superficial wounds, and he wasn't severely injured.Several meters away from the Marines, Lin Tian, with the mother and son, quickly gave them instructions, not only concerning their future lives but also some matters related to himself.After Lin Tian finished his instructions, Sengoku sent Vice Admiral Momonga to bring the mother and son over. Lin Tian had already defected from the Navy and was now an enemy, so things couldn't be as they were before.As Momonga took the mother and son and passed by Lin Tian, he whispered a reminder, "Lin Tian, be careful!"Most of the Navy officers understood and agreed with Vice Admiral Lin Tian's defection. Not only because many of them were friends with Lin Tian, but also because this incident had truly disheartened everyone."Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I disagree. This mother and son cannot be allowed to leave. If they gain power one day, they will surely affect the Navy. I absolutely cannot tolerate such evil existing."Akainu emerged from the smoke, still disagreeing, and said, looking at the mother and son beside Sengoku, completely disregarding Sengoku's opinion and not concealing his killing intent in the slightest.Even a clay figure would get angry, let alone Akainu. The other Navy officers also looked displeased, staring at Akainu.Sengoku angrily said, "Enough, Akainu, don't say another word. I order you, as the Fleet Admiral of the Navy, that you cannot interfere with this mother and son. I have already made my decision."Hearing Sengoku even invoke his title as Fleet Admiral, Akainu opened his mouth, unsure what to say, but the killing intent in his eyes remained."Akainu, I've tolerated you out of camaraderie, but you've been relentless. Since that's the case, don't blame me," Lin Tian said sternly."Hmph!"Akainu snorted coldly, his face full of killing intent, and said, "Comrades! That's in the past. Now you've defected from the Navy and stand against justice. Don't worry, I won't let you leave Marineford this time."Akainu would stifle all seeds of evil, possessing an extremely strict and strong conviction. He lived as a pure Marine, a member of the elite Marine force since the beginning of the Great Pirate Era, showing no mercy to evil and completely eliminating it. Because of this, many in the Navy feared and respected him.However, his extreme and ruthless personality and actions, in order to uphold justice by any means, were Akainu's major flaw. But no matter what, as a Marine, few could do better than him.Glancing at the confronting Lin Tian and Akainu, Sengoku quietly instructed, "Vice Admiral Momonga, you and the other Vice Admirals escort this mother and son away first. Give them a boat and let them leave on their own. No one is to follow them.""Yes!"Most of the Navy Vice Admirals had either fought or collaborated with Lin Tian and were considered good friends. From their expressions, it was clear they didn't want to join this battle. It was better to let them leave, and besides, the Vice Admirals' combat power wasn't enough to deal with Lin Tian.At the same time, the real battle was about to begin. No matter what, Lin Tian had now betrayed the Navy and stood on the opposite side.Lin Tian's talent and combat power were so high that even Sengoku was startled. Therefore, Lin Tian absolutely could not escape Marineford today, otherwise, it would be a huge problem for the Navy and cause them to lose face completely.Of course, Sengoku would not execute Lin Tian. He would only imprison him in Impel Down, allowing him to calm down and reflect. Once he was calm, they would decide what to do.Seeing Sengoku ordering all the Vice Admirals to leave, Lin Tian understood that Sengoku had made up his mind to keep him here today. He then extended his palm and shouted loudly."Chasing Wind!""Chirp..."Out of nowhere, an eagle's cry echoed. A hint of confusion flashed in everyone's eyes. The sky was clear for thousands of miles, not to mention eagles, there wasn't even a cloud. Where could an eagle's cry come from?"Chirp..."Another eagle's cry sounded. This time, everyone realized the sound was coming from where Lin Tian and Akainu had fought, which was now covered in countless ice blocks.Sengoku seemed to recall something, a bad premonition flashing across his face. "Oh no, could it be that thing? This is a bit troublesome...""Boom! Boom!"The massive ice blocks nearby vibrated violently, constantly being pushed up, as if something was suppressed beneath them, now trying to break through and emerge."Bang!"Several ice blocks, meters high, were flung away. Immediately after, a creature flew out from the ice, moving incredibly fast, appearing in the sky in the blink of an eye.The three Marine Admirals below, seeing this scene, also showed surprise. "This... this is Chasing Wind."In the sky, a giant eagle was flapping its wings, circling continuously, occasionally letting out a sharp cry.The giant eagle was entirely white, its pure white feathers reflecting a metallic sheen under the sunlight, which was very peculiar.Its wingspan was at least twenty meters, and its body was also several meters long, casting a huge shadow on the ground. Lin Tian and the others below were all within it, showing how enormous this eagle was.The most formidable part of an eagle was its talons. Those several sharp claws were golden in color, like metal, hard and sharp.Suddenly, the giant eagle let out a long cry to the sky, flapped its wings, and plunged down like an arrow. With a 'bang,' an explosion erupted around the giant eagle, forming a white cloud. This was a sonic boom, a phenomenon that occurs when speed reaches a certain point, surpassing the speed of sound.The direction it plunged was Akainu's position. Clearly, this giant eagle, which had suddenly appeared from the ice blocks, was heading straight for Admiral Akainu.Seeing that this eagle was actually attacking him alone, Akainu was instantly enraged and shouted, "You beast, how dare you attack me! I'll throw you into the magma today and melt you back into scrap metal!""Dark Dog!"He extended his magma-transformed right hand and slammed it towards the giant eagle flying above. A pillar of magma instantly shot towards the giant eagle. If hit by the magma, even steel would melt.With a flap of its wings, the already incredibly fast giant eagle instantly stopped, completely defying common sense. Its eyes flickered slightly, and it flapped its wings again.Two faint cyan, visible air blades, several meters long, appeared, hovering slightly in mid-air, and swept towards the magma pillar below.The crimson magma pillar and the light cyan air blades, like meteorites, crashed into each other with an earth-shattering roar, and a mushroom cloud rose in the sky.The magma pillar and the wind blades dissipated simultaneously. The giant eagle flew backward, flapping its wings several times before regaining control of its body. Akainu did not move an inch.A giant eagle actually blocked an attack from a Marine Admiral!Countless magma droplets fell like rain, continuously pouring down from above. Fortunately, Sengoku and the others who remained were all extremely powerful individuals, and with a slight movement, they dealt with the magma rain, their faces heavy with solemnity.Chasing Wind had become so powerful that it could even block Akainu's Dark Dog. It hadn't appeared for a year; what kind of changes had it undergone, and how strong was its combat power now?"Chasing Wind, come back," Lin Tian waved his hand and smiled, looking at the giant eagle above.Hearing Lin Tian's call, the giant eagle let out a cry and rushed towards Lin Tian. Just as it was about to collide with Lin Tian, the giant eagle transformed and landed steadily in Lin Tian's hand. (To be continued.)