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Poof~!
Just when everyone was astonished by Vista's decision to "not die," the massive crocodile eyes of the Deep Sea Crocodile, as big as copper bells, suddenly revealed a look of terror never seen before!
Before he could react,
A piercing light suddenly slashed through his neck!
Vista, wielding his twin swords, struck with precision!
Boom~!
The massive, ferocious crocodile collapsed to the ground with a thud, its giant mouth wide open. Blood gushed out like a river, staining the ground crimson.
The Deep Sea Crocodile... was dead!
"This!"
The gathered pirates erupted in disbelief.
A pirate with a bounty of 800 million Berries, a beast that once ruled the New World, was killed just like that?!
It couldn't be real.
Although the whole process seemed quick, in reality, it took some time.
This seemingly simple act of entering the crocodile's maw and delivering a fatal strike was filled with unseen dangers.
After all, the Deep Sea Crocodile had a bounty of 800 million Berries! While a bounty doesn't always signify absolute strength, any pirate with a bounty over 300 million Berries is guaranteed to be a formidable foe.
The difficulty of taking down this monster cannot be overstated!
Vista, immaculate in his suit, was spotless even after such a fierce battle. His clean, composed uncle-like image remained intact.
With his back to Marco, he stepped forward, the long sword in his left hand planted firmly in the ground, while the sword in his right was raised in front of him. For the first time, a slight smile crept across his kindly face... only to vanish in an instant.
With his back still turned to Marco, Vista addressed the pirates in front of him. "Well then... who's next?"
Several pirates who had been plotting in the shadows quickly retreated, reconsidering their plans.
'Cannibal' Lester K's eyes flickered with indecision; he neither advanced nor retreated.
Silence.
Time ticked by as Marco continued to recover from the intense battle with Jack the Drought...
"Ding!"
"In fierce combat with powerful opponents, utilizing the auxiliary mechanism of the Super Assistance System, the host has achieved significant enhancements in physical capacity, strength, endurance, healing, and recovery. The host is advised to upgrade immediately."
The system's voice echoed in Marco's mind.
"Ding!"
"Through hand-to-hand combat, the host has gained considerable improvements in physical skills via the Super Assistance System. Please upgrade yourself!"
"Ding!"
"Congratulations to the host! By repeatedly using the Phoenix Devil Fruit in combat, and through the auxiliary mechanism of the Super Assistance System, the host has unlocked new development potential for the Phoenix Fruit."
Without hesitation, Marco began upgrading all aspects of his abilities...
...
Whoosh~~!
Suddenly, emerging from the shadows was the 'Black Snake Poison,' the most ruthless pirate hunter of the Snake Head Clan, who had vanished earlier.
His Observation Haki had revealed something crucial, prompting his return.
His gaze fell to the ground beneath Vista...
There was nothing unusual about the spot,
Except now, it was soaked in blood, with a large crimson stain spreading under Vista's feet. The blood...
Was flowing from Vista's motionless body.
The once-clean suit was now drenched in red. Just looking at it made onlookers shudder!
"Shhh~!"
All the pirates stared at the upright, imposing figure of Vista, drawing sharp breaths in shock!
Boom!
"Oh!"
Almost simultaneously, 'Cannibal' Lester K and the Black Snake Poison of the Snake Head Clan made their move, decisively and without hesitation. As they leaped into action, the air was filled with the sound of wind and thunder!
Their target... the motionless Vista!
In a flash, two sharp, short spears of blue flame appeared out of nowhere. In the blink of an eye, the deadly projectiles pierced through the bodies of both Lester K and Black Snake Poison!
The terrifying, powerful flame spears blasted both of them backward!
"!!~!!"
The two men, sent flying, were instantly overtaken by fear. A look of sheer horror crossed their faces as they realized... the flame spears had impaled them!
These two men were both Haki users, but they were horrified to realize that when Marco's two short spears came to strike, neither of them had 'sensed' it!
"His Haki... far surpasses anything we've seen before!"
Their hearts were overwhelmed, shaking like a raging storm.
Boom!
The two were sent flying and nailed against a stone mountain.
…
"Hoohoohoo~!"
At this moment, Vista, standing tall with his burly frame, could no longer hold on. His body wavered, unsteady. The long sword he had once held in his right hand clattered to the ground, and his entire left arm hung limp, completely numb.
Marco reached out to support Vista's shoulder, and instantly, his dark blue regenerative flames swirled up, enveloping Vista's entire body in a blink of an eye.
"This is an old wound left by Blackbeard," Vista, despite his large and imposing figure, was the first to speak. He forced a smile and explained, "I thought it had healed, but it turns out… the old injury returned."
"No, it's not that the wound came back. It never truly healed... You just hid it under your suit."
Beneath his clothes was a horrifying wound that stretched from his left shoulder diagonally across his chest, extending all the way to his right leg!
All the blood on the ground had poured out from that wound...
That's why Vista chose such an extreme method when he killed the Deep Sea Crocodile.
Because...
He had already been gravely injured!
He had pushed his body beyond its limits, desperately forcing out every last bit of strength to kill the Deep Sea Crocodile!
This quiet, stoic man had shown his unwavering resolve to protect his 'family' in the most direct and 'clumsy' way possible.
Marco's heart was moved once again.
For him, this feeling was entirely new...
On Earth, Marco had been terminally ill. No one had been there for him except his parents—he had never felt the warmth of their care and had faced his sickness alone...
After arriving in the pirate world, Marco had only experienced 'cruelty,' 'treachery,' and 'danger' from the very start—right up until now.
Countless powerful pirates had sought his life.
He had fought his way through, killing every enemy that stood in his path!
His only thought had been survival. ['Live,' and anyone who threatens your life must be eliminated.] He had even initiated this massive event, willing to pay any price!
"Healed." In mere moments, Marco withdrew his regenerative flames. He smiled and glanced over at the empty stone mountain. "Those two… are still alive."
"Hahaha! That feeling of exhilaration is finally back!"
Vista's familiar, confident grin spread across his face once more.
Without hesitation, he turned and chased after the two foes.
Before long,
Vista returned, striding confidently.
In his hand, he held the severed heads of 'Lester K' and 'Black Snake Poison'...
This meant that the Vista who had been soaked in blood and barely able to move moments before was now fully healed!
At that moment, a wave of disbelief rippled across the entire island.
Countless people couldn't believe their eyes. Everyone's minds replayed the image of Vista, drenched in blood, standing on the blood-soaked ground...
"That horrific wound… healed just like that?!"
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11
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