章 87: Against Whitebeard
"Now, old man, go on and drink it. I want to fight you at your peak," Dave said, waving his hand dismissively as if urging him to hurry up.
Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh. "Gurarara, brat, you're certainly courageous," he said, uncapping the vial and downing its contents in one swift motion.
A transformation immediately began. The weathered lines on Whitebeard's face smoothed out, revealing a sharp, handsome visage that radiated vitality. His once snow-white beard turned blonde, and his youthful features brought back memories of his prime. Even the cap on his head adjusted as his rejuvenated hair pushed it slightly aside.
"Gurarara! Feels good to be young again!" Whitebeard exclaimed, flexing his arms. He turned to Dave with a mischievous grin. "You're full of surprises, kid."
Dave smirked and nodded. "Let's head somewhere suitable for our fight. There's an abandoned island a few miles from here."
Whitebeard nodded in agreement, and before anyone could react, Dave grabbed Whitebeard and took off into the sky, flying swiftly toward their chosen battlefield.
Both crews watched in stunned silence as their captains disappeared into the horizon.
Marco sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Dad, you really shouldn't trust others so easily," he muttered to himself. Despite his doubts, a flicker of curiosity lingered. If Dave's potion truly had such miraculous effects, what other secrets did he know?
Turning to Rayleigh, Marco asked, "Rayleigh, is my Phoenix Fruit really that powerful?"
Rayleigh chuckled. "I can't say for certain. But Roger once mentioned that if someone with a Phoenix Fruit reached their full potential, they could defy death itself. With someone like you on Whitebeard's side, he believed it might make your crew invincible."
Marco's eyes widened. "Defy death? That sounds..."
"Incredible, yes. But also dangerous," Rayleigh interrupted. "If what Dave said is true, and your fruit holds such untapped potential, it's no wonder the World Government hasn't caught wind of it. Or maybe they have and are keeping it hidden for a reason."
The idea unsettled Marco. He remembered how often he had relied on his regeneration powers in battle, yet the concept of Phoenix Tears and Phoenix Golden Blood suggested a power far beyond what he understood. Could it be that his fruit's true strength had always been underestimated?
Rayleigh's gaze turned serious as he added, "Roger believed in possibilities others couldn't see. Perhaps Dave does too. But whether you believe his words, Marco, is up to you. One thing's for sure—Dave has never lied about anything."
Marco clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on the horizon where their captains had disappeared. He couldn't shake the thought of Dave's bold claims about his Devil Fruit and wondered if they could really be true.
Before Marco could dwell further, Enel's voice broke the tension. "Well, since they're off fighting, why don't we have some fun ourselves?" he suggested with a sly grin.
Rayleigh waved his hand lazily. "You guys go ahead. I'm not interested," he said, stepping back casually.
Tony, however, stood up eagerly. "I'd like to fight too," he said with a smirk, adjusting his stance.
On the other side, Marco observed them carefully before responding. "Alright, then let's—"
Before Marco could finish, Jozu stepped forward. His body gleamed brightly as he activated his diamond transformation, the sunlight reflecting off him in a dazzling display. "I'll take you on," Jozu said, his deep voice cutting through the air.
Tony tilted his head, amused. "You'd be loved by women if it weren't for your face, huh?" he joked.
Jozu frowned in confusion at the odd comment but didn't linger on it. Without another word, he used Soru to close the distance between them in an instant and unleashed a powerful punch.
Tony, quick to react, sidestepped with a burst of wind propulsion but narrowly missed the strike. As he steadied himself, he crossed his hands, causing his hands to darken with pitch-black Armament Haki. When Jozu launched another punch, Tony caught it head-on, his armored hand absorbing the impact. Despite the tremendous force, Tony was only pushed back slightly.
"You're strong, I'll give you that," Tony said, his voice calm but charged with excitement. His Nano-Turbo Suit deployed swiftly, encasing him in his advanced armor. "Let's bring it on!" he declared, launching himself at Jozu.
Meanwhile, Enel turned his attention to Marco, his smirk growing wider. "You're supposed to be a phoenix, right? Let's see how well you handle lightning," Enel taunted, lightning crackling around his form as he prepared to attack.
Marco's expression remained calm, though his blue flames flared up as he activated his phoenix powers. "You're going to regret underestimating me," he replied, meeting Enel head-on as the two clashed with a fiery intensity.
The battles erupted into chaos, the ground shaking as these powerful individuals tested their strength against one another.
At a distance, members of CP0 observed the chaos unfolding on Sphinx Island with their characteristic cold detachment. Hidden behind their eerie masks, their sharp eyes studied both sides engaging in battle.
One of the agents chuckled softly, the sound muffled by their mask. "Interesting. The so-called Hell Prince and Whitebeard's remnants are clashing. One of them might be annihilated today."
Another agent, standing with arms crossed, nodded slightly. "Fools. Expending their strength on each other like this only makes our job easier. The survivors will be ripe for the taking."
Little did the agents realize that the two sides weren't fighting to the death. The Hell Prince Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates were merely testing their strength, indulging in combat for the thrill of it, rather than aiming to kill.
If CP0 chose to act on their assumptions, they would soon discover the folly of underestimating their targets.
But it seemed that, after serving under corrupt masters for so long, their brains had started to resemble those of pigs—clouded and incapable of perceiving the true meaning behind the bout.
Their arrogance blinded them to the camaraderie and mutual respect fueling the battle. To them, every conflict was a desperate struggle for survival, a chance to exploit weakness. The idea that two powerful crews could clash for sheer enjoyment and growth was as alien to them as integrity in their organization.
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