"Sweet Commanders, Four Stars... and now, three are dead!"
"This…!"
At that moment, the pirates surrounding the island were in an uproar, the sea itself seemingly boiling with the tension. Everyone was in complete shock.
So far in this battle, the New World had witnessed the deaths of countless powerful figures!
Whitebeard Jr., who appeared with overwhelming arrogance, was killed in mere seconds.
Jack the Drought, one of the Three Calamities of the Beast Pirates, was obliterated by Marco, his body blasted into oblivion, leaving not a single bone behind.
Several infamous underworld pirates had also fallen.
And now, Marco—once again proving his might—had fought two Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates and killed both in a one-versus-two clash!
Up to this point, the event surrounding the "Bloody Bounty" had left countless pirates trembling with fear. No one dared to challenge Marco any further.
Both of the Four Emperors Pirates involved had suffered devastating losses because of this Blood Bounty. The Beast Pirates had lost one of their top fighters, one of the Three Calamities, while the Big Mom Pirates had now lost three of their four Sweet Commanders!
"Unbelievably powerful!"
The same thought echoed in the hearts of countless pirates as they struggled to find words to describe Marco's power at that moment.
"So cool! He took on two Commanders at once, emerged without a scratch, and wiped them out! Marco is a true badass!"
"This... This is what a real man looks like! No matter how many enemies stand in his way, he crushes them all! It doesn't matter how strong the enemy is, because in the end, they're never as strong as he is!"
"That commanding presence! That kingly aura, as if he's returned from the brink to rule over all once again—he's too damn cool!"
Many pirates, overcome with awe and admiration, could barely contain themselves. Some even looked like they wanted to rush onto the island just to get Marco's autograph.
"Marco… he's officially declared war on two Yonko!"
Others began whispering in fear as the realization sank in.
"There's no way the Beast Pirates or the Big Mom Pirates will allow Marco to keep running wild after this. Not after the losses they've suffered in this battle—core members of their top ranks are gone! There's no way the Four Emperors will take this lying down!"
Two Yonko!
Just the mention of those words sent shivers through all the pirates present.
The King of Beasts, Kaido!
Known as the most indestructible being in the world, Kaido had survived countless suicide attempts. He'd singlehandedly attacked the Navy Headquarters and even jumped from an Sky Island multiple times, but nothing could end his life!
Once a rival to the Strongest Man in the World, Whitebeard, Kaido had now become known as the invincible force of the New World after Whitebeard's death, reigning supreme over all!
The very thought of standing against Kaido made the hearts of every pirate tremble. It was one thing to face strong enemies, but to oppose Kaido—no pirate even dared entertain the idea!
Yet here and now, Marco wasn't just declaring war on the Beast Pirates...
He was challenging Kaido himself!
And at the same time, Marco had declared war on another Yonko—
Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin!
"Shhh!"
The sound of pirates sharply inhaling continued to ripple across the seas, their minds reeling from the magnitude of the situation. Just thinking about it sent chills down their spines.
Those two monstrous beings—feared across the entire New World, the Grand Line, and all four seas—who would dare provoke them?!
But Marco—
He hadn't just provoked them…
He had provoked both of them at once!
"Don't forget—there's also the most ruthless and dangerous Yonko, Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach!"
Someone muttered in a hushed voice, "Blackbeard's been on a mission to hunt down and destroy the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates ever since the war. Naturally, Marco… is the one he wants to eliminate the most!"
"Whoosh~~!"
The moment that was said, an uproar erupted across the sea.
This wasn't just a war against two Yonko anymore—
It was against three!
Marco had now essentially declared war on three of the most powerful beings in the New World, the Yonko themselves!
"Just thinking about it makes my scalp tingle! It's terrifying!"
One renowned pirate couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
Marco had thrown down the gauntlet to three of the most dangerous individuals in the world at once.
And every pirate in the New World could sense the storm that was about to come.
As a pirate, one who dared not provoke even a single Yonko, let alone three at once, was now witnessing Marco declare war on three of the most powerful figures in the world!
"It's exhilarating just thinking about it!" exclaimed a fanatical female fan of Marco, her eyes glowing as she stared toward the island with admiration. "If Lord Marco can roam the seas, challenging the Yonko and ruling over all four oceans, I would gladly serve him... as his humble servant!"
"The Kingdom of Tazin... Queen Morolo!"
Someone recognized the enthusiastic woman and gasped in astonishment.
"No way! The queen of Tazin, the first-tier kingdom of the New World, is a fan of Marco?!"
Many pirates murmured in disbelief, stunned by the idea that a queen of such standing would be so captivated by the man leading this war.
Meanwhile, these distractions had no effect on Marco.
Spreading his massive, flaming wings, he rose into the sky, surveying the island and sea below him. His calm yet deadly voice reached the ears of every pirate present. "Who else wishes to complete the 'Blood Bounty Order' or the 'World Government Bounty Order'?"
At Marco's words, a chill ran through the pirates. His seemingly simple question was laced with unimaginable killing intent. As Marco's gaze swept across the pirates, each one took several steps back, their hearts racing, fearing that he might strike at any moment.
No one dared to respond.
Marco descended back to the island, which was now a landscape of destruction.
The once vibrant land was in ruins—vast portions of the island had sunken, and deep cracks crisscrossed the ground.
"All the pests lurking in the shadows have been taken care of," said Vista, the commander of the Fifth Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, as he approached, both of his swords dripping with blood. His usually pristine white gloves were now stained red, a clear sign of the ferocity of the battle.
"Good," Marco replied with a nod.
"Flies are the most annoying, but it's always nice when they're dealt with."
Vista, known as Foil Vista, took a deep breath and glanced around. "I guess we've officially declared war on three Yonko now, haven't we?" He gave a slight chuckle but couldn't hide the weight of what had transpired. "Marco, you're almost unrecognizable compared to your usual low-key self. This is like seeing a whole new person!"
"Are you afraid?" Marco's tone remained cool, unfazed by the enormity of their actions.
Vista burst into hearty laughter, slapping Marco on the back. "Afraid? Ha! Not at all! In fact, I like this new you even more! Since we're already enemies of the world, we might as well turn everything upside down!"
Marco couldn't help but laugh with him, a rare sound filled with genuine warmth. It had been so long since he felt this alive.
"What's the plan now?" Vista asked, curiosity piqued.
"Hunting," Marco answered simply, his eyes sharp with intent.
Vista's brows shot up. "Hunting... the Blackbeard Pirates?"
"No," Marco replied. "Hunting... all enemies."
Vista let out a low whistle, feeling the blood pumping through his veins with excitement. "It's like being back in the old days, when everything was on the line! Let's crush those idiots together!"
Marco paused for a moment, then spoke calmly. "I'll handle the hunting alone. A larger group will be too conspicuous. You… gather all the surviving brothers and sisters."
Though surprised, Vista nodded, trusting Marco's judgment. Without further questions, he handed Marco a small slip of Vivre Card, clearly having anticipated the need.
Taking the card, Marco tucked it away and added, "I haven't made a Vivre Card. If the Den Den Mushi doesn't work, and you need to find me, just... follow the world's newspapers."
Vista blinked, then grinned. "... Got it."