The slash inflicted on Doc Q's back after being struck caused astonishing damage. However, the first Doc Q appeared almost excited. After enduring such a tremendous blow, he looked completely unscathed.
Anyone who remembers the battle at Marineford wouldn't be surprised. After all, Doc Q had even withstood Whitebeard's powerful attacks and appeared fine afterward.
Even the Fire Knight's Yanyue Double Swords slashed into Doc Q's body, yet he didn't flinch. No blood flowed, only a stream of green liquid oozed from the wounds.
Tick.
Green liquid dripped to the ground, sizzling as it corroded the surface, releasing thick smoke.
The great sword hero, Fire Knight, attempted to withdraw his blades and back off, but to his shock, his swords wouldn't budge!
Even for a swordsman of his caliber, such strength and skill should've easily freed his weapons. But Doc Q had trapped them with his body, making it impossible to pull them out!
"Retreat!" the Fire Knight thought, realizing things had taken a terrible turn. He tried to retreat swiftly, but Doc Q wouldn't allow him the chance.
Gong!
Doc Q's scythe appeared from behind and was swung in an instant. The blade flickered, slicing the air as dozens of slashes flew in rapid succession!
The Fire Knight quickly reinforced his body with Armament Haki, fortifying his defenses. Abandoning his twin blades, he focused on dodging as he retreated, relying on his speed and Haki to evade the incoming attacks.
Burst!
In the end, the Fire Knight managed to dodge most of the slashes. Out of dozens, only one found its mark. As he retreated to his crewmates, they rushed toward him.
"Captain!"
"Are you alright?!"
Several pirates caught him, their faces filled with concern.
"Stand back," the Fire Knight gestured, brushing them off as he inspected the wound on his shoulder. He blinked, momentarily dazed, as he noticed a flash of green within the wound.
"Heh..." Doc Q chuckled darkly.
Jingling.
The Yanyue Famous Blades fell to the ground with a metallic clang.
"Huh?!"
At that same moment, the Fire Knight, who had been supported by his companions, suddenly froze.
"Uh... uh... uh~~!"
His speech slurred as a terrifying transformation took hold.
"Ahhh!"
The pirates who had been holding the Fire Knight screamed in horror, releasing him as he collapsed to the ground. They stared at their hands in shock—corroded to a dark green hue.
In mere seconds, their palms were being eaten away by the deadly corrosion.
Gollum...
One of the swordsmen who had been struck by Doc Q's scythe had already succumbed, his body oozing with festering wounds. He was dead.
Swish!
Doc Q swung his scythe again, wiping out the remaining pirates with ease. In the distance, other pirates who witnessed the scene gasped in terror.
"This ability... it's too terrifying."
"Death... Doc Q!"
Now the terrified pirates remembered the ominous epithet that followed him—Death itself.
"He's a Devil Fruit user... But nobody knows the extent of his powers!"
One pirate exclaimed in panic.
Doc Q's ability remained a mystery. Whether it was a Logia or Paramecia-type fruit... no one knew.
Because anyone who fought against him... was dead.
Meanwhile, in another part of the island, the bounty on the 'Decalvan' brothers, which totaled over a billion, had been annihilated by Vasco Shot alone! His brutal and domineering strength proved as deadly as it was straightforward.
The great sword hero, Fire Knight, with a bounty surpassing 800 million berries, wielding the Yanyue Double Swords, one of the Great Grade Swords, was killed by Doc Q in mere seconds—his entire body corroded.
Yet, his Yanyue blades remained intact.
At this moment, all the pirates began to realize the horrifying truth about the Blackbeard Pirates... they were beyond terrifying.
"What are they doing here on this island?"
"I don't know... Rumor has it the Blackbeard Pirates' subordinates destroy towns without reason. Maybe... they're here for a drink. Who knows?"
"Shh. We should run."
Many pirates fled toward their ships, eager to save themselves, all while wondering why the sub-commanders of the Blackbeard Pirates, along with Kuzan, had gathered on this small island.
"Look! Over there!"
A pirate shouted.
All eyes turned toward the street. There, a young man walked out of the town, his steps calm and steady, heading toward the port—the very place where Doc Q had just slaughtered the Fire Knight's crew.
"Who is that? Walking so casually at a time like this?! Is he crazy or fearless?!"
Many pirates stared in disbelief as the figure grew closer.
"Immortal Phoenix Marco!"
The truth dawned on them, and a wave of shock rippled through the crowd. It was Marco, the Immortal Phoenix, who had been in the town unnoticed until now.
Realization struck hard—Marco was the reason Blackbeard's men had come!
"Is there going to be another war?!"
The tension grew. Marco, standing alone, faced off against several members of the Blackbeard Pirates.
"Marco alone... against the Blackbeard Pirates? This... could end badly!"
This was the thought on the minds of most pirates.
Marco had come alone.
And on the side of the Blackbeard Pirates, there were four.
...
"Immortal Phoenix Marco... we meet again," Catarina Devon said, her grotesque upper body towering over her slender legs, her heavily made-up face twisted in a grin.
"You've been looking for me for a while," Marco replied coldly, his usually gentle demeanor now filled with lethal intent. "I've been looking for you as well..."
"Heh," Doc Q chuckled, his sickly appearance doing nothing to lessen the chilling aura he exuded. "Let's cut to the chase... We're here for your 2.2 billion bounty... and your Immortal Phoenix powers."
"And you think you can take it from me?" Marco's eyes narrowed, his voice calm but dangerous. "I'm afraid... you won't be taking anyone's head today."
"Where does your confidence come from?" Catarina Devon sneered, licking her red lips. "This time, even with wings, you won't escape. We are... four."
"Four?" Marco's gaze remained steady.
Marco smiled.
Rumble~~!
In an instant, a terrifying battle erupted!
Vasco Shot and Doc Q charged in first, with Catarina Devon close behind.
Click!
But then...
At that very moment, a scene unfolded that left everyone in shock...!