Chapter 170: Marco
Chapter 170: Marco
Crash!
A huge figure reached out from the sea and climbed onto the shore.
"Ahem!"
Kaido coughed violently, covering his chest as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Damn it! That hurts!"
Looking at the red mark on his chest, Kaido grinned, though it was more of a grimace. He had been slapped into the sea by Sengoku and drifted for seven or eight days before finally washing ashore and regaining some strength.
"Where am I?"
Kaido stood on the shore, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar island.
In the center of the island stood a massive skull with two enormous horns protruding from it.
Kaido stared at the strange island and felt an inexplicable connection to it, as if he were meant to find it.
Walking further inland, Kaido surveyed his surroundings. Though there were signs of habitation, the island seemed deserted.
"Where are King and Queen? I hope they're okay," Kaido muttered, concern for his two subordinates flickering across his face.
"No! I have to find them!"
Kaido declared, his resolve hardening. His body began to change, transforming into a massive azure dragon. With a mighty leap, he soared into the air, choosing a random direction to search for his crew.
---
Meanwhile, Kurozumi Murasaki looked out over the vast ocean.
"We can't just rely on Kaido," she said, her voice calm but firm. "We need to gather our own strength as well."
Kurozumi Muramaru, still nursing the sting of her earlier rebuke, nodded silently.
---
Kaido had a plan to reunite with King and Queen.
"The fastest way to get their attention is to make some noise," he mused, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
Kaido attacked a member kingdom of the World Government, leveling it completely. His thousand-meter-long dragon form left the land scorched and ruined, with countless casualties in his wake.
The destruction caused a massive uproar. The attack wasn't just a robbery—it was an annihilation. The kingdom was wiped off the map, leaving behind only ruins and ashes.
This act earned Kaido the ire of the World Government, and his bounty skyrocketed from 70 million berries to 370 million berries—a testament to his growing infamy.
The Five Elders, outraged, pressured Cyborg Kong to capture and publicly execute Kaido.
This left Kong with a headache. To appease the World Government, he reassigned Admiral Zephyr to hunt down Kaido.
Zephyr, however, was less than thrilled with the new assignment. He still harbored frustration from his earlier confrontation with Charlotte, which had ended in a draw. He had been eager for a rematch, but now he was being sent after Kaido instead.
---
While the New World descended into chaos, the Roger Pirates continued their carefree rampage across the seas, leaving a trail of havoc in their wake.
Vice Admiral Garp was tasked with cleaning up their mess, effectively becoming their shadow.
"Roger! You're not getting away this time!" Garp roared from the port, shaking his fist as the Roger Pirates' ship sailed away.
Standing on the ship, Roger laughed heartily, a red-haired boy perched on his head.
"Garp, you're ten years too early to catch me!" Roger shouted back, his voice filled with mirth.
Garp, fuming, yelled at his adjutant, "Get the ship ready! We're going after them!"
The adjutant, looking exasperated, replied, "Vice Admiral Garp, the ship is still on the island... because you dragged it there yourself."
Garp paused, scratching his head in confusion. "Did I really?"
The surrounding navy personnel sighed collectively.
---
Far away, aboard a massive white ship shaped like a whale, Marco leaned over the side, pointing excitedly at the horizon.
"Dad! There's a ship on fire out there!"
"Kulala! Be careful not to fall into the sea, Marco! I can't save you if you do," Edward Newgate, also known as Whitebeard, warned with a booming laugh.
Marco pouted, flapping his flame-tipped wings. "I can fly, Dad! How would I fall into the sea?"
Whitebeard chuckled, but his expression grew serious as he approached the rail.
"Hmm… looks like a merchant ship. Let's check it out," he said, noticing the wreckage and flames.
Marco didn't wait for further instructions. He soared into the air, heading toward the burning ship.
"Marco, wait!" one of the crew shouted, but the young man was already gone.
---
Marco landed gracefully on the burning deck, his flames neutralizing the heat around him. As he scanned the area, his sharp eyes caught sight of a small figure lying unconscious.
"A kid?" Marco muttered, kneeling down to examine the child.
The boy wore a tall hat and appeared to be around eight or nine years old. Without hesitation, Marco picked him up.
The ship groaned ominously, the flames devouring its structure.
"Almost there," Marco said, his tone steady as he carried the boy toward the exit.
Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the corridor.
Looking up, Marco saw a beam overhead begin to collapse.
"Not good!" he exclaimed, realizing the danger.
If the beam fell, it would block his path, trapping him inside the burning wreckage.
Marco tightened his grip on the boy and sprinted toward the deck, flames flaring from his wings as he prepared to take flight.
Snap!
The beam gave way, hurtling toward Marco with deadly force.
With a burst of blue flames, Marco launched himself into the air, narrowly dodging the debris.
He landed on the deck just as the Whitebeard Pirates' ship came into view.
"Dad! I've got him!" Marco called out, holding the boy aloft.
The crew cheered as Marco flew back to their ship, the rescued boy cradled in his arms.
Whitebeard smiled proudly. "Well done, Marco. You've got the heart of a true pirate."
Marco grinned, his flames flickering as he placed the boy safely on the deck.
The Whitebeard Pirates had gained a new passenger, though none of them could have predicted the role this boy would one day play in shaping the world.
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