Babysitting Whitebeard’s Crew:How I Accidentally Became a Teen Emperor

The following day arrived in a flash. 

A soft hum echoed as Marco emerged from the comic world of High School DxD: Pure Blood Devil God Phoenix. His face radiated excitement, a testament to his gains. 

"The Phoenix flames… their destructive power is incredible!" Marco marvelled, his right arm outstretched. With a flick of his wrist—Bang!—a cluster of orange flames erupted from his palm. 

The flames spread across his body like a fiery cloak, bathing him in their brilliance. The surrounding temperature spiked instantly, and the grass beneath his feet didn't stand a chance, turning to blackened ash in seconds. 

Marco raised a finger, sending a small flame darting into the distance. 

Boom! A nearby tree exploded in a spectacular blaze, leaving behind a smouldering stump. 

"Haha! This must be what Ace's Mera Mera no Mi attacks feel like!" Marco laughed, thoroughly enjoying his newfound power. 

Marco's expression turned contemplative. "And this is just a fragment of the Phoenix flames' potential. If I can master Karma Fire, its destructive capabilities will be on an entirely different level." 

He thought back to his training in the comic world. For an entire year, he trained under the tutelage of Archduke Phoenix, honing his skills. The fire of the undead—Karma Fire—was a flame so potent it could incinerate demons with ease. 

"Thankfully, a year in Lucas's comic world is equivalent to just one day in reality," Marco mused. "Otherwise, I'd never have had the time to activate my Phoenix bloodline to this level." 

A sudden spatial distortion beside Marco signalled Jozu's return from his training in The Legend of Might Guy. 

"Damn!" Jozu exclaimed as his eyes fell on Marco, whose body was engulfed in brilliant orange flames. 

"Marco, isn't your Phoenix flame supposed to be blue? What's with this orange?" Jozu asked, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. 

He stepped closer, the intense heat forcing him to halt. "Wait a second… this flame… it's lethal, isn't it?" 

Curiosity got the better of him as he reached out to touch the fire. 

"Ah! Hot, hot, hot!" Jozu recoiled, shaking his hand. "That flame isn't just lethal—it's insane!" 

Marco burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Jozu, this isn't the flame from my Devil Fruit—it's the real Phoenix flame!" 

Jozu's face twisted in confusion. "What are you talking about? You've always had Phoenix flames. It's part of your Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit power!" 

Marco shook his head with a knowing smile. "No, Jozu. The flames from my Devil Fruit aren't true Phoenix flames. They're restorative, not destructive. These flames…" He gestured to the fire enveloping his body. "These are born from the comic High School DxD: Pure Blood Devil God Phoenix! Lucas's comic gave me the power to awaken the true potential of the Phoenix bloodline!" 

Jozu's jaw dropped as his gaze darted to the comic book Marco had been reading. 

"The Pure Blood Devil God Phoenix…" he muttered, sucking in a breath. "So that's where this power comes from. Incredible!" 

Jozu turned his attention back to Marco, his expression brimming with excitement. "So you can now use flames in battle like Ace? That's amazing!" 

Marco smirked, wagging a finger. "Not quite, Jozu. There's a difference." 

Jozu's excitement waned. "Oh, I see. I knew it was too good to be true. Ace's Mera Mera no Mi is unmatched. There's no way any flame could compare…" 

Marco cut him off with a hearty laugh. "No, Jozu. You've got it wrong! I'm saying Ace's flame, in front of mine, is like a lil' homie playing in the kiddie pool!" 

"WHAT?!" 

Jozu's eyes bulged as he stared at Marco, dumbfounded. 

Marco extended his palm, letting a small tendril of flame coil around his fingers. "Ace's fire is powerful, but this flame… it's not just about destruction. It carries the essence of immortality, of life and death intertwined. This is Phoenix fire—the ultimate flame." 

Jozu gulped. "Marco, you're saying…" 

Marco grinned confidently. "I'm saying Ace's flame can take notes. The real OG is in the building!" 

Jozu stood frozen, a mix of awe and disbelief on his face.