Reborn as Marco phoenix after loss to Blackbeard Pirates

Katerina Devon's heart was pierced directly by a flaming spear, and blood gushed out in a dozen thick spurts like a spring.

This pirate, once infamous in the New World, had been freed from the sixth floor of Impel Down by the Blackbeard Pirates and became a captain under Blackbeard's flag. At this moment, her eyes were wide open in shock!

Her pupils were filled with disbelief!

She couldn't believe that she was defeated by Marco with just a punch.

She couldn't believe she was about to die like this!

The blood spurting from her chest, the life force quickly draining, her heart gradually slowing down, all reminded her—

She was not far from death!

At this point, Katerina Devon recalled Blackbeard Teach's original order, commanding them to immediately abandon the mission and return to regroup with the Blackbeard Pirates. But they had found that to be a great humiliation, thinking that killing Marco would redeem their pride!

Especially after Kuzan arrived, their confidence soared—even Doc Q, who had opposed the plan to go after Marco, was swayed!

After all…

A Devil Fruit that could grant the power of a legendary pirate!

Plus, Marco's bounty was 2.2 billion berries, and the power of his rare Mythical Zoan fruit, the Immortal Phoenix, was even more valuable than any Logia!

They were all greedy for these three things!

As ruthless criminals from the sixth floor of Impel Down, they wouldn't let go of something they coveted so much. With Kuzan's presence, they believed success was guaranteed!

But…

Katerina Devon never expected that just as she made her move, Kuzan would betray them!

Even now, she couldn't understand why Kuzan defected!

Neither Doc Q nor Vasco Shot could make sense of it either. Like Katerina, they found it utterly unbelievable!

And what happened next was even more unbelievable to Katerina Devon!

Marco, fighting one against two, knocked out both Doc Q and Vasco Shot!

Then, in a three-on-one battle, all three of them were blown away by Marco!

Katerina Devon replayed that devastating move in her mind, like a scene from purgatory. A sea of flames and fire spanned over a thousand meters, with a terrifying eroding power—burial and reincarnation—a boundless nightmare!

The last strike left Katerina in shock. Above Marco, a phoenix god made of flames gazed down upon the world with pride. He threw a single punch, the sky ablaze, as if an emperor had descended. One move, and all three of them were defeated!

As these incredible images ran through Katerina Devon's mind, her heart finally stopped beating.

The blood had dried, and death claimed her entirely.

Although it seemed like an eternity, all of this had happened in mere moments.

Marco, after piercing Katerina Devon, didn't stop. He set his sights on the ruined town in the distance, his flaming wings leaving a trail of afterimages in the air, heading straight toward Vasco Shot.

Vasco Shot had just crawled out of the wreckage when he saw Marco approaching. Without hesitation, he launched a punch at Marco!

He fought as if his life depended on it, with the desperation of someone facing certain death. In that final burst, an immense power erupted from him.

His punch tore through the air with a deafening roar, stirring clouds of dust and forming a shockwave of white energy.

"Fighting back in the face of death?" Marco, descending from the sky, remained calm. He stretched out his hand effortlessly, catching Vasco's powerful punch.

"It's useless! With your current strength... you're no threat to me!"

As Marco's voice rang out, a crack followed—the unmistakable sound of bones shattering.

"Ah!!!" Vasco Shot screamed in agony. Marco's grip was unyielding, and in that brief struggle, Vasco's entire arm was twisted mercilessly.

In that excruciating moment, Vasco was jolted back to reality.

This clarity plunged him into overwhelming fear.

He couldn't believe it—he had attacked Marco twice and been knocked down both times. Especially in their last attempt, when all three of them attacked together, they were obliterated by Marco's more powerful, more domineering punch!

That blow had inflicted an injury on him more horrifying than anything he'd ever experienced!

It was unbelievable—yet it was all too real.

Before Vasco Shot could think any further—

Burst~!

A blue flame pierced his heart, and blood rained down instantly.

It was Marco's other hand that had punched through Vasco Shot's chest!

Boom~~!

The colossal figure of Vasco Shot, —once one of the most feared criminals in the New World and a deadly inmate of Impel Down, now a commander under Blackbeard—collapsed to the ground.

His massive body left a deep crater in the earth, scattering debris everywhere as dust and smoke filled the air.

Blood continued to pour from Vasco Shot's heart, soaking the ground beneath him, turning the ruins red.

With disbelief and utter shock, Vasco Shot… died here!

The three Blackbeard Pirates who attacked Marco had now been reduced to just one.

"Doc Q!"

Marco didn't need to search for him. He already knew… Doc Q had fled!

But—

Unfortunately for Doc Q—

Marco's Haki had already reached such an advanced level that he could sense Doc Q's exact path of escape.

Swish!

With a flap of his flaming wings, the winds howled and the ruins below were lifted. Dust and debris swirled, covering Vasco Shot's fallen form as Marco pursued his next target…

Doc Q…

He must die!