The enormous black phoenix collided head-on with the ferocious three-headed dog, and the impact shook the ground beneath them. In the next instant, inky black flames surged outward like a violent tide, completely engulfing the massive beast.
"Awoo…"
A miserable howl echoed through the ruins as the three-headed dog was tightly wrapped by the high-temperature flames. Its huge body rolled violently across the ground, clawing and thrashing in agony, yet no matter how it struggled, it could not extinguish the flames clinging to it.
The Flames of Destruction burned with terrifying heat and unnatural adhesiveness. Once they took hold, they refused to fade. This overwhelming destructive property perfectly compensated for Marco's previous lack of explosive offensive power.
From behind the battlefield, Saint Shamlok watched the scene with a grim expression. His brows were drawn tightly together, his usual arrogance replaced by a rare trace of caution.
At that moment, Marco beat his wings and shot upward, black flames roaring around his body. His voice rang out, low and powerful.
"Destruction Black Flame, Dance of the Phoenix!"
The flames surrounding him trembled, then moved as if alive. In an instant, they condensed into more than a dozen black phoenixes, each over a meter long. With sharp cries, they flapped their wings and surged toward Saint Shamlok in a dense formation.
Saint Shamlok tightened his grip on the hilt of his weapon. The three-headed dog form rapidly shrank, returning to its original shape as a slender rapier. Even so, ominous black flames still clung to the blade, causing his expression to darken.
He immediately coated the rapier with Armament Haki and swung it in rapid succession. Sharp arcs of sword energy tore through the air, colliding with the incoming black phoenixes. One after another, the flaming constructs were split apart.
Fragments of black fire scattered across the battlefield, continuing to burn fiercely wherever they landed.
In the blink of an eye, Marco had already closed the distance.
"Destruction Black Flame, Fire Fist!"
Before the final word had fully left his mouth, his flaming fist slammed directly into Saint Shamlok's rapier. A terrifying surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from the point of impact.
Crimson lightning exploded outward in all directions, ripping through the surroundings with overwhelming pressure.
Saint Shamlok was shaken to the core. He could clearly feel it. Marco's power had risen sharply compared to before.
With lightning speed, Marco twisted his body, reached out, and seized the rapier with his bare hand. A confident smile appeared on his face.
"Got you. Before I leave, I might as well deal with a member of the God's Knights."
As he spoke, violent black flames gathered rapidly in his left palm. The air trembled under the pressure.
"Super Spiral Incineration Cannon!"
A deafening roar followed.
Boom, boom, boom.
A concentrated shockwave of black flames erupted from Marco's palm, combining raw impact with terrifying heat. Unlike his previous phoenix flames, this attack carried both crushing force and absolute destruction.
Saint Shamlok was struck head-on.
His body spun uncontrollably through the air, as if caught in a raging vortex. One after another, buildings were smashed apart as he crashed through them. With a final explosive roar, black flames detonated, swallowing the entire area in a sea of dark fire.
Marco hovered in the air, watching intently.
A hint of disappointment flickered across his eyes.
He had expected Saint Shamlok to put up a far greater fight. By now, Marco's strength had reached Weak King Level, clearly surpassing him, yet the battle had ended far too quickly.
Was this really the Strong General Emperor level power the system had evaluated?
It felt off.
"Saint Shamlok…""Damn it, that cursed Marco…"
Several CP0 agents rushed in, positioning themselves between Marco and the burning ruins.
Marco's expression turned serious. Just as he prepared to act, his Observation Haki sent a sharp warning. Dozens of powerful auras were rapidly closing in from all directions.
Without hesitation, Marco's figure blurred as he beat his wings and rose into the sky.
From above, he sensed more and more strong presences converging on his location. While none of them matched his own strength, they were far from insignificant.
"It looks like today's hunt ends here," Marco muttered.
He cast one last glance downward, only to notice something unexpected. Saint Shamlok's aura, which had weakened moments ago, was rising again.
Boom.
A violent burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted from within the flames. The pressure alone blasted away the lingering black fire, scattering it across the ground like falling meteors.
As the flames cleared, Saint Shamlok emerged.
His body was covered in cracks, yet an eerie and powerful force was at work. The damage was repairing itself. Marco's eyes narrowed as he focused on the gaping hole in Saint Shamlok's right abdomen.
Strange, paper-like fragments drifted through the air, layering together and slowly restoring the wound.
"So that's it…" Marco thought, his expression sharpening.
This was not simple durability. It was something far more troublesome.
Immortality.
The same terrifying power the Gorosei had displayed on Egghead Island.
Now it was clear. The God's Knights possessed it as well.
"That explains it," Marco realized. "That's where his so-called strength comes from."
Without this ability, Saint Shamlok would never have lasted this long.
"Where are you looking? Rankyaku!"
A CP0 agent shouted as sharp air blades tore toward Marco.
"He cannot be allowed to escape!"
Several CP0 members activated Moonwalk, chasing after him at full speed.
Marco twisted midair, easily evading their attacks. He did not linger for even a second. Spreading his wings fully, he shot upward and flew away from the battlefield.
Mary Geoise was a massive hunting ground, but it was also guarded by monsters. The Gorosei, the God's Knights, and Imu himself.
Saint Shamlok alone had already demonstrated strength comparable to an Admiral. Each of the Gorosei was even more dangerous.
And Imu, who had lived for eight hundred years, was an existence Marco had no intention of testing right now.
Once surrounded, there would be no escape.
The CP0 agents pursued for a short distance, but the gap in speed quickly became obvious. One by one, they were forced to stop, frustration etched across their faces.
From the ruins below, Saint Shamlok watched Marco disappear into the clouds. Unable to fly, he could do nothing but clench his fists.
Not long after, several members of the God's Knights arrived on the scene.
"Saint Shamlok," one of them asked, scanning the destruction. "Where is the enemy?"
Saint Shamlok's gaze was cold as he looked skyward.
"He escaped."
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