On the other side of the battlefield, Marco's Conqueror's Haki locked precisely onto Saint V. Nusjuro.
Saint Nusjuro's expression was grim as he released his own Conqueror's Haki to resist Marco's overwhelming pressure.
At that moment, Marco's entire body was engulfed in black flames. The energy slowly gathered into his right fist, becoming denser with every second. His voice was cold as he spoke.
"If you have the ability, try to block this next attack."
He stared directly at Saint Nusjuro.
"And don't think about running away. Even if you try, you won't escape."
Saint Nusjuro snorted softly, his eyes turning colder.
"Is it because you saw Big Mom about to be defeated by Saint Peter that you are trying to end this battle quickly?"
He carefully observed Marco's aura and felt a trace of shock.
Marco's Conqueror's Haki had recovered far too quickly.
Just a few minutes ago, after defeating Saint Mars, Marco's Haki had clearly been extremely weak. Yet now the pressure radiating from his body had already returned to a terrifying level.
Even with the powerful recovery of the Phoenix Fruit, it should only affect physical injuries. Conqueror's Haki was spiritual power. It normally required rest and time to recover.
Saint Nusjuro could not understand how Marco had restored it so quickly.
Marco did not bother answering.
He stomped the ground and shot forward like a cannonball, charging straight toward Saint Nusjuro.
Seeing Marco rush forward without hesitation, Saint Nusjuro felt a slight unease at first. However, the moment he sensed the overwhelming pressure of Marco's Conqueror's Haki, he realized something.
Hiding was not an option.
Under the suppression of such powerful Haki, retreating would only turn a favorable situation into defeat.
His eyes sharpened.
"Very well, insect."
Saint Nusjuro slowly sheathed the First Generation Kitetsu in his hand.
"I admit that you possess the qualification to fight a god."
His voice became colder.
"So allow me to show you our true power."
As a master swordsman, Saint Nusjuro was about to use his strongest technique.
Iaijutsu.
For hundreds of years he had practiced this technique tirelessly. Yet during all those centuries he had rarely encountered an opponent worthy of forcing him to use it in real combat.
Now that moment had finally arrived.
Saint Nusjuro stood still, his aura completely restrained. It felt like a legendary blade quietly resting within its scabbard.
But the calm only made the atmosphere more terrifying.
His sharp gaze followed Marco's every movement as the distance between them closed.
Marco also sensed the danger.
Saint Nusjuro's suppressed aura felt even more threatening than when it had been fully released earlier. Even Marco felt a trace of unease.
But retreat was impossible.
If he did not finish this battle quickly, the situation on the battlefield could collapse at any moment.
Big Mom was already on the verge of defeat.
Marco gritted his teeth.
His right fist burned with black flames while Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki wrapped around it like a violent storm.
He roared loudly.
"All my Haki will be concentrated in this punch!"
"Try to block it!"
At that exact moment, Saint Nusjuro moved.
"One Sword Style, Iaijutsu, Demon Slayer."
Both fighters abandoned defense and poured everything into offense.
The next second, their attacks collided.
Marco's flaming fist slammed directly into Saint Nusjuro's body.
The impact was devastating.
Saint Nusjuro's body was instantly torn apart at the waist, completely separating his upper and lower halves. His human torso and skeletal horse body split apart and crashed to the ground.
The two figures passed each other in a blur.
Marco continued flying forward before stopping in mid air.
He turned his head and looked down at the fallen Saint Nusjuro. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
But in the next moment, a thin line of blood slowly appeared across Marco's chest.
Then the wound suddenly burst open.
A massive slash stretched from his left shoulder all the way to his right abdomen.
Instead of blood pouring out, frost rapidly formed along the wound. A chilling layer of ice spread across the injury.
The intense pain struck Marco instantly.
His body lost balance and he crashed heavily to the ground.
The sudden turn of events shocked both sides of the battlefield.
Although the Marines and the pirates had been fighting fiercely the entire time, everyone understood that the true outcome of this war depended on the battles between the Four Emperors and the Five Elders.
Their own fights could not decide the final result.
"Captain Marco!"
Members of the Phoenix Pirates shouted in alarm.
"Saint Nusjuro-sama!"
The Marines also cried out in shock.
Both sides immediately moved toward their respective leaders.
However, before anyone could approach, Marco slammed his palm against the ground and slowly pushed himself to his feet.
"Don't come over!"
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
Hearing this, the Phoenix Pirates immediately felt a wave of excitement.
Marco had stood up first.
That meant he had won.
Marco was breathing heavily as pain surged through his chest. The black phoenix flames began melting the ice covering his wound.
Gradually, the flames spread across the injury and began healing the damage.
"H... how is this possible..."
Saint Nusjuro's voice trembled slightly.
His face had become extremely pale as he coughed up blood.
That punch had inflicted severe damage.
For hundreds of years he had not felt pain.
Now the sensation returned with overwhelming force, almost suffocating him.
His upper and lower body were completely separated, and the lingering Conqueror's Haki surrounding the wound prevented his body from regenerating.
Marco took a deep breath while staring at the fallen elder.
Saint Nusjuro had reverted from his centaur like form. Blood continued flowing from the massive wound dividing his body.
Marco clenched his fists.
"I won't give you the chance to recover."
"Die."
Ignoring the pain tearing through his body, Marco ignited his flames and flew forward again.
This battle had become a race against time.
Marco knew the terrifying regenerative abilities of the Five Elders. If Saint Nusjuro had enough time, his body would recover.
He had to eliminate him immediately.
Seeing Marco rushing toward him, Saint Nusjuro remained surprisingly calm.
"It seems I have lost."
His voice was quiet.
"My fellow elders... the rest is up to you."
The moment he finished speaking, his body suddenly turned into a wisp of smoke.
Before Marco could reach him, the magic circle that had summoned him vanished.
Saint Nusjuro had deactivated the teleportation circle and returned to the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
"He... disappeared?"
Both Marines and pirates stared in disbelief at the empty battlefield.
But Marco understood exactly what had happened.
After fighting the Five Elders multiple times, he had already learned many of their abilities.
The Five Elders had all been summoned to Egghead Island through special teleportation magic circles. If they deactivated those circles, they could instantly return to Mary Geoise.
The reason Saint Mars had not escaped before was because Marco had remained in direct contact with him while continuously releasing Conqueror's Haki. That suppression prevented Saint Mars from activating the teleportation.
This time, however, there had been distance between Marco and Saint Nusjuro.
Marco had not been able to suppress him in time.
Which allowed Saint Nusjuro to escape.
Realizing this, Marco clenched his fists in frustration.
"Damn it!"