Fire Fist Ace immediately made a decision, saying, "Alright, we will let them go. Release Luffy at once."
Upon hearing Ace's naive demand, Saint V. Nusjuro raised his voice sharply. "Impossible, there was only one condition from the beginning. We will only release Straw Hat if you kill Marco. Even if you ignore Straw Hat Luffy's life and fight us, the result will not change."
Saint Saturn let out a cold sneer as well. "Marco, your strength is impressive, but against the five of us working together, you stand no chance. If you want to save Straw Hat, then surrender immediately. You would not want Fire Fist Ace's brother to die, would you?"
Marco's eyes twitched slightly as he looked at them with obvious contempt. "You really are as cowardly as rats. The five of you working together could face me head on, yet you resort to this kind of dirty manipulation."
He then narrowed his eyes slightly, continuing with a cold tone. "Let me guess, you are stalling for time so that the Celestial Dragon Admiral and the Marines can retreat. You Gorosei must have arrived here through a magic circle. Once the Marines withdraw, you plan to kill Straw Hat immediately, dissolve the circle, and return to the Holy Land, correct?"
The Gorosei showed brief surprise, not expecting Marco to see through their intentions so quickly. However, none of them admitted it. In their eyes, as the creators of the world, they would never retreat in front of anyone.
At that moment, Saint Garling stopped engaging in the verbal exchange with Marco and turned his gaze toward Ace.
"It seems your captain is rather cold-hearted, Fire Fist Ace," he said calmly.
Ace looked toward Marco with a desperate expression. His eyes trembled, filled with conflict and pain. If he could, he would rather Marco sacrifice himself temporarily if that meant saving Luffy. But those words never left his mouth.
Instead, he turned toward Saint Garling and shouted, "I beg you, what do you want in order to release Luffy?"
Saint Garling's answer remained unchanged. "I already told you, kill Marco, and I will release your brother immediately."
Ace's expression cracked further as despair filled his voice. "I cannot do something like that."
Flames flickered violently around him, showing how unstable his emotions had become. Pushed any further, even Ace himself did not know whether he would turn his blade toward Marco or the Gorosei.
Marco, meanwhile, remained restrained because of Luffy's hostage situation. His gaze shifted across the remaining Gorosei, analyzing them. He knew he could not continue being controlled by their pace.
Then he spoke coldly.
"All five of you old bastards will die here today."
In an instant, Marco moved and struck toward Saint Saturn.
"Stop, Marco," Saint Garling shouted sharply. "Do you want Straw Hat to die?"
But Marco did not hesitate.
Straw Hat Luffy was Ace's brother. Ace might be emotionally manipulated, but Marco would not be bound by such leverage.
His Armament Haki condensed instantly into blade forms in both hands, forming twin energy swords.
"Destruction Black Flame, Phoenix Sword."
Saint V. Nusjuro immediately stepped forward to block, his defensive capability among the strongest of the five. He coated his arms in Armament Haki and met the strike head on.
The moment their attacks collided, Marco's twin blades tore through his defenses. Saint V. Nusjuro's arms were severed instantly. The remaining blade pressure followed through, carving a deep X shaped wound across his chest. Blood erupted as he was sent flying backward, coughing violently.
Seeing this, Saint Nusjuro, Saint Peter, and Saint Saturn immediately became alert and began encircling Marco.
At the same time, Saint Garling shouted again, "Marco, are you prepared to let Straw Hat die because of your actions?"
But Marco only glanced at him coldly.
"Saint Garling, do you really think Straw Hat is enough to control me? I am not that naive."
"If he dies, I will simply avenge him."
Without hesitation, Marco pressed his attack against Saint Saturn and the others.
The Gorosei finally understood that hostage manipulation would not work on Marco.
Realizing this, Saint Garling quickly changed his target. He turned toward Ace and shouted, "Fire Fist Ace, kill Marco immediately, or Straw Hat will die right now."
Ace stood frozen, tears streaming down his face as he looked at Luffy's weakening condition. His breathing became unstable, his mind collapsing under pressure.
"No, Marco is my comrade. As long as I do not attack Marco, as long as you spare my brother, I will do anything," Ace shouted.
Saint Garling clicked his tongue in irritation, realizing Ace would never attack Marco. He then shifted tactics.
"Fine then. A life for a life. Let us see if you are willing to trade your own life for your brother's."
Those words struck Ace like a lifeline. If he could not sacrifice Marco, then sacrificing himself became the only path left.
He raised his head slowly. "Are you serious?"
Meanwhile, Marco continued fighting against the four Gorosei in the distance, his expression darkening. "Ace, do not believe them. Even if you give your life, they will not release Luffy."
Ace slowly stood up, looking toward Marco with a faint smile.
"Sorry, Marco. I may have to go against your expectations. Thank you for everything you have done for me."
Marco's eyes widened slightly in anger. "Idiot, do not do something so meaningless. Even if you die, Luffy will not be saved."
But Ace no longer listened. His gaze locked onto Saint Garling.
"If I die in Luffy's place, you will release him immediately, correct?"
Saint Garling smiled faintly. "Of course. I am one of the highest authorities in the world. I do not waste words on a mere pirate."
"Good," Ace replied.
He drew a dagger from his waist and placed it against his neck.
"Marco, I am entrusting Luffy to you."
Marco's expression darkened further. "Foolish. Even if you die, this changes nothing. Do not be so naive."
Ace ignored him completely.
Just as he prepared to act, Luffy, who had been barely conscious, slowly opened his eyes.
"Ace… do not… mind me… run…"
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