There were few humans or other races that possessed peak human physiques that had experience, techniques and high Haki mastery over the two types and it was even rarer to find Conquerors Haki users among them.
When special races or physiques were brought into that then they were just as rare.
Many among them had made a name for themself in the world, kept a low profile or were imprisoned in Impel Down.
If they were met with the limit to their abilities then they would seek out a path for themselves in the form of Devil Fruits.
Devil Fruits could help to overcome the difference in combat potential between themselves and others that were within the rarer and stronger people but it depended on if the power would really help them in the long run.
Haki could help in harming and cancelling out Devil Fruit abilities but that did not render them completely useless.
They provided an extra layer of protection for them or additional tactics to use to help overcome their opponents.
A skilled tactician could make use of any kind of power to disrupt their opponents before or during a battle.
Blackbeard had gained many of such people from Impel Down that joined his crew as the Ten Titanic Captains.
They each had their own way of fighting and certain Devil Fruits had begun to be stolen even if they had not moved in full force to seize them from all around the New World.
There were some among them that had gained a Devil Fruit after it had been stolen from another person that had the powers before.
The powerful, ruthless and experienced captains of the Blackbeard pirates had finally made their move and attacked the final island in the way to seizing every territory of Whitebeard.
The previous Whitebeard pirates would have no place to call home and where they had all of their allies gathered around them.
It became an all out battle where their backs were to the wall and they could not retreat to another island anymore.
Any other island would not be their own and they would not be welcome there so it would mean that everyone would have to split their forces if they survived after being defeated.
The disease had weakened the stamina of Marco who had been using his phoenix fire and his medical skills to treat people then there was the sudden war that started far away from him.
It was like someone among the invaders that had been confirmed to be the Blackbeard Pirates had a power that created and spread diseases but there was no detection of someone entering the island so it suggested that the range of the power was quite large.
Gun fire, cannon fire and the sounds of clashing weapons broke out all around the island which was followed by darkness spreading across the ground and swallowing up everything in sight.
Blackbeard stood facing Marco who had just arrived and laughed while taking back his powers after swallowing many things around him. "Zehahaha! Marco! We meet again!"
Marco frowned and flew towards him then sent out a kick that was covered in flames while his phoenix talons were piercing towards Blackbeard's chest.
Blackbeard held out his hand towards Marco and a black vortex formed then Marco was pulled towards him.
Jozu was covered in diamond to reduce the damage he would suffer and charged forward to crash into the side of Blackbeard and Izo took out a pistol then opened fire upon Jesus Burgess who jumped to the side of Boackbeard.
It seemed like each of the Blackbeard pirates were appearing at fixed locations without warning and were being inserted into the battle where they were needed.
Jesus Burgess covered his body in Armament Haki and blocked the gun fire then met Diamond Jozu head on as they both clashed shoulder to elbow. "Weehahaha!"
Marco saw that he would soon become powerless under the grip of Blackbeard so he adjusted his attack to allow himself to be grabbed.
The gripping power of Blackbeard was enough to crush the bones of Ace and almost broke his neck during their fight in the past so being grabbed by him was very dangerous.
The difference was that Marco was a far more experienced fighter and he had his Phoenix fire to rely on.
He flapped his wings and sent phoenix fires shaped like bird feathers towards Blackbeard but most of them were redirected and absorbed by the black vortex.
There were some that hit Blackbeard but he was covered in Armament Haki to protect himself.
Once the leg was grabbed, Marco swung his other leg towards Blackbeard's arm that held him while his peg was coated in a layer of Haki.
The amount of pain that Blackbeard had to endure was a lot after it had been amplified and he let go which allowed Marco to regain his powers again.
Just as he transformed back and sent a talon kick towards the throat of Blackbeard, a gunshot went off in the distance and them Shiryu the Rain and Catarina Devon blocked the attack.
More appeared in different locations again after the sound of gun fire was heard from a distance.
The more the battle dragged on, the more that everyone participating started to notice that they were growing weaker or were being hindered by some kind of disease.
The numbers of those that could fight on were lessening when they did not have the antibodies needed to resist them or a strong enough Haki to resist the effects.
Van Auger was firing from a very long range and people by his side were disappearing but Doc Q remained by his side so they seemed to be behind a lot of the problems that were appearing on the battlefield.
A oversized giant had reached the island and the battle continued to worsen for the side of Marco and his crew as more time had passed.
Marco grit his teeth and said. "Teach.. you have stolen more Devil Fruits? What are they?"
Blackbeard laughed as he released a lot of crushed debris from his body of darkness. "Zehahaha. Why don't you just guess?"
The battle continued while Alyssia watched from far away while feeling a little weak too after removing her protective clothing and mask to test out something.
The Haki within her was circulated through her body all of a sudden and met a strange foreign force.
It was quickly found and eliminated from her body then she returned to normal.
Alyssia looked towards the distance to the sea far away where there was a ship floating with two people on it. 'Those powers.. if I had to guess then they are well suited to those two.
Doc Q has a disease power while Van Auger has something like a spacial or teleportation power. Doc Q can spread diseases from a large range and it suits his profession as a doctor.
Van Auger seems to be able to move anyone to a location that is within his sight so it is suited to his role as a sniper but can he move others around and himself or are there certain limitations involved? Is it a one way journey from his side to the distance or can he bring them back to him?'