On the sea not far from the port, the pirates witnessing the fierce battle couldn't help but be stunned.
"Oh my God! That pair of blue flaming wings must be over thirty meters wide, right? Simply incredible!"
Many pirates exclaimed in awe.
"Hurry up, give me a telescope! A battle of this caliber is rare to witness in a hundred years!"
The surrounding pirates began searching for binoculars, eager to witness this general-level confrontation with their own eyes.
Several pirates who had escaped took refuge in the mountains and forests outside the town, climbing to higher ground to observe the clash from the mountaintop.
"Let's go, Tea Dolphin! He can defeat Marco! Eliminate evil and uphold justice! Cruel pirates like Marco must be stopped!"
Meanwhile, on the naval warship, the sailors also looked in the direction of the town, their expressions filled with anticipation. They believed in Tokikake's strength as a general, confident that he would surely triumph over Marco!
In a small town, after the initial confrontation, Tokikake and Marco unleashed their most powerful attacks with no reservations; one of them was destined to fall in this battle!
Rumble!
Tokikake charged forward with explosive power, like a high-speed cannonball!
Marco soared into the air, refusing to retreat or dodge. He advanced against Tokikake, the blazing wings of more than thirty meters behind him sweeping majestically, embodying the essence of a phoenix as he surged forward to meet the opponent!
The fists of the two warriors collided almost instantaneously, and the blue flames in the sky engulfed the surroundings!
At that moment, with the two of them as the epicenter, white cyclones burst forth, sweeping outward with incredible force.
The violent fluctuations transformed into rippling waves, causing debris from the town below to be caught up and tossed about. Countless trees were uprooted and crushed.
A thunderous roar echoed like a torrential storm.
The blue flames spread across the expanse above, enveloping everything in their fiery grasp.
In swift succession, they clashed over a dozen times in low air, and each strike generated shockwaves that rocked the town below. Trees splintered, roots and leaves were torn away, and buildings crumbled with every exchange.
Nothing on the ground directly beneath them survived the battle; the area was left barren and ravaged.
The longer Tokikake fought, the more his heart raced, recognizing that Marco's momentum and strength were climbing continually. "I must finish this fight quickly; prolonged engagement will only lead to my own doom!"
Tokikake understood that he had to make a choice!
Wounds for lives!
He had to eliminate Marco!
"Your Devil Fruit ability will become your Achilles' heel!"
With decisiveness, Tokikake hurled another punch aimed at Marco's face.
Marco raised a hand to counter, the thunderous force of his strike crashing against Tokikake's punch!
Bellow~!
In an instant, blue flames burst from Marco and enveloped Tokikake's arm!
"Get back!!!"
Tokikake's expression shifted dramatically as he realized his arm was freezing in the moment it was captured by the blue flames!
"Break free!"
As he retreated, Tokikake erupted with strength, shattering the ice surrounding his arm. The fragmented ice fell to the ground as he maneuvered to find a new opportunity.
However, Marco would not grant him any respite. With his enormous blue flame wings, he swooped down, targeting Tokikake directly!
Woohoo!
As Tokikake landed, he instantly sprang upward, unleashing a flurry of over ten Rankyaku slashes in rapid succession—dozen white air blades, each extending tens of meters, all aimed at Marco!
A fierce whistling sound erupted from the attacks.
Determined, Marco didn't even flinch. Utilizing his Observation Haki, he easily dodged the onslaught of Rankyaku blades. The white blades cleaved through the blue flames of his wings but achieved nothing.
It was already too late.
Marco had closed the gap with Tokikake. The moment Marco's fist shot forward, a massive blue flame erupted around it, crashing down toward Tokikake!
Tokikake had barely enough time to shield himself with his Armament Haki, but—
Thundered! ~~!
In a blaze of flames filling the sky, Tokikake was blasted backward, crashing into the debris of tilted houses and leaving a trail of smoke and dust in his wake!
"Impossible!"
"How could Lord Tokikake be defeated so easily? He is a powerful figure at the general level!"
The sailors aboard the warship gasped in disbelief, struggling to accept that Tokikake had been forced back so handily!
Yet, the continuous rumbling noise and the billowing smoke from the houses struck down by Tokikake filled them with dread.
"The enemy… after all, is Marco—the renowned Second-in-Command of the former 'Four Emperors', Whitebeard!" a marine soldier uttered in a somber tone. "Lord Tokikake…"
In stark contrast to the sailors' reaction, the pirates in the distance erupted with a sense of exhilaration.
"Immortal Phoenix Marco, the man with a bounty of 1.5 billion, is truly formidable!"
"Those massive flaming wings are just too powerful!"
The pirates shouted in excitement, their eyes filled with admiration for Marco. Many felt a surge of fervent adoration as they witnessed his commanding presence.
Especially the sight of Marco, soaring down, his enormous flame wings trailing behind him, radiating power and ferocity, electrified the atmosphere—many pirates felt their blood pulse with adrenaline!
"Is Tokikake dead?"
Someone whispered, their voice trembling as they turned to gaze back at the town…