Chapter 493: The Birth of Chicken Phoenix, Give Me a Face
"Then, let's go!" Aigolu said.
"When Chicken Phoenix is forced into its third form, it will be troublesome."
Aigolu casually waved the sickle in his hand and prepared to advance.
Hearing Aigolu's words, Tamago nodded in agreement.
Elsewhere, Marco and his crew soon sensed something unusual.
They turned their gaze toward a nearby volcano.
Two figures descended from the fiery glow.
Everyone was startled upon seeing them.
Why were they here?
Only when the figures landed before them did Marco step forward.
He eyed the man wielding a blue scythe and another from the Longleg clan, distinguished by a coffee cup on his head.
He spoke directly and asked, "Brother Fūki Aigolu and Kaki Tamago, what are you doing here?"
Observing the two figures, Marco's expression grew serious.
These two were not to be underestimated.
Fūki and Kaki of the Yamata Sect were renowned for their strength, both formidable monsters.
What was their purpose here?
Marco's mind raced with questions.
He had never considered that the Yamata Sect would participate in the Mythical Beast Conference, as no prior information suggested it.
In Marco's view, since the Yamata Sect was hosting the conference, they should act as referees or support staff.
Thus, he hadn't been particularly wary.
"Well, we do have a purpose here." Aigolu said.
He looked at Marco and spoke lazily.
"What is it?" Marco asked.
"Can you ask the Whitebeard Pirates to withdraw from this area?" Aigolu requested.
Aigolu's words made Marco uneasy.
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it clear? I'm asking you to leave this competition and explore other areas. We want the treasure held by Chicken Phoenix." Aigolu said.
He yawned, covering his mouth with one hand, and spoke casually.
"Are you joking? Pops is still fighting that Mythical Beast! If you want to take advantage, you'll have to get past us first!" Marco retorted.
Aigolu's blunt words sparked anger.
Other Whitebeard Pirates stepped forward, their faces filled with indignation.
It was clear.
The two Yamata Sect members wanted to seize their prize.
They wouldn't allow it.
Facing the crew's righteous anger, Tamago remained silent.
He knew the decision wasn't theirs to make.
Click! Click! Click!
With crisp footsteps, Tamago strode toward the battlefield nearby with his long legs.
Seeing Tamago approach, several Whitebeard Pirates moved to intercept.
Whoosh!
A powerful gust scattered their vision.
A flash of blue light streaked past.
Rumble!
A chasm, tens of meters long and several meters wide, appeared before the Whitebeard Pirates.
Swish! Swish!
Aigolu, standing confidently, swung his sickle a few times with one hand before resting it on his shoulder.
"This is, after all, the Yamata Sect's territory. I advise you not to act rashly."
He stood leisurely under the sunlight.
"You…" one pirate began.
"Is this about to turn into a fight?" another asked.
Vista's eyes flashed red, his hands gripping his sword handles.
Marco extended a hand to stop him and said, "Calm down. Let's wait for Pops's decision."
Looking at the nonchalant man before him, Marco felt cautious.
Aigolu was renowned within the Yamata Sect.
Rumors placed his strength among the sect's elite, comparable to a three-star gem hunter.
Marco had seen him from a distance during experiments on the floating Sky Island.
Back then, Aigolu hadn't seemed so formidable.
Now, his presence exerted significant pressure on Marco.
Moreover, Aigolu's words heightened Marco's wariness.
Marco thought carefully, avoiding impulsiveness. If possible, he didn't want to burden pops.
After all, their reason for coming was a treasure that had drawn Whitebeard here.
"Captain Marco!" a crew member shouted.
Seeing Marco's restraint, some grew frustrated.
When had the Whitebeard Pirates ever been cowed by a single person?
Noticing their anger, Marco smiled wryly.
In the past, the Whitebeard Pirates never yielded to powerful foes.
Now, with greater strength, such a move made them sensitive.
"Everyone, calm down! Pops's decision matters most." Vista said.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and spoke calmly.
He understood Marco's reasoning.
Their goal was to grow stronger, not to make enemies.
Acting now could disrupt Whitebeard's plans.
Moreover, they weren't the only ones on the island.
Other forces were present.
Fighting required weighing consequences.
"Yes!" the crew agreed.
With the third-in-command speaking, the angered members suppressed their feelings.
Vista looked at them, mostly veteran members who had seen the Whitebeard Pirates' peak.
Back then, their fame echoed worldwide.
Now, facing Fūki Aigolu, a name barely known two years ago, they were challenged by a young upstart.
It struck a nerve.
The era was changing too quickly.
Some clung to past glory, clashing with the fractured reality, stirring unrest.
Vista sighed, his emotions stirred.
Yet, this was the price of gaining strength, and he had no regrets.
Elsewhere, Whitebeard paused his battle with the Chicken Phoenix's new form.
He noticed Tamago, a young-looking Longleg clan member, approaching.
To intervene in his fight at such an age showed the era's rapid change.
"It's Brother Tamago! Are you here for the treasure too?" Chicken Phoenix asked.
"Don't think I'll go easy just because we're acquainted." it added.
Seeing Tamago, Chicken Phoenix spoke familiarly.
It was naturally close to Tamago.
The reason was simple.
To an extent, Tamago had contributed to Chicken Phoenix's creation.
Tamago had eaten the Egg-Egg Fruit, a Zoan type, allowing him to switch forms after injury or death.
This ability intrigued Orochimaru.
Thus, Chicken Phoenix was conceived and born based on this power.
With such origins, Chicken Phoenix and Tamago bonded well after its birth.
Of course, familiarity aside, convincing Chicken Phoenix to yield based on their bond was difficult.
This Mythical Beast had its own principles.
Gulp! Gulp!
Tamago removed the pink coffee cup from his head, took a few elegant sips, and replaced it before speaking.
"That's natural, but let's set reminiscing aside for now."
He turned to Whitebeard and said, "Greetings, Whitebeard-sama."
"What Chicken Phoenix holds is very important to me. Can you give me a face and explore other areas?"
( End of this chapter)