One punch tore straight through Marco the Phoenix's body. His face twisted with agony, his frame convulsed, and blood fountained from his lips.
The fist that had pierced him was slick with red. A breeze stirred, and droplets pattered from Rakuya's knuckles, raining down from the sky.
"You… you're this strong…?" Marco choked, blood bubbling up his throat.
"I had no intention of acting. You forced my hand." Rakuya's voice was cold. Suspended in midair, his entire arm was buried through Marco's torso, a brutal, bloody sight.
"G… God is that strong…?" Ufole could hardly trust his eyes. One of Whitebeard's foremost commanders looked so pathetically fragile before Flowing Cloud.
Momousagi stared wide-eyed, shock filling her gaze. A single punch, straight through Marco the Phoenix. How terrifying did one's power have to be to do that?
"Urgh…" Marco writhed in pain, his aura guttering. His face was ashen, and the blue flames cloaking him dimmed to a flicker.
"If you kill me, you'll regret it… Pops will avenge me. You're not… not his match…"
"Kill you? Why would I? If you stay alive, I can ransom you. Extorting your Pops sounds much better," Rakuya said with a faint, contemptuous smile.
Killing Marco would be easy. It would also be worthless. What Rakuya wanted was for Whitebeard to pay in Devil Fruits.
Thud.
Before Marco could answer, Rakuya yanked his arm free. The stabbing pain made Marco black out on the spot.
Rakuya guided the limp body down and set it on the island.
"God… you suppressed Marco?" Ufole blurted.
"Hey, you perv, that's one of Whitebeard's top fighters, and you just put him down like that?" Momousagi followed, incredulous.
"Is he dead?"
"He isn't. I left him with a single breath, but he's not far from the end," Rakuya replied, alighting beside the Nine Tails.
"Master, that's not fair. I wasn't done blasting yet. Let me have one more round," the Nine Tails grumbled, clearly miffed that Rakuya had stepped in.
"You'll get your fill. Next time the targets will be stronger than Marco, and you can go wild." Rakuya's tone was mild as he placated the fox.
"Thank you, Master. I'll do my best and blast them to bits." The Nine Tails bared its fangs in a wicked grin.
"How are you holding up? Not dead, right?" Rakuya glanced at Ufole.
"Not dead. That pill you gave me did wonders. I feel better than I did two days ago," Ufole said, relieved.
Brru-brru brru-brru. Brru-brru brru-brru.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on Marco's person chimed.
Rakuya fished it out and answered.
"Son, where are you? Did you get the Devil Fruits back? And that brat who stole them, have you caught him?" came a deep, steady voice.
Rakuya knew that voice. Edward Newgate. Whitebeard, Roger's peer.
"Whitebeard, huh?" Rakuya tilted his head.
"Hm? Who are you? Where's my son, Marco?" Whitebeard paused, then asked.
"Your son Marco is a breath away from dying by my hand."
Silence slammed down. Then the shell erupted with booming, scornful laughter. Rakuya also heard a chorus of derisive chuckles in the background.
"Hahaha. Brat, do you even know what you're saying? My son Marco ate a Mythical Zoan, the Phoenix. Grind him to dust and he revives from the flames. Don't hold back. Kill him if you can…" Whitebeard's voice was brash and utterly dismissive. No one knew his son's abilities better than he did.
Killed? Ridiculous.
"I'll say it again, Whitebeard. Your son is hanging on by a single breath because I attacked his soul," Rakuya said mildly.
"What? A soul attack?"
For the first time, gravity edged into Whitebeard's tone, the earlier nonchalance vanishing.
"What's wrong? Getting nervous now?"
"Brat, where are you? Return Marco to me, or you will pay the price for provoking me," Whitebeard warned.
"The price? Tell me, which price is steeper, shattering the World Government into rubble, or beating your son half to death?"
"Destroying the World Government?" Whitebeard frowned. He had no idea what this kid was talking about. He hadn't yet received any news about Flowing Cloud.
"Whoever you are, release my son. Otherwise, I'll show you that crossing me is no better than crossing the World Government."
"Is that so?" Rakuya chuckled. "Here's my offer, Whitebeard. Your son is in my hands. Bring twenty Devil Fruits to the New World for the exchange. You can refuse, but then you'd better buy a coffin and prepare to collect your son's corpse."
"Brat. Do you know who you're threatening? I, Whitebeard, have never been threatened."
"Never? Consider today a first. Bring the Fruits, or I tear up the ticket." Rakuya hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He knew Whitebeard's nature. The old man cherished his sons. With Marco captured, Whitebeard would pay any price to save him. And once Marco was safe, he would pay any price to hunt Rakuya down.
Since offense was inevitable, Rakuya chose to offend thoroughly. Besides, Whitebeard's fleet had more than a few Devil Fruits.
Brru-brru brru-brru. Brru-brru brru-brru.
The Den Den Mushi rang again. Rakuya ignored it and looked to Ufole instead.
"God."
Under that gaze, Ufole straightened, almost reverent. "God, does this mean you'll accept me as your disciple?"
"No. You haven't passed the trials. As for the first one, you only survived because I intervened. By rights, you should be dead. I simply chose not to let you die."
"God, are you… concerned about me?" Ufole asked, eyes lighting up.
"No. I just don't like owing people." Rakuya's tone stayed flat. "Second trial. Within three years, become a pirate with a 500 million bounty. That is your test."
"Three years?"
Ufole's face twisted, bitter.
"What, you can't do it?"
"I can. I will." His eyes burned with resolve.
At that very moment, across the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates began to move.
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