That aura exploding from the depths of the rubble—it wasn't Conqueror's Haki.
It was something even stronger. More lethal.
It was a killing intent honed to its peak—a Slayer's Aura, forged from cutting down countless powerful foes.
Even the air itself seemed to be torn apart by that presence.
Marco's face had never looked more serious.
He kept his gaze fixed on the ruins. Blue flames of the Phoenix had already ignited around his body, enveloping both himself and Lucian Thorn.
This aura…
He had only ever felt something like it from the likes of Peak Roger, Peak Whitebeard, and Peak Rayleigh—true swordmasters.
But even when Pops was enraged, or when Mihawk swung his blade, it had never been this pure—this soul-piercingly sharp!
It was as if what stood there wasn't a man—
But a supreme, unparalleled blade capable of splitting heaven and earth—of cleaving straight through hell itself.
Only Luffy was getting more and more excited.
He grinned from ear to ear, beaming as he shouted toward the rubble:
"Zoro!!"
As his voice rang out—
Tap.
A single, crisp footstep echoed from the shadows.
Then, a figure slowly stepped out from the darkness.
It was a man.
He had unmistakable short green hair, like the toughest strands of seaweed.
Bronze-toned skin, covered in scars that crisscrossed his body—each one a medal of honor.
His left eye was shut tight, a savage scar running vertically through it, adding a layer of menace to his look.
But that one open right eye—sharp as a hawk soaring the skies—was enough to make anyone feel like their very soul was being pierced when caught in its gaze.
At his waist hung three swords:
Wado IchimonjiSandai KitetsuEnma
Each one a blade so famous it would drive swordsmen mad with envy.
And when all three appeared on one man…
There could be no doubt about who he was.
The future world's greatest swordsman.
Vice-Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. Emperor's Right Hand.
"Three-Sword Style" Roronoa Zoro.
He had arrived.
The moment Zoro's figure was fully revealed in the sunlight, Marco's heart—which had been on the verge of panic—suddenly settled.
'So it's Straw Hat's crewmate.'
'Then it's fine.'
But in the next second, a wave of dread, far stronger than what he felt when he thought a fourth person was hiding, crashed over him like a tsunami!
His pupils shrank to pinpoints, his back instantly soaked in cold sweat.
'No way?!'
Marco let out an internal roar of disbelief.
He hadn't sensed this man at all!
Even after scanning the area with Observation Haki ten times over—nothing. Nothing!
A top-tier fighter's aura could be hidden. Could be suppressed.
But it should never just vanish.
Especially not when being searched for by someone of equal caliber, using full power.
Unless…
A thought flashed through Marco's mind—one so ridiculous he almost laughed at himself.
Unless this man's strength—or rather, his mastery of his own presence—had far surpassed his own!
Marco instinctively tried to deny it.
'What a joke!'
He was the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates—an emperor's right hand who had followed the strongest man in the world through decades of battle!
There were only a handful of people in the world who could truly suppress him!
'How could a swordsman from the Straw Hats…?!'
But the truth stood right in front of him—he couldn't deny it.
This future Roronoa Zoro...
His strength had likely reached a terrifying realm beyond imagination.
He had already grown into a proper right-hand man—someone truly worthy of supporting the Pirate King.
While Marco was dealing with this storm of realization—
Lucian's face still wore that same amused smile.
He looked at the green-haired swordsman exuding an aura that screamed "do not approach," and his eyes were full of admiration.
'This… is the Zoro I remember.'
'The one who would shoulder every pain for his comrades without hesitation. The one who walked into hell for their sake.'
'The one who, to become stronger, would throw away everything—and even kneel to the very man he once sought to surpass.'
The aura around him now—that was the aura of a true warrior.
A Slayer's Aura.
"Zoro! So you came too?!"
Luffy lit up as soon as he saw him and rushed over, punching him in the chest with a big grin.
Zoro glanced at his eccentric captain, and the tension on his face softened just a little.
Only when facing his captain… did Zoro ever show a hint of warmth.
But he didn't lower his guard.
His body subtly shifted, stepping sideways just enough to shield most of Luffy behind him.
That small motion made Lucian's grin widen.
Zoro's eyes, like unsheathed blades, fixed sharply on Lucian and Marco.
His right hand was already resting lightly on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji.
The guards and scabbards of the three blades clinked softly with a clang.
Just that act of preparing to draw his sword made the ground beneath him crack with fine fractures, the air shimmering from sword intent.
"You two…"
Zoro finally spoke.
His voice was low and hoarse, with the texture of metal scraping metal.
"Who are you?"
His eyes briefly stopped on Lucian, then moved to Marco.
That pineapple-headed blond face—he recognized it.
He had seen him on the battlefield at Onigashima.
"That blond pineapple head…"
Zoro frowned slightly, his gaze scrutinizing.
"Your name's Marco, right? I've seen you before."
Those words made Marco relax slightly.
'If he recognizes me, then this can be sorted out.'
He was just about to step forward and explain that they meant no harm—
But then Zoro continued, and Marco froze in place.
"But…"
Zoro's right eye narrowed, his sharp gaze feeling like it could dissect Marco down to the bone.
"You feel… different than before."
BOOM!
The words rang like thunder in Marco's head!
His mind went completely blank.
'He—he noticed?!'
'That shouldn't be possible!'
Their journey through time wasn't something ordinary people could detect—only monsters like Rayleigh, who had trained Observation Haki to glimpse the future, might notice!
How could Zoro possibly tell?!
'What exactly did he sense?!'
Zoro paid no attention to Marco's stunned expression.
He simply trusted the same beast-like instinct that had never failed him.
He remembered the Marco he saw fighting King and Queen at Onigashima.
Back then, Marco had seemed worn out from nonstop battles—but his aura was one of seasoned strength. A quiet, immovable resolve. Like a lighthouse standing firm through countless storms.
But this Marco—
Though his aura was still strong, perhaps even stronger in raw energy…
There was something missing.
A faint seasoning of time. A certain calm.
It was subtle, but unmistakable.
Like he was… younger?
No—more than just age.
The man's very presence felt off—like it didn't fully belong in this world.
Zoro didn't know how to explain it.
But he trusted his instinct.
These two men—there was definitely something strange about them.
"Luffy."
Zoro didn't even look back as he spoke to his captain behind him.
"Stay away from them."
His voice now carried a faint edge of killing intent.
The three swords at his waist began to hum softly, as if they were thrilled by the tension.
The atmosphere dropped to freezing.
Marco had no idea how to explain any of this.
But Lucian—
He took a step forward.
Facing Zoro's deadly gaze, his smile only grew brighter.
"As expected of the future world's greatest swordsman."
Lucian's voice shattered the silence.
"Your intuition… really is monstrous."