Afterward, Marco briefly examined the system panel once more. Its structure was simple—no clutter, no shop, or unnecessary functions. It consisted of just three core modules: Personal Attributes, Missions, and Level Detection. Clean, direct, and easy to grasp.
Once he was familiar with it, Marco finally stepped out of the cabin.
Outside, the world was cloaked in darkness.
The Moby Dick had already been coated and submerged deep beneath the sea. Endless black water surrounded the ship, as if the ocean itself were holding its breath before the coming storm.
The moment Marco appeared, several captains quickly gathered around him, their voices overlapping with concern.
"Marco, are you alright?"
"You suddenly dropped to one knee earlier—you nearly scared us to death!"
"That's right! The war's about to begin. You can't afford anything going wrong now!"
"You're one of our main pillars in this battle!"
Hearing their anxious voices, Marco felt a warmth spread through his chest. These were his brothers—men he had grown up with since childhood, bound not by blood, but by something far stronger.
He broke into a broad smile and waved them off.
"I'm fine. I just awakened Conqueror's Haki earlier and got dizzy for a moment. Sorry for making you worry."
"…What?"
"You awakened Conqueror's Haki?!"
Excitement instantly rippled through the group. Jozu burst out laughing, his voice booming through the darkness.
"That's incredible, Marco! I never thought you'd awaken Conqueror's Haki! With this, our chances of saving Ace just shot up!"
Marco scratched his head, smiling modestly.
"It's only just awakened. I doubt it'll make much difference in a battle of this scale."
As he spoke, he silently activated the third function of his system—Level Detection.
A translucent panel materialized before his eyes.
Jozu—Paramecia-type: Brilliant Fruit
Estimated Strength: Weak Yonko's Second-in-Command Level
Vista—Estimated Strength: Yonko Commander Level
Blamenco—Paramecia-type: Pocket-Pocket Fruit
Estimated Strength: Captain Level
Rakyō—Estimated Strength: Strong Captain Level
Namur—Estimated Strength: Strong Captain Level
Marco's gaze swept swiftly across the captains and vice-captains, then further outward to the rest of the crew.
He quickly understood the limitations of the function. It could identify Devil Fruit types and provide an overall strength estimation—but Haki proficiency and precise attribute values remained hidden.
Even so, the results were revealing.
Most captains fell into the Captain Level or Strong Captain Level, with monsters like Jozu and Vista standing firmly at Yonko Commander Level.
Vice-captains largely hovered at the vice-captain level, though a handful had already stepped into captain-level territory. As for ordinary crew members, the majority registered at Crew Member Level, with a few exceptional ones reaching Vice Captain Level.
In his mind, Marco neatly categorized the Whitebeard Pirates into four clear tiers:
Yonko Commander Level
Captain Level
Vice Captain Level
Crew Member Level
Simple. Easy to understand.
It was a shame that Whitebeard himself wasn't present.
Otherwise, Marco might have had the chance to witness—perhaps for the first time—the terrifying might of a true Yonko–level existence.
"Captain—Captain Marco!"
A First Division crew member hurried over, clutching a Transponder Snail. "Pops is on the line!"
The snail's shell shimmered, projecting Whitebeard's imposing image.
Having fully merged with Marco's memories—and coupled with the reverence he had long held for Whitebeard even in his previous life—Marco felt his chest tighten. The word slipped from his lips almost unconsciously.
"…Pops."
From the other end, Whitebeard's voice rumbled through the snail—authoritative, yet unmistakably warm.
"I heard you weren't feeling well earlier. Are you alright, Marco?"
Marco straightened instinctively. "I'm fine now. I awakened Conqueror's Haki earlier and felt dizzy for a moment, but it's passed. I'm sorry for worrying you."
"Gura ra ra ra!" Whitebeard burst into laughter, clearly surprised—and pleased. "So you've awakened Conqueror's Haki, eh? Looks like you've got the makings of a king after all!"
Marco was the first son Whitebeard had taken in, someone he had watched over since the era of the Rocks Pirates. Hearing that this child of his now carried a king's disposition filled him with undeniable pride.
"When this war is over," Whitebeard declared without hesitation, "I'll personally guide you in mastering Conqueror's Haki!"
The words struck Marco hard.
His expression darkened, just for a moment.
He knew the truth—Ace's execution was a carefully laid trap. Marineford was a fortress, and the power gap between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates was terrifyingly vast. Yet now that he stood here as Marco, he had already made his decision.
No matter the cost, he would save Ace.
And he would protect Whitebeard.
Marco nodded solemnly. "Thank you… Pops."
Whitebeard's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Then his expression turned grave.
"Sons," he commanded, his voice echoing with undeniable authority, "Prepare yourselves. This battle will be brutal. No one is allowed to make mistakes. Understood?"
"Yes, Pops!"
The reply thundered back in perfect unison—firm, resolute, and fearless.
—
At the Sabaody Archipelago, the massive live broadcast screens finally flickered to life.
Marineford appeared.
The three Marine Admirals stood in formation. The Seven Warlords of the Sea were present. And at the heart of it all, Fire Fist Ace was slowly escorted toward the execution platform.
"…It's started."
"The spark that could ignite a war ending the world—Fire Fist Ace."
Reporters swallowed nervously as they watched.
Though the Marines clearly held the advantage, Whitebeard's name alone was enough to make even seasoned journalists uneasy. In Roger's era, he had been the one man capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Pirate King himself. In the decades since Roger's death, Whitebeard had ruled the seas as an unmatched emperor.
Countless civilians had grown up listening to tales of his might. To them, he was not just a pirate—he was a living calamity.
Now, at Marineford, everything was in place.
One hundred thousand elite Marine soldiers filled the plaza. Eight Giant Vice Admirals stood like living fortresses. On the execution platform, Ace knelt in chains, and beside him stood the supreme commander of the Marines—Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Directly below the platform, the three Admirals—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—waited, their presence alone suffocating the battlefield.
At the front lines stood the Seven Warlords of the Sea—though only five had arrived. Mihawk, Doflamingo, Boa Hancock, Bartholomew Kuma, and Gekko Moriah were present. Jinbe and the newly appointed Blackbeard were nowhere to be seen.
Everyone understood the same thing.
This was not merely an execution.
This was a war that would shake the world itself.
And as Ace knelt beneath the weight of a hundred thousand gazes, no one dared to relax—not even for a heartbeat.