49. Monsters Of The Straw Hat Pirates
"Ace's little brother, allowing you to walk in front of Pops like this is disgraceful for us," Marco exclaimed, his relief evident.
With a sweeping motion of his arms, enormous wings materialized out of thin air, giving the impression of a legendary creature taking flight before him.
Massive claws descended, aiming for Luffy's head.
The air rippled with a whirring sound as cyan flames enveloped the claws, and an unseen aura condensed around them.
"Phoenix Seal."
Yet, Luffy remained unperturbed, continuing to stride forward without a hint of reaction.
"Two-Sword Style, Taka Nami."
Just as the burning claws of Pheonix were about to descend upon Luffy's head, a bright sword wave sliced through the air from an angle.
Boom.
The cyan flames clashed with the sword wave, scattering in all directions like fragments.
An invisible shockwave rippled like a storm, causing Luffy's clothes to flutter, but his expression remained unchanged as he focused on Whitebeard ahead, steadfast in his advance.
At his side stood a dependable ally, ensuring he wouldn't be deterred.
Clang.
The sword wave and blue flames dissipated as the claws met a sharp black blade, producing a metallic clash.
"Captain against the captain, vice-captain against the vice-captain. How dare you interfere with our captain," Zoro declared, a smirk playing on his lips as he clenched the words "Wado Ichimonji" between his teeth.
"You...?" Marco's surprise was palpable as he eyed Zoro standing before him.
He could sense the immense power emanating from the man's black blade, along with the overwhelming aura he projected.
The oppressive sensation, akin to that of an Admiral, though not quite as potent, was unsettlingly close.
Honestly, Marco didn't know much about the Straw Hat Pirates, a crew that had only recently emerged onto the seas.
His knowledge of them stemmed mainly from Ace and their connection.
But what caught everyone off guard was the fact that Ace's younger brother not only possessed the fearsome Conqueror's Haki but also had a subordinate displaying such formidable strength.
It didn't feel like facing a group of rookie pirates; it was more akin to confronting the second-in-command of one of the Four Emperors' crews.
No, it was even more daunting and oppressive than facing a typical second-in-command among those crews.
"I'm Roronoa Zoro of the Straw Hat Pirates," Zoro announced, flashing a grin. "And you? You seem tough to slice through. Are you the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"I'm Marco, Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates," Marco replied, his smile gentle. Then, his blue flames surged suddenly, his strength multiplying several times over.
"One Strength Force, Two Strength Force, Two Strength Cut," Zoro muttered as the muscles in his arms bulged like balloons. Crossing his swords, he exerted force.
A forked sword wave sliced through the air, its terrifying power causing the atmosphere to tremble around him.
Marco was struck directly by the formidable force, but he swiftly unfurled his blue flame wings, skillfully dispersing the impact in the air.
"The guy with the swords is no pushover. He's holding his own against Marco," someone observed.
When Zoro emerged, Whitebeard couldn't help but stare, filled with admiration.
He knew Marco's strength well. While Marco's Devil Fruit ability didn't directly enhance his physical prowess, his combat skills and Haki were honed to perfection. What Marco truly lacked was the ability of a Conqueror.
If he could master Conqueror's Haki, Marco would become a formidable force on par with an Admiral.
Strength, speed, resilience—he possessed them all. In a real showdown against an Admiral, he would hold his ground.
However, this powerhouse was being held back by an unknown member of the Straw Hat Pirates—a fact that surprised even Whitebeard with its display of strength and courage.
"Roronoa Zoro? It's intriguing that such a man would pledge allegiance to you, Straw Hat Boy. No wonder Rayleigh sees potential in you, entrusting you with the Oro Jackson," Whitebeard remarked, eyeing Luffy as he strode forward with unwavering determination.
In truth, Whitebeard had grown fond of Luffy, even admiring the young pirate.
Luffy's powerful Conqueror's Haki, his indomitable spirit, and now Zoro's formidable strength—all of these qualities resonated deeply with Whitebeard.
Yet, he kept his thoughts to himself.
He sensed that this wasn't the pinnacle of Luffy's potential. He wanted to witness just how far the man Rayleigh had placed such high hopes on could truly go.
"Jozu, Vista, go ahead and test his limits," Whitebeard chuckled.
"Yes, Father," Joz responded, a shining light emanating from his body.
Despite his imposing stature, he vanished in an instant, reappearing at Luffy's side as if teleporting.
"Don't underestimate Luffy," he warned, his voice resolute.
"Rumble Ball, Wrist Strengthening," Chopper murmured, tossing a blue wave ball gently before crushing it.
His muscles swelled with terrifying power, coated in a formidable Armament Haki.
"Carved Hooves, Colorful Fallen Flowers," Chopper declared, his deer hooves infused with the same potent Armament Haki, causing the air to explode momentarily.
Countless airwaves in the shape of deer hooves adorned with falling cherry blossoms surged towards Jozu.
"Ah, ah, ah," Chopper grunted, his evolution still recent, putting him at a disadvantage in wrist strength.
Despite this, he roared, leveraging the strength of the blue wave ball and his exceptional Armament Haki to slow Jozu's charge.
Boom.
With a final, dull thud, Chopper's feet embedded deeply into the deck, leaving a trail behind.
Simultaneously, Jozu's charge came to an abrupt halt.
"This guy," Jozu muttered, gazing at Chopper with a smile that resembled the Chopper of the Mink Tribe, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Despite his own strength and abilities, he found himself restrained by Chopper's force, a mere member of the Straw Hat Pirates.
What's more, Chopper's mastery of Armament Haki was undoubtedly at the highest level. Even Joz's diamond body couldn't fully withstand the impact of Chopper's Armament Haki.
The presence of just one Roronoa was surprising enough, but to encounter another individual who was equally formidable was astonishing.
"What's the deal with the Straw Hat Pirates?" Jozu wondered. "Didn't Ace mention that his little brother had only been at sea for a year?"
Could it be that within just a year at sea, they had managed to gather such terrifying monsters?
----------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion