Chapter 57.1 : Escape!!

The red sun in the sky slowly began to fade.

"Hah—hah—"

Marco hovered above the port, his wings flapping as he gasped for breath, his body engulfed in azure flames.

His broken legs were rapidly healing, and the nearly evaporated skin and surface muscles were regenerating quickly, even the singed hair on his head was coming back to life.

Yet, Marco had no time to pay attention to his injuries.

He looked down.

What he saw was a massive, spherical crater.

The pit was empty, not even molten lava remained. Sea water was rushing in, and soon it would be completely submerged.

"Ahhh! Damn it!"

Marco shouted hoarsely.

He had desperately tried to stop the explosion from spreading downwards, unleashing blue flames in a frantic effort, to the point where he let down his defenses.

But there was nothing left.

Only he remained.

Marco turned his head, gazing at the distant sky, but he couldn't even catch a glimpse of that guy's shadow. He flapped his wings, wanting to pursue.

"That's enough, Marco."

At that moment, Ochoku flew over, stepping on the air with a series of thuds. He didn't continue attacking Marco; defeating him in his current state wouldn't require much effort.

But afterward, would he have to deal with Whitebeard himself?

Ochoku snorted dismissively. "What's the point of chasing him? How much strength do you have left now?"

Marco didn't respond, only gasping heavily.

"To think he could fight to this extent, where did that brat Kaido pick him up? He wasn't this strong when he just joined the Rocks Pirates."

Ochoku's anger had faded, or rather, it had been suppressed. He glanced at Marco nonchalantly. "What a tragic defeat. How many years has it been since Newgate faced such a loss?"

"That has nothing to do with Pops."

Marco finally spoke, "It's just—just my failure."

"Hahaha! Is that so?"

Ochoku laughed heartily, "So when people recount this battle, will they say Marco lost? Or will they say the Whitebeard Pirates lost?"

"It's ruined, Marco. This performance has flopped."

"It won't end like this."

Marco trembled, tears streaming down his face, "It absolutely won't end like this!"

Crying from a beating?

What a sight.

Ochoku sneered inwardly; Newgate had indeed protected them too well.

Of course, it won't end like this.

Isn't this a good thing, instead?

Newgate, can you still pretend nothing happened this time?

Don't let Snake's death and the destruction of my port become meaningless.

Ochoku looked at Marco and said, "I'll kindly remind you, Marco, if you're going to go to war with Kaido, don't choose Wano as the battlefield."

That country is easy to defend and hard to attack.

This sudden encounter has finally come to an end.

But the aftermath has only just begun to spread.

---

On Hive Island.

"Is it really over just like this?"

The pirates who risked their lives to witness the battle and were lucky enough to survive were dumbfounded.

"They actually managed to reach that level! What kind of monster is that boy? Marco couldn't do anything about him! He just let him leave!"

"Not just couldn't do anything! Marco was completely defeated in front of him! Everyone else was taken down!"

"Ian! His name is Ian! I heard his companions call him that! Remember this name! A new legend of the seas begins today!"

Not only the pirates on Hive Island, but the result of this battle has already spread across the seas like the wind.

---

Time rewinds to now.

The Winged Dragon is sailing at full speed across the ocean, and Hive Island has become a distant memory.

"Why isn't Ian coming back yet?"

Ulti clung to the ship's railing at the stern, anxiously looking back.

"Don't worry, that's Ian we're talking about."

Black Maria walked over with a smile, holding a tray of food and water. "The ship's doctor is treating Page One's injuries. They're just surface wounds, nothing serious."

"Ulti, why don't you eat something?"

This child probably hadn't eaten anything properly for a long time.

"I don't want to!"

The little girl shook her head vigorously. "I want to wait for Ian to come back!"

The girl was only seven years old and didn't understand much, but she knew that Ian had come for the sake of the two siblings; otherwise, they wouldn't have encountered such a battle.

Jack just scoffed at the little girl's concern.

This kid has no idea how strong Brother Ian is!

How could Brother Ian possibly lose!

"He's back!"

Suddenly, a cheer came from above the cabin.

Yamato ran up to the top of the cabin to look back.

Everyone on the deck looked up simultaneously.

In the sky, the golden-armored Wingman soared rapidly forward, propelled by flames.

"Ian!!"

Yamato joyfully jumped up, laughing heartily as she rushed toward the approaching Ian, directly leaping into him. "Welcome back!"

Ian looked at the girl barreling toward him with a helpless expression, dissipating the flames used for acceleration before catching Yamato in his arms.

Ouch! 

Yamato's sudden impact jolted several of his already fractured bones.

Ian gasped for breath, gritting his teeth in pain.

"Did you take down that guy?" 

Yamato clung to the circular ring at the back of Ian's neck, hanging from him with gleaming eyes, eager for news.

"Not so easy."

Ian began to lower himself to the deck with Yamato in his arms.

Forget about defeating Marco; that guy must have fully recovered from his injuries by now.

**********

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