The End of Whitebeard's Era

Chapter 203: The End of Whitebeard's Era

"I can't let you run rampant any longer!" 

Jozu charged once more, like an uncontrollable locomotive.

With lightning flickering around him, the power of his Raiton-enhanced Chakra Armor doubled, allowing him to withstand Jozu's charge. Rodney shouted, "Don't think being a Diamond makes you invincible! Sage Art - Storm Release - Light Fang!"

Jozu's Observation Haki went into overdrive, a sense of danger engulfing him. He quickly released Rodney, but it was too late. He didn't manage to fully diamondize his body, and as a result, a purple beam severed one of his ears.

Blood flowed from the severed ear, and he took a step back. 

"Using an attack from your mouth, how despicable!"

"War is deceit. Even someone as big as you doesn't know that? Also, have you not noticed that most of my attacks come from my mouth?" Rodney laughed. 

"With your diamond form, you're quite tough to deal with. Many attacks can't harm you. Troublesome. Are all the Whitebeard Pirates monsters, or just a few captains? The others, hehe..."

He chuckled meaningfully and, under Jozu's watchful gaze, formed seals. 

"Storm Release - Thundercloud Resonance Wave!"

Suddenly, a black cloud formed around him. In Jozu's sight, the cloud crackled with unstable lightning, as if it had eyes. It struck the pirates but avoided the Marines entirely, a striking blow to his teammates while protecting his enemies.

Jozu's diamondized face couldn't show emotion. His non-diamondized legs moved, charging toward Rodney.

Bang!

The sensation...

It wasn't like crashing into a human body. It felt like smashing through wood. Rodney stood behind Jozu, grinning. "Sage Art - Earth Release - Weighted Rock Jutsu!"

Suddenly, Jozu felt an inexplicable heaviness throughout his body. His legs left deep imprints on the ground. Why was he so heavy?

"Sage Art - Earth Release - Weighted Rock Jutsu!"

This time, Jozu was sinking deeper, struggling to move. Earth Chakra filled his body, making him sluggish despite his great strength.

Without canceling his diamond form, because Rodney was still on him, Jozu could only watch as Rodney said, "Take your time playing with that. The Weighted Rock Jutsu should keep you busy for a while. So, I'll be going now."

He leaped away, bullets striking him but blocked by his Raiton Armor. He looked over, and it was a... man. Well, a man with a female appearance due to makeup and long hair, dressed in purple.

"Are you Izou, the 16th Division Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates? From Wano," Rodney said as he flung a Thousand Birds Senbon at Ashura.

Izou sensed the incoming attack with his Observation Haki, dodging it. But Rodney softly muttered, "Raiton - Micro Energy Burst!"

The tiny senbon suddenly exploded, pushing Ashura back.

"Troublesome person! Is he really Ace's friend?" Izou said with a grimace.

Seeing Rodney leaping around the battlefield, harvesting the lives of pirates, made his scalp tingle. This level of combat prowess, and the ability to hit vital spots with each strike, was the mark of a killing machine.

What he didn't know was that Rodney was using Silent Killing, a secret technique developed specifically to target the major vital points of the human body for quick kills.

"Phoenix Brand!"

Marco flew in, kicking Rodney. It was a move that could kick Big Mom's main ship off a cliff. The powerful strike landed solidly, sending Rodney flying.

Boom!

Rodney crashed into a building, and it seemed like... Sakazuki's office...

Marco stared with dead fish eyes. 

"I can't let you continue."

Suddenly, his eyes widened, as did those of Whitebeard, Sengoku, Kizaru, and the others. Their Observation Haki detected a chilling, sinister aura, emanating from Rodney.

"Hehehe, what a formidable power. I almost bit the dust there! You truly are something, Marco!" 

Rodney said as he emerged from the rubble. His eyes had transformed into Mangekyou Sharingan, and a massive ribcage of pale blue flames surrounded him.

"Amaterasu!!!"

Bloodshot and bleeding from the corners of his eyes, the unquenchable black flames of Amaterasu ignited Marco. The indigo flames that had rekindled within Marco's body intertwined with the Amaterasu, causing intense burning pain throughout his body. Even someone as tough as Marco couldn't help but sweat on his forehead.

"This is the unquenchable Amaterasu. Even if I die, these flames will continue to exist until I stop them voluntarily or they burn the target completely. Marco, you'll endure this pain until your death!"

"This is... quite..." Marco gritted his teeth through the pain. 

"Feels like I've become a different person."

On his body, the indigo and black flames waged war, with Marco's body on the battlefield. The black flames sought to consume him, while the indigo flames continuously repaired the damage. It was an unexpected surprise that the ever-regenerating flames of the Phoenix couldn't suppress the so-called Amaterasu.

"What is that?" Someone couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know, but who cares? He's our enemy." 

With a sword raised, he swiftly dispatched a nearby pirate without hesitation.

"Gurararara!" 

Whitebeard chuckled and planted his bisento in the ground. His muscular arms strained as he grasped the air, as if grabbing something, and he exerted force.

Rumble!!!

The earth trembled violently, not just beneath Whitebeard but throughout Marineford, and the nearby sea was affected too. The water was agitated, causing terrifying faults. At this moment, the earth quaked, and the sky wailed.

On Marineford, many people fell to the ground, but those familiar with Whitebeard didn't panic. They were ready, stabilizing themselves in their positions to maintain balance.

The Marines tried to find points of support, but they were unfamiliar with Whitebeard's abilities, leaving them at a disadvantage in this situation.

Regardless of how the ground tilted, Rodney stood firm, as if he were part of it, stable and unmovable. A red figure shot out, carrying intense heat, rolling magma into a massive magma fist, and hurled it towards Whitebeard.

"Great Eruption!"

Sakazuki roared, and the scorching magma fist descended. Whitebeard, however, laughed heartily, drawing strength from his heavily injured body. He swung his bisento, dividing the colossal fist in two.

Magma dripped down, melting the ground in Marineford.

Thick black smoke rose from the melting ground. Sakazuki emitted scorching heat, but Whitebeard said, "Red Dog, your little fire is nothing compared to fireworks!"

"Hmph! Even if it's not as good as fireworks, as long as it ends you, anything will do. Whitebeard, your era ends today!" With Marco and Jozu restrained by Rodney, Sakazuki saw a golden opportunity to strike Whitebeard, who was currently without his guards.

"Dog Biting Crimson Lotus!" 

Sakazuki shouted. A viscous column of high-temperature magma took the form of a red canine with bared fangs, opening its massive jaws and lunging at Whitebeard.

Whitebeard punched, sending shockwaves that dispersed Sakazuki's attack. However, due to the absence of Haoshoku Haki, Sakazuki's body only turned into magma instead of being utterly destroyed.

"Hehe... You can't hold out much longer, Whitebeard," Sakazuki observed. With Rodney constraining Marco and Jozu, he knew that they could finish off Whitebeard together once he weakened enough.

The end of Whitebeard's era was nigh!