Marco let out a cry of pain, his skin melting, his flesh sizzling and smoking like a steak thrown onto a hot stove.
He only recovered when the Sacred Light was about to end, then he abruptly raised his arms and smashed them hard onto the deck.
The deck immediately shattered, and Marco fell into the cabin below, quickly rolling to the side.
He gritted his teeth and looked up, ice once again congealing beneath his feet, a rotting aura swirling around his fists. He wanted to strike again, to make another attempt, even if that hunter had means or items that greatly countered him.
Because the Blood Admiral had ordered him to intercept. If he abandoned the ship and fled, he would have no place to stand on the Sea, and he would also be hunted by Senor.
At this moment, a figure dropped through the opening he had just created.
Marco attacked without hesitation, his fists stained black-green, carrying the power of decay, as he struck towards that figure.
His fist hit the opponent.
I succeeded?
Marco hadn't expected it to be so simple, but then he realized something was wrong. His fist didn't feel like it had hit a solid object; instead, it was like putting his hand into a burning fireplace, feeling the scorching heat.
Of course, it was just ordinary flame, causing him little harm. And at this moment, he also saw clearly that the figure that had jumped down was actually composed of pure flame.
A Fire Clone!
The Fire Clone that Lex had thrown down immediately opened its arms, as if the person opposite was a long-lost friend, enthusiastically embracing Marco. Then, pieces of flame erupted, turning into a towering pillar of fire.
With a loud bang, a hole was blown through the deck above.
Thus, the morning sun poured down, falling onto Marco. At the same time, a second Sacred Light also descended!
Having endured two Sacred Lights in a short time, Marco's expression twisted and contorted, letting out a beast-like roar. He clutched his head, his eyes rolled back to show the whites, and long, black, hard fur grew on his face.
His teeth and nails were lengthening, his skin was melting while trying to re-coalesce; he had lost control.
Normally, losing control would bring Marco even greater power, but now, within the sacred and splendid pillar of light, losing control only accelerated his demise.
He let out a 'ho-ho-ho' groan of pain in his throat. Under the brilliant pillar of light, his body melted faster. By the time the pillar of light disappeared, only a puddle of white bones and flesh remained on the ground.
This mass emitted a black-green gas that continuously diffused and vanished into the air.
Lex jumped down and saw tiny black-green lights rising from that terrifying mass, merging with a finger bone. This was Marco's beyonder characteristics precipitating, a process that wouldn't be completed immediately.
Lex looked around, grabbed a spare sail, wrapped up the remnants of Marco, and then returned to the deck.
At this time, the thick smoke in the middle of the ship had somewhat dispersed. Lex saw 'Red-Haired' Zot, after forcing Danitz back, decisively leap into the water. Danitz chased to the ship's rail and threw several fireballs at the Sea, but aside from raising a few water columns, he gained nothing else.
"Damn it!"
"If you've got guts, don't run!"
Danitz angrily slammed the ship's rail, then noticed Lex. He was stunned, then looked around: "Where's Marco?"
Lex shook the object wrapped in the sail.
Danitz felt his jaw dropping: "You hunted him?"
"How did you do it?"
Lex glanced at where Zot had fallen into the water, then said seriously: "People are not all the same."
"Damn it!" Danitz cursed, then saw that the Golden Dream had arrived nearby. He quickly waved his arms, and several mooring ropes were thrown from the golden-glowing sailing ship.
A moment later, Lex and the others returned to the Golden Dream, back on the deck.
The sails were fully unfurled, catching the wind, quickly widening the distance from the Blood Admiral's fleet behind them.
The Blood Admiral's fleet symbolically chased for a while, then wisely chose to give up, because throughout the entire process, the Golden Dream's main cannon hadn't fired a single shot. If they rashly entered the firing range, the outcome would be self-evident.
"We won?"
Danitz shouted: "We won! We shook off the Blood Admiral!"
A cheer immediately erupted on the deck. For them, escaping from the Blood Admiral's encirclement was a splendid victory.
Edwina did not stop them. She temporarily handed over the deck duties to Jodeson and returned to the Captain's Cabin.
A moment later, a terrifying mass of white bones and flesh appeared before the Iceberg Admiral. Within it, a black-green finger bone was very conspicuous.
"This is the product of Marco's beyonder characteristics combining with his finger bone. We thought it would be better to hand it over to the Captain to handle," Lex said, then stepped back two paces, allowing Danitz to stand out.
Edwina looked up at Lex: "You hunted Marco?"
"To be precise, we hunted Marco." Lex looked at Danitz, then at Barrel and Iron Skin.
The two pirates behind them puffed out their chests, looking proud.
Only Danitz's face was flushed, and he seemed to want to speak but held back.
Edwina nodded slightly: "Alright, Marco's bounty is 5800 pounds. For the item formed by the beyonder characteristics, I will calculate it at 3500 pounds."
"Once the bounty is received and the item is sold, the total amount will be given to Danitz, and then he will distribute it among you. Any problems?"
"No, that's fine." Lex replied with a smile.
The Iceberg Admiral took out a box, then put on gloves, picked out the black-green finger bone, and dropped it into the box. In front of everyone, she created a 'Spiritual Cage' in the box, which was a simple sealed artifact for the item.
"You all go rest. There will be a banquet tonight, and then I have something to say."
So Lex and the others left the Captain's Cabin.
Walking down the corridor back to their rooms, Danitz, seeing no one around, suddenly grabbed Lex and said: "Why did you say that? Hunting Marco was your accomplishment alone, I don't want to take advantage of you!"
Lex's lips curved slightly into a smile: "I have some secrets I don't want people to discover."
"For example, how I dealt with Marco."
"So, would you please do me a favor and help me keep these secrets, how about it?"
Danitz looked him up and down and murmured: "I see. Since you're asking for our help, I'll reluctantly agree."
Hmm, I'll reluctantly accept this money!
"By the way, how did you deal with Marco?"
Lex raised a finger to his lips: "I said it's a secret, so naturally, I can't tell you either."
After speaking, he smiled, walked into his room, and closed the door.
"Damn it, it wouldn't kill you to tell me! I promise I won't tell anyone!"
Really, at most I'll only tell the Captain, Danitz silently added in his heart.
In the room, Lex smiled but did not respond to Danitz's words.