Marco slightly shook his fingers, which ached from the exertion. Blue flames burned along his fingertips. Even with the protection of Armament Haki, using Finger Pistol had broken some of his fingers. He was still unfamiliar with the full scope of his Marine Six Powers, but fortunately, his abilities meant he never feared injury.
"Snack…" Charlotte Daifuku shouted, his eyes fixed on the collapsed, unconscious Sweet Commander.
"Don't worry! He's not dead yet," Marco said calmly. He had no intention of killing Cracker—there was no gain in attribute points, and killing him could provoke Big Mom. The Phoenix Pirates were still recovering from the Marineford War, and a full-scale war against an Emperors pirate crew was out of the question. He ordered Sak, "Sak, tie him up. He's a Sweet Commander, a valuable captive."
Sak nodded. "Understood, Captain Marco."
"Bastard…" Charlotte Daifuku roared in fury, but reason told him he could not defeat Marco. Still, he could not simply watch Snack be captured.
"What do you intend to do to Lord Snack?" Baron Tamago shouted as several Phoenix Pirates bound Cracker with ropes. "Marco, as a Captain, are you really going to threaten us with such despicable tactics?"
It wasn't just Tamago; when Cracker fell, most of the Big Mom Pirates' executives and children had gathered nearby. They dared not act rashly, fearing any misstep could cost Cracker his life.
Marco chuckled. "Relax! I won't kill him. He is one of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders. If I truly killed him, that old hag would be relentless. He'll be released after this war."
Hearing this, the Big Mom Pirates exhaled in relief. At least Marco showed some restraint, even though he had easily defeated Cracker. One-on-one, he was far superior; any attacks against him required coordination.
Baron Tamago shouted, "Everyone, attack together! Defeat Marco, and victory is ours!"
Marco's eyes turned cold as he scanned the surrounding executives and Chess soldiers. He ignored them, speaking disdainfully. "Perfect. I can use all of you to test my Marine Six Powers."
This battlefield was far different from the Marineford War just over a month ago. Marco was now clearly the strongest here and could treat the skirmish as a training ground, freely using even his imperfect ultimate moves.
Soon, Marco engaged the Big Mom Pirates' executives. As the battle intensified, the Phoenix Pirates' officers joined to support, plunging both sides into a fierce clash.
"Damn it…" Katakuri's Observation Haki detected the battle, and his expression grew grim. He could not yet break free from Ace's entanglement and had to focus on quickly dealing with him.
"Snack defeated… dammit," Smoothie muttered, her face turning pale. She swung her blade, but Fossa quickly raised his to block, struggling under the force. Smoothie's eyes narrowed, having already observed the Phoenix Pirates' tactics. "So that's it. Fire Fist Ace restrains Katakuri, you hold me, Namur hold Cracker and the strongest, Marco, deals with Snack. Clever. I didn't think you'd actually succeed."
Fossa's lips curved into a smile. Seeing Marco already defeated a Sweet Commander, he laughed, feeling victory within reach. "Marco has taken down one Sweet Commander. Soon it will be your turn. Once all four Sweet Commanders fall, the rest are just a mob."
"Dream on." Smoothie's eyes turned icy. She shouted and slashed fiercely, forcing Fossa back dozens of steps. Then she plunged her longsword into the ground, absorbing moisture from the surface. Coldly, she said, "Division Captains, you're surprisingly tough! If we eliminate you, even Marco will feel it, won't he?"
Fossa remained firm. The ground beneath Smoothie dried rapidly as moisture was drawn into her blade. Originally over four meters tall, she grew past eight meters, her Devil Fruit abilities amplifying her formidable presence.
"Is she combining sword techniques with Devil Fruit powers again?" Fossa's eyes were wary. Smoothie, a great pirate with a bounty exceeding 900 million, was terrifyingly strong. Her blend of sword skill and Devil Fruit abilities posed a challenge even for him.
Yet, despite the difficulty, he stood firm. "Don't underestimate this old man. Even if I have to stake my life, I will stop you here."
Smoothie paused, surprised by Fossa's determination. "Why go to such lengths, Fossa, Captain of the Fifteenth Division?"
Fossa's eyes were resolute. "Fish-Man Island is part of the legacy Pops left us. These are the foundations he spent decades building. As his sons, our duty is to protect what he left behind. We will not allow you to seize what Pops painstakingly constructed."