Originally, he had not intended to reveal too many of his hidden cards so early in this intense battle.
After all, retaining some strength and secret weapons was crucial for dealing with unexpected situations.
However, Marco's provocation and attacks had pushed him to the limit, igniting the fury within him.
Suddenly, the Holy Sword Tattoo on Lancelot's chest began to glow with a dazzling light, and a powerful surge of Demonic Energy surged through his body like a raging torrent.
In an instant, this energy filled his entire being, causing him to radiate a suffocating pressure.
Under Marco's stunned gaze, Lancelot's body began to undergo a startling transformation.
His muscles swelled rapidly like balloons, turning his ordinary physique into a towering, powerful form brimming with strength.
At the same time, his hair grew at an astonishing rate, as if enchanted, cascading down his back like a waterfall in an instant, reminiscent of the Super Saiyan 3 transformation from Dragon Ball.
As his body changed, an overwhelming Sword Intent erupted from Lancelot like a volcanic explosion.
This Sword Intent felt like the arrival of a king, carrying unparalleled majesty and Haki, inspiring awe in all who felt it.
"Not good!"
Marco's face instantly turned pale.
His eyes widened in disbelief, for the pressure brought by this unique Sword Intent made him feel an unprecedented sense of crisis, as if his life was under serious threat.
His pupils contracted sharply, trembling violently as if shaken by an earthquake—a clear sign of his extreme shock.
Because, as Lancelot released his Sword Intent, his hand had already moved to the hilt of the sword at his waist.
But that wasn't all—the sword slowly began to unsheathe.
Armament Haki Ryuō surged forth, Entangling itself around the blade.
At the same time, a substance resembling black lightning appeared around the blade.
Clearly, Conqueror's Haki had also been Entangled onto the sword.
But even that wasn't the end.
Crackle!
Immediately afterward, purple lightning also Entangled itself around the blade.
Finally, the Demonic Energy of the Sacred Sword within his body also Entangled itself around the blade. In the end, Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki, lightning, Sword Intent, and Demonic Energy all intertwined with one another.
As Lancelot released his Sword Intent, his hand rested on the hilt at his waist.
Slowly, the sword began to leave its sheath.
A powerful surge of Armament Haki—Ryuō—erupted from Lancelot's body like raging waves, Entangling itself around the blade.
At the same moment, substances resembling black lightning flickered around the steel, writhing like agile snakes—a clear manifestation of Conqueror's Haki.
Crackle!
Purple lightning coiled wildly around the blade like dancing serpents, intertwining with the Armament and Conqueror's Haki to form a breathtaking spectacle.
Finally, the immense Demonic Energy of the Sacred Sword within Lancelot's body was unleashed, flowing over the blade like a clear spring and merging perfectly with the other forces.
In an instant, Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki, lightning, Sword Intent, and Demonic Energy intertwined, coalescing into an unparalleled power.
This force shone brilliantly, dazzling and mesmerizing.
Whoosh!
At that very moment, Lancelot swung his blade with a fierce roar, "King's Sword!"
This strike was like the first light of dawn, tearing through the dark night sky.
Where the blade passed, space itself seemed to rip apart, emitting a piercing screech.
Lancelot's figure appeared towering and majestic, radiating an authority like an earthly emperor.
The world seemed to tremble beneath his imperial might.
The blade in his hand resembled a weapon destined to conquer the world—unstoppable. In the face of this peerless strike, everything under heaven seemed fragile.
"Not good!"
Upon witnessing this, Marco's face turned pale, drained of all color.
His heart felt gripped by an invisible hand, and an unprecedented fear surged through him.
Since consuming the Phoenix Fruit, he'd never truly felt the threat of death.
Yet, at this moment, he experienced genuine despair.
His body instinctively tried to evade, but it was too late. Lancelot's strike was immensely powerful and unbelievably fast, as if transcending the limits of time.
More crucially, this strike contained Conqueror's Haki, which pressed down on Marco like a massive mountain, rendering him immobile for an instant.
That brief moment was enough to decide life and death.
The sword energy fused with all of Lancelot's power shot forth like lightning, aiming straight for Marco's life.
Before Marco could even react, the sword energy streaked across the sky, striking him with devastating force.
A crisp snapping sound echoed as Marco's body was severed in two, like a chopped tree.
Hiss!
Marco gasped sharply, his body shuddering as a chill shot from his feet to his head.
This sensation was foreign to him; since consuming his Devil Fruit, he'd never imagined experiencing such agonizing pain.
Yet, what terrified him wasn't the physical agony, but what it signified—his ability had been broken.
Lancelot's strike was simply too overwhelmingly powerful, far exceeding the limits of what Marco could endure.
Or perhaps the fusion of several powers in Lancelot's technique caused the Phoenix ability to lose its restorative power.
In any case, his healing had become ineffective.
He was injured.
In that instant, he felt a warm liquid flowing from his chest.
The sensation sent a shiver through his body, an overwhelming sense of foreboding surging in his heart.
He knew this likely meant he'd suffered a fatal wound.
Fear and unease flooded his mind, leaving his thoughts blank.
Yet, in this life-or-death moment, he reacted instinctively—he lowered his head to look.
When his gaze fell upon his chest, his eyes widened abruptly, his face filled with disbelief.
Right there on his chest was a massive, bone-deep wound, from which blood was gushing out like a fountain.
In the blink of an eye, his body was stained crimson, a sight horrifying enough to send chills down anyone's spine.
The blood flowed down his body, reaching the soles of his feet before dripping onto the ground.
A gentle breeze swept by, bringing a hint of coolness, but this coolness made Marco feel as if he'd been plunged into an ice cellar.
Pfft!
Marco could no longer suppress the surging energy and blood within him, and a mouthful of blood shot out like an arrow.
The blood traced an arc through the air before splattering onto the ground, forming a shocking pool.
With the expulsion of this blood, Marco's body lost all its strength, going limp.
His legs gave way, and he fell toward the ground like a ragdoll.
"How is this possible?"
These four words seemed to be the shared question in everyone's minds.
Eyes widened with disbelief as they stared at the scene before them.
Whether it was the fleeing members of the Whitebeard Pirates or the Marines who had been forcibly separated, all were stunned by this sight.
Marco—this name was like thunder in the pirate world.
He wasn't only the second strongest combatant of the Whitebeard Pirates, but also the top figure beneath Whitebeard himself.
The ability he possessed was astonishing—he was the user of the Mythical Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit, Phoenix Model.
Such Ability Users were even rarer than Logia types.
Marco could transform into a phoenix, possessing one of the rare few recognized flying abilities in the world.
What was more astonishing was that while a Mythical Zoan Ability User had a physical form, any wound Marco took would normally be enveloped by the Flames of Regeneration and rapidly heal, rendering attacks ineffective.
Even if vital parts like the brain or heart were destroyed, he could still regenerate.