Chapter 230: Phoenix Marco, Whitebeard's Invitation!
No. 5 Gate direction.
No one dared to stop the fleeing citizens naturally.
Because all participants' attention was attracted by the figure before them.
THUD!
Saru (Monkey) withdrew the Jingu Bang casually, putting it on his shoulder again, pacing forward casually.
But now, his appearance was distinctly different from before.
From his body, strange golden light emanated constantly.
He walked in the light, as if a deity descending to the mortal world.
People couldn't even see his specific appearance clearly anymore.
But when his feet stepped on the ground...
Zzt!
Black-red Conqueror's Haki lightning always spread around his body.
This led directly to the earth cracking instantly wherever he passed.
Enemies either preparing to dodge or already hiding fell to the ground almost instantly.
Behind Saru, on the path he passed.
Corpses of gladiators trying to team up to attack him were almost everywhere.
Especially where he just passed.
THUD!
A huge Giant holding a giant hammer, his body fell slowly to the ground.
That was a quite famous Giant Pirate in the New World, Elbaf's traitor—'Iron Mace' Magni.
But...
"One strike solved 'Iron Mace'?"
"Hey hey, that's a guy with a bounty of 700 million... couldn't withstand even one strike?"
"Just with spirit, actually crushed the ground!? How is this possible!?"
"Teaming up couldn't hurt him at all..."
However, Dressrosa didn't lack New World experts now—for example, a group of strong men hiding in a certain building could withstand the Conqueror's Haki now.
They were an assassin group cultivated by the Grand Duke of 'Ravenholdt Principality' in the New World, quite famous worldwide for stealth ability and Observation Haki.
But even these people who could withstand this level of Conqueror's Haki, assassins considered 'Strong' on the sea.
Looking at Saru now, they dared not move at all.
Although their Observation Haki told them the opponent was full of flaws.
But facts they saw just now reminded them.
Once they truly attacked... they would definitely die.
"Is it an illusion? Why does this guy's aura seem to be increasing constantly?"
"What's with the light on this guy? Some ability to enhance himself?"
"Didn't he use ability constantly, suppressing the chaos of the entire country?"
"This level of ability and Haki release... won't this monster get tired?"
Yes.
Initially, although witnessing Saru's incredible power destroying the Conqueror Legion instantly.
But as assassins accepting missions, they naturally had no reason to give up out of thin air.
So they kept waiting for opportunities—Saru being too conspicuous on the battlefield would inevitably attract some relatively weaker ones to gang up.
And facts were so.
At the entire No. 5 Gate, gladiators unwilling to give up 'Caesar' indeed discussed and launched a 'Siege' recently.
Strong men from various forces prepared, waiting for Saru to step in.
And Saru indeed came—he didn't dodge, walking directly into the encirclement.
Then, there was no then.
All people trying to besiege and attack him became corpses lying on the road behind him.
And more critically...
After conducting more than one such battle, and suppressing chaos in the entire Dressrosa with Body Outside Body ability simultaneously.
Saru's aura didn't seem to decay at all in their eyes.
His Haki was still terrifyingly strong.
"Maybe it's fake? Impossible for someone to fight stronger and stronger after experiencing battles of this scale—he didn't even replenish food!"
"Fake or not, who dares to go up and fight this guy now?"
"Those daring to go up now are idiots still not recognizing the situation."
"But outcomes of the other four gates are basically determined, Three Disasters and 'Balloon Vendor' Asu Soria almost locked victory... do we really have to give up?"
"But Grand Duke's order..."
Assassins were somewhat dilemma-ed now.
But just then...
SCREECH!
They heard a clear, unique bird cry from the sky.
They looked up instinctively.
Then...
WHOOSH!
They saw a giant bird burning with golden and green interwoven flames flying down toward their location from the sky.
"That is..."
So, the leader among assassins widened eyes immediately.
But next moment...
BOOM!
The giant bird fell; its claws struck instantly with powerful force.
So the building where assassins hid disintegrated instantly, leaving only assassins' corpses and a huge deep pit on the spot.
Amidst lingering dust, while huge flame wings fanned dust away.
"Ah, flew so far, finally arrived—"
A voice came from within the flames too.
That giant bird transformed into a half-human half-bird existence now.
He had blonde pineapple hair, a dagger at his waist, and a tattoo on his chest.
That crescent-mustache-like tattoo was enough to explain his identity.
"Oh oh oh! Incredible... another new participant entered from outside the Birdcage."
Clearly.
Although Doflamingo's Birdcage was a powerful move.
But before true top powerhouses of this sea, it wasn't an insurmountable wall.
Saru was so.
This one before them was so too.
"If I'm not mistaken, that's Whitebeard Pirates 1st Division Commander, also virtually number two under Whitebeard."
"That is—'Phoenix' Marco!"
"Is... is he going to start a war with Saru!?"
Now, accompanying commentator Gatz's exclamation.
"That commentator, commentary isn't talking nonsense..."
Marco scratching his head shook his head helplessly.
He scanned the messy battlefield around, participants fallen everywhere, feeling the terrifying Conqueror's Haki permeating the air.
"I didn't think of starting a war with this kind of guy..."
Marco said so, raising his right wing pointing at his feet.
"Hey, Saru right?"
"I just came to find you on orders, no intention of fighting you—I even helped you solve a batch of enemies."
He looked at Saru bathed in golden light with incredibly strong momentum, claiming credit seriously.
"You just stole a victory from me."
Saru glanced at this Whitebeard Pirates number two, somewhat surprised internally too.
But on the surface, he just twirled the Jingu Bang, tapping casually behind him with the staff.
BOOM!
Staff body expanded instantly, bursting golden light while killing several enemies behind who thought this was an opportunity and aimed weapons at him directly!
"You came to find me?"
Subsequently, Saru put away the iron staff again, looking at Marco.
"..."
Seeing this, Marco was somewhat awkward.
Saru's strike just now proved enough—even without him, Saru could discover enemies hidden in the dark.
But as an old pirate traversing the sea for over thirty years, Marco's face was naturally thick enough.
So he didn't continue the topic just now, just answering seriously, "Correct."
"Dressrosa's matter has spread. After Pops knew, he let me come over—first goal is to find you... or rather, find any Zodiac member."
He whispered in a voice only two could hear, "Simply put... for some reasons I don't know either, Pops wants to meet Star Lord once."
Whitebeard?
Hearing this, Saru raised an eyebrow under the mask.
He wasn't very surprised about Dressrosa's matter spreading—such a big event, without Doflamingo intentionally hiding, spreading was normal.
But the key problem was...
Whitebeard wants to meet Star Lord once?
For the entire sea, this was undoubtedly super shocking news.
Even for Roy himself, it was so.
Because now, he involuntarily recalled the news he learned from Linlin's mouth via Memo-Memo Fruit before.
Back then, Rocks' last appearance was at an old friends' gathering in Elbaf.
In that gathering, he proposed the request hoping his old friends would make a big fuss with him one last time.
Among three attendees then, Kaido and Linlin rejected him without hesitation.
And the only possible variable was 'Whitebeard' Edward Newgate.
And now Whitebeard asked Marco to find Saru, actively proposing to meet Star Lord once—this fact further corroborated Roy's guess.
One must know.
Although Roy wasn't sure about the Moby Dick's location, it definitely wouldn't be too close to Dressrosa.
Marco flying over from such a long distance—even as 'Mythical Zoan · Phoenix Form' user, achieving this was definitely not easy.
This showed Whitebeard's value on this matter even more.
This great pirate likely knew some 'Intelligence' about Star Lord from Rocks.
So...
"I will report to Boss."
"But whether He wants to meet Whitebeard, I can't guarantee."
Saru grinned, making such a response.
"Of course."
Hearing this, Marco naturally nodded acknowledging Saru's words.
However, in his heart, he was undoubtedly more shocked now.
Before seeing Saru personally today.
Although he knew Zodiac members were amazing guys—after all, an organization overturning a Four Emperor, even Whitebeard Pirates recognized as 'Strongest Four Emperor' of this era must admit the greatness of this feat.
He also vaguely sensed Whitebeard's special attitude toward this name.
But after all only hearing the name, his cognition of Star Lord and The Zodiac was still not precise enough.
But now, seeing Saru personally, he could clearly perceive.
This level of Conqueror's Haki was undoubtedly on the same level as Pops and Red-Haired—maybe slightly weaker, but quite close.
But a hegemon possessing this level of Haki succumbed under Star Lord.
This made Marco feel more appalled than even the news of Big Mom being defeated back then.
However now, after inviting Star Lord for his Pops.
Marco suppressed the shock in his heart, barely saying, "Since so, I'll go first."
"You are leaving?"
Hearing this, Saru was somewhat stunned—did this 'Phoenix' come just to pass a message and leave?
"Of course not..."
But hearing this, Marco shook his head. "I mean, I'm going to the duel arena—"
Speaking here, he seemed worried about Saru misunderstanding, explaining hurriedly, "Don't overthink, we have no interest in that guy named Caesar... just there is a guy here, I must capture back to Moby Dick."
"And just now I saw, he almost reached the duel arena."
"'Balloon Vendor' Asu Soria?"
Hearing this, Saru naturally understood who the other was talking about.
Participants currently occupying advantages, Gatz broadcasted just now—exactly Three Disasters and 'Balloon Vendor' Asu Soria, these four seeded players.
And Saru heard that 'Balloon Vendor' fought Whitebeard Pirates recently, even killed a Whitebeard Pirate member, and even survived inexplicably.
"Correct."
Speaking of this, Marco's tone became serious and cold. "Only that guy I must catch—then ask clearly."
For Whitebeard Pirates, most things could be forgiven or even laughed off.
But only partner—or family's death, Whitebeard Pirates absolutely couldn't tolerate.
The guy hurting their partner, even chasing to the ends of the earth, he would definitely catch the opponent.
That was his second purpose coming to Dressrosa.
"I see."
Hearing this, Saru nodded.
"Since so... let's go together."
"...Hm?"
Hearing this, Marco was somewhat dazed.
Next moment, he saw Saru raising his hand slightly, whispering, "Kintoun (Somersault Cloud)."
Words fell.
From the sky, golden auspicious cloud fell directly.
Saru leaped up, jumping onto the auspicious cloud.
"Actually has flight ability too..."
Seeing this, Marco scratched his head, curious about Saru's ability.
But he clearly knew what to ask and what not to. "I thought you planned to walk over."
"I originally planned so—I love fighting, rare to fight so unscrupulously."
Hearing this, Saru nodded too.
"But now..."
He whispered so.
At the bottom of his eyes, on the Fruit Encyclopedia, could be clearly seen...
[Gladiator Fruit LV5 - Every 'Victory', user can undergo 'Victory Transformation'. After transformation, all combat attributes increase. More victories, larger increase. Enhancement lasts until stamina depletion or defeat.]
That was the ability belonging to Gladiator Fruit, now merged into 'Fighting God Fruit'.
And in past battles, all enemies Saru and his Body Outside Body clones faced naturally counted as part of this 'Duel'.
So...
[Current Wins: 2026]
[Current Victory Transformation Intensity: Extremely Strong]
He grinned, looking at Marco.
"With these small fries, I have fought enough."
☆☆☆
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