Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, the Emperors Alliance, the Revolutionary Army, and the Giants continued fighting against the Gorosei, the God's Knights, CP0, and the remaining forces of the World Government.
The strength of both sides was nearly equal, making it impossible to determine a victor in such a short time. More importantly, everyone understood that the true outcome of the war depended entirely on the battle between Marco and Imu.
Then, suddenly, a terrifying presence descended upon the battlefield.
Imu appeared.
Her enormous demonic form manifested above the roof of Pangaea Castle.
"Lord Imu!"
The Gorosei and the members of the God's Knights immediately shouted in excitement upon seeing her return.
Imu's gigantic transformed body towered several thousand meters into the sky like a mountain. Her appearance resembled a colossal spider cloaked in darkness as she perched atop Pangaea Castle and overlooked the battlefield below.
Kaido's face darkened as he stared at her.
"This is Imu..." Kaido said coldly. "Did Marco fail? No... something's wrong. The Phoenix flames on us haven't disappeared yet."
Everyone from the Emperors Alliance was shocked by Imu's sudden appearance. In contrast, the Gorosei and the God's Knights remained calm, as though everything was proceeding exactly as expected.
At that moment, Vista quickly pulled out Marco's Vivre Card and shouted loudly, "No! Captain Marco is still alive! His Vivre Card hasn't burned away."
Hancock glared at Imu with fury burning in her eyes.
"What did you do to Marco?!"
Dragon's expression turned solemn.
"Did she use some kind of special ability to trap him?"
As the user of the Mythical Zoan Phoenix Fruit, Marco possessed monstrous recovery abilities. Even if Imu were stronger than him, killing him instantly would still be nearly impossible.
Most importantly, the Phoenix flames enhancing their bodies were still active. That alone proved Marco was definitely alive.
Imu gazed at them with icy indifference.
"He is indeed alive. However, he has been trapped within a spacetime storm by my power. He will never return."
"What?!"
"A spacetime storm?"
The members of the Emperors Alliance were stunned. The term sounded absurd, almost unreal.
Saint Warcury stepped forward and sneered at the pirates.
"Marco is already finished. Now it's your turn."
His cold gaze shifted toward the distant Marines.
"And those Marines who stood by and watched while the World Government fought these insects, they will also be punished after this war ends. The Marines will be cleansed."
The news about Marco dealt a heavy blow to morale.
Although he was still alive, being trapped inside a spacetime storm sounded no different from a death sentence.
Ace clenched his fists and shouted loudly, "Hold the line! I don't care what that spacetime storm is, Marco isn't dying that easily. He'll definitely come back!"
"That's right!"
The commanders of the Phoenix Pirates shouted with unwavering confidence.
Big Mom, however, frowned deeply. After hearing the news, thoughts of retreat naturally surfaced in her mind.
Dragon felt the same.
Without Marco suppressing Imu, who among them could stop that monster?
Dragon immediately spoke up.
"Members of the Emperors Alliance, perhaps we should temporarily retreat and reorganize our forces."
Kaido instantly exploded in anger.
"Retreat?!"
His Conqueror's Haki surged violently as he swung his kanabo and blasted Saint Nusjuro away with a single strike.
"If you didn't have the resolve to risk your life, then why the hell did you come here in the first place?"
Kaido raised his club toward Imu, his eyes blazing with battle intent.
"Now that we're here, there are only two outcomes. Either we destroy the Celestial Dragons, or they destroy us. There's no third option."
Then Kaido pointed directly at Imu.
"Since Marco isn't here, I'll fight you myself!"
Imu merely looked at him indifferently without replying.
Saint Nusjuro quickly stepped forward once again and blocked Kaido's path.
"Kaido, don't overestimate yourself. An insect like you is unworthy of challenging Lord Imu."
His killing intent exploded outward.
"Today, every single one of you will die here."
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Saint Shamrock was locked in combat against Loki of Elbaf.
Saint Shamrock coldly said, "Loki, I'll give you one final opportunity. Surrender to us, and you will be granted the status of a Celestial Dragon."
Loki laughed mockingly.
"Heh, you still want me to become your slave? You bastards really have no shame."
His giant eyes burned with rage.
"As the prince of Elbaf, I would rather die than kneel before the Celestial Dragons."
Brogy also burst into laughter.
"Gabababa! That's right! We believe Marco will return too!"
He tightened his grip on his weapon.
"And if we lose, then we die fighting. Giants will never become slaves!"
Imu looked toward the giants with emotionless eyes.
"Previously, I was willing to let your race survive as servants. Unfortunately, you failed to appreciate my mercy."
A terrifying pressure descended from her body.
"Now your race has no further value."
As she spoke, Imu prepared to personally intervene in the battlefield.
But suddenly...
Her pupils shrank violently.
She sensed an aura.
A familiar aura.
And it was coming from inside Pangaea Castle itself.
Inside the chamber of the Empty Throne, Marco slowly opened his eyes.
The system had returned him directly to the Empty Throne chamber.
"So I made it back..." Marco muttered while scanning the area.
The throne was empty.
Imu was no longer there.
"How much time passed?"
Marco immediately spread out his Observation Haki and sensed the battlefield outside.
"Good. Everyone's still alive. Looks like I wasn't gone for long."
Then Marco remembered the reward he had received from completing the revenge mission.
100,000 attribute points.
Even he found the amount ridiculous.
Defeating Imu had only rewarded 50,000 points before, yet this mission gave double that amount.
Still, Marco didn't waste time thinking about it and immediately opened his status panel.
Name: Marco
Age: 43
Attribute Points: 148,800
Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan, Phoenix Fruit (Awakened)
Awakened Abilities: Flames of Destruction
Bestowal
Light of Resurrection
Nirvana Rebirth
Haki: Armament Haki, Legendary
Observation Haki, Legendary
Conqueror's Haki, Mythical
Six Powers: Soru, Top Tier
Rankyaku, Top Tier
Geppo, Top Tier
Tekkai, Top Tier
Shigan, Top Tier
Kami-e, Top Tier
Strength: 42,054
Speed: 24,900
Defense: 43,800
Recovery: 100,000
Stamina: 87,100
Mental Power: 61,300
System Combat Evaluation: Planetary Level
Marco immediately selected the Haki section and upgraded his Armament Haki.
100000
Armament Haki, Legendary → Armament Haki, Mythical
Without hesitation, Marco spent 100,000 attribute points.
The moment the upgrade completed, a terrifying surge of power exploded from his body.
Marco could clearly feel the transformation.
His already monstrous strength rose once again.
From Planetary Level...
To High Planetary Level.
At that same moment outside Pangea Castle, Imu sensed Marco's aura completely erupt.
Cold sweat formed across her forehead.
"How is this possible..."
Through Observation Haki, she could clearly feel Marco's presence.
He had returned.
But that made no sense.
Without spacetime abilities, surviving the spacetime storm should have been impossible.
So how did he escape?
Without saying another word to her subordinates, Imu's massive demonic body dissolved into darkness and rushed straight back into Pangea Castle.