Charlotte Cracker sudden move caught everyone off guard.
No one could have anticipated it.
In an instant, Charlotte Cracker unleashed an earth-shattering, overwhelming attack!
Eight enormous swords, surrounded by blazing light and flames, executed a devastating technique, the Sudden Burst of Pretzel Rolls, an attack so mighty it shook the very heavens and earth.
Blinding flames erupted continuously.
Ferocious winds morphed into violent storms, tearing through everything in their path. The earth and rocks within the storm's reach were torn apart, and even a nearby mountain of stone shattered, sending debris flying in all directions.
The sheer force of these flames distorted the very air, twisting and warping it.
It was terrifying.
Its power, beyond imagination!
As Vista once said, Charlotte Cracker is a deadly force grossly underestimated by the world.
"Huff... Huff...!"
Now back to his original form after landing, Charlotte Cracker gasped for air.
The wound on his chest, crudely 'stitched' together with biscuits, had ripped open again, seeping blood.
He had poured all his strength into this powerful attack, but in doing so, his old injury had reopened—an injury first inflicted by Marco!
Moments ago, utilizing the power of his Bisu Bisu no Mi (Biscuit-Biscuit Fruit), Cracker had created eight giant arms, each wielding a massive sword, then unleashed the strength for eight simultaneous Burst Pretzels. The toll on his body was immense.
"Is he dead?"
Cracker tilted his head, staring into the storm of still-raging flames.
The tempest persisted, roaring with immense power.
But then—
In the heart of the explosion, which shook the very sky—
A blue light shone fiercely.
In the next moment, amidst the brilliant flames, a torrent of blue fire surged like a volcanic eruption!
In the blink of an eye, the blue flames consumed the violent light flames entirely!
"Whoosh~~~!"
Within the erupting blue fire, a faint image of a slumbering Phoenix stirred. Suddenly, it awakened, spreading its wings, its body igniting with fire. The resurrected bird lifted its head to the sky and let out a triumphant cry—Cawww~~!
In an instant, the raging blue flames surged outward, engulfing everything.
Now, all that remained between heaven and earth was a sea of endless blue fire.
And then, Marco appeared, his fiery wings flapping, emerging from the heart of the blaze, walking through the inferno as if it were nothing.
In this moment, he stood like a king reborn, returning from the brink of death with an unstoppable presence.
Charlotte Cracker, still watching intently, felt his heart drop as his eyes widened in disbelief. His initial look of confidence and expectation quickly faded, replaced by pure shock.
Terror filled his pupils, spreading across his face until it consumed his entire expression.
Charlotte Cracker, still suspended in midair, was horrified—
Marco, with his flaming wings—
Was unharmed!
"How... How could it be? Even after using all my strength... I couldn't deal him a fatal blow?"
Once brimming with confidence in his own power, Cracker now felt as if he had been struck by three thousand bolts of lightning. A wave of despair washed over him, and his face contorted in dismay.
Despair over his own strength.
He had believed he'd seized the perfect opportunity to defeat Marco, launching him into an explosive inferno with his most powerful attack.
But in the end, Marco stood there, completely unharmed, untouched by the flames.
"So... I still underestimated you."
Marco's eyes flashed with fury. Had it not been for the power of his Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix (Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix), he would have been critically wounded—or worse, dead. Even with the Phoenix's regenerative flames, Cracker attack had forced him to expend an enormous amount of energy just to heal.
This drain on his power was more severe than anything he'd experienced, even during his previous battle with Jack the Drought!
The destructive force of Cracker Thousand-Handed Biscuit Soldier far exceeded the expectations of most people.
"No! I won't... let you get away with this, bird!!"
Charlotte Cracker gritted his teeth and growled through clenched jaws, "Even if it kills me, I'll make sure you suffer!"
Crash~!
With both hands, Cracker began to craft again—
A veritable army of biscuit warriors, all shaped like imposing generals, emerged from the ground, seemingly endless in number.
The newly created biscuit soldiers stood densely packed, each wielding massive shields and giant swords, their faces twisted with malice.
Even though the situation seemed hopeless, Cracker refused to surrender. The fear and disappointment that had gripped him moments ago were now gone, replaced by a ferocious and savage determination!
"In that case... prepare yourself for death!"
Marco's massive wings of blue flame flared, propelling him into the air. He dove toward Cracker at breakneck speed, radiating a killing intent that was palpable in the air.
As he swooped down, his entire body ignited with blue fire, the wings tilting at an angle, transforming him completely into a blazing Phoenix.
"Charge!"
Cracker roared with fury.
The countless biscuit warriors surged forward like an ocean wave, racing toward Marco in unison, their giant swords raised high, ready to strike him down!
Boom~~!
Marco swooped down, and the cookie warriors that charged at him were incinerated by his blue flames before they even made contact!
The warriors, rushing like a massive tidal wave, were instantly swept away by Marco's searing blue fire in a single, sweeping motion.
The sight was spectacular, like turning the pages of a book.
As they were flung aside, each cookie warrior ignited in flames, and before they could hit the ground, they were reduced to ash.
It was clear now:
They were nothing more than moths flying into the flame!
"Marco! Fall for me!"
From behind the now-obliterated cookie warriors, Charlotte Cracker launched another attack. In a burst of speed, he lunged forward, his massive sword gleaming with Armament Haki. As he accelerated, the sword suddenly extended, crackling like lightning as it shot forward, aiming for a deadly strike...
Boom~!
But—
Before Cracker desperate thrust could even come close, Marco reacted with lightning speed. He threw a punch forward, and instantly, a massive flaming fist exploded from his blue fire, rocketing toward Cracker.
The fist of flame collided directly with Cracker extended sword, smashing it apart on impact! The sword shattered into countless pieces, the fragments swirling backward like a broken storm.
The flaming fist didn't stop there—it continued its relentless assault, striking Charlotte Cracker body with devastating force!
Upon impact, Cracker entire frame was violently twisted and flattened. His face contorted grotesquely as blood and teeth spewed from his mouth, and his eyes began to glaze over as the life was rapidly drained from him.
Boom~~!
Cracker's body was launched back into a nearby mountain of stone, smashing through it upon impact. The mountain exploded instantly, rocks and debris scattering in all directions like shrapnel.
The explosion reverberated across the entire island, shaking it to its core.
Charlotte Cracker—his body deformed, broken, and lifeless—was already beyond saving.
There was no doubt.
He was dead.