One Piece: Transmigrated as Crocodile

Chapter 388 CHAPTER 389 - Marco's Decision

"If the situation turns bad later, leave me behind," Rosen said calmly. Some situations couldn't be predicted, like this one.

It seemed he had suddenly become the key to whether this battle continued or not. This was very unfriendly.

Hathaway didn't speak, just tightened her grip on her sword.

Red-Haired also fell silent. He hadn't expected Admiral Akainu to die at Crocodile's hands, and he had no intention of standing up for Crocodile.

After all, he had no friendship with Crocodile, and it wasn't a Whitebeard Pirates matter. He didn't like meddling in such idle business.

If this war could stop, minor local conflicts, Red-Haired believed, wouldn't be enough to affect the world's overall situation.

"Zehahaha, what will you do now?" Blackbeard watched gleefully.

Aokiji looked at Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Seeing the expressions of Vice Admiral Doberman and the others, and considering the threat of the Dawn Pirates, Sengoku slowly reached a decision.

"Let me go." Ramirez strode towards Rosen. Kizaru also stared intently at Rosen, ready to strike at any moment.

Garp fell silent, looking at Red-Haired with an unpleasant expression. This was the man who had set Luffy on the path of a pirate.

But in this situation, he couldn't act recklessly. He himself feared nothing, but looking at the war-torn ruins and the wounded, continuing the war was absolutely not the right thing to do.

"Let's go." Red-Haired patted Marco's shoulder. Everyone was granting him face, willing to cease fighting, only targeting an unfamiliar individual. Red-Haired didn't plan to intervene.

"Capture Crocodile!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku gave the order. From Red-Haired's earlier words, he understood that Red-Haired had no interest in Crocodile's matter. He had come only to end the war.

He didn't care about Marine Headquarters's individual targets for revenge or capture.

"Yes." In an instant, Aokiji and Ramirez charged towards Rosen at extreme speed. Kizaru and Garp also moved simultaneously.

"Go." Facing four top-tier Admirals, Rosen didn't retreat. He stepped forward, pushing Hathaway backward with his right hand while forming two ultimate black sand spheres in his hands, electric sparks crackled wildly.

From the moment Vice Admiral Doberman spoke, Rosen had a premonition that this time he was truly in danger. His attack had been prepared early. Trying to kill him wouldn't be so easy.

The four top-tier powerhouses unleashed their attacks simultaneously. Rosen pushed out his two strongest sand spheres to meet their combined assault.

A deafening explosion followed. Rosen's bones shattered in places, his body burst and skin split open, blood continuously spilled from his mouth as he was instantly sent flying backward.

It was overwhelming force, too powerful. Garp, plus Kizaru, Aokiji, and Ramirez who was no weaker than an Admiral—such a combined attack was something even Rosen, with his Admiral-level strength, couldn't withstand.

He was severely wounded in just one exchange. As he flew back, a laser pierced his shoulder, and an ice blade nearly severed him in half. If Rosen hadn't retreated half a step at the critical moment, he would already be dead.

"Bastard!" Hathaway's face was grim. She didn't need saving, nor would she abandon Rosen. Death was no stranger to her. This anger was directed at Rosen.

Did he think she was someone afraid of death?

Although this unprecedented concern shook her deeply. Since she was young, few people of equal standing had ever considered her someone to be protected.

Hathaway still wanted to follow, but Rosen's words stopped her: "This is what you owe me. If I die, take care of them for me. I really overplayed my hand this time..."

"Hmph, you go tell them yourself."

"Kill him!" Vice Admiral Doberman and others also closed in. At the same time, Rufus and the CP0 Commander-in-Chief also prepared to strike. Rosen was about to face nearly the entire remaining combat force. He might not even last a minute.

Sengoku's order was also intended to resolve the Crocodile issue in the shortest time possible, even if it meant using such gang-up tactics.

"Hey, hey, hey... this is a bit despicable. Though it is an excellent strategy, watching you Marines about to succeed suddenly makes this old man very uncomfortable..." Avalo Pizarro sneered, then stepped forward, actually blocking Rufus.

"Sorry, Red-Haired! But he once blocked Sengoku's attack, helping us save Ace..." Marco said slowly after a moment of silence.

He also wanted to cease fighting. Their losses were already severe. But this didn't align with the Whitebeard Pirates' longstanding code of honor. They weren't people who forgot debts of gratitude.

"That's right! I also owe him a favor," Sabo nodded. Although it was a transaction, clearly, in Sabo's heart, his brother's memories were far more important than what they had given.

"Then let's fight!" Ace had a surge of grief and anger inside him needing release.

"Okay!" Luffy, though severely drained, agreed. Marco was right. Regardless of the past, rescuing Ace wouldn't have been possible without Rosen's earlier attack.

Boom! Marco, Sabo, and the other four charged out first before anyone else could react.

"Bang!" A loud crash. Sabo, Luffy, and Ace joined forces to block the CP0 Commander-in-Chief. After so many years, the three brothers united again, no longer just the earlier chaotic battle.

"Die." Ramirez burst through the smoke, his blade slashing towards Rosen's head. But at that moment, Marco suddenly descended from above, kicking Ramirez's blade aside. The shockwave still shattered the ground.

"Hmph!" Though Hathaway heard Rosen's words, after repeated consideration, what she owed was only to this man. If he died, could other methods truly repay it?

She didn't think so. At the very least, she would save him even if it cost her own life.

"Hey, hey, hey... whatever. Since we're causing a stir, might as well stir things up some more." Blackbeard's mood instantly soured. But watching Crocodile surrounded by Admirals didn't bring him as much joy as before.

He thought about the many monsters he had released from Impel Down, some even he didn't dare provoke. Once they finished off Crocodile and the war ended, if Marine Headquarters, upon learning the truth, pursued them at all costs, it would still be very dangerous.

After all, Marine Headquarters's current move showed no intention of stopping the war.

When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, Not quite to that extent. But if Crocodile died, while Blackbeard would be happy, he would also lose a target drawing away hatred. Then becoming the next target would be almost be a matter of course.

"Damn it! If we're fighting, then let's fight! Best to wipe out all the pirates!" Some Marines couldn't hold back.

Red-Haired remained silent. An indescribable Conqueror's Haki swept out like an invisible energy storm, causing Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Fleet Admiral Kong's expressions to change slightly. Damn!

This matter was about to go sour. Sengoku never imagined the Whitebeard Pirates, who could have withdrawn gracefully, would intervene to help Crocodile. Even the Blackbeard Pirates seemed ready to rejoin the fight.

Now was Red-Haired going to act too?!

If so, this outcome was the last thing Sengoku and Kong wanted. Because it meant a war of world order-shattering scale might very well ignite right here, with the World Government completely unprepared.

If they had known that moving against Crocodile would escalate like this, they shouldn't have insisted. This war wouldn't be a matter of losing just one or two Admiral-level combatants.

(End of Chapter)

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