On the eighth day, Marco and Big Mom resumed their battle. Just like yesterday, Marco began to gain a clear advantage, suppressing the Four Empress.
The Phoenix Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates, watching from the sidelines, were tense. Both sides had been locked in combat for eight consecutive days. Although Marco appeared to hold the upper hand, no one could predict the outcome until the very last moment.
By noon, they paused for a brief mid-battle break, eating and resting before resuming the fight. Despite Marco's growing advantage, the sheer scale of eight days of combat left both exhausted.
Having fought for so long, neither dared a reckless attack. Each wanted a moment to catch their breath. Even an Empress like Big Mom was pushed to her limits after ten-plus hours of high-intensity fighting per day.
Big Mom panted, frustrated. "Marco, how about we stop here? Let's call this battle a draw."
"A draw?" Marco sneered, confidence radiating from him. He had the advantage now and had never imagined that in his first encounter with a Four Emperors, he could dominate her to this extent. He laughed. "How about you concede instead? Say the three words—'I concede'—and I'll release Katakuri and Snack. The harassment of Fish-Man Island will also be forgiven. How about it?"
Big Mom roared in anger, panting heavily. "What a joke! You expect me to say those words? Once I concede, my reputation across the seas would collapse. My crew would face chaos!"
Marco's expression hardened. "Since you won't concede, then I'll have to defeat you until you do."
Big Mom's face turned ashen, teeth gritted. "Don't get too cocky, kid. You're still too green to make this old woman surrender."
Suddenly, a pink mass appeared in Big Mom's hand, which she plunged into her abdomen.
"Is Mama going to use her lifespan?" Smoothie exclaimed in shock.
The Phoenix Pirates exchanged serious looks. The battle had already stretched to eight days, and it seemed Big Mom still had hidden cards.
Big Mom extracted a glowing pink mass of her soul and announced, "Three months of my lifespan, to heal all my injuries."
Without hesitation, she swallowed the soul. Instantly, her internal injuries began to repair. Marco's eyes widened—he had forgotten this deadly move of hers. His expression turned grim.
Moments later, Big Mom exhaled deeply, feeling her internal injuries vanish. While her stamina wasn't fully restored, her hidden wounds had been completely healed. Her body was now far more formidable.
"Mama Mama!" Big Mom clenched her fists, feeling unprecedented relief. She laughed fiercely. "Marco, did you say you were going to defeat me?"
Marco's expression stiffened. Big Mom's smile twisted menacingly. "This old woman is not so easily defeated."
The battle resumed. Marco was momentarily pressed as Big Mom, restored by her lifespan, surged in strength and speed.
"Mom actually sacrificed part of her lifespan to heal," Smoothie muttered, astonished.
Charlotte Opera commented, "With that, Mama should win, right?"
"Of course! How could she lose?" another pirate exclaimed. "After Whitebeard's death, she's the closest thing to a Pirate King alive!"
Despite being sent flying by Big Mom's sword energy, Marco's blue flames instantly healed his injuries. He cursed under his breath, "Damn it, she's literally sacrificing her life because she can't win!"
Big Mom grinned ferociously. "I've ruled the seas for decades. Of course, I have my trump cards. But for a newly appointed Emperor to push me this far, you should be proud, Marco."
From this moment, Big Mom no longer underestimated her opponent. Even if she defeated Marco today, she would treat him as a peer-level existence from now on.
She finally spoke, "Now, if you release Katakuri and Snack, all grievances will be forgiven. I promise that the Big Mom Pirates and Phoenix Pirates will not interfere with each other."
Marco's eyes gleamed. He could have ended the battle earlier, after three days, and claimed 2000 attribute points. He had displayed enough strength to deter Big Mom and assist Jozu and Vista.
But stopping now felt like a loss. If he didn't defeat Big Mom, all the effort of the past days would feel wasted.
'If she can sacrifice her lifespan, I can sacrifice my resources,' Marco thought. He opened his system panel and looked at the 2000 attribute points waiting to be spent.
Originally, he planned to save until he had 15,000 points to awaken his Phoenix Fruit. But now, he would use them immediately.
Without hesitation, Marco added all 2000 points to his stamina. His original 8100 points surged to 10,100.
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