Chapter 197: Ian's Accomplice
As the light of the electromagnetic cannon faded into the sky, the out-of-control iron sand storm also ceased its rotation.
Countless black iron sand particles, like raindrops, fell from the sky one after another, mixed with a large amount of broken glass, crashing onto the ground, creating a chaotic noise.
Ian stood amidst this rain of iron sand, a look of satisfaction on his face.
In his past battles, he had always felt that his psychic power value was insufficient. However, after devouring the Black Dragon Wave this time, he could finally unleash a full-powered burst.
Stronger psychic power output brought about an increase in the power of his techniques. Ian had understood this before, but only now did he truly experience it.
The electromagnetic cannon he had just fired had pierced through all the buildings in a straight line. Looking down that line, more than a dozen buildings in a row all had a huge circular hole, and through these holes, he could even see the distant sea surface!
This was only the result of Ian firing off the remaining few thousand points of psychic power. He couldn't even imagine whether, when his psychic power reached ten or twenty thousand in the future, he would be able to destroy an entire island with an electromagnetic cannon...
Ian lowered his head and looked at Vergo lying on the ground. Half of his body had been pierced through by the electromagnetic cannon, from his shoulder to his waist, as if a huge chunk had been bitten out by something.
There was no blood flowing from his wound, because the moment the electromagnetic cannon struck him, the high temperature had already cauterized the wound.
This way, he might not die from excessive blood loss...
Vergo was now screaming incessantly in this rain of black iron sand. He wasn't dead yet, but with his bones and internal organs destroyed, he was doomed; this was just his final struggle.
On his upper body, countless crisscrossing claw marks could be seen, as if he had been attacked by some fierce beast, a gruesome sight.
Had he actually directly killed a Marine Vice Admiral? Ian looked at his own hands in disbelief.
During this period, he had fought Aokiji, as well as Momonga and Fighting Dog. Against Aokiji, he had relied on attribute countering to injure him once, and against Momonga and Fighting Dog, he had only managed to defeat one of them. He never expected that after suddenly bursting with power, he could so easily kill Vergo.
From this slight inference, Ian understood that as long as he could mobilize around seven to ten thousand points of psychic power, the power of his techniques could overwhelm an average Marine Vice Admiral.
Of course, this was for ordinary Vice Admirals; someone like Garp probably didn't count.
Just as Ian was thinking this, Fujitora walked over and stood behind him, saying, "Young Ian, how is he?"
"He's not dead yet, but he won't live much longer!" Ian said.
Fujitora sighed softly. From the combat power Ian had just displayed, his opponent was likely the strongest person in this G-5 branch. Fujitora didn't know Vergo's name, but he could roughly guess that the man screaming was the Vice Admiral of the G-5 branch. Fujitora had injured so many Marine soldiers at the main gate, yet this Vice Admiral hadn't been drawn there; instead, he had sought out Ian.
In Fujitora's hands, Vergo might have been able to keep his life, but by targeting Ian, he had sealed his own fate. Fujitora didn't know what to say about this outcome...
Perhaps this was fate!
"Did you find where the prisoners are held?" Fujitora asked Ian.
"No need to look!" Ian shook his head. "Old K's companions are all dead."
"Is... is that so?" Fujitora's face showed a look of disappointment, and he said somewhat gloomily, "Then let's leave."
Ian nodded, said nothing more, and left Vergo behind as he and Fujitora departed.
No one dared to stop them. The Marine soldiers of the G-5 branch had almost all been knocked down by Fujitora alone. Though not dead, they were all lying on the ground groaning. When they saw Ian and Fujitora appear, they were so scared they immediately lay flat and played dead.
When they reached the coast, the members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates came to meet them. Earlier, when Ian had used the Black Dragon Wave, the black fire dragon that appeared above the base had been seen by everyone on the ship. They thought Ian had broken out into a fight in the base and came to support, only to see the two emerge unharmed at the shore.
It was a Marine base, yet the two had gone in and out so easily. The Dragon Hunter Pirates members were all astonished.
Just as they were about to board the ship, Fujitora suddenly stopped, thought for a moment, and drew his staff sword partway from its sheath.
As he drew his sword, a faint glow suddenly shot up from his body straight into the sky!
Not long after, a huge fireball suddenly appeared in the sky!
The fireball grew from small to large and fell toward the G-5 branch base at an extremely fast speed.
"Wha... what is that!?" The Dragon Hunter Pirates members stared at the sky in shock, their faces turning pale.
Ian saw it too, let out a strange yell, hoisted Fujitora onto his shoulder, and jumped onto the ship, frantically urging them to set sail.
"Old man!? When you're about to use a big move, give a warning first, okay!?" Ian said angrily.
"Oh, careful, the meteor is coming!" Fujitora said.
Ian almost spat, shouting at him, "Say it *before* this!!"
Under Ian's continuous urging, the Dragon Hunter Pirates' ship quickly sailed away from the island.
Just as their ship left, a large number of Marine soldiers also fled the G-5 branch base in panic, desperately running toward their warships docked at the port, and some, more impatient, had already jumped into the sea.
They too had seen the meteor in the sky heading for the base, and realizing the danger, naturally had to flee for their lives.
At the same time, after Ian and Fujitora left, Vergo stopped his screams. Gritting his teeth, he used his last bit of strength to pull a Den Den Mushi from his pocket with his remaining hand.
"Th... that person is the one the young master is looking for..." Vergo muttered, spitting blood. "I... I have to inform... Young Master Doflamingo of this news... He... will avenge me..."
However, just as he took out the Den Den Mushi, he suddenly noticed the sky growing brighter. Looking up, he saw a huge fireball in the sky hurtling straight toward his location!
"Is it too late?" Vergo murmured. "Young master... farewell!"
Boom! A tremendous explosion sounded. The meteor Fujitora had pulled down with his ability struck the G-5 branch base with unparalleled impact!
The volume of this meteor was actually not large; it was estimated to be only about ten meters in diameter upon landing. However, falling from such a height, its destructive power was immense. When it hit the base, it was like a powerful bomb exploding. The buildings within the meteor's impact range were instantly destroyed by the powerful shockwave!
Violent air currents spread in all directions, quickly engulfing the entire base, flattening the G-5 branch base like a force of nature.
A large amount of dust was swept into the air, and a small mushroom cloud rose from the island...
Far away on the ship, Ian and the Dragon Hunter Pirates members stared dumbfounded at this scene, unable to speak for a long time.
They finally understood what their captain Ian had said. This blind old man truly possessed strength comparable to a Marine Admiral! A single meteor had destroyed a Marine base. Such immense destructive power was indeed like a monster.
And at this moment, Ian finally realized the gap between himself and Fujitora. With Fujitora's strength, he could easily destroy a country. Such a powerful meteor was simply child's play for him.
Perhaps Ian could also destroy a Marine base now, but definitely not as easily as Fujitora...
"Old man, what are you doing?" After coming back to his senses, Ian couldn't help but ask Fujitora with some confusion.
"Your ability is too obvious!" Fujitora said. "I am merely helping you cover up the traces of the battle."
Ian immediately understood Fujitora's intention. He was worried that Vergo's death would allow the Marines to deduce his identity, so he wanted to help cover it up.
Although it was a good intention... wasn't this scene a bit too much?
Ian smiled bitterly, looking in the direction of the G-5 base. He knew that with this meteor strike, even if Vergo had had a chance to escape, it was now completely extinguished.
Moreover, Fujitora might not necessarily be able to cover it up. After all, the black fire dragon that had shot into the sky earlier had probably been seen by many Marine soldiers...
In fact, Ian wasn't too afraid of the Marines finding out his identity now. Not only did he have some ability to protect himself, but at least as long as Fujitora was on his ship, unless the Marines actually sent out one of their Admirals, they absolutely couldn't do anything to him.
"Old man, destroying a Marine base is a major crime. You're really going to be wanted now!" Ian said to Fujitora.
"Wanted is fine. I've long been mentally prepared for that," Fujitora said with a smile.
"Then just join my pirate crew directly!" Ian said cheerfully. "Your eyesight isn't good. If you're being hunted, it won't be easy to escape! Now, we're accomplices!"
Fujitora laughed heartily and said, "Let's talk about that after our first bet is completed!"
Hearing this, Ian understood that Fujitora was softening. From his words, it could be seen that he was no longer as resistant to joining Ian's crew as he had been at the beginning.
This was probably because Ian had displayed some strength...
Thinking this, Ian didn't press further. He would let things take their natural course. If Fujitora wanted to leave, Ian couldn't keep him. Similarly, when he wanted to stay, he would do so without Ian's persuasion.
"Back to Gramber Island!" Ian waved his hand to the people on the ship.
"Whoa! Going back!" Everyone cheered. Some hoisted the sails, others took the helm, turning the ship and sailing away from the island, facing the sea breeze...