Chapter 768: Though Thousands Oppose, I Shall Go (5/60)
As Ian began to move with his family members, it immediately drew the attention of the Marines conducting inspections on the island.
A force of over three thousand people, stretching out in a mighty procession, and most importantly, these three thousand were either wielding swords or guns, with many carrying rocket launchers on their shoulders, all wearing fierce and aggressive expressions—this only heightened the tension even more.
"Stop... Stop right there!" The inspecting Marines quickly raised their guns, pointing them at the crowd suspected of illegal assembly.
However, their response was a cannon shell!
Eager to prove themselves in front of Ian, the family members charged at the Marines with wild shouts. There were only a few dozen Marines conducting inspections here, and they were instantly suppressed by the hail of bullets, unable to lift their heads. By the time Ian's family members closed in, the Marine soldiers were cut down on the spot.
But the Marines reacted very quickly. As soon as the fighting broke out here, nearby Marines rushed to reinforce them.
However, before these reinforcing Marine soldiers could even start a gunfight with Ian's family, several bolts of lightning descended from the sky without warning, striking them down.
Ian had made his move. He certainly didn't want his family members to suffer losses in the skirmish with the Marines. With him overseeing the battle, Ian's family members advanced like a tidal wave, crushing everything in their path as they steadily pushed toward the port.
The lightning strikes alarmed Marine Admiral Momousagi, who was leading the operation on Sabaody Archipelago. Spotting the lightning flashes over the island from a distance, she had a bad premonition and immediately rushed toward the scene.
By the time she arrived, Ian's family members had already reached the port and seized two pirate ships and a merchant vessel, and were in the process of boarding them.
Although she didn't know if these people were connected to the earlier murder of the Celestial Dragon, Momousagi's intuition told her that this group, so eager to set sail, was suspicious. Gripping her famous sword, Konpira, she charged toward the ships.
But just as she was about to close in on the vessels, a figure suddenly appeared beside her and slashed down at her with a blade!
Momousagi quickly raised her sword to block. With a loud clang, a tremendous force transmitted through her weapon, and she couldn't control her body, sliding backward several meters!
When she steadied herself and got a clear look at the figure, her eyes narrowed sharply, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "It's you!?"
Ian held the blade of Thousand Cherry Blossoms, its tip pointing down at the ground. He smiled calmly and said, "Vice Admiral Momousagi... Oh, no, it's Admiral now! Long time no see!"
The moment she saw Ian, Momousagi couldn't help but recall her failed mission at Impel Down. It was the first time she had ever failed an assignment, and the culprit was none other than Ian. So, upon seeing him, even the usually composed Momousagi couldn't help but grit her teeth in frustration.
"So you really did come to Sabaody Archipelago!" Momousagi tightened her grip on her sword hilt and said to Ian, "You killed the second daughter of the Roswald family, didn't you!?"
"Pretty much!" Ian replied with a smile. "You know how those Celestial Dragons are. I couldn't stand the sight of her, so I took care of her on a whim!"
If Ian had tried to deny it, Momousagi might have refuted him with righteous indignation. But since he admitted it so openly, she was at a loss for what to do.
"You're no match for me!" Ian spun Thousand Cherry Blossoms once and sheathed it. "I'm giving the Marines face by leaving, but you'd better not try to stop me!"
"Leaving!?" Momousagi suddenly had a bad feeling. "Where are you planning to leave from?"
"Where else? Mary Geoise!" Ian said with amusement. "Blame it on the Marines and the World Government. Who told you to guard the passage to the New World?"
Hearing this, Momousagi's expression turned grim. Gritting her teeth, she charged at Ian again.
Ian didn't say much more. He engaged Momousagi with his sword, buying time while his family members finished boarding the ships.
The two blackened blades clashed repeatedly, exchanging hundreds of strikes in a short time. Momousagi was skilled in swordsmanship, but against Ian, she couldn't gain any ground. His defense was impenetrable.
The Marine soldiers who arrived at the scene dared not approach the area where the two were fighting, as sword energy crisscrossed the air, affecting a wide radius. They could only watch helplessly from a distance as Ian's family members boarded the ships in an orderly fashion. Some soldiers tried to fire their guns, but before they could even aim, they were cut down by sudden flying sword energy!
Even while fighting Momousagi, Ian had the spare attention to deal with these Marine soldiers...
As a result, the Marine soldiers dared not move any further!
By the time all of Ian's family members had boarded the ships and left the port, Ian suddenly unleashed a Black Dragon Wave at Momousagi.
Forced to use her Devil Fruit ability, Momousagi tried to tame the blazing black dragon. However, Ian's Black Dragon Wave was no longer so easily subdued. The violent energy forced her to exert all her strength just to suppress it.
By the time Momousagi caught her breath and looked up, Ian had already taken the opportunity to fly into the air, chasing after the departing ships.
Left with no choice, Momousagi ordered Marine soldiers to board ships and give chase while using a Den Den Mushi to contact Marine Headquarters, informing them of the appearance of the Four Emperor Ian and instructing them to prepare for defense.
"So it's him!" Upon receiving the news, Akainu gritted his teeth and slammed his fist onto his desk. The steel fist shattered the desk in one blow.
Then, Akainu immediately ordered Marine Headquarters soldiers to deploy to Marineford's port to intercept Ian, and he himself set out as well.
Akainu's hatred for Ian ran deep. If he didn't avenge the loss of his arm, where would his pride as Fleet Admiral go?
However, just as he led his troops to the port, the Den Den Mushi he carried began to ring.
The caller was one of the Five Elders. As soon as Akainu answered, he was berated by the voice on the other end: "You fool! Akainu, what do you think you're doing!? Are you going to start a war with Ian at Marineford and Mary Geoise!?"
"That's right! So what!?" Akainu bit down so hard on his cigar that it nearly broke. "Don't use the excuse of fearing damage to Marineford or Mary Geoise to stop me! Bases can be rebuilt! Ian is delivering himself to us—this is an opportunity I won't miss!"
"Yes, bases can indeed be rebuilt!" the Five Elders roared back. "But what about our soldiers!? Don't forget what Ian did during the Battle of New Edd War! What preparations have you made!? Ordinary soldiers don't even have the strength to fight back against him! If you cause massive casualties trying to stop him, what will you have left to fight the Beast Pirates when they come!?"
Time and again, Akainu felt the immense constraints imposed by the World Government. At this moment, he wished he could crush the Den Den Mushi in his hand!
"Then what do you want me to do!?" Akainu roared back. "If I let him swagger past Marineford, where will my pride as Fleet Admiral go!? No one is going to stop me this time!"
With that, Akainu slammed down the receiver of the Den Den Mushi!
As Ian had guessed, the World Government didn't want to start a war at this critical juncture. But Akainu had become a variable. He finally hardened his stance and began to act on his own.
"Is that wise?" Kizaru, standing beside Akainu, spoke with a smile. "You're going against the orders of the Five Elders..."
But Akainu, already furious, didn't hesitate to glare back at Kizaru. "Shut up, you fool!"
Akainu had long been disgusted with Kizaru's ambiguous attitude. Hearing him use the Five Elders to pressure him, he grabbed Kizaru by the collar and said, "Even if I die, it's not your place to lecture me!"
Kizaru didn't get angry. He chuckled and raised his hands in surrender, but no one knew what was really going through his mind.
Nearby, Tea Pig stepped in to mediate. This new Marine Admiral, with his squinting eyes, scratched his head and asked, "Is that Black Dragon Ian really that strong? Couldn't Gion stop him?"
Tea Pig was the only one among the current Marine Admirals who had never fought Ian, which prompted his question.
But neither Akainu nor Kizaru answered him. The implication was clear: You'll find out when he gets here.
A large number of Marine soldiers had already set up defenses at the port, with countless guns and cannons aimed outward, looking like they were facing a formidable enemy.
Almost everyone stared intently at the distant sea, wondering if the Four Emperor Black Dragon Ian would really come alone to challenge the entire Marine Headquarters.
Maybe... maybe he'll change course and slip away? Some new recruits thought nervously.
Better not come... veterans who had fought in the Battle of New Edd War had said that guy was incredibly fierce...
However, before long, a shadow appeared in the sky above the sea, shattering their hopes.
Ian had indeed come, alone, to challenge Marine Headquarters!
Huh? Wait, something's off. Why are there two figures—one big and one small?
As Ian flew closer and everyone got a clear look, including Akainu and Kizaru, they were all stunned.
What the hell!? Who's that little kid flying next to Ian, who looks so much like him!?
Ian had arrived at Marineford ahead of his family members' ships, but he wasn't here to challenge the entire Marine Headquarters alone.
He was here for a double challenge...