# Chapter 820: Bear's Final Command
Although caught off guard by the Revolutionary Army's sudden attack, the Marine Science Unit fleet reacted quickly enough.
After the Revolutionary Army's ships launched their bombardment, the Marine Science Unit's warships immediately began returning fire. At the same time, they rapidly used Den Den Mushi to contact other patrol units, calling for reinforcements, and notified the secret research institute to prepare their defenses.
Because the Marine Science Unit had been equipped with new-type cannons, their attacks were more powerful, stronger, and more accurate. During the first exchange of artillery fire, four Revolutionary Army ships were hit, causing raging fires to break out on board.
Meanwhile, the improved Pacifista units carried on the remaining warships also joined the battle. Three Pacifista on each ship simultaneously opened their mouths at the ship's railings, firing powerful laser beams at the Revolutionary Army vessels. Some of these lasers directly pierced through the Revolutionary Army ships, while others struck the seawater, triggering massive explosions.
If given more time, this Marine Science Unit fleet might have caused significant trouble for the Revolutionary Army. But the only problem was that the Revolutionary Army had brought too many big shots...
A mass of blazing white flames streaked across the battle sea like a meteor, detonating the Marine shells in its path before directly hitting a Marine warship. In an instant, the ship was set ablaze. Amidst the flames, Marine Science Unit soldiers screamed and jumped into the sea, trying to extinguish the fire burning on their bodies. The Pacifista on this ship had their clothing completely burned away, revealing the modified steel bodies underneath!
Although the Pacifista could still move, as time passed, the steel on their bodies gradually began to melt. Meanwhile, the warship beneath their feet could no longer bear the strain and started sinking into the sea. Forced to make a decision, the three Pacifista slightly bent their legs, then suddenly exerted force, leaping into the air and jumping toward the Revolutionary Army ships.
The early mass-produced Pacifista, due to their massive size, had always had mobility issues. They couldn't retain the Paw-Paw Fruit ability like the original Kuma, allowing instantaneous movement, so they generally moved by walking. However, the Pacifista guarding the secret research institute now were improved models that could perform jumping movements.
Unfortunately, just as these three Pacifista leaped into the air and hadn't yet begun to descend, the giant face of Ivankov the Revolutionary Army Commander suddenly appeared on a Revolutionary Army ship. He rapidly blinked several times at the Pacifista in midair. The powerful shockwaves of his Hell Wink directly struck the three Pacifista, knocking them from the air into the sea.
Once in the seawater, the Pacifista wouldn't necessarily die immediately, but their heavy bodies caused them to sink straight down into the dark seabed, never to rise again...
Because they had no swimming program controls...
Another electromagnetic cannon shell came flying, instantly blowing another Marine warship into countless fragments! The attacks of Ian and Ace were simply devastating in naval combat. Without needing other Revolutionary Army officers to act, the two took turns launching attacks, each one taking out a warship.
Such overwhelming power left the Revolutionary Army officers participating in the battle stunned, extremely grateful that Ian, one of the Four Emperors, was on their side.
Twelve warships were soon reduced to a broken and scattered mess. However, these elite forces of the Marine Science Unit possessed considerable courage. Although their ships were continuously being destroyed, they did not make the decision to retreat. This was partly because they knew retreating would mean dying faster, but also because they were buying time, waiting for reinforcements to arrive.
Dragon quickly discerned their intention and said to Ian, "Ian, proceed with the original plan. Leave these warships to us. You take the men and attack the research institute."
Ian nodded without saying anything. He took a respirator handed over by a Revolutionary Army member, leaped high from the ship's railing, and dove into the seawater in a steep plunge.
At the same time Ian jumped into the sea, Revolutionary Army ships also saw people diving into the water like dumplings being dropped into a pot. These were all Revolutionary Army members who would follow Ian in the underwater assault. They shared one common trait: they were all Fish-Men!
Indeed, the Revolutionary Army had a considerable number of Fish-Men among their ranks. Ian had met the karate master Hack before. The Fish-Man Tribe had always been a tragic race. Although they possessed talents incomparable to humans, because they had the most contact with humans, they naturally became the most severely persecuted race. Over the years, the Revolutionary Army had rescued countless Fish-Men from tragic fates. Now, these Fish-Man warriors had become an important force within the Revolutionary Army.
Beneath the surface, Ian could only move forward while holding his breath, but the Fish-Men could breathe freely. They had extremely agile movement methods underwater and quickly gathered behind Ian, following him as they swam forward.
During their advance, many bullets could be seen raining down from the surface, cutting straight lines with bubbles in the water. This was caused by Marines who had noticed the Revolutionary Army's diving movements and were firing randomly into the sea. Unfortunately, their attacks posed little threat to Ian and his group underwater.
The only things that could threaten them were the massive Sea Kings gradually appearing on the surface.
This area was already close to the Calm Belt, the nesting ground of Sea Kings. Now, due to the battle, many people had fallen into the water. The smell of blood from these fallen soldiers immediately attracted carnivorous Sea Kings. Although they hadn't yet surfaced, they were already underwater devouring the dead who were sinking to the seabed. Ian's group, moving underwater, was soon discovered by the Sea Kings.
A gigantic stag-horn shark opened its massive mouth, sucking in seawater with tremendous force, pulling everyone toward its seemingly black hole-like maw. But just then, a flash of blade light cut through the seawater. A massive sword slash split the water, cleaving the stag-horn shark's huge mouth in two!
The stag-horn shark was killed instantly, its body floating in two pieces in the sea, attracting other Sea Kings to devour its corpse. The combatants on the surface couldn't see this scene, so they had no idea how dangerous it had become beneath the waves...
For these enormous Sea Kings, Ian and his group adopted a policy of not provoking them unless necessary. Only when a Sea King attacked them did Ian counterattack and kill it. He led the Fish-Man Revolutionary Army members, quickly crossing this dangerous sea area, swimming forward. When they couldn't hold their breath any longer, they took a deep breath from the respirator and continued swimming.
After swimming an unknown distance, a cylindrical black shadow gradually became visible in the dark seawater ahead. Ian immediately realized they had reached their destination.
Built like Impel Down, this secret research institute was also constructed underwater. However, unlike Impel Down, which needed to receive prisoners and thus had surface buildings and exits, this secret research institute didn't require such functions. It had no exposed surface structures. When Vegapunk first came here, he had entered the institute via submarine...
The Revolutionary Army didn't have many submarines, so they had to rely on Ian and his group to break in manually. However, as Ian and the others approached the institute, they were discovered. Many Blue Gorillas, capable of moving freely in the sea, came out to intercept them, wielding large axes.
Although there were quite a number of Blue Gorilla guards, the Fish-Men were the supreme fighters underwater. With Ian present as well, these Blue Gorilla guards caused them little trouble.
After dealing with the Blue Gorilla guards, Ian and his group arrived before the research institute. This cylindrical building had many windows sealed with high-strength glass. Through these windows, Ian could see panicked expressions on the faces of CP intelligence agents in black suits and government officials inside.
Perhaps because they believed this secret research institute couldn't be breached by outsiders, there weren't many guards inside the institute. Ian and his group circled the institute, found the underwater entrance—a massive steel door—and swam over. Ian fired a chi blast at the door lock, blowing a hole through it.
Slowly pulling open the steel door, Ian waved for the Fish-Man Revolutionary Army members to follow. This was actually a large isolation chamber, with another identical steel door sealed on the opposite side. This chamber was originally used for draining water from submarines.
After some Fish-Man Revolutionary Army members followed him inside, Ian closed the steel door. Then, one Fish-Man member took out a small coral tube and blew... a bubble through the damaged door hole!
Needless to say, this was resin from the Red Line trees of Sabaody Archipelago. Bubbles coated with this resin could withstand enormous water pressure without breaking. Ian and his group had effectively resealed the door.
This way, even if Ian smashed the steel door ahead, the seawater that would flood into the institute would only be the water in the isolation chamber. After all, Ian still didn't know exactly where Vegapunk was located or how long it would take to find him. Maintaining the institute's integrity was essential.
This scene was naturally seen by the guards in the institute's monitoring room. By now, even the dumbest among them understood that the Revolutionary Army was targeting Vegapunk. The only slight difference was that they thought the Revolutionary Army wanted to kidnap Vegapunk, never imagining that Vegapunk had actually been waiting for this day.
Thus, as Ian and his group invaded the institute, a team of CP0 intelligence agents rushed to the institute's lowest level, finding Vegapunk.
"Doctor! We must escort you out immediately!" a masked CP0 member said urgently to Vegapunk, who had his back to them, tinkering with something at the test bench. "Before the Revolutionary Army reaches here, we can still break out using the submarine! Now, hurry and bring the Guide Instrument you've been developing. Even if it's not finished, as long as we break out, we can complete it at another institute!"
However, at that moment, Vegapunk turned around, a puzzled expression on his face. "Guide Instrument? I'm sorry, but since I came here, I've never developed such a thing..."
The CP0 agents were all stunned. A moment later, they reacted, grinding their teeth. "Vegapunk! Could it be that you...! Quick! Seize him!"
Just as the CP0 agents were about to act, a tall figure appeared behind Vegapunk. It was Bartholomew Kuma, holding a book in his arms!
"Execute the final command, PX0!" Vegapunk sighed.
"Understood!" Kuma's voice carried no emotional fluctuation. He raised his hand and gently pushed toward the CP0 agents in front, releasing a paw-shaped air mass.
The next moment, a raging shockwave blasted all the CP0 members flying. The entire lowest level of the institute became a chaotic mess, as if a storm had passed through...