Chapter 352: Assault on Punk Hazard
Punk Hazard is an island affiliated with the World Government. At this time, the gas leak incident caused by Caesar Clown has not yet occurred, and the interior of the island is full of vibrant scenery.
"Hmm~" Borsalino stepped out of the laboratory and asked the nearby lab coat wearer, "Is there anything else I need to do?"
"No, Admiral Borsalino. The laser data has been fully collected, and the rest is up to our experimental team. We just need to materialize your laser attacks," Vegapunk answered calmly.
"That's quite impressive~" Borsalino twisted his mouth into an exaggerated expression, "If we can really replicate the power of the Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit attack and combine it with Bartholomew Kuma's strong body, it would definitely be a powerful artificial weapon."
"Don't you think so, Bartholomew Kuma?" Borsalino turned to Bartholomew Kuma, who was standing still at the side, holding a thick book.
"..." Bartholomew Kuma ignored Borsalino's question, and the glasses on his nose prevented others from reading his thoughts.
"Hey——?" Borsalino stretched out his voice.
Bartholomew Kuma finally spoke: "Vegapunk, I suppose my part is finished now?"
"Yes," Vegapunk flipped through the modification plans in his hand, "The next modification surgery is at the end of the year. Make sure to come on time."
The silent Kuma nodded to signal that he understood and with a "Boom~" sound, he disappeared before everyone's eyes.
"..." Borsalino shrugged in regret, "I really don't understand, how can Bartholomew Kuma, the so-called 'Tyrant,' willingly undergo modification experiments and become a living human weapon?"
Vegapunk sneered, "You should ask your World Government what they've threatened him with."
"Hey hey hey~" Borsalino shook his head, "You can't say things like that~"
Vegapunk didn't continue to mock the World Government in front of the Marine Admiral, holding various experimental plans as he walked away. The round-shaped Sentomaru, serving as Vegapunk's bodyguard, quickly followed with bare feet.
Borsalino scratched his ear, feeling like it was time to trim his nails. He was preparing to go to his office to cut his nails, drink tea, and read the news to pass the time. Guarding the World Government's secret scientific research base was such a boring job.
...
The Indomitable, captained by Artoria, sailed through the dark, murky depths of the sea.
"Captain, is our next target BIG MOM? Or Kaido?" Not long after setting sail, Porche cautiously approached Eric to ask.
"Oh? You want to fight the other Four Emperors?" Eric raised an eyebrow, asking with a mischievous smile.
"Yuck~ I don't like that!" Porche clung to Eric , "Captain Eric , where are we headed next?"
Eric glanced at the pink-haired figure around the corner and smiled, "Don't worry, our next opponent isn't one of the Four Emperors."
"Phew~" Both of them sighed in relief simultaneously.
"We're going to attack a heavily guarded Marine base."
"Pf—! Cough, cough..." Both of them choked on their own spit.
With the girls' cries for help, the ironclad warship got closer and closer to the surface of the sea.
◇
"Woo woo woo—!" The deafening alarm instantly overwhelmed all other sounds. Above the busy military dock of Punk Hazard, only the enemy alert siren rang, signaling the arrival of intruders.
"Da da da," large groups of Marines were rapidly gathering, and the docked Marine warships lowered their sails and slowly left the port.
"Ah, we were spotted," Eric shook his head in frustration.
"Approaching the military base from the sea, it would be strange if we weren't discovered," Scáthach said nonchalantly, "After all, the World Government has been operating here for so long. They surely have alarms and defense systems."
Scáthach shifted her gaze, "Why not use the powers of the Door-Door Fruit and Float-Float Fruit to launch an aerial surprise attack?"
"To experiment with the electromagnetic defense system," Eric spread his hands, "Besides, the Door-Door and Float-Float Fruits have been used too much. This ambush tactic wouldn't be as surprising."
"What should we do next? Should we force the attack?" Esdeath's excited expression clearly showed she wanted Eric to give the order quickly.
"Looks like we have no choice but to force the attack," Eric nodded in agreement with Esdeath's proposal, then turned to Chiron, "Chiron-sensei, I'm entrusting the temporary command of the Indomitable to you."
"Leave it to me," Chiron flashed a confident smile, "I'll be on the ship, waiting for your victorious return."
"Da Vinci, Wendy, Kuina, Yoshino , Perona, Carla, Kana, stay on the ship."
"Lant, cooperate with Deidara in the air to sink the nearby Marine warships, and the rest of us will land on the island."
"Understood!"
The group's response drowned out the confused female voice saying, "Eh? Ugh~ I have to land too?!"
"Boom boom boom!" The 406 cannons belched flames, launching a one-ton firework shell at the Marine warships, performing a funeral ceremony for the wooden sailing ships.
The Marine coast defense cannons also retaliated, as the Indomitable was unexpectedly exposed to Marine artillery fire, since the Dawn Pirate Crew needed to land.
"Boom boom!" The dense artillery fire formed a net of gunfire. Even though the accuracy was poor, a few shells still hit the Indomitable, but the electromagnetic defense system installed on the ship intercepted them, causing orange flames to bloom in the air.
"The electromagnetic defense works well," Eric felt the force field enveloping the Indomitable through his [Mind Network].
"Ordinary artillery can't break through the electromagnetic shield," Da Vinci suddenly remembered, "By the way, Eric , where did you get this design from?"
"Buddha says: 'I cannot speak of it.'"
"Hmph, pretending to be mysterious," Da Vinci snorted.
"Porche, open the air door."
"Yuck~" Porche reluctantly obeyed the captain's order and used her ability to open the air door.
...
"Hurry up! Hurry up!" A Marine officer waved his arms frantically, issuing orders, "It's the Dawn Pirate Crew attacking. We must defeat them and uphold the Marine justice!"
"Oh!" The running Marines quickly responded, loading their muskets with gunpowder pellets and unsheathing their blades, ready for battle.
"Creeek~"
Behind the Marine officer, the sound of a door opening echoed, but there was no door in the plaza. He turned around, confused...
"Think you can defeat us? You can't do it just with numbers," Eric smiled as he stepped through the doorway, raising his right foot, "At least not with just you all."
"…!" The Marine officer instinctively took a step back, his legs trembling uncontrollably. But he still drew his officer's sword, "'Kuilong' Darren Eric ! Today, I'll arrest you here!"
The Marines behind him raised their matchlock guns, aiming them at the Dawn Pirate Crew.
"You're just a lieutenant, so stop putting up a meaningless resistance~" Eric waved his hand casually, "Besides, I'm just here to take something that's irrelevant to you."
"There's nothing here that belongs to you! Pirates! Surrender now!"
"Kurumi, please make sure these guys lose their ability to resist."
"You really love ordering people around, don't you, Eric -~" Kurumi gracefully stepped forward, raising her slender right hand, "Time-Devouring City !"
The dark shadow under Kurumi's feet spread like ink in clear water. Centered on her body, it covered the dock's surface and began to spread outward, engulfing the surrounding area, submerging it entirely.
The area covered by the Time-Devouring City suddenly darkened, and the Marines were suddenly struck by an overwhelming sense of fatigue and weakness, as if the air had become sticky, tying their hands and feet with heavy objects.
"Bang bang bang," Marines on the scene groaned in pain, collapsing to the ground one by one.
"Ugh—!" The Marine officer pierced his palm with his sword, the sharp, deep pain spreading through his body, fueling him to rise.
"Just like a real officer," Esdeath clapped, "A soldier trained by the system, one who earns the officer position with their own strength, is certainly not to be underestimated."
"You..."
The cold, hard ice spear pierced the officer's body, silencing his words as the taste of blood and stomach acid mixed and surged out of his mouth.
His eyelids grew heavy, his consciousness blurry. The coldness corroded his body, and sleepiness invaded his brain.
"He's a good person, right?" Erza, a bit upset, confronted Esdeath, "Why kill him?"
"Isn't it natural to kill an opponent?" Esdeath asked in return, "That also… doesn't mean you have to kill him!"
"I still don't want to kill him!" Erza, speechless, still opposed Esdeath's killing actions.
"Do you still think you're in that gentle old world?" Esdeath glanced at Erza, "You can defeat these guys, and I won't touch the injured who have lost their ability to resist."
"...!" Erza gritted her teeth, "You said it!"
"Heaven Wheel Armor!" A flash of light appeared as Erza donned a magnificent suit of armor. Feathery wings formed on her back, and the armor highlighted her beauty and strength.
"Heaven Wheel: Sword of Circles!" Dozens of flying swords swirled behind Erza as she charged at the standing Marines. Multiple swords launched at high speed in circular formation.
"Ughhh!" Ordinary officers couldn't block her sword skills, and they were left lying on the ground with screams.
...
"Seriously~" Hearing the alarm, Borsalino helplessly put down the newspaper in his hand, slowly lowering his crossed legs, "Where did these small-time thieves come from this time?"
"Admiral Borsalino!"
"Old man!"
A Marine and Sentomaru simultaneously came to report.
"Which pirate crew?" Borsalino asked in confusion, "Even the famous pirates from the New World wouldn't intentionally attack an island with Marines stationed. Could it be..."
Both answered, "It's the Dawn Pirate Crew!"
"…I knew it." Borsalino scratched his itchy scalp with his finger, "Nothing good ever comes from being associated with them. Sentomaru, go protect Vegapunk and escort him out of Punk Hazard to Marine Headquarters."
He then ordered the officers, "Call Marine Headquarters, G1, and G5 to request backup."
"Yes!" The officer saluted, "But the nearest G5 branch will take a day to arrive, we..."
"I'll delay them to buy some time. You all hurry up and act," Borsalino rotated his neck.
"Yes!" The two hurried off to fulfill their tasks.
"Ugh~" Borsalino sighed, "I really wish I could swap places with Sakazuki..."
Just as he finished Speaking, Borsalino turned into a flash of yellow light and vanished from his office.
...
"What's going on?!" The Marine officer's furious shout echoed in the gun room, "What's going on with that ship?! It took dozens of hits from our cannons and still has no damage?!"
"Report, sir!" A cannon operator saluted, "Actually, the cannonballs didn't hit the enemy ship's hull. They exploded in mid-air after touching something unidentified!"
"What?!"
"That, sir!" The Marine pointed at it, "That semi-transparent wall is blocking the cannonball attacks!"
"Whoosh..." Erza's shoulders heaved as she gasped for enough oxygen from the air, with large groups of Marines lying defeated at her feet.
"Impressive," Esdeath clapped, "I really want to spar with you."
"I also want to learn from you," Erza glared at Esdeath, "I don't oppose killing enemies, but when it comes to the Marines, I can't agree with your method!"
Eric stepped forward, "Erza, you may only see the Marines attacking pirates, but you haven't seen how they've become executioners killing civilians under the World Government's orders."
"Eric , what are you saying?" Erza asked, disbelief in her voice.
"Over a decade ago, the Marines, in search of the bloodline of Pirate King Gol D. Roger, captured pregnant women in the South Blue, killing many of them in the process, adopting the 'Better safe than sorry' mindset."
"You... what...?" Erza couldn't quite believe her ears.
"This method isn't wrong, is it?" Suddenly, a sarcastic voice rang out, followed by glaring light and a fierce kick.
The white tips of the shoes gleamed with yellow light as two long legs split into a vertical ninety-degree angle. Borsalino's white shoes flashed before Eric 's eyes, and he could even see his own reflection on their surface.
"Boom!"
Eric flashed aside just inches away as the yellow laser shot from Borsalino's kick, blasting through several buildings and finally causing a massive explosion.
Amid the explosion's fire and roar, the Dawn Pirate Crew saw Borsalino, dressed in a Justice cloak and a bright yellow-striped suit, landing gracefully.
"Ah~" Borsalino opened one eye and said casually, "I thought I could surprise and take down 'Kuilong,' but it's not that easy. Did you leave an opening for me to attack?"
"Of course," Eric shrugged, "My [Mind Network] can monitor all of Punk Hazard, but I didn't expect to find a Marine Admiral stationed here."
"Stop lying~" Borsalino twisted his mouth dramatically, "You have that 'I knew it' expression on your face."
"Hahaha, I'm not good at lying," Eric turned to Erza, "This monkey is a Marine Admiral, and the only person with a higher rank in the Marine system is the Fleet Admiral."
Borsalino raised an eyebrow, "Who are you calling a monkey..."
Erza stepped forward again, confirming, "Is everything you just said true?"
"…The infamous Pirate King Roger certainly shouldn't have his bloodline survive in this world," Borsalino's eyes scanned Erza through his orange sunglasses, "Just like your Dawn Pirate Crew."
(END CHAPTER)
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