Chapter 126: The End of the Mad Scientist
…
On the battlefield, Ian stepped out from the dilapidated hall. Vergo's body was charred in multiple places, his blood staining the ground. Yet, he stubbornly remained standing, propping up his powerful frame. In his pocket, a pink Den Den Mushi remained connected.
"Sorry, Doffy," he rasped. "It seems... I'll have to leave the rest to you all." After this brief message, Vergo severed the connection. He knew full well that with his severe injuries, escape was impossible. Having misjudged Ian's strength, this place was destined to become his grave.
"Moon Walk!"
Using the last of his strength, Vergo leaped towards the increasingly clear figure before him.
"Armed Ghost Bamboo!"
Even at the final moment of his life, he chose to spend it on a frontal assault.
"Courageous, but unfortunately, we stand on completely opposing sides," Ian stated coolly. "I won't draw this out any longer... Pirate Vergo!"
[Five Senses Severance]!
Pfft!
In an instant, Vergo's vision went black. The surrounding sights and sounds vanished abruptly, and he lost all control over his body. As he fell into endless darkness, he still couldn't comprehend how Ian possessed such overwhelming power.
Ian picked up the bamboo staff from the ground and casually tossed it towards the prone Vergo.
Thwack!
The staff flew through the air and pierced straight through Vergo's neck.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating "Donquixote Family Cadre," "Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral," "Ghost Bamboo" Vergo!]
[Reward Enhancement Points: 2100 points!]
[Current Accumulated Points: 3726 points!]
[Friendly Reminder: You can perform one enhancement for every 1000 points...]
Ahem... Ahem...
Caesar Clown, lying amidst the rubble, witnessed Vergo's brutal end. In Caesar's mind, Vergo's Haki was exceptionally powerful. How could he die so easily? Vergo was dead... He would be next!
"D-Don't come any closer..." Caesar stammered, his voice trembling. "Jock Ian... I don't want to fight you anymore... We can cooperate... We could be the best partners... Please, don't come any closer! I'm begging you!!"
He struggled desperately, trying to transform into his gaseous element to escape. But his heart was utterly consumed by the fear of death, leaving his body in a semi-elemental state. He could neither fully become gas nor revert to his original form.
The so-called Logia user, who believed he had mastered a power transcending nature, was, in the face of death, no different from an ordinary person. If one's body and mind couldn't match the miraculous ability, they would suffer its backlash!
"Partner?" Ian's voice was laced with disdain. "Anyone who would work with the likes of you must be a top-tier scoundrel. Sorry, but I have no interest in your half-baked research. Now that I think about it, you're not even half the scientist Vegapunk is."
Ian's words were like sharp arrows, piercing Caesar Clown's fragile ego.
"Vegapunk...! Why must you mention Vegapunk to me?!" Caesar shrieked, his voice cracking. "How can someone who doesn't dare to make the necessary sacrifices for science possibly stand at its pinnacle?! Gas Cannon!"
Once again, Caesar condensed a massive amount of gas, gathering it in his mouth before blasting it towards Ian. The instantaneous combustion heat generated was intense enough to melt the steel behind him. After all, the offensive power of the Gas-Gas Fruit far surpassed that of other gaseous Logia fruits like the Smoke-Smoke Fruit. However, in Caesar Clown's hands, it was never utilized to its full potential.
Huff... Huff... "Is he dead? Did I melt him?" Caesar panted, naively hoping his desperate attack had succeeded.
But as the smoke and dust gradually cleared, Ian's figure had already reappeared, now hovering directly above Caesar's head.
"Guh!" Caesar shuddered violently, huddling into a ball as he looked back. A fist the size of a small mountain, blocking out the sky and sun, filled his vision and crushed his ambition...
BOOM!
The tremors within the research institute spread once more. A madman who had used wicked science to alter the power structures of multiple factions had met an early end.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the "Mad Scientist" and "Logia Gas-Gas Fruit User" Caesar Clown!]
[Reward Enhancement Points: 1100 points!]
[Current Accumulated Points: 4826 points!]
[Friendly Reminder: You can perform one enhancement for every 1000 points...]
The shockwave from the final blow scattered the flames surrounding the hall. The passageway returned to normal, and Nami, Skylark, and Speed finally reached Ian's side.
"Lieutenant General Ian! Are you alright?"
"Lieutenant General Ian, what's the situation?"
"Lieutenant General Ian, we're sorry! The fire was too intense; we were delayed!"
"..."
The three women scanned their surroundings, quickly analyzing the outcome of the battle.
"Not late at all. You're just in time for the final moments of the live broadcast..." Ian said, removing the Video Den Den Mushi and holding it before Caesar Clown's lifeless body.
"My apologies to everyone in the underworld," Ian announced to the live feed. "The host of this broadcast has just passed away. This live stream ends here. From now on, there will be no more so-called 'Mad Scientist' on these seas."
"Joker, the one who coordinated all this... did you see it clearly? Pity he couldn't kill me. The New World... I have arrived, after all! See you all soon. Good night."
With that, Ian terminated the live broadcast. The master Den Den Mushi responsible for transmitting the signal fell into a deep sleep. Ian's provocative counter-execution live stream was destined to become breaking news throughout the underworld.
"Little Skylark, the broadcast is over," Ian said, turning to her. "Go and retrieve the fruit from Caesar Clown's body. That's also a Logia-type... the Gas-Gas Fruit!"
Even without Ian's order, Skylark knew what to do. After gaining the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, she understood that while punishing evil, she could also contribute more to the team. There was a time when Skylark had ignorantly resisted the idea of becoming a Devil Fruit user herself. But that was before she consumed the Dark-Dark Fruit and mastered the formidable power of darkness.
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