Chapter 130: A Righteous Arrival
"Woooooooo..."
"Woooooooo..."
The two tamed dragons, Little Red and Little Green, trembled and pressed themselves against the ground. They didn't dare attempt to take off, nor did they dare look up at the giant pink dragon soaring in the sky.
T-Bone: "Everyone, I suddenly feel like I shouldn't demonstrate my ability..."
Peacock: "Wow! Incredible! A Mythical Zoan? That's a real dragon! The ones we caught earlier were just fakes!"
Skylark: "An artificial Mythical Zoan fruit? There was such a terrifying Devil Fruit hidden on this island? All thanks to Vice Admiral Ian!"
Doll: "I'm not going to be... the weakest link in the team, am I?"
Speed: "Waaah... Why? You call this an artificial Zoan?"
The scene erupted in shock the moment Nami completed her transformation. Everyone instantly understood why she had asked them to keep their distance.
Ian clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with excitement. This was the beastly transformation he wanted to see! In the original timeline, Momonosuke, who ate the fruit at age eight, was completely incompatible with its immense power due to his youth and mentality. Initially, he could only transform into a small, powerless dragon. It was only under increasing pressure and opportunity later that he barely managed to harness a fraction of Kaido's power. Ian had wondered if Nami would also go through a long period of simplicity and weakness, requiring extensive training to develop stronger abilities. Now, his doubts were completely dispelled. This overwhelming oppressive aura... there was no mistake! Nami was perfectly compatible with the artificial Mythical Zoan Azure (Pink) Dragon Fruit!
High in the air, Nami, in her draconic form, knew Ian wanted a demonstration. Energy rapidly gathered in her maw before she unleashed it upon the open ground and a nearby hill below.
Boro Breath!
BOOM!
...!
Violent, scorching flames spewed forth for several kilometers. The towering hill and the massive debris were vaporized in an instant, completely razed to the ground. The destructive power of a single attack was no less than Admiral Akainu's magma eruptions. If Nami wished, she could single-handedly destroy the entire island of Punk Hazard. This was a top-tier fruit, possessing truly terrifying destructive power!
…
After the underworld live broadcast ended, within the dark palace atop the Royal Plateau in Dressrosa, angry roars echoed for a long time. Many windows and glass panes were shattered in the fit of rage. By the pool outside, none of the junior officers of the Donquixote Family dared to approach. Though they hadn't watched the broadcast directly, they had learned of "Caesar's death" from Trebol, who had just emerged.
As the only scientist in the world capable of producing SAD, the raw material for artificial Devil Fruits, Caesar Clown's death was a fatal blow to Doflamingo and the entire Donquixote Family. For a long time, their biggest buyer for artificial Devil Fruits had been none other than Kaido, one of the Four Emperors. Maintaining a cooperative relationship with the volatile Kaido was no easy task. Not long ago, Doflamingo's indirect involvement had led to the death of 'Drought' Jack, pushing his relationship with Kaido to the brink. Now, with the production of new artificial Devil Fruits impossible, what awaited the Donquixote Family was... war with Kaido, the King of the Beasts!
Although the Beasts Pirates were currently restrained by two Admirals and temporarily unable to act, it was impossible to predict how long the Marines would hold them back. Doflamingo hadn't felt his fate held in someone else's hands for many years. This was the true source of his fury!
"Young Master, was Vergo... really killed as well?" one of the four senior cadres seated before Doflamingo asked. Only three chairs were now occupied.
"Hmph. That bastard Jock Ian got him," Doflamingo snarled. "I misjudged his strength and underestimated that old fool Sengoku's cunning. It seems now that the death of 'Drought' Jack... was most likely not Kizaru's doing."
For once, Doflamingo's IQ was online.
"Young Master, if Jock Ian is hiding such deep power... will he come to Dressrosa to cause trouble for us?" another core cadre asked from the darkness.
Doflamingo was silent for a few seconds before bursting into his signature manic laughter. "Fufufufu... Marine Headquarters would never allow him to move against me. A mere Vice Admiral isn't even qualified. If he truly dares to come... things will become much easier to handle."
…
A few hours later, aboard Ian's Vice Admiral's ship.
"Huh? Vice Admiral Ian, you mean... we should head to the G-7 branch first?" the ship's Marine Sergeant Captain asked in surprise. "Commanders, are you disembarking here? There's not even a landing spot around!"
As a veteran who had followed Ian for a long time, he naturally knew Ian's orders were not to be disobeyed. Even so, just thinking about the consequences of abandoning the Vice Admiral and his officers at sea made him realize the gravity of the situation.
"How we land is not your concern. Remember my arrangements," Ian stated firmly. "Contact the Marine Medical Corps at the nearest island and have them liaise with the Science Unit. No need for explanations. Just tell them these children are from Punk Hazard."
Ian had devised a plan for the rescued, innocent children. Having Vegapunk remove the toxins from their bodies was the best course of action.
"Understood, sirs! Rest assured, I will definitely complete the mission!" The Sergeant Captain saluted, watching as Ian and his crew flew away from the warship on the back of the red dragon.
The nearest kingdom, Dressrosa, was still dozens of minutes away by sea. Riding the red dragon could cut the travel time by half or more. To deal with the Donquixote Family, involving too many Marines could lead to unnecessary casualties. They weren't facing hundreds or thousands of pirates, but Doflamingo and his core officers alone. Ian bringing his personal subordinates was more than sufficient; too many people would become a burden.
Gathered on the red dragon's back, Doll voiced her confusion. "Lieutenant General Ian, are we just entering the territory of the Dressrosa Kingdom like this? Isn't this the same as telling Doflamingo the Navy is here to cause trouble for him? Do you have some special plan you haven't told us about?"
Having been proven wrong repeatedly by Ian's seemingly unreasonable actions, Doll had learned her lesson this time and asked about his plans upfront.
"The Kingdom of Dressrosa is their territory," Ian explained. "It's a tense period now. Even if we could successfully disguise ourselves and infiltrate... what kind of person travels with two dragons for no reason? It's far too conspicuous; hiding is impossible!"
He paused, a determined glint in his eyes. "The most important reason is this: if we infiltrate with hidden identities and start a war with Doflamingo and his gang, we become the invaders. The image of the Marines I lead... must, of course, be glorious and righteous!"
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