Ian extended his right hand and grabbed her right wrist, forcing it down so that her blade couldn't even be unsheathed.
"You're too hasty, Rear-Admiral Gion," Ian remarked, intrigued. "Didn't Mr. Zephyr teach you that anger makes Observation Haki ineffective?"
Kaido-sensei said that Observation Haki is a power that only works when calm.
"Gion!"
Zephyr's face changed drastically, and without hesitation, he turned into an afterimage, charging toward Ian!
Wrong!
The evaluation of this kid's strength by the headquarters was a huge mistake!
In the instant Gion's anger made her vulnerable, he suppressed her!
Though Gion had been defeated by him two years ago, but at this time, he hadn't even used his abilities!
In a flash, Gion's lightning-fast Iai strike couldn't even draw her sword—this was beyond what an ordinary pirate could do! He had to land a heavy blow!
Ian grinned, flicked his hand, and like a whip, he sent Gion's body twisting through the air, then swung her toward Zephyr with a backhanded motion.
Gion became a projectile.
Zephyr quickly halted his advance and caught Gion.
However, the terrifying force emanating from her body caused him to quietly recoil in shock.
"Let's go."
Vice-Admiral Tsuru led the team forward. "It's time to begin the fight."
The outcome of the battle against the Beast Pirates wasn't important, but the Op-Op Fruit had to be reclaimed!
That was the Devil Fruit specifically requested by the Celestial Dragons.
"Let's fight freely."
Looking at the navy charging down the hillside like a tidal wave, Ian loosened his tie. It was another day of the white shirt and black suit combo, looking every bit the suited thug—except for Law.
"Damn it!"
Law gritted his teeth.
He'd been isolated!
"Yay!"
Yamato was the first to cheer, leaping into the air. Her body transformed into a grenade launched by a grenade launcher, soaring through the air in an arc directly towards Zephyr.
Ian wasn't worried, because Zephyr's gaze was fixed firmly on him.
As everyone knew, it was a pirate tradition that kings face off against kings, commanders against commanders—a line that couldn't be crossed.
"Namuji Hyoga!!"
The gleaming white iron rod crashed down.
Bang!
A loud explosion rang out, and a blast of cold air shot through, freezing everything in its path.
Yamato glared at the person who blocked her attack. "You're so annoying!"
"Don't get cocky!"
Gion swung her sword, knocking Yamato back.
She glanced over, but quickly refocused her attention on Yamato.
Although she really didn't want to admit it, she wasn't Ian's match.
She wasn't two years ago, and even less so now.
The gap in their talent was on a completely different level.
In the same span of two years, the difference had only grown wider.
So, just leave it to Zephyr-sensei!
If it's Zephyr-sensei, there's definitely no problem!
He was a former Admiral of the Navy Headquarters! How could he lose to a brat?
At the same time, Ian's teammates also began their charge.
Jack and Black Maria both immediately transformed into their beast forms, crushing the snow beneath them with their massive weight.
Hancock led the charge, stepping on the back of a giant snake, swiftly passing by Yamato's side. It was a snake she had brought from Amazon Lily, named Salome. It was both her pet and weapon.
As they brushed past each other, she shot a proud glance at Yamato.
White-haired freak, you can play with this woman! The Admiral is mine!
"Slave Arrow!"
She lightly tapped her fingers to her lips, then pulled out a large heart-shaped arrow. Next, she drew her bow, and in the next moment, countless peach-colored arrows were already soaring toward Zephyr.
"Hmph."
The former Admiral of the Navy Headquarters merely adjusted his glasses, sneering coldly. "Not worth a chuckle."
The man known as Black Arm suddenly had his right fist turn pitch-black and casually swung it.
Boom!!
The air trembled as a powerful Armament Haki shockwave surged like a torrent, effortlessly obliterating Hancock's arrows.
Oh.
Ian raised an eyebrow.
As a man who once secured the rank of Admiral purely with his martial arts, Zephyr's use of Armament Haki was, of course, top-tier.
Doflamingo, who was watching from the sidelines, had his expression change.
This level of Haki?
"Hancock, move aside."
Ian took a step forward. "Mr. Zephyr is not someone you should be facing just yet."
"Yes!"
Hancock responded obediently, stepping off the giant snake without hesitation, sidestepping Zephyr. However, her exquisitely beautiful face was now flushed red, hands covering her face. "Ian's concern... so touching!"
"Stinky snake woman!"
Yamato snorted coldly.
However, Hancock's blush and racing heartbeat only lasted for a moment. She coldly lifted her head and looked at the Marines.
"Don't interfere with Ian!"
"Perfume Femur!"
The woman leaped into the air, delivering a ruthless flying kick.
However, a Marine also jumped up, casually throwing a punch.
The punch and kick collided, and dark lightning scattered, with the snow on the ground being blown in all directions.
Hmm?
Hancock froze. This woman's Haki is so strong, she wasn't even petrified.
What she didn't know was that the Marine Vice Admiral Tsuru who blocked her attack was also stunned.
Tsuru was just as shocked as Hancock—what powerful Haki! It blocked her attack.
Both of them landed at the same time. The Vice Admiral looked at Hancock's black right foot, his eyes still focused on the invisible waves surrounding it, his expression serious.
Armament Haki with internal destruction level?
Ian gave a soft smile.
The Kuja tribe possesses innate Haki, and Hancock was even more of an anomaly among her people. Not only did she train her Haki faster than her kin, but its strength was also not lacking.
In the two years since, her Armament Haki had become ridiculously strong.
Yamato snorted softly. Compared to Hancock, her Haki was weaker.
However...
White fur began to grow on her body. The moment the white werewolf appeared, the surrounding temperature suddenly dropped. What was already a frigid, snowy environment became even more chilling.
The iron rod in Yamato's hand had turned white, almost transparent.
"Thunderclap Eight Trigrams!"
The crystalline iron rod came at her head-on!
Gion's pupils contracted. So fast! It's like lightning now, compared to two years ago!
Instinctively, she swung her sword to block.
Then, her wrist trembled violently.
Gion was sent flying by a single blow, the blade in his hand frozen, and even his hand was stuck to the hilt.
This annoying girl... she seems completely different from two years ago!
Whether it's her Haki or her DF abilities, she's grown far stronger than she was two years ago!
She used Armament Haki to shatter the ice, but her hands still felt a bit numb.
Gion's expression was incredibly serious.
This person... she's already a formidable enemy!
**********
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