Chapter 92: The God's Knight Arrives
The old man wore a classic, formal suit with a thick collar and a distinctive medal, all proclaiming his status was anything but ordinary. In his hand, he held an unsheathed long sword, his gaze locked on the corpse of Saint Charlos on the ground.
T-Bone was the first to react. "Who is that? Such a powerful aura... He hasn't even moved, and he's already caused this much destruction!"
Peacock's eyes widened in horror as she spotted the emblem. "The badge... it has the five-circle symbol of the World Government! Could he be... a Celestial Dragon?"
Nami's voice trembled. "Among the Celestial Dragons... there are people this powerful?"
The appearance of the old man sent a wave of pure dread through the Marine officers. If he truly was a Celestial Dragon, they had no right to stop him, no matter how much damage he caused.
The old man spoke, his voice like grinding stones, filled with contemptuous fury. "CP0 agents... Marines from Headquarters... You were here. And yet, you allowed someone to murder Saint Charlos. You allowed a supreme Celestial Dragon to be harmed." His eyes swept over them, burning with rage. "You worthless trash. Don't you know that even if you die, you must never let a Celestial Dragon come to harm?"
Hiss...!
Crackle!
As his words fell, terrifying brown-red lightning erupted from his body, arcing through the air like enraged dragons. An oppressive, suffocating pressure descended, paralyzing everyone present.
BOOM!
BOOM!
...
The old man's eyes blazed like volcanoes. The devastating force of his Conqueror's Haki was overwhelming, leaving no room for resistance.
Peacock spat out a mouthful of blood, desperately trying to maintain her defensive stance. Her Marine uniform was shredded, her skin lacerated by invisible blades of Haki.
T-Bone raised his sword in a cross-block, but a bolt of the brown-red lightning slammed into him, hurling him backward. The sound of his arm snapping was clearly audible.
Nami sensed the danger but was utterly powerless against it. A powerful shockwave of force swept over her, lifting her off her feet and smashing her into the wall of a nearby building. The brick and stone crumbled instantly, burying her beneath the rubble.
If Ian's core cadres were in such a state, the regular Marines and CP0 agents stood no chance. They were instantly killed or severely wounded by the uncontrolled outburst of Haki. The air filled with the sounds of wailing, crashing debris, and roaring energy.
This blood-soaked scene, these fragmented images of destruction, replayed over and over in Jock Ian's mind, violently刺激着他的神经.
The old man hadn't taken a single step. He stood his ground, unleashing his destructive power with the demeanor of an inviolable king.
The vision ended there.
Ian stood beside Skylark, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
The Supreme Commander of the God's Knights...
Figarland Garling.
There was no mistaking the old man in the vision. His features were too distinct. And Shanks, who was connected to him, was already among the very top-tier Haki users in the pirate world. It wasn't hard to imagine the terrifying level of Haki Figarland Garling possessed.
From his fight with Jack the Drought to killing Blackbeard Teach today, Ian had believed his mastery of Haki had reached the pinnacle. But the sheer pressure and offensive power of Garling's Haki in that brief glimpse of the future was undoubtedly superior to his own current level.
Even if he were present, could he have prevented the tragedy?
For the first time since arriving in this world, Ian truly felt a gap in strength.
Peacock, injured. T-Bone, seriously wounded. Nami, fate unknown. Countless Marines who followed him, dead or dying.
No!
This wasn't a question of whether he could stop it. He had to do everything in his power to avert the impending disaster.
"Skylark, wait for me here!" Ian's voice was urgent. "Do not move from this spot without my direct order!"
"Major General Ian..." Skylark could hear the difference in his tone—tense, even... fearful? Was there a crisis on the island that even Major General Ian couldn't handle?
"YES, Major General Ian!" she affirmed, pushing down her own panic.
Ian didn't explain further. He vanished in the blink of an eye, rushing at top speed toward the scene of the incident.
As he ran, he pulled up his system interface.
Nine chances. He still had nine enhancement opportunities with his points.
[Devil Fruit Skill Type]?
[Comprehensive Quality Type]?
He had one last chance to improve before reaching the scene and the tragedy unfolded. He had to think calmly.
Enhancing [Comprehensive Quality] might, with some probability, strengthen his Haki. Raising his Haki level even a little could make a difference. But even then... could he bridge the gap to Garling's level shown in the vision? If he randomly unlocked combat skills like swordsmanship or Rokushiki, the effect might be even worse. It wouldn't just fail to boost his combat power; it would waste his only chance to save his comrades.
There was only one path: he had to gamble.
[Devil Fruit Skills] - Nine Enhancements!
High-density enhancement could unlock new skills. Perhaps, just perhaps, that held the possibility of resisting Garling.
His mind made up, Ian didn't hesitate. Time was of the essence; the scene he foresaw was likely moments from becoming reality. Figarland Garling would arrive at the Sabaody district soon!
[Ding!]
[Mental abilities enhanced. Host's mental strength significantly improved. Cost: 1000 enhancement points.]
[Taste ability enhanced. 'Super Taste' discrimination and analysis ability significantly improved. Cost: 1000 enhancement points.]
[Vision ability enhanced. Coverage and detection accuracy of 'Super Vision' significantly improved. Cost: 1000 enhancement points.]
[Hearing ability enhanced. Coverage of 'Super Hearing' and 'Hearing the Voice of All Things' significantly improved. Cost: 1000 enhancement points.]
[Physical ability enhanced...]
[Tactile ability enhanced...]
[Psychic abilities enhanced...]
[…]
Message after message chimed in Ian's mind. His tension soared with each consumed enhancement. Under normal circumstances, such a high-density boost to his Devil Fruit abilities would represent a significant leap in his overall combat power. But now, he knew clearly that these improvements alone could not reverse the outcome of the brutal battle to come.
This all started because he had killed a Celestial Dragon. The responsibility was his alone.
After the ninth enhancement chime ended, the new skill he desperately hoped for did not appear. Just as Ian's heart sank to the bottom, a new notification finally sounded...
[Ding!]