Chapter 116: A Lesson in Strength
An invisible spiritual pressure, centered on Ian, instantly enveloped the Red Dragon. All living creatures possess fear. The Conqueror's Haki targeted the shock and oppression deep within its soul. In the face of absolute strength, lowly creatures don't even possess the power to resist.
As Ian's arm slowly lowered... the Red Dragon's massive body suddenly crashed to the ground. It lay prone, trembling all over, as if it had reverted to some ancestral, submissive posture. Its head was buried in the dirt in terror, not daring to look directly at Ian, let alone attack him.
"Ah... this..." Doll stammered, her shoulders shaking. "This is... Conqueror's Haki! It actually made that terrifying giant... completely timid and afraid to attack!"
For the first time, she felt the power of a top-tier Conqueror's Haki user at such close range. What she didn't know was that Ian was deliberately holding back. Otherwise, the dragon wouldn't just be cowering on the ground; it would be completely unconscious.
"Peacock, I like this guy!" Ian said, pinching his chin playfully. "I'll take it with me. Maybe I can become a Dragon Knight in the future?"
"Eh?" Speed blurted out, embarrassed. "Lieutenant General Ian, you can't just fall for someone else so easily!"
Her first subconscious thought was... if Ian really became a Dragon Knight, wouldn't her job as his mount be over? If she lost her core value within the team, she might be cast aside at any moment!
"Understood, leave it to me!" Peacock replied, leaping from the air and landing on the dragon's back. "This stupid pegasus is completely useless, scared out of its wits. Do you value your life that much? I was just about to take action!"
Snap! Crack!
"Wake up, my dear!" Peacock's eyes gleamed with excitement; this was her area of expertise. "From now on, you will be my master's helper! Be obedient!"
In the ruins several dozen meters away, the scout once again raised his Den Den Mushi. "Secretary Monet, this is terrible... Those Marines have subdued the Red Dragon! Please report to the Master immediately and ask him to send someone to eliminate these intruders!"
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating the "Legendary Creature" Red Dragon!]
[Reward Enhancement Points: 500 points!]
[Current Accumulated Points: 926 points!]
[Friendly Reminder: You can perform one enhancement for every 1000 points...]
Whoosh... Whoosh...
Not long after, the Red Dragon, now subdued, flapped its wings and rose into the air, flying up and down with a strange excitement. Ian and his crew boarded the dragon's back and continued their advance.
Nami: "Whoa!! This is like a dream!"
Skylark: "She's right! A legendary creature actually exists?"
Doll: "Are all the things in fairy tales real?"
Peacock: "Want to talk about myths, little Doll?"
T-Bone: "The view from up here is truly magnificent."
Seeing everyone's excitement, Ian, who was holding the dragon's horn, turned around. The cheerful atmosphere vanished in an instant, replaced by a chilling intensity.
"Everyone, while you're having fun, let me say a few words..."
A cold aura swept over the group.
All Subordinates: "!!!"
The powerful pressure made his crew hesitate. Ian was usually playful and unruly, but when he turned serious, his words carried immense weight.
"What... what's going on?" Doll whispered, unfamiliar with the team's dynamics. "Why so serious all of a sudden?"
Just moments ago, Ian had been excitedly letting everyone ride the dragon; the mood had been light. She didn't understand why everyone suddenly looked so grim.
"Little Doll, shut up," Peacock said sharply, offering no further explanation.
Ordered to be quiet, Doll was unhappy but sat down obediently, waiting to see what Ian would do.
"Haha, the feeling of riding a dragon is very exciting, right?" Ian began, his voice losing its earlier warmth. "But you guys... if you can't even handle an ordinary creature like this, how do you expect to survive in the New World?"
His words were like a sharp blade, piercing his subordinates' hearts. This wasn't a game or a playful adventure. When he was around, he could clear obstacles and defeat powerful enemies for them. But Ian had realized early on that his subordinates and partners couldn't remain children hiding under his cloak forever.
The first half of the Grand Line was manageable; they hadn't encountered overwhelmingly powerful foes. Operating within a fixed area, Ian could protect them. But the second half, the New World, was completely different! Logia users, Mythical Zoan users, all sorts of terrifying Paramecia users... countless powerful enemies possessing formidable Devil Fruits. If they struggled this badly against a wild beast, what chance did they have against a real, thinking opponent who wouldn't give them a second chance?
"Next time we encounter a more troublesome enemy, maybe we just shouldn't fight at all," Ian continued, his tone scathing. "Just keep running and running until you get to me. I can handle it. As Marines... what's the difference between you and the civilians we're supposed to protect if you do that?"
"Don't underestimate the New World, you idiots! Those of you without the will to fight, get back to Headquarters immediately! The weak and hesitant... cannot protect anything!"
His repeated scolding grated on everyone's nerves. These subordinates had climbed to their current positions at Marine Headquarters. They were powerful figures of their era, the dreams of thousands of Marine recruits. Each of them had their own pride.
Now, that pride was being trampled under Ian's feet, rendered worthless.
It wasn't that Ian had suddenly developed a split personality or wanted to ruin the mood. He was jolting them awake. The comfortable days were over. The true, brutal sea was waiting for them, and they needed to be ready.
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