Chapter 121: The Tide Turns
In the live broadcast feed, only Skylark remained, a solitary figure. Her petite form looked almost pitiful as she walked across the half-melted snow.
Caesar Clown's mocking voice once again echoed through the area: "How terrible, just terrible! The horror of the Slime is nothing compared to the true horror of the human heart! Jock Ian, how can you bear to let a little girl face it alone? Shurororororo...! Are you ready to face the awareness of death? Just give up resisting and witness the greatness of science!"
The other viewers in the live broadcast room didn't engage in such mindless ridicule. They all understood that the slender girl on screen must possess something extraordinary to dare confront the terrifying poison monster. This required immense courage. However, courage was precisely what Skylark felt she lacked the most!
"Wow... it's so big..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "That's scary... How can it look so fierce?"
A tiny tear forming at the corner of her eye went unnoticed by the Video Den Den Mushi. For a young girl, being afraid of a huge, unknown creature was completely understandable. But to still choose to stand up and face it bravely despite this fear showed that Skylark's willpower was improving step by step. In life, there are always moments that require the courage to confront one's fears.
"This distance is about right..." she murmured, steadying herself. "The explosion scattered many smaller versions. I have to be careful not to miss any, or they'll regenerate. Phew..."
Skylark took a deep breath, adjusted her posture, and then stepped forward with a resolute look in her eyes.
"Black Hole!"
Dark matter erupted from Skylark, rapidly sweeping across the ground. In an instant, it expanded to cover a radius of several hundred meters. As the darkness spread, the surrounding light dimmed noticeably. The Slime's still-coalescing form was gradually sucked downward by the dark matter, disappearing from view.
Liquid, solid, gas... nothing could escape the devouring, distorting power of the eternal darkness. Everything was pulled into the abyss. To ensure no fragment of the Slime was missed, Skylark worked meticulously, even extending the darkness to cover the bombed-out ruins of Laboratories #1 and #2. The speed and process of the giant steel debris and the Slime's soft body being swallowed were identical.
The entire process was clearly displayed in the live broadcast.
Exclamations of shock erupted from within Caesar Clown's screening room.
Monet: "What kind of terrifying ability is this? What is that dark matter?"
Vergo stood up, his expression grim. "It seems among Ian's subordinates, there are those with special abilities we weren't aware of! I remember this girl... Skylark!"
Caesar Clown's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "Eh?! SMILE... my SMILE was swallowed by the darkness!! How is this possible? What's wrong with this little girl? It'll be fine, it'll pop right back out!"
However, Caesar Clown's nightmare was just beginning...
It wasn't just the enemy who was surprised. The two newest team members, Speed and Doll, were also sweating profusely.
Speed stuck out her tongue in shock. "Whoa!! She absorbed it all! Skylark... Sister Skylark is so cute... but her ability is too terrifying. She... she already had this power when she fought me? It's a miracle I'm still alive!" As Skylark's former opponent, Speed felt a lingering fear.
Doll pointed a trembling finger forward. "You... your curiosity killed the cat? No, that's not right... You all knew already, didn't you? Damn you veterans, you should have explained this to a newcomer like me! So Skylark is such a terrifying ability user!"
…
Drip... Drip...
After the darkness finished its devouring work, it gradually coalesced in front of Skylark, condensing into a small black energy sphere hovering above her head. The once white-covered earth was now pristine, with no trace of poisonous liquid or gas remaining.
"Skylark, aim for that position," Ian instructed, pointing towards the top of Laboratory #3. He knew the properties of the Dark-Dark Fruit well. "It won't cause collateral damage and will have a miraculous effect!"
Simultaneously, he waved his hand, signaling everyone to evacuate further away. Then, moving with incredible speed, Ian leaped to a high point and snatched a Video Den Den Mushi from the air.
"Hey, everyone in the underworld, hello!" Ian's face, wearing an arrogant smile, was transmitted to every live broadcast room in real time. "I'm Vice Admiral Jock Ian. It's an honor to meet you all in this manner. And next... the real execution live broadcast begins!"
…
[Dressrosa Kingdom!]
Doflamingo (sound of a shattering wine glass): "Jock Ian! This guy... his subordinates have unusual abilities!"
[Gran Tesoro, The City of Gold]
Gild Tesoro: "Ohohoho! A switch from defense to offense! The prey has become the hunter. Interesting, very interesting! Let's see how powerful the Navy's rising star truly is!"
[Pleasure District, Queen's Mansion]
Stussy: "Hehe, that's really your style, Ian. Did you discover the live broadcast a while ago and decide to use it to make a name for yourself?"
…
Inside the laboratory.
Monet, holding a Den Den Mushi, approached Caesar Clown. "Master, a message from Joker. He requests you shut down the live broadcast immediately. If this continues, Jock Ian will truly breach the laboratory, and the consequences will be severe."
Caesar Clown waved his hand dismissively, pushing Monet aside. "Idiot! Are you joking? Shut down the broadcast now? To make me completely lose face in front of our distinguished underworld guests? If SMILE can't kill them, then I'll make sure they all die here! Damn Navy, damn World Government... They stopped me before, can they stop me now? I won't let you have your way! Everything has just begun!"
Caesar Clown had descended into complete madness. Seeing Ian and his team effortlessly destroy his poison gas weapon was a utter humiliation.
Vergo watched Caesar Clown's emotional outburst, his fist immediately sheathing in black Armament Haki. In front of two cadres of the Donquixote Family, he was openly defying Doflamingo's orders.
#################################
💫 Loved the chapter? Want more? 100+ early chapters are waiting on Patreon — including Chapter 221: The Drum of Liberation🔥
👉 Patreon.com/EchoPen
Special shout-out to these incredible supporters:
✨ AbsoluteZero
✨ Ryan Cesario
✨ Archer Sterling
✨ lulmelfrmda3
Thank you all for keeping this story alive 💖
And don't forget to drop a Power Stone ⭐!
Thanks for reading! 🙌✨
🎉 "Join Patreon now and save 10% — offer lasts until New Year!"