One Piece : Winged Dragons of the Beast Pirates

Vice-Admiral Tsuru plummeted like a cannonball, crashing directly into the deck of the battleship below. 

The entire ship trembled violently. If not for the navy battleship's robust construction, it was entirely possible that the Vice-Admiral would have smashed straight through the ship and plunged into the sea. 

Ian had already regained his composure, a light smile playing on his lips. 

"I admit, your Wash-Wash Fruit ability is quite powerful, but what will you do if it doesn't affect me?" Ian said casually. 

Now that your abilities have been exposed, it's not so easy to land a decisive blow with my destructive flames against someone of your level.

But you're far too confident in your abilities, Granny Tsuru.

He flexed his fist slightly, his tone growing sharper. 

As Zephyr-sensei used to say... 

'Tsuru, you rely too much on your abilities!'" 

Ian clenched his fist firmly. 

"Of course, your Armament Haki is truly impressive. Stronger than Marco's Armament Haki, even." 

He glanced at his hand. 

"My punch, though laced with destructive flames, didn't entirely penetrate Granny Tsuru's Armament Haki defenses. But that doesn't mean it had no effect." 

A considerable portion of her Armament Haki barrier had been shattered, meaning Vice-Admiral Tsuru had nearly taken Ian's searing, violent punch with her bare body. 

That couldn't have been pleasant. 

"Sister Tsuru!" 

Gion, who had been locked in battle with Yamato and the others, noticed the scene and couldn't hold back a startled cry. 

Impossible! 

Sister Tsuru… was struck down by that kid? 

"Thunder Bagua!" 

In the brief moment of Gion's distraction, Yamato's attack came crashing in, striking Gion hard on the side of her face. Like a baseball being struck, the navy's rising star was sent hurtling through the air. 

"Why are you spacing out?!" 

Yamato frowned, clearly annoyed. "Fight me properly!" 

Gion soared through the air like a cannonball, flying nearly a hundred meters before flipping mid-air and landing on the ground. Her hand pressed against her face, now covered by a layer of solid ice.

This brat... her freezing power might even surpass Vice-Admiral Kuzan's when he was younger! 

Haki surged through Gion's body.

Crack! 

The ice shattered, but her face still felt numb.

She couldn't tell if it was from the blow or the freezing cold.

Gion, now steady, calmed her thoughts.

Her Observation Haki picked up Tsuru's presence. She's fine. 

There was no need for excessive worry. 

It was better to focus on the battle at hand.

However, at that moment—

"Unbelievable!!"

Trebol's voice was thick with astonishment, and his snot flew wildly as he spoke. "That was Vice-Admiral Tsuru!"

The same Vice-Admiral Tsuru who had relentlessly hunted them, leaving no escape on land or sea, had been taken down so easily?

Ian the Skyfire—what kind of monster was this boy?

"Fuffuffuffuffu! Don't just stand there! Keep fighting!" 

Doflamingo's laugh rang out as he commanded his crew.

Ian's strength was terrifying, but Kaido was even stronger! With the Beast Pirates as allies, Doflamingo's business could operate exactly as he pleased.

In the sky, Ian flew with powerful beats of his wings, scattering flames with a casual sweep of his hand. The fire engulfed several Marines who had disembarked from their warships, intending to assist Gion.

He glanced back. The Germa Kingdom's ships were retreating swiftly; in just a short time, they had already gained considerable distance.

Hmm, it seems the warships won't be able to catch up, Ian thought. That should be about doing it.

Ian lowered his gaze.

On the deck of a Marine warship below, Vice-Admiral Tsuru clutched her stomach, her face pale. She looked up at Ian with a mix of surprise and confusion.

How...?

Her Devil Fruit ability—why wasn't it working? 

Vice-Admiral Tsuru couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

"With this kid's level of Haki, he shouldn't be able to completely ignore her abilities." 

"And that punch… its power is just absurd." 

"It felt like my intestines were about to snap, and my skin and muscles are scorched black from the intense heat." 

"What an overwhelming force… and such scorching flames!" 

"Red flames? Just as the rumors claimed—utterly terrifying in power!" 

"Yamato! Doffy!" 

Ian shouted at the top of his lungs, "Fall back!" 

"Huh?" 

Yamato looked up reluctantly. "We've barely started!" 

"This is enough for now," Ian replied. "There will be plenty of chances in the future." 

"Fuffuffuffu… let's listen to Ian," Doflamingo said with a laugh. "There's really no need to keep fighting them for now." 

"Don't even think about it!" 

Gion roared furiously. 

Fighting when they want, fleeing when they feel like it—did they think the Marines were just some joke? 

Moreover, the unease swelling in her chest hadn't subsided yet. 

She wasn't done fighting! 

"That's not up to you." 

Doflamingo chuckled, raising a finger to point at the sky. 

"Gion!! Fall back!!" 

The sharp voice of Vice-Admiral Tsuru called out from behind her. 

Gion glanced upward. 

In the sky, a fiery phoenix had spread its wings and was descending upon them. 

Gion's pupils contracted as she instinctively retreated. 

Ian's technique was no longer a mystery. 

The Marines had already reached a conclusion: 

In his flaming state, most attacks were ineffective. The only option was to create distance. 

After all, this technique had its limits. 

Fighting him right now was absolutely not an option.

But this worked perfectly in Ian's favor.

**********

Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.

patreon.com/PirateKing24