After witnessing Katharina’s powerful kicks, Vir decided neVir to approach this beauty without being on guard in the future.
Despite the severe blows Gard had received, he hadn’t given up. While he had lost his memory, some things seemed ingrained in his bones, such as his Armament Haki and indomitable will.
After delivering her kick, Katharina didn’t continue to attack, indicating that it wasn’t easy for her either. Vir, unable to fight at full strength, could only heavily injure Gard, though it wouldn’t be long before he could deliVir the fatal blow, judging by Gard’s numerous wounds.
Gard sensed that if this continued, he would die today. He hadn’t even had the chance to retaliate since the ambush began.
With a roar, he punched towards Vir. Just by looking at the blackened fist covered in Armament Haki, Vir knew he couldn’t take it head-on. So, he leapt back, using electromagnetic force to fly a great distance, gracefully creating space.
Gard didn’t even glance at Katharina behind him, focusing solely on Vir. After all, Vir had been attacking him head-on, while Katharina had only ambushed him from behind, fueling Gard’s hatred towards Vir.
As Gard charged at him again, Vir’s mouth twitched. This guy was really targeting him today, but Vir wasn’t intimidated.
Infusing a large amount of electricity into his swords, he waited until the blades turned a silver-blue. Then, he stepped forward, mustering his strength before hurling both swords at Gard. The spinning silver-blue sword wheels flew towards Gard. D dodging these near-complete tunnel-spanning sword wheels was a dream in the narrow tunnel.
Gard used his remaining arm to block the incoming sword wheels. But using his arm to block the high-speed, electrified spinning sword wheels wasn’t the wisest choice, even with Armament Haki.
The first sword wheel clashed against Gard’s arm with a clang, followed by intense spinning and cutting, then came the second.
The tunnel was filled with the loud screech of cutting and Gard’s screams.
When the swords’ electricity was nearly depleted, Vir used electromagnetic force to retrieve them. Since the surroundings were all metal, Vir successfully retrieved his swords but ended up crashing into the wall with a thud.
Vir often sets the electromagnetic force to high power when throwing his swords long distances, leading to his predicament. After a few minutes of fighting, the enemy hadn’t hurt him, but he nearly killed himself by crashing into the wall.
After a moment, Vir stood up. Gard was lying on his back on the ground, his arms severed and his chest cut open, exposing his shattered heart. He wouldn’t survive.
Seeing his enemy fall, Vir sighed in relief. Despite their constant advantage, Gard’s Haki-covered fists would have seriously injured or killed them if they had connected.
Looking across at Katharina, Vir noticed something strange. The usually stern beauty was now blushing, her mouth twitching, and her shoulders shaking.
Vir was initially puzzled, then remembered his embarrassing crash into the wall. There had been a witness.
Just as Vir was about to change the subject out of embarrassment, Gard moved. Vir’s focus shifted back to Gard, ignoring his previous foolish behavior.
Gard opened his eyes, which were now clear and bright, unlike the dull eyes Vir had seen before.
“Where am I? It hurts. Who are you? Are you here to kill me?” Gard asked, confused, then wincing at the pain in his chest and arms.
Seeing his severed arms and broken heart, Gard showed no fear or sadness, only regret and anger.
“Yes, I cut your chest. You seem to have regained some clarity. It’s a pity I couldn’t fight you at your full strength, though I doubt I could beat you,” Vir said, looking at Gard with regret. If he were stronger, he would have liked to duel Gard one-on-one.
“Yes, it’s a pity. I worked so hard, awakened Armament Haki in my twenties, and trained in powerful combat techniques, but my ignorance led me to offend a strong enemy. In the end, I was beaten to insanity. It’s laughable, really laughable,” Gard said, tears streaming down his face. It seemed he valued something more than his life, but it was too late now. With his life slipping away, he’d never have another chance.
“Die with dignity. I waited for ten days to ambush you, so rest in peace,” Vir said, slashing Gard’s throat.
Vir didn’t want to see his formidable opponent crying, even though he knew Gard wasn’t crying out of fear of death.
After killing Gard, Vir left the tunnel. Although he had confirmed his alliance with the siblings, the tunnel wasn’t suitable for him to fight in. It favored someone like Katharina, with her brute force. Vir suspected the tunnel was designed for her to defend against powerful enemies, leveraging the terrain advantage.
After Katharina dealt with Gard’s body, Ferdinand prepared a lavish meal in the castle’s dining room, which even the picky Vir approved of.
Although the tunnel fight didn’t last long, it drained Vir’s energy, and his abdominal wound hadn’t fully healed, making his combat performance mediocre.
During the meal, Vir chatted with Ferdinand, occasionally asking why he had chosen to collaborate with him. Looking at Vir curiously, Ferdinand asked if no one had ever sought his cooperation.
Vir shook his head.
Ferdinand explained that Vir’s solitary sailing, despite being an assassin from the East Blue, made his origins clear in the Grand Line. His strength, though crazy in battle, allowed for normal communication outside of it. He had no apparent desire for power, traveling without a pirate flag, suggesting he was an adventurer or wanderer, which was safe for Ferdinand. Finally, Vir has the potential for long-term collaboration in exchanging valuable information and mutual support in both military and commercial aspects.
Listening to Ferdinand, Vir realized he was a sought-after ally, though Ferdinand’s words felt slightly off.
Not dwelling on it, Vir inquired about a suitable training island nearby.
Ferdinand pondered for a moment.
“There’s one suitable island, but it’s extremely dangerous due to both the wildlife and the environment,” Ferdinand said, pausing for a sip of tea.
“Dangerous? How dangerous?” Vir asked, intrigued by the mention of strong animals and harsh environments.
“The animals on the island have strong defenses due to the environment. As for the climate, it’s been artificially altered. The island’s volcano erupts with lava every three days,” Ferdinand replied, seeming doubtful about the island’s suitability but hopeful for his ally’s growth.
“Every three days? Are there any animals left? Training there? More like training to survive,” Vir retorted, thinking Ferdinand was joking. An island that erupts every three days seemed fit only for Kaido and Akainu.
“It’s not exactly lava. The volcano is artificial, and the ‘lava’ is just water at about a hundred degrees, mimicking lava’s appearance. The island also has ancient ruins, though they’ve been thoroughly explored with nothing of value found. Hence, few people go there now,” Ferdinand explained, taking another sip of tea.
Having just finished their meal, the two lounged on the courtyard chairs, soaking up the sun.
“Ruins, an artificial volcano, strong animals? Sounds perfect. Give me an Eternal Pose. I’ll set sail tomorrow,” Vir decided, eager to explore the island Ferdinand described.
Ruins could be hit-or-miss, but the harsh environment was a rare find.
Iron Rock Island – Vir smiled anxiously and wondered what sights awaited him there.
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