Chapter 6: Iron Body

Cannonballs crashed onto the ground,

Back then, Ulton, who always enjoyed using Marine warships to intimidate weaker West Blue pirates,

That was the first time I truly experienced fire suppression!

The 86th branch base was destroyed!

His path to advancement,

It was now halted due to the significant losses from the pirate attack on the base.

But he never considered giving up!

"There's still hope, there's still hope,"

"As long as we can defeat that cursed Plank,"

"Perhaps I can not only retain my position as base commander but also rise to a higher rank!"

"Don't underestimate me, you scoundrel!"

Rear Admiral Ulton's bulky body trembled, his gaze fixed on Plank's figure standing at the ship's bow in the distance.

Then, he swiftly moved,

With remarkable agility, dodging artillery attacks effortlessly.

At times, he would swing his sword horizontally, slicing through cannonballs he couldn't evade!

Ulton's rise to branch Rear Admiral status,

It wasn't just due to the favors brought by mafia leaders who worked with him!

He had also undergone elite training at the Naval Headquarters.

Soon, the artillery barrage ceased.

Plank and his horde of pirate minions initiated the final assault on the Marine Base!

"Chop them to bits!"

Plank nonchalantly fired at a major in the Marine branch, the shot piercing through his skull.

With another mighty swing, he cleaved a Marine lieutenant colonel in front of him into two!

After reaching level six, Gangplank's combat prowess rivals that of a Rear Admiral at Naval Headquarters.

Against mere West Blue branch Marine officers,

It's a complete rout!

Even compared to branches in the New World,

The fighting capabilities of Marines in the Sai branch are often much lower, by two or three levels, than those in the main branch.

Plank was unstoppable,

His subdued pirate gangsters roared, encircling the surviving elite Marines at the branch base.

Marine Major Groom panted heavily, wielding a shattered sword and half-kneeling in a blood-soaked ground!

He had dispatched at least ten pirates!

Yet, more pirates had now turned their attention to this remarkably resilient foe.

He was nearing his limit.

"Damn it, if that scoundrel Ulton hadn't misused so much military funding,"

"How could those bombardments alone have razed the base like this!"

"That despicable Ulton!"

Groom gritted his teeth and spat out!

Every Marine Base was meant to be impregnable.

But due to the actions of Rear Admiral Ulton,

The Eighty-sixth Marine Branch Base,

From its soldiers to its defenses, had long fallen into disrepair.

Major Groom finds himself amidst the remnants of the 86th branch base.

A few remaining Marines refuse to align with Ulton's Rear Admiral rank.

A pirate, noticing Groom's vulnerability, brandished a steel knife and aimed to decapitate him in one swift strike!

Groom struggled to rise, eager to continue the fight.

Yet, as he stood, darkness engulfed his vision inexplicably.

In an instant, his body felt as though a thousand kilograms weighed upon him, robbing him of his agility!

"Reached your limit, have you?"

"What a pity,"

Groom stared at the sharp blade poised before him, ignoring the pirate's vicious grin.

With calm resignation, she closed her eyes, awaiting the inevitable!

Just as Groom teetered on the brink of death,

A massive sword materialized before her eyes.

With a stabbing sound, sparks flew as blocks and slashes ensued,

The pirate, once smirking, now spewed blood from his chest, collapsing helplessly.

"Fight for those who can't!"

Galen beamed at Groom, leading rescued Marine soldiers in a daring charge against a vastly outnumbered foe.

"Justice shall prevail!"

On the opposing side, Rear Admiral Ulton, having dispatched several pirate minions, confronted Gangplank with a stern shout,

"As long as I vanquish you, redemption is possible!"

"Rot in hell, you wretch!"

Ulton Rear Admiral brandished his saber at an astonishing speed,

Slicing towards Gangplank in a blink!

As a member of the elite Naval Headquarters training camp,

Ulton's pride lay in his swiftness and swordsmanship!

His keen blade once captured a notorious pirate with a 30-million-berry bounty.

Yet, Ulton's speed was trumped by Gangplank's scimitar, even faster!

Sword shadows danced, sparks flew!

Gangplank deftly parried every blow from Ulton Rear Admiral.

Then, without hesitation, he discreetly aimed his large pistol and

Fired a fatal shot at Ulton Rear Admiral!

The cunning Gangplank never intended to settle the fight with swords against Ulton!

He wasn't a swordsman,

Just a pirate.

Confronted by the sudden bullet, Ulton had no time to evade.

Instead, a hint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes,

He growled softly,

"Iron Body!"

Ulton's muscles hardened instantly, akin to iron,

He then fiercely swung his saber,

Seizing the momentary pause in Gangplank's shooting,

To aim for Gangplank's head.

Ulton held unwavering confidence in his Iron Body defense.

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