Hina’s head was buzzing.
It took her a long while to snap out of the overwhelming effects of the dicine.
She stood up abruptly.
Moving her body slightly, she could feel the vitality coursing through her—completely unhard.
Now, Hina had no doubts left.
That dicine really did heal her.
After the initial shock wore off, Hina turned her head, searching for Chiba’s figure.
Such a miraculous potion—Hina had never even heard of anything like it.
If they could mass-produce this stuff, the possibilities were unimaginable.
Hina had to find that guy and ask where he got his hands on such an overpowered dicine.
With that thought in mind, Hina—who had just been severely wounded and collapsed—now dashed at full speed in the direction Vir had disappeared...
---
anwhile.
Near the execution platform.
Hancock stood idly, her exquisite eyes occasionally scanning the battlefield.
Each ti she failed to spot the figure she longed for, she would lower her gaze disappointedly to the small slip of paper in her hand.
"Vir~ Why haven’t you co yet..."
Hancock murmured softly.
The only reason she had joined this war was because Vir had said he would be here.
As long as no one provoked her, she had no intention of fighting.
All she wanted was to wait for that one person she yearned to see.
Rustle...
The small slip of paper twitched faintly.
Hancock imdiately looked up in that direction.
But there was no sign of Vir—she was just hoping he would erge from there soon.
This was already the thirteenth ti she had repeated this motion.
However, this ti...
The paper, which had been pointing steadily in one direction, suddenly shifted slightly.
It curved ever so slowly.
Before Hancock could react, the paper changed direction again.
Within seconds, it had made a sharp ninety-degree turn.
This sight made Hancock’s eyes widen in realization.
She knew better than anyone what this ant.
Vir was here!
And he was close!
Otherwise, the direction wouldn’t have changed so drastically in such a short ti.
But no matter where she looked, she couldn’t spot him.
Hancock quickly understood.
Vir must have altered his appearance—he wouldn’t let himself be recognized so easily.
At this thought, a faint smile curled at the corners of her lips.
"This Empress will find him! And no matter how he changes his face, she’ll always recognize him!"
With that resolve, Hancock followed the Vivre Card’s guidance, moving steadily in one direction.
Anyone who got in her way was swiftly kicked aside, sent flying in pieces.
Once she found Vir, if anyone dared to lay a finger on him...
Well, they wouldn’t live to regret it.
---
"Big Bro! What kind of dicine did you give her just now?!"
Chiba, watching Vir leisurely continue his rescue efforts, couldn’t help but ask in confusion.
But before he could get an answer, the situation unfolding nearby answered for him.
Hina, who had been severely injured monts ago, was now back on her feet.
And she was sprinting toward them at full speed—looking like she was coming to pick a fight!
But...
Was that even the point?!
The real shocker was that Hina was moving as if she had never been injured at all!
What the hell was going on?!
That tiny bottle of liquid—
So small, so unremarkable-looking—
And yet, it had completely healed Captain Hina’s life-threatening injuries in monts?!
Chiba’s mind short-circuited.
He had always known his "Big Bro" was efficient, but this was beyond ridiculous!
She had just been on death’s door, and now she was perfectly fine?!
What the actual—
What could he even say to that?
Only one thing ca to mind: As expected of Big Bro...
The dicine Vir had given Hina was an outdated formula—one that wouldn’t work on anyone even slightly stronger.
But... it did co with a small side effect.
Every now and then, the user’s body would spasm involuntarily...
Luckily, this only lasted for about ten minutes.
After that, there were no further issues.
As for Chiba...
Holding a sword to his throat wasn’t a long-term solution.
Instead, Vir only needed to offer a small, obsolete vial of dicine to secure his cooperation.
A small price to pay for a useful pawn.
All Chiba had to do was explain the relationships between key figures—the rest was up to Vir.
By now, the battle had reached its peak intensity.
Everyone was bloodied, their eyes filled with killing intent.
Vir knew he couldn’t wait any longer.
It was ti to make his move.
Over there, Old Marco was barely holding on.
Akainu was going all out, leaving no room for survival.
Seeing this, Vir tossed the now-empty dical kit aside and began making his way toward Marco.
---
Marco’s face had turned ashen.
By now, he was covered in severe burns.
Even with his regenerative phoenix flas, he couldn’t withstand Akainu’s attacks indefinitely.
His chest, abdon, thighs—even half of his face—were charred black.
The situation was dire.
At this rate, he might actually die here.
The searing pain wracking his body made Marco think of his old friend.
’Brother... I miss you...’
’Vir, you bastard, where the hell are you?!’
’Old Ma needs you! Co heal , dammit!’
’This damn Akainu is cooking alive!’
Honestly, the burning sensation was unbearable.
Marco even thought this was worse than being treated by Vir.
If that guy were here, he’d probably fix this up in no ti, right?
His skills were truly unmatched.
But alas, he wasn’t here.
Marco wore a grim expression as he fended off Akainu’s relentless attacks, but his mind kept drifting to his absent comrade.
Then, as he blocked another magma fist and was sent flying backward—
Disaster struck.
In his path of flight, a young woman raised her palm, glowing with a soft pink light.
With a swift motion, she slapped Marco’s back mid-air!
The force of his montum made it impossible to dodge.
But the girl was also sent flying from the impact—Marco had kicked her in retaliation.
Though he hadn’t avoided the hit, he had at least counterattacked.
Once he steadied himself, Marco felt relieved that he hadn’t fallen for so underhanded trick.
But then—his body began to change.
His slightly rough features started smoothing out, his face growing younger by the second.
In re monts, he looked over a decade younger!
Under normal circumstances, this would be a cause for celebration.
But...
The Marco from over ten years ago wasn’t as strong as he was now.
"Dai Funka!"
Before he could even process what was happening, another massive magma fist was already in his face.
No ti to dodge—he raised his azure wings in defense.
But this ti, Akainu’s punch tore straight through them!
Scorching magma engulfed Marco’s upper body entirely!
The unbearable heat seared his flesh, and the sheer force sent him crashing back once more.
There was no mistake—the girl who had ambushed Marco was none other than Ain, one of Zephyr’s students.
But now, after taking Marco’s kick, Ain was in terrible shape.
Even if Marco’s offensive power was considered "weak" among top-tiers, to soone like Ain, it was a devastating blow.
That single kick had landed squarely on her waist.
A herniated disc was the least of her worries—her entire lower body was likely wrecked.
Zephyr, who had just sent an Eleventh Division Commander flying with a single punch, imdiately rushed toward the scene upon seeing this.
His face was filled with worry.
Along the way, he spotted soone in a white naval dic coat and grabbed them without a second thought.
---
No pirate blocking his path lasted more than a single strike.
Every punch sent soone flying in a spray of blood.
In no ti, Zephyr arrived at Ain’s side.
Another of his students, Binz, was already there.
"Ain! Hang in there! The doctor’s coming! Just hold on!"
Binz clutched Ain’s hand, his voice frantic with worry.
When Zephyr finally got a clear look at Ain’s condition, his heart sank.
Blood trickled from her lips, her face was deathly pale, and her breathing was shallow.
Her hips were visibly deford—no, twisted.
Her entire lower body looked like it had been bent at a horrifying angle.
This was the brutal reality of war.
When the power gap was too vast, even a glancing blow could be fatal.
"Cough—!"
Another mouthful of blood spilled from Ain’s lips, her complexion growing even paler.
Fortunately, with Zephyr’s arrival, the imdiate area—about ten ters in radius—was cleared of enemies.
Though the battlefield still trembled from shockwaves and flying slashes, no one dared approach.
Seeing Ain’s grievous state, Zephyr’s hands trembled slightly.
mories of that mission resurfaced—
The one where nearly all his students had been slaughtered.
Back then, the ground had been littered with bodies just like this—broken, twisted, lifeless.
No!
He wouldn’t let that tragedy repeat itself.
He had to save Ain!
But he knew the truth.
Taking a direct hit from Marco ant that even if she survived, she would never walk again.
From the hips down, she might never regain movent...
With that grim thought, Zephyr steeled himself.
He would have the naval dic he had grabbed perform ergency treatnt first, then rush her to the rear for proper dical care.
Just as he was about to speak—
"Teacher... am I going to die...?"
Ain’s weak voice reached Zephyr’s ears.
She knew her own body best.
And right now, the odds of her ever standing again were slim...
Zephyr’s expression stiffened, but he quickly reassured her.
"Don’t worry! Your teacher won’t let that happen!"
"You just pulled off sothing incredible—Akainu is about to take down one of their top fighters thanks to you."
A proud smile tugged at his lips.
"Your teacher is proud of you."
"But enough talk. You’re a doctor, right? I think I’ve seen you in the dical division. Tend to her injuries imdiately—we’ll take her to the rear for further treatnt!"
Zephyr turned his gaze to the figure in the white coat.
Vir could only sigh inwardly.
Damn it...
Of all people, you grab ...
-----
Read 50 advanced Chapters on my P@treon.
/KakuzuTL
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