As is well known, the Iron Block technique is a miraculous skill in the world of the Pirate King.
Historically, those who relied on it as a trump card generally did not meet a good end.
It was previously mentioned that the main reason most powerhouses in this world appear particularly durable is the mutual cancellation of their attacks.
Both sides use large-scale attacks, and after the cancellation, the energy landing on the defeated party is significantly reduced.
Furthermore, since the attacks are usually relatively dispersed, even less energy lands on vital areas.
But Iron Block is different; it only enhances the user's defense.
It neither cancels out the attack intensity nor allows the user to move, guaranteeing that the damage lands on relatively vulnerable spots.
If one can still withstand that, their physical constitution must truly be exceptional.
Sure enough, with a soft 'thud,' Vergo's hand, wrapped in Armament Haki, stabbed out like lightning.
"Shigan!"
His finger precisely pierced Barrels' shoulder blade, and blood splattered.
Vergo had come for the Ope-Ope no Mi, after all, and did not intend to take Barrels' life immediately; otherwise, that single strike could have pierced his heart.
Barrels wore a look of disbelief.
During the recent battle, he had already sensed the gap between himself and his opponent.
But he hadn't expected his strongest defensive skill to be so utterly useless against Vergo.
Before Barrels could recover from his shock, a faint glow had already adhered to Vergo's leg.
"Rankyaku."
An invisible vacuum slash shot out instantly, heavily slamming into Barrels' chest!
Boom!
Barrels' massive body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, barely stopping after rolling several times on the ground. He was spitting blood, struggling to get up, but ultimately collapsed powerlessly onto the ground.
Although Vergo didn't intend to kill him, he had severely wounded him. Only then did he slowly walk up to Barrels, looking down condescendingly at his defeated foe, and spoke coldly:
"Now, can you tell me the location of the Ope-Ope no Mi?"
Facing Vergo's emotionless interrogation, a flicker of struggle crossed the severely injured Barrels' face.
He was not a particularly tough character. Although the Ope-Ope no Mi represented a fortune of six billion Berries, his survival instinct made him realize that resistance was meaningless in the face of such absolute power disparity.
"It's... it's in a secret compartment in the Captain's cabin..."
Barrels gasped for air, struggling to reveal the location of the Ope-Ope no Mi.
Hearing this, Vergo mercilessly lifted the now defenseless Barrels and slowly walked toward the ship's cabin.
He used Barrels' body as a shield before reaching out to open the hidden compartment, where a box rested quietly inside.
Opening the box, an unusual Devil Fruit covered in swirling patterns lay within—the target of his journey, the Ope-Ope no Mi.
Vergo contentedly took it out and carefully placed it inside his clothes.
He looked down at Barrels, who was slumped on the ground:
"Thank you for your cooperation..."
Following that, he added coldly:
"However, you are no longer useful."
Before his words finished, Vergo's Haki-covered finger mercilessly pierced Barrels' heart.
After dealing with Barrels, he hesitated for a moment.
According to Doflamingo's plan, all those who knew the secret needed to be eliminated.
But now the plan had run into some trouble. He was alone, while the remaining members of the Barrels Pirates had scattered and fled.
Minion Island wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either, and finding everyone would take some time.
"What a hassle! Can't they just wait patiently to die?"
Muttering to himself, Vergo nevertheless began the cleanup operation.
As an undercover agent sent by Doflamingo into the Marine, Vergo's loyalty to the Donquixote Family was naturally unquestionable.
Soon, screams began echoing from various parts of the island.
Gris, taking the trembling Drake with him, hid in a pre-dug pit, cautiously listening to the movements outside.
Blake had not ordered his informants to rescue Drake, but Aramaki's side always had the mission of selecting promising children to join the organization.
Gris had spent a considerable amount of time with the Barrels Pirates, and he felt Drake was talented. If he recommended him to Aramaki, he might receive greater rewards.
The screams outside grew fewer and closer.
Gris couldn't help but hold his breath, clamping his hand tightly over Drake's mouth.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The sound of footsteps approached from a distance, and Gris could hear his own heart pounding.
Just then, a burst of unrestrained laughter came from the sea.
The sound was so loud that the snow on the ground trembled.
"Hahahaha... Where is that crazy old woman Linlin?!"
Not far away on the sea, a dog-head warship was rapidly approaching. At the bow, an excited old man was staring intently at the corpses on the island, his eyes full of fighting spirit.
Garp leaped up from the ship, crossing hundreds of meters before landing directly on the island, smashing a large crater into the ground.
The aura around him was unrestrainedly released, but after a moment, he frowned:
"Hasn't that old hag arrived yet?"
He scratched his head:
"Did I come too early?"
The Sword King who followed close behind was speechless and reminded him:
"Vice Admiral Garp, our mission this time is the Ope-Ope no Mi!"
Garp waved his hand:
"That kind of thing isn't important at all."
"Only those fanciful fools in the World Government would think of achieving eternal life using a Devil Fruit."
He was willing to make this trip, but not to find the Ope-Ope no Mi for the World Government.
The pent-up frustration in Garp's heart had not fully dissipated over the years. When he heard that Charlotte Linlin would also be coming this time, he decided to fight the old woman and vent his frustrations properly.
As a result, because the Marine could use the World Government's exclusive channels, their sailing speed was slightly faster than the BIG MOM Pirates.
Even though Charlotte Linlin had set off first, she hadn't arrived yet.
Seeing Garp appear, Vergo frowned. He didn't know if he had finished wiping out all the members of the Barrels Pirates.
But he knew Garp must have detected his presence.
Without hesitation, Vergo hurried over, saluting Garp from a distance:
"Marine Rear Admiral Vergo! Reporting to Vice Admiral Garp!"
Garp looked strangely at the newcomer. He had never met this man, so he asked curiously:
"Rear Admiral Vergo? What are you doing here?"
Vergo had prepared his explanation the moment Garp appeared:
"I was sailing in the nearby waters and noticed unusual activity and bonfires on the island, so I came ashore to investigate."
He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully:
"It turned out that a group of pirates was celebrating on the island, so I eliminated them while I was here."
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