Ivan looked at him, his expression showing no fluctuation, and explained:
"There's no particular reason. This technique isn't something that can be replicated. It can only be performed by those with a special bloodline and cannot be taught to others.
Even if I wanted to give it to you, you wouldn't be able to use it."
Upon hearing this, Dragon's face revealed a trace of disappointment, but he did not press further.
He looked at Ivan, knowing the other was not lying.
If such an ability that defied the world's common sense could be easily replicated, Shadow Garden would have long been invincible.
He let out a soft sigh and said in a deep voice:
"I understand. I will arrange the matter of the Devil Fruit and deliver it along with the intelligence to the location you specify."
Ivan gave a slight nod, said nothing more, left an address, and his figure instantly vanished.
Dragon stood in place, his profound eyes gazing in the direction Ivan had departed, his expression complex.
Though his ideals clashed with Fox's, they had reached a temporary understanding on the path of resisting the World Government.
If possible, he did not wish for this ally to perish.
But that was nearly impossible. Facing the behemoth that was the World Government, how long could Shadow Garden hold out?
After Fox and the others departed separately, it wasn't long before the navy reinforcements finally arrived at Loguetown.
Akainu, Kizaru, and Ivan stepped onto Loguetown together. When they saw the remnants of battle in the square and harbor, their eyes tightened.
Especially Akainu. He scanned the area but could not find any trace of his capable subordinate, Onigumo, which gave him an ominous premonition.
Thus, he turned his gaze to a navy lieutenant standing ready and demanded:
"You, come here. Where is Onigumo?"
That navy officer stiffened, quickly stepped forward, and cautiously replied:
"R-Reporting, Admiral Akainu, Vice Admiral Onigumo... he is being pursued by Fox and fled toward the Calm Belt. We... we don't know his current specific situation."
"Pursued by Fox?" Akainu's voice suddenly rose. "Incompetent! A bunch of incompetents! As a navy vice admiral, to be chased and forced into an ignominious escape by a pirate, without even leaving a trace!"
While Akainu vented his anger, Ivan found Smoker standing dazed in a corner and walked over to him.
"Are you alright?" Ivan asked with concern.
Although he hadn't attacked Smoker, Smoker's injuries were still quite severe.
The two furious kicks from Onigumo were not something easy for him to withstand.
Smoker slowly raised his head, glanced at Ivan, and nodded slowly, his voice hoarse: "I'm fine."
As soon as he finished speaking, he looked blankly into the distance, as if talking to himself, yet also as if questioning Ivan:
"Ivan, do you think the justice we've always upheld is truly useful?"
He paused, his fingertips trembling slightly, and recounted everything he had witnessed, word by word:
"I saw it. Vice Admiral Onigumo, in order to capture the Straw Hat Crew, fired upon civilians without hesitation.
Yet the Straw Hat Crew, and Fox, were protecting those civilians.
Tell me, who is truly just, and who is evil?"
"Silence!" Before Smoker could finish, Akainu's furious roar erupted.
He turned sharply at Smoker's challenge, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at him:
"Everything Onigumo did was for Absolute Justice!
Injuring civilians was an unavoidable necessity, to completely eradicate the pirate threat!
Yet you, deceived by pirates, dare to question the Navy's justice? Someone like you doesn't deserve to be a Navy officer—you might as well die!"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Akainu abruptly raised his arm, transforming it into a torrent of scorching magma:
"Great Eruption!"
Blistering lava surged forth with an annihilating force, aimed directly at Smoker.
Smoker's pupils contracted sharply as he tried to evade, but the gap between him and Akainu was too vast. Even at his peak, he was no match for Akainu, let alone now, wounded as he was.
At that critical moment, a figure instantly positioned himself in front of Smoker.
Ivan drew Snowfall from his waist in a fluid motion, gripping the hilt firmly as he swung it down hard against the searing mass of magma.
Boom!
Snowfall clashed with the magma, producing a deafening roar.
Having withstood an Admiral's strike head-on, Ivan remained completely unmoved, his gaze icy as he confronted Akainu and demanded:
"Admiral Akainu, are you going to personally kill a Navy captain?"
Witnessing Ivan intercept Akainu's attack unscathed, Kizaru raised an eyebrow in surprise, his tone exaggerated:
"Tsk tsk tsk, truly remarkable.
Admiral Akainu's Great Eruption was actually blocked so effortlessly by Vice Admiral Ivan.
Vice Admiral Ivan, you've hidden your abilities quite deeply, haven't you? This is truly astonishing."
Seeing Ivan emerge completely unharmed after blocking his Great Eruption, the fury burning like magma in Akainu's eyes momentarily froze—a visible hesitation appearing for the first time.
He was genuinely shocked.
Somehow, without him noticing, Vice Admiral Ivan—whom he had once regarded as merely having decent potential—had quietly reached such a level of strength.
His power now surpassed that of a Vice Admiral, even stepping partially into the domain of an Admiral.
Indeed, that old fox Garp's judgment remained sharp as ever. This guy Ivan would undoubtedly become a Navy Admiral in the future!
But this shock lasted only an instant.
In the next moment, an even more violent rage engulfed Akainu's entire being.
Magma churned around him, his aura reaching an extreme of ferocity as he glared fixedly at Ivan, who stood shielding Smoker, and roared:
"I am a Navy Admiral! Punishing a Navy branch captain is my prerogative. Ivan, how dare you stand in my way?"
Ivan's expression remained calm. Meeting Akainu's scorching gaze without the slightest retreat, he replied:
"Precisely because you are a Navy Admiral, you should not attack your own comrades. If Smoker has done wrong, military law will deal with him. It is not for an Admiral to administer private punishment."
Akainu was thoroughly enraged by Ivan's defiance. He bellowed:
"You fool! Since you insist on protecting this traitor to justice, I'll deal with you along with him!"
Holding back no longer, he clenched his fists tightly, magma surging around them like a tidal wave, ready to engulf Ivan and Smoker together, melting them both.
Ivan's eyes darkened. He turned his head slightly and commanded in a low voice: "Smoker, fall back!"
Smoker's expression shifted, and he immediately gritted his teeth, retreating hastily.
Ivan gripped his sword with both hands. In an instant, a deep, purplish-black hue enveloped the blade of Snowfall.
That was Zi—a power capable of severing space itself!
His wrists lowered slightly, a Spatial Slash capable of tearing heaven and earth apart gathering momentum, poised to strike.
If Akainu was determined to act, then he would gladly reveal a bit more of his strength and let Akainu taste the flavor of Advanced Conqueror's Haki Infusion combined with Spatial Slash!
Just at this critical moment, when a great battle was about to erupt, a blinding golden light suddenly appeared between the two, stopping them.
Kizaru gently raised his hands, his tone also turning serious:
"Yare yare, please wait a moment, you two. If you really start fighting here, Loguetown will be gone. This old man doesn't want to be held accountable by the World Government!"