"CP0 Director?" Ian narrowed his eyes, surprise flashing across them.
Ian knew of CP0, but he knew little about its director.
No such figure had appeared in the original story.
Ian had not seen the two CP0 agents from earlier, either.
They were probably people who had never appeared in the original story.
Of course, Ian was not surprised that CP0 had someone like this.
The World Government was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface. There had to be other forces hidden in the shadows that had yet to reveal themselves!
This CP0 Director before him was likely one of the World Government's trump cards!
"CP0 is already the strongest force among the World Government's intelligence agencies. I didn't expect it to contain someone no weaker than a Marine Admiral." Ian looked at Owl and spoke calmly.
"Hmph, the World Government's power is beyond your imagination!" Owl swept Ian a glance, inwardly quite wary as well.
After exchanging a move with Ian just now, he had roughly judged Ian's strength.
Though he had not attacked at full strength, Ian had only responded in haste.
Yet Ian had still suppressed him. That showed just how formidable his opponent was!
However, as CP0's Director, Owl naturally had confidence in his own strength.
Moreover, they had already notified the Marines. Before long, Marine reinforcements would arrive.
Once they understood the severity of the situation, the Marines would certainly dispatch Admiral-level forces against a powerhouse like Ice Dragon Ian!
Naturally, he acknowledged the strength of Marine Admirals. They would be no weaker than him, perhaps even stronger than the CP0 Director himself!
"Go to the port and deal with that blind man first. I don't know where he came from, but Lone Wolf alone probably won't be able to beat him..." Owl told Night Hawk before charging toward Ian.
His Observation Haki was incredibly powerful and could cover the entire island.
After discovering that neither Tailed Fox nor Night Hawk could do anything to Ice Dragon Ian, he had immediately headed here.
"Yes, Captain." Night Hawk glanced at Ian warily before darting toward the port.
Naturally, he knew his captain's strength. There was no way he could lose to Ice Dragon Ian!
"Tempest Kick: Sever!" Owl shot forward like a cheetah, trailing an afterimage behind him. He raised his right leg and whipped out a Tempest Kick nearly a hundred meters long, tearing forward with unstoppable force!
[ Ding, mission: Destroy CP0 on the island!
Mission reward: One draw! ]
The system prompt sounded in his mind. Ian's expression remained unchanged as he raised his sword and slashed down at the incoming Tempest Kick, shattering it outright. The scattered blades of wind shot in all directions, each impact carving a long ravine into the ground!
"I'm truly curious. CP0 agents actually appeared on an unlawful island, and there's even an expert like you. What exactly are you plotting on this island?" Ian charged forward with his sword, frost trailing from its edge as he slashed. "Ice Dragon Tailspin!"
"A personage like you wouldn't appear here for no reason. Weren't you here specifically for us?" Owl sneered, dismissing Ian's words with contempt.
He did not believe Ice Dragon Ian had come to this island without another purpose.
His fist was coated in thick Armament Haki as he smashed it toward Ian!
Boom!
The two collided in an instant. Ice crystals shattered, Haki clashed, and a violent shockwave erupted, sending ripples through the air.
Boom, boom, boom...
In an instant, the two exchanged dozens of moves. Their hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship collided without pause, producing a dense barrage of thunderous blasts!
The clash of Admiral-level combatants made the ground throughout the area begin to tremble!
"To have trained the Six Powers to your level is truly rare! Nameless Divine Wind Style: White Tiger!" A tiger's roar rang out, and the air suddenly grew stifling. Ian's blade drew forth a terrifying slash as he swung his sword!
"This is also the first time I've seen such a young Great Swordsman." Seeing Ian's blade descend, Owl did not dare meet it head-on and instead chose to evade.
In this world, swordsmen possessed the most lethal attacks: strength, speed, and killing with a single strike were all hallmarks of a swordsman!
Ordinary hand-to-hand combat experts could fight for half a day in a single battle, but duels against swordsmen often ended quickly!
That was because swordsmen's attacks were too sharp. Every strike was meant to kill, and a single mistake could cost one's head!
Those capable of unleashing flying slashes could be called swordsmen, and even on the seas, they would possess a certain reputation!
As for Ice Dragon Ian, according to the intelligence, he could stand toe-to-toe with Hawk-Eye. Without question, he stood at the same level as Hawk-Eye!
A Great Swordsman!
Great Swordsman was not a title used to distinguish strength. Rather, it was a designation bestowed by certain busybodies of the seas upon swordsmen with immense strength and fame!
Like the Four Emperors, it was recognition of their power!
Like the Four Emperors, there were only four of them!
Among those deliberately bestowed the title of Great Swordsman, only a few were still active upon the seas!
And Ian was absolutely one of them!
Therefore, Owl did not choose to block Ian's slash head-on. Instead, he flashed aside.
With a slash, Ian's sword came down. A majestic crescent-shaped slash raced along the ground, severing everything in its path and leaving behind a bottomless ravine that stretched beyond sight!
"Tempest Kick: Break!" After evading, Owl flashed above Ian. He raised his right leg high and lashed out with a Tempest Kick that hurtled downward!
"Thunder Roar Cannon!" Ian's Observation Haki caught the attack. He raised his left hand, a halo of lightning appearing around it as a bolt of thunder shot forth!
Rumble!
The two attacks drew closer before colliding abruptly. In the next instant, a terrifying explosion rang out as violent force burst outward!
Boom, boom, boom...
The two charged toward each other like twin streaks of light and crashed together fiercely!
Their figures flickered constantly. Every attack produced a booming blast, shattering the earth. The air itself seemed unable to withstand their intense exchange and rippled under the pressure!
"Slash!" Ian's gaze sharpened. His Conqueror's Haki pressed forward, shaking his opponent's mind. Armament Haki coated his blade, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, and he brought it down in a fierce slash!
"Hmph, I have to admit that your Conqueror's Haki is indeed formidable, but it's not enough to affect me!" Owl was stunned by Ian's Conqueror's Haki, but recovered in an instant. His eyes narrowed behind his mask as he shouted, Armament Haki surging and flowing over both fists!
This was an advanced application of Armament Haki. Concentrated flowing Armament Haki could be infused into an enemy's body upon impact, causing destruction from within!
Owl stepped forward. A Six Powers expert possessed incredible control over his body. Every muscle in his body was mobilized, power surging upward from beneath his feet!
"Witness the strongest move of one who has trained the Six Powers to its limit—Six Powers Secret Art: Staff Gun!" Owl roared. He drew both fists back, gathering all his strength into them before smashing them down at Ian!
Before you continue