Chapter 74
This made Heracles, standing nearby, feel quite depressed. After all, during his days here, the learning atmosphere had made him incredibly happy. He could discuss knowledge, and there was an endless supply of it to study.
But he couldn't change others' decisions, so in the end he could only sigh.
Ultimately, only a small portion of the scholars were willing to leave.
Victor told Heracles to make the arrangements.
At this time, CP9 had also prepared evacuation ships and began taking innocent civilians aboard.
Meanwhile, the Navy began frantically slaughtering everyone on Ohara. Sakazuki even ordered direct bombardment of the evacuation ships. To carry out his so-called absolute justice.
"Barrels, it's our turn." "Sakazuki is all yours—go have a good fight."
Victor slowly walked with Barrels toward the ship where Spandine was.
"Hahaha, I've been waiting for this moment. Leave it to me."
With that, Barrels leaped into the air, jumping toward the Navy fleet.
At this moment, Sakazuki had already given the order to bombard the evacuation ships.
However, Sakazuki also sensed Barrels' presence—and not only that, he looked toward Victor on the island.
Sakazuki was instantly shocked: Why is Victor in Ohara too?
"Victor, Barrels." "Damn pirates—what are they doing here?"
Sakazuki's brows furrowed, his expression turning ugly as he stared at Victor and Barrels.
At this point, Barrels was already charging straight at him.
"Hmph, damn pirate—you came at the perfect time." "Today I'll cut you down right here."
Sakazuki roared in anger and immediately activated his Magma-Magma Fruit.
The moment Barrels leaped out, he used his Combine-Combine Fruit ability.
All the warships about to bombard the evacuation ships were fused by him.
"Sakazuki, try out the results of my recent training. Hahaha."
Barrels charged directly at Sakazuki.
The nearby warships began melting under his ability, then re-formed as outer armor on Barrels' body.
Seeing this, Sakazuki immediately ordered the Navy warships to retreat, pulling back from the battlefield and bombarding Ohara from another direction.
"Great Eruption."
Sakazuki directly unleashed his Magma-Magma Fruit, engaging Barrels head-on.
He knew Barrels' Combine-Combine Fruit ability—forming a giant form—so Great Eruption was perfect for it.
Wide coverage, extremely high temperature—easy to injure Barrels.
"Hahaha, bring it on. Titan form, Armament Haki."
Barrels directly coated himself in Armament Haki—one punch from him could shatter Sakazuki's warships.
Over on this side, Aokiji instantly broke into a cold sweat upon learning of Victor's presence.
Ohara was already engulfed in cannon fire, but Victor did not stop it.
In the World Government's eyes, Ohara was doomed to be destroyed—he couldn't stay here forever.
Saving the books and a portion of the scholars was already him showing great mercy.
On the Plant Scholars side, Heracles was arranging for the scholars willing to leave Ohara.
As for the innocent civilians, the vast majority had been evacuated by the refuge ships.
The remaining scholars were prepared to die with the Tree of Knowledge, fulfilling their ancestors' will.
"Sigh, we knew this day would come, but we never expected the World Government to be so ruthless."
"What a pity for our Tree of Knowledge—thousands of years old, and now destroyed by our own hands."
"Fortunately, Mr. Victor took all our books. As long as the books are preserved, our ideas and will won't vanish."
The scholars and doctors gathered around the Tree of Knowledge, unable to hold back their sighs.
Even though cannon fire raged outside and shells were hitting their location.
They all appeared incredibly calm, like martyrs facing execution.
They had already prepared themselves for death.
On the Navy side, many soldiers also didn't understand this Buster Call.
Ohara had only researched the Void Century—did it really deserve destruction?
They couldn't stop wondering why.
Was it just for the World Government's political authority?
Was killing so many innocents truly reasonable and legal?
But they were just lowly soldiers—they had no way to voice their thoughts.
They could only follow orders, like Sakazuki—absolute justice.
Thus, countless cannon shells bombarded the Tree of Knowledge.
"Boom boom boom."
Explosions rang out nonstop—Ohara was now a sea of fire.
Barrels and Sakazuki paid no attention to the battlefield on Ohara's side.
Of course, it wasn't just Sakazuki and Kuzan—two vice admirals—executing the mission; the other vice admirals weren't dead weight.
But they weren't brainless either—they only attacked Ohara.
They didn't even glance at where Victor was, simply carrying out their orders.
In fact, Kuzan was the one who thought the most, questioning his own justice and the World Government's authority.
Most Navy officers were no different from Sakazuki—they just followed orders.
On the Plant Scholars side.
The scholars aboard couldn't hold back their tears—they couldn't protect their homeland.
They could only survive and spend the rest of their lives passing on Ohara's knowledge and will.
Heracles looked at Ohara engulfed in war flames, feeling bitter inside.
"Heracles-san, should we make it snow on Ohara?"
Bailey, seeing Heracles in a bad mood, quietly asked.
Hearing Bailey, Gavin immediately walked over too.
"Yeah, Heracles. I can make it rain on Ohara too."
Gavin also loved Ohara's learning atmosphere and wanted to contribute at this moment.
"No need."
Heracles shook his head, rejecting their requests.
"Why?" ×2
Bailey and Gavin immediately didn't understand—if they had the ability, why not use it?
"Do you think the Navy's Buster Call is child's play?"
"They won't stop until they achieve their goal. Otherwise, why wouldn't Victor stop them?"
"Or would you stay in Ohara your whole lives protecting it?"
Heracles explained.
"Ah? So that's how it is?"
Bailey suddenly understood.
"No wonder Captain Victor didn't fully stop the Navy—he only saved some scholars."
Gavin also got it.
"Yeah, otherwise these Navy ships would've been crushed by Victor long ago. Would they need your help?"
Heracles said helplessly.
But they all knew Victor was going to protect the innocent civilians.
After all, Sakazuki was about to order fire on the evacuation ships.
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