Chapter 577: The Old Man’s Spirit


    Upon hearing Ian’s question, Marco hesitated for a moment, but then quickly understood.


    Ever since Ace returnedst time, they had heard from Ace about Ian’s healing abilities, so they immediately thought that Ian might want to go back to cure their old man.


    So Marco immediately whispered a few words in Ian’s ear.


    “Got it!” Ian nodded, nced at Akainu over there, and said to Marco, “Hold on for me for another ten minutes! You can do that right?”


    “No problem!” Marco immediately agreed and rushed towards Akainu, recing Ian to continue the fight with him.


    Although Akainu really wanted to attack Ian, the problem was Marco was not to be underestimated either, so he had no choice but to deal with Marco’s constant offensive first.


    Meanwhile, after Marco rushed up, Ian immediately spread his ming Wings and flew towards the inds in the distance.


    Even though Sengoku was entangled by Eva and Crocodile, he had been keeping an eye on Ian’s movements. Seeing him take off, he immediately guessed that he might be going to find Whitebeard, so disregarding Crocodile’s attacks, he directly aimed a palm strike towards Ian’s direction!


    A burst of golden light shed, and a powerful shockwave immediately surged from Sengoku’s palm, swiftly attacking Ian who was flying in mid-air.However, at this moment, a burly figure suddenly jumped up and intercepted the path of the shockwave in mid-air!


    It was Diamond Jozu!


    Although he looked like a brute, Jozu was actually quite calm. When he saw Ian attacking Akainu earlier, he guessed that Ian might have some n. Sure enough, after murmuring something to Marco, he immediately leaped up.


    He quickly realized that Ian might be trying to find his old man.


    When Sengokuunched his attack towards Ian, Jozu didn’t hesitate to jump up and block the blow.


    Although he used his diamond body to withstand the attack, Sengoku’s strength was incredibly powerful. Jozu’s body was directly sent flying by the shockwave, spinning dozens of times in the air before crashing heavily onto the ground.


    Ian also saw Jozu blocking the attack for him, but he didn’t have time to thank him. He elerated and flew forward.


    The only person who could intercept him now was Kizaru, but at this moment, Kizaru was entangled in a fierce battle with Enel, and he couldn’t spare any attention to this side.


    Sengoku watched Ian go farther away, feeling restless. He certainly understood that Ian must be going to find Whitebeard. However, in his view, even if Ian went, it might not be useful since Whitebeard was severely injured. If Ian intended to break out together with Whitebeard, that would be even better; then the opportunity for the Marines woulde!


    Logically, Ian leaving was a good thing, but for some reason, Sengoku couldn’t shake off the feeling of restlessness in his heart.


    “Could it be that he still has some other trump cards!?” Sengoku thought to himself.


    …………………….


    Following Marco’s directions and location, Ian flew while observing. After passing through dozens ofrge and small inds, he finally saw a rtivelyrge ind.


    In the Edd War Sea region, it was unlikely for inds to have any vegetation because they could be submerged at any time due to tides. Therefore, most of the time, the surface of the rocks here could only be seen covered with some algae or barnacles.


    But on this ind, Ian saw a dark cave.


    Realizing that this was Whitebeard’s hiding ce, Ian immediately descended and ran towards the cave.


    However, as soon as he entered the cave, he heard a loud roar from inside: “Who’s there!?”


    Following the roar, a ze of white mes erupted!


    Ian quickly ducked and avoided the mes, then shouted, “Ace! It’s me!”


    “Ian!?” Ace’s voice came with surprise. “You finally came! Over here,e quickly and see Oyaji!”


    Ian hurriedly rushed in and saw the people inside the cave.


    There was the ship doctor of the Whitebeard Pirates, along with the group of beautiful nurses who had always been by Whitebeard’s side, in addition to the captain of the Eighth Division, the fish-man Namur and Ace. They were all gathered around a stone bed, and on the bedy a tall man.


    Needless to say, this tall man was none other than the Whitebeard, Edward Newgate.


    Next to the stone bed, IV bags hung, and Whitebeardy on the bed with thick bandages wrapped around his chest. However, arge amount of blood was seeping from his chest, and he seemed to be struggling to sit up, but was being desperately held down by Ace and Namur.


    At the sight of this situation, Ian immediately understood. It was estimated that the Whitebeard was worried about the situation between his sons and the Marines, so he wanted to support his body to join the battle, but was strongly discouraged by everyone.


    When Ian came in, the anger on Whitebeard’s face had not disappeared…


    “Oyaji, what do you want to do?” Ian smiled and waved to Ace and Namur.


    “You brat, are you here to witness my embarrassment too?” When Whitebeard saw Ian appear, he was momentarily stunned, then said with a straight face.


    However, although there was a displeased expression on his face, Ian could see a hint of undisguised joy in his eyes.


    Obviously, Whitebeard was relieved by Ian’s presence…


    “You got such serious injuries! Do you still want to fight the Marines?” Ian couldn’t help butugh. “Do you think your sons are having it too easy in the battle?”


    “Shut up! Who do you think I am?” Whitebeard snorted coldly. “I’m the Whitebeard! With such a small injury, I can still hold on!”


    “Yes, yes!” Ian replied as he walked towards him, saying, “Everyone knows you’re the strongest man in the world…”


    However, when the Whitebeard heard this word from Ian’s mouth, he couldn’t help but feel a little despondent.


    Previously, when the 43 pirate groups under Whitebeard’smand came to support, the Whitebeard was determined to go out and confront the Marines. However, because of concerns about his injuries and health, Marco and the others resorted to desperate measures, pressing him into this cave to prevent him from going out.


    Everyone knew that the Marines’ target was Whitebeard’s head. If he went into battle injured, the Marines wouldunch a relentless attack on him, potentially killing him. Marco and the others didn’t dare to take this risk, so after strenuously dissuading him, they rushed out with everyone else to fight the Marines.


    ording to Marco’s thoughts, while everyone attracted the attention of the Marines, they would try to get Whitebeard out first.


    Although known as the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard also understood that, in essence, he was just a man. He could be injured and killed just like anyone else. Watching Marco and the others fight against the Marines while he was injured and gasping for breath here, how could he ept it with his pride and dignity!?


    Especially when he noticed that the situation seemed to be getting more intense, and even Ace was knocked into the water and almost drowned, only to be saved by Jinbe, he couldn’t bear it anymore and wanted to get out of bed to join the fight.


    If it weren’t for Ian’s sudden appearance, Ace and the others would have almost been unable to restrain Whitebeard.


    “What’s the situation? Who can tell me about Oyaji’s injuries?” Ian approached and nced at the wounds, asking.


    “It’s bad!” A bespectacled ship’s doctor from the Whitebeard Pirates adjusted his sses and frowned, cursing, “Teach that bastard, he smeared poison on his weapon…”


    So that’s why Whitebeard’s injuries were so severe!


    When Teach ambushed Whitebeard, the knife he used was coated with poison he concocted himself!


    This was an extremely despicable act. In fact, among pirates, using poison on weapons was greatly despised. Although many piratesmitted all sorts of atrocities, they still believed in fairbat. If they were defeated by an opponent’s strength, they had nothing to say and sometimes even admired the opponent’s strength enough to join them.


    However, no one would ept being killed by such a lowly means as poisoning weapons.


    Unlike pure poison use, weapon poisoning is truly treacherous. Throughout history, there have been numerous pirate crews that employed poisoning as a means of attack on their weapons. While these crews may win one or two victories, once word spreads, they often be the primary targets for other pirates to exterminate, leading to dire consequences.


    When Whitebeard was stabbed previously, no one had thought that Teach would smear poison on his weapon. By the time they realized something was wrong, the toxin had already infiltrated Whitebeard’s body.


    Without knowing the form of the poison, no one knew what toxin it was. Just like how snake venom requires a specific serum for antidote, the ship’s doctors of the Whitebeard Pirates naturally couldn’t find an antidote for the poison.


    From Teach stabbing Whitebeard and escaping, to the Whitebeard Pirates being besieged by the Marines afterward, everything that happened during this period was interconnected. Whitebeard never received effective treatment in the true sense, and it has been dragging on until now…


    So even though he can still speak and move around now, it’s all just him forcing himself. His current condition is very dire, and he could potentially lose consciousness at any moment due to his injuries and the poison.


    Under such circumstances, who among his sons would feel at ease letting him go into battle?


    That wouldn’t be going to war; that would be going to offer him as a sacrifice!


    After listening to the ship’s doctor’s ount, Ian also understood what was going on and couldn’t help shaking his head, saying, “Really… Oyaji, you’ve got to have some restraint…”


    “Not you too! What now? Are you about to start lecturing me?!” Whitebeard red at Ian. “I’m already a dying man. But even if I’m about to die, I’d rather die on the battlefield! Not in this damp cave, on this damn stone bed!”