Bacchus, sent flying by the initial blast, hit the ground with a dizzying thud. He shook his head to clear the stars from his eyes before shakily getting to his feet. His gaze returned to the battlefield, and what he saw made his blood run cold.
The Marines who had been charging into the hotel were now falling like harvested wheat. With every gunshot, a Marine soldier dropped, some without even a chance to scream.
Bacchus hadn't expected Andy's sniping skills to be so precise. He could hit a target from an extreme distance, and every shot was a fatal blow, giving the enemy no chance to breathe or fight back.
The charging Marines finally realized the gravity of the situation. They were terrified. The sniper on the hotel rooftop was an unbeatable demon.
No matter how they charged or dodged, they couldn't escape the bullets, which were as precise as the Grim Reaper's scythe.
A deep sense of helplessness and fear flooded their hearts, completely shattering the discipline of the well-trained Marines. Their expressions turned from determination to terror and despair.
"De...demon..." one whimpered.
"We can't handle this, run!" another screamed.
Cries for help and pleas filled the air as the entire scene descended into chaos. Andy, however, was unaffected. He calmly pulled the trigger, mercilessly reaping the lives of his enemies.
"Retreat!" Colonel Bacchus roared, his voice hoarse.
Even the Marines who had been unwilling to give up had their spirit broken by Andy's sniper rifle. "Run!" they yelled, and in an instant, the company of over a hundred Marines was in full retreat.
At that critical moment, a bullet, spinning with lethal intent, flew through the air and whistled directly toward Bacchus.
"Armament!" Bacchus roared, and a visible black glow swiftly covered his body. With a sharp "ding," the bullet bounced off him as if it had hit an indestructible steel plate.
Bacchus knew in that moment that Andy didn't possess Armament Haki. If the bullet had been imbued with it, he definitely would have been injured. Since Andy didn't have it, Bacchus had nothing to worry about.
Meanwhile, on the hotel rooftop, Andy watched everything through his scope. When his bullet was blocked, a slight frown creased his young face. "I didn't expect this Marine Colonel from the West Blue to have Armament Haki," he thought to himself. "He can even use it so skillfully to defend against attacks. It looks like it won't be easy to get rid of this guy today."
With that thought, Andy put his sniper rifle back into his system space and slowly stood up. His emotionless eyes glanced at Bacchus far below.
But it was that unintentional glance that gave Bacchus a clear fix on Andy's location. He looked up, his gaze like two sharp sword beams. In that instant, their eyes met, and two invisible currents collided in the air.
"Andy!" Bacchus gritted his teeth, the two words filled with rage. He charged toward the hotel like a furious tiger, his speed like an arrow leaving a bow.
But Andy had no intention of waiting for him. "Marine, we'll meet again soon," he muttered, then jumped off the hotel, quickly moving across the rooftops of the other buildings to escape Garbage Mountain.
By the time Bacchus reached the seaside, there was no sign of Andy. "Ah! Damn it!" Bacchus's eyes widened, his face red and veins bulging as he roared at the sky.
The rage in his heart erupted like a volcano. This was supposed to be a golden opportunity to connect with Admiral Kuzan and rise through the ranks. But it had all ended in failure.
This was an important mission personally called in by Admiral Kuzan, and he had blown it. Worse, his poor decision-making had led to heavy losses for his men.
Now, not only would he not connect with the admiral, but he would also likely face severe punishment. Bacchus felt immense regret. He furiously pounded his head, replaying the entire operation.
If he had just been decisive from the start and ordered the warships to bombard the hotel, Andy wouldn't have escaped. The powerful artillery would have at least severely injured him. But he had hesitated to give the order, wanting to give civilians time to evacuate. His so-called act of kindness had allowed the enemy to escape, leading to these severe consequences.
In that moment, Bacchus was filled with a bitter resentment. He vowed that next time, no matter the situation, he would never show a single shred of mercy. Pirates were all scum; as long as they could be eliminated, sacrificing some innocent civilians was an acceptable cost.
At that moment, Colonel Bacchus's sense of justice began to slowly twist and change.
Andy, having left Garbage Mountain, was now wandering in the waters just outside the Darereka Islands. He hadn't gone far, mostly because he had no idea how to navigate. It was already evening, and it was easy to get lost at sea after dark.
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