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Marine Headquarters, half a month later.
Second floor training room. Ian effortlessly lifted a massive twenty-ton weight with his right hand, coated in Armament Haki. With his physical strength hundreds, even thousands, of times greater than an ordinary human's, it wasn't a challenge.
He had also mastered the use of Armament Haki, achieving a hundred percent partial hardening, significantly boosting his strength.
Shirtless, Ian's slender frame, inherited from his Ulquiorra template, now sported a six-pack and well-defined muscles, a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Despite his 35% fusion rate, granting him exceptional strength, defense, speed, and attack power, he lacked experience and refinement in utilizing his abilities. Otherwise, possessing power without knowing how to use it would only lead to his demise.
It was all about reaction speed and control. Observation Haki and soul-sensing merely expanded his sensory perception, and Armament Haki was no different.
Ian set the weight down and stretched, taking a moment to rest. Then, he drew Shusui, holding the katana with both hands, his gaze focused.
He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them, and swiftly swung the blade towards a specialized target.
*Whoosh!* There was no surge of spiritual pressure, not even a hint of sword energy. The blade sliced through the air, cleaving the target in two.
He swung Shusui a few more times, refining his control over his sword pressure, before sheathing the katana. This was the result of his relentless training.
He had concentrated his immense spiritual pressure into a single strike, reducing its outward intensity while increasing its potency, similar to focusing Armament Haki into a specific area or narrowing the range of his Observation Haki.
This technique also had a deceptive quality, leading opponents to underestimate his strength and defense, only to be caught off guard by his true power.
While he hadn't yet reached the level of mastery described by Zoro's teacher, Koshiro, where a sword could cut through anything, even paper, he didn't consider such a concept particularly meaningful.
His power primarily stemmed from his spiritual pressure, enhanced by devouring souls. Training in Observation and Armament Haki, as well as refining his reaction speed, were merely methods for optimizing his existing abilities.
He sought to emulate Mihawk, relying on a single, powerful strike. With sufficient strength and swordsmanship, any obstacle could be overcome.
"My physical strength is now among the highest in the Vice Admiral ranks. My Haki, which scales with my strength, and my swordsmanship have also improved significantly."
A confident gleam shone in Ian's eyes as he clenched his fists, reveling in his newfound power.
The strength of Vice Admirals at Marine Headquarters varied greatly. The strongest could even hold their own against a Warlord like Doflamingo, a quasi-Admiral level fighter, while the weaker ones would be swiftly defeated.
If Gion and Chaton were considered quasi-Admiral level, then he was somewhere between a Vice Admiral and a quasi-Admiral.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Ian approached the window. From here, he could overlook the entire Marine Headquarters, a sprawling complex, particularly the massive plaza below, capable of accommodating a hundred thousand combatants.
Ian's gaze, enhanced by both soul-sensing and Observation Haki, swept across the base, detecting numerous powerful auras.
Of course, these auras were considered powerful only in comparison to his current level. Unlike him, who could devour souls to enhance his strength, they had to rely on traditional training methods. They couldn't compete with his cheat-like abilities.
"The three Admirals, Sengoku…" He murmured, identifying the strongest individuals.
Currently, the Marines' overall strength, based solely on the number of top-tier fighters, surpassed any single Yonko crew. Even without the monstrous additions of Green Bull and Fujitora, at least two Yonko crews were required to challenge them, and even then, the outcome would be uncertain.
At best, the Marines would have a slight advantage. This was the reason for the existence of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Individuals like Marco, the Commanders of the Beasts Pirates, and the Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates could clash with Admirals without being immediately defeated.
Blackbeard wouldn't dare fight both Shanks and the Marines, while the Marines couldn't simultaneously confront Whitebeard's crew, Blackbeard's crew, and Shanks' crew.
Shanks had recognized this and knew he could stop the war. Therefore, he intervened, and both the Marines and Blackbeard were forced to back down. The Marines could handle two Yonko crews, but three was their limit. This was their current level of strength.
As for the Seven Warlords, their combined strength was equivalent to a single Yonko crew. This was similar to the Hidden Leaf Village in the Naruto universe, which possessed power comparable to two other villages combined. They also had legendary figures like the Sannin, who were trained by the Third Hokage and later died at the hands of their students.
And their concept of "will of fire" shared similarities with the Marines' sense of justice, both serving as guiding principles.
"Vice Admiral Ian, I've found the Log Pose for Jaya Island," Tashigi announced, entering the room.
Ian shushed her, a smirk playing on his lips, his gaze fixed on a specific room in a nearby building.
Marine Headquarters, recreation room.
Marines weren't constantly battling pirates. The Marine code was stricter for lower-ranking Marines. However, Admirals could delegate most of their responsibilities to subordinates and even spend their days sleeping if they so desired.
This was the privilege of power. No matter how cunning or intelligent one was, a single punch could render them helpless.
It was the classic case of a scholar encountering a soldier. Reason and logic were irrelevant. Might made right.
Even Vice Admirals weren't constantly deployed to handle incidents. They had time for training, work, and relaxation. Marine Headquarters naturally had a dedicated recreation room for such purposes.
"It's been a while since we've all gathered."
"Even you're here, Momonga? With your jurisdiction so chaotic and busy, you have time to relax? It seems almost all the Vice Admirals are present."
"Except for Garp, who's gone to recruit Ace, and the female Vice Admirals, who have their own gathering. Let's hope he's successful."
The Vice Admirals surveyed the room, surprised by the turnout. Ace was indeed a talented individual. It was unfortunate that he had chosen to become a pirate in his youth.
They hoped that after witnessing the horrors of piracy, he would accept the position of Warlord or join the Marines. And with Garp, the Hero of the Marines, personally handling the recruitment, they were optimistic.
"Actually, there's one more missing."
"You mean… that newcomer?"
One of the Vice Admirals' eyes flickered, realizing who was absent.
Aside from Garp, there was indeed another Vice Admiral not present. Or rather, Garp wasn't truly a Vice Admiral. He held a position equal to Sengoku's, bestowed with the title of "Hero."
No one dared treat him as a mere Vice Admiral.
They all thought of the same individual. The room fell silent for a moment, and then one of the Vice Admirals scoffed.
"That kid's holed up in the training room all day. Perhaps he's afraid of being exposed as lacking the strength to be a Vice Admiral and having his rank revoked. After all, even with a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit and the renowned katana Shusui, he's still just a rookie swordsman."
"But you believe an 18-year-old newcomer could defeat Gecko Moria, a veteran pirate who challenged Kaido and became a Warlord? I doubt it. Gion's probably exaggerating."
"Tsk, Onigumo, why so much hostility? He hasn't done anything to you. Aren't you afraid of Gion coming after you?" Doberman remarked, observing Onigumo's reaction.
"Who knows if it's even true? You believe a rookie could defeat Moria? While he might be the weakest of the Warlords, he's still beyond our level. Gion's probably trying to boost her own reputation to secure the Admiral position."
"Even though she and Chaton are undeniably strong, personally defeating Moria and discovering a powerful newcomer would be even more impressive. She's aiming for Admiral. And with a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit and impressive swordsmanship, she definitely has the potential."
"If that kid dares to challenge me, I'll show him what true swordsmanship is. It's not something you can acquire through deceit and empty boasts!"
Onigumo sneered, a hint of sword intent emanating from him, a cruel and bloodthirsty aura filling the room.
Weaker individuals would have been intimidated by this display, but everyone present was a Marine Vice Admiral, seasoned veterans of countless battles. Onigumo's sword intent had little effect on them.
This time, no one responded. Silence filled the room, their expressions revealing a hint of displeasure. To be promoted directly to Vice Admiral, especially a Vice Admiral with special privileges, surpassing even other Vice Admirals and outside the authority of even Admirals, based on a single, unverified battle…
It was understandable that the other Vice Admirals felt a twinge of resentment. They had earned their positions through years of service, countless battles, and undeniable strength. This newcomer, however, had seemingly ascended to the top overnight.
"Let's not talk about the kid. Time will tell if his accomplishments are genuine. Fortunately, Chaton's not here. He's gone to pursue Gion again. If he heard us talking about her like this, he'd lose it. Haha…"
The recreation room erupted in laughter. Chaton's relentless pursuit of Gion was no secret. It was a common topic of amusement among the Vice Admirals. While they were both incredibly strong, Gion, despite her age, was considered a beauty among Marines. Chaton, on the other hand, was… well, Chaton. His appearance wasn't exactly charming. But he was persistent, and they couldn't defeat him, so they could only hope that Gion would eventually choose him.
"Vice Admiral Ian…" Ian retracted his Observation Haki and turned to face Tashigi, her cheeks puffed out in indignation.
She was clearly upset by the Vice Admirals' disparaging remarks about Ian. As his assistant, she was well aware of his capabilities. Even without considering his Devil Fruit, his swordsmanship was exceptional, although not quite at the level of a master swordsman. Its power, combined with his Devil Fruit, made him a formidable opponent.
He was undoubtedly weaker than only Gion and Chaton. However, they were her superiors, so she couldn't speak ill of them behind their backs.
At least he had gifted her the Suke Suke no Mi, worth billions of berries, without hesitation. Such generosity was commendable. If she had turned it over to Headquarters, she could have exchanged it for a Supreme Grade sword and countless merit points.
"Let's not dwell on that. Do you want to go on a trip?"
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Word Count [1894]
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To Be Continued..
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