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Skypiea and Fish-Man Island possessed a dreamlike quality, while Dressrosa and Totto Land resembled fairy tales, with talking toys and sentient food.
Now, with the Doflamingo Family captured and the SMILE factory seized by King, the artificial Devil Fruits were no longer a concern.
The toys and citizens of Dressrosa had returned to normal, so there was no need to visit. Thus, he set his sights on Big Mom's Totto Land.
"Let's go. We no longer need to bear the weight of so-called justice. And this Vice Admiral coat has served its purpose." Ian declared, shedding his Marine coat as he walked through the passage from Mary Geoise.
The garment dissolved into spiritual particles, absorbed into his body, symbolizing his complete abandonment of his Marine identity.
He was now officially one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, his codename: Black-Winged Devil.
Though merely passing through, he could clearly sense a concentration of souls somewhere within Mary Geoise.
A place where slaves were kept and abused for their amusement. It was the true hell of this world. He would visit that place eventually, and when he did, those parasites would be eradicated. He also wondered what his bounty would be if he had one.
It wasn't impossible. Both he and Fujitora currently had zero bounties, as their actions had primarily focused on eliminating pirates, with no other significant crimes to their names.
But in the future, he would undoubtedly challenge the World Government, and his bounty would likely surpass even Dragon's, Kaido's, and Big Mom's 4 billion, exceeding even Whitebeard's and Roger's 5 billion.
On Ian's advice, Fujitora had remained at Impel Down to assist Magellan in rebuilding the underwater prison. His Zushi Zushi no Mi, would prove invaluable in the reconstruction efforts.
In his spare time, Fujitora could visit Rayleigh on Sabaody Archipelago or even chat with Sengoku at Marine Headquarters, his presence at Impel Down not hindering his mobility.
As for the Doflamingo Family's officers, each possessing formidable Devil Fruit abilities, Ian had… appropriated their powers. Pica's Ishi Ishi no Mi, Machvise's Ton Ton no Mi, Gladius' Pamu Pamu no Mi… In some ways, Gladius' ability was even more potent than Gem's Kilo Kilo no Mi. And so…
- He had absorbed them without hesitation. The Ton Ton no Mi, combined with the Kilo Kilo no Mi, amplified the weight manipulation to terrifying levels.
- The Pamu Pamu no Mi, fused with the Bomu Bomu no Mi, enhanced the explosive power.
- The Ishi Ishi no Mi and the Suna Suna no Mi had transformed into a new ability, allowing him to manipulate both sand and rock.
Monet's Yuki Yuki no Mi, the Snow-Snow Fruit. It was considered a weaker version of Kuzan's Hie Hie no Mi, capable of only producing snow. However, he believed that with further development, especially at sufficiently low temperatures, its power could rival even Kuzan's.
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Tashigi's expression stiffened slightly as she cautiously addressed Ian, still adjusting to his new status. "Um, Vice Admiral… I mean, Ian… Are you really going to overthrow the World Government?"
"What do you think?" Ian turned to face her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Or do you believe those parasites should continue to control this chaotic world? Their rule only brings suffering and injustice."
Tashigi's face flushed slightly as she lowered her gaze. "Of course not…"
"Captain Ian?" Tashigi blinked, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face before resolving into steely determination. She had made her decision, and she would follow him, no matter the consequences, even if it meant death.
Besides, with Ian's strength and enigmatic nature, even if he couldn't defeat a Yonko crew, he could certainly escape unscathed.
"Sengoku must be regretting not sending me to the rookie training camp for a 'justice' indoctrination when I first joined." Ian chuckled, mocking Sengoku's adherence to Marine ideology.
If he had been sent to the training camp, he might have even brainwashed the recruits into deserting, declaring, "To hell with your absurd and hypocritical justice! Let someone else carry that burden!"
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The New World, the second half of the Grand Line.
This was Big Mom's territory, with Whole Cake Island at its center, surrounded by thirty-five islands, each ruled by a minister. Big Mom's dream, or rather, Charlotte Linlin's ambition, was to create a utopia where all races could coexist peacefully. Totto Land boasted the greatest diversity of any nation in the world.
Humans, Fish-Men, Merfolk, Minks, Snakenecks, Longarms, Longlegs, Dwarves, and even the Three-Eye Tribe… Under the watchful eye of Big Mom, Totto Land had enjoyed an era of unprecedented peace.
Its citizens, as long as they paid their tribute of lifespan, lived without fear of war or conflict. However, this peace, which had lasted for decades, was about to be shattered.
On Whole Cake Island, Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors, the only female among them, sat indulging in a sweet treat.
"Maama! Maama! Something's happened!!"
A strange, doll-like creature hopped towards her, its voice filled with urgency. "What is it? Why are you so flustered?"
Big Mom seemed to be in a good mood, though her appearance, even when smiling, was unsettling. The chess soldier delivered its report.
Big Mom's eyes narrowed, and she burst into laughter, her voice laced with disdain. "Visiting a Yonko? Does he think he's someone special?! A snot-nosed Kid who managed a draw against Mihawk, defeated a couple of has-beens, and scared off Kaido with the help of a few Admirals? Does he believe he's on my level?!"
Despite her words, her tone lacked genuine anger, replaced by contempt and amusement. "The Marines are truly becoming pathetic."
She had earned her title through countless battles, through bloodshed and sacrifice. The Marines were of little concern to her. Within her territory, on Whole Cake Island, she feared no one. As a Yonko, her only goal was to defeat the other Emperors, reach Laugh Tale, and claim the title of Pirate King.
She had once considered recruiting Ian, even offering him the hand of one of her daughters.
But those thoughts were gone now. He had chosen to become a Marine, to stand against her.
"But Mama… He's already in the New World. It seems his target is us…" The chess soldier stammered, its voice cut short as it was grabbed and tossed aside.
"Enough of your babbling!" The one who had silenced the soldier was Charlotte Cracker, Big Mom's tenth son and one of the Sweet Commanders, his bounty a staggering 860 million berries.
Cracker, after discarding the chess soldier, turned to Big Mom with a smile. "Mama, leave this to me. The reports might be exaggerated. You just enjoy your dessert."
"Hmm." Big Mom leaned back in her chair, continuing to eat her sweet treat. She gave Cracker a noncommittal response before adding, "Take Smoothie with you."
"Heh heh. Dealing with a Kid who's gotten a bit too big for his britches hardly requires two Sweet Commanders. Besides, he's still a Marine. Chasing him off should be sufficient."
"Ha ha ha! Exactly! Make it clear he should never dare to challenge me again!" Big Mom's face twisted into a savage grin.
"Leave it to me, Mama."
Cracker slung his sword over his shoulder, a confident smirk on his face as he turned and walked away.
An Admiral couldn't defeat a Yonko, but could escape. Two Admirals, however, could achieve victory. The same held true for the Yonko Commanders and the All-Stars. It was difficult to say who was stronger between a Commander, a Calamity, a Sweet Commander, or a Warlord.
That was precisely why, to maintain balance against the Four Emperors, the World Government needed the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Together, they represented a force comparable to a single Yonko crew, allowing the Marines to contend with two Emperors simultaneously. Facing three, however, would result in certain defeat.
At least the reports of Ian's victories against Warlords were credible. And within Big Mom's territory, with access to her powerful Homies, he might actually stand a chance.
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The New World, Outside Big Mom's territory, Totto Land.
"Captain Ian, we're approaching Big Mom's territory. Are we really going in?"
Tashigi, piloting a small, unmarked sailing ship they had commandeered from pirates, felt a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead as she addressed Ian, who stood at the bow, his white coat billowing in the wind. He looked incredibly handsome. She felt a bit lightheaded.
"Full speed ahead." Ian replied calmly, his gaze fixed on the horizon, a slight smile playing on his lips. "We've come this far. It would be rude not to pay our respects."
Despite her apprehension about entering a Yonko's territory, she trusted Ian implicitly. They had made their decision, and there was no turning back.
With a deep breath, she steered the ship towards Totto Land.
Before they even reached the first island, a large ship bearing the Big Mom Pirates' insignia appeared on the horizon. It was a massive vessel, comparable in size to a Marine warship, though its design was bizarre, resembling a giant cake.
Tashigi's expression hardened as she saw the approaching ship. "They knew we were coming. They were prepared. We haven't even set foot on the first island, and they've already sent an interception force."
"That's…" Ian's eyes widened as he recognized the figure standing on the deck of the approaching ship. A tall, imposing man with a mohawk-like helmet, a long black mustache, and a sword in hand. The figure was unmistakable.
Having targeted the Big Mom Pirates, Ian had familiarized himself with their key members. Tashigi also recognized the figure, her breath catching in her throat.
"Charlotte Cracker, Big Mom's tenth son, one of the Sweet Commanders. His bounty is 860 million berries. How did we run into someone like him so soon?!"
Pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million were already formidable opponents, typically requiring Marine officers of Captain rank or higher to apprehend.
Pirates with bounties over 300 million were rare in the first half of the Grand Line, and even Vice Admirals struggled against them.
As for pirates with bounties exceeding 500 million, let alone 800 million, they were figures of legend, their names inspiring fear and awe. Cracker's bounty alone was enough to make one's blood run cold.
"Heh heh heh. Interesting. Only two of you?" The towering figure on the pirate ship's deck let out a mocking laugh, his voice dripping with conceit. "Are the Marines so afraid of losing men that they only sent two to their deaths? How… disappointing."
Cracker's words were laced with contempt and ridicule. For powerful pirates, especially those with bounties exceeding 100 million, fear was a foreign concept. They wouldn't flinch even in the face of a Marine Admiral.
Pirates with bounties over 300 million or 500 million were practically untouchable, living by their own rules. While Cracker knew of Ian's reputation, such information meant little to him. Even if the Fleet Admiral himself stood before him, he wouldn't hesitate to fight.
Ian's small sailing ship and Cracker's pirate ship drew closer, carefully maneuvering to avoid a collision.
Thanks to the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, Ian could manipulate the ship's weight, allowing for greater maneuverability even in the treacherous weather of the New World.
Before the two ships could fully align, the mustachioed figure on Cracker's ship leaped into the air, landing gracefully on Ian's vessel.
"Charlotte Cracker, one of the Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates, wielder of the Biscuit-Biscuit Fruit… I presume this isn't your true form?" Cracker preferred to conceal himself within a suit of biscuit armor. The face on his wanted poster wasn't his own.
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