Chapter 81: Old Man, That's a Low Blow!

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All eyes were fixed on the lone figure standing amidst the devastation. Silence hung heavy in the air, not from shock, but from a complete inability to process the scene. Minds were blank, eyes filled with a mix of awe, and stark terror.

At the figure's feet lay a man, motionless, barely clinging to life. A gaping wound marred his right chest, slowly being stitched together by thin, nearly invisible threads.

The standing figure's right hand dripped with blood. Though his clothes were torn and tattered, his body covered in wounds, obscuring his features, his identity was unmistakable.

"Black Winged Devil" Ian, once again, had proven his strength as a Marine Vice Admiral by defeating a Warlord of the Sea.

Perhaps he was now the strongest among them, on par with Momousagi and Chaton.

"Doflamingo, you'll be spending the rest of your life in prison." Ian stated coldly, looking down at the unconscious Warlord.

He flicked his wrist, opening a Garganta, a black void in space, and retrieving a pair of seastone shackles. Even for normal humans, these restraints were incredibly durable, imbued with the power of the sea.

His next objective was to deliver Doflamingo to Impel Down before Kaido could intervene. This would provide him with an opportunity to hunt down and absorb the souls of the prisoners, further increasing his power.

He needed to investigate Doflamingo's artificial Devil Fruit production in Dressrosa. The Donquixote Family consisted mostly of Devil Fruit users..

As he withdrew his hand, Ian extracted the essence of the String-String Fruit from Doflamingo, along with a fragment of the Warlord's soul.

This instantly increased his fusion rate by 1%, equivalent to hundreds, if not thousands, of normal souls. He wasn't concerned about Doflamingo escaping once the seastone wore off.

Without his Devil Fruit, Doflamingo was significantly weaker. His Haki and physical abilities were inferior to Ian's. Unlike Moria or Enel, he wouldn't become a vegetable or an amnesiac, merely experiencing weakness and a lack of focus.

He would likely attribute his weakened state to the effects of the seastone.

Doflamingo's soul was surprisingly potent, filled with resentment. Considering his traumatic childhood, it was understandable. Even if Kaido rescued him and he regained his Devil Fruit powers, he would never reach his former strength. He wouldn't be able to devour souls to enhance himself.

Ian wondered if Doflamingo would descend into madness upon awakening.

Individuals of his caliber were destined for Level 6 of Impel Down. While the String-String Fruit was powerful, Ian wasn't particularly interested in its abilities. He had absorbed it solely to increase his fusion rate. If not for the need to lure Kaido, he would have eliminated Doflamingo, just like Crocodile, despite the tragic circumstances that had shaped the Warlord's life.

Ian wouldn't subject Doflamingo to the same fate as Enel, leaving him to the mercy of the Dressrosa citizens. However, if he proved troublesome in prison, Ian wouldn't hesitate to end his suffering.

Out on the sea, a large Marine warship cut through the waves at full speed. Under the dark, ominous sky, a shape emerged on the horizon, gradually growing larger, transforming into a massive silhouette.

"Report! Approaching Sabaody Archipelago!"

A Marine lookout, perched high on the mast, shouted down to the crew below.

Garp stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze fixed on the approaching islands, his face etched with worry and anticipation. The ship was already at its maximum speed, yet it had still taken nearly half an hour to reach their destination.

The past half hour had been a nerve-wracking experience, and as Sabaody drew closer, their anxiety intensified. But the more they worried, the more their apprehension grew.

They weren't concerned for the Celestial Dragons. They despised those parasitic World Nobles. They had even been pleased to hear of Doflamingo's defeat, one less scumbag in the world.

"Why isn't that Kid Ian answering…?"

Garp muttered, standing on the deck, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a grim determination. He wasn't sleeping on the job this time. His face was calm, his gaze fixed on the distant islands, his fists clenched.

In Garp's eyes, this situation presented Ace with his greatest challenge yet. He could only pray that his grandson would emerge unscathed.

"That damn Ace! He hasn't even reached the New World, and he's already challenging a Warlord! And.. Ian, despite defeating several Warlords, hasn't even set foot in the New World. Can't they give an old man a break?"

Garp grumbled. He wasn't worried about Ian.

Only an Admiral, a Yonko, or a legendary pirate could defeat him. He had tried contacting Ian to assist Ace, but there had been no response. Had something happened to him as well? "Don't you dare die, you brats!"

Both Ace and Ian were important to him. One, a rising Marine star, the other, a Supernova pirate. Despite their different allegiances, they both fought for justice. Their era was just beginning.

As Sabaody Archipelago came into view, a scene of utter devastation unfolded before them. From a distance, it appeared as though not a single structure remained intact.

Garp's fists tightened, Had he been too late?

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Before the warship could fully dock, Garp leaped from the deck, landing gracefully on the island.

As soon as he set foot on the island, Garp's expression shifted from grim determination to surprise. After rushing a few steps inland, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Though the area was in ruins, devoid of any signs of life, his Observation Haki detected a large group of people gathered nearby.

He slowed his pace, cautiously approaching the gathering. As he rounded a pile of rubble, he saw a large group of Marines, scattered across the area, clearing debris and apprehending pirates.

His arrival startled the Marines, their gazes snapping towards him, recognizing the iconic Vice Admiral coat.

After a moment of stunned silence, they snapped to attention, saluting their superior officer. Garp's voice boomed, "Where's Doflamingo? And Vice Admiral Ian? And where's that damn Ace?"

The Marines straightened their postures, responding in unison, "Reporting, sir! Doflamingo, Vice Admiral Ian, and… Fire Fist Ace are over there, sir!"

Garp was taken aback. Doflamingo hadn't escaped? And he had encountered Ian?

Was that why he hadn't answered his calls?

Garp took a deep breath, composing himself. But as he followed their gaze, his expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, then to utter astonishment. He instinctively rushed towards the scene.

"…"

A figure lay slumped against a pile of rubble, covered in blood, his clothes torn to shreds, seastone shackles binding his wrists. Though his features were obscured, his flamboyant flamingo attire gave away his identity.

Donquixote Doflamingo.

The infamous pirate, a major Player in the Grand Line, lay defeated before him.

"Look, there's no point arguing. I understand what you mean. Garp-san's being naive. You can't become a Marine. Not now, not ever. The World Government would never allow it."

Ian, his white attire giving him a demonic appearance, sat beside a young man in a fur-trimmed jacket, chatting amicably like old friends.

The surrounding Marines didn't dare approach the rookie pirate. After all, his grandfather, the Hero of the Marines, was present. Who would dare incur his wrath?

Ace was Gol D. Roger's son. If he joined the Marines and rose through the ranks, the eventual revelation of his lineage would create an unprecedented crisis, one that even Garp, Sengoku, or the World Government couldn't contain.

Garp understood this perfectly. He was merely feigning ignorance, playing along for Ace's sake.

Ace remained silent for a moment, then chuckled ruefully, "Luffy and I… we carry the blood of criminals. We could never be Marines."

Ian waved his hand dismissively. "I'm not going to tell you to abandon your pirate life. I just want to say one thing… Think before you act. Stop causing Garp-san so much trouble."

"Do you want to see yourself on the execution platform, with Garp-san watching below, his heart breaking, tears streaming down his face? It's a terrible thing to make a parent bury their child, especially at his age."

"You were reckless today, Ace. I pulled strings to get him to give you the Six Powers and Haki training, and you go and do this? You're not even in the New World yet, and you're challenging Warlords? I defeated three Warlords before even thinking about entering the New World."

"But listen, even though you're a pirate, not all pirates are the same. Some things can be avoided. I don't think you're the type to pillage and plunder. If you were, I wouldn't bother with this lecture. I'd just throw you in prison myself." Ian's words struck a chord with Ace, leaving him speechless.

Every word resonated with him, exposing his flaws and his recklessness. "Alright, that's all I have to say. I'm leaving. You and Garp-san have a good talk. And pay attention to the abilities I used today. They're effective against all Devil Fruit types, not just Logia, just like how Zoan users have different forms."

"..." Ace realized that Ian had defeated Doflamingo by utilizing his abilities in various forms and combinations. Otherwise, the fight would have ended much sooner.

"Just How much effort have you put in?" Ace murmured, finally understanding the depth of Ian's strength.

In this vast and unforgiving sea, power was paramount. Without it, dreams were nothing but fleeting fantasies.

"I just don't want to experience loss again. I used to be reckless too. That's why I am who I am today.…"

Those words echoed in Ace's mind, a stark reminder of the consequences of his actions.

But Ian felt a twinge of guilt. After all, he had orchestrated Doflamingo's arrival. He hadn't anticipated Ace's recklessness.

Both brothers were prone to stupid actions.

Following Ian's gaze, Ace turned to see Garp approaching, his expression grim. Sensing trouble, Ian quickly made his escape. As Garp drew closer,

A heavy silence settled upon the pair. Ace had just made a grave mistake, nearly ending his journey prematurely. Though compared to the original story, it was only a year earlier.

And he had fallen prey to a Warlord, just like in the original timeline.

"Old man… long time no see… well, not that long, just a few months…" Ace stammered, awkwardly raising his hand in greeting.

BAM! Garp's response was a swift, powerful punch to the face.

"You damn old man! This was supposed to be a touching reunion! That's a low blow…"

"Attacking me like that! Picking on a nineteen-year-old who hasn't even entered the New World…"

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