Chapter 49: Elasticity vs. Strength

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At 50% fusion, his strength had reached a level exceeding 2 billion, placing him firmly within the realm of high-ranking Vice Admirals and Admirals. He surpassed the likes of the Three Calamities, Momousagi, and Chaton. If an Admiral aimed to become the Pirate King, their bounty would likely hover around 3 billion, still below the 4 billion mark typically associated with the Yonko.

A single Admiral could hardly defeat a Yonko, but two Admirals working together could pose a serious threat. Considering their access to the Marines' secrets and strategic knowledge, their bounties might not differ significantly. At 60% fusion, he could confidently claim victory over a single Admiral.

Yonko like Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks were formidable opponents, capable of challenging legendary pirates like Whitebeard, Shiki, and Gol D. Roger. To defeat them, he would need at least 70% fusion.

At 80% fusion, even the World Government wouldn't pose a significant threat. He might even escape Imu's grasp.

These levels corresponded to power levels of 4 billion, 6 billion, and 8 billion respectively…

"That Hyena? Doffy never took him seriously. Granting him the right to use our family's symbol was just a whim, a bit of amusement."

"Bellamy had the ambition, but lacked the strength. We should be thanking Vice Admiral-san for taking care of him." Diamante chuckled.

He recounted the encounter at a bar, where he, Doflamingo, and Trebol had crossed paths with Bellamy and his crew. Bellamy had expressed his desire to join the Donquixote Family. Trebol, dismissing them as mere street thugs, had attempted to drive them away. Diamante, brandishing a sword, had tried to intervene, believing that not everyone deserved to approach Doflamingo directly.

Doflamingo, however, had stopped them and questioned Bellamy, proclaiming that the Donquixote Family was the pride of the North Blue. They aspired to become true pirates, unlike those who chased childish dreams.

Doflamingo had then smirked, granting Bellamy permission to use their pirate symbol, but with a condition: if Bellamy were defeated, he would return the symbol. The unspoken implication was clear… it included his life.

"That's despicable! Toying with people's lives!" Tashigi exclaimed, her Shigure clashing against Mr. 1's blade-like fingers. She couldn't help but express her disgust at Diamante's callous words.

"Don't lose focus, Marine-san!" Mr. 1 retorted, tightening his grip, attempting to crush her Shigure. However, he underestimated the durability of the renowned blade. It would take more than brute force to break it.

Whoosh! Ian, unwilling to engage in further banter, activated Sonido, appearing behind Diamante in an instant. He launched a powerful punch.

"Matador Cape!" Diamante, utilizing his Ripple-Ripple Fruit powers, transformed his cape into a shield of hardened steel, wrapping it around his body.

Crash! Ian's fist connected.

The cape caved inward, forming a deep crater. His Armament Haki, rivaling the strength of steel, coupled with the Kilo-Kilo Fruit's weight manipulation, amplifying his strike by tons, had nearly pierced through the hardened fabric. He pressed forward, channeling more force into his attack.

He activated the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, blasting a hole through the cape.

"Corrida Glaive!" Diamante drew his rapier, transforming it into a pliable, cloth-like state with his Devil Fruit powers. He twisted and molded it, shaping it into the form of a charging bull, before instantly restoring its rigidity. It resembled a raging bull, horns lowered, ready to impale its target.

"A pathetic attack." Ian scoffed.

He didn't even bother dodging. He launched another powerful punch, meeting the charging rapier head-on, his fist colliding with the hardened bull horns, creating a deafening boom.

Diamante's callous words about Bellamy had ignited a fury within Ian. While Bellamy deserved his fate, Ian despised the casual cruelty, the amusement derived from treating others like disposable pawns. It didn't matter if Bellamy had willingly entered this arrangement.

He wouldn't stand idly by, witnessing lives manipulated like puppets. It was a recipe for madness and despair.

As a ruler, one could look down upon others, viewing them as insignificant ants. But to treat them as mere playthings, toys to be used and discarded at whim… that was a transgression Ian wouldn't tolerate. He would gladly drag such individuals from their thrones and subject them to the same callous treatment.

"T…" Diamante gasped in pain.

A searing pressure radiated from his right hand, nearly shattering his bones. Ian's blow, amplified by his natural strength and the Kilo-Kilo Fruit's weight manipulation, was overwhelming.

Diamante, a pirate with a bounty barely exceeding 100 million, was simply outmatched.

"Sword, extend!" Realizing he was in dire straits, Diamante extended his rapier, attempting to create distance and deliver a long-range attack.

"Serpent Sword!" The extended rapier transformed once more, becoming pliable and serpentine, striking with unpredictable, erratic movements. But Ian effortlessly evaded each attack.

"Observation Haki? It wouldn't make sense for a Marine Vice Admiral to lack such a skill. And that monstrous strength… Is it a result of your Mythical Zoan abilities? worthy of its reputation as a rarity surpassing even Logia." Diamante remarked. He could now confidently assess Ian's strength, placing him on par with Doflamingo.

After all, Ian had defeated Gecko Moria, another Warlord of the Sea. It was only natural.

"Vice Admiral-san, you're a swordsman as well, correct? Then how about this? Half Moon Funeral!"

Diamante raised his rapier and swung it downward, unleashing a powerful wave of sword energy. The ground before him split cleanly in two, as if cleaved by a giant knife.

This was Diamante's only attack that didn't rely on his Devil Fruit powers. Even with his powers, he remained a swordsman at heart.

However, his attack was abruptly halted mid-swing, blocked by Ian's unsheathed katana. Ian's face remained impassive, betraying no effort.

"Impossible!" Diamante exclaimed.

He had assumed Ian's strength was comparable to Doflamingo's, but to effortlessly parry his strongest sword technique… He had sparred with Doflamingo countless times, and Doflamingo had never blocked his attacks with such ease, merely raising his hand and deflecting them. The gap between them was astounding.

"Don't misunderstand. I'm not drawing my sword because you forced me to. It's simply because I'll be using a sword as well from now on."

"So, can you withstand my attack?"

Ian's voice echoed through the battlefield. Diamante knew he wasn't joking. He truly intended to kill him. "Damn it! Doffy won't let you get away with this!"

"Indeed, you're a precious family member. But you've misunderstood. I don't need Doflamingo to come looking for me. I'll be the one to seek him out."

Doflamingo, born into the Donquixote Family, a lineage of World Nobles, had experienced a tumultuous childhood. His father, Donquixote Homing, had renounced their Celestial Dragon status, believing that all humans were equal, and had attempted to live a normal life with his family outside of Mary Geoise.

However, they were met with hatred and resentment from those who had suffered at the hands of the Celestial Dragons. Homing's attempts to return to Mary Geoise were met with scorn and rejection. Their family was ostracized, forced to live in poverty. Doflamingo's mother died of illness when he was eight, a casualty of their harsh living conditions.

Doflamingo blamed his father's foolishness for their misfortunes. At the age of ten, he shot his father in cold blood, ignoring his brother Rosinante's pleas, and returned to Mary Geoise with his father's head, seeking readmission. But the Celestial Dragons rejected him, branding him as a traitor. Enraged, Doflamingo swore to bring their world crashing down around them.

He then met Pica, Diamante, Vergo and Trebol, who bestowed upon him the String-String Fruit, recognizing him as their king. Together, they embarked on a path of darkness…

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Word Count [1348]

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To Be Continued..

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