Chapter 90: Shattering the Gates of Justice?

[A/N] - Support & Read Up to 15 Advanced Chapters on Patreon!

[A/N] - Unlock the Next Level of this Story with your [Power Stones]!

...

"Lightning Release: Kirin!"

At that moment, as Ian's chilling words echoed through the air, he swung his right arm, crackling with blue-white lightning. The sky darkened, storm clouds gathered, and a war drum's thunderous beat reverberated through the air, accompanied by a piercing cry. A horned beast of pure energy tore through the darkness, descending upon the fleeing lions below.

Enel had managed to create several lightning beasts, such as the Raiju, the Raiten, and the Raikou. Replicating Sasuke Uchiha's signature Kirin attack was child's play for Ian.

"Aaargh!" Witnessing this apocalyptic scene, Golden Lion Shiki's mind went blank. For a fleeting moment, he was transported back to the Edd War, the clash with Gol D. Roger that had shattered his dreams of conquest. Despite overwhelming Roger's forces in both numbers and power, he had been undone by the Pirate King's seemingly invincible plot armor.

Dozens of Shiki's ships were capsized by a monstrous storm, creating an opening for the Kirin to descend. Though there was only one, its sheer size dwarfed the lions, scattering them like sheep before a wolf.

The world was bathed in blinding white light. When their vision returned, both the Kirin and the lions had vanished.

Golden Lion Shiki and countless marine animals lay scorched and lifeless on the ocean surface. Ian knew he had gone overboard, a pang of regret echoing in his heart.

These animals lacked sentience. Their souls dissipated upon death, too quickly to be absorbed, unlike the ancient, colossal Sea Kings capable of conversing with Roger, Oden, and Shirahoshi. Those behemoths likely possessed power rivaling that of pirates with billion-berry bounties, evidenced by their ability to effortlessly carry Noah, the massive ark.

Extending his right hand, now fully transformed into a demonic claw, Ian reached out and grasped the air where Shiki had been. With the pull of his Soul Absorption, Shiki's body floated towards him, and Ian seized him by the throat. The legendary Float-Float Fruit was now his, absorbed into the growing Devil Fruit tree within him.

A strange phenomenon occurred. The Kilo-Kilo Fruit, a lesser power already residing within him, merged with the newly acquired Float-Float Fruit. Now, the Float-Float Fruit not only granted control over levitation but also the ability to manipulate weight, making it a far more versatile power.

"It seems I've arrived a bit late. So this is your true form, Vice Admiral Ian? Though you exude an aura of darkness, your heart remains untainted, a beacon of light. I am truly impressed."

Fujitora, having finally arrived, addressed Ian, his sightless eyes fixed on the scene.

"Just in time. I've just finished. Let's return to Marine Headquarters." Ian smiled. While Fujitora's Zushi Zushi no Mi was incredibly powerful, his travel speed left much to be desired. Every Devil Fruit had its strengths and weaknesses. Balance often meant mediocrity.

Mastery of all trades was mastery of none. One's energy was finite. Focusing on multiple areas meant excelling only within a limited scope.

Further advancement became perilous, and specialization left one vulnerable to specific counters, unless one had reliable companions to compensate for their shortcomings. Ian, however, not only possessed multiple Devil Fruit powers but also the balanced abilities of Ulquiorra.

...

At Marine Headquarters, within Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, the news was met with shock. Sengoku's eyes widened, and he slammed his fist on the desk, his face a mask of disbelief.

He struggled to regain his composure.

"He defeated Golden Lion Shiki? That Ian… he really…" Sengoku trailed off, unable to find the words to express his astonishment. He listened to Fujitora's report in stunned silence.

He had assumed Fujitora and Ian had defeated Shiki together. After all, Shiki's strength had waned considerably, while Fujitora possessed Admiral-level power.

However, Fujitora had simply stated, "When I arrived, the battle was already over. Shiki was… brought back by the scruff of his neck." Sengoku knew Fujitora wouldn't lie or joke about such a matter. There was no point.

While Sengoku was aware of Ian's strength and rapid growth, having nearly reached Mihawk's level months prior, he hadn't anticipated such a dramatic increase in power.

In just six months, had Ian truly reached Admiral level?

Or had Shiki, having lost his legs, become significantly weaker than anticipated?

At the level of the Calamities, the Warlords, and the Admirals, further progress was incredibly difficult.

Otherwise, there would be countless individuals at Doflamingo's level, while those capable of rivaling an Admiral remained exceedingly rare. Ian's growth was meteoric. The officers at Headquarters, even Akainu and Garp, were silent, stunned by the reports. 

In a single day, he had faced three legendary figures: Golden Lion Shiki, Silvers Rayleigh, and Donquixote Doflamingo.

Even with age taking its toll, Shiki and Rayleigh should still possess Admiral-level strength. And indeed, they had. At 52% fusion with the Ulquiorra template, Ian had reached the lowest tier of Admiral level.

However, combined with the Devil Fruit powers he now wielded, he could hold his own against an Admiral, perhaps even achieving victory. He could even face a Yonko and emerge unscathed.

...

"Then escort them both to Impel Down." Sengoku finally received his orders from the Five Elders, detecting a hint of relief in their voices. They hadn't expressed any disapproval of Ian's actions. Clearly, Doflamingo's capture benefited them greatly.

Ian accepted the mission without hesitation. This was his goal all along. He looked up at the deep blue sky. He had finally reached this point. Impel Down, here he comes.

Meanwhile, on the highest floor of Pangaea Castle in Mary Geoise, within a quiet and elegant room…

The Five Elders, the highest authority in the world, sat in discussion. One of them sipped tea, his words sharp yet his tone calm and measured, as if he had anticipated this outcome all along. He exuded the composure and authority of a world leader.

"Doflamingo has violated the terms of the Shichibukai, attacking Marines and killing a Celestial Dragon. While he should be stripped of his title and eliminated, that Ian acted without our authorization, disregarding the Shichibukai agreement." The Five Elder with the sword spoke, his voice cold and disapproving. However…

All the Elders knew that removing Doflamingo from the Warlords was practically impossible. His former status as a Celestial Dragon and his knowledge of the World Government's secrets gave him considerable leverage. Unless someone like Ian eliminated him.

The Donquixote Family had long been a thorn in their side. It seemed unruly individuals required equally unruly methods to be dealt with. Reason and diplomacy were useless.

Strength was absolute. Right and wrong were irrelevant. Only benefits and consequences mattered.

"While Ian disregarded protocol, he eliminated a significant problem for us. And he didn't cause excessive chaos. Based on our observations, he's simply… unconventional, like Garp was in his youth. His strength is a valuable asset to the Marines and the World Government."

The tall, thin Elder paced back and forth, the others listening intently.

After a moment of silence, one of them spoke, "His strength and achievements warrant a promotion beyond Vice Admiral. However, the Admiral positions are limited, and altering the structure is not advisable."

Garp's repeated refusal to accept an Admiral position had frustrated them. They wanted to promote Ian, but there were no vacancies. "Leave this matter to Sengoku."

"Indeed. We should continue to observe him." One of them murmured, and the others nodded in agreement. They were referring to Ian's rapidly growing power, which was exceeding their expectations. But it wasn't yet beyond their control.

"Leave him be. If he becomes a true threat, I'll deal with him." The blonde Elder declared, a faint glow emanating from his body.

"Indeed. And we have our… safeguards. Even if he becomes a pirate, he'll only reach Yonko level at most. There are limits even he cannot surpass."

They continued their discussion, their words echoing with chilling implications. What secrets did the Celestial Dragons hold?

They hadn't dwelled on Silvers Rayleigh. No one could escape their watchful eyes. He was merely an old man seeking a peaceful retirement.

...

Impel Down, the underwater prison located in the Calm Belt, a fortress that had never been breached. Its only blemish was Golden Lion Shiki's escape ten years prior, a feat that had cost him his legs. Countless pirates, many with formidable Devil Fruit powers, were imprisoned within its impenetrable walls.

Shiki had been one of the three great pirate captains vying for supremacy before the Great Age of Pirates, alongside Roger and Whitebeard. His capture was a result of his own recklessness, driven mad by the news of Roger's arrest, leading him to single-handedly attack Marine Headquarters.

Even then, it had taken the combined efforts of Garp and Sengoku, at the cost of half of Marine Headquarters, to finally subdue him.

In the original story, Luffy, before mastering Haki, had defeated Shiki. Ian could only attribute this to a momentary lapse in judgment on Shiki's part. Facing Luffy's final attack, he hadn't dodged or used Haki. He had overestimated his own invincibility. However, having just defeated Shiki himself, Ian understood the true reason.

Aside from the plot armor afforded by the movie's non-canon status, Shiki's defeat was a result of the trauma he had suffered during the Edd War, where a ship's figurehead had become lodged in his skull.

He had been transformed from a ferocious lion into a comical rooster. Anyone facing a symbol of their deepest fears would hesitate.....

...

"Vice Admiral Ian, that's the Gates of Justice ahead. Once we pass through, we'll be at Impel Down." Tashigi, dressed in her pristine white Marine uniform, her figure accentuated by its form-fitting design, reported in her sweet, melodious voice. Holy, the giant puppy, sat beside her, panting happily.

While this wasn't Tashigi's first visit to Impel Down, she had become completely enamored with Ian and dreaded the thought of being separated from him. Hence, he had brought her along. He anticipated chaos within Impel Down and saw it as an opportunity for her to gain valuable experience.

Impel Down, Enies Lobby, and Marine Headquarters formed a perfect triangle, with a massive whirlpool churning at its center. The three Gates of Justice stood at the vertices of this triangle. 

Ian had passed through the Gates of Justice countless times, both entering and exiting Marine Headquarters, even when flying. He held no particular interest in them.

He had only one thought in mind: could he shatter them? During the Marineford War, the Whitebeard Pirates had coated their ships and submerged, bypassing the Gates of Justice to reach Marine Headquarters. 

But.. Whitebeard likely possessed the power to destroy them. After all, his title as the strongest man wasn't unearned. He had mastered the Gura Gura no Mi, pushing its destructive potential to its limits. Ian, too, would achieve that level of mastery.

The Devil Fruits within him were each as powerful as the Quake-Quake Fruit, if not more so. As he acquired more and further developed their abilities, he would undoubtedly surpass Whitebeard's destructive power. With a sufficiently high fusion rate, he might even be able to shatter the Gates of Justice with his Hierro-Haki-Enhanced strength alone…

...

Support and read 15 Advanced Chapters, Ahead of the Rest!!

https://p@treon.com/dragonnx

[Replace '@' with 'a' to Access Patreon Normally]

There is 6 more exciting Fanfics already available on my Patreon page!