Chapter 38: Challenging a God

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"Really?" Tashigi, the wide-eyed Marine, practically jumped for joy, her face beaming with delight. In the world of One Piece, freedom of movement came at a price, the price of power. Without it, one faced the harsh reality of plunder and peril. She, undoubtedly, lacked such power.

But her superior officer possessed it in abundance. Why was he so kind to her? Could it be… that he had feelings for her? The mind of a young woman in the bloom of youth was a fertile ground for such fantasies.

"..." Her face flushed crimson, and she covered it with her hands, unable to meet Ian's gaze.

Though she possessed a charm, his potential was huge, too handsome. A Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user with formidable swordsmanship.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he was destined to reach the heights of power, standing alongside Admirals and Emperors. She, even with the Clear-Clear Fruit he had bestowed upon her, combined with her swordsmanship, Soru, and mastery of two Haki types, would at best achieve the level of a strong Vice Admiral. The gap between them felt insurmountable.

"Because you're my assistant, of course. Who else would take care of my daily needs? I can't function without you." Ian stated, his deadpan expression betraying no hint of the romantic undertones his words carried.

It sounded more like a plea for a maid or a housekeeper, a realization that made him cringe inwardly.

Dude, you're handsome and have a powerful aura, but do you have to be so awkward? It was like that meeting at Marine Headquarters all over again. He had attempted to convey amusement, but it had been perceived as mockery.

The collective glare of the Vice Admirals had been unsettling. They had concocted a tragic backstory for him, a victim of a pirate attack, blessed with holy power through sheer luck. It was supposed to garner sympathy!

"So, I'm just an assistant?" Tashigi's voice was laced with disappointment. But her eyes quickly lit up, her sharp mind grasping the implication.

An assistant provided professional support, not personal care. Did that mean… there was still a chance?

Her thoughts spiraled once more.

"Yes, it would certainly make things easier. And I suppose I could take you along on my travels." Ian continued, drawing upon his vast knowledge of romantic strategies gleaned from countless books and anime. However, his delivery, combined with Ulquiorra's stoic, aloof demeanor, created an unsettling dissonance. This was excruciating!

"..." Tashigi's hopes were dashed once more.

Was she truly that useless? She would only be a burden in high-level battles, a liability that could be eliminated by a stray blast of energy. Protecting her would only hinder him.

"… Are you hungry?" After a period of silence, Tashigi, yearning for any sign of comfort or reassurance, finally spoke.

Had he grown tired of her presence, her constant need for protection? Then, she heard his words, turned her head, and saw Ian preparing a meal over a small, portable stove. A table nearby was already set with three dishes and a bowl of soup. He gestured for her to join him.

Once the food was ready, he extinguished the flames and stored everything within his Garganta, a pocket dimension. While this world lacked a Hueco Mundo or a Soul Society for him to connect to, he had developed his spatial manipulation abilities, creating a ten-square-meter space.

Unlike its counterparts, it was devoid of any elements, air, sunlight, even time itself. It served as a convenient storage space for food and other items, eliminating the need for refrigeration. However, living beings couldn't survive within its confines.

Perhaps, once he was strong enough, he could follow in the footsteps of Aizen and the Espada, constructing a personalized space from reishi, manipulating time to achieve a form of immortality, free from external interference.

"Wow, Ian-san, that was fast…" Tashigi exclaimed, astonished by his speed. He had prepared their entire lunch in such a short time. While Marine warships were equipped with kitchens and recreational facilities for their crews, having a personal pocket dimension for such tasks was incredibly convenient, especially during solo missions.

"… Would you like to try it?" Ian's face flushed, embarrassed by her unintended innuendo. He had noticed her lovestruck demeanor and, knowing she wouldn't recover anytime soon, had decided to prepare lunch in advance.

And this was her response?

"Ian-san…" Tashigi immediately realized her words could be misconstrued and fell silent, focusing on her meal.

Ian fought back a smile. She was always so quick to challenge him, to push his buttons. Now, she was the one flustered.

"if you really want to laugh, could you please deactivate your powers? It's… unsettling. It scares me." Tashigi finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"..." Ian hadn't noticed this feisty side of her while watching the anime. She was a relentless challenger, not only in strength but also in wit.

Her assertive nature was likely a result of the Marines' strict hierarchy and discipline. She had found a kindred spirit in Smoker, a man who shared her rebellious spirit.

Otherwise, she would have surely succumbed to the stifling regulations.

"Just eat your food. Can't even three dishes and a bowl of soup shut you up?" Ian flicked her forehead, earning a whimper of protest.

"Vice Admiral, you're so mean…" Could she stop being so adorable? He couldn't handle it!

After lunch, Tashigi, in a sudden burst of enthusiasm, grabbed the dishes and rushed to the edge of the Sea Clouds, diligently washing them, eager to demonstrate her domestic skills.

Ian shook his head, amused by her sudden change in behavior. He stored the table and benches within his Garganta and, once everything was packed away, they silently made their way towards the giant beanstalk, its name unmentioned in the original story.

"This is…?" They reached the ruins quickly, their enhanced speed covering the distance in no time. They saw the remnants of Cricket's house, perched precariously on a small island.

Upon first seeing it, Tashigi had mirrored the Straw Hats' reaction, commenting on its small size, a simple wooden structure with only two floors, dwarfed by the massive beanstalk.

It was also incomplete, lacking stairs. Now, the reason was clear. It had been launched into the sky, ten thousand meters above the sea.

And there it stood, the colossal Golden Belfry. They ignored the poneglyph nearby, much like the Uchiha Stone Tablet in the Naka Shrine, inscribed with secrets only visible to those with the Sharingan, a ploy orchestrated by Black Zetsu to manipulate Madara Uchiha. Similarly, only the scholars of Ohara and the people of Wano could decipher the ancient text.

Ohara, the island of scholars, possessed the Tree of Knowledge, a repository of the world's wisdom. Wano, the land of samurai, was the origin of the poneglyphs themselves. The poneglyph likely even bore the inscription, "Roger was here." Robin, upon deciphering it, had been astonished.

She had wondered how Roger could possibly understand such ancient writing, let alone carve it into the indestructible stone. It wasn't until they reached Wano that the truth was revealed.

"Should we ring it?" Tashigi asked Ian, gazing at the massive golden bell. Without immense strength, one couldn't even lift the log used as its striker. Perhaps individuals like Garp, Sengoku, Kaido, Big Mom, or Whitebeard, with their monstrous physical prowess, could achieve such a feat.

She wasn't sure if Ian possessed such strength, but remembering his earlier comment about speed, she knew that questioning his abilities again would likely result in… immediate and decisive action. The thought sent a blush creeping up her cheeks.

It was all his fault for being so exceptional, for fueling her fantasies!

"..." Ian sighed inwardly. Was this his fault too?

She might be a cute and innocent girl, but she could be incredibly unreasonable at times. Why not focus on getting stronger instead?

"Of course. It's a symbol of the friendship between the Shandia and Cricket's ancestor, and a challenge to the god who rules this island."

Ian chuckled and approached the Golden Belfry, rolling up his sleeves. Black Busoshoku Haki enveloped his arms. While he could easily lift twenty tons, swinging the log would be a significant challenge.

Strength didn't necessarily equate to practicality. He needed more power. He activated the three Devil Fruits within him: the Spring-Spring Fruit, the Kilo-Kilo Fruit, and the Bomb-Bomb Fruit.

An additional ten tons of force surged through his body, combined with the explosive power and enhanced momentum of the Spring-Spring Fruit.

He now possessed a staggering hundred tons of force. Tashigi, her vision obscured by the black Haki, couldn't see the activation of the Spring-Spring Fruit. A thunderous boom echoed through the air as Ian unleashed a devastating punch.

The Golden Belfry, struck with unimaginable force, was pierced, a massive hole appearing in its side. The bell's deep, resonant tone reverberated throughout Skypiea and reached the distant land of Jaya, ten thousand meters below. He had succeeded.

"The City of Gold… Wasn't it just a legend?" On Jaya, the remaining pirates and the impoverished citizens were stunned.

They had mocked countless adventurers who had come seeking the fabled city, but now, the truth had been revealed. It was they who had been fooled.

"Thank you, Ian-san…" Cricket, Masira, and Shoujou wept tears of joy, their ancestor's name finally cleared after 400 years of ridicule and shame.

"Is this a message from God?" On Skypiea, the winged inhabitants paused, their steps faltering. Ever since their island had come under new management three years ago, ruled by a god with a strict set of laws, they dared not defy his authority.

But they waited… and waited… Nothing happened.

"Who rang the Golden Belfry?" Wyper, a descendant of the Shandia warriors, exclaimed, his voice laced with shock and disbelief.

After Upper Yard, the only land in the sky with fertile soil, had been brought to Skypiea, it had been claimed as holy ground, their ancestral home stolen from them. They had dreamed of ringing the Golden Belfry, a symbol of their lost homeland.

A sign to Noland's descendants, a testament to their unwavering spirit. The Shandia, the original inhabitants of Jaya, had waged a 400-year war against the Skypieans, seeking to reclaim their ancestral home and ring the bell once more.

"I have to see this for myself!" Wyper declared, his heart pounding with a sense of urgency. He couldn't wait for the other Shandia warriors. He was a descendant of Calgara, the great warrior.

His resolve was unmatched. He grabbed his Burn Bazooka, strapped on his Jet Dial skates, and raced towards the giant beanstalk.

Even Enel, their self-proclaimed god, wouldn't ring the bell. He, too, was a Shandia, despite his current position of power.

"Is this a challenge? If you survive my priests, I will in person deliver Holy retribution." Enel's cold voice echoed through the grand halls of his palace, built atop the giant beanstalk, his massive golden drums strapped to his back.

The Skypieans and the Shandia were too weak to defy him. His Mantra, his Observation Haki, extended throughout the entire island, and he had sensed a mysterious intruder.

Black wings… At first, he had assumed it was a large bird. But it was a human.

He could sense that this newcomer also possessed a Devil Fruit, similar to his own Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which granted him the power of lightning. A Devil from hell? He was Enel, the God of Skypiea, wielding the power of thunder!

"Still too weak…" Ian examined his fist after the devastating blow. He had utilized three Devil Fruits and Ulquiorra's immense physical strength. He was certain…

If Garp had struck the Golden Belfry, it wouldn't be merely a hole.

It would be utter annihilation… 

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Word Count [2030]

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To Be Continued..

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