King Ian

Golden flames surged skyward, and a terrifying heat wave instantly spread across the entire field. Even the cauldron of oil boiling over the blazing bonfire not far away seemed cool by comparison.

"Whoa!!"

The onlooking crowd was driven back by the heat wave, and those in the front rows were already drenched in sweat.

"What exactly is this brat's ability?"

Behind them, Queen muttered under his breath, "It doesn't exist in the myths of any country."

There was a theory that Devil Fruits were manifestations of human desires.

The earliest Devil Fruits had all been blank. Only after someone ate one would it evolve a unique ability based on the eater's innermost desires.

According to that theory, Mythical Zoans were abilities manifested from the gods and divine beasts found in various myths and legends.

Every Mythical Zoan could be traced back to mythology.

Except Ian's ability.

Even among Mythical Zoans, his was the most unusual.

And this brat's ability was absurdly powerful.

Ian merely raised his hand, and roaring golden flames surged from it. With a forward push of his palm, a blazing pillar of fire shot ahead.

"Senmaru!"

Kurozumi Semimaru shouted.

Kurozumi Senmaru crossed his hands before his chest, forming an X with his fingers. A translucent barrier suddenly formed in front of the two of them.

The pillar of fire slammed into the barrier but could not damage it in the slightest, only splitting helplessly in every direction.

Ian raised an eyebrow. The Paramecia Barrier-Barrier Fruit—its defenses even surpassed Uncle King's. It was an absolute defense that even Kozuki Oden had declared unbeatable.

Throughout the entire world of the Pirate King, the only known being capable of breaking a barrier was the Demon King of Song summoned by Uta in the movie, and even that had happened within the dream world.

But powerful defense did not mean invincibility.

Ian stepped forward until he stood before the barrier. Golden flames surged outward from him like a tidal wave, intending to swallow the entire barrier—and the people behind it.

If he could not break through the barrier head-on, then he would simply go around it.

The area a Barrier-Barrier Fruit user could create was limited.

"Lord Orochi! Get over here!"

Kurozumi Semimaru shrieked.

Kurozumi Orochi, who had been confronting Fukurokuju, turned around. Golden flames were already rushing toward him head-on. Terrified out of his wits, he instinctively charged toward Kurozumi Semimaru.

Ever since he was young, this old hag had guided him forward. Those two old fools were also his greatest support—at least for now.

"Senmaru!"

Seeing Orochi approach, Kurozumi Semimaru cried out sharply.

"I'm trying!"

Kurozumi Senmaru unleashed his power to the fullest. The barrier, originally no more than a wall, rapidly expanded until it became a sphere enclosing all three of them.

Now there were no blind spots at all.

But Uncle Queen, watching the battle, had already started laughing. "Mwahahaha! They made themselves a deep fryer!"

The indestructible barrier could indeed block nearly any physical attack.

But how could a barrier that could not even block sound possibly block the terrifying heat of roaring flames?

Golden fire had already completely surrounded the sphere formed by the barrier, and the terrifying heat immediately began seeping into its interior.

"Hot! It's too hot!!"

Inside the sphere, Kurozumi Orochi had already begun jumping in agony, unable to remain standing against the scorching barrier.

Kurozumi Semimaru and Kurozumi Senmaru wore equally despairing expressions. The rapidly rising temperature was so terrifying that they could no longer breathe. The scorching air seared their lungs the instant they inhaled, as though their internal organs were being cooked alive.

And the temperature continued to rise.

Ian's flames were hotter than the cauldron of oil!

Talk about karma coming full circle.

Ian glanced at the enormous cauldron beside him. Kozuki Oden got thrown into a pot of oil, while these three got to enjoy an air fryer. The scale was no less impressive.

"No! I can't take it anymore!!"

The scales on Orochi's body were cracking as he screamed, "Let me out! Let me out!"

Even being burned to death by the flames outside would be better than being unable to breathe in here!

His wish was granted at once.

The barrier surrounding them dissolved the next second.

Kurozumi Senmaru and Kurozumi Semimaru immediately collapsed into the surging flames and were instantly swallowed by the scorching blaze.

The heat had nearly drained them dry. Their lives ended there.

"Arghhhhh!"

The serpent that had just declared it would come out was instantly swallowed by flames. All six heads were wrapped in golden fire, and its screams nearly tore through the clouds overhead.

The watching citizens stumbled back in near panic. The scene was simply too terrifying.

Of course, some people did not find it terrifying at all.

"Yeah! Ian!"

Sitting on Teacher Kai's shoulder, Yamato excitedly waved her little fists. "That's how you deal with him! Burn him to ashes!"

What a bloodthirsty spectator.

Kurozumi Orochi's wails gradually weakened. He collapsed to the ground amid the flames. Another life had reached its end.

Five lives left, right?

Ian thought.

"You brat!"

The next second, the five-headed serpent sprang up from within the flames. Its five enormous, blazing heads lunged straight at Ian, mouths wide open.

Ian merely reached out casually and grabbed one snake head by the face. His sharp claws pierced straight into its skull. With a backhanded swing, he effortlessly flung the massive serpent into the air, then smashed it down onto the hard ground with a thunderous crash.

The greatest fundamental enhancement the Winged Dragon Fruit granted Ian was, of course, indestructible defense. But its boosts in other aspects were equally terrifying, far surpassing those of ordinary Mythical Zoans.

It had not shown when he fought a Haki master like Hyogoro, but in truth, Ian's strength was already approaching that of Charlotte Linlin at the same age.

The serpent's remaining heads screamed as another life rapidly vanished amid the flames.

Four lives left.

"No! I don't want to die!!"

Kurozumi Orochi revived once more. He had completely broken down and could no longer muster the courage to fight Ian. He turned and fled through the flames.

Ian descended from the sky and landed on Kurozumi Orochi's back. The sheer force of his stomp snapped the serpent's spine.

Three.

"Spare me! Please spare me! I won't be the shogun anymore! I'll give you everything!"

"Divine Flame Cannon."

Two.

"Help! Kaido! I was wrong! Please, I beg you, forgive me!"

He raised his right hand, and a miniature sun gathered in his palm.

Winged Dragon's Blazing Flame!

That meant only the final life remained.

Within the roaring flames, Kurozumi Orochi revived once again.

This time, Yamata no Orochi had only one head left.

Having realized that escape was absolutely impossible, Kurozumi Orochi finally stopped begging. He cursed furiously.

"You damned brat! And Kaido too! Neither of you will die well! I'll curse you from hell! Curse you forever!"

Ian's mouth twitched.

Sorry, gods aren't affected.

I'll remind Teacher Kai to watch out for your dying curse.

Ian raised his foot, then stomped down.

Silence.

The flames dispersed, and the citizens of the Flower Capital, who had watched everything unfold, also fell silent.

Orochi... had been killed just like that?

Killed effortlessly by a child.

"Worororororo!"

Teacher Kai's booming laughter echoed through the sky outside the castle tower. "Now, welcome your General Ian!"

"General Ian!"

Fukurokuju was the first to kneel, swearing his loyalty to Ian. "We, the Oniwabanshu, will serve you forever!"

"General Ian!"

The ninja and samurai alike declared their loyalty to Ian.

The watching citizens were completely dumbfounded.

A general?

Ian thought that he might as well give it a try.

But first, he had to change that lousy title.

They were both national leaders—everyone else was a king, while he was only a general. It sounded like he was a rank beneath them.

General Ian?

King Ian!

Amid the bewildered crowd, a black-cloaked figure quickly slipped away.

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