Battle with Yellow Monkey!

"Gasp, the scale of that slash... it's so strong..."

"M-Monster!"

The Marine officers who had followed Yellow Monkey here stared at the trench stretching endlessly into the distance. Their faces were filled with shock, and boundless terror flashed across them.

Were they really going to make an enemy of a monster on this level?

"So he really was in the Great Swordsman Realm? No wonder he could fight Hawk-Eye to a draw. Even if Hawk-Eye came here, this would probably be all he could do..." Yellow Monkey, who had reappeared, looked at the trench stretching into the distance and could not help but feel utterly shocked. Sweat even dripped down his forehead.

He had merely swung his sword lightly, yet it possessed such terrifying destructive power. No wonder he could fight Hawk-Eye to a draw...

Why had someone like this remained unknown until now?

This is screwed...

Watching Ian rise to his feet and walk toward him step by step, Yellow Monkey felt a chill in his heart. He knew his own limits. It was true that he was an Admiral, but if he had to face Hawk-Eye, the "Marine Hunter," he had no absolute confidence in victory!

And Ian before him might not be much weaker than Hawk-Eye. He might even be stronger!

Because the intelligence indicated that this guy was very likely also a Devil Fruit user...

And it was very likely the rarest kind—a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit!

What was a Zoan?

It was an ability that could greatly enhance one's physical attributes. Every Zoan user was a monster with an incredibly powerful physique!

"As expected of the Marines' top combat force. An Admiral's strength truly is formidable. You managed to evade my slash at the last moment?" Ian strode forward, and the Conqueror's Haki around him seemed to grow stronger with every step!

The surrounding buildings and ground began to tremble under Ian's Conqueror's Haki, with even tiny cracks appearing!

Those closer to him were bathed in that Conqueror's Haki. The weak could barely withstand it, collapsing to the ground foaming at the mouth!

Only those with relatively formidable strength could still remain standing!

"Sir..." Yellow Monkey steadied himself and took a deep breath. Just as he was about to speak, Ian interrupted him.

Ian said indifferently, "Since we can't reach an agreement, with the World Government and Marines' usual bullshit, they'll definitely 'define' me as an enemy. If we're enemies, then stop wasting words!"

"Nameless Divine Wind Style: White Tiger!" With that, Ian raised his sword again. A tiger's roar surged into the sky from Hyorinmaru, and the phantom image of a fierce tiger suddenly burst forth. With a swish, another slash charged out. The crescent-shaped slash tore across the ground, cutting apart everything before it with terrifying force that ripped through all in its path!

"Heavenly Cloud Slash!" Yellow Monkey's expression sharpened. He drew a sword of light from his palm and, without hesitation, swung it down!

With a boom, Yellow Monkey's sword collided with Ian's slash, erupting in a terrifying roar.

Shattered sword energy shot into the sky, sweeping and slicing through the surroundings. The area within a hundred meters became a complete mess, covered in deep cutting trenches!

Yellow Monkey was also sent staggering back by the force of Ian's slash, and the ground beneath his feet crumbled inch by inch!

"Laser!" Yellow Monkey knew this matter could not end peacefully. He instantly focused his mind, golden light flickering at his fingertip as he fired a laser toward Ian's brow!

Ian raised his sword horizontally to block, coating it in Armament Haki. Hyorinmaru turned black as ink and remained unmoved even as the golden light struck it. Countless lasers scattered in every direction, triggering explosions one after another.

"Let me see the strength of a Marine Admiral. Compared to the Seven Warlords of the Sea, who is stronger and who is weaker?" Ian grinned. He used Flash Step beneath his feet, vanishing from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already beside Yellow Monkey, swinging his sword again.

"What speed!" Yellow Monkey was startled. He had not expected Ian to be so swift. If his Observation Haki had not been strong and his reflexes faster than an ordinary person's, he might not have been able to react at all!

The light sword in his hand flashed with dazzling radiance as he slashed upward, colliding with Ian's sword!

Boom!

The clash between their Armament Haki erupted with a terrifying shockwave. Centered on where they stood, the ground suddenly caved in, while scattered sword energy swept outward and cut through the surrounding buildings!

The two remained locked in a sword struggle. Yellow Monkey felt an immense force flowing through the other man's blade, faintly forcing him downward!

"Your physique isn't up to par, Admiral Yellow Monkey!" Ian sneered, exerting force again. This time, he reinforced it with Conqueror's Haki. With a boom, he pressed down with his sword, intending to shatter Yellow Monkey's light blade!

Conqueror's Haki Coating carried a mental shock. When Ian unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, Yellow Monkey lost focus for a brief instant. Though it lasted only a moment, Ian seized the opportunity!

"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!" Ian's indifferent voice rang out. High-energy lightning gathered in his left hand as he pressed it against Yellow Monkey's chest.

The next moment—

With a boom, a pillar of lightning suddenly erupted, propelling Yellow Monkey rapidly backward. It smashed through every building in its path, and after he was hurled back more than a hundred meters, an even more violent explosion rang out!

Flames soared into the sky, black smoke filled the air, and shockwaves blasted outward, destroying everything around them as an enormous crater suddenly formed!

"Heh... a Logia..." Ian looked toward Yellow Monkey, whose body was reforming from points of light high in the sky, and let out a faint chuckle.

At the moment of the final explosion, Yellow Monkey had transformed into golden light and shot into the sky, evading the final attack. However, he had still suffered some injuries. The Marine coat draped over his back was damaged, with several places scorched black, leaving him looking somewhat bedraggled.

"What a truly terrifying offensive, sir..." Yellow Monkey's tone remained flippant, but it inevitably carried a hint of gravity.

He knew the other man was strong, but this level of strength had truly exceeded his expectations...

He even knew advanced techniques like Conqueror's Haki Coating, while his mastery of Two-Color Haki was far from weak. His swordsmanship was even more exceptional!

He was simply flawless in every aspect. Yellow Monkey felt as though he were facing those monsters of the New World, leaving him with nowhere to begin...

"My name is Ian. Admiral Yellow Monkey is qualified to know my name." Ian smiled, then narrowed his eyes and said, "I hear Logias can awaken too. With Admiral Yellow Monkey's strength, you should have already mastered it..."

Admirals were the Marines' highest combat force. Ian did not believe they had failed to master Devil Fruit Awakening.

Even if Logias were the most difficult type to awaken, Ian did not believe Yellow Monkey was incapable of it!

"Ian..." Yellow Monkey murmured the name. Until now, no one had known Ian's name.

They only knew that every time he acted, he caused an immensely sensational incident!

Ian... Yellow Monkey repeated the name in his heart, yet he had never heard it anywhere before...

"Logia Awakening? Sir Ian certainly knows quite a lot!" Yellow Monkey pursed his lips, tore off his tattered Marine coat, and slowly said, "But isn't this a little unfair? Sir Ian knows my intelligence very well, while I know absolutely nothing about you..."