Dark Undercurrents, Another Draw

"What is it?" Red-Haired raised an eyebrow and looked at the man.

"Uh... Boss, see for yourself." The man glanced at Hawk-Eye, then handed the newspaper in his hand to Red-Haired.

Red-Haired was immensely curious. Had something major happened out at sea?

Taking it, the first thing that caught his eye was the most prominent bounty poster on the paper. Surprise appeared on Red-Haired's face as he muttered inwardly, "'Ice Dragon' Ian... is he the one who killed Donquixote Doflamingo?"

He then read the contents. After finishing the report about Ian, Red-Haired looked at Hawk-Eye with a somewhat strange expression. "You said you met an interesting person not long ago. Was his name Ian?"

"Hm?" Hawk-Eye was somewhat puzzled. Then, as if realizing something, he looked at Red-Haired. "Did the newspaper write about me?"

Red-Haired shrugged and handed the paper to Hawk-Eye. "Here. See for yourself."

The other officers of the Red-Haired Pirates had also had their curiosity piqued, but there was only one newspaper, leaving them scratching their heads...

Hawk-Eye took the newspaper and skimmed its contents, muttering, "So his name was Ian?"

Red-Haired smiled. "Was this what you wanted to tell me before?"

"More or less. It was rare to encounter a master swordsman." Hawk-Eye put down the newspaper, a glint flashing through his eyes. "I just didn't expect that after our fight, he would clash with a Marine Admiral again. I thought he would be like me and accept the World Government's invitation to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

After Ian killed Donquixote Doflamingo and the news spread, but before a bounty was placed on him, Hawk-Eye had sensed that the World Government would likely recruit Ian to replace Donquixote Doflamingo as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!

His clash with Yellow Monkey probably happened because Ian had rejected the offer to become a Seven Warlord of the Sea, leading to a battle between them!

Benn Beckman picked up the newspaper from the table and could not help revealing a startled expression. "'Ice Dragon' Ian, the guy who killed the Heavenly Yaksha before? Oh? He even fought Hawk-Eye and Yellow Monkey? His very first bounty was set at 1.16 billion Beli..."

The other officers also crowded over. Seeing the newspaper's contents, they were all slightly surprised.

This "newcomer" was far too monstrous!

Red-Haired narrowed his eyes. "You didn't hold back?"

Red-Haired had always acknowledged Hawk-Eye's strength. They had once fought on an island.

In pure swordsmanship, he was no match for Hawk-Eye. The World's Greatest Swordsman truly lived up to his name!

However, they had not fought to the death, so it was difficult to determine who was stronger or weaker!

Still, Hawk-Eye was definitely someone who could force him to go all out!

"Hold back? That guy is a monster!" Hawk-Eye said flatly. "He matched me in swordsmanship alone. In that battle, he didn't use his Devil Fruit ability!"

Red-Haired was shocked again. "What?"

Hawk-Eye continued, "I agreed to fight him again next time. It seems that day will not be far off..."

Red-Haired seemed to understand Hawk-Eye's meaning and grinned. "What, do you want to spar with me?"

Hawk-Eye's eyes suddenly sharpened. "I want to know the level of the Four Emperors!"

Red-Haired looked at Hawk-Eye as an imposing aura abruptly surged from him. "Want to sharpen your blade? Fine. Let me see whether your strength has declined!"

Boom! Crack!

Two terrifying waves of Conqueror's Haki collided, and the sky immediately darkened as countless purple-black bolts of lightning danced through the air!

Meanwhile, in Wano Country of the New World, Kaido's territory.

Kaido gulped down his liquor as he looked at the newspaper, a savage grin appearing on his face. "Worororo! That brat from the same place as you fought Hawk-Eye to a draw and even battled that Yellow Monkey fellow. Looks like he isn't simple!"

King the Conflagration merely glanced at it. "As expected, no one from that race is weak! And he ate a Mythical Zoan Human-Human Fruit?"

"King, someone like that is also a Zoan user. How about inviting him to join us?" Kaido looked at King with an unreadable smile.

He knew about the grudge between the Lunarian Tribe and the Olycia Tribe, which was why he asked his right-hand man.

Queen the Plague curled his lip. "Are we really inviting a monster like that to join us? Our status will drop..."

Jack the Drought was relatively silent and said nothing, but displeasure appeared in his eyes as he looked at Ian, whose bounty had surpassed his own!

King looked at Kaido and said evenly, "Once he enters the New World, I'll go meet him. Our races never settled the score before. Now, the struggle of the Twin Poles should finally come to an end!"

"Worororo! Just don't kill him, King!" Kaido burst into laughter!

King looked at Ian on the newspaper. "Don't worry. I'll make him submit!"

Whole Cake Island in the New World, territory of Four Emperor Charlotte Linlin.

Charlotte Linlin gripped the newspaper in her huge hand and brought her large face close to it. When she saw the face on the page, killing intent immediately rose in her eyes. "Hm? It's that guy again? Mamamama, he caused another huge mess? A first bounty of over 1.1 billion—what an arrogant little brat!"

Charlotte Linlin had not forgotten that this was the man who killed Donquixote Doflamingo and ruined her plans!

She still remembered that grudge!

Charlotte Katakuri, the foremost Sweet Commander, looked at Ian in the newspaper, an indescribable look in his eyes as he murmured, "'Ice Dragon' Ian..."

The first time Ian entered his sight was through the report of Ian killing Donquixote Doflamingo.

However, he had not cared at the time. Now, though, he was beginning to pay attention.

Not just anyone could receive such an astronomical bounty on their first poster. And in swordsmanship, he could draw with Hawk-Eye?

For a moment, Charlotte Katakuri found himself curious about Ian!

Charlotte Linlin put down the newspaper and looked at Snack. "Snack, how did the task I gave you go?"

Snack held his head high and said, "Mama, I repelled the forces that went to attack the Donquixote Family. But after Donquixote Doflamingo's death, no one in the Donquixote Family can take charge anymore. They'll be devoured sooner or later!"

"I don't care! Even if Donquixote Doflamingo is dead, those researches must continue!" Charlotte Linlin flew into a rage. Waves of Conqueror's Haki shot into the sky, instantly darkening it as she shouted, "Find someone capable of that kind of research! Even if they're in the first half, in Paradise, find them for me!"

"Yes, Mama!" an officer answered.

Charlotte Linlin turned her gaze toward Perospero, the Minister of Candy. "Perospero, who attacked the Donquixote Family?"

Perospero wiped away his sweat. "The rulers of the Underworld."

Charlotte Linlin snorted coldly. "Hmph, those vermin! The annual Tea Party is about to begin. Send them invitations when the time comes. If they don't come, wipe them out!"

As if recalling something, she bared her teeth in a cold grin. "If that so-called 'Ice Dragon' comes to the New World, send him an invitation too! Mamamama, that damned bastard dared ruin my plans. He deserves to die!!"

A hidden base of the Revolutionary Army.

At that moment, Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army, looked at the newspaper in his hand and murmured, "'Ice Dragon' Ian..."

Beside him, a beautiful woman with short purple hair and blunt bangs sat cross-legged. She wore sunglasses and a red top hat with a long tassel hanging from its back, smoking a slender cigarette. After exhaling a cloud of white smoke, she said, "Should we send people to Dressrosa in the New World? With Donquixote Doflamingo gone, there'll be far less resistance. The darkness there runs deep..."

She was Belo Betty, commander of the Revolutionary Army's East Army!

Dragon put away the newspaper. "I already sent people there."

"Oh?" Belo Betty asked curiously. "That fast?"

"Dressrosa's geographical position is special. It will greatly benefit our development." Dragon's response was calm.

"Oh." Belo Betty merely nodded. Then, as if remembering something, she said, "Right, it seems the World Government has contacted Kuma. That guy Kuma..."

A glint flashed in Dragon's eyes. "It was his own decision—for his country, and for us..."

"Is that so..." Belo Betty sighed and said no more.

"The Four Emperors have been established, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea will soon be established as well. The seas should be stable for a while. This is our opportunity!" Dragon said calmly, countless thoughts flashing through his eyes.

Because Ian's bounty had spread, every force, large and small, whether in Paradise, the first half, or the New World, was in an uproar over this matter!

At the same time, hidden under the shadows, dark undercurrents began to stir...

These seas had never truly been calm...

At that moment, a small boat drifted aimlessly across the sea.

Ian had no idea that two Four Emperors had set their sights on him. Even if he knew, however, he would not care.

Strength was the foundation. He was now already capable of standing at the pinnacle of this world!

The Four Emperors were nothing. Even if he could not defeat them, escaping would not be a problem...

Setting those matters aside, Ian sank his consciousness into the system—

[Host: Ian

Abilities: Hyorinmaru, Flash Step, Observation Haki, Armament Haki, Conqueror's Haki, Hadō #63: Raikōhō, Dimensional Space, Nameless Divine Wind Style

Draws: Two]

Looking at his system panel, Ian could not help nodding. Although he did not have many skills, every one of them was extremely practical.

Especially Hyorinmaru and the Nameless Divine Wind Style. Those two abilities were simply too powerful. Either one alone was enough to put him among the strongest in this world!

Although the two abilities could be used together in certain ways, the increase in strength was not actually that great. It could not achieve a qualitative leap...

Still, Ian understood this perfectly well. Once one reached the pinnacle of the world, becoming stronger was already exceedingly difficult!

Take Garp as an example—Garp's physical combat skills were already at the peak of this world. If he ate a Zoan Devil Fruit, would his strength increase?

It definitely would, but it would not become absurdly stronger!

It was impossible that Garp without a Devil Fruit could not defeat Whitebeard, but after eating one, he could hang Whitebeard up and beat him senseless.

That was unrealistic...

Devil Fruits could greatly increase a weak person's strength, but greatly enhancing the power of someone who was already a top-tier powerhouse was nearly impossible...

At most, it could add icing to the cake!

Ian's current situation was similar. When using Hyorinmaru, Ian could use all kinds of sword techniques from the Nameless Divine Wind Style, but the increase was not significant...

Perhaps he was limited by the strength of his physique?

Ian had considered that the power he could currently exert through his skills depended on the upper limit of his physical strength!

His physique had probably received an empowerment-like boost when he unlocked Hyorinmaru. Only his body had been enhanced, so that it could withstand the intensity of Hyorinmaru's Bankai!

What the Nameless Divine Wind Style gave him was the mysterious realm of a swordsman communing with the sun, moon, and stars, listening to the breathing of flowers and trees, and comprehending the true meaning of life... That profound and indescribable state had allowed Ian, who knew nothing about swordsmanship, to leap into the ranks of Great Swordsmen!

But no matter how one put it, whether it was swordsmanship, physical combat, or Devil Fruit abilities, the foundation of all of them was physical strength!

The power of Ian's abilities should likewise depend on the strength of his physique!

The stronger his body became, the greater the power he could unleash through his abilities!

Of course, this was only Ian's own speculation for now. He had not tested it yet...

After all, his physique had already become very strong after obtaining Hyorinmaru. It had even surpassed Donquixote Doflamingo's and was stronger than Yellow Monkey's...

However, compared to those monsters with monstrous physiques, Ian still fell short...

At the very least, his current physique was still inferior to Hawk-Eye's...

That was also why Ian could only draw with Hawk-Eye when relying solely on the Nameless Divine Wind Style!

If he had activated Hyorinmaru's Bankai to increase his strength, then used the Nameless Divine Wind Style against Hawk-Eye, the outcome would likely have been different!

Hawk-Eye would definitely have lost, but that would have been bullying him. A pure duel of swordsmanship should not be mixed with other abilities!

After all, their sparring match had only been about swordsmanship. It had not been a life-and-death battle!

"Two draws. They'll just sit there otherwise, so I might as well use them..." Ian pondered briefly, then made his choice with a thought.

[Draw commencing...

Ding, obtained skill—Hadō #88: Flying Dragon Thief-Shaking Heaven Thunder Cannon!

Ding, obtained skill—Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!]

"Flying Dragon Thief-Shaking Heaven Thunder Cannon? Six Rods Prison of Light? Kidō from Bleach... Hadō and Bakudō? Not bad. One more means of attack, and one more way to restrain enemies. The next time I meet Yellow Monkey, I wonder whether Six Rods Prison of Light can bind that old bastard..." Ian nodded, unable to stop a cold smile from appearing as though he were looking forward to something.

Naturally, he was familiar with Hadō from Bleach.

Hadō #88 was considered high-level Hadō even in the world of Bleach!

The higher the Hadō number, the more powerful it was. Flying Dragon Thief-Shaking Heaven Thunder Cannon, Number Eighty-Eight, should be more than a level stronger than Thunder Roar Cannon!

And Bakudō: Six Rods Prison of Light should also be a decent ability. It could lock down an enemy's movements. He just did not know whether it could restrain Logia users in this world...