One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 8: A Clash of Titans

The auction house groaned under the weight of a colossal fist, a grotesque monument of plundered weapons, as it descended from the sky with earth-shattering force.

Reacting with lightning speed, Ian's right index finger erupted in a blinding emerald light, unleashing a devastating Cero Oscuras. The massive beam, several meters thick, tore through the air, a defiant emerald streak against the encroaching darkness, hurtling towards the incoming fist.

A deafening roar ripped through the ravaged auction house, followed by an unnerving silence, a void punctuated only by the fading white afterglow of the clash. Eyes stung and vision blurred as the colossal metal fist, once a symbol of Kid's raw power, crumbled and disintegrated under the overwhelming force of Ian's attack.

A mushroom cloud of white energy billowed into the night sky above the island, illuminating the darkness and casting an ominous glow visible even to distant ships navigating the treacherous waters.

"What the hell was that...?"

Several kilometers away, a large marine warship sliced through the inky blackness. Standing at the forefront of the cannon-laden deck was a striking figure in a pink Marine Vice Admiral coat, matching top, and black shorts. A spider tattoo adorned her long, slender leg, and a katana, the renowned Kitetsu, rested in her sash.

Her identity was unmistakable: Vice Admiral Gion, the "Pink Rabbit," a woman whispered to possess the potential to ascend to the rank of Admiral. While not yet officially recognized as a candidate, she was undoubtedly one of the strongest Vice Admirals, alongside the formidable Chaton, and a master swordswoman in her own right.

"Vice Admiral Gion, the island ahead is swarming with over a dozen pirate crews. There's been a major disturbance. Eustass Kid is likely among them," a Marine reported, echoing Smoker's relentless pursuit of Luffy. In the South Blue, the notorious Eustass Kid, with his rapidly rising bounty, had become Gion's primary target.

"I'll investigate," she declared, launching herself into the air with Geppo. Her movements were a study in controlled power, like a hawk soaring effortlessly on the wind.

The Marines on board remained unconcerned. Gion and Chaton were one of the strongest Vice Admirals, more than capable of handling a dozen pirate crews with bounties in the tens of millions, especially in the relatively weak South Blue. At a certain level of strength, numbers became irrelevant. She could easily overwhelm them, even if they were a dozen pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million, as long as none possessed the power of a Vice Admiral or Commander. Admirals and Yonko could practically stroll through such opposition unscathed.

"Damn... He's a freaking monster!"

Kid, vision finally clearing after being knocked back by the force of the clash, stared at Ian. His white attire and demonic appearance stood in stark contrast to the carnage surrounding them.

Glancing around, he noticed the remaining pirates seizing the opportunity to flee. However, their escape felt inconsequential. They were insignificant compared to the hundreds of corpses littering the auction house floor. Kid hadn't expected Ian to retain such monstrous power after slaughtering so many, without showing even a hint of fatigue.

He was right. While reaping lives, Ian had also been absorbing their souls, replenishing his energy expenditure. Otherwise, the hundreds of souls would have been enough to boost his fusion rate to 27-28%.

Killer didn't dare attempt a sneak attack. The memory of Ian effortlessly cleaving through multiple opponents with a single, devastating sword strike was etched into his mind. This man was far more likely to conquer the Grand Line than they were. He was already nearing the level of a master swordsman.