One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 16: A Swift End for Absalom

While it didn't cleave the clouds in two, the attack was still astonishing. Ryuma was bisected by the sheer force of the blow!

Ian's current strength was roughly equivalent to Zoro's after his two years of training under Mihawk, at least in terms of swordsmanship. His physical abilities, however, were on a completely different level, capable of surpassing countless individuals. To alter the very fabric of the environment...

That required the power of an Admiral or a Yonko. He was still a step below the Warlords, Commanders, placing him at the level of a 500-million-berry pirate, a Vice Admiral, a Lieutenant-Class Shinigami in the Soul Society, or a Gillian, the lowest class of Menos Grande.

However, further improvement wouldn't be an issue. After all, the sheer number of souls here was overwhelming!

"Rest assured, I'll put this sword to good use." Ian approached Ryuma's fallen form and retrieved Shusui, a blade that was both a Black Blade and a cursed sword.

Based on its quality, Shusui should suffice until he reached a 40% fusion rate with the Ulquiorra template. At that point, he might gift it to someone or perhaps preserve it as a collectible.

"Yohohoho! My shadow has finally returned!" As Ian defeated Ryuma, a shadow detached from the samurai's body and hovered at his feet, its voice filled with joy and relief.

Now, he could finally leave Thriller Bark and journey to Reverse Mountain in the Twin Capes to reunite with Laboon. He would play Binks' Sake, the final song of the Rumbar Pirates, for his dear friend.

The thought of Laboon repeatedly ramming his head against the Red Line, his skull covered in scars, brought a pang of sadness to Brook's heart.

He had endured immense suffering. His crewmates had perished, victims of treachery, and he himself had become a living skeleton. After burying their remains, he had been robbed of his shadow by Gecko Moria, forced to wander in perpetual darkness, unable to face the sunlight, constantly fleeing for his life. He had been trapped on Thriller Bark for fifty years.

He wasn't alone. Pirates and adventurers hidden in the shadows throughout the island rejoiced, offering their gratitude to the warrior who had defeated their zombie tormentors.

"Yohohoho! I forgot, I have no heart!" He exclaimed, his excitement fueling a burst of strength as he unleashed a Swallow Bond en Avant, defeating the stubborn samurai, Jigoro of the Wind.

"Thank you, Mr. Ian!" He bowed deeply at a 45-degree angle, his signature gesture, leaving Ian speechless.

"It's nothing. I was already here to deal with Moria. Besides, I defeated the zombie that had your shadow implanted within it, and I gained this renowned sword, Shusui. Consider it a fair exchange."

"Even so, I'm deeply grateful." Brook remained bowed, his head lowered.

"... In that case, when you bury your comrades, could you also build a grave marker for this sword?" Ian offered, handing Brook his broken katana, the unidentified work of a 50-Skillful-Craftsmen swordsmith.

In the original story, Zoro had done the same for Brook, requesting that he bury his lost sword, Yubashiri, alongside the Rumbar Pirates' remains.

Yubashiri, a sword entrusted to him by a kind shop owner in Loguetown, the town where Gol D. Roger was both born and executed, known as the "beginning and the end" and the starting point of the Great Age of Pirates. The shop owner had initially intended to trick Zoro into purchasing the cursed sword, Sandai Kitetsu, which had brought misfortune to its previous owners.