Very strong.
Ian was certain—Imu's power surpassed every opponent he had ever faced.
No, even if all of them combined their strength, victory against Imu was still questionable.
This man's Haki had evolved into an entirely new realm.
Not only his Conqueror's Haki, but his Armament Haki was overwhelmingly powerful as well.
As expected of a top-tier warrior from eight hundred years ago—after enduring such an unthinkably long period of refinement, his strength had grown to a level beyond comprehension.
It had been so long since Ian felt this way—so long since he was pushed back like this.
Truly—
"It's exhilarating!!"
Ian burst into wild laughter. Even though he was continuously overpowered and sent flying back, he charged forward again and again without hesitation.
Punch.
Punch.
Just keep punching!
Life Return, King's Fist—every technique he could muster, every ounce of Haki he could draw out, he unleashed without restraint.
Every strike was full power. Every punch carried no retreat, only advance.
"…"
Imu remained strangely silent.
This man—stronger than even Ian—simply threw his fists without a word.
Ian was sent flying again and again, smashing through walls, breaking pillars.
Yet in the very next moment, he would rebound even faster, hurling himself toward Imu with another roaring blow.
Seeing the crazed grin on Ian's face, Imu's voice suddenly turned cold. "You're an eyesore."
Hm?
Ian stiffened. Imu's presence vanished before him.
His Observation Haki could no longer sense him.
And his eyes alone couldn't keep up with Imu's speed at all.
As if a phantom, Imu appeared beside him and drove a fist into his face, smashing him into the ground below.
Fortunately, just as the blow landed, golden light erupted from Ian's body.
At the very moment of impact, he finally transformed into his Beast Form.
The earth split apart in an instant. Cracks tore through the entire base, splitting it to pieces as they continued to spread outward across the island.
Then, a blazing pillar of golden fire shot into the sky, piercing the sky like a bridge between earth and the firmament.
Within the brilliant flames, a dark silhouette drifted backward and landed lightly on the shattered ground.
"What… is that?"
The roaring fire swallowed falling boulders and the collapsing base, melting everything into flowing rivers of blazing magma.
Ian rose slowly from the heart of the flames, rubbing his cheek as he spoke with curious irritation.
"Is that similar to Observation Kill? You even hid your presence completely."
If this was beyond Observation Kill… Losing the ability to foresee the future was already troublesome, and now even his observation haki wasn't working. Honestly, he wasn't sure how he was supposed to fight like this.
What an awkward situation.
Just moments ago he declared the opponent hadn't used any abilities, only to be forced to reveal his own right after.
"I have no interest in being a teacher."
Imu's voice came suddenly from behind his right side. The air barely reacted before a slender leg swept toward his neck like a spear meant to split the world.
If observation haki couldn't help him, then all he had left was pure reaction.
Ian twisted sharply, his neck bending just enough to let the kick brush past him.
"Life Return?"
Imu's surprise showed in her eyes.
"Pretty fun, isn't it?"
Ian's upper body contorted back unnaturally. He drove his left fist sideways, slamming into Imu's waist before she could withdraw her leg, sending her flying like a launched cannon shell.
"That hurt."
Ian didn't chase after her. Instead, he rubbed his face again.
That punch earlier nearly cracked his cheekbone.
Fortunately, once he activated his ability, his defense wasn't too bad.
"Ian!! How dare you!! How dare you!!"
Not far away, Saturn of the Five Elders, who had been scrambling around to avoid the two's battle, pointed at Ian with trembling hands, cold sweat dripping down his face.
"You actually struck Lord Imu?!"
"I already did. What, should I schedule an appointment next time?"
Ian let out a small laugh.
"Still wasting time with nonsense?"
The ruins ahead suddenly exploded apart, and a surge of overwhelming Haki burst forth like a crashing tide.
Ian's expression darkened. Something was wrong.
This aura… a fusion of Armament and Conqueror's Haki, but condensed too tightly—almost solid, as if given form.
Haki crackled across his right fist as he threw a punch straight into the impact.
The bursting wave of Haki spread like a flood in every direction, annihilating everything in its path without mercy.
"Hss—"
Ian drew a sharp breath.
That was just from a shockwave of pure Haki? Its raw potency hadn't changed, but the technique had.
Like advanced internal destruction Armament Haki—no, this was something beyond that.
Not only was the strength itself surpassing his own, the mastery of techniques had clearly reached a whole new realm.
Joyboy never mentioned techniques like this in his records.
Could it be that Imu had been training relentlessly for eight hundred years?
So… the great Imu was actually a battle maniac?
"Ian, need a hand?"
Far behind him, a towering giant of rock rose from the ground, Bullet's booming voice shaking the island. "Looks like you two are about to shatter this place!"
Bullet was exhilarated. To fight Ian to such a level—to even press him back! How could a man like that not feel his blood boiling?
"No need."
Ian caught Surtur from his shoulder and swung lightly. Crimson flames gathered and forged themselves into a blazing sword within his grasp.
"You all go first."
"…Is that so?"
Bullet nodded.
Reluctance flickered in his eyes, but orders from the captain were absolute.
Besides—there would always be a next battle.
"Oh?"
Imu's gaze dropped to the sword in Ian's hand.
"A sword that can destroy everything, is it?"
He chuckled coldly. "Then try destroying me."
"With pleasure."
Ian raised the flaming blade, its crimson tip aimed directly at Imu.
"Come."
They moved.
As always, his Observation Haki refused to function. In this moment where foresight failed him, Ian's ability to anticipate Imu's movements lagged far behind reality.
Imu was already standing right before him, yet Ian's eyes still held an afterimage of his movement.
But that was fine.
The scarlet blade had already swept across in a horizontal slash.
When it came to reaction speed, Ian had never lost to anyone.
Imu, as though to prove he feared neither Ian nor his destructive flames, drove his fist straight toward the crimson sword.
Ian felt a heavy resistance.
The overwhelming Armament Haki shrouding Imu's fist turned into an impregnable barrier, forcibly halting the sword's advance.
Even so, the blade continued to push forward.
A screech rang out.
Scarlet light flared, and a figure was sent skidding backward at breathtaking speed.
**********
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