"The first option is to join the Marines directly. We'll grant you the rank of Rear Admiral. I believe in your strength and potential. However, even though you've proven trustworthy, you'll likely be under observation for a period of time. After all, despite your targets being ruthless pirates..."
"You're still young, and we're concerned you might lose yourself in the cycle of violence. The second option is to join the Marines' recruit training camp... No, we'll make an exception and allow you to enter the elite training program directly, under the tutelage of Garp, myself, and even several Admirals. Once you've mastered your powers and graduated, you'll be granted the rank of Rear Admiral or even Vice Admiral. So, what's your decision?"
"..." Gion surprised by the generous offer but also acknowledging its rationale. A Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit possessed immense potential, rivaling a Logia fruit and potentially leading to Admiral-level strength. And considering Ian's traumatic experience, if he could harness his power effectively...
His mental fortitude would be exceptional. During the Paramount War, Marco the Phoenix had clashed with all three Admirals, even holding his own for a time. Sengoku himself possessed a Zoan Devil Fruit, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu (Human-Human Fruit, Model: Buddha), and he was currently the Fleet Admiral.
"As expected of the "Sengoku The Buddha," Fleet Admiral Sengoku…" Ian remarked, recognizing the calculated nature of the offer. Sengoku had effectively laid out his future path.
However, Ian had his own goals, although he aligned with the Marines' sense of justice. Otherwise, he could have easily joined the Red Hair Pirates or the Whitebeard Pirates, crews renowned for their loyalty and pursuit of dreams, and still acquired the resources he desired.
Haki, swordsmanship, even Devil Fruits – they all had individuals who excelled in those areas.
"Would you allow me a few days to consider? I'll give you my answer when we arrive." Ian replied.
He had been somewhat interested in the elite training program, but only before Zephyr had formed his Neo Marines and embarked on his crusade against pirates. Zephyr was a renowned instructor, having trained many exceptional Marines, including Aokiji, Kizaru, Akainu, and even Smoker. His teaching abilities were legendary.
He was comparable to Jiraiya in the Naruto universe, who had trained Naruto, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko, individuals who would later become major figures in the ninja world.
Ironically, both Jiraiya and Zephyr met their demise at the hands of their students, their bodies lost to the sea.
Their fates were intertwined with tragedy and near misses. Jiraiya had almost married Tsunade, almost witnessed Naruto becoming Hokage, and almost seen the realization of world peace.
Zephyr, on the other hand, had witnessed the deaths of his family and students at the hands of pirates, culminating in his own death at the hands of his former student. It was a cruel reminder that good deeds often went unrewarded.
"Very well… Give me your answer when we arrive."
Neither Gion nor Sengoku was surprised by his request. Both options had their advantages. One offered freedom and gradual advancement, while the other granted immediate status but under strict supervision.
Time passed, and the marine warship sailed towards Marine Headquarters through a network of currents known only to the Marines.
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They swiftly entered the Grand Line. In the original story, Luffy had infiltrated a marine warship with the help of Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress and a Warlord of the Sea, traveling from the Calm Belt to Marineford, the Marine Headquarters, in a matter of days, effectively crossing half the Grand Line.
During the two-day journey, Ian refrained from inquiring about Haki. Firstly, two days wouldn't be enough to learn anything substantial. Secondly, he was maintaining the façade of a shipwreck survivor who had suddenly gained extraordinary powers, so he had to feign ignorance, at least while in the Four Blues.
Within the Four Blues, knowledge of Haki was rare, but it was commonplace in the Grand Line and the New World. Therefore, he chose to inquire about swordsmanship instead.
He had some experience in that area, and Gion's explanation confirmed his deductions. Swordsmanship was divided into four tiers: Sword Aura, Sword Pressure, Sword Intent, and Sword Domain.
Gion, a master swordswoman, had achieved the highest tier, Sword Domain, similar to Mihawk. She focused on pure, unadulterated swordsmanship, although she incorporated elements of hand-to-hand combat into her style, making her slightly more versatile than Mihawk.
One day, as Ian relaxed in a hammock he had crafted, basking in the sunlight, still clad in his tattered white attire, a peculiar phenomenon occurred. The sunlight reflecting off his pale skin seemed to glow faintly.
He closed his pale green eyes, reflecting on his recent experiences and pondering his future path. The tear marks beneath his eyes, a stark contrast against his black hair, enhanced his already handsome features.
Ulquiorra's natural attractiveness was evident, even in his Hollow form. A creature of darkness, yet bathed in sunlight.
"Well? Have you reached a decision?" Gion approached him, her pink attire and black shorts accentuating her long, slender legs, her smile radiant enough to make flowers wither in envy.
He couldn't fathom how she maintained her youthful appearance. At forty or fifty years old, she rivaled Tsunade in the Naruto universe, who possessed the Byakugou seal, a technique that granted her youthful vitality.
Perhaps there was a Devil Fruit in the One Piece world with similar properties, but it would undoubtedly pale in comparison to the advanced technology of ninja techniques. Wano Country did have a few ninjas, but their abilities were likely limited.
"Could it be Ain's Devil Fruit?" He recalled the Modo Modo no Mi, which could rewind a person's age. The timing seemed to align.
"No need to rush. Before we reach Marineford, we need to make a detour." Ian replied, raising his right hand and creating a black void in the air.
He retrieved Gecko Moria's Vivre Card and the map to Thriller Bark from the void. The Vivre Card pulsed faintly, drawn towards its source, a result of the remaining fragments and Moria's presence.
The Florian Triangle, where Thriller Bark resided, was relatively close to Marineford. In the original story, the Straw Hats had sailed directly from Thriller Bark to Sabaody Archipelago, and Sabaody Archipelago was adjacent to Marineford.
The South Blue and the East Blue were neighboring seas as well, so the distance between Thriller Bark and Marineford couldn't be too great.
"I didn't realize your Devil Fruit also possessed spatial abilities," Gion remarked with surprise.
"It's not very powerful. I can only store small objects. It's no match for a dedicated spatial ability."
Ian explained. The Garganta, black voids created by Hollows and Arrancar to travel between dimensions, were akin to the Senkaimon used by Soul Reapers. Ulquiorra's unique ability, however, was Caja Negación.
Arrancar-created Garganta led directly to Las Noches, while ordinary Hollows used them to hide in small, pocket dimensions. Therefore, he couldn't yet teleport long distances.
With his 28% fusion rate, he could only create a spatial void about half a meter wide for storage purposes. To his surprise, placing the Vivre Card within the void seemed to block its signal, preventing it from being tracked.
It was similar to various spatial Devil Fruits in the One Piece world, Obito's Kamui, a Mangekyo Sharingan ability in the Naruto universe, and Kaguya's Amenominaka, all of which could manipulate space and create portals.
Obito's powers were derived from Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra and the source of all ninja techniques. Therefore, the scale of their abilities differed greatly. Kaguya possessed six separate dimensions with unique environments.
However, compared to the Soul King in the Bleach universe, the God who created Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the human world, three interconnected realms teeming with life…