The Seven Warlords of the Sea, their schemes to usurp kingdoms, their knowledge of ancient weapons, even their subordinates bore striking similarities. Heavy weights, candles, sticky substances, slicing, weapon arts, painting, explosions… And princesses fleeing their captive destinies.

Punk Hazard, Whiskey Peak, Caesar Clown—the parallels were uncanny. In the end, both were defeated by the protagonist and apprehended, with Luffy encountering his elder brothers along the way.

Even the Marines assisted in toppling the Birdcage and locating the cannons.

Drum Island and Water 7, one a detour driven by Nami's sudden illness, the other a necessary stop for repairs to the Going Merry. It was there they gained Chopper and Franky as companions. But on Ian's current trajectory…

These destinations weren't part of his plan. He had no interest in those specific arcs. There was no need to worry about altering the original storyline. Skypiea, Thriller Bark, and Alabasta were all deviations from the Straw Hats' intended course.

The Straw Hats hadn't gained anything from those encounters. Now, those matters were settled ahead of schedule. As for the New World… it was three years before the current timeline. By then, Ian estimated…

He would have already achieved his goal of conquering the world.

Crocodile's fish-like eyes, perpetually half-lidded, gazed at Ian with curiosity. He took a long drag from his cigar, the smoke curling around his scarred face.

His golden hook gleamed in the sunlight, completing his classic pirate aesthetic. He stood there, a seasoned veteran facing a formidable demon, his coat billowing in the wind.

"Who knows?" Ian replied, his green eyes cold and unreadable, his pale face a stark contrast to Crocodile's weathered features. Revealing one's weaknesses to an enemy was foolish.

This was Crocodile, the cunning Warlord. He hadn't fled because he sensed an opportunity. This hadn't been a typical attack from Ian, and Crocodile believed he had a good chance of subduing him.

His perception of Ian's strength was still based on their previous encounter during the Gecko Moria incident. While they were both Warlords, their power levels were vastly different. Ian had undergone rigorous Haki training at Marine Headquarters, further enhancing his abilities.

He had also absorbed the powers of three Devil Fruits. elevating his strength to a whole new level.

Reading Crocodile's thoughts wasn't difficult. However, Crocodile was unaware of Ian's ability to devour souls. A constant stream of souls, no less numerous than those on Thriller Bark, flowed into Ian's body.

In an instant, his depleted spiritual pressure was replenished, and his fusion rate continued to rise.

Ian wasn't surprised. The higher his fusion rate climbed, the more souls he required, and the higher their quality had to be. The same number of souls that had previously granted a 10% increase now only yielded a 5% boost.

Perhaps in the future, it would only be 1%.

This was where Crocodile's calculations faltered. Tashigi, their shared subordinate, had also locked eyes with Daz Bones, the user of the Dice-Dice Fruit, whose ability allowed him to transform his body into blades.

Among swordsmen, it was a power nearly as coveted as the Clear-Clear Fruit. Sparks flew between their gazes as they drew their swords and charged towards each other.

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Daz Bones' right hand morphed into five gleaming blades, clashing against Tashigi's Shigure. "You're strong, woman," he acknowledged, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Tashigi's strength and swordsmanship were on par with his own. Her face, however, was contorted with fury.

"Daz Bones, I hereby place you under arrest!" She even managed to free one hand to adjust her glasses, her eyes flashing with determination as she addressed him by name. Under Ian's tutelage, her strength had reached the level of a pirate with a bounty exceeding 100 million berries. Daz Bones' bounty, frozen since he joined the Warlords, was 75 million berries.

However, that was a recent development. She was also a Devil Fruit user, and she had mastered Soru.

That was why Ian had no concerns for her safety.

Adversity fueled growth, and Tashigi was close to achieving the ability to cut through steel. Perhaps this battle would be the catalyst for her breakthrough.

She was only eighteen, while Daz Bones was nearing middle age. Her potential for growth was far greater.

"I didn't expect you to become a Vice Admiral so quickly. Is this a reward for defeating Gecko Moria or an acknowledgment of your Mythical Zoan potential? I thought you'd replace him as a Warlord."

Crocodile, the cunning pirate, addressed the demon before him, but his words were met with silence.

"What? The Marines don't need the Warlords anymore? You're directly attacking my base of operations. Isn't sanctioned plunder the privilege you so-called 'Justice' individuals bestow upon us?"

"Not my problem. That's the World Government and the Marines' doing, not mine." Ian replied flatly.

His words implied that his allegiance was a mere formality. If it interfered with his goals, he would abandon it without hesitation. Crocodile's expression darkened as he realized…

This man was here to cause trouble. But what did he gain by antagonizing him? Was this a Marine conspiracy, a plan to eliminate unruly pawns?

Were they using Ian to eliminate the Warlords, only to turn on him later? His paranoia, fueled by years of scheming and betrayal, concocted numerous possibilities. He didn't fear Ian's strength, but rather the unpredictability of his actions. After all, the Warlords enjoyed greater freedom and authority.

They were sanctioned by the Marines and feared by other pirates, a force meant to counter the Yonko.

"Fine by me. I haven't settled the score for your attack on my subordinate." Crocodile snarled, his anger finding an outlet, his face twitching with barely suppressed rage.

"Oh? Since when do you care about your subordinates? I thought you only cared about yourself." Ian mocked.

It wasn't difficult to understand Crocodile's motivation. He was in the midst of his plan to usurp Alabasta, driven by his desire for the ancient weapon, Pluton. He needed manpower and resources, and Mr. 5, despite his relative weakness, was still a valuable asset, capable of taking on hundreds of ordinary soldiers.

Crocodile, known for his ruthless pragmatism, was enraged by the loss of a useful tool.

"And Diamante, you mutt of Doflamingo, come out! Both of you Meeting in secret… I have every right to eliminate you both."

Ian's voice boomed, his right index finger glowing with green energy as a Cero charged, aimed at another section of the ground. The only member of the Donquixote Family capable of meeting Crocodile…

Before unleashing his Raigo attack, Ian had scanned the area with both Observation Haki and his soul-sensing ability.

He knew exactly who was present. As if on cue, the ground rippled like water, revealing…

A figure clad in a feathered hat, two lines painted across his face, a red cape draped over his shoulders, his attire reminiscent of a tribal warrior.

Diamante, one of Doflamingo's top executives, the first to swear allegiance to him and assist in his rise to power. His codename: Diamond.

He led the Donquixote Family's fighting division and possessed the Flutter-Flutter Fruit, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that granted him control over flags.

He could transform any object he touched into a fluttering, cloth-like state, without altering its original material. This allowed him to fashion weapons and armor from seemingly harmless materials.

His signature attack, "Death Enjambre," utilized his Devil Fruit ability to transform steel into a fluttering cape, deceptively light yet possessing the hardness of its original material. This was likely how…

He had survived Ian's Raigo attack. By transforming the ground beneath him into a fluttering state, he had neutralized the force of the explosion, akin to a tai chi master redirecting an opponent's energy.

Softness overcoming hardness. Three more Devil Fruits, all possessing unique and intriguing abilities, tempted him.

He was reluctant to simply absorb them for a mere boost to his fusion rate. Otherwise, he would have already surpassed 50%...