Even at over seventy years old, Rayleigh could swim across the Calm Belt, traversing from island to island, even slaying a colossal Sea King hundreds of meters long in the process.

Could such physical prowess be considered weak? Certainly, to normal individuals, he was a monster.

The aging process affected even the strongest. Whitebeard, Sengoku, and even Rayleigh had experienced some decline in their physical abilities. Garp, however, was an anomaly.

His strength remained undiminished, a testament to his unwavering mentality.

Yet, their final stands, their last bursts of power, were the most terrifying of all. With nothing left to lose, their hearts free from fear, they fought with a ferocity that surpassed even their prime.

"Your constitution is remarkable, like a machine with an inexhaustible energy source…" Rayleigh gasped, addressing Ian after catching his breath.

Was this the power of a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit?

He sheathed his sword. "Your Busoshoku Haki rivals my own, and your swordsmanship is that of a highly skilled swordsman. However, to further improve, sparring with me alone is insufficient. You must face a variety of opponents, honing your skills and Haki through constant battle."

Haki and swordsmanship were like unrefined stones, shaped and polished through clashes with different individuals, especially those stronger than oneself. Ian, however, was like a perfectly cut gem, his skills already refined.

Ian sheathed his own sword. "Indeed, my progress has plateaued recently. It seems I require some whetstones to sharpen my blade."

His focus remained on souls, the essence of power. Swordsmanship and Haki were merely tools, methods of channeling that power. A sword in the hands of a child was vastly different from one wielded by an adult.

Rayleigh smiled. "The New World is teeming with powerful individuals, far surpassing those in Paradise. It's time for you to venture into those dangerous waters."

Ian stood motionless, sword in hand, lost in contemplation.

"That strike… it wasn't simply Sword Pressure… or rather, it was Sword Pressure mastered to its pinnacle. A single swing containing the force of a thousand, yet those thousand were unified as one. And from that unity… arises something else… Sword Intent?"

Ian murmured, his voice laced with newfound understanding. Vista's flower sword, Kin'emon's Foxfire Style…

He was on the cusp of mastering the way of the sword, his powerful soul and keen intellect propelling him forward.

If he couldn't grasp the essence of swordsmanship after such encounters, he might as well abandon the path altogether.

"I always believed Sword Pressure was a force projected outward, but the true essence of swordsmanship lies in imbuing it into every direction, filling the entire domain of the slash, then compressing that boundless pressure into a single, focused strike."

"A single swing, capable of manipulating the very fabric of space. That's how one can deflect attacks from stronger opponents."

He had sensed it before, a vague understanding, a glimpse behind the veil. He knew he was close to unlocking the secrets of swordsmanship, even before his battle with Rayleigh.

Given time, he would have eventually reached this realization on his own. However, facing a master swordsman like Rayleigh, observing his techniques firsthand, had accelerated his progress significantly.

The New World… It seemed fate was calling him to those treacherous waters. Shanks, Shiki, Vista, Shiryu… all renowned swordsmen.

Suddenly, he sensed a surge of hostile intent, a soul hurtling towards him with murderous intent.

Capturing this individual might even provide an opportunity to infiltrate Impel Down. Then, he could proceed to Dressrosa and confront the Donquixote Family. Rayleigh and Fujitora also turned their attention towards the approaching threat, their advanced Observation Haki detecting the hostile presence.

Fujitora hadn't gained much from their earlier clash. Rayleigh had mentored him in his youth, but over twenty years had passed. Shanks and Buggy, once apprentices, had become a Yonko and a Warlord. Fujitora, already a skilled swordsman back then.

His style revolved around fusing his Devil Fruit abilities with his swordsmanship, unleashing devastatingly powerful strikes.

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He was impressed by Ian's rapid progress, achieving such significant improvement after only two battles.

"Is it over?"

A large crowd, who had been observing the battle from a safe distance, emerged from their hiding places, their throats dry with anticipation. The clash between Ian and Rayleigh, though brief, had been earth-shattering.

In an instant, it had drawn the attention of countless individuals, even pirates on distant islands, who gazed in awe and apprehension.

No one dared interrupt the duel between Ian and the legendary Rayleigh. Even the most reckless pirates had retreated, fearing the devastating power of their attacks. A single stray slash could obliterate them ten times over. They prayed that Ian, a figure of immense power, wouldn't bother with insignificant pirates like themselves.

"Is that… Marine Vice Admiral, the Black-Winged Devil, who defeated two Warlords and fought the world's strongest swordsman, Mihawk, to a draw?" Though his Marine Vice Admiral coat had been shredded in the battle, it was constantly regenerating, thanks to his spiritual pressure.

Coupled with his recognizable appearance, some pirates, upon realizing his identity, were paralyzed with fear, their bowels nearly emptying. They turned and fled without hesitation.

Even the most confident among them couldn't fathom surpassing Mihawk's strength, let alone facing someone who had matched him in combat.

However, some bolder pirates remained, their gazes filled with a mixture of apprehension and fascination. This was a rare opportunity to witness a clash between titans, a chance to glean valuable insights into the realm of true power.

"That old man he's fighting… could it be… the legendary Rayleigh? The Dark King, Gol D. Roger's first mate?" The name resonated like thunder, sending shivers down the spines of those who recognized him.

Ian, a rising star in the Marines, and Rayleigh, a legend from a bygone era, two figures who stood at the pinnacle of power, clashing on Sabaody Archipelago.

While they had suspected Ian possessed Admiral or even Yonko-level strength, witnessing him fight Rayleigh, a legendary pirate, to a standstill filled them with awe and disbelief.

"Isn't that the old man who coats ships? He's been hiding on this island all along?"

"Is the Black-Winged Devil here to capture him? Even with Admiral-level strength, capturing a legendary pirate is no easy feat."

"This is huge news!" A newspaper reporter, witnessing the scene from afar, gulped and began snapping photos with his camera.

Though the distance blurred the images, capturing only faint silhouettes, it didn't matter. He had already formulated the perfect headline:

Black-Winged Devil, one of The Strongest Marine Vice Admiral, Clashes with the Legendary Dark King, Rayleigh, Gol D. Roger's First Mate! Has he reached Admiral or Yonko level? What is the future of the Grand Line?

Little did he know, this headline would undergo several revisions throughout the day.

Another Rises to the Ranks of the Strongest Marine Vice Admirals!

Ian hadn't mentioned Ace's situation to Rayleigh, as the failed recruitment attempt hadn't been publicized by the Marines. He was slightly surprised that Ace, like Roger, possessed the Will of D. Shanks had indeed visited Foosha Village ten years ago.

So, the possibility of Roger having a child wasn't entirely unknown. After all, the incident in the West Blue, where pregnant women had been imprisoned and searched for signs of "devil's blood," had been a global scandal. The search had ultimately failed, its results shrouded in mystery.

The truth of Ace's lineage wouldn't be revealed until the Marineford War. By then, it would be too late to intervene. .

the only person Roger could trust in prison was Garp, a fellow warrior who understood the weight of their respective burdens. One's greatest enemy was often their most insightful confidant.

Garp was undoubtedly trustworthy.

The Roger Pirates hadn't mentioned Roger having a wife during their disbandment. It likely happened afterward. Otherwise, they would have protected her with their lives. Perhaps Roger didn't want his son to become a pirate, despite the freedom it offered.

In the eyes of normal people, pirates were symbols of evil. With his power, Roger could have entrusted Ace and his wife to any of his crewmates. Sengoku had anticipated this.

Yet, fate was a fickle mistress. Even those who stood at the pinnacle of power were subject to its whims.

If Roger hadn't fallen ill, Ace's life would have been drastically different. Shanks wouldn't have gone to East Blue.

Perhaps Ace and Luffy, the aspiring Marine King turned pirate, would have clashed, mirroring the rivalry between Garp and Roger.

"Sigh, my peaceful retirement is over. I can't keep watching Roger's era unfold, witnessing the rise of these powerful rookies. My old age is anything but peaceful. It seems I'll have to leave this island." Rayleigh grumbled, his voice tinged with annoyance.

"The Marines want to capture me, and pirates want to challenge me for fame. It's become unbearable."

"Hmm." Ian shrugged sympathetically. Even without his presence, Rayleigh's peaceful days were numbered. Luffy's departure was imminent, and he had his own preparations to make.

Ace would likely arrive on Sabaody soon, seeking out Shanks to express his gratitude for protecting Luffy, then challenging Whitebeard, only to be subdued and ultimately joining his crew.

When Ace's lineage was revealed, neither Rayleigh nor Shanks, nor even Sabo of the Revolutionary Army, would remain silent. He was their captain's son, their brother.

But they would be too late, arriving only to mourn his death. So many near misses, so many what-ifs. If only they had arrived sooner, perhaps Whitebeard and Ace could have been saved. If only Sabo had known Ace's true identity. But if that were the case…

With the combined might of Shanks, Whitebeard, Rayleigh, and others, along with Ace's Flame-Flame Fruit and inherited Conqueror's Haki…

Even Luffy, with his protagonist's aura, would have been overshadowed, his destiny altered.

He might have become just another Yonko…

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