Chapter 17: Playing in the Illusory World
After confirming the distance between himself and the Peacock, Ian continued running at a steady pace, unhurried.
As he neared the large trees where the Peacock was hiding, Ian activated his new skill—"Dream World"!
In the real world, everything remained calm and unchanged.
But at this moment, an extremely realistic, three-dimensional image suddenly appeared in Ian's mind.
Rather than calling it an image, it was more apt to describe it as a "world."
Ian could clearly perceive it without needing much explanation or description.
Everything in this "Dream World" was under his control at will.
He maintained the first-person perspective of the real world, his eyes fixed on the changes in the Peacock's expression. Simultaneously, it was as if he stood from a god's perspective in his mind, precisely controlling every subtle change in the dream world.
As a test, and with no intention of killing the target, what Ian chose to create was naturally an environmental space identical to the real world.
"Hmm? Where did he go? Where did he disappear to?"
"How could he... vanish into thin air?"
The Peacock cautiously peeked out from behind the tree, simultaneously activating her Observation Haki to sense any movement around her.
He was really gone!
Ian, who had been running just a moment ago, had inexplicably disappeared from the track!
The Peacock thought that with her proficiency in Observation Haki, she would definitely detect if someone approached stealthily.
She slowly walked out and came to a relatively open sandy area. At the same time, her right hand tightly gripped the whip at her waist, ready to counterattack at any moment.
However, what she didn't know was...
At this very moment, Ian was right beside her, so close the distance could be measured in centimeters.
After activating the ability, to confirm the specific effects of the Dream World, Ian boldly approached the Peacock. He had witnessed the Peacock's impressive Armament Haki during the day and assumed her Observation Haki wouldn't be weak either.
As a result, he stretched his hand right in front of the Peacock's face and waved it around randomly.
No reaction!
The Peacock truly couldn't sense his presence at all.
Crunch!
Crunch!
"..."
To further verify his hypothesis, Ian deliberately stepped on the sand, making clear crunching sounds.
"Where did he go? Did he leave the training ground?"
The Peacock muttered to herself.
"Peacock?"
"Captain Peacock?"
"Little Peacock!"
Ian kept calling out, his voice growing louder and louder.
Still no reaction!
The Peacock was completely enveloped in the Dream World and couldn't hear any sounds from the real world.
Ian was ecstatic!
The effect of the new skill was even more astonishing than expected.
Once caught unawares by the attack, unless one's Haki strength and mental willpower were sufficient to break through the boundary, they would be completely immersed in it!
This risky test was so meaningful!
And this was just the beginning. What he would test next...
Would attacks in the Dream World simultaneously take effect in the real world?
Ian's mind stirred, and he continued carefully controlling the changes in the Dream World...
"Captain Peacock, why are you still awake so late? Do you have something to discuss with me?"
Without the Peacock noticing, the version of Ian created in the Dream World suddenly appeared behind her.
The Peacock's pupils constricted sharply. She instantly sensed the figure that had materialized out of thin air behind her.
How was this possible? Vanishing and reappearing out of nowhere?
Just before Ian spoke, the Peacock was absolutely certain no one was behind her.
Could Ian's speed be so fast that her perception couldn't keep up?
Simultaneously, the Peacock's Observation Haki foresaw Ian launching a kick aimed at her whip-holding hand.
At such close range, if she tried to whip out her weapon to counterattack, she would probably be half a beat too slow.
The Peacock had no choice but to deliver a backward kick, Armament Haki instantly activating to meet Ian's surprise attack.
Whoosh...
The anticipated violent collision of forces never happened.
The Peacock's kick, having gathered too much force, met only empty air, causing her to lose her balance.
Her internal shock was greater than the fact that she had kicked nothing!
He had disappeared again!
It was as if Ian had never appeared behind her. Everything she had just foreseen with her Observation Haki seemed like an illusory phantom.
Speed? Was it really an absolute difference in speed?
Such a terrifying situation had never occurred even when sparring with the Vice Admirals at Headquarters.
Could Ian's absolute speed surpass that of a Headquarters Vice Admiral?
The Peacock didn't realize that something even more terrifying was yet to come.
The moment her kicking leg landed, before she could adjust her posture, the black shadow appeared again.
Ian was having a blast!
Crack!
The Peacock's slender neck was violently grabbed by a large hand and hoisted high into the air.
"Urk...!"
The suffocating pain made the Peacock instinctively clutch her neck with both hands, desperately trying to pry the grip loose.
...
On the sandy ground of the real-world training ground.
Ian stood to the side, a fiery light flashing in his eyes.
He witnessed the entire process of the Peacock being lifted into the air out of thin air.
At this moment, her cheeks were flushed, and clear bruises were forming on her neck.
The real Ian had done nothing; he had merely controlled the changes in the Dream World within his mind.
Sudden appearance, sudden disappearance, another sudden attack... all these abrupt occurrences were illusions controlled by Ian!
Thus, the test results were clear.
Attacks encountered in the illusory world would synchronize with the enemy in the real world.
Just as Ian had anticipated.
Having one's five senses and mind controlled was equivalent to having a firm grip on the opponent's lifeline.
Since dreams could reflect reality, then conversely...
Ian walked up to the suspended Peacock and cracked his knuckles, producing a series of popping sounds.
"Heh heh..."
He blew twice on his fist, infusing it with spirit.
"Do you really think this Commodore is some pushover who can't even walk straight at the sight of a pretty girl?"
"When it's time to hit, hit!"
BOOM!
The hard iron fist, accompanied by a whistling gale, struck the Peacock's pretty face directly.
...
In the Dream World.
The fist that landed on the Peacock's face in reality was thrown out simultaneously, unsurprisingly.
The Peacock flew backward like a thrown sandbag, landing heavily in a pile of sand in the center of the training ground.
Cough! Cough!
Huff... huff...
Blood gushed from her mouth.
After catching her breath, the Peacock panted rapidly, crawling on the ground as she looked at Ian.
Hiss!
Hiss!
Wherever she looked, she saw black and purple electric light swirling around Ian like ghosts.
Ian was walking toward the Peacock.
With every step he took, it seemed as if the training ground was shaking, and the dark clouds in the sky churned and rolled rapidly to one side.
"This is..."
"He actually has... Conqueror's Haki!"
"The highest level application of Conqueror's Haki!"
The Peacock tried to stand up, but her legs and feet were completely unresponsive.
She felt so timid and submissive that she didn't dare look Ian in the eye.
In the real world, Ian's current strength didn't allow him to master the advanced application of Conqueror's Haki Infusion. Rather, it was through visual creation in the Dream World, combined with a slight effect of sensory deprivation, that gave the Peacock the illusion she was suppressed by Ian's Conqueror's Haki, too terrified to move.
This new skill he acquired was really fun to play with!