Chapter 95: The Awakened Form
Figarland Garling swiftly drew his long sword, ready to meet the attack from above.
In the sky, the very atmosphere began to churn. Irregular rows of cumulus clouds formed and swirled. Every slight movement Ian made created a massive shift in the surrounding air pressure. Black and white flames wreathed his body, rolling and surging with a life of their own, radiating a mysterious and formidable aura.
The Conqueror's Haki lightning, which had been suppressed moments before, was utterly obliterated by the appearance of these "Flame Clouds." A power like a raging torrent shook the very earth.
Ian raised his right fist, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a colossal, mountain-like giant. The size of the fist was barely comparable to the giants of legend.
This was the new skill unlocked by his Intermediate Awakening: Awakening Form Transformation!
[Awakening Form: Break through the shackles of your physical limits, freely control the changes in your sensory limits, and fight with a freer body!]
Ever since the system had forced him to consume the Human-Human Fruit, Ian had long since accepted his fate and embraced the identity of "the human who ate the Human-Human Fruit." But as a Zoan user, who didn't yearn to see their ultimate combat form?
His Zoan transformation had finally arrived!
The Flame Clouds were the symbol of an Awakened Zoan, a combat form that could be freely controlled!
BOOM... BOOM!
BOOM... BOOM!
Ian could feel his own heart pounding with extreme excitement. He was eager to attack, to throw a punch with the Awakened power of the Human-Human Fruit!
However...
On the shattered streets below...
Boom... boom!
Boom... boom!
...
A rhythmic heartbeat echoed in the chest of every Marine soldier crouched and trembling on the ground. Their anxious moods gradually calmed, syncing with the steady "boom... boom."
"It's Major General Ian... It's Major General Ian!"
"Our base commander is here! He's right above us!"
"Is this Major General Ian's true fighting form? What an incredible presence!"
"I don't know why, but seeing Major General Ian appear always makes me feel so safe!"
"What a huge fist! Can the Human-Human Fruit really do this?"
...
The Marines all looked up, gazing at Ian wreathed in flames in the sky. Despite the distance, his figure was as clear as a projection. Even the regular Marines felt it.
For the three cadres still under the effect of [ZONE Mode], the sensation was even more profound and vivid.
Boom... boom!
Boom... boom!
...
Nami placed a hand over her heart, her voice filled with awe. "Is this... the special feeling after our senses are enhanced? Everyone... did you feel that?"
T-Bone looked up at the sky, his eyes blazing. "Of course. It's as if I can hear Major General Ian's fierce fighting spirit itself!"
Peacock intertwined her fingers behind her back. Despite the tense atmosphere, an unconscious smile touched her lips. "Can heartbeats synchronize like this? It's... truly reassuring. Our Major General Ian..."
…
Ian, completely unaware of the changes below, was fully immersed in the clashing auras between himself and Garling. As he descended, he swung his giant fist directly at Garling's head.
"Human Fist - Awakening!"
Figarland Garling, Supreme Commander of the God's Knights, was stunned. The Marines were mere subordinates of the Celestial Dragons. No Marine had ever dared to raise a hand against a World Noble. How could he possibly retreat before a mere Marine brat?
"Divine Realm!"
His long sword, sheathed in the combined power of Armament and Conqueror's Haki, flashed. The sword's afterimages interlaced like a dream, and a deafening explosive sound tore through the air, as if space itself were being ripped apart, attempting to swallow Ian's attack whole.
BOOM!
However, the destructive power of the Human-Human Fruit's Awakened form surpassed Garling's expectations. It wasn't just about brute strength...
The Flame Clouds surrounding the giant fist acted like a conduit, a link between the sword and the fist. The sharp, cutting power of the "Divine Realm" sword technique was completely engulfed by the giant's overwhelming force. The arm holding the sword tried to pull back, but was momentarily stiffened, trapped by the agile, grasping nature of the Flame Clouds. It was as if, for a single instant, his arm lost all sensation of the attack.
Things returned to normal quickly, but the best opportunity to counter was already lost. In a showdown between masters, even a momentary opening is fully exploited.
This was no illusion of Garling's. It was another application of sensory manipulation unlocked by Ian's Intermediate Awakening.
BOOM!
Ian put his full strength into the blow. Garling had no time to mount a proper defense and could only brace himself against the violent impact. He was sent flying backward through the grove.
CRASH! BOOM!
...
With every step he was forced back, the ground shattered into terrible fissures. The horizontal shockwave pulverized the wreckage of buildings on either side of the street into clouds of dust.
Garling was not severely injured. After being pushed back more than twenty meters, he managed to stabilize his footing.
Smoke and dust billowed. As Ian's arms returned to his sides, his body shrank back to its normal size. The flames still danced across his form, and it seemed every inch of his muscle was being tempered and refined.
"Where did this old man come from..." Ian's voice rang out, defiant and clear, "daring to attack my people? Don't you know I am the supreme commander of this island?"
He stood firm, completely shielding his comrades and subordinates behind him.
Finally!
The crisis foreseen by his Observation Haki had been resolved by his own hand.
Having landed, Ian immediately shifted to the offensive, verbally confronting Garling. An unfamiliar old man had struck first. He was merely defending his own people. No matter how Garling later invoked the names of the Celestial Dragons or the God's Knights, Ian had first secured the moral high ground. He had stood his ground, both literally and figuratively.