"Ian!"
Zephyr's boots slammed into the ground.
With a blur of motion he closed the distance like a charging beast.
"You rely far too much on your Devil Fruit!"
BOOM!
The massive mechanical arm — the "Crusher" — swung downward.
The "Ian" in front of him exploded on impact, scattering like wet sand.
A ripple passed across the clay-covered ground.
A short distance away, the clay converged, reshaping itself into human form.
A battered and panting Ian emerged.
"Huff… huff…"
He braced his hands against his knees, chest rising and falling violently.
At his feet lay Peacock, completely limp and unconscious.
The gap between him and Zephyr was a chasm.
No level of Clay-Clay Fruit tricks could bridge that.
Even with the Control Ring pushing his Devil Fruit output to the max,
Zephyr was a wall Ian could only run from — never harm.
The only reason he was still standing
was the Fruit's ability to turn his whole body into clay.
Even so—
After nearly a full day of being pummeled:
Ian was a wreck.
Zephyr hadn't taken a single scratch.
Forgive me, Teacher Zephyr… I couldn't even force you to get serious…
Ian waited for the next attack…
but none came.
He looked up sharply.
"Teacher Zephyr?"
"That's enough for today."
Zephyr glanced at the horizon.
Dusk had settled — this lesson had lasted almost the entire day.
"Ian, you have talent in Devil Fruit development.
With what you just displayed, very few pirates in Paradise could defeat you."
Unbidden, a certain comparison flashed in Zephyr's mind.
Charlotte Katakuri —
the pinnacle of Big Mom's children.
A man who'd pushed his Special Paramecia to absurd mastery.
Ian's Clay-Clay Fruit was also Special Paramecia.
Katakuri's Mochi-Mochi Fruit belonged to the same category.
Zephyr hesitated, but decided not to mention Katakuri.
Even if the man was "decent"… he was still a pirate.
"Ian, don't waste your talent. But remember —"
Zephyr's expression sharpened.
"—In this sea, physical strength is the foundation of everything."
Ian stood tall and shouted:
"YES, Teacher Zephyr!"
A fleeting glimmer of approval crossed Zephyr's face.
He waved a hand dismissively as he walked toward the setting sun.
"Ian Adrian… When we meet next time, don't expect me to go easy on you… cough…"
Ian noticed his silhouette tremble slightly,
but Zephyr didn't slow down.
Ian exhaled, then looked at Peacock lying beside him.
"So this is… the blade in the dark, huh…"
Day 1 after acquiring the Clay-Clay Fruit —
Ian fought Zephyr nearly the entire day,
forcing his practical mastery to catch up to the ★★★ rating.
Day 2 —
Self-training.
Shaping flowers, trees, beasts, birds, pirates, Marines…
Day 3 —
Ian attempted to mold lightning.
Sadly—
A transfer order arrived.
Unable to continue exploring "the origin of life,"
Ian headed to HQ, received his assignment, picked up his custom weapons,
and rushed to the harbor.
He boarded a prison warship bound along the Government's exclusive route
through the Calm Belt.
Destination: Impel Down.
Passing the colossal Gate of Justice,
the ship slid into the windless waters.
Under gloomy skies, the warship approached the fortress cluster of grim towers and steel.
Impel Down…
The ship docked at the landing platform.
Marines and prisoners alike were escorted off in strict order.
The officer in charge of this escort mission
was Vice Admiral Momonga.
Ian followed behind him toward the front gates of the great prison.
A figure stood waiting —
a broad, pot-bellied man with a grotesque pharaoh-demon face.
As Ian and Momonga neared, the man finally spoke:
"Welcome to—"
Hannibal announced solemnly:
"—my Impel Down."
Momonga froze mid-handshake.
Wasn't the Chief Warden supposed to be Magellan?
Who was this ghostly clown?
Before he could ask—
Hannibal lunged forward, grabbing Momonga's hand and shaking it wildly.
"Ah! My apologies! Wrong phrasing!
"Saying 'my prison' is a little too revealing of my ambition…
"I am Chief Guard Hannibal.
A pleasure to meet you!"
Momonga's eyelid twitched.
"…Momonga."
"Ah, and this youngster behind you must be Ian Adrian?"
Hannibal released the vice admiral's hand
and turned eagerly toward Ian.
"My new subordi—wait! No! Another slip of the tongue!"
Momonga didn't stick around.
Citing "urgent duties," he quickly departed, leaving Ian alone with the enthusiastic… aspiring tyrant.
Ian stepped forward and presented a document.
"Sir, this is the transfer order issued by Marine Headquarters."
"Don't call me 'sir'! Call me Chief Guard!"
Hannibal snatched the document with great dignity.
"If you wish to call me Warden, that's acceptable too."
Ian's expression didn't change.
In a perfectly serious tone, he replied:
"Chief Guard Hannibal, from the moment I saw you,
I felt you possess the potential to become the Warden."
Ian paused respectfully.
"So why don't we go to the Warden's office together,
and overthrow Magellan right now?"
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