NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 16: A Swift End for Absalom
While it didn't cleave the clouds in two, the attack was still astonishing. Ryuma was bisected by the sheer force of the blow!
Ian's current strength was roughly equivalent to Zoro's after his two years of training under Mihawk, at least in terms of swordsmanship. His physical abilities, however, were on a completely different level, capable of surpassing countless individuals. To alter the very fabric of the environment…
That required the power of an Admiral or a Yonko. He was still a step below the Warlords, Commanders, placing him at the level of a 500-million-berry pirate, a Vice Admiral, a Lieutenant-Class Shinigami in the Soul Society, or a Gillian, the lowest class of Menos Grande.
However, further improvement wouldn't be an issue. After all, the sheer number of souls here was overwhelming!
"Rest assured, I'll put this sword to good use." Ian approached Ryuma's fallen form and retrieved Shusui, a blade that was both a Black Blade and a cursed sword.
Based on its quality, Shusui should suffice until he reached a 40% fusion rate with the Ulquiorra template. At that point, he might gift it to someone or perhaps preserve it as a collectible.
"Yohohoho! My shadow has finally returned!" As Ian defeated Ryuma, a shadow detached from the samurai's body and hovered at his feet, its voice filled with joy and relief.
Now, he could finally leave Thriller Bark and journey to Reverse Mountain in the Twin Capes to reunite with Laboon. He would play Binks' Sake, the final song of the Rumbar Pirates, for his dear friend.
The thought of Laboon repeatedly ramming his head against the Red Line, his skull covered in scars, brought a pang of sadness to Brook's heart.
He had endured immense suffering. His crewmates had perished, victims of treachery, and he himself had become a living skeleton. After burying their remains, he had been robbed of his shadow by Gecko Moria, forced to wander in perpetual darkness, unable to face the sunlight, constantly fleeing for his life. He had been trapped on Thriller Bark for fifty years.
He wasn't alone. Pirates and adventurers hidden in the shadows throughout the island rejoiced, offering their gratitude to the warrior who had defeated their zombie tormentors.
"Yohohoho! I forgot, I have no heart!" He exclaimed, his excitement fueling a burst of strength as he unleashed a Swallow Bond en Avant, defeating the stubborn samurai, Jigoro of the Wind.
"Thank you, Mr. Ian!" He bowed deeply at a 45-degree angle, his signature gesture, leaving Ian speechless.
"It's nothing. I was already here to deal with Moria. Besides, I defeated the zombie that had your shadow implanted within it, and I gained this renowned sword, Shusui. Consider it a fair exchange."
"Even so, I'm deeply grateful." Brook remained bowed, his head lowered.
"... In that case, when you bury your comrades, could you also build a grave marker for this sword?" Ian offered, handing Brook his broken katana, the unidentified work of a 50-Skillful-Craftsmen swordsmith.
In the original story, Zoro had done the same for Brook, requesting that he bury his lost sword, Yubashiri, alongside the Rumbar Pirates' remains.
Yubashiri, a sword entrusted to him by a kind shop owner in Loguetown, the town where Gol D. Roger was both born and executed, known as the "beginning and the end" and the starting point of the Great Age of Pirates. The shop owner had initially intended to trick Zoro into purchasing the cursed sword, Sandai Kitetsu, which had brought misfortune to its previous owners.
However, he had been impressed by Zoro's spirit and ambition, not only waiving the fee for Sandai Kitetsu but also gifting him his family heirloom, Yubashiri.
"It would be my pleasure." Brook echoed Ian's previous words, but while Ian's had been casual, Brook's carried genuine sincerity.
"Indeed, a worthy blade. As expected of Wano's national treasure." Ian drew Shusui, testing its weight in his hand. It was heavier than an average katana.
Its length was relatively standard, but its blade was thick and sturdy, featuring a rough, irregular Hamon (temper line) and a black-purple hue.
Red serrations adorned its surface, giving it a sharp, polished appearance. It bore a striking resemblance to his previous broken katana, both designed for durability and enhanced cutting power.
"Incredibly resilient." He flicked the blade with his finger, producing a loud, resonant hum, as if the soul within the sword trembled. It was exactly as Zoro had described – even a dinosaur couldn't bend it.
Cursed swords and Black Blades were unique among Meito. They were forged by skilled swordsmiths but acquired their unique properties through prolonged use and care by their owners.
Some developed a spirit, becoming loyal to their wielders, resisting those they deemed unworthy, causing sudden misfortune or even death. This was the origin of their cursed reputation.
Examples included Sandai Kitetsu and even Law's sword, Kikoku. This phenomenon was likely a result of the swordsman's Haki and Sword Intent, imbuing the blade with a unique character.
Others became exceptionally durable, often due to the wielder's mastery of Armament Haki and precise control over their strength, causing the blade to resemble hardened Haki. Mihawk's Yoru, a Supreme Grade Black Blade, was a prime example.
Zoro, initially reliant on brute force, had even broken Wado Ichimonji, a sword gifted to him by his childhood friend, and frequently damaged his other swords. During his training under Mihawk, he was forbidden from drinking alcohol until he had mastered his swordsmanship and control over his strength.
It was a difficult period for the heavy drinker, even with the promise of acquiring incredible swordsmanship.
Ian faced a similar challenge. Channeling his spiritual pressure into a blade could potentially damage it. However, he didn't need to train Shusui into a Black Blade. While it was a symbol of mastery among swordsmen, once he reached a 40% fusion rate with the Ulquiorra template, he could manifest his own Zanpakuto using spiritual energy, allowing him to experiment without consequence.
Shusui was both a cursed sword and a Black Blade. Subduing its spirit was a simple matter for him. As an Arrancar, he was well-versed in manipulating souls. With a surge of spiritual pressure, he easily asserted dominance over the blade, forcing it into submission. It dared not resist, fearing obliteration.
A demon wielding a cursed sword. A fitting combination.
"Let's test this blade." A sinister smile curled Ian's lips as he raised Shusui, its black surface gleaming faintly despite its thickness, the red serrations adding a touch of menace. He channeled his spiritual pressure into the blade and swung it towards a specific target.
A massive wave of energy, several meters long, erupted from the sword, cleaving the earth and sending dust and debris flying.
Its power had doubled. In the original story, Shusui was the strongest of Zoro's three swords, capable of absorbing the power of the other two blades and amplifying its own attacks.
"Aagh… Damn it!" The energy wave stopped after traveling a dozen meters, leaving a massive gash in the ground, blood gushing from the wound.
A figure with a lion's head and claws materialized, revealed as Absalom, one of Gecko Moria's Mysterious Four. Ryuma, Jigoro, and the other zombie soldiers and generals were all under his control.
If they had appeared, Absalom couldn't be far behind. A massive sword wound stretched across his body, blood flowing freely. Despite possessing the Suke Suke no Mi (Clear-Clear Fruit), granting him invisibility…
He was a beacon in Ian's soul-sensing perception, as conspicuous as a lighthouse. His Devil Fruit might be effective in the Four Blues, but…
In the New World, where Observation Haki was commonplace, and against someone like Fujitora, the blind swordsman Admiral, who would likely remark, "What a terrifying ability," it would be practically useless.
Moreover, Ian held no fondness for Absalom. In the original story, he had used his invisibility to lick Robin and peek at Nami while she was bathing. Therefore, upon sensing his presence…
Ian unleashed a swift and merciless attack.