NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 3: Forging a Path in a World of Pirates
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In the world of Bleach, the powers of both Shinigami and Arrancar originated from their swords, manifesting as either Bankai or Resurrección. His current fusion with the template was akin to a Shinigami's Shikai, the initial release, and the base form of an Arrancar.
While swordsmanship in the One Piece world relied on physical force, achieving a certain level of mastery could still unleash devastatingly powerful strikes.
"Sword Aura, Sword Pressure, Sword Intent, Sword Domain!"
These were the four tiers of swordsmanship power that Ian had deduced from his past life's knowledge of One Piece.
Sword Aura, the most basic level, was the threshold for becoming a skilled swordsman. Upon mastering it, even an ordinary sword could cleave through steel.
Comprehending Sword Pressure allowed one to unleash potent waves of sword energy. At its peak, it could even manifest as tangible force, like Dracule Mihawk's devastating slashes.
Further advancement led to the development of one's unique Sword Intent. Each swordsman's intent was different, such as Vista's flower sword intent, Kin'emon's Foxfire Style, and countless others.
Finally, there was Sword Domain, the culmination of Sword Aura, Sword Pressure, and Sword Intent, fused into a single, unified force. It wasn't a physical domain but rather the area within which a swordsman could exert complete control over their sword energy. Within this domain, they could cut anything they desired with unparalleled precision.
Then there were Devil Fruits and Haki, two powers that intrigued Ian greatly.
Observation Haki seemed to share similarities with his soul-sensing ability, suggesting a potential avenue for Enhancing. The ability to predict the future and perceive the "voice of all things" was invaluable. While he possessed High-Speed Regeneration and Hierro, pain was still a factor. Who would willingly subject themselves to unnecessary injury?
Busoshoku Haki, on the other hand, could enhance both defense and offensive power, mirroring the capabilities of Hierro. Another worthy pursuit, as increased durability was always an asset. As for Conqueror's Haki…
This required the potential for leadership and seemed analogous to spiritual pressure, directly affecting the soul with similar, if not greater, potency. Enhancing this was less of a priority.
After all, both Luffy and Kid possessed Conqueror's Haki, leading them to their reckless confrontations with Kaido and Big Mom. The result? A devastating Thunder Bagua, a broken arm, injuries, and imprisonment.
It was too easy to become complacent. The Marines, despite lacking Conqueror's Haki, compensated with discipline and strategic thinking.
As for Devil Fruits, they were unnecessary. Ulquiorra's template abilities rivaled any Devil Fruit power.
Who knew what would happen if he consumed one? Would it result in an internal conflict, like two Devil Fruits clashing within a single body?
He wouldn't risk it, especially with a system that paved the path to dominance in the world of One Piece. He was curious about individuals like Blackbeard, who possessed multiple Devil Fruit powers, but the method remained a mystery.
Perhaps he could experiment by slaying a Devil Fruit user and absorbing their soul. A risk-free approach to uncovering the secret.
His path was clear.
Hunt down evildoers and devour their souls to strengthen himself. Or seek out locations like Impel Down, where countless souls had perished, hoping to find remnants to absorb.
He needed to learn the methods for Enhancing both Observation and Busoshoku Haki. Swordsmanship, however, could be practiced immediately. Sword Intent and Sword Domain were not yet within his reach.
He sought to follow the path of Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, whose single-minded focus on pure, unadulterated swordsmanship allowed him to cleave through any obstacle.
Many One Piece fans joked about Mihawk and Zoro's dynamic – "I'll teach you swordsmanship, you teach me how to name my attacks."
But the reality was, few could withstand even a single, unassuming swing from Mihawk's blade.
In Ian's eyes, Mihawk's approach was a return to the fundamentals. All sword techniques ultimately culminated in a single, decisive strike. Why not dedicate oneself to perfecting that single strike, the beginning and the end of all swordsmanship?
That was precisely why he held the title of the world's greatest swordsman. Even in the later stages of the series, no one focused solely on developing unique Sword Intents. It was all about the pure, unbridled power of the slash.
The katana in the box before him had a white hilt and a blade slightly over a meter long. A moderately sized, well-crafted sword with a small floral design. Its craftsmanship spoke of quality and resilience.
Ian tested its edge. Hardness and sharpness were its defining traits. Likely a work of an unknown swordsmith, rivaling the renowned "The 50 Skillful Grade Blades," capable of easily drawing blood from his 12% Hierro.
A single raid could easily yield such a prize.
He rose, drew the katana, and swung it through the air. The blade whistled, a testament to its exceptional sharpness. He practiced his swings, aiming at the vast expanse of the ocean.
"I wonder if I can infuse it with spiritual pressure?" He pondered, sensing that further practice with conventional swings wouldn't yield significant improvement.
In the world of Bleach, both Shinigami and Arrancar could imbue their Zanpakuto with spiritual pressure, enhancing their attacks with potent Sword Aura and Sword Pressure.
"Fusion, Ulquiorra!" His skin paled, the partial horned helmet materialized, his eyes turned green with tear marks appearing beneath them.
He channeled his 12% fused spiritual pressure, equivalent to a Shinigami student, a low-level Hollow, or a pirate with a 10 million berry bounty, into the blade. It trembled slightly but held firm.
With a powerful swing, he unleashed a strike. No visible Sword Aura manifested, let alone Sword Pressure.
However, the ocean beneath him parted, a clean cut several meters long appearing momentarily before quickly closing.
"Pointless. It seems I don't need to specifically train in swordsmanship." He mumbled, realizing that sufficient spiritual pressure, coupled with enhanced physical strength and resilience, allowed him to naturally generate Sword Aura and Sword Pressure.
He settled into a chair to rest. Throughout the journey, several attractive women had offered him food and drink, expressing their gratitude and affection for their handsome and powerful savior. But he politely declined their advances.
With newfound strength, his aspirations had risen. In this harsh and unforgiving world, survival demanded power. Romantic entanglements would only hinder his progress and cloud his judgment.
Time passed. After three days of navigating by White Skull's log pose, the ship reached a sizable island, comparable in scale to a small city.
This was the White Skull Pirates' intended destination, a haven for slave trading and information exchange. A dozen or so pirate crews of similar size roamed the island.
The rescued villagers disembarked, leaving Ian alone on the ship. After all, this was a suicide mission. Who would willingly accompany him?
His objective was to eliminate as many pirates as possible, regardless of the consequences.
Perhaps he would follow in Trafalgar Law's footsteps, offering one hundred pirate hearts to the World Government to become a Warlord. Or perhaps he would be recruited by the Marines, or even absorbed into a more powerful and ruthless pirate crew. Or perhaps he would be captured and imprisoned in Impel Down…
Regardless of the outcome, each path offered opportunities to encounter numerous souls and Enhance Haki.
With a resolute heart, Ian disembarked, stepping onto the pirate-infested island…