NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 39: Trials and Retribution
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"In the skull's right eye, you say?"
Two imposing figures stood near the remnants of Ian and Tashigi's lunch, their voices a low rumble. One was humanoid, the other a massive hound.
They had followed the trail of smoke, only to find discarded scraps. These were the priests responsible for two of the four Ordeals of God, trials with a survival rate ranging from 50% to a chilling 0%, reserved for those who had committed grave sins against Skypiea.
Illegal entry was a minor offense, but their crimes now included hunting protected animals and disrupting the environment. Three counts against them, more than enough to warrant the Ordeals of God. Moreover, their proximity to God's Shrine and the recent lack of visitors to Skypiea had left them bored and eager for action.
They had practically fought over the right to apprehend the intruders.
The skull's right eye? This referred to a passage in Montblanc Noland's logbook, describing a land of gold hidden within the right eye of a skull-shaped island.
It mentioned a massive bell made of gold. However, when half of Jaya had been propelled into the sky, Noland's claims were dismissed as lies. It wasn't until the Straw Hat Pirates, by chance, combined maps of Jaya and Skypiea, that the skull-shaped formation was revealed, solving a 400-year-old mystery.
"Vice Admiral Ian, you're amazing…" Tashigi exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.
How do you know, without even trying? Ian thought, but he refrained from voicing his skepticism. Engaging in a debate with the earnest young woman would only lead to endless back-and-forths.
"Aren't we going up there?" Tashigi asked, recalling Ian's stated purpose of visiting Skypiea: to communicate with God.
They had rung the Golden Belfry, but now they seemed to be delaying their ascent.
"Someone's coming." Ian's potent Observation Haki and soul-sensing abilities detected four approaching presences. Two were human, the other two animalistic. They weren't the four priests, only two of them.
While he couldn't discern their exact appearances, he could sense their life forms, unlike Enel's Mantra, which, despite its ability to encompass the entire island, could only detect the presence of life and the number of individuals. It was an extension of his Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers.
Shinigami and Hollows were inherently spiritual beings, their spiritual power exceeding that of ordinary humans.
At full strength, Ian's soul-sensing could cover half of a small island, differentiating between humans and animals.
A clear, visual representation of those presences, however, would require a fusion rate of 70-80% with the Ulquiorra template. Even Fujitora, with his mastery of Observation Haki, capable of seeing a glimpse into the future and ensuring victory in any gamble, couldn't achieve such a feat.
This had been demonstrated during the Dressrosa arc, where Fujitora, moved by Luffy's acts of heroism and regretting his own past actions, had chosen to blind himself, acknowledging the existence of love and compassion amidst the world's cruelty.
"Screech!" A shrill cry pierced the air.
A massive bird with purple feathers, yellow eyes, and a long beak descended from the sky, its powerful wings beating rhythmically. On its back rode Shura, the priest who governed the Ordeal of String.
He wore an aviator cap and carried a long spear, his arrival shaking the ground beneath them. A large white dog bounded alongside them, Ohm, the priest of the Ordeal of Iron, perched on its shoulders, wielding a massive white sword.
The scabbard was a giant orb. As for the remaining two priests, one was likely delayed, while the other was observing from a distance, assessing the situation.
He wasn't foolish enough to directly confront the intruders, especially after witnessing their ability to traverse the White Sea and the White-White Sea, reaching God's Shrine. They were clearly not to be underestimated.
He would wait, observe, and if the opportunity presented itself, perhaps he could exploit their weaknesses and reap the rewards. Ian, however, paid little attention to the hidden priest. His soul-sensing had detected another presence approaching, a familiar one: Wyper, the descendant of the Shandia warriors.
"What an adorable dog!" Tashigi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight. As expected of a young woman with a fondness for cute creatures, she was powerless against the charms of Holy.
"Do you like it?" Ian inquired, recalling Holy's immense strength and unwavering obedience, a trait that had led Zoro to command it to knock itself unconscious. Dogs were easily domesticated.
"Yes!" Tashigi nodded eagerly.
"Then I'll tame it for you. We can't take it with us when we leave Skypiea, but you can play with it for a while."
Conqueror's Haki and brute force were the ultimate tools for taming beasts. Luffy had subdued countless animals with his charisma and strength, including a peculiar three-headed dog with a fox's head, one of Gecko Moria's bizarre zombie creations.
"Can I handle the swordsman, then?" Tashigi asked, her grip tightening on Shigure, the renowned katana Ian had gifted her.
Both Shigure and Kazahana were swords crafted by the 50 Skillful Grade Blades, worth tens of millions of berries at the Marines' merit exchange. However, Ian's initial massacre of over a dozen pirate crews had earned him a substantial amount of merit points, even after deductions, enough to acquire several high-quality swords.
Gecko Moria's 320 million berry bounty had also yielded a considerable sum, though unfortunately, his bounty had been frozen upon becoming a Warlord. Still, Ian had managed to obtain several Meito for Tashigi, storing them within his Garganta for future use. He hadn't acquired any O Wazamono swords yet.
However, upon their return from this journey, he planned to obtain one for her. Collecting renowned swords was one of Tashigi's dreams, a pursuit that sparked envy among her fellow female Marines.
They teased her about having a generous superior officer. She would blush and protest, though never denying the truth. Several Marines had expressed romantic interest in her, but their domineering personalities had repelled her.
Ian was different. He was aloof, yet undeniably powerful, with immense potential. He was handsome, and most importantly, he treated his subordinates with respect and generosity.
Who else would gift their subordinate a Devil Fruit worth over a billion berries and bestow upon them bundles of swords worth millions? His stoic demeanor was a sign of his sincerity, his unwavering focus on her well-being.
He had even taken her on this journey, sharing their passion for swordsmanship and exploring the wonders of the Grand Line. Her heart had been captured.
"Of course." Ian nodded. He estimated that the four priests of Skypiea, having been defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates, possessed power levels equivalent to pirates with bounties of around 100 million berries.
While Ohm had the advantage of Mantra and his Iron Cloud Dial, Tashigi possessed Soru, the Clear-Clear Fruit, and a skilled swordsman's intuition. Their matchup seemed fair. And if she needed assistance, he would intervene.
His swordsmanship was nothing to scoff at.
"Blue Sea dweller, you stand accused of illegal entry, trespassing on sacred ground, hunting protected animals, and disrupting the environment. For these crimes, I shall subject you to the Ordeal of Iron!" Ohm declared, pointing his sword at Ian, his sunglasses glinting menacingly.
"Bullshit! Get out of my way! This is my Ordeal of String!" Shura roared, challenging Ohm's authority.
"What? You disagree? Want to settle this with a duel?" Ohm glared at Shura, their eyes locking in a silent battle of wills.
This was a rare opportunity to apprehend an intruder, especially one who had dared to trespass on God's Shrine. Enel, the self-proclaimed God of Skypiea, would be watching their performance closely.
Ohm, who governed the Ordeal of Iron, with its 0% survival rate, had no intention of yielding to Shura, whose Ordeal of String boasted a mere 3% survival rate. While Shura's ordeal was considered formidable, especially compared to the Ordeals of Swamp (10%) and Balls (50%), it paled in comparison to Ohm's ruthless trial.
Even a slight difference in skill between masters could determine the outcome of a battle.
They were both outside their designated territories, lacking the advantage of their respective trials – the invisible strings and iron thorns. However, their individual strengths remained, and Ohm was confident in his superiority.
Within their respective domains, even if their opponents were slightly stronger, they had a chance to overturn the odds, unless the gap in power was insurmountable.
"Iron Whip!" They were both hot-headed warriors.
Ohm swung his white sword, the Iron Cloud Dial in its scabbard releasing a massive burst of energy, a razor-sharp wave of compressed air hurtling towards Shura.
"Flame Spear!" Shura's spear glowed red-hot, ignited by the Flame Dial embedded within its shaft. He thrust it forward, meeting Ohm's attack head-on.
The clash of flames and steel reverberated through the air, their power evenly matched.
"Incredible! Are they both Devil Fruit users and swordsmen?" Tashigi exclaimed, awestruck by their display of power. Her sheltered upbringing in the East Blue, far removed from the Grand Line and the New World, had left her unprepared for the unique abilities and fighting styles prevalent in Skypiea, isolated from the outside world for 400 years.
Ian shook his head, unimpressed by their petty squabble. While their Dials granted them abilities comparable to Devil Fruits, they were overly reliant on those tools. The wings on their backs were mere decorations.
Perhaps 800 years ago, their ancestors had truly possessed wings like angels, soaring through the sky with unmatched aerial prowess.
They were akin to Fishmen in the depths of the ocean and Minks on Zou, counterparts to the Zoan-type Devil Fruit users. Had they retained those abilities, they would have posed a more formidable challenge.
He would have been forced to utilize Geppo and his first Resurrección, Murciélago. But against these weaklings, a single Cero blast or a wave of sword pressure would suffice, sending them to meet their God.
"Their wings are so small…" Tashigi's voice was laced with disappointment. Her childhood fantasies of angelic Skypieans had been shattered. The harsh reality of the world often paled in comparison to the dreams of youth.
"Those are Dials, unique to Skypiea. They're like scientific weapons. I don't have time to explain them all, but the bald one's Dial is made from a material called Iron Cloud. It can be molded into various shapes for both offense and defense. I suggest engaging him in close combat, testing his swordsmanship."
Ian explained. Tashigi's eyes widened in understanding. Individuals who relied on weapons often lacked confidence in their own physical abilities.
This presented an exploitable weakness.
"Let's join the fray. Two opponents, one for each of us." It seemed their petty squabble was reaching a stalemate, their skills too evenly matched to discern a clear victor.
Ohm was the first to relent. It wasn't a sign of cowardice, but rather a strategic decision. Prolonging their fight would only create an opening for their common enemy. They would both be defeated.
His pride didn't equate to foolishness. Compromise was preferable to annihilation, unlike the stubborn Shura.
"I believe you've overlooked a few offenses." Ian interrupted their clash, his voice calm yet authoritative.
"Oh? Interesting. Since you're about to die, we'll grant you a chance to plead your case."
Ohm replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. They had encountered countless individuals who had attempted to justify their actions, seeking mercy. But in this world, sentimentality was a weakness. Compassion for one's enemies was a betrayal of oneself.
Strength determined everything. He was curious to hear Ian's defense, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.
"I believe we should add a few more charges: obstruction of justice and assault and battery of God's priests." Ian declared, his voice cold and unwavering.
"Interesting. Never heard of someone adding to their own list of crimes." Ohm's amusement faded, replaced by a sense of unease.
He had initially assumed they were ignorant of Skypiea's laws, but their actions clearly demonstrated an understanding of the rules. This was a deliberate provocation.
There were only two possibilities: either they were fools, or they possessed an unshakeable confidence in their own strength. Judging by Ian's pale visage, those piercing green eyes, and his unwavering tone, Ohm sensed a chilling sincerity.
"Because you will both die here…" A wave of terrifying spiritual pressure erupted from Ian, engulfing the two priests and their animal companions. The priests felt a sense of dread and overwhelming power. The animals, however, experienced a different sensation.
It was the instinctual urge to submit… to a superior being.
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Word Count [2160]
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To Be Continued..
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