Chapter 128: Still Have Memories
Ian tore off his two tattered sleeves, baring his arms. Feeling the burden gone, he drew the Enma sword from his waist.
Infusing it with psychic power, the Enma sword instantly turned pitch black. Gripping the blade with both hands, Ian charged forward with large strides!
His opponent was Kuma, a formidable enemy at the level of a Warlord of the Sea, so he couldn't afford any carelessness. Calmness and focus were the keys to determining his combat effectiveness.
"Pressure Cannon!"
Seeing Ian charging, Kuma pushed his right palm forward, launching a compressed air mass that shot straight toward Ian.
While running, Ian activated his Psychic Field. Sensing the incoming Pressure Cannon attack, he immediately sidestepped slightly, letting the Pressure Cannon fly past him.
However, it wasn't over yet. Seeing his first strike miss, Kuma waved his palm repeatedly, sending a series of Pressure Cannon air masses toward Ian. This time, the speed of the Pressure Cannons was noticeably faster than before!
Ian sensed them, but with so many Pressure Cannons, he realized he couldn't dodge them all. So instead of evading, he swung his sword upward, creating a Wind Barrier in front of him!
This Wind Barrier was far more solid than any Ian had used before. When Kuma's Pressure Cannons struck it, they were blocked and exploded.
Pressure Cannons were essentially concentrated air, and the Wind Barrier was the same. However, due to the sheer number of Pressure Cannons, their continuous bombardment quickly shattered the Wind Barrier.
But this gave Ian an opening to attack. After creating the Wind Barrier, he leaped up, clearing the wind wall, and brought his sword down with both hands toward Kuma's right shoulder.
Kuma looked up at him, and just as Ian's blade descended, he raised his palm to block the point of impact.
Ian's sword struck the thick, pink paw pad on Kuma's right hand!
Because he was facing Kuma, Ian didn't dare be careless, so this strike was delivered with all his strength. However, when the blade hit Kuma's paw pad, Ian felt an immense force rebound, pushing him backward. This repulsive force grew stronger as Ian applied more pressure.
*Boom!* With a soft sound, Ian was sent flying, tumbling through the air several times before crashing heavily to the ground far away.
"Hmm..." Kuma remained expressionless but couldn't help glancing at his right palm. A dent was visible on it, slowly recovering.
This was rare. Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit ability was to repel; any attack that touched his paw pads would be deflected. Yet Ian's strike, though not injuring Kuma, had hardened the blade, greatly increasing its power, leaving a mark on Kuma's palm and even causing him a slight sting.
When Ian stood up, grimacing in pain, he suddenly noticed Kuma had vanished from his sight.
This was a teleportation method achieved by repelling the air around him.
"Right!" Ian's Psychic Field detected a sudden object appearing, and he reacted instantly, shifting his stance and swinging his sword to the right!
This time, a ring of purple flames wrapped around his blade, flowing like water around him. As Ian swung, the flames rotated upward, and his body spun along with them.
Hundred-Style: Demon Fire!
This was a move from the new card of Iori Yagami, but Ian executed it with his sword!
Kuma had teleported beside him, intending to deliver a direct palm strike. But he hadn't expected Ian to use such a move. Though his palm struck Ian, sending him flying like a cannonball, Kuma was also touched by Ian's Hundred-Style: Demon Fire.
*Boom!* Ian was blasted dozens of meters away by an incredibly powerful force, crashing into the ground and creating a large crater. Meanwhile, Kuma's right arm was engulfed in purple flames, instantly burning away his sleeve to reveal a mechanical arm.
This mechanical arm was made of metal, stopping the flames from spreading further. However, even so, the surface metal showed signs of melting. Kuma tried moving his arm and found it somewhat stiff.
Ian staggered out of the crater. Kuma's strike had been immensely powerful, leaving him dizzy and aching all over.
Yet, despite this, Ian forced himself to stand and walk toward Kuma.
Both Master Koushirou and Master Rayleigh had told him that in battle, the most important thing was fighting spirit. Only with high morale could one continuously unlock their potential.
So even now, facing the terrifyingly powerful Kuma, Ian refused to back down. He wanted to know his limits.
Walking step by step, Ian gripped his sword with his right hand while his left hand swept a streak of purple flames across the ground.
Hundred-Eight-Style: Dark Grasp!
The flames skimmed the ground toward Kuma, scorching the grass black along the way. Having already experienced the power of Ian's flames, Kuma didn't take it lightly. When the flames reached him, he slammed his right hand downward.
The repelled air, carrying immense pressure, extinguished Ian's flames instantly! A deep, paw-shaped pit appeared on the ground.
"Not jumping to dodge, huh..." Ian smiled bitterly. No choice; he'd have to think of another way.
Rushing forward at full speed, Ian knew he had to match Kuma's speed. Though Kuma could teleport by repelling air, his attack speed wasn't particularly high—in fact, it was somewhat slow. That was why Ian had managed to land the Demon Fire earlier when Kuma teleported in. It was likely a drawback of Kuma's large build. Only by engaging in close combat could Ian have a chance to hurt him.
Kuma seemed to be thinking something too. Seeing Ian charge, he didn't use his palm or Pressure Cannons again. When Ian got close and swung his sword at Kuma's leg, Kuma suddenly teleported behind Ian, raising his massive hand to strike down.
But Ian was prepared. He slashed upward, sending a sword strike that hit Kuma's palm and was deflected, but it also delayed Kuma's attack.
Seizing the opportunity, Ian moved, executing a forward dash to escape Kuma's palm range while slashing at Kuma's leg.
He was exploiting Kuma's height advantage; Ian himself was shorter and more agile. This strike finally worked. To avoid injury, Kuma chose to repel the air and jump up!
Ian had been waiting for this!
"Last Breath!"
Ian's figure vanished instantly, reappearing beside Kuma in midair. He swung the Enma sword twice horizontally, cutting into Kuma, then raised it high and brought it down in a final vertical slash, sending Kuma crashing to the ground!
*BOOM!!!*
As Kuma hit the ground, the ultimate skill from Yasuo's card finally erupted. The impact point seemed struck by a heavy hammer, cracking the ground into countless spiderweb-like fissures spreading outward!
With a 60% damage boost, Ian's attack far exceeded his usual power. Kuma's entire body was pressed into the crater, lying still and motionless.
Ian stood beside Kuma, panting heavily. This was his first time using this ultimate skill, but since Last Breath could only target airborne enemies, it required a setup.
He had considered using a whirlwind to lift Kuma, but then thought better of it. Kuma's large build and heavy footsteps made it uncertain whether a whirlwind could lift him. So he had to find another way—first the Dark Grasp, then the leg attack—all to make Kuma jump.
Now, Kuma was hit, but Ian couldn't feel happy. During the slashes, he had noticed Kuma's body was incredibly hard. His sword could knock him down but couldn't cut through.
And that arm—was it really already fully modified?
Just as Ian was thinking this, Kuma suddenly propped himself up and sat upright.
Ian's heart jumped, and he tightened his grip on his sword. But then, Kuma spoke in his deep voice: "Ian, you've grown a lot..."
Hearing this, Ian plopped down on the ground, smiling bitterly. "Uncle Kuma, so you still remember me..."
"My apologies," Kuma said softly. "I just wanted to test your current strength."
"You didn't have to beat me up so badly, did you?" Ian glanced at his injuries, covered in black dirt and blood.
"I wasn't fighting you at full power," Kuma said. "As you can see, my body is undergoing a modification. It's only half-complete, so my strength is affected."
Ian wanted to smile bitterly again. Not even full power? What would full power look like?
Were all the Warlords of the Sea this formidable?
Before Ian could finish his thoughts, Kuma continued: "You know, Ian, you weren't originally on the target list for this attack. Your name was removed by Garp and Sengoku. But I came to find you anyway..."
"Why?" Ian asked, puzzled. Then he looked at the pile of rubble behind him and added, "Even so, you didn't have to destroy my house. I just rebuilt it not long ago..."
"Because the following conversation can't be overheard by anyone else," Kuma said quietly. "That's why I knocked out all your subordinates too. I came here to stop you from participating in the plan to seize the Heavenly Tribute."