Chapter 434: Swagger Like the Wind
Because Luffy was facing Ian head-on at that moment, the pressure he felt was the greatest, and this pressure directly caused him to "foresee" the consequences of attacking!
So he slammed on the brakes...
As for Zoro, who was attacking from the side, he also felt the pressure radiating from Ian. Before his swords even reached Ian, cold sweat broke out on his back, but he still gritted his teeth and brought all three of his swords down on Ian in unison.
*Clang!* A crisp sound rang out as Ian raised the sheath of Thousand Cherry Blossoms with his left hand, meeting the combined force of Zoro's three swords and blocking his slash. Then, with his right hand, he smoothly drew the blade of Thousand Cherry Blossoms from its sheath and raised the hilt above his head.
Sanji's axe-like heel strike came crashing down, hitting Ian's sword hilt squarely. A tremendous force rebounded, and Sanji was sent flying backward instead!
Describing it takes time, but this scene happened in an instant. After intimidating Luffy and sending Sanji flying, Ian swung the blade of Thousand Cherry Blossoms in a gleaming arc of light, slashing down at Zoro.
"D-Damn it!" Zoro saw the strike coming and hurriedly raised both swords to block. However, the swords in his hands were just ordinary blades. One of them, Snow Walk, was merely a fast-grade sword Zoro had picked up for a few tens of thousands of Berries at a weapon shop in Loguetown. So when Ian's blade came down, Zoro immediately felt the sensation of his swords being cut through. He knew it was bad and quickly pulled his hands back, moving his feet without delay.
But his reaction was too slow. Ian's slash, reinforced with Armament Haki, cleanly cut both of Zoro's swords in half!
"Gomu Gomu Gatling!"
Zoro retreated, but Luffy launched another attack. His fists shot out in a rapid barrage of punches, moving so fast it looked like he had sprouted many more arms.
However, that didn't mean his arms had actually multiplied. Within Ian's Psychic Field, every trajectory of Luffy's punches was clearly sensed. Ian simply sidestepped and tilted his head continuously, and not a single one of Luffy's countless punches landed on him!
While Ian was dodging, Sanji, who had been sent flying, rejoined the fray. Like Luffy, he unleashed a storm of kicks at Ian.
Yet, just like Luffy, he couldn't land a hit either. Ian moved effortlessly between their fierce pincer attacks, untouched like a leaf in the wind.
"One-Sword Style: Sand Pattern!"
A shout came from behind Ian. Zoro, gripping his sword in a reverse grip, slashed at Ian from the back.
After Ian broke his two swords, Zoro only had Third Generation Kitetsu left. Now he could only use one-sword style techniques, but his attack was once again blocked by Ian.
Within Ian's Psychic Field, no matter which direction Zoro attacked from, Ian could sense it, so this back attack was equally ineffective.
Ian hadn't intended to fight the three of them seriously, so he rarely struck back, mostly just dodging. But even so, Zoro, Luffy, and Sanji grew more and more alarmed as the fight went on.
Zoro, in particular, was now seeing firsthand what a Grand Swordsman-level fighter was like, replacing Hawk-Eye in his mind. He couldn't understand how Ian's casual slash could cut through two of his blades.
Usopp and Vivi on the ship were completely stunned. The three of them surrounded Ian, yet they couldn't do anything to him. Vivi, especially, couldn't help but show a look of despair on her face. She realized that this Ian was also one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. If Crocodile had the same level of strength, how could Luffy and the others ever defeat him!?
Actually, Vivi was overthinking it. There were differences in strength among the Seven Warlords. If Ian was among the top-tier in terms of combat power, then Crocodile was among the lower-tier.
Without trying, you wouldn't understand how much mastering Haki could enhance your strength. Strictly speaking, although Luffy and his crew had entered the Grand Line, they were still rookies at this point. Unable to use Haki, they were completely outmatched against Ian. Just Observation Haki alone would tire them out without ever landing a hit.
Ace and Robin watched the fight with smiles, a stark contrast to the expressions on Usopp and the others' faces.
After Zoro, Luffy, and Sanji had been fighting Ian for a while longer, Zoro finally couldn't take it anymore. He jumped out of the battle circle first, pointing Third Generation Kitetsu at Ian and said angrily, "Hey! Ian, are you messing with us!?"
Luffy and Sanji also stopped, panting heavily.
In contrast, Ian looked completely relaxed and said to Zoro, "Oh? How am I messing with you?"
"Why are you just dodging!?" Zoro said indignantly. "You're not fighting us seriously at all!"
Ian shook his head and said, "I admit it, but if I really fought you seriously, do you still want to keep that last sword of yours?"
"Uh..." Zoro was choked up. He was already upset about losing Snow Walk, but if Third Generation Kitetsu was also destroyed, Zoro might really have to fight Ian to the death.
That said, not seeing Ian's true strength still left Zoro feeling unsatisfied.
Ian could see from Zoro's eyes what he was thinking. He shook his head. He had originally thought it would be fine to just play around with the three of them, but it seemed that if he kept this up, Zoro might really get angry.
Zoro might not be afraid of losing, but he couldn't stand being looked down on by Ian.
So Ian decided to show a little more.
The next moment, the air on this small, uninhabited island began to tremble. Ian's aura grew even stronger than before.
Small stones on the ground started to shake as Ian's Psychic Power erupted.
Then, Ian's eyes sharpened, and an invisible shockwave washed over the three of them.
After many days, Ian used his Conqueror's Haki again, but now he could target it at specific individuals.
The entire island was now enveloped by Ian's presence. Under the effect of Psychic Tremor, the three of them felt the ground and surroundings trembling. When Ian's Conqueror's Haki hit them, the Psychic impact instantly flooded their minds!
Zoro, Luffy, and Sanji suddenly felt a strong wave of dizziness, their legs going weak, and they nearly fell to their knees.
However, they didn't pass out. Ian had deliberately adjusted the power of his Conqueror's Haki, reducing it slightly. But even though they weren't knocked unconscious, the immense mental pressure hit them like waves, relentlessly crushing their bodies.
In just an instant, the three of them were drenched in sweat, struggling to hold on under Ian's Haki pressure.
Only then did they finally understand the vast gap in strength between them and Ian.
Though they didn't know what this power was, their bodies' reactions told them they couldn't last much longer under this suppression.
Only Nami and Robin on the ship couldn't figure out what was happening. Ian's Haki hadn't reached the ship, so they could only watch in confusion as the three of them strained, veins bulging.
Ace understood what was going on, but he said enviously, "I didn't expect Ian to have such control over his Conqueror's Haki. I still can't use mine freely..."
Reiju also knew about Haki, but hearing Ace say this, she was shocked.
She was already surprised that Ian had Conqueror's Haki, but now she learned that Ace had it too!
In the New World, those with Conqueror's Haki were invariably powerful figures or rulers, rarely seen. To encounter two of them here was astonishing.
Reiju didn't know what to say anymore...
At that moment, judging that Zoro and the others could barely hold on, Ian finally withdrew his Haki.
As the pressure lifted, Zoro, Luffy, and Sanji collapsed to the ground like they were drained, gasping heavily.