Redfield was exceptionally skilled in Observation Haki, with a natural talent that allowed him to read others' memories simply by touching their bodies.
The moment he got close to Ian, he immediately sensed that this kid's strength was terrifying.
The Pirate Emperor, an unprecedented monster, the man most likely to surpass Roger.
These titles were by no means empty boasts. Even compared to the strongest pirates of his era, this kid was no less impressive.
However, the Devil Fruit in Ian's hands was something Redfield was absolutely unwilling to give up.
Redfield had been locked inside Impel Down for far too long.
His body was steadily aging.
He could feel, little by little, the overwhelming power within him fading away — a feeling far from easy to bear.
Redfield was deeply pained and desperate because of it.
The one thing he trusted most in this life was his own strength. Without it, he had nothing.
This was something he could never accept.
But the power of time was truly formidable — something no human strength could ever resist.
Redfield could only watch helplessly as he grew older and weaker.
Yet this Devil Fruit had the power to reverse everything.
It could restore his youth, bring back his original strength.
"Give it to me! Hand it over!!"
Like a streak of red lightning!
Redfield was wrapped in a crimson Haki unlike anything Ian had ever seen, as if drenched in blood.
In the blink of an eye, a sharp bRedfield was already closing in on Ian's neck.
It was an umbrella.
Its handle decorated with bat-wing-like motifs, and its tip shaped like the bRedfield of a sword.
Strictly speaking, this was a sword, and strictly speaking, Redfield was also a swordsman.
"So fast, so fast."
Ian chuckled lightly and took a step back, perfectly dodging the crimson slash.
Before he could react further, the sharp tip of the umbrella, wrapped in crimson light, lunged toward him.
The tip shimmered with tiny specks of light, as if gathering the entire starry sky in that moment.
Ian was enveloped by the starry sky.
But—
Paper Arts!!
His body twisted continuously, like a snake, like paper, like a bird, like the gentle breeze.
Effortlessly avoiding every thrust from Redfield.
"But still, not fast enough."
Ian smiled lightly.
"Foresee the future!"
Redfield gritted his teeth inwardly.
Ordinary Observation Haki combined with reaction speed could never allow such an easy, comfortable dodge of his attacks.
Then, in this elder's eyes, a sudden red glow flickered sharply.
"Don't be too full of yourself!"
The crimson slash instantly tore through the air.
A smile tugged at Ian's lips.
Lowering his body, he effortlessly evaded the slash, while forcefully stomping his right foot on the ground, shattering the earth beneath.
The power surged up his spine, and with a spinning motion, his long-charged right fist, trailing pitch-black lightning, crashed fiercely into Redfield's face.
"Ugh!"
Redfield's face was dented inward by Ian's punch.
As the dark Haki lightning exploded, Redfield was blasted away like a cannonball, crashing straight into a distant mountain peak.
The mountain exploded upon impact, rocks rumbling in all directions, creating a magnificent man-made landslide.
"Wow!"
Shiryu, who had been watching from a large rock nearby, couldn't help but gasp, "That must have hurt, right?"
Ian gave a slight shake of his hand, a bright smile lighting up his face.
It seemed the training had truly succeeded — Observation Kill.
The very first time he used it, it produced excellent results.
He turned his head toward Shiryu not far away. "Are you coming to steal my stuff too?"
"No way,"
Shiryu grinned and waved his hands repeatedly. "Just passing by, I'm just passing by."
Yeah, right!
Who'd want to fight this monster?
Boom!!
A distant mountain peak suddenly exploded, sending blood-red haki lightning crackling everywhere.
"Oh! That's Conqueror's Haki Infusion!"
Ian's mouth curled into a smirk. "Getting serious now?"
Although he wasn't a top powerhouse from the previous era, Redfield's strength back then was definitely among the best on the seas. Naturally, he could use Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
Really hopeless.
Ian clenched his right fist and raised it; pitch-black lightning danced across his knuckles with a crackling sound. "I'll fight you with just one hand."
"You brat!! Don't get too cocky!!"
Ian's attitude infuriated Redfield to the point enough to lose reason.
But he knew he couldn't lose his temper.
Anger would only cause Observation Haki to fail, leaving him utterly defenseless.
But… wait, that's Observation Kill, right?
This brat can even use that technique?
This is bad!
Redfield's sword moved incredibly fast.
The Haki wrapped around the bRedfield was no weak force either.
Honestly, with just a single swing like that, there were few on the seas who could stand against him.
But unfortunately, his opponent was Ian — Ian, who was even stronger than him.
With Observation Haki predicting the future, combined with speed and reflexes far surpassing Redfield, Ian could easily dodge every attack Redfield threw at him.
And when dodging was impossible, Ian would forcibly distort his body using Life Return and Paper Arts to evade.
When there was truly no space left to dodge, Ian simply punched Redfield's umbrella sword away.
At that moment, Ian truly realized just how terrifying Observation Kill was.
Redfield, so skilled in Observation Haki, couldn't glimpse Ian's future this time, and thus fell completely into a disadvantage.
"Is this the power of the old era's legend? Disappointing, Redfield," Ian said with a sigh.
"Shut up!!"
That sentence struck Redfield's sore spot completely.
The Haki on his umbrella sword swelled, no longer acting as a bRedfield but smashing down like a heavy club.
Ian extended his right palm, raising it vertically.
The surging Haki condensed into an unbreakable protective wall.
Boom!!!
Amid the roaring wind, Redfield's umbrella sword suddenly froze midair, unable to advance even an inch.
"…"
The crimson pupils of Redfield sharply contracted.
This level of Conqueror's Haki?
"That's enough."
Ian shook his head. "No matter how dull a fool is, they should realize the gap by now."
His strength should be somewhat stronger than Bullet's — but only slightly.
He was rated at an admiral's level.
Yeah, the difference was just too great.
From a distance, Shiryu watched the battle and sighed to himself.
Ian was fighting on equal footing with Redfield using only one hand—and hadn't even unleashed his abilities yet.
If Ian were to go all out, wouldn't he easily overwhelm Redfield without giving him any chance to fight back?
"I said, shut the hell up!!"
Redfield roared, his sword wildly slashing like a raging storm.
The crimson sword energy surged violently, instantly tearing the entire ruins into chaos.
The very mountain that held the ruins was even split in half by his strike.
This was a glimpse into the terrifying strength of the legendary "Red the Aloof."
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