Chapter 29 - Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit

The new form was a tiger form. Specifically the extinct feline known as the Sabertooth Tiger. Ian deduced that Master Rey had eaten an ancient Zoan devil fruit. Probably the Cat-Cat Fruit: Sabertooth Tiger Model.

The new form that master Rey emerged with was scary and intimidating to say the least. And although Ian was unaffected by this, the same could not be said about Robin at the side. She was shivering a bit and had took a step back unconsciously.

His height increased reaching 3 m. it was the hybrid form between a human and a Sabertooth tiger. He stood there with even broader shoulders than before, strong arms with huge deadly claws and even stronger legs resembling the lower back of a tiger. But now, golden fur was adorning all his body. Additionally he had two sharp scary fangs, protruding through his mouth. His previously red eyes, turned yellowish, but were unfocused like the person was unconscious.

The reason why he could be considered scary, is that Master Rey was releasing massive amounts of killing intent, quite randomly at that. Ian had already known that the carnivorous Zoan devil fruits, increases bloodthirstiness and the animalistic instincts, which made it hard for one to control any form they have transformed into. With the hardest to reign in being the full transformed form.

However soon Master Rey had regained his mind, and calmed his breathing while trying to reign in his killing intent. With him succeeding only after a few seconds, and his eyes regained their focus. He most likely had a high degree of familiarity with his devil fruit forms. Perhaps a result of training with it for a long time.

Through all of this, Ian did not try to interfere, rather he had just let it happen. If he fought, in his opinion, it was best against a master rather than a mindless beast.

In truth, the mindless form of a transformed person, might in fact be even stronger than one with his full awareness. However the drawback would be huge, being that the person could not utilize this strength and just attack randomly which could be exploited by any competent person.

Once master Rey finished and took full control of his transformed form, he spoke thankfully towards Ian.

"You are an honorable man. I thank you for your act. And in addition, I apologize for the events of this time. But I must get the woman behind you back. She is a danger to this world. If it was up to me, I would even increase her bounty higher than an emperor of the sea." Master Rey spoke towards Ian. He thanked him, but he had a complicated expression on his face after, before finally apologizing and getting ready to attack.

"There is no need for you to apologize Master Rey. If I was on the same side as you I would have agreed with the decision to increase Robin's bounty regardless of whether she was innocent or not. Her specialty is what is dangerous to the world government. However, I am not on your side. And I am not a pirate too. But I'm sure the world government would brand me as such after today's event. But regardless, no person should be convicted for seeking the true history, as that is not what justice is about." Ian said.

Robin at the side agreed with Ian. She was happy that he took her side. She always thought that seeking information, no matter its history should not be punished.

Master Rey gave a nod.

"I understand that the best. However I must get her back, if only to stop the chaos that is guaranteed to happen in the future if she stays at large." Master Rey had a determined look in his eyes.

"Once I catch you, I would try asking for my superiors if they can let you join the marines. Besides your views, you would be a great marine." Master Rey added after a few seconds of silence.

Robin who heard this was a bit scared. But when she looked at Ian's back she noticed how he was still standing there proudly brimming with confidence. She could finally relax.

"No offense to you Master Rey but you would not be able to catch me. No one can." Ian spoke with a thin smile on his face.

Master Rey saw this smile but he knew it was not one of arrogance and belittling. Rather it was one of confidence, like what he had just said was the absolute truth.

"Then I could only try" even if he felt that Ian was exaggerating he did not want to insult him. Not to say the least, he was the teacher that taught a special secret unit of assassins working for the world government. His strength was on par if not even better than most vice admirals.

But as far as he knew about Ian, he was strong but he didn't think that he was as strong as him. He too was confident in his strength.

He kicked the ground using 'shave' appearing instantly in front of Ian. Then swung his enlarged claws targeting his chest rather than taking an arm or a leg. His speed was much faster than before, which can be expected.

But Ian quite easily saw through the attack, as he dodged to the left. But something he didn't expect was the Tail that attacked him from the blind spot resulting of his dodging. But he calmly used Iron body, to take the hit. Unlike what he thought though, the hit was quite strong as it pushed him quite a distance back, but other than that it did no damage.

He now had to pay attention to the tail. As he was stopping himself from using observation Haki, he had to anticipate the attack normally. As far as hand to hand combat, you could say Ian was a master. He had trained on it the most with his father, before he finally allowed him to choose a weapon to specials in. he had trained to use many weapons to a proficient degree, but only mastered one.

Now if you add the superhuman skills to the mastery of close quarter combat? You would get a monster.

Just as he released his Iron body, Master Rey was already onto him, using his claws to send even sharper and compressed air blades at Ian.

Ian dodged them. He had to. Not because they could cut through his defense, something quite impossible right now, but rather, he did not want to let all of his secrets on his first public fight. But by dodging he would establish the idea that the attack was capable of hurting him. Giving Master Rey a bit of confidence, and at the same time getting him to lower his cautiousness.

Just as he dodged, master Rey was already onto him pursuing him. His attacks this time were only getting faster and faster, to the point that Ian was finding it getting harder to dodge if he still limited his strength.

But even so he did not try to use Haki, rather he just enjoyed this fight.

His clothes now were getting shredded from the wind resulted from the attack. But it was not to say that master Rey was any better. His jacket had already been torn and rid of. And even though there was no sign of outside injury, he was quite hurt internally. As Ian's punches packed quite a bit of strength.

Ian used 'shave' to approach him, then he tightened all his muscles on his body and focused his physical strength to attack in a fast way with a punch, but instead of connecting the punch to his chest, he opened his hands at the last second only a few inches away from his chest, resulting in a very powerful shockwave that blasted master Rey quite a distance away, but not before he had crossed his arms on his chest and used Iron body.

This was the technique his father had taught him once he had mastered the six powers.

But Master Rey got back near soon. But he had a bit of blood dripping from his mouth. And he had a look of absolute shock on his face. One could tell that this attack had caught him off guard.

"You, that…that is the 'six king gun' skill, how is it possible for you to use this? Even in the world government not many could use it. It is an absolute secret technique. It shouldn't be possible for you to know it much less even use it" Master Rey spoke quite emotionally. What was even more shocking to him, was how Ian had used it with his palm and quite smoothly at that. Meanwhile it would take even him, who was considered one of the few who was adept at it, a few seconds to release it. And even then it will still be tiring for him. But he could not see how Ian was tired in any way.

He promptly made the decision to change forms, to the form that grants him the most strength.

It was still a hybrid form, but now his height had increased past 3m and his chest and arms became even bigger than before. The only drawback was that now his speed would be quite slow if compared to before. But this was the form that he could use the 'six king gun' skill in.

He made the choice to attack, and used 'shave', while his claws reddened as if they were heated with fire. Ian raised his brows at this. He wondered if he too could do that…

Once he reached Ian he swung his claws in an arc, and released a flaming air compressed blade straight at Ian. To which he dodged it again easily, but he found Master Rey had anticipated that and tried grabbing him with his arm.

Ian dodged again, but as he was avoiding his two swung claws, the sneaky tail, came in to attack once again. But as Ian took the hit in using Iron body, he was launched a huge distance away, by the shockwave that was released, and even as the shockwave passed him it still continued and blasted through the wall of the courthouse.

He had let down his guard bit, and master Rey took advantage of that to use the 'six king gun' on him using his tail.

Master Rey was now breathing a bit heavily. Using the skill with his tail, will both tire him faster, and make him feel pain in his tail. But by no way was he thinking that Ian has fallen down.

And just like he thought Ian came back soon.

His shirt had a hole in his chest area, but the skin showing through it was unscathed. The only damage he sustained was an internal one, but due to his high regeneration it had already healed.

He gave a grin as he spoke.

"I honestly didn't think you could use it through your tail. Truly, you deserve the Master title" Ian praised.