Chapter 85 - Nicknames, and reaching the island

Ian then after checking the bounty posters, proceeded to read what new 'info' they added to the poster about him and his crew.

"This person was a relatively unknown pirate and stayed most of the time low-key until he took the world by surprise suddenly. The marines had already suspected him of several operations that resulted in many islands getting destroyed and many innocents dying, and only now was able to confirm that he was the one responsible with his latest actions of saving the devil child Nico Robin who is known for her pursuit of the world destruction. Ian Louis is an extremely cruel and malicious person. Must be avoided at all costs." This was what Ian had read the last time. And it appeared to still be there.

But what was new was this as he read.

"He had saved the son of the former pirate king to make him succeed his father and rule the world. Ian Louis the Nightmare Lancer, is a cruel person bent on destroying the world. As evidenced by joining hands with devil child Nico Robin. His strength was proven at the war to be as high as an emperor of the sea. Which makes the drives that motivate him, even more, dangerous to the world. Must be avoided if met."

Ian laughed as he finished reading.

"Haha." They had given him a nickname. While usually, the nickname would be something apparent on his person, the marines had taken the initiative and named him by his weapon of mastery. With the added tag of nightmare to add evilness to his name. And at the same time signifying that he is a nightmare to anyone going against him with a spear. They had also given his crew the nickname "Nightmare pirates". With each one having a specialization.

The rest of his crew were looking at their photos on the posters since he had called them, but they too shared a laugh as they read what Ian's posture had said. Besides that, their posters only included them being former bounty hunters who turned pirates as they met Ian Louis.

Elene's pic was of her walking with her rifle on her shoulder hidden by a cloth. The picture captured her face perfectly and it appeared as if Elene was looking directly at the one who took the picture with a thin smile. Her given nickname being the "nightmare Sniper".

Bert's picture was also taken, but he didn't mind that right now. He was proud to be a mink and doesn't mind showing himself to the world. His nickname being "The nightmare swordsman".

His picture was just him in his usual clothes with him training with his sword.

Stella had a smile on the pic too, but her eyes were closed as she had her arm raised and her fingers in a V shape as if she too knew she was getting photographed at the time. She was nicknamed the "crazy-eyed nightmare".

Next was Robin, but her picture just stayed the same as before. While her nickname changed to the "nightmarish Devil child". Though she had become even more beautiful and younger one could still identify her by her poster.

Then as Ian finished looking at all his crew's pictures, he rechecked his before grinning.

On the pic, he appeared to have a pissed off look on his face that promised pain. Which was understandable as the pic was taken right after he was ambushed in the war by the diávoloi. This particular look managed to bring out his charm and charisma in full.

He showed the bounty poster to the rest as they all shared a laugh. They didn't mind that they had ones now. Rather they liked that.

****

It has been five days since the crew had seen their posters.

And besides eating, playing around, and the like, they did nothing. They just enjoyed their time. After all, as soon as they reach the island they were going to start their training.

But Ian didn't waste the time he had…

Since the process he goes through to strengthen himself needs time between each one, he wanted to first do those weaker ones and leaving the stronger ones until he reaches the island. He started this process the day he saw the bounties.

He had on him, the blood of Sanjuan Wolf, Whitebeard, and the Diávoloi.

And so far he had used the blood of the giant, which had actually managed to bring him all the way to the peak of the second stage, or by Ian's naming sense, the earth realm.

There were also visible effects to that, as Ian's height reached 201 cm. Which did make him happy, as he had always wanted to be tall. If he used his defense mode, which boosts his strength, he would be physically as strong as Whitebeard.

Then two days later, and as he had finished adapting to his new strength, he started on the next process. Which was using the bloodline of Elene just as she had asked.

The abilities he got from that, was the shadows teleportation, along with the various effects like slowing, corroding, and the like…

And as soon as he had finished that process, he had brought Elene to a room… and after a bit of 'working out,' he presented her with a gift.

****

Flashback.

"Since you gave me your all, I have a certain gift for you," Ian said as he got up from the bed still n.a.k.e.d… and he reached behind his hand and materialized the gift from his ring.

Then under the eyes of Elene who was anticipating this, he brought out a fruit. A devil fruit.

It was a large, round, and light purple fruit made up of many small teardrop-shaped components with swirl patterns, and green leaves sprouting from the top. Its overall shape and appearance closely resemble a pineapple or a bunch of oversized and teardrop-shaped gr.a.p.es. It was the Darkness-Darkness fruit.

Since Elene had given him her abilities, he gave her something in exchange that will once again make her the shadows empress.

As for how he got the fruit… at the war, and the moment that Blackbeard died he had a pirate from their side bring out a couple of fruits and set them on the deck in a size, and voila, after a certain time later, the fruit was there when Ian checked. He had been planning since that time to give it to Elene. He did not believe the fruit to be as weak as Teach had made to appear in the anime. Rather he knew it was much stronger.

And he wanted Elene to be as strong as possible.

Elene jumped at him hugging him, also n.a.k.e.d…

"Thank you, thank you…" Elene kept repeating as Ian spun her around. Until they fell back to the bed kissing each other and started out another workout session.

She had wanted to get the fruit ever since she knew about her shadow abilities.

Flashback end.

****

And now they had finally reached his father's island, as evidenced by the fog surrounding the area.

Ian was excited to meet his father Geo once again, and show him how strong he had become. All of his crew were at his side watching the blurry shape of the island through the fog. They were all excited to reach the island where they were going to reach their whole potential.