Actually, Ian thought Uta's ability was more suited for making games — like the virtual MMORPGs from novels of a past life.
After all, Uta had very high-level control over this world.
Although she couldn't directly affect the souls pulled in by her ability, she could create any items she wanted through her singing.
She could even imbue these items with special powers.
For example, in the original story, there was a musical score that could bind the Straw Hat crew, which required the correct notes to be played to release them.
She could really create a pocket dimension here.
Wasn't this basically an innate MMORPG saint's body?
The only pity was that the ability's carrier wasn't a supercomputer, but Uta, this little girl.
Right now, she couldn't pull too many people into this world at once, nor could she drastically change the world all at once.
If only she could connect to Vegapunk's Punk Records… Although that thing probably hasn't even been made yet.
But if Uta could really share the computational power of the world's smartest brain—who knows? Uta might actually be able to create a second world.
What about Infinite Tsukuyomi?
"Heeheeheehee! Then let's fight!!"
Solem shouted out instantly, golden light surging all over his body. "Fight! This is awesome!"
"Oh!!"
Himir responded loudly as well, slamming his huge cleaver against his pot-shaped shield. "So this is our Valhalla after all!"
The hall of the brave where warriors can fight forever!
"This is really great!"
Hancock immediately glanced at Yamato, a half-smile playing on her lips. "White-haired freak, let me turn you into stone!"
"I'm the one who'll freeze you into an ice block!"
Yamato sneered back.
Now they could finally fight without worrying about their lives!
Take this guy down! Take him down!
The two collided instantly.
Ian shook his head helplessly.
After all, even if their souls were destroyed, they would only feel fatigue in the dream world—no real harm.
Let them handle it.
He smiled warmly at Uta. "Come on, Uta, training starts now. Since no one can die in this space, I'm going to properly teach you how to fight."
You like being pushed, huh? Then let me satisfy that.
Uta swallowed nervously.
Not long after—
"Ugh!"
Uta, sitting by the ship's railing, suddenly opened her eyes wide.
As a user of the Uta Uta no Mi fruit, the owner of that dream world, she was naturally different from the others who had been pulled into that space.
She could enter and exit at will, even operate two threads simultaneously—controlling her soul and her physical body in the real world at the same time.
But just now, she had no time to control her real body.
"Damn that guy!"
The girl, feeling a bit tired, grit her teeth and glared at the man who had just climbed back onto the deck.
Ian smiled at her, "This is only the beginning, Uta. If you want to get stronger, you better be prepared."
Inside the dream world earlier, he had practically beaten Uta without holding back.
Although injuries to the soul only showed as fatigue on the body, the pain felt during the damage was very real.
At least just now, Uta, who had been so resolute moments before, was beaten to tears by Ian.
If you want to learn to fight quickly, nothing beats going through a real battle.
Ian had learned to fight exactly that way.
"Come at me then!"
Uta snapped back stubbornly.
Ian just smiled.
The others gradually started waking up as well.
Though many of them still looked exhausted.
Hancock's expression was especially grim.
"Hehe! Ian! I froze that guy into an ice block!"
Yamato, panting a bit, came over grinning, hands clenched as if swinging a baseball bat, "Then I smashed her to pieces with one swing!"
Dizzy Hancock couldn't even bother rubbing her head and snapped angrily, "But half of your body has already been turned to stone by me!"
"But I'm the one who survived till the end!"
Yamato pulled down her lower eyelid and made a silly face at Hancock, "I win! Nyah nyah nyah!"
Hancock trembled with anger all over.
But she couldn't find any words to refute. Losing was losing, and denying it would only make her look worse.
"Heeheeheehee! What an amazing ability!"
Solem laughed heartily. "Himir, it's been a long time since we had such a thrilling fight, hasn't it?"
Himir nodded in agreement. "Definitely exhilarating! So refreshing!"
"Law! You bastard!"
Viola shouted angrily, "How dare you attack me! I'm a civilian! And you cut me into more than twenty pieces!"
"Who cares!"
Law rolled his eyes. "Weren't you the one who urged Maria to attack me?"
"I didn't lift a finger."
Black Maria smiled sweetly. "I was just watching the show."
"Then Maria, why were you watching?"
Viola fumed, "We should've dealt with that brat properly!"
Law rolled his eyes higher.
"However," Jack looked somewhat wary as he glanced at someone standing apart from the group, "Enel's ability is really unreasonable. There's just no way to deal with him."
"After all, it's the Goro Goro no Mi."
Drake chuckled.
Everyone was having a great time.
"Uta, sing a song."
Ian suddenly spoke.
"..."
The girl was momentarily stunned.
She stared blankly at Ian.
Ian smiled and said, "There's no reason to give up the thing you love most just because of someone you dislike, right? That would only be punishing yourself."
Uta hesitated for a moment.
Then, gritting her teeth, she climbed up onto the ship's railing.
The girl cleared her throat slightly.
"Yo ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho—"
The most classic pirate song flowed from her lips.
Her enchanting voice immediately drifted across the deck.
Law curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.
Black Maria squinted her eyes.
Even Jack and Enel quietly listened.
Ian sat cross-legged on the deck, a small smile playing on his lips.
Not bad at all, he thought.
The Golden Dragon continued its voyage back.
It took just over three weeks to return beyond Hive Island.
During this time, Ian roughly figured out some of the gaps in Uta's abilities.
The Sing-Sing Fruit's power didn't consume Uta's physical strength but rather her mental energy.
And pulling others into the dream world required little mental energy—the main drain came from Uta's manipulation of the dream world itself.
The more she used her voice to create new things, the more exhaustion piled up.
When the fatigue reached its limit, Uta would simply fall into a deep sleep, and her powers would be completely disabled.
It was also known that if her soul was destroyed, her physical body would feel immense weariness.
In other words, attacking Uta directly in the dream world and defeating her soul would likely allow one to escape safely.
Also, fighting within the dream world was indeed very useful.
Although it didn't help much in training the physical body, it surprisingly strengthened Haki.
After all, Haki also involves a spiritual aspect of power.
Engaging in life-or-death battles with powerful opponents was truly the best way to advance Haki.
Uta's dream world was indeed a great place for training.
Then, the Golden Dragon finally sailed into the harbor of Hive Island.
At that moment, someone was already waiting for him there.
Besides Tesoro, Jinbei, and the other members of Ian's crew, there was someone else.
"Hehehehe! Finally back, Ian!"
"Gaba gaba! Long time no see, my friend!!"
Ian smiled. "I was quite startled when I received the contact from my subordinates. Don't tell me you actually came, Dorry, Brogy."
**********
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