Chapter 21: Everyone, Are You Ready to Step Onto the World Stage?
Luffy: "What a huge fish!!"
Nami: "Not bad at all!"
Zoro: "Gihi~!"
Usopp: "That's way too wild! Hey!!"
The group suddenly burst into cheers.
Looking at the giant fish-shaped sailing ship not far ahead, Luffy and the others couldn't restrain their inner excitement, because this was the best restaurant on the sea—the Baratie!
Amidst their excitement, a Marine warship slowly approached from the side, eventually pulling up alongside the going merry.
Both sides quickly gathered, looking as if a battle could break out at any moment!
"Hey! You nameless pirates over there?"
"I am Marineford Lieutenant, 'Iron Fist' Fullbody!"
"Hey! Who's the Captain? State your name!"
A tanned Marine man with pinkish-purple hair walked over, extending a fist implanted with iron plates, and spoke with disdain.
This man named Fullbody had a prominent scar extending from his jaw to his cheek and wore a flashy suit. But even such flamboyant clothing couldn't hide his ugly appearance!
Luffy stepped forward: "I'm Luffy!"
Usopp stepped past Luffy: "I'm Usopp!"
Luffy: (*￣︿￣)
Luffy stepped forward again: "The pirate flag is fresh out of the oven!"
Usopp still stepped past Luffy: "I drew the pirate flag!"
Luffy: (╬￣dish￣)?
"Just as I thought, a bunch of nobodies!" Fullbody then looked at the bounty hunter duo hiding behind the door and continued, "And two bounty hunters who target small-time pirates!"
*Clack, clack, clack...*
Chen Yu, who had been in his room, walked out and looked at everyone with a face full of question marks. "Since we're here, why aren't we going down? What's all the noise about?"
Having just finished speaking, Chen Yu heard what Fullbody said and was instantly baffled!
Before Chen Yu could say anything, Joseph and Johnny exploded!
They threw out a stack of wanted posters and roared at the turning-to-leave Fullbody, "You dare say we target small-time pirates?!"
Unfortunately, Fullbody was holding a beautiful woman and slowly walked into the room, preparing to enjoy a meal, completely ignoring everyone.
The strong never need words to prove themselves; clearly, Johnny and Joseph were not among the strong!
However, the few idiots on the ship were exceptions! They were like the silly sons of wealthy landlords, laughing along even after being insulted.
Chen Yu had long forgotten a minor character like Fullbody. If he hadn't seen the beauty beside him and the title 'Iron Fist' that tried to leech off Garp's name, he probably wouldn't have remembered him in this lifetime.
If you're insulted, just slap them back; arguing is beneath one's dignity!
Suddenly, Chen Yu pulled Luffy's face over, followed by a scolding: "Is this how you act as a Captain, you idiot? You've thrown away all the Straw Hat's prestige!! If you can't maintain the Straw Hat's prestige and honor, then step down! I'll take over!!"
Although they had no fame at this time, Chen Yu still believed that a group's honor and prestige must be maintained at all times!
Luffy's voice grew smaller: "Stop nagging! I know what to do without you telling me."
Chen Yu: "I'm the first mate!!"
Luffy: "You'll regret this!!"
Luffy: ╥﹏╥
While they were arguing, the Marine warship nearby suddenly fired its cannon!
Luffy, who was about to intercept the cannonball, was pushed away by Chen Yu: "Let me show you how to maintain our crew's honor!"
With that, he instantly took to the air, and his palm, coated in Armament Haki, slapped the cannonball back.
*Boom!*
The Marine warship that took a direct hit was already half-disabled.
Clearly, the power of the cannonball Chen Yu slapped back had multiplied several times.
He wasn't done yet! He intended to completely wipe out this group of Marines!
Before acting, Chen Yu said to Nami and the others, "Are you ready to step onto the world stage?"
Without exception, upon hearing this, the Straw Hat crew all clenched their fists. Even Nami, who was holding Arlong's wanted poster, was the same; not one of them backed down!
This crew was already completely different from the original! Courage and strength are linked!
"Very good!" Chen Yu was very satisfied with everyone's reaction.
He then turned his gaze back to the Marine warship and roared, "Flame Emperor!"
Instantly, a massive amount of flames erupted from Chen Yu, condensing into a Flame Emperor in the sky, whose movements mirrored Chen Yu's.
"Fire Fist!" Chen Yu shouted silently in his heart.
In the next second, two fire punches, one large and one small, attacked the Marine warship.
The Marine Soldiers on the ship looked ashen; they had already started the countdown to their trip around the world!
*Bang! Boom!*
The two fire punches landed on the warship, and in an instant, it turned to ash and vanished into the air; not even a scream could be heard.
Chen Yu was quite merciful, letting them go without any pain!
"Oh!!!" x2
Looking toward the sound, he saw the two "silly sons of landlords" with stars in their eyes, muttering, "Flame Emperor!"
Fine! It was just a move for show; it was actually just a Fire Fist, a flashy Fire Fist.
"Finally going to be famous," Chen Yu muttered as he slowly landed.
However, Chen Yu's brow furrowed slightly, and a shadow flashed across his face, passing like a breeze, coming and going without a trace.
The Gum-Gum Fruit eventually became the Nika Fruit, and the dream-chasing youth eventually became a battle of destiny. This made Chen Yu very uneasy.
Unknown enemies, the unknown Nika Fruit—he didn't even know if this fruit would change anything about Luffy!
Pressure as heavy as a mountain weighed on Chen Yu, making him almost unable to breathe... and all of this was seen by Nami.
She had already started paying attention to Chen Yu's emotions!
That momentary emotion that leaked from Chen Yu just now was accurately captured by her, which made her very unhappy! She was completely baffled and even a bit angry! She didn't know what Chen Yu was hiding!
Seeing Chen Yu return to his usual self, Nami's anger and confusion didn't know where to go for a moment!
"Let's go! Let's go taste the skills of this famous restaurant first!" Chen Yu smiled.
"Food! Food! Food!" x5
Chen Yu turned his gaze to Nami, who hadn't spoken.
Suddenly, Chen Yu's pupils constricted! The worry in his eyes couldn't be stopped. Because Chen Yu saw the wanted poster in Nami's hand!
Seeing those eyes full of worry and concern, the anger in Nami's heart instantly dissipated.
She herself couldn't figure out why she was suddenly angry, but the fact that Chen Yu was hiding things even from her made her unhappy and inexplicably furious!
But now, she was mostly worried about Chen Yu, though she still gave him a fierce glare! Then, ignoring Chen Yu, she strode toward the Baratie!
Nami didn't have too many emotional fluctuations because of Arlong; she just wanted to try relying on her own efforts first, and also to settle a long-standing obsession.
Chen Yu, who had been glared at, was full of questions. He had no idea why he had made Nami angry again!
He immediately followed behind Nami, scratching his head incessantly, extremely troubled!
---As the group boarded the Baratie, they noticed Fullbody and his female companion sitting in the restaurant dining safely and soundly, completely unaware that their warship was gone!
Perhaps the warship had been sucked in by him for all we know—oh, and his subordinates too!Chapter 22: Do You Know About All Blue?
"Welcome to the Sea Restaurant Baratie, sirs!" As soon as the Straw Hat crew stepped into the restaurant, a man with an extremely strange appearance greeted them with a smile, rubbing his hands together.
A big-mouthed monkey? Chen Yu muttered to himself, but he wasn't too cold. He responded indifferently, "Table for seven. Bring out all your signature dishes; money is no object."
Seeing Chen Yu dressed in a suit, the big-mouthed monkey, Patty, became even more enthusiastic!
In his eyes, anyone with money was a lord!
He hurriedly bowed and scraped, leading everyone to a large dining table to be seated.
"Young man, please wait a moment!"
Chen Yu called Patty back, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a stack of Berries—estimated to be about twenty bills—and handed them to him.
Seeing Chen Yu's action, Patty looked confused but remained unmoved. "Honored guest, what is the meaning of this?"
"A certain young brat has provoked us, and he happens to be dining in your restaurant. I'd like some information," Chen Yu said, taking a gold leaf from his pocket and tossing it to Patty.
Hearing this, Patty was instantly excited and reached out to catch the gold leaf.
Bang!
Patty, who had just reached out, was suddenly kicked flying by a blond young man in a suit carrying red wine. The newcomer was Sanji!
"Everyone who eats in our shop is a god. Once they step out that door, their life or death is their own business; we don't care!" After kicking Patty away, Sanji took a deep drag of his cigarette and explained.
"Is that so? Thanks for clearing that up." Chen Yu wasn't annoyed. He pulled a cigar from his pocket and tossed it to Sanji.
Their group had come specifically for Sanji. Today, it was only out of respect for him that Chen Yu hadn't made a move directly; otherwise, why would he waste so many words?
Chen Yu immediately pointed at Nami and said, "My girlfriend. Pretty, isn't she?"
Hearing this, Sanji finally noticed Nami beside Chen Yu. For a moment, he was dazed. Even the cigarette in his mouth fell to the ground. He hurriedly stuffed the cigar Chen Yu gave him into his mouth and fumbled around his body.
Boom!
Chen Yu extended a finger, and a burst of flame suddenly erupted from the tip. As soon as the flame appeared, the surrounding air distorted, and waves of heat echoed through the restaurant, drawing the attention of all the guests. Immediately after, the cigar in Sanji's mouth was quietly lit.
This display by Chen Yu clearly shocked many people. Even Patty, who had just gotten up and was ready to settle scores with Sanji, froze in place.
As chefs, they could tell that the temperature emitted by this flame was absolutely terrifying!
Now, Patty's gaze toward Chen Yu's group became even more respectful and eager!
"Young man, bring a dessert for my girlfriend first. Thanks." After saying this, Chen Yu tossed another cigar to Sanji. He lit one for himself, turned around, and began to puff away, no longer paying attention to Sanji.
Current Sanji wasn't beyond saving yet; his lustful outbursts were selective—for instance, toward our Iron Fist Colonel Fullbody!
Holding the wine, Sanji bowed slightly and gave a response. He then walked toward Fullbody, having no intention of harassing Nami.
That bottle of wine was ordered by Fullbody, who had also brought a shill. Unfortunately, the one who came was Sanji! Watching the direction Sanji left, Chen Yu observed with great interest.
The others, waiting for their food, also followed Chen Yu's gaze.
Feeling a delicate sensation from his palm, Chen Yu looked down. What met his eyes was a slightly shy Nami, who had taken the initiative to hold his hand.
It was clear that Nami was a bit elated that Chen Yu had publicly acknowledged her as his girlfriend!
However, this left Chen Yu completely bewildered!
Wasn't this girl just angry with him a moment ago?
Chen Yu quickly shook his head. Better not ask! It was best if she wasn't angry anymore! He still didn't know why Nami was angry just now. This was great; he could just pretend nothing happened!
He quickly extended his palm, spreading his fingers to interlock with Nami's, gently swinging her small hand!
Next, the group began to eat while enjoying the scene of Sanji dealing with Fullbody.
Chen Yu watched for a while, or rather, he was looking at the suit on Fullbody, lost in thought. He felt he had burned the boat too early!
The group slowly tasted the dishes being served. From time to time, Chen Yu would feed pieces of cut meat into Nami's mouth, enjoying himself immensely.
No! Only Chen Yu and Nami were tasting slowly. The others had long been wolfing down their food, though several large bumps had appeared on the top of Luffy's head.
Chen Yu, of course, knew why! It was just that a big red rat had seemingly tried to steal his and Nami's food earlier, and he had taught it a lesson!
"Luffy! How's the taste?" Chen Yu asked while carefully wiping the corner of Nami's mouth.
Luffy: "&&%%@ Nana*..."
"Is that so? In that case, how about we recruit that blond young man onto our ship?"
Luffy hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth and nodded frantically at Chen Yu in anticipation!
"Then you'll be responsible for inviting him in a moment. How about I go find their boss?"
Luffy naturally agreed. He was long used to following Chen Yu's arrangements; unless necessary, he didn't bother using his brain.
"Zoro, keep an eye on that Fullbody. If he steps out of this door, you're responsible for taking care of him." After giving Zoro a few simple instructions, Chen Yu headed toward the second floor, searching room by room for Zeff.
After a brief conversation, Chen Yu convinced Zeff and promised that if Krieg came to attack, they would handle it.
The experienced Zeff could naturally see the strength of Chen Yu's group. He laughed out loud with great emotion and kept emphasizing that they must take Sanji away and let him achieve his dream!
After going downstairs, Chen Yu stood like a statue on the platform in front of the Baratie's entrance, looking straight ahead and quietly feeling the sea breeze, as if waiting for someone.
"You bunch of nobodies! Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you're in?!"
"I am Marineford Lieutenant Fullbody..." Before Fullbody could finish, Zoro, who was nearby, took him out with a clean and swift strike.
This is so boring, Chen Yu murmured.
He was waiting for Hawkeye. After Zoro finished challenging Hawkeye, he also planned to issue a challenge!
However, it wasn't for the so-called way of the sword, but for the Haki Circulation Method!
Chen Yu had been preparing for today's battle for a long time!
---Staring at the battle between Luffy and Krieg below, Chen Yu shouted, "Luffy! Wrap it up quickly! Don't wreck the place!"
"Okay!!"
---Now, Luffy fighting Krieg was like child's play. That so-called golden armor was shattered by a single punch from Luffy.
Krieg, having taken a punch from Luffy, didn't lose his combat capability immediately. With a turn, he pulled out a blast gun from somewhere.
After spinning around in the air and uttering a few threats, he was once again blown away by Luffy!
Since Chen Yu had spoken, Luffy intended to finish it quickly. This time, Krieg didn't even get a chance to release his poison gas bombs; he was sent flying far away by an Armament Rocket... Looking in the direction Krieg flew, Chen Yu suddenly slapped his forehead! He almost forgot! He immediately flew out and returned shortly after.
Demon Man Gin was also quickly defeated.
Watching Sanji's fight, Chen Yu felt that Sanji's strength was truly decent. Even without mastering Armament Haki, he could take on steel with his legs. Once he mastered Armament Haki, his strength would definitely reach a new level!
Calling him Zoro's new love... Hiss! Looking at it this way, it was indeed very fitting!
Unlike Luffy, who won without a scratch, Sanji's injuries were not light. He sat by the wall, smoking a cigarette while recovering his strength.
"Are you here to invite me too?" Just as Chen Yu sat down beside Sanji, Sanji tossed a cigarette over and spoke.
Chen Yu wasn't surprised. "Is that not allowed?"
After taking a deep drag of the cigarette, Sanji replied, "I'm glad you invited me, but I have a reason why I must stay."
"It's obvious that both you and that Mosshead are very strong. To be honest, I almost felt tempted."
(Somewhere, Zoro, who was wiping his swords, suddenly shuddered!)
"But I'm sorry!"
"Also, your girlfriend is truly beautiful!" After saying that, Sanji stood up, tapped his toes, and walked away with his hands in his pockets.
Chen Yu: "Thanks!"
After a few seconds, Chen Yu added, "Everyone in our group has an unrealistic dream. We came together because of these dreams that the world laughs at."
After finishing, Chen Yu stood up decisively and walked away in another direction.
"Do you know about All Blue?" Hearing this, Sanji suddenly froze in place, then turned around and shouted.
But by the time he turned around, Chen Yu's figure had already disappeared.
On the other side, Chen Yu fell into a deep sense of confusion again. He didn't know what he wanted to do. Originally, he just wanted to integrate into this group, and he had already achieved that.
But what about the future?
He never thought about becoming the worlds greatest swordsman, nor did he think about drawing sea charts, let alone becoming the Pirate King...Chapter 23: Zoro vs. Hawkeye
Chen Yu, whose eyes had been growing dazed, suddenly snapped back to his senses.
Within the faint Observation Haki he had just awakened, he sensed an unfamiliar yet powerful aura.
Hawkeye!!!
It was him, without a doubt!
Chen Yu slammed his right hand onto the ground, using the force to stand straight up while adjusting his aura to its peak state. After doing so, he walked quickly toward Zoro.
Since Chen Yu had sent Luffy to deal with Krieg ahead of time, it stood to reason that Hawkeye was only arriving now on his coffin-boat; the timeline hadn't shifted despite Chen Yu's arrival!
"Zoro! You feel it, don't you?"
"That aura... like a Sharp Blade!!"
Chen Yu suddenly appeared by Zoro's side and said in a serious tone.
Seeing Chen Yu come specifically for him, Zoro also looked solemn: "Yeah! Could it be..."
Chen Yu: "Go! Go test the results of your training since setting out to sea!"
"Just don't you dare die!"
"Don't worry, I'm not getting off the ship here!" Zoro said with a very serious tone, sheathing the sword he had just finished maintaining.
---Zoro stood on the still-intact fighting platform, his heart racing with excitement!
He had already witnessed Hawkeye's strength!
Having seen Hawkeye slice Krieg's giant galleon in two with a single strike, Zoro broke into a cold sweat.
He wasn't afraid! Even if it meant death, he would challenge Hawkeye to a duel!
Watching the coffin-boat slowly approach, Zoro's expression grew more serious and his eyes more determined. Suddenly, he called out to Hawkeye: "Hawkeye Mihawk!"
"I set out to sea just to find you!"
Hawkeye gave Zoro a nonchalant glance: "For what purpose?"
Zoro yanked the bandana from his arm and tied it around his forehead. Slowly drawing his three swords, he said firmly: "To be the strongest!!!"
Hearing this, Hawkeye smirked with disdain: "What a fool."
Zoro wasn't annoyed; instead, he issued the challenge again with a smile. He entered his combat stance, coating his three swords with what little Armament Haki he possessed, and stared fixedly at Hawkeye.
"Oh? Interesting! Truly interesting!"
"I didn't expect to see Haki in the weakest of seas!"
"Then, as you wish!" Hawkeye was clearly shocked to see Zoro using Haki!
At that moment, he couldn't help but recall the words of his friend, Shanks!
But right now, he wanted even more to see the skill of this young swordsman! Pushing off the ground, he blurred and appeared next to Zoro. With a broad sweep of his hand, he swiftly drew the black blade yoru from his back!
With his blade drawn, Hawkeye seemed like a completely different person than before!
An invisible aura erupted with him at the center.
Facing Hawkeye directly, Zoro's expression became even more solemn. After his previous defeat at Chen Yu's hands, Zoro had identified many of his flaws and tried to improve; today was the day to test the results!
Zoro didn't strike immediately. He crossed the two swords in his hands and then swung them simultaneously, his momentum rising to a new level. He had pushed his Observation Haki to its absolute limit!
"Oni Giri!!"
Zoro stomped the ground and shot forward like a bullet. Crouching slightly with his back arched, he held his swords in a cross in front of him. Combined with the wado ichimonji, he slashed violently at Hawkeye!
Three blades slashed toward Hawkeye—three simultaneous attacks aimed at his weak points!
Zoro was confident in this move; even if Hawkeye dodged completely, he wouldn't be left vulnerable. As long as he landed, he could quickly readjust his stance!
However, Hawkeye felt more admiration than pressure from this move. He simply held black blade yoru horizontally in front of him at a specific angle and made no other movement.
"Clang!"
The sound of blades clashing rang out!
That's right—only one sound!
Hawkeye had effortlessly blocked all three of Zoro's swords at once.
Zoro's Oni Giri was instantly broken!
A shockwave erupted from between the two clashing men, sending ripples across the previously calm sea!
Then, Hawkeye suddenly exerted force, sending Zoro flying like a baseball hit by a bat.
"Such power!" Zoro, Luffy, and Chen Yu exclaimed simultaneously!
Even Sanji and Zeff were left staring in stunned silence!
Sanji had so many questions: What is Haki? So that Mosshead was the famous Pirate Hunter... "Rumble~"
Blown back by the strike, Zoro quickly rolled and regained his balance upon standing, leaning forward slightly to counteract the terrifying force.
His feet dug deep into the wooden planks below, leaving two grooves that rapidly lengthened. By the time Zoro came to a complete stop, the gashes were a staggering ten meters long!
Having stopped himself, Zoro's hands trembled slightly. His chest heaved violently, and his breathing grew increasingly ragged.
Suddenly, a mouthful of blood sprayed from Zoro's mouth, trickling down his chin and onto his chest, instantly soaking his clothes!
Yet Zoro's eyes grew even more crazed, bloodshot and filled with utter disbelief!
He truly couldn't believe the gap between him and Hawkeye was this vast!
Chen Yu had already taught them both types of Haki; Chen Yu had pointed out his flaws; he had made improvements and trained day and night—so why was the gap still so enormous!
In his perception, Hawkeye hadn't even used Haki... He couldn't accept it!
How could the "heavens" be so far out of reach!
Suddenly, Zoro remembered Kuina.
They had made a promise: one of them had to become the worlds greatest swordsman!
But Kuina was gone... and he had sworn an oath! He swore to make his name reach the heavens! He swore to become the worlds greatest swordsman! Yet, today's result was a crushing blow... Seeing Zoro on the verge of losing his fighting spirit, Luffy and Chen Yu suddenly shouted: "Zoro!!!"
Even Chen Yu hadn't expected that boosting Zoro's strength ahead of time would make this blow even harder for him to take.
"Zoro!!!" The sudden shout rang in Zoro's ears. Snapping back to his senses, he knelt on one knee, looking exhausted, his breathing erratic and heavy!
In that moment, he didn't just hear Kuina's voice; he clearly heard the cries of Chen Yu and Luffy as well.
"How can I fall here!!" Zoro roared hysterically, gritting his teeth as he stood up.
"Why not surrender?" Hawkeye, who had seen everything, stared at Zoro with an extremely serious gaze, as if trying to see right through him!
"I don't know... I don't know why myself! I just feel that if I take even half a step back here, all the oaths and promises I've cherished until now will vanish into thin air!" Zoro said with difficulty, the wado ichimonji clamped between his teeth.
Hearing this, Hawkeye said solemnly: "That's right! That is what's called defeat!"
"Then I definitely can't step back!"
Hawkeye: "Even if it means death?"
"That would suit me just fine!!!"
---What a resolute heart! Would he rather die than suffer defeat? Hawkeye thought, shaken.
"How many years has it been? A strong soul, long overdue!!"
"Boy, state your name!"
"Roronoa Zoro!!!"
Immediately, Zoro unleashed all his strength! His final strength.
Zoro had decided to settle the duel with Hawkeye in a single strike, even if it cost him his life.
Realizing Zoro's decision, Luffy and Chen Yu's eyes widened. They gritted their teeth, their hands clenched tight.
At this point, even Chen Yu couldn't influence the battle.
Their conversation was similar to his past life; he only hoped the outcome would be similar too!
Chen Yu couldn't intervene now, and neither could Luffy! If they did, it would surely be more painful for Zoro than death itself!
The two gritted their teeth and forced their eyes wide, wanting to witness every detail of this final clash.
"A fine name! Then I shall offer the highest courtesy of a swordsman and use my full strength to bury you in the sea!"
"I would be most grateful!"
With those words, Zoro began to spin the two swords in his hands.
"Three Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!!"
After chanting, Zoro crouched slightly and lunged forward!
He suddenly charged!
Hawkeye: Basic Attack
After a brief clash, the two swords in Zoro's hands shattered, and a spray of blood erupted from his chest—even though he had learned Haki.
--- "Ah... I lost. A total defeat..." Zoro, still gripping the hilts, let go of the two broken blades and sheathed the wado ichimonji from his mouth.
Staring at the wado ichimonji in his hand, Zoro's gaze was firm. He turned around abruptly and spread his arms, waiting for Hawkeye to fulfill their agreement!
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame!!" Zoro said with a smile, his eyes burning with conviction as he stared at Hawkeye.
"Magnificent!"
Hawkeye hesitated no longer. He swung the black blade yoru, delivering a slash across Zoro's chest.
Not far away, Luffy and Chen Yu, who had been forcibly holding back Johnny and Joseph, could restrain themselves no longer. They each used their own means to fly to Zoro's side.
Fortunately, the fighting platform remained intact this time, so Zoro didn't fall into the sea.
Chen Yu immediately realized Zoro was still alive. He carried Zoro back to the Baratie at once, letting Zeff and Nami provide emergency treatment.
Then, without looking back, he flew toward Hawkeye.
"Chen Yu, what are you doing?!" Nami cried out in alarm as she saw him turn to leave.
No one knew that Chen Yu also intended to challenge Hawkeye today.Chapter 24: Chen Yu vs Hawkeye (Eve)
At this moment, Zoro, who had suddenly regained consciousness, abruptly drew wado ichimonji and pointed it straight at the sky!
"Hey! Luffy, Chen Yu, can you hear me?"
Chen Yu remained silent, while Luffy sat on the ground with an excited look on his face and responded, "Zoro, I'm here!!"
"Did I make you guys worry?"
"If I don't become the world's greatest swordsman, you'd be quite troubled too, wouldn't you?"
Having said this, Zoro couldn't help but spit out another mouthful of blood before continuing:
"I... I! I will never lose again!"
"Do you have any objections?"
"Pirate King! Do you have any objections!"
"Hee hee! No objections! Zoro!" Luffy suddenly shouted, raising both hands high.
Hawkeye turned to look at the two in front of him and couldn't help but praise, "Thank you for upholding this battle. What a fine crew!"
"You have a wonderful swordsman!"
Hearing this, Luffy pulled his straw hat down tightly over his head and jumped up happily.
Nami, who had just finished bandaging Zoro's wounds, saw the bandages soaked with blood again and her face twisted in anger!
She immediately slapped Zoro across the face. Zoro, who had been gasping for breath just a moment ago, instantly fainted.
He lay there resting quietly in an instant.
The originally furious Bounty Hunter Duo saw that it was Nami who had acted and quickly suppressed their own anger, not daring to say a single word.
On the other side, Chen Yu called out to Hawkeye, who was preparing to leave.
"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea — Dracule Mihawk," Chen Yu said with a firm expression, looking at Hawkeye with full seriousness.
"I also intend to challenge you!"
Hearing this, Hawkeye didn't take it seriously, only responding indifferently, "I've had my fill of fun today. I'm going back to sleep!"
Chen Yu was not surprised by this answer and immediately said, "You are Hawkeye Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, aren't you?"
"Are you afraid of losing to an unknown nobody like me?"
Chen Yu's words stunned everyone present!
It was already a stroke of luck that Hawkeye was willing to let Zoro off!
If Chen Yu provoked Hawkeye like this and lost, he would surely die!
Even Luffy was stunned!
Nami, on the other hand, was scared to tears. She knelt on the ground and said to Chen Yu in a state of collapse, "What are you doing, Chen Yu?"
"I'm begging you! Come back! You'll really die!"
Mid-sentence, Nami's tears fell like rain, her voice choked with sobs, and her delicate body trembled uncontrollably.
Having witnessed Hawkeye's power, even Nami, who had great confidence in Chen Yu, did not believe he could defeat Hawkeye.
Hearing this, the cigarette in Sanji's mouth fell to the ground, and the shock on his face could not subside for a long time!
He really couldn't understand the behavior of the Straw Hat crew. One after another... would taking a step back kill them?
Isn't life the most important thing?
Where there's life, there's hope, isn't there?
Everyone, including Hawkeye, did not understand why Chen Yu was doing this.
The members of the Straw Hat crew didn't think it was because Zoro had been defeated that Chen Yu wanted to stand up for him.
Even if it was to uphold the honor of the crew, it wasn't a sufficient reason!
The fact that Zoro survived would surely shock the world, and their crew would become famous across the four seas because of it!
Strictly speaking, Zoro had already won enough honor for the crew!
In the eyes of Nami and the others, Chen Yu was really strange today, completely unlike his usual calm self!
Luffy, however, wiped the smile off his face. He pressed the brim of his hat down low, then looked at Chen Yu with determined eyes and said seriously, "Do you need help?"
"No need, Captain. Go to Nami's side first!"
Upon hearing this, Luffy only nodded slightly without responding, stretched his arm, and flew back.
"Interesting!" This scene piqued Hawkeye's interest, but it didn't mean that today's matter was over!
Provoking the dignity of a pirate crew is no small matter! Even if that pirate crew consists of only one person!
---This was the choice Chen Yu had made after careful consideration.
He didn't know the gap in strength between himself and Hawkeye.
He knew that doing this might very likely lead to him being killed by Hawkeye.
He also knew that even if he didn't obtain the Haki cultivation method from Hawkeye, he could get it from Garp's ship at Water Seven, or from Rayleigh after reaching Sabaody Archipelago.
He could have avoided taking this risk entirely!
However, since transmigrating, he was truly happy! The time spent with Nami had been the happiest days of his two lives.
As the pressure from the future increased, Chen Yu became prone to overthinking.
In his previous life, he lived very plainly—plain grades, plain abilities, growing up plainly.
Even with such a plain life, he wasn't happy or fortunate.
It wasn't just pressure from society, but also pressure from his family.
Since he was a child, Chen Yu was required to do things he didn't like.
He went through elementary school, middle school, and high school reluctantly, and unwillingly chose a major he didn't like.
Even so, Chen Yu felt that there was still hope in life.
Besides, education was indeed important, and he believed his parents wouldn't harm him!
But after graduation, his family still insisted he choose the job he least wanted, simply because they thought it was stable!
In his past life, he had thought about ignoring his family and choosing a job he liked. But doing so would mean facing accusations of being immature from relatives and indirect persuasion from his parents... From then on, he had no expectations or yearnings for life, and no longer cared about the work he liked.
After all, what he liked didn't matter!
However, through a stroke of luck, he was hit and ended up here. Although he was a bit unwilling at first, since coming here, everything he did was what he liked, and he had met someone he liked. He was very satisfied and happy during this time!
Even if he had luckily won a large lottery prize before the car accident in his previous life, he wouldn't want to go back!
He knew without thinking how the lottery winnings would be distributed.
They would be used to buy two houses in the city where his family lived—one for him and one for his younger brother.
There wouldn't be much money left, which would be saved as a dowry for a future wife.
He wasn't that he was unwilling to share with his brother!
On the contrary, he had a great relationship with his brother and had no objection to buying him a house!
But even after buying the house for his brother, the remaining money wouldn't be for him to control.
He still wouldn't be able to choose a job he liked, spend the money on things he liked, or settle down in a city he liked.
So, ever since he truly accepted the Straw Hat crew as a group, he was genuinely happy in his heart.
And this seemed to be the first time he had made a decision entirely for himself!
Moreover, there was someone he liked on the ship!
He really wanted to protect all of this!
Therefore, the Haki cultivation method was indispensable!
The reason he took action today was because—what if Garp didn't have it on his ship?
Then he would have to wait until Sabaody Archipelago!
What if Luffy hit a Celestial Dragon again, and the one who came was Akainu?
What if Kuma didn't have time to save them?
Then he would lose this crew he loved so much and the person he loved most forever!
The more he thought, the more afraid he became!
If he succeeded today, everyone would be happy!
But if he failed, only he would die.
After his death, Nami would also be safe.
Because without his interference, Luffy would definitely inherit Joy Boy's will!
As long as Luffy inherited that will, Nami would certainly be safe!
If he were lucky enough not to die, then he could interfere, and he definitely would! He didn't care about any Joy Boy; as long as he was given a little time, he could burn through the heavens!
He only wanted Luffy to pursue his original dream in peace!
He only wanted everyone on the ship to achieve their ideals perfectly!
Besides, he didn't have anything he wanted to do himself anyway. Currently, he just wanted to protect Nami and this crew!
This could be considered fulfilling his previous thoughts; he would just treat it as being willful!Chapter 25: Chen Yu vs. Hawkeye (Part 1)
Hadn't he always been pursuing freedom?
Hadn't he always wanted to be willful for once?
Today was for the Straw Hat Crew, for himself, and even more so for the future!
Chen Yu's gaze became increasingly firm as he looked toward Hawkeye with a heart full of fighting intent.
In that case, come at me, Hawkeye!
"Hahahahaha!! Interesting! This is truly interesting!"
"No wonder Shanks likes to hang around the East Blue whenever he has nothing to do!"
Witnessing the change in Chen Yu's expression, Hawkeye suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"What a truly interesting bunch!"
"Kid! Tell me!"
"What exactly are you after?"
Hawkeye drew his long blade once more, twirled it into a sword flower, and looked at Chen Yu with a sharp gaze.
Chen Yu spoke calmly: "The Haki Circulation Method!"
At this moment, a look of obvious astonishment appeared on Hawkeye's face.
The fact that someone in the East Blue, the weakest of the seas, could awaken Haki on their own had already made him look at them in a new light.
But he even knew about the Haki Circulation Method?
One must know that because of Garp's sweeps, no decent pirates had emerged from the East Blue for many years!
"Could it be that Red Hair guy?" Hawkeye's sharp gaze turned toward Luffy as he murmured.
"No, that doesn't seem like that guy's personality." Seeing that he couldn't figure it out, Hawkeye stopped dwelling on it.
He planned to enjoy himself to the fullest today!
If this kid before him could satisfy him, then what would be the harm in granting his wish? He could also consider it a favor to Shanks and use it as an excuse to demand a few jars of good wine later! Let's see how he refuses then!
If not, then this kid would have to pay the price for his ignorance and recklessness!
With this thought, the way Hawkeye looked at Chen Yu changed once again. The onlookers felt as if their skin was being sliced by blades the moment they saw that gaze.
Luffy, meanwhile, looked at Chen Yu with a solemn expression. At the same time, he tightly pulled Nami back with both hands, preventing her from entering the combat range.
Chen Yu acted decisively!
With a phantom grip of his right hand, boundless appeared!
Dueling Hawkeye was different from others; Hawkeye surpassed him in both strength and speed. Naturally, he wouldn't be like a fool and reveal his power step by step!
He would strike with everything he had!
Gripping boundless, Chen Yu bent his legs and leaned his body slightly forward.
Boom!
Chen Yu's legs erupted with power instantly, and his entire being shot forward like a cannonball!
The floorboards beneath his feet collapsed instantly, and the surrounding wood cracked inch by inch like a spiderweb.
And this was all just to achieve a higher initial velocity!
Then, his lower body underwent Elementalization, pushing his speed to a whole new level.
Condensing the Haki within his body onto boundless, he twisted his waist and combined it with the power of his arms to deliver a fierce slash toward Hawkeye!
Clang!
The sound of clashing metal echoed through the sky.
There was no exaggerated splitting of the heavens.
However, a shockwave erupted instantly with the two of them as the center, forcing the many chefs of the Baratie to retreat one after another!
The only ones who remained motionless, besides the Straw Hat Crew, were Zeff and Sanji.
"This crew is not simple!" Zeff glanced at Chen Yu, who was confronting Hawkeye, then turned to look at the Straw Hat Crew and remarked with emotion.
Sanji, standing nearby, also nodded in deep agreement.
Then, with a thoughtful expression, he took out another cigarette, lit it, inhaled, and exhaled.
"Impressive explosive power and judgment!" Hawkeye praised.
Chen Yu remained silent. He wasn't there to exchange pointers on swordsmanship with Hawkeye, so he would use every means at his disposal!
Seeing that Hawkeye was about to exert force, Chen Yu instantly underwent Elementalization, his body rapidly retreating until he stopped in mid-air, far from the Baratie.
Hawkeye: "Basic Slash!"
Hearing Hawkeye's move name, Chen Yu's eye twitched: "Heaven-Breaking Round Dance Slash!"
The two techniques shot out simultaneously as they swung their swords!
The former was a genuine flying slash.
The latter was an application of his Devil Fruit Ability—a high-speed rotating ring of fire. However, this fire ring was visibly divided into three layers.
The innermost layer was a terrifying crimson and was the widest.
The middle layer was a red-orange gradient, slightly narrower.
The outermost layer was an orange-yellow gradient, the narrowest of all.
When the two techniques collided, they didn't just crash and determine a winner as the crowd expected.
Outside the three layers of the Heaven-Breaking Round Dance Slash that collided with Hawkeye's slash, there was a fourth layer! A pale yellow, transparent layer that was almost invisible to the naked eye.
This layer was where the true horror of Chen Yu's move lay!
Attentive observers could definitely see that the space around the Heaven-Breaking Round Dance Slash appeared distorted, and the distortion was most severe where that outermost transparent layer was!
This was a thermal layer generated by high-speed rotation and complete combustion; its heat could incinerate the heavens, and its sharpness could cleave mountains! It was simply terrifying.
And until the fire inside was exhausted, the outermost layer would never disappear!
This fearsome move dissipated simultaneously with Hawkeye's slash a few moments after impact, and the energy released by the dissipation instantly whipped up wild winds and massive waves, expanding outward from the point of eruption.
Looking down from above, one could see a circular tsunami spreading outward!
Whew!
"Trading a finishing move for a basic attack, huh!" Chen Yu exhaled a breath of turbid air and murmured.
"A very beautiful move!" Seeing this, Hawkeye couldn't help but remark in admiration.
Even if he had only used a basic attack, how many people in this world could actually block one of his basic attacks?
Let alone a young boy of the younger generation!
"Bring it on!" Hawkeye set aside his playful heart, and his fighting intent suddenly erupted!
"Be careful!" Seeing Hawkeye showing him such respect made Chen Yu feel a bit apprehensive inside, but his tone remained serious!
Up until just now, everything that had happened was more or less within Chen Yu's expectations.
Including Hawkeye's previous reactions.
But he never expected that Hawkeye would get this serious so soon??
This was practically a death sentence!
The optimal solution now was to not let Hawkeye take the initiative to attack, but to bombard him until he was satisfied!
Otherwise, he wasn't sure if he could block an active strike from Hawkeye. If he couldn't block it and ended up dodging, would it make this uncle unhappy or unsatisfied? Right in front of Hawkeye, Chen Yu gradually rose into the air.
He decided to go for a saturation strike!
He could bombard with attacks not infused with Haki for a long time, but if he added Haki, he could only manage one shot at most.
With the meager amount of Haki he possessed, being able to fire one shot was already a testament to his great physical health!
Stepping on air—no, stepping on flames—Chen Yu halted in mid-air, his hands forming sword fingers, and the fire dragons on his fingers appeared once more.
At the same time, a dense, dazzling array of flaming flying swords instantly condensed above Chen Yu's head, and these swords were still continuously solidifying.
To satisfy Hawkeye, he had to continuously compress the flames; only by compressing them to the extreme would it be safe!
A few breaths later, the sky above the Baratie had been dyed orange-red, with scalp-numbing flaming flying swords hanging over everyone's heads.
This time, it wasn't just the chefs who were shocked; even the members of the Straw Hat Crew were left dumbfounded. They had never seen this move before!
By now, Nami's emotions had completely settled. She no longer tried to rush onto the field; she only gazed in Chen Yu's direction with eyes full of worry, constantly praying for him in her heart.
"Rain Curtain!"
A loud voice echoed through the world.
What followed were streaks of fire charging toward Hawkeye.
These long lines of fire were merely the trailing flames left behind by the rapidly moving flying swords, but the scene was incredibly spectacular!
Countless flying swords trailing fire made it look as if a hole had been torn in the sky, with countless raindrops pouring down, heading straight for Hawkeye!
"Remarkable! Truly remarkable! Even if it relies on a Devil Fruit Ability!" Hawkeye assumed a charging stance and said with a tone of affirmation.
This move would be explosive enough even in the New World!
Even if it couldn't do anything to a true Haki expert, this move looked cool!
Moreover, if this move were to erupt in the territory of the Four Emperors, none of the current Four Emperors would be able to stop it!
Having finished charging, Hawkeye's expression focused, and then an equally countless number of flying slashes flew out!
Hawkeye, holding his blade with both hands, was swinging at a speed that was invisible to the naked eye of an ordinary person!
Every time he swung his blade, it was accompanied by a small flying slash.
The continuously moving black blade yoru kept creating sword flowers in mid-air; from a distance, it looked like a constantly changing Black-Gold Imperial Chrysanthemum!
Terrifying! Simply terrifying!
This Shichibukai's strength is a bit off the charts!
Chen Yu's move just now hadn't shocked the newly awakened Zoro too much, but this wave of wholesale flying slashes from Hawkeye dealt him a heavy blow!
He gripped his sword hilts deathly tight, but his gaze became increasingly fervent!