Chapter 103: The Shining Fruit
Clowns… Could it be? It seems their lineup is actually stronger than ours!
Just as Chu Yi and Whitebeard finished their exchange and prepared to converse, the navy’s ambush suddenly appeared. Despite their cooperation, swiftly obliterating every naval warship, when the last vessel was destroyed, a surge of formidable aura rose abruptly, causing Chu Yi’s eye to twitch involuntarily.
For at the very moment all naval warships were reduced to ruins…
Boom!
Three towering beams of light shot into the sky. First, a scorching wave surged forth, targeting Chu Yi, who had just destroyed a warship with “Divine Push.” Next, a dazzling golden radiance reached Whitebeard, who had demolished eight ships with a single blow.
Following that…
Crystalline frost spread across the sea, rescuing the elite navy soldiers who had plunged into the waters after their fleet was annihilated.
These three Devil Fruit powers—Magma, Light, and Ice—could only belong to the Magma Fruit, the Glint-Glint Fruit, and the Ice-Ice Fruit.
“The future three Admirals have actually struck together. Sengoku… You truly regard me highly!”
He murmured inwardly, and soon, with their respective powers, Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu—the future Admirals—appeared like specters, standing a mere twenty meters from Chu Yi and Whitebeard.
“Well… Those moves just now were impressive! Shura, you seem even more troublesome than last time!”
Kizaru appeared as his usual nonchalant self, his gaze first resting on Chu Yi before moving slowly to Whitebeard.
“Whitebeard, long time no see!”
“Hmph. I wondered who it was; turns out it’s you, brat.”
Whitebeard’s eyes swept over Kizaru, Aokiji, and Akainu, and he snorted coldly: “Where are Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr? They aren’t coming, just sending you three brats? You think you can win?”
“Winning is one thing; completing the mission is another,” replied Aokiji, who since appearing hadn’t taken his eyes off Chu Yi. He spoke lazily, not even glancing at Whitebeard: “Sengoku said, if we don’t bring you, Shura, back this time, then there’s no point in us returning at all. So… no matter who stands beside you, Shura, prepare yourself mentally to return to Marine Headquarters and have a talk with Fleet Admiral Sengoku.”
“Because this time…”
“I’m going to get serious!”
Crack!
No one expected the first to strike would not be the hot-tempered Akainu, but the notoriously lazy Aokiji, who was known for slacking even during missions!
However, Chu Yi could understand Aokiji’s motivation. After all…
The “Sabaody Archipelago Incident” happened right under Aokiji's nose!
Tracing back, it was from Aokiji that Chu Yi first escaped, and every subsequent major event was linked to Aokiji failing to capture him at the crucial moment.
Therefore, if one were to ask who most wanted to bring Chu Yi back, the zealously righteous Akainu would be first, and Aokiji second.
Thus, before they could exchange more than a few words, Aokiji suddenly unleashed his Devil Fruit power!
Ice-Ice Fruit!
Frozen Moment!
Whoosh!
The blue icy aura surged from Aokiji toward Chu Yi’s position. In this first round, Aokiji, who hadn’t fought Chu Yi in ages, intended to quickly settle him, so that the three Admirals could then focus on Whitebeard, at least severely injuring him if not capturing him.
Yet…
How long had it been since Chu Yi and Aokiji last met? How much had Chu Yi advanced in that time? Aokiji had no idea!
Three days apart and one must look anew.
Chu Yi had endured three days of grueling training on Fishman Island and could now barely stand against Whitebeard. Having been separated from Aokiji for so long, how could he possibly be restrained as before by a mere “Frozen Moment”?
Thus, when Aokiji’s “Frozen Moment” was unleashed and the icy aura was about to envelop Chu Yi…
Crack! Crack!
The same “Frozen Moment”!
With a cold smile, Chu Yi activated the Ice-Ice Fruit’s power, matching Aokiji’s attack evenly!
At that moment, as Aokiji was shocked that Chu Yi could wield the Ice-Ice Fruit’s abilities…
Boom!
Scorching magma shot skyward!
Accompanied by a torrid aura, Akainu’s figure sped toward them with “Soru”—but his target was not Chu Yi…
It was Whitebeard!
“Hm? Sengoku’s orders weren’t just to capture me, but more importantly…”
“My companion, Whitebeard?”
With his Observation Haki, Chu Yi clearly sensed that aside from Aokiji, Akainu and Kizaru’s main focus was Whitebeard. Chu Yi raised his brows, speculating on Fleet Admiral Sengoku’s plan, the cold smile at his lips growing deeper.
The current Whitebeard was not the Whitebeard of the “Summit War.” Nor were the Admirals at their peak as in that era.
Back then, Whitebeard was aged, and Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji were in their prime. In that time, Whitebeard would inevitably fall behind when facing three Admirals, for even the strongest cannot withstand the ravages of time.
But now…
Hmph!
A cold snort, and Conqueror’s Haki radiated outward!
With mastery of his Haki, Whitebeard first suppressed Akainu, then gripped his naginata and slashed toward Kizaru!
Crack… crack…
It was not the sound of frost spreading, but of space fracturing!
With a single stroke, his naginata, wrapped in terrifying Armament Haki and the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, brought the blade's gleam to Kizaru in the blink of an eye, forcing him to flee with the Glint-Glint Fruit’s ability.
When Kizaru, unable to withstand Whitebeard’s blow, became pure golden light and vanished, Whitebeard slowly clenched his left fist and struck with a resounding boom!
Fist against fist!
Whitebeard’s fist, bathed in brilliant white light, collided head-on with Akainu’s magma-covered fist.
The result…
Akainu was sent flying, and Whitebeard pressed his advantage!
Power…
Or perhaps, invincibility!
Though Whitebeard’s strength had been diminished by Chu Yi’s Void powers during their earlier duel, now faced with the future Admirals, his two strikes perfectly suppressed both Kizaru and Akainu—two full Admiral-level opponents.
Such fearsome might left Chu Yi utterly astonished!
Yet Whitebeard’s true aim was not merely to overpower Akainu and Kizaru—it was to deal with Aokiji as well, whose gaze had never left Chu Yi.
No wonder…
Whitebeard called Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji mere clowns.
It turned out his own power alone could dash the future Admirals’ hopes of victory!
Still, the three Admirals were formidable, and Whitebeard had expended energy in his duel with Chu Yi, so it was only natural he couldn’t fully account for each of them.
So, as Whitebeard sent Akainu flying and then swung his fist at Aokiji…
Whoosh!
The golden light of Kizaru, who had earlier used his fruit’s power, suddenly appeared behind Chu Yi!
“Shura, have you ever been… kicked at the speed of light?”
His voice echoed in Chu Yi’s ears, followed by a sudden bang!
Light-Speed Kick!
His leg transformed entirely into golden light.
Kizaru’s “Light-Speed Kick” was legendary in the pirate chronicles; the entire generation of Supernovas fell beneath its power!
Its most difficult aspect to defend against was its speed.
Its power, truthfully, sufficed against lesser foes, but against someone like Chu Yi, it was far from enough.
Yet as Kizaru’s Light-Speed Kick came, Chu Yi—though he could have used the Shura Golem to defend—chose not to. Instead, he relied on Observation Haki, seeking to dodge Kizaru’s attack.
Why?
Wasn’t it obvious?
The system’s awakening material quest had been issued!
“Evade Kizaru’s attacks twenty times in a row?”
“Hm… Another challenging awakening material quest.”
“But… I like it!”