Chapter Eleven: Scenting the Aroma of Inspiration

What were the Navy doing on Red Snapper Island?

Could it be...

The Celestial Dragons?!

Chu Yi’s pupils contracted slightly. His fists clenched, and even his breath grew heavy. Clearly, after deducing that these marines might have been sent by the Celestial Dragons to capture them, Chu Yi began to worry about Tiger and Hancock, who were in the doubled gravity zone.

But then, with a second thought, Chu Yi slowly relaxed his fists.

“Unless the Navy sent an admiral-level force, there’s no way they could easily take down Tiger, who’s already back at his peak. Judging by their appearance, these marines all look quite young. Even their tall, slender leader in a black suit is not very old. If they think they can quietly apprehend Tiger or Hancock, who has awakened her Conqueror’s Haki, it’s just impossible.”

“So... do they have another purpose?”

As this idea struck him, Chu Yi’s face flushed, and his heartbeat quickened.

He remembered that not long ago, while he and Hancock spent time at the shore, Tiger had gone to explore Red Snapper Island once more, trying to test his own limits. Tiger hadn’t said much about what he’d found, but from the few words he let slip, Chu Yi surmised that the little island harbored some great secret.

Now, with several marines heading there, wasn’t this indirect confirmation of Chu Yi’s suspicion?

The thought that something hidden on Red Snapper Island was valuable enough to attract even the Navy made Chu Yi’s excitement impossible to contain.

Why?

Because Chu Yi desperately needed material for a second awakening!

With his first awakening and half a month’s training, Chu Yi had transformed from a weakling into a formidable figure in the pirate world. If he could find the perfect material for a second awakening and push his fruit ability to its limits, he couldn’t even imagine how strong he’d become.

Unfortunately, everything in the system shop was far too expensive!

Even the most basic bronze material suitable for a second awakening cost millions of Berries. Where was Chu Yi supposed to find that kind of money? His entire net worth barely amounted to a few hundred thousand Berries!

But...

If he could discover the treasure hidden on Red Snapper Island—or obtain some material from these marines—

“Well, if I smell the scent of material, how could I let it slip away?”

“Navy, oh Navy! My second awakening depends on you!”

With that thought, Chu Yi didn’t hesitate. He activated his Devil Fruit power.

Boom!

The instant his ability awakened, dark red lines spread from the center of his brow, where his purple vertical pupil emerged, and quickly covered his entire body. In just seconds, Chu Yi transformed into an Asura once more, his power surging.

Feeling the strength growing within him, Chu Yi estimated that his physical attributes increased at least tenfold when he activated his fruit ability. His confidence soared. With his Asura form, his physique was now that of a man in his twenties.

Now, even if these marines truly were sent by the Celestial Dragons to capture him, Chu Yi no longer feared exposing himself. After quickly familiarizing himself with his new strength and regaining control, he dashed off in pursuit. Once he caught up to the marines, he followed at a steady, unobtrusive distance.

Chu Yi believed his tracking skills were good—maintaining a safe distance, leaving the marines unaware of his presence. But those dispatched to such a secretive mission on Red Snapper Island could hardly be considered incompetent.

Each member of this marine squad was an elite among recruits. Their leader, though young, had shown great promise four years ago and was now a rising star fiercely cultivated by the Navy.

Almost the moment Chu Yi transformed into Asura and his aura leaked out, the leader noticed. But with only a curious glance over his shoulder, he ignored the shadowing Chu Yi, leading his squad onward. When Chu Yi had trailed them for about six hundred meters, a marine with a longsword at his waist spoke in a voice only his comrades could hear, “Pigeon, someone’s following us.”

Six hundred meters, and only now do you notice? thought Pigeon, casting a cold, disdainful look at the speaker. “Hammock, my orders are to deal with the monster. The rest isn’t my concern. Settle it yourselves.”

With that, Pigeon ignored the angry glares from his companions and continued forward.

Hammock glared at Pigeon for a moment, then snorted. “Johnny, Muir, you two lead the team and follow Pigeon to deal with the monster. I need to vent a bit—the one tailing us…”

“He’s the perfect target!”

As soon as the words left his lips, Hammock’s figure flickered and he vanished.

Muir, whose face was marked by a ghastly scar, exchanged a smile with the slightly frail Johnny. They showed no concern at all for Hammock and led the rest of the marines after Pigeon.

“To think someone actually dared to tail us. How reckless—every one of us here is an elite in this marine assessment!”

“But that poor fellow, to be targeted by Major Hammock… he’s in for it.”

Meanwhile, on Chu Yi’s side—

“So, I’ve been discovered,” he chuckled wryly, noticing one marine had dropped out of the group. He admitted to himself that, lacking stealth and professional tracking training, there was indeed a gap between him and these well-trained marines.

Still, Chu Yi hadn’t expected that only one marine would break off to deal with him.

His gaze sharpened as Hammock, with his longsword at his waist, appeared before him. The self-mocking smile faded as Chu Yi focused, sensing from his opponent’s aura alone that he was a formidable foe.

As Chu Yi watched Hammock, pondering how to quickly dispatch him and not lose track of the main marine squad, his battle instincts suddenly flared. He dodged sideways just in time as a cold flash of steel slashed through the spot where he’d just stood.

If he hadn’t moved, he’d already be dead under Hammock’s blade.

Yet Hammock, missing his first strike, showed no anger.

Prey was always more interesting when it had some strength.

In a flash, Hammock reversed his grip on his blade, ready to press the attack.

But just as Hammock’s sword was about to cut into Chu Yi’s chest, a sudden sense of danger struck him. Hammock’s eyes narrowed, and he prepared to leap back.

Yet, as he retreated, a blood-red shadow, like living flame, suddenly appeared behind him and wrapped him in its embrace.

The roles had reversed.

The prey, Chu Yi, had become the hunter.

“So, I sensed the scent of material,” Chu Yi murmured, “and it was on you all along!”