Chapter 113: Susanoo

A punch struck!

Zephyr’s arm, hardened by Armament Haki, manifested a phantom image of a Qilin as it collided head-on with the "Shinra Tensei"—a technique capable of shattering space itself. The sheer impact stunned Chu Yi!

For a split second... his mind went blank!

Chu Yi could not even discern if the appearance of the Qilin phantom was a result of Zephyr’s "Qilin Arm" before a deafening "boom" echoed through the air. The "Shinra Tensei," a technique that only Whitebeard could withstand using the power of the Trem-Trem Fruit, was simply obliterated under Zephyr’s iron fist!

"Teacher Zephyr, you always say you’re getting old, but now it seems..."

"You were lying the whole time!"

Meanwhile, Chu Yi was not the only one shocked; Zephyr’s student, the future Admiral Kizaru, was equally stunned. When he traveled the four seas with Zephyr in his youth, he rarely saw his master strike. Yet, whenever Zephyr did act, the result always left Kizaru as awestruck as he was now.

In all his time watching Zephyr engage enemies, Kizaru had never once seen him throw a second punch!

Even now, Chu Yi’s "Shinra Tensei," with its latent power to shatter space, would certainly have troubled Kizaru. After all, that technique contained a hint of "Void Energy," which could not be evaded simply by using the "elementalization" of his Devil Fruit. To block it head-on would have required significant effort from Kizaru.

But Zephyr was different.

One punch was all it took!

Furthermore, after shattering Chu Yi’s "Shinra Tensei" with that single blow, Zephyr’s assault did not falter for an instant.

The next second...

*Whoosh!*

The Six Powers!

*Soru!*

In an instant, trailing a series of afterimages, Zephyr arrived right before Chu Yi. Taking advantage of the gap while Chu Yi’s mind was still reeling, he threw another punch!

"Kid, you’re truly too naive. Didn’t your teacher ever teach you..."

"That you should never lose focus during a fight, no matter what you see?"

*Boom!*

Accustomed to his role as a teacher, Zephyr enjoyed offering a few pointers even in the heat of battle. Of course, this was not a flaw in his character, but rather a sign that he held the victory in his grasp. Only when he had absolute confidence in defeating his opponent would Zephyr turn into a chatterbox full of lessons. If he were facing enemies like Whitebeard or Rayleigh, he would undoubtedly remain silent and focus entirely on the fight.

However, just as Zephyr unleashed his punch, his jet-black, Haki-hardened fist accompanied once more by the roar of a Qilin...

*Hum!*

Deep within the Asura Pupils, a third ripple faintly emerged, suddenly glowing with a brilliant purple light.

Under the eerie purple illumination, the distracting thoughts that had filled Chu Yi’s blank mind vanished completely. His pupils constricted, and he swiftly transformed his fist into a palm, bracing himself to intercept Zephyr’s strike!

*CRASH!*

Fist met palm, and a thunderous roar erupted!

At that moment, as their powers collided, the force radiating from their bodies caused the entire island to tremble. Kizaru, being closer to the fray, hurriedly utilized the elementalization of his Glint-Glint Fruit to avoid being swept away by the shockwaves.

From a distance, the three top-tier powerhouses of the seas—Whitebeard, Aokiji, and Akainu—felt the terrifying collision of power and, in unison, ceased their own skirmishes to look toward the direction of Chu Yi and Zephyr.

Then, as the surrounding energy began to dissipate, *thump, thump, thump*...

Chu Yi, who had blocked the "Qilin Arm" strike with his palm, staggered back several steps before finally steadying himself. But as he did...

*Cough!*

Bright red blood sprayed from his lips. Having merely blocked a single blow from Zephyr, Chu Yi had already suffered a heavy injury!

"How embarrassing," Chu Yi said, wiping the blood from his mouth. A curve formed on his lips—part self-deprecation, part excitement. "After fighting your student, I thought the Navy’s top combatants were nothing special. I didn’t expect that even when I fought you at my absolute peak, your fist..."

"Still managed to hurt me!"

"If you underestimate the Navy, you pay the price!" Zephyr paused, recalling the sturdiness of Chu Yi’s palm. He clenched his fist and continued, "But kid, there are very few in the four seas who can take a punch from me. That you can do so at such a young age shows a bit of the Chris family’s spirit. It’s a shame you ran into me, so don’t blame me for..."

"Staining my hands with the blood of the Chris family once more!"

"Your family... should have vanished from this world long ago!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he used the Six Powers’ *Soru* again. It was clear that after learning Chu Yi’s true identity, Zephyr had no intention of taking him prisoner; he intended to kill him right here.

And Chu Yi?

As Zephyr’s indifferent words reached him, it felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his mind!

"Was that what Zephyr meant just now...?"

"Is it possible that my predecessor's family was wiped out by the Navy?"

"Is that why I ended up in the hands of the Celestial Dragons after I transmigrated? Becoming... their plaything!"

"If that’s the case... Hmph!"

"Zephyr, we are truly irreconcilable enemies!"

The smile on his lips twisted into a cold sneer. Upon realizing that Zephyr might be the one responsible for the tragic fate of his predecessor, Chu Yi felt the blood in his veins rush to his head. In the parlance of his past life, he was "seeing red." To put it more simply...

Chu Yi was truly furious!

There are two states for an angry man. One is a complete loss of reason, but for Chu Yi, who had become an Asura, such a state was impossible.

And the second?

Without a doubt, it was to become stronger, erupting with power that transcended his own limits!

Chu Yi... had entered exactly that second state due to his rage!

So, as Zephyr used *Soru* once more, closing the distance and preparing to land a punch accompanied by the Qilin phantom directly into Chu Yi’s chest...

"Hah!"

With a sudden, low shout, the black markings on his body gradually faded, and the blood mist formed by the six Asura arms vanished instantly.

Following that shout, Chu Yi merely lifted his head, his eyes locking with Zephyr’s murderous gaze.

Just as Zephyr threw his punch...

*Snap!*

Chu Yi suddenly raised his hand and caught Zephyr’s fist!

This time, he did not retreat a single inch!

And as he forcefully held onto the iron fist that could shatter everything, a blood-red aura surged from behind him, weaving together to gradually manifest stark, ghastly white bones!

"Awaken!"

"My..."

"Asura Susanoo!"