Chapter Thirty-Four: The Ends of the Earth, Close at Hand
“Luchi, you...” Luchi’s calm voice came through, and Smaug’s eyes suddenly widened, his face a mask of utter disbelief.
Indeed.
At this very moment, the atmosphere on Dark Island was strange, as if...
Almost everyone remaining on Dark Island had no intention of waiting for their lifesaver; the thought of escaping the island was buried deep in their hearts!
Except for a handful—people like Mihawk, Tiger, Jinbei, and Gecko Moria—who still held a flicker of hope for Chu Yi, believing he might return from the Void Rift. Whether they were members of the “Heaven-Slaying” pirate crew or allies of Gecko Moria, they had essentially accepted that Chu Yi had perished within the Void Rift.
They felt...
There was no need to linger on such a perilous island, risking their lives waiting for someone already dead!
During these several days of waiting for Chu Yi, Smaug’s emotions were equally complex.
He was Chu Yi’s captive, walking a path entirely different from Chu Yi and the others, because Smaug was a Navy officer committed to upholding justice!
So, during the silent wait, besides feeling indebted for Chu Yi’s life-saving act and thus not considering escape, another reason Smaug didn’t attempt to flee was that he truly wanted to confront Chu Yi honorably once—to settle the fear he held toward Chu Yi and Shura in his heart!
But had the thought of escape never crossed his mind?
Upon honest reflection...
Smaug had often contemplated escape, because no one wished to remain a captive, especially a Navy man, amidst a group of countless pirates!
Yet at this moment, when Luchi first suggested escape, Smaug hesitated.
Why?
He kept questioning himself—why hesitate?
Luchi was right; this was indeed a golden opportunity.
Ever since they were rescued from the Void Rift by Chu Yi, the eerie atmosphere on Dark Island had vanished. Anyone, even ordinary people, could easily leave the island now. Moreover, there was no longer any fear of strange Void Rifts threatening their lives on this bizarre island.
And more importantly...
Chu Yi was absent!
Shura was absent! This was the best chance to escape!
So why...
Why was I so unwilling to seize it?
He questioned himself repeatedly, denying the urge to seize the chance and flee to freedom. After a deep breath, Smaug finally understood the cause of his hesitation. His gaze slowly settled on Luchi, and a faint, bitter smile curled the corner of his mouth.
“Luchi, do you truly want to live your whole life under Shura’s shadow?”
“What do you mean?” Luchi frowned, countering.
“Nothing much, just that fleeing like this feels disgraceful.”
Before Luchi finished his question, Smaug already grasped the sentiment in his own heart. As he made his decision, he spoke slowly:
“As a captive of Shura, sneaking away while he’s not here would be a stain on my life. Besides, when we faced danger, it was Shura who didn’t abandon us, allowing us to survive. So...”
“Unless I can defeat Shura or repay the life debt he owes me, only then can I hold my head high and shed the label of captive!”
“To run away in such a shameful manner...”
“Sorry, Luchi, I just can’t!”
Having said that, Smaug closed his eyes slowly, making it clear: if you want to escape, Luchi, I can pretend I didn’t see it.
But if you want to drag me along...
I can only apologize!
Understanding Smaug’s meaning, a scornful sneer spread across Luchi’s face.
What time is it now?
You still cling to that ridiculous sense of dignity?
Ha, perhaps that’s where you and I differ, Smaug!
When opportunity comes knocking, I, Luchi...
Will never let it slip away!
With that thought, Luchi narrowed his eyes slightly. Seizing the moment when Mihawk, Jinbei, Tiger, and the others were distracted, not paying attention to him...
“Whoosh!”
Navy Six Styles!
Razor!
Undoubtedly, while Mihawk, Tiger, and the others anxiously awaited Chu Yi’s return, their focus was solely on those strangers saved by Chu Yi. They paid little attention to Luchi, Smaug, Moria’s allies, or the “Heaven-Slaying” pirate crew’s fishman crew.
Otherwise...
How could Mihawk, Tiger, and others—renowned figures in the pirate world—fail to notice the undercurrents beneath the calm surface of Dark Island?
Otherwise...
How could Luchi suddenly employ the Navy Six Styles’ “Razor” and escape right under Mihawk and the others’ noses?
Of course...
If Mihawk and the others truly intended to stop Luchi, he wouldn’t have escaped merely by mastering the Navy Six Styles “Razor.”
Fishmen like Tiger and Jinbei, skilled in Fishman Karate but less adept at pursuit and lacking body techniques to increase speed, would find chasing escaping Luchi difficult. But Mihawk and Moria—one a master swordsman, the other a formidable Devil Fruit user—could easily intercept Luchi if they chose to.
Yet, watching Luchi’s fleeing figure...
“Hmph!”
Mihawk snorted coldly, not even bothering to open his eyes to watch Luchi, as if Luchi didn’t even merit a chase.
Seeing Mihawk remain unmoved, Moria naturally didn’t intervene in the “Heaven-Slaying” pirate crew’s internal affairs.
And so...
Luchi escaped smoothly, unobstructed, encountering no mishaps.
His escape lasted an entire day.
A day was more than enough time for someone of Luchi’s strength to reach the ends of the earth.
Therefore, after fleeing for a day and finding no pursuers behind him, a confident smile gradually appeared on Luchi’s face. He was now more certain than ever that he could use this chance to break free from the fate of being Chu Yi’s captive.
What Luchi never expected was...
On the second day of his flight, a strange aura slowly emerged, and a voice he would never forget suddenly echoed in his ears!
“Luchi, do you think you’ve escaped smoothly?”
“No!”
“Because even if you flee to the ends of the earth, in my eyes...”
“You’re still no more than a stone’s throw away!”
The cold voice drifted in, causing Luchi’s pupils to contract sharply!
Then...
“Buzz!”
Along with that eerie presence, Luchi’s vision went black. When his sight slowly returned, what came into view was...
Smaug’s utterly stunned face!
“I... I’ve been caught and brought back?!”