Chapter 25: Go Mad with Me Once

Silence…
A deathly silence!
Even an esteemed Fleet Admiral of the Navy, Sengoku, would have to lower himself before a Celestial Dragon. So when Chu Yi appeared before the Celestial Dragon with a “Shave,” looking down on them with arrogance, the commoners on either side of the street stared at him in terror, not even daring to breathe.
It wasn’t until Chu Yi’s indifferent voice echoed through the silent street—one made somber by the presence of the Celestial Dragons—that the sound of gasps finally returned.
But no one could have predicted what happened next: the man who dared to defy the Celestial Dragon actually slew one in the very next instant, right there in the street!
Was this some kind of joke?
Public execution was the game of the Celestial Dragons—when had ordinary people ever been able to kill a Celestial Dragon in broad daylight?
Yet the shock of seeing Chu Yi slaughter the Celestial Dragon in the street lasted only a few seconds.
For soon after, his bold proclamation was drowned out by a chorus of shrieks and cries of alarm.
“Someone’s been killed!”
“The Celestial Dragon is dead—run for your lives!”
“We have to get out of here! Soon, the wrath of the Celestial Dragons will fall on this place!”
Chaos erupted around him. Chu Yi ignored the fleeing crowds and the corpse of the Celestial Dragon he’d just dispatched. His gaze fell only on the slave before him. With a wave of his hand and a “Universal Pull,” he removed the slave collar from the man’s neck and said quietly,
“You are free now.”
But what angered Chu Yi was that after being freed, the man did not run or even thank him. Instead, he instinctively attacked Chu Yi.
What did this mean?
It meant the slave before him was broken, beyond salvation.
He truly saw the Celestial Dragon as his master, and now that his master was dead, he felt compelled to avenge him.
Chu Yi’s eyes grew cold. As the slave launched his futile attack, Chu Yi pressed his palms together.
“Gravity Field!”
With a thunderous crash, a hundredfold gravity crushed everything in its range. The attacking slave and the Celestial Dragon’s remaining henchmen nearby were all mercilessly pulped beneath Chu Yi’s power.
He inhaled deeply, savoring the coppery scent of blood, and finally his mood improved.
Yet even so, his heart was troubled. He couldn’t help but wonder if Hancock and Tiger would, like the slave, see him differently the next time they met.

With a sense of unease, Chu Yi walked slowly, step by step, back to Hancock and Tiger.
Just then…
“Kid, well done! I’ve wanted to do that for ages but never had the guts. Never thought you had it in you! Hm… you’ve got spirit!”
“Chu Yi… you… you’re amazing!”
Seeing Hancock’s eyes shining with admiration and Tiger giving him a hearty thumbs-up, Chu Yi smiled from the heart. The burden he’d felt vanished entirely.
As for Rob Lucci…
The man looked at Chu Yi as if he were a monster. After a long silence, he muttered, “You’re bold, but… do you realize the consequences?”
“Of course I do.”
Chu Yi gave a cold laugh. “It’s not just a matter of killing a Celestial Dragon—even if one were only struck, a Navy Admiral would be dispatched to Sabaody Archipelago to deal with me. But so what? Even if an Admiral comes, I’ve found my dignity, while they, as Admirals, have none.”
“So I don’t regret what I’ve done. Even if I had ten thousand more chances, if someone deserved to die, I’d kill them every time!”
Then, turning to Tiger with a smile, Chu Yi said, “To be honest, I’m not satisfied yet. Thinking of those Celestial Dragon scum still fills me with rage.”
“To burn off this anger… Tiger, will you go wild with me one more time?”
“Yes!”
Without hesitation, Tiger nodded, his blood boiling. “I’m not satisfied either. Let’s go wild together!”
“Me too! Me too!”
Afraid of being left behind, Hancock rushed forward to hug Chu Yi’s shoulder, resting her head gently against him and laughing. “Never leave me behind, alright, Chu Yi?”
“Mm!”
Chu Yi nodded firmly, glancing from Hancock to Tiger, then, with the still-stunned Lucci in tow, hurried off down the street toward their next target.
With a beauty at his side and a kindred companion, what had they to fear?
Let their madness run free!

———

Sabaody Archipelago Park.

The tourists had lost all desire for amusement. The ever-crowded Sabaody Archipelago was now deserted, all because a reckless soul had dared to kill a Celestial Dragon in broad daylight.
But at that moment, on the empty street, while the frantic citizens hid in their homes, two young men still lingered as if savoring Chu Yi’s heroic deed.

They…
Had been here all along!
When the Celestial Dragons arrived, to avoid trouble, they hadn’t knelt on the roadside like the others, but even so, they’d sat cross-legged, blending in with the crowd and keeping a low profile.
But after Chu Yi slew the Celestial Dragon and prepared to rampage again with Tiger and Hancock, the two did not leave. Instead, they sat there, lost in silent contemplation.
Were the Celestial Dragons truly so exalted?
If their authority always pressed down upon you, wouldn’t the freedom you sought at sea be nothing but an illusion?
What meaning would there be in setting sail?
As he turned the question over in his mind, the burly black-haired man felt deeply confused. Soon his gaze fell on the red-haired man beside him, who kept his straw hat pulled low.
“Shanks, what do you think of what just happened?” he asked quietly.

“What do I think?”
The future “Emperor of the Sea,” now just carving out his own path, Red-Haired Shanks, looked at his trusted companion and replied with a smile, “Beckman, what do you think?”
“I’m starting to question my life!”
With a sigh, the man who, in the original story, would drive Admiral Kizaru back with a single shot—Benn Beckman, First Mate of the Red-Haired Pirates—took a deep breath.
“I think that kid was right. He’s reckless, but what he said is true. The Celestial Dragons are not inherently superior, at least not before pirates who long for freedom! So, Shanks, let’s begin anew. Even though reaching the New World is the true starting point of the Grand Line, I feel…”
“That right now, we’re not worthy of setting foot in the New World, not worthy of seeking the treasure the Pirate King left behind!”
Shanks laughed, clapping Beckman on the shoulder as he rose and removed his straw hat.
“What treasure could Captain Roger possibly have left? All lies!”
He grinned. “But you’re right—we’re not ready to enter the New World. So, Beckman, come home with me! Let’s go to the place where Captain Roger died!”
“The East Blue… I’ve wanted to go for a long time!”
Their laughter echoed down the empty street as Shanks slung an arm around Beckman’s shoulders, and together, they disappeared into the distance.

Meanwhile…

Having just received the news of the Celestial Dragon’s death, Tashigi shot a deep glance at Smoker beside her. Her voice trembled as she spoke to the languid figure before her.
“Vice Admiral Kuzan, Saint Charlisky…”
“Has been slain!”