Chapter Forty-Two: The First Glimpse of Dominance

Five hundred nautical miles off the Red Earth Continent, an armed naval warship sped urgently across the waves.

“Report, Vice Admiral Sakazuki! We've established contact with Vice Admiral Mole. In five minutes, we’ll rendezvous with him.”

“Understood,” Sakazuki replied with a silent nod, leaning casually against the deck rail. Even at rest, he radiated an intimidating presence. Suddenly, he opened his eyes. “What about Kuzan’s situation? Has he stabilized things?”

“There’s been… there's been no successful contact yet with Vice Admiral Kuzan…”

“Hmph. That lazy fellow!” Sakazuki’s snort alone sent a wave of oppressive force sweeping through the air. The naval communications officer standing before him trembled, his legs nearly giving out. Instinct urged him to collapse on the spot, but he knew he had to remain standing—anything less would have dire consequences.

Everyone aboard this warship knew what had happened before. One of their own had once faltered during a clash with pirates, retreating a few steps under the captain's overwhelming aura. That minor show of weakness had earned him Sakazuki’s severe punishment. He had yet to return to the ship.

If he were to collapse now before Sakazuki, his fate would surely be just as grim.

The only solace the communications officer found was that Sakazuki soon reined in his killing intent. Any longer, and he wouldn’t have been able to endure.

At that moment, the sound of a Den Den Mushi echoed—“Brrr… brrr… brrr…”

Sakazuki strode forward, snatching the receiver from the officer’s hand, brow furrowing as he spoke into the device. “Yes… yes… We’ll rendezvous with Mole soon.”

“I understand the situation is urgent, and the enemy is difficult, but you have to give me some time! Just five minutes! Even if something happens, surely Mole can hold out for five minutes at least?”

“Hmph! I understand!” Sakazuki slammed down the receiver, his whole body seething with barely contained rage. Suddenly, he roared:

“Two minutes! I’m giving you all just two minutes!”

“If Saint Bolilia comes to any harm because we’re late for the rendezvous—every one of you will pay for it with your lives! Is that clear?”

“Yes, Vice Admiral Sakazuki!” the surrounding sailors chorused, shrinking back in terror as soon as his words fell.

The warship surged ahead, engines straining for every knot of speed. In the minds of the crew, only one desperate plea echoed—

Vice Admiral Mole, even if something goes wrong, please… just buy us two more minutes!

Just two minutes, that's all we ask!

…

Meanwhile, aboard Saint Bolilia’s ship—

Ever since the incident at the Sabaody Archipelago, nearly all the Celestial Dragons had been gripped by fear, scrambling to return to the world’s safest sanctuary: their home, the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

For so many years, the Celestial Dragons had reigned supreme, untouchable by any hand. But three days ago, disaster struck—a madman had appeared in the world, daring to kill a Celestial Dragon!

Though Saint Bolilia knew nothing of the Navy’s Buster Call, or how it was thwarted by Chu Yi, the terror of his kin’s murder haunted his heart. He had lost all interest in amusement and now hurried back to the only place where he could feel secure.

With the Red Earth Continent looming ahead, Saint Bolilia, after days of anxiety, finally felt as though he might enjoy a peaceful sleep. Yet just as he allowed himself to relax, as the last remnants of fear began to fade, a ragged youth suddenly appeared before him!

“God says… you are guilty.”

Guilty? What a joke! I am a Celestial Dragon, a noble of the world—how could I possibly be guilty?

His hand instinctively went to his belt, intent on drawing his pistol to execute the wretched human before him.

But as he caught a clear look at the boy’s face, he froze—then let out a horrified gasp.

“You… you’re that Asura!”

“You only recognize me now? Too late.”

Bang!

With those cold words, Chu Yi, who had appeared before Saint Bolilia, raised his fist in a calm, devastating punch aimed straight at the Celestial Dragon’s skull.

In the eyes of someone like Chu Yi, the combat prowess of a Celestial Dragon was nonexistent. In fact, calling it zero would have been generous. Without their title as world nobles, even a sturdy child could have gravely injured the frail Saint Bolilia with a single blow.

Just as Chu Yi’s fist was about to connect and shatter Bolilia’s skull—

Swish!

A flash of sword-light streaked forth!

Reacting on pure instinct, Chu Yi used Kami-e to evade the blade, tilting his head to look past Saint Bolilia and toward the figure behind him—a navy officer wielding a sword in one hand.

The man wore a light purple pinstripe suit over a deep blue shirt, a bowtie at his neck, a peculiar pompadour hairstyle, and a small mustache. He was none other than Vice Admiral Mole, the same who had participated in the last Buster Call.

Recognizing Vice Admiral Mole, Chu Yi’s gaze grew more serious. After all, to stand out in the original story, and to hold the rank of Vice Admiral, Mole was no easy foe.

But it was a pity… No matter who came—even if all three future Admirals, Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu, gathered here together—they could not stop him from killing the Celestial Dragon before him!

So, in the next instant—

A strange, violet pupil blossomed at Chu Yi’s brow—the Asura Eye had opened!

Instantly, Vice Admiral Mole felt as if the very air around him was being crushed and frozen.

“So it really is you!” he growled. Armament Haki coated his blade as he withstood Chu Yi’s mounting pressure, his eyes narrowing. “The shame of our last encounter is seared into my memory. Today, let my sword wipe it away!”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

As soon as his words fell, a storm of sword-light enveloped Chu Yi entirely.

Fast—blindingly fast!

In the original tale, Vice Admiral Mole was renowned for his mastery of swordsmanship, Haki, and the Navy’s Six Styles. Rarely did he take the field, but when he did—most notably, when he intercepted Hancock before the Summit War—his sword was so quick it could not be tracked by the naked eye. With a single slash, he felled a massive Sea King, proof of his extraordinary skill.

Now, as Chu Yi faced the full force of Mole’s sword-light, he felt the true terror of the Vice Admiral’s swordsmanship. Each strike was cunningly aimed at his vital points, every blade wreathed in Armament Haki that could counter even Logia intangibility. Even more impressive, Mole managed to simultaneously suppress Chu Yi and protect Saint Bolilia behind him.

To the surrounding crew—and to Saint Bolilia himself—it appeared as if Vice Admiral Mole had subdued Chu Yi with his first flurry of attacks, and they breathed a collective sigh of relief.

But only Vice Admiral Mole himself knew the truth—he was far from optimistic.

As his slashes grew even faster, so rapid that the surrounding sword-light vanished and only the sound of blades cutting air remained, he watched in astonishment as Chu Yi, feet rooted to the deck, evaded every blow with nothing but upper body movement. Shocked, Vice Admiral Mole finally gasped aloud:

“Such… such incredible Observation Haki!”