Chapter Forty-Three: Have You Made Enough of a Scene?

“Tiger, do you think Chu Yi will be in any danger?”
On a narrow ledge of the Red Soil Continent’s cliff, as Chu Yi left the others behind and descended alone toward the ship below—where the Celestial Dragons were—Hancock, though she herself didn’t understand why, was somehow able to clearly see the flag of the Celestial Dragons atop the vessel and the duel unfolding between Chu Yi and Vice Admiral Mole. Watching Chu Yi’s figure still shrouded in the gleam of Vice Admiral Mole’s blade, Hancock’s eyes were filled with worry as she asked Tiger in a tense voice.

Yet Tiger merely shook his head gently and replied, “That kid may look like he’s in danger, but now that he’s mastered Observation Haki, dealing with that marine he’s fighting should be child’s play. What I can’t figure out is why he doesn’t just finish him off quickly. Doesn’t he realize that dragging things out will only bring in more marine reinforcements?”

As he spoke, a sudden thought struck Tiger, and he turned to Hancock with a look of astonishment. “Little girl, how do you know what that kid is doing? Could it be…”

“I’m watching with my eyes, of course!”

Hancock, confused by Tiger’s question, replied with a hint of puzzlement, “Tiger, isn’t seeing what’s happening between Chu Yi and that marine just a matter of watching with your eyes?”

“Of course not…”

Tiger’s lips twitched, and he was left in stunned silence, unable to recover for quite some time. If Chu Yi was someone who excelled at creating miracles, Tiger was already used to it; he’d long accepted that Chu Yi could suddenly awaken Observation Haki and use it so skillfully. It no longer surprised him. But Hancock—what was she doing each day? Aside from working hard in the beginning, during Chu Yi’s period of intense training, Hancock’s own dedication had wavered. And yet, despite her “lax” training, after awakening Conqueror’s Haki, she’d now awakened Observation Haki as well?

But then…

A sudden notion popped into his mind. After a moment’s silence, Tiger turned to Hancock and asked, “Little girl, apart from seeing Chu Yi and that marine fight, can you see anything else?”

“No…” Hancock shook her head, puzzled. “Tiger, it’s strange. I can see Chu Yi clearly, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t see what’s happening around him. Do you know why?”

Of course I know why.

As a master of Haki, how could Tiger not understand Hancock’s current state? The reason he’d questioned her earlier was precisely to see how far her Observation Haki had progressed. Based on her answer, Tiger was certain that Hancock’s Observation Haki was only just awakened. She could only release it unintentionally because of her focus on Chu Yi, and she didn’t yet have the ability to use it freely. The fact that she couldn’t “see” anything around Chu Yi confirmed his suspicion.

Even so, to awaken both Conqueror’s and Observation Haki with such ease—Hancock’s talent was truly remarkable.

As Tiger pondered how to help Hancock make the most of her monstrous gift, unexpectedly, Rob Lucci—who had been silent until now—spoke up.

“Fishman, can you describe the man fighting Shura?”

“Hmph, and what would you do with that information, Lucci? The man’s wearing a light-purple pinstriped suit, has a bizarre hairstyle, and sports a small mustache!” Before Tiger could answer, Hancock—her concern for Chu Yi tinged with pride—cut in. “What, you think that man’s a match for Chu Yi?”

“So it’s Vice Admiral Mole…”

Ignoring Hancock’s barbs, Lucci’s lips curled into an odd smile. His next words, however, made both Hancock and Tiger break out in a cold sweat for Chu Yi.

“If Shura thinks he can evade Vice Admiral Mole’s sword just by relying on Observation Haki…”

“Then Shura is not far from death!”

Noticing the silence that followed his words, as Tiger and Hancock watched Chu Yi’s battle with growing tension, Lucci added quietly to himself:

“As expected, after the Sabaody Archipelago incident, Fleet Admiral Sengoku has tightened the Celestial Dragons’ security. Shura, your reckless engagement with Vice Admiral Mole may have cost you the chance to ever meet me again.”

Though Lucci felt a twinge of regret, as long as Chu Yi was brought to “justice,” a satisfied smile still played on his lips.

Meanwhile…

On the battlefield where Chu Yi faced Vice Admiral Mole.

At that moment, the display of power between Chu Yi and Vice Admiral Mole left not only the ship’s crew, but even the marines tasked with protecting Saint Boriria, and the Celestial Dragon himself—who delighted in watching slaves fight to the death—completely dumbstruck.

The duel was bizarre.

Strangely bizarre.

From the start, neither Chu Yi nor Vice Admiral Mole had moved a single step. Vice Admiral Mole’s feet remained firmly planted on the deck as he unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, sword-light enveloping Chu Yi in an attempt to wound him.

Chu Yi, in turn, stood motionless.

Except for the occasional twist of his ankle—dodging with high-level technique—Chu Yi’s rapid, evasive movements created afterimages around him. It seemed as if, before Vice Admiral Mole, Chu Yi was nothing but an illusion; no matter how Vice Admiral Mole struck, he couldn’t land a blow on Chu Yi’s true body.

As Chu Yi nimbly dodged Vice Admiral Mole’s attacks, he became utterly absorbed in a mysterious state of insight. Unbeknownst to him, as he relied instinctively on “Paper Drawing” to avoid each blow, he was gradually awakening a new power.

Observation Haki.

In Chu Yi’s own perception, he realized—he could “see”!

Not with his eyes, but with the instincts of his body.

The feeling was extraordinary. Each time Vice Admiral Mole prepared to strike, just before his sword would pierce a certain part of Chu Yi’s body, Chu Yi would feel a faint pain on that spot. With a mere reflexive motion, he could easily dodge the swift, slicing sword-light.

Thus, lost in this miraculous state—sensing his “Paper Drawing” evolve and his danger instinct sharpen under the pressure of Vice Admiral Mole’s attacks—Chu Yi only kept that strange feeling firmly in mind. Another thought flashed through his mind…

Vice Admiral Mole…

You’re truly far inferior to Aokiji.

When I evaded Aokiji’s “Ice Blade” this way, I still felt pressured. But I’m already used to your moves, and you can no longer threaten me in the slightest.

Since that’s the case…

A glint flashed in Chu Yi’s eyes. In the midst of his high-speed evasions that left only afterimages, he suddenly stopped, revealing his true form.

Vice Admiral Mole, astonished by the sharpness of Chu Yi’s Observation Haki, caught sight of Chu Yi pausing and thought he had finally seized his opportunity.

So, in the next instant—

Bang!

His sword flashed like thunder!

The blade cut through the air with a sonic boom that echoed across the entire ship, making everyone but Chu Yi and Vice Admiral Mole shudder.

This was Vice Admiral Mole’s strongest strike—the one he intended to use to slay Chu Yi.

But just as Vice Admiral Mole’s sword, brimming with confidence, was about to pierce Chu Yi’s chest and run him through the heart—

Crack! Crack!

A sudden frost burst forth, and in an instant, Vice Admiral Mole’s sword—and the arm gripping it—were frozen solid.

Before Vice Admiral Mole could even process what had happened, his so-called killing blow was completely neutralized by Chu Yi’s Ice-Ice Fruit power. Chu Yi fixed him with a cold gaze, lips curled in a mocking smile as he clenched his right fist and spoke in a low voice:

“Had enough?”

“If you’re done, then get out of my sight.”