Sanji's Envy

"At this distance, there shouldn't be any problems," Blueno said from the side of the ship.

"Even so, we can't let our guard down." Sanji lit a cigarette. "Don't forget, that guy can freeze the sea."

Sanji still had not forgotten the last time he saw that guy. It had been truly terrifying!

The instant the other man activated his ability, the entire sea had frozen over. What kind of terrifying power was that?!

"I think he won't be coming after us," Franky said.

"Why?"

"If he really wanted to chase us, he would have frozen the sea with his ability long ago. Why would he let us get this far away?"

While speaking, Franky glanced back.

He had to admit that this ship was incredibly fast. With the wind blowing in their favor... even if the other man wanted to pursue them, he probably could not catch up.

"Could he have really given up?"

Zoro raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that Marine Admiral to let them escape so easily.

They had caused quite an impact this time. They had blasted through the World Government's flag and openly declared their challenge to the World Government. On top of that, Xi Yan had single-handedly held back the Buster Call and destroyed several warships.

And in this situation, he had not come after them?

"Is it finally over...?"

"That's wonderful, Robin!" Nami threw her arms around Robin. "We finally escaped alive!!"

Once they realized they were safe, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, and their tightly wound nerves gradually relaxed.

Being threatened by an Admiral had felt utterly awful.

"Why haven't I seen Usopp or Xi Yan?" Luffy asked from where he lay on the ground.

Lying on the deck, Luffy had painstakingly managed to move his neck, yet he still did not see Xi Yan or Usopp anywhere.

"Haha, Usopp already left in a small boat!" Usopp, wearing a mask, laughed loudly. "Don't worry."

"I see..."

"Then where's Xi Yan?"

"Yeah, where is Xi Yan?" Nami asked. "Robin, you said Xi Yan was already on the ship, but I haven't seen him."

"Hey!"

Sanji's expression changed. "Don't tell me Xi Yan volunteered to stay behind and cover the retreat..."

If that was true, then would all their efforts not have been wasted?

They had just rescued one companion, only to lose another?

"Is that why the Marine Admiral didn't pursue us...?"

Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword, veins bulging on his arm.

"Don't be so tense, everyone." Nico Robin spoke helplessly. "Hey, Xi Yan, aren't you coming out yet?"

That guy had not made a sound since they escaped. She had no idea what he meant by it.

"Not coming out means..."

Before Nami could finish, she saw a scroll spring from Nico Robin's arms and slowly spin through the air.

Then, with a bang, the scroll transformed into Xi Yan himself.

"Yo, everyone's here~"

"You were that scroll?!" Nami said in disbelief. "How did you do that?"

No wonder Robin had silently tucked that scroll into her arms earlier. So it had been Xi Yan transformed?

"I used the Transformation Technique," Xi Yan said.

"Transformation Technique..." Usopp said in shock. "Is it like that Mr. 2 guy?"

They had met a Copy-Copy Fruit user before, but Xi Yan's ability seemed far more advanced.

"Xi Yan's ability is much more powerful than that guy's." Nico Robin shook her head.

Mr. 2 could only transform into someone else's face, but Xi Yan could become anything he wanted!

The meaning of that was completely different!

"That's true." Zoro nodded.

At the very least, that guy could not transform into objects. Used well, this move could have truly amazing effects!

Sanji dashed in front of Xi Yan and excitedly grabbed his clothes. "Bastard, where did you crawl out of just now?!!"

Xi Yan: ???

Was this guy so excited just because of that?

"Robin's arms. What about it?"

Sanji: ...

"Damn it... I-I'm so jealous..."

After releasing Xi Yan, Sanji somehow pulled out a handkerchief and bit down on it, leaving Zoro speechless.

"This Color Cook..."

"Bastard, do you have a problem with me, Green Algae Head?!"

"What did you say?!!"

Bang bang, the two started fighting again at the slightest disagreement. Xi Yan's mouth twitched as he watched. Those two...

"Robin!"

"Hmm?"

"Welcome back!"

Hearing Luffy's words, Nico Robin smiled and nodded, though her eyes had grown slightly moist.

"Xi Yan."

"What is it, Luffy?"

"Welcome to the crew." Luffy grinned broadly. "After we get back, we'll throw a huge party!"

"All right. I'm looking forward to it."

A pirate party... he was quite interested in something that fun.

"What should we do with this guy?" Usopp asked, pointing at Blueno.

This man was from CP9. Although Xi Yan had temporarily controlled him, he was still an enemy. They could not keep bringing him along.

"That's easy." Xi Yan grinned. "Just kill him."

From beginning to end, this man with a Space-type Devil Fruit had only been a tool. Once he had been used, he naturally had to be disposed of.

Without another word, Xi Yan took out a kunai and flung it, striking Blueno directly!

The tremendous force not only inflicted a fatal wound on him, but also sent him plunging into the sea!

Splash~

A few water splashes rose on the surface as Blueno, having regained consciousness, gradually sank into the depths.

I never expected it to end like this.

If I had been more cautious back then, perhaps... the ending would not have been like this.

With regret filling his mind, Blueno's consciousness sank into darkness.

On the Going Merry, Xi Yan calmly clapped his hands. "That guy was CP9 too. Naturally, we couldn't let him leave."

No one else objected.

"I remember that the enormous waters hadn't disappeared when we left," Franky said. "Your clone should still be there, right?"

"What happened afterward?"

"Nothing much. I just fought the Marine Admiral."

"You fought the Marine Admiral?!" Franky's eyes widened.

No, what kind of monsters were the Straw Hat Pirates?

"He's not some god. Why can't I fight him?" Xi Yan asked in return.

Franky: ...

That was true, but would a normal person think of challenging a Marine Admiral?

"It was only a clone anyway. Even if it got taken out, it didn't matter. It could even give me more experience fighting an Admiral," Xi Yan said.

"Then what was the result?" Usopp asked curiously.

"That, I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Hmm. At the very last moment before my clone disappeared, I activated Lightning Release Kirin." Xi Yan rubbed his chin. "I wonder if that guy liked the gift."

If Lightning Release of that level struck the sea directly, there would not be many Marines left alive.

"Ninja really are amazing!" Kokoro laughed heartily.

He could attack a Marine Admiral with ninjutsu without even going there himself. Those Marines must have quite a headache now.

"Xi Yan, can we learn ninjutsu too?"

"Well..." Xi Yan thought for a moment. "Probably not."

There were many theories about the origin of Chakra. Some said it came from the fruit of the God Tree, some said it came from Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and others said it came from the Sage of Six Paths.

To possess Chakra, one needed at least a direct or indirect connection to it.

Clearly, people in this world did not meet that condition. On top of that, the cellular makeup of the two sides might be different, so naturally, they could not learn it.