Monster Newcomer? One Punch Stuns the Flower Sword!

Chen Ye continued to feel the newly acquired power, an unprecedented strength flowing slowly through his Limbs and Bones.

The solidity and weight brought by Armament Haki.

The ethereal clarity and sharpness brought by Observation Haki.

He slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles letting out a series of crisp pops.

The confidence born from this surge of power transformed his entire demeanor.

If the Chen Ye of before was a weakling who fawned and groveled to survive, disguising himself as a harmless pet.

Then now, standing on this deck, his spine straight, his Eyes no longer evasive, that deep-seated ambition and sharpness could no longer be hidden.

"Oh?"

A voice tinged with laziness and curiosity came from not far away.

Chen Ye followed the sound and saw a tall man with two peculiar curled mustaches, draped in a commander's coat, looking at him with interest.

Fifth Division Commander, "Flower Sword" Vista.

One of the world's top grandmaster swordsmen.

Vista's perception was incredibly keen; he had sensed the completely different "flavor" radiating from Chen Ye almost instantly.

"Kid, feels like you've changed a bit."

Vista said with a playful smile, walking over slowly.

The surrounding Crew Members also cast curious glances his way.

"Is that so?"

Chen Ye grinned, showing a row of white teeth.

He knew hiding was impossible; on this ship full of Monsters, any pretense was laughable.

He needed an opportunity.

An opportunity to prove his strength to everyone, especially to the core Commanders!

Only then could he truly integrate into this group, have more say in the upcoming Summit War, and get closer... to increasing his analysis rate!

Vista looked Chen Ye up and down, his Eyes as a grandmaster swordsman seeming to see through a person's heart.

"Talk is cheap."

Vista smiled and extended a Finger, beckoning Chen Ye.

"How about it, new Brother? Got the guts to spar with me a bit?

Don't worry, I'll be very measured."

I'll only use thirty percent of my strength!

As his words fell, the surrounding pirates burst into good-natured laughter.

"Hey hey, Commander Vista, that's way too unfair!"

"Haha, this kid's too tender-skinned, not even worth one swing of your sword!"

"Kid, run! Don't let him fool you!"

In their eyes, this was nothing but a joke with a massive gap in strength.

Yet, contrary to everyone's expectations.

Facing an invitation from a world-class grandmaster swordsman, Chen Ye showed no fear or hesitation.

He stepped forward, meeting Vista's gaze.

"Sure."

Chen Ye's voice was clear and loud.

"To receive guidance from Commander Vista is my honor."

The laughter on the deck abruptly stopped.

Everyone was stunned.

They looked at Chen Ye's young but earnest face, momentarily unsure if this Kid was bold from ignorance or truly unafraid of death.

The appreciation in Vista's Eyes deepened.

"Got guts!"

He laughed heartily, drawing his twin swords from behind his back.

"Come on, then! Let your big brother see just what this new Beloved Son of Pops is made of!"

The crew members quickly retreated, clearing a large space in the center of the deck.

Marco and Jozu stopped their conversation, casting their gazes over from a distance, their expressions tinged with curiosity.

In the center of the field.

Vista held both swords, and his entire aura shifted in an instant. The grim killing intent belonging to a top-tier great swordsman turned the surrounding air ice-cold.

He didn't attack immediately but gave Chen Ye ample time to prepare.

Chen Ye took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

[Observation Haki... Activate!]

Whoosh!

In an instant, the entire world became utterly different in his perception.

Vista's form, breathing, heartbeat, even the faintest tremor of every muscle, all transformed into countless streams of information, flooding into Chen Ye's mind with crystal clarity.

He could even "see" the trajectory of Vista's next thrust aimed at his left shoulder!

"Here it comes!"

Vista barked, and his figure vanished from the spot in an instant!

Fast!

Utterly fast!

In the eyes of the surrounding crew members, all they could see was a blurry afterimage and a silver streak tearing through the air, hurtling straight for Chen Ye's face!

"It's over."

Someone muttered unconsciously.

Yet, just as the sword tip was about to touch the tip of Chen Ye's nose, in that 0.01 second!

Chen Ye moved.

His head tilted back at an angle that seemed impossible, and his body slid sideways like it had no bones.

Swish!

The sharp sword edge, carrying a few strands of scattered black hair, grazed past his cheek by a hair's breadth!

A miss!

"Hm?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Vista's eyes, but his movements didn't stop. He twisted his wrist, and the blade slashed horizontally in a graceful arc, aiming straight for Chen Ye's waist and abdomen!

Fast! Precise! Ruthless!

But Chen Ye moved even faster!

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, he didn't even turn to look. With a perfectly timed knee lift and a light tap of his toes on the deck, his entire body drifted half a meter backward.

Once again, he dodged by the narrowest margin!

"What?!"

This time, not just Vista, but even the watching crew members let out exclamations.

If the first dodge was luck, the second could no longer be a coincidence!

"Not bad!"

Vista's expression turned slightly serious. He held nothing back now, and his twin swords turned into a storm of blade shadows, engulfing Chen Ye like a raging tempest. The sword light wove into a net, sealing off every possible space for Chen Ye to evade!

"Flower Sword: Rose Dance!"

Facing this dazzling assault, Chen Ye kept his eyes closed.

In the world of Observation Haki, the trajectory of every sword light was clearly visible.

Sidestep, crouch, lean back, twist...

Each of his movements was stripped down to the bare minimum, yet at the very last moment before the blade could harm him, he evaded every attack with the smallest motion and the most impossible angle, by the narrowest of margins.

The more Vista fought, the more alarmed he became!

This feeling was too eerie!

It was as if all his offensive intentions were being predicted by the opponent in advance!

No matter how he changed his moves or increased his speed, the other party always reacted half a step ahead, leaving every attack landing on empty air. That sensation of having strength but nowhere to use it was so suffocating it nearly made him vomit blood!

"This kid... could he be using Observation Haki?"

An absurd thought flashed through Vista's mind.

Vista continued his fierce, relentless assault, further pressuring Chen Ye's defense.

Now!

Chen Ye, who had kept his eyes closed all along, suddenly snapped them open!

In those pitch-black pupils, an unprecedented sharp light burst forth!

He seized the flaw in Vista's lunge—a split-second pause as the attack exhausted itself—and stopped dodging!

[Armament Haki!]

Chen Ye did not retreat but advanced, his right leg stomping heavily on the deck, launching himself like a cannonball straight toward Vista's blade!

His right fist was instantly covered in a layer of pitch-black, metallic-lustered substance!

"Break... for me!"

A furious roar echoed across the deck!

Ignoring the sharp sword tip, Chen Ye's right fist, gathering all his strength, drove forward with an unstoppable momentum, slamming directly into the blade of Vista's sword!

This fist!

Pure power and Haki alone!

Vista's face changed drastically. He wanted to pull his sword back to defend, but it was already too late!

He could only watch helplessly as that pitch-black fist rapidly grew larger in his pupils!

The next second.

Fist and sword collided with a thunderous impact!

Clang!!!

A deafening metallic clash exploded!

Then.

Crack!

A visible white shockwave, centered on the point of impact, burst forth instantly!

Vista only felt a terrifying power surging wildly along his sword, a force so overbearing and absolute it felt less like a fist and more like a massive iron ball hurtling toward him!

"Ugh!"

He let out a muffled groan, his tiger's mouth trembling violently, the famous blade in his hand nearly flying free!

His entire body was shaken backward by this immense force!

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

He left seven or eight deep footprints on the deck before barely managing to steady himself, his chest churning with surging blood.

The entire deck fell into dead silence.

Everyone stared at the scene before them, their minds blank.

What had they just seen?

That kid, always treated as a mascot, had... with one punch!

Just one punch, and he had sent the Fifth Division Commander, the World-Class Great Swordsman "Flower Sword" Vista, along with his sword, flying back seven or eight steps?!

Vista looked down at his right hand's tiger's mouth, still trembling and numb, then raised his head to gaze at the figure slowly withdrawing his fist.

The shock on his face lingered, refusing to fade.

"You little brat..."

Vista's voice carried a hint of dryness and disbelief.

"...you're a real monster."