Chen Ye continued to feel the power he had just gained, unprecedented power slowly flowing 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 cracking in a string of crisp pops.
The confidence born from his explosive increase in strength completely transformed his bearing.
If the previous Chen Ye had been a weakling who groveled to survive, disguising himself as a harmless pet,
then now, standing on this deck with his back straight and his gaze no longer evasive, the ambition and sharpness he had kept hidden could no longer be concealed.
"Oh?"
A lazy yet curious voice came from nearby.
Chen Ye looked toward the sound and saw a tall man wearing a captain's coat, sporting two peculiar curled mustaches, watching him with great interest.
The Fifth Division captain, "Flower Sword" Vista.
One of the world's top Great Swordsmen.
Vista's senses were exceptionally sharp. He had almost immediately noticed the completely different "scent" about Chen Ye.
"Kid, you seem a little different."
With an amused smile at the corner of his mouth, Vista slowly walked over.
The surrounding crew members also cast curious looks his way.
"Is that so?"
Chen Ye grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
He knew he could not hide it. On this ship filled with monsters, any disguise was laughable.
He needed an opportunity.
An opportunity to prove his strength to everyone, especially those core captains!
Only then could he truly integrate into this group, have more say in the coming Summit War, and get closer to... increasing the resolution!
Vista sized Chen Ye up and down, his eyes as a Great Swordsman seeming capable of seeing through people's hearts.
"Talk is boring without action."
Vista smiled and held out a finger, beckoning Chen Ye over.
"How about it, little brother? Do you have the guts to trade a few moves with your big brother here?
"Don't worry, I'll know my limits."
I'll only use thirty percent of my strength!
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding pirates burst into good-natured laughter.
"Hey, Captain Vista, isn't that a little too much bullying?"
"Hahaha, this kid's so delicate, he wouldn't be enough for one slash from you!"
"Kid, run! Don't let him fool you!"
In their eyes, this was nothing more than a joke with an overwhelming difference in strength.
Yet, to everyone's surprise,
Chen Ye showed no fear or hesitation when faced with an invitation from one of the world's top Great Swordsmen.
He stepped forward and met Vista's gaze.
"Sure."
Chen Ye's voice was clear and loud.
"It would be my honor to receive Captain Vista's guidance."
The laughter on the deck came to an abrupt stop.
Everyone froze.
They looked at Chen Ye's young face, so full of seriousness, and for a moment could not tell whether the kid was simply a fearless calf or genuinely unafraid of death.
The appreciation in Vista's eyes deepened.
"You've got guts!"
He laughed and drew the twin swords from his back with a reverse grip.
"Come on, let big brother here see what Pops's newly adopted Beloved Son is really made of!"
The crew members wisely and quickly backed away, leaving a large open space in the middle of the deck.
Marco and Jozu also stopped talking and looked over from afar, their expressions carrying a hint of scrutiny.
In the center of the deck.
With both swords in hand, Vista's aura changed instantly. The grim killing intent belonging to a top Great Swordsman made the surrounding air turn cold in an instant.
He did not attack right away, instead giving Chen Ye ample time to prepare.
Chen Ye took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
[Observation Haki... Activated!]
Buzz!
In an instant, the entire world became completely different in his perception.
Vista's movements, breathing, heartbeat, even every minute tremor of his muscles, transformed into countless streams of information that flooded clearly into his mind.
He could even "see" the trajectory of Vista's next sword thrust toward his left shoulder!
"Here I come!"
Vista gave a low shout, and his figure vanished from where he stood!
Fast!
Fast to the extreme!
In the eyes of the surrounding crew members, they could only see a blurry afterimage and a silver streak that tore through the air as it shot straight at Chen Ye's face!
"It's over."
Someone murmured instinctively.
However, at the instant the blade was about to touch Chen Ye's nose—one hundredth of a second away!
Chen Ye moved.
His head snapped back at an utterly impossible angle, while his body slid sideways as if boneless.
Swish!
The sharp blade swept past his cheek by a hair's breadth, carrying away a few strands of black hair!
The strike missed!
"Hm?"
A trace of surprise flashed through Vista's eyes, but he did not stop. With a twist of his wrist, his blade slashed horizontally in a graceful arc toward Chen Ye's waist and abdomen!
Fast! Precise! Ruthless!
But Chen Ye moved even faster!
As if he had eyes on the back of his head, he did not even turn to look. He simply lifted his knee at precisely the right moment, lightly tapped his toes against the deck, and drifted half a meter backward.
Once again, he dodged with perfect precision!
"What?!"
This time, not only Vista, but even the watching crew members cried out in surprise.
If the first time had been luck, then the second could not possibly have been a coincidence!
"You've got some skill!"
Vista's expression grew slightly more serious. He stopped holding back, and the twin swords in his hands turned into a sky full of sword shadows, completely engulfing Chen Ye like a raging storm. The interwoven sword light formed a net, sealing off every possible route of escape!
Flower Sword: Rose Dance!
Facing the dazzling attack, Chen Ye still kept his eyes closed.
In the world of Observation Haki, the trajectory of every sword light was perfectly clear.
Sidestep, crouch, lean back, twist...
Every one of his movements was simple to the extreme,
yet at the very last moment before the blades could harm him, he avoided every attack with the smallest possible movement and the most unbelievable angles.
The longer Vista fought, the more alarmed he became!
This feeling was too bizarre!
It was as though all of his attack intentions had been foreseen in advance!
No matter how he changed his moves or increased his speed, Chen Ye always reacted half a step ahead of him, leaving every attack to strike empty air. That feeling of having strength but nowhere to use it made Vista so frustrated he was nearly ready to cough up blood!
This kid... could he know Observation Haki?
An absurd thought flashed through Vista's mind.
Vista continued his fierce barrage, further pressuring Chen Ye's defense.
Now!
Chen Ye, who had kept his eyes closed all this time, suddenly opened them!
An unprecedented gleam burst from those pitch-black pupils!
He seized the instant after Vista exhausted a thrust, when his body froze for one ten-thousandth of a second, revealing a flaw. He stopped dodging!
[Armament Haki!]
Instead of retreating, Chen Ye charged forward. His right leg stomped heavily onto the deck, and he shot toward Vista's blade like a cannonball!
In an instant, his right fist was covered in a black substance that gleamed with a metallic luster!
"Break... for me!"
An angry roar rang across the deck!
Ignoring the sharp sword tip, Chen Ye drove his right fist, carrying all of his strength, directly toward Vista's blade with unstoppable force!
This punch!
Contained only pure strength and Haki!
Vista's face changed dramatically. He wanted to pull back his swords to defend himself, but it was already too late!
He could only watch helplessly as that black fist rapidly enlarged in his pupils!
The next second.
Fist and sword collided violently!
Clang!!!
A deafening clash of metal exploded through the air!
Immediately after.
Crack!
A visible white shockwave suddenly erupted from the point of impact!
Vista felt a wave of terrifying power surge madly through his blade. That force was incomparably domineering, as if it were not a fist, but a gigantic iron ball smashing straight into him!
"Ugh!"
He let out a muffled groan. His hand shook violently, and the Famous Blade in his grip nearly flew from his grasp!
The immense force sent his entire body staggering backward!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
He left seven or eight heavy footprints across the deck before barely stabilizing himself, his blood and breath churning in his chest.
The entire deck fell deathly silent.
Everyone stared dumbfoundedly at the scene before them, their minds completely blank.
What had they just seen?
That kid they had always treated as a mascot had actually... thrown one punch!
Just one punch had sent "Flower Sword" Vista, the Fifth Division captain and a World-Class Great Swordsman, flying backward seven or eight steps along with his swords?!
Vista lowered his head and looked at the web of his right hand, still trembling and numb, then raised his head to look at the figure ahead slowly withdrawing his fist.
The shock on his face refused to fade for a long time.
"You kid..."
Vista's voice was dry with disbelief.
"...you really are a monster."
Before you continue