Even four against one, Ye Chen showed no fear. His target was clear: Smoker. He dodged Hina and the others as best he could, then charged at Smoker with his swords whenever he saw an opening.
The marines around them had not been idle. Though Croc had fallen, they were still going after Krieg's men.
Neither of Ye Chen's companions was there, but even alone, he held his ground.
Hina was skilled in the Six Powers and was no pushover. Binz's Shove-Shove Fruit also kept Ye Chen on his guard. Ain's attacks were less vicious, but facing four ability users at once was far from easy. He could no longer fight with the ease he had shown before.
Rankyaku!
Ye Chen had barely landed when a red blur flashed behind him. Ti whipped a kick at him, and he hastily dodged.
Smoker rushed in next. Ye Chen stood his ground, his Twin Swords flashing. After several fierce clashes, his rapid strikes knocked Smoker's Jitte aside.
The instant the Jitte veered away, Ye Chen gritted his teeth and thrust. His blade streaked toward Smoker's chest like a bolt of lightning.
Smoker did not dare take the attack lightly. Ye Chen had already cut him too many times for him to stand still as he usually did against other opponents.
There was no telling when Ye Chen might use Armament Haki.
That was no laughing matter. Smoker still had no idea how Haki worked. He had never learned a thing about it; he was only a Senior Chief Petty Officer.
Even in the Original Work, when Luffy met him in Loguetown after setting sail, Smoker had already become a captain, yet he still could not use Haki!
Haki was little more than a legend in the first half of the Grand Line.