Bang!
The thunderous impact echoed endlessly across the docks.
Everyone stared fixedly at Sec P, lying in the rubble, dead beyond any doubt, and could not help swallowing.
"Did the senior living in seclusion on Shimotsuki Island make a move?"
Domon snapped out of his daze, as though he had grasped a lifesaving straw.
The East Blue was the Weakest Sea, but pirates still ran rampant there.
The island where Shimotsuki Village stood had, without exception, also become a target for plunder.
Yet every pirate who invaded the island died for no apparent reason.
Over time, Shimotsuki Island had become something of a taboo among pirates.
Domon had fled pursuit all the way here.
He, too, had come because of that legend.
"What senior? You've disgraced the Marines."
Bang!
A streak of golden light descended from the sky, its tremendous impact shattering the ground beneath his feet.
As clouds of dust swept back, the figure hidden within gradually became clear.
Domon was dumbfounded.
Could that last strike have come from a boy?
"Lord Bai Yu, you're finally here! Nami disappeared earlier, so I came out to look for her, and then I ran into Treasure's men."
Carina hurried behind Bai Yu.
"Are you confident? Why don't we run?"
"Run?"
Bai Yu gave a savage smile and looked at Treasure, whose expression was so dark it could have dripped water.
"Sorry, but the word 'run' isn't in my dictionary. Besides, is a mere pirate worth running from?"
Hiss!
Sharp intakes of breath rang out across the scene.
Domon's expression changed drastically as well. He had never imagined the boy before him would talk so big.
This was a Paramecia Devil Fruit User with an eighty-nine-million-Beli bounty.
"Haha, brat, you talk big. This is a first for me in the East Blue."
Treasure laughed in fury, abruptly clenching his fists as he spoke with a vicious expression.
"Still, the name Bai Yu sounds familiar. If I remember correctly, you must be that super rookie from the East Blue the Marines have been talking about."
"I was just wondering where I could kill you and give the Marines a hard slap in the face. Now that you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, you've saved me quite a bit of trouble."
"A small fry like you, I can kill with a flick of my hand. I'll make it quick. Go join Sec P in the grave!"
Bang!
Treasure stamped down hard, turning into a blur as he appeared before Bai Yu.
His chain-wrapped right fist drove straight toward Bai Yu's chest with crushing force.
"Watch out!"
Domon called out urgently.
Unfortunately, Bai Yu stood beneath the attack without moving a muscle, like a statue.
It was as though Treasure's surprise attack had stunned him.
Watching that ferocious iron fist smash into Bai Yu's chest, most of the Marine soldiers could not bear to look.
This was an iron fist that had punched straight through a warship.
Just imagining what would happen when it landed on a body filled them with dread.
Bang!
The shock wave from the collision swept outward like a gale.
Everyone's pupils abruptly contracted, disbelief written all over their faces.
Amid the dust, Bai Yu still stood upright like an iron tower.
The instant a savage smile bloomed across his face.
The wooden sword in his hand had already erupted with dazzling golden light and cleaved down.
Boom!
A blade aura over ten meters long poured down head-on.
Treasure was dumbfounded.
A Flying Slash with a mere raise of his hand.
Was this guy really a fucking rookie?
Bang!
Treasure hastily raised both arms to block.
The tremendous force transmitted through his arms made his expression change drastically, and his entire body slammed into the ground beyond his control.
His eyes nearly rolled back.
The ground beneath his feet gave way first, shattering with a crash.
The residual force of the slash rapidly spread toward the pirate ship in the distance.
Boom!
The pirate ship, which already had a huge crater smashed into it, suffered frost atop snow as its enormous bow was forcibly torn apart.
The pirates standing on deck were hurled away by the impact.
Seawater fell from the sky like a torrential downpour.
It snapped the dumbfounded Marines out of their daze, but as they looked at the scene before them, they simply could not speak.
A single strike had brought the situation completely under control.
Was he really a rookie?
Or had they encountered a fake Treasure?
"Lieutenant Colonel Domon, did we run into a fake Treasure? What's the background of this strongest rookie? He actually suppressed him so easily."
One Marine soldier was the first to lose his composure.
Everyone looked at Domon.
After all, the scene before them was simply too shocking.
"Actually, I'm not sure either. I've only vaguely heard that Bai Yu is Vice Admiral Garp's grandson..."
Domon stammered out an answer.
In their eyes, third-generation officials like him were all people who got attention through backdoor connections, and they had originally felt disdainful.
Yet everything before him had overturned his understanding.
"The grandson of Garp the Hero of the Marines?"
Treasure roared.
The chains on his body shot in every direction like a dozen or so tentacles.
The next moment, they converged in midair and rammed straight ahead like an iron dragon.
Bang!
Bai Yu's body jolted as the iron dragon slammed into his chest.
His body swayed slightly, and with a flick of his wooden sword, he sent the iron dragon flying.
That effortless manner, taking everything head-on, left everyone wearing all sorts of expressions.
They had seen all kinds of battles.
But this fearless disregard for death overturned their understanding.
"Teacher, it looks like Bai Yu has the upper hand."
Zoro hurried over and instantly grasped the situation as he looked at the devastated battlefield.
"But has he really mastered the technique of cutting iron? If not, won't it be hard for him to win?"
"Zoro, nobody will think you're mute if you keep your mouth shut!"
Koshiro glared at him and delivered a backhanded slap to the back of his head.
Treasure charged out of the rubble, paused briefly, then burst into laughter.
"Haha, brat, thanks for the reminder."
"No wonder you acted so fearless. You were just trying to scare me."
"But I'm a chain man as tough as steel. I'd really like to know how you plan to break through my defenses!"
"I know your confidence in taking attacks head-on comes from that outer garment you're wearing, which offers some protection."
"But if you think you can win by relying on that external aid, I'm afraid my absolute defense will plunge you into utter despair."
"For Garp's sake, I would have considered letting you off. But if you want to blame something, blame yourself for killing Sec P!"
Bang!
Chains flew out from Treasure's body.
In the blink of an eye, they wrapped around his entire body, three layers deep.
By the time everyone reacted, Treasure's entire body, including his hair, had been completely covered in chains.
It was as though he had donned a heavy suit of armor.
He gave off an impression of being utterly indestructible.
Zoro's face turned ashen, and he instantly realized he had caused trouble.
He opened his mouth, hesitating to speak, but Koshiro soon stopped him with a shake of his head.
"Just watch quietly. Bai Yu's strength isn't as simple as it appears."
"Even if he really doesn't know how to cut iron, I think he'll have a way to deal with it. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so calm."
"Besides, who knows? He might really be able to create a miracle..."