After devouring Arlong, Xia Qiu immediately pursued Hachi.
Hachi was a cadre in the Arlong Pirates, with strength second only to Arlong.
Xia Qiu had no intention of letting go of his Reinforcement Energy.
So, after Xia Qiu swallowed Arlong into his belly, he began his pursuit. Five minutes later, the heat flow within Xia Qiu, the subtle heat flow provided by the Fish-Man soldiers, instantly became powerful.
This energy is so strong.
Xia Qiu could feel the immense heat flow and its searing intensity, far surpassing that of Kuroobi and Chuu, even a bit more than both of them combined.
Such power caused Xia Qiu's body to emit faint sounds, and a long-forgotten pain spread through his body.
It was predictable that after eating Arlong, his physical fitness would improve significantly again.
Xia Qiu allowed the heat flow to reshape his body as he continued his pursuit.
After another six or seven minutes, Xia Qiu had advanced about ten kilometers. Jumada Island was not far ahead. At this moment, a Fish-Man appeared before him.
That is?
Seeing the other party, Xia Qiu remembered the Fish-Man who had secretly fled during his fight with Arlong and Hachi.
He actually ran all the way here.
But where was Hachi?
This Fish-Man had left two to three minutes earlier than Hachi. Adding the ten minutes Arlong had stalled, the time Xia Qiu had spent pursuing was about twenty-five minutes.
Given Hachi's speed, he should have been able to catch up.
Moreover, there was no trace of Hachi within a kilometer radius in front of him.
Could he not be this way?
Xia Qiu charged towards the Fish-Man and, amidst its pained wails, devoured it in one bite.
Then, Xia Qiu continued to swim forward, heading in the direction of Jumada Island.
After swimming for a distance, the heat flow in Xia Qiu's body began to weaken.
Xia Qiu already felt the immense energy erupting from his body.
Boom.
Xia Qiu's body swayed, and the entire fish shot forward, its speed increasing by another fraction.
His muscles became stronger, his scales harder, his bones tougher, and his physical strength grew even greater.
By devouring Arlong, Xia Qiu's strength had increased by another notch.
Now, Xia Qiu's strength far surpassed Arlong's, by two small tiers.
Arlong's strength was among the top contenders for those who resided in the East Blue sea.
His status was quite high. In the Sun Pirates' ship cabin, Fisher sat in the main seat, with only Jinbe and Arlong sitting on either side of him.
However, Arlong's strength was limited. Luffy could still fight him with relative ease, and it wasn't a fight to the death.
Yet, in Loguetown, Luffy was easily captured by Smoker, with Sanji and Zoro nearby.
Arlong's land combat strength was still a distance away from a Marine Colonel. (Smoker was stationed in Loguetown but counted among the Marine Colonels.)
Among the Marines, the strength of the four sea branches was weaker. Oda once replied in an SBS that the ranks in the four seas were three levels lower than those in Headquarters. The highest rank in the four sea branches was Brigadier General.
It was roughly equivalent to a Colonel versus a Captain, or a Vice Captain versus a Lieutenant.
Arlong was about two tiers lower than Smoker in land combat. However, Logia-type Devil Fruits were quite overpowered in the early stages. Arlong on land was only about one tier weaker than a Marine Colonel, but he completely dominated underwater.
As for Colonels with Devil Fruit abilities like Hina, they were in a league of their own. As for Marine Colonels without Devil Fruits.
Tashigi, two years later, knew Six Powers and Armament Haki, and held the rank of Colonel.
Koby, two years later, knew Six Powers and Observation Haki, and held the rank of Colonel.
T Bone could kill a giant Sea King and easily cut through pirate ships.
These three Colonels did not have Devil Fruits, but their strength was formidable. They could defeat Arlong on land, but their strength was greatly reduced underwater, and the outcome was unknown.
Xia Qiu's own strength, compared to their land combat strength, should be in the same tier.
However, their underwater strength was far inferior to his. Not just Colonels, but even Marine Brigadier Generals, he could defeat underwater.
Only a Marine Major General might be able to fight him in the water.
Xia Qiu mused as he approached Jumada Island, searching for Hachi's trace. But at this moment, his sonar located a giant Sea Beast.
"Moo moo."
Xia Qiu's eyes lit up and he said, "Right, there's you too."
He had driven it away before, and it had secretly returned.
But Xia Qiu ignored it, slowly approaching and stopping five hundred meters away. Following the coastline of Jumada Island, he searched for Hachi's trace.
None.
Xia Qiu searched for an hour, but there was no sign of Hachi around Jumada Island.
He didn't come?
By the timing, he should have arrived here. Since he hasn't, it means he didn't come in this direction at all.
Xia Qiu felt great regret for not being able to eat Hachi.
However, it wasn't over yet. Next, he would wait near the harbor to see if Hachi would show up.
But before waiting, Xia Qiu had one more thing to do: find Moo Moo.
They had fought more than once before.
The first time, you tried to kill me. We exchanged injuries, and I drove you away.
The second time, I slapped you unconscious, but you played dead and escaped.
This time, I won't let you go.
Xia Qiu immediately charged towards the other party, but as he got within a certain distance, Moo Moo saw Xia Qiu and immediately ran far away.
Trying to run?
Xia Qiu followed closely, constantly closing the distance between them.
Moo Moo was very fast, flapping its huge pectoral fins, its body rising and falling as it fled into the distance.
But two years ago, Xia Qiu was already faster than it, and he was still faster now. He exerted himself and ran wildly, continuously shortening the distance.
Whoosh.
Xia Qiu chased for two thousand meters, directly overtaking Moo Moo and reaching its side, then slammed into it.
Boom.
Xia Qiu collided with it, and Moo Moo flipped sideways, rolling in the water before crashing onto the seabed. It tried to get up, but Xia Qiu had already appeared before it.
Moo Moo looked ahead. Xia Qiu was right in front of it, and it cooperatively bared its fangs.
"So scary."
Moo Moo trembled.
At this moment, Xia Qiu was forty-one meters long, not much smaller than Moo Moo, only its height was inferior.
Moo Moo had fought Xia Qiu twice before, both ending in defeat. How could it dare to fight him again?
"Wuwuwu."
Moo Moo immediately lowered its body, its eyes turning red, tears welling up and merging with the seawater.
"It's crying."
Xia Qiu was stunned when he saw this. It was the first time he had seen a crying sea beast.
Scared?
Xia Qiu slowly approached. Moo Moo sensed Xia Qiu's presence and shivered.
Slap, slap.
Xia Qiu slowly turned around, raised its tail fin, and slapped Moo Moo's face.
You attacked me, you bit me, you tried to smash me to death.
Xia Qiu slapped Moo Moo's face.
After being hit twice, Moo Moo let out an angry roar, opened its mouth, and bit towards Xia Qiu.
Bang.
Xia Qiu swung its tail again, hitting Moo Moo's cheek and knocking it to the ground. Its face immediately swelled up.
Still dare to resist?
"Wuwuwu."
Moo Moo lay on the ground again, crying loudly.
Xia Qiu walked over and slapped it a few more times. After venting his frustration, he approached it and opened his large mouth.
But Xia Qiu saw the nose ring on its nose and suddenly had a bold idea.
This nose ring was put on when the Arlong Pirates captured and tamed it. Arlong could tame it, so could I?
It was not a weak combatant. At least in the sea, its combat power would not be inferior to a cadre.
More importantly, he was too lonely.
He had been in this world for over four years, and besides eating, resting, and fighting, he had done nothing else.
No one to talk to, and he himself couldn't speak.
Such a life was too boring. He had felt incredibly dull as early as when he left Naruto Village.
He had only managed to persevere by living with the belief of annihilating the Arlong Pirates when they arrived.
But now, the Arlong Pirates were basically wiped out. Besides waiting for Hachi, he didn't know what to do next.
He didn't want to live his old life anymore.
Xia Qiu looked at Moo Moo, thinking he would make a great pet.
Heh heh heh.
Xia Qiu grinned, showing Moo Moo a friendly smile.
"Wuwuwu."
But the next moment, Moo Moo saw Xia Qiu's smile and was so scared that it covered its head with its pectoral fins, trembling uncontrollably.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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