Chapter 10: Head-on Clash with Sengoku! The Horrifying Pirate Rookie!
Sengoku stood tall in his original spot, like a Buddha descended into the world, causing excitement and worship to rise in the hearts of many Marines. The unease caused by Bai Ye's questioning just moments ago quietly dissipated.
How could the Marines be wrong?
Lord Sengoku would absolutely not persecute civilians!
Whiskey Peak had completely turned into a pirate paradise; wiping it out entirely was politically correct!
"A mere Bai Ye, in front of Vice Admiral Sengoku, is just like a grasshopper. It is impossible for him to stir up even a little wave!"
"That's right! He's just an arrogant pirate. To oppose Lord Sengoku is absolutely impossible!"
Everyone had confidence in Sengoku. Over the years, he had fought continuously and successfully built up his prestige!
Even against the cadres of the Rocks Pirates who roamed the world, Sengoku, leading countless Marines, had taken action time and again and had never been defeated!
How could a rookie be Sengoku's opponent?
Before, it was just Bai Ye playing cheap tricks, sneaking into the base while Sengoku wasn't paying attention!
"I will give you one last chance. Return to Impel Down with me, be imprisoned for ten years, and join the Marines after ten years. I can grant you freedom!"
Sengoku stared coldly at Bai Ye, his voice thundering.
Bai Ye had such strength at such a young age. Although the crimes he committed were indelible, if he was willing to turn back to the shore, then perhaps...
"I'm used to freedom; I can't get used to being someone else's running dog!"
Bai Ye grinned and refused coldly.
"You seek death!"
Sengoku's last bit of patience was completely worn away. He jumped into the air and smashed a fist down. Just the wind from the fist caused the surrounding ground to crack and fracture!
Bai Ye felt a chill in his heart. Worthy of being Sengoku; the pressure he brought was far beyond what that trash Vice Admiral Ethan could compare to!
"Bakudō #81 — Dankū (Splitting Void)!"
Bai Ye held his single blade horizontally in front of his chest, and an invisible wall of air appeared along with it!
Boom!
Sengoku hammered his fist onto the air wall. Violent aftershocks rippled out, and a circle of airwaves spread. Many Marines were knocked over, coughing up blood from heavy injuries!
"What move is this?"
Sengoku couldn't see any obstruction in front of him, but that invisible air wall was incredibly tough, firmly blocking him outside!
It was only when Sengoku covered the area with Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) that he detected it; the air wall in front of him covered more than ten meters, firmly stuck in front of him!
"A Devil Fruit user?"
Sengoku stared dead at Bai Ye, his eyes flickering.
"That black coffin looked like the ability of the Kage Kage no Mi (Shadow-Shadow Fruit), and this air wall looks like the Bari Bari no Mi (Barrier-Barrier Fruit). I heard you also possess the ability to control lightning?"
"One person can only control one fruit; this is an iron law! What kind of monster are you!"
The corners of Bai Ye's mouth curled up. He didn't intend to answer the other party, teasing instead:
"So I was noticed by the Marines that early? Then it was really boring that no one chased me all the way to the New World!"
"Hmph! No matter what secret you are hiding, after I capture you, everything will be announced to the world!"
Sengoku snorted coldly. Black light pervaded his arms as Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) covered them!
Busoshoku Haki was divided into three major levels. The first level was just ordinary covering (Hardening). Depending on the quality of Haki controlled by the individual, the enhancement ability varied from person to person.
The World Government field agents Bai Ye had cut down earlier only controlled level one Busoshoku.
The second level allowed one to flow and wind the Busoshoku Haki. Defensively, it could deflect attacks; offensively, it could erupt with even greater power!
In Wano Country, based on the characteristics of the flowing Haki, they named it Ryuo!
The third level allowed for the external emission of Haki, directly destroying the interior of an object through contact with its surface!
Decades later, Rayleigh, who would often sell himself for money and wear an explosive collar around his neck, could pinch out the fuse effortlessly using third-level Haki!
Haki flowed over Sengoku's body, winding around him. The golden Buddha statue turned pitch black. He was obviously at the peak of the second level, likely to break through at any moment!
Sand and soil flew up from the ground. Occasionally, pebbles fell near Sengoku's feet; before even touching him, they were directly bounced away and shattered into powder!
"Buddha's Seal!"
Sengoku shouted coldly and slapped his right palm down. It was like the Five Finger Mountain falling to blot out the sky and sun, intending to completely capture Bai Ye!
The previously indestructible air wall only lasted a few seconds under the Buddha's Seal before directly disintegrating!
Sengoku noted this scene, his eyes flickering slightly.
Devil Fruit abilities were like causal existences.
If it were the Bari Bari no Mi ability, no matter how much power Sengoku released, it shouldn't be possible to shatter the fruit ability's creation!
"Hadō #99 — Goryūtenmetsu (Five Swirling Dragons of Destruction)!"
A low shout broke Sengoku's train of thought. The surrounding earth began to shake as if invisible giants were trampling around.
Beside Bai Ye, purple light dragons were born one after another, their aura menacing!
"Roar!"
Faint dragon roars seemed to bellow in the surroundings. The incomparable aura made all the spectators turn pale and fall weakly to the ground.
"That... exactly what kind of monster is he?"
"It's clearly not Haki, so why can he release power more terrifying than Haki?!"
"Impossible! Bai Ye has displayed four types of abilities! An ordinary Devil Fruit user would explode and die instantly with even just two!"
Five purple light dragons, carrying a dense ghostly aura, rose against the heavens!
Boom, rumble!
The purple light dragons roared and collided with the Five Finger Mountain, bearing the burden!
Crack, crack!
On the majestic Whiskey Peak, cracks appeared starting from the mountainside!
It seemed as if it was about to be cut off at the waist!
On the sea surface, waves shot into the sky. Schools of fish flipped over and fled madly, as if this place had turned into a zone of death!
Bang!
With a crisp boom, a dazzling ball of light appeared between heaven and earth!
The blinding brilliance caused tears to stream from everyone's eyes!
Only after a full three minutes did the light completely dissipate. Everyone looked and saw a figure flying backward!
"Vice Admiral Sengoku!"
Shouts came from the surroundings. Onigumo and several other Vice Admirals followed the commotion and recognized at a glance that the figure flying back was indeed Sengoku!
Tiny cracks appeared on Sengoku's towering golden body. He landed heavily back on the warship, splashing water all over the sky!
In a head-on collision, Sengoku was actually at a slight disadvantage?
The four great Vice Admirals watched this scene, their eyes flashing with shock!
Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr were the absolute active forces of the current era!
The future three Admirals would inevitably be these three!
Could a mere bounty hunter popping out of the North Blue actually suppress Sengoku into a disadvantage?!
On the shore, the dust cleared.
Bai Ye stopped in his original spot. A sweetness rose in his mouth, and he forcibly swallowed the welling blood back down his throat!
Bai Ye sighed secretly in his heart.
"Worthy of being Sengoku the Buddha. Even Aizen's most explosive move failed to cause him substantial damage; he just looks ragged on the surface!"