Chapter 6: Target Zoro
After a wave of discomfort, Chen Yu gritted his teeth and endured.
"Killing one is a crime, slaughtering ten thousand makes a hero!" Chen Yu constantly recited in his heart.
Don't blame me, the deceased. Coming here was not my intention, but since I'm here, I'll even fight against the heavens!
After a wave of self-hypnosis, Chen Yu was once again pumped up by his own thoughts.
Ignoring the still panicked people in the hall, he walked directly to the deck.
As for comforting everyone??
Are you kidding me! I'm a pirate, don't you know what a pirate is?
Besides, I wished them an increasingly exciting life down there. Look! Isn't today exciting enough?
They saved my life = I wished them an increasingly exciting life = They encountered pirates = My blessing took effect.
Suddenly, Chen Yu slammed his right fist into his left palm, looking as if he had just realized something.
"My blessing has taken effect, so my grievances with them are settled!"
"But I also saved their lives, which means each of them owes me a life!"
Chen Yu: ∑(?д?)!!
Forget it, forget it, a new youth of the 21st century does good deeds without leaving a name!
Suddenly thinking of something, Chen Yu transformed into a ball of flame and flew towards Alvida's Miss Love Duck.
"I wonder if seeing Nami in person will still attract me as much as in my previous life?"
Before Chen Yu could finish his sentence, he witnessed the famous scene... "Jio-chan~"
"That kick of yours was really merciless!"
"Poor, poor man. I wonder if this uncle will still be able to attend flag-raising ceremonies in the future?"
"Tsk tsk tsk tsk!"
Chen Yu, who suddenly appeared next to Nami, clicked his tongue in admiration.
Chen Yu was naturally greeted by Nami's side kick.
He was actually very emotional inside.
Whether it was the anime he watched in his previous life or the real Nami he saw today, he couldn't help but feel sorry for this kind girl.
These sneak attack moves, so practiced, almost broke Chen Yu's heart... When he suddenly appeared next to Nami, Nami was clearly startled, but more of it was a conditioned reflex to attack.
Chen Yu also knew that Nami at this time simply couldn't talk to him.
Immediately, Chen Yu made a gun gesture with both hands, his head slightly tilted back strategically, and his arms spread 180 degrees.
"Fire Gun!"
His two hands trembled slightly as if there were really two guns in them, and a series of fire bullets sprayed out, injuring all the pirates who were trying to surround them within a few breaths, but he didn't kill them.
It wasn't that he suddenly became a saint; it was just that Nami was present.
He wasn't sure how Nami would react if he killed these people.
He knew very well that Nami hated pirates.
But he knew Nami's kindness even more.
Anyway, she had to choose between joining the crew or going to bed with him. Before she chose, Chen Yu didn't dare to be too presumptuous.
Since they joined the straw hats, not a single member of the straw hats could be missing!
"Can we talk now, Jio-chan?"
After speaking, Chen Yu smugly blew on his fingers. Hey! Don't tell me, smoke actually came out. Seriously, it was pretty cool.
A suit-clad thug! Just without sunglasses.
Now Nami quieted down, or rather, she was very scared.
"What do I have to talk about with you?" Nami, feigning composure, looked at Chen Yu and said.
Actor Chen Yu is online!
Chen Yu's lips curved upwards, a kingly smirk on his face: "In this sea, the famous Little Thief Cat, that would be you, wouldn't it?"
"Don't be nervous, I'm not interested in you. I'm looking for my companion, a two-bit idiot with a straw hat."
"But since we've met, please allow me to ask you a question."
He then pointed to the cloth bag next to Nami and said, "Why do you, a young girl, need so much gold?"
"You've already accumulated a lot of wealth, haven't you? Not enough to spend?"
At first, Nami didn't show any expression, until she heard Chen Yu's later words, and her whole body bristled like a wild cat: "Not a single penny of my money will go to you!"
With that, Nami assumed a fighting stance.
Seeing Nami like this, Chen Yu no longer had any desire to continue chatting. He turned and left.
He left very gracefully, also leaving a sentence: "My parents and family were all killed by pirates; now I am the only one left!"
It wasn't that he didn't want to continue talking, but that he couldn't!
Continuing the conversation would only make Nami more resistant.
With that one sentence, he transformed into a blazing flame and rushed back to the merchant ship's deck.
At this moment, Luffy was showing off by stretching his arm.
He saw Chen Yu's arrival and waved excitedly, calling out, "Hey! Chen Yu, over here, over here!!"
Unfortunately, human joy is not interchangeable, but it can be transferred!
Seeing this scene, Chen Yu's eyes hardened, and he grabbed Luffy's head, slamming it into the main mast of the ship next to them.
Although Luffy wasn't hurt, he felt wronged.
Although Chen Yu wasn't hurt either, he felt great, super happy.
"Damn Chen Yu! Why did you hit me?!" Luffy bounced up, furious, looking like he wanted to challenge Chen Yu to a fight.
"Bang!"
Chen Yu delivered another straight punch, making Luffy's face cave in.
He said coldly, "I can fly! And you stuffed me into a beer barrel and kicked me into the sea. Do you want to die?"
"I don't understand, even if I stayed in the beer barrel, would having me on the ship prevent you from becoming the Pirate King or something?"
"You damn well need a beating!"
The more Chen Yu spoke, the angrier he got. The more Luffy listened, the more panicked he became, cold sweat pouring down!
Then Luffy knelt on the ground again, blinking his eyes, continuously apologizing: "Sumimasen!"
Every time Luffy acted like this, Chen Yu would stop hitting him.
But this time it was different; seeing this scene, Chen Yu got even angrier, went up and gave him another beating: "You damn well are the Captain!"
"Pong~pong~"
"Piang~piang~"
After beating Luffy again, Chen Yu suddenly stood up and looked towards Alvida.
Before Chen Yu could speak, Alvida's pig-like laughter echoed: "Ang ha ha ha ha!"
"Ang ha ha ha ha!"
"Little brother, you're quite impressive. Follow me, and I'll guarantee you a life of luxury."
Chen Yu was first stunned, then utterly bewildered, and finally enraged: "You old hag, can't you see the situation clearly?"
"You wouldn't actually think you can beat me, would you?"
"You brat, don't push your luck," the enraged Alvida jumped over, swinging her spiked club at Chen Yu's head.
Chen Yu was too lazy to dodge.
The iron club passed right through Chen Yu's head.
And Alvida, due to inertia, fell to the ground and rolled away.
"Boom~ Boom~~ Pang!"
She crashed straight through the wall.
Seeing this scene, Chen Yu's veins bulged on his forehead, and his clenched right hand creaked.
"That old hag just meant to keep me as a toy, didn't she?!" Chen Yu muttered to himself.
The other pirate henchmen didn't dare to answer.
Luffy, however, didn't understand what 'kept as a toy' meant, otherwise he would definitely have agreed and then received another beating.
Seeing that ugly, fat aunt, uglier than a pig, getting up, still looking enraged, Chen Yu couldn't control his temper at all.
He stomped his foot, and his whole body shot out, reaching Alvida in the blink of an eye.
He grabbed Alvida by the collar and casually tossed her into the air.
Chen Yu's movements did not stop there.
His hands formed a five-claw shape, palms facing each other, mimicking a finger cage posture.
Flames continuously emerged from his palms, gathering and compressing between his hands.
This process was very short; onlookers only saw a flash of fire suddenly appear in Chen Yu's palms, then the light gradually brightened, finally becoming a bright yellow fireball.
Afterward, Chen Yu slightly rotated his palms, retracted his elbows slightly to the right-rear, and tucked the hand suppressing the bright yellow fireball slightly at his right waist, stepping forward with his left foot.
He stared intently at Alvida in the sky, his eyes fierce, and he shouted coldly: "Ka~me~ha~me~ha!"
With that, he pushed his hands forward, carrying the bright yellow fireball, and a terrifying wave of fiery energy blasted towards Alvida.
The moment of contact, Alvida instantly turned into a cloud of black ash, disappearing into the sky along with the fiery impact wave.
Where the shockwave passed, the air whistled, and the temperature was so high that even the air was scorched, twisting and boiling.
"Sss~!"
A chorus of gasps echoed around, Alvida's pirate underlings were all dumbfounded, some even collapsed to the ground, wailing loudly, their pants soaked.
Chen Yu didn't pay attention to any of this.
Originally, Alvida was meant for Luffy.
He needed combat to improve his strength.
Chen Yu's strength was already far beyond the standard in the early stages; his Devil Fruit Ability alone allowed him to move unhindered in the East Blue.
Coupled with his monstrous physique.
The East Blue simply didn't give him the desire to make a move.
If Alvida hadn't been so audacious as to try to keep him as a toy, he wouldn't have been so angry as to destroy her body, otherwise, how would he make a living on the streets later?
The dignified Flame Emperor once kept as a toy by a rich woman?
And the kind who was ugly and fat?
No, he had to find a way to improve Luffy and their strength; he didn't want to follow the original trajectory.
Chen Yu, who was planning the future, turned his head to look into the distance, only to see several enormous Marine battleships approaching, and he shuddered.
It wasn't fear, but at this point, without even a decent ship, provoking the Marines would earn you praise from Kaido as a 'death-seeking expert'!
He then delivered a chop to Luffy's head, whose eyes were still sparkling and who was muttering "Laser, laser" excitedly.
Grabbing Luffy by the neck, he transformed into a ball of flame and floated towards the small boat they had prepared beforehand.
At this point, Luffy also sobered up, stretched out his arm, grabbed Koby's hair, and flew out with him.
Koby cried out in pain.
---Led by Koby, the three of them quickly escaped the Marine's blockade.
Koby collapsed on the boat, gasping for air.
He was scared by Chen Yu.
He had just decided to become a Marine and capture Alvida, but then that old hag turned into ashes and traveled the world in the blink of an eye?
During this time drifting at sea, he was even careful when sneezing, afraid that his ashes would be scattered by Chen Yu.
Seeing this, Chen Yu didn't say anything, just smiled slightly at Koby, then continued to ponder.
And Luffy rambled on to Koby for a long time before Koby's heart finally settled down completely.
Luffy's explanation was nothing more than Chen Yu being a good person, his crewmate, and so on.
However, what moved Chen Yu was when Luffy personally told Koby, "Chen Yu is my first mate, blah blah blah."
Although this was expected, hearing these words directly from Luffy's mouth still made Chen Yu quite relieved.
All those beatings weren't in vain!
The noisy group then sailed towards the Marine branch where Zoro was imprisoned.
During this time, Chen Yu accelerated several more times. Before long, they arrived at Axe Emperor's island.Chapter 7: This Kid Really Knows How to Act Cool!
The trio of three strolled through the town; Luffy and Koby were laughing and shouting as they ate and grabbed things along the way.
Meanwhile, Chen Yu followed behind, paying for everything while asking the shopkeepers for information.
Of course, he wasn't asking about Zoro; he already knew all about that himself.
Chen Yu was looking for information on shipyards or second-hand ship dealers.
Unlike the original story, Chen Yu couldn't stand the idea of three grown men squeezing onto a tiny boat and scrubbing each other's backs. Besides, he was the first mate! Luffy could handle the unreliable stuff; Chen Yu valued his own reputation.
He had already begun fantasizing about leading the Straw Hat crew to the ends of the earth, and his title would be the Emperor of Flames!
Emperor of Flames - Chen Yu!
The title 'Fire Fist' was way too low-class.
Just look at those top-tier powerhouses; they had domineering titles like 'World Destroyer,' 'Heir of the Demons,' or 'Pluton.'
Even Shanks, with his shock of Red Hair, intimidated the New World; who didn't tremble at the mention of Red Hair Shanks?
Thus, Chen Yu began planning his own title.
He wondered if he should strike a cool pose before unleashing a finishing move and shout: 'Emperor of Flames — Kamehameha!'?
It wasn't out of the question.
As long as he wasn't embarrassed, the effect would be top-notch.
Besides, in this world, anyone with a reputation loved to shout their move names before a fight.
Take the Pirate Poet, Zoro, for instance; regardless of the power, his move names sounded awesome.
After some walking and stopping, they soon arrived at the outer wall of the Marine Branch.
Three heads peeked inside.
Oh boy, Zoro's personal BGM started playing.
"Black bandana and a haramaki... it's Roronoa Zoro," Koby's trembling voice narrated.
Hearing this, Chen Yu felt a strong sense of immersion. Tsk tsk, Zoro's entrance was really trying hard to look cool!
Although Luffy would turn Zoro into a bit of an idiot later on.
But right now, he was definitely acting cool!
At this moment, Luffy and Koby started arguing; one wanted to free Zoro, while the other refused.
Oh ho~ another classic scene!
*Zheng~*
A sudden, fast-paced BGM rang out again.
"Hey! You lot!"
"You're an eyesore!"
"Get lost!"
After speaking, Zoro swept a sharp gaze over Chen Yu's group.
Chen Yu didn't feel much, Luffy looked excited, but Koby was shivering with fear, snot and tears everywhere.
"Whoa!"
Chen Yu slapped his forehead; he was actually a bit impressed by Zoro's posturing!
"Why was my entrance so ordinary?" Chen Yu crossed his arms, utterly perplexed.
Right after that, a cute little girl climbed up with a ladder.
After that, Chen Yu didn't want to pay attention anymore.
He told Luffy directly that he was going for a stroll.
"Luffy, that idiot, never loots the bodies. Once Morgan is taken down, it'll be embarrassing to rob those Marine Soldiers," Chen Yu pondered as he walked.
After all, Koby was staying here, so they were somewhat acquainted. If he asked Luffy to rob them then, Luffy definitely wouldn't be willing.
And I have to maintain my image too, right? Otherwise, how can I act cool later?
Better to go loot in advance!
With that, Chen Yu transformed into a mass of flames and flew into the building, looting room by room.
He knocked out any soldiers he encountered.
He looted quite a lot of gold coins, but didn't take a single banknote or other coins; they were inconvenient to carry.
I wonder if Nami is around right now?
Since their last parting, Chen Yu missed Nami. And she seemed to be under twenty? That meant she was a bit older than him; he was only eighteen.
But the age gap was small, and fortunately, Nami could still keep developing!
In a corner unknown to Chen Yu, a beautiful young girl dressed in a Marine uniform watched him secretly before heading in another direction.
Her goal was only the Grand Line chart.
Since the chart was gone, she didn't linger.
Chen Yu hadn't awakened Observation Haki yet, so he naturally missed his beloved little Nami.
Of all the members, Nami's heart was the hardest to win over.
"It seems when we go to Arlong Park in a few days, I'll have to show off a bit without leaving a trace. I can't let Luffy steal Nami's heart!" Chen Yu muttered under his breath.
That idiot might not understand romance, but in the world of the Pirate King, how many beautiful women have feelings for him?!
Isn't that a waste of resources, like occupying a spot without using it?
Luffy's near-invincible sincerity really is the most terrifying thing.
---After looting the entire Marine Branch, including the warehouse, Chen Yu was quite satisfied.
He didn't take a single thread, only gold and gold coins, along with a few decent quality swords.
Even when passing the room of the Axe Emperor's idiot son, he didn't take Zoro's swords; he needed Luffy to sincerely invite Zoro to join the crew.
He only kept some of the gold coins; the rest he melted into gold plates to wear around his waist. He twirled his golden staff in his hand instead of slinging it on his back.
What a joke, he was wearing a suit! Hanging it on his back would wrinkle the suit.
Speaking of which, I'm so damn handsome, why doesn't Luffy have any reaction at all?
Besides identifying me by my Devil Fruit Ability, how does he even remember me??
The contemplative Chen Yu immediately fell into deep thought again... After walking for a while, he entered the restaurant where the little girl was, waiting for Luffy and the others while continuing his contemplation.
His golden staff was enough to make anyone envious, but these townsfolk didn't have that much courage.
He casually flipped two gold coins to the proprietress and said, "Proprietress, it might get a bit rowdy here in a while, don't mind it. Keep the change as payment for the food. There are four of us in total, just bring out some good food and wine."
Hearing this, the proprietress didn't say much and simply did as requested.
No one in business is a fool; someone like Chen Yu, who carried a golden staff without fear of being robbed, was obviously someone they couldn't afford to provoke.
Chen Yu's black suit also had a certain deterrent effect.
However, honestly, if it weren't for a moral hurdle in his heart, being a 'Cao Thief' wouldn't be out of the question!
*Hiss~!* Why is this proprietress actually kind of good-looking?
Chen Yu, scanning the proprietress with his peripheral vision, felt very conflicted.
Eating the food she served, drinking the wine she brought over, and looking at her graceful figure...
Hmm~ I wonder if the proprietress's bed is soft?
"Hiss!" Chen Yu sucked in another breath of cold air.
This time, he was startled by his own thoughts.
Nami is the priority; the revolution has not yet succeeded, and I still need to work hard!
He hurriedly recited a 'Heart-Calming Mantra' in his mind—the Douyin version. You know, the one that goes... anyway, that Douyin Heart-Calming Mantra!
---After a short while, Luffy and Koby arrived.
Seeing that Chen Yu had already ordered food, Luffy used a 'Rocket' and flew over, startling the people around them.
But this time, Luffy's landing was surprisingly accurate and quiet, without breaking anything.
Not bad, not bad!
Chen Yu looked at Luffy's performance and showed a fatherly smile.
He had trained him well; he wouldn't hit him this time.
After Luffy and Koby had eaten for a bit, Chen Yu asked about the situation.
The situation was pretty much as he had expected.
Basically, Zoro insisted on holding out for ten more days and rejected Luffy. Luffy had no choice but to return to the little girl's restaurant first.
Now they were just waiting for Helmeppo to show up.
In the early stages, Chen Yu didn't plan to intervene too much; he was quite satisfied with how things were going.
So, Chen Yu's planning was all for after the crew was assembled.
Today, Chen Yu still made a small move.
After Luffy punched Helmeppo and was about to continue, Koby stopped him.
Chen Yu stopped Koby.
And he responded to Koby's words: "Mr. Luffy! Do you want to become an enemy of the Marines?"
Chen Yu didn't express an opinion about the weak Koby himself.
But Koby's line just now had disgusted him for a long time in his past life.
Chen Yu looked down at Koby and said seriously, "What's wrong with us being enemies of the Marines?"
He didn't explain much, just turned to Luffy and said solemnly, "Can't pirates be enemies of the Marines? You said the Pirate King is the freest person, so act according to your heart and pursue your freedom!"
Everyone who heard these words reacted differently.
Koby lowered his head upon hearing this.
Luffy laughed happily, completely agreeing with Chen Yu's words, and gave him a thumbs up: "Nice! Chen Yu!"
After that was a thorough beating for Helmeppo.
But clearly, he didn't use lethal force; at most, he'd be swollen for a few days.
The other onlookers were shocked; both Luffy's actions and Chen Yu's words had a powerful impact on them.
As for the others, Chen Yu didn't say much. He casually took a few gold coins from his pocket and tossed them to the proprietress: "Sorry about that! This is for the repairs. Then, bring us another table of food, twenty servings."
This time Chen Yu gave too much, and the owner was flustered, perhaps also because of Chen Yu's recent actions.
This scene was all captured by Chen Yu, so he explained, "Before we leave, Morgan will definitely be finished, so you don't have to worry about Marine retaliation."
After speaking, he picked up the little girl—the proprietress's daughter—and continued, "Your daughter is very cute. Use the rest of the money to buy her some nice clothes..."
The little girl wasn't afraid of Chen Yu; on the contrary, she was quite docile in his arms, though her small hands gripped his arm with a worried expression.
Chen Yu knew the little girl was afraid of Axe-Hand Morgan.
Saying more now wouldn't help; once the time came, they would naturally be at ease.
It wasn't that Chen Yu was being a'Saint.'
But he truly believed that this little girl was the key to recruiting the 'wild' Zoro.
Besides, the little girl really was cute, okay? Chen Yu pinched her cheek, his heart nearly melting.
This child had inherited her mother's good traits well.
"Ahem!" Chen Yu coughed lightly, then looked around to see if anyone had noticed his actions.
Then he guiltily tucked away that shameful thought from just now!
Placing the little girl on a nearby seat, he took a cigar from his chest pocket.
He cut off one end with a flick of his palm, lit the other, and began to savor it.
In his past life, he was a veteran smoker.
He had smoked plenty of cigars but never dared to inhale; in this life, with his top-notch physical fitness, smoking a cigar was a piece of cake.
Moreover, inspired by Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit, he had developed a very broken ability for the Mera Mera no Mi—burning away everything, including diseases.
However, he still had no clue how to burn away pain or fatigue.
But it was definitely possible!
The mere Paw-Paw Fruit could even repel injuries, illnesses, and negative statuses. Even more impressive was Kuma's targeted travel ability; he really wanted that!
All he asked of his Mera Mera no Mi was to burn away negative emotions and pain—that wasn't too much to ask, right?
But he couldn't do it yet; he'd likely have to wait until he awakened the fruit.
As for why he dared to provoke the Marines now?
Are you kidding? Do you think I gathered information for nothing?
See that? See that medium-sized sailboat next to the original small boat?
I, the first mate, bought that. It's sturdy enough, and the sails have been reinforced with several extra layers.
If we really run into the Marines, we'll take them all out if we can win; if we can't, a single Fire Fist will have us surfing across the sea!Chapter 8: I've Got Zoro!
After the three of them—Chen Yu and the others—had eaten their fill, they headed toward the courtyard where Zoro was located.
"Is it you again? What a leisurely guy," Zoro sighed with emotion upon seeing Luffy again.
---Chen Yu witnessed this scene from the side.
But the most suitable choice for Zoro was to join us.
He had no choice.
Besides, we're about to gain a pirate poet, aren't we! Just thinking about it is a bit exciting.
My own move names don't sound good? What's there to fear when I have Zoro! Even if I'm too embarrassed to ask? Then I'll just take the ones he already has!
Zoro wouldn't care anyway!
Immediately after, the Axe Emperor also made his appearance.
Looking at Morgan's physique, Chen Yu felt a bit envious.
Morgan's muscle mass was truly massive, while Chen Yu's physique was actually similar to Zoro's, though both were sturdier than Luffy; Chen Yu was just taller.
Watching the fight between Luffy and Morgan, as well as Zoro crushing the weaklings, Chen Yu suddenly lost interest.
To him, or rather to the three of them, these were small scenes, just a drop in the bucket.
In the early stages, Luffy's strength was somewhat weak; his moves were varied, but without the enhancement of Haki, they were still lacking.
As for Zoro, in the early stages, except for nearly losing his life to Hawkeye, he could be said to have swept through everywhere else.
And regarding Zoro losing health at Arlong Park? If Zoro hadn't gone through that ordeal with Hawkeye, I think Zoro alone could have leveled Arlong Park.
The Pirate King of his previous life had many plot holes, like Arlong's nose being snapped by Luffy, while Zoro could barely land a wound?
Then it was smoothed over by saying his body was already injured.
I suspect Oda wanted to give Luffy more screen time, so he forcibly nerfed Zoro.
But this world is different; it's a real world, and the information he knew beforehand can only serve as a reference.
So, the places he wanted to intervene, besides planning to show off a bit in Arlong Park, was to start with Hawkeye.
Without Haki, their group combined couldn't beat Hawkeye, but Chen Yu wanted to see if he could get Haki from Hawkeye.
As long as the Original Straw Hat Monster Trio learned Haki, there would be no need to worry about their future development.
Applications like Ryuo wouldn't be much of a concern.
It's not that they couldn't learn advanced applications, but that they simply didn't know things like Ryuo and Haoshoku Infusion existed.
Therefore, as long as he obtained the introductory method for Haki, the road would be much smoother.
If there was no way with Hawkeye, then he could only look at Water Seven or on Garp's ship; Garp's ship definitely had that stuff!
Wait! He could also try his luck with Buggy... At this moment, the planning expert Chen Yu went offline!
Coming back to his senses, Chen Yu saw another famous scene—Zoro's 'entrustment'.
---"But there is one thing I must make clear,"
"Only my ambition is something I will absolutely carry through to the end,"
"If you cause me to be unable to realize this ambition, then you must commit seppuku to apologize to me!"
---Seeing this, Chen Yu felt unbalanced. Why is this guy so good at this?
Is this literary talent really the price for being a lifelong directional idiot? And the stronger he gets, the more lost he gets??
Slapping his own head, Chen Yu turned into a ball of fire and dissipated from the spot.
In the next second, he materialized beside Luffy.
It was time for his entrance!
Now Zoro is already the third member!
When strength should be shown, it must be shown.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to command anyone in the future!
"I say, don't you think this is taking a bit too long? Can't we just settle that trash first before chatting?" Chen Yu said speechlessly, pointing at Morgan, who was still blabbering and barking orders.
"If you don't want to make a move, tell me in advance!"
"My hands are itching from waiting," after saying that, Chen Yu began to show off his muscles.
A burst of flames erupted from all around Chen Yu. The terrifying temperature caused the nearby Marine Soldiers' clothes to spontaneously combust, and the air around Chen Yu began to warp and distort.
The radiating heat wave forced Luffy to use his hands to shield himself, while Zoro quickly dealt with the fodder behind him, then took a few steps back, staring at Chen Yu with burning eyes.
Zoro admired the strong and respected them.
Toward a powerhouse like Chen Yu who wasn't a swordsman, he would show enough respect, but he wouldn't feel a battle intent.
His bloodlust was only shown to swordsmen.
"You bastard Chen Yu! This is my fight, I won't let you interfere!" Seeing Chen Yu intending to act, Luffy jumped with anxiety.
After spending some time with Luffy, Chen Yu naturally knew that Luffy also had a very strong obsession.
The last time he saw Chen Yu blast Alvida to death, the impact on him wasn't small.
Chen Yu could also feel that Luffy really wanted to become stronger.
Seeing that his goal was achieved, Chen Yu tactfully retracted his flames and took a half-step back, signaling for the two of them to continue.
This time, he not only showed off his power but also stimulated their fighting spirit once again.
Chen Yu was already very satisfied with this trip to the Axe Emperor's island.
Without any suspense, after Chen Yu withdrew from the battle, the Axe Emperor didn't even get a chance to speak; he was directly knocked unconscious by the two of them working together. Even Helmeppo, who had fainted in his own room, only had time to run downstairs and didn't have time to take Koby hostage.
After it was over, Chen Yu took the group back to the landlady's shop. Luffy and Zoro began to eat and drink heartily, Koby also ate quite a bit, and Chen Yu naturally didn't fall behind.
In short, however much you, the landlady, serve, we'll eat!
The first one to give up was Koby, then after about another half hour of eating, Zoro was full too, leaving only Chen Yu and Luffy still eating.
At this point, Chen Yu found a chance to needle them. He turned to Zoro and said, "I heard that appetite is linked to strength! You're not cutting it, you skinny dog?"
Could Zoro tolerate hearing this?
Although he didn't understand what a 'skinny dog' was, the mocking tone made him explode instantly.
Coupled with Luffy's mockery, as he kept repeating Chen Yu's words, the sense of ridicule was overwhelming!
Zoro got so worked up he immediately drew his swords.
If Koby hadn't been holding him back desperately from behind, two of the three of them would definitely have been laid out today.
Once he calmed down, Zoro rejoined the battle. It only ended when the three of them had eaten all the food in the shop.
Luffy had a huge belly, and Zoro's belly wasn't small either; he looked so stuffed his face had turned pale.
Chen Yu, however, showed no change at all.
During his training on the deserted island, Chen Yu focused on martial arts and physique. In two years, his body naturally learned Life Return.
Life Return is truly practical. Once mastered, physical recovery is extremely fast, and the level of control over one's own body definitely goes up a level.
This also made him very confident in his physique, though he just hadn't had the chance to fight with full strength yet.
Chen Yu's purpose in making them eat so much was self-evident!
Immediately, Chen Yu explained the principles and benefits of Life Return to the two of them.
Luffy didn't care; as long as he could eat, he didn't think much of it.
Zoro nodded thoughtfully, clearly taking it to heart.
Without anyone noticing, the relationship between the three of them quietly deepened quite a bit. For men, sometimes a cigarette, a meal, or a drink is enough to acknowledge each other!
---"Ahahahahaha??" Zoro laughed loudly while clutching his stomach, looking in the direction Luffy pointed.
"This is your ship?? The crew is only the three of us?"
"Ahahahahahaha!" Zoro laughed again, his laugh both mocking and merry.
The two of them didn't know what Zoro was actually thinking. Mockery aside, Zoro had already fully accepted them at this moment:
So they are also persisting in a dream that the world laughs at?
"What are you laughing at!" Chen Yu interrupted Zoro's demonic laughter, pointed at the medium-sized sailing ship nearby, and continued: "Bought it on the island. We'll use this ship for now. Although it's second-hand, in the future when we have the chance, we will definitely build a dream ship that belongs only to us!"
Chen Yu was painting a rosy picture, but he knew Luffy and Zoro were very susceptible to this.
A dream? He hadn't found his yet. Currently, he only wanted to increase his strength so he could achieve true freedom!
Poor Zoro had just mentally cast Chen Yu as a fellow dream-chaser; what a lapse in judgment!
Little did he know that right now, Chen Yu was still just a salted fish.
---After settling some tedious matters, the group of three officially bid farewell to Koby at the port, and the adventure belonging only to the Straw Hat crew had just begun!Chapter 9: Luffy and Zoro's Fantastic Journey
"Are you an idiot!!"
"I'm so fucking done with this dumbass!"
Looking toward the source of the voice, one could see a sailboat drifting on the sea. On the deck, a Mosshead was staring at the sky in stunned silence.
Just moments ago, Luffy said he wanted to eat that bird in the sky, and then he just recklessy launched himself with a 'Rocket'.
Seeing this, Zoro initially didn't react much, until he saw Luffy's outrageous move of flying straight into the bird's mouth—essentially delivering his head on a silver platter! Only then was he truly shocked!
When had Zoro ever seen such a ridiculous move? He immediately woke up Chen Yu, who was still taking a nap.
Awakened, Chen Yu originally thought it was Luffy being noisy and disturbing his sleep, intending to give him a beating. Before he could act, he heard Zoro say anxiously, "That idiot Luffy was eaten by a bird! Go save him, quick!"
Hearing this, Chen Yu was no longer sleepy or angry. He immediately called for Zoro to pull in the sails while he himself vanished in a flash, flying rapidly toward the giant bird.
However, by the time Zoro woke Chen Yu up, the giant bird had already flown quite a distance away.
Realizing he couldn't catch the giant bird quickly, Chen Yu hurried back. By then, Zoro had already furled the sails.
Zoro didn't understand why Chen Yu told him to furl the sails, nor did he understand why Chen Yu didn't keep chasing.
But Zoro didn't ask, and Chen Yu didn't bother to explain.
Chen Yu had originally wanted to bring Luffy back at full speed, but then he realized Zoro would be out of his sight for a while. He was afraid!
He was afraid that in just that short amount of time, Zoro would somehow wander off all the way to the New World on his own!
Flying to the stern, Chen Yu transformed his lower body into elements. He pressed his hands against the stern and exerted force, making the entire ship fly up.
Clueless as to what was happening, Zoro slammed headfirst into a wall, a large bump visibly swelling on his head.
With a ferocious expression, he growled, "One day, I will kill you, Chen Yu!"
Before Zoro could even stand up, Chen Yu accelerated again. Poor Zoro was pinned directly against the wall by inertia, experiencing a serious surge of G-force!
Because Chen Yu was applying force diagonally upward, the sailboat was flying steadily just above the water's surface.
Suddenly, the entire ship shuddered. Did it hit something?
This didn't affect Chen Yu. He cranked his power to the maximum, and the ship's flight speed was now not much slower than the sunny's Coup de Burst.
If Chen Yu were flying alone, his speed could reach a staggering level. This was the result of two years of constant physical tempering and his unique development of the Mera Mera no Mi.
In terms of speed, he might not match the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, but he definitely had the ability to protect himself—referring to speed, of course. If he truly wanted to escape, perhaps only that loafer Kizaru could stop him.
And just where the sailboat had passed, two pools of blood suddenly appeared.
Buggy's poor subordinates had first been tricked by Nami, and then were directly crushed to death by the ship! Can you believe no one even noticed?
Chen Yu, acting as if he'd been injected with chicken blood, exerted even more effort!
"Buggy!! Here I come!"
After flying for a while, he overtook the giant bird. However, Chen Yu didn't choose to stop yet because he saw a small island.
"Finally found it!!" Chen Yu said as he gradually slowed down. In an instant, he flew to the bow and used a reverse thrust, bringing the ship to an immediate halt.
As for Zoro, who hadn't adapted to the previous speed, he felt a very bad premonition when the ship suddenly stopped. Immediately after, Zoro went flying, knocking down several trees in a row until he finally stopped by crashing into a large rock.
He was still alive!
But as soon as Zoro opened his mouth, it was a string of extremely 'friendly' greetings, highly maternal in nature and full of 'fiber'.
No need to ask—he learned it from Chen Yu! But why was this kid getting better and better at using it?
Still in the sky, Chen Yu looked at the giant bird. A faint smile curled at the corners of his mouth, and his gaze grew increasingly sharp.
"Fire Fist!"
An exaggeratedly large pillar of fire blasted toward Luffy and the strange bird.
Of course, the target was mainly the bird. Don't misunderstand.
Chen Yu's Fire Fist was more like a sea of fire, instantly engulfing both Luffy and the strange bird.
But fearing the strange bird wouldn't die, Chen Yu immediately shouted again: "Passionate Yellow Eel!"
Chen Yu formed a sword finger with his right hand, and a lifelike fire dragon spiraled around his two fingers.
Simultaneously, a flaming yellow eel appeared in the air, darting around following the movements of Chen Yu's sword finger.
Feeling the timing was right, Chen Yu waved his sword finger, controlling the giant eel in the sky to charge at the giant bird!
Boom!
The giant yellow eel exploded violently, and a terrifying blast of flame swept across the sky above the island.
The dark clouds that had gathered over the island were instantly evaporated.
Chen Yu had held back a lot; he hadn't even set that eel to its highest temperature—it was only about two or three hundred degrees.
Moreover, the amount of condensed fire wasn't much. For Chen Yu, it was just like setting off a firework!
This massive explosion naturally startled the pirates on the island, but under Buggy's Haoshoku luck, the pirates had a mysterious confidence in Buggy and weren't afraid at all!
Only Buggy himself was feeling extremely guilty and nervous.
At that moment, the giant bird that had fallen to the ground suddenly'stood up' and rushed toward Chen Yu at high speed.
Oh! It wasn't the bird standing up; it was Luffy carrying the giant bird on his shoulders as he ran over.
As soon as he arrived, Luffy reached out his right palm and slapped it toward Chen Yu's head, shouting noisily, "You bastard Chen Yu! Are you trying to burn me to death?"
Who was Chen Yu? Would he let himself be hit?
He directly elementalized, making it impossible for Luffy to even touch him.
Luffy, the stubborn ox, wouldn't give up and used all sorts of moves, but he just couldn't hit Chen Yu.
Zoro, who had just managed to crawl back up, saw this and immediately drew his three swords, slashing at Chen Yu like crazy.
Unfortunately, the two were still too green. They fought until they were panting for breath without ever dealing any damage to Chen Yu.
"It's Armament Haki, isn't it?!!!" Luffy and Zoro suddenly shouted in unison.
Then they looked at each other, exchanged a glance, and ignored Chen Yu. They walked sulkily over to the giant bird and began eating the meat that Chen Yu had roasted.
Seeing this, Chen Yu burst into laughter.
Then he also ran over to eat the bird meat. Not going to lie, the taste was really good—the person who roasted it had great control over the heat!
However, to eat the meat in peace, he also did some careful expression management and stopped mocking the two.
---After finishing the meat, the three of them returned to their usual harmony.
Little did they know that not long after, the two of them would team up with a yellow-haired curly-head to give Chen Yu a sound beating while he was napping.
As soon as the three reached the entrance of the small town, they saw an orange-haired beautiful girl being pursued by three pirates.
Seeing this scene, Chen Yu was first stunned, and then he felt inexplicably a bit angry.
He suddenly raised his right hand and fired a barrage of 'Fire Guns', directly turning those three pirates chasing Nami into Swiss cheese.
After dealing with those three nobodies, Chen Yu naturally had to go and build some presence. His face instantly showed a look of urgency and worry as he appeared in front of Nami in a flash: "Are you okay?"
Chen Yu didn't get too close. He controlled the distance so that Nami could just feel his concern for her, but not to an excessive degree.
Luffy and Zoro watched in stunned silence, their heads tilting to the side with question marks written all over their faces.
After coming to this world, Chen Yu was very glad he had signed up for the university's drama club, where he had honed his expression management and acting skills quite well.
Even an old hand like Nami didn't notice anything unusual.
Right now, besides confusion, Nami felt puzzled by Chen Yu's concern and protection.
There was also a slight sense of self-reproach.
She had just been thinking about using these three as shields.
However, this self-reproach was currently so slight it could be ignored.
Nami avoided Chen Yu's gaze, took a step back, turned, and ran.
"I need this sea chart. The villagers are still waiting for me to save them!"
"Just a little more, just a little bit more!" Nami shouted softly as she ran.
Chen Yu didn't chase her, and Nami didn't look back, acting like strangers.
To win Nami over, she first had to get on the ship. And to get her on the ship, Luffy's sincerity had to be used as a crowbar to pry a hole in Nami's psychological defenses! Chen Yu thought to himself as he watched Nami's receding figure.
Only Luffy's sincerity could make Nami willing to become a pirate!
Sigh! Chen Yu exhaled a breath of turbid air and then smoothed his brow again.
He turned his head to look at the 'tilted-head duo' who were still full of question marks, and didn't explain.
He then spoke calmly, "That girl just now is a Navigator, a very capable Navigator."
After saying that, he glanced at Luffy and temporarily bid farewell to Luffy and Zoro.
He wanted to go and scout out Buggy's lair first.
He would leave Buggy's crew and Nami to the two of them.
Hearing that Nami was a Navigator, Luffy's eyes lit up. Ignoring Zoro, he dashed off in the direction Nami had gone.
Zoro, on the other hand, didn't care. He didn't need a Navigator; he always firmly believed in himself!
After thinking for a while, Zoro also started walking; he was going to find some sake to drink.
At this time, all of Buggy's crew were waiting in front of the tent for their subordinates to bring Nami back.
After waiting for a while and seeing no sign of them, they sent out another group. This time it wasn't three, but a full ten!
Chen Yu, transformed into a ball of fire, slipped into the tent from the side.
He searched for a long time but didn't see anything of value.
He only found some useless Buggy Balls.
Just as he was about to leave, Chen Yu suddenly noticed a very hidden gap under the main seat.
Chen Yu tossed a ball of fire over, and what came into view was a small safe!Chapter 10: I Gave You a Chance, But You Blew It!
"!!!!!"
Chen Yu, who had initially thought he would come up empty-handed, suddenly felt his mood brighten.
He didn't rush to open it; instead, he pried the safe out and sauntered away.
Meanwhile, Nami wasn't having such good luck.
Having escaped Chen Yu's group, she hadn't gone far before she ran into Buggy's men again, and this time, there were even more of them.
Looking at the pirates surrounding her from the front and back, with some even on the rooftops, Nami's face instantly filled with despair.
She could handle one or two, but ten pirates... Meanwhile, carrying the safe, Chen Yu flew into a nearby forest.
"Bang!"
The safe in his hand slammed heavily onto the ground. He scanned the surroundings, observing the situation nearby.
After confirming there was nothing unusual, Chen Yu immediately prepared to open the safe.
However, just as he reached out his hand, he caught a glimpse of a moving Mosshead wandering around not far away out of the corner of his eye.
Chen Yu:???
His movements froze, and a few drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
He was quite stunned at this moment! Hadn't this guy gone looking for booze?
"Zoro!!!" Chen Yu called out helplessly.
"Rustle~"
"Tap~ Tap~"
Zoro pushed aside some bushes and walked over to Chen Yu, taking the initiative to say, "Yo! Chen Yu, are you looking for booze too?"
Hearing this, Chen Yu didn't respond, instead looking at Zoro with a half-smile.
"Damn it!! What's that look supposed to mean!"
Ignoring Zoro's embarrassment and anger, Chen Yu slightly raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Does the Great Swordsman really think there would be booze here?"
Upon hearing this, Zoro's originally faint bronze skin instantly turned a burning red from embarrassment, the kind that practically sizzled with steam!
"You couldn't have gotten lost, could you? Great Swordsman?" Chen Yu continued mockingly.
"Clang!!"
The sound of swords being unsheathed echoed through the woods; Zoro couldn't take the teasing anymore!
Holding two swords, he approached Chen Yu with a face full of fury.
Seeing that he had teased him enough, Chen Yu stopped provoking Zoro and said with a grin, "Zoro! There's a swordsman in town, do you want him?"
"I've left Buggy for Luffy, so that swordsman is all yours!"
Hearing this, Zoro couldn't wait any longer. He quickly sheathed his swords, a wild and unrestrained smile appearing on his face, his eyes bursting with battle intent.
He couldn't muster any battle intent against Chen Yu—of course, that would be a different story once he learned Armament Haki!
"Thanks!" With a word of thanks, Zoro ran off in the opposite direction of the town.
Chen Yu: ∑(ﾟoдoﾟ)!!
Then: (*￣︿￣)
Finally: (╬◣д◢)!!
Without another word, he stepped forward and gave Zoro a few firm punches to the head.
"Bam! Bam! Bam!"
Seeing a large bump swell up on Zoro's head, Chen Yu clapped the dust off his hands with satisfaction.
Chen Yu now: (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧
Punching Zoro wasn't like punching Luffy; after punching Zoro, he really would come looking for a fight!
Without waiting for Zoro to get up and say anything, he immediately grabbed Zoro by the collar, aimed in a specific direction, used every ounce of his strength, and hurled him away!
"You bastard! Chen Yu! Just you wait!!"
Hearing this from below, Chen Yu used his index finger to scratch the tip of his nose.
Then he just acted like he hadn't heard a thing! b(￣▽￣)d~
On the other side, when Luffy arrived, he saw Nami surrounded by pirates and shouted, "No one gets to bully our Navigator!!"
If Chen Yu had seen this scene, he would have definitely given a thumbs up!
A very powerful and willful declaration!
---Chen Yu once again used his hand as a blade. His palm instantly transformed into a rapidly flowing blade, gently cutting along the edges of the safe.
After some effort, he managed to cut open the safe without damaging the contents... Seeing a book pulled out of the safe, Chen Yu frowned slightly.
On the book were written several very elegant characters: Buggy's Diary.
Chen Yu wasn't surprised that the book was a diary, but the fact that Buggy had such elegant handwriting made him take a sharp breath!
No matter how you looked at him, Buggy didn't seem like the type who could write like that.
He flipped through the contents briefly; it recorded the little things from Buggy's time on Roger's pirate ship.
But it was all daily life stuff.
It mentioned that the crew often tempered their Haki on the deck, but it was more geared toward training methods after awakening Haki.
It didn't mention how to awaken it.
Observation Haki was mentioned, though the method was similar to what Rayleigh taught in the anime.
Besides blindfolding oneself and having others strike with sticks, there was also the Suspended Wood Method.
Actually, Chen Yu could have tempered his Observation Haki long ago, but he had been training his physique nonstop for two years. To him, his physique and Armament Haki were more important for now.
So he had never squeezed out the time to temper his Observation Haki.
And now, the time had come.
Moreover, due to a lack of equipment for training his physique, Chen Yu and Zoro had been slacking off lately.
It wasn't that they didn't want to train, but without equipment, just trying to exhaust their physical strength would take half the day, and for Chen Yu, the time required was even more exaggerated!
Therefore, since setting out to sea, what Chen Yu did most was pull Luffy along to soak in seawater.
He had already adapted quite a bit; he could exert eighty percent of his strength in the water, after all, he had been soaking for two years.
As for Luffy, he had only reached the point where he wouldn't be quite so weak while soaking in the water, barely able to move. Furthermore, when training first started, Luffy wasn't very willing, acting like a total slacker!
With no other choice, Chen Yu had to jump into the sea while Luffy watched in shock, swimming a few laps of freestyle and breaststroke.
Seeing this, Luffy's eyes lit up. Then, in a moment of brain-dead impulse, he jumped into the sea too.
"Splash~ Splash~"
"Glug, glug~"
---A few minutes later, he was fished out by Chen Yu and then given a sound thrashing!
After that day, Luffy very conscientiously practiced his seawater soaking training, requiring no supervision from Chen Yu at all.
From then on, Chen Yu gradually understood the mode of getting along with Luffy and Zoro.
If it was linked to becoming stronger, Zoro was willing to try anything.
As for Luffy, you had to make him interested or willing himself before he would take action. Otherwise, even if you beat him every day, if he didn't want to do it, he still wouldn't!
Since the training plan was on the agenda, he had to hurry up and deal with Buggy.
With that thought, in an instant, Chen Yu transformed into a streak of fire and roared toward Buggy's location.
---Chen Yu quietly appeared on the street where Zoro and Buggy had originally been facing off.
Chen Yu =????(ﾟДﾟ*): "??? Where's Zoro??"
He looked around in a panic.
He was truly panicking; he was genuinely afraid he'd see in the newspaper tomorrow that Zoro had already reached Sabaody Archipelago and was giving directions to the Celestial Dragons!!
When he couldn't see Zoro anywhere, he wondered if he was in another direction.
So he turned his head and saw three scabbards sticking out of the ruins, along with a pair of constantly twitching long green legs.
"Whew!!" After breathing a sigh of relief, Chen Yu quickly walked toward Zoro.
Ignoring his condition, he grabbed him by the collar and whispered, "Zoro, that swordsman is yours. I'll take care of the others!"
Luffy's reckless habit really needed to be cured; he couldn't be pampered, it was just adding to everyone's workload!
Getting caught easily every single time!
This time, he even had a damn cannon pointed at his head.
It seemed Nami had still managed to trick Luffy into coming to Buggy's place.
"Sigh~"
Chen Yu sighed and set Zoro down, then turned to look at Luffy, muttering to himself, "I gave you the chance, and you still haven't dealt with Buggy after all this time... Holy crap!!"
Chen Yu suddenly saw Nami, who was using her hand to pinch out the cannonball's fuse, about to be slashed by three karamai!
Normally, Zoro would have saved Nami, but because of him, Zoro was still twitching.
"Close one! Close one!!"
With that, he turned into a ball of fire and rushed toward Nami.
Turning around, he blocked the karamai' attack with his golden staff.
"Chen Yu!!!"
Luffy shouted in surprise and joy from inside the cage!!
Alerted, Nami also turned around to look, seeing a tall figure blocking all the attacks for her.
Seeing the newcomer, Nami's pupils suddenly contracted, her heart feeling extremely conflicted: "So he's a pirate too? He's not..."
"I should have realized it earlier! The companion he was looking for back then, the guy wearing the straw hat, wasn't that exactly Luffy?"
---Chen Yu had no idea what Nami was thinking.
At this moment, if you asked if Chen Yu had deep feelings for Nami, or if he liked her a lot? Not necessarily.
Chen Yu knew himself; it was mostly just being attracted to her beauty, with some other emotions developing on top of that, and that was it.
As for his past life, well...
To be honest, it was purely fantasizing about Nami, plus a bit of sympathy for what the girl had gone through.
When actually meeting a living, breathing Nami, the feeling was different again.
How could true sincerity be generated so easily?
Even if Chen Yu were willing, it would still take a lot of time!
---With a backhand strike, he sent the three karamai flying, saying in a chilling tone, "Luffy, I gave you the chance, but you blew it yourself. Don't blame me!"