526-530

Chapter 526: Your Ability’s So Handy  

“You’ve gotta have dreams, right?” 

Yoru grinned, tearing off a big chunk of fish meat, his eyes sparkling with youthful passion. “Young people are supposed to want to explore the world, see how vast and boundless it is.” 

“If a young person doesn’t have that fire, are they even young? What’s the point of youth if you don’t live it to the fullest?” 

Yoru stood up… 

He glanced enviously at the ice path Kuzan had created. “I wonder if the great former Admiral Kuzan could whip up an ice road to the next island for me?” 

Why not use a guy who’s right there, ready to help? Yoru wasn’t dumb. 

“Man, you really know how to put a guy to work!” Kuzan said, shaking his head with a helpless sigh. He stood, dipped his hand into the sea, and drawled lazily, “Ice Age!” 

In an instant… 

The area within sight crackled and froze, turning pure white as the ocean solidified into ice! 

“Hahaha, thanks! Natural-type abilities are just too handy!” Yoru said, making Kuzan even more exasperated. Handy? 

“Hey, hey, hey, my power’s for fighting, not for giving you a shortcut across the sea!” 

But Yoru, already speeding off, probably didn’t hear a word of it. 

How do you move fast on ice? Easy. He’d prepared a wooden sled in advance, using his “Breaker” as a propulsion tool, sliding smoothly toward the next island. 

The feeling? 

Pure perfection! 

“Lightning-fast” didn’t even begin to describe the thrill. 

“Well, time for me to go stop Teacher Zephyr,” Kuzan said, heading to the other side of the sea. He put out his cigarette, hopped on his bike, and pedaled off across the water. 

And so… 

That day, anyone sailing the seas witnessed two bizarre sights: 

One guy zooming across the ice on a sled. 

Another riding a bicycle over the ocean. 

Talk about weird! 

Babarun Island 

After half a day of high-speed sledding, Yoru finally reached the next island. 

The moment he arrived, he shattered the frozen coastal waters with a single strike. 

Then… 

He stepped onto the island, greeted by the terrified faces of its people. 

“Huh? Red Hair’s island?”  

Spotting the Red Hair Pirates’ flag flying high, Yoru raised an eyebrow. 

Guess this wasn’t a place he could just mess around in. 

But at the same time… 

His arrival sent shockwaves through the island’s residents. 

No kidding! 

This was an Emperor of the Sea—one of the Four Emperors. 

If that didn’t cause a panic, that would’ve been the real surprise. 

Looking at the chaotic crowd, Yoru pouted, a bit helpless. “Am I that scary?” 

But he didn’t bother explaining. Whether he did or not, it wouldn’t change much. 

These folks weren’t likely to believe him and just calm down. 

He was sure the pirates stationed on this island would show up any second now. 

With something this big happening, there’s no way they’d stay quiet. 

And, as expected… 

Within moments, a group of wary, fully armed pirates appeared before him. Others rushed to clear the surrounding civilians. 

“Honored Yoru, what brings you here so suddenly?”  

The speaker was a burly man, standing two meters eighty, with a large sword strapped to his back and chains wrapped around his body. 

“Just passing through!” Yoru said, patting his stomach. “Planning to grab a meal on the island and maybe buy a ship to keep sailing.” 

The man frowned, skeptical. “That’s it?” 

He wasn’t buying that an Emperor of the Sea would show up in another Emperor’s territory for something as simple as that. 

Chapter 527: Just Waiting to Set Sail  

“What else would I be here for?”  

Yoru glanced at the burly man. “You think I’ve got some grand plan? Invading? Wreaking havoc?”  

He smirked. “Sorry, I’m not that bored.”  

With that, he strolled off casually. “I’m starving. Don’t tell me there’s no cook on this island!”  

The big man frowned but didn’t dare stop him or slack off. Yoru was unpredictable, so it was better to play along for now.  

With a bounty of 131 million berries, this guy knew he was no match for a Yonko. All he could do was wait for word from his boss.  

Let a Yonko deal with a Yonko—even if it’s just over a Den Den Mushi.  

“Get some food!” the big man barked at the trembling restaurant owner hiding behind the counter.  

The owner, too scared to refuse, shakily ordered a waiter to bring out a spread of dishes. The waiter looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown, probably convinced he was about to die.  

That’s the kind of fear pirates inspire—a reputation for ruthless chaos.  

Yoru glanced at the waiter and shook his head. “Relax, I’m not gonna kill you. I don’t eat people either. No need to freak out.”  

Whether the waiter believed him was another story.  

An hour later…  

Full and satisfied, Yoru pulled out a few gold bars. “Keep the change as a tip.”  

He didn’t have any spare coins on him. Whether the gold bars covered the meal or not, he wasn’t sure, but it probably wasn’t too far off.  

…  

“See ya!”  

At the port, standing on a small boat, Yoru waved cheerfully at the big man.  

The guy let out a sigh of relief—finally, this walking disaster was leaving!  

Thankfully, Yoru kept his word. He’d said he just wanted food and a boat, and that’s all he did. No ulterior motives.  

If Yoru had decided to cause trouble, the big man knew he’d be dead. He didn’t kid himself into thinking a Yonko would spare him after making a move.  

Yonko… they’re the kind of monsters who don’t even blink at slaughtering other pirates.  

“This guy just drifted onto my island. Interesting,” Red Hair remarked when he heard the news, unbothered.  

He trusted Yoru wouldn’t start anything. After all, the guy was pretty laid-back, not one to pick fights for no reason.  

Two days later, Yoru was back on Night Island.  

Sailing a small boat across the vast ocean took time.  

“How’d it go, Captain? Smooth trip? Did you get the goods?” Novus asked.  

Yoru shrugged. “Why does it feel like I’m the subordinate here?”  

Novus burst out laughing. “No way, Captain! As if we’d ever make you the underling!”  

Yoru shook his head and pulled out the Eternal Pose. “This little thing’s our ticket to reaching Raftel.”  

Novus stared at the Eternal Pose, eyes gleaming. “Man, just thinking about achieving what Pirate King Roger did… it’s got me pumped!”  

Yoru’s lips curled into a grin. “Yeah, the place only a Pirate King’s supposed to reach? We’re about to conquer it.”  

He locked eyes with Novus, his gaze turning serious. “You ready for the threats we’re about to face?”  

Novus grinned wide, fearless. “You know it, Captain. Wherever you go, I’m right behind you.”  

“From the day I stepped on this ship, I handed my life over to you!”  

His eyes burned with ambition, passion, and unshakable courage. 

Chapter 528: Two Good Disciples  

“Don’t talk like that.”  

“Your life is your own—it’s got nothing to do with me. Don’t make it sound like you’re about to die. That’s not cool!”  

Yoru was honestly a bit shaken. Those words threw him off, and he felt a twinge of panic.  

“By the way, Captain, have you heard? That whole frenzy Barrett kicked off ended with his downfall!”  

“The Navy lost five Vice Admirals to serious injuries, and the rest of their losses are too many to count…”  

“Among the pirates, the Supernovas Hawkins, Kidd, Killer, Apoo, and Drake got nabbed!”  

“Straw Hat Luffy, Fire Fist Ace, and the Revolutionary Sabo managed to escape after a fierce fight with Admiral Kizaru!”  

“Jewelry Bonney was taken by CP0, and the weird monk Urouge joined Big Mom’s crew!”  

Hearing this, Yoru raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s interesting. Most of the Supernovas wiped out? The strongest challengers to the Four Emperors in this new era just went out with a whimper!”  

“That Barrett guy sure made a mess. I can just imagine how epic that scene must’ve been.”  

Nous sighed. “That guy’s a total madman. Taking on so many of the sea’s heavy hitters single-handedly—how could he not fail?”  

“I don’t get it. Why didn’t he just team up with you, Captain?”  

Yoru shook his head. “No way that guy would ever work with me.”  

“He’s too wild. I couldn’t rein him in. He’s a born troublemaker, not my kind of ally. Teaming up would only end with both of us screwed.”  

He glanced at Nous. “Any other news?”  

Nous nodded. “Yeah. Former Admiral Zephyr tried to use Dyna Stones to destroy the world, but the Navy Marshal stopped him himself.”  

“They clashed at Punk Hazard in the New World. Zephyr lost and died, and former Admiral Aokiji buried him.”  

Yoru gave a wry smile. “One student kills him, another buries him. Full circle, huh?”  

“What a tragic life. The World Government owes Zephyr an apology.”  

Nous couldn’t agree more.  

If he were in Zephyr’s shoes, with that kind of past, he might’ve gone even further than Zephyr.  

If the world’s broken, burn it down!  

Who cares if innocents get caught in the crossfire? It doesn’t matter. He’d shoulder all the sins himself.  

The sea needs to be torn apart and rebuilt!  

At Navy Headquarters…  

“How’s Fujitora doing?”  

Sakazuki’s face was grim as he questioned Kizaru, who, as usual, looked like he couldn’t care less.  

Kizaru sipped his coffee, exuding his clock-in, clock-out vibe. “He’s fine. Just a couple of broken ribs.”  

Sakazuki’s eyes darkened. “Just a couple of broken ribs? That’s fine to you?”  

He roared at Kizaru, who just smacked his lips. “No surprise there. The guy was part of Roger’s crew, after all. Scary stuff. He took down Supernovas Straw Hat Luffy and Fire Fist Ace, and it cost Fujitora serious injuries to finally catch him.”  

“These old-era monsters are something else, never staying quiet.”  

Sakazuki snorted. “If you’d put in a bit more effort, maybe Fire Fist Ace and Straw Hat Luffy wouldn’t have slipped away!”  

He was fed up with Kizaru’s lazy, half-assed attitude.  

He’d thought about replacing Kizaru countless times.  

But swapping out an Admiral? Not so simple.  

Even if an Admiral screws up, as long as it’s not a major breach of principle, the World Government tends to turn a blind eye.  

And Kizaru? He’s just lazy, rarely messes up, and directly protects the World Government’s interests.  

As long as the higher-ups aren’t complete idiots, they’ll just grumble a bit and leave Kizaru alone without any real punishment. 

Chapter 529: Strengthen, Keep Strengthening  

Admirals are top-tier forces. Even for a Fleet Admiral, dealing with one requires serious thought about the consequences.  

Otherwise, Sakazuki would’ve already made his move!  

“How’s the situation with those monsters in Impel Down’s Level 6? Still behaving?”  

“The seas are about to face an unprecedented storm. That place has to stay absolutely secure!”  

Kizaru shrugged. That wasn’t his department.  

“What about the SSG combat robots? How’s the progress?”  

Now that was under Kizaru’s direct supervision.  

“Dr. Vegapunk says they’re almost done, but they’re still in testing.”  

Kizaru sipped his coffee. “Once these weapons are ready, the Seven Warlords—those legalized pirates—can be completely phased out.”  

Sakazuki nodded. “You can see it from this battle alone. Empress Boa Hancock and Hawkeye Mihawk helping Straw Hat Luffy’s crew escape? That’s not what they’re supposed to do.”  

Kizaru flashed a sly smile. “What, you thinking about cutting them loose?”  

He paused. “Or is this about Zephyr’s situation hitting you hard?”  

Sakazuki shot him a cold glance, letting the silence speak for itself.  

“Right now, the World Government wants us to keep a close eye on the Lightning Pirates. That Yoru guy has everything he needs to reach the final island. If he makes it there, the seas will descend into total chaos.”  

“Borsalino, I’m putting you in charge of monitoring him. Don’t slack off on me.”  

Kizaru sighed, standing up reluctantly. “More running around and dealing with that terrifying monster, huh?”  

He looked like he was already dreading it.  

…  

“Strengthening complete, but only a one-level boost?”  

Yoru shook his head, a bit disappointed. “Still, it’s not just that—I’m about a third of the way to jumping two levels!”  

Host: Yoru 

Age: 21 

Bird-Bird Fruit, Phoenix Form: Awakened (96/100) 

Skills: Phoenix Fire Feather, Phoenix Meteor Strike, Phoenix Feather Slash, Phoenix Supreme Sun 

Passive Ability: Rebirth in Flames (can recover from any injury in flames) 

Observation Haki: Advanced (45/100) 

Armament Haki: Advanced (90/100) 

Swordsmanship: Lv4 (Flash: 80/100) 

Weapon: Delusion Breaker 

Strengthening Points: 0 

World: One Piece 

Physical Attributes:  

• Strength: 288 (Normal Human: 5)  

• Speed: 210 (Normal Human: 5)  

• Agility: 207 (Normal Human: 5)  

• Stamina: 276 (Normal Human: 5)  

• Defense: 289 (Normal Human: 5) 

Strength Level: 96 (Navy Admiral: 95)  

…  

In terms of raw power, he was already on par with Whitebeard during the Summit War—just two levels shy of Whitebeard’s peak!  

And that…  

Came at the cost of 1.7 million strengthening points.  

The higher you climb, the harder it is to grow stronger, and the more points it demands.  

“Still, it’s plenty powerful!”  

Yoru wasn’t greedy.  

His current strength was already near perfection.  

Power could come slowly, bit by bit.  

“But the World Government’s not gonna let me waltz to the final island that easily. Gotta keep building my strength!”  

The road to getting stronger was long and tough.  

But if there was a faster way, he wouldn’t say no.  

“Captain, we’ve spotted Navy ships nearby!”  

Nous walked in, looking at Yoru lounging in his chair, sipping tea, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. 

Chapter 530: Taking the Initiative  

“The Navy? Now that’s interesting. Let’s check it out!” 

Yoru leapt to his feet, practically buzzing with excitement. 

He knew it! 

The delivery service for power-up points had arrived. 

“Captain, you’re way too eager today,” Nous said, eyeing his captain’s enthusiasm with confusion. 

“Eh, I’m just bored, that’s all,” Yoru replied, clapping Nous on the shoulder before heading out. 

Nous let out a sigh.  

Lately, his captain’s actions were getting harder and harder to predict. 

“Bashas, Ruri, you guys busy? If not, come with me to see what’s up!”  

Yoru wasn’t about to head out without some flair—and a bit of extra muscle to back up his crew’s strength. 

At his invitation, Ruri and Bashas both lit up with excitement.  

No way were they missing out on something this fun. 

The Mandevs, docked for ages, finally welcomed its master back. The ship’s spirited, battle-hungry elf was thrilled, pushing the vessel faster than usual. 

In no time… 

A Navy warship came into view. 

Yoru’s sudden appearance sent the patrolling marines into a panic. 

“Emergency!!!”  

The lookout sounded the alarm. 

In an instant, a sharp, urgent wail echoed across the sea. 

Marines scrambled into formation! 

“Pretty impressive sight!” Yoru remarked, but he had no intention of slowing down. He barreled straight into the Navy’s encirclement. 

“On guard!!!”  

Seeing Yoru charge right into their trap, the marines on the warship weren’t thrilled—they were terrified!  

They were on edge, as if facing their worst nightmare. 

With Admiral Fujitora absent and Kuzan gone rogue, Yoru was practically untouchable on the open sea. 

Even someone as brash as Onigumo didn’t dare provoke him. He just stood there, hand on his sword, face grim.  

The air was so tense you could hear a pin drop. 

Every marine’s body was rigid, hearts pounding, sweat dripping down their faces. 

The sound of nervous gulps filled the air. 

“An Emperor’s arrived—man, that’s scary!”  

Just then, the sky lit up. A massive four-pointed star appeared, followed by an overwhelming pressure. Kizaru materialized atop the warship’s cannon platform. 

He looked at Yoru, hands in his pockets, all casual and carefree.  

“Well, well, Borsalino. What brings you to my Eternal Night Sea?”  

Yoru drew his blade, pointing it at Kizaru with a grin, licking his lips in excitement. 

His attitude caught Kizaru off guard. 

From what he remembered, Yoru was never this aggressive. He rarely started fights.  

What was with this sudden change? He seemed… dangerous. 

“Just a routine patrol,” Kizaru said with a shrug, like it was no big deal. 

“Patrol?”  

Yoru’s grin widened. In the next moment, he vanished, a scorching, heavy aura erupting outward. 

Kizaru’s eyes narrowed. His hands glowed as he drew his Ama no Murakumo sword from a burst of light, clashing with Yoru, who appeared in a flash. 

He was so fast, like a phantom, that even Kizaru could barely keep up. 

BOOM! 

A massive shockwave rattled the heavens, sending wild ripples and violent winds across the sea. 

“Hey, hey, hey, that’s dangerous! Don’t just charge in like that!” Kizaru said, squinting with a wary look. 

“You show up in my territory, and I’m not allowed to cut loose?”  

Yoru smirked, pressing harder with his blade.