516-520

Chapter 516: I’ll Be Waiting for You on Night Island  

"What a terrifying punch! Alright, let’s have some fun!" 

Yoru didn’t bother using Observation Haki to dodge, relying instead on the unique nature of his ability. 

Like Katakuri turning into mochi to shrug off physical attacks, Yoru threw a punch coated in Armament Haki, clashing directly with Straw Hat Luffy. 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

In an instant! 

The battlefield roared like a thunderstorm, the ground trembling, dust flying, and the air itself exploding with relentless wails. 

All that could be seen were countless fist shadows and the constant sound of collisions. 

But judging by Straw Hat Luffy’s strained expression, it was clear—he was still on the back foot. 

"Three Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!" 

At that moment… 

Pirate Hunter Zoro struck, his attack as sharp as a legendary blade, slicing through the air with lethal precision, grazing past Yoru. 

Splatter! 

A spray of blood erupted from Yoru’s abdomen. 

He was wounded! 

"Ha!" 

Seeing his chance, Straw Hat Luffy seized the moment, throwing overpowered punches and briefly regaining the upper hand. 

"What a fearsome strike! No less from a captain with a 1.5 billion Berry bounty and the infamous Pirate Hunter. Hawkeye’s got himself a fine disciple!" 

Yoru grinned, and a surge of raging flames exploded from his body, his aura skyrocketing in an instant. 

Like a thunderstorm’s roar, Yoru’s fiery fist blazed forward, forcing a grimace of pain from Luffy, who was quickly suppressed again. 

"Break!" 

As if issuing a divine decree, Luffy’s assault faltered. 

His face contorted in agony, sweat beading on his forehead, but he had no time to dwell on it. His pupils shrank as he faced the enemy now right in front of him. 

"Get stronger, Straw Hat Luffy. I’ll be waiting for you in Wano!" 

With that… 

A fist slammed into Luffy’s face, sending him crashing to the ground. 

Boom! 

It was as if the island itself might sink or shatter. 

Dust and debris shot several meters into the air! 

Rocks crumbled, creating a spectacular scene. 

A massive crater, several meters deep, formed in the ground, surrounded by terrifying cracks. 

"There’s an opening, Lightning Killer!" 

Behind Yoru, Capone Bege transformed into a colossal castle giant, raising a massive fist that blotted out the sky as it came crashing down. 

"Three Sword Style: Three Goro Thousand Eighty Troubled Winds!" 

And from the front! 

The Pirate Hunter struck again, unleashing a terrifying slash capable of splitting mountains. The sword wave roared like a beast, its howl tearing through the heavens. 

Its speed rivaled lightning—impossible to dodge, reaching Yoru in the blink of an eye. 

"Now that’s terrifying!" 

Yoru let out a sigh, making no move to block, as if he didn’t have time. 

"What… he can’t dodge that move?" 

"What’s going on? Is he giving up?" 

"The Pirate Hunter’s that strong? Even an Emperor can’t react in time?" 

The onlookers… 

The New World spectators in the stands widened their eyes, convinced they were about to witness the birth of a new legend. 

A legend named Roronoa Zoro! 

But… 

"Foolish!" 

From the shadows, a towering figure like an iron tower, exuding a godlike demonic aura—Barrett—sneered with disdain. 

"If he were that easy to take down, he wouldn’t be called the Lightning Killer!" 

And just as he said! 

Zoro’s sky-shattering strike passed straight through Yoru’s body, blasting a massive hole through his fiery form before tearing into Capone Bege’s ‘Castle Giant’ behind him! 

Chapter 517: Granting You the Highest Honor of a Swordsman  

“Pirate Hunter, you… bastard…”  

The Castle Giant, gravely wounded, spat out blood and reverted back to Bege’s original form.  

Meanwhile, Yoru’s fiery body slowly regenerated, gradually returning to flesh and blood.  

The power of rebirth from the Phoenix.  

Not only could it heal wounds, but paired with advanced Observation Haki’s ability to foresee the future, it could even nullify attacks coated in Haki.  

Seeing this, Zoro’s face turned deadly serious.  

He hadn’t expected his attack to be completely ineffective.  

Yoru’s strength was now crystal clear to him.  

He was too strong.  

Yoru’s gaze shifted to the last man standing, Drake, and he grinned. “Looks like it’s just you left!”  

“Not gonna make a move?”  

Provocation…  

Blatant provocation! 

And to top it off, he was taunting another powerful foe while already facing a formidable enemy.  

“You… monster!”  

Drake’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t act recklessly.  

“Then it’s just you!”  

Yoru drew his blade. “As a reward for landing a hit on me, I’ll give you, a swordsman I acknowledge, the greatest respect!”  

“With my blade, Delusion Breaker, I’ll deliver your final strike!”  

He aimed his sword at Zoro, who grinned like a wild beast. “That’s all I could ask for!”  

Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Goken…  

Zoro charged at Yoru with blinding speed, his aura surging wildly.  

His ferocity tore through the air, blurring everything around him. “One Great… Three Thousand… Great Thousand Worlds!!”  

Facing this incoming attack, Yoru remained eerily calm, speaking softly. “Assassinate… Delusion Breaker!”  

Clang!  

A razor-sharp sword strike, capable of splitting the heavens, collided with a blade that shot forward like a rainbow.  

Splurch!  

But there was no explosive clash. The sword sliced through the power of Three Thousand Worlds and pierced straight through Roronoa Zoro’s chest.  

“The gap… is it really this big?”  

Zoro collapsed to his knees, spitting blood, and fell to the ground, gasping for breath.  

“That was one hell of a strike. My whole arm’s numb!”  

Yoru said with a look of admiration.  

Neither the onlookers in the stands nor those on the scene felt he was mocking Zoro. On the contrary, this was high praise.  

“You… bastard!!”  

But at that moment, an enraged female voice exploded. A fierce figure charged forward with terrifying ferocity.  

Like a cannonball, she closed in on Yoru, bringing with her a regal gust of fragrance.  

“How dare you hurt the man I love most like that…”  

“Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!!!”  

It was one of the Seven Warlords, the “Pirate Empress” Boa Hancock, her face twisted with fury, her aura razor-sharp.  

Her long, slender leg lashed out with ferocious force, aiming for Yoru’s chest.  

The petrifying power of the Love-Love Fruit enveloped her attack.  

Yoru dodged to the side, swinging his sword to unleash a ferocious sword wave that blasted Boa Hancock back.  

“Assassinate… Delusion Breaker!”  

Splurch!  

Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, Yoru’s blade pierced through Boa Hancock’s chest.  

It was so fast she didn’t even have a chance to react.  

“Hiss! Not even a hint of mercy for the most beautiful woman in the world?”  

“As expected of a Yonko—ruthlessly terrifying!”  

“One of the Seven Warlords, defeated just like that? Is the gap between a Yonko and a Warlord really that vast?” 

Chapter 518: I Left You Some Opponents  

Seeing Boa Hancock coughing up blood, her face turning deathly pale in an instant, the spectators in the stands were utterly shocked.  

Yoru didn’t hold back at all.  

To injure the most beautiful woman in the world without hesitation!  

Wasn’t he afraid of ruining her face?!  

“Such incredible destructive power… even my Armament Haki couldn’t stop it!”  

Boa Hancock clutched her wound as she stood, her heart filled with disbelief.  

But then, Yoru suddenly ducked to the side, his longsword coated in basic Armament Haki, slashing fiercely.  

A blade of sand missed him…  

A wisp of dust was torn apart with a rip, reforming into Crocodile, who clutched his arm with a grim expression, clearly annoyed.  

“That’s your style, alright, Sand Crocodile!”  

“But the Eternal Pose? Not handing it over!”  

“And you agree, don’t you, Barrett?!”  

Yoru sheathed his sword, his gaze shifting to the sky.  

The next moment! 

A demonic figure crashed down, the impact shaking the entire island.  

A man in military attire, with golden curly hair, a fierce face, and a tall, muscular build appeared before everyone.  

“Long time no see, Yoru!”  

Barrett’s eyes burned with fervor as he leaped toward Yoru. “Let’s see how much stronger you’ve gotten!”  

He threw a punch…  

The air itself seemed to scream in agony.  

“Give me a break!”  

Yoru said with a laugh, but his body was ready.  

He lunged forward, his fist cloaked in advanced Armament Haki, meeting Barrett’s blow head-on.  

BOOM!  

Two overwhelming bursts of Conqueror’s Haki exploded into the sky, spreading across the entire island in an instant. Countless pirates in the crowd collapsed, their eyes rolling back.  

Even Straw Hat Luffy, Fire Fist Ace, and Zoro looked grim, their bodies weighed down as if they were about to be crushed.  

The terrifying collision of power shook the island.  

It felt like space itself was cracking under the strain of their clash.  

The sky tore open with a massive rift, radiating boundless terror.  

The surroundings were bathed in a blood-red hue, an aura of endless dread.  

Waves of violent energy battered everyone present.  

BOOM!  

Finally…  

The two pulled back. Barrett, looking displeased, said, “You jerk, you took out all my opponents! Now I’ve got no one to fight!”  

Hearing this, Yoru burst out laughing. “There are still plenty of heavyweights on this island. They should be more than enough to give you a good fight!”  

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Fire Fist Ace, Straw Hat Luffy, Pirate Hunter Zoro, Boa Hancock, Crocodile, and others.  

“I knew this was your stage, so I didn’t go all out on these supernovas!”  

“And then there are the ones still on their way…”  

Yoru looked to the sky as a man with a top hat, golden curly hair, and steel pipes strapped to his back descended.  

Along with the final supernova, Trafalgar Law.  

And even Vice Admiral Smoker from the Marines.  

“This lineup should be enough for you to have some fun, right?”  

Yoru said with a grin. “If they all get serious, even I’d feel a chill down my spine—there’s a real chance I could fall!”  

Barrett scanned the crowd and smirked. “Now that’s more like it. You planned this, didn’t you? Get me to take on these guys so you can slip away!” 

Chapter 519: Are You Tickling Me?  

His eyes gleamed with dangerous intensity. “You think you can just walk away? Not so easy. The island’s surrounded by Marines, and they’ve got two admirals out there!” 

He smirked. “What do you think? Will they just take down a Yonko like you on a whim?” 

“There’s no better chance than this. A lone Yonko isn’t nearly as terrifying as one in their own territory.” 

Hearing this, Yoru shrugged. “Guess I’ve got no choice but to team up with you to take them on!” 

“What a hassle,” he muttered, scratching his head. “I just came for an Eternal Pose, and now it’s turned into this mess. Talk about a miscalculation!” 

Suddenly, flames erupted from his body, transforming into a pair of scorching wings radiating a terrifying heat. 

“Whoa, going straight to your strongest form?” Barrett said with a hint of mockery, eyeing the gathered Supernovas with blatant disdain. “Aren’t you overestimating these rookies a bit?” 

Yoru glanced at the chaos. “There are two admirals waiting out there. Better wrap this up quick to save some energy.” 

“You might be fine sticking around, but I’m not ready to end my journey here!” 

Barrett snorted. “In my plan, you’re a massive wild card. You weren’t supposed to be here.” 

“Your presence is throwing things off.” 

“But whatever,” he added with a shrug. “If you take some of the heat off me, I can handle the rest of these incoming enemies.” 

“The festival’s just getting started!” he declared, grinning at Yoru. “Don’t let me absorb you, or I won’t be responsible for what happens!” 

Yoru chuckled, shrugging again. “Don’t worry, I’ll be long gone before that happens.” 

But the thought of Barrett’s fusion in the original story—that massive monster—sent a shiver down even Yoru’s spine. That was something even a Yonko wouldn’t want to face head-on. 

“These two jerks!” Kidd growled, climbing to his feet alongside the other Supernovas. “They’re treating us like prey?” 

The Supernovas, with their freakishly tough bodies, could still fight as long as they weren’t on death’s door. Of course, that was only because Yoru had held back. Otherwise, some of them wouldn’t even be standing. 

“Alright, I’m going in!” Barrett charged forward, zeroing in on Kidd. 

Kidd barely had time to react before Barrett’s fist connected with a brutal thud.  

“Argh!” Kidd felt like his body was falling apart, ribs shattered, as he was sent flying like a ragdoll. 

“Scratchmen·Beat!” Apoo’s voice rang out. Despite his injuries, he was still bouncing around, unleashing his ability to attack Barrett. 

But… 

Smack. 

Barrett took a hit to the face and didn’t even flinch. Apoo sensed something was wrong and quickly backpedaled, clapping his hands to keep up the assault and slow Barrett down. 

“Scratchmen·Blast!”  

From behind, Capone Bege joined in, transforming into his massive castle giant form and firing a barrage of powerful cannonballs. 

Boom! Boom! 

Explosions tore through the area, but… 

“Are you tickling me?” Barrett sneered, tearing through the smoke. He swatted the incoming cannonballs away with single punches, effortless as breathing. Apoo’s explosive attacks? They might as well have been nothing. 

Chapter 520: Madman  

He leaped forward, smashing a fist into Apoo with such speed that dodging was impossible. The sheer force of the blow cratered the ground, leaving a massive pit riddled with cracks. Apoo’s eyes rolled back, and he passed out cold. 

Bege, seeing this, was stunned. But in a flash, Barrett was already in his face, obliterating Bege’s castle with a single punch.  

“Gah!”  

Bege, trapped beneath his castle giant, coughed up blood, his consciousness fading fast.  

“Turn into a kid, you jerk! How dare you underestimate me!”  

The Supernovas were all defiant, each with their own pride. But from the moment Barrett showed up, he hadn’t taken them seriously, and that pissed them off.  

Jewelry Bonney lunged at him, closing in fast. But just as she was about to land a hit, Barrett vanished from her sight. Her pupils shrank in shock.  

From behind, an overwhelming, ferocious aura loomed. Before she could react, Barrett’s massive hand grabbed her and slammed her into the castle giant’s body.  

“Argh!”  

Jewelry Bonney and Capone Bege were both down for the count.  

Barrett was a brute of raw power, his strength downright terrifying—a completely different beast from Yoru’s precise energy release. Barrett’s style was all about overwhelming force, breaking through everything with sheer might. Every strike was devastating.  

“Take this, you monster!”  

Suddenly, a booming voice rang out from behind. The strange monk Urouge’s body swelled, growing almost as tall as Barrett, and he threw a simple yet powerful punch.  

Barrett didn’t even flinch, taking the hit square to the face.  

Bang!  

But the punch didn’t faze him. Barrett grinned and returned a fist to Urouge’s face, caving it in and sending him staggering back. Yet, unlike the others, Urouge didn’t collapse.  

“Hmph, interesting. Let’s go again!”  

Barrett’s excitement grew, like a predator who’d found worthy prey.  

“You bastard, that punch hurt like hell!”  

From behind, Kidd transformed into his magnetic demon form, charging in with a furious fist. At the same time, Killer flanked Barrett, slashing with razor-sharp blades.  

Caught in a pincer attack with enemies all around, Barrett only grew more thrilled. He grabbed Urouge like a club and swung him at Kidd, then blocked Killer’s strike with his bare hand. Seizing Killer by the shoulders, Barrett headbutted him with a skull like iron.  

Crack!  

Killer’s steel mask shattered, revealing a grotesque, exaggerated face. His eyes half-rolled back, blood foaming at his mouth as he teetered on the edge of consciousness.  

Then, Barrett hurled him at Kidd, forcing Kidd to stumble back.  

“Demon Subjugation!”  

Hawkins reappeared, his sharp claws tearing through the air in a sneak attack. But Barrett dodged effortlessly. Hawkins quickly retreated, his body returning to normal. With a swift draw of his blade, he unleashed a straw monster resembling a demonic god, floating in the air with a jagged greatsword in hand.  

It swung down with a ferocious chop, like splitting a mountain.  

Barrett raised a hand to block, and the attack seemed to do nothing—no sparks, no impact. Hawkins was horrified; Barrett’s oppressive presence was even stronger than Yoru’s.  

But Kidd seized the moment.  

Taking advantage of Barrett’s brief distraction, Kidd rocketed forward like a jet fighter. His fist, crackling with a magnetic field, slammed into Barrett’s chest, sending him flying through countless shattered rocks.