381-385

Chapter 381: Vs. Doflamingo 

He pulled a newspaper from his pocket. "Look, the Marines have issued a nationwide manhunt order! They want us Shichibukai to take care of you guys if we see you!" 

Hearing Yoru's words, the aura around the three main fighters instantly turned sharp. 

"But don't worry, I don't plan on following the Marines' orders!" 

Yoru's gaze shifted to the wild beauty with bronze skin and a shapely figure standing behind the three main fighters. He smiled, "Ms. Nico Robin, a pleasure to meet you for the first time!" 

"In the future, I might need your help with a few things. Please, I'd really appreciate it if you could lend a hand. Thank you!" 

Having said that, Yoru bowed very seriously towards Nico Robin in thanks. 

This whole act left the Straw Hat crew both wary and utterly confused. 

"What the heck do you want?" 

"What are you planning to do to Robin? If you try anything funny with her, I'll never forgive you!" 

Sanji and Luffy both spoke with sharp looks on their faces. 

"Ma ma ma, relax..." 

Yoru waved his hand. "I don't have any ill will towards you guys. I just need her to translate something for me, that's all!" 

"Well, I've said what needed to be said. I gotta go; Marine Headquarters is rushing me. I have a meeting to attend!" 

Saying this, just as he was about to leave. 

He suddenly seemed to remember something and looked at Luffy, saying, "Oh, right." 

"The sea area ahead of you belongs to another Shichibukai. Be careful, okay? He's not a simple character!" 

"He's different from Crocodile, who was vulnerable to water and underestimated you, which led to his defeat." 

"He's extremely powerful!" 

At this point, he suddenly smiled again. "But I believe, with your strength and growth rate, that person will eventually be defeated by you too!" 

"See you around, Straw Hat-kun!" 

Leaving behind this string of words that left the Straw Hat crew utterly baffled and confused, Yoru truly left just like that. 

"This guy... he really just left?" 

Nami, Chopper, and Usopp were a little stunned. 

They thought there was going to be a big fight, but nothing happened, making them nervous for nothing all this time. 

"But, based on what that guy just said, if we keep going, we'll encounter another Shichibukai? And this Shichibukai is even stronger than Crocodile?" 

"Luffy, should we believe him?" Nami asked, looking at Luffy. 

"Whether he's telling the truth or not, there's no harm in being careful!" 

Zoro sheathed his swords, saying with a serious expression. 

On the great sea, no one knows what danger they'll encounter the next second! Being careful is always the right move! 

"Captain, why didn't we just take them out just now? It was such a good opportunity, and aren't the Marines trying to catch them anyway?" 

Burgess asked, a little confused. He had thought Yoru was rushing over to fight and was excitedly waiting to watch the show. But Yoru just went over, said hello, and came back. 

"Just because the Marines are trying to catch them doesn't mean we have to fight them, right?" 

"We're pirates, not Marines! No need to be so obedient!" Yoru said, waving his hand. 

Burgess scratched his head and went back to steering. 

Marineford! 

Yoru had Burgess and Nowus replenish supplies in the town of Marineford while he went to the Marine port alone. 

"Welcome, 'Lightning Killer' Yoru!" 

Yoru's arrival was met by Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Momonga. However, despite his polite demeanor, there was not a trace of welcome on his face, only distaste and resistance. 

"Marineford, huh? What an impressive place!" 

Yoru looked at Marineford with an appreciative expression. 

"Hmm hmm hmm, 'Lightning Killer', I finally get to meet you in person!" 

Just then, a humming laugh came from behind Yoru, and an extremely oppressive aura descended. 

A man wearing a pink flamingo-feather coat, at least a meter taller than Yoru, walked over. His face was full of arrogance, and even his walk was incredibly嚣张 (arrogant/swaggering). It was the king of Dressrosa in the New World, one of the Shichibukai, the Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo! 

"Heh heh, pleasure to meet you for the first time, Heavenly Yaksha!" 

Yoru narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Your entrance certainly has quite the flair for the dramatic!" 

"However, if you're going to try to control me with your ability, then I think..." 

A cold glint flashed in Yoru's eyes. "Let's just say, it won't work!" 

A cold light flashed at his waist, and a chilling gleam stopped just before Doflamingo's neck. 

"Don't provoke me, okay? I'm afraid I might not be able to help myself and just kill you!" 

The sharp long sword emanated a piercing, heavy aura of Busoshoku Haki, causing Doflamingo's eyes behind his sunglasses to shrink to pinpricks, and a slight cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Yoru's attack was truly so fast that he couldn't react in time. 

This guy is trouble! Doflamingo mentally categorized him as such. 

So, he gave a humming laugh and retracted the threads he had shot out to try and control Yoru, raising his hands. "Easy there, I didn't mean any harm!" 

Yoru smiled when he heard that. "Of course, I don't mean any harm either!" 

Then, he also sheathed his Powang longsword. 

Their little exchange, however, left the surrounding Marine soldiers incredibly tense. As expected of the untamed pirates of the sea, they're certainly wild. Getting them to sit down and talk quietly together is truly not an easy task. 

"Both of you, please, let's go. Don't keep the others waiting!" 

Momonga looked at Yoru and Doflamingo with a poker face and said indifferently. 

"Please, Heavenly Yaksha!" 

Yoru very politely invited Doflamingo to go first, their relationship appearing quite friendly. 

"Hmm hmm hmm, I won't refuse then!" 

Doflamingo walked towards the Marine Headquarters building with his characteristic swaggering gait. 

"This 'Lightning Killer' isn't very old, but his strength is exceptionally formidable. It seems he's far more than what he's shown so far!" Momonga thought to himself, looking at the seemingly harmless Yoru. 

"Kishishishi, so you're the new Shichibukai, the 'Lightning Killer'? You look pretty weak, huh? Can you really handle being a Shichibukai?" 

As soon as he entered the room where the Shichibukai were gathered, a high-pitched voice rang out. A man with a large build, who looked like a demon, with sharp horns on the sides of his forehead, wearing a shirt with a bat-shaped collar and gothic-style clothing, looked at him with a playful expression. 

If Doflamingo was tall enough in Yoru's eyes, then this man was truly a giant. 

Chapter 382: Challenging Hawk Eyes 

"As for whether or not I have that ability, Moria, why don't you find out for yourself by trying? But since Esteemed Sengoku acknowledges me, I guess I must have that ability!" 

Yep, this giant is actually the guy Straw Hat Luffy is gonna run into in the next stretch of sea. The Shadow-Shadow Fruit user, with a bounty of 320,000,000 Belly, Gecko Moria! 

"Kishishishi, interesting!" Moria didn't make a move, because he could already feel the powerful aura radiating from Yoru. 

"Oh my, oh my, seems like there's still one person missing!" Yoru's eyes scanned over everyone's faces before he spoke. The World's Strongest Swordsman, Hawk Eyes Mihawk! The World's Most Beautiful Woman, Empress of Amazon Lily, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock! 

The King of Dressrosa, Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo! The taciturn, huge Tyrant Kuma! The restless, fearsome-looking Gecko Moria! And Yoru himself! 

Six of the Shichibukai have arrived; only the last one, Knight of the Sea Jinbe, hasn't shown up yet! "No worries, that person won't be coming. In fact, he's already been stripped of his Shichibukai title!" 

Just then, a deep, authoritative voice came from the entrance. Everyone looked, and there was the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, Sengoku the Buddha, walking in. And behind him was a man who made even Yoru pause in surprise. 

"Allow me to introduce you rebellious lot! Blackbeard Teach will be taking over Knight of the Sea Jinbe's position, becoming the new Shichibukai!" 

Yes, the man behind Sengoku who made even Yoru falter for a moment was indeed Blackbeard. As if he noticed Yoru's gaze, Blackbeard immediately looked over, a strong hint of malice flashing in his eyes. "Yo, Blackbeard, we meet again." 

"Looks like you've got quite the tough life force, huh? To think you actually escaped and survived under those circumstances!" Yoru said with a smile. 

His words, however, brought about varied reactions from the people there. Excitement and amusement from guys like Doflamingo and Moria... Disgust from Boa Hancock... 

Or surprise from Sengoku, calmness from Tyrant Kuma, and Hawk Eyes Mihawk! They probably didn't expect Yoru to have had dealings with Blackbeard! "Ze ha ha, well, I really owe it to you, 'Lightning Killer'! Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to catch that man so quickly and become a Shichibukai!" 

Blackbeard let out his usual strange laugh and casually plopped down in a seat. "Alright then, let's get started on the reason I've gathered you all here!" 

Sengoku stood before the seven of them, his face extremely serious: "Blackbeard Teach has successfully captured Fire Fist Ace, the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates! Because of this, Marineford is about to face an unprecedented great war!" 

"Therefore, we will be declaring war on Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors, at that time!" 

"And you all will participate in this war as specially invited combatants. Anyone who refuses to participate will have their Shichibukai position immediately revoked!" "Any questions, everyone?" 

After hearing this, everyone except Yoru cast a slightly surprised glance at Blackbeard. 

This guy... he actually managed to capture Fire Fist Ace? Looks like he's a strong person you definitely shouldn't underestimate! 

"Fufufu, interesting. So such an intense great war is about to begin?" 

Doflamingo sounded quite excited, clearly not scared in the least. "Kishishishi, there'll surely be lots of interesting corpses then!" Moria was just as excited. 

"Facing Whitebeard, huh? I'm looking forward to it!" Yoru also showed an expectant look. 

None of the others showed any sign of backing down either. Seeing this, Sengoku nodded. "Alright, then this matter is settled!" "The war will officially begin in half a month. Everyone, I hope you are mentally prepared!" 

After that, following further discussions with Yoru and the rest of the Shichibukai about other war-related matters, this Shichibukai meeting came to an end. 

"Fufufu, 'Lightning Killer', I wonder if you'd be interested in cooperating with me to cause some big trouble?" After the meeting dispersed, Doflamingo looked at Yoru and asked with a wary smile. 

"Sorry, not interested!" Yoru directly refused Doflamingo's request. Instead, he looked directly at Hawk Eyes Mihawk. "Would you fight me?" 

As the World's Strongest Swordsman, Hawk Eyes is probably an opponent every swordsman dreams of challenging. And in Yoru's eyes, Hawk Eyes is even more so a powerful opponent who can be used to hone his swordsmanship skills. Now that he's met him, he definitely doesn't want to let this chance go. "Oh, fight me?" 

Hearing this, Hawk Eyes casually glanced at Yoru. "You have great courage!" "However, since you're extending such a warm invitation, I suppose I can reluctantly have a match with you. Where do you want to fight?" 

Hawk Eyes looked at Yoru, a hint of fighting spirit also emerging in his eyes. Yoru's swordsmanship attainments are not low! "Right here on the Marineford dueling stage. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I think you'll give me this favor, won't you?" Yoru said this, looking at Sengoku, who had also stayed behind to observe everything. "Of course!" 

Sengoku looked at Yoru, a slight glint in his eyes. He really couldn't quite figure out Yoru. 

This guy acts completely as he pleases. He's not a pure pirate, not chasing after the Pirate King or the Great Treasure, but he's also not someone who could be recruited into the Marines, showing no demeanor of someone who would protect a region. From his perspective, it seems the only place that suits him is being a Shichibukai! 

"Thanks!" Yoru thanked Sengoku very politely, and then the group headed to the training ground. 

To prevent their fight from causing damage, Sengoku even specially chose a spot where the surrounding walls were reinforced with Seastone. "Let's start!" 

Hawk Eyes drew the Black Blade from his back, calm and composed, signaling to Yoru that he could begin. And around the training ground, a crowd of onlookers had gathered. 

There were many Marine Vice Admirals, as well as Shichibukai like Doflamingo and Blackbeard. "Then here I come!" 

Yoru's entire body emitted an astonishingly sharp aura, and with a whoosh, he charged towards Hawk Eyes. "So fast!" 

The Marine Vice Admirals couldn't help but exclaim in surprise; Yoru disappeared before them like a flash of light. "Clang!" 

But this was nothing to Hawk Eyes. He swung his sword, and it landed precisely where Yoru appeared, clashing heavily with him. "Not bad, a strike with good power!" 

Hawk Eyes praised him, "However, if this is all you have, it's not enough!" He raised his arm, and a powerful force sent Yoru staggering back. Then, with a swing of his blade, a terrifying sword wave shot out, changing the very color of the surroundings. 

Chapter 383: A Joyful Battle 

"Hah!" 

That flying slash was incredibly fast and sharp, arriving before Yoru in an instant. He had no choice but to quickly swing his own blade, a true kenjutsu master's reflex, to parry. 

"Urgh!" 

But that attack was just too powerful. Even with Yoru's current strength, he could barely hold his own, letting out a strained grunt. His face, usually so confident, was etched with serious concentration. 

"What's wrong, is this all you've got?" Hawk-Eyes pressed closer, his black blade, Yoru, like a flash of lightning, cutting through the air straight for Yoru's face. 

"Tch!" 

Yoru's hairs stood on end like a Chakra sensing ninja. He immediately darted to the side, but the sword aura enveloping Yoru still grazed his cheek, drawing a faint line of blood. 

"Swish, swish, swish!" 

Seeing Yoru dodge, Hawk-Eyes lifted his blade and unleashed another volley of sharp, proud flying slashes, cutting off all of Yoru's escape routes like a perfect Shuriken barrage. 

"Whoa!" 

At this moment, Yoru was truly in a precarious situation. Even though he continuously swung his sword, unleashing his own sword waves to counter, his slashes were nowhere near Hawk-Eyes' level. The moment they met, they were shattered. 

Even with swift Armament Haki defense, he was still powerfully blasted back, crashing into the wall. The force was so immense that the entire training ground shook violently, as if the Earth itself was groaning. 

"Fufufu, what a monster, that Hawk-Eyes!" Doflamingo chuckled as he watched, his face showing nothing but wary respect. "Hawk-Eyes' swordsmanship truly has reached a supreme level, where speed and lightness, or slow and heavy, are all within his command, like a true Grand Line legend!" 

"Is this all you can manage, rookie?" Hawk-Eyes gave Yoru no chance to breathe, closing in again. His long black blade, Yoru, came down with crushing power. 

Yoru felt a horrifying sharpness, as if it would tear his very soul apart. Every cell in his body trembled, and he desperately swung his blade to block. 

"Boom!" 

The ground beneath Yoru's feet exploded outwards, and his clothes were instantly shredded. Even though he was cloaked in Armament Haki, he still felt an intense stinging pain throughout his body. 

"If this is all you can manage, then I'm truly a bit disappointed!" Hawk-Eyes stated indifferently, looking down at Yoru, who was half-kneeling, suppressed beneath his power. A flicker of disappointment crossed his face. 

"Heh, you really are the World's Greatest Swordsman, aren't you, Hawk-Eyes!" Yoru gritted his teeth, looking up with a strained grin. He felt like every bone in his body was creaking, as if a mountain had been dropped on him. 

This feeling… it's helplessness, yes, but at the same time, it's exhilarating! Like a true pirate, Yoru thrives on pushing his limits. 

"If that's how it is, then I'll go all out, no holding back!" he declared. 

As he spoke, a terrifying heat emanated from his body, and a pair of crimson wings erupted from his back, like something out of a Devil Fruit awakening! 

"Get... back!!" Yoru roared, unleashing a surge of power that pushed Hawk-Eyes back. 

"Here I come, Hawk-Eyes!!!" 

With a furious flap of his wings, sounding like thunder and wind, Yoru shot forward like a blazing comet, appearing before Hawk-Eyes in a flash. A terrifying sharpness radiated from him as he brought his sword down! 

"Clang!" 

The sheer power of that single strike made even Hawk-Eyes show a hint of strain, and a deep sense of surprise. Yoru's strength had increased dramatically in an instant. 

"Is that a Devil Fruit ability, perhaps? Since you've finally decided to go all out, I suppose I'll show a bit more of my own strength too," Hawk-Eyes mused. 

A chilling, spectral aura emanated from Hawk-Eyes, and a violet current of power pulsed from his blade, Yoru. It met Yoru's powerful strike with a shower of intense sparks. 

"Advanced Armament Haki...?" Yoru's heart tightened slightly as he observed that powerful aura. 

"Clang!" 

Hawk-Eyes unleashed a powerful tremor, forcing Yoru back once more. Yoru felt an immense force act upon him, making him completely unable to stop his momentum. 

"Whoosh!" 

Hawk-Eyes charged forward again, his black blade cutting through the air. The sheer intensity of his aura made the faces of the surrounding onlookers blanch slightly. 

"Bring it on!" 

Yoru's wings flapped, stopping his retreat. He slammed his foot down, then lunged forward, rushing towards Hawk-Eyes. 

"Clang!" "Boom!" "CLANG!!!" 

A furious sword fight erupted, a symphony of terrifying wind currents, dazzling sparks, and lightning-fast clashes. The surrounding Marines watched, utterly mesmerized, unable to tear their eyes away. 

It was simply too magnificent! It was like watching two legendary pirates duel for the title of World's Greatest Swordsman! 

The entire training ground shook violently, the very sky changing color above them, echoing with thunderous roars. Both of them were enveloped in sharp sword intent. Hawk-Eyes' was chillingly precise and potent, while Yoru's was wild and ferocious. The clash of their auras alone was incredibly damaging, with several Marine Vice Admirals already sporting wounds just from the collateral damage. 

"Fufufu, so this guy actually knows Haki? How interesting!" Doflamingo chuckled. He had already coated his entire body with a faint layer of Armament Haki and kept his Observation Haki active, constantly dodging the shockwaves from the two combatants, like a true puppeteer. 

Moria, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as composed. Since he couldn't use Haki, he was in a truly sorry state, forced to retreat further and further back, looking utterly pathetic compared to these monsters. 

"Zehahahahaha! What an amazing battle!" Blackbeard's eyes gleamed with a mad light as he fixated on Yoru, his thoughts unknown, likely plotting something devious. 

"They're both absolute monsters!" the Marine Vice Admirals muttered to themselves, watching as the Seastone walls of the training ground began to show visible scars. Even Seastone couldn't fully contain their power! 

The training ground was now a veritable ocean of sword shadows and flying slashes. It was so dense, even a fly wouldn't be able to get through without being utterly pulverized. 

"Hahaha! This is amazing!!!" Yoru roared with delight, his body enveloped in Armament Haki. 

His clothes were in tatters, reduced to mere strips, but his expression was incredibly excited, his eyes burning like the Sharingan, or perhaps a user of some fiery Devil Fruit. The long blade in his hand moved with increasing trickiness and speed. 

The immense pressure from every one of Hawk-Eyes' slashes was like a blacksmith's hammer, constantly refining Yoru's swordsmanship. His Haki, too, was growing stronger, sharpening with every clash! 

"Come on, don't stop! Hit me harder, make it even more ferocious!" 

At this moment, it wasn't just his swordsmanship that was improving; his Haki abilities were also leveling up. This feeling of powerful growth... it was truly intoxicating, like achieving a new stage of Chakra mastery or unlocking a deeper level of Haki! 

"Boom!" "Crash!" "CLANG!!!" 

The scene of their battle grew even more spectacular, the commotion intensifying. The Seastone walls around them bore deeper and more numerous scars, a terrifying testament to their power. 

"Has this guy... gotten this strong already?" Sengoku watched Yoru with a grave expression. If he remembered correctly, not long ago, Yoru could barely handle pirates with bounties over 300 million Berry. 

"But the strength he's displaying now... even a 600 million Berry pirate wouldn't be much more impressive than this! His power is growing at an incredible rate!" 

"Break through, my swordsmanship!!!" Yoru suddenly let out a long cry, and a surge of magnificent, sharp sword intent erupted outwards. The faces of the surrounding onlookers changed instantly, and they scrambled to get away. 

The ground around them fractured wildly, and fierce winds raged! Even Hawk-Eyes himself was pushed back by the sudden burst of power emanating from Yoru's body. 

Chapter 384: Swordsmanship Breakthrough 

"Using my strength to achieve a breakthrough in your swordsmanship, huh?" If Mihawk couldn't figure out Yoru's intentions at this point, he wouldn't truly deserve the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman! 

"'That familiar feeling... it's back!'" Yoru swung his sword, Powang, closing his eyes and speaking softly. Powang vibrated excitedly, buzzing non-stop. 

"'Come on, Mihawk!'" Yoru's eyes snapped open, and he charged at Mihawk once more. 

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" 

After the breakthrough, in Yoru's eyes, Mihawk seemed... well, his strength, speed, and aggressiveness all felt like they'd suddenly decreased. 

Mihawk felt it too! He sensed a hint of pressure; Yoru had become a lot trickier to handle! 

In the blink of an eye, the two clashed hundreds of times again. 

"'Hah!' 'Hah!'" "'Mihawk, let's decide this with one final strike!'" 

Mihawk's power was just too immense. Because of that, even Yoru couldn't help but feel his stamina drain significantly, his arms aching numbly. 

"'Come on!'" Mihawk remained as composed as ever, but the aura around him sharpened several times over. 

"'Alright, here I come!'" The incredibly sharp sword intent that had been radiating from Yoru suddenly retracted. Then, with a heavy step, he zipped past Mihawk in a flash. 

And Mihawk's great sword also swung down. 

The two passed each other! 

Everything around them fell silent, nothing seemed to have happened. 

"'Is that... it?'" Momonga, the Vice Admiral watching, felt a bit confused. Compared to the earth-shattering commotion from before, the contrast was just too huge. For a final move, shouldn't there be... well, something grand? 

"Whoosh!" 

Just then, the Kairōseki wall behind both Mihawk and Yoru simultaneously split open with a cut about a finger deep. Following that, the entire training ground's earth gave a thunderous roar, neatly cut and collapsing downwards. 

Then, Yoru's chest was torn open with a huge gash, blood gushing like a spring. On Mihawk's waist, blood also splattered, revealing a wound. 

"'Cough, cough... As expected of the World's Greatest Swordsman!'" Yoru half-knelt, gasping and clutching his chest, his aura weakening several times over instantly. "'I... I lost!'" Yoru propped himself up with his sword, his face incredibly pale. 

"'You... You're quite good!'" Mihawk's waist wound wasn't that serious, but this was indeed one of the very few times Mihawk had been injured in a long while. 

"'Look! The sky... it looks like it was cut!'" Suddenly, a Marine soldier pointed at the sky, saying with a shocked expression. 

"Gasp!" Everyone looked up, and many instantly gasped. 

In the sky, a massive crack hundreds of meters long had opened up. The clouds churned relentlessly, rumbling and colliding, utterly astonishing. 

"'Fufufufu... those two are monsters, alright. Looks like we've got another incredible guy joining our Shichibukai crew!'" Doflamingo walked away with his usual arrogant strut. 

Next, Boa Hancock and Bartholomew Kuma also left. Moria and Blackbeard cast wary glances at Yoru before departing as well. 

"'Thank you!'" Hearing Mihawk's praise, Yoru offered sincere thanks. It wasn't just Mihawk's acknowledgment, but also because Mihawk had helped him break through to Swordsmanship Level 4. Plus, from this battle, Yoru gained 900,000 Enhancement Points! 

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for independently reaching Swordsmanship Level 4. Power Level +3. Physical attributes have increased!" "Ding! Congratulations to the Host for acquiring the Title 'Swordsman.' Haki mastery has further improved!" 

[Attributes Panel] Host: Yoru Age: 19 Tori Tori no Mi, Phoenix Form: Intermediate (55/100) Skills: Phoenix Fire Feathers, Phoenix Meteor Kill, Phoenix Feather Slash Observation Haki: Beginner (75/100) Armament Haki: Beginner (80/100) Swordsmanship: Lv4 (Flash) Weapon: Powang Enhancement Points: 900k World: One Piece Physical Attributes: Strength: 160 (Normal Person 5) Speed: 100 (Normal Person 5) Agility: 87 (Normal Person 5) Stamina: 147 (Normal Person 5) Defense: 137 (Normal Person 5) Power Level: 70 (Marine Admiral 95) 

Yoru's current strength could now be considered upper-middle tier in this world. Even within a Yonko crew, he'd be on par with the Calamities. 

"System detected Host is severely wounded. Spend 300,000 Enhancement Points to heal wounds and prevent enemy ambush, avoiding crisis?" 

Yoru chose 'Yes'! He absolutely needed to guard against enemy ambushes! And that enemy was Blackbeard! 

The healing was super fast. Faster than Yoru had imagined; in just two minutes, all the wounds on his body were completely healed. 

And Yoru's biggest feeling? He was hungry! Other than that, he had absolutely no other reaction. 

Sengoku naturally noticed this as well, and his gaze towards Yoru became even more solemn. 

... 

After leaving Marine HQ, Yoru headed straight for Marineford's commercial district. He found a tavern that looked decent and went in for a hearty meal. 

"'He ate that much and instantly digested it?!'" Naturally, there were plenty of Marine soldiers in the tavern too. When they saw Yoru's body swell up from eating so much, then instantly return to his original shape, they couldn't help but think, 'Monster!' Of course, they all knew who Yoru was and understood even more why Sengoku had invited him to become a Shichibukai. 

"'Is that... Life Return?'" There were also some Headquarters Rear Admirals in the tavern, watching Yoru's method of quickly digesting food. "'But how on earth did he learn it?'" "'Did he fight against a Marine before? But there don't seem to be any records of that!'" 

Yoru didn't care about the thoughts of these Marine soldiers, nor was he bothered by them. 

After eating and drinking his fill, he left the tavern and headed towards the ship docked at Marineford's harbor. 

Time to set sail for the location of the next Poneglyph! Next stop: Fish-Man Island! 

... 

"'Come on out, Blackbeard. Following me for this long, aren't you tired of the trouble?'" As he reached a secluded corner with few people, Yoru spoke towards a dark spot behind him. 

"'Zehahaha! Didn't expect you'd actually find me even like this! I really should've listened to them back then and attacked during the day instead of waiting until night!'" Behind Yoru, Blackbeard appeared from the darkness, grinning widely. 

"'Well... what is it you want, going through all this trouble to follow me?'" Yoru turned around, his hand already on the hilt of the sword at his waist, watching Blackbeard calmly. "'Perhaps you wanted to use this chance to ambush me?'" 

Hearing that, Blackbeard just laughed. "'Zehahaha! I did have that idea originally, but...'" His eyes narrowed. "'You didn't give me the chance, did you? I didn't expect your injuries would heal this fast; such serious wounds recovered in the blink of an eye!'" 

Chapter 385: Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King 

Dark smoke billowed around him, engulfing him. "But the next time we meet, well, that's another story, Lightning Killer! Get ready, Zehahaha!" Blackbeard vanished into the shadows! 

"Next time we meet, huh? Heheheh, you really think I'll give you that chance?" Yoru watched Blackbeard leave, muttering to himself. 

On the Mandevus-go! 

Novus and Burgess were already waiting on deck. However, seeing Yoru's disheveled state, they couldn't help but be surprised. 

"Captain, what happened to you? Did you get into a fight?" Novus frowned slightly. "You don't look injured, Captain, but your clothes tell a clear story of a brutal battle!" 

Yoru shrugged, "Yeah, I had quite a skirmish. Fought against Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, actually. Got some decent takeaways from it!" 

"Alright, next stop, Fish-Man Island!" 

Novus nodded, a mix of surprise and admiration on his face, and began checking the weather, setting sail. 

Sabaody Archipelago. 

To reach Fish-Man Island, you first need to get your ship bubble coated here to dive into the ocean. 

Grove 51! 

This was the shipbuilding district, also where the coating takes place. Yoru brought his ship here. 

"Anchor here for now. I'm going to find the coating mechanic. You two keep an eye on the ship!" Yoru instructed Novus and Burgess as he disembarked. 

"Understood!" The two nodded. 

"Sabaody Archipelago, mmm, what a fascinating place!" Even Yoru couldn't help but marvel at the world's incredible power as he stepped onto the soft, slightly slippery ground. 

But as Yoru was lost in thought, many eyes were secretly fixed on him. 

"Looks like an easy mark!" "Yeah, definitely an easy target. He's the one!" "Get ready, don't let anyone else get to him first!" 

Numerous individuals stared at Yoru, their eyes glinting with avarice. Yoru, seemingly oblivious to their gazes, continued walking forward. 

Finally, as he reached a certain intersection, Yoru was blocked. 

"Hey kid, you know what this means when you see us, right?" The burly leader of the group snarled, gripping his blade. 

"Oh? Are you planning to rob me?" Yoru looked at them curiously. "Are you sure you want to do this?" 

"Hahaha, kiddo, why would I regret robbing you? If you're smart, hand over your valuables right now, and we might just let you live!" "Otherwise, heheh..." The leader twirled the long sword in his hand, his meaning clear. 

"What if I don't?" Yoru had a playful smile as he looked around. "I say, everyone, come on out! Isn't hide-and-seek getting a bit boring?" 

"What?!" Yoru's words startled the group. 

"Kekekeke, kid, since you've called out so sincerely, we'll respond just as sincerely to your call!" "Heheh, don't try to steal my prize, I want all this brat's treasure!" "Hahaha, you want it all? Do you even deserve it?" 

A group of grinning, wild-looking pirates emerged, exuding an incredibly fierce and malevolent aura. 

"Hmm, excellent, excellent. You all look pretty wealthy. This way, I can save on my coating fees!" "Well then, I won't hold back!" Yoru's face lit up with a happy, "big harvest" expression. "Hand over all your money! Pay up, and you live!" 

Hearing his words, the pirates couldn't help but laugh. 

"Kid, are you crazy? You're trying to rob us? Do you have a death wish?" "Hahaha, exactly!" 

The pirates roared with laughter, completely disregarding Yoru. 

"Sigh, you guys really aren't cooperating. This is troublesome!" Yoru shook his head at their response. Then, his gaze sharpened, and a surge of immense Haki erupted from him, pressing down. 

Instantly, the scene fell silent. The pirates, who moments ago were roaring with laughter, now had their smiles frozen, their eyes wide with shock and fear. 

"So, please hand over your money. If you don't pay, you'll die, you know!" 

Seeing Yoru's smiling face, someone suddenly gasped, "You... you're the Shichibukai 'Lightning Killer' Yoru!!" 

"What?! A Shichibukai?!" At that revelation, everyone was stunned, taking a sharp intake of breath. 

"Just figured it out? Too late, folks!" Yoru rubbed his hands together. "Do you want your money, or your life?" 

"We'll pay, we'll pay!" The pirates cried out in dismay, their faces filled with terror. They knew very well that an opponent of Shichibukai caliber was someone they absolutely couldn't fight. Trying to resist would only cost them their lives. Money could be earned back. If their lives were gone, everything was gone. They understood that perfectly. 

"Very good, looks like you're all sensible kids. I love dealing with people like you!" Seeing the pirates so willingly choose to hand over their treasure, Yoru smiled very happily. 

And so, Yoru acquired nearly 100 million Berry in treasure, a truly massive haul. 

"Captain, what is all this...?" Burgess and Novus were a bit dumbfounded, seeing Yoru return with a pile of treasure. 

"I met some kind-hearted folks on the way who gave me all this treasure. I knew it would be rude to refuse!" Yoru loaded all the treasure onto the ship and then set off again to find the coating mechanic. 

This time, no one dared to see him as an easy mark anymore. Because the pirates on Sabaody Archipelago had already learned of the Shichibukai Yoru's arrival. Naturally, no one would try to scheme against him again. 

Shakky's Rip-off Bar! 

"Welcome, young man. What can I get you?" As Yoru pushed open the door, a graceful woman, still vibrant and holding a cigarette, spoke. 

"Just a simple cocktail, please. Thank you!" Yoru sat down at the bar. "I wonder if Mr. Rayleigh, the coating mechanic, is around? I'd like him to coat my ship." 

"Oh, many people come looking for me to coat their ships, but you're the first one to boldly walk right in like this, young man!" From a room opposite Yoru, a sturdy, energetic elderly man with glasses emerged. Although his hair was white, he showed no signs of age, instead exuding a powerful presence. 

It was indeed the coating mechanic Yoru was looking for, Rayleigh! 

"Heheh, really? It's truly my honor to have the First Mate of the Pirate King, Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King, coat my ship!" Yoru smiled a knowing smile, then took the cocktail from Shakky and thanked her.