Chapter 106: Domineering Breakthrough
Predicting the future?
Had Chu Yi truly awakened such a terrifying ability during his fierce battle with Kizaru?
No.
To be precise, it was not predicting the future, but rather a form of anticipation.
The future cannot be predicted, just as fate is elusive and unpredictable. Even if someone truly possessed the ability to foresee the future, the future is filled with countless possibilities. A butterfly flapping its wings ten thousand miles away might alter the course of events, making the future even more elusive.
Thus, when Chu Yi could "see" Kizaru's next attack path, he felt as though he had awakened the ability to predict the future. In truth, he was mistaken.
What had truly progressed... was his Observation Haki!
Indeed!
In the midst of this fierce battle with Kizaru, relying on his Shura instinct and tempered by Kizaru's utilization of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Chu Yi had actually elevated his Observation Haki to a whole new level!
In truth, the Shura instinct was like human potential—it had to be squeezed to its absolute limit to produce miraculous results.
If Chu Yi were to use the Shura instinct while fighting weaklings, he would not improve in the slightest. Even when fighting opponents of the same level, the efficacy of the Shura instinct would be greatly reduced.
Only when clashing with enemies stronger than himself could the terrifying nature of the Shura instinct truly manifest.
Just like Kizaru!
When Kizaru fully utilized his Glint-Glint Fruit powers, no matter how hard Chu Yi pushed his Observation Haki, he could not completely lock onto Kizaru's light-speed movements. Yet, Chu Yi's continuous efforts to use his Observation Haki to perceive Kizaru's attacks were not in vain. Under the subtle, subconscious influence of the Shura instinct, his Observation Haki—which previously failed to track Kizaru's light-speed form—began to improve rapidly, bolstered by the instinct's amplification!
How fast was this progress?
One only had to look at Chu Yi's training on the gravity-laden island to know!
When an ordinary person entered a double-gravity environment, adapting to it depended on their innate talent. But even for someone with monstrous talent like Luffy, the protagonist of the original Pirate King story, it would take at least a day to adapt to double gravity, wouldn't it?
Yet Chu Yi did not need that long!
Blessed with the Shura instinct and under its subtle influence, Chu Yi's body could rapidly adapt to various combat environments, even allowing him to quickly familiarize himself with an enemy's extreme speed and overwhelming strength.
During his clash with Chu Yi, Kizaru had made a fatal mistake.
And that was...
He relied far too heavily on his own speed!
Having gradually grown accustomed to Kizaru's speed and attack patterns through the Shura instinct, Chu Yi's Observation Haki naturally evolved under the instinct's subconscious influence, without even requiring arduous training.
And for Chu Yi's Observation Haki, which had already reached a high level of mastery, the ability that accompanied this second stage of evolution was anticipation!
Anticipating the enemy's attacks!
It was precisely because of the miraculous effect of this Haki anticipation that when Kizaru, brimming with confidence, seized the moment Chu Yi seemed to daze off to launch a "Light-Speed Kick"...
Suddenly!
*Hum!*
A brilliant gleam flashed within Chu Yi's unfocused eyes!
As that sharp light filled his gaze, a slight smile played at the corner of Chu Yi's lips. With a subtle tilt of his body, he directly dodged Kizaru's "Light-Speed Kick"!
"Oh... was that just a coincidence?"
Although Kizaru's voice remained as nonchalant as ever, one could see from his eyes that Chu Yi successfully dodging his "Light-Speed Kick" was a heavy blow to his composure.
After all, the gap between Chu Yi—who had undergone seven full awakenings—and Kizaru was not that large to begin with. If not for Kizaru's Devil Fruit ability slightly countering Chu Yi's, their fierce battle would not have turned into a one-sided showcase for Kizaru.
Who would have thought...
After only a few exchanges, Chu Yi had actually triggered a qualitative leap in his Observation Haki using his Shura instinct!
Such rapid progress was simply...
Simply terrifying!
However, even though Chu Yi was a figure who had garnered an eight-hundred-million bounty shortly after his debut and was known as the world's most heinous criminal, Kizaru was subconsciously unwilling to believe that Chu Yi possessed such monstrous talent—capable of rapidly, or rather, meteorically increasing his strength mid-combat.
Thus, the moment Chu Yi dodged the first "Light-Speed Kick," Kizaru immediately followed up with a second one!
*Whoosh!*
His pupils contracting slightly, Kizaru unleashed his second "Light-Speed Kick." Though it seemed hesitant-free, a trace of doubt had already crept into his eyes!
He was questioning himself, wondering if his assumption had been wrong.
Could Chu Yi's evasion of the first "Light-Speed Kick" not have been a fluke?
Of course, even if Kizaru was questioning himself internally, his speed remained just as blindingly fast as he executed the kick, without the slightest hesitation.
Yet, just as Kizaru's "Light-Speed Kick" was about to strike Chu Yi and dispel all doubt from his eyes...
*Crack!*
A sharp sonic boom rang out!
Kizaru's second "Light-Speed Kick" missed entirely, striking nothing but empty air.
As for Chu Yi...
The smile playing on his lips grew noticeably wider!
In his mind, Chu Yi silently muttered, "Number two!"
That was the second time he had dodged Kizaru's attack. He was only eighteen dodges away from completing the awakening material quest issued by the system!
However, completing the system's quest would not be that simple.
Having had his "Light-Speed Kick" dodged twice in a row, Kizaru's expression grew solemn. In the next instant, Chu Yi saw Kizaru leap high into the air.
As a brilliant golden light began to coalesce within Kizaru's palms...
A terrifying, near-indiscriminate ultimate move!
Glint-Glint Fruit!
Yasakani Sacred Jewel!
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Instantly, following the brilliant golden light radiating from Kizaru's palms, countless dazzling light beams shot forth from a golden cross of light, raining down toward Chu Yi.
Utilizing his newly evolved Observation Haki, Chu Yi began to predict the trajectory of these incoming light beams...
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
He dodged repeatedly!
Under Chu Yi's rapid evasions, it looked as if Kizaru was putting on a rehearsed performance with him; not a single one of the fast-moving light beams managed to graze Chu Yi's body!
Seeing this shocking sight unfold once more, even someone as cool-headed as Kizaru began to lose his temper!
In the next second—
*Boom!*
Pushing his Glint-Glint Fruit powers to the limit, Kizaru unleashed the "Yasakani Sacred Jewel" with even greater intensity, abruptly increasing the speed of the incoming light beams. This forced a slightly regretful sigh from Chu Yi, which echoed in Kizaru's ears!
"What a pity..."
"Ah... that was already nineteen times!"