Chapter 16: The Eyes of the Soul (Part I)

"This... this sensation..."
"It is power!"

Boom!

Kaido, one of the future "Four Emperors," had victory firmly within his grasp. After instantly defeating Mihawk, Jinbe, and Gekko Moria in succession, the only obstacle remaining was Chu Yi—a man whose body had been overdrawn by the "Heaven-Breaking" sword technique and who was currently unable to utilize his Devil Fruit abilities.

When Kaido struck with overwhelming force, perhaps a single punch would have sufficed...

He could have instantly finished off the man who had been creating miracles ever since his debut!

At that moment, Mihawk and Jinbe were severely injured and completely unable to assist. Beyond holding his ground against Kaido, Chu Yi felt a flicker of confusion. He did not know what action could resolve the crisis before him.

But as he persisted, even when Chu Yi himself began to feel a sense of despair...

It was him!

Gekko Moria provided Chu Yi with the hope of a comeback!

In an instant, utilizing the power of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, Gekko Moria poured all the shadows he had painstakingly collected into Chu Yi's body!

Shadows Assembling!

It was the ultimate technique of Gekko Moria’s Shadow-Shadow Fruit! In the original history of the pirates, when facing the Straw Hat Pirates, Moria had absorbed every shadow he controlled into his own body. Having absorbed a full thousand shadows, he had displayed an invincible posture before the Straw Hat crew!

At this very moment, although the number of shadows Moria released was far fewer than a thousand, the over one hundred shadows he had painstakingly gathered surged into Chu Yi’s body simultaneously, accompanied by a deafening roar.

His aura skyrocketed!

"Roar!"

A shrill, fierce cry echoed from behind Chu Yi. Just as Moria’s "Shadows Assembling" took effect, exactly as he had envisioned...

The killing intent soared to the heavens!

The strongest Asura was about to manifest, ready to face Kaido, who also claimed the title of the strongest!

"Hmm?"
"Interesting!"

At the same time, as Chu Yi swallowed over a hundred shadows at once, Kaido saw that Chu Yi was exuding a killing intent that made even him shudder slightly.

Following that...

A blood-red phantom gradually solidified behind Chu Yi, accompanied by that heaven-piercing killing intent.

What else could it be but the Asura Avatar?

That’s right! The Asura Avatar had manifested once again! It was the power of Moria’s "Shadows Assembling" that allowed Chu Yi to regain the use of his Devil Fruit abilities!

Of course, Moria’s technique had bolstered Chu Yi’s strength, but it hadn't directly restored his ability. Yet, as the power of a hundred shadows fully integrated into his body, Chu Yi clearly felt his own strength surging. For reasons unknown, the Devil Fruit abilities he had been unable to use due to his injuries began to gradually recover!

"Whatever the reason, I have regained the use of my abilities now."
"Gekko Moria, thank you!"
"It is you... who has given me the chance to fight Kaido on equal footing while at my peak!"
"Now then..."
"Kaido! Let us fight!"

Boom!

A faint smile lifted the corners of his mouth, and a confident gleam returned to his eyes. At this moment, regardless of why his abilities had returned, Chu Yi only knew that the one thing he had desperately longed to do was finally within reach.

Therefore, the instant his powers returned, Chu Yi slowly reached out his right hand toward the figure of Kaido.

"Crackle!"
"Crackle!"

The blood-stained phantom of the Asura Avatar behind Chu Yi was suddenly cloaked in a layer of crystalline luster, forming diamond armor. As the diamond armor encased the entire avatar, turning the ethereal projection into a solid entity...

Asura Susanoo!

Manifest!

"Hum!"

The fully materialized Asura Avatar instantly shifted into the form of the Asura Susanoo. The diamond-clad ribs of the Susanoo, wrapped in armor engraved with golden leopard patterns, enveloped Chu Yi.

And the moment the Asura Susanoo fully emerged...

Shinra Tensei!

Rumble!

Displaying the power of his absolute peak, Chu Yi’s "Shinra Tensei" was unleashed without the slightest reservation!

Especially amplified by the Asura Susanoo, the "Shinra Tensei," which could already cause space to fracture, now completely obliterated the void itself. Infused with a trace of the power of nothingness, it crashed down upon Kaido!

"Is that..."
"The scent of death?"

Bang!

Chu Yi’s recovered Devil Fruit power was an unexpected increase for Kaido. Now, the "Shinra Tensei" infused with the power of nothingness was even more beyond Kaido's anticipation!

Because of this, when the Asura Susanoo manifested and Chu Yi unleashed his strongest "Shinra Tensei," Kaido had no time to react before colliding with the full might of the technique.

As for the outcome for Kaido...

It was inevitably miserable!

A "Shinra Tensei" capable of obliterating space symbolized the power to shatter the void. Even though Kaido was the world's strongest creature, his physical durability was still insufficient compared to the fabric of space. As he collided with the technique, the sound of fracturing bones echoed, and blood erupted from Kaido’s body, splashing onto the ground like a fountain.

And when the power of nothingness within Chu Yi’s "Shinra Tensei" acted upon Kaido after the space-obliterating force had passed...

The shadow of death loomed over Kaido’s head!

Chu Yi had once pondered that if he could grasp a fraction of the utility of the power of nothingness, then even when facing Whitebeard, the future "Four Emperor" might not be his match.

The current Chu Yi had undoubtedly validated his own hypothesis...

Because when that trace of the power of nothingness struck Kaido, the man known as the strongest in single combat in the pirate world found himself completely unable to resist!

In an instant, half of Kaido’s body was swallowed by the black hole manifested by the power of nothingness!

"It’s over..."
"Kaido, you do not understand the terror of the power of nothingness. You failed to burst free from the black hole in time, and now... escape is impossible!"

To be honest, Chu Yi was also quite astonished that his "Shinra Tensei" had contained the power of nothingness. However, once that trace of void energy was hidden within the technique, Chu Yi knew Kaido was doomed to a crushing defeat.

As he watched the black hole devour Kaido’s body, Chu Yi drew a sharp breath, his brow furrowing slightly.

But he was not frowning because Kaido might escape.

It was because... Chu Yi felt the power in his body rapidly draining away!

Clearly, Gekko Moria had reached his limit. This was his first time using "Shadows Assembling" on someone else; maintaining it for over twenty seconds was hardly shameful.

However, feeling his strength fading and seeing the Asura Susanoo behind him flickering like dying red flames, Chu Yi knew he was about to lose his abilities again. His brow furrowed, and his eyes dimmed with a touch of melancholy.

When would he be able to regain the use of his powers again...?

"Sigh!"

Thinking this, Chu Yi let out a deep breath, telling himself that after the journey to the Dark Island ended, he would have to restore his abilities as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly, just as Moria’s "Shadows Assembling" fully dissipated and Chu Yi returned to his weakened state...

"Boom!"

With a deafening roar, Kaido—who had been on the verge of being consumed by the power of nothingness—actually... actually broke free!