Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Natural Element Is Not Invincible

Although he could see that Smoker intended to use his Smoke Fruit powers to take advantage of his own lack of Armament Haki, Chu Yi only sneered at Smoker’s naive confidence.

Yet, knowing that, in this clash, Smoker had quietly overcome the shadow of defeat in his heart, Chu Yi couldn’t help but feel a trace of anticipation for the man’s performance.

From the moment Smoker had met his sword—a complete defeat—Chu Yi had noticed the fear and confusion clouding Smoker’s eyes. It was clear that Smoker had begun to doubt himself.

A true warrior—could never afford even a sliver of doubt in his own strength.

Just like Chu Yi himself: if, during a duel with a formidable foe, he began to question his own power, it would mean the loss of all confidence. To borrow a term from the world of shinobi, his spirit would be shackled at that level. Even if he had room to grow in the future, so long as the shadow of failure lodged itself deep within his soul, unable to be conquered, his potential would be sealed. Even if he had what it took to stand among the strongest, his own limitations would strangle his growth.

In time, he would reach an impassable barrier, impossible to overcome.

This, indeed, was the so-called demon of the heart.

As for Smoker—anyone who played such a prominent role in the original pirate saga was no simple character.

Chu Yi might not know exactly how hard it was to conquer one’s inner demons, but from the novels he’d read, he understood it was never easy. And yet, Smoker had managed, just as he was about to succumb, to shatter that darkness—turning instead to his Devil Fruit abilities to try and overpower Chu Yi. That, in itself, was a step forward in his spirit!

Quietly, Chu Yi began to look forward to seeing whether Smoker, now that he had broken through the barrier in his heart, could become even mightier than he was in the original story.

As for now...

Smoker still deserved a harsh lesson!

After all, he naively believed that Logia Devil Fruits made one invincible.

Then—

With a guttural shout, Smoker, having conquered the shadows in his heart, unleashed the full extent of his Smoke Fruit powers. In Chu Yi’s eyes, his legs first dissolved into swirling smoke, then his entire body threatened to vanish in a cloud.

In an instant, smoke billowed everywhere.

Within that dense fog, Smoker first sealed off Chu Yi’s vision, then began to solidify his smoky form, aiming to use the tangible smoke to bind Chu Yi tight.

But just as Smoker’s plan was on the verge of success, Chu Yi suddenly moved.

“If my sword intent can break through the barrier of ‘wind’ itself, then surely…”

He smiled, the cold sneer on his lips transforming into a confident grin.

“…breaking through your smoke, conjured by your own Devil Fruit, is child’s play!”

As that smile appeared, the air filled with the sound of slicing wind.

Brandishing the Asura Blade with blinding speed, Chu Yi slashed out with a sword aura so sharp and swift that it tore the swirling smoke apart, bit by bit.

His strikes were so fast, they could even slice through smoke itself.

Just how terrifying was this man?

Veins bulged on Smoker’s brow as he stared at Chu Yi in disbelief, unable to fathom how the other could so easily shatter the advantage he’d fought so hard to create with his Smoke Fruit.

Had Chu Yi known Smoker’s thoughts, he would have simply said—

The sword slash that could truly shock you has yet to come.

At that precise moment, as Chu Yi’s sword intent, swift as a raging gale, shredded the surrounding smoke and rendered Smoker’s counterattack utterly futile, Chu Yi suddenly sheathed his blade, once again assuming that familiar stance—as if preparing to draw his sword.

Just seeing that familiar movement sent another cold sweat sliding down Smoker’s face.

He desperately tried to employ his Smoke Fruit to soar into the sky and evade Chu Yi’s impending strike.

But as Chu Yi had said before—

Smoker, you’re simply too slow!

In the next instant—

With a chilling whoosh, the Asura Blade descended like a storm. Even before the blade reached him, a bone-deep chill enveloped Smoker’s entire being.

It was, unmistakably, the power of the Ice Fruit.

Or rather, it was Chu Yi wielding the Ice Fruit’s cold, merging it with his own sword intent to deliver a strike that could suppress most Logia-type Devil Fruit users.

“Gale Style—”

“Winter’s Chill!”

Clearly, Chu Yi had only just coined the term “Gale Style” to represent the sword path and intent he had mastered.

As for “Winter’s Chill,” it was the name he had given this very technique.

The method behind “Winter’s Chill” was simple. When Chu Yi realized that his sword intent could break through even the barrier of “wind,” he wondered why he couldn’t harness the wind itself.

Cold, after all, only reaches its extreme when paired with a raging gale.

Thus, for the very first time, by merging the Ice Fruit’s frost with the “wind” of Gale Style, Chu Yi unleashed a sword technique that left even Logia-type users helpless.

Cold—so bitterly cold.

As Chu Yi’s “Winter’s Chill” swept forth, even in his elementalized, smoky state, Smoker felt every cell of his hidden body slowly freezing under that terrifying chill.

Very soon, the bone-piercing frost forced Smoker out of his elemental state. In just a few seconds, the once-proud wielder of a Logia Fruit stood frozen solid, his mouth agape in shock—a pristine ice sculpture before Chu Yi.

Gazing at Smoker, now an ice statue under the might of “Winter’s Chill,” Chu Yi smiled faintly, walked to his side, and said in a calm, quiet voice:

“Smoker, remember—Logia Devil Fruit users are not invincible.”

“At least, not in front of me.”

With that, Chu Yi noticed billowing smoke rising from the Holy Land of Mariejois, and vaguely guessed that it must be the handiwork of Tiger and Hancock. He hoisted the ice-bound Smoker onto his shoulder, as well as Lucci, who was still under the effects of the “Gravity Domain.” While his shadow clone and the marines remained locked in fierce combat, Chu Yi took advantage of the chaos, unfurled his Asura Wings, and soared into the clouds.

When he finally sensed that all of his shadow clones had been destroyed by the marines’ relentless pursuit, Chu Yi calmly folded away his wings, having successfully shaken off any pursuers.

Landing lightly on the ground with Smoker and Lucci slung over his shoulders, Chu Yi rejoined Tiger, Hancock, and the others.

“It’s time…”

“To put a perfect end to the battle of Mariejois.”