Chapter Eighty-Three: The Bringer of Fortune

“No… Impossible!”

As Chu Yi’s blade descended, Joz’s diamond-armored shoulder instantly became covered in a web of cracks, followed by a startled cry from Marco!

Everyone knew that in the original pirate story, Joz’s diamond defense could withstand even the slashes of the “Hawk Eyes.” During the “War at the Summit,” it didn’t matter how much strength “Hawk Eyes” Mihawk put into his attack—at the height of his power as the world’s greatest swordsman, any random strike from Mihawk should be far more terrifying than what Chu Yi could muster at this moment.

Yet, while “Hawk Eyes” failed to leave even the tiniest scratch on Joz’s diamond armor, Chu Yi’s Asura Blade shattered it with one blow. How could Marco not be stunned by this?

In fact…

It was only when Chu Yi cleaved through Joz’s diamond armor with a single stroke of the Asura Blade that Marco truly regarded Chu Yi as an equal—an opponent on par with himself and “Diamond” Joz.

As for Joz, when the dull ache began to throb in his shoulder, even the reckless warrior couldn’t hide a flicker of astonishment in his eyes, along with a deeper, lingering doubt.

Ever since he had eaten the Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, Joz had never been wounded. This clash with Chu Yi marked the first time since consuming that fruit that he had suffered an injury.

To be injured for the first time while in diamond form shocked Joz, not just at Chu Yi’s strength, but also made him quietly question his own fruit ability.

A blow to one’s confidence is, without a doubt, the best catalyst for transformation.

If Joz could seize this opportunity, his strength might very well ascend to a new tier. However, to have a belief built over years suddenly shattered is almost impossible for anyone to accept.

To restore his confidence, to rebuild his conviction, Joz would either have to temper himself through countless future battles, reforging his faith in his fruit’s power and achieving a breakthrough, or…

Unless Joz possessed the monstrous willpower of the story’s protagonist, Luffy, and could reconstruct his faith in an instant, he would find it difficult to recover from this first defeat at Chu Yi’s hands and gain the upper hand in this confrontation.

Sensing that deep-seated doubt flickering in Joz’s gaze, Chu Yi—who had just struck down with the Asura Blade in his “Gale Style”—curved his lips into a faint smile.

“Although that blow, ‘Wave Severance,’ which cracked Joz’s diamond armor, was executed with the help of the ‘Gravity Field,’ the fact that it could actually mar Joz’s diamond shell…”

“My material collection quest for awakening is now complete!”

As he laughed to himself, the system notification chimed, informing Chu Yi that he had successfully collected Joz’s awakening material—

Gold-tier!

Diamond fruit material!

Obtaining a gold-tier awakening material filled Chu Yi with delight. But although Joz’s faith had been shaken by Chu Yi’s previous slash, and his diamond armor was beginning to show cracks, it did not mean that Joz would simply surrender and admit defeat.

Therefore, just as Chu Yi’s awakening material quest was completed—

With a thunderous crash, Joz, having come to his senses, swung his fist straight at Chu Yi’s face.

But this sudden counterattack did not catch Chu Yi off guard. Even as he rejoiced at acquiring the gold-tier material, he had been on alert for Joz’s retaliation.

Knowing from the original tale that Joz’s raw strength was monstrous—able to lift icebergs barehanded—Chu Yi braced himself with his strongest defense to meet the blow.

In the next instant—

A crimson radiance suddenly shone from the Asura phantom behind Chu Yi.

In a flash, the scarlet light enveloped Chu Yi, and the terrifying defense of the Asura phantom completely shielded him from harm.

The smile on Chu Yi’s lips only grew as he watched Joz’s fist approach, the expression on his face almost saying, “Come and hit me, you fool!”

Yet, just as Chu Yi brimmed with confidence, believing that no matter how mighty Joz’s punch, it could never break his Asura phantom’s defense—

A sharp crack split the air, and Chu Yi’s grin froze instantly.

Joz’s punch had actually left a fissure on the supposedly indestructible defense of Chu Yi’s Asura phantom!

“Is this… is this a joke?”

“He shattered the Asura phantom’s defense with nothing but brute strength?”

“No wonder he’s the future third division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, no wonder he’s… ‘Diamond’ Joz!”

Chu Yi marveled inwardly at the ordeal he’d endured to complete his awakening material quest, and sincerely felt that “Diamond” Joz was even more monstrous than himself.

So, what exactly was the quest Chu Yi had to complete to collect awakening material from “Diamond” Joz?

The answer—

Shatter the defense!

Within a three-day time limit, Chu Yi had to break through Joz’s diamond defense to successfully obtain the gold-tier awakening material.

And to achieve this goal, Chu Yi had gone to great lengths.

First, he used his mastery of swordsmanship to unleash the “Wave Severance” technique of the “Gale Style.”

Then, just as the blade was about to strike the diamond-clad shoulder of “Diamond” Joz—

MAX!

He activated the Gravity Field!

With a staggering two hundred times gravity boosting the blow, Chu Yi’s “Wave Severance” fell upon Joz’s diamond shoulder, amplifying its power almost two hundredfold.

Yet even with such a strike, all it managed was to crack Joz’s diamond armor…

While Joz’s seemingly ordinary punch left a fissure in the Asura phantom’s defense!

Nevertheless, Chu Yi took it in stride. He’d always known that one day his Asura phantom’s defense would shatter at the hands of a true powerhouse; he just hadn’t expected it to be “Diamond” Joz. Though a touch disappointed, it wasn’t enough to break his own resolve.

But since his Asura phantom was damaged for the first time, Chu Yi felt it was only right to respond in kind.

Besides—

Joz’s counterattack was over. Now it was his turn.

A formless killing intent began to gather, the smile fading from Chu Yi’s face as he unleashed a terrifying aura, locking squarely onto “Diamond” Joz.

At that moment, the Asura phantom behind Chu Yi suddenly opened its crimson eyes, fixing its gaze upon “Diamond” Joz.

The instant that gaze fell upon him, Joz felt his body paralyzed by the killer intent, unable to move freely, anxiety rising in his chest.

Then, as the Asura phantom behind Chu Yi slowly extended both hands, two golden leopard apparitions crashed down upon Joz with a thunderous roar.

Tiger’s Earthquake!

With a deafening explosion, dust and smoke billowed, obscuring everyone’s vision.

When the haze finally cleared, Joz was slumped in the depths of a crater.

All around the pit lay scattered, glittering diamonds—the remnants of Joz’s shattered armor.

“Huh!”

“Joz’s fruit ability… why does it look like he’s some sort of fortune-bringing child, scattering treasure everywhere?”