Chapter 85: Next in Line

"You want me to thank you?"

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted, and anyone would feel a surge of irritation. Thus, the moment Jozu finished his sentence and attempted to restrain Chu Yi by gripping his Shura Blade with his innate, overwhelming strength, Chu Yi’s eyes, cold as frost, suddenly locked onto Jozu.

Then, with a detached voice, Chu Yi slowly extended his palm.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Bang!

With one use of "Shinra Tensei," Chu Yi sent Jozu flying without even giving him the chance to counterattack. Though Jozu tried to regain control of his body in midair, it was futile...

The "Shinra Tensei" Chu Yi now commanded was many times more powerful than before. During his training en route to Fishman Island, thanks to the third awakening, Chu Yi could, at full force, obliterate a Marine Buster Call with this very technique.

Now, even though Chu Yi held back out of consideration for Fishman Island’s relationship with the Whitebeard Pirates, the "Shinra Tensei" he unleashed at great speed still possessed the might to destroy a Marine warship.

With such terrifying power, not to mention the present Jozu—even at his peak, it would be extremely difficult for him to withstand it head-on.

Moreover...

This time, Chu Yi had employed a subtle technique with his "Shinra Tensei."

The Karakusa Tile-Destruction Fist!

Training Fishman Karate under Tiger had been Chu Yi’s wisest decision. Though it seemed simple and foundational, the true essence of the art lay within those basics. Without them, how could Chu Yi have built such a solid foundation? Without them, how could he have mastered the Karakusa Tile-Destruction Fist, a technique that would benefit him for life?

Earlier, as Chu Yi extended his palm and unleashed the "Shinra Tensei" at Jozu—

Bang!

On the surface, the terrifying repulsive force of the "Shinra Tensei" prevented Jozu from controlling his body, sending him arcing through the air. But in truth...

The true killing move was not the outward force, but the "Shinra Tensei" that Chu Yi had driven into Jozu’s body.

So, at first, as Jozu was sent flying, he merely felt a sudden burst of force from Chu Yi’s palm. But as he flew—

Crack!

Crack!

The repulsive force embedded deep within Jozu’s body took effect, and his diamond armor began to splinter and flake off from the inside out under the vibrating force of "Shinra Tensei!"

Yet as he watched his diamond armor crumble, Jozu actually grinned.

"Yes, just like that!"

"Kid, it’s really rare to find someone who can break my defenses. Otherwise, how would I ever know how to truly train my fruit’s power?"

"Push me further! Just a bit more!"

"Your potential is certainly not limited to this! When you’re burning with rage... I’m sure you’ll satisfy me even more!"

"Hahahaha!"

If Chu Yi knew what was running through Jozu’s mind as his diamond armor shattered, he’d probably think Jozu was a full-blown masochist!

But being a masochist was never Jozu’s goal; after all, not a single true powerhouse on these seas ever wished for defeat. The simple fact was...

Jozu’s path to training his fruit’s power required hardship and destruction.

It was clear that every Devil Fruit in the pirate world had its own method of cultivation. For Jozu’s Diamond Fruit, the path was destruction followed by rebirth.

Why was it that Jozu, even after transforming, didn’t have the formidable defense he was known for in the original story? The reason was simply that, until now, Jozu had never encountered someone like Chu Yi—someone capable of shattering his diamond armor!

With the Diamond Fruit’s terrifying defense, Jozu could harm others, but no one could ever harm him. Relying on that overwhelming defense, Jozu’s brute force had been invincible, and over time, he developed a fanatical confidence in his fruit’s power. If Chu Yi hadn’t shattered that confidence, Jozu’s strength might have stagnated, unable to ever reach the heights from the original tale.

Now, with newfound insight into his fruit’s true cultivation, Jozu’s thoughts no longer centered on defeating Chu Yi. Instead, he hoped to use Chu Yi as a stepping stone to become even stronger!

Of course...

If Jozu were truly stubborn, he could simply go back and use Whitebeard’s Tremor Fruit for his training! Chu Yi was strong, but could he really claim to surpass the current Whitebeard? Moreover, with Whitebeard’s Tremor Fruit, Jozu’s training speed would improve dramatically.

Besides, Chu Yi was no fool. When he combined "Shinra Tensei" with the mysteries of the Karakusa Tile-Destruction Fist, unleashing a perfect "internal explosion," and saw Jozu—still hurtling through the air—regenerate an even sturdier diamond armor, Chu Yi knew he couldn’t allow Jozu any more time to grow stronger.

Otherwise...

He’d end up capsizing in the gutter that was Jozu!

"Learning some secrets about fruit cultivation from Jozu is enough for me. At least, when I awaken the Diamond Fruit in the future, I’ll know exactly how to train it and master the true ‘Way of Diamond.’ As for now..."

With a sidelong glance at Marco, a flash of cunning lit up Chu Yi’s eyes.

"Let’s deal with Jozu first!"

With that thought, Chu Yi’s figure once again became a streak of light.

"Shave!"

Seizing the moment as Jozu was still airborne and unable to dodge freely, Chu Yi used "Shave" to appear behind him in a flash. As Jozu forced his body to twist around, facing Chu Yi head-on, Chu Yi’s eyes widened, and he brought down the Shura Blade in his palm without hesitation.

"Gale Style!"

"Winter Chill!"

In an instant—

Whoosh!

The Shura Blade slashed down, releasing a crystalline blue aura that poured from the broken edge of the blade, enveloping Jozu.

As the blue energy surged forward, Jozu, frowning in curiosity, wondered what it could be.

But the moment his body touched the blue aura—

Crack!

A bone-chilling cold made Jozu’s face twist in shock.

Then, as the frigid power invaded further, contorting his features—

Crack!

There was no time for words. Under Chu Yi’s "Winter Chill," a fusion of swordsmanship and the power of the Freeze Fruit, Jozu was instantly transformed into a sparkling ice sculpture, crashing down to the ground!

"That’s... the power of Marine Admiral Aokiji?"

"Damn brat, what kind of Devil Fruit did you eat to have so many abilities? It’s impossible to guard against you!"

Watching as Jozu was turned into an ice statue by Chu Yi’s "Winter Chill," Marco’s eyes narrowed. Blue flames flickered behind him as he rushed forward to rescue the frozen Jozu.

However, just as Marco reached Jozu, blue flames licking at his own body and about to touch Jozu—

Whoosh!

A burst of sword energy exploded!

In that instant, Chu Yi slashed with the Shura Blade, forcing Marco back from Jozu. Then, with a beckoning gesture and a smile, he called out:

"Alright... next up!"