Chapter 89: The Way of Choosing and Letting Go

The inner demon... it is not necessarily defeat! Greed, anger, delusion—all manner of desires—these are the inner demons. In essence, the inner demon is human desire itself; if a person can conquer even their own desires, their spirit shall be elevated to a higher realm.

At this moment, Chu Yi seemed to be making a simple choice: to seize the terrifying regenerative power of the revived Blue Flame, sacrificing the life of Marco, a man with whom he had no relation at all, or to save Marco, whom he’d met only once and who might even be an enemy, thereby relinquishing the Blue Flame he had longed for.

But in truth? Chu Yi was battling his own desires! Waging war against his inner demon! The craving for the power of the revived Blue Flame was a form of greed—an inner demon. Whether to submit or to overcome it hung entirely on a single thought in Chu Yi’s mind.

However, could a being like Akainu possibly grant Chu Yi even a moment’s hesitation? As Akainu flung the battered Tiger aside, layers upon layers of elite Marines suddenly encircled Chu Yi and his companions!

With their sudden arrival, the first act of these Marine elites was to surround Jinbe, Octopus Hachi, and the other natives of Fishman Island. Clearly, the relationship between the World Government and Fishman Island was too delicate; even Akainu felt that to accomplish his aims here, Fishman Island’s involvement must be severed.

As for Tiger... Now a wanted man by the World Government, likely involved in the “Sabaody Archipelago Incident” and the “Holy Land Mary Geoise Incident,” he was a criminal whom Fishman Island itself could not shelter, and thus there was every reason to apprehend him.

While Jinbe and the others were beset by elite Marines—forced by Fishman Island’s interests to watch Tiger lie gravely wounded, unable to rescue him—

“Click!”

A pair of Sea Prism Stone cuffs, under the combined efforts of several Marine elites, were successfully locked onto Diamond Jozu, still frozen by Chu Yi’s power. With this, the number of fighters capable of challenging the Marines dwindled further!

Vista’s situation was somewhat better, for when Mihawk, with his keen Haki, sensed the Marines’ approach, their duel had ceased. Yet Mihawk... he truly fought as if his life depended on it! During Chu Yi’s battles with Diamond Jozu and Marco the Phoenix, Mihawk hadn’t given Vista a moment’s respite. Now, Vista too was on his last legs; if Mihawk hadn’t detested the Marines’ interference in their duel and chosen to protect him, Vista would likely have shared Jozu’s fate and been captured.

Had that happened, the current situation would have been a nightmare for Chu Yi and his companions.

Even so, the current predicament was already dire—it all depended on the decision Chu Yi would ultimately make.

And yet, standing before the formidable Akainu, somewhat dazed, Chu Yi had never expected that, from the moment Akainu appeared and his inner demon began to stir, he alone had become the key to breaking the deadlock!

“What should I do? Save Marco, or not?”

“Even if I return the Blue Flame now, Marco’s chances of escaping Akainu are slim. But if I don’t return it...”

“Marco... will truly die!”

Torn by inner turmoil, weighing gains against losses, hesitating over whether to return the Blue Flame—

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, Akainu moved!

A man of absolute justice, uncompromising in the least. Long before Chu Yi and his companions had triggered the “Holy Land Mary Geoise Incident,” Akainu had rushed to sea, intent on capturing Chu Yi, the world’s most wanted criminal.

Their brief encounter at Mary Geoise had seared Chu Yi’s name into Akainu’s memory. From the moment Chu Yi escaped, Akainu had employed the Navy’s intelligence network, painstakingly gathering information on him. Noting Tiger’s presence at Chu Yi’s side, he deduced that their next destination would likely be Fishman Island. Akainu had prepared a trap there in advance, waiting for Chu Yi to walk right in.

Now, with the trap sprung, Akainu’s harvest was bountiful. Not only could he confront Chu Yi on Fishman Island, but he had a chance to capture alive two of Whitebeard’s fiercest lieutenants—and perhaps kill one outright.

If Chu Yi, Tiger, and the rest could be captured, such merit would be enough for Akainu to ascend, becoming the first among his generation to attain the highest rank of Navy combat power!

Given all this, how could Akainu allow Chu Yi any opportunity to escape?

So, in the instant after heavily wounding Marco, leaving him at death’s door—

Rokushiki!

“Soru!”

In a flash, Akainu’s figure appeared like a phantom behind Chu Yi.

With Kenbunshoku Haki locking onto his target, Akainu’s Devil Fruit power erupted, his right arm sheathed in blazing magma, further entwined with Busoshoku Haki to prevent Chu Yi from using his own fruit to evade.

Such a formidable attack was not something Chu Yi could hope to withstand. In Akainu’s eyes, if this punch landed, the so-called world’s most dangerous criminal would bow beneath his iron fist.

But just as Akainu’s fist was about to fall—

Suddenly!

“Boom!”

From the Asura’s Eye upon Chu Yi’s brow, the two strands of violet ripple began to tremble violently. As their intensity grew, a third ripple emerged from the Asura’s Eye!

A surge of murderous aura erupted from Chu Yi’s body, blasting outward in all directions!

“Boom!”

It was a killing intent that struck terror into the soul—one that rivaled even the Conqueror’s Haki! Under its terrifying sweep, all the surrounding Marine elites—those restraining Jinbe, those facing Mihawk and Vista, those carrying Jozu away—fell unconscious in an instant, their eyes rolling back in their heads.

Yet under this oppressive aura, not only were the weaker Marines shaken; even such mighty figures as Akainu, Mihawk, and Jinbe were stunned by the sudden eruption of killing intent from Chu Yi!

Especially Akainu, closest to Chu Yi, standing at the very heart of that fearsome surge. Were he not already an admiral-class force, he might not have been able to withstand that confrontation of murderous will.

But now—

“Hmph!”

With a cold snort, forcibly suppressing the tremor in his heart, Akainu’s eyes gleamed fiercely, and the punch he’d prepared came crashing down!

“Asura, the greater your potential, the less I can afford to let you live!”

“Dark Hound!”

Rumble!

Magma-formed arm burst forth, radiating searing heat, the fist clad in Busoshoku Haki, falling straight and true at Akainu’s command!

With this blow, Akainu’s murderous intent was absolute—he would see Chu Yi slain!

With this blow, Mihawk’s expression shifted subtly, a flicker of concern flashing across his gaze at Chu Yi!

But in the next instant—

Just as Akainu’s fist was about to crash down upon Chu Yi—

A surge of blue flames rose behind Chu Yi, greatly diminishing the force of Akainu’s strike.

Next—

“Crack... crack...”

With the sound of glass shattering, the Asura Demon Image upon Chu Yi’s body solidified, first blocking Akainu’s lethal punch, then slowly turning to face him, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

“Marco, who would have thought that we’d go from enemies...”

“To comrades so soon!”