Chapter 80: Establishing Authority, A Life Saved and Debts Settled

“Boom…” Smoke filled the sky as scalding flames erupted, saturating the space with relentless heat. An unstoppable wave of heat, centered around Xuan Ye, surged forth like a tsunami, shaking the entire port. The earth split open, and a hurricane tore through the air.

“Not good.” Kong and his companions shielded their faces, pushed back by the heat, their hearts full of shock.

Some marines had already been blown away, their cries echoing in the scorching air.

“Swish…” Bloodthirsty eyes gleamed; Xuan Ye’s face was covered in strange runes, his long hair streaming, his whole body radiating a violent aura. In an instant, he appeared beside Akainu, raising a pitch-black fist that roared through the air, murderous intent surging toward his adversary.

“Bang…” Akainu’s face was grim, already on guard. His own features twisted, he unleashed a punch swirling with magma, straight at Xuan Ye.

He intended to cripple Xuan Ye’s arm.

“Bang…” Deafening and swift as lightning, the two iron fists—one immense, one small—collided, shattering the ground. Countless boulders rolled upward, soaring toward the clouds.

“Whoosh… Bang…” Ignoring everything, Xuan Ye pivoted, his knee exploding forward in a fierce attack.

“Hound of the Underworld.”

“Roar…” Breaking the sky, a massive, dark red dog with bared fangs lunged ferociously.

“Armament.”

Abandoning defense, Xuan Ye, face savage and full of malice, fired his knee like a cannonball into Akainu’s stomach.

“Puh…” Akainu’s eyes bulged wide, his face contorted, veins bursting across his forehead as a soul-rending pain swept through his body.

Simultaneously, Xuan Ye grunted, blood dripping from his mouth. He managed a cruel smile, ignoring the agony in his chest, and with overwhelming force, pressed Akainu’s head hard into the ground.

“Flame Jet.”

High-temperature energy swirled; Xuan Ye held Akainu fast, unleashing an unimaginable torrent of air.

“Puh…” Blood gushed forth, countless stones shattered, and Akainu was dragged along the ground, carving a long rift before collapsing among the rubble with a resounding crash.

“Whoosh…” Descending from above, Xuan Ye’s visage was demonic, his right foot pitch-black, flames entwining his body like a god of fire, rushing straight for Akainu’s head.

“Smack…” Covered in blood, Akainu howled, managing only to roll aside and stagger to his feet, panting and wiping away the blood.

“Boom… rumble…” The ground exploded, smoke billowed, and the fractured pit glowed red-hot, liquefying.

“Whoosh…” Suddenly, through the smoke, a golden-white spear pierced out, carrying unparalleled destructive force.

“Fang of Crimson Lotus.” Magma surged, Akainu’s eyes burning crimson as he attacked the spear without hesitation.

“Buzz… buzz…”

Magma sprayed, the spear vanished, and darkness descended upon the battlefield.

“Clang…” The heavens shifted; the sky split open as a massive spear, nearly ten thousand meters long, emerged from the storm, its terrifying aura freezing the scene.

“One hundred million degrees Celsius. Supreme Fire God Spear.”

With a flick of his finger, the atmosphere cracked, like a mountain descending. The port trembled, the ground unable to withstand the force, erupting in explosions.

“Damn it, damn it, stop that madman! Does he want the port to vanish?” Kong roared, his expression contorted.

“Buddha Shock.”

“Iron Fist.”

“Laser Beam.”

“Iceberg…”

“Dark Dragon.”

Relentless, countless attacks rained down, striving to halt the colossal spear.

“Divine Transformation. Dark Flame Unleashed.”

Suddenly, a humanoid flame burst forth. In Akainu’s twisted expression, Xuan Ye pressed his hands together, then spread them apart; a whirling spark ignited, and a two-meter-wide pillar of fire, annihilating all, shot forth at lightning speed.

“Buzz buzz…” The air exploded, the ground detonated, unstoppable. Akainu roared, his fists pounding as terrifying magma surged in response.

“Prepare for death, mongrel.” Xuan Ye stepped forward, killing intent overflowing, the fire pillar swelling rapidly until, like a calamity, it engulfed Akainu.

“Puh…” Akainu was sent flying, blood streaming, landing in utter defeat.

Beside him, a three-meter-wide chasm cut deep into the ground, traversing the entire port, destroying all in its path as it vanished into the sea.

“Puh…” Bending over, Xuan Ye spat blood, his figure disappearing only to reappear above Akainu, a long spear humming ominously in his right hand, expanding swiftly.

“Spear of Annihilation.”

Staring at Akainu as if he were already dead, Xuan Ye arched his body and hurled the spear with all his might.

“Boom…” Heaven and earth collapsed; the port crumbled as Akainu screamed, pinned to the ground.

“One hundred million degrees Celsius. Infinite Arrows.”

Hovering in midair, expressionless, the sky turned gold and red as countless blades, spears, swords, and halberds appeared high above, radiating chilling energy in dense formation.

“You should be grateful you’ve survived this long, mongrel. Otherwise, you’d have been sent to hell years ago.”

Xuan Ye stood in the air, face cold and indifferent, gazing disdainfully at the wailing Akainu below. He stretched out his hand, flicked his finger, and instantly, countless blades rained down like a storm.

“No…” Akainu roared in despair, gripping the spear that pierced him, his face twisted with unwillingness. He cared for nothing else; he wanted to live.

“Elementalize, elementalize…”

“Boom… rumble…”

The ground quaked, debris tumbled, and chaos reigned. Dust swirled, and everyone instinctively paused, stunned.

“Damn it, damn it, how dare he kill him?” Kong’s rage was palpable, his violent aura making him untouchable.

He knew becoming Fleet Admiral might now be tainted.

“He’s really done it.” Kizaru swallowed, his face wary, unable to believe it.

“That man has grown even more ruthless since his return,” Aokiji said gravely, uncertain how to face the situation.

“Sigh… Overreaching, Akainu brought this upon himself.” Tsuru rubbed her forehead, knowing the Navy would be shaken.

Suddenly, Xuan Ye’s expression changed midair. His face twisted, flames surged skyward, his left hand swept quickly, and a blade appeared in his right. His figure transformed into fire, diving toward the ground.

“Stop him! Quick, stop him! Akainu isn’t dead yet, Kizaru, do it!” Kong shouted, vanishing in a burst of speed.

“Damn…” Kizaru’s face darkened, deeply displeased. But seeing Kong’s predatory gaze, he made his decision.

“Yasakani no Magatama.”

Golden light flashed; in the blink of an eye, Kizaru appeared before Xuan Ye, a sword of light in his hand, his face solemn as he slashed at Xuan Ye.

“Ame-no-Murakumo Sword.”

“Out of my way.” Blocking Kizaru’s sword, Xuan Ye’s killing intent soared, a storm of fire erupting.

“Swish…” Kizaru vanished instantly, heart pounding with relief; his mission was accomplished.

“Stop!” Amid smoke and chaos, Xuan Ye surged forward, but a violent figure like a mountain barred his path.

“Move aside.” Eyes bloodshot, Xuan Ye cared nothing for consequences; his right foot blackened, flames boiling, sweeping across.

“How dare you attack me?” Kong gritted his teeth, his face dark, raising a pitch-black hand to block Xuan Ye’s kick.

“Bang…” Deafening, Kong was forced sideways, and in that moment, Akainu was fully exposed to Xuan Ye’s glare.

“Xuan Ye, cease at once! That’s an order!” Kong shouted, unable to stop him in time.

“Swish…” Flames erupted, terrifying heat blazed, and Xuan Ye conjured a pitch-black spear in his right hand, stabbing straight for Akainu’s head.

“Spear of Annihilation.”

“Bang…” In a flash, a black hand seized the spear, holding Xuan Ye immobile.

“Garp…” Xuan Ye shouted, his hatred deep; once again, he was thwarted, again and again. He was unwilling, so unwilling…

Just then, a voice burst forth like a vengeful ghost.

“Volcanic Cataclysm.”

Magma swelled, a violent impact struck Xuan Ye’s chest. In that instant, annihilating power converged like a tsunami, erupting as if the world were ending.

“Crack…” The sound of bones breaking rang out, blood bursting skyward. Xuan Ye’s face contorted as he was sent flying, a streak of light across the port.

“Boom… rumble…” The ground rolled, a chasm spanning the port.

“Akainu, you brat…” Garp turned, furious, glaring at Akainu with disgust.

“Hmph! The victor claims all.” Akainu gasped, blood streaming from his head, his body covered in wounds, barely able to stand.

“Bang…” Stones scattered, and in a fractured pit, Xuan Ye lay prone, hair disheveled, face bloody, head down, his expression unreadable.

Cold, so cold—a chilling, bone-deep frost swept through him. Xuan Ye managed a chilling laugh. “Monkey D. Garp, I, Xuan Ye, know how to be grateful. You once saved my life, and though I’ve never spoken of it, I’ve kept it in my heart.”

“Why, why deceive me again and again? Do you take me for a fool?”

He raised his head and howled, face twisted, voice trembling: “From now on, we are even. Monkey D. Garp, you no longer hold any debt over me. The next time you provoke me, I will treat you as an enemy.”

He slammed his right fist into the ground, rising, his whole body drenched in blood, glaring at Garp like a vengeful spirit.

He’d had enough. He was already considering leaving the Navy—now, immediately, at once.

But a single lingering attachment told him he could not!

“Mongrel, you are doomed to die.” With a final glance at Akainu, as if looking at a corpse, Xuan Ye strode away, leaving a trail of blood across the port, vanishing from sight.

“Garp… sigh…” Tsuru looked worried, seeing Garp’s grim expression.

“Akainu, you brat, you’re despicable.” Garp spat, his disgust undisguised.

“Hmph.” Akainu snorted, sprawled on the ground.

At this moment, everyone witnessed Xuan Ye’s ferocity and madness once more, as well as Akainu’s despicable arrogance.

“Sengoku, come with me.” Kong’s gaze flickered, glancing at Sengoku before leaving the scene.

Sengoku followed silently.

Kong whispered, teeth clenched, sighing: “Keep an eye on Xuan Ye. He may already be considering leaving the Navy. If that happens, eliminate him directly.” His voice was cold and expressionless.

“Fleet Admiral Kong… if possible, Xuan Ye is stronger than Akainu. And Zephyr, the Five Elders…” Sengoku wasn’t surprised, only trying to salvage the situation.

“Indeed, perhaps I’m overthinking. With Zephyr’s family present, and his urgent desire to learn his sister’s whereabouts, if he keeps his wits, he’ll know what to do. Only you and I know of this decision. You are certain to be the next Admiral. So, in a critical moment, you must be clear-headed.”

“I understand.” Sengoku nodded, thinking, “Xuan Ye, for Zephyr, for your sister, don’t let me down!”

…