Chapter 183: Sparing Silver Axe

"Silver Axe, you've been thoroughly defeated!" Li Yuan remarked calmly, looking at the battered Silver Axe.

"Heh, yes, I've lost to you, Li Yuan," Silver Axe admitted with a hint of self-mockery. Since their first encounter two months ago, he had been defeated.

He had refused to acknowledge it, returning time and again to challenge Li Yuan, hoping to wash away his shame and use Li Yuan's pressure to push his own Devil Fruit abilities to greater heights.

Indeed, he had grown stronger over the past two months, feeling his abilities steadily improving. Yet, he failed because, while he used Li Yuan as a motivation, Li Yuan used him as a whetstone.

The final outcome was the same—his complete defeat, saved from the sea only by Li Yuan's intervention.

"I can let you go and not absorb your pirate crew, but you must never become an enemy of the Infinity Pirates in the future."

"If I call upon you, you must not refuse, up to three times. I won't publicize this; only we will know."

"Lastly, hand over all the Devil Fruits you've collected," Li Yuan proposed after some thought.

Silver Axe wouldn't serve him, but Li Yuan didn't want to waste a powerful Admiral-level fighter by simply killing him. Thus, he offered these terms.

Li Yuan was not ready to disrupt the balance of power among the pirate crews in the New World, as the World Government and Navy remained a looming threat.

Should the current New World pirate war result in the deaths of several major pirates, the World Government and Navy might seize the opportunity to invade a weakened New World.

With Infinity Pirates' territory near the central and front parts of the New World, they would be prime targets.

Li Yuan lacked Golden Lion's Pika Pika no Mi ability to flee easily; losing hard-won territories wasn't an option.

Until the Infinity Pirates' commanders and captains matured, he preferred not to eliminate pirates like Silver Axe.

"Alright, I agree!" Silver Axe readily accepted.

Survival trumped all else. He wasn't ready to die, and Li Yuan's terms were fair—preserving his life and reputation.

"Good, then go," Li Yuan smiled, leaving Silver Axe with a small boat before departing.

"Sigh, who would've thought the little brat would surpass me," Silver Axe mused, watching Li Yuan leave.

He recalled Li Yuan's early days in the Rocks Pirates, barely managing to fight John with tricks. Back then, Silver Axe could easily defeat him.

Now, six years later, despite his own growth, Silver Axe was utterly defeated by Li Yuan's overwhelming power.

"However, I won't fade away. I am the great pirate Silver Axe!" Silver Axe's ambition reignited quickly.

Just because he couldn't beat Li Yuan now didn't mean he wouldn't keep his territory in the New World.

The New World's major pirates were numerous; if he couldn't win alone, he'd ally with others.

After expanding into the New World's center, Li Yuan halted, choosing not to confront the Flying Pirates.

The Infinity Pirates and Flying Pirates each claimed half of the central New World's prosperous lands.

It wasn't fear of Golden Lion; it was about manpower to hold the territories.

From the 30,000 pirates Li Yuan led, only 20,000 remained, losing 10,000.

Barrett's group, sent to hold Branton, lost half of their 30,000.

Thus, Li Yuan returned to deal with Branton.

Silver Axe, after his defeat, retreated to his remaining territories, targeting smaller pirate groups.

Besides the Roger Pirates and Rocks remnants, new pirate crews thrived in the New World.

These crews survived by banding together amidst the larger pirate factions. Silver Axe, having lost to Li Yuan, sought to reclaim his pride through these smaller targets.

Interestingly, Silver Axe didn't inform Branton of his defeat, nor did Li Yuan publicize it.

Unaware, Branton continued battling Barrett's trio, aiming to defeat them.

One day, while regaining his strength, Branton saw an enormous steel warship approaching.

"The Hades, Li Yuan is here!" Branton recognized the massive ship, knowing its owner.

The Hades, a steel fortress on the sea, was unforgettable after just one sight.

Branton wondered why Silver Axe hadn't stalled Li Yuan.

"Branton, Silver Axe has been defeated. Leave quietly, and I'll spare you today," Li Yuan declared from the Hades' prow.

"Hmph, anyone can talk big. Come if you dare!" Branton retorted, angered by Li Yuan's words.

He and Li Yuan had once been equals in the Rocks Pirates, neither backing down. Running without a fight would ruin his standing in the New World.

"Hahaha, then let's go!" Li Yuan laughed, leaping from the Hades towards the island.

"Get off the island!" Branton ordered his men to leave, knowing they'd be mere cannon fodder.

Li Yuan, swift even in Moonwalk, approached with the Seven Stars Sword crackling with blood-red lightning, like a crimson meteor.

As he neared the island, the sword's aura intensified, ready to unleash its full power.

"Life Return: Normal Limb Enhancement!"

"Trinity Unification: Conqueror's Heaven-Shattering Slash!!"

Descending like a meteor, Li Yuan's sword strike drew the air, collapsing the space.

From afar, the island seemed to plunge into an apocalypse.

Branton's muscles swelled, skin reddened, steam venting from his pores like Luffy's Gear Second.

While Li Yuan charged, Branton also gathered his strength.

"Violent King's Fist!!"

As Li Yuan descended, Branton punched skyward, shaking the heavens.

As fist met sword, blood-red lightning ravaged the island.

The clash's shockwaves surged outward, halting the Hades' approach.

"Damn, how is he so strong!" Branton gritted his teeth, blood dripping from his mouth.

He knew Li Yuan was powerful, but not to this extent.

The pain from his fist, Haki grinding against Li Yuan's sword, shocked him.

Suddenly, Li Yuan's power surged.

The sword shattered Branton's Haki, striking his fist and driving him into the island.

Branton, disbelieving, rose from the rubble, seeing his severed finger tendon.

One strike severed a tendon!

He had withstood an Admiral-level trio; how could he be so weak now?

Since surviving Kong's assault, Branton had been confident in his strength.

Without facing multiple opponents, he feared no one.

Yet he forgot that Li Yuan had saved him by swiftly killing a CP0 deputy chief.

"Branton, you're weaker than Silver Axe," Li Yuan mocked.

He preferred facing martial artists, as he could strike their bodies directly.

Those with weapons could block his sword, reducing its impact.

"Hmph, enough talk. Again!" Branton fumed at Li Yuan's taunt.

Before Li Yuan joined the Rocks Pirates, before his capture, Branton had been stronger than Silver Axe.

Since Silver Axe gained a Devil Fruit, he might have surpassed Branton, though Branton refused to acknowledge it.

Branton vanished, reappearing before Li Yuan, swinging a punch at his face.

-Support me on Ko-Fi for 35+ advance chapters there.

https://ko-fi.com/zxc1015

Thanks!