Chapter 31

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031: Ryūjin Jakka on Full Display!

...

At the same time, on a deserted island.

"Physical strength alone is enough for me to block a Marine Admiral's attack," Bai Ye mused, feeling the collision of the two fights and knowing deep in his heart:

"However, my real strength will never lie in physical prowess."

He affirmed some final things to himself.

Bai Ye raised his head to take a peek at the roster of horrors that the Marines were hurling, at great cost, to surround this isolated island today. His indifferent eyes began to reveal a glint of coldness.

"The real battle, it's time for it to begin."

At that moment, Akainu couldn't help but snort coldly upon hearing this and fixed his gaze on Bai Ye determinedly.

"Are you ready to use your full strength at this time?!" Akainu challenged. "Or do you, an arrogant fellow, already know that no matter what kind of fire-related abilities you possess in this world, in the face of lava, they are merely low-level abilities that aren't even popular!"

Akainu's anger stemmed from having watched the recorded projection of Bai Ye annihilating the pacifist fleet. There he was, ostensibly a 'swordsman,' yet facing the situation that had now reached a critical point!

In his fight against Akainu, Bai Ye didn't even wield the weapon at his waist! Such 'arrogance' was too much for Akainu's nerves, causing his forehead veins to bulge.

As a Marine Admiral, being the very existence that induces fear in the hearts of countless pirates, Akainu could not tolerate anyone daring to underestimate him, especially not an old man who should have been rendered obsolete long ago and hadn't been notable for over a week!

"An uninfluential low-level ability?" Bai Ye pondered Akainu's words.

He considered Akainu's arrogance and how it dismissed any flames. It must be the funniest joke Bai Ye had heard in days. Was every fire ability inferior to Akainu's lava-imbued fruit powers? Perhaps Akainu, or rather, the fire abilities within the One Piece World, were indeed feeble. So feeble, in fact, that Akainu mistakenly believed lava could surpass all fire abilities.

But one must not forget, lava is merely lava. It is only the intense heat from flames that melts the minerals to form it...

And in Bai Ye's possession, Ryūjin Jakka.

With his left hand, Bai Ye held Ryūjin Jakka in front of him. Its flames in Shikai alone could reach temperatures as high as the surface of the sun—5700°C—able to reduce everything in this world to ashes!

That is precisely why Bai Ye had never truly unleashed the full might of Ryūjin Jakka.

Bai Ye had no intention of arguing with Akainu because he finally found a place where he could unleash his strength without any scruples.

He would tell Akainu clearly what the real 'blazing hell' was!

It was merely Akainu's self-righteous belief that his lava fruit had the power to restrain all flames.

"Are you finally going to show your strength?! But even so, your ending will not change!"

Akainu saw Bai Ye place his right hand on Ryūjin Jakka's dark purple hilt and snorted coldly. Hot lava erupted from his body, melting everything around them.

However, Bai Ye didn't respond at all because he felt Ryūjin Jakka seemed to cheer under his grasp.

At that moment, Bai Ye questioned how long the deserted island beneath his feet would last. But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it. Such considerations were irrelevant now.

Meanwhile, Kizaru, who had been watching the battle with a serious face, suddenly felt a bad premonition and his expression changed slightly. He was ready to warn Akainu, but it was too late. Orange-red flames surged around Bai Ye's body.

At sea, the Marine fleet and CP0 had no idea what was about to happen.

Bai Ye looked indifferently at everything before him and slowly spoke the Shikai incantation, allowing Ryūjin Jakka to reveal its true form.

"Everything turns to ashes... Ryūjin Jakka!"

In the next moment, the Marine fleet at sea had yet to react when all the flames rushed frantically toward Ryūjin Jakka in Bai Ye's hands.

The high temperature began escaping outward from the deserted island, visible to the naked eye, centered on Bai Ye. The flame became like a taboo zone. The ground began to crack from thirst, nearby plants withered and turned to swift ashes, and the inferno spread to the distant forest, engulfing the entire island.

The high temperature emanating from Ryūjin Jakka had transformed the entire deserted land into a 'fire hell,' and the island itself began to feel the terrifying heat.