Chapter 127: Admiral Aokiji

P.S. [A huge thank you to reader "Kanpo Hongchen" for the multiple generous tips! You have become the first Grandmaster of "The Strongest Pirate Hunter." There will be at least five chapters today; the extra three are a special update in your honor.]

"The size of this space-time dimension must be related to my ocular power," Shu Mingyuan mused. It was currently the size of a house, but as his ocular power grew, the dimensions of this space would likely expand as well.

"Kamui..." he whispered to himself. In his memory, he replayed everything he knew about the Kamui from Naruto. Kakashi Hatake’s Kamui and Obito Uchiha’s Kamui seemed to possess different abilities between the left and right eyes. One allowed for the transition between intangibility and reality, while the other could use the immense ocular power as a medium to twist an enemy’s body and send it into the space-time dimension, serving as a lethal attack.

Shu Mingyuan had only possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan for a short time. So far, he had only tested the intangibility aspect and hadn't experimented much with the offensive capabilities of Kamui. Moreover, he discovered that the effect of his single left eye seemed comparable to the dual-Kamui effect in the original work; his speed in entering and exiting space-time was so fast that it was the only reason he had been able to dodge the final strike of a Great Swordsman with such ease. If that were the case, he might well possess all the abilities of Kamui.

"Whew... time to go."

Ripples spread through the void, and space began to twist like a vortex. A figure appeared out of thin air before thousands of gazes, standing steadily upon the surface of the sea. This method of arrival was identical to how he had vanished!

"Uh..."

"Don't tell me this kid is a ghost? He vanishes silently like a ghost and reappears just as quietly. It's fitting that his nickname even contains the word 'Ghost'."

Shu Mingyuan ignored the thousands of shocked gazes and smiled casually. His eyes swept across the endless crimson sea beneath his feet, and he couldn't help but gasp. "Goodness me, good thing I ran fast."

Watching the elusive brat, Shiryu of the Rain’s face darkened. "How did this kid show up again? I was ready to call it quits, and the aura he gathered has been exhausted; it would take him ten minutes of meditation to unleash another all-out attack like the one before. Those last few moves took a significant toll on him. After our brief exchange, he already knows that ordinary abilities are useless against him, and only top-tier swordsmanship could possibly kill him."

"I’ve had my fill of your tricks, gentlemen. I’m tired of playing, so there’s no need to see me off. The mountains don’t move, but the water does; the water doesn’t move, but people do. As long as the green hills remain, the clear waters will flow; we shall meet again."

Shu Mingyuan offered a meaningful smile.

A vein throbbed on Magellan’s forehead. He desperately wanted to jump down and fight Shu Mingyuan, but as a user of the Paramecia-type Doku Doku no Mi, he dared not touch the seawater. Shu Mingyuan was clearly well aware of this, which was why he remained out on the ocean, waiting for the Marines to compete for the chance to throw their lives away.

Shu Mingyuan frowned, as if remembering something. He put his fingers to his lips and whistled sharply. A massive Sea King emerged from beneath the sea of blood. He stood atop the giant head of the Lord of the Coast, bit his finger, drew a strange symbol on his palm with his own blood, and pressed his hand firmly against the creature’s head.

The beast was momentarily dazed as the symbol spread from his palm across its entire body before fading away. The Lord of the Coast felt an irresistible, overwhelming power forcing it to accept the mark.

"Heh, job done."

Shu Mingyuan pressed his palms together. With the ritual complete, he instantly felt a subtle connection with the Lord of the Coast. This was a Blood Summoning Contract; once the summoned beast agreed, he could summon it at any time. Even if it were locked in an iron cage, he could still summon it via the Summoning Jutsu. Summoning is a special category of ninjutsu and, in essence, a space-time ninjutsu. By performing the technique, one’s battle partner can appear at their side in an instant.

"Alright, I’ve caused enough trouble at Impel Down. Let’s go. Leaving arrogantly under the gaze of everyone... this feeling... is actually pretty damn good."

Shu Mingyuan touched his nose. Shiryu needed to catch his breath, and Magellan couldn't fight him on the sea, which meant no one could stop his departure for the time being. He stood on the back of the Lord of the Coast, his expression indifferent, seen by countless onlookers.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Fleet Admiral’s Office.

"Hasn't Kuzan arrived yet? That brat is about to leave!"

"Rest assured, Fleet Admiral. Using the triangular current formed by Marineford, Impel Down, and Enies Lobby, Admiral Kuzan should be there by now. The 'Ghost Hunter'... he certainly won't get away."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku did not respond, his eyes fixed intently on the incredibly arrogant man on the screen.

In the waters before Impel Down, a stark, boundless white suddenly appeared, and the temperature of the air dropped below freezing.

Something out of the ordinary always signals trouble.

Shu Mingyuan’s gaze sharpened. Under his observation, the white glow expanded rapidly, shifting from white to blood-red. In the distance, a ten-zhang wave kicked up by a thrashing Sea King froze solid in an instant!

"Is that... ice?"

His pupils constricted. One name flashed through his mind: the highest combat power of the Marines, Headquarters Admiral, Aokiji! A user of the Logia-type Hie Hie no Mi, capable of freezing an entire ocean.

If it were really him, there would be trouble. Shu Mingyuan could steamroll five Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals on the sea, but compared to a Marine Admiral, the gap was too vast. While Shiryu and Magellan were said to have strength comparable to an Admiral, they still fell short. Aokiji, however, was a true Admiral-level powerhouse!

If he hadn't awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at the last moment to use Kamui to dodge Shiryu’s slash, he would have paid a heavy price just facing Shiryu alone. With Aokiji’s arrival, the sea would turn to ice, and all his advantages would vanish.

Admiral Aokiji, Warden Magellan, Chief Jailer Shiryu—each was a top-tier powerhouse. His chances of escaping were becoming infinitely slim.

"You big oaf, dive! Dive as deep as you can and don't surface. A peak-level powerhouse has arrived. Don't worry about me; just protect yourself."

The Lord of the Coast let out a muffled roar and began to submerge. It, too, sensed the arrival of a terrifying presence; in the face of Aokiji, all resistance would likely be in vain. Shu Mingyuan didn't hesitate; he activated Kamui. A space-time vortex appeared, but this time, he clearly felt a sluggishness in the technique!

Affected by Aokiji’s power, the extreme cold had begun to freeze even the space itself.