Hum—
As the Azure Dragon Sword Intent enveloped the blade, Sakuragi emitted a subtle hum.
A light blue-white frost condensed on the handle and sheath, as if freezing the air around it.
Armament Haki!
But that was only the beginning.
As soon as the Azure Dragon Sword Intent stabilized, Bai Yu activated another layer of power with a thought.
Armament Haki surged outward, layering itself over Sakuragi.
The once faint bluish glow on the scabbard deepened sharply.
Now, streaks of black metallic sheen flowed across the surface—subtle, yet ominous.
"His sword…" Vergo, standing opposite Bai Yu, narrowed his eyes. "It's different from before."
This time, it wasn't just the weapon that had evolved.
Vergo felt it—an unmistakable, suffocating presence radiating from the blade.
It wasn't just technique. It was killing intent.
What Bai Yu had declared earlier was no bluff.
"Impossible..."
"Only a few days have passed since our last fight. No matter how talented he is, such rapid growth is insane!"
Vergo tried to dismiss the feeling as a passing illusion.
"Don't overthink it. Just block one hit, create distance, and stall him..."
He reminded himself, forcing calm into his mind.
Vergo crossed his arms, both reinforced with Armament Haki and sheathed in seastone-embedded iron rods.
He planted his feet.
He would take Bai Yu's attack head-on—if just for a moment—then retreat and regroup.
Seeing Vergo's stance, Bai Yu's lips curled ever so slightly.
A solid plan.
But are you sure... you can take it?
---
Boom!
Zzzzt!
In the blink of an eye, Bai Yu stomped down with explosive force.
The ground beneath his feet shattered with a thunderclap.
His figure vanished in a surge of raw momentum, a bolt of lightning unleashed.
Vergo's eyes widened—too late.
In that single heartbeat, Bai Yu closed the distance.
"Draw Sword – Flash Cut."
With a clean pull, Bai Yu drew Sakuragi, the sword flashing downward.
Clang!
The iron rods encasing Vergo's arms cracked—then split.
Sakuragi carved straight through them, like cleaving bamboo.
The blade didn't slow.
Squelch!
Rip!
Vergo's Haki-covered arms could not stop the cut. Flesh, bone, and steel alike parted beneath the blade.
In an instant, both of Vergo's arms were severed.
Zzzt!
But Bai Yu wasn't done.
With a flicker of lightning and thunder, Sakuragi continued downward.
Bai Yu passed directly through Vergo in a blur, the force of his movement trailing behind like a thunderstorm.
"...Impossible…"
Those were Vergo's last words.
Splat!
His body split cleanly in two, from shoulder to hip.
Blood burst into the air, staining the battlefield.
Behind him, Bai Yu stood still.
With quiet grace, he flicked the blood off Sakuragi, resheathed it in one fluid motion, and allowed the Sword Intent and Armament Haki to fade.
---
Gulp.
On the sidelines, Smoker, who had been observing the battle, finally snapped back to reality.
He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
Too fast.
All he'd seen were flashes of blue lightning and the distant sound of a blade.
By the time his eyes caught up, Vergo had already fallen.
"That strength… that talent..."
Smoker stared at Bai Yu, overwhelmed by what he'd witnessed.
He'd once scoffed at Bai Yu's youth.
Now, he realized how foolish that had been.
Bai Yu wasn't just a talented recruit.
He was a storm waiting to be unleashed.
Smoker was quietly grateful that this monster of a swordsman stood with the Navy, and not against it.
---
"Time to move," Bai Yu said calmly.
"R-right!" Smoker blinked, then nodded quickly.
Following Bai Yu, the two darted toward the main research lab deeper within the PH base, passing through the remains of the Biscuit Room.
As they entered the lab, Smoker halted in frustration.
Empty.
Only discarded machinery and shattered containers remained.
Caesar Clown, along with the SAD gas and critical equipment, were already gone.
"Damn it!" Smoker growled, slamming his fist onto a nearby table.
Crash!
The steel surface buckled under the impact.
"Still one step behind…"
"Don't worry," Bai Yu interrupted.
Kenbunshoku Haki—activated.
Closing his eyes, Bai Yu released his Observation Haki, expanding his awareness in all directions.
Hum—
A moment passed.
Then came the feedback.
"Caesar hasn't gone far," Bai Yu said, opening his eyes. "They're just ahead—trying to exit through the rear laboratory gate."
He pointed to a sealed metal bulkhead.
On the other side, he sensed Caesar's anxious aura and the clustered energy of the PH Troops.
If Smoker had been delayed by Vergo any longer, Caesar would've escaped for good.
"Caesar's combat ability rivals Vergo's," Bai Yu added. "Save your strength. I'll break the path."
"No," Smoker said firmly. "You led the way this far—let me return the favor."
With a surge of resolve, he approached the sealed gate.
Bai Yu said nothing—he merely smiled faintly.
He hadn't even broken a sweat.
That earlier slash? It was merely a basic execution of high-grade swordsmanship.
Minimal energy spent—barely a dent in his reserves of Sword Intent and Haki.
Smoker, unaware, summoned his strength.
"White Blow!"
With both arms turned to smoke and focused, he launched a vapor-empowered strike.
Boom!
The blast struck the reinforced door head-on, denting the thick steel and tearing it open with a loud crack.
The heavy doors swung apart.
Smoker turned and nodded to Bai Yu.
Without a word, both of them dashed forward—into the dimly-lit corridor beyond.
The chase was far from over.
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