016 Who Is More Ruthless: Xuan Ye vs. Akainu

With a deafening crash, the massive body collapsed, its unwilling wail echoing as scarlet blood spilled across the scorched earth.

Panting heavily, Xuan Ye’s hair hung in wild disarray, his entire body marred with wounds, resembling a bloodthirsty fiend risen from the depths of hell. The ferocious aura still lingered, refusing to dissipate. Each ragged breath sent waves of pain through his battered form, forcing a hoarse grimace onto his lips as he struggled to remain seated.

This had been the hardest battle yet. Not only were his injuries grave, but his strength was nearly spent. Had it not been for his remarkable power of recovery, he might have met his end here today. Yet, in spite of all he’d lost, the rewards were just as great.

He flexed his clawed hand, and now, rather than a barely perceptible armament, his fist was wreathed in a visible, inky blackness. Though it only encased his palm, for Xuan Ye, it marked a significant breakthrough. He had advanced his Armament Haki, and his Observation Haki had also improved, extending its range from one hundred meters to one hundred and ten. Such an increase might seem trivial, but often, lives were decided within those extra ten meters.

Most important of all was the enhancement of his physical constitution. He could feel the vigorous flow of his life force, his body surging with newfound vitality. He would never forget that the body was the foundation of all power.

“Battle—only through battle can one grow stronger. Now then…” He paid no heed to his wounds. Given time, he would heal swiftly as ever. What preoccupied his mind was finding another excuse to stay here and continue his training; after all, half a month would pass in the blink of an eye.

Though it bordered on wishful thinking, he still desired to remain here as long as possible to hone his skills.

At that moment, with crisis descending in a hair’s breadth, Xuan Ye’s expression shifted. His figure vanished and reappeared a hundred meters away.

Another thunderous explosion shook the earth. A rolling shockwave, searing and fierce, scorched the ground, leaving a golden-red crater where Xuan Ye had been sitting moments before.

Turning, Xuan Ye glared murderously at the figure stepping from the jungle. His voice was icy. “Akainu, are you looking for death?”

“Hmph. It’s either you or me—only one of us leaves alive,” Akainu replied coldly, magma dripping scaldingly from both hands, his murderous intent for Xuan Ye plain in every word.

“I’ve never been one to provoke others, yet there’s always some mongrel who bites without reason. Frankly, I don’t mind turning him into a dead dog. Honestly, Akainu, you really are repulsive.”

Flames erupted. Instantly, the temperature soared, blazing clouds forming in a blink and painting the sky in gold and crimson.

“From the moment I first saw you, I knew you would never be loyal to the Navy or to the government. For the sake of justice, I have the right to eliminate you!”

Like a volcano erupting, smoke and fire billowed. Akainu stood as a god amidst magma, radiating an aura of utter destruction that made Xuan Ye’s expression grow grave.

“Haha! What a joke. You’re just a mutt. Justice? What is justice? Even if it exists, it isn’t your place to uphold it. Dogs remain dogs—and today, I’ll see you buried as one.”

A savage light in his eyes, Xuan Ye was bent on killing. No matter the cost, he would see Akainu dead and buried here forever.

“For justice, you will die! Xuan Ye Tang!”

Akainu roared, magma surging, and a massive golden-red fist, like the eruption of a volcano, soared skyward.

“Dead dog!”

With a ferocious snarl, Xuan Ye’s whole form erupted in flames. A gigantic bird, wings spread wide, surged forth, radiating an unparalleled, savage aura, transforming into a streak of fire that rushed to meet Akainu.

Fire and magma collided with a world-shaking roar. Waves of heat and force tore up the earth, an apocalyptic tempest annihilating everything in its path.

“Great Eruption!”

Akainu raised his fists, sending torrents of magma raining down like a meteor shower, bearing down on Xuan Ye with irresistible might.

A shrill cry pierced the heavens. Like a primordial beast, the firebird spread its blazing wings and spoke in a human voice, “Endless Arrows!”

Dozens of swords, spears, and halberds, all wreathed in flame, arced through the sky like a thousand arrows, igniting the air and blotting out the daylight with terrifying momentum.

“Infernal Hound!”

“Finger Gun: Golden Crow Claw!”

Explosions resounded as smoke and flames engulfed the battlefield for ten thousand meters in every direction. Fire raged, magma churned, and billowing smoke shrouded the sky.

“Something’s wrong—they’ve run into each other.” On the coast, aboard a massive warship, Zephyr and Garp sprang to their feet, their gazes fixed on the inferno.

The earth quaked. Even standing on the great ship, the terrible force and heat could be felt, and everyone’s face grew tense—for the battle was still far from them.

“Xuan Ye Tang! I’ll kill you! Armament: Crimson Fangs!”

The sky blazed red as a monstrous hound, nearly a hundred meters long, appeared on the horizon, descending from the heavens like a wolf devouring the moon.

“Dead dog! If no one had saved you last time, you’d already be a corpse. Three hundred thousand degrees Celsius—Armament: High-Energy Hand Blast!”

Golden flames, radiating terrifying heat, compressed ever tighter, suspended in midair like a second sun.

Hearing the roars from ten kilometers away, everyone aboard the warship fell into silence. These two were monsters—their battle was a natural disaster, capable of destroying the world.

Akainu was a Logia, after all, but Xuan Ye’s fruit was an ordinary Zoan, albeit an ancient one. To match Akainu blow for blow proved Xuan Ye’s extraordinary might.

A mushroom cloud rose, shaking the earth, a shockwave flattening everything in its path—a cataclysmic event.

“Zephyr, I’m going to take a look.”

“Garp, you—” Before Zephyr could finish, Garp had already vanished.

“Who else is still on the island?” Zephyr asked his adjutant, frowning as he watched Garp depart.

“Reporting, Admiral! Kizaru, Aokiji, Xuan Ye, and Akainu remain. The others have either returned or…”

“That’s enough. I understand.” Cutting him off, Zephyr’s gaze returned to the chaotic battlefield.

Meanwhile, to the south, Kizaru raised his head in feigned fear, eyeing the smoke-filled sky. “Terrifying… I’ll need to be more careful in the future,” he muttered.

No one knew what Kizaru was really thinking, but with a flash of golden light, he vanished.

Elsewhere, Aokiji also lifted his gaze before slipping away into the jungle.

A dark wing blotted out the sun, merciless and cold, slicing toward Akainu’s throat.

Magma gushed as Akainu was sent flying, his face a mask of icy wrath.

“Your Armament Haki has become tangible.”

“You should feel honored. I trained to this level just to kill you.” Xuan Ye’s face twisted in a cruel smile.

To manifest Armament Haki was a significant step—from an invisible force to a blackened, visible one.

Spitting out clotted blood, Xuan Ye grinned. “I owe it all to you.”

“Damn you!” Akainu roared, lunging once more.

Magma surged, turning the earth into a sea of fire.

“Dead dog! You’re too slow. Devil Fruits aren’t everything—didn’t Zephyr teach you that?” The demonic voice echoed in Akainu’s ears. Pain lanced through his waist as a golden sword pierced straight through him.

With a scream, Akainu’s face contorted, but he ignored the pain, grabbing for Xuan Ye with one hand, the other wreathed in Haki, slashing savagely at his foe’s face.

With a bang, Xuan Ye grinned wickedly and raised his other hand, sheathed in black. He didn’t defend—he attacked, claws reaching for Akainu’s chest in a death-defying move.

Akainu’s pupils shrank. “Madman!” he cursed inwardly.

“Armament!” they both shouted. Xuan Ye’s face was streaked with black; Akainu’s chest was coated in a protective layer of Haki.

In that split second, Xuan Ye twisted his head aside as bright blood sprayed. Three slashes marked his right cheek.

Without a sound, Xuan Ye gritted his teeth and drove his claws into Akainu’s chest, raking downward to his abdomen. Tearing away flesh and blood, both men were sent flying.

Lying on the ground, Xuan Ye panted heavily. That blow had drained nearly all his remaining strength. He had already been exhausted before Akainu arrived—his endurance alone had kept him standing.

But Akainu was in even worse shape. Five deep, bone-baring gashes marred his chest, exposing his internal organs.

His breath shallow, Akainu’s face was ashen. Not only had he underestimated Xuan Ye’s strength, but also his ferocity. Any rational man, with death at his head, would instinctively dodge. Xuan Ye had not—he had chosen to gamble everything. That was why Akainu had lost so swiftly.

Had Akainu been more cautious, perhaps victory would have belonged to him—for Xuan Ye had not fought at full strength.