Chapter 94 Ace, Headquarters Talk, Invicible Stainless
Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In the bustling port city of Alabasta, a dramatic scene was unfolding. Smoker, wielding the powers of the Smoke Smoke Fruit, launched an attack resembling a galloping lasso of smoke. His target: none other than Ace.
Ace's eyes narrowed in response, his right fist lashing out in a powerful counter. "Flame Flame Fruit – Hiken!!" he declared, as his arm transformed into a blazing ball of fire, effectively blocking the advancing smoke.
However, the confrontation took an unexpected turn. As the fiery force of Ace's flames met Smoker's enveloping smoke, a new threat emerged. SWISH!! A black spear, cutting through the air with ferocious speed, shot towards Ace.
Reacting swiftly, Ace extinguished his flame and lightly tapped the ground with his toes, retreating quickly. BOOM! The spear struck the ground, creating a massive explosion of smoke and debris.
Ace regained his stance and looked up, facing the two Marines confronting him. It was Smoker, his trademark trio of cigars in his mouth, and Hina, known for her Cage-Cage Fruit abilities. The atmosphere was tense as Smoker, with his usual stern expression, addressed Ace.
"Whitebeard's second division commander, Fire Fist Ace," Smoker said, his voice firm. "What is your purpose in coming to Alabasta?"
In a tense standoff, Smoker's gaze on Ace was filled with caution and scrutiny. "And, where are you going?" he asked, seeking to understand Ace's intentions.
Ace, who typically carried a smile, now bore a cold expression. The usual warmth on his face was replaced by a trace of iciness. "You are not qualified to ask me," he replied, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency and irritation.
At that moment, Ace was feeling particularly anxious. After a brief conversation with Vivi, he had hurried to find Luffy, only to unexpectedly encounter the Navy. Normally, Ace wouldn't be overly concerned about clashing with the Navy, but his current state of mind was different. He was deeply worried about Luffy, fearing that his brother might be injured. This concern overshadowed his usual composure.
Looking up at Smoker and Hina, Ace's stance and tone left no room for argument. "I'm leaving now!" he stated. His voice was soft yet carried a commanding and domineering presence. "I'll see who dares to stop me!!"
As he uttered these words, Ace's formidable willpower emanated outwards, his domineering aura sweeping over everyone present.
-----
In the Marine Headquarters' Fleet Admiral's meeting room, the atmosphere was a blend of tension and casualness, underscored by the sound of snoring. Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral, was visibly annoyed by the presence of Garp, who was dozing off in his room.
"Zzzz... zzzz..."
Suddenly, Sengoku's patience reached its limit. BOOM! He slammed his fist on the table, causing everything to rattle loudly. "Garp! Don't sleep in my room, bastard!!" he shouted.
Garp, caught off guard, woke up with a confused look on his face. "Ha?" he uttered. But soon, his confusion turned into amusement, and he laughed heartily. "Hahaha, are you going to compete with the old man to eat rice cracker? Sengoku."
Sengoku, now even more exasperated, retorted, "Who wants to compete with you!! The rice cracker belongs to me!!" But Garp's laughter continued unabated, teasing Sengoku further about the prospect of losing to him.
Trying to suppress his rising anger, Sengoku regained a measure of calm. He knew that if the argument continued, his office would likely need repairs again. Changing the subject, he brought up a more serious matter. "Forget about the rice cracker, Garp, your grandson has caused a lot of trouble," Sengoku said, his tone hinting at helplessness.
Garp, far from being concerned, expressed pride in his grandson. "Hahahaha, that's the old man's grandson!" he boasted, nonchalantly picking his nostrils.
Sengoku, frustrated and feeling somewhat helpless in the face of Garp's casual attitude, continued, "Your son, Dragon, is now the number one enemy of the World Government. Now your grandson has gone to sea again to become a pirate, and he has attracted such problems."
As he spoke, Sengoku's irritation grew, leading him to punch the table so hard it broke. "Reflect on this old man, it can't continue like that!! Also, don't think that I don't know, you have gone to talk with Stainless before."
Garp, unfazed by Sengoku's admonition, remained in high spirits. "Hahaha, I just asked that youngster to beat him up for me when he met Luffy," he replied, unabashed and still cheerful.
-----
In the midst of a chaotic battle, Stainless, with his katana, delivered a powerful slash that sent Zoro flying through the air. He then turned his attention to Luffy, his left fist blackened with Armament Haki, striking Luffy's face with force. Next, Stainless raised his right leg and unleashed Rokushiki - Tempest Kick, launching a series of air blades that knocked Bai Ye, who was covered in the Golden Light Curse, into the air. Simultaneously, he used Rokushiki - Paper Drawing to skillfully dodge Usopp's sniper shots.
"Have you not given up yet? The Straw Hat Boys," Stainless said, his voice calm and relaxed, cutting through the noise of the smoky battlefield. Ten minutes into the battle, Stainless remained virtually untouched, his attire undamaged and his breathing unchanged.
In stark contrast, the Straw Hat Pirates were faring much worse. Captain Luffy, in particular, had taken a severe beating. Stainless seemed to focus his attacks on Luffy's face, leading Bai Ye to wonder if there was some personal grudge between them. Bai Ye himself was not faring much better. Despite using his Qimen techniques throughout the fight, he found that his usually powerful moves barely affected Stainless, failing to even dust off his clothes.
Bai Ye sensed that the issue wasn't the strength of his Qimen techniques but rather his own level of power. He believed that with higher cultivation, he could perform moves that could change the world, potentially even overpowering someone as formidable as Kaido. But such thoughts were of little consolation in the current battle.
Bai Ye, in a desperate attempt to match Stainless's overwhelming strength, pushed the Golden Light Curse to its limits. He even utilized secret skills and borrowed power from "Taomen Jilu" to engage in combat with Stainless. Although these efforts augmented his power, they came at a significant cost. The hidden damage to his body from the secret skill left Bai Ye more severely injured.
Despite his efforts, Bai Ye's appearance, though not as battered as Luffy's, was still quite dire. His clothes were tattered, his shawl hanging loosely, and over a dozen cuts marred his body, contributing to a rather ragged and miserable appearance.
Zoro and Sanji, key members of the Straw Hat crew, also put forth commendable efforts. Their attacks, while powerful, often missed their mark due to Stainless's incredible speed. Like Luffy and Bai Ye, they struggled to land significant blows on the Admiral.
Nami and Usopp, despite improvements in their physical fitness and combat power, thanks to the pills and gifts from Bai Ye, still found themselves outmatched. In the face of such a formidable opponent, their roles were limited to providing support and disrupting Stainless's offensive rhythm. Fortunately, their position on the battlefield kept them relatively safe from harm.
Chopper, whom Luffy had instructed to stay out of the fight, was nonetheless prepared to leap into action. He held three Rumble Balls, ready to transform at a moment's notice.
The situation was grim for the Straw Hats. Even Bai Ye, typically brimming with confidence, wore a solemn expression. Stainless, observing their battered states, maintained his smile, unfazed by the battle.
"Whatever your purpose in coming to Alabasta is, it doesn't matter," Stainless declared dismissively. "Next, let's go to the city with the old man." His sword, still sheathed, seemed to lock onto every member of the Straw Hats. "Or do you want to start another round?" he asked, his tone suggesting both a challenge and a threat.
P.S Earlier, I made a mistake and mistranslated the guy in the yellow suit. But now I've corrected it and it should be fine.