Chapter 96 Madness
Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Ace made his escape from the Navy's clutches, he was caught off guard by the sight of lava raining down from the sky. For a moment, he felt bewildered, trying to make sense of the chaotic scene unfolding above him. But then it clicked; the direction from which the lava was coming was exactly where Vivi had told him Luffy would be. With a newfound sense of urgency, Ace resolved, "Luffy, I'm coming."
Meanwhile, Smoker and Hina, who were on the hunt for Ace, also witnessed the alarming spectacle. Hina, standing next to Smoker, had a look of surprise and confusion on her face. "Hina was very surprised! Could it be Admiral Akainu doing?" she pondered aloud. She had been on a regular patrol route when she received a sudden directive from Navy Headquarters to assist Smoker in Alabasta. She was also informed that additional support from headquarters would soon arrive on the island. Given the presence of lava in the sky, it was natural for her to think of Admiral Akainu, known for his Magma-Magma powers.
However, Smoker, puffing on his trio of cigars, dismissed the idea. "No," he said in a deep voice, "It is impossible for the headquarters to send Admiral Akainu here." He seemed uncertain, though. While Smoker hadn't met with Stainless personally, he knew from Tashigi that their support in Alabasta was a Vice Admiral, not someone with Akainu's distinct abilities.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Smoker made a decision. "Hina, let's go check the situation there,"
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Bai Ye, with a grave expression, posed a critical question to his crewmates: "Can you escape?" Nami, somewhat taken aback, confirmed that they probably could. Bai Ye, with a nod and a smile, urged them, "Then run away quickly."
Luffy, known for his straightforward thinking, immediately grasped the urgency of the situation. "Let's run!!" he declared with seriousness.
Sanji, glancing up at Stainless in the sky, felt a twinge of unease, while Zoro, observing Bai Ye, grew increasingly solemn. "Are you trying to stay here and hold that guy up?" Zoro suspected, sensing a farewell in Bai Ye's demeanor.
Nami and the others, upon hearing Zoro's observation, were momentarily stunned, then turned their gaze towards Bai Ye. They saw a hint of resignation in his eyes, a sign that he might be preparing to make a significant sacrifice.
"Really, the next one is obviously my highlight moment," Bai Ye remarked, though his expression quickly shifted as he prepared another technique. "Dui Gua – Water Swamp!!" he announced, and the ground beneath the Straw Hats transformed into a swamp-like terrain, pulling them in.
As his friends began to sink, Bai Ye looked at each of them and smiled, a gesture of farewell and encouragement. "You must continue to travel together!" he insisted.
Chopper and Usopp, overcome with emotion, cried bitterly. "Bai Ye!!" "Bai Ye, you bastard!" Nami's tears flowed as she remembered all the moments they had shared, her words a mix of grief and anger. "Bastard! Do you want me to leave the crewmate and escape?"
Sanji struggled against the swamp's grip, yelling, "Bai Ye! At least let me stay!" Zoro, though calm, looked at Bai Ye with determination and solidarity. "Bai Ye!!"
Luffy, tears streaming down his face, stretched his hand out desperately for Bai Ye, but the increasing suction of the swamp was relentless. Soon, it engulfed everyone, pulling them away from Bai Ye, leaving him to face the impending danger alone.
Witnessing his crew being pulled away by the swamp, Bai Ye turned around, facing the chaotic situation in Alabasta head-on. Despite the turmoil, he remained hopeful that once he evaded Stainless's pursuit, he could rejoin his crew at sea. He believed in the strength of the Straw Hats, who had already surpassed their counterparts from the original story at this point in their journey. "They should be fine," Bai Ye reassured himself, a faint smile forming on his lips. Yet, there was a hint of resignation in his thoughts, "As for my travels, that might really be the end of it."
As Stainless landed slowly, his gaze was firmly on Bai Ye. His tone, previously relaxed, had changed. "As expected of Priest Bai Ye, you really are a troublesome brat," he acknowledged, recognizing Bai Ye's abilities for the first time.
Bai Ye, undeterred, responded with determination, "However, as long as I escape, I will definitely return to the pirate ship." But Stainless shook his head dismissively, doubting Bai Ye's chances. "Do you think I will give you a chance to perform a technique again?" he challenged, swiftly swinging his katana at Bai Ye.
Despite Bai Ye's efforts to dodge and use the Golden Light Curse, Stainless's attack found its mark. Bai Ye was struck, kneeling on one knee with a grievous wound on his chest. Stainless's voice, devoid of emotion, rang out, "As long as we get rid of you, we can catch the Straw Hats. Or, do you think you can delay me for a long time?"
In response, Bai Ye, with the last of his strength and resolve, bit into the final pill in his mouth. "Not very long. But long enough,"
As Bai Ye raised his head, a drastic transformation overtook him. His demeanor shifted dramatically, turning him into what appeared to be a madman. His eyes blazed with a ferocious, wild madness, startling Stainless. "This guy..." Stainless muttered, taken aback by the sudden change in Bai Ye.
A chilling, ghost-like voice emerged from Bai Ye's mouth: "I feel like I can kill you!"
The pill Bai Ye consumed was known as the Sixth Grade Pill — Blood Demon Pill. In ancient times, among the Qi practitioners, there was a sect called the Blood Demon Sect, notorious for their use of this pill as a last resort. The Blood Demon Pill was a double-edged sword; while it granted immense power, it came at a grave cost. Once its effects wore off, the user's meridians would be irreparably damaged, leading to disability and drastically reducing their lifespan to merely 30 days. Not even Immortals could reverse these effects.
However, the power granted by the Blood Demon Pill was immense. It could monstrously increase the user's strength, starting from ten times and potentially more. The user could control this surge of power without the risk of being overwhelmed or destroyed by it, unlike the effects of inferior medicines. Moreover, while under the influence of the pill, the user felt no pain, existing in a state that was half-crazed, half-insane. Their strength could potentially double dozens of times, and with no pain to hinder them, their combat abilities would be exponentially amplified.
There was a saying among the orthodox sects of that time: If you see a member of the Blood Demon Sect consuming the Blood Demon Pill, there's only one choice — escape fast!
Bai Ye's entire being was now enveloped in a blood-red aura, so intense that it seemed almost tangible. This aura spilled out of his body, coloring the air around him in a deep, crimson hue. The transformation was terrifying, marking Bai Ye as a formidable and desperate opponent willing to pay any price for power.
Bai Ye, kneeling on one knee, suddenly lifted his head towards the sky and unleashed a primal howl. "Ah!!" His roar echoed like that of a general facing his final moments in battle, who, in a desperate bid for survival, forges a pact with the devil to gain infernal power.
As he stood, it was as if he was suspended in a void, an ethereal and powerful figure. His eyes were closed, his Daoist robe in tatters, revealing a muscular chest honed by hard training. His long hair, unbound by any earthly constraint, fluttered freely in the air.
Bai Ye could feel an immense power coursing through his veins, a wild energy that was pushing his mind towards the brink of madness. He let out a wild, unrestrained laugh. "Ha ha ha ha!!" In the midst of his laughter, there was a fleeting trace of regret, but it was quickly overshadowed by his delirium. This was his moment to confront the vice admiral with all his might.
However, in their intense focus on each other, neither Bai Ye nor Stainless noticed an unusual movement nearby. An arm, seemingly belonging to someone else, emerged from the ground and firmly grasped a nearby house.