Chapter 21, the second battle after three years, Yuri vs Akainu

"Boom!"

Akainu's fist struck with an orange glow, causing the air to vibrate.

After a long time, the orange light faded, and Akainu raised his head, looking solemnly in its direction.

"Gabriel Yuri, your Armament Haki has changed," Akainu grinned and said.

Three years ago, Yuri had indeed awakened Armament Haki and could coat coins with it. However, back then, Yuri's Armament Haki was weak.

If it weren't for Yuri being a kilometer away, giving him plenty of time to gather Armament Haki, it would have been ineffective up close. The Haki's main purpose was to protect the coin from dissolving quickly at supersonic speeds.

According to Akainu, Yuri's weak Armament Haki was embarrassing and useless in actual combat. But now, things were different. Akainu could clearly feel the power of Haki on this coin, indicating a significant improvement.

Yet, this did not intimidate Akainu. Although reaching this level in three years was good, it wasn't exceptional. Many in the Marines could achieve the same. Gabriel Yuri's real strength lay in his Devil Fruit. With Armament Haki now usable in combat, combined with his Devil Fruit ability, Yuri's power could become terrifyingly unpredictable.

This was why Akainu looked serious.

"Boom, boom, boom!" Suddenly, three successive orange beams shot at Akainu.

"Hmph, the same moves won't work on me," Akainu sneered. He punched three times, sending out invisible Armament Haki that deflected the super-electromagnetic cannonballs.

"Although the super-electromagnetic gun is fast, for the strong, this attack is too direct. That's its weakness," Akainu remarked.

Over the years, Akainu had pondered how to counter Yuri's super-electromagnetic gun. He concluded that despite its speed and power, the attack was too straightforward, moving in a straight line.

Using Observation Haki to perceive and predict the super-electromagnetic gun's trajectory, Akainu could deflect it with skill.

Of course, this was no easy feat. The super-electromagnetic gun's speed and power were formidable. Only someone like Akainu, with advanced Observation Haki and control over colorless Armament Haki, could deflect multiple super-electromagnetic guns simultaneously.

"The rest of the Gabriel Pirates crew will be handled by you. I'll take on Gabriel Yuri," Akainu ordered the Marines after deflecting the shots.

"Yes, Vice Admiral Sakazuki," responded Rear Admiral, Akainu's deputy.

Before the Rear Admiral could finish, Akainu rushed directly to the desert island.

"Turn, target the Gabriel Pirates," the Rear Admiral commanded the battleship, directing the fleet to engage the Gabriel Pirates on the other side of the island.

...

"By now, the battle on Barlow Island should have started," Sengoku at Naval Headquarters said to Tsuru beside him.

Barlow Island was the deserted island where Yuri was.

"It should have," Tsuru replied.

"Any updates?" Sengoku asked.

"Not yet, but with Sakazuki's strength, there shouldn't be any problems," Tsuru assured.

"Indeed, with Sakazuki's strength, I'm not worried. But I can't shake this uneasy feeling today. Ever since Roger started the Great Pirate Era, there have been too many surprises. Gabriel Yuri has been silent for over three years. Who knows how much stronger he has become? He's the most terrifying newcomer since the Great Pirate Era began," Sengoku said.

Big Mom, Kaido of the Beasts, and even the red-haired Shanks in the New World were no longer newcomers. Yuri was the true new generation, dubbed the strongest rookie by Sengoku.

...

On the other side of Barlow Island.

"He's really coming," Yuri said, sitting on a floating throne made of iron sand as he watched Akainu approach.

"Gabriel Yuri, this time I will capture you and send you to Impel Down. That's where you belong for the rest of your life," Akainu said coldly, using Moonwalk to quickly reach the island and face Yuri.

"Haha, try if you can. Maybe this will be your grave," Yuri replied with a smile as powerful lightning radiated from his body.

"Great Eruption!"

"Iron Sand Fist!"

After more than three years, Yuri's Iron Sand Fist collided with Akainu's Great Eruption once again. This impact caused both Yuri and Akainu's expressions to change.