CHAPTER 92- “Unshakable Might, Crumbling Stone”

The entire scene fell into dead silence. Everyone stared at the unfolding events, utterly stunned.

Perched leisurely atop a soap tree not far away, Rayleigh sipped the bottle of rustic liquor Luo Yu had gifted him earlier. He looked somewhat surprised, his expression filled with amused interest.

"If things had unfolded according to common sense... then this whole trip would've been a waste."

The corners of his mouth curled as he murmured to himself, "Kid, let me see just how far your grasp of Conqueror's Haki is from that of Rocks D. Xebec."

"If I could live to witness someone shake the Celestial Dragons from their throne... well, then this life would be more than enough."

Rayleigh took another swig and turned his gaze toward the group of exposed CP9 members in the crowd.

Kaku and the others stood frozen, their expressions utterly rigid. None of them could have imagined that things would spiral so far out of control.

Kalifa, unable to hold back any longer, gritted her teeth. "Jabra! You're betraying CP9! You sold us out! Rob Lucci will never forgive this!"

"Shut up, Kalifa! You don't understand anything!" Jabra snapped back anxiously. "That Marine admiral is a complete monster. I'm doing this to save CP9!"

"Admiral Luo Yu, please—accept our surrender!"

Owl and Fukuro quickly echoed Jabra's plea, no longer caring about appearances.

Seeing the three of them so resolute, even Kalifa and the others were left dumbfounded.

Was this truly a desperate attempt to save themselves… or were they just walking into a trap?

Regardless, they couldn't help but wonder: what would the newly appointed admiral say in response to such an unexpected, freebie of a victory?

"Surrender?" Luo Yu took a casual swig of his liquor, then turned toward Ain. "That's a good thing. Ain, give Sengoku a call and ask how much these guys are worth—million-beris-wise."

Everyone went stiff.

Even Kalifa and Kaku were wide-eyed.

They had imagined many scenarios where they might one day be captured and used as bargaining chips.

But never in their worst nightmares had they expected to be treated as literal performance bonuses.

And calculated by the million.

Was that all they were worth?

"A bold Marine admiral indeed! You dare trample on our young master's authority?! Do you really think the Warlords of the Sea are just decorations?!"

"Until our young master gives his word, no one leaves with those people!"

Pica's shrill voice echoed through the plaza.

"Stone Pillars!"

Boom!

Pica slammed his massive palm into the ground.

A thunderous tremor erupted, eight stone fissures tearing through the earth. Towering stone pillars rose violently, closing in on Luo Yu from all directions.

The abrupt ambush startled everyone on the scene.

Even though Luo Yu was young, he was still a Marine admiral. On Sabaody Archipelago, practically within sight of Marineford, who would dare to strike an admiral here?

Unless they were an absolute fool… or had a death wish.

But for Kalifa and the others, they were now far more curious to see just how Luo Yu would respond.

What kind of strength had forced Jabra, their cocky peer who once competed with Lucci, into such submission?

The moment they laid eyes on the next scene, their pupils shrank involuntarily.

Boom!

A golden radiance burst from Luo Yu's body.

The eight massive stone pillars, hurtling toward him with earth-shaking force, halted several meters short—blocked cleanly.

A golden Thousand-Hand Guanyin had materialized, its expression serene and divine.

The luminous image stood in stark contrast to Luo Yu's relaxed figure, but it radiated overwhelming dominance.

Pica's expression froze in disbelief. He hadn't expected his sudden strike to be blocked so effortlessly.

He had only meant to give Luo Yu a taste of warning.

But now... he had no choice but to see it through.

"Stone Bite!"

Boom!

The ground beneath Luo Yu surged once more.

A colossal stone head—five to six meters wide—erupted from the earth, its gaping maw snapping toward him with deadly intent.

At the same moment, Pica merged into the earth and reappeared behind Luo Yu.

His massive katana swung down in a ferocious arc.

Boom!

The dual strike landed simultaneously.

But Pica's expression twisted in shock.

Whether it was the stone jaws or the blade in his hand, both felt as if they had struck reinforced steel.

Throughout it all, Luo Yu hadn't even flinched—still sipping his liquor as if nothing had happened.

"The so-called might of a Warlord of the Sea… is this it?" Luo Yu stood calmly within the arms of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, adjusting his glasses.

"I'll be taking them with me. As for you—you're in my way."

BOOM!

Suddenly, his Conqueror's Haki detonated.

It surged outward in a tidal wave of raw, physical force—so tangible, it swept across the plaza like a hurricane.

The approaching stone pillars shattered instantly.

The enormous stone jaws crumbled to dust.

As for Pica—he was thrown like a ragdoll, as if slammed by a tsunami.

He crashed hundreds of meters away into a chaotic crowd of pirates.

Those unfortunate enough to be in his flight path spat blood and flew through the air like bowling pins.

When the dust finally settled, Pica staggered to his feet, blood running down his face. He didn't even bother wiping it away, too stunned by what he'd just witnessed.

"That… was Conqueror's Haki? But how did it have actual impact force?!"

"Is our young master's Haki… fake?!"

In Pica's mind, when Trebol had chosen Doflamingo to lead the Donquixote Family, it was entirely because of his one-in-a-million Conqueror's spirit.

That alone had earned them unparalleled pride among the Seven Warlords.

But after witnessing this… the gap was humiliating.

"Pica-sama! Young Master Doflamingo sent a message: no one is allowed to take those people without his permission—not even a Marine admiral!"

"He's currently negotiating with the Five Elders! We just need to stall for five more minutes!"

A panicked pirate rushed to Pica's side, trembling even as he delivered the message.

To say such things in front of a Marine admiral—especially this one—was practically suicide.

"Stall for five minutes?" Pica froze, then clenched his jaw, voice twisted in rage.

"If that's the Young Master's order… then even if the Five Elders came in person, no one is taking them!"

"Arrogant Marine… let's see how your Conqueror's Haki fares against the full might of my Stone-Stone Fruit!"

As his voice fell, the entire plaza began to rumble once more—like a slowly building earthquake.

Watching Pica merge completely with the earth again, Luo Yu's mind flickered to a very... convenient idea.

Now was the perfect chance—to test the terrifying potential of that Intermediate Mutation Card.