Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In the original story, Satori was the first among the four priests to be defeated. His technique, the Ball Dragon, initially took Luffy and Sanji by surprise. However, Satori was quickly overwhelmed and decisively kicked out of the fight by Sanji's swift attack from above. This moment illustrated a key point: Mantra, also known as observation Haki, isn't an unbeatable power.
Haki provides a gateway into the realm of powerful fighters but possessing it doesn't guarantee invincibility. This was clearly demonstrated when Luffy, even after training under the pirate king's right-hand man Rayleigh and mastering Haki for two years, was still knocked out by Kaido's mighty blow in the New World.
This situation mirrored a critical question once posed, ["What kind of king do you want to be?"]. At this moment, Satori must have felt a similar disillusionment as Luffy once did, realizing the person he faced was exceptionally powerful.
Bai Ye looked down at Satori, who was now sitting defeated on the ground, and couldn't help but express his disbelief mildly: "You fell down before I even really tried?"
After surviving a dangerous encounter with his inner demons, Bai Ye didn't just gain raw strength; he acquired profound skills and control over his qimen techniques, which utilize spiritual energy in unique ways distinct from natural devil fruit powers.
In famous battles like the one between Aokiji and Akainu, their powers could permanently alter the climates of entire islands, showcasing the vast scope and potency of devil fruit abilities. While Bai Ye's qimen techniques might not seem as expansive in scale, their power is intimately tied to his own energy reserves. This means that although the techniques are mighty, their effectiveness can sometimes feel limited when compared against top-tier combatants like Stainless.
However, this doesn't mean Bai Ye's methods are inferior to Devil Fruits; much like the fruits themselves, the strength of a technique lies not in the ability but in the user. Historically, his qimen practices are among the most revered in ancient Qi cultivation, challenging to master and powerful when fully realized.
Before his ordeal with the heart demon, even with accelerated learning and comprehension enhancements within his mystical space, Bai Ye had only begun to scratch the surface of his abilities. The true breakthrough came after surviving this tribulation, which significantly boosted his Qi and understanding of qimen.
One of the pivotal advances was his mastery over the Blood Demon Pill's effects and a deep, insightful realization into his own nature, allowing him to unlock powerful hexagrams crucial in his art. These achievements have now enabled him to manipulate phenomena as vast as hurricanes with ease.
Another significant development from his tribulation is the refinement of his Golden Light Curse. Initially, when he encountered Smoker, Bai Ye could barely mold rough shapes like sticks. Post-tribulation, not only has the solidity of his golden light constructs improved, but his precision in shaping them has also seen remarkable enhancements.
Now, Bai Ye can create more substantial, more durable forms with intricate detailing. Holding a newly formed golden stick, significantly improved from his earlier attempts, Bai Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, its sturdy form adorned with meticulously crafted lines.
Bai Ye observed Satori, who was still struggling to recover from the powerful wind blast, with a benign smile. He reassured him gently, "Don't worry, this will only take a moment, and it won't hurt much." As Bai Ye said this, a large stick, formed by his enhanced qimen techniques, began to descend slowly towards Satori's head. Seeing the impending strike, Satori gulped nervously and, resigning to his fate, closed his eyes.
With a resounding boom, dust and debris flew up around them as Bai Ye effortlessly retracted the stick. As he watched the dust settle, he mused to himself, "It appears this one was the least challenging of the four priests."
Brushing off his hands, Bai Ye glanced around, considering the time he had spent dealing with Satori, and speculated, "By now, the battles with the other three priests should be nearing their conclusions as well."
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In the swampy arena of Upper Yard, Sanji faced Gedatsu in a tense showdown. As Gedatsu launched marsh clouds toward him, Sanji used his Moonwalk technique to gracefully evade the attack, gliding through the air with ease. Closing the distance rapidly, Sanji unleashed his powerful Black Leg Style: Collier strike, landing a solid kick on Gedatsu's spider-like head with a resonant boom!
Gedatsu's eyes widened in shock, unable to comprehend how Sanji could seemingly float without any apparent support. "What!!" he exclaimed, stunned by the maneuver. In that brief moment of distraction, Sanji seized the opportunity to destroy the dials on Gedatsu's gloves, which were essential for his swamp cloud attacks.
"Not good, my special dials!" Gedatsu cried out, realizing his tactical disadvantage. These dials were crucial, emitting a dense cloud with swamp-like properties that could ensnare any foe unlucky enough to be caught within it.
Sanji, having identified and neutralized the threat, landed confidently on a nearby structure, lighting a cigarette. He remarked somewhat annoyed, "Really, the dials here are quite a nuisance to handle."
Gedatsu, frustrated and enraged by the turn of events, glowered at Sanji. "Damn!! Unforgivable, unforgivable!" he bellowed, charging forward with renewed fury. "Let me finish you with my fist." With that, he launched his Jet Iron Fist attack. The fabric on his elbow tore as he harnessed the power of a Jet Dial, propelling his punch at breakneck speed toward Sanji.
Yet, to Gedatsu's dismay, Sanji effortlessly dodged the powerful strike. It wasn't just a simple dodge; Sanji had anticipated the attack before it was even fully executed, leaving Gedatsu bewildered. "High-level Mantra?" Gedatsu muttered to himself in disbelief.
Sanji reappeared behind Gedatsu, the lit cigarette still hanging from his lips—a testament to his calm during the dodge. Looking over his shoulder at Gedatsu, Sanji coolly explained, "In the blue sea, this is called—Observation Haki."