Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Luffy's enormous, haki-coated foot descended with immense force, Aokiji managed a slight, knowing smile. "Ah la la, it looks like I've walked right into the line of fire," he murmured casually. With a calm breath, he exhaled a chilling mist that swiftly enveloped him, forming a protective dome of ice around his figure.
Boom! Luffy's attack made a thunderous contact, driving Aokiji's icy shield into the ground and creating a vast crater on the island. Debris flew and dust clouded the air, obscuring the immediate aftermath of the collision.
Luffy flipped back gracefully, landing on his feet and securing his straw hat against the billowing dust, his gaze sharp and vigilant. Beside him, Zoro, Sanji, and Bai Ye remained equally tense. Despite their well-rehearsed combat strategies, they harbored no illusions about the simplicity of overcoming an admiral of Aokiji's caliber.
As the dust began to settle, the silhouette of a tall figure rising steadily caught their attention. Aokiji, standing unscathed amidst the remnants of his shattered ice shield, adjusted the blindfold now in his pocket and looked directly at Zoro. "Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, not only do you wield the ability to perform flying slashes, but your haki is commendably strong as well," he observed with a hint of respect.
"It seems that the Straw Hat Pirates will soon see another of its members surpassing the 100 million bounty mark," Aokiji concluded, his voice carrying through the settling dust, signaling not just a challenge but a recognition of their growing threat.
As Aokiji extended his right hand, fingers splayed as if to grasp the swirling smoke, the air around him chilled rapidly. Tiny, sharp ice spikes began to form from the sand at his feet, swirling menacingly around him. The sight of these icy projectiles made Bai Ye and his companions tense up even more.
"Monkey D. Luffy, your power is reminiscent of your grandfather's," Aokiji remarked as he clenched his fist, sending a burst of frigid air that propelled the ice spikes towards Luffy.
Unfazed, Luffy responded with a barrage of punches. "Gomu Gomu no—Jet Gatling!" His arms blurred into rapid, powerful strikes, shattering the incoming ice spikes with ease.
While Luffy dealt with the attack, Aokiji's attention shifted to Bai Ye. "And you, Priest Bai Ye," he continued, drawing a circle in the air with his left hand. The motion gathered the remaining ice into the form of a majestic bird, its wings flapping as though alive. "It seems this current setup was orchestrated by you alone!"
With a precise motion, Aokiji thrust his fist forward. "Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!" The ice bird surged toward Bai Ye, its path marked by a trail of frost that seemed to freeze everything in its vicinity.
Bai Ye reacted instantly, stepping forward and slamming his foot into the ground. "Earth Hexagram—Heavy Rock!" The earth responded, erupting upward as a massive boulder soared to intercept the ice bird.
The collision was thunderous. The boulder shattered half of the ice bird's form, yet the remnants continued their relentless charge towards Bai Ye, showcasing the indomitable will of Aokiji's creation.
Bai Ye, anticipating the move, had already formed a sword of golden light in his hand, which he thrust sharply towards the ice bird's head. "Break for me!" he shouted. With a loud crash, the ice bird shattered into countless glittering shards, and the battlefield fell silent again.
Aokiji, who had just launched the attack, didn't rush to continue. The two previous moves seemed more about maintaining his composure than actual aggression. "I noticed something when I stood up," he said, his tone more measured now. "The way you all positioned yourselves... it seemed calculated to put pressure on me."
His expression grew serious, reflecting his recognition of Bai Ye's unique tactics. "This isn't like any haki I've encountered—it's like a force of momentum."
It seemed Aokiji was intrigued by this new power, choosing to prolong the conversation possibly to understand it better. "It's as if the two of you are somehow connected, and I—" he paused, looking over at the group, "—feel like I'm surrounded by an aura of death."
His gaze finally settled on Bai Ye, intensity sharpening in his eyes. "That sensation began the moment you stepped forward. Priest Bai Ye, just who are you?"
Bai Ye's unique abilities have always been a mystery to the Navy, which has made them increasingly wary of his rapid progression. The Straw Hats, appearing sporadically at sea, consistently demonstrate greater strength, contributing to their swiftly climbing bounties. Particularly for Bai Ye, the Navy's growth curve predictions for him are astonishingly steep.
Aokiji previously mentioned that Bai Ye is notoriously viewed within naval circles. He seems to have single-handedly disrupted the long-established predictive formulas of the Navy Headquarters' staff department. Normally, it's possible to project a pirate's growth trajectory by excluding sudden gains like consuming Devil Fruits or awakening Haki. The Navy staff typically use these projections to decide the scale of forces dispatched to apprehend pirates.
Before Bai Ye's emergence, the Navy's staff department operated smoothly. But the arrival of the Straw Hat Pirates, especially Bai Ye, complicated their procedures significantly. The level of complexity was so frustrating that Ripper, a staff member, once spent half an hour ranting about Bai Ye just to vent his frustration.
And it's not just the staff department; various sections within the World Government's headquarters at Mary Geoise have taken notice of this unusual pirate crew. So, when Aokiji came to confront the Straw Hats this time, apart from his concerns about Robin and Luffy, he was particularly keen to witness Bai Ye's enigmatic abilities firsthand.
Aokiji appeared a bit taken aback by the encounter. Smiling, Bai Ye addressed Aokiji, saying, "I'm just an ordinary daoist priest. I can't compare to those top devil fruit users who rule the seas."
Zoro, listening from a distance, felt a sense of deja vu, as if he had heard something similar before.
Responding to Bai Ye, Aokiji chuckled and remarked, "Ah la la, you really are an intriguing character. Your potential is impressive, but—"
Aokiji's usual lazy demeanor returned as he continued, "If you aim to defeat me, your current level of power still falls short. I acknowledge your abilities, though. Whether it's your physical prowess, swordsmanship, devil fruit powers, or haki, including your unique magical skills, all are commendable. But it's still not enough."