Chapter 111: High-Class Pirate Jin Wu

“Senior Shi Ji, are you sure?”

Had Jin Wu returned to his peak before acquiring Conqueror’s Haki defense, Barzab Seven might have spent considerable time to defeat him.

But times have changed.

Barzab Seven not only gained Conqueror’s Haki defense, but also, under the combined technique of Dong Li and Bu Luo Ji’s Imperial Whip, mastered the instant-release Wu Xiang One Cut.

His offense and defense are no longer what they once were.

“Hehehehe～” Jin Wu chuckled grotesquely.

“If you fear failure, just let me take over as captain—though my promise to split the world with you remains unchanged.”

Jin Wu made no effort to hide his intent to stab Barzab Seven in the back; he even hoped Barzab Seven would expel him.

“Call all the brats over quickly.”

This time, Jin Wu was determined to defeat Barzab Seven in front of every crew member of the Morning Star Pirates—and then absorb them into his own ranks.

Barzab Seven he wanted, Mihawk, Teng Hu, Daxiong, Jin Ni—even the Impel Down brat Xi Liu—Jin Wu wanted them all.

Compared to the old crew of the Flying Sky Pirates, the Morning Star Pirates’ lineup truly deserves the title of Emperor-level pirate crew.

“How about this,” Barzab Seven proposed.

“Senior Shi Ji, at our level, victory cannot be decided in a short time. Let each of us deliver one strike.”

“If I can’t block it, I lose.”

“If you can block it, I lose.”

Barzab Seven’s current focus is completing the transformation of Beehive Island into the pirate crew’s headquarters, then continuing to sail and explore the remaining seas.

He could not let a single base halt his journey of riding the wind and waves, seeking freedom.

The long-awaited helmsman, Fatty… because the coating had been tampered with, he was forced to leap across the Red Line and never even reached Fish-Man Island.

And the Giant Kingdom’s giant squirrel, Tie Lei.

Moreover, rather than defeating Jin Wu head-on again, it would be better to spare this veteran pirate some face.

Upon hearing this, Jin Wu laughed again.

“Hehehehehe～”

“Barzab Seven, you’re truly arrogant.”

Like Lo Kesi in his prime, Jin Wu was supremely confident in himself—he couldn’t fathom what had happened during his absence.

What had made Barzab Seven so confident?

“You said it.”

Why not take the advantage?

Jin Wu believed his strongest attack would likely be blocked by Barzab Seven, but he was equally certain he could block Barzab Seven’s strongest strike.

In that case, he would win!

Simple, efficient, and deeply satisfying.

Moments later, Barzab Seven and Jin Wu stood suspended in midair above the seas near Beehive Island.

“You’re the senior. You go first.”

Under normal circumstances, Barzab Seven was very polite.

Only when facing enemies did he activate his Anarchist specialty: the Great Aroma Spewing Technique.

Jin Wu grinned, cigar clenched between his teeth, gripping the famed swords Sakura Jū and Kūmoku; crimson-black Conqueror’s Haki and Armament Haki instantly engulfed both blades.

After unleashing a devastating strike that exhausted the peak of his Haki and swordsmanship, Jin Wu frowned—because Barzab Seven neither raised a defense nor dodged.

If he intended to endure it, why hadn’t the signature flame of the Lunaria appeared? Could it be—

In an instant, Jin Wu’s pupils contracted as he remembered his former captain… Lo Kesi .

Next, a familiar scene appeared before Jin Wu’s eyes: layers of invisible barriers materialized around Barzab Seven, completely halting his most powerful strike.

“Conqueror’s… defense?”

No wonder this kid was so fearless—he’d mastered the advanced application of Conqueror’s Haki.

Unless Jin Wu’s Conqueror’s Haki was stronger than Barzab Seven’s, there was no way he could break through that defense.

As expected—still as dishonorable as ever.

“Hmph. Your turn.”

Jin Wu bit down on his cigar, pushing his Armament Haki and inner spirit to their limits, silently vowing: even if he suffered grave injuries afterward, he would block Barzab Seven’s strongest strike.

Block it, and he could absorb the Morning Star Pirates.

Fail to block it? Impossible.

Jin Wu had never imagined he’d fail to block it—just months ago in the East Blue, he’d endured countless flying slashes from Barzab Seven; he’d only been wounded.

Only a few months have passed—Barzab Seven’s attack power couldn’t have risen to another level.

Grave injury versus immense gain? One word: worth it. Extremely worth it!

“Senior Shi Ji, receive this.”

As Barzab Seven spoke, countless purple lightning bolts and crimson-black Haki crackled around him like lightning, while scarlet flames burned endlessly.

Slowly, he drew Dream One from his chest.

Seeing this, Jin Wu’s eyelid twitched violently; his cigar, stunned into silence, slipped from his mouth and fell toward the sea.

Drawing a blade from the chest? Doesn’t it hurt?

This was even more terrifying than when he’d severed his own legs in Impel Down’s Infinite Hell.

That’s the heart!!!

The body’s most vital organ!

No wonder the Lunaria are called a divine race—they’ve mastered such a terrifying technique: embedding the Supreme Great Sword into their own body.

As Barzab Seven swung his blade downward, Jin Wu was instantly locked by a terror of life and death—only now did he finally understand—

Why Barzab Seven was so fearless.

This power was unstoppable.

Yet, in a millionth of a second, Jin Wu recalled Barzab Seven’s words about—low-class pirates and high-class pirates.

Those who dodge will become low-class pirates!

Jin Wu crossed Sakura Jū and Kūmoku, wrapped in Conqueror’s and Armament Haki, before his chest—and for the first time in his half-century-long life, he burned with this intensity.

“I’m Jin Wu, damn it!!”

Why dodge? I won’t dodge!

Boom～

Blood sprayed like petals in the wind; Jin Wu plummeted straight toward the sea, but was snatched mid-fall by Barzab Seven’s instant flash.

“Gotcha. Another high-class pirate on board.”

Blood stained Jin Wu’s teeth; the moment he heard himself acknowledged as a high-class pirate, he laughed triumphantly.

“He～wa…”

Jin Wu, spitting blood nonstop, renewed Barzab Seven’s perception of pirate fools—he now eagerly hoped all his opponents would be like this.

If so, he’d never have to worry about Wu Xiang One Cut being dodged.

Back on Beehive Island, he summoned Daxiong, had him extract the pain and injuries Jin Wu had endured, then absorbed those injuries himself.

From the physical feedback, Barzab Seven concluded: Jin Wu, now with his head rudder removed and legs regrown, was stronger than Mihawk and Teng Hu.

No wonder he was one of the three legendary pirates alongside Captain Roger and Whitebeard.

If Jin Wu ever faced Luffy’s Gear Five, he’d probably trigger Luffy’s Nika form with a single blow—right into a sit-up.

Jin Wu leaned back on the sofa, then suddenly asked: “What was that technique called?”

Jin Wu knew Barzab Seven and Mihawk had no named techniques—only basic attacks—but that last strike—must have a name.

“Wu Xiang One Cut.”

At that moment, Yu of Rain knocked on the door, then entered only after receiving permission.

“Captain, these are the names of those who boarded the Haiyun King cargo ship and applied to join us on Beehive Island—I’ve marked a few promising candidates.”

“Namely, the Silent Fruit user Luo Xi Nan Di, and the Ancient Species Sabertooth Tiger user Fu Zi Fu…”

Noticing the captain’s expression had turned grim, Yu’s voice grew quieter.

“And there’s Weierge … his martial arts are decent.”