Snap! Snap! Snap!
Using the shockwave from an earlier explosion, the pirate ship surged forward, closing the distance with the Navy warship.
And that wasn't the end.
A ladder clattered down from the pirate ship's side, its metal rungs clanging against the hull of the warship.
Clank!
The two vessels were now connected.
"Charge!"
"For the glory of Utopia, leave no one alive!"
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of pirates from the Baroque Works stormed across the ladder.
Blades gleamed under the sun as they raised their weapons, attacking every naval soldier in sight.
"This is your command now."
Seeing the brewing chaos, Bai Yu decisively passed temporary command to a seasoned sergeant nearby.
With that, he leapt lightly onto the tallest mast of the warship, taking in the battlefield from above.
His eyes swept over the deck below—most of the attackers were low-ranking agents of the Baroque Works: Million Agents and Billion Agents. Individually weak, but dangerous in numbers.
At first, the pirates had the upper hand, overwhelming with momentum.
But soon, under the coordinated counteroffensive led by the Navy sergeant, the tides turned into a brutal stalemate.
Noting this, Bai Yu shifted his gaze toward the pirate ship.
From his vantage point, he spotted a distinctive figure standing confidently at the ship's center.
Taupe trench coat. Black sunglasses. A wild afro that couldn't be missed.
"Mr. 5."
Bai Yu recognized him instantly.
One of the elite Officer Agents of Baroque Works—Mr. 5, the user of the Bomu Bomu no Mi, the Explosion-Explosion Fruit.
A Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allowed the user to make any part of his body, or even his bodily substances, detonate at will.
No wonder our cannonfire had no effect, Bai Yu realized. He must've intercepted it.
Just as Bai Yu locked eyes on him, Mr. 5 returned the stare and traced a finger across his neck—a blatant threat.
"Interesting."
Rather than rage, a smirk played at the corner of Bai Yu's lips.
He recalled the absurdity from the original records—how Mr. 5 weaponized boogers.
To Bai Yu, it was more gross than dangerous.
Fwshh!
With a burst of strength from his right foot, Bai Yu launched himself from the mast and landed silently on the pirate ship's deck.
"Navy!"
"There's a Marine on board!"
"Kill him before he does anything!"
Bai Yu's sudden entrance triggered instant panic. Pirates encircled him from all directions, weapons at the ready.
"Stand down!"
A loud command cut through the chaos.
The mob parted instantly, forming a path.
Mr. 5 strutted forward, every step exuding confidence.
"He's not someone you can handle," he told them without turning.
"Leave him to me."
"Yes, sir…"
Grudgingly, the agents lowered their weapons, backing away.
Mr. 5 yawned exaggeratedly and scratched his head lazily.
"You look new. Maybe we can talk this out?" he said, inserting a finger into his nose as he spoke, acting completely disinterested in fighting.
But Bai Yu saw through the act.
Suddenly—
Flick!
Mr. 5 whipped out the finger and launched a black object directly at Bai Yu.
It was fast—almost invisible.
A booger.
An explosive booger.
Mr. 5 smirked, already envisioning Bai Yu's charred and smoking face.
But just as the projectile reached Bai Yu—
Clang!
Bai Yu bent low in a flash. His right hand, already gripping his katana, slashed in one fluid motion.
The tiny bomb was sliced into minuscule fragments midair, disintegrating into puffs of harmless smoke.
". . .!"
Mr. 5's eyes widened in disbelief.
Bai Yu had reacted to something nearly invisible—and cut it cleanly with a massive blade.
His reflexes… his precision… monstrous.
"You're Mr. 5, the one who eats the Explosion-Explosion Fruit," Bai Yu said calmly.
"Did you really think something as filthy as that would catch me off guard?"
He was spot on.
The Bomu Bomu no Mi allowed Mr. 5 to detonate even the most innocuous materials—his boogers, spit, breath. All could become lethal bombs.
Many had fallen victim to that trick in the past.
But this time, it had failed.
"How do you know that?" Mr. 5 asked sharply, eyes narrowing.
"Bai Yu," he replied. "Remember the name."
Mr. 5 frowned deeper. Baroque Works had extensive intelligence networks in Alabasta—especially among the Navy. Yet, he had never heard of this name.
"You done talking?"
Bai Yu rested the back of his sword across his right shoulder and began walking forward—calm, steady, unstoppable.
"Y-You stay back!"
"I'll blast you to pieces!"
In a panic, Mr. 5 shoved both fingers back into his nostrils.
Shave!
Whoosh!
A black blur streaked past Mr. 5's peripheral vision.
In the time it took him to blink, Bai Yu had vanished.
"Stop using such disgusting tricks."
The voice came from behind him.
Mr. 5 whirled around in shock.
There stood Bai Yu—already crouched, katana mid-swing.
SLASH!
A clean diagonal strike carved across Mr. 5's chest, erupting in a geyser of blood.
"Gh—!"
He staggered backward, unable to comprehend when the blade had even moved.
With a final glare of resentment, Mr. 5's eyes rolled back and he collapsed forward, unconscious.
"…"
The rest of the Baroque agents froze in horror.
Their strongest fighter—Mr. 5—hadn't even survived a single full exchange.
And now…
Bai Yu leveled the sword toward them.
"You're next," he said coldly.