Maya's astonishment was unlike anything she'd felt before.
Even the navy soldiers, though once shocked, seemed to have grown accustomed to the way Bai Yu used his Haoshoku Haki—the Conqueror's Haki—to dominate and suppress others.
"You…"
"No wonder your men respect you so deeply."
"No wonder you achieved the rank of Colonel at such a young age."
Recovering from her initial shock, Maya's eyes lit up with newfound understanding.
She had long suspected that Bai Yu's strength wasn't ordinary—especially after observing how submissive Bellumebo had been around him. But even then, she hadn't expected it to be this overwhelming.
When Bai Yu released that burst of spiritual pressure, as someone possessing spiritual sensitivity, Maya naturally felt the terrifying force of the Haki. The sheer spiritual energy it contained was immense—bordering on monstrous.
"Tie them all up. Hand them over to Maya."
While Maya was still digesting Bai Yu's overwhelming power, the colonel calmly issued orders to his subordinates.
"Yes, sir!"
The navy soldiers responded at once. They spread out and quickly restrained the fainted islanders one by one, tying up their hands and feet to prevent any resistance when they woke up.
"The rest is up to you," Bai Yu said, turning to Maya with his usual calmness.
The purification of the holy sword's influence over the villagers still required the power unique to the witch bloodline. Only Maya could carry it out.
"Alright! Thank you."
Maya nodded solemnly and swiftly walked toward the islanders, beginning her purification.
At the same time, Bai Yu issued another order.
"Fan out. Form a perimeter around the village. Don't let anyone interrupt Maya."
He leapt lightly onto the roof of a nearby building, settling on a high vantage point. From there, he could observe the surroundings—and Maya—at all times.
The process of removing the holy sword's hostility from the islanders wasn't particularly complicated.
Maya extended her palm and pressed it gently to the islanders' foreheads. Chanting softly, she released the energy of the witch bloodline.
In an instant, spiritual energy entered their bodies and began to purify the malicious will planted within them.
The inherited energy of the Mayan witches was inherently resistant to the power of the holy sword. Though it consumed time and stamina, it was effective.
Seeing that Maya had fully immersed herself in the purification process, Bai Yu scanned the area again, found no abnormalities, then closed his eyes and began to meditate.
The uneventful wait lasted through the night.
Finally, as the first rays of dawn shone on the village, Maya completed the final purification.
"…It's done."
After a night of intense work, she whispered softly to herself, finally relieved.
She rose unsteadily from the ground and glanced up at Bai Yu, who had already opened his eyes on the rooftop.
She smiled.
Bathed in the gentle morning sunlight, her smile seemed almost divine.
Even Bai Yu couldn't help but take a second look.
Suddenly, Maya wavered. Her vision blurred and her body faltered from spiritual exhaustion.
She staggered.
"Soru!"
Shff!
In the blink of an eye, Bai Yu activated Soru, one of the Six Powers, and appeared beside her in an instant.
He caught her just in time, one arm wrapping securely around her slender waist.
"Thank you…" Maya said weakly, her cheeks flushed with red.
Lowering her head slightly, she leaned into Bai Yu's support and whispered her gratitude.
"You worked hard all night too," Bai Yu said gently. "You shouldn't push yourself anymore. Go rest."
After a moment's hesitation, Bai Yu made a bold decision.
Without waiting for Maya to respond, he swept her up in a princess carry, his expression as calm as ever.
He carried her gently back to her room.
"I'll assign guards around the village. Then I'll head into the forest."
"I need to locate the holy sword."
After carefully placing her on the bed, Bai Yu spoke softly.
"Alright…"
Maya nodded obediently, exhaustion overtaking her.
Within moments, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Bai Yu silently turned and left, stepping lightly to avoid disturbing her.
"Koby, Bellumebo, you two stay here," he instructed once outside.
"I'll take a group and begin searching the forest."
"Yes, sir!"
Koby and Bellumebo saluted.
Bai Yu selected thirty marines from his unit and divided them into three search teams.
Each team would comb a different section of the forest.
As for himself, Bai Yu chose a separate path and moved out alone.
Though he brought the teams for wide coverage, Bai Yu's real plan was to conduct the core search solo.
The forest was dense and overgrown.
As he pressed deeper, the sun climbed to its zenith.
Hours passed with no sign of Saga or his group.
Only charred remains and scorched earth hinted at a path taken.
Rustle… rustle…
Just as Bai Yu began to suspect he'd chosen the wrong direction, movement in the bushes ahead caught his attention.
Crash!
Suddenly, a bloodied and bruised figure burst from the undergrowth, stumbling violently before collapsing face-first into the dirt.
"Help… me…"
The wounded man looked up and reached out with a trembling hand.
Bai Yu narrowed his eyes, scanning the man's face.
A name surfaced in his mind—Duma, the Light-Speed Swordsman, and Saga's senior disciple from the Navy Dojo.
Bai Yu's senses heightened in an instant, but he still stepped forward and helped Duma sit up.
"What happened?" he asked sharply.
"Saga…"
"He's gone mad…"
"He wants to sacrifice all of us to the sword!"
Duma's voice was weak, trembling with fear and pain.
According to him, Saga had turned on even his most trusted comrades, offering them up to the cursed blade in the absence of villagers.
"I barely escaped with my life…"
"Please… save the others…"
Duma's voice trailed off, growing fainter by the second.
Bai Yu's brow furrowed.
If what Duma said was true, Saga was no longer just influenced by the sword—he was consumed by it. With no islanders to offer, he'd turned on his own men.
But just as Bai Yu fell into deep thought—
Duma's eyes flashed violently with crimson light.
His dying aura vanished, replaced by a sudden and intense bloodlust.
In one swift motion, he placed a hand on the hilt at his waist.
A twisted grin spread across his face.
In the next instant, he drew his blade with the speed of a thunderbolt.
Iai Slash—a single lightning-fast cut—aimed cleanly for Bai Yu's waist!
Sharp. Precise. Fatal.
Duma was confident this was the end.
But reality was not so kind.
Just as the blade was about to touch Bai Yu—
He shifted slightly to the right.
Clang!
Steel met steel.
The ringing impact echoed through the trees.
Duma's eyes widened in disbelief.