Since it was a challenge, naturally, the more people who knew about it, the better.
Otherwise, what was the point of a challenge? To really be an anonymous expert?
If he really wanted to do that, why would Ye Jia go out to sea, why bother coming to the Summit War, or randomly find some remote mountain place to live anonymously, ensuring no one could find him... He came precisely to be high-profile!
Ye Jia had always had a wish: to have a good fight with Whitebeard, the man known as "the World's Strongest Man"!
Because this was the only chance.
Before the Summit War, Ye Jia couldn't find Whitebeard at all. After the Summit War, Whitebeard's death was already a foregone conclusion... He would use his death, and his dying cry, to accelerate the prosperity and advancement of the Great Pirate Era, thoroughly ushering in the first page of a new era!
If Ye Jia didn't make a move this time, where else could he find an opportunity to duel Whitebeard again?
"Alright! The live broadcast is set. Next, it's time to save Ace, right?"
Ye Jia looked towards the execution platform.
Saving Ace was not his original intention, but to be able to openly duel Whitebeard, a mere trifle was worth it.
One must know that in the original work, One Piece, Whitebeard's rescue operation was successful.
Although Whitebeard ultimately died, Ace completely survived and was able to leave directly... The tragedy was that Akainu badmouthed Whitebeard, and Ace couldn't tolerate it. He then fought Akainu, which resulted in a tragedy!
If Ace had been able to endure those words and simply turned to flee, he wouldn't have died, and that regret wouldn't exist.
"Perhaps this scene will repeat itself again... Forget it, as long as I can duel Whitebeard. As for Ace, Luffy, and their fates, let heaven decide!"
Ye Jia had no intention of saving anyone. Whether they followed the familiar plot of the Pirate World or not depended on fate.
"Hey! Man in black! What do you want to do? This Whitebeard old man is Ace's most respected person, I absolutely won't allow you to hurt him!"
Luffy stared at Ye Jia like he was facing a great enemy, shouting loudly.
"Straw Hat Luffy?"
Ye Jia saw Luffy staring at him with a serious expression, ready to activate Gear Second. He smiled casually, "I don't have time to waste with you right now. Don't you want to save your brother Ace? I'll help you!"
"I'm very grateful that you can help save Ace... but if you save Ace— I won't let you succeed!"
"Gear Second!"
Luffy yelled, his striding posture suddenly sinking. Then, his calves compressed, and his entire body's skin glowed pink, with white steam rising.
"Gomu Gomu..."
Swish!
Luffy leaped up, swiftly appearing before Ye Jia, his palm aimed at Ye Jia.
[Jet Pistol]
He punched out fiercely, but Luffy didn't use his full strength, only wanting Ye Jia to retreat in the face of difficulty and not bother Whitebeard.
"This Luffy really lives up to his reputation as the number one lacking in intelligence... I'm trying to help him save Ace, no matter what, the person should be saved first, yet he's directly attacking me now..."
The corner of Ye Jia's mouth twitched, utterly speechless.
"Forget it, a lack of intelligence is a lack of intelligence. It's a good chance to spar with you, the protagonist of One Piece, and see if your protagonist's halo is still as fierce as ever!"
Facing this attack, Ye Jia only made one move.
Clap!
He snapped his fingers.
Immediately, a green barrier appeared in front of Ye Jia.
The ability of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit was almost the bane of this type of close-quarters Paramecia combat... Sure enough, Luffy's fist hit the green barrier and was immediately deflected back, as if Luffy had punched himself, staggering him backward!
"What is this?!"
Luffy was a rubber man, so physical attacks were ineffective against him. Even facing such a heavy blow, it should have no effect.
But after this punch, Luffy's face was not looking good. When he punched the barrier, it didn't show any signs of cracking. Its hardness was terrifying... And the rebounding force was exactly the same as the force he put out!
"As long as I'm fast enough, I can find a gap where he can't react!"
Luffy still didn't give up. He stomped his foot and attacked Ye Jia again.
Swish!
Suddenly, Ye Jia appeared beside Luffy, his foot, glowing with a yellow flash, already raised.
Ye Jia's movements were too fast; Luffy had no reaction at all, couldn't even see the instant Ye Jia kicked...
"Luffy, this stage is still too early for you. Take a break!"
Ye Jia knew that a simple kick would have no effect on Luffy, so he specifically added Grade 2 Armament Haki.
Bang!
With a kick, Luffy's body uncontrollably flew straight out, landing in Sea Knight Jinbe's arms beside Whitebeard.
Luffy immediately fainted on the spot, completely defeated.
At the Summit War, Luffy's highest combat power was merely Gear Second, and he couldn't even use Haki... Don't let his high bounty fool you; his strength was truly too weak. How could he withstand a kick from Ye Jia, a being who transcended Admiral-level and challenged Whitebeard?
"Congratulations, you have obtained one 'Ox-Ox Fruit' fragment!"
A long-unheard system notification suddenly rang in Ye Jia's mind. Ye Jia was stunned.
No way, he got a Devil Fruit fragment after just one kick?
A protagonist is indeed a protagonist!
This drop rate... If it weren't for important matters today, he would have definitely given Luffy, this rubber man immune to punches, a good beating. Forget one Devil Fruit, even ten or a hundred wouldn't be a problem!
"Jinbe, take him off the battlefield. This is not where he should be!"
Ye Jia waved his hand and turned around.
But as soon as he turned, his footsteps halted.
"The Three Great Admirals are coming to greet me all at once!"
Looking at the three tall, serious Admiral-level figures Red, Yellow, and Blue in front of him, Ye Jia smiled.
"Death God Ye Jia... your arrogance is beyond my expectation..."
Akainu squinted and said.
"Is that so? Then try to stop me!"
Ye Jia smiled slightly.
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