That was Qin Xiao's greatest discovery from his clash with Daniel.
He recalled what the Ancient One had once said about magic:
"The energy that sorcerers draw upon comes from other dimensions of the multiverse.
They channel that power to cast spells — even to conjure weapons.
Magic is fueled by energy from other universes.
And a Logia Devil Fruit… is also a manifestation of natural energy.
Energy versus energy!"
So it turned out that magic could actually harm a Logia user.
"Good thing I tested it myself," Qin Xiao murmured. "Otherwise, I might've learned that lesson the hard way."
Daniel, however, had no idea what Qin Xiao was muttering about.
His expression grew darker.
A moment ago, his magic shield had clearly struck this man — even slicing off a piece of his body. But when he looked again, Qin Xiao was completely unharmed!
The bit of "flesh" that had fallen to the ground had turned into a puddle of sludge.
He'd known his opponent wasn't an ordinary man… but he hadn't expected him to be this troublesome.
"Boom~~!"
Just as his thoughts drifted, an explosion erupted beneath where Qin Xiao had been standing.
In the blink of an eye, a shadow flashed before him — Qin Xiao's excited gaze locking onto Daniel's.
At the same time, a massive fist smashed straight toward his magic shield.
"How is he so fast?!"
That was the only thought Daniel managed before—
"BOOM!!"
Qin Xiao's fist collided with the magic shield, shattering it instantly.
The violent blast flung Daniel through the air like a ragdoll, sending him tumbling across the Mirror Dimension.
"Figures. Mr. 5 really wasted a good Devil Fruit."
Qin Xiao exhaled disdainfully as he looked at the result of his punch.
In that instant, he had unleashed the full might of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit.
When he charged at Daniel, he detonated an explosion right under his feet — using the blast's recoil as pure thrust.
It shot him forward like a cannonball.
At that speed, Daniel didn't even have time to react.
Even Qin Xiao himself could barely keep up with his own motion!
But he did it anyway — because explosions couldn't harm him.
Even if they could, the Swamp Fruit would nullify any physical damage.
With that cannonball-like momentum, he was upon Daniel in a heartbeat.
If Daniel had been an enemy he truly meant to kill, he'd be a corpse already.
At that speed, a blow to the head would've turned it into paste.
But Qin Xiao hadn't come here to kill.
So instead of aiming at Daniel's skull, he struck the magic shield.
The moment his fist touched it, he triggered another explosion.
His physical impact, combined with the blast, sent Daniel flying like a kite cut loose.
Qin Xiao even had to hold back — otherwise the explosion would have blown Daniel to bits.
After all, the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were notoriously fragile.
Even a concussion from a shockwave could be fatal.
That was why Qin Xiao couldn't help but scoff at Mr. 5.
If that guy had even half a brain, his power wouldn't have been such a joke.
A bit of martial arts training, and he could've been making people call him "Daddy."
If he'd developed the fruit's potential further, he might have become an Admiral — maybe even one of the Yonko!
Just think — Whitebeard's Quake-Quake Fruit caused world-shattering destruction.
The Bomb-Bomb Fruit could do the same!
The Flame-Flame and Magma-Magma Fruits harnessed extreme heat — but explosions could match that power easily.
The Paw-Paw Fruit used air pressure to repel anything at high speed — the Bomb-Bomb Fruit could do the same through explosive recoil.
Just like Qin Xiao had done just now.
Such an incredible fruit… yet Mr. 5 had managed to make it look useless.
Daniel groaned and struggled to his feet.
He could tell that Qin Xiao had pulled his punches.
"You're… a mutant? Did Professor Charles send you to see the Ancient One?"
Seeing Qin Xiao's powers, Daniel immediately assumed he was one of the mutants.
As a guardian of the New York Sanctum, Daniel had encountered plenty of extraordinary forces — mutants included.
And since this stranger clearly wasn't with Kaecilius, that was a relief.
"No," Qin Xiao said at last. "I really do want to meet the Ancient One. I want to learn magic from her."
"Learn magic?" Daniel blinked.
"That's right. Traveling all the way to Kamar-Taj would take too long, so I came to the New York Sanctum instead.
Didn't expect you to mistake me for one of Kaecilius's men."
Daniel's eyes flickered.
"So… you really do know quite a lot."
Crack!
Crack!
Just then, the Mirror Dimension began to collapse around them.
A calm, commanding voice rang out—
"Daniel, go tend to your injuries."