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Chapter 1018: Have You Lived Long Enough, Red-Haired Shanks?
Chapter 1018: Have You Lived Long Enough, Red-Haired Shanks?
Conqueror's Haki and Killing Intent collided in an intertwined maelstrom, causing the city itself to tremble inexplicably. Dust rippled across the ground as seawater beyond the port surged violently.
"Kuro..." Klahincarnation, in his half-beast form, barely managed to resist Shanks' Haki, but now wavered under Kuro's Killing Intent.
Kuro glanced at him, took a step forward to block Lida and Klah's path, and just like that, their pressure eased. The air suddenly felt smoother, like a weight had lifted.
Shanks also stepped forward, shielding his officers. His overwhelming Conqueror's Haki clashed against Kuro's Killing Intent head-on.
Ben Beckman wasn't blocked by Shanks. He took out a cigarette, stuck it between his lips, and remarked to Kuro, "Truly exaggerated."
In terms of strength, he wasn't far behind Red-Haired Shanks. Just as others held titles like Emperor's Vice, he bore Vice Emperor. His strength allowed him to fully grasp what Kuro's Killing Intent represented.
He could confidently say – when it came to killing intent, this guy was unmatched in the entire world. No matter who it was, no one could rival him. That Killing Intent alone spoke volumes.
Ben Beckman glanced at the surrounding city. "Hey, Red-Haired Shanks."
"Yeah, I know."
Red-Haired Shanks responded, suddenly lunging forward. He drew Griffin from his waist and slashed downward with tremendous force at Kuro.
Kuro's lips curled. Black Light flickered at his hip as he unsheathed Autumn Water. Golden lightning danced along its blade as he parried Griffin's descending strike.
Clang!!
The sky darkened further, as if collapsing inward.
This was Red-Haired Shanks' signature Conqueror's Haki Infusion, yet Kuro's Unified Haki repelled it.
Boom!
The ground remained intact from their clash, but seawater beyond the port surged violently. A compressed wave of air shot straight into the sky, thickening the atmosphere around them.
This move...
Kuro narrowed his eyes.
Trying to avoid harming civilians?
Or deliberately showing off his swordsmanship in front of me?
Provocative old man?
Red-Haired Shanks' swordsmanship was no joke. Before becoming one of the Four Emperors, when he still had both arms, he frequently dueled Dracule Mihawk – that idiot. After returning to East Blue and losing his arm, Mihawk lost interest.
But that was decades ago. Now, though he'd lost an arm, his swordsmanship hadn't declined much.
Clang!
Kuro lifted Autumn Water to block Griffin, then twisted his wrist. The blade created hundreds of afterimages, slicing at Red-Haired Shanks from all directions.
"Hundred Shadows Slash!"
"You only have one sword, Golden Lion."
Red-Haired Shanks stepped back, angling his Rapier sideways to create an opening on his left.
All afterimages vanished, leaving only Black Blade resting atop Rapier.
Clang!!
Boom!!
With a crisp ringing sound, seawater at the port suddenly split open, two deep gashes forming. Yet again, the ground suffered no damage, not even a tremor.
Red-Haired Shanks' lips quirked slightly. Before he could speak, a fist suddenly appeared in his face.
Punch!
A black fist struck his face. Red-Haired Shanks instinctively staggered back several steps, a faint red mark blooming on his nose as a layer of Armament Haki dissipated from it. His brows furrowed.
Kuro raised his fist, grinning maliciously. "One-armed wretch, losing a hand doesn't feel great, does it?"
Red-Haired Shanks was indeed missing an arm. In combat at this scale, it made him Kuro's inferior – after all, he had an extra limb.
As for fairness...
What, was he supposed to be a decent human and deliberately keep one hand idle? That wouldn't be fair – that would be stupid.
"Hey!"
Ben Beckman frowned, his voice sharp with impatience. His arm tensed as the Red Hair Pirates' officers behind him assumed combat stances.
Red-Haired Shanks shook his head, glancing at the unconscious residents nearby. "Don't fight here."
He turned to Kuro. "You're thinking the same thing, right, Golden Lion?"
"What? You don't think my technique is weaker than yours?" Kuro scoffed.
He knew Red-Haired Shanks was a man of reason. So was he. In this place, Kuro had no desire to fight. If it were Kaido, Big Mom, or Marshall D. Teach, he'd already used his ability to create a separate battlefield. But against Red-Haired Shanks, such measures weren't necessary.
Too many factors weighed them down. The city's people came first. Letting loose was impossible. The man had tested him with swordplay earlier – naturally, Kuro responded in kind.
He understood their fight was inherently doomed to remain restrained.
This one was after Marshall D. Teach's head – nothing to do with him. Faya Principality wasn't even part of Teach's territory. Shanks had no reason to be here, though he might've impulsively decided to claim the entire Astartes.
After all, how do you think Red-Haired Shanks built his Four Emperors' influence?
"Is that so?"
Red-Haired Shanks smiled, suddenly lunging forward. Griffin slashed sideways, unleashing an intangible force.
Conqueror's Haki Infusion?
Kuro's pupils shrank. Autumn Water shot forward, golden lightning blazing along its blade as he blocked the Haki-charged attack head-on.
Clang!!
As blades clashed, Red-Haired Shanks' right arm strained. The Haki-infused Griffin pressed directly against Kuro's sword, forcing his body sideways slightly. Then, blades screeching, sparks erupted as Griffin and Autumn Water crossed. Shanks' body closed in until they were nearly touching. He smirked, his forehead glowing with Haki, and headbutted Kuro directly.
Kuro raised his left elbow to counter – but suddenly froze. Instinctively, he tried to retreat, but too late. His chest took a boot to the gut, sending him staggering backward.
"You don't think my technique's really weaker, do you?" Red-Haired Shanks teased.
Kuro glanced at the muddy footprint marring his uniform, lips twitching. His expression darkened, eyes glinting with a touch of bloodshot red. "You bastard did well, one-armed brat."
"Come on, getting angry easily will kill you sooner." Red-Haired Shanks smiled. "Compared to back then, you're much more hot-tempered, Golden Lion. Has your Devil Fruit ability affected your personality?"
This remark made Lida and Klah nod instinctively from behind.
He did seem more irritable. Klah used to fear him when he was angry before, but now when Kuro turned cold, Klah feared him even more.
Lida wasn't scared, but when Kuro got angry, he'd lose control completely.
Kuro's face darkened. "You're a pirate who's tasted death in Grand Line. You dare lecture me about dying young? I think you're the one who's lived too long. Isn't today your fortieth birthday? Don't you feel you've overstayed your welcome?"
"Haha, but I just said – I won't die yet. Hahahaha!" Red-Haired Shanks roared with laughter.
(End of Chapter)
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