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Chapter 1046: Fifth Emperor? What Even Is That?
Chapter 1046: Fifth Emperor? What Even Is That?
William tightened his grip on his rapier, but no matter how he twisted, Kuro's hand remained locked around the blade like iron clamps.
"What else do you have?" Kuro asked lightly.
"Diamond Break!!"
Montblanc shot to his feet, rushing forward with a thunderous punch aimed at Kuro's flank.
Kuro didn't even glance his way. He simply extended a single finger, tapping it forward.
Crack.
The seemingly devastating strike halted instantly against that single digit, the fingertip glowing with External Release Haki that stopped Montblanc's fist cold.
"Actually, I'm in a pretty good mood."
Kuro finally turned toward him. "Considering you lot witnessed Lida's technique being developed, I've been lenient letting you live this long. You should feel honored. So don't spoil my enjoyment now - flies attract annoyance after all."
Boom!
With a flick of his finger, a massive surge of power rocketed through Montblanc's arm, sending him flying backward uncontrollably.
With another flick, Kuro summoned a colossal water sphere from beneath the ship, cannonballing into Montblanc mid-air. The watery projectile wrapped around his body before plunging him into the sea below.
"Steam Impact!"
William's upper body erupted into a scalding column of steam, rushing toward Kuro like a cyclone.
"I already said - this kind of thing still lacks so much."
A tortoise-shell-patterned transparent shield materialized in front of Kuro, deflecting the steam's force while letting it disperse around its edges. Coiled across the shield was a serpent, its Snake Eyes locked onto the vapor.
For a moment, the steam seemed to hesitate.
Kuro's lips curled into a smirk as he released the rapier and grabbed Montblanc's fist instead. Charging it with Haki, he drove the fist straight into the steam.
Bang!
The steam recoiled violently. William's lower body rapidly retreated while his upper form compressed wildly, recongealing into human shape. His face twisted into a horrifyingly grim expression.
A thin line of wounds now marked his cheek.
"Impossible!"
William roared in disbelief. "I was an equal match for the Fifth Emperor himself! The Fifth Emperor everyone acknowledges through newspaper reports!"
"Have you been wandering the Grand Line too long with water clogging your brain?"
A flash of disappointment crossed Kuro's eyes. "Back when you were a bit more timid, you were actually quite endearing. Now look at you - bloated beyond recognition. This version of you doesn't suit survival in the Grand Line. Maybe return to cigar-making instead? Your cigars were quite decent."
Whoosh!
Kuro's blade flashed with black light, shearing past William's face and slicing a strand of hair.
Holding Autumn Water horizontally, Kuro dragged two fingers along the blade. "Unenlightened Divine Wind Murderous Sword."
Golden radiance ignited along the black blade.
William stood frozen, his gaze shifting between Kuro and the golden-glowing blade. The cold dread radiating from it made him shiver uncontrollably.
He hadn't even seen that last strike.
If that slash had hit his neck, he'd be headless.
He wasn't stupid - arrogant, yes, but not stupid.
That attack was simply unavoidable.
The speed. The paralysis. This man could've taken his life instantly.
And now this golden glow reignited ancient memories.
Seven years old, filled with dreams of piracy. Witnessing a two-year-old wielding a tiny dagger as a sword, massacring an entire pirate crew without leaving a single intact corpse!
Same technique. Exactly the same motion!
"I..."
Gritting his teeth, William forced his hand around the rapier. This was his chance - his opportunity to prove himself. Yet...
Why was his hand trembling?!
"I won't lose! Sure, I grew up fearing you, but I won't fear you forever!" William exploded in a roar, lifting his rapier high.
"Killing Intent Eye Sword!"
Kuro's eyes flared with murderous intent, freezing William mid-motion with paralyzing terror.
"Azure Dragon (Jiaolong)!"
Kuro slashed downward, golden radiance flashing across William's body.
"William!!!"
Montblanc crawled dripping from the sea just in time to witness the scene, screaming in rage with bloodshot eyes.
He wasn't a Devil Fruit user - falling into the sea only troubled him temporarily. But why had William taken a direct hit?!
Wasn't he supposed to be an equal match for the Fifth Emperor?!
Golden light faded. Kuro sheathed his blade, standing straight.
"Ahhh!!"
William screamed as he began falling, but halfway through his collapse something felt wrong. His body remained upright as he frantically searched himself...
No wounds?
After a long, thorough examination, William finally smirked at Kuro. "Nothing! No wounds! Just bluffing! Of course - I'm Logia! I dodged it!"
Though frightened, his Logia instincts had kicked in upon seeing that golden glow, letting him evade at the last second.
That's right. Definitely that!
Kuro was just bluffing. He hadn't been scared!
"You said you grew up fearing me?"
Kuro paused mid-sheathe, raising an eyebrow at William. "So that means you've seen me fight before?"
Discovering himself unharmed, William tightened his grip on the rapier with a malicious grin. "Of course! I saw you at two years old wipe out that pirate crew. But thanks to you, I spent years hiding in the East Blue - though now I realize those years were wasted!"
Safe now. As a Haki-wielding Logia user, few could harm him.
Time to make Kuro suffer!
"So that's it. I was wondering why another coward like you appeared."
Kuro nodded with sudden realization. "If you've seen me fight before... can't you hear it now?"
"Hear what?!" William charged with a scream.
"Exactly."
Click.
Blade met sheath.
Hiss!!!
William's body seized. A massive crimson mist erupted from his chest, spraying forward as his body staggered. Wide-eyed horror filled his expression.
"The soft whisper of that divine wind." Kuro said calmly.
Thud!
William collapsed face-first onto the deck, chest rising and falling as blood poured from his wound, staining the planks crimson.
Kuro approached, looming over him. The sky's sunlight vanished behind his head, casting his face into shadow within William's vision.
"If everything in the newspapers could be trusted, the world would've achieved peace long ago. Fifth Emperor? What even is that?"
(End of Chapter)
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