https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1140-The-Most-Balanced-Iron-Wall-/13541441/
Chapter 1141: Before Fighting the Boss, First Eliminate the Minions
Chapter 1141: Before Fighting the Boss, First Eliminate the Minions
Red-Haired Shanks shifted his lava-like form, its heat searing the air around him, as he locked eyes with Kuro in the sky, drawing in a deep breath.
Boom!
A shockwave exploded across the heavens.
Kuro plunged downward like a cannonball, carving a shockwave through the air as he descended. The crushing pressure of his killing intent howled like a storm, making every pirate tremble.
“He’s coming!”
Red-Haired Shanks roared. Fiery crimson patterns blazed across his Griffin as he swung it forward with tremendous force. The blade’s glow intensified, cleaving downward with such might that it split the very Grand Line itself, carving a massive gash through space.
“Divine Evasion!!”
The Yokai Blade, now transformed into a pitch-black blade with a crimson edge, crashed into the Griffin. This time, no metallic clang rang out—only a void-shaking collision. The Yokai Blade’s crimson aura and Red-Haired Shanks’ Haki erupted into a swirling vortex of black and red, merging into a tiny, unstable point at the center of the blade before violently compressing and expanding.
The shockwave sent Kuro’s hair whipping backward. He narrowed his eyes.
“You lot keep giving fancy names to ordinary Haki attacks. Let me show you true swordsmanship!”
Red-Haired Shanks clashed with Kuro, but suddenly the resistance vanished. Instinctively, he slashed his Griffin, slicing through Kuro’s body—only to hit a phantom!
Red-Haired Shanks reacted instantly, twisting sideways to evade while thrusting his Rapier toward the incoming strike. He’d sensed Kuro’s approach—he was coming from the flank, preparing a downward slash.
As he completed the motion, he caught a glimpse of Kuro materializing in his peripheral vision. The pirate raised his blade, a faint smirk playing on his lips—but the Yokai Blade never fell.
Red-Haired Shanks’ pupils contracted. His Rapier thrust forward, but Kuro simply twisted his wrist, letting the blade slide past harmlessly. Only then did Kuro’s Long Blade descend.
“Kaiman-To (Cutlass Style)!”
The previous strike had been a mere illusion—Kuro hadn’t actually slashed yet.
He’d fallen for it!
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, crackling like white lightning toward Kuro.
“Stop being careless, Red-Haired Shanks! His swordsmanship’s stronger than yours!” Beckman bellowed, firing point-blank at Kuro.
A surge of Conqueror’s Haki enveloped the bullet, transforming it into a streak of blinding light. It pierced through Kuro’s body before anyone could react, moving at thunderous speed.
As the bullet tore through him, Kuro remained frozen mid-swing.
His form rippled like water and vanished.
Where’d he go?!
Red-Haired Shanks and Beckman scanned frantically, searching for Kuro’s next move. With that speed and deceptive swordplay, they could only play defense for now—defend, then look for an opening.
In an instant, they caught sight of Kuro reappearing—but
no killing intent radiated this time.
Beckman’s eyes widened. He turned his head sharply, shouting to the other officers, “Watch yourselves!”
“Clearing minions before the boss isn’t just reasonable—it’s tactical. Afterimage Slash.”
Kuro’s voice drifted faintly from behind Rakki Rue. A crimson blade flashed at his neck.
Rakki Rue’s spine turned to ice. There was no time to dodge—no space to maneuver. Instinctively, he roared, unleashing a swirling green aura as he spun to meet the strike with his fist.
At least block it!
As he moved, the other officers reacted. Jesus Burg raised his rifle, firing a copper-hued beam straight at Kuro’s blade.
The remaining officers sprang into action, their boats launching forward like arrows. They converged on Rakki Rue, unleashing waves of Unified Haki at the Yokai Blade.
They knew they couldn’t harm Kuro while he wore his killing intent armor, but they could disrupt him—and that, they could do.
Rakki Rue’s fist slammed into the blade, and the group’s combined force actually slowed Kuro’s strike.
Clink! Clink!
Kuro glanced at his trembling blade, a faint smirk tugging his lips.
“Not bad. Your coordination’s impressive.”
Bang!
His arm tensed, and killing intent erupted from the blade like a flood, crashing into them with physical force. The shockwave shattered their formation like brittle glass.
With one slash, he broke through their defense. Then, he pivoted, swinging the Yokai Blade again.
“Azure Dragon.”
Whoosh!
The surrounding seawater surged upward, twisting into dozens of water-formed Azure Dragons (Jiaolong), their roars shaking the skies as they lunged.
Bang! Bang!
Two surges of white lightning struck. One pierced the heads of the water dragons sideways, while the other struck from above, obliterating the remaining Jiaolong. The twin beams crossed at a single point—Kuro’s current position.
“Crossfire!” Beckman shouted.
He wasn’t a sniper—he was a close-combat artist who wielded guns. But even guns required timing.
His crewmates had given him the perfect opening—Kuro’s moment of vulnerability after completing his slash. He couldn’t possibly dodge through afterimages then. His bullets would hit!
Guns were fast—faster than swords in most hands. Many marines relied on them. But guns had limits. Unlike swordsmen, who could break human limits to fight hundreds alone, gunners peaked early… unless they, too, transcended those limits.
This ambush was perfectly timed. Kuro had no way to evade.
The bullets struck his chest, shattering his killing intent armor. Kuro slid sideways, the shots grazing his chest with sparks as they narrowly missed.
Kuro glanced at the two bloodied gashes beneath his broken armor and chuckled.
“Not bad firepower.”
His armor reformed instantly, replenished by killing intent.
Beckman’s bullets were no joke. Infused with Conqueror’s Haki, even a moment’s carelessness meant death.
This armor’s defensive power might not rival Kaido’s or Big Mom’s, but it wasn’t easily pierced. Beckman had managed it—just.
While Beckman’s direct combat power lagged, his ambush tactics were undeniably troublesome.
The only one who could truly ignore him was someone with unmatched speed—like Gramps.
Kuro gazed at the officers regrouping on their boats, his voice quiet.
“Annoying…”
The ribbons around him began to flutter.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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