https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1144-One-Armed-Man-No-Armed-Man-/13541445/
Chapter 1145: Surrender?
Chapter 1145: Surrender?
The Red-Haired Pirates' strength isn't actually that weak. After all, they're one of the Four Emperors. Anyone who thinks they're weak would probably find surviving on the Grand Line quite difficult.
Among the four sea emperors, those who earn the epithet "Emperor" could never be weak. Even the newest addition, Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, possesses strength that nearly ended Kuro.
However, a Devil Fruit user remains a Devil Fruit user. Marshall D. Teach is not only a Devil Fruit user but a dual Devil Fruit user. Abilities can compensate for many shortcomings—physical constitution, attack power, or other weaknesses. Compared to non-Devil Fruit users, they gain significant advantages. A Devil Fruit user could easily defeat someone who's trained for years, while defeating a Devil Fruit user would require considerable effort.
Red-Haired Shanks isn't a Devil Fruit user. Even though he's hailed as the greatest Haki wielder on the Grand Line, he remains non-Devil Fruit. Without such abilities, his physical stability is natural—he isn't afraid of water. Using Haki alone, he can overpower most Devil Fruit users, even Logia types.
Someone of his caliber naturally fears no Devil Fruit user. But ultimately, it depends on the opponent.
Kuro can fly, and this is on the Grand Line. Leveraging the terrain's advantage, he's difficult to counter. Most importantly, Kuro is extremely strong. In this situation, Red-Haired Shanks—who can't attack freely or move widely—falls into a disadvantage.
He originally anticipated this. But even in the worst case, he didn't expect complete annihilation. At minimum, they could endure Kuro for some time. Simply surviving, without thrilling the Navy before they could react and reinforce Kuro, holding out for a few days before retreating—that was Red-Haired Shanks' original plan.
After all, he only wanted to prevent others from interfering in Luffy's battle.
That bastard Marshall D. Teach now hides in his territory, waiting for the Restoration's strength. Except for the Navy, no one would dare disturb Luffy.
And he believes in Luffy—that's why he made this decision.
But who could have foreseen such heavy casualties?
Not only did most of his crew perish in the Grand Line, but he himself lost his only arm. During the battle, Kuro's crimson threads severed that arm.
The power—he experienced it firsthand.
That thing possesses unparalleled destructive force!
If this continued, even Beckman...
"Ha ha ha!!"
Hearing Kuro's arrogant laughter while flying toward Beckman, Red-Haired Shanks floated on the sea surface with his head above water. Ignoring his arm's pain, he suddenly shouted, "Kuro! Stop!!"
His Haki still surged, and his thunderous, majestic voice carried Haki's pressure. Even Sea Kings would retreat from such a roar.
But Kuro ignored Red-Haired Shanks completely. What? Let him stop just because he said so?
You've lost your arm—don't joke with me!
You're a pirate, an enemy!
Kuro targeted Beckman. That guy's smart—genuinely intelligent, unlike Klah.
He used to claim Klah ranked second only to Ben Beckman in intelligence, but later realized whoever made that comment must have added, "limited to characters appearing in the first eight volumes" in their past life. The memory was distant—how many volumes were there? Probably not many; they might still be in the East Blue Saga or hadn't even left yet.
Either way, Klah's intelligence isn't as monstrous or analytically gifted as Ben Beckman's.
And now this guy claims to be the smartest on the Grand Line?
Kuro didn't buy it. He thought Sengoku was smarter—the old man is a real Buddha. Both physically and spiritually enlightened, possessing a Buddha's wisdom—that was no exaggeration.
The Navy's prime era flourished under Sengoku's leadership.
As for Beckman... he's arrogant. Back then, he pointed a gun at Gramps and told him not to move—that was real. Later they fought, but the feeling was different.
"Try telling me not to move!"
Kuro's eyes gleamed with menace. He lunged upward at Beckman, who clenched his teeth. As Kuro charged, Beckman raised his gun and fired a wisp of White Thunder. However, the bullet, along with the gun itself, was blocked by a crimson thread. Wu Sheng Kong Sha deflected the bullet and sliced off half the rifle's barrel, robbing Beckman of his ability to shoot.
Even with Conqueror's Haki coverage, Beckman's strength still paled compared to Red-Haired Shanks'. If Red-Haired Shanks' Conqueror's Haki couldn't block Kuro's Wu Sheng Kong Sha, Beckman certainly couldn't.
After deflecting the bullet and destroying most of the rifle, this particular Five Holy Kong Shot's effectiveness remained. It slashed directly toward Beckman's head.
No need for a new Wu Sheng Kong Sha—no need to waste it. If it struck directly, even with reduced power, it would still work. Perhaps not enough to sever his head, but certainly enough to cause severe injury. Once Beckman fell into the sea, Kuro had ways to deal with both him and Shanks.
Six threads dealt with their officers. Two blocked their full-power attacks. One severed Shanks' arm. Now one deflected Beckman's gun and sliced part of it. Its power hadn't fully dissipated—it could still strike Beckman's head.
Once they fell into the sea, after playing enough, he'd send the remaining two threads to escort them into death!
Twelve threads—sufficient grandeur!
Even against Kaido and Big Mom, Kuro hadn't used all twelve Wu Sheng Kong Sha threads.
These threads consumed immense physical strength.
"Enough! Kuro! I surrender!!"
Just as the thread was about to strike Beckman's head, Red-Haired Shanks' voice intensified, delivering words that captured Kuro's attention.
"Hmm?"
The crimson thread hovering above Beckman's head froze. Upside-down before Beckman, Kuro raised his eyebrows. At this moment of hesitation, the thread that had sliced the rifle faded quietly, disappearing into the air.
These threads weren't yet fully controlled—hardly effortless. Wu Sheng Kong Sha was originally decorative until activated, but once used, even blocking a stone would consume a thread.
Kuro could now maintain its power for a brief moment after activation—that was already progress.
Seeing the thread's attack halt, Beckman's widened eyes narrowed slightly. Instinctively, he prepared to move.
Bang!
Kuro executed a reverse bicycle kick. His foot slammed into Beckman's face. Even with Haki coverage, sheer physical strength mattered. Under this immense force, Beckman flew backward, his small boat sliding away with him before stopping.
"Tch, still smart—using that thing under your feet."
Kuro righted his posture, glanced at Beckman, turned toward Red-Haired Shanks, narrowed his eyes, and asked, "What did you say just now? Surrender?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
