Chapter 1237: You Can't Hide, Kuro
Chapter 1237: You Can't Hide, Kuro
Without the song, Constance faltered slightly, the mysterious surge in aura now waning under Kuro's madness.
"This guy..."
Before Constance could even react to Kuro's sudden gaze, Kuro extended a finger. A concentrated ball of energy condensed into a pinpoint at his fingertip. With a slight flick of his wrist, the energy surged forward like a bolt of lightning.
Constance's pupils constricted. He tried to dodge, but his physical body felt sluggish, lacking the fluidity it had moments ago.
Damn! My mind hasn't fully recovered from that combat symphony!
With no choice, Constance crossed his arms as Haki flared across his body, bracing himself against the incoming energy blast.
Boom!!
The energy exploded upon impact with his arms, scattering chaotic air currents that carved a semicircular crater beneath his feet. Constance grunted, staggering backward to steady himself. He turned sharply, shouting, "Red officer, while I hold him off, you escape to Wano Country. We'll find a way later!"
Hmph!
Before the word "later" could leave his lips, a soft sound reached his ears. Constance turned in shock just as a Black Blade pierced through his chest. Blood trickled from the wound as the blade retracted.
Kuro stood before him, gripping the Black Blade with a smile. "Don't lose focus now. Fighting me while distracted? I think you're showing me too little respect."
This old man, judging by his experience and combat techniques, must've been a formidable figure in his youth—possibly even someone who escaped from the sixth level.
But age had taken its toll. Without any special abilities, maintaining this level of strength was already impressive.
Still, his mind wasn't fully on the fight. If he were like that Giruon fellow Kuro had faced before, this would be a tougher battle.
Right now, Kuro could only use Autumn Water and Yokai Blade. His other techniques were temporarily unavailable.
With his focus wavering and his thoughts elsewhere, Kuro wouldn't let this chance slip away.
Hmph!
Kuro twisted the Autumn Water blade, channeling ability energy into it. Razor-sharp wind blades spiraled within Constance's body, making him shudder. Kuro withdrew the blade and flicked the blood off to the side.
"You're really..."
Constance staggered, shaking his head with a bitter smile. "No mercy at all. The older generation wasn't like you—whether it was Sengoku, Garp, or even Zeff, they wouldn't have struck the final blow in this situation."
"Ah, and that's why you old men are still drifting around the Grand Line."
Kuro exhaled a plume of smoke, unapologetic. "Maybe I'll make the same mistake when I'm old, but right now, I'm different. I'm decisive."
"Wah!"
Constance clutched his chest, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he swayed unsteadily. "You young ones sure are strong. But be careful how far you go serving the World Government. You're already on the edge."
Kuro scoffed, blowing out more smoke. "You're dying and still trying to scare me? Typical old man."
"Hehehe..."
Constance chuckled softly, then slowly turned his gaze toward the panicked, grief-stricken Red. He raised his hand, fingers splayed, and murmured, "Actually, I knew everything all along."
Kuro raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Constance continued, "Four years ago, I escaped from Impel Down, planning to live out my days quietly somewhere. Maybe take on a disciple to pass down my military prowess. Then I met Officer Red. I was captivated by her vision of the world."
"A fantasy like that?" Kuro sneered.
"You already know, don't you?" Constance said softly. "From Headquarters, I assume. Then you must know Red Officer's true identity—she's from the Moon Tribe, the one with a 100,000,000 Beri bounty for just having intelligence."
"I'm old and powerless to change the world, so I sought fulfillment in my mind. Red Officer had ideals—she wanted everyone to find satisfaction. Whether right or wrong, her intentions were good. It doesn't matter if it's practical or not. At least we found happiness and peace, even..."
"That's all fake. I know it's fake. But what does that matter? The world itself is false, built on the World Government's lies. If everything's a lie, why not choose our kind of lie?"
Constance turned to Kuro, his eyes gleaming with an eerie smile.
"Do you really think you're safe? Golden Lion... No, you don't understand. Beings like you—once you stray even slightly from the World Government's control, they'll fear you. They'll grow wary. Even if you lower yourself to become a dog for the World Nobles, you won't live long. You're too dazzling. You're not like Lucius Kro, who knows how to protect himself. You're not like Kuzan, who lazily avoids conflict. You're even less like Akainu, who obeys the World Government's commands. But you? You won't. Kid, I can see it—you won't!"
"Once you betray the Justice in your heart, you're the kind of person who'll throw everything aside. I can feel the fire burning inside you. I don't know why it's been sealed, but something fragile and flammable can't hide its flames forever. You won't spend your whole life shackled by your thoughts. Sooner or later, you'll turn against the World Government. And your threat level is even greater than Zeff's. They won't let you go unchecked. Never. Never."
As he finished, Constance's body slowly crumpled, kneeling on the ground as he murmured his last words. His aura gradually faded away.
Kuro stared at him for a long moment before shaking his head and muttering, "You don't know a damn thing!"
Otherwise, this dying old man wouldn't have tried to manipulate him, attempting to shake his resolve.
Did he really think Kuro didn't understand his own nature?
This old man was like a fortune-teller, spouting vague half-truths. It wouldn't matter if Kuro ignored him, but believing him would be dangerous.
If Kuro were shaken by words like these, what business did he have being in the Navy? He should've joined the Revolutionary Army years ago.
"The world... Sometimes it's precisely because it's too real that you feel powerless. Indulging in fantasies isn't inherently bad—I never said it was. But coming after me? That's where I draw the line. I don't buy into this nonsense."
Kuro cast one last glance at Constance before turning to the Moon Tribe woman.
"What about you? Will you die here, or let me take you back to Mariejois?"
He spat out his cigar butt, annoyed. "Why here of all places? You shouldn't have come. If you'd stayed away, I could've pretended not to see you, let you die quietly. But now that you're here, I've got no choice but to send you off, girl. Hmm, maybe you're even older than me."
(End of Chapter)
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