Chapter 132: My Turn, Draw a Card
Chapter 132: My Turn, Draw a Card
"Unbelievable!"
Capone Bege's round body rolled across the ground several times before finally stabilizing. He pushed himself up, glaring fiercely at Kuro.
"Such humiliation? I'm done playing nice!"
His body suddenly expanded, his skin hardening into an ironclad shield resembling a Copper Wall, swelling and expanding until it nearly blotted out the sun.
What stood before them was a colossal Castle—easily eighty meters tall. Its exterior bristled with countless cannons, its feet transformed into tread-like structures, while its arms morphed into towering Defense Towers, crushing the ground beneath.
"Colossal Castle: Big Boss!" Capone Bege roared.
"Oh?" Kuro, clenching a cigar between his teeth, raised his head in surprise. "Still got tricks left? Makes sense... you are part of the Worst Generation."
Crash!
From another direction, shattered debris erupted from crumbling Structures. A towering figure slowly emerged.
A half-dragon hybrid.
X Drake had transformed into his Human Form—a dragon hybrid. He inhaled deeply, drawing his Axe Blade and Longsword. Though his Armament Haki couldn't yet "harden", he encased his weapons in its blackened force.
Jewelry Bonney staggered to her feet, her appearance disheveled, her eyes now glowing with crimson specks.
She was getting serious. If I focus, I might just barely anticipate his movements...
Otherwise, she'd be cut down by that blade again.
Urouge joined Jewelry Bonney's side, his body surging to over ten meters tall. That slash? He'd taken it full-force with his bare body, converting its damage into raw strength and size.
No Haki? No problem. Absolute power rendered it irrelevant.
"What a Monster."
Scratchmen Apoo shook his bloodied head, staggering upright as he locked eyes on Kuro.
He was weaker in direct combat, but when it came to underhanded tactics? He'd find a way to strike back hard.
Hawkins clutched his chest, blood seeping between his fingers. He approached, drawing his straw-woven sword. The straw dispersed, forming a massive Straw Man in the sky—a terrifying effigy that radiated fear.
"The Straw Man Deck", he said quietly.
Trafalgar Law gripped his Ghost Cry, his expression grim as he expanded the transparent barrier to shield everyone present.
He couldn't cut through Kuro with this technique, but that didn't mean he lacked other moves.
Boom!
Suddenly, an overwhelming aura of dominance surged across the battlefield.
Lidas, who'd been snacking, froze mid-chew. "Conqueror's Haki?!"
Klah, his skin pale with grief, snapped back to his normal black complexion in shock, staring at the source of the aura.
Eustass Kid approached slowly, his eyes shadowed, his expression unreadable. Each step amplified the crushing pressure of his Conqueror's Haki.
Law glanced over, murmuring, "The Head of the House, Eustass Kid."
Eustass Kid suddenly raised his head, his eyes now streaked with ominous shadows.
"Conqueror's Haki, huh? Definitely a dangerous man."
Kuro exhaled smoke. "Well, don't mourn losing an arm. Let me tell you, a man with the same hair color as you lost an arm too... and became one of the Four Emperors in the New World. I bet you could do the same."
"Once you're older, people will ask in exaggerated tones—'You, of all men, lost an arm at Shabondy?'"
"Just hand your goggles to some young pirate—preferably born there—and say you bet your future on that spot."
"Doesn't that sound cool? So stylish? Everyone will think you’ve got grand ambitions and deep convictions, and they’ll respect you."
"Respect matters, you know?"
"What nonsense!" Eustass Kid snarled.
He stretched out one hand, summoning metal fragments that coalesced into a colossal metallic arm.
"I'm the man who’ll become the Pirate King!!!"
"Magnet Man!"
The mechanical limb's five fingers splayed wide, crushing toward Kuro.
This move was different.
Kuro's expression sharpened. He drew his blade in a flash, slicing forward.
Clang!
The blade, coated in Armored Haki, failed to sever the arm as expected. Instead, it clashed against the metal, its force pushing Kuro back slightly.
For the first time, he frowned.
The reason? The arm's interior pulsed with magnetic energy, tightly binding the metal together. The suction force exceeded his blade's cutting power.
Clang, clang, clang!
The 【Huazhou】 trembled, as if trying to pull itself into the magnetic field.
"Oh? Ability surpassing Haki? Impressive", Kuro remarked, genuinely surprised.
Boom!
Suddenly, a massive shadow engulfed Kuro.
Looking up, he saw the Colossal Castle raise its Defense Tower-arm, slamming downward.
"This attack packs a punch too."
Gripping the hilt, Kuro yanked his blade sideways, prying open the metal palm and sparking a shower of sparks. He stomped, vanishing in a blur.
"Law! Redirect Urouge to that spot!" Jewelry Bonney suddenly shouted, pointing.
Law's eyes narrowed. He flicked his finger. "Room!"
Urouge's massive form swapped places with a stone in the targeted area.
"Urouge! Left front, five steps—GO!" Jewelry Bonney commanded.
"Karma Retribution!"
Veins bulging, Urouge's fist rocketed toward the designated point.
As it neared the ground, Kuro reappeared there—exactly where they'd aimed.
"Gotcha!"
Kuro's eyes widened. He stepped back, pressing his foot against the air.
"Moonstep."
Bang!!!
Urouge's fist cratered the ground, creating a massive trench radiating from the impact site.
"Close!" Urouge muttered, glaring at Kuro, now hovering mid-air.
"What a dangerous move", Kuro sighed.
Devil Fruit users really were something else.
Hawkins seized his moment. Beneath the Straw Man's shadow, he drew Tarot Cards glowing with the same violet energy. The cards scattered, then reassembled in his hand.
"What're you doing?" Scratchmen Apoo asked.
"Divination with the Deck", Hawkins replied. "My ability can influence the battle—its strength, the opponent's mindset. But I can't guarantee the outcome."
"Wait, what if it's a bad draw?" Apoo yelped.
"Then we draw again next time", Hawkins said flatly. "And keep your distance. If it's bad luck, you'll get caught in the backlash."
He stood closest to Kuro. A bad card would affect Kuro first.
Scratchmen Apoo: "..."
As Apoo retreated, Hawkins seized his Tarot Cards.
"My turn... Draw a Card."
He flipped the first card toward Kuro. It glowed purple, then flipped itself over.
Hawkins examined it, stating, "Looks lucky. It's the 'Emperor.'"
Apoo, ears twitching, asked, "Emperor?"
"Represents ambition and confidence. But my ability reverses them."
"In other words? It steals others' ambition and self-confidence!"
(End of Chapter)
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