Chapter 1352: Annihilation
Chapter 1352: Annihilation
"You think you can—"
Before Kuro finished slaughtering the last of his foes, a voice erupted from the distance, brimming with boundless fury and grief.
Zoro tore free from Moer's restraint, his stance rising like Yamato's Wado Ichimonji Iii. Shusui's blade crossed behind his dual swords, his head lowering slightly as Conqueror's Haki erupted from him like a ghostly aura.
"Three Sword Style!!"
His crossed blades thrust backward as Zoro lunged forward like a leopard, crimson eyes blazing with madness.
Moer behind him moved to intervene, but seeing Kuro's red eyes already raised Autumn Water, he halted.
"Trying to block my attacks? You think you can outblock me?"
Kuro's blade slashed downward, aiming to crush Zoro's charge. Autumn Water's descending strike split into three blade arcs, intercepting Zoro's path.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as Zoro's blades met resistance, his momentum faltering. As his blade flashes vanished, Autumn Water locked firmly against Shusui's edge in Zoro's mouth.
Zoro's pupils constricted. His dual blades crossed for a counterattack.
"Swallow Return·Flock of Swallows Return."
At Kuro's voice, more blade arcs materialized around Zoro, encircling him. From all directions, they slashed into his body.
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
The sound of steel cleaving flesh echoed as blood marks tore across Zoro's frame.
Zoro's crimson eyes burned with rage, his fury consuming his calm. His Observation Haki faltered—otherwise, he could have mitigated some slashes with Haki alone.
But what difference did it make now?
Zoro grunted, letting blood drip from his wounds. Shusui's blade jerked sideways, knocking Kuro's sword away. His ghostly aura erupted as his three blades crossed again.
"Yan Wang·Three Sword Style!!"
Kuro narrowed his eyes. His body flickered into an afterimage as Zoro's blade arcs, slicing the air with a wisp-like sharpness, carved an "X" into the void, shattering Kuro's afterimage.
"Ghostly Aura."
Zoro's ghostly aura surged, manifesting his three-headed, six-armed Hollowification form. He dashed toward Kuro's new position.
"Dead Man's Game!!"
Kuro gripped Autumn Water with both hands, lifting it straight at Zoro's charge.
"Flashy techniques won't save you. You've mastered flair, but as a swordsman, let me teach you—"
Autumn Water cleaved downward, its black radiance finding the gap between Zoro's three blades. It struck from the opposite side of Zoro's existing wound, carving an "X" across his chest.
Hiss!!!
Zoro froze, blood gushing from his torso.
"Blades or fists—killing requires speed, precision, and ruthlessness."
As Zoro staggered, Kuro twisted his blade, slashing upward. Zoro tried to counter, but Kuro's speed was unmatched. The blade carved a diagonal wound across his neck, sending his head flying.
"Old Man was the World's Greatest Swordsman. Letting rage consume you makes your death all the more embarrassing."
Kuro flicked his blade, ignoring the headless corpse collapsing behind him. He strode toward the execution platform battlefield, crimson eyes locking onto Jinbei.
"The last one."
Kuro muttered, "Once you die, your rowdy pirate crew representatives will be finished. Blue Fatso!"
Jinbei was still locked in combat with Lida.
Though Lida was a nemesis in unarmed combat, Jinbei's experience gave him the edge. His Haki shielded him constantly, using only External Release techniques to keep Lida from touching him.
He suspected even Encasement Haki might be drained if she made contact.
"Essence Shockwave!"
Lida's fist unleashed a shockwave. Jinbei sidestepped, countering with a Gun Wave, but Lida kicked it aside.
After a few aerial maneuvers, Lida landed, ceasing her assault.
Kuro was approaching.
Unlike Klah, who might have felt robbed of a kill, Lida had no need to prove herself. Letting Kuro handle Jinbei was convenient.
Seeing his opponent change, Jinbei clenched his palm, his bloodshot eyes trembling with exertion.
Dead.
All of them.
The future One Piece holder, the next World's Greatest Swordsman, the World's Greatest Chef, Navigator, Maritime Warrior, Doctor, Historian, Shipwright, and Musician—
Gone.
His entire crew was gone.
As Kuro approached, Jinbei extended his palm, his fist drawn to his waist, assuming a stance.
"Old Man isn't your match, but... Old Man won't accept defeat. You don't know what you've done—your actions will plunge the world into darkness!"
Jinbei inhaled deeply. Water droplets rose from his feet, coalescing into a swirling sphere in his palm.
"Fishman Karate Mystic Art·Wulai Guan!!"
The water sphere erupted into a devastating impact, hurtling toward Kuro. This technique could pierce anything—even Big Mom's body.
The sphere surged with Jinbei's palm, racing toward Kuro.
"You want to play with water?"
Kuro stared at Jinbei, expressionless. "Even a seasoned veteran like you is losing control to rage."
Splash!
Jinbei's water sphere scattered into droplets, leaving only his palm striking at Kuro.
Hiss!
Kuro's blade, Autumn Water, slashed downward, severing Jinbei's wrist. The palm dropped.
Jinbei grunted, ignoring the blood spraying from his wrist. His other fist lunged forward.
"Fishman Karate Mystic Art!!"
Bang!!
The Haki-infused fist struck Kuro's abdomen. Kuro's stomach recoiled, staggering backward.
"Jinbei, I remember you claimed to be the helmsman for the future One Piece. You believed Luffy was the One Piece, but now he's dead. So... who are you steering for now?"
"Old Man has always been Luffy's helmsman!" Jinbei roared.
Kuro shook his head. "Unrepentant to the end. I was going to offer you a chance—being a former Seven Warlords of the Sea, you had options. What a shame."
Hiss!!
Autumn Water flashed black again, slicing Jinbei's remaining wrist. As pain surged, Jinbei staggered back. But as he did, Kuro raised Autumn Water, its blade gleaming golden. It cleaved into Jinbei's head.
In an instant, Jinbei's head soared skyward.
Kuro didn't glance at the blood geyser from the Blue Fatso's neck. He turned toward the corridor, eyeing his blade's dulled edge. Another glowing band of light etched itself onto the steel.
He ascended, soaring into the sky, racing toward Marco in the distance.
(End of Chapter)
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