Chapter 165: Keep Dancing
Chapter 165: Keep Dancing
Kuro's mood was absolutely terrible.
After being slapped away by Bear, he'd gained nothing—not even the chance to linger in the sky. He'd even witnessed Kaido's suicide.
That alone was bad enough, but if he could escape this war, at least he'd accept that as a compromise. A little reward for enduring all this, right?
But no—his plans unraveled at Sabaody when Silvers Rayleigh thrashed him. Then he was slapped away again, only to get beaten by Whitebeard. By the time he reached the sky, Kaido was there to thrash him once more.
The intensity of these beatings made even his participation in the war feel less exhausting.
And to top it off, that idiot Klah had the audacity to promote him a rank higher, leaving him no chance to lurk at the battlefield's edges.
After all that, he'd come full circle, forced to join the war he'd tried so hard to avoid. How could his mood not be ruined?
Finally managing to sit down for a meal, he now had to share the table with these Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Fine—he'd resigned himself to eating in peace.
But this rowdy bunch of maritime trash? They couldn't sit still for a moment.
How could Kuro hold back anymore? Could he not even enjoy a quiet meal anymore?!
A thick wave of Killing Intent, almost tangible, crashed against the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Xiong sat motionless, seemingly oblivious to the pressure.
Gecko Moria's face darkened. He couldn't fathom how a mere Navy officer could radiate such overwhelming Killing Intent.
"Shaaa... Shaaa..." He chuckled nervously, his eyes narrowing at Kuro.
"Jeez, what terrifying man", Marshall D. Teach laughed, glancing at Kuro with a flicker of fear in his gaze.
"Indeed..."
Dracule Mihawk lifted his head, smirking. "That Killing Intent remains as astonishing as always."
"Guhahaha..." Donquixote Doflamingo chuckled after a moment's surprise, his sunglasses hiding his eyes.
He stared at Kuro for a moment before suddenly flicking his fingers.
The controlled Vice Admiral spun around, cleaving his blade downward toward Kuro.
Clang!
A hovering short broadsword intercepted the Vice Admiral's strike.
Kuro didn't even glance his way. Lighting a cigar, he offered another to Dracule Mihawk. "Care for one?"
"No thanks", Dracule Mihawk declined.
Nodding, Kuro took a puff, exhaling a swirl of smoke.
Whoosh!
Another broadsword unsheathed, zipped around the Vice Admiral's back, and slashed upward. The Vice Admiral dropped to his knees, panting as the sensation of control vanished.
Crane noticed faint threads snapping off the Vice Admiral’s body, nearly invisible in the air.
"You should put on a little performance too", Kuro said to Donquixote Doflamingo.
Zooom!
Sakujū and Kigō spun in the air like arrows loosed from a bow, blasting toward Doflamingo.
Boom!
The table exploded outward from Doflamingo's seat. His arm shot forward, stopping the blades in midair with something unseen.
"Guhahaha! Strange ability, but useless against me!" Doflamingo grinned.
Kuro leaned back in his chair, the cigar dangling from his lips. His eyes remained cold as Sakujū and Kigō erupted in sparks mid-air, crossing paths to assault Doflamingo from both sides.
The swords danced—left and right, front and back, above and below—forcing Doflamingo into a constant rhythm of defense. Each block and parry made him resemble a performer in a strange ballet.
Hawk couldn't help but laugh softly, watching Doflamingo's awkward dance.
So the arrogant brat finally gets his turn, huh?
Though quiet, her chuckle didn't escape Doflamingo. A vein throbbed on his temple. Snapping his fingers, five threads formed across his front, blocking Sakujū and Kigō. Then he struck out at Kuro with an open palm.
"Five Color Threads!"
Nearly invisible threads shot from his fingers, curving downward like claws as they slashed toward Kuro.
Kuro raised his eyebrows but didn't move. The two swords suddenly veered, crossing in front of him.
Clang!
Sakujū and Kigō intersected the attack.
"Keep dancing."
With Kuro's words, the two broadswords flicked the threads aside and resumed their assault. Dashing forward, they forced Doflamingo to retreat step by step, his fingers manipulating threads in desperate defense.
These blades were remarkably resilient—unlike ordinary swords, they resisted being severed.
"Cursed brat!" Doflamingo snarled. Throwing both hands forward, he seized the threads and lunged at Sakujū and Kigō.
Boom!
The swords flew apart, dodging his grasp. His claws smashed into the grand dining table, carving fresh gashes into its surface.
The blades crossed mid-air, reuniting behind him like scissors. They slashed downward in a scissor strike—
Whoosh!
—but missed entirely.
Kuro looked up. The flamingo man now clung to the wall like a spider, limbs splayed wide in a corner.
"Ready to die, Navy?" Doflamingo's voice chilled.
"Guhahaha! What a brilliant show!" Marshall D. Teach roared.
"Shaaa, keep fighting! Let's see more!" Gecko Moria clapped gleefully.
Kuro glanced at them, murmuring, "Why don't you two dance for me too?"
Smack!
He slapped the table.
Dishes, cutlery, and silverware soared like shrapnel toward the two warlords.
Gecko Moria grinned, his body darkening as the objects passed through him like shadows, dissipating into mist.
Marshall D. Teach extended his palm, revealing a vortex of darkness that swallowed the flying debris.
Even Sakujū and Kigō trembled slightly in the pull of his gravity.
"Gonna fight three Seven Warlords alone?" Marshall D. Teach stood, baring his gap-toothed grin. "Guhahaha! That is impressive!"
The scattered shadows reunited, reforming Gecko Moria. "Shaaa! I've decided—I'll cut your shadow too!" Kuro slowly rose, his left hand gripping his scabbard. His thumb flicked upward, revealing a sliver of Autumn Water's black blade.
"That sword..." Dracule Mihawk's eyes widened.
"Autumn Water? How did you get it?!" Gecko Moria gasped.
He'd stolen that blade from Wano Country. After Luffy defeated him, it should've stayed with those pirates. How did this Navy officer obtain it?
Sakujū and Kigō flew beside him, flanking Kuro's rear. Slowly, he drew Autumn Water. As the blade emerged, Armored Haki erupted over his body, dark purplish tear streaks trailing from his eyes.
"This level of Haki..."
Doflamingo clung to the ceiling, sweating. Gecko Moria stumbled backward. Marshall D. Teach's eyes widened in shock.
Since when could a swordsman coat his entire body in Haki like this?
"Enough, Kuro."
Crane finally spoke. "This is Mariejois. Don't escalate too far."
She glanced at Kuro, then the trio. "And you three—if you must fight, do it on the battlefield. We serve the World Government now."
Kuro met Tsuru's gaze, then the wary Seven Warlords. His Haki receded. Autumn Water returned to its sheath, and Sakujū and Kigō flew back to his waist.
"Just don't interrupt my meal."
He sat, addressing the stunned Navy officer behind him. "Bring me another two servings. I'm starving."
Gecko Moria stared at Kuro, silent.
Marshall D. Teach wiped his brow, chuckling nervously. "Guhahaha... Thought I'd die there. You Navy officers are dangerous."
Kuro poured himself wine, fixing Marshall D. Teach with a meaningful stare. "Drop the act."
The pirate's smile froze. He studied Kuro, then turned away.
Doflamingo descended, landing before Kuro. After a moment, he laughed. "Guhahaha! New Navy blood, huh? Fascinating!"
He didn't sit, walking away with his hands in his pockets. "I'm tired. Give me a room."
"Yes!"
The officer glanced nervously at Kuro before leading Doflamingo out.
"Guhahaha! Don't want to ruin the mood", Marshall D. Teach said, departing.
"Tch." Gecko Moria spat, leaving the other way.
Three Seven Warlords gone.
Xiong remained, motionless as a statue.
Dracule Mihawk studied Kuro. "Autumn Water—Black Blade, one of the Twenty-One Great Quick-Blades. It suits you. But relying on blades crafted by others... doesn't that diminish the swordsman's spirit?"
He glanced at Kuro's other swords, their quality oddly familiar.
"Blades aren't meant to be burdens", Kuro replied. "Convenience suits me."
He liked claiming what was already forged.
Mihawk smiled, raising his wine. "A blade isn't a burden? Bold words." He paused, standing. "You've gained abilities—no longer a pure swordsman. A shame..."
He left the banquet hall.
Kuro scoffed. "Pure swordsman? You think I'd let you chase that title?"
No desire to become the World's Greatest Swordsman.
The Seven Warlords departed one by one. Bear remained silent, a statue among men.
Without those noisy monkeys, the hall finally quieted.
Crane spoke. "Well done. Pirates are unreliable. A firm hand reminds them of their place."
"I just wanted a quiet meal."
Kuro shook his head, pointing at Xiong. "Hey, isn't this guy about to croak?" He didn't respond. Kuro glared at Xiong, finally bellowing, "Xiong! I curse your grandmother! Are you even listening?!"
Kuro stared at Bear, finally shouting, "Bear! I curse your grandmother! Are you even listening?!"
(End of Chapter)(End of Chapter)
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