Chapter 177: Becoming Kuromr.'s Shield!
Chapter 177: Becoming Kuromr.'s Shield!
"Oz!"
Whitebeard's eyes twitched with visible irritation.
"You don't have time to brood about it now, Whitebeard!"
A masked Giant Vice Admiral seized the moment, leaping toward Whitebeard and swinging his axe downward.
Kuro stepped back, watching the scene unfold with a scoff, "What recklessness! Even Gramps retreated—why charge in now? You're begging for trouble."
Crash!
Whitebeard's fist smashed the Vice Admiral's axe, shattering it. Simultaneously, his arm stretched forward, five fingers gripping the Giant's face. With a powerful downward slam, the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ice. The Vice Admiral's iron mask shattered, revealing a bloodied face.
"Advance over Oz's corpse!" Whitebeard roared.
"Kill them all!!!"
The pirates surged forward, storming the harbor.
Boom!
Another section of the bay wall exploded as a massive icebreaker rammed through. The remaining affiliated pirate crews, still floating on the rear waters, now drew closer to the ice.
Whitebeard's entire fleet had arrived.
Relieved of his commander's gaze, Lida's pressure eased. Kuro strolled forward casually, cutting down any minor pirate who dared ambush him.
Bang!
Kuro's blade severed an incoming sword mid-swing, sending both weapon and the ambushing pirate flying. He sighed, glancing at Klah and Kas lying on the ice. His frustration boiled over as he kicked Klah, "Hey, can you still move?"
Klah coughed up more blood after two kicks, panting. He seemed worse for wear but not incapacitated.
After all, Klah was a seasoned fighter skilled in Six Styles—the shockwave from Whitebeard had rattled him, but not broken him.
Kas pushed himself up shakily, "Kuromr., I'm so ashamed! You’ve seen me at my weakest. I’m unworthy of your presence!"
"Forget it. As long as you’re alive, nothing else matters. You all fought bravely", Kuro reassured him.
Charging Whitebeard's ranks with a ragtag squad? That took guts—guts even Kuro admired.
"Kuromr.!"
Tears streamed from Kas' fierce eyes as he saluted, "Your praise means everything! I won’t fail you!"
"What?!" Kuro blinked. Fail me? What did I even do?
Kas bellowed, "Stand up! We're the Navy—Whitebeard won't break us!"
"We won't yield!" a few fallen sailors echoed, rising slowly.
"Justice bows to no evil!" another joined, standing tall.
One by one, the Navy rose behind Kas, blood on their lips but fire in their eyes. Their unwavering gazes made Kuro instinctively step back.
Even brighter than Gramps’ radiant stare...
A young officer approached, eyes gleaming, "You must be Kuromr.! To face Whitebeard and his commanders alone—truly courageous!"
"Brave and just! Exactly as I imagined!"
"You’re our role model!"
"Lead us to victory, Kuromr.!"
"Defeat Whitebeard and make your name legendary across the Grand Line!"
The Navy's cheers drowned out the surrounding pirate war cries.
Kas raised a hand, silencing his men. His eyes blazed as he faced Kuro, "Now’s our chance! Under your command, we’ll deliver Whitebeard’s head!"
Are you kidding me?!
This is what I get for rescuing you?!
Why didn’t Whitebeard kill you all?!
Kuro clenched his teeth in rage.
He sensed Whitebeard’s furious glare already—Oz’s death had enraged the old man. Facing that wrath head-on? He wasn’t Sakazuki; he couldn’t survive such a blow.
"Next time, next time", Kuro waved them off.
"Kuromr., why?!" Kas demanded. "This is the battlefield! If we don’t strike now, we may never get another chance!"
Unfortunately, you’re right.
If we don’t kill Whitebeard now, he’ll die anyway.
Then where will you find him to fight?
"Blah blah blah!"
Suddenly, a Transponder Snail chirped.
Kuro activated the wrist-mounted snail, a voice ordering, "Retreat gradually. Initiate the plan."
Kuro raised an eyebrow, addressing Kas, "We’re pulling back. Prioritize your safety. And stop shouting my name—I’m not your commander."
"Yes, Kuromr.", Kas muttered, crestfallen.
His men’s spirits sank as well.
Their gloom beat dying in Kuro’s place, anyway.
Face Whitebeard?
The Admirals are still cruising the coast—I’m just a commander. What business do I have charging in?
Even if I could win, I wouldn’t. What if I earned a promotion?
Kuro exhaled, then stiffened.
Wait—
If Kas hadn’t disrupted Whitebeard earlier, they might’ve eliminated several top-tier pirates.
Those officers were world-renowned—taking them down could’ve earned Klah and me recognition. Now, I’d be in danger post-battle!
Close call, close call!
Wiping sweat, Kuro glared at Klah, still coughing blood.
This idiot charged ahead so recklessly!
Did Kas even see me on the battlefield?!
He kicked Klah again, "Dead or alive? Get up and move!"
"Okay."
Klah mumbled, wiping his mouth and trailing Kuro and Lida as they retreated.
The Navy murmured in confusion.
"Why won’t Kuromr. lead us? Is he afraid?"
"No way! He rescued us—he isn’t scared of Whitebeard!"
"But he fled so fast... like he’s dodging the fight?"
"Exactly! And what’s with 'don’t do anything reckless' and 'don’t mention my name'?"
Kas’ men stewed in doubt.
"Silence!"
Kas barked, "You disappoint me! Don’t presume to understand Kuromr.! He’s not like that. He’s testing us!"
"Testing us?" the crew blinked.
"Justice flows through Kuromr.—he’d never shy from battle! He warned us to stay vigilant! These pirates are world-famous, and we must remain wary."
"Kuromr. once said: 'The Grand Line is perilous! Prepare thoroughly before facing its dangerous pirates!'"
"I forgot his wisdom, forcing him to rescue me. As his subordinates, we dragged him down. He’s disappointed in our ignorance and arrogance! Yet still..."
"...Even now, he spoke those words for us—to stay alert, not to grow complacent! We mustn’t utter his name until we’re strong enough to bear it!"
Kas wept, "He still thinks of us, you fools!!!"
His words thundered through the ranks.
The Navy fell silent.
"I was too confident..."
"Unforgivable! To doubt the man Kasmr. admires! To make him save me and then question him!"
A sailor slapped himself hard.
"We were reckless! We’ll be a burden if we keep this up!"
"Kasmr.! Give us another chance! We’ll prove we’re not a burden to Kuromr.!"
"Please don’t abandon us, Kasmr.!"
The Navy wept.
Kas wiped his tears, "How could I abandon you? When I was lost, Kuromr. guided me. Now, I’ll help those adrift awaken their own Justice! If you still falter, follow me! Together, we’ll uphold 'unyielding Justice!'"
"We won’t abandon this battlefield! Retreat to heal, then prove we’re Kuromr.’s strongest shield! Unyielding Justice will never fall!"
"Ooohh!! We’ll be Kuromr.’s shield!"
"Long live Kasmr.!"
"Long live Kuromr.!"
Weapons raised high, the Navy’s spirits soared anew.
Kas’ resolve reignited their fervor, warping the air with heatwaves, their faces contorted in fierce determination.
On the plaza, Kuro watched the rising heat haze, surprised, "This strength... Kuro’s subordinates? Training such a Navy... his mentoring isn’t half bad."
"Oh, indeed", Lucius Kro added, glancing at the commotion, "uniting a ragtag crew—this bearded man’s strength is unimaginable. No wonder Kuro intervened to save him."
(End of Chapter)
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