Chapter 219: Friend, Got a Light?
Chapter 219: Friend, Got a Light?
"Is this guy's vitality really that robust? He got hit with two Shinmeiryu Style attacks and can still talk?" Lida walked over, clearly astonished.
Kuro glanced at the now-silent Gurgas. "It's a Zoan-type Devil Fruit Awakening—he's naturally going to have strong vitality."
Without an Awakening, an ordinary Zoan-type user wouldn't survive two of those strikes. In terms of power level, he was no less formidable than a Vice Admiral. No wonder he could hold the gates of Tada Town for so long. The title 'Gatekeeper' was well-earned.
"What now?" Lida asked.
Kuro checked the sky, then looked outward. With his keen eyesight, he could see that the night only covered Tada Kingdom. Elsewhere, daylight still reigned.
His Observation Haki couldn't locate the Devil Fruit user—too many chaotic auras were mixing together. Tada Town alone had a tangled mess of presences, and within the Kingdom's interior, it was even worse. Countless auras, both strong and weak, swirled together in a maddening density that completely obscured whoever might be hiding there.
"Let's return to the ship first. We'll discuss things at sea."
He didn't mind staying here, but his subordinates weren't suited to this environment. Kuro tightened his grip on his Kuropalm, halting the sea water rain. He activated the Transponder Snail on his wrist and dialed Lucius Kro while walking outside.
Lieutenant and the others held their weapons tightly, swallowing nervously. The town was eerily silent—the bustling daytime crowds seemed like an illusion. Darkness swallowed all light, making the surroundings nearly invisible.
Clik.
Kuro flicked his lighter, trying to light the cigar in his mouth. The earlier rain had soaked him, though the waterproof cigar case kept them dry. But now his lighter wouldn't spark properly.
Clik. Clik. Clik.
After several failed attempts, a throbbing vein appeared on Kuro's forehead. He hurled the lighter away. "Next time I see Gramps, I'm making him convince Vegapunk to invent a lighter that works in storms and lightning!"
Suddenly, a fireball burst from a nearby alley, illuminating the area.
Lieutenant, already on edge, instinctively pulled his trigger. The gunshot rang out—lead bullets struck the fireball, making it stumble. Then it burned even more violently.
"Roar!"
That wasn't just fire—it was a humanoid figure engulfed in flames, charging wildly at Kuro's group. The bullets did nothing. Charred skin gave it natural defensive power. Ordinary blades would be equally useless.
"Commander!"
Lieutenant cried out as the flame-wreathed monster closed in on Kuro. Kuro removed the cigar from his mouth, waved it toward the flaming creature, and said, "Friend, got a light?"
"Roar!"
The flaming humanoid swiped at Kuro's head with blazing claws.
Piercing through the night sky, a long spear descended from above, impaling the creature's head. The force hurled it backward, its skull exploding on impact. The body twitched on the ground.
Kuro used his Haki-covered hand to catch a burning fragment, using it to light his cigar. "No need to be so polite—I can do it myself", he said coolly.
"Roar!"
"Woof!"
As the flaming monster fell, more flames began erupting around them. Numerous flame-wreathed humanoids, emitting guttural growls and mournful wails, surrounded the group.
"Commander!" Dozens of Navy members huddled together, shrinking back. Lieutenant looked to Kuro with obvious fear.
Who wouldn't feel terror facing creatures impervious to blades and bullets?
"I see", Klah adjusted his glasses, his tone analytical. "This must be the curse. Ordinary people before, but now they're extremely powerful. Immortal bodies—unaffected by edged weapons or firearms. And that constant flame clinging to them? Perfect soldiers. If they spread beyond the Kingdom, this threat would give anyone nightmares."
Lida added, "They resemble Gecko Moria's zombies, but without weaknesses."
Gecko Moria's zombies—and his own shadow puppets—could be neutralized by salt, which sea water contained in abundance. But these creatures remained unaffected. Earlier, Kuro's sea water rain covered the entire town, yet it only extinguished flames temporarily.
Lieutenant swallowed hard. "Major Klah, Major Lida—is this really the time for analysis? We're surrounded!"
"Didn't you attend the Top War?" Klah replied casually. "To Kuro-sama, this is trivial."
The flame monsters edged closer, emitting low growls.
"I said—no need to be polite!" Kuro exhaled smoke lazily. "One lighter's enough for me, but since you're all so enthusiastic..." He raised his hand.
Swoosh!
A sharp blade descended from the heavens, piercing a nearby flame monster.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Weapons rained down like a barrage from the sky, unleashing chaotic destruction. The sheer destructive power from such height couldn't be resisted by creatures only immune to ordinary blades.
In an instant, the flame-wreathed figures were shredded to burning fragments. Only their eternal flames remained unextinguished.
Kuro casually raised his hand again. A Longsword fell from the sky, eliminating the last monster before him. The scene almost inspired a poetic moment.
"Drawing the blade from heavens, smiling through monster hordes—Devil Fruit users are mere excrement", Kuro recited a verse in classic Hugocommander fashion. As he walked, more weapons descended, obliterating everything around them. Buildings and flame monsters alike crumbled under the bombardment.
"Roar!"
A larger monster, pierced by multiple weapons, charged at Kuro in fury. Before it could close in, a wisp-like figure appeared around it.
"Iron Body."
Crack!
Klah's fist punched through the monster's chest. He pulled out a handkerchief, elegantly cleaning his hand. "Kuro-sama isn't someone you can approach."
Kuro approached the larger corpse. The creature struggled to turn its head—its flame-wreathed face twitched slightly. Though Kuro couldn't see its expression, he sensed the relief beneath the dying agony.
Looking at the monster's dying gaze, Kuro whispered, "Rest easy. I'll grant you true release. Promise you won't see tomorrow's sunlight."
At those words, the monster stilled.
The story revealed an unsettling truth—these deaths were temporary. At dawn, they'd resurrect, forgetting everything. But when night fell again, consumed by thirst for blood, their minds would shatter into madness. As long as the Devil Fruit user lived, they'd cycle endlessly through this hellish reincarnation.
(End of Chapter)
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