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Chapter 284: The Pitiable Man
Chapter 284: The Pitiable Man
"Neets?"
Ehrnando's temples throbbed. "You dare call me a Neet? What do you even know about—".
His voice faltered as he stared at the bloodstain on the ground. A realization struck him. "If you're here, then that means Shu Di Ka—"
"Oh, that woman? She's a pirate. I'm Navy. Navy killing pirates is only natural."
Kuro tightened his grip on Autumn Water, locking eyes with Ehrnando. "Your turn's next, pirate!"
"You bastard!!"
Ehrnando's fists erupted with surging airflows. With a thunderous dong, his feet cratered the floor as he lunged forward.
"When I was clashing with pirates in Navy battles, you brats were still playing with diapers! You've no right to call me a pirate!"
Clang!
The golden lightning-edged blade jammed into Ehrnando's fist. Kuro flicked his wrist, unleashing a colossal force that sent Ehrnando flying. Twisting mid-air, Ehrnando slammed both feet against the cavern wall, rebounding toward Kuro like a spring.
Kuro raised the blade horizontally, extending two fingers to glide across the steel.
"I'm not like Zeff. I don't enjoy dragging fights out."
Golden light surged through Autumn Water.
"Let me eliminate you first!"
Ehrnando's fists erupted in a deeper maelstrom of airflows, his eyes hardening with resolve. He knew Kuro was his superior, but he'd never intended to fight Navy alone.
All he needed was to break through this blockade, escape the cave, and find Zeff!
Kuro gripped the hilt with both hands, lifting the blade overhead. Without glancing at Ehrnando, he let the charging warrior's twin fists slam directly into his chest.
"Got him?"
Even Ehrnando blinked in disbelief. Had this Navy man truly let himself be struck so easily?
But the next moment, his fists passed through Kuro's body as the figure began dissolving.
An afterimage!
"Unenlightened Divine Wind Murderous Sword·Azure Dragon (Jiaolong)!"
Golden light flashed sideways, crashing down onto Ehrnando with brutal force.
Gritting his teeth, Ehrnando braced for the blow, determined to keep charging outward.
The blade sliced open his waist, wrenching a stifled groan from him, but he surged forward undeterred.
He'd never use his full Armament Haki. That would waste too much. His Haki reserves weren't deep, so he concentrated it all in his fists.
Besides, he'd just fought Zeff. Though he still had strength left, this energy was meant for later actions, not now. Getting injured here would even give Zeff an advantage.
"Nothing?"
Ehrnando sprinted a few steps, then abruptly slowed, patting his body. Apart from the shallow gash, there were no other wounds.
That overwhelming strike had only done this much?
He turned, perplexed, watching Kuro sheath Autumn Water.
"Doesn't matter. This is my chance!"
Ehrnando accelerated, nearly bursting from the cave.
Find Zeff. Let him kill me. My mission will be complete. I'll never have to endure this pirate existence again!
"Ah, must you be so stubborn?"
A sigh echoed from behind.
Ehrnando's fleeing steps slowed to a crawl, then stopped entirely. He hung his head, sweat trickling down his face.
"Oh? So you finally heard it."
"That whisper of divine wind."
Hiss!
Blood erupted from Ehrnando's body like a geyser, spurting from every pore as crimson rained onto the ground, pooling into vast stains.
Thud.
Ehrnando collapsed, his gaze fixed ahead. He'd made it outside the cave, but his strength was gone.
From his eyes, he could just see the emaciated figure lying in a blood pool ahead.
Shu Di Ka lay there, eyes closed, a faint smile on her lips.
As if her final wish had been fulfilled.
"Shu Di Ka..."
Ehrnando weakly stretched his hand toward her, fingers splayed. "The only one I regret dragging into this... You could've been a great Navy officer. You didn't need to follow me."
"I think the same."
Kuro stepped forward, blocking Ehrnando's view with his hooded cloak. The giant 'Justice' character on the cloak's back made Ehrnando's heart seize.
Kuro stared ahead. "That Navy woman told me everything. Zeff might've agreed, but he didn't. Forcing an old man's hand like this... What's the point?"
"Because Zeff... Zeff Teacher is falling. If he refuses to kill in this chaotic era, he'll be discarded by time itself! I won't let that happen! I want Zeff Teacher to rise again!"
"I'll sacrifice anything!"
Ehrnando glared at Kuro's back. "Do you even understand what you're stopping? You're making a great Navy officer decay!"
"Cut the crap, trash!"
Kuro turned his head, sneering. "Calling you a Neet? Understatement. The young surpassing the old is natural progress. If it goes the other way, each generation gets weaker. You don't even grasp that—you're barely worth the air you breathe."
"And you're lecturing me about Zeff's decline? He's clearer-eyed than you. He knows his limits, so he looks to the young. He's trained countless brilliant Navy officers."
"True, you're a hated pirate now. But admit it—your threat level exists only because of him!"
Kuro's words ignited Ehrnando. "Exactly! That's why Zeff Teacher mustn't decline! I'll make him rise again! Only then will he match the Zeff Teacher in my heart!"
"Oh."
Kuro lifted Autumn Water, his eyes cold. "You're not just a Neet. You're a selfish one. The world doesn't revolve around your fantasies. Someone like you, failing to grasp that, deserves to fall."
"Let me grant you dignity. Zeff couldn't kill you—but I can. You, a pirate, falling to Navy like Shu Di Ka? That's no dishonor to your wish."
"You can't—"
Hiss!
Ehrnando's eyes widened mid-protest as Autumn Water pierced his back, skewering his heart.
He gasped, blood spilling from his lips, his fingers crawling forward toward the distant stone sphere, stretching to grasp something that would never be his.
"Zeff... Teacher..."
Kuro withdrew Autumn Water, flicked off the blood, and sheathed it.
"The pitiable man", he sighed.
(End of Chapter)
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