Chapter 326: One More Twisted Than the Next
Chapter 326: One More Twisted Than the Next
"It's confirmed—they're working together!"
Sabo glared at the bonfire flickering in the village's direction, the savory aroma wafting faintly toward him, his expression darkening. "They were just eating because they were hungry, and you want to arrest them?"
With his words still hanging, he lunged forward, swiftly closing the distance to Kuro and throwing a punch straight at him.
"I won't let you lay a finger on these people! We'll protect this nation's civilians ourselves!"
Clang!
Fist met blade in a sharp metallic clash.
Kuro watched Sabo's fist darken with a layer of blackened Armament Haki, his tone edged with surprise. "Quicker reflexes than expected."
"Don't underestimate me, Lucius Kro."
Sabo raised his gaze, eyes burning with rage. "As brothers, might as well settle things between us today!"
His punch missed, but Sabo's body twisted around Kuro in a blur. Fists and kicks rained down in rapid succession.
Clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Kuro parried effortlessly, Autumn Water's blade a silver arc in his single-handed grip. He tilted his head to dodge Sabo's strike, then slashed in one fluid motion.
Boom!
The blade struck true, sending a thunderous shockwave that flung Sabo backward.
"Brothers?"
Kuro flicked Autumn Water clean, blowing out a plume of smoke as he watched Sabo retreat. "Funny—I don't remember wronging your brother."
Sabo's torn coat revealed fading traces of Armament Haki as he locked eyes with Kuro, teeth clenched. "You were the one who stopped Ace!"
"Ohhh", Kuro drawled, realization dawning. "Right, that did happen. So you're Ace's brother—making you Luffy the pirate's sibling too? Interesting combo. Pirate and Revolutionary Army's Number Two? Now that's a family reunion."
"Get him, Lucius Kro!" Nalgah bellowed nearby.
Kuro smirked. "Ooh, Number Two? Scary stuff. I'm just a humble Commander—you might want to team up for this."
"Then let's gang up!"
Nalgah charged first, government troops fanning out behind him to encircle Sabo.
"Sabo, we've got backup!"
Kerla's cry rang out as she dashed into the fray, intercepting Nalgah.
Meanwhile, the mysterious man in the black-feathered coat and birdlike mask spread his arms. His body dissolved into a swarm of crows, scattering to stall the remaining troops.
Whoosh!
Breaking through the chaos, Sabo sprang skyward, fingers locked in the dragon-claw formation, Armament Haki surging. He descended like a hawk.
"Dragon Claws strike!"
The blackened claw sliced down—Kuro's body rippled like disturbed water before vanishing.
"Oh wow", Kuro's silhouette emerged from the side, his cigar clenched as he exclaimed with surprise. "Such raw might! Terrifying!"
Sabo's glare sharpened. "Stop playing games!"
Kuro glanced toward the skirmish where Kerla and the crows pinned down the soldiers. "If you're looking for revenge, shouldn't you hunt Marshall D. Teach? I was just doing my Navy duty."
"Whoever's here, that's who I'll fight."
Sabo's eyes blazed. "Sailors choose their own fates, but as brothers—we don't swallow this insult."
With a battle cry, Sabo lunged again, claws slashing toward Kuro.
Even without direct contact, Kuro felt the sheer power of each strike. Sabo's unarmed combat skill and Haki mastery were no joke.
Autumn Water arced in defense, blade meeting claw in a furious exchange.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sabo's arms moved like afterimages, relentless barrages pinging off Kuro's blade. Yet Kuro's swordplay was impenetrable—a storm of steel deflecting every assault.
Hiss!
Kuro slashed diagonally, forcing Sabo back once more. Sighing, he muttered, "Your three brothers—are you all just freaks? One more twisted than the next?"
Ace, though deceased, had masked prodigious strength—his Devil Fruit power and Observation Haki rivaling even the Seven Warlords. As for Luffy? Years under Garp's tutelage had merely been training wheels. Once he gained experience, his potential would explode.
And Sabo—the youngest yet Revolutionary Army's Number Two. Calling him weak would be delusional.
Most crucially, they were all younger than him.
"Thinking of you lot makes me realize—the era's surging forward", Kuro mused. "But really, is tangling with me better than revolutionizing? I'm just a lowly Commander. Taking me down won't change anything. Why not chase bigger fish?"
"Stopping you from arresting these villagers is the right move", Sabo snapped. "World Government lapdog—save your lies for someone else!"
"Fishman Karate!"
Kerla seized Nalgah's opening, landing a textbook straight punch squarely in his gut. Nalgah staggered, eyes rolling, but his grit held. Teeth bared, he launched a Calm Step kick. Kerla backflipped, narrowly evading.
A Six Styles master's resilience wasn't just physical. Though her strikes packed force, Nalgah endured.
"Kerla, disengage! Rescue the villagers first!" Sabo urged.
"Got it!"
Kerla broke free, but Nalgah found himself trapped again—crows swarming like razors. Their relentless pecks drew blood with every strike.
Sabo refocused on Kuro. Regardless of odds, he'd stall this man—prevent him from returning.
"You lot..."
Kuro watched Kerla break toward the village, Sabo charging again. Sighing, he murmured, "Guess talking won't send you running. Then—"
"Slash Wave!"
Whoosh!
Kerla barely rolled as a golden blade of light screamed past her head, rocketing toward the moon—so fast it seemed to tear the sky.
"Gah!" Kerla swallowed hard, sweat trailing her cheek. "This speed?! Are you kidding me?!"
She'd seen that slash cleave a Mountain Boar before, but not at this impossible velocity. She hadn't even sensed it coming!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
