https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-338-A-Thousand-Cuts-in-an-Instant-Azure-Dragon-of-Instant-Hell-Slash/13536912/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-340-Captain-Nalgah-the-World-Government-Will-Surely-Rescue-You-/13536914/
Chapter 339: Mystic Art·Mystic Art
Chapter 339: Mystic Art·Mystic Art
"Kuro, you said you couldn't do it yet!"
Lida shouted, frustration clear in her voice.
Earlier, Kuro had combined stolen unarmed combat techniques to complete that move called 'Instant Thousand Strikes,' which she had mastered. But back then, Kuro had insisted he couldn't pull it off. So how was he doing it now?
She had used 'Instant Thousand Strikes' against Luo Wei. However, her own physical strength alone wasn't enough to execute the technique—it required siphoning Kuro's power to manifest.
"That's right. I still can't do the unarmed combat version", Kuro replied without turning, his gaze sweeping over the blood-soaked mush on the ground. He raised his palm, and a clump of earth erupted nearby, swallowing the remains whole until nothing remained.
"Is he really dead?"
Lida approached, peering at the spot where the blood had been, her face paling slightly. "When I was little, I used to dread the old ancestor. Every time I saw that dark corridor, I'd fear the worst."
"Dead enough to rot. If he comes back, I'm turning tail and running", Kuro snorted.
The 'Instant Thousand Strikes·Azure Dragon Severing Fang' wasn't just a thousand cuts in an instant—Kuro could manage that with effort. What made it lethal was the speed that left no room to dodge, combined with the strength behind each strike, each one infused with the power of 'Azure Dragon (Jiaolong)'.
In that instant, Kuro had executed a thousand killing blows. If Luo Shen survived that, what else could he do but run?
Joking aside, this technique surpassed even his Ultimate Mystic Art in power. The physical strength consumed was enough to unleash the 'Ultimate Mystic Art' twice. Even a monster like Kaido would struggle to withstand this. If Luo Shen had been that powerful, Kuro would’ve flown straight back to Headquarters for backup.
"Let’s retreat. I’m running low on strength. Combined with the physical strength you absorbed, I’ve already burned through a third of mine. Need to recover."
The physical strength Lida had siphoned was roughly equivalent to what he used for one 'Ultimate Mystic Art' release. Added to his own expenditure, it was a massive drain.
"Huh?" Lida blinked. "A third?!"
Kuro nodded solemnly. "In such a short fight? Losing a third already? That’s terrifying!"
Lida pursed her lips, muttering, "Mmp—"
"Lida!"
Kuro glared. "No swearing! And who taught you that anyway?!"
She rolled her eyes, her disgusted expression clearly pointing the finger.
"Me?!"
Kuro pointed at himself, face twisting in confusion. Then he paused. She wasn’t wrong. Outside of him, who else would say that?
Others would just curse him as a "bastard."
"Just don’t say it again", he muttered, waving her off.
"On another note", Kuro continued, "if that old ancestor used his power on you, his death should’ve lifted it. Do you feel anything off?"
"No", Lida checked herself, then frowned. "But I’m hungry."
Though she’d borrowed a lot of Kuro’s strength, the 'Instant Thousand Strikes' had drained her reserves completely. As a Haki-type Devil Fruit user, burning all her physical strength naturally left her famished.
"Looks like the power counteracted itself, like I thought. At least we solved a potential problem", Kuro nodded.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a distant roar erupted.
The crimson-skinned, fanged martial artists nearby began howling like beasts.
"Hm?"
Kuro furrowed his brow. The mastermind was dead—why weren’t they reverting?
A Crimson Demon dashed toward the Navy ranks. Marines scrambled, raising weapons to defend.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets peppered the Crimson Demon, sparking harmlessly off its body. No effect.
Ju Geng drew his bow, the string drawn taut like a full moon. His arrow struck the demon’s forehead dead-on.
Pfssk!
The shaft pierced the skull, dropping the creature. It twitched on the ground, still alive but helpless.
"This vitality… Wano Country? Quinn? Did that old creep buy Quinn’s virus?" Kuro grimaced, his thoughts darkening.
'Epidemic' Quinn—names weren’t given for nothing. Anyone bearing such a title had to excel in their field.
"Commander! These monsters are charging the town!" a Navy Lieutenant shouted.
Kuro scanned the remaining Crimson Demons. Without a leader, they scattered chaotically. Thousands of them.
"Looks hopeless", Kuro muttered. He clenched his fist. "Lion Might!"
Boom!
A circular wall of rock erupted from the ground, enclosing the fleeing demons.
The beasts clawed at the barrier, their strikes strong enough to shatter stone. But the walls were thick—though pockmarked, they held. When the demons realized they couldn’t break through, they turned as one, snarling, and charged Kuro and Lida.
"Let’s rain."
Above the wall, the sky darkened. Rain poured down in torrents.
Fat droplets splattered across the Crimson Demons’ bodies, splashing into puddles.
"Hey, Kuro", Lida called, "they’re not Devil Fruit users. Sea water won’t work, and you didn’t even trap them all—"
"Who said I’m trapping them?" Kuro interrupted.
He eyed the demons. "They’ve got stamina to burn, and maybe the virus. Dumping them in the sea risks spreading it. Best? Bury them, then toss the whole lot into the ocean—far from any island. Sink them deep. But first, they die."
He drew Autumn Water, pointing the blade skyward. "Chopping each one’s too slow. I’ve been developing new moves since fighting that blind old man. Time to test them."
The blade lingered for a moment, then he sheathed it with a metallic click.
"Mystic Art·Mystic Art."
Shhhk!
The rain-soaked Crimson Demons convulsed. Their bodies shredded as if hit by invisible buzzsaws, sliced into chunks or reduced to bloody pulp.
Thousands fell in seconds, the walled area becoming a blood-soaked hellscape.
Kuro’s previous battle with Marshall D. Teach had used sea water with Mystic Art. This was just an upgrade.
Against large groups, Kuro had limited options before. Without his powers, he relied solely on 'Crushing Pressure.'
Against ordinary men or weaklings, the killing intent alone sufficed. Stronger groups? He’d rarely encountered them.
In East Blue, he’d never faced pirate crews over a thousand. Most were dozens to hundreds strong—maybe five hundred tops.
Captain Krieg of the "East Blue Admiral"? Just unlucky.
As for the Grand Line, gathering thousands there was suicide. The Navy would rain cannonballs or send Commanders like T. Penn to carve ships in half. Game over.
Only in the New World could pirates amass such forces, their influence allowing mass recruitment.
Kuro had avoided large-scale battles in East Blue. Later, with his powers, he’d grown fearless. If needed, he’d drop islands or uproot the ground beneath them and toss them into the sea. Failing that, fly back for backup.
But repetition bred risk. Kuro sought other methods.
Here in West Blue, he’d found them.
Telekinesis·Beast-Sundering Lion handled large crews. Mystic Art dealt with elite threats.
Each raindrop struck like a blade, sharper than steel, amplified by Azure Dragon Mystic Art.
He could’ve used 'Beast-Sundering Lion' alone, but the demons were too scattered. If they fled, would they survive? No chance to test.
Kuro stroked his chin, surveying the carnage. He nodded. "Works well enough."
(End of Chapter)
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