https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-372-This-Slash-of-Mine-is-No-Joke/13536969/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-374-You-re-Really-Lucky-to-Be-Alive/13536971/
Chapter 373: Wulang
Chapter 373: Wulang
"Roar!"
The Lion Ape let out a low growl, staggering forward with claws slashing downward.
Kuro furrowed his brow, dodged aside, and slashed with his blade once more. A sword flashing with electric sparks carved a cross shape across the Lion Ape's chest, cleaving it wide open.
Boom!
The Lion Ape collapsed again, blood flowing from its chest, staining its golden fur crimson. Its chest heaved as its form shrank to ten meters tall.
Then it crawled back up on all fours. This time, instead of attacking Kuro, it prepared to leap toward the civilians behind.
Hiss!
Kuro slashed again, carving a diagonal mark across the Lion Ape's chest, adding another streak to the cross-shaped wound.
The Lion Ape fell.
The Lion Ape rose again.
As it took its first step forward, Kuro cut it down once more, this time carving a "rice" character into its chest.
This time it lay still longer, then shakily pushed itself up, like a beast with extreme survival instincts, its target still the civilians ahead.
"Hey, stop joking around. You're just a beast. Even with Zoan Awakening, you shouldn't be cheating like this."
He'd already struck four times. Beasts with Zoan Awakening were common at Impel Down - even failed ones had physical strength matching awakenings. No matter how Kuro respected them, the truth was he'd used Armament Haki for his strikes, something Impel Down creatures couldn't withstand.
"Roar!"
The Lion Ape's eyes blurred slightly as it roared again. It turned its gaze toward the frightened civilians, taking slow steps toward them.
Hiss!
Another slash sent the massive beast crashing down. Kuro held his sword, cigar smoke swirling around his face.
"Why do you feel so resentful, Wulang?" he murmured.
These words made the Lion Ape pause mid-rise. It hesitated, its eyes regaining some clarity.
Lowering its limbs from their upright stance, it roared at Kuro, "Human!!"
"You can talk?"
Kuro raised an eyebrow. "Good. Since you can speak, I'll say this - as a human, keeping that beast form doesn't seem right. If you feel wronged, seek revenge properly. Go after King Alexander Francis directly. Of course, you'll have to wait until I'm gone. Otherwise, as Navy, I'd have to intervene."
"Human is my enemy! All humans should die! Everyone should die!"
The Lion Ape's eyes turned blood red. "Eradicating humans is my lifelong dream! No matter who they are, all humans must die!"
As it spoke, the beast lunged forward with a claw, sending a cloud of smoke and dust toward Kuro while sidestepping toward the civilians.
Whoosh!
Kuro slashed through the smoke and debris with a golden electric arc flashing from his blade.
"You won't listen to reason, so I won't speak it."
Another slash sent the Lion Ape crashing down. Kuro took two steps forward, swung Autumn Water downward, and pierced the Lion Ape's forehead deeply.
The Lion Ape shuddered briefly before going still.
"I told you - revenge should be exacted properly. Why must it come to this?"
Kuro pulled Autumn Water free, shaking off the blood. "No matter your grievances, our positions differ. I can't stand by while you slaughter civilians. And probably wouldn't listen to me anyway."
Such tragedies were common across the Grand Line - no matter one's hardships or injustices, different positions inevitably led to blade against blade. Victory defined justice.
"I won't die."
As Kuro was sheathing his sword, he suddenly heard a whisper. His eyes widened as he looked at the Lion Ape.
The beast, clearly pierced through the skull, stared fixedly at Kuro with wide eyes. "I... cannot die!"
Boom!
The Lion Ape created a shockwave that propelled it past Kuro toward the civilians.
Hiss!
However, just as it reached Kuro's back, a black-gold blade flashed, cutting it down again.
This strike targeted the back of its neck, reaching the spinal column itself.
The Lion Ape shuddered on the ground, extending its claws to crawl forward inch by inch.
"I cannot die."
"Hey, you're kidding, right?"
This time, even Kuro was shocked.
Watching the crawling Lion Ape, he let his cigar burn completely without noticing. "Willpower..."
This wasn't about the healing abilities of Zoan Awakening. This was pure determination - not about the body enduring damage, but sheer willpower keeping it moving.
The Lion Ape's eyes were already unfocused, moving forward more from instinct now. Its blank gaze seemed lost in memories - those memories were the only fuel driving it forward.
...
"No, don't eat me, Monster! Don't eat me! Look how thin I am - I'd taste terrible!"
"The human looks... curious."
"A talking Lion? Strange! Monster!"
On the grasslands, a mighty lion met a ragged Kabuki Performer.
...
"Devil Fruit, huh? I know about those. They're legendary items that grant miraculous strength to living beings. You're a lion, but you transformed like an ape. Is this the Devil Fruit of apes? No, more like an ape-man."
"Huh? You want to learn to speak? Just don't eat me, and we can talk."
The Kabuki Performer called the lion's Devil Fruit the "Ape-Human Form."
The lion, having just eaten the Devil Fruit, gained intelligence and curiosity about humans. It decided not to eat this skinny Kabuki Performer but to follow him instead - the first human it had ever met - to learn the knowledge that so intrigued it.
...
"Come, repeat after me: Wu-lang. This is my name."
"A name?"
"That's right. Every being with intelligence and independent thought should have a name. You don't have one? Then I'll give you mine. I'm Human Wulang. You can be Animal Wulang. Hehe, I was terrible performing Kabuki plays alone, but with you, it'd be impressive!"
"What's a Kabuki play?"
"Kabuki plays are things that bring people relaxation and laughter."
That day, the Lion Ape only clearly remembered the sincere smile of that emaciated man.
...
"Wulang, Wulang, Lion Wulang, you should do this - I'll ride you while striking poses. You'll be beneath me, making us look mighty. What? You don't want to? Lions won't let humans ride them? Then you can ride me. I'll teach you Kabuki plays. You can ride me - an animal riding a human! That would certainly make people laugh!"
...
"Wulang, you're learning well. Your posture is getting quite good. Keep this up and you'll graduate. Hehe, the first animal to master Kabuki plays will be born under my guidance - Human Wulang!"
...
"Wulang, watch from afar while I perform. You haven't graduated yet. Just observe how I, Human Wulang, pretend."
...
"Wulang, run fast! These people can't stand my performance - they're going to throw things at me!"
...
"Why are you so happy after getting beaten up?" Lion Wulang puzzled at the bruised Human Wulang.
"That's because..."
Human Wulang grinned, eyes sparkling. "You didn't notice they were smiling? This country has suffered too much from war. They need laughter, even if it's just cathartic laughter. That's the purpose of Kabuki performers!"
"I don't understand", Lion Wulang tilted its head, "but if Human Wulang is happy, then Lion Wulang is happy too."
"Hahaha! Then work hard to graduate. One day, Officer Wulang will take you to become the strongest Kabuki duo in the Dual Horse Country!"
...
"Wulang, they're calling me to perform in Absurd Town. Looks like I'm becoming famous! Hahaha, our good days are coming!"
...
"Wulang, don't be angry. Look, they're laughing - the residents are laughing, the soldiers are laughing, even Prince Your Highness is laughing. As long as people can laugh, that's Kabuki, no matter what!"
...
Boom!
The Lion Ape pushed itself up again. Its golden fur, stained with blood, seemed to burn like blood flames. Its pupils turned completely crimson.
"Human!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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