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Chapter 391: Careful You Don't Strain Your Back!
Chapter 391: Careful You Don't Strain Your Back!
From the crowd, a figure approached at a leisurely pace, dragging four severely wounded men with him—each with eyes rolled back and crowned heads. These were the Kings of the Four Nations.
The man was tall and slender, his white hair braided into two pigtails hanging over his shoulders. His eyebrows glowed crimson, a golden chain dangling from his lips. He wore a plum-red shirt, blood-red trousers, and black leather shoes with golden trim. A wide, blood-red hooded cloak draped over his shoulders, its interior checkered pattern visible. A blue rose adorned his neck, and in his hand, he held a slender bat-handled umbrella.
With a devilish smirk, he released the four Kings. In a flash, he vanished and reappeared atop the highest peak dividing the battlefield, gazing down at Gajeel.
"You've wasted so much time without finishing the job", he said. "We've long passed our deadline, Gajeel."
Gajeel retorted, "It’s just that this Navy brat was harder to handle! Without him, we’d have succeeded already."
"Failure is failure", the man replied. "It’s the same as Roger being captured or Whitebeard dying in battle. When you fail, nothing can be salvaged."
Shaking his head, he continued, "Since I’ve taken matters into my own hands, our partnership is void. I won’t claim the deposit, but the rest of the earnings? None of it’s yours."
"How dare you!"
Gajeel roared, "We contributed plenty!"
"Contributed?"
The man swept his gaze over Gajeel, then nodded slowly. "Ah, I see. You planned to seize the Four Nations’ reputation, steal the treasure while I was distracted, and even claim the glory of defeating ‘Solitary Crimson’ if you succeeded. Despicable. That’s why I hate alliances."
"It’s him—Solitary Crimson, the Red Beret, Lucius Kro", Klah confirmed.
Hearing Klah’s words, Lucius turned his gaze toward him. "A Navy officer seeking a peaceful life? Interesting. Why would you come here?"
Before Klah could react, Lucius nodded again. "Ah, I see. You were promoted, so you had no choice but to come, right?"
"What?!"
Klah’s eyes widened. This man had seen through his thoughts!
"Truly worthy of a Legend?"
Lucius addressed Klah, "You’re mistaken. Legends are those who leave their names in the Grand Line. I haven’t earned that right yet, so I came here seeking the Opportunity to become the Strongest."
"This Observation Haki…"
Kuro watched from below, narrowing his eyes at the old man atop the peak. "It’s formidable."
"Lucius Kro."
Lucius turned his head. "I know you—you’re the famed Navy officer who recently emerged. Hmm? You think fame is a curse? That’s intriguing."
Strong enough to read his mind?!
Kuro’s expression darkened.
"I never wanted this", Lucius shook his head. "Since childhood, my Observation Haki has been unusually powerful, allowing me to see through people’s hearts. It’s only grown stronger. But don’t worry—you’re the type whose surface thoughts are all I can grasp."
"I heard you were at the Sixth Level. Did that bastard Marshall D. Teach release you?" Kuro tightened his grip on Autumn Water, facing Lucius.
He focused his mind, shielding his thoughts, before locking eyes with the Red Beret.
"Ah", Lucius gazed at the sky, sighing wistfully. "Release? No, that’s not it. I simply chose to leave. Whitebeard’s death left the old legends of the Grand Line fading. Aging is the greatest Enemy, not defeat by foes. So I left."
He stretched his hand toward the moon. "I’ll find the Restoration of Youth’s Strength. Then, after Roger and Whitebeard, I’ll become the Strongest in the Grand Line, claim the One Piece, and be the next Pirate King."
"You keep dreaming. Goodbye."
Kuro bowed slightly, turning to leave.
"Not so fast."
Lucius grinned, his eyes narrowing. "Not until I obtain that Strength."
Whoosh!
In an instant, he vanished, reappearing before Lida on the stone platform. The bat-shaped umbrella lunged toward her.
"I can’t have the Navy knowing I’ve returned!"
Too fast! Lida froze mid-bite, her body locked in place as the platform beneath her crumbled. The umbrella struck, and she plummeted downward.
Lucius smirked, redirecting the umbrella in a downward arc toward her falling form.
Clang!
A Black Blade intercepted the strike, sending a shockwave rippling outward in a perfect circle.
Kuro materialized opposite Lucius, his face dark. "Hey, old man! What do you think you’re doing?!"
"A fine blade. Yours?"
Lucius’s umbrella crackled with Armament Haki, clashing against the Black Blade. The two weapons screeched as they locked.
Suddenly, he slid the umbrella up Autumn Water’s blade, twisting his wrist. The bat-shaped weapon spun in his palm, aiming for Kuro’s head.
"Afterimage Slash!"
The strike hit only an afterimage. Kuro’s form rippled like water, his voice cold from behind Lucius.
Autumn Water erupted as Black Radiance, cleaving downward.
Lucius grinned, vanishing just as the blade struck. He reappeared on the ground, nodding. "Fast. You’re keeping up."
He couldn’t fly. Every move had been executed mid-air—a testament to his speed.
"Old men should know when to retire."
Kuro’s blade missed, but he raised his hand to the sky, gritting his teeth. "Careful you don’t strain your back, old man!"
The heavens darkened as countless weapons, boulders, and ships rained down like meteors, targeting Lucius.
"This ability…"
Lucius looked up, nostalgic. "How nostalgic. Shank used this too."
Gripping his umbrella, he swung upward. A semi-circular slash erupted, slicing through the falling debris.
Boom!
The slash obliterated everything—rocks shattered, weapons disintegrated into shards, ships split apart, their wreckage scattering in the shockwave.
Several ship rudders flew toward Kuro’s head.
Kuro snarled, clenching his fist. "Lion Might!"
The debris coalesced, reforming into a colossal lion’s head roaring toward Lucius. Even in ruin, it obeyed his command!
(End of Chapter)
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