https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-395-You-re-No-Match-for-Old-Man-Shanks/13537063/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-397-One-Slash-Severing-All-Resolve-White-Tiger-Slaughter/13537065/
Chapter 396: Ideals Have No Hierarchy
Chapter 396: Ideals Have No Hierarchy
Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Golden and purple Haki clashed violently in the rain-soaked night.
The crimson-cloaked figure’s purple Haki desperately tried to flee, but the black-and-gold Haki kept dragging it back, refusing to let its opponent escape this rain-drenched battlefield.
Boom!
Lucius and Kuro collided again. Gritting his teeth, Lucius leaned forward, enduring the slash from Kuro’s Autumn Water as his Bat Umbrella swept aside the purple Haki and stabbed toward Kuro’s chest.
This Navy man craved safety, though he was strong. His resolve must be weaker. If I attack relentlessly, he might retreat. If he just gives ground once, I can escape this annoying rain.
This rain’s slash penetrates the body. My Haki reserves won’t last much longer.
But his prediction didn’t come true. As the Bat Umbrella lunged, Kuro gritted his teeth, enduring the strike. He tightened his grip on Autumn Water and slashed downward!
Hiss!
The Black Blade tore through Lucius’s Haki, which had been gradually weakened by the rain, carving a shallow gash across his chest. At the same time, Lucius’s Bat Umbrella struck Kuro’s chest, sending ripples through his Haki defense.
“Hrk!”
Both fighters staggered backward. Kuro coughed hoarsely, his eyes flashing crimson. Ignoring the pain in his chest, he leaned his body back and charged forward, swinging his blade.
Boom!
The Bat Umbrella blocked the Black Blade. Lucius’s body trembled as he gritted out, “You brat!”
The counterforce from that strike had also worn down his Haki slightly.
He actually endured it!
“Come on!” Kuro spat, his voice sharp. “You wanted a real fight, didn’t you?!”
The fight had ignited his ferocity.
No peaceful resolution, no chance to wear him down? Fine! If I can’t avoid this, then killing him is the only peaceful solution!
“You’re too arrogant, Lucius!”
Kuro slashed, forcing Lucius into an opening stance. His other hand clenched into a fist, his Haki condensing further. He threw the punch straight.
“Arrogant?!”
Lucius twisted his body left, narrowly dodging the fist.
“This brat…”
His eyes narrowed. Kuro’s unarmed Haki mastery wasn’t low either. He couldn’t afford to block that punch.
“What arrogance?!”
Lucius hopped backward, retreating, but Kuro lunged like a rabid dog, the Black Blade slashing wildly in a storm.
“Of course you’re arrogant!”
Kuro’s blade kept striking, his crimson eyes blazing. “You look down on this, despise that. What are you on the Grand Line? Just another mortal! Under this sky, no one’s inherently superior! We’re all just ordinary souls!”
That’s always been my belief. Even if my strength or luck isn’t special, I’ve never considered myself unique.
Yes, I was born with a cheat ability, but on the Grand Line, prodigies shine from childhood.
Charlotte Big Mom defeated giant heroes at five.
Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo awakened Conqueror’s Haki as a child.
And this old man, Lucius, had powerful Observation Haki since youth, seeing through hearts.
What’s the difference?
None.
Nothing to be proud of.
“Embrace ugliness, old man!”
Kuro deflected Lucius’s Bat Umbrella and slashed diagonally.
Lucius’s umbrella struck Kuro’s shoulder, scattering his Haki momentarily, but the counterforce froze him briefly.
Hiss!
The Black Blade, shimmering with golden light, tore through Lucius’s Haki, carving a deep wound across his chest. Blood sprayed.
Clutching his chest, Lucius spat blood and staggered back. Suddenly, he vanished, using the distance to rocket toward the Colossal Shield.
Reach it, and he’d escape this cursed rain!
Whoosh!
But Kuro’s figure flickered too, mirroring Lucius’s stance and speed—even faster now. In a flash of afterimages, he appeared before Lucius.
Hiss!
The blade struck again, shattering Lucius’s protective Haki completely.
Lucius grunted, flying backward and crashing to the ground.
“You… learned my speed?!” he gasped, disbelieving.
“Just some tricks with directional control. Not hard to copy. Speed’s always been my specialty.”
Kuro clenched his five fingers, gathering rainwater into a sphere. He hurled it onto Lucius’s face.
“Look at yourself, old man! Drenched and ragged, no different from a stray dog! Where’s your arrogance now?!”
He pointed Autumn Water at Lucius, shouting.
Lucius instinctively looked at the water’s reflection. His tattered body, bloodied and mud-stained, bore no trace of his former gentlemanly demeanor. Worse still was his face—twisted, grotesque, a defeated loser’s visage.
“You’re an elder—see the world clearly!” Kuro roared. “Look around! Navy, soldiers, nobles—everyone’s different. No one’s born above others. All face birth, aging, sickness, death. We all chase our own goals. In the end, our purposes are the same!”
“What’s high or low about ideals? The world’s truth is in its ugliness! Listen! Hear their inner voices!”
Lucius instinctively turned toward the retreating soldiers behind the battlefield’s mountain. His powerful Observation Haki caught their thoughts:
“Finally going home! My family’s waiting. Lucky I survived this time.”
“Fighting the Vinsmoke Family scared me half to death. I almost fled.”
“The Navy’s amazing, holding off the Vinsmoke. No way I’ll surrender. One day, I’ll be like them.”
Thoughts poured into Lucius’s mind—fearful, brave, mundane, resolute.
“Hear that?” Kuro interrupted. “You don’t even need to listen. Just look at their expressions. Every person has their own goals and ideals. Their achievements may differ, but ideals themselves have no hierarchy.”
“Embrace it! Embrace what you call ‘ugliness’! The world is perfect because it’s imperfect!”
Kuro glared, roaring: “A stinking One Piece dream and an ordinary citizen’s life—both are equal! Ideals have no hierarchy or worthiness!”
“No distinction at all!”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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