Chapter 416: Too Many Solutions to Count
Chapter 416: Too Many Solutions to Count
A golden crescent-shaped slash tore through the air, whistling past Kuro’s side before crashing into Bartolomeo.
Boom!
With a deafening explosion, the slash halted mere inches from Bartolomeo’s body, lingering for a moment before dissipating.
As the energy scattered, Sazil, Ju Geng, and Fen Ni all wore stunned expressions.
“Come on, you’ve gotta be kidding me!” Lida’s eyes widened as she leapt off the ship.
“Actually defending against Kuro’s slash?!”
She could tell the attack’s power was immense—ordinary Haki users would struggle to block it completely. Yet here Bartolomeo stood, not only resisting but outright deflecting it.
Deflecting, not just dispersing, she realized.
Was this green-haired freak’s defense really this terrifying?
Bartolomeo himself staggered backward instinctively, the near-heavenly slash rattling his nerves. But seeing his defense hold, he exhaled in relief.
“Hahahaha! You’re not so tough after all! You can’t break my barrier, Kuro! Huh!”
Regaining his composure, he finally shook off the lingering trauma of Loguetown.
“I’ll never forget what Luffy did back then, and I know who you are too, Lucius Kro!”
He thrust his hand forward, index and middle fingers locked together, pointing furiously at Kuro. “You were there during the Summit War too, weren’t you? Everyone who stood in Luffy’s way back then deserves hell! Huh!”
Zzzzt!
Kuro descended from the sky, his cigar clenched between his teeth. The blade of his Autumn Waterblade crackled with golden electric sparks.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Kuro materialized before Bartolomeo and slashed downward.
Boom!!!
The impact reverberated through the air, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
The Black Blade struck Bartolomeo’s barrier—no penetration.
But the force sent Bartolomeo’s face contorting backward as he skidded across the ground, nearly flying off.
“I told you it’s useless! Huh!”
Planting his feet, Bartolomeo crossed his arms, maintaining his two-fingered gesture. Cold sweat dripped as he shouted, “Stop already! My defense is invincible! That’s what makes it a barrier!”
“Can be pushed… but not destroyed?”
Kuro exhaled a plume of smoke, his voice calm.
Barrier Barrier Fruit—of course Kuro knew its reputation.
A Devil Fruit said to block even Odenslugs. Now he saw the rumors were true. Physical slashes were utterly ineffective.
“But I’m not exactly okay with that!”
Whoosh!
Kuro reappeared above Bartolomeo. The Black Blade blazed like lightning, cleaving downward.
Kaboom!!!
Bartolomeo’s body sank into the ground, his transparent barrier unbroken in his eyes. But the force couldn’t be stopped. The barrier compressed, tearing through the root-covered earth and burying him deep.
“I told you already—useless! Huh!”
Trapped in the dirt, Bartolomeo’s sweat poured as the man’s overwhelming might pressed down. He wanted to snarl threats, but under such pressure, his voice faltered.
Why could this guy’s attacks push even my barrier?!
“Hmph.”
Kuro’s blade drove Bartolomeo into the earth. Rising into the air, he hovered above, gazing down. “Physical attacks really are useless.”
Bartolomeo’s heart leapt with relief.
Maintaining his gesture, he climbed upward, emerging onto the surface. Glaring at the sky, he roared, “Since you know it’s useless, just surrender! Apologize to me, and I might spare you! Otherwise, even if you escape, I’ll slaughter your subordinates!”
“Real cocky, huh,” Lida frowned, her small face darkening. “I can feel it—his ‘barrier’ is spherical now. Did turning into a Turtle Shell Barrier inflate his ego that much? Kuro, really no way to fight him?”
“Impossible? Against someone who only knows defense? There are so many ways.”
Kuro’s lips curled into a sneer. “The simplest? I surround you here. Three days without food, and you’ll starve. How will you keep that barrier up then?”
He couldn’t break the barrier, but he’d never let Bartolomeo leave. Trapped for three days, the man would weaken from hunger.
Bartolomeo’s face paled.
“But that’s too slow.”
Kuro raised his hand. Suddenly, the ground around Bartolomeo surged upward like a tidal wave, clinging to the barrier and forming a half-enclosure.
“Your barrier doesn’t block air, does it? Otherwise, how could I hear you talk? At the very least, I can trap you in here until you suffocate. That’s option one.”
“Option two? Something more direct.”
Kuro raised his five fingers. The earthen walls surrounding Bartolomeo’s barrier began lifting him skyward.
“Tell me—what if I toss you into the Grand Line? Will your ability still work? Or will you try to force your way out? But if your barrier has limits, breaking my walls means one side collapses. And with my reflexes?”
Kuro gripped Autumn Water, pointing it at Bartolomeo’s now-pale face. “Then prepare to die. Believe me—I’m fast.”
“I—”
Bartolomeo tried to push the strange walls away, but Kuro’s words froze his hands in place.
His barrier did have limits—only so much area, only so much control. If he expanded to break the walls, one side would collapse. And this man’s reflexes…
He’d die.
“I already told you—why not stay in the East Blue like Yamato? Why stir up this mess? Pirates should be thieves on the sea!”
Kuro waved his arm. The walls carried Bartolomeo higher, rocketing toward the ocean.
“No! Don’t!” Bartolomeo screamed.
But he dared not release his gesture, watching helplessly as he soared toward the Grand Line.
Plop!
Like a stone bullet piercing water, Bartolomeo splashed into the sea and vanished beneath the waves.
“Boss!!”
Barto Club’s crew shouted, instinctively rushing toward the ocean.
Boom!!
Suddenly, a monstrous killing intent rained down from above. Under its pressure, the pirates collapsed, their eyes rolling back, trembling uncontrollably.
Kuro sheathed his blade, landing lightly. Clenching his cigar, he spat, “What’s the point of pissing me off for no reason? Take them all, Wilbur. They’re yours.”
(End of Chapter)
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