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Chapter 423: Bartolomeo, I'm Coming In
Chapter 423: Bartolomeo, I'm Coming In
"Idiot."
Massey pressed his lips together, choosing not to speak further as he stood straighter.
Thinking about it, he was just a temporary officer. Kuro Vice Admiral was the official new base commander. This had nothing to do with him anymore.
After handing over his duties, he'd return to Headquarters and finally escape this cursed place.
"Hey, why are there so few men? Where are the rest of the Navy?"
Kuro glanced at the Navy personnel behind them. Most were still Wilbur's men—Massey's stationed forces numbered only in the dozens.
Shabondy Archipelago was under Mariejois' jurisdiction. How could its defensive strength be this weak?
"Reporting, Kuro Vice Admiral—it's not that we didn't want to bring more men", Massey saluted. "But most of our forces are currently recovering from injuries."
"This happened because we attempted to seize the Straw Hat Pirates' Pirate Ship a few days ago, but were stopped by someone."
"Eh? Luffy?"
Kuro blinked. "Their ship's still here?"
"Yes. While the Straw Hat Pirates have disappeared, their Pirate Ship remains. We discovered this long ago, but the person guarding it has prevented us from retrieving it."
Massey hesitated. "The guard is Bartolomeo Bear."
"Bear?"
Kuro frowned slightly. "Isn't that guy supposed to be a mindless cyborg now? What's going on."
"Er, I'm not sure about the details, but Bear has indeed stopped us from approaching the ship repeatedly. We've organized multiple assaults, but all have failed."
"Take me there."
Kuro rubbed his chin. "I want to see for myself if this bastard's really lost his mind. I still remember how he slapped me into the New World last time."
If that guy had aimed just slightly better, I wouldn't have had so many problems! I wouldn't have met Whitebeard early, wouldn't have exposed my secret of killing Shanks, and definitely wouldn't have clashed with Kaido. That muscle-headed idiot Kaido must still be holding a grudge against me. Even now, entering the New World feels like walking on eggshells.
Not that I'm scared—but it's annoying!
Once I deal with him, that'll be the end of it.
And that damn 'One Piece' too!
If not for his Conqueror's Haki back at the Top War, I wouldn't have caused so much trouble. I could've just coasted through life, slacking off in peace. No one would even know my name!
Now look at me—Vice Admiral!
Vice Admiral!
One more promotion and I'd have to become an Admiral candidate.
What a joke!
"I still want to sail the seas, but without a ship, how do you plan to leave port?"
Kuro growled inwardly as he ordered Massey to lead the way toward their destination.
As for that auction house ruin? Who cares! Let it rot!
...
The group proceeded to the small island where Luffy's Pirate Ship was anchored. From a distance, Kuro spotted a towering figure sitting cross-legged on the land beside the ship.
The figure's body was tattered, clothes slashed and burned by residual energy, exposing mechanical flesh beneath. His gloves and shoes were long gone. He sat motionless, cradling a book.
"We can't go further."
Massey halted at a certain perimeter. "Stepping forward will trigger Bear's attack."
"So it's true..."
Lida exclaimed, "With the book—it's really Bear's original form?"
"Hmph."
Kuro bit his cigar, observing Bartolomeo Bear. The cyborg seemed unresponsive, sitting still as ever.
"Hey, Bartolomeo! Do you still have consciousness?" Kuro shouted.
No reaction.
"Bear! Do you remember what happened last year at Shabondy? You slapped me away—you know that, right?"
Silence.
"Bear! Why abandon your life as a Pirate King to become a pirate? Are you just bored out of your mind?"
Nothing.
"Looks like only his final instinct remains."
Kuro exhaled smoke, eyeing Bear's gloveless hands. He stepped forward. "Bartolomeo, I'm coming in."
The moment his foot crossed into Massey's warned perimeter, Bear's body vanished. In an instant, he appeared before Kuro, delivering a palm strike with his Paw-Paw Devil Fruit ability.
Bang!!
A black blade blocked the palm, creating a thunderous explosion.
"Still quick to attack, huh?!"
Gritting his teeth, Kuro swung Autumn Water to deflect Bear's palm, then slashed downward in one fluid motion.
Whoosh!
The blade's speed was no joke. But as the slash descended, Bear's body vanished again, leaving a shockwave that blasted the ground as he retreated.
"Unlucky—I just learned a new close-range combat technique. Even without consciousness, feel its power!"
In the blink of an eye, Kuro's figure disappeared like a phantom, leaving multiple afterimages across the ground before reappearing behind Bear.
"Crescent Moon Slash!"
The black blade radiated like dark lightning, slicing a straight line toward Bear.
Hiss!!
The strike carved a shallow gash along Bear's arm, exposing more of his mechanical interior.
"Tch, blocked?"
Kuro twirled his blade with a scoff.
The slash had targeted Bear's neck, but the cyborg had instinctively dodged, using his Paw-Paw to absorb part of the damage.
Immediately countering, Bear's palm released a compressed energy sphere straight at Kuro.
As Kuro prepared to slash again, Bear teleported behind him, the energy sphere racing toward his exposed back.
"Slash Wave!"
Kuro reversed his grip, slashing wildly. A golden arc erupted around his body, scattering in all directions.
Bang!!
One arc intercepted Bear's sphere, while the remaining slashes struck Bear's body, sending him flying backward into a massive tree, creating a crater.
"Even without consciousness, his combat instincts are terrifying."
Kuro watched Bear's body, sparking electricity and bleeding, as it pushed itself out of the debris.
"Tsk. Damn it."
Bear retrieved his book, stretched out his hands, and expanded a massive energy sphere between them, compressing it rapidly into a needle-point shape.
Boom!
With a push, the pinpoint sphere launched toward Kuro.
Kuro's pupils constricted. He dodged instinctively, the sphere striking his afterimage before rocketing toward the Grand Line.
Boom!!
The sea erupted into a towering wave, scattering rain-like splashes across the land.
"You damn thing..."
Kuro gripped his sword, grinding his teeth. "Are you kidding me? With this power—and you're supposed to be mindless?!"
The elasticity and impact force of the Paw-Paw Devil Fruit had been utilized to its fullest potential.
(End of Chapter)
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