Chapter 475: The Spark Has Been Lit
Chapter 475: The Spark Has Been Lit
Sag stared blankly at the sudden arrival. "You're..."
"Looks like we've got a meddler."
Ba Bo sized up Kuro, then said, "Outsiders must follow the rules. Hunt elsewhere. The Palace and minefield are forbidden zones. You're not allowed near them. Isn't that the agreement we all made?"
"I don't recall making any such agreement with you", Kuro shrugged. "If you want to talk about agreements, go find someone who actually cares about them."
He glanced around. Aside from this young man reacting, everyone else remained numbly at work. This open-air minefield had only one supervisor—no soldiers in sight.
Yet they still didn't resist.
Had this nation truly decayed so badly?
Or...
Had it become nothing more than a hunting ground?
"It's annoying."
Kuro clicked his tongue, then swung his whip at the pig-like man, aiming to fling him away.
But in that instant, Ba Bo released his whip and lunged forward with a fist strike.
"Told you not to meddle, pirate!"
Bang!
The fist flew, Kuro's pupils constricted, and he instinctively leapt back, shouting, "Haki? Wait, you?!"
A layer of Haki cloaked the fat man's fist.
And judging by its depth, it was remarkably advanced.
"Oh? You can see Haki? You actually understand it?" Ba Bo extended both fists, their surfaces darkening to an almost greenish-black hue as Haki surged up to his elbows.
He grinned maliciously. "So stop meddling!"
"Hey, you should leave!" Sag shouted. "Don't come here! Others have come before, but Minister Barber killed them all. You're no match for him. There's no hope left here!"
Boom!
As Sag's words fell, Ba Bo's elephantine body leapt skyward, his foot crushing deep into the rocky ground. He punched toward Kuro, roaring, "Who told you to speak, Sag?!"
Bang!!!
The earth shattered under the blow, the shockwave hurling Sag backward. He rolled across the ground, battered.
"Not bad. You dodged my attack. Strange. You're a pirate, yet you come to this island with the trash? Why?"
Ba Bo withdrew his fist from the rubble, studying Kuro, who had evaded him.
"This guy..."
Kuro frowned at the massive crater. "So strong. Yet you oppress your own people instead of driving away pirates? You're twisted."
"Just lowly commoners who don't deserve resistance!" Ba Bo cracked his fists, sneering at the miners. "Their only purpose is to amuse Your Highness and me. That's all!"
He spread his arms, baring his teeth as rain poured down. "Amusement! Life is glorious! Watching them live in fear, becoming prey every day—it's the most fun! Pity they never resist. If they did, it'd be even more entertaining!"
"Truly..."
Kuro's eyes darkened as he gripped the hilt. "Beyond redemption."
Whoosh!
A breeze stirred through the storm.
Clang!!
In that instant, Ba Bo's pupils constricted. He crossed his arms just in time as a spark erupted from his forearms.
Kuro stood behind him, surprised. "Observation Haki? Your skill is impressive. And you're so calm. Strange."
It was odd.
Someone like him shouldn't possess such strength.
And to remain calm in combat? Even stranger.
If he merely had strong Armament Haki, Kuro could understand. But dual mastery of both Haki types? Unfathomable.
This level...
Though brief, Kuro was certain—if this man joined the Navy, he'd be at least a Vice Admiral.
The New World truly held endless mysteries.
"The more I see, the more annoyed I get."
Kuro gripped Autumn Water, turning. "You have too many disgusting habits for my taste."
"Never expected such a strong meddler", Ba Bo sneered. "A man like you comes to hunt? This world truly is rotten!"
Killing Intent surged in his eyes.
Boom!
His body lowered like a predator ready to pounce. Legs coiled like springs, he launched forward, roaring, "Die, scum!"
Kuro's eyes narrowed. He slid two fingers along Autumn Water, its blade emitting a faint golden glow beneath the storm.
"You call others scum when you're the trash? I despise people like you."
Swish!
Facing Ba Bo's charge, Kuro didn't retreat. He gripped Autumn Water with both hands, stepped forward, twisted his body, dodged the fist, and slashed downward, golden light trailing the blade.
"Unenlightened Divine Wind Murderous Sword·Azure Dragon (Jiaolong)!"
The golden glow flashed. Kuro and Ba Bo passed each other. The latter landed, turned his head, face stiffening. "You—"
"Detected it, huh? Your Observation Haki is indeed impressive."
Kuro sheathed Autumn Water lightly. "Pity it's too late. Even in this storm, you still heard it..."
Clink.
Blade met scabbard.
"The whisper of the divine wind."
Hiss!!!
From Ba Bo's chest to shoulder, a massive wound split open. Blood gushed like a spring, mingling with rain. The gash nearly cleaved his upper body in half, his right arm dangling by a thread of flesh.
This strike was nearly decapitation.
He wouldn't survive.
Boom!
As Kuro thought this, a sound erupted from behind.
His eyes flickered. The fat man stomped, steadying his swaying body.
"You're joking, right?" Kuro asked, surprised.
That shouldn't be possible.
He should've died instantly.
Though his own wounds weren't healed, Kuro was certain—this opponent shouldn't survive.
"Lowly commoners! Just scum!"
Ba Bo raised his left arm, stepping through blood toward Sag. The young man's eyes widened, his body crawling backward.
"You're all scum!"
Ba Bo loomed over Sag like a mountain, his functional left arm raised coldly. "Scum have no qualifications to resist! None at all!"
He turned to the others, who had stopped mining, staring blankly. "You're the same! Scum forever! Your children, grandchildren—so long as they remain in this nation, they'll be our playthings, our amusement! Don't dream of resistance. You can't!"
His words drew no reaction.
"Sag, you too."
Ba Bo refocused on Sag's fearful face. "Why do I bully you so? Because you seem like you might resist. But you never do. You're scum. Even as I die, you won't resist. I heard you have a sister. I'll have her brought here. No—let those pirate scum take her as slaves."
Ba Bo chuckled. "Though I may not see your face, I know it'll be fun. So much fun."
Sag's pupils shrank, envisioning an unbearable scene.
"See? Even now, you won't resist. You're scum. Generation after generation, scum."
Ba Bo's eyes flared. His fist slammed downward.
As the fist descended, Sag's trembling ceased. He gripped the hoe at his feet, roaring, "I'm not scum!"
"You won't take my sister!!!"
The shout blew away the storm. A shockwave erupted, scattering nearby debris.
"Conqueror's Haki?"
Kuro's eyes widened.
That aura—undoubtedly Conqueror's Haki!
The young man leapt, driving the hoe into Ba Bo's left chest.
"I will resist! I will!"
Sag roared, "I won't let you bullies hurt me again!!!"
Ba Bo's face showed shock. His left fist kept descending, but Sag fearlessly met it, driving the hoe deeper.
The fist halted midair, becoming a palm resting gently on Sag's shoulder.
Thud.
Ba Bo's knees buckled. He knelt, expression stunned and rigid, still holding that shock. Yet deep in his eyes, a flicker stirred.
Joy.
"Is that so?"
Ba Bo's hand slid from Sag's shoulder. "Show me... what you can do..."
His head bowed, hidden from Sag's view, his lips curled faintly.
Your Highness...
The spark has been lit.
(End of Chapter)
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