https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-480-All-This-King-Desires-Is-Rule-/13537828/
Chapter 481: The Source of Evil
Chapter 481: The Source of Evil
Rain fell like pearls scattering across a jade plate, each droplet producing a crisp, pattering sound.
Within the rainstorm, Oger gripped his massive spear, assuming a stance. His feet moved first, flashing forward in an instant to close the distance on Kuro. The spear blade surged like a dragon, repelling the falling rain as it slashed toward Kuro.
It was pure.
This fighting spirit no longer carried the impatience and urgency Kuro had sensed before—it now radiated a sense of completeness.
And it was stronger than before!
Facing the sudden strike, Kuro squinted but neither dodged nor retreated. His blade, Autumn Water, shimmered with black light as he swung it against the incoming spear.
Clang!
The sharp resonance echoed through the rain.
A faint smirk tugged at Oger’s lips. Without entangling, he retracted the spear instantly, then swiftly closed in from another angle.
Clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
Within the rain, two black serpents of steel flashed repeatedly.
The spear’s length gave it an obvious advantage over Autumn Water’s shorter blade in close combat, but Oger wielded it with such skill that the disadvantage vanished.
Hiss!
Oger’s shoulder bore a shallow wound from Autumn Water, but he paid it no mind, his grin widening instead. Ignoring the incoming blade flash entirely, he thrust his spear forward.
A trade of injuries!
Bang!
Kuro deflected the spear thrust, spun his body, and kicked Oger squarely in the chest, sending him staggering backward.
Kuro stood firm, blade raised in one hand as rainwater dripped from its edge, pooling on the ground. He glared at Oger. “Hey, are you using me?”
Oger ignored Kuro’s words entirely. After retreating a few steps, he steadied himself, gripping his spear tightly. “You’re really Lucius Kro, huh! Strong as hell!”
“If I weren’t still injured, I’d have split you in two with one slash!” Kuro spat angrily. “Go find someone else to die for! I’m not your damn tool!”
His wounds from the battle against Charlotte·Big Mom had barely healed after a day’s rest. Even now, his ribs ached with every movement.
Oger snarled, “What nonsense are you spouting? I’m here to kill you! You came here for no reason—do you want to destroy my rule? I’ll tell you this: Unless I die, these people will forever remain commoners!”
With that, he swung his long spear horizontally and charged again.
Their weapons clashed once more.
“Won’t listen to reason?” Kuro’s blade slammed against the spear as he coldly retorted, “If you want me to be your tool so badly, I’ll oblige!”
“If you can do it, come try!” Oger roared. “My strength isn’t something you can just talk down!”
His strength was indeed formidable.
After letting go of whatever had held him back, his movements became bold and unrestrained.
This spear technique—Kuro had seen it before in one of his own subordinates: Donald.
But Donald’s skill paled in comparison to King Krayen Oger.
In Kuro’s eyes, this man’s power rivaled Charlotte·Katakuri’s. Though he’d never fought the scarf-wearing man himself, the aura Oger displayed was no weaker.
This was what baffled Kuro completely.
If Oger and Ba Bo were equivalent to an elite Vice Admiral and a Vice Admiral in the Navy, they should have been more than capable of protecting a nation.
Why would he think this man was a guardian?
In combat between strong men, one could sense certain truths.
Oger’s techniques, his style, the very feel of their clashing blades—all made Kuro believe this man was upright, a person who should burn as fiercely as the sun.
Such a man, as a king, would never oppress his people.
Kuro’s figure flickered sideways, evading Oger’s attack. Closing in, he forced himself directly into Oger’s space.
Oger startled, instinctively yanking back his spear—but it didn’t move.
Kuro’s other hand had seized the spear shaft.
Black Radiance flared as Kuro’s free hand swung his blade, mercilessly slashing toward Oger’s chest.
Instantly, Oger released the spear, leapt back with a low stance, and sidestepped. His fist, gathered with Haki, lashed toward Kuro’s chest.
Clang!
The fist met Black Blade, and Oger’s form surged again. His other hand slammed onto the ground, legs kicking toward Kuro’s body. The fist that had blocked the blade released, gripping the spear shaft again. With a twist, the spear spun, forcing Kuro to retract his weapon.
Bang!!
The moment Oger reclaimed his spear, a faint afterimage flashed across his face.
Kuro’s flying kick struck true, a heavy, powerful blow sending Oger flying backward.
Hiss!!!
Sliding backward on the rain-slicked ground, Oger crouched low, one leg extended, one hand on the ground, the other gripping his long spear, halting his retreat.
Kuro lifted his foot. His torn pants revealed a shallow cut, the fading glimmer of Armament Haki beneath the torn fabric. He clicked his tongue in irritation.
Oger raised his head, a smirk creeping across his lips.
“If you don’t get serious, you’ll be the one dying today!” Oger threatened. “Killed by a king who oppresses his people, treating them as playthings and prey! This nation will remain under my terrifying rule!”
“I just don’t get it,” Kuro said, twisting his wrists around Autumn Water’s hilt, the blade flicking away rainwater. “If you want to die, why didn’t you just let me kill you earlier? What the hell are you resisting for?”
“Or are you unwilling to abandon your people? Afraid pirates will slaughter them in revenge? Then why not set an example yourself?”
“I just want amusement,” Oger said, rising. “Whether it’s the joy of resistance or the joy of slaughter, all are pleasures to me. I don’t care who dies.”
“Is that so? Oh no, that little brat with Conqueror’s Haki is about to die,” Kuro said, pointing behind Oger.
“What?!”
Oger instinctively turned, seeing Sag impaling a pirate with his spear, roaring.
As if sensing Oger’s gaze, Sag looked over and shouted, “Oger! I’ll definitely overthrow you!!!”
Oger frowned, glancing back at the straw-hatted Navy officer smirking mockingly.
“If you don’t care, why worry?” Kuro asked.
“You understand nothing,” Oger said, closing his eyes before reopening them. “You understand nothing.”
Whoosh!
Oger’s figure exploded toward Kuro but didn’t attack. Instead, he bypassed him, heading straight for the civilians.
He raised his spear like a javelin, the blade glowing with black lightning once more.
“Hahahaha! You’ve angered me, so witness this move, Navy!! If you dodge, this spear will pierce these commoners!!”
Oger’s thunderous voice drew the attention of civilians still fighting pirates.
“Oger! No!!!”
Seeing this, Dick shouted, his eyes nearly bursting with fury.
It was his taught technique.
He knew exactly how devastating this move could be.
These people would be utterly pierced!!
Oger’s eyes narrowed, his arm swinging. The spear, crackling with black lightning, was about to be thrown.
He fixed his gaze on Kuro, the determination in his eyes terrifyingly resolute. Yet deep within, there was a flicker of plea.
Kill me.
Or else, I’ll really do it!
Hiss!
As Oger prepared to release the spear, a shadow flickered into existence. Black Radiance flared.
Blood erupted from Oger’s chest like a fountain, mixing with the rain.
Kuro stood, both hands gripping his blade in a downward slash, rainwater washing the blood from the steel.
“Enough?” he asked calmly.
“Ahh…”
Oger looked down at the gaping wound in his chest, a smirk forming on his lips.
“So… why?” Kuro asked.
“Because…”
Oger muttered, head bowed. “I wanted amusement.”
Suddenly, his eyes flared open. His foot stamped forward, his arm swinging.
“Pierce—Long Spear!!”
Black lightning erupted like a meteor, streaking forward.
Kuro’s pupils constricted as he instinctively looked. “You bastard…”
Are you serious?
Did I misjudge you?
Did I sense wrong?
Boom!!!
The black lightning shot forward, soaring over the civilians’ heads and smashing into the palace wall. The wall collapsed, revealing golden brilliance beneath the rain.
Inside—treasures beyond measure!
Gold and jewels piled high, mingling with Beri, radiating the most intoxicating glow imaginable.
Whoosh!
Oger’s figure vanished from Kuro’s side, appearing beside the palace alongside the lightning.
He pulled his black spear from the ground, facing the civilians with a hand on his chest. “The next strike won’t miss!”
In every world, there’s a law.
Kings love prestige, priests love devotion—but all love money.
The treasure buried within the walls seemed to fill the entire palace. No wonder Oger built walls to protect it.
It looked… irresistible.
“After the treasure!!”
Pirates, pushed back by the civilians, grew frenzied at the sight. At one pirate’s cry, the remaining pirates surged forward, overwhelming the civilians.
Greed’s fighting spirit ignited.
Oger raised his spear again, assuming a throwing stance—this time, directly at the civilians.
They’d seen the might of that move. If it struck, they’d be powerless to stop it.
Even if thousands gathered, if that spear hit, combined with the pirates…
The consequences were unimaginable.
Dick’s eyes widened, his entire body trembling.
Just when salvation seemed near…
“Absolutely Not!!!”
At this moment of despair, a roar erupted from the crowd. The air itself seemed to freeze, shifting hues.
Thud.
At the roar’s sound, a pirate’s eyes rolled white, collapsing.
Like a chain reaction, countless pirates fell, unconscious.
Hiss!
At that moment, a white lightning-like radiance exploded, piercing the palace and striking Oger.
A silver-white spear pierced through Oger’s chest.
Among the crowd, Sag maintained his throwing stance, eyes brimming with tears.
“Conqueror’s Haki?”
Dick, standing beside him, stared in shock at Sag. This brat had Conqueror’s Haki?
No wonder… even when first meeting him, people instinctively obeyed his commands, bowing to him.
Not only that, that technique…
It was clearly his “Pierce—Long Spear.” Sag had only seen it once, plus Oger’s own use—only a few times.
Had he already mastered it?
“This level of mastery…”
Dick wasn’t the only one shocked. Kuro was too.
“Quite refined,” Kuro mused, stroking his chin with interest.
Setting aside the sudden technique for now, the control over Conqueror’s Haki alone was terrifying.
The unconscious people weren’t civilians—they were all pirates.
Conqueror’s Haki could subdue targets, but such precision required immense skill.
So how had this brat mastered it?
At just seventeen?
“Absolutely won’t let you interfere again!!” Sag shouted. “This country is ours!!!”
“Hmph!”
Oger clutched his chest, staggering back, spitting a mouthful of blood.
With effort, he pulled the silver-white spear from his chest, tossing it down. The weapon rolled down the palace steps, landing among the crowd below.
“How… how is this possible! How could you, a brat!!”
Oger’s face twisted grotesquely, blood dripping from his lips. “Do you really think you can resist me!!”
“Yes! Me!”
Sag stepped forward, bending to retrieve the silver-white spear, his expression resolute. “I’ll overthrow you! King Krayen Oger!!”
“Sag, you bastard!”
Oger staggered, leaning against the doorway, panting. “Have you forgotten my mercy? How dare you teach that brat my techniques!”
“Oger!”
Dick stepped forward. “You’re despicable! Look at what you’ve done these five years! How many families lost loved ones, how many became orphans because of you! So many… so many who’ll never return, sold away!”
These words ignited fury in many.
Some had family members captured and sold by slavers.
Others had lost loved ones to Oger’s soldiers.
And pirates—those who had inflicted the greatest wounds on this nation, who had caused the deepest scars.
All of it—Oger’s doing!
This bastard who killed his own family for the throne, treating the entire kingdom as his hunting ground for amusement!
“Where’s the man you were before!”
Dick shouted. “Back then, I shouldn’t have taught you spear techniques!”
“Spear techniques…”
Oger spat another mouthful of blood, grinning maliciously. “A pirate like you should feel honored to be sheltered by me! Teaching me martial arts was your duty! Stop spouting nonsense! You… all of you… are nothing but my playthings!”
“Kill him!”
Sag’s low voice rang out. He charged up the palace steps first, a roaring crowd surging behind him.
Kill this culprit behind everything—and it would all end!
(End of Chapter)
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