Chapter 512: Dazzling Fireworks
Chapter 512: Dazzling Fireworks
"Again!"
Wald yanked the activation lever directly, and the massive cannon extending from the ship's bow erupted with a blinding spark.
Boom!
As the thunderous boom echoed, Wald gripped the cannon barrel and roared, "Momo, Hundredfold!"
The colossal cannonball launched from the muzzle seemed to pass through an invisible barrier. Beyond this threshold, it expanded dramatically, its original speed accelerating into a blur of afterimages as it hurtled toward Shabondy.
Without hesitation, Wald yanked the lever again, firing another cannonball. The same effect activated—Hundredfold volume, Hundredfold speed—this second projectile chasing the first like a pair of vengeful comets.
One shot isn't enough? Then fire another!
"You're not going to stop, huh?!"
As the massive cannonball closed in at hypersonic speed, Kuro clenched his cigar, flicked his blade, and vanished in a flash.
His body reappeared mid-air, moving like a phantom—like that "Moon-Worshipping Cult Leader" from a past life, blinking between positions with eerie precision. He closed the distance to the cannonball in an instant.
This technique was learned from Lucius: short-range teleportation.
Unlike Kuro's signature long-distance linear dashes, this compact maneuver offered superior battlefield agility. And the speed? Nothing to scoff at either.
Kuro materialized beside the cannonball, Autumn Water glowing with a streak of black-golden light.
The high-speed projectile froze mid-flight. A hairline fissure split its core, widening rapidly until the cannonball cleaved cleanly in half, plunging into the Grand Line.
Boom!!
The sea surface erupted with twin Grand Line roars. The shockwave from the cannonball's explosion made the air itself tremble.
The yield after Hundredfold amplification was simply monstrous.
"One left... Tch, won't make it in time!"
Kuro turned to intercept the second cannonball already streaking past him, but the Hundredfold-speed projectile had closed half the distance to Shabondy.
At this velocity, intercepting it before impact would change everything. Otherwise, the first cannonball wouldn't have required a full-force slash to deflect.
As Kuro prepared to move, he froze, eyes narrowing toward Shabondy.
A flicker of aura. Then a streak of purplish-black slash erupted from Shabondy, colliding with the massive cannonball. The blade cleaved through the projectile, splitting it in two before detonation. The explosion's shockwave rippled across the sea's surface.
On the shore, Hawk-Eye adjusted his hat, gripping the Black Blade "Yoru" in one hand, smirking toward Kuro in the distance.
Their slashes were now evenly matched.
"Hey, Kuro! Got news!"
Lida sprinted to the coastline, shouting ahead.
Kuro soared backward, landing near Shabondy's coastal sky.
Boom! Boom!
Two more cannonballs streaked in tandem from the horizon.
Kuro and Hawk-Eye moved in unison—one above, one below. Their Black Blades swung in perfect synchronization, black-gold and purplish-black slashes erupting simultaneously. The twin cannonballs split apart mid-flight, detonating mid-air.
The explosion's shockwave rippled outward, howling like a gale when it reached Shabondy. It billowed Kuro's hooded cloak and ruffled the white fur on Hawk-Eye's hat.
"Not bad", Hawk-Eye remarked.
"Let's make this a contest."
"Pass", Kuro twitched his lips, turning to Lida. "What's the update?"
"That smug woman says she didn't spot Buggy the Clown. They've been tricked", Lida reported.
"I'm not blind. I saw that!" Kuro gritted his teeth. "Where's Boa Hancock now? When will she arrive?!"
"No details", Lida shrugged.
Kuro: "...You didn't even ask, did you?"
"Hey, Hawk-Eye. Wald's here. You're a Seven Warlords of the Sea—time to earn your title."
Kuro clenched his cigar, addressing the man below.
"I don't fly." Hawk-Eye stepped toward his small boat on the shore. "I can go, but you'll need to cover my approach before they target me."
"Leave that to me. Just focus on taking him down", Kuro replied, teeth gripping his cigar.
Boom!
Another massive cannonball screamed toward them.
Kuro's eyes narrowed. He vanished in a flash, reappearing before the projectile. This time, he didn't slash—he reached out, hand pressing against the cannonball.
Boom!!
The projectile halted mid-flight, the impact rippling through his hair tips before dissipating. The colossal cannonball floated before him.
"Return it!"
Kuro clenched his palm, then kicked the cannonball with explosive force. Powered by his strength and ability, it rocketed toward Wald's ship.
"Huh?"
Wald, preparing to fire again, stared in stunned disbelief as his own cannonball returned. He raised his palm, shouting, "Momo—Reversal!"
The massive projectile reverted to its original size, now a normal cannonball.
He hurled the walnut in his hand forward. "Momo—Tenfold Scatter Shot!"
The walnuts expanded, firing like shrapnel at the cannonball. They pierced it, detonating mid-air.
Wald narrowed his eyes at the floating figure in the distance, lips tightening. "Shanks? You little brat."
He barked at his crew, "You lot—open all secondary cannons! Full broadside barrage!"
This ship had more than just the main cannon.
Pirates aboard the vessel swung open the hull's cannon ports, revealing a battery of secondary guns all trained on Shabondy.
"Wald, are you sure about this?!" Jack the Disaster tried to intervene.
"Shut up, Jack. Just relay my orders", Wald snapped.
The ship was still distant from Shabondy, but for Wald, this range was trivial.
He spread his arms wide, fingers splayed. "Momo."
Jack sighed, then bellowed, "Fire!"
"Hundredfold!!"
Wald's roar joined the cacophony.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
A barrage of cannonballs erupted from the ship. Under Wald's power, each projectile expanded to Hundredfold size, accelerating to Hundredfold speed. They blotted out the sky, forming a black curtain stretching from ship to Shabondy.
A storm of destruction.
Hawk-Eye sat in his small boat, legs crossed, watching the black curtain with an amused smirk toward Kuro in the sky.
He had no intention of moving.
Shabondy meant nothing to him. While he bore the Seven Warlords of the Sea title, nothing obligated him to protect Shabondy.
Besides...
He wanted to see how far this man had come.
Kuro hovered in the sky, cigar clenched, watching the black curtain descend. He tightened his grip on Autumn Water.
"Damn you, Hawk-Eye. Not lifting a finger, huh? Whatever. Never expected much from you anyway."
He raised Autumn Water horizontally, his form beginning to fade.
"Dharmata!"
A shadow streaked with gold, flashing once through the black curtain.
The fading silhouette solidified.
Click.
Kuro sheathed his blade, facing the oncoming barrage.
The black curtain froze for an instant. Then, fire-red explosions erupted, engulfing the entire sky. It was as if the heavens themselves had erupted in a brilliant, dazzling fireworks display.
(End of Chapter)
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