https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-516-Don-t-Be-a-Burden-When-You-re-Old/13538061/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-518-Me-a-Man-of-Such-Gentle-Temperament/13538066/
Chapter 517: I'm Going to Kill You!!!
Chapter 517: I'm Going to Kill You!!!
The vortex grew increasingly monstrous. During the time Kuro held Wald back, the vortex completely sucked in the massive ship.
At the same time, the Weapons descending from the sky suddenly accelerated their descent.
A barrage of Weapons targeted the colossal cannon at the ship’s bow, striking it with sharp, metallic clangs and clinks. The cannon’s quality was clearly far superior to ordinary ones—most Weapons merely left dents without causing any real damage.
"It’s useless!" Wald roared with laughter. "Those Weapons can’t possibly destroy my tool for exacting revenge on this world!"
As he spoke, his fists lashed out, forcing Kuro back. With a swift palm strike, he slammed onto the deck.
"Momo."
A blade surrounded by golden lightning flashed from behind him, slicing through Wald’s Armored Haki defense and leaving a gaping wound across his back.
Wald gritted his teeth furiously. "Hundredfoldspeed!"
Boom!!
The ship’s speed surged again, breaking free from the vortex’s pull and drawing even closer to Shabondy.
Once within range, he wouldn’t even need the ship—he could fire the cannon directly at Mariejois!
This little brat couldn’t stop him!
"Wald!"
Suddenly, Benn Beckman shouted in alarm. "The cannon’s turning to stone!"
"Nani?!"
Wald turned just in time to see a pink arrow strike the cannon. A portion of the massive weapon had already transformed into lifeless stone. The strange pink arrows raining down alongside the Weapons were steadily petrifying the cannon piece by piece.
"Who said I couldn’t? I’ve got a hundred ways to ruin your day!"
Kuro bared his teeth in a grin, though his heart ached slightly.
He’d finally managed to hoard some of these abilities after taking advantage of Boa Hancock’s idiocy—she hadn’t revoked her powers yet, giving him a stockpile to use. But now, barely having stored them for long, he’d already burned through them.
This ability could turn anything into stone.
Wald was locked in combat with Kuro, but the reverse was equally true. Kuro couldn’t simply charge the cannon head-on—Wald would block him every time. And if the ship drew any closer to Shabondy, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Though he trusted Hawk-Eye, even that swordsman couldn’t guarantee Shabondy’s complete safety against an attack of this magnitude.
He’d already ordered the residents to evacuate, but what if something went wrong?
Better safe than sorry.
If he couldn’t act directly, he’d have to rely on his abilities.
He hated wasting the power he’d taken from Boa Hancock, but there was no choice now.
"My. Ambition!" Wald bellowed in fury as the cannon fully petrified. He abandoned Kuro entirely, panicking as he sprinted toward the bow.
"Opportunity!"
Kuro’s eyes gleamed. With two fingers, he swiped the blade. Golden light flared as he gripped the hilt with both hands, lunging forward with a devastating slash aimed at Wald’s back.
"Ultimate Mystic Art!!!"
Die, you damned old fool!
"Wald!"
Kuro’s strike was lightning-fast, but at that very moment, a frail figure leapt in front of him, throwing itself between Kuro’s blade and Wald’s back.
Schiik!!!
The blade cleaved down.
Kuro’s eyes widened as the sword slid through Benn Beckman’s frail body. Blood erupted from the old man’s shoulder to his waist, carving a grotesque, gaping wound.
"Benn Beckman!!!"
Wald turned in disbelief, watching his first mate collapse onto the deck. For a moment, he stood frozen.
His first reaction wasn’t rage—it was confusion.
Why?
Why would this man take a blade for him?
Hadn’t he already betrayed him?
"Leave Wald alone! We retreat now, we’ll settle this later!"
That phrase echoed in his mind for thirty years.
Unlike others, Wald hadn’t lived those thirty years—he’d been frozen in ice, trapped in an accident. His body hadn’t aged, his appearance unchanged. To him, those decades felt like yesterday.
His crew had betrayed him!
The comrades he’d trusted, the family he’d cherished—they’d all turned their backs on him!
Yet why…
…did this man still take a blade for him?
"Tch."
Kuro’s strike missed. He raised Autumn Water again, preparing to slash Wald once more.
"Get lost!!!"
Wald roared at Kuro, ignoring the blade entirely. He gathered advanced Haki into his fist, the dark, swirling energy of his fist aimed straight at Kuro’s face.
Kuro had no choice but to sidestep the blow, dodging to another part of the deck.
No way he was letting that punch hit. He’d be dead meat otherwise.
"Why?!"
Wald shoved Kuro back, his voice trembling as he stared at Benn Beckman writhing on the ground. "Why did you save me? You should’ve let me die, like thirty years ago! Isn’t that your style, Benn Beckman? You idiotic brother of mine!"
Benn Beckman and Wald might have looked nothing alike, but there was no denying—they were blood brothers.
"Wald…"
Benn Beckman’s trembling hand reached out, as if trying to touch Wald’s face. His clouded, tear-filled eyes brimmed with sorrow. "Did what happened thirty years ago hurt you that deeply?"
Wald fell silent for a moment before replying coldly. "Yes. I’ll never forgive that day. Never!"
He clenched his fists, his frustration boiling over.
If only, thirty years ago, Benn Beckman had done this—if only he’d died then, Wald wouldn’t regret a thing.
Because his comrades wouldn’t have abandoned him.
That dream…
That dream of traveling the world with his brother and crew—he wouldn’t have regretted dying on the path to achieving it.
But now, no matter how hard he tried to forgive, the memory of that betrayal haunted him endlessly, leaving him twisted and hollow.
Yet why… why take a blade for him now?
"I’m sorry, Wald."
Benn Beckman’s voice trembled. "That day was my fault. Back then, I fulfilled my duty as a vice-captain, but I failed as a brother. Your strength… made me forget you were my younger brother, my only brother. A brother should be protected."
"I’ve always been helpless. Since the beginning, you were the one protecting me. Even thirty years ago, it was my selfishness that drove me."
"But at least… at least now…"
Benn Beckman spat blood, his trembling lips curving into a faint smile. "Let me fulfill my duty as an older brother."
"Our dream…"
His eyes, now clouded and dim, gazed at the endless blue of the Grand Line. "Don’t abandon it…"
…
"This Grand Line connects islands and nations we’ve never seen before. Isn’t that amazing?"
"At the end of this Grand Line, there must be adventures beyond imagination waiting for you."
"Wald, you must set sail one day."
…
Memories of their childhood flickered through Benn Beckman’s mind like a slideshow.
His pupils froze. His head slumped forward, motionless.
Wald stared at Benn Beckman for a long moment, then suddenly closed his eyes.
"Foolish… I’ve already told you, my only goal now is revenge! Even so, I’ll never forgive you!"
He opened his eyes, now burning crimson, his teeth grinding as he roared at Kuro:
"I’M Going TO Kill You!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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