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Chapter 598: You Will Become Heroes
Chapter 598: You Will Become Heroes
In Kuro's eyes, the old man's strength had leaped beyond a single stage.
Yet his life aura was plummeting in madness.
Like a dying flame flickering one last time.
The more desperate the situation, the more terrifying this old man became.
On the high slope, Doflamingo drew his blade and thrust it forward, roaring, "All Navy, charge!"
In an instant, waves of Navy soldiers surged toward Zeff.
"Correct! Against an enemy, especially someone like me who's nearing death, using numbers to drain physical strength is the right decision!"
Zeff bared his teeth. "But while numbers matter, you must also protect your lives. Sacrificing Navy lives for pirate lives is foolish!"
He spread his arms and burst into the crowd, instantly blasting a group of Navy soldiers into the air.
"Let me teach you one final lesson—how to preserve your lives and secure victory against an enemy like me!"
He slammed his fists downward, unleashing a massive sandstorm that hurled surrounding Navy soldiers flying. The force cracked the beach itself, seawater seeping into the fractures.
A Commander wielding a blade lunged from behind, stabbing Zeff in the waist.
But as the blade barely pierced his skin, Zeff's fist cleaved downward, shattering the weapon.
"Oh, Mallory? Your timing's decent, but this shouldn't be your role. You should be bait, distracting my attention!"
Zeff twisted his waist and smashed his fist into the Commander, sending him flying.
No sooner had he been thrown than a towering Navy soldier leapt forward, swinging a spiked club in a crushing blow.
Bang!
Zeff thrust a straight punch, shattering the club and smashing the giant's face, sending teeth flying.
"Gibson! You shouldn't leap—you should lower your stance and attack! That way, you'd actually hit me! You're not even as good as Mallory! I remember your performance used to surpass his!"
"Alcott! What are you standing there for?! When I'm exposed, you should fire your musket! Is that gun in your hand just decoration?!"
"Bauer! Why aren't you advancing?! Sentimentality? That makes you easy prey for pirates!"
Zeff punched the hesitant soldier down, swinging his fists and roaring, "Lesson's not over! Time to review!"
His grin widened.
Yet the more he laughed, the more motionless the Vice Admirals remained.
By now, a group had gathered, led by Lucius Kro, silently watching Zeff's spectacle.
Kuro bit his cigar, letting smoke drift across his face as his Haki faded. Beneath the haze, his expression was unreadable, but his gritted voice carried a strange mix of emotions.
"This old man, even in death, still teaches? How..."
Kuro sighed. "Troublesome."
Not a single person he'd struck was dead—every one still had life aura.
"I should thank you, Kuro."
Togeko spoke beside him. "Because you intervened, Zeff Teacher never killed anyone in the end."
Kuro was silent for a moment before slowly replying, "He was my teacher too."
The 'Non-Killing' Admiral, who never took a life.
Even after sailing for so long, even with his goal of destroying the New World, the pirates he encountered based on intelligence had all survived.
This old man, laughing so freely now—this was the scene he wanted.
Disillusioned with the World Government and Navy's system, yet never losing faith in his disciples.
Reaching this point, Zeff was merely venting his fury.
Now that his anger was spent, this stubborn old man still couldn't bring himself to admit regret.
Kuro understood.
After all, he was old.
Wandering the New World for so long without confronting the Four Emperors—yes, because he was old, he couldn't match them. Going there would only elevate pirate prestige.
Being defeated or killed by pirates would forever stain the Navy's honor.
So better...
"Yata Mirror Beads!"
Lucius Kro formed an 'OK' sign with his hands, crossing them as beams condensed into a pinpoint, unleashing a torrent of lasers straight at Zeff. This time, the aim was perfect!
"Borsalino!!"
Zeff shook his arms, blasting surrounding Navy soldiers flying. With a grin, he faced Lucius Kro, unyielding as he punched straight into the laser rain.
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
The laser storm descended, piercing Zeff's body, forcing him backward until his feet slid across the sand, scraping against the ice wall behind him.
At that moment, Kuro tightened his grip on Autumn Water, his voice unusually low. "We have internal issues—solve them internally. Zeff Teacher, this was your wish, wasn't it?"
Doflamingo closed his eyes, tears slowly streaming beneath his lashes.
On the ice wall, Zeff clutched his body, his right hand gripping the ice, shattering its surface as he straightened again.
"Come! The final lesson isn't over yet!!!"
A surge of Navy charged again.
This time, even the Vice Admirals drew their blades and joined the assault.
Zeff's grin was more exhilarated than ever. Since his family's death, he'd rarely smiled like this.
Their loss had fractured his essence spirit, leaving him unable to unleash his peak combat power, so he'd gradually retreated into the shadows.
Heroes can be born not only from oneself but from others.
He was teaching the birth of heroes.
He wanted to witness it with his own eyes.
Despite his disillusionment with the World Government and Navy system, these brave souls charging forward were his disciples—those he'd trained and cherished.
"Come!!!"
Zeff roared, colliding with the Navy.
Doflamingo struck first, cutting Zeff within the encirclement, the heavy force sending him staggering back.
[The Grand Line watches]
"Doflamingo, correct!" Zeff laughed.
[The beginning of this world]
Storbery, wielding dual blades, flashed to the side as Doflamingo attacked, crossing his blades to slash Zeff's waist.
[The Grand Line knows]
"Storbery, correct!"
[The world's end]
"Togeko, correct!"
[So it invites you toward]
"Aokiji, correct!"
[The path you should take]
"Stress, correct!"
[So it guides you toward]
"Gumier—"
"Dalmercia—"
Name after name spilled from Zeff's lips as these world-renowned figures carved wounds into his body.
His life aura dwindled to the brink.
Then Kuro flashed forward, Autumn Water gleaming as it pierced Zeff's heart.
Zeff stiffened, lifting his hand as if to counterattack. Halfway through the motion, his lips curled upward, transforming the gesture into a thumbs-up toward Kuro.
[This is the correct world]
"Kuro, correct!"
These Navy soldiers were his dream!
You—will become heroes!
(End of Chapter)
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