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Chapter 635: Breaking the Cocoon into a Butterfly?
Chapter 635: Breaking the Cocoon into a Butterfly?
Kuro had sensed it long ago—the immense aura concealed within that Iron Maiden.
At first, he assumed it belonged to an extremely powerful boss, but when the maiden emerged, something felt off. She seemed far too ordinary, even frail.
Though her ability was eerie, Kuro could clearly perceive how the G-3 Navy soldiers—recently sobered up by Kas—were crumbling with pride under her radiant glow. This must be what they called 'pride,' but still, it felt too weak.
This thing couldn't even pierce his Haki defense. A sneak attack might work, but now that Kuro was on guard, there was no way her ability could affect him.
To dispel this ability, he didn't even need Kas's 'Justice'—after all, the culprit was right in front of him. A simple slash would suffice.
If she were truly just a frail maiden, Kuro might have hesitated to strike.
Technically speaking, she wasn't even a pirate. Her ideals, though twisted, were rooted in her own convictions.
But she wasn't that at all.
Compared to this frail girl, the aura that made Kuro's skin crawl didn't match her in the slightest.
It was like the ocean's depths—vast and hidden beneath a calm surface.
That aura carried the same criminal stench as Shanks, Lucius, and Buggy the Clown. Not as strong, but unmistakably similar.
A fugitive's aura.
This girl was definitely hiding the truth—she was a wanted criminal!
Lying in the snow, the maiden who had been slashed down by Kuro and left lifeless suddenly regained focus in her pupils.
Boom!
The moment the sound erupted, the snow-covered ground began trembling. No—the entire icy island was shaking.
The sky darkened, storm clouds swirling as lightning illuminated the heavens, followed by several muffled thunderclaps.
"Kas! Evacuate the nearby civilians! Everyone else, retreat to the ship!"
Kuro's pupils constricted as he stepped back, raising his voice.
"Aye!"
Kas saluted, slamming his fist against his chest. "Acceleration—tenfold!"
A white shockwave expanded in rings, enveloping all the Navy soldiers.
"Move! Take the civilians back to the Golden Lion!"
Three thousand Navy members, propelled by Acceleration, became wisps of white light scattering in all directions, swiftly evacuating the civilians toward the ships.
"This aura is indeed strong."
Klah glanced at the ominous sky. Haki? No, he didn't sense the terrifying Conqueror's Haki. This was raw power—perhaps Devil Fruit-based?
"But against Kuro Mr., this level won't even make him blink."
Klah watched the retreating Navy forces. "Speed up! Clear the battlefield for Kuro Mr.!"
"Let's go, Fen Ni."
Sazil grabbed Fen Ni's hand, preparing to retreat to the ship.
This aura was beyond his ability to face.
"Okay."
Fen Ni hesitated briefly before nodding to Moer. "Uncle, I'm sorry—I have to leave. I'm afraid I can't treat your injuries this time."
As a doctor, healing was her duty, her nature.
But she was also a Navy officer—she had responsibilities to fulfill.
Yet these two often clashed.
Every time she saw severely injured pirates, she wanted to help, but her Navy duties forbade it. Still, she wanted to do both—she had to find a way.
After prolonged battles against pirates, she'd devised the perfect solution.
If she treated the pirate first, then killed them afterward, she could fulfill both her duties as a doctor and a Navy officer.
As Vice Admiral Kuro once said:
"I want both the fish and the bear paw."
This was her first test subject, but unfortunately, she had to leave it unfinished for now.
"Wait! Don't leave me behind, Uncle! This level of combat will destroy the island—it'll be like that burning woman incident all over again, with chaos erupting beneath our feet!"
Moer gritted his teeth and rushed toward them.
He had no choice. Kuro's slash had crippled him—alive, but too weak to use his ability. His limits hadn't reached the point of ocean-crossing, and even if he used his markers, staying on this island would lead to a bad end.
Better to retreat with the Navy. At least he'd have a chance to evacuate.
He'd heard the rumors about the Golden Lion, but he wasn't a pirate.
The maiden's glowing pupils trembled as her body began convulsing, like a chrysalis about to transform. With a thunderous crack, her body split open.
Puh!
A skeletal hand emerged from the fissure.
From beneath the arm, a wrinkled body emerged, absorbing the young girl's form like a vortex. Twisting and merging, the girl transformed into a gaunt old man.
The sky's disturbances ceased at once.
The old man's eyes bore dark shadows, a black teardrop mark at his left eye corner, his lips crimson.
He raised his hand, gazing at the sky with a deep breath, his voice smooth and rich. "It's been too long since I last breathed in this clear sky."
He turned his gaze to Kuro. "Oh, a Navy brother. I remember you. You performed quite well during the Top War."
"Top War? That was two years ago, old man."
Kuro bared his teeth. "Two years, and Grand Line still hasn't washed away your stench."
"Two years, huh. I didn't expect to emerge this late."
The old man smiled slightly. "I thought with the Navy's usual incompetence, I might've surfaced months ago. Oh well. The result is what matters—my appearance means my sins have been fully collected."
Kuro frowned. "Klah! Do you know this guy?"
Klah furrowed his brow, his mind racing before his eyes widened. "Kuro Mr.! He's Saleria, the 'Great Sinner'—a pirate with a bounty of 310 million. He was once a terrifying criminal!"
Too many prisoners had escaped from Impel Down's sixth level. As Kuro's strategist, he'd memorized all uncertain factors, especially dangerous fugitives the government and Headquarters had kept secret from the Navy.
The most dangerous ones—all documented.
"Oh? Someone still remembers my name?"
Saleria bowed toward Klah. "What an honor. As a gift..."
He lifted his head, eyes turning gruesome. "I'll make your death less despairing."
Whoosh!
A black radiance slashed toward his neck as he bowed.
Hiss!
In an instant, Saleria's head was severed, landing in the snow.
But no blood flowed!
"My, my, young man, don't be so hasty. I'm beyond death now."
The headless corpse bent to retrieve its head, cradling it like a tray, while the head continued speaking calmly.
Whoosh!
Another slash!
"Lion Bite!"
Kuro gripped Autumn Water, his blade howling with wind as dense razor-edged currents surrounded Saleria, slicing him into pieces.
Fragments of his body scattered across the snow. His head split apart—nose, eyes, and mouth landing separately, each still smiling.
"I told you, young man—don't rush."
"Undead?"
Kuro narrowed his eyes. "But no combat power at all. What exactly are you?"
The crimson lips curled into a grin. "I'm human, of course. Thanks to Devil Fruit, I'm like a butterfly breaking from its cocoon. The moment of emergence requires time. This is my 'wing-shaking' phase. Don't worry—soon, you'll feel true despair!"
(End of Chapter)
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