Chapter 697: Justice Is a Group Beating!
Chapter 697: Justice Is a Group Beating!
Brode looked up in horror. "Hey, can you actually pull off this Farming move?"
This kind of ability was useless against such a threat—no matter how he used it, the attack would still come crashing down.
"Shanks did this back in the day too. Just a measly island—no need to panic." Smiths raised his head confidently. "Little brat, something like this won't scare me!"
White mist swirled from his arms and shoulders like clouds, enveloping his body. With a sweeping upward motion, the mist condensed into two gigantic palms. As the palms extended, they shimmered with Armament Haki, their jet-black forms surging toward the descending island like colossal hands. With a powerful thrust, the hands redirected the island straight at Golden Lion.
The massive island, now a projectile, flew faster than its natural descent. Like a boulder hurled from a catapult, it hurtled toward Golden Lion's ship.
"This should work!"
As the island reached its apex above Golden Lion, Brode clenched his five fingers. "Power Nullification!"
The momentum vanished instantly. The island froze midair before plummeting downward.
"Kuro Mr.!"
Klah stared at the sky in dread. If this hit, even Golden Lion might not survive!
Suddenly, a black radiance flickered. Kuro's arm shot upward. Autumn Water slashed skyward, unleashing a black-gold Haki arc. The blade carved through the island like a hot knife through butter. The smooth incision split the island cleanly, but the fragments collapsed into countless delicate rubble, scattering like raindrops around Golden Lion.
Whoosh!
As debris scattered, a Hakislash erupted from Golden Lion. Moving at lightning speed, it struck Smiths' chest, carving a gaping wound.
Shwip! Shwip! Shwip!
Only then did the rubble hit the ocean, splashing countless droplets like falling rain.
"He hit him!" Klah exclaimed.
"No, not quite." Kuro puffed on his cigar, watching Smiths. "That guy's a damn Logia type!"
Smiths' severed torso reformed, the wound knitting together as he grinned. "Fast blade, I'll admit. But old man's Observation Haki isn't too shabby."
Smiths straightened, chuckling. "Right you are! Old man's the Cloud Mist Human who ate the Logia-type Devil Fruit, 'Cloud-Cloud'! My body is pure cloud."
"Hahahahaha!" Mojas roared. "Old master's still got it!"
Brode's lips curled upward. "With all of us working together, what can you possibly do alone?"
Smiths raised his head proudly. "Golden Lion, you're strong. Want to join old man's crew? Be my vice-captain. Let's hunt down Shanks together. When I die, you'll inherit the Four Emperors' throne. That's better than wasting your time as Navy scum."
This youth's combat prowess was undeniable. That Haki slash wasn't easy to pull off, and the previous strike on the island clearly used Ryuo—high-level Internal Destruction technique.
Smiths had just rebuilt his forces, relying on his military reputation to awe minor pirates. Gaining this powerful ally would let him consolidate elite pirates through sheer force.
His proposition wasn't insincere. He was old. Golden Lion was young. Could be his successor. After all, Golden Lion possessed Shanks' ability—there was history between them.
"Since when did old men start recruiting me? We're not even close." Kuro exhaled smoke, his expression darkening.
"Heh, you think you can handle all of us alone?" Brode sneered.
Kuro glanced down. "Who said old man was alone?"
"Kuro Mr., we're ready!"
A thunderous voice boomed from behind. Kas had boarded Golden Lion, holding a Transponder Snail with grave determination.
When Golden Lion appeared, they started approaching without needing Moer's physical strength. The enemy warship was nearly sunk.
Kuro couldn't risk a full-scale battle now. Moer's strength wasn't enough, and Kuro needed to maintain Golden Lion's vast physical force. They had to sneak in quietly.
"Ready?"
"Affirmative!"
Kas saluted. "Kuro Mr., I apologize for your humiliation!"
"No worries. Now's our chance."
Kuro's fingers twitched. The massive Golden Lion ship pivoted before Brode could react. Its golden lion statue faced the enemy fleet.
"Attack! Avenge our fallen Navy brothers! Let the world know no common rabble can trample old man's territory!"
"Affirmative! For Justice!"
Kas roared. "Fire!"
The lion statue roared silently, gathering a massive beam in its maw.
Boom!!!
A concentrated energy beam erupted, swallowing five enemy warships.
Gramps and Vegapunk's combined laser cannon wasn't something Power Nullification could neutralize. Even Kuro felt chills watching that.
Kuro bared his teeth. "Let old man send you all to hell in one shot!"
Normally, Navy crews needed ten minutes to prepare this attack—not because charging took time, but the complex procedures. But Kas was different.
His ability plus the disciplined Dougleg Navy Unit allowed immediate execution. This energy-intensive attack drained the ship's power reserves like Pacifista technology. Only Golden Lion's superior configuration could handle it.
The laser carved a massive trench through the sea, blasting toward the horizon.
As the light faded, five warships and their pirate crews had vanished.
In the sky, a black Haki sphere hung motionless. Soon, the dark energy dissipated, reforming into a white cloud platform. Four figures stood atop it.
Bexi's clothes were tattered, his body trembling in disbelief.
Mojas' scales glistened with blood, his upper face transformed into a crocodile snarl gripping a massive blade, shock etched into his face.
Brode's face darkened, stunned. "This power... What the hell?!"
"Kuro Mr.!" Klah called.
"I see it." Kuro gazed at the four figures. "Tough survivors, but no more."
Lida, Klah, Kas, Wilbur, Ai En, Donald, Binz, Sazil, Ju Geng, and Fen Ni gathered behind Kuro, watching the distant cloud.
"That's where uncle draws the line", Moer muttered from behind. "Not enough physical strength to keep up."
No one acknowledged him.
As if on cue, the sea erupted with shockwaves. Towering waves surged upward.
A massive island rose from the ocean, continuously aggregating—the shattered fragments Kuro had controlled earlier. He wouldn't let them breach Golden Lion. This ship was his prized possession. Damaging it in battle? Never.
The battlefield was ready.
"Leave that Logia to me. Take whoever's left."
Kuro's eyes locked on Smiths. "In Justice's name, they all die today!"
Justice was damn well a group beating!
For the courageous, it meant Serve Diligently Till Death!
Knights Unparalleled, a generation's Great Confucian Scholar!
(End of Chapter)
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