https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-736-I-Am-the-One-Who-Surpasses-All-Under-Heaven-/13539101/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-738-Could-It-Be-You-Who-Killed-Them-/13539105/
Chapter 737: Ripples
Chapter 737: Ripples
Creeeak!!
Giruon moved first. His foot scraped the floor with a piercing screech, sending plumes of smoke rising from the friction.
In a flash, he launched himself forward like a cannonball aimed at Kuro, his legs twisting into coiled shapes as thick as elephant limbs. The muscles tensed like steel beams, delivering a horizontal kick that roared like a battering ram. The sheer force carried a murderous aura in its wake.
The sheer might radiated ruthless strength.
Kuro spun his Yokai Blade, and two spirals of solidified Killing Intent coiled around the blade like vipers. With a single slash, he cleaved straight toward the incoming leg.
"Haa!!"
Giruon’s eyes flared with a sharp glint. Roaring, he refused to dodge and instead accelerated his leg, crashing into the blood-red long blade.
Crack!!
A shockwave erupted. The collision between blade and leg carved a crater into the ground, cracks spiderwebbing outward at blinding speed. The long blade’s slash tore through the buildings ahead, cleaving structures clean in two as they collapsed left and right.
Simultaneously, Giruon’s kick blasted through the buildings in its path, obliterating them like a wrecking ball had struck. A gaping hole gaped where the force had punched through multiple buildings.
And only then did Kuro’s blade finally graze Giruon’s leg.
"Haki mastery... incredible!"
Kuro’s heart jolted. His slash had first cut through Giruon’s Haki External Release, then struck his body—but was halted by another layer of Haki!
"Ugh!!"
Giruon grunted, forcing his leg against Kuro’s Yokai Blade, pushing the weapon toward his own body. At the same time, his left hand clenched into a fist, whistling as it rocketed toward Kuro’s head.
Ever seen a fist the size of a rice cooker?
Kuro saw one now—blackened like a charred wok’s bottom.
Ducking low, Kuro’s Yokai Blade swept under Giruon’s leg, then arced upward like a crimson crescent moon. The blade’s edge transformed into a streak of bloodlight, piercing the opening in Giruon’s punch straight toward his throat.
Giruon’s eyes widened. A jet of air erupted from his nose like an arrow, and with a thunderous thud, his body landed heavily. Yet his fist still crashed downward.
Clang!
The bloodlight solidified into the Yokai Blade, its tip pressing against Giruon’s throat. But it only drew a thin crimson line—no deeper.
Is his body that tough?
Before Kuro could react, the fist slammed down. It passed straight through his body.
Kuro’s form rippled like water and vanished. His afterimage shattered under the impact.
"Physical constitution? No... something’s blocking me!"
Reappearing at a distance, Kuro flicked his Yokai Blade, the blade humming faintly. "You’re a Devil Fruit user too."
The slashes weren’t stopped solely by Haki. While Giruon’s Haki mastery was high, Kuro’s Killing Intent Encasement had already shattered his Haki External Release. Yet when the blade touched Giruon’s body, something else resisted it.
The throat strike was the same—hindered by an invisible force.
Kuro studied Giruon. The calf that had clashed with the blade had torn his pants, revealing iron-like muscles marred only by a faint red line.
Just a scratch. Like the wound on his throat.
This wasn’t muscle strength alone.
And the buildings shattered behind Kuro—those weren’t mere Haki-powered impacts.
Hiss!
A jet of white energy erupted from Giruon’s nose like an arrow. Adjusting his stance, he settled into a combat posture and growled,
"I am the eater of the Nami Nami no Mi (Wave-Wave Fruit). I adjust my breathing, awaken my potential, and harness the Way of Breath. This is the ultimate marvel of the physical form!"
Kuro blinked, realization dawning. "Waves? A breathing technique?"
This wasn’t the "Adargon" of Kuro’s world.
This was the mastery of breath’s ripples, enhancing the body with an energy encasement akin to a swordsman’s Sharpened Steel Breath Technique. It resonated with the profound essence of all things.
Such arts existed—swordsmen’s slashes, martial artists’ impacts. But these were honed over decades of cultivation.
Devil Fruit abilities really were miracles.
In this world, strength came in countless forms.
A pure martial artist wasn’t invincible. A swordsman alone wasn’t either.
Haki, swordsmanship, martial arts, and Devil Fruit abilities—only their union forged a complete warrior.
Especially Devil Fruits. A well-suited one could unleash power far beyond simple arithmetic.
In short, Devil Fruits were this world’s signature marvel—impossible to ignore.
"Blocking my blade with waves?"
Kuro clicked his tongue. This guy… what monstrous power.
Just his Haki mastery alone warranted caution.
And that martial arts precision? Though their clash was brief, Kuro foresaw Giruon’s prowess. While not as gifted as Lida, his current strength could rival dozens of Lidas.
Add his unique Wave-Wave Fruit ability that fortified his physique, plus that overwhelming battle intent so potent it seemed to stink from miles away.
A pure martial artist beyond compare.
In many ways, he was more threatening than the Four Emperors.
Because he feared nothing.
"Kuro!"
Suddenly, a voice boomed from behind.
Lida, Klah, and Sazil were sprinting toward him, a swarm of Navy soldiers trailing behind.
"Bad news, Kuro! The World Noble is dead!" Lida shouted before closing in.
"That’s water under the bridge."
Kuro exhaled. "Back off. Also, evacuate everyone in Gold City—their minds are being controlled. Transfer them to Zoro’s ship. Squeeze in if you must, but get everyone irrelevant out of here."
"Kuro-san", Klah called, "news just broke—Rob Lucci approaches with ten warships. With the World Noble dead, this place—"
"Which is why I told you to move the civilians!"
Without turning, Kuro snapped, "Also, notify those ten warships: prioritize evacuating people first. After that, let them bombard the place however they like. But my command comes first."
With the World Noble dead, whatever mission Rob Lucci originally had, the World Government would now deploy the Pacifistas to annihilate Gran Tesoro. That was inevitable.
Kuro understood the World Government’s mentality. But there was room to maneuver.
Unlike Sakazuki, who either obeyed orders rigidly or clashed head-on, Kuro thrived in the gray areas of rules.
Early or late—either way, the Pacifistas would activate. The World Government wouldn’t dig too deep.
(End of Chapter)
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