Chapter 75: Actually, I Want to Leave, Actually, I Don't Want to Stay
Chapter 75: Actually, I Want to Leave, Actually, I Don't Want to Stay
At that speed, they’d arrive here soon.
Even if they left now, it’d already be too late. The Navy still needed regrouping, and by the time they finished organizing, Shanks would already be here. There was no way he could hope Shanks wouldn’t use Haki, right?
Besides, there were still people on this island.
“Stay calm, stay calm!”
Kuro took a deep breath. Facing a pirate with such a notorious reputation, he needed to think carefully.
He couldn’t possibly expect to have the same divine luck as the protagonists, could he?
Hoping for that was pointless—better to wish for lightning to strike this old bastard dead. But even then, the bolt would need to be precisely targeted. A stray strike wouldn’t work. A wisp of Haki alone definitely wouldn’t kill him.
Still, facing a known opponent like this, Kuro wasn’t overly afraid.
What humans feared most was the unknown.
This was also why Kuro felt his strength was insufficient. He had no desire to go to the Grand Line, let alone the New World.
There were too many bizarre Devil Fruit users there.
Barriers that couldn’t be cut even by peerless Swordsmanship.
Regression abilities that made someone ten years younger with a single touch.
Toymaking powers that turned people into toys.
Or abilities that could shrink or age someone instantly.
And worst of all, the despair inflicted by being possessed by a ghost.
These were miracle-level powers. The only way to counter them effectively was to strike the Devil Fruit user’s physical body. No one had yet found a way to counter the abilities themselves.
The Grand Line held far more treacherous powers than these. Not to mention those monstrous strongmen whose strength could nearly destroy the world.
These were the kinds of foes Kuro wanted to avoid—he was still too weak.
But now that he couldn’t run anymore, facing the known was better than the unknown.
At least he could still manipulate the situation.
“I’ll think this through. Shanks’s age? Seventy or eighty years old, maybe more. As he’s gotten older, his physical strength must’ve declined.”
Do people really get stronger with age?
Don’t be ridiculous.
Old age always meant declining physical prowess.
“And he’s been absent for twenty years—twenty years without fighting. That’ll have dulled his combat experience significantly.”
Kuro continued, “And remember that ship’s wheel stuck in his head? That should interfere with his Haki. Conqueror’s Haki is definitely gone, and even his Observation Haki must’ve degraded.”
“As for my current strength—my old man wasn’t wrong. I’m an Admiral candidate, inferior to Admirals and the Four Emperors. But the current Shanks? He’s also inferior to them too.”
Kuro narrowed his eyes. “I can manipulate this fight!”
Truthfully, he wanted to flee. But not stay.
However, his senses told him Shanks was already approaching.
No escape now!
If he passively waited for Shanks to arrive, he’d have to worry about his subordinates and civilians during the fight. Fighting in front of them would reveal his victory or defeat, which went against his original intent.
There was only one choice left!
“Lida, Klah, follow me!”
Kuro gritted his teeth. “We’re going to confront that legendary pirate!”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me! That’s Shanks we’re talking about!”
Lida’s face twisted in a strange expression as he shouted, “You’re going to fight him?!”
“Um… can I stay behind to organize the Navy and civilians? I think they need me.”
Klah raised his hand, clearly having no desire to go at all.
“You think I want to go?!”
Kuro glared at Klah. “I don’t care! If I’m going, you have to follow! If I can’t be safe, don’t even dream of staying peaceful!”
“Besides, your combat power is sufficient. The more people, the more combat strength.”
With that, Kuro stepped onto the air, directly leaping through the shattered wall where he’d been slashed earlier. He transformed into a wisp-like afterimage and flew outward.
Lida sighed. “Crossing the Grand Line again? What a hassle. I’ll be hungry again.”
Adjusting the small snack bag on her back, she followed using Moonstep.
Klah had no choice but to use Moonstep too, stepping into the air and heading toward the Grand Line.
Moonstep—the most practical technique among the Six Styles. As long as one’s physical strength was sufficient, one could step from East Blue to Headquarters without anyone stopping them.
Of course, no one was that bored, and no one had enough physical strength to do so.
Kuro continuously used Observation Haki, sensing Shanks’s location as he stepped across the air above the Grand Line, rushing forward.
The East Blue sky held several massive islands, connected together to form a floating island cluster. On the largest island, a palace stood.
Inside the palace, an old man with a sharp golden mane, a ship’s wheel atop his head, and a cigar dangling from his lips smiled.
“Oh? The meteor I controlled was destroyed?”
He’d sensed the island he controlled—now the island’s mass was gone. Someone had destroyed it.
“I originally just saw a town and wanted to destroy it. But this surprise—could there be strongmen here?”
The man sitting on the throne grinned cruelly. “East Blue strongmen? Destroying them must be interesting indeed!”
He didn’t believe it was destroyed by ordinary cannon fire. Such a massive island couldn’t be destroyed by regular cannonballs. And the island he’d casually dropped was destroyed in an instant.
Puh! Puh! Puh! Puh!
A strange sound, like flatulent footsteps, echoed.
“Shanks officer, we’ve detected three approaching targets!”
The man had a face like a white-painted harlequin. He raised his hand, and the wall in front of him opened into a wisp-like projection. On it, Kuro’s trio was clearly seen stepping through the air, approaching rapidly.
Shanks’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Eh, they can fly?!”
Smack!
“It’s Moonstep!”
Indigo struck Shanks lightly. “Shanks officer, it’s the Navy.”
“The Navy? The Navy?!”
Shanks looked at the projection. “Have we been discovered by the Navy?”
“Yes, but these Navy members seem to be here to investigate.” Indigo chuckled.
“Hahahaha!”
Shanks roared with laughter. “These younglings these days are so cowardly! Daring to come here? Hey, Indigo, when will the IQ specimens be completed?”
“Very soon, Shanks officer.” Indigo smiled.
Shanks grinned cruelly. “Then let’s start with an appetizer! Let these kids remember the fear that is Shanks!”
“Twenty years! Twenty years it’s been! Soon, the world’s greatest war and fear from the Navy and World Government will come!!!”
He’d spent twenty years on these IQ creatures, and success was finally at hand!
“Roger, the sea of your birth will be destroyed. Well, using it to commemorate you isn’t so bad—even if it’s twenty years late.”
...
“Kuro, there’s an island ahead—so huge!”
In the sky, Lida stepped rapidly through the air using Moonstep. Soon, she pointed at a colossal floating Skypiea cluster and exclaimed in shock.
“Truly massive…”
Klah looked up at the sky, swallowing hard. This wasn’t just large—clusters of islands of all sizes were connected. And at the center, a massive island was surrounded by seawater, forming a floating sea!
“Devil Fruit ability users are truly monsters!”
Kuro cursed, accelerating his speed.
Kuzan could freeze the sea’s surface, creating an area large enough for someone to walk four or five days across.
But this old man had lifted the sea itself into the air.
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The author humbly requests donations. The current total hasn’t reached a hundred yet.
Could you fulfill this small wish? Reaching one hundred donations would make me so happy.
The helpless, pitiful author bows in gratitude.
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(End of Chapter)
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