Chapter 77: Then You're Truly Ancient!
Chapter 77: Then You're Truly Ancient!
Kuro's Observation Haki continuously scanned the central island's palace, but the figure radiating an aura like a lion hadn't moved an inch.
"Strange, aren't they coming?"
Kuro had kept his hand on the hilt for a while now, expecting Shanks would come once sensing his presence. But there was no movement at all.
"Odd. Don't they want to come?" Looking at Indigo, Kuro muttered, "Where exactly are they?"
Back at the central island's palace, Shanks waited with pirates invited as honored guests already lined up outside the royal grounds. Yet the Navy members skilled in Moonstep showed no sign of approaching.
Pffft! Pfft! Pfft!
"Damn it, shut up!" Shanks roared at the noise.
Indigo approached and said, "Captain Shanks, once they landed on the island, we lost sight of them. They might've landed elsewhere."
"But if they can fly, shouldn't they come straight to the palace? Don't they want to know who's waiting here?" Shanks scratched his chin, perplexed. "I'm the infamous Shanks! How will they ever feel fear if they don't come to me?"
"Perhaps they landed on another island and got caught by the local beasts", Indigo chuckled. "Captain, let's let the Navy taste S.I.Q.'s power first."
Shanks grinned sinisterly. "What a shame. If they can't witness my might firsthand, they'll regret it deeply!"
...
On the smaller island, Kuro still waited.
Shanks should’ve come by now. Three unfamiliar auras had appeared on this island—didn’t Shanks’s Observation Haki detect them?
Could he actually not know Haki?
Kuro shook that ridiculous thought away.
Impossible.
Around them, feral beasts kept appearing, drawn by the blood spilled from Klah’s earlier kills.
"God-Speed Shave!"
Klah slashed a rabbit-like beast into pieces, panting. Several corpses already littered his surroundings.
Continuing this move would drain his physical stamina soon.
He glanced enviously at Lida, who stood casually. A feral beast had lunged at her, but she merely sidestepped, brushing a single hand across its body. The beast collapsed like it had been struck by lightning, motionless.
"What are you thinking about, Kuro?" Lida asked.
He hadn’t moved at all, standing like a statue.
Kuro pulled out a cigar, lit it, and blew a smoke ring. "Lida, why won’t Shanks come here?"
Lida blinked. "Why should he?"
"Because I won’t go there. There are many auras—human and beast—gathered at their stronghold. Going there would mean walking straight into their trap. Only if he comes here can we avoid being cornered."
They were already in the enemy's territory; entering deeper into the den of dens would be foolish. Kuro wasn’t that reckless.
Lida nodded. "I understand your logic, but why would Shanks come? He’s Shanks, after all."
"Does he need a reason?" Kuro asked.
"Doesn’t he?"
"Does he?"
"Doesn’t he?"
"Ugh, fine! If he won’t come, I’ll start clearing these pests from here."
Originally, Kuro had hoped that if Shanks came alone, they could gang up on him. With three against one, especially Lida’s slightly overpowered Devil Fruit ability, even a single touch from her might sap Shanks’s energy.
Every ounce his opponent weakened, the stronger Kuro became.
What? A one-on-one duel?
Let someone else take that glory.
But since Shanks wouldn’t budge, Kuro had another plan.
In his past life, when fighting a boss, you always cleared the minions first.
There were too many monsters here. To avoid getting surrounded, the "minions" needed elimination.
Kuro tightened his grip on the hilt, eyes narrowing.
The air around them grew heavy.
"Roar!!!"
A lion-like feral beast charged from the jungle. Klah’s roar made it yelp and flee.
What a coward!
"What’s there to fear? It’s just—" Klah scoffed, then noticed his legs trembling uncontrollably. Clenching his teeth, he growled, "Killing Intent!"
Slash!
A furious hornet bee appeared behind Kuro. Without looking, he flicked the hilt with his thumb. A flash of cold steel cleaved the insect in half.
"Single Sword Style."
Whoosh!
A gust erupted from Kuro’s slash, rippling through the grass and jungle.
To Lida’s perception, life auras in that direction vanished instantly.
The feral beasts eating, fighting, or roaring nearby all froze with blank eyes, collapsing.
Even the strongest giants, sensing the Killing Intent, fled in panic before dropping dead within a few steps.
Silence reigned where Kuro’s blade had swept.
"Lida, Klah, stand behind me."
Kuro turned, shifting direction as he ordered the two.
They obeyed without prompting, moving to his back.
Lida wiped sweat from her face. No matter how many times she saw it, that Killing Intent was terrifying. Even without directly affecting them, the suffocating intensity felt like thick, syrupy air.
Kuro rotated his wrist, then swung toward another direction.
"Ichiryu Style."
...
On another part of the island, near the floating sky region’s natural harbor, several pirate ships docked at a small town.
The town had no civilians—only pirates.
Or rather, pirates invited by Shanks from various crews.
They were stationed here, waiting for orders from their legendary pirate officer, Shanks.
"I heard we’re moving soon. Doctor Indigo said S.I.Q. reserves are nearly ready. Soon, we’ll declare war on the World Government and Navy", one captain said inside a building.
"Captain Shanks truly lives up to his legend! He’s planning to destroy the East Blue entirely!" another captain raised his cup, "We’ll finally take our revenge! Down with the World Government and Navy!"
"To Captain Shanks!"
"Cheers!"
A captain wearing a tricorn hat lifted his cup, but suddenly stiffened. His eyes bulged, cold sweat pouring as his body shook violently. Others mirrored him—some weaker ones collapsed, eyes rolling back.
"W-What's—"
The tricorn captain tried to stand but slumped backward, vision blacking out as panic and suffocation overwhelmed him. His cup shattered alongside his body.
"Then you still won’t come, huh?" Kuro sheathed his blade, his Observation Haki sweeping the floating Skypiea group.
"Are you too arrogant to notice, or have you truly lost your touch?" Kuro’s eyes darkened with a cruel grin. "Then you're truly ancient!"
(End of Chapter)
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