Chapter 8: Touch Me
Chapter 8: Touch Me
Kuro raised an eyebrow.
So this was a challenge then.
He wasn’t one for showing off, but when someone came charging at him like this, what else could he do?
Guess it’s time to put on a show!
He decided to stage a little accident during Mongar’s attempted hostage situation. That should leave Mongar no choice but to surrender.
Kuro struck a heroic pose and strode toward Mongar.
“Sergeant Kuro, don’t do it!”
“Sergeant, let me take your place!”
Mongar watched Kuro approach, then suddenly flung Navy toward him and bolted.
“Mongar, you!”
Li Pa roared as Mongar sprinted toward the Branch gates. “Fire, fire!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Lead bullets slammed into the ground beneath Mongar’s feet, several striking his body. With a muffled grunt, Mongar charged past the gates.
“After him, all of you!”
The Navy members surged forward under Li Pa’s command.
Kuro stood frozen for a moment. He’d actually thought Mongar would take him hostage—turns out the guy just fled instead.
Well, easier this way. No need for theatrics.
As Mongar barreled outward, civilians scattered in terror. Only one girl with twin tails failed to escape in time, falling backward in shock as the hulking Mongar loomed over her.
“Rika!”
A woman raced to shield the child, clutching her tightly.
“Get lost!”
Mongar swung his axe downward.
“Stop, Mongar!” Li Pa screamed, reaching out desperately.
Too late.
Clang!
The sound of steel leaving its sheath rang out.
“One Sword Style!”
A dust-choked line tore through the Branch plaza, cleaving into Mongar before halting just short of the girl.
Kuro held his scabbard in his left hand, the hilt in his right, slowly sliding the blade back into its sheath.
Click.
Pfft!
A gash split Mongar’s back open, blood spraying outward as he collapsed, eyes rolling skyward.
“You’ve gone too far.”
Kuro stared coldly at Mongar’s prone form.
Fleeing was one thing, but trying to harm someone right under his nose? Unforgivable.
After all, he was Navy. And his old-world values still held strong.
If he saw something wrong, he had to act.
He couldn’t just stand there watching someone die.
“Kuro?!”
Li Pa gaped at the sight of him, stunned by the sheer precision of that strike.
Had that really been Kuro?
Li Pa had always seen him as a diligent but low-key Navy member. Never imagined he’d been hiding such skill all along.
Before Li Pa could ask anything, Kuro rolled his eyes skyward and suddenly collapsed.
“Sergeant Kuro!”
The Navy members rushed over, shaking him frantically.
“Doctor! Doctor! Someone get a doctor here!”
Amid the chaos, several voices shouted over the commotion.
Lida smirked. “His acting skills really are terrible.”
When words fail, just faint—that way no one asks any awkward questions.
Think I’m going to expose my strength? Not a chance. That’s my secret strategy!
Mongar was locked up again, this time securely bound in iron chains. Only after thorough checks confirmed he couldn’t move did they throw him into the prison.
Inside the Branch, Navy members carried Kuro to the infirmary, Lida trailing behind.
While the Navy ran off to fetch the doctor, Kuro’s eyes cracked open. He motioned subtly to Lida.
Lida approached, her expression skeptical.
Kuro opened his mouth, forming silent words with his lips: “Touch me.”
“?”
“Suck… me… dry,” he mouthed again.
Lida understood instantly, her eyes lighting up.
You brought this on yourself!
She’d wanted to test this man’s strength for a long time!
She reached out, her fingertips brushing against him. Immediately, Kuro felt his energy draining.
This wasn’t the usual resistance he felt from Armored Haki—this was real, tangible energy loss.
“Can you hurry this up?”
Kuro shot a glance at the Navy turning their backs briefly.
Lida looked just as confused.
She’d faced countless strong men before. In the Grand Line, even powerful pirates fell within seconds under her ability. A billion bounty pirate without deep Haki mastery would collapse in five seconds.
So why was this guy so different?
“Damn it, how did you cultivate this strength?!” Lida hissed under her breath. “Your physical energy is insane!”
Kuro shrugged. “Started basic training at age six.”
His words sounded simple, but Lida’s mind reeled.
That casual tone—like it was nothing?
And yet, her energy-draining ability wasn’t even making a dent?
His body felt like an endless ocean. No matter how much she pulled, the supply never seemed to run dry.
Kuro’s cultivation method was straightforward—he followed Garp’s example. It was the only method he knew.
You might not realize what kind of person can cut down mountains with a simple blade—people like that are usually called ‘swordsmen.’
Years ago, Garp flattened ten mountains with his fists. Kuro figured eighteen years of chopping down mountains shouldn’t be a problem.
He’d lost count of how many peaks he’d leveled, but to him, it was nothing special. After all, wasn’t this exactly what swordsmen were supposed to do?
Lida placed both hands on Kuro’s chest, her palms distorting the air around them. She inhaled sharply, her power surging.
“Energy Drain!”
His vitality drained faster now.
Lida’s forehead glistened with sweat. She’d never encountered anything like this before. Even at full strength, Kuro still felt like an unfathomable abyss.
Bang!
Lida’s fist slammed into Kuro’s chest, making him cough violently.
“What’s wrong?”
One Navy member turned back.
“Big Brother Navy, Kuro’s acting strange! Could you fetch the doctor faster? Please go call them again!”
Her wide eyes shimmered with worry, almost shedding tears.
“We’ll go right away!”
They couldn’t risk Sergeant Kuro’s health.
As soon as the Navy left, Lida spun around, her white hair flying without wind.
“Lida, what are you planning?”
Kuro rubbed his chest—it actually hurt.
“Shut up. I’m going all-out now. Energy Drain—Full Power!”
No more hiding—Lida needed to know the limits of this man’s energy reserves.
Her body grew, shifting from a petite white-haired girl to an eighteen-year-old beauty. Her clothes strained against her newly matured form, barely covering her curves.
Pirate world women always seemed to have great figures.
Bang!
Her palms slammed into Kuro’s chest, her eyes glowing white.
This time, Kuro felt his energy rushing out like water sucked into a whale’s maw.
“This should do it,” Lida gritted her teeth. “How much longer can you last?”
“Hurry! Before the doctor arrives!” Kuro urged.
His energy reserves were still more than half full. If he got drained completely now, the doctor would find nothing wrong.
Footsteps thundered outside.
“Lida, can you finish this already?!”
Thud!
As Kuro spoke, Lida reverted to her small form, collapsing to the ground.
“I’m… starving…”
This time, it was Lida who fainted from exhaustion.
(End of Chapter)
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