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Chapter 853: Lost in the Heat of Battle Again! Lost in the Heat of Battle Again!
Chapter 853: Lost in the Heat of Battle Again! Lost in the Heat of Battle Again!
After Bartholomew’s death, Kuro staggered sideways, his body tilting before crash-landing onto the ground. As he collapsed, he roared:
“Lida!!”
“Lend me a bit of physical strength!”
Lida vanished in a flash, reappearing among the unconscious Navy soldiers. She darted through their ranks, and visibly, their bodies grew thinner.
“Here goes!”
With a sharp cry, she leaped forward like an afterimage, landing beside Kuro. Slamming her palm into his chest, she channeled a surge of energy into his body.
Thump!
The energy jolted Kuro’s entire frame. His fists clenched tightly as strength slowly returned. It wasn’t much—merely a fraction of his original physical strength—but enough to heal his external injuries.
Sitting up, he flexed his left shoulder and legs. Wounds there began steaming and knitting shut. While far from restored as new, the injuries would heal with time, leaving no permanent scars.
Otherwise, he might’ve ended up like Kuzan, needing prosthetics or blades grafted onto his limbs.
Thankfully, Lida was here.
Kuro inhaled deeply, feeling his life return. He glanced upward. If his ability hadn’t reached this level, simply floating in the air would’ve drained his physical strength. The battle’s toll would’ve forced him crashing down long ago.
“Lost in the heat of battle again! Lost in the heat of battle again! Why did I let myself lose control? Why fight so recklessly?!”
He slapped his forehead, frustration surging as he gave himself a few harsh smacks.
Now that it was over, he’d calmed down. But what had driven him to charge in like that? If he’d died, it’d be all over!
He only wanted safety, not to duel to the death!
He’d gone to the trouble of summoning allies specifically for such situations. When the battle reached this point, they were supposed to swarm in together. He’d leisurely puff a cigar and declare, “No need for honor against fiends like this—attack together!”
How perfect! How secure and satisfying that would’ve been!
Yet here he was, charging in alone again.
Thankfully, he’d won. If he’d lost…
A chill ran through him as he glanced at Bartholomew’s corpses, dread creeping in. That could’ve been him lying there.
Shaking his legs, he stood. Walking was still awkward, so he floated upward, eyeing the corpses. Flicking his fingers, the surrounding Grand Line churned into a vortex.
These corpses couldn’t be left behind. If someone found them and turned them into weapons—like Gecko Moria—it’d be disastrous.
Too many strange Devil Fruit users existed.
Yet after staring at the corpses, he sighed. “Forget it.”
The vortex halted. Earth swept up to encase Bartholomew, forming a tomb that sank into the sea.
Gazing at the waves for a moment, he turned to survey the island.
It was ruined—shattered into fragments. Only a small patch Kuro had cut away earlier remained intact. Even where he stood, the ground barely held.
The island was gone.
“Bororo…”
The Transponder Snail chimed. Lida retrieved the wristwatch-shaped Transponder Snail she’d collected for Kuro and answered.
“Hello?”
“Oh~ Lida? Did you finish the old man’s call already?” The tiny Transponder Snail’s face grinned lewdly.
“It’s Lucius Kro Admiral,” Lida said, handing the device to Kuro.
“Gramps?”
“Oh~ Kuro! You actually managed to give support? Seems like you’ve handled things. Did you capture Bartholomew?” Lucius Kro chuckled.
“Yeah, I sunk the corpses into the sea,” Kuro grumbled. “What do you want? I just finished fighting, and I’m severely injured—no joke, severely injured. Won’t heal for a decade at least.”
“Oh~ So even with so many Vice Admirals and Elite Marines, you still ended up severely injured? Scary indeed.”
Lucius Kro kept chuckling. “Just wanted to tell you—our proposal passed.”
Kuro froze. “The World Meeting ended?”
Makes sense. The World Meeting lasted seven days. He’d spent days getting here, then more battling. Time fit.
“Yes, it concluded. Some things happened, but we’ll discuss them later. The Kings need escorting.”
“I see, Gramps. We’ll talk later.”
Kuro ended the call, slipping the wristwatch onto his wrist.
The Meeting was over. The proposal passed—meaning the Seven Warlords of the Sea’s rights were now secured.
He snapped his fingers.
Boom!
A golden Object descended from the heavens, crashing into the sea and churning waves.
Golden Lion.
“Truly over now,” Dracule Mihawk gripped his Black Blade ‘Night,’ his gaze brimming with battle intent toward Kuro. “Impressive, Kuro.”
Boa Hancock scoffed disdainfully. “Pure luck.”
For the Seven Warlords of the Sea, this wasn’t their fight. Even conscripted, their duty was done. Expecting them to fight as fiercely as Kuro was unrealistic.
“Tch, finished already?”
Crocodile bit his cigar, sand swirling around him as he began retreating, wrapping Mr.1 in his storm.
Suddenly, Kuro pointed at Crocodile. “Stop him!”
Crocodile stiffened. Before he could react, several Vice Admirals flashed around him, cutting off his escape.
“What do you want, Kuro?”
Crocodile’s face darkened. “Explain yourself!”
“Explain what?”
Kuro lifted into the air, conjuring a stone platform beneath Lida’s feet. As they drifted toward Golden Lion, he called back: “I’m Navy. You’re a pirate. Stopping you is only natural.”
At those words, Dracule Mihawk and Boa Hancock distanced themselves from Crocodile.
They were pirates too, but as Seven Warlords of the Sea, things were different.
“Trying to arrest me?”
Crocodile’s sandstorm intensified. “Let’s see you try!”
“Don’t get so temperamental, Crocodile.”
Kuro said coolly, “Since you helped earlier, come aboard as my guest. I have something to discuss.”
“You? A Navy? Want to talk to me?” Crocodile’s face twisted in disbelief. “What trickery?”
“You’re scared?” Kuro teased.
“Hmph. I fear nothing.”
Crocodile glanced at the encircling Vice Admirals. Weighing his odds, the sandstorm around him faded.
They had a subordinate with him—Mr.1—and if these elites were determined to stop him, he might not escape. If they intended arrest, they wouldn’t invite him so casually.
Well then… what harm in hearing them out?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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