Chapter 936: Kuro?! Golden Lion?!
Chapter 936: Kuro?! Golden Lion?!
Chapter 936: Kuro?! Golden Lion?!
Katakuri was forty-eight this year—only a dozen years younger than Kaido. Calling him a "young man" was already a stretch.
But since Kaido and Charlotte·Big Mom were peers, it was acceptable for Kaido to refer to Katakuri as "young man."
In truth, though, none of them were truly young.
As for the so-called "youngsters"—
That loudmouth Luffy who claimed he'd become some kind of king?
Or that other red-haired "little brat" stuck in his Rabbit Onsen prison, who'd made the same boast?
The so-called "Worst Generation" were mere children playing make-believe in Kaido's eyes.
"Pirate games among little brats? Pathetic!"
Kaido downed the sake in his goblet in one gulp, then thrust it forward. The vessel, large enough for an average man to stand inside, dwarfed his trembling subordinate as they poured. Watching the terrified crewman fumble, Kaido's eyes narrowed in irritation.
Weak!
Too weak!
They were the same age, yet the gap was so vast it disgusted him.
"Get out of here! I'll do it myself!"
Bang!
A massive fist shot forward, sending the pirate holding the sake bottle flying. His fist flattened into a palm, snatching the bottle mid-air as he poured himself another drink, his voice darkening.
"But there are qualified youths on the Grand Line. If that young man had chosen to join Old Man, I'd have given him my daughter's hand and made him Governor of the Beast King Pirate Crew. He could've succeeded me as Wano Country's protector, the Ming King. As for Yamato, she could've been Wano's Shogun!"
"Mamamama!" Charlotte·Big Mom laughed, raising her goblet. Kaido poured his own drink, then shifted the bottle to fill hers.
"Now that you mention it, there was such a promising youth. Pity—if he'd agreed to an alliance marriage with my daughter, the Whole Cake Chateau might've stabilized."
Kaido's eyes widened as he turned. "Oh? You have one too? I doubt your 'youth' rivals the one Old Man met, Big Mom!"
"Mamamama! Kaido, as someone who owes me an officer's favor, how dare you question my judgment? The young man I encountered surpasses even your Triad Calamities—oh, sorry, 'Two Disasters' now—and my own Triad Star Generals!" Charlotte·Big Mom chuckled.
"I don't care! Old Man believes he's the Strongest Youngster. No one you mention could rival him!"
Kaido tore open his robe, pointing to the scars stretching from his waist up to his chest. "Oden's sword slashed here, but the scar this other man left runs deeper and hurts worse!"
"Mamamama! I was wounded too!"
Charlotte·Big Mom yanked down her shoulder garment, revealing blade marks. "That strike cleaved through my defense from the shoulder. He's the strongest!"
Kaido's chest bore a cross-shaped scar, while Charlotte·Big Mom had parallel blade marks on both shoulders—one deeper, one shallower.
Kaido froze. "Your scar was from a sword too?"
"You too?" Charlotte·Big Mom's eyes widened.
How could both have sword wounds?
As seasoned titans, they instantly recognized their injuries came from the same source.
"Kuro?!" they shouted in unison.
They stared at each other, then added together:
"Golden Lion?!"
They hesitated, then spoke in sync again:
"Lucius Kro?!"
None had known where this began.
Kaido had met Kuro over two years ago, receiving his wound in secret. Charlotte·Big Mom last faced Kuro in Dressrosa six months prior during her clash with Caesar Clown—but those injuries hadn't scarred. This shoulder wound came from a surprise visit during her Sabo Station days. Neither had publicized these humiliating defeats, which only boosted the Navy's reputation.
Now, Kaido and Charlotte·Big Mom locked eyes, stunned into silence.
"Mamamama!"
"Hohohohoho!"
They erupted into laughter, heads thrown back, louder than anyone else.
"Old hag! You got wounded too!" Kaido roared, swigging sake.
"You're no better, Kaido!" Charlotte·Big Mom eyed his waist scar, then his chest. "That one's aged, didn't expect you to bear old wounds."
Kaido grunted. "Oden's mark? That man's formidable. Whitebeard's former second division captain, then Roger's crewmate. Even if Old Man bested him through trickery, he was a worthy opponent. Even without that, Old Man's confidence alone would've won!"
"Still", Kaido turned his gaze, "Back in your crew days, you never took a scratch. To be cut by that little brat now—surprising!"
While Kaido boasted unmatched physicality, Charlotte·Big Mom's "steel balloon" defense was legendary. To wound her...
Had Kuro grown stronger?
"Enough! We're both veterans—scars are forgivable. But you letting Oden strike you?"
"Mamamama! Why didn't you call me back then? I've always treated you like a little brother, Kaido!"
"Tch! Ancient history. No need to dwell." Kaido spat.
"Mamamama! Even pirates cherish brotherhood!" Charlotte·Big Mom laughed.
They sat unbothered, dismissing their wounds, but for others present, this revelation was earth-shattering!
These two titans, whose defenses and strength defined the Grand Line's upper echelon, had both bled.
Their underlings stared, horrified. What monstrous power could have scarred these gods of the sea?!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
