Chapter 984: I Am Navy, And Also Pirate!
Chapter 984: I Am Navy, And Also Pirate!
In the Grand Line, a Catastrophe could only mean one thing — a tsunami. That much was self-evident.
A sky-darkening tsunami resembling a pack of snarling, clawing Hunting Lions descended like a ravenous beast, crashing down upon the White-Glowing Island in an instant.
Boom!!!
The Big Wave slammed the island, scattering fragments into the sea that swirled into multiple vortexes. The churning waters revealed faint traces of red under the island’s pale glow.
Blood Stains — the crimson remnants of countless lives shredded into pulp!
Slaying a thousand in an instant? That required an unmatched swordsman. But obliterating ten thousand? That demanded something more — an Ability.
Abilities were miracles. They were Rules.
A tsunami like this — manmade — was a miracle incarnate.
The work of a Devil Fruit user.
One of the Grand Line’s Absolute Strong Men.
"Done."
Kuro withdrew his hand, lit a fresh cigar, and declared, "Mission Accomplished. Let's Return."
His crew had fallen silent.
Aboard the ship were both Old Navy Soldiers from the G-3 Era and Newly Transferred Navy Soldiers from Headquarters.
But regardless of origin, none had ever seen Kuro act like this before. The former rarely witnessed such displays, while the latter had never seen anything like it.
Now, witnessing the tsunami, they stood frozen, their silence so profound a pin drop could be heard.
"Although Not the First Time Seeing..."
Klah trembled slightly as he pushed up his glasses, pressed his lips together, and watched Kuro reignite his cigar.
What a sight. Truly Kuromr.!
As terrifyingly powerful as ever — a figure no one could hope to rival.
"Is it really over?"
Ethan Kadi stared at the scene, his finger trembling as he pointed toward the now-destroyed archipelago. "Gone? All of it?"
Lida snapped impatiently, "What else could there be? Stop questioning everything! We already said Kuro’s strong. This is just the South Sea — of course he could handle it. Kuro’s never failed once in his life!"
"Hmph." Ethan Kadi’s tone darkened as a smile crept across his face. "Indeed, the Golden Lion Vice Admiral lives up to his reputation. But the Longsword Pirate Gang’s Captain was no slouch either. Shouldn’t we check for any escaped criminals?"
"Fair point. You’re not bad", Kuro replied. "Klah, navigate the ship forward. Let’s see if anyone survived. Finish them off."
"Aye, Kuromr."
The Golden Lion advanced deeper, reaching the Star Islands and cutting directly through the outermost island’s edge.
As they drew closer, Kuro noticed the island’s soil glowing white — more accurately, swirling mist within the earth reflecting moonlight. The high concentration created a ghostly luminescence.
"Not bad", Kuro murmured, nodding appreciatively. "A truly Odd Scenery."
But the island itself was barren.
Nothing remained but soil plowed as if by some monstrous force.
It was a sizable island, yet utterly empty — no people, no houses, no objects or trees or rocks. The tsunami had scoured everything clean, dragging them into the sea to be churned into oblivion. Finding anything intact was unthinkable.
Approaching further, the sea around the island revealed floating Blood Stains, mingling with shredded flesh and fragments of buildings — remnants torn apart by the vortexes.
Ethan Kadi watched silently until the Golden Lion reached the archipelago’s heart — the central island.
"Indeed, nothing remains. Not a single soul. The Centuries-Old Longsword Pirate Gang — their Blade Body members have been completely wiped out."
His voice carried an intense complexity as he spoke.
"Exactly. Not one left. As I said, victory’s ours, so now—"
Whoosh!
Kuro’s words were cut short by a sudden gust of wind.
Clang!
Before the gust’s echo faded, a crisp metallic ring cut through the air.
Kuro glimpsed from the corner of his eye — Klah had appeared behind him, arms wreathed in Haki Crossguard, blocking a Longsword swung from the front.
"What are you doing, Ethan Kadi?" Klah’s voice turned icy.
Before him, Ethan Kadi gripped the blade with both hands, Haki armored from his palms along the sword’s length.
"Isn’t it obvious?"
Ethan Kadi’s tone remained calm. With a sharp pull, his blade scraped Klah’s arm, sending sparks flying. He pivoted, delivering a brutal kick to Klah’s abdomen that sent him reeling backward. Using the recoil, Ethan soared upward, stepping on air multiple times before landing on the central island.
"Of course, I’ll continue the unfinished battle between Navy and Pirate!"
He grabbed his glasses and flung them away, then ran his hands through his hair, transforming it into a slicked-back hairstyle. With a shift in posture, his entire demeanor became sharp and ruthless.
"I’ve said it before — as long as Saber’s Hilt remains, destroying the Blade Body means nothing. So long as Saber’s Hilt exists, the Longsword Pirate Crew will always have a path to Rebirth. That’s Saber’s Hilt’s Mission — and mine as its Captain!"
Ethan Kadi raised his Longsword high, gazing up at the crew aboard the ship.
"I, Longsword Pirate Crew Captain Robert Henry, shall continue this battle with you!"
Robert Henry.
Kuro raised an eyebrow, exhaling a plume of smoke. "I admit you seemed odd from the start, but this is more than I expected. A Navy undercover agent who infiltrated a Pirate crew and became its leader a decade later?"
"Strange, isn’t it?" Ethan Kadi shook his head, laughing. "I’m complex — both Navy and Pirate. I cannot betray my duty, so this is the only path left."
"As Navy, I stopped the Longsword Pirate Crew from reaching the Grand Line and eliminated them. As a Pirate, as their Captain, I must complete my Mission — by fighting the Navy that ambushed us here! Come, Golden Lion! Fight me! Complete this unfinished battle with an upright duel to the death!"
"You’re impossible to understand", Kuro replied.
"Your strength isn’t weak, and with so many followers, you could easily become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Why not take that middle path?"
"I know", Ethan Kadi’s voice deepened. "I know you, Golden Lion, have the authority to recommend Seven Warlords. But the Longsword Pirate Crew’s traditions cannot be abandoned!"
His eyes burned with conviction. "If my crew refuses, I must respect their will. That’s the Longsword Pirate Crew’s tradition — and my Uphold as their Captain!"
"A Navy Upholding Pirate traditions."
Kuro exhaled another puff of smoke. "Understood. Then I’ll grant your wish."
This man had long since lost himself in a haze he could no longer distinguish.
Kuro understood — not because he agreed, but because such fools were common in the Grand Line. After all, strangeness was the norm here.
(End of Chapter)
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