One Piece:I am King Luffy!

Hearing Luffy's response, Kuro became increasingly perplexed.

"If it's not for justice, then why do you have to oppose me? I've already killed my subordinates, and I'll go into hiding. In this way, the Black Cat Pirates are completely eradicated by you. Isn't this a win-win?"

"Why reject me… You must have seen, I'm different from those worthless minions you killed. I'm like you. If we wanted to, we could easily slaughter an entire crew by ourselves."

Kuro spread his clawed hands, revealing ten long, slightly curved blades. They were razor-sharp, and paired with his explosive strength, could tear apart anything in his path.

Someone like this was no ordinary person anymore, but rather evolving into something close to a monstrous level.

"Yeah, I noticed. Relax the body first, then unleash the burst—right? I've trained in that too, but your focus is speed, mine is strength," Luffy replied.

When Kuro had slaughtered his own crew, he'd practically shown off his technique. He first relaxed his body completely, then started swaying side to side before unleashing a burst of speed.

It was a move similar to the Six Powers technique, "Shave," though with a different focus. Shave directs strength to the legs to produce a slicing attack. From that, Luffy had derived his own version, delivering flying slashes.

"Is that so? Didn't expect you to grasp the basics of Shakushi."

"Since you understand, must you fight me? Your power can't keep up with my speed, right? If you can't land a hit, it's pointless. All I need to do is avoid that sharp blade of yours."

"Then bring it on. You talk too much; I'm done conversing with a dead man."

Luffy said, watching Kuro with a flicker of recognition. Though his memory was hazy, he vaguely recalled Hundred Plans Kuro from the Black Cat Pirates—a personality like Yoshikage Kira. Always saying he wanted a quiet life but carrying out heinous acts.

"Please wait. There's one more thing I want to ask…"

Kuro continued.

"Why…"

He finally asked the question that perplexed him the most, "If you're Garp's grandson, someone so esteemed, why are you drifting on the sea, living like an ordinary kid?"

This was the point that puzzled pirates the most. It was hard to believe he was truly "Garp's grandson." If he hadn't heard a Navy Rear Admiral addressing Luffy with such respect, he'd never believe it.

"If that's what's troubling you, I'll tell you."

Luffy took a stance, lowering his king's sword.

Then, with a dismissive look, he gazed at Kuro and waved his finger.

"Do you know Garp?"

"You don't understand Garp, yet you presume to judge him."

"Is that so?" Kuro adjusted his glasses one last time.

"It's a simple truth, but most people ignore it. They assume they can understand others by their own limited understanding, so it's not your fault," Luffy said.

"For clever people, it's even worse. They tend to rely on labels to understand others. Beneath the sacred aura of a 'Hero of the Navy,' Garp…is an unusual man, isn't he?"

Kuro responded, shifting his weight and relaxing his body, swaying from side to side.

The moment he spoke, he vanished from Luffy's sight—faster than before. Luffy could no longer track Kuro's movement.

His body instinctively moved back. Before his mind could catch up, his body naturally started retreating. Even so, it was a step too late. Kuro's claws slashed Luffy's clothes, leaving five thin white marks on his skin.

Although he dodged, he hadn't entirely avoided it. Thanks to Tekkai, however, there was no injury.

"You managed to scratch me. I have to commend you for that," Luffy remarked, lightly brushing the white marks on his skin, then tore off his tattered shirt, revealing his well-built frame.

But Kuro couldn't hear him. His body was out of his control. Once Shakushi fully activated, he couldn't stop until he ran out of stamina.

The deck was torn to pieces, the railing shattered, the cannons sliced into segments. Behind Luffy, the mast was cut through, crashing down.

Luffy stepped back a few paces as the mast smashed through the deck, scattering wood fragments into the air. He moved to the left, watching as a section of the railing was shredded.

Kuro was practically tearing his own ship apart. Within seconds, the entire pirate ship was nearly destroyed.

Luffy raised his sword, observing Kuro's reckless speed, waiting for the right moment.

—Now!

Luffy took a quick step to the right, and in an instant, the spot he had just been standing was ripped apart, leaving slash marks on the deck, sending wooden splinters into the air.

With his left hand on the hilt of his sword, Luffy calmly extended it forward and took a single step forward.

Then, with a downward diagonal slice, he cut through, wiping the blood off his blade before smoothly sheathing it.

As he did, there was a faint click.

Then came a heavy impact.

Kuro's lower half struck the fallen mast, while his upper half flew toward the ocean.

The Navy warship pulled up alongside the pirate ship. The Straw Hat and orange tree flag waved, now accompanied by the seagull flag of the Navy.

The girls spotted Luffy and waved to him.

Luffy leapt from the ship, landing at the edge of the Navy deck like a swooping hawk, then landed gracefully with a gentle smile.

"I'm back."

The boy beamed.

"You're hurt?" Uta reached out to touch his chest, her hand moving downward.

"No, just my clothes got torn."

"This clearly is an injury!"

Uta pointed to the scratch marks left by the blade.

"…Does that even count?"

"Shanks wouldn't have marks like this!"

"Welcome back! Were the pirates on that ship strong?" Nami clasped her hands behind her back.

"No, they were just a bit strange. They ended up fighting amongst themselves…" Luffy briefly explained the pirates' actions.

Uta covered her mouth and laughed, "What kind of nonsense is that? They're such fools."

"Right? So bizarre…"

Meanwhile, Bell-mère snapped a photo of the sinking Black Cat pirate ship for evidence, then pulled out the wanted posters.

"Black Cat Pirates, bounty of ten million Beli, plus a few hundred thousand for the crew members…"

"Eh—Luffy,

your money just keeps piling up!" Nami exclaimed.

"It's not easy earning money from Luffy, Nami…" Bell-mère chuckled.

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