Usopp never imagined his made-up story would manifest before his eyes.
He had to warn Kaya!
Turning to flee, Usopp summoned his loudest shout: "KA-!!"
But Kuro's claws pierced his chest before the name fully left his lips. Blood dripped from the blades. Agony seared through him. Darkness threatened to swallow his vision.
But not now!
He couldn't...
...run away like before!His dream was to become a warrior of the sea.
After cowering for so long, even a final act of courage before death would suffice!
"Kaya! Run!!!"
The voice was heart-wrenching.
Everyone who heard it got goosebumps.
Without any hesitation, Usopp threw himself backward.
He allowed Kuro's "Cat Claws" to leave deeper wounds on his body.
All to buy Kaya and the others more time!
Kuro clearly hadn't expected Usopp to make such a choice.
Stumbling, he was knocked to the ground by Usopp's counter.
But Usopp's voice had already reached Kaya and her parents.
Kuro pulled his "Cat Claws" out of Usopp's body.
Blood dripped from the blades.
Adjusting his glasses, Kuro muttered to himself, "Since my identity is exposed, I have no choice but to kill you all."
Kuro watched as Kaya's parents emerged from the mansion, his eyes glinting with cold malice.
"I won't... I won't let you lay a finger on Kaya!"
Despite his severe injuries, Usopp displayed incredible tenacity.
Fighting off dizziness, he reached out a bloodied hand and grabbed Kuro's ankle.
At that moment, Kaya came downstairs.
She never imagined the seemingly kind man from earlier would turn out to be a murderer!
Kaya, already pale, grew even paler.
Kuro raised his foot high and stomped on Usopp's hand, crushing it mercilessly.
Without a shred of emotion, Kuro advanced toward Kaya and her parents.
The "Cat Claws" dragged along the ground, the ominous scraping sound echoing in Kaya's ears.
Kuro raised his claws high, the sunlight reflecting off the blades with a chilling gleam.
In an instant, the blades descended.
Blood blossomed on the chests of Kaya's parents as they collapsed to the ground.
Kaya was petrified.
She wanted to run.
But her legs refused to obey.
They felt as heavy as lead.
Unable to move.
"Blame this long-nosed fool. If he hadn't blabbed, I wouldn't have had to act so soon."
Kuro sneered, adding, "You and your parents could've lived a little longer!"
With that, Kuro raised his arm again, striking down at Kaya!
——
Meanwhile, Roya and Jango were swiftly making their way toward Kaya's location.
Suddenly, a desperate scream pierced the air.
Roya frowned, pinpointing the direction.
His legs became a blur as he tapped the ground rapidly.
The powerful recoil propelled him forward at incredible speed.
"Shave!"
Jango barely registered the afterimage before dust clouds filled his vision.
The cracked ground beside him left him utterly stunned.
"Is this the strength of Vice Admiral White Pigeon? Just his speed alone surpasses countless others!"
"Clang!!!"
A crisp metallic ring echoed through Syrup Village.
Roya's figure had already appeared before Kaya.
Peak Armament Haki enveloped his arm, effortlessly blocking Kuro's attack.Klo felt his arm go numb.
The "Cat Claws" on the right hand shattered completely under Roya's defense.
Reduced to broken blades, they fell to the ground.
The white cape fluttered in the wind.
Roya shielded Kaya behind him.
Upon seeing the scene of bloodstains everywhere, with Usopp and Kaya's parents lying on the ground,
Roya's aura erupted violently!
"Kuro of a Hundred Plans, you've truly angered me!"
Since arriving in the world of pirates, Roya had never truly lost his temper.
Coincidentally, a fierce gale rose, and dark clouds swiftly shrouded the sky.
Above, thunder roared menacingly, creating a terrifying sight.
"Pay the price for your actions!"
As Roya's words fell, he lashed out with a kick.
The speed was so fast that Kuro had no chance to react.
With a "Boom!"
Kuro was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, soaring at least several hundred meters.
Yet, Roya instantly closed the distance using "Shave," appearing behind Kuro.
He gave Kuro no time to recover.
"Finger Pistol·Yellow Lotus!"
Roya first bent his index finger before striking with ultra-high speed, piercing Kuro's body repeatedly while rapidly shifting the next strike's position—up, down, left, and right.
This was Roya venting his fury.
Letting Kuro die instantly would be far too merciful!
Roya wanted him to experience true despair!
In an instant, Kuro felt as though his back was being riddled with countless bullets, relentlessly piercing through.
Blood sprayed out, splattering across the ground.
When Roya finally stopped his assault, Kuro collapsed to his knees, coughing up blood uncontrollably.
Using the shattered remnants of his "Cat Claws," he wiped the blood from his lips.
Struggling to stay upright, Kuro glared at Roya and spat, "You forced me into this! Once I use this move, no one here will escape alive!"
"Shakushi (Spoon)!"
Kuro was utterly confident—this was his strongest technique. By combining high-speed movement with his "Cat Claws," he could slaughter countless enemies, moving so fast that even he wouldn't know what he was cutting!
An indiscriminate massacre!
Kuro began darting around at blinding speed.
"Shick! Shick! Shick!"
Trees, the ground, rocks—
All bore the marks of Kuro's claw strikes.
Even Kaya could sense the overwhelming pressure of Kuro's attack.
She immediately warned Roya, "Be careful!"
A cold glint flashed in Roya's eyes. "I'm in a bad mood, so I won't humor your little 'Spoon' performance. Now, die."
The moment he spoke, Roya appeared right in front of Kuro.
What Kuro called "fast" was nothing more than child's play in Roya's eyes.
"Boom!"
Roya extended his hand and pressed it directly against Kuro's head.
Before Kuro could even react,
He felt his body lift into the air before being slammed violently into the ground.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
The earth split apart, cracks spreading for a hundred meters.
Every tree within that radius was shattered.
This scene was witnessed by Jango, who had just arrived.
Time seemed to freeze in that instant.
He never imagined that the captain he had always seen as invincible,
After unleashing his ultimate technique, would be crushed by Roya as easily as squashing an ant.
"This... this is terrifying!!!"
"Is this the power of an Admiral?"
"Too... too strong!"Zango felt his entire worldview had been completely overturned.
However...