Capítulo 123: Chapter 123: Two Types of Pirates – The Emperors and Everyone Else
The Sea Calendar marked a special day, one that would be remembered throughout history. The ocean witnessed the rise of a new Emperor.
Standing atop the corpse of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, a new Emperor had emerged. The fastest rise to power in history, accomplished in the most dominating manner imaginable.
The Navy present clenched their teeth, powerless to do anything. Today was supposed to be the day the Navy stood atop Kuke's grave, ushering in a new era. But instead, Kuke stood on Sengoku's grave, rising over the Navy to claim the peak of piracy.
It was a massive blow—a crushing defeat for the Navy, leaving their spirits shattered. Akainu, Kizaru, and the others could only close their eyes, utterly helpless. What had they even achieved today? It was the hardest day to accept. A day in hell.
...
Kuke's calm gaze swept over them.
Everyone bowed their heads.
They were in the presence of the new Emperor of the Sea.
"Let's go."
The women gathered behind Kuke, ready to leave. Only Doflamingo stared at him, his face twisted in a snarl.
He was certain now—the Donquixote Family had been wiped out by the Sun and Moon Pirates.
His lifelong efforts...
Gone.
A maddened desire for vengeance consumed Doflamingo's already unstable soul. Fear, however, kept him from uttering a single threat.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot about you."
Just as Doflamingo breathed a sigh of relief, he suddenly felt Kuke's gaze fall upon him. His scalp tingled.
"You're in the way. You should die."
Veins bulged on Doflamingo's forehead.
I am Donquixote Doflamingo, yet in your words, it's as if I'm nothing more than an ant you can crush at will.
"I—!"
He opened his mouth to say something, but seeing Kuke walking slowly towards him, Doflamingo's face twisted in panic. He immediately activated his most powerful ability—the awakened power of the String-String Fruit, transforming the ground into countless threads.
"Sixteen Holy Bullets: God's Execution!"
An ultimate move under his fruit's awakening. Sixteen massive waves of densely-packed threads imbued with Armament Haki surged toward Kuke at incredible speed.
After launching his attack, Doflamingo didn't look back and fled as fast as he could.
Run.
If he didn't run, he would die.
Flying just above the ground, Doflamingo's body radiated an intense Conqueror's Haki, reflecting his uncontrollable rage.
"Emperors of the Sea have died before! Kuke, Sun and Moon Pirates, I won't let you off—"
Before he could finish his words, a blazing figure of Kuke, surrounded by golden flames, appeared before him.
"Again with the teleportation ability from the Op-Op Fruit?"
Doflamingo was in utter despair.
He looked back, hoping to see his ultimate attack succeed.
Only to realize that the sixteen Haki-infused white lines had been cut into pieces.
No.
He hadn't teleported.
He had obliterated his ultimate attack with overwhelming force, and then caught up to him.
"God Strike—Golden Crow Soars."
Golden flames covered the blade, arcs of electricity dancing along its edge.
"So this is an Emperor of the Sea..."
Doflamingo was filled with despair.
Indeed, they were all monsters beyond reason.
"But I am..."
Doflamingo grinned maniacally, unleashing all of his power. But under the golden glow, his Conqueror's Haki was instantly forced back into his body.
Conqueror's Haki had levels too.
The Armament Haki he had honed for years couldn't even withstand a second—it was torn apart by Kuke's blade.
Amidst the radiant golden light, Doflamingo fell.
He was killed instantly.
Kuke looked at Doflamingo, who had been sliced in two, and slowly sheathed his sword. "You're just a dead man."
Gulp.
All over the world, people swallowed in terror.
Once again, they were stunned.
Doflamingo wasn't an Emperor of the Sea, but in the eyes of the world, Doflamingo and the Donquixote Family were figures close to that level.
Yet he was killed just like that.
This was the true terror of an Emperor of the Sea.
There were only two types of pirates in the sea: the Emperors and everyone else.
So-called "close to an Emperor" was just a delusion—merely a way to bask in reflected glory.
"Let's go!"
Gion transformed into a phoenix and soared into the sky. Shakky transformed into a sinister bat. Belo Betty vanished in an instant, while Stussy became lightning and Hancock leaped up. They all landed on their respective companions.
Kuke jumped, landing on the back of the phoenix and standing tall.
Under the eyes of the entire world, they left.
This scene would be forever etched in everyone's memory, leaving the world in awe.
"Wait a minute." Mihawk, who had been in shock, suddenly snapped out of it.
What about me?
Weren't we supposed to have a swordsmanship duel afterward?
"Hawkeye, go find Red-Haired Shanks. When I'm free, I'll come to you," Kuke's voice rang out from the distance.
"Find Shanks?" Mihawk was puzzled.
But since Kuke said so, there had to be a reason.
The Red-Haired Pirates, like the Sun and Moon Pirates, didn't have a fixed territory. Their entire crew was on a single ship, wandering the sea.
Finding Shanks would be troublesome for Kuke himself.
It would be better to leave it to Mihawk. Considering Mihawk's friendship with Shanks, he would surely find him, and through Mihawk, Kuke could then locate Shanks.
There was another reason as well.
Kuke wanted to test the relationship between Shanks and the World Government.
If Shanks was connected to the World Government, he wouldn't let such an opportunity pass. He would cooperate with them to set a trap.
If that was the case, then Shanks was a true enemy.
Kuke and the Sun and Moon Pirates were not afraid of traps.
Their ship's invincible defense, the crew's ability to be revived, all provided ample opportunities to test any scenario.
Most importantly, they had Violet.
No trap or ambush could escape her eyes.
"Alright."
Mihawk made up his mind and set off to find Red-Haired Shanks.
In the New World, the Red-Haired Pirates...
"Looking for me?" The crew, who had just decided to challenge the Sun and Moon Pirates, were dumbfounded.
"Boss, here he comes! Kuke is coming to fight you!"
The crew moved away from Shanks.
This was all your doing—all because of that big mouth of yours.
There's a difference between issuing a challenge and coming here to teach someone a lesson.
Shanks' mouth twitched, his gaze briefly flickering with a complex expression. Then, he looked pleadingly at his crew.
Save me...
...
The battle had ended.
But its impact had only just begun. Most people across the sea, in most places, hadn't been able to witness today's "broadcast."
They were eagerly waiting for the newspapers.
Unaware of what had transpired in the Sabaody Archipelago.
Those who already knew...
They knew the world had changed.
Half an hour after Kuke left, a massive fleet of Navy ships finally arrived, too late.
At the bow stood Garp, Aokiji, Zephyr, and other powerful figures who had stayed behind at Navy Headquarters.
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DONT FORGET POWER STONE FOR EXTRA CHAPTERS
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 154+ at patreon.com/Emik01.
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