[Chapter Size: 1961 Words.]
Third Person POV
Syrup Village, East Blue.
…
…
“Zoro, I can see you’ve got a problem, need some help?” This sudden, loud voice made Usopp and Kuro look up the hill where Luffy and the others were.
Kuro fixed his burning gaze on Luffy as he spotted him for the first time in the corner of that island under the clear sky. His once intense eyes seemed to spark with unquenchable anger. To Kuro, Luffy’s mere presence was a burning wound that turned the peaceful island into an emotional battleground.
The origin of his hatred was rooted in the understanding that it was Luffy himself who had sown the seeds of destruction in his elaborate plans. Every failure and twist that threatened his meticulous strategy could be directly traced back to Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates. Kuro’s anger burned with the intensity of a thousand suns, as he blamed the pirate captain for every setback and obstacle in his path.
The discovery that Usopp, someone he had never expected to be so relentless, was under Luffy’s influence only fueled Kuro’s hatred further. Usopp, the boy he had once known, had become unrecognizable, reinforcing the feelings of powerlessness and anger within Kuro. He wondered how Luffy had managed to wield such influence over one of his former crew members, making him a formidable opponent.
Kuro couldn’t comprehend how everything had unraveled so quickly, how his carefully laid machinations had come undone in a whirlwind of problems and twists. The only certainty he had was that Luffy was aware of his true identity, and that only heightened the fury burning in his heart.
Despite suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Luffy in a previous confrontation, the mere presence of the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates caused Kuro’s anger to grow with each passing second. He couldn’t believe that Luffy’s group had disappeared after the beating he had taken. The idea that they had abandoned him further fueled his anger, and he remained convinced that, with the help of his old crew, he could deal with Luffy and his companions.
Now, with the sunny and tranquil scenery, Luffy’s presence only added fuel to the fire of hatred burning inside Kuro. The impending confrontation promised to be an explosion of pent-up emotions as Kuro, determined to avenge his defeats and restore his honor, faced Luffy with a ferocity that only an enemy fueled by the deepest and hottest hatred could display.
“My meticulously laid plans are in tatters, but at least I’ll be rid of you!” Kuro roared in frustration, his words dripping with poison as he watched helplessly as his intricate scheme crumbled. He knew that facing Luffy was a sentence of defeat, vividly remembering the previous humiliation and the imminent destruction that loomed over his crew, caused by another relentless force.
Usopp’s eyes remained firm and determined, hiding the torrent of fear bubbling inside him. The tension was unbearable, causing his body to tremble involuntarily. However, Usopp’s courage spoke louder when he convinced himself that he had no choice but to face Kuro, all in order to protect Kaya, his friend and the only light in the midst of the looming darkness.
“I won’t allow it!” Usopp exclaimed with a trembling voice, but filled with determination. With the agility of an experienced marksman, he drew his pistol and fired directly at Kuro. The sharp sound of the shots pierced the air, echoing as a challenge to everything Kuro represented.
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
Kuro, even with his injured leg, skillfully resorted to his superhuman agility to dodge the bullets, displaying impressive agility that defied logic. Even though the pain of the wound was present, his determination was unwavering. The bullets whizzed through the air, but Kuro remained unscathed, maintaining the distance between him and the deadly ammunition.
“DIE!” Kuro bellowed, bursting into an relentless charge towards the long-nosed liar, his face contorted by uncontrollable fury that boiled within him. The thirst for vengeance fueled his strength, making him even more threatening.
As Kuro closed in on Usopp, the sniper found himself in a critical situation. Needing to reload his weapon, he momentarily found himself defenseless. However, before he could take any action, a deafening roar echoed through the air.
“Hm?”
BOOM
A grenade exploded violently near Usopp, engulfing him in a cloud of smoke and destruction. The explosion caught Kuro and even Usopp himself, creating a scene of chaos and devastation.
Even amid the chaos and the pain that surrounded him, Usopp recognized the need for his sacrifice. He was willing to endure any suffering to stop the vile pirate who threatened his friend and his island. The intense pain he felt became a tangible testament to his courage, a testimony of the price he was willing to pay to protect those he loved.
Usopp emerged from the explosion as a fearless hero, far from unscathed. When the dust finally settled, his body was riddled with injuries, a series of cuts and bruises bearing witness to the brutality of the confrontation. Blood flowed from his wounds, staining his attire and the arid ground of the island.
Kuro’s hoarse and hate-filled voice echoed across the scene, revealing him amidst the carnage. His figure was visibly worn out, a mask of cruelty and blood that covered his already exhausted body. The pirate bled from numerous lacerations, a living testament to the wounds inflicted during the battle. Yet, his fierce determination still burned in his eyes.
Usopp, despite the intense pain that tormented him, did not back down from the bloodied adversary. In times past, he might have succumbed to fear and fled, but now, courage compelled him to face the cruel man and exact vengeance for all that Kuro had caused. His voice, though trembling, echoed through the battlefield.
“I’ll stop you!” Usopp proclaimed, unwavering determination in his voice. He aimed his pistol once more, pointing it at his relentless opponent.
Kuro, despite his weakened condition, didn’t hesitate to respond. With the last reserves of strength within him, he shouted in return:
“DIE!”
He advanced with a terrifying intensity, knowing that the battle had reached its climax. His offensive was a display of the fierceness of his will, even if he was at the limit of his endurance. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from where he stood, delivering a precise and swift strike that cut across Usopp’s chest before he could react.
“AHHHH!” Usopp’s cry of pain echoed through the scene as he fell backward to the ground, his skin tingling with the searing pain radiating from his wound.
Kuro, with a cold and challenging gaze, uttered threatening words as he looked at Usopp, lying on the ground, covered in blood. “I might lose or even die here, but at the very least, I will kill you!” he said coldly, his voice echoing in the tense air.
However, just as he was about to strike Usopp’s head with his deadly blades, a small pebble struck his head, causing him to pause and turn his gaze in the direction of the thrown object’s origin. There stood Kaya, tears streaming down her face as she held another stone on the ground, determined to interrupt the imminent atrocity.
“I won’t let you kill Usopp!” Kaya shouted firmly, her voice trembling with fear but resolute to face the danger on behalf of her friend.
“Kaya…” Usopp muttered, his face contorted with concern, as he lay helpless on the ground and shouted with all his might, using his last energies to try to protect his friend.
“KAYA, GET OUT OF HERE!!” He growled, urgency echoing in his voice, knowing that Kuro was about to direct his unbridled rage toward the defenseless girl.
Immersed in the madness of his fury, Kuro abruptly turned toward Kaya, his hands taking on the form of lethal claws as he advanced toward the defenseless girl, determined to cause as much destruction as possible.
“?!” Kaya was alarmed, her eyes widening in terror as Kuro appeared before her, his deadly claws poised to strike.
“KAYAAA!” Usopp’s anguished cry resonated through the chaotic scene, his desperation echoing in the air as he helplessly watched the terrible threat approach his friend.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!*
The deafening roar of Yamato’s explosion made the ground tremble violently in that remote corner of this island. Kuro, already severely wounded, lost his balance and stumbled over his own injuries, his expression of rage turning into a grimace of pain.
Amidst the chaos, a gunshot rang out, breaking the silence that followed the explosion. It was Usopp, who seized the moment when Kuro lost part of his balance to shoot his weapon at the villain’s back.
Kaya watched in terror, her eyes fixed on Kuro’s chest, where blood spurted from the spot where his heart should be. Usopp, with no other options, acted on instinct and fired again, aiming for the heart of the man who threatened Kaya’s life.
Silence fell over the battlefield, now stained with blood. Kuro, dazed, knelt down, touching his bloodied chest, unable to comprehend the rapid turn of fate. It didn’t take long for him to fall to the ground, lifeless.
Meanwhile, Luffy displayed a small smile, observing the scene of the two battles that had unfolded.
“For someone who said he didn’t care about their lives, you were about to move when they were on the brink of death,” Kuina commented with an amused look next to the captain.
A smile also appeared on Nami and Shirahoshi’s lips, who were watching the scene from a distance.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Luffy responded, somewhat embarrassed but proud of his comrades.
But before anyone could tease him further, he jumped from the hill to see Yamato and Zoro.
Seeing him leave, Kuina and the others could only follow the captain, wanting to avoid any provocation they were about to make.
“I see you’ve put on quite a show…” Luffy couldn’t help but comment, looking at the scene that Yamato had created on the beach.
“Hehehehe….” Yamato laughed nervously and embarrassed, while Zoro grumbled at the sight.
“Anyway, let’s tie them up. We’ll have Lami and Bepo hand them over to the Marines in the next few days.” Luffy gave the order, and both of them began to do just that, with Nami being the most eager to complete the task, thinking about the money she would earn when these defeated pirates were delivered to a naval base.
Watching this, Luffy went to where the young hero was lying, injured.
“You fought better than I thought…” Luffy quickly reached Kaya and began tending to Usopp with Kuro’s lifeless body a few meters away from them.
“I believe so… Thank you.” It was the only thing Usopp managed to say as he looked as bad as he did when Luffy saw the birth of God Usopp in Dressrosa.
“Thank you for helping…” Kaya couldn’t help but comment as she inspected the long-nosed man’s injuries.
“Don’t worry, I wanted to see if my future sharpshooter was worthy to face the sea, which will be much harder than this battle, at least here, I wasn’t disappointed…” Luffy commented with a smile.
Usopp just nodded in silence.
It didn’t take long for them to move Usopp to Kaya’s mansion after all the pirates were tied up, with the convulsion resolved, Merry prepared a banquet for the group to celebrate the victory in such a difficult moment, the butler was quite wounded, as Kaya had found him injured by Kuro before heading to the beach.
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