Luffy and Zoro charged forward once more.
Byakki Kuro thrust his arms forward, and Luffy and Zoro felt their stomachs churn. Both of them flew backward, crashing into the mountain wall.
Although he had only made a slight Move, Luffy and Zoro both felt that Byakki Kuro's fighting style and Aura were completely different from Kuro's earlier.
Byakki Kuro suddenly moved, and a sonic boom echoed through the air.
That dull yet piercing sonic boom made both Luffy and Zoro feel a dizzying sensation in their brains.
Fast! Too fast…
Luffy and Zoro both squatted down simultaneously, and Byakki Kuro's fist swung through the air, striking the mountain wall.
The entire mountain wall was shattered, and seeing this, both of them showed expressions of horror.
At this moment, Byakki Kuro's speed was several times faster than normal Kuro's, and his strength was exaggeratedly great.
Luffy threw a punch, and Byakki Kuro also threw a punch. As their fists collided, Luffy felt his bones were about to shatter, and his body was once again sent flying.
Zoro seized the opportunity, spinning horizontally as he attacked Byakki Kuro.
Three-Sword Style: Shura!
Whoosh—
Byakki Kuro instantly vanished from in front of Zoro, appearing behind him the next moment and kicking Zoro in the waist.
However, Luffy and Zoro were like unkillable cockroaches, getting up again, and their Aura grew even stronger.
Rosen stood on the cliff, watching the battle below.
Kaya and Mei were also watching beside him.
"Is this what battles between pirates are like? It's completely beyond imagination." Mei watched the scene in shock.
"Yes, this is what pirate battles are like. They are still just greenhorn children," Rosen said.
"So Grandpa is training them now?"
However, even after regrouping, Luffy and Zoro were helpless against Byakki Kuro.
Byakki Kuro was too strong, stronger than they could imagine.
In just a moment, both of them were knocked to the ground again.
Byakki Kuro looked at Luffy and Zoro on the ground.
"As expected of the weakest East Blue, with your strength, you don't even have the qualifications to enter the Grand Line. Give up your foolish and ridiculous dreams! At least that way you can keep your lives."
"Never!!"
Byakki Kuro's words once again ignited Luffy and Zoro's competitive spirit, and both of them stood up again.
Are they cockroaches? Rosen looked at the two below.
Byakki Kuro looked at the two: "Now let me make you understand how big the gap between us is."
Just then, Luffy and Zoro simultaneously had a premonition of a certain scene.
Byakki Kuro raised his palm, using some kind of power to pull them in front of him, and then instantly unleashed a terrifying repelling force, sending their bodies flying and directly leveling the surrounding thirty-meter area.
Almost instantly, Luffy and Zoro retreated backward simultaneously.
The scene in their minds also changed as they retreated.
"Oh!?" Rosen showed a surprised expression. Were they sensed?
Had they awakened Observation Haki?
Just then, a small stone hit Byakki Kuro on the head.
Byakki Kuro turned his head to look in the direction the stone came from. Usopp stood awkwardly in place.
"Ah haha… you continue, you continue."
"You're looking for…" Byakki Kuro raised his hand and aimed at Usopp.
Boom—
Suddenly, a burst of Fire light bloomed under Byakki Kuro's feet, instantly engulfing Byakki Kuro.
What hit Byakki Kuro earlier was not a stone, but a simple bomb filled with gunpowder.
Gum-Gum: Gatling!
Luffy's head stretched out a hundred meters, then slammed violently into Byakki Kuro.
He had also foreseen Usopp's sneak attack, so he had been charging this strike for a long time.
Bang—
Byakki Kuro's head and Luffy's head collided, and Byakki Kuro was directly sent flying, crashing into the mountain wall. The mountain wall collapsed, burying Byakki Kuro underneath.
It was also at this moment that a Shadow emerged from beneath the rubble and returned to Rosen's feet.
"Did we win?" Luffy panted as he looked at the pile of rubble.
Zoro likewise dared not relax his guard.
Byakki Kuro was too strong, and the pressure he exerted on them surpassed any previous enemy.
After waiting for a long time and seeing no movement from beneath the rubble, they finally confirmed that they had defeated Byakki Kuro.
"What exactly was going on with that guy? Why was he so strong?"
"It seemed like he got especially strong after his whole body turned Black."
"Was that some kind of Move?"
"Ah, that's Armament Haki."
Just then, Rosen's voice came.
Rosen, Kaya, and Mei walked out.
"Grandpa, where did you go just now?"
"To go home, of course. Let me introduce you, this is Kaya, my granddaughter."
"What? Is she Kaya?"
"Kaya, why did you let Klarabart try to kill me?" Usopp asked with a heartbroken expression.
"I think you've got something wrong. This guy isn't called Klarabart, but Kuro. He's a pirate who tried to seize Kaya's family fortune, so he was lurking in Kaya's house. Not long ago, because I exposed his plan, he escaped."
"He's Byakki Kuro?" Zoro showed a surprised expression. He used to be a pirate hunter, so he naturally knew Byakki Kuro's name: "Isn't he already dead?"
"He faked his death to escape. He originally planned to kill Kaya, then forge a will to seize Kaya's family fortune."
"Then why did he try to kill me?" Usopp asked.
"Perhaps he just didn't like the look of you," Rosen said.
"So, Grandpa, are you really Kaya's Grandpa?"
"Of course. Don't you think Kaya and I look very similar?"
"Ah, this…"
"Grandpa, what is this Armament Haki you mentioned?"
"After you enter the second half of the Grand Line, you will encounter more and more strong people. Without exception, all these strong people master a power called Haki." Rosen said: "Haki is divided into Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki."
"Conqueror's Haki is innate, only one in a million people can Awaken it. Armament Haki can greatly increase strength, speed, and defense, just like Kuro showed just now." Rosen paused, then continued: "There's also Observation Haki, which you should have already awakened just now."
"No, I don't feel any changes in my body."
"Did you foresee certain scenes just now?"
"Yes, is that Observation Haki?"
"That's right, Observation Haki can predict the future, and powerful Observation Haki can even hear other people's thoughts."
"Grandpa, do you have Haki?"
"No." Rosen shrugged helplessly. Rosen doesn't have any of the Three-color Haki.
His goal just now was to stimulate Luffy and Zoro's Observation Haki, and he was also learning from the side.
Although he had some clues, they weren't very clear.
Moreover, Luffy and Zoro were too weak, not enough to use them to stimulate his own Observation Haki.
However, soon they would meet Hawkeye, and perhaps he could learn Observation Haki and Color of Arms from him.
"Grandpa, I have a gift for you."
"What gift?"
Kaya led everyone to the dock, where a sheep-headed ship was docked.
"This is the Going Merry," Kaya said. "I've always dreamed of going out to sea, but I know I can't do it. But I hope that one day, someone can take this ship on a long voyage and explore the World for me."
"Wow wow wow…"
Luffy's eyes widened, and he jumped around excitedly like a monkey.
"Do you like it?"
"Like it? We love it!" Luffy eagerly blurted out.
"That's good," Kaya chuckled.
Everyone stayed in Syrup Village for a few days, and the Going Merry also underwent its final renovation. Finally, the day of departure arrived.
Kaya and Mei stood on the dock. Luffy, Zoro, and Nami were already on board.
Rosen stood on the dock. Kaya looked at Rosen: "Grandpa, you're not really my Grandpa, are you?"
"I actually wish I were. I also wish I had a granddaughter like you."
Kaya hugged Rosen again: "Grandpa, be careful on your journey."
Rosen patted Kaya's head: "I'll write back when I have time."
In the pirate World, there are mail birds and Den Den Mushi, so communication is quite convenient.
Rosen then looked at Django: "Stay here until you learn illusions, and take care of Kaya and the Village for me. If you succeed in illusions, then go out and explore. Whatever choice you make, I will support you."
"Great Master, Disciple will certainly not disappoint your expectations."
Rosen patted Django's shoulder: "I look forward to our strongest illusion duel in the future."
"Great Master, just you wait, I will become the greatest Great Master of magic."
"Then we're off." Rosen waved his hand.
Rosen returned to the Going Merry.
"Set sail!"
"Hey…"
Just then, from the direction of Syrup Village, a figure was rushing over.
It was Usopp, carrying a huge package on his back.
"You bastards, wait for me! I want to get on the ship too! You actually left your Captain behind."
"Heh…" Zoro chuckled softly.
Although Usopp was very weak and liked to brag.
However, that day, when facing Byakki Kuro, in such a dangerous situation, Usopp bravely attacked Byakki Kuro, and even created an opportunity for them to counterattack, which still made Zoro look at him in a new light.
So, if Usopp wanted to get on the ship, he had no objections.
"Gum-Gum… Rocket…"
Luffy stretched out his arms, grabbed Usopp who had run to the dock, and pulled him sharply.
With a scream, Usopp crashed heavily onto the deck.
The Going Merry's maiden voyage was successful, and everyone began to draw their own pirate flag.
Ultimately, the clever Usopp finalized the design.
Then they began to familiarize themselves with the various equipment on the Going Merry.
The Going Merry was the best ship they could imagine; it fulfilled all their fantasies.
And the sheep's head at the bow was Luffy's favorite seat, exclusively his. Even Rosen was not allowed to sit on it.
"As a pirate, you must learn to fire cannons. Now we will start practicing firing cannons." Usopp began to explain the steps of aiming, igniting, and firing the cannon.
Boom—
A reef in front was shattered.
"Let me try."
Everyone took turns trying, bombarding the reef in front.
"It looks like there's someone in the sea." Rosen stood at the railing on top of the ship's cabin, looking out at the sea.
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