The Kingdom of Sharon, suffocating under the oppressive rule of the Celestial Dragons.
The Marine base that had been wiped out by Sharon Lawrence and his n.
Sharon Lawrence, whose arm had been severed by Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Among all these people and events, who was good, and who was evil? It wasn't sothing that could be explained in a few simple words.
In the eyes of the people of the Kingdom of Sharon, Sharon Lawrence who tried to lead them out of the Celestial Dragons' shackles—was undoubtedly a force for good. They wanted to survive, and that ant they could no longer afford to continue paying the Heavenly Tribute.
But what wrong had the Marines stationed in the kingdom committed?
The Kingdom of Sharon had no choice but to take advantage of the Marine's massive operation to secretly eliminate the local base and seal their borders. Yet the Marines stationed there were rely carrying out their orders.
Perhaps most of those ordinary Marines died never understanding why Sharon Lawrence had launched a surprise attack.
And as for Yoriichi Tsugikuni, severing the enemy's arm had already been his act of rcy.
Yoriichi wasn't so naive saint. He could not simply stand by and allow Sharon Lawrence to act however he pleased aboard a Marine warship.
Kuzan looked at Sharon Lily, then at the Royal Guard standing on deck. He was at a loss. Should he kill them all? From his perspective, that wasn't entirely unreasonable—after all, these were the very culprits responsible for the destruction of the Marine base.
But would killing them truly solve anything?
Kuzan knew that if he did that, the turmoil in his heart would never settle.
Then what about letting them go?
Wouldn't that be a betrayal to the Marines who had died in the Kingdom of Sharon?
Faced with this dilemma, the young Kuzan fell into his own storm of thoughts.
Just then, the sound of a step rang out.
"Tap."
Sharon Lawrence's figure reappeared on the deck. He had recovered from the earlier strike by Yoriichi and had returned once more to the warship.
The slash that had taken his arm, and the blow that followed, had only broken a few of his ribs.
In the world of pirates, a few broken bones were hardly a serious injury.
And since Kuzan's ability had sealed the wound, Lawrence hadn't bled out. His combat power, despite the injury, remained formidable.
The mont he landed on the deck again, his eyes locked onto Yoriichi, wary that he might strike again.
But Yoriichi, sensing the gaze, rely glanced back with cold indifference before turning away to stare out at the sea once more.
Kuzan, upon seeing Sharon Lawrence again, parted his lips to speak. His voice was hoarse:
"King... Sharon."
"I received a distress call earlier aboard this ship..."
Before Kuzan could finish, Sharon Lawrence cut him off with a sneer:
"Ah!"
"That was us!"
"You're the ones who received it, then?"
"I specifically told you to stay out of it!"
As he spoke, Sharon Lawrence turned, his eyes filled with chilling malice. In a flash, he appeared before Kuzan, swinging his left fist in a heavy blow straight toward Kuzan's chest.
A dull, echoing thud rang across the deck. The spot where Kuzan had just stood was now empty, replaced by a massive hole over two ters wide.
Everyone on deck froze in shock at the sudden attack. At the bow, Sharon Lily clutched her mouth in horror, stunned by what she had just witnessed.
"One down," Sharon Lawrence muttered darkly.
"But the real trouble... is that brat."
He turned and stared at Yoriichi standing at the railing, eyes brimming with killing intent and caution.
But Yoriichi, as though entirely unaware of the commotion, continued gazing out at the sea for a long mont before finally turning back. His eyes swept over the large crater on the deck behind Sharon Lawrence, and he sighed quietly.
"The lost man... so fragile and feeble."
"Kuzan, you've got a long way to go."
Despite being only a teenager, Yoriichi spoke with a gravity and solemnity that made him seem like an old soul. His words caught the attention of everyone else on the deck.
Sharon Lawrence's eyes narrowed. He gathered Armant Haki into his feet and prepared to strike.
Just then, a young and raspy voice spoke beside his ear.
"Yoriichi, are you saying you've made your decision?"
"What do you think I should do?"
Sharon Lawrence froze at the voice. Turning quickly, he found Kuzan standing before him once again.
Blood trickled from the corner of Kuzan's lips. Sharon Lawrence's punch hadn't been useless after all.
Yet despite the blow, Kuzan seed oblivious to the pain. There was no hint of suffering on his face—only confusion, as he stared blankly at Yoriichi and asked his question.
"This kid... He used Haki to block it?"
"A Marine rear admiral with a Logia Fruit, and yet his Haki's that strong too?"
Sharon Lawrence looked at Kuzan in surprise, thoughts racing. Seeing Kuzan unguarded and dazed only made the murderous aura between his brows intensify.
"You're the superior officer," Yoriichi said calmly. "And now you're asking ?"
Kuzan's confusion instantly vanished, replaced by irritation and a tinge of grievance.
"Oh, so now you recognize as your superior?"
"Funny, you sure didn't treat like one earlier!"
"Give so advice. My head's a ss right now."
The heaviness and lancholy that had clouded him were gone the mont those words left his mouth. But Sharon Lawrence didn't give him ti to breathe. Seizing the mont Kuzan was distracted, he struck again—swinging a powerful hook at Kuzan's chest.
This ti, his punch was enhanced with the strongest Armant Haki he could muster. He ant to kill Kuzan in one decisive blow.
But just as the attack was about to land, a burst of black light roared across the deck, accompanied by a thunderous crack.
A massive blade scar was torn into the deck as the black flash raced forward.
Before Lawrence's fist could reach Kuzan, the black light slashed across his neck.
In that instant, blood sprayed across the wooden planks, and Sharon Lawrence's face, still twisted in fury was severed clean from his body and flung toward the sea.
"The strong raise their blades against the stronger."
"The weak raise their blades against the weaker."
"His suffering, I've felt it with my own hands."
"The hatred of the Marines who died at the base, the hatred Sharon Lawrence and his people hold toward the Celestial Dragons and the Marines alike..."
"I, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, will shoulder it all. One day, I will see to it that they all rest in peace."
"Until then, I will follow my own will and never lose my way."
"Kuzan, this... is my answer."
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