"This time, we'll go directly to Whitebeard. If we take our time, we should encounter the Moby Dick in about a month."
Nero sat on the edge of the bed, checking Kuina's injuries. She would probably need to eat soft foods for two more days.
Kuina closed her eyes in despair. Kaido-sensei's attack this time, three strikes, made her see her life flash before her eyes three times.
What about Whitebeard, the strongest pirate?
Will she really die this time?
However, Kuina's previous beatings weren't in vain. She felt her bottleneck break, and more potential surged within her body.
Now, she was no longer just a Great Swordsman's doorkeeper. Her Haki and swordsmanship had become more refined and fluid. This was a breakthrough she might not have achieved even after several years of solo training.
Nero sat in the rocking chair, picking up the latest newspaper to read.
Upon reading it, she found quite a few interesting news items recently.
"Straw Hat: Monkey D. Luffy, bounty of 100,000,000 Berries."
"Former Shichibukai, Crocodile's conspiracy exposed, arrested by Marine Captain Smoker."
"Nico Robin joins the Straw Hat Pirates."
"The Straw Hat Pirates are suspected to have appeared in Water Seven."
"Rob Lucci, the most talented agent in eight hundred years, fled with the former CP9 after killing his superior."
Nero paid close attention to the movements of the Straw Hat Pirates. Previously, these guys had even gone to Sky Island, causing quite a stir.
Now that they had arrived at Water Seven, little Robin should have seen the poneglyph on Sky Island.
Nero flipped through the newspaper and suddenly found an interesting piece of news in the latest issue.
"Beasts Pirates Attacked!!!"
Nero carefully read the content: "The Beasts Pirates' Three Calamities, Tobi Roppo, and other executives are all bandaged."
"The identity of the attacker is currently unknown. Kaido once led his executives to fight them together, and the result was severe injuries on the executives."
"Hmm, this happened right after we left. Did we just miss it?"
Nero turned the page and saw a blank wanted poster:
"Mysterious Person: Appearance unknown, race unknown, gender unknown."
"Accomplishments: Defeated a Four Emperors executive and successfully escaped."
"Bounty: 1,800,000,000 Berries."
"Hmm, a mysterious person? Truly quite mysterious."
At the same time, on the top floor of Onigashima, Kaido tapped the hachisai-kai in his palm twice: "Are you ready?"
"Bring it on, Big Brother Kaido!" Jack, the Drought, slightly bent his knees, took a horse stance, and roared at Kaido: "To become stronger, Big Brother, you don't need to hold back!"
"Ah, of course!" Kaido raised his spiked club, the hachisai-kai: "If once isn't enough, then twice. If twice isn't enough, then ten times! The training Nero traveled so far to make his disciple undergo…"
[Thunder Bagua!!]
...Just as Nero had predicted, the ship sailed for a month before they saw the Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick.
Kuina's injuries had also fully recovered three days ago, but her state worried Nero and Hathaway.
For some reason, Kuina's mentality had completely changed.
From before: Whitebeard? I'll die!
To now: Two Four Emperors couldn't kill me, Whitebeard? Still lacking a bit.
A strange confidence exuded from her entire being, and she successfully awakened Conqueror's Haki.
Nero was baffled. Although she spoke confidently, she truly didn't expect Kuina to awaken Haoshoku.
Were Kaido's strikes really that effective?
She originally treated Kuina as entertainment, but she actually awakened it?
Oh no, Rayleigh hasn't shed his reputation as a mediocre teacher yet, and now I seem to be taking the blame!
"Master, you mustn't interfere. Today, I'm going to test just how much substance the world's strongest man truly has."
At the bow of the golden rose, Kuina drew her saber, Issho, and stared at the Moby Dick with high spirits.
This treasured sword, acquired with half a lifetime of loans, was named Issho by Nero.
"The strongest of the old era, today I shall gauge his magnanimity!"
With Conqueror's Haki fully unleashed, Kuina's Haoshoku was undoubtedly nascent, but this provocative intent… showed no sign of her considering herself a junior. She practically regarded herself as another Four Emperors.
"Hmm, how about… I say hello to Newgate first?"
This was the first time Nero had been so submissive in front of Kuina. This disciple seemed a bit crazy now.
"Hello? No problem, I'll do it!" Kuina swung her sword decisively.
[Kamisari!]
Nero's breathing hitched. The greeting I meant wasn't this!!!
A powerful Conqueror's Haki from the Moby Dick directly overwhelmed Kuina's Haoshoku, followed by space shattering like glass, turning into a shockwave that slammed into Kuina's slash.
It was undoubtedly Whitebeard who made the move.
"As expected, it's not that simple, is it? Even if he's an old man now, he once contended for the strongest throne with Master."
Kuina lightly caressed the blade of her sword with her delicate hand, then shot straight into the sky with Moonwalk: "But I didn't expect to gain an advantage in one move. Whitebeard, hand over your head!!!"
[Rakka Tenmaku (Falling Flower Sky Curtain)!!!]
She fell towards Whitebeard's ship like a meteor, and whatever the result, the Moby Dick swayed precariously, almost capsizing.
Nero covered her face, not daring to perceive the scene on the ship with her Observation Haki.
When did I ever want Newgate's head?
She tugged at Hathaway's skirt: "Hey, Hathaway, how about you and I go back first?"
This situation was like not being able to hold back her husky, and in a moment of distraction, it ran into a friend's house and started tearing it apart.
It was… quite embarrassing.
"Give up, Your Majesty. At this distance, Whitebeard has definitely seen us, and Kuina, as your disciple, is somewhat famous in the New World."
Hathaway was also speechless, covering her head and saying with a headache.
"Hmm…"
Nero sighed and stepped onto the Moby Dick with Hathaway.
The commotion above had subsided, so it seemed Kuina had likely been defeated.
"Nero!" Next to Whitebeard, Kuina was beaten into a pig's head and was being tied up with ropes by a group of people.
"What do you mean by this, you bastard?" Whitebeard glared at Nero, his mustache bristling.
"Sashiburi, Newgate!" Nero pretended not to see Kuina.
Whitebeard's forehead was full of black lines: "Don't talk nonsense, what's going on with this kid?"
"Kid? Where? Where? I don't see any!" Nero cupped her hand over her brow, looking left and right as if she had lost her sight.
"…"
Whitebeard shook his head: "Forget it, what are you here for this time?"
Just then, Kuina struggled to sit up from the ground: "I didn't expect to be defeated so easily!"
"Whitebeard… isn't bad!"
"…"
"…"
Everyone on both sides was speechless. Now, Nero no longer had any doubts about Kuina's ability to awaken Haoshoku.
She even suspected that Kaido's club had damaged her head.
Whitebeard apparently had the same thought, tapping his forehead and looking at Nero questioningly: "???"
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