Chapter 176: The One I Want to Kill Most… Is You!
One step forward.
But that step seemed to shrink the earth beneath his feet.
One moment he was ten meters away, the next he was right in front of Wapol.
Then, he swung his blade horizontally.
A slash.
A crescent-shaped black blade aura detached from the blade and shot forward.
Surrounded by crackling black-red arcs of electricity, the blade aura distorted the air and dimmed the light wherever it passed.
This slash was not merely a physical attack.
Even those who "saw" it could feel an immense oppressive force.
Zoro craned his neck, eyes wide open, trying to burn every detail of this slash into his memory.
"Is this... a higher realm of slashing? No, it's not just slashing, there's also..."
He had no time to think further.
The blade aura struck.
Wapol's massive body, pieced together from countless weapons, shattered into countless fragments the moment the blade aura swept past.
Armor, cannon barrels, blade wheels, tracks...
Everything, upon contact with the black-red blade aura, reverted to its most primitive form before being torn apart by the aura, scattering like raindrops across the pristine snow.
The Pacifista, over ten meters tall, vanished inch by inch before everyone's eyes.
Only the central, limp body of Wapol remained, collapsed on the ground.
Eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth, convulsing all over—clearly, he had lost consciousness.
Ralph landed, flicking his wrist so the black military saber pointed diagonally at the ground.
"Tyrant Blade, Second Form..."
He said softly:
"...Unrestrained Domination."
Silence.
Then—
"We won!!"
Cheers erupted.
The militiamen threw down their weapons, the Doctor 20 team hugged each other, Dalton let out a long sigh of relief, and Usopp slumped to the ground with a silly grin.
Even the combined trio of the Straw Hat crew showed expressions of relief.
"That's wonderful..."
Vivi (the right head) whispered.
"That guy... really is reliable."
Nami (the left head) smiled.
"Tch, he stole the spotlight again."
Zoro (the middle head) grumbled with dissatisfaction, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Everyone was overjoyed, ready to gather and celebrate.
But at that moment—
Ralph suddenly raised his hand.
Not in a gesture of embrace.
But with his blade in hand.
The tip of the black military saber pointed toward Lufia, who was running toward him.
Pointed at his captain, his companion.
The air froze once more.
The laughter died abruptly.
The smiles on everyone's faces stiffened, turning into bewilderment, confusion, and... a hint of chill.
Because in Ralph's eyes, those blood-red pupils held no trace of jest.
Only cold, naked killing intent.
"Ralph...?"
Lufia stopped in her tracks, tilting her head.
"What's wrong with you?"
Sanji's cigarette fell to the ground.
Zoro's pupils contracted.
Usopp's mouth hung open.
Chopper was the first to rush out, blocking Lufia and shouting at Ralph:
"Aren't they your companions?! Why are you pointing your weapon at them?!"
But Lufia gently pushed Chopper aside and continued walking forward until she stood right before the blade's tip.
She looked up at Ralph's blood-red eyes, her expression still innocent:
"Ralph, what's wrong? Are you so sick that it's messed up your brain? I'm Lufia, your captain. Do you remember me?"
Ralph's blood-red pupils trembled slightly.
Then, the corner of his mouth curled into a strange arc.
"Of course I remember you."
The voice was soft, but each word struck the hearts of everyone like an ice pick:
"The one I most want to kill..."
The blade turned, its black Armament Haki growing even denser: "... is you!"
"....."
Dead silence.
"!"
A deeper silence than before.
Then—
"Don't lie to that extent!!"
Usopp was the first to roar, "Ralph, that's not how you make a joke!!"
"He's done for…"
Nami covered her face with all six hands, "Ralph's brain really is broken…"
"To say something like that to Miss Lufia…"
Sanji slowly straightened up, "Even if it's Ralph... it's unforgivable."
Zoro didn't speak, his eyes fixed intently on Ralph, trying to understand what had happened to his comrade.
At that moment, Dr. Kureha explained to everyone:
"This guy used some special method to mess up his brain in order to accelerate his body's recovery. You'd better knock him out and hand him over to me for further treatment."
"You old hag, it's your brain that's broken."
Unexpectedly, Ralph sneered and cursed rudely:
"Shut up if you don't want to die. I'm perfectly fine right now!"
How dare he call her an old hag?
If it were any other patient, Dr. Kureha would have struck immediately.
But after so many years as a doctor, she knew which kind of medical disputes she could retaliate against and which she had to avoid.
From another perspective, Ralph wasn't wrong—this was a mental issue. His body was perfectly healthy now, and indeed beyond Dr. Kureha's scope of intervention.
From their brief exchange, everyone understood the severity of the situation!
In short, Ralph was no longer Ralph.
Only Lufia's expression grew deadly serious.
She even took another small step forward, the tip of the blade pressing against her throat.
"Does Ralph want to kill me?"
Lufia asked, her voice calm, "Why? Is it because I eat too much, or because I'm an unfit captain?"
Red-eyed Ralph stared at her and slowly spoke:
"It's because you're in Ralph's way."
"Because of your existence, Ralph only revolves around you. His talent, his ambition, his aspirations... all will be buried."
Lufia's pupils abruptly contracted.
Not from fear, nor anger, but a kind of... shock, as if a sudden realization had dawned.
She lowered her head, seemingly pondering his words.
A few seconds later, she looked up again, a bright, cloudless smile spreading across her face:
"So that's how it is."
She said:
"In that case, then go ahead and kill me."
"!!!"
The entire Straw Hat crew gasped in shock.
"What nonsense are you saying?!"
Nami screamed.
"Ralph is clearly not himself right now! Don't join him in this madness!"
Usopp was on the verge of tears.
"I would rather die…" Sanji stepped in front of Lufia, "than let you harm Miss Lufia!"
Red-eyed Ralph was also taken aback.
A flicker of astonishment passed through his blood-red eyes, as if he hadn't expected such a response.
"You think I don't dare?"
He gritted his teeth, "I'm not that spineless fool who only thinks about you!"
But Lufia, in her role as captain, loudly commanded:
"Everyone! Do not interfere!"
She looked at Sanji, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Vivi—her gaze sweeping over each of her comrades' faces, her voice resolute and unwavering:
"If Ralph truly wants to kill me, then let him!"
"As the captain, I carry the dreams of everyone. Ralph is my first and most important partner—how could I stand in the way of him pursuing his true dream?"
Sanji's eyes turned red with urgency:
"Miss Lufia! You say you shoulder all our dreams, but if you die, what will become of us?!"
Lufia smiled.
That smile was like sunlight piercing through dark clouds, like a spring breeze melting ice and snow.
"Then you all must..."
She looked at the red-eyed Ralph, then at all her companions:
"Believe in me, and believe in Ralph too!"
The moment her words fell—
"Grrr—!!!"
The red-eyed Ralph let out a roar that sounded inhuman.
He gripped his sword with both hands, raising it high above his head.
On the pitch-black military blade, Armament Haki surged wildly. Black-red arcs of electricity reappeared, but this time they were denser, more violent.
The air around the blade began to distort, emitting a strained, buzzing hum.
Then, he struck.
Not one slash.
But two.
A horizontal sweep, followed by a vertical chop.
Two pitch-black slashes tore free from the blade, crossing in midair to form a burning black-red cross of electricity.
The sheer force of it was even more terrifying than the "Unrestrained Rampage" that had defeated Wapol before.
To dominate, one must overpower all with overwhelming strength!
The Tyrant Blade—only those who sever all ties, free from love and attachments, can unleash its greatest power!
"Tyrant Blade: Third Form!"
The red-eyed Ralph snarled, two trails of bloody tears streaming from his crimson eyes:
"...Dominate the World!!"
The cross-shaped slash blasted toward Lufia.