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The Strongest Frost Loli (123)
🕑 Added 2024-09-13 17:00:04 +0000 UTCChapter 123 - Black Lightning
Carrying Kuro and David in his arms, George used a piece of cloud he had sliced off to indirectly transport Feiyun and the others back to the ship. Covered in the blood of his two comrades, he flew through the air, seemingly unconcerned about his appearance.
“Don’t die on me, you two…!”
“Hehehe… I think I might have lost too much blood this time…”
Kuro had experienced a brutal form of torture on a certain island in the past, so he had a high tolerance for pain. Combined with the unique properties of his Yami Yami no Mi, he was still conscious, but his injuries were severe.
David, on the other hand, hadn’t experienced anything like that, and his wounds were in a critical location.
They needed immediate treatment.
George returned to the ship and called for the medical team, instructing them to prioritize Kuro and David.
Caterina, who had been treating Kanata, rushed out and examined their injuries.
“Caterina! They need immediate treatment! Hurry!”
“…I’ll prepare blood transfusions and clotting agents! We need to operate! Get everything ready!”
The medical team rushed Kuro and David to the infirmary as Caterina barked orders. George was about to carry the remaining three – Teach, Kaie, and Feiyun – to the ship, but Caterina stopped him.
“George.”
“What is it? They need treatment–”
“Be prepared.”
“…It’s that bad, huh?”
“Yes. Kuro and David took a direct hit from Octavia’s lightning. They have severe burns… And Kuro… his left arm’s gone, and he has a hole in his abdomen. It’s a miracle he’s still conscious. David was impaled through the chest. His heart’s fine, but based on the blood loss, he probably has a severed artery. We need to examine him properly, but his left lung’s collapsed… Even if he survives, he won’t be able to live a normal life.”
They had underestimated the danger, and Sukura, their doctor, wasn’t with them. Perhaps he could have done something… but even he was only human.
Unless he had a Devil Fruit ability that specialized in healing… Unfortunately, Twilight didn't have anyone like that.
“If only I had fought a little longer…”
“No. The ship would have crashed if you had lost consciousness.”
The explosion had damaged the ship, but that could be repaired. Countless lives would have been lost if they had crashed.
George had prioritized survival. He hadn’t made a mistake.
“What about Teach?”
“He’s tough. He’ll be fine. He’s unconscious, but he’ll live.”
He only had burns and bruises. He would wake up soon.
Kaie, Feiyun, and Izo had also sustained severe injuries. They needed treatment as well.
George turned to carry them to the ship, but Kaie was already carrying Feiyun.
Feiyun, being a giant, was difficult to transport, but Kaie’s hybrid form allowed her to carry her with ease. And as a Zoan Devil Fruit user, she was more resilient and had recovered faster.
“Kaie! Don’t push yourself!”
“This is nothing. We need to treat their injuries.”
Izo and Feiyun were strong, but even they were no match for Octavia. They both had severe burns from the lightning attacks. Feiyun had been a primary target and was in critical condition.
They rushed them to the infirmary, and the medical team began treating them immediately.
Caterina hurried into the infirmary and changed into surgical attire.
“Octavia… Why?” she mumbled.
She had traveled with Octavia for a while. Back then, Octavia hadn't seemed like a bad person, despite her harshness.
Why was she so obsessed with Kanata? Why were they fighting so fiercely? Caterina couldn't understand it.
“…”
She had to focus on treating the wounded. She slapped her cheeks to clear her head and entered her own battlefield.
***
The slash split Angel Island in two. The battle was intensifying. A raging storm was engulfing Skypiea. While the White White Sea, located 10,000 meters above sea level, shouldn't have any clouds above it, the two Devil Fruit users had created a sky filled with dark clouds. Lightning rained down like a torrential downpour, and a blizzard raged, making it impossible to approach them.
Kanata swung Muramasa to decapitate Octavia. Octavia parried the attack and countered with a bolt of lightning.
Kanata channeled Conqueror’s Haki into her blade, deflecting the lightning without touching it. She unleashed a blizzard, the snow freezing everything in its path. Their battle, akin to a natural disaster, had left Skypiea in ruins. Even Cloud End, the path to the Blue Sea, had been blocked.
“Fall, Octavia!!”
Kanata roared and unleashed another attack.
She swung Muramasa, black lightning crackling along its blade, and clashed with Octavia’s spear. Sparks flew as they exchanged blows. The dark clouds were momentarily dispersed by the impact. Octavia, pushed back, landed gracefully and raised her spear.
“That’s not enough to defeat me.”
The dark clouds gathered again, and lightning rained down once more.
Kanata dodged the attacks and charged at Octavia. She was now able to wield Conqueror’s Haki, able to fully utilize its power, but her lack of experience was a major disadvantage.
She had finally reached the starting line. She still had a long way to go before she could defeat Octavia.
She had to utilize everything she had to push Octavia back.
“–!”
Several ice spears materialized behind Kanata.
Each spear was infused with Haki and shot out like bullets. Octavia dodged and deflected the attacks, and Kanata, using the opportunity to close the distance, slammed her spear into Octavia’s, their Haki colliding. She clenched her fist.
“Guh…!”
Kanata aimed a punch at her face.
Octavia narrowly dodged the attack and countered with her own fist, realizing that her spear wouldn't be effective at this range.
Kanata dodged the counter and, placing her hand on Octavia’s abdomen, unleashed a shockwave of Haki.
(What… is this?!)
Octavia’s eyes widened in surprise.
It was a technique that could damage internal organs with a blast of Haki.
While there were a few who used similar techniques, this specific application was familiar.
It was Rocks’s fighting style.
She instinctively retreated, but Kanata had anticipated her movements and pressed her advantage. Her Observation Haki allowed her to see further into the future than Octavia’s.
With Muramasa in her right hand, Kanata clenched her left fist and punched Octavia in the face.
“–Where did you learn to fight like Xebec?!”
It was a style Kanata shouldn’t even know about. While there were those who had seen it, none were skilled enough to replicate it. Octavia could do it, but she had never taught Kanata.
“Does it matter where I learned it?”
Kanata charged her blade with black lightning.
Observation Haki wasn't simply about reading a person’s thoughts and emotions. It could be used to see the future, and even the past.
Voices resided in all things. By listening to these voices, one could learn about the past – and even share past experiences.
She was using Muramasa to access Rocks’s combat experience.
“This sword is teaching me how to defeat you. But I doubt you’ll be defeated so easily.”
The memories within Muramasa were from the past.
Octavia, while past her prime, had accumulated even more experience.
The memories didn't include anything after the God Valley Incident. If Kanata relied solely on those memories, then she would lose.
“…Muramasa, huh? It seems Xebec is on your side.”
Octavia looked at Kanata and saw Rocks. Their faces were different, but Kanata had inherited her father’s eyes.
She closed her eyes, pushing aside her emotions.
“I won’t prolong this any further. Defeat me, with everything you have.”
***
The battle lasted for several hours. They were both exhausted, but their killing intent remained undiminished.
Kuro, despite Caterina’s orders for absolute bed rest, was watching the battle.
“…George, do you think Kanata will win?”
“I don’t know. At that level, even I can’t predict the outcome… Get some rest.”
“I can’t.”
Unlike his usual carefree demeanor, Kuro was silent.
Their battle was like a natural disaster, but Octavia seemed to have a slight advantage.
Octavia’s Goro Goro no Mi was said to be the strongest Logia Devil Fruit. Its destructive power rivalled even Whitebeard’s Gura Gura no Mi.
Kanata’s Hie Hie no Mi, while also a Logia, couldn't match its raw power.
Kanata had the upper hand in Observation Haki, but Octavia's Armament Haki, and her experience in manipulating Conqueror’s Haki, were superior.
They couldn't simply let Kanata fight alone and hope for the best.
“I believe in her, but belief and victory are two different things. Blindly believing isn't enough.”
“Zehahahaha!! You said it!!”
Teach appeared, carrying Kanata’s spear. He was supposed to be injured, but he seemed fine.
“She’ll win. But she can’t win alone. We have to do something.”
“Do something… What can we even do?”
“I can at least distract Octavia. Create an opening.”
“You might be fine, but Kuro’s seriously injured! He’ll die if he gets involved!”
“I know when to pick my battles! That’s why I’m doing this!”
“…You…”
George was stunned.
Kuro grinned and called out to Teach.
“Teach! Carry me!”
“Huh? Are you sure? George said you’d die!”
“I don’t care!”
Teach was surprised by his nonchalant response.
“…Zehahahaha!! Alright, you've made up your mind! There’s nothing more to say! Let’s go! Don’t fall off!”
Teach lifted Kuro in his right arm and grabbed Kanata’s spear with his left. He leaped from the ship.
The ship was hovering at a safe distance from the raging storm, so he flew towards the center.
It was suicide to intervene in a battle between Kanata and Octavia, but even then –
“Kanataaaaaaa!!!”
Kuro’s shout echoed as they appeared.
Kanata and Octavia were surprised by the sudden interruption. Teach, ignoring them, threw the spear.
“Captain! You forgot something!!”
Muramasa was a powerful weapon, a black blade ranked among the 12 Saijo O Wazamono.
In contrast, the spear Kanata usually used was simply a sharpened Sea King fang.
Muramasa was undoubtedly the superior weapon.
However – Experience mattered, and one’s true potential was revealed with the weapon they were most accustomed to.
“Get out of my–!”
Octavia raised her hand towards the dark clouds, aiming to strike down Teach and Kuro. Kanata leaped into the air, catching the spear Teach had thrown, and moved to shield them from the lightning bolt Octavia had unleashed.
The battle between Kanata and Octavia was a stalemate.
If either one sustained a major injury, the balance would shift. Kanata was aware of this.
It was a massive bolt of black lightning, infused with Haki. It wasn’t created by channeling Conqueror’s Haki, but by imbuing her lightning with Armament Haki.
Even Kanata wouldn't escape unscathed if she took a direct hit.
“Kanata!”
“Stay back! I won’t be defeated so easily!”
– The massive lightning bolt hurtled towards Kanata in mid-air. She caught it – with the spear Teach had thrown.
“She caught it?! That’s bad, Captain!”
Teach looked worried.
Taking such an attack head-on would crush her.
Her arm was already scorched. The damage would be immeasurable if she continued to block it.
“Is this the end…? Novem!”
“Don’t… call me… by that name! I told you to stop!”
The deafening crackle of lightning continued – proof that Octavia’s attack hadn’t ended.
Kanata had been struggling to keep up with Octavia’s superior firepower. Kuro and Teach’s interruption had simply hastened the inevitable.
She had been thinking about it.
Rocks had said that Haki was the power of belief.
Haki could be used to counter Devil Fruit abilities. It could be used to pinpoint a Logia user’s true body and track their movements.
Then, it should be possible to use it against Octavia’s lightning as well.
– Catch it, stop it, and return it. An ultimate technique – A lightning redirection, performed in mid-air!
She channeled her Haki into the spear, forcing Octavia’s lightning under her control. The redirected lightning struck Octavia’s arm, scorching it slightly.
“She… redirected it?! How…?”
Octavia had been through countless battles, witnessed countless techniques. But she had never seen anything like this. A grin spread across her face as she raised her hand towards the sky.
“Kufufu… Fuhahahaha!! Yes, that’s it! You’re amazing – Then catch this!!”
As she swung her hand downwards – the sky fell.
The storm clouds, charged with an abnormal amount of electricity, had coalesced into a single, massive bomb, large enough to engulf the entire country.
It was an apocalyptic attack that would annihilate everything except Octavia, who was immune to lightning.
“The sky…? Hey, Kuro! What do we do?!”
“Shut up! This is what I’m here for!!”
Darkness erupted from Kuro’s body, covered a wide area and clashed with the descending storm clouds.
Even Kanata couldn't stop this. Her arm had been scorched by just a single bolt of lightning. There was no way she could withstand the full force of that massive thundercloud.
If they couldn’t stop it – then they would have to absorb it. Kuro’s darkness began consuming the thundercloud.
“Black Hole…!!”
The infinite gravity of his darkness swallowed the thundercloud that had threatened to obliterate Skypiea. No matter how powerful the attack, it would be meaningless if it was consumed by darkness – However, the power of a Devil Fruit ability depended on the user’s strength.
Perhaps Kanata, with the Yami Yami no Mi ability, could have absorbed the entire thundercloud.
“Guh… Ah…!!”
“Kuro! Damn it! You can’t absorb it all?!”
Kuro, who had only trained minimally, couldn’t completely absorb Octavia’s attack.
The backlash from the lightning reopened his wounds, and blood gushed out, staining the cloud ground crimson.
Kanata seized the opportunity and charged. Muramasa in her right hand and her spear in her left.
“Stop it right now!”
“Anger, impatience – Those emotions will cloud your judgment. What’s the point of protecting the weak? They’ll die if they’re weak. It’s that simple.”
Slashes, punches, Devil Fruit attacks – she used everything she had, but Octavia wouldn’t budge.
Teach tried to intervene, but he was struggling to keep Kuro from being blown away by the shockwaves.
“Tea… ch…”
“What is it, Kuro?! What can I do?!”
“–”
Kuro whispered something to Teach.
“Are you serious?” Teach asked, surprised, and Kuro, too exhausted to answer, simply nodded.
“…Alright. Leave it to me. I won’t refuse your request!”
Teach called out to Kanata while charging his claw with Haki. Kuro, pushing himself up with his remaining arm, aimed it at Octavia.
“Dark Water…!”
Octavia was pulled towards Kuro.
She had already seen this technique. She could counter it by simply killing Kuro. She focused on him, charging her left hand with lightning. She had learned that she could still use her ability until he touched her. She unleashed a bolt of lightning to finally eliminate him.
“Gaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
But Teach stepped between them, shielding Kuro with his body.
The powerful attack nearly knocked him unconscious, but his Armament Haki prevented the lightning from piercing through him.
“Zehahaha…! I stopped it… Your lightning…!”
“You resilient bastard…!”
Stopping the lightning didn’t change the situation. Octavia was still being pulled towards Kuro. She collided with Teach, but he couldn't stop her.
He was pulling her true body. There was no way to escape.
“You might have stopped my lightning, but it doesn’t matter if I can reach you with my spear.”
“I know. My job is to stop your spear.”
Teach clung to Octavia, pinning her spear arm.
Even Octavia, exhausted from her battle with Kanata, couldn’t completely resist Teach's combined strength and Armament Haki.
Kuro’s hand reached out and grabbed Octavia’s arm.
Kanata seized the opportunity and slashed – but Octavia swung Kuro around, using him as a shield to deflect the attack.
“Pathetic strategies are useless against me.”
Teach was struggling to keep her spear immobilized, but she simply let go of the spear, kicked Teach away, and freed her hand.
There were no more distractions.
Her hand pierced Kuro’s heart.
Blood dripped down her arm, and Kuro’s hand, gripping her arm, went limp.
He was dead.
“Careless, aren’t you…!”
Octavia had underestimated them, calling them weaklings.
Kuro had sacrificed himself, and Teach had taken the full brunt of her attacks to create an opening.
David had been the first sacrifice. Teach was the second. Their combined efforts had finally weakened Octavia.
“This isn’t over…!”
“Is he… still alive?!”
Kuro glared at Octavia and continued to absorb the thundercloud.
He could only handle about a third of it, but Kanata would take care of the rest.
Octavia looked up at Kuro, who was grinning despite his fatal wounds, and saw Kanata descending from the sky.
She raised her spear towards the massive thundercloud, still crackling with enough energy to destroy the entire island.
They believed she could do it. She couldn't let Kuro’s sacrifice be in vain!
“–Oraaaaaahhhh!!!”
The smell of burning flesh permeated as she cleaved the thundercloud into nine pieces with Muramasa. She turned to face Octavia.
“This ends now, Octavia!!!”
“Try it!!”
Octavia threw Kuro aside, retrieved her spear from Teach, and charged at Kanata.
A bolt of lightning shot up from the ground. Octavia’s lightning, charged with the power to destroy all things, collided with Kanata’s spear, enveloped in the remnants of the thundercloud.
Kanata had turned Octavia’s attack against her.
Imbued with her Haki, the thundercloud fragments were now a weapon that could even harm Octavia.
One strike. Octavia’s lightning and the thundercloud fragment annihilated each other.
Two strikes. The thundercloud fragment was dispelled by her Haki-infused spear.
Three strikes. The thundercloud fragment was dispelled again.
Four strikes. Octavia’s arm was scorched as her black lightning was overwhelmed.
Five strikes. Kanata’s arm was scorched, and a stray attack obliterated a part of Angel Island.
Six strikes. Kanata plunged Muramasa into a thundercloud fragment, swung it like a flail, and smashed Octavia to the ground.
Seven strikes, eight strikes. She infused both her sword and her spear with the thundercloud fragments, unleashing a torrent of energy at Octavia.
And then – nine strikes.
“Divine Slaughter!!!”
Divine Slaughter was a technique that combined Haki and a Devil Fruit ability. Its nature varied depending on the user’s ability. For Octavia, it was lightning. For Kanata, it was ice.
But Kanata’s attack was imbued with both ice and lightning, amplified by Conqueror’s Haki. She brought it down upon Octavia.
“Divine Slaughter…!!”
Octavia wasn’t simply going to take it. She charged her spear with lightning, channeling Conqueror’s Haki into it, and clashed with Kanata.
She was battered and bruised. The wounds inflicted by David, Kuro, and Teach, and the immense drain on her Haki from the prolonged battle, had taken their toll.
And Kanata was attacking with a spear.
She still had her left hand free.
“This ends here – Ragnarok!!!”
It wasn't her own technique. It was Rocks’s ultimate attack, a devastating slash imbued with Haki honed to its limits.
Already defending with both hands, Octavia had no way to block it. It cleaved through her lightning and struck her directly.
– Finally, Octavia was dealt a fatal blow.
