Chapter 29: The Weapon of Survival

"You're still the same—arrogant to an absurd degree, as if everything is under your control."

Kuro's lips curled into a faint smile:

"Facing a fleet of five thousand alone, with Admiral Krik as your opponent, and you feel nothing?"

Gao Wen replied calmly:

"I only fear I'll kill too fast—my blade won't have time to sharpen."

"Blade?"

Kuro's gaze dropped, taking in the Kensei in Gao Wen's hand, a flicker of envy in his eyes.

Though not a swordsman, his eye for weapons was sharp—he instantly recognized that the blade Gao Wen held was countless times stronger than the knight’s sword he once wielded.

A powerful swordsman paired with a legendary blade doesn’t merely double the combat power—it multiplies it exponentially.

"Lucky bastard."

Gao Wen made no reply, continuing:

"The plan has changed. We must hold this port. If you can still move, take the crew and help evacuate the civilians in the port."

"After this job, we’ll never have to worry about logistics in the East Blue again."

"Understood!"

As Kuro was about to step forward, his body suddenly weakened, lurching forward uncontrollably.

Gao Wen caught him, sneering:

"Even stubbornness has its limits. Let others handle the evacuation."

"Don’t die on me."

"I still need you to devise strategies—you’re the man of a hundred plans, always one step ahead."

"Hmph."

Kuro let out a cold snort but no longer resisted, letting his subordinates support him as he limped away.

The others, under Gao Wen’s orders, joined nearby soldiers to evacuate civilians and assist in rescue efforts.

The situation was quickly brought under control.

Only far out at sea, the line of warships loomed like a mountain pressing down on everyone’s hearts.

…

At that moment,

The artillery fire in the port subsided. A kilometer out on the sea, Krik held a Den Den Mushi to his ear, expressionless as he listened to his subordinate’s report on the battle in Crow Port:

"Even Akin was defeated? Perhaps I expected too much of him."

"Those who fall here have no right to follow me to the Grand Line."

"But before that, they’ve maximized their value—internal armed resistance has been dismantled."

"Now, I’ll clear the remaining obstacles—whether it’s the Hundred Plans Kuro, or the Knight Gao Wen!"

A faint smile curled on Krik’s lips.

His subordinates began fitting him with a suit of armor forged from high-strength alloy, piece by piece.

As the armor settled on his body, Krik felt a surge of overwhelming, even unmatched, confidence.

Thud!

Thud!

His fingers tapped lightly against the armor, producing crisp echoes.

Krik’s gaze fixed on the distance; beneath him, the pirate ship suddenly accelerated, rapidly pulling away from the others.

As the distant port drew nearer,

Krik seized his spear, bent his knees, and leapt from the deck, crashing down hard into the port…

Boom!

The ground shattered, dust swirling everywhere.

Gao Wen turned his head and saw the dust clearing, revealing a towering figure.

The exaggerated spear, the full-body golden armor, the defiant face—this man’s image merged perfectly with Gao Wen’s memory of Krik.

Yet his aura and pressure were countless times stronger than the Krik Gao Wen remembered after his crushing defeat on the Grand Line!

Haki is the manifestation of spiritual power; the same confidence brings unimaginable strength.

At this moment, Krik felt invincible—especially upon seeing his opponent was merely a youth still full of naivety.

"You’re the Knight Gao Wen?"

"I am the Knight Gao Wen."

"I’ll give you two choices."

Krik looked down with disdain:

"Submit or die."

"I choose… or."

Gao Wen’s lips curled in mockery. Krik was strong, but he still couldn’t stir Gao Wen’s fighting spirit.

In the East Blue, the only one who could match Gao Wen was Smoker—the Natural Logia Smoke-Smoke Fruit user stationed in Loguetown like a final boss from Marine Headquarters.

Yet the Kensei, long unused, thrilled at the coming battle; Gao Wen even felt its hum.

"Bloodthirsty bastard."

Gao Wen murmured to himself.

Far away, Krik had no patience left to listen. Since words failed, he’d end this opponent swiftly and cruelly!

"Then you’ll die!"

Saying this,

Krik swung his spear, aiming to crush Gao Wen.

The spear, weighing over a ton, stirred violent air currents with every swing—even before it reached him, it whipped Gao Wen’s golden hair.

Just as Gao Wen was about to draw his blade, Krik suddenly changed tactics—his hidden left hand shot out from beneath his cloak and hurled a poison gas grenade at Gao Wen!

Boom!

The grenade exploded violently, spreading purple smoke carried by the wind.

Krik, already wearing a gas mask, grinned savagely:

"The purpose of weapons is to defeat the strongest opponent with the least cost. Why not use an easy victory when you have it?"

"This is M.H.5 poison gas—any normal person who inhales even a trace dies. Even a pirate with an 8-million-Berry bounty couldn’t withstand it!"

"Admit it, Knight Gao Wen—die with regret and resentment!"

"You—!"

Mid-sentence, a chilling sensation shot from Krik’s feet to his skull—a blinding silver light pierced through the poison smoke.

In panic,

Krik barely raised his arm to block—silver blade energy sliced through the purple haze, striking him and his spear, hurling them dozens of meters to crash into a wall.

Boom!

The small house collapsed, stones raining down from above.

Krik shoved aside debris, struggling to his feet, face blank with shock:

"How can a human unleash such an attack? Is this a Devil Fruit power from legend?"

"It must be!"

"You…"

Gao Wen slowly stepped out of the poison smoke, one hand covering his nose and mouth, gazing at Krik with pity.

He knew this man’s character well.

In the original story, Krik’s battle with Luffy—he had nowhere near Luffy’s raw power, yet he used every underhanded trick to push Luffy to the brink.

As a fighter, he was pathetic. But as a schemer in battle, Krik was among the worst in the pirate world.

How could Gao Wen ever trust such a man?

From the moment the fight began, he’d been prepared for his tricks!

"Ah~ The slash didn’t work?"

Gao Wen said, slightly disappointed.

Krik froze, then felt a piercing pain in his arm.

He looked down.

The armor he’d forged for survival, meant to withstand battles on the Grand Line—before Gao Wen’s attack, it hadn’t even held for a single strike.

The arm guard was completely severed, the blade cutting deep into bone and flesh!

(End of Chapter)