Chapter 29: Weapons for Survival

"You, as always, are too arrogant, as if everything is under your control."

A smile curled at the corner of Xiang Keluo's lips:

"Facing a fleet of five thousand alone, with the opponent being Provincial Military Commander Creek, and you feel nothing?"

Xiang Gaowen said calmly:

"I only fear killing too quickly, not enough to sharpen my blade."

"Blade?"

Xiang Keluo's gaze shifted downward, clearly seeing the Guanshi Zhengzong in Xiang Gaowen's hand, a trace of envy flashing in his eyes.

Though not a swordsman, his judgment was not poor; naturally, he could see at a glance that the blade Xiang Gaowen held was countless times stronger than the knight's sword he once wielded.

And a powerful swordsman paired with a matching famous blade does not simply add one plus one to combat power, but causes an exponential explosion.

"Lucky fellow."

Xiang Gaowen offered no comment and continued:

"The plan has changed now; we must protect this port. If you can still move, take the people on the ship to help the civilians in the port evacuate."

"After this job, we won't need to worry about logistics in the East Sea anymore."

"Good!"

Having spoken, Xiang Keluo was just about to step forward when he felt his body go weak, uncontrollably leaning forward.

Xiang Gaowen reached out to support him, pursing his lips and saying:

"Stubbornness has its limits; leave the evacuation work to others."

"Don't die."

"I'm still waiting for you to devise strategies for me; after all, you are the man known as the Hundred Plans, calculating without error."

"Hmph."

Xiang Keluo let out a cold snort at the corner of his mouth but no longer resisted, allowing his subordinates who stepped forward to support him as he limped away.

The others, under Xiang Gaowen's orders, followed the surrounding guards to evacuate the civilians in the port and participate in the rescue.

The situation was quickly brought under control.

Only out on the distant sea did those rows of warships, like a great mountain, press down on everyone's hearts.

It was at this moment.

As the cannon fire in the port gradually subsided, on the sea surface a thousand meters away, Creek held the Den Den Mushi receiver, listening expressionlessly to his subordinate's report on the battle situation within Raven Port:

"Even Akin has been defeated? Perhaps my expectations for him were too high."

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

"However, before that, they have indeed exerted their maximum value; since the internal armed forces have already been dismantled."

"Then next, I will go sweep away the remaining obstacles, whether it is Hundred Plans Xiang Keluo or Knight Xiang Gaowen!"

A smile lingered at the corner of Creek's lips as he spoke.

His subordinates nearby piece by piece donned the armor made of high-strength alloy onto him.

With the armor on his body, a sense of strength, even one that could be called unparalleled confidence, arose in Creek's heart.

Bang!

Bang!

His fingertips lightly tapped against the armor, producing a crisp sound.

Creek's gaze looked toward the distance; the pirate ship beneath his feet suddenly accelerated at that moment, rapidly pulling away from the other pirate ships.

As the distant port drew closer and closer.

Creek grabbed his long spear, bent his legs slightly, leaped from the deck, and then crashed heavily into the port...

Boom!

The floor shattered, dust filling the air.

Xiang Gaowen turned his head and saw the dust clear, revealing a tall figure gradually emerging.

The exaggerated long spear, the golden armor protecting his entire body, and that arrogant face; the image of the newcomer gradually merged completely with Creek in Xiang Gaowen's impression.

Only that whether it was aura or oppressive pressure, it was countless times stronger than the Creek Xiang Gaowen remembered after suffering a crushing defeat on the Grand Line!

Haki is the materialization of spiritual power; similarly, confidence also brings power beyond imagination.

At this moment, Creek even generated a confidence that he alone was invincible, especially upon seeing his opponent was merely a youth not yet rid of childishness.

"You are Knight Xiang Gaowen?"

"I am Knight Xiang Gaowen."

"I give you two choices."

Creek's eyes looked down with disdain:

"Submit or die."

"I choose... or."

A trace of mockery curled at the corner of Xiang Gaowen's lips; the Creek before him was strong, but ultimately could not stir the fighting spirit in his heart.

Currently in the East Sea, the only one who could wrestle with Xiang Gaowen was that Natural-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit user Smoker, who had come down from the Marine Headquarters and guarded Loguetown like a final boss.

But the Guanshi Zhengzong, long unsharpened, was excited by the impending battle; Xiang Gaowen could even feel the hum of the blade.

"Truly a bloodthirsty fellow."

Xiang Gaowen murmured to himself.

The distant Creek was already unwilling to listen further; since they could not reach an agreement, then with the fastest speed and the most cruel means, directly end the opponent before him!

"Since that is the case, then I can only ask you to die!"

So saying.

Kricket swept his long spear horizontally, as if to charge at Xiang Gaowen.

The spear, weighing over a ton, merely by being swung, was enough to stir up gusts of air, blowing Xiang Gaowen's golden hair even before it drew near.

Just as Xiang Gaowen was about to draw his sword, Kricket before him suddenly changed tactics; his left hand, hidden beneath his cloak, shot out abruptly and hurled a poison gas bomb at Xiang Gaowen!

Boom!

The poison gas bomb exploded with a crash, spreading purple dust and smoke that the wind blew in all directions.

Kricket, who had already put on a gas mask in advance, curled his lips into a ferocious smile:

"The meaning of a weapon's existence is to defeat the strongest opponent at the smallest cost. Since there are means to win easily, why not use them?"

"This is an M. H. 5 poison gas bomb; even if a normal person inhales just a tiny bit, they will die. Even a pirate with an eight-million bounty would find it hard to withstand!"

"Isn't that right, Knight Xiang Gaowen? Die now, filled with regret and unwillingness!"

"You—!"

Before he could finish speaking, a hair-raising sensation surged from the soles of Kricket's feet to the top of his head, as a dazzling silver light emerged from within the poisonous smoke.

In his panic.

Kricket could barely raise his hand to block when he saw a silver blade of qi slice through the purple poison smoke, rushing forth to send him and his spear flying dozens of meters, crashing heavily against the wall.

Boom!

The small house collapsed with a thunderous crash, shattered stone slabs falling from above.

Kricket slapped away the stones, struggled to rise from the ruins, his face a mask of bewilderment:

"How could a human launch such an attack?! Is this the power of a Devil Fruit that exists only in legends?"

"It must be!"

"You..."

Xiang Gaowen, holding one hand over his mouth and nose, slowly walked out from the poison smoke, looking at Kricket with pity in his eyes.

He had long understood this fellow's character.

In the original story, during Kricket's battle with Luffy, if one spoke of raw strength, he couldn't even hold a candle to Luffy at that time, yet by relying on various despicable methods, he had actually forced Luffy into a desperate situation more than once.

If one spoke of fighting, he was utterly incompetent, but when it came to dirty tricks within a fight, Kricket was definitely among the top ranks in the world of pirates!

How could Xiang Gaowen possibly feel at ease around such a person?

From the very moment the battle began, he had been guarding against this fellow's tricks!

"Ah la~ Did the slash not take effect?"

Xiang Gaowen said with a hint of regret.

Upon hearing this, Kricket froze, then immediately felt a bone-chilling pain surge through his arm.

Only when he lowered his head did he realize.

The armor he had regarded as sufficient for campaigning in the Grand Line, forged for the sake of survival, had not even withstood a single strike against Xiang Gaowen's attack.

The arm guard was completely sliced open, even injuring flesh and bone!

(End of Chapter)