Chapter 35: Instant Thunder Flash

Boom, boom, boom!

Following Star Platinum's violent pummeling, the wall Da Xiong Wang was embedded in grew deeper and deeper; he had yet to recover from the electrical paralysis and was now no different from a punching bag. Luo Di had completely figured out his ability—relying entirely on the Iron-Iron Fruit for physical combat was fine, but he hadn't mastered Observation Haki and couldn't see Star Platinum's fists.

The crew of the Blood Calamity Pirates charged into the middle of the Poker Pirates. Although the opponent had already had two officers taken out by Luo Di and held a numerical advantage, their fighting spirit had mostly dissipated under the weight of Da Xiong Wang's defeat, and they were being beaten back step by step, led by Gai Ou, Xiao En, and the others.

Gai Ou thrust his long halberd into a pirate's chest and pushed forward violently, skewering several pirates at once like a kebab. Although his Fish-Man Karate was less effective on land, his physical strength was far beyond that of an ordinary person, and he carried the long halberd precisely as preparation for land battles.

Pfft—

A short man who looked like a skunk suddenly sprayed a circle of gas.

"Hehe, this is poisonous, enjoy it," the skunk-man sneered.

"Not good, retreat first," Xiao En frowned.

"Leave it to me." Gai Ou stepped forward, his long halberd spinning in his hands. He infused it with the essence of his karate, and the halberd spun out a vortex-shaped blast of air.

"Fish-Man Karate: Great Vortex."

The vortex sucked all the gas into it, forming a sphere. Gai Ou let out a loud shout and delivered a fierce upward strike, launching the sphere toward the opposite side.

Seeing this, the opponents immediately turned and ran toward the rear. The skunk-man's eyes widened, and he fled as well, but the sphere was extremely fast; it hit them in the middle and then exploded violently.

"Ah!"

The pirates of the Poker Pirates all turned blue in the face, in immense pain. The Blood Calamity Pirates stood their ground and did not advance. A strong sea breeze suddenly blew through, scattering the poison gas into the sky, but the pirates who had already inhaled it were still in agony, and those with weaker constitutions had already begun to foam at the mouth.

Xiao En stepped forward: "Heaven helps us! Today is the day of your destruction, charge with me!"

"Kill!" Following Xiao En's charge, the crew behind him swarmed forward, slaughtering the crumbling Poker Pirates before them.

Bang!

The entire wall suddenly exploded, and Da Xiong Wang's tall, burly figure appeared. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair stood on end, and his entire body had turned to steel, radiating a scorching heat as if to melt everything.

"You've angered me, brat!" Da Xiong Wang's gaze was cold and fierce: "Try using that ability on me again and see if I fall first, or if your fists melt first!"

Luo Di stood where he was, carefully sensing his connection with Star Platinum. With every breath, he could perceive every wisp of breeze around him. His arms were covered in a layer of black lacquer, and at the same time, Star Platinum's arms were the same.

"Ha!"

Luo Di let out a loud shout, golden Ripple flowing across his pitch-black arms, surrounded by electromagnetic currents, his hair standing up like spikes. Star Platinum was in the exact same state. He teleported in front of Da Xiong Wang and threw a punch.

"Golden Ripple: Instant Thunder Flash!"

Da Xiong Wang hurriedly blocked his chest with his scorching steel arms. Before Luo Di's fist even touched the steel, rough electric arcs had already struck Da Xiong Wang's arms. A numbing sensation hit him instantly, and just as Da Xiong Wang was about to retreat, a glare blinded his vision.

Star Platinum in the air dove down violently, like a 100,000-volt lightning bolt.

Boom!

A violent explosion sounded on the ground, and smoke and dust completely obscured the view. The wind blew, the smoke cleared, and Luo Di's tall figure stood at the edge of the crater, with Da Xiong Wang's charred body lying inside.

"I, I am, Da Xiong Wang, how could I..." Da Xiong Wang's voice was weak, his eyes slowly closing.

"I am the Blood Calamity, you didn't lose unjustly," Luo Di said calmly.

"Ugh." Da Xiong Wang closed his eyes completely and died.

Luo Di's hands were also burned, and he used the Immortal Pulse Ripple within his body to heal his wounds. The battle behind him had also been decided; there were very few Poker Pirates left.

Luo Di walked toward the palace. Before him was the scene of the pirates slaughtering each other. By the time he reached the door, only members of the Blood Calamity Pirates remained on the battlefield.

"Captain Luo Di, we've finished it," Xiao En said respectfully.

"Those who aren't injured, go in and loot, bring the Diamond Clock out," Luo Di ordered.

"Everyone, bring the wounded who can't move here and line them up, I'll be responsible for the treatment," Lu Xi Ya shouted to the crowd.

"The Diamond Clock is up there, I'll take you," Ka Li Na said happily.

The crew filed in. In the town outside the palace, the residents heard the commotion and gathered around.

They didn't know the specific situation; usually, Da Xiong Wang wouldn't let them near the palace at all, only requiring them to pay enough protection money every month.

Lu Xi Ya was bandaging the wounded, and Luo Di stood beside her, lighting a post-battle cigar.

"Good job, Captain," Lu Xi Ya smiled.

"Ah, thank you for your hard work," Luo Di said: "There are quite a few injured brothers."

"It's fine, I really like treating patients, I don't feel tired even if I don't rest," Lu Xi Ya said with a gentle smile.

At this moment, several residents dressed as doctors also walked over, carrying medical kits, and said: "You have quite a few wounded here, we can help."

Lu Xi Ya looked at Luo Di, and Luo Di nodded: "Then thank you all."

Luo Di handed Lu Xi Ya a Den Den Mushi: "Take this first, my Den Den Mushi number is written on it, call me directly if you need anything in the future."

Lu Xi Ya took it and nodded: "Okay."

Ka Li Na and the crew carried the Diamond Clock down. The diamonds on the clock cast a dazzling halo under the sunlight. The pirates had broken into Da Xiong Wang's treasure vault, but there wasn't much treasure inside, far less than in the Lv Yin Wang Guo. The crew was very puzzled, and Luo Di didn't quite understand it either.

"Cough, cough." At this moment, an elderly man with a hunched back stepped forward and said hoarsely: "Are you the new pirate crew taking over here?"

Ka Li Na shook her head and smiled: "We're just here to take their treasure, we won't hurt you, don't worry."

Hearing this, the residents felt relieved. The medical staff in the town had rushed over immediately after the war ended, hoping to gain some favor and worried that Luo Di would attack the residents.

The old man continued: "Actually, we used to just rely on farming to make a living. After Da Xiong Wang came, we were all driven into the town and had to pay him a large sum of money every month. Half a year ago, he brought back a cat-person from the sea and used all the treasure he'd plundered to collect materials, as if he wanted to build a ship. That cat-person kept clamoring about going to something called the Grand Line."

"Hmm?" Luo Di was intrigued: "Where is that cat-person?"

The old man pointed behind him: "Right there at the shipyard."