Chapter 455: TSWH - 455

Chapter 455: TSWH: Chapter 455

By the time Oboro finished eating, the fight outside had already drawn to a close.

Though Lucci had held back both the Six Powers techniques and his Devil Fruit ability, Dom had also refrained from using Haki or his own powers.

From what Oboro could see, Lucci was not fighting to win or survive — he was acting according to his mission: inflict enough damage to look like a worthy opponent, but not so much that he risked exposing himself.

If both had fought with everything they had, Lucci’s physical capabilities, enhanced by his fruit, would have surpassed Dom’s.

His decades of training, lethal combat skills, and instinct were every bit the equal of Dom’s.

Even so, Lucci might still not have gained the upper hand — and the key reason was simple: Haki.

At this stage, Lucci had not yet awakened it.

As Kaido himself had once said: In this vast sea, Haki is the one force that can counter and control everything else.

After mastering it himself, Oboro had come to realize how true that statement was. Haki truly formed the core of this world’s power system.

To reach the very peak, one could rely entirely on Haki — but relying solely on a Devil Fruit would almost never be enough.

Oboro stood slowly and stepped out of the tavern. The ground outside was a scene of ruin: houses smashed, trees splintered, and debris scattered everywhere.

Rob Lucci lay sprawled on his back, his suit torn open in dozens of places, soaked in blood and covered in wounds.

Dom knelt atop him, his blade pressed firmly against Lucci’s throat — though he had not driven it home.

Dom’s bandages had come loose, his face glistening with sweat, and bruises marked his body from heavy impacts.

While the bloodline card he had received was only of low rank, he had been trained personally by Oboro for nearly two years — a difference in quality that set him apart from other recruits.

Even a demon?blooded body could be sharpened and strengthened through relentless exercise.

Add to that the constant sparring with Oboro, and his growth had been nothing short of explosive.

Even when Oboro held back, the pressure of facing him was far greater than anything Lucci could impose; the intensity of those battles still made Dom shudder to think about it now.

Beneath his bandages, his own skin was seeping blood as well.

Clap, clap, clap...

Oboro clapped his hands like an audience member applauding a fine performance as he walked closer.

"Truly impressive. For someone who has only just set sail, you possess extraordinary strength."

Lucci, pinned beneath Dom, stared up at him with cold, unyielding eyes. "Kill me."

"You think I won’t?" Dom sneered.

But Lucci felt no fear. From what Oboro had said before entering the tavern, he already knew: I have been chosen.

If they truly wanted him dead, the King of Hell could have struck the killing blow himself, and would not have waited until he had finished his meal.

The intelligence from his superiors had been correct — the Hell Pirates urgently sought powerful recruits to prepare for their journey into the Grand Line.

SWISH!

Dom’s wrist flicked, and a thin, sharp line of force seemed to extend from his blade, stopping only a hair’s breadth from Lucci’s face. It looked as if he would pierce his skull right through.

Yet Lucci did not flinch, not even when the tip hovered mere millimeters from his eye.

"Tch."

Dom clicked his tongue and rose to his feet, stepping back to stand behind Oboro.

"Tell me your name. Hadori, is it?"

Oboro crouched beside Lucci, looking him over — though he already knew the answer.

Lucci said nothing, but his silence was clear enough.

"I am curious about one thing..." Oboro continued, undeterred, his gaze calm and steady. "The bodies of my crewmen you killed — where are they?"

"Dead is dead. Who bothers with corpses? Probably eaten by wild animals by now. Do you clean up after every person you kill?"

Lucci replied flatly, maintaining the perfect image of a fearless, stubborn newcomer.

Oboro nodded inwardly. Those bodies, enhanced by the system’s cards, have surely been recovered by the World Government for research.

His unique power offered a new path to strength — one that went beyond Haki, Devil Fruits, or even the world’s existing science.

To the Government and the Celestial Dragons, that was a temptation they could not resist.

With Vegapunk’s abilities, extracting the demon bloodline genes and attempting to replicate them would not be difficult, Oboro thought.

But even if they succeed, the result will never match what the system provides.

It will be far weaker, useless for their grand ambitions. In the end, they will still have to come to me directly.

He smiled to himself. Let them waste their time and resources trying.

"Would you be interested in joining us?" Oboro asked, letting the situation unfold naturally.

Here it comes.

Lucci’s eyes shifted, meeting Oboro’s gaze. "And if I refuse?"

"After what you have done, do you think I would leave a loose end lying around? If you will not be my ally, you certainly cannot be allowed to become my enemy. Besides, I owe an explanation to many factions across the North Blue. Refuse, and I will make sure you suffer a fate worse than death — so everyone understands what happens to those who cross the Hell Pirates."

Oboro knew exactly what Lucci was playing at, and gave him the perfect way forward.

"Just as I expected."

There was no other logical outcome.

"I accept."

"Welcome, then — my new friend."

Oboro stood up and turned to leave, but paused as if something had just occurred to him.

Looking back down at Lucci, he spoke casually: "Now that we are comrades, we should be honest with one another. In the North Blue, they call me the King of Hell — but that is only a title. My real name is Oboro."

"Oboro?" Lucci repeated, his mind stirring. The name felt strangely familiar.

"This is Dom. Before he joined me, he was just another small?time pirate in the Grand Line. We met in Sabaody Archipelago."

As the words left Oboro’s mouth, Lucci’s eyes widened. The God?Slayer... That name flashed instantly into his mind. Everyone in the world knows who they are!

So the Night Wanderer is actually the former Fox of Deceit from the Flame Dragon Pirates...

Lucci lay facing the sun, which made it hard to see clearly. Oboro stood with his back to the light, his face half?hidden in shadow, only the faint curve of his smile visible.

A cold wind swept through the village, carrying dust into the air. The silence felt heavy, as if the very atmosphere had frozen.

Dom glanced at Oboro, his expression shifting slightly. The captain had never revealed his true identity so openly to anyone else — not even Yuri or the others — upon first meeting.

But he knew better than to question it; there was always a purpose behind what Oboro did.

"Ah, that explains it," Oboro said softly, leaning down so only Lucci could hear.

"Losing to us is nothing to be ashamed of. You know now who we truly are."

So that is it...

That is the real purpose of this mission!

Lucci stared fixedly at Oboro, everything finally falling into place.

"Still certain you want to come aboard?"

"I gave my word — I do not go back on it."

"Good. Since we are being honest... tell me — is your real name truly Hadori? You haven’t lied to me, have you?"

Oboro’s tone carried a clear, knowing implication.

Lucci’s face remained impassive. "Are you planning to give me a new one?"

Oboro shook his head, adjusted his hat, and turned away. Glancing sideways at Lucci from beneath the brim, his look was filled with amusement — a gaze that sent a sudden, involuntary jolt through Lucci’s chest, though he kept his composure.

"Dom, see to the cleanup here."

Oboro began walking away, calling over his shoulder.

"Understood."

Dom nodded and turned to speak with the village elder, already knowing exactly what needed to be done.

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