One Piece: Song of Despair - Chapter 16

“Boom…” With a huge body collapsing powerlessly to the ground, an unwilling howl echoed, accompanied by crimson blood.

“Huff… Huff…” Nokiyoru, his hair disheveled and body covered in wounds, sat heavily on the ground, appearing like a blood-soaked demon emerging from the depths of hell. The aura of brutality still lingered around him.

His entire body felt weak, and every movement brought sharp pain, causing Nokiyoru to grimace and sit down with difficulty.

This was undoubtedly the toughest battle he had ever faced. He was heavily injured, and his stamina was nearly depleted. If not for his remarkable recovery ability, he might have met his end here today.

Despite the losses, the gains were significant.

As he clenched his fist, he noticed his Armament Haki had improved. No longer invisible, it coated his hand in a visible black layer. Though it only covered his palm, it was still a considerable breakthrough for Nokiyoru.

His Armament Haki had advanced, and so had his Observation Haki. It had increased its range from one hundred to one hundred and ten meters, which excited Nokiyoru immensely.

Remember not to underestimate those ten meters. In critical situations, they could be the difference between life and death.

Most importantly, his physical strength had improved. Nokiyoru could feel his blood boiling and his body more active, never forgetting that physical fitness was the foundation of all power.

“Combat, only combat, is the shortcut to becoming stronger,” Nokiyoru muttered, paying no mind to his injuries. He knew that with time, he could recover quickly. His thoughts turned to how he could stay on the island to continue his training—half a month had almost passed too quickly.

It might be unrealistic, but he wanted to stay here for as long as possible to train.

At that moment, danger struck. Nokiyoru’s face changed, and he vanished, reappearing a hundred meters away.

“Boom…” A wave of heat scorched the ground, and a massive gold-red crater appeared where Nokiyoru had been sitting.

Turning around, Nokiyoru’s face twisted with anger as he saw Akainu stepping out of the jungle. His voice was icy, “Akainu, you’re looking for death.”

“Hmph, it’s either you or me. Only one of us will leave here alive,” Akainu said, his hands dripping with scorching magma, showing no intention of hiding his murderous intent toward Nokiyoru.

“I’ve never gone out of my way to provoke anyone, yet some dogs just won’t stop biting. Honestly, Akainu, you are truly detestable.”

Flames erupted around Nokiyoru, the temperature rising to form a fiery cloud that painted the entire sky gold and red.

“From the first moment I saw you, I knew you would never be loyal to the Navy or the government. For justice, I have the right to eliminate you.”

Like a volcanic eruption, smoke billowed as Akainu stood like a god of magma, exuding an aura of utter destruction, making Nokiyoru tense.

“Hahaha… what a joke. Just a dog talking about justice? What is justice? Even if it exists, it’s not up to trash like you to uphold it. Because a dog will always be a dog. Today, I’ll turn you into a dead dog.”

Nokiyoru’s face twisted with murderous intent. Even if he had to pay a price today, he was determined to turn Akainu into a corpse buried here forever.

“For justice, you will die! Nokiyoru Kara!” Akainu roared, magma spewing from his hands as a massive, blazing fist shot up like a volcanic eruption.

“Die, dog.”

With a fierce expression, Nokiyoru roared, his body erupting in flames. A giant bird with outstretched wings, exuding an unstoppable ferocity, charged forth like a comet.

“Boom…” Flames clashed with magma, and waves of heat and force swept across the ground like an apocalypse, destroying everything in their path.

“Great Eruption.”

Raising both fists, countless magma streams spewed from Akainu’s hands, forming a meteor shower that rained down powerfully toward Nokiyoru.

“Screech…” Like an ancient beast, a bird ablaze with flames spoke, “Endless Arrows.”

“Whoosh… Whoosh…” Over fifty fiery weapons, wrapped in flames, shot up like a barrage, filling the sky with a terrifying momentum.

“Hellhound.”

“Finger Gun: Golden Crow Claw.”

“Boom… Bang…” Smoke billowed as an area of ten thousand meters erupted in chaos, flames raging, magma churning, and smoke obscuring the sky.

“Not good, they’ve encountered each other.” On the coast, aboard the warship, Zephyr and Garp stood up abruptly, their gazes fixed on the area filled with flames and smoke.

“Boom… Boom…” The ground trembled, and even aboard the warship, the terrifying shockwaves and heat could be felt, making everyone tense. The battlefield was a considerable distance away.

“Nokiyoru Kara, I will kill you. Armament: Canine Red Lotus.”

The sky turned crimson as a nearly a hundred-meter-long colossal dog appeared on the horizon, descending from the heavens like a ravenous wolf.

“Dead dog, if it weren’t for someone saving you last time, you’d already be a corpse. 300,000 Degrees Celsius: Armament: High-Energy Hand Explosion.”

With a terrifying temperature, golden flames compressed and stood firm like a sun.

Hearing the roars from ten thousand meters away, everyone aboard the warship fell silent, realizing that the two combatants were like monsters, their battle akin to a natural disaster, capable of destroying everything.

Akainu, at least, was a Logia-type user. But Nokiyoru, with a simple Zoan-type Devil Fruit, albeit an ancient model, could fight Akainu head-on. This proved Nokiyoru’s immense strength.

“Boom…” A terrifying mushroom cloud rose, the ground trembled, and a shockwave swept across, shaking heaven and earth like an apocalyptic disaster.

“Zephyr, I’m going to check on them.”

“Garp… you…” Before he could finish, Garp was already gone.

“Who else is on the island?” Watching Garp leave, Zephyr frowned, asking his adjutant.

“Report, Admiral. Kizaru, Aokiji, Nokiyoru, and Akainu are still there. The rest have either returned or…”

“Got it.” Cutting off his adjutant, Zephyr’s gaze turned towards the chaotic battlefield.

At the same time, on the southern part of the island, Kizaru looked up fearfully at the sky full of smoke, muttering, “Terrifying. I must be more careful in the future.”

No one knew what Kizaru was thinking, but he disappeared with a flash of light.

Elsewhere, Aokiji also looked up and then vanished into the jungle.

“Boom…” Nokiyoru’s massive wings slashed mercilessly, a pitch-black gleam slicing towards Akainu’s throat.

“Gurgle… Gurgle…” Magma spewed as Akainu was sent flying, his expression icy.

“Your Armament Haki can manifest.”

“You should feel honored. I trained this just to kill you,” Nokiyoru said, his face twisted in a sinister smile.

Manifestation referred to visible Armament Haki, turning black.

“I owe it all to you.”

“Damn it.” Akainu roared, charging again.

“Boom…” Magma surged, turning the entire ground into a sea of fire.

“Dead dog, you’re too slow. Devil Fruits aren’t everything. Didn’t Zephyr teach you that?” Nokiyoru’s voice echoed like a demon’s, and Akainu felt a sharp pain in his waist as a golden sword pierced him.

“Argh…” Screaming in pain, Akainu twisted his face, ignoring the agony in his waist. He grabbed Nokiyoru with one hand, the other wrapped in Haki, viciously clawing at Nokiyoru’s face.

“Bang…” Nokiyoru raised his other hand with a sinister smile, black as night. Instead of blocking, he aimed for Akainu’s chest, determined to trade blows.

Akainu’s pupils shrank as he cursed inwardly, “Madman.”

“Armament.” Both shouted, Nokiyoru’s face turning black while Akainu’s chest was covered in Haki.

In a flash, Nokiyoru tilted his head, blood flying as three claw marks appeared on his right cheek.

Silent, Nokiyoru gritted his teeth, his claws raking Akainu’s chest. Five fingers dug in, tearing from chest to abdomen, pulling away a chunk of flesh as both were sent flying.

“Bang…” Lying on the ground, Nokiyoru panted heavily. That last blow had nearly drained his strength. Before Akainu arrived, Nokiyoru’s stamina was already low. Holding out this long was sheer willpower.

Compared to Nokiyoru, Akainu was in worse shape. His chest bore five deep wounds, revealing his internal organs.

Breathing weakly, Akainu’s face was ashen. He had underestimated Nokiyoru’s strength and ruthlessness.

A normal person would dodge when their head was at risk, but Nokiyoru hadn’t. Instead, he chose to fight to the death, leading to Akainu’s swift defeat.

Had Akainu been more cautious, he might have won. After all, Nokiyoru wasn’t in peak condition.

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