One Piece: Song of Despair - Chapter 17
“Cough… Cough…” Nokiyoru wobbled as he stood, blood welling up in his throat. After spitting out a mouthful of blood, he struggled to stand up.
“Hahaha… Hahaha…” Laughing maniacally, Nokiyoru, with a twisted expression, looked coldly at Akainu. “Dead dog, it seems I have the upper hand. Let’s see who can save you this time.”
“Spit…” Akainu, lying on the ground with a defeated look, snarled viciously, “You evil bastard, you will never get what you want. Justice cannot tolerate someone like you.”
Standing like a victor, Nokiyoru walked to Akainu and stepped on his chest. With a sinister grin, he said, “Dead dog, only the victor gets to speak. Unfortunately, you’re not the victor.”
“Bastard, I’ll wait for you in hell, you ambitious scum.” Akainu roared, trying to struggle, but the foot on his chest held him firmly down.
“Fwoosh…”
Flames ignited, forming a fiery spear in Nokiyoru’s hand, the tip black as night.
“Then wait for me in hell. Don’t worry, I’ll become a vice admiral, maybe even an admiral. Sadly, you’ll never see it. Goodbye, dead dog.”
With a wicked smile, Nokiyoru raised the spear, aiming it at Akainu’s head, ready to strike.
“You will die a terrible death,” Akainu said, his eyes finally showing fear as the spear drew closer. He had never realized how simple death could be.
“Dead dog, you deserve to die.”
“Boom…” In a flash, a terrifying explosion sent Nokiyoru flying, blood spraying from his mouth.
“Bang…” Hitting the ground hard, Nokiyoru struggled to rise, flames burning fiercely around him, his blood-red eyes filled with madness.
“Garp.”
With a roar, Nokiyoru’s killing intent surged. Before Akainu stood a new figure.
“Oh my, is the fight over?” Kizaru’s playful voice appeared out of nowhere, shining with golden light.
“It seems it’s not beyond saving,” Aokiji said, the chill in his voice growing as he approached.
“Nokiyoru, stop. Akainu can’t die now,” Garp said solemnly, standing firm. He didn’t want to intervene, but he had promised Sengoku.
“Heh… Hehe… Stop now? Garp, you really are great,” Nokiyoru laughed coldly. “Do you think I’m easy to bully?”
Clenching his fists, veins popped on Nokiyoru’s forehead as he glared murderously at Garp.
Nokiyoru was on the brink of madness, barely holding on. If it weren’t for his last shred of willpower, he would have attacked and left the Navy. But for Nokishio, he had to endure.
Silent, Garp faced Nokiyoru’s fury calmly.
“Fwoosh… Fwoosh…”
Flames erupted again, forming a massive, fiery bird that roared skyward, exuding boundless ferocity.
“Hey, what’s he trying to do?” Kizaru’s eyes widened in disbelief at Nokiyoru’s eruption.
“Nokiyoru, don’t be impulsive. The old man might have orders,” Aokiji said anxiously, seeing Nokiyoru’s unstable state.
“Pant… Pant…” Breathing heavily, Nokiyoru suppressed the flames within him, then spoke coldly to Garp. “I can’t defeat you. It seems I can’t kill this dead dog today… Garp, you will regret this one day.”
“I’ll be waiting for that day,” Garp replied with a smile, clearly unfazed.
Calmly, Nokiyoru retracted his flames and turned towards the coast without another word, leaving Kizaru and Aokiji speechless.
No one noticed Nokiyoru’s nails digging into his palms.
Turning away, Nokiyoru’s eyes burned with an unprecedented desire for power. He knew he was still too weak.
Just wait. I’ll make you all pay back a hundredfold one day. Do you really think I have no temper?
“Let’s go. This training is over,” Kizaru said, yawning and stretching.
“Old man,” Aokiji said, approaching Garp, hesitant.
“No need to say it, I know,” Garp replied, then turned to Akainu. “Still alive?”
“One breath left.”
“Then let’s gather everyone. This training is over.”
Minutes later, on the coast, Nokiyoru sat silently on the deck after speaking briefly with Zephyr.
The other recruits, seeing Nokiyoru’s injuries and the three deep scars on his right cheek, fell silent. Everyone waited quietly for the others.
Throughout, only one person’s gaze remained on Nokiyoru: Momousagi.
Moments later, Garp, followed by Kizaru and Aokiji supporting a blood-soaked Akainu, emerged from the jungle.
Everyone looked at the nearly dead Akainu, realizing that Nokiyoru had won again and nearly killed Akainu. If not for Garp’s timely arrival…
Once again, everyone glanced at Nokiyoru, who sat calmly with his eyes closed. They thought, Never provoke this madman unless necessary.
“Everyone’s here. Let’s go back to headquarters,” Zephyr said, glancing briefly at Akainu before announcing the departure.
“Zephyr-sensei, the competition is in two months. I request to stay on the island for another month and a half,” Nokiyoru said, standing slowly. After much consideration, he decided to stay and train.
Zephyr hesitated, looking at Nokiyoru. The island had many beasts comparable to vice admirals.
Zephyr was worried for his disciple, knowing how hard he pushed himself.
The other recruits, twitching their faces, had no desire to stay on the island, which had already claimed over thirty comrades.
“Are you sure?” Zephyr sighed.
“Yes.” Nokiyoru nodded firmly, his eyes filled with determination.
“Alright, a ship will come to get you in a month and a half,” Zephyr agreed, gritting his teeth.
Normally, the Navy wouldn’t make such an exception for someone with no rank or merits. But with Zephyr’s backing, Nokiyoru knew he’d be supported.
“Thank you, sensei.”
“Be careful.”
“Yes, I’ll go now.” Nokiyoru nodded, then disappeared in a flash of fire, vanishing from the coastline.
The others exchanged looks but said nothing, knowing Nokiyoru was a training maniac. His decision made sense.
“You’re just letting him go?” Garp asked Zephyr.
“He’s my disciple,” Zephyr replied with a smile.
“There’s no dealing with you. Prepare for Sengoku’s wrath.”
“You’ll face it with me.”
“In your dreams.”
“Two packs of donuts.”
“Insulting.”
“Five packs.”
“Deal.”
“Hahaha…”
And so, the three warships slowly disappeared over the horizon.
Become a Patron to read chapters ahead of public release and support me 😉
Read up to 40 chapters ahead on p atreon.
