No One Was Beyond Killing!

Hearing Kozuki Toki's question, Lin Ye nodded lightly.

"Yes, it was indeed because of your ability."

"If it was because of my ability, why did you kill so many people?"

After sending her daughter away, Kozuki Toki seemed to have truly cast life and death aside. Her eyes were fixed tightly on Lin Ye.

"There was no conflict between the two!"

As Lin Ye spoke, he turned to survey the surroundings.

Some of the pirates surrounding them had died after being caught in the aftermath of his battle with Kozuki Oden. Most of the rest had been knocked unconscious by the eruption of his Haki.

Observation Haki spread over those people as Lin Ye continued staring at Kozuki Toki.

"In this world, no one is beyond killing."

Hearing Lin Ye say those words in such a calm tone, Kozuki Toki's eyes filled with shock.

What kind of person could say something like that?

Anyone in the world could be killed?

Did this man have no one he cared about?

But a madman like this surely would not live long.

That thought arose in Kozuki Toki's heart.

She feared that her daughter, who had been sent into the future, would seek revenge.

That man had been far too powerful.

Not only was he strong, but his mind was just as formidable.

Although he had never spoken with Haki or a threatening tone, Kozuki Toki felt cold all over whenever she looked at Lin Ye.

The seas truly produced monsters.

This man was a monster like Whitebeard and Roger.

Lin Ye watched Kozuki Toki struggle to rise while leaning against Kozuki Oden's kneeling body. She wanted to wrap her arms around Kozuki Oden's neck, but the difference in their sizes made it impossible.

Lin Ye watched her finish doing all that, then Yingxue in his hand pierced through both of their bodies.

Kozuki Toki's body stiffened before she slumped limply against Kozuki Oden.

[Picking up Armament Haki...]

[Picking up Observation Haki...]

[Picking up Conqueror's Haki...]

[Picking up Two-Sword Style: Togen Totsuka, Level 1]

[Picking up Time Travel, Level 1]

Transparent bubbles flew over, and system notifications appeared.

It really dropped?

Lin Ye's eyes widened.

[Time Travel, Level 1: Can travel 1–3 years into the future. Cooldown after activation: ten years]

[Upgrade Time Travel to Level 2 requires 1,000 Blank Traits. Upgrade?]

One thousand?

Seeing that upgrading it by just one level required so much, confusion flashed through Lin Ye's eyes.

After all, upgrading Divine Departure from Level 9 to Level 10 only required 512 Blank Traits.

Yet upgrading this ability from Level 1 to Level 2 required so many?

Was it because it involved time and space?

If so, then it made sense.

Time and space had always been among the most powerful types of abilities.

It was understandable that upgrading them required such a great cost.

But that made this ability somewhat useless.

After collecting his thoughts, Lin Ye's gaze swept over the two bodies pierced by Yingxue before shifting toward the pink-haired burly man glaring at him from afar with hatred in his eyes.

"Take the bodies away and bury them. Once you're done, commit seppuku!"

Lin Ye waved a hand. He had some impression of this man. He seemed to become the Bandit King later on, but as for his name... forget it. It was unimportant.

After waving his hand, Lin Ye walked toward Kurozumi Orochi.

Hearing this, Ashura Doji gritted his teeth and used his sword to push himself to his feet before walking toward the bodies of Kozuki Toki and Kozuki Oden.

Blood poured endlessly from the wound through his waist and abdomen. He endured the weakness in his legs and the pain in his torso.

He hated Lin Ye.

But he also knew that Lin Ye's words were the only mercy a strong person could grant to the weak.

As a retainer, he could not allow his lord to be left without a burial place.

With great difficulty, Ashura Doji hoisted Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki onto his shoulders and slowly departed down the street.

No one stopped him. Or rather, the only people here who could still move were Lin Ye and Kurozumi Orochi, who was crawling away in terror.

After reviving, the sensation of dying several times had nearly driven Kurozumi Orochi mad.

Now, he only wanted to get away. To get away as quickly as possible, far away from that demon.

He never wanted to see this man again for the rest of his life.

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Kurozumi Orochi was so frightened that tears immediately streamed down his face.

"Spare me, my lord! Spare me! I'll do anything you want!"

Kurozumi Orochi turned around and saw that familiar figure approaching step by step, holding a sword in each hand.

One of them was a snow-bright blade. That was the blade that had killed him several times.

Seeing Kurozumi Orochi sobbing and trembling in utter terror, disgust flashed through Lin Ye's eyes. He raised his hand and beheaded him in a single strike.

Watching the small headless corpse struggle on the ground, Lin Ye turned and sat on a nearby stone slab.

Kurozumi Orochi was weak, but his Devil Fruit ability truly could stall for time.

How many times had he killed this guy?

Five times, or six?

Lin Ye thought about it, then shook his head.

Other than wasting some time, it was of no great use.

With that thought, Lin Ye swung the sword in his right hand. Flying Slashes shot out one after another with each swing, while bubbles surged toward him.

Those people who had been knocked unconscious by Conqueror's Haki died painlessly in their sleep.

Onigashima.

"Mr. Kaido!"

King looked at Kaido, who was drinking himself senseless, with obvious difficulty in his eyes.

"Hm?"

Kaido looked at King through bleary, drunken eyes.

"Mr. Kaido, how should we handle the Flower Capital? Kurozumi Orochi might die. If he dies, we'll have to support someone else, and we'll still need manpower to repair Onigashima afterward."

King reminded him.

"Didn't they say there was only one person? And wasn't that idiot following Kurozumi Orochi's orders and fighting that guy?"

Kaido's speech was somewhat slurred.

"But there's still been no news. Conqueror's Haki just erupted over there!"

King spoke again, his eyes filled with gravity.

Kaido threw back his head and laughed, then suddenly lowered it to stare at King.

"Kozuki Oden knows Conqueror's Haki. It was probably him, and he isn't weak either."

"Besides, I'm waiting here for Moria and his group. You go to the Flower Capital."

Kaido waved a hand, telling King to go himself so he would not interrupt his drinking.

"Understood, Mr. Kaido!"

King could only nod before turning to leave.

Although he looked down on Kurozumi Orochi, the fact remained that Kurozumi Orochi was useful for now. If they wanted to control Wano Country, Kurozumi Orochi was the best tool.

Whether it was mining in Udon or repairing Onigashima afterward, they would need the people of Wano Country.

Kurozumi Orochi might be incapable in other matters, but he could still manage forcing people into labor.

When the time came, they would only need to give the order.

If Kurozumi Orochi truly died, taking over all of Wano Country would become even more troublesome, and everything would likely be delayed.

Thinking of this, flames burst from King's body. He rose into the air, transformed into a pterosaur, and flew toward the Flower Capital.