Chapter 383: You Will Have Two Choices
Sengoku and Sakazuki both voiced their stance—it was clear that they completely rejected what Uchiha Dali's clone had just declared.
Attempting to rule the world meant standing against the World Government itself.
And as the most powerful military force under the World Government, the Marines naturally would not sit idly by.
"Hm, I knew you wouldn't let me go," said Uchiha Dali's clone casually. "So isn't this me handing myself over for you to kill?"
"If you can do it, then go ahead."
He spread his hands and beckoned mockingly to the enemies on both sides.
"What a terrifying guy…"
After holding back for a while, Borsalino finally managed to utter that single line.
Kuzan then asked, "Why do you want to rule this world?"
"Good question."
"First—and most importantly—your supreme commanders are utterly incompetent. After all these years, they still can't unite the world. With such pathetic ability, they're not worthy of leading these vast seas."
"Of course, the second reason is just as important."
"You're too weak."
When Uchiha Dali's clone said this, Sengoku and the others all frowned deeply.
Yet, they couldn't deny that his words… seemed to make a little sense.
Compared to him, they were indeed far too weak.
Uchiha Dali's clone ignored their reactions and continued, "You're so weak you can't even protect your own headquarters, and you still think you can protect this world?"
"Take a good look at the difference between us!"
Suddenly, Uchiha Dali's clone released a terrifying pressure.
A shockwave burst out in all directions, invisible blades slicing through everything around him.
With a thunderous boom, the ground was violently pushed outward hundreds of meters, forming a massive bowl-shaped crater.
Even more shocking, the entire Marineford Island was split apart like a watermelon—dozens of huge sections torn asunder.
Rumble rumble rumble…
It wasn't an especially loud sound, yet every rift that formed in the shattered ground was so deep that no one could see the bottom.
The battlefield of Marineford—both Marines and pirates alike—was divided into dozens of isolated zones.
But that wasn't even the most shocking part.
As they watched, Sengoku, Garp, and Sakazuki saw that when Uchiha Dali's clone made his move, not only was Marineford split apart, but the sea itself was cleaved into dozens of triangular regions.
Tens of billions of tons of seawater poured endlessly into the deep fissures, causing the surface of the ocean to drop by more than ten meters.
Everyone was so stunned they couldn't even speak.
Uchiha Dali's clone, however, looked as if he had done something completely trivial.
"Now you understand. The reason I haven't wiped you out isn't because I can't."
"I'm simply using you."
He glanced playfully at Sengoku and the others. "The same rule still applies—if you attack me, then after one day, you'll receive a reward."
"Reward?"
Garp narrowed his eyes. "What kind of reward?"
"You will have two choices."
"Two choices?"
Sengoku's expression hardened. He had a bad feeling about this. Two choices? That didn't sound like any kind of good reward.
Sakazuki and the others clearly realized it too.
All of them were now staring intently at Uchiha Dali's clone.
High in the sky, Uchiha Dali and Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki looked down with faint amusement.
The clone possessed self-awareness, completely independent of Uchiha Dali's original consciousness.
Whatever he did, however he acted, was not influenced by the true Uchiha Dali's thoughts.
Which meant that, at this moment, Uchiha Dali himself was simply watching for entertainment.
"It seems your clone's patience has run out," Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki remarked meaningfully.
"All the better," Uchiha Dali said with a faint smile. "Once he's grown enough, we can finally leave and go deal with Àoshiki's bad luck."
"How about we leave now?" Kyōshiki suggested. "I just thought of a place."
"Oh?" Uchiha Dali looked up at him. "Where?"
"If Àoshiki wants to hide, that would be the most likely place."
"He suffered under us before, so he must be desperate to gain strength to fight back. If my guess is right, that's exactly what he'll do."
That only made Uchiha Dali more curious.
They could indeed leave now.
His clone was growing stronger at an astonishing pace.
Ruling this world of pirates wouldn't be any problem for him.
It was safe to say that even if every top-tier powerhouse in the Pirate World joined forces, they still couldn't pose any real threat to him.
There was only one remaining problem—his clone still wasn't a permanent existence.
Once that was solved, everything else would follow naturally.
"Your clone is using extreme combat pressure to accelerate its own growth, isn't it?" Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki suddenly asked.
He had already seen through it.
The reason Uchiha Dali's clone kept letting the Marine powerhouses attack him without fighting back was precisely to use external pressure to push himself to evolve.
For someone with Uchiha Dali's heaven-defying perception and comprehension, this wasn't impossible at all.
When Uchiha Dali gave a small nod, Kyōshiki continued, "Then why not make a move yourself? Wouldn't that make your clone grow even faster?"
"No."
Uchiha Dali shook his head.
"No?"
Kyōshiki was a bit surprised. His reasoning seemed sound.
"Why not?" he asked curiously.
"I'm too strong."
"…That's one reason you can't argue with."
Kyōshiki gave a helpless laugh.
Uchiha Dali then said calmly, "Now that I've basically understood the situation here, there's no reason to stay any longer."
"Let's go."
He raised his head, looking toward the distant heavens.
He had originally thought the realm sealed behind the barrier would be some extraordinary, mysterious place—only to find it was just the Pirate World.
To the current Uchiha Dali, this world held no attraction whatsoever.
If it weren't part of the same planet, he wouldn't have even bothered.
Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki glanced once more at the battlefield below, where Uchiha Dali's clone was still facing off against the Marines and pirates, then nodded.
"Then let's head there now."
"It's about time we settled things with Àoshiki once and for all."