Chapter 186: A Lightning-Filled Family Brawl

A thunderous roar boomed through the poison mist. “Lightning Swamp!”

Karl never planned to use his lightning powers. Just sparring against the kids felt like bullying already, so up until now he’d only been using Observation Haki, some martial arts and the Golden Light Spell.

But when Zikt managed to summon a lightning attack, Karl decided he might as well use the thunder Zikt summoned to his advantage, spreading waves of lightning all over the ground beneath his feet.

Because the ground had turned into creamy terrain, and cream contains water, everyone standing on it got zapped by a fierce electric current. No one suffered any real harm, but everyone was left tingling and their hair all frizzed up.

“Great. Did I just make things worse by trying to help?”

It was only now Zikt understood what big brother Perospero meant. It wasn’t that he might hurt their father, but that he’d actually end up making their dad even more powerful.

So Dad’s a lightning master too?

He’s the one who summoned the lightning—why wasn’t it under his control?

And as far as he could remember, Dad never ate a Devil Fruit, so where were these lightning powers coming from?

But it was too late for regrets.

Karl bared his huge teeth as lightning crackled across his body. He strode out of the smoke, gripping Compote in his right hand as she struggled helplessly.

“Thanks! You just made things a whole lot easier for me.”

The next moment, he casually tossed Compote forward. Her eyes widened in terror as Karl swung his leg and kicked her straight at Zikt.

Same move, same result: Zikt was flattened as Compote crashed into him.

The two rolled across the ground, finally coming to a stop in the corner.

“Unrivaled Halberd!” In the chaos, Daifuku was spurred into action, watching his siblings get knocked down one after another. Unexpectedly, he managed to summon a second spirit, the Fierce Tiger—Dian Wei.

“Thunder Crescent Slash!”

Seeing Dian Wei charging at him, Karl materialized a ten-meter halberd in his right hand and swung it violently at the spirit.

He was clearly stronger than Dian Wei, but that old general wasn’t one to be underestimated. With a sweep, both halberds redirected Karl’s attack into the ground.

Gripping his great halberd tight, Dian Wei used Karl’s halberd for leverage, spun twice in place and slashed his own weapon right at Karl.

Karl realized his lack of weapon experience had left him wide open. Looks like he’d need to put in more practice with the halberd from now on.

In most fights, Karl relied on pure, overwhelming power to overpower his opponents. He didn’t have much in the way of weapon skill—especially with something as tricky as the halberd.

He wrapped his left hand in Armament Haki and caught the slashing halberd with his bare hand.

“Great Palm!”

At that moment, a massive wooden palm came crashing down toward his back.

Clang!

Karl didn’t dodge or block. He just took the hit with his back, totally unfazed. At this point, blades and swords couldn’t hurt his body at all.

Blame Ye Linyou—she just wasn’t strong enough. If she powered up, maybe Karl would actually feel a little pain.

Right now, even without using Armament Haki to defend himself, that wooden palm couldn’t do a thing to him.

Still, what daughter hits her own father?

How’s he supposed to maintain authority if his kids start beating on him?

Nope. Kids need strict teaching from an early age or you’ll never rein them in.

After thinking it over, Karl tightened his grip on the halberd, spun using the momentum and flung Dian Wei aside. Then, stomping hard, he charged right at Ye Linyou.

“Blade Burst!”

“Slick-Slick Hell!”

In midair, Katakuri and Perospero unleashed their attacks right after each other.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Karl summoned a shield using the Golden Light Spell, blocking every attack behind him.

“Thousand-Armed Buddha!”

Seeing Karl getting closer, Ye Linyou didn’t want to be sent flying by her dad and look ridiculous. She really didn’t. Dozens of giant hands appeared behind her, swatting down at Karl.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the attacks rained down, dust exploded everywhere, filling the air with thick smoke.

The sudden clouds blocked everyone’s view, and attacks paused. For a moment, silence hung in the air.

“Why’d you all stop?”

A voice from behind made Ye Linyou jump. Cold sweat broke out all over.

Her face stiff, she slowly turned her head—only to see her father standing right behind her. She managed a shaky smile.

“Dad, go easy on me, okay?”

“Ah!”

She barely finished speaking before Karl booted her into the air with a single kick.

Almost instantly, the battle flared up again. Seven or eight hours later, only Karl was still standing.

Karl went easy on everyone. He just wanted to test their strength—really, it was just play-fighting with the kids.

“You’re all too weak. Still got a lot to learn.” Karl grinned.

Guess I can finally say I’ve ‘kicked the North Blue Kindergarten.’ That was a dream of mine, and today, I did it.

Now if only I knew when I’d get to ‘punch the South Hill Elderly Home.’

Can’t just wait for big brother Newgate to get old, can I?

“Come on, up you get! Time to eat.”

Karl walked away with a smug smile, hands behind his back. On a rainy day, there’s nothing wrong with knocking some sense into your kids—it’s just one way to pass the time.

“Kowa inai!”

Borsalino peeked from where he was squatting against the wall, his face twisted into a lecherous grin.

He’d been watching the fight for several hours already.

The whole thing was wild, start to finish. Honestly, Karl sure wasn’t holding back.

“Even I think that was a bit brutal,” added Issho.

He said that, but the glint of mischief in his eyes betrayed his amusement.

After all, watching someone else get beaten up is oddly satisfying when it’s not you.

“Wait… you don’t think the same thing’s coming for us, do you?” Moria crossed his arms, trembling. To him, the daily training sessions already felt like torture—the thought of sparring was on a whole new level.

Karl, just stepping inside, heard Moria’s voice and turned to notice Borsalino and the others gathered by the wall.

“Almost forgot about you thanks to the reminder. Alright. After dinner, it’s your turn.”

After telling Moria, Karl thought to himself—he’d nearly forgotten this group.

Karl’s figure disappeared into the room as he walked away.

Moria shivered, feeling the room grow colder. When he glanced around, he nearly leaped out of his skin.

“Why are you all looking at me like that?”

He hadn’t realized he’d been completely surrounded by Borsalino, Sakazuki, Issho and Kuma.

“If it weren’t for you, would Karl have remembered us?” Borsalino growled, gritting his teeth.

They’d just come to enjoy the show, yet somehow wound up in the crosshairs. None of them could believe it.

And the man in front of them was entirely to blame.

“Enough talk. Get him!”

“Hey, wait—hold on, don’t!”

Bam! Bam! Bam!!!