"Kuro, you don't have to be discouraged…"
Noticing that Kuro was somewhat disappointed and unwilling.
Luke smiled faintly and patted his shoulder: "To be honest, your growth rate in the past two years has also been somewhat beyond my expectations!"
Strictly speaking, coming from the East Blue, which is recognized as the weakest sea and without the guidance of a famous teacher and systematic training, Kuro was already at a disadvantage compared to Rob Lucci, who had been nurtured by CP9 from a young age due to his outstanding talent.
There is a big gap between him and the genius of CP9, and at the beginning, it was only temporarily made up by relying on his Devil Fruit ability.
After all, when Kuro had not even mastered the Six Styles and barely developed the Pussyfoot Maneuver.
Lucci had already mastered all Six Styles and even mastered the Armament and Observation Haki.
Now, Lucci has obtained devil fruit ability that is not inferior to the other party, or even better.
It is natural to surpass Kuro in all aspects.
"I understand, Luke-sama… I won't give up easily!"
The somewhat embarrassed Kuro, who had regained his human form, said with his fists clenched.
Since joining the Netherworld Pirates, he has gone through bloody baptisms and cruel trials, one after another.
He is no longer the weak-willed he once was, who wanted to escape and live comfortably in the original timeline.
He would not collapse so easily.
"It's great that you can maintain this mentality!"
Luke said with a smile full of appreciation.
It must be said that Kuro's talent is indeed extraordinary, not worse than Kaku, who is also valued by him.
He is extremely compatible with the Scythe Weasel fruit and has a famous teacher to guide his practice, and he has never slacked off.
He was also injected with the genetic enhancement serum improved by the Germa research team, which fully tapped his potential.
He grew quite rapidly.
A month ago, he had fought with Cracker, one of the Four Sweet Commanders, on the front line.
The two fought for a day and a night, but there was no winner.
Finally, after the reinforcements of both sides arrived, they retreated.
"I'm waiting for your challenge at any time!"
Lucci folded his arms and said with a smile.
He has regained his former confidence, but he no longer has the naivety and arrogance of the past, and he is no longer as complacent as before.
Although Kuro is constantly improving, he, Rob Lucci, will not stand still.
In the Netherworld Pirates, apart from Luke himself and those zombie kings who are his clones.
The only ones he can really pay attention to are Shiryu and Wyper.
Even so, he wasn't willing to accept being inferior to the two of them.
The only one he saw as a true rival was Wyper, someone with monstrous talent, a relentless training regimen, and an absurdly fast growth rate, making him a worthy competitor.
At the same time, both of them were striving to surpass each other and become Luke's true right-hand man.
Well, except for that crazy woman with an abnormal mind.
"Luke-sama."
Not long after, Law, Kid, Killer, Urouge, and others who were waiting at the headquarters of the Netherworld Pirates and did not go out to fight all came one after another.
They were not too surprised that Lucci wanted to formally challenge those zombie kings.
They all knew that Lucci's strength was much better than two years ago.
He was the strongest man in the Netherworld Pirates, second only to Shiryu, except for Luke himself and the zombie kings he created.
With continuous training day and night, the injection of a special genetic enhancement serum, coupled with the long-term subtle influence of his artificial Mythical Zoan fruit, his physique has become like a monster.
It can be said to be exaggeratedly strong and invulnerable to swords and guns.
Looking at the members of the Netherworld Pirates around, Luke asked with a smile: "Do any of you want to challenge those special zombies?"
Over the past two years, after surviving the New World's brutal trials, receiving guidance from Luke and his zombie kings, and occasionally experiencing firsthand battles against other powerful figures on the sea, their strength had progressed rapidly.
Additionally, they had all received an optimized version of the Germa research team's primary genetic enhancement serum.
Although this weaker version of the serum didn't turn them into full-fledged Lineage factor warriors like the Vinsmoke siblings, it still significantly boosted their physical attributes.
These members, whom Luke had placed great expectations on, had all grown considerably.
Their rapid development left even the Marines and other major factions astonished.
It was almost unbelievable.
"No…"
"That's not necessary…"
"We still have some self-awareness!"
"Heh, maybe after I knock Lucci or Wyper down from the Four Heavenly Kings and take their spot!"
Law, Kid, Killer, Urouge, and others all smiled and spoke as they refused without hesitation.
Is that a challenge? That's asking for abuse!
Unlike friendly sparring sessions where the zombie kings held back and played the role of instructors, the challenge Luke mentioned was a no-holds-barred, all-out battle.
"Then you have to work hard!"
Lucci's mouth curled up.
He crosses his arms with a bit of arrogance, not caring.
Even if he is not as good as Shiryu and that crazy woman for the time being.
It does not mean that he will be easily surpassed.
That's right; currently, Shiryu, Yamato, Wyper, and Rob Lucci are the four cadres with the highest bounties and the strongest strength.
They have been called the Four Heavenly Kings Of Netherworld by the World Economy News!
Shiryu, the former head warden of Impel Down, possessed strength comparable to that of first commanders like Marco Marco the Phoenix, Katakuri, and King.
With the added power of the Float-Float Fruit, he had become even stronger.
Yamato inherited the blood of Kaido, the beast, and awakened the Conqueror's Haki at the age of eight. She is also a user of the Mythical Zoan fruit.
In the past two years, she has not only been strengthened by genetic drugs but also has Luke's unsparing teachings and has been tempered by blood and fire on the cruel battlefield.
Compared with her previous strength, it has undergone earth-shaking changes.
Not long ago, she successfully mastered the Conqueror's Haki entanglement, and her combat power is catching up with Shiryu.
Meanwhile, Wyper and Rob Lucci not only have quite outstanding talent but also obtained the top Devil Fruit ability.
It was no surprise that these four had surpassed the likes of Crescent Moon Hunter, the Corrupt King, and others.
As for Kuro, Gin, and others, although they have not yet reached the level of the Four Heavenly Kings, they are still powerful figures on the sea.
The outside world referred to them as the Eight Stars!
This ranking was fiercely competitive and was constantly changing.
Initially, the spots had been dominated by legendary criminals from Eternal Hell, such as Johnson, Alice, and others.
But as time went on, under the high-pressure training and cruel fighting arranged by Luke.
Law, Kuro, Kaku, Gin, Urouge, and others have grown up one after another and have surpassed these old masters who were once notorious in the sea.
There are also Nami, Kid, Killer, Hawkins, Bartolomeo Daz Bonez, and others who are growing and becoming stronger and stronger.
Oh, and there is also Roronoa Zoro.
Two years ago, not long after he had just established his foothold in the New World, Luke directly invited him to join the Netherworld Pirates.
Originally, the proud Three-Sword Style user had intended to refuse. But after witnessing Luke's overwhelming power, he agreed without hesitation.
It can be said that facing these newcomers. Even Catarina Devon, Heavy Drinker, and others who were once imprisoned in Eternal Hell and were extremely conceited about their own strength are under great pressure.
These ruthless, ambitious individuals were not to be underestimated.
If Luke had not kept them in check, a power struggle within the crew would have already erupted.
It wasn't that no one wanted to suppress these rising members who threatened their positions, but they dared not act openly.
The omnipresent and all-pervasive Shadowkhan Army makes them more cautious.
Otherwise, maybe an accident may happen for these newcomers who haven't fully grown up when they go on a mission.