246Chapter 247 Epic Reward! Nine-Tailed Fox and the Roaring Moby Dick
Chapter 247 Epic Reward! Nine-Tailed Fox and the Roaring Moby Dick
While unconscious, Viktor's consciousness slowly sank into the dark and profound inner world of his mind.
In this silent space, a system notification suddenly sounded in his mind:
[Ding! The final settlement of the Marineford War is complete!]
[The host has successfully reversed the fate of the old era's end, drastically altering the world's trajectory! Rating: EX! Received an epic ultimate reward!]
[Congratulations on obtaining a Perfect-grade Immortal Body]
As the system notification faded, a vast and powerful green life force erupted instantly within the inner realm, merging into Viktor's limbs and bones with overwhelming force.
Viktor could clearly feel every cell in his body that had been severely depleted from continuously activating the Complete Body Susanoo and unleashing high-level ninjutsu.
It is now revitalizing at an alarmingly rapid pace that defies common sense.
Not only did his fatigue vanish, but his chakra reserves were also surging wildly, like a river bursting its banks.
[The Yin and Yang Release powers within the host's body have begun to perfectly converge, and the development of the Rinnegan has officially begun.]
Immediately afterwards, on the calm sea deep inside the interior, the water began to churn violently.
A colossal iron gate, exuding the aura of an ancient seal, slowly rose from the water, accompanied by the heavy clanking of chains, and stood before Victor.
Behind the dimly lit door, a pair of fox-like vertical pupils, like giant red lanterns, filled with violence and destruction, suddenly opened in the darkness and stared intently at Victor outside the door.
Looking into those intensely intimidating eyes, Viktor couldn't help but smile slightly.
Nine-Tails...
[Obtained the Tailed Beast: Kurama (Nine-Tails)!]
"roar--!"
Faced with this newly appeared imp, the raging Nine-Tailed Fox let out a deafening roar.
It attempted to use a terrifying hurricane powerful enough to tear apart the soul to penetrate the iron fence and give this arrogant little human brat a taste of his own medicine.
However, the strong wind swept across Viktor's cheeks but couldn't even lift the hem of his clothes.
Viktor stood motionless, then suddenly opened his eyes.
Within his eye sockets, the crimson Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan instantly emitted an eerie light.
A domineering eye power, specifically designed to counter tailed beasts, descended like a mountain crashing down, forcefully suppressing the Nine-Tails' raging chakra hurricane.
Viktor crossed his arms and looked at Nine-Ra with a smile through the iron bars.
"Let's get acquainted, Nine-Ra, I am your future partner."
"Put away your temper and lend me your strength."
"I'll take you to turn this ocean upside down."
Faced with Viktor's arrogant words and those Sharingan eyes that it loathed, Kurama's massive body lowered slightly.
"Hmph, ignorant brat!"
Nine-Tails breathed a heavy sigh of air at him.
She then arrogantly turned her head away, lay on the water's surface, closed her eyes to rest, and ignored him completely.
Victor watched its proud back with a smile, not angry at all.
He knew in his heart that it would be a long time to completely subdue this proud tailed beast, so he decided to let this arrogant big fox stay here for now.
...
Consciousness gradually returned to reality.
In a spacious and comfortable cabin on the Moby Dick in the New World waters, Victor slowly opened his eyes.
He sat up and clenched his fist tightly.
Viktor took a deep breath as his knuckles cracked crisply and he felt the terrifying, inexhaustible life force within his body.
He understood that fully integrating and mastering this immense power would be the most important training he would undertake next.
Before he could calm down and carefully feel the changes in his body, a deafening commotion erupted outside the door.
The clinking of rum glasses and the unrestrained, hearty laughter intertwined to create a carnival symphony for pirates.
Victor threw off the covers, got out of bed, and casually picked up a clean black coat from the wooden shelf next to him and draped it over his shoulders.
With a soft creak, he reached out and pushed open the heavy wooden hatch.
The dazzling sunlight instantly flooded into our vision, dispelling the gloom inside the cabin.
The air is filled with the strong aroma of rum carried on the sea breeze, as well as the mouthwatering smell of roasted meat.
On the bustling deck, it was probably one of the sharp-eyed members of the Whitebeard Pirates who first spotted the figure at the door.
He raised the wooden wine cup, which was larger than his head, high in the air and shouted:
"Hey everyone! Look! Red Lotus!"
"The Straw Hat Boy's first mate is awake!"
In an instant, the already noisy deck seemed to be ignited like a powder keg, erupting into a thunderous roar of cheers.
"Oh my god!! The Viktor brothers are awake!"
Countless Whitebeard Pirates crew members, their bodies wrapped in white bandages and bearing traces of gunpowder, stopped what they were doing.
They raised their glasses and weapons, paying the highest tribute to Guren, who had cleaved through the encirclement with a single sword in a desperate situation and saved countless lives, with the most enthusiastic pirate etiquette on the high seas.
Beside a huge bonfire not far away.
First Division Captain Marco was drinking with "Floral" Vista when they saw Victor come out, and the two smiled and raised their glasses.
"Diamond" Joz was taking a big bite of a huge piece of meat with bone in it, his mouth dripping with oil.
Meanwhile, Jinbe, the "Knight of the Sea," sat calmly to the side, smiling and nodding in greeting to Viktor.
Hearing the shouts from the crowd, Luffy, Ace, and Sabo immediately put their arms around each other and squeezed through the throng.
Ace's muscular upper body was bare, and his left shoulder was wrapped in thick medical bandages.
He strode up to Viktor and personally handed him a bowl brimming with strong liquor.
Those usually arrogant eyes were now filled with profound gratitude:
"I can't thank you enough, Viktor!"
"If it weren't for you this time, all of us brothers would probably have perished in Marineford."
"If you ever encounter any trouble in the future, just say the word, and I, Ace, will be there for you!"
Sabo stepped forward, adjusted his signature top hat, and with a smile, gave Viktor's shoulder a light tap on the shoulder.
"You, that last sword strike was way too cool, you stole the show."
"The Great Pirate with a Bounty of 2.5 Billion~"
Luffy, standing to the side, had his cheeks bulging out, looking just like a hamster hoarding food.
He was holding a huge roasted chicken leg in each hand, chewing and shouting incoherently:
"Hehehe! Viktor is the strongest!"
"Come and eat some meat! We're having a feast!"
Edward Newgate, the white-bearded man, sat in the huge main seat at the deepest part of the deck, his breathing heavy despite having several IV tubes inserted into his body.
But this strongest man in the world still boldly picked up a huge barrel of wine.
His imposing eyes fixed on Viktor, and he let out his signature loud laugh: "Gurarararar!"
Whitebeard offered a distant salute to this unfathomable brat, then downed the strong liquor in the barrel in one gulp.
Viktor chuckled in response to this heartfelt gratitude and respect.
He readily took the bowl of strong liquor from Ace's hand, tilted his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing, and drank the spicy, throat-irritating liquor in one gulp.
...
The banquet continued into the latter half, and the atmosphere on the deck remained lively. Many pirates were already drunk and fast asleep on the deck.
Luffy sat alone on the quiet edge of the ship's gunwale.
He lowered his head, gently stroking the worn-out straw hat in his hands, his gaze somewhat lost in thought.
The banquet of the brothers and the pirates around him became more and more lively and noisy.
The more he thought about it, the more he couldn't stop recalling the desperate scene from the Sabaody Archipelago.
Zoro, mercilessly swatted away by the "tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma; Nami, weeping; Usopp, in despair...
Where exactly are his companions now, scattered in some unknown corner of the world?
As the captain of this ship, after witnessing the terrifying stage of the Marineford War, where monsters gathered, he...
He desperately wanted to become stronger.
He wanted to set sail immediately to find his companions one by one and prevent them from suffering any more harm.
Victor, holding a bottle of wine, slowly walked to his side and leaned against the ship's railing.
He didn't say anything, but simply stretched out his broad palm and gently patted Luffy's shoulder.
Their eyes met, and they reached a tacit understanding without saying a word.
In this warm and tranquil moment, tinged with a touch of longing.
On the sea next to the Moby Dick, the originally calm waters suddenly began to churn and boil violently without warning!
The enormous shadow rapidly magnified underwater.
"Whoosh—!"
A sharp and fierce sword aura erupted underwater!
A massive deep-sea sea monster was cleaved cleanly in two from underwater before it even had a chance to fully surface.
Amidst the splashing water and blood rain, a tall figure rose from the sea.
The newcomer wore a long white cloak, round-framed glasses perched on his nose, and had long, wavy, gray hair and a beard.
He was soaking wet, water droplets dripping from the hem of his clothes, and like a light leaf, he steadily leaped onto the deck of the Moby Dick.
He straightened up and raised his hand to push up his round-framed glasses, which were covered in water droplets.
The legendary figure surveyed the Whitebeard Pirates crew members on the deck, who had fallen silent instantly due to the sudden turn of events.
Finally, his deep gaze locked onto Luffy, who was sitting on the side of the ship.
The old man's lips slowly curved into a smile, tinged with a hint of nostalgia.
"Oh dear, it seems I've stumbled upon a rather wonderful banquet."
—Silbaz Rayleigh, the "Pluto," makes his appearance here!247Chapter 248 The Admonition of Hades! A Farewell Under the Night and Their Separate Paths
Chapter 248 The Admonition of Hades! A Farewell Under the Night and Their Separate Paths
"Splash—"
Accompanied by the sound of water dripping.
"Pluto" Silvers Reilly, soaking wet, walked onto the Moby Dick's wide deck.
The moment this legendary right arm of the Pirate King appeared, the previously noisy and bustling post-disaster banquet suddenly fell silent for a moment.
All the Whitebeard Pirates crew members looked at this uninvited guest with a degree of wariness.
The white-bearded man, seated in the main seat, lowered his head, looking at his former adversary, the first mate, and let out a muffled, cold snort.
"Gurararara! Rayleigh!"
"Why aren't you doing your coating business properly in the Sabaody Archipelago? What are you doing all the way to my ship?"
Rayleigh didn't seem to care about the wary stares around him.
He smiled nonchalantly, raised his hand and forcefully wrung out the seawater dripping from his cloak, his tone light yet carrying a profound meaning:
"It's nothing, I just happened to be passing by to see the seedlings of the new era."
With that, Rayleigh strode forward and walked straight up to Luffy and Victor.
This legendary pirate, who had weathered countless storms, first lavished praise on the two men, highly commending their amazing performance in the Marineford War.
Whether it's Luffy's courage to rush headlong into the execution platform or Victor's terrifying strength to sever the gates of justice and confront an admiral head-on, it's all about courage.
All of this allowed the older generation to see the unstoppable tide of the new era.
But then, Raleigh abruptly changed the subject.
He wiped the smile from his face, and through his round-framed glasses, his gaze became incredibly serious and sharp:
"Straw Hat Boy, although you successfully rescued Ace today, there are some harsh realities you must face."
"If it weren't for Whitebeard and Victor clearing the way for you during the Marineford War, you wouldn't have been able to win."
"With your body, you would already be a cold corpse by now."
Rayleigh's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a dagger, striking Luffy's heart heavily:
"With your current strength, if you rashly lead your companions into a new world teeming with monsters, you will only repeat the mistakes of the Sabaody Archipelago."
"By then, you still won't be able to protect anyone."
Upon hearing this merciless analysis, Luffy's already somewhat gloomy face instantly darkened.
He knew Riley had said a lot.
He clenched his fists involuntarily, his nails digging deep into his palms.
His mind raced with images of his helplessness when facing Kizaru's lightning-fast kick at Marineford.
The near-death despair when facing Akainu's deadly magma.
And in the Sabaody Archipelago, the despair and helplessness of watching helplessly as his companions were mercilessly swatted away one by one by the "Tyrant" bear.
Luffy bit his lower lip hard until it bled.
He lowered his head helplessly, his large straw hat obscuring his eyes, and he fell into deep self-reproach and a long silence.
Seeing Luffy struggling with his inner turmoil, Rayleigh sighed softly.
He then adjusted his glasses and, with a smile, offered his suggestion for the trip:
"Stop blindly rushing forward, Luffy."
"Give me two years, and I will mold you into a truly capable individual who is qualified to stand in the new world."
Upon hearing this suggestion, Viktor, who was standing to the side, also stepped forward.
He stretched out his broad, calloused hand and patted Luffy's slightly trembling shoulder heavily:
"Luffy, I agree with Rayleigh."
"It's not just you, Luffy, our entire pirate crew needs time."
"We are far from being qualified to fulfill our respective dreams."
"Sharpen your claws and teeth before going out to sea to hunt; this is the proper conduct of a hunter."
Ace strode forward, offering no words of comfort, but instead ruffled Luffy's messy black hair.
Those once defiant eyes were now filled with the tenderness of an older brother and unreserved encouragement:
"After this battle, Dad will take us back to the New World to regroup."
"Luffy, do as your first mate says."
"We've been lying low for a better explosion. See you in the new world in two years!"
Sabo watched the scene unfold quietly, feeling the deep bond between brothers that needed no words, and then couldn't help but tilt his head back and let out a hearty and cheerful laugh.
"My silly little brother isn't like this at all!"
Feeling Rayleigh's guidance, Victor's support, and the expectant gazes of his two older brothers, Luffy's confusion was finally swept away.
He suddenly raised his head, and his once dull, clear eyes were now filled with an unwavering, burning light.
He looked at Ridley, nodded heavily, and announced loudly:
"Okay! Thank you, Uncle Rayleigh!"
...
Night quietly falls, and countless stars adorn the deep night sky.
The Whitebeard Pirates' grand and wild post-disaster feast was finally drawing to a close.
The deck was littered with drunken pirates, their snores rising and falling, creating a scene of extraordinary tranquility amidst the crashing waves.
Luffy, Ace, Sabo, and Victor sat casually on the edge of the high ship's gunwale.
They enjoyed the cool, pleasant sea breeze, savoring this rare moment of tranquility after surviving the carnage.
Just then, a dark sailboat flying the revolutionary army's dragon flag quietly cut through the waves in the night.
It slowly approached and finally came to a steady stop near the Moby-Dick.
"Ivankov, the 'Transvestite King'" and Lightning stood at the bow of the dragon-headed ship, waving vigorously at Sabo, who was sitting on the side of the ship.
When he saw the ships from the Revolutionary Army arrive to pick him up, the relaxed and happy smile on Sabo's face gradually disappeared.
He was well aware that the full-scale outbreak of the Marineford War was like a global hurricane, which had completely shattered the balance of power that the three major powers had maintained for many years and changed the entire world order.
At this critical moment of upheaval, the revolutionary leader, Dorag, urgently needed him to return to oversee the overall situation and coordinate intelligence on uprisings across the country.
As the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, he shouldered the mission of liberating the world and had an inescapable responsibility.
Our brief reunion will eventually come to an end; it's time to leave.
Sabo stood up and patted the dust off his trench coat.
Then, he turned to look at Victor, who was drinking beside him:
"Victor, do you want to come back with me?"
Faced with Sabo's invitation, Viktor simply smiled and waved his hand, decisively declining:
"Forget it."
"Before I officially go into seclusion to cultivate, I have to accompany my unruly captain to Marineford to cause another ruckus."
"but..."
Viktor paused, a meaningful smile flashing in his deep eyes.
"After I've finished dealing with all the trivial matters here, I'll make time to come back and visit you all."
"After all, our pirate crew's archaeologists are currently guests on your Revolutionary Army's territory."
"I'm leaving Robin in your care."
Sabo smiled knowingly upon hearing Viktor's promise, which was half-joking and half-serious.
He understood what Victor meant, and he also understood the unbreakable bond between the Straw Hat crew.
Sabo turned around and looked at Luffy and Ace sitting side by side in front of him.
Even the usually calm and composed second-in-command of the revolutionary army couldn't help but have his eyes slightly redden at this moment.
There were no unnecessary formalities or idle chatter among the three brothers.
They opened their arms and embraced tightly on the deck under the night sky.
Feeling each other's vibrant heartbeats and body temperature, they etched the joy of this reunion deep into their souls.
"See you later, Luffy, Ace!"
Sabo was the first to let go, took a step back, and properly put on the windproof goggles on his head.
Then, he exerted force with both legs and, like a bird spreading its wings, lightly leaped into the air.
"Sabo!!! Take care!"
Luffy and Ace leaned half their bodies out of the ship's railing, shouting at the receding figure in the night sky, waving their arms vigorously as if trying to send all their reluctance into the wind.
Under the silent witness of a sky full of dazzling stars, Sabo landed steadily on the deck of the Revolutionary Army warship.
He turned around, facing the howling sea breeze, and waved goodbye to his brothers on the Moby Whale with a smile.
As the sails billowed, the revolutionary army's ships gradually sailed into the deep night and disappeared at the horizon.
Luffy, Ace, and Sabo, these three sworn brothers in the East Blue, went through the blood and fire, life and death of the Marineford War.
Their first reunion finally came to a perfect end.
And their own magnificent new paths have only just begun.248Chapter 24 Tolls in a New Era!
Chapter 249 The Bell Tolls in a New Era!
The next morning, a slightly cool sea breeze swept across the waves, finally dispelling the suffocating smell of war that had lingered over the sea.
On the vast, boundless sea, the main force of the Whitebeard Pirates is ready to set sail.
With its massive sails billowing high, the ship's prow seemed to greet the rising sun, ready to set sail and return to their new world.
On the deck, Ace, his muscular upper body bare, carefully tore off half of a Vivre Card that had just been remade the night before.
Then, with an extremely solemn look in his eyes, he placed it into Luffy's hand.
"Don't die, Luffy!"
Ace pressed hard on Luffy's shoulder.
His face, bearing the marks of battle, blossomed into a carefree and exuberant smile, his eyes brimming with anticipation for the future.
"Two years from now, come find me in the New World with your reliable companions."
"If you encounter a formidable enemy you can't handle on that high sea, shout out my name, Ace!"
Luffy shouted loudly, somewhat dissatisfied:
"I'm a pirate with a bounty of one billion! One day we'll surpass you! The Whitebeard Pirates!!"
Upon hearing Luffy's "declaration of war," the Whitebeard Pirates crew members couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Hearing their "laughter," Luffy became even more agitated until Victor pressed down on his straw hat, which calmed him down a bit.
Whitebeard, standing high on the bow of the ship, looked down at Luffy, Victor, Rayleigh, and Jinbe, who had already moved to a small coated ship.
This once mighty and powerful man, facing the sea breeze, let out a hearty laugh that shook the entire region:
"Gurararara! Straw Hat Luffy! I'm so excited!"
"You little devils of the new era, go and cause chaos!"
With these weighty words of farewell, the massive Beluga slowly sailed into the misty morning fog.
The brothers then embarked on their own magnificent new journeys.
The scene shifts to Marineford, devastated after the end of the Marineford War.
The once magnificent and solemn Naval Headquarters building is now only half of its original state, and the square is filled with busy scaffolding and engineers clearing the ruins and moving rubble.
The air was filled with the smell of ashes and dirt, and its once invincible majesty was nowhere to be found.
In a makeshift, simple office, the Warring States Marshal seemed to have aged ten years overnight.
His temples were gray, and a blood-soaked bandage was wrapped around his forehead. He was frowning, his gaze heavy as he looked at the post-war report in his hands, a report of devastating casualties that was enough to make one's heart tremble.
Sitting opposite him was Admiral "Akainu" Sakazuki.
At this moment, Akainu's right arm and half of his broad chest were tightly wrapped in heavy medical bandages.
The scorching black flames left him with indelible scars.
This made his face even more somber, like a suppressed volcano about to erupt at any moment.
Sengoku put down the casualty report in his hand and sighed deeply.
He raised his bloodshot eyes to look at Sakazuki, his voice filled with an overwhelming weariness:
"I'm sorry, Sakazuki."
"I've left you with such a mess that's hard to clean up..."
"The future of our navy now rests on your shoulders."
"After some time, I will formally announce my resignation to the World Government and step down from this position."
Akainu gritted his teeth, his cheek muscles bulging.
His eyes burned with an almost overflowing, deep-seated hatred for pirates.
He didn't say a word, but nodded heavily, accepting the immense responsibility of rebuilding "absolute justice" from the ruins.
At this extremely solemn moment.
A loud bang!
The dilapidated wooden door to the office was violently shoved open by a trembling naval lieutenant commander.
The major, his face ashen, scrambled in, forgetting even the most basic military posture and salute in his panic.
"Something terrible has happened!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Admiral Akainu!"
"Straw Hat...Straw Hat Boy is here again!"
Upon hearing this, Zhan Guo's hand veins bulged, and with a "crack," he suddenly crushed the teacup in his hand, spilling scalding tea and porcelain shards all over the ground.
His dignified face was filled with disbelief.
How dare these bastards, who just humiliated the Navy, swagger back to this place?!
The moment Akainu heard this news, the image of a crimson demon god, hundreds of meters tall and wielding a giant sword, immediately flashed into his mind.
He was suddenly overcome by a piercing, phantom pain in the areas of his body that had been severely burned by Amaterasu's black flames.
This unbearable pain then transformed into an endless rage that overwhelmed reason.
"court death!!"
Akainu roared through gritted teeth, like a maddened beast.
The scene shifts to Crescent Bay Square.
A large warship, clearly stolen from the navy, arrogantly emerged from the seabed, its surface covered in a bubble coating.
With huge waves and the roar of machinery, the warship crashed violently onto the broken shore, crushing the rubble.
The heavy hatch slowly opened, and Rayleigh and Jinbe stepped off the ship with steady steps.
Next up is Luffy with his hands on his straw hat, and behind him is the languid "Crimson Lotus" Victor!
Looking at these terrifying beings who had recently wreaked havoc here.
The naval engineers and ordinary soldiers in charge of the reconstruction in the square were so frightened that their legs trembled and they could not even hold their guns and shovels steady.
They unconsciously swallowed hard, staggering to the sides, and forcefully cleared a wide avenue leading directly to the center of the square for these four treacherous villains amidst the ruins.
They completely ignored the naval forces around them who were on high alert.
Amidst the frantic flashes of camera lights from the reporters hiding in the distance, Luffy walked straight towards the surviving giant "Ox Bell" in the center of the square.
Luffy stopped, took a deep breath, and with a burst of strength, pulled the thick rope hard to strike the pendulum.
"Clang! Clang!"
Sixteen resounding, melodious, and penetrating chimes pierced the sea breeze and echoed endlessly over the battered Marineford.
According to the navy's ancient tradition, the sixteen rings of the bell represent "transcending the old era and announcing the arrival of a new era!"
After ringing the bell, Luffy closed his eyes, lowered his head, and mourned in silence.
A tribute to that bygone era and to all the souls who perished in this war.
Then, he opened his clear eyes, laughed, and raised his right arm, perfectly and clearly displaying the striking [3D2Y] tattoo on his arm in front of all the reporters and their cameras.
This is a secret code for our partners far away, and also a declaration of a new era.
Just as the bells were ringing, Sengoku and Akainu finally broke through the ruins of the collapsed headquarters building and reached the edge of the plaza.
"Straw Hat Kid! Crimson Lotus! You're asking for death!"
Seeing this humiliating scene, Akainu was completely enraged.
Ignoring the fact that his lacerations were instantly torn open, and blood quickly stained the white medical bandages.
His only remaining intact left arm instantly transformed into churning, dark red magma that emitted a pungent sulfurous smell, roaring in with destructive heat, attempting to completely annihilate the reckless ship and everyone on board.
They watched as the lava surged towards them like a mad dog.
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed slightly, his right hand already on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it and meet the attack.
Just then, Viktor, who was standing to the side, turned his head slightly.
The kaleidoscope pattern in his right eye flashed for a moment, and an eerie red light traced a path in mid-air.
A jet-black "Amaterasu," exuding an aura of death, appeared out of nowhere in Akainu's path as he charged forward.
The black flames swelled in the wind, instantly transforming into an insurmountable wall of black fire.
This domineering eye power, capable of burning everything, actually suppressed the magma's proud extreme high temperature, causing it to erupt with a teeth-grinding "hissing" sound!
"Sakazuki"
"Consider this ever-burning fire my gift to your navy as a congratulatory present for its reconstruction."
Viktor left behind this arrogant and ruthless statement.
Taking advantage of the moment when Akainu was forced back by the black flames, the four of them turned around and nimbly jumped into the warship that had already been coated.
Under the helpless and furious gazes of countless naval personnel, the warship swiftly submerged into the deep sea and sailed away#249Chapter 250 The Iron-Blooded Marshal and the Deciphered Code! The Hidden Generation of Extreme Evil
Chapter 250 The Iron-Blooded Marshal and the Deciphered Code! The Hidden Generation of Extreme Evil
Only half a day had passed since the world-shaking "bell-ringing incident" at Marineford.
The skies around the world seemed to be completely obscured by a vast expanse of white newsbirds, like a blizzard.
Newspapers, still smelling of fresh ink, were scattered like snowflakes across the seas and along the Grand Line.
The newspaper's headline prominently displayed several eye-catching, blood-red characters:
The Dawn of a New Era! Straw Hat Boy and Crimson Lotus Return to Marineford!!
At this moment, pubs all over the world were in an uproar.
Whether they were vicious pirates, commoners from the lowest rungs of society, or royalty from various countries, they all held newspapers in their hands, their faces filled with disbelief.
In the high-resolution photograph that occupied a huge portion of the newspaper, a strange and inextinguishable black flame was burning fiercely in the center of the square, which represented the absolute justice of the navy.
Outside that abyss-like black wall of fire, even a powerful Marine Admiral like "Akainu" Sakazuki could only stand there, his face contorted with rage, watching helplessly as the coated warship sailed away.
Sitting in his makeshift marshal's office, Sengoku looked at the newspaper that had spread all over the world and trembled with rage.
"These bastards..."
Zhan Guo crumpled the newspaper, slumped into a chair, and seemed to have all his strength drained away in an instant.
He knew better than anyone else what had happened during the Marineford War and the subsequent bell-ringing ceremony.
The navy's prestige, built up over centuries, has now plummeted to rock bottom.
If no changes are made, the rampage of the Great Pirate Era will completely spiral out of control.
We can't delay any longer; the navy needs to take drastic measures to rebuild and transform itself.
That afternoon, Sengoku, exhausted, formally submitted his resignation to Kong, the Supreme Commander of the World Government's All-Army.
Faced with Sengoku's resignation and the unprecedented rampant spread of pirate forces, the high-ranking officials of Mary Geoise, who held the pinnacle of power, were furious.
The world government urgently needs a strong-willed leader who can swiftly restore "absolute justice" to take charge.
Under the recommendation list submitted by the Warring States period, and the strong intervention of the Five Elders against all odds.
Sakazuki, the hardliner who has always upheld an absolutely iron-blooded style, has swiftly taken over the position of Fleet Admiral of the Marine Headquarters!
This iron-willed marshal showed not the slightest hint of appeasement or compromise upon taking office.
He immediately issued a top-secret order, mobilizing all available naval branches worldwide to launch an unprecedented "pirate cleanup" operation!
Within just a few weeks, whether in the paradise of the first half of the Grand Line or in the chaotic seas on the outskirts of the New World.
Countless pirate crews were ruthlessly slaughtered and severely arrested by the Navy.
The air was filled with the sounds of gunfire and the cries of the dying echoed across the land.
Akainu used his brutal and ruthless absolute force to forcibly stabilize this turbulent situation.
He painstakingly used the blood of countless pirates to restore the dignity of the Navy and the face of the World Government, which had plummeted to rock bottom, by a third!
The entire ocean was instantly enveloped under Akainu's suffocatingly terrifying pressure.
Sabaody Archipelago.
The supernovas, who were about to cross Fishman Island and officially enter the New World, fell into a deathly silence as they looked at the newspapers in their hands.
"Tear!"
Eustace Kidd ripped the newspaper in his hand to shreds, his arrogant face now contorted with rage, veins bulging, as he roared through gritted teeth:
"Are you kidding me! Straw Hat Luffy with a billion?"
"That bastard Viktor's bounty has skyrocketed to 2.5 billion?!"
"While we're still playing house like idiots in the first half of the Grand Line, these two are already going in and out of Marine Headquarters?!"
Meanwhile, on the shore not far away, Trafalgar Law, the "Surgeon of Death," leaned quietly against his submarine.
He looked at the newspaper and saw the clear [3D2Y] tattoo on Luffy's raised right arm.
Luo adjusted his polka-dot hat, a meaningful smile slowly curving his lips:
"What a bunch of unpredictable people..."
"It seems that the real storm of the new world will only begin to rage when they reappear."
The Supernovas were deeply stimulated by Luffy and Victor's astonishingly high bounties, and their inner ambitions were completely ignited.
They roared as they weighed anchor and hoisted their sails, rushing at full speed toward the abyss known as the New World.
Visalia (Sky Island).
Nami sat on a cloud.
At first, when she saw in the newspaper that Victor had accompanied Luffy back to Marine Headquarters, she was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes, and she scolded the two of them for being reckless idiots.
But when she wiped away her tears, her gaze fell carefully on the "3D" with a big X on Luffy's right arm, and the "2Y" next to it.
Her pupils contracted sharply, and a flash of inspiration struck her:
"Not the originally agreed three days later, but... two years later?!"
at the same time.
Usopp, struggling to survive in the Gluttony Forest of the Boon Islands
Franky in the Baltimore laboratory on the winter island.
Robin at the headquarters of the Revolutionary Army in Baltimore.
Sanji running wildly on the transvestite beach in the Kamabakka Kingdom.
Brook is holding a concert in the territory of the Longarm Tribe, and Chopper is in the Snow Country Bird Kingdom.
They watched as Akainu took power and frantically purged the bloody news about pirates, and then looked at Luffy's incredibly determined eyes in the newspaper, and in that instant, they all suddenly realized what was going on.
They understood the coded message being passed between the captain and the first mate.
If they rashly set sail with their current strength, they will not only be of no help to the crazed and ruthless navy under Akainu's command, but will also become a burden that hinders everyone's progress.
Hibernation is for a better rebirth.
Outside the gloomy, dilapidated castle on Klaigana Island.
Zoro was covered in blood and panting heavily.
All around him lay countless armed baboons he had defeated, lying in disarray.
He held the Wado Ichimonji in his hand, stared at the conspicuous code on the newspaper, and stood there in silence for a long time.
Then, Zoro dragged his badly injured body, which was almost falling apart, and walked into the hall with bloody footprints with each step. He went straight to Dracule Mihawk, the "world's greatest swordsman," who was sitting on the luxurious throne.
"Bang!"
This three-sword style swordsman, who valued dignity more than life itself, slammed his knees heavily onto the cold floor, knelt down, and kowtowed, his voice hoarse yet resounding:
"Please... teach me swordsmanship!"
"Then, let me defeat you!"
Hawkeye paused slightly in the wine glass he was holding, then let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"Oh? Don't be silly, Roronoa Zoro."
"The time I can treat you as a guest is over."
Why would I teach an enemy who wants to kill me?
Facing Hawkeye's cold, condescending question, Zoro slowly raised his head. In that single eye, there was not a trace of retreat or humiliation; instead, it burned with a terrifyingly fanatical fighting spirit.
"So that one day I can surpass you and become the world's greatest swordsman!"
"And also so that... I absolutely can't become that idiot captain again, or that red-eyed bastard who's always stealing the spotlight and dragging me down!"
Upon hearing this answer, Hawkeye's grip on his wine glass tightened slightly.
A slight smile finally crept onto his usually stern lips.
...
The scene slowly cuts back to Ruscaina Island, an uninhabited island located in the Calm Belt, teeming with countless ferocious beasts.
Beneath the towering tree, Luffy carefully placed the tattered straw hat, which carried his vows and dreams, on a safe rock.
Bare-chested, with a resolute gaze, he followed Rayleigh without hesitation into the depths of the perilous primeval jungle.
And on a precipitous cliff at the deepest part of the island.
Viktor was sitting there quietly, cross-legged with his eyes closed.
As the immense life force within him circulated, countless strange and vibrant thick vines began to spread at a visible speed from the cracks in the rocks around him.
The power of the Asura Sage's body is perfectly merging within his limbs and bones.
The upheaval caused by Akainu's ruthless methods stands in stark contrast to the Straw Hat crew's current "silence" around the world.
Accompanied by the dull sound of waves crashing against the island's reefs.
The devastating storm of the new era is quietly brewing within this eerie tranquility and dormancy...250Chapter 251 The Wood Release Shows Its Power for the First Time! The Single-Celled Captain's Revelation and Farewell
Chapter 251 The Wood Release Shows Its Power for the First Time! The Single-Celled Captain's Revelation and Farewell
A full month has passed since the devastating battle at Marineford that shocked the world.
The Calm Belt, Ruscaina Island.
This island, covered by lush, pristine vegetation, experiences forty-eight severe weather cycles throughout the year and is home to countless enormous, ferocious, and bloodthirsty beasts.
However, deep within this perilous jungle, a series of earth-shattering roars could be heard, startling countless birds into flight.
Two familiar figures were engaged in a fierce and unparalleled close-quarters combat.
"Bang! Boom!"
Viktor did not use any hand seals or fancy ninjutsu.
He simply wrapped his arms tightly with deep, dark, high-level Armament Haki, and engaged in a primal physical duel with Luffy, who was also wielding Armament Haki and had activated Gear Second.
The two fought tirelessly in the forest, their fists whistling and their legs clashing.
Every time fists and feet collided, a visible white shockwave would rise up.
The towering trees around them, each as thick as several people could hug, were destroyed in large numbers and snapped in half by the terrifying aftershocks of the collision between the two, like fragile matchsticks, with wood chips and dirt flying everywhere.
In terms of fighting skills and the application of Haki, Viktor undoubtedly holds an absolute advantage.
Every block, parry, and counterattack he made was incredibly precise.
However, Luffy possesses an abnormally high resistance to blows, almost like real rubber, and seemingly inexhaustible stamina.
He was like an unkillable cockroach, repeatedly blasted away by Viktor's heavy punches, smashing through several large trees.
Once again, roaring loudly, they charged forward like cannonballs.
"I can't stand your stamina, you idiot..."
Viktor wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed helplessly.
Viktor's eyes narrowed sharply as Luffy charged at him again, roaring like a mad bull.
He stood still, stretched out his right hand, and suddenly spread his five fingers wide.
In an instant, the hard soil beneath Luffy's feet exploded!
Several thick, dark wooden vines, resembling giant pythons, burst from the ground and instantly wrapped Luffy, who had no time to dodge in mid-air, tightly into a giant wooden cocoon.
The moment Luffy was entangled by these strange vines, he felt as if the power surging within him had been sucked away out of thin air.
The bubbling pink steam on his body vanished instantly, and his previously taut muscles were completely powerless.
He was like a deflated balloon that had been punctured, limp and powerless within the rough vines binding him.
"Ugh... Damn it!"
"Why is it this trick again?!"
"Victor! Let me go!"
Luffy writhed helplessly in the vines, making loud, dissatisfied noises of protest.
Viktor watched this scene, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
This is a Wood Release ninjutsu that he naturally awakened and mastered after fully integrating the "Sage Body" rewarded by the system.
In recent practical exploration, Victor was pleasantly surprised to discover that his Wood Release technique had a strange effect of "absorbing and suppressing the physical strength of Devil Fruit users".
While this suppressive power isn't as absolute as pure Seastone, it's still a trump card that can catch an opponent off guard when facing an Ability User.
Watching Luffy wriggle like a caterpillar.
Viktor laughed and snapped his fingers, quickly retracting the entangled wood vines back underground.
Freed from his restraints, Luffy fell to the ground with a "plop".
Then, Viktor sprawled out on the messy grass, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
"Phew... It's all because your stamina is terrifying."
"If this keeps going on, it will never end."
Luffy also collapsed onto the muddy ground next to him, panting heavily with his legs spread wide.
He casually picked his nose with his little finger while looking at the sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead.
He spoke in a tone rarely heard before, one that carried a hint of deep meaning and a touch of melancholy:
"Phew... Your stamina is still more terrifying..."
"Nami...Robin..."
Luffy casually counted on his fingers, watching the white clouds drift across the sky, and muttered as he threw out this super nuclear bomb.
Hearing Luffy suddenly utter this line, packed with information and profound meaning, is truly amazing.
Viktor, who had just been sprawled out on the grass, suddenly sprang straight up from the ground as if he had been electrocuted.
His deep black eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets, as he stared at Luffy on the ground in utter shock, as if he had seen a ghost.
"Who...who exactly are you?!"
"How could Luffy's single-celled organism brain possibly contain something like this!"
Looking at Viktor's bewildered expression, as if his worldview had collapsed.
Luffy clutched his stomach, rolled around on the grassy ground, and laughed heartily without any regard for his image, laughing until tears almost streamed down his face.
After laughing enough, Luffy dusted off his shorts and slowly stood up.
He walked up to Viktor, his playful demeanor vanished, and his expression became more serious and solemn than ever before.
He straightened his chest and declared loudly and firmly:
"I am Luffy!"
"He's going to be the Pirate King!!!"
Then, he extended his scarred right hand, his clear eyes filled with unwavering trust in his companion:
"Please continue to help me as always, First Mate."
Victor looked at the captain in front of him, who was always unpredictable and seemed simple-minded but actually had a wise and foolish side.
He shook his head helplessly, a relieved smile spreading across his lips.
Then he reached out and grabbed Luffy's hand tightly, using the leverage to straighten his body:
"Ah, isn't that obvious?"
However, the moment their hands were released, and the atmosphere was at its peak of warmth and passion, the two were still holding hands.
Victor, however, dusted himself off and casually remarked:
"But... I have to go."
"Huh?!?"
One second Luffy was pretending to be a deep and mature captain, but the next second he instantly lost his composure.
His eyes widened like saucers, his mouth gaped open, and his cheeks puffed up like inflated buns as he protested loudly:
"What the hell...you bastard!"
"How could you just leave like that!"
Victor ignored Luffy's protests and shouts.
He bent down with a smile and picked up the tattered straw hat that had fallen onto the grass not far away during the battle.
He carefully patted away the dust and grass clippings with the back of his hand, then walked up to Luffy and solemnly put the straw hat back on Luffy's head.
"Leave all your Haki training to old man Rayleigh from now on."
Viktor gazed intently at the distant, turbulent coastline.
"I'm heading to Baltimore."
He reached out and gently pressed down the brim of Luffy's hat, obscuring his bright eyes in the shadow of the straw hat:
"See you in two years, Luffy."
"When the time comes, let's turn this new world upside down together."
In the shadow cast by the falling straw hat, Luffy stopped making a scene.
He was silent for a moment, then the corners of his mouth gradually turned upward, forming a brilliant and confident smile.
He suddenly raised his head, burst into laughter in the blinding sunlight, and that hearty laugh completely dispelled all the reluctance and gloom brought by parting:
"Hehehe! It's a deal then! See you in two years, Victor!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy pushed off with his legs and jumped into Victor's arms.
The two embraced tightly, feeling the unbreakable bond and promise between them.
In the primeval forest where a gentle breeze is blowing, the leaves rustle.
The captain and first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates bid farewell on this secluded deserted island, each embarking on a journey of transformation.