Visit my patreon to read the next chapters of the book patreon.com / Kazzap
Chapter 145 Reunion- The War Begins
Luffy lowered his head and continued walking forward.
At the corner of the corridor, a man wearing a top hat leaned against the wall, holding a metal water pipe in his hand.
The brim of his hat was pulled down low, covering most of his face, revealing only his well-defined jaw and a faint smile.
The lights in the corridor flickered, stretching the shadows of the two people very long.
Sabo's top hat was slightly tilted, and only the corners of his tightly pursed mouth could be seen in the shadows. When Luffy passed by, he raised his hand and gently placed the metal water pipe across Luffy's chest.
"Luffy."
The familiar voice was like a heavy hammer, hitting Luffy's eardrum hard.
His steps suddenly stopped.
The world seemed to stop at this moment.
Luffy slowly turned his head, and in the shadow under his straw hat, his originally cold eyes widened slightly.
Sabo slowly raised his head, his blond hair slipping down from under his hat, revealing his smiling eyes.
The image of Madara Koque has faded from my memory, but the scar on his left eye is still clear.
His smile was still as warm, but with a hint of maturity.
"Long time no see (Sassi ignored)."
Luffy's pupils contracted violently.
His throat seemed to be blocked by something and his breathing became rapid.
His right hand was tightly clutching the clothes over his chest, his knuckles turning white. A drop of sweat slid down his forehead and was caught by Sabo's thumb before it fell.
Sabo's smile remained warm, but his eyes held a hint of pain. "You've changed a lot, Luffy."
Luffy said nothing, just stared at Sabo's face, as if trying to confirm whether this was an illusion.
Sabo sighed and placed a hand gently on Luffy's shoulder. "I know everything about Ace."
Luffy clenched his fists violently, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers.
Sabo didn't dodge or comfort him, just looked at him quietly.
After a few seconds of silence—
"Sa...bo...?"
Luffy's voice was hoarse, unlike his own, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.
Sabo's smile widened. "Yeah, it's me."
Luffy's lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't.
His eyes were still cold, but something inside was slightly loosening.
Sabo patted his shoulder gently. "Don't carry this alone, silly brother."
This sentence is like a key that opens a lock that has been closed for a long time.
Luffy's pupils trembled violently, and big tears suddenly burst out and hit the back of Sabo's hand.
But he still bit his lips stubbornly until blood oozed out.
His shoulders trembled slightly and he lowered his head, his straw hat completely obscuring his expression.
But Sabo could feel—
The clenched fist was loosening little by little.
Sabo sighed and pulled his brother into a hug, feeling his body instantly stiffen.
He patted Luffy's back gently, just like he did when they were little in Goa Kingdom.
"Cry it, it's okay."
These words finally broke the last line of defense.
Luffy clutched Sabo's shirt tightly, whimpering like a wounded beast in his throat.
His tears soaked through Sabo's shirt, burning so hot they threatened to burn his skin.
In the dim corridor of the arena, Luffy's body was shaking violently, and tears kept falling to the ground from the shadow under his straw hat.
"Ace... is right in front of me..."
Luffy's voice was horribly hoarse, and his newly born left hand was tightly gripping his right arm. "I can't do anything... I can only watch him... being killed by Rogge..."
Sabo pressed down hard on his brother's shaking shoulders, his voice steady and firm: "Listen to me, Luffy. Ace's death is not your fault!"
"I'm going to kill him!"
Luffy suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing a terrifying red light, "I must kill Rogge!"
Sabo cupped Luffy's face in his hands, forcing him to look him in the eyes. "Revenge shouldn't be dominated by anger. The last thing Ace wants is for you to be consumed by hatred!"
Luffy's teeth were chattering, and Sabo could feel the tremors in his palms.
He gently wiped the tears from his brother's face. "Do you remember the agreement we three brothers made? To become the freest people together?"
"But Ace..."
"Ace is always watching us."
Sabo smiled warmly, the scar over his left eye wrinkling slightly. "So we need to live even more brilliantly for him!"
At this tender moment of the brothers' reunion, the atmosphere on the battlefield outside had already changed dramatically.
Xuanlin Admiral Rogge, wearing a fluttering coat of justice, walked slowly and calmly along the main road towards the arena.
The setting sun made his back look particularly slender, and every step he took seemed to emit a heavy and irresistible echo on the earth of this troubled time.
Beside him, Enel wore the Vice Admiral cape, his golden eyes reflecting the storm that was about to break out.
On the platform outside the arena, Usopp held the modified sniper rifle steadily. He had noticed Rogge as soon as he appeared.
Usopp's hands trembled and his eyes were bloodshot.
His knuckles turned white from gripping the sniper rifle for so long, and his whole body was like a bow stretched to its ultimate limit.
Through the sniper scope, he saw the lone figure walking forward - it was the murderer of his father that he could not forget in his nightmares every night.
"...Rye!"
Usopp gritted his teeth, tears welling in his eyes.
His finger slowly dropped to the trigger, his breathing coming in short gasps and ragged waves.
"Dad...I will definitely avenge you today!"
The crosshairs of the sniper scope were fixed firmly on Rogge's temple as he slowly walked towards the arena.
"Target locked...Winds at level 3...Distance 728 meters..."
Usopp's breathing became strangely steady, his finger resting lightly on the trigger, and the image of his father lying in a pool of blood appeared in his mind.
"Go to hell...Rogge..."
Rayleigh was on guard outside the arena when he suddenly sensed a fierce murderous aura.
He turned his head sharply, and Observation Haki instantly locked onto Usopp on the platform: "Oh no! What is that kid going to do!?"
On the street, Rogge was still walking slowly, the hem of his coat of justice fluttering in the wind.
Enel walked beside him, her gold earrings gleaming in the sunlight.
"Hey, that long-nosed guy is looking at you." Enel said lazily.
Rogge didn't even look up. "Let him."
Just as Usopp was about to pull the trigger—
"Sizzle——!!!"
A dazzling golden lightning suddenly crossed the field of vision!
Lightning exploded, and the dazzling light almost burned Usopp's eyes!
"who?!"
A sharp murderous intent instantly came over me.
In the sniper scope, the golden lightning turned into a figure and approached instantly. The next second, a golden scepter shining with lightning was against his throat.
Enel stood before him, his eyes as cold as ice, lightning flashing around him.
"Pirates, who were you looking at just now?"
An arc of electricity exploded on Usopp's forehead, and fear made his whole body stiffen, and cold sweat slid down like a waterfall.
He didn't even dare to breathe, screaming frantically in his heart: What should I do?! Enel! That nightmare monster!
"How dare a mere ant..."
Just as Enel's golden scepter was about to pierce Usopp's throat—
"Swish!"
A silver afterimage passed by like a gust of wind. Rayleigh's rapier was wrapped around the pitch-black Armament Haki. The blade cut through the air, making a sharp whistling sound!
Enel's golden pupils suddenly contracted, and he instinctively raised his golden stick to block—
"Clang!!!!"
There was a deafening sound of metal collision and sparks flew everywhere!
Rayleigh's sword was as powerful as a mountain, and Enel's arm was numb from the shock, and the golden stick almost fell out of his hand!
"snort!"
Enel snorted coldly, and his body instantly transformed into an element, turning into a flash of lightning and retreating dozens of meters, hovering in the air.
Rayleigh landed steadily, his rapier pointed at the ground, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. "Young man, sneak attacks are not a good habit."
Enel shook his numb arms and put on a sinister grin: "Old man, you're not slow at all."
Before he finished speaking, his body suddenly burst out with dazzling lightning, and the whole person turned into a bolt of lightning and rushed straight towards Rayleigh!
"Divine Judgment!"
Rayleigh's eyes focused, and he slashed with his rapier, and the pitch-black Armament Haki swept out like a wave!
"boom--!!!"
The lightning and sword energy collided, and the violent shock wave instantly overturned the wreckage of the buildings around the platform!
Usopp was blown away by the blast. Zoro was quick to grab him by the collar and back away: "Get out of the way!"
Enel hovered high in the sky, his golden staff swirling with blinding lightning. He looked down at Rayleigh and said, "Old man, tell me your name."
Rayleigh raised his head slightly, his silver hair dancing in the wind, but a calm smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Hilbaz Rayleigh."
Enel's pupils shrank slightly. "The Pirate King's right wrist? Interesting!"
At the entrance of the arena, Rogge finally stopped.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the wall as he looked directly at Luffy and Sabo: "Everyone's here..."