231Chapter 232 A Fateful Battle! The Ineffective Dark-Dark Fruit and the One-Armed Blackbeard
Chapter 232 A Fateful Battle! The Ineffective Dark-Dark Fruit and the One-Armed Blackbeard
The escape team, like a sharp dagger, swept back into the fourth level—the Scorching Hell—where a vacuum rift had been cleaved open.
Just as they stepped on the scorching hot gravel, preparing to rush towards the third level in one go.
They ran right into a group of uninvited guests who swaggered into Impel Down—the "Blackbeard Pirates".
When Luffy and Sabo saw the leader, a toothless man with an arrogant face, their reason completely collapsed in an instant.
That was the culprit who handed Ace over and caused all this disaster.
"Blackbeard—!!"
Without uttering a single wasted word, Luffy activated Gear Second without hesitation.
He was steaming, his fists were wrapped in thick and deep Armament Haki, and he slammed a heavy punch into Blackbeard with a whooshing sound.
Sabo transformed into a sharp afterimage, following closely behind, his hands transforming into fierce dragon claws.
Blackbeard's arrogant smile froze abruptly; he had seriously underestimated the two brothers' current fighting strength.
Under Luffy's ferocious Haki attack and Sabo's powerful dragon claw strike, Blackbeard was immediately defeated.
His massive body was struck as if by a battering ram, letting out a muffled groan as he was blasted away by Sabo's attack, crashing heavily into the hard stone wall behind him, creating a large, human-shaped crater.
Meanwhile, Jinbe the Sea Knight and Crocodile the Sand Crocodile were not idle either.
The two former Shichibukai each unleashed their special techniques, causing waves of water and sand to dance in the air.
They coordinated perfectly to confront Burgess, Doc Q, and other Blackbeard Pirates officers who were trying to come to their aid.
The scene instantly descended into a fierce melee with flying sand and stones.
Just as the chaotic battle erupted into full force.
Viktor's keen eyes pierced through the smoke and instantly locked onto the sniper hiding deep behind enemy lines, who was holding a specially made long rifle and trying to fire a stray arrow.
"Sound Beyond" Van Oka.
Viktor stood still, his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan in his eye sockets casting a cold glance.
The eye technique [Futsu-no-Mitama] is activated instantly.
The world loses its color in Victor's eyes, and a "death line" representing fragility and death appears precisely on Van Auger's body.
Facing the sniper in the distance, Viktor didn't even make any large knife swinging motions.
He simply tapped the blade of the black sword "Autumn Water" lightly with his fingertips.
"Zheng".
A barely perceptible soft sound.
Van Oka was in the distance, ready to pull the trigger, but he didn't even have time to react.
His body was relatively weak compared to these real monsters.
With a strange, soft "hiss," a deep, bone-revealing line of blood appeared out of nowhere on Van Augur's chest.
The next second, his body was instantly severed in half by this invisible attack!
Two severed bodies lay in a pool of blood. Van Oka's right monocle was shattered, and his eyes still held extreme horror and confusion.
He died without ever understanding how he had been split in two at such a great distance.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully killing'Sound Over' Van Augur, the core sniper of the Blackbeard Pirates. This has significantly altered the course of the world line.]
[Receive a generous exclusive reward: 8000 Ninja Way Points]
This bizarre and terrifying scene was like a bucket of ice water being poured over someone's head.
Both sides, who were engaged in fierce combat, were completely stunned, and the air in the entire passage seemed to freeze at that moment.
Blackbeard, struggling to crawl out of the hole in the wall, watched helplessly as his most capable sniper was instantly killed.
His eyes instantly turned blood red.
"Oka—!!"
Blackbeard roared furiously, ordering his men to kill the group.
He went completely berserk, and a dense, all-encompassing darkness surged from his massive body.
That was the power of the Dark Fruit, capable of devouring even light. He vowed to unleash the "Dark Emperor" to avenge his fallen comrades.
"Dark water!"
Blackbeard roared and opened his right hand, aiming the dark vortex filled with terrifying suction at the culprit, Viktor.
He tried to forcibly pull him over and use the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit to completely strip the other's Devil Fruit ability.
However, Viktor made no attempt to resist this immense gravitational force that was powerful enough to warp space itself.
Instead, he went with the flow, transforming into a streak of black lightning at a terrifying speed several times faster than suction, and charged towards Blackbeard.
During a high-speed sprint.
Viktor's crimson kaleidoscope eyes swirled slowly, carrying a cold, mocking gaze as if looking at the dead.
"Gotcha! You arrogant bastard!"
Blackbeard's large hand gripped Viktor's shoulder tightly.
He was about to grin triumphantly, ready to savor the panic of his enemy after they lost their abilities.
But the next second, Blackbeard's expression froze completely, and an unprecedented sense of horror shot straight to the top of his head.
He was horrified to discover that the black-haired youth's physical strength and his fierce, terrifying aura remained completely unaffected.
A wild and unruly smile curved at the corners of Viktor's lips.
In an instant, the black sword Qiushui in his hand was covered with dazzling, dark blue lightning and a deep, high-level domineering aura.
He stared intently at Blackbeard's chubby face, contorted with astonishment, and uttered a line in a low, smiling voice:
"Who told you... I ate a Devil Fruit?"
The moment the words fell.
Viktor's Eternal Kaleidoscope unleashed a powerful mental surge, directly activating a high-level visual illusion on Blackbeard.
At the same time, Qiushui transformed into the merciless scythe in the hand of the Grim Reaper, ruthlessly slashing at Blackbeard's thick neck, determined to behead him.
In that critical 0.01 second...
Blackbeard's terrifying fighting instincts, honed through countless life-or-death battles, played a crucial role in the desperate situation.
Without hesitation, he bit his tongue hard, drawing blood.
The intense pain was like a heavy hammer blow, forcibly pulling him out of the mire of illusion.
Blackbeard's eyes widened suddenly as he stared at the black blade, which was already close to his skin and exuded an aura of death.
Driven by the will to survive, his massive, bloated body twisted backward at an angle that seemed to break his bones.
"Pfft—!!"
In the end, the fatal sword strike narrowly grazed Blackbeard's carotid artery.
But it swept away his right hand, which was gripping Viktor's shoulder tightly, with unstoppable force...
Cut it off at the root!
Scalding blood gushed into the air like an out-of-control fountain, staining the surrounding stone walls red.
Blackbeard was not given any chance to scream or catch his breath.
Viktor then used his waist to deliver a powerful flying kick.
This kick contained a violent and rampant lightning-attribute chakra, as well as an indestructible high-level domineering aura.
Like a cannon shot fired, Viktor kicked Blackbeard hard in the broad chest.
"Bang!!!"
The Dark-Dark Fruit's fatal side effect of "enduring double the pain" became, at this moment, an inescapable death warrant for Blackbeard.
The excruciating pain of losing an arm, mixed with the agony of violent lightning and the overwhelming power of Ryuo Haki raging wildly within his internal organs.
All of them exploded at double the intensity!
Blackbeard raised his head and let out a bloodcurdling scream, as shrill as a pig being slaughtered, his voice hoarse and filled with despair.
His eyes rolled back, and his massive body flew backward like a kite with a broken string.
With overwhelming force, it smashed through several thick stone walls of the Impel Down.
Ultimately, it was buried deep in a large area of rubble and ruins, its fate unknown, and it never made a sound again.
Seeing their captain, who had always been hailed as invincible, being instantly defeated and crushed by that demon-like black-haired youth in a single exchange, they were shocked.
Bages, Doc Q, and other gang leaders were terrified, their courage nearly bursting.
They had no courage left to continue fighting, and rushed over in a panic, frantically trying to salvage the seemingly lifeless Blackbeard from the ruins.
They huddled in the corner, on high alert, not daring to look at Viktor again.
Not to mention having the courage to stop him from moving forward.
The entire battlefield was completely silent.
Everyone was stunned by this swift and decisive victory.
Even Luffy stood rooted to the spot, staring wide-eyed at Victor.
Viktor's expression was cold and stern. With a flick of his wrist, he casually brushed away the warm bloodstains on the blade of the Autumn Water Sword.
He glanced coldly at the few remaining members of the Black Gang who looked like they were facing a formidable enemy, and did not choose to continue pursuing and slaughtering them.
Because at the bottom of the cleaved abyss behind them, an even more violent and terrifying red poisonous tide was surging up wildly with a deafening roar.
That was Magellan, who was severely injured.
In order to uphold the last vestige of dignity of Impel Down, the highest-ranking officer of Impel Down has completely unleashed the ultimate form of the Poison Giant.
He vowed to transform into a red, venomous demon, dragging the entire prison down with them.
Time is of the essence.
Viktor turned around and immediately gave the order to retreat to the crowd who were still in a daze:
"Forget about these clowns!"
"Everyone, rush to the sea at full speed immediately!"232Chapter 233 The Sword Cuts Through the Gate of Justice! Heading Towards the Extremely Evil Warship at the Top
Chapter 233 The Sword Cuts Through the Gate of Justice! Heading Towards the Extremely Evil Warship at the Top
Deep underground in the endless abyss, Impel Down Warden Magellan had completely fallen into a state of desperate madness.
In order to uphold the last vestige of dignity of this No. 1 prison.
He unleashed the forbidden technique without reservation, a move that even he himself could not fully control.
"The Poisonous Giant Soldier - Judgment of Hell".
That was a terrifying power capable of destroying everything.
The crimson ultimate venom, like an ancient demon with its own consciousness, roared and gushed forth from the depths of the earth.
This red, toxic tide, with its unparalleled corrosiveness, greedily devoured everything in its path.
Whether it's a solid rock wall or a steel fence made of special alloys.
The moment it touched the scarlet venom, it instantly turned into a pool of blood emitting pungent white smoke.
The drug surge spread wildly upwards along the passageways and staircases at a desperate pace.
In this life-or-death countdown, under Victor's leadership, this "prison break team" composed of top experts from all walks of life unleashed an unprecedented and astonishing speed.
The burly knight-errant Jinbe took the lead.
He carried Xiao Feng steadily on his broad shoulders.
Sabo and Luffy, like two sharp knives, frantically cleared the way at the very front of the group.
Any remaining prison guards and mechanisms that attempted to stop them were instantly crushed by the dragon claws and rubber fists.
Ivankov, the transvestite king, and Lightning followed closely behind, ready to deal with any unexpected situations.
The group pushed their physical strength to the limit, transforming into blurry afterimages, and crushed all remaining defenses from Level 3 to Level 1 with overwhelming force.
Listening to the terrifying sounds of corrosion and the loud crashes of collapsing buildings coming from beneath my feet.
The crimson shadow of death seemed to be right on their heels.
Just as the crimson tide was about to completely engulf them, everyone leaped into the air.
They finally broke through the heavy gates on the ground floor of Impel Down and arrived at the open harbor outside the gate!
However, what awaited them was not the dawn of freedom.
On the turbulent sea outside the city, ten fully armed large naval warships were already on high alert.
The deck was filled with heavily armed naval elites, and countless dark, heavy cannon muzzles were fixed on the exit of Impel Down.
They were preparing to blast these audacious escapees to smithereens.
"Fire!"
With a roar from the naval commander, a barrage of artillery fire rained down like a dense meteor shower.
Faced with this barrage of firepower that could level the port, Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, roared.
Without fear, he leaped into the deep sea below.
Jinbe, back in the water, was like a true sea god.
He frantically churned the seawater with both hands, unleashing the ultimate technique of fishman karate—"Sea Current Shoulder Throw"!
"Boom—!"
He forcefully manipulated the power of nature with his bare hands.
A massive, incredibly thick column of water, reaching from the sky to the ground, instantly rose from the sea surface.
This raging torrent of water, carrying overwhelming kinetic energy, crashed directly into the center of the enemy fleet, forcefully lifting one of the largest naval flagships into the air and instantly severing the navy's impenetrable encirclement!
Just as that huge warship crashed into the sea.
Crocodile, who had been silent all along, sneered and his body instantly turned into sand.
He transformed into a raging sandstorm, sweeping across the deck of the warship with overwhelming force.
"Desert sunflower!"
As Old Sands coldly whispered, the yellow sand on the deck transformed into a terrifying quicksand vortex, unleashing a merciless strangulation.
Those elite naval personnel who had not yet recovered from the ship's shaking were instantly drained of their moisture by this force.
Their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed onto the deck like withered branches, completely incapacitated.
This temporary alliance, composed of top experts from both the old and new eras, demonstrated a chilling level of teamwork and efficiency.
In less than a minute, they perfectly captured a giant naval warship amidst a hail of artillery fire.
The crew quickly boarded the ship, frantically lowered the naval sails, and forcibly started the warship's steam engines.
But before they could even cheer...
A despairing reality was coldly laid out before everyone.
Ahead of the warship stood a massive gate that seemed to reach into the clouds, connecting heaven and earth.
That is the "Gate of Justice," which represents the absolute authority of the world government and is said to be impossible to breach by any external force!
Without a specific command from the control room inside Impel Down, this massive gate, weighing tens of thousands of tons, simply cannot be opened.
Around the warship was a calm sea area filled with countless terrifying giant sea kings.
There was no wind, the gates were tightly shut, and a giant beast lurked in the sea.
The warship that had just been captured was now completely trapped in this desperate sea.
Looking ahead at the still tightly closed giant gate, and then back at the approaching pursuers and naval fleet at the port.
Luffy was sweating profusely and jumping up and down frantically on the deck.
At the back of the crowd, Mr. 2 von Clay watched this scene, silently clenching his teeth, his eyes brimming with resolute tears.
He knew that someone had to make a sacrifice.
Xiao Feng quietly retreated, preparing to take advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention and use his "Imitation Fruit" ability to risk his life to sneak back to the control room of Impel Down.
He planned to impersonate Magellan and forcibly open the gates of justice.
He was willing to use his insignificant life to give Luffy and the others a chance to live.
"Little Straw Hat, you must go and rescue your brother..."
Just as Xiao Feng, with tears in his eyes, was preparing to bravely face death, and bent his knees to leap off the warship...
Suddenly, a strong hand reached out from behind him and grabbed him by the collar of his neck like a chicken.
That irresistible force suddenly pulled him back from mid-air.
"Why?"
"thump."
Viktor casually tossed the bewildered Xiao Feng back onto the hard wooden deck.
He looked down at the transvestite who had fallen to the ground.
Viktor's lips curled into a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown:
"Stop being so self-satisfied, you transvestite."
"You must remember, in the Straw Hat Pirates' dictionary, there is never an option of 'leaving your friends to die'."
Under the shocked and bewildered gazes of everyone on the ship.
Viktor turned around and strode to the bow of the warship, the sea breeze making his black hair flutter in the wind.
"Full speed ahead." Victor didn't turn around, but his voice clearly echoed throughout the entire warship.
Instead of instructing Jinbe, who was at the helm, to slow down the fully loaded warship, he issued a crazy order to rush at full speed toward the tightly closed "Gate of Justice".
"Are you crazy?! The ship will be smashed to pieces if we crash into it!" Lightning exclaimed.
However, the next second, Viktor answered with his actions.
"boom--!!!"
A surge of crimson chakra, so violent it could change the very fabric of the world, erupted from Viktor's body, a tangible beam of energy shooting straight into the sky.
Under the horrified gazes of everyone.
A fully formed Susanoo, several times larger than the one that was on the fourth underground level, rose from the ground.
This colossal energy being, resembling an ancient war god, was not only clad in heavy Tengu armor.
Suddenly, a pair of chakra wings that blotted out the sky suddenly spread out from behind, completely enveloping the entire massive naval warship.
Facing the Gate of Justice ahead, a symbol of the World Government's absolute defense.
The killing intent in Viktor's eyes surged wildly, almost tangible.
He took a deep breath and once again used that ultimate technique that was powerful enough to cleave the world.
"Susanoo - Takemikazuchi!!!"
The complete Susanoo raised the giant chakra sword in its hand, which was formed from a vast amount of spiritual power.
Viktor's right eye darted around wildly.
The blade was instantly enveloped in a deep and heavy high-level Armament Haki, the wildly roaring Chidori Lightning, and the eternally inextinguishable black Amaterasu Fire.
This was accompanied by Victor's thunderous roar.
With its bulging muscles, Susanoo unleashed a massive, earth-shattering black-red sword aura towards the Gate of Justice ahead, carrying a devastating power!
"Whoosh—!!!"
Sword energy crisscrossed, causing space to tremble.
Under the horrified gazes of Jinbe, Crocodile, Ivankov, and others.
That gate, which symbolized the invincible justice of the world government, let out a mournful cry.
Before that black and red sword aura that combined three terrifying powers.
The seemingly indestructible, massive iron gate was forcefully cleaved in two, tearing open a huge chasm large enough for an entire large warship to easily pass through.
The cut was as smooth as a mirror, and there were even remnants of black flames burning.
"How is that possible...."
"It actually... split open?!" Old Sha's fingers, holding a cigar, trembled slightly.
The warship, enveloped by Susanoo, sailed unimpeded along the powerful currents and waves generated by the opening of the gate, forcefully crushing the wreckage of the collapsed Gate of Justice.
With unstoppable momentum, they officially plunged into the special express current that was only accessible to the Navy from Marineford, the Navy Headquarters.
A fierce wind howled as the warships braved the waves on the sea.
The Eternal Kaleidoscope in Viktor's eyes slowly faded, and the enormous, complete Susanoo also dissipated.
Even now, he felt a deep sense of fatigue after continuously unleashing such a high-intensity ultimate eye technique.
He stumbled and fell from the high bow of the ship.
"Gotcha!"
Sabo, who had been keeping a close eye on the sky, quickly pushed off with his legs and leaped high into the air.
He caught Victor, who was falling exhausted, and the two landed safely on the deck.
Luffy stood at the very front of the ship, his hands pressing down on his straw hat, which was being blown about by the wind.
He turned to look at the first mate, who was being supported by Sabo, and grinned broadly, revealing an incredibly bright smile:
"What? He looks so cool."
Victor leaned against the ship's railing, letting out a slight breath, but his pale face still maintained that smiling, composed expression:
"I won't let this broken door stop our captain from moving forward."
Just then, the Den Den Mushi (snail phone) inside the cabin, which was responsible for monitoring intelligence, suddenly emitted a rapid "blur blur" sound.
Jinbe quickly walked over to answer the call, his expression instantly turning extremely serious.
He turned his head and shouted loudly to the people on the deck:
"Gentlemen, the latest news has come from the Naval Headquarters' video Den Den Mushi."
"Only three hours remain until Brother Ace's public execution!"
Time is of the essence, and there is no time to lose.
Luffy suddenly turned around and stared intently at the end of the special ocean current.
He clenched his fists tightly, took a deep breath, and with all his might, roared against the raging wind and waves:
"Ace—! Wait for us!"
"Marineford...we're here!!!"233Chapter 234 The Fortress of Absolute Justice! 100,000 Elite Troops and the Trembling Marineford
Chapter 234 The Fortress of Absolute Justice! 100,000 Elite Troops and the Trembling Marineford
The camera slowly pulls back, piercing through the thick, oppressive, leaden-gray clouds.
The entire Marine Headquarters—Marineford, a magnificent crescent-shaped island—is presented to the world without reservation.
The sky was covered with dark clouds, and the dim light seemed to foreshadow the coming of the end of the world.
The howling sea wind carried an intense, suffocating, and chilling atmosphere.
There are less than three hours left until the public execution of Portgas D. Ace, the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
In the remote Sabaody Archipelago, a huge crowd had already gathered in front of the giant video Den Den Mushi (snail phone) broadcast screen.
Countless reporters with cameras in hand, pirates hiding in the shadows, and anxious civilians all held their breath.
They stared intently at the military fortress on the screen, which represented the highest authority of the world government.
The gears of the entire world seemed to be paused at this moment, stopping their rotation and quietly awaiting the storm that would surely be recorded in history.
"Splash... splash..."
Accompanied by the heavy and grating sound of the sea stone shackles grinding together.
Portgas D. Ace, covered in wounds, was escorted step by step by two executioners wielding long-handled swords to the execution platform at the highest point of Marineford Square.
A cold wind blew through his black hair as Ace collapsed helplessly to his knees on the execution platform.
He lowered his head, looking down at the massive, imposing army formation below, which resembled a Great Wall of steel, and bit his lip hard.
There was no fear of impending death in his eyes.
It was filled only with deep regret and self-reproach for implicating his beloved father and all his comrades who had shared life and death with him.
In order to face Whitebeard, who reigns supreme in the New World and is known as the "strongest man in the world".
The Navy Headquarters laid a tight net in Crescent Bay Square in Marineford.
They assembled a full 100,000 elite personnel urgently drawn from branches around the world!
The sea off Marineford.
Fifty fully armed, massive warships stood lined up end to end, forming a huge semi-circular encirclement, ready for battle.
On the defensive line of the square, countless cold, black heavy artillery pieces were lined up in a row.
The dark muzzles of the cannons pointed directly at the sea, ready to unleash a devastating torrent of steel at any moment.
One hundred thousand naval officers and soldiers, dressed in white coats emblazoned with the word "Justice," stood in formation, armed with various weapons and muskets.
The entire square was completely silent, and every elite soldier maintained a high degree of restraint, even in the rhythm of their breathing.
An almost suffocating tension permeated the entire Marineford.
Below the execution platform stood a group of powerful Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, including Momonga, Onigumo, and Doberman.
Their faces were stern, their hands on the hilts of their knives, forming an impregnable iron wall, a tight and solid second line of defense.
And at the very front of the square, which is also the first line directly facing the sea.
Several unique figures stood out from the neat and uniform naval formation around them.
They are the "Seven Warlords of the Sea," who were forcibly recruited by the World Government and are famous throughout the seas.
The world's greatest swordsman, "Hawkeye" Djokovic, crossed his arms and closed his eyes to rest, as if the overwhelming killing intent around him had nothing to do with him.
Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, slightly raised her exquisite chin, her expression haughty and aloof.
But there was a hint of absent-mindedness in her beautiful eyes.
Bartholomew Bear, the "tyrant," stood motionless, holding the Bible in his hands, like a cold, soulless machine.
Moonlight Moria, on the other hand, had a huge belly and a blank expression.
Beside them, Doflamingo, wearing a pink feather coat, pushed up his red sunglasses and let out his signature arrogant laugh.
"Furfurfural…"
Doflamingo's lips curled into a crazy, mischievous smile.
"This era's runaway train is getting more and more interesting."
However, just as he was laughing wildly, a piece of information seemed to flash through his mind.
The veins on his forehead throbbed, and his eyes instantly turned cold and filled with murderous intent.
Doflamingo gritted his teeth and muttered viciously in a voice only he could hear:
"Crimson Victor…who dared to kill my man…"
"If you dare show your face here, I will make sure you die a horrible death."
Looking further up, directly below the execution platform, sit three specially made chairs, representing the highest combat power of the Navy Headquarters.
"Akainu" Sakazuki, "Aokiji" Kuzan, and "Kizaru" Borsalino.
They were simply sitting there in different poses.
But that terrifying pressure from a top-tier expert was like a stabilizing force.
It was as if a powerful stimulant had been injected into the 100,000 elite naval troops present, making the morale of the entire fortress as solid as a rock.
At this crucial moment that everyone is watching with bated breath.
On the execution platform high above, a top-secret Den Den Mushi in the arms of Fleet Admiral Sengoku suddenly emitted a frantic and rapid "brubrubru" sound.
Zhan Guo frowned and turned around without making a sound.
He answered the phone with his back to the square below and the broadcast cameras.
The receiver carried a frantic, weak report from Hannibal Lecter, the deputy warden of Impel Down:
"Marshal Sengoku... Impel Down... Impel Down has fallen!"
"Inspector Magellan is seriously injured... The most dangerous criminals in the sixth level of Infinite Hell have been released..."
"'Red Lotus' Viktor, the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, took Straw Hat Puppet Master and Crocodile... and fled on a warship!"
Upon hearing this news, Sengoku's pupils contracted sharply, and the veins on his forehead bulged out.
Impel Down has been breached!
A serious criminal has escaped!
Straw Hat Boy and Guren!
Every word felt like a heavy hammer blow, striking his heart.
However, Sengoku took a deep breath.
In front of countless eyes around the world.
With his iron will, honed by years of holding high office, he firmly suppressed this shocking news that could have caused panic throughout the entire army.
"Smack!"
Sengoku crushed the remains of the Den Den Mushi in his hand with force.
His face was ashen as he forcefully suppressed the turmoil surging within him.
He then turned around and walked steadily back to the microphone at the front of the execution platform.
Sengoku picked up the specially made megaphone and scanned the 100,000 elite naval troops below with piercing eyes.
Then he raised his head and, facing the cameras broadcasting worldwide, solemnly revealed the earth-shattering secret that the world government had kept hidden for over twenty years:
"Today, in this place, the death of Portgas D. Ace has profound significance!"
The voice of the Warring States period echoed like thunder across Marineford:
"Portcus D. Ace..."
"Your biological father is none other than... the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"
These words were like a heavy nuclear bomb detonating in the deep sea.
Kneeling on the execution platform, Ace gritted his teeth, closed his eyes tightly, and remained silent, his body trembling slightly uncontrollably.
The 100,000 elite naval troops below seemed to be frozen in place, staring in disbelief.
Reporters watching the live broadcast from Sabaody Archipelago went into a frenzy, frantically pressing their camera shutters, creating a continuous barrage of flashes.
At this moment, the entire world was plunged into an unprecedented uproar and turmoil.
"The bloodline of the Pirate King still exists in this world!"
However, just as the whole world was still reeling from the shock of this earth-shattering secret,
On the sea directly in front of Marineford, in the crescent-shaped bay that was originally tightly surrounded by fifty warships, the water suddenly began to churn and boil violently.
Huge whirlpools and bubbles rose on the sea surface, just like boiling water.
In the thick sea fog, a huge, suffocatingly dark shadow was rising wildly from the depths of the sea with an unstoppable, overwhelming force!
—The Whitebeard Pirates, the rulers of the New World, have arrived!#234Chapter 235 The Strongest Man in the World! An Evil Alliance That Descended from the Sky
Chapter 235 The Strongest Man in the World! An Evil Alliance That Descended from the Sky
Under the utterly shocked gazes of 100,000 naval personnel.
On the calm surface of Crescent Bay, huge coated bubbles appeared one after another and burst suddenly.
It was accompanied by a deafening roar.
The four flagships of the Whitebeard Pirates, led by the "Moby Dick," unexpectedly and miraculously bypassed the encirclement of fifty warships in the outer sea.
They emerged from the seabed and landed steadily in Crescent Bay, the most heavily fortified part of Marineford.
On the deck where water was splashing everywhere.
The captains who are famous throughout the New World, such as Marco the Phoenix, captain Jozu the Diamond, and Vista the Flower Sword, all make an appearance.
They stood tall, their eyes cold and sharp as they scanned the execution platform ahead, exuding a powerful aura of battle-hardened warriors.
Accompanied by heavy, rhythmic footsteps.
The burly old man wielding the supreme-grade sword "Murakumogiri" and wearing a wide white coat—
Edward Newgate, nicknamed "Whitebeard," slowly walked to the bow of the ship.
His imposing, massive body was like an insurmountable mountain.
Just by standing there, he made countless seasoned naval soldiers present break out in a cold sweat, and their hands holding muskets and swords trembled slightly uncontrollably.
Whitebeard raised his head, his domineering eyes staring directly at the Fleet Admiral on the execution platform, and let out a hearty laugh that shook the entire arena:
"Gurarararar... It's been decades since we last met, Sengoku!"
"How is my beloved son?"
On the execution platform, Ace, tightly bound by sea stone handcuffs, looked at his father, who was like a god.
And his family members who were willing to go to great lengths for him, even against the entire world.
He clenched his teeth in agony, tears welling up in his eyes instantly.
"Dad! Everyone!"
Ace screamed at the top of his lungs, tears streaming down his face.
"Go back! It was my own stubbornness and refusal to listen to advice that caused this trouble. You don't deserve this!"
Whitebeard's smile faded, and his eyes softened.
He interrupted Ace's self-reproachful cries with an unquestionable, domineering tone:
"No, I sent you, Ace."
"Be a good boy and wait there, Daddy's coming to save you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Whitebeard slammed the Murakumogiri he was holding heavily onto the deck.
His arm muscles suddenly bulged and clenched, his hands crossed into fists, and then, with overwhelming force, he slammed them hard into the empty air on either side of his body!
"Snap—!"
The air instantly cracked like fragile glass struck by a heavy blow, filled with terrifying, visible cracks.
The immense power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit swept across the sea, unleashing a massive, sky-covering tsunami on both sides of Marineford!
The terrifying waves, resembling two mountain ranges of water, roared with despair, as if they would swallow the entire naval island up in an instant!
Faced with this terrifying natural disaster capable of destroying the world, the originally well-organized 100,000-strong navy was plunged into extreme panic.
Just as the tsunami was about to strike mercilessly.
On the three generals' seats below the execution platform, Aokiji leaped up like a roc spreading its wings, instantly soaring into the air.
Ice Age!
With a low shout, two streams of extremely cold air burst forth from his hands.
The white frost spread wildly at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
He instantly froze the two raging tsunamis, which were as tall as mountains, into two still, enormous glaciers.
At the same time, this terrifying chill descended.
It directly froze the entire turbulent sea surface of Crescent Bay into a solid, thick layer of ice.
With Aokiji's intervention and the widespread freezing of the sea surface...
The captains of the Whitebeard Pirates, along with the captains of the forty-three New World pirate crews under their command, let out a deafening roar.
"Charge! Rescue Ace!"
The pirates drew their weapons, jumped off the warship, and charged towards the Navy Plaza like a pack of wolves, their feet treading on the smooth, hard ice.
On the square, the navy's heavy cannons roared in unison, the deafening sound of the cannons echoing through the sky.
One hundred thousand elite naval troops drew their swords and roared as they charged into battle.
The Marineford War officially and completely broke out at this moment!
Just as the entire ice battlefield was engulfed in a fierce and bloody battle, with artillery fire and blood mingling together.
From the thick, leaden clouds directly above Marineford, a tremendous whooshing sound, completely out of place on the battlefield, suddenly rang out, followed by a continuous stream of screams.
On the execution platform, Zhan Guo, who was concentrating on the overall situation, seemed to sense something and suddenly raised his head to look at the sky.
When he saw the dark shadow falling from the clouds, his already ashen face turned deathly pale.
The "impedance city devastation" he least wanted to see came so quickly.
And it just so happens to have happened at this most critical juncture!
The deafening noise was simply too loud.
For a moment, everyone on the battlefield...
This includes Whitebeard standing proudly at the bow of the ship, the three admirals standing ready for battle, and the seven warlords of the sea with different expressions.
The navy and pirates who were engaged in a fierce battle on the ice all stopped what they were doing.
Tens of thousands of eyes looked up at the sky in unison.
A massive naval warship was seen free-falling, tearing through the clouds and crashing straight down from a height of ten thousand meters into the very center of the battlefield!
Accompanying the warship's high-speed descent was Luffy's piercing, shrill scream:
"Aaaaaah—I'm going to fall!!!"
A huge shadow loomed over the ice below.
The massive warship was about to crash and shatter into pieces on the solid ice with terrifying kinetic energy.
In the blink of an eye.
In mid-air, a dazzling crimson chakra suddenly exploded without warning.
A massive, half-body Susanoo, radiating an aura of destruction, suddenly spread its arms wide amidst the raging winds of its fall.
Its robust and powerful chakra skeleton steadily supported the bottom of the rapidly falling warship.
Then, with the ferocity of a meteorite crashing to the ground, this demon god carried the warship and slammed it heavily into the center of the ice in Crescent Bay!
"BOOM!!!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar that drowned out all the artillery fire.
The seemingly indestructible ice layer was smashed into a huge crater by this immense force, and countless ice blocks flew in all directions like projectiles.
The violent airflow swept outwards like a hurricane, blowing away all the marines and pirates who had no time to dodge.
The icy mist and smoke that surrounded the crater slowly dissipated under the sea breeze.
On the shattered deck of the warship, the figures of the group of uninvited guests gradually became clear.
Leading the group was none other than "Red Lotus"—Victor, whose eyes gleamed with an eerie crimson light.
Beside him stood Sabo, the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, who was wearing windproof goggles.
On the other side was Monkey D. Luffy, who was pressing down on his straw hat with one hand and had a resolute expression on his face.
Behind the three of them stood two renowned former Shichibukai.
Crocodile, Jinbe, and Ivankov and Inazuma, senior members of the Revolutionary Army.
This elite escape team, with its terrifyingly impressive lineup, abruptly entered this world-class war.
At the highest point of the warship wreckage, Luffy and Sabo simultaneously looked up abruptly.
Their gazes pierced through the smoke and flames of war, fixed intently on the solitary figure bound by chains on the execution platform.
The two brothers took a deep breath and, with all their might, uttered the most soul-stirring declaration to the execution platform and to the whole world:
"Ace—we're here to save you!!!"235Chapter 23dous Alliance from the Sky! I Want to Live!!
Chapter 236 A Tremendous Alliance from the Sky! I Want to Live!!
The entire Marineford fell into a brief, deathly silence at that moment.
Whether it's the pirates roaring and charging on the ice or the 100,000 elite naval troops lined up in battle formation.
Whether it's the Seven Warlords of the Sea standing at the very front, or the three Admirals of the Navy sitting on the high platform.
At this moment, everyone stared in disbelief at the group of "madmen" who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
On the high execution platform, Ace, whose arms were tightly bound by thick, heavy seastone chains, froze the moment he heard that voice.
He heard Luffy's familiar shout.
Although he felt a sharp, indescribable pain and worry in his heart, this was indeed within his expectations.
He knew his stubborn younger brother all too well.
Yes, there was another voice that overlapped with Luffy's voice just now...
He thought that voice had been completely buried in the depths of the sea by the Celestial Dragons' merciless and cruel artillery fire more than ten years ago.
How could that voice possibly be alive and well here?!
Ace was trembling violently.
He struggled to lift his face, which was stained with blood and tears, and stared intently at the figure in the center of the ice pit below, where the smoke was gradually dissipating.
The wind dispersed the pervasive icy mist.
Ace saw the figure clearly through his blurry vision.
His striking short, golden hair, the glaring burn scar over his left eye, his signature black top hat, and those familiar windproof goggles.
Ace's brain exploded with a "boom," as if countless thunderbolts had struck simultaneously.
All the rationality and strong facade he had painstakingly maintained crumbled completely in that instant.
Tears welled up in his bloodshot eyes and could no longer be held back, gushing out like a flood that had burst its banks, washing away the dust from his cheeks.
"Sa...Sabo?!"
Ace's voice was extremely hoarse, filled with unbelievable ecstasy and violent trembling.
"Is that you... Sabo! You're still alive!!"
Tears blurred his vision as Ace looked at the two figures standing side by side below, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Luffy! Sabo! You two reckless bastards!"
During his time in prison and facing the death penalty, Ace was filled with self-blame.
He even felt that he was deeply sinful and did not deserve to be saved by his father and everyone else at the cost of their lives.
But that deep-seated self-destructive tendency vanished the moment he saw everyone and his two vibrant younger brothers, who had crossed the line between life and death, standing before him.
And ultimately, it all transformed into a strong desire to live and a profound sense of awe.
He wanted to live!
He wanted to live on with them!
so...
"Ah! Help me!"
"I want to live!!"
On the execution platform, Fleet Admiral Sengoku saw clearly the group of lawless figures in the ice pit.
He felt a rush of blood to his head, his blood pressure soared, and the veins on his forehead felt like they were about to burst.
He clenched his fists tightly, gritted his teeth, picked up the microphone, and announced to the entire army and the world the astonishing identities of these uninvited guests:
"Former Shichibukai Crocodile and Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea!"
"Sabo, Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army; Ivankov, a senior cadre of the Revolutionary Army and the transvestite king; and Lightning!"
"besides..."
Sengoku took a deep breath, his voice filled with unyielding killing intent:
"The twin stars of the Worst Generation, Straw Hat Luffy, and the vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates... 'Crimson' Victor!"
The naval hero Garp, sitting on the steps below the execution platform, dug his ten fingers deep into his gray hair.
Originally, the sight of Ace kneeling on the execution platform was enough to break his grandfather's heart.
As a result, even Sabo, who should have "died" long ago, has come down from the sky with Luffy and come to this important place of the Marine Headquarters to break the execution ground!
Garp's three grandsons, whom he was so proud of, have now completely gone down this deadly road of fighting against the world, with no turning back.
What is he, the grandfather, supposed to do?!
On the ice, the wrecked warship had just come to a stop when the first to attack was not the navy, but Crocodile, the crocodile with a defiant expression.
He completely ignored the 100,000 navy soldiers standing guard around him, and his body instantly transformed into a chaotic and raging sandstorm.
Holding the sharp, poison-laden golden hook, he leaped across the ice with a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow, aiming straight for the back of the neck of the white-bearded man standing at the bow of the Moby Dick.
"Long time no see, Whitebeard!"
"Today, I'll take your head!"
Crocodile's eyes were filled with fanaticism and ambition.
However, before Whitebeard's captains, such as Marco and Jozu, could intervene.
"Whoosh!"
A blur of motion, steaming pink vapor, instantly intercepted the sand crocodile at incredible speed.
Luffy activated Gear Second without hesitation.
His right fist was not only covered with water stains that could restrain the Sand-Sand Fruit, but also with a layer of incredibly hard, jet-black Armament Haki.
"Rubber rubber—jet pistol!"
With a roar, Luffy punched Crocodile hard in the face.
The powerful force sent the former Shichibukai flying backward, crashing heavily through the thick ice.
Luffy stood firmly on the ice, exuding an astonishing aura.
He roared at the sand crocodile that was crawling out of the ice shards:
"That uncle is the person Ace respects the most. I will absolutely not allow you to lay a finger on him!"
Whitebeard, standing at the bow of the ship, lowered his head, his deep gaze fixed on the tattered straw hat on Luffy's head.
His eyes flickered slightly, and he couldn't help but think of Shanks, the red-haired man who had lost an arm, from many years ago.
Whitebeard gripped the Supreme Grade Sword "Murakumogiri" with both hands and slammed it heavily on the deck.
"Buzz—!"
A terrifying, almost tangible Conqueror's Haki swept towards Luffy like a raging storm.
Whitebeard's voice was like rolling thunder:
"You ignorant brat, do you even know what kind of monsters are the enemies here?"
"Someone of your skill level would be dead if they came here."
Faced with the terrifying pressure of the world's strongest man, Luffy did not back down an inch.
Instead, he abruptly raised his head, meeting that overwhelming aura of dominance head-on, and loudly retorted:
"Stop arguing! I know you want to be the Pirate King, but that's my business!"
"I will be the one to rescue Ace!"
The king's talents clashed without reservation.
Upon hearing this extremely arrogant statement, Whitebeard was not angry at all. Instead, he raised his head and let out a thunderous, hearty laugh:
"Gurarararar... What a spirited brat!"
Then, Whitebeard's smile faded, and his imposing gaze swept past Luffy, settling steadily on Viktor and Sabo standing behind him.
Only at this moment did a look of solemnity finally appear in the eyes of this strongest man in the world:
"The second-in-command of the revolutionary army... and you, you unfathomable brat."
The three generals sat in their seats below the execution platform.
Kizaru pouted slightly, through his brown sunglasses.
He looked into Victor's eyes, which glowed with an eerie red light, and his tone held a seriousness rarely seen in him:
"Oh my gosh~ Monster First Mate, we meet again."
"I never imagined that even Impel Down, which is known as an impregnable fortress, couldn't stop him."
"These are really frightening young people~"
Sitting in the middle, Akainu's body was now bubbling with scalding, deadly dark red magma, distorting the surrounding air with its heat.
His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he coldly spoke:
"The revolutionary army's second-in-command and senior officers, plus this exceptionally dangerous variable..."
"No matter what, we must leave this evil bloodline here today."
"We absolutely cannot let them leave Marineford alive!"
Aokiji exhaled a breath of cold white air and slowly stood up.
He recalled the report from the Warring States period, which was filled with suppressed anger, and knew in his heart.
Viktor's terrifying strength, capable of instantly killing Magellan head-on, has completely shattered the balance of this battlefield.
In order to eliminate the Whitebeard Pirates' main force on the ice before they could successfully reunite with this escape team.
Several powerful Vice Admirals from the Marine Headquarters, such as Momonga, Onigumo, and Doberman.
They immediately drew their renowned swords and led thousands of fully armed, menacing naval elites, surging in from all directions like a tidal wave.
Faced with this elite army surging forward like a raging torrent, Luffy and Sabo were about to clench their fists and grab their water pipes to meet the attack.
Viktor stepped forward first, his tall and imposing figure firmly blocking the way for the two of them.
"Time is precious, so don't let these insignificant fry get in your way."
Viktor's face was stern, and his tone was indifferent.
He slightly raised his eyelids, and the three tomoe in his eyes instantly connected end to end, transforming once again into an eternal kaleidoscope pattern exuding an aura of destruction.
"Chidori Stream..."
Viktor drew his famous sword, Autumn Water, from his waist with a backhand motion.
In an instant, the dazzling azure lightning chakra and the deep, dark red high-level Armament Haki merged perfectly on the black blade.
Finally, it emitted a terrifying sound, like the simultaneous sharp cries of a thousand birds.
"Thunder Cherry Blossom Slash!"
Accompanied by a low, cold shout.
Viktor gripped his sword with both hands and unleashed a massive, crescent-shaped, black-red lightning slash, hundreds of meters long, at the impenetrable naval formation directly in front of him.
"boom----!!!"
This strike was like a world-destroying thunder dragon tearing through the ice plains and roaring across the sky.
It carried an overwhelming destructive force, frantically advancing along the ice surface.
Wherever it passed, it struck thick, hard ice and the steel shields that the elite naval forces were so proud of.
They were still those powerful Vice Admirals from the Navy Headquarters who were trying to use their domineering presence to fight back.
All of them were utterly horrified in the face of this ultimate power that perfectly blended otherworldly ninjutsu with the destructive power of Ryuo Haki.
With a deafening roar, hundreds of elite naval personnel were instantly blasted into the air.
Before they could even scream, their defenses were instantly crushed by the raging thunder and overwhelming power.
As the dazzling lightning and acrid smoke slowly dissipated.
A wide avenue, tens of meters wide and still crackling with eerie blue electric arcs, was forcibly cleaved in the midst of the navy's ranks by Victor's blade, leading straight to the execution platform in the distance.
The entire Marineford region fell into a deathly silence once again after this devastating blow.
Both pirates and marines were stunned into forgetting to breathe by this godlike attack.
Viktor struggled to control his trembling hands.
He deftly twirled his wrist, and with a crisp metallic click, the Black Blade Autumn Water was gracefully sheathed.
He turned his head slightly, a sly smile curving his lips as he looked at Luffy and Sabo behind him, who were still reeling from the power he had just unleashed.
"The road has been paved."
"Go, Luffy, Sabo!"
"Go and bring your brother back!"