Chapter 240: The Dark King's Silence
"BOOM!!!"
Lightning struck from the sky, the thunderclap shattering eardrums.
Just as Whitey Bay was about to be engulfed by the thunder light, a massive, mountain-like shadow lunged forward!
"ZAP-ZAP-ZAP!!!"
Electricity rampaged wildly across his muscular back, scorching skin and curling flesh, filling the air with the smell of burning.
Yet he did not retreat. Arms spread wide, he shielded Whitey Bay, his teeth grinding audibly.
A low roar rolled from deep within his throat: "Go... go save Marco!!!"
Whitey Bay's pupils contracted violently, her voice trembling. "Andre!!!"
"BANG!!!"
A sharp gunshot tore through the battlefield!
Whitey Bay instinctively pushed Andre's shoulder aside. The bullet grazed his ear but still accurately pierced her left shoulder!
"SPLAT!"
Blood bloomed, staining her ice-blue uniform red instantly.
In the distance, Usopp held his sniper rifle steady, his gaze sharp and cold, voice firm: "The first lesson Mr. Roy taught us upon joining the Marines..."
"Don't give enemies time for chit-chat!!!"
"Good job, Usopp!"
Nami shouted, the Clima-Tact in her hand transforming abruptly!
"BEAST FORM: RAID!!!"
"BUZZ—!"
The tip of the staff transformed into a streamlined swallow head, and steel wings on both sides of the staff unfolded completely with a swish. The feathers glinted coldly in the sunlight, sharp as knives!
Nami pushed off with her toes, Geppo (Moonwalk) exploding!
"SWISH!!!"
Her figure skimmed the ground rapidly. The edges of the steel wings sliced through the air, emitting ear-piercing whistles!
"VACUUM BLADE!!!"
Clutching her bleeding shoulder, Whitey Bay forced herself to raise her sword horizontally across her chest, breathing heavily.
"CLANG!!!"
Steel wings and ice sword collided violently. The burst of impact instantly swept surrounding rubble into the air!
Whitey Bay was knocked back several steps, her body slamming hard against a mangrove root. A look of horror flashed in her eyes:
"This woman... is she really just a navigator?!"
"BOOM!!!"
The ground exploded abruptly as a giant black fist smashed down with terrifying air pressure!
Andre endured the searing pain, arm muscles bulging, covered in Armament Haki, lunging like a raging beast!
"Whitey Bay! I'll hold them off!!!"
"Don't underestimate the veterans of the Whitebeard Pirates!!!"
"BANG—!!!"
The giant fist smashed down, shattering the street into spiderweb cracks. Nami was forced to retreat rapidly by the shockwave, sparks flashing on her steel wings!
Usopp quickly adjusted his aim, firing continuously. Bullets splattered blood on Andre's body but failed completely to penetrate!
Whitey Bay took the chance to stagger back, one hand covering her bleeding shoulder, gritting her teeth and whispering:
"Andre bought me time... I must save Marco!"
She looked up sharply toward Jozu and Vista, who were still fighting fiercely ahead—
"Jozu! Vista!"
Whitey Bay roared via transmission: "Don't linger in battle!!!"
...
Flames, sword energy, and frost intertwined. War ravaged the entirety of Grove 13, with explosions and roars ceaseless.
Marco, firmly bound by Seastone chains, lay in the prisoner cart.
His originally dim blue eyes were now trembling violently at the scene visible through the iron bars.
Jozu, fully diamondized, was clashing head-on with Luffy's dragon-scale-covered Iron Fists with all his might. Every collision squeezed blood from the gaps in his diamonds.
Vista wielded his twin swords, sword energy crisscrossing, yet he had multiple close calls amidst Ace's blazing Fire Fists, his shoulders already charred and bloodied.
Whitey Bay, shot in the shoulder, still struggled to fend off Nami's Thunder Swallow attacks with her sword, buying time for Andre to charge the prisoner cart.
Andre's back was charred black, muscles eroded by electricity, yet he still gritted his teeth and charged toward the cart, every step sliding in pools of blood.
Marco gripped the cold iron bars tightly, knuckles white from exertion, tears rolling down his cheeks uncontrollably.
"Why..."
His voice was hoarse, trembling like a candle in the wind.
"Why are you... wasting your lives for me?!!"
His fingernails dug into his palms, blood dripping along the Seastone handcuffs.
"Pops is gone... we've lost too many brothers..."
"Why continue... why don't you run..."
His figure trembled, like a phoenix with broken wings in a cage. His lament was almost drowned out by the roar of war, yet it seemed to pierce the heart of every Whitebeard remnant.
"You guys... should have had a new sky long ago..."
"Stop sacrificing yourselves for me!!!"
Jozu and Luffy's fists collided again with a boom, diamond and dragon scales sparking brilliantly!
Vista crossed paths with Ace in the flames, sword light and fire fists booming in mid-air!
Vista's peripheral vision flickered, his fingers making a subtle signal unnoticed.
Jozu groaned heavily, a resolve flashing deep in his eyes.
The two exchanged a silent look.
The next moment, the same thought rose in their hearts simultaneously:
—Proceed as planned. Lead the battle to Shakky's Rip-off Bar!
The battle intensified. Sword energy and flames wove together, fierce winds kicking up gravel and dust.
Vista and Jozu fought while retreating, gradually drawing the battle line toward Shakky's bar.
"Dragon Bone: DRAGON KING GUN!!!"
Luffy roared as he pounced, fist covered in dragon scales, accompanied by tearing air and dragon flames, smashing into Jozu's chest!
"BANG!!!"
Jozu crossed his arms, fully diamondizing to take the hit. He was blasted back several meters, his back slamming heavily into the bar's door!
"CRASH!!!"
The heavy wooden door shattered instantly, the doorframe flying off!
"PILLAR OF FIRE!!!"
Ace followed closely, flames surging like angry waves, a pillar of fire shooting straight at Vista!
Vista's gaze focused, flipping his blade to block—
"SWISH!!!"
Suddenly, an extremely sharp sword energy shot out from deep within the bar, instantly tearing through the flames!
Following it was a terrifying Conqueror's Haki that oppressed the soul, sweeping across the battlefield like an invisible giant wave!
"BOOM!!!"
Luffy and Ace's movements paused abruptly, pupils shrinking, hairs standing on end!
"This Haki... who is it?!"
"Creak—"
From the shattered doorway of the bar, a figure walked out slowly.
Silver hair slightly messy, traces of time carving weathered angles on his face. He held a saber casually, the blade still resonating with the aftershocks of the slash just now.
—"Dark King" Rayleigh.
Jozu took the opportunity to rush out of the broken doorframe, standing shoulder to shoulder with Vista.
A trace of surprise flashed in their eyes, hope instinctively rising in their hearts:
"Mr. Rayleigh... will he help us stop them?"
However—
Rayleigh just glanced at them faintly, eyes like cold stars, voice low: "Don't fight at the bar entrance."
With that, he sheathed his blade, turned around, and walked slowly back into the bar as if nothing had happened.
"..."
Jozu and Vista's faces were instantly filled with confusion, cursing inwardly: "What... is this situation?"
Luffy and Ace were equally stunned, staring at each other, almost asking in unison: "Hah???"
Inside the bar, Shakky stood behind the counter, looking at the wrecked entrance. She finally couldn't help frowning and speaking up:
"Rayleigh... the fight is at our doorstep, aren't you going to do something?"
Rayleigh sat back at the bar, picking up his glass as if nothing had happened.
He spoke slowly, but his words made Shakky's hair stand on end.
"He... is watching."
Shakky paused, following Rayleigh's gaze out the window into the distance.
At the very top of the highest mangrove canopy, a tall, burly figure stood quietly.
The wind howled, his Justice coat flapping loudly in the wind.
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