Chapter 172 Village"Miss Nami!!!" Sanji's shouts continued unabated. His devotion was truly remarkable; after several sleepless days, his spirit remained high, and there wasn't a hint of hoarseness in his voice.Following behind him, Usopp's dark circles almost covered his entire face. Looking haggard, he leaned on a cane he'd found somewhere, struggling to keep up with the unfeeling brute ahead of him.Usopp was out of ammo—or rather, almost out. He now had only one last shot left on this island. If he fired his last bullet and got separated from Sanji, he felt he'd truly be doomed.The two crossed rivers and climbed mountains, clinging to vines to navigate treacherous terrain, all in an relentless effort to find Sanji's Moonlight. However, one thing was rather absurd: Sanji's Moonlight was actually plural, and it seemed to be increasing in number… Usopp, exhausted, pulled himself along a vine, looking at the seemingly endless path ahead. He then heard a sound of breathing and mumbled, "I'm so tired… I'm starting to hallucinate."Then he looked up, rubbed his eyes fiercely, and looked again.━ Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||) ━"San… Sanji, look up…"Sanji was annoyed by this. At such a critical moment, this guy was telling him to look up? Was there a bikini-clad beauty dancing up there? He casually glanced up… The vine he was holding was actually a whisker of a six-legged tiger. The six-legged tiger, which hadn't even bothered with these two insignificant creatures, was comfortably sleeping. Who would have thought that while it was peacefully resting, this insignificant creature would dare to pull its whisker?Usopp, tired and terrified, felt his hands go limp on the vine, and he began to fall into the abyss. Finally, he could rest… This time, a permanent rest.Of course, Sanji couldn't just watch him die. With a spinning kick, he struck Usopp square in the face, sending him flying back to the cliff edge. He himself grabbed a vine and quickly swung back.At that moment, Usopp hated being a man; otherwise, why would he be treated so roughly? "Roar!" The six-legged tiger certainly wouldn't let these two get away. A thunderous roar echoed through the forest as it chased after Sanji and Usopp.Usopp struggled to his feet, his hand reaching into his bag. The empty bag held only four special bullets, his last resort. He instantly clutched them in his hand.However, Usopp didn't get a chance to use them this time. Sanji, the true culprit who pulled the six-legged tiger's whisker, seemed even angrier than the tiger. He landed on the ground, stomped fiercely, and charged at the six-legged tiger.The distance between man and beast quickly closed. Sanji leaped into the air to dodge the six-legged tiger's swipe, then roared, "You dare interrupt me?! You're asking for death! Coarse brute!" Sanji's body spun in the air before he crashed down, his heel making intimate contact with the six-legged tiger's head.Interrupt???Who interrupted whom???The six-legged tiger's head was smashed into the ground, but Sanji seemed to have forgotten they were at the edge of a cliff. The cliff couldn't withstand the force and immediately cracked.Sanji, Usopp, and the six-legged tiger's corpse plummeted into the depths of the cliff. Honestly, in retrospect, the kick Usopp took to the face was truly undeserved… "Yo, you're awake. Why are you alone in this snowfield? This snowfield is too vast; we've been walking here for days and haven't found our way out." Zoro held the little girl in his arms, and he himself lay in Chopper's arms. The three sat together on the back of a mammoth. It must be said that Chopper's fur was excellent for keeping warm, but the fact that he couldn't take it off was a drawback!The little girl slowly woke up. After a moment, she saw the strange flower still in her hand and let out a sigh of relief. She looked up at Zoro's face, pointed in a direction, and said, "Thank you, big brother, for saving me. My name is Shavo. If you go this way for about half a day, you can leave the snowfield and reach my village.""My name is Zoro. Wait, what did you say? Half a day?""My name is Chopper. We can leave the snowfield in half a day? Zoro… in some ways, you're quite amazing.""That was just a mistake!" Who knows what Zoroused as a landmark this time… "A… A Masira is talking!" After saying this, Shavo foamed at the mouth and fainted.Tsk tsk tsk, it's unbelievable, half a newspaper. Commoner Fruit. Tanuki-Chopper has a new nickname.The mammoth's pace was much faster than the little girl's. Before long, they exited the snowfield. For such a short distance, Zoro and the unfortunate Chopper had spent several days, which was incredibly absurd.However, once they reached this point, no matter how the two urged it, the mammoth refused to go any further. Chopper also looked dazed. Zoro had no choice but to let Chopper transform back to his original form. He carried Shavo in one hand and Chopper in the other, walking towards the village. As for why he could recognize the way now, it was because he was only directionally challenged, not blind. The village, surrounded by strangely growing trees, was already visible in the distance.Shavo fainted quickly and woke up just as fast. The first thing she did upon opening her eyes was to look at the strange plant in her hand, then she spoke, "That's daft green; it emits a smell that animals can't stand. If they didn't surround the village, the village would surely be attacked and destroyed by wild beasts. However, it's best to hold your breath when approaching, or too much inhalation will poison people… Only an extract from the plant in my hand, called 'IQ,' can treat it."Zoro, this guy, who knows how his brain works. When others told him to hold his breath, he still defiantly sniffed twice, then said with a look of disgust, "Tsk, it really stinks."Chopper, hearing Shavo's words, groggily pulled out nose plugs from his bag and inserted them into his nostrils, immediately feeling much better. Seeing Zoro's actions, he couldn't help but retort, "Are you sick?!"The three walked towards the village, while on the other side… Sanji and Usopp fell from the cliff. Fortunately, there was a large lake below; otherwise, even if they didn't die this time, they would have been severely injured.Usopp crossed his arms over his chest, closed his eyes, and plunged into the water with a serene expression. This passive attitude truly made him the man Perona couldn't handle.Sanji adjusted his posture in mid-air, creating a splash smaller than if he were dropping dumplings. This move was still very cool. Fortunately, he remembered Usopp, who was suffering because of him, and quickly swam to rescue Usopp ashore, then fell into thought as he looked at the village.
Chapter 173 HelpUsopp slowly came to, seeing Sanji's stern face beside him, and instantly tensed up, immediately prostrating himself on the ground and asking in a low voice, "What's wrong? Has Shiki found us?"Sanji maintained his serious expression, gently shook his head, and said solemnly, "No... But Usopp, look closely, this village... it has no young girls."Sure enough, most of the Straw Hat Crew's serious moments were just nonsense... Usopp slapped Sanjion the back of the head, yelling, "Are you sick, being so serious while spouting rubbish?!""How can this be rubbish? A village without young, beautiful girls is inherently problematic!""You mean 'beautiful' is the key point, don't you?!"While the two were bickering, an old aunt walked up to them, smiled, and said, "To have so much energy after falling from such a height, that's really something~ You two..." Before she could finish, the old aunt directly pressed their heads down and whispered, "Shh..."The force was very light; if the two hadn't cooperated, the old aunt would have simply hit a brick wall. However, being in enemy territory, the two were quite cooperative, obediently lying on the ground and looking in the direction the old aunt was looking.A man-sized snail slowly crawled through the village. The old aunt whispered, "That's Shiki's holographic surveillance snail. Judging by your expressions, you probably don't want to be discovered either..."Hearing this, Usopp couldn't help but bury his head even lower, even wanting to bury himself in the sand... Sanji's gaze also sharpened. He hadn't found Robin yet, and he needed to remain useful to save the suffering ladies... As for the suffering ladies in his mind... Nami, wearing a bikini, lightly leaped into the heated pool. After a few laps, she climbed out and gently wiped her body with a towel. It didn't really seem like she was suffering... But it was also reasonable; such a gifted navigator was a treasure in Shiki's eyes, and he wouldn't use any harsh methods to win Nami's heart.Cheerful sounds rang out as Shiki danced in, accompanied by his right-hand men, Dr. Indigo and a burly Masira. Their dance looked... quite ugly."Oh~ my little darling~ I'm here to show you the results of my 20 years of research~ I, who am about to overturn the entire world, am definitely worthy of your allegiance~" Shiki snapped his fingers as he spoke. Dr. Indigo ran over, carrying a cage. A duck, looking very much like Karoo, was confined in the cage, its face filled with fear.Shiki opened the cage, lifted the duck out, and proudly introduced it, "This is the result of my twenty years of work!"Nami looked at Shiki's expression as if he were garbage: "Twenty years? A duck?""No~ No~ No~ This is a magical duck injected with extracts from my wondrous plant 'IQ'~" Shiki's mouth curved upwards, and he squeezed the duck's neck: "Come on, give my little darling a fierce look~""Quack? Quack!" The duck looked confused, then saw Shiki's unfriendly gaze, its body trembling. With a sudden burst of effort... its body erupted with intense electric light, like a Pica, directly giving the Shiki trio a taste of internet addiction detox.Shiki spat out a puff of black smoke, threw the duck to the ground, and turned to look at Dr. Indigo with an unfriendly expression.Dr. Indigo tremblingly took out a book from his Pregnant, carefully flipped through it: "I'm still awesome... I actually grabbed the wrong one~"Shiki was helpless with this guy who was useless except for research, so he could only turn to the duck, his feet itching to move.Nami directly shielded the duck behind her and said, "Give me some time. I need to think about it. I need to confirm that my companions are all safe. As long as they are safe, we can talk about this."...Them? Only heaven knows if they are safe. But I think one day you'll beg me to become my navigator, after all, companions are always there for each other, gehahahahahaha." Shiki was stunned when he heard this, then spoke, and walked out with his idiotic duo. The need for a navigator could be postponed for now, and he wasn't in a hurry."Luffy... Meruem... Everyone..." Nami murmured, then made up her mind. Watching Shiki leave, she turned and leaped into the pool.The duck also knew that Nami had saved him and followed her.Nami directly sank to the bottom, uncovered the drainage channel at the bottom of the pool, and slipped inside. The duck followed close behind... Meruem sat on a tree, resting his face on his hand, an expression of utter helplessness on his face. Tsukuyomi, sitting beside him, made the same gesture. The two, with perfect synchronicity, covered their faces and spoke in unison."Didn't you say that if I listened to you, we'd definitely get out of here...?"This time, they were truly shocked. The two had walked in many different directions, and each time they returned to the campfire without any hindrance. All the perceivable creatures in the jungle had been cleanly killed by Meruem, and the breeze carried the smell of blood through the jungle... "I think it must be you who infected me with this..." Tsukuyomi said weakly.Meruem glanced at him and said softly, "Have you ever found your way before?""What... Okay, no, I always follow the host. Who says a Devil Fruit has to be responsible for finding the way?! Huh?!" Tsukuyomi seemed a bit exasperated, originally wanting to brag, but then remembering that Meruem shared his memories, being found out would be too embarrassing."At least you're honest... Back to the original question, what do we do now...?" Meruem looked up at the sky, feeling a bit melancholic... Tonight, there wasn't even a moon, otherwise he would have followed the moon... "Do you think I know...?""Do you think I think you don't think...?""Do you think I think you think I don't think...?""Shut up, you...""...""Sigh..." The sighs in unison sounded so sorrowful... As the sun rose, Robin, Franky, and Brook took a simple rest and continued on. Although this group was a venomous tongue + pervert + lecher, it was the most reliable team in the Straw Hat Crew, which seemed quite absurd.As the three walked along the road, Brook suddenly stopped, turning behind him. Robin and Franky had walked quite a distance before realizing Brookhadn't followed."What's wrong?" Franky turned to ask. Without cola by his side, he always felt a sense of déjà vu of streaking, although the difference between him and streaking wasn't very big... Brook's hand went to his cane sword, and he said seriously, "Be careful, it's coming..."It wasn't until then that the clamor reached Frankyand Robin's ears...
Chapter 174 A Bridge of FateA dense swarm of Warrior Ants poured out from behind, and a ferocious beast they encountered along the way had its flesh devoured in an instant, a truly terrifying sight."S-Sugoi!" Brook was stunned, standing motionless as the Warrior Ants approached. He seemed utterly petrified."Brook!" Franky uncovered his palm, revealing the cannon in his wrist, ready to rescue him.Robin sighed, looking at Brook playfully, then patted Franky's shoulder: "Franky... aren't you out of energy?""Ah? Ah ah ah! I forgot..."It looked like Brook was done for... but then the Warrior Ants passed by him without anything happening... "Eh?" Brook turned his head to look at the Warrior Ants, his face full of question marks."'Eh' what? These guys are clearly only interested in flesh and blood, and they're a bit of a weakness for me. Hurry up and deal with them so we can go. They might already be there." Robin said irritably, turning directly to leave. Franky stayed put, looking at Robin, then at Brook, feeling like he'd missed something... "Yo ho ho ho, you found out~" Brookbowed slightly, then his figure suddenly vanished and reappeared beside Franky: "Humming Sword: Arrowtail Slash~"Franky glared at this guy, who had been exceptionally lively since leaving Thriller Bark. Hearing the sound of Brook's cane sword sheathing, he also turned and left, even as the noise from behind grew louder."Yo ho ho ho~" Brook sheathed his sword and stepped out. After three steps, the clamor of the dense Warrior Ants instantly vanished. Their lower bodies and upper bodies separated; the lower bodies ran a few steps forward, while the upper bodies remained in place.Robin walked between Franky and Brook, frowning as she said, "Luffy definitely won't wait for us to act, so we need to speed up."Although the bespectacled Robin seemed very reliable, she didn't quite understand the Straw Hat Pirate Crew. Where they were going, let alone Luffy... even Nami wasn't there anymore... The Floating Island was enveloped by seawater, suspended in the sky.A stream of water, like an arrow, appeared in the seawater. Looking closely, it was Nami and the duck. They emerged from the pool's drainage channel and plummeted downwards."Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!" Emerging from the sea, the island below them was at least tens of meters high. This height might be nothing to the other monsters on the ship, but for Nami... Nami was currently screaming and trying to think of a solution. Her little brain was spinning wildly, but... what could she do? Without her Clima-Tact, she truly couldn't do anything now... Freefalling without a parachute, that was truly thrilling... Nami couldn't even scream anymore, closing her eyes, she didn't know if she was waiting to die or leaving it to fate."Gah~" Just as Nami's face was about to hit the ground, the duck... flew up. Why didn't it fly earlier? Mainly because it just remembered that it could... "Phew~ I saved you once, you saved me once, we're even..." Nami let out a huge sigh of relief, got off the duck, and only then had time to look at her surroundings."Sunny! Merry!" Nami found Merry even by running aimlessly. This move could practically infuriate the guy stuck in the jungle... Merry heard the sound, turned her head, and her little face immediately lit up with excitement. She pushed off the ship's rail and flipped off, moving her short legs towards Nami.At this moment, a figure flashed out of the jungle—it was Luffy. His eyes immediately lit up when he saw Sunny, then he turned his head and saw Merryrunning towards Nami while waving at him."Merry~ Nami~" Luffy grinned and also ran towards Nami, completely unconcerned... that a beast tide was following him.Nami's face turned green watching Luffy approach with the beast tide. She waved her hands and stammered, "You... you don't... come over here..."Perhaps Luffy didn't hear her because her voice was too soft, or perhaps he heard her and pretended not to. He just saw Nami waving and started waving back, his face beaming like a blooming flower.Merry, with her short legs, was moving so fast she was just a blur, her face smiling, with no intention of stopping the beast tide.Nami looked up at the sky in despair, then... turned and ran. She ran, they chased, there was no escape... "Hehehehehehe~""Hehehehehehe~""Ah ah ah ah ah!"Laughter and screams mixed together. This scene didn't feel like they were in enemy territory at all; it was more like a daily routine for the Straw Hat Crew. Looking at it this way, Nami... was truly quite miserable.Merry chased Nami, Luffy chased Merry, and the beast tide chased Luffy. This scene... for some reason, became increasingly joyful.Nami: Joyful my ass... A burst of crackling electricity flashed, and the beast tide came to an abrupt halt. The duck stood proudly beside the beast tide, stopping this joyful game.Tsk, no more fun... Nami burst out of the screen and beat up the author... It was late, and Luffy finally got to eat cooked food by the campfire. As he ate, he kept pinching the duck's face, but the crackling electricity hitting him had no effect at all."This guy, Billy, is just like that guy on Sky Island, so interesting." Luffy was quite carefree; after finding Nami, he wasn't worried about his other companions at all. There was still a lonely, unlucky soul sitting in the jungle, on the verge of tears."Billy?" Nami, having changed into convenient suspenders and hot pants, asked with a puzzled expression.Luffy gestured with his mouth, pointing in the duck's direction: "Just this guy, all crackly, so I call him Billy~"Nami rubbed her forehead: "Never mind, it's not important. Let's rest a bit and then go find the others. What I'm most worried about now is Meruem and Zoro... those two are a bit difficult to find."Merry nodded in strong agreement... The hard-to-find Meruem leaned against a tree with his eyes closed, then slowly opened them, scaring a Groundhog that was stealthily moving with a piece of meat in its paw, freezing it in place... Not easy, there's actually still a living creature. Is this guy's evolutionary direction to block perception? Meruemflashed in front of the Groundhog, flicked its little head with his finger, and said in a very gentle tone: "Hey~ Can you understand human speech?"With that opening, no wonder all the fierce beasts attacked him directly. Honestly, it really wasn't anyone else's fault... (ó ﹏ ò ｡)Mr. Groundhog's resilience was really a bit low. A small bump swelled on its head just like that, and it looked at Meruem tearfully, seeming a bit wronged
Chapter 175 The Next QuestionMeruem frowned at the whimpering fellow in front of him, took a deep breath, and asked again… There was no reaction.The Groundhog still covered its forehead, whimpering as it looked at Meruem.Meruem sighed, stepped back, lay down on the ground, and waved for the Groundhog to leave.The Groundhog felt as if it had been granted a great pardon; it didn't even dare to take the meat it had worked so hard to carry, and vanished in a flash."Oh heavens… grant me someone who can lead the way…" Meruem's murmur dissipated in the wind, unheard by anyone… "Slap!" A crisp slapping sound rang out, Shavo's face immediately became red and swollen, and his treasured "IQ" fell to the ground… "I told you not to leave the village alone, why are you so disobedient!" Shavo's Mama's voice was filled with anger, her fists clenched tightly, but her face was full of worry.After shouting this, she turned and bowed 90° to Zoro and Chopper: "Thank you, if it weren't for you, this child… wouldn't have come back."Zoro and Chopper exchanged glances, their upbringing making it difficult for them to fully comprehend the scene before them.Shavo covered his face, clutching the "IQ" that had fallen to the ground: "But… but Grandma's illness can't be supported for much longer… I don't want her to die."Shavo's Grandma struggled to prop herself up from the bed, looking at Shavo with loving eyes, and softly said: "My little Shavo has truly suffered…"Chopper went closer to examine her, then quietly returned to Zoro's side, gently shaking his head… Shavo's Mama stroked Shavo's face, tears streaming down, then hugged Shavo tightly; this scene was somewhat heartbreaking.Chopper and Zoro quietly exited the room and sat on the steps by the door."Chopper, can't you cure it either?" Zoro, weary from many days of toil and still recovering from his injuries, finally felt tired.He rested his elbow on his knee, looking down as he casually asked.Chopper shook his head, opened his backpack, took out his notebook, and quickly flipped through it: "It's a case I haven't seen before, and I don't dare to treat it rashly.According to them, that plant called 'IQ' should be effective, but there are too few samples for me to do research."Zoro could only sigh at these words, and said nothing more… "I'm so angry, I still haven't found Miss Nami and Sister Robin after all this time, I wonder how they are." Sanji bit his cigarette, looking displeased, completely unconcerned about the lives of the other fellows… For example… Usopp's dark circles were as deep as night, and he followed Sanjiweakly, feeling like he could drop dead at any moment: "Re… rest a bit…""Huh? Where's the time to rest now? Oh, why do you have such heavy smoky eye makeup…" Sanjiturned his head and finally noticed the abnormality.Poor Usopp was really unlucky to follow this guy; it took several days for him to even notice… Sanji was also helpless, so he took Usopp and found some steps to sit down… ━Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━Usopp turned his head and was completely stunned; it turned out Zoro and Chopper were right above the steps, and the companions he couldn't find anywhere had appeared right before his eyes.Sanji looked in the direction of Usopp's gaze, meeting Zoro's eyes, and both their gazes turned to disdain, speaking in unison."So it's you, fellow…"Their tacit agreement (tacit understanding) was unmatched… "Sanji~ Usopp~" Chopper spotted the two, hopped down the steps, and directly pounced into Usopp's arms.Just then, a duck descended from the sky, with Luffy, Merry, and Nami riding on its back."Miss Nami!" Sanji immediately became excited, scrutinizing Nami up and down, then suddenly fell backward, muttering: "I finally found you… I haven't slept for days…"Perhaps about a minute passed… ━Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━"Sister Robin hasn't been found yet! It's not time to rest!" Sanji sprang up with a carp-like flip; this guy was truly amazing in some respects… "Hehehehe~ Now only Meruem, Robin, Franky, and Brook are left.Even Zoro has been found, so those guys should be found soon." Luffy was used to Sanji's exaggerated expressions and grinned.Nami wandered around the village and then came back, saying: "This is Vermeil Village.It is said that only here and Shiki's Hiki Palace on the entire Sky Island are surrounded by daft green, protecting them from beast attacks.Let's wait here; for safety, they should all be heading this way."Robin and her group, who were heading to Hiki Palace:???Meruem, who had killed all threatening beasts on the island he was on:???…Meruem, whom Nami had determined would definitely go to Vermeil Village, had a blade of grass in his mouth, looking helpless.His smoking addiction wasn't as strong as Sanji's, so he had very little stock left.By now, he could only chew on grass… grass… ass… "Squeak squeak squeak!" The Groundhog's cry was surprisingly not "Ah ah ah."It walked tremblingly to Meruem's side, tugged at Meruem's sleeve with its small paw, and gesticulated, saying something.Meruem glanced at it, frowning as he waited for the Groundhog to finish its gestures… He didn't understand a damn thing… If Chopper were here, it would be great, but if Chopper were here, he wouldn't have been trapped for so many days.The Groundhog looked at Meruem's foolish expression, a bit angry, its paws itching to jump up and flick Meruem's head, but its strong will to survive stopped the impulse, and it just stood there.The man and the Groundhog were at a stalemate like this… After a long while… Meruem slapped his head and said: "You understand human speech?"The Groundhog nodded."You know the way?"The Groundhog nodded."Quickly take me out."The Groundhog… shook its head.???╭(°A°`)╮Is it that you, Groundhog, are getting too big for your britches, or that I, Meruem, can't lift a sword anymore, to actually shake your head?The Groundhog also noticed Meruem's unfriendly gaze, shivered, and tremblingly pointed to the mountain of beast corpses.Meruem looked in the direction the Groundhogpointed, and smiled broadly: "As long as you take me out, it's all yours~"The Groundhog breathed a sigh of relief, clapped its small paws, and a vast horde of Groundhogs scurried out.First, they bowed to this brave Groundhog who dared to face Meruem, then they all ran to the beast corpses, performing cutting and transporting in one continuous process, with clear division of labor and incredibly fast efficiency.Then the brave Groundhog winked at Meruem, turned, and ran in one direction, and Meruem quickly followed… After about half an hour.Meruem looked at the empty cliff and the island dozens of meters above, lost in thought… It's that close?
Chapter 176 Shiki's AttackHiki Palace."You three are members of the Straw Hat Pirates, right? Was that Straw Hat also summoned by Lord Shiki? But you're not dressed very formally, which is quite impolite," a pirate, holding a wine glass and hiccuping, exclaimed loudly.Franky frowned and immediately said without hesitation, "Who was summoned by…"His words were interrupted by Robin raising her hand. Robin smiled and said, "Ah, yes. I wonder why Boss Shiki has gathered us here.""Of course, it's to form the Golden Lion Fleet! Let me tell you, my Captain will at least become a squad leader. Then we'll all be comrades and should look out for each other! Hahaha! It's said that Lord Shikihas already chosen the East Blue as his first stop. It's truly exciting to overturn the world under our command!" This guy seemed very excited, as if he had already made a name for himself.Robin and Franky exchanged glances, their eyes filled with worry. It seemed this battle was unavoidable, and none of Luffy's group were here, not even Nami.As for Brook, he was currently flirting with a waitress: "Hello, beautiful lady, may I have the pleasure of admiring your panties?"Well… that wasn't flirting… The waitress was also quite fierce. She gave Brook a sweet smile, then delivered a spinning kick to Brook's face before continuing to attend to the surging pirates… "Mama! Shavo's papa is back! It's said that Shiki will be leaving Floating Island for the Grand Line, heading to the East Blue, in the coming days! Everyone will be back soon!" Shavo ran into the room, shouting excitedly. The years of suffering were finally coming to an end.Shavo's Mama heard this, and the bowls and chopsticks in her hands fell directly to the ground. She knelt, covering her face with her hands, and cried, "Is… is that true? I truly hope he goes to the East Blue quickly."At this moment, Nami was also in the room. Originally, she was just chatting idly to gather information, but they didn't know she was from the East Blue. Hearing their conversation, Nami felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, freezing in place.Shavo and her Mama were completely engrossed in the happiness that was about to arrive, and didn't notice the change in Nami's expression. The human instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm was fully displayed. In the hearts of Shavo and her Mama at this moment, they hadn't considered what the people of the East Blue would suffer if Shiki went there."As a comrade, I'll grant any wish.""Live happily, Nami~"Shiki's face and Nojiko's face flashed continuously in Nami's mind. She weakly propped herself up and quietly walked towards the door.However, everyone who should have been resting outside the door was gone. Just as Nami was about to step out to find everyone and tell them the news, she heard a roar from Luffy."Don't come over, Nami!"At this moment, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, and Merry stood in a line. In front of them was Shiki, floating in the air, arms crossed, watching them. Noticing Nami coming out, Shiki grinned and said, "My little darling~ Your rushing out like this makes me very angry~ Now, let me ask you one more time, will you be my navigator?""That's my navigator! Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffystomped his foot hard on the ground, charging towards Shiki like an arrow.Luffy's roar was like a signal for battle. The Straw Hat all charged out together.Shiki tilted his head slightly, dodging Luffy's attack. With a spin in the air, his 'Kogarasumaru' on his leg kicked sideways."Three-Sword Style: Bull-Demon Courageous Claws!" Zoro appeared there, his three swords like claw blades striking towards Shiki, but they were blocked by Shiki. The recoil directly caused blood to seep from the bandages on Zoro's chest. Then Shikiparried Zoro's swords, and Kogarasumaru stabbed into Zoro's shoulder."Arm Point: Horn Point!" Chopper appeared on Shiki's other side, his iron hooves striking towards Shiki, but Shiki caught him, unable to advance an inch.Merry appeared below Shiki, clasping her hands together and then pulling them apart fiercely, the magic circle glowing brightly: "Elf Magic: Ocean Wave Slash!" A tide surged from the magic circle, converging into a giant blade that swung towards Shiki.Shiki swung his other leg's 'Sakurajyu' fiercely: "Wave Slash!" A huge sword energy collided with the great blade formed by the tide, cutting it directly in half."Sure-Kill: Atlas Comet!" Usopp took out his last four special bullets for self-preservation, firing them at Shiki. The special bullets spun in the air, then rapidly accelerated, hitting Shiki's body with a roar.Shiki's body involuntarily tilted forward. Sanji seized the opportunity, leaping up from the ground: "Diable Jambe: Mutton Shot!" But days of sleeplessness ultimately prevented him from fighting at full strength… Shiki's other hand was instantly covered in black light, firmly gripping Sanji's scorching hot leg. Then he grinned and said, "What a bunch of arrogant fools. Do you know the consequences of attacking me?" As he spoke, he flung Chopperdownwards, and Chopper slammed directly into the ground, raising a cloud of dust.His free hand was covered in black light, forming a claw, and swung towards Sanji's head.In a flash… "Gear Second!""Gum-Gum Jet Pistol!"A steaming fist forcefully intervened, striking Shiki's chest, pushing him back. His hand involuntarily loosened, and Sanji narrowly escaped death."Cough, cough… A new generation fellow can still injure me, but that's as far as it goes. Lion's Might: Earth Scroll!" Shiki extended his hand and pressed it down hard.The entire ground was ripped up, transforming into multiple lion heads that roared, surrounding the Straw Hat. Sanji, Zoro, Chopper, and Usopp all lost their ability to fight.Luffy swung his arms, his fists raining down on the lion heads. The lion heads he attacked shattered with a boom, but more lion heads swept in, truly unstoppable. Dust covered everyone. Just then, Merry's hands pulled out a blue energy line that formed a membrane, covering everyone… "Gyahahahaha, how spectacular! Your journey ends here~" Shiki's smile was cruel as he prepared to swing his arm again to ensure these guys, killed by the dust, would leave no trace.Finishing them off is truly a good habit… "Stop!" Nami stumbled over, looking at the mountain-like pillars of earth before her, her gaze filled with despair.Shiki glanced at her, not responding, and continued to swing his arm. The earth pillars slowly began to twist…
Chapter 177 Rage"Mr. Shiki… I request that you allow me to join the Golden Lion Fleet and become your navigator."Nami knelt on one knee, her head bowed low, her expression hidden.Shiki heard this and retracted his arm. "Gyahahahahaha, I said that companions always grant each other's wishes! Since you've become my companion, I'll fulfill this small wish for you. Tsk tsk tsk, this earthen pillar is a fitting tomb for your former Pirate Crew, but it seems there are still four guys missing. Once I find them, I'll send them here to reunite~" As he spoke, he used his Observation Haki to sense his surroundings, confirming there were no signs of life. Then, his hand wrapped around Nami's waist, and he shot into the sky, heading towards Hiki Palace...Hiki Palace.Shiki's face appeared on the screen in the banquet hall. He laughed maniacally, "First, thank you all for coming to my banquet and becoming my companions. Now, I will demonstrate the results of my research over the years. Gyahahahahaha!"The scene shifted, and the daft green around Vermeil Village was uprooted by a group of burly men wearing gas masks. As the daft green decreased, more and more beasts gathered, their breathing becoming more frantic.The last daft green was pulled up by ropes by the burly men who had already retreated into the air. The roar of the beasts exploded, and the dust from their running almost covered the screen. The quiet Vermeil Village became noisy as the beast tide surged into the village, screams and flying blood constantly stimulating the audience's excitement.Suddenly, the screen went black, abruptly stopping.Shiki's dazed face appeared on the screen. He immediately adjusted his expression and continued to grin, saying, "It seems my little darlings won't even spare the surveillance snails. But this is just a small problem. Give me 10 minutes; I'll handle some private matters, and the oath ceremony will begin shortly!"The screen went black again. Robin, Franky, and Brook exchanged glances and quietly exited the banquet hall...Near the daft green surrounding Hiki Palace, Namiwas forced to her knees, her hands tied behind her back by two burly men. Patches of green on her body looked terrifying.Shiki, wearing a gas mask, walked over. He glanced around roughly; a bomb had been placed at each daft green. He clapped his hands. "Oh~ little darling, you're really disobedient. I'm so heartbroken for a companion who betrays me~"Nami raised her head, her eyes dark, staring intently at Shiki's figure. "To kill my companions and still expect me to be your navigator, isn't that a bit too fanciful?""So you want my little darlings to attack me? How imaginative..." Shiki snapped his fingers, and several long spears floated into the air. The burly men lifted Nami and threw her upwards. The spears plunged down, all carefully avoiding Nami's body, but impaling her in such a way that she was suspended, unable to break free with her own strength."You'll just breathe in the daft green's poison gas and experience this feeling of gradual death~ Gyahahahahaha!" Shiki turned and left, leaving Nami behind as the green patches on her body gradually spread...A group of beasts surrounded the earthen pillar. Billy was covered in blood, panting heavily. He felt somewhat ashamed that he didn't dare to face Shikidirectly. To prevent the Straw Hat's bodies from being devoured by the beasts, he prepared to fight to the death on the spot."Caw!""Roar, roar, roar!"Billy unleashed a burst of electricity at the beasts in front of him, but even more beasts attacked from his sides. As the claws struck, he gently closed his eyes."Breath of the Moon. Tsukihaku. Rotation.""Franky Iron Fist!""Humming Three Steps. Arrow Tail Slash!""Hundred Flowers Flurry. Spider Flower."Four figures appeared beside Billy, surrounding him. All the beasts in the village had already been killed with a single strike, yet Meruem's face still burned with intense anger. His attack formed countless crescent blades in the air, crashing down and slaughtering the beasts that hadn't yet lunged, making the scent of blood even more pungent."Honestly... an old geezer abandoned by the times still wants to cause trouble. If I don't send them to join Roger, I'd truly feel I'm letting them down." Meruem closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings. There were no signs of life, but there was an energy originating from the same source as his own. His expression finally softened a bit, though his voice remained cold.Robin and Brook also used Observation Haki to sense, disbelief and sadness alternating on their faces. They stood there dumbfounded, looking somewhat at a loss.Franky saw their expressions, and his eyes immediately reddened. He stood there, gritting his teeth, his fists clenched, his anger steadily rising.Meruem moved gently, walking to the front of the earthen pillar. He placed his palm on it and softly said, "Merry, you've worked hard. Just a little longer..."With that, he stepped back, closed his eyes, and drew kitetsu. Several flashes of blade light, and the figures of the Straw Hat appeared before the four. The blue light enveloping them exploded upon contact with the air, scattering into starlight.Meruem picked up the unconscious Merry, mumbling, unable to speak. At this moment, Merryhad reverted to her previous Ship Spirit form, flickering as if she might disappear at any moment."You're as crazy as him, but I still quite like it. Wait a moment." Tsukuyomi's voice sounded very serious. A moment later, a necklace appeared in Meruem's hand."Let her live in here for now. The recovery time is uncertain..."Meruem nodded, put the necklace around his neck, and gently took Merry's small hand, placing it on the necklace. Merry then transformed into a light and shadow, entering the necklace and vanishing.At this time, the restrained individuals had already gotten up from the ground, completely unharmed, without even a trace of fatigue. Feeling the surging power within their bodies and seeing this scene, everyone knew what had happened."Meruem..." Luffy's words were cut short as Meruempunched him in the face, sending him directly into the ground and kicking up dust.Then Meruem grabbed Luffy by his collar, pulling him to his eye level. The two met each other's gaze, both silent.Usopp stepped forward, wanting to say something to ease the atmosphere, but Zoro stopped him with a hand.After a long while... Meruem took out a Tone Dial, pressed it, and Nami's voice came out."I don't know if you, Luffy, are still alive. I've decided to join Shiki's crew and become their navigator. Shikiis a legendary Pirate who you, Luffy, can never defeat, no matter how much you resist. Even if everyone comes after me, you'll only throw away your lives in vain. I'm telling you this upfront... you must come and save me..."The last sentence was almost inaudible.
Chapter 178: Dress UpThe Tone Dial abruptly stopped here. Meruemstared coldly into Luffy's eyes and said, "Merryalmost met her second death, and Nami didn't even dare to shout for help. You're quite the Captain."Luffy was silent for a moment before he spoke, "Understood..." He didn't continue, because an even more ferocious beast tide surrounded them. The roar of a white tiger with double wings on its back, leading the pack, directly interrupted Luffy's words.Meruem took a deep breath, no longer holding back his killing intent. His blood-red domain space continuously expanded outwards... "Roar! Roar! Meow..." The white tiger, which had been roaring, shivered, and the sound it made immediately became unnatural. The beasts behind it were shocked to see their boss like this, wanting to laugh but not daring to, stifling themselves with great difficulty.Meruem was stunned. To encounter such a fellow at such a serious moment made his emotions a bit disjointed. He let go of Luffy and walked towards the white tiger... Luffy placed a hand on Meruem's shoulder and whispered, "Nami is waiting for us. Let's go..."Meruem was taken aback. It seemed his earlier lecture had been remarkably effective. Luffy was incredibly serious now, and the Captain's Haki made Meruem unable to argue, so he could only shrug and stand behind Luffy."Chopper, tell those guys over there to send a few flyers. We'll head back to Sunny first, then take Sunny directly to that bastard Shiki's base camp.""Oh!"...On Sunny, the atmosphere was somewhat solemn... Robin, dressed in an evening gown, took out a stack of formal wear and placed it on the deck, smiling, "Come, put these on. Nami prepared them all for you. We're not going to fight this time, but to declare war."The others, who were organizing the weapons Meruem had confiscated from Perona, exchanged glances. They didn't quite understand why, but they complied. Meruem put on his suit, adjusted his cuffs, casually tied his long hair behind his head, picked up a small dress, and examined it, feeling a bit heavy-hearted."Of course, Nami prepared one for Merry too, but... this trip, that bastard must pay the price." Robinreached out to help Meruem adjust his tie and gently took the dress from his hand.Meruem took a deep breath, squeezed the necklace on his chest, and a smile played on his lips: "Yes, that bastard will definitely pay the price."He then walked over to Luffy, picked up a trench coat, draped it over Luffy, and whispered, "Sorry, I got a little emotional just now...""If I hadn't reminded that guy Shiki to avoid the storm, none of this would have happened... If we hadn't fought in such a rush, we wouldn't be in such a sorry state, so... Meruem, thank you." Luffy finished speaking, stood at the bow of the ship, looked at the island where Hiki Palace was located above, and shouted, "Depart!"Franky slammed a button, and the "Coup de Burst" instantly activated. Sunny soared into the sky... "What is that?""A ship?! A Pirate ship?! Is it the same ability as Lord Shiki?!""No! That's the Straw Hat Pirate Crew's flag! Enemy attack!""Quick! Go notify Lord Shiki!"Sunny descended from the sky, landing at the main entrance of Hiki Palace. Luffy stood at the bow, looking coldly at the crowd below: "Charge in.""Understood..." Meruem and Zoro responded simultaneously, leaping off the ship's edge together. The enemies on the path were no match for them, and this time... there were no survivors."Let's go." This time, Luffy was no longer as boisterous as before. He jumped off the ship's edge and strode into the palace, his steps filled with imposing momentum... Shiki held his wine glass, swirling it, and smacked his lips: "They're still alive... but one is missing. It's incomprehensible that they survived and then, instead of escaping, dared to interrupt my banquet."Below him, the Pirates clinking glasses and shouting stopped, stunned by his words. Then, a few in the front row turned to look at the banquet hall's main entrance."Swish swish swish..." Blades flashed, and the main doors shattered into fragments, exploding outwards. Luffy was the first to step inside, with the rest of the crew following behind him. Though only a few people, they exuded the aura of a thousand armies. The joyful banquet hall suddenly fell silent.Luffy looked up at Shiki and said coldly, "Where is my Navigator?""Her? Hmm... she might already be dead. Later, I'll try to bury you all together, if your bodies are still intact." Shiki lay on his chair, legs crossed, propping his face with his hand, replying casually, his eyes full of mockery."Hahaha, a few people dare to come here? Are they crazy?""Lord Shiki, these guys will be chopped into meat paste soon. It won't be easy to find their bodies.""A new generation brat trying to challenge a legend? This way of seeking death is truly unique!"The Pirates' clamor resumed. Luffy tore off his trench coat, and scorching steam instantly rose from his body. He took a step forward, his fist shooting straight towards Shiki."Gear Second!""Gum-Gum Jet Pistol!"Shiki reached out to catch it, but Luffy's fist did not lose momentum, carrying Shiki's palm and smashing into his face.This punch was like the signal for war. The Pirates' shouts grew louder, and Pirates surged from everywhere in the massive banquet hall, countless in number, like a surging tide."Usopp! Chopper! Go find Nami!" Luffy roared, his figure instantly disappearing from his spot and reappearing in front of Shiki, who had fallen to the ground."Kid, you're not worthy of challenging Lord Shiki!""Roar!"Masira and Dr. Indigo appeared on either side of Shiki, their attacks coming one after another, striking at Luffy."Don't..."Sanji kicked Masira in the chest."Don't disturb our Captain!" Zoro parried Dr. Indigo's attack, and Zoro and Sanji shouted in unison.Luffy's punch struck down, but it hit the ground, and the floor shattered, kicking up dust. Shiki's figure had already appeared in the air. He retreated quickly, flying directly out of the window.Luffy followed closely, disappearing from the banquet hall.The surging tide of Pirates rushed towards the Straw Hat. Usopp and Chopper acknowledged Luffy's words but were surrounded."Breath of the Moon: Moon Vortex!" Meruem held kitetsu before his eyes, then swung it fiercely. A spiral crescent blade shot from his position towards the Pirate crowd. Limbs flew everywhere, and the smell of blood filled the air.Meruem casually twirled his sword: "Leave this to me. You all go find Nami together..."
Chapter 179 No More Holding BackHiki Palace banquet hall.The massive banquet hall was packed with people, and in their center was Meruem, dressed in a well-tailored suit with his black hair tied back. He frowned at the bloodstains on his cuff, a bit regretful that he had accidentally stained the clothes Namihad meticulously prepared; it was always a bit impolite.At Meruem's feet, bodies lay piled high. This time, he held nothing back, every move and every strike aimed at lethal points. This was why he and the surging pirate horde were in a stalemate, the pirates in a circle around him, cowering and not daring to advance... Blood-red energy lines emanated from the corpses, flowing towards Meruem's heart. With each wisp that entered, a negligible amount was absorbed by the necklace on his chest."Let me be clear, I didn't tamper with anything. At the time, your killing intent was sufficient, so it was used to form Merry's body. Now, it's perfectly reasonable to absorb it back to recover..." Tsukuyomi's voice sounded a bit awkward, as this was essentially urging Meruem into a vortex of slaughter, to sink into it.Meruem plunged his kitetsu into a corpse, took off his suit, and placed it on a relatively clean chair behind him. He rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt to his elbows, re-tied his hair, and murmured, "They've all gone far away, so it should be quiet here now..."The banquet hall was actually quiet enough at this point, with only the heavy sounds of breathing rising and falling. If it were to get even quieter, then... Usopp rode on Chopper's back, sprinting around the palace. Usopp's Observation Haki was continuously operating at full power. The longer it went on, the more anxious his expression became. There was no trace of Nami anywhere in the palace, which was certainly not good news.Then they ran towards the palace's outer perimeter. The pungent smell of daft green made Chopper feel particularly uncomfortable, but he showed no intention of stopping.Suddenly, Usopp yanked Chopper's fur... almost pulling him bald. However, in such an urgent moment, there was no time to worry about such small matters. Usopp pulled Chopper to a stop, immediately took off his scope, and saw Nami, 80% of her body covered in green spots, appear in his field of vision."...Chopper, over there, hurry up, Nami seems to be in bad shape." Usopp dismounted from the reindeer. A group of burly men wearing gas masks surrounded him. Dressed only in shorts, their approach looked truly bizarre, almost like a 'man on man' situation... Chopper nodded, turned, and charged out. A burly man blocked his path, but he continued straight ahead, as if to leap into someone's arms."Sure-Kill: Fire Star Chain!"Bullets formed a line, flying towards the burly man's heart. A single bullet couldn't pierce him, but subsequent bullets, one after another, pushed against the tail of the preceding bullet, forcing it in. The bullet exploded upon contact with blood, shattering the burly man's insides.A flicker of reluctance crossed Chopper's face, but he quickly firmed his expression, lightly leaped over the burly man's crashing corpse, and rushed towards Nami's direction.Now, all the remaining burly men no longer paid attention to the retreating Chopper, their eyes fixed on Usopp as they surrounded him.=(͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*)Usopp... took off running, shouting as he went, "If you've got the guts, fight me one-on-one!"..."Da da da da da!"Franky ran, his hand detaching at the wrist. Inside his wrist, where no bones were visible, a Gatling gun extended, continuously emitting blue flames, bullets raining down behind him.A beetle, roughly the size of the Sunny, chased after Franky. Bullets sparked upon hitting its body, but its hard carapace showed no signs of cracking.Franky used his left foot as a brake and his right foot as an accelerator, executing a drift turn. Around the corner, he ran into... Zoro?!Zoro, who was supposedly chasing Dr. Indigo, appeared in the completely opposite direction. It was a little bit outrageous, yet perfectly in line with his character."Eh? Franky? Weren't you going to find Nami? How did you end up here?" Zoro's preemptive strike left Franky utterly bewildered. One wondered how this guy had the nerve to ask such a question.No sooner had he spoken than the pursuing beetle, clearly a poor driver, botched a drift and crashed into the wall, kicking up a cloud of dust."...Need help?" Zoro felt like awakening Observation Haki was imminent, otherwise, his unreliability really couldn't be blamed on him.Franky turned to face the hole in the wall, twisted his neck, and posed as if to unleash a Kamehameha: "No, I don't need it. Coup de Burst!"An air cannon fired from his palms. The beetle, having just crawled out of the hole, took a direct hit. The immense impact struck the beetle's face, instantly blasting it into a headless corpse.Franky's pompadour also drooped after using the move. This guy's techniques were indeed powerful, but the charging time and energy reserves were problematic everywhere.Zoro rubbed his chin, smacked his lips, then started running: "I'm going to find that Dr. Indigo who looks like a lunatic first."Franky was silent for a moment before speaking: "...Is that guy outside?""..." Zoro stopped responding, turning 180 degrees on the spot and running off.It seems... a battle still needs a bit of fate... Meruemsat on the chair, his elbows resting on his knees. The blood flowing at his feet gradually converged into a stream. Only his breathing could be heard in the entire banquet hall.Spiral-shaped red killing intent swirled around him. His heart and chest, like black holes, continuously absorbed this killing intent. His pupils shifted incessantly between red and black.Tsukuyomi's phantom appeared behind him, mirroring his exact posture. The bright Moonlightand the red killing intent were distinctly separate. Neither of them spoke... The silence was suffocating, and the pungent smell of blood added to the terror. The two figures seated in the center were like demons... Chopper gritted his teeth, holding Nami in his arms, enduring the unbearable smell as he took a deep breath. With great difficulty, he distinguished the smell of "IQ" from the air and frantically rushed towards its source... In a deep, dark laboratory, Chopper held Nami with one arm and flipped through a notebook with the other. Green spots had begun to appear on his hands, and sweat streamed down his forehead.But he had no time to wipe it away. Nami's breathing in his arms grew weaker and weaker, filling his eyes with tears... "Yo~ you poor little thing, about to be devoured by daft green, still trying to struggle in your death throes?" Dr. Indigo suddenly appeared on a nearby railing, his voice full of mockery.
Chapter 180 Ghost Qi. Nine Swords Style. Ashura. Piercing PowerChopper heard the sound, and his hand, which was flipping through his notebook, paused. His left hand, which was holding Nami, was already covered in green spots and so stiff he couldn't move it. He used his right hand to tie Nami behind him, looking at Dr. Indigo with extreme vigilance."I smell the 'IQ' extract. As long as I defeat you, Nami will definitely be fine.""Defeat me? What an arrogant fellow. But... I'll keep you for experiments. I'm a little excited to see what you'll turn into~ Hahaha!" Dr. Indigo said, extending an index finger. The smiling flame gradually expanded, turning into a verdant fireball.The fireball flew up and down with his movements, like his pet."Chemical. Magic Ball!"Dr. Indigo pointed at Chopper, and the fireball flew towards Chopper. Its speed was quite ordinary, and Chopper easily dodged it by simply sidestepping. However, the fireball unexpectedly had a tracking function. After Chopper dodged it, the fireball seemed to get angry, its speed abruptly increasing as it shot towards Nami... behind Chopper.If Nami, whose breathing was growing weaker, took this hit, she would likely die on the spot. Chopperabruptly twisted his body, using his already immobile left hand to block the fireball. Flames instantly erupted, their light reflecting on Chopper's face. He gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out in pain, and directly gripped the burning area with his right hand, extinguishing it.Dr. Indigo applauded, another fireball appearing on his finger. He said mockingly, "You want to defeat me while carrying a burden? Isn't that a bit too fanciful?"As soon as he finished speaking, the fireball flew out again. Chopper moved around, avoiding it several times, but the fireball's speed became faster and faster, almost impossible to catch a glimpse of with the naked eye. Chopper was forced into a corner. He repeatedly prepared to swallow the Rumble Ball in his mouth but held back. If he transformed into Monster Point now, he might accidentally kill Nami himself.The fireball directly hit Chopper's chest. He endured it, refusing to retreat a single step. Nami, behind him, was already barely against the wall but hadn't touched it yet.The impact caused Chopper's chest to indent. The blood in his mouth could no longer be contained and flowed out. His knees also buckled, and he knelt on one knee.Dr. Indigo jumped off the railing, pulling out two small vials from his pocket. He squatted in front of Chopper, his tone full of ridicule: "These two vials contain one antidote for daft green and one enhancer for rare beasts. Want to guess which one is the life-saving medicine~ Or guess which one will make you lose your mind and kill the burden behind you with your own hands~"As Nami's breathing became almost inaudible, Chopper stared blankly at the two vials in front of him. Dr. Indigo's laughter in his ears was so grating... "Chopper... don't rush, calm down, you are the best doctor." Zoro's voice cut in stiffly. He slowly bit his wado ichimonji, his heart full of surging anger, yet his tone seemed unusually gentle.Dr. Indigo turned his head to look, scratching his face with some annoyance: "You're really slow... This is my laboratory, my home ground. To barge in and interrupt my game like this, isn't a country bumpkin pirate like you a bit too impolite?" As he spoke, fireballs appeared in his hands, gathering together. A fireball, like a Spirit Bomb, was raised above his head and thrown towards Zoro."Chemical. Magic Grand Ball!""You should understand that a bumpkin has no manners, but if I'm a country bumpkin pirate, then what does that make you, who was defeated by me?"Zoro gripped sandai kitetsu and Shusui with both hands. His aura of Shura exploded, continuously rising. The Shura aura shot into the sky and then descended upon Zoro, gradually forming a three-headed, six-armed appearance."Shura. Nine-Sword Style. Asura. Demonic Slash!"Zoro charged straight towards the giant fireball, showing no intention of dodging. Dr. Indigo saw this scene, his lips curling into a smile, and he feigned a mournful cry: "Ah... what a pity~ To die before gaining fame..."His voice abruptly stopped. Zoro, who was charging towards the fireball, suddenly accelerated, disappearing directly from Dr. Indigo's sight. The sound of a sword being sheathed rang out behind Dr. Indigo, making him involuntarily turn his head.But while his head twisted, his body did not follow. His head, turned 180° to face behind him, looked exceptionally eerie. He wore an expression of disbelief, seemingly wanting to say something more, but no sound would ever emerge again.Dr. Indigo's body faced forward, his head faced backward, and he simply split apart.Dr. Indigo was killed, the killer Roronoa Zoro... Zorogently stepped over to Chopper, untying Nami from his back and carrying her on his shoulder. Without having to carry Nami anymore, Chopper's body immediately reverted from his strongman mode to its original form. His body leaned forward, about to fall to the ground. Zoro deftly caught him, looking at the green spots on both of them with some silence."Zo... Zoro, there should be another vial in that guy's pocket. I smell it. Take it out and feed it to Nami." Chopper weakly tried to prop himself up, but he couldn't. The daft green poison gas and Dr. Indigo's attacks had severely injured him.Zoro rummaged through Dr. Indigo's corpse and indeed pulled out a vial completely different from the one Dr. Indigo had just shown. Zoro poured the liquid into Nami's mouth, and the green spots visibly receded.In just a moment, Nami had slowly woken up. She was stunned for a moment when she saw Zoro, then said with a wry smile, "I didn't expect you to still be directionally challenged even in the afterlife, wandering around the entrance after dying so long ago... Where are the other guys? Have they reincarnated?"=͟͟͞͞(꒪⌓꒪*)Even if the environment was a bit gloomy now, and Zoro's Shura aura hadn't dissipated, possibly with a faint smell of blood, what normal person would think they could still reunite in the afterlife?Zoro's eye twitched slightly. He was dressed in a shirt and vest like a nobleman; there was no way he looked like someone lost in the afterlife. He opened his mouth and said, "...You're not dead yet."Nami, feeling a bit tired, was about to go back to sleep. Hearing this, she was startled, then suddenly opened her eyes, surveyed her surroundings, and then... tugged at Zoro's vest and roared, "These are the clothes I bought for you guys to wear to the Sabaody Archipelago auction! Why are you wearing this?!"...Has the crux of the matter gone a bit off track? Is this really the time to care about clothes? Zoro, did you forget to give the medicine to poor Chopper
Chapter 181 Devil's Wind Kick. Beast Meat Shoot"Yohohoho~ Yohohoho~ Yohohoho~" Brook laughed while waltzing, as if he were at a grand banquet, the most dashing man on the dance floor, drawing a dragon with his left hand and a rainbow with his right... Ah, no, gracefully stepping, all he needed was music.The only drawback was that Brook's dance partner was a heavily armored bull, and no matter how it charged, Brook elegantly dodged it. Many buildings and decorations were knocked down, but Brookhimself remained untouched.Heavy, angry breaths spewed from the bull's nostrils. It grew increasingly agitated, its size increasing by 10% after each failed charge.The Float-Float Fruit, mutated Masiras, crazy researchers, and a somewhat unreliable navigation team, plus all sorts of strange animals... It really felt like the Golden Lion Fleet could snatch the title of Kaido's Beasts Pirates."Yohohoho, I truly boarded an incredible ship~ I should be more diligent; slacking off too much isn't good," Brook murmured, stopping his dance. Seeing him stop, the bull, without thinking, shot forward like an arrow. This time... it crashed into Brook's afterimage, its body expanding once more, but this expansion wasn't as smooth... Brook sheathed his sword, touched his forehead with two fingers, waved his hand at the bull's back, and walked in the direction he sensed.The bull's body didn't expand. It felt a bit confused but didn't overthink it. Its thick hooves scraped the ground, and a puff of hot air from its nose, it charged at Brook again, but stopped abruptly after only two steps."Aubade. Dissection~"The bull's body instantly burst apart, every bone separating from its flesh, collapsing directly onto the ground. From above, it looked like a meticulously arranged platter by a discerning chef, every piece of meat perfectly cut for a bite, served on small plates formed by congealed blood. The skeletal Brookstrolled leisurely, with this grand dish laid out behind him, the entire scene appearing eerie yet harmonious... A gigantic butterfly floated above Robin, powder drifting down with every flap of its wings.Butterfree used Sleep Powder.Robin was almost asleep... Ah, no, what the heck, Butterfree... Robin frowned, holding her breath, but the powder still affected her when it landed on her body. Drowsiness constantly swept over her, her crossed hands trembling slightly, growing weaker.The beautiful butterfly gradually revealed its fangs, saliva dripping from its sharp teeth, burning small holes in the ground like sulfuric acid as it menacingly approached Robin.The strength of the animals living in Hiki Palace was indeed not to be underestimated... Robin could barely stand, but as the butterfly approached, there was no fear on her face. Instead, the corners of her mouth turned up, and her crossed hands clenched tightly."Trenta Fleur, Ganchos!"Two giant arms made of 30 hands grew from the butterfly's back. One of these giant arms cinched its lower jaw into a V-shape, while the other wrapped around its head and twisted with force.The butterfly's head was thus plucked off, disgusting green liquid flowing everywhere, spreading outwards.Robin, having used that move, collapsed to the ground, allowing the liquid to surge towards her. Just then, a large hand reached out and scooped Robin up, clutching her in its palm. Robinimmediately felt the "whoosh" of wind in her ears. She struggled to turn her head and saw that it was... the Masira that Sanji was fighting.Masira climbed to the top of a tall tower, mimicking King Kong by holding Robin aloft, while constantly beating its chest with its other hand. It definitely had some serious mental issues.━ Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||) ━Sanji chased after them, narrowing his eyes. Seeing Robin clutched in Masira's hand like a bubble tea, he immediately became enraged.Masira was also courting death. After beating its chest, its eyes became lecherous, and it puckered its lips towards Robin. This kiss... no one could endure it.Sanji's hair flew up, but his bangs were truly iron, not moving at all. He stood firm, spun, and his Diable Jambe immediately appeared on his legs. Then, with a fierce dash, his feet stomped onto the tower wall as if stepping into mud, leaving a trail of footprints. In the blink of an eye, Sanji appeared before Masira.The kiss, after all, couldn't be completed. Masiralooked at Sanji as if he were a monster. The guy who couldn't catch up to it before had now increased his speed by perhaps 10000%... What can I say, it was courting death; it couldn't blame anyone else. It could have died quickly but chose a more unpleasant death, even giving the enemy a "godlike" buff. Sanji in this state was someone even Meruemsaid he couldn't mess with... Sanji kicked Masira's wrist, and its wrist bone instantly turned to powder. Its hand definitely couldn't hold Robin anymore, and Robin flew down towards the base of the tower.This time, Sanji didn't immediately chase after her. Instead, his body spun sharply in mid-air, continuously kicking out fiery attacks while rotating. How could Masira withstand a buffed Sanji? The Armament Haki gathered on its chest shattered with just two or three blows, then its internal organs became mush. The scorching kicks even emitted the smell of roasted meat."Diable Jambe. Boeuf Burst!""Bang!" Sanji delivered a final, fierce kick to Masira's face, ending its life before it could commit any more sins, and then... (♡⌂♡)Sanji's expression became just like that lecherous Masira's, as he flew towards Robin, arms outstretched, his face filled with longing."Yohohoho~"The iconic laugh came, and Brook glided past Sanji, picking up Robin and leaping onto an adjacent rooftop.This moment fully demonstrated the impermanence of life, and the irony of fate... Although I don't know Robin's feelings, Sanji, who face-planted into the ground, undoubtedly met with an accident if there were no surprises. His head was buried in the dirt, motionless for a long time, the feeling of despair filling his heart... "Beautiful Miss Robin, are you alright?" Brook was relatively honest; after jumping onto the rooftop, he set Robin down, acting like a gentleman.Robin smiled sweetly: "I'm fine, thank you~""Then, if that's the case, may I see your panties~" It must be said that, from a certain perspective, Brookwas indeed a "gentleman."
Chapter 182 The sun rises and the moon shinesTsukuyomi's phantom shattered with a rumble, and a brilliant Moonlight surged into Meruem's body. He took a deep breath, slowly opened his eyes, his pupils as black as ink, with faint flashes of Moonlight."I'm exhausted! I want a raise!" Tsukuyomi's voice still sounded as annoying as ever. A raise? For Meruem, Tsukuyomi ate his food (so much junk food), lived in his mind (consciousness sea), and still wanted a salary? He was dreaming.Even capitalists would give a thumbs-up and shed tears... Meruem completely ignored him. He put on his suit, stretched comfortably, and twisted his neck, making crisp cracking sounds. It seemed he hadn't been on the verge of losing control, but rather had enjoyed a good, comfortable sleep."You damn thing, why aren't you answering me?"...Stop bickering. Luffy feels like that guy is going to beat him to death. After this is over, I'll come back and fight you for three hundred rounds."...Fencing?"...Get lost, you! What kind of weird stuff have you been watching in my head?Meruem's eye twitched. He hung kitetsu at his waist, pushed off the ground, and shot out like an arrow. He didn't miss a beat being a chatterbox while on the move, which was perfectly reasonable."...If you hadn't seen it, how would I have seen it?"...Let bygones be bygones. Life has already had enough storms. Back then, I was just young and ignorant, and almost went down the wrong path."Huh?! Elaborate! I didn't find this part."...Shut your damn mouth!Meruem's speed was still very fast. In a blink of an eye, he had already arrived at the wide plaza in front of Hiki Palace, where snowflakes danced freely in the air."Boom!"Luffy, steaming with heat, was slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The ground cracked where he landed. Shiki, floating in the sky, had blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but his sinister grin made him seem incredibly exhilarated."Chop!"Shiki swung his legs, and sword energy shot towards Luffy in the crater... "Clang!"Meruem appeared in mid-air. kitetsu and the sword energy collided with a roar. Then he did a somersault and landed on the ground, quietly asking, "Can you keep going?""Oh! It's just a tiny scratch..." Luffy, who had returned to his normal state, had steam rising from his body again. He climbed out of the ground's indentation, stretched, and stood next to Meruem... Although it's tense right now, I still want to say, what's wrong with your vitality, you bastard? Why can you still stand with all those injuries? Meruemglanced at Luffy. Although the bloodstains had been evaporated by the heat radiating from his skin, the dense network of scars was very noticeable. There was even a penetrating wound through his shoulder, yet Luffy acted as if these injuries didn't exist, which seemed incredibly absurd."...Then let's continue. Kill him and resume our voyage. We still need to find a way to awaken Merry."Luffy took a horse stance, one hand on his knee, the other fisted and pounding the ground: "Okay, let's hurry, Meruem, keep up with me.""Understood, Captain.""Gear Shift. Gear Second. Overload. Activate!""Amplification 300%. Demon Mode. Activate!"The temperature around Luffy grew even hotter, as if even the air was about to ignite. The spiraling steam even obscured his figure, and his heartbeat was so rapid it sounded like a violent drumbeat.Meruem, on the other hand, was completely different. He was covered in black mist, and an icy chill swirled around him. His eyes became narrow, his black hair turned white, and faintly visible beneath his white hair were demon horns growing out.One side was scorching hot, the other was chillingly cold, distinct yet blending together.Sonic booms accumulated, creating a massive roar, and both of them vanished from their spots simultaneously, turning into streaks of light as they charged towards Shiki.Shiki was shaken by their aura, and the smile on his face involuntarily stiffened, then became even more sinister: "Hurry, hurry to your deaths? Lion. Thousand Severing Valley!" As his words fell, his legs blurred in the air, and sword energy formed a dense net, sealing off all space."Breath of the Moon, Gloomy Moon. Chaotic Slash!"Meruem's figure appeared in mid-air. He sharply inhaled air into his lungs, but the exhaled air was an icy black mist. He held kitetsu in both hands at his waist, then began to swing it wildly. A spiral of crescent blade-shaped sword energy shot towards the large net of sword energy in the air. Exploding sounds rang out, tearing a large hole through it.Luffy squatted on the ground, then powerfully pushed off with both legs, shooting through the hole in the sword energy net like an arrow, his fists clenched tightly at his waist."Gum-Gum. Jet Gatling!"A barrage of punches like a downpour rained down on Shiki. He spread his arms, and a roaring lion's head formed from snowflakes charged forward, only to be instantly shattered. His body was immediately covered by the punches, and the immense impact sent him crashing towards the ground.As the dust cleared, Shiki casually wiped the blood from his lips with his thumb, then tore off his tattered clothes and threw them aside, revealing a muscular body covered in numerous scars."Very good... The last one to push me to this point was that old geezer Garp. You two truly have reason to be proud." As he spoke, Shiki extended one hand, pointing two fingers like a sword downwards. The ability he had imbued into the floating island instantly vanished, and it began to sink abruptly.Meruem landed on the ground, and feeling the tremor, his brow furrowed. He gripped kitetsu even tighter."Luffy! Meruem! The storm is coming soon!" Nami's shout came. Franky, with his pompadour drooping, was carrying her and Robin on his back, with Chopper hanging on his chest, heading towards Sunny.Sanji lit a cigarette, took a puff, and stood behind Meruem with a disgruntled expression, angrily saying, "I want to kick that guy too! I'm really annoyed right now..."Zoro unbuttoned his shirt, tugged at it, then bit wado ichimonji in his mouth: "We need to hurry and cut this guy down, otherwise dying by falling would be too lame...""Yohohoho~ Are those little guys from back then already this strong?" Brook completely ignored the furious Sanji, propping his cane-sword on the ground, a relaxed expression on his face."Hurry... hurry... hurry up... This island is about to fall." Usopp put on his Sogeking mask, but this time the effect was rather average, his trembling legs quite obvious.Luffy landed behind the others, hitting his fists together: "Everyone, give me one minute, then we'll return to the sea and continue our voyage...""Understood, Captain~" Everyone responded in unison, completely unafraid of the impending crisis.Of course, there was one exception... "U-u-understood... Just... just one minute, okay..."
Chapter 183 GapLuffy exhaled a hot breath, his violently pounding heart calmed down, and he slowly closed his eyes, settling into a horse stance with his fists on the ground.Shiki frowned. Having shed all his burdens, his aura surged. He floated into the sky, his hands forming claws and resting in front of him. Surging Armament Haki condensed in his hands, then he pressed them down fiercely."Lion's Might. Divine Might Earth Scroll!"The ground cracked, then a massive lion's head rose from the earth. It was completely covered in black light, its mouth wide open in a silent roar.Though soundless, its might was so intimidating... Even those on the Sunny far away could feel that heart-pounding power."Armament Haki, peak of the third stage... not quite fourth. These old guys are really strong..." Meruem, facing the brunt of this power, stood rooted to the spot as if nailed down. He touched the necklace on his chest, swung his kitetsu to the side, and softly said, "Clear a path forward for our Captain... Let's go."After speaking, he began to stride towards Shiki, gradually breaking into a run, then transforming into a streak of light, rocketing towards the sky."Seriously, don't steal my lines...""My heart can now burn anything!""Yohohoho~""Charge... Charge!"Three streaks of light followed Meruem... One was missing, and it was obvious who it was, though Usopp thinking he could turn into a streak of light... was quite a pipe dream.However, the awesome Usopp wasn't to be underestimated. He clenched his fists and heavily pounded his trembling legs. He really hit hard; it felt like his legs went numb, but it also made the trembling stop abruptly. Then he plunged his "Kabuto" into the ground, propped one leg on "Kabuto," pulled back his slingshot, and condensed his Observation Haki into a line connecting him and Shiki."Sure-Kill. Heavenly Dragon Star!"A giant dragon made of lightning roared towards Shiki. It arrived in front of him in an instant, moving faster than the others, but he merely tilted his head slightly to dodge it, saying with a mocking look, "Too slow..."The giant dragon flew towards the sky, disappearing into the dark clouds. The ink-black clouds were illuminated by lightning, and rumbling thunder began to sound."Boom!" The violent sonic boom even surpassed the sound of thunder. Meruem in the air shattered the air, accelerating once more. In the blink of an eye, Shiki and Meruem were at close quarters, a ferocious grin and a calm face confronting each other."Breath of the Moon. Iai. Shura."Time seemed to freeze at this moment. The gaze between the old and new generations erupted in intense sparks. The shift from extremely slow to extremely fast made one's heart feel a bit overwhelmed.The black lion's head abruptly inserted itself between the two, roaring towards Meruem. The swing of kitetsu, carrying Moonlight, collided with it. Black ripples began to riot, and even the clouds in the sky showed signs of being blown apart.The gap between the second and third stages was like a massive chasm. Even with Meruem's bug-like Devil Fruit ability, it was still difficult to withstand the impact of the black lion's head.With just one collision, Meruem was sent flying, smashing into the ground and sliding for a good distance. Thick smoke and dust obscured his figure.The black lion's head merely swayed slightly. Looking closely, the black light on its head was somewhat shattered, revealing the soil beneath, which was scattered by the strong wind."Demonic Aura. Nine-Sword Style. Asura. One Mist Silver!""Diable Jambe. Dragon Shot!"Zoro and Sanji's arrival was only a fraction of a second later. Flashing blade light and scorching flames enveloped the black lion's head. The black ripples in the air surged even more violently, densely covering what seemed to be the sky.The reverberating force from their hands and feet made Zoro and Sanji grit their teeth, then they both simultaneously attacked the damaged spot that Meruem had created."Bang!" The black lion's head cracked, then exploded with a roar. The two who delivered this blow were also directly sent flying by the recoil, following in Meruem's footsteps.Shiki's hand was covered in black light, and his two fingers, held like a sword, clamped Brook's silent attack. Without even looking at Brook, his gaze fell on Luffy, who looked almost asleep: "Why do guys from the East Blue always have such people following them?! What makes you worthy?!"As he spoke, he grabbed Brook's cane sword with his other hand and swung it down, then suddenly raised both hands. With his movement, a lion over a hundred meters long emerged from the ground, letting out a deafening roar, but he visibly weakened."Divine Might. Lion King!""Roar!"Meruem laboriously pulled himself out of the ground, patted himself off. He looked tattered like a beggar, and all his unusual features returned to normal. Blood streamed from the wounds in the rips of his clothes. He scratched his head, looking troubled at the giant lion: "Damn it... Is this thing really something Luffy can beat?""We have to believe in our Captain. Just endure this one more attack, and the rest is up to him." Zorospat out a mouthful of clotted blood and bit his wado ichimonji back into his mouth.Sanji, that guy, I don't know how strong his smoking addiction is. The first thing he did lying on the ground was put a cigarette in his mouth, light it, and take a deep drag before getting up and twisting his neck: "If that Luffy guy loses, I'll starve him for three meals..."...If he loses, he won't need to eat. And starving that guy for three meals won't bother him at all; make it three months. Meruem curled his lip, then looked towards Brook's torn hole and shouted: "Brook, can you still fight?""Yohohoho, I almost had my heart shattered by that attack, but... I don't have a heart that can be shattered, yo. Yohohoho~ If none of you have fallen, how could I fall~" Brook propped himself up and tidied his afro, but this was utterly pointless; his afro looked exactly the same as before, so why he bothered to tidy it was a mystery.Usopp, however, had no injuries. He stood trembling at the very back, shouting: "It's... it's done... Luffy."Hearing Usopp's voice, Luffy's eyes snapped open. The skin on his hands, which were on the ground, and on his legs surged violently. Steam shot out of his body like arrows, and the pounding of his heart in his chest turned into a violent drumbeat.Meruem and the other three exchanged glances. The three swordsmen simultaneously took a step, disappearing from their spots, while Sanji spun on one leg, an increasingly scorching aura gathering on his leg."Sanji!" Luffy's roar came."Received!" Sanji leaped into the sky, striking a kicking pose.Luffy appeared in front of him, trailing scorching steam."Diable Jambe. Skywalk Power Shoot!"
Chapter 184 Thunder AxeSanji shot Luffy out... that sounds a bit off.Sanji kicked Luffy out... that sounds even more off.Luffy crouched and landed on Sanji's foot. Steam and scorching fire merged together, and as Sanjikicked, the steam exploded like a booster, sending Luffy flying like a meteor towards the thunderous storm clouds.Shiki didn't know what Luffy intended to do, but he wouldn't let him succeed. With a flick of his finger, a Black Light Lion soared into the air, pouncing towards Luffy's figure."Yohohoho~ We can't let you disturb the Captain's performance, yo~" Brook, who was like an ant compared to the Black Light Lion, slowly drew his cane sword. He started by waving it slowly, then faster and faster. The slender cane sword was like a conductor's baton, and as he waved it, the whistling wind subtly formed a melody that reached everyone's ears."Nocturne. Aubade!"Blade light, like a musical score, appeared in front of the Black Light Lion, forming a wall that blocked its path to Luffy. Notes danced on the score, seemingly inviting it.The Black Light Lion had no reason to refuse; its speed didn't slow down in the slightest as it crashed directly into the musical score.Seeing that the opponent accepted the invitation, the notes were also very pleasantly surprised. They surged towards the Black Light Lion in unison. As they surged, the passionate notes gradually became cool and their speed increased.The Black Light Lion was battered by the rain of notes. The black ripples only erupted in small bursts, but the eruption covered almost its entire body.This move was also a huge drain on Brook. After the Black Light Lion crashed through the musical score, he also went weak at the knees, dropping to one knee, but he spread his arms and looked up at the Black Light Lion, laughing wildly: "It's Time!"Red killing intent and green demonic aura exploded behind him, surging into the sky. A red demonic phantom and a green Shura phantom appeared in front of the Black Light Lion, subtly confronting each other.Meruem's body surged with killing intent, spiraling upwards around him. He kept his eyes tightly shut, his brows furrowed, and the veins on his forehead looked very menacing. kitetsu hung gently on the ground, humming as it was washed by this killing aura, seemingly trembling with excitement.Zoro was enveloped in demonic aura, like a fiend from hell. The phantom of a three-headed, six-armed figure gradually solidified on his body. His eyes were fixed on the Black Light Lion, and the corners of his mouth curved into a mad grin. The more critical the moment, the more excited he became. His whole demeanor wasn't like facing a life-and-death struggle, but rather going to an appointment with a loved one."Demonic Aura. Nine-Sword Style. Asura. Demon Nine Flashes!""Breath of the Moon. Lunar Soul. Rotation!"Red, green, and black streams of light collided fiercely. The impact of the collision created a giant spherical vacuum space in the air. The ground that came into contact with this impact instantly shattered, and Meruem and Zoro at the center had their clothes torn to shreds. Blood splattered from their wounds would be disintegrated by the impact the moment it appeared, and veins bulged all over their bodies.Shiki gritted his teeth, muttering, "What a troublesome bunch of brats..." As he spoke, he raised his hand towards the Black Light Lion. The stalemate instantly tilted. The red and green streams of light were suppressed by the black stream of light, retreating steadily."Lethal. Atlas Comet!"That's why Usopp is the GOAT. At this moment, four special bullets bypassed the vacuum area created by the impact, circling behind Shiki as if they had a mind of their own, exploding on his back.The black stream of light immediately stopped, and the red and green streams of light slowly began to grow."Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"Meruem and Zoro roared simultaneously, blood gushing from their wounds. Their swords slowly converged on the Black Light Lion's brow, advancing inch by inch.Brook's earlier attack finally showed its effect at this moment. As Meruem and Zoro advanced, dense cracks appeared on the Black Light Lion's body.Meruem and Zoro passed each other, appearing behind the Black Light Lion. At this point, the Black Light Lion stopped, its mouth wide open as if to roar, but no sound came out. Its body exploded, turning into dust in the air, scattering and flying away with the strong wind."..." Shiki was silent, his cold gaze falling on Meruemand Zoro below. He lightly clapped his hands, then spoke, "Impressive... you can even block that move. I'll ask you again, are you willing to join my subordinates? I can let bygones be bygones."There was no response, because Meruem and Zoro, standing there, had already fallen unconscious. Their bodies swayed, then collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.Shiki pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and was about to speak when a loud shout came."Shiki!"Shiki looked up. Luffy was steaming with scorching heat, his right leg had grown to the size of a giant's, thrusting straight into the sky, with flashing lightning coiling around it."They are all my companions! You are not allowed to steal them!"At this moment, Shiki seemed to see that man with the handlebar mustache who always smiled, and for a moment he was in a daze. But it was only for an instant. He raised his hand and waved, the ground cracked open, and earth gathered in the air to form meteorites covered in black light, shooting towards Luffy in the sky."Lion's Might. Starfall!""Gum-Gum. Giant. Thunder Axe!"The lightning-flashing right leg collided with the meteorites, instantly crushing them into powder. Shiki raised his hand again, but a feeling of weakness immediately followed. His body swayed involuntarily. He stared blankly as the Thunder Axe came at him, muttering, "I'm old... Am I being stopped by a man from the East Blue again...?"With that, he gathered his last strength, condensing a lion's head covered in black light that lunged at the Thunder Axe... Black ripples exploded in the air, dividing heaven and earth into two. Ultimately, the black lion's head was still unable to resist, shattering with a crash, and the Thunder Axe struck Shiki's body.Bones shattered, and his internal organs also succumbed to the overwhelming force. In the last moments of his life, Shiki seemed to recall himself, years ago, bravely storming Marine Headquarters because of Roger's death. How spirited he was then, devouring the four seas like a lion. But in the years since escaping Impel Down, he seemed to have forgotten that powerful, almost unrivaled self."What a pity..." The murmur mixed with blood. Shiki... fell in battle.After unleashing that attack, Luffy also immediately rolled his eyes, being propelled back and forth in the air by the air spewing from his mouth.Luffy, Meruem, Zoro, Chopper, Nami... severely wounded.Sanji, Brook, Franky, Usopp... lightly wounded.Merry... fate unknown.Golden Lion Fleet... annihilated.Straw Hat Pirates vs Golden Lion Fleet.Straw Hat Pirates... a tragic victory!