Chapter 472: Past Story
"It's not catching up anymore..."
Miss Ain looked back.
The colossus that had just shadowed them relentlessly, pushing them to death's edge countless times, casting thick shadows over everyone's hearts, had now disappeared at the sky's horizon.
Teacher Zephyr also breathed a long sigh of relief.
It was finally over.
"Brett."
He turned to look at Brett rushing forward. "Slow down. It's not catching up anymore."
Brett didn't react at first.
"Brett?"
Teacher Zephyr couldn't help calling him again.
"Oh..."
Only then did Brett's body tremble as he came back to himself.
He'd put all his attention on observing surroundings and escaping. He hadn't even had time to pay attention to other things, almost entering a completely obsessive state.
"Phew..."
Brett slowed down, releasing more clouds, almost constructing a cloud platform, supporting everyone. "So can we finally breathe easy now?"
"Looking at it now, that should be correct."
Tyrant Kuma sat on the clouds. He slowly pulled out half-burned gloves and put them on. "But don't completely let your guard down."
"Ara ara..."
Aokiji had completely collapsed on the clouds. His hands spread out, his entire person forming a large character shape. "Thought I was definitely dead so many times before. Didn't expect to actually survive in the end."
"However."
Brett also sat on the clouds. He stretched his two long legs out far, hands supporting behind him, tilting his head to gaze at the sky. "It's finally over."
"Finally, over?"
Ain's colleague, a man named Binz, couldn't help pressing his hands over his eyes. His shoulders kept shaking. "Finally, over..."
Finally escaped death's shadow. Finally embraced this vast sky again.
Finally didn't have to die like this. Finally could walk toward the future.
But what was the price?
Brett turned to look.
Those still alive now probably didn't even reach a hundred people. Among them, quite a few were Fish-Man Navy.
And almost everyone was injured. Many were still struggling on death's edge.
He fell silent briefly.
Almost all were people he'd never met. They weren't even his compatriots.
But at this moment, he still felt somewhat desolate.
Probably because he'd truly fought for them just now.
Brett sighed lightly.
This world was truly cruel.
"Don't cry! Binz!"
At this time, Teacher Zephyr suddenly spoke loudly. "Crying now is meaningless. Remember this hatred! Someday we'll collect it from the World Government!"
"...Yes!"
The man named Binz straightened his body, wiped his tears, and solemnly saluted.
"Oh, truly moving determination."
Aokiji said lazily. "But if that thing truly is a weapon the World Government controls as you said, then fighting the Government again means being enemies with that thing again, right?"
"It was expected all along."
Teacher Zephyr turned back, looking down at his lazy disciple, saying in a deep voice. "This time we were just forced to fight it early because our location was accidentally leaked."
"So, what exactly is that thing?"
Akainu, who'd remained silent since earlier, finally spoke.
"That's the world's most classified information."
Ain glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "We have no need to reveal it to you!"
After all, the time of being in the same boat had passed.
Now both sides had returned to an adversarial state.
Ain completely didn't trust these two senior predecessors.
"Makes sense."
Akainu snorted coldly. He shakily stood up. His arms already began transforming toward magma form again. "Then let's have a good chat about this period of imprisonment."
"Ara ara."
Aokiji looked at this tense scene and helplessly shook his head. He simply closed his eyes and lay lazily on the clouds, not wanting to move.
"Still want to fight?"
Brett twisted his neck, making crackling sounds. He said calmly. "Though I'm quite tired now, if you're still in the mood, Akainu, I can play with you."
"...Brett!"
Akainu's gaze toward Brett was full of wariness.
He naturally wouldn't forget how he was locked in NEO Navy's prison.
This man's strength was beyond question!
But now when everyone bore serious injuries, he looked like he had no wounds, or rather, injuries left earlier had mostly recovered.
This man might not be at full strength now, but at least approached his peak period.
Fighting him probably had no chance of victory.
However...
"Bring it on!"
Akainu's arms had completely turned to magma.
Can't win?
Completely incomprehensible.
It wasn't a question of whether he could win. He absolutely couldn't submit to this man!
"I see."
Brett nodded. "Then I'll satisfy you."
Just the right chance to vent the fury accumulated earlier.
Brett stood up.
"Wait!"
However, at this moment, Teacher Zephyr suddenly spoke. He said in a deep voice. "If you want to fight, you can do it later. Let's talk first now."
"What's there to talk about now?" Akainu snorted coldly.
Brett helplessly shook his head. He'd already heard what Zephyr wanted to say, so he simply sat back down.
"Just like I've said many times before, Sakazuki, Kuzan."
Teacher Zephyr spoke solemnly. "Join us. Fight with us together. Help us overthrow the World Government."
"What kind of joke is that?!"
Akainu didn't even hesitate, directly refuting loudly.
"Shut up, Sakazuki!"
However, at this moment, Aokiji suddenly sat up. He loudly rebuked Akainu. "Might as well listen."
"Honestly, I feel very confused inside now. I have countless questions but can't get answers."
Aokiji raised his right hand, grabbing his hair. Though his hair had already been burned away in the earlier chain explosions.
He looked up at Zephyr, seriously asking. "This is the second time I've felt this world seems somewhat unreal. Teacher Zephyr, can you answer my questions?"
Akainu fell silent.
Brett could hear it. This man hard and cold as steel was also somewhat confused in his heart now.
"Then let's talk."
Brett said. "About what happened eight hundred years ago. That story from the past."
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