Chapter 334 - 173

Chapter 174: Blade Slashes the Vault of Heaven, Love Warms the Hearth Fire!The battlefield on the other side was suddenly enveloped in solidified killing intent.Clang!!The sharp ringing of metal piercing the clouds,Two figures intersected like lightning, their afterimages dragging translucent arcs in the air, blurring the line between reality and illusion.The cold gleam of the Silver Sword and the demonic nature of kikoku crashed violently mid-air.The sparks that erupted in that instant fell like a meteor shower, sizzling and smoking on the scorched earth.Bang!!A more violent wave of air followed immediately!The sword energy wrapped around Rayleigh's blade swept forth like an invisible tsunami, intertwining with the condensed sword energy that was struck out, forming a destructive storm.Law felt an overwhelming, irresistible force slam through the hilt into his entire body, making his bones groan under the unbearable pressure.His pupils contracted sharply, and he was flung away by this unstoppable impact.—His figure slammed into a distant rock wall like a kite with a broken string, shattering several towering ancient trees along the way, exploding into a massive indentation amidst the flying dust..."Hoo—"Heavy gasps mixed with the smell of blood escaped the corner of Law's lips as he knelt on one knee.The blade of kikoku was plunged deep into the scorched earth, barely supporting his tottering body.His left hand pressed tightly against the wound on his chest, but warm blood gushed out like a torrent breaking through a dam.It poured frantically through his fingers, instantly soaking his black combat attire and spreading into a blinding patch of dark red beneath him.His gaze pierced through the pervasive smoke and locked firmly onto the figure opposite him.It was a white-haired old man holding a sword in his right hand. Un-dried drops of blood slowly dripped from the sharp edge of the blade.The "drip-drip" sound was exceptionally clear in the silent battlefield;In his left hand, he held a wine gourd, tilted so that the amber liquid flowed freely down his throat, a look of relaxed contentment hanging on his lips.It was as if the thrilling battle just moments ago was merely a satisfying diversion.Law's pupils suddenly constricted. His right hand gripping the hilt tightened involuntarily, making his knuckles turn white.The old man before him was clearly in his twilight years, yet an unfathomable sense of oppression surrounded him.It was the absolute confidence solidified through countless life-and-death struggles, awe-inspiring like a towering mountain, yet holding world-destroying power like the deep sea.Even though he exhausted all his strength, utilizing all the secrets of ROOM and Armament Haki, he failed to leave the slightest mark on the opponent."As expected of Silvers Rayleigh, the [Dark King]..."Law's voice trembled from his injuries, concealing an unspeakable shock."Even giving my all, I couldn't move him even an inch!"Watching Rayleigh still leisurely drinking, a wave of fear washed over Law.If this encounter hadn't been instruction, but a life-or-death duel,with Rayleigh's unfathomable strength,he would have likely died a thousand times over, without even a chance to fight back!Thinking of this, Law suppressed the sharp pain in his chest, and the gravity in his eyes deepened.yet a trace of burning fighting spirit quietly ignited within him.—Receiving guidance from such a legendary figure was the perfect opportunity to break through his own limits."Mr. Rayleigh, please!!"Law no longer hesitated. His left hand clenched as if grasping thunder, his muscles bulging as he squeezed out his last ounce of stamina.His voice trembled slightly from the extreme exertion, yet carried the determination of burning his bridges:"ROOM!!"The azure Surgical Field overturned like the vault of heaven, instantly enveloping most of the island; even light twisted and refracted at this moment.The long blade of kikoku hummed with a spectral blue cold light, and Law's figure transformed into an afterimage.The blade, wrapped in awakened Armament Haki, stabbed towards Rayleigh like a falling meteor!"Haha, such guts!"Rayleigh's mouth curved into an approving arc, but the initial casualness in his eyes had faded, replaced by genuine seriousness.Initially, he had indeed agreed to offer guidance out of respect for Luffy.But as the exchange deepened, the young man's inherent qualities had already won him over.—The unyielding perseverance in desperate situations, the humble character despite possessing superb skills, and the effortless wisdom during combat... But what moved him most was the unfathomable potential.From the moment Law awakened his Dual-Color Haki in Wano Country, Rayleigh had already asserted:This young man naturally possesses the "Aura of an Admiral"!That was a peak realm that countless Marines and pirates could never reach in their lifetime.For a once-in-a-century prodigy like him, it was only a matter of time!"Clang—!!"The massive clang of metal reverberated through the sky as two brilliant sword energies violently collided.transforming into a massive energy surge that swept across the land,tearing spiderweb-like cracks across the ground of the entire small island, as fierce winds wrapped in blade-like air currents raged towards the distant ocean!...Meanwhile, the sunlight of Amazon Lily was streaming over the coral reefs of Amazon Lily.In the warm sea breeze, a cheerfulness more exciting than the scent of flowers drifted about."Hey, hey! Did you guys hear? Empress-sama has plunged into the kitchen again!!"A female warrior with a Snake-Patterned Hair Bun gripped a spear, her voice filled with irrepressible surprise, causing her companions to gather around."What's so strange about that~"Another girl wearing Scale Armor waved her hand dismissively, but the light of gossip couldn't be hidden from her eyes."Since Luffy-sama last visited the island, Empress-sama has practiced cooking more times than we've practiced training!"As soon as she finished speaking, a careful clattering sound came from the direction of the kitchen.Peering through the carved window lattice,Hancock, who was usually graceful, luxurious, and possessed the aura of a queen even when walking,was currently wearing a slightly awkward plain apron, holding a kitchen knife between her fingers, hesitating to bring it down onto the steak on the cutting board.Her brow was slightly furrowed, delicate beads of sweat dotted her nose, and her mind repeatedly replayed the image of Luffy gobbling down food:"Luffy-sama said he likes big, chewy pieces..."But the moment the knife came down, she failed to control the force, and the steak was chopped into pieces.The Empress's cheeks instantly flushed red. She quickly wiped the sweat with her sleeve, showing no sign of discouragement.Turning around, she took out a fresh steak from the bamboo basket, deliberately slowing her movements this time.Her fingertips gently pressed the surface of the meat to feel the texture; even her pinky was tightly strained, taking the task as seriously as an important battle.The female warriors outside the window secretly watched the scene, covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.Yet, they couldn't help but feel soft-hearted towards their queen's dedication.It turned out that even the most powerful Empresswould become this clumsy and adorable when faced with the person she loved."Hey, Hancock, do you want me to help?"Not far away, Yamato, holding a juice jug, watched Hancock's slightly flustered appearance, her eyes suddenly lighting up. She rolled up her sleeves and headed toward the kitchen.In truth, she didn't know how to cook at all, and initially felt a bit shy, but seeing Hancock's equally clumsy demeanor, her courage immediately soared."Absolutely not! Luffy's dinner must be prepared by me personally!!"Hancock immediately raised her hand to refuse, her tone carrying an undeniable authority.Don't be ridiculous. Allowing Yamato onto Amazon Lily was already her maximum tolerance.Now this woman wants to compete with her to cook for Luffy and "fight for favor"?—Over my dead body!"But Luffy eats a super huge amount! You definitely can't handle it alone!!"Yamato completely ignored the warning, squeezed through the doorway, grabbed the plain white apron, and tied it on.Her silver long hair fluttered with her movements, and when she spoke of Luffy, her red eyes were filled with unconcealed brightness.Hancock looked at the fervor in her eyes, then glanced at the freely flying silver hair, and fell silent for a moment.Invisible sparks seemed to collide in the air. Two people who loved Luffy equally deeply,had now formed a strange and tense confrontation for the same goal.