Chapter 349 - 188

Chapter 188: When the Empress's Candlelight Dinner Collides with an Apocalyptic Duel?!The battle raged from the scorching high noon until the stars hung low in the night sky. The entire island, along with the surrounding seas, had thoroughly become a forbidden zone for life. The sky was painted a chaotic purple-black by the torn clouds and the lingering vortex of Haki; the land was scarred and desolate, with lava flowing slowly through bottomless ravines; the sea raged with incessant waves, as if wailing for this earth-shattering battle."Bang—!!!" A muffled sound, unlike any of the previous roars, exploded!Rayleigh's figure was like a burning meteorite, driven fiercely into the earth by a top-down, condensed-to-the-extreme heavy punch!The scorched, shattered ground instantly collapsed and crystallized, forming a giant radial crater, with dust and rubble swept up hundreds of meters into the air by the shockwave.At the center of the crater, Rayleigh knelt on one knee, using his sword to support himself.A mouthful of boiling blood could finally no longer be suppressed, spilling from the corner of his mouth and dripping onto the hot rocks with a "hiss."Every bone in his body was groaning under the unbearable burden, and his nose and mouth were filled with the salty, metallic taste of rust.However— "Ha... Hahahaha!!!"The laughter—a low yet incredibly exhilarating laugh—emanated from the bottom of the crater.This pain, this blood, this ultimate pressure of walking on the edge of life and death... far from extinguishing his fighting spirit, it was like a ladle of boiling oil poured onto the heart-fire that had been silent for decades!The adventurous blood and thrill of challenging the world alongside Roger and sailing unknown seas decades ago suddenly surged back to life at this moment!He lifted his head, his blood-stained gaze piercing through the smoke and dust, firmly locking onto that fluttering straw hat high in the air.Pride—an indescribable, surging pride—instantly overcame all pain.—Look, Roger, this is the new era we looked forward to!—This is the most unruly sun that has inherited our will!"Hum—!" With him at the center, a Haoshoku, far more violent and unruly than before, soared into the sky!The dark red lightning was no longer just coiling; it was like living thunder-snakes, frantically licking and gnawing at the surrounding air and earth.His blood-stained hand slowly closed its five fingers, gripping the sword hilt once again.That was not a simple grip.With that grasp, his lifelong understanding of the sword, his experience in slaughter, and his kingly will were all poured into it.Meanwhile, high in the sky.Luffy hovered between the stars, moon, and vortexes. The edges of the straw hat on his head were scorched, yet it still sat firmly in place.His black hair flew wildly in the violent airflow, his clothes were tattered, and the congealed blood looked like dark red war markings.He looked down, his eyes devoid of any pity or hesitation, filled only with excitement and recognition burning to the extreme.His right fist was clenched tight, the black and red Haki coiled around it writhing and roaring like a living creature.Every full-force clash with a legendary figure like Rayleigh was like adding the highest quality firewood to this flame of Haki.It absorbed nutrients and digested power during the confrontation, becoming more solid and terrifying at a rate visible to the naked eye.He could feel that the "voice" in his fist was growing stronger."Come!!!" No extra words; a burst of laughter was the loudest battle cry.The next instant— "Whoosh!!!"The crimson "sword intent" below and the pitch-black "fist power" above moved simultaneously!One charged against the firmament, the other struck the earth.The two figures, amidst the collapsing heaven and earth, transformed once again into meteors tearing through the night, carrying all their power, will, and legacy, colliding fiercely!This clash would have no more probing, only an ultimate—final showdown that exceeded all limits!The night was deep, but inside the highest palace of Amazon Lily, it was brightly lit, as if it were broad daylight.On the magnificent long table, the carefully prepared feast had long since lost its steaming heat, sitting quietly under the candlelight like forgotten offerings.In the empty silence of the palace, two stunningly beautiful figures formed a stark contrast."Hancock, when exactly is Luffy coming back!" Yamato's voice broke the silence.She wore a long white kimono, but at this moment she had no dignified posture, wielding chopsticks and "waging war" on the food in front of her. Her cheeks were stuffed full, looking just like an annoyed and gluttonous snow wolf.As she chewed, she complained indistinctly: "If he doesn't come back soon, all these delicious things are going into my stomach! He'd better not regret it later!"At the other end of the long table, Boa Hancockrested her chin on her hand, her waterfall-like black hair scattered somewhat messily across the smooth tabletop.That face, hailed as the "most beautiful woman in the world," added a touch of the languor and charm unique to a mature woman under the candlelight, though at this moment, her brows were shrouded in an impenetrable layer of annoyance and confusion.She sighed softly, her voice carrying a resentment she herself hadn't noticed: "I have already sent the Kuja warriors to scout the nearby seas... let's wait a little longer.""Oh? Is that so!" Hearing this, Yamato's movements paused, as if reminded of something. She hurriedly put down her chopsticks and wiped the corners of her mouth in a guilty attempt to cover it up.After all, if Luffy came back and saw she had eaten his share too, it would be somewhat childish and improper.Her attention then shifted entirely to Hancock. Her red eyes blinked curiously, and she suddenly let out a sincere exclamation: "Huh?! I just realized, Hancock, you've become... you seem even more dazzling lately?""I can't quite put my finger on it, it's just like you're glowing all over! What on earth is going on?"This remark was like a stone cast into a still lake.Hancock froze abruptly, her hand supporting her cheek slipping slightly.Immediately, as if an invisible flame had "whooshed" from her neck to the tips of her ears, her entire stunning face was instantly dyed a moving crimson, so hot it seemed almost to steam.Her eyes drifted uncontrollably, instantly losing the Empress's majesty, becoming hazy and moist, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curled into a shy and sweet arc.It was as if her soul had drifted to some sweet corner filled with private memories, known only to her and that person, completely immersed in her own world."Huh...?" Yamato watched her, this appearance so completely different from her usual arrogant image, and couldn't help but be stunned, letting out an unconscious exclamation."Brrr— Brrr—!" The den den mushi at the corner of the table, decorated with a small crown, suddenly began to vibrate violently.The sound was exceptionally harsh in the silent palace, and it instantly dragged Hancock out of that pink, hazy fantasy.Almost subconsciously, with a movement that could be called swift, she grabbed the receiver. The previous languor and shyness were instantly replaced by the Empress's majesty and unconscious urgency, and her question went straight to the core: "Is this the forward reconnaissance team? Have you found Luffy?!""Boom—!!!" The answer to her was not a clear report from her subordinate, but a muffled yet incredibly piercing, massive roar, mixed with shrieks that seemed to tear the air and the frantic roaring of waves, vividly simulated through the den den mushi, causing the receiver to tremble slightly.Hancock's beautiful brows instantly furrowed, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force.It didn't sound like an ordinary battle; it was more like... the prelude to a natural disaster.A sense of foreboding gripped her heart, and her voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an unquestionable pressure: "What on earth has happened? Report immediately!"From the other side of the den den mushi came rapid and heavy panting; clearly, the signal source was in an extremely unstable state.The loyal Kuja warrior's voice trembled, filled with unbelievable horror, her sentences even becoming fragmented: "Re... Report, Empress! We... we have found Luffy! He... he is in the area of an unnamed deserted island about one hundred nautical miles northeast of Kuja City... bu, but..."The female warrior seemed to need great courage to describe the scene before her. She took a deep breath and shouted what she had seen with her own eyes in a voice bordering on a scream: "Luffy is currently fighting... fighting against 'Pluton' Silvers Rayleigh!!!"The scene shifts to the turbulent far sea—the Kuja reconnaissance ship was like a leaf amidst the mountain-like, surging giant waves, struggling to maintain balance, as if it would be swallowed by the next wave at any moment.At the bow, the Kuja warrior responsible for communication gripped the railing tightly with one hand, the other clutching the den den mushi, her face pale as paper, her pupils shrunk to pinpoints due to extreme fear and shock.At the end of her gaze, the island that should have existed was now unrecognizable.In its place was a domain of destruction completely shrouded by a purple-black Haki vortex, intertwined crimson and dark lightning, and dust and waves shooting into the sky.Even from such a distance, the residual waves of that destructive energy turned into gale-force winds that made her barely able to stand, and the sea surface was filled with an abnormal smell of ionized burning.The sky was torn, the sea was boiling, the land... perhaps it no longer existed.That was not a battle between humans; it was a clash of demon gods only seen in myths, a disaster scene capable of rewriting sea charts!"The whole world... is being shattered..." She murmured unconsciously, her voice drowned out by another terrifying roar transmitted through the den den mushi, as if the foundations of the world were cracking."Rayleigh?!" Hancock's fingers gripping the receiver tightened abruptly, her knuckles turning bluish-white.On her stunning face, the blush born from sweet memories faded rapidly, replaced by a gloom and anger as if a storm were approaching.The apocalyptic roar coming from the other side of the den den mushi now seemed to her ears to have all turned into the triumphant, wild laughter of some old geezer."So—," her voice suddenly rose, every word seemingly ground out from between her pearly teeth, carrying the chill of icicles and irrepressible fury, "the reason Luffy couldn't come back on time to have 'candlelight dinner' with me is all because that old geezer who doesn't act his age is causing trouble?!""Hiss—!" Yamato, standing to the side, clearly felt a substantial black aura diffusing from Hancock, causing her to instinctively gasp, her neck shrinking back involuntarily.At this moment, where was the slightest trace of the shy, blushing Hancock who had just been immersed in memories?What burned in those stunning eyes that could turn the world upside down was clearly a raging inferno after her reverse scale had been touched!Yamato's heart skipped a beat: Hancock like this was even more terrifying than Kaido when he was angry at Onigashima!Under her fearful gaze, Hancock straightened up with a "whoosh." Her purple high-heeled sandals, inlaid with gems, stepped on the smooth floor, emitting a crisp and rapid "clack-clack" sound, like the beating of war drums.She didn't even have the heart to tidy up her slightly messy skirt and long hair, her whole body radiating a biting aura like a queen going on an expedition, as she walked straight toward the palace gate.Passing the dining table, she didn't stop, grabbing the wrist of the still-dazed Yamato.The force was not light, carrying an irresistible determination."Stop eating!" Hancock didn't look back, her voice wrapped in tsunami-like fury and a trace of grievance at having her precious time "stolen," "Come with me!""Eh? Eh—?! Wait! Hancock! My red bean soup with mochi hasn't..." Yamato was yanked into a stumble, her face full of confusion and innocence, her eyes revealing a clear, foolish lack of understanding of the situation.But the force on her wrist and the terrifying aura radiating from Hancock's back made her instantly swallow the second half of her protest.She could only pout aggrievedly, like a large dog being forcibly dragged away by a giant beast, glancing back longingly at the remaining food on the table while stumbling to keep up with Hancock's murderous pace.The palace doors were pushed open forcefully by Hancock; the night wind rushed in, blowing her night-like hair, but it could not blow away the determination in her eyes as she rushed toward the "battlefield."