Chapter 366 - 205

Chapter 205 RED (12): When nika Descends!"Ugh—!"Uta trembled violently within the dark cocoon, her delicate body curled up like a fallen leaf in the wind.Countless pitch-black musical notes, like living maggots, spawned from the void, coiling and greedily gnawing at her skin, even attempting to burrow into the depths of her soul.Every breath she took brought a tearing pain.This erosive power suddenly became incredibly violent after Totem Gika's physical body in the real world was heavily damaged by Law's [Pulse Severing: Thread of Fate].Like a wounded beast, it channeled all its anger, pain, and resentment through a mystical connection, pouring it doubly into Uta, its 'Core Anchor.'It was accelerating. What might have originally required time to slowly erode and assimilate was now being forcibly stained regardless of the cost.Totem Gika's chaotic will roared and churned in the depths of the darkness.These ants actually dared, actually managed to wound It!But that changed nothing... Right now, It indeed hadn't completely devoured and fused Uta's song and soul, and had yet to reach its true 'Complete Form.'But so what?As long as It could completely control this human girl at this very moment, its power would instantly undergo a qualitative change.When that happened, the barrier between reality and the Uta World would be completely shattered, the power of two dimensions would converge into one, and these annoying ants before It, along with this world that was about to be completed, would all turn into dust that could be extinguished at will within Its eternal melody!The darkness surged more violently over Uta's ankles, waist, and neck... like a rising tide of icy seawater, intent on completely swallowing the last bits of light and self-awareness.The calm red glow in Luffy's eyes suddenly became incredibly sharp.He'saw' it... not just the churning black mist, but the 'thread' connecting Uta's soul to the Song Demon King's origin, which was about to be completely blackened."There's no time left..."His low whisper was drowned out by the violent singing.In the next second, he was no longer a ubiquitous silver phantom.Thump!A dull sound, like the beating heart of the world, exploded. Where Luffy had originally stood, space was kicked into a massive depression like rubber.He himself transformed into a blazing silver-white comet. It was no longer a flickering teleportation, but a pure, savage, and straight-line collision toward the dark cocoon enveloping Uta!"Get—AWAY!!!"Along his path, countless Demonic Soldiers and tentacles were like porcelain struck by an invisible giant hammer, disintegrating into a sky full of black mist the moment they touched that silver-white force field.The eerie singing condensed into physical sonic shackles, trying to entwine and delay him, but they were shattered by the absolute domain generated by his extreme speed and Haki friction before they could even get close.Silver Conqueror's Haki lightning occupied the entire Uta World!The silver-white comet that was Luffy's incarnation slammed heavily into the outer wall of the dark cocoon!BOOM——————!!!An indescribable roar erupted.It was the wail of the spatial structure being squeezed and torn by immense force.Countless spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surface of the dark cocoon, and from within those cracks burst a light of dazzling silver-white and ominous pitch-black intertwined.Inside the cocoon, Uta, who was submerged in darkness up to her nose and mouth, felt her whole body shudder violently.In the boundless cold and despair, a voice carrying a familiar, unreasonable heat, like the first ray of dawn, chiseled its way in fiercely."...Luf...fy...?"Her parched soul trembled slightly.Luffy's appearance had completely changed, no longer in his usual form.His originally pitch-black short hair had now entirely turned into a blazing, burning pure white, standing up like leaping sacred flames, every strand of hair seemingly containing light and heat.Most eye-catching were the white flame clouds flowing and coiling around his body.That was the manifestation of his awakened power, like the ribbons of gods in myths, or the auspicious clouds at the beginning of the world, surrounding him lightly yet majestically.The flame clouds ebbed and flowed slightly with his breathing and heartbeat. With every rotation, the surrounding distorted space emitted an overburdened hum.His bare upper body, with muscle lines set off by the white flame clouds, was filled with a primitive and perfect sense of power.Silver-white light seemed to surge beneath his skin; it was the nika power liberated to the extreme, the shadow cast upon this world by the laughing Sun God.However, the most heart-shaking thing was not this majestic posture as if a deity had descended to the world.It was the smile on his face.As always, his mouth was wide open, revealing neat teeth.But at this moment, this smile contained an unspeakable infectiousness that could dispel all gloom.It wasn't a mockery of the enemy, but the purest, most fiery celebration of 'freedom' and 'possibility.'That smile seemed to silently declare: no matter how deep the darkness, it cannot imprison the right of life to laugh and run!White flames like clouds, the deity's laughter.Outside the cocoon, the muscles on Luffy's arms bulged. The awakened power of the Gum-Gum Fruit, mixed with the highest level of Conqueror's Haki, death-gripped the constantly writhing and repairing darkness.He grinned, and even though his strength was being consumed frantically, his smile remained dazzling:"Ah! I said—""I'm taking you back!!!"As the words fell, the silver-white light around him expanded again like a supernova explosion!"Uta—!! Give me your hand!!!"That call, carrying sunlight-like intensity and unquestionable determination, was like a sharp sword piercing through the last viscous curtain of darkness.A large hand, entwined with sacred flame clouds and silver-white Haki, forcefully broke through the chaotic energy flow and accurately, without hesitation, grabbed Uta's slender, pale wrist.At the moment of contact—"Hah!"Uta's whole body shook violently. An indescribable, warm power filled with vibrant life, like the purest stream of sunlight,surged through Luffy's palm into her nearly frozen limbs and bones, reaching the depths of her soul.It was the laughing divine power of 'nika.'This power didn't domineeringly expel; instead, like a cheerful drumbeat or the morning light of dawn, it illuminated the cold ravines gnawed by dark notes in her heart in a way that was almost an 'awakening.'Before this pure joy of life and free will, the entrenched shadows were like thin frost meeting a scorching sun, letting out silent screams as they rapidly melted away."Luffy...!"She was pulled forcefully by him, her entire person breaking free from the shattered dark cocoon and falling into a solid, warm embrace that seemed capable of withstanding all the storms in the world.Luffy's arms were like the most reliable rampart, holding her firmly against his chest. The white flame clouds around him automatically coiled, forming a barrier that isolated all chaos and malice from the outside world.Uta looked up.Her beautiful and moving face was exceptionally pale now, a sign of weakness after her soul had suffered so much erosion. Fine beads of sweat and lingering dark aura hung from her temples.However, upon this paleness, a crystal clear and incredibly real smile bloomed.That smile dispelled all the painful gloom between her brows, like the first flower after the rain.Crystal-like tears quickly gathered in her amethyst eyes, and her moist pupils stared intently and unblinkingly at the face so close to her own.The burning white hair, the curved cloud-pattern eyebrows, and especially those eyes filled with endless vitality and laughter.At this moment, in her eyes, the Luffy who had pulled her back to the human world from the abyss of the eternal dark melody... was no longer just the clumsy childhood playmate who clamored about becoming the Pirate King, no longer just the idiot who always wore a bright smile.He was flowing with divine flame clouds, radiating a warm glow that dispelled despair, and carrying the laughing power that broke all bonds.He was like a deity descending to the world, coming specifically for her.Tears finally fell, unable to carry the overflowing gratitude, trust, and an even deeper emotion.Yet she smiled even more brilliantly, and with force, she gripped back the hand that had saved her even tighter."Mm!" She nodded with a sob, yet with incredible strength.With him here, there was nothing to be afraid of anymore.———————————Meanwhile, in reality!"Ants... you... have angered me..."It was no longer a roar, but a cold, slimy whisper that echoed directly in everyone's soul.The black mist permeating heaven and earth rolled back frantically, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, pouring into Its wounds and body.However, whether it was Rayleigh, Law, Sanji, or Yamato, they all saw it—The Song Demon King's power was weakening!!"This kind of commotion..." Cold sweat broke out on Law's forehead, but his eyes were frighteningly bright,"The Captain is... making a big move!""Then we definitely can't fall behind!" Yamato's sharp cry rang out.Sanji's figure solidified within the lightning. He took a deep drag of his cigarette, and the spark brightened suddenly:"It seems the final 'main course' is being served early.""It's now—let's go!!"Rayleigh's low growl was like the tolling of an ancient bell, instantly drowning out all the noise on the battlefield.His long sword, which had never been fully unsheathed, was finally being slowly nudged out by an inch by his vigorous and powerful hand.Just one inch.Hum—An indescribable, supreme aura, like a volcano that had slept for a thousand years suddenly awakening, burst forth abundantly from that slightly exposed blade!The surrounding space seemed unable to bear the weight of this aura, emitting slight wails.Even Totem Gika's frantically counterattacking darkness showed a moment of stagnation and... instinctive shrinking before this sword that was not yet fully unsheathed.Rayleigh's tightly closed eyes snapped open.There was no longer the usual gentleness or hint of drunkenness in his eyes; only an absolute clarity that pierced through reality and a resoluteness that could cut through anything remained.His presence merged with the aura of the sword; the man was the sword, and the sword was the law of'severing.'Every inch this legendary sword was drawn, it had to carry a portion of the world's weight.And now, to seize this fleeting opportunity, the Dark King Rayleigh was finally going to let it show its true edge that could slice open an era."This strike,"His voice sounded like the clashing of metal as he locked onto the charging Demon King!"—shall settle the karma!"The decisive battle between reality and illusion, at this moment, entered the final countdown on both fronts simultaneously!