Chapter 374 - 213

Chapter 213: The straw hat's Return Overture!Inside the dim hall of the ancient castle, the damp air was filled with the scent of aged wood and a faint aroma of wine.The firelight from the fireplace flickered, casting the long shadows of the two men onto the stone walls.Hawkeye and Zoro sat opposite each other, separated by a heavy oak table with only two crystal goblets on it, the crimson wine gently swaying within.Perona floated listlessly in mid-air, her ghosts circling her side; her pink umbrella-shaped dress was completely out of place in this cold, hard castle.Puffing out her cheeks, she looked at the gloomy uncle on the left drinking silently, then at the serious Mosshead on the right staring at his wine glass as if studying sword moves, her small mouth pouting even higher.Dissatisfaction aside, the invisible flow of solemnity and a certain aura of impending farewell in the air made her swallow her complaints... Neither of these two men was someone she, this little Ghost Princess, could vent her frustrations on."You have preliminary found your own 'Way'."Hawkeye broke the silence; he didn't look at Zoro, his golden eyes staring at the red vortex spinning in the glass, his voice low and clear, every word seemingly polished by a black blade."Oni Aura and Haki, protection and Shura; you are attempting to integrate these contradictory powers."He paused and slowly took a sip of wine, his Adam's apple bobbing."Remember, true strength lies not in eliminating contradictions, but in mastering them and making them serve you.""Just like the top-tier art of sword forging, only by fusing different steels can a Supreme Grade blade be achieved."He placed the wine glass gently on the table with a crisp clink, his gaze finally turning toward Zoro, a look as tangible as substance."The New World is a den of monsters, with all sorts of ability users. But no matter what kind of enemy you face, the foundation of a swordsman remains unchanged—"Hawkeye's finger traced an imaginary line on the tabletop,"See through the essence, then cut it down. Your eyes, your heart, and your sword must all achieve this."His tone grew heavier, carrying an unquestionable admonition:"Your sword must not only be able to cut steel; in the future, it must be able to cut 'intangible things': fire, lightning, and even... the threads called 'fate' that are entwined around people and nations."Zoro tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, the cold sensation providing a sense of solidity.He looked up, staring blankly at this man who, despite only being together for a few months, had shaped his swordsmanship more profoundly than any mentor.Dracule Mihawk, he was as cold as the ice on a lonely peak, as aloof as a hawk looking down upon the world, and powerful enough to drive one to despair.But it was also he who had stayed his hand when Zoro was defeated and near death, who had taught him everything on this isolated island, using the harshest and most effective methods to repeatedly hammer and quench this piece of stubborn iron.Without his teachings, there would be no Roronoa Zoro who had undergone such a complete transformation.Silence flowed between the two, the fire in the fireplace crackling.Zoro's throat moved, but in the end, he didn't say any more words of thanks or grand declarations; he just gave a heavy, almost promise-like nod."I've remembered it!"Hawkeye didn't seem to expect any more of a response either.He turned his head slightly, his gaze drifting toward Perona, who was floating in the air trying to entertain herself with Negative Hollows but failing repeatedly, his tone returning to its usual flat state."Then, little girl, you see him off.""Eh?! You want me to see him off?!"Perona was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly floating up several feet, hands on her hips, her exquisite little face full of disbelief and indignation."Why should I! This Mosshead swordsman is so boring, so devoid of romance, and he was an enemy before!""He's stupid to death; he'll definitely get lost in the forest and end up somewhere strange!""I don't need you to see me off; I can go by myself."Zoro didn't even twitch an eyebrow, turning a deaf ear to Perona's accusations.He stood up decisively, drained the remaining wine in his glass, placed it back on the table with a "thud,"And turned to walk toward the heavy doors of the castle, his back resolute without the slightest hesitation... Hearing this, a barely perceptible frown appeared on Hawkeye's always calm face, and he raised a hand, pressing his temple with his long fingers.Regarding Zoro's "world-rule-level" lack of direction, during these few months together, he had gone from initial doubt and testing to eventual shock and helpless acceptance.Let this guy find his own way to the meeting point?He feared the next time he heard news of him, it would be some ridiculous headline like "Mysterious Master Swordsman Appears in North Blue."With an almost silent sigh, Hawkeye also stood up, his black cloak falling.He picked up the black blade yoru leaning against the table and smoothly slung it onto his back."It just so happens I'm free," his tone was still flat, as if it were just a spur-of-the-moment decision to take a walk,"I'll go with you."There was no helping it; he couldn't let the disciple he had personally forged and recognized play out a "Drifting Swordsman's Adventure" on the vast sea before he even stepped onto the stage of the new era.Swordsmanship could be taught, and realms could be demonstrated, but this bone-deep lack of direction... perhaps it was a "karma" that even "nothing cannot be cut" could not sever.Hawkeye stepped forward, following the green figure who was already hesitating at a fork in the road... Outside Kuraigana Island, under a gloomy sky.That iconic, narrow boat shaped like a giant coffin floated quietly on the leaden sea.No sails, no oars; it was like a coffin for a sea burial, exuding the same aloofness and loneliness as its master.Zoro had already jumped onto the deck, arms crossed, his dark green hair fluttering slightly in the salty sea breeze.He glanced at the pink figure floating over hesitantly, his right eye narrowing habitually, the corner of his mouth curling into an almost invisible arc."Hey,""Weren't you not coming?"Perona finally stabilized herself and landed at the edge of the boat, and upon hearing this, she immediately reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on,Her small, exquisite face turned bright red, hands on her hips... although this gesture looked a bit comical in her floating state."Who... who told you all to leave!"She retorted shrilly, with the grievance and dissatisfaction of being abandoned,"The gloomy castle is going to become empty all of a sudden! Just me and that group of clumsy Masira!""You two cold-blooded, heartless men who only know how to swing swords, do you have even a tiny bit of compassion!""Do you even know what gentlemanly manners are!"The more she spoke, the angrier she got, stomping her feet in the air; even the Negative Hollowsaround her seemed to wilt a bit."If it weren't for... Humph!"She swallowed the rest of her threat; after all, neither the Mosshead swordsman nor the even scarier uncle at the bow was someone her ghost pranks could handle."Tch~"Zoro snorted through his nose, too lazy to bicker with this little girl.His gaze turned to the bow.Dracule Mihawk stood with his back to them, facing the boundless sea, standing tall like a figurehead.He seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, yet also sensing the direction of the currents and the wind with his entire body and soul.Zoro frowned, looking around this boat that could be described as "crude" to the extreme.Aside from a "coffin" cabin that could barely fit a person, the deck was empty."Hey, Mihawk,"He spoke directly, asking the most practical question,"This junk boat of yours has no sails and no oars. What, are we expecting to drift slowly to Sabaody Archipelago on currents and wind?"There wasn't much worry in his tone, more pure curiosity.Upon hearing this, Hawkeye slowly opened those sharp, hawk-like golden eyes.He didn't turn around, but his right hand casually and naturally rested on the hilt of the black blade yoru on his back."Stand firm."Three words, calm and ripple-less, yet carrying an unquestionable weight.The moment the words fell—Buzz—!!!A low yet highly piercing sword ring erupted from the scabbard of the black blade yoru!Before the pitch-black blade was even fully unsheathed, a condensed blue light like substance entwined around it, the light flowing as if it had compressed a storm.Hawkeye held the hilt, his wrist flicking backward in a casual swing.The movement was understated, like brushing dust off his shoulder.BOOM!!!!!!A crescent-shaped, colossal blue slash, like a waking deep-sea dragon, roared out from the blade!It skimmed the surface of the sea directly behind the stern.The instant the slash contacted the water, it generated an incredible, directional, and violent propulsion!In an instant!The entire narrow vessel seemed to be shoved hard from behind by an invisible giant hand,The bow suddenly reared up at a precarious angle, then tore through the sea like a cannonball, surging forward!White walls of waves tens of meters high exploded from both sides of the hull, and the gale instantly became like steel blades scraping across the deck!"Aaaaaah—!!!"This terrifying startup speed, far exceeding conventional ships and even comparable to high-speed powerboats, made the unprepared Peronalet out a short scream.She was nearly thrown off and hurriedly grabbed onto a protrusion on the edge of the gunwale, her small body swaying in the gale like a pink leaf, her pretty face pale."S-slow down! It's going to fall apart! The boat is going to fall apart!"Hawkeye still stood at the bow, his figure motionless amidst the violent jolts and gale, as if beneath his feet was not a racing boat but solid rock.His cloak stretched into a straight black streamline behind him, only the tips of his hair fluttering wildly in the wind.The moment the boat started, Zoro's feet were nailed to the deck as if they had taken root, his strong core steadily offsetting the terrifying acceleration.The fierce sea breeze hit him head-on, making his green hair dance wildly across his forehead, his open collar flapping loudly.But he felt no discomfort; instead, his right eye widened slightly, a flash of extreme excitement in his gaze.He gripped the hilt of the wado ichimonji at his waist, feeling its steady pulse, and looked toward the seemingly endless horizon where the sea met the sky, a surge of hot emotion rushing through his chest.'Just wait, Luffy.'The sea breeze carried his silent oath into the distance,'This time, the sword in my hand will never let anyone... take away our future again!'————————Karakuri Island, "Baldimore," is shrouded in blizzards all year round.In the heart of the island, inside a hemispherical laboratory constructed of high-strength alloy and special glass, it was as warm as spring, forming two different worlds from the icy snow outside.The air was filled with the faint scent of machine oil, the slight singe of welding, and a hint of... the sweet crispness of cola."Sss—"Franky leaned back in his chair, draining the last drop of cola in his hand, his specially made metallic arm emitting a satisfied hydraulic sound.On the holographic projection screen in front of him, the last line of data silently slid by, marking the successful conclusion of a three-month-long super project."—SUPER!!!"He stood up abruptly, spreading his arms, his exaggerated hairstyle nearly touching the ceiling, his voice filled with a metallic ecstasy and pride."After three months of sleepless ultimate modification! Fusing Dr. Vegapunk's 'future technology concepts,' the sparks of inspiration from the blueprints of the Ancient Weapon 'Pluton,' and the... uh, quite 'generous' startup capital provided by the Captain..."The image of Luffy's eyes sparkling as he handed over that large box of Berries flashed before his eyes, and he couldn't help but grin."This ship, the brand-new, ultimate 'thousand sunny Kai,' has finally been born!"Franky slapped his sturdy chest, making a clanging sound,"I, Lord Franky, can guarantee! With its current performance, against any so-called 'top-tier warship' of this era, it will be—"He paused, making an exaggerated gesture of pressing down hard from high above:"A dimensional strike!""That kid Luffy will definitely jump for joy when he sees this! After all..."Franky stood with hands on his hips, imitating Luffy's classic wide grin,"A man is a boy until the day he dies! SUPER—!!"He couldn't wait to board this dream ship resting quietly in the special dock through the dedicated passage.The deck felt warm and solid; he walked across the familiar lawn area and entered the completely revamped cockpit.It was no longer just simple steering wheels and gauges; instead, it was surrounded by curved light screens, tactile feedback joysticks, and several core control consoles shimmering with a ghostly blue light.Franky took a deep breath; even as a cyborg, he could feel the accelerated simulated heartbeat in his chest.He extended a thick finger, hovering over the startup button on the center console that flowed with azure energy."The wild winds and giant waves of the New World, the mysteries of the Ancient Weapons, and the challenges of the final sea..."A determined light flashed in his eyes,And he pressed the finger down hard!Buzz—!!!The low roar didn't come from the engine, but from the resonance of the entire hull from the inside out!The deck vibrated slightly, and the special coating rippled with light like water.Inside the cockpit, all the light screens lit up instantly, data flowing like a waterfall.Deep in the hull, the super-enhanced cola energy system began to operate at full power!The golden cola liquid was compressed to the limit, transformed into surging high-purity energy, rushing through the redesigned energy pipes to every corner of the ship.Zzt—!Dazzling blue electric arcs erupted from the ship's keel like a living power grid, quickly spreading and enveloping the entire sunny in a layer of jumping blue-white halo.The air was filled with the fresh scent of ozone and the slight hum of energy.The next second.The dock roof slid open silently, and the icy air of the blizzard rushed in, only to be blocked by the energy field around the hull.Wrapped in blue electric arcs, the sunny turned into a straight beam of blue light piercing the sky, roaring up from the eternal permafrost of Baldimore!It tore through the wind and snow, broke through the clouds, leaving a long-lasting scorched trail in the pale sky,At a speed beyond conventional understanding, it shot unswervingly toward that island interwoven with mangroves, bubbles, and countless dreams—Sabaody Archipelago!————————Meanwhile, in every corner of the world.The warriors of the Straw Hat crew, as if called by something in the dark, set out once again from all over the world toward the promised land!New forms, stronger beliefs, and the same longing.A new journey is about to set sail once more under the brilliant bubbles of Sabaody!