Chapter 384 - 223

Chapter 223: Farewell at Sabaody Archipelago, Sailing to the Peak of the World!"400 million Berries..."Zoro repeated the number in a low voice, his tone devoid of any warmth.A mocking smirk, sharper than a blade, curled the corners of his mouth. He sheathed Shusui and sandai kitetsu with practiced ease, leaving only wado ichimonji held before him.The gleaming blade, like a mirror, reflected the faces on the deck twisted by fear."Bounties like this,""can never truly measure a person's worth."Before he even finished speaking—Creak... Boom!The thick mast beneath his feet suddenly groaned as the wood splintered!With him as the epicenter, a purple-black Oni Aurasurged out like a river from the depths of hell, violently sweeping outward!"All hands—maximum alert!!"The Vice Admiral's roar tore through the deathly silence, yet it couldn't mask the slight tremor in its tail end.He gripped his sword hilt tightly with both hands, Armament Haki flooding into the blade like a tidal wave, dyeing the entire weapon a deep, somber black. The blade vibrated, emitting a hum that signaled it was pushed to its limit."Is he going to...""Make a move?"Zoro's voice cut through the Vice Admiral's roar, laced with a nearly cruel laziness.He bent his knees slightly, the hem of his green coat lifted straight up by the blast of air he had unleashed."I already made my move."Swish—!There was no earth-shattering precursor, only an extremely thin, dark purple-black line that flashed out of thin air, silently slicing through space.The figure atop the mast dissipated like a bubble.In the next instant, Zoro stood directly in front of the Vice Admiral, as if he had solidified from the shadows, with no warning whatsoever.The tip of wado ichimonji was precisely, coldly pressed against the skin above the opponent's Adam's apple, where it pulsed slightly.The Vice Admiral's pupils contracted to pinpricks, and a chill that froze his marrow surged from his tailbone to his crown.He could clearly feel the delicate, distinct touch of death coming from the sword's tip; cold sweat instantly soaked through his heavy Marine coat."Your sword,"Zoro's voice sounded right by his ear, colder than a polar wind,"is too slow."The sword tip flicked upward lightly, and a hair-thin bloodstain quietly appeared on the Vice Admiral's neck as a bead of blood slowly seeped out and rolled down his skin.The deck fell into a deathly freeze.The surrounding Marine soldiers stood stiff as statues, their raised muskets trembling uncontrollably."You... bastard..."The Vice Admiral squeezed the words out from between his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, his muscles tensing violently as he tried to swing the black sword in his hand forward.However, in the thousandth of a second before he could exert force—Clang!The clear sound of a blade being drawn, like a dragon's roar!At Zoro's waist, the famous blade "Shusui" popped out half an inch on its own, then was fully drawn at a speed invisible to the naked eye.The pitch-black blade engulfed the surrounding light, transforming into a crescent-like, gloomy arc that swept across.Crack!A crisp snapping sound rang out.The sword in the Vice Admiral's hand, which had been infused with all his Armament Haki, snapped in two!The broken half of the blade spun through the air and embedded itself deep into the main deck behind him with a "thud," vibrating incessantly.Zoro didn't even glance at the pale-faced Vice Admiral again.His gaze slowly swept across the warship's side, where the still-warm cannon muzzles looked like the fangs of a ferocious beast.A pure, violent, undisguised killing intent, like a tangible cold current, swept across the entire deck."Daring to point cannons at the sunny..."His voice was low, yet it caused every Marinesoldier's heart to freeze,"means you must have the resolve to be chopped into pieces until nothing remains."As the words fell, he spun his body violently!The two swords in his hands merged into two intertwined trails of light and shadow.Shusui was as somber as the night, while wado ichimonji was as brilliant as the stars.Purple-black energy erupted from him like a volcanic explosion, emitting a low roar like a giant dragon, gradually coalescing into a terrifying tornado that connected the sea and the sky!"Two-Sword Style · Black Rope Great Dragon Twister!!"Boom—!!!The sword-qi tornado erupted completely!The soldiers' exclamations, screams, and the groans of wood and steel were all swallowed into this roar of destruction.The storm gradually subsided.Zoro stood alone in the center of the completely ruined warship, with the groaning keel and messy debris beneath his feet.He slowly sheathed his swords and looked up at the high sky.There, golden light and blue shadows were still colliding frantically, each clash lighting up the clouds.He raised a hand to wipe a smear of blood from his cheek, and that familiar arc of wild fighting spirit crawled onto his mouth again."Perverted Cook... you bastard, don't you dare lose to that shiny guy."Clang—!!!The golden photon light sword collided head-on with the right leg wreathed in violent lightning, erupting in rings of visible, light-distorting shockwaves!The clouds in the sky were ripped open by a fissure."Oh my... looks like a 'formidable' big shot has arrived."Kizaru tilted his head slightly, his gaze drifting carelessly toward the direction of the distant Sabaody Archipelago, and the playful arc at the corner of his mouth beneath his golden sunglasses deepened.His tone remained slow and deliberate, as if he were commenting on a play that had nothing to do with him."Hmm?!"Sanji's pupils shrank, alarm bells ringing in his heart.He didn't understand why Kizaru was suddenly distracted, but his body's instincts didn't dare to relax in the slightest.The opponent's unfathomable strength, like the vast deep sea, and the ease with which he handled the battle, all transformed into a real, suffocating pressure that enveloped every inch of his nerves.Just at this moment of distraction for Sanji—"Whoosh—!!"A white stream of light tore through the sky at a speed surpassing sound!The target of the stream of light was Kizaru!Kizaru seemed to have expected it, or rather, he had been waiting for this moment.He didn't turn around, simply lifting his crossed arms to the side and back in a casual motion.Bang!!!!!The extremely dull sound of impact was like two mountain peaks colliding!The white stream of light revealed its form; it was none other than the "Pluton" Silvers Rayleigh, wearing a white cape, his silver hair dancing wildly!He maintained a fierce high-altitude side kick posture, his toe hitting Kizaru's crossed, blocking elbows with perfect precision!Rumble...This time, Kizaru's figure, which had always been as steady as a rock, was shaken for the first time!A huge force pushed his body, carving a straight golden trail of light in the air as he flew backward, his feet plowing two scorching ripples in the air."Yo—!"Kizaru dragged out his tone even while flying backward, the mockery in his voice increasing rather than decreasing,"Isn't this the honorable 'Pluton' Mr. Rayleigh?""What, is retirement life too boring, and you want to join this party of young people?"Rayleigh retracted his leg steadily and stood in the air, his white cape flapping in the turbulent airflow."My student,"Rayleigh's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty, clearly penetrating the clamor of the battlefield,"is setting sail again today."He slowly raised his hand and gripped the hilt of the seemingly ordinary longsword at his waist."As for you..."Rayleigh's gaze locked onto Kizaru,"don't go disturbing their young journey."—Cling!The clear sound of a sword, like a dragon's roar, resounded across the sky!The moment the longsword was drawn, the ancient blade flowed with a moon-like silver radiance.Even more, strands of dark red, tangible lightning "cracked" and danced on the blade's edge!That was the fusion of top-tier Armament Haki and kingly potential!Boom!A silver-red sword-qi, condensed to the extreme and seemingly capable of splitting heaven and earth, tore through the sky and headed straight for Kizaru!"Hey, hey, hey! Isn't this way of saying hello a bit too enthusiastic?!"Kizaru finally put away his forever-sleepy expression, a hint of genuine seriousness flashing in his eyes.He slammed his hands together in front of his chest, and blinding golden light frantically gathered, compressed, and took shape!Hum—!A golden light sword, composed purely of highly condensed photons, rapidly stretched and formed in his hand.ama no murakumo sword!The blade flowed with the high temperature of a sun's core, causing the surrounding air to distort from the heat.Facing that heaven-splitting sword-qi, Kizarugripped the ama no murakumo sword with both hands and, without dodging or evading, slashed forward with all his might to meet the silver-red edge!—Clang!!!!!!The two swords clashed!Hum!!!!A destructive halo mixed with golden light, silver radiance, and dark red lightning expanded and exploded in all directions like a supernova!The slash of the legend and the Admiral stood on equal footing in this moment!"Hey, Luffy, what do we do now?"Zoro and Sanji landed on the deck of the sunnyalmost simultaneously, still carrying the smoke of battle and light panting.They looked up in unison at the sky twisted by violent energy.There, every collision of silver-red and golden light shook the entire sea."What do we do?"Luffy stood at the bow, hands on his hips, also looking at the horizon,"We can't really kill Kizaru, can we?"He showed a rare look of helplessness and understanding.That guy Kizaru always leaves room for maneuver in his actions, holding the right measure; even as an enemy, it's hard for people to feel an irreconcilable hatred for him."The old man definitely has a way to get away,"Luffy withdrew his gaze, his eyes becoming sharp and determined again."Us being here will only distract him.""—Now, leave at full speed!""Understood! Then leave it to yours truly, who is Super—!!"Franky's rough and excited voice resounded through every corner via the ship's broadcast.In the control room, his massive body filled the seat, and his metallic-gleaming right hand slapped the button flashing with ghostly blue light without hesitation."The moment to witness a miracle! The Straw Hat's exclusive special device—"He grinned, revealing his signature large mouth and shiny steel teeth:"Initiating... Flight Mode!!"Hum—!!!A violent energy hum burst from the deep keel of the sunny!In the next instant, dazzling blue currents, like living veins, instantly crawled over every inch of the ship's wood and steel!The "wing" structures on both sides of the ship suddenly unfolded, and the thrusters emitted a low roar of energy accumulation.The entire sunny was enveloped in a layer of flowing, liquid blue energy field, hovering slightly off the ground!"Oh?"High in the sky, Kizaru, who was locked in a blade-to-blade struggle with Rayleigh, seemed to sense something and glanced slightly to the side.His golden sunglasses reflected the pirate ship below that had begun to defy common sense and leave the sea surface."Rayleigh—!"Luffy took a deep breath, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted with all his might toward the white figure in the sky:"These three months... thank you very much—!!!"The voice pierced through the roaring air blasts, reaching the sky.Hearing this, Rayleigh exerted sudden force with his longsword, a round and domineering slash pushing back the ama no murakumo sword and forcing Kizaru back half a step.He did not pursue, but instead sheathed his sword and turned to look at the sunny.In that instant, this "living legend" who had weathered decades of the sea's storms and witnessed the Roger era and the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, felt complex, indescribable emotions churning in his eyes.There was the gratification of a strict mentor, the concern of an elder, and even a deep nostalgia for that familiar, dazzling posture of rushing toward one's dreams without regard for anything.The sea breeze brushed his graying temples, and a bit of crystal moisture quietly shimmered in the corners of his wrinkled eyes.He didn't say much, only raised his longsword high, the tip pointing straight at the firmament.It was a silent but weighty farewell, and also a blessing and passing of the torch across generations.His lips moved, and his aged yet still sonorous voice fell clearly into the ears of every member of the Straw Hat Pirates:"Don't look back... head toward the peak of the world!!""Set sail—!!!"Luffy shouted, raising his arm.~Zzzzz... Boom!!!The blue energy enveloping the sunny reached its peak and erupted violently!The entire ship transformed into a brilliant blue light that tore through the sky, like a flying meteor.With the determination and romance of breaking through all constraints, it rushed above the sea of clouds and disappeared at the end of the distant horizon.The sea surface left only the gradually subsiding ripples and the afterimages of the two peak powerhouses silently confronting each other in the air.The trajectory of the new era had already crossed the firmament.