Chapter 407 - 246

246Even as the heavens crumble, the pirates still set sail!!AI Model: gemini-2.5-flashChapter 246: When the Sky Collapses, Pirates Still Set Sail!!Vice Admiral Yamakaji's cigar, clutched between his lips, silently slipped, bounced twice on the deck, and rolled into a corner.He seemed not to notice, merely staring blankly at the floating ruins in the distance, stained by both the setting sun and gunpowder smoke.There, the golden light had already faded, leaving only a collapsing silence....Golden Lion...His lips moved, his voice dry, then suddenly rose, transforming into a roar that shook the deck:Golden Lion Shiki... was taken down by AdmiralKizaru!!!This furious shout was like a lit fuse.A brief silence enveloped the entire warship,Then—!Oooohhhhhh—!!!!Deafening cheers erupted like a tsunami!The Marine soldiers on deck, whether covered in blood and still holding their posts, or severely wounded and just being helped down, all flushed red and roared, jumped, and embraced with all their might!Many still had un-dried tear stains on their faces, now mixed with smiles of ecstasy.We won! We won!!Fantastic! Finally... it's finally over!!Admiral Kizaru!! Long live Admiral Kizaru!!!The Flying Pirates... Golden Lion... we Marines did it!!!Waves of ecstasy washed over every heart stretched to its limit.The Sword of Damocles, named 'Old Era Monster,' which had hung over the heads of all Marines since Golden Lion's escape, now crashed to the ground, turning to dust!They had avenged the innocent civilians who had lost their lives.Vice Admiral Yamakaji looked around, watching his subordinates, who were almost losing control in their excitement, and did not try to stop them.He understood, he understood completely. No one knew better than them the immense pressure the Marines had been under during this period.The World Government's incessant questioning, the public's scrutiny as sharp as a blade, the fearful yet hopeful anticipation of the populace, and... the unyielding weight of 'justice' itself, inherent in every Marine's heart.Golden Lion was like a black mountain pressing down on the New Era's sea lanes; his very existence was a mockery of Marine prestige and the order of the age.The Marines desperately needed such a victory.A decisive, thorough victory, personally brought to an end by the Marines' top combat power, a victory capable of shaking the world!That's enough!!A deep, solemn voice suddenly cut through the clamor on the warship.A tall, purple figure had appeared at the highest point of the ship's railing at some unknown time.He paid no mind to the aftermath of the battle behind him, nor did he seem to care about Kizaru, who had just arrived.All personnel, return to the ship immediately and take roll call.His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an undeniable, weighty power that instantly overshadowed all cheers,This island... is sinking.Before his words finished, he gently raised the staff-sword in his hand.Om—Amidst a strange, low hum, a deep purple gravitational aura suddenly spread out from him, gently and steadily enveloping the entire main ship.The warship groaned under the strain, but did not break apart. Instead, lifted by the purple light, it slowly detached from the sea surface.Hold on.After these two simple words, a purple stream of light streaked across the sky, carrying the ship full of still-astonished Marines, gliding rapidly into the distance... Meanwhile, on the land below.Alabasta, by the Sandora River, the great city of Alabasta.The midday clamor was suddenly cut off as if by an invisible hand.A farmer straightened his back in the fields, his hoe silently slipping from his grasp; a vendor hawking wares in the market stood with an open mouth, unable to utter the next syllable; a guard gazing from the palace terrace gripped his spear tightly, his knuckles white.All eyes were fixed on the ever-expanding, sun-devouring terrifying shadow in the sky.Wh-what is that thing?A vegetable vendor murmured, a tomato rolling from his hand to the ground, splashing bright red juice, like an ominous omen.Is it a cloud? No... there's no cloud that black...Wait,A carpenter squinted, his voice beginning to tremble,Is that island... falling down?Don't be ridiculous!The blacksmith next to him forced a laugh, patting his shoulder, but his laughter was as dry as broken kindling,How could an island floating in the sky fall... down...The last word caught in his throat.Because the edge of the shadow obscuring the sky began to clearly disintegrate.Huge rock masses peeled off, detaching from the main body, trailing long plumes of dust, plummeting towards the earth first.At first, they were just scattered fragments, but soon they became like the prelude to a deadly rainstorm.Silent terror, even before the first child's cry erupted, had swept through the entire city like a plague.It's... it's falling...It's really falling!!!Oh God...!A wave of horror drowned all reason.The expressions of Alabasta's hundreds of thousands of residents changed in a very short time from confusion to alarm, and then from alarm to utter, soul-freezing terror.The island cluster, carrying mountains and ruins, was tearing through the clouds, with an absolute mass that would crush everything,Irresistibly, pressing down towards their city, their homeland, the land where their ancestors had lived and thrived.Impossible... this is impossible...An old man slumped in front of his house, the pottery jug in his hand shattering into pieces.Escape? Where to escape?A mother holding her baby looked up, her eyes empty, tears silently streaming down her face.As far as the eye could see, the sky was dominated by shadow.Is my life... going to end here?A young scholar leaned against his desk, his trembling hand unable to hold his quill. His lifelong studies seemed pale and powerless beneath the overwhelming shadow.Cries, prayers, and desperate roars sporadically broke out, only to be quickly swallowed by an even greater silence.Facing this ultimate disaster, covering the entire sky and subverting all comprehension, even fear itself seemed futile.Running footsteps slowed, then stopped.People gave up their meaningless flight.Parents clutched their children tightly, forming fragile shields with their bodies;Lovers embraced tightly, exchanging their last warmth;Old friends held each other's trembling hands;Lonely ones closed their eyes, murmuring the names of departed loved ones.The entire city of Alabasta, under the shadow of impending doom, awaited the end in a tragic and desolate silence.The crying of children was the only sound still flowing in this deadly stillness.And the sky was falling... Splash.A soft sound, carrying the scent of fresh blood.Yamato's figure landed lightly on the sunny's grassy deck. A long, narrow wound on her left arm slowly seeped blood, trailing down her fair wrist, leaving a few striking red drops on the green grass blades.She paid it no mind, merely raising a hand to casually wipe it away, then effortlessly shouldered the massive Spiked Club, "takeru".The sea breeze ruffled her silver-white hair, which still clung to lingering gunpowder smoke and ice crystal fragments.She shook her head, her face, stained with a few smudges, turned towards the bow, a bright and dashing smile curving her lips, her clear voice filled with unconcealed delight:Captain! I'm back!At the bow, Luffy was sitting cross-legged in the VIP seat, propping his chin.He showed no signs of triumphant excitement, but rather seemed a bit glum, as if he had missed an eagerly anticipated feast.Hearing the voice, he turned his face, his gaze sweeping over her bleeding arm.Mm!He responded, his brows habitually drooping, "Need it bandaged? Chopper's downstairs."No need! This little injury is nothing!Yamato waved her hand cheerfully, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over a corner of the deck, and her movements suddenly paused.She saw Zoro and Sanji tied together, layer upon layer.Only their eyes and nostrils were visible, making them look like two mummies just moved out of a pyramid.They were currently glaring at her with murderous intent.Yamato's mouth twitched slightly. She subtly hid her still-dripping arm behind her back, letting out a tiny shiver.Since everyone's here—Luffy stretched broadly, sprang up from the bow, the earlier gloom on his face instantly dispelled by new anticipation.He raised both arms, facing the vast sky and ocean, flashing his signature brilliant smile, and loudly declared:Let's go!! Next stop—Fish-Man Island!!Wait! Luffy!!A sharp, trembling shout interrupted the impending departure.Nami burst out of the Navigator's room, her face filled with urgency.We can't just leave! Don't you see?! Those islands! Those floating islands are falling down!!She pointed to the distant horizon, to the vast, sky-obscuring shadow slowly descending over Alabasta like the wings of death, her voice almost tearing,Below is Alabasta! It's Vivi's country!! We have to do something!Luffy turned his head, looked at his Navigator's almost fiery eyes, and pouted, showing an extremely helpless expression.Hey, hey, Nami...He picked his ear, then pointed to the distant island cluster, stretching like mountains, vast to the point of despair,Do you think I can stop something like that??If I could punch all of them away, I wouldn't be a pirate, I'd be a god!!He rolled his eyes, then leaned back, his head resting squarely on Nami's trembling shoulder,His tone became lazy, yet it carried an air of self-assured certainty:Vivi and the others, they'll be fine.Why are you so sure?!Nami tried to push his heavy rubber head away, but it wouldn't budge.Because—Luffy turned his face, looking at the side of the falling shadow, as if he could see other scenes through space,Professional matters should be left to the professionals.And Nami,He said earnestly, in the tone of an experienced person,Trying to handle everything by yourself will only make you tired and shorten your life!With that, he ignored the apocalyptic crisis and rescue drama unfolding in the distance, and Nami's pouting expression, pushing off the deck with his feet, jumping back onto the head of the lion figure at the bow.Hoist the sails—!!!He shouted, drawing out the words, his arm pointing straight down at the deep blue sea, towards the endless abyss leading to Fish-Man Island.Full speed ahead—to ten thousand meters below the sea!!The sea breeze intensified, filling the sails.Their adventure lay beneath the deeper blue sea.