Chapter 410 - 249

Chapter 249: The Voyage Where the Captain Was Left Behind!!"Franky, we have to go!!!"Sanji shuddered as the burnt-out cigarette butt scorched his fingers, then he sprang up from the deck and roared."Uh... well... that last ultimate cannon shot drained all of the sunny's stored energy..."Franky rubbed the back of his head, a sheepish smile appearing on his steel-forged face."Then what are we supposed to do now?!"Sanji shouted this almost subconsciously.The moment his words fell, every gaze on the deck snapped onto him.Sanji felt a tingle at the back of his neck, a sense of foreboding rushing over him like a tide.No, it couldn't be that arrangement, right...?"Sanji-kun~"Nami's gentle voice was like a wind wrapped in honey.She carelessly brushed aside her orange hair, which had been tousled by the sea breeze, her eyelashes curling as she broke into a smile so sweet it was dizzying."I'm counting on you!""Yes, ma'am!! It is my pleasure to serve you, Miss Nami!!!"All hesitation and panic evaporated under that gaze.An invisible flame seemed to ignite around Sanji, his fighting spirit erupting like a volcano."Crackle—boom!!!"Dazzling lightning burst forth, countless arcs of electricity coiling around the ship like living snakes, causing the sunny's wooden deck to vibrate and hum.In the next instant, the entire ship was enveloped in a web of azure lightning, transforming into a bolt of lightning that split the sky and shot straight into the clouds!The gale roared in their ears, plowing through the clouds like waves.Yamato stood against the wind at the ship's rail, her long silver hair dancing wildly in the airstream, like flowing Moonlight.She looked back at the shrinking sea, the vast light of the sky reflecting in her eyes."Luffy, we're heading out first—"She cupped her hands around her lips, her clear voice piercing through the howling wind."Hurry up and catch up!"Her laughter was kneaded into the wind, carrying an irrepressible, burning anticipation for the journey ahead.The sunny trailed a wake of thunder, disappearing into the depths of the churning sea of clouds."Clang! Clang! Clang—!!"The collision of fist against fist roared like steel.The figures of Luffy and Garp streaked through the air, leaving countless intersecting afterimages, each collision exploding with a visible shockwave that caused the sea below to cave in repeatedly.In that flash of lightning!Luffy suddenly turned his head.A familiar ship-shaped silhouette was tearing through the clouds, becoming a faint flash of lightning on the horizon.His whole body stiffened, his movements freezing instantly."Hey—!!!"An earth-shattering roar exploded, almost drowning out the roar of the battle."You guys!!! The Captain hasn't boarded the ship yet—!!!"Luffy's face fell, his pupils shaking.He was fighting for his life here, and his crewmates actually... bailed on him?!"Getting distracted in battle will cost you your life, kid!"An aged but booming voice exploded right beside his ear.Garp's figure flashed through the air like a meteorite, his iron-forged fist wrapped in tangible Haki, crushing through layers of air barriers and slamming directly into the side of Luffy's face!"Hahaha! It looks like your companions have abandoned you!"Garp's hearty laughter carried a note of mockery."Why don't you just come with Grandpa to Impel Down for some tea!"Boom—!!!That punch landed solidly on Luffy's face, sending him flying backward like a cannonball, carving a long white wake across the sea."Grandpa..."A low, hoarse voice came from the churning waves."I don't have time... to play with you right now!!!!""Whoosh!"A ghostly afterimage flashed back instantly.Luffy's black hair danced like raging flames, his eyes stained a boiling crimson, while scorching scarlet-gold lightning arcs burst, shattered, and reborn around him, as if he were surrounded by an inextinguishable thunderstorm.Bang—!!!!This punch, carrying the resentment of being "abandoned," the anxiety of rushing to his crewmates, and the ultimate power of Conquerors Haki Coating, landed solidly on Garp's stunned face."Ugh!"Garp let out a muffled grunt, his sturdy body flying backward uncontrollably, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.Splash—He fell into the sea like a giant boulder, sending up a white pillar of water that shot into the sky, the waves churning violently."Who does that to their Captain—?!"Luffy's mouth twitched, his entire face written with unbelievable absurdity.A red glow suddenly swirled deep within his pupils, and his Observation Haki surged out like an invisible tide, instantly crossing tens of thousands of meters of sea and sky to lock firmly onto the tiny ship silhouette speeding above the clouds."Hey... it's only been a moment, how did you get so far already?!"Silvery-white light rose from his body, and the surrounding space rippled with transparent waves, as if the surface of the water had been disturbed by something invisible.In the next instant, his previously hovering figure vanished like a dissipating illusion, disappearing completely into the churning sea breeze and the unsettled waves....Laughter and cheer echoed from the sunny.On the deck of the sunny, cloud waves retreated rapidly on both sides of the ship.Nami leaned against the railing, looking at the sea area that was gradually shrinking to a dot, her orange hair fluttering uneasily in the airflow:"Are we really okay leaving Luffy behind like this...?""Let the grandfather and grandson settle it themselves."Zoro leaned against the mast with his arms crossed, not even bothering to lift his eyelids."Anyway... nothing will change in the end."A knowing arc crossed his lips.If that marine hero could really lock his grandson in jail, the order of this sea would have been overturned long ago.The group on the deck exchanged glances and nodded one after another, wearing expressions of "if you know, you know.""Hey—!! You heartless bunch—!!!"A thunderous roar exploded without warning from the bow of the ship.Everyone turned their heads in shock, only to see Luffy sitting on the lion figurehead, dripping wet with seawater, baring his teeth in anger:"How dare you run off and leave your Captainbehind! Are you trying to muti... uh?!"His angry rebuke came to an abrupt halt.Luffy's wide eyes were glued to the giant, sizzling, half-person-tall roasted bone-in meat in Sanji's hand.Drool instantly breached the defense of his mouth."Here."Sanji raised an eyebrow and tossed it over.Luffy hugged the meat like it was a treasure, opening his mouth to tear off a large chunk of muscle.His missing front teeth were stuffed with oily shreds of meat, and he mumbled vaguely with puffed-out cheeks:"This time... I'll let you guys off...""Pfft—"Who knows who couldn't hold it in first."Hahahaha!"Laughter exploded on the deck like fireworks.Usopp pounded the deck while wiping away tears, Chopper laughed until he rolled on the ground, and even Robin was smiling with pursed lips."Luffy!"Nami laughed until she doubled over,"How did Grandpa even manage to knock your teeth out!"The waves of joy shattered the clouds, and the sunny, carrying laughter that shone like lights across the ship, cleaved through the vast sea of clouds, speeding toward the never-setting sun at the edge of the horizon....Meanwhile, on the deck of the distant warship."Hahahaha! That's my grandson for you!!"Garp stood with his hands on his hips, his booming laughter making the ship's rail hum.Every wrinkle on his bronze face smoothed out, filled with unmasked pride.Beside him, Sengoku, with half his body wrapped in bandages, had his brows locked into deep furrows."What's the matter, Sengoku?"Garp casually slapped his old friend on the shoulder, shaking dust from the bandages,"That old guy Golden Lion has already been beaten, why are you still pulling such a long face?"He grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: "It's no shame to lose to my grandson! Hahaha!"Sengoku didn't respond, just slowly turned his head to look at the turbulent horizon.He exhaled a deep, heavy breath, as if trying to expel all the heaviness accumulated in his chest.When he turned his face back, those usually calm and wise eyes were now plated with a cold light like a blade."I am going to the New World... the G-5 Branch!!" His voice was resolute!!"Hm?"Garp's hand, which was picking his ear, stopped, and a rare look of astonishment appeared on his rugged face.Sengoku had already strode toward the bow of the ship.The sea breeze tousled his frost-tipped temples, his cape flapping wildly behind him.Deep within his pupils, a scene and a voice surged up once more.The moment before he gathered all his strength to unleash a devastating shockwave,A voice, lowered to the extreme but every word like thunder, pierced through the deafening roar of the battlefield and drilled precisely into his ears:"The G-5 Branch Vice Admiral Vergo... is the highest-ranking mole planted in the Marine by Doflamingo!!"—Crack!!!Sengoku's hand, resting on the railing, clenched abruptly!The hard wooden railing shattered instantly in his palm like a fragile cracker, wood shavings flying everywhere.The veins on the back of his hand bulged like coiled dragons, manifesting the raging fury and cold killing intent within their owner's heart at this moment.