r18novel Chapter 257 The Silent Guardian, The Return of Fire
Chapter 257 The Silent Guardian, The Return of Fire
Chapter 257 The Silent Guardian, The Return of Fire
On the boundless blue sea of the New World, a golden streak of light streaked across the sky at a speed beyond the reach of the naked eye, like a falling sun.
Amidst the flowing light, there was Karna with a calm expression, and Ace with his black hair fluttering in the wind.
"Hey, Little Sun, can you go any faster?"
Ace gazed at the islands and sea rushing past below, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of urgency.
"I'm a little homesick. I wonder how Dad is doing, and whether that Sachi guy has come up with some weird new dish again—I haven't tasted it in ages."
Karna's golden eyes gazed calmly ahead, his voice as steady as ever.
"Master, I understand your eagerness to return home. But even at my speed, crossing such a vast sea will take time. Please be patient."
Ace scratched his head, flames dancing on his hair. He was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "—When I get back this time, I need to apologize to Sachi properly."
"This time, instead of confronting that bastard Teach face to face, I almost got myself into trouble."
A hint of guilt and determination flashed in his eyes.
"However, we found Luffy, learned about Blackbeard's plot, and witnessed his terrifying power—"
"We must tell Daddy as soon as possible that Fishman Island needs our help! We absolutely cannot let that Teach bastard defile the place Daddy is protecting!"
Karna nodded slightly; he could feel the Master's burning affection and sense of responsibility for his family.
"My father, Edward Newgate, was a respectable and powerful man. His family values resonate with your will, Master, which is good."
As Ace approached the core waters of the Whitebeard Pirates, the relaxation on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by a solemn expression.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and his powerful Observation Haki spread out like invisible ripples.
"Something's not right—" Ace suddenly opened his eyes, his brows furrowed.
"Ahead—there's a strong smell of gunpowder! And a lot more—I can't quite describe it, it's mixed with a nauseating feeling!"
Karna spoke at almost the same time, his perception being even more acute and peculiar.
"A large-scale magical conflict is taking place in the sea ahead. Multiple powerful life forms are engaged in fierce combat."
"Among them are a large number of strange entities, which should be the pseudo-Heroic Spirits created by Blackbeard. There are a lot of them."
The two exchanged a glance and both saw the seriousness in each other's eyes.
Without another word, Karna's speed surged once more, transforming into a golden lightning bolt that tore through the sky, hurtling towards the direction where the battle was most intense!
In the New World, on the island of Kornos, where the Whitebeard Pirates' flag flies.
The once prosperous port city has now been reduced to ashes.
Amidst the ruins, smoke filled the air, and shouts of battle and explosions echoed incessantly.
The attackers were not a single pirate crew, but rather a fleet consisting of several ships that had the Blackbeard Skull and Cross flag hanging from their gun barrels!
What's even more chilling is that among those pirates, there are a large number of screaming pseudo-heroic spirits!
Undeterred by pain and possessing bizarre strength, they caused immense trouble for the defending Whitebeard Pirates.
The fiercest battle took place in the square in front of the royal palace in the city center.
"Kurarararar!! You bunch of nobodies dare to provoke me?!"
Edward Newgate, with his white beard, stood like a towering giant before the palace gates.
With each swing of his massive sword, Murakumogiri, he unleashed a terrifying power that shattered space, sweeping away the charging pseudo-heroic spirits and the pirates behind them like flies, blasting them into blood mist or spirit particles in mid-air!
His signature crescent-shaped mustache trembled slightly, not from fear, but from anger.
However, the number of enemies was simply too great.
The false heroic spirits seemed endless, surging in from all directions.
Although their strength is far inferior to that of true heroic spirits, they are fearless and have considerable resistance to conventional attacks.
Despite their valiant efforts, the captains and crew of the Whitebeard Pirates were overwhelmed by the combined onslaught of fake Heroic Spirits and pirates, and many of them sustained injuries.
Diamond Jozu smashed a fake Heroic Spirit with his diamond-shining body, but was ambushed from the side by another, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound on his shoulder, the blood staining his diamonds red.
"Damn it! When will these bastards stop?!"
"Phoenix Seal!"
Marco transformed into a phoenix of blue flames, tearing apart a pseudo-Heroic Spirit with his claws, but more pseudo-Heroic Spirits immediately filled the gap.
He had to keep moving at high speed, deflecting attacks from all directions, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Dad! This can't go on! There are just too many of them!"
Vista wielded his twin swords with lightning speed, unleashing a torrent of sword energy that felled several pseudo-Heroic Spirits, but his aura also became noticeably heavier.
"These scum who've sided with Blackbeard! They actually resorted to such despicable tactics!"
The enemy leader, with a hideous scar on his face, stood atop the wreckage of a damaged ship, watching the struggling Whitebeard Pirates and letting out a wild laugh.
"Hahaha! Whitebeard! Did you see that? This is what happens when you oppose Admiral Blackbeard!"
"Do you still think you're the invincible strongest man in the world? Compared to the Admiral's godlike power, you're nothing but an outdated relic about to be eliminated by the times!"
Another pirate, known as the Poison Eel, licked his lips and chuckled sinisterly.
"If you just stay put on your Moby Dick and act like a coward, you might live a few more days!"
"Who told you, old man, to insist on coming to this tiny Kronos to play the hero? Do you really think you're some kind of savior?"
""
"Don't make me laugh! Pirates are pirates, stop putting on this disgusting act of hypocritical kindness!"
"The so-called strongest man in the world is nothing more than this!"
His laughter was chilling.
"Under the power of our Blackbeard Admiral, you and your ridiculous ideals are utterly meaningless!"
"Heh heh, I wonder how happy the Admiral would be if we brought your head back! My reputation would spread throughout the seas then!"
"Once I take away the title of the world's strongest man, it's mine!"
Faced with these foul words and a torrent of attacks, the white-bearded man remained silent.
His massive body, like an insurmountable mountain range, firmly guarded the palace behind him.
Every swing of the Murakumogiri carries the power to crush everything, pulverizing any enemy who dares to approach, along with their arrogance.
He did not respond to any provocation, but his actions spoke louder than words.
At the palace gates, the elderly King Konos, tears streaming down his face, called out to the white-bearded man.
"Newgate! Let's go! Don't worry about us! We can't let the Whitebeard Pirates be wiped out because of Kronos!"
The white-bearded man didn't even turn around; his deep, magnetic voice boomed like thunder, clearly echoing across the entire battlefield.
"Kurara—are you kidding me?"
He swung his sword to repel another wave of false heroic spirits, his gaze sweeping over each of his wounded sons who fought to the death, finally settling on the faces of the terrified yet hopeful people in front of the palace.
"I've said it many times—since you've raised my banner and received my protection—"
Murakumo Kirito burst forth with dazzling light once more, accompanied by his earth-shattering roar.
My heart belongs to my family! No one can hurt my family!
"Whoa!!!" Upon hearing their father's familiar and resolute declaration, the morale of the entire Whitebeard Pirates, which had been somewhat low, instantly soared to its peak!
They roared, unleashing even greater power as they fought against enemies many times their number!
However, the gap in strength and the absolute disadvantage in numbers cannot be overcome by morale alone.
The tide of false heroic spirits continues to surge, the Whitebeard Pirates' defenses are being constantly compressed, the number of wounded is increasing, and the situation is becoming increasingly precarious.
Skullbreaker looked at the still-resisting Whitebeard and a cruel, triumphant smile appeared on his face.
"A desperate struggle! Once you've exhausted all your strength, see how I deal with you! I've got Whitebeard's head in my grasp—"
'
He hadn't finished speaking.
call out-!!!
A golden streak, seemingly capable of piercing the sun, descended from the sky at a speed beyond comprehension, like a divine punishment spear, and ruthlessly struck the area where the pseudo-heroic spirits were most concentrated!
boom!!!!!!
Golden light burst forth like a miniature sun in the enemy ranks, and the terrifying heat and shockwave instantly tore apart dozens of pseudo-heroic spirits and the surrounding enemy pirates!
The intense light caused everyone to instinctively close their eyes.
As the light faded, two figures slowly emerged from the smoke and dust.
Leading the group was Karna, clad in golden armor and wielding an indestructible blade. His golden eyes calmly swept across the chaotic battlefield, as if he were looking at a group of ants.
Beside him stood a black-haired youth, his eyes beneath the brim of his hat no longer displaying the impulsiveness and frivolity of the past, but rather a calm composure imbued with anger and icy fervor.
His bare upper body was covered in hideous scars, yet the flames leaping around him were restrained and dangerous.
"Captain Ace! Captain Ace is back!!" A member of the Whitebeard Pirates recognized the newcomer and shouted with joy at surviving the ordeal.
"And that golden heroic spirit! It's Little Sun! They're back! You bastards, get ready to be punished by the Son of the Sun God!"
The Whitebeard Pirates, who had been in despair, suddenly erupted in thunderous cheers, their morale soaring!
Whitebeard looked at Ace and Karna returning, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Barton, recovering from his shock, looked at the two who had suddenly appeared, and especially felt Karna's unfathomable aura, and roared in a fierce but weak voice.
"Where did this bastard come from! Daring to meddle in the affairs of our Blackbeard Admiral's tearing-down fleet?!"
Ace ignored his shouts; he didn't even look at the enemy leaders who were yelling insults.
His self-shine first swept over his father, who was covered in blood but still stood tall, then over the captains and comrades who were scarred but had firm eyes, and finally landed on the commoners who were protected in front of the palace and whose eyes had been rekindled with hope.
He slowly raised his hand, pressed down on the brim of his hat to conceal the murderous intent churning in his eyes, and spoke in a low and cold voice, as if from the deepest abyss.
"Attacked my family and my dad —"
He slightly raised his head, his gaze beneath the brim like two cold flames, instantly locking onto the enemy. "—Are you ready to die?"
"Arrogant brat! You think—" Cracked Skull hadn't finished speaking.
The next instant, Karna moved.
Without any warning, the indestructible blade in his hand had already been thrust out!
It wasn't a fancy move, just an extremely simple horizontal thrust, but its speed was so fast that it seemed to surpass the speed of light!
call out-!
A golden thread as thin as a hair pierced through the cracked skull's brow with a speed beyond perception.
Along with all the pseudo-heroic spirits and pirates within thousands of meters behind him!
Enemies pierced by the golden thread, whether flesh and blood or pseudo-heroic spirits formed from energy, froze instantly. Then, starting from the point of penetration, they turned into ashes silently, like pieces of paper that had been set ablaze!
The other person's face still held shock and disbelief before they completely vanished into thin air.
quiet!
Deathly silence!
The enemy was terrified by this horrific scene!
What kind of power is that?!
With a single strike, he instantly killed a powerful captain and dozens of pseudo-heroic spirits?!
"I remember now! This guy is Karna, the son of the sun god of Alabasta! He's an absolute monster!!"
Someone shouted first, and the enemy's formation was thrown into chaos instantly!
The venomous eel and its first mate were terrified and turned to flee.
However, Ace appeared in front of the first mate in an instant, like a ghost.
All the other person saw was a pair of eyes burning with cold flames.
The next moment, a fist wreathed in jet-black Armament Haki and burning with blazing white flames rapidly enlarged in his vision: "Fire Fist: Mirror Flame!"
boom!!!
It was no longer the kind of spreading flame impact of the past, but a powerful flame punch that combined extreme heat and Armament Haki.
The punch, like a red-hot iron pestle, slammed into the first mate's arms as he tried to block!
Crack! A sickeningly loud sound of bone breaking rang out!
That thick arm, strong enough to withstand the bombardment of cannonballs, broke like a fragile tree branch under Ace's punch!
The terrifying force continued unabated, slamming heavily into his chest!
"puff--!"
Ralph coughed up blood mixed with fragments of internal organs, his massive body flying backward like a tattered sack, crashing into half a wall before falling silent.
Ace didn't even glance at the other's fate, his cold gaze turning to the terrified Poison Eel.
The poisonous eel trembled all over, its crotch soaked, and as it watched Ace approach step by step, it was as if it were seeing the Grim Reaper.
He vaguely recalled what his father had told him about almost being killed by the Pirate King at sea.
The cannon fire of that year burned down the pirate ships; perhaps this is what the Pirate King looked like in my father's eyes back then.
"No—don't kill me! I surrender! I—"
Ace didn't give him a chance to finish speaking.
His figure vanished again, reappearing in front of Sig. His right hand was spread open, covered with flowing Armament Haki and flames condensed to the extreme, and like a dragon claw, it instantly gripped Sig's head.
Sig stared in horror at Ace, who was standing right in front of him. His young face, covered in scars, was expressionless, only filled with a chilling killing intent as deep as an abyss.
"Nobody—" Ace's voice was low and deep, as if it were a declaration from hell.
"It can hurt my family."
The moment the words left his mouth, terrifying flames erupted from Ace's palm, instantly engulfing Sig's head along with all his fear and regret.
The headless corpse swayed and then slumped to the ground.
In just a few breaths, all three arrogant enemy leaders were killed!
The remaining enemy pirates and fake heroic spirits were terrified when they saw their leader killed instantly. With a shout, they fled towards the port like a tidal wave.
Karna didn't even move, he just casually swung the Undying Blade a few times, and several golden spear beams, as if they had a life of their own, accurately caught up with the fleeing pseudo-heroic spirits, pinning them to the spot and turning them into spiritual particles that dissipated.
The battle ended swiftly and decisively after Ace and Karna returned.
In the plaza, the surviving citizens of Konos and members of the Whitebeard Pirates looked at Ace and Karna standing amidst the ruins and the corpses of their enemies.
Ace slowly turned around and looked at Whitebeard.
The cold killing intent in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by deep worry.
"Dad—everyone—I'm back." His voice was a little hoarse.
Whitebeard looked at Ace, who had matured considerably, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
He stepped forward and gently placed his huge hand on Ace's head.
"Kuralalalala! It's good to be back, you brat!" His laughter was still hearty, but it carried a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
"Looks like you've been through quite a lot this time out there."
Ace felt the warmth from his father's hand, and his nose stung with tears, but he forced himself to hold them back.
He raised his head, his eyes resolute: "No, nothing happened!"