r18novel Chapter 66 Darkness and the Alliance of Darkness
Chapter 66 Darkness and the Alliance of Darkness
Alabasta, Rainland, the top floor of the Rain Banquet Casino.
Crocodile stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, the cigar between his fingers long since extinguished, the ash falling silently to the ground without him noticing.
His usually cold face was now filled with disbelief and horror.
Outside the window, the once familiar, boundless golden sea of sand has now been replaced by a suffocatingly humid tropical rainforest!
Thick vines coiled around the exterior walls of the Rain Banquet Casino like giant pythons, and enormous ferns grew wildly from the cracks in the street.
The air was thick with moisture, the earthy smell, and a sweet, cloying scent of pollen.
Rainfield, a city built on a desert oasis, now seems to have been forcibly crammed into the heart of the Amazon rainforest!
"This...this is your power?"
Crocodile's voice was slightly hoarse as he turned around abruptly.
Look at the figure leaning against a stone pillar in the shadows, leisurely tossing an obsidian ball around—Tescatlipoca.
The God of Gazettes pushed up his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, the lenses reflecting an eerie green light from outside the window.
A playful smile curved his lips: "Change? No, Master. This is merely a return to... the way Hot Sands should be."
"Long, long ago, this land was just as bountiful. So this scene doesn't suit you very well."
His tone was as relaxed as if he were talking about the weather.
"But isn't this a necessary little prelude to the trial, making the stage more suitable for the heroes to take the stage?"
"Return?" Crocodile chewed on these two words, his heart filled with overwhelming shock.
Changing the climate and topography of the entire country and even the surrounding seas, and even creating a barrier that even the Sun King's chariot cannot easily break through... Is this really something a "Heroic Spirit" can do?
But thinking about it carefully, only with this kind of power can one be called a supreme god...
For the first time, he realized with such clarity that the Berserker he had summoned was far more powerful than he had ever imagined.
Nicole Robin stood quietly in a corner of the room, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the eerie rainforest outside the window and the shadowy Tescatlipoca.
Those deep eyes were filled with the inquisitive spirit unique to historians.
Changing the environment...distorting reality...this power instantly reminded her of the blank 100 years, the legends of ancient weapons, and even the great power of "creation" and "destruction" described in some lost myths.
What is the true form of this Heroic Spirit whom the boss calls "Tescat Riboka"?
Is he connected to the historical records and the secrets that the world government is trying to cover up?
Robin's heart raced slightly with excitement; she felt as if she were standing on the edge of uncovering the world's greatest mystery.
"Boss! Something's wrong!" A henchman from Baroque Works scrambled in, his voice filled with terror.
"A group of people has arrived outside...it's the Blackbeard Pirates! Marshall D. Teach himself has come! He says...he wants to see you!"
"Blackbeard?" Crocodile's eyes narrowed, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and he regained his coldness as a ruthless tyrant.
"Hmph, that greedy hyena, it's quick to smell blood."
He glanced at Tescatlipoca, "Looks like we have another heavyweight guest at our testing grounds."
Rainy port.
The Blackbeard Pirates' simple raft stood out awkwardly from the seaweed and barnacles that had grown on the dock.
Blackbeard Teach stood at the bow of the ship, arms outstretched, letting out his signature maniacal laugh: "Zehahaha! Crocodile! Long time no see, how have you been!"
Behind him stood Van Augur, Doc Q, Lafitte, and Burgess, lined up menacingly.
What's even more striking is that a thick, unyielding aura of resentment, seemingly emanating from the depths of hell, permeates the area around the black-bearded man!
A figure, barely visible, dressed in aristocratic attire, with a crazed look in his eyes, hovered behind him, emitting a silent shriek—it was Avenger.
However, at this moment, the count's figure seemed more solid than usual, and the resentment he exuded was more violent, as if it had been forcibly catalyzed by some kind of force.
"Hahaha! See my heroic spirit?" The black-bearded man patted the count's phantom image triumphantly. In reality, he had passed his hand through it.
"A vengeful spirit that has crossed worlds to fulfill my ambition! How about it, Crocodile? Is my Heroic Spirit powerful enough?!"
Crocodile, with a freshly lit cigar dangling from his lips, coldly stared at the black-bearded man and the resentful count behind him, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
He could sense the count's power and danger, but... something seemed off.
This power is too violent, lacking a certain depth that Tescatlipoca possesses.
In the shadows, Tescatlipoca appeared silently beside Crocodile. He adjusted his sunglasses, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Earl's resentful facade to see something deeper.
A hint of pity curved his lips as he whispered in a voice as ethereal as smoke, a voice only Crocodile could hear.
"The flames of revenge... embers forcibly ignited... intriguing. The name of the Earl carries a different shadow."
He paused, a hint of amusement in his voice, "However, this courage to willingly bear the curse for ambition... is worthy of an equivalent reward."
Crocodile's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't fully grasp the deeper meaning behind Smoke Mirror's words, but he had caught the key information.
Blackbeard's heroic spirit is not as simple as it seems on the surface, and Smoke Mirror doesn't seem to see him as a threat, but rather as if he's watching a show?
This allowed him to make a quick judgment.
"Hmph, Teach. Is he the one who gave you the confidence to betray Whitebeard?" Crocodile exhaled a smoke ring, his voice hoarse.
"You 'vengeful ghost' are quite something. What? Interested in the excitement of Alabasta too?"
"Hahaha! Of course!" Blackbeard jumped off the boat and stepped onto the wet, moss-covered dock.
"The Holy Grail! Ancient weapons! And this whole spectacle you've created!"
He pointed to the dense rainforest around him and the invisible barrier that he could vaguely sense, which seemed to envelop the sky.
"This place is practically made for me! Crocodile, how about we team up? First, let's get rid of those annoying red faction brats and their flashy Heroic Spirits! Then... the Holy Grail and Hades, we'll each rely on our own abilities! Zhehahaha!"
Crocodile narrowed his eyes, weighing the pros and cons.
Blackbeard is powerful, ambitious, and a dangerous partner.
But right now, the Red Team has gathered forces, including Luffy, Sabo, Vivi, and their powerful Heroic Spirits.
There are also troublesome Marines. Hero Garp, Admiral Aokiji, and Smoker, also from the Black Faction, are trapped here, and it is still unclear what the Marines' attitude is.
Having another strong ally to share the burden is certainly a good thing.
More importantly... he glanced at the unfathomable man in the smoky glasses beside him. With this man present, he had enough confidence to control the situation.
"Join forces? Fine," Crocodile said coldly.
"However, Teach, remember your place. Here, I'm the boss."
"Hahaha! No problem! As long as we can fight and steal the treasure, I'll listen to you!" The black-bearded man readily agreed, but a cunning glint flashed in his eyes.
"Very good." Crocodile flicked his cigarette ash.
"Well then, before we take action, let's improve the capabilities of our people."
He looked at Tescatlipoca. "Berserker, you can bring out the little gift you mentioned earlier."
The God of Smoke Mirrors smiled slightly, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
He clapped his hands lightly, the sound not loud, but clearly carried throughout the Rain Banquet Casino: "Warriors of the Baroque Works... come and receive your new life."
Soon, the core members who were summoned—Mr. 1 Daz Bones, Mr. 2 Bon Clay, Mr. 3 Gal Dino, Miss. Doublefinger (the new replacement, Mr. 1's former partner), Miss Goldenweek, and others.
Along with numerous elite cadres, they gathered in the lobby on the first floor of the casino.
They looked somewhat nervously at Crocodile and the Heroic Spirit exuding an eerie aura in the shadows on the high platform.
Tescatlipoca slowly walked down the platform, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
He walked up to Mr.1 Daz Bonis.
Bonis's face, as hard as steel, was expressionless, but his body tensed instinctively.
The God of Smoke Mirrors extended a finger, its tip swirling with dark energy like night smoke, and gently touched Bonis's blade-covered arm.
"Ugh—!"
Robin, standing nearby, exclaimed in utter horror, "This guy! Is he... touching a Devil Fruit?!"