svetikya Chapter 234 The Straw Hats Unite to Defeat Blackbeard
Chapter 234 The Straw Hats Unite to Defeat Blackbeard
Chapter 234 The Straw Hats Unite to Defeat Blackbeard
Impel Down, the underwater prison, has now been renamed Pirate City by the Blackbeard Pirates, symbolizing that it has become a new breeding ground for crime.
In the deepest part of LEVEL6's Infinite Hell, the originally isolated, heavy cage was violently broken through, forming a huge space.
The walls were covered with ominous dark red patterns, which were congealed blood stains and remnants of some unactivated spell.
"Hahaha!! Can you feel it, Earl!"
Blackbeard Teach spread his arms wide, his single eye gleaming with greed and madness. He took a deep breath, as if savoring the resentment that permeated the air.
"The negative energy accumulated in this prison over hundreds of years is an inexhaustible treasure trove!"
"Once we fully master that method, we'll be able to create a truly immortal army of heroic spirits!"
"At that time, the Navy, the World Government, and even that World King hiding in the shadows will all tremble before absolute power!"
From the shadows, the count slowly revealed himself.
"Power—it needs the right guidance, Teach. Fuel without a spark is all for naught."
His voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a coldness born of experience.
"The spark? Didn't we already have it a long time ago?" Lafitte twirled his cane gracefully, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"Arjuna, the archer who was betrayed by Admiral Akainu and whose heart was filled with endless fire of revenge."
"His spirit origin, with its characteristics, is the perfect catalyst to ignite this grand feast."
"If only we could get him back, along with the fuel stockpiled in this prison, and the Heart of the Clouds you stole from the Sky Island, Captain—"
Van Oka calmly wiped his 1600-pistol, the metal parts of the weapon reflecting a cold glint in the dim light.
"The premise is that we can get Arjuna out from the heavy guard of the Navy Headquarters."
"Captain, news of the Five Elders' resurrection has spread throughout the world, and the main force of the Navy is gathering, with no doubt that their target is here."
"This so-called purification campaign is probably their first step in rebuilding their prestige."
"Resurrection?" The black-bearded man chuckled, his laughter filled with disbelief and a deeper greed.
"Hahaha! I watched that monster Hercules kill three of them with my own eyes! And now you're telling me they're all alive?"
"This is simply unbelievable. Is the World Government hiding some trump card we don't know about, or... has that old monster, the King of the World, come up with something even more sinister than manipulating souls?"
He licked his lips, a glint of light flashing in his single eye.
"No matter what it is, once I obtain Arjuna and master the power of the Heart of the Clouds, all secrets will be revealed to me! All power will be seized by me!"
Blackbeard walked to the center of the altar, stroking the dark red patterns, a cunning smile spreading across his face.
"Hahaha—Oka, you're right, the Navy will definitely come. They think our goal is to hold this place and build up a large army?"
"Completely wrong! This pirate castle, this so-called fortress, is nothing but a giant smokescreen I've laid out!"
He surveyed his core crew, his voice lowered slightly, yet it sounded even more menacing.
"Let the main force of the navy, and the eyes of the World Government, all be focused here! Let them think we're putting up a last-ditch resistance, that we're conducting some kind of evil ritual!"
"The real main force will seize the opportunity to head straight for Marine Headquarters G-1!"
Lafitte smiled knowingly: "A feint to the east while attacking in the west, a secret maneuver. Brilliant, Captain."
"While everyone's attention is drawn to Impel Down, this deceptive battlefield, our surprise force can infiltrate Marine Headquarters with minimal losses and find where Arjuna is imprisoned—"
"That's right!" The black-bearded man clenched his fists, dark mist swirling between his fingers.
"Arjuna, and the bloodline of the God-King within him, are the key! If we obtain him, combined with the Heart of the Clouds—hahahaha!"
"At that time, both the Navy and the World Government will understand who the real nightmare of this world is!"
Naval Headquarters.
Inside the port, warships stood like a forest, their masts like a woven tapestry.
The steel behemoths of warships stood in neat rows, their chilling aura almost tangible.
The decks of every ship were filled with solemn-looking, well-equipped naval soldiers.
Among these conventional fleets, several transport ships with heavier armor stood out.
Standing silently on the ship are a new generation of pacifists.
Or rather, they are a "divine corpse" unit that has undergone technological modifications and whose eyes gleam with a cold purple light.
They don't exude the mechanical feel of the PX series, but rather an ominous and silent quality closer to that of the dead.
Marshal Sengoku stood at the bow of the flagship, the sea breeze ruffling his slightly graying temples, but his posture remained as upright as a pine tree.
He picked up the Den Den Mushi, and his voice, amplified by a loudspeaker, echoed throughout the port, reaching the ears of every soldier.
"Gentlemen! Marshall D. Teach the Blackbeard is a man of unimaginable evil! He has seized Impel Down, desecrated the dead, and trampled the very foundations of justice and order!"
"Their ambition to build an evil army poses an unprecedented threat to world peace!"
"In this purification operation, we shoulder the heavy responsibility of upholding justice and eradicating evil!"
"There is only one goal—to retake Impel Down and completely annihilate the Blackbeard Pirates and their followers! Justice will surely be served!"
"Justice! Justice! Justice!!" The marines roared with fervor, their voices shaking the heavens and earth, as if trying to dispel the dark clouds gathering in the sky.
Admiral Akainu stood beside Sengoku, arms crossed, his eyes beneath his hat brim sinister and cold, emanating a faint sulfurous aura.
"It should have been done long ago. Only by utterly destroying such heinous criminals can absolute justice be demonstrated."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a steely edge, causing the nearby officers to shudder.
Kizaru grinned, his hands in his pockets, his tone still languid.
"How terrifying~ The Blackbeard Pirates were already a force to be reckoned with, and now they have the ghosts from the Rocks era, plus those troublesome Heroic Spirits—this mission is probably not going to be easy~"
Fujitora stood silently to the side, his heavy eyelids slightly raised, as if gazing up at the distant horizon.
While the main force launched a general offensive against Impel Down, he was granted permission to attempt to make contact with the Straw Hat Pirates and their Heroic Spirits.
Under Sengoku's orders, the massive fleet slowly sailed out of the port, like a steel dragon cutting through the waves, its target the underwater prison.
Shortly after the main fleet set off, a faster reconnaissance ship, carrying Admiral Fujitora Issei, quietly turned and headed towards Water Seven.
Off the coast of Water 7, the Thousand Sunny.
The brand-new Sunny is conducting its maiden voyage on the azure sea, like an elegant dolphin lightly cutting through the white waves.
"Wow! So fast! Super fast!" Luffy excitedly ran around on the deck, his rubber arms tightly hugging the lion statue at the bow of the ship.
"Of course! Super—!" Franky patted his chest proudly, striking his classic pose.
"This is the world's strongest ship hull, built by Adam the Tree, plus my genius-designed cola-powered system!"
"Speed, firepower, comfort—it's all top-notch!"
Nami meticulously recorded her nautical log, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.
"Excellent stability, and its steering agility far exceeds expectations—Frankie, you're a genius!"
Zoro yawned from the lookout tower, but deep in his eyes he acknowledged the new ship's smoothness.
Sanji hummed a little tune in the kitchen as he prepared a delicious meal for the upcoming celebration.
Chopper and Usopp were excitedly exploring the ship's various novel gadgets, especially General Franky's hidden compartments and the soldiers' dock system.
Robin sat on a beach chair, enjoying the sunshine and sea breeze, holding a history book in his hands.
At the stern of the ship, Ace and Karna exchanged their different insights on fire manipulation, one passionate and unrestrained, the other calm and precise.
Crocodile, cigar in mouth, leaned against the ship's railing, observing everything with a detached eye, seemingly quite disdainful of the childish game before him.
Just as the atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant, Zoro's eyes suddenly sharpened on the observation platform, and he placed his hand on Wado Ichimonji.
"Hey! A ship is approaching! It's a naval warship! Only one!"
In an instant, the relaxed atmosphere on the deck vanished.
Everyone immediately went on high alert.
Luffy stopped smiling and walked to the bow of the ship; Sanji extinguished the stove fire and walked out of the kitchen; Usopp and Chopper nervously hid behind cover; Franky activated part of the defense system; Robin closed her book, her eyes serious.
A medium-sized naval warship, without any aggressive posture, slowly came to a stop at a safe distance.
The person standing at the bow of the ship was not Garp, Aokiji, or Kizaru, whom they were familiar with.
Instead, he was a tall, robust blind man wearing a light purple kimono, with a black rope cane, and a calm expression.
"Admiral Fujitora Isobu," Robin said softly, revealing the visitor's identity with a hint of wariness in her voice.
"A powerful individual who was exceptionally promoted by the World Government through World Military Draft, whose strength is unfathomable, and—it is said that his sense of justice differs from that of Akainu and others."
On the warship, Fujitora did not show any hostility or domineering aura. He simply looked calmly at the Thousand Sunny and spoke in a deep voice.
"Straw Hat Luffy, and everyone on the ship. I, Fujitora, have never come here with any ill intentions. I am only here to deliver a message and to have an open and frank conversation."
Luffy walked to the bow of the ship, curiously examining the blind man: "Admiral? What do you want to say? Do you want to fight?"
Nami nervously grabbed Luffy: "Luffy! Be careful! The enemy is an Admiral!"
Fujitora slowly shook his head: "This is not a battle. I have come here on behalf of the will of a segment of the Navy to communicate."
"First, there's the latest news about Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach. He has completely taken over Impel Down and transformed it into a pirate castle. More dangerously, he's carrying out some kind of blasphemous act of creating an army of undead within it."
"Blackbeard!!" Luffy and Ace shouted almost simultaneously, their expressions instantly turning serious.
"That bastard—?!" Ace clenched his fists, orange flames erupting uncontrollably around him, the air distorting from the intense heat.
Fujitora continued, "The World Government has decided to take strong measures, and the main fleet is currently on its way to subdue them. The purification operation has already begun."
The news didn't surprise the Straw Hat crew too much, but Fujitora's next words made everyone, especially the Heroic Spirits, change their expressions.
"In addition, there is news from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise—the five Elders, who symbolize the highest power in the world, miraculously revived a few days ago."
"Resurrection?!" Roger's spirit frowned, his thick eyebrows furrowing as he spoke in a loud, questioning voice.
"Gurararara! What a joke! I saw it with my own eyes, Hercules killed at least three! Dead is dead, there's no such thing as resurrection. The World Government really is hiding some dark secrets!"
A sharp glint flashed in Karna's golden eyes. He spoke calmly, yet his voice carried a power that pierced through illusion.
"The boundary between life and death is the fundamental law governing the world. To cross it so easily is not a good omen; it is more like the beginning of some kind of enormous distortion and erosion."
King Hassan remained silent, but his gaze, hidden beneath his helmet, seemed to pierce through space, looking towards the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. The invisible aura of death seemed to lower the surrounding temperature.
Tescatlipoca gave a playful smile: "Oh?"
Fujitora nodded solemnly to Roger and the others.
"These gentlemen must be the renowned Pirate King Gol D. Roger, and all the Heroic Spirits. I am Fujitora, and I pay my respects."
""
Roger responded with swagger: "Oh? The new Admiral? Not bad! He's got quite the presence! Not bad at all compared to that Sengoku kid back in the day!"
Karna calmly nodded in response.
Wang Hassan remained silent, while Tescatlipok waved with a grin.
Fujitora took a deep breath and stated the core purpose of his trip: "Straw Hat Luffy, and all the Heroic Spirits."
"Blackbeard's ambitions and actions go beyond a simple pirate scramble for supremacy. He occupied Impel Down and desecrated the dead; his goal is far more than just dominating the seas."
"If he succeeds in creating an uncontrollable army of heroic spirits, the balance of the entire world will be completely shattered, and countless civilians will be dragged into catastrophe."
"As for the World Government—the resurgence of the Five Elders is full of mystery, and the motives and costs behind it are equally unsettling."
He paused, his voice growing heavier, carrying a deep-seated worry.
"Faced with a threat capable of overturning the world, the justice upheld within the Navy—"
"The purpose of my trip is precisely to reach a temporary, or even limited, understanding with you all on the common goal of stopping Blackbeard from creating an army of Heroic Spirits and averting a greater catastrophe."
"Cooperation?!" Zoro scoffed, his hand still on the hilt of his sword. "The Navy and pirates cooperating? Ridiculous!"
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes sharp.
"Who knows if this is a diversionary tactic, or an even worse trap? Are they trying to drag us into a chaotic battle with Blackbeard so they can reap the benefits?"
Luffy simply looked at Fujitora, tilted his head, and asked directly, "Uncle, do you mean you want to come with us to fight Blackbeard?"
Fujitora paused for a moment, seemingly choosing his words, before finally nodding: "We share the same goal in preventing Blackbeard from completing the ritual."
Luffy recalled his experience on Skypiea, the magical sea of clouds, and the heartache of having it taken away. His eyes became incredibly determined.
He looked at his companions: "What do you think?"
Robin pondered, "Intelligence sharing, especially information about enemy defenses and key items, does indeed sound advantageous to us."
"If the main naval force is attacking Impel Down from the front, it might create an opportunity for us to infiltrate. But risks also exist, and we need to clarify the boundaries of cooperation."
Brook: "Yohohoho~ If Mr. Fujitora is sincere, I'm willing to believe in his sincerity."
Finally, Luffy pressed down his straw hat and gave Fujitora a smile that was a mixture of fighting spirit and determination.
"Alright! I'll trust you for now, sir! I'll take down that black beard! If there's anything there, I'm going to get it back!"
"If what you're saying is true, then let's work together to stop him!"
A barely perceptible hint of relaxation appeared on Fujitora's usually serious face as he bowed slightly.
"Thank you for your trust, Straw Hat Luffy."