novelhk Chapter 78 Parting of the Companions, Roger to Arjuna
Chapter 78 Parting of the Companions, Roger to Arjuna
The sun boat in the dark sky above Alabasta.
The enormous golden solar ship brazenly entered the skies above Alabasta, and everyone felt that the area shrouded in rainforest was extremely eerie.
However, just as the ship was about to touch the ground, something unexpected happened!
Om-! ! !
An invisible and intangible yet vast and indescribable power descended instantly.
This wasn't an attack; it seemed more like a judgment, carrying an unquestionable will. The brilliant divine light on the ship's hull dimmed abruptly, as if encountering an invisible barrier.
Rama II's arrogant expression froze instantly as he felt his vehicle being forcibly interfered with by a higher-level force.
"Insolence! How dare you profane my divine might?!"
The Pharaoh's roar echoed through the heavens, and his scepter burst forth with dazzling golden light, attempting to resist the corrosive power.
Napoleon's body tensed abruptly, and he pointed to the empty space in front of the bow of the ship.
"Master! It's divine intervention! It's... 'cutting' us!"
Sabo's pupils constricted sharply: "Cut?!"
Before the words were even finished, the force had already taken effect!
The enormous golden hull of the Dark Night Sun Ship vanished silently, starting from the bow, like a pencil drawing erased by an eraser, to the astonishment of the crowd, along with the figures on board.
They vanished like phantoms, turning into specks of golden light like fireflies, merging into the rainforest below shrouded in chaos.
"Whoaaaaah! The ship! The ship's gone?!" Luffy frantically tried to grab at the air, but his feet suddenly slipped into thin air!
"Watch out, kid! The Sun King's ship is missing. Something took it away."
Roger reacted quickly, grabbing Luffy and Usopp by the back of their collars.
Just as he was about to grab Sabo again, Sabo, along with Napoleon and Usopp in his hand, disappeared.
"Miss Nami!" Sanji flashed to Nami's side at superhuman speed and gentlemanly put his arm around her waist.
However, in the next second, Sanji's figure also disappeared.
Chopper was so frightened that he clung tightly to Nami's leg, and Nami's face turned deathly pale.
The instant the ship dissipated, Zoro instinctively assumed a fighting stance, drawing his three swords and warily surveying his surroundings.
Ramses II's eyes burned with raging fury. He gathered his divine power to stabilize himself and his Master, but that power precisely separated them.
"Master!" Rai Er only had time to reach out towards Vivi before his figure was enveloped by the disintegrating particles of light and instantly disappeared from the spot.
"Your Majesty!" Vivi's exclamation came to an abrupt halt. Her figure was also enveloped by a gentle yet irresistible force, transforming into a streak of light that shot into the distance.
"Luffy!" Nami looked at her last support in despair, along with the last piece of ship's hull beneath her feet, and fell straight down into the bottomless green abyss like a kite with a broken string.
"Aaaaaahh ...
Boom-! ! ! !
A muffled, loud bang echoed deep within the rainforest, startling countless mutated birds into flight.
The Going Merry, along with Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Zoro, and the others, crashed into the dense rainforest like a meteorite falling from the sky!
The immense impact crushed a grove of giant trees and vines, leaving behind a devastating crater filled with dust and smoke.
"Cough cough cough..." Luffy was the first to crawl out from a pile of broken branches and fallen leaves. He was not injured, just a little covered in dust.
"Ouch... Huh? Where's the boat? Where's Vivi? Sabo?"
"Nami! Chopper!"
"I'm here!" Nami's voice came from the side, and she stood up, holding her forehead.
Chopper transformed into his fluffy form to cushion the impact, and now he sat on the ground, dazed.
"Luffy! Zoro! Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine." Zoro's voice came from behind a large tree that had been knocked down. He sheathed his sword and had only a few scratches on his body.
He scanned the unfamiliar surroundings warily.
"We've been separated..."
At the point where they disappeared, in that void, Tescatlipoca looked down at the rainforest below, divided into different sections.
Those deep eyes reflected the Red Team members scattered in various locations.
"The spindle of fate has prepared threads for you."
"King, return to your palace, and seek your crown in the labyrinth of lust for power."
"The spark of change falls upon dry tinder, and before the raging flames of a prairie fire, it testifies to your conviction."
"Daughter of the sea, and your guiding star..."
Smoke Mirror's gaze fell on the area where Luffy had crashed, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"This chaotic jungle, this primitive training ground... isn't it just what your 'adventure' appetites want?"
"With courage as your guide, with blood and sweat as your sacrifice... show me your 'value' on this stage."
Words, imbued with divinity, indifference, and a guiding quality, echoed deep within the consciousness of each separated member of the Red Team, before vanishing without a trace like smoke.
Sabo, Napoleon, Sanji, and Usopp crashed in the northwest, near the area where the Alabasta rebels were active.
Napoleon instantly sensed the anger permeating the air, as well as the strong smell of gunpowder.
Usopp clutched his heart: "To fall from such a height and be unharmed, I'm incredibly lucky..."
Sabo's expression turned serious: "Just who are they...?"
Sanji lit a cigarette, his eyes sharp: "Anyway, he's a formidable guy. Let's rejoin the others as soon as possible."
Outside Albana, the oppressive capital of Alabasta, surrounded by rainforest.
Vivi and La Er appear directly.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar capital city, and the sandstorm faintly visible above the palace in the distance, Vivi clenched her fists.
Ramses II stood proudly in the rainforest, on the last patch of sand, his scepter pointing directly at the palace.
Smoke Mirror's gaze returned to where Luffy and his crew were.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch..." Luffy rubbed his head.
"Who's that masked guy in my head? How annoying! He's made us all lose our way!" He angrily punched the sky.
"Now is not the time to complain, kid," Roger said calmly, analyzing the situation.
"Could it be the spirit of the Sand Crocodile? Did he deliberately separate us, sending us to different places to defeat us one by one?"
"My crewmates are in danger!" Luffy immediately perked up and punched back.
"Let's hurry and save them! Shoot away all the guys blocking our way!"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Zoro held his sword, his brow furrowed.
"This rainforest gives me... a very strange feeling. The plants and animals are all aggressive, even more dangerous than in the Drum Kingdom, and..."
Roger nodded in agreement: "This forest is a bit strange. I feel weaker than outside. It seems like legends and reputations are filtered out here."
He twitched his nose: "And there's a strong smell of gunpowder around here... and the aura of a Servant!"
As if to confirm his words, the sound of orderly and heavy footsteps, along with the clanging of metal scraping against metal, came from the dense forest on the other side.
Swish swish--!
Fully armed naval soldiers emerged from the dense vegetation, quickly spreading out to form a semi-encirclement, their dark gun barrels all pointed at Luffy and his crew!
The leading officer's eyes, sharp as a hawk's, locked onto Luffy and Roger: "Arrived at the designated location, target spotted! Straw Hat Luffy! And... Pirate King Roger!"
"Lord Arjuna! Act quickly! Admiral Akainu has given the order!"
He didn't finish his sentence.
Because a figure appeared in front of the encirclement as if by teleportation, with his back to the Marine soldiers and facing Luffy and Roger.
The divine bow hummed in his hand, his face was handsome yet cold, and his eyes were as deep as an ancient well.
It was Archer—Arjuna!
He calmly glanced at Luffy, finally fixing his gaze on Roger, giving a slight nod with the basic courtesy due to a powerful figure, but his tone was icy cold.
"Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King... a hero famous throughout the world. Nice to meet you."
"Having learned your true name, in accordance with the principles of justice and fairness of the Dharma, I will reveal my true name in return! I am Arjuna!"
Roger grinned, showing no fear, even a hint of excitement: "Oh? A pretty upright lad, not bad!"
He slowly drew the seemingly ordinary yet unparalleled domineering longsword from his waist—Ace!
"Kids...back off, that guy over there is formidable."
As soon as he finished speaking, Roger pointed his blade at Arjuna.
Arjuna's eyes remained calm as he slowly raised his divine bow, and destructive blue flames began to condense on the bowstring.
He first addressed the navy personnel behind him, saying, "Gentlemen, please refrain from attacking and keep your distance. Our battle may harm innocent bystanders."
Cold sweat dripped down the sailors' foreheads, but not one of them moved, and Arjuna waited no longer.
"Now, by the command of my lord, we shall settle this matter in this trial ground."
The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point!
Luffy and Zoro instantly entered battle mode, and the Marines held their breath and pulled the triggers.
The moment cold sweat dripped from his face, an incomparably powerful Conqueror's Haki slash was unleashed, with blue-green flames shooting out from the bowstring.
The clash between the strongest forces from two worlds has begun!