dmims Chapter 188 Transcending Life and Death, Death That Is Still Alive Now
Chapter 188 Transcending Life and Death, Death That Is Still Alive Now
Chapter 188 Transcending Life and Death, Death That Is Still Alive Now
Naval Headquarters, Garp's office.
Just as Garp was holding a bag of senbei, ready to enjoy it to the fullest, his heart suddenly clenched, as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand!
A sudden, inexplicable heart palpitation made his face turn pale instantly, and he didn't even notice the rice cracker in his hand falling to the ground.
He had experienced this feeling of chest tightness and shortness of breath, a sense of panic as if he were about to lose something of utmost importance, many years ago when he learned that his son, Long, had embarked on the revolutionary path.
This time, it was even more intense!
"Luffy—!" Garp pounded his chest, his teeth clenched, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Ever since he learned that his grandson had been drawn into that absurd Holy Grail War and even faced those legendary gods and heroic spirits, he had had a bad feeling.
At this moment, this premonition became a heart-wrenching, unbearable reality!
He stood up abruptly, not even having time to report to Zhan Guo, and rushed out of the office like a gust of wind, roaring at Hong Kong police.
"Prepare the ships! The fastest warships! Set sail immediately!"
"Lieutenant General Garp?!"
The lieutenant, Bogart, appeared instantly and, seeing the unprecedented anxiety on Garp's face, immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
"Where's Kuzan?! Make Kuzan come see me right now! Immediately!"
Garp's voice boomed like thunder, carrying an undeniable urgency.
Even he felt powerless in the face of those heroic spirits. He needed general-level combat power to rush to the place where his grandson was in danger!
The New World, Ace's little motorboat.
Ace, hands in his pockets and beaming, was discussing with Karna how they would teach Luffy a lesson for his unruly younger brother once they met.
Suddenly, the life card in his arms began to move!
He hurriedly pulled out the piece of paper that represented Luffy's life. He saw that one corner of the paper was turning black and shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if it was being burned by flames and rapidly turning into ashes!
"Luffy!!!" Ace's pupils shrank, and he let out a heart-wrenching roar!
He instinctively covered the life card tightly with both hands, trying to keep it burning and slow its combustion.
"No! No! Hold on, Lu!"
But all of this was in vain.
The burning of the Life Card symbolizes the rapid loss of life force, which cannot be stopped by external forces.
The edges of the paper continued to turn mercilessly into ashes.
"How could this happen?! What on earth happened?!"
Ace was so anxious that his eyes turned bloodshot, and he was almost losing his mind.
Karna reached out and gently placed his hand on Ace's shoulder, a hint of seriousness flashing in his calm golden eyes.
"Master, calm down. We can't stop the Vivre Card from burning, but the direction it points us in is right. What we need most right now is speed."
Ace suddenly looked up at Karna: "Sun! You're the fastest! Take me there! Please!"
Karna nodded: "Hold on tight."
The next moment, brilliant sunlight burst forth from Karna, who transformed into a golden meteor, carrying Ace along with him. At a speed beyond common sense, following the direction indicated by the Vivre Card, they tore through the clouds and sped toward the first half of the Grand Line!
The Going Merry, the abyss of consciousness.
Luffy felt like he was trapped in an endless, dark abyss.
The surroundings were shrouded in smoke, cold and deathly silent.
Even more terrifying, countless piercing screams, desperate cries, and vicious curses echoed in his ears.
Those were the final cries of the Shandians before the thunder descended, each sound filled with extreme pain and fear.
"No—don't let me hear it again—" Luffy huddled in the darkness, covering his ears and screaming in agony.
But those voices seemed to resonate directly in the depths of his soul, impossible to block out.
In the darkness, it felt as if countless invisible hands were gripping him, and a cold voice questioned him:
"Why didn't they protect us—"
"He clearly said he would help us defeat God."
"Liar! Liar! You're just like those gods!"
"Why, why, why!!"
"I didn't lie!!!" Luffy suddenly straightened up in the darkness and roared angrily.
"I will definitely beat him up! I definitely will!!"
His roar echoed in the darkness, and the negative emotions and sounds seemed to be temporarily dispelled.
Just then, a deeper, more ancient voice seemed to come from the deepest part of the abyss.
"Since that's the case—"
"Then come back—"
"Complete your trial."
"This—is just one of them—"
"Many more and more difficult trials await you—"
"You chosen by the sun god, do not hide your pain with laughter, and grow into the person He expects!"
The sound gradually faded into the distance.
Luffy suddenly opened his eyes!
The blinding sunlight made him squint instinctively, and he heard his friends' excited shouts.
"Luffy!!" Chopper, who always had his stethoscope in hand, exclaimed in surprise!
"Lu, you're awake?!"
"Great! Luffy's awake! Chopper! Great—"
Luffy blinked blankly and found himself lying on the deck of the Going Merry, surrounded by his crewmates whose faces were filled with worry and joy.
Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Roger, and even Kid and Shiki all looked at him with concern.
Immediately, all of them glanced at the ship's side with a hint of surprise and disbelief.
There, Tescatlipoca was leisurely leaning against the railing, puffing out a world-famous cigar.
Crocodile himself stood a little further away, looking at them with a complicated expression.
"I never expected this—" Nami murmured.
"That dangerous guy—he actually did—"
"Yes, it's truly—unbelievable—it's like bringing the dead back to life."
Chopper also spoke softly, his eyes filled with inquiry as he looked at Tescatlipoca.
Just then, Waver, who was lying next to Luffy, also let out a painful groan and slowly opened his eyes.
He subconsciously raised his hand to touch his cheek and arm, the touch was cold and hard, covered with a layer of scales like those of a snake, which made him feel a strange panic and unfamiliarity.
When Tescatlipoca saw the two wake up, he stubbed out his cigar and slowly walked over with an inscrutable smile on his face.
"Hey, you're awake? How are you feeling? You two are lucky to have escaped death."
Luffy didn't answer; he just lowered his head, clenched his fists tightly, and trembled slightly.
The devastating power of Indra, the sight of his people being annihilated in the lightning, and the reality that he was still instantly defeated despite his best efforts—all of these weighed heavily on his mind.
He suddenly raised his head and looked at Tescatlipoca, his eyes filled with confusion and self-doubt.
"Hey—you—you said you're the supreme god, right? You're very powerful, right? Can you defeat that lightning uncle?"
Tescatlipoca raised an eyebrow, then shook his head, his tone unusually frank and helpless.
"Unfortunately, Rubber Boy. Although I personally am not afraid of Indra and can contend with him on some levels, I cannot fight him here."
"There's a reason for this, involving deeper rules and—game balance. I'm sorry, this trial is for you. I can't directly interfere."
Luffy's eyes dimmed instantly, and he lowered his head again.
Weber, standing to the side, seemed to have completely broken down psychologically.
He looked at his hands, which had become unfamiliar, and his voice was hoarse and desperate.
"Why—why resurrect me—wouldn't it have been better for me, this sinner—to perish along with my people?! I killed them! It was me!!"
He pounded the deck with his scaly hands, emitting painful whimpers.
Just then!
boom!
Luffy suddenly punched Waver in the face, sending him sprawling backward!
Everyone was stunned, including Weber himself.
He covered his face, staring at Luffy in astonishment.
"Damn it!" Luffy roared at him, his eyes still filled with confusion, but burning with an undeniable flame.
"If you feel guilty, then strive to atone for it! Become stronger! Avenge your people! What's the point of crying and wailing here, thinking about dying?!"
"Tescatlipoca gave you the chance to live, not so you could wallow in self-pity! But so you could live on for the sake of your people! Go and fight!"
"You now bear the weight of your entire race's lives and hopes on your shoulders!"
Don't let them down! And don't let down the people who saved you!
Luffy's roar struck Waver's heart like a heavy hammer.
He stared blankly at Luffy, at this boy who had also just returned from the brink of death, yet still radiated such intense brilliance.
The despair and deathly stillness in his eyes were gradually replaced by a more painful yet more resolute emotion.
Atonement—Revenge—Bearing the Burden—
The faces of his people as they died flashed before his eyes, ultimately transforming into boundless rage and determination.
He slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, stood up, and although his body was somewhat weak from the rebirth, his eyes were completely different. They were the eyes of someone who had fallen into hell and then crawled back from hell.
"I understand." Weber's voice was still hoarse, but it no longer trembled.
"This sin, this hatred—I will spend the rest of my life atoning for it, washing it away. Indra—I will—"
He didn't finish speaking, but the resolute killing intent he exuded said it all.
Tescatlipoca watched this scene, smiled with satisfaction, and stepped forward again to look at Weber.
"Very good. It seems you have made your choice. Now, in order to achieve our common goal of defeating Indra—can you tell me?"
"Where exactly is that historical record that holds the truth located in Shandora?"
Weber took a deep breath and nodded.
Meanwhile, far away in Alabasta, deep within the Great Temple of Rain.
Inside the secret chamber sealed by Ramses II with countless barriers, former Admiral Sakazuki, who had been unconscious for an unknown period of time, suddenly convulsed violently!
The solidified lava armor covering his body made a faint cracking sound.
A surge of energy crossed space, subtly stimulating his nearly extinguished consciousness.
Sakazuki suddenly opened his eyes!
His eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment, and a severe headache felt like it was tearing his brain apart.
Many memories have become fragmented and blurred.
He only vaguely remembered the fierce battle—the golden heroic spirit—and how he was pierced through by the terrifying attack.
"Where am I?" He looked around and found himself in a secret room sealed by powerful magic.
"The Holy Grail War—is it not over yet? I—have been captured? Imprisoned in the enemy's headquarters?"
As an advocate of absolute justice, how could he possibly become a prisoner?!
Almost without thinking, following his instincts and remaining fighting spirit, Sakazuki roared and raised his hands!
"A massive fireball!!!"