dmims Chapter 219 Death Born in the Shadows, Lucci's Return
Chapter 219 Death Born in the Shadows, Lucci's Return
Chapter 219 Death Born in the Shadows, Lucci Returns
Blackbeard's maniacal laughter, proclaimed from the ruins of Impel Down, spread like a plague across the world via radio waves.
Meanwhile, far atop the Red Earth, in the sacred land of Mary Geoise, deep within the magnificent palaces stained with the blood and tears of countless slaves, another silent storm is brewing.
This isn't a prison cell, but it's even more suffocating than Impeldown's endless hell.
Rob Lucci, who once symbolized the highest combat power of CP9 and was hailed as the "strongest in 800 years," is here.
Now he is like a beast with its spine removed, curled up on the cold, smooth floor.
His black suit was already tattered and looked more like rough and dirty slave clothing.
His exposed skin was covered with whip marks, branding marks, and various indescribable bruises and wounds.
The unnatural twists at certain joints revealed clumsy healing after repeated breaks, while some more hidden wounds silently spoke of the Celestial Dragons' perverse penchant for torture.
His eyes, once as sharp as a cheetah's, were now just two stagnant pools, reflecting no light or shadow, only utter numbness and emptiness.
The World Government's dark justice? Absolute loyalty to the Celestial Dragons?
These beliefs that once sustained him have long been crushed into dust and vanished in the face of day after day of inhuman torture and the tragic state of his companions.
His companions were in equally dire straits, or even more so.
Kalifa, once a calm and intelligent secretary, is now like a withered flower ravaged by wind and rain.
Large sections of her long, golden hair had been ripped out by the roots, her scalp was covered in scabs, and the remaining hair was stuck with filth.
The glasses that once represented rationality were now shattered, and the empty blue eyes had lost all their luster.
She huddled in the corner, her expensive stockings torn to shreds, her legs covered in bruises and teeth marks, and her tattered slave clothes barely covering her body.
Each breath she took was accompanied by a subtle, uncontrollable tremor.
Wei Qu tried to relieve his immense mental anguish by banging his head on the ground and self-harming, but he was restricted by specially made shackles and could only let out low, beast-like whimpers.
The owl hugged its knees tightly, burying its head in them. Its small body trembled uncontrollably, and no more meaningful syllables could be uttered from its mouth, only choked sobs of fear remained.
Jabra and the lion Weiqu stared blankly at the ornately decorated ceiling, as if their souls had already left their battered bodies and flown to some painless paradise.
Kaku's situation is slightly better, but that's about it.
His leg had been cruelly broken and, without proper treatment, could only drag helplessly on the ground. Besides the pain, his face also showed a trace of lingering worry for his companion.
The sound of studded leather boots striking the ground grew louder as they approached.
Several Celestial Dragon guards responsible for managing the slaves walked in, their faces filled with undisguised contempt.
Most importantly, it's about the cruel pleasure of controlling the life and death of others.
"Hey, long-nosed Saint Roswald thought yesterday's fire-jumping wasn't exciting enough. Today, I want to see you perform a one-legged hop on a knife's edge!"
A guard grinned maliciously and threw several gleaming short knives onto the cold ground in front of Kaku, making a piercing sound.
Kaku looked at the knife on the ground, then at his immobile leg, his face drained of all color.
He struggled to lift his head and looked at Lu Qi, who lay sprawled like a rag doll not far away, his eyes revealing a final, almost instinctive plea for help.
That was the last hope for a former leader when faced with a desperate situation.
However, Lucci did not react.
His world had become completely closed off, and no external stimuli could penetrate the barrier built by pain and betrayal.
He couldn't even understand the meaning of asking for help.
The guard lost patience when he saw that Kaku didn't move.
A flash of ferocity crossed the man's face as he abruptly raised his specially made rifle, pressing the cold muzzle against Kaku's forehead, his finger on the trigger.
"Useless trash! Since you can't please these esteemed Celestial Dragons, what use are you? Die!"
The chilling sensation of death instantly pierced Kaku's brain. He closed his eyes in despair, awaiting his final release.
The other CP9 members let out cries of anguish, like wounded young animals.
Kalifa couldn't bear to look any longer and buried her face in her arms.
Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, "—The living toil in this world, seeking the shadow of meaning. But what is the meaning of life? Master, have you found the answer?"
A hoarse voice, seemingly coming from all directions, drifted out softly.
That voice—Lucki's numb nerves twitched as if pricked by a needle, a very faint pulsation for a moment. It was that voice!
In Alabasta, the voice of the spirit who called himself Hassan, who accompanied him like a shadow!
Wasn't he already vanished under the attack of that sun-like heroic spirit?!
He—didn't die? He's still alive?
This thought, like a faint spark in the darkness, instantly ignited the embers that had long been extinguished in Lucci's heart.
With a Heroic Spirit—can I still—return to the World Government and reclaim everything that belongs to me?
But the spark that had just ignited was instantly extinguished by the even more turbulent darkness in his own mind.
How ridiculous! How foolish! Can't you see it yet?
The World Government, the Celestial Dragons—they have never considered themselves as equals, but merely as useful tools and playthings that can be discarded at any time!
go back?
Return to the righteous cause that cast him and his companions into a state worse than hell?
The meaning of life?
Faced with this endless humiliation and suffering, all meaning seems so pale and hypocritical.
significance?
Lu Qi roared silently in his heart, and deep within his lifeless eyes, something seemed to be shattering and reforming.
Ultimately, it all turned into a deeper, colder void.
Everything—is meaningless. It's better to—just die—
"Hehehe————" The ethereal voice seemed to sense the transformation in his heart that ultimately led to destruction, and let out a low, satisfied laugh.
"Excellent—Master. Your mind is now as clear as a mirror, reflecting nothingness. It is more suitable for you to bear the truth than it was in Alabasta."
The voice paused, carrying a hint of farewell and introduction.
"Forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye, and thank you for providing this body as a beacon and a vessel."
"This should be the last time we speak in this manner."
"As compensation and an end, an older, more real being will answer your prayers. So—farewell, Master. You are a killer very much like me."
The moment the words left his mouth, Lucci felt a faint sense of presence within him vanish completely, as if something that had always clung to his shadow had completely disappeared.
But at the same time, a force far larger and more terrifying than the Shadow Lantern began to converge madly around him.
Lu Qi stared in shock at the long-dimmed mark on his right hand, which began to glow again.
The guard didn't notice anything amiss, and the cold muzzle of his gun was pressed directly against Kaku's temple.
"Go to hell!"
The shadow of death instantly enveloped Kaku, and he closed his eyes in despair. The other CP9 members also let out suppressed cries of grief.
Just as the guard's finger was about to pull the trigger...
"—Everything operates according to rules. Even the cycle of life and death is predetermined."
Time seemed to be stretched out and frozen.
The guard who was pointing a gun at Kaku froze, his cruel expression frozen, his finger poised to pull the trigger.
The actions of the other guards, and even some Celestial Dragons and their retinues watching from a distance with laughter, were all observed.
Sound, and even the breath of life, were all choked by an invisible force at this moment!
The "shadow" suddenly erupted!
That is the manifestation of the concept of death itself, the embodiment of the end of all things!
The shadows, like a silent tide, gently yet absolutely swept over the entire area.
There were no screams, no struggles.
All living beings touched by the shadow: guards, celestial dragons, and servants.
Their existence is like a pencil drawing erased by an eraser; from color to form, down to the smallest particles of life, everything is reduced to utter death in an instant.
The entire space fell into an absolute silence, as if even time itself had died.
The shadows slowly flowed back, eventually coalescing into an even more awe-inspiring figure behind Lucci, who was still slumped on the ground.
His body was shrouded in a tattered, ancient dark blue cloak, and his long, light purple hair hung down.
Without the iconic skull mask, there was a youthful face, calm to the point of numbness, as if death itself were present.
His gaze was calm, like pure darkness, and he stood there silently staring at Lucci.
An ancient and undisturbed voice resonated directly at the level of the soul.
"Your will to die, the bearer of the Youyi Contract, transcends the boundaries, drawing me here."
"By following the precepts, you are permitted to exercise the right to appeal by death. However, my duties take precedence. Where lies the twisted point between this world and the underworld?"
The instant he uttered those words, his gaze, imbued with the laws of death, seemed to pierce through countless barriers, striking the deepest part of the sacred land.
It's right in the direction of the Void Throne of Pangu City!
Pangu City, amidst the flowers.
Im, seated on the Void Throne, had a barely perceptible ripple stir in his eternally calm eyes once again!
His fingers, which were resting on the armrest of the throne, curled slightly.
Meanwhile, the human evil beside him felt an instinctive, irresistible chill rush from his tailbone straight to the top of his head.
A concept of death—completely opposed to the concept of life as understood by him, and perhaps even threatening the very foundation of the world—has emerged!
In distant seas, the senses of different beings resonate.
Jiang Ziya, who was riding a mythical creature and weaving through the clouds, suddenly let out a soft exclamation and looked in the direction of Mary Geoise.
A look of understanding and solemnity crossed his face: "The aura of death—so pure—has a being of the same caliber descended?"
"Has the balance of life and death in this world reached such a state? Could it be that my previous guess was correct? —"
On the Going Merry, Tescat Ripper, who was leaning against the railing and watching Luffy and Brook bickering with great interest, suddenly snapped his fingers.
His face broke into an even wider, more excited smile, as if he were witnessing the climax of a drama.
"Oh? Finally, a worthy competitor has arrived? The spokesperson for death—this will certainly make the menu for this feast even more abundant!"
"Can His commandments shake the destiny hidden behind the veil?"
Meanwhile, the Going Merry, which was sailing at full speed towards Impel Down on the edge of the Devil's Triangle, also received the news that shocked the world.
"What?! Blackbeard—he took over Impel Down?! And renamed it Pirate Castle?!"
Nami held the latest news report delivered by the news bird, her voice distorted with extreme shock.
The ship fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone understands what this means.
This is not just a prison break; it is a blatant declaration of war and trampling on the authority of the world government!
Blackbeard's madness and ambition exceeded everyone's imagination.
"That bastard—!" Ace clenched his fist, flames surging uncontrollably around his body.
"That bastard loves to show off. Teach, that beast, I'll tear him to pieces!" Shiki the Golden Lion sneered.
Roger's smile faded, his eyes sharpening: "Taking over Impel Down—this move is both risky and brilliant. The sea is about to boil over."
However, misfortunes never come singly.
Just as everyone was processing this shocking news, the weathered keel of the Going Merry let out a heartbreaking creak as it struggled to bear the weight!
Having endured the G-forces on Skypiea and a long voyage, this ship, carrying countless memories of the Straw Hat crew, has finally reached the end of its life.
The ship began to list noticeably, and seawater rushed in from multiple cracks.
"What's going on?! Was someone attacking us?"
Sanji and Zoro both became alert.
However, Roger stopped them and gently stroked the hull.
"It wasn't an attack—it's this ship that's going to break down."
"What!?"
Luffy, Usopp, and the others let out a heartbroken cry.
Everyone worked desperately to repair it, but everyone knew that the Going Merry was beyond saving.
"We can't go any further," Karna calmly assessed.
"In its current condition, this ship is incapable of handling the battles that may occur on the way to Impel Down."
Zoro, holding his sword, said in a deep voice, "We need a new ship."
Sanji lit a cigarette, his eyes serious through the smoke.
"Moreover, our opponent is Blackbeard, who has taken over Impel Down. We need a more meticulous plan and greater strength."
"
Forced to change their plans, the Straw Hat Pirates and the Kid Pirates, after discussion, decided to return to Water 7, which is famous for its shipbuilding technology.
To build a new ship for the Straw Hat crew, capable of carrying them on their continued adventures and facing even greater challenges in the future, while also rethinking their strategy for dealing with Blackbeard.
On the way to Water 7, Brook, the skeleton musician and a new member of the ship, suddenly felt a strange tremor.
He clutched his empty chest, his frame trembling slightly.
"Yohoho... Strange... It feels... The Yomi Yomi Fruit is getting hot... and there's a mark on it..."
Brook looked at the bright red Command Seal on his skeletal hand, the mark radiating an unusual light, as if resonating with some being on a distant shore.
A call from the depths of his soul, a call that transcends life and death, was faintly beckoning him.
Unbeknownst to him, the newly arrived Assassin, who had taken charge of the Death Commandments, had already, in some mysterious way, drawn his gaze toward the Underworld into an inexplicable intersection with that of the Underworld Fruit user.