Chapter 320: Only the Will of the Great Sea Cannot Be Defied
Xia Mu Luo Ke lowered his posture and actively reached out his hand toward Gao Wen.
Previously, he had made similar gestures several times, ultimately gaining a large number of supporters within the God's Knights.
After all, humans are social creatures who naturally crave the appreciation and recognition of their superiors.
Moreover, the status of the God's Knights is transcendent; even the Celestial Dragons of Mary Geoise have the qualification to execute people on the spot, let alone ordinary commoners.
Furthermore, before taking action, he had investigated Gao Wen's trajectory of movements all along the way.
In the eyes of ordinary people, Gao Wen and his group earned their reputation through repeated struggles amidst blades and blood, where a single slight carelessness would lead to total defeat.
But in Xia Mu Luo Ke's eyes, the trajectory of Gao Wen and his group was exactly the opposite; every step was carefully calculated.
In the East Blue, they attracted the world's gaze with a martial arts tournament, held a former Navy Admiral hostage, and demanded the position of Warlord of the Sea from the World Government.
Subsequently, they beheaded the Jin Jin Shizi in Water Seven and seized the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Now, having just entered the New World, the reputation of being the number one person below the Four Emperors has already spread.
Yet throughout this entire process, there was not a single loss among the core members of Gao Wen's ship.
This could only mean that all risks were under Gao Wen's control!
Seeing such a person who understood how to weigh pros and cons, Xia Mu Luo Ke did not believe he had any reason to refuse him, so he continued to raise the stakes:
"We come from Mary Geoise, our status standing above that of ordinary Celestial Dragons."
"You should be clear on what this represents."
Accompanying Xia Mu Luo Ke's voice, several figures emerged from the gray mist.
Their powerful auras were exposed without any concealment.
Holding a long-handled axe, Holy Charlingorm stood beside Xia Mu Luo Ke; endless mist emanated from around him, thick and heavy like clouds.
Various ferocious and grotesque yet suffocating images flickered within the black fog, making one's scalp tingle with numbness.
"Fighting monsters like this troubles me too, but if it's you, even 'that person' would probably be willing to make an exception and let you join the God's Knights."
"After all, such a powerful aura makes even me unable to help but tremble."
Recalling that previous move, admiration appeared in Holy Charlingorm's eyes, yet there was not a shred of fear, only an arrogance that looked down upon all from above.
"Such violent and powerful Haki is simply..."
"Simply terrifying!"
"It's just that you perhaps do not understand the difference between mortals and gods."
Having said this,
the two fell silent, merely gazing indifferently at Gao Wen and his group in the distance.
For a moment, silence fell all around.
An invisible, deadly atmosphere rose and brewed in the air; the sea wind howled in, blowing the gray mist into a backward roll, forming swirling vortices that resembled a tornado piercing through heaven and earth.
Ah Jin stood beside Gao Wen, his expression calm, unshaken in the slightest by the enemy's words.
If the recruitment attempt by Xia Mu Luo Ke and the others had occurred before the battle at Water Seven, he might have struggled internally.
He would have wrestled with whether to sacrifice his life here in exchange for an opportunity for Gao Wen to advance further, or to stay by Gao Wen's side and walk this path with him to the bitter end.
But after witnessing Gao Wen's attitude toward Luqi, Ah Jin understood.
In Gao Wen's eyes, the value of companions far exceeded everything Xia Mu Luo Ke described!
At this moment,
Ah Jin simply stood beside Gao Wen, awaiting his captain's command on whether to fight or retreat.
Whoosh—!
The sea wind was biting and cold.
It curled up the hem of Gao Wen's clothes.
He stood on the deck, looking down from above, gazing upon the group from the God's Knights as if he were the god standing high above.
While those standing in the port were merely a few mortals overestimating their own strength.
"Your crosstalk performance was good, but I have no patience to listen anymore."
Gao Wen raised his hand, dug out his ear, and revealed an expression of extreme impatience:
"Just any random cat or dog issuing empty promises cannot demand people from my hands."
"Or do you truly intend to cross swords with me right here?!"
Clack!
A flash of blade light passed.
The black blade Guanshi Zhengzong was gripped in Gao Wen's hand.
The aura of a Conqueror spread out, actually suppressing the howling gale all around in an instant!
Air currents churned around Kuro, a long tail appearing behind him as he displayed his ferocious Human-Beast form.
Zoro drew his three swords, with the cursed blade Muramasa bitten in his mouth; killing intent erupted, forming an aura like that of an Asura!
Sanji transformed into Invisible Black, Law activated his Operating Room, and Van Auger loaded a Seastone bullet...
In an instant, everyone had assumed their battle stances; clearly, from the very beginning, they had never considered retreating here, much less abandoning their companions here!
They had all, to varying degrees, experienced such situations before; even wagering their lives, they could not accept losing companions once again due to their own incompetence.
Ah Jin paused slightly, unable to help but recall the ugly scene back in the East Blue when Krieg ruthlessly abandoned him and all his companions; his gaze also hardened at this moment.
Crack-crack-crack—!
White bones extended from beneath his skin, interweaving and tangling to construct a suit of armor like white jade, transforming him instantly into a Centaur form!
I will make Gao Wen... become King!
Ah Jin stood quietly beside Gao Wen, silently reciting in his heart.
Boom—!
The wind rose and the waves grew high; the churning sea crashed against the shore, splashing up foam like silver.
Xia Mu Luo Ke's gaze suddenly turned cold:
"That is truly regrettable!"
"I also wish to test just how great the gap is between the man closest to the Four Emperors and a true Emperor!"
Hiss!
The long blade left its sheath, yet in the next instant transformed into a three-headed hellhound, lunging to bite Gao Wen!
Fierce and barbaric, it carried the scent of fire and sulfur.
"A three-headed dog?!"
"It truly carries a hint of hell's flavor!"
Gao Wen swung his blade, crimson lightning coiling around it as he slashed at the invading enemy!
Sharp teeth clashed with the blade's edge, emitting a deafening hum that drowned out every other figure nearby!
When everyone looked again at the two combatants, they realized the ferocious three-headed dog had long vanished; now grappling in the arena were only Gao Wen, blade in hand, and Xia Mu Luo Ke!
Boom—!
Waves of air rolled outward, force scattering in all directions, pressing the sea surface below into a concave pit a hundred meters in diameter.
The port trembled.
Rotten ships bobbed up and down, most of them swallowed by the seawater.
"This fellow... is very strong!"
A flicker of fighting spirit flashed in Zoro's eyes, but he forcibly suppressed it.
He knew the battlefield of those two was not something he could interfere with yet; his own opponent was the churning monster within that gray mist!
"Charge!"
Kuro's voice exploded across the deck; everyone unleashed their abilities, rushing to kill Chiringomu Saint in the distance.
The next instant!
From the churning gray mist in the distance surged forth many existences that filled everyone's hearts with dread!
From monsters out of manga and novels to specific individuals such as Doflamingo, Judge, and Jin Jin Shizi.
Vast and mighty, their presence was astonishing!
Yet, having just witnessed Gao Wen act, slashing away the gray mist with a single strike, everyone now understood.
The existences manifested by Chiringomu Saint from everyone's dreams, though possessing the form and abilities of their originals, were far removed from them in combat power; at the very least, the true Jin Jin Shizi would not be slain by a single strike from Gao Wen!
"Kill—!"
In an instant.
Everyone was locked in bloody combat with these phantoms, the sea filled with deafening cries of battle.
Kuro moved with divine speed, easily tearing apart attacking foes as he rushed to kill Chiringomu Saint at the center!
"Got him!"
A wild wind howled.
The Kamaitachi manifested, its blade-like tail slicing across Chiringomu Saint's body, directly cutting him into several pieces!
Yet the wounds did not bleed like a normal person's; instead, they oozed a nauseating black qi, and the moment this black qi appeared, the wounds on Chiringomu Saint's body began to heal at an astonishing speed!
In just a few breaths, the scars Kuro had left on Chiringomu Saint's body were completely healed.
"Did you see that?!"
"This immortal body is precisely the difference between you mortals and a god!"
A mocking smile appeared on Chiringomu Saint's face as he raised his hand to release black mist once more, manifesting everyone's dreams.
More monsters rushed out from the gray mist, sweeping across the entire port, nearly submerging Gao Wen's group!
At that very moment, Chiringomu Saint's voice reached Kuro's ears:
"I admit your strength as Knight Gao Wen's lieutenant; in a simple contest of physical ability or Haki, I might not be your match."
"No matter how many times you crush me or these phantoms, you cannot inflict substantial harm upon me."
"Yet with every injury you sustain, your strength diminishes by a fraction, until finally you fall before me, just like those unruly slaves of the past."
"Give up your struggle."
"Your resistance is meaningless!"
His only reply was the surge of airflow erupting around Kuro; this current, sharp as blades, tore countless phantoms apart, yet unexpectedly, in merely an instant, the phantoms re-coalesced and completely engulfed Kuro!
Seeing this, Chiringomu Saint completely lost his patience, a sinister smile curling his lips:
"In that case, let Knight Gao Wen choose!"
"Whether it is one companion or—"
Bang—!
A bullet came whistling through the air, interrupting Chiringomu Saint's words.
The convenience of his immortal body had long made him accustomed to ignoring such attacks, yet his Observation Haki now transmitted a intense sense of crisis!
He must not be hit!
Chiringomu Saint barely managed to turn sideways, yet he was ultimately struck by a Seastone bullet, a cloud of blood mist bursting from his shoulder.
Long-unfelt excruciating pain made his whole body tremble, yet his instinct for survival drove him to hide once more within the dream's gray mist.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
"You lowly bastard!"
From within the dream's gray mist, Chiringomu Saint's curses continued to ring out, clearly showing he had reached the peak of fury.
Within the encirclement.
Keluo raised his hand, striking back the attacking enemy, then instantly transformed into a lingering shadow and plunged directly into the gray mist, pursuing the aura of Qilin Gomu Sheng.
"It seems the so-called immortal body is not without flaws."
"Since it can be restrained by Seastone, that likely means this is an ability similar to a Devil Fruit..."
Within the gray mist.
Keluo darted left and right, shattering the attacking phantoms while searching for traces of Qilin Gomu Sheng.
After a brief moment of thought.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he gradually saw through his opponent's true nature:
"Wrong!"
"You yourself are an ability user; one person cannot compatible with multiple abilities, nor could there possibly be so many Devil Fruits possessing the same power."
"That indicates this immortal capability is most likely an effect imposed upon you all by some ability user."
"Mary Geoise indeed hides numerous secrets!"
"But this ability falls far short of true immortality; since it can be restrained by Seastone, it will definitely be restrained by seawater!"
Within the gray mist.
Qilin Gomu Sheng, who had been constantly retreating in an attempt to use the Kirin Fruit's ability to wear down Gao Wen's group, suddenly halted his steps.
An indescribable horror surfaced in his eyes as he looked at Keluo.
To discern so much from a single exchange?!
The last time he encountered such a monster was at God Valley.
Certain unpleasant memories surfaced in Qilin Gomu Sheng's mind; at this moment, his wariness toward Keluo had reached an indescribable level!
This fellow's danger level might even surpass that of Gao Wen!
A Yonko-level pirate poses almost no threat to the World Government or Mary Geoise, but a strategist like Keluo, capable of operating behind the scenes, can cause far greater threats.
He must be kept here!
As Qilin Gomu Sheng made his judgment, he instantly halted his steps and, without a shred of hesitation, turned and charged toward Keluo!
The Merchant's Long-Handled Axe swept across, churning the gray mist like a dragon, colliding mid-air with Keluo's claw blades!
Ding—!
Shockwaves scattered in all directions.
Neither party paused; in the next instant, they erupted into an even more fierce slaughter!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Dust and smoke dispersed, and countless buildings in the port collapsed.
As a veteran member of the God Knights and a captain ranked among the top, Qilin Gomu Sheng displayed combat power in close quarters no weaker than that of a Commander-level Shichibukai.
Relying on the advantage of his immortal body, he could even fight against Keluo, who approached the upper tier of the Golden Stage!
Amidst the fierce clash, Qilin Gomu Sheng inexplicably felt a pang of panic; he felt something was off with his emotions!
No!
Not just me!
The emotions of everyone present feel somewhat wrong!
"I seem to have forgotten something."
While pondering this.
Keluo's next wave of attacks arrived once again, forcing Qilin Gomu Sheng to wield his spear in defense.
Coupled with suppression from snipers in the distance, he couldn't even squeeze out a momentary gap for thought.
On the other side, Zoro and the others, facing the immortal and indestructible gray mist, were likewise embroiled in a bitter struggle, with several God Knights coordinating from within the mist.
The balance of battle gradually tilted toward an unfavorable direction.
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Above the sea.
The purest Haki unleashed, the most extreme clash of blades.
Crimson thunder exploded in the air; the sea surface of the port was nearly blasted apart, and the seabed, dozens to hundreds of meters deep, gradually exposed itself due to the wild force of the two.
"Knight Gao Wen!"
Xia Mu Luo Ke shouted fiercely, his eyes inexplicably turning somewhat red, while a nameless fire surged in his heart demanding release!
He suddenly raised his hand.
The blade transformed into a three-headed hound, charging once again to kill Gao Wen!
Claws and fangs grotesque!
Spewing flames!
Combined with Xia Mu Luo Ke's Haki, which shared the same origin as Red Hair's, his comprehensive combat power was even greater than Big Mom's!
Yet the current Gao Wen possessed confidence equal to any opponent, though a faint unease lingered in his heart.
Yet he did not know where this unease originated!
In any case, once all enemies before him were crushed, every problem would surface!
Wait—!
Gao Wen jolted awake, finally realizing the source of his unease, yet Xia Mu Luo Ke's ferocious slash had already struck.
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
