NABC Chapter 231 At the End of Chaos, Red Hair Confronts Gilgamesh
Chapter 231 At the End of Chaos, Red Hair Confronts Gilgamesh
Chapter 231 At the End of Chaos, Red Hair Confronts Gilgamesh
Newsbirds spread their wings across the red earth, carrying newspapers containing news of the founding of the Cross Society to every corner of the world.
"Announcement of the establishment of the Cross Society?!" Doflamingo stared at the eye-catching headline on the front page of the newspaper, along with the portraits of the three people side by side below.
He, Mihawk, and Moria couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Morgans, that old fox, he's quick on his feet."
The newspapers reported in detail on the establishment of the Cross Society, claiming it to be a powerful new force composed of three former Shichibukai, aiming to maintain a new world order.
The report also subtly mentioned their feat of repelling a naval raid in Dressrosa.
This news undoubtedly dropped a bombshell on the New World.
"Hehehe, now the whole world knows about us!" Moria chuckled.
Mihawk glanced at it only, then continued wiping his black blade: "Just an empty reputation."
Doflamingo then looked through other intelligence reports. The news about Water 7 caught his attention.
"Straw Hat Boy — Adam the Tree — Mysterious Heroic Spirit — Naval Defeat —" He quickly browsed through it.
"Fufufu, that brat, he stirs up trouble wherever he goes. Looks like things are about to get lively on his end too."
He noticed the vague descriptions of the Angel of Death and Rob Lucci, his eyes gleaming behind his sunglasses, as if he were plotting something.
Finally, his gaze settled on a piece of intelligence about Fishman Island.
"Fishman Island—Noah's Ark appears, and the heroic spirits summoned by Jinbe—have withstood the World Government's order to destroy it?"
Doflamingo sat up straight, a look of surprise on his face.
"Noah's Ark—Shakespeare said it's a very impressive name, and Jinbe actually summoned something like that?"
"Noah's Ark—the legendary ark of salvation—has manifested itself in the form of heroic spirits?"
Shakespeare walked over, his eyes brimming with creative inspiration.
"A colossal ship bearing both hope and destruction, a warrior guarding the deep sea—this is truly an epic theme!"
Mihawk also showed a rare expression of interest: "A heroic spirit that can unleash the power of heaven and earth? Interesting."
"
Moria muttered to himself, "Such a big ship—"
Doflamingo put down the intelligence report, walked to the window, and looked out at Dressrosa, which seemed to have returned to calm.
"The Crusaders, Straw Hat Boy, Fish-Man Island, the World Government's secret weapon—fufufufu—" His laughter echoed in the room.
"The tide of the new era is getting more and more interesting. Everyone is caught up in it, and no one can remain unaffected."
He turned to Shakespeare and said, "Playwright, take good notes. This will be a grand drama—a drama that will sweep across the entire world!"
"And I—" he grinned from ear to ear. "Will stand center stage!"
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Marshal Sengoku slammed the newspaper down on the table, his face turning ashen.
"Doflamingo! This scourge—it should be eradicated in Alabasta!"
"Not only has this guy not been wiped out, but he's also joined forces with Hawkeye and Moria! The Crusade? What are they trying to do? Are they openly defying the World Government?!"
Akainu's aura was even more somber and restrained than before. He crossed his arms and spoke coldly.
"This day should have been expected when they were stripped of their Shichibukai titles."
"A bunch of marine debris gathered together is just a larger garbage dump. Send troops to wipe it out."
"Exterminate?" Fujitora Issei frowned.
"General Sakazuki, not to mention the combined strength of the three of them and those two Heroic Spirits, the civilians of Dressrosa alone make us hesitant to act."
"Moreover, the situation in the New World is currently unpredictable, with the Sea Emperor, Heroic Spirits, the Sun God of Alabasta, the Thunder God of the Skypiea, and the Angel of Death—"
"And most importantly, there's still absolutely no news about the arbitrator Dilt who's at the source of all this—"
"Under these circumstances, it is not advisable for the main naval force to easily engage in a full-scale war with the Crusaders."
Staff Officer He rubbed his forehead: "The most important thing is attitude. The establishment of the Cross Society is a slap in the face to the World Government."
"The Holy Land will definitely not let this go. They will likely use that newly equipped force as a test of combat."
The Warring States period's fist clenched and unclenched, ultimately turning into a helpless sigh.
The Navy's pursuit of justice is becoming increasingly difficult in the face of a more complex situation.
New World, Ghost Island.
"Hehehehehe!! That kid Doflamingo? What kind of guild did he start?"
Kaido's enormous body sat cross-legged on the throne, clutching a newspaper in his hand, and he let out a deafening laugh.
"Not bad, not bad! Interesting! Looks like this sea hasn't gotten too boring yet! We should give those bastards in the government a good humiliation! I support it!"
It is clear that hatred towards the Navy and the government in Alabastacan has reached a certain level.
He took a big gulp of wine and shouted into the empty hall, "Cú Chulainn! Did you hear that? More fun is in store!"
From the shadows, a heroic spirit carrying a scarlet spear, its face expressionless, appeared.
He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with barely suppressed fighting spirit: "Heh, I heard you, Master."
Kaido laughed wildly: "Hehehe! After I've digested Wano Country, I'll go and deal with this Cross Guild!"
"I want a piece of the pie too! How can we let them handle this fight against the World Government alone? Let's see if their union's cross is tougher, or my spiked club!"
"The former Impel Down, now Pirate Castle. Hahaha!! The Cross Guild? Doflamingo, Hawkeye, Moria?" Blackbeard Teach looked at the newspaper and laughed so hard he almost fell over.
"These stray dogs certainly know how to find companions! Too bad, the navy has me completely surrounded, and Captain John is terrified of that skeleton, so I can't go play with them."
The count twirled his cane gracefully: "There's no need to rush."
"The establishment of the Cross Society has drawn most of the firepower from the Navy and the World Government, which is a good thing for us."
"We can take this opportunity to continue our plan—to find a Heroic Spirit capable of fighting against the Grand Rank, or to strengthen our own power."
He was referring to the magical loop Blackbeard obtained in Alabasta, and his plan to find stronger corpses and shadows.
Van Augur wiped his Thousand Six: "Fate doesn't seem to be entirely on our side. But opportunity always favors the prepared."
San Juan Wolf let out a low growl.
Bagges, however, complained, "If Captain John weren't such a coward—"
"Shut up, Burgess!" The black-bearded man's smile vanished, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
"Captain John's fear is real. Don't mess with them until you find a way to deal with that skeleton."
"Hahaha—but the Cross Society—I'll remember that name!"
Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Baltigue, the Island of White Earth.
Dragon frowned as he looked at the news about the Cross Society in the newspaper: "Doflamingo—this dangerous man has broken free from the World Government's control and united with two powerful Shichibukai. His ambitions will not stop at Dressrosa."
Sabo stood to the side and said in a deep voice, "According to the intelligence sent back by Koala, Doflamingo seems to still be in contact with the scientist Caesar Clown, and his intentions are unclear."
"The establishment of the Cross Society undoubtedly exacerbated the turmoil in the New World, but it also weakened the World Government."
.
"For us, it is both a challenge and an opportunity."
Dragon nodded: "Keep a close eye on their movements. Especially—any actions they take related to Heroic Spirits. The rules of this sea are being rewritten."
Just as the world was shaken by the Cross Society, the New World, an island seemingly forever shrouded in hazy music and a sorrowful atmosphere, was emerging.
The music island of Eregia has welcomed familiar visitors again after many days.
Red-haired Shanks walks alone on the silent streets. The once music kingdom is now nothing but ruins and an inescapable sorrow.
But the good thing is that the unknown purple crystals and indescribable creatures have completely disappeared.
He arrived at the center of the island, inside a magnificent building protected by a powerful barrier.
Inside the room, the red-haired songstress Uta lay quietly among the flowers, like a sleeping elf.
Her face was rosy and her breathing was steady, but she seemed to be bound by invisible chains in the depths of her dream, unable to wake up. Shanks sat by the bedside, gently holding his daughter's hand, his resolute face revealing deep paternal love and a hint of weariness.
"Uta—I'm back."
Ripples appeared in the air, and a handsome man dressed in a white mage's robe and holding a wooden staff quietly appeared.
It is Shanks' heroic spirit—Merlin, the Magician of Flowers.
"Don't worry, Shanks," Merlin's voice was reassuringly magnetic.
"The Demon of Song within Uta has been sealed by Taigong Wang's Taoist magic and my illusion magic, and will not corrupt her soul for the time being."
"The trauma caused by the unknown needs time, or—a more fundamental force—to heal."
"The Holy Grail would have been the best option, but it doesn't matter. Even without the Holy Grail, I have a way to awaken her; it just takes time."
Shanks raised his head, his eyes sharp: "I believe you, and that's not why I'm worried."
"Merlin, tell me, who is the arbitrator who created the source of all this?"
"According to you, there should never have been such a thing as Heroic Spirits in our world."
"If that's the case, how did you all appear? How did the captain's heroic spirit manifest in this world? And how did the evil entity within Uta, which doesn't exist in this world, descend upon us?"
"Dilt—what did he get—what does he want? Based on what I knew of him before, he wasn't the kind of guy who admired extreme chaos."
"If he wanted to fight something—like the thing in Uta—why did he let the world become increasingly chaotic?"
Merlin's usual all-knowing smile faded slightly: "Shanks, what do you think a king is?"
Shanks frowned: "Merlin?"
"There was once a young girl who voluntarily shouldered the expectations of the nation and its people; her path to power was lonely and heavy."
Shanks shook his head: "I know, it's Artoria, right? I keep dreaming about your memories, that girl is very prominent in them—"
"But I am not a king. I am not the person the captain foretold!"
Merlin strolled to the window and looked at the desolate scenery outside.
"Shanks, you walk the seas, captivating people with your spirit and charisma, maintaining a delicate balance."
.
"You are the king, a king unlike that girl, a king of freedom and promises. That is why Wang Zuo has descended."
"But now, heroic spirits have descended, the rules have crumbled, and the balance has been broken. Will your path to kingship also change accordingly?"
He turned around and looked intently at Shanks: "Dilt—he's not just standing by; he might be waiting."
"He's waiting for a participant of sufficient stature to step into his game. And you, with the qualifications to command me and the desire to save your daughter, may be one of the keys he's waiting for."
Shanks remained silent for a long time before slowly standing up, his eyes filled with determination, the confusion in them replaced by resolve.
"I don't care what kind of uncrowned king he is or what his purpose is. Since he knows the truth, I'll go see him."
"My way."
Merlin smiled, a smile that carried approval and a hint of unspoken meaning: "Then, our next destination is—Heaven."
A few days later, the Red-Haired Pirates' Red Voss sailed into a sea with a pleasant climate, seemingly shrouded in an eternal spring.
In the distance, a huge, lush green island comes into view; that is Dilt's base camp, known as the Beehive Island of Heaven.
However, before the ship had fully docked, a terrifying pressure that sent chills down the spine swept across the island like a tsunami!
"Buzz—!"
A golden ripple bloomed in the sky above the port, and countless swords, spears, and halberds rained down like a meteor shower, their target the Red Fox!
"Enemy attack!!" the crew members exclaimed.
Shanks' eyes narrowed, and his Conqueror's Haki, mixed with powerful sword intent, surged into the sky, attempting to deflect the trajectories of those Noble Phantasms.
Yasopp raised his gun and fired rapidly, the bullets hitting the sides of several Noble Phantasms precisely, causing them to deflect.
Raki Lu roared and swung his fleshy legs, smashing away the approaching weapons.
But the density and power of this Noble Phantasm rain were beyond imagination!
"Oh my, what a warm welcome ceremony!" Merlin calmly raised his wooden staff and gently tapped it on the deck.
"The Garden of Avalon, a paradise forever isolated!"
A dazzling barrier, seemingly constructed from countless flowers and light dust, instantly unfolded, enveloping the entire Red Fosse.
The golden rain of Noble Phantasms crashed against the barrier, producing a continuous roar, yet it could not break through the seemingly fragile flower barrier.
The rain of magical artifacts ceased, and above the port, a golden figure stood proudly in the void.
He wore luxurious golden armor, and his red eyes were filled with endless arrogance and scrutiny. He was none other than Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes!
"Bastards! Who gave you permission to approach my courtyard?" Gilgamesh's voice was as cold as ice.
"This is the territory of my friend Dilt; how dare you, mere ants adrift at sea, set foot here?"
Shanks gripped Griffin's sword hilt and said in a deep voice, "It's this guy, Gilgamesh—"
"The Hero King who attacked the Holy Land? No wonder there was no news of him at sea; it turns out he's with Dilt—"
'
He then abandoned his intention to draw his sword and directly confronted Gilgamesh.
"Your Majesty, King of Heroes! We mean no harm. We have come here only to see Dilt."
"Meet the arbitrator?" Gilgamesh scoffed. "You bastard who can't even see his own path to kingship? And that one beside you—the nightmare hiding in Avalon!"
His gaze pierced sharply at Merlin.
Merlin maintained his smile: "Ah, the ancient King of Uruk, still as irritable as ever."
"However, is it a bit much to turn swords against a father who worries about his daughter and a king who worries about the world—"
Is this unbecoming of a king?
"The aura of a king?" Gilgamesh thought as if he had heard the funniest joke.
"You bastard!!! What are you? How dare you speak of the demeanor of a king! You want to pass? Fine! Use your strength to please this king!"
Behind him, more golden ripples began to spread, countless phantom images of treasures appeared and disappeared, and the magic power between heaven and earth began to run rampant!
The atmosphere was tense, and a shocking conflict was about to erupt.