Chapter 176: Slashing a Celestial Dragon
Afternoon of the second day after the Straw Hats landed.
Sabaody Archipelago has over seventy Yarukiman Mangrove trees, and each grove isn't particularly large.
Zoro, Chopper, and Usopp, who were out for a walk, headed towards the commercial street after lunch, passing through the lawless area again.
"Almost the entire amusement park area has been destroyed."
Looking at the neighboring groves that had been reduced to rubble, Usopp couldn't help but exclaim with emotion, "What a pity. We can't go play at the amusement park for the next two days. Luckily, the commercial district wasn't affected."
"Usopp, let's go buy more Grand Line Buns and chocolate!" Chopper suggested, looking up.
They had clearly bought so much yesterday, but Luffy had secretly eaten it all in the middle of the night. This time, he had to ask Sanji to help him hide it in a large, locked refrigerator.
"Sure, Chopper. This time let's buy more... eh?"
Suddenly, Usopp noticed some commotion up ahead. The people coming and going suddenly began to kneel on the ground one by one.
As if triggering some chain reaction, seeing the people in front of them kneel, the people around them also began to move to the sides and kneel.
All of them lowered their heads like ostriches, wishing they could bury their heads deep in the ground, as if seeing something they were desperate to avoid, deeply afraid of attracting its attention.
"What's wrong with them?" Chopper muttered in confusion.
The three of them walked down the street, looking at the kneeling crowds on both sides. Seeing this scene for the first time, they were still a bit bewildered.
However, the people kneeling on the ground were even more baffled. Why were these three guys still strolling along so nonchalantly?
Are they crazy?!
Until a kind-hearted person couldn't help but look up and call out urgently, keeping his voice down.
"Hey, are you new to this island? When you see others kneeling, hurry up and kneel with them! Wait until the Celestial Dragon passes by and sees—"
When the man who had given the warning saw Zoro's face, he suddenly paused, his mouth agape, stammering and unable to speak.
Isn't that Roronoa!!
It was this son of a bitch who destroyed my house yesterday! You bastard pirate!
Thinking of this, the man lowered his head again. To hell with him. I don't care if he lives or dies.
Chopper and Usopp had clearly caught the key words in the other's speech and immediately remembered what Hachi had said yesterday.
"Celestial Dragon?!"
"Where! Where!"
The two of them looked around in panic. Sure enough, at the end of the street lined with kneeling people on both sides, several figures gradually appeared.
A burly, heavily wounded man with shackles around his neck was crawling on the ground on all fours.
And on his back, he was carrying a portly man dressed in gorgeous white clothes, wearing a transparent bubble helmet.
The man had snot hanging from his nose and looked like a fool. Several men in black suits flanked him.
"Quick, Chopper! Zoro, let's hide in the crowd too!"
Seeing them approach, they hurriedly moved to the side and knelt with the surrounding people.
They carefully raised their heads a little, silently observing the newcomers from the corners of their eyes, whispering to each other.
"So that's a Celestial Dragon. He actually treats people like slaves, just as Hachi described."
"He said if we don't kneel, we'll be shot on the spot, right? And attacking them will bring an Admiral."
Usopp felt a lingering fear. Luckily, he had reacted quickly. He couldn't help but sigh in relief. "Good thing we came out with you, otherwise who knows what you might... huh?"
Where's Zoro?
"Where did that big guy go!!" Usopp's face turned pale as he shouted. Looking at the empty space beside him, a bad premonition instantly welled up in his heart.
"U-Usopp..."
Chopper's face was ashen, his teeth chattering up and down. He pointed a trembling hoof at the space in front of the Celestial Dragon, where a green-haired figure stood straight, staring at the other party.
Chopper was on the verge of tears. "That's not Zoro, right? I'm seeing things, right?"
Usopp jerked his head up, his entire person instantly petrified!
Wh-why? It was just the blink of an eye.
Remembering how he had confidently promised before leaving this morning that he would keep an eye on Zoro, two lines of unmanly tears streamed down his face.
Luffy! Reiner! Everyone! I'm useless! I've let you all down!
At this time, Saint Charlos, sitting on the slave's back, was stunned.
He stared at the green-haired person standing before him, both of them looking at each other with bewilderment.
This commoner, why is he standing so brazenly in front of me?
Before Charlos could make a move...
Zoro's expression was calm, one hand in his pocket, the other resting on his sword hilt.
His gaze towards the Celestial Dragon was no different from seeing any random person on the street. He simply spoke in a very flat tone:
"What is it? Need directions?"
"..."
The air seemed to freeze. The entire street fell silent. The kneeling commoners all looked up in shock.
Directions??
I think you're the one with a big problem!!
Chopper and Usopp were even more dumbfounded as they looked at Zoro.
Directions my ass!
Don't you have any idea who's the one who can't find his way!
You're actually going to give him directions?!!!
Between fear and shock, they chose to roast him!!
The next moment.
Without any warning, the Celestial Dragon casually raised an exquisite golden pistol, aimed it at Zoro's head, and pulled the trigger.
Bang—!
"I was going to give you directions, but it turns out the place you want to go is hell. In that case, I might as well send you on your way."
A corner of Zoro's mouth lifted, revealing a ferocious glint. The longsword at his waist was drawn in response.
Clang—!
A crisp sword cry lingered in the air. Before Charlos's bewildered eyes, an arm holding a gun flew past him, spraying blood.
The severed arm spun a few times in the air and fell to the ground, staining a patch of grass red like a worthless piece of trash.
"You're the one sending him on his way!!!"
Chopper and Usopp's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, their mouths agape as their chins hit the ground!
From this moment on.
Sabaody Archipelago, having just concluded the Supernova incident, once again entered another world-shaking major event!
—The Celestial Dragon Annihilation Case!
The town under the tenth Yarukiman Mangrove tree. This was the junction between the lawless zone and the hotel district.
The Straw Hat crew, Kid and Killer, Law and Bepo, and Bege, a group of about a dozen people, were just walking out of a marine supply store.
Reiner opened a wooden box, took out two hourglass-shaped pointers, and after Kid and Law had each taken a pair from it, he closed the box and handed it to Bege.
"One pair for each person. Give these Eternal Poses to the others when you get back."
Smoke curled up from the cigar at the corner of Bege's mouth. "Got it. I've already had my men deliver the Sea-Prism Stone to your ship. Although the quantity isn't large, it should be somewhat useful."
They were going to Impel Down; they definitely wouldn't make it with just a destination and no direction.
Moreover, in the seabed of the Calm Belt, Sea Kings were more numerous than dogs on land. Having Sea-Prism Stone devices outside the ship could minimize the chances of being noticed by Sea Kings.
After settling the matter of the Log Poses, they prepared to go for a stroll on Grove 1.
Today was the fixed auction day for the Human Auctioning House, which was a relatively famous 'event' on this island, especially since even the Celestial Dragons would attend.
Reiner and the others wanted to find Rayleigh, while Kid and Law purely wanted to watch the spectacle.
"I'll be heading back first then." Taking the wooden box containing the Eternal Poses, Bege turned to leave.
Before leaving, he couldn't help but cast an envious glance at Luffy, who was standing in front of a food stall.
He was the one who said he was going to Impel Down, yet after he said it, his subordinate had arranged everything. Comparing that to his own subordinates...
A cavalry troop charged out and got zapped into idiots by a single lightning bolt. Sigh, it was truly hard to put into words.
Bege had just taken two steps when he saw Hawkins, his face grim, leading a group of subordinates and walking quickly towards them, speaking urgently:
"Finally found you! Straw Hat, still eating here? Are you crazy!"
"Eh? What's wrong?" Luffy, who was just taking a piece of grilled meat from the owner, looked at the aggressive newcomers with a puzzled expression.
Seeing Luffy's expression, Hawkins became even more angry and said in a low voice:
"It's none other than your subordinate Roronoa! He just got into a conflict with a Celestial Dragon, and with one slash, he cut the guy down!!"
"What!"
"A Celestial Dragon!"
"That idiot Moss-head! Of all times!"
Hearing this news, everyone was shocked. Sanji couldn't help but curse loudly.
Doesn't this completely disrupt our plans?!
Wow, Zoro!
Reiner's eyes widened. He said yesterday he would cut one, and today he actually did? So reckless?!
Compared to the others' shock, he could actually understand this kind of thing. Given the nature of the Celestial Dragons and Zoro's personality...
Unless they didn't meet, if they did meet, it wouldn't be strange for a Celestial Dragon to be cut down for any reason.
And what kind of person was Zoro?!
He just wanders around blindly, yet he always manages to run into everything he's supposed to.
"No matter how critical the time is, that was a Celestial Dragon. Marine Headquarters must have already dispatched troops."
With no time for them to react, Hawkins immediately continued, "An Admiral will be here soon!"
Law looked at Luffy with a frown. "What's the plan now, Straw Hat-ya? We're fine. We've already finished our coating and can set off at any time. But you guys...?"
"Tch, what a bunch of lunatics. This is great. You might as well go in and keep your brother company," Kid said, crossing his arms and glancing over sarcastically.
He had figured it out yesterday. This group was full of lunatics. Even Reiner, Sanji, and Robin, who seemed calm, were the same in his eyes.
They were just wearing a mask of rationality; deep down, they were all insane.
"An Admiral, huh..."
Luffy rubbed his chin, couldn't help but think of Aokiji, whom he had met once in the homeland of Chopper's relatives. He already had an idea and said with a grin:
"Then let's run. Hee hee hee. We probably can't beat them right now, right?"
As he said this, he even turned his head to look at Reiner, as if for confirmation.
"Well, we really can't beat them," Reiner said, scratching his head with some difficulty. It would be even more troublesome if Kizaru came; his speed was too fast.
But thankfully, the backup plan makes its debut!!
"Let's run. Change locations and get coated somewhere else. Let Kid and the others set off first, and we'll follow and regroup later. We'll stay in touch with the Den Den Mushi during this time. Be careful not to use them near Impel Down to prevent being monitored."
Reiner looked at the time and quickly explained to the others, "You guys gather at the ship. The auction on Grove 1 is starting. I'll go see if I can capture a Celestial Dragon as a hostage to buy time."
"Alright! Then let's go!" As soon as the words fell, Luffy was ready to take action.
He acted on instinct. He was clueless when it came to planning, so he just had to trust his comrades.
"Wait a minute, Luffy! Reiner, how can we get coated somewhere else? Don't the bubbles here only work on the island and in the sea!" Franky suddenly asked.
They had learned this on the first day they landed when they rented the bubble vehicles. He had also gotten some information about coating from Shakky later and reacted immediately.
Reiner was naturally prepared for this question; otherwise, it wouldn't be called a plan.
He smiled mysteriously, waved his hand, and summoned the fanged, green-faced War Ogre undead. "With him. I've told you about him before."
"I remember this is using Oars's... wait a minute! Don't tell me you're going to... Sabaody Archipelago?!"
Robin instantly remembered Oars's epithet. The berserker demon who liked to transport the islands he conquered back to his own territory, the [Continent-Puller] Oars!
Is he going to reenact the legend that shook the world five hundred years ago?!
"Well, moving the entire Sabaody Archipelago is a bit unrealistic, but if it's just one Yarukiman Mangrove tree, it should be fine. It's enough for us to get coated anyway," Reiner said with a light smile.
Isn't it a standard operation for the Continent-Puller Oars to move islands?
In fact, it was less moving and more just pushing an island floating on the sea. If he could really lift an island, he wouldn't need to run.
Stamina wasn't a big problem either. The Sabaody Archipelago was essentially trees floating on the sea. Coating would take three days, but he didn't need to push for three days. Just setting it adrift on the sea would be fine.
He had cut down a Celestial Dragon, so be it. He had already considered this problem long ago.
Sanji rubbed his chin and thought for a while. "If we leave this island, the sea is so vast, no Admiral will be able to find us. And the Marines are definitely not in a position to dispatch a large number of troops for a search right now..."
He looked up at Luffy again. "More importantly, our plan to attack Impel Down won't be much affected this way. Let's just follow Reiner's plan."
"I understand! Then let's go find Zoro and the others and regroup at the Merry!" Luffy nodded and shouted.
Reiner had the War Ogre step forward again. "He will follow you. Time is short, act quickly, Sanji."
"Don't worry. Leave the command here to me. You take care of yourself," Sanji said, exchanging a look with him.
Reiner didn't linger. He summoned a falcon and flew straight towards Grove 1.
Sanji's command ability was second to none on the ship. With him around, there probably wouldn't be any accidents.
Law gave a cold smile and said, "These plans that sound so crazy always manage to seem so reasonable on your ship."
"Alright, headquarters is close by. The Admiral will probably be here soon. Since it was the Moss-head who cut him down, their attention will probably be focused on us. You guys should submerge into the sea first."
Sanji began to take up the flag of command. After all, this kind of job couldn't be left to Luffy. "Bege, get us some Den Den Mushi. We'll maintain communication later."
Hearing this, a door opened on Bege's clothes, and a few small people threw out some Den Den Mushi. He turned and left without looking back.
"Then we're leaving first. I'll have my men distribute the Eternal Poses. If you get caught here, the plan is off. Don't count on us continuing to cause a scene at Impel Down to save you."
Kid and Law also left after taking the Den Den Mushi. They had important business now, so they wouldn't go to the auction house to watch the spectacle.
The remaining members of Luffy's group ran wildly towards the location where the Merry was docked.
"The Moss-head and the others must be looking for us too! It's not suitable to split up now! Miss Perona, try your best to send out your ghosts to search for their traces! We'll head straight for the coast!"
Sanji turned his head to look at the War Ogre undead, thought for a moment, and then continued to shout, "To prevent not having enough coating equipment later! We'll move the ship to Groves 50 to 59! That area is the shipyard for coating! We'll move a tree there!"
There weren't many residents there, saving them the trouble of having to evacuate people. When the time comes, they would pick a tree there, cut its roots, and take it directly.
If they couldn't find Rayleigh, the coating equipment and artisans there could be used directly.
"Franky! Is there enough cola on the ship? It will be difficult for us to replenish fuel later!"
"Don't worry! I already restocked yesterday!"
Then the next step was to act according to the plan. It would be best if they could leave before the Admiral arrived.
Sanji thought this as he ran. However, in such a complicated situation, what one fears most is often what happens.
Right in the clearing in front of them, a tall, ball-shaped person appeared, carrying a giant axe on his shoulder!
Sentomaru looked at the group before him with dissatisfaction. "Honestly, the old man is always so slow. Before he arrives, I'll take care of you guys. PX-3, PX-4, move out!"
As his voice fell, Luffy heard several machine sounds from nearby.
Beep beep beep!!
Beep beep beep!!
"Straw Hat Luffy, target confirmed!"
"Black Leg Sanji, target confirmed!"
Luffy and the others immediately followed the sound and looked. On a small hill stood two identical, familiar figures!
The tall figures raised their hands, and a dazzling golden light condensed in their palms!
"It's that bear!"
"A Warlord?!"
"How can there be two of them? Are they twins?!"
"In any case, they're enemies, right!"
The group's expressions were grave. Being blocked by a Warlord in this situation was not good!
Luffy had met Kuma before and knew he was a Warlord. He didn't dare to be careless.
He spread his legs into a half-squat, slammed his fists straight into the ground, and white steam erupted uncontrollably!
"Entering... Gear Second!"
"Diable Jambe!"
Sanji spun on the spot like a top until his right leg burned like magma. Together with Luffy, he charged at the enemy at high speed!
"The opponent's body is very hard! Every second counts now! Let's go all out, everyone!"
"Understood!"
Crackle!
A flash of electric light exploded. Nami elementalized and flew into the sky, her orange hair flying. She brought her palms together in front of her, ten fingers bent outwards, and violent lightning quickly surged to her fingertips.
"Eighty Million Volts! Ten-Finger Laser Beams!"
Beep beep beep!!
Swish! Swish!
Energy condensation complete. Two beams of golden laser light shot out rapidly from the Pacifistas' palms!
Boom!! Boom!!
The battle instantly began!
At the same time, inside the auction house on Grove 1, the 'goods' waiting backstage for their miserable future sat in a row.
"I can hear the sounds outside. Is the auction going to be terminated? It seems like something major has happened on the island."
A figure with silver hair, round glasses, and slippers sat in the corner.
As if to confirm his words, just as he finished speaking, a man in a blue windbreaker ran in frantically with several guards.
The man in the lead was constantly grumbling, "Damn it! I could have sold the giant for a high price! Now I have to sell him directly to the Celestial Dragon! It's all because of that damn Straw Hat crew!!"
Disco, the auction house's host, was furious, but he didn't dare to defy the Celestial Dragon's orders, so he could only transfer all his anger to the Straw Hat crew.
"The Straw Hat crew, huh? The kid Shanks was talking about. It seems he's a young man who can stir up trouble too. I've been wanting to meet him for a long time."
A slight curve appeared at the corner of Rayleigh's mouth. He looked up, and a cold glint flashed across his glasses.
(End of chapter)
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you