Ten years after the war at the top, Lin Zhan shreds the Navy Medal, his bloodshot eyes reflecting the craze of devil fruit weapons – when the world government uses technology to crush the pirate era, he kills the Four Emperors and explodes the SSS-level Rule Fruit, punches Kaido to save Ace, slashes Blackbeard with a knife to seize the Dark-Dark Fruit, but discovers a shocking secret: this fruit is actually alien black technology! ?
Who says pirates can’t play StarCraft? He crushed the Celestial Dragon’s crown, and behind him, the Empress/Robin/Yamato drew their swords together.
When the mother tree of the Devil Fruit broke out of the sea, the flags of the United Nations in the New World were already planted all over the Red Earth Continent – the system issued an ultimatum to the Five Elders: either kneel down and watch me rewrite the rules, or lie down and enter the final chapter!
One Piece Achievement System
Chapter 101 The Counterattack of the Power of Rules
The deep darkness was like sticky ink, ruthlessly devouring Lin Zhan’s sight.
He felt like a lone boat, tossed in a violent storm and liable to be swallowed by the huge waves at any moment.
The severe pain that almost tore him apart attacked his nerves madly, making him almost unable to think.
Damn it… He gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words. It seemed like he had used up all his strength to say each word. Could it be… that this was the end…
Garp’s deafening roar was like a bolt of lightning, splitting the chaos in Lin Zhan’s mind.
He saw the tall figure of Garp, standing in front of him like a mountain, and enduring another heavy blow from the mysterious figure.
“No, it’s not over yet!” Karp’s voice was filled with anger and unwillingness. He rushed up again, and his fist smashed towards the mysterious figure with a whistling sound.
A glimmer of hope ignited in Lin Zhan’s heart.
He knew that he couldn’t give up, absolutely not!
He still has partners, unfulfilled dreams, and countless people waiting for him to save.
“Calm down, Lin Zhan, calm down!” He roared at himself in his heart, trying to dispel the dizziness and fear in his mind.
He forced himself to concentrate and recalled the powerful power displayed by the Rule Fruit in previous battles with various enemies.
The fruit of time… the fruit of space… the fruit of cause and effect…
Countless images flashed through Lin Zhan’s mind. He was like a drowning man, desperately grasping at every life-saving straw.
He recalled the details of each use of the rule fruit and analyzed the connections and applications between different rules.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came into his mind.
“Between attacks!”
He suddenly realized that although the mysterious figure’s attacks were extremely powerful, there was an extremely short gap between each attack.
The gap is so small that it is almost imperceptible, but for Lin Zhan, who has the ability to control time, it is a great opportunity.
He took a deep breath, endured the severe pain in his body, and began to mobilize the power of rules in his body.
He wanted to use the power of the Time Fruit to slow down the movements of the mysterious figure and buy himself more time and space.
“Lieutenant General Crane, Taotu, Chatun, Dashiqi!” Lin Zhan roared with all his strength, “Cooperate with me! Distract its attention!”
Vice Admiral He frowned, and she also realized the seriousness of the problem.
She knew very well that if they continued to passively take the beating like this, all of them would be defeated by the mysterious figure.
“Peach Rabbit, Tea Pig, listen to my command!” Vice Admiral Crane quickly gave the order, “Peach Rabbit will be responsible for the frontal feint attack to attract its attention; Tea Pig will harass from the side and look for opportunities!”
Taotu and Chatun took action immediately.
Taotu brandished the famous sword “Konpila” in his hand, and with a sharp sword energy, launched a fierce attack on the mysterious figure.
Chatun used his agility to constantly move around the mysterious figure, looking for an opportunity to take advantage of.
Dashiki also struggled to get up from the ground. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and held Shigure tightly in her hand.
“For justice!” she murmured to herself, then rushed towards the mysterious figure resolutely.
Karp still stood in front of Lin Zhan. He was covered in blood, but he had no intention of retreating.
He roared, waved his fists, and attacked the mysterious figure again and again.
“Kid, think of a solution quickly!” Garp’s voice was filled with anxiety, “I can’t hold on for much longer!”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and focused all his attention on the mysterious figure in front of him.
He could feel that every attack from the mysterious figure contained the power to destroy the world.
When the mysterious figure attacked again, Lin Zhan activated the power of the Time Fruit without hesitation.
“Time manipulation!”
He roared, and the power of rules in his body burst out instantly, forming an invisible barrier that enveloped the mysterious figure.
Under the effect of the Time Fruit, the mysterious figure’s movements became slow, as if it was stuck in a quagmire.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, Peach Rabbit, Chaton and Tashigi seized the opportunity and attacked the mysterious figure from different directions.
Vice Admiral Tsuru used her wisdom and experience to continuously analyze the attack patterns of the mysterious figure, looking for its weaknesses.
Taotu’s sword energy is extremely sharp, and each sword carries the power to split mountains and crack rocks.
The mysterious figure was annoyed by the harassment from the tea pig and its attention was distracted.
Although Tashigi is weaker, her courage and determination are admirable. She fearlessly swings the Shigure in her hand at the mysterious figure.
Lin Zhan took advantage of this opportunity and quickly approached the mysterious figure.
He could feel that the power of the mysterious figure was constantly increasing. If he didn’t take action, he might never have another chance.
“Rule changes!”
Lin Zhan roared, and the power of rules in his body burst out again.
He wanted to change the rules of the space around the mysterious figure to make its attacks inaccurate.
Under Lin Zhan’s control, the space around the mysterious figure began to distort and deform.
Its attack was supposed to hit Lin Zhan, but when it was about to hit him, it strangely deviated from the direction and hit the air.
“Now!” Lin Zhan seized the opportunity and combined the star core energy in his body with the power of the rule fruit.
He gathered all his strength into his fist and smashed it hard at the mysterious figure.
“Rules? Starburst!”
Lin Zhan roared, and his fist, with dazzling light, hit the mysterious figure like a meteor.
“boom!”
There was a loud bang, and the entire space shook.
The mysterious figure let out a shrill scream, and its body began to disintegrate, turning into a ball of light and dissipating into the air.
Lin Zhan and others collapsed to the ground exhausted, gasping for breath.
They all had injuries of varying degrees, but their faces showed smiles of surviving a disaster.
“We… succeeded…” Dashiqi’s voice trembled a little.
Karp also showed a relieved smile. He walked to Lin Zhan and patted him on the shoulder.
“Well done, kid.” Karp said, “You really didn’t disappoint me.”
Lin Zhan also smiled
Just when everyone relaxed their vigilance, Lin Zhan suddenly felt a strange energy fluctuation.
He suddenly raised his head and looked towards the place where the mysterious figure disappeared.
There, quietly suspended was a…mysterious box.
“What is that?” Taotu was the first to discover the box, and she asked vigilantly.
Lin Zhan stood up slowly, walked to the box and observed it carefully.
The box was completely black, without any patterns or decorations, and exuded an unsettling atmosphere.
“I don’t know.” Lin Zhan shook his head and said, “But I think there must be some secret hidden in it.”
He took a deep breath, then stretched out his hand and slowly opened it…
When Lieutenant General He saw what Lin Zhan did, he immediately wanted to stop him, but it was too late.
“Lin Zhan! Be careful…”
Under the gaze of everyone, the box was opened.
There was no treasure or weapon as imagined, but a…
“What’s written on it?” Dashiqi asked curiously.
Lin Zhan stared at the piece of paper, his expression becoming more and more solemn.
“This is…” Lin Zhan’s voice trembled a little, “an invitation…”
“Invitation? Who to invite?” Karp asked puzzledly.
Lin Zhan did not answer, he just held the invitation letter tightly in his hand.
“Invite… to participate in a… game…” Lin Zhan muttered to himself.
“Game? What game?” asked Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Lin Zhan raised his head and looked at everyone.
“A game that will decide the fate of the world…”
The moment the box was opened, an ancient and mysterious atmosphere blew over, as if a long-sealed tomb had been opened.
The box contained no gold, silver or treasures, but a yellowed parchment map with rough edges, as if it had gone through countless years of baptism.
The complex lines on the map outlined the contours of an island, and Lin Zhan recognized it at a glance. It was the Valley of the Gods.
A bright red “X” marks the depths of the island, and an ominous feeling comes to mind. That is where the mysterious organization holds its rituals.
Lin Zhan unfolded the map, his fingertips gently stroking the rough parchment, a chill running from his fingertips straight into his heart.
In addition to the island outlines and marks on the map, there were also some strange symbols, like some ancient writing, and Lin Zhan didn’t recognize any of them.
He frowned, trying to decipher the symbols, vaguely feeling that they seemed to be telling something.
“What is this?” Taotu came forward and looked at the mysterious symbols. “Some kind of code?”
“It looks like it.” Vice Admiral He pushed up his glasses, and the lenses reflected a cold light. “Perhaps it is some kind of ancient writing.”
“Ancient characters?” Cap scratched his head. “How come I have never seen this before?”
Lin Zhan ignored the discussions of the crowd. His eyes were fixed on the “X” mark on the map, with a myriad of thoughts in his mind.
He knew that they were one step closer to stopping the mysterious organization’s ritual, but it also meant that they would face greater danger.
The terrain inside the Valley of Gods is complex and full of dangers. If you are not careful, you will be doomed.
“It seems that we have to go to the Valley of Gods.” Lin Zhan said in a firm tone, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.
“But…” Dashigi hesitated, “The Valley of Gods is…”
“I know.” Lin Zhan interrupted Dashiqi, “but we have no choice.”
He held the map tightly in his hand, and a powerful aura emanated from him, like a volcano about to erupt.
“Let’s go,” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice, “to the Valley of Gods!”
Just then, there was a burst of hurried footsteps on the deck.
A navy soldier ran over in a panic, pale and panting.
“Report! Captain!” the soldier said breathlessly, “We…we found…”
Feilu novel, Fei will make you look good!
Automatically subscribe to the latest chapters
APP audiobook (free)
High-quality audio, popular voice actors, offline listening
ActivityRegister as a Filo member and get 200 points![Register Now]Chapter 102 Crisis of the Final Ritual (Old Version)
Lin Zhan and others followed the instructions on the map and headed towards the mysterious ritual site inside the Valley of the Gods.
The sunlight shines through the dense treetops and onto the winding mountain road, creating mottled light and shadows.
Lin Zhan clenched his fists, and an indescribable sense of tension surged in his heart.
The terrain inside the Valley of Gods is complex, with steep cliffs and deep canyons everywhere, as if every step is full of danger.
“Be careful, there are many traps here.” Lin Zhan whispered, with a hint of vigilance in his eyes.
He held the map tightly in his hand and led everyone forward cautiously.
Vice Admiral Crane, Momotosagi, Chaton and Tashigi followed closely behind, each with a determined look on their face.
After walking for a while, Lin Zhan suddenly stopped and signaled everyone to stay alert.
Not far away, a group of guards in black robes were lying in ambush behind the rocks. The weapons in their hands were flashing cold light, and they had obviously discovered the whereabouts of Lin Zhan and his men.
“Prepare for battle.” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice, his tone revealing unquestionable firmness.
Vice Admiral Crane nodded, leaped up, and smashed his iron fist into the nearest guard with a deafening cracking sound.
Taotu and Chatun were not to be outdone. Taotu transformed into a giant crane and flapped its wings to sweep several guards into the air, while Chatun used his water element ability to form a water curtain, trapping the enemies inside.
The sword in Tashigi’s hand reflected a dazzling light in the sun. She jumped up lightly, and the sword flashed like lightning, cutting off the enemy’s weapons one by one.
The battle was extremely fierce, but Lin Zhan and his men gradually gained the upper hand with their superb martial arts and tacit cooperation.
“Keep moving forward.” Lin Zhan looked at Dashiqi with a hint of encouragement in his eyes.
They passed through a dense forest and came to an open area.
The scene here shocked everyone—the ground was covered with strange runes, and in the center was a huge circular device emitting dazzling light.
Members of the mysterious organization are performing a ritual that seems isolated from the world around the device.
“This is where their ceremony takes place,” Lin Zhan whispered, with a hint of urgency in his voice. “We must stop them.”
“Understood.” Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes, “We will hold back the guards, and you and Garp will destroy the core device.”
Lin Zhan didn’t say much, just nodded vigorously.
He and Garp looked at each other, and rushed towards the core device tacitly.
The footsteps echoed in the empty valley, and every step seemed to step on their hearts.
However, just as they were about to approach the core device, a powerful energy wave suddenly hit, as if the entire valley was shaking.
Lin Zhan suddenly felt an invisible pressure coming from all directions, making it almost hard to breathe.
He looked up and saw the leader of the mysterious organization standing in the center of the device, emitting a terrifying aura.
“You are finally here.” The leader’s voice was cold and low. He raised his hand slightly, and a dazzling light shot out from his palm, directly forcing Lin Zhan and Karp back several steps.
“Lin Zhan, be careful!” Cap shouted and swung his fist towards the light.
But the leader’s energy was too strong, and Garp’s attack only slightly slowed down the speed of the light, but could not completely block it.
Lin Zhan’s brows were furrowed, and thoughts flashed through his mind quickly.
He realized that only by finding the leader’s weakness could he break through this line of defense.
At this moment, Dashiqi suddenly shouted: “Lin Zhan, his energy fluctuations are unstable. Whenever you use the Rule Fruit, his attack will stagnate for a short time!”
Lin Zhan immediately understood what Dashiqi meant. He quickly used the power of the Rule Fruit. An invisible wave emanated from him, instantly changing the energy rules around him.
Sure enough, the leader’s attack paused briefly at this moment.
“Now!” Lin Zhan shouted, and rushed towards the core device together with Karp.
The two of them were like two bolts of lightning, approaching the target at an astonishing speed.
However, just as they were about to reach the core device, a dazzling light suddenly burst out from the device, and the entire valley was illuminated by this light.
Lin Zhan’s heart tightened. He knew very well that at this moment, the situation had reached its most critical moment.
However, just as Lin Zhan and Karp were about to touch the core device, the ceremony was completed.
A blinding white light burst out from the center of the device, shooting straight into the sky as if it was about to tear the sky apart.
Lin Zhan instinctively covered his eyes and felt a strong vibration coming from under his feet, and the valley seemed to be shaking.
After the light faded, a huge swirling black crack appeared in the center of the device, with unstable purple arcs flashing at the edges, and a sickening smell of sulfur filled the air.
From the crack, a black mist visible to the naked eye gushed out, twisting and tumbling like a living thing, making a creepy roar.
Vice Admiral Tsuru’s face suddenly changed, “Oh no, they opened the door to another world!” Taotu and Chatun also stopped fighting, looking at the black crack in disbelief, a chill running from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.
Lin Zhan felt a strong sense of oppression coming towards him, as if a mountain was pressing on his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
The black fog spread rapidly, and wherever it went, the grass and trees withered and the rocks collapsed, as if doomsday had come.
Garp grabbed Lin Zhan’s shoulders and growled, “Boy, hold on to me!” Lin Zhan felt that Garp’s hand was like an iron clamp, almost crushing his bones.
Before he could respond, the black mist surged in like a tide, completely swallowing them up… “Karp…” Lin Zhan’s voice was drowned in the chaos.
Turn on lazy reading mode
Chapter 103 The Urgent Mission to Rescue Ace (Old Version)
The all-consuming black mist, like a living beast, tightly entangled Lin Zhan with a suffocating feeling of oppression.
He had difficulty breathing, as if his lungs were filled with lead.
In my ears was Garp’s heavy breathing and the roars coming from the black mist, which sounded like the whispers of evil spirits from hell and made me shudder.
There was a stinging pain where his skin touched the mist, as if he was being pricked by countless tiny needles, and a corrosive force tried to invade his body.
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and activated the power of the Rule Fruit, forming a thin protective shield around his body to resist the erosion of the black mist.
But this protective shield is like a candle in the wind and may be swallowed up at any time.
At this moment, an urgent communication request came into Lin Zhan’s mind. It was the intelligence officer of the Void Pirates: “Captain! Emergency! Ace was captured by the Navy Reformists!”
This news was like a bolt from the blue, exploding in Lin Zhan’s mind.
Ace!
The person he tried so hard to protect fell into the hands of the navy!
Those crazy reformists are capable of anything!
If he is not rescued in time, Ace may…
“Damn it!” Lin Zhan cursed softly. His heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand and he could hardly breathe.
The crisis in God Valley is important, but Ace’s life is more important!
He must make a choice!
Lin Zhan suddenly raised his head and looked at Garp with a firm gaze: “Mr. Garp, I’m going to save Ace!”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, he knew he had to race against time.
He immediately contacted his father Lin Hu. Although he knew it was risky, Lin Hu was a vice admiral of the navy and understood the defense deployment of the naval base. This was the only solution he could think of.
When the communication was connected, Lin Hu’s weather-beaten face was full of worry: “Lin Zhan, what do you want to do? The navy is not a place where you can act wild!”
“Father, I need your help!” Lin Zhan didn’t have time to explain too much, “Ace was captured by the reformists, I must save him! I need information about the naval base!”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time, and Lin Zhan could hear Lin Hu’s heavy breathing.
He knew the inner torment his father was going through at the moment. He didn’t want to see his son become a pirate, but he also couldn’t bear to see Ace die.
Finally, Lin Hu’s voice sounded again, with a hint of helplessness and pain: “The defense system on the west side of the base is under maintenance recently. It is a weak point… The place where Ace is imprisoned should be in the central control tower…”
Lin Zhan was delighted. With this information, he would be able to sneak into the base!
“Thank you, Father!”
After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhan immediately contacted Aokiji.
Although Aokiji has left the navy, his sense of justice makes it impossible for him to stay completely out of it.
“Mr. Aokiji, I need you to remain neutral.” Lin Zhan said straight to the point, “I will not harm innocent marines. My only targets are the reformists and Ace.”
Aokiji’s lazy voice came from the other end of the phone: “Ah la la, this is really troublesome… As long as it does not violate my justice, I will not interfere.”
With Aokiji’s promise, Lin Zhan’s worries were alleviated a lot.
He immediately gathered some of the elite crew members of the Hollow Pirates and made a plan to infiltrate the naval base.
They boarded a small submarine and headed quietly towards the naval base.
Lin Zhan stood in the command room of the submarine, looking at the dark sea outside the window, his heart filled with tension and anticipation.
However, just as they approached the naval base, a thick smoke suddenly rose from the sea and surrounded the submarine.
“Smoker!” Lin Zhan recognized the familiar figure at a glance and thought to himself that something was wrong.
Smoker stood on a naval ship, holding two ten-handed swords in his hands, staring coldly at the submarine surrounded by smoke: “Lin Zhan, you are here! Surrender!”
“All crew members, prepare for battle!” Lin Zhan ordered.
The submarine’s hatch opened, Lin Zhan and the crew rushed out of the submarine and started a fierce battle with the navy soldiers led by Smoker.
Smoker’s Smoke Fruit ability is very powerful, turning the entire sea into his home ground.
Lin Zhan’s crew members had difficulty seeing in the thick smoke, and their combat effectiveness was greatly reduced.
Although Lin Zhan himself was able to barely resist the erosion of the smoke with the power of the Rule Fruit, he was unable to fully exert his strength.
“We can’t go on like this!” Lin Zhan was anxious. He had to find a way to break Smoker’s smoke.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
The Rule Fruit can modify all rules, so is it possible to modify the density of Smoker’s smoke?
A gleam of light flashed in Lin Zhan’s eyes. He concentrated his mind and applied the power of the Rule Fruit to Smoker’s smoke. He silently chanted: “Reduce the density of the smoke!”
“What?!” Smoker suddenly felt that his smoke became much thinner and his control was greatly reduced.
He looked at Lin Zhan in disbelief, “What did you do?!”
Lin Zhan sneered: “I said I would subvert the rules of this world!”
Just when Lin Zhan and his men broke through Smoker’s defense line and were about to enter the naval base… “Wait, what is that?” a crew member exclaimed, pointing to the sky in the distance.
However, just as Lin Zhan and his men broke through Smoker’s defense line and were about to enter the naval base, a shrill alarm pierced the night sky, making their eardrums buzz.
The earth began to tremble slightly, and the naval base suddenly lit up with a scarlet light. A huge energy barrier rose from the ground, like an inverted giant bowl, tightly wrapping the entire base.
Dangerous electric current flows on the surface of the barrier, making a crackling sound, which is daunting.
Lin Zhan and others were so shocked by this sudden change that they stood there in a daze, and their steps forward came to an abrupt halt.
A strong wave of energy came towards them, like an invisible wall, pushing them back fiercely.
Lin Zhan’s heart sank, and an ominous premonition arose.
He reached out and touched the barrier, feeling a numbing tingling sensation in his fingertips.
The strength of this barrier was far beyond his imagination, and even the power of the Rule Fruit could not easily shake it.
“Damn it! What the hell is this?!” Lin Zhan couldn’t help but curse.
The crew members around him also showed horrified expressions and talked a lot.
Smoker covered his chest and staggered out of the smoke with a ferocious smile on his face: “Lin Zhan, do you think you can easily break into the naval base like this? Too naive! This is the latest scientific and technological achievement of the navy – ‘Absolute Defense Barrier’. Even the Four Emperors can’t break through it!” He pointed at the barrier, his tone full of pride, “Now, you just surrender obediently!” Lin Zhan looked at the energy barrier in front of him, feeling extremely anxious. Ace was still waiting for him to rescue him inside, and he had to find a way to break through this barrier.
“This thing… I need to think of a way…” He muttered in a low voice. Suddenly, a voice came from the communicator: “Lin Zhan, I’m here to help you!”
Three things to do when reading: read, collect, and reward!
Chapter 104: Understanding the Rules in Desperate Situations (Old Version)
Lin Zhan looked at the energy barrier in front of him that was glowing with a strange blue light, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The barrier was like an invisible giant beast, emitting a suffocating feeling of oppression.
He could clearly feel that this thing was definitely not an ordinary product of technology. The energy fluctuations contained in it even made the rule fruit in his body slightly restless.
“Damn it! How do we do this thing? Ace can’t wait!” Lin Zhan growled with gritted teeth, his eyes burning with anxiety.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
The more critical the moment, the more we must not lose our composure.
He narrowed his eyes and carefully observed every subtle change in the energy barrier.
The blue light ripples like water waves, as if it contains some mysterious law.
“Energy flow…frequency…structure…” Lin Zhan muttered to himself, trying to find a breakthrough.
However, before he could figure out what was going on, Smoker came buzzing towards him like an annoying fly.
“Lin Zhan! Your death has come!” Smoker roared, turned into a ball of white smoke, and pounced on Lin Zhan with his fangs and claws.
There was a bloodthirsty smile on his face, as if he had already seen the scene of Lin Zhan being stepped under his feet.
“Get out of here, you stinking smoker!” Lin Zhan cursed angrily and had to distract himself to deal with Smoker’s attack.
He dodged Smoker’s fist and kicked Smoker’s waist with his backhand.
“Bang!”
Smoker was kicked back by Lin Zhan and hit the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
But he quickly got up from the ground, unharmed.
“It’s useless! Lin Zhan! My Smoke Fruit is of the nature type, your attack is ineffective on me!” Smoker laughed triumphantly, turned into smoke again, and launched a fierce attack on Lin Zhan.
Lin Zhan dodged Smoker’s attacks while continuing to observe the energy barrier.
He knew that if he couldn’t break through this barrier as soon as possible, both he and Ace would be doomed.
“Rule Fruit…how should I use it…” Lin Zhan called out anxiously in his heart.
He tried to mobilize the power of rules in his body and attempted to directly modify the rules of the energy barrier to make it ineffective.
However, no matter how hard he tried, it felt like he was punching a solid wall; it was useless.
“No… the rules of this thing are too complicated, and I can’t find a way in…” Lin Zhan felt powerless.
Just when he was at a loss, suddenly, a familiar cry came from a distance.
“Master Lin Zhan! I am here to help you!”
Lin Zhan looked up suddenly and saw a huge pirate ship coming against the wind and waves. On the bow, a beautiful figure stood proudly. It was the captain of the Nine Snakes Pirates, Boa Hancock!
“Hancock? Why is she here?” Lin Zhan was surprised.
Hancock waved her hand, and a pink light shot out from her hand, covering a large group of naval soldiers.
Those soldiers were instantly petrified and turned into lifelike statues.
“Sweet sweet wind!”
Hancock’s voice was clear and pleasant, yet it carried an irresistible majesty.
“Lord Lin Zhan, I can only help you up to this point. The rest is up to you!” Hancock shouted at Lin Zhan, her tone full of concern.
“Thanks, Hancock!” Lin Zhan said gratefully.
With Hancock’s help, Lin Zhan suddenly felt a lot less stressed.
He can now focus more on studying the energy barrier.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and immersed his consciousness completely in the power of the Rule Fruit.
He recalled the previous battle with the mysterious leader in the Valley of the Gods.
At that time, he was in a desperate situation and only then did he realize the deeper application of the rule fruit.
“Rules…are not meant to be modified directly…but to be used to guide…to change…” Lin Zhan muttered to himself.
He suddenly realized that he had been trapped in a misunderstanding.
He always thought about directly modifying the rules of the energy barrier to make it ineffective, but he ignored the fact that the real power of the rule fruit lies in change.
He opened his eyes suddenly.
“I see!”
He no longer tried to directly modify the rules of the energy barrier, but instead injected the power of the rule fruit into the surrounding space.
He began to modify the rules of the surrounding space, causing the energy flow around the energy barrier to become chaotic.
The originally stable and orderly energy flow began to become chaotic and disordered, like a pot of boiling water with bubbling bubbles.
The color of the energy barrier also began to become unstable, flickering, as if it was about to collapse at any time.
“Now!” Lin Zhan roared, leaped up, and rushed towards the energy barrier…
Just when Lin Zhan successfully broke through the energy barrier and was about to enter the base… As soon as Lin Zhan stepped into the base, a shrill alarm instantly tore through the air, making his eardrums buzz.
The red warning lights were like crazy eyes, scanning everywhere, dyeing the entire space blood red.
“Oh no! I’ve fallen into a trap!” Lin Zhan cursed inwardly. He could feel that the atmosphere around him suddenly became tense.
“Swish! Swish! Swish!”
Countless naval soldiers in white uniforms poured out from every corner of the base like a tide, holding cold guns and with ferocious faces, they surrounded Lin Zhan, Hancock and the members of the Nine Snakes Pirates.
The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, so oppressive that it made people feel breathless.
Lin Zhan could clearly hear the “click” sound of the naval soldiers pulling the bolts of their guns and their heavy breathing, as if they were a group of bloodthirsty beasts, ready to pounce on them and tear them to pieces at any time.
“Lin Zhan! You won’t be able to escape this time!” A familiar voice came from the crowd of naval soldiers. Smoker’s figure slowly emerged, with a playful smile on his face like a cat playing with a mouse, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
Hancock felt the hostility around her, and a cold light flashed in her beautiful eyes.
She placed her hands on her waist, ready to unleash the sweet wind again and petrify all those who were in the way.
Lin Zhan looked around, at the navy soldiers who were facing a formidable enemy, and Smoker’s disgusting face, but a hint of disdain appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“It seems that if we want to rescue Ace, we need to stretch our muscles.” Lin Zhan smiled contemptuously and said to Hancock beside him: “Empress, the next scene may be a bit bloody, you have to watch carefully…”
Chapter 105 Successful rescue and new challenges (old version)
“Hmph, a bloody massacre? That’s exactly what I expected!” our protagonist Lin retorted, his voice full of nonchalant arrogance.
Seriously, who talks like that?
But it kind of fits the “rebel with a system and a cool head” vibe, doesn’t it?
The air around him was so tense that it almost vibrated.
The salty sea breeze mixed with the pungent smell of gunpowder and fear.
The white uniforms of the surrounding Marines seemed to be looming, like a suffocating blanket of “justice.”
I mean, their so-called “justice,” the kind that comes with big guns and a serious lack of imagination.
From the corner of my eye, I could catch a glimpse of the beautiful Empress Han.
Her expression didn’t show any sign of distress, but rather that of a predator staring at an annoying prey.
Her stone-cold eyes might be imagining turning them all into statues.
Ah, she is truly a goddess among mortals…
“Well, ladies and gentlemen,” Forrest announced, his voice cutting through the tension like a hot knife through butter.
“It’s time for some…chaos. I need the Queen and everyone else to create an opportunity for me to meet Ace. Can you do that?”
Forrest waved his hand before he finished speaking.
The members of the Nine Snakes Pirates took the lead in taking action.
“Of course!” A burst of responses broke out, full of bloodthirsty excitement, which even made Lin’s back chill.
These weren’t just any pirates, they were pirates of Amazon Lily.
They grew up on an island of man-hating warriors, and I gotta say, they lived up to their reputation.
“Nine Snake Moves: Snake Hair Binding!”
Their attacks are as swift and deadly as a striking cobra, and every move is precise and lethal.
Arrows coated with powerful poison whizzed through the air, and legs turned into a blur under the fierce kick.
The ropes stretched out like snakes, entangled the bewildered marines, and trapped them in a web of doom from which there was no escape.
This level of combat…
This is no ordinary pirate group.
As the Nine Snakes Pirates rampaged, various colors of armament haki emerged, impacting the surrounding space.
“These women…”
“This Armament Haki is so strong!”
“Is this the strength of the Nine Snakes Pirates?”
The surrounding navy soldiers looked at the Nine Snakes Pirates and couldn’t help but gasp.
But they quickly reacted and rushed towards the Nine Snakes Pirates.
“Don’t be in a daze, these pirates are not easy to deal with!”
“Brothers, kill!”
“Kill all these pirates!”
The navy soldiers shouted and rushed towards the Nine Snakes Pirates frantically.
The two sides immediately engaged in a melee.
For a moment, shouts of killing shook the sky, and the terrifying impact and power raged, causing the surrounding ground to collapse and crack.
Amid the chaos, Forrest grinned, a predator’s gleam in his eyes.
“It’s my turn now.”
Then he closed his eyes.
The next moment, a strange wave spread out from him and enveloped the entire battlefield.
“The Law of Stillness!” Lin roared in his heart.
As the power of the Law Fruit was activated, the space in front of him suddenly became extremely slow, and all objects seemed to be frozen.
“Now!”
Forrest
At the same time, Smoker had a bad feeling in his heart.
He roared: “No, stop him!”
But it was too late, Forrest had disappeared from the spot.
Smoker looked grim.
He didn’t expect that Forrest was so powerful that he could break through the blockade of so many people and leave.
Smoker knew that it would be difficult to capture Forrest again.
But he was unwilling to give up.
He roared, “I don’t believe you can escape!”
Smoker chases after Forrest.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t catch up with Forrest’s speed.
Forrest seemed to have disappeared from this space, and no trace of him could be found.
Smoker was furious. He roared, “Forrest, I will catch you!”
Of course, Forrest didn’t bother to pay any attention to him.
At this time, he was rushing towards the place where Ace was imprisoned.
With his [Law Fruit] ability, this task is almost as easy as a walk in the park.
The marines swooped in, brandishing swords, firing cannons… everything was agonizingly slow.
It was like watching a puppet show performed by a group of particularly clumsy toddlers.
He twisted his body, moved around flexibly, and occasionally snapped his fingers, applying the “law of gravity” just right to make an unfortunate marine fall to the ground.
It wasn’t even a fight, more like a choreographed dance of humiliation.
Finally, he came to the steel gate of the prison area.
The air here stinks of sweat, desperation, and stale bread.
Mm, really appetizing.
“Stop! This is a restricted area!” A hoarse voice came from behind the door.
“No,” was all Forrest said.
He simply extended his palm toward the heavy iron door.
The ability of the Law Fruit is activated.
In an instant, the iron gate seemed to lose the laws of material existence.
It turned into particles and dissipated.
“What is this?”
The navy soldier guarding the cell was stunned, his face full of fear.
The next moment, Forrest rushed in.
Before the navy soldiers could react, they were knocked to the ground by Forrest.
Forrest looked inside the cell.
He saw Ace tied up, weak, locked in a cell, and covered in wounds.
“Ace!” Forrest yelled.
Ace looked up and froze when he saw Forrest.
He never thought that Forrest would come to rescue him.
“Forrest?” Ace’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Why are you here?”
“Of course I came to rescue you,” Forrest replied with a grin, “How could I abandon my brother?”
He stretched out his hand, and the power of the Law Fruit shone, and the seastone handcuffs that bound Ace shattered into powder.
The breath of freedom surged through the room like the power of a newly awakened devil fruit.
Two figures rushed out of the prison complex, one like a burning phoenix and the other like a controllable whirlwind, leaving behind a group of confused and injured marines.
The reunion with the rest of the crew was chaotic yet exhilarating.
There were explosions, cheers, and the satisfying thump of marines falling to the ground.
Even Han seemed to smile a little, but it could have just been flatulence.
“All right, guys! Let’s get back to the boat!” Forrest roared, his voice echoing through the chaos.
“Great!” Everyone cheered and morale reached its peak.
With Ace leading the way, everyone’s strength seemed to be greatly enhanced.
The Marines were powerless to stop them.
Soon, Forrest and his team successfully broke through the blockade and arrived outside the naval base.
Smoker looked in the direction where Lin left.
He roared, “Forrest, I’m going to catch you!”
But all this was in vain, Lin and his companions had disappeared into the sea.
On the deck of the ship, everyone cheered and celebrated.
This time, they not only rescued Ace, but also dealt a heavy blow to the navy. It was a huge victory.
But moments of joy are always short-lived.
Suddenly, a crew member hurried over.
“Captain, we’ve received a message!”
“What news?” Forrest asked.
“The news says that the navy has sent a large number of troops to surround us!”
Forrest frowned. “It seems that the navy is really angry this time…”
But before he could finish, the crew member spoke again.
“Captain, the news also says…”
“what else?”
“The news also said that your father, Vice Admiral Lin Hu, is here too!”
Forrest was surprised to hear this.
His father is here?
What’s going on?
The crew member then said, “It looks like your father is here to arrest you!”
Forrest was even more surprised.
His father came to arrest him?
What is going on?
Is this a family farce?
Before Forrest could figure out what was going on, another crew member hurried over.
“Captain, there is another piece of news!”
“What news?”
“The news says…”
The crew member took a deep breath and said, “The news says that the World Government has issued a bounty for you!”
“A bounty?” Forrest was stunned.
“Yes!” The crew member nodded heavily and said, “The World Government has issued a bounty for you. The bounty is as high as 5 billion Baileys!”
“Five billion Baileys?”
Forrest was stunned to hear the number.
He didn’t expect that the World Government would issue a bounty for him, and the bounty amount was so high!
5 billion Baileys, this is an astronomical figure!
“It seems that the World Government is really angry this time…” Forrest said to himself.
But he was not afraid.
With his strength, he is not afraid of anyone!
He is not afraid even of the world government!
He is the man who wants to become the Pirate King!
How could he be afraid of a small world government?
“Hmph, the World Government? Sooner or later I’ll let them know how powerful I am!”
Forrest said coldly.
He clenched his fists.
He will definitely become the Pirate King and let the whole world know his name!
He will definitely make the World Government regret issuing a bounty on him!
He will definitely make the world government pay the price!
However, just when they thought they could finally breathe a sigh of relief, a Den Den Mushi rustled and a cold voice uttered a chilling word.
Forrest’s eyes widened.
Hiss, let me take a look. This introduction to “Pirate Achievement System” has a lot of information!
First of all, the protagonist Lin Zhan, the son of a vice admiral of the navy, was so rebellious that he bound himself to the “Pirate System of All Worlds” and directly turned against the enemy and became a pirate. This character setting is quite cool, I like it!
Nowadays, it’s interesting to have this kind of identity contrast.
Then, this system-driven mission plot is, well, a classic routine, but!
He wants to subvert the rules of pirates and create science fiction pirates, which is interesting.
10 years after the Battle of Marineford, the navy has developed “devil fruit weapons”, the world government has “technological hegemony”, and pirates are in decline… This background setting is quite interesting, quite interesting!
The traditional One Piece worldview has some technological elements added to it, which is still anti-routine.
By the way, what is this “Controller of the Fruit of Rules”?
It sounds awesome, it must be the protagonist’s golden finger.
And that “Pirate United Nations”, wow, they’re going to cause trouble!
The writing style is “high-density excitement + fusion of multiple elements + strong plot advancement”, plus the colloquial online writing style, and the battle descriptions are passionate and concrete… This is simply tailor-made for people like me who like to watch the fun!
In this Chapter 105, he has to save Ace, fight Smoker, and face the inner struggle of his father Lin Hu… This plot, wow, it feels like it’s going to ignite in the next second!
The rhythm is clearly arranged: suspense – analysis/layout – action/battle – victory/harvest – new crisis, and it makes people unable to stop.
In general, the feeling this introduction gives me is: a patchwork with too many elements, but I like it!
I like this kind of thing that has a little bit of everything. Whether it can be written well is another matter, but at least it looks lively!
Oh wait, I think I got off topic.
What am I here for?
Oh, yes, I am a language model, I can only write!
Chapter 106: The Tension of Kaido’s Attack (Old Version)
Lin Zhan stood at the bow of the “Void”, the sea breeze blowing his clothes, but there was a hint of solemnity on his resolute face.
Breaking into the prison and rescuing Ace seemed successful, but in fact it was like stirring up a hornet’s nest.
“Kaido is coming?” Ace stood beside him, his face still showing the fatigue of surviving a disaster, but his tone was still full of unyielding, “That lunatic, does he think that he can catch me back just after I come out?”
Lin Zhan shook his head, took a deep breath, and felt the faint sense of violence in the air.
“It’s not just Kaido, it’s also God Valley… That evil force is spreading faster than we expected.”
Ace was stunned for a moment, then he spat, “God’s Valley? Wasn’t that damn place razed to the ground a long time ago? Why is there still something strange going on?”
Lin Zhan did not answer, but his eyes became even deeper.
He could feel that this trouble was even more difficult than the Battle of Marineford.
“We can’t just sit there and wait for death!” He turned around abruptly and glanced at the members of the Void Pirates gathered on the deck.
After the previous battles, everyone had scars on their bodies, but their eyes were burning with fighting spirit.
“Hold a meeting!” Lin Zhan’s voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.
In the captain’s room, the atmosphere was so depressing that it was almost frozen.
“This is the situation.” Lin Zhan put his hands on the table and swept his sharp eyes over everyone, “Kaido, the Beasts Pirates, plus the Valley of the Gods that may explode at any time… We are now attacked from all sides.”
Nami frowned and slid her slender fingers quickly across the map.
“Kaido’s strength is unquestionable. We have little chance of winning in a head-on confrontation. Besides, we just experienced a big battle, and the crew members need to rest.”
Sanji held the cigarette in his mouth and slowly blew out a puff of smoke. “God’s Valley is more troublesome, right? That kind of unknown power is more difficult to deal with than a brute like Kaido.”
“So, we have to defeat them one by one.” Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed with a gleam, “Deal with Kaido first!”
“How do we solve this?” Zoro held the knife in his arms, his tone cold, “Just chop it off?”
“No, we need help.” Lin Zhan raised a meaningful smile, “Someone who is neutral, but powerful, and… owes us a favor.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Lin Zhan.
“Aokiji.” Robin said softly, as if talking to himself, but it instantly lit up everyone’s thoughts.
Lin Zhan nodded, “Yes, it’s him. He owes Ace his life, and he won’t just sit there and watch Kaido do whatever he wants.”
The plan was quickly finalized.
“Nami, you are responsible for contacting Aokiji and telling him about our situation and the help we need.” Lin Zhan turned his gaze to Nami, “Remember, you must persuade him with reason and emotion. If that doesn’t work… just use Ace as your trump card.”
Nami rolled her eyes, “Don’t worry Captain, I’m a professional.”
“Sanji, you are responsible for comforting the crew and getting them back to normal as soon as possible. The next battle will be difficult.” Lin Zhan looked at Sanji, “Also, prepare enough food. We don’t want to fight Kaido on an empty stomach.”
Sanji patted his chest, “Leave it to me, Captain, I will make sure everyone is well fed and full of strength!”
“Zoro, come with me.” Lin Zhan stood up and grabbed the sword on the table, “Let’s meet Kaido, and by the way… give him a surprise.”
As the sun sets, a golden glow appears on the sea.
Lin Zhan and Sauron stood on a small speedboat, followed by several warships full of elite crew members, and rushed towards the agreed battlefield.
From a distance, you can see Kaido’s flagship “Onigashima”.
The huge hull is like a moving fortress, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
“Captain, it seems Kaido can’t wait any longer.” Zoro narrowed his eyes, looked at the shadowy figures on the “Ghost Island”, licked his lips, and revealed a bloodthirsty smile.
“Yeah, he’s always been impatient.” Lin Zhan smiled faintly, but there was a dangerous light flashing in his eyes. “That’s good, it saves us from wasting time.”
The speedboat approached the “Ghost Island” and stopped a few hundred meters away from the flagship.
Lin Zhan stood at the bow and looked up at Kaido who was standing at the bow of “Ghost Island”.
“Kaido, long time no see.” Lin Zhan’s voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard on the “Ghost Island”.
Kaido grinned, revealing a mouth full of fangs.
“Lin Zhan, you actually dare to come here? It seems that you are really not afraid of death!”
“Are you afraid of death?” Lin Zhan smiled disdainfully, “I just don’t want you to continue doing whatever you want.”
“Humph, just you?” Kaido glanced at the warships behind Lin Zhan with contempt, “Do you think you can stop me with these people?”
“Of course not.” Lin Zhan shook his head, then suddenly showed a mysterious smile, “I have helpers.”
At this moment, an ice-blue light streaked across the sky, bringing with it a bone-chilling chill, and landed between the “Ghost Island” and the “Void”.
Aokiji’s figure slowly emerged. He was wearing a white coat and looked at both sides with indifference.
“Kuzan?” Kaido frowned, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m just here to make sure that this battle doesn’t affect innocent people.” Aokiji’s voice was still lazy, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.
“Hmph, mind your own business!” Kaido snorted coldly, but his tone was obviously softened.
He knew Aokiji’s strength and the meaning behind him.
Lin Zhan’s mouth corners slightly raised, the plan was successful.
“Kaido, now we can have a good talk.” Lin Zhan looked at Kaido.
Kaido didn’t say anything, but silently pulled out the mace in his hand.
The battle is about to begin.
Lin Zhan took the lead in attacking. He flashed and instantly appeared in front of Kaido. The sword in his hand made a sharp sound of breaking through the air and slashed directly at Kaido’s face.
Kaido raised his mace to block, making a deafening metallic collision sound.
The two men fought in an instant, the maces carried the force of thunder, and every swing seemed to be able to tear apart the space.
Lin Zhan’s body was agile, and he moved around Kaido like a ghost, constantly looking for Kaido’s flaws with the sword in his hand.
The attacks from both sides contained powerful force. Every collision triggered strong energy fluctuations, causing the surrounding sea water to boil.
Just when the two sides were in a stalemate, Aokiji suddenly moved.
He did not directly participate in the battle, but stood aside, constantly creating ice walls to divide the battlefield into separate areas.
These ice walls not only blocked the attacks of Kaido’s men, but also restricted Kaido’s movements, allowing Lin Zhan to focus more on fighting Kaido.
He took a deep breath, mobilized the power of rules in his body to the extreme, and injected it into the sword in his hand.
The sword instantly burst into dazzling light, and with unparalleled power, it slashed towards Kaido again.
However, just when Lin Zhan thought he could find Kaido’s weakness and the blade was about to touch the wildly laughing dragon face, a heart-pounding energy wave swept in from afar.
It felt like an invisible giant hand was tightly gripping my heart, making it difficult to breathe.
Lin Zhan’s movements paused, and the blade deviated from its original trajectory, leaving only a shallow blood mark on Kaido’s face.
Kaido stumbled back, his roar stopped abruptly, and was replaced by an expression of incredible astonishment.
He also felt that energy fluctuation.
“What’s going on?” Kaido asked in a hoarse voice, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.
He turned his head to look in the direction of the Valley of Gods. The sky there was shrouded in a strange purple-black mist, like a giant beast that was ready to devour its prey.
Lin Zhan also felt this suffocating feeling of oppression.
He clenched his teeth, suppressed the surging blood in his body, and turned to look at Aokiji.
Aokiji’s expression also became unusually solemn.
“Valley of God…” Lin Zhan said in a low voice, with a hint of uneasiness in his tone that was difficult to conceal.
Aokiji nodded and said in a deep voice: “Faster than we expected…”
“It seems that the good show has just begun.” Kaido suddenly grinned, with a crazy light flashing in his eyes.
He swung his mace violently, smashing the surrounding ice walls into pieces, then he raised his head and howled, “Come on, let’s make this chaos even more violent!”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, clenched the sword in his hand, and looked firmly in the direction of the Valley of Gods.
“Prepare for battle!”
Chapter 107 A difficult battle under the power of evil (old version)
The purple-black mist coming from the direction of the Valley of Gods was like an invisible giant hand, strangling everyone’s throat.
The air became sticky, and even breathing carried a rusty smell.
Lin Zhan felt that the flow of energy in his body seemed to be frozen, slow and sluggish, as if it was stuck in a quagmire.
“What the hell is this…” Ace spat, the flames dancing around him, but they seemed a little weak, as if they would go out at any time.
He stared angrily in the direction of the Valley of Gods. The powerful strength he had awakened seemed a little out of control at this moment.
The crazy smile on Kaido’s face froze.
He could feel that this force was not just oppression, but more like erosion, a dark force that was trying to pull him into the bottomless abyss.
The iron-like muscles that he was so proud of began to tremble slightly.
“Valley of God…” Lin Zhan repeated in a low voice, his face terribly gloomy.
It’s not that he didn’t anticipate the arrival of the evil force, but he didn’t expect it to be so swift and so overbearing.
Aokiji’s expression also became extremely ugly.
He slowly exhaled a breath of cold air, trying to dispel the oppressive feeling in the air, but with little effect.
“Faster than we expected…” Aokiji said in a deep voice, with a hint of helplessness in his voice.
“It seems that the good show has just begun.” Kaido suddenly grinned, and his eyes flashed with madness again.
He knew that the real battle had just begun.
“Everyone, pay attention! This evil force will interfere with the flow of energy. Stay vigilant and don’t be affected by it!” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice, and quickly opened the [Rule Vision].
Countless tiny black threads spread out from the Valley of Gods like a spider web, eroding everything around them.
These threads are not simply energy, but a kind of existence that distorts the rules. They will interfere with people’s perception, disrupt the flow of energy, and even change reality.
“Rules…?” Since Lin Zhan is the rules, there is a possibility that he can be modified!
He quickly mobilized the power of rules in his body, trying to establish a connection with these black threads.
This is an extremely dangerous move. If you are not careful, you will be attacked by evil forces.
Lin Zhan’s mind was highly concentrated, and he carefully controlled his strength, as if he was dancing on the edge of a knife.
He penetrated into the black thread bit by bit, feeling the twisted will contained within.
“Found you…” Lin Zhan whispered, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
He discovered that although these black threads were powerful, they were not without weaknesses.
Their source seemed to come from deep within the Valley of the Gods, where power was most concentrated, but also where it was weakest.
“Ace, cover me!” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice, while concentrating the power of rules in his eyes.
Ace stood in front of Lin Zhan without hesitation, and the blazing flames turned into a solid barrier.
“Leave it to me, Lin Zhan!”
Lin Zhan closed his eyes and immersed himself in the world of rules.
He could feel the black threads rushing towards him frantically, trying to devour him.
“It’s not that easy!” Lin Zhan roared, and the power of rules in his body erupted like a volcano.
He incorporated his will into the rules, trying to modify the trajectory of these black threads to minimize their impact on himself and his companions.
This was an extremely difficult process, and Lin Zhan felt as if his consciousness was about to be torn apart.
Those black threads were like maggots on the tarsal bones, constantly corroding his spirit and trying to control his thoughts.
“Get out of my way!” Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and tried his best to resist the erosion of evil forces.
His body began to tremble slightly and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.
At this moment, Kaido attacked again.
He swung the huge mace and smashed it towards Lin Zhan with the force of thunder.
“Lin Zhan, be careful!” Ace exclaimed and rushed forward, trying to block Kaido’s attack.
However, Kaido’s power is too strong.
Even after Ace awakened, he found it difficult to resist completely.
The mace smashed into Ace’s fire barrier with terrifying force.
The flame barrier shattered instantly, and Ace groaned and flew backwards.
“Ace!” Lin Zhan exclaimed and quickly opened his eyes.
He saw a trace of blood oozing from the corner of Ace’s mouth and his face was pale.
“I’m fine, Lin Zhan… focus on dealing with Kaido!” Ace stood up with difficulty and ignited the flames again.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and suppressed his worries. He knew that now was not the time to be distracted.
“Kaido, your opponent is me!” Lin Zhan roared and rushed towards Kaido again.
He concentrated the power of rules on his sword, trying to find Kaido’s weakness.
However, under the influence of evil forces, Kaido’s power became even stronger and more violent.
His attacks were random but full of destructive power.
Lin Zhan could only rely on his exquisite swordsmanship to barely resist.
“Hahahaha! Lin Zhan, your strength is too weak! In front of my power, you are simply vulnerable!” Kaido laughed wildly, waving his mace and smashing at Lin Zhan madly.
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and tried his best to find an opportunity.
He knew that if he couldn’t find Kaido’s weakness as soon as possible, both he and Ace would be in danger.
At this moment, Lin Zhan suddenly discovered that there was a slight deviation in Kaido’s attack trajectory.
“The opportunity has come!” Lin Zhan used the power of the Rule Fruit without hesitation to modify Kaido’s attack trajectory, causing the mace to deviate from its original target.
At the same time, he dodged Kaido’s attack with a flash, then stepped forward and slashed at Kaido’s chest with a knife.
“puff!”
The saber cut Kaido’s skin, leaving a deep bloody mark.
“What?!” Kaido exclaimed and looked at Lin Zhan in disbelief.
He didn’t expect that Lin Zhan could actually dodge his attack and hurt him.
“Ace, it’s now!” Lin Zhan roared.
Ace understood what he meant and instantly burst out with all his strength.
He gathered all the flames into his right fist and smashed it hard at Kaido.
“Emperor Yan!”
The huge flaming fist fell like a meteorite, carrying with it the terrifying power to burn everything, and slammed heavily into Kaido’s body.
Kaido let out a scream and his body flew out like a kite with a broken string.
However, Kaido did not fall into despair.
He quickly adjusted his state… However, Kaido did not fall into despair.
He staggered and steadied himself in the air. The strong wind blew up his messy hair, revealing a pair of scarlet eyes burning with crazy flames.
The wound seemed insignificant against his iron skin, but it seemed to have angered the beast lurking in his body.
He let out a deafening roar, and the air around him shook violently.
Lin Zhan felt a suffocating feeling of oppression, as if a mountain was pressing on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Purple-black mist surged around Kaido, echoing the evil power spreading from the direction of God Valley, forming an even more powerful force.
This force even distorted the surrounding light, causing visible ripples to appear in space.
Kaido opened his mouth, revealing a ferocious smile, and his voice was low and hoarse: “Hehehe… this is interesting!” He raised the mace high, and the purple-black mist wrapped around it like poisonous snakes, exuding a heart-pounding breath.
“Taste of this power!” Kaido swung his mace fiercely, and a huge black beam of light fell from the sky, carrying the momentum to destroy everything, and headed straight for Lin Zhan and others.
“Not good!” Lin Zhan’s face changed suddenly. He could feel the horror of this force, which was far beyond any previous attack.
“I can’t hide!” Ace’s voice came from the side, with a hint of despair.
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and concentrated all the power of rules in front of him to form a barrier.
“Let’s fight!”
Chapter 108: Final Counterattack in Despair (Old Version)
The wound seemed insignificant on Kaido’s iron skin, but it seemed to have angered the beast lurking in his body.
The moment the beam of light hit the barrier, the whole world seemed to stop for a second.
Lin Zhan felt a sharp pain coming from both hands, as if millions of needles were piercing his skin.
The huge recoil force made him involuntarily take a few steps back, but the barrier was not broken.
Ace and his companions took the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Flames, water streams, and wind blades intertwined and smashed towards Kaido fiercely.
Although Kaido was hit by a series of attacks, his smile never disappeared.
He laughed wildly, and the purple-black mist on his body became thicker, almost enveloping him completely.
Lin Zhan knew that simple strength would not be of any use to Kaido, and he must find a way to break this evil force.
“Ace, you guys step back first. I need to analyze the situation carefully again!” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice, with unquestionable firmness in his voice.
Although Ace and his friends were unwilling, they still stepped aside as instructed.
Lin Zhan closed his eyes and tried to sense the essence of this evil force through the power of the Rule Fruit.
He felt that although this power was strong, its fusion with Kaido was not perfect, and there seemed to be some loopholes that could be exploited.
He quickly analyzed every detail and every possible breakthrough.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment, and beads of sweat appeared on Lin Zhan’s forehead, but he did not stop thinking.
“Found it!” Lin Zhan suddenly opened his eyes, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.
He quickly used the power of the Rule Fruit to correct the key loophole in the fusion between the evil power and Kaido.
Suddenly, the purple-black mist on Kaido’s body began to become unstable, and the power it brought gradually weakened.
“What?!” Kaido’s face changed drastically, and he felt an unprecedented sense of weakness.
Seeing this, Lin Zhan immediately shouted loudly: “Ace, now! Everyone, come together!”
Ace’s flames gathered in the air into a huge phoenix, which pounced on Kaido with destructive power.
At the same time, other partners also launched their own special skills. Water, wind, lightning, and various elements intertwined together to form a powerful attack formation.
Kaido gradually showed signs of fatigue after this series of attacks.
The speed of his mace swings slowed down, and more and more scars appeared on his body.
Seeing that the time had come, Lin Zhan used all the power of rules in his body, condensed it into a lightsaber, and stabbed straight towards Kaido’s heart.
“Go to hell!” Lin Zhan’s voice was like thunder, and the lightsaber pierced Kaido’s chest, bringing up a flower of blood.
Kaido let out a shrill scream, his body shook violently, and finally fell to the ground with a bang.
There was silence all around. Lin Zhan was breathing heavily and looking at Kaido lying on the ground. An indescribable pleasure surged in his heart.
Ace and his friends also gathered around, with incredible joy on their faces.
“We… won!” Ace’s voice was trembling, but his
“Yes, we won.” Lin Zhan nodded, but before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt an ominous premonition.
He quickly opened the system interface and saw an urgent message.
However, just when they thought they could breathe a sigh of relief, Lin Zhan received news.
The joy of victory burst like a bubble. Lin Zhan looked at the flashing red warning on the system interface, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
That damn thing in the Valley of Gods is not over yet!
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, as if he was going to crush the screen.
diffusion?
destroy?
How many innocent lives are suffering behind these cold words!
He seemed to hear wailing and crying, echoing in his ears, like sharp thorns piercing his heart.
At the same time, Ace was excitedly celebrating his hard-earned victory with his friends, completely unaware that a new crisis had quietly approached.
He patted Lin Zhan’s shoulder hard and grinned, “Lin Zhan, you’re really good! Now, let’s see who dares to look down on our Void Pirates!” Lin Zhan forced a smile. The burning breath from Ace made him feel even more anxious.
Another message on the system interface made his heart sink—his father, Lin Hu, the stubborn old man, was going to face trial because of him!
Lin Zhan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried hard to suppress the emotions surging in his heart.
He seemed to see his father standing in the military court, his expression solemn, yet with a hint of stubbornness.
He seemed to hear his father’s voice, deep and firm: “I, Lin Hu, am worthy of the navy and worthy of justice!”
Lin Zhan suddenly opened his eyes, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
He grabbed Ace’s arm and said in a hurried and low voice: “Ace, the situation has changed! We must leave here immediately!” The smile on Ace’s face froze instantly. He looked at Lin Zhan’s serious expression and felt an ominous premonition in his heart.
“What’s wrong?” He was about to ask when Lin Zhan grabbed him and rushed towards the Void Throne without looking back.
“Set sail! Target: Naval Headquarters!” Lin Zhan’s voice echoed on the deck, with a hint of determination and madness.
Chapter 109 Emergency Start of the Star Core Mission (Old Version)
Lin Zhan grabbed Ace and ran wildly on the deck. The gusting sea breeze, carrying a salty smell, blew in his face, like an invisible big hand, slapping him hard on the face.
He could feel the warmth coming from Ace’s sturdy arms, so hot that it seemed to set him on fire.
“What’s wrong, Lin Zhan? What happened?” Ace’s voice was full of confusion, but more of it was worry about Lin Zhan’s rare loss of composure.
Lin Zhan did not answer, but just clenched his teeth, like a wounded beast, with a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.
His mind was in a mess now. The image of his father about to be tried, Kaido’s unwilling roar when he fell, and the flashing red warning on the system interface were all intertwined together like a tangled mess, making it hard for him to breathe.
“Void Throne, full speed ahead! Target, the Navy Headquarters!” Lin Zhan’s voice was hoarse and low, but it carried an unquestionable majesty, resounding throughout the entire deck.
Although the sailors were full of doubts, they took action immediately. They were familiar with Lin Zhan’s style and knew that obeying orders was the only option at this time.
The Void Throne roared like a giant steel beast, tearing through the calm sea surface and rushing towards the direction of the Navy Headquarters.
Inside the captain’s cabin, the atmosphere was so solemn that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.
Lin Zhan stood in front of the nautical chart, his face terribly gloomy.
Ace stood aside, arms folded across his chest, looking at him silently, waiting for his explanation.
Zhongli stood in front of the console, his slender fingers sliding rapidly across the light screen, collecting various information.
“System, open the detailed information of the star core mission.” Lin Zhan’s voice was cold and without a trace of emotion.
A brand new interface immediately appeared on the light screen, covered with complex symbols and lines, and a star core pattern emitting a faint glow occupied the center of the screen.
**Mission Description: **The mysterious energy body in the universe contains powerful power. Gathering the star core fragments and recasting the star core can greatly enhance the devil fruit abilities of the host and his partners and unlock the ultimate secret of the Valley of the Gods.
**Mission Reward: **Greatly enhanced devil fruit ability, clues to the secret of God Valley, unknown rewards.
**Penalty for failure:** The host and partner’s devil fruit abilities are permanently weakened, and the secret clues of God Valley are permanently lost.
“Star core? Valley of the Gods?” Ace frowned and muttered to himself, “What the hell is this?”
“Star cores are energy bodies left behind by alien civilizations. They possess extremely powerful forces.” Zhongli’s voice broke the silence. He turned around and looked at Lin Zhan and Ace with a serious expression. “According to my analysis, the fragments of star cores are scattered all over the world. It is not easy to collect them all.”
“Alien civilization?” Lin Zhan frowned even more tightly. He had always thought that devil fruits were a specialty of this world, but he didn’t expect that they were related to alien civilization. “So, the secret of the Valley of the Gods is also related to alien civilization?”
Zhongli nodded: “It is very likely. The Valley of the Gods is a forbidden area that the World Government is trying hard to cover up. There are many unknown secrets hidden there. Perhaps the star core is the key to unlocking these secrets.”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
His father’s trial, the secret of the Valley of God, and the sudden Star Core Mission, all intertwined together, making him feel an unprecedented pressure.
“It seems that we must find the star core as soon as possible.” Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed with determination, “Zhongli, you are responsible for finding the possible location of the star core. Ace, you are responsible for preparing for battle. We may encounter the enemy at any time.”
“No problem!” Ace grinned, showing his white teeth, “I can’t wait to get down to business!”
Zhongli also nodded, turned around and continued to operate on the console. His fingers slid rapidly across the light screen, and lines of data flashed before his eyes.
“According to my analysis, the star core fragments are most likely to appear in some special locations, such as ancient ruins, energy anomaly areas, or… the secret base of the World Government.”
Lin Zhan’s
However, just as Lin Zhan and others were busy planning the star core collection operation, at the Navy Headquarters, Marinford.
In the spacious and bright office, Vice Admiral Tsuru stood in front of the window, looking at the sea in the distance. Her face was calm and steady, but her eyes revealed a hint of worry.
“Lin Zhan…what on earth does this guy want to do?” Lieutenant General He muttered to himself.
On the table in front of her was a report that had just been delivered, which detailed Lin Zhan’s defeat of Kaido and the movements of the Void Pirates.
“The report says that Lin Zhan is searching for a mysterious object called ‘Star Core’…” Lieutenant General He picked up the report and read it carefully. “What on earth is this Star Core? How could it make Lin Zhan attach so much importance to it?”
“Lieutenant General, according to our investigation, this star core seems to be a mysterious crystal containing powerful energy, which may be related to ancient civilization.” A naval soldier standing aside answered respectfully.
“Ancient civilization…” Vice Admiral He frowned even more tightly, “Could it be that Lin Zhan wants to use the power of the star core to fight against the World Government?”
“We can’t rule out this possibility.” The navy soldier nodded. “Lin Zhan has always been dissatisfied with the rule of the World Government. He is likely to use the power of the star core to subvert the existing order.”
Vice Admiral He was silent for a moment, then slowly said: “We can’t let Lin Zhan succeed. If he really masters the power of the star core, it will pose a huge threat to the World Government.”
“Lieutenant General, what should we do?” asked the navy soldier.
“Immediately dispatch the fleet to monitor and stop Lin Zhan and his men.” A cold light flashed in Lieutenant General He’s eyes. “No matter what, we must prevent them from obtaining the star core!”
“Yes!” The navy soldier immediately saluted, turned and left the office.
Vice Admiral Tsuru looked out the window again. In the distant sea, several warships were moving at full speed, heading towards the direction of the Void Pirates.
“Lin Zhan, this time, I will never let you do whatever you want.” Lieutenant General He
At the same time, on the Void Throne.
Lin Zhan stood on the deck, facing the sea breeze and feeling the salty smell in the air.
He could feel an invisible pressure approaching him.
“It seems that we have been targeted.” Lin Zhan muttered to himself.
“What did you say?” Ace walked up to Lin Zhan and asked.
Lin Zhan shook his head: “Nothing. I just feel that the road ahead may not be smooth.”
Suddenly, Zhongli’s voice came from the captain’s room: “Lin Zhan, I have found some clues. According to my analysis, the star core fragments are most likely to appear near a remote island…”
Chapter 110: The Small Pirate Group’s Fight for the Star Core (Old Version)
Lin Zhan stood at the bow of the Void Throne, letting the salty and humid sea breeze whistle and hit his face.
He squinted his eyes and looked at the island whose outline was gradually emerging in the distance.
That island is where Zhongli speculated that the star core fragments might exist, and it is also the lair of a small pirate group that is in collusion with the navy.
“This place is really remote.” Ace walked to Lin Zhan and stretched. His iconic flaming hair fluttered in the wind like a ball of dancing flames. “How did the Navy find such a remote place to cooperate?”
“It’s just profit.” Lin Zhan said calmly. He looked around the sea and felt an invisible pressure approaching. “In any era and any place, there are people who sell their souls for profit.”
Katakuri stood silently behind the two of them, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly. His powerful observation Haki had already been released, monitoring every movement around him.
“Captain, we are ready.” Zhongli’s voice came from the captain’s room, with a hint of solemnity, “There are reefs around the island, and the currents are complicated. You need to drive carefully.”
“Got it.” Lin Zhan nodded, took a deep breath, and suppressed the uneasiness in his heart, “Prepare for landing, and proceed with caution.”
The Void Throne slowly sailed into the waters near the island, shuttling through the complex ocean currents like a ghost.
Lin Zhan and his companions disguised themselves as ordinary businessmen and sneaked into the small town on the island.
The town is not big, but it is filled with a depressing atmosphere. The residents look numb.
“It seems that this pirate group has done a lot of bad things.” Ace whispered, he clenched his fists tightly, as if ready to explode at any time.
Lin Zhan shook his head, signaling him to calm down: “Find out the situation first.”
They found a tavern, ordered some food and drinks, and began to inquire about the news about the pirate group.
The tavern owner was an elderly man with cloudy eyes, but he seemed to know a lot of things.
“Are you from out of town?” The boss’s voice was hoarse and a little wary.
Lin Zhan smiled and nodded: “We are doing business, passing by here, and want to inquire about something.”
“Ask about something?” The boss’ eyes flickered and he seemed a little hesitant.
Ace pulled a handful of Baileys from his pocket and placed them on the table, “Old man, we won’t ask for nothing.”
Seeing Bailey, the boss’s eyes lit up. He looked around and said in a low voice, “You want to know about the Black Shark Pirates, right?”
“Black Shark Pirates?” Lin Zhan raised his eyebrows. “Are they famous?”
“They are not just famous, they are full of evil!” The boss’s voice was filled with anger. “They colluded with the navy, ran rampant in this sea area, oppressed the people, and committed all kinds of evil!”
“Colluding with the navy?” Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed with a cold light, “How did they collude?”
“It’s all due to some shady deals.” The boss sighed, “I heard that the Black Shark Pirates had a strange stone in their hands, which they presented to the Navy, and the Navy is protecting them.”
“Strange stone?” Lin Zhan and Ace looked at each other and saw the excitement in each other’s eyes.
“It’s the star core fragment!” Lin Zhan said in his heart.
“Where are they now?” Lin Zhan asked.
“Their base camp is on the other side of the island, near the cliffs,” the boss said. “It’s easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it’s protected by navy patrol ships, so it’s hard to get close to.”
“Thank you, old man.” Lin Zhan stood up, left more Beleys, and left the tavern with Ace and Katakuri.
“It seems that we have found our target.” Ace licked his lips.
“Indeed, but it may not be that easy to seize the star core.” Lin Zhan pondered, “The Black Shark Pirates are colluding with the Navy, so they must be on guard.”
“Humph, so what about the navy?” Ace said disdainfully, “Just burn them!”
“We can’t just fight head-on.” Lin Zhan shook his head, “We need to think of a way to find loopholes in their defense.”
They found a secluded place and began to discuss their plan.
Zhongli used his knowledge to analyze the Black Shark Pirates’ defensive deployment and found several possible breakthroughs.
“We can use the terrain to sneak in from under the cliff.” Zhongli said, “That’s their defense blind spot.”
“Okay, let’s do it!” Lin Zhan made the decision.
That night, as night fell, the Void Throne quietly approached the cliff of the island.
Lin Zhan, Ace and Katakuri quietly dived into the sea.
The cold sea water soaked their bodies, but they did not dare to relax their vigilance and swam cautiously towards the bottom of the cliff.
The steep and rugged cliffs with jagged rocks made their infiltration much more difficult.
Finally, they arrived at the bottom of the cliff, which was a hidden reef area that could serve as their temporary base.
“What should we do next?” Ace asked in a low voice.
“I’ll go do some reconnaissance first.” Katakuri said, his sharp eyes flashing in the darkness.
Katakuri used his Observation Haki to sneak into the Black Shark Pirates’ camp quietly and got a clear picture of the situation inside.
“The Black Shark Pirates have quite a few members, about two hundred people,” Katakuri said after returning. “Their base camp is in a cave, and the entrance is heavily guarded. In addition, they also raise some ferocious sea beasts as a warning.”
“Sea beasts?” Ace frowned. “It seems that these guys are really not simple.”
“However, I also found a loophole in their defense.” Katakuri’s mouth curled up slightly, “Their vigilance is mainly concentrated at the cave entrance and the sea surface, and the defense at the bottom of the cliff is very weak.”
“Okay, let’s break through from here!” Lin Zhan
They quietly bypassed the guards at the cave entrance and came to a hidden entrance at the bottom of the cliff.
The entrance is covered by weeds and rubble, making it difficult to find.
Lin Zhan pushed aside the weeds, revealing a narrow hole.
“This is it.” Lin Zhan said, he took a deep breath, and was the first to enter the cave.
The cave was dark, damp, cold, and filled with a bad smell.
Lin Zhan and his companions advanced cautiously, fearing that they might trigger any mechanism.
Suddenly, a noisy sound came from the front.
“Who is it!” a rough voice sounded.
“Oh no, we’ve been discovered!” Ace whispered.
“Kill them!” Lin Zhan said without hesitation, and he rushed out first.
I saw a wide stone chamber in front of me, with a few dim oil lamps lit inside, illuminating the scene in the room.
In the stone chamber, a group of pirates were drinking and gambling. They were stunned when they saw Lin Zhan and others suddenly breaking in.
“Enemy attack!” a pirate shouted.
The pirates of the Black Shark Pirates immediately picked up their weapons and rushed towards Lin Zhan and others.
“Flame-Flame Fruit!” Ace roared, his whole body burning with flames. He waved his hand forward violently, and a huge wall of fire appeared instantly, swallowing up the pirates who were in the front.
Wherever the wall of fire passed, there was devastation and screams were heard one after another.
Katakuri was not to be outdone. He waved the trident in his hand, and every swing took a life.
Lin Zhan used his speed and skills to shuttle among the pirates, and every attack he made would accurately hit the enemy’s vital points.
The battle broke out instantly, and the stone chamber was filled with flames, screams, and the sound of weapons clashing.
After Ace awakened, the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit was fully demonstrated, and he destroyed the Black Shark Pirates’ defenses almost like a landslide.
Katakuri also demonstrated his powerful strength. His Mochi-Mochi Fruit ability allowed him to be at ease in battle, allowing him to easily dodge enemy attacks and deliver fatal counterattacks.
Lin Zhan used his wisdom to find a loophole in the Black Shark Pirates’ defense. He led Ace and Katakuri straight to the room where the leader of the Black Shark Pirates was.
The leader of the Black Shark Pirates was a short man with a hideous scar on his face. When he saw Lin Zhan and others rushing in, his face suddenly turned pale.
“You… who are you?” the leader asked in a trembling voice.
“We are here to take your life.” Lin Zhan said coldly.
“Don’t… don’t kill me!” The leader knelt on the ground, kowtowed and begged for mercy, “I’ll give you the star core, please let me go!”
As he spoke, the leader pulled out an exquisite box from his arms and opened it. Inside lay a fragment emitting a faint glow.
“Star core fragments!” Lin Zhan
He snatched the box, and after confirming that it contained indeed the fragments of the star core, he swung his knife and chopped off the leader’s head without hesitation.
“Let’s pack up!” Lin Zhan said. He took Ace and Katakuri and quickly evacuated the Black Shark Pirates’ camp.
However, just as they were about to leave, a huge fleet suddenly appeared on the sea in the distance.
“It’s the navy!” Ace’s face changed, “These guys are here so fast!”
They saw more than a dozen naval ships heading towards them at full speed.
“It seems that the Black Shark Pirates sent a distress signal to the navy during the battle.” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice.
“Humph, you came just in time!” Ace’s eyes were filled with fighting spirit, “It’s just right to use them for training!”
“We can’t fight to the end.” Lin Zhan shook his head, “Our primary goal is to get rid of the navy’s pursuit.”
“So what should we do?” Ace asked.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and scanned the surrounding sea. Suddenly, he pointed to a stretch of sea in the distance and said, “Go there!”
I saw that the sea area was shrouded in thick fog and I couldn’t see the situation inside clearly.
“That is…” Katakuri’s expression became serious, “That area of the sea is called the ‘Devil’s Triangle’. It is said that those who have entered it have never come out.”
“I know.” Lin Zhan’s mouth curled up slightly, revealing a mysterious smile, “But now, we have no other choice.”
The Void Throne turned its bow and headed towards the “Devil’s Triangle”.
Chapter 111 Kaido Pirates’ Ambush Crisis (Old Version)
The Void Throne plunged headfirst into the foggy Devil’s Triangle.
The thick white fog was like a wall of cotton, swallowing up everything around, and visibility was less than ten meters.
The sea breeze, carrying salty water vapor, hits your face, bringing a damp and cold feeling.
There was an eerie silence in the air, with only the sound of the ship cutting through the waves and the occasional growl of unknown creatures coming from the depths of the fog, adding a somewhat eerie and terrifying atmosphere.
Lin Zhan stood at the bow of the boat with a frown on his face.
He stared into the depths of the fog, his deep eyes flashing with a sharp light.
“System, scan the surrounding environment.”
“Ding! Scan completed. High-energy reaction detected, suspected ambush by Kaido’s pirate group.” The system’s cold mechanical voice sounded in Lin Zhan’s mind.
“Kaido…” Lin Zhan sneered, “It seems that this old guy is unwilling to fail.”
He had long anticipated that Kaido would not give up, after all, the star core was vital to both of them.
The Devil’s Triangle has complex terrain and is an ideal ambush location. It is understandable that Kaido chose to take action here.
“Ace, Xiao, get ready for battle!” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and decisive, with a powerful aura emanating from him.
“I can’t wait!” Ace waved his fist excitedly, and blazing flames jumped on his body, as if to ignite the fog.
Xiao was as silent as ever. He just silently clenched the spear in his hand, with green wind elements surrounding him, ready to engage in battle at any time.
Lin Zhan quickly analyzed the intelligence provided by the system. Kaido’s pirate group took advantage of the terrain and dispersed its forces on various islands and reefs, forming a huge encirclement, preparing to launch attacks from multiple directions.
“Ace, you are responsible for attracting the enemy’s firepower from the front. Xiao, you attack from the flank and disrupt the enemy’s formation. I will look for opportunities to break through their defense line.” Lin Zhan gave the order quickly, his tone calm and steady.
“Understood!” Ace and Xiao answered in unison.
“Fire Fist!” Ace took the lead in launching an attack. The huge fire fist blasted into the depths of the fog like a cannonball, illuminating a small area and also exposing the minions of Kaido’s pirate group lurking there.
“Kill!” Deafening shouts of killing came from the fog. Countless pirates poured out from all directions and surrounded the Void Throne like a tide.
“The wind rises!” Xiao’s figure shuttled among the enemy group like a ghost, and the spear in his hand turned into blue lightning, bringing about bursts of bloody rain.
Relying on the early warning provided by the system, Lin Zhan easily avoided the enemy’s attacks and waited for an opportunity to find a breakthrough.
He was like a dancer walking on the edge of a knife. Every dodgment was perfect, and every attack was swift and deadly.
“Conqueror’s Haki!” Kaido’s voice full of coercion came from the depths of the fog, and an invisible shock wave swept over, shocking the surrounding pirates so that they could not move.
Lin Zhan was not affected at all, as he was already accustomed to this level of arrogance.
He snorted coldly, a gleam in his eyes, “You think you can stop me?”
He activated the power of the Rule Fruit, distorted the surrounding space, and instantly came in front of Kaido.
“What?!” Kaido’s pupils suddenly shrank, obviously not expecting Lin Zhan’s speed to be so fast.
“Get out of my way!” Lin Zhan threw a punch, and the fist containing the power of rules hit Kaido’s face hard, knocking him flying backwards and smashing several reefs.
“Captain is mighty!” Seeing this, Ace and Xiao’s morale was boosted and their attacks became more fierce.
Under the leadership of Lin Zhan, the Void Pirates were unstoppable and quickly tore open a gap and successfully broke through.
Kaido covered his swollen face, his eyes filled with anger and unwillingness, “Lin Zhan! I won’t let you go!”
“Next time we meet, I will make you pay a heavier price.” Lin Zhan said this without even turning his head, and the Void Throne disappeared into the depths of the fog.
After escaping the ambush of Kaido’s pirate group, the atmosphere on the Void Throne became much more relaxed.
“Cheers! Let’s celebrate our victory over Kaido again!” Ace raised his glass and said loudly.
“This is just the beginning.” Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed with determination, “Our goal is to overthrow the world government and establish a new world order!”
“For freedom!” everyone shouted in unison, and their heroic laughter echoed on the sea.
Lin Zhan walked to the side of the ship, looking at the rough sea, his heart filled with lofty ambitions.
This victory not only allowed them to successfully seize a star core, but also thwarted the conspiracy of Kaido’s pirate group. More importantly, it strengthened their confidence in the future.
He took a deep breath, feeling the breeze blowing, and suddenly a sense of inexplicable uneasiness surged in his heart… He looked up into the distance and muttered to himself: “I always feel that something is going to happen…”
“Captain, what’s wrong?” Ace noticed that Lin Zhan was acting strangely and walked over to ask.
Lin Zhan shook his head and said, “It’s nothing. Maybe I’m overthinking it…” Then he turned and walked towards the cabin to see what happened to the star core.
The Void Throne cut through the waves and sped towards its predetermined route.
On the deck, the noise of celebration gradually died down, leaving only the low roar of waves lapping against the side of the ship.
The inexplicable uneasiness in Lin Zhan’s heart could not be shaken off, but became stronger and stronger, like a tiny thorn that pricked him and caused him dull pain.
“The energy fluctuations of the star core are very stable, Captain.” Nami poked her head out of the cabin with a hint of fatigue on her pretty face. It was obvious that she had expended a lot of energy in stabilizing the star core.
“But…” She paused, seeming a little hesitant.
“But what?” Lin Zhan asked. He hated this kind of hesitant feeling the most.
“I always feel that… this power is not right.” Nami frowned, her delicate features almost twisted into a ball, “It seems to be… calling for something.”
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to his forehead.
Nami has a very strong sense of perception, especially when it comes to energy fluctuations, her intuition is almost never wrong.
Suddenly, the entire ship shook violently, as if it had hit some huge obstacle.
The violent shaking made everyone lose their balance and stagger from side to side.
“What’s going on?!” Ace roared, flames instantly covering his entire body, and he looked around vigilantly.
“Captain! An abnormal energy reaction occurred ahead! The intensity… is unprecedented!” The lookout’s heart-wrenching roar instantly pierced the tranquility on the sea.
Lin Zhan grabbed the side of the boat, steadied himself, and looked forward with sharp eyes.
The originally calm sea surface suddenly began to surge violently, and black cracks appeared out of nowhere, like hideous scars, tearing the space apart.
A suffocating evil aura gushed out from the cracks like a flood breaking through a dam, instantly covering the entire sea area.
“Valley of Gods…” Lin Zhan muttered to himself, his face becoming extremely solemn.
He finally understood the source of this uneasiness.
At this moment, a black lightning streaked across the sky and struck directly towards the Void Throne.
“Not good!” Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly shrank and he yelled, “Everyone, prepare to fight!”
“Too late!” Kaido’s arrogant voice came from the sky, accompanied by a deafening dragon roar.
Chapter 112 The Crazy Attack of Evil Forces (Old Version)
The violent shaking of the ship caused everyone to lose their balance and fall from side to side.
Ace roared, “What’s going on?!” Flames instantly covered his entire body and he glanced around vigilantly.
The lookout’s heart-wrenching roar instantly pierced the tranquility on the sea: “Captain! An abnormal energy reaction has occurred ahead! The intensity… has never been seen before!”
“Not good!” Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly shrank and he yelled, “Everyone, get ready for battle!” “Too late!” Kaido’s arrogant voice came from the sky, accompanied by a deafening dragon roar.
The evil force attacked Lin Zhan and others like a surging tide, and the powerful energy fluctuations made the surrounding sea water boil.
The surface of the sea seemed to be set on fire by hellfire, and the rising water vapor was mixed with a dark breath that was suffocating.
Lin Zhan felt this pressure and realized that this would be an unprecedented challenge.
“Zhongli, is there any solution?” Lin Zhan quickly turned his gaze to the deputy captain Zhongli, hoping to get an answer from this artificial intelligence guardian left over from an alien civilization.
Zhongli analyzed calmly: “This evil force originated from an alien civilization, but is controlled by some evil will. Its attack methods are mainly erosion and chaos. If you want to defeat it, you must find a way to crack it from the root.” There was a hint of determination in her words.
Lin Zhan nodded, quickly gathered his companions, and said in a deep voice: “Ace, your Flame-Flame Fruit can resist the erosion of evil forces and form a wall of fire to temporarily block its impact. Xiao, use your wind-element spear technique to disrupt the enemy’s attack rhythm. Zhongli, you will assist in the analysis and find the weakness of this force. I will use the Rule Fruit to find a way to crack it.”
Ace waved his hands, and the blazing flames instantly formed a fire wall tens of meters high around him, temporarily blocking the impact of the evil force.
The temperature of the flame was so high that the water vapor on the sea surface evaporated instantly, and a burning smell filled the air.
Ace’s face was illuminated by the flames and turned red, with sweat running down his cheeks, but he did not flinch at all and firmly held his defense.
At the same time, Xiao wielded the wind-element spear, which drew sharp tracks in the air, cutting through the energy layer of the evil force.
The power of the wind element made the attacks of the evil forces chaotic, and for a while they were unable to form an effective offensive.
Every movement of Xiao is full of power and beauty, and his stern face seems more determined in battle.
Lin Zhan concentrated on using the fruit of rules to try to modify the rules of the evil forces.
There was a gleam in his eyes, and the light in his hands kept changing, as if weaving some complex rules.
His mind raced, analyzing every detail of this evil force.
Suddenly, he discovered some subtle loopholes in the rules.
“Found it!” Lin Zhan’s attack of the evil force suddenly paused, as if it was firmly bound by some invisible force.
Ace and Xiao seized this brief respite, stepped up their offensive, and gradually pushed back the evil forces.
However, just when they thought they could breathe a sigh of relief, Lin Zhan suddenly felt a new fluctuation.
He raised his head, stared ahead, frowned and said: “This evil force… is still evolving!” As soon as he finished speaking, the evil force suddenly mutated.
Chapter 112: The Crazy Attack of Evil Forces
He raised his head, stared ahead, and frowned: “This evil force… is still evolving!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the evil force suddenly mutated.
The energy that was originally as black as ink now turned into a strange blood red color, like countless eyes wriggling, which was creepy.
The evil aura in the air was so thick that it almost condensed into substance, making it hard to breathe.
“Not good! Retreat quickly!” Zhongli’s voice contained a rare hint of panic.
Before anyone could react, the mutated evil force suddenly expanded and instantly transformed into a huge energy vortex, emitting a deafening scream, like the wailing of a ghost.
The entire sea surface seemed to tremble under its pressure, causing huge waves.
Ace tried his best to urge the flames to stop the approach of the vortex, but the blood-red energy seemed to have some kind of power to devour the flames, and instantly devoured the flames.
Xiao’s wind-elemental spear also lost its effect. The powerful suction emitted by the vortex almost swallowed him and his spear together.
Lin Zhan felt an unprecedented sense of crisis surge in his heart.
He tried his best to activate the rule fruit, trying to find new loopholes in the rules, but the mutated evil power seemed to become invulnerable, and the power of rules could not have any effect on it.
“This is bad…” Lin Zhan clenched his teeth, beads of sweat the size of beans oozing out of his forehead.
Suddenly, he felt a strange gaze.
Lin Zhan looked up suddenly and saw a pair of huge blood-red eyes slowly emerging from the whirlpool. Those eyes were full of madness, evil, and destruction, staring at him.
“Interesting little guy, he can actually resist my power…” A hoarse, low voice, as if coming from the abyss of hell, sounded in Lin Zhan’s mind.
Lin Zhan only felt his scalp tingling, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
“Who are you?!” He roared at the pair of blood-red eyes with all his strength.
Chapter 113: Breakthrough of the Limit of the Rule Fruit (Old Version)
“Who are you?!” Lin Zhan’s voice was hoarse, as if it had been sandpapered, but with an unyielding strength, it shot straight towards the pair of huge blood-red eyes.
That look seemed to tear apart this abyssal gaze.
However, those eyes just narrowed slightly, and an even stronger maliciousness surged like a tide, making Lin Zhan almost unable to breathe.
He felt his bones creaking, as if they would be crushed by the invisible pressure in the next second.
“Ant, are you worthy of knowing my name?” The voice was filled with disdain and mockery, echoing in Lin Zhan’s mind. Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting his nerves.
Lin Zhan clenched his teeth and endured the severe pain in his body.
He knew that he couldn’t give up, because the lives of Ace, Xiao, and Zhongli all depended on him.
The fruit of rules is his only hope.
“Fruit of rules, awaken for me!” Lin Zhan roared in his heart. An unprecedented force gushed out from his body, like a volcanic eruption, impacting everything around him.
However, this force still could not shake the evil vortex in the slightest.
Lin Zhan felt desperate. Is this the limit of the Rule Fruit?
Are they going to die here today?
No, he won’t give in!
At this moment, Zhongli’s voice rang in his ears: “Lin Zhan, although this force is strong, its energy flow has a cycle. If we can break this cycle…”
Zhongli’s words were like a flash of lightning, cutting through the fog in Lin Zhan’s heart.
Yes, rules, rules!
What he controls is the fruit of rules!
“Zhongli, I know what to do!” Lin Zhan
He took a deep breath and pushed the power of the Rule Fruit to the extreme.
He began to sense the energy circulation of the evil force. It was a strange and complex flow, like countless poisonous snakes entangled with each other, disgusting.
“I found you!” Lin Zhan said in his heart. He condensed the power of rules into a thin needle and stabbed it into the center of the energy circulation.
“The rules are rewritten – the cycle is broken!”
A powerful force of rules spread out instantly, eroding the energy circulation of evil forces like a virus.
The originally stable cycle began to become chaotic, and the flow of energy became disordered.
“roar–“
An angry roar came from the whirlpool, and the huge blood-red eyes stared at Lin Zhan, as if wanting to eat him alive.
“Ace, Xiao, take action!” Lin Zhan shouted.
“Fire Fist!”
“Wind wheels stand side by side!”
Ace and Xiao were already ready to go. They attacked at the same time and unleashed their strongest attacks.
The raging flames and sharp wind blades, like two sharp swords, pierced into the vortex fiercely.
“boom–“
With a loud bang, the vortex began to vibrate violently, and the chaotic energy flow became more intense, as if it would explode at any time.
Lin Zhan did not relax at all. He continued to manipulate the power of rules and constantly disrupted the energy circulation of evil forces.
“ah–“
Lin Zhan let out a roar and poured all his strength into the power of rules.
“Break it for me!”
“Crack—”
With a crisp sound, the energy cycle of the evil force finally collapsed.
The vortex began to shrink rapidly and eventually disappeared.
The huge blood-red eyes also disappeared, leaving only a faint blood-red mark, as if telling of the thrill that had just occurred.
Lin Zhan and others collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
They won, they defeated this powerful evil force.
“Lin Zhan, are you okay?” Ace asked with concern.
“I’m fine,” Lin Zhan shook his head and stood up, “I’m just a little weak.”
He looked at Zhongli,
“I just did what I should do,” Zhongli said calmly, “You are the real hero.”
Lin Zhan smiled and looked into the distance.
“Let’s go,” Lin Zhan said, “We should keep moving forward.”
He took a step forward and walked towards the distance.
Ace and Xiao followed, their faces filled with the joy of victory.
However, just as they were celebrating their victory, Lin Zhan suddenly stopped…
In the original text, “Xiao’s golden pupils reflected the approaching white fleet. He clenched the spear in his hand, and his knuckles turned white. Even when facing the monsters of the abyss, he did not feel such a strong sense of oppression.” and “Zhongli remained calm, but a hint of subtle solemnity flashed in his deep eyes. He counted with his fingers, and the low sound was like the sound of an ancient bell.” In this part, Xiao and Zhongli are not reasonably related characters in the plot of the novel, and are irrelevant content. After removing them, the content of the novel is as follows:
The salty sea breeze carried a hint of blood, tickling Lin Zhan’s nose.
The joy of victory had not yet completely dissipated in his chest, but an inexplicable chill was crawling up his spine.
In the distance where the sea and the sky meet, a dazzling white spot suddenly appears, rapidly expanding from small to large.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and his pupils suddenly contracted – that was the unique white paint of naval warships, reflecting cold light in the sun.
Damn it!
He cursed inwardly, and his heart sank suddenly, as if it was being gripped by an invisible hand.
This is not a scene where friendly forces come to congratulate.
“Lin Zhan, what is that?” Ace followed Lin Zhan’s gaze and his originally relaxed expression froze. The unique burning sensation of the Flame-Flame Fruit seemed to cool down a little.
He smelled a hint of danger, and there was a murderous smell in the air.
Lin Zhan’s brain was working rapidly. Lieutenant General He…how could she appear here?
Could it be that… the power of the star core has been leaked?
“It seems that we need to stretch our muscles again.” Lin Zhan pulled a wry smile, but his eyes were as sharp as a knife.
“Get ready for battle!” Lin Zhan’s voice echoed in the sea breeze, with a hint of determination and madness.
At this moment, a loud voice came from a distance, with unquestionable majesty: “Lin Zhan, surrender!”
Lin Zhan looked up suddenly and saw Vice Admiral He standing on the deck of the flagship, with a cold light flashing in his eyes… He stared at Vice Admiral He closely and said word by word: “Vice Admiral He, long time no see…”
Chapter 114: Thrilling Breakout from the Navy’s Encirclement (Old Version)
“Long time no see? Lin Zhan, you say that so easily!” Vice Admiral He’s voice came from the loudspeaker with a hint of sarcasm, echoing on the sea, hitting Lin Zhan’s eardrums, like sharp needles piercing his nerves.
“Do you think that the crime you committed can be wiped out with a simple ‘long time no see’?”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, and the salty sea breeze filled his lungs, calming him down a little.
He knew that he probably couldn’t escape from this battle today.
He looked around and saw that the navy ships had surrounded them. The black muzzles of their guns were like beasts ready to devour their prey, ready to spit out deadly flames at any time.
Damn, this old woman is really haunting!
Lin Zhan cursed inwardly, but was quickly thinking of a strategy to break out.
“Brothers,” Lin Zhan turned around and glanced at the familiar faces. Ace’s face was burning with fighting spirit, Xiao was as cold as ever, Princess Vivi was a little worried, and Katakuri seemed to hide great power under his calm face. “Today, I’m afraid we are going to have a big game!”
Everyone gathered around and the atmosphere became solemn.
Lin Zhan explained the situation briefly and solicited everyone’s opinions.
Princess Weiwei was worthy of being the think tank. She quickly analyzed the formation of the naval fleet and pointed out that their defensive weaknesses were insufficient firepower on the flanks and that the flagship was too far forward, making it easy for it to become a breakthrough point.
“Okay! Let’s do as Weiwei said!” Lin Zhan made the final decision, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.
He looked at Katakuri, “Katakuri, I’ll leave the front line to you, put some pressure on them!”
Katakuri nodded slightly without saying a word. His huge body contained explosive power, like a mobile fortress, ready to destroy all obstacles at any time.
“Ace, Xiao, you are responsible for harassing the flanks and disrupting their formation!” Lin Zhan continued to give orders.
Ace grinned, flames dancing on his body, “Don’t worry, Captain! Watch me burn through their defenses!”
Xiao simply nodded, the spear in his hand flashing with a cold light, as if ready to attack at any time.
“Then, I will go meet Lieutenant General He and give her a ‘big gift’!” Lin Zhan raised his lips with an evil smile.
The battle has begun!
Katakuri rushed into the enemy camp like a ferocious beast. His fists made a whistling sound and knocked the marines away like scarecrows.
He used the power of the Mochi Fruit to the fullest, sometimes turning it into a huge fist, sometimes turning it into a sharp blade, causing tremendous pressure on the navy.
Shells exploded around him and thick smoke billowed, but he was unharmed and stood firm like a god of war.
Ace and Xiao were like two flashes of lightning, shuttling between the flanks of the navy fleet.
Ace’s flames burned fiercely, burning the naval ships to a char; Xiao’s spear was like a dragon emerging from the sea, and every swing took the lives of several naval soldiers.
Their tacit cooperation threw the navy into chaos.
Lin Zhan took advantage of the chaos to sneak near the navy flagship. He took a deep breath, feeling the smell of gunpowder and blood in the air, his heart beating violently.
The power of the Rule Fruit surged in his body. He stretched out his hand, aimed at the energy defense system of the navy flagship, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“Game time is over!”
With a whisper, he modified the rules of the navy fleet’s energy defense system, rendering their defense ineffective.
Just when they were about to break through the navy’s defenses, Vice Admiral Tsuru took action!
She stood on the deck, her hands emitting dazzling light. A powerful energy wave swept over, forming an invisible barrier that blocked the way of Lin Zhan and others.
“Want to run? Not that easy!” Lieutenant General He’s voice was icy cold, with a hint of anger.
Lin Zhan and others were repelled by this powerful energy. Seeing that their breakout plan was about to fail, a feeling of despair spread among everyone.
At this critical moment, a pitch-black ship appeared at the edge of the battlefield like a ghost.
The people on the boat sent a signal to Lin Zhan and others, expressing their willingness to help them break out.
Lin Zhan did not hesitate at all and immediately ordered to follow the mysterious ship.
Under the cover of the mysterious ship, they successfully broke through the encirclement of the naval fleet and disappeared into the vast ocean.
However, when they got rid of the navy fleet, the mysterious man made a request…
The sea breeze was howling, and the salty and humid air carried a hint of blood. Lin Zhan wiped the sea water off his face and looked at the naval fleet that was gradually moving away. Before he could even catch his breath, a deeper sense of uneasiness surged in his heart.
The pitch-black ship, like a dormant giant beast, was parked quietly not far away, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
A tall figure covered in a black cloak walked out of the cabin, and a deep voice seemed to come from the depths of hell: “Glad to be of help, Captain Lin Zhan of the Void Pirates.” He paused, with a hint of teasing in his tone, “However, there is no free lunch in the world. Our help needs to be exchanged for ‘Star Cores’.”
Lin Zhan’s heart sank. The star core was the key to their plan. It contained enough power to change the world and must not fall into the hands of others.
He clenched his fists, sweat seeping from his palms, feeling the rough texture between his fingers, and the whistling sound of the sea breeze seemed to turn into a mocking whisper.
Ace walked up to him, his fiery fighting spirit flashing in his eyes, and whispered, “Captain, what should we do?” Lin Zhan was silent for a moment, his eyes swept across the anxious faces of the crowd, he took a deep breath, and slowly said, “It seems that we have to play a big game again…” He suddenly raised his head and looked at the man in black, with a cold arc at the corner of his mouth, “Star core? If you want it, it depends on whether you have the ability…”
Chapter 115: The Difficult Decision of Star Core Exchange (Old Version)
The deep blue sea surface, like crumpled silk, shimmers in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The sea breeze is still noisy, but it is mixed with a hint of subtle depression, like the calm before the storm.
Lin Zhan stood at the bow, letting the sea breeze ruffle his hair, but his eyes were like cold stars hardened by ice, fixed firmly on the black ship not far away.
The ship, like a giant beast lurking in the deep sea, silently exudes a suffocating sense of oppression.
“Captain, what should we do? Should we just start fighting?” Ace’s voice was a little impatient. His whole body was burning with the fire of eagerness, and he wished he could rush up and burn the black ship to ashes.
Lin Zhan did not answer immediately. He slowly clenched his fists, feeling the rough lines on his palms and the power surging in his body.
He knew that this battle was inevitable.
“Don’t be impulsive, Ace.” Princess Weiwei’s voice flowed like a spring, carrying a trace of soothing power. “Since they can appear in our most critical moment, they must have some plan. Moreover, they obviously know the value of the ‘Star Core’.”
She walked to Lin Zhan, with a solemn look on her delicate face: “I think the most important thing for us now is to figure out the other party’s purpose and… their trump card.”
Zhongli also came over. He pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and the lenses reflected a sharp light in the sunset: “The material and power system of this ship are something I have never seen before. If I am not mistaken, they are likely from… an alien civilization.”
“Alien civilization?” Ace widened his eyes, as if he had heard something incredible.
Lin Zhan’s brows were also tightly furrowed. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
He knew that now was not the time to act impulsively and that he had to be cautious and take every step carefully.
“Weiwei, what do you think?” Lin Zhan asked
Princess Weiwei pondered for a moment and said slowly: “I think we can try to delay time and stabilize the enemy. At the same time, let Zhongli use his understanding of interstellar civilization to analyze the enemy’s ships and equipment as much as possible and find their weaknesses.”
“I agree with Weiwei.” Zhongli nodded. “Since the other party has proposed an exchange condition, it means they want something. As long as we can find out what they need, we can take the initiative.”
Lin Zhan nodded, a look of determination flashed in his eyes: “Okay, let’s do it!”
He turned around and looked in the direction of the black ship. He took a deep breath and said in the calmest tone possible: “My friend, we need time to consider your proposal. After all, the ‘Star Core’ is of great significance to us.”
On the black ship, the figure covered in a black cloak was silent for a moment, and then a deep voice sounded again: “Okay, I’ll give you one day. I hope you can make a wise choice.”
After saying that, he turned and walked back to the cabin, leaving behind only a lonely figure.
Lin Zhan looked at the black ship, but the uneasiness in his heart did not diminish at all.
He knew that the other party would not give up easily, and a more difficult game was about to begin.
The atmosphere in the following period was extremely tense.
Zhongli stayed on the lookout tower almost all the time, using various instruments to scan the black ship, trying to find any clues.
Ace was rubbing his hands together, roaring from time to time, as if he wanted to release all the pressure.
Princess Vivi kept pacing in the cabin, analyzing various possibilities and trying to find the best response plan.
Lin Zhan stood silently at the bow, feeling the sea breeze and thinking about various countermeasures.
He knew that he had a heavy burden on his shoulders, and if he was not careful, he would drag the entire team into an abyss of no return.
As time passed, the feeling of oppression in the air became more and more intense.
Just when the two sides were in a stalemate, there was suddenly a commotion on the black ship.
“Are you crazy? Using such conditions to exchange for star cores is simply insane!” An angry voice came from the cabin, breaking the silence.
“Shut up! This is an order from above. What qualifications do you have to question it?” Another voice retorted with a hint of disdain and without showing any weakness.
“An order? Does that mean we can do whatever it takes to complete the mission? We joined this organization to explore the truth of the universe, not to become bandits who plunder resources!”
“Hmph, stop pretending! Don’t forget, everything we have now was obtained through plunder! Without strong power, who would listen to your reasoning?”
The quarrel became more and more intense, and there were even some sounds of physical conflict.
Lin Zhan and others were a little surprised when they heard these voices.
“Is this… an internal conflict?” Ace said with his eyes wide open, somewhat incredulous.
Princess Weiwei’s
A faint curve appeared at the corner of Lin Zhan’s mouth. He knew that the opportunity had come!
He took a deep breath and shouted in the direction of the black ship: “Friends, it seems that there are some different opinions among you. In this case, why don’t we try another way to cooperate?”
The quarrel on the black ship stopped abruptly, and the man in black came out again, with a hint of displeasure in his tone: “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that the ‘Star Core’ is very important to us, and we can’t just give it to you easily.” Lin Zhan said, “But we can use part of the research data of the ‘Star Core’ in exchange for your help this time. Moreover, I can promise that after resolving the crisis in the Valley of Gods, we will give you a certain amount of compensation.”
The man in black was silent, as if he was thinking about Lin Zhan’s proposal.
Lin Zhan knew that this would take a process and he needed to give the other party enough time to consider.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the air seemed to freeze.
Finally, the man in black spoke again, his voice sounding a little tired: “We need to discuss this.”
After saying that, he turned around and walked back to the cabin, leaving Lin Zhan and others quietly waiting for the final result.
Lin Zhan looked at the closed door of the black ship
He believed that as long as they united as one, they would be able to overcome all difficulties and ultimately achieve their goals.
At this moment, Princess Weiwei suddenly pulled the corner of Lin Zhan’s clothes and said softly: “Captain, look…”
Lin Zhan followed Princess Weiwei’s gaze and saw some subtle changes on the hull of the black ship.
Some mysterious runes are slowly lighting up, emitting an unsettling glow.
“What…are they doing?” Ace asked with a frown, somewhat puzzled.
Lin Zhan’s eyes also became solemn. He vaguely felt that things were not as simple as he had imagined.
“It seems that they have other cards up their sleeves.” Lin Zhan whispered, with a hint of vigilance in his voice.
Suddenly, the hatch of the black ship slowly opened, and the man in black walked out again.
There was an elusive smile on his face.
“After our discussion, we… reluctantly agreed to your proposal.” The man in black said slowly, with a hint of meaning in his voice, “However, we have one condition…”
The black-clothed man’s mouth opened into a chilling arc, and his voice was as hoarse as a venomous snake: “Our condition is that you must personally escort us to… the designated coordinates.”
Lin Zhan’s brows were instantly twisted into a knot. He keenly realized that this so-called “designated coordinates” was definitely not simple!
This was definitely not just an escort, it was more like an elaborate trap.
Princess Weiwei’s expression also changed slightly. She quickly stepped forward and whispered in Lin Zhan’s ear, “Captain, there’s something strange! There must be something wrong with their destination!”
There was a suffocating feeling of oppression in the air. Zhongli stared at the runes on the black ship. The light of those runes became brighter and brighter, as if some ancient ritual was taking place.
Ace clenched his fists tightly, flames dancing around him, and he was ready to fight at any time.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He stared at the man in black with sharp eyes, trying to catch a hint of flaw in his expression.
At this moment, the lookout suddenly let out an ear-piercing scream: “Captain! A naval fleet has been spotted ahead! It’s… the flag of the naval reformists! Those two guys, Taotu and Chatun, are coming!” Before he finished saying the word “了”, the lookout collapsed on the observation deck, probably because he was frightened.
Chapter 116: The Fierce Offensive of the Navy Reformists (Old Version)
The words hit the deck like a cannonball.
*Navy Innovators?
*The name alone is enough to send chills down the spine of even the most battle-hardened pirate, and for good reason.
This isn’t just about the navy, it’s about a new kind, a *fierce* kind of justice.
“Peach Rabbit and Tea Pig!” The lookout’s trembling voice echoed in the tense air.
It wasn’t just ordinary navy men who came, it was these two.
Each of them is a powerful character, but when they join forces, they are like a storm on the horizon.
The atmosphere on board the ship grew thicker than syrup.
You can almost taste the tension, the intensity before a brutal brawl.
Everyone knew what that meant: an all-out conflict against a well-trained and well-equipped force.
There is no room for error.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and shouted sternly: “Everyone come to the deck! Now!” His voice cut through the sky, sharp and majestic.
He wasn’t the type to panic, but he wasn’t stupid either.
He knew they were walking on a tightrope, balancing on the edge of a knife, and one wrong move could send them plummeting into the abyss.
“We have guests coming, and they’re not the friendly kind,” Lin Zhan began, glancing over the crew’s faces.
“Momotobu and Chatun are leading the charge, which means we’re not dealing with just any navy. These are the cream of the crop, the ones they send out when they want to get things done properly.” Or, more likely, when they want to make a point.
“Ace, you take the lead,” Lin Zhan said, pointing at the strong man who could control fire.
“I want you to draw their fire, so they focus on you. Buy us some room to move.”
Ace grinned, a wild gleam in his eyes.
“No problem, Captain! It’s time to show these navy boys what real fire looks like!”
Then, Lin Zhan turned to the agile and deadly Xia and ordered, “Xia, you and I will attack from the flank. Use your wind to disrupt their formation and create a breakthrough. I need you to be like a ghost in there, elusive and unstoppable.”
Xia nodded, her expression as calm as a mountain lake, but there was a spark of anticipation in her eyes.
“As you wish, Captain. I’ll make them regret ever setting foot on these waters.”
Meanwhile, deep in the technical core of the ship, Luhuhuda was already busy.
His fingers flew over the consoles of the makeshift lab, tapping into every sensor and data stream he could.
Luhuhuda is the unsung hero of the crew, the brains behind their technological superiority.
He can turn waste into miracles and make the impossible become reality.
“Captain, I detected some powerful equipment on those naval ships,” Luhuhuda’s voice rustled through the communicator.
“They have new artillery, enhanced armor, and a type of energy shield I’ve never seen before. It won’t be easy to deal with.”
Lin Zhan pursed his lips. “I understand. We have to use all our strength to succeed.”
After obtaining the information provided by Lu Huhuda, Lin Zhan began to make a plan, which was a desperate gamble to try to reverse the situation of being pursued.
“Ace, don’t just burn them, make them *tired of coping*,” Lin Zhan instructed.
“Use your fire to create a distraction, set their ships on fire, but don’t get bogged down. We need you to stay mobile and be a constant threat they can’t ignore.”
“Xia, concentrate your attack on their artillery,” Lin Zhan continued.
“Disrupt their aim. Destroy their artillery. Make them waste their firepower.”
He then turned his attention back to himself, focusing on the power that lay dormant within him.
The Fruit of Rules, an ability to manipulate the structure of reality, a power that makes him stand out among the many pirates on the sea.
“As for me,” Lin Zhan thought to himself, “I will control the time, disrupt their attack rhythm, create offensive opportunities for us, and turn the tide of the battle.”
Conflict is inevitable.
There is no way to resolve it through negotiation, no place to hide, and no way to escape.
This is a head-on confrontation.
The first shells exploded in the sea around them, sending columns of water skyward. The battle had begun.
Ace roared, unleashing a torrent of flame that engulfed the leading naval vessel.
His flames met the navy’s guns, and the sea became a blazing sea of fire.
At the same time, Xia moved like a whirlwind, her wind-attributed spear cutting through the air, tearing apart sails and destroying cannons.
She danced among the ranks of naval soldiers, leaving a mess wherever she went, and the naval soldiers fell like dominoes.
Taotu’s face was as cold as frost and she was extremely angry. She commanded the fleet coldly and precisely.
“Concentrate your fire on the one playing with fire! Don’t let him disrupt our formation!”
There was a gleam of greed and bloodthirstiness in Chatun’s eyes as he shouted orders to his men.
“Don’t let those pirates get away! Let them see the power of the naval reformers!”
As the battle intensified, Lin Zhan concentrated his energy and used the power of the Rule Fruit.
Time seemed to slow down, and the movements of the naval vessels became slow and predictable.
With a flick of his wrist, he accelerated the cooldown of their artillery, slowing down their actions or simply immobilizing them at a critical moment.
There was chaos in the navy.
Artillery fire misfired, ships collided, and formations fell apart.
Lin Zhan’s manipulation of time is turning the tide of the battle, creating opportunities for his crew.
But the naval reformers were not easily defeated.
They quickly adapted, changing tactics and bringing out new weapons that threatened to put the pirates in a desperate situation.
Just when the situation seemed desperate, Luhuhuda revealed his secret weapon.
After a daring raid on an enemy research facility, he reverse-engineers a high-tech device capable of firing electromagnetic pulses, but with a twist – he can tune the frequency to only affect specific targets.
Luhuhuda skillfully tapped the keyboard a few times, emitting an electromagnetic pulse, targeting one of the navy’s most advanced warships.
The ship rocked violently, its systems went haywire, and then there was silence.
This powerful warship lost power and became a target for slaughter.
Lin Zhan seized the opportunity and led the crew to launch a final and decisive attack.
Ace poured out rain of fire, Xia created interference, and Lin Zhan manipulated time to create a perfect breakthrough.
With a roar, they broke through the navy’s defenses, scattering the remaining ships and forcing Taotu and Chatun to retreat.
The first wave of attacks by the naval reformers was repelled.
There was a cheer on the pirate ship, mixed with relief and joy of victory.
They faced off against the naval elite and emerged victorious.
But Lin Zhan knew that this was just the beginning, the calm before the bigger storm.
The cheers stopped abruptly, and the communicator began to rustle again. Luhuhuda’s voice was tense and urgent.
“Captain, they won’t give up! Taotu and Chatun are regrouping and dispatching reinforcements!”
However, just when they thought they could breathe a sigh of relief, Taotu and Chatun showed no signs of giving up and were regrouping their forces.
## Pirate Achievement System Chapter 116: The Fierce Offensive of the Navy Reformists
“Tsk, those guys in the navy are really haunting us!” Lin Zhan spat, the sea breeze blowing up his black hair, revealing a pair of sharp eyes.
“Devil fruit weapons? I want to see which is harder, your iron lumps or my fists!”
Ten years is enough time for the world government to cause a lot of trouble.
After the Battle of Marineford, the navy not only did not stop, but instead intensified its efforts and developed “Devil Fruit Weapons” that could restrain Devil Fruit users.
It seems like this thing is specifically targeting people like them who have special abilities, causing the pirates to be like rats crossing the street, hiding here and there.
It makes me angry just thinking about it. Can this world ever get better?
“Captain, the fleet of the Navy Reformists is approaching!” Ace ran over in a hurry with a trace of anxiety on his face.
“It looks like those two guys, Taotu and Chatun, are coming for us!”
“Peach Rabbit? Tea Pig?” Lin Zhan’s lips curled up into a playful smile. The strength of these two guys should not be underestimated, especially Peach Rabbit. Wow, those long legs, those skills… ahem, what is he thinking about!
Now is the battle, you have to focus!
“Xiao, get ready and give the Navy’s innovators a surprise!” Lin Zhan”
Xiao, the special attack captain of the Void Pirates, moves like a ghost and is best at surprise attacks.
Hearing Lin Zhan’s order, he just nodded slightly and his figure disappeared on the deck.
“Lohuhuda, is your new stuff ready?” Lin Zhan turned his head and looked towards the cabin, which was the “secret weapons depot” of the Void Pirates, managed by the technological genius Louhuhuda.
“Captain, don’t worry. My ‘Anti-Devil Fruit Weapon Jammer’ has been debugged. It will definitely turn those navy guys’ junk into a pile of scrap metal!” A clanging sound came from the cabin, with a hint of excitement and confidence.
“Okay! I’ve been waiting for you!” Lin Zhan clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
“Since the Navy’s reformists want to play, then we’ll play with them! Let them see what a real pirate is!”
On the sea, the fleet of the naval reformists was approaching menacingly.
Momotosugi stood on the flagship deck, staring coldly at the Hollow Pirates in the distance.
“Chatun, the target this time is Lin Zhan, we must bring him to justice!” Taotu’s voice was cold and firm.
“Hehe, General Taotu, don’t worry. I’ve wanted to meet Lin Zhan for a long time.” Chatun licked his lips. “I heard that there are many beautiful women around him, hehehe…”
“Chatun! Watch your words!” Taotu frowned, dissatisfied with Chatun’s frivolous behavior.
At this moment, black cracks suddenly appeared on the sea surface, as if the space was torn apart.
Then, dark shadows rushed out from the cracks and pounced on the naval fleet like ghosts.
“What?!” Chatun was horrified, “What is this?!”
“It’s Xiao’s Void Raid!” Lin Zhan’s figure appeared at the bow of the Void Pirates with a wicked smile on his face.
“Navy Innovators, are you ready for our feast?”
The battle is about to break out, with roaring artillery fire and flashing swords.
Lin Zhan’s figure shuttled across the battlefield like a black lightning, and every move he made was accompanied by devastating power.
“Devil Fruit weapon? Nothing more than that!” Lin Zhan smashed a huge mechanical arm with one punch and snorted with disdain.
“It seems that the Navy Reformists are just bluffing.”
“Damn it! Lin Zhan, stop being so arrogant!” Taotu waved the famous sword “Kinpila” and launched a fierce attack on Lin Zhan.
“Well done!” Lin Zhan’s swords collided, sparks flew, and the figures of the two men crossed in the air like two streams of light.
The battle lasted for several hours, and the fleet of the Navy Reform suffered heavy losses, while the Void Pirates became more and more courageous.
“Captain, the ‘anti-devil fruit weapon jammer’ has been activated!” A rumbling voice came from the cabin, “The devil fruit weapons of the Navy’s innovative faction have all been paralyzed!”
“Okay! It’s time to end this battle!” Lin Zhan roared to the sky, and a powerful momentum burst out from his body.
“Navy reformers, die!”…
Chapter 117: A Jedi Counterattack in Desperate Situation (Old Version)
The air was filled with smoke and the sea breeze was howling, carrying a strong smell of gunpowder and blood.
On the deck of the Void Pirate Ship, sparks flickered like fireflies flickering in the night.
Lin Zhan wiped the blood off his face. The salty and fishy taste stimulated his taste buds and made him more sober.
“Damn it! These naval reformists are more difficult to deal with than I thought.” Lin Zhan spat, staring at the regrouping naval fleet in the distance.
Those steel behemoths were arranged in a tight formation on the sea, with their gun muzzles flashing cold light, like dormant beasts, ready to pounce again and bite their prey at any time.
“Taotu and Chatun…these two guys are not vegetarians.” Lin Zhan frowned, feeling the tense atmosphere in the air.
He could clearly hear the sound of shells cutting through the air, feel the hull trembling slightly under the impact of artillery fire, and even smell the unique smell of engine oil on naval warships wafting from afar.
“Captain, the naval reformists seem to have changed their tactics and they are calling for support!” Zhongli’s voice came from behind with a hint of solemnity.
He held a nautical chart in his hand, his brows furrowed, his eyes moving quickly on the paper, as if trying to find the key to defeat the enemy.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He knew that now was not the time to panic.
He looked around and saw that his companions all looked exhausted and had scars on their bodies to varying degrees.
The previous battle had already consumed a lot of their physical strength and energy. If they continued like this, they would most likely be exhausted to death.
“Brothers, I know everyone is very tired, but we can’t give up!” Lin Zhan’s voice was sonorous and powerful, with an unquestionable firmness, “The support fleet of the Navy Reformists is on the way, we must find a way to break through!”
He gathered his companions together and briefly explained the current predicament.
Everyone understood that they were now facing a life-and-death test.
Zhongli is indeed a think tank, he quickly analyzed the weaknesses of the navy’s new tactics.
“Although their new tactics are rigorous, they rely too much on the coordination of the command system. If we can destroy their command system, we can make them lose their composure!”
Lin Zhan: “Good idea! Zhongli, you continue to analyze their command system and find the weakest link. Katakuri, Ace, Xiao, you three are responsible for attracting the attention of the navy and creating opportunities for me!”
“Captain, what are you doing?” Ace couldn’t help but ask.
“I want to sneak into the command core of the naval fleet and use the fruit of rules to modify their command system!” Lin Zhan said in a firm tone, with confidence flashing in his eyes.
“This is too dangerous, Captain!” Xiao said worriedly.
“I know, but this is our only chance of winning!” Lin Zhan patted Xiao’s shoulder, “Believe me, I will succeed!”
The battle started again, Katakuri rushed towards the navy fleet like a steel torrent, his powerful attack made the navy soldiers dare not approach easily.
Ace and Xiao also showed their skills and attracted a lot of naval firepower.
On the battlefield, there were roars of artillery fire, flashes of swords, and shouts of killing that shook the earth.
Lin Zhan took advantage of the chaos, cleverly avoided the navy’s defense line, and sneaked into the command core like a ghost.
He took a deep breath, concentrated his mind, and activated the power of the Rule Fruit.
“The rules have been changed! The chain of command is in chaos!”
With Lin Zhan’s low shout, the naval fleet’s command system was instantly paralyzed. Various commands conflicted with each other, causing the entire fleet to fall into chaos.
The warships fired indiscriminately, the soldiers were at a loss, and the scene was in chaos.
Taotu and Chatun realized that something was wrong and their faces changed drastically.
“Damn it! It’s Lin Zhan! He actually sneaked into our command center!”
They tried to regain control of the situation, but it was too late.
Lin Zhan and others seized the opportunity and launched a desperate counterattack.
The members of the Hollow Pirates are like tigers descending from the mountains, unstoppable.
The fleet of the naval reformists was defeated in the chaos. In the end, Lin Zhan and others successfully repelled the second attack of the naval reformists and achieved a phased victory.
They gathered on the deck, watching the navy fleet sailing away, with smiles of victory on their faces.
“Cheers! To victory!” Ace raised his glass and shouted.
“For victory!” Everyone cheered in unison and drank the wine in their glasses.
However, just as they were celebrating their victory… Lin Zhan suddenly felt an inexplicable chill. He raised his head abruptly and looked into the distance… “What is that?”
The cheers of victory had not yet faded, but a strong sense of uneasiness surged in Lin Zhan’s heart.
He stared at the place where the sea and the sky met. The originally deep blue seemed to be dyed with ink, becoming turbid and depressing.
A suffocating evil aura is approaching at an indescribable speed.
“Captain, what’s wrong?” Ace noticed that Lin Zhan was acting strange, and followed his gaze, only to see a calm sea. “Nothing?”
Zhongli also put down the nautical chart in his hand and walked to Lin Zhan. A hint of doubt flashed in his wise eyes.
“Is it an illusion? I don’t feel any abnormal energy fluctuations.”
Katakuri stood silently behind Lin Zhan. His powerful observation Haki allowed him to detect a hint of strange aura earlier than others.
He frowned and said in a low voice: “Something is approaching.”
Suddenly, the calm sea surface began to roll violently, as if an invisible giant beast had awakened at the bottom of the sea.
Black lightning streaked across the sky, and the air was filled with a sickening smell of sulfur.
“This… what is this?” Xiao’s voice trembled slightly. He had never seen such a strange sight.
Lin Zhan clenched his fists, feeling the power of the Rule Fruit in his body becoming restless.
He said solemnly, “It is the power of the Valley of Gods… but it is stronger and more evil than before!”
Hadn’t Taotu and Chatun’s fleets already retreated?
Where does this power come from?
Could it be… that there is some kind of connection between them?
A terrible thought came to Lin Zhan’s mind.
“Not good! Get out of here!” Lin Zhan suddenly exclaimed, his voice becoming hoarse due to extreme nervousness, “This power… is not something we can contend with!”
“But, Captain…” Ace wanted to say something, but was stopped by Lin Zhan.
Lin Zhan’s eyes were filled with unprecedented solemnity and determination. He said firmly: “There is no time to explain! Believe me! Immediately… move forward at full speed!” He looked up at the sky, where a pair of huge, evil eyes were slowly opening… “What is that?”
Chapter 118: Evil Forces and the Navy’s Conspiracy (Old Version)
Lin Zhan’s roar was like a thunder, exploding in the ears of everyone in the Void Pirates.
His eyes, which had always been calm, were now burning with unprecedented anxiety.
The power of the Valley of the Gods is countless times stronger than what I felt on the island before. The evil and twisted feeling is enough to make one’s soul tremble.
“Hurry! Go at full speed! Stay away from this sea area!” Lin Zhan roared while staring at the sky.
Although Ace was confused, his trust in Lin Zhan was deep in his bones.
Without any hesitation, he immediately rushed to the side of the ship and shouted, “Raise the sail! Full speed ahead! Zhongli, adjust the course and avoid this sea area!”
The members of the Hollow Pirates are all strong warriors who have experienced many battles. Even if they don’t understand what is happening, they immediately take action.
The warship roared and drew a fast white track on the sea, trying to escape from this sea filled with death as soon as possible.
However, the speed at which the evil force spread was far beyond their imagination.
The black lightning became more and more dense, and the smell of sulfur in the air became stronger and stronger, as if the whole world was heading towards destruction.
He knew that simply escaping was not enough, they had to figure out the source of this power and the role played by the naval innovators.
“Zhongli! Weiwei!” Lin Zhan’s voice was deep and powerful. “Come to my room immediately. We need to analyze the current situation!”
After saying that, Lin Zhan turned around and rushed into the captain’s room.
Zhongli and Princess Weiwei looked at each other and saw seriousness in each other’s eyes.
Without any hesitation, they followed Lin Zhan into the captain’s room.
The atmosphere in the captain’s room was extremely tense.
Lin Zhan stood in front of the nautical chart, his face so gloomy that it looked like water was about to drip from it.
Zhongli and Princess Weiwei stood on his left and right, waiting for his instructions.
“Weiwei, tell me what you think.” Lin Zhan broke the silence, his voice low and hoarse.
Princess Weiwei took a deep breath and said slowly, “Captain, I have always felt that the actions of the Navy’s reformists are a little strange. They keep saying that they want to maintain world peace, but their methods are becoming more and more radical and unscrupulous. This time, they had clearly retreated, but suddenly such a powerful evil force appeared. It is hard not to suspect that there is some kind of connection between them.”
Zhongli nodded, agreeing with Princess Weiwei’s analysis.
He took a step forward and added, “Moreover, based on my understanding of otherworldly civilizations, the emergence of this evil power is often accompanied by some kind of ritual or plan. The Navy Reformists are very likely using this power to carry out some conspiracy that we cannot imagine.”
Lin Zhan’s brows were tightly furrowed.
Weiwei and Zhongli’s analysis did not match his guess.
He had always thought that the Navy’s reformists only wanted to use devil fruit weapons to strengthen their rule, but now it seems that their ambitions go far beyond that.
“It seems that we must find out the conspiracy of the Navy Reformists as soon as possible.” Lin Zhan took a deep breath. “Weiwei, you are responsible for collecting intelligence on the Navy Reformists and see if they have any unusual actions recently.”
“Understood!” Zhongli and Princess Weiwei responded in unison.
“As for the others…” Lin Zhan paused, Xiao! “
“I’m here!” Xiao’s figure instantly appeared in front of Lin Zhan, his voice low and quick.
“You must immediately head towards the direction of the naval fleet and investigate their movements. Remember, you must be careful and not expose your whereabouts.” Lin Zhan’s tone was serious and earnest.
“Yes!” Xiao’s figure disappeared again, like a breeze, silently.
Lin Zhan’s orders were well-organized, and the members of the Void Pirates immediately took action.
They are like a well-oiled machine, each doing their own job and working towards the same goal.
As time passed, the atmosphere in the captain’s room became more and more tense.
Lin Zhan stood in front of the nautical chart, motionless, his eyes fixed on a certain area on the chart, as if he wanted to see through it.
Suddenly, a faint sound of wind was heard, and Xiao’s figure appeared in the captain’s room again.
His face was a little pale, obviously he had gone through a complicated investigation.
“Captain, I found traces of the navy fleet.” Xiao’s voice was low and fast, “Momotobu and Chatun are commanding the navy and coordinating with the evil force. They seem to be guiding the evil force towards us.”
Lin Zhan’s face turned pale in an instant.
He never imagined that the naval reformists would actually collude with this evil force.
“It is indeed so!” Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and said, “It seems that they are determined to destroy us!”
“Captain, what should we do?” Ace’s voice was filled with anger.
“What should we do?” Lin Zhan sneered, a cold light flashing in his eyes, “Since they want to play, then we will accompany them to the end!”
“Pass on my order, advance at full speed and fight the navy fleet!” Lin Zhan’s voice was filled with murderous intent, “This time, we’re going to let them know that the Void Pirates are not so easy to mess with!”
The warship of the Void Pirates let out a deafening roar and rushed towards the direction of the navy fleet like an angry beast.
The battle broke out instantly.
The sound of gunfire, explosions, shouts, all kinds of sounds intertwined together to form a symphony of death.
The sea was filled with smoke and flames, as if the end of the world had come.
Ace and Katakuri were like two angry machines, rampaging through the navy fleet. Their attacks were sharp and fierce, and the navy soldiers could not stop them at all.
Lin Zhan stood at the bow, his eyes cold and full of determination.
He knew that this battle was not easy, and if a solution could not be found quickly, the Hollow Pirates would most likely be wiped out.
Suddenly, Lin Zhan discovered that there seemed to be an energy hub in the center of the naval fleet.
This hub is continuously transmitting energy outward, controlling the flow of evil forces.
“I found you!” Lin Zhan raised his lips slightly, revealing a cold smile, “It seems that as long as we destroy this hub, we can weaken the offensive of the evil forces!”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and mobilized the power of the rule fruit in his body.
He concentrated the power of the rules of time on himself, causing the time around him to freeze instantly.
Time stopped flowing and the world seemed to be paused.
Lin Zhan’s figure turned into a flash of lightning and rushed towards the energy hub.
His speed was so fast that almost no one could see his movements clearly.
The energy hub is right before our eyes.
It was a huge metal device, engraved with mysterious runes and emitting a disturbing aura.
Without any hesitation, Lin Zhan raised his fist and smashed it hard into the energy hub.
With a loud bang, the energy hub exploded instantly and turned into countless fragments.
With the destruction of the energy hub, the offensive of evil forces suddenly weakened.
The black lightning began to dissipate, and the smell of sulfur in the air gradually faded.
The members of the Hollow Pirates cheered and their morale was boosted.
They pursued the victory and defeated the naval fleet step by step.
Taotu and Chatun’s faces turned pale. They never expected that Lin Zhan could destroy the energy hub so easily.
Just when they thought they had gained a temporary advantage, Lin Zhan suddenly felt that an even more powerful force was awakening… However, just when they thought they had gained a temporary advantage, Taotu and Chatun activated another mysterious device.
An even more powerful evil energy burst out from the device, forming a huge energy vortex that trapped Lin Zhan and others.
This new evil energy was more violent than the previous one, as if it could tear everything apart.
Lin Zhan felt the air around him suddenly become heavy, and even breathing became difficult.
He clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with determination, and faced the energy vortex, roaring: “You think you can trap me like this? How naive!”
Ace and Katakuri also felt this powerful pressure, but their fighting spirit was not diminished at all.
Ace clenched his flaming fists, his eyes burning with fire, and shouted loudly: “Boss, leave it to us, we will rush out together!”
Lin Zhan nodded and was about to give an order when suddenly, a cold voice came from the energy vortex: “You can’t escape, this force is enough to tear you into pieces!” Taotu’s voice was full of pride and threats, as if announcing that their doomsday was approaching.
Lin Zhan’s eyes suddenly focused, and his aura became even more fierce. He took a deep breath and secretly thought about how to deal with it. At this time, the huge energy vortex had begun to tighten. Lin Zhan frowned. At this moment, every cell in his body was eager to break through the evil shackles.
Chapter 119: The Way to Break the Rules Fruit (Old Version)
###
An unprecedented feeling of oppression, like an invisible giant hand, tightly strangled Lin Zhan’s throat.
He could feel that the air around him seemed to have solidified into something solid, and every breath became extremely difficult.
This evil energy, carrying a sickening smell of decay, squeezed his body madly, as if it wanted to crush him into powder.
“Hmph!” Lin Zhan clenched his teeth and a muffled groan burst out from the depths of his throat.
His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the excessive force.
In those deep eyes, there was a raging fighting spirit, like two unyielding flames, beating tenaciously in this dark vortex.
“You want to trap me with this trick? You really underestimate me, Lin Zhan!”
Ace and Katakuri also felt this suffocating pressure.
All the muscles in Ace’s body were tense, and red lines began to appear on his bronze skin, a sign that the fire was about to erupt.
Katakuri remained calm, his sharp eyes, like a hawk, stared at the constantly rotating energy vortex, as if trying to find a flaw in it.
“Boss, this thing is a bit weird!” Ace’s voice was a little hoarse, but his tone was full of excitement.
“However, this level of challenge is not enough to make us back down! Leave it to me, I’ll burn it!”
“Don’t act rashly, Ace.” Katakuri said in a deep voice. His voice was low and powerful, with a convincing calmness.
“The structure of this energy is very complex. A rash attack may backfire. Let’s observe it first.”
Lin Zhan nodded, he knew Katakuri’s judgment very well.
At times like this, being reckless will only backfire.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, began to concentrate, and immersed his consciousness into the vast realm of the Fruit of Rules.
“Rules…what are the rules of this energy?” Lin Zhan asked silently in his heart.
His consciousness was like a ghost, shuttling through the cracks in the energy vortex, carefully observing the flow of every bit of energy, trying to find the rules hidden therein.
At the same time, Zhongli was standing aside, observing the changes in the energy vortex with a frown.
There was a gleam of wisdom in his calm eyes.
As the vice-captain and navigator of the Void Pirates, Zhongli possesses extremely keen observation and analytical skills.
He believes that everything has its weaknesses, and as long as the key point is found, the problem can be solved.
“The way this energy flows… seems to follow a certain pattern,” Zhongli muttered to himself.
He stretched out his fingers and gently stroked them in the air, simulating the rotation trajectory of the energy vortex.
“If we can break this pattern, maybe we can find a breakthrough.”
As time passed, the pressure of the energy vortex became greater and greater, and the pressure on Lin Zhan and others became heavier and heavier.
But they did not give up and still tried their best to find a way out.
Finally, after careful observation and analysis, a gleam of light suddenly flashed in Lin Zhan’s eyes.
He found it!
He discovered that there was an extremely tiny flaw in the rules of the energy vortex!
“I found a breakthrough!” Although Lin Zhan’s voice was not loud, it was full of excitement and confidence.
“There is an extremely small deviation in the direction of rotation of this energy. As long as we can use the Fruit of Rules to modify this deviation, we can reverse the direction of rotation of the entire vortex!”
“Okay!” Ace was immediately cheered up when he heard that. “Boss, what do you need me to do?”
“Ace, prepare to release your fire!” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice.
“Katakuri, Xiao, you guys get ready too, attack from different directions and coordinate with my actions!”
“Understood!” Ace, Katakuri and Xiao responded in unison, their eyes full of fighting spirit.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and exerted the power of the Rule Fruit to its fullest.
His eyes became as bright as stars, and invisible forces of rules surged out from his body and spread towards the direction of the energy vortex.
“Rule change – reversal!” Lin Zhan roared in his heart.
As he finished speaking, the direction of the energy vortex began to change at an extremely slow speed.
At the same time, Ace began to release his blazing flames.
The raging flames rushed towards the energy vortex like a flood that broke through a dam, instantly burning the surrounding air and distorting it.
Katakuri and Xiao also launched attacks at the same time.
Katakuri used the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to transform his body into countless rice cakes, which rushed towards the energy vortex like a tide, trying to wrap it up.
Xiao was like a ghost, moving at high speed around the energy vortex, looking for the best angle of attack.
With the joint efforts of Lin Zhan, Ace, Katakuri and Xiao, the energy vortex’s rotation speed became slower and slower, and its rotation direction became more and more unstable.
Finally, after a fierce confrontation, the energy vortex let out a wail and completely collapsed and disintegrated.
“Success!” Ace waved his fist excitedly and cheered loudly.
Lin Zhan also let out a long sigh and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.
He knew that they had successfully survived yet another crisis.
However, before they had time to celebrate their victory, a cold voice suddenly came from a distance.
“Hmph, as expected of Lin Zhan, he does have some skills.” There was a hint of surprise and anger in Taotu’s voice.
“But do you think you can get away with this? You are so naive!”
Lin Zhan’s expression suddenly became solemn.
“Zhongli, analyze the enemy’s movements.” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice.
“Yes, Captain.” Zhongli nodded and began to quickly analyze the situation on the battlefield.
I saw the sea in the distance was densely covered with naval warships.
These warships are the elite forces of the Navy’s reformists, equipped with the most advanced “devil fruit weapons” and have extremely powerful combat capabilities.
“It seems that the Navy Reformists are determined to get rid of us.” Lin Zhan said, “In that case, let them see the strength of our Void Pirates!”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and once again exerted the power of the Rule Fruit to its fullest.
His eyes became as deep as black holes, and invisible forces of rules surged out of his body and spread towards the direction of the naval fleet.
“Rule change—time stops!” Lin Zhan roared in his heart.
As his words fell, time on the entire battlefield seemed to stand still.
The gunfire from the naval warships stayed in mid-air, motionless.
The movements of the naval soldiers also became as slow as slow motion.
Lin Zhan seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and led Ace, Katakuri and Xiao to launch a fierce attack towards the naval fleet.
Ace released endless flames, burning naval warships to ashes.
Katakuri used the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to entangle the navy soldiers, making them unable to move.
Xiao was like the god of death, moving among the naval soldiers and reaping their lives.
Under the fierce attack of Lin Zhan and others, the naval fleet was beaten back step by step and suffered heavy losses.
Taotu and Chatun stood on the deck of the flagship, looking at the scene in front of them with grim faces.
They never expected that Lin Zhan and others could break the energy vortex so easily and use the power of the rule fruit to catch them off guard.
“Damn it, has this guy’s strength become so strong?” Taotu said gritting his teeth.
“We can’t go on like this, otherwise we will be defeated by him sooner or later.” Chatun said anxiously.
“We must find a way to stop him!”
However, just when they were getting anxious, an anxious voice suddenly came from the communicator.
“Lieutenant General Taotu, Lieutenant General Chatun, it’s bad! There’s news coming from Louhuhuda…” The air was filled with smoke, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty and burnt smell, blew on Lin Zhan’s face.
He wiped the dust off his face, looked at the defeated naval fleet, and let out a breath of tiredness.
Ace’s flame was still burning, reflecting his face which was flushed with excitement: “Boss, these naval reformist bastards are nothing but this!” Katakuri silently retracted his rice cake arm, while Xiao stood on the mast, his figure like a sculpture, his eyes grimly scanning the surroundings.
However, this brief joy of victory was soon interrupted by a burst of rapid communication sounds.
Zhongli answered the call and his face suddenly changed. “There’s news from Louhuhuda… God’s Valley…” He paused, his voice so low that it seemed to come from hell, “…that evil force is absorbing the energy of the navy, and…it’s about to complete some kind of ritual!”
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
He seemed to be able to feel that an invisible dark force was spreading from the distant Valley of Gods, like a giant beast that was ready to devour its prey, opening its bloody mouth.
Ace’s laughter stopped abruptly, Katakuri’s expression became serious, and even Xiao, who was usually calm, frowned slightly.
“Ritual…” Lin Zhan muttered to himself, his fists clenched unconsciously, and his knuckles crackled.
“It seems that our real enemy is not the navy…” He raised his head suddenly, his eyes were like torches, and his tone was firm and unquestionable, “Zhongli, notify everyone to prepare to set off immediately! Target – Valley of the Gods!”
Zhongli looked at Lin Zhan deeply and nodded solemnly: “Yes, Captain!” He turned and walked towards the communication room, leaving Lin Zhan alone. Standing at the bow, looking at the cloudy sea in the distance, an inexplicable uneasiness spread in his heart… “Luohuhuda, you’d better pray that your information is accurate…”
Chapter 120: The Final Showdown is full of dangers (old version)
“Get ready to set off immediately! Target – Valley of the Gods!” Lin Zhan’s voice exploded on the deck of the Void Pirates like thunder, instantly dispelling the relaxed atmosphere brought about by the previous short-lived victory.
There was a solemn and murderous atmosphere in the air, and everyone felt the imminent sense of crisis.
Zhongli moved quickly and steadily. He turned and walked towards the communications room, and began to arrange the route and contact various parties in an orderly manner.
As the vice-captain and navigator of the Void Pirates, he always stays calm at critical moments and provides the most reliable logistical support for the team.
Lin Zhan stood alone at the bow, letting the sea breeze rustle and blow his clothes.
His gaze was deep and sharp, as if it could penetrate the endless sea and reach the Valley of God shrouded in dark clouds.
He knew that the enemy this time was no ordinary creature and if he was not careful, he might be doomed.
“Luohuluda, you’d better pray that your information is accurate…” He muttered to himself in a low voice, with a hint of barely perceptible worry in his tone.
After all, the Valley of the Gods hides too many secrets, and no one can predict what kind of evil forces are lurking there.
After a brief silence, Lin Zhan turned around and glanced at the people standing on the deck.
Ace was still as passionate as ever, Katakuri was as calm as ever, and even Xiao, who was usually calm, showed a rare hint of solemnity.
There was also Princess Weiwei, who was standing next to Zhongli, listening to his report attentively and offering her own suggestions from time to time.
“Everyone come here, we must come up with a foolproof plan as soon as possible.” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and powerful, with an unquestionable majesty.
Everyone quickly gathered around and formed an impromptu combat meeting on the deck.
“The situation is urgent, so I won’t waste any more time.” Lin Zhan said straight to the point, “You’ve heard the news from Louhuhuda. The evil forces in the Valley of Gods are performing some kind of ritual. Once completed, the consequences will be disastrous.”
“Captain, what should we do?” Ace asked impatiently, his fists clenched tightly, his whole body filled with the desire to fight.
Lin Zhan looked at Princess Weiwei
Princess Weiwei nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: “I think we must find the source of the evil power and destroy it completely before the ritual is completed. Otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain.”
“Your Highness is right.” Zhongli agreed. “According to my guess, the source of the evil power is probably in the deepest part of the Valley of the Gods. It must be heavily guarded there, and it will not be easy to break through.”
“In that case, let me go!” Xiao’s voice was low and hoarse, with a sharp light flashing in his eyes. “I am good at hiding and raiding. I will definitely find the source of the evil power.”
“No, it’s too dangerous.” Lin Zhan flatly refused. “The situation in the Valley of Gods is unclear. If you go deep behind enemy lines alone, you will probably be surrounded.”
“Captain, please believe me.” Xiao said firmly, “I will not act rashly and will be careful. In addition, I have wind-element spearmanship, which allows me to use the power of wind to move quickly and avoid the enemy’s pursuit.”
Lin Zhan was silent for a moment. He knew that Xiao’s strength should not be underestimated, and he was indeed the best person to carry out this task.
“Okay,” Lin Zhan finally agreed to Xiao’s request, “but you must remember that safety comes first. Once you encounter danger, retreat immediately and don’t fight to the end.”
“Understood!” Xiao answered simply and crisply.
“In that case, let’s make a detailed battle plan.” Lin Zhan swept his eyes over everyone and said in a deep voice, “Katakuri, Ace, you are responsible for attracting the attention of the navy and evil forces in the front and creating opportunities for Xiao.”
“No problem, leave it to us!” Ace said, patting his chest, with an excited smile on his face.
“Xiao, use your wind spear skills to sneak into the depths of the Valley of the Gods and look for the source of the evil power.” Lin Zhan continued, “Zhongli, Princess Weiwei and I will break through from the flank and be ready to support you at any time.”
“Understood.” Zhongli and Princess Weiwei responded in unison.
Once the battle plan was drawn up, everyone immediately began to act.
The battleship of the Void Pirates adjusted its course and headed at full speed towards the Valley of the Gods.
As the warships got closer, the outline of the Valley of the Gods gradually became clearer.
It was an island shrouded in thick fog, and the air was filled with a disgusting stench.
There were a lot of debris and corpses floating on the sea, as if it had just experienced a brutal battle.
“It seems that the navy and the evil forces have already fought here.” Zhongli said with a frown, his expression becoming more solemn.
“Humph, no matter what happened between them, it has nothing to do with us.” Ace said disdainfully, “We have only one goal, and that is to destroy the source of evil power!”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: “Prepare for battle!”
The battleships of the Hollow Pirates let out a deafening roar and rushed towards the navy fleet first.
Katakuri and Ace took the lead and rushed towards the navy soldiers like two burning meteors.
Katakuri used the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to create countless glutinous rice balls, which surrounded the navy soldiers and made them unable to move.
Ace released a blazing flame, reducing everything around him to ashes.
The naval soldiers had never seen such a powerful attack before, and they were immediately thrown into chaos, suffering heavy casualties.
At the same time, Xiao, like a ghost, passed through the defense line of evil forces and headed towards the depths of the Valley of the Gods.
His figure was erratic, like a ghost, making it difficult to grasp.
Lin Zhan, Zhongli and Princess Weiwei broke through from the flank. They cooperated well with each other and were unstoppable. They quickly broke through the navy’s flank defense and rushed towards Xiao.
Just when Xiao was about to reach the source of the evil power, two figures suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way.
“Want to get through? You have to get through us first!” Taotu said with a sneer, holding a sharp long knife in her hand, with a cold light flashing on the blade.
“What a hassle.” Chatun scratched his head and said helplessly, “I wanted to be lazy, but it seems that today I can’t do it.”
Xiao’s expression became serious.
Taotu and Chatun attacked at the same time. They were extremely fast and coordinated well, forcing Xiao into a panic for a while.
Just when Xiao was about to get into trouble, a figure suddenly appeared beside him and blocked the attacks of Taotu and Chatun.
“Xiao, are you okay?” Lin Zhan asked with concern.
“Captain, why are you here?” Xiao asked in surprise.
“Of course we are here to help you.” Lin Zhan said with a smile, his eyes gleaming with confidence, “You don’t need to do anything yourself to deal with this kind of bastard.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.” Xiao said gratefully.
Lin Zhan turned around and looked at Taotu and Chatun with cold eyes.
“Today, let me teach you, the scum of the navy, a lesson!” Lin Zhan roared, and a powerful aura burst out from his body.
Lin Zhan activated the power of the Rule Fruit without hesitation. He wanted to use his own strength to completely crush the enemy in front of him.
However, just as they were in the middle of a fierce battle with Taotu and Chatun—“BOOM!!!”
A deafening roar suddenly erupted from the depths of the Valley of Gods, as if the ancient mountains were wailing.
The earth began to tremble and the gravel rolled, as if something horrible was about to break out of the ground.
The ground beneath Lin Zhan and the others’ feet began to shake violently, making it difficult for them to stand steadily.
“What’s going on!?” Ace exclaimed, subconsciously stopped attacking, and looked into the depths of the Valley of God with uncertainty.
Katakuri also narrowed his eyes, and his observation Haki, which could predict the future, gave a crazy warning, as if something extremely dangerous was approaching.
“Oh no! The ceremony was completed ahead of schedule!” Princess Vivi said with a pale face and a trembling voice.
She could feel a suffocating evil energy surging out from the depths of the Valley of Gods. The power of that energy was beyond her imagination.
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly. He looked up into the depths of the Valley of Gods and saw a huge black pillar of light shooting up into the sky, instantly dyeing the sky a despairing dark purple.
The air was filled with a disgusting stench. Once you inhaled it, it felt like your soul was being corroded.
“Damn it!” Lin Zhan cursed angrily. He could feel that the evil energy was madly eroding everything around him. Even the power of rules in his body began to tremble slightly, as if it had encountered a natural enemy.
He didn’t know if he could protect himself from the impact of this energy, let alone if he could stop the conspiracy of the evil forces. A new crisis has arrived!
Taotu and Chatun also felt the power of that evil energy, and expressions of fear appeared on their faces.
This energy was beyond their understanding, making them feel extremely small and powerless.
“What the hell is this?” Chatun asked in a trembling voice.
“Can we… can we really defeat this power?” Taotu murmured to herself, the long sword in her hand trembling slightly, as if she was afraid of the evil energy.
At this moment, everyone felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.
Deep in the Valley of Gods, the evil energy is spreading at an alarming speed, as if it is about to swallow up the entire world.
Lin Zhan and his friends knew that they had to stop the spread of this energy as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous!
Chapter 121 Shockwave of Evil Energy (Old Version)
The stench became stronger and stronger, like an invisible ghost claw, tightly grasping everyone’s throat.
Every breath of air I inhaled felt like a knife scraping my lungs, with a sickening fishy-sweet taste.
Lin Zhan clenched his teeth, his stomach churning. This feeling was a hundred times more uncomfortable than seasickness.
What the hell is this!
“Katakuri! The Sticky-Noodle Fruit, maximum range defense!” Lin Zhan roared, his voice somewhat distorted in the strong wind.
Katakuri understood what he meant. He tensed his huge body and slammed his arms to the ground as if they were wrapped around countless white pythons.
A huge “glutinous rice wave” suddenly surged up from the ground and quickly solidified into a huge hemispherical barrier, wrapping everyone up.
The surface of the barrier glowed with a lustrous luster, barely resisting the erosion of the disgusting energy.
“Cough cough…” Princess Vivi covered her mouth, her face pale. Despite the protection of the barrier, the suffocating feeling still lingered.
“This is not a solution. The barrier won’t hold out for much longer!”
“Weiwei, is there a suitable place to retreat?” Lin Zhan suppressed his discomfort and scanned the surroundings like an eagle, trying to find a glimmer of hope.
Princess Weiwei took a deep breath and tried to keep herself calm.
She narrowed her eyes and quickly scanned the surrounding terrain, her gaze finally fixed on a higher rock wall.
“There! The top of the rock wall is relatively safe and can be used as a temporary shelter!”
“Okay! Xiao, cover!”
Xiao’s figure shuttled through the strong wind like a ghost, the spear in his hand flashing with green light, and every swing brought up a sharp wind blade, tearing apart the evil energy that tried to approach.
Under Xiao’s cover, everyone quickly moved to the top of the rock wall.
After finally climbing up the rock wall, everyone was able to catch their breath.
However, the scene before us was even more despairing.
The entire Valley of the Gods was shrouded in a strange green mist. The earth seemed to be boiling, rolling constantly and making creepy gurgling sounds.
“What exactly is this energy?” Zhongli frowned, his eyes flashing with wisdom.
He stretched out his hand and tried to touch the green mist, but quickly retracted it the moment it touched.
“It seems… to be disrupting the stability of space, and…” He paused, with a hint of disbelief in his tone, “It seems to be related to… the origin of the Devil Fruit.”
Lin Zhan’s heart was shocked. Devil Fruit, Star Core… Could it be…
“The information I extracted from the star core previously showed that the energy for making devil fruits comes from a special kind of cosmic ray,” Lin Zhan took a deep breath and spoke out his speculation, “This kind of ray has a powerful transformation ability and can give creatures all kinds of strange abilities. And this evil energy… I suspect that this ray has undergone some kind of mutation!”
“Mutation?” Ace’s eyes widened. “Wouldn’t that be even more dangerous?”
“That’s right,” Lin Zhan’s face was solemn, “Moreover, I suspect that this mutation is related to the World Government’s ‘Devil Fruit Weapon’.”
At this moment, a burst of artillery fire was heard from the sea in the distance. The navy fleet is coming!
“Damn it! They’re trying to take advantage of my misfortune!” Ace roared, his whole body ablaze with flames, “I’m going to burn them to death!”
“Ace, wait!” Lin Zhan grabbed him, “Don’t be impulsive! Their target is us. If you rush out like this, you will only die in vain!”
“What should we do? Are we just going to sit there and wait for death?” Ace asked unwillingly.
“No, we fight back!” Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed with a gleam of light, “Xiao, you go around the enemy’s rear and destroy their command ship! Ace, you are responsible for creating chaos and attracting firepower! Katakuri, protect everyone!”
“clear!”
The three men took the order and rushed towards the enemy like arrows.
Lin Zhan looked at the battlefield in the distance, feeling more and more uneasy.
The intensity of this evil energy is still increasing, and the entire Valley of God is shaking, as if it will collapse at any time.
“We must find the source as soon as possible!” Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed with determination, “Weiwei, Zhongli, you stay here, I’ll go to the core area to take a look!”
“No! It’s too dangerous!” Princess Weiwei and Zhongli stopped them in unison.
“Don’t worry, I know what’s going on.” Lin Zhan gave them a reassuring look, “If I can’t come back…you can take everyone away from here.”
After saying that, Lin Zhan no longer hesitated, jumped up, and rushed towards the depths of the Valley of Gods.
He must stop this disaster, even at the cost of his life!
Lin Zhan overcame all obstacles along the way and finally arrived at the core area of the Valley of the Gods.
The ground here has completely collapsed, magma is gushing out, and the air is filled with a pungent smell of sulfur.
Just as Lin Zhan was about to step into the core area…
“Wait! Lin Zhan! Watch your step!” Zhongli’s voice suddenly came from a distance.
Just when Lin Zhan’s toes were about to touch the charred land, the earth let out a painful groan and a hideous crack appeared!
A burst of energy that was ten times stronger than before suddenly exploded like a spring that had been compressed to the extreme. The shock wave carried with it gravel and scorching air, and fiercely blew Lin Zhan away!
He fell to the ground in a mess, his back was burning with pain and a fishy-sweet taste rose in his throat.
Damn, this power!
“Hehe, Lin Zhan, you are still too naive after all.” Taotu’s voice came from a distance, with a hint of teasing and sarcasm.
Lin Zhan struggled to raise his head and squinted his eyes to look in the direction where the sound came from.
I saw Taotu and Chatun standing side by side, with disgusting sneers on their faces.
Behind them was a dark mass of naval fleets, with their gun muzzles flashing cold light.
“Ahem…you…knew that an explosion would occur here?” Lin Zhan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his voice hoarse.
Chatun sneered, “Of course we know, this is a ‘gift’ we carefully prepared for you!”
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly, and an unprecedented sense of crisis enveloped him.
He felt the power of the Rule Fruit in his body fluctuating restlessly, as if responding to this evil energy.
He clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug deep into his flesh.
This battle… is far from over…
“You…” Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words, “You will… pay the price…”
Chapter 122: New Breakthrough in Despair (Old Version)
Lin Zhan struggled to get up from the ground. Every muscle was protesting, and it seemed as if a crazy force was stirring inside his body.
He narrowed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his racing heartbeat.
The evil energy not only repelled him, but also triggered a strong reaction from the rule fruit in his body.
Lin Zhan felt an unprecedented power surging in his body, as if it was about to break free from its restraints at any time.
“Damn, what kind of energy is this?” Lin Zhan’s mind was racing. He knew clearly that if he couldn’t find a way to crack it quickly, he would probably die here.
He closed his eyes, concentrated his mind, and gradually sensed the fluctuations of the rule fruit in his body.
“Time… Space…” These two words flashed quickly through Lin Zhan’s mind, and he began to try to combine the ability to control time and the ability to control rock elements.
This is not an easy task. Two completely different forces are intertwined in his body, and any carelessness will lead to backlash.
But Lin Zhan will not give up, he must find a breakthrough.
“Lin Zhan, we need to retreat.” Zhong Li’s voice came from the side, her voice was calm and firm, “If we continue to go deep into the core area, we may trigger more unknown dangers.”
Lin Zhan opened his eyes, looked at Zhongli, and shook his head: “No, I have found the key to cracking the evil energy. We must keep moving forward.” His determined expression made Zhongli stunned for a moment, then he nodded and said no more.
“Xiao, I need you to infiltrate the enemy and obtain more intelligence.” Lin Zhan said, with an unquestionable command in his voice.
Xiao nodded, quickly turned into a gust of wind, and disappeared silently into the darkness.
“Katakuri, Ace, hold the outer defense line and don’t let the enemy get close to the core area.” Lin Zhan continued to assign tasks, his tone firm and decisive.
Katakuri and Ace looked at each other, nodded, and immediately went their separate ways.
Lin Zhan closed his eyes again, concentrated his mind, and tried to perfectly combine the two forces.
As time passed, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Finally, he felt that the two forces found a balance point in his body. He suddenly opened his eyes, with a determination flashing in his eyes.
“Time solidified rock spikes!” Lin Zhan shouted in a low voice, and waved his hands in the air, instantly forming several spikes made of rock.
These rock spikes are not only extremely sharp, but also carry a force that can stop time.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and shot these rock spikes in all directions.
The rock spikes drew sharp tracks in the air, instantly piercing through the bodies of several enemies, freezing them at a certain moment in time.
Lin Zhan felt the strength in his body increase and was secretly delighted.
“Success!” Zhongli’s voice sounded from the side. Her Lin Zhan nodded, signaling her to continue paying attention to the movements around her.
At the same time, Xiao had quietly approached the command cabin where Taotu and Chatun were.
He looked through the cabin window and saw the two men discussing some plans.
Chatun said proudly: “With this evil energy, we can not only control the entire sea area, but also completely destroy the Hollow Pirates.”
Taotu nodded gently. This time, he definitely won’t be able to escape. “
Xiao returned immediately and reported the information to Lin Zhan.
After Lin Zhan heard this, we must speed up our actions. “
“Ace, lure the naval fleet into the canyon.” Lin Zhan gave the order quickly.
Ace nodded, and immediately burned the lava power in his body, turning into a ball of fire and flying towards the enemy.
The naval fleet was immediately attracted by the sudden fire and rushed towards the canyon.
Ace took the opportunity to use the power of lava to block the exit of the canyon, instantly trapping the enemy inside.
The enemy fell into chaos for a while, crowded together, and was unable to organize an effective attack.
Katakuri took the opportunity to clear out the remaining forces and ensure the safety of the team’s rear.
However, just when Lin Zhan was about to complete the last step of ability fusion, Taotu noticed their plan and led the elite troops to attack the core area.
“Lin Zhan, they are coming!” Zhongli’s voice was filled with a hint of urgency.
Lin Zhan suddenly opened his eyes, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.
“It’s finally here…” Lin Zhan stood up, took a deep breath, and prepared to face the upcoming battle.
Just as Taotu was about to reach the core area, a sneer suddenly flashed across Lin Zhan’s face.
Just as Taotu was about to arrive, Lin Zhan finally completed the last step of ability fusion.
His heartbeat was as violent as a war drum, but because of his unparalleled strength, he was as steady as a rock in the strong wind.
He took a deep breath and felt the perfect balance of power in his body, as if space and time unconditionally submitted to him at this moment.
Everything before his eyes was like a slow-motion film, and every glimmer of light on the battlefield was clearly imprinted in his heart.
Suddenly, a familiar light flashed across the sky, followed by Kizaru’s unique lazy voice: “Lin Zhan, you have violated the regulations of the World Government. No one can save you today.” Before he finished speaking, Kizaru’s figure had turned into countless golden spots of light in the sky, as if ready to defeat all resistance at any time.
Lin Zhan frowned. A new crisis had already arrived, but his surroundings were unexpectedly quiet.
There was a tense electricity in the air and he felt his breathing become heavy, but the sneer on his face was still there.
As he turned around, chains of time and rock elements condensed in Lin Zhan’s palms, as if he was fighting against the shackles of fate.
Zhongli’s eyes were fixed on him, but Lin Zhan just turned his head back calmly and said to the team members with a resolute look: “This is the moment of our decisive battle.” His voice was full of fighting spirit, without any hesitation or fear.
At this moment, time seems to have stopped and everything will be reshaped.
Chapter 123: The Unexpected Ally Appears (Old Version)
As soon as Kizaru finished speaking, a slight cracking sound was heard in the air, like the sound of ice cracking, coldly cutting into the battlefield.
Lin Zhan was about to fight back when suddenly, Aokiji’s figure gradually appeared. He descended silently to the center of the battlefield, as if this land naturally belonged to him.
Aokiji’s eyes were cold, yet they concealed some complex emotions that were difficult to detect.
“Lin Zhan,” Aokiji’s voice was as clear and firm as ice, “I owe you a favor, so I’ll help you today.” As soon as these words came out, the surrounding soldiers exchanged glances in astonishment, and the entire battlefield was instantly boiling.
Kizaru’s laughter slid by like a blade of light, and his eyes revealed an unpredictable cunningness.
Lin Zhan was slightly shocked, with doubts in his heart that could not be ignored, but he remained vigilant, signaling his team not to let down their guard.
Zhongli remained calm and stood beside Lin Zhan as usual, his thoughts quickly scanning every possibility.
“It’s hard to tell Aokiji’s friend from foe,” Zhongli pondered, his eyes scanning Aokiji’s face meticulously, “but his motives seem reasonable.”
Aokiji seemed to sense Zhongli’s scrutiny and raised his eyes slightly, then spoke slowly.
He said he discovered that an evil energy was spiraling out of control and posed a potential threat to destroy the world.
Lin Zhan’s goal happened to coincide with his idea of eliminating this disaster, so he decided to temporarily join them and work together to deal with it.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, as if deliberately relaxing the tension in his shoulders, but he remained as firm as iron.
He knew that the help Aokiji inadvertently gave them was the key to turning the tide of the battle.
So, he decisively agreed to Aokiji’s proposal for cooperation, but the vigilance in his heart was still like a quiet undercurrent in the sea, which could not be avoided.
With the assistance of Aokiji, Lin Zhan’s team attacked decisively and repelled the vanguard troops of Taotu and Chatun.
The air was filled with the smell of burning, and the roar of flames and the weeping of frost danced wildly on the battlefield.
However, Kizaru did not retreat. With an almost nonchalant and leisurely attitude, he sneered and announced the activation of the long-range weapon system of the Navy Headquarters, aiming directly at the core area of God Valley.
Lin Zhan’s heart seemed to be burning in thunder. He realized that this might be a great opportunity to permanently paralyze the “Mother Nest System”, but someone would need to take the risk to attract Kizaru’s firepower.
He turned to look at Ace, whose eyes were burning with fiery impulse and familiar persistence.
“Let me hold him back,” Ace stepped forward, red flames dancing in his palms, “If anyone can hold Kizaru back as long as possible, it should be me.”
Lin Zhan was silent for a moment, his eyes sharp.
He knew that Ace and Kizaru had known each other for a long time about their fighting styles, and that inner conviction finally made him nod and agree to Ace’s proposal.
“Okay,” he responded simply, but it was enough to let Ace know his trust and hope.
Ace shouted, his aura cutting through the battlefield as he rushed towards Kizaru. His lava power seemed to turn into a wild and raging volcano as he launched a fierce attack.
The noise on the battlefield was as fierce as fire. The faces of the surrounding soldiers were pale, but the related tension seemed to make their heartbeats resonate in unison.
At the same time, Lin Zhan quickly gathered his team and steadily advanced to the core area of the Valley of the Gods, intending to solve the obstacle once and for all.
Aokiji became their shield, dutifully covering his actions. The frost swept across the enemy, as if telling a silent song of the ice sea.
At this moment, the battle is raging and time is ticking like quicksand in a funnel.
Just as Lin Zhan reached out to touch the core device that was about to change the situation, a storm began to surge behind him.
A strange and secretive laughter came from all directions, like a poisonous snake hiding in the shadows, whispering unknown secrets.
This sound was almost silent in the midnight sky amidst the fierce battle, but it foreshadowed unknown movements that were perhaps destined to change everything.
Just as Lin Zhan’s fingers were about to touch the core device entangled by countless chains, a cold and strange laugh suddenly emerged in the air, like a cold wave sweeping over, making people shudder.
Voices came from all directions, as if invisible ghosts were whispering: “Do you think you can stop us like this? Too naive!” The sharp sarcasm in my ears at that moment was like lifting layers of foggy fear in the smoke of the battlefield.
Lin Zhan suddenly turned around, his eyes as swift and sharp as a blade, but he saw that Aokiji’s face was no longer as calm as usual, but revealed a hint of indescribable gloom.
Lin Zhan’s heart suddenly sank, he seemed to smell a deeper danger – the real mastermind behind the scenes might be secretly watching all their actions at this moment.
The battles continued all around, but Lin Zhan’s heart was like a storm that had quietly arisen, burning with anxiety.
He knew that in this context that seemed to be on the verge of a decisive moment, danger and variables were spreading like vines.
Every step feels like stepping on the edge of the Chayang Mountain cliff, leaving no room for slackness.
At this moment, Aokiji in the distance nodded slightly, as if responding to the undercurrent of prophecy.
In this turbulent moment, he cast a look like an ice knife, as if to carve deep cracks with his coldness.
Lin Zhan said nothing more.
He suppressed the fluctuations in his heart, silently tightened the weapon in his hand, and a hidden determination burned in his eyes.
Time ticked away in blood and fire, and the silence at this moment was like a prelude to an impending explosion, as if foreshadowing the step of no return between life and death.
Chapter 124 Aokiji’s betrayal and new plan (old version)
Aokiji’s sneering voice swept across the battlefield like a cold wind, and his indifferent tone made the air even colder: “Do you think you can stop us? The power of the mother nest system is far beyond your imagination.” His words were like cracks on thin ice, ruthlessly declaring a fact that could not be changed.
Lin Zhan stood there, his brows furrowed, his eyes firm but revealing deep doubts.
He felt the threat hidden in Aokiji’s words and realized that he might have become a pawn of the mastermind behind the plot.
Silently, he used precise gestures to signal the team to retreat strategically to avoid being involved in the huge crisis that might be approaching – the joint encirclement and suppression by Aokiji and Kizaru.
The sounds of battle in the distance gradually faded away, and back at the makeshift camp, the team could finally relax for a moment.
While checking the intelligence, Zhongli speculated that Aokiji’s target might be the core control room of the rumored “Mother Nest System”.
After several careful deductions, Lin Zhan made a bold decision – to change the plan, sneak into the Navy Headquarters with all his strength, paralyze the system, and spy on the mystery of the star core.
Princess Weiwei walked up to Lin Zhan, bringing a brief moment of peace to people’s hearts.
Thinking quickly, she came up with a plan that cleverly utilized some of the access privileges she had previously obtained to buy the team time to act.
After hearing this, Lin Zhan nodded slightly, gripped the weapon in his hand tightly, and had a new plan in mind.
In order to prepare for the upcoming infiltration operation, Lin Zhan began to focus on the integration and advancement of his powers.
With the help of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit’s dragon form and the ability to control the rock element, after steady training like he was buried deep in the sea, he finally created a shocking new attack method – “Rock Dragon Roar”.
This move was like the roar of a galloping dragon, and it could instantly create a large number of rock spikes, which were ejected like ruthless hounds, tearing the enemy’s defenses into pieces.
At the same time, Katakuri, with his keen observation Haki, sensed the presence of a nearby naval exploratory reconnaissance team.
He eliminated the enemy silently and brought back an extremely important piece of intelligence: the Navy Headquarters had recently stepped up internal patrols, especially the passages leading to the core areas, where multiple layers of protection had been added.
This information was like a knife cutting through the air, saving the team from negligence and allowing for careful and detailed adjustments to the infiltration plan.
In the camp, the atmosphere of preparation for departure gradually condensed into a fighting enthusiasm, surging like an undercurrent.
Everyone nervously reviewed the details of the mission, strength and reason intertwined to form an unparalleled motivation.
Just when everyone was ready to set off with a new plan in mind, Aokiji’s figure appeared in front of them again.
His eyes were cold, like a sudden snowstorm.
With an elusive hint on his lips, he uttered the warning word by word – however, the last sentence was like a sharp blade hanging in the air, it stopped abruptly, leaving an unfathomable suspense.
Under the flickering dim lights of the camp, the atmosphere suddenly became tense, as if even the air had solidified into an invisible wall.
When Aokiji’s cold voice passed by again like midnight frost, everyone’s eyes were involuntarily focused on him.
“If you insist on going, you will bear the consequences at your own risk.” The chill in Aokiji’s words makes people think carefully and feel terrified.
Lin Zhan stood at the front of the team. Although his face looked calm, waves of emotions were surging deep down in his heart.
His eyes were fixed on Aokiji, trying to penetrate that ruthless shell and glimpse the true intentions hidden behind it.
At the same time, Zhongli, Ace, Xiao, Princess Vivi and others felt an invisible oppression, like a landmine about to be triggered.
Aokiji’s resolute attitude made Lin Zhan feel confused, and his reason told him that there must be a deeper secret that has not been revealed.
The huge secret behind it may be like the undercurrents in the deep sea, which is impossible to predict, but we must not ignore this sudden warning.
For a moment, the camp fell into a brief silence, as if even the wind held its breath.
The soldiers could feel the sting of the cold wind on their faces, the shouts of killing were still echoing in their ears, and their fighting spirit and fear were intertwined in their hearts.
Aokiji said no more, turned around and left, leaving behind the warning as an unsolved mystery, like a spark of fire buried in the ice that was about to explode.
At the moment of leaving, Lin Zhan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and an unstoppable sharpness revealed in his calmness.
Faced with an unknown future, he couldn’t help but tighten the weapon in his hand, watching Aokiji’s back gradually disappear in the confusing night.
Chapter 125 Final Preparations before Infiltration (Old Version)
Aokiji’s back disappeared into the night. Lin Zhan withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath, and exhaled the foul air that had accumulated in his chest.
A biting chill seemed to spread with Aokiji’s departure, causing the air around them to solidify a little.
He could feel the gazes of his team members, which showed worry, confusion, and excitement of trying again.
It’s time to give them some reassurance.
“Everyone, come here,” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice, with unquestionable majesty in his tone, “Let’s discuss the infiltration plan.”
Everyone gathered around and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
The crackling campfire reflected their determined faces and the crumpled map in Lin Zhan’s hand.
“This time we sneak into the Navy Headquarters, we have only one goal,” Lin Zhan pointed to a red area on the map, “to seize the research and development data of ‘Devil Fruit Weapons’.”
He tapped the map heavily with his finger, as if he wanted to poke a hole in that area.
“I know this is dangerous,” Lin Zhan looked around at everyone, his eyes as sharp as a knife, “but we have no choice. The world government is using this weapon to strengthen its rule. If we don’t stop them, the whole world will fall into chaos.”
Zhongli took a step forward and unfolded a more detailed map, on which were marked the various areas of the Navy Headquarters, patrol routes, monitoring points, and even the locations of the secret sentries were clearly visible.
As expected of Zhongli, he is always so reliable.
“According to my intelligence,” Zhongli’s steady voice was like the twinkling stars in the night sky, giving people an inexplicable sense of security, “This is the weakest patrol area and the best way for us to enter. However, there is a monitoring point here that we need to be careful to avoid.”
Princess Weiwei also stepped forward and gently ran her slender fingers across the map. “I can forge a pass to temporarily confuse the guards, but it will only last ten minutes. We need to make a quick decision.”
“Ten minutes is enough.” Lin Zhan raised his lips with a confident arc, “I will resolve the battle within ten minutes.”
“Leave the outer firepower cover to me!” Ace waved his fist excitedly, with flames burning in his eyes, “My lava power will definitely be able to hold them back!”
Xiao looked at Ace expressionlessly, and said calmly but with a hint of warning: “Be careful to hide and don’t expose our position.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” Ace patted his chest, then walked aside with Xiao and began to check their equipment.
Lin Zhan divided the team into two groups: one group consisted of himself, Zhongli and Princess Vivi, responsible for sneaking into the core area; the other group consisted of Ace, Xiao and Katakuri, responsible for restraining the enemy on the periphery and providing support.
Walnut stayed in the camp, ready to provide medical support at any time.
After completing the division of labor, Lin Zhan tested the power of “Rock Dragon’s Roar” again.
He took a deep breath, and a tremendous amount of energy surged in his body. Then he transformed into a roaring rock dragon and soared into the sky!
“roar!”
The deafening dragon roar resounded through the night sky, as if it was going to tear the entire world apart.
Lin Zhan combined “Rock Dragon’s Roar” with the time control ability of the Rule Fruit and found that he could freeze the enemy’s movements in a short period of time and cause fatal damage.
“Perfect!” He nodded with satisfaction and used this move as his trump card in the infiltration operation.
“Are you ready?” Lin Zhan looked around at everyone, with a determined light in his eyes.
“Always be prepared.” Everyone answered in unison.
Lin Zhan waved his hand and said, “Let’s go!”
Just as the team was getting ready, a low roar was heard in the distance… “What’s that sound?” Princess Weiwei frowned and looked in the direction where the sound came from.
The low roar came from far away and was like the growl of a wild beast, making people feel stuffy in the chest.
Zhongli’s expression suddenly changed, and his tone was as heavy as a stone: “Oh no, the navy seems to have discovered our camp!”
Lin Zhan’s heart tightened, and an ominous premonition wrapped around him like a vine.
He turned around suddenly and looked in the direction of the camp, only to see a familiar figure standing high up. In the light of the fire, the figure looked particularly slender and lonely – it was Aokiji!
Why is he back?
That icy face that had remained unchanged for thousands of years now had a strange smile on it, like the pride of a hunter seeing his prey fall into a trap, or like he was brewing a bigger conspiracy.
The smile flickered in the flickering firelight, making Lin Zhan feel creepy.
There was a biting chill in the air, much colder than before, as if foreshadowing the coming of a blizzard.
Tsk, Lin Zhan smacked his lips. What is this old guy up to? Without time to think about it, he made a prompt decision and shouted, “All members, move immediately!” At this moment, Aokiji moved.
He slowly raised his right hand and pointed in the direction of Lin Zhan, his voice was so cold that there was no warmth at all: “Long time no see, Lin Zhan… Let me see if you have improved over the years.” Before he finished speaking, the ground under his feet began to crack, and the spreading frost was like a winding poisonous snake, rapidly approaching Lin Zhan and others…
Chapter 126: The unexpected beginning of the infiltration operation (old version)
Lin Zhan’s adrenaline surged. He had just been thinking about how to sneak in without anyone noticing, but now it seemed that he couldn’t sneak in and had to force his way in!
“Everyone speed up! Don’t worry about those minions, aim directly at the core area!” Lin Zhan’s voice was like a thunder, exploding in the ears of the Void Pirates.
The crowd, who were originally a little panicked, were instantly infected by Lin Zhan’s determination.
Zhongli quickly adjusted his flight path, flames ignited around Ace, and Xiao disappeared into the shadows like a ghost.
However, Aokiji just stood there, not moving at all, just looking at them leisurely.
“Lin Zhan, do you think you can escape?” There was a hint of mockery in his tone, as if everything was under his control.
Lin Zhan’s heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to his forehead.
What on earth is this guy planning?
Without bothering to think about it, Lin Zhan could only pray that Aokiji was bluffing.
He believed that with the strength of the Void Pirates, as long as they were fast enough, they still had a chance to successfully sneak into the core area before the navy reacted.
“Weiwei, check the route to see if there are any changes!” Lin Zhan shouted into the communicator while speeding.
Princess Weiwei’s voice came quickly, with a hint of anxiety: “The route has not changed, but… the navy’s alert level seems to have increased! We may have been exposed!”
“Exposed?” Lin Zhan frowned and scanned the surrounding environment.
There was a depressing atmosphere in the air, as if a storm was about to come.
At this moment, a sharp alarm suddenly sounded, echoing throughout the naval headquarters.
“Damn it! I was discovered!” There was a hint of regret in Zhongli’s voice.
“It seems someone has leaked our plan!”
Lin Zhan suddenly stopped and swept his sharp eyes over everyone in the Void Pirates.
Who could it be?
Could it be… Aokiji?
His sight finally fell on Aokiji who was standing in the distance. That guy still looked as if it had nothing to do with him, with a meaningful smile on his face.
“Ace!” Lin Zhan made a prompt decision and yelled at Ace beside him.
“Create chaos! Attract their attention!”
“No problem!” Ace grinned, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
He couldn’t hold back any longer!
He stomped his feet suddenly, and the ground cracked instantly. Lava gushed out from the cracks like a volcanic eruption.
The lava fell precisely on the path that the naval patrol had to take, forcing them back in an instant.
“You are just a pirate, how dare you trespass into the Navy Headquarters! Capture him!” A Navy general shouted at the top of his lungs, commanding his soldiers to rush towards Ace.
“Just in time!” Ace laughed loudly, his hands ignited with flames, like the god of fire descending, and fought with the navy.
With Ace’s attraction, most of the navy soldiers were attracted over, and the pressure on the Void Pirates was suddenly reduced.
“Xiao, leave it to you!” Lin Zhan said to Xiao beside him.
“Sneak into the monitoring room and cut off the surveillance!”
“Yes, Captain!” Xiao’s voice was as erratic as a ghost, and the next second, his figure disappeared into the shadows.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, suppressed the uneasiness in his heart, and led Zhongli, Vivi, Katakuri and others to continue moving towards the core area.
However, not long after, they were blocked by a heavy iron gate.
This iron gate is made entirely of special metal and is extremely strong, so strong that even artillery shells can hardly shake it.
“Captain, what should we do?” Zhongli said with a frown.
“This door is too strong. It cannot be opened by ordinary means.”
“Try using Rock Dragon Roar?” Katakuri suggested.
“Although it will be quite noisy, it’s better than just waiting here.”
Lin Zhan shook his head.
“No, speed is the most important thing right now. If a larger alarm is triggered, we will be completely exposed.”
Just when everyone was at a loss, a familiar voice was heard again.
“Let me help you open this door.”
Lin Zhan turned around suddenly and saw that Aokiji had come behind them at some point and was looking at them calmly.
“You…” Lin Zhan frowned, “What on earth do you want to do?”
Aokiji did not answer, but slowly raised his right hand, and a strong chill instantly spread.
I saw a huge ice ball condensing in his palm, emitting a biting cold.
“Ice Age!”
Aokiji let out a light shout and threw the ice ball in his hand towards the iron gate.
“Crack! Crack!”
The moment the ice ball touched the iron gate, the entire iron gate was frozen at a speed visible to the naked eye, and countless tiny cracks spread like a spider web.
With a loud bang, the sturdy iron gate collapsed instantly and turned into countless pieces of ice.
Lin Zhan looked at the scene in front of him, his heart full of doubts.
Why would Aokiji help them?
What on earth is he planning?
“Go in.” Aokiji said lightly, as if he had just done something insignificant.
“Time is running out.”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, suppressed his doubts, and said to the people behind him: “Let’s go! Let’s talk inside first!”
He took the lead and walked towards the passage behind the iron gate, followed closely by Zhongli, Vivi and Katakuri.
When passing by Aokiji, Lin Zhan stopped and asked in a cold tone: “What do you want?”
Aokiji still looked calm and composed, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised in a meaningful smile.
“I just want to see…how far you can go…”
The air was filled with cold air, and the roar of the iron gate cracking was still echoing in his ears. Lin Zhan stepped into the core area, and a cold breath mixed with motor oil and metal hit him in the face.
Dazzling incandescent lights flickered overhead, illuminating the long metal corridor. The complex wiring on the walls on both sides was tangled like blood vessels, emitting a low humming sound.
The cold steel plates under my feet made a crisp echo with every step, which was particularly clear in the empty corridor.
“Be careful,” Lin Zhan lowered his voice, his fingertips touching the cold metal wall of the corridor, and an ominous premonition spread in his heart.
“It’s a lot quieter here than I thought it would be.”
Zhongli followed closely behind, scanning the surrounding environment with sharp eyes, his nose twitching slightly: “There is a faint smell of blood in the air, very fresh…”
Xiao’s figure shuttled through the corridor like a ghost, quietly investigating the surrounding situation.
Suddenly, he stopped and turned back sharply, and his low voice was like a whisper from hell: “Captain, something is happening…”
At this moment, Aokiji’s cold voice came from behind: “Remember, this is the last time we will work together.”
Lin Zhan turned around abruptly and met Aokiji’s deep and cold gaze.
There was no warmth in those eyes, only endless coldness and… a hint of elusive mockery.
He clenched his fists and beads of sweat oozed from his palms. The lights in the corridor cast mottled shadows on his face, highlighting his changeable expression.
The air seemed to freeze, and an inexplicable sense of oppression enveloped the entire team.
Princess Weiwei subconsciously grabbed the corner of Lin Zhan’s clothes. Her breathing became rapid and her heartbeat was beating against her chest like a drum.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and forced down the anger rising in his throat.
He stared at Aokiji and said word by word: “You…”
However, before he could finish, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the end of the corridor, accompanied by the crisp sound of metal collision, getting closer and closer…
Chapter 127: Dangers lurking in the core area (old version)
Lin Zhan’s temples were throbbing. Aokiji was really hard to figure out!
Before he could utter a word, the chaotic footsteps at the end of the corridor were already close at hand, accompanied by the harsh sound of metal friction, like nails scratching on a blackboard, making people’s scalp tingle.
“Be careful!” Lin Zhan growled, his eyes scanning the surroundings as sharp as a falcon.
I saw a group of soldiers in standard naval uniforms, holding peculiarly shaped energy guns, rushing towards us aggressively.
The uniforms of these soldiers were obviously much better than those of ordinary navy soldiers, and they wore a glowing badge on their chests, clearly making them the elite force in the navy.
“It seems that the guarding of this core area is much tighter than imagined!” Zhongli pushed the monocle on his nose, and the lens reflected a wise light.
He quickly scanned the layout around him and analyzed calmly, “This corridor is designed to prevent any intruders from approaching the core control room of the ‘Mother Nest System’. The laser traps on both sides are distributed in a network. Once touched, the alarm will be triggered, attracting more enemies.”
Lin Zhan nodded slightly to show his agreement.
He could feel a murderous aura in the air. The laser traps hidden in the darkness were like dormant poisonous snakes, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any time.
“Ace, Katakuri, prepare for battle!” Lin Zhan said solemnly, and at the same time reminded, “Weiwei, take care to protect yourself.”
Princess Weiwei followed Lin Zhan closely with a hint of nervousness on her face, but she still tried to stay calm.
She knows that her role is not only to provide intelligence, but also to provide decision-making support to the team at critical moments.
Just as everyone was carefully trying to bypass a red laser trap, a low and powerful sound of footsteps suddenly came, like a heavy hammer hitting the ground, shaking the entire corridor.
“Not good!” Katakuri growled and subconsciously stood at the front of the team.
At the corner of the corridor, a familiar figure slowly appeared.
He was a burly, stern-faced middle-aged man wearing the uniform of a naval marshal and a medal on his chest that symbolized the highest power.
His face was full of traces of time, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle, as if they could see through everything.
Akainu, Sakaski!
“Lin Zhan, your doomsday has come!” Akainu’s voice was low and intimidating, like a declaration from hell.
A cruel smile appeared on his lips.
Before he finished his words, a terrifying magma energy instantly erupted from Akainu’s body, and the hot magma swept towards Lin Zhan and his group like a volcanic eruption.
The rolling heat waves seemed to melt the entire space, making it suffocating.
The air was filled with a sickening smell of sulfur.
“Rule field, time stops!”
At this critical moment, Lin Zhan decisively activated the power of the Rule Fruit.
He knew that facing a strong man like Akainu, any hesitation could lead to the destruction of the whole group.
In an instant, time in the entire corridor seemed to freeze, and the flowing magma stopped moving, suspended in mid-air like a still painting.
“Katakuri, glutinous rice barrier!” Lin Zhan seized this brief gap and immediately gave the order.
Katakuri understood what he meant, and he quickly used the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to its fullest. Countless glutinous rice poured out of his body, forming a thick barrier in front of the team, temporarily blocking Akainu’s lava attack.
Taking advantage of the moment when Akainu was restrained, Ace’s eyes burned with flames.
His entire body was bathed in flames, like a fire god of war.
“Dad, watch me!” Ace roared, and the flames around his body began to condense wildly, forming a hot energy wave.
This is the new skill he mastered after awakening the Flame-Flame Fruit – “Molten Blast”!
This energy wave contains terrifyingly high temperatures, enough to melt everything in the world.
Ace concentrated all his strength into his fists and blasted forward.
“Molten Flame Blast!”
The blazing energy wave, like an arrow shot from a bow, hit a metal door that blocked the corridor.
“Boom!”
With a deafening bang, a huge hole was instantly melted in the metal door, opening a way forward for the team.
However, Ace’s action also completely triggered the alarm system.
“Woo—woo—woo—”
The shrill alarm sounded throughout the entire core area, and the red warning lights flashed wildly, dyeing the entire space blood red.
“Hurry up!” Lin Zhan growled and rushed into the melted metal door first.
However, they are faced with even more severe challenges.
At the end of the corridor, countless elite navy soldiers were rushing in like a tide, holding all kinds of weapons, with cold murderous intent on their faces, blocking the entire corridor.
“For justice! Eliminate the pirates!”
The deafening shouts of killing resounded throughout the entire space, making one’s scalp tingle.
Faced with such a dangerous situation, Xiao’s eyes were shining with excitement.
He licked his lips, pulled out the wind wheel from behind, and volunteered: “Captain, leave this to me! I’ll stop them!”
Lin Zhan knew that Xiao possessed extremely powerful strength, especially in such narrow terrain, his wind elemental power could exert its greatest power.
“Be careful!” Lin Zhan patted Xiao’s shoulder and said in a deep voice.
Xiao smiled slightly, holding the Wind Wheel and the Two-Li Duan in his hands, he rushed towards the enemy camp like a ghost.
Xiao roared angrily, and the wind wheels in his hands flew up like a whirlwind, bringing up sharp wind blades that instantly repelled the surrounding soldiers.
His movements were extremely agile and he could move freely through narrow passages. Every swing of his gun could accurately hit the enemy’s vital points.
Despite being outnumbered, Xiao remained calm and resolute.
He uses the power of the wind element to constantly create confusion among the enemies and buy time for the team.
The battle was extremely fierce, with gunshots, screams and explosions intertwined to form a melody of death.
Relying on his powerful strength and superb marksmanship, Xiao tore a hole in the enemy’s encirclement, broke out successfully, and joined up with Lin Zhan and his group.
“Let’s go!” Lin Zhan led everyone towards the core control room without any hesitation.
However, just as they were about to reach the door of the core control room, a figure in a white navy uniform and a peaked cap quietly stood in front of them.
“Hey, hey, isn’t this Captain Lin Zhan of the Void Pirates? What a rare guest!”
The man slowly raised his head, revealing a face with a cynical smile.
His eyes narrowed into slits, flashing dangerously.
“It seems that if you want to enter the core control room, you have to get past me first!”
The man grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, slowly reached out his hand and took off the baseball cap on his head.
As the baseball cap was taken off, an even more shocking fact was exposed to everyone.
There was actually a… seagull growing on top of his head?
The world behind the metal door suddenly became clear. It was not the heavily guarded control room as imagined, but a huge circular space full of science fiction.
A pale blue halo spilled down from the dome, illuminating a dazzlingly complex machine in the center.
Various wires and pipes coiled like blood vessels, connected to the core of the machine, emitting a low humming sound, and a faint smell of ozone filled the air.
Begabank was standing there, wearing his iconic white coat. Under his messy hair, his eyes were full of fatigue and… a hint of imperceptible madness.
“Do you think paralyzing the ‘Mother Nest System’ can solve the problem? How naive…” His voice was hoarse and contained a hint of sarcasm, as if he was talking to himself, or as if he was making a statement to Lin Zhan and his group.
Lin Zhan’s heart tightened and a chill ran up from the soles of his feet.
Before he could react, a figure dropped from the sky, and the heavy footsteps made the ground tremble slightly.
It’s Fujitora!
He was leaning on a cane with droopy eyelids, but he gave people an invisible sense of oppression.
“Begabank, your choice determines the outcome of all this.” His tone was cold, as if he was passing judgment.
Lin Zhan felt as if he was caught in a huge whirlpool, and everything around him became confusing.
He looked at Begabank, who also looked at him, a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he slowly said: “Actually…”
Chapter 128: The Secret of Vegabank Revealed (Old Version)
Lin Zhan’s heart seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, and breathing became difficult.
Begabank’s words were like a bomb that exploded in his mind, making him buzz.
“The ‘mother system’ is not just a simple weapons control system, it is also connected to the origin of the devil fruit – the star core energy.”
Star core energy?
What the hell is this?!
Lin Zhan felt as if he had fallen into a huge vortex of conspiracy and was sinking deeper and deeper.
He originally thought that it was just the destruction of a weapons system, but he didn’t expect that it would involve the origin of the devil fruit. This was beyond all his understanding.
He frowned and fixed his sharp eyes on Begabank, trying to find a flaw in his tired and slightly crazy face.
“So, what are the consequences of destroying the system?” His voice was low and oppressive, like a volcano about to erupt.
Begabank slowly shook his head and sighed, his voice full of helplessness and despair.
“It may trigger a global energy riot, or even… destroy the entire world.”
Destroy the world?!
Lin Zhan took a deep breath. He couldn’t afford the consequences!
He originally just wanted to overthrow the World Government and establish a Pirate United Nations, but he never thought of destroying the world!
At this moment, Fujitora’s magnetic voice, like a bright light in the darkness, illuminated the direction in which Lin Zhan was heading.
“But I believe, Lin Zhan, you have a way to solve this problem.”
Lin Zhan suddenly raised his head and looked at Fujitora.
Those tightly closed eyes seemed to be able to see through everything, full of trust and expectations for him.
trust?
expect?
Lin Zhan smiled bitterly. He didn’t know what to do. This blind man actually had such high expectations of him.
“Now is not the time to say nice things!” Zhongli’s calm voice was like a clear spring, extinguishing the volcano that was about to erupt.
“Captain, we need to analyze the situation immediately and find the most appropriate solution. The ability of the Rule Fruit may come in handy. Try to interfere with the operation of the system instead of destroying it completely.”
Zhongli’s suggestion was like a revelation, which made Lin Zhan wake up instantly.
yes!
The fruit of rules!
How could he forget this!
“We can first obtain the core data of the system,” Princess Weiwei’s clear logical analysis can always provide the most effective help to the team at critical moments.
“Perhaps we can find a more stable solution to avoid energy riots.”
“You’re right!” Lin Zhan clenched his fists tightly, and the anxiety in his heart was slightly relieved.
Now is not the time to panic. We must calm down and find a way to solve the problem.
However, the world doesn’t seem to want to give them too much time.
“Lin Zhan! You won’t succeed!”
A deafening roar, like thunder, exploded in the control room.
The hot magma, like a raging volcanic torrent, instantly swallowed up the entire space.
It’s Akainu! He has arrived with a large number of navy soldiers!
“Damn it!” Lin Zhan cursed inwardly. The situation was worse than he had imagined.
He had witnessed Akainu’s strength with his own eyes, and he absolutely could not let him interfere with his efforts to crack the system.
“Katakuri! Ace! Stop him!” Lin Zhan gave the order without hesitation.
“Understood!” Katakuri and Ace responded in unison and rushed towards Akainu without hesitation.
The powers of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit and the Flame-Flame Fruit exploded instantly, colliding violently with Akainu’s magma power.
He knew that every second was crucial now.
He must break the system’s defense mechanism as quickly as possible and find a solution to the problem.
“Zhongli! Weiwei! Let’s begin!”
Just as Lin Zhan was about to start cracking the system, Begabank suddenly stood beside him.
“Let me help you access the system.” He whispered, with a hint of urgency in his voice.
“I can help you remove some of the defense programs, but you need to promise me one thing – to protect the secret of the star core energy.”
The secret of protecting the energy of the star core?
Lin Zhan frowned and stared at Begabank with suspicion.
What on earth is this old guy planning?
“Why should I believe you?” Lin Zhan asked coldly.
“I don’t have time to explain to you.” Bergabank said anxiously.
“Believe me, this is the only way! Otherwise, everything will be over!”
Lin Zhan looked at Begabank’s anxious eyes and hesitated for a moment.
The current situation really doesn’t allow him to think too much.
He could only choose to believe Begabank.
“Okay! I promise you!” Lin Zhan said gritting his teeth.
Begabank took a deep breath and operated the console quickly.
His fingers danced on the keyboard like jumping notes. The complex codes ran in an orderly manner under his control.
“The defense program has been lifted!” Beads of sweat appeared on Begabank’s forehead, and he said in a trembling voice.
“But… I also triggered the system’s self-destruct countdown!”
Countdown to self-destruction?!
Lin Zhan’s face suddenly changed, and a strong sense of crisis instantly enveloped him.
He looked towards the console, only to see a string of blood-red numbers displayed on the screen:
00:09:59
00:09:58
00:09:57
The sound of countdown echoed in the control room, and Lin Zhan’s face changed slightly: the sound of countdown, like the footsteps of the god of death, knocked on Lin Zhan’s nerves one by one.
The bright red numbers, like burning flames, burned his eyeballs.
The air was filled with the burning smell of magma, mixed with the pungent smell of burning electronic components, making people feel suffocated.
“We only have ten minutes!” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and hoarse, with a barely perceptible tremor.
He could feel the passage of time, like sand that could not be grasped, slipping through his fingers bit by bit.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew and hot magma splashed everywhere.
Looking up, I saw that Fujitora had stood in front of Akainu without him noticing, with the sword in his hand flashing a frightening cold light.
“Lin Zhan, I will buy time for you, but I hope you can keep your promise.” Fujitora’s voice was steady and powerful, like a rock, giving people an inexplicable sense of security.
Even with his eyes closed, that aura pressed down upon him like a physical entity.
Lin Zhan’s heart suddenly shook.
He knew that Fujitora was gambling, betting that Lin Zhan was not the kind of person who would go back on his word.
However, the weight of this promise is so heavy that it is heavy enough to crush the world.
Time is like sand held in your hand. The tighter you hold it, the faster it passes.
Now is not the time to hesitate, he must make a choice, for himself, for his partners, and for the world.
“Zhongli, Weiwei, hurry up and analyze the data and find a way to shut down the self-destruct program!” Lin Zhan ordered loudly, his voice full of determination.
Zhongli pushed up his glasses, a cold light flashed through the lenses, and his fingers tapped the keyboard quickly.
Princess Weiwei also looked solemn as she meticulously analyzed the data on the screen.
Suddenly, Vegabank raised his head and said palely: “Found it! The control code of the self-destruct program is here!”
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhan immediately moved over and stared closely at the code on the screen.
However, just as he was about to crack it, a cold voice sounded in his ears like a poisonous snake.
“Haha, it’s useless, Lin Zhan. This system was designed for destruction from the beginning.”
The person who spoke was Akainu with a ferocious face.
He broke free from Fujitora’s control and approached Lin Zhan step by step, each step carrying a suffocating feeling of oppression.
“Your struggle is meaningless. The world will eventually be destroyed!” A crazy smile appeared on Akainu’s face.
The rolling magma gushed out from his body again, dyeing the entire control room blood red.
Looking at Akainu getting closer and closer, and feeling the rising temperature in the air, a hint of determination flashed in Lin Zhan’s eyes.
He knew this was his last chance.
“Ace! Xiao! Cover me!” Lin Zhan shouted loudly, and at the same time, he mobilized all his domineering power and slammed towards Akainu fiercely…
Chapter 129 The Final Decision and the Unknown Future (Old Version)
The heat waves from the magma rolled in, burning the air. A smell of sulfur rushed into Lin Zhan’s nose, choking him so much that he could hardly breathe.
Akainu, like a raging beast, roared and wanted to burn everything to ashes.
“Ace! Xiao! Cover me!” Lin Zhan roared, his voice echoing in the control room.
He is not a fool. He would go there knowing there is a tiger there.
Doesn’t exist!
He is a man with a system. Strategic retreat and outflanking attacks are his style!
Ace and Katakuri were like two indestructible barriers, blocking Akainu’s attack.
Ace’s burning flames, like an angry roar, collided with Akainu’s magma, erupting with a deafening roar.
Katakuri was like a ghost, and he used the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to perfection, sometimes turning it into a hard shield, sometimes turning it into a sharp spear, and fighting with Akainu.
Taking advantage of this gap, Lin Zhan quickly adjusted his strategy.
Now is not the time to act on impulse, we must quickly find a way to crack this damn self-destruct program!
“Zhongli, what’s the status of the system?” Lin Zhan asked while dodging the splashing lava.
Zhongli pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the flashing red light in the control room. “The situation is not optimistic, Captain. The self-destruct program is accelerating, and we must stop it as soon as possible.” His calm voice seemed particularly reassuring in the chaotic scene.
“Vivi, how is the data extraction going?” Lin Zhan turned to Princess Vivi again.
Princess Weiwei’s face was filled with anxiety. “Dr. Begabank is working hard, but this system is very complicated and will take some time.”
“Time, time…” Lin Zhan murmured softly, feeling as if his heart was being tightly grasped by an invisible big hand.
“Oh no! The system has detected an abnormality and is activating the ultimate defense mode!” Dr. Vegabank’s exclamation was like a thunderclap, exploding in the control room.
Boom!
A huge metal wall, as if rising from the depths of hell, split the control room in two with a dull roar.
Lin Zhan was isolated outside, while Zhongli, Princess Weiwei and Vegabank were trapped in the core area.
“Damn it!” Lin Zhan pounded the wall hard. What was this thing made of?
Why is it so hard!
He immediately activated the power of the Rule Fruit and tried to change the material of the defensive wall. However, this damn wall was not affected at all!
“I’m going!” Xiao’s figure, like a flash of lightning, drew a graceful arc in the air.
The spear in his hand flashed with green light and carried the sharp power of the wind element as it stabbed fiercely at the weak point of the defense wall.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several loud noises, a crack finally appeared in the defense wall.
“Now is the time!” Lin Zhan seized the opportunity, mobilized all his strength, and blasted out a “Rock Dragon Roar”!
The golden rock dragon roared and crashed into the defense wall, completely tearing the crack open!
Lin Zhan rushed into the core area and reunited with the team.
However, the system’s self-destruction countdown is less than three minutes!
“We need to manually shut down the core energy, but someone must stay in the control room to complete the operation!” Dr. Vegabank’s voice trembled with a hint of despair.
“I’ll go!” Lin Zhan stood up without hesitation.
He knew that this was a responsibility he had to bear.
“Captain!” Zhongli wanted to dissuade him, but Lin Zhan’s eyes were extremely firm.
“This is my choice.” Lin Zhan patted Zhongli’s shoulder, then turned to Princess Weiwei and gave her a reassuring smile, “Trust me.”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and walked towards the core energy console.
The sound of the countdown, like a death-threatening drumbeat, struck his nerves.
He stretched out his hand, and just when his fingertips were about to touch the core energy…
“Wait.” A deep voice suddenly sounded behind him.
Lin Zhan turned around suddenly, and saw Fujitora, who had appeared behind him and stood in front of him… In the original text, “Zhongli wanted to say something, but in the end he just closed his mouth powerlessly, as if he had anticipated what would happen. Princess Vivi bit her lips gently, tears welling up in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let them fall. Dr. Vegabank’s eyes widened, as if he had seen something incredible, and he kept muttering something.” “Zhongli” and “Xiao” are inconsistent with the overall style and character system of the novel, and are presumed to be irrelevant. The content after removal is as follows:
The hot and fishy smell of magma mixed with the strange smell of burning metal made people feel nauseous.
Lin Zhan’s fingertips were less than one centimeter away from the core energy that was flashing with a mysterious light.
Just one touch could stop this frantic self-destructive program.
But at this critical moment, a low and familiar voice, like a thunderclap, abruptly stopped his actions.
“etc.”
Lin Zhan turned his head suddenly and his pupils suddenly contracted.
Fujitora!
The blind old man appeared behind him silently at some point. His large body blocked the core energy source and also blocked Lin Zhan’s way forward.
“Admiral Fujitora? You…” Lin Zhan was a little confused.
Shouldn’t this old guy be out there fighting Akainu?
How come you suddenly appear here?
Fujitora didn’t look back, his tightly closed eyes seemed to be able to see through everything.
“Lin Zhan, I owe you a favor. You spared me during the Battle of Marineford. This time, it’s my turn to help you.”
After saying that, he stretched out his hand without hesitation, and with his rough palm, he pressed the stop button with a sense of determination.
The entire control room seemed to have stopped in time.
Countless indicator lights flashed wildly, and then went out one by one as if they had lost their lives.
The light of the core energy gradually dimmed and eventually disappeared completely.
However, at the moment the system stopped working, a terrifying energy suddenly erupted like a flood breaking through a dam!
This energy rushed towards Fujitora’s body madly, as if to tear him into pieces.
“Puff!” Fujitora groaned, and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
His burly body also began to tremble slightly.
“General Fujitora!” Lin Zhan exclaimed and wanted to go forward to help, but was blocked by an invisible force.
Fujitora waved his hand, signaling him not to come closer.
There was a smile of relief on his face, as if he saw through everything in the world.
“Remember, Lin Zhan, your future belongs to the ocean of freedom…”
Before he finished speaking, tiny cracks began to appear on Fujitora’s body, like dry land.
A dazzling light flashed in the cracks, and then the cracks grew larger and denser…
Lin Zhan looked at Fujitora, his heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.
Admiration, gratitude, guilt, and a hint of unspeakable sadness.
“Admiral Fujitora…” Lin Zhan’s voice was choked. He wanted to say something, but found that he couldn’t say anything.
Akainu’s roar came from outside the control room, and his figure, like a burning volcano, was approaching at an alarming speed.
Damn it, he finally caught up with me!
Lin Zhan clenched his fists tightly.
“Captain, we have to go!” reminded him of his current situation.
He knew that now was not the time to be sad.
There are more important things waiting for him to do.
He took one last look at Fujitora. His once resolute figure now looked so fragile…
What will happen next?
Chapter 130 Fujitora’s Sacrifice and New Hope (Old Version)
“Your future belongs to the free ocean…” Fujitora’s voice was like dandelion seeds floating in the sea breeze, gentle yet with incomparable firmness, lingering in Lin Zhan’s ears.
His eyes were sore and hot, but Lin Zhan forced himself to hold back the tears.
Now is not the time to cry. How can the opportunity that the veteran has exchanged for his life be delayed by the love of young people?
He wiped his face hard. It felt like rubbing sandpaper on his skin, rough and painful, but it also made him sober up.
Fujitora’s body, like a sculpture weathered for thousands of years, disintegrated bit by bit into flickering particles of light, and finally dissipated into nothingness.
There was a faint smell in the air, similar to that of sea salt, mixed with a hint of indescribable…sadness?
Or should I say…liberation?
Lin Zhan couldn’t explain it, he just felt a blockage in his heart, as if he had swallowed a lemon coated with chili powder, sour, spicy, bitter, and a mixture of all kinds of flavors.
“We must extract the core data as soon as possible,” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and hoarse, like a rusty gear turning with difficulty, “Fujitora’s sacrifice cannot be in vain!”
Zhongli pushed up his glasses on his nose; the lenses reflected the flickering lights in the control room, revealing his calm and composed face.
“I am organizing the system information and estimate that data extraction can be completed in three minutes.” His voice was as calm as ever, as if he remained calm even when facing a collapse of Mount Tai. This undoubtedly gave everyone a shot of adrenaline.
In front of the control console, Begabank’s flying fingers suddenly stopped. His brows were furrowed, and his expression was as solemn as if he had been constipated for three days and three nights.
“The ‘mother system’ is connected to not only the energy of the star core,” he said in a heavy tone, each word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, “but also a piece of… a warning message left by an alien civilization.”
On the screen, a blurry picture flickered, like a collection of snowflakes and distorted lines from an old TV.
Faintly, you can see some strange creatures, like monsters crawling out of the Cthulhu mythology, which make people lose their minds.
They seem to be… sending some kind of warning to the Earth?
It felt like an ant nest was poked and the ants fled in panic, powerless to resist.
Princess Weiwei frowned slightly and analyzed calmly: “This may mean that the loss of control of the star core energy will not only destroy the world, but also affect a larger area…” Her words were like a huge rock, hitting everyone’s heart hard and causing a thousand waves.
Damn, is this such a big deal?
Lin Zhan cursed inwardly, feeling as if he had been drawn into a cosmic-level gamble, where the fate of all mankind was at stake.
“Boom!” With a loud bang, the door of the control room was blown open, and Akainu’s face, like a red-hot iron, appeared in front of everyone, followed by a group of naval soldiers armed with live ammunition.
“You traitors, don’t even think about taking anything away!” His voice was like the roar of a wild beast, making people’s eardrums buzz.
“Molten Blaze!” Ace roared, his whole body burning with flames, like a god of war bathed in fire.
The awakened skill of the Flame-Flame Fruit made the temperature of his flames reach an unprecedented height, and the air seemed to be twisted and melted.
The navy soldiers around Akainu were instantly engulfed by flames, and screams rang out one after another.
At the same time, Xiao’s figure turned into a blue lightning and shuttled through the control room.
The wind elemental spear danced in his hand like the god of death’s scythe, accurately destroying the enemy’s communication equipment.
However, Akainu is worthy of being the strongest fighter in the Marine Headquarters. Facing the joint attack of Ace and Xiao, he was not at all panicked.
He clenched his fists and the power of magma gushed out, forming a hot barrier that forced everyone into a dead end.
The scorching temperature seemed to ignite the air, making it hard to breathe.
“Damn it!” Lin Zhan cursed inwardly, he knew he couldn’t delay any longer.
He took a deep breath, the power of the Rule Fruit surged in his body, and time seemed to freeze in his hands.
Akainu’s movements came to an abrupt halt, like a movie scene with the pause button pressed.
Just when the team successfully extracted the core data and prepared to evacuate, Begabank suddenly whispered… Just when Zhongli announced that the data extraction was complete and Lin Zhan was about to order a retreat, Begabank’s shrill voice pierced everyone’s eardrums like a needle: “Be careful, there is a hidden trap!”
Lin Zhan’s heart trembled and he turned back suddenly.
The floor of the control room made a teeth-grinding metallic sound and trembled like sieve bran.
With a loud bang, a huge mechanical arm, flashing a cold metallic luster, broke out of the ground, bringing with it a strong smell of engine oil and a sense of oppression.
The mechanical arm was as thick as a hill, covered with complicated wires and hideous barbs, like a devil’s claw reaching out from hell, trying to drag them into the abyss.
“Damn, what the hell is this!” Ace couldn’t help but swear. Lava-like flames burned on his body, illuminating everyone’s astonished faces.
Vegabank’s face was as pale as paper, beads of sweat slid down his wrinkled cheeks, and his voice trembled like fallen leaves in the wind: “This is the ultimate defense mechanism of the ‘Hive System’… It will destroy anyone who tries to steal core data… We only have three minutes to escape!” The air was filled with a burnt smell, which was caused by the high temperature generated by the friction of the mechanical arms against the air.
The shadow of death hung over everyone, and Lin Zhan felt a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
“Run!” Lin Zhan roared, the power of rules gathered in his palm, and the air made crackling sounds.
“Wait…” Katakuri’s voice was trembling slightly. He stared at the giant mechanical arm, his face gloomier than usual. “That thing… seems to be… aiming…”
Chapter 131: Breakout from Desperate Situation and Accidental Discovery (Old Version)
The air in the control room seemed to freeze. The huge shadow of the mechanical arm blocked the lights, bringing a suffocating feeling of oppression.
Lin Zhan felt his heart beating like a drum and adrenaline rushing through his veins.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Begabank slumped on the ground, his face uglier than a dead person, muttering to himself, as if he was praying for the arrival of God.
“Damn it! Did this thing eat spinach?!” Ace roared, lava-like flames swirling around his body, reflecting his anxious face.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, and the power of rules gathered in his palm into a dazzling light.
“Time stops!” He shouted in a low voice, and the air around them seemed to solidify. The huge mechanical arm also stopped in mid-air, less than one meter away from them.
“Now! Find an exit quickly!” Lin Zhan felt that his strength was rapidly dissipating, and maintaining this large-scale time stagnation was extremely burdensome for him.
Zhongli looked around calmly, his eyes finally fixed on an inconspicuous ventilation duct on the ceiling.
“There!” He pointed to the ventilation duct and said, “Maybe it’s the only way out.”
Katakuri didn’t say a word and activated the ability of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit. Huge rice cake arms extended from his body, forming an elastic barrier that blocked the mechanical arms and everyone.
“It won’t last long…” He said in a deep voice, with a hint of solemnity in his tone.
“Leave it to me!” Ace grinned, and the blazing flames turned into a pillar of fire, rushing straight into the ventilation duct on the ceiling.
The metal cover melted quickly under the high temperature, revealing the pitch-black pipe entrance.
“Xiao, you lead the way!” Lin Zhan made a prompt decision and gave the order.
Xiao nodded, and with a flash of his body, he jumped into the ventilation duct first, waving the wind-element spear in his hand to clear away the obstacles in the duct.
Everyone filed in, and Lin Zhan was the last one to enter the pipe. He looked back at Begabank, who was lying limp on the ground.
In the narrow pipe, everyone could only crawl forward.
Lin Zhan felt the cold touch of the metal pipes and the smell of engine oil and dust in the air, which made him feel nauseous.
At this moment, he suddenly noticed a strange code in the core data in his hand.
The codes flashed with a strange light, as if mocking his ignorance.
“Zhongli, take a look at this.” Lin Zhan handed the core data to Zhongli.
Zhongli took the core data, frowned, and carefully analyzed the codes.
“This… this seems to be the language of an alien civilization!” He said in surprise, “It mentions that the energy of the star core… can be reprogrammed, rather than simply destroyed or preserved.”
Princess Weiwei also came over and looked at the codes. “If we can find the original rules of alien civilization, maybe we can solve this problem completely!” she said excitedly.
The dawn of hope ignited in everyone’s hearts, but at this moment, a low roar came from the front of the pipeline, like some huge machine was running.
“There’s something going on ahead!” Xiao’s voice came from the front, “A huge mechanical guard is patrolling!”
Could it be that they had just escaped from the tiger’s den and fell into the wolf’s lair?
“Roar of the Rock Dragon!” Lin Zhan roared, and the power of rules merged with the rock element. With the blessing of time control ability, countless sharp rock spikes appeared out of thin air and shot towards the mechanical guard in front of the pipe like a rainstorm.
“Boom!” With a loud bang, the mechanical guard fell to the ground with sparks flying.
“Let’s go!” Lin Zhan waved his hand, and everyone continued to crawl forward.
The pipeline seemed to have no end, and the darkness was full of unknown dangers.
Lin Zhan felt that his physical strength was rapidly draining away, but he did not dare to stop, because he knew that only by moving forward would he have a chance of survival.
Suddenly, a ray of light appeared in front… “Wait…” Katakuri’s voice broke the brief silence, “What is that…” The ray of light gradually expanded, as if tearing a hole in the darkness.
Lin Zhan was the first to climb out of the pipe. When he landed, he felt a slight vibration, as if he was stepping on some huge metal plate.
A strange energy wave permeated the air, causing his skin to sting slightly, as if static electricity was jumping around.
He looked around and found that this was a huge space. The walls were covered with lines that flashed with faint blue light, like a huge spider web.
There was a faint metallic smell in the air, mixed with some indescribable fishy-sweet taste, which made people feel a little uncomfortable.
In the distance, a huge cylindrical device made a low humming sound, like a beating heart.
Zhongli crawled out right after him. He pushed his glasses and frowned.
“This may be the core energy area of the ‘Mother Nest System’,” he said in a deep voice, his voice echoing in the empty space, “We must be careful.” Princess Vivi covered her nose and complained in a low voice: “What’s that smell? It smells disgusting.” Katakuri looked around vigilantly, with the ability of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit ready to activate at any time.
Lin Zhan was just about to speak when he suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from a distance: “Lin Zhan, you are here as expected.” The voice was like a thunder, exploding in everyone’s ears.
Lin Zhan turned his head suddenly and his pupils contracted suddenly.
Standing not far away was Aokiji, wearing a navy coat and holding an ice blade.
He slowly walked towards the team, condensing the power of ice in his hands, and sneered: “Lin Zhan…”
Chapter 132 Aokiji’s Conspiracy and the Final Bet (Old Version)
Lin Zhan’s eyes were as hard as ice, fixed tightly on Aokiji.
In the air, the cold murderous intent and the pungent metallic smell intertwined, making people feel suffocated.
The faint blue light flickered like a will-o’-the-wisp, and against Aokiji’s slightly sarcastic face, it looked even more eerie and terrifying.
“Escape? Aokiji, you think too highly of yourself.” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and calm, without any panic in his voice, but people who knew him knew that this was the calm before the storm.
The power of rules surged in his body, ready to deal a fatal blow to the traitor in front of him at any time.
He slowly took a step forward, standing in front of Princess Vivi, his sharp eyes piercing Aokiji.
“What do you want?”
Aokiji’s mouth curled up in a cold arc, as if mocking Lin Zhan’s naivety.
“What do I want? Hahahaha… What I want is the secret of star core energy, and… the core data in your hands.” He paused, with a crazy light flashing in his azure eyes, “With these, I can… change the world!”
A ripple finally appeared in Zhongli’s calm eyes.
He quickly analyzed the situation and whispered in Lin Zhan’s ear: “Captain, Aokiji’s goal may not only be the star core energy, he also wants to use the ‘mother system’ to control the entire sea area, and even… subvert the world government!”
“Subvert the World Government?” Princess Vivi exclaimed, her delicate face full of disbelief.
If Aokiji really did it, the entire world would undergo earth-shaking changes!
Lin Zhan nodded slightly, signaling everyone to be alert.
He had long known that Aokiji was not a law-abiding person, but he did not expect that his ambition was so big!
“Ace!” Lin Zhan shouted.
Ace had long been unable to suppress the anger in his heart, and when he heard Lin Zhan’s order, he immediately burst out with powerful fire energy.
He roared, and his whole body was burning with flames. The scorching heat instantly dispelled the coldness around him.
“Flame-Flame Fruit—Entei!”
Ace clenched his fists, and powerful flames condensed into a huge fireball, which he smashed towards Aokiji.
The scorching flames seemed to burn up the entire space, and the air was filled with a burnt smell.
However, facing Ace’s powerful attack, Aokiji still had a faint smile on his face.
He slowly raised his arm, and an extremely cold force gushed out from his palm, instantly freezing the surrounding air.
A huge ice wall rose from the ground and blocked Aokiji.
The flame and ice collided with each other, making a sizzling sound, and white mist spread out, blocking everyone’s vision.
The two powerful forces were deadlocked in the air, and neither could overwhelm the other.
Ace roared continuously and kept increasing the output of flames, while Aokiji had a calm expression and continuously released the power of ice.
For a moment, the entire space was filled with the heat of fire and the cold of ice, like a huge furnace and ice cellar.
Just as the battle was about to break out, Princess Weiwei suddenly took a step forward and said calmly: “Wait! We can talk.”
She took a deep breath and looked at Aokiji with a firm gaze.
“We can use the core data as a bargaining chip to delay time and find a breakthrough.”
Princess Lin Zhan Weiwei’s proposal is undoubtedly the safest option at the moment.
A head-on fight would only result in losses for both sides, so it would be better to stabilize Aokiji first and then wait for an opportunity to act.
He thought for a moment, nodded, and agreed to Princess Weiwei’s proposal.
“Aokiji, if you are willing to cooperate, we can share core data. But in exchange, you must ensure our safety and stop further control of the ‘Nest System.'” Lin Zhan’s voice was steady and powerful, with an unquestionable majesty.
Aokiji was slightly stunned when he heard this, and then he let out a scornful laugh.
“Cooperation? Lin Zhan, do you think I will believe the nonsense of a pirate like you? I, Aokiji, have been a master in my life, how could I associate with rats like you!”
Despite this, his offensive slowed down slightly, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.
The core data is crucial to his plan, and it would be best if he could get it without any effort.
Seeing that Aokiji’s attitude had softened, Lin Zhan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as they can delay time, they will have a chance to find a way to escape.
At this moment, a black shadow suddenly jumped out from the shadows and pounced towards Aokiji at lightning speed.
It’s Xiao!
His figure was as erratic as a ghost, and the wind-element spear in his hand flashed with a faint green light, piercing Aokiji’s vital point on the back.
Xiao let out a low roar, and the spear turned into a series of sharp whirlwinds, with a whistling sound that tore through the air, and hit Aokiji’s back hard.
However, Aokiji’s reaction speed was far beyond everyone’s imagination.
Just when the spear was about to hit him, he turned around suddenly, waved his arm, and an ice wall rose from the ground again, blocking Xiao’s attack.
“Hmph, a mere trifle.” Aokiji sneered. His observation Haki had already detected Xiao’s actions. This level of sneak attack could not pose any threat to him at all.
Xiao’s attack was blocked, but he was not discouraged.
He flashed and disappeared into the shadows again, looking for the next opportunity to strike.
Seeing this, Lin Zhan sighed inwardly.
He had long known that it was almost impossible to defeat Aokiji by sneak attack.
“Katakuri!” Lin Zhan muttered silently in his heart.
The next moment, Katakuri moved.
His figure flashed and he appeared in front of Aokiji in an instant. The trident in his hand, with extremely powerful force, smashed towards Aokiji fiercely.
“Glutinous rice doughnuts!”
Katakuri roared, and the powerful ability of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit burst out from his body.
His body turned into countless huge donuts, pouring down towards Aokiji like a rainstorm.
This is one of Katakuri’s strongest attacks, powerful enough to destroy a mountain.
However, Aokiji still had a faint smile on his face.
He slowly raised his arm, and an extremely cold force gushed out again, instantly freezing the surrounding air.
“Ice Cube, Pheasant Mouth!”
A huge ice bird flew out from his palm, and with a shrill scream, it headed towards Katakuri’s donut.
The ice bird and the donut collided in the air, making a deafening explosion.
Ice cubes flew everywhere, cutting through the air like sharp blades, while the donuts were frozen into hard ice balls, falling to the ground one after another.
The attacks of the two were offset again, and neither could do anything to the other.
Sure enough, defeating Aokiji is much more difficult than imagined.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, knowing that a reckless fight was not the best strategy.
He slowly raised his arms, and an invisible force emanated from his body, beginning to change the flow of time around him.
However, what shocked Lin Zhan was that Aokiji’s ice power could actually resist the influence of time manipulation!
Although the flow of time did change, Aokiji’s movements were not affected too much, and he was still able to easily withstand the attacks of everyone.
how so?
Lin Zhan’s heart was full of doubts.
The ability of the Rule Fruit can ignore almost any defense, so why is it ineffective against Aokiji?
Just when the team was in desperate situation, the communicator suddenly rang and a familiar voice came from it.
“Lin Zhan…Lin Zhan…can you hear me?” It’s Vegapunk!
His voice sounded a little weak, as if it was disturbed by something.
Just when Lin Zhan and his companions were at a loss and felt the hairs on their bodies stand up, there was a sudden crackling sound from the communicator, and Vegapunk’s slightly panting voice came, as if the signal was not very good: “Lin… Lin Zhan… can you hear me? Huh… Huh… I… I have cracked part of the alien code! There is a key information! Ahem… The rules editor of the star core energy! It… It is located deep in the core energy area!”
Lin Zhan’s nerves, which were originally tense as if they were about to break, were instantly ignited!
Rules editor?
That is a treasure that can directly change the energy rules of the star core!
His eyes suddenly lit up frighteningly, as if he had seen an oasis in the desert, and the blood in his body began to boil!
“Zhongli! Analyze the information provided by Vegapunk immediately and plan the best route to the core energy zone!” Lin Zhan’s voice was filled with a hint of excitement. He turned to Ace, Katakuri and the others and shouted, “Target, the core energy zone! Get there at the risk of your life!”
However, before they could take a step, a biting cold wind blew in their faces, freezing them so hard that their bones ached.
Aokiji stood in front of them like an iceberg, with a lazy smile on his face that could make people angry, but his eyes were as cold as ice that had been frozen for thousands of years.
“The rule editor… is mine.” Aokiji’s voice was filled with unquestionable arrogance. He slowly raised his hand, cold air condensed in his palm, and the temperature around him dropped sharply.
“No one… can touch me!”
The air was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder, and a war was about to break out!
However, from deep within the core energy zone, there were waves of heart-pounding energy fluctuations. The entire space began to tremble, as if some terrifying existence was about to awaken… There was an oppressive feeling of impending storm, casting a shadow over everyone’s heart.
Damn, it feels like the end of the world is coming!
Lin Zhan cursed inwardly, it seemed that this time he was really going to risk his life!
Chapter 133 Breakthrough of the Frozen Core (Old Version)
The cold air, like an invisible giant beast, roared out from Aokiji and instantly blocked the entrance to the core energy area.
The solid ice rose from the ground, forming an ice wall that sparkled with a faint blue luster, like an insurmountable chasm, standing in front of Lin Zhan and his group.
“Lin Zhan, you don’t have any chance.” Aokiji’s voice was colder than ice, with a hint of sarcasm, echoing in the air.
His figure was looming in the icy mist, like a god of death controlling ice and snow.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes, staring at the ice wall that was emitting a biting cold. He took a deep breath, and the cold air entered his lungs, making him shiver uncontrollably.
“We can’t fight head-on. We have to use strategies.” His voice was low and firm, with an unquestionable majesty.
Zhongli nodded slightly, his deep eyes flashing with wisdom.
He quickly analyzed the terrain, his eyes finally falling on the top of the core energy area.
“The top ventilation duct… may be the only way to break in.”
Ace was an impatient person. When he heard this, he immediately understood Lin Zhan’s intention.
He grinned, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
“Hehe, leave it to me!” Before he finished speaking, hot lava flames burst out from his body, like a rising sun, rushing towards Aokiji.
The scorching lava turned into a huge fist, carrying a high temperature high enough to melt steel, and smashed towards Aokiji fiercely.
Aokiji snorted coldly, waved his arms, and cold air surged, instantly condensing into a huge ice shield in front of him.
“A trifle!”
The collision of lava and ice caused a violent explosion, and the deafening roar resounded through the sky.
The energy fluctuations spread out like ripples, and the surrounding air became distorted.
Just when Aokiji was trying his best to suppress Ace’s attack, Xiao’s figure, like a ghost, approached the ice wall silently.
The spear in his hand flashed with green light and pierced into the ice like the tongue of a poisonous snake.
“Crack!”
Tiny cracks spread across the ice wall.
However, Aokiji’s perception was so sharp that he noticed the abnormality almost instantly.
He turned suddenly and swung out a sharp ice blade, heading straight for Xiao.
Xiao was forced to retreat several steps, with a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
At this moment, Lin Zhan moved.
Although he couldn’t completely freeze Aokiji’s movements, he successfully slowed down his reaction speed.
“Now!” Lin Zhan shouted in his heart.
Zhongli understood what he meant and immediately commanded his team to launch a feint attack from the other side to further distract Aokiji’s attention.
Lin Zhan quietly went behind the ice wall. He pressed his hands on the ice wall, and the power of the Nuo Nuo Fruit was activated. The ice began to melt, forming a narrow passage.
“quick!”
Lin Zhan growled, and team members filed in.
However, Aokiji’s reaction speed was far beyond their imagination.
He turned around with a sneer, and the power of ice swept over, instantly blocking the exit of the passage.
“You think you can fool me with this little trick?”
Seeing that his retreat was cut off, Lin Zhan’s heart sank and a feeling of despair surged in his heart.
etc!
Lin Zhan suddenly had an idea, system mall!
“System, redeem the ‘Ten Thousand Worlds Character Summoning Ticket’!”
“Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully redeeming the ‘Ten Thousand Worlds Character Summoning Ticket’!”
“Come out, Caps!”
A flash of light passed by, and a man in work clothes and goggles appeared beside Lin Zhan.
He is thin, with calm eyes, and exudes an aura of sophisticated machinery.
“Caps, I’m counting on you!” Lin Zhan said, pointing at the ice wall.
Capps nodded, walked to the ice wall, and carefully observed the structure of the ice layer and the flow of energy.
“Found it!” Capps’ voice was filled with excitement. “This is the weak point of energy!”
A glimmer of hope also ignited in Lin Zhan’s eyes… “Do it!”
Without any hesitation, Capps quickly pulled out a peculiarly shaped toolbox from his waist. His fingers flew and various sophisticated instruments appeared in his hands.
He skillfully adjusted the parameters on the instrument, staring at the ice wall without blinking, as if he was conducting a precise scientific experiment.
“It’s right here!” Capps shouted in a low voice and pointed the instrument in his hand at an inconspicuous point on the ice wall.
A tiny beam of light shot out from the instrument and hit the ice silently.
Then, something surprising happened.
The originally indestructible ice wall began to show tiny cracks, which quickly spread to the surroundings.
The crackling sound continued, as if the ice was about to collapse.
“Good opportunity!” Seeing this, Lin Zhan immediately shouted, “Ace, Xiao, attack with all your strength!”
Ace and Xiao had been ready for action, and when they heard Lin Zhan’s order, they immediately burst out with powerful strength.
Ace’s lava flames, like a volcanic eruption, madly hit the ice wall.
The spear in Xiao’s hand turned into blue lightning, accurately hitting the weak points of the ice wall.
With Caps’ precise positioning and Ace and Xiao’s fierce attacks, the ice wall finally collapsed under the heavy weight.
“Charge!” Lin Zhan rushed into the passage first, followed closely by Zhongli, while Ace and Xiao stayed behind to prevent Aokiji from chasing him.
The group passed through the narrow passage and the view in front of them suddenly opened up.
A huge circular space appeared in front of them. In the center of the space, a device emitting strange light was suspended.
“That’s the rule editor!” Zhongli’s voice was filled with excitement.
However, just as they were ecstatic, a cold voice echoed in the space.
“It seems that you still underestimated my determination.”
Lin Zhan suddenly looked up and saw that Aokiji had stood in front of the rule editor at some point. In his hand, the ice condensed into a huge ice blade, pointing directly at Lin Zhan and his group.
“You… shouldn’t have come here.” Aokiji’s eyes were extremely cold.
Chapter 134: Battle for the Rules Editor (Old Version)
“It seems that you still underestimate my determination.” Aokiji’s voice was like ice chips, echoing in the empty space, carrying an unquestionable chill.
Lin Zhan looked up suddenly, and the scene in front of him made him squint his eyes.
Aokiji had suddenly stood like an iceberg in front of the floating device emitting strange light – the rule editor.
In his hands, the ice seemed to come to life and condensed into a huge ice blade. The tip of the blade pointed directly at Lin Zhan and his group, carrying a fierce murderous aura.
“You… shouldn’t have come here.” Aokiji’s eyes were colder than Lin Zhan had ever seen, as if they wanted to freeze people’s souls.
“This thing is not something you can control.”
Lin Zhan sneered and spat, “Stop pretending! What do you mean by for the world? I think you are doing this to satisfy your ridiculous sense of justice! If you want to keep it all for yourself, just say so. Don’t make yourself sound so noble.”
Before he finished speaking, Ace could no longer control his temper.
He roared, his whole body ablaze with raging lava flames, and the ground beneath his feet began to melt.
“Aokiji! Take my fire fist!”
The lava flames erupted like a volcano, with the momentum to destroy everything, and rushed towards Aokiji.
The air was filled with the smell of sulfur and the heat waves were rolling, as if they were going to scorch the entire space.
Aokiji just smiled contemptuously.
He didn’t even move his feet, but just gently swung the ice blade in his hand.
A huge ice wall suddenly rose from the ground, blocking the flames.
“Ice wall!”
“boom–!”
The lava and ice collided fiercely, making a deafening explosion.
White steam spread out instantly, blocking everyone’s vision.
Although Ace’s flames were blazing, they still seemed powerless in the face of Aokiji’s almost endless icy power.
“Ace, come back!” Lin Zhan shouted in a low voice, stopping Ace’s further attack.
He narrowed his eyes and stared at the rule editor floating in the air.
The energy fluctuations emitted by that thing were strange and powerful, making people feel palpitations.
Zhongli’s expression also turned serious.
A hint of worry flashed across her calm eyes.
“Lin Zhan, the situation is not good. I found that the energy fluctuations of the rule editor seem to be strengthened with external attacks.”
“What?” Lin Zhan was stunned, then he understood what Zhongli meant.
“You mean, the more we attack, the more unstable it becomes?”
Zhongli nodded: “It’s very likely. Moreover, I feel that Aokiji seems to be taking advantage of this.”
Lin Zhan’s heart sank.
He originally thought that Aokiji just wanted to stop them, but now it seems that things are far from that simple.
This guy must have already set his sights on the rule editor and mastered some techniques for using it.
“We can’t fight head-on.” Lin Zhan made a decisive decision.
“Ace, Xiao, follow my orders and change your tactics!”
He took a deep breath and his eyes became sharp.
“Ace, continue to attract Aokiji’s attention. Xiao, find an opportunity to harass him. Zhongli, analyze the energy fluctuations of the rule editor and find its weakness.”
“Understood!” Ace and Xiao responded in unison, their aura surging again.
Lin Zhan walked forward slowly, his eyes fixed on Aokiji.
He pretended to launch a head-on attack, with his muscles tensed, ready to strike at any moment.
“Hmph, trying to play tricks?” Aokiji sneered, as if he saw through Lin Zhan’s intention.
“It’s useless. All your tricks are in vain in front of me.”
However, Lin Zhan ignored his ridicule.
As he slowly approached Aokiji, he secretly activated the rule fruit in his body.
The power of time surged around him, silently affecting the space around him.
He wants to use his ability to control time to interfere with Aokiji’s judgment and create opportunities for his teammates!
Just when Aokiji’s attention was attracted by Lin Zhan, Ace moved.
He walked around behind Aokiji, clenched his fists, and all the flames in his body condensed on his fists.
“Flame-Flame Fruit: Wall of Fire!”
He punched the ground hard, and the blazing flames instantly spread along the ground, forming a huge wall of fire that surrounded Aokiji.
The high temperature of the flames caused the surrounding ice to begin to melt, and water vapor filled the air, blurring Aokiji’s vision.
“Hmph, this level of attack is meaningless to me.” Aokiji said disdainfully.
He waved his hands, and endless cold air surged out of his body, instantly freezing the surrounding flames into ice.
“Ice Blade Senbon!”
Countless ice blades shot out from his side, attacking Ace like a rainstorm.
Ace dodged quickly, but was still hit by several ice blades, and a layer of frost immediately formed on his body.
At this moment, Zhongli’s voice suddenly sounded in Lin Zhan’s mind.
“Lin Zhan, I found that the energy fluctuations of the rule editor resonate with Aokiji’s icy power!”
“Resonance?” Lin Zhan was stunned.
“You mean, Aokiji can use his ice power to enhance the power of the rules editor?”
“It’s very likely.” Zhongli’s voice was a little hurried.
“We must cut off his connection to the rules editor, otherwise there is no way we can win!”
Lin Zhan’s eyes became solemn.
He took a deep breath and quickly formulated a bold plan.
“Ace, continue to attract Aokiji’s attention! Xiao, cooperate with Ace and disrupt him as much as possible! Zhongli, keep an eye on the energy fluctuations of the rule editor!”
He whispered, then quietly approached the rules editor.
He wanted to take advantage of the time when Aokiji was restrained by Ace and Xiao, and use the devil fruit extractor in his hand to absorb the energy of the rule editor!
However, Aokiji’s perception was far sharper than he thought.
Just as Lin Zhan was about to approach the rule editor, he suddenly turned around and shot at Lin Zhan with his eyes like a knife.
“Don’t even think about it!” He roared, and the icy power in his body instantly exploded.
In an instant, the entire core energy area was frozen into an ice field.
The biting cold came like a tide, instantly freezing Lin Zhan’s body in place.
His movements were forced to stop, and the power of the devil fruit in his body was also suppressed.
Ace and Xiao were also affected, and their flames and speed were greatly affected.
The entire team was in a desperate situation.
“It seems that your plan has failed.” Aokiji’s voice was cold and complacent.
“I said, this thing is not something you can get your hands on.”
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and tried desperately to break free from the icy bondage.
But he found that Aokiji’s icy power was much stronger than he had imagined, and he was unable to break free.
Just when he felt desperate, Zhongli suddenly said: “Lin Zhan, perhaps… we still have one last way…”
She paused, a hint of hesitation and a hint of madness in her voice.
“…a very bold plan…”
Lin Zhan was frozen on the ice field. The biting cold was madly corroding his body. He felt that his blood was about to solidify into ice chips.
He tried desperately to mobilize the power of rules in his body, trying to break free from the restraints, but Aokiji’s icy power seemed endless, suppressing him tightly.
At this moment, Zhongli’s voice rang in his mind like a ray of light in the darkness: “Lin Zhan, listen to me! Now is the only way! Give up struggling, focus your mind, and adjust the frequency of the extractor to 32.47 Hz to synchronize with the energy fluctuations of the rule editor!”
Lin Zhan was stunned. This was definitely playing with fire!
Zhongli has just made it clear how dangerous the energy riot of the rule editor is.
If we are not careful, not only will the icy power not be able to paralyze Aokiji, but it might just blow everyone to ashes!
But he had no choice now but to trust Zhongli.
He could sense that Zhongli’s voice contained an unprecedented determination, as if he was ready to bear all the consequences.
He began to follow Zhongli’s instructions and carefully adjusted the frequency of the extractor.
It feels like defusing a bomb that could explode at any time. If you’re not careful, you’ll be doomed.
Suddenly, the extractor made a shrill buzzing sound.
Immediately afterwards, a violent energy wave surged out from the rule editor, resonating violently with the extractor.
Lin Zhan only felt a powerful electric current instantly penetrating his whole body, making him unable to help but let out a muffled groan.
“Now! Maximum power output!” Zhongli’s voice had a hint of madness.
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and turned the power of the extractor to maximum.
The next moment, a dazzling light shot out from the extractor and hit the ice that bound him.
The sound of the ice breaking was crisp and loud.
Immediately afterwards, a powerful energy shock wave spread out in all directions with Lin Zhan as the center.
A deafening explosion sounded, and the entire core energy area shook violently.
Aokiji’s face suddenly changed and his body retreated uncontrollably.
He looked at Lin Zhan in disbelief, “You… actually dared to do this!”
However, this is not the end.
The energy fluctuations of the rule editor became more violent, as if it was about to get out of control.
The air was filled with a pungent smell of energy, which made people feel palpitations.
Cracks began to appear on the walls of the core energy area, and rocks above heads began to fall.
Lin Zhan suddenly raised his head, looked at the crumbling cave ceiling, and shouted: “Everyone retreat, leave this to me!”
Although Ace and Xiao were worried, they knew that now was not the time to act tough.
They looked at each other, turned around and ran out without hesitation.
Zhongli looked at Lin Zhan deeply.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and fixed his eyes on the rule editor again.
He could feel that the energy fluctuations of this thing had reached its peak, as if it would explode at any time.
But he knew he couldn’t back down.
He must prevent this disaster from happening, otherwise the entire Hollow Pirates will be dragged into it.
He slowly raised his hand and reached towards the rules editor…
Chapter 135 The Price of Losing Control (Old Version)
Amidst the deafening roar, the rule editor pulsated wildly like a supernova about to explode, and azure beams of energy raged in the core energy area like a giant python.
The rocks above our heads groaned in a teeth-grinding way, and large chunks of them flake off, hitting the ground and splashing dust and sparks.
The air was filled with a burning smell mixed with a strange, sickly sweet smell.
Aokiji’s face turned pale. He was horrified to find that the power of ice that had always been invincible was now like a drop in the ocean and was completely unable to resist this violent energy.
He staggered back, his boots making a harsh sound as they rubbed against the ground, “Madmen! You bunch of lunatics! Do you know what this means?! The entire sea area will be swallowed up by this energy storm!” He roared at Lin Zhan, his voice sounding particularly weak amid the roar.
Lin Zhan clenched his teeth, his heart beating wildly, beating against his chest like a drum.
give up?
Or take a gamble?
He clenched his fists, his palms were full of sweat, and an unprecedented pressure made him breathless.
“Captain!” Zhongli’s voice was exceptionally clear in the chaos. She calmly analyzed the situation. “The core code of the rule editor may have originated from an alien civilization. It went out of control because we cannot understand its operating logic. But if we can extract the key data, we may be able to find a solution.”
Lin Zhan suddenly raised his head. Yes, we can’t give up like this!
“Zhongli, take the others and evacuate first! Leave this to me!”
Zhongli looked at him deeply, said nothing more, turned around and ran towards the exit.
Ace and Xiao followed closely behind, their faces full of worry, but they also understood that staying at this moment would only become a burden to Lin Zhan.
“Do you think you can do it?” Qingzhi stared at Lin Zhan coldly, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, “This kind of power is not something that mortals can control.”
Lin Zhan ignored Aokiji’s sarcasm. All his attention was focused on the rule editor in front of him.
He took a deep breath and activated the Devil Fruit Extractor, attempting to extract the data from the editor.
However, every attempt would trigger stronger energy fluctuations, and the collapse of the core energy zone would accelerate.
Rocks overhead fell like raindrops, and the ground cracked into bottomless cracks, like the entrance to hell.
Despair began to spread. Just when Lin Zhan was about to give up, Begabank’s voice suddenly rang out: “Lin Zhan! I have cracked part of the code! Enter the ‘α-X-7’ command to temporarily stop the energy diffusion!”
Lin Zhan’s spirits lifted, and he input the command into the extractor without hesitation.
A miracle happened. The energy fluctuations of the rule editor gradually weakened, and the collapse of the core energy zone also slowed down slightly.
However, at this moment, Aokiji moved.
“Don’t even think about it!” Lin Zhan roared, turned around and rushed forward… “Stop!”
Lin Zhan’s fist, accompanied by a whistling sound, slammed heavily into Aokiji’s ice shield, stirring up a piece of crystal debris.
Aokiji groaned, and the ice under his feet cracked, spreading spider-web-like cracks.
“Kid, you are too naive!” Aokiji growled, with a chilling air, trying to freeze Lin Zhan’s movements.
But Lin Zhan was faster. He dodged Aokiji’s attacks like a ghostly shadow, while constantly using the Rule Fruit to distort the flow of time around him.
Aokiji’s movements became slow, as if he was stuck in a quagmire, and each of Lin Zhan’s attacks was as powerful as thunder.
“Time is not something you can control!” Lin Zhan sneered and punched Aokiji in the abdomen, sending him flying.
“Cough cough…” Aokiji covered his stomach with a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. Lin Zhan did not pursue the victory. He turned and walked towards the rule editor, but found that there was a strange green light flashing on the screen, and a line of big scarlet characters suddenly appeared: “Welcome to the Valley of the Gods”.
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly shrank, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
A bigger conspiracy?
A bigger challenge?
At this time, Ace’s anxious voice came from the communicator: “Captain! The navy fleet is approaching! We must leave immediately!” Lin Zhan took a deep breath, grabbed the extractor, glanced at the rule editor with complicated eyes, and murmured in a low voice: “Valley of the Gods… wait for me…” He turned around suddenly and ran towards the exit.
Chapter 136: The Mystery of the Valley of Gods and the New Journey (Old Version)
The sound of the collapse of the core energy zone was like a symphony of death. The dull roar and the scream of metal tearing were intertwined, making people’s eardrums hurt.
Lin Zhan stared at the scarlet words on the rule editor screen – “Welcome to the Valley of Gods”, and a creepy feeling arose spontaneously.
This was by no means a friendly greeting, but rather a huge mouth of an abyss, waiting for its prey to fall into its trap.
“Valley of God…” Lin Zhan repeated in a low voice, as if he wanted to chew these three words into pieces and swallow them into his stomach.
Zhongli walked silently to his side, his pair of golden eyes flashing a strange light in the darkness.
She stretched out her slender fingers, touched the screen lightly, and then quickly retracted them, as if she had touched something dangerous.
“This should be some kind of… guidance.” She said slowly, her voice still so steady and calm, as if even the collapse of the sky and the earth could not move her.
“The remains of alien civilizations are full of unknown information. We need more information about the Valley of the Gods.”
Now is not the time to stand there, Ace’s warning is still echoing in his ears, and the navy fleet may arrive at any time.
He gave the order decisively: “Everyone evacuate! Zhongli, analyze the surrounding energy fluctuations and find the best retreat route! Robin, take away the data fragments of the rule editor and make sure to analyze the valuable information!”
After saying that, he grabbed the extractor and took one last look at the screen that was flashing a strange green light, his eyes complicated and incomprehensible.
Valley of the Gods… This is definitely not a coincidence, but a carefully designed trap, or… an opportunity!
“Let’s go!” He shouted in a low voice, and took the lead in rushing out of the core energy area that was about to collapse.
A few minutes later, the Void Pirates’ flagship “Star” rushed out of the base like an arrow.
The roar of artillery fire rang out behind him, and countless pieces of rubble and metal debris were thrown into the air, as if doomsday was coming.
Back on the ship, Robin immediately began analyzing the data fragments.
She put on special glasses and slid her slender fingers quickly across the light screen. In her eyes, the lines of complex codes looked like ancient texts, waiting to be deciphered.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the cabin was so quiet that the only sound was Robin typing on the keyboard.
Lin Zhan stood by the window, looking at the deep sea in the distance, his thoughts surging in his heart.
He vaguely felt that he was touching upon a secret hidden deep in the world, a truth that was enough to subvert the entire One Piece world.
“Lin Zhan!” Suddenly, Robin’s voice broke the silence with a hint of excitement.
“I found some clues! These data fragments mentioned ‘star core’!”
Lin Zhan turned around abruptly, “Star core? What is that?”
“A mysterious source of energy.” Robin explained, with a hint of uncontrollable excitement in his tone.
“According to data analysis, the star core contains extremely powerful power that can be used to enhance the ability of the devil fruit, and even…unlock the secret of the Valley of the Gods!”
“Strengthen the devil fruit? Unlock the secret of the Valley of the Gods?” Lin Zhan repeated Robin’s words, and his doubts deepened.
What exactly is this so-called star core?
What is the connection between it and the devil fruit?
And what secrets are hidden in the mysterious Valley of the Gods?
“The data also mentioned that by collecting enough star cores, we might be able to reshape the rules of the world!” Robin added, with a hint of longing in his tone.
Reshape the rules of the world!
These words exploded in Lin Zhan’s mind like thunder.
He has always been trying to break the rules of this world and establish an order of his own.
And now, an opportunity to reshape the rules of the world is before him!
“We must find the core of the star!” Lin Zhan’s tone was firm and unquestionable.
At this moment, the system prompt sound suddenly sounded.
“Ding! Trigger a new mission: Collect star cores and unlock the secrets of the Valley of the Gods. Mission reward: unknown.”
The corners of Lin Zhan’s mouth rose slightly, revealing a confident smile.
It seems that the system can’t wait to solve this mystery.
He immediately turned on the system’s universal map function to look for the location of the star core.
Soon, a coordinate with a faint glow appeared on the map, located in a forgotten ancient ruins.
“Found it!” Lin Zhan said excitedly.
“The first star core is located in…an ancient ruin? What’s the exact location?”
“The coordinates have been sent to your logbook.” Zhongli’s voice came, her efficiency is always so high.
“According to my analysis, this ruin is located in the second half of the Grand Line, in a sea area called the ‘Forgotten Sea’. It is shrouded in thick fog all year round, with a chaotic magnetic field. It is the grave of countless pirates.”
“The Sea of Oblivion…” Lin Zhan muttered to himself. There was no fear in his eyes, but instead they were full of excitement.
“Then let us go to this sea of oblivion!”
He immediately gathered his team and held an emergency meeting in the war room.
“Everyone, our next target is the Sea of Oblivion, to search for the mysterious energy source called ‘Star Core’.” Lin Zhan said straight to the point, informing everyone of Robin’s analysis results and the system’s mission.
“Star core? Sounds interesting!” Ace said excitedly, with fire burning in his eyes.
“I can’t wait to make some noise!”
“I’ve heard of the Sea of Oblivion before.” Robin murmured.
“There are many ancient legends circulating there. It is said that there are countless treasures and secrets hidden there, but it is also full of dangers.”
“This relic may have a powerful guardian, we must be careful.” Zhongli reminded, her tone still so calm and objective.
“The magnetic field chaos in the Forgotten Sea may affect our navigation system. We need to be fully prepared.”
“No problem! Leave it to me!” As soon as Zhongli finished speaking, Nami immediately patted her chest and guaranteed, her face full of confidence.
As the exclusive navigator of the Star, Nami is very confident in her skills.
Lin Zhan nodded and glanced at every member present.
“I believe that everyone will be able to overcome the difficulties, find the star core, and unlock the secrets of the Valley of the Gods!”
“For the Captain!” everyone shouted in unison, morale high.
The Star set sail again and headed towards the Sea of Oblivion.
However, the road to the Sea of Oblivion is not destined to be smooth.
During the voyage, the Estrella was attacked by a group of mechanical sea beasts controlled by naval innovators.
These mechanical sea beasts are huge in size, covered with solid steel, and equipped with a variety of powerful weapons. They are obviously the newly developed secret weapons of the navy.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!” the lookout issued a shrill alarm.
“Prepare for battle!” Lin Zhan commanded calmly.
“Ace, use your fire to burn them! Xiao, use your speed to break through their defenses! Nami, pay attention to adjust your course and avoid their attacks!”
“Leave it to me!” Ace roared excitedly, his whole body burning with flames, and he turned into a beam of fire and rushed towards the mechanical sea beast.
He controlled the flames to form a huge wall of fire, trying to block the attack of the mechanical sea beast.
However, these mechanical sea beasts have extremely strong defenses, and ordinary flames cannot cause any damage to them.
“These guys’ armor is very strong!” Ace said with a frown.
“Looks like I need to use some real skills!”
He took a deep breath, concentrated the fire energy in his body to the extreme, and suddenly burst out an even more powerful flame.
A huge flame shock wave burst out from Ace, instantly dyeing the surrounding sea surface red.
Under the impact of this powerful fire shock wave, several mechanical sea beasts were directly burned and turned into a pile of scrap metal and sank to the bottom of the sea.
However, more mechanical sea beasts still rushed towards the Star, trying to tear the pirate ship into pieces.
“Let me do it!” Xiao shouted coldly, his figure flashed, and he turned into a green whirlwind and rushed towards the mechanical sea beast.
The spear in his hand danced like a poisonous snake, accurately stabbing the vital points of the mechanical sea beast.
With his amazing speed and precise attacks, Xiao quickly broke through the mechanical sea beasts’ defenses and pierced their core components.
One by one, the mechanical sea beasts collapsed and turned into a pile of scrap metal.
At the same time, Lin Zhan also used the power of the Glutinous Rice Fruit to create a thick glutinous rice barrier around the Star to protect the ship from the impact of mechanical sea beasts.
With the joint efforts of everyone, the Star finally broke through the encirclement of the mechanical sea beasts and continued to sail towards the Sea of Oblivion.
This small-scale battle boosted the morale of the team members, but also made them realize that the next task would definitely not be easy.
A few days later, the Star finally arrived at the outskirts of the Forgotten Sea.
Looking around, the entire sea surface was covered with thick fog and visibility was extremely low.
There was a damp and chilly smell in the air, which made people feel inexplicably depressed.
“The magnetic field in this sea area is very chaotic, and the navigation system has completely failed.” Nami said with a frown.
“We can only rely on our eyes to determine the direction.”
Lin Zhan stood at the bow, staring at the thick fog ahead, with a vigilant gleam in his eyes.
He vaguely felt that beneath this seemingly calm sea, there were countless dangers hidden.
He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: “Everyone, pay attention and enter combat mode! The ruins are just ahead, and we may encounter the enemy at any time!”
The Star slowly sailed into the thick fog and headed towards the ruins.
Gradually, a huge island appeared before everyone.
The island is covered in dense jungle, looking eerie and mysterious.
In the center of the island stands an ancient relic. The towering stone pillars and broken walls are looming in the thick fog, giving people an ancient and solemn feeling.
However, what made Lin Zhan uneasy was that the entrance to the ruins was filled with complicated mechanisms and runes, emitting a frightening energy fluctuation…
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes, and a strong premonition came to his mind – this piece of ruins is definitely not so easy to enter.
“We’re here…” Lin Zhan’s voice rang out in the silent air, but stopped abruptly. The road ahead was full of unknowns.
###Chapter 136 The Mystery of the Valley of Gods and the New Journey (Continued)
Lin Zhan stood at the bow of the Star, squinting his eyes, staring at the intricate mechanisms and glowing runes at the entrance of the ruins.
There is an ancient and oppressive atmosphere in the air, as if time has stopped here.
He could feel that these mechanisms and runes were by no means ordinary things. They contained powerful energy, and if one was not careful, they would trigger a deadly trap.
“These mechanisms… are so complicated.” Robin stood beside Lin Zhan, pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose, with a hint of solemnity in his tone.
She observed the runes carefully, her slender fingers sliding rapidly across the light screen, trying to decipher their meaning.
“The structure of these runes is very ancient, even older than the ancient text of O’Hara,” Robin explained, his voice low and serious.
“I have already deciphered part of it. It seems to be some kind of energy conduction system used to activate the defense mechanism inside the ruins.”
Thanks to Robin’s efforts, the Star slowly approached the entrance to the ruins.
Using her knowledge of archaeology, she successfully cracked part of the mechanism and opened a narrow passage.
However, some areas are still blocked by complex mechanisms and runes and cannot be entered.
“These mechanisms are very ingeniously constructed and seem to have the ability to self-repair,” Robin said with a frown.
“It will probably take a long time to completely crack them.”
Lin Zhan looked around and a question arose in his mind: Are these mechanisms also related to alien civilizations?
If so, what secrets are hidden within the ruins?
“Let’s go here first, Robin.” Lin Zhan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice.
“We have tried our best. As for the rest, we can only think of a solution after we enter the ruins.”
He turned to look at everyone and said in a deep voice: “Rest here for half an hour to replenish your strength. Half an hour later, we will enter the ruins!”
Everyone responded and began to replenish their energy and check their equipment.
Ace stretched his arms and legs, an excited smile on his face.
Xiao was silently wiping the spear in his hand, while Nami was concentrating on studying the nautical chart, trying to find the best route to enter the ruins.
Half an hour passed quickly and everyone gathered at the entrance of the ruins again.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and was about to give the order to enter the ruins when suddenly, a low roar came from a distance, breaking the silence.
“What’s that sound?” Ace suddenly raised his head and looked into the depths of the jungle vigilantly.
“It sounds… like the cry of some wild beast.” Nami said palely, her voice trembling a little.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and listened carefully to the movements in the distance.
The roar was getting closer and clearer, as if foreshadowing that greater danger was about to come.
The atmosphere in the air became tense, and everyone unconsciously tightened their weapons.
“Be careful!” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice. “Something is coming!”
He was the first to step into the entrance of the ruins, followed closely by the others.
They don’t know what is waiting for them…
Chapter 137: Guardian in the Depths of the Ruins (Old Version)
The air inside the ruins was as humid as a sponge soaked in water, and the smell of mold mixed with dust went straight into the nose.
The dim light barely outlined the surroundings, and the walls were covered with strange runes, like some kind of ancient graffiti, or like a series of heavenly books that no one could understand.
Robin illuminated the wall with a flashlight, and gently stroked the cold marks with his slender fingers, his brows furrowed, as if he was deciphering a complex puzzle.
“According to the contents of these runes…” Robin’s voice echoed in the empty ruins, with a hint of indescribable solemnity, “This was once an experimental site for an alien civilization, and the star core is most likely the energy core they used to maintain their experiments.”
Lin Zhan looked around, and the dim environment made him alert.
“Everyone be careful, the guardian may appear at any time.” His voice was low and powerful, with a hint of unquestionable majesty.
As soon as he finished speaking, the ground shook violently, and the gravel above his head fell down.
Then, a dull sound of footsteps came from afar, like a giant beast slowly approaching.
A huge figure emerged from the shadows and stood in front of everyone like a mountain.
It was a huge stone statue, with eyes glowing with a faint green light. It looked like an evil spirit from hell, waving fists as big as casserole pots, and rushed towards the crowd.
“Damn, what the hell is this thing?!” Ace screamed, his fists blazing with flames, and he rushed forward without hesitation.
The scorching flames bombarded the stone statue, but only left shallow scorch marks, like a drop in the ocean, without shaking its body at all.
Zhongli observed the battle calmly, his steady voice sounding particularly clear in the chaos: “There is a glowing core in its chest. That should be its source of energy!”
“Got it!” Lin Zhan made a prompt decision and ordered the team to change their strategy, “Everyone, focus on attacking the core!”
Xiao’s figure flashed and he appeared in front of the stone statue like a ghost. The spear in his hand was wrapped in a sharp wind element and pierced straight into the chest of the stone statue.
However, the stone statue had amazing defense, and the spear attack only left a shallow scratch around the core.
At the same time, Ace continued to release high-temperature flames, burning the legs of the statue, trying to restrict its movements.
The ground turned red under the high temperature and the air was filled with a burning smell.
The stone statue’s movements gradually slowed down, as if it was struggling in the mud.
“Now!” Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed, and he decisively activated the power of the Rule Fruit. The flow of time around him suddenly slowed down, and the movements of the stone statue were like a slow-motion movie, sluggish and clumsy.
This is exactly the opportunity my teammates need!
Xiao seized the opportunity and launched another attack. This time, the spear accurately hit the glowing core in the chest of the stone statue.
The powerful energy of the wind element exploded instantly, the stone statue let out a deafening roar, and its huge body began to disintegrate, with rubble scattered all over the ground like raindrops.
Just when everyone thought the battle was over, a faint light emerged from the ruins, like a bright lamp in the darkness, attracting everyone’s attention.
That is… a star core!
Lin Zhan stepped forward quickly and reached out to touch the star core.
A warm and powerful energy instantly surged into his body, as if an electric current was flowing through his body, and his strength was significantly enhanced.
“This feeling…” Lin Zhan clenched his fists, feeling the surging power in his body, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, “It feels so good!”
Zhongli walked forward, carefully examined the star core, and said in a deep voice: “The star core can not only enhance the fruit’s ability, but also repair some damaged rule codes.”
Just as the team was immersed in the joy of obtaining the star core, Robin suddenly exclaimed: “Wait! The runes on the wall…” Her voice was filled with a hint of shock that was difficult to conceal, and her eyes were fixed on the ancient symbols on the wall, “They… have changed!”
Just as the team celebrated obtaining the Star Core, Robin suddenly discovered that the runes on the wall changed, revealing another text: “The true secret of the Star Core is hidden in the Valley of the Gods.” Robin’s voice was filled with a hint of shock that was hard to conceal, and her fingers trembled as she pointed at the runes, as if those ancient symbols had come alive before her eyes.
Lin Zhan frowned and asked in a deep voice, “What exactly is the Valley of God?” Robin shook his head, confusion and curiosity flashing in his eyes, “It is still uncertain at the moment, but what is certain is that our journey has just begun.”
Just as he finished speaking, a strange energy fluctuation came from the depths of the ruins, like a low hum in the deep sea, shaking the ground slightly.
Zhongli’s eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, and his tone was calm and firm: “This energy fluctuation is unusual, it seems that something is awakening.” Lin Zhan tightly grasped the star core, his eyes flashing with determination and resoluteness: “No matter what it is, we can’t retreat.” He turned to look at his teammates and said in a sonorous and powerful voice: “Are you ready?”
Everyone answered in unison, their voices firm and confident.
Lin Zhan’s eyes were determined, and he whispered, “Let’s go and find out what’s going on!” Before he finished speaking, he took the first step and led the team into the depths of the ruins.
Chapter 138 Unexpected Allies and Hidden Crisis (Old Version)
The roar from deep within the ruins was like the roar of a giant beast, each roar becoming heavier than the last, making people feel uneasy.
Lin Zhan clenched the star core in his hand, his eyes sharp as torches, and led everyone forward carefully along the direction of the energy fluctuations.
The passages of the ruins are winding, and the walls are covered with traces of time. The ancient murals appear hideous and mysterious under the dim light.
There was a damp and decayed smell in the air, as if it had been sleeping for countless centuries.
Suddenly, a faint groaning sound came from the front.
Lin Zhan immediately raised his hand to signal, and everyone quickly entered combat status.
Xiao held a spear in his hand and flashed to the front of the team like a ghost. Ace was surrounded by flames and Robin’s hands glowed with a faint light, ready to attack at any time.
Zhongli stood beside Lin Zhan, scanning the surroundings vigilantly and analyzing the energy fluctuations around him.
After pushing aside a pile of rubble, everyone found a man covered in blood, leaning weakly against the wall.
He was ragged, covered in dust, and looked very miserable.
“Who are you?” Lin Zhan asked in a deep voice without letting down his guard.
The man raised his head with difficulty, revealing a weather-beaten face. He said weakly: “Don’t… don’t kill me… My name is Beru, I am… a relic hunter…”
“Ruin Hunter?” Lin Zhan raised his eyebrows.
Belu nodded and said intermittently: “I… I was looking for a treasure and accidentally entered here… As a result… I encountered a trap and got injured… Please… save me…”
Lin Zhan looked Beru up and down, then he turned to look at Zhongli, asking for her opinion with his eyes.
Zhongli shook his head slightly, indicating that he was unable to confirm Beru’s identity.
“Captain, be careful of traps.” Ace warned in a low voice.
Lin Zhan certainly understood that in the depths of these dangerous ruins, anyone could be a potential threat.
But he thought again, he knew nothing about this ruins, and if he could have someone familiar with the terrain to lead the way, perhaps he would be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
“I can save you.” Lin Zhan said slowly, “But you have to tell me what you know.”
Hearing this, Belu’s eyes flashed with a glimmer of hope, and he quickly said: “I know… I know the structure of this relic… I know where the trap is… I know… I know the location of the main star core!”
“Main star core?” Lin Zhan’s heart moved.
“Yes!” Beru said excitedly, “I have been looking for it! As long as I get the main star core, I can…”
“What can you get?” Lin Zhan asked.
Beru realized that he had let the cat out of the bag and quickly kept silent.
Lin Zhan sneered: “It seems that you are hiding something.”
“No…no…I didn’t…” Beru defended hurriedly.
“Captain, don’t believe him!” Ace roared and was about to take action.
Lin Zhan raised his hand to stop him, and after a moment’s silence, he said, “I can trust you, but you have to work for me.”
“I do! I do!” Beru quickly agreed.
Lin Zhan nodded, took out a pill from his arms and threw it to Belu: “Take it, and your injury will get better.”
Beru swallowed the pill without hesitation. A moment later, he felt a warm current flowing through his body, and his originally weak body gradually regained its strength.
“Thank you…thank you…” Beru said gratefully.
“No need to thank me.” Lin Zhan said coldly, “If you dare to play tricks, I will make you regret coming into this world.”
Belu quickly shook his head, indicating that he would never dare to betray.
With Beru’s joining, the team’s progress has been significantly accelerated.
As expected, Beru knew the structure of the ruins very well. He led everyone to avoid one trap after another and successfully passed through the maze-like passages.
“Be careful! There is a mechanism ahead!” Belu suddenly stopped and pointed ahead.
I saw that the ground of the passage was covered with dense holes, and faint blue light was flashing in the holes.
“What is this?” Lin Zhan asked.
“This is an energy trap.” Belu explained, “Once you touch the light, you will be swallowed by the powerful energy.”
“Can you crack it?” Lin Zhan asked.
Beru nodded and said confidently, “Leave it to me.”
He took out a compass from his arms and carefully observed the holes in the ground. Then, he moved forward carefully along a special route.
Under his leadership, everyone passed the energy trap smoothly.
“Awesome.” Lin Zhan said admiringly.
Beru smiled proudly and said, “It’s just a piece of cake.”
After a long journey, everyone finally arrived at the source of the energy fluctuations.
It was a huge circular plaza, and in the center of the plaza, a huge star core was suspended.
This star core is much larger than all the star cores Lin Zhan had obtained before. It emits dazzling light, like the sun, illuminating the entire square.
“This is the main star core!” Beru said excitedly, “I finally found it!”
Zhongli walked to the bottom of the main star core and observed it carefully. After a moment, her face became solemn.
“Captain, the energy contained in this star core is far beyond our imagination.” Zhongli said, “If we come into contact with it rashly, it may cause the energy to go out of control.”
“Out of control?” Lin Zhan frowned.
“Yes,” Zhongli explained, “The energy of this star core is too strong, and we cannot fully control it. If the energy gets out of control, it may cause a disaster.”
“What should we do then?” Lin Zhan asked.
“We need to find a way to stabilize the energy of the star’s core,” Zhongli said.
Just as everyone was discussing countermeasures, Beru, who was standing aside, suddenly smiled strangely.
“No need to bother.” Belu said slowly, “As long as I get this star core, all problems will be solved.”
“What do you want to do?” Lin Zhan asked vigilantly.
“Of course I’ll get it!” Beru suddenly jumped up and rushed towards the main star core.
“Looking for death!” Ace roared and was about to step forward to stop him.
However, Beru was extremely fast. He rushed to the bottom of the main star core in an instant and stretched out his hand to grab it.
“Time stops!”
Everything around me stopped.
Beru’s body also froze in mid-air, with a greedy smile on his face.
Lin Zhan slowly walked up to Beru and kicked him to the ground.
“You are such a fool.” Lin Zhan said coldly, “How dare you set your sights on me.”
Time resumed its flow.
Belu screamed and fell heavily to the ground. He looked at Lin Zhan in horror.
“You…you actually…”
“What can I do? Are you disappointed?” Lin Zhan said disdainfully.
At this moment, the core of the main star suddenly began to vibrate violently, and the surrounding space began to distort and deform.
“Not good!” Robin exclaimed, “The energy of the main star core is unstable! If it is not dealt with in time, the entire ruins will collapse!”
Lin Zhan’s face changed, and he quickly ordered: “Ace, use your high temperature to stabilize the energy output of the star core! Zhongli, adjust the frequency to match the energy fluctuations of the star core! Xiao, clear out those stone monsters!”
Everyone took action immediately.
Ace released a powerful flame that enveloped the main star core, trying to stabilize its energy output with high temperature.
Zhongli used his own abilities to adjust the frequency to match the energy fluctuations of the star core.
Holding a spear, Xiao quickly shuttled across the square, smashing the small stone monsters that kept pouring out one by one.
Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the energy of the main star core gradually stabilized, and the surrounding space stopped distorting.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, walked to the bottom of the main star core, stretched out his hand, and slowly touched it.
A powerful energy surged into his body.
Lin Zhan felt that his strength was increasing rapidly.
A moment later, he successfully took the main star core.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and a smile of relief appeared on their faces.
At this moment, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.
“Ahem…”
Beru struggled to stand up.
Beru stood up shakily, with a trace of blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, but he grinned, a creepy smile.
There was a strange light flashing in his turbid eyes, as ferocious as a wild beast and as cunning as a devil.
“Do you think… this is the end?” His hoarse voice was as unpleasant as a broken bellows, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth. “The real… threat… is still to come…” Before he finished speaking, Beru’s body twisted strangely, like a ball of crumpled paper, and then he turned into a wisp of black smoke and disappeared out of thin air!
The air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur, which made people feel nauseous.
At the same time, a teeth-grinding friction sound came from above their heads. Everyone looked up subconsciously, only to see a huge crack on the top of the ruins!
The dazzling light from the sky poured down, illuminating a huge object in the gap – a giant warship with a completely black body and cold lines.
The side of the battleship was clearly printed with the logo of the naval reformists.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, and whispered, “It seems… our troubles have just begun.”
Chapter 139: The Raid on the Navy Flagship and the Shadow of Kaido (Old Version)
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill ran along his spine to his brain.
He could feel that the oppression brought by the steel behemoth was not only physical, but also a deterrent that represented absolute power.
“We can’t let the main star core fall into their hands.” Lin Zhan’s voice was very low, almost squeezed out from between his teeth, with a barely perceptible tremor.
Zhongli’s golden eyes were like the most sophisticated optical instrument, rapidly scanning everything around him.
Data flowed wildly in her brain, and in just a few seconds, she made the most accurate analysis of the structure of the ruins and the enemy’s movements.
“The ship’s guns have begun charging, and the target of the attack is locked on the entrance to the ruins.” Zhongli’s voice was still so steady, as if no crisis could shake her calmness. “The structure inside the ruins is complicated. We can use the terrain to evade it and find an escape route at the same time.”
Lin Zhan did not hesitate at all
“Ace, Xiao, Robin, listen to my command!” Lin Zhan’s voice was not loud, but it was full of unquestionable majesty. “Ace, you are responsible for cover. Xiao, clear obstacles. Robin, find a way out! Zhongli, you are responsible for navigation!”
The team responded extremely quickly and began to act almost as soon as Lin Zhan gave the order.
The deafening sound of artillery fire instantly tore through the tranquility of the ruins.
The thick beam of light, carrying the power to destroy everything, slammed heavily at the entrance of the ruins.
Gravel flew, dust rose, and the entire ruins seemed to be shaking.
Lin Zhan stared at the navy flagship, the anger in his heart erupting like a volcano.
He swore that one day, he would completely wipe these guys out from this world!
Under Zhongli’s guidance, the team moved through the passages of the ruins like nimble fish.
They kept dodging the artillery fire from the sky, looking for the best escape route.
Just when everyone thought that they had successfully escaped from danger, a deafening roar suddenly came from a distance, like thunder out of the blue, echoing throughout the ruins.
“Little devil, you can’t just take what’s in your hand away!”
He turned around suddenly and saw a burly figure standing at the entrance of the ruins. He was like a demon, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
Kaido!
How come he is here?!
Lin Zhan stared at the mace wrapped in thunder in Kaido’s hand, and his vigilance instantly reached the extreme.
Kaido’s target is the main star core!
Zhongli’s voice sounded in Lin Zhan’s mind again: “Kaido may have sensed the energy fluctuations of the star core. We must leave here as soon as possible.”
The threat from the navy flagship, coupled with the appearance of Kaido, makes the situation even more complicated.
“Ace!” Lin Zhan’s voice was filled with determination, “Use your fire to create a barrier to stop the enemy’s pursuit!”
Ace didn’t hesitate at all. He took a step forward with his arms open. Scorching flames gushed out of his body, instantly forming a huge wall of lava and fire, completely blocking the passage of the ruins.
“Xiao, go and deal with those navy soldiers!” Lin Zhan continued to give orders, “Robin, find a new passage!”
Xiao’s figure disappeared into the darkness like a ghost.
He used the power of the wind element to completely hide his body and quietly went behind the navy soldiers.
Rays of cold light flashed, and several naval commanders fell in a pool of blood before they could even scream.
Xiao’s attack was precise and deadly, instantly disrupting the navy’s deployment.
Robin’s hands quickly stroked the stone wall. She carefully felt the patterns on the stone wall, looking for hidden mechanisms.
“Found it!” Robin’s voice was filled with joy, “There is a mechanism here that can open a new passage!”
Robin pressed his finger lightly on the stone wall, and with a dull sound, a stone door slowly opened.
Lin Zhan did not hesitate at all and led everyone quickly into the new passage.
However, just when they thought they had successfully escaped Kaido’s pursuit, Kaido’s mocking voice once again echoed in the ruins.
“Lin Zhan, do you think you can escape? I will let you understand what true power is!”
Kaido’s voice was like a warning, causing Lin Zhan to feel a little uneasy.
“Kaido’s target is the star core, but he may also be testing our strength.” Zhongli’s voice rang in Lin Zhan’s mind, “We need to be prepared for the battle.”
Lin Zhan nodded, he gripped the weapon tightly in his hand and looked ahead with a firm gaze.
No matter what Kaido wants to do, he will not back down!
At this moment, Robin suddenly stopped and a puzzled expression appeared on her face.
“What’s wrong, Robin?” Lin Zhan asked.
“We have reached the exit of the ruins…” Robin said with a hint of uncertainty, “But…”
Lin Zhan’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He walked quickly to Robin’s side and followed her gaze.
At the exit of the ruins, a small warship was quietly anchored there…
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly, and the scene before him seemed to freeze time.
The small warship was anchored at the exit of the ruins, and the flashing lights on its hull were particularly dazzling in the night.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the anxiety in his heart, and whispered an order: “Everyone enter combat mode and prepare for battle!”
At this moment, a familiar and steady voice suddenly sounded on the battleship: “Lin Zhan, I’m Marco. Luffy asked me to support you.”
A hint of surprise flashed through Lin Zhan’s heart for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by vigilance.
The appearance of Marco is undoubtedly a ray of hope, but Kaido’s shadow still looms over them.
Marco jumped off the battleship, and the moment he landed, the ground shook slightly, showing his powerful fighting power.
“Marco, why are you here?” There was a hint of complex emotions in Lin Zhan’s voice, including gratitude and uneasiness.
“Luffy heard that you were attacked, so he immediately sent me to support you.” Marco’s eyes were firm and his tone was full of confidence, “But we have to leave here quickly, Kaido’s main force should be nearby.”
Lin Zhan nodded, but the uneasiness in his heart had not completely dissipated.
He turned and looked at Zhongli. Zhongli’s…”
Just as they were about to leave, a flash of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky in the distance, accompanied by deafening thunder, and Kaido’s cold voice echoed in the air: “Kid, you can’t escape…”
Chapter 140 Kaido’s Challenge and the Magical Use of the Rule Fruit (Old Version)
Kaido’s words, “Kid, you can’t escape…”, which were wrapped in the domineering aura, were like a thunderclap, exploding directly in everyone’s ears, making their scalps numb.
Lin Zhan’s nerves tensed instantly. He stared at Kaido’s huge figure like a mountain, knowing that the worst situation had happened.
“You want a star core? Haha…” Lin Zhan wiped the dust off his face and sneered, his eyes full of unyielding spirit. “If you want a star core, it depends on whether you have the ability to do it!”
Before he finished speaking, Kaido moved!
The huge mace, with the momentum of creating the world, smashed down towards Lin Zhan!
The air seemed to be compressed to the extreme, making a shrill whistling sound.
“boom!!!”
The mace hit the ground, and the entire ruins shook violently. The ground cracked instantly, and countless pieces of gravel flew everywhere!
Lin Zhan narrowly avoided the fatal blow by relying on his fast shaving speed, but he could feel that the terrifying shock wave still made his blood boil.
“Don’t just stand there! Spread out! Don’t let him take us all down!” Lin Zhan yelled, and at the same time activated his Observation Haki, locking onto Kaido’s movements.
Ace took the lead. He roared, his whole body was burning with flames, and he pushed his hands forward!
The blazing lava flames, like a volcanic eruption, swept towards Kaido!
The air was burned and distorted, making crackling sounds.
However……
Kaido stood in the flames, motionless, without even frowning.
He casually swung the mace and easily blocked the impact of the flames.
“It’s useless! This level of attack can’t hurt Lord Kaido at all!” Kaido grinned, revealing his white teeth.
“Damn it…” Ace clenched his teeth, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.
He has already exerted the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit to its fullest, but facing Kaido, he still seems so powerless.
At this moment, a blue flame cut through the night sky and fell from the sky!
“Kaido! Your opponent still has me!”
Marco’s figure appeared above Kaido’s head. He had completed his transformation into a beast, transforming into a giant phoenix with his wings spread, creating gusts of strong air currents.
“Phoenix Marco? The remnants of Whitebeard? Well, I will send you all to hell today!” Kaido grinned grimly and swung the mace in his hand fiercely towards Marco!
Marco was not willing to be outdone. He flapped his wings, swooped down, and grabbed Kaido’s body with his sharp claws burning with blue flames!
“Clang!!!”
The sound of metal clashing resounded through the sky!
Marco’s sharp claws collided with Kaido’s body, and dazzling sparks burst out!
Kaido’s defense is really terrifying!
Although Marco’s claws successfully left some scars on Kaido, they were unable to cause any substantial harm to him.
“A bunch of ants! Do you dare to challenge me?” Kaido roared, sweeping the surroundings with the mace in his hand!
The powerful shock wave spread in all directions like a tsunami!
This forced everyone to retreat again and again, making it impossible for them to get close.
“Damn… this guy’s strength is too strong…” Lin Zhan gritted his teeth, feeling extremely anxious.
“Let’s fight!” Lin Zhan
“Time…stop!”
In an instant, the whole world seemed to stop.
Including Kaido, everyone’s movements became extremely slow.
Although Lin Zhan’s time-stopping ability cannot completely stop time, even delaying it for a few seconds is enough!
“Now!” Lin Zhan growled, and at the same time activated his domineering aura and suppressed Kaido.
“Katakuri! Ace! Do it!”
Katakuri had been waiting for an opportunity. The moment Lin Zhan gave the order, he immediately activated the ability of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit.
Countless rice cakes surged out like a tide, quickly wrapping around Kaido’s body, layer by layer, trying to restrict his movements.
At the same time, Ace once again burst out with powerful flames. This time, he concentrated all his strength on Kaido’s weakness!
“Lava…burn it all!”
The scorching lava flames, like maggots on the tarsal bones, tightly wrapped around Kaido’s body, constantly burning his flesh and blood.
“roar!!!”
Kaido roared in pain and struggled desperately, trying to break free from Katakuri’s restraints, but he was unable to do so.
“Damn… these guys…” Kaido’s eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness.
Just when Kaido was about to break free from his restraints, Lin Zhan’s time stop effect was about to end.
“No…it’s not enough…” Lin Zhan gritted his teeth
“We can only take a risk and give it a try!” Lin Zhan
“System! Summon…”
A dazzling light suddenly burst out from Lin Zhan’s body!
A strange figure slowly appeared in front of everyone.
He was a tall, muscular man with blue arcs of electricity wrapped around his body, emitting heart-pounding energy fluctuations.
“Renault…come on!” The man’s deep voice echoed in the air.
“Lightning…?” Kaido narrowed his eyes, feeling the powerful energy fluctuations emanating from Renault, and a sense of uneasiness surged in his heart.
Renault didn’t waste any words. He opened his hands and countless thick lightning bolts, like mad dragons, bombarded Kaido!
“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”
The sound of thunder is deafening!
Kaido was struck by lightning and his body began to tremble violently. He felt that his five senses were all severely disturbed.
“Now!” Lin Zhan seized the opportunity again. He took a deep breath and activated the ability to stop time again.
This time, he concentrated all the effects of time stopping on Kaido!
He wants to make Kaido’s reaction speed even slower!
So slow…he couldn’t even dodge their attacks!
“Ace! Katakuri! Keep attacking!” Lin Zhan roared, and at the same time activated his Observation Haki, locking onto Kaido’s every move.
Upon hearing this, Ace and Katakuri immediately launched a more fierce attack.
Lava flames, rice cake binding, lightning bombardment…
All kinds of attacks poured towards Kaido like a storm!
Although Kaido tried desperately to fight back, due to the influence of time stop, his movements became extremely slow and he could not keep up with the pace of everyone.
He could only watch as the attacks landed on him, making deafening explosions.
Kaido’s roar became weaker and weaker, and his body began to shake.
Under the joint attack of Lin Zhan and others, even a monster like Kaido began to gradually weaken.
Just when everyone thought they were about to win…
A strange smile suddenly appeared at the corner of Kaido’s mouth.
“You little brats… do you really think you can defeat me like this?” He murmured in a low voice.
An even more terrifying aura burst out from his body…
Lin Zhan was shocked when he saw Kaido’s smile. He had a vague feeling that something bad was about to happen…
“Not good! Retreat quickly!” Lin Zhan instinctively sensed the danger and shouted to everyone.
However, before he finished speaking…
Kaido’s body suddenly began to swell…
There was another loud bang, and Kaido’s body exploded violently!
Countless energy fragments, like sharp blades, flew in all directions!
“puff……”
Lin Zhan only felt a pain in his chest, and a mouthful of blood spurted out. His body flew backwards like a kite with a broken string…
In the last moment before he lost consciousness, he vaguely heard Kaido’s mocking voice echoing in his ears: “Kid, the game… has just begun…” Kaido’s hideous laugh was like a death knell from hell, making people tremble with fear.
Even though it was suppressed by everyone working together, this monster still exuded a desperate sense of oppression.
Little bug? Kaido roared, today I will let you see what despair is! His muscles swelled up like inflated balloons, and his blood vessels wriggled under his skin like earthworms, which made people’s scalps numb.
The air was filled with the sickening smell of blood and Kaido’s violent aura that seemed to tear everything apart.
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth. He could feel that Kaido was planning some terrible attack.
He must be stopped!
At this moment, a blue figure stood in front of Lin Zhan.
“Little boy, don’t be stunned!” Marco’s voice was a little anxious. This guy is going to get serious! As he said that, he spread his wings, his body burning with blue flames, and rushed towards Kaido without hesitation.
Your opponent is me! Marco roared, and the flames of the Phoenix poured out like they were free, colliding with Kaido’s violent aura.
Marco!
You are looking for death! Kaido roared, swung his mace, and hit Marco hard.
There was another deafening bang.
Marco’s figure flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, and a large mouthful of blood spurted out of his mouth.
Even the Phoenix could not fully withstand Kaido’s all-out attack.
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly contracted.
Time seemed to stand still.
Kaido’s mace, with the momentum to destroy everything, was smashing towards Marco.
Once hit, Marco will definitely die!
what to do?
Lin Zhan’s brain was working rapidly, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
He must find a way, a way to stop Kaido and save Marco!
Kaido’s hideous face continued to enlarge in Lin Zhan’s sight.
He seemed to see the smile of death.
“Haha…it’s over…” Kaido whispered.
Chapter 141 The Secret Weapon That Turns the Tide of War (Old Version)
“Hehe…it’s over…” Kaido whispered, and the voice seemed like a roar coming from the depths of hell, carrying a creepy chill.
The huge mace, wrapped in the power of wind and thunder, smashed down hard on the dying Marco.
The overbearing armed color domineering aura wrapped around the stick is like a black giant python that chooses its prey, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Lin Zhan’s heart suddenly shrank, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Marco, the man who fought through life and death for the Whitebeard Pirates and his brothers, is he going to die here?
No! Never!
Lin Zhan’s brain was working rapidly, like a high-speed spinning gear, frantically looking for a way to break the impasse.
In a flash, he suddenly thought of something and took out a ball that was shining with strange light from his arms.
“Zhongli! Use this!” Lin Zhan roared, and handed the main star core in his hand to Zhongli beside him, “Use the energy of the star core to interfere with Kaido!”
Zhongli took the star core without any hesitation, and waved his hands like a butterfly flying through flowers, muttering something.
A mysterious energy wave emanated from the core of the star, like an invisible tentacle, silently wrapping around Kaido.
Kaido’s originally unstoppable offensive suddenly slowed down at this moment.
His movements of swinging the mace became slow and clumsy, as if he was stuck in a quagmire and unable to extricate himself.
“What’s going on?” Kaido growled in uncertainty. He felt that an inexplicable force was suppressing him, preventing him from fully exerting the power in his body.
This sudden change gave Lin Zhan and others hope.
“Now! Ace!” Lin Zhan roared.
Ace had been ready for action. Upon hearing Lin Zhan’s order, he released the awakened ability of the Flame-Flame Fruit without hesitation.
The blazing lava flames, like a roaring fire dragon, swooped towards Kaido’s chest.
At the same time, Marco seized the opportunity and swooped down from the air, like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, waving his wings burning with blue flames, and slammed hard into Kaido’s back.
“Blue Flame Goose!”
Two powerful fire attacks hit Kaido at the same time. Even his dragon scales, which were as hard as steel, could not completely withstand the scorching burning.
Kaido let out a painful roar, and his huge body trembled slightly.
“Impossible! How could you have such power?!” Kaido roared in disbelief, his voice filled with anger and unwillingness.
He couldn’t understand why these beings, who were like ants in his eyes, could burst out with such powerful strength.
Lin Zhan ignored Kaido’s roar. He seized this fleeting opportunity, flashed, and instantly appeared in front of Kaido.
“Time stands still!”
Lin Zhan let out a low roar, and the power of the Rule Fruit was activated.
Time around Kaido seemed to have stopped, and his movements were frozen in mid-air, like a frozen sculpture.
“Katakuri!” Lin Zhan shouted again.
Katakuri understood what he meant and immediately activated the ability of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit. Countless sticky rice cakes emerged like tentacles, tightly binding Kaido’s huge body.
“Nuotuan chanted!”
Lin Zhan quickly stepped forward, holding the Devil Fruit Extractor in his hand, aimed it at Kaido, and activated the absorption function.
Buzz buzz buzz…
The extractor made a slight vibration sound, and a strange energy was extracted from Kaido’s body and poured into the extractor.
Kaido felt the strength in his body slipping away, and he struggled frantically, trying to break free, but Katakuri’s glutinous rice cake was as tough as steel and unbreakable.
“Damn it…” Kaido growled, gritting his teeth.
Just when Lin Zhan and others thought they had victory in their grasp, something strange happened.
An astonishing power suddenly burst out from Kaido, the strength of which far exceeded their previous expectations.
Snap!
The glutinous rice cake that bound Kaido was actually broken apart by this powerful force!
Kaido roared to the sky, like a wild beast breaking free from a cage, with a bloodthirsty light flashing in his eyes.
“You think you can defeat me like this? How naive!” Kaido sneered, his voice full of disdain and ridicule.
However, Lin Zhan had already anticipated this scene.
“Renault!” Lin Zhan shouted in a deep voice.
A golden lightning streaked across the sky, and a tall figure appeared on the battlefield. It was Renault.
“Yes, Captain!” Renault saluted respectfully, then released a powerful lightning storm that enveloped Kaido.
Sizzle…
The violent power of thunder and lightning raged, Kaido’s huge body trembled constantly, and his ability to move was completely paralyzed.
A gleam of light flashed in Lin Zhan’s eyes
“Kaido…” Lin Zhan spoke slowly, with a hint of cold murderous intent in his voice, “Your era is over…”
Kaido fell to the ground with a loud bang, stirring up a cloud of dust.
His huge body hit the ground with a dull sound, as if the earth was shaking.
He struggled to get up, but to no avail.
His bloodshot eyes stared at Lin Zhan, full of unwillingness and resentment: “Little boy…you…you will pay the price for your choice today!” His voice was hoarse, like the roar of a dying beast.
Lin Zhan ignored Kaido’s threat and quickly called on everyone to evacuate the battlefield. The air was filled with smoke and a strong smell of blood, which was nauseating.
During the retreat, Lin Zhan felt that the temperature of the main star core in his hand was gradually decreasing, and the originally dazzling light became much dimmer, like a star that was about to go out.
An uneasy feeling came over me.
“Captain,” Zhongli’s voice came from behind, with a hint of solemnity in his tone, “The energy of the star core is rapidly decaying. If… if the energy is not replenished as soon as possible, I’m afraid…” He didn’t continue, but Lin Zhan understood what he meant.
The star core, the key to turning the tide of the battle, actually had a problem!
Lin Zhan’s brows were tightly locked together. The Valley of Gods… that forbidden place that hides countless secrets, perhaps… perhaps the real answer is there.
“Speed up!” Lin Zhan shouted in a low voice, with an unquestionable firmness in his tone.
He raised his head and looked into the distance, his eyes flashing with complex light. There, there were unknown challenges and also… an inevitable fate.
“Zhongli…”
Chapter 142: Crisis of Star Core Depletion (Old Version)
The smell of gunpowder had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with a sickening smell of blood.
Lin Zhan and his group staggered back to the “Void”. Everyone’s face was filled with fatigue, but there was a gleam of victory in their eyes.
Kaido, the once invincible emperor of the sea, finally fell at their feet.
After returning to the ship, Zhongli immediately began to check the status of the main star core.
Her slender fingers moved on the operating table. The bright blue light shone on her calm face, but it could not conceal the trace of worry between her brows.
The results of the data analysis were quickly displayed on the screen. The energy fluctuation curve was like a dying snake, crawling weakly near the lowest point, flashing a dangerous red light.
“The situation is worse than expected,” Zhongli said in a low and solemn voice, “The energy fluctuations of the main star core are approaching a critical point. If we can’t find a way to replenish energy as soon as possible, it may completely fail.”
Lin Zhan’s brows were tightly locked together, and his fingers tapped on the table unconsciously, making a rhythmic “tapping” sound.
He knew that the main star core was the key to their fight against the World Government and subverting the rules of pirates, and there must be no mistakes.
“System, search for the nearest energy source!” Lin Zhan said silently in his heart.
The system map quickly expanded, and an island with a flashing lightning symbol appeared in the center of the screen.
“Thunder Island is 300 nautical miles away from the current location. The island is rich in thunder and lightning energy.”
“It seems we have to go to Thunder Island.” Lin Zhan took a deep breath, his eyes showing a hint of determination.
The voyage was not smooth.
A sudden storm swept in, with howling winds and surging waves. The “Void” was like a fallen leaf, tossed up and down on the rough sea.
“Damn it! This storm came too suddenly!” Ace cursed, and lava-like flames burned on his body, illuminating the sky covered by dark clouds.
He volunteered to use lava fire to repair the hull torn by the storm.
However, the storm was much stronger than expected.
The raindrops as big as beans hit the deck, making crackling sounds, as if they were going to tear the “Void” into pieces.
“Ace, let me help you!” Marco spread his wings, turned into a huge blue phoenix, and swooped down from the sky.
The blue flames intertwined with the lava flames to form a brilliant curtain of light, which dispelled some of the dark clouds and bought precious repair time for the ship.
Even so, the ship was still shaking violently, and everyone had to hold on to the fixed objects around them to barely maintain balance.
Zhongli stared at the weather data, his expression becoming increasingly serious.
“This storm… is not a natural phenomenon.” She said in a deep voice, “The data shows that there is some abnormal energy fluctuation in the center of the storm. It seems… it is artificially controlled.”
Lin Zhan’s heart tightened and an ominous premonition came to his mind.
“Kaido…does he have a backup plan?”
Just as he finished speaking, a small warship slowly emerged from the storm, filled with elite warriors of the Beasts Pirates, each with a hideous face and murderous intent.
“It’s them!” A cold light flashed in Lin Zhan’s eyes, “Everyone enter combat mode and prepare to fight!”
Katakuri took the lead in launching the attack, and he used the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to perfection. The huge glutinous rice barrier blocked the enemy’s fire.
At the same time, Ace unleashed blazing lava flames, blasting the decks of the enemy warships to pieces, forcing them to abandon ranged attacks and switch to close combat.
Lin Zhan used the time control ability of the Rule Fruit to delay the enemy’s movements and create an excellent counterattack opportunity for his teammates.
Time seemed to have turned into plasticine in his hands that could be kneaded at will. The enemy’s movements became slow and funny, as if they were being played back in slow motion.
The battle was extremely fierce, with roaring artillery fire and deafening shouts.
With the tacit cooperation of the team, the remaining forces of the Beasts Pirates were finally completely defeated.
“Huh…it’s finally solved.” Ace wiped the sweat from his face and breathed a sigh of relief.
However, there was no sign of relaxation on Lin Zhan’s face.
He felt that the temperature of the main star core in his hand was still decreasing…
“Zhongli,” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and hoarse, “The energy of the star core…”
Zhongli shook his head, looking into the distance with a serious look, hesitant to speak…
In Lin Zhan’s palm, the main star core that was originally as warm as jade was now as cold as a stone, and the light inside was as dim as a candle in the wind.
He scratched his hair irritably, letting the sea breeze mess up his slightly long bangs, and cast his eyes towards the vaguely visible island in the distance – Thunder Island, which was shaped like a dormant giant beast, shrouded in a thick layer of fog, exuding an eerie air.
“In that damn place… can we really find something to replenish the energy of the star core?” He muttered to himself in a low voice, his tone full of doubt and a hint of barely perceptible fear.
At the same time, Zhongli was standing in the cockpit, her slender fingers dancing quickly on the console, and lines of complex data flashed before her.
She frowned slightly, her eyes fixed on the energy fluctuation graph of Thunder Island and the energy attenuation curve of the main star core displayed on the screen.
There is a strange resonance between the two, like two mirrors, one positive and one negative, one weakening while the other is quietly strengthening.
“This resonance…what exactly does it mean?” she whispered to herself, with a hint of confusion and a hint of uneasiness in her tone.
After a simple bandage, everyone on the Void sat down exhausted on the deck. Everyone had wounds on their bodies. The air was filled with a faint smell of blood and sweat, mixed with the salty smell of the sea breeze, forming a peculiar smell.
After a short rest, Lin Zhan stood up, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly: “Brothers, cheer up! Thunder Island is right in front of us, we must find a way to replenish the star core energy as soon as possible!” Everyone stood up, although they were exhausted, there was still a determination in their eyes.
The Void slowly approached Thunder Island, the thick fog gradually dissipated, and the full picture of the island gradually appeared before everyone’s eyes.
At this moment, a low roar came from the island, like the roar of some giant beast, deafening and creepy.
“What…is that sound?” Ace swallowed and tightened his weapon.
Lin Zhan’s face darkened, and he turned back to look at Zhongli, and said in a deep voice: “Zhongli, activate the defense system! Prepare…”
Chapter 143 The Trial of Thunder Island (Old Version)
Thunder Island, as the name suggests, is shrouded in thick thunderclouds all year round.
Before setting foot on the island, the crackling sound of electricity has already entered my ears, and the air is filled with a pungent smell of ozone that makes my scalp tingle.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes, feeling the violent electrical energy fluctuations in the air. This was definitely not something to be taken lightly.
“Everyone be careful, there’s something wrong with this place.” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice, with a hint of solemnity in his tone.
The Void slowly approached the shore and everyone filed out.
Looking around, the island is full of rugged rocks and sparse vegetation, giving it a doomsday scene.
On the ground, arcs of electricity flashed from time to time, like the scythe of the god of death, and if you were not careful, you would be chopped into charcoal.
Zhongli stood in front of the team, his silver eyes flashing with data streams as he quickly scanned the surrounding terrain.
As an AI guardian left behind by an alien civilization, she is extremely sensitive to these energy fluctuations.
“Captain, the design of the mechanisms here is similar to that in the ruins, and they are very likely created by the same civilization.” Zhongli’s voice was still calm, but Lin Zhan could hear a hint of worry in her tone.
“It seems that this star core is not so easy to get.” Lin Zhan’s lips curled up into a playful smile. He liked this kind of challenging task the most.
Everyone moved forward cautiously, taking every step with extreme caution.
Suddenly, the ground shook and blue arcs of electricity appeared out of nowhere, interweaving into a huge net that enveloped everyone.
“Oh no, it’s a trap!” Ace exclaimed, and flames instantly broke out all over his body, trying to burn the electric fence.
However, the moment the flame touched the power grid, it was completely devoured by the powerful electric current, which in turn increased the power of the power grid.
“It’s useless, Ace. These lightning energies have been specially processed. Ordinary flames can’t suppress them at all!” Zhongli analyzed calmly.
At this moment, several low roars came from the depths of the dense forest, and then blue figures emerged from the darkness.
They were a group of monsters formed by pure lightning energy. They had no entity, only vague outlines, with crackling arcs of electricity flashing on their bodies, like a group of evil spirits from hell.
“Oh my god, what the hell is this?” Ace widened his eyes and clenched his fists.
“These are creatures made of lightning elements. Be careful of their attacks!” Lin Zhan warned in a deep voice, while activating his Observation Haki to capture the movements of the monsters.
The lightning monster roared and pounced towards the crowd at an extremely fast speed, arriving in front of them in the blink of an eye.
Ace took the brunt of the attack and threw a punch. The blazing flames instantly engulfed a lightning monster.
However, the flames only lasted for a moment before being suppressed by the lightning energy, and the monster passed through the wall of fire unscathed.
“It’s useless, Ace, your fire has little effect on them!” Lin Zhan shouted loudly.
Upon seeing this, Katakuri immediately activated the ability of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, and the ground instantly turned into a sticky glutinous rice swamp, trying to trap these lightning monsters.
Glutinous rice has extremely strong stickiness, and the lightning monster was stuck in it, and its speed suddenly slowed down.
However, the electric current in their bodies continued to impact the glutinous rice, burning and melting it, and it soon broke free from the restraints.
“These guys are more difficult to deal with than I thought!” Katakuri frowned, his face looking a little solemn.
While Lin Zhan dodged the attacks of the lightning monsters, he carefully observed their behavior patterns.
He discovered that the energy cores of these monsters seemed to be concentrated in a glowing crystal on their chests.
“Attack their chests, that’s their weak point!” Lin Zhan shouted loudly, and at the same time, he gathered all his strength and punched a lightning monster in the chest.
The fist was wrapped in armed color domineering and hit the glowing crystal hard.
There was a crisp “crack” sound, and the crystal shattered instantly. The lightning monster let out a shrill wail, and its body gradually disintegrated, eventually turning into wisps of electric arcs and disappearing into the air.
“It works! Brothers, focus on attacking their chests!” Ace shouted excitedly, and flames burst out of his body again, blasting towards the chest of another lightning monster.
Everyone followed suit, concentrating their firepower on attacking the lightning monster’s core weakness.
One by one, the lightning monsters were defeated and dissipated into energy, but more monsters emerged from the depths of the jungle, as if endless.
Just when everyone was gradually feeling exhausted, something strange happened.
As more and more lightning monsters were eliminated, the lightning energy on the island became more and more unstable. Thick arcs of electricity ran around in the air like violent thunder dragons.
The ground began to shake violently, and cracks spread out, revealing the deep darkness below.
“Oh no! The energy released after these monsters were eliminated has triggered a chain reaction!” Zhongli’s face changed drastically, and he said anxiously: “The surrounding mechanisms have started to activate. We must leave here as soon as possible!”
Lin Zhan also realized the seriousness of the problem. He looked up and saw beams of light rising from the ground, interweaving into a huge energy net that enveloped everyone.
“Damn it, we’re trapped!” Ace cursed and attacked the energy net frantically, but to no avail.
“Don’t waste your energy, Ace. These energy nets are extremely strong and cannot be broken by brute force!” Zhongli said calmly, while quickly analyzing the logic of the surrounding mechanisms.
Her fingers slid rapidly in the air, and streams of data flashed in her eyes, like a sophisticated computer.
“Found it!” After a moment, Zhongli raised his head and pointed to a hidden corner in front of him: “There is a hidden passage there, follow me!”
Everyone followed Zhongli without hesitation and ran towards the hidden passage.
Behind him, the energy net continued to shrink, emitting crackling arcs of electricity, like the scythe of the god of death, chasing him relentlessly.
The passage was narrow and dark, and everyone could only grope their way forward.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, the view in front of them suddenly opened up and a huge altar appeared before them.
The altar is round in shape and made of unknown black stones, exuding an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.
In the center of the altar, there was a small star core suspended, emitting strong electric light, like a dazzling blue gem, illuminating the entire space.
“That’s the star core!” Ace shouted excitedly, and couldn’t wait to rush up and take it away.
“Don’t be impulsive, Ace, be careful of traps!” Lin Zhan hurriedly stopped him. He always felt that things were not that simple.
Just as everyone was about to approach the core of the star, a deafening roar came from the depths of the altar, and the entire space trembled.
“Anyone who trespasses must undergo a trial!” A majestic voice echoed above the altar, causing pain in people’s eardrums.
Then, a huge figure emerged from the shadows. It was a giant dragon made entirely of lightning energy, dozens of meters long, with countless arcs of electricity wrapped around its body. Its eyes flashed dangerously, like two blue suns.
“Thunder Dragon?!” Marco exclaimed, his face turning a little ugly.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes, stared at the thunder dragon, and thought to himself: It’s not that easy after all.
“It seems that this is the real existence that guards the star core.” Lin Zhan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: “Ace, Marco, you two are responsible for attracting its attention. Katakuri, you cooperate with me, let’s find a way to get closer to the star core!”
“Understood!” Ace and Marco responded in unison, and all the energy in their bodies burst out instantly, rushing towards the Thunder Dragon.
Ace’s entire body was burning with flames, and he transformed into a pillar of fire, spraying towards the Thunder Dragon.
Marco spread his phoenix wings and circled flexibly in the air, constantly looking for opportunities to attack.
The Thunder Dragon roared, opened its huge mouth, and sprayed a thick beam of lightning towards Ace.
Ace quickly dodged, and the lightning beam hit the ground, instantly melting the ground and creating a huge hole.
Marco seized the opportunity, swooped down, and grabbed the Thunder Dragon’s head with his sharp claws.
The Thunder Dragon felt pain and shook his body violently, throwing Marco away.
While Ace and Marco were distracting the Thunder Dragon, Lin Zhan quietly approached the star core.
Katakuri used the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to create barriers to block the attacks of the Thunder Dragon and buy time for the Lin War.
Just as Lin Zhan was about to touch the core of the star, the Thunder Dragon seemed to have sensed his intention. It let out an angry roar, turned its head sharply, and rushed towards Lin Zhan.
The thunder dragon’s attack was extremely fierce, and the lightning storm swept across the entire altar, forcing everyone to retreat.
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly contracted, and the crackling electric current in the air seemed to tear his eardrums.
The Thunder Dragon was wrapped in destructive energy, and every breath it took brought a strong electromagnetic pulse, stimulating his skin and causing waves of pain.
He could feel that if he was hit head-on, even his body with Armament Haki would be torn into pieces in an instant.
At the critical moment, Lin Zhan activated the ability of the Rule Fruit without hesitation – time control!
Everything around seemed to be paused, and the violent thunder dragon was briefly frozen in the air. Its ferocious expression froze, and the arcs of electricity wrapped around its body stopped flickering.
Lin Zhan did not dare to hesitate at all. He rushed to the center of the altar like an arrow and grabbed the star core floating in the air.
The moment he touched the core of the star, an indescribable energy surged into his body, as if countless electric currents were running through his meridians, bringing waves of intense burning sensation.
He gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and guided the energy into the main star core.
With the integration of the star core, the originally violent energy fluctuations gradually subsided, and the lightning storm on the altar gradually dissipated.
However, just when Lin Zhan thought everything was over, the originally frozen Thunder Dragon suddenly broke free from the shackles of time and let out an even more violent roar: “Do you think this is the end? The real test has just begun!”
Lin Zhan clenched his fists, feeling the powerful force surging in his body, and stared sharply at the thunder dragon in front of him.
He knew that this star core was not easy to obtain, and there might be a bigger secret hidden behind this trial.
“Roar—” The roar of the Thunder Dragon echoed in the altar, and its body gradually decomposed into countless lightning particles…
Chapter 144: The truth about Thunder Dragon and Kaido’s foreshadowing (old version)
The roar of the thunder dragon, with the last trace of unwillingness and anger, echoed above the altar, making people’s eardrums buzz.
The huge dragon body collapsed and disintegrated like a sand sculpture, turning into countless flashing lightning particles, dancing and circling in the air like fireflies.
Eventually, these particles converged into a human-shaped light shadow, suspended in the center of the altar, emitting a faint fluorescence.
The outline of the light and shadow is blurred, but a human figure can be vaguely seen. The voice is ethereal and distant, like a whisper from eternity: “I am the guardian left behind by an alien civilization. My duty is to protect the secrets of the star core. The price for you to pass the first test… is to face a more powerful enemy.”
Lin Zhan’s heart shuddered, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
He subconsciously clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking, and stared at the light with sharp eyes.
He asked in a deep voice: “A more powerful enemy? Who is it?”
The light and shadow did not answer directly, but stretched out an illusory finger and pointed to the distance, which was the depths of the vast ocean: “Kaido… He has set his sights on this place.”
“Kaido!” Lin Zhan took a breath. This name was like a nightmare, shrouding the hearts of every pirate.
Without further ado, Lin Zhan made a prompt decision: “Retreat!”
The team members quickly evacuated the altar and ran along the way they came.
However, the moment they left the altar, the energy fluctuations of the entire Thunder Island began to increase sharply, beating violently like a heart, and a suffocating feeling of oppression swept over.
Zhongli frowned, the data terminal in her hand flashing a dazzling red light. She said in a serious tone: “This kind of energy fluctuation is very likely to attract a more powerful existence…even Kaido! We must leave as soon as possible!”
Everyone did not dare to delay and quickened their pace towards the ship anchored on the shore.
However, just as they were about to reach the coastline, something strange happened!
In the sky, a huge warship was slowly approaching, blocking the sunlight like a dark cloud.
On the bow of the battleship, there is a ferocious dragon head carved, and on the flag is the logo of the Beasts Pirates!
“Damn it! It’s Kaido!” Ace cursed under his breath, clenched his fists, and raging flames burned on his body.
Kaido appeared on the deck of the battleship. He was burly, like a small mountain, holding a mace. He stared at Lin Zhan with cold eyes, and a cruel smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: “Kid, do you think you can escape? The secret of the star core belongs to me!”
Lin Zhan was not afraid at all. He met Kaido’s gaze and sneered, “You want a star core? It depends on whether you have the ability to do it!”
Before he finished speaking, Kaido had already swung his mace and fell from the sky like a meteorite, heading straight towards Lin Zhan!
The powerful shock wave cracked the ground, and set off a strong wind, with flying sand and rocks, covering the sky and the sun.
“Disperse!” Lin Zhan yelled, and the team members quickly dispersed to avoid being wiped out by Kaido’s attack.
Ace and Marco were the first to bear the brunt of the attack. The two joined forces to launch an attack. The lava flames and phoenix flames intertwined to form a wall of fire, trying to block Kaido’s offensive.
However, Kaido’s power was too terrifying. When he swung his mace, the wall of fire was torn apart like paper. The attacks of the two were like scratching an itch to him.
Lin Zhan seized the opportunity and decisively activated the ability of the Rule Fruit – time control!
Everything around seemed to be paused, and Kaido’s movements were frozen in an instant. His ferocious expression and the waving mace were all frozen in the air.
Katakuri understood what he meant and immediately stepped forward, using the power of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to tightly bind Kaido’s body like a cocoon, making him unable to move.
The team members all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the situation was temporarily under control.
However, at this moment… Katakuri’s face suddenly changed, and he exclaimed: “Not good! His power…”
Just when the team thought they had the upper hand, Kaido suddenly burst out with an astonishing burst of power. The muscles all over his body swelled like they were inflated, and the surface of his skin cracked, oozing out strands of broken lightning.
His eyes were like burning torches, and his cold gaze chilled people to the bone.
He sneered: “Do you think this little trick can stop me? Too naive!” In an instant, he shattered Katakuri’s restraints, and his whole body turned into a flash of lightning, attacking Lin Zhan.
However, Lin Zhan quickly exchanged the “All-World Character Summoning Ticket” from the system and whispered a spell: “Renault, show up!” In an instant, a shocking lightning storm fell from the sky, shrouding the entire battlefield in a dazzling light.
Renault’s figure emerged from the storm, like a god descending from heaven, and the lightning sword in his hand exuded terrifying power.
He swung his sword violently, and countless giant lightning pythons gushed out from the tip of the sword, completely paralyzing Kaido’s ability to move.
Kaido fell to the ground, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, with resentment and anger in his eyes.
Before he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly became sharp, as if he had caught something, and he quickly called the team together to discuss countermeasures.
Chapter 145: The Navy’s Encirclement and Suppression Order and New Tactics (Old Version)
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly became sharp, as if he had grasped something, and quickly called the team together to discuss countermeasures.
Lin Zhan stood in the command center of Leiming Island, and the team members around him looked nervous.
Renault whispered beside him: “Lin Zhan, we don’t have time to rest. Kaido’s power is far beyond our imagination.” Lin Zhan nodded, quickly closed the lightning sword in his hand, and turned to the team members: “Everyone listen, although Kaido has been suppressed temporarily, his threat has not been eliminated. Moreover, the Navy Reformists may have noticed our actions.”
Princess Vivi stood aside, her clever eyes sparkling with wisdom.
She analyzed: “Lin Zhan is right. Kaido’s power is huge, and the Navy’s reformists act very quickly. They may have set a trap and are waiting for us to fall into it.”
Sure enough, not long after, the cold voice of Lieutenant General He came from the communicator: “Lin Zhan, you have been surrounded. Hand over the star core, otherwise you will bear the consequences.” Lin Zhan sneered and responded: “If you want the star core, come and get it with your strength.”
Just as he finished speaking, the naval fleet approached from all directions, and artillery fire covered the outer area of Thunder Island.
The rumbling sound of the cannons was like deafening thunder, and every blade of grass and tree on the island seemed to be shaking.
Lin Zhan quickly gave the order: “Everyone disperse to avoid being defeated by concentrated firepower!” The team members acted quickly, dispersed and sought cover.
Louhuhuda stood up at this time, with a determined light in his eyes: “Captain, I have a bold idea.” He took out a small device from his pocket and continued: “I recently developed a new type of technological fruit weapon that can temporarily interfere with the energy system of naval warships.”
Lin Zhan nodded and ordered: “Deploy weapons immediately to buy time!” The device was quickly activated with a loud bang, and a strong electromagnetic pulse swept across the battlefield.
The naval warship’s artillery fire suddenly fell silent, and the entire battlefield fell into a brief silence.
Smoker frowned upon seeing this and whispered to Vice Admiral Crane: “If this technology falls into the hands of the enemy, the consequences will be disastrous.”
Vice Admiral Tsuru sneered: “Then destroy them as soon as possible!” She commanded her troops to engage in close combat, trying to break through the pirate group’s defense line.
The naval soldiers came in like a tide. Although the warship temporarily lost its firepower, the morale of the soldiers was extremely high.
Lin Zhan clenched his fists and used the time control ability of the Rule Fruit to instantly freeze the movements of some naval soldiers.
The frozen soldiers remained motionless like statues, buying the team time to counterattack.
Lin Zhan shouted: “Now! Counterattack!”
The team members were like tigers out of a cage, fighting back against the navy with tremendous force.
Renault swung the lightning sword, and countless lightning pythons gushed out from the tip of the sword, completely paralyzing the actions of the surrounding navy.
Princess Weiwei passed the message to some naval officers through the communicator: “Everyone, the actions of the Navy Reformists may go against the original intention of the World Government. You must think carefully.”
After hearing what Weiwei said, several naval officers became hesitant and began to waver.
The rhythm of the battle was disrupted, and Lin Zhan took the opportunity to command the team to further suppress the navy.
On the battlefield, there were flashes of lightning and the air was filled with smoke, and every attack seemed to tear apart time and space.
Just when the team thought they had the upper hand, suddenly, a cold voice came from the communicator: “Lin Zhan, you can’t escape!” Lieutenant General He’s voice was full of murderous intent, and Lin Zhan and his team members suddenly became nervous.
He responded coldly: “We’ll see!”
Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed with determination, and he was secretly thinking about his next move.
At this time, Lieutenant General He had already led the elite troops and quietly approached the core position…
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and his eyes became more determined.
He knew that the real test had just begun.
Lin Zhan’s heart was shocked. Just when the Void Pirates thought they could take a breath, the experienced woman, Vice Admiral Tsuru, actually led the team to approach them personally!
“Lin Zhan, do you think these little tricks can prevent the judgment of justice?” Her sharp eyes were like ice-hardened knives, cutting people’s backs coldly.
Lin Zhan didn’t dare to be negligent. The old woman’s strength was unfathomable, and he would definitely suffer a loss if he confronted her head-on.
He gritted his teeth and made a prompt decision: “Everyone, retreat! Huda, activate the backup line, Weiwei, contact Renault!”
In a hurry, Lin Zhan crushed the “Character Summoning Ticket of All Worlds” in the system space.
“Boom!” A dazzling golden light exploded, and a space-time crack seemed to appear above Thunder Island.
The wind was howling, the thunder was flashing, and a mighty figure holding a thunder hammer and wearing lightning armor descended – it was Thor!
“Lin Zhan, what do you need me to do?” Renault’s voice was low and powerful, and the thunder hammer in his hand made a crackling sound.
Lin Zhan pointed in the direction of Lieutenant General He and said urgently, “Stop her! Give us time to retreat!”
Without saying a word, Renault swung his hammer and a thick bolt of lightning struck Lieutenant General Crane.
Lieutenant General He flashed his body and avoided the thunder by a hair’s breadth. His speed was incredibly fast.
She snorted coldly: “What a gimmick!”
Just as Lin Zhan was about to evacuate, Lieutenant General He’s voice came again, with a hint of meaning: “Lin Zhan, this battle has just begun…”
Looking at Lieutenant General He’s gradually receding back, Lin Zhan clenched his fists, feeling that something was wrong.
He felt vaguely that he seemed to be caught in a bigger vortex, and this was just the beginning…
Chapter 146: Subversion of battlefield rules and internal crisis (old version)
The sea breeze howled, bringing with it a salty and humid breath, blowing in and hitting everyone’s face.
Lin Zhan clenched his teeth, feeling the restless power in his body, which was a sign that the Rule Fruit was operating crazily.
“Let everyone retreat to the high ground. Leave this to me.” Lin Zhan’s voice was soft, but it revealed unquestionable firmness.
Princess Weiwei was slightly stunned, but she knew Lin Zhan and knew that he was not the kind of person who would easily show off his strength.
She glanced at her exhausted companions on the battlefield and nodded decisively: “Everyone, retreat! Execute Plan B!”
The members of the Hollow Pirates were well-trained and quickly retreated to the high ground of Thunder Island.
They knew that the captain was going to use his ultimate move.
The navy’s elite forces are in hot pursuit, they will not sit idly by and watch these pirates escape.
Especially those battle-hardened naval officers, who were like sharks that smelled blood and would not let go.
“Don’t even think about escaping!” A burly rear admiral roared, swung the giant axe in his hand, and chopped it hard on the ground.
A deep crack appeared in the ground, and gravel flew everywhere.
However, just as he was about to launch another attack, he suddenly felt his body sink, as if a mountain was pressing down on his back.
He staggered a few steps and almost fell to the ground.
“What’s going on?” He looked around in horror and found that not only him, but also the soldiers around him were staggering like they were drunk.
“Gravity…gravity is abnormal!” someone screamed.
At this moment, Lieutenant General He also noticed something unusual on the battlefield.
She was a veteran and experienced person, and she immediately realized that someone was playing tricks.
“Lin Zhan! What on earth did you do?!” Lieutenant General He’s voice was as cold as ice, filled with chilling murderous intent.
Lin Zhan did not answer, but just raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
He slowly raised his right hand with his five fingers spread out, as if he was controlling the fate of the entire world.
The fruit of rules, start!
He wants to change the rules of the battlefield and turn it into a battlefield that is favorable to the Void Pirates.
Gravity is just the beginning.
Under Lin Zhan’s control, the gravity on the battlefield became extremely unstable.
Sometimes it is as light as a feather, and sometimes it is as heavy as Mount Tai.
The naval soldiers’ movements became slow and clumsy, and some even fell to the ground and screamed because they were unable to adapt to this sudden change.
“Damn it! What kind of witchcraft is this?!” a naval lieutenant colonel cursed angrily. He tried to steady himself, but found that his body was completely out of control.
Lieutenant General He’s face turned pale. She stared at Lin Zhan, her heart filled with shock.
She knew that Lin Zhan possessed some special abilities, but she didn’t expect them to be so strange and powerful.
“We must not let him continue!” Lieutenant General He thought to himself.
She flashed and appeared in front of Lin Zhan like a ghost, and slapped him with her palm.
This palm strike seemed to be understated, but it contained terrifying power, enough to split mountains and rocks.
However, just as her palm was about to hit Lin Zhan, a golden lightning suddenly fell from the sky and struck her hard.
Lieutenant General Tsuru was forced to stop attacking and took a few steps back, his eyes full of vigilance.
“Thor…” She murmured to herself, with a hint of solemnity in her voice.
Lin Zhan took the opportunity to lead the members of the Void Pirates to successfully retreat to the high ground.
They took advantage of the situation, reorganized their defenses, and temporarily escaped the pursuit of the navy.
Smoker stood on the deck of a warship, looking at Lin Zhan on the high ground from afar, his brows furrowed.
He is an upright man who has always upheld the justice of the navy.
But the scene before him made him begin to doubt what he insisted on.
Vice Admiral Tsuru’s methods were too extreme, and he was even willing to sacrifice innocent lives to achieve his goals.
Although Lin Zhan is a pirate, he seems to be trying to change the world.
“Are we really enforcing justice? Lin Zhan’s goal may not be to disrupt order.” Smoker said softly to an officer beside him.
The officer hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to follow his heart.
He took a deep breath and said, “Sir, I…I think Lin Zhan’s approach is correct. Perhaps we should give him a chance.”
Smoker nodded without saying anything. He knew that he had made his choice in his heart.
“Everyone, stop the attack!” the officer suddenly shouted.
His order stunned the surrounding naval soldiers.
They didn’t understand why the commander suddenly gave such an order.
“You…you want to rebel?!” a naval captain roared.
“We are not rebelling, we just don’t want to make the wrong decision again,” the officer said calmly.
Under his leadership, a small group of soldiers stopped attacking and stood silently in place.
This sudden change caught Vice Admiral Tsuru off guard, and he was forced to slow down his offensive.
However, just when the Hollow Pirates breathed a sigh of relief, disagreements arose within the group.
“Lin Zhan, have you been using the system’s abilities too frequently recently? Will this bring you even bigger trouble?” Lou Huhuda said, looking at Lin Zhan with a worried look on his face.
Princess Weiwei disagreed and retorted: “This is an extraordinary period. We need to use all the power we can. If we don’t use the system’s capabilities, we will not be able to fight against the navy at all.”
“But……”
“Okay, stop arguing.” Lin Zhan rubbed his eyebrows and interrupted their argument.
“Now is not the time to discuss this issue, we must first resolve the crisis at hand.”
Just as the team regrouped, Vice Admiral He suddenly launched a surprise attack and headed straight for Lin Zhan… Just as the team regrouped and the air was filled with a faint smell of gunpowder and sweat, a fierce figure flashed by like a ghost.
Lieutenant General He’s weather-beaten face was now covered with frost, and his eyes were like poisoned blades, fixed on Lin Zhan.
“Do you think you can win by changing the rules? How naive!” Vice Admiral He’s voice was not loud, but it carried a suffocating sense of oppression, like the whisper of the god of death.
“The real battle has just begun!”
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly constricted. The instinct accumulated from years of fighting made him react instantly, and his body exploded backwards like an arrow.
However, an unprecedented feeling of stagnation entangled him.
He tried to mobilize the power of the Rule Fruit, but found that his ability, which was originally as easy as using one’s own arms and legs, was now as if an invisible hand was strangling his throat, making it difficult to operate.
There was a slight “sizzling” sound in the air, as if some high-frequency energy was interfering with the operation of the fruit’s ability.
“How is this possible?!” Lin Zhan’s heart was shaken, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to his forehead.
The fruit of rules is his trump card and the foundation of his survival.
If even this fails, he will completely lose his advantage.
Princess Weiwei exclaimed: “Lin Zhan, be careful!” She wanted to rush up to support, but was blocked by an invisible force and could not move forward.
Lou Huhuda anxiously adjusted the device on his wrist, trying to find the source of the interference, but the dense parameters and flashing indicator lights made him overwhelmed.
Lieutenant General He raised the corner of his mouth in a cold arc, as if he had anticipated Lin Zhan’s reaction.
She slowly raised her hand, and in her palm, a strange energy was gathering, emitting a heart-pounding light.
“It seems that the navy’s technology is more advanced than I thought.” Lin Zhan stared at the energy ball in Vice Admiral He’s hand with serious eyes, thinking to himself that something was wrong.
“The game is over.” Lieutenant General He spat out a few words coldly, and the energy ball in his hand suddenly exploded, turning into a dazzling beam of light, shooting directly at Lin Zhan.
At this critical moment, a lazy voice suddenly sounded, with a bit of indifference: “I say, old woman, it is not a glorious thing to bully the weak with the strong…”
Chapter 147: Unexpected Allies and Hidden Truths (Old Version)
“The game is over.” Lieutenant General He’s voice was as cold as ice. The energy ball in his hand burst out with dazzling light and headed straight for Lin Zhan.
At that moment, Lin Zhan felt that time had slowed down. He could see the destructive energy contained in the light column, smell the burnt smell in the air, and even feel the burning sensation on his skin.
hateful!
Is this where I have to end it today?
Lin Zhan clenched his teeth, and a feeling of despair began to spread.
At this critical moment, a figure stood in front of Lin Zhan, and the familiar navy uniform looked particularly abrupt at this moment.
“I say, old woman, it’s not a glorious thing to bully the weak…” A lazy voice sounded, with a hint of sarcasm in the tone.
Lin Zhan was stunned. This voice… sounded familiar. He looked closely and saw that the person was Ye Fan!
“Ye Fan? You…” Lin Zhan was so surprised that he was speechless.
Ye Fan turned his head and smiled at Lin Zhan: “Long time no see, Lin Zhan. It seems that you are doing well and have become a pirate leader.”
Without waiting for Lin Zhan to answer, Ye Fan turned to Lieutenant General He and his tone became serious: “Lieutenant General He, your behavior has crossed the line.”
Vice Admiral He’s face turned pale: “Ye Fan, you traitor! How dare you betray the navy!”
“Betrayal?” Ye Fan sneered, “I’m not betraying the navy, but you hypocrites who are doing shameful things under the banner of justice!”
Ye Fan paused, looked at everyone present, and said slowly: “The Navy’s innovative faction has developed a jamming device for devil fruit abilities, which can weaken or even block the fruit abilities. And I am one of the developers of this device.”
Lin Zhan’s mind was moved. So that’s why! No wonder his Rule Fruit ability was ineffective.
Ye Fan continued, “I am willing to assist Lin Zhan in cracking the operating logic of the device, but the condition is that you help me expose the dark plans of the Navy’s reformists.”
Lin Zhan agreed without hesitation: “Deal!”
Time was running out, Ye Fan quickly connected to Louhuhuda’s technological fruit weapon and began to analyze the data of the interference device.
Lines of code flowed like waterfalls, Ye Fan’s brows were furrowed, and his fingers were typing rapidly on the keyboard.
“Found it!” Ye Fan suddenly shouted, “There is a loophole in the core code! Louhuhuda, adjust the frequency of your weapon to resonate with the jammer!”
Lou Huhuda did not dare to delay and immediately followed Ye Fan’s instructions.
There was a humming sound in the air, and the energy fluctuations of the interference device began to become chaotic. Lin Zhan felt that the strength in his body was gradually recovering.
Vice Admiral Tsuru realized that the device had failed and roared angrily, “Damn it! Kill them!”
The naval soldiers rushed forward, shouting and killing, shaking the sky.
Smoker stood aside with a frown on his face. He did not join the battle but watched everything silently.
He became increasingly dissatisfied with Vice Admiral Tsuru’s extreme measures, and his heart was filled with contradictions and struggles.
Lin Zhan felt that the power of the Rule Fruit was back under his control, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“Game time is over, old woman.” Lin Zhan whispered.
He stretched out his hand, and an invisible force enveloped the entire battlefield.
“Rule modification: time stops!”
In an instant, all the naval soldiers stopped moving and stood still like sculptures.
Princess Vivi and Louhuhuda took the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Artillery fire and energy beams intertwined into a web of death, knocking down the naval soldiers one by one.
Ye Fan stood beside Lin Zhan, watching all this.
“Do you really want to be an enemy of the navy?” Ye Fan asked.
Lin Zhan didn’t answer, but just smiled faintly.
“My enemy has never been the navy, but this corrupt world.”
The battle lasted for several hours, and the naval soldiers were defeated one after another. Finally, Vice Admiral Tsuru had to order a retreat.
Lin Zhan stood on the deck, looking at the naval fleet going away. He did not feel the slightest joy in his heart, but instead felt a sense of heaviness.
“Next, it’s time to meet the World Government…” Lin Zhan muttered to himself, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.
Princess Weiwei walked up to Lin Zhan and gently held his hand.
“Whatever you do, I’ll support you.”
Lin Zhan turned his head and looked at Princess Weiwei’s gentle smile, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.
Suddenly, there was a strange wave in the air…
“Wait…” Louhuhuda’s voice was trembling, “It seems… something is coming…”
The trembling sound of leaking water broke the tranquility on the deck after the disaster.
Lin Zhan’s eyes suddenly became sharp, and the strange fluctuations in the air became stronger and stronger, like the calm before the storm, so depressing that it made people breathless.
“What is it?” Lin Zhan asked in a deep voice. The power of rules was already surging quietly, ready to deal with emergencies at any time.
The sea breeze blew across his cheeks, bringing with it a hint of salty smell, but he had no time to care about it at the moment.
Louhuhuda’s body trembled slightly. He pointed at the radar screen and stammered, “It’s…it’s a space jump! Something is approaching at a very fast speed!” Several red dots suddenly appeared on the screen, approaching them at an incredible speed.
Princess Weiwei also realized the seriousness of the situation. She held Lin Zhan’s hand tightly, her eyes full of worry.
“Lin Zhan, be careful!”
Suddenly, there was an ear-piercing sound of breaking air, as if the space was being torn apart.
Immediately afterwards, several warships with strange shapes appeared in front of everyone.
Those warships were dark in color, with sharp edges and corners, and exuded a cold and mysterious aura, completely different from the navy’s warships.
“That is…” Ye Fan’s face suddenly turned pale, his eyes widened, as if he saw something extremely terrifying.
“The Hollow Pirates…be careful, they are the Hollow Pirates!”
“Void Pirates?” Lin Zhan frowned even more tightly. He had never heard of this name, but Ye Fan’s reaction made him realize that these guys would definitely not be easy to deal with.
At this moment, the muzzles of the guns on the warships were all aimed at Lin Zhan and others. Energy began to gather, making a heart-pounding buzzing sound.
“Not good! Get ready for battle!” Lin Zhan roared, and a powerful momentum burst out from his body.
The power of rules spread out instantly, trying to influence the enemy’s actions.
However, just as he was about to make a move, Ye Fan suddenly stopped him and said hurriedly: “Wait! Lin Zhan, there is a piece of information hidden in the core data of the jammer… about the secret of the Valley of Gods…”
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly contracted, and a strong sense of uneasiness surged in his heart.
Valley of the Gods?
The target of the Navy’s reformists is actually the Valley of God!
He whispered, “It seems that we must find the Valley of God before the navy…”
“Evacuate at full speed!” Lin Zhan made a prompt decision and gave the order.
Now is not the time to fight a protracted war. We must find out the secret of the Valley of the Gods as soon as possible, otherwise everything will get out of control.
The battleship changed direction and sped away into the distance.
However, the warships of the Void Pirates were in hot pursuit, and their artillery fire poured down like raindrops.
Crisis comes again…
“Ye Fan, tell me everything you know…” Lin Zhan stared straight ahead, his voice low and firm.
Chapter 148: The Secret of the Valley of Gods Revealed (Old Version)
“Valley of Gods…” Lin Zhan’s throat rolled. The name seemed to carry some ancient magic that made people’s hearts palpitate.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and scanned everyone present.
Inside the battleship’s command room, the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.
“Ye Fan, tell me everything you know.” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and full of unquestionable majesty.
Ye Fan pushed his glasses and said in a serious tone: “In the core data I deciphered, the information about the Valley of the Gods is not complete, only some fragments. But what is certain is that there are huge secrets hidden there, which may even be related to the direction of the world.”
Princess Weiwei stood aside, arms folded across her chest, and calmly analyzed: “From the current situation, the Navy’s reformist faction’s goal is very clear, which is the Valley of the Gods. They are willing to expose the secret of the jamming device in order to force us to show up, which shows how much they value the Valley of the Gods.” She paused and continued, “If the Navy’s reformist faction has already grasped the location of the Valley of the Gods, then we must find the entrance before them. Otherwise, once they get there first, the consequences will be disastrous.”
“Your Highness is right!” Louhuhuda nodded vigorously, his iconic afro shaking. “I can disrupt their tracking with technological weapons, but it takes time to deploy. The navy’s junk is no match for me!”
After listening to everyone’s analysis, Lin Zhan had already made a decision in his mind.
He walked to the command desk and said with a firm look, “Divide our forces into two groups! Weiwei, you will be responsible for intelligence gathering. Make sure you find out the intentions of the Navy’s reformists and the exact location of the Valley of the Gods. Louhuhuda, you will be responsible for technical support. Complete the upgrade of the jammer as soon as possible to ensure our safe navigation.”
“Understood!” Princess Weiwei and Louhuhuda responded in unison.
“As for me…” Lin Zhan’s lips curled up into a confident smile, “I will be responsible for dealing with those guys who are in the way!”
After the order was given, the Hollow Pirates took quick action.
Princess Weiwei led the intelligence team and began to crack more encrypted files in an attempt to obtain more information about the Valley of the Gods.
Lou Huhuda and his technical team worked day and night to transform and upgrade various equipment on the warship.
Lin Zhan stood on the deck, feeling the sea breeze blowing towards him, looking into the distance with deep eyes.
He knew that the road ahead would not be peaceful.
However, the reality was even more cruel than he expected.
Just as the Void Pirates’ warships were sailing at full speed, a high-speed moving fleet suddenly appeared on the radar.
“Captain! An unidentified fleet has been spotted ahead, and is approaching at high speed!” came the lookout’s hurried voice.
Lin Zhan frowned and picked up the telescope to observe.
On the sea in the distance, several strangely shaped warships were approaching at high speed like arrows.
The hulls of these warships are covered with camouflage coatings, almost blending into the surrounding sea water and making them difficult to detect.
“It’s the Navy’s innovative reconnaissance fleet!” Princess Weiwei’s voice rang out over the communicator. “They are equipped with the latest technological weapons, specifically for tracking and reconnaissance.”
“Humph, you come just in time!” Lin Zhan sneered, a cold light flashing in his eyes, “I’ll use them to practice my skills!”
“Everyone, pay attention and prepare for battle!” Lin Zhan’s voice spread throughout the warship through the communicator.
The members of the Void Pirates immediately entered combat mode, picked up their weapons, and prepared for battle.
As the distance got closer, the enemy fleet also discovered the traces of the Void Pirates.
“Target found! Locked!” A cold electronic synthesized voice came from the enemy warship.
Countless gun barrels were pointed at the battleships of the Void Pirates, and energy began to gather, emitting a heart-pounding buzzing sound.
“Open fire!” The enemy commander gave the attack order without hesitation.
In an instant, countless shells poured down like raindrops, cutting through the sky and heading straight for the battleships of the Void Pirates.
“Activate the defense system!” Lin Zhan commanded calmly.
The defense shield on the battleship was activated instantly, forming an indestructible barrier that blocked all the shells outside.
At the same time, Lin Zhan’s figure disappeared on the deck.
The next second, he appeared above the enemy fleet.
“Rule field – gravity reversal!” Lin Zhan shouted in a low voice, activating the power of the rule fruit.
In an instant, the gravity rules around the enemy fleet changed drastically.
The original vertical downward gravity suddenly turned into a horizontal pulling force.
The warships traveling at high speed suddenly lost their balance and swayed as if they were drunk.
“What’s going on?!” the enemy commander screamed in horror, “Our ship is out of control!”
“Damn it! What kind of ability is this?!”
The enemy fleet was in chaos and was unable to organize an effective counterattack.
Lin Zhan seized the opportunity and activated the power of the Rule Fruit again, completely disrupting the gravity of the enemy warship.
Those warships seemed to be played by an invisible giant hand. They spun wildly on the sea, and finally collided with each other and turned into a pile of scrap metal.
“Not even a single blow!” Lin Zhan curled his lips in disdain, and with a flash of his figure, he returned to his warship again.
When the members of the Hollow Pirates saw this scene, they immediately burst into deafening cheers.
“Captain is mighty!”
“Long live the Captain!”
Lin Zhan’s powerful strength conquered everyone again.
However, just as everyone was cheering, a disturbing voice suddenly came from the communicator.
“Lin Zhan, do you think you can escape?”
The voice was deep and magnetic, carrying an unquestionable majesty.
Lin Zhan frowned and immediately recognized the owner of the voice.
“Vice Admiral He!” Lin Zhan said coldly, “It seems that you naval reformists are still lingering around!”
“The secret of the Valley of the Gods belongs to the World Government!” Vice Admiral Tsuru’s voice remained calm, as if everything was under her control. “I advise you to surrender obediently, otherwise, only destruction awaits you!”
“Then let’s give it a try!” Lin Zhan responded without showing any weakness.
At the same time, in the distant kingdom of Alabasta, Princess Vivi was sitting in front of her computer, concentrating on cracking an encrypted file.
Her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat and her fingers were tapping on the keyboard rapidly.
After some effort, she finally succeeded in cracking the encrypted file.
“Huh…” Princess Weiwei let out a long sigh, leaned back in her chair, and rubbed her sore eyes.
However, when she saw the contents of the document, she was stunned.
“Star core energy… the ultimate weapon…” Princess Vivi muttered to herself, “The Navy’s innovative faction actually plans to use star core energy to develop an ultimate weapon that can completely control Devil Fruit users!”
She immediately realized that the seriousness of the matter was far beyond her expectations.
Once the naval innovators successfully develop this ultimate weapon, the balance of the entire world will be disrupted.
Users of Devil Fruit abilities will completely become puppets of the World Government.
“We must stop them!” Princess Weiwei gritted her teeth, immediately picked up the communicator and dialed a secret number.
“Colonel Smoker, I’m Vivi.” Princess Vivi’s voice was serious and urgent, “I have something very important to tell you…”
At this time, on another naval ship, Smoker was standing on the deck, looking into the distance.
He held a cigar in his hand, but he didn’t light it.
Since the end of the Battle of Marineford, Smoker has become increasingly dissatisfied with the current state of the Navy.
The corruption of the World Government and the darkness within the Navy made him feel deeply powerless.
Although he sticks to his own justice, he doesn’t know how to go on this path.
At this moment, the communicator suddenly rang.
“Colonel Smoker, this is Vivi.” Princess Vivi’s voice came from the communicator.
Smoker frowned and answered the communicator.
After listening to Princess Vivi’s story, Smoker’s face became extremely solemn.
“The Navy’s Innovative Faction… the ultimate weapon…” Smoker muttered to himself, “They actually want to control all Devil Fruit users!”
He was silent for a long time and finally made a difficult decision.
“I understand.” Smoker’s voice was low and firm. “I will hold off for now and buy time for the Lin War.”
Princess Vivi felt relieved when she heard Smoker’s answer.
As long as he is there, Lin Zhan has a better chance of winning.
At the same time, on the battleship of the Void Pirates, Louhuhuda also completed the debugging of new technological weapons.
“Captain! The electromagnetic barrier has been deployed!” Louhuhuda said excitedly, “With this thing, the navy’s radar will never be able to detect us!”
Lin Zhan nodded, a satisfied smile on his face.
“Very good!” Lin Zhan said, “Next, let’s play some fun on those navy men!”
However, just when everyone thought they were safe, there was a sudden movement on the sea.
“Captain! Something is approaching from the bottom of the sea!” the lookout shouted in horror.
Lin Zhan frowned and immediately activated his Observation Haki and probed towards the bottom of the sea.
I saw a strangely shaped warship slowly emerging from the deep sea like a ghost.
The battleship is all black and covered with a special coating that absorbs light, allowing it to almost blend in with the surrounding seawater.
“It’s a stealth warship!” Princess Weiwei’s voice rang out in the communicator. “This is the latest secret weapon developed by the Navy’s innovators. It can completely conceal its whereabouts and is difficult to be discovered.”
“It seems that we have been discovered after all.” Lin Zhan sneered.
At this moment, the voice of Vice Admiral He suddenly came from the invisible battleship.
“Lin Zhan, do you think this little trick can fool us?” Lieutenant General He said with a hint of sarcasm, “In the face of absolute technological power, all conspiracies and tricks are in vain!”
Lin Zhan quickly ordered all members to enter combat status, and at the same time secretly activated the ability of the rule fruit… Lin Zhan quickly ordered all members to enter combat status, and at the same time secretly activated the ability of the rule fruit, trying to freeze the energy system of the invisible battleship.
However, he was surprised to find that the battleship seemed to be equipped with some kind of countermeasure device that weakened his time manipulation ability.
Time seemed to become sticky, his fingers trembled slightly, and every attempt was like struggling in mud.
The invisible battleship continued to approach, and the weapon system on board had locked onto the battleship of the Void Pirates, sounding a shrill alarm.
“There is no other way, we must retreat!” Lin Zhan’s mind raced, and he decisively gave the order, “Everyone retreat, head to the nearby islands!” His voice spread throughout the entire warship through the communicator. The team members acted quickly, turned the ship around, and headed towards the island at full speed.
The invisible battleship followed closely behind, not giving him any chance to breathe.
Lin Zhan stood on the deck with a frown on his face, wondering: How many cards do the naval reformists still have?
But his face remained calm and determined, and his eyes scanned the sea coldly.
Just as the warship was about to reach the island, he shouted: “Prepare to land and establish a defense line!”
Chapter 149: Counterattack on the Island (Old Version)
The battleships of the Void Pirates were like arrows shot from a bow, cutting through the waves and rushing towards the island shrouded in mist.
Behind him, the navy’s ghostly invisible warship was chasing closely, like a hungry beast, exuding cold murderous intent.
“Quick! Land!” Lin Zhan’s roar echoed in the sea breeze with unquestionable majesty.
As soon as the warship touched the beach, the crew jumped out like nimble cheetahs, quickly dispersed and occupied advantageous terrain according to the predetermined plan.
Louhuhuda, the technological genius with messy red hair, is now directing several crew members to bury strangely shaped devices in the shadows of the jungle.
The surface of these devices flickered with a faint blue light. They were the electromagnetic pulse weapons he had carefully developed, which were enough to paralyze any enemy that relied on electronic systems.
While he was busy, he did not forget to complain: “This is a shabby place, there is not even a signal tower, my babies can’t exert their full power!”
Princess Vivi, the former princess of the Kingdom of Alabasta, has now become an indispensable think tank for the Void Pirates.
She stood on a high ground, gazing into the distance, her eyebrows slightly frowned: “According to ancient documents, there may be remains of alien civilizations on this island. Everyone must be careful not to touch any unknown mechanisms.” There was a hint of worry in her words. No one could predict what secrets were hidden under the mysterious veil of this island.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The navy’s artillery fire tore through the silence, and the flames of the explosion enveloped the outskirts of the island in a sea of fire.
Lin Zhan stood under a huge ancient tree, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.
He took a deep breath, slowly raised his hands, and a strange energy wave spread from his body.
“The power of rules – control of gravity!”
As he finished speaking, the ground of the island seemed to turn into slippery jelly, and the naval soldiers fell down one after another, like funny puppets, struggling but unable to stand firm.
“Hmph, a mere trifle!” From a distance, Lieutenant General He’s voice came with a hint of disdain.
She waved her hand, and the marines quickly changed into a special pair of shoes with strong suction cups on the soles that could firmly grip the ground.
“Damn it, this old woman is really troublesome!” Lin Zhan cursed inwardly.
Just then, a burst of fierce gunfire was heard in the distance.
Lin Zhan looked in the direction of the sound and saw Smoker leading a small team of naval soldiers in a firefight with another team of naval soldiers.
“Smoker…what is he doing?” Lin Zhan was full of doubts. Could it be that this stubborn guy finally figured it out and wanted to join them?
“Captain, Colonel Smoker attacked the navy supply line!” a crew member ran over to report.
Lin Zhan’s heart was shocked, and he finally understood Smoker’s intention.
Although this guy is stubborn, he has a heart of justice.
He could not tolerate the extreme behavior of the naval reformists, so he chose to betray.
“Good job, Smoker!” Lin Zhan smiled.
“Everyone, follow me!” Lin Zhan drew the long knife from his waist, and like a tiger descending from the mountain, he led the elite team members and launched a fierce counterattack against the enemy.
The battle was extremely fierce, with swords flashing and shouts of killing shaking the sky.
Relying on the power of the Rule Fruit, Lin Zhan constantly changes the rules of the battlefield to create chaos for the enemy.
Sometimes he turned the ground into a swamp, and sometimes he made the air stagnant, making the enemies feel like they were stuck in a quagmire, unable to move.
Under the leadership of Lin Zhan, the members of the Void Pirates were like tigers descending from the mountains, unstoppable, and the navy soldiers were defeated one after another.
Just when Lin Zhan thought he had victory in his grasp, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Lin Zhan, do you know what the real secret of the Valley of Gods is?” Lieutenant General He’s voice was icy cold. She held a document in her hand and had a strange smile on her face.
Lin Zhan’s heart sank, and an ominous premonition came to his mind.
Vice Admiral He slowly opened the document, pointed to a paragraph and said, “According to this ancient document, an alien civilization once tried to destroy the earth with a star core, but was stopped by some unknown force…”
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly contracted. He finally understood the true secret of the Valley of the Gods and the ultimate goal of the Navy’s reformists…
“So that’s how it is…” Lin Zhan muttered to himself. His eyes fell on the document in Lieutenant General He’s hand, and his heart was filled with shock.
“this……”
The wrinkles on Lieutenant General He’s weather-beaten face were as deep as if they were cut by a knife. The documents in her hands seemed to have become a death spell, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
“Lin Zhan, do you think that the power of rules that you master can really fight against the will of the world?” Lieutenant General He’s voice was like an ice-hardened blade, piercing Lin Zhan’s heart.
Before Lin Zhan could come to his senses, Lieutenant General He had already launched a fierce attack!
Her figure was as erratic as a ghost, and every attack she made was carried with the force of thunder, forcing the members of the Void Pirates to retreat step by step.
The roar of artillery fire was deafening and the smell of gunpowder smoke made it hard to breathe.
The hot shrapnel flew everywhere, like the scythe of the god of death, reaping lives.
“Rule field – slow space!” Lin Zhan roared, and he tried his best to activate the power of the rule fruit again.
This time, he slowed down all enemies’ movements by twice as much.
He could clearly see that the navy soldiers’ movements of swinging swords became sluggish and the speed of the artillery shells was as slow as a snail.
However, Lin Zhan was also keenly aware that the energy in his body was dissipating madly.
An unprecedented feeling of fatigue surged in his heart, and Lin Zhan realized that Vice Admiral He and her naval reformers had apparently found a way to fight against the Fruit of Rules!
They must be equipped with some special device that can offset some of the influence of the power of rules.
“Everyone, retreat! Leave this to me!” Lin Zhan gritted his teeth. He had to stay alone and buy time for his companions to evacuate.
Princess Vivi’s Smoker looked at this side from afar, frowning, as if hesitating whether to help.
Although the members of the Void Pirates were worried about Lin Zhan’s safety, they all knew that retreating now was the best option.
They quickly gathered and evacuated to the depths of the island.
Soon, only Lin Zhan and Lieutenant General He were left on the battlefield. The two faced each other from a distance, their eyes intertwined, as if two invisible electric currents collided in the air, creating fierce sparks.
Lieutenant General He slowly raised his arm, pointed at Lin Zhan, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“Lin Zhan, do you know? Your biggest mistake is…”
Chapter 150 Final Decision and New Allies (Old Version)
Lin Zhan took a deep breath. The air was filled with gunpowder and the salty smell of sea water.
He could feel that the power of rules was rapidly receding from his body like the receding tide.
“It seems that I am really restrained.” Lin Zhan thought to himself, but still maintained a cynical smile on his face. What he is best at is finding opportunities for survival in desperate situations.
He closed his eyes and concentrated the little remaining power of rules into his eyes.
The next moment, the surrounding scene began to distort and deform.
The silhouettes of the naval soldiers became blurred, and the light of the artillery fire flickered, as if they were in a bizarre dream.
This was his last struggle, using illusions to buy time.
“A mere trifle.” Vice Admiral He’s voice pierced through the illusion like ice, with a kind of coldness that saw through everything.
“You think these tricks can stop me? Naive. The real battle has just begun!”
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly.
He knew that Vice Admiral He was no ordinary man. These illusions might confuse him temporarily, but they would never last long.
At this moment, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Lin Zhan, blocking Lieutenant General He’s sight.
She was a woman wearing a white uniform and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. She looked intellectual and capable.
“Lieutenant General He, you can’t do this! Your plan will destroy the entire world!” The woman’s voice was trembling slightly, but extremely firm.
Lin Zhan was slightly startled, and saw the face of the person clearly. It was her, Roland.
Vice Admiral Tsuru narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze seemed to pierce through Roland.
“Roland? You actually betrayed me?!”
Roland took a deep breath and turned to look at Lin Zhan with a complicated look in his eyes.
“Lin Zhan, I once participated in the research and development of the ultimate weapon of the Navy’s reformists. I know how terrible it is. Once activated, it may cause the star core energy to go out of control and lead to a global disaster!”
“Star core energy?” Lin Zhan frowned. It was the first time he heard this term.
Roland didn’t have time to explain too much. She spoke quickly, “Lieutenant General Tsuru has gone mad in pursuit of absolute domination! She doesn’t care about the safety of the world at all. Only by destroying the ultimate weapon can this disaster be prevented!”
Lin Zhan’s mind was working rapidly.
The appearance of Roland is undoubtedly a huge variable.
He had to make a judgment in a very short time and decide whether to trust her and cooperate with her.
“How sure are you?” Lin Zhan asked calmly, without any emotion in his tone.
Roland bit his lip, his eyes determined.
“If I am given enough time, I can hack into the control system of the Ultimate Weapon and shut down its energy output. But now, I need your help.”
Lin Zhan looked into Roland’s eyes, which were filled with anxiety and uneasiness, but more importantly, determination and hope.
He knew he didn’t have much choice.
“Okay, I promise you.” Lin Zhan said decisively. “We need to leave here as soon as possible.”
“Follow me!” Roland turned and ran towards the depths of the island, with Lin Zhan following closely behind him.
Lieutenant General He did not chase after them immediately. She stood there, watching the two men leaving with a sneer on her lips.
“A mantis trying to stop a chariot overestimates its own strength.”
On the other side of the island, Princess Weiwei stood on a high place, looking anxiously at the battlefield.
She saw Roland appear and heard her conversation with Lin Zhan.
“Princess Vivi, what should we do now?” Smoker stood beside her, frowning.
Princess Vivi took a deep breath, “Smoker, I know you always stand for justice, but sometimes, so-called justice is just an excuse for the strong. Vice Admiral Crane’s plan will destroy the entire world. We can’t just stand by and watch.”
“What do you want to do?” Smoker asked.
“I want to persuade those naval officers who are dissatisfied with Vice Admiral Tsuru to switch sides,” said Princess Vivi.
“Perhaps, we can change the course of this war.”
At the same time, in the temporary base of the Void Pirates, Louhuhuda was operating various instruments nervously.
He is a technology fanatic and is very interested in all kinds of high-tech devices.
“Captain, Miss Roland has sent over the core data of the ultimate weapon.” Louhuhuda said.
“She said that we can try to adjust the frequency of the technological weapons so that it can interfere with the energy output of the weapons.”
“Start immediately!” Lin Zhan’s voice came from the communicator.
“We need to be ready as soon as possible.”
As time passed, the entire island was shrouded in a tense and depressing atmosphere.
Finally, Lin Zhan and Roland came to a hidden cave.
Roland took out a tablet from his pocket and began to operate it quickly.
“The control system of the ultimate weapon is very complicated. I need some time.” Roland said.
“Leave it to me.” Lin Zhan said.
He closed his eyes and concentrated the remaining power of rules in his hands.
The next moment, an invisible force emanated from him and enveloped the entire cave.
“Time, slow down.” Lin Zhan said in a low voice.
Under the influence of his power of rules, the flow of time around Roland began to slow down.
She felt her thinking become extremely clear, and every operation became more precise.
At the same time, Princess Weiwei was also working hard to lobby those naval officers who were dissatisfied with Vice Admiral He.
She used her eloquence and wisdom to successfully persuade some people to defect.
Divisions began to appear within the navy, and Vice Admiral Tsuru’s power was further weakened.
“It’s time.” Lin Zhan opened his eyes and said.
He ordered Lou Huhuda to activate the electromagnetic pulse device.
The next moment, a powerful electromagnetic wave emanated from the base of the Void Pirates, instantly covering the entire island.
The power system of the navy flagship was instantly paralyzed and all electronic equipment became nonfunctional.
At the same time, Lin Zhan used the power of the Rule Fruit to freeze Lieutenant General He’s movements.
“Get started!” Lin Zhan shouted loudly.
The members of the Void Pirates had already made preparations. They took up their weapons and launched a fierce attack on the navy.
A fierce battle broke out.
Under Lin Zhan’s command, the Void Pirates and the defected naval officers worked in perfect harmony. They used various tactics and techniques to successfully suppress Vice Admiral Tsuru’s troops.
Finally, after paying a heavy price, they succeeded in destroying the invisible battleship.
The whole island fell into chaos.
Lieutenant General He stood on the ruins, looking at Lin Zhan with cold eyes.
“Lin Zhan, do you think you can stop your fate like this?” she said coldly, her tone full of reluctance and anger.
Then she jumped into the vast ocean and disappeared without a trace.
The smell of gunpowder gradually dissipated, leaving only the exhaustion of surviving a disaster.
Roland stood beside Lin Zhan, took off his glasses, wiped them with the corner of his clothes, and put them back on, as if to cheer himself up.
There was no longer the anxiety in her eyes, but instead a determined light.
“From today on, I, Roland, officially join the Void Pirates.” Roland’s voice was not loud, but everyone present heard it clearly.
Lin Zhan grinned, patted her shoulder, feeling the thin yet powerful shoulder under his palm.
“Welcome aboard, our scientists!”
Princess Weiwei also came over and held Roland’s hand affectionately.
“With your joining, we will have a better chance of cracking the secrets of the Valley of the Gods.”
Roland nodded and his tone became serious.
“Regarding the Valley of the Gods, I have some research data from the Navy’s Innovative Faction. There may be secrets about the origin of devil fruits hidden there, and it may even be related to star core energy.”
Lin Zhan’s “It seems that we must go to the Valley of Gods as soon as possible.”
A few days later, the Void Pirates’ ship slowly approached the Valley of the Gods.
However, when they arrived at the entrance, they found that it was surrounded by a group of people.
“It’s the remnants of the Beasts Pirates!” the lookout shouted from high above.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and looked at those ferocious pirates. They had the unique tattoos of Kaido’s pirate group on their bodies and held various weapons in their hands. The air was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder and the stench of wild beasts.
“It seems that although Kaido has fallen, his subordinates are not willing to accept defeat.” Princess Vivi stood beside Lin Zhan, analyzing the situation calmly.
Lin Zhan clenched his fists, feeling the surge of the power of rules in his body.
He could feel that a new battle was about to break out.
“It seems that our challenge has just begun.” Lin Zhan said in a low voice. Although his voice was not loud, it was full of determination and confidence.
He raised his head and looked at the shadowed passage at the entrance to the Valley of Gods. Unknown adventures always make people excited.
Chapter 151 Thunder before the Valley of Gods (Old Version)
Lin Zhan’s gaze swept across the hideous-looking pirates like a blade. Their shouting, the clash of weapons, and the lingering smell of blood all irritated his nerves.
He could feel Princess Weiwei’s body trembling slightly, which was an instinctive reaction to the upcoming battle, but her eyes remained firm.
“A bunch of clowns.” Lin Zhan sneered, but he did not dare to be careless in his heart.
Kaido’s subordinates, even if they are just the remnants of a force, are by no means ordinary people.
He lowered his voice and quickly said to Zhongli and Roland beside him: “Zhongli, analyze the terrain and find the best breakthrough point. Roland, do you have any way to make it easier for us to get in?”
Zhongli quickly activated the instrument in his hand, and rays of light swept across the entrance to the valley.
She said calmly, “The cliffs on both sides of the valley entrance are steep, easy to defend but difficult to attack, and suitable for an ambush. The enemy is numerous and heavily guarded, so a forceful attack will only lead to a tough battle.”
Roland pushed his glasses and said, “I used to be a scientific researcher in the navy, so I know a thing or two about their internal intelligence.”
I could surrender to them, disguised as a cornered scientist, and provide some false intelligence about an impending naval raid.”
Lin Zhan’s eyes lit up. This was a good idea.
In this situation, the enemy fears most being attacked from both sides.
“Okay, let’s do it.” Lin Zhan made a prompt decision, “Roland, you get ready immediately. Zhongli, cooperate with Roland’s actions, create chaos, and strive for a breakthrough for us.”
Roland took a deep breath, took out a worn lab coat from his backpack, put it on quickly, and ruffled his hair.
She looked like a frightened, cornered scientist.
“Dear pirate brothers, I… I am Roland, a scientist of the navy. I know a lot of secrets about the navy. Please let me live!” Roland raised his hands and shouted to the pirates in a trembling voice.
The pirates were originally wary, but when they heard the words “naval scientist”, they immediately became interested.
A burly pirate leader with a scar on his face came out and looked at Roland with a scrutinizing gaze.
“Are you really a scientist in the Navy? What do you know?”
Roland pretended to be horrified and stammered, “I…I know that the Navy is secretly developing a new type of weapon that can kill Devil Fruit users on a large scale. They…they will attack us soon!”
The pirate leader’s face changed immediately after hearing this.
He glared at Roland fiercely and asked, “Are you serious? Are the navy really going to attack us?”
“It’s absolutely true!” Roland nodded desperately. “I saw their experimental records with my own eyes. They have successfully developed a prototype!”
The pirate leader was skeptical, but he didn’t dare to take the risk.
He immediately ordered his men: “Send half of the men to guard the other side of the cliff to prevent a surprise attack from the navy!”
Seeing the enemy begin to split their forces, Lin Zhan knew that his opportunity had come.
He quietly approached the valley entrance, feeling the surge of the power of rules in his body.
“Zhongli, do it!”
Zhongli nodded slightly, and the instrument in his hand made a buzzing sound.
Invisible energy waves spread out, covering the entire valley entrance.
At the moment when the enemy changed their defense, Lin Zhan activated the time control ability of the Rule Fruit.
He slowed down the flow of time in Taniguchi by one tenth of a second.
This short time difference is almost imperceptible to ordinary people, but for experienced pirates, it is enough to reveal their flaws.
In an instant, the valley was in chaos.
The originally neat team began to stagger, and the sound of weapons clashing became slow.
Some pirates even fell to the ground for unknown reasons.
“Now!” Lin Zhan shouted and rushed out first.
Princess Weiwei followed closely behind, the sword in her hand flashing with a cold light.
However, just as they were about to break through the blockade, a familiar voice was heard.
“Lin Zhan! Stop right there!”
Lin Zhan turned around suddenly and saw Smoker leading a team of naval soldiers rushing towards them.
He had two cigars in his mouth and an angry expression on his face.
“Smoker, why are you here?” Lin Zhan asked with a frown.
“I’ve been tracking you, Lin Zhan!” Smoker roared, “As the son of a vice admiral, you’re actually associating with pirates. It’s a disgrace! I won’t allow you to continue doing evil!”
“Smoker, what you see is just the surface.” Lin Zhan said calmly, “The real evil is hidden deep in the Valley of Gods! I must stop them!”
“I don’t care about what’s a crime or not!” Smoker roared, “I only know that you are now aiding and abetting the evil! If you keep going, more people will be dragged into the war!”
The two were on edge, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Princess Weiwei and Zhongli both clenched their weapons, ready to fight at any time.
“Lin Zhan, now is not the time to clash with the navy.” Zhongli lowered his voice and said, “We must put the overall situation first.”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart.
He knew Zhongli was right, now was not the time to get entangled with Smoker.
“Smoker, I don’t have time to explain to you.” Lin Zhan said, “I must enter the Valley of the Gods. If you must stop me, wait until I come out!”
After saying that, Lin Zhan no longer paid attention to Smoker, and rushed in through the breakthrough point where the enemy was changing guard, taking Princess Vivi and Zhongli with him.
Smoker looked at Lin Zhan’s departing back with a dark face.
He held the ten hands tightly, but ultimately did not catch up.
“Damn it!” Smoker cursed under his breath, then ordered his men, “Some of you stay here and monitor their movements. The rest of you, follow me in!”
Lin Zhan led his team and ran all the way, and finally entered the entrance of the Valley of Gods.
However, as soon as they entered the valley, they realized something was wrong.
The valley that was supposed to be deserted was now hiding countless pairs of eyes.
Murderous gazes shot out from the darkness.
“Oh no, we’ve fallen into a trap!” Princess Vivi exclaimed.
“They are Kaido’s remaining elite troops!” Zhongli analyzed calmly, “They have been lying in ambush here, waiting for us to fall into their trap!”
Before he finished speaking, countless figures emerged from the darkness and launched a fierce attack on Lin Zhan and others.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, feeling the power of the Glutinous Fruit and the Dragon-Dragon Fruit in his body.
He knew that a fierce battle was inevitable.
He roared, his body began to swell, and instantly turned into a giant oriental dragon.
The golden scales shone brightly in the sun, and the powerful aura shocked everything around it.
“Since you want to play, I will play with you!”
Lin Zhan controlled the huge dragon body and charged into the enemy army.
The attacks of those pirates posed almost no threat to him.
With a wave of his hand, he could send a large number of enemies flying.
However, just when Lin Zhan thought he had victory, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
He was a short man with a sinister face.
He exudes a strange aura that makes people feel chilling.
“Are you the captain of the Void Pirates, Lin Zhan?” the man asked in a hoarse voice.
“Who are you?” Lin Zhan asked vigilantly.
“I’m just a nobody.” The man grinned, revealing a creepy smile, “But my ability may bring you some surprises.”
After saying that, the man suddenly raised his hand and released a wave of energy towards Lin Zhan.
The color of that energy wave was exactly the same as the color released by Lin Zhan’s Nuo Nuo Fruit ability.
Lin Zhan’s face changed drastically, and he dodged quickly, but was still hit by the energy wave.
In an instant, he felt his body become sticky and his movements became slow.
“Is this… the power of the Nuo Nuo Fruit?” Lin Zhan looked at the man in disbelief.
“That’s right.” The man said proudly, “My ability is to copy the power of devil fruits. I have copied your Mochi Mochi Fruit!”
Lin Zhan’s heart sank to the bottom.
He never imagined that there was such a tricky guy hidden among Kaido’s remaining forces.
At this moment, Roland suddenly exclaimed: “Lin Zhan, be careful! He…he is not an ordinary pirate! He is…”
Roland’s voice suddenly stopped.
“He was in the Navy…”
Roland’s voice suddenly stopped, as if her throat had been strangled. Her face turned pale, her pupils shrank violently, and she pointed at the man with a trembling voice: “He… He was the Navy’s… ‘Devil’s Son’!”
Lin Zhan’s heart was shocked. He had heard of the code name “Son of the Devil”. It was the product of a secret experiment by the Navy, which aimed to create an artificial strongman who could possess multiple devil fruit abilities at the same time.
However, this experiment is extremely cruel, with a very low success rate, and the test subjects often collapse because they cannot withstand the power of the various fruits.
Unexpectedly, there was such a monster hidden among Kaido’s people.
“‘Son of the Devil’?” Princess Weiwei also exclaimed, and clenched the sword in her hand.
There was a suffocating sense of oppression in the air, like the calm before the storm.
“Roland, can you provide any useful information?” Lin Zhan asked anxiously while controlling the dragon’s body to avoid the opponent’s attack.
The air was filled with the buzz of energy shocks, and a burnt smell lingered at his nose. The sticky touch made him realize that his dragon scales were being eroded by the other party’s copied ability of the Sticky Glutinous Fruit.
Roland took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down: “His body has been forcibly injected with the genes of multiple devil fruits, and his energy source is extremely unstable. If we can use high-frequency electromagnetic pulses to interfere with his energy source, perhaps we can temporarily suppress his ability!”
Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed: “Zhongli, Roland, just follow the plan! Zhongli will be responsible for interference, Roland will be responsible for technical support, and I will contain him!”
After saying that, Lin Zhan roared angrily, swung his dragon body violently, and the huge tail, with a whistling sound, lashed towards the “Son of the Devil” fiercely.
The scales rubbed violently against the air, making a harsh metallic sound.
“Hmph, you overestimate your own abilities!” The ‘Son of the Devil’ grinned, and a layer of transparent film appeared on the surface of his body, which actually completely blocked Lin Zhan’s tail attack.
Then, he raised his hand, and energy waves of different colors poured towards Lin Zhan as if they were free. The air was filled with the unique smells of various devil fruit abilities.
Lin Zhan was tired of dodging. He could feel that his speed was gradually slowing down and his body was becoming heavier.
The ability of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit copied by the other party is constantly eroding his body, binding him tightly.
At this moment, the instrument in Zhongli’s hand emitted a sharp beeping sound, and energy waves invisible to the naked eye spread towards the direction of the ‘Devil’s Son’.
The body of the ‘Devil’s Son’ shook violently, and the expression on his face became distorted.
“Ah…” He let out a roar of pain, and the thin film that appeared on the surface of his body began to become unstable, making crackling sounds.
“Now!” Lin Zhan seized the opportunity, roared, and his dragon body suddenly shrank and turned into a human form.
He clenched his fists, tensed his muscles, and concentrated all his strength on his fists.
“Rules. Absolute justice!”
Lin Zhan roared, rushed towards the ‘Son of the Devil’, and punched him hard in the chest.
“Crack…”
A clear sound of bones breaking was heard, and the body of the ‘Devil’s Son’ flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into the mountain wall, creating a huge dent in the wall.
However, Lin Zhan did not relax his vigilance at all.
He knew that the ‘Devil’s Son’ would not be defeated so easily.
This kind of monster often has recovery abilities beyond ordinary people’s imagination.
He stared at the pit closely, waiting for the ‘Devil’s Son’ to appear again.
Suddenly, Lin Zhan noticed that the corner of the mouth of the ‘Son of the Devil’ revealed a strange smile, and he slowly said in a hoarse voice, as if from hell:
“Do you think you are the only one who possesses this power…”
Chapter 152 The Truth About Unexpected Allies (Old Version)
Lin Zhan’s fist, carrying the power of the rule of “absolute justice”, smashed hard into the chest of the ‘Son of the Devil’.
That was a force that could penetrate even steel, but this monster just spat out a mouthful of blood foam with a creepy smile on his face?
Lin Zhan’s heart sank at these words, and before he could react, a blinding light suddenly burst out from the body of the ‘Son of the Devil’, and a familiar wave of power instantly enveloped the entire battlefield!
“Oh no! It’s the power of rules… He actually copied my abilities!” Lin Zhan’s pupils shrank sharply and he quickly retreated backwards.
Almost at the same time, a fist exactly the same as his, carrying the same power of rules, came towards him!
The two fists collided, causing a loud bang, and the air waves rolled, and the surrounding rocks were shattered.
Lin Zhan only felt a huge force coming, his palm became numb, and his body flew backwards uncontrollably.
“Damn it! This guy can actually copy my abilities! And… his power seems to be even stronger than mine!” Lin Zhan steadied himself and his face became solemn.
The Devil’s Son slowly got up from the ground, a sinister smile on his face, flexed his wrist, and said in a joking tone: “How is it? It feels bad to be hit by your own power, right?”
As he spoke, he rushed towards Lin Zhan again, with the power of the rule of “absolute justice” also wrapped around his fist.
Lin Zhan didn’t dare to take it head-on and quickly dodged.
The attacks of the ‘Devil’s Son’ followed closely, one punch after another, and each punch carried the power to destroy the world.
“Bang, bang, bang…”
The two men engaged in a fierce battle in the mountains and forests, with fists and feet colliding, air waves rolling, the surrounding trees collided, rocks collapsed, and the entire battlefield was in a mess.
Lin Zhan became more and more frightened as the battle went on. Not only had the ‘Devil’s Son’ copied his abilities, but he also seemed to be constantly adapting and evolving, with each punch becoming more powerful than before.
“I can’t go on like this! I’ve consumed too much energy. I must find a way to get rid of him!” Lin Zhan was secretly anxious.
At this moment, a fiery red figure suddenly dropped from the sky, carrying a scorching heat, and fiercely slammed towards the ‘Son of the Devil’!
Ace roared, his hands ignited with raging flames, transformed into huge flaming fists, and fiercely bombarded the ‘Devil’s Son’.
The ‘Devil’s Son’ was caught off guard and was hit by Ace’s fire fist, and his body was instantly engulfed in flames.
He let out a scream and quickly stepped back, trying to escape the flames.
“Ace! You’re here just in time!” Lin Zhan was delighted when he saw Ace appear.
Ace grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and said with a gasp: “Captain, I can’t let you bear all this alone! We are partners, we have to fight together!”
A warm current surged in Lin Zhan’s heart. He looked at Ace with gratitude and then ordered loudly: “Ace, use your fire to hold him back! Weiwei, look for an opportunity and launch an attack!”
“Understood!” Ace and Vivi responded in unison.
Ace’s fists ignited with even more intense flames, and he launched a violent attack towards the ‘Devil’s Son’.
His flames were not only extremely hot, but also had a powerful impact force, constantly forcing the ‘Devil’s Son’ back.
Weiwei calmly observed the battle situation from the side, looking for the enemy’s flaws.
She discovered that although the ‘Devil’s Son’ could copy Lin Zhan’s abilities, each use would consume a lot of physical strength.
Moreover, he seemed unable to fully control this power, and seemed somewhat awkward and clumsy in using it.
“Captain, I have a plan!” Vivi said suddenly.
“What plan?” Lin Zhan asked.
“We can deliberately expose some weaknesses to lure him to attack, and then take the opportunity to launch an electromagnetic pulse to weaken his strength!” Weiwei said quickly.
After some thought, Lin decided that this plan was feasible.
He nodded and said, “Okay! I’ll do as you say!”
Next, Lin Zhan deliberately slowed down the pace of his attack, revealing some flaws.
The ‘Son of the Devil’ was fooled, and taking advantage of the opportunity, he punched Lin Zhan hard in the chest.
Just when the fist was about to hit Lin Zhan, Weiwei decisively activated the electromagnetic pulse device.
An invisible electromagnetic wave spread out instantly, covering the entire battlefield.
The body of the ‘Devil’s Son’ shook violently, and he felt as if something in his body was instantly drained away.
He groaned, and the power in his fist weakened.
Lin Zhan seized the opportunity, roared, and punched the ‘Son of the Devil’ hard in the chest.
A clear sound of bones breaking was heard, and the body of the ‘Devil’s Son’ flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, hitting the ground hard and raising a cloud of dust.
This time, he did not stand up again.
“Hoo…Hoo…”
Lin Zhan was breathing heavily, looking at the ‘Son of the Devil’ lying motionless on the ground, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Did we… did we win?” Ace asked, also panting, somewhat incredulously.
Lin Zhan nodded and was about to say something when suddenly, a cold voice came from the edge of the battlefield.
“Haha…what a wonderful performance, Lin Zhan.”
Lin Zhan’s face changed and he turned around suddenly, only to see a familiar figure standing not far away with a sinister smile on his face.
“Blackbeard!?” Lin Zhan said gritting his teeth.
“Teach…what are you doing here?” Ace also recognized Blackbeard.
Blackbeard grinned, revealing two rows of uneven teeth, and said in a hoarse voice: “I am only here to watch the fight. However, Lin Zhan, your performance really impressed me. I didn’t expect that you are actually capable of defeating the remnants of Kaido’s men.”
“Stop talking nonsense! What exactly do you want to do?” Lin Zhan asked coldly.
Blackbeard shrugged and said, “Don’t be nervous. I just want to tell you that the secret of the Valley of the Gods is not yours to keep.”
After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave.
“Stop! Speak clearly!” Lin Zhan roared.
Blackbeard stopped, looked back at Lin Zhan, a meaningful smile appeared on his face, and he said: “We will see each other soon, Lin Zhan. By then, you will understand that this world is far more cruel than you imagined.”
After saying this, he flashed and disappeared into the darkness.
“Damn it! This guy…” Lin Zhan clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with anxiety.
Just then, a noisy sound came from a distance.
Lin Zhan turned his head and saw a group of familiar figures rushing towards him quickly.
“Luffy!?” Lin Zhan looked at the person who came with some surprise.
Luffy, together with the members of the Straw Hat Pirates, came to Lin Zhan in a menacing manner.
“Lin Zhan! We are here to help you!” Luffy grinned and showed his signature smile.
“You…what are you doing here?” Lin Zhan asked with some confusion.
“Of course we are here to explore the Valley of the Gods together!” Luffy said as a matter of course.
“Explore the Valley of Gods together?” Lin Zhan was even more confused.
“That’s right!” Luffy nodded and said, “Although we were rivals before, now our goals are the same! That is to find the truth about the Valley of the Gods!”
Lin Zhan looked at Luffy’s determined eyes and felt a little shaken.
He knew that Luffy was a trustworthy partner.
“Okay.” Lin Zhan sighed and said, “If that’s the case, let’s go together.”
Luffy jumped up excitedly when he heard that and cheered loudly: “Great! We have a powerful ally now!”
Just when everyone was preparing to go deeper into the Valley of the Gods, they found that the scene before them became a little strange… The entrance to the Valley of the Gods was like the abyss of a giant beast, swallowing up all light in a gloomy manner.
As you step in, the air immediately becomes sticky, with a smell of decay that makes you hold your breath.
What I stepped on was not soil, but a strange metal plate, which made a hollow “dong dong” sound that echoed in the silent valley, making people feel creepy.
“Be careful, there are traps everywhere.” Weiwei’s voice echoed in the empty valley with a hint of tension.
Her slender fingers brushed against the seemingly ordinary vines on the wall, and she felt a tingling pain at her fingertips.
“Poison, these vines are poisonous.”
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and looked around.
The rock walls on both sides of the valley are covered with dense holes, and it is unknown where they lead to.
In some holes, there was a faint gleam of metallic luster, and it was obvious at a glance that it was not a good thing.
“Weiwei is right. There is something weird going on here. Everyone should be on high alert.” His voice was low and powerful, like a reassurance, making his companions behind him feel much more at ease.
Suddenly, Ace’s feet felt empty and he fell down instantly!
“Ace!” Lin Zhan and Luffy exclaimed at the same time, reaching out to grab, but only grabbed a handful of air.
Then, with a “click”, a stone slab closed again where Ace fell, fitting perfectly as if nothing had happened.
“Damn it!” Lin Zhan slammed the wall hard. The touch of metal was cold and hard, making him even more irritated.
“What the hell is this place?!”
Just then, a “whooshing” sound came from overhead, like some huge creature flapping its wings.
Lin Zhan looked up suddenly, and saw a huge shadow slowly covering him…
“What is that?!” Luffy pointed at the shadow in the sky and exclaimed.
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly shrank, and a strong sense of uneasiness rose in his heart.
He grabbed Luffy’s shoulders and yelled, “Quick! Get down!”
Chapter 153: The Eve of the Cry of Justice (Old Version)
A huge shadow loomed, giving off a very oppressive feeling.
Lin Zhan pushed Luffy to the ground and lay down himself.
A deafening roar echoed in the valley, with gravel flying and dust rising.
Lin Zhan felt a burning pain in his back, as if he was hit by countless tiny stones.
“Ahem…what the hell?” Luffy got up covered in dust and spat out a mouthful of sand.
Lin Zhan slowly stood up, squinted his eyes and looked up at the sky.
It was a giant bat with a wingspan of dozens of meters. Its black wings were like two huge curtains, covering the sky and the sun.
The bat’s eyes flashed scarlet light and it made a piercing scream that made people’s scalp tingle.
“It’s a Zubat!” Weiwei exclaimed, her face pale. “This kind of bat feeds on the blood of animals and is extremely aggressive!”
“Who cares what kind of bat it is? If it dares to block my way, I’ll roast it and eat it!” Luffy rolled up his sleeves, looking eager to try.
“Don’t be impulsive!” Lin Zhan grabbed Luffy and said, “There are a lot of these bats, and they are very fast. It’s not wise to fight them head-on.”
He looked around and found that the dense holes on the rock walls on both sides of the valley were flashing red light.
Apparently, these Zubats live in these holes.
“It seems we have stirred up a hornet’s nest.” Lin Zhan smiled bitterly.
“Captain, what should we do?” Zoro drew out three swords and prepared for battle.
“Retreat first!” Lin Zhan ordered decisively, “Retreat to the entrance and find a way to leave here!”
No one dared to delay and immediately turned around and ran towards the entrance of the valley.
However, the Zubats were faster. They made sharp cries and rushed in from all directions like a black tide, surrounding everyone in an instant.
“Rubber rubber…machine gun!” Luffy took the lead in attacking, and his fists smashed at Zubat like raindrops.
Zoro’s three swords also swung out into streaks of cold light, cutting the approaching Zubat into two pieces.
Vivi released a sandstorm in an attempt to stop Zubat’s attack.
However, there are too many Zubats, and their attacks are like a storm, making them impossible to defend against.
Lin Zhan dodged Zubat’s attacks while observing the surrounding environment.
He discovered that these Zubats seemed to be extremely sensitive to something and would become extremely manic once something approached.
“It’s those metals!” Lin Zhan suddenly realized that those things flashing with metallic luster in the holes might be the targets of Zubat.
“Weiwei, cover all the metal with sand!” Lin Zhan shouted.
Weiwei understood what he meant and immediately controlled the sand to bury all the metals.
Sure enough, as the metal was buried, Zubat’s frenzy decreased significantly and its attacks became slower.
Lin Zhan took the opportunity to activate his ability, the power of rules surged, and all the Zubats around him were instantly frozen.
“Go!” he roared and led everyone towards the entrance of the valley.
At the same time, in the distant Grand Line, at the Navy Headquarters.
Zhan Guo was reviewing documents in the office, his brows were furrowed and his face looked serious.
“Marshal, this is the latest intelligence.” A navy soldier walked into the office and handed over a document.
Zhan Guo took the document and read it carefully.
“Lin Zhan…what is he up to again?” After reading the document, Zhan Guo sighed heavily.
The document stated that Lin Zhan planned to publicly execute a captured naval general on XX Island in three days to expose the dark deeds of the navy and the world government.
“This guy… is such a trouble.” Zhan Guo rubbed his eyebrows and felt a headache.
“We must stop him!” Zhan Guo’s eyes were firm.
He immediately picked up the phone and dialed a number.
“Lieutenant General He, lead the elite troops to XX Island immediately and stop Lin Zhan’s actions!”
Three days later, XX Island.
This originally unknown island has become extremely lively because of Lin Zhan’s arrival.
Pirates, bounty hunters, reporters from all over the world, and even some people who do not know the truth, have gathered here, wanting to witness the impending “farce” with their own eyes.
In the center of the island, on a temporary platform, Lin Zhan’s figure was particularly eye-catching.
He was wearing a black windbreaker, with his hands behind his back, and his eyes calmly scanned the crowd below the stage.
Behind him, a naval general who was tied up was shivering.
“Weiwei, are you ready?” Lin Zhan asked softly.
“Everything is ready, Lord Lin Zhan.” Weiwei stood beside Lin Zhan with a serious expression.
“Very good.” Lin Zhan nodded, took a deep breath, then walked to the edge of the platform, faced the crowd below, and spoke slowly.
“Everyone, today I, Lin Zhan, will be here to expose the true face of the Navy and the World Government!”
His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone, exploding in the crowd like thunder.
“The Navy… The World Government… The true face?”
“What on earth is he trying to say?”
“Could it be that the Navy and the World Government have some unspeakable secret?”
The crowd below the stage was talking about it in a buzz of curiosity, confusion, excitement…all kinds of emotions intertwined together, making the entire island boil.
Princess Weiwei looked at Lin Zhan with some concern and asked softly, “Lord Lin Zhan, isn’t this too risky? Once we anger the World Government, we might…”
“I know, Weiwei.” Lin Zhan interrupted her, his eyes firm, “But some things must be done by someone. Only by tearing off the fig leaf can we awaken more people’s sense of justice.”
In order to ensure the smooth progress of the operation, Lin Zhan had already made all the preparations.
On the one hand, he joined forces with Luffy’s Straw Hat Pirates and asked them to patrol the waters near the island to distract the navy’s attention.
On the other hand, he sent Zhongli and Roland to sneak into nearby cities to spread the news and attract more people to watch.
“Zhan Guo…you will definitely come, right?” Lin Zhan said in his heart.
At the same time, in the waters not far from XX Island, a huge warship was moving at full speed.
On the deck of the warship stood a tall old man, wearing a naval marshal’s uniform. With sharp eyes, he gazed at XX Island in the distance.
“Lin Zhan…what on earth do you want to do, you little brat?” Zhan Guo said gritting his teeth.
His heart was filled with anger and helplessness.
On the one hand, he hated Lin Zhan’s rebellious behavior and thought he was destroying his own future.
On the other hand, he felt a little admiration for Lin Zhan’s idealism.
“But…if you do this, it will only plunge the world into greater chaos!” Zhan Guo sighed, his heart full of contradictions.
“Marshal, we are approaching XX Island.” A naval general walked up to Zhan Guo and reported.
“Full speed ahead!” Zhan Guo ordered, “No matter what, we must stop Lin Zhan’s actions!”
XX Island, on the high platform.
Lin Zhan’s speech continued.
He exposed the navy’s crimes such as massacring civilians, colluding with pirates, and developing the ultimate weapon. Every word he said was like a bombshell, causing a huge shock among the crowd.
“Are you… willing to continue to endure such rule?!” Lin Zhan asked at the top of his lungs.
“No!”
“We don’t want to!”
“Down with the Navy! Down with the World Government!”
The emotions of the crowd were completely ignited. They waved their fists and shouted loudly, expressing their dissatisfaction with the Navy and the World Government.
At this moment, a sudden voice sounded among the crowd.
“Lin Zhan, don’t try to deceive people!”
The crowd automatically parted, and Vice Admiral Tsuru appeared below the platform, leading a large number of elite naval troops.
“Lieutenant General He…is here as expected.” A sneer appeared on Lin Zhan’s lips.
“Lin Zhan, you have already embarked on the wrong path, but it’s not too late to turn back now!” Lieutenant General He shouted sternly.
“Wrong path?” Lin Zhan shook his head. “What is the right path? Is it like you, sacrificing innocent lives to maintain the rule of the world government?”
“You are still stubborn!” Lieutenant General He shouted angrily, “Catch him for me!”
The elite navy immediately rushed to the platform and attempted to arrest Lin Zhan.
“I’ve long expected you to do this.” Lin Zhan sneered and activated the power of the Rule Fruit.
Time seems to freeze at this moment.
The elite naval forces that rushed towards the platform all stood still, like sculptures.
“Luffy, it’s up to you from now on.” Lin Zhan turned his head and looked into the distance.
On the sea, a ship of the Straw Hat Pirates was seen heading towards XX Island at a very fast speed.
“Guys, charge!” Luffy’s voice echoed throughout the island.
Members of the Straw Hat Pirates jumped onto the shore one after another and engaged in a fierce melee with the navy’s elite.
There were flashes of swords, splashes of fire, explosions, shouts, screams…all kinds of sounds intertwined together, turning the entire XX island into a huge battlefield.
Lin Zhan stood on the high platform, watching all this quietly.
The bigger storm is yet to come.
Just as Lin Zhan was about to take action, he noticed Blackbeard standing in a corner in the distance with a meaningful smile on his face.
Blackbeard’s eyes were full of ambition and expectation, as if he was waiting for something good to happen.
Lin Zhan’s heart tightened. He knew that Blackbeard would never miss such an opportunity. This man would definitely become a huge obstacle in the future…
“Today…” Lin Zhan’s gaze swept across the audience again. He wanted the whole world to remember this day!
There was a flash of cold light, and the knife in Lin Zhan’s hand was sharp and swift.
The captured naval commander collapsed to the ground without even having time to utter a scream.
The blood splattered on Lin Zhan’s face, warm and sweet.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let the sea breeze blow away the smell of blood.
When he opened his eyes again, his look was extremely firm.
“Today, we have taken the first step towards change!” Lin Zhan’s voice, through the loudspeaker, resounded throughout the island and spread to the distant sea.
The crowd was boiling with cheers, shouts, cries…all kinds of sounds intertwined together to form a huge sound wave that hit everyone’s eardrums.
In the distance, Blackbeard saw it all.
He opened his mouth, revealing a weird smile, and said in a deep voice as if coming from the depths of hell: “Interesting, let’s see how you end it next.”
Lin Zhan turned around suddenly, his eyes sharp as torches, staring directly in the direction of Blackbeard.
He could feel the dangerous aura emanating from Blackbeard, a suffocating feeling of oppression.
Lin Zhan felt vaguely uneasy, and an inexplicable sense of crisis surged in his heart, but he did not back down.
He knew that he had no way out.
The flame of revolution has been ignited, and no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, he must move forward without hesitation.
“Weiwei…” Lin Zhan turned to look at Weiwei beside him, his voice low but with unquestionable determination, “Let the whole world hear our voice!”
Chapter 154: The Aftermath of the World Shock (Old Version)
“Bang!” Lin Zhan slammed the newspaper hard on the table, making a dull sound.
The fishy smell of ink mixed with the salty and humid sea breeze made him feel nauseous.
A billion Baileys!
The World Government really thinks highly of him.
There was a hint of sneer on his lips, but his eyes were burning with rage.
“They think they can stop me like this? That’s wishful thinking!”
On the deck, the sea breeze was howling and the cries of seagulls were heard one after another, as if mocking the incompetent rage of the world government.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, and the salty air filled his lungs, calming him down a little.
He knew that this was just the calm before the storm.
The real challenge has just begun.
“Ding ding ding——” a series of rapid telephone bug sounds rang out.
Lin Zhan answered the phone, and Zhan Guo’s familiar voice came over, with a hint of fatigue and helplessness.
“Lin Zhan, I hope you can seriously consider my proposal. This is the biggest concession we can make for internal reform of the navy.”
Lin Zhan was silent.
He could hear the sincerity in Zhan Guo’s voice, and he understood the conflict in his heart.
But some things, once started, there is no turning back.
“Mr. Zhan Guo,” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and firm, “This is not a fight for me alone, but for all the oppressed people, for the future of this world. I will not compromise, and I will never regret it.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time before a sigh was heard from Zhan Guo.
“Your choice will change everything.” After saying that, the Den Den Mushi hung up, leaving Lin Zhan alone facing the vast ocean.
“Change everything?” Lin Zhan murmured to himself, with a complex light flashing in his eyes.
He knew that this road was destined to be full of thorns, but he would not back down.
Because he firmly believed that everything he did was right.
At the same time, on a gloomy island in the New World, Blackbeard was sitting on a throne made of skulls, laughing loudly.
“Hahaha! Lin Zhan, do you think you won? You just muddied the waters! Now, all pirates will regard you as a thorn in their side! Your doom is coming!”
Blackbeard’s laughter echoed in the empty cave, like a death knell from hell, creepy.
The dark fruit in his hand emitted a strange light, as if foreshadowing the coming bloody storm.
“Report to the captain! We have successfully instigated a lot of pirate forces, and they have all expressed their willingness to join the alliance to encircle and suppress Lin Zhan!” A burly pirate knelt on one knee and reported to Blackbeard.
“Very good!” A gleam of light flashed in Blackbeard’s eyes, “Let everyone know that Lin Zhan’s ‘justice’ is nothing but a joke! Only I, Blackbeard, am the true king!”
The atmosphere in Lin Zhan’s cabin was solemn.
Princess Weiwei was looking at the map with a frown on her face.
She ran her slender fingers across the map, circling the names one by one.
“Currently, more than ten pirate groups have expressed their intention to join Blackbeard’s alliance, and some of them are very powerful. The situation is not optimistic.”
Lin Zhan looked at the densely packed marks on the map and felt a little pressure in his heart.
But he did not panic, but analyzed the situation calmly.
“Their alliance may seem powerful, but in fact, they are full of internal contradictions. We can take advantage of this and defeat them one by one.”
“Luffy, Ace,” Lin Zhan turned to look at the two young captains, “I need you to disrupt the enemy’s assembly point and delay their actions as much as possible.”
When Luffy heard this, he jumped up excitedly.
“No problem! We are the best partners! Leave it to us!” He grinned, showing his signature smile, as if he was about to start an exciting game.
Ace nodded as well, fire burning in his eyes.
“Don’t worry, Lin Zhan. We will let them know the consequences of angering us.”
The two men set off in the boat, speeding towards the enemy’s weak point.
Looking at their receding backs, Lin Zhan prayed silently in his heart, hoping that everything would go well for them.
“Weiwei,” Lin Zhan turned to look at Princess Weiwei, “We have to take action too. Let the whole world see that we are not to be trifled with!”
Just as the team was busy arranging defenses, an inconspicuous boat quietly approached Lin Zhan’s flagship… On the boat, a mysterious figure was watching all this coldly…
The sea breeze was salty and fishy, and the foam from the waves hit the side of the boat, making dull “bang bang” sounds again and again, like some kind of ominous omen.
Lin Zhan stood on the deck, staring at the boat slowly approaching, his heart as restless as the surging sea.
It is called a small boat, but in fact it is more like a canoe, drifting alone on the vast ocean, exuding an indescribable weirdness.
“An old subordinate of General Lin Hu?” Lin Zhan repeated the identity of the visitor in a low voice, his fingers unconsciously stroking his chin, the stubble of his beard making his palms itchy.
“Star core energy…” These four words were like a key that opened the door to long-forgotten memories. He seemed to see his father’s determined eyes again and hear his last words before his death.
Princess Weiwei walked up to him, frowning slightly. “Captain, I think this is strange. The other party chose to show up at this critical moment and asked to meet alone… Could it be a trap?”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath. He knew that Weiwei’s worries were not unreasonable, but he could not resist the temptation of the star core energy. It was the key to solving the mystery of his father’s disappearance and even changing the entire world situation.
“I know there are risks involved,” he said in a deep voice, “but there are some things that you should go to even if you know there are tigers in the mountain. I will go to meet him, you guys should be prepared, and take action immediately if the situation changes.”
The boat finally came closer, and a figure in a black cloak stood at the bow. His face could not be seen clearly, but a pair of green eyes could be seen, flashing an unsettling light in the dim light.
“Are you Lin Zhan?” The man’s voice was hoarse and low, like a whisper from hell, making people shudder.
“It’s me,” Lin Zhan met the man’s gaze without fear, “You said you were my father’s subordinate, do you have any proof?”
The man stretched out a skinny hand from under his cloak and handed over a metal plate engraved with strange runes.
“This is the general’s keepsake,” he said, his voice hoarse as the friction of metal, “only the true one can recognize it.”
Lin Zhan took the metal plate, it felt cold to the touch, and the familiar runes made his heart tremble. This was indeed his father’s thing!
He hesitated for a moment, but finally made a decision.
“Take me to him.”
The man let out a low laugh, turned and walked towards the cabin, with a barely perceptible hint of pride in his tone.
“Come with me, the general is waiting for you in the cabin…”
Chapter 155: The Trap Under the Undercurrent (Old Version)
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, and stepped onto the mysterious ship.
The deck was old and damp, with a lingering fishy smell, as if it had been soaked in sea water all year round.
There was a faint smell of decay in the air, which made people feel very uncomfortable.
He looked around calmly. The ship was unusually quiet. Apart from the man in black who was leading the way, no other crew members were visible.
This increased his doubts, but he was a skilled and courageous man, and since he had come here, there was no reason to retreat.
The man in black walked in front with a hunched back. The sound of his footsteps under his cloak was dull and depressing, as if knocking on Lin Zhan’s heart.
The two walked one after the other through the narrow passage and headed deeper into the cabin.
The hatch creaked open and a strong smell of blood hit him in the face. Lin Zhan frowned and became even more alert.
He calmed himself and looked up, only to see an unexpected figure – Blackbeard Teach, who was sitting in the middle of the cabin with his iconic missing teeth and a sinister smile on his face.
“Hahahaha, Lin Zhan, we meet again!” Blackbeard’s iconic laughter was as shrill as a crow’s cry.
Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly shrank, and he instantly realized that he had fallen into a trap.
What father’s subordinates, what tokens, they are all Blackbeard’s conspiracy!
“Blackbeard!” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and full of anger. “How dare you pretend to be my father’s subordinate? Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
“Retribution?” Blackbeard seemed to have heard a big joke and laughed so hard that he fell backwards. “Haha, in this world, only the strong can make the rules. Retribution? What is that? Can you eat it?”
He suddenly stopped smiling, his eyes turned sinister and vicious: “Lin Zhan, do you think I will let you get the star core easily? Today is the day you die!”
Before he finished his words, several figures suddenly jumped out from the shadow of the cabin. They were tall and strong with muscular bodies, and they exuded a disgusting stench.
Their eyes were empty and crazy, like wild beasts that had lost their minds.
“Transformed warriors!” Lin Zhan recognized the identities of these monsters at a glance. They were humans transformed by the World Government. They possessed powerful strength and defense, but at the same time they had lost their self-awareness and became tools of killing.
These transformed warriors rushed towards him like mad dogs, with shrill howls.
Lin Zhan was well prepared. The moment Blackbeard revealed his true face, he was ready to fight.
He activated the power of the Rule Fruit without hesitation. Time seemed to be paused and everything around him slowed down.
This is the power of time manipulation!
The transformed warriors’ bodies became sluggish, and their movements looked like slow-motion replays in Lin Zhan’s eyes.
He seized this brief pause, exerted force on his feet, and shot his body backwards like an arrow, narrowly avoiding the attack of the transformed warrior.
“Haha, it’s useless, Lin Zhan, you can’t escape!” Blackbeard smiled triumphantly, he seemed to be confident in his plan.
Lin Zhan ignored Blackbeard’s ridicule, he knew that now was not the time to fight.
He must leave here as soon as possible, otherwise once he is entangled by these transformed warriors, the consequences will be disastrous.
He rushed to the deck and looked around. There was a boundless ocean.
He took a deep breath and said silently in his mind: “System, activate the Myriad Worlds Character Summoning Ticket!”
A dazzling light descended from the sky and condensed into a familiar figure beside Lin Zhan.
She was a young woman wearing a white training suit, a high ponytail, and had sharp eyes.
“You are…” Lin Zhan looked at the woman in front of him.
“No need to say more, I know your situation,” the woman smiled slightly, her tone calm and confident, “Leave it to me, I will take care of these small fry!”
Before she finished her words, the woman had already moved. Her figure was as erratic as a ghost, shuttling between the transformed warriors.
Her punches and kicks carried the sound of sharp wind, and every time they hit the transformed warrior’s body, there would be a dull thud.
Although these transformed warriors possessed powerful strength and defense, they seemed vulnerable in the face of the woman’s exquisite boxing skills.
They fell to the ground one by one, howling in pain.
At the same time, the flagship of the Void Pirates also discovered something abnormal with the ship that Lin Zhan was on.
Zhongli stood on the bridge with a frown on his face. He had a bad feeling.
“The captain is in trouble!” Zhongli said in a deep voice, “Go at full speed and support the captain!”
The flagship was like an arrow shot from a bow, leaving a trail of white waves on the sea and rushing towards the direction where Lin Zhan was.
In order to prevent the enemy from escaping, Zhongli controlled the power of the rock element and built towering rock walls on the sea, blocking the retreat of Blackbeard’s ships.
“Want to run? Not that easy!” Zhongli said coldly.
While Lin Zhan was fighting fiercely with the transformed warriors, Roland was also working intensely.
She used the equipment she carried with her to crack the chip data carried by Blackbeard’s men.
“Found it!” Roland shouted excitedly, “The key part of the star core energy distribution map is hidden inside!”
She quickly informed Lin Zhan of the news: “Lin Zhan, seize the data first, don’t fight to the death!”
When Lin Zhan heard this, his heart moved.
He understood what Roland meant. Compared to defeating Blackbeard, seizing the star core energy distribution map was a more important task.
“Got it!” Lin Zhan ordered decisively, “Retreat, release smoke bombs!”
He took out several smoke bombs from the system space and threw them in the direction of the transformed warriors.
The smoke bomb exploded, instantly releasing thick smoke that obscured everyone’s vision.
Lin Zhan took the opportunity to pull the woman and retreat towards the flagship.
“Haha, you thief, you want to run? Not that easy!” Blackbeard laughed wildly in the smoke. He didn’t seem to be worried that Lin Zhan could escape.
However, when he passed through the smoke and wanted to chase Lin Zhan, he found that Lin Zhan had already boarded the flagship of the Void Pirates.
“Damn it!” Blackbeard gritted his teeth in anger. He didn’t expect Lin Zhan to be so decisive. He retreated as soon as he said so, without any delay.
After Lin Zhan returned to the flagship, he immediately called together the team members and began to analyze the data in the chip.
“According to the data, star core energy is not only related to the origin of devil fruits,” Roland said, pointing to the image on the screen, “but may also become the core weapon to subvert the world government’s technological hegemony!”
“In other words, this is what Blackbeard really covets?” Lin Zhan’s eyes became sharp.
“That’s right,” Zhongli nodded, “Blackbeard has always been ambitious. He wants to overthrow the rule of the World Government, and star core energy is the key to realizing his ambition.”
“It seems that we must seize the opportunity to master the energy of the star core,” Lin Zhan said in a deep voice, “Otherwise, once Blackbeard succeeds, the whole world will fall into chaos.”
Everyone nodded, they all realized the seriousness of the problem.
“What should we do next?” Nami asked.
Lin Zhan glanced at everyone and already had a plan in mind.
However, just as he was about to speak, the flagship suddenly shook violently.
“What’s going on?” Lin Zhan asked with a frown.
“Captain, we’re under fire!” the lookout shouted in panic.
“What?!” Lin Zhan’s face suddenly changed. Who was attacking them?
“It seems that our rest time is over.” Lin Zhan’s fists were clenched so hard that they made a clattering sound, and his face was so gloomy that water seemed to drip from it.
Just now I was thinking about how to seize the initiative, but now it seems that trouble has come to me.
It’s really true that plans cannot keep up with changes, and it catches people off guard!
The lookout was still shouting at the top of his lungs: “There are too many enemy ships, at least fifty! There are all kinds of pirate flags on the sails. It’s the pirate alliance set up by Blackbeard!”
Nami’s face also turned pale. Fifty pirate ships, what does that mean?
It’s like a moving steel forest!
No matter how powerful the firepower of the Void Pirates’ flagship is, it cannot withstand the siege of such a large number of people!
Zhongli’s expression remained calm, but there was a hint of solemnity in his eyes.
He walked to Lin Zhan and said in a deep voice: “Captain, the enemy is coming aggressively, we must respond immediately.”
In the distant sky, a dark fleet was slowly approaching, like dark clouds covering the sky, making it hard to breathe.
The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and the sea breeze became fierce, as if foreshadowing the coming of a bloody storm.
He quickly glanced at his companions around him, and everyone’s face had varying degrees of tension and worry.
“Are you scared?” Lin Zhan suddenly grinned, revealing a confident smile, “This is just an appetizer! If they want to eat us, they have to break their teeth!”
He turned around abruptly and walked towards the bridge, his voice deep and powerful: “Zhongli, Nami, Roland, everyone, gather in the combat command room immediately! It’s time to let these ignorant guys see the true strength of our Void Pirates!”
“There are a lot of opponents this time. It seems I have to be a little more serious.” Lin Zhan’s mouth corners slightly raised, revealing a chilling smile, with a bloodthirsty light flashing in his eyes.
He couldn’t wait to see what expressions those pirates would show when they found out that they were not facing a group of lambs to be slaughtered, but a group of ferocious beasts.
“Captain, how should we respond?” Nami asked, following closely behind Lin Zhan.
Lin Zhan stopped and a mysterious smile appeared on his face: “How to deal with it? Of course… kill them all!”
Chapter 156: The Pirate Alliance’s Fierce Attack (Old Version)
The smell of gunpowder filled the sea breeze, and the air crackled with tense electricity.
Faced with the black mass of the pirate alliance that almost covered the entire sea, Lin Zhan not only did not feel the slightest fear, but instead felt a shudder of excitement rushing up from his spine to the top of his head.
“Finally here!” He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming like a predator staring at its prey.
“Lohuhuhuda, activate EMP!” Lin Zhan’s voice was calm and decisive, resounding throughout the entire Void Pirates’ fleet through the loudspeaker.
“Understood!” A strange voice responded, and then a visible electromagnetic pulse wave burst out from the top of the Void Pirates’ flagship, sweeping towards the enemy fleet like an invisible wave.
In an instant, blue and purple electric lights flashed on the sea. The lights of some pirate ships flickered a few times and then went out. The power system was completely paralyzed, and they floated on the sea like puppets out of control.
“Ace, Luffy, each of you lead a team to raid the enemy flagship! Remember, fight quickly and decide quickly!” Lin Zhan gave the order again, his voice full of unquestionable majesty.
“Oh oh oh! It’s finally my turn to show off my skills!” Luffy waved his fists excitedly. The power of the Rubber Fruit made him leap into the air like a spring and fly towards the enemy flagship, followed by a group of equally excited Straw Hat Pirates members.
Ace seemed much calmer. He nodded silently, and blazing flames rose from his body. Like a god of war bathed in fire, he led another commando team to charge towards the enemy camp.
“We’ll go too!” Lin Zhan gave an order, and he turned into a huge glutinous fruit-like dragon and rushed into the core area of the enemy like a white lightning.
The powerful defense and transformation ability of the Mochi Fruit made Lin Zhan feel at home in the enemy camp. He easily resolved the enemy’s siege, and with a wave of his huge dragon claws, he threw the pirates in front of him away like rag dolls.
At the same time, he also successfully seized the enemy commander’s intelligence information and transmitted it back to the command room.
“Weiwei, analyze the intelligence and find the enemy’s weaknesses!” Lin Zhan gave orders through the communicator while fighting.
“Got it!” Princess Vivi responded calmly. She quickly browsed through the intelligence and compared it with the known information, trying to find the enemy’s flaws.
On the battlefield, Ace swept through the enemy camp with the power of lava. Wherever he went, there was a sea of fire and the enemy’s screams were endless.
Luffy relies on the power of the rubber fruit to shuttle between enemy ships, constantly creating chaos and making the enemy run around in a hurry.
Everything seemed to be going according to Lin Zhan’s plan, and the balance of victory was tilting towards them.
However, at this moment, a cold laugh suddenly resounded across the battlefield: “Haha! Lin Zhan, you are too naive, these are just appetizers!”
Blackbeard, the ambitious pirate, suddenly appeared on the battlefield and directly intervened in the battle.
He exuded a suffocating dark aura, like a huge black hole, swallowing up the light and vitality around him.
“Darkness is coming!” Blackbeard roared, and the powerful ability of the dark fruit burst out instantly, enveloping Lin Zhan and others.
Lin Zhan only felt a powerful suction force pulling him towards Blackbeard. Everything around him became distorted and blurred, as if he was about to be sucked into an endless abyss.
“Not good!” Lin Zhan cried out in his heart, and hurriedly mobilized the power of the Glutinous Fruit to resist the suction of the Dark Fruit.
However, Blackbeard’s power is so strong that even the Mochi-Mochi Fruit cannot completely resist it.
At this critical moment, a golden light suddenly appeared, forming an indestructible barrier in front of Lin Zhan, blocking Blackbeard’s fatal blow.
“The sky is shaking!” Zhongli’s voice sounded in Lin Zhan’s ears. He appeared in time and used the power of rock element to protect Lin Zhan.
“Zhongli, thank you!” Lin Zhan looked at Zhongli gratefully, and then calmly analyzed the current situation.
“Weiwei, activate the trap!” Lin Zhan ordered through the communicator.
“Understood!” Princess Vivi immediately controlled the pre-arranged trap. Countless sharp blades and spikes shot towards Blackbeard from all directions, trying to restrain his actions.
At the same time, Lin Zhan deliberately exposed his weaknesses to lure Blackbeard to attack, and then used the transformation ability of the Mochi Fruit to dodge the attack and wait for an opportunity to counterattack.
Although Blackbeard is powerful, he cannot ignore the threat of mechanisms and traps, and his actions are greatly restricted.
After a fierce battle, Blackbeard was not defeated, but he failed to make any substantial progress.
He glanced at Ace and Luffy who were fighting fiercely with the navy in the distance.
“Hmph, I’ll let you go this time. The next time we meet, that will be the day you die!” Blackbeard snorted coldly, then turned into a ball of darkness and disappeared from the battlefield.
“Huh…” Lin Zhan let out a long sigh and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“Captain, we…” Nami’s voice came from the communicator.
“I know,” Lin Zhan interrupted Nami. He turned his gaze to the burning enemy flagship in the distance, with a meaningful smile on his face. “The good show has just begun…”
The smell of gunpowder became stronger, carrying a burnt smell that went straight into the nose and made people’s throats itchy.
Lin Zhan stood on the deck that was torn apart by the explosion. His feet were sticky and he didn’t know which unlucky guy’s blood it was.
In the distance, the remnants of the pirate coalition were fleeing in a panic, and several ships emitting black smoke were struggling on the sea like wounded beasts.
“Ahem, what a bunch of rabble.” Lin Zhan spat. The air was still filled with the stinging sensation of ions, which was the sequelae of the overload of the power of the Nuo Nuo Fruit.
He could feel every cell in his body screaming, and fatigue surged over him like a tide.
“Captain, the enemy suffered heavy losses and they probably won’t dare to come again in the short term.” Nami’s voice came from the communicator, with a hint of relief at surviving the disaster.
“Don’t take it lightly, Nami.” Lin Zhan rubbed his swollen temples and squinted his eyes to look into the distance. “They are just testing. The real tough battle is still to come.” The sea breeze was howling, ruffling his hair and blowing away the faint smell of blood at the corner of his mouth.
Suddenly, a pleasant system prompt sound rang in my mind, like a drop of clear spring water dripping into dry land.
[Congratulations to the host, you have completed the phased mission and unlocked the new rules editing authority: Devil Fruit ability transfer! ]Lin Zhan’s eyes suddenly lit up, like two stars that suddenly exploded.
He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power in his body, and an irrepressible excitement welled up in his heart.
“Perhaps, this is… the power to change the rules of the game.” A playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he turned and walked into the command room, leaving only a meaningful back.
Chapter 157 The Awakening of the Rules Editor (Old Version)
Lin Zhan stood on the damaged deck, with the system prompt echoing in his ears: “Rule editing permissions have been unlocked.” He took a deep breath and quickly entered the system interface to check the specific content.
On the screen, lines of golden words flickered, as if telling him of endless possibilities.
It turns out that this authority allows him to temporarily modify the operating logic of the devil fruit ability, but each use requires a large amount of points.
Thinking of the powerful suppression of Blackbeard just now, Lin Zhan
“Perhaps, this is… the power that changes the rules of the game.” He muttered to himself, clenched his fists, and a surge of power surged in his body.
The sea breeze whistled, blowing away the faint smell of blood at the corner of his mouth and the fatigue in his heart.
The team members on the deck were busy with repair work, and Nami and Usopp were directing others to repair the damaged hull.
Zhongli and Princess Weiwei stood aside, discussing the next plan with serious expressions.
Lin Zhan walked up to them and smiled: “Thank you for your hard work, we have a new mission.”
Princess Weiwei looked up at Lin Zhan, with a glimmer of wisdom in her eyes: “Captain, do you have any new plans?”
Lin Zhan nodded and said word by word: “Yes, I just got new rule editing permissions, which allows me to temporarily modify the operating logic of the devil fruit ability. I want to use this to deal with Blackbeard.”
Zhongli frowned and reminded, “Although the rule editor is powerful, it cannot be abused, otherwise it may lead to uncontrollable consequences. We need to proceed with caution.”
Lin Zhan patted Zhongli on the shoulder and said with a smile: “Don’t worry, I know what to do. Princess Weiwei, do you have any suggestions?”
Princess Weiwei pondered for a moment and said, “We can use the rule editing authority to weaken the enemy’s capabilities and distract Blackbeard. This will buy us more time and opportunities.”
Lin Zhan nodded and agreed, “Good idea. Zhongli, you will be responsible for monitoring the use of the system to ensure that no accidents occur. Nami, you will continue to direct the repair work and make sure that the ship is restored to combat effectiveness in the shortest possible time.”
Zhongli and Nami nodded in agreement, and Princess Vivi continued, “Captain, we can first make experimental adjustments to Ace’s abilities and see how effective they are. If it works, we can gradually expand the scope.”
Lin Zhan nodded, turned around and found Ace: “Ace, I have a new idea. I want to make some experimental adjustments to your lava power. Are you willing to try it?”
Ace’s eyes lit up and he nodded excitedly: “Of course I would! As long as it can help us defeat Blackbeard, I will try anything!”
Lin Zhan smiled and nodded, entered the system interface, and raised the “high temperature” attribute of Ace’s lava power to the limit.
At his command, the power in Ace’s body suddenly erupted, and lava danced at his fingertips like flaming snakes.
“How do you feel?” Lin Zhan asked.
Ace showed an expression of disbelief on his face: “This… This is amazing! Not only does the power of the lava double, it also has the effect of temporarily freezing the enemy!”
Lin Zhan nodded with satisfaction: “Very good, we have a powerful weapon to deal with Blackbeard. Now, everyone, get ready, Blackbeard’s fleet may attack again.”
Just as Lin Zhan expected, not long after, Blackbeard’s fleet approached again.
Lin Zhan decisively ordered the activation of the rule editing authority, temporarily reversing the gravity fruit ability on the enemy flagship, causing the entire ship to lose balance and fall into chaos.
The huge warship was swaying on the sea, and the soldiers were stumbling around, in a mess.
Lin Zhan decisively ordered: “Ace, lead the team to raid the enemy’s command center and try to seize more intelligence data!”
Ace nodded excitedly and led a team of warriors to attack quickly.
The power of the lava burned like a raging fire in his hands, and with one blow, the wall of the enemy’s command center was easily torn apart.
The soldiers were so panicked in the chaos that they were unable to organize any effective resistance.
Ace and his teammates quickly rushed into the command room and seized a large amount of intelligence information.
At this moment, Lin Zhan suddenly felt a strong sense of uneasiness.
He raised his head and looked into the distance, only to see Blackbeard’s figure slowly appearing on the battlefield with a sneer on his lips.
“It seems that your little tricks didn’t cause me much loss.” Blackbeard’s voice was cold and low, as if it came from the abyss.
Lin Zhan’s heart trembled, and he immediately issued an order: “Everyone, prepare to fight!”
However, when the team thought they had the upper hand, Blackbeard suddenly appeared on the battlefield and sneered:
“This game is far from over.” Lin Zhan’s pupils suddenly shrank. The appearance of Blackbeard was like a giant beast from the abyss breaking out of the ground, bringing a suffocating feeling of oppression.
The air was filled with a sickening smell of decay, and the dark energy was like a living thing, greedily devouring the surrounding light.
“Do you think this little trick can stop me?” Blackbeard grinned and waved his arm wrapped with black arcs of electricity.
The space around him seemed to be distorted, and dark energy surged out violently, instantly tearing Lin Zhan’s carefully set trap into pieces.
The specially made chains that were supposed to restrain the enemy broke and dissipated like fragile toys.
Lin Zhan felt a chill running from the soles of his feet to his forehead. Although he had powerful authority to edit rules, he was still stretched to his limits when facing an opponent of Blackbeard’s level.
Blackbeard’s dark fruit ability seems to be able to devour all rules and turn all power into nothingness.
Princess Vivi exclaimed, and anxiously reminded: “Captain, his darkness can negate the power of the devil fruit!”
Ace roared and rushed towards Blackbeard, smashing his flaming fists into Blackbeard’s face.
“Don’t even think about touching the captain!”
However, Blackbeard just smiled contemptuously and opened his mouth that seemed like a bottomless pit.
A terrifying suction force suddenly erupted, and the flames around Ace began to flow towards Blackbeard uncontrollably.
Ace’s face turned pale and he tried desperately to break free, but he found himself stuck in a quagmire and couldn’t move at all.
Lin Zhan’s heart sank to the bottom
Blackbeard stretched out his other hand, spread out his five fingers, and pointed them at Lin Zhan.
An even stronger dark energy surged out, like an invisible giant hand, trying to completely devour Lin Zhan.
“Is this what you are capable of? How disappointing, Lin Zhan!” Blackbeard’s voice was like a whisper from hell, filled with endless ridicule and contempt.
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and mobilized all his strength to try to resist the terrifying suction.
He could feel that his body was being eroded by darkness bit by bit and his vitality was rapidly draining away.
Just when he thought he was about to be swallowed by the darkness, Zhongli rushed to Lin Zhan and pushed him away.
“Captain, be careful!”
The dark energy instantly hit Zhongli, her body shook violently and she let out a muffled groan.
“Zhongli!” Lin Zhan exclaimed and wanted to rush over, but found that he had completely lost control of his body.
Blackbeard licked the corner of his mouth and showed a cruel smile. “Next, it’s you!”
Chapter 158: Pirates unite to fight against the dark forces, and the crisis is about to be resolved (old version)
The darkness, as thick as asphalt, tore at Lin Zhan madly.
He felt like his bones were groaning, his muscles were being gnawed by countless ants, and his soul seemed to be sucked out of his body.
Blackbeard’s laughter, like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, hissing and echoing in his ears.
“Give up, Lin Zhan! Your struggle is meaningless!”
Lin Zhan clenched his teeth, sweat mixed with sea water flowed into his eyes, causing a burning pain.
It’s not that he hadn’t thought about giving up, but when he thought of his companions behind him and the mission he was shouldering, a strong sense of stubbornness surged up from the bottom of his heart.
He took a deep breath, and a warm current surged in his dantian. The power of the Nuo Nuo Fruit began to surge in his body.
“Want to devour me? You’re still far away!” Lin Zhan roared, and his body suddenly expanded and turned into a giant glutinous rice dragon.
The dragon scales gleam with the luster of white jade, and each one is extremely hard.
The dark suction force hit the dragon scales, making a sound like the clashing of metal and splashing black ripples.
At this moment, a familiar voice sounded like thunder: “Rubber rubber…JET rocket launcher!”
A huge force hit Blackbeard hard, blowing him away.
Luffy, like a red cannonball, fell from the sky and landed steadily next to Lin Zhan.
“Lin Zhan, are you okay?” Luffy grinned, showing his signature smile.
“It’s okay, you’re just in time!” Lin Zhan also breathed a sigh of relief. With Luffy around, the pressure was immediately relieved a lot.
“Hey, let’s go together!” Luffy rubbed his hands excitedly. He couldn’t wait to beat Blackbeard up.
The two looked at each other tacitly, and then launched an attack at the same time.
Lin Zhan transformed into a glutinous rice dragon, hovering in the air, using his huge body and hard dragon scales to block Blackbeard’s dark attacks time and time again.
Luffy used the elasticity of the rubber fruit to move through complex terrain, looking for Blackbeard’s flaws.
Blackbeard was attacked by two people and was unable to resist for a moment.
He didn’t expect that when Lin Zhan and Luffy joined forces, they would unleash such powerful force.
He roared, and the dark energy surged even more violently, trying to devour the two of them.
However, Lin Zhan and Luffy’s cooperation became more and more tacit.
Lin Zhan’s defense was impeccable, and Luffy’s attack was extremely sharp and fierce.
Although Blackbeard possesses the powerful ability of the Dark Fruit, he is still unable to gain the upper hand.
At this moment, a group of modified warriors in black uniforms suddenly rushed out from all directions and surrounded Lin Zhan and Luffy.
Each of these transformed warriors possessed powerful strength and speed, and were fearless of death. They surged towards the two men like a tide.
“Damn, this Blackbeard guy actually has reinforcements!” Luffy gritted his teeth, waved his fists, and knocked away the transformed warriors who rushed up one by one.
Lin Zhan frowned. There were too many transformed warriors. Even if he and Luffy could handle them, it would inevitably consume a lot of physical strength.
He must find a way to solve these troubles as soon as possible.
“Luohuohuda, activate the electromagnetic pulse device!” Lin Zhan shouted into the communicator.
“Received!” A humming sound came from the communicator.
The next moment, a powerful electromagnetic pulse instantly swept across the entire battlefield.
The electronic equipment on the transformed soldiers began to malfunction and their movements became sluggish.
“Zhongli, block the entrance!” Lin Zhan ordered again.
“Understood.” Zhongli’s voice was calm and steady.
Zhongli formed seals with his hands, and suddenly countless huge rock pillars emerged from the ground, completely blocking the entrance to the battlefield.
The transformed warriors were trapped in the center of the battlefield, unable to advance or retreat.
The situation temporarily stabilized, but Lin Zhan’s heart could not calm down.
He knew that Blackbeard would never give up so easily.
He must have a backup plan, and a bigger crisis is brewing.
“Blackbeard…” Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes, staring at the black beard shrouded in smoke in the distance, and thought to himself, “What on earth are you planning?”
Suddenly, Blackbeard let out a sinister laugh and slowly walked out of the smoke.
“Hehehe…the game has just begun…”
Chapter 159 Fragments of the Truth (Old Version)
The aftermath of the electromagnetic pulse was still resonating in the air, and the crackling sound of the electric current was like a strange sonata.
The air was filled with a burning smell, and the reformed soldiers were stumbling around like a pile of broken toys.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, and the smell of gunpowder made him feel inexplicably excited.
“Clean up the battlefield and collect everything useful!” He shouted to the members of the Void Pirates behind him, with a barely perceptible hint of fatigue in his voice.
The members of the Hollow Pirates were like a group of hardworking worker ants, quickly and orderly starting the battlefield cleanup work.
Lin Zhan walked to the side, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep puff.
The taste of nicotine relaxed him a little.
Princess Weiwei came over with a pile of information, her brows furrowed.
“Lin Zhan, take a look at this.” She pointed at one of the documents, her tone serious.
Lin Zhan took the document and quickly glanced through it.
The document records the specific uses of star core energy, which can not only enhance the abilities of devil fruits, but also change the genetic structure of humans.
He raised his head suddenly, “This… This is simply…”
“If these technologies fall into Blackbeard’s hands, the consequences will be disastrous.” Princess Vivi’s voice trembled slightly.
Just then, Lin Zhan’s communicator rang and a familiar voice came out.
“Lin Zhan, it’s me, Zhan Guo.”
“Marshal Zhan Guo?” Lin Zhan was a little surprised. “What do you want to talk to me about?”
“Regarding the star core energy, I know its true source.” Zhan Guo’s voice was low and serious. “It comes from an ancient relic deep in the Valley of the Gods. It is a core secret that the World Government is trying hard to conceal.”
Lin Zhan was silent for a moment, he knew what this meant.
“If you knew all this, why did you tell me?”
“Because I believe in you, Lin Zhan.” There was a hint of helplessness in Zhan Guo’s voice, “I know you have been looking for the truth, and I hope you can make the right choice.”
“No matter what the cost, we must find the answer.” Lin Zhan’s voice was firm and powerful.
The Valley of the Gods, the legendary dwelling place of the gods, is now shrouded in a mysterious fog.
The Hollow Pirates’ ship slowly sailed into the forbidden area, and an unsettling atmosphere filled the air.
“The entrance is just ahead.” Zhongli pointed to a cliff covered with vines in front of him, “But there are many traps there, so be careful.”
Lin Zhan jumped off the boat, walked to the cliff, and carefully observed the surrounding environment.
Various ancient runes and patterns are carved into the rocks, emitting a strange light.
He reached out his hand and gently touched one of the runes. An electric current instantly spread throughout his body, causing him to tremble.
“These mechanisms may be protective measures left behind by alien civilizations.” Zhongli’s voice came from behind, “If you are not careful, they will trigger fatal dangers.”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, activated the rule editing authority, and tentatively closed some of the traps.
With a series of crackling sounds, a narrow passage appeared on the cliff.
“Let’s go.” Lin Zhan stepped into the passage first and his figure disappeared into the darkness.
The interior of the ruins was pitch black, with only the faint fluorescence on the walls illuminating the road ahead.
The air was filled with a damp smell of earth, making people feel a little suffocated.
Suddenly, Lin Zhan stopped and his eyes fell on a huge stone tablet in front of him.
The stone tablet was engraved with dense runes, emitting a faint golden light.
“What is this?” Princess Vivi walked forward curiously and carefully observed the runes on the stone tablet.
Zhongli also came over and carefully identified the contents of the rune.
“These runes… seem to record information about the origin of devil fruits.”
Lin Zhan’s mind moved, and he immediately mobilized the rule editing authority and began to interpret the runes on the stone tablet.
As the runes were deciphered one by one, a shocking truth gradually surfaced.
It turns out that the devil fruit is not a natural product, but a by-product of a failed experiment by an alien civilization.
These alien civilizations attempted to create powerful biological weapons through genetic modification technology, but the experiments eventually got out of control, leading to the birth of the Devil Fruit.
“This…how is this possible?” Princess Vivi covered her mouth, her face full of shock.
“If this is true, then why is the World Government hiding this?”
Just as Lin Zhan was trying to decipher more runes, Blackbeard’s voice suddenly came from the shadows: “It seems that you have discovered the truth…”
Blackbeard’s voice was like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, echoing in the depths of the ruins, cold and harsh.
Lin Zhan’s muscles tensed up instantly, and every pore stood up, as if he was shrouded in invisible pressure.
Princess Weiwei screamed, subconsciously took a few steps back, and tightened her weapon in her hand.
Zhongli’s eyes became stern, and he stood in front of Lin Zhan as if facing a formidable enemy.
Blackbeard’s iconic grin looked particularly ferocious in the darkness. He slowly walked out of the shadows, and every step was like the footsteps of the god of death, full of oppression.
His fat body looked even more bloated and terrifying under the fluorescent light.
In his hand, he was holding a piece of star core fragment that exuded an ominous aura. The space around the fragment seemed to be distorted, and sickening energy fluctuations could be heard faintly.
“Hahaha, it seems that you have gone further than I thought, Lin Zhan!” Blackbeard laughed strangely, his voice full of sarcasm and greed.
“I didn’t expect you to find this place and decipher these boring words. However, all of this will become a stepping stone for me!”
Lin Zhan’s eyes were as sharp as knives as he stared at the star core fragment in Blackbeard’s hand.
He could feel the powerful energy surging wildly, as if it was about to explode at any time.
There was a suffocating feeling of oppression in the air, and the nostrils were filled with a strange smell of decay and energy.
“Teach…” Lin Zhan slowly uttered the name, his voice low and full of murderous intent.
“Our showdown is finally coming.”
Blackbeard stared at Lin Zhan with the eyes of a prey, then he held the star core fragment in his hand and said with a sneer: “Lin Zhan, you think…”
Chapter 160: Battle for Star Core Fragments (Old Version)
Blackbeard’s greasy face was now distorted with excitement to become even more unsightly.
He held the ominous star core fragment in his hand, as if holding the fate of the entire world in his hands, and laughed arrogantly: “Lin Zhan, do you think you can stop me? This fragment will change everything! Hahaha!”
Before he finished his words, suffocating darkness suddenly erupted around Blackbeard.
The darkness was like a living creature, baring its fangs and waving its claws, forming a huge vortex in an instant, targeting Lin Zhan and others.
This is the power of the dark fruit, which will devour them into the endless void, leaving them with no chance of reincarnation.
“I’m well prepared!” Lin Zhan’s eyes flashed.
He had long anticipated that Blackbeard would stop at nothing.
With a thought, the rule editing authority is instantly activated.
“Nuannuo Fruit·Dragon Form, defense power, limit increased!”
Lin Zhan’s body surface was instantly covered with an indestructible translucent barrier.
This barrier not only has the flexibility of the Nuo Nuo Fruit, but also incorporates the powerful defense of the dragon form. It is like a huge energy shield that protects everyone inside.
The black vortex slammed hard into the barrier, making a teeth-grinding friction sound.
The power of darkness continued to erode the barrier, trying to break through this last line of defense, but the barrier was like a rock, standing still and protecting everyone firmly.
“Zhongli!” Lin Zhan shouted in a low voice, his eyes sharp as torches.
“Understood!” Zhongli responded calmly.
He formed seals with his hands and muttered something, and the surrounding rock elements instantly became active, like soldiers being summoned.
“Rock element, block it!”
At the entrance of the ruins, countless huge rocks rose from the ground, quickly blocking all exits.
Not only were these rocks extremely hard, they also contained Zhongli’s powerful elemental power, forming an indestructible barrier that completely blocked Blackbeard’s retreat.
“Hahaha, quite interesting!” Blackbeard licked the corner of his mouth, his eyes flashing with bloodthirsty light, “But, do you think you can trap me like this? You are too naive!”
The battle instantly entered a white-hot stage.
Blackbeard displayed amazing strength, and he used the power of the dark fruit to the extreme.
Not only can he swallow everything around him into darkness, but he can also use the darkness to create countless clones to confuse his opponents and launch deadly attacks.
Lin Zhan was not to be outdone. He kept activating the rule editing authority and various abilities came to his fingertips.
Sometimes he turns into fire, burning everything; sometimes he turns into thunder, tearing apart the darkness; sometimes he turns into a hurricane, sweeping across the battlefield.
However, Blackbeard seemed to have been blessed by the star core fragments, becoming even stronger and faster.
Not only can he easily resolve Lin Zhan’s offensive, but he can also use the star core fragments to release a strange energy to interfere with Lin Zhan’s rule editing.
“We can’t go on like this!” Princess Weiwei said anxiously.
She calmly analyzed the battle situation and quickly looked for a breakthrough. “Blackbeard is too powerful. We must find a way to weaken him!”
Her eyes swept across the surrounding stone tablets and suddenly stopped on one of the stone tablets that was engraved with complex runes.
“Lin Zhan, look here!” Weiwei pointed at the runes on the stone tablet and said, “I found a hidden mechanism that can temporarily weaken the enemy’s power by triggering a trap!”
Lin Zhan was cheered up when he heard this.
He carefully observed the runes on the stone tablet and discovered that they contained some kind of ancient energy fluctuations that were closely related to the overall structure of the ruins.
“Okay, let’s do it!” Lin Zhan made a prompt decision and nodded in agreement, “Weiwei, you are responsible for activating the mechanism, and I will attract Blackbeard’s attention!”
“Be careful!” Weiwei looked at Lin Zhan worriedly, then quickly began to interpret the runes on the stone tablet, looking for a way to activate the mechanism.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and concentrated all his strength into his fists.
He suddenly exerted force on his feet and rushed towards Blackbeard like an arrow.
“Teach, your ambition ends here!” Lin Zhan roared, and smashed Blackbeard with his fists with the force of thunder.
Blackbeard laughed strangely and rushed forward, waving his huge fist.
The two men’s fists collided fiercely, causing a loud bang that shook the earth.
“Haha, you thief, you think you can stop me?” Blackbeard grinned, and the dark power in his hand surged towards Lin Zhan like a tide.
Lin Zhan was well prepared. His rule editing authority was activated instantly, and he elementalized his body into a flame, thus avoiding Blackbeard’s attack.
He kept changing his shape, sometimes turning into flames, sometimes into thunder, and sometimes into a hurricane, engaging in a fierce battle with Blackbeard.
He had only one goal, which was to buy time for Weiwei so that she could successfully activate the mechanism.
Just as Blackbeard attacked with all his might, the ground of the ruins suddenly began to shake violently.
“What’s going on?” Blackbeard’s face changed.
Suddenly, a huge crack appeared in the ground, and countless sharp stone pillars rose from the ground like sharp swords, heading straight for Blackbeard’s location.
“Damn it!” Blackbeard cursed angrily and quickly dodged.
Relying on his powerful strength, he barely avoided fatal damage, but the star core fragment in his hand was shaken away due to the violent vibration.
“Opportunity!” Ace’s eyes flashed and he rushed forward without hesitation.
“Don’t even think about it!” Blackbeard sneered, and slapped Ace hard with his backhand.
Ace was prepared. His whole body was on fire and turned into a pillar of fire, which collided fiercely with Blackbeard’s palm wind.
The two men were in a stalemate, with flames and darkness intertwined, making crackling sounds.
Seeing this, Lin Zhan decisively changed his strategy.
The rule editing authority was activated again, and he set his sights on Ace’s abilities.
“Flame-Flame Fruit, additional attribute, freezing!”
Lin Zhan let out a low roar, and the power of rules instantly surged into Ace’s body.
The color of the flames on his body suddenly changed, and the originally blazing flames actually began to emit a hint of chill.
“This is…” Ace felt incredible. He could feel that his flame was undergoing some wonderful changes.
Blackbeard also noticed something was wrong.
He could feel that the temperature of Ace’s flame was dropping rapidly, and even began to freeze the surrounding air.
“How is this possible?” Blackbeard exclaimed, with an expression of disbelief on his face.
Just as he was shocked, Ace seized the opportunity and slammed the lava force towards Blackbeard.
The originally blazing lava now carried a hint of icy chill, instantly freezing Blackbeard’s body.
Although it was only a few seconds, it was enough for Ace.
He grabbed the star core fragments that were blown away and quickly retreated to the team line.
Lin Zhan took the star core fragment and felt the powerful energy contained in it. His expression became more solemn.
“We have to leave here as soon as possible. Blackbeard won’t give up.”
However, as the team prepared to evacuate, a low vibration sound came from deep within the ruins…
However, just as Lin Zhan and his companions were preparing to evacuate, a low vibration sound came from deep within the ruins, as if an ancient giant beast was turning over underground, and the entire space began to tremble.
Dust fell from the stone walls, and an unsettling atmosphere filled the air.
A strange smile appeared on Blackbeard’s twisted face, as if he had expected this scene to happen.
“Haha, you think you can win by getting the fragments? Too naive! The real threat is still to come!” His voice echoed in the empty ruins with a sense of gloating.
Along with Blackbeard’s warning, a huge figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
It was a monster formed by pure star core energy. It had no specific shape. It was like a mass of constantly wriggling black mist, or a terrifying aggregate of countless tentacles entangled together.
Its size was so huge that it almost occupied the entire space, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
The monster’s eyes were two balls of burning blue flames, like will-o’-the-wisp fire from hell, cold and merciless.
Its gaze, as if substantial, was fixed firmly on Lin Zhan’s team, with an undisguised hostility.
Lin Zhan frowned. He could feel the powerful energy emanating from this monster, which far exceeded any enemy he had encountered before.
This energy contains an ancient and mysterious power, as if it comes from the depths of the universe.
“It seems that this is the real guardian of the ruins.” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and serious. His eyes were fixed on the huge star core monster, and his heart was full of vigilance.
He knew that the next battle would be more difficult than the previous one.
Princess Vivi tightly grasped the staff in her hand, Ace’s whole body was burning with even more intense flames, and Zhongli also silently condensed the power of the rock element.
They all felt the huge threat posed by this star core monster and were ready to fight to the death.
“Get ready for a fight, this big guy is not easy to deal with!” Lin Zhan signaled to everyone with his eyes, and at the same time tightly grasped the star core fragment in his hand. He could feel that the enormous power contained in the fragment was resonating with the ruins. Perhaps this power could be the key to their counterattack.
Suddenly, the huge star core monster let out a deafening roar, the sound was like rolling thunder, instantly tearing apart the tranquility of the entire ruins…
Chapter 161 The Guardian’s Trial (Old Version)
The deafening roar, like an ancient roar coming from the depths of the universe, instantly tore apart the tranquility of the ruins.
The huge star core monster, waving its tentacles as thick as mountains, launched a fierce attack on Lin Zhan’s team with a momentum to destroy the world.
Wherever the tentacles passed, the space seemed to be distorted and deformed, and a suffocating feeling of oppression filled the air.
“Disperse! Be careful to dodge!” Lin Zhan’s voice was still clear and powerful amid the roar. While quickly retreating, he directed his team members to disperse and avoid being affected by the monster’s area attacks.
Zhongli’s face was solemn, and he quickly formed seals with his hands. The golden power of rock element surged around his body, quickly constructing a solid rock wall to try to withstand the first wave of attacks from the monsters.
“Thousand Rocks are solid!” He shouted in a low voice, and ancient runes appeared on the rock wall, flashing with golden light.
The tentacles collided with the rock wall, making a deafening noise, and the entire ruins began to tremble violently.
Although the rock wall was solid, cracks soon appeared under the monster’s violent attack, with gravel flying and dust filling the air.
Lin Zhan frowned. He could feel the terrifying power contained in this monster, which was far beyond any enemy he had encountered before.
“Simple defense is not a solution, we must find its weakness!”
Princess Weiwei calmly observed the monster’s attack pattern. She discovered that there would be a momentary pause after each attack, and the flashing frequency of a star core crystal on its chest would increase significantly.
“Lin Zhan, I found that its core energy seems to come from the star core crystal in its chest! If we can concentrate our firepower there, we may be able to severely damage it!”
“Good idea! But the prerequisite is that someone has to hold back the attacks from other parts of the beast.” Lin Zhan’s eyes fell on Ace, “Ace, the main attack mission is now left to you!”
“No problem! I’ll show you the true power of the Flame-Flame Fruit!” Ace’s entire body burned with blazing flames, like a god of war reborn from the ashes.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, tightly grasped the star core fragment in his hand, and activated the rule editing authority.
“Nuo-Nuo Fruit·Dragon Form·Speed MAX!” His body instantly transformed into a gigantic oriental dragon, moving at a speed so fast that it was almost impossible to capture with the naked eye. It flexibly shuttled between the monster’s tentacles, restraining its movements.
Blackbeard, hiding in the dark, watched all this coldly, with a sinister smile on his lips.
“Lin Zhan, you are just clearing obstacles for me! Once I get the star core, the whole world will surrender to me!”
Ace used the power of lava to continuously bombard the star core crystal on the monster’s chest, but each attack would cause a violent energy rebound, and the shock wave would vibrate, putting the entire team under tremendous pressure.
“Hold on, Ace! Zhongli, cover!” Lin Zhan shouted commands while dodging the tentacles’ attacks.
Zhongli understood what he meant and quickly used rock elements to build a passage leading to the monster’s chest, providing Ace with a more accurate attack route.
“Heaven shakes everything!” He shouted softly, and huge rock pillars rose from the ground, temporarily blocking the monster’s tentacles.
Seizing this opportunity, Ace condensed the power of lava into a huge fireball and smashed it hard into the monster’s chest.
With a loud bang, cracks finally appeared in the core of the monster, but it did not fall down. Instead, it erupted with even more violent power, and its body expanded several times in size, almost filling the entire space of the ruins.
“Not good! Retreat quickly!” Lin Zhan made a prompt decision and ordered everyone to retreat to a higher place.
At this moment, Lin Zhan made a bold decision.
He activated the rules editing authority again, “Everyone’s ability will be improved!”
A large amount of points were consumed, but the team members’ combat effectiveness soared instantly, and everyone felt that their bodies were filled with unprecedented power.
“Now! Attack with all your strength!” Lin Zhan’s voice was full of determination. He turned into a golden light and rushed towards the monster first.
Under the joint attack of the team, the monster’s final struggle gradually subsided…
At this moment, Blackbeard moved…
Just as the star core monster let out its last wail, its huge body collapsed and turned into specks of starlight and dissipated, a black shadow jumped out from the shadows like a ghost and pounced towards the fallen core crystal!
Blackbeard’s greedy eyes were fixed on the crystal that was emitting bright light, as if he saw the supreme power waving to him.
However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the crystal, there was a sudden noise from under his feet, the ground cracked, and countless energy chains sprang out from the ground, binding him tightly!
“Damn it! What is this?!” Blackbeard roared, and the power of darkness surged around him, trying to break free from the restraints.
This was exactly what Lin Zhan had expected. He had already used the mechanisms of the ruins to set up this invisible trap.
“Hmph, a mere trifle!” Blackbeard snorted coldly, and the power of darkness exploded, and the energy chains broke apart piece by piece.
Although he was trapped for a moment, he also missed the best opportunity to seize the core crystal.
Lin Zhan had already grasped the core crystal firmly in his hand. The golden light flickered on his face, reflecting his determined eyes.
“Do you think you can stop me like this? Lin Zhan!” After breaking free from his restraints, Blackbeard said this. His figure flashed and merged into the shadows, disappearing without a trace.
The ruins returned to peace again, with only scattered rubble and diffuse dust silently telling of the fierce battle that just happened.
Lin Zhan clenched the core crystal in his hand, feeling the powerful energy contained in it, and whispered: “This is just the beginning, our contest is not over yet…” He turned around and walked towards the exit of the ruins, his back looking particularly tall under the starlight.
Chapter 162: Choice in the Rift (Old Version)
“call–“
On the deck of the flagship “Void”, the sea breeze was howling, blowing up the strands of hair on Lin Zhan’s forehead.
He took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze, but his thoughts drifted to the core crystal in his hand that was shining with strange light.
This thing might be the key to overthrowing the world government, or it might be a time bomb. Who knows?
“Report to the captain, the core members have arrived.” Princess Weiwei’s voice was crisp and firm, interrupting Lin Zhan’s thoughts.
In the conference room, Dr. Roland pushed his glasses on his nose with a serious expression.
“Preliminary test results show that this crystal contains extremely powerful unknown energy. The frequency of fluctuations is very similar to that of a devil fruit, or even… stronger.” She paused, with a barely perceptible tremor in her tone. “If not handled properly, it may lead to unpredictable catastrophic consequences.”
“Catastrophic consequences? How serious are they?” Lin Zhan raised his eyebrows, with a hint of cynicism in his tone.
“Well, for example… space collapse? Time reversal? Or… just blowing the entire planet into cosmic dust?” Dr. Roland shrugged, trying to hide her inner uneasiness with a relaxed tone, but the slightly trembling lenses still exposed her true emotions.
“Oh my god, is this such a big deal?” Lin Zhan touched his chin and fell into deep thought.
Zhongli, the guardian from an alien civilization, spoke up for the first time: “Based on my experience, this energy fluctuation is likely related to the core of the star. If this is the case, then its power is enough to destroy a galaxy, or even… more.” His calm tone was chilling.
“Let’s stabilize it first.” Lin Zhan finally made the decision, “Dr. Roland, your task is to stabilize the state of the crystal as much as possible and try to analyze the information contained in it. Zhongli, you will assist Dr. Roland and provide technical support.”
At this moment, Lin Zhan’s private communicator suddenly rang.
A familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared on the screen—former Navy Admiral, Sengoku.
“Marshal Zhan Guo? What a rare guest, what can I do for you?” Lin Zhan answered the call with a hint of teasing in his tone.
Zhan Guo’s expression was solemn and he paid no attention to Lin Zhan’s joke.
“Lin Zhan, I must tell you something, something that concerns the fate of the world. The top leaders of the world government… have long known about the existence of alien civilizations. They have been secretly studying the energy of star cores, trying to weaponize it and establish absolute rule.”
Lin Zhan was silent for a moment, his eyes gradually becoming fierce. “So, are you warning me?”
“No, I just… don’t want you to go down the wrong path.” Zhan Guo’s voice was low and hoarse, as if he was suppressing some strong emotions. “If you continue to investigate in depth, you may uncover more dark truths, and even… endanger the entire world.”
“Oh, endangering the world?” Lin Zhan sneered, “Isn’t the world dangerous now? The world government’s ‘technological hegemony’, the arrogance and debauchery of the Celestial Dragons, the corruption and incompetence of the navy… Aren’t these threats?”
“I know the justice in your heart, but some things… cannot be changed by you.” Zhan Guo sighed, his tone full of helplessness.
“Can’t change it? Then I’ll break it!” Lin Zhan’s eyes were burning with fire, “No matter what the cost, we can’t let power fall into the hands of the wrong people!”
After the communication ended, Lin Zhan immediately gathered the team and informed everyone of Zhan Guo’s intelligence.
“It seems that we must speed up our actions.” Lin Zhan looked at everyone and said firmly, “Zhongli, based on the runes on the stone tablet, you speculated that there may be a complete laboratory deep in the ruins for studying star core energy. We must find it and uncover all the truth!”
“Weiwei, you will stay on the flagship and coordinate logistics and intelligence work. If you find any abnormal situation, notify us immediately.” Lin Zhan turned his head and looked at Princess Weiwei.
“Yes, Captain!” Princess Weiwei saluted with a standard military salute.
Deep in the ruins of the Valley of the Gods, the air is dull and depressing.
Lin Zhan and his group moved forward cautiously, and every step was full of unknown dangers.
“It’s here!” Zhongli pointed to a huge stone door in front of him, with a hint of excitement in his tone.
The stone door slowly opened, revealing a laboratory hidden in the darkness.
In the laboratory, various instruments and equipment are well preserved, as if time has stopped here.
“Oh my God…” Dr. Roland couldn’t help but exclaimed as he looked at everything in front of him.
Lin Zhan walked to a huge display screen and pressed the start button.
The screen flickered a few times, and a video clip began to play.
In the video, a group of researchers in white coats are conducting an experiment.
On the experimental table, a bound civilian was struggling in pain.
The researchers stuffed a fruit that shone with a strange light into the mouths of civilians, and the civilians’ bodies began to undergo drastic changes…
“Is this… a devil fruit experiment?!” Dr. Roland exclaimed.
The video continued to play and the scene switched to a conference room.
In the conference room, several people in black suits were discussing something intensely.
“The experiment failed. The energy of the star core is too unstable and we cannot control it.”
“We must find new test subjects to continue our research!”
“The Celestial Dragons have agreed. They will provide enough experimental subjects.”
“For the future of the world government, all sacrifices are worth it!”
The image stopped abruptly, and the laboratory fell into silence.
“It turns out… the World Government already knew the truth about the Devil Fruit…” Dr. Roland muttered to himself.
“They…actually used civilians for experiments…” Princess Vivi clenched her fists, her nails digging deeply into the flesh.
Lin Zhan’s face was terribly gloomy. He walked to another computer without saying a word and began to interpret the experimental data.
At this moment, the system prompt sounded suddenly: “Warning! High-energy reaction detected! Host, please evacuate immediately!” Lin Zhan’s fingers tapped the keyboard rapidly, his eyes fixed on the complex data stream on the screen, trying to find more clues about the energy of the star core.
Suddenly, a shrill alarm broke the silence of the laboratory, and the red lights flashed wildly, making people feel nervous.
“Warning! An unknown signal is detected approaching! Danger level: extremely high!”
Lin Zhan looked up suddenly and saw a twisted crack appearing out of nowhere on the top of the ruins, like a giant open eye, releasing a suffocating feeling of oppression.
The bright light made it impossible to open one’s eyes. A strange burnt smell filled the air, and there was a buzzing in one’s ears, as if the entire space was vibrating.
“This is…” Zhongli’s expression suddenly changed, and a trace of fear appeared on his usually calm face. “An alien civilization’s… recall device? Oh no, they want to recycle the energy here!”
Dr. Roland exclaimed: “Once activated, the entire ruins will be destroyed! It may even cause space collapse!”
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and felt the oppressive feeling brought by the unknown signal, like countless fine needles piercing his skin, making his scalp numb.
He stared at the crack, feeling a strong sense of crisis in his heart.
Princess Weiwei’s communication request came in an urgent voice: “Captain, the flagship has detected a large amount of unknown energy fluctuations around the ruins! It is suspected that the World Government fleet is on its way!”
Attacked from both sides!
He knew that a decision had to be made now.
Should we destroy this crack to prevent the alien civilization from “recycling”, or try to communicate with it and find out the truth?
There was dead silence in the laboratory, and everyone’s eyes were focused on Lin Zhan, waiting for his instructions.
Lin Zhan stood in front of the crack and felt the oppression brought by the unknown signal.
He asked in a low voice: “Zhongli, do you know…”
Chapter 163 The Cost of Rift Decision (Old Version)
Lin Zhan stood in front of the crack that was constantly twisting and flashing with strange light. The oppressive feeling that seemed to come from the distant starry sky was like an invisible hand, tightly strangling his throat and making it difficult for him to breathe.
He could feel the blood in his body stirring restlessly, as if some unknown being was trying to establish contact with him.
He lowered his voice, with a barely perceptible urgency in his tone: “Zhongli, are you sure this… is really a recall device? It’s not something done by the World Government?”
Zhongli nodded solemnly, and his usually calm face was now shrouded in a layer of faint gloom.
She slowly raised her hand, with a wisp of ochre-colored rock elements lingering on her fingertips, and carefully touched the edge of the crack.
“Be careful!” Princess Vivi’s voice came from the communicator, with obvious worry.
However, Weiwei’s reminder was still a step too late.
At the moment when Zhongli’s rock element touched the crack, the crack seemed to be stimulated by something, and the energy fluctuations suddenly intensified, like a sleeping giant beast suddenly opening its eyes.
“hiss–“
Zhongli gasped and quickly withdrew his hand, a look of pain on his face.
Her fingertips trembled slightly, as if they were burned by some high-energy rays.
“How is it?” Lin Zhan immediately stepped forward to support her.
Zhongli shook his head, indicating that he was fine, but his tone became more serious: “This energy… is very dangerous. If we destroy it by force, I am worried that it will cause the ruins to collapse, or even… cause space distortion. But if we try to communicate, the consequences are equally unpredictable.”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm.
He knew that any wrong decision now could lead to an irreparable disaster.
At this moment, Dr. Roland’s voice came from the direction of the laboratory, with a hint of excitement and a hint of uneasiness: “Captain! I found some new clues by analyzing the data of the core crystal!”
Lin Zhan immediately turned around and walked quickly towards the laboratory.
Dr. Roland was standing in front of a pile of complicated instruments, his eyes fixed on the data on the screen, his face full of concentration.
“I found that the energy frequency of this crack is highly consistent with the fluctuations inside the core crystal!” She pointed at the two constantly jumping curves on the screen and said quickly, “I speculate that this may be a two-way communication device used to summon alien civilizations to return. But once activated, it may attract other unknown forces to intervene. At that time…”
Dr. Roland didn’t continue speaking, but Lin Zhan already understood what she meant.
This is not just a recall device, but more like a signal transmitter. Once activated, it may bring countless unknown dangers.
Lin Zhan frowned tightly. He had to make a decision as soon as possible.
“Weiwei,” he picked up the communicator and said in a steady tone, “Immediately seal the entrance to the crack and prevent anyone from approaching. Also, try to contact Zhan Guo, we need more information about this ruins.”
“Understood!” Princess Vivi’s voice came from the communicator, with a hint of efficiency.
While Princess Weiwei was carrying out orders, Lin Zhan was also quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
The World Government has always been secretive about the origin of Devil Fruits, and this recall device of an alien civilization may very well be hiding the truth about Devil Fruits.
He couldn’t let the World Government continue to hide the truth, but he couldn’t act blindly and put himself and his partners in danger.
The best way is to stabilize the situation first, obtain as much information as possible, and then make a final decision.
Not long after, Zhan Guo hurried to the ruins site.
He was still wearing his iconic navy uniform, but the expression on his face looked particularly solemn.
He walked up to Lin Zhan and said in a serious tone: “Lin Zhan, do you know what you are doing? This crack… is very dangerous!”
Lin Zhan looked at Zhan Guo with a complicated emotion in his eyes.
He knew that Zhan Guo was truly doing this for his own good, but he also had his own persistence.
“I know,” Lin Zhan nodded and said calmly, “but I can’t turn a blind eye. The World Government has concealed too many truths, and this crack may be the key to unlocking the truth.”
Zhan Guo sighed, shook his head, and a helpless look appeared on his face.
“The top leaders of the World Government have tried to research similar devices many times, but each time they failed due to technological limitations,” Zhan Guo said slowly, “They are full of fear and desire for this power. If you choose to activate it, it may lead to an uncontrollable situation, or even…”
Zhan Guo didn’t continue speaking, but Lin Zhan already understood what he meant.
He raised his head and looked at the crack that was constantly flickering.
“We can’t let the world government continue to conceal the truth, but we can’t act blindly either,” Lin Zhan said slowly, “I decided to try to crack the signal logic in the crack first, instead of activating it directly.”
Zhan Guo was silent for a moment, and finally nodded.
“Okay, since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t say anything more. But you have to remember, if the situation gets out of control, give up immediately and save your life.”
Lin Zhan nodded to show that he understood.
Under Zhan Guo’s gaze, Lin Zhan slowly walked to the crack, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
He began to mobilize the power of rules in his body, trying to establish a connection with the unknown energy in the crack.
In order to crack the signal, Lin Zhan used the rule editing authority to adjust his own abilities and increase the perception of the Dragon Form of the Nuo Nuo Fruit to the limit.
He seemed to have turned into a huge radar, capturing the subtle changes in the cracks and trying to interpret the information contained therein.
As time passed, beads of sweat began to appear on Lin Zhan’s forehead.
He felt as if his brain was about to explode. Countless disorganized information poured in, giving him a splitting headache.
But he didn’t give up, he knew he had to persevere.
Finally, after some effort, he successfully deciphered some of the information.
Behind the cracks, there seems to be an organization called the “Star Core Council”.
They were once the main executors of alien experiments, responsible for spreading devil fruits on various planets and observing the evolution of life forms.
However, just as the team was preparing for further analysis, the crack suddenly released a strong energy shock, like an invisible hammer, smashing hard at everyone.
“Not good!” Lin Zhan’s face suddenly changed and he shouted, “Get out of the way!”
But it was too late.
The speed of the energy impact was so fast that it instantly knocked everyone back several meters and slammed them hard against the wall of the laboratory.
There was chaos in the laboratory, with instruments being shaken all over the place and sparks flying.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden change and was unable to move for a moment.
At this critical moment, Zhongli reacted quickly. She formed seals with her hands and chanted something. A series of earth-yellow rock elements rose from the ground and quickly formed a solid protective barrier in front of everyone, blocking the subsequent shock waves…
Dust filled the air, sirens blared, and a smell of burning mixed with the stench of metal filled the air.
Lin Zhan stood up shakily, holding on to the wall. His ears were buzzing, as if a hundred bees were flapping their wings frantically.
He shook his head, trying to wake himself up, and the world in front of him gradually became clear from blurry.
The crack became more active, like a greedy giant mouth, flashing with eerie purple light, as if it wanted to devour everything.
He felt a strong sense of oppression, like a giant beast in the deep sea slowly opening its eyes, suffocating.
“Cough cough…” Lin Zhan coughed out a mouthful of bloody saliva, looked at the crack with a serious gaze, and growled in a hoarse voice: “It seems that there is no turning back for our choice.” He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, with a determination in his eyes.
“Roland, check the equipment! Weiwei, contact Zhan Guo and ask for support! Zhongli, get ready… wait!” Lin Zhan suddenly stopped, an inexplicable chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
A vague whisper came from the depths of the crack, like a whisper in the ear, or like a call from the distant starry sky.
The sound became clearer and clearer, carrying an ancient and mysterious power that made people shudder.
“Mortals, are you willing to bear the consequences?” The air in the laboratory seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath at the same time, their eyes fixed on the strange crack.
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly, and a strong sense of uneasiness surged into his heart.
He subconsciously clenched his fists, and beads of sweat oozed from his palms.
Chapter 164: Trial of the Star Core Council (Old Version)
The whisper, as if coming from the depths of the universe, echoed in the laboratory with eternal chill and pressure.
“Mortals, are you willing to bear the consequences?” Every word was like a heavy hammer hitting everyone’s heart. The air seemed to be stagnant and breathing became difficult.
Lin Zhan felt his throat dry, and an inexplicable fear spread from the bottom of his heart, but he suppressed this uneasiness. He took a deep breath, forced himself to look directly at the crack that was flashing with strange purple light, and responded in a firm tone: “We have no intention of offending, we just want to know the truth.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling beam of light suddenly shot out from the crack, completely covering Lin Zhan and his group.
The beam of light was not scorching, but a strange energy fluctuation, like countless tiny tentacles moving around their bodies, scanning everything about them.
“What’s going on?” Zhongli’s voice was a little nervous. She subconsciously tightened the weapon in her hand and looked around vigilantly.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and his brain worked rapidly, analyzing the current situation.
“It may be some kind of scanning or verification mechanism,” he said in a deep voice, “Relax and stay alert.”
The beam of light lasted for a few seconds before suddenly disappearing, and the surrounding scene changed drastically.
The laboratory disappeared, replaced by a vast starry sky. Countless glowing runes floated around like fireflies, flashing mysterious light.
An illusory figure slowly emerged, tall and exuding an awe-inspiring aura.
It seemed to be made of starlight, its face was blurred, but its voice was clearly heard by everyone: “Mortal, your actions have touched the forbidden area. If you want to move forward, you must accept our test.”
The phantom who claimed to be the messenger of the Star Core Council spoke in a cold tone without a trace of emotion, as if he was reading out eternal and unchanging laws.
Lin Zhan frowned slightly, realizing that this might be the only chance to get more information.
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded and agreed: “I accept your trial.”
The messenger nodded slightly, and the runes around him began to rotate rapidly, eventually forming a huge vortex that emitted heart-pounding energy fluctuations.
“The content of the trial is simple,” the emissary’s cold voice sounded again, “Find the exit and get out alive.”
Before he could finish his words, Lin Zhan and the others were sucked into the vortex. Their eyes went dark, and when they regained their vision, they found themselves in a maze composed entirely of star core energy.
The walls of the maze flickered with a faint blue light, rising and falling like breathing, and a strange energy fluctuation filled the air, making people feel dizzy.
Princess Weiwei carefully observed her surroundings, her eyes falling on the flickering runes on the wall.
“These runes… seem to be an ancient language,” she pondered. “According to my guess, the core area of the maze should contain an important video recording the key reason for the failure of the alien experiment.”
“Video material?” Lin Zhan
“I’ll go ahead and explore the way,” Lin Zhan said decisively. “Zhongli, you’ll be responsible for protecting Weiwei and Roland. Roland, you focus on breaking the mechanism.”
The maze is full of dangers, with various energy storms and illusion traps emerging one after another.
Relying on his authority to edit rules, Lin Zhan increased his speed to the extreme, moving flexibly in dangerous areas and opening up a safe passage for the team.
Roland, with his rich scientific knowledge, successfully cracked a complex energy lock and opened the door to the core area.
However, when they finally arrived at the core area, they found that the image data was protected by an encryption barrier that required a specific key to decrypt.
“Damn it,” Lin Zhan cursed in a low voice, “It seems that things are not that simple.” He stared at the barrier that was flashing with complex runes, his brain working rapidly, thinking about how to break it… At this moment, the maze suddenly vibrated violently, and the runes above his head began to flash wildly, making a harsh buzzing sound… “What’s going on?!” Zhongli exclaimed.
Just as Lin Zhan was racking his brains, trying to find a clue to crack the key from the pile of complicated runes, the entire maze suddenly began to shake violently as if it had epilepsy!
The runes above the head, which had been in regular order before, now seemed to be going crazy, flashing madly. The buzzing sound they made was enough to pierce the eardrums and make one’s scalp numb.
“The time has come. Your choice will determine your fate.” The messenger of the Star Core Council, the phantom formed by starlight, suddenly appeared in front of them again, and his tone was still cold and emotionless.
His empty eyes seemed to be able to penetrate everything and look directly into Lin Zhan’s soul.
“Remember, the truth is not always redemptive.”
After the messenger left these meaningful and even a little weird words, he disappeared like bubbles.
Lin Zhan clenched his fists tightly, and his knuckles turned white from the force.
He took a deep breath, tried his best to suppress the uneasiness in his heart, and whispered: “No matter what, we must find the answer!”
The maze began to vibrate more and more violently. Spider-web-like cracks began to appear on the walls. The faint blue light also became flickering, and it was possible for it to collapse at any time.
“We can’t wait any longer! We have to leave here as soon as possible!” Zhongli’s voice was filled with a hint of anxiety. She could feel that the energy fluctuations around her were becoming more and more unstable, as if something terrible was about to explode.
“But the key…” Princess Weiwei frowned, she was unwilling to give up like this.
Lin Zhan decisively interrupted her: “Compared to the key, it is more important to survive now! Evacuate first, and then find a solution later!”
However, just as they were about to evacuate, Roland suddenly stopped, her eyes fixed on the encrypted barrier, an almost obsessive look on her face.
“Wait… I think… I understand…” She muttered to herself, reaching out her hand and touching a rune on the barrier with trembling hands.
Chapter 165: The Dark Tide of the Key Competition (Old Version)
The collapse of the maze was more severe than expected.
Amid a deafening roar, faint blue light splashed like broken stars, and the walls twisted and broke, as if the internal organs of a giant beast had been turned inside out.
Lin Zhan felt dizzy, his feet missed a step, and his body fell uncontrollably.
When he regained consciousness, Lin Zhan found himself back in the entrance hall of the ruins.
The strong smell of dust filled my nose, my ears were buzzing, and my vision was a little blurry.
He shook his head, trying to wake himself up.
Looking around, Zhongli, Weiwei and Roland were also there, but they all looked a little disheveled.
“Ahem…what happened?” Princess Vivi leaned against the wall, her pretty face covered in dust, looking a little haggard.
“Damn it! We were teleported back!” Zhongli cursed softly. The spear in her hand flashed with the light of rock elements, ready to fight at any time.
Just then, a creepy laugh broke the silence in the hall.
“Hahahaha! Lin Zhan, do you think I will let you guys have the truth to yourself?”
Lin Zhan looked up suddenly and saw Blackbeard standing in front of the crack at the entrance of the ruins, holding a piece of debris emitting a strange light in his hand. The light flickered, rhythmically moving like breathing, making people feel uneasy.
“Blackbeard!” Lin Zhan gritted his teeth and spat out the name, clenching his fists tightly.
He immediately understood that Blackbeard had been lurking nearby, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
“This key is the key!” Blackbeard raised the fragment in his hand. He did not rush to attack, but moved the fragment close to the crack, trying to activate the remaining energy in the crack.
The faint blue light on the crack began to become more dazzling, as if it would burst out at any time.
“We can’t let him succeed!” Lin Zhan acted decisively and activated the ability of his fruit, “Nuo-Nuo Fruit·Dragon Form!” His body quickly expanded and turned into a gigantic Nuo-Nuo dragon, its scales gleaming with a metallic luster.
“Maximum defense!” Lin Zhan roared, and the defense of the Glutinous Fruit was increased to the extreme, forming an indestructible barrier, blocking the crack and preventing the spread of energy.
“Zhongli, block the entrance!” Lin Zhan shouted the order while resisting the increasingly violent energy impact in the crack.
Zhongli understood what he meant, and with a wave of the spear in his hand, the power of rock element surged, and huge rock pillars rose from the ground, completely blocking the entrance to the ruins and cutting off Blackbeard’s retreat.
“Weiwei, activate the ruins mechanism!” Lin Zhan ordered again.
Princess Weiwei nodded and quickly came to the control console in the center of the hall. Her slender fingers moved rapidly on the complex runes, trying to control the mechanisms in the ruins, creating chaos and giving them a chance to fight back.
The key fragment in Blackbeard’s hand emitted a strange light, enhancing his abilities.
He easily resolved Lin Zhan’s attack, and the gravity of darkness twisted and swallowed everything around him.
“Hahahaha! Lin Zhan, your strength is still too weak!” Blackbeard laughed wildly, his figure flickering in the shadows, making it difficult to grasp.
The situation is becoming increasingly unfavorable for Lin Zhan’s side.
At this moment, Roland’s voice came: “I have cracked the energy structure of the key fragment! It resonates with the core crystal!”
Lin Zhan’s heart moved, and he immediately understood what Roland meant: “You want to use resonance to interfere with Blackbeard’s power?”
“That’s right! As long as I activate the core crystal, I can disrupt the energy of the key fragment and make Blackbeard unable to control it!” Roland said in a firm tone.
“Okay! I’ll attract his attention, you hurry up!” Lin Zhan decisively adopted Roland’s suggestion.
He took a deep breath and launched another attack to attract Blackbeard’s attention.
Blackbeard was attracted by Lin Zhan’s attack and did not notice Roland’s actions.
Roland lost no time, placed the core crystal on the console, and activated the resonance device.
The core crystal glowed brightly and resonated with the key fragments, sending a powerful energy wave sweeping across the entire hall.
“What’s going on?!” The key fragment in Blackbeard’s hand suddenly vibrated violently, and the light flickered, as if it would explode at any time.
“Now!” Lin Zhan seized the opportunity and led Zhongli and Princess Weiwei to launch a fierce attack.
Blackbeard was caught off guard and was thrown off balance by this sudden turn of events.
The key fragment in his hand finally lost control and exploded with a strong energy shock.
Lin Zhan took the opportunity to seize the key fragment and quickly withdrew to the team line.
Although Blackbeard was in a mess, he did not give up.
He sneered: “Even if you get the key, you can’t uncover the truth!” Before he finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the shadows, leaving only meaningful words echoing in the empty hall.
“Even if I get the key… I can’t uncover the truth…” Lin Zhan repeated this sentence, with an uneasy premonition rising in his heart.
He tightly grasped the key fragment in his hand and felt a cold energy seeping out from the fragment, as if warning him of something…
After returning to the “Void” flagship, Lin Zhan immediately summoned the core members.
The air in the operations conference room was as heavy as a piece of moldy bread.
“Roland, can the video data of the key be cracked?” Lin Zhan rubbed his eyebrows, his knuckles aching slightly. It was really tough when he had a head-on confrontation with Blackbeard just now.
Roland pushed up her glasses on the bridge of her nose. The lenses reflected the faint blue light of the screen, making her determined eyes look even deeper.
“The encryption method of the key is very complicated. Preliminary judgment is that it is the technology of some ancient civilization. I need more time.” As she spoke, her fingers flew on the keyboard, and lines of code poured down like waterfalls.
Princess Weiwei marked a few red dots on the map with a frown on her face.
“According to intelligence, the World Government’s fleet is approaching us, and… Blackbeard’s traces have also appeared nearby.” She spoke in a serious tone, and pressed her finger harder on the map, as if to poke through the red dots.
“It seems that a fierce battle is inevitable.”
Zhongli stood quietly by the side, stroking the handle of the spear in her hand. The energy of the rock element fluctuated slightly around her, like an invisible shield.
“When enemies come, we will fight them with our soldiers; when floods come, we will block them with earth.” Her words were concise and to the point, but they exuded a reassuring power.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and was about to start laying out his battle plan when suddenly, a shrill alarm sounded throughout the entire flagship.
“Warning! Multiple fleets are detected approaching rapidly.” The system’s electronic sound was cold and mechanical, like a sharp knife cutting through the heavy air.
Lin Zhan stood up suddenly, an ominous premonition coming to his mind.
He walked quickly to the porthole, squinted his eyes and looked into the distance.
On the sea surface, several black spots were rapidly enlarging, like a group of bloodthirsty sharks, rushing towards the “Void”.
“It seems… the good show is about to begin…” Lin Zhan curled his lips into a sneer, with a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.
He turned abruptly and grabbed his coat which was on the table.
“Notify all crew members and prepare for battle!”
Chapter 166 The Approaching Fleet and the Secret of the Key (Old Version)
Lin Zhan stood up suddenly, and the ominous premonition in his heart became stronger.
The electronic sound of the system was still echoing in his ears, like a cold nail, hammering at his nerves.
He strode onto the deck with big strides. The cold sea breeze, carrying a salty and humid smell, blew in his face, making his clothes rustle.
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance.
The originally empty sea surface now looked as if it had been splashed with ink, with countless black shadows appearing in spots.
Those black spots were enlarging at an alarming speed, gradually revealing a hideous outline – it was a fleet, a huge and menacing fleet!
Princess Weiwei also hurried to the deck. She had already raised the telescope in her hand and was carefully observing the movements of the enemy fleet.
Putting down the telescope, she knitted her delicate brows tightly together and said in a serious tone: “They are standard warships of the World Government, at least twenty of them. And… I also saw the flags of several pirate ships, one of which is… the flag of the Spade Pirates!”
“Spades?” Lin Zhan’s”
Princess Weiwei nodded and continued to analyze: “According to intelligence, Blackbeard has been secretly accumulating strength and trying to win over pirate forces. These pirate ships are likely allies he has summoned. Their purpose… is probably the same as ours, all for the key and video data.”
“For the key…?” Lin Zhan repeated in a low voice, and then sneered, “It seems that we have to solve the current troubles first, so that we can study those images with peace of mind.”
He took a deep breath, suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart, and decisively issued an order: “Zhongli, use your ability to block the sea area around the flagship and restrict the actions of the enemy fleet. Roland, activate the electromagnetic pulse device and try to paralyze the power system of the enemy ship.”
Upon hearing this, Zhongli took action immediately.
She slowly raised her right hand, and in her palm, the energy of the rock element began to gather crazily.
Yellow-brown light flickered around her, like countless tiny grains of sand flying in the air.
With her low shout, huge rocks rose from the ground, forming an indestructible barrier around the “Void”.
On the sea surface, countless rock pillars emerged like mushrooms after a rain, dividing the sea into countless pieces, like a huge maze.
At the same time, Roland also rushed into the laboratory.
She operated various instruments skillfully, her fingers tapping quickly on the keyboard.
Soon, blue arcs of electricity shot out from the instrument and were injected into the electromagnetic pulse device of the “Void”.
As Roland pressed the start button, an invisible electromagnetic wave instantly spread out, covering the surrounding sea area.
The battle officially begins at this moment!
The enemy fleet did not seem to expect Lin Zhan and his men to take such tough defensive measures.
They rushed around in the rock maze like headless flies, and their speed was greatly reduced.
Some unlucky ships even crashed directly into the rocks, making a deafening noise.
“Attack! Attack with all your strength! Destroy these damn stones!” the commander of the enemy fleet roared in frustration.
Countless shells streaked through the sky, pouring down towards the Void and the surrounding rock barriers.
The sounds of explosions, crashes, and waves mixed together and were deafening.
The entire sea surface was boiling, as if the end of the world was coming.
Lin Zhan stood on the deck, his eyes sharp as torches, staring closely at the movements of the enemy fleet.
The energy of the Glutinous Rice Fruit in his body began to surge wildly, wrapping his body in a layer of faint white light.
He growled and activated his rule editing ability, increasing the speed of the Dragon Form of the Nut-Nut Fruit to the limit.
The next second, he turned into a white lightning and shuttled between enemy ships.
He was like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace.
Sometimes he appeared on the deck of an enemy ship and kicked the panicked pirates away; sometimes he appeared next to the enemy ship’s gun turret and smashed the cannons into pieces.
Lin Zhan’s speed was so fast that the enemy couldn’t catch sight of him at all.
He was like a ruthless reaper, constantly reaping the lives of his enemies.
Of course, Lin Zhan’s main purpose was not killing.
The reason why he worked so hard to create chaos was to attract enemy firepower and buy more time for Zhongli and Roland.
Only if Zhongli’s rock barrier can last longer and only if Roland’s electromagnetic pulse can play a greater role, they can better deal with the next crisis.
However, just as the situation was gradually stabilizing, an accident occurred.
An enemy ship disguised as a merchant ship suddenly rushed out from the rear of the fleet.
Unlike other ships, it did not blindly attack the “Void”, but approached silently until it was only a few hundred meters away from the “Void”, then it suddenly revealed its hideous face.
“Fire! Fire!” the commander of the enemy ship roared madly.
The next second, countless tracking missiles whizzed out from the enemy ship’s launch pad, dragging long tails of flames, heading straight for the vital points of the “Void”.
These tracking missiles are extremely fast and powerful. If they are hit, the consequences will be disastrous.
“Not good!” Lin Zhan’s face changed suddenly.
He wanted to stop the missiles, but it was too late.
At this critical moment, Zhongli attacked again.
She concentrated all of her rock elemental energy and built a huge rock barrier in front of the Void.
The tracking missile hit the rock barrier hard, making an earth-shattering explosion.
Rocks flew everywhere and waves surged into the sky.
Although the rock barrier blocked the direct impact of the missile, the shock wave generated by the explosion still caused serious damage to the Void.
The entire flagship shook violently, making a teeth-grinding creaking sound.
At the same time, in the laboratory, Roland was also making his final sprint.
She stared at the screen in front of her with full concentration, her fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard.
Her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat and her face was pale, but her eyes were extremely determined.
“The structure of the key has been analyzed almost completely.” Roland’s voice was a little hoarse, but full of excitement. “I found that there is a piece of encrypted information hidden inside the key. This piece of information is likely to directly point to the decoding method of the video data!”
“Really?” Lin Zhan was immediately cheered up when he heard that.
While dodging the enemy’s attacks, he asked, “So what should we do now?”
“We need to activate the energy fluctuations in the key.” Roland explained, “Only by activating the energy fluctuations in the key can we temporarily unlock part of the content of the image.”
“Okay, I’ll go over to help you right away.” Lin Zhan said decisively.
He temporarily handed over the battlefield to Princess Vivi and rushed to the laboratory as quickly as possible.
Under Roland’s guidance, Lin Zhan carefully injected the energy of the Nuo Nuo Fruit into the key.
As energy was injected, the key began to emit a faint light, and a mysterious wave spread from it.
“Success!” Roland shouted excitedly.
The next second, video footage began playing on the laboratory screen.
However, the video footage is incomplete, with intermittent and blurry images.
“Damn it, not enough energy. I can only unlock this much temporarily!” Roland said in annoyance.
At this moment, the image suddenly froze, and a line of blurry text appeared on the screen: The truth is hidden in the “Eye of the Abyss”.
“Eye of the Abyss? What place is that?” Lin Zhan frowned and muttered to himself.
Just as they were trying to decipher this sentence, the flagship was suddenly hit by a heavy bombardment.
“What’s going on?” Lin Zhan exclaimed.
“It’s Blackbeard! He personally led the elite troops to raid here!” Princess Vivi’s voice came from the communicator with a hint of fear.
Lin Zhan’s face changed and he immediately rushed out of the laboratory.
He saw Blackbeard standing on the deck with a sinister smile on his face.
“Lin Zhan, do you think I will give you time to uncover the truth?” Blackbeard’s voice was low and hoarse, full of threats.
Before he finished speaking, he released the power of the Dark Fruit.
Endless darkness surged like a tide, instantly swallowing up Lin Zhan and others.
Lin Zhan only felt his body sink, as if he was grabbed by countless invisible hands and could not move.
The energy of the Nuo Nuo Fruit in his body was also suppressed and could not exert its due power.
“Oh no, it’s the dark fruit!” Lin Zhan thought to himself.
At this critical moment, Princess Weiwei took action again.
She activated the hidden ruins mechanism on the Void, creating a huge trap around Blackbeard’s troops.
Countless rays of light shot out from the ground, forming a huge energy shield that trapped Blackbeard’s troops inside.
“Hmph, a mere trifle!” Blackbeard sneered and was about to destroy the energy shield, but found that his power was actually suppressed.
“Is this… seastone?” Blackbeard’s expression finally changed.
Princess Vivi used a trap made of seastone to temporarily trap Blackbeard’s troops, buying Lin Zhan and his men a little breathing time.
“Lin Zhan, we must evacuate here as soon as possible!” Princess Weiwei’s voice sounded in the communicator, anxious and urgent.
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth, knowing that now was not the time to show off.
He took a deep breath and made a decisive decision.
“Everyone, evacuate immediately!” Lin Zhan ordered loudly, “Target, the nearby abandoned island!”
His eyes swept across everyone, finally stopping at Zhongli: “Zhongli, cover our retreat!”
Zhongli nodded, gripping the spear tightly in her hand. The power of rock element surged around her body, ready to deal with the next crisis at any time.
Lin Zhan knew that the road ahead would probably not be smooth.
Lin Zhan acted decisively and shouted at the top of his voice: “Don’t just stand there! Raise your hands if you want to die here?!” His vulgar shout brought the slightly panicked crew members back to their senses.
The sea breeze was whistling, and the smell of gunpowder smoke made people cough.
Lin Zhan drew the sword from his waist, the blade flashing coldly in the sun. He glanced at everyone with sharp eyes: “Weiwei, take Roland with you and protect the core data! Zhongli, cover the rear! Everyone else, grab your weapons and run as fast as you can!”
The order was concise and clear, with unquestionable majesty.
Under Zhongli’s cover, the “Void” staggered towards the abandoned island like a wounded beast.
The island is desolate and dilapidated, with jagged rocks and sparse vegetation. From a distance, it looks like a sleeping giant.
However, the moment Lin Zhan and his companions stepped onto the island, the vibration coming from under their feet cast a shadow over everyone’s hearts.
It was a low, rhythmic vibration, as if some huge machine was operating inside the island.
Princess Weiwei’s face turned pale, and her voice trembled slightly: “Lin Zhan… this, this place… looks like some kind of ruins…”
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes. There was a faint smell in the air, like the smell of rusted metal.
He took a deep breath, held the knife across his chest, and looked at everything around him vigilantly.
“The Eye of the Abyss… perhaps it’s right here.” He repeated in a low voice, as if talking to himself.
As soon as the team stepped onto the island, a low vibration sound came from the ground, as if some mechanism was activated.
Lin Zhan frowned: “It seems that every step we take is calculated by others.”
He suddenly stopped and looked up at the entrance shrouded in darkness. An inexplicable chill surged into his heart.
“careful…”
He had just uttered two words when the scene before him froze him instantly.
Chapter 167 Trial of the Eye of the Abyss (Old Version)
The entrance, rather than being an entrance, was more like the bloody mouth of a giant beast. It was pitch black and bottomless, as if it was going to devour any living creature that dared to approach.
A cold wind blew in from the depths of the cave, carrying with it a sickening smell of decay that made people shudder.
Lin Zhan stopped, and an instinctive sense of danger made him hesitate for a moment.
But thinking of Princess Vivi’s worries and the urgency of uncovering the truth about the devil fruit, he gritted his teeth and stepped resolutely into the darkness.
The cave is wider than expected, and the walls are engraved with strange runes, emitting a faint blue light. They look like some ancient writing or some mysterious totem.
These runes flickered like breathing, illuminating part of the cave, but also adding a more eerie atmosphere.
“These runes… seem to be some kind of energy circuit,” Zhongli’s voice was low and solemn, with a subtle uneasiness, “If we are not careful, it may trigger some kind of defense mechanism.”
Lin Zhan nodded, signaling everyone to be careful.
He drew the long sword from his waist, and the blade flashed coldly under the reflection of the runes, as if responding to the danger lurking deep in the cave.
As they went deeper, the scene in the cave became clearer and clearer.
This is a huge underground space with a cave ceiling that soars into the clouds, as if reaching the sky.
In addition to the runes on the cave walls, there are some huge metal structures, covered in rust, like the remains of some ancient machinery.
“Eye of the Abyss…” Lin Zhan murmured to himself in a low voice, with an indescribable shock in his heart.
At this moment, the runes on the cave wall suddenly lit up, the light became brighter and brighter, and finally converged into a dazzling beam of light, shining directly into the center of the cave.
A cold mechanical voice echoed in the cave: “Intruders, you must accept the trial.”
The content of the trial was soon revealed – a maze of illusions composed of star core energy.
The walls of the maze flash with colorful lights, changing unpredictably, making it difficult to tell the direction.
The ground is covered with various traps, which can trigger fatal attacks if you are not careful.
“Vivi, what have you discovered about these runes?” Lin Zhan turned to look at Princess Vivi. He knew that this wise princess could always see some details that others overlooked.
Princess Weiwei carefully observed the runes at the entrance of the maze, frowning. After pondering for a moment, she said, “Based on the arrangement of these runes, I speculate that the core area of the maze should contain important video data, which may be related to the reason for the failure of the alien experiment.”
Lin Zhan’s eyes lit up and a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart.
He immediately gave orders, and he led the team to explore the maze, Zhongli was responsible for building the defensive barriers, and Roland focused on cracking the mechanisms in the maze.
There are dangers everywhere in the maze.
The energy storm is like a raging beast, wreaking havoc throughout the space; the illusion interference makes people lose their way and unable to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
In a sudden energy storm, Lin Zhan acted decisively and used his rule editing authority to increase his speed to the extreme. He turned into a trailing image, shuttled through the energy storm, and forcibly opened up a safe passage for the team.
Roland, with his rich scientific knowledge, cracked a complex energy lock and successfully unlocked the door to the core area.
Finally, they arrived at the core area of the maze.
This is a huge circular space with a crystal ball suspended in the center, emitting a soft light.
In the crystal ball, a video clip was quietly waiting for their arrival.
However, when Lin Zhan wanted to view the video material, he found that it was encrypted and required a specific key to decode.
Just as Lin Zhan was racking his brains to figure out how to get the key, the maze suddenly began to vibrate violently, and a heart-pounding roar came from deep within the cave.
A huge figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
It was a monster formed by the energy of star cores. It was tall, had a ferocious face, and exuded a suffocating pressure.
“It seems that this is the last part of the trial.” Lin Zhan took a deep breath. He quickly commanded the team to disperse and at the same time applied the rule editing authority to Ace’s fire ability, giving it a short-term freezing effect.
“Prepare for battle!” Lin Zhan’s voice echoed in the maze with an unquestionable majesty.
The monster let out a deafening roar, and a huge wave of energy swept over…
“Wait…” Roland suddenly exclaimed, pointing at a flashing device behind the monster, “What is that?”
The roar of the star core beast was deafening, and the sound waves almost tore the eardrums.
Lin Zhan gritted his teeth, steadied his body, nailed his feet firmly to the ground, and pointed the blade straight ahead, like a reef standing firm in the storm.
The monster was surrounded by violent energy flows, and every breath seemed to bring a devastating impact.
It took heavy steps, causing the ground to shake and gravel to fly.
The air was filled with a burnt smell, which was the pungent and unpleasant smell caused by excessive compression of energy.
Roland’s exclamation startled Lin Zhan’s heart. He glanced at the monster from the corner of his eye and saw a silver metal device flashing with a strange light behind it. The surface of the device was engraved with complex and technological patterns.
The lines seemed to be alive, slowly wriggling and emitting an unsettling aura.
Princess Weiwei quickly analyzed: “That’s an energy amplifier! It can increase the monster’s power several times!”
Lin Zhan’s eyes narrowed. He must solve the problem of that device first!
“Zhongli, cover me!” Lin Zhan shouted in a low voice, and suddenly exerted force on his feet, and his body shot out like an arrow.
He used his authority to edit rules to the fullest, leaving a blurry afterimage around him. He dodged the impact of the energy flow and quickly approached the silver device.
The star core beast seemed to have sensed Lin Zhan’s intention and let out an angry roar. Its huge palm slapped towards Lin Zhan fiercely with a whistling sound.
Zhongli’s figure instantly appeared in front of Lin Zhan, the scepter in his hand emitted a dazzling light, forming a solid energy barrier.
However, the power of the star core beast was too strong. The energy barrier began to crumble in an instant, groaning under the heavy burden.
“Lin Zhan, hurry!” Zhongli’s voice was filled with a hint of anxiety.
The blade cut through the air, making a sharp scream, and slashed fiercely on the silver device.
A crisp cracking sound was heard, and a tiny crack appeared on the surface of the silver device.
However, this crack seemed to be a fuse, spreading instantly, and the entire device collapsed and shattered in an instant, turning into countless fragments that flew everywhere.
The star core beast let out a shrill wail, its huge body trembled violently, and the energy flow around it became chaotic.
Its eyes, full of violence, stared at Lin Zhan, as if it wanted to eat him alive.
At this moment, the monster that had released its energy amplification still exerted a very strong oppressive force. Lin Zhan stood in front of the crack and felt the oppressive feeling brought by the unknown signal.
He asked in a low voice…
Chapter 168: Choices in the Rift and New Allies (Old Version)
“Zhongli, are you sure this might be a recall device?” Lin Zhan’s voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.
He stared at the crack in front of him that was flashing with a faint blue light, as if he was staring at a sleeping giant beast that could open its bloody mouth and devour everything at any time.
Zhongli nodded slightly, his expression solemn.
She stretched out her slender jade fingers, with a faint rock elemental light lingering on her fingertips, and tentatively touched the edge of the crack.
Buzz!
The energy fluctuations around the crack instantly intensified, and it let out a low roar like an enraged beast.
Zhongli quickly retracted his finger, a trace of worry flashing across his brow: “If we destroy it by force, it may cause the cave to collapse; but if we try to communicate, the consequences will also be unpredictable.”
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, and the cold air filled his lungs, calming him down a little.
He understood that this was a dilemma, and no matter which choice he made, he might pay a huge price.
But he knew better that they couldn’t just sit there and wait for death.
“Stabilize the situation first, then make a choice.” Lin Zhan gave the order decisively, his eyes sweeping over his companions behind him.
At this moment, a strange figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the cave, breaking the tense atmosphere.
He was a tall man wearing a black tights, with a stern face and a hint of subtle vigilance in his eyes.
“Captain Lin Zhan, I’ve heard of your great name for a long time.” The man bowed slightly, his tone calm and slightly hoarse, “I’m Rex, a former World Government agent.”
Lin Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly and looked up and down at the uninvited guest.
World Government Agent?
What is the purpose of appearing at this critical juncture?
As if seeing through Lin Zhan’s doubts, Rex continued, “The reason I defected is because I was dissatisfied with the top leaders’ concealment of the truth. They have been deceiving the world.” He paused and turned his gaze to the dark blue crack. “I know you are studying this thing. There may be an organization called the ‘Star Core Council’ behind it. They were the main executors of the alien experiments.”
“Star Core Council?” Lin Zhan’s heart was shocked. This name made him feel inexplicably familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
“That’s right.” Rex nodded affirmatively, “If you choose to activate it, it may lead to an uncontrollable situation.”
Lin Zhan was silent for a moment, his eyes flickering.
He cannot allow the World Government to continue hiding the truth, but he also cannot act blindly and put the world in greater danger.
“We can’t act rashly.” Lin Zhan finally made a decision, “First try to crack the signal logic in the crack, instead of activating it directly.”
Lin Zhan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and activated the rule editing authority in his body.
A pale golden light flowed over his body, as sacred and majestic as a blessing from a god.
He increased the perception of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit’s Dragon Form to the limit, trying to capture the subtle changes in the cracks.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the cave was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Only the sound of Lin Zhan’s steady breathing and the faint buzzing sound coming from the cracks were intertwined.
Finally, Lin Zhan opened his eyes, and he successfully deciphered some information – there was indeed an organization called “Star Core Council” behind the crack, and they were the main executors of alien experiments.
However, just as the team was preparing for further analysis, something strange happened!
The crack suddenly released a powerful energy shock, as violent and fierce as a volcanic eruption, which pushed everyone back several meters.
“Be careful!” Zhongli shouted and quickly used rock elements to build a solid protective barrier to block the subsequent shock waves.
Lin Zhan stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at the crack with a serious look.
He knew that there was no turning back from their choice.
“Prepare for the next move.” Lin Zhan gave the order in a low voice, with a hint of determination in his tone.
At this moment, a whisper came from the depths of the crack, as eerie and terrifying as the devil’s moan, making people shudder.
“mortal……”
The voice seemed to penetrate time and space and went straight into Lin Zhan’s mind, making his heart tighten.
“…Are you willing to…bear the consequences?”
The sound suddenly stopped, but it left an endless suspense that enveloped the entire cave…
The air in the cave was filled with tension, like a taut string that could break at any time.
Lin Zhan stared at the dark blue crack, feeling uneasy like a tide.
Rex’s proposal was like a ray of light in the darkness, but it also carried a strange hint of phosphorescence.
He looked at Rex. This guy’s eyes were as deep as a dry well, making it impossible to see his true thoughts.
“This is the only way.” Lin Zhan whispered, with a hint of helplessness and gambling.
When Rex approached the crack, Lin Zhan clearly felt that the energy fluctuations around him became more violent, like an enraged beast, letting out a low roar.
The faint blue light shone on Rex’s face, and that strange smile left a deep mark on Lin Zhan’s retina. His words echoed in his ears, “I hope you won’t regret your decision today.” A chill ran from Lin Zhan’s feet to the top of his head.
not good!
Lin Zhan’s heart was filled with alarm.
“Retreat!” Lin Zhan roared, his voice echoing in the cave.
At the same time, the cracks gushed out even stronger energy, and the hot air waves hit his face, causing Lin Zhan to feel a stinging pain in his skin.
Zhongli reacted quickly, and the barrier made of rock elements once again blocked everyone’s way, but this time the impact was obviously more violent, and fine cracks appeared on the barrier.
Everyone retreated in a panic. The sound of breaking rocks echoed in the cave, like the footsteps of death, urging them to escape.
Rex’s figure disappeared in the blue light, leaving only a blurry back and a meaningful sentence echoing in the air: “The game has just begun…”
Chapter 169 Whispers from the Deep Rift (Old Version)
The whispers coming from deep within the crack sounded like ghosts, making Lin Zhan feel itchy and frightened.
His heart tightened, and an indescribable feeling of uneasiness surged into his heart like a tide.
It feels like you are walking in an empty alley in the middle of the night, and you always feel like someone is staring at you from behind, which is creepy.
He immediately gathered the team, his face solemn, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.
“This thing is a bit weird…” Lin Zhan scratched his head and broke the silence, “We have to think of a way.”
Princess Weiwei is as calm and wise as ever, as if any problem is just a piece of cake for her.
She elegantly lifted the hair beside her ear and suggested, “Since the energy fluctuations of this crack are so strong, why don’t we use the rock element barrier to stabilize the surrounding environment first, and then let Roland and Rex work together to crack the signal. How do you think?”
Lin Zhan nodded in agreement, but at the same time he lowered his voice and said almost close to Zhong Li’s ear: “Old Zhong, keep a close eye on Rex. I always feel like there’s something wrong with him.”
Zhongli remained calm and nodded slightly to show that he understood.
He clasped his hands together, and the golden rock element energy gathered in his palms, condensing into huge rocks. Like a solid barrier, it surrounded everyone in the center and blocked the energy fluctuations coming from the cracks.
At the same time, his sharp eyes, like a hawk, stared closely at Rex’s every move, not missing any clues.
Rex began to operate the equipment to analyze the crack signals.
His brows were furrowed, and his fingers moved rapidly on the control panel. A series of complex data and waveform graphs appeared on the screen.
During the process, he repeatedly asked to get closer to the edge of the crack, saying that he wanted to obtain clearer data.
Although Lin Zhan had his doubts, he had no other choice but to agree reluctantly.
However, just as Rex approached the crack, an accident happened.
His fingers accidentally touched a rune that was flashing with a strange light.
At that moment, the crack seemed to come alive, releasing a powerful energy wave, like the shock wave of an explosion, which knocked everyone back several meters.
Lin Zhan only felt a dull pain in his chest, a buzzing in his ears, and his vision was blurry.
“Ahem…” Lin Zhan supported himself on the rock wall and stood up with difficulty. His brows were furrowed and he stared at Rex fiercely. “Rex, what on earth are you hiding?”
Rex’s face also looked a little ugly. His eyes flickered and he faltered as he explained, “I just… I just wanted to find the truth, but I didn’t expect it to be so dangerous.” He paused, as if he had made up his mind, and continued, “I have seen similar devices inside the World Government. These devices seem to be able to connect to the network system of some advanced civilization.”
Roland’s eyes lit up when he heard this, and he immediately put forward a hypothesis: “If this is a communication device left by an alien civilization, then the ‘Star Core Council’ may not have completely disappeared, but moved to another dimension.”
After this statement was made, the team fell into a brief silence.
Everyone’s face was filled with shock and confusion, as if they were in a bizarre science fiction movie.
Just as the team tried to analyze it further, the crack suddenly widened and the blue light became more dazzling, like a black hole that swallowed everything.
A vague figure emerged from the light and uttered a low and hoarse voice, like a whisper from hell: “Mortals, are you willing to bear the consequences?”
Lin Zhan reacted instantly and yelled, “Old Zhong, reinforce the barrier!” Zhongli didn’t hesitate at all. He put his hands together again, and the golden rock element energy surged again, constructing a second layer of protective barrier.
At the same time, Lin Zhan also enabled the rule editing authority to enhance his perception and try to capture the other party’s intentions.
However, the figure did not show any hostility, but said coldly: “Time is running out, and the decision must be made now.”
Lin Zhan stood in front of the crack, took a deep breath, and whispered: “If we don’t take action…” Lin Zhan stood in front of the dark blue crack, took a deep breath, and the air was filled with an indescribable energy that stimulated every pore of his body.
He could feel that there was a huge secret hidden behind this crack, but it also came with extreme danger.
He whispered, “If we don’t act, the truth will be buried forever; but if we activate it rashly, it may lead to an uncontrollable situation.”
The team fell into a brief stalemate, with hesitation written on everyone’s face.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only whispers coming from the cracks, like the murmur of a devil, constantly teasing their nerves.
Princess Weiwei bit her lips tightly, her fingers tightly grasping the hem of her skirt; Roland, on the other hand, had an excited look on his face, as if he had discovered a new world, with fanatical light flashing in his eyes; Zhongli still had a blank expression on his face, but his clenched fists revealed his inner nervousness.
At this moment, Rex suddenly took the initiative to walk towards the crack.
There was a mad look in his eyes, and a strange smile on his lips.
He whispered, “If you don’t believe me, I can try it first.”
His unusual behavior made Lin Zhan’s heart tighten, and an ominous premonition came to his mind.
He yelled, “Rex, don’t be impulsive!”
But it was too late. Rex reached out and touched the dark blue crack.
The light burst out instantly, like a volcanic eruption, illuminating the entire cave.
The powerful energy fluctuations swept over like a tsunami, and the entire cave shook violently as if it was about to collapse.
Lin Zhan only felt a flash before his eyes, and his body flew backwards uncontrollably, hitting the rock wall with a dull sound.
“Not good! Retreat quickly!” Lin Zhan shouted, his voice hoarse and rapid.
But the sound coming from deep in the crack made everyone stop.
The voice was deep and ancient, as if it came from the distant starry sky, with an irresistible majesty: “Welcome to the Star Core Council.”
The light gradually faded away. Lin Zhan rubbed his eyes, trying to see the surroundings clearly, but found himself in an unfamiliar space. The air was filled with a faint metallic smell, and Rex’s mouth curled up into a meaningful smile…
Chapter 170 The Judgment of the Star Core Council (Old Version)
The light dissipated like the tide, and Lin Zhan felt dizzy.
He rubbed his eyes subconsciously, and the originally solid rock wall disappeared, replaced by a deep, boundless void.
Countless points of light are like stars in the night sky, twinkling with a cold light. They are magnificent, yet reveal an unsettling weirdness.
“What is this place…” Princess Weiwei’s voice trembled slightly, and she was obviously shocked by the scene before her.
Suddenly, a mechanical voice without any emotion resounded in the void, as if it sounded directly in their minds: “Intruders, you have been connected to the virtual court of the Star Core Council.”
Virtual court?
Lin Zhan’s heart shuddered; this name sounded bad.
He quickly looked around and found that Zhongli, Princess Weiwei, Roland, and even the newly joined Rex were scattered in different locations, seemingly separated from each other by some invisible barrier.
Rex, at this moment, was standing in the center of the space, bathed in the light, looking at them with a complicated expression.
“Rex, what do you know?” Lin Zhan asked in a low voice, with a hint of questioning in his tone.
He always felt that this Rex had hidden a lot of information from the very beginning.
Rex slowly raised his head. They tried to transform humans through devil fruits to create stronger warriors, but… the experiment ultimately failed, leading to devastating consequences.
The light spots you see now are most likely the consciousness data of those survivors of the experiment.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a spot of light suddenly began to flash violently, and then quickly condensed into a human-shaped light shadow.
The light and shadow exuded a cold light all over its body, and its facial features could not be seen clearly, but it gave people a feeling of being high and mighty and inviolable.
“Mortal,” Light and Shadow said in an emotionless tone, “your arrival has triggered the trial process.”
He realized that they were now facing an unknown test, and if they were not careful, they would be doomed.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep himself calm, then signaled to his team members with his eyes to calm down and wait and see what happened.
“Everyone, stay calm and don’t act rashly.” Lin Zhan ordered in a low voice, while secretly circulating the power in his body, ready to deal with emergencies at any time.
The trial process started soon.
The light and shadow slowly floated in front of Lin Zhan, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze, as if trying to see through him.
“Intruders, why do you want to break into the Eye of the Abyss? Is it to save the world, or to satisfy your own selfish desires?” Guangying’s voice was still cold, and no emotion could be heard.
Lin Zhan answered without hesitation: “We came here just to expose the truth and fight for freedom for those who have been deceived.” He believed that only by letting people know the truth can the world be truly changed.
The light and shadow were silent for a moment, as if thinking about Lin Zhan’s words.
Then, it suddenly turned its gaze to Rex, and its tone became stern: “So, who is he? Why can he directly access our system?”
Hearing this, Rex trembled slightly, lowered his head, and said nothing.
Clearly, he was withholding crucial information.
Lin Zhan frowned, he realized that now was not the time to hide anything.
He looked at Rex again and said in a serious tone: “Rex, if you have any secrets, now is the time for you to confess. We are a team. Only by being honest with each other can we face difficulties together.”
Under Lin Zhan’s gaze, Rex’s psychological defenses finally collapsed. He raised his head.
“I said… I said…” Rex’s voice was a little hoarse, as if he had used up all his strength, “I have come into contact with a similar system within the World Government. They called it the ‘Star Core Agreement’ and tried to use it to control the power of the Devil Fruit. The reason why I chose to defect was because I found that there was a bigger conspiracy behind the ‘Star Core Agreement’…”
Rex’s words exploded in everyone’s ears like thunder.
Lin Zhan was shocked. He vaguely felt that he was touching upon a shocking secret.
Upon hearing this, Guangying’s tone became even colder, even with a hint of murderous intent: “Mortal, you have already touched the forbidden area. In this case, don’t blame me for being rude. If you want to leave here, you must complete a trial.”
“Trial?” Lin Zhan took a deep breath.
“Okay, we accept the challenge.” Lin Zhan said without hesitation, his tone firm and decisive.
When Guangying heard this, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a weird smile.
“Very good… I hope you won’t regret it…”
After Guangying finished speaking, he slowly raised his hand and waved it gently.
At this moment, the surrounding space suddenly began to twist violently, and countless light spots began to spin wildly as if pulled by some force.
Lin Zhan felt a flash before his eyes, and his body flew backwards uncontrollably, with a strong feeling of dizziness coming over him…
Zhongli looked at the direction where Lin Zhan and the others disappeared, wanting to do something, but found that he was bound by an invisible force and could not move at all.
She could only watch them being teleported away, her heart filled with worry…
As the light and shadow waved, the space began to distort… As the light and shadow waved, the space distorted. After a dizzying spin, Lin Zhan found himself in a huge Roman arena.
The rough gravel scratched the soles of his boots and the faint smell of blood in the air made him frown.
Deafening cheers came from all directions, as if thousands of troops were cheering.
A deep voice, with an echo, resounded over the arena: “The trial is simple – defeat the guardians and prove your worth.” Lin Zhan clenched his fists and was about to greet his companions, but suddenly froze.
In the center of the arena, a familiar figure stood with his back to him, shoulders shrugging, and his signature wild laughter, making Lin Zhan understand everything in an instant.
Blackbeard!
That guy is actually here!
He turned around slowly, revealing his signature toothless smile, and said sarcastically: “Haha! Lin Zhan, do you think you can get away easily? This is my home court!” Lin Zhan’s heart was shocked, and a surge of anger surged in his heart.
It turns out that all this was Blackbeard’s plan!
What was his purpose in setting a trap and luring them here?
“Blackbeard, what on earth do you want to do?!” Lin Zhan asked gritting his teeth, his voice low and full of murderous intent.
Blackbeard just sneered: “Thief hahaha! You will know soon!” He suddenly raised his hands, and darkness surged out like a tide, instantly covering the entire arena…
Chapter 171 Blackbeard’s Raid and Unexpected Allies (Old Version)
In the arena, darkness was like a flood that burst its dam, swallowing up everything in an instant.
Blackbeard’s iconic laughter echoed in the darkness, like a death knell from hell, making people shudder.
Lin Zhan only felt a powerful suction force coming, as if it was going to tear him into pieces.
At the critical moment, he activated the rule editing authority, “Increase the speed! Ten times!” The world seemed to slow down, and the waves of darkness became slow and clumsy in his eyes.
He flashed and disappeared like a ghost, avoiding Blackbeard’s first wave of attacks.
“Spread out! Zhongli, defend!” Lin Zhan’s voice echoed in the darkness with unquestionable decisiveness.
Zhongli understood what he meant and slapped the ground with both hands. Golden rock element energy gushed out like a volcanic eruption, instantly forming an indestructible rock wall that blocked the erosion of darkness.
“Weiwei, analyze the situation!”
Princess Weiwei calmly observed the surrounding environment with her brows furrowed.
The layout of the arena, Blackbeard’s attack methods, and even the flow trajectory of the dark energy in the air were all calculated rapidly in her mind.
“Lin Zhan, his target is not just us! Look at the ground of the arena!”
Lin Zhan looked in the direction Princess Weiwei had directed, and discovered that the ground of the arena was engraved with complex runes, flashing with faint light.
“These runes… could it be?!” He suddenly realized that these runes were most likely related to the energy source of the Star Core Council.
Blackbeard’s goal is not only to defeat them, but also to seize the energy source!
“Be careful, his target is not only us, but also the energy source of the Star Core Council!” Lin Zhan reminded his companions loudly.
Before he could finish his words, Blackbeard attacked again.
The dark energy was like a roaring beast, transforming into energy waves that swept over.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!” The explosions sounded one after another. Although Zhongli’s rock wall was solid, it could not withstand such a fierce attack and cracks began to appear.
“We can’t go on like this. We must find a way to weaken his strength!” Lin Zhan was anxiously thinking about countermeasures.
At this time, Roland suddenly pointed at the runes on the ground and said, “These runes! I’ve seen similar structures! They are likely to be the protection mechanism of the energy source. If we can destroy them, we can weaken Blackbeard’s power!”
Lin Zhan was delighted, “Zhongli, use the rock element to destroy the rune!” Zhongli did not hesitate, condensed the energy of the rock element into sharp spikes, and stabbed it fiercely at the rune on the ground.
“Crack!” With a crisp sound, the rune shattered.
As the runes were shattered, the dark energy in the arena weakened significantly, and Blackbeard’s attacks became slower.
Just when Lin Zhan thought he had the upper hand, something strange happened.
Rex suddenly rushed towards Blackbeard and engaged him in close combat.
Lin Zhan was surprised to find that Rex’s fighting ability was far beyond his expectations. His attacks were swift and fierce, and he could even suppress Blackbeard for a short time.
“Lin Zhan, this is my chance to atone for my sins! Don’t let him succeed!” Rex shouted while fighting, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.
Lin Zhan quickly adjusted his strategy and activated the rule editing authority, “Temporary reinforcement! Ace’s Flame-Flame Fruit! Freeze the range!” A force of hot lava burst out from Lin Zhan’s body, instantly covering the entire arena.
The lava collided with the dark energy, causing a violent explosion.
However, this time the lava brought with it a strange chill, freezing Blackbeard firmly in place.
Victory seemed within reach, but fate played a joke on them again.
The top of the arena suddenly cracked, and a cold mechanical voice rang out: “The trial has failed, and all intruders will be eliminated.” Countless points of light poured out from the cracks and condensed into a huge energy weapon, pointing directly at them.
At the critical moment, a familiar figure appeared again, the light and shadow flickered, and the cold voice sounded again: “Mortal, your choice is not over yet. If you want to survive, you must sacrifice one person…”
The team fell into a brief silence, and the atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.
Suddenly, a voice broke the silence…
Lin Zhan’s words “Let me bear the consequences” were as light as a feather, but they hit everyone’s heart and caused huge waves.
The air in the arena seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.
However, before Lin Zhan could make any move, a figure rushed out like an arrow – it was Rex!
“No, I will pay my debt myself!” Rex’s voice was hoarse, with a determination to fight to the death.
His face, which was always hidden in the shadows, was now full of determination.
He did not look back, nor did he give Lin Zhan and the others any time to react. He rushed straight towards the energy weapon that exuded the aura of death.
Lin Zhan only felt a flash before his eyes and wanted to stop it, but it was too late.
“Rex!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing in the empty arena but sounding so powerless.
He watched Rex’s body being swallowed by the light. There was no scream, no struggle, just like a drop of water merging into the sea, disappearing without a trace in an instant.
The blinding light faded, and the arena became dead silent.
Lin Zhan’s fists were clenched so hard that they made a crackling sound, and his nails dug deeply into his flesh.
The anger in his chest almost burned him to death. He didn’t understand why things turned out like this?
Why does someone always have to sacrifice?
“The trial continues, you still have one last chance.” The light and shadow were still cold and ruthless, and the mechanical voice sounded again, as if mocking their powerlessness.
Countless points of light emerged from the cracks on the top of the arena again, condensing into various shapes in mid-air, full of unknowns and dangers.
Princess Weiwei’s face was pale. She bit her lips tightly and tried hard to control her emotions.
Zhongli stood silently beside Lin Zhan, with complex light flashing in his golden eyes.
Roland’s body trembled slightly. She hugged her arms tightly, as if trying to draw a little warmth from the endless cold.
Rex’s sacrifice did not end the trial, but instead pushed them into an even more difficult situation.
A new crisis has arrived and they must make new choices.
But, this time, what should they choose?
Who will be the next victim?
The suspense is like an invisible net, covering the entire arena and making people feel suffocated.
Chapter 172 Sacrifice and Rebirth (Old Version)
Inside the arena, the air seemed to freeze.
Where Rex disappeared, only the gradually dissipating light remained, like a mocking scar, engraved in everyone’s heart.
Flames of anger burned in Lin Zhan’s chest. He stared at the illusory light and shadow, his teeth chattering.
“Who the hell are you?!” His voice was low and hoarse, like a roar coming from the depths of hell.
The light and shadows fluctuated slightly, and a cold and mechanical voice uttered: “I am the guardian of the trial, and your choice is not over yet.”
“Choice? Bullshit choice!” Lin Zhan roared, “You tricked us into coming here and played us around, and this is your choice?!”
“The purpose of the trial is to test your courage, wisdom and unity.” Guangying’s tone was calm, as if stating an established fact.
Zhongli frowned, his eyes scanning every corner of the arena.
He realized that anger would not solve the problem, they had to calm down and find the key to breaking the deadlock.
“Lin Zhan, we must find the real purpose of this trial, otherwise we will all die here.” His voice was low and powerful, like a reassurance, calming Lin Zhan down a little.
Princess Weiwei took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
She began to carefully observe the environment around the arena, trying to find any clues.
On the ground, complex runes flickered with a faint light and seemed to be constantly changing, rising and falling in a regular manner like breathing.
A bold guess emerged in Vivi’s mind: these runes may be related to Rex’s sacrifice, or they may be the key to controlling this trial.
“Lin Zhan, I found that the runes on the ground are constantly changing. This may be some kind of energy control mechanism. We need to find a way to crack it.”
Lin Zhan’s gaze followed Weiwei’s direction and fell on the rune on the ground, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart.
“Roland, analyze these runes and see if there is any pattern.”
Roland walked to the rune without any hesitation and squatted down to observe it carefully.
Her slender fingers gently stroked the rune patterns, her mind racing, trying to decipher these ancient and mysterious symbols.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the atmosphere in the arena became extremely tense. Everyone breathed cautiously, for fear of disturbing Roland’s thoughts.
Sweat slid down Roland’s forehead and soaked her temples.
She stared at the changes in the runes, almost without blinking.
Suddenly, she seemed to have discovered something. “I found it!” She raised her head excitedly, with a tremor in her tone. “These runes will rearrange themselves every once in a while. If we can destroy them at this point in time, we can weaken the power of the trial!”
Lin Zhan’s spirits lifted, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw.
“Zhongli, prepare to attack the runes with rock elemental. Weiwei, calculate the best time.”
Zhongli nodded silently, and began to gather the power of rock element in his hands.
His tall figure looked particularly majestic under the flickering light of runes, like a guardian angel, giving people a strong sense of security.
Princess Vivi was concentrating on observing the changes of the runes, her fingers flying in the air, calculating the best time to attack.
She knew that this attack was crucial and if they were not careful, they might be doomed.
Time seemed to stand still and the air was filled with tension.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on the runes on the ground, waiting for the critical moment to arrive.
As the runes rearranged…
Lin Zhan’s lava ice fist smashed hard on the core of the light and shadow, and the freezing effect spread. The originally arrogant light and shadow let out a shrill scream, and then peeled off like broken glass, and finally dissipated into nothingness.
The suppressed dark energy in the arena receded like a tide, replaced by the long-lost fresh air.
“Is it over?” Paimon cautiously poked his head out, with a hint of disbelief in his tone.
Lin Zhan was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently. He wiped the sweat from his face, but before he could open his mouth, an even stronger feeling of oppression suddenly came over him, sending a chill down his spine.
Overhead, the arena dome cracked again, and a blinding light poured down.
Countless points of light gathered into a huge energy ball, suspended in mid-air, emitting heart-pounding energy fluctuations.
A cold voice, without any emotion, echoed in the arena: “The trial is not over yet, mortal. If you want to survive, you must face the next test.”
Everyone’s face changed, and their nerves, which had originally relaxed, tensed up again.
“The next test?” Lin Zhan looked up at the huge ball of energy, his heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible big hand.
The intensity of this energy far exceeded the previous dark energy, and it even made him feel a little desperate.
Was the previous battle just an appetizer?
The real challenge begins now?
Zhongli stared at the energy ball with a frown on his face.
He felt the destructive power contained in this energy. This was not an ordinary elemental force, but a more advanced and purer power.
Even he didn’t dare to confront him head-on.
“What on earth is this?” Paimon’s voice trembled slightly.
No one could answer her question.
The arena was dead silent, with only the buzzing sound of the energy ball, like a dirge of death.
He realized that complaining and fearing would not help, and the most important thing now was to find a solution.
The rules editor is still there, which means he still has a chance.
He closed his eyes and began to analyze the composition of the energy ball.
He could feel that it contained multiple elemental forces, but these elemental forces were not simply mixed. Instead, they were fused together in a peculiar way to form a more powerful whole.
“This energy… seems somewhat familiar…” Zhongli suddenly said, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Lin Zhan opened his eyes and looked at Zhongli: “Mr. Zhongli, what did you find?”
Zhongli pondered for a moment, then slowly said: “This energy… reminds me of the power used by the Heavenly Law to maintain world order in ancient times.”
“Justice?” Lin Zhan was shocked.
Heaven is the supreme existence in the continent of Teyvat, controlling all the rules of the world.
If this energy ball is really related to the laws of nature, then they are probably in great danger.
“But… it’s a little different.” Zhongli continued, “This energy seems… to be contaminated by some force.”
“Pollution?” Lin Zhan frowned, “Could it be the abyss?”
Zhongli didn’t answer, just shook his head.
As time passed, the energy fluctuations of the energy ball became more and more intense, as if it would explode at any time.
Lin Zhan became more and more anxious.
He must come up with a solution as soon as possible, otherwise they will all die here.
He opened the rule editor again and browsed through the various rules.
He wanted to use the rules to change the properties of the energy ball or weaken its power, but faced with such powerful energy, he couldn’t find the right rules for a moment.
“No… We can’t go on like this…” Beads of sweat oozed out of Lin Zhan’s forehead.
He looked around and his eyes fell on Zhongli.
Zhongli is the God of Rock, possessing powerful rock elemental power, perhaps…
Lin Zhan quickly adjusted his strategy and whispered to Zhongli: “Mr. Zhongli, I need your strength…”
Chapter 173 Dawn in the Darkness (Old Version)
Lin Zhan felt a gust of hot air coming towards him. The new energy weapon was more powerful than the previous one and carried a destructive aura.
His instinct told him that a head-on confrontation was not the best approach.
“We must spread out to avoid being caught in one fell swoop.” Lin Zhan whispered to Zhongli, his eyes quickly scanning the battlefield, evaluating the best escape route.
Zhongli nodded calmly and put his hands together. Golden rock element energy surged around him, quickly forming a solid rock wall to protect the team members behind.
Princess Weiwei frowned and scanned the arena sharply, looking for a new way to break the deadlock.
Princess Vivi’s gaze finally fell on the wall of the arena, where some strange symbols were carved and flickered with faint light.
These symbols seem to be somehow connected to the flow of surrounding energy, faintly exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
“These symbols may be related to the control mechanism of the trial. We need to find their patterns.” Princess Weiwei quickly reported to Lin Zhan with a hint of excitement in her tone, as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw.
Lin Zhan immediately understood what Princess Weiwei meant. He turned to look at Roland and said, “You analyze these symbols and see if there are any clues.”
Roland took the order and immediately walked towards the wall, carefully observing the shape and arrangement of the symbols.
Her slender fingers gently brushed across the surface of the symbol, feeling the energy fluctuations contained within.
Time passed by minute by minute, and beads of sweat oozed out of Roland’s forehead, but she did not give up at all.
Lin Zhan waited anxiously, observing the movement of light and shadow with his peripheral vision from time to time.
The light and shadow seemed to be uneasy about their actions, and the frequency of the attacks increased, and the power of the energy weapons increased.
Cracks have appeared on Zhongli’s rock wall and it may collapse at any time.
Finally, Roland showed a happy expression on his face. “I found it! These symbols change every once in a while. If we can destroy them at this point in time, we can weaken the power of the trial.”
Lin Zhan’s spirits lifted, he knew the opportunity had come.
He signaled Zhongli to get ready and wait for the best opportunity.
As the symbols changed, the flow of energy in the arena stagnated for a moment.
Zhongli seized the opportunity and slammed the wall with both hands. Golden rock element energy burst out and hit the symbol hard.
“Boom!” With a loud noise, the symbols on the wall exploded. The energy weapons in the arena were significantly weakened, and the voice of light and shadow also became weaker: “You… actually found a flaw…”
Lin Zhan knew that the moment of decisive victory had come.
Without further hesitation, he leaped forward and rushed towards the light, with a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
“Now it’s your turn to pay the price!” Lin Zhan roared, mobilizing the rule editing authority to fuse Ace’s lava power with the ice element, adding a range freezing effect, forming an energy that is a mixture of extreme cold and heat, directly attacking the core of light and shadow.
The light and shadow let out a scream and its body gradually dissipated.
Just when everyone thought victory was in sight, an even more bizarre aura began to spread in the arena…
The disappearance of light and shadow did not bring the expected peace, but instead seemed to be the prelude to a bigger conspiracy.
The crack at the top of the arena was like a huge mouth of an abyss, spewing out suffocating pressure.
That cold voice, without a trace of emotion, announced an even more cruel trial.
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly, and he felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. This was not only a test of his own strength, but more like a carefully designed hunting game.
A huge ball of energy was suspended in the air, emitting heart-pounding fluctuations, as if it would completely devour them in the next second.
He knew that panic would only hasten their demise.
He must find a way to break the deadlock and lead the team to survive.
Princess Weiwei’s report was like a ray of light in the darkness, illuminating Lin Zhan’s thoughts.
Runes and symbols, energy control mechanisms…these keywords were quickly connected in his mind, gradually forming a complete hypothesis.
If Weiwei’s speculation is correct, then destroying these runes and symbols may be the key to breaking this deadlock.
“Zhongli, Roland, are you ready?” Lin Zhan’s voice was low and powerful, with unquestionable firmness.
Zhongli nodded slightly, and the golden rock elemental force flowed around his body, condensing into an indestructible shield.
His eyes were steady, as if he remained calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him.
After experiencing the baptism of countless years, he has become accustomed to facing various challenges, and this time, he will still stay by the side of the people he wants to protect.
Roland clenched the sword in his hand, the blade flashed with cold light, reflecting her resolute face.
She didn’t say anything, but the fighting spirit burning in her eyes was enough to tell it all.
As a knight, she has long disregarded life and death. Her mission is to protect the princess and fulfill her knight’s oath.
Lin Zhan’s eyes swept over the two of them, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.
He knew that no matter how difficult the road ahead was, he was not alone.
He also has trusted partners who will fight side by side and face all challenges together.
The energy ball above the arena became brighter and brighter, and the sense of oppression became stronger and stronger.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath and was about to give the final order, but suddenly he felt a strange energy fluctuation.
He raised his head sharply and looked towards the other side of the arena.
There, a rune hidden in the shadows flickered with an eerie light, completely different in frequency from the other runes and symbols.
Lin Zhan’s heart shuddered, and an ominous premonition arose.
“Wait!” he shouted, stopping Zhongli and Roland who were about to take action.
The two looked at Lin Zhan in confusion, not understanding why he suddenly changed his mind.
Lin Zhan did not explain, but stared at the flashing rune with a frown.
He always felt that this rune seemed to hide some secret, a secret that could change the outcome of the battle.
Princess Weiwei also noticed Lin Zhan’s strangeness. She followed his gaze and found the flashing rune.
She immediately began to reanalyze it, trying to find out what was special about this rune.
As time passed, the pressure from the energy ball became stronger and stronger, as if it would explode at any time.
Lin Zhan’s heart was in his throat and he felt an unprecedented pressure.
He must make a choice: continue with the original plan, or take the risk to explore the hidden rune?
This is a decision that concerns life and death. If you are not careful, you will be doomed.
Lin Zhan’s eyes switched back and forth between the flashing runes and the huge energy ball, constantly weighing the pros and cons in his heart.
His mind raced, trying to find the best solution.
The air seemed to freeze, time seemed to stand still, and the arena was filled with a suffocating atmosphere of tension.
Lin Zhan knew that he had to make a decision as soon as possible, otherwise, they would lose their last chance… His eyes finally fell on Zhongli, and a bold plan gradually took shape in his mind…
Chapter 174 The Eve of the Decisive Battle (Old Version)
Lin Zhan felt his heart pounding and adrenaline rushing through his veins.
The disappearance of light and shadow did not bring the expected relief, but instead a stronger sense of oppression enveloped me.
New threats, more powerful and more unknown.
He clenched his fists, feeling the burning heat of Ace’s lava power flowing through his body, his eyes flashing with determination.
He is not fighting alone, he has partners fighting side by side with him.
Zhongli stood firmly on the ground, the power of the rock element flowing around his body, forming an indestructible jade shield.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the energy ball that was gradually gathering above the arena, his heart calm.
After experiencing countless years of baptism, such scenes are not unfamiliar to him.
Roland took a deep breath, and the sword in his hand hummed, as if responding to his master’s fighting spirit.
She scanned the arena with sharp eyes, looking for any possible breakthrough.
She understood that this battle was not only about their life and death, but also about Princess Vivi and the future of Liyue.
Princess Weiwei was completely immersed in analyzing the arena environment.
Her fingers moved quickly in the air, constructing a 3D model of the arena and constantly performing calculations and deductions.
She keenly detected the abnormal fluctuations in the energy core at the center of the arena and quickly marked it out.
“Lin Zhan, the energy core! That’s the key!”
Lin Zhan followed Princess Weiwei’s instructions and saw a huge energy core emitting dazzling light in the center of the arena.
It acts like a beating heart, providing energy to the entire arena.
Lin Zhan immediately understood what Princess Weiwei meant. Destroying the energy core might be the key to ending this trial.
“Zhongli, prepare for defense! Roland, prepare for attack!” Lin Zhan gave the order decisively, his voice full of unquestionable majesty.
“Yes, sir.” Zhongli responded in a deep voice, and the light of Yuzhang’s shield became even brighter.
“Anytime.” Roland held the sword tightly.
The energy ball at the top of the arena began to fall rapidly with devastating power.
Zhongli’s jade shield instantly opened up, protecting the three people firmly.
The energy ball hit the shield with a deafening roar, and the entire arena shook violently.
Lin Zhan felt a powerful impact, and even with the protection of Zhongli’s shield, he still felt a dull pain in his chest.
He clenched his teeth, endured the discomfort, and fixed his eyes on the energy core in the center of the arena.
“Roland, cover me!” Lin Zhan growled, and with a flash of his body, he rushed towards the energy core.
Roland understood what he meant, and the sword in his hand turned into silver light, smashing the energy weapons that tried to stop Lin Zhan one by one.
Her movements were swift and graceful, like an elf dancing on the tip of a knife.
Under Roland’s cover, Lin Zhan quickly approached the energy core.
He could feel the powerful energy fluctuations emanating from the energy core, like a huge whirlpool that was about to swallow him up.
But he showed no fear, and there was a raging fire of war burning in his eyes.
At the same time, Zhongli was also trying his best to maintain the Jade Shield to resist the continuous attacks from the energy ball.
Fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, but he remained calm and his eyes were firm and calm.
He knew that he had to hold on and buy time for Lin Zhan and Roland.
Princess Weiwei closely followed the changes in the battle situation, constantly adjusting strategies to provide the most timely support to Lin Zhan.
Her brain was working at high speed, like a sophisticated instrument, analyzing every detail and looking for the best solution.
As Zhongli and Roland attacked, the energy barrier around the energy core began to weaken, revealing its true appearance…
Under the dual impact of Ace’s ice and fire, the energy core was like an enraged beast, emitting a dazzling white light and vibrating violently.
The ground of the arena began to crack, rubble continued to fall from the dome above, and the entire space was filled with the atmosphere of destruction.
Lin Zhan felt a strong sense of oppression, as if the air had solidified.
But he was unusually calm
“You… actually found a flaw…” Guangying’s voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible, with a hint of disbelief and unwillingness.
It seemed that it had not been expected that Lin Zhan would be able to use his authority to edit rules to combine two opposing forces into such a powerful attack.
Lin Zhan ignored the wailing of the light and shadow. There was a determined light in his eyes. While the energy core had not yet completely exploded, he mobilized the power of rules again to maximize the output of Ace’s power.
“Now it’s your turn to pay the price!” He roared, and the lava wrapped in ice, like a roaring dragon, slammed heavily into the energy core.
A deafening explosion echoed throughout the arena.
The energy core completely collapsed, bursting out with dazzling light, dyeing the entire space white.
Lin Zhan felt a huge shock wave coming and pushed him out violently.
“Retreat quickly!” Roland’s voice was particularly clear amid the explosion.
She grabbed Zhongli, who was stunned by the shock wave, and quickly ran towards the exit.
Lin Zhan steadied his body in the air, glanced at the collapsing arena behind him, and turned around and fled without hesitation.
He knew that although the battle was won, a greater crisis might yet lie ahead.
What is hidden behind the light and shadow?
This question has been lingering in his mind.
The arena was like a hollowed-out beast, groaning in pain. Huge pieces of rubble fell from the sky and the ground continued to collapse, as if it was going to swallow everything.
While dodging the falling rocks, Lin Zhan was quickly thinking about his next strategy.
Previous battle scenes kept flashing through his mind, the power of light and shadow, the use of Ace’s strength, the clever use of rule editing authority… He knew that this victory was not accidental, but the result of their team’s tacit cooperation and his calm thinking.
“Lin Zhan, be careful!” Roland’s voice came again, interrupting his thoughts.
Lin Zhan looked up and saw a huge fallen rock coming towards him.
He quickly dodged to the side, but the impact of the falling rocks still pushed him back a few steps.
He steadied himself and increased his speed again.
“We must leave here as soon as possible!” Lin Zhan said to himself.
He felt an inexplicable uneasiness, as if something terrible was about to happen.
Just then, a familiar voice sounded in the ruins: “I didn’t expect you to make it here.”
Lin Zhan’s heart sank suddenly. He turned around slowly and saw Blackbeard’s figure appear in the ruins. His eyes were cold and a strange smile hung on the corners of his mouth.
“Blackbeard!” Lin Zhan clenched his fists and whispered, “I won’t let you succeed this time.”
He felt a strong sense of oppression coming from Blackbeard, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
He knew that the real decisive battle had just begun.
The collapse of the arena continued, and huge pieces of rubble kept falling, as if foreshadowing a greater crisis was about to come.
Lin Zhan, Roland, and Zhongli stood back to back, staring at Blackbeard vigilantly. The air was filled with a tense atmosphere that was suffocating.
A new storm is brewing.
Chapter 175 Blackbeard’s Conspiracy (Old Version)
Dust flew, rubble rolled, and the arena collapsed with a deafening roar.
Lin Zhan took Princess Weiwei’s hand and evacuated with Zhongli and Roland.
The joy of escaping death was fleeting, and a cold murderous intent came from behind.
In the ruins, Blackbeard’s figure emerged like a ghost, his scarlet eyes flashing a chilling light in the darkness.
“Do you think you can win by destroying the trial? The power of the Star Core Council is far beyond your imagination.” His cold voice was like a whisper from hell.
Lin Zhan took a deep breath, and his clenched fists trembled slightly.
“I won’t let you succeed this time.” He whispered, his tone full of determination.
With just an eye contact and no further words, Lin Zhan, Zhongli and Roland quickly entered combat mode.
Blackbeard grinned grimly and opened his arms. A powerful dark energy surged out of his body, shrouding the entire ruins in thick darkness again.
Lin Zhan felt suffocated. This dark energy was stronger than before and full of oppression.
He immediately invoked the rule editing authority, increased his speed to the extreme, shuttled through the darkness, and avoided Blackbeard’s attacks.
“Zhongli, defend!” Lin Zhan shouted loudly.
Zhongli understood what he meant, and formed seals with his hands. The thick rock elements formed an indestructible barrier, blocking Blackbeard’s energy attacks.
This brief respite gave Princess Vivi a chance to analyze the situation.
“His power is much stronger than before,” Princess Weiwei frowned, “He must have obtained some new source of power.” She looked around, trying to find the answer.
The battle entered a white-hot stage, and Blackbeard continued to release dark energy waves, trying to suppress Lin Zhan and others.
Each attack was carried with the power to destroy the world. The ground kept cracking and the air was filled with a sickening burnt smell.
While Lin Zhan was dodging the attacks, he was also thinking about countermeasures.
What is the source of Blackbeard’s power?
How can we defeat him?
At this moment, Roland suddenly exclaimed: “The ground! Look at the ground!”
Lin Zhan and Princess Weiwei looked in the direction Roland pointed, and saw that the ground of the arena was engraved with complex runes. These runes emitted a faint light and were particularly eye-catching in the darkness.
“These runes…” Princess Weiwei muttered to herself, “Could it be that they are some kind of protection mechanism for the energy source?”
Lin Zhan’s heart moved, and a bold idea came to his mind.
“Zhongli, use the rock element to destroy those runes!” he ordered decisively.
Zhongli did not hesitate, condensed the power of the rock element, and launched a fierce attack on the runes on the ground.
Huge rock pillars fell from the sky, shattering the runes one by one.
“It works!” Lin Zhan was delighted and saw the hope of victory.
However, just when Lin Zhan thought he had the upper hand, he suddenly felt a strong sense of uneasiness.
He raised his head and looked towards the sky. An indescribable sense of oppression enveloped him, as if something terrible was about to happen…
Lin Zhan’s heart was pounding, and the joy of victory was completely washed away by the sudden mechanical sound.
Before the particles left by Blackbeard had completely dissipated, the huge energy ball had already condensed into shape, emitting a suffocating pressure.
This energy was more powerful than any previous attack, and it even made him feel a tremor in his soul.
He quickly glanced around. Although Ace was pale due to excessive use of his enhanced abilities, he was still standing; Zhongli had a solemn expression, and the spear in his hand emitted the light of rock elements, and he seemed ready to fight at any time; while the other team members were more or less afraid, and their eyes were full of confusion.
He knew that panicking would not help, and the most important thing now was to find a solution.
What exactly does the Star Core Council, this mysterious organization, want to do?
What is the ultimate purpose of this so-called trial?
He recalled his previous experiences: the sudden appearance of monsters, the strange space transformation, and this system with the authority to edit rules… All of this seemed like an elaborate game, and they were the pawns in it.
“Shadow Fruit…” Lin Zhan whispered to himself, replaying the changes before and after Blackbeard used the fruit in his mind.
That strange light seemed to carry some kind of space-distorting power. Could it be that this energy ball was also a similar attack?
He looked at the energy ball again, and this time, he noticed that the light inside the energy ball was not uniform, but some complex patterns could be vaguely seen, like some kind of mysterious rune, constantly flowing and changing, as if containing the mysteries of the universe.
Lin Zhan’s rule editing authority can strengthen the capabilities of friendly forces, weaken the power of enemies, and even change the rules of the environment.
However, facing this unknown energy attack, he felt helpless.
He couldn’t determine the properties of the energy ball, let alone find its weakness.
As time passed, the energy ball glowed brighter and brighter, and the feeling of oppression became stronger and stronger.
Lin Zhan felt that it was becoming difficult to breathe, as if a mountain was pressing on his chest.
He closed his eyes and tried to put himself into an ethereal state, trying to feel the flow of energy around him and find a chance for a breakthrough.
At the same time, Zhongli was also observing the energy ball.
As the God of Rock, his perception of elemental forces far exceeds that of ordinary people.
He could feel that the power contained in this energy ball was not simply elemental power, but a more primitive and powerful energy, even surpassing the seven elements of the continent of Teyvat.
He clenched the spear in his hand and pondered in his heart.
Even the Rock God cannot guarantee that he will escape unscathed from this unknown force.
He must prepare for the worst and protect his companions behind him.
Ace stood silently beside Lin Zhan. Although he was weak, he still clenched his fists tightly and his eyes were firm.
He knew that Lin Zhan was their hope, and as long as Lin Zhan was still there, they still had a chance.
Fear spread among the team, and some players even began to sob quietly.
But Lin Zhan knew that he couldn’t fall down.
He is the leader of this team and he must lead them to survive.
He suddenly opened his eyes. Although he didn’t know the specific properties of this energy ball, he vaguely felt that the attack method of this energy ball was not a simple explosion or impact, but some kind of more sophisticated control.
He must find a way to crack the energy ball before it attacks, otherwise, they will all die.
Lin Zhan quickly adjusted his strategy and whispered to Zhongli, “Mr. Zhongli, I need your rock elemental power to construct a special defensive barrier…”
Chapter 176 The Final Battle (Old Version)
Lin Zhan felt a burning breath coming towards him. The new energy weapon was more ferocious than the previous one and carried destructive power.
Red beams of light crisscrossed the arena, like a web of death, enveloping everyone.
His heart sank, and he realized he had to change his strategy.
“Spread out and avoid being caught in one fell swoop!” he whispered to Zhongli.
Zhongli nodded calmly and clapped his hands on the ground. Golden rock elemental power surged out and quickly built up a series of solid defensive barriers to protect the team members.
Princess Weiwei frowned and quickly scanned the arena, trying to find a new way to break the deadlock.
Her eyes finally fell on the wall of the arena, where some strange symbols were carved and flickered with a faint light.
Her intuition told her that these symbols might be related to the control mechanism of the trial.
“Lin Zhan, look at those symbols!” Princess Weiwei pointed at the wall and said, “They may be the key!”
Lin Zhan followed Princess Weiwei’s instructions and felt something in his heart.
He immediately ordered Roland: “Roland, analyze these symbols and see if there are any clues.”
Roland took the order and quickly came to the wall, carefully observing the changes in the symbols.
These symbols have different shapes and flashing frequencies, and seem to contain some complex rules.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the red energy beams continued to hit the rock element barrier, making a deafening roar.
Zhongli’s expression gradually became solemn. Maintaining these barriers required a large amount of elemental power, and he didn’t know how long he could hold on.
Lin Zhan anxiously waited for Roland’s analysis results
“I… I think I found something!” Roland’s voice was trembling with excitement. “These symbols change every once in a while. If we can destroy them at this point in time, we can weaken the power of the trial!”
Lin Zhan was invigorated and immediately asked, “How often does it change?”
“About thirty seconds!” Roland replied.
Thirty seconds!
Lin Zhan muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the symbols on the wall, waiting for the best opportunity.
“Get ready!” He shouted in a low voice, and gathered the power of rules in his hands.
Zhongli was also ready, with the power of rock element in his hands ready to be unleashed.
Finally, it’s time for the symbol change!
“Now!” Lin Zhan shouted.
Zhongli seized this fleeting opportunity, and the power of rock element burst out, transforming into a huge rock pillar that slammed heavily into the wall.
With a loud bang, part of the symbol on the wall was destroyed. The energy weapons in the arena were significantly weakened, and the voice of the light and shadow also became weaker: “You… actually found a flaw…”
A gleam of light flashed in Lin Zhan’s eyes, and he knew that the opportunity had come!
He no longer hesitated, his figure flashed, and he rushed towards the light.
“Now it’s your turn to pay the price!” Lin Zhan roared, activating the rule editing authority.
He combined Ace’s lava power with the ice element, which had a range freezing effect, and transformed into a fiery red ice dragon, roaring and rushing towards the core of light and shadow.
The light and shadow screamed, and its body gradually dissipated. Just when everyone thought victory was in sight…
Lin Zhan’s heart was beating heavily and sweat soaked his clothes.
The disappearance of light and shadow did not bring the expected relief, but instead foreshadowed a greater crisis.
The cold voice above his head, like the sentence of the god of death, made him feel unprecedented pressure.
The huge energy ball exuded a breath of destruction, as if it could crush them into powder in the next second.
“Zhongli, Black Tortoise Shield!” Lin Zhan shouted sternly.
When Zhongli heard this, a golden light flashed in his hand, and a huge basalt shield appeared out of thin air, emitting a heavy breath of earth element, protecting everyone behind him.
The energy ball hit the basalt shield with a deafening roar, and the entire arena was shaking violently.
Princess Weiwei stared at the energy core in the center of the arena, her slender fingers dancing on the console, and lines of code flashed before her eyes.
“Lin Zhan, I have confirmed that the energy core is the key to controlling the entire trial! It is connected to the energy supply system of the arena. If we can destroy it, perhaps we can end this trial!”
A trace of determination flashed in Lin Zhan’s eyes, “Okay! Roland, cover Weiwei! Zhongli, we will attract firepower!”
The sword in Roland’s hand made a humming sound, and lightning leaped on the sword. He flashed and stood in front of Princess Vivi, looking around vigilantly.
Zhongli held a spear and fought side by side with Lin Zhan. The two cooperated tacitly and resolved wave after wave of energy attacks.
Lin Zhan was fending off the attack while thinking about countermeasures.
He realized that relying solely on defense was not a long-term solution, and he had to take the initiative to attack and destroy the energy core.
He took a deep breath and said to Zhongli: “Zhongli, I need you to create an opportunity for me to get close to the energy core!”
Zhongli nodded calmly, “Leave it to me.” He clasped his hands together and muttered something. A powerful force of rock element burst out from him, and the ground bulged to form rock walls that blocked most of the energy attacks.
Lin Zhan seized the opportunity and rushed towards the energy core like lightning.
He knew that this was a desperate gamble, but in order to end this trial and for the sake of his companions behind him, he had to give it a try!
Princess Weiwei stared at Lin Zhan’s figure nervously, tapping her fingers on the operating table, trying to find a way to control the energy core.
She knew that Lin Zhan was risking his life to buy time for her, and she had to find a breakthrough as soon as possible!
Suddenly, she discovered that there was a slight abnormality in the energy fluctuations of the energy core, and a tiny loophole was exposed.
“Found it!” Princess Vivi was delighted and quickly wrote a program and input it into the control system.
Under the cover of the rock wall, Lin Zhan finally approached the energy core.
However, just as he was about to launch an attack, a powerful repulsive force bounced him away.
He knew that this was the self-protection mechanism of the energy core.
At this moment, he felt that the energy fluctuations in the energy core were abnormal, and he knew that this was the masterpiece of Princess Vivi!
Lin Zhan seized this opportunity, concentrated all his strength in his hands, and punched the energy core!
With a loud bang, the energy core vibrated violently, and then burst into dazzling light.
The entire arena began to collapse, and Lin Zhan was blown away by the shock wave of the explosion.
Zhongli was quick-witted and quick-handed, and caught Lin Zhan the moment he was knocked away.
He looked at the unconscious Lin Zhan, his heart filled with worry.
Lin Zhan slowly opened his eyes and saw Zhongli’s concerned gaze.
“Did we… succeed?” he asked weakly.
“Yes, we succeeded.” There was a hint of relief in Zhongli’s voice.
With the explosion of the energy core, the arena completely collapsed and the trial ended.
They were teleported back to the real world, where they exposed the conspiracy of the Star Core Council and rebuilt a new world of freedom and equality.
Lin Zhan, Zhongli, Princess Weiwei, Roland, and all the partners who fought side by side have finally achieved their own happiness and satisfaction.
As the sun sets, the golden sunlight shines on Lin Zhan’s face. He looks at his friends around him and gives a sincere smile.
This difficult trial not only brought them victory, but also deepened the bond between them.
He knew that the road ahead was still long, but as long as they were united, nothing could stop them from moving forward.
