novelraw Chapter 486: The Echoes of the Old Era Are Also the Horn of the New Era!
Chapter 486: The Echoes of the Old Era Are Also the Horn of the New Era!
On the subsidiary islands surrounding Sphinx, guarding the main island.
Pirates under the Whitebeard Pirates were thrown out of the newly built taverns and wooden houses, stumbling over each other as barrels and crates rolled everywhere.
"What's going on?!"
"An earthquake? No! This is Pops using his Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability!"
"Look at the sky!"
A pirate pointed fearfully at the sky, and instinctively, everyone looked up.
Across the azure dome of the heavens stretched a horrifying, massive crack, as if the great blue glass of the sky had been shattered by some supreme power.
"It's Pops!"
"It's Pops ability! Who is he fighting?!"
After a brief dead silence, exclamations and shouts erupted one after another.
Squard was the first to react.
He rushed toward his pirate ship, his face ashen as he roared, "Everyone, to the ships! Now! Something's happened to Pops!"
"Decalban! Your ship is fast!"
"MacGuy! Stop spacing out! Hurry up and follow!"
Over forty captains under the Whitebeard Pirates quickly came to their senses and scrambled toward the warships anchored along the coast.
Soon, a fleet of distinctively styled pirate ships set sail urgently, charging at full speed toward Sphinx's main island.
The massive armada churned up towering white waves as tens of thousands of pirates stood on the decks, armed with blades and guns, their faces etched with anxiety and killing intent.
However, when they stormed onto the beach of Sphinx's main island like a black tide surging toward the cherry blossom forest, they were blocked by over a dozen figures.
At the forefront stood Marco, the commander of the First Division, flanked by Jozu, Vista, and the other division commanders.
"Marco!" Squard hurried to Marco's side, his gaze fixed on the eerily tranquil cherry blossom forest ahead.
"What was that commotion just now? Who is fighting Pops?"
"Fleet Admiral Orion is here." Marco spoke calmly, his calm voice like a bucket of ice water poured over the heads of all the pirate captains who had rushed forward.
The words "Fleet Admiral" seemed to possess a magical force, halting the tide of tens of thousands of pirates in their tracks.
Fear and dread appeared on everyone's faces.
"Damn it, is the Fleet Admiral determined to wipe us out? We've already retreated here to cultivate wasteland!"
"Let's fight him! We're dead either way! Better to go down fighting than wait for death!"
"Right, right! If the Fleet Admiral pushes us to the brink, we'll take someone down with us even if we die!"
"Marco, what are you all standing here for? Hurry and help Whitebeard!"
"Wait!"
Suddenly, one captain raised his voice after scanning the surrounding sea.
"Commander Marco, the warships from the Sphinx Naval Base haven't moved! There's no naval fleet around. What's going on?"
"Could it be that the Fleet Admiral came alone?"
"He's looking down on the Whitebeard Pirates too much! Trying to take us all out by himself!"
"Commander Marco, let's charge in! No matter how strong Orion is, we can wear him down with numbers!"
Hearing the growing clamor behind him, Marco abruptly turned around and said sternly.
"Quiet, all of you!"
With that, he drew a deep line in the sand with his foot and declared, "Until Pops gives the order, no one is to cross this line."
As Marco's words fell, the restless crowd instantly quieted.
Though every person was burning with impatience, not a single one dared to take another step forward.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from the side and rear.
Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice and saw a flamboyantly dressed, top-hat-wearing, massive bird-man swaggering over, leading a group of Marine soldiers.
It was none other than Morgans, the News King!
Behind him followed Colonel Rio and others from the Sphinx Marine Base.
Ignoring the tens of thousands of hostile-looking pirates on the scene as if they were mere background props, Morgans strode directly to the line Marco had drawn and began directing his subordinates to set up various peculiar Video Transponder Snails.
"This camera angle is perfect, facing the cherry blossom grove—it's bound to feel epic!"
"Lighting crew? Oh, we didn't bring one. Never mind, natural light has a more fateful vibe!"
"Make sure to handle the sound transmission properly—after all, this is the echo of the old era!"
The Marine soldiers who had accompanied him worked methodically, swiftly calibrating each piece of equipment.
Watching the busy Marines and the Morgans pointing out the situation, all the pirates present were utterly bewildered.
What the hell is "epic" supposed to mean?
And what's this "echo of the old era"!
Marco frowned deeply, his gaze burning as he stared at the bird-man Morgans, and said in a low voice.
"Morgans, your nose is sharper than anyone's. To have caught wind of the Fleet Admiral's movements and arrived at Sphinx so punctually."
Morgans tilted his head, adjusted his top hat, and replied calmly, "Marco, you should thank me. My presence isn't just about broadcasting the end of an era and the dawn of a new one—it's also about giving Whitebeard a final farewell! Because Whitebeard's era ends today!"
At these words, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates all turned their attention, and the crowd erupted instantly.
"You bastard! What did you say!"
Diamond Jozu was the first to erupt in rage.
His massive body took a heavy step forward, causing the entire beach to tremble.
"Dare disrespect Pops? I'll kill you!"
Flower Sword Vista's twin blades emitted a soft hum at his waist, a sharp sword intent radiating from his body.
The other commanders glared furiously, their killing intent palpable, and they all drew their weapons.
Facing this group of terrifyingly powerful individuals capable of overthrowing a nation, not a single Marine soldier behind Morgans retreated.
Under Captain Rio's lead, the soldiers raised their steel rifles, aiming the dark muzzles at the pirate commanders ahead.
Though they were well aware their weapons might not even pierce the enemies' skin, they were proud Marines, soldiers under the Fleet Admiral's command.
Even if outmatched, they would never disgrace the Marine honor!
The tension in the air thickened to the extreme, a bloody conflict on the verge of breaking out.
Then, a deep, booming voice, tinged with laughter, drifted leisurely from the depths of the cherry blossom grove, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"Gurarararara…"
"My sons."
"Do not fear the curtain call, nor be anxious about the farewell that must come."
"The ship of the new era has set sail, my sons. Do not look back at the past. The echo of the old era is also the trumpet heralding the new era's arrival. Let the imprints of the past become the starlight that illuminates the path ahead!"
"Gurararara~"