thefictionvixens Chapter 253 Under the Moon, the Pirate King and the Dark King
Chapter 253 Under the Moon, the Pirate King and the Dark King
Chapter 253 Under the Moon, the Pirate King and the Dark King
Sabaody Archipelago, Region GR-13, Shakky's Bamboo Bar.
Unlike the brief commotion outside caused by the clash of two legendary Conqueror's Haki masters, the seemingly ordinary bar was filled with a profound atmosphere that transcended life and death.
The rich aroma of strong liquor, mingled with memories and emotions, flowed quietly in the air.
"Hahaha! Cheers!!"
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper excitedly raised their glasses, clinked them together with Roger, and then gulped them down.
Although Zoro and Sanji were also holding their glasses, their gazes were mostly fixed on the two old men, filled with an indescribable respect and scrutiny.
Nami, Robin, and Franky sat a little further away, experiencing this historic moment.
Brook sipped his black tea gracefully. Although he had no eyes, his skull was always facing Roger and Rayleigh, as if listening to the echoes of the times.
As for Crocodile, he stayed on the ship with Tescatlipoca and King Hassan. He said the scene embarrassed him.
"That was great! That was really great!" Roger wiped his beard, which was covered in wine stains, and laughed heartily, a laugh that seemed to dispel all gloom.
He put his arm around Rayleigh's shoulder tightly, his eyes slightly red.
"I never expected, I really never expected to see you again, old man, and to sit here drinking with you again!"
Rayleigh's face held a gentle yet profound emotion, his eyes behind his glasses still sharp, but bearing the marks of decades of hardship.
He gently clinked his glasses with Roger's, the rim of the glass making a crisp sound.
"To be able to drink with you like this again feels like a lifetime ago, Roger."
Just then, Xia Qi, the bar owner, came over with a new bottle of liquor. Her still-charming face wore a half-smile, and her gaze swept over Roger with a complex mix of nostalgia and teasing.
"Hey, isn't this that hot-headed blue pirate who used to yell about getting married but ended up getting drunk? What, now that he's a Heroic Spirit, his alcohol tolerance has improved?"
Roger was taken aback when he saw Shakky, then burst into an even louder laugh, scratching his head with a hint of embarrassment.
"Shawn! You're still the same, always so sharp-tongued! Let's not bring up what happened back then!"
His eyes revealed a longing for the past, a time of free-spirited adventure and unbridled joy with his companions, as if it were just yesterday.
Rayleigh smiled and shook his head, saying to Shakky, "He's always been like this, he hasn't changed at all."
Xia Qi put down the wine, leaned against the counter, and lit a slender cigarette.
Amidst the swirling smoke, she looked at Roger, then at Luffy, and whispered.
"Yes, nothing has changed. What has changed is the times and the people sitting here."
This statement caused the atmosphere to become slightly somber.
Roger's smile faded, his gaze sweeping over his Master Luffy and the young, energetic faces around him before finally settling on Rayleigh.
"Old man," Roger's voice was deep and powerful.
"Seeing them, I know that my death in Loguetown wasn't in vain! The era I started hasn't been in vain!"
"This ocean ultimately belongs to these little devils who dare to dream and dare to rebel!"
His words were filled with pride and satisfaction.
Summoned as a Heroic Spirit, he witnessed Luffy's growth, how the seed carrying his will took root and sprouted, how he gathered a group of reliable companions, and how they overcame numerous difficulties.
Rayleigh looked intently at Roger, the captain he had once sworn to follow to the death. Even after crossing the line of death, Roger's heroism and spirit still inspired everyone.
He said slowly, "Ah, I know. Your choice, your path, has been inherited."
"Luffy and his crew are writing their own legend. Roger, it's a privilege for both of us to witness it in this way."
This is an understanding between men, requiring no further words.
Rayleigh witnessed Roger's end, and now he witnesses the continuation of Roger's will, as well as Roger's return as a heroic spirit.
This in itself is the best tribute to Roger's lifelong pursuit.
"However, Rayleigh," Roger changed the subject, his eyes sharpening.
"The reason I was able to come back this time is ultimately because of the Holy Grail War that old monster Dilt started."
"That guy, after living for so long, suddenly pulls up such a big fuss, bringing heroes into the fight. What exactly is he trying to do? You're well-informed here, do you know anything about it?"
The atmosphere in the bar became slightly tense when the topic of arbitration, Dieter, was mentioned.
The Straw Hat crew all understood the weight of this name; he was the key figure who guided Luffy into the Holy Grail War.
Rayleigh pushed up his glasses and shook his head: "Dilter's purpose remains a mystery. His actions have always been unpredictable."
""
"The rules of the Holy Grail War have spread throughout the world, and Heroic Spirits have appeared one after another, stirring up a storm. He seems to be pushing something forward, selecting something."
"But only he himself probably knows the specific details. We don't know more than you do, Roger."
Luffy mumbled something while stuffing meat into his mouth.
"Uncle Dilt said this war is very interesting, and he wants me to have a go! He also said I can find many formidable opponents!"
He wasn't interested in the conspiracy behind it; what attracted him was the adventure.
Roger snorted: "That guy's still the same as ever, always preferring to be the mastermind behind everything."
"However, since he's called me back, I'll play this game with him to the very end!"
"By the way, let's see how big a hole these new generation kids can poke in the sky!" He looked at Luffy, his eyes full of anticipation.
"By the way, Uncle Rayleigh," Nami interjected at the right moment, steering the conversation in a more practical direction.
"Besides having our ship coated, the main reason we came to Sabaody is to find out about Fishman Island. We're here to seek an alliance with them."
When Fishman Island was mentioned, Rayleigh and Shakky exchanged a glance.
Rayleigh pondered for a moment and said, "I do know some news about Fishman Island."
"Not long ago, a great battle took place there. The Blackbeard Pirates sent their Heroic Spirits and some of their officers to attack Fishman Island, their target being Noah, which Jinbe is rumored to have summoned."
"What?! Blackbeard?!" Luffy stopped chewing instantly, his eyes turning serious.
Zoro, Sanji, and the others immediately focused their attention.
"Are you alright?" Luffy asked anxiously.
"Don't worry," Rayleigh reassured him.
"The crisis has been averted. And the way it was resolved was quite astonishing."
He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts.
"It was the Crusaders who made the move."
"The Crusades?" Robin frowned slightly.
"That's right," Xia Qi replied, exhaling a smoke ring.
"According to intelligence, the heroic spirit sent to Fishman Island by the Crusaders was a swordsman named Sasaki Kojiro, who was almost unknown before this."
"Sasaki Kojiro, I know."
"That guy is the Heroic Spirit summoned by Hawkeye. He shouldn't be a Heroic Spirit from our world. I've never heard of him before."
Zoro repeated the name; as a swordsman, he was particularly sensitive to the names of any powerful swordsmen.
Rayleigh nodded, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"It was this nameless Heroic Spirit who, at the Fishman Island port, single-handedly first forced back Ryuma, the Dragon Slayer Swordsman under Blackbeard's command, and then, under the combined attack of Ryuma and another Heroic Spirit, John, unleashed a sword strike that surpassed the limits."
"According to eyewitness accounts, it was a sword technique that touched upon the realm of nothingness, simultaneously defeating two powerful heroic spirits and causing them to dissipate into spiritual particles!"
"One sword—to defeat two Heroic Spirits at the same time?!" Sanji's hand holding the cigarette froze, his face filled with shock.
A sharp light flashed in Zoro's single eye, and his hand unconsciously pressed against the hilt of his Wado Ichimonji sword.
A strong fighting spirit rose from his body.
To force Ryoma to retreat, and simultaneously defeat both Ryoma and Captain John? What kind of swordsmanship is that?!
He had never witnessed Sasaki Kojiro's strength before, simply because he was Hawkeye's Heroic Spirit.
But at this moment, the name was deeply imprinted in his heart.
"I had drinks with Kojiro in Alabasta before, and he really is an amazing guy."
Roger also showed an interested smile.
Luffy, however, was more concerned and asked, "What about Jinbe? Is he alright?"
"Jinbe is fine," Rayleigh said confidently. "He also contributed a lot in that battle. After the war, Doflamingo of the Crusaders extended a formal invitation to King Neptune through a video Den Den Mushi, hoping that Fish-Man Island would join the Crusaders."
"At present, Fishman Island is still considering, but Diamante of the Cross Society and Sasaki Kojiro seem to have stayed on Fishman Island for the time being to rest."
He looked at Luffy and his crew: "So, if you go to Fishman Island now, you can meet Jinbe and see the situation there for yourself."
"Perhaps it's worthwhile to assess the strength of the Cross Society. In any case, this is another significant variable in the global landscape."
"Great! I get to see Jinbe!" Luffy cheered, but then clenched his fist.
"That Blackbeard guy dared to attack Fishman Island! I will never let him get away with this!"
Roger looked at Luffy and laughed heartily, "That's right! Revenge is a dish best served cold! Do whatever you want! That's what pirates are all about!"
"However, kid, the situation on Fishman Island is complicated now, and the waters are very deep. You'd better be careful when you go!"
"Of course!" Luffy said confidently.
Zoro, however, was still absorbed in the news he had just received, muttering to himself.
"Sasaki Kojiro—the swordsmanship of Kara no Kyoukai? I really want to test my skills against him."
Rayleigh observed everyone's reactions and understood. He raised his glass: "It seems your next stop is destined to be anything but peaceful. For our reunion, and for the new adventure that awaits you."
"Cheers!!"
Everyone raised their glasses once more. The wills of the kings of the old era and the pioneers of the new era converged here.
Roger's path was inherited by Luffy, while Rayleigh, the former Dark King, served as a witness and guide, watching a new storm brew on Fishman Island beneath the deep sea.
As night deepened, the hustle and bustle of the Sabaody Archipelago gradually subsided, leaving only the rhythmic sound of the waves lapping against the mangrove roots, like the slumbering pulse of the world.
Inside Xiaqi's bar, most of the lights were off, leaving only a dim old lamp on the bar counter, casting two long shadows onto the wooden wall.
The young members of the Straw Hat crew had already been arranged by Shakky to rest in their rooms upstairs. After a day of sailing and the excitement of reuniting with the legends, they needed to conserve their energy for diving into Fishman Island, which was thousands of meters below the surface.
In the bar lobby, only Roger, Riley, and Shakky remained, silently wiping glasses behind the counter.
She is like a quiet guardian, maintaining this space that belongs to bygone days.
Several more empty wine bottles appeared on the table, but Roger and Rayleigh's eyes were clearer than before.
Alcohol did not numb their senses; instead, it seemed to wash away the dust of time, allowing some of their most essential qualities to emerge.
Roger didn't laugh heartily as before. He simply leaned back in his chair, his gaze passing through the half-open shop door to the night outside, where the bubbles refracted light in a bizarre and surreal way, as if he could see through the surface to something deeper.
"Rayleigh," he began, his voice low and steady, devoid of the daytime clamor, only the calm that comes with years of experience.
"Seeing Luffy and his noisy crew reminds me of our days on the Oro Jackson."
Rayleigh gently swirled the remaining amber liquid in his glass, saying nothing, but simply listening quietly.
He knew that what his captain needed at that moment was not a response, but a chance to confide in him.
"Back then, we were the same, fearless and confident that the answer we sought would surely be at the end of the sea."
""
Roger's lips curved into a complex smile, a smile that held both nostalgia and a sense of relief.
"We found Laugh Tale, learned about the Void Century, learned about the Will of D, learned about the heavy burden this world carries—and then, I made my choice."
His gaze shifted to Rayleigh, his eyes as sharp as ever, yet carrying a calm that came from having entrusted everything.
"I've staked everything on the future. I don't trust any specific person, but rather the possibility itself, the inexhaustible force of life itself in its pursuit of freedom and resistance against oppression."
Rayleigh finally spoke, his voice equally steady: "You won the bet, Roger."
He put down his wine glass, and his gaze met Roger's through the light behind his glasses.
"Your death is not the end, but the prelude. For the past twenty years, the sea has never been calm. Countless people have rushed to the sea because of your words, seeking their dreams and challenging authority."
"And Luffy—he's not just inheriting, he's surpassing. He's walking his own path, but the direction of that path is the same as what you expect."
"Yes, different paths lead to the same destination." Roger repeated the phrase, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
"He is not bound by the empty title of Pirate King; he pursues ultimate freedom."
"This is closer to what we were looking for back then than simply becoming king. Seeing how steadily he wore his straw hat, I knew that Shanks's eye for talent was as sharp as ever."
When Shanks was mentioned, both of them fell silent for a moment. He was their fellow crew member, another spark that would carry on their legacy.
"Sometimes, I think," Roger's voice trailed off, almost as if he were talking to himself.
"If we had possessed the power of Heroic Spirits back then, would the outcome have been different? Would we have completely destroyed the World Government? Would the truth of the world have been revealed sooner?"
Rayleigh shook his head, his tone resolute: "No. Roger, the tides of time have their own rhythm."
"The power of heroic spirits is a variable, but true change originates from the awakening of the human heart."
"What you chose to ignite with your death was precisely this spark of awakening. Revealing everything too early, or relying on external forces that don't belong to that era, might extinguish the flame."
"Things are different now. The seeds have sprouted and broken through the soil, and it is time for them to be tempered by wind and rain. Dilt's stirring up of the storm at this time may also be part of this wave."
"Dilter—" Roger snorted, but there was little anger in his voice; it was more like an acknowledgment of his old rival.
"That old monster has lived longer than anyone else and sees things more clearly than anyone else."
"He orchestrated this Holy Grail War, bringing the dead back to fight, and it definitely wasn't just for show. He must be plotting something, some kind of game—something even we can't fully understand."
"His goal may never have been simply to rule or destroy," Rayleigh analyzed.
"What he's pursuing might be closer to the root of the problem, or—the reset of the world."
"He has lived so long that we can't even guess when he was born. He has witnessed too many cycles and may have become utterly fed up with the existing order."
"This Holy Grail War may be his attempt to break the cycle, a crazy experiment that forcibly stuffs countless possibilities and variables into the furnace of this world."
Roger grinned, revealing his signature white teeth, but his eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"Whatever experiment it is! Since he dragged me back, I'm going to participate in this game my own way!"
"Protect those who deserve protection, and beat up those who deserve to be beaten up!"
"By the way, let's see where this era I started will ultimately lead!"