vncnus Chapter 240 The Cold and Almighty God, Indra Makes His Move
Chapter 240 The Cold and Almighty God, Indra Makes His Move
Chapter 240 The Cold and Almighty God, Indra Makes His Move
As we advanced into the sea outside the city, time seemed to stand still.
The once mighty fleet, representing the absolute power of the navy, now floats forlornly on the broken sea like a child's scattered toys.
The source of all this is that terrifying, bottomless chasm that stretches across the middle of the ocean.
On both sides are sheer cliffs hundreds of meters high, emitting a continuous roar.
Sunlight pierced through the surging water walls, refracting into distorted and eerie halos that illuminated the bloodless faces.
The morale of the navy, along with that of their warships, was utterly shattered by this arrow.
The surviving soldiers lay limp on the tilting deck, staring blankly at the inhuman sight, oblivious to the weapons slipping from their hands.
The salty smell of the sea was mixed with the stench of gunpowder and blood, as well as an aura that could be called despair.
"No—impossible—this is absolutely not—human power—" from the deep crater on the flagship's deck.
Sakazuki struggled, trying to support his body with his fists, which were wrapped in dark red lava.
However, the excruciating pain tearing through his internal organs, and the chasm that divided the world in his vision, caused an unprecedented crack in his unwavering belief in absolute justice.
His magma was powerful enough to burn cities and boil seas, but in the face of such earth-shattering divine power, it seemed so insignificant and laughable, like a firefly compared to the bright moon.
A mouthful of blood finally couldn't be held back and spurted from his clenched teeth, staining the charred deck red.
Kizaru's usual languid expression had been replaced by extreme solemnity, and golden photons flickered slightly around his body, indicating that he was on high alert.
"This is beyond terrifying—yay!"
He smacked his lips, his voice carrying a hint of dryness that he himself was unaware of.
"It's like—a re-enactment of the mythological era, a judgment blade wielded by the gods themselves."
Kuzan stood silently on the cracked ice, the chill uncontrollably condensing into tiny ice crystals on him.
He had originally planned to use his ability to try to freeze part of the sea to create a way out for the remaining fleet, but after just feeling the terrifying fluctuations in the chasm, he wisely abandoned the idea.
That abyss seemed capable of swallowing even the concept of ice.
"Mr. Garp—we—" A lieutenant general with blood on his shoulder staggered to Garp, who stood as solid as a rock, and asked for instructions in a trembling voice.
Karp gripped the ship's railing tightly, the steel bars creaking under his weight, his knuckles turning completely white from the strain.
He stared intently at the culprit behind the maniacal laughter on the LEVEL1 platform.
The archer who hovered in the air, his eyes now completely indifferent.
After a long silence, the naval hero seemed to have aged considerably in an instant. He squeezed out two words, each carrying immense weight, through his teeth with great difficulty.
"----retreat."
These two words, like the final death knell, tolled in the hearts of every surviving navy officer.
This signifies that the Navy's determined purification operation ended in a disgraceful and humiliating failure.
This was a humiliating defeat unlike any other in naval history.
"Execute the order!" Kuzan took a deep breath of the cold air.
He forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart, took over the command of the scene, and his voice, though somber, was exceptionally clear, carrying throughout the wrecked ships.
"All ships that can still move! Abandon all offensive intentions and prioritize rescuing our comrades who have fallen into the water! Follow the edge of the water's walls and find a way out of this hell! Hurry!"
Fujitora used his powerful Observation Haki to take in the devastation of the sea.
The countless wrecks of sunken warships, the cries for help in the water, the fear and despair that permeated the air—all of these made his heart feel like it was weighed down with lead.
He immediately dialed the Thousand Sunny again, his tone more urgent than ever before, even with a hint of pleading.
"Straw Hat Boy! Everyone! Evacuate Impel Down immediately! There can be no more hesitation!"
"Blackbeard has mastered a terrifying power that no one can match, and that heroic spirit Arjuna—I see him undergoing a fundamental transformation!"
"His spiritual foundation has been deeply polluted and even assimilated by higher divinity, and his humanity is being devoured by divinity!"
"At this moment, he is a walking calamity! To remain here is certain death! Leave immediately!"
Inside the city, in the passageway near the entrance to Level 6.
Even deep underwater, Luffy and his crew could clearly feel the earth-shattering energy bursting from above.
The entire Impel Down was shaking violently, with huge rocks and dust falling from the ceiling, as if this impregnable prison might collapse at any moment.
Karna suddenly raised his head, and a rare, intense fluctuation flashed across his usually calm, ancient-well-like golden eyes.
He sensed the dramatic changes happening to his brother, who was at the center of the battlefield, more clearly than anyone else.
"Arjuna—" Karna murmured to himself, his brow furrowed slightly.
"This power—Indra's divinity has been greatly activated, even—forcibly integrated into certain underlying rules of this world? He is being forcibly pushed to a higher divine throne—but the price is—"
"What's wrong, Arjuna?" Luffy keenly caught Karna's whisper and hurriedly asked.
"He is losing his humanity."
Karna's words were concise, yet carried a hint of complexity.
"The power is growing wildly, but Arjuna's own will is being covered by something much larger."
It's like—metal being recast; although it becomes harder, it loses its original shape and toughness.
"Blackbeard made such a commotion up there—" Ace steadied himself against the wall, his face more serious than ever before.
"Moreover, Arjuna's power—is too extraordinary. It's beyond what we previously knew."
"Mr. Fujitora's warning is correct; we must leave immediately! Otherwise, we might really be buried alive in this deep-sea hell!"
Roger dropped his usual somewhat cynical smile, crossed his arms, and scanned the constantly shaking surroundings with sharp eyes.
"I never expected that a kid from this era could create such a huge spectacle. Even I'm a little surprised. Luffy."
He looked at Luffy.
"Listen to your brother and that blind general, let's retreat first. Fighting head-on now isn't brave, it's foolish."
"Only by surviving can I find a chance to beat him up."
King Hassan's massive skeletal body remained silent, the eerie blue soul fire burning calmly in his eye sockets, demonstrating his stance through his actions.
"Damn it!" Luffy angrily slammed his rubber fist into the stone wall next to him, creating a shallow crater.
He hated running away, but he understood even more that he couldn't let his companions be driven into a desperate situation.
"Alright! Let's go out first! But Blackbeard—"
He suddenly looked up, his eyes burning with an indomitable flame.
"I'm definitely going to beat him to a pulp! The guy who messed up this place!"
The LEVEL1 platform, once the site of naval landings, has now become the stage for the victors.
Blackbeard looked down at the chaotic remnants of the navy below, who were like ants on a hot pan, with a smug expression. His signature maniacal laughter gradually subsided.
"Hahaha!! Did you see that? Earl! Lafitte! Burgess! Did you all see that?!"
He opened his arms as if to embrace the entire broken world.
"This is divine power! True divine power! With Arjuna, with this power, what world government! They're all utter bullshit!"
"The entire world will grovel at the feet of the Blackbeard Pirates!"
"Tsk, what a breathtaking and mesmerizing power." Lafit twirled his cane, his tone still flippant, but a hint of awe lurked deep in his eyes.
The count's blurry shadow rippled slightly, and his deep, serious voice resounded directly in the black-bearded man's mind.
"Don't let the power before your eyes cloud your judgment, Teach."
"This power—is too great, and too abnormal. The price of fusing with divinity is probably far beyond our imagination."
"Moreover, while we severely damaged the Navy, we also completely exposed this fatal trump card. The World Government, and those old guys hiding in the shadows of history, will not stand idly by. The ensuing counterattack will be devastating."
"What are you afraid of! Hahaha!" The black-bearded man waved his hand dismissively, glancing at Arjuna, who stood motionless beside him.
"Once we fully grasp the secrets of the Heart of the Clouds, and even find that Davy Jones you mentioned, and integrate the power of all the Ancient Weapons and Heroic Spirits, even if Im himself comes, I will surely win!"
He turned to Arjuna, trying to make his tone sound kind and trusting.
"Arjuna, my partner, how do you feel? Does this power give you a feeling you've never experienced before—"
—Fulfilling?
Arjuna descended slowly from the sky, his feet lightly touching the ground without stirring up a speck of dust.
His gaze swept calmly over the chasm below, which seemed to lead to the abyss of hell, as if it were just a casual stroke of a brush.
His voice was steady, yet carried an ethereal echo, as if multiple voices were overlapping, devoid of their usual emotional fluctuations.
"Power—is surging endlessly. The lines of the rules are countless times clearer than before."
"The will of God the Father, like a resounding bell, echoes within my soul, guiding the way. The karma of this world is filthy and heavy, requiring a more thorough and absolute cleansing."
He slightly raised his hand, and a flash of golden light appeared at his fingertips, causing the surrounding space to seem to distort slightly.
"But—" He paused, his indifferent eyes looking at the black beard, his pupils seemingly containing swirling, cold stars.
"The part of the Father God's divinity within the heart of the Cloud Sea is incomplete. It's like a broken puzzle piece, instinctively yearning to return, or to be completed by a more fundamental power."
A glint flashed in the black-bearded man's single eye as he keenly grasped the crucial information: "You mean—the real core, or rather, the thing that can make you more complete, isn't here?"
"I can feel it," Arjuna said, gazing at the distant horizon, his vision seemingly piercing through the thick clouds and the boundless sea, reaching the White Sea thousands of meters above.
"Something is calling to it from the distant sky."
The White Sea, Sky Island, Angel Island, and surrounding areas, all located at an altitude of 10,000 meters.
The once lush, vibrant, and uniquely civilized Sky Island has been drastically transformed into a Hindu mythological religious site.
A massive, magnificent palace complex with intricate carvings rose up, replacing the original, charming shell-shaped buildings.
The golden spires and dome gleamed against the white sea of clouds, piercing the sky.
The air was filled with the rich scent of sandalwood all day long, as well as an omnipresent, unsettling, and oppressive divine aura.
In the core area directly enveloped by Indra's divine power, formerly Angel Island, now known as the Divine Realm, the scenery is different again.
This is the dwelling place of the people of God.
Those who most devoutly converted to Indra lived on the Sky Island.
They wear uniform, simple white ascetic robes, and their daily lives strictly follow ancient Hindu rituals.
At dawn, a tsunami of chanting would erupt from the Golden Temple, and tens of thousands of the gods would prostrate themselves in the squares and streets, their expressions fervent and focused.
They followed the priest's lead, praising the greatness of Indra and the gods.
Their food was almost tasteless, and their job was to maintain the cleanliness of the temple and perform various complex penitent rituals.
Their complexions may not be rosy, but their eyes burn with a fervent light of selfless devotion.
Deep within the temple, on the golden throne carved with countless thunder patterns and designs of divine battles, Indra closed his eyes in deep concentration.
His form was majestic and ancient, his body crackling with inextinguishable golden lightning, radiating a heavy, oppressive aura that seemed to freeze the very air.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide.
Lightning burst forth from his eyes, illuminating the lightning runes throughout the entire temple, emitting a blinding light and a loud crackling sound!
"My son—Arjuna!"
Indra's voice boomed like a thousand thunderbolts, echoing wildly throughout the magnificent temple, causing even the thick golden walls to tremble.
"How could you—merge into the rules of another world?! Forcibly merge with my overflowing divinity?!"
"Those fragments of the Heart of the Clouds scattered below—truly used by mortal ants, daring to so tarnish my bloodline!"
His rage instantly darkened the sky above the entire Sky Island, and raging lightning snakes danced wildly in the clouds, emitting deafening roars.
The axe-wielding Rama, Nandi, and Jiyu, who were standing below, bowed simultaneously, bearing the immense divine power.
"My God, please calm your anger," the Immortal Jiyu said slowly.
"I have a vague feeling about the matter of Prince Arjuna."
"He seemed to be in the blue sea below, merging with a powerful and dark will, and through some medium, forcibly enhancing his own divinity, even touching the laws of this world."
"Although this action is a great disrespect to the gods and a forced attempt to help them grow, it also proves his potential and value as the son of the God-King."
He paused slightly on the word "value".
He snorted coldly, a mocking smile curving his lips. In his eyes, besides jealousy, there was also a hint of smug satisfaction at finally finding an excuse.
"Your Majesty, Arjuna, as your son, not only failed to uphold the righteous law, but also allied himself with darkness, forcibly devouring your divine power. Such actions are utterly rebellious!"
"Please allow me to lead my divine army down to the mortal realm, where I will capture this traitor and hand him over to you for judgment! And I will reclaim the desecrated Heart of the Cloud Sea!"
Rama, wielding the axe, stepped forward, slamming his giant axe into the ground with a dull thud, and remained silent.
Indra suppressed the rage that threatened to destroy everything before him, his eyes flashing with lightning, revealing the complex emotions swirling within him. His feelings for his son Arjuna were indeed far beyond ordinary.
In Hindu mythology, Indra's favoritism towards Arjuna is well-known; he bestowed divine artifacts upon him and repeatedly assisted him.
At this moment, amidst his anger, the deep-seated bias rooted in his spirit foundation resurfaced.
The image of Arjuna receiving the divine quiver from him flashed through his mind.
He recalled his son's outstanding performance on the battlefield, which had never disappointed him.
That was the bloodline he placed high hopes on, the inheritors who carried part of his power and glory.
"Even Rama with his axe is no match for him," Indra finally spoke, his voice still majestic.
The anger seemed to be forcibly suppressed, transformed into a cold decisiveness.
"I command you two to immediately muster the divine army, and aboard the Vimana and Thundercloud chariots, prepare to descend to the mortal realm!"
"The primary objective is to reclaim the fragments of the Heart of the Clouds and cleanse them of their filth! Secondly—" He paused slightly, his golden eyes sweeping over the two of them.
"Bring Arjuna back! If he is willing to repent and return to the realm of the gods, I will make arrangements."
"If he insists on resisting—you are permitted to use necessary means, but you must do your best to preserve his spiritual foundation! Immortal Jiyu, you will remain in the temple to accelerate the purification of this realm and closely monitor the movements below."
"We obey the divine decree!" the three heroic spirits replied in unison.
The axe-wielding Rama remained solemn, but a glint of triumph flashed in his eyes, which he quickly concealed.
The Immortal Jiyu nodded slightly, his figure slowly disappearing into the shadows of the temple.