bookbashuk Chapter 279 The Eve of the Second Holy Grail War
Chapter 279 The Eve of the Second Holy Grail War
Chapter 279 The Eve of the Second Holy Grail War
Dieter put down his glass.
The amber liquid in the glass stopped swirling, reflecting the slight ripples in his eyes.
Gilgamesh's mocking words still echoed in their ears, while Leonardo da Vinci's meticulous analysis by the campfire in Elbaf seemed to penetrate the space, intertwining with the King of Heroes's questioning.
What should a true king do?
He suddenly chuckled softly, at first his shoulders trembled slightly.
The laughter gradually grew louder, echoing through the spacious and beautiful courtyard, carrying a hint of self-mockery and unbridled joy.
"Hahaha! You're right, King of Heroes. The long years, the invincible power, the perspective of an observer—it really made me almost forget how I felt when I first embarked on this path."
Dieter stood up, feeling the sense of control that held the world in his arms, and his gaze slowly swept over each scene.
Ace's resolute departure, Shanks' solemn profile, Luffy's carefree laughter aboard the Thousand Sunny, Sengoku's furrowed brow in the Marine Headquarters fortress, the stirring darkness of Impel Down Level 6 —
"I gave them power and set the stage, but I was like an audience member sitting in a box, only hoping that the plot could bring some fun to fill the emptiness brought by this invincibility."
His voice calmed down, yet contained a deeper, more profound power.
"But I forgot that the true king is never just an observer, but a shaper, a leader, and—"
The one who holds the helm when the storm comes.
"Two dying worlds, a forced gamble—" Dilt repeated the sentence, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"No, perhaps it's more than just being forced. If covering is an invasion, then resistance should be considered war."
"If the old order has collapsed, then the establishment of a new order can no longer rely on chance or so-called protagonists."
He turned to Gilgamesh, a sharp, knife-like smile curving his lips.
"You're right, there's more than one key point. Fujimaru Ritsuka is the Master of Pan-Human History, but this vast ocean—"
'
"This sea has nurtured countless heroes, and carries both laughter and tears, dreams and sins."
"Isn't it itself a colossal, living Master? It chose Roger, it chose Whitebeard, it chose countless people who set sail—"
"And now, it is sending out a desperate cry for help through this absurd yet inevitable Holy Grail War—"
Gilgamesh swirled the newly appeared golden cup, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and amusement.
"Oh? So you're finally deciding to step down from your boring throne and wade into this quagmire yourself?"
"Not stepping into the mud," Dilt corrected, raising his right hand, palm up.
There was no light, no fanfare, but the entire space of the Heavenly Kingdom, and even the rules of the sea surrounding Beehive Island, seemed to freeze slightly for a moment with his simple action.
"Instead—let this war return to its original and most fundamental meaning: to determine the sole holder of the wish-granting machine."
"However, the object of the wish is no longer a person's idle desire, but the future of two worlds."
His voice, through some rule that transcends distance, resounded directly to the first fourteen participants.
Luffy, Ace, Sabo, Vivi, Shanks, Mihawk, Bonney, Blackbeard, Akainu, Shamrock, Rob Lucci, Doflamingo, Smoker, Crocodile.
His voice, like a resounding bell, echoed deep within the spirit foundations of all the heroic souls who had forged profound covenants with them.
[Announcement: The First Holy Grail War has been declared undecided.]
[Based on the inherent mechanisms of the Holy Grail and the escalating disturbances at the world's foundation, the Second Holy Grail War will officially begin in seventy-two hours.]
[The eligibility of all participants (Masters) and their contracted Servants in the First War will be automatically extended. Command Seals will be reset and replenished.]
[At the same time, based on the current global volatility and individual potential, fourteen new participants will be selected and assigned Command Seals.]
The stage for war—the entire world.
[Victory condition 1: Reach the place where the Holy Grail truly manifests, or become the last and only Command Seal holder.]
May you all fight to the death for your own desires and for the world (WorId).
There was no further explanation, no emotional embellishment. Just a cold, absolute, and unquestionable declaration.
The next moment, the first participants were scattered around the world.
The Command Seals on the back of their hands, which might have been dimmed or exhausted, suddenly burst forth with an unprecedentedly intense light!
The new, abundant magic flowed back through the contract, invigorating the Heroic Spirits and allowing the Masters to clearly feel the strengthened connection and power.
Meanwhile, in certain individuals around the world...
They might be renowned powerhouses, unknown hidden talents, influential figures, or ordinary people with unwavering convictions.
They all felt a burning sensation on the back of their hands without warning.
Immediately, a bright red and mysterious Command Seal pattern slowly appeared, glowing faintly, accompanied by a brief message flowing into his mind.
That's the qualification for participating in the Holy Grail War, and the basic rules.
The world was ignited by this declaration at that moment, and then instantly fell into a deathly silence, as if a storm was brewing.
What followed was a wave of reactions more turbulent and violent than ever before!
Fishman Island, deep within the Dragon Palace.
Luffy, who is communicating with Noah, and Roger, who is guarding him, both have their Command Seals glowing at the same time!
On the Moby Dick, deep in the ocean, heading towards Impel Down.
Ace, who had just given the order to depart, and Karna, who stood silently to the side, their Command Seals shone brightly!
Somewhere in the new world, a secret stronghold of the revolutionary army.
Sabo, who was deep in thought while looking at the nautical chart, felt Napoleon's tricorn hat tremble slightly in his arms, and a light shone on the back of his hand!
Naval Headquarters, Marshal's Office.
Sakazuki, the Akainu, looked at the faint mark on his arm, which was now slightly burning!
Meanwhile, Smoker, far away in Alabasta, and his companion Quetzalcoatl, also sensed something!
Mary Geoise, among the flowers.
Im slowly opened his eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible trace flashing across his fingertips.
In the shadows behind Him, something vast, chaotic, and malevolent seemed to lazily turn over.
Dressrosa, the former royal palace highlands.
Doflamingo looked at the Command Seals glowing on the back of his hand, and his String-String Fruit power unconsciously fluctuated slightly. He grinned, revealing a dangerous smile.
"Fufufufu—is it starting again? This interesting war—"
On Onigashima in Wano Country, Kaido of the Beasts let out a drunken burp, the berserk markings left by the Berserker Cú Chulainn on his arm faintly burning.
And on the throne of the one who started it all, residing in the Beehive Island Heaven.
Dilt calmly withdrew all his world surveillance abilities.
He stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the churning sea of clouds below, and the vast, boundless blue planet in the distance.
"I've observed long enough," he muttered to himself. "It's time to upgrade the fun."
In Elbaf, Shanks had barely warmed the Den Den Mushi in his hand by the campfire when Dilt's voice exploded in his mind like thunder.
On the back of his hand, the three Command Seals glowed brightly, and a new surge of magic flowed forth.
Shanks clenched his fist tightly, the light of the Command Seals gleaming beneath the skin of his hand.
He glanced at Beckman, Lucky Roux, and the others who were equally astonished, then looked at Elder Yorulu and the giant warriors.
Although the giants could not hear Dilt's direct announcement, they clearly sensed the sudden change in the aura of Shanks and the others, as well as the unusual atmosphere that had gathered in the square.
"It seems," Shanks said in a deep voice, taking a deep breath.
"Mihawk, you received it too, right? The Second War—has begun. And it's on a larger scale, with even more brutal rules."
He glanced at the Command Seals glowing on Bonney's hand, and at Hercules's suddenly raised head and Da Vinci's instantly grave expression.
"The same goes for us. Elbaf is safe for now, but we have to rethink our plans. As for the others—"
"We already know," the Den Den Mushi mimicked Mihawk's calm voice.
"The Heavenly Demon told me to tell everyone: the sea is about to boil; protect yourselves and your important things. Also..."
He paused.
"The Straw Hats have just gone through a tough battle, but they've grown rapidly. Their next target will definitely be Blackbeard—"
Shanks' eyes sharpened: "Understood. Maintain contact, Mihawk. If the war resumes, we, the Reds—"
It needs to be tighter.
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, he turned to the crowd, his usual carefree smile vanishing, replaced by the composure and decisiveness befitting a sea emperor.
"Gentlemen, the situation has changed. The Second Holy Grail War has been forcibly initiated, and more participants have joined. Our plans must be accelerated."
"Elder Yoru, I'm afraid we can't stay any longer. We need to get in touch with the giants' trials and ancient knowledge as soon as possible."
Elder Yoruru leaned on his wooden cane and nodded slowly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the night.
"The tide of rules has arrived—the warriors of the giants will not back down. Tomorrow at dawn, the qualification test for the path to warrior glory will begin."
"Those who pass through may enter the outer area of the Hall of Wisdom Slabs."
Bonney gripped the edge of his father's life support pod, his hand burning with the Command Seals: "Mr. Shanks, I—"
"Bonnie, your safety and the Doctor's safety are the priority, but Hercules' power will be crucial."
Shanks looked at Da Vinci, "Ms. Da Vinci, your wisdom and knowledge are crucial to our understanding of the Giants' heritage."
Da Vinci nodded gracefully, his eyes gleaming like a stream of data.
"I'd be happy to help. This ancient civilization might hold the raw code to resist overwriting."
Bucky screamed and jumped up: "Another war?! My treasure isn't even here yet—ouch!"
'
He was patted on the back of the head by Yasopp, who was standing next to him, with a laugh.
Jason puffed out his chest: "Hahaha! A new war? This is the time for the great Captain Jason and the heroes of the Argonauts to shine! Redhead, leave it to me!"
Beckman whispered, "Captain, the new players—the Navy and the World Government—will not stand idly by this time. And Blackbeard—"
Shanks gazed south, as if he could see the surging darkness before him: "Ah. So we must be faster, stronger."
On the Moby Dick, Ace stands at the bow, the sea breeze ruffling his flaming cloak. The three Command Seals on the back of his hand, now lit again, resemble a burning brand.
Karna appeared silently beside him: "Master, a new war has begun. The rules have changed, and the number of enemies will increase."
"Ah, I heard that." Ace's voice was calm, and golden flames flickered deep in his pupils.
"But so what? Our goal remains the same: first, reunite with Luffy and the others, and then—find Blackbeard and settle things once and for all."
He turned around and looked at the Whitebeard Pirates captains who had gathered on the deck.
Marco, Jozu, Vista—each of them wore a solemn expression, clearly having learned of the drastic change through their own channels or from Ace's retelling.
The Moby Dick had just been attacked, and now the Holy Grail War had resumed, adding to the pressure.
"Ace," Marco's phoenix blue flames flickered slightly.
"What my father means is, do what you want to do, but don't shoulder everything alone. The Whitebeard Pirates will always be your support. In this war, we may not be able to stay out of it either."
Diamond Jozu grumbled, "I heard qualifications can be plundered? Heh heh, those Navy and World Government bastards will definitely pounce on us like mad dogs."
Vista, the foil fencer, elegantly polished his beloved sword: "They can plunder, so why can't we? Isn't the stage of war the entire sea?"
"Just what I wanted. My sword has long yearned for a true test."
A warm feeling welled up in Ace's heart, and he nodded emphatically: "Ah! Thank you everyone! However, this is my battle, and also my war with Little Sun."
He looked at Karna. "Right, partner?"
Karna nodded slightly, and the phantom of the Undying Blade appeared beside him: "Whether it is a god or a demon ahead, I will clear it for you, Master."
"Alright!" Ace grinned, and flames shot into the sky.
"We'll take the lead! Our target is Fishman Island, so that the Second Holy Grail War will begin here!"
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, deep within the city of Pangaea, atop the Void Throne, Im's figure is shrouded in a hazy starlight and shadow.
The five elders, like zombies, knelt before him, devoid of any emotion.
"The Second Holy Grail War — Forced to Begin — New Participants —"
"Does that Dilt treat the whole world like a gladiatorial arena? —"
Ultimately, all eyes turned to the throne.
Im remained silent for a long time before his ethereal and indifferent voice rang out, as if from the depths of the universe.
"The flood has arrived. The old dikes are no longer sufficient to withstand the regular tides."
"Seize the Holy Grail and control the direction of wishes."
"When necessary—activate the national treasure and clean the chessboard."
The Five Elders bowed deeply: "Yes, Lord Im!"
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The atmosphere in the marshal's office was so heavy it could drip water.
Steel Bone Sky, Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and the five generals have all gathered.
The Command Seals on Akainu's hand had long since disappeared, but his face was ashen, and his body radiated terrifying heat and rage.
"The Second War ————————" Sengoku rubbed his temples, feeling a splitting headache.
"Having learned from our past mistakes, our navy can no longer afford to be passively defensive; we must take the initiative and strive to recruit more participants and heroic spirits! This is a battle for strategic resources!"
"Hmph!" Akainu slammed his fist on the table, sending lava flying everywhere.
"It should have been done long ago! Our hesitation and so-called observation last time cost us the initiative!"
"This time, all uncontrolled Heroic Spirits and Masters must be annihilated! In the name of absolute justice!"
'
Kizaru, legs crossed, grinned and said, "Oh~ how scary~ more overtime~ But, Sakazuki, you've lost your Command Seals, what are you planning to do this time~?"
Akainu glared fiercely at Kizaru: "I will take it back myself! From Blackbeard, or from any enemy!"
Aokiji Kuzan rested his chin on his hand, gazing at the frozen sea outside the window, his voice somewhat ethereal.
"The war will span the entire ocean—the civilian casualties will likely be incalculable. What, then, is our navy's stance?"
"To protect, or to participate in the looting?"
Garp picked his nose, unusually serious: "That brat Luffy—and A—they're both involved."
.
"And if it's like Loguetown again—Sengoku, this time, I might not be able to completely side with the Navy."
Sengoku gave his old friend a deep look and sighed, "I understand. But Garp, your duty is to be a naval hero. At least on the surface—sigh."
He turned to the crowd, his eyes sharpening.
"Order: The entire Navy is placed on Level One combat readiness! Operation Hunter is activated. Intelligence will be provided by CP Department, and a special operations team composed of elite naval vice admirals and above will be deployed to search for, contact with, and control newly emerging participants in the Holy Grail War across the global ocean!"
"Prioritize ensuring that the qualifications fall into the hands of trusted individuals within the Navy or the government!"
"At the same time, intensify monitoring and strikes against known enemy participants, including Straw Hat Luffy, the Red-Haired Pirates, Portgas D. Ace, the Blackbeard Pirates, and the Revolutionary Army!"
"Akainu, as an admiral, you are responsible for coordinating the frontline operations and—seeking an opportunity to re-establish your Heroic Spirit contract."
Akainu replied in a deep voice, "Yes!"
"Kizaru, you're the fastest, so you're in charge of mobile support and decapitating key targets."
"Ugh, this is so troublesome~ Okay~"
"Aokiji, you'll be in charge of maintaining stability in the rear, intelligence analysis, and coordinating operations with the CPO."
"----learn."
"Kong, what do you think?"
Steelbone crossed his arms, his voice as firm as iron: "That's how it'll be."
"Also, contact the Science Unit. Vegapunk has disappeared, but the other clones and the good legacy must be put to use; those weapons are very useful."
"The World Government has authorized the use of all necessary means. The Navy must win this war!"