bookbashuk Chapter 148 Breaking Through the Shadows: Jason's Shining Moment!
Chapter 148 Breaking Through the Shadows: Jason's Shining Moment!
Chapter 148 Breaking Through the Shadows: Jason's Shining Moment!
Albana, the capital of Alabasta, is a white city that appears even more silent and eerie when surrounded by the rainforest of the gods.
The World Government's flag flew high above the palace, heavily guarded, but an indescribable sense of oppression enveloped everything.
Forgotten in the palace, Paki and Jason are idly strolling among the magnificent yet cold columns.
Bucky's huge red nose was almost wrinkled up, and he sighed in a deep voice, lost in thought.
"We're doomed—that Taigong Wang must look down on us, that's why he didn't take us to the battlefield!"
"If we lose on the main battlefield, we'll definitely be the first ones dragged out to take the blame! We won't have a chance of survival!"
Jason, on the other hand, seemed much more relaxed, flicking off non-existent dust from his golden shoulder armor.
"What on earth are you thinking about all day? Can't you learn from this hero and enjoy life to the fullest?"
As he spoke, he tapped his fingers together, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Master, have you noticed? The number of Servants on the Black side is a bit off."
"Huh? What's wrong?" Bucky replied absentmindedly.
"Look," Jason analyzed, "there's Jiang Ziya (Taigong Wang) one, Yang Xiong (Yang) one, and that smiling Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent Goddess) one—"
"At most, only three Servants set off with the army? Doesn't that violate the basic rules of the Holy Grail War?"
"By the way, there seems to be one more person over there with the black beard, but even so, it's still not enough no matter how you count it."
Bucky scratched his blue hair, trying to remember.
"Hmm, I think I heard someone say that Akainu Sakazuki died and was resurrected by Smoke Mirror, and then died again! His Heroic Spirit is currently out of control in the prison."
"That Blackbeard guy is incredibly cunning. His Heroic Spirits are well-hidden, but it seems... it's still not enough? Could it be that the World Government is hiding some kind of assassin?"
As he spoke, he himself felt a chill run down his spine and subconsciously shrank his neck.
The two chatted casually, and before they knew it, they had walked into a secluded corridor deep inside the palace.
The guards here are noticeably sparser, and the air is filled with the scent of ancient stone and dust.
Just then, from inside a magnificent carved wooden door ahead, the faint sound of a suppressed argument could be heard.
Ba basically wanted to turn around and leave.
"You damn Jason, get out of here! You'll be in big trouble if you hear something you shouldn't!"
But Jason's eyes lit up, and he grabbed him, making a gesture of intent, his face showing an expression of extreme interest in the secret.
"I must know the truth! That history, that enormous national treasure, and the meaning of the D clan!"
"This world cannot remain shrouded in mist forever! Don't you understand? We need the truth to better address this war!"
A weak yet stubborn voice rang out; it was King Cobra.
Another cold and arrogant voice rang out, and Bucky and Jason recognized it as the blond, flat-hatted elder of the Five Elders.
"Cobra, your curiosity has gone too far. Some knowledge is taboo for the Nefitari family, and even more so for you, it is a deadly poison."
"Rest assured, be your king, cooperate with us to win this war, and you will save Alabasta and your daughter's life."
"So Vivi—you really are something else," Cobra's voice was filled with anger and trembling.
"I demand to see the King on the Void Throne! I demand to know the truth! The agreement from eight hundred years ago, even the secrets from a thousand years ago! Is destruction the only outcome?!"
"Stubborn to the end!"
Another Elder's voice rang out coldly, but he seemed to be shocked by something and immediately changed his words.
"Since you insist on pursuing the throne of the void, then let me show you with my own eyes what nothingness is."
The atmosphere inside the door suddenly became incredibly terrifying. A sense of oppression, as if from another world, spread out. This aura made Bucky outside the door instantly tremble with fear, cold sweat pouring out like a waterfall, his teeth chattering, and he almost collapsed.
"The Void Throne?! A national treasure?! Can I even hear these things?! I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!!"
Bucky screamed in a low voice, desperately trying to crawl backward, but Jason held him down tightly.
In stark contrast to Paki's fear, Jason's eyes gleamed with unbelievable excitement!
"The King of the World? The Void Throne? The eight-hundred-year agreement? It seems I was right! This war truly involves the will of this world!"
"Great King of the Gods, please guide me once again to the end of my journey!"
"This is the kind of great adventure and legend worthy of Captain Jason's participation!"
He almost couldn't help but cheer; the hero's passion and the desire for the unknown burned in his chest.
Inside the door, Cobra let out a painful groan, as if an invisible force had choked him.
"Now that you know what you shouldn't know, the Nefitari family bloodline will be severed here today." The Five Elders' voice was devoid of emotion.
At this critical moment.
"Bang!"
The door to the corridor was suddenly pushed open!
"Stop! In the name of Lord Jason, who led the heroes on this expedition, do not act so insolently before the King!"
Jason strode into the room and leaped across 100 meters.
He put one hand on his hip and pointed forward with the other.
The golden armor gleamed in the dim light, and a confident, even exaggerated, smile graced his face.
Although he seemed reckless, his positioning was clever, placing him between Cobra and the Five Elders.
Bucky slumped against the doorframe, trying to shrink himself into a ball and hide, his heart filled with a frantic, sorrowful rage.
He's gone mad! He's gone mad! This arrogant pretty boy has gone mad!
How dare they disturb the Five Elders and that unknown world king?
Oh no, oh no, it's all over! This great Captain Bucky is going to die here today!
The scene inside the room was suffocating.
King Cobra knelt on the ground, his face pale, breathing heavily.
The Five Elders stared expressionlessly at the intruder.
The shadows at the deepest part of the room seemed to come alive, coalescing into a blurry yet incredibly majestic figure.
Those scarlet, rounded eyes seemed to be coldly watching everything, and there seemed to be something even more terrifying behind him.
The five elders frowned simultaneously when they saw Jason.
Satan Saint said coldly, "Jason, the spirit of Paki? This is not a place for you. Leave immediately!"
They were indeed somewhat surprised and wary.
Jason's magnificent ancient Greek-style golden armor bears some resemblance to that of Gilgamesh, the oldest king.
One of the reasons for recruiting them as allies was that they were unsure of their strength in a real battle. Jason showed no fear; he even brushed his blond hair aside and declared loudly.
"You're the ones who should step down! Bullying a powerless king—is this how the World Government behaves? It's utterly despicable!"
He turned to Cobra, his tone becoming serious.
"King Cobra, there's no need to worry! Do you remember the promise I made to you at the banquet?"
"I, Captain Jason of the Argo, the great Jason, having accepted your hospitality and commission, will never stand idly by while you meet with misfortune! This is one of the principles of a hero!"
Cobra struggled to raise his head, looking at the seemingly frivolous yet courageous hero who had stepped forward at this moment. A complex light flashed in his eyes. "Arrogant!" the Holy Warrior Topman Vochuli roared.
"A mere Heroic Spirit dares to interfere in the affairs of the World Government! It seems we need to teach you a lesson in the meaning of respect!"
Im, hidden in the shadows, seemed to move slightly, and the invisible pressure suddenly intensified, crashing down on Jason!
Jason's face paled slightly; this aura reminded him of the lord of the underworld.
Despite this, he straightened his back even more, and placed his arms horizontally in front of him. The golden light, though not dazzling, resisted the terrifying pressure with extraordinary determination.
"Hmph! I've traversed the ends of the earth, and I've seen the gates of the underworld! You think this little bit of pressure can make Captain Jason submit?!"
"What the hell are you doing, you idiot! Apologize now! Run!"
Bucky screamed desperately from the doorway.
Just as Im seemed about to take action himself, and the Five Elders were preparing to summon their guards to crush these two reckless fools.
Boom!
The entire palace, no, the entire city of Albana, suddenly began to shake violently!
A tremendous roar and the sound of city walls collapsing came from afar!
Immediately following was an incredibly familiar roar that resounded through the layers of palace walls.
"Gum-Gum - Giant Rocket Launcher!!"
There was also an even more unrestrained laugh, one that seemed to tear the sky apart.
"Hahahaha! My men, say hello to this city!"
And a girl's scream and the furious roar of some terrifying being.
This sudden and earth-shattering change left everyone in the room stunned!
Im's attention was suddenly drawn away, and the terrifying pressure that had enveloped the room momentarily froze.
The Five Elders' expressions changed drastically: "That voice and that power?! It's Gol D. Roger?! How could he be in the capital?!"
"Straw Hat Luffy! And that Gluttonous Bonney and her berserker!" Nasujuro Sei instantly identified the attackers.
Jason was taken aback at first, then his face broke into an undisguised smile of ecstasy.
"Oh my gosh! Looks like our troublemaker has arrived! The timing is perfect! The great hero has descended!"
He reacted extremely quickly, taking advantage of the moment when the Five Elders and Im were distracted by the attack outside.
He bent down abruptly and pulled up the almost exhausted King Kobra with a smooth and swift movement!
"Your Majesty, my apologies! Even heroes must retreat with the speed of the wind!"
He laughed loudly, hoisted Cobra onto his shoulder, and rushed toward the door. As he passed the limp Bucky, he didn't forget to kick him in the buttocks.
"Stop daydreaming, Master! Run if you don't want to die! Our adventure is only just beginning!"
"Whoaaaaah! I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to summon such a troublemaker!"
Paki was terrified and scrambled to catch up with Jason as they ran away.
The Five Elders were both shocked and furious: "Stop them!"
But the tremors and riots outside grew increasingly violent, and it was clear that the damage caused by the intruders far exceeded expectations. The palace's security system had been fully activated and was in chaos.
Im remained silent for a moment in the shadows, his round eyes coldly sweeping over the direction Jason and Baki had fled, before looking out over the palace walls from which the tremors had come.
Finally, the terrifying sense of emptiness receded like the tide, and the figure quietly disappeared into the shadows.
Compared to the two unexpected eavesdroppers and a down-on-his-luck king, Gol D. Roger and the owner of the Nika Devil Fruit, who suddenly appeared in the capital, were undoubtedly a greater threat.
Jason carried Cobra, followed by Baki, who was crying and shouting, as they rushed out of the deadly corridor.
A hero's impromptu adventures always begin on the most chaotic stage, with the most unexpected prelude.