bookbashuk Chapter 102 is a long story; Napoleon's first encounter with the resistance army revealed his a
Chapter 102 is a long story; Napoleon's first encounter with the resistance army revealed his a
Chapter 102 is a long story; Napoleon's first encounter with the resistance army revealed his astonishing command abilities.
Vimana reigns supreme over Alabasta.
Gilgamesh was staring with great interest at Alabasta below, which was faintly divided into two factions, red and black.
The rebels in the southeast are gathering strength, while the kingdom's army and navy in the northwest are equally ready for battle.
At the heart of the two territories, looking down from the sky, one can clearly see the deep blue light emanating from the earth.
In Gilgamesh's eyes, this was absolutely a pleasant surprise.
This country, located in another world, is now experiencing the emergence of powerful spiritual veins underground under the influence of the God of Smoke and Mirrors.
"Hehe—I see. Was it a lucky accident, or did you foresee it? Dilt. The intersection of two worlds, I see."
"This is the stage for positional warfare—plundering positions to increase the chances of victory—that's right."
"You, the referee, should hurry up and fulfill your duties. Come here and meet those who came because of you. For my pleasure."
Hahahaha!
Joyful laughter immediately echoed through the rainforest, and every Servant with keen senses could perceive this unstable element beyond the war—
On the border of Alabasta, in a village, a post-war meeting is being held in a wooden hut.
The atmosphere inside the simple house was heavy, a mixture of the bitterness of herbs and the lingering smell of blood.
Thanks to Chopper's continued efforts, Kuma's vital signs stabilized, but he remained unconscious.
Bonnie was asleep by the bedside, her little hand still tightly gripping her father's bandaged fingers, her face streaked with tears and showing signs of exhaustion.
Hercules squeezed himself into a corner of the small house, his gaze gentle as he looked out at the Red Team's core members sitting in a circle on the hastily cleared ground outside Bonnie's house.
Everyone was injured, and bandages and makeshift splints were everywhere.
Luffy devoured a steak to replenish his energy, Ace silently used a flame to dry his soaked bandages, Sabo straightened his gunpowder-stained coat, Zoro looked gloomy, Sanji lit a cigarette with a furrowed brow, and Usopp carefully wiped the stains off the Napoleon cannon.
Nami and Chopper squatted quietly together. The destruction of a city seemed so distant to them; they couldn't even imagine such a tragedy could happen to the human world.
Karna quietly closed his eyes to rest, and the cracks on his skin caused by his brother slowly healed.
Roger leaned against a rock, his sharp eyes scanning the map.
The atmosphere is heavy and depressing.
The ruins of Yuba City cast a huge shadow over everyone's hearts. The devastating power and the casualties of innocent people made the cruelty of this Holy Grail War undeniable.
"The casualty count is out," Sabo said, his voice slightly hoarse, breaking the silence.
"Nearly half of the rebels' elite forces have been lost, and the casualties among ordinary soldiers are even heavier. The civilian casualties in Yuba are incalculable, and the city is essentially destroyed."
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
"Damn it!" Luffy took a big bite of meat, his eyes burning with rage. "Those bastard Marines!"
"Now is not the time to be angry, Luffy."
Ace said in a deep voice, flames dancing in his palm.
"We need to think about what to do next. Last night was just the beginning; Black's main force, Akainu, is dead."
"But I heard Arjuna won't disappear immediately. The crocodile killer and his heroic spirit, as well as Blackbeard, were basically unharmed. Although the Navy withdrew, the World Government will definitely not let this go. And those guys fighting in the sky..."
"We need strongholds, we need intelligence, we need to integrate our forces."
Karna opened his eyes, his golden pupils sweeping over the crowd. "Trapped here, like lambs to the slaughter."
Just then, a majestic and familiar roar came from the sky!
The enormous golden sun ship slowly descended onto the open ground outside the village, kicking up a cloud of dust.
At the bow, Ramses II, bathed in the golden light of dawn, appeared as if a god had descended.
Princess Vivi followed closely behind and jumped off the ship. Her small face showed the fatigue of the long journey, but she saw that although Luffy and the others were all injured, no one was missing.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Vivi!" Luffy and Sabo exclaimed in surprise.
"Thank goodness everyone, you're all alright!" Weiwei rushed over, her eyes reddening slightly when she saw the injuries on everyone's bodies and the tragic state of the village.
"I saw Yuba—"
"Your Majesty, Princess Vivi, you have come at the perfect time."
Sabo stood up and quickly explained the current dire situation and predicament.
Ramses II surveyed the scene, his golden eyes scrutinizing him, before finally settling on the map.
"Chaos and disorder. My allies have been reduced to cowering in a corner?"
Napoleon stood beside Saab, the optimist out of place in the somber atmosphere.
"Hahaha, Pharaoh, don't be so harsh. I've experienced much darker times. It's obviously better than a deserted village, isn't it?"
2
Meanwhile, Roger, leaning against a rock, held his head in his hands, looking relaxed.
"So what exactly happened after the separation? And where did these armies come from?"
Napoleon sighed deeply and looked at his men, all of whom were wounded but whose eyes remained firm.
"Oh dear, that's a long story."
Rewind to a few days earlier, after Sabo, Napoleon, Sanji, and Usopp were projected through the smoke mirror.
Before the dizziness from the spatial distortion had completely dissipated, the ground beneath my feet felt like it was covered in gravel.
The damp air, carrying lingering dust, created a sticky and nauseating sensation that was truly unbearable.
Even more terrifying was the air thick with despair that filled my nostrils.
Sabo was the first to steady himself, scanning his surroundings warily.
They landed in the heart of a barren valley. Here, trees also grew, sprouting directly from the cracks in the rocks.
What's even more surprising is that these mountains seem to contain some kind of energy, emitting a leisurely light that makes the place even more eerie.
The gaze shifts from the mountain to the dilapidated shacks that offer little protection from the wind and rain, and the run-down tents scattered along the rugged mountainside.
People dressed in shabby clothes, with sallow and emaciated faces, held rusty swords, hoes, and even sharpened wooden sticks in their hands.
They stared intently at the group of uninvited guests who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear, confusion, and deep distrust.
The atmosphere was as oppressive as solidified lead.
A tall man with a menacing scar on his face pushed through the crowd and strode forward.
He wore a worn-out old leather armor, and his weathered face was etched with vigilance and hostility.
His gaze swept over Sabo, Sanji, and Usopp, who was nervously swallowing, like a knife, before finally settling on Napoleon.
Napoleon's magnificent, sharp, dark blue Imperial military uniform stood out starkly against the dilapidated surroundings.
The imperial insignia, especially the gleaming epaulettes on the epaulettes, instantly became the focus of attention.
"Who are you? Where are you from?"
Sabo stepped forward to shake hands with the other person, but the other person did not react.
Sabo could only manage a forced smile and say, "Hello, my name is Sabo. This is Archer, Sanji, and Usopp. It seems we fell from the sky."
"Ha!" The scarred man let out a short, sarcastic laugh, breaking the peaceful conversation.
He pointed at Napoleon, his voice rough and loud, filled with undisguised contempt.
"From the sky? A new trick by the government?"
"Or which idle nobleman sent you opera troupes to watch how we lowly commoners barely survive?"
He deliberately looked Napoleon up and down, as if he were looking at a comical exhibit.
"Especially you! Dressed like you're going to a king's coronation, a general without a single flag bearer?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "general," which was full of mockery.
"I think you're just a conman in a theatrical costume! How many brawls in aristocratic gardens have you actually directed? What real skills could you possibly have? Bah!"
Usopp, his face flushed with embarrassment, exclaimed, "You idiot, you can't believe your eyes don't recognize a great man! Master Napoleon is the most powerful general in the world!"
During their previous voyages together on the ship, Usopp was taught countless lessons by Napoleon.
However, the surrounding resistance members, spurred on by their leader's sarcasm, uttered sporadic snickers and hostile whispers.
Some people raised their makeshift weapons and slowly surrounded them, intending to subdue them.
Usopp was instantly terrified, his hair standing on end. Sanji frowned, his body tensing slightly, ready to act at any moment.
Sabo took a deep breath, preparing to explain.
Whoosh!
The sharp, piercing sound of whistling arrows and the ensuing booming explosions shattered the silence of the valley without warning!
Then came a barrage of gunfire and a unified shout!
"The Navy! The Navy is attacking!"
"They've stormed into the valley! Block the entrance!"
"Damn it! How did they find this place? What do we have that would make them come here? They usually don't care about us defeated soldiers!"
The scarred man's expression changed drastically. He roared in shock and anger, no longer caring about Napoleon and the others, and abruptly turned to look at the entrance of the valley.
Well-equipped and well-trained naval soldiers were already in battle formation, pouring in from the narrow valley entrance like an iron torrent!
The tunnel guns spat fire, and the well-trained bayonets gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
Their clear objective was to completely destroy this stronghold.
Although the rebel fighters were terrified, driven by their leader's roar and their instinct for survival, they hastily picked up their weapons and fought back.
However, their formation was scattered and their morale was low. Faced with the regular army's firepower suppression and orderly advance, their resistance was like a fragile sandcastle, and several gaps were torn open in an instant.
Screams and blood immediately filled the air, and despair spread like a plague among the crowd, replacing the previous hostility with greater fear.
In the chaos, the scarred man brandished a chipped broadsword, trying to organize his men to block a gap, but he was pinned down by the navy's dense bullets and could not lift his head, with soldiers around him falling one after another.
At this critical moment, a voice with undeniable penetrating power rang out, clearly drowning out the gunshots and screams.
"If you want to live, follow my orders!"
Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to it.
Napoleon had somehow taken several steps forward and was now standing on a slightly higher rock.
He didn't look at the scarred man. His eyes, which had seen countless battles and understood the intricacies of the battlefield, sharply swept across the chaotic battlefield, as if a sophisticated instrument was calculating all the variables in an instant.
He pointed to the steep highlands on both sides of the valley, his voice resolute.
"Everyone who can draw their bows and throw stones! Immediately occupy the high ground on both sides! Precision isn't necessary! Use anything you can find—stones, clods of earth, incendiary materials! Throw them! Create chaos and suppress their first wave of attack!"
Several relatively calm rebels, taken aback by the commanding tone, instinctively roared and pulled up a few archers and men carrying stones, climbing up the steep slope.
"You!" Napoleon's gaze suddenly locked onto the scarred man, his finger pointing precisely at him.
"Bring your strongest people, those with shields or who can lift heavy objects! Form a shield wall! Block the narrowest point at the valley entrance!"
The scarred man was at a loss: "Where can we find shields around here?!"
Napoleon didn't even turn his head; he was simply observing the enemy's formation.
"Use doors, tables, anything that can stop bullets! We're not rushing out to die!"
He paused, and his incredibly dignified eyes swept over.
"This is to buy time for the people behind us! Time to survive! Hurry!"
The scarred man was stared at by those eyes that seemed to burn with flames. There was no mockery in them, only a calm and unquestionable authority that seemed to control everything.
Watching his comrades fall one after another and the bayonets closing in, he gritted his teeth, his scars contorting as he roared.
"Do as he says! Quickly! Find something to block the opening!"
"Master! Usopp, the recruit!" Napoleon's command was swift and decisive. He understood Sabo's talent and therefore needed no further explanation.
"Find a favorable position and utilize your ranged attack capabilities! Prioritize eliminating their officers! Take out their standard-bearer!"
Sabo glanced around and instantly understood the intention, his figure flashing like the wind towards a pile of rocks on the flank.
Although Usopp's hands were still shaking, he took a deep breath, scrambled to find cover, and pulled his slingshot out of his bag.
To everyone's surprise, Napoleon snatched his slingshot and shoved a small cannon made of magic into his hand.
"Kid, use this!"
"Sanji! You're in charge of the flank! Prevent their small groups from infiltrating and causing even more chaos!"
Sanji spat out his cigarette butt, his eyes sharpening.
"clear!"
His figure vanished instantly, creating a whirlwind as he pounced on a naval squad attempting to flank them from behind the rocks on the side.
As he issued the order, Napoleon had already placed his right hand firmly on the cannon, the muzzle radiating a faint magic.
A red magical glow, like fireworks, instantly erupted, resembling flowing stars.
He didn't aim at the dense naval formation below, which would have accidentally injured the rebels who were right next to him.
He slightly raised the muzzle of the cannon, aiming it at a huge, weathered cliff above the valley entrance that looked like it was about to collapse!
"Fire!"
With a deep yet thunderous command from Napoleon, the cannons burst forth with blinding light.
Boom! ...
A deafening roar, far exceeding that of ordinary artillery fire, shook the entire valley!
A beam of magical light, imbued with destructive power, tore through the air and struck the base of the cliff with unparalleled precision.
In an instant, the earth shook!
The massive rocks disintegrated amidst a deafening roar, transforming into a destructive rain of rocks that crashed down upon the charging naval formation at the valley entrance!
Smoke and dust billowed into the sky, and screams were drowned out by the roar of tumbling boulders.
The navy's originally well-organized charge formation was instantly shattered by this cataclysmic attack, resulting in heavy casualties and a halt to the offensive!
This earth-shattering blow not only severely damaged the navy, but also completely shocked all the resistance forces!
Looking at the figure standing high above the smoke-filled hill, his military uniform impeccably tailored, the distrust and hostility in their eyes vanished instantly.
A new sense of awe and a touch of elation at escaping a desperate situation welled up within me.
"Is he really a general? He—he's really good at commanding—"
"What kind of power is that?!"
"Listen to him! Follow that general's orders!"
The scarred man's hoarse voice, filled with excitement and fervent trust, echoed across the battlefield.
The morale of the resistance fighters was miraculously ignited by this single shot.
The battle that followed seemed to be infused with a new soul.
Under Napoleon's precise and ruthless orders, the originally disorganized resistance army displayed astonishing resilience and organization.
The slingers and archers occupying the high ground desperately suppressed the enemy, while the "Shield Wall" led by the scarred man firmly blocked the passage.
Sabo and Usopp's precise attacks relentlessly reaped the lives of the naval officers who were trying to regroup, while Sanji moved like a ghost along the flanks, kicking away any squads that attempted to infiltrate.
Napoleon's massive cannons, on the other hand, hung like the Sword of Damocles over the navy.
Each deep rumble from the cannon brought precise destruction, shattering the enemy's will to resist.
The battle did not last long.
Faced with Napoleon's artistic command and the overwhelming power of his spirit, this naval force paid a heavy price.
Abandoning a large number of wounded and dead, they retreated from the valley, their only concern being the wolves' rampage.
As the last sailor's figure disappeared at the mouth of the valley, a deafening cheer of relief erupted in the valley!
Everyone looked at the figure standing on the rock with fanatical adoration.
That guy seemed born to stand at the center of the battlefield; that was Napoleon Bonaparte!
The scarred man strode up to Napoleon, his scar on his face flushed with excitement.
He pounded his chest and gave a rough but respectful military salute.
"General! My name is Creed. From this day forward, the lives of me and my brothers are saved by you! On behalf of Chief Koza..."
Thank u!"
Sabo's eyes lit up: "Could you take us to see your leader? We're here to help you!"
Creed shouted to the sky, "Brothers, lead the way! With this general, we have nothing to fear from the Kingdom's army!"
The smoke-filled valley became the starting point for Napoleon's victory over this army.
In just a few days of training, Napoleon transformed them, gathering remnants of the enemy forces along the way and turning them into a force to be reckoned with.
Even after meeting the true leaders of the resistance, Kou Sha directly handed over command of the army to them, which is how he gained valuable troops.
Time returns to the simple house.
"-And so, we consolidated the resistance forces, and the resistance fighters became reliable allies, fighting all the way. Now the entire southeast is under our control."
Napoleon's gaze fell upon the berserker huddled inside the room: "After hearing his roar, which sounded like a declaration of war, we agreed with Corza to send troops to assist in the battle."
"I was finally able to get here and meet up with you."
Sabo's voice pulled everyone's thoughts back to reality from their experiences.
He looked at Ramses II.
"Your Majesty, this is how we obtained reinforcements. Although the beginning was unexpected, the outcome was fortunate."
After listening, Ramses II's sharp gaze softened slightly, and he nodded slightly.
"To be able to command scattered sands as a sharp blade with a mortal body is not a disgrace to the name of a general. Amidst the chaos, order begins to emerge."
This was a rare instance of recognition from the Pharaoh.
Vivi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "That's great, Sabo, you're all alright, and you even brought new power."
"Great! Sabo! Cannon Man! You guys are amazing!" Luffy excitedly waved his fist.
"They actually took over the entire southeast?" Hope ignited in Ace's eyes.
Karna pondered, "The controlled area might be related to the spiritual veins."
"I can sense that there is an extremely large and active power flowing beneath Alabasta. The larger the territory it occupies, the more power it can mobilize, which is of great benefit to both Masters and Servants."
However, Princess Vivi frowned, pointed at the map, and asked in confusion.
"Wait a minute, Your Excellency Napoleon, you said you're near Cattell in the southeast? And you control the entire southeastern region?"
"Of course!" Napoleon said, head held high.
"But," Vivi's expression became even more confused.
"We are currently on the western border of Alabasta! Yuba is also an important town in the west."
"From southeast to west, separated by the broad Santora River and countless areas controlled by the navy or the royal army—"
"How did you manage to break through so many defenses and reach Yuba so quickly with a sizable resistance force?"
"Even if the main force of the Navy is transferred to Yuba to surround Luffy and his crew, the border defenses can't be so completely empty that you can pass through unimpeded, right?"
"Well," Napoleon hesitated, unsure how to begin.
"Well," Sabo scratched his head, a confused look on his face as if recalling something.
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring: "It is indeed a bit strange."
Usopp blinked. "Yeah! The situation was urgent. We had just led the resistance out of Cateria when it seemed like a huge door suddenly appeared in front of us? And it was full of all sorts of strange flowers."
"Yes, yes, yes! I remember it very clearly." Sabo recalled that dreamlike scene.
"That door appeared without warning! We thought it was a trap, but after sending scouts in, they said it looked like the outskirts of Yuba!"
"Then we rushed in and actually got right to the vicinity of Yuba! Not long after we came out, we saw the city ablaze with flames, and then—"
He pointed to the thick smoke rising from Yuba in the distance.
"A gate with pink halos blooming like flowers," Roger said thoughtfully, stroking his chin.
"Could it be that one of our magicians is helping us?"
La Er crossed his arms and shook his head.
"Not necessarily. You've all noticed that golden guy, haven't you? He doesn't seem to belong to either the red or black team; he's an outsider."
Everyone nodded, and someone used some kind of spatial teleportation magic to directly transport the main force of the resistance army in the southeast across a thousand miles to the Yuba battlefield.
This explains why reinforcements were able to arrive so quickly.
But this raises a problem: the army is isolated and its supply lines have been cut off; it is already on the verge of collapse.
"In other words, the only area where our Red Team can actually operate right now is this border village, and..." Sabo looked at Napoleon.
"Our base is far to the southeast. The vast central region, including the capital Albana, is still under unknown control. Moreover, our people haven't all arrived yet."
Roger nodded: "How many people are on our side now? Red team, who hasn't arrived in Alabasta yet?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Luffy shouted excitedly, "Shanks! Shanks hasn't arrived yet!"
Then came Zoro, his eyes turning cold: "And Hawkeye Mihawk—."
"Hawkeye's whereabouts are always elusive, but given his personality, once he's agreed to participate, he'll definitely come," Sabo said.
"As for the Five Emperors, their whereabouts are uncertain, so we must be prepared to lose one of our fighting forces."
As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy and Ace responded in unison, "No, he will definitely come! Shanks will definitely come!"
This sentence became the fuse, and the three brothers began to argue endlessly, just like when they were children.
Their respective spirits stood by, watching helplessly.
Roger smiled with relief. These three brats—
"Shanks, that kid should be as grown up as Buggy by now."
As soon as he finished speaking, he looked towards the East China Sea.
That brat Buggy has really grown up; he actually volunteered to fight the Navy and cover their retreat. I wonder how he's doing now. Meanwhile, in a certain sea area of the Grand Line, a large ship is quietly sailing towards Alabasta.
On deck, the crew was still having a banquet, and the atmosphere was joyful and lively.
Behind them, Kojiro joined in the merriment, his wine cup never empty.
But a light, teasing laugh broke his train of thought.
"How's it going, swordsman? The atmosphere on this ship is quite nice, isn't it?"
Merlin, with a cunning and mysterious smile on his face, seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space.
Kojiro took a small sip of his drink; he didn't dislike the lively atmosphere.
"Oh, the wine is quite good. By the way, what did you do last night?"
Merlin smiled without saying a word, then winked playfully at some vague direction.
At the bow of the ship, two figures stood side by side.
A man wearing a black trench coat, carrying "Night," one of the twelve supreme grade swords, had eyes as sharp as an eagle's, as if he could cut through the fog.
It was none other than the world's greatest swordsman, Djorko Mihawk.
The other man, with flamboyant red hair, rested his remaining right arm on the famous sword "Griffin" at his waist, a bold and confident smile on his face.
It was none other than Shanks, the Red-Haired Emperor, with a gourd of wine hanging from his waist.
"I never expected that we would be traveling together for the last leg of the journey." Hawkeye Mihawk's voice was calm and even.
"Haha, isn't that perfect? Saves me the trouble of looking for you when I get there."
Shanks uncorked the bottle, took a swig, and handed the gourd to Hawkeye.
"Want a bite? The last bit of peace."
Hawkeye did not refuse, took the gourd of wine, and also took a sip.
The spicy liquid slid down their throats. The two men, standing at the pinnacle of the world, gazed silently at the outline of the island shrouded in an ominous aura.
Only the sea breeze caressed their clothes.
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