Chapter 570: Absolute Rule vs. Absolute Freedom
Chapter 570: Absolute Rule vs. Absolute Freedom
Unsure if it was the pain or the strain of overusing his abilities that caused his exhaustion, the constant grin on his face faded.
"Haha..."
His white hair, burning like flames, seemed to lose its fire and drooped.
"Oh? Can't handle it anymore? Men, you know, lack endurance, and that can lead to big problems," Sage chuckled.
"Who said I can't?" Luffy raised his head to look at Sage, clenching his fist against the ground. His heart pounded like a drum, and with each beat, his curled-up body gradually straightened, his hair igniting like flames once more.
"I won't fall until I liberate the Land of Harmony! Gear Fifth!"
It wasn't that he had exhausted his energy and was forcing himself to continue; it was more that this guy gave Luffy a dangerous and troublesome feeling. He was happy, but he wouldn't make a mistake.
If he couldn't defeat this guy even after exhausting his energy, it might truly be too late.
Instinctively, Luffy forcefully maintained his ability, determined not to let go of this state.
Sage glanced at him and said, "So desperate, huh? Sit-ups... Hmph, it's just burning your life. Others retire in despair, but you don't even have time for that."
This forced maintenance of strength wasn't just about willpower and resilience; there was a price to pay.
To Sage, it was as if Luffy had activated a 'Life-Force Drain,' trading his lifespan for combat power.
"I've always wanted to ask you something."
Sage tilted his head back, "Does the Land of Harmony have your father or your mother? I remember your father being in Kamabakka. Why are you so determined?"
Previously, in Dressrosa, when the competitor, Bashas, was severely injured by Sabo, he managed to infiltrate their evacuation and discovered the Revolutionary Army's headquarters, leading to Teach obtaining a large number of weapons.
This information was shared by Teach.
If Luffy encountered Teach, with their past grudges and a certain objective, fighting for his life would be justified.
But in the Land of Harmony...
"No family ties, yet you boldly claim to liberate this place after sailing a distance. You may have the words, but not the life to fulfill them," Sage stated.
"I promised those who are starving, and Ace made a promise here too. Moreover," Luffy clenched his fist, thoughts of those people's words flashed through his mind, finally settling on the protagonist he often heard about.
"Kozuki Oden spoke of opening a country, and I want to help them fulfill their dreams! No one will rule here!"
"Kozuki Oden?"
Sage shook his head and laughed, "That's why I'm asking, who the hell are you?"
Luffy and Robin were siblings, and when they agreed to trade in Ohara, they chatted. Sometimes, they talked about the past.
For instance, Sage once asked why she didn't board his ship. Robin replied that she feared the World Government, believing two Ohara descendants would attract too much attention. Sage hadn't been discovered, so she refused to board to preserve Ohara's legacy.
Just as Sage had guessed.
During these conversations, they also discussed the Straw Hats.
In Robin's eyes, Luffy was an optimistic man with a spirit of adventure. Although he acted on his preferences, he wasn't foolish. He was the man who, in Alabasta, told the desperate Vivi not to be naive.
He had his standards of judgment.
But now, what kind of reason was this?
Justified?
It wasn't that a lack of justification prevented combat; being a pirate meant disregarding reason.
However, acting with or without justification led to entirely different mental states.
For instance, if Sage went out to rob and encountered a life-threatening danger, he'd back down. From being chased by Garp in the East Blue to being pursued by the Navy, while Garp was troublesome, other Navy members were manageable.
But it was pointless; defeating them wouldn't scare such a vast organization with a few ships.
Instead of fighting, it was better to just leave.
Sage would only risk his life for core interests, like this mission to defeat Kaido, the only prominent force in the first half of the Grand Line. Even if Kaido hadn't conquered all territories or found every island, eliminating this power would make the first half his.
For the sake of his plan, he was here to fight to the death.
Otherwise, with the world government and Kaido both keeping a close eye, if his strength wavers, he might even get backstabbed by Teach.
He and Teach were indeed in a cooperative relationship, but only as long as both sides remained undefeated. Once defeated, things would become much more difficult to negotiate.
As time passed, even with Sage's great confidence and abilities, being attacked from all sides would inevitably lead to a state of being overwhelmed. At that point, it wouldn't be a matter of taking the initiative to strike, but rather, being forced into a defensive position. Once a breach was created, it would be like a thousand miles of floodgates opening.
Others could afford to be unaffected, but could he just sit back and watch Ohara?
If he retreated and hid, what would he be ruling over? Production would slow down, and he wouldn't be able to enjoy any benefits. No matter what rules Sage set, it would be useless if the treatment of his subordinates worsened.
Only by taking the initiative to attack could he turn the tables and make the passive into the active. In the first half, no other power dared to challenge him, and in that first half, wasn't everything his?
For the sake of this core interest plan, Sage was here to fight Kaido to the death. But if it was just a simple matter of robbing Wano, Kaido wouldn't bother.
What's the point? Is there no more room in the great sea?
Must he fight these Four Emperors to the point of mutual destruction just to rob them?
Is there some treasure here that he absolutely must obtain? Even the Sea Castle Stone production site isn't worth him adopting a life-or-death mentality to fight Kaido.
Just like Luffy now, he doesn't understand why such a small matter, completely unrelated to his core interests, is worth fighting for, even to the point of burning his life force.
Fighting for others isn't something that can't be discussed; it depends on one's profession.
A pirate's goal is to become the Pirate King, but now he's fighting like the guardian deity of Wano.
No matter how you look at it, it's twisted.
"I have no interest in fighting you, but I can't be too disheartened when facing a challenger. Your attitude won't defeat me."
Sage twisted his neck and grinned menacingly. "Then I'll just have to beat you to death!"
"Rubber Rubber!"
Luffy leaped into the air, his fists wildly striking out and creating countless afterimages in the sky.
"White Machine Gun!"
The fists he struck out suddenly expanded, transforming into the size of giant hammers that enveloped Sage's body.
Sage seemed to be able to dodge normal fists, so Luffy used larger fists, making it impossible to dodge!
"It's not just you who can grow bigger."
Sage's eyes widened, and facing the oncoming fists, he struck out with his own, unleashing a barrage of punches at a speed even faster than the afterimages. In the midst of those afterimages, his fists also transformed into giant hammers, colliding with Luffy's.
"North Pole Hundred-Fragment Fist!"
Sage compressed his body to fifty times its normal size, but he could also partially release it. If he could do it at thirty or forty times, there's no reason he couldn't do it now. The released fist could even change size at his will, from normal to a giant size, with a huge gap in between.
As the fists collided, they sent out a shockwave, and in the midst of it, Luffy kicked out his leg like a curved hook, swiftly striking from the side.
"Rubber Rubber White Seal!"
"Useless!"
Sage bent his legs, kicking Luffy's side-kicking ankle, causing that leg to fly outward. Immediately after, Luffy was blasted into the air. As Luffy looked up, a giant mountain-like fist descended upon him, flattening him with a single punch.
Boom!!
The massive fist landed like a giant mountain, creating a deep indentation in the ground.
Sage's size changes followed a certain pattern. The Dragon Breathing Technique allowed him to become three meters tall, and at 100% of his 100% form, he could reach five meters. With a fifty-fold compression, his body reached a staggering two hundred and fifty meters.
Speaking of giants, even the ancient giants weren't as large as Sage's true form.
Of course, Sage could also use his size to crush others.
After landing that punch, the giant fist retracted, returning to Sage's normal form. In the indentation, the Straw Hat boy had flattened like a pancake. With a gust of wind, he bounced back up, creating a sudden wave of energy beneath him that shot him upwards like a cannonball.
The pancake-like boy blinked, opened his mouth, and his body trembled. Like an inflated balloon, he quickly rebounded, sending a wave of energy beneath him that shot him upwards like a cannonball.
"Here I come!"
Luffy shouted excitedly, shooting out a fist that carried his own body towards Sage.
Sage furrowed his brows, clenched his fist, and collided with Luffy's fist. As they struck each other, Luffy's body flattened again, turning into a large pancake. It was like wrapping a dumpling, ready to wrap Sage up.
"Rubber Rubber Dumpling Skin!"
The feet beneath the pancake extended, not approaching Sage, but wrapping around him like a rope from behind.
"You're asking for it!"
Sage clenched his other fist, swirling with thunder, fire, and wind, and threw a straight punch towards the center of the giant's chest.
Fighting at such close range?
If you want to rely on close combat, you've miscalculated.
"White Star Gun!"
Before Sage's fist could even get close, Luffy, who had been motionless, suddenly lashed out with his other hand, striking Sage's waist and ribs just as he was about to throw a punch.
"Vajra Kingdom Shattering Slash!!"
Sage's eyes narrowed with determination, and instead of turning to defend himself when he sensed danger, he viciously continued his barrage of punches.
Boom!!
The 'dumpling skin' that had enveloped Sage halfway was directly blasted open by this punch, and as Luffy let out a roar, his entire body reverted to its original form and was sent flying. Sage's waist and ribs, which had been hit, left an indentation on his body, and even the fist-shaped indentation on his hand rebounded back. Luffy, along with the indentation, disappeared into the cloud layer.
"Tsk!"
Sage spat out a mouthful of blood, and the entire area around his waist and abdomen emitted a thick white aura as his body rapidly healed.
He raised his head and snarled, "You want to trade injuries with me? Do you think only you have a special physique? My body techniques are even more unique!"
Relying on brute force to resolve the battle was too naive!
This resilient body not only had great resistance to strikes but also seemed to have a defense against slashing attacks. When fighting, this guy's body could indeed withstand a lot of punishment, but Sage's body was also tough, and he had an incredibly strong recovery ability!
Engaging in a pure strength contest with him?
Still too green!
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire cloud layer suddenly turned bright red, as if flames were burning within, opening up the entire cloud layer.
A white figure surrounded by flame clouds descended from the cloud layer, with his right hand extending into the cloud layer, reaching deep inside where it couldn't be seen.
"I want..."
Luffy grinned, "Let this country open up! Let the people here eat their fill! Let them have absolute freedom! Ape God Gun!!!"
Boom!
The cloud layer was blasted open, and a giant fist descended from it, surrounded by a red aura, as if enveloped in a halo.
"Are you using your full strength?"
Sage said, his gaze turning serious, "There's no such thing as absolute freedom in this world. Even if you want to do something, the world will restrict you. Wherever there are people, there will be rules. Even if you kill everyone, a single person dancing alone in the world will bear the price of loneliness, which is far worse than so-called freedom. Living under rule isn't so bad!"
He clasped his hands together and charged towards the giant fist.
Dodge?
He'd had enough of this ridiculous guy! Since his opponent still wanted to engage in a strength contest, he'd thoroughly defeat him!
"I will give them satisfaction after their desires rise! I'll make them willingly submit to my rule! Absolute rule! Great Crimson!!"
He pushed his clasped hands forward, and a black-red light gathered in his hands, slamming into the giant fist.
Boom!!!
A mushroom cloud blossomed above the Flower Capital, shaking the entire Land of Harmony once more. In the distance, the Heavenly Castle repeatedly shattered under the impact, obliterated by the force, and the people inside were blown away one by one.
The moon in the sky was also engulfed by the mushroom cloud, plunging the entire sky into darkness, shrouding the entire Land of Harmony.
Far away, Lily, who had retreated, looked up at the sky devoid of light and murmured, "Nika?"
The ancient legend, the liberating warrior, the one who brought laughter to slaves—he was indeed remarkable, but he'd gotten one thing wrong.
"Under Sage's rule..."
Lily firmly stated, "The one who can save the world is not just a legend! Those who believe in legends and fate, how can they possibly break free from their shackles? It doesn't matter if there's no light in the sky because..."
Amidst the darkness that obscured the moonlight, a figure emitting a black-red light mysteriously appeared. Under this radiance, the head of white hair, blazing like flames, stood out vividly, like a new source of light, illuminating the sky.
"We can become a source of light! Sage is the guiding light!!"
In the sky, only Sage's figure stood, his hands outstretched.
His hands and even his body emitted white aura, rapidly healing his wounds.
"Nika? It's nothing special!"
He extended his hand and clenched it tightly, "Looks like my ruling power is superior! Hohohoho!"
Absolute rule suppressed freedom!
(End of Chapter)
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