Chapter 287: The One Who Bears the Lives of the World!
[Dong!]
Suddenly, a drum sound that resounded through the Sky, Great Sea, and the entire Island abruptly rang out. Immediately after, various Musical Instruments joined in, forming an extremely stirring and melodic, shocking Music.
The source of this sound was precisely the ridiculously large Noah's Ark.
At this moment.
In a corner somewhere on the seemingly endless Deck, a group of Musicians in Suits and formal attire sat on luxurious chairs, focusing intently on the Conductor waving a black baton on the high platform in front of them, meticulously playing the exquisite Musical Instruments in front of them or in their hands.
They were an entire Symphony Orchestra, numbering a full one hundred and twenty people!
They were mainly divided into the String Section, Woodwind Section, Brass Section, Percussion Section, and Color Instrument Section.
Violins, Cellos, Clarinets, Oboes, Piccolos, Flutes, Trumpets, French Horns, Timpani, Triangles, Pianos, Harps, and so on, everything was available.
And every single one of them was a renowned Musician in their respective Kingdoms.
Around them were placed many Recording Equipment, which then broadcast the sound through the large, high-volume giant Loudspeakers hanging outside the ship's hull.
This allowed the "Wrath of God" they were performing to truly achieve the astonishing Effect of soaring into the nine heavens and shaking a thousand miles, pushing the Atmosphere to its peak.
[Boom----]
At the same time, a white Steps / Stairway, hundreds of meters long and over a hundred meters wide, was pushed out diagonally from the Deck of Noah's Ark, finally crashing heavily onto the shore beach of Rainbow Island, also shaking up large amounts of Sand that flew up and fell like Sand Waves.
Immediately after.
A Plush Carpet rolled down, quickly covering the Steps / Stairway in a vibrant crimson, like a rolling Red Carpet.
[Thump thump thump thump...]
Before it had even fully unfurled, two teams of Holy Land Garrison Soldiers, clad in fine Armor and holding Fine Steel Spears, swung the wide, pure white Large Cloaks behind them and followed closely on either side of the Steps / Stairway, as if chasing the continuously rolling Red Carpet. They then stood silently at the Edge, emitting a sharp Aura.
"..."
Everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates was completely stunned.
The magnificent, epic Musical Instruments in their ears, combined with the super Giant Ship that covered the Sky, felt just like a God descending to the World.
But this wasn't over...
With three loud bangs, three Golden Giants covered in blood-red patterns appeared. Holding their respective Golden Weapons and wearing white Capes, they landed heavily from High Altitude, once again shaking up surging Sand Waves that swept outwards.
"Giant Race."
Edward Newgate narrowed his eyes, his snowy white crescent-shaped mustache twitching.
When he found that the Aura of these three was not Strong, he stopped paying attention to them and focused his Gaze back on the terrifying Aura that had not yet appeared on Noah's Ark.
"He's appeared!!"
Edward Newgate's Pupils suddenly contracted. He saw a White-clothed Person appear on the Deck at the very top of the Steps / Stairway. When their Gazes met across hundreds of meters, the former's Mind felt as if it had suffered a strong Impact, feeling that the entire World was filled only with golden ripples.
But the other party seemed to have no Malice, their Gaze showing more appreciation, which made 'Whitebeard' frown.
On the other side.
The White-clothed Person initially walked down the Red Carpet Steps / Stairway, but when he was still about twenty meters from the Ground, he stopped walking down and instead stepped out horizontally into the Air.
Moonwalk?
Some of the Whitebeard Pirates speculated, but the Stability of his posture, as if walking on Plain ground, made them immediately dismiss this idea.
Devil Fruit Ability?
Finally, the White-clothed Person walked through the void Air to stand in front of the three Golden Giants, attracting everyone's Gaze to himself, making the Giants completely blend into the background behind him.
The moment he stood still, and no one knew how he did it, the Symphony Orchestra a thousand meters above immediately stopped their actions, and all the Music came to an abrupt halt.
For a moment.
In the Sky, on the Sea, on the Island, only the sound of surging Sea Waves remained.
"Who are you!"
Edward Newgate took a deep breath and was the first to ask with an extremely serious tone.
"We meet for the first time. Are you the World's Strongest Man?"
Im stood with his back to Noah's Ark, his back to the towering Steps / Stairway, his back to the Holy Land Garrison, his back to the vast Great Sea. Under the shadow that covered everything, he clasped his hands behind his back and looked down at the other party from a higher position.
"This Saint is the one who bears all lives in this World, including yours."
[Bang bang bang bang bang]
Just as his words fell, Edward Newgate's Expression changed. He found that Marco, Jozu, and others on the Deck behind him suddenly knelt heavily on the Ground.
"Ugh ah----"
"So heavy!"
Everyone's Body trembled violently. It was clear they were trying their best to stand up, but the Air on their bodies felt like an unshakeable Iron mountain. They couldn't even lift their heads, only pressing them tightly to the Ground.
At the same time,
They felt a very clear stinging sensation all over their bodies, as if pressed by countless sword Sharpness.
"Conqueror's Haki?"
But that wasn't right. This Strength didn't feel like a mental Impact; it felt more like inexplicable Gravity and Sharpness. That means it's a Devil Fruit Ability!
"Kneeling before your King is your highest Glory. Only you, This Saint grants you the qualification to stand and have an audience."
Im's voice was flat, as if everything was only natural, but to Edward Newgate and the kneeling Whitebeard Pirates Crewmates, it was incredibly grating.
"Don't put on the Posture of a Celestial Dragon in front of This Old Man!"
[Boom----]
Edward Newgate was enraged. Seeing his 'Sons' being so humiliated, he was truly furious. An incredibly powerful and terrifying Force Field Aura surged forth.
He controlled most of his Conqueror's Haki to surge towards Im like a collapsing mountain and overturning sea, while a small part attempted to sweep away the invisible Strength on Marco and the others.
"Hmph!"
An extremely arrogant cold snort exploded from Im's throat. A chilling, emotionless Sword Intent merged with God's Domain swept out, causing palpitations.
In an instant, those Air Currents that seemed like a Tsunami were completely torn apart and dissipated within a hundred meters, blowing his pure white robe like a gentle Wind.
"How is that possible..."
Edward Newgate watched in shock as his 'Sons' remained kneeling on the Ground. His Conqueror's Haki had not had the slightest Effect.
"This Saint appreciates you. This is the capital for your willfulness. From now on, your Strength shall be used by This Saint. But before that, you need to deeply understand the Height of the heavens. The current you is nothing but a Frog in a Well."
Edward Newgate's Expression was already ashen. He glared at Im through gritted teeth.
But the lives of Marco, Jozu, and others were clearly in the latter's hands.
Since this person could make them kneel, he could certainly crush them directly.
So he could only sneer, "Gurararara~ Alright, This Old Man also wants to see. Let's find a place to have a good Communication!"
"This Island is quite beautiful. Let it be here."
Im glanced at the colorful Rainbow Island and made a Decision in his Heart.
But this made Edward Newgate's Expression change, and he quickly shouted, "There are still thousands of Civilians on this Island! This Old Man knows there's an Uninhabited Island nearby, let's go there!"
"They should feel proud to be able to contribute to the King."
As the words fell, without waiting for Im to specifically order anything.
The Holy Land Garrison Soldiers who were originally standing on both sides of the Steps / Stairway began their Operation, quickly heading Inland (on the island).
"What are you doing!!"
Edward Newgate was completely anxious. He thought these Soldiers were going to slaughter the Residents here, but he couldn't directly make a move here.
Hearing his thoughts, Im said indifferently, "What This Saint wants them to offer is their Homeland, not their lives. You are overthinking."