I'm the Great Pirate, and I'm waging the Holy Grail War!

Chapter 312 Speculation on the Smoke Mirror, The Final Game

Inland Alabasta, a rainy region.

Crocodile stood on the top floor of the Rain Banquet Casino, gazing north. The cigar in his hand burned slowly, its smoke swirling around him.

Tescatlipoca leaned against the railing, a cynical smile on his face.

"Your little princess has gone to war with the Pharaoh. Aren't you going to see her off?"

"She has her path," Crocodile said hoarsely. "I have mine. Looking back, I was indeed short-sighted."

"Have you thought it through?" Tescatlipoca raised an eyebrow.

Crocodile did not answer.

Tescatlipoca stretched.

"Smoker—the guy he summoned is no pushover. That benevolent god of the sun and harvest is probably having a headache right now, wondering how to choose between a stagnant world and the freedom of life."

"What do you know?" Crocodile turned to look at him.

"I know a lot more," Tescatlipoca laughed. "For example, the eternity that your world king desires is not necessarily the same as the eternity that my goal desires."

"For example, Quetzalcoatl responded to Smoker's call perhaps because he saw some kind of variable, and so did I."

He walked over to Crocodile and lowered his voice.

"On the surface, this war is a battle between freedom and order. But at a deeper level, it is a clash between two different kinds of eternity, and a struggle among countless variables to find a third way."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I want to say—" A glint flashed in Tescatlipoca's eyes.

"We may not need to rush to take sides. Sometimes, when everyone is fighting tooth and nail, that's the best time to pick up bargains."

Crocodile remained silent for a long time before finally stubbing out his cigar.

"Let's go."

"Where to?"

"Let's go to the Red Line." Crocodile walked up the stairs. "Let's see how this farce will turn out."

Tescatlipoca followed with a smile.

"That's more like it!"

Red earth continent, iron-walled defense line.

Sakazuki, the Red Dog, stood atop a massive fortress made of cast iron, his body radiating a fiery, magma-like aura.

Behind him stood Bai Qi, a heroic spirit clad in heavy black armor and with an ancient sword at his waist.

This god of war stood with his hands on his sword, his gaze as cold as ice, looking down at the densely packed revolutionary army fleet swarming in like ants in the sea below.

Further out on the horizon, you can see a mix of ships belonging to the Straw Hat Pirates, the Crusaders, and the Alabasta Army, as well as further west.

The gap in the sky being torn open by thunderclouds and giant longships.

"Finally—they've all arrived." Akainu's voice was deep and resonant, like a volcano brewing.

"Order all artillery positions to enter Level One combat readiness. Have Aokiji take charge of the western giant landing point, with Kizaru and Green Bull providing mobile support. Today—there is no turning back, only annihilation."

Bai Qi slowly drew his sword, the friction sound of the blade scraping as it left its sheath sharp and piercing.

"This sword has already thirsted for the blood of a million. Today, it shall be joined by a new soul."

Meanwhile, on the naval command ship on the flank of the defensive line, Aokiji Kuzan stared at the giant ship silhouette gradually appearing in the thunderous vortex in the sky, his brows furrowed.

Socrates stood beside him, observing with great interest the ancient runes on the giant ship.

"An astonishing way of wielding magic, combining natural lightning with primal incantations—Kuzan, can your ice freeze lightning?"

"We'll see when we try." Aokiji raised his hand, and a chill began to spread across the sea. "But before that—we have to stop them first."

South of the Red Line, the Gate of Rusty Iron.

Saab and Napoleon's revolutionary vanguard fleet have arrived.

This ancient pass, known as the Rust Gate, is built against the natural cliffs of the Red Earth Continent. Its surface is covered with mottled dark red rust marks, like congealed blood.

At this moment, the city walls are lined with cannons, and naval flags are flying.

"As planned, a feint attack from the front." Napoleon drew his sword and pointed it at the gate. "The main force will scale the cliffs on the flank and find a secret passage to enter."

The order was given, and the revolutionary warships fired their cannons in unison, exchanging fire with the naval artillery on the city walls. The sea was instantly shrouded in columns of water and smoke from the explosions.

Meanwhile, dozens of elite squads equipped with special climbing tools, under the cover of artillery fire, stealthily approached the near-vertical cliffs of the Red Earth Continent like geckos.

The team that Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Law, and others belonged to was also among them.

Luffy uses his rubber powers to propel himself across cliffs, Zoro uses his sword as spikes to climb, Sanji uses Moonwalk, and Law uses RO...

OM performs short-distance spatial permutation.

"The entrance to the secret passage should be in this area!" Luo pointed to a crack covered by vines, referring to the sheepskin map.

Just as everyone approached the crevice, a roar suddenly came from above the cliff.

A boulder rolled down, accompanied by the chilling aura of swords!

A tall figure leaped down from above, brandishing a long sword and unleashing a frost-covered slash that froze the waves!

"Pirates—this road is blocked."

The newcomer was dressed in a white military cloak, and his long blue hair flew in the sword energy.

Former Navy Admiral candidate, Momousagi Gion!

Behind her, a woman clad in ice crystal armor and wielding a long ice spear slowly descended, her aura as chilling as a polar storm.

"Servant, Brunhilde." The Valkyrie's voice was like shattered ice striking each other. "By order of my Master, I guard this gate."

Zoro grinned and unleashed three sword strikes simultaneously.

"A female swordsman? Perfect!"

The ice and the blade collided instantly!

The Gate of Aegis, on the western side of the Red Line.

The giants' longship broke through the thunderous vortex and crashed heavily into the sea, creating waves hundreds of meters high.

Loki and Odin were the first to leap off the bow of the ship, followed by hundreds of Elbaf's most elite warriors who roared as they landed.

This Gate of the Holy Shield is even more magnificent than the Gate of Rust, with walls reaching a hundred meters high and covered with curved metal plates resembling a holy shield, reflecting a cold, hard luster in the sunlight.

On the city wall, many naval soldiers turned pale as they looked at the giants that resembled moving mountains.

The city gate slowly opened.

The soldiers who came out were not ordinary soldiers.

He is Smoker, the white hunter, wearing a white cloak of justice and smoking a cigar.

And standing beside him, Quetzalcoatl.

"Giants—and other powerful strangers." Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke. "This road is blocked. Step back."

Odin's one eye stared at Quetzalcoatl.

"You—did not come for the evil of this world."

Quetzalcoatl smiled gently.

"I came for life and possibility. When this Master summoned me, what he sought was not destruction, but protection, and so I stand here."

She looked at Loki and Odin, "But if you insist on passing through, I can only—in the name of God, fulfill my duty of protection."

""

Loki roared and raised his battle axe.

"Then let's fight!"

The giant warrior and the feathered serpent god's divine power collided with a deafening roar!

Above the red earth continent, in the heavenly observation zone.

The light screen in front of Dilt was divided into dozens of images, displaying the battle situation in various parts of the Red Line. He swirled his wine glass, his eyes deep.

Gilgamesh leaned against the throne and sneered, "The struggle of ants is always a pleasure to watch, no matter how many times you see it. Especially those fools who think they can change their fate."

Jeanne looked worried: "Master, the magical reaction beneath the Red Line is rapidly increasing—Im's ritual is probably in its final stages."

Dillie headed.

"The forty-nine anchor points will soon be gathered, and with the national treasure energy accumulated beneath Mary Geoise for eight hundred years—once the ritual of absolute order is completed, the timeline of this world will be completely solidified, and all free will and possibilities will be erased."

He paused.

"But similarly, this will also bring the point of collision between the two worlds to the fore. Whether it's a blessing or a curse—that depends on whether those variables can seize the last opportunity."

Red Earth Continent, the underground temple of Pangu City.

Im stood in the center of the enormous altar, beneath which lay a complex magic circle composed of blood and magic.

Forty-nine orbs of light floated on the nodes of the magic circle.

That is the concept and command authority that have been stripped away and purified.

The phantom of human evil has become fully materialized, its entire body covered in white bones, exuding a putrid stench.

Death was the most beautiful word for him.

The five elders knelt at the edge of the altar, their foreheads touching the ground, as if praying or offering a sacrifice.

"Just three more variables—" Im murmured, "They're getting closer—soon—"

"Red hair, straw hat, son of the Revolutionary Army leader—these are all high-quality fuel. Especially Monkey D. Luffy, the causal threads of possibility intertwined around him are so dense and fascinating."

Im looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of rock walls, and saw the fierce battle taking place outside.

"Let's begin. Using the forty-nine anchor points as our foundation, the national treasures as our source, and all the deaths and obsessions of this war as our fuel—"

He slowly raised his hands.

"Constructing a cocoon of eternal, static order!"

The entire red earth continent began to tremble.

The sea area surrounding the Rusty Gate.

Fujitora's speedboat cut through the waves, ignoring the battle-stricken fleets around it, and headed straight for its private elevator port beneath the Red Line.

Zatoichi held his sword, closed his eyes, and sensed something.

"The atmosphere up there is chaotic. There's the smell of blood, the killing intent, and—a certain nauseating sweetness."

"That's a ritual," Fujitora said in a deep voice. "Im—is doing his final things."

The speedboat docked, and the two stepped onto the elevator leading to Mary Geoise.

When the guarding naval soldiers saw Fujitora, they hesitated to speak, but eventually saluted and let him pass.

The elevator slowly ascended, passing through the clouds, and arrived at the pristine, white holy land at the top of the Red Earth.

However, Mary Geoise at this moment has lost its former tranquility and prosperity.

The streets were deserted, with only the wind swirling fallen leaves.

Faint explosions and shouts of battle could be heard in the distance; it was the sound of the Revolutionary Army's advance team clashing with CP0 on the outskirts.

Fujitora and Zatoichi walked unimpeded to the front of Pango Castle.

The gate opened, revealing complete darkness inside, with only the faint light from the altar deep within.

Zatoichi placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Inside—there are five very strong energies, and one—a non-human being."

Fujitora slammed his sword to the ground.

"Let's go."

"Go and find out."

The two stepped into the darkness.

Meanwhile, in the sea area east of the red earth continent.

Crocodile and Tescatlipoca's small boat silently bypassed the main battlefield and arrived at the entrance to a cave eroded by the waves.

"This is it," Tescatlipoca grinned.

"An ancient secret passage that even the World Government may not fully know about leads directly to the underground warehouse area of ​​Pangaea City. It's the back door left by the workers who built the Red Earth back then."

Crocodile lights a cigar.

"You seem to know this place very well?"

"After all, I'm a smokescreen," Tescatlipoca laughed. "Knowing secrets and creating chaos is in my nature."

The two sneaked into the cave.

Not far behind them, a dog-headed warship was cutting through the waves on the sea.

At the bow of the ship, Garp stood with his arms crossed, gazing at the Red Line with an unusually solemn expression.

"That Sengoku guy should have arrived by now—"

The main battlefield on the red earth continent.

Under Napoleon's command, the main fleet of the revolutionary army, with its ingenious formation changes, managed to tear a gap in the ironclad defense line held by Akainu and Bai Qi!

"Now!" Sabo shouted. "All troops, charge! Land!"

Countless landing craft shot towards the red soil beach like arrows released from a bow.

Akainu roared, and his magma fists transformed into a rain of fireballs that crashed down.

Bai Qi brandished his sword, and the black killing intent transformed into the phantoms of thousands of troops charging forward.

But on the revolutionary side, Napoleon drew his sword and pointed it to the sky!

"My soldiers, heed my command—!"

"go ahead!!"

The aura of "emperor's privilege" and "military strategy" enveloped the entire army. The revolutionary soldiers seemed to be infused with fearless courage and precise tactical instincts, charging forward fearlessly under the fire and killing intent!

The Straw Hat crew's Thousand Sunny seized the opportunity to rush ashore. Luffy took the lead, his rubber fist blasting away an entire row of naval gun emplacements.

"Charge—!!"

Roger laughed loudly, his sword flashing like a rainbow, clashing with Bai Qi's murderous sword!

Wang Hassan's figure moved through the shadows of the battlefield, and with each appearance, a naval commander or a Black Army hero fell silently.

Hawkeye's black blade unleashed a sword aura that tore through the sky, while Sasaki Kojiro's Swallow Return precisely targeted and killed the sniper in the distance.

Luo and the God of Medicine worked together, deploying the R00M domain to instantly teleport their seriously injured companion to a safe area in the rear for treatment.

The battlefield has become extremely intense.

At that moment, the entire Red Earth continent erupted with an unprecedented light!

The light did not come from the sun, but from the cold divinity emanating from within the Red Earth continent, instantly enveloping the entire sea area!

All those engaged in combat, friend or foe, ceased all movement.

It was as if time itself had frozen for a moment in the light.

From the direction of Pangu City, a pure white beam of light shot into the sky, piercing through heaven and earth!

Within the pillar of light, one could vaguely see a gigantic cocoon, composed of countless geometric shapes and chains of laws, slowly taking shape.

Im's voice, in some way, resounded in the hearts of everyone who possessed magic or Observation Haki.

"In the name of God, by the authority of order—"

"All things in this world are frozen in time here."

"The cocoon of absolute order unfolds; the final preparation phase now begins."

White snow began to fall from the sky; it was solidified magic crystals.

The seawater began to thicken, as if it were losing its fluidity. The injured found that their wounds had stopped bleeding and the pain had become numb.

Changes in the world are being forcibly suppressed.

"Finally—has it begun?" Dilt rose from the Heavenly Observatory, his eyes gleaming with an unprecedented light.

"The final round of the gamble —"

"Now, let's officially begin!"