allendalepharm Chapter 197 The light of the sun, illuminate destiny!
Chapter 197 The light of the sun, illuminate destiny!
Chapter 197 The light of the sun, illuminate destiny!
Karna's arrival was like casting a blazing sun into a deep, oppressive abyss of thunderclouds.
The golden armor naturally radiated light and heat, dispelling the gloom brought by Indra's divine power and instantly reversing the situation on the battlefield.
"Ga-Karna?! My dearest friend!" The moment Duryodhana saw the golden figure, the ferocity and smugness on his face were instantly replaced by immense astonishment and an indescribable ecstasy.
He even temporarily forgot his hatred for the Brutus Army, his scepter drooping slightly, his voice filled with disbelief.
"You—you also answered the call? It was Indra who sent you—"
But his words came to an abrupt end.
Because he saw that Karna's sun-like pupils were filled with complex emotions.
There were greetings between best friends, and also a cold, hostile intent fixed on him.
Karna's gaze swept over the wounded and nearly exhausted Bhujun, finally returning to Duryodhana's face. The reproach and disappointment in his eyes were like tangible needles, causing Duryodhana's heart to clench.
"No match for you—" Karna's voice was calm, yet more powerful than any roar.
"I did hear the summons. But it wasn't in response to Indra, but rather a call from my Master Ace to participate in the Holy Grail War, which is now temporarily over."
"Tell me, my lifelong friend, why do you choose this place to once again turn against my own brother?"
This question carried immense weight.
Nan Di's expression instantly became extremely complex, showing shame, struggle, and anger at being questioned.
He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but was momentarily speechless. The bond between them was genuine; Karna was the only prince who recognized his worth beyond his birth, and Karna reciprocated with unwavering loyalty.
But at this moment, the conflict between this affection and blood ties is laid bare in the open.
Just then, an even more ancient and majestic voice rang out, carrying a hint of cold mockery.
"Ah, what a scene of brotherly affection. Karna, or rather, Tannandaye, the coachman's son."
"After many years, even across the world, you are still navigating between Pandita and Kuru. Fate is truly wondrous."
Karna's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He slowly turned his head and looked at Rama, who had been silent all along.
The previous coldness in his eyes was replaced by a deeper emotion, a mixture of respect and bitterness.
He bowed slightly, struggling with whether to attack directly, but in the end he performed the disciple's salute again, even though the salute was full of weight.
"Master—Lord Rama the Axe-Wielder. It's been a long time."
"Although I don't want to say much, but—Master?"
Rama, wielding the axe, sneered, his eyes sharp as knives, as if he wanted to cleave Karna's armor and stare directly into his soul.
"I dare not accept such a title. What right does a Kshatriya who stole my supreme Brahmanical martial arts through lies have to call me his teacher?"
"Have you forgotten my curse? At the crucial moment, you will forget everything I taught you!"
This curse is an eternal thorn between the two of them.
Karna, being of humble origin, desperately craved recognition. He lied and claimed to be a Brahmin seeking apprenticeship. When his lie was exposed, Rama the Axe-Holder was enraged by the deception and uttered this famous curse.
This is also an important part of Karna's tragic fate.
Karna faced the curse head-on, his voice low yet clear.
"Your teachings and curses, I have never forgotten a single day. I am willing to bear all the consequences of my past sins. But today..."
He raised his head, and the golden armor shone even brighter.
"I stand here not as the son of Pandavas or King Anga, but as a warrior protecting my brothers. If you will stop me, I, Karna, will respond with only the spear in my hand!"
These words, spoken with unwavering certainty, clearly stated his current stance.
He respects the past relationship between teacher and student and the responsibility for their mistakes, but he will never back down because of it.
The Immortal Jiyu spoke slowly, his voice like an ancient chant, carrying a calm understanding of the world.
"Cause and effect are intertwined, and karmic entanglements are bound together. Indra has transformed this world into a stage, allowing the ancient confrontation to reappear."
"Karna, how many predetermined destinies can your sun's light illuminate?"
Ace stood behind Karna and witnessed everything.
Although he did not fully understand the complex relationships between these Indian deities, he could feel the heavy, almost suffocating historical tension.
He pulled his hat down, flames rising on his fist, and whispered, "Hey, little sun."
"The situation seems more complicated than I thought. But if it comes to a fight, I'm ready anytime."
Karna didn't turn around, but nodded slightly: "Master, thank you for your help. But please don't go out."
"Because the other person is my teacher and my best friend."
"This is my battle, my destiny. Please seize the opportunity to assist Bhujun and Yanmi, and most importantly, protect your younger brother."
Rama, the axe-wielding warrior, said no more. The phantom of the giant axe in his hand solidified completely, and the blade seemed to flow with a cold light that could sever the lives of countless Kshatriyas.
"Since that's the case, let me see how much skill you, Son of the Sun, have learned from me, and how much skill you still retain!"
Before he finished speaking, the figure of Rama, who was holding the axe, had already disappeared. The next moment, the giant axe, with the force of splitting the heavens and opening the earth, was already above Karna's head!
This strike was simple and pure, yet it contained an ultimate understanding of the essence of martial arts, as if it could cleave through all techniques and defenses!
"Sun, transform into armor (Kavacha & Kundala)!" Karna roared, and his golden armor shone brightly.
He neither dodged nor evaded. Although the indestructible blade in his hand was not fully unleashed, it was already imbued with the true fire of the sun. He thrust out with his spear, meeting the giant axe head-on!
boom!!!
The clash of spear and axe is not merely a simple collision of strength, but a confrontation between two supreme martial arts philosophies and two tragic destinies!
The shockwave shrank the surrounding ground several feet, forcing even the invincible to exert his inner strength to resist, his expression shifting constantly.
The battle between master and disciple has officially begun!
This battle, from the very beginning, was filled with the echoes of history and the bitterness of fate.
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew, led by Roger and Shiki, had already ventured deep into the heart of the forest.
The sounds of explosions and energy surges behind them weighed heavily on everyone's minds.
"That guy with the big axe looks pretty tough," Luffy said as he ran, but his face showed no excitement, only worry.
"And what about Kuai Tou and the others—will they be alright?"
Zoro said in a deep voice, "We can't get involved in that level of battle. The only thing we can do now is to complete our mission as quickly as possible."
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring: "That's right. We can't let Brother Baku and Miss Enmi's delay go to waste."
Nami looked at the record pointer on her wrist, then glanced at her surroundings, and said anxiously.
"Uncle, am I right? The plants around us are getting stranger and stranger, and I feel like the air is repelling us."
Weber's expression was incredibly resolute as he pointed to a mountain peak in the distance, partially obscured by massive vines and lightning.
"There's no mistake! That's the place where the ancient altar of the gods is located!"
"The legends of Shandia state that deep within the altar lies the Heart of the Cloud Sea, the source of all life in the Cloud Sea, and the most primal power of the Sky Island's laws. Only there can the light within Luffy be awakened!"
Robin observed the ancient inscriptions on the rock wall. These inscriptions had been eroded by Hindu symbols, but the original history of Skypiea could still be vaguely discerned.
"These accounts—seemingly describing an ancient ritual to appease the wrath of the serpent god. It appears this altar's history predates Indra's arrival by far."
Shiki the Golden Lion cackled, "Gurararara! Forget about snake gods or thunder gods, at this point, we just have to charge forward!"
"Roger, you're right, aren't you?"
Gol D. Roger, however, remained unusually silent, his sharp gaze sweeping across his surroundings as if sensing something. Suddenly, he stopped and reached out to stop the group.
"Wait—something's coming. Not those Indian spirits, but—something from this island itself."
Everyone immediately became alert. From the thick, lightning-streaked fog ahead came a chilling hissing sound.
Immediately afterwards, several enormous serpentine creatures, composed entirely of lightning and dense clouds, slowly emerged from the fog!
Their eyes were two leaping balls of lightning, their bodies were enormous, and they exuded an aura no less powerful than that of the warrior spirits from before!
"This is—the Thundercloud Serpent from the Sky Island legends!" Webber exclaimed.
"They are ancient creatures from the guardian mountain. It seems that Indra's power not only controls them, but also greatly enhances them!"
Luffy clenched his fist, his eyes sharpening: "So, we can't get through this without defeating them, right?"
Zoro grinned, "Perfect! I wasn't quite done fighting yet!"
Sanji stubbed out his cigarette: "Looks like we'll have to fight our way to the altar ourselves!"
Faced with a new threat, the Straw Hat crew once again assumed a fighting stance.
With ancient guardian beasts blocking their path ahead and close friends and allies locked in fierce battles behind, their journey to find the light has entered its most difficult phase.
But what awaits them deep within the altar?