Chapter 174: Get Off the Stage
Seeing the giant rhinoceros beetle gradually collapse, Shiki frowned and asked, "What’s going on? It’s down in less than ten minutes?"
Ten minutes was already an unexpected result.
While the animals on Miracles Island were considered upper-middle-tier combat animals even compared to Sea Kings in the New World, Alucard’s Blacklight Virus ability was also continuously strengthening. As its power increased, the damage to infected subjects also skyrocketed. That rhinoceros beetle had already performed exceptionally well.
"Don’t talk about ten minutes; in battle, even a moment of carelessness can lead to death." Alucard sneered, "Rather than bringing these useless things to Mariejois to be instantly killed by the Marines and the World Government, it’s better to let them serve for a few minutes."
Shiki’s expression shifted upon hearing this, then he slammed his hand down in agreement. "That’s right! If these guys are only this strong, they’ll be killed quickly and won’t last even a minute." After speaking, Shiki turned to Dr. Indigo again. "How long will it take to mass-breed these creatures and incubate the new plan?"
Dr. Indigo rubbed his palms together, analyzing. "This... if we calculate for ten thousand creatures, even with the revised plan, it would take seven, eight... er, no, ten years."
"In ten years, the Marines’ recruitment efforts will also be complete. Should we wait for the enemy to grow stronger before attacking?" Alucard glared, startling Dr. Indigo into comically tumbling to the ground.
The Marines’ recruitment speed was far faster than these animals’ reproduction. Really wait ten years? Heh, where would you all be then?
"Ten thousand might be many, but they’re not durable, their lifespan is extremely limited after all." Shiki crossed his arms. "How about within five years?"
"The timing needs further analysis. If it’s only five thousand, three years would be enough, but..." Dr. Indigo interjected, glancing at the giant rhinoceros beetle’s corpse. "I will research that thing to see if I can find a way to extend their survival a bit."
Three years was within Alucard’s acceptable range. He turned to look at this continent teeming with monsters. "Alright, within three years, we attack Mariejois."
"Jihahahaha!" Shiki clasped his hands to his hips and laughed heartily, looking up at the sky. "Good! Good! Attacking the World Government, that’s something even Roger never accomplished! Watch closely from the underworld, Roger!"
Shiki wasn’t stupid; in fact, like Whitebeard, he was one of the people who understood Roger the most.
Over these many days, he had largely come to understand the reason for Roger’s surrender. He was also getting old. While his strength hadn’t declined too much yet, it was definitely declining faster than Whitebeard’s.
His feet replaced by swords, and his head, the most vital part of the human body, severely injured—if he truly followed his original plan and acted twenty years later, how much would his strength have deteriorated?
He didn’t know, but it would definitely be faster than Whitebeard and Red, whose strength was already gradually declining. Now was the time; the Golden Lion had to accomplish something grand.
Roger, what if you were the Pirate King? Did you ever attack the World Government?!
Regardless of Shiki’s internal fantasies about Roger, Alucard said coldly, "If you get caught, I won’t save you."
"I never needed anyone to save me, Immortal brat!" Shiki declared with an imposing aura.
Even after confirming the plan, Shiki still had his own matters to complete, namely his personal strength.
Just having a ship’s rudder stuck in his head was enough to affect his combat prowess. Now he also had to get used to fighting without holding swords, using his feet instead of his hands.
While it wasn’t exactly starting from scratch, the difficulty wasn’t far off. The process would definitely be arduous, but how quickly he could recover depended solely on Shiki himself.
Shiki was also a master of Armament Haki, but because his two swords were now attached to his feet, he couldn’t use Armament Haki for the time being.
He needed training.
And Alucard, who enjoyed combat, was the perfect sparring partner.
With that in mind, time passed swiftly, and two months slipped away.
In this two months, the two spent every day in life-and-death battles, each fighting with the intent to kill the other, though they always stopped just before the final lethal blow.
Alucard also periodically injected the animals on Miracles Island with the Blacklight Virus for Dr. Indigo’s research. However, not even Vegapunk could fully master the rudimentary Blacklight Virus, let alone the current intermediate level. Dr. Indigo’s ability to extend the survival time of infected subjects was already quite remarkable.
Meanwhile, the Golden Lion also began to reassemble his fleet. He originally wanted to recall everyone from the remnants of the Golden Lion Pirates fleet, but then he remembered how that idiot Byrnndi World had died at the hands of his own crew. Plus, attacking the World Government required a level of courage that ordinary people simply didn’t possess. Therefore, he only recalled less than a third of his elite inner circle.
Another week passed.
The Golden Lion, sitting on his throne in the main hall of the Golden Lion, and Alucard, in a side hall, simultaneously received shocking news.
Patrick Redfield, Red the Aloof, who had gathered with them both on Whitebeard’s Moby Dick several months prior, had been arrested.
According to the newspaper, Red had been captured by Fleet Admiral Kong of Marine Headquarters through a strategic encirclement. The details of the battle were mostly glossed over, with a close-up picture of Red’s capture.
In the photo, Marine Fleet Admiral Kong walked closely beside Red, preventing any escape attempts. Red’s hands and feet were bound with Seastone chains; even if he weren’t a Devil Fruit user, a pirate of his caliber deserved such "treatment." His hair, usually neatly combed, was disheveled from the battle, and his eyes revealed unwillingness, no longer showing the "aloof" demeanor.
"Hmph! That useless Red!" Shiki took the cigar from his mouth and viciously stubbed the burning tip onto Red’s face in the newspaper, showing his contempt.
Alucard, meanwhile, calmly placed the newspaper on the adjacent table. "A product of the old era, fearing aging and losing the will to fight. It’s time for him to get off the stage."
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