chsdbacks Chapter 202 The Ark of Salvation, Save All Living Beings!
Chapter 202 The Ark of Salvation, Save All Living Beings!
Chapter 202 The Ark of Salvation, Save All Living Beings!
The tragic grandeur and determination of the Sky Island transformed into invisible ripples, undulating in the torrent of fate.
But beneath this torrent, in the deep sea ten thousand meters below, the war and despair on Fishman Island took a turn for the better with the arrival of a miracle.
Fishman Island, in front of the Dragon Palace.
Noah's Ark did not come from afar, but was formed directly from a concept in this space in response to the desire for salvation and the contract with the Master!
It descended slowly, and every grain of wood on the hull seemed to be engraved with the epic history of time and the weight of life.
A soft yet resilient golden light curtain, centered on the ark, like an inverted bowl, instantly enveloped the remaining Dragon Palace and the surrounding area.
The destructive spear thrown by the shield-wielding knight struck the light barrier, but without even causing a ripple, it melted away silently, like ice and snow meeting the sun.
"What?!" the knight who made the move exclaimed in shock.
Shamrock suddenly looked up, his pupils contracting sharply beneath his mask.
He could sense that this ship—and the figure on it that was gradually becoming clearer—was of a far higher status than any of their previous opponents.
"Alert! High alert!"
Noah's figure was fully visible at the bow of the ship, his white robes fluttering without wind. His gaze calmly swept over the ravaged battlefield, finally settling on the five divine knights who looked as if facing a formidable enemy.
His voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"This is a place for life to dwell, not a place for slaughter. Stop, lost warriors."
"Playing tricks! Destroy it!" roared a hot-tempered knight.
His figure blurred into a blur, instantly appearing in front of the Ark's light screen. The two swords in his hands erupted with dazzling lightning, weaving into a destructive lightning net, which he then slashed down fiercely!
"Cross Slash!"
Faced with this fierce attack that could slice the island in two, Noah simply raised his right hand and pressed it lightly towards the direction outside the light screen.
There was no earth-shattering explosion. Before the violent lightning net even touched the light screen, it seemed to be gently brushed away by an invisible hand. The lightning became disordered and scattered, eventually turning into countless tiny electric snakes that disappeared without a trace.
The charging knight felt a gentle yet immense force come towards him, pushing him back as easily as flicking away a speck of dust. He stumbled and landed beside his companions, his face filled with disbelief.
"Not energy cancellation—it's—rejection?" Shamlock's voice was low and heavy, with an unprecedented solemnity.
He realized that the other party was not using stronger energy to exchange blows, but rather fundamentally rejecting the concept of attack within its protective range!
"Attack together!" the shield-wielding knight roared, slamming his giant shield into the ground. A massive energy field surged forward, attempting to compress the light barrier.
Another knight clasped his hands together, condensing a highly compressed ball of dark energy.
The last knight disappeared, attempting to launch a surprise attack from a blind spot.
"Stubborn to the end." Noah shook his head slightly. He did not leave the bow of the ship, but simply raised his arm and paused gently.
The seawater surrounding the ark was not physical seawater, but a magical sea derived from the concept of redemption, and it began to ripple gently.
When the energy field propelled by the shield-wielding knight came into contact with the rippling seawater, it seemed to sink into a quagmire, its speed decreased sharply, and its structure began to become unstable.
As the dark energy sphere flew toward the ark, the highly compressed energy within it was strangely purified, its color changing from pitch black to grayish-white. Finally, as it approached the light curtain, it silently disintegrated, reverting to the most basic magical particles.
The knight who attempted a stealthy ambush was horrified to discover that no matter how he changed his position, the old man's gaze always landed precisely on him, as if all his actions were under the old man's perception, leaving him nowhere to hide.
A chill, as if he were being stared at by a higher-dimensional being, rose from the depths of his heart.
Noah never launched a single offensive counterattack; he simply stood there, deflecting, guiding, and calming all the malice and power that came his way.
This kind of absolute, effortless defense is more despairing than any ferocious attack.
He was like an unyielding fortress, protecting everything beneath him, while all the enemy's efforts seemed so futile and laughable.
The people of Fishman Island, recovering from their initial shock, gazed at the ark that had descended like a miracle.
Looking at the five knights of the gods who were once as invincible as death, now helpless and even showing signs of fear in front of the white-robed youth, a sense of elation at surviving a catastrophe and an indescribable shock welled up in his heart.
"What—what is that?"
"Is it God? Is it God who came to save us?"
Even the Knights of God can't handle it!
"We—we're saved?!"
King Neptune trembled with excitement as he watched this scene.
Jinbe also struggled out of the ruins. Looking at the Noah's Ark above his head, which stood like a pillar of strength, and at the Command Seals still burning hot on the back of his hand, he was filled with indescribable shock and a sense of enlightenment.
Is this the Servant he summoned? Is this—the power of a Heroic Spirit?
Shamlock's face beneath the mask was extremely grim; his consciousness was connected to a powerful being.
"Target spotted. Confirmed to be an unknown Heroic Spirit of extremely high rank. Its defensive capabilities are extremely strange and cannot be broken through."
Requesting instructions!
The colossal Noah's Ark, like a divinely forged barrier, hovered silently above the ruined Dragon Palace. The soft golden light emanating from it completely blocked and dissolved the destructive attacks of the Knights of God.
It showed no aggression; simply by existing there, it forcibly stopped this one-sided massacre with the concept of protection.
The surviving merfolk soldiers embraced each other and wept, or stared blankly at the savior ship that had only existed in legends but had now actually arrived.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and the smoke of gunpowder, yet it also held a glimmer of hope.
The five-man squad of the Knights of God's offensive was thwarted.
Their attacks struck the light barrier like mud sinking into the sea, failing to even create a crack. The leader, Shamrock, his face grim beneath his mask, raised his hand to stop his subordinates' pointless continued assault.
He could clearly sense that the level of power contained in this ark was completely different from any of the heroic spirits he had encountered before.
It was not simply powerful magic, but something closer to the rules themselves; it was the embodiment of the concept of salvation, and its stability was beyond imagination.
"What the hell is this thing?!" a knight couldn't help but growl, his voice filled with surprise and uncertainty.
Shamrock did not answer; he simply stared intently at the massive wooden hull and the faintly visible figure at the bow.
Finally, a voice rang in his mind.
"Temporarily withdraw."
The command was extremely concise, without the slightest hesitation.
Im and the evil and corruption of humanity had already seen through their true nature the moment Noah descended.
It would be unwise to confront such a Grand Rank being who embodies the redemptive aspect of human history at this moment, especially now that Nika has awakened.
The plan needs to be adjusted, not a reckless head-on confrontation.
Shamrock took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock and resentment in his heart.
His icy gaze swept over Neptune, who was standing ready behind the screen, and Jinbe, who was struggling to get up. His voice, coming through the mask, carried an undeniable authority and warning.
"Fishman Island, cherish this brief respite. The world's order cannot be challenged. We will return."
After saying that, he didn't linger for a moment. With a swift movement, he transformed into a dark red streak of light and sped towards the direction of the bubble membrane.
Seeing this, the other four knights followed without hesitation, disappearing into the darkness of the deep sea as swiftly as they had come.
The oppressive feeling receded like the tide, but the devastation left behind silently testified to the tragedy that had just occurred.
Noah's Ark did not pursue them; in the hazy light from the bow, the figures gradually became clear.
He was a young man with white hair and beard, a kind face with a calm demeanor that seemed to have seen many hardships. He wore a simple white robe and his gaze was like an all-encompassing ocean.
He first turned his head slightly, looking towards Alabasta, as if he could sense the changed ecology and surging undercurrents in that land caused by the influence of the Intescatlipoca, and whispered: "The threads of fate have become tangled—"
Then, his gaze pierced through the barrier of ten thousand meters of seawater and space, and turned toward the sky island. In his eyes, which had seen through the ways of the world, a hint of understanding and a faint expectation appeared.
"Has the trajectory of the chosen one of destiny been derailed by something stronger? Nevertheless, the drums of liberation have already sounded."
His whispers went unheard, but his arrival truly saved Fishman Island from destruction.
The remaining gates of the Dragon Palace opened, and King Neptune, supported by his guards, arrived at the foot of Noah's Ark with Princess Shirahoshi.
Despite his injuries, Neptune struggled to bow deeply to the old man on the bow:
"Thank you so much! Your esteemed savior! You have saved countless lives on Fish-Man Island! Please accept our deepest gratitude!"
Jinbe, enduring his pain, knelt on one knee, his voice filled with gratitude and respect.
"Thank you so much for saving us! Fishman Island will never forget this kindness!"
Noah slowly raised his hand, and a gentle, invisible force supported Neptune and Jinbe, preventing them from bowing down.
His voice was gentle yet clear, resonating in everyone's hearts with a comforting power.
"No need for formalities, gentlemen. I have come in response to the call to fulfill the contract; it is my duty."
His gaze fell on the Command Seal on Jinbe's hand, which still retained a burning sensation, and then he felt the pink mark on Shirahoshi's hand, which resonated with it and symbolized the power of Poseidon.
"It was the tears of this mermaid princess, filled with sorrow and a desire to protect, and your unwavering commitment to protect her as her Master, that together transcended time and guided my ark, lost beyond the reach of time, to this sea that needed shelter."
His words resolved some of the doubts in everyone's hearts and also pointed out the deep connection between Shirahoshi and this miracle.
Neptune looked excitedly at White Star, then at Noah.
"In any case, you gave us hope! We don't know how to address you, or how to repay this kindness?"
"A name is but a label. I am Noah, who was commanded by heaven to build the ark and preserve the flame of life in the flood."
Noah spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding ruins and weeping crowds, his eyes filled with compassion.
"As for how to repay this kindness—to rebuild homes, comfort the living, and let the flame of life continue to burn in this deep sea—that would be the best response to my journey."
At that moment, Jinbe stood up and looked at Noah, his eyes reflecting the brilliance of a ship of salvation in the great flood.
So it was the legendary ark of salvation from another world, and I summoned such an existence?
This made him feel incredibly stressed and anxious. He took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice steady.
"Noah—Sir. You are now my servant. According to the rules of the Holy Grail War, I should provide you with magical power, and you will obey my call. But right now—I truly do not know what to do. I leave everything to His Majesty the King to decide!"
He handed over the decision-making power to Neptune, which was both a sign of respect for royal authority and a reflection of his inner unease.
Noah saw the burden and confusion in Jinbe's heart.
He smiled gently, a smile as warm as sunlight piercing through ten thousand meters of seawater.
"Jinbe." He called out the blue fat man's name, his voice carrying a guiding tone.
"You are known as the Sea Knight, having traversed the seas for many years, upholding righteousness in your heart. Sometimes, great power is not a shackle, but a tool to practice your beliefs."
"My power is meant for protection and redemption, not for conquest and destruction. This is no different from your heart of protection."
He paused, then continued, "King Neptune is the ruler of Fish-Man Island, and his decisions concern the future of the nation."
"But you, Jinbe, your decision concerns your own destiny. Will you merely be a sword that obeys orders, or will you, as the one wielding that sword, use your will and strength to protect the justice and peace you believe in? Sometimes, you must make the decision yourself."
These words struck Jinbe's heart like the sound of a deer drum and the morning bell.
He recalled his past experiences: the compromises he made as a Shichibukai, the responsibilities he bore as captain of the Sun Pirates, and his unwavering dream of connecting the fish-men, mermaids, and the human world.
Noah's words made him realize that while having great power meant great responsibility, it also meant having more possibilities to realize his ideals.
"—You're right." Jinbe's eyes gradually hardened.
"I was being too rigid. Power itself is neither good nor evil; the key lies in the heart of the person who wields it. Mr. Noah, thank you for your guidance."
He turned to Neptune and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, Mr. Noah came because of my connection with Princess Shirahoshi, and he will be an important guardian of Fishman Island."
"Regarding how to deal with the situation ahead, I am willing to follow Your Majesty's arrangements, but I also humbly request Your Majesty's permission to join Mr. Noah in contributing all our strength to the survival and future of Fishman Island!"
Neptune looked at Jinbe, whose eyes were resolute, then at Noah, whose expression was kind yet unfathomable. A mix of emotions welled up within him, but above all, hope. He nodded firmly. "Very well! Jinbe, Lord Noah, the future of Fish-Man Island is entrusted to you two!"
Noah smiled gently, his gaze turning to the distance once more, as if he could see that white figure on the sky island, radiating joy and freedom.
"The spindle of fate has begun to spin faster—"
He spoke softly, as if addressing the crowd, yet also as if talking to himself.
"The tide has risen, and no one can remain unaffected. But this is also the moment of destiny for philosophical change. The dream of Fishman Island connecting with the world—perhaps—has reached the point where it must be realized."
His words also silenced all the fishmen, after all, he had just been facing the annihilation that humans had brought upon him.
But looking at that ark, a symbol of the brilliance of life...
In this turbulent new era, there may truly be an opportunity—to strive for that future under the real sun that we have longed for for centuries.