บท 33: An Important Call (I)
As I lay in one of the Going Merry's spare rooms, I found myself replaying this morning's events.
Well, I messed up.
I'd wanted to give them a wake-up call, to show them that they still had room to grow. But the whole plan had completely backfired when Luffy thought I was mocking them. And yeah, I can see why he'd think that, but still...
Thankfully, I managed to talk my way out of that mess—barely.
People skills: not exactly my forte. Not something I'll fix overnight, either.
Anyway, that "Swordsmanship of the Giants." Just as the name suggests, it's a technique meant for giants. What I used today, the "Titan's Impact," is only one form of the style. There's another move, far deadlier: Hakoku Sovereignty. This attack is powerful enough to split the sea. But to wield it, I'd need the strength of someone like Big Mom—who was practically a giant herself. Even my attempt at "Titan's Impact" didn't come close to its full potential.
Still, Dorry and Broggy were impressed enough. They both agreed it was time for me to leave the island. My time here had been invaluable, full of lessons and growth. I'd made great strides in my training.
As I lay there, a noise from above deck pulled me back to the present. Dorry and Broggy were preparing to use Hakoku Sovereignty—a chance to see that legendary technique firsthand. I rushed upstairs as they raised their massive weapons, a blend of red and blue energy gathering and hurtling toward the Island Eater. The sheer power of it was staggering as the beam demolished everything in its path. I mentally thanked them, not just for this display, but for everything I'd learned here. They were good people.
And soon, I'd finally be in Alabasta.
Or so I thought, until Nami fell ill. I'd completely forgotten this part of the story—Chopper's introduction, the part where he treats Nami and joins the crew. I remember his backstory, of course. But I don't really remember the sequence of events. One Piece has a huge world, after all.
And then Wapol showed up, trying to eat the Going Merry. Every time I see his face, I just want to smash it to pieces. I was munching on some fruit on deck when his soldiers thought they'd test their luck against me. I tossed them all in the sea.
I figured we'd be heading to Drum Island next. There should be a Den-Den-Mushi there, and just thinking about Law's reaction when he hears from me brings a smile to my face. That's going to be hilarious.
Life on the ship carried on, following the events in the canon I remembered. Vivi showed once again that she was a deeply caring person—stopping to save Nami despite her own country's dire situation. Last night, we'd had a brief talk. She found me while I was practicing my Black Lotus Style, a technique best suited for fighting in the dark.
"Mr. Zephyr, if you don't mind..." She started hesitantly.
I cut her off with a simple reply. "You don't need me, Princess. If you want to defeat Crocodile, the Straw Hats are more than enough."
She looked uncertain, and I pressed on.
"Have some faith. They helped you when you thought all hope was lost, didn't they? They deserve the same in return."
She considered this, her doubt fading. "Thank you, Mr. Zephyr. You helped me clear my head. So, what will you do after we reach Alabasta?"
"If fate allows it, I'll meet a certain person there. Most likely, we'll be traveling together for a while... hunting some people down."
She didn't so much as flinch after the mention of hunting people down. Princess Vivi was strong and resilient, with a rare inner strength. I could only hope that strength would keep her safe in this unforgiving world.
_______________________________
When a crowd of angry villagers surrounded the Going Merry, I felt my patience slipping. I hadn't been on board for two days, and I was already tired of the endless theatrics. I needed to contact my crew to let them know I was alive.
But what the hell is up with all this drama?
So, when one of the villagers fired a shot at Vivi, I snapped.
The bullet was nothing for me; I used 'Flash Step' and caught it with my bare hand. The crowd fell silent, eyes wide, as I held up the bullet. I looked directly at the large man leading them—Dalton, I think his name was.
"It's not polite to shoot at someone with their back turned," I said, my voice cold. "And you. Big guy. I get that you've had bad experiences with pirates, but this crew hasn't done a thing to you. They just need a doctor."
I released the faintest touch of Conqueror's Haki. "You should already know that I could take down every single one of you with a single swing of my sword. But I haven't, which should tell you we're not here to cause harm. So, if you'd kindly lead us to a doctor, that'd be greatly appreciated." I added with exasperation, "And someone get me a freaking Den-Den-Mushi—I have an important call to make!"
Sometimes you just need to fast forward through the theatrics.
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