Chapter 26: An empty victory in the desert. The truth about Zack's crew.
After our small rescue in Empire City, our team goes to Shamar, chatting with Zack and his people.
One Piece Soundtrack - Underground Bar, Big Hole!
Luffy: Are you a Devil Fruit user too?!
Nanami: Apparently yes.
Nami: Like what "apparently"?
Nami was going to ask when she sees Nanami falling asleep while walking.
Nami: But don't fall asleep!
Hinata: Forgive her, she always falls asleep at the most inappropriate times.
Nanami: Zzz ... Hmm? Oh I'm sorry. It was not my intention. Yes, I am a user of the Fruit Game-Game.
Nanami makes pixelated cherries appear, which she gives to Nami.
Nanami: Please, eat them, they are delicious.
Nami: Ok ... Mmm! It is true!
Nanami: My fruit allows me to manipulate video games and their elements.
Sonic: Wow ...
Hinata: It's Lodge type, by the way.
Luffy: Really ?!
Nanami: Yes, the time I ate it, I felt strange. And in training, when Nidai hit me, I became very small blue cubes.
Luffy: Wow ...
Naegi: And you say you are Hunters.
Weiss: In practices, we are students.
Naegi: Oh.
Sonic: We are going to talk to Professor Pickle, you guys rest.
Kirigiri: Thanks, Sonic-san. That pirate has exhausted us enough.
However, a certain archeologist looks at them with a shadowed gaze.
Ruby: We'll be right back. Thanks, Zack, for last night.
Zack: Anytime.
Nanami: They are very strange boys.
Nidai: BUT THEY HAVE A GREAT SPIRIT!
Pekoyama: The truth is that they are good people.
Asahina: I'm happy for you, Zack-chan!
Zack: W-Well, thanks...
Robin: Right. I'm glad...
Zack: Thanks Robin.
Robin: ... I know who you are.
Saionji: What does this mean? You know who we are...
Robin: Hope's Peak Academy.
Immediately everyone, even the quiet ones, like Kirigiri and Nanami, go into shock.
SDR2 OST: -1-22- Re_ DISTRUST
Zack: W-How ... you know ...
Robin: Stories about a horror academy had come to my hometown on the Grand Line, where the students went crazy and started killing each other.
As he spoke, Robin saw that some already had weapons, ready to fight.
Robin: At first, I didn't care. But as I got to know all of you, I realized that you look like all those boys in that terrible story.
Zack: That fucking nightmare came to an end twelve long years ago.
Robin: I know.
Pekoyama: Huh?
Robin: What I'm saying is that if you do something to my captain or my crew, you will pay it.
Robin turns his back on them, heading to the Professor's lab.
Robin: I will not say anything to anyone, because I want to trust you. And for not hurting Ruby-chan, but someday you will have to tell us.
Zack and the others remain silent, until he speaks.
Togami: So what, are you going to stand there and do something?
Zack: What are you talking about, Byakuya?
Kirigiri: You are right. If they are going to be our friends, they have to know it.
Zack: When the time is right. Meanwhile, it is better that they do not know, lest we decentralize them in this mission.
While a man smiles.
?: How interesting ... Kujajajaja.
He turns into sand and flies into the desert, where he awaits his adversaries. While with Sonic...
The World Adventure (Piano Version) - Sonic Unleashed [OST]
Prof. Pickle: Oh, you've already been to Empire City.
Brook: That's right, good Professor. And now, do we have to investigate this place.
Prof. Pickle: Indeed it is.
Smoker: Be as careful as possible, we don't want to praise civilians more than they already are.
Luffy: Smokey, drop that ice cream girl.
Garp: Luffy, she is a criminal! It will be in our custody!
Ruby: Grandpa, she's from MY world! So ME and MY team take care of it.
Garp: Ihhh! You want a Fist of Love, right?!
Taiyang: Garp, don't even think about touching my girl!
And then Garp and Taiyang start fighting.
Qrow: Oh, those two don't learn ...
Mihawk: You and I have to fight someday.
Qrow: Ha, anytime.
Kuzan: Take her away, I'll take care of them in case they say something.
Neo nods to Kuzan, and leaves, when he bumps into Zack.
Zack: You ...
Neo cringes in fear and stands behind Luffy.
Luffy: Easy, it's Zack. It won't hurt you.
Ruby: Zack! What is the matter with you?!
Zack: I don't know ... But I do know that I must kill her, whatever the cost!
Kirigiri: Calm down, will you?
Kirigiri used her Haoshoku Haki, calming Zack down.
Zack: Sorry ...
Kirigiri: Every time you see her, you get furious for no reason.
Zack: I know that. It's just that ... I know I can't forgive her, I don't know why, but I can't allow her to live.
Neo begins to tremble, however Luffy smiles at him.
Luffy: Don't worry, while I'm here, you will have nothing to fear.
Neo looks up and sees Luffy laughing as she blushes wildly.
Robin: Ara, how cute she is.
Zack: Agh, alright, I won't do anything to her.
Ruby: Thanks Zacky.
Neo comes out from behind Luffy, worried.
Zack: Well, take it. I think this is yours.
Zack hands Neo a completely new case containing his weapon. As Neo catches it, she jumps for joy.
Luffy: Wow, I'm glad you're so happy. Now, let's ... Heh ?!
Before Luffy does anything, Neo kisses Luffy on the lips, surprising everyone.
Ruby: What?
Yang: Wow.
Nami: Quiet, but firmly, huh?
Sanji: "Damn you, Luffy!"
Luffy: Hey, I'm not food!
Everyone: "How is it possible that he doesn't realize what she's trying?!"
Saionji: It is impossible for someone to be that dumb.
Zoro: Well, because you haven't met my captain.
Saionji: You are not serious...
Koizumi: It's not possible ... is it?
Sonic: Well, be that as it may, we have things to do.
Arid Sands (Day) - Sonic Unleashed [OST]
Sonic and the others start running through the city, greeting the civilians.
Luffy: Aw ... It's so hot ...
Weiss: I never thought I would say this, but I'm empty headed.
Yang: Come on, Ice Queen. By the way, I liked how you gave that Togami a lesson.
Weiss: Ha, that one would think twice before being so smug.
?: Kuhaha ... It's been a long time, Straw Hat.
Luffy: Crocodile!
Everyone turns around and sees a tall man with a broad chest and shoulders, muscular legs and arms, and a thick neck. Her skin is pale and her black hair is kept perfectly combed back, although in battle several strands of hair tend to fall on her face. His deep, sunken eyes, coupled with his thin slightly upturned eyebrows, cause him to generally adopt a facial expression of skepticism and mistrust. He exhibits several battle scars, among which the one on his face stands out; long and horizontal that extends across his face across the bridge of his nose, and that of his left hand, which was amputated and replaced by a large gold hook. He is seen wearing a suit very similar to Arabasta's; with the coat of the coat again unified, and a dark vest over a lighter colored shirt.
Crocodile, Ex-member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and former president of Baroque Works.
Crocodile: Kuhahaha, I see that you are still that same unconscious pirate as always!
Luffy: You ...!
Sonic: Wow, you're Crocodile, right? Luffy told me about you.
Crocodile: Then you will know how far we are in terms of power.
Ruby: Don't be so sure, Sandcastle.
Crocodile: Hahaha. You have the guts to be a kid.
Crocodile puts the palm of his hand and begins to turn the buildings into sand.
Luffy: It is not possible, this is the same thing that Mingo and Katakuri did!
Crocodile: You are not the only one who has trained in these two years. Sand Soldiers!
The Crocodile arena traps civilians, turning them into sand monsters.
Sanji: Damn!
Crocodile: Don't worry, my sand will protect them.
Luffy: I'm going to hit you!
One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 - OST - A Deadly Battle.
Ruby: Zack!
Zack: You don't need to say it. Guys, we have to hurry up and save the ones with no sand on top first! Ah, Ruby, catch!
Zack throws to her several cartridges of bullets made of Sea Stone and Ruby takes them on the fly. She smiles at him, letting Zack and his team takes care of keeping civilians safe, while she and company prepare to fight a real Warlord.
Crocodile: I give you three minutes ...
Ruby interrupts him by cutting off his right hand, although without Haki.
Crocodile: Grrr... This has been humiliating.
Crocodile begins to use his hook with great skill and Ruby blocks it.
Crocodile: Damn brat... Sables!
Crocodile summons a tornado destroyer of sand, although Yang hits him with Haki, managing to destroy him.
Yang: Is that all you have?
Crocodile: Barján.
Crocodile waves his right arm forward as he leaves a crescent trail in the sand behind him, grabbing Yang's arm.
Yang: Hey, who do you think ... Agrrh!
Yang begins to notice that his arm is drying up, discovering with horror that said arm had been stripped.
Yang: Aaaaaaaagagggggggggghhhh!
Blake: Yang no! Son of...!
Blake uses his ninja skills to get close to Crocodile, but he moves quickly through the sand. Blake tries to detect Crocodile with his ears from Faun and the
Kenbunshoku Haki, however, the Warlord leaps forward and hooks Blake's chest with his hook.
Ruby: Blake, no!
Blake starts bleeding from the mouth.
Crocodile: Who do you think I am, girl!
Crocodile pulls his hook from it, letting it fall to the ground.
Crocodile: Listen to me, little Faun: Those who flee to lick their wounds have no right to speak of justice or equality. It is a rule not only of the sea, but of the entire Multiverse. As long as you continue to have doubts about who you are, you can never beat anyone.
Sonic: Don't you dare say Blake is weak!
Sonic runs to perform his Homing Attack against Crocodile turning black by the Haki, managing to deal a severe blow to him.
Crocodile: Ugh ... They didn't lie when they said you were strong.
Sonic: And you still haven't seen anything!
Crocodile: Don't underestimate me, boy. Desert Spada!
Crocodile transforms his right hand into a sand sword, then extends it across the earth like a torpedo that splits any object in its path including the terrain. He catches up to Sonic, cutting him off a bit.
Sonic: Agh!
Crocodile: Kuhahahaha. I already told you, brat. You are too arrogant to believe you are on my level.
Luffy: Gomu-Gomu no... Hawk Rifle!
It consists of entering the gear second phase and hardening the arm with Busoshoku Haki, turning it quickly as the Gomu-Gomu no Rifle, and then impacting the rotary blow on the enemy. Luffy backs up the Warlord.
Crocodile: Ugh ... You are brats ...
Weiss: I have a plan, but I need help.
Ruby: Got it!
Weiss: No, Ruby. I need your boyfriend.
Ruby: Zack?
While with Zack, he and his crew take care of saving civilians and removing the unfortunate from the arena.
Oogami: This is terrible. These people are suffering ...
Zack: Easy, Saku-chan. With a little water, they will return to normal.
Suddenly, Zack's phone starts ringing.
Zack: Yes?
Weiss: "Zack, it's me, Weiss."
Zack: How come you have my number?
Weiss: "Ruby."
Zack: Ah, ok. Well I'm busy...
Weiss: "We need help. Although we have Haki, it's not enough. She is on the same level as Mihawk or Hancock!"
Zack: Sighs... Okay, hold on a couple of minutes, I'm on my way.
Zack hangs up and dials another number.
Zack: Iruma, did you finish what I asked you?
Iruma: "Son of a bitch, it was about time you called! Souda, Fujisaki and I finished it a long time ago, so don't screw around with me anymore and give that alligator guy a lesson on which the Pirates of the Dragon King are!"
Suddenly, a drone appears with a case and inside there was a weapon: it was a 45 caliber run revolver, with several sets of bullets made of Dust of various types of dust: Dust of Water, Dust of Lava, Dust of Plasma, Acid Dust, Dark Dust, And Diamond Dust.
Zack: Wow, what a monster you have done.
Iruma: "Ha ha ha ha! You like it, huh!"
Souda: "We call it the" Ultimate Destruction", dude!"
Zack: Cool ...
Iruma: "Now it's up to you, don't let us down, cap!"
Zack hangs up and runs, with his new weapon.
Zack: Sorry I'm late.
Weiss: It was already...! Where did you get that thing from ?!
Zack: My R&D guys have done it, in case this happened.
Ruby: Wow, it's super cool!
Zack: Honey, not now. Crocodile first, then go crazy. It's cool in every way though!
Zack begins to shoot the Dust of water, hitting Crocodile.
Crocodile: What?
Weiss freezes the water causing Crocodile to freeze.
Zack: Water and Haki are not the only weak point of a Lodge. If you know the item, you can beat it without Haki.
Crocodile barely breaks free and puts his hand on the ground.
Crocodile: You are the same as Straw Hat ... I will not let you laugh at me! Ground Death!
A much stronger version of the Ground Seco, this time Crocodile not only dries the earth, but anything within reach, including people and even buildings.
Sonic: Ruby, Luffy, now!
Luffy and Ruby: Yeah!
All three repeat the same trick as in Holoska.
Luffy: Gomu-Gomu no...
Luffy, Ruby and Sonic: Triple Slingshot!
Ruby shoots Sonic, while Luffy propels and kicks Sonic, increasing his strength and speed, delivering the coup de grace to the Warlord.
Blake: Finally ...
Yang: Suck that one, you bastard!
Crocodile: Ku ... ha ... ha ... ha ...
Zack: What are you laughing at now?
Crocodile: Since old Shirohige died, each battle became drier than the last ...
Weiss: Shirohige ...?
Ruby: Whitebeard, isn't it?
Crocodile: Ruby ... D. Rose...
At that time even Luffy became serious.
Ruby: What ... did you call me? You won't have...?
Crocodile: It is impossible that I forget the daughter of the "Dancer with the Silver Eyes" ... Kuhahahahaha ... But that is not important, at least, for now. What should worry you ... they are your boyfriend's friends, the murderers of Hope´s Pick!
Before he said anything else, Oogami and Nidai smash Crocodile's head, only for it to leave in the form of sand.
Nidai: Damn... I couldn't stop him...
Oogami: You should have heard our conversation in town...
Zack: Oh shit...
Ruby: Zack...
Zack looks at Ruby, trembling.
Sonic: It's a lie, right?
Luffy: It isn't, is it?
Zack: We can explain everything. Nami: You better, you and your friends.
The Straw Hat, Beacon Hunters and Sonic grab the two wounds and take them away, leaving Zack and the others alone.
Zack: This is my entire fault...
Oogami: Zack-san...
Zack: I will not allow something to happen to any of you: You are innocent.
Nidai: Dude, you...
Zack leaves them and goes to talk to everyone, ready to reveal a nightmare...
.
.
.
Over twelve years old.
To be continue...