Here's the next entry...things may start to get interesting from this point onwards.
Day 10
I'm actually writing this the day after the previous entry. That's an achievement.
Right now, I'm lying in the ship infirmary. We had a particularly tough battle just a few hours ago.
We were attacked by four Marine Vice-Admirals while we were sailing up the Sandora river. Apparently, while Captain Jones's bounty is considered to be "average" by Grand Line standards, his reputation warranted a powerful force to come and attack us.
Four Vice-Admirals.
They were really strong though I didn't actually cross swords with them due to reasons I'll write down later.
I guess it's a testament to Captain Jones's own strength that he took on two Vice-Admirals at once and is still capable of fighting them on even footing. One of the Vice-Admirals fighting Jones used a warhammer and actually managed to hit Captain despite his Logia. The other one had a Devil Fruit power as well. Some odd ability where he could go through walls or something from the brief moment I was able to observe the battle.
Roy and Goji both took on a Vice-Admiral each, but I didn't have time to see what their abilities were because I ran into two familiar faces.
Garp and Sengoku from Nanohana.
Both their eyes widened in recognition when they saw me.
"So you were a pirate?" asked Garp pointlessly.
"Not 'were' a pirate," I answered, raising my sword into a defensive stance. "I AM a pirate!"
Sengoku narrowed his eyes at me.
"Then you die as one," he snarled.
They both charged at me.
I have to admit, they're both very strong. While I am by no means a weakling myself, I had to go all out just to keep the fight even. They're both very strong individually, but their teamwork is a real pain to fight against. They both fought with their bare hands and while I got many good hits on them as well, they got a lot of good hits on me as well. I must've stabbed or slashed them both enough times to kill a Sea King but they just kept coming at me.
Eventually, the Marines retreated. I found out later on that they retreated because Captain Jones managed to defeat both the Vice Admirals.
Barely.
I always knew Goji and Roy were strong, but I never realise just how strong they were. They both battled a Vice-Admiral each to a stalemate. I never saw the fight but both Goji and Roy were bloodied and battered. Roy's bisento, nearly twice his own height gleamed crimson in the sunlight.
As for my own battled, I managed to battle both Sengoku and Garp to a stalemate. I just stared at the two of them, breathing heavily, my body as bruised and bloody as theirs.
"Damn it, you fight like a demon," growled Sengoku, spitting blood from his mouth, but I thought I caught a hint of grudging respect in his tone.
"Same goes for the both of you," I answered, trying to maintain a grip on my sword. In all honesty, if the Marines hadn't called for a retreat then, I don't think I would've survived the battle.
"I have a feeling you're going to be big trouble someday," said Garp, his grinning face a crimson mask. "You have a name we can attach to a bounty poster?"
I stood straight despite the pain wracking my body. I cannot show weakness, not even a hint of it.
"I am Edward Newgate," I said. "I will conquer Grand Line."
Garp helped Sengoku up as they both began to retreat back to their ship. Before they got there, Garp looked over his shoulder at me.
"Don't die before you conquer Grand Line, Newgate," he said. "Because when you do, I will be the one to capture you."
In answer, I just grinned and raised my sword in salute.
When the Marines were gone, I think I passed out because I suddenly found myself in an infirmary bed.
Our ship doctor, Shane was busy treating Captain. Captain was severely wounded and was unconscious. The battle had been that tough.
Beside me was Roy. He stopped me from getting up.
What he said next was something I'd never expect to hear from him.
"You fought well, kid," he said. "I saw you fighting those two powerful rookies. Get some rest, you'll need it."
"What about you?" I asked. He had bandages around his abdomen and his arms.
"Hah!" Roy scoffed. "It was a tough battle, but it'll take more than that to kill me!"
"Goji?" I asked.
Roy just grinned as he wiped his bisento clean. I still find it hard to believe that he could wield a weapon that's nearly twice as long as him with such skill and deadliness.
"The old man is already up and about," answered Roy.
"What about Captain?"
Roy's grin vanished.
"He took some pretty hard hits," he answered. "He'll live, but he won't be able to fight for awhile. I guess one Vice-Admiral was pretty tough to handle, and he took on two at once."
I looked over to where Shane was treating Jones. I've never seen Captain so…vulnerable. I remembered what Roy said about the Grand Line being the harshest sea. He's right. Our Captain, with a bounty eighty-nine million beri was strong enough to handle to Vice-Admirals at once. I shuddered to think if it had been an Admiral or if he had to fight another Vice-Admiral as well.
He might not have…
I've been thinking more and more about the Devil Fruit I found in Little Garden. With the prospect of facing even stronger opponents, the thought of having great power to defeat them at the cost of losing the ability to swim seemed pretty reasonable.
But I still couldn't bring myself to eat it.
I love this ship, I love its crew. They're like my family now. Captain is like a father to me, Roy a brother, Goji a grandfather and Cook a grumpy uncle. The thought of losing any one them is…unbearable.
If I eat the Devil Fruit, I may gain great power to protect them, but…I still couldn't find it in myself to eat it.
What should I do?
next chap coming soon
