Chapter 54: Clash of Wills
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
Emi finally arrived at the scene of the confrontation, her breath ragged after a frantic sprint. Chaos stretched out before her: Cipher Pol agents were locked in a fierce battle against the revolutionaries, while pirates from Lazon's crew clashed with both groups indiscriminately. Amid the pandemonium, Emi spotted a familiar figure. Koala was fighting, her movements sharp and precise.
Koala, alerted by Emi's sudden arrival, dodged an attack before turning to her, surprise flashing across her features. "Emi!? What are you doing here?" she called, breathless but visibly relieved to see a familiar face.
Emi moved closer, just enough to be heard above the tumult. "I ran into Sabo and Robin earlier. I'm here for the same reasons as you." Her tone was firm, her gaze sharp. She quickly scanned the area, searching for a specific target. "I'll deal with Cipher Pol."
Koala frowned but didn't press further, sensing that something important was at stake. "Be careful," was all she said before returning to her fight, her movements fluid and graceful.
Emi pushed forward through the battlefield, her mind completely focused. She didn't have to search for long. A figure emerged from the thick smoke rising from the battlefield, dark and imposing despite the flashes of light from nearby explosions. She recognized him instantly: the owl agent. His arrogant stance, his calculated stride... everything about him reignited a burning anger she had learned to contain but never to forget.
Her heart quickened—not out of fear, but with a cold, controlled fury. The last time she had faced him, he had escaped, leaving her with the bitter taste of failure. That memory had haunted her nights, fueling a newfound determination. This time, there would be no escape, no excuses.
The agent suddenly turned his head, as though sensing her presence despite the surrounding chaos. His piercing yellow eyes met hers, and a sly smile curled across his lips. "You..." he murmured, his raspy, mocking voice barely audible over the din. Yet his expression alone conveyed his recognition.
Emi clenched her fists, her muscles taut like a bowstring ready to snap. She stepped forward slowly, each footfall pounding in her ears like the beat of a war drum—a silent declaration that this time, she would not back down.
"You won't escape me," she muttered to herself, her eyes locked onto the man who had once eluded her. Around them, the bedlam seemed to blur into insignificance, leaving only two adversaries poised for battle.
"Still meddling in things you don't understand, aren't you?" The agent taunted, his cruel smile widening as he took a step forward. His wings extended slightly in a theatrical gesture, the feathers gleaming ominously in the dim light. "But this time, I won't be so merciful."
Emi advanced without hesitation, her focus unwavering. She drew her electric lance, spinning it deftly in her hand before leveling it at him. The weapon crackled with arcs of electricity, the energy illuminating her face with a fierce glow.
She didn't bother responding to his taunts. Words were unnecessary. Every movement, every breath, conveyed her purpose: she was here to fight him, and nothing would stop her.
.~~~~
In the abandoned house serving as a temporary base for the revolutionaries, the atmosphere was tense. The peeling walls echoed the sound of Ambre's pacing as she clutched a note in her hand. She reread Emi's message, delivered by Coco, for what felt like the hundredth time, her expression wavering between frustration and worry.
"She's already on the floating islets," she muttered. "What is she thinking? We agreed to wait until tonight!"
Despite her irritation, Ambre couldn't deny the truth: Emi wasn't one to act recklessly. She crumpled the note slightly in her palm, letting out a heavy sigh. "I hope she knows what she's doing."
Sabo, leaning against the frame of a broken window, was calmly surveying the surrounding alleys. He shifted his gaze toward Ambre.
"If she left early, she must have a good reason," he said in a soothing tone.
Ambre turned to him, crossing her arms. "I know. But that doesn't make me any less worried. If she's out there alone and runs into Cipher Pol agents before we get there..." She trailed off, shaking her head as if to dispel an unpleasant thought. "If we don't move quickly, she could get overwhelmed. And I can't accept that."
A long silence followed. Sabo remained leaning against the window, his gaze lost in the streets below. He let out a deep sigh, as though trying to release the weight of a responsibility he would have preferred to avoid. But he knew he had no choice.
He gestured to one of the revolutionaries standing near the door. "Tell Koala. We can't wait any longer—we're heading for the laboratory immediately."
The revolutionary nodded and disappeared down the hallway.
Sabo turned back to Ambre, his expression resolute. "For now, let's focus on the primary objective. The laboratory is our priority, and with any luck, Emi will have already created an opening for us."
Ambre nodded, grabbing her bag filled with scientific tools and adjusting her jacket. "Let's hope so."
Within minutes, the small group of revolutionaries had gathered at the house's entrance. Sabo took the lead, his metal staff strapped to his back. He cast a final glance at Ambre and Robin, who nodded in return, and together, they set off toward the floating islets.
.~~~~
Outside, Emi leaped toward Cipher pol agent, her spear slicing through the air as she targeted precise points on his body. The man dodged skillfully, beating his wings to propel himself backward and avoid her strike.
"Do you really think you can take me down, kid?" he taunted. "Last time, you failed miserably, and today won't be any different."
But Emi wasn't fazed. This time, she knew his weaknesses and movements and had a plan to counter his attacks. She anticipated his next dodge, leaping again and striking from a different angle. The agent cursed, caught off guard by her speed and determination. This wasn't the same opponent as before—he could feel it.
They engaged in a deadly dance, each move countered by the other, every attack narrowly avoided. Despite her calm exterior, Emi felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
She aimed for vulnerable nerve points, hoping to paralyze him momentarily. But with each strike, she encountered an unexpected resistance. The Owl-Man's physique had changed—his muscles were reinforced by a structure she didn't recognize. Emi cursed under her breath. Damn Devil Fruit.
But she wasn't without resources. She jumped back, her hand slipping into her pouch, fingertips brushing against a small collection of bombs. If his flesh is too tough to reach his nerves, then maybe a little fire and sulfur will soften him up, she thought, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
The Owl-Man, realizing she was preparing something, abruptly beat his wings, creating a powerful gust of wind that threw Emi backward. She stumbled, her spear almost slipping from her hand, but she regained her balance at the last moment, diving to the ground to avoid his next attack. Her slide was smooth, almost graceful. The Owl-Man slammed down where she had been, his sharp talons gouging the earth, but she was already gone.
Using her momentum, Emi skillfully planted a small bomb between her opponent's talons, where it latched securely to his leg. The agent glared at her furiously, but Emi leapt back to her feet, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"You're going to love this one," she murmured, blowing on her whistle to trigger the explosion.
The detonation echoed through the air, and the Owl-Man let out a pained screech as the force of the blast sent him tumbling backward. Scorched feathers scattered into the wind, and his gaze darkened, filled with even more fury.
Emi prepared to launch another attack, but suddenly, the Owl-Man's body began to change. Right before her eyes, he shifted further, transforming into his full giant owl form. He now loomed even larger, his feathers bristling with menace and his eyes glowing with an almost primal rage.
"Shit," Emi muttered, taking a cautious step back. She had completely forgotten that Zoans had multiple forms, and this one promised to be far more formidable.
.~~~~
Meanwhile, Sabo, Robin, and Ambre had entered the laboratory, confronting a visibly frightened scientist whose expression betrayed a faint but poorly concealed arrogance. Robin remained silent, her arms crossed as she scanned every corner of the room, ready to act if things escalated. Ambre, however, showed far less patience.
"Let's start from the beginning," she said sharply. "What exactly is the chemical composition of this drug? I want a complete list of the ingredients, their proportions, and their origin."
The scientist muttered under his breath, trying to avoid her gaze, but Ambre stepped closer, her tone growing firmer. She continued, not giving him a chance to respond:
"I want to know how it's synthesized. The precise steps, the necessary machinery, the temperature, the solvents. And most importantly, is it all produced here, or is this only part of the process?"
"Ha! You think you can understand? You amateurs!" he scoffed, his eyes glinting with a hint of madness. "This drug… it's a masterpiece! A chemical symphony your limited minds could never—"
Ambre, exasperated, grabbed him by the collar of his lab coat with surprising strength. She shook him like an old rug, her disheveled hair adding to her furious appearance.
"A symphony, you say? Then sing me the lyrics, you clown! What are the ingredients, the steps, and the purpose of all this?!" she shouted, her face just inches from his.
Sabo, leaning casually against a console, tapped the shaft of his iron pipe lightly before saying in a deceptively calm tone, "Maybe blowing this lab sky-high will make everything much clearer."
The scientist flinched, his eyes widening in panic. "No, no, no! You're insane! If you blow up this lab, you'll—" He stopped abruptly, clearly hesitant to reveal what he was about to say.
Ambre narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing his face. "We'll what?" she snapped, her voice sharp and demanding answers.
The scientist ground his teeth, a flicker of madness glinting in his eyes. "This is my masterpiece, MY creation! This laboratory, this island… everything is under my control! You have no right to destroy it all!"
"Alright, I've had enough of your whining," she growled, releasing her grip on the scientist with a shove and turning to scour the lab. "If you won't talk, I'll find the answers myself."
Without waiting for Sabo's approval, she began rummaging through the cluttered shelves, cabinets, and crates scattered throughout the lab. Her hands sifted through scribbled papers, vials filled with strange liquids, and mechanical components she didn't recognize.
Sabo and Robin kept a watchful eye on the scientist as Ambre delved deeper into the laboratory. Eventually, her search led her to a secluded corner where a series of barrels were stacked. The barrels bore labels that were partially faded, but some warnings were still legible:
"TOXIC - AVOID CONTACT"
Ambre frowned, her instincts kicking in. She touched one of the barrels with her fingertips, noting the fine layer of dust that came off. A sharp chemical odor lingered in the air, strong enough to slightly sting her nostrils.
"This is bad," she muttered to herself before turning to the others. "Sabo! Robin! Come take a look at this."
Sabo approached, his expression hardening as he saw the barrels. "What is it?"
Ambre nodded toward the labels. "Toxic materials. And judging by the smell and their condition, I'd say a single spark could trigger a chain reaction. If this lab blows, it won't just take out the floating island—it'll contaminate the entire city below."
Robin crossed her arms. "We'll need to evacuate these barrels before doing anything else."
Before they could discuss further, the scientist burst out laughing. He had moved over to a control panel, a cruel smirk on his lips.
"Starting to understand, are you? You can't do anything without risking catastrophe. This lab is my masterpiece. And if you think I'll let you rob me of my glory—"
Ambre rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Your glory?! Do you realize you're playing with the lives of hundreds of people?"
The scientist, his face red with indignation, spat back furiously, "My research… my discovery is far more important than those insignificant human lives! I couldn't care less abou—"
Before he could finish his tirade, Robin calmly raised a hand and murmured,
"Dos Fleur."
Arms sprouted around the scientist, immobilizing his wrists and clamping his mouth shut in a firm grip. Taken by surprise, he let out a muffled grunt, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Thank you, Robin," Ambre said with a hint of sarcasm before turning to the toxic barrels. "He was really starting to get on my nerves."
Sabo, who was tapping his iron pipe against his shoulder, nodded. "We'll need reinforcements to get all this out of here before we turn this place into ashes."
He pulled out his transponder snail, quickly dialing a number. "I'm contacting the Revolutionary Army. They need to be ready to act immediately."
As Sabo made the urgent call, the scientist began to squirm, rage flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, he lunged backward and slammed his head violently against a red button on the control panel.
Robin and Sabo barely had time to react before a deafening alarm blared through the lab. Red lights started flashing, and a countdown appeared on the screens:
01:59.
"He's activated the self-destruct!" Ambre shouted, her eyes wide with shock.
Sabo gripped his iron pipe tightly, his expression dark. "We need to evacuate these barrels now. And Amber—find a way to stop that explosion!"
Ambre shot a final glare at the scientist, who was laughing maniacally, before spinning back toward the controls. Her fingers flew over the keyboards as she tried to override the system.
Time was running out, and the air grew heavier with tension as the countdown continued.
01:48…
01:47…
.~~~~
Emi gripped her spear tightly, her sharp mind already calculating her next move. Her opponent might be stronger, but she was determined not to falter this time.
The Owl-Agent, now in his massive full form, launched himself forward, his enormous body crossing the distance in an instant. Emi barely had time to react. Instinctively, she raised her spear to block the attack, but the force of the impact sent her crashing against the hangar wall. A sickening crack resonated in her ribs, and the taste of blood filled her mouth.
"Damn it... that hurts like hell…" she muttered, wiping the trail of blood from her lips with the back of her hand.
But she couldn't afford to dwell on the pain. The Owl-Agent was already swooping down on her again, his eyes ablaze with murderous intent.
She had no time to dodge. She had only one option left.
Without hesitation, Emi plunged her hand into her pouch, pulling out several small bombs that she hurled in front of her in a desperate move.
Seeing the projectiles, the Cipher Pol agent abruptly slowed down, but it was too late. The bombs exploded with a deafening roar, sending shards of metal and glass flying in every direction. The blast was so powerful that the hangar's windows shattered into a glittering rain, the fragments slicing through the air like razor blades. Emi, too close to the explosion, was caught in the shockwave and thrown to the ground, her skin seared by the intense heat.
Struggling to her feet, Emi cast a quick glance at her opponent. His feathers were half-charred, blackened remnants clinging stubbornly to his body. He looked even angrier, his eyes now narrow, blazing slits fixed on her with maniacal intensity. She realized that the injuries she had managed to inflict had only stoked his fury.
Emi staggered deeper into the hangar, slipping behind a stack of crates to hide and catch her breath. Her ribs throbbed in pain, every breath a torturous effort. She allowed herself a few precious seconds to gather her thoughts, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest.
Silence fell.
The only sound breaking the tense stillness was the rustling of the Owl-Agent's damaged feathers as he stepped into the hangar. His massive silhouette blocked out the light from outside, and faintly smoking ashes swirled around him, enhancing his menacing, infernal aura.
"You'll regret ever laying a hand on me," he growled, his deep voice reverberating with pure menace.
Curled up behind the crates, Emi clenched her jaw. She could smell the acrid stench of his burnt feathers and hear his heavy breathing. He moved slowly, methodically scanning every corner of the hangar, ready to strike at the slightest hint of movement.
She knew this would likely be her only chance. Tightening her grip on her spear and summoning every ounce of her remaining strength, she waited, her muscles coiled like those of a cornered predator.
.~~~~
Ambre, struggling to find a way to stop the countdown, impatient and enraged, grabbed the scientist's shirt collar again, shaking him violently, her face contorted with frustration. "Stop the countdown, you lunatic!"
The scientist frantically shook his head. "It's... it's designed to be irreversible! It's a flawless system, I swear!"
Ambre clenched her fists, glaring at him with a mixture of fury and disbelief. "Are you seriously telling me you can't even shut down your own system? You've got to be kidding me!"
She shot a quick glance at the timer.
00:59...
00:58...
Robin, still calm despite the escalating situation, closed her eyes briefly before extending her hand. "We don't have time to waste. If we can't stop the explosion, we must minimize the damage."
She softly murmured, "Ocho Fleur." Arms sprouted from the ground, wrapping around the barrels and rolling them out of the lab with astonishing speed.
Sabo, still holding the Den Den Mushi, barked orders to the Revolutionary Army: "Move to our location immediately! We're removing highly toxic barrels! Get them as far away as possible before this place blows!"
The transponder snail crackled before a voice replied, "Understood. We're approaching at full speed. But you'll need to buy some time."
Sabo snapped the receiver shut. "Ambre, make sure there's nothing else we need to evacuate."
Ambre nodded, helping to push a barrel that resisted Robin's efforts. Slowly but surely, the barrels were rolled out of the lab one by one, the floor trembling slightly under their hurried movements.
The timer continued its ominous countdown.
00:20...
00:19...
"Faster, damn it!" yelled Ambre, sweating under the pressure.
Robin, still focused, murmured another command, summoning even more arms to hasten their efforts. The last barrels were shoved outside, and Sabo, casting a quick glance at the timer, dashed toward Ambre.
00:05...
00:04...
"We're leaving, now!"
With a swift motion, he scooped Ambre onto his shoulder, holding her firmly as he bolted out of the lab.
00:03...
Robin, with her exceptional precision, used her Devil Fruit powers to create massive arms that grabbed the panicked scientist and dragged him toward the exit despite his frantic screams.
00:02...
00:01...
A metallic click echoed.
The laboratory erupted in a colossal explosion, a fiery cloud of debris and heat tearing through the sky. The shockwave rippled outward, knocking everyone off balance, but Sabo, with quick reflexes, wrapped his arm around Ambre to shield her from the brunt of the blast.
Robin, leveraging her Devil Fruit abilities, softened their fall by weaving a network of blooming arms that cushioned their landing.
As the smoke and heat from the explosion began to settle, Ambre coughed, struggling to sit up. She turned to look behind them, her eyes widening in horror.
More explosions followed, cascading through the floating island like a chain reaction. The structure was disintegrating with thunderous crashes, massive chunks of rock and metal collapsing into the void below. Ambre stared, paralyzed, as the debris plummeted toward the city beneath them, her heart racing with dread at the devastation about to strike.
.~~~~
Emi was on the brink, every breath a burning reminder of her broken ribs. Her mind wavered, and the merciless laughter of the Owl-Agent hammered one truth home: she was his prey. But the thought of giving up, of letting this monster triumph as he had over her father, rekindled a spark of rage and determination.
Glancing quickly around her, Emi assessed her surroundings for any possible escape. The hangar, filled with heavy, unstable metal shelves, could become her battlefield. But as she devised a plan, a distant explosion from an upper section of the island reached her ears. What was going on?
The agent seemed alerted as well, pausing briefly as his focus shifted to the sound of the blasts. Emi didn't have time to ponder further. Seizing the moment of distraction, she pulled a small bomb from her satchel and hurled it to the other end of the room, triggering a deafening explosion. Using the diversion, Emi darted out from her hiding spot, rushing toward the shelves and attaching bombs wherever she could.
But the Owl-Agent quickly spotted her. With terrifying speed, he bore down on her, his piercing eyes shattering any hope of remaining hidden. Just in time, Emi blew her whistle. A chain of explosions rippled through the hangar, the shelves collapsing in a thunderous cacophony, turning the space into a chaotic maze of twisted metal.
The shelves fell around them like a series of dominoes. One struck the Owl-Agent's shoulder, causing him to falter, but he pushed forward, seemingly unfazed by the destruction. His feathers were half-burned, his breathing labored, yet his resolve was unshaken.
Finally, his sharp talons reached her; he grabbed her by the shirt and hurled her against the concrete wall. Her head struck the cold surface with a sickening thud, and a blurry haze spread across her vision.
Damn it.
He was going to kill her.
She felt the bitter taste of helplessness consuming her.
He was going to give her the same fate as her father.
No… she couldn't give in.
Not now.
A glint of shattered glass caught her eye amidst the broken crates strewn across the floor. Among the debris, torn pouches spilled out shimmering white orbs.
She recognized it immediately—the drug.
Her gaze faltered. A hesitation. And then that same certainty.
You have no choice, Emi. It's him or you.
Do it.
Her trembling fingers tore open a pouch, and she swallowed a handful of pills, ignoring the warnings screaming within her. Every beat of her heart seemed to shout that she had sealed her fate, but regret was a luxury she couldn't afford.
Within seconds, a searing heat ignited in her body. Her muscles tightened, and the pain vanished as if swept away by an overwhelming current of foreign energy—an unfathomable strength she had never known.
It was… powerful. Too powerful.
The Owl-Agent, convinced it was over, lunged at her one last time, ready to deliver a fatal blow. Emi rose from the ground with surprising agility, sensing her Haki—this buried force she had never managed to master—begin to surge within her. She didn't have time to understand it, but in that instant, everything was clear.
Emi clenched her fist, channeling every ounce of power the drug and her awakening Haki could offer.
Strike. For him.
And then, she struck.
Her Haki-infused fist slammed into the Owl-Agent's abdomen with devastating force. The impact hurled him into the glass ceiling above, which shattered in an explosion of glittering fragments.
Still focused, Emi threw one last glance at him, refusing to let her guard down. With precision and controlled rage, she launched her Haki-charged spear straight at her target. The spear sliced through the air, impaling the agent, who, with one last cry of pain, fell into the void beyond the shattered ceiling's debris.
Emi stood motionless, her muscles trembling from the drug and adrenaline, watching as the sky darkened with glass shards and blackened feathers that rained down in a macabre shower around her.
It was over.
She wanted to convince herself it was finished, but her body refused to let her savor the bitter victory. A violent nausea swept over her, and she vomited, unable to hold back the flood.
Damn it.
She staggered and collapsed heavily to the ground, feeling a cold wave engulf her. Her fingers uselessly grasped at the floor, searching for something to cling to in a world that seemed determined to pull her into the abyss.
Why did I do this...
The pills. She had surely exceeded the dose a human body could withstand. But in the heat of the moment, what else could she have done? The acrid smell of bile and dust twisted her stomach further, and she felt a dark veil slowly descend over her vision.
The effects of the drug seemed to already be dissipating, and waves of pain surged through her body like searing lightning, each pulse of her heart amplifying the unbearable agony.
Her thoughts were growing fuzzier, but one certainty solidified in her mind: she had avenged her father.
He would have been proud, right? Even if I wasn't ready... even if I destroyed myself for it...
A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she accepted her fate. She was going to join him, where he rested. She never could have imagined ending up like this, on a floating island at the edge of the world, far from everything she had ever known. Her vision blurred, and she slowly closed her eyes, ready to surrender to the end.
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
To be continued...