Chapter 24: Two Who Like to Laugh
Tiger grew increasingly confused about "humans."
More precisely, he didn't understand "Alvin Vergil."
The man could actually argue with a child! Ridiculously childish.
Yet the words he'd roared left Tiger deep in thought.
He really didn't understand…
The two walked a short distance before Vergil shook off Tiger's grip.
"Hold on."
Vergil flexed his ankles, then stomped the ground hard.
BOOM!
A subtle tremor spread outward.
Tiger felt the ground shake—not violently like an earthquake, but a delicate, controlled vibration.
Another one of his Devil Fruit abilities?
"Much harder than tearing earth apart."
Vergil murmured. The segmented patterns in his pupils rotated slowly as he tried to activate his power as "gently" as possible.
"Destroy the ground from multiple angles… break down and reconstruct… alter the terrain…"
As he spoke, the surrounding earth rose. Several "stalagmites" of packed soil sprouted upward, spreading through the residential area.
Collapsed floors were propped up. Even the boy who'd yelled at Vergil found his ruined house supported by two hard earthen pillars.
At least the people here wouldn't sleep exposed while waiting for repairs.
Vergil, thoughtful, asked Tiger offhandedly, "If I speed up the spread and sharpen the tips… could I step and sprout a whole field of earthen spikes?"
"…"
What kind of nonsense is this?
Tiger felt overwhelmed. Vergil's thoughts leaped wildly. One moment he was here, the next somewhere else entirely.
But overall… he didn't dislike what this human did.
Alvin Vergil wasn't a bad person…
Vergil and Tiger crossed Grove 32, finally finding a direct route to the port.
The shelling continued.
Celestial Dragon Saint Lorvim was more temperamental than his elder brother, with a particular fondness for heavy firepower. His CP guards were equipped with powerful portable artillery, used without regard for civilians.
For a time, Sabaody Archipelago was baptized by explosions. Deafening booms echoed everywhere.
Though Fish-Men were physically superior to humans, they were still flesh and blood. Their defense was far below Vergil's Chīguǐ form.
Whoosh—
BOOM! BOOM!
After weathering two stray shells, Vergil and Tiger quickened their pace.
Along the way, Vergil grew quieter, as if remembering something. Tiger didn't disturb him.
What was Vergil remembering?
A long, long time ago, when he was still an unconscious statue, he vaguely recalled being transported somewhere…
Ohara.
Yes, the long-lost archaeological holy land!
On that island, Vergil had witnessed shelling dozens of times more intense than this—the "Buster Call."
Ohara vanished from the sea because of it.
Vergil, along with countless ancient texts, had been submerged by Oharan scholars to preserve them from fire and shelling.
Of course, as stone, Vergil was as hard as a Poneglyph, impervious to fire. The scholars' real concern was the paper documents.
Looking back…
"Such a vague, unpleasant memory."
Vergil rubbed his temples, then casually caught another incoming shell and hurled it back at a distant CP guard.
BOOM!
The explosion bloomed. Vergil and Tiger emerged from the smoke, pressing onward.
But as they neared the port, a squad of Marines suddenly charged toward them.
"Tch…" Tiger clenched his fists, ready to engage.
Yet when they met, the Marines didn't attack. They rushed past Vergil and Tiger, heading the other way.
Tiger: "?"
Before he could process it, he saw Vergil also run toward the Marines!
Tiger: "??"
Fortunately, no fight broke out. Tiger stopped to observe.
The Marine squad rushed to the ruins of a collapsed tavern and began digging.
"Quick! Several people trapped under the bar! Help!"
Civilians were buried in the wreckage.
The Marines' current orders: priority to rescuing civilians, then pursuing fugitives.
So even face-to-face with the two "instigators" of the chaos, they chose the higher-priority task.
Soon, most debris was cleared. Only two massive, thick floor slabs remained, pinning the tavern's remnants.
"Damn! Too heavy to move!"
"Hurry! Next bombardment's coming!"
"…"
The Marines strained together, but the double-layered slabs wouldn't budge.
"Call for backup! Now!"
As the squad leader reached for his Den Den Mushi, two dark figures suddenly appeared—one on each side of the slabs.
Both were burly. Both extended large hands, gripped the slabs, and heaved.
Crunch…
The enormous, thickened steel slabs were lifted easily, like chocolate bars stuck to ice cream.
"Th-Thank… you?"
The squad leader looked around… and saw two people he never expected.
The one on the left: a brawny old man with gray hair, a scar on his face, a wide grin, and a Marine Justice cloak.
The one on the right: reddish-brown skin, scarlet eyes, sharp teeth—less human, more like a legendary "demon."
A coincidence?
The squad leader recognized them both.
The former: "Naval Hero" Garp.
The latter: Alvin Vergil, the core of this entire riot.
Logically, they should be mortal enemies. Yet here they were, working together to save lives.
"…"
The squad leader fell silent.
He had a very bad feeling.
Fortunately, both Garp and Vergil seemed unhurried.
Garp cheerfully urged the freed civilians, "AH HAHAHA! Get to safety! The Marine base is still secure!"
"…"
Vergil, meanwhile, waved to the surrounding Marines. "You all… step back a bit."
"…"
"A bit more. Still too close. Yes… just a little farther."
"…"
Soon, within a radius of about a hundred meters, only Garp and Vergil remained, both still holding the "lightweight" floor slabs.
They faced each other, breathing silently.
An indescribable tension spread between them, distorting the very air, blurring the space around them.
Garp grinned.
Vergil bared his fangs in a smile.
"Hey!"
Someone—who knew who—laughed first. It became the signal.
THUMP!
Two fists—left and right—shot out simultaneously. The sound of breaking air condensed into one.
Then—
They slammed into each other's faces.
BOOM!
The impact dwarfed any artillery blast.
The storm erupts.
(End of Chapter)
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