Chapter 29 : Last Moment

A few minutes after having a video chat with Kyel Sin, Embra shakes his head to clear unnecessary thoughts and apologize to Miss Lopez who is unconsciously gripping hard at the wheel with both hands. He first tries to make her relax but, talking about the container at the port. As he expected, the car 'Chandra' is in that container. At first, Miss Lopez is flustered at her sloppy job because even though she prepared other fake containers in other ports, the real one was caught by someone.

Embra laughs, then explains to her that any kind of goods that arrive at ports in Japan cannot escape her hand and if she wanted to, the container could have disappeared without a trace and without anyone knowing. After that, he tries to make Miss Lopez relax and comfortable with him while talking about random topics that before they know it, they are already at the toll gate to enter Tokyo city.

Half an hour after arriving at Tokyo, Embra and Miss Lopez reach in front of the huge stadium where the signing event of the final volume of 'One Pi*ce' manga will be held. The creator himself will sign the last volume and give them as gifts as thanks to all the readers who have supported him so far. It is also the longest and biggest manga book of 'One Pi*ce' ever published. So, not only Embra, all the fans are waiting in front of the stadium eagerly since noon.

Even though the event will only start at 4:30 p.m, all the fans are here since noon and waiting in front of the stadium eagerly for the event. Even though the first signing event from '9 a.m to 1:00 p.m' has finished, there are still many people here waiting for the event. And, if one looks closely one can even see foreigners.

Embra changes his clothes and takes off his bulletproof clothes which he usually didn't because he is going to a signing event. He has already assigned his men around this area. So, there is no danger. Trusting his subordinates, Embra changes into casual clothes and wear a think coat.

"Woah... So, many people. I heard, thousand of people attend the first event but, there are still more?" (Lopez)

"Oya. Miss Lopez, are you underestimating the popularity of that manga. Wait a minute. Don't tell me you haven't ever read that manga before -" (Embra)

"Boss. I am not that ignorant. Of course, I have read 'One Pi*ce'. It is my favourite too." (Lopez)

"Ahaha. Is that so. I am glad. You know, there was ... " (Embra)

Embra continues to talks with Miss Lopez while walking towards the stadium. They are going to enter from the back door because Embra has already prepared a meeting with the creator of 'One Pi*ce' before they even start. No matter how big of a fan is Embra to the manga, he doesn't have enough patience to stand in line just to get a signed manga. So, he has already prepared beforehand.

*Crash*

While Embra and Miss Lopez are crossing through the road and heading to the back of the stadium, a loud crash sounded from not far away from where they are. Embra unconsciously turns around and shield Miss Lopez. He searches for the source of the sound and sees that one small van is accelerating without slowing down even though there is a stopping sign.

Embra sees that the driver is panicking while five or so students in the van are frightened and crying. He immediately comes to a conclusion that the van no longer has a mean to stop or turn itself. His body moves even though he has no concrete plan. If he let it be, the van would collide with the wall of a building and so, he runs towards the left side of the van.

He stops for a second and runs again towards the left side of the van. This time, he runs with all his might. He takes advantage of his large physique and calculates the weak part of the van. He shouted,

"Hold tight to something." (Embra)

And, with precise calculation and timing, he crashes into the speeding van with his whole body. The left side of the van is lifted from the ground about a foot; focusing its entire weight on the right side of the vehicle. A female student shouted from inside

"Jump to the right. Now !!!". (Female Student)

The student from the left side of the van followed suite and let go whatever they are holding and jumped to the right side of the van. Now that all the weight is on the right side, the van is completely turned over to right side and fall on the ground. Glass shattered and the agony and cries of pain from the students can be heard from the van.

Still, the van is not stopped because it still has its speed. Embra who crash into the van fall on the ground; could not hold onto anything. Three brave men with muscle run out of the crowd and with loud shouts, they stop the van from crashing into the building and explode.

Embra runs behind the van and grabbed the axis of the rear wheels which was a big mistake. His hands are burning from intense heat but he endured and stopped the van by slowing down the speed with his legs strongly kicking the ground. The underside of his shoes are becoming thin from the frictions. Still, he endured and endured to stop the van. Together with the three brave men at the front of the van, Embra shouted,

" STOPPPP .!!!" (Everyone)

The van slowed down and stopped before it hit the building. The three men are now stuck between the van and the building but, they still have space to escape. Embra jumped on the van immediately and break the glasses after checking that the student is covering his back and head with a backpack.

"Don't panic everyone. It will be all right. Now, come here, I will pull you up. Leave everything behind and come to me. Be careful not to step on your friends Ok. I will pull up all of you." (Embra)

He doesn't have time to be afraid or think of anything else, helping these children takes priority in his mind because the van is almost going to explode. That is all he has in mind. The people-watching from afar also woke up from their daze expression and quickly come near the turned up van. Embra helped each of the student to get out one by one.

The three men also help Embra after they pull out the driver. After all the eight kids are brought out by Embra and the men, the last student who is left alone shouted for help.

"Help me, uncle. My leg is stuck. Help.." (A female student)

He immediately jumped inside the van and go near the female student while taking extra care not to step on the bench where her leg was stuck under.

"Don't worry, I am coming. Stay calm. You will be alright." (Embra)

Smiling to reassure her, he walks carefully and helped her leg get out of the bench. Seeing the injury and blood on one of the legs, Embra looks at the girl who looks like it is taking she has to endure the pain. Embra praises the girl for not crying out loud and proceeds to carry her on his back. He let the girl hug him from his back.

"Hold me tight." (Embra)

While piggybacking her, he comes out of the van which the crowd cheers for. Amidst the cheering, Embra jumped down and made her let go of her hands on his neck.

"Be careful and let me go, I will carry you, princess." (Embra)

The girl let him go and he carries her like a princess. Everyone is already gone far back from the van and they are the last. The firetrucks are coming this way noisily. He smiled and tell her,

"See, You gonna be alrig-" (Embra)

As soon as he finished saying that, the van exploded. Embra and the three men, who was the closest to the explosion was blown away for a meter. As soon as he heard the sound, Embra hugs the girl tight in his embrace, protecting her from harm. Embra falls on the ground with his knee and his knees are badly injured. But, Embra put his hand on his left chest and ask the girl in his hand while smiling gently,

"Are you alright?" (Embra)

"I .. I am o.kay.." (The girl)

"You are so brave. Good girl." (Embra)

The girl answered weakly while Embra let her down on the ground slowly. His left hand is still on his chest and he turns the girl's head towards the front where a woman is coming. Embra tells the woman to take care of the girl's leg and let the woman carry the girl.

"Take care of her. Her legs are badly injured." (Embra)

"Yes. You too. Please hold on. An ambulance is near." (The woman)

"Thank you.. Oh. " (Embra)

Embra thanks the woman and before she turns around, Embra tells her by only moving his lips. The woman eyes widen in the understanding of his words and were about to shouts but, Embra stops her by pointing towards the girl. The woman is reluctant but, she is not unwilling to stay quiet and shout about Embra's condition but, Embra shakes his head.

The woman bites her lips and nods strongly while her eyes becoming watery. She holds the girls lower and pushes the girl's face close to her chest so that she does not see the state Embra is in. The girl struggle in the woman's hands but, the woman does not let go of her hand on the back of the girl's head and keep the girl close to her chest. Tears are falling on her cheeks and a man's shouts can be heard from behind.

"OI. YOU !!! SOMEONE HElP. Someone !!" (The Man)

One of the three men who take the explosion head-on, together with Embra and get out with a light scratch and a deaf ear is shouting loudly seeing the back of Embra. Pieces of metals are lodging on to Embra's back and blood is flowing. But, more than that, Embra's left side is screwed by a large piece of metal which also screwed his heart. Embra himself knows his state and that is why he told the woman with his lips movements,

"Don't . Let . Her . See" (Embra's lip movement)

Embra looks down to his left chest where a piece of metal is protruding from and laugh dryly. He is in a lot of pain. His back is burned by the heat of the explosion and there are also many other metals lodged onto his back. His knees and legs are also bleeding from the speed he was flown onto and among all of the pain, he can clearly feel the metal that is screwing his heart and along with it, indescribable immerse pain.

But, What Embra is thinking about is something else. He thinks about how it was unlucky for him to be in front of the van's engine which is the centre of the explosion and how it was unlucky for him to die before he knows the end of 'One Pi*ce'. But, they were just trivial matters. There is one thing Embra is most regretted about,

'Keinnayi ... I am sorry I could not go on a trip with you anymore...I love you, Keinnayi. With all my heart. ... I wonder will there be another life for me... HAaha. ... I love you guys too. Sethar and Kyel Si..n.. -' (Embra's thought)

Embra's thoughts ended there and he breathed his last breath. Life extinguished from his eyes and Embra embrace death on 3:22 p.m of 11th October 2025.

{AN: English is not my mother language so, I can not explain in ways you guys will understand but, in my language, there are many kinds of usage for the word 'love'. Embra used the first love in (Ai) Love or affection for the opposite gender. Lovers in short. || And then, Embra used the second form in (Suki) Love for siblings, friends, preferences, flavour... etc. Something like that. Hope you can understand}