Chapter 152 - Alabasta 21.
[Chapter Size: 2100 Words.]
Third Person POV
Alabasta, First Half of Grandline.
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After a titanic battle that shook the foundations of the Alabasta desert, the conflict between the two giants finally calmed down. The sand, previously raised in huge clouds by the fury of the combatants, now began to settle, revealing the scenery devastated by the fight. The ground was marked by deep craters, and the air still vibrated with the echo of the powerful impacts. The rebels, who had arrived with hearts full of determination and anger, now found themselves paralyzed, watching aghast at the consequences of the clash between beings of unimaginable power.
The flame giant had managed to subdue the other titan, the shock, admiration, and fear dominating the faces of the rebels as they witnessed the end of the confrontation with the two monsters disappearing. This left them cautious, as the scene of the giants fighting each other gave way to just the wind of the desert with some flames still burning in the place with several holes.
The rebels, who witnessed a power that defied reality, began to question their own position in this increasingly mysterious and fragile world. The fight had ended, but the disappearance of the giants did not calm them down, because this gave way to more doubts than what they had witnessed in this place.
"What was that? It looked like the end of the world!" One of them broke the silence, scared, rubbing his eyes trying to understand what he had just witnessed.
"I've never seen anything like it... They were giants, monsters!" Another rebel, with a pale face of fear, looks at the place where the battle occurred.
"This changes everything. How are we going to continue our attack on the capital after this?" A third rebel, worried, questions his companions, looking for answers.
"I don't think they are enemies... It looked like one was trying to stop the other." Another comments, being an observer, tries to make sense of the situation.
"But what if they come back? What if they decide to attack the cities? Can anyone stop them?" A young man, fearful, looks around to see if the others share his concern.
"We can't continue with the plan now. We need to go back and rethink our strategy." The Leader of the Rebels, with a serious and determined expression, signals to the group.
"You're right. We don't know what they are or what they want. It's better to retreat for now." A commander of the forces, agreeing with the leader, begins to move away.
Together, the rebels begin to retreat slowly, occasionally looking back at the site of the fight hoping that another giant would appear again. Many are confused, some still fearful, but all are reevaluating their position and their plans.
Luffy approaches the rebels at high speed without them noticing, and before they can react, he falls like a rocket in front of the rebel leader, who is startled trying to calm his also scared horse.
*BOOOOM!!*
"What is this?! An enemy attack?" Someone shouts.
"Yo!" A shadow appears from the raised sand, and Luffy appears with his hat on his head.
"Hm?! Who are you?!" The leader of the rebels shouts a little alarmed.
"So you're Koza? Vivi's childhood friend?" Luffy approaches nonchalantly.
"Who are you?!" He asks again, pointing his gun at Luffy.
"Such a bad mood... Well anyway, I'm stopping your attack." Luffy speaks calmly; he's not afraid of a bullet, none of that has an effect on him.
Koza was very cautious; after all that confusion with colossal monsters, this man emerges from nowhere, saying he won't make the coup anymore? But before the man could react, Luffy released his Haki; the wave expanded throughout the area, it wasn't strong enough to affect all 40,000, but 10,000 people fell to the ground kneeling while their horses collapsed unconscious.
"I see you quickly dealt with them, captain..." Hugo appeared next to Luffy, but no longer with his usual cheerful demeanor.
"Yes, but there are still 30,000 to deal with behind these..." Luffy speaks and amplifies his voice to echo through the entire army.
"I am Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. And you just saw what happened in a fight between me and another crew member."
His tone travels through the entire army, and everyone becomes aware that the giant monster was actually a man? This alarms them.
"He... he's a pirate? But that power... how is it possible for a man to become that monster?" This was the talk of many.
"I'm not here to fight you. I came to stop the conflict in Alabasta. Now, tell me, will you continue this fight knowing what you might face?"
The 30,000 who were not affected by the conqueror's Haki, exchange uncertain looks, while the 10,000 that Luffy hit with his aura, no longer had the will to fight against the pirate. Luffy's presence, combined with the reminder of the power he and Hugo demonstrated, makes them reconsider their next steps.
"We... we just want justice for our people. We've been suffering for years!" It was Koza who shouted at Luffy, even affected by the Haki and kneeling, he still raised his voice.
Luffy nods, understanding their position. He knows that more needs to be done to resolve the issues in Alabasta, but for now, he would avoid further bloodshed.
"Let me tell you some things you don't know, I defeated Crocodile. He was responsible for the drought and your suffering. We have proof of all his schemes, he wanted to become the king of Alabasta. And now, Alabasta is my territory." Luffy declares to all of them, knowing that it would not be so easily accepted with just these words.
The rebels murmur among themselves, uncomfortable and suspicious of Luffy's declaration. It was shocking enough what he told them about Crocodile and they didn't believe him. But the idea of a pirate claiming the country as his territory is something they cannot accept.
"We cannot accept this! You are a pirate, if what you said is true, what guarantees us that you won't be like Crocodile or worse?"
Luffy realizes the distrust and fear in their eyes, the concern for the future of their country is palpable. He knows that words will not be enough to convince them, so he decides to show the seriousness of his determination and the weight of his authority.
"I'm not like Crocodile. I protect what's mine. I don't want to rule you, but as long as Alabasta is my territory, I'll protect it. From other pirates, from the Marines, from anyone who threatens its peace. That I promise."
"I am a pirate. I do what I want. I'm warning you for one reason only: Vivi asked me. Otherwise..."
His voice becomes graver, and he raises his hand, where a small flame begins to dance in his palm. Using his Moa Moa no Mi ability, he increases the intensity of the flame, which grows and transforms into a colossal fireball. The rebels look up, terrified, as the fireball illuminates Luffy's face with a sinister glow.
"...I wouldn't have so much patience."
With a quick and precise movement, Luffy launches the giant fireball into the sky. It rises, a burning star against the blue of the desert, before exploding in a thunderous boom that echoes for miles. The explosion is a spectacle of light and sound, a demonstration of power that leaves an indelible mark on the desert horizon.
The rebels, startled by this, realize that this pirate's power could annihilate the entire army. Who could fight against that?
"I could end your coup with this, but I'm doing a favor to a crewmate, but don't test me, if it's to maintain peace in this country, I'll eliminate all of you. I'm not saying your lives will continue the same, but wait a few more days, all the truth will be revealed and without Crocodile and his schemes, the rain will return to the country."
"..." A silence began to echo through the rebel army, not wanting to face what they had just witnessed.
"I give up! I don't want to be part of this coup!"
"Yes, if you speak the truth, we don't want to fight anymore!"
"I surrender!"
"Please, spare us, I don't want to die like this!"
"We... understand. Alabasta is now under your protection." Koza finally spoke, kneeling, struggling to face Luffy and speak.
Luffy, satisfied with the response, extinguishes the last flames from his hand and looks up at the sky, where the smoke from the explosion still lingers.
"Good. As long as nobody threatens the peace of Alabasta, there won't be any problems. But if someone tries... I'll be here."
With that, Luffy looks at Hugo. "Let's go back, I'm heading to the capital to resolve Crocodile's last schemes, and you," Luffy turned back to the rebel leader, "wait a few more days, you'll know I'm telling the truth anyway." He starts jumping into the air with Hugo following him back to the Black Pearl, leaving the rebels behind to contemplate all they saw and heard in this place.
As Luffy approached the Black Pearl with Hugo, the silhouette of the ship stands out against the desert horizon. Onboard, the crew has already noticed them and gather on the deck to receive Luffy and Hugo. Chopper, the crew's doctor, is particularly eager to check on Hugo's condition after seeing him behind Luffy, injured with a broken arm.
"Luffy, how is he? What happened out there?"
"Hahaha. We fought in that form, and I went a little overboard." Luffy scratches his head.
"Luffy... being Luffy..." Lami mocks.
"Come on, my doctor. I also took a nice punch, how about you take care of me?" Luffy smiles approaching Lami.
"Your womanizing captain, I know exactly what you want, get lost!" Lami yells at Luffy.
Some laugh at this interaction.
"Nee... It seems everything turned out alright in the end, that's great!" Hachi seems to be crying with joy.
"Hey, Luffy! What was that explosion a little while ago, did you deal with the rebel army? You didn't create a massacre transformed into that monster, did you?" Vivi approaches Luffy anxiously and demands answers.
Luffy looks at Vivi, his usual smile appearing on his face. He knows his actions may have been extreme, but they were necessary to ensure Alabasta's safety and assert his presence as a force to be reckoned with.
"That was just a bit of what I can do. I wanted everyone to know that Alabasta is under my protection now. And about the rebels, well, I just showed them that it's not worth challenging me."
Vivi absorbs Luffy's words, she knows his actions are controversial, but she can't deny that he managed to achieve something that seemed impossible and when he says he ended the coup, she trusts him.
"You really overdo it, but I can't deny it was amazing, Luffy, even if many don't understand your methods." She admitted with a blush on her face and then asks, "But is it over, is Alabasta now out of danger?"
"We just need to disclose the evidence against Crocodile, but we'll do that when we are in the capital, I doubt the marines will stand still after finding out we are holding a vice admiral, they'll try to rescue him and we'll make that exchange at that moment." Luffy declares and Vivi nods.
"Thank you, Luffy..." Vivi speaks with some tears in her eyes, thinking that it's finally ending.
"No need to thank me, Vivi. That's what crewmates do, right?" Luffy crosses his arms.
Everyone in the crew looks at that with a smile on their face, as they agreed with the captain.
"So to the capital, Luffy?" Usopp asked.
"Yes, Hachi direct us to the capital, just follow the vivre card of Nami I gave you." Luffy instructed and the fish-man accepted.
"Look Megalo, we are finally going to see Vivi's home!" Shirahoshi exclaims happily.
"Sharky!"
"Kaooooooo!"
"Karoo is also missing home..." Vivi looks at her duck with a happy smile.
"Shall we train, Luffy?" Kuina asked, knowing they didn't have much to do here.
"Sure, we have some time before we reach the capital, we can't waste it, can we?" Luffy smiles and everyone goes to the training room after stabilizing the Black Pearl in the direction of the capital.
The Black Pearl continues its journey, leaving behind the desert and the tumultuous events. With this, the crew went to train and strengthen again, knowing that finally, Alabasta may be at peace for now.
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