Chapter 101: Ralph: I Will Not Die!
The order was given.
The remaining warships of the 8th Branch began adjusting their formation, closing in to surround the Merry and the headquarters vessel.
The dark muzzles of cannons once again aimed at new targets.
Tashigi stood at the bow of the headquarters ship, watching the approaching 8th Branch warships, her face pale.
She had already identified herself earlier, demanding a ceasefire.
But the response she received... was more cannon fire.
"They really... intend to attack us..."
"Petty Officer! What do we do now?!"
A nearby Navy soldier asked anxiously.
Tashigi gritted her teeth.
She drew Shigure from her waist, the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"Prepare for close-quarters combat."
Her voice finally steadied, "If they choose to betray justice... then we, as the Navy, shall carry out justice!"
"Yes!"
...
Meanwhile, on the Going Merry.
Nami watched the encircling warships, her expression grim.
"They want to silence all of us."
Nami whispered, "For the secret of the Sennenryu..."
"Then let them try!"
Lufia's voice rang out.
She stood at the bow, her straw hat now properly worn, water droplets still on her face, but her eyes had regained their usual brightness and determination.
"Want to kill all of us? Want to kill Ralph?"
Lufia clenched her fists, "I absolutely won't allow it!"
The moment her words fell, she pushed off the ground with both feet.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
Her body compressed like a spring.
"—Rocket!"
"Whoosh—!"
She shot forward like a human cannonball, crashing into the nearest 8th Branch warship.
She landed solidly on the deck.
Several Navy soldiers standing there were sent flying.
Lufia stood up, dusted herself off, then grinned.
"Alright—"
She flexed her wrists, "Now it's my turn to fight back."
Her actions were like a shot of adrenaline, boosting the morale of everyone on the Merry.
"Miss Lufia has charged ahead!"
Usopp shouted, "We can't fall behind either!"
"Nami!"
Sanji looked at the Navigator, "Pull alongside! Prepare for boarding!"
"Understood!"
Nami gripped the helm tightly, "Everyone, hold on!"
The Merry adjusted its course, no longer evading, but instead actively ramming toward the nearest warship.
The Navy soldiers on that warship clearly hadn't expected the Merry to charge at them and panicked.
"Th-they want to go down with us?!"
"Turn quickly! Evade!"
"It's too late—!"
"Crash!"
The two ships collided solidly.
The hulls shook violently.
And at the moment of impact—
Two figures leaped from the Going Merry.
Zoro and Sanji.
One landed on the warship's port side, the other on the starboard.
"Three Sword Style: Oni Giri!"
"Diable Jambe: Première Hachis!"
Blades and kicks flashed.
The Navy soldiers on the deck fell in droves before they could react.
"W-we took out one ship!"
Usopp cheered from the Going Merry.
"Don't let your guard down!"
Nami yelled, "There are more coming!"
Indeed.
More warships were closing in.
Lufia rampaged across the enemy ship, her rubber fists sending Navy soldiers flying like bowling pins wherever they struck.
Zoro and Sanji were like two sharp blades, piercing into the enemy ranks, unstoppable.
Usopp provided long-range support with his slingshot.
Nami steered the Merry, weaving through the gaps between the Navy ships like an agile fish.
For a moment, she actually managed to confuse the Eighth Branch's warships.
Meanwhile, Lufia, after sending another wave of Navy soldiers flying, suddenly looked up.
Her gaze locked onto the largest flagship in the distance.
It fixed on the obese figure standing at the bow, holding binoculars and shouting something arrogantly.
"..."
A flash of anger sparked in Lufia's eyes.
"You're the one who gave the order to fire and knocked Ralph into the sea, aren't you?"
She pushed off the ground, her rubber legs stretching to their limit.
"Damn fat pig—"
"Give Ralph back to me—!!!"
"Gomu Gomu no—"
Her body compressed like a spring to its extreme.
"—Rocket!!!"
"Whoosh—!!!"
This launch was more powerful than any before.
Faster, stronger.
Like a real cannonball, she shot straight toward the flagship.
But just as she was about to land on the flagship's deck—
A fierce gust of wind suddenly swept through.
Carried within it were countless invisible, sharp slashes.
"Swish swish swish—!!!"
The slashes cut across Lufia's body.
Her rubber skin was sliced open, blood splattering.
"Ugh!"
Lufia grunted, losing her balance mid-air and crashing heavily onto the deck.
She struggled to get up, but her wounds bled, slowing her movements.
"Oh? So this is the 30 million Berry Straw Hat Girl?"
A hoarse voice rang out.
Lufia looked up.
She saw a man in a white uniform, wearing goggles, slowly approaching.
Eric.
He stood in front of Nelson, blocking the path between Lufia and Nelson.
"Looking at you..."
Eric slicked back his spiky hair, "Not that impressive."
He raised his hand, fingers spread, aiming at Lufia.
"Kama Kama no Mi—"
Invisible slashes gathered once more.
"Tsumujikaze."
"Whoosh—!!!"
Denser and sharper than before, the slashes whistled toward her.
Lufia gritted her teeth, crossing her arms in front of her, trying to cover them with Armament Haki—
But she wasn't skilled enough yet.
Too slow to cover, too little area protected.
Just as the slashes were about to hit—
At that moment.
"Splash!"
A figure suddenly burst out from beneath the sea.
Like a flying fish leaping from the waves, sending spray everywhere.
Then, he landed steadily in front of Lufia.
The incoming slashes.
"Clang clang clang—!!!"
The slashes struck the figure's back squarely.
But instead of the sound of flesh being cut, it was the clang of metal colliding.
The figure didn't budge.
The slashes were completely blocked.
Eric's face changed.
Nelson's jaw dropped.
And Lufia—
She stared at the familiar figure, her eyes widening bit by bit.
"...?"
Ralph looked at Lufia, at her bleeding wounds, a flicker of heartache in his eyes.
But soon, that heartache was replaced by a gentle smile.
"Yeah," Ralph said softly, "I'm back."
"Ralph—!!!"
Lufia could hold back no longer, throwing herself forward to hug him tightly.
So tight, as if afraid he might disappear again.
Ralph hugged her back, gently patting her back.
"I knew it..."
Lufia's voice trembled with tears, "I knew you wouldn't die..."
"Of course not."
Ralph's voice was soft, yet firm.
"I promised you I'd help you achieve your dream. How could I die before that?"
"..."
Lufia looked at him, her eyes sparkling.
"It's only been a few days, but you seem stronger..."
She reached out and poked his arm.
"And harder too."
Ralph smiled.
"Of course."
He said,
"If I didn't get harder, how could I protect you?"
But Lufia's brow furrowed.
"No."
She shook her head, her expression turning serious.
"Ralph, I order you—"
She puffed out her chest, striking a captain's pose.
"—Don't do such dangerous things again from now on!"
Ralph was taken aback.
"I am the captain!"
Lufia said loudly, "I should be the one protecting my crew!"
Her voice was loud and earnest.
There wasn't a hint of joking in her eyes.
Ralph looked at her for several seconds.
Then, he smiled.
It was a warm smile, welling up from the depths of his heart.
"Alright."
He said softly, "I promise you."
"That's more like it!"
Lufia nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Eric, who was still lying on the deck.
"Oh right, this guy—"
She clenched her fist, stretching her rubber arm back.
"—Dared to hurt me, and even attacked my crew!"
"Gomu Gomu no—"
Her arm compressed to its limit.
"—Rocket!!!"
"Whoosh—!!!"
A solid punch landed squarely on Eric.
Eric didn't even have time to scream before his entire body shot out like a cannonball.
He flew high and far.
Drawing a long arc through the air, then—he became a star!
Ralph watched this scene, opening his mouth as if to say something.
But in the end, he didn't speak.
He could only watch helplessly as the Kama Kama no Mi flew away.
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