Chapter 60: The Man with the Bamboo Cane
Law writhed on the ground, agony coursing through his body with each squeeze of his heart. He forced his head up, trying to see his attacker—
A bamboo cane came down on his skull.
CRACK.
Blood sprayed. The bridge of Law's nose shattered.
"Ver... Vergo... why are YOU here?!"
Vergo's smile was cold behind his sunglasses.
"I knew you couldn't be trusted. You're still just a child."
His hand tightened. Law screamed.
Monet watched with gentle amusement.
"When we learned the Straw Hats and Smoker had arrived, Vergo-sama rushed to Punk Hazard immediately."
Her voice was sweet, conversational.
"He knew this would be the moment your true intentions revealed themselves."
Vergo's bamboo cane fell again. And again. Law's face became a mask of blood.
"Not just you—Caesar as well. Neither of you are trusted."
He glanced at Monet.
"So Joker placed someone inside from the beginning."
Monet flapped her wings, that disturbing smile never leaving her face.
Law's mind raced. Monet... I always knew she was suspicious, but—
"I've done nothing!" Law spat blood. "I'm no threat to you!"
Vergo raised the cane again.
"If you were a threat, you'd already be dead."
His eyes flicked to Law's fingers—attempting subtle movements.
"You're doing well, Warlord."
The cane fell.
"A correction. Address me as VERGO-SAMA."
CRACK.
Monet crouched beside Law, her voice a venomous whisper wrapped in silk.
"Remember, Law. Your heart is in Vergo-sama's hands. If you try anything..."
She didn't need to finish.
Law's teeth ground together.
Monet...
When he'd first arrived on this island, he'd made a deal with Caesar. His heart, placed in Caesar's keeping as insurance. In exchange, he'd help the disabled pirates with body transplants—and receive a heart of his own to safeguard.
That heart belonged to Monet.
"Looking for this?" Monet touched her chest. "Caesar gave it to me long ago."
"YOU—"
Vergo's cane silenced him.
Inside the research room, Chopper heard everything. He struggled to move, to help—
A flock of crows materialized before him. Itachi's upper body emerged from their midst.
"Find the information you need."
The crows dissolved. Itachi was gone.
Chopper understood.
Brother Itachi is handling it.
In the corridor, Vergo's expression shifted. His body tensed.
"Soru."
He blurred—appearing instantly at the ventilation shaft above. His Haki-coated bamboo cane swept toward a hidden figure.
"An accomplice, Law?"
The cane connected—
And passed through.
The figure dissolved into crows.
Vergo's eyes widened.
Before he could process, the world went red.
TSUKUYOMI.
But Vergo's Haki exploded—shattering the illusion in an instant.
Itachi, already moving from his hidden position, lunged with Wind Forest Fire extended.
Vergo's instincts screamed. He spun, Haki-coated fist meeting blade—
BOOM.
The impact sent Itachi flying. He tumbled, recovered, assessed.
Strong. Fast. Haki mastery.
He caught Law's eye. A subtle glance. A plan forming.
Law's gaze flickered—understanding.
"Monet." Vergo's voice was calm. "Watch him."
His body darkened with Armament Haki. His cane followed suit.
He moved.
Itachi met him halfway.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Blade against Haki-coated bamboo—each impact jarring, each exchange revealing the gap in raw power. Vergo was stronger. His strikes forced Itachi's blade down, prevented counters.
Itachi twisted, trying to create an opening—Vergo's kick caught him in the chest.
CRACK.
Armament Haki amplified the blow. Itachi flew, hit the wall, dropped.
Vergo advanced.
"This is all you have? Pathetic."
His cane raised for the killing stroke—
Itachi's eyes changed.
The pattern shifted. Kaleidoscope.
"TSUKUYOMI."
The world dissolved.
Vergo found himself in endless red. Bound to a cross. Countless copies of himself on countless crosses. Countless copies of Itachi raising blades.
Stabbing.
Stabbing.
Stabbing.
Vergo's body—his real body—crumpled.
Monet screamed.
"VERGO-SAMA!"
Law stared. He did it. That illusion—he caught Vergo.
Itachi approached the fallen man, reaching for the hand that held Law's heart—
The hand closed.
Law screamed.
Vergo's eyes snapped open. His fist, still Haki-coated, launched Itachi across the corridor.
BOOM. CRASH. CRUNCH.
Itachi tumbled, vomiting blood, rolling dozens of meters before stopping.
Vergo rose. His Haki flickered—weakened, exhausted—but he stood.
"What... WAS that?"
He panted, sweat pouring, body trembling—but alive. Conscious. Fighting.
Itachi pushed himself up, equally shocked.
He survived Tsukuyomi through sheer willpower. This world's people... their physical and mental fortitude is extraordinary.
Wind Forest Fire rose again.
Itachi's eyes shifted—Kaleidoscope fading, normal Sharingan remaining.
"Then I'll change tactics."
(End of Chapter)
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