Chapter 23: Chapter 5
- When it comes to chatting, I see you always say, kid!
- No need to get your hands dirty with a crummy like him, Captain, I can take care of it very well! Me, Conny Boackenno, I promise to break his back without giving him time to say "phew"!
The sumo wrestler now stands at Bacca odds.
- Thank you, Boackenno, but it won't be worth it ... I don't like the look of that little shit. I will personally take care of killing him. Just join the others and suppress the inhabitants with them.
- Bou hyo hyo! Alright, boss!
- Ready for the next step, kid?
Bacca charge, I'm waiting for it.
Thanks to the exchange of blows earlier, I know I'm the fastest. I narrowly dodged his attack and slammed the bar right on the shoulder, as if I was countering it. The timing was perfect, my shot impossible to avoid. Despite everything, I still miss it. How is it possible?
Bacca wastes no time and comes back straight away. He attacks, I defend. Even if he doesn't manage to strike me yet, I clearly have the downside. My blows don't seem to reach him and my body won't take a second kick from him.
Suddenly our eyes meet.
He has the troubled gaze of the real villain, the one in which one does not read any hesitation. I only detected a deep desire to kill myself. He is clearly determined to finish me off in order to satisfy his ambitions. Could this detail be the source of our power difference?
I remember the nightmares of the last few days. Cora, Doflamingo, Dressrosa, I remember everything. I know exactly what I should do, what I absolutely should do. But I don't feel ready yet. I certainly promised myself to fulfill the desire long cherished by Cora, but for "one day", not for "now". This is why I remain hesitant, like a compass.
I feel that this hesitation prevents me from playing an equal game with the man in front of me. His vigor dominates me, crushes me, pushes me to index and makes my movements slower. If I don't do anything, it won't be long.
Bacca chooses this moment to stop all movement.
- Well done, kid, your agility amazes me. And even though I know I'll win anyway, I still like wasting my time. For this reason, you see, I'm going to go about it in a different way.
With these words, Bacca lets out a vulgar laugh.
I have a bad feeling.
- Guys! Hide in the buildings!
Neither one nor two, all the pirates next to me rush inside.
- What ... Shachi, Penguin, Bepo! Take the old man on your shoulders and pull yourself out ...
- Too late! Fusion wave!
A radial light of pale color escapes from the two eyes of the pirate captain. I immediately roll on the ground so as not to get hit. A shiver runs through my spine. This man is not a simple pirate. I'm dealing with a power holder of a devil fruit.
I don't know if this is related to my attacks not reaching him, but one thing is certain: this guy is not normal!
- You have nothing?!
- No, it's okay! We all managed to avoid the light! Bepo's voice echoes back.
I recognize my little guys.
- So that's it, did you play your last card? Unfortunately for you, you will need more to come to the end of my comrades and me.
Not very reassured at the idea of not knowing anything about the powers of my opponent, I try a big bluff.
- Ghe ... pa pa pa pa!
- What are you laughing at?!
- Nothing, nothing, but you move really very quickly. Managing to dodge my wave of fusion is a feat, you know ... However, if I may, you would benefit from being more attentive to what is going on around you ...
Suddenly, behind my back, I feel a threatening presence. Someone is slaughtering the blade of their saber on me!
- Han!
I turn around and somehow manage to block the attack by squeezing the blade with my bare hands. Then I send the sword and its owner to waltz in the air. Who can it be? a henchman of Bacca lying in wait? I look at the man falling to the ground, and ...
- You ... But why?
I am totally unable to hide my surprise ... It is the head doctor of the medical cabinet! He holds a saber in his hands and watches me absently. He has clearly lost his mind.
- You junk ... What did you do to him ?!
- Ghe pa pa pa! Yet I warned you to pay more attention to what is going on around you. Do you really think you have time to take care of him?
I feel like I'm being charged from another direction.
And this time there are two ... or three? no, much more.
I leap to the side and take refuge in a discreet place to take stock of the situation.
- What?
They are a multitude to surround me, ready to attack me.
-Damn it...
Separately, they are neither powerful nor fast, and I would disperse them without problem with kicks. But I am quite incapable of attacking the people of the city. I recognize the fishmonger, the waitress of the restaurant, the manager of the tattoo shop ... A host of familiar faces. However, they stare at me with a gaze devoid of any emotion and approach with the sole aim of killing me ...
- Ghe pa pa pa! So, kid, what's the matter with you? I find you very slow, all of a sudden.
As if reading my mind, Bacca laughs at me and laughs.
He will pay me for it.
I don't know how he does it, but using the locals for such warlike ends makes me very angry. What if I also use the powers of my scalpel fruit? Maybe I could work out a solution debt?
As this idea matures in my mind and I'm about to launch "Room" …
- No do not do that! Shachi interrupts, grabbing me by the shoulder.
His hand blocked me just in time. As if he too had just read my thoughts ...
- Let's get out of here, Law, the old man's buggy is waiting for us. It is time to retreat to better prepare for our return. We can't knock down all our cards without knowing exactly what his powers are.
Hearing these words, my anger subsides and I manage to regain my composure. Shachi is absolutely right. To go on an assault without strategy or resources is tantamount to committing suicide.
- Okay.
I mumble these few words and rush away from Bacca.
- Are you packing up, kid? Ghe pa pa pa! I thought you were braver than that!
The pirate's provocations no longer concern me. Shachi, Bepo and Penguin are also lucid. This is really not the time to launch myself into a desperate assault. Since I am lucky to be able to count on my team members, it is my duty to know how to give up and let go of the laurels.
- You two, over here!
With his hand, Penguin beckons us to come. Bepo and Wolf are already installed in the buggy. As soon as he sees that Shachi and I are on board, Penguin sets off with a bang.
- Be careful, I'm going full throttle! Hold on tight, if you don't want to fall!
Then we go, leaving our enemies behind us.
I glance at Wolf, who luckily only has a minor concussion. And, when I turn around, I see not only Bacca and his crew, but also many inhabitants.
If I run away now, it is the better to come back and save you.
On the road that leads us home, no one says a word.
***