Ultimate Fruit

Chapter 26: Aqua Laguna

In the back streets of Water 7.

The rain has become fiercer and the wind stronger as well.

At the distance, one can see a towering wall made of water...Aqua Laguna was about to descend!

After being blown away by the CP9, Luffy was now stuck in between two buildings and couldn’t move!

Nami had been desperately searching for him and it was only now that she realized where Luffy was.

“LUFFY!!!”

“!”

“You moron! What’re you doing up there!?”

Nami shouted as loud as she could, hoping that Luffy heard her despite the heavy rain.

The civilians at the upper level couldn’t help but get worried for Nami who was on the lower level, trying to reach out to Luffy!

“Look out! The waves are almost on top of you!”

They screamed and waved at Nami.

“Give it up already, pirate girl! Run away!”

Nami didn’t pay them any attention and only focused on Luffy.

Luffy, still stuck in between the two buildings, was able to hear Nami as he called out.

“Nyo...Nyomi!? You behin’ me!? Ngg! Jeez, hey, pleash lissen t’me! I was flun ‘ay dat pidgeon guy! An’ sho I flew an’ kin’a got shtuck in thish conven’nt plashe!”

His words were so hard to understand due to his cheeks both flattened by the buildings. Normally, maybe Nami would’ve laughed...but as she remembered Robin and Lucas who had left them...tears started to flow from her eyes.

“DON’T JOKE AT A TIME LIKE THIS! WHILE YOU WERE SCREWING AROUND, ROBIN’S BEEN TAKEN AWAY!!!”

“!!!”

“FOR ALL OF US, ROBIN...SHE’S GOING TO DIE FOR US!!!”

“!!!???”

Luffy froze, finally understanding the graveness of the situation.

Nami screamed into the heavy rain, her voice nearly hoarse.

“Robin sacrificed herself for us! She protected us from being attacked by the government! Lucas too! He’s there with her right now to prevent any of the marine admirals from attacking us!”

Nami’s tears mixed with the rain as it fell from her cheeks and got carried by the wind…

Inside the sea train, Both Robin and Lucas suddenly looked out the window, seemingly having felt something…

Despite Luffy’s predicament at the moment, if one could see his mouth they would see it turn into a smile.

“So, Robin...and Lucas...are still…”

“Yes!”

“Thank goodness…!”

While the two of them were talking, the huge wave had gotten even closer!

“Look! That wave!”

“What is that!? It’s way bigger than usual!”

The civilians on the upper level become pale as they looked at the huge wave at the distance.

Previously, they thought it was near them already due to its size...only to realize, it was so massive it only appeared that way, it was still far away at that time!

The wave this time...was simply huge!

Between the buildings, Luffy struggled with newfound strength after learning the truth about Robin and Lucas!

“Don’t worry! I won’t...let Robin...or Lucas...die!!!”

The people started the panic as the waves got nearer. Even though they were already on the upper level...they were scared for those guys below!

While everyone thought Luffy and the rest were goners, suddenly...just before it reached Luffy and the rest, the waves...stopped!

Inside the sea train, Lucas grimaced, his hand shaking he gripped it from the sheer pressure of the wave. He placed his hand to his side, away from the view of the CP9, trying to hide it

Luffy...if you’re still stuck between those buildings...now’s the time to get out!

Even Lucas wasn’t confident on stopping such a huge wave! Moreso, something that was a bit further away from him!

He only managed to stop it for three seconds until it started to fall once more!

Still…This was enough!

“AAAAAAHHH!!!”

Luffy actually...forced the buildings apart through sheer force! The two massive buildings tore apart on both sides with him at the middle!

“Waaah! He broke the city!!!”

Luffy still had both his hands on the two buildings as he looked at the huge wave that had stopped for a few seconds, Luffy grinned again.

“Shishishi! Let’s go, Nami!”

Taking advantage of the delay, Luffy jumped and grabbed Nami as he stretched his hand to the upper level!

On the other side, Zoro was similarly stuck inside a tall chimney.

Chopper wasn’t there with him to help like in the original story, but Sanji was. Before he was blown away, he had dropped on of his swords in the fight, which Sanji had taken along with him.

Once he handed the sword to him, Zoro...sliced the entire chimney!

“Ittouryuu...36 Point Phoenix!!!”

“Waah! What the hell are those guys!?”

The people watching couldn’t help but drop their jaws! One guy forced buildings apart, another sliced off such a tall chimney and the house beneath it!

Zoro, just having been released, saw the towering wall of water in front of him and was shocked!

“Wha-what is this!?”

“No time to explain moss-head! Come on!”

The wave was almost upon them, naturally, Sanji didn’t care about Zoro and simply grabbed onto his shirt and ran away!

*CRASHHH*

Luffy, Nami, Zoro, and Sanji finally made it to the stairs leading to the upper level just in time for the wave to crash down on the entire lower ground!

Pieces of buildings and anything not tied down near the lower level were washed away. They didn’t waste any time checking the scenary and ran up, fearing that another wave would crash down on them!

Once they were on the upper level, only then did they lie down and gasp for breath…

“Man...that was crazy!”

“How terrifying...so that was Aqua Laguna!?”

“No, were it like that every year, this island would’ve been long gone. It’s abnormally strong this year!

Kokoro said as she continue to drink her wine.

Luffy saw her and greeted her.

“Ah! Monster granny! You're here too?”

“Of course, if I’d stayed at sea...I’d have drowned and become fish bait already! Ngagagagaga!”

“Pirate nii-chan was so cool!”

“Nya nya!”

Chimnie was laughing without a care in the world along with her cat(actually a bunny)...

At the side, Luffy also noticed Zoro.

“Ah? Zoro, were you down there too?”

“Ah...I-”

“He got stuck in a chimney!”

Sanji cut in and answered for him, leading to the two of them fighting again!

“What was that curly-brows!?”

“Isn’t it true moss-head!?

Meanwhile, Luffy was laughing his ass off.

“You got stuck in a chimney!? Ahahahahahaha! Zoro, that’s so stupid! You're funny!”

“You weren’t any better! You're all idiots!”

Nami got pissed again and pinched Luffy’s cheeks.

Finally, Luffy became serious once again.

“Where’s Usopp and Chopper?”

Just as he asked, two figures appeared.

“Luffy! Oii! You guys are safe!”

“Luffy!!!”

Naturally, these two were Usopp and Chopper! The two were running towards them. 

After being reunited, the two of them started to explain what just happened.

“Finally, Lucas said...to not follow them…”

“What’s there to think about!? Let’s set sail and go after them!”

...Alas, Luffy didn’t really listen to Lucas at all and still wanted to follow…

Since the captain has spoken, no one had objected.

“There’s no other way.”

“Right, let’s go!”

Luffy and the crew started to run towards where Going Merry was docked...only to find that it was missing!

“Where’s Merry!?”

“Don’t tell me...it got washed off by that huge wave!?”

“Lend us a boat! We’ll find Merry and sail to Ennies Lobby!”

“Are you kidding!? Look at the weather! There’s no way you can make it out!”

Everyone tried to dissuade Luffy and the rest as it was suicidal to go to Ennies Lobby with this weather!

Seeing as Luffy was about to force his way and steal a ship, Kokoro finally spoke.

“Enough! Follow me. I’ll start the Sea Train for you.”

They were shocked and surprised, they didn't there was another!

In the sea train…

Lucas stood up from his seat and walked out of the cabin.

Seeing him stand, Kalifa asked.

“Where are you going?”

“...”

Lucas didn’t even so much as glanced at her and simply walked away. As he sees it, there’s no reason for him to answer them. His job was simply to escort them to Enies Lobby and ensure they don’t go off the rails.

“Y-you-!”

Kalifa was angered but couldn’t even say anything as Lucas had already left the car.

Having left the CP9, Lucas went through the train cars to the sixth where Franky was kept.

He stepped inside the sixth car to see government agents inside the car along with Franky. Lucas spoke in a cold voice.

“Out. Now.”

The agents looked at each other but didn’t leave.

Since they decided to stay, Lucas waved his hand and threw them all out the water!

“W-wha-!?”

“You can’t-!”

Lucas didn’t bother with them and looked at Franky.

“It’s you! That traitor those guys spoke of! W-what do you want!?”

Franky thought of cursing Lucas at first, but then remembered how badly he was beaten before...

“...”

There was no need to waste any more words on him so Lucas simply hit him hard enough to knock him out.

Once he was unconscious, Lucas observed his body with this Observation Haki to look for a certain thing.

After a while, Lucas’ hand moved and took ‘it’ out from one of Franky’s hidden compartments in his body.

As for where...well, some things are better left unsaid.

Lucas looked at the stack of papers in his hand and took out his phone to take some pictures.

Not of Franky of course, but on the papers on his hand.

[PLUTON]

Right...the thing in his hands right now...is the blueprint for one of the ancient weapons, Pluton!

Lucas doesn’t know whether this thing will be of use in the future, but it was better to get a backup of it since Franky was going to burn the papers.

After taking the photos, Lucas placed it in a folder named [Hades] and encrypted it as well as hid it.

Once he was done, Lucas placed it back inside Franky and looked towards the back.

Suddenly, his body turned into water as he moved out of the window and stood on top of the sea train!

“A huge wave…”

By this time...that Luffy probably wouldn't give up. Kokoro would also lend that prototype sea train to them…

As he thought, Luffy and the rest were indeed inside the ‘Rocket Man’ train and is headed straight towards a huge wave!

The Frankies Family and Galley-la shipwrights were with them at the moment and tried to fire their canons on the wave to make a hole but it didn’t do anything!

This wave...was simply too thick!

Then, Luffy and Zoro both stood on top of the train and started making a move.

“How much is 2 times 108?”

“216.”

“What? But that’s so hard to pronounce…”

“Then just change it.”

Luffy and Zoro talked casually as they stared at the wave.

“Then 300.”

“Fine.”

Having both agreed, numerous hands appeared around Luffy while Zoro had both his swords over his head while biting another sword in his mouth.

“Gomu gomu no…!”

“Three hundred Point…!”

““SIEGE CANNON!!!””

*BOOM*

On the sea train ahead of them, Lucas was similarly concentrating!

Though he knows that Luffy and Zoro could get past that wave from the original comics, there was no harm in making sure.

OPEN!!!

Suddenly, a huge hole appeared in the middle of the giant wave, followed but the wave splitting in half, completely dodging the ‘Rocket Man’ train!

“We...WE MADE IT THROUGH!!!”

Both Luffy and Zoro stared at the distance.

Despite not seeing Lucas...both of them knew...he’s still trying to protect them!

Luffy and Zoro laughed.

“Shishishi!”

“Heh, did that guy even leave at all?”

Lucas sighed and retracted his Observation Haki.

His powers have been growing stronger so fast lately...and this weather is actually amplifying it by quite a lot!

If only Aokiji’s ability doesn’t counter him so much…

Shaking his head, Lucas went back inside the train and grabbed Franky as he walked back to the 2nd car where the CP9 members were.

Lucas tossed Franky to the floor and sat again.

“Those people guarding this guy are all useless. I threw them out the sea.”

“...”

Well, this should be enough to explain my disappearance…

Lucas sighed in his heart as he looked out the window.

Since Luffy and the rest still decided to follow despite his warnings...It seems I need to change my plans a bit…

Lucas used this opportunity in the train to calmly plan out his thoughts and what would happen next.