"Green Algae Head, catch Miss Vivi!"
Sanji hurled Vivi into the air, and Zoro leaped up, catching her mid-air.
"Whoosh!"
The two soared higher—but were quickly spotted by two enemies atop the clock tower.
"Countdown, 10! Huh? Isn't that the traitor Miss Wednesday? Die!"
Mr. 7 and Father's Day grinned wickedly, raising their rifles toward the mid-air pair.
"Quack quack, our bullets will explode when they collide!"
The crew watching from below held their breath.
"Oh no! They can't dodge in the air!"
From afar, Usopp's eyes sharpened. "Now!"
"Go! Sure-Kill Skill: Smoke Star!"
With a snap, he launched a special Smoke Star from his slingshot. It burst mid-air, blanketing the tower in thick black smoke.
"Quack quack quack, damn it—I can't see!"
"Oh ho ho! Then fire blindly! They're in the air anyway!"
Shots rang out wildly—but were met with the sound of metal being sliced clean.
"Hmph, Observation Haki sure is convenient."
The smoke dispersed to reveal Zoro descending, dual swords gleaming. He was unscathed.
Vivi was no longer in his grasp.
"What? Where'd Miss Wednesday go?!"
Too late—they turned, just in time to see Vivi's dual Peacock Slashers descend on them.
"Peacock Slasher: Double Dance!"
With a swift flourish, she knocked them off the clock tower. The two tumbled downward.
"We'll be back! Quack quack quack!"
"This is humiliating! Oh ho ho!"
Their voices faded with the wind.
"Damn, the fuse is already lit!"
Vivi, drenched in sweat, dashed to the cannon—its fuse nearly burned through.
…
"Did they succeed?!"
The crew watched the tower anxiously. Moments passed.
No explosion.
Then—Vivi appeared in the tower entrance.
Cheers erupted: "Yay! We did it!"
But Vivi shouted, pale-faced:
"Everyone! It's a time bomb! Even without the fuse, it will explode once time runs out!"
…
"Everyone played their part beautifully," said Shirogai, hovering high above the scene.
He watched the chaos calmly, perched on thin air, like an indifferent god surveying a battlefield.
"Usopp's starting to understand the value of a sniper's support. Confidence is essential."
Shirogai extended one finger, upon which a mini cyclone of dust spun slowly.
"Whoosh."
He gently blew, and the cyclone surged downward.
Near Alubarna's city wall, a massive black tornado wreaking havoc suddenly veered.
It surged toward the clock tower.
In its wake, houses crumbled, streets ripped apart. But thanks to Chaka's earlier evacuation order, only a handful of criminals remained in the city.
"Run! The tornado's coming!"
Thieves and civilians alike fled in terror.
Even the King's Army and Rebel soldiers abandoned their battles, fleeing from the wrath of nature.
Soon, the cyclone's path of destruction drew near the palace.
On the ground, panic surged.
Mr. 7 and Father's Day, who had been pretending to be unconscious, made their escape.
Usopp and Chopper huddled together, trembling.
"Run! It's coming!"
Sanji's cigarette trembled as he looked up.
"Miss Vivi, jump! I'll catch you!"
Vivi hesitated, looking back at the bomb.
"But what about the bomb?!"
Zoro's eyes narrowed. Drawing his swords, he growled,
"It's just a tornado. I'll cut it down!"
Nami promptly smacked him.
"Idiot! That thing's massive! Vivi, jump! We have to escape!"
Vivi looked back at the ticking bomb, only thirty-six seconds left.
"You go! I'll try to disarm it!"
The crew hesitated, then Nami snapped,
"Then we're not leaving either!"
Sanji smiled,
"A true gentleman never leaves a lady behind."
Usopp's knees knocked together.
"T-then I won't go either!"
Chopper clung to Usopp's leg, sobbing.
"Wuwu, I don't want to die! Dr. Kureha!"
Zoro, sword in his mouth, stood firm.
"I'll slice the tornado!"
Vivi's eyes welled up.
"My friends… I…"
She looked back one last time, took a deep breath, and shouted:
"Catch me!"
She leaped.
"I've got you!" Sanji yelled, catching her safely.
With seconds to spare, they sprinted away from the tower.
"The bomb will detonate in under thirty seconds!" Vivi cried.
"We need cover!"
Sanji flashed a grin,
"No worries, Vivi-swaaan, Nami-swaaan. Just say the word, and your Prince will protect you!"
Zoro smirked.
"Prince, please protect me."
"Shut up, Green Algae Head! That doesn't apply to you!"
Usopp and Chopper chimed in:
"Prince, save us too!"
Sanji fumed.
"No! Only ladies can call me that!"
Despite the chaos, Vivi realized they were trying to lift her spirits.
Still, the weight of failure crushed her chest.
So many lives, and the bomb was still ticking.
"Is this fate?" she whispered.
Zoro stopped in his tracks.
"Vivi, relax. Looks like luck's on our side."
The tornado surged into the tower, wrenching the bomb free and hurling it skyward.
At that moment—
"Click."
The bomb detonated in the sky.
"BOOM!"
A blinding explosion shattered the sky and split the tornado apart.
The lower winds scattered outward, blasting soldiers and debris in every direction.
The crowd on the battlefield froze, staring at the fiery sky.
"What was that?!"
"Why did the sky explode?!"
The war paused—for just a moment—as both sides looked upward.
…
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