Chapter 15

"Is he invincible? He looked like he was about to collapse."

"Maybe it was his plan to make us think he was done for. Truly cunning."

"Yeah, luckily we didn't attack him. Captain Morgan fell for his trick."

The surrounding marines watched in fear as Eden easily threw Captain Morgan using just his legs to grip Morgan's giant axe.

These marines, when speaking of Morgan being tricked by Eden, carried a tone of schadenfreude, revealing how much they resented their arrogant and cruel superior.

"Weren't you on the verge of death just now? How did you suddenly become so energetic? Were you pretending to be dead to deceive me?" Nami wiped away the tears from her eyes as she spoke. She was shocked by how easily Eden had thrown Morgan away, which was a stark contrast to his previous state.

Seeing the wound on Eden's back had stopped bleeding, Nami felt somewhat relieved. She secretly smiled while wiping her tears, unnoticed by anyone.

"Damn, I wouldn't fake my death just to trick you into crying."

Eden shook his hands and stretched. He was equally puzzled about his sudden recovery, not just in strength but even his back wound seemed to have healed significantly.

Moreover, his strength appeared to have increased, which further confused him. A few minutes earlier, he wouldn't have been able to use his legs to stop Morgan's full-powered axe swing.

Could this be the power of the Devil Fruit?

Eden's thoughts raced. When he was on the brink of death, hearing Nami say she was worried about him sent a surge of electricity through his body, revitalizing him almost completely.

Coming back from the brink of death and becoming stronger, it felt similar to a Saiyan.

"Saiyan? Is that where you're from? I've never heard of a Saiyan village in the East Blue. Aren't you from the East Blue?"

Nami's curiosity made Eden embarrassed.

"Damn it, if I were really a Saiyan, I could blow Morgan away with just a breath. Why would I need to fight so hard?"

Eden glanced at Nami, conflicted. Seeing her tear-streaked face made him lose the desire to tease her. The marines, upon hearing Nami's words, wondered what kind of place Saiyan Village was to produce such a monster.

Just as Eden was about to explain what a Saiyan was, Morgan's voice interrupted.

"You two are still chatting? Today is the day of my disgrace!"

Morgan slowly walked towards Eden, his eyes red with rage. He ordered the marines to attack, and chaos ensued.

Facing the wave of attacking marines, Eden had no time for banter. He punched and kicked, scattering the marines.

Fighting Morgan barehanded, with the marines interfering, was proving difficult for Eden.

"Your moves are agile, but you lack power. You are destined to fall before me!"

Morgan blocked Eden's punch with his axe, then swung his left fist at him.

Eden crossed his arms to block the blow, but the force pushed him back several steps.

"Are you okay?" Nami asked worriedly, dodging attacks.

"I'm fine. His weak punches are just tickling me."

Eden laughed, but internally he was complaining: Why could Luffy defeat Morgan with a few punches while he had to struggle so hard?

Eden knew that his strength was currently not on par with Luffy's. During the fight with Alvida, he realized Luffy's superior strength.

Unknown to Eden, Morgan was also cursing him. This guy was like an unkillable cockroach, always getting back up.

Damn, if I had a proper weapon, I'd crush them!

Eden thought. He dodged Morgan's attack but couldn't counterattack as several marines swung their swords at him, forcing him to dodge.

Even though Eden felt stronger after recovering from his injuries, facing the bloodthirsty Morgan and the marines was challenging.

This wasn't because Morgan's combat power had suddenly increased, but because Eden had to protect the less capable Nami. If he were alone, he would have the upper hand.

Morgan was now fighting seriously, having learned not to underestimate Eden. Leading the marines in an attack, Morgan fought Eden to a standstill.

"Stay away from me!"

Nami swung her three-section staff, knocking down an attacking marine.

Seeing Nami's staff gave Eden an idea. He faked a kick to force Morgan back and shouted, "Give me your weapon!"

"Huh?" Nami was stunned but threw her staff to Eden. "Do you know how to use a staff? I didn't expect you to know so much."

Nami then realized she was now weaponless. "Am I crazy for listening to him?"

Barely dodging an attack, Nami yelled, "Idiot, give me my weapon back! Do you want to get me killed?"

"You're faster at changing faces than flipping a book!"

Eden split Nami's staff into three short sticks, throwing one back to her. "Use this for now."

Nami caught the short stick and almost turned to stone. "How am I supposed to use such a short stick?"

Had it not been for the marines attacking, Nami might have resorted to violence.

"Aren't you good with a staff? Just make do for now."

Eden tripped several marines and quickly removed their shoelaces.

"Make do?"

Nami looked at the short stick, then at the marines' long swords. Her face turned dark as coal.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you. Just give me a bit more time."

Eden dodged several attacks and picked up a marine's sword, poking holes in the sticks.

Hearing Eden promise to protect her eased Nami's expression, but seeing him poke holes in her staff infuriated her. She was about to speak when several marines attacked her.

Nami instinctively blocked with the short stick, realizing it couldn't provide much defense.

I'm dead!

Seeing the marines' swords about to hit her, Nami looked towards Eden, thinking: This idiot got me killed. What will happen to my village?

At the last moment, a figure grabbed her waist and spun her away from the danger. The attacking marines were hit by a flexible stick and screamed in pain.

Wow, her waist is really slim.

Eden, holding Nami, swung his makeshift weapon, defeating the marines.

Nami, still in shock, wondered why the stick bent.

Eden, one hand around the dazed Nami and the other swinging his weapon, easily defeated the marines.

"Captain, we can't beat him with that weird weapon."

A marine, his face swollen from Eden's strikes, crawled to Morgan. Morgan kicked him to death. "I don't need cowards who demoralize others!"

Morgan approached Eden, seeing the weapon in his hand made from two sticks tied together. "Do you think that ridiculous weapon can defeat me?"

"Ridiculous?"

Eden knocked down three marines with his nunchaku, then grinned at Morgan, wiping his nose and making a thumbs-down gesture. "I'll show you its power."

With that, Eden expertly wielded the nunchaku, feeling great satisfaction.

Morgan, enraged by Eden's taunt, charged. "How dare you underestimate me! I'm the elite of the marines, Captain Axe-Hand Morgan!"

"Even if you were faking your injuries, I will kill you today, along with Roronoa Zoro, the straw hat kid, and this woman with you! None of you will escape!"

Morgan, veins bulging in anger, raised his axe and charged at Eden.

"Touch them, and you're dead!"

Eden dodged and struck Morgan's face with the nunchaku, making him scream in pain.

"Yata!"

Eden struck again, and Morgan, dazed, could barely defend himself.

Zoro watched in amazement. "He's quite good with that weapon."

"Captain Morgan is helpless now."

Koby, adjusting his glasses, witnessed Eden turning the tide and wondered what was going through his mind.

"Stop!"

As Eden beat Morgan, a trembling voice interrupted.

"I said stop, didn't you hear?"

Eden paused after beating Morgan unconscious, recognizing the voice as Morgan's son, Helmeppo.

"Dad, are you okay?"

Helmeppo, trembling, pointed a gun at Zoro and Koby, ordering the marines to aim at Nami. "Move, or your friends will die. Step away from my father."

Damn it, I was too focused on Morgan to notice this guy.

Eden frowned, wondering why Helmeppo appeared while Luffy was nowhere in sight.

"Good boy!"

Morgan spat blood and teeth, squinting through swollen eyes. "Drop your weapon and stand with the woman, or else!"

Eden glanced at the marines aiming at Nami and Zoro. He quickly dropped the nunchaku. "So this is your trump card. Without your son, you would lose."

"I would never lose!"

Morgan struggled to stand, shouting at Eden.

"I dropped my weapon, yet you still don't dare approach. You're a coward."

Eden's taunt enraged Morgan. He divided the marines into three groups, one aiming at Eden, one at Nami, and one at Zoro.

Eden couldn't save everyone simultaneously.

"Move, and they die!"

Morgan ordered the marines to aim carefully and fire at Eden's limbs.

"Wait!"

Nami shouted from ten meters away.

"What do you want? Do you want to die?"

Morgan's monstrous face scared Nami, but she glanced at Eden's calm face and the discarded nunchaku, feeling conflicted.

"I just need to use the bathroom."

Everyone was stunned, Eden feeling embarrassed by Nami's excuse.

"Aren't you here to kill me? Go ahead and execute me first. Shoot me quickly!" Zoro's voice interrupted Morgan just as he was about to question Nami.

"Roronoa Zoro, you are a crucial tool for me to subdue this kid. Don't worry, once I deal with him, it will be your turn soon!" Morgan raised his right hand, ready to give the order to the marines aiming at Eden. "Prepare to fire!"

Facing the dark gun barrels aimed at him, Eden held his breath, feeling an unprecedented calmness in his heart.

I've done my best; this has been a short journey.

Just as Eden was resigning himself to his fate, Morgan gave the order.

"Fire!"

Bang, bang, bang!

Just as Eden was about to close his eyes and await death, he saw a figure dash in front of him, shielding him from all the bullets.

"Hehe!"

Eden looked at the person who had saved him. After being hit by the bullets, this person's body didn't get pierced. Instead, it sprouted many spiky protrusions, one of which even touched Eden's nose, still carrying the warmth of the bullets.

Seeing Luffy's back, Eden couldn't help but feel excitement and relief. Just when he thought he was about to die, he was saved. This feeling of escaping death made his blood boil with exhilaration.

"Straw Hat..."

Morgan, with a gloomy face, stared at the boy in front of him, gritting his teeth. "It's you!"

Zoro, seeing Luffy standing in front of Eden, also exclaimed in surprise.

"Luffy-san!"

Koby shouted sharply, while the marines who had fired were dumbfounded by Luffy's sudden appearance.

"This troublemaker again?" Nami voiced her true feelings.

"It's useless!"

With a spirited shout from Luffy, all the bullets bounced back, to the shock of Morgan and his marines.

As the marines and Morgan stood stunned by Luffy's bullet-deflecting ability, Eden called out, "Luffy!"

"Hmm?"

Luffy responded succinctly.

Eden quickly kicked up the nunchaku lying on the ground and, with lightning speed, threw it towards the marines aiming at Nami.

At the same moment, Luffy extended his leg, sweeping the marines aiming at Zoro. "Gomu Gomu no Muchi!"

Luffy's kick sent the marines aiming at Zoro flying, while Eden's thrown nunchaku smashed the guns of the marines aiming at Nami, rendering them useless.

Thanks to the marines standing in a line, Eden's attack was highly effective.

In a matter of moments, Eden and Luffy's coordinated efforts resolved the crises facing Nami and Zoro.