Chapter 161: Marco the Phoenix
Dialogue "sample"
Thoughts 'sample'
Author notes -sample-
Disclaimer: One Piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Chapter 161: Marco the Phoenix
The blond man looked injured and very exhausted but still managed to lift his face to look at Luffy.
"You are looking for Ace?...wait, that straw hat…are you his brother Luffy by any chance?"
"Yes!, that's me. We came to rescue him. Where is he?"
Marco made a sad expression.
"You are just a bit late, they took him away less than an hour ago…"
"Oh no…" Said Nami.
"But there are still almost 24 hours for his execution!" Exclaimed Sanji.
"It has to be because of us…they knew we were here for him. So they took him away earlier than planned, just in case we made it this far" Concluded Vivi.
"That sounds like something the marine would do" added Inazuma.
Luffy was getting desperate now.
"But it's been less than an hour, maybe we can catch up to him before they go through the gates of justice." Said Vivi, trying to give her captain some hope.
"If you can get me out of here, I can be of some help. My name is Marco, former first division commander and current Captain of the Whitebeard pirates." he requested.
"Hmph!, taking you out?. Those cells are impossible to open without the keys, the bars are covered in seastone and the walls are reinforced so much that they are practically steel". Saldeath said in a mocking tone.
"Can't Morley get in through the wall?" Asked Nami.
"Yeah, is the same wall that we came through, right?" added Vivi.
"Let me try." The giant approached the wall next to the cell and placed her hands on it.
"Mmm…push!" Her hands sank into the wall as this one deformed, leaving now a big gap between the bars and the wall.
Marco stood up with difficulty and walked out of his cell
"Thank you…ugg" He lost his balance and almost fell down again.
Chopper hurried up to hold him.
"Let me give you a quick check-up. I'm a doctor" He assured him.
Marco smiled.
"Really?. You know? I'm something of a doctor myself too. If I could get these seastone cuffs off, I could just heal myself with my devil fruit ability…"
"Forget about taking them off without a key, those things are ten times harder than steel." Said Buggy who was very familiar with handcuffs at this point.
"That's true, those cuffs gave us quite a headache during Robin's rescue at Enies Lobby.' Added Sanji.
Saldeath said nothing but gave a smug smile like he was the inventor of those cuffs and was very proud of their reputation.
"Here, let me try something." Vivi placed a hand on top of the seastone cuffs.
"Vivi!, what are you doing? You can't touch seastone without being harmed" Nami went to stop her.
"I don't know what yo-"
Whatever Marco was going to say was interrupted when Vivi's eyes started to shine like stars. On the surface of the seastone cuffs, thousands of green lights appeared out of nowhere.
"Those green lights must be the seastone!" Concluded Sanji.
Vivi did not let go of the cuffs as she concentrated. The green lights became more intense and started to move toward her hand.
"Vivi!" Nami went to grab her but was stopped by Luffy.
"Wait!, she must know what she's doing."
"But-"
"Trust your crewmate!" Said their Captain with conviction.
"How is she doing this? what kind of devil fruit can withstand being in contact with seastone? this makes no sense!" Shouted Buggy.
The green lights entered her hand and traveled through her body until they disappeared. Vivi's eyes returned to normal and she let go of the handcuffs.
Only a second later, the cuffs crumbled into pieces and fell to the ground, leaving the group of people who witnessed this completely baffled.
Marco's body was engulfed in blue flames and his wounds healed at an incredible pace.
"Yes!, I feel so much better now."
"How did you do that?!, are you really okay?" Asked Nami while checking Vivi up and down.
She placed her hands on Nami's shoulders. "Calm down, I'm perfectly fine."
"Did you know you could do that to the seastone?" Asked the navigator.
Vivi shrugged. "Nop…but I had a feeling that I could, that's all."
Marco's flames died out and now looked to be in perfect shape.
"I can't deny I'm curious too, but we can leave those things for when we rescue Ace."
"Right, let's go then!" Said Luffy impatiently.
"What is the fastest way to the surface?" Asked Vivi.
"I can fly" Said Marco "I could even take someone with me, that should get us out fairly quickly."
"It won't be that fast. The entrances to the levels are all in different locations, even if you fly, you will still have to go through the level until the next entrance." Said Inazuma.
"Didn't someone mention an elevator before? one that goes between levels 5 and 1?" Asked Nami.
"Right!, the little guy should know how to get there!" Vivi looked at the worried Saldeath, who was being held by Sanji.
"T-There is no way I'll take you there!...and is going to be heavily guarded anyways!" Said the little devil with some nervousness.
"We have plenty of power to get through any resistance that the Marines can put. Take us there!" Exclaimed Luffy with a serious expression.
Vivi looked at him with an intense glare. "Do I have to threaten you again?."
The little boy was visibly shaken.
"N-No…I'll take you there. But you have to let me go after that!"
"You have my word as the Captain." Said Luffy with sincerity and Saldeath nodded.
"We need to go to the west area of Level 5 first. Close to the wolves' forest."
"I'm very familiar with that place. I can take us there in a minute!" Said Inazuma.
While they were all leaving, Vivi approached Morly.
"Do you mind taking Eustass Kid out too? Even if he doesn't react, just grab him and bring him out."
"Why do you want to save that guy?" Asked the giant.
'Because I feel guilty' She thought.
"Because he has suffered enough…" She said.
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