Chapter 48 – Leaving
The Next Day.
After Breakfast, Dante Voss and the Straw Hats left Alubarna for the nearest Port.
As they walked, every Straw Hat brimmed with anticipation.
They had given Vivi the choice to join them and sail The Seas together.
They knew how much she wanted to come and could see the longing in her eyes.
Reaching the Shore, Dante Voss released the going merry onto the water.
Once aboard, the crew busied themselves, nerves tingling.
"Will Vivi really come?" Chopper asked Luffy, eyes shining with hope.
Luffy gazed at The Sea and smiled. "Whether she comes or not, she's our nakama."
Nami sighed. "She is, after all, a princess—she has duties…"
The others looked heartbroken; they knew the weight Vivi carried.
Seeing their sorrow, Dante Voss glanced aft and pointed.
"Look—there's Vivi."
"Ah!"
The crew snapped awake and rushed to the stern.
Sure enough, Vivi—stunning in a white sundress—stood on the nearby Shore beside Supersonic Duck, waving.
"Vivi!"
Overjoyed, Luffy and the others waved back frantically.
"She came!" Luffy beamed.
Sanji pranced about, giddy and lovesick.
"Vivi-chan!"
"Bring her alongside—now!" Usopp yelled, sprinting for the helm.
But just as euphoria peaked, Vivi's voice rang out through a Loud-hailer.
"I'm here to say goodbye!"
The crew's joy drained away; they stared, stunned.
"What did she say?" Luffy murmured, dazed.
Watching her friends, Vivi swallowed her tears and spoke brightly, "I can't sail with you. Thank you for everything…"
Her words carried across the harbor and through Alubarna, so the whole kingdom heard.
Hearing her, Luffy smiled—he respected her decision.
"I see."
Memories of their voyage flooded Vivi; tears burst forth as she shouted tremulously,
"If we meet again—will we still be nakama?"
Luffy started to answer.
But a Fleet of Marine Warships arrived, and Nami clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Stay quiet! If the Marines hear, they'll brand Vivi a criminal."
Luffy shut up—then noticed the mark on his arm.
The symbol that bound him and Vivi as nakama.
When no reply came, Vivi's tears fell in silence, her heart sinking.
She feared they no longer considered her a comrade.
But then every Straw Hat raised their left arm, revealing the crossed-bones "X." Relief flooded her.
"Touching friendship," Dante Voss murmured.
He alone didn't raise his arm, eyes fixed on the approaching battleships.
"Terrible timing," he muttered, gaze sharpening.
He slashed his arm through the air.
"Buzz—buzz—buzz!"
Each sweep unleashed a colossal crimson blade that tore the sky and struck the Fleet.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The strikes cleaved the Warships apart before they could encircle the Merry.
The beautiful Navy Captain leading the force stared in shock.
"So this is the Scarlet Swordsman's power?"
After Crocodile's death, Headquarters had ordered Captain Tina to gather intel in Alabasta.
King Cobra, knowing Dante Voss wished to stay hidden, would only say he was a mighty swordsman.
Most of her information came from Captain Smoker's report.
The Logia user had been defeated by this very man—using Smoker's own jitte.
And he had felled a Warlord; such strength was believable.
"Open fire! Sink that ship!" Captain Tina commanded.
At sea, sink the vessel and victory was still theirs; numbers favored the Marines.
"Aye!"
"Bang—bang—bang!"
Cannons blazed; a storm of shells arced toward the Merry.
Dante Voss's eyes were calm; Spirit locked onto every projectile.
Arms flashing like blades, he released a swarm of scarlet arcs that shredded the barrage mid-air.
Without pause he aimed at the remaining ships, his attacks a tempest that sliced hulls like tofu.
A crimson slash bore down on Captain Tina; black iron bars erupted from her arms to shield her.
"Boom!"
The bars held, but the force hurled her backward across the deck.
Sweat-soaked and gritting her teeth, she felt the crushing power.
"No—!"
She couldn't withstand it; the blast flung her skyward as the Flagship split beneath her.
[Marine slain. slaughter points +10]
[Marine slain. slaughter points +5]
[Marine slain. slaughter points +5]
…Lines of notifications flickered before Dante Voss; he smiled and stayed his hand.
Compared to rioting civilians, Marines were the real source of slaughter points.
He hadn't boosted his attributes in ages.
After he hunted the Thunder God, he would leave the Straw Hats—current foes no longer merited his effort.
Moriah, Lucci—they weren't even worth a glance anymore.