The night was hard…
Chopper and Nami were lucky enough to pull Morgan and Iceberg out of the flaming building before it collapsed to the ground; With some explaining to Iceberg and the Shipwrights there that Morgan was telling the truth and in turn, Iceberg explained to them the truth about what he overheard from Robin before the other members of CP9 showed up for the first time to get the blueprints. "-On top of all that…You were all given a free escape in exchange for her turning herself in to the World Government."
Nami was lost for words while Chopper looked over Morgan and looked down; Whatever he saw….It wasn't good. "Nami…Morgan's….He's gone…."
Nami's thoughts and her priorities dropped when she heard those words; "No…No that can't be right….He's okay, right? He always bounces back!" Nami tried to rationalise as she walked over to Chopper who was trying to patch him up.
"He lost a lot of blood back there….I don't know how he'd live through that, even if he could….I'm sorry…." Chopper explained with a sorrowful look on their face; This was equally as hard for them as it was for Nami to hear; "But we should get going…We can still save Ro-"
"We're taking him with us…" Nami stated with zero margin of compromise. "Robin said she saw something in him and gave him that chip on his shoulder about his powers! I outright refuse that she's given up on him that easily!" Nami then hoisted Morgan onto her back.
——Meanwhile, in a very familiar place——
"So…Here we are, once again….You're either the most lofty ambitioned idiot or you're the most reckless idiot…." The Spider grumbled as it sat on Morgan's shoulder, not at all pleased at the frequency of Morgan dying.
Morgan held on to the wall as he was still stuck on the fact at how soundly he was beaten at the hands of Lucci and his predatory Devil Fruit; "Can you not…I've already got enough to think about without your input."
"Well…I'll be sure to bite my tongue the next time that you decide to hit above your weight class." The Spider mentioned with zero intent on hiding their sarcasm; "This has to change. The more you die then the more you'll come back and the more you'll come back…Means you'll become complacent in your immortality and what happens when you die without that drive to survive? Go ahead…I can wait, I have thousands of years to find an answer."
Morgan was silent for what felt like an uncomfortably long time as he weighed his options and the right step to take. "I know what I CAN do….But I need you to help me get down….There again." He would suggest before gazing down into the stormy abyss below.
The Spider tilted it's head before leaning in closer to him; "You realise that I can tell what you're thinking and even I can't believe that you're considering it." It protested at Morgan before tapping a leg to his cheek. "Surviving down there as long as you did was impressive but getting back out was equally as dangerous as it was a blind stroke of luck!"
"Then I'll make sure to be careful…I can't afford to take second chances on this…I've watched someone that I started to care about vanish when I could have helped more…No one's gonna care if I hold back and no one's gonna care if I do have these powers, when they found out; They sent me here…So I'm gonna do whatever it takes to get this right." Morgan stated with a glint in his eye.
This time it was the Spider's turn to fall silent but it was significantly more precise in it's decision for this particular matter; "Alright…But if you're going to do this then I want you to make a deal…No, more of a sworn vow."
——Elsewhere——
Hours passed as Nami and the others made their move to get Robin back by the "Borrowing" of the second Sea Train known as Rocketman; They had to come and accept the passing or Morgan once they saw Nami pull him on board and leave him in one of the beds, though it was Sanji who had filled them in on what he saw back on Sky Island after they failed to rescue Robin the second time.
"But that's impossible…" Chopper pointed out with a confused look; "There is no way…No LOGICAL way that any person or animal could survive getting hit by a lightning bolt THAT big!"
"I'm telling you…He pushed me and U-Well he stopped me and jumped in to rescue Conis before she got hit…Granted it was a while before he woke up again but I definitely saw his ass looking like a charbroiled steak." Sanji explained; "Plus you guys are forgetting one thing: Morgan's too stubborn and bullheaded to die before he becomes what he wants to be."
Nami was one of the first to believe that he could come back to life but even this couldn't win her; "But…It's already been four hours since we set off after them on Enies Lobby and he hasn't moved or done anything." She mentioned as she was sat by his bedside all that time while navigating. "I don't think I've seen him move…or anything…"
Sanji hesitated for a moment but placed his hand on her back; "When has Morgan ever left you behind? He'll come back….And if he doesn't then I'll find my way down to Hell and drag him back here for you."
Nami chuckled a little but then the sound of a whistle was heard and the drunken driver Kokoro sounded over the intercom; "Better hold on to somethin' real tight, boys and girls! We might be out on the tracks to Enies Lobby but Aqua Laguna don't care 'cause there's a big wave comin'!"
"You've gotta be kidding me…" The Super Mysterious and Super Hero from Sniper Island Sogeking grumbled as he grabbed his sling known as Kabuto.
"I'll go up top and see what I can do….Franky Guys…You want in to save your boss right? Then get in on this!" Zoro yelled to them from the top of the train at their giant boat that trailed them only to be responded with yells in the affirmative as they loaded up cannons. "Morgan…If you're still able to hear us, you need to wake up!"
There was the metallic sound of a boot hitting the roof; "You guys really need to warn me if I oversleep." Morgan joked as he still looked like he was shaking off a very heavy head.
"You're a-Later…Right now we got a giant wave in front of us and unless you feel like dyin' again then see if you can help….You've got something for this, right?" Zoro asked as he drew his swords; He was focused on trying to keep everyone alive but seeing that his captain and friend was now back up, he could breathe a little easier.
"For something that big? You bet…" Morgan said as he got to the nose of Rocketman and widened his stance before inhaling and exhaling as he spread his arms out. The slow but methodical circle that he made with his arms was starting to gain a red glow to it as his focus garnered more of his Mantra into his hand until he was finally coated in a bright red flame.
"That energy…Was that the one he used to fight off that snake back in Skypeia?" Zoro thought as before he couldn't see anything but during his fights and his own growing strength; He could now see the Mantra forming around his captain but kept quiet to see what'd happen.
"Asura no Ken…" Morgan puffed out as the fire around him grew more wild in appearance and his palms were equally flaming hot as he brought them down to his sides.
The tidal wave was growing larger and larger as it got closer with the sounds of everyone's frantic cries to do something with the cannons getting drowned out by the storm.
"TENSHŌ HONRETSU!" Morgan roared out as he fired all of the gathered Mantra in one solid burst forward from his palms and sent it colliding with the oncoming wave; Both the waves and the train shuddered under the thunderous wave of energy that Morgan gave off, but when the light died down, they could see that the blast effortlessly vaporised the oncoming water and left them a still steaming opening for Rocketman to speed on through unabated towards Enies Lobby in the distance as the permanent day skyline above it shone in the distance.
"Morgan…What. The hell. Was that?" Zoro asked with a dumbfounded expression on his face as he processed everything from Morgan waking up and whatever display he showed off. "Where did you learn tha-How did you even do that?!"
Morgan panted a little as he felt the wind leave him; "One of many things I've decided to work on, let's go down below…If that's the place ahead then we need to plan this…"
Zoro nodded, seeing the serious expression on his captain's face as he dipped below to the waiting area.
It took a few minutes for everyone to calm down but during the whole explanation to the Straw Hats about his pseudo-immortality, Nami had latched herself on his lap in a loving embrace out of relief and wouldn't let go of him for the entire story. "So essentially….This Fruit allows me to die but as long as I have a clear objective or a strong desire; It can keep bringing me back to life…."
Chopper was flabbergasted as was everyone else at the fact; "I guess that explains why your body's inside looked both normal and…Not normal at the same time…"
"So what happens now? Do we still go about this the same way?" Sanji asked as he recovered from the despair of not being able to save Robin. "Because that bull guy's Devil Fruit makes it hard to get a read on him…"
"I'll be our first shot in…" Morgan explained; "I can help with whittling down the smaller forces and engage their attention long enough."
Nami lifted her head from his shoulder to look him in the eye; She had known Morgan long enough to know that his plans were 30% planned and 70% winging it. "Okay…But how will you engage them and for what reason?" She asked him but then raised an eyebrow when he tilted his head away to avert attention from her skeptical gaze. "Morgan…What are you distracting them from?"
"Uh….The weird drunk lady ramming the train through the gate?" Morgan asked as the others changed from awe at his abilities to confusion at his "Plan". However this was soon interrupted by Kokoro with her intercom.
"Next stop; Judicial Paradise aka Enies Lobby, say yer prayers and buckle up your britches b'cause this train ain't stopping for anythin'!"
Morgan gently lifted Nami up and placed her in the seat before standing and heading for the door; "It's not much of a plan but we also don't have a lot of options…Either we get Robin back and make a run for it or we die trying…I'll leave that up to you." Morgan said resolutely and then walked out of the door; "But fight like you want to live…Because we both have people to save."
The train rumbled past as it shot down the track towards the entrance to Enies Lobby but Morgan had other ideas as he wandered towards the nose of Rocketman; He crouched down and let his body build up energy before breaking off into a full sprint down towards the back of the train before launching himself in a powerful jump that cleared the water between them and the high fence.
—-In the Main Building—-
"SPANDAM SIR! WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE COURTYARDS!" A Voice echoed from the Transponder Snail to the Chief of Cipher Pol Number 9 echoed while off of it's ringer.
"So, now that you two have accepted your Devil Fruits, I'll leave you to enjoy that time and get used to things….At least up until we take this Demon Child through the doors." Spandam sneered as he clasped Robin's jaw in his hand with an oily smirk; "You thought you could enjoy a happy life and have those friends of your's look out for you? Because now you'll have the chance to watch those optimistic grins turn to despair before you get taken away!"
"Y-You can't! Our agreement was that in exchange for me turning myself in, you'd let them go free! You can't turn your back on that!" Robin protested as she struggled in her cuffs.
"Hey, I'll have you know that we allowed them to leave Water 7 alive after all, it's not MY fault that they'd be so stubborn to try rescue someone like you….As far as we care, they are attacking World Government Property so we dispose of trash as expected." Spandam pointed out with a rather malicious smirk on his face.
"You…You never intended for them to leave the island in one piece….You're more of a Demon than anyone else here!" Robin spat with a glowering stare; "Which means that sooner or later, we're gonna see Captain go into his natural element…"
——Outside——
Morgan stood atop the rooftop where the main build lay in front of him; "So this is where they keep her...Well, don't worry, I'll be sure to come and sa-"
"Air Door!"
There was a split second where Morgan had recognised the voice back at the manor and ducked forward; allowing Blueno to step to his feet; "You were able to recognise the threat before I came near you….A commendable move but still nowhere near able enough to stand on equal footing." He begrudgingly complimented as he stood at the edge of the building in front of Morgan.
"I just kept you guys in mind so I wouldn't get jumped…But I'm not here for you….So move out of the way before I move you." Morgan snarked as he watched Blueno carefully; He knew that this big guy had Devil Fruit powers and he clearly knew how to use them if they could have him jumping in and out of thin air.
"Perhaps, but I've seen your skills or lack thereof back at Iceberg's Mansion…You've refused to rely on the Devil Fruit Powers that we heard about from our intelligence network and that alone makes you pathetic." Blueno remarked with that unchanging face.
"You're right…" Morgan stated with an almost blunt tone from his statement.
"Hm?" Blueno asked as he kept his eye trained on Morgan who started stretching and then turned his face to something more serious while staring the CP9 Agent down.
"About what you said before; "Against someone who trained to become a Superhuman; No Pirate, Marine or Devil Fruit User can every hope to beat you…" And the fact that you and that Leopard man only let us get away because you wanted us to." Morgan explained as he then got into a new fighting stance with six hands clenched into fists like a mutated Boxer. "So I started thinking that in order to beat you, I needed to become a Demon in order to match you."
Blueno scoffed at the notion; "A Demon? You were beaten, bloodied and pierced into swiss cheese….What makes that head so big that you think that you can make a difference now?" He sneered but kept his guard up as Morgan started to grow those same marks across his face like they did before but his skin colour remained the same.
"The fun fact about my Devil Fruit is that I literally claw my way back to Hell every time I die." Morgan smirked as he cracked his neck; "And time for me slows to a crawl for it so I've had plenty of time to strategise and master the skills I neglected." He then crouched down like he was going to sprint; "Allow me to show you…."
Blueno wasn't entirely convinced by his explanation but ecided to humour him one last time. "No posturing will save you from me…Tek-"
"AAAATA!" Morgan yelled and then thrust all six fists forward; Hitting Blueno with six different punch marks in his abdomen faster than he could even complete his own move.
Blueno gasped and felt himself getting pushed back even though Morgan hadn't moved from his spot; "I couldn't even see him move but I could feel his punches…They do feel different…But they won't now that I'll take him seriously."
"Asura no Ken: Dangan no Ken….You might be able to kick fast enough to cut the air but I can punch hard enough to shoot air bullets like cannonballs." Morgan grinned as he saw Blueno's confused expression; "Though I think you felt that one."
Blueno did indeed as he quickly vanished with Soru to close the gap and knock him down; Though he would have if Morgan wasn't suddenly on top of him at a blinding speed and delivered a quick triad of jabs into his face to send the Door Man back. "Fast…You weren't this fast before…How are you able to keep up with Soru?"
"Simple, I just figured it out." Morgan stated like it was something simple; "I could see that every time you used that technique, you kicked under yourself 10 times and boom, off you go." He then took a step forward and made a Soru-like movement to headbutt Blueno backward; "Whereas I only need one."
Blueno growled as he was starting to get angrier at Morgan pushing him back. "Little shit….Once I get my hands on you then I-" He threatened but then used Kami-e to increase his flexibility to dodge what looked like a shockwave that came from Morgan's high swinging kick, however the surprise changed to outright apprehension when the pillar that the wave hit was neatly cut like it was hit by a blade. "Rankyaku….You filthy little monkey…."
"You can call me whatever you want but you're just upset that you're against someone who can fight back." Morgan retorted as he swung his leg back and got into a new stance with his arms raised in a boxer's stance and a knee raised like a kickboxer, though what seemed to unnerve Blueno was the fact that he undid his six arms and left him with two.
"What's your REAL secret…There is no feasible way that you could have improved over the course of a few measly hours?! Even trained agents like myself and Lucci have been through hell to master these techniques!" Blueno snarled as he finally had a look of anger on his face.
"Remember that talk about it being a year for me in the Hellscape and only being five minutes here? The fun thing is that I've been training in there until I woke up outside of Enies Lobby." Morgan explained with enough vagueness to hide the surprise fact.
"But that was 5 hours ago so that means y…No….Nononono! That is impossible! I'll show you the real barrier between the Rokushiki and my Devil Fruit Powers versus your mockery! AIR DOOR AND SORU: HELL'S GATEWAY!" He yelled out before vanishing into a quickly closing door and started hopping between the space between spaces.
Morgan kept his stance and lowered his breathing to present both hands outward; His left hand was on top with his thumb, index, middle and ring finger pointed outward while his right hand sat underneath with his thumb, index and middle finger pointed outward but with the palms facing each other. "Seven Fingers….That's all it'll take to put you down…" Morgan issued his warning yet that was all it took to turn the normally level headed Blueno into a charging bull.
"TIME FOR YOU TO DIE!" Blueno yelled out as he readied himself in the air for an aerial strike downward; Though he never got the chance as Morgan thrust his fingers forward and the force of the push knocked Blueno away and staggering on his legs when he landed.
"Way of the Human: Tenha Kassatsu!" Morgan called out as he saw Blueno struggling to walk like he was wearing several ton weights on his body but there were also 7 bullet holes that shimmered on Blueno's torso in the shape of a Big Dipper. "Still standing? I guess I held back a little unintentionally but now I can really show you what I got." He remarked with a wide grin and then started to focus: "The Way of the De-Huh?"
Blueno let out one final grunt as he fell forward and collapsed into unconsciousness, leaving Morgan the victor; With a relieved huff and a step over him, Morgan stood on one of the platforms and took in a deep breath; "HEY! ROBIN! WE'RE COMING TO SAVE YOU! JUST HOLD ON TIGHT AND WE'LL COME AND GET YOU BACK!"
Sure enough with all the ruckus and intruding; The other Straw Hats including Sogeking joined their captain up on the rooftop and looking like they were ready to cause trouble too.
"Why? I spent so long trying to push you all away yet you come back to get me? What will it take?! What do I have to do for you to understand that I want to die here?! For me to exist is a crime! My continued life is nothing more than a stain on others! I am the baneful omen that brings ruin to others including the people I walk with! SO LEAVE ME HERE NOW WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THE CHANCE!" Robin berated and yelled at them as she stood cuffed at the wall between Spandam and the other members of CP9.
"You heard her…It's a felony for her to even stand here and breathe, the last survivor of Ohara and the only one to know how to read Poneglyphs." Spandam jeered at them as he lightly smacked Robin's face to taunt her; "The fact that you stand there now reminds her of the deal that came to an end! For her to come with us meant that the six of you could go free…Too bad that means you get executed for coming here illegally."
"Robin! Just come back with us! You don't have to do this!" Morgan argued up to her; "Whatever is bothering you, we can help!"
"You really think you can back that up, Straw Hat?" Spandam remarked before holding up what looked like a Transponder Snail but it was covered in gold; The others were sure about what the significance of it was but Spandam and CP9 knew but Morgan had a grim look on his face like he watched this guy sink even lower while Robin looked like she had her very worst fears dragged to the surface. "Then perhaps you can explain what this is since you've shut up now that I've shown it."
Morgan grit his teeth and felt every inch of his body start to tense; "One of the most powerful and egregious displays of power from the Marines in the name of Justice…One push of that button means that a fleet of 10 battleships and carrying five Vice-Admirals will unleash everything they have to turn anything it is called on into a pile of ash…People, Animals…Everything down to the smallest blade of grass isn't safe from a Buster Call…" He explained like he had read it from a manual.
"Morgan…How do you know about it?" Robin thought to herself as she tried ot keep a stiff upper lip as she gazed down at the people who had come to rescue her; "You see why now?! Why I pushed and ordered you to stay away?! I can't stand the idea that my life would burden you while I remain on your ship….You'll tire of me eventually and then you'll throw me out….I can't handle that….I would much rather die than be discarded by you all!"
This outburst made Spandam burst out laughing with every intention of mockery before glaring down at Morgan as the Captain. "And she is absolutely correct! Why would you want her?! She has nothing for you besides the knowledge that would eventually kill you!" He mocked and brutally condescended pointing at the tower's very top where the flag of the World Government fluttered in the never ending daylight. "Not to mention that with said knowledge, her enemy isn't just the Marines or any one organization…BUT THE ENTIRE WORLD! 170 Nations formed together to make one World Government and you think you have the gall…The Audacity! To think that you could hope to keep this woman safe?!"
Morgan kept quiet as Spandam talked before looking to Sogeking and mouthed something that couldn't be heard from the others on the Tower. "So if they're Robin's enemy…I just have this to say…" He then reared a fist back that started to glow red and then started to glow brighter with each of his outbursts; "Fuck CP9!" He then changed it from light red to red, "Fuck the Marines!" He then made it go darker into a scarlet colour, "Fuck the World Government!" He yelled before readying his fist with a now dark crimson fire around his fist; "And FUCK EVERYONE WHO THREATENS MY CREW!" He yelled out louder for the entire tower and the fighting below to hear; "Sogeking…"
"Got it…" Sogeking yelled out as he fired off a power blast of fire from his slingstaff known as Kabuto and watched it take form into a Phoenix before flying towards the flag with a harrowing cry.
"SHAKANETSU DANGAN no KEN!/FIREBIRD STAR!"
The shot that pierced the centre circle of the flag at the same time that Morgan's Burning Bullet Fist did which made the flag that held the World's authority burst into flames and horrified everyone who was there to witness.
"They...They've gone crazy...."
"He's denounced them all..."
"Y-You're insane….DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU JUST DID?! YOU DECLARED WAR ON THE ENTIRE WORLD!" Spandam screeched at the group but was shocked to see that not a single one of them were afraid or even anxious; "They know exactly what they're doing….And they aren't even flinching!"
"ROBIN! We still haven't heard you….We want you to live! To enjoy the adventure with us! YOU'RE OUR FRIEND JUST LIKE WE ARE YOUR'S!" Morgan yelled out as he watched her from the tower.
Robin was at a loss; Those cruel words rang in her head for as far back as she could remember: That her life was a crime, that it was a sin for her to exist and that she was the darkness that threatened the world. That darkness would hold her in a tight grip for all of her life but even as far back as Morgan saving her in Alabasta, that Darkness slowly regressed as his light began to shine through and with the Straw Hats that she began to think of as new friends made it even brighter….Dare she hope? To finally welcome those precious people in now that her enemy was their's too? Her face was quivering and tears began to stream as she finally let loose those words that she had been told to hold on to ever since she was a child. "Morgan….Morgan..I…"
Morgan smirked as he then cracked his knuckles as he heard her voice, that voice which finally broke through all of her stoic act and her emotional stiffness. "TAKE ME OUT TO SEA WITH YOU! LET ME ENJOY THESE GOOD TIMES WHILE THEY LAST….Because...Because...
"I WANT TO LIVE!"