【One Piece】Dawn in the Darkness

"Fufufufu! It seems you made the wrong choice. Well then, I'll leave it to you, Vergo, to let them die a cruel death."

"Understood." Vergo replied calmly, casually putting the Den Den Mushi back in his pocket, then looked at Law kneeling on the ground. "It's been several years since we last saw each other, hasn't it? You've grown up, Law."

“You really do have the most dangerous ideas. Are you planning to turn the New World upside down?” Vergo said, clenching his left hand tightly around his heart. He looked at Luo, who was screaming in pain, and then relaxed his left hand behind his back with satisfaction. “You didn’t expect this, did you? We don’t trust Caesar either, so he arranged for Monet in advance.”

"When did you get here..." Luo gasped for breath, gritting his teeth as he looked at Vergo. He hadn't expected Caesar to give his heart to Vergo.

Lucci stared sharply at Vergo, who was standing at the door. Was this guy so confident that he could take on both of them by himself?

“Just now, I happened to be in Dressrosa and heard that SAD’s cruise ship was about to set sail, so I hitched a ride. I really came to the right place,” Vergo sneered, then looked at Lucci. “You just missed your only chance to survive.”

Lucci squinted at Vergo. "I don't think you're capable of dealing with me."

“I know you’re strong, but…” Vergo said mockingly, while clenching the heart in his arms tightly, “What if that’s the case?”

"Ugh..." Almost instantly, Lucci felt that familiar, excruciating pain. He clutched his chest in agony, gritting his teeth and gasping for breath. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "It's in your hands..."

“It is indeed in my hands.” Vergo squeezed it again without changing his expression.

Oh no! Lucci could barely lift his head. The intense pain in his heart throbbed through his body again. He tried his best to stop himself from screaming, but he still couldn't control the trembling of his body.

He could almost see a black dot in his field of vision. Lucci clenched his fists in pain, his nails digging deep into his palms, just to vent the pain and keep himself awake. Lucci gritted his teeth and said, "You really... gave me a good weakness."

Luo lay on the ground, panting heavily. Looking at Vergo slowly walking towards them, his voice trembled slightly, "I...I didn't expect him to come."

The relentless pain was almost suffocating him. Lu Qi bit his lip tightly, blood gushing from the spot where he had bitten too hard. His trembling right hand gripped the knife tightly, while his left hand clenched into a fist, clutching his chest and trying to control the pain. He needed to find an opportunity, a chance to catch his breath, and then fight back.

As Vergo clutched his heart, he strode toward the blond man lying on the ground. A surge of pleasure rose within him as he looked at the pain on the man's face, and a mad joy shone in his eyes. What did it matter how high the bounty was or how strong the man was? He was now lying here, an object he could dispose of at will.

"I will make you feel the utter fear of despair before you die, and I will let you know what the consequences will be for refusing the young master!"

Lucci looked up from his pain at Vergo, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'm really sorry... I've rejected far too many insignificant people. And who is your young master?"

“I will make you understand who the young master is.” Veins bulged on Vergo’s forehead as he clenched his fist over the heart again. His legs, wrapped in Armament Haki, struck the defenseless man hard, and he watched with satisfaction as the man lay on the ground in even greater pain. “I could easily kill you, but I won’t.”

Lucky lowered his head, gasping for breath, trying to breathe, even though each breath caused another kind of pain, but it was what he needed to relieve the constant, intense pain from his heart, even though it was useless.

“Because I told you I would make your arrogant face feel what despair is.” Vergo reached out and grabbed the man’s hair, pulling him up from the ground. He looked at the pain on the man’s face with satisfaction. The only thing that displeased him was that he never heard the painful whimper that he wanted from the man.

Lucci smiled, a forced but mocking smile, and gave him the middle finger.

Vergo's expression changed instantly, and the veins on his forehead bulged, but he quickly calmed down and pulled the man's blond hair closer. "You know there's no good in angering me."

Lucky was still struggling to breathe, frowning in disgust at the man's breath on his face. He noticed the satisfaction in the man's eyes behind his sunglasses. "Sickly bastard."

"Very good." Vergo gripped the blond hair tightly and slammed it against the hard stone floor. Watching the large amount of blood gushing from his forehead, he stepped back with satisfaction and released the blond hair, letting him fall back to the ground in a sorry state.

Feeling the blood trickle down his face, Lucci frowned, uncomfortable with the sensation, but he had no time to dwell on it. He gripped the sword he'd somehow loosened his grip on the ground. Now was the time. But before he could even make a move to retaliate, the familiar pain gripped him once more. "Ugh..."

Vergo watched with satisfaction as the man lay on the ground groaning in pain. He kicked the man hard in the ribs, watching his body slump to the ground after hitting the railing, coughing in pain. He sneered and clenched his fist as he moved closer to the man. "This is just the beginning. Let's see how long you can stay arrogant."

He was nothing but a piece of trash who couldn't even protect his own heart. Even a piece of trash like Caesar could be controlled. Vergo clearly realized that he could completely crush this pirate and let him rest in eternal fear like Law.

"You're all in such a hurry because the plan is about to fall apart, aren't you?" Law stood up shakily, looking at Vergo who was slowly approaching Lucci's leader with a defiant air. Law clutched his chest. "Looks like it really is quite important... Ugh!!"

"Oh, right, and you too, you dog who bites back. Although it would be easy to crush your heart and kill you, I won't do that. I'll torture you thoroughly."

Vergo turned and charged at Law with Shave, kicking him away with his leg wrapped in Armament Haki. He then flashed towards Law as he flew away and struck him in the ribs with his elbow.

"Waaah!" Luo rolled over, panting heavily, clutching his injured ribs.

“I’ll make you relive that fear.” Vergo said expressionlessly, taking out the Ghost Bamboo. “Stand up, Luo.”

Luo propped himself up, looking down at Vergo who stood in front of him. He noticed Lucci struggling to his feet with his sword behind Vergo and a provocative smile appeared on his lips. He knew exactly what he had to do; he just needed to buy Lucci some time.

"I had already planned how to snatch the heart from Caesar, but your appearance was something I didn't expect, Vergo!"

Vergo looked at Law, who still had an arrogant smile on his face, and expressionlessly swung the black bamboo pole in his hand, smashing it hard against Law's head.

"what!!"

"It's Mr. Vergo!"

Vergo, expressionless, slammed his fist down hard on Luo's head again, who was kneeling on the ground.

Watching Vergo swing his club at Luo, Lucci ignored the lingering pain in his chest, putting all the agony behind him. He tightened his knuckles on the hilt of his sword, then suddenly lunged forward. His body moved instinctively, the blade drawing a silver streak in the air. His movements were so fast that they left only afterimages, yet they were incredibly precise.

Vergo's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected this guy to have the strength to attack him so quickly. He had used all his strength last time, and the pain was real. The black bamboo pole whistled out, trying to block.

The moment the black blade clashed with the ink bamboo, it cleaved the pitch-black bamboo weapon in two. The blade traced a sharp arc, directly slicing through the opponent's prized Armament Haki.

Vergo staggered and flew backward. A look of disbelief flashed in his eyes, then blood sprayed into the air. A sharp pain shot through him, and Vergo collapsed to his knees, clutching the wound in his chest in disbelief, his face contorted with agony.

“It seems you are completely beyond saving,” Vergo murmured, his voice somber, as he reached back into his robes. He shouldn’t have looked down on him just because he held his heart. “Why not accept this temporary mercy?”