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The Veil Of Darkness
🕑 Added 2022-10-31 14:24:43 +0000 UTC.................
Chapter 65: The Veil Of Darkness
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Time has finally come. Aqua Laguna, the annual storm and high tide that takes place in Water 7, a catastrophe feared by all of the city's inhabitants... Things were different this time.
The people of Water 7 weren't informed of Yovan's task here at all, so they were surprised to see someone visit the city at all at this time of year.
Iceburg didn't tell them anything. Instead, he instructed them to follow the same instructions as usual, as if they weren't receiving help.
He wasn't certain Yovan would be able to stop the catastrophe that is Aqua Laguna, and he couldn't simply let his people's lives be in the hands of a possibility.
Water 7 was silent, everyone hiding in the upper part of the city, all seeming tense and fearful. The fear of death overwhelmed the city just like every time this happens.
But there were a few people who were completely undeterred by the catastrophe. In fact, they were having a meeting right now.
"What's stopping me from killing you right now." Rob Lucci stated with a cold look as he eyed Kalifa and Kaku.
They were all in an underground area, Kalifa and Kaku both basically standing for trial. Anything wrong they do or say can lead to their death.
It wasn't just Lucci standing before them, Blueno was also near him, narrowing his eyes at them.
Moreover, Kalifa was certain that the area is surrounded by other agents, just in case they try something.
"We made the right decision." Both Kalifa and Kaku spoke at the same time.
"Explain," Lucci ordered.
"We were losing ourselves. Either our training wasn't enough, or he..." They didn't need to continue as Lucci understood.
"Weak. Failures. We've been in Gallery-La Company for years without any change or doubts, yet he appears, and you're suddenly losing yourselves." Lucci wanted to make sure he was hearing them right.
"We do not understand it ourselves." The two nodded.
"You two are compromised, so I can not allow you to know more about our plan. You'll be sent back to the headquarters. Your fate will be decided there." Lucci emotionlessly stated.
"And what is in the black box?" He went on to question as he eyed Kalifa.
She didn't answer. Instead, she brought out the box and opened it, drawing a frown out of Lucci who said as he shook his head, "Useless."
His hawk-like eyes could accurately pick up something in their eyes, a trace of confusion, desire to do something more, resignation, and... Trust in someone other than the higher-ups.
'They've been compromised, but it doesn't matter. He will be dead very soon. In fact, it's starting...'
His thought process was cut short by his ringing Den Den Mushi. He answered the call to hear something that made him frown.
"Cancel everything. Our agent in the Underworld informed us about an event related to the blueprints. It will be happening two and a half months from now."
The news surprised him, and he had many doubts, but the one who informed him was his boss, Spandam, so all he said was, "Understood."
"All the plans are canceled!" Lucci declared before turning his attention to Blueno, "Inform everyone."
The two were left in the underground chamber under the watchful eyes of some other agents. Lucci, on the other hand, went out to observe the enemy's capabilities.
It was dark despite it being morning. The dark clouds sought to ban the sunrays from slipping in as the waves got more and more chaotic in preparation for what was to come.
The water that makes up the Aqua Laguna comes from Long Ring Long Land in the once-in-a-year time when the sea level lowers, exposing the ring of land that connects the islets to each other.
And soon, the sea level started to lower, slowly but surely. The people of Water 7 could hear the ocean roaring seemingly in pain.
It got to such a point that the Sea Floor became seeable from the upper part of the city. The sea receded from its surroundings, seemingly bending the knee for the Bahamut of a tsunami that is coming.
Iceburg frowned, watching from a mostly safe area. He wasn't sure where Yovan was. He was starting to give up hope, Water 7 will suffer the inevitable catastrophe.
If Yovan was gonna do something with his strange ability, it was supposed to be now.
How would he be able to stop the sheer force of a tsunami anyway? That's something he wondered about many times which is why he still made other precautions against the catastrophe.
Rob Lucci eyed the horizon with a frown. He could see it better than anyone, the High Tide of Aqua Lagune was coming but it had a friend.
Aqua Laguna was monstrous, seeming like it was reaching the clouds from afar, but Lucci could see it, another dark wave behind it.
The High Tide was approaching Water 7 from all sides, but so was the Dark Tide.
Lucci understood what was happening instantly, shielding against the sheer chaotic force of Aqua Lagune should be something neigh impossible, so he had wondered how would Yovan be able to stop it.
Now, it became apparent as the Dark Tide behind Aqua Lagune fell onto it, seemingly trying to bury the colossal Tide.
The Dark Tide was still very much hidden, but Lucci could see it falling onto the Water Tide, pressuring it down, almost seeming like it was supporting it.
Such a move would indeed minimize the damage done by Aqua Laguna as it will only be able to reach the lower parts of the city, but that wasn't the deal, was it?
So as the Dark Tide of feathers brought down Aqua Laguna, it scattered to form a maze of sorts before the raging tide. It almost look like an obstacle course that managed to calm the Tide a bit.
And most were finally able to see the miracle as the Tode of Feathers transformed into a veil of darkness, shielding the city in its entirety.
The waves of feathers' previous actions made Aqua Laguna significantly less harsh, so as the Veil Of Darkness enveloped the city before being hit by the High Tide, the Veil managed to hold on.
Everyone could only gawk in shock at what just happened before them, even Iceburg couldn't contain his shock... The Catastrophe was stopped!!!
It took a while before the Veil of darkness vanished into the ocean, and with it, a dark Ship sailed into the horizon.
The only thing it left behind was a few raging waves that weren't able to do any harm, but it certainly caused a huge tide of tears, one of happiness.
"I'm sorry!!" Iceburg knelt on the ground, seemingly in gratitude, but also in regret... His actions were an act of betrayal to the very person who saved his people so much suffering.
It didn't matter to him that it was just a deal. He just felt regret, but no amount of regret would cause him to act differently because the result would be the destruction of Water 7!!
The person who threatened Iceburg personally had a glint in his eyes. It was Rob Lucci, "We have underestimated him, or Kalifa and Kaku kept a lot from us... Then we shall overestimate him, and give it out all."
Seizon No Hono sailed amidst the raging waves, undeterred by their fury. It was almost like the ocean hated it or who is inside of it for stopping the catastrophe.
"Cap! Since the deal is done, that doesn't mean that we will have to help them next year too, right? How about we make it worse next year, and then you can make a painting out of it?" Laffitte wondered with innocent curiosity.
Yovan ignored him, focusing on painting the event that just took place before it slips out of his mind.
It was a very simple painting, a dark veil of feathers over the city with several humanoid Bahamuts surrounding it, all made of water... They were all trying to break through the veil to no avail.
The painting told a story the way Yovan wanted it to. It was the perfect reminder though Laffitte's suggestion did sound kind of tempting, "Veil Of Darkness." That was the name of the painting.
"I'll consider it, but for now, go to Arabasta. I'm very tired, so let's take a vacation." Yovan instructed before carrying the painting and going to his quarter.
"A vacation in the desert?" Laffitte was trying to make sense of Yovan's words, "Wait... Did he take inspiration from Aqua Laguna? Will he sink Arabasta?"
Yovan entered the Captain's quarter, throwing all of his clothes and even mask to the side to show his shitty state. What he had just done certainly made it much worse to a dangerous point.
[Age: 24/32]
His lifespan shortened further. His hair has gotten severely grey, and it even started falling off. He looked dead, contending with most skeletons on who looks worst.
"Yahahahahahahaha, I'm funny!" That was certainly not a sane reaction, especially as he opened a small box to show two dark gray bracelets.
Someone in his state would've certainly been dead. If they weren't, they'd be unconscious. If not, then braindead. No? How about being unable to move at all? No? How? Just how??
He was standing, and he didn't like that as he put the bracelets on, forcing himself to collapse on his bed.
The bracelets were made of Seastone, a naturally-occurring but immensely rare mineral best known for its negation of Devil Fruit abilities.
The mineral will drain the Devil Fruit user of their stamina and nullify their powers as coming into contact with Seastone has the same effect on a Devil Fruit user as falling into the sea, minus the risk of drowning, basically a form of torture he set upon himself.
Comments
He will go back to his peak very soon. It should be in less than 15 chapters, after the end of the countdown.
youyou7
I hope to see Yovan goes back to his peak in the coming chapters, it breaks my heart to see him like that
