Crimson blood seeped from Vivi's heart, ran slowly down the white thread, and dripped to the ground.
Doflamingo watched Luffy charge at him in a fury. With a contemptuous grin, he grabbed Vivi and hurled her at the Straw Hat Kid, laughing wildly.
Luffy's expression turned to panic. He caught Vivi and shouted,
"Chopper! Quick... come look at Vivi!"
"Ah..."
Chopper stumbled over in shock and began treating Vivi, but...
"Luffy... everyone..."
Feeling her life slip away, Vivi managed only a faint call before she closed her eyes. She lay motionless in Luffy's arms, with no breath of life left in her.
"!!!"
For an instant, time seemed to stop.
Everyone stared at the scene, stunned.
The light went out of Luffy's eyes. He gazed blankly at Vivi in his arms.
"That bastard Doflamingo..."
Crocodile was burning with anger too, though not over Vivi's death. Back during the Enies Lobby incident, as part of the circumstances that led to Cross Guild's founding, he had promised the Straw Hat Pirates he would keep Vivi alive. Doflamingo had acted on his own and made a fool of him, one of Cross Guild's founders.
Just then, a low roar rang out, like the growl of a wild beast.
"Doflamingo!!!"
A terrifying presence followed, blanketing all of Laugh Tale like some primeval monster.
"Hey, hey... this Conqueror's Haki..."
Even Charlotte Linlin was startled by its sheer power.
This Haki is even more terrifying than that monster Rocks. Could this kid really be the Child of Destiny? Mama, if that's the case...
Charlotte Linlin's thoughts raced. If the Straw Hat Kid really was the Child of Destiny, then it would be best for her to have him in her grasp. Braving the terrifying Conqueror's Haki, she charged straight at the frenzied Luffy, intent on seizing