"Protect? How ridiculous..."
After that, neither of them said another word. They simply walked on in silence...
Back at the clock tower, Vivi had defeated Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day and successfully cut the burning fuse, only to discover that the shell was on a timer. She sank into despair.
Just then, someone appeared at the window. It was Pell, who had only just recovered from his grave injuries.
"How nostalgic... the Sand-Sand Group's secret base..."
Vivi immediately looked up...
"Pell... it's all over... the shell is on a timer... it's going to explode any moment..."
Pell fell silent... as though he were making a decision...
A little while passed, though it felt like an eternity at a moment like this. Then Pell smiled and said to Vivi,
"Princess Vivi... I, Pell... am truly, deeply honored to have been able to serve your Nefertari Family!"
Vivi looked at Pell in confusion. She already had a terrible feeling.
Pell transformed into his Giant Eagle form and snatched the shell from the cannon barrel!
"I am Alabasta's guardian deity! The Great Falcon!"
But just as he prepared to sacrifice himself, a hand stopped him.
"Mr. Barn!"
Barn had actually been nearby the entire time, silently watching everything unfold. He could have intervened much sooner, but he had his own selfish motives. Heroes always appeared at the last moment, didn't they?
He said,
"Want to see some fireworks?"
Without waiting for an answer, Barn snatched the shell from Pell's grasp and hurled it out the window, high into the sky!
A red light flashed, and Onikiri returned to its sheath!
The world seemed to stand still, leaving only the ever-growing roar from the sky!
Barn had saved Pell from sacrificing his life for his country, and he had saved the nation that