Summary:
The Straw Hats and Kin’emon all run at Brownbeard who complains about having to carry them all and says they should run if they aren’t hurt. The riders give flimsy excuses for not being able to run, and Brownbeard doesn’t believe any of them.
Close behind, Tashigi is still grieving the loss of some of her soldiers and is shocked at how all the activity is going on under the marines’ noses, but the soldier tells her that she must move on and she agrees. The soldiers next notice something coming from the roof. He then turns and runs as the dragon that came with the pirates breathes a large amount of fire at them. The soldiers wonder what it is, and Tashigi tells them that she heard rumors of dragons at Punk Hazard. He explains that Vegapunk made the dragons artificially to serve as guardians of the facility. The dragon jumps from wall to wall, falling on the marines and dodging their bullets. It opens its jaws right in front of one of the soldiers who ducks for cover at the last moment and sends the dragon’s head into the pipes on the wall. The dragon then turns its head to show that it is eating metal from the pipes. Spooked by the enemy reptile, the Marines continue to run towards Building B. The Dragon then buzzes low above them and continues ahead. The soldier comments that it looked panicked and concludes that something is happening in front of them.
The marines outside Tashigi begin to cheer, saying that reinforcements have arrived. Vergo entered the passage from the other side. The soldiers are excited to see their commanding officer and ask if HQ has been informed of the situation and the size of the reinforcement group. Tashigi is the only one not celebrating. Tashigi barely makes enough sound to tell them to run before several soldiers fall in front of Vergo. As the Marine falls, Verg’s index finger is shown dripping with fresh blood. The soldier asks Verg why he is attacking and says that even as a form of punishment, using Shigano will kill them.
Tashigi remembers when she and Smoker were first transported to the G-5 base. Vergo told them how the soldiers were noisy and not very bright, but overall they were good people. Between flashes of Vergo taking other soldiers away, Tashigi remembers the soldier telling her about how Vergo sometimes suddenly leaves home to take care of his sick sister. She also remembers talking to him about the kidnapping case, when Vergo told her that it was a false claim and that the parents were in denial and overreacting to their child’s death, saying that the thought of the kidnapping gave them hope that their child was still alive saying that Tashigi will understand when he becomes a parent. Back in the present, Tashigi attacks Vergo with her sword. Vergo blocks the sword with his arm and then grabs her head. He then delivers a devastating melee blow that knocks her to the ground and nearly renders her unconscious. The soldier yells at Vergo, calling him a fraud, saying that a real Vice Admiral Vergo would never do that. All the remaining soldiers grouped together and attacked Vergo, but Vergo destroyed them all, leaving him alone standing. Tashigi mentally prays for Smoker’s help. Vergo then hears someone and a person can be seen moving around the corridor. Before Vergo can react, Sanji attacks Vergo’s head. The soldiers, who are still conscious, are surprised to see one of the pirates. Sanji said he heard the sound of a woman in distress and came to help.
Back with Brownbeard and his passengers, Usopp questions why Sanji left so suddenly. Zoro tells him that he sensed an unknown presence. Brook and Kin’emon look up to see the dragon from earlier. Nami notes that she looks different, something about her eyes is strange. Brownbeard exclaims that the sedative has worn off and he is no longer obedient.
The scene changes to Luffy and Smoker heading to Caesar’s lab via the shortest route. Inside the lab, Caesar watches events unfold, irritated that Vergo has taken his test subjects. He orders Monet to block the gate of Passage B and let in the gas. She tells him that Vergo is still there. The clown says he doesn’t care. Smoker and Luffy arrive at the door to the lab, Luffy out of breath from running. They both tell each other not to mess around. Luffy fights Caesar and Smoker fights Verg. The smoker rings the bell and the door opens to reveal only Caesar in the lab. Luffy delivers a blindingly fast and powerful blow to Caesar’s stomach, saying that he won’t run away this time.