Chapter 587: The Fourth Division Arrives for Negotiations!
Just as Ban charged into battle, Vegapunk, who had just been cleaved in two by Escanor, slowly knitted himself back together and returned to his original shape.
"The Dragon Hunter Pirates' Fourth Division…"
"The Sun God, Escanor!"
The moment Vegapunk looked at the man before him, wariness surfaced on his face.
When the Five Elders, Kirito, Doflamingo, and the others had surrounded him earlier, Vegapunk had not panicked at all. He knew their strength. He understood their limits.
But now the Seven Deadly Sins were here, and that changed the equation.
Especially the one standing in front of him.
Escanor's true depth was a complete unknown.
This man had never looked like he was fighting at full power.
"Vegapunk."
"Our captain wants to see you."
"Come with us."
Escanor's voice was calm, steady, and utterly unbothered.
It did not sound like a negotiation.
It sounded like a notice.
After all, it was almost noon.
Between his Devil Fruit and the physical enhancements he received on Riku's ship, the strength Escanor could unleash now far surpassed what he once wielded in the world of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Back then, when Escanor paid with his life, even the Demon King refused to take him head on.
Vegapunk, standing here now, was not in a better position than that.
"Go back with you?"
"There's no need."
"I'll go there myself."
Vegapunk took a deep breath, then continued in a measured tone.
"But before that… shouldn't you release my little darlings first?"
Ha!
Vegapunk did not get a yes.
He got an axe.
A massive blade swung down, and a terrifying golden light flooded the entire area.
This time, Vegapunk was smarter.
He dodged, using speed to slip away.
But who was Escanor?
The one and only supreme existence of heaven and earth.
At that speed, there was no way to evade completely.
Wounds tore open across Vegapunk's body, one after another.
If not for that inhuman healing, he probably would not even be able to stand.
"A weakling like you wants to negotiate terms?"
"You really don't understand the situation you're in."
"Your only choice is to obey. Nothing else."
Escanor did not bother continuing after that.
If Vegapunk refused to listen, then he would be beaten until he did.
At the same time, Meliodas stepped into the epicenter of the earlier explosion.
He raised a hand and waved it casually.
In an instant, the lingering energy was swept away as if it had never existed.
Erwin had already been reduced to ash.
All that remained was a tiny trace at the center.
"You would rather die than let Vegapunk be taken away…"
Meliodas stared at the trace and muttered under his breath.
Then he turned and walked toward the Aragami.
Puff!
The Lost Calamity in his hand lifted.
The Aragami that Doflamingo had restrained instantly turned into ash.
And at the same time, a surge of energy blasted outward.
It was so fast that even Meliodas felt he could not keep up with it.
But in the next instant, the target became clear.
That energy was being drawn into Vegapunk's body.
"The captain was right."
"So the Aragami that committed suicide in that explosion…"
"They did it to increase your energy."
"You survived by using that method, didn't you?"
"Or maybe your power comes from these Aragami in the first place."
Meliodas watched Vegapunk as Escanor continued hammering him.
"As expected of the Fourth Division's captain…"
Vegapunk's eyes narrowed, and his voice turned cold.
"But even if you know, what can you do about it?"
"You're strong, sure."
"But it's impossible for you to keep me here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Vegapunk slipped out of Escanor's attack range.
Escanor moved to chase.
"Escanor, come back."
Meliodas stopped him before he could take another step.
"Commander, should we let him go?"
Escanor looked at Meliodas, confused.
This was the captain's order. They should be able to keep Vegapunk here.
King, standing to the side, spoke at once.
"Do what the captain says."
He did not know Meliodas's full intent, but one thing was constant.
The captain was always thinking further ahead than they were.
Hearing King's words, Escanor immediately deactivated his battle form.
He returned to the ship.
Time to wash the dishes.
Meliodas also gradually changed back into Vegapunk.
Then he took out his Dragon Hunting Token.
"Vegapunk."
"I'm guessing you're worried about your experiment results right now, aren't you?"
"Want to take a look?"
Ryuunosuke's voice came straight through the Dragon Hunting Token.
Vegapunk's expression shifted, surprise flashing across his face.
Ryuunosuke had already deployed his forces to this extent.
Which meant Ryuunosuke knew Vegapunk's current state.
And his real purpose.
"Vegapunk, I don't know what your purpose is."
"But your eyes just betrayed you."
"So how about it?"
"Come and take a look."
"I believe you can get here fast, right?"
Ryuunosuke's image appeared before Vegapunk, wearing a confident smile.
At the same time, the view shifted to Nirvash.
Nirvash was no longer as imposing as at the start.
His arms and legs were broken.
He was trying to regenerate, but under the continuous pressure of Ryuunosuke and Gaino, there was no real chance for him to recover at all.
If Vegapunk did not go over now, Nirvash might be gone.
And that price was something Vegapunk could not afford.
"Your purpose was just to see me?"
"Captain Ryuunosuke, give me a reason I have to come."
Vegapunk went straight to the point.
For some reason, he had once believed his plan was flawless.
But after Ryuunosuke spoke, a strange panic rose in his chest.
Like he was being dragged around by the neck.
That feeling was unbearable.
"Because if you want to create gods, you can't do it by relying on half finished Aragami."
"If you can convince me, cooperation isn't impossible."
"Besides."
"If you don't come now, you might really never have the chance to come again."
"There's more than just my Dragon Hunter Pirates looking for you, right?"
Ryuunosuke's smile did not change.
This was no longer only a conflict between Vegapunk and the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
The Guardians and the Evictors could not possibly be unaware of Nirvash's appearance.
And they understood the situation far better than most.
Meaning even if Vegapunk escaped from Meliodas and the others…
In the next moment, he would be found by the Guardians and the Evictors.
At that point, there would be no chance to run.
No chance to continue the plan to create a god.
Are you threatening me?
Vegapunk's eyes turned sharp.
"Captain Ryuunosuke, do you think I got to where I am today because I'm afraid of things like that?"
He hated the calm confidence in Ryuunosuke's voice.
Being controlled like this made his skin crawl.
"It's not a threat."
"Just a suggestion."
"Of course, you can refuse."
"In the end, the choice is yours."
Ryuunosuke's tone remained as steady as ever.
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