Chapter 90

Arlong proclaims his views of the superiority of fish-men over humans to Luffy, demonstrating the power of his teeth by biting into a stone pillar. Though Luffy admits that he lacks many innate talents, he states that he does have the strength to beat Arlong, and shatters the fish-man's teeth during their battle. Arlong's teeth grow back, and he brings out two sets of them to hold in his hands as weapons. However, Luffy uses one of Arlong's beaten henchmen to intercept Arlong's weapons, and gets an idea from this.

What Can You Do?

After receiving some blows from Luffy, Arlong acknowledges the Straw Hat captain's strength, but says it would have been better for Luffy to die underwater as he will now have to deal with Arlong's rage at his crew's actions. The nearby onlookers grow tense at the confrontation between Luffy and Arlong, and Sanji casually remarks that they will all die if Arlong beats Luffy, with Nojiko adding that all of East Blue will be doomed as well. Arlong asks Luffy if he knows what the difference between them is, and Luffy answers with sincerity that it is their different body parts (noses, etc.). This shocks Johnny and Yosaku and enrages Arlong, who replies that it is their race as he lunges toward Luffy and tries to bite him. Luffy barely manages to repeatedly dodge Arlong's rapidly encroaching jaws, and his situation seems to be hopeless when Arlong pins him to a pillar by the neck, but he manages to pull his head out of the path of Arlong's jaws by stretching his neck. This causes Arlong to bite into the pillar behind Luffy, and Usopp is initially confident that the fish-man's teeth will break, only for the opposite to happen as Arlong's bite causes the stone pillar to shatter. Johnny and Yosaku are terrified, and Sanji notes that Luffy's body would be completely torn apart if Arlong manages to get his jaws around it. Arlong boasts in the power of his teeth, saying that the humans' lack of this power makes them the inferior species, but Luffy retorts by saying he can just crush stone with his fists. Johnny and Yosaku agree with Luffy's remark, but Arlong calls it frivolous as he charges at Luffy, shouting about how weak humans are, and how Luffy in particular can't even save himself from drowning. However, Luffy does not seem opposed to these accusations of weakness, saying he needs helps because of them as he grabs two swords from Arlong's beaten crewmates.

Luffy's crewmates and allies cheer at his statement, but Arlong expresses his exasperation with Luffy's talking as he quickly grows back another set of teeth, much to Luffy's shock. He reveals that he can do this as a shark fish-man, and that the new set is stronger than the old one every time. He then pulls out his new set of teeth and then the next one after that, allowing him to wield two sets of teeth in his hands as weapons while another set of teeth grows back in his mouth. Arlong uses this ability to proclaim again about the superiority of fish-men, and he attacks Luffy with the jaws in his hands. Eventually, he manages to draw blood, but with a shock realizes that it is from a fish-man that Luffy used as a shield. This causes Arlong to get angry, and gives Luffy an idea.

Mission 71

At SSS Headquarters, the Lieutenant reports to his superior about the hijacked buses. According to the information they received from the Blackbell Company, they discovered that members of the Red Circus are behind this and know where the buses are going. The superior officer orders that suppressing the suspects is their top priority and to cover up everything. Afterward, Yuri approaches the Lieutenant, asking about the bus Anya is on. The Lieutenant orders him not to come with them, as his sister's kid might recognize him, and not to tell city hall about this. Yuri is initially apathetic about Anya's situation, but after imagining Yor grieving her, he rushes after the Lieutenant and the others, telling them to wait for him.

At the Blackbell Company, Becky's father worries for his daughter's life and recklessly orders every tank and fighter jet in their storage dispatched to secure her. However, Martha stops him and rationalizes that he would only provoke the kidnappers. She decides to go there herself, then hopes for Becky's safety.

Inside the bus, the students are shocked by Billy Squire's revelation that the device on Anya is a bomb. As Anya realizes her imminent doom, the other students back away from her, and Becky starts tearing up for her friend. Billy's thoughts confirm that the bomb is a fake, as he only needed it to be real enough to trick the children. Relieved to hear this, Anya casually plops back to her seat and says she is hungry. Becky and Damian are shocked by how carefree Anya is, making Damian wonder if she was raised by an assassin. Anya hears his thoughts and imagines him inviting her over to meet Donovan. Anya proceeds to taunt him by whacking on the bomb with her smug smile, scaring everyone, and their frightened thoughts make her dizzy. Damian then assumes that Anya was just doing it for show and did not want the others to be scared.

Damian decides to approach Billy and asks him to attach Anya's bomb to him instead. Damian reasons that because he is Donovan's son and popular among the kids, he is the perfect hostage. Damian then tells himself that he is the scion of the Desmond Family that will one day become a politician and protect his country. He adds that Donovan fought all kinds of enemies during the war and says he can fight too. Billy acknowledges Damian's courage, and decides to honor it by also putting a bomb on him. Damian is shocked by this and nervously chuckles while Ewen and Emile worry for him. On the other hand, Anya happily says they match, which annoys him. Damian wonders why he was trying to save Anya the way he did but tells himself that those who lead must protect their compatriots, saying that Donovan must have done the same.

Damian tries to think calmly but starts to fear for his life, thinking about his future dreams and his mother and father. To his surprise, Anya holds his hand, assuring him that it will be okay and not to be scared. She then whispers to Damian that she overheard the terrorists saying the bombs were fake. Damian quickly denies his fear and yanks his hand away from hers. Becky calls Anya mature for this, which makes her so happy that she knocks on her bomb. This scares Becky and Damian, who start calling Anya an idiot. Suddenly, they are interrupted by a loud pop, and the bus starts to swerve around. The bus makes a stop, and the students are surprised to be unharmed. Billy asks the bus driver, Vadim, what happened, and Vadim says they got caught with a spike strip. Police surround the bus shortly after, and the children are relieved to see them.

Osiris

Never has there been, nor shall there be a king more perfect than Osiris. Son of the Earth God, Geb, Osiris was divine royalty by birth, and all the land his birthright. Benevolence and prosperity were the hallmarks of his reign. Would that he had been left to shape the world, but the jealousy of his brother, Set, changed the course of fate.

Seeking to usurp the throne, Set deceived and murdered his brother, tearing his body to pieces and casting them across the land. Eset, Osiris' wife, secretly fled while Set plunged the kingdom into darkness. For years she toiled to reassemble her husband while his spirit form, his Ba, endured. Yet for all her searching, she could not find every part of him, and Eset was forced to reanimate Osiris without. Though not strong enough to defy Set in this incomplete form, Osiris gave Eset a son that would topple the tyrant Set and restore balance to Egypt.

What remains of Osiris is a fragment of what he once was. Robbed of his crown over the earth, he now governs the realm of the dead with the same benevolence he ruled the living. But darkness looms again, and though broken, Osiris refuses to sit idly by. Mustering the last of his strength and spirit, Osiris seeks to change the course of fate, this time for the light over darkness.

Triple Trouble

Erik, Baleog, and Olaf lived joyous and fruitful Viking lives until one day they were captured by Tomator, emperor of the Alien Croutonian Empire, for his inter-galactic Arena of Death. Tomator’s ship malfunctions, however, and the Viking brothers were able to escape through the airlock of the spaceship. Unfortunately, escaping sent them through a time rift in which they traversed bizarre locations in order to find their way home. Eventually, the Viking brothers do make their way home through time.

After escaping from Tomator, Erik the Swift, Olaf the Stout, and Baleog the Fierce have lived joyous and fruitful Viking lives. Then one day, after returning home from a fishing trip, the Vikings get captured by Tomator again. Tomator then calls upon a robotic guard to send them into the Arena, which falls short when a system failure happens. During the blackout, the three Vikings dismantle the robot piece by piece and wear its parts on their bodies, granting them new abilities. The three Vikings are then accidentally sent through time once again. Equipped with the new robotic gear, Erik, Olaf, and Baleog must journey through each level to find their way back home. Along the way, they befriend a werewolf named Fang and a dragon named Scorch, both of whom assist them in their quest.

Act 1

"Christmas Who?"

Outside Sandy's treedome, SpongeBob is dressed in his karate gear and preparing to give Sandy a surprise sneak attack. Inside, Sandy is putting up Christmas lights, which SpongeBob mistakes for fire and tries to put it out with sea water. After recovering from the drenching, Sandy is shocked to find out that SpongeBob has never heard of Christmas, and tells him all about it.

Later at the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob passes the story of Christmas on to Patrick, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs. Everyone in Bikini Bottom, except Squidward, is excited at the idea of Santa Claus bearing gifts, and they all, except Squidward, put their Christmas letters into glass bottles, which are then shot up to the surface for Santa to receive as the act ends. The Bikini Bottomites decorate for Christmas as SpongeBob and Patrick sing a song. They even decorate Squidward's house, which Squidward does not agree with. After the song, Squidward closes his blinds.

Diary of Koby-Meppo

Vol. 7: "Odd Jobs, Odd...?!!"

コビメッポ奮闘日記vol.7「雑用雑...!!?」

Oda Eiichiro

I went to the judges' meeting for the Tezuka Awards. It was great to hear such amazing stories from all those amazing people.

手塚賞の審査会に行ってきた。スゴい人達のスゴ話もたくさん聞けて面白かった

Chapter 91