TRIGUN STAMPEDE

Fresh meat is the best meat!

I'd love to try plant-based food before I die!

How extravagant!

Anyway, the Worms were awfully irritated today.

Hm?

What's with that guy?

He's in a suit in the middle of the desert!

He's not long for this world.

No kidding! He's carrying his own tombstone!

It's been three days since the tragedy in Jeneora Rock.

The chain of incidents has been linked to the wanted criminal Vash the Stampede.

I can't believe he's sleeping so soundly.

Additionally, a man and a woman have been identified as possible accomplices.

The seven cities' military police are also searching for them as persons of interest.

So now we're wanted, too?

If headquarters finds out, we'll be fired.

And now, the weather for the seven cities...

It's his. He doesn't want it.

What? But yesterday...

He hasn't eaten. Not since that day.

Only god really knows what goes on inside someone.

A sandstorm?

No, those are...

Worms.

In these parts, they're an important source of protein.

If you can stomach the way they look, they're not bad.

I think stomaching that would be the hard part.

Are you all right?!

You're not dying on me!

Excuse me! This man is hurt...

It's too late for these folks.

They came all the way out here?

"They"?

Okay...

O father in heaven,

forgive us our sins as we forgive our neighbors.

May you accept our fallen brethren

and welcome the departed to your...

What is it?

Welcome them to your... dinner?

No, that's a meal.

Deliver them unto your... design?

No, nobody's talking about fashion.

Uh, give us a drive...

He's not your chauffeur, you idiot.

Are you really a priest?

I'm no priest. Just an undertaker.

Now back off. You're ruining it.

Anyway, what's this cross? It's way too huge.

Hey, keep your mitts off of it.

What?

Hey, you two.

Here.

You're hungry, right?

It's good.

Maybe you should leave him be—

I lost my parents, too. I grew up in an orphanage.

Good, right?

No matter how heavy a cross you carry,

you still deserve to eat. You still deserve to laugh.

Twenty thousand?!

What a rip-off!

You should've asked my rates before asking me to work, dolts.

You volunteered yourself before we even could!

Did not.

You can't talk your way out of this!

Man, you're dogged.

Are we done?

I won't brook this injustice!

Wait, what's this ridiculous price?

What? Stop blabbering and pay up!

By the way, aren't you hurt? You got hit by a car, but you look fine.

Yeah, I'm tough. It's my saving grace.

An earthquake?

No, this is...

A Grand Worm!

No way!

Are you okay?

Yes, thank you.

Ew, it's so damp.

Watch your step.

Come on!

Wait, take a look.

They're resonating?

So it's true. The Worms really are interconnected.

That's their detached electron network.

The bigger the Worm, the more detached electrons it holds.

This guy must be the pillar of the Worms in the area.

Meaning?

He's the boss around here.

Oh, hey!

Wait!

Which hole did he go into?

I envy kids and their light feet.

Why don't you put down that cross, then?

It's the tool of my trade. How would I make a living if I offloaded it?

We need to hurry.

Then we should split up.

Needle-noggin, you take the farthest one.

"Needle-noggin"?

Little missy can take the next one.

My name is Meryl Stryfe!

Uncle Downer can go there.

And I'll take that one.

Why're you calling the shots?

I thought you were in a hurry.

I don't get it.

Why split up when there's no telling what could happen?

N-No one's there, right?

Are you all right?!

Thank goodness.

No luck. I can't find them anywhere.

Me neither.

That's enough. You should find a way out unless you wanna die, too.

I'm sure they're both fine. We'll find and help them.

So you'd risk your life for theirs?

Self-sacrifice on self-sacrifice... You're a weird one.

You only get one life.

You have to fight for it, no matter who you hurt in the process.

There's no other way to survive.

Watch out, Stampede.

They take the first bite to get your guard down,

then lace what they pass to their target with poison.

Standard stuff for assassins.

Huh?

Our news agency isn't much to be proud of,

but one thing we do have is a good intel network.

I've heard about humans who control Worms.

Who, me?

That makes no sense, you dolt. I'm stuck in here with you.

In that case, let me check out that precious cross of yours.