| Date Started: March 19th, 2024 Date Completed: TBA Users Involved: User:KontonMan, User:Blackdagger01, User:Gotts114, User:HoloArc, User:Rockett121 |
Guest of Honor[]
Baal stood before the vanity of her private room, leaning in toward the mirror with eye wide open as she put on a brightly colored mascara which gave her eyelashes a frosty color. Glancing over slightly at the clock to check the time she hoped that their guest of honor was finding joy among the many options of entertainment aboard the ship, at the very least she hoped that the young one would remain occupied long enough for her to finish getting ready. The clock was closing in on the time that she had agreed to meet with the woman, even so there was still so much to be done. Baal let out a sigh, leaning back from the mirror a bit and fluttering her eyelashes at herself.
"Perfect, yes," Baal gave herself a self-satisfied smirk.
The casino bustled with well-dressed people of many backgrounds enjoying their stays. Fancy dresses and black-clad suits danced around a marble floor like bees around a hive. The constant chatter of winners celebrating overshadowed the depressed groans of losing gamblers. Topped off with the constant sound of casino games, making for an annoying background. Being in such a place was like a vacation. A step into a dream beyond imagination. But for Zakki it was purely business. Adorning her usual red printed dress, she blended right in with the fancy facade.
She wasn't here to gamble, nor cared for the enticing beverages held in every partygoer's hand. No, she was here for a different purpose. Stalking a particular someone of importance to her employer. Of course, simply gathering intel wasn't her only purpose in such a wealthy establishment. She came to steal not just information but whatever she could fit in her pockets.
Shifting through the unsuspecting crowd, carefully evading every soul. She moved cautiously, causing a scene. That was the last thing she wanted. Moving and staying within sight of her target. Trying to get close enough without raising suspicion. Close enough to pin an ear piece held in her palm to them. It was a small device, a needle on one side letting it attach to things. And backwards-facing grooves making it difficult for the device to simply "fall off." It was intended to let her hear whatever secrets the wearer decided to let loss. Any information that she could give to her employer was as good as gold.
"I dedicate the first blood of today to you, gods above. Bless my rolls." Callie threw a pair of dice, watching them clatter across the green suede before landing on a 5 and 1. Callie smiled and arced back, her arms pumping wildly in the air and unleashed incoherent sounds from her mouth. No one was judging, of course. How could they? She was the Third Princess of Dressrosa. The child of a Yonko.
She pushed her glasses onto her forehead. "The first drops of heart blood are for those above, civilians! Praise them for blessing my roles, one of their chosen!"
Zakki questioned if she'd really even need the device for this job. Even with the distance between them, she could hear the yells of joy leave Callie. But still, she had a job to do. And right now, that involved getting close enough.
Unhesitantly stepping forward, she continued until she reached the table the woman sat at. A crowd of onlookers around the guest of honor let her blend in more easily. But still, she needed to get closer. Being on the completely opposite side of the table from Callie. Continuing to move her red-coated figure, she moved through the crowd as she traveled the circumference of the table. Ever so steadily making her way towards the partying gambler.
Elsewhere, a set of locked double doors swings open and an armed man wearing dark-rimmed glasses steps forward and waves behind him, gesturing for the men following behind him to move forward. In comes two men wheeling a cart that's been covered in a tarp. The trio move steadily until a fourth member is visible standing in the back. A man of average height walks in with a stern face and constantly shifting eyes, wearing a kimono and what would best be described as traditional garb from the Wano Country only with a deep purple motif. His long, dark hair has been pulled back into a pony tail and his sword at his side, Bartho walks in guarding the chips that will be delivered to the dealers. His job, guard the chips from thieves, his goal prove that he is well worth the money paid for his services.
"Keep an eye out for anyone coming close, it's the first shipment of the night let's not screw it up." The man in front exclaimed to Bartho as they walk through the threshold.
"Understood. My watchful eyes will not miss a thing. Like that one over there pocketing someone else's chips. What table is that? Table 143. Send someone over there. Brown coat, blue eyes, black shoes." Bartho's voice gave no emotion.
"Good eyes you got for sure." Now speaking into a Den Den Mushi on his wrist. "Send security to table 143, Brown coat, Blue eyes, Black shoes. Yeah he's pickpocketing chips take his chips and throw him out."
Callie wrapped an arm around Zakki, despite the pair never having met before. "Fortune blesses me with this scantily clad broad! You, girl." she moved her open palm with the dice towards Zakki's lips. "Blow on them for good luck."
Zakki noticed the arrival of the security guards. Thinking, "Great, that will make things 100 times more difficult." She could barely hear what they were talking about. But noticed one of them pointing something out to another guard. Followed by a conversation on a snailphone. From a quick deduction, she figured the guard had seen something sketchy and reported it. She couldn't tell exactly how far away the incident Bartho had seen was, but he'd be an issue nonetheless.
Suddenly being grabbed by Callie, she hid her surprise behind a sudden innocent smile. Her face showed an expression of great honor, having been bestowed with the opportunity. "Oh, of course!" Speaking gleefully, she gave off the best impression of a no body given a chance with a celebrity. Blowing quickly on the dice held before her. At first, she nearly tried to move her arm, but realized it wouldn't be possible to place the device on the woman without her arm movements being noticed. So instead, her tail was raised up to meet her hand. Immediately, it was clear that this wasn't any ordinary limb. As the bits of flowing hair-like growth on the tail curled around to grab the device from her hand. All of which happening below the waist line, making it more difficult to spot.
"Baal, do deduct the expenses from my allowance." Callie stared at one of the many cameras spread throughout the casino. She threw the dice and let them clatter around. "I love being born. My birth was auspicious. I am a child of Dressrosa's King. I've seen the power my father holds. Being born as his daughter has granted me status, fame, and most importantly, power."
Caligula's hand shot out to grab the tail, to hold it in place. "You stupid fucking broad. You think in a world where power is god, I would not respect it? Learn to control the boons given to us by the divine? My will can see your intentions. I hoped you'd fall to your knees and beg to be one of my consorts. But to try and do something like this? In OUR territory? I guess a reminder is needed for you common folk."
With speed that caused mighty winds to push away the table they sat at, Caligula went to bite down on Zakki's nose to rip it clean off.
While her tail was immobile, that didn't mean she was out of options. Suddenly, the flowing strands hardened. Forming into sharp needle-like weapons, one of which had her employer's device pinned to it. The aforementioned needles all shooting off her tail like a bullet. At the same time, the scales covering the limb raised outward, revealing themselves to be sharp. A large number of them beginning to poke into Callie's hand. While up towards her head with Callie threatening to bite her nose off. Zakki just looked directly down, causing her horns to be in the path of the woman's jaw.
She wasn't stupid enough to try and take on an opponent like this. She was merely attempting to buy time until a guard spotted them. Or until she could escape Callie's hold.
"Good!! Father always told us to play with our food!!!" Caligula thrust her neck back, her lower half beginning to transform. Black hairs emerged as her legs became unnaturally shaped. No more were her feet. Only hooves. As she moved back she extended the distance between them. But it would only be for a moment. Zakki had replied more than adequately to avoid her noise being bitten off. Those sharp needles were fast. They whistled through the air like a warm knife would butter.
Of course, Caligula was faster.
She had transformed her lower half with her appearance almost reminiscent of a Satyr. She burst off with even greater speed, made possible by her Devil Fruit amplifying her physicality. She ran around the needles and to the other side of Zakki, while making sure her arm could still hold onto that tail of hers. No longer did she go for the nose, but instead Zakki's ear. But this time to make sure she'd be faster, she waited a moment before transforming her head into a horses. So not only would she bite faster but her maw would have less distance to cover to bite down.
Looking over from his post Bartho could only show a face of what could be best described as an apathetic fear, as he turned his head to look towards the guard leading the group who was appeared to be on the verge of losing control of all bodily functions as he stared at what appeared to be Caligula starting a commotion and simultaneously try to eat another person. “Give me your communicator now!”
Still panicking the guard grabbed the Den Den Mushi and threw it to Bartho and sprinted out of the area leaving a trail of liquid in his wake.
”Baal, it’s Bartho your main communicator was useless he’s ran off. Caligula is rampaging on the casino floor people, are scattering and likely stealing chips and drinks in the panic. Should I aid her? I know you’ve mentioned that she’s tricky.”
The Mushi's face grew dark for a moment before it sighed, "The damn brat, making a mess of my pride and joy..." The line went silent for a few moments, the face of the Den Den contorting in thought before Baal spoke up again, "I couldn't give a frozen damn about drinks or chips, see to it that she causes the least about of damage you can. I'll trust your judgement on whether to aid or apprehend her, I'm dealing with a developing situation of my own here, be prepared to turn your attention elsewhere should I see fit to call upon you." Mushi continued before shutting off, clearly having been hung up on the other side.
Pocketing the Den Den Mushi, Bartho remained stoic in the face of a truly horrifying scene. Approaching the soon to be all-out fight Bartho began to clear a path by moving chairs and lifting up patrons that had fallen in a panic. "Glide." Bartho said aloud to himself, at that moment he began to lift off the ground ever so slightly his sandals barely touching the ground. He began to step forward, however he was moving further than his gait was letting on, he was gaining speed and rapidly approaching the fight.
Maintaining his distance but sidestepping and circling the pair as if he was skating, Bartho said, "Miss Caligula, my name is Bartho, Baal sent me to help you finish this quickly she'd rather there be very little damage. Please let me know how I can assist you!" With that said Bartho gripped his blade while still in its sheath in preparation for her response.
With Callie's hand still locked around her tail, Zakki was not in a very good situation at all. Yet she barely showed an ounce of worry. Even with her current mission to place a listening device on the cannibalistic gambler going wrong, she remained calm. She expected Callie to go for the head again. And her horns gave her an indication of where the woman was coming from. Sending out a radar-like wave that let her detect Callie without seeing them. Already beginning to bend backwards to escape.
For anyone with a tail, having it caught like this would be extremely detrimental. Though hers was much different from the average appendage, that much has become obvious with what it's done thus far. But she still had a number of tricks to pull. Her tail detached from her back, letting her kick off the ground as Callie made her rapid approach.
Her first movement was to turn mid-air while gaining height. She was beginning to curve, so her back was to the ground. Reaching for something from her thigh, which, after pulling her arm back up, was revealed to be a pistol, something about it looked incredibly wrong, having a cylinderical tube under the barrel and three claws sticking out of the front. As she aimed it up to the ceiling, its purpose was revealed. The hook being shot out at the pull of the trigger. Arriving at a roof mounted chandelier, where it got latched on. A brief second later, she was yanked up with it.
With her tail being able to detach without a second's notice like that, it was clear that the purpose was for situations just like this one. And while it couldn't normally do this without putting Zakki in imminent danger, it began to spark with electricity, expelling the energy from its power supply outward so that Callie wouldn't be able to remove her grip. Then, as it began to tick, it would lead up to an explosion. Though the time until that would happen was at least thirty or so seconds, the blast radius was small—not small enough not to leave Callie affected. But small enough to not necessarily cause too many casualties in the chaos. Being around 2–3 meters.
"You want to help, knave?!" Caligula watched the tail leave her target. "Stay out of my way."
Caligula was already airborne, following closely behind Zakki as she pulled herself away. Unfortunately for her, horse hair was extremely conductive. It began to run rampant through her transformed legs. Sparks flew about as if signalling the start of an impromptu light show. But this pain was nothing for Caligula. She remembered her eighth birthday. One of her brothers had impaled her with a sword as their gift. The others joined in, save for her third eldest brother. It repeated every birthday. She was constantly picked on for being the youngest. Those years of agony had turned her into a sponge for pain.
Through the explosion, Caligula had dropped the tail and kicked off of it to propel her further, using the explosion to cause her to travel even faster. She went to bite out Zakki's achilles tendon with a snap of her maw that would cause glass to shatter.
Alas, Zakki found her haven in the air to be infiltrated rather quickly. But that was expected when facing someone like Callie. And while the explosion Callie was hoping for wouldn't occur immediately, leaving her using it to be propelled upward out of the question, she was still approaching fast. Tugging on the line, she caused the hooks to loosen. While simultaneously causing her entire body to be pulled up, breaking past the speed of her tools reeling.
Then, just as the hook lost its hold on the chandelier, quickly shrinking back into the tool, she used her momentum to swing off to the side. She reached for another object from her waist as she twisted through the empty air before pulling up a pistol—a real one this time. And with a quick shot, she fired at the mountings that held up the ceiling ornament, attempting to cause it to fall down on Callie.
Halting his gliding upon hearing the gunshot, Bartho sprang into action crouching down on the ground gripping the handle on his blade. "Tormenta, Goro." In a fraction of a second Bartho pulled his blade from its sheath swung it forward and then returned it back to its sheath releasing what was essentially a bolt of lightning from the blade aimed at destroying the chandelier that was falling towards Caligula. Releasing this bolt caused a loud thunderclap to erupt, emanating from Bartho.
"GOOD KNAVE, RUN FOR ME!!!" Caligula had planned to run through the chandelier, but Bartho's interference now allowed her to move unfettered. She crashed through the air running with nothing but hunger fit for a starved beast. She wasn't fighting for glory or to wrong any rights. Caligula was hungry. And she enjoyed to play with her food.
The distance between them was gone, and she went to bite down again with enough force that it caused the metal on Zakki to chip. Nothing stopped a starved beast but death.
Now, with nothing between Zakki and Callie’s maw, not enough time left to grapple with anything. She revealed a different kind of technology—a common and useful tool built into the heels she wore. Repositioning herself to be practically upside down, Callie came soaring back. A powerful boost of power was expelled from Zakki’s shoes. Normally it was intended to be used in bursts to mimic geppo, but the situation demanded she use all of her cards.
The force near instantly sent her darting for the ground. Just as the jet dial propellant, which allowed such actions, was spent, Zakki bent her legs. Spinning mid-air so as to land on her feet.
She landed on a poker table but quickly leapt down. Her red dress turning a lighter shade as she did; it was barely noticeable but indicated something was happening.
Caligula crashed into some tables, rolling as she scrambled to her feet. She did notice the change in colour. A Gladius was always to be picky about their meals. But she didn't care. She was starved. The girl could run from her all she wanted. It wouldn't stop Caligula from getting her meal.
"Come here, woman." she cooed. "I crave your mortal flesh. To consume in multitudes."
Zakki ignored Callie’s taunts, the red of her dress turning almost completely white before it started to look like it was vanishing. Not just her clothing, but her entirety was beginning to blend with her surroundings. Then, somewhere near where Callie had thrown her tail previously, a loud explosion drew chaos into the already panicked crowd. Her already obscure figure became effectively invisible.
As a result of the technological dress she wore, she became invisible. Normally, it would do no good against Callie, as she could simply sense her presence. But the crowd would make tracking her presence like trying to find a toothpick in a haystack. That was on top of her invisible status.
"Kassō ." Bartho rose off the ground once again. "Let's go on a wild goose chase through the casino I guess, a hole in the roof seems much better," said in a hushed tone to himself before racing off in the direction of Zakki, making sure to not be in the path of Caligula and her rampage. "Miss Caligula I will be your supportive eyes and ears and stay out of the way! Baal will not like it if you eat all of her patrons!"
"GRAAAAGH!!!" Caligula stomped her hooves and shook her fists. "IT'S NOT FAIR! COMBAT IS MEANT TO BE FACED WITHOUT SUCH COWARDICE!!!" she fell to the ground and rolled around, slamming her hands against the deck and cracked it. "NO, NO, NO!!!!"
Maintaining his distance from the child-like cannibal throwing a massive temper tantrum, Bartho spoke into his den den mushi with a slight sense of exasperation, "Baal, Bartho here, Miss Caligula has ransacked the casino floor trying to search for the intruder who has escaped using some sort of invisibility power. She is armed and dangerous with many different pieces of technology. I'll keep an eye out but for now this floor needs to be closed and someone needs to calm down Miss Caligula, because assuredly it will not be myself who gets their head literally torn off."
Silence followed on the other line for a moment though it was clear Baal was there, she let out a loud sigh before she spoke. "Damn it, I'm busy at the moment. I should have never let that brat on my ship..." She spat, falling silent again. "You evacuate the patrons, I'll send a security force to handle her. Hopefully they'll be able to calm her down. Until then just minimize the damage that she causes and don't let her eat anyone that isn't staff. I'll head toward your location after I've dealt with our other uninvited guest."
Bartho paused for a second in thought, before realizing his request to have Caligula fight the other uninvited guest would cause further damage to the ship and its passengers, "Understood. I will do my best to contain Miss Caligula and further damage to a minimum," Letting out a sigh after concluding the call, Bartho began to glide towards the security room and opening the door revealed some "blockers" objects that could be used to cordon off an area and prevent pedestrians that followed the rules from entering. After closing the area off and listening for the tantrum to end Bartho began to search for any survivors under the rubble of the tables and chairs. Bartho would not dare speak a word to the crying cannibal lest his head be chewed off.
Security teams were being spread all throughout the ship with the majority of them being sent to the casino area to help seal off dangerous areas and evacuate the passangers within those areas.
Among those teams was the one tasked with securing Caligula, with rifles loaded with tranquilizers as a last resort they would head into the area Caligula had been last reported in. Though before they'd even entered her presence had been confrimed by the sounds of her fit of rage.
The head of the team moved ahead of the group, signaling for them not to make any rash moves or fire the tranqs without her command.
"Lady Caligula! You have to calm down! You're destorying the ship you're supposed to be guarding." The woman shouted from behind her riot helmet, trying to speak above Caligula's cries.
Uninvited Guest[]
Hiding in broad daylight as the galleon she had taken shelter on cut through the waves on its way to a much larger ship. It had been a long and tedious journey, but even so, considering her intent here, it was only right to take the subtle approach and not crash feet first into the boat. As they got closer, stairs were pulled forth to allow this new rich crowd of people to step aboard. Among this crew of the rich, the decadent and the entitled walked a woman who certainly looked like she could have been part of the crowd, if only her less than subtle and stand-out clothes and height difference. There was not blending in here.
As the guests stepped onto deck and presented themselves and their reason to be here. The bright red woman was introduced last. "Name and purpose?" The toll demanded to know. The woman stepped forward, standing substantially shorter than the giant himself. Probably there to be able to toss anyone who was unsavory or untoward off the ship.
"I'm here to play dice and enjoy the marvels of Victoriam. As well as, your other pleasures here." She said, casually looking around herself at the joys that could be found on top deck alone. Or at least, one would think that she was looking around, if it wasn't for the blindfold over her eyes.
"As good a reason as any. Better have your berri ready. And name?" The giant demanded.
"The Master."
There was silence before the Giant chuckled and gruffed before turning stern once more. "We do not accept honorifics and titles aboard here. What is your name?"
"Name is long forgotten and buried. Does not matter. My name is The Master, that's all I am and all that anyone needs to know." She said with a kind tone and a nod before heading forward, the giant placing a massive hand in front of her.
"Then turn back to the ship. We do not accept the coy and the dishonest on this ship. If you cannot remember your name for the sake of the list, you'd better be on your way." The giant tried to direct her. That was when he felt an ominous feeling emitting from her being. A feeling he suddenly didn't feel inclined to test. Flicking through the pages, he then motioned her to keep going. "My apologies, madam. I found your moniker here. Feel free to enjoy the entertainment." He said with a nervous tone, letting her pass. She smiled, but it was a smile that leaned more towards the idea of 'Damn right you let me in'.
When she was out of earshot, the giant was quick to call in and report this unnamed intruder and the recognizable details about her. But to delay their process of finding her, she removed her cloak and stuffed it in a bag before walking inside the Casino, paying a collection of berri to gain some gambling tokens to play around with. With every game would she aim to get further and further in until she could find the vault. If they were diligent in their search, they would find her eventually. But hopefully, by then, she would be at the vault already and preparing to take off with it.
Security was alerted to the presence of an unwanted guest, however, as a precaution and as to not alert the guests themselves only a small security force was mobilized to search while the others were told to simply keep a look out for the description given.
The mobilized security made their way into the casino floor, the head of the group was a large grayhaired man, a former marine missing an arm he'd clearly lost in some battle during the war. An unlit cigar rested in his mouth and a sword on his back, even if the guests did not know that there was a disturbance on the ship they were indeed a bit ill at ease to see the intimidating looking man on the casino floor.
"Excuse me, coming through, big stuff going on, you know how it is, Victoriam business, move along." The man nonchalantly made his way through the guests, keeping an eye out for the short woman he'd heard the description of. Something about it had sounded familiar but he'd seen a million faces in just the few months he'd been employed on the ship, to be honest we was beginning to fear that at this point they all just blended together.
Walking toward the sign in desk, figuring it was the best place to start he waded through the crowd until he left his heart skip a beat. Someone passed him, a face that stood out from the crowd of people. His eyes widened as something flashed before his eyes, a memory of fire and chaos, he reached up to touch his missing arm to find it, of course, not there. Then the vision became clearer, a dragon, massive, a shadow that eclipsed the very sun. And with that the cigar fell from his mouth and the man stood with jaw agape. He didn't dare turn around to confirm his suspicion. Instead, he let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding, and then reached into his pocket to pull out a Den Den Mushi.
Purupurupuru
Baal was making her way down the hall, her regular large sweater traded out for a more proper white dress and golden belt around her waist, when suddenly the Den Den Mushi in her purse began to ring. Her eyes rolled, recognizing it as the Mushi she used for Victoriam matters, pulling it out she held it up to her face and answered.
"It's Baal, what do you want? We've an important guest here today. This had better not be about trivial matters!"
The snail was silent for a moment, silence hanging in the air. "Lady Baal, we've got trouble. It's here, the Eclipse Dragon... She's here... I quit. I'm leaving the ship now."
A vein appeared on Baal's head, "Just what the hell do you think you're talking about?! You'd better not leave you half-wit, tell me what's going on or so help me God you'll spend a week frozen solid!" She yelled into the Den Den, only quieting her voice when she noticed the looks of the other guests in the hall.
"It's so hard to find good help these days, yes?" She chuckled to them, waving away their concerns before putting a bit more pep in her step toward the casino floor.
The peculiar woman wandered the halls and tables of the casino with such ease it was uncanny. Despite the blindfold, she seemed perfectly able to perceive her surroundings. Aftar walking in for a bit, she moved to a roulette table and put forth a fine collection of berri. She named her number and they let it spin. First three rounds were a miss, but the following two were astounding successes. One had likely been triggered by the game master himself. A trick to keep her spending on the flickering dream of winning. Taking her chips, she nodded her head in gratitude before walking off, deeper into the casino floors.
Next was some games of blackjack and poker. There were a lot of successes, not balanced much at all with a scarce amount of losses. Some calculated, fewer not so. She was counting cards and analyzed the situations. She was not so foolish to make such things obvious, but she practiced it in the hopes of getting enough to be warranted for the big cashouts. She had told herself that she would leave with more than she had come with. While what she wanted did not require her to win big, it was nice to have a consolation prize in the instance of a failed mission.
Taking a step back from the table, she went and delved deeper still until she reached some slot machines. This could not be calculated or controlled on her end, it was entirely random and could only promise so much. And that made it perfect. Play up the role of the woman who struck large and is now making the foolish decision to hope for the game of chance. With every pull of the one armed bandit did she diminish the nearby people's suspicions of her. She just hoped that the actual authorities didn't make a target of her quite yet.
Baal reached the check in desk near the port, finding the desk clerk wrestling with a one armed security guard.
"Let me go! I'm getting outta here! I left the marines because I thought security would be safer!" The old man tried to push away the clerk but the man held on with a death grip, knowing that he would be in a world of trouble if he let the man run off without Baal's permission.
The angelic woman approached, grabbing hold of the one armed security guard by the back of his clothing, motioning for the clerk to stand back. Once he had, Ice ran out from under Baal's feet and up the security guard's until just above his knees were frozen solid.
"You will cease this whining and tell me what is going on!" Baal demanded, though she had not used it, the way her voice demanded authority, and how it made the two men freeze in place, no pun intended, one would think she had just used Haoshoku on them. A bead of sweat ran down both of their temples and they swallowed hard.
"I- I don't know what happ-"
"Then do not speak!" Baal cut off the clerk, turning her attention toward the older man.
The retired marine veteran was silent for a few moments, until the ice began to climb up his legs, the pain of which made him yelp.
"Miss B-Baal..." The man shivered as the cold started to get to him. "It's her, the Eclipse Dragon. She's on the ship... She took my arm in the War. I've never seen her human form until today but I know what I felt, it was that same aura. I want to leave, if she's here to do anything other than gamble or lounge then we're all dead!"
Baal spat into a potted plant to her side, "You're more scared of some dragon bitch than you are of me? You must be mad, to think I let some spineless fool like you work on my ship."
With that she unfroze the man and with a push he fell to the ground. "If you want to leave so badly then leave. But if I ever see your face again, even if its just from across a bar in the middle of nowhere I'll kill you."
The one armed man struggled to his feet, looking back at Baal he gave her a fearful nod before running down toward the port to escape.
Baal let out a cold sigh, turning her head toward the clerk. "What did this woman look like? Did she appear dangerous?"
The clerk cleared his throat, and loosened his tie. "S-she... She refused to give a name when I asked for it to log in the check in book. She simply called herself 'The Master'. When I tried to refuse her entry she gave off this aura like she was going to kill me. So I let her in and called security. She was maybe a little over ten... no twelve feet tall, short silvery colored hair, oh! the most important feature is that she wore a blindfold. I'm sure she'll be easy to pick out."
Baal's tongue pressed against her inner cheek, mulling over the information given to her. If the woman was indeed a danger then having her on the ship was an issue, too many money bags walking around that could get hurt. "Whatever this 'Eclipse Dragon' thing is about, it needs to be dealt with quickly. Why did this have to happen today, I've got Caesar's bloodthirsty little brat to worry about too. Bleh!" The woman thought, reaching into her bag and pulling out a den den mushi.
"This is Baal speaking, all units be advised to keep a look out for a tall woman with short silvery hair and a blindfold last seen on the Casino floor. If spotted, do not engage Report back to me with any confirmed sightings. I'll deal with this myself." She spoke into the snail.
A drunk man wandered the casino floor, no older than his mid-twenties it would be clear to anyone around him that he was the child of someone important and not someone important himself. A pocket full of chips and a half watered down class of liquor in the other as he passed the slot machines on his way to cash out and sleep off the alcohol flowing through his bloodstream the distinctive sound of a losing machine caught his ears. Seeing the red and gold dressed woman sitting at the machine he wondered if she was some kind of noble woman, or some rich business owner of kind. Her dress reminded him of a woman he'd met in Kano a few years ago.
Straightening himself up as best he could to not look like an ugly drunk he walked over to her with confidence in his stride. Leaning against machine she sat at he smiled drunkenly at the woman and spoke: "H-Hic, Hey there... Pre- no Hic beautiful lady. What... What?" The man struggled to get his words out though in his own mind he was spitting game like no other.
"Hic, wan-wanna drunk? I'll... yeah, want it?" He continued drunkingly trying to hit on the large blindfolded woman.
The Master sighed in feigned defeat as the slot machine swallowed another chip with no returns. "Hm?" She chirped softly. As she turned to the drunken man. A smile on her face, she tilted her head lightly before speaking up. "And what handsome man to ask me to a drink. I wouldn't mind it." She cooed. "But I am a bit busy with playing games. Oh, such a conundrum Tell you what, handsome, if you can go and fetch a drink for me, I'll tag along and join you for a bit of festivities. Sounds good?" She whispered softly for him, only so barely audible, and that was the point. She knew men tended to listen to anything spoken to them through gentle, implicit words. "I'm sure you are quite fun to party with. Would you mind? For little old me?"
The drunken man seemed to perk up, happy with the response he was getting. "Yeah! You... Mhm." The man seemed to cheer at what he perceived to be acknowledgement of his skilled wordplay and charisma. Sipping at his drink he winked up at the woman, not even thinking that she might not be able to see anything he did given her blindfold. But with that, he waddled off toward the bar to buy the lady a drink, soon disappearing into the crowd with no guarantee he would even remember his destination or why he was heading there in just a few moments.
Smiling until he left her field of view, she was quick to pull out a new outfit to buy her some more time. She started noticing that the floor became more and more attentive with guards and wardens, so it was high time to do her best to disappear. Tying her hair together in a top knot, she put on something akin to a veiled beret. Next was a blindfold of blue fabric and white embroidery. Finally, with just one pull of a knot on her clothes, her dress was draped over with a new dress with a different color. A pristine white, easily blending in to the multitude of dresses and tuxedos of similar color.
With that taken care of, she proceeded inwards. The Master found herself lost in the crowd, uncertain of where to go next. Noting the bag of chips she held which contained a vast amount if translated to beri later, she looked to the nearest tipsy attendé. She found herself a man, no more than thirty years of age and with a row of glasses which formerly held some liquor in them. Approaching, testing the waters, she cleared her throat a bit, catching his attention.
He seemed bright of spirit. Glad about life and his progress on this day. Not too sober, nor too drunk. Perfect. "Good evening, madam!" he called out to her, chipper and delighted to have some company. "Pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Henry. And you are?"
The Master smiled and made a nod of her head in acknowledgement. "I am Heléna, but back home they call me The Master. The pleasure is mine, Henry." She chirped with a sweet tone.
"The Master? An interesting title, if I may say so. Wouldn't 'The Mistress' suit better, perhaps?" He inquired, curious and fascinated all at once. Right where she wanted him. "Please, have a seat. I'd love to hear more." he requested, to which she obliged for now. They more than half an hour to indulge in each other's curiosities.
After some time did Henry continue with a question of his own. "So, what brought you to me? It has been delightful so far, but I am still curious to how I got your attention." She said, putting on the swuave charm.
"I am curious if i could ask you a question. I would make it worth your while." She answered, patting her hip where the bag of chips hung. It was big and full. "I am on business thanks to a partner. And I was meant to go to 'safest spot on the ship'. He was being rather cryptic about the whole thing, so I think it is akin to a treasure hunt. You wouldn't happen to be able to point me in a direction that seems right?"
"Well, that would be around the corner and down the way to-" He continued before catching himself mid sentence.
"Down the way to?" She repeated, hoping to urge him on.
"Oh, n-nothing. I just don't think you should go near that place. Safety measures galore to keep people away. Can't be where you are meant to meet." He corrected himself, and the fact it did told her everything she needed. Pecking his cheek in gratitude and placing her bag on the table next to him, she rose up and proceeded to walk away. "M-Ma'am! You're sure you won't need this? It's... It's quite a lot!"
"Don't worry, Henry. I still have resources left, and I will be leaving here with even more soon." She reassured, which he seemed to accept. Connotations on 'seemed'. "I should be on my way now. But it was a pleasant chat. Let's do it again some time." She said before proceeding down the aisles. Moving down the ways he had directed, she would soon find her way to where she needed to go.
Soon enough had she reached the location in question, having knocked out a select few guards along the way. But now she stood before the safe. But she was not alone. Before her stood a single figure, opposing her approach. The chill in the air was all but tangible, and she knew that this would not be like the other watchers.
A deep breath and then with an exhale ice spread throughout the entire hall, it's crystalline visage transforming the once dank and dusty corridor into a cold and icy cave of sorts. Ice crystals too small for the eye to see floated about the air making every breath one that stung at the lungs.
"I can only assume you're the one I'm looking for, if not then I'm afraid that you've made the terrible mistake of finding yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time and I assure you I'm in no mood to forgive and forget." Baal spoke, casually checking her nails as though that were her primary concern.
Letting her hand fall to her side again with a single step toward the Master a blast of icy air would cascade down the hall as though they were standing in a wind tunnel. "Are you the one running about my ship calling themselves the 'The Master'?" Baal turned her head and spat, her saliva turning into a sharp shard that imbedded itself within the ice that coated the hallway. "To even call you that mockingly leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
Feeling the sting of the ice crystals in her throat and lungs, she answered in the one suitable way to handle this situation. With a huff did The Master expell a gust of heated air, joint with her crimson flames. The ice melted and turned to humidity before it could ever enter her system again. With another huff did she expell enough fiery heat to melt away the ice in her immediate area. "I am not called The Master. I am The Master. Undeniably. Uncontested. Irrefutable." Spoke the veiled woman. "Forgive is up to you." She spoke as she began to walk forward again, the heat eminated with each breath making sure she had steady ground. "But forget, you will. Unless you want a mountain sized puncture in your ship. And that would be such a waste."
Now standing mere feet away from Baal, The Master pondered a matter before thinking otherwise. "It would be advisable to move out of the way. The extent of your exertion would be inadvisable. For us, for the ship, for your chips, for your guests and the reputation that will leave." She taunted. "So tell me once more... Do you really want to do this?"
Baal stared up at the much taller woman with a gaze as if not more cold than her own ice, a scowl plastered upon her face in clear distaste of the tone the woman was having with her. But a small smile shattered the icy glare before Baal laughed.
"Jarajarajara!" The winged woman laughed before the threats of the Master, a single tear escaping her eye turning to ice and falling to the ground where it shattered and skid across the wet surface.
Baal tried to recompose herself, covering her mouth to try and halt the assualt of laughter on herself. "You come to my ship, my casino, calling yourself the Master to rob me of my pocket change and then have the gall to try and order me about? You're a delusional witch of a woman but you've amused me enough that I'll leave you with a lesson. A gift from me to you."
Baal looked to the ground at the melted puddles of warm water at their feet. "Warm water actually freezes faster than cold or room temperature water." She told the Master before the water at their feet froze in an instant, frosty spikes exploding upward from her feet as though trying to impale the Master where she stood.
The spikes of ice sprouted upward, going for her legs, her pelvis, her stomach, chest, and chin. It was in but the flash of a moment as this all happened, the earpiercing sounds of solids scraping against other solids, the shattering noise and the audible sound of something cracking. Moments after this all transpired, the ice stood in place, as did The Master, with the broken off tips of ice steadily melting away in the water. The heat was intensifying, but that was not the reason for the events.
The Master possessed the ability to swiftly transform herself and just as quickly becoming her normal, fair, self again. Not that it would be known to most. To any outsider looking in, The Master had just stood there and let the lances of ice impact her barely clothed skin and simply breaking apart. But looks are deceiving, and that is how she preferred it, her hybrid form's hardened scales having acted as a barrier between her insides and the spikes. Steam in the air and the dripping of water, The Master wrinkled her nose a bit as if smelling something.
"ACHOOO!"
The Master let out an exaggerated sneeze, bellowing out a great torrent of crimson fire, hoping to sear the cocky and pretty woman. As the fire flowed, she took a few steps backward, putting some distance between her and Baal. "If your aim was to kill, maybe don't announce that it is coming." She suggested as she grabbed the plated wall and digging her fingers into the steel and with a yank did she rip off a piece and hurl it like a sharp and jagged frisbee towards where Baal had been.
With a flick of her wrist did the steam and condensation from the melted ice from before instantly freeze again to block both the oncoming fire and the sheet of metal. As the heat melted the ice, the metal cut through the weakened portion but as it approached Baal did not blink. She had full trust and confidence in her own capabilities and what her Devil fruit could do. As the flames melted the ice it was frozen again instantly.
"Everyone seems to think that because my devil fruit allows me to create ice that my weakness is somehow fire? Did I not just explain that the more you heat up my ice the faster I can freeze it again? I won't waste my time explaining why hot water freezes faster than cold, simply accept the facts as they are presented." Baal spoke as the shard of metal stopped inches from her face before falling onto the ground with a clang of metal against the floor.
"A zoan of some kind with a fire ability. Ancient? Mythical? Hm, she used its durability to block my ice spears. They werent haki coated so it wasn't a display of any importance..." Baal thought as she watched the woman from the other side of the ice.
Reaching out, in an instant the ice melted away, leaving a puddle of water at their feet.
"You've got strength to spare, you're clearly a zoan. You must be dim or confident in your abilities to dare attack Legion territory, more so myself above all else. I will assume you don't know who I am and spare your ego the insults I'd throw at anyone who knows of me and still stands against me." Baal's arms became coated in busoshoku haki, ready for this to become a fight.
"Next time the cold embrace of death will come without warning, do not fear, Eclipse Dragon."
The Master sighed. "You know my the war epithet and yet you do not understand why it is. But it matters not. This foolishness speaks lengths of thine ignorance." She said as her hybrid form manifested in full as she took her steps forward, scarlet flames billowing out of the corners of her mouth. "You are lucky that I want something from here. I could land on this ship and send it to the bottom of the sea." The master spoke, the air around them heating up, her eyes turning red as she activated her kenbunshoku to keep an attentive eye out for any developments. This was not a matter of intimidation, because she knew it would not suffice for someone like Baal either way. This was merely a warning. Her chance to back away. "But I am a benevolent regent. Let me pass, and naught more need come to happen to your prior pristine ship."
"It's not about understanding, it's simply that I do not care. My counter offer stands as this: Leave now and never come back to this place and by the hand of God and my own divine mercy you will live to see tomorrow's light. By all means, send this ship to the ocean floor and I will see to it that you and everything you have ever loved will experience suffering beyond your wildest nightmares. You have tested the limits of my patience, do not test them further." Baal's voice was as cold as the aura she exuded. Her eyes carried no light, a void of the darkness depths.
She held up her icy claws in an offensive position. "You stand before the arc angel, the enemies of God will be crushed beneath our feet like the serpents they are."