| Date Started: March 5th, 2024 Date Completed: TBA Users Involved: User:HoloArc, User:Blackdagger01, User:Citron19, User:EmperorKamui, User:SuddenlyNoodles, User:Ottenzz, User:AbysmalShadows, User:Lemon Jacks, User:KontonMan, User:MKK977 |
Cold Day in Hell[]
Fishermen cautiously went about their day, pulling up their nets from the calm blue sea below, never taking their eyes off of the sight of a distant ship, over a mile away from the island it sat bobbing in the water, the tropical breeze waving their flag within it. It was a sight anyone with half a brain would recognize, a Jolly Roger.
Rockbell island was a small kingdom, named for the large bell shaped hill that set in the middle of the island upon which their queen's castle resides. A fair and beloved leader, the island had enjoyed some years of peace during the War of Empires as the pirates and marines alike had their sights set elsewhere within the New World. Everyone who could see the ship feared that today might be the day that peace would come to a sudden and violent end.
"What's that there?" One of the older fisher pointed out toward the ship.
The others looked, seeing a small winged figure floating just above the pirate ship and slowly lowering down toward the water.
"Looks like a bird to me." Another older fisherman responded before being slapped in the shoulder.
A younger fisherman, no older than sixteen or seventeen shook his head, "Not a bird, it's a person with wings. It looks like an angel."
"Maybe we've all been out in the sun too long. We should head back to shore, we can't get any work done anyway with you all staring slack-jawed at that ship." A muscular man with tattoos up and down his arms spoke, heading up toward the helm to take them back to shore when he looked out over toward the Pirate ship to see the angelic figure hovering just above the water now.
"If it is an angel lets hope a miracle happens..." He thought before suddenly feeling a cold blast of air.
Following that cold blast of air was ice, spreading like wildfire across the ice and before anyone could do anything the ship was frozen solid. From the Angel to the shore of the island the ocean waters had been frozen solid, the very waves having been frozen mid-roll, leaving jagged ice jutting out from the otherwise flat expanse.
Baal let out a visible breath, a thin layer of ice upon her cheek and parts of her clothing. A cold, nigh cruel smile appeared on her face as her feet touched down to the ice.
Turning around she looked up at the ship, still on the water. "Alright, boys, I think it's about time that the fun begins. Pillage to your hearts content but if I catch you trying to pocket anything valuable all for yourself I'll freeze your hands for a week." She clapped her hands to signal the start of the raid, lower ranking members of the Legion Pirates flooded over the deck railing, swords, guns, spears in hand they began to run across the ice field that Baal had created.
Aboard the ship, a towering figure took stepped forward revealing a pirate not of the Legion; a heavily muscled dark skinned man sporting a mane of wavy white hair, sharp crimson eyes and a sly smile adorned on his face. His large red haori bellowing in the wind as he raised a black gloved hand filled with an eerie violet light that sprung into a churning flame.
"Take heed to remember our agreement Baal." Zelgadis said with a hint of mirth. Pointing his hand towards the land, he unleashed a torrent of violet fire shot forward like a beam, that upon impact splashed against the beach spreading out like a tsunami. Yet these flames did not burn like ordinary fire, no, the sand itself seemed to recoil in shock and terror as it twisted and bent under the tender mercies of his power.
"Rengoku Oni - Yamabaku." Zelgadis intoned with a voice like the deep cavernous earth. The flames flickering around him seemed to distort it, giving it a more unearthly sound. In moments, the beach rippled before a hand of sand subsumed in violet light uprooted itself, dragging a misshapen body of soil and gravel. Towering as tall as a building, more and more began to form out of the earth, from wherever the fire had spread. Soon there dozens of golems, one for each member of her crew. Cutting the stream of fire from his hand, he then leapt off the ship and landed on the ice field created by Baal.
"As agreed, I shall open a path for your men. Use these golems as you wish, they shall obey your command." He then flashed her a predatory grin. "Now your men may play as their hearts desire, but the treasury in the royal palace is mine." With that proclamation he leapt forward whipping up a storm of fire that seemed push the very winds themselves until they formed a fiery cloud that he landed on before flying towards the palace.
Within the confines of the city, in a run-down bar, sat a crocodilian figure, sipping on drink after drink. Not to get drunk, but rather to find a drink the suited his tastebuds. Once upon a time, he had been offered a beverage that had set his veins ablaze with a euphoric, tasty burn in his body. Now he desperately sought to find it again. When the final glass was sipped, he roared in annoyance, swiping every glass down from the counter, the glass shattering and spreading across the floor. "DAMN IT! Again! Dead end!" he bellowed, the annoyance he felt being overwhelming.
"S-Sir Hyberon, I am so sorry that I couldn't satisfy your wants. W-Would you like a drink on the house? Something to take with you as compensation for wasting your time." The bartender offered, not wanting to be of further trouble to the reptile, lest he be more broken than the glasses on the floor, the wood soaking in the beverages.
"Fine!" Hyberon bellowed before snatching a bottle, any bottle, and began to turn around to walk away from this place. It left a sour taste in his mouth now. About to open the cork and walk out, he felt a chill in the air and shouts and screams. It came from the opposite end of the city, far away from him, but hte idea of being attacked ignited a new burning in his chest. A desire for the thrill of combat. "They'd better not disappoint me as well. I'm in a poor mood." He cackled before rushing towards the chaos that was unfolding. Not using any excessive amount of power, lest he show up feeling more tired than was necessary. Spears and maul strapped to his back as he made his way forward, feeling apprehensive, but more than that, excited. "Bring it, invaders! Gurohohohohoh!"
As disaster slowly engulfed Rockbell Island into a freezing hell, during this dark time, the immense fleet led and commanded by Vice Admiral Corindon Cyan, was at her tidy desk. She was writing a few papers and a few assignments and then a sniffling of her nose came to break the calm atmosphere she had maintained since early in the morning.
“Sniirf… goodness, snirf, a woody smell? Hmm,” she murmured, raising her head upwards and lifting her nose from her papers. The sudden change in the smell and even the room temperature did not bode well, “I don’t like it.”
In a calm while her earrings sparkled a soft gold, she glanced through the porthole to see that the sky was cloudy and gray, she felt a doubt within herself, wanting to observe further. The clicks of black high heels echoed across the washed wooden floors and a spontaneous murmur ran through the crowd of soldiers as they noticed the sudden appearance of the black-haired lady.
“Look at me, this goddess is coming out of her cave,” teased one of the soldiers in the background. “How embarrassing are you, dude…” replied his comrade while he was captivated by the beauty. A third soldier was mopping not far from him and exclaiming.
" Hold on? Has the Vice Admiral left her office? ", he would take a look and this would confirm his doubts, "Ah shit! It doesn’t look good at aaaaall!" he complained in worry.
Rushing to her side, a Marine Captain made a face to silence the younger Marines talking out of turn.
“Vice Admiral Cyan-sama, it’s rare to see you leave your office,” said Lowenthal David. The overly polite young man tended to shadow the only slightly older woman, with her having helped trained him in the past.
David was prepared to do anything to help her, the woman was true to her name: the Black Mole rarely left her office of she didn’t have to. In truth, David was much like the younger Marines, smitten with the Vice Admiral - a fact he tried his best to keep secret.
The woman knew she could trust him and David was not a lowly recruit anymore - even if he still performed the tasks typical of recruits when Cyan requested. He was strong enough to handle his own and even helped with some recruits now, even if he still sought his own superiors to keep growing stronger.
The Vice-Admiral continued walking without paying attention to the young captain, her steps headed towards the edge of the fence, her hand placed gently on the painted wooden surface. In her quest to find the culprit, she experienced a single snowflake fall into the palm of her hand. Her bright blue eyes looked up at the seas breaking over a surface of ice, falling on the island of Rockbell. The ice continued to form along the island while the pirate ship easily stood out from a snow-white country, her gaze raised to the flag of Jolly Roger to identify the crew: Legion Pirate.
With a click of her tongue, irritation slowly rose within her, her eyebrows furrowed, glaring at the young Captain for his lack of observation.
“You, David, what were you doing all this time?" she asked in an almost angry voice. She looked back to the horizon where the catastrophe was. Suddenly, the boat was shaken by the sudden stop and the tip of the boat sank into the ice briefly breaking. The black-haired lady clung to the fence, with a wave of her hand, she shouted and ordered to the soldiers while the sails were inflated intensely by the gusts of wind.
“SOLDIERS! LOWERING THE SAILS RIGHT NOW!", then she pointed with a finger to David, an order intended for him, "You", in a grumpy tone, "Bring the Den Den Mushi, I have an important phone call to make" she said, her eyes austere demonstrated the magnitude and complexity of the situation.
David had been doing as he had been ordered, working with the younger Marines to strengthen their ranks. Despite the recruits thinking he was odd, he was getting results from them.
However, David felt like a failure for not be more observational of the seas. He had to improve his skill with Kenbunshoku, at least that was his internal justification.
David nodded with her order though, quick to follow command. This was another task that could be delegated to a grunt, but David had something they didn’t: speed. The young man was perhaps the fastest aboard the ship, or at least one of them. His usage of Soru led him to the holding place of the woman’s Den Den Mushi, grabbing it and doubling back.
It almost smelt of ozone as he ran, sparks of lightning seeming to crack from his legs. He slid to a halt just before reaching Cyan, careful to not tumble into the woman as he had done as a recruit several times. “Here you go, Vice Admiral!”
David looked to the officers as they finished lowering the sails. “Stand by for further orders!”
Cyan, in absolute silence, took the Den Den Mushi brought by David and dialled the number quickly before it triggered a ringing sound coming from the snail's mouth.
Puru…Puru…Puru
While time seemed long, the lady continued to constantly observe the horizon which was wreaking havoc, calling on the soldiers to prepare while the call sounded.
“Soldiers, prepare your weapons, and you, the cannons! Fill them out now! Ahab, you, dirty sheep, you take care of the safety of the citizens and the evacuation” she explained, seeming to complain, the time to pick up the call seemed like an eternity.
“Goodhell, that nerd always takes time,” she grumbled.
Sailing a short distance behind and to the left of the leading fleet vessel commanded by Vice-Admiral Corindon, was a smaller Marine battleship that stood out from the uniform and standard designs of the fleet. It was painted in the standard Marine blue and white colours, and prominently displayed the Navy insignia on its main sail as it fluttered in the cold breeze, but it also sported many unique modifications. The central mast for example, was covered in a dense cluster of vines and wild flowers that seemed to have been planted along the length of the wooden pillar and had been neatly maintained since. There were groves of plants and greenery that dotted the deck of the vessel, little islands of vibrant growth that looked similarly well maintained and meticulously cared for.
Inside this Marine Battleship, and dominating the majority of the captains quarters, was a large aquarium filled with a vast array of colourful corals and all manner of fish and other marine life. Sitting at a desk placed flush against glass of the tank, sat an extremely tall and lanky young man, dressed in a standard Marine uniform and with a standard large marine coat covering his shoulders and back, a pair of binoculars dangled from his neck as the individual strained his head to get a better view of his latest fascination within the aquarium.
Dave absentmindedly adjusted his round rimmed glasses as they tried to escape his face, his focus solely on a small fish that glided lazily through the corals in the aquarium, making sudden jolts as it avoided other fish in the cramped body of water. "Corallus amiculum, I'm sure of it" said Dave under his breath, while writing down his thoughts in a notebook. So enamored by his new specimen, it took Dave a minute to realise the Den Den Mushi sitting in the corner of his table was trilling out a noise.
Puru…Puru…Puru
Puru…Puru…Puru
"Ah shit!" Dave quickly exclaimed before clambering for the snail, and almost dropping it in his haste to answer the call, it was from his commanding officer after-all. Speaking with a slight stutter Dave spoke out loudly to the snail in his palm, "H-Hello, Sir ma'am sir!".
In a stern voice, a snap sounded straight in Dave's ear, hearing such a sound for which he easily recognized her, it was as if it was an angry woman.
“Tsk…really?”, a moment of silence suggested that she was rolling her eyes, but it transmitted the same expressions at Den Den Mushi to Dave. “Commodore Dave, I know your position is not so far, I need reinforcements at Rockbell, right now! ", her tone rose on the last word to make it clear that her request was serious.
"We are dealing with Legion Pirate" she explained briefly, giving one crucial piece of information that could arouse the interest of the Commodore, a knock in the woods was heard and her voice increased by a decibel:
"ANSWER FASTER NERD!"
"A-AH" Dave shouted out in surprise, dropping the Den Den Mushi in the process. "Fuck Fuck Fuck" quickly Dave picked up the little creature and checked it for any injuries, letting out a breath of relief when he found none. Giving the shell of the mollusk a kiss, Dave set it back on his desk before making a scramble for his door that let out into the hull of his ship and down to the front deck.
He slammed his door open and almost folded his body in half to crawl through the opening, the ship really wasn't built for someone his size. Dave quickly strode out into the helm of the vessel and looked down toward his crew, they were all in the process of gardening his plants and feeding the birds that resided in them. Let it be known that Dave wasn't a very strict captain.
"MEN!" he shouted down, causing his crew to jolt in shock before quickly saluting the Marine Commodore "Captain Dave Sir" they shouted in unison. "Batter down the hatches, helmsman get up here, we've been given orders to sail for Rockbell immediately!". With a more solemn and serious tone Dave finished by stating "We've got Legion Pirates on our hands".
With looks of shock and fear on their faces, Dave's crew made a mad scramble not unlike his own to hastily prepare to sail at full speed toward Rockball and almost certainly to engage Legion Pirates. Dave stood by his helmsman, overseeing the crew as they began to change course. letting out a growl of annoyance, Dave raised a pale hand up to his face before watching it glow with a bright orange light, smoke trailing upwards from between his fingers. "If they fuck up any of the local flora or fauna...I'll burn them all to dust" Dave spat with hatred.
Cyan shook the escagort, noticing that he was no longer responding to this impertinent little boy. She suspected that the message was clear and had gotten through. On the other hand, she had no response from Ahab, known for his dirty sheepish character, the dark woman stamped her feet strongly to repeat the order which had not been heard or confirmed.
"AHAB!!! Did you hear what I said? Goodhell! Nothing is going well on this boat" As a sigh, she leaned on her forehead with an air of discouragement about the situation. She thought she had trained the soldiers better but it turned out to be the opposite, something she would have to change after the arrest of the Legion Pirates.
Seamlessly, her answer was beckoned in the form of heavy-stomping and an unnerving cackle in the distance, approaching from one of the door ways before making his duly-noted appearance. TCK! The clack of a cigarette-lighter fills her ears, as Ahab's advent was made, shambling over to her position. "Kfkfkf~.. Ahh." Ahab inhaled the non-filtered side of his cigarette, his lungs filled with smoke before huffing out with an awful grin. "I 'eard, I 'eard. No need to tell 'em no more." Said Ahab, with a thick accent expelling from his filthy mouth, politely gesturing the flipped cigarette in-front of himself.
Though, as soon as he fixed the inverted-cigarette on his lips, the monomaniacal sheep sprang onto his crazed dash through the deck, his imposing frame was heard throughout the deck and below.
"..I'll get ready soon, just need too-" A nearing medic was conversing with one of his fellow-infantry before noticing those monstrous steps coming towards them. Not long after, the medic was promptly snatched by Ahab of all people, relinquishing any reaction or consent the medic would've have. "HPP!!" The medic made an uncomfortable yelp once caught, barely able to take a hold onto his supplies as the maniacal sheep continued.
"HMPH!" Ahab's frenzied onset approached the bow of the vessel, without looking down, Ahab made his vault over the bow and descending onto the sheet of ice. "AHHH!!-" The medic felt the sudden-pressure of cascading onto the surface, with Ahab's cackling molding more maniacally then ever, "KFKFKF!"
KRSSSSH!!! Surprisingly, Ahab managed to crash-land on the frozen surface without submerging the two in bare waters. Soon after, Ahab pressed his ivory-peg against the rough sleet, Ahab makes a risky-break through the battlefield and more-over, to the town. "COME ON, WHITE WHALE!!!"
As Cyan saw Ahab breaking out onto the ice with a medic in tow, a simple nod towards David indicated he must follow the Mink with a medic, with a few soldiers who could help the many civilians trapped by the danger encroaching upon them.
Cyan stood in the middle of the bridge, her hand slowly raised in front of her, a closed fist. She flexed her knees apart, revealing a bare leg through the slit of her yellow dress, her gaze burning with irritation as she made a precise movement. An ore platform was created before the eyes of all the soldiers present on the boat, another movement of her fist towards the sky up the stone platform, peeling off the wood of the bridge.
BRRRRR
“We will not enter enemy territory... Let’s surprise them,” she announced to the soldiers, the idea slowly entering everyone’s head, realizing that they were going to be thrown from the boat towards the island. Although Cyan took the risk of intervening, especially by dealing with Legion Pirate, but reputation was not what concerned her, she was particularly worried about citizens who were victims of bad attacks and that, she was going to do everything to protect them, whatever the cost of facing the Pirate Legion, led by one of the great Yonko. She had trust in her crew.
Pike Field[]
Baal had noticed the arrival of the marine ships, though she hadn't expected them, especially not so soon, she paid them no mind at first. After all, they would have to cross her ice field before they could even begin to be a bother on foot and she assumed they wouldn't fire their cannons on the town. The need to protect others was always a weakness of the Marines, one she had no issue exploiting.
Holding a citizen off the ground as she floated about ten feet up, she relieved the older man of his valuables, his ring, wallet, and anything else shiny he had on his person before dropping the man and turning her gaze up toward the castle up on the hill that was the island's namesake. Feeling she'd had enough of bullying the lesser folk she decided she would go ahead and claim the castle.
However, a noise caught her attention, looking back toward the marine ships she expected them to be running across the ice. But the sight she saw instead perplexed her, Marines flying through the air as tho thrown by something.
"No matter", Baal thought, "The air is my homefield advantage, you'll regret trespassing!" The woman spread her wings wide and began to flutter them quickly, swirling wind mixed with the cold air she produced from her Hie Hie no Mi created icy tornados destroying buildings and freezing the ground as they did so. With a large flap of her wings she sent the twin twisters out towards the flying marines, hoping to catch them in the funnels, having the cold wind and icy shards freeze and shred them to pieces.
The soldiers were already panicked at the thought of being thrown into the sky, but from there, falling victim to the storm, they could do nothing but simply scream in fear, their faces turning pale as the tornadoes grew. were getting dangerously close. As the last unit was dispatched, a trail of ore dust was coming at full speed since the ice ocean.
A feminine voice from the ground came to challenge the Angel in heaven, "You watch a little too much up above" she commented in a disdainful tone while a stone wall sculpted with the figure of an ancient demon emerged from the dry land.
“The Cursed Wall”
Making this wall an immense defence as high as the twin tornadoes. Upon impact, shards of ice shattered against the stone surface, slowly chipping away at the surface before a crack appeared on the stone. The tornado gusts slowly disbanded, causing cold air to blow from the sides, allowing the soldier to continue their flight to land.
“Let go of my soldiers and keep busy of your ass” challenged Vice-Admiral Cyan to the angel called Baal, before the storms really disappeared, still with her fist in the air, while the other hand holding the bicep, she moved precisely her fist towards the front. The stone wall shook and pushed the tornadoes quickly toward her enemy, causing her own attack to return towards the owner.
Baal's eyes fell upon Cyan, raising an eyebrow at the woman before noticing her rank, something she seemed dissatisfied with.
Looking back toward the tornadoes headed back toward her she held her hand out to the side before swipping it quickly in front of her to create a freezing arctic wind that immediately froze the twin twisters in their place. Where once were tornadoes there now stood two pillars of solid ice against the stone wall.
With that dealt with she turned her attention back toward Cyan. "A Vice Admiral? I have to admit that I feel insulted. I'm at least worthy of a full bloodied Admiral. Ah, whatever, I didn't really feel like fighting today anyhow." Baal's breath was visible in the air as she spoke, scratching the back of her head as she found the situation awakward.
But after letting out a sigh her demeanor changed again, her eyes fixing upon Cyan, a small smile forming upon her wicked face.
"Tell me, girl, who sent you here to die?"
“Fate can we say,” she replied to the impertinent question, “Such a fallen angel is unworthy to make a Great Judgment. I know the Admiral and you know what I think? He wouldn’t even move for you,” following her slightly obnoxious and crude words, her blue gaze was unwavering as she continued to hold the white woman’s gaze with such ease. With a short thrilling silence, the black-haired woman did not hesitate at any moment of her movements, she stamped her foot and raised her hand upwards, staggering rough and square stones heading straight towards the angel standing ten feet above Cyan. At such a speed, the stone pillar was getting dangerously close and about to brush against even her skin.
Her fingers clenched with intent while her face was nothing but a statue of austerity, ore stones sprang from the pillar, making this reddish beam, a million brambles shredding everything in its path without notice. A nice surprise that the Vice-Admiral had imposed her along the way.
"Bramble Shard...", she whispered the technique at the last second to surprise her opponent.
The brambles tore Baal to shreds, her ice body breaking apart as the bramble acted like a meat grinder sending her cold chunks to the ground and sliding off in every direction.
As some of the chunks slid to rest at Cyan's feet it was from these that Baal quickly reformed, a wide toothy grin upon her face as she reached up toward Cyan with the intention to grab hold of her and freeze her through that contact.
"Cold Embrace" Baal thought as her hand reached out toward the Vice-Admiral.
As the frail, pale hand grabbed Marine's coat-epaulette-adorned shoulder, the ice slowly and gently spread across the arm as well as the neck. Her free hand came to firmly grasp the wrist-busy, the lady was strangely silent, her empty gaze no longer shone with that lively glow. The lady's tanned skin decayed and cracked beneath the lady's golden eyes, the ice continuing to spread as the Vice Admiral's gaze turned gritty, simply turning to stone.
The angel's hand was stuck in a grip, having encompassed the ice-stone statue. A level voice sounded behind the white lady, “The power of ice is so predictable.” Following her words and without delay, Cyan spun around while kicking, hitting each red stone of a bramble texture and lacerated. The numerous crimson thorns shot like an arrow towards the angel's back to indicate that it was a target. However, during their flight, after the last fluid jump, Cyan spread her fingers, turning some of the spines into duplicates, heading towards where her wings cruelly were.
The hand gripped by the stone statue turned black, tearing her hand away and shattering the statue in the process. Seeing the projectiles being hurled at her Baal, with hand curled into a fist, threw a punch at what seemed to be nothing. But those who knew of it would know she had just released a wave of Busoshoku haki from herself, the invisble emitted haki clashing with the rock shards sending them in every which direction away from Baal herself.
"Predictable? Says the one throwing rocks?" Baal scoffed before she took in a deep breath. Exhaling from her mouth a large cloud of cold air that engufled the area around them in a cold blue haze. Tiny, nearly microscopic shards of ice floated in the air around them, with each breath Cyan might take it would feel like arctic wind assualting her lungs from the inside out. With every breath she might take, Cyan would run the risk of her lungs freezing.
"Freezing Cloud" Baal said outloud, letting Cyan know that this frosty cloud of haze she'd expelled not only served a purpose but was also an attack.
As soon as the angel spread the dangerously frigid air, Cyan took one last breath as she quickly raised her arms and leg into the air and threw them violently towards the ground. A burst of white ore turned to dust, revealing the ores of the earth, a burst of ore dust violently pushed the ice cloud back to Baal.
"Throbbing Breeze" she whispered.
The Vice Admiral didn't just push back gently, following where the gust went, she moved her arm downward, causing another burst motion to be triggered to the enemy's side while the other arm made the same movement while crossing her arms. A second gust pushed on the other side of the white woman, bringing the three squalls into conflict against the adversary who was greedy for wealth. The visible dust of one millimeter was the equivalent of a stone causing an unpleasant abrasive sensation on the skin.
The lady known as the Black Mole always had a lead over the pirate, her ability to think and quickly execute her movements had revealed this at the start of the fight: The Kenbunshoku Haki. Not a single second did she waste time targeting the opponent and guessing in advance what she was going to do thanks to the Future Vision.
Ice formed over Baal's body to protect her from the triple squalls pressing in upon her. She had seen the flash of red in the woman's eyes, and she knew what it meant. Though she only had basic Kenbunshoku haki herself she'd seen others use it, fought against others who used it. She knew it would be a pain to deal with but fact of the matter was the Cyan couldn't keep using it forever, she'd strain herself or run out eventually. She'd only need to hold out until then.
Spreading out her icy wings she dispersed the winds entirely and with that she allowed the ice to fall away from her body. Flapping her wings she flew up once more, her feet barely above the ground. She hated touching the ground, unlike the mal-formed land locked races of the Blue Sea she came from above and thus, she'd literally looked down upon then her entire life.
Raising her hand into the air hundreds of long, spear-like shards of ice appeared above not just the both of them but the entire section of the town that they were in.
"What good will seeing the future do for you now?" She asked as several of the ones above the both of them turned black, imbued with Busoshoku haki. "Angel's Tear Drops, I weep not for your death but that I may only kill you once!" Baal taunted before the shards began to rain down, turning houses and shops around them into pin cushions as the shards impaled them.
Her blue gaze darkened when Baal threatened part of the city, she didn't want her to use her weakness as a Marine and just make her focus on the Vice Admiral in question since she persisted on the path to her heaven.
As soon as her ice spears were created, Cyan bent her knees as her hands lowered down and raised them towards the sky, also creating a copy of the hundreds of reddish stone spears and slashing to counter them.
“I don’t need to see the future, my fallen angel… our powers given to us are similar,” she emphasized, “Everything is obvious,” her hands threw themselves violently downward, throwing back her spears of Crystal at the same time as the ice spears were heading towards part of the country town area.
Each spear shattered, blocked and deflected, making their battlefield a wild hedgehog. During this conflict, while her hands had been thrown towards the ground, Cyan immediately skated with the help of her Crystal, the stones pushed back from the earth under her feet with each meter that she traveled towards the angel, making the slightly shaking earth. With overwhelming speed, the vice-admiral inched closer to Baal as spears fell one after another around them. She raised her hands with such heaviness, letting Baal see three long spears bright a deep black slowly moving away behind Cyan's back, leaving one to be confuse with Busoshoku's Haki.
Her gold braceleted hands crossed, spinning the three spears together before moving away and attacking towards Baal, knowing that the few spears of ice infused with Busoshoku Haki were not not so far away and ready.
Baal watched as the crystal spears approached her, launching her own, the ones infused with her Busoshoku haki, as they clashed there came a moment in which the two seemed to come to a stalemate. However, the buso infused ice spears won out in the end, shattering the crystal spears and continuing on their way though they had admittedly lost a great deal of momentum from the clash. But Baal had expected that, following quickly behind the spears she readied an attack of her own, her hand black as the night and curled into a fist while it began to glow a fiery hot red color with the intention of following Cyan should she try to dodge or use her internal destruction to blast through whatever defense the woman put up.
"Similar powers? Yeah, maybe. But that's where the similarities end! Internal Destruction!"
During her momentum, her body was still heading at full speed towards Baal with the fist armed with a will. During a moment of slow motion and suspense, her leaning body could not stop at this speed and her blue irises caught sight of her subtly hidden hand, a powerful red aura emanated around the angel like a receiver, a warning sign that made her hairs stand on end. With little time to think as her arms were extended to the sides, before receiving the angel's big blow, she slammed her hands forward at the white woman, the golden bracelets clinking together. as the tips of her fingers touched the contact of her heart.
In the same time allotted, the black punch brushed against her skin shining with strange lights. Suddenly, a burst of red aura evaporated fiercely, twirling the hair of the two ladies in front of each other, the knuckles pressing fiercely against her chest to the point of making her cut her breath as if her heart had bounced out of her body. Only shards of ore flew into the air, finding that her battered chest had imposed a thin protection of ore armour while a lot of blood spurted from her lips, her blue eyes shaken by the dangerous blow.
On the other hand, the body of the black-haired lady had not gone far from the angel, Cyan was still in front of her. The Vice Admiral raised her gaze, which had become pale from shock, but still had that look of austerity, she was spitting blood on the top of Baal's white sweater.
“Not bad…” she complimented a skill that Cyan had not believed Baal was capable of. The moment the angel's orange eyes looked down, the two sealed hands of the Black Mole had transformed into a black stone stake and this time, it was mixed with Busoshoku Haki, a stake for which it had passed through the angel's chest during the decisive blow, all at the same time.
“You… let your guard down” she murmured, always in a concerted voice, blood continually came out in large quantities from her mouth, but she remained straight, and always in the same position like a statue despite the injury horrible that the enemy had inflicted on her.
However, although she was a pirate, the stake had deflected slightly towards her lower heart during her punch, preventing her from inflicting gentle death on her.
Baal let out a cough, blood ran down from the corners of her mouth. The stake had missed her heart but it had pierced her lung. The blow alone was not deadly but were it left untreated it would surely have dire consquences. However, As Cyan spoke of Baal letting her guard down, a smile came to the face of the angel whose eye twitched in pain from having been impaled. "I thought... You could see the future? I guess that only goes so far... huh?" Baal's smile widened to reveal bloody teeth before her pupils shurnk and a wave of pressure shot out from her body. "The will of a Conqueror!" She Laughed as she let loose a wave of Haoshoku Haki.
She had planned this, not nearly dying but getting close to Cyan, she needed the hao to stun the woman for only a moment, as the instant she had released the wave of Hao she swung her wings over the both of them and let out an icy breath as from the wound, the wings, and her own mouth to block off any escape for the woman even should the hao not do as she desired of it.
"Angel's Cold Embrace!" Baal thought as the ice began to rapidly freeze up the stake, down from her wings, and from her ice cold breath all in an effort to turn the Vice-Admiral into a marine-cicle.
"This is it! The deciding moment, my coup de grace!"
As the vein appeared on the black-haired lady's temple, anger, irritation and frustration rose like boiling blood and overflowed from the circulations of the veins. Showing a will of anger she repelled the wave of Haoshoku Haki since she was caught off guard, trembling like particles of lightning deep in her body as she had just suffered a terrible blow from her internal destruction, making her breath short. Her nostrils inhaled and expelled smoke in rage, her eyes stared with such animosity, a look of fury that would not soon be forgotten, she who was a habitual statue of austerity had lost her composure. Compassion had taken her by the throat, she should not have taken her out of pity and once again, she should have finished her off right in the heart of the angel, a hell that she deserved. While the ice cooled the stake which became a simple black stone, the vice-admiral in her greatest fury expelled in a shrill voice filled with resentment.
“WHAT ARE YOU ROYALLY PISSING ME OFF, YOU DIRTY PIRATE!!!"
The stone spread at the same time as the ice rose to the biceps, leaving a thin distance between its two elements, when the ore reached the shoulders and during her cry of fury, she raised her knee towards her stake, breaking it brutally in two. Freeing from the angel's grip, she fell for a brief moment before landing on her feet, the ankle tripping and causing the freezing body to fall towards the ground. Without arms, her back frozen, her face freezing, her bluish shoulders had impacted her while breathing was ragged, she grabbed her chest fiercely to find the slightest breath with her ore hand. Some peeling stones from her face, her shoulders and everything her body touched fell into shreds. The stones once again reforged the missing parts of her body. She stood up staggering, still not having recovered from the two shattering blows, shattering her rhythm of breath, she just closed her eyes while her hand rested on her chest again, trying not to trip again, she didn't let her anger as big as a mountain go unnoticed. She got into position, her foot advanced while her hands created a distance between them, making her pose, the Pu bu. Her eyes remained closed and contained a strong concentration so as not to tremble her lungs, finding the source of her breathing concentration despite the anger burning brightly within her.
Baal lowered herself to the ground with a hiss, her feet planting upon the dirt, gravel, and ice their encounter had created and kicked up. She took hold of the stake in her chest, her face contorting in pain, Baal grit her teeth and pulled it from her body. Tossing the crytal stake to the side she coughed up more blood and a red stain began to spread from the wound of her oversized sweater.
"Temper yourself, Girl. If you don't I'll have to chill you out myself." Baal teased through her pain but immediately after that her smile turned to a frown, her brow furrowed as she looked at the Vice-Admiral about ten or so feet in front of her. The blood stopped flowing from her wound as the stain stopped spreading.
"Your insides must be pretty fucked up after that blow you took, I bet you thought your stake would even things out didn't you?, Huh?" Baal reached across her chest, grabbing hold of the opposite shoulder of her oversized sweater and with a tug she tore it from herself letting it fall to the wayside to reveal beneath it a Legion chestplate with their Jolly Roger upon it. The hole where Cyan's stake had pierced her was now covered in ice, she'd frozen her wound solid to stop the bleeding, a temporary fix for a much larger problem.
Baal bared her blood stained teeth with a wide smile, an unhinged look in her eyes. "The power to see into the future and yet you've been wrong at every turn! A dirty pirate? You must be joking, you filthy human. Know your place!" Baal insulted the woman, spitting her bloody saliva on the ground, her racism towards humans was bared fully through her words. Her breath was visible in the air, showing that her breathing was labored, not as steady as it had been.
The angel's wings turned black, coated in concentrated busoshoku haki creating a flame-like pattern across her feathers and making them glow blue in aura.
Flapping her wings created a powerful gust of wind, sending Baal flying forward at great speed despite the pain in her chest. Folding her black wing in along her arm she crossed in front of her as she grew closer to Cyan she intended to use the wing to slap the woman away.
The black-haired woman remained focused on clearing her mind, hardly having time to make a small comment in the meantime towards the scathing woman. While her eyes were still closed, in her mind boiling with red, showed a black field of vision.
"I don't need to see the future... I can listen, smell and... feel, every movement is an eternal clue" she thought while a beating of wings made the earth vibrate, several white lines resounded like a receiver into the dark mind of the Black Mole, allowing her to be alerted in the direction Baal was going, thanks to kinesthetics. With that, she turned her foot to another angle. She crouched down to the point that her chest was pressing against her thigh, demonstrating her flexibility in being agile, but that wouldn't stop the Vice Admiral from wincing in pain, continuing to ignore the very existence of this cursed pain to narrowly dodge the slap. As Baal passed just above Cyan, she raised her hands as if the heaviness of gravity were pushing them, a brief earthquake made two immense pillars of black stone emerge from the earth on each side, one aimed at the face while the other headed straight for the wound Cyan had inflicted her on.
“What false grace” she commented with strong concentration to direct the grater pillars towards the sky, and this, at a breathtaking speed. Only the surface of the top of the pillar shimmered with an aggressive will, not being able to afford to tire out anytime soon against a specialty of Busoshoku Haki.
Baal turned, trying to stop her forward momentum with a flap of her wings, grabbing her icy halo mid spin as she threw it toward the woman with the hope of surprising her from the back. But alas, Baal's attempt at a surprise attack opened her up to being hit by Cyan's.
She felt the twin pillars slam into the back of her head and the exit wound of the Cyan's previous attack, sending the woman upward high into the sky. Baal's head was rattled and for a moment her vision went blurry but it was none other than the pain that brought her back. As she was thrown toward the sky she saw the blue above, reminding her of her home in the clouds.
The ice that had covered the exit wound shattered with the strike against it, causing pain to shoot up through her back and causing her to cough up blood once more. High in the sky she recomposed herself, refreezing the wound with buso infused ice to add an extra layer of protection from future attacks.
Now hovering high above the battlefield, she was temporarily out of harms way, checking the back of her head to feel her blood hair slick with blood from the strike to her head which frankly hurt more than the one to her wound. It was crazy how much getting hit in the head hurt compared to other injuries. But alas, more wounded than all of that was her pride. She'd been struck not just once but twice by a Vice Admiral, three if you considered the twin pillars separate attacks. The wound to her pride would not stand and would take far longer to heal than any physical wound.
"That damned woman, who does she think she is?" Baal asked no one but herself, holding her cold icy wound on her chest.
With that a devious idea found itself forming in her mind, looking over the battlefield and the destruction being wrought by the other battles going on across the island, Baal began to fly away from Cyan seeming to retreat but slowly lowering herself toward a different part of town, one a little more populated then the one they were in now.
Cyan didn't feel a single ounce of vibration, as the seconds passed the more she realized that Baal had retired. Her blue eyes slowly opened before seeing the angel heading to the Northeast, where the very center of Rockbell was located. Her heart leapt, realizing that her plan was going to be most evil. Without delay, her hands crystallized into long claws, diving straight into the ice before reaching the surface of the ore lands. At a rapid and overwhelming speed, she skated and dug a tunnel straight toward the town of Rockbell like a blind mole.
Such a reflection could not be denied that when one assumes something, something must be avoided at all costs that this kind of tragedy happened. A tragedy that could put the citizens of Rockbell into new mourning
Priority to Citizens[]
David moved about with great speed, attempting to protect citizens from the ravages of the Legion Pirates. He was fairly successful in moving them along, keeping them from harm - even if his appearance comically off put a few at first. As he pushed them along though, he would inevitably find members of the Legion Pirates. Thankfully for David, he was strong enough to handle many of the grunts that were dragged along.
As he continued though, he came across a strange sight: a crocodile-like figure. "Uh, you there, are you a citizen? You don't appear to be dressed like the Legion crew, do you need any help?"
The walking crocodile did not immediately respond, but had been observing him from a distance as he steadily approached. In one hand, a bottle of grog. In the other, something akin to a lit street lantern. He continued forward, his eyes staring intentedly upon the Marine. "You fight well!" Hyberon called to him. Then he heard the screaming of a pirate grunt running up towards him, blade raised high. Without moving an inch, only keeping his steady pace forward, the marine would see the man halt in place, frozen as if like stone and gasping for breath.
"But do you fight well enough?" He continued, glaring down the marine as the pirate then lost all semblance of consciousness and fell to the sand face-first. If he was alive or not, Hyberon couldn't really care less. Holding up his maul towards the marine, he eyed him up and down. "How about you show me if you have what it takes."
"Don't think that'll be necessary, I'm afraid." A distant voice called out from behind Hyberon, from which Ahab began to close corners for the reptile. "Pff-.." A single huff came out of his mouth before pointing his inverted-cigarette at Hyberon, "Lest the Capt'n says otherwise." He'd pause, placing his harpoon upwards with the bottom-end crushing the pavement.
It appeared that Ahab had to work to get through the otherside of this town, and no longer with the medic now.
| (Ahab's Perspective) |
|---|
| In the opposite side of town, Ahab happened to drag by with the aforementioned medic in hand, politely dropping him down as he finally at a chance to speak-up.
"HK!- WHAT THE ████ WERE YOU THINKING SNATCHING ME UP LIKE THAT?!" The medic shouted, his limbs adjusting furiously before holding a fat grit as soon as Ahab laid eyes upon him. "No time, laddie." Ahab prompted, inhaling and huffing out his inverted cigarette and pointing to the panicking civilians. "Patch 'em up, and a'll gather them up." Soon after, Ahab begins walking over and informing the masses. A portion of legion pirates were bumbling around their vicinity as the grunts took notice of the distant Ahab and his medic. "Is this what i think it is?" One the grunts spoke before adjusting his spear. "FORMATION!" The pirates took their formation before pressing forward to Ahab. "Kf. Observe this." Ahab left a single chuckle out before aiming his gas-harpoon at the formation. "..!!!" PSSSSH!! Ahab triggered the harpoon, from which a heavy blast of gas broke the formation, thrusting away many pirates as well as knocking some unconscious. The medic watched as Ahab carelessly blew away the pirates with a single touch. "Do what you're supposed to do." The sheep-man turned to the shocked medic, snapping them out before they nodded. "Right, Of course.." The medic makes way to assist with the nearing-injured, Ahab began kicking out and sweeping away approaching pirates before yelling out. "YE'HEAR! YE'HEAR! MAKE WAY 'ERE TO EVACUATE!" He shouted with a gruff tone, closing his position down to where David was positioned. |
---
As the crocodilian moved forth, David used Geppo to leap into the air and stand within the sky. However, the harpoon of Ahab intercepted the movement of the creature. The human and the Mink now stood against the beast. "How did he choke that pirate?" David said outloud. "Ahab, man the ground and make sure no civilians are nearby to get caught in the crossfire. If all clear, do what you can to figure out his capabilities disable him!"
David then threw one of his legs up and brought it down with great force, creating a blade of severing wind with the ability of Rankyaku. The crescent flew forth with great speed. David then used his speed to circle the area that Hyberon was in, creating more blades to create a spiral of blades closing in on the reptile. "Rankyaku Spiral Tornado!" David shouted as he arrived the point he began the attack. The Marine Captain dropped to the ground, using Haki to try and detect the reptiles presence he had evaded and slipped into the shadows.
From the tornado of sharpened winds, something peculiar happened. The blades of air began to fly outwards in an omni-directional attack. The very blades meant to harm the crocodilian had now turned against the user. From the settling dust, a voice could be heard. "Crohahahahahah! Two against one? That is hardly fair for you. Bring five next time." he spoke before in what seemed to be the blink of an eye, he charged at Ahab. Outspeeding any bullet, he intended to drive his large left fist right into his gut. The spears he once had carried on his back now stood embedded in the pavement, sitting still and waiting him to make use of them. "Try as you may, you will never out maneuver me!" He cackled.
Ahab stood before noticing an unnerving presence heading straight towards him, not long after he was immediately gut-punched by the crocodilian-man. "HRRK!" A slight gag was forced out of the sheep's mouth, in response he'd swiftly grasp and tighten his hold on the man's bicep. "WHAT A WASTE OF STRENGTH, YOU SHOULD BE USING THAT-" Then Ahab struck the harpoon against Hyberion's chest before triggering it's function.
BRSSSH!!! Suddenly, a propulsion of gas would push off the crocodilian a moderate distance, from where Ahab positioned himself and proceeded to yell out, "TO KILL THE WHITE WHALE!!"
David was shocked to see all the blades reverse their trajectory and aim back towards him, but it was no matter. Combining Kami-e and Kenbunshoku Haki, the man weaved in and out of the blades with surprising grace. It was as it the force of the wind pushed his paper-like body along, avoiding any damage. As the man could finally come to a rest, he took notice of the man taking aim at his Mink ally. He talks about that supposed white whale more than I do Wano... thought David as he seemed confused by Ahab's antics.
However, David wouldn't linger on such trivial matters. His body began to shift from his human form and into that a draconic deer-like creature - the full beast of the Ushi Ushi no Mi, Model: Kirin. Lightning crackled from his body for a moment as he charged forth, using Soru to enhanced his speed as he rammed his antlers into the crocodilian. "Ahab," spoke the new reptilian man, "focus on distracting him. He may be fast, but we have numbers and discipline. Cyan-sama is counting on us!"
The Crocodile didn't move. Not even an inch. The gust of gas didn't cause him to stray form his position, it only appeared to infuriate him. Thereafter, David would notice himself slowing down, not able to move as fast as he had anticipated. Stepping aside from his position, David would suddenly move at speeds unprecedented, moving faster than Hyberon himself had only moments ago. It would be nothing short of a marvelous display of focus and concentration if this other marine managed to avoid crashing into the mink. "Neat tricks. But with my fruit, you won't see any of us bend as much as an inch unless I will it so!" He roared at them as he ran to pick up a spear, throwing it at the speeding Kirin, the spear traveling like a lightningbolt, blistering the air around it as it flew forward.
With Kirin speeding towards the sheep-man, Ahab barely had time to react to the flashing-antlers, left with only one choice. "GRRHHH!!" The painful sensation of electricity fills his body, though the force appeared to be more harmful than the electrocution itself. "GRHK..!" Ahab managed to endure the misdirected attack before pulling away David and looking towards Hyberon, "THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO MY VOYAGES."
The old-sheep taunted before noticing the spear flying towards him, in response his pupils dilated before he'd step away and barely manage to catch the pole of the spear. KFFFF!! Not long after catching it, Ahab would swirl the two polearms, adjusting them to his liking. BRSSHK!! Then suddenly, a coating of electro would fill both weapons as he began approaching Hyberon, "COME TO ME!!"
David pulled away from Ahab, feeling awful for the attack, but knowing apologies would have to wait. Thankfully, Ahab was still loud and acting normal, perhaps his own Electro abilities saved him from the worst of the voltage from his form. "It appears he has some sort of ability to affect movement. That explains the deflection of my Rankyaku and moving me as I closed in," David said, his thoughts filling the air. If this was a Devil Fruit ability, David could use the power of Haki to lessen its impact, but David's stamina would have to hold strong for that to work. The usage of his fruit, Rokushiki and Haki all at once was a taxing endeavor on a man still training to approach the rank of his teacher.
As such, David would instead focus on overwhelming. Electricity began to charge around his person, with the air beginning to stink of ozone. With this, several bolts of lightning danced from his body in a glorious display of heat, sound, and light as the multiple bolts raced towards the reptilian man. If any of the bolts made contact, the attack did more than David intended. Instead, he hoped the booming thunder and flashes of light would momentarily confuse Hyberon - his Laser Circus technique.
With this, David began to shape his body into his hybrid form - David's best form for moving and attacking. David used his Kenbunshoku to lock on to Hyberon, charging lightning into his arm as he did. With a boost from Soru, he charged at the crocodile at his fastest speed. As he closed in on the range he had prior been misdirected on, he used his Busoshoku Haki to armor himself and cancel the impact of the fruit - or at the very least lessen it - as he combined his fruit and Shigan. "Hell Stab!" shouted David and he rammed his bullet-like finger into Hyberon.
Hyberon witnessed the array of lightning bolts coming his way, and for all he knew, it was with intent of harm and death. With his fruit did he halt the approach of the lightning, and the aspect of it that he was less prepared for occured: The light flashed in his eyes and blinded him.
His ears still functioned as they should, if not drowned out a bit from the thunderous roar. Quickly applying his haki to get a better perception of the area, he was quick with his next action, however dangerous it might be. Guiding the lightning to his maul and his left fist, his hammer would come swinging at David's head, and his lightning coated left fist would make a strike at Ahab as the two soldiers came closer. The two spears would be stopped last second of hitting him, and with that taken care of, a roaring lightning punch would make the attempt to connect with Ahab's throat.
The fiery, lightning-coated Maul would come for David with the hope of knocking him unconscious and flat on his ass. Might not be enough, but he was ready to continue if it didn't. But the finger... there was not enough time and focus to deal with that, especially with him having coated himself with Haki, limiting how much he could affect him. But the die was cast. Fate would determine it from here.
As the maul came swinging, the empowered finger pierced through his steel-like hide and dug into his ribs, cracking them and threatened to push further to pierce his lung if he had not slowed him down ever so barely at the last moments. Without the momentum of the impact, he would dig no further. It had now become a contest of strength, and Hyberon held firm. Still, the idea of almost having lost a lung due to a sloppy move on his own part and taking an offensive risk rather than back away and gain advantage through defense was aggravating. He had always been hot tempered and battle hungry. But this was the first time he felt that the trait had put him in a lethal danger. "Good shot! A mistake I won't repeat!" Hyberon cackled.
The old-sheep's pupils were still dilated, his head lifted to the fist coming down to his very-neck, Ahab cackled, "KF-KF~.." Ahab would've struck his harpoon into the pavement aside him, his fist began to clench down before matching his right fist with Hyberon's, "HRAAAGH!" The two fists struck at each other, with Ahab attempting to match the crocodilian's strength, although there was a noticeable gap between a man of trade and a man of war.
"GRRHHH!!" Even with the struggle, the old-sheep adjusted one of his prized spears before attempting to pierce it against the crocodile's chest, "NOT DONE YET, LANDLUBBER!" Ahab shouted with a crooked smile, holding onto David's advice maniacally.
David could do little to defend himself from the maul of the crocodilian. Part of his body, his finger, was lodged in Hyberon's chest. David was aware his fruit impacted his movements, but at this range his options were limited. The tough scales lining his head offered some defense, as did his Mythical power of lightning from the electrical output that he himself had generated. Using the Haki he already had been using, he attempted to guard himself with both it and Tekkai. The maul crushed into him, the pain shivering through his body.
David survived, his triple defense protecting him from death and unconsciousness. However, the main stood dazed, unable to think or hear as Ahab shouted out to them. Stumbling back, David held his hand to his head and saw blood trickling down from his wound. The man was strong, his ability to adapt was as well. David would have to continue to adapt with him.
However, as his senses refocused, he heard not Ahab or Hyberon. He instead heard the cries of more islanders, afraid for their lives as Legion Pirates ran about. David didn't want to back down from a fight, he didn't want to be seen as a coward by anyone - especially Cyan. However, his mission was to protect and defend civilians, not his own ego. "You," grunted David towards the rival reptilian, "you aren't a pirate are you? You never attacked these people or have any plunder. I don't know your reason to attack me or Ahab, but I don't think you have it out for them!" David pointed out towards where he heard the cries, a damaged building that had a collapsing wall. A family could be seen inside, as could be seen with other similar buildings around it.
"Whatever hatred you have for the Marines, put it aside for now! Help us get these people to safety! After that, I'll fight you all you want! But these people deserve to live, not die watching men fighting!" David forced himself back up. He was still dazed and disoriented. Running towards the people, he tripped and fell like the had many times in his life. However, he pushed himself back up like he always did. Pushing himself forward, David used his strength to begin pulling people from the collapsing buildings even as he felt his own body ready to collapse as well.
The spearhead was pointed right at his chest. Alas, it would do little. Spears requires momentum, strength, and more often than not, both hands on the shaft. Two of these things were missing. As if that wasn't enough, Hyberon had hardened his torso already in response to David's surprisingly impactful finger attack. The spear's point impacted against his chest and immediately halted like a kid punching a brick wall. Hyberon heard the marine's words, and instantly made his decision.
His fist that had collided and was currently in a one-sided contest of strength moved in a way so the fists slipped past each other, with Ahab's fist moving over the crocodilian's shoulder. But he did not punch Ahab. Instead, he opened the clenched fist and grabbed a hold of the sheep's head. Thumb and finger against his temples while gripping his scalp, palm blinding the mink, he might have been able to proceed and crush his skull from there.
But what might have surprised the two, he instead hoisted him up and threw him towards the marine. Flying through the air, he was quick to use his fruit to cause movement in his weapons, the lot of them gathering on his back, save for the lantern, still remaining in hand. As soon as he had them all, he began to walk away. "Fair point, marine. Save the people as well as you can." He muttered as he looked up to the conflict atop the island with the wintery angel. "I have my own way of doing that." He said with glee and confidence as he continued forward.
As soon as the large-mink was thrown at David, the hardy whaler struck his hoofs onto the ground barely crashing onto David. "KAFAFAFAFA~!" Ahab cackled for a good minute before massaging his head and properly posturing himself, "That's what I needed." It seemed that Ahab was oblivious to the idea that his life-line could've ended there, the old-mink proceeded to pick up his harpoon before placing it against his shoulder.
"Back ta' business.."
Ahab said, pulling out a cigarette and lighting up the wrong side whilst waiting for David..
David thanked the heavens Ahab didn't crash into him. The Marines and the revolutionary had a temporary truce for the purpose of the saving of civilians. David was still unaware of the crocodile's motives, but it didn't matter so long as the people were protected. Using his advanced speed from his hybrid form, he raced towards the citizens with his great speed.
Using his strength, David punched through a fall of a partially collapsed house - its door blocked and its inhabitants trapped. He raced them outside before the remaindered crashed down. He would continue these actions until a large group of civilians was huddled together. "I might look weird, but I promise I'm a good guy!" smiled David, trying to comfort some of the children in the mix. "Follow me, I will get you to the docks so you can evacuate! My buddy Ahab will be behind us shortly, he is saving people too!"
As David affirmed the civilians of their safety, Ahab was seen holding up what could've been a collapsing wall as various civilians from below made their escort to the docks, not long after Ahab let go of the wall before letting it collapse.
"Sh'ure, Sh'ure." Ahab confirmed, huffing out a thick cloud of smoke. As Ahab was making his approach with David, a distant figure was rushing over to them and holding out someone in their arms.
"CAPTAIN, ENSIGN!-" The medic that Ahab had picked up was clearly exhausted, holding onto what appeared to be a unconscious young boy in his arms. "There are.. many others back there-" The medic was catching his breath, though Ahab affirmed him with a tap on his shoulder.
"Jus' get the hell out of 'ere, and safe." The old-sheep muttered before making his way forward to the direction that the medic claimed. "Don' got much time.. let's jus' get this over wit'-.."
Gentle Provocation[]
It didn't take long for Dave's lookout to see the ice obstructing their passage toward the island, it was like the entire beachfront and surrounding waters had been frozen solid, a natural barrier for incoming vessels.
Not for Dave, however.
With a grunt of annoyance and gently shoving a deckhand out of his way, Dave took point at the prow of his battleship. Looking down from his position and out toward the ice in front of him, Dave let a confident smirk stretch across his face and he muttered "sometimes this cursed life has its uses". Grabbing one of his shoulders and rolling his arm a bit, to limber up it seemed, Dave spread his legs and drew his right arm back in a motion that looked like he was about to give the air in front of him a mean right hook. Then, with sudden groaning bang like a gunshot, a massive column of bubbling magma exploded from where his arm once was. The crew in Dave's vicinity backed away quickly, the heat emanating from the liquid rock was enough to cause discomfort and make them all break out in a deep sweat from even 20 feet away.
Dave held out his smoldering arm in front of him, thick black smoke ballooning from the glowing mass. "Just enough to clear a path" Dave muttered to himself before the magma suddenly erupted in a great wave of glowing molten slag that immediately began melting the ice it came into contact with, leaving nothing but bubbling seawater behind. The deadly wave of lava continued shooting toward the beach in the near distance, like a flaming boulder hurled from siege weaponry.
Dave's arm quickly returned to normal, his pristine white Marine coat showing no indication that it was a volcano just seconds prior. Looking back toward his crew, Dave gave the order "FULL SPEED AHEAD". The shouted command of their superior officer seemed to shake the men from their stupor and they quickly got back to work.
"Sir" his helmsman spoke, "Yes?" Dave asked hesitantly, he had forgotten the man's name, how embarrassing!. "Do you have a name for that attack at all, just curious?" Dave chuckled goodheartedly at the question, "I really didn't know what I was doing with that one to be honest, I just needed something to clear the ice, I'll name it if I can streamline elements of it I guess". the helmsman nodded in understanding before going back to steering the ship, focused on not steering the ship into any icebergs.
It was nary 10 minutes later, when they were much closer to shore, that the lookout from the crow's nest harkened for Dave. "Sir!" the teen boy with keen eyes said, while pointing toward something in the distance, "I see something suspicious in the sky flying over there!". Dave quirked an eyebrow at that, how can something be suspiciously flying?, but brought up his pair of binoculars to take a look anyway. "AHH Its totally suspicious!" Dave shouted out, mirroring the young boy's statement. The dark brooding individual flying through the air on a cloud of purple fire couldn't be anything but suspicious!
"Hey you!" Dave shouted out with his hands cupped around his mouth toward the UFSP (unidentified flying suspicious person), "What are you doing, it better not be any crimes!".
---
Zelgadis felt as if his blood had been lit aflame, his lust for battle and conquest drowning out the fanfare as he soared through the air on wings of violet domination. It was these precious moments before the advent of combat, that he took the time to appreciate. Where one stands at the precipice of that yawning crag where life and death dance on a thread, each vying for victory over the other. He closed his eyes, in silent contentment as a smile graced his features. He relished all of this, welcoming these sensations as if they were a savory meal.
A resounding roar of clashing elements, brought him out of his reverie, the sizzling sound magma and screeching ice clashed, and when he opened his eyes he bore witness to a veritable tsunami of molten lava melting a path through the icy bridge formed by Baal as she led her men into battle. He didn't need to draw on his extrasensory capabilities, his vision was superior to most, and even at this distance he could clearly see the Marine vessels heading this way.
"Hah, perhaps I shall have some entertainment after all?" Slowing down his pace he allowed the Marine vessel to catch up to him. Since it was going to take a little bit of time, perhaps he'd catch that nap. Closing his eyes he let himself drift into slumber as he was carried by his devilish wind.
---
"Hey you!" He was stirred from his brief nap by a loud voice. Turning towards the voice he observed the Marine and his vessel as they approached. He heard the next retort and pondered. He could jump straight into battle right now, but... where would be the fun in that? Its a pirates duty to exploit every opportunity given to them, and this was no exception.
"I'm not doing any crimes right now Marine." The implied 'yet' was not lost to Dave. "I'm simply heading to shore, but if you go further back, you'll find the Legion Pirates have arrived and are attempting to make shore." Zelgadis said casually, pointing his thumb behind him. He sat cross-legged on his cloud of wind and fire, with all the arrogant swagger of a veteran pirate, and smiled devilishly at Dave. It was as if he was enjoying some inside joke between them, as his crimson eyes were lit with mirth.
"You'd better go catch them, who knows what horrible things they plan to do once they reach land."
Dave gave the incredibly shifty looking man an incredulous look, before reaching into a satchel on his belt from which he removed a particularly small snail. He brought the tiny Den Den Mushi to his ear and gave off a series of requests to Vice-Admiral Corindon's company inquiring about the Legion pirates, the sound of active combat through the snail's speaker was all the confirmation he needed.
"It's being taken care of" Dave retorted back at the flying man, before continuing, "You might not be doing any crimes now-" Dave hadn't missed the inflection the individual had used, nor his insinuated confirmation of criminal nature, "-But that doesn't mean you aren't planning to cause any soon. I find your presence and current suspicious activity, all in the midst of a Legion Pirate raid, VERY SUS-" Dave blushed a bit, he had said suspicious way too much "-You get the idea!".
Dave coughed into his fist before pointing at the floating man with an accusatory finger, "In accordance with maritime law, I order you to surrender to Navy custody!". Dave made a mental checklist in his head, Yeah! That sounded like a professional speech, like he knew what he was doing.
Zelgadis shrugged with his shoulders, nonchalantly. He appeared unconcerned with Dave, and had the air of someone who cared even less about whatever order he had just given him. Zelgadis let out a chuckle as he continued smiling at Dave. It was an expression that conveyed something like, "oh you poor boy, look at you, trying to be an adult". It was a grave insult, and Dave could fully comprehend it. Zelgadis was clearly not hiding it.
"I see. Well if you must know, I am an undercover Marine agent, a member of Cyber Pol's spy unit. We received intel that the Legion Pirates hired a mercenary, I believe they're heading to the Royal Palace as we speak. So, with that being said, we're on the same side here."
Dave's eyes bugged out in shock at what the man had said, not because he believed him, but because he had the gall to keep trying to deceive him, he wasn't a Commodore for nothing!. "LIKE I'D BELIEVE THAT!" Dave shouted out.
Growling in indignation, Dave muttered "If he's not going to take me seriously, I'll just make him". Then, without warning and quicker than most would assume, Dave threw a punch toward the man above him and still a fair distance away, his fist quickly burst into a roiling mass of red hot magma that churned with a deep rumble, like a tectonic plate. The magma quickly formed into a massive fist that shot forward toward the man taunting him from above. "If you won't come quietly, then I'll have to use-"
OVERWHELMING FORCE!
Dave let loose the gigantic fist of aptly named destruction, it almost seemed to grow in size the closer it got to Zelgadis, and it moved at a speed something of its size had no right to rocketing forth at.
Zelgadis only laughed in response, he could clearly see how aggravated the young man was, and that of course was the intent. While fury had the power to motivate a man to push through any adversity, it often left him vulnerable to the machinations of others. Likewise, in an instance such as this, the one consumed by it often led with straightforward and simple attacks, and relied on as the young man so aptly put it; overwhelming force.
But conquest need not rely on such a brute tactic, though it is quite favorable. Dropping his hold over the wind, Zelgadis fell straight down, and midflight raised a single hand up, unleashing a torrent of violet flame upward that collided with the fist of magma as it soared over him. Ordinarily in the hierarchy of Devil Fruits, magma reigns supreme over most forms of fire, but not in the case. Were it a matter of which burned hotter, the Magu Magu no Mi, would undoubtedly win, for Zelgadis' power radiated no heat. Yet it was not overpowered, in fact, if there was any reaction that Dave was expecting, what he saw was certainly not he was bearing witness to.
In a mesmerizing display, the strange purple fire that Zelgadis released clung to the magma fist, rapidly spreading over it with an almost hungry zeal. In no time at all it had completely subsumed the fist of magma, and was quickly spreading down towards him. But the most terrifying part was not that unusual nature of the purple flame, no, it was far more insidious than that. His mind and body was under attack, within his head a single booming voice echoed a string of words that felt like knives being driven into his skull. It was like a hand of a million fingers caressed his brain, each one leaving a scalding trail of devastation in its wake. His soul felt as if it were on fire, that his arms and legs were metaphorically being pulled apart, blades plunged into every part of his exposed body eliciting pain unending. Throughout this entire psychological attack he could make out the words hammering into his ears.
Submit. Obey.
These two words played infinitely within his mind. As the fire spread down his arm, the force of the psychological attack grew in force, and frequency, shouting down any other sounds he could hear, and should it reach his actual body, there was no doubt that the visceral nature of this attack would intensify to such overwhelming agonizing levels, he very well might succumb. This attack, these flames were a violation of the highest order, it was malicious, and if there could ever be a power one could attribute as "evil" this... this was it.
Dave could see Zelgadis unleash another wave of that violet flame that seemed to wrap itself around... the wind itself. Instantly the wind succumbed to that infernal influence and obeyed without question whatever order Zelgadis had given it, and cushioned the man who landed with a soft thump, as he remained in that damnable seated position, and that thrice damned smile! He said nothing, just looked at him knowingly. Mockingly!
At this point Zelgadis was more or less on "even" space with the Marine, who if he didn't act quickly may very well fall prey as the wind did.
"GH!" Dave grasped his head in pain, it had felt as if pins and needles had spread across his molten fist and down the length toward his body. The words echoed in his mind like a cacophony of sirens in a cave, bouncing around and redoubling on its own words. With desperate abandon Dave detonated his towering molten construct, the magma violently exploding in an eruption of force that scattered both itself and the hellish purple flames clinging to it.
From the smoking and dripping stump where Dave's arm had once been, a new new molten replacement quickly emerged with a squelching sound and burst of putrid black smog.
Dave stared out from his perch toward the vile individual mockingly floating out in the sea, seemingly without a care in the world. "You abhorrent miscreant!" Dave shouted out, before crouching slightly and leaping from the deck of his ship and out over the ocean. With a grunt of effort, lava and smoke erupted from Dave's torso and blasted him forward toward Zelgadis like a missile.
Dave was pissed, while his first attack had merely been a show of force, something to cause the individual to surrender, he hadn't been prepared for such an unsettling counterattack. Dave vowed not to hold back anymore though, this man was dangerous and he needed to treat him as such.
"Lets try this again!" Dave bellowed out to his opponent, before bringing both of his arms forward and launching them both forth in massive blasts of magma shaped like fists large enough to swallow giants.
OVERWHELMING FORCE!
Dave was mindful of this man's power now, and he prepared to violently detonate either himself or his attacks should the man pull the same attack once more.
In response, Zelgadis who was still sitting comfortably on his cloud said said only this:
"Rengoku Oni - Makaze." The voice that came out of Zelgadis was eerie, for there seemed to be a resonance, and an undercurrent of authority and power as he said a single phrase.
High above them both, the detonated magma fist, did not fall, nor did it dissipate. Afterall, it was already enthralled by the violet flames of Zelgadis, and when Dave cut his connection, all that magma was now under a different sovereignty. Winds suffused with violet flame, and molten rock converged together, forming a ghastly construct.
A half formed angelic being, enshrouded by violet fire, and with surging streams of magma that covered it like armor plating, covering a vessel of wind, it had the upper body of a humanoid, complete with flowing wings, its body tapered off at the waist into wisps of nothing. It was large, twice as big as Zelgadis himself and it reacted rather predictably to the threat against its master.
An inhuman roar resounded above Dave, who only had moments to see Zelgadis smirk treacherously as he flowed back, on his cloud of wind and fire before his vision was obscured by the bellowing monstrosity that had descended. It was inhumanly fast, unbound by the conventions of ordinary movement, it moved with grace and guile of the wind, as it reoriented itself before Dave.
Rearing back its massive arms it thrust them forward in a mockery of his own attack causing the two collide. It was as if he had been hit with the meteor, the pressure from both of their attacks causing a visible shockwave to emanate outward. It screeched, violent and inhuman, bellowing in Dave's face, which in of itself was its own attack as an immense blast of pressurized air was detonated in his face point blank in an attempt to knock him senseless. What was surprising was the strength of this ghastly construct, as it attempted to wrestle with him.
Oddly enough, despite the violet flames covering it, they did not spread to him, nor was he faced with any trace of the psychic attack from before. Regardless it was little comfort when the being screaming so inhumanly right in his face sought to grab him with its own molten hands, and attempt to push him down before trying to plunge the both of them into the sea below. It possessed surprising strength, and given its size, could grasp him easily enough.
Incidentally, Zelgadis hadn't changed his position on his cloud much, aside from his head now resting on his fist, as he watched the spectacle with interest.
Dave grit his teeth in annoyance, this mans powers were annoying! Dave allowed this new mockery of a creature to sink his hands into his fists, then with an almost casual effort, Dave's magma fists grew in size exponentially. Now grabbing the creation in fists of magma like a child would hold a toy, Dave gave out a roar of effort before slamming this creature into the sea below.
Reforming his arms, Dave looked across at the man before him, while hovering in place with the lava blasting from his torso, like an infernal genie.
"You annoy me, greatly".
Zelgadis burst out laughing, "Sei-hai-hai-hai-hai!" Overcome by an almost maniacal laughter he rolled onto his back, grasping his belly as tears threatened to fall from his eyes while continued rolling back and forth. After a moment he stopped and wiped a single tear from his eye as he turned his face towards Dave. In those crimson eyes that seemed to glow with an ethereal light, something dark and dangerous lurked there.
"You possess the almighty Magu Magu no Mi, one of the most formidable and powerful of all the Logia types." Zelgadis stood up from his position, wiping dust from his pants with his hands in a relaxed manner. "Since that fateful day, you have been chasing challenge, but it has always been faster." Rising to his full stature, it was probably an even more unusual event since despite Dave's own towering stature, Zelgadis was even taller.
"Now when confronted with a foe not easily cowed, you whine and fret like a temperamental child!? Tch, such poor manners." He said mockingly. He took a step forward, and the fiery winds beneath him moved accordingly becoming his footholds midair.
"How unbecoming of a Marine of your station. No matter, I shall give you a proper thrashing, turn that delinquency into discipline befitting a Marine."
An eruption of violet light exploded out from him, surging around him until he was completely obscured, forming a dense column of purple flame, until that dissipated, leaving only an aura of flame that licked at his body. Near his fists and chest the effect was even more pronounced as they were literally glowed with ethereal light.
"Rengoku no Hono: Maō no Tōki!" His voice distorted again, as he finished evoking the name of his technique. He was wreathed in that devilish purple flame, and he settled into a fighting stance, one arm fist closed held out to his front, while the other fist was chambered back, legs bent into a deep form.
"These flames of mine possess a special nature, as such you will find the vaunted invulnerability gifted to you by your Logia will be subordinate to these flames!"
The wind picked up, at first a gentle breeze that sifted around them before it rapidly evolved into a maelstrom that converged around Zelgadis's fist. There it formed a whirring transparent sphere filled with swirling violet light, emitting a distinct warbling buzz.
"Amatsuki no Hado!" With a forward thrust of his fist, he unleashed the compressed force which became an explosive torrential wave of force surrounded by a purple flame. It appeared more like a cone of violet light that sought to envelope Dave entirely, should it hit, no doubt if what Zelgadis said was true, then the pressurized wave filled with his unique flames would smash through and utterly overwhelm the Marine, shattering his body.
Many thoughts were racing through Dave's head as he could do nothing but watch the wave of imminent destruction crash toward him at an immense speed, none of those thoughts were about his impending demise, however. He thought about the opportunity to dodge the attack if it was just a little further away, he thought about his great frustration with this man's ability, but most of all he thought about his opponents absurd confidence.
Dave closed his eyes as the physical shockwave impacted his his hovering body and tore it to shreds, lacerations and craters formed all his body, but where viscera and blood should be expected there was only red hot magma that oozed out of the wounds almost akin to thick blood. Half of Dave's head was sheared off and where was once his torso was now just a hole, carved out by the force of Zelgadis' attack. It was in this state that Dave opened his one remaining eye, his pupil reflected the hellish purple light of the hellfire as it descended upon his form like the wrath from God.
As the fire covered his body like a nefarious blanket, embracing him in its sinister grip, Dave once more heard the overpowering and domineering words of Zelgadis in his mind.
Submit. Obey.
Dave almost panicked again, nearly detonating his body like he had his arm previously, but he withheld the instinct. No, that would just cause more problems, those flames were truly aggravating! Instead of trying to fling the flames off as he had before, Dave thought of a new solution, one that he mentally kicked himself for not thinking of when the fight had started.
Focusing on where he felt pins and needles, the areas of his body burning with that accursed flame, Dave manifested Armament Haki. What was Haki if not willpower? What was armament other than an armour of will itself? What overcomes dominion if not willpower? The urge to rebel against restraint, the drive to FIGHT.
Dave opened his lone eye to the crescendo of voices ceasing suddenly, his will smothering them. Looking down at his eviscerated body Dave gave off a sudden "Whoa!" of surprise before using his remaining arm to quickly pat out and smother the remaining embers of purple malice, the glistening coat of Armament Haki suffusion his hand extinguishing the last of the flames.
Looking back toward his opponent now, Dave suddenly muttered "my turn" before his body suddenly expelled a mass of molten rock and pyroclastic fumes that coalesced around his missing body parts, replacing them instantly, his Logia body at work. Then, without warning and like the living volcano that Dave very much was, he erupted from his position in the air, a blast of magma rocketing him forward at immense speeds towards Zelgadis. Dave never learned the technique of Soru, not because he couldn't perhaps learn, but simply because he found his bursts of magma sufficient enough to move him at speeds that rivaled and even exceed some of the most seasoned practioners of of the sudden motion technique.
Appearing suddenly before Zelgadis Dave reared back an arm, its form glowing with hot fury as magma overtook his flesh, and furthermore a light sheen burst forth over even that, adding certain oomph of striking power with his armament Haki. With a yell of force and a sound of the very air burning, the heat of his magma causing the atmosphere to scream in pain, Dave shot a heavy right hook at his enemy's head, intending to burn it into carbonized dust.
Zelgadis knew of the infamous durability of the Logia types, in Paradise those who possessed such Devil Fruits were akin to God's for no weapon would prosper against them.
Yet his hellfire flames, those majestic devilish flames, oh they burned not the flesh but the very spirit itself! Those violet flames scorched away the will until naught is left but obedience. As such his flames possessed the ability to harm those selfsame Logia's. So he was surprised to see the presence of will itself made manifest.
It was a welcome sight.
He hummed approvingly at the display. "Hoh? So the little pup can draw out the colors of his ambition?”
Dave's explosive bursts of speed were no less impressive; inhuman and irregular movements made only possible through a power and body like his. Still, despite Dave's speed, Zelgadis's eyes darted unerringly, tracking his every movement.
Dave had closed the distance between them, but Zelgadis was not idle. His body, honed by countless battles and war, moved with predatory instinct. He crouched low, and dropped several feet down before whipping an arm out to meet Dave’s right hook.
“Heavenly Destruction Arts - Hell Gate!” Right before the moment of impact, Zelgadis’s block seemed to strike the air itself as a visible shockwave permeated out. What followed next was Dave’s hook crashing into a shockwave, which seemed to act as some sort of shield, as much of his momentum and power was seemingly lost. However, empowered by the color of arms, his blow cracked the shockwave-like shield like glass and slamming into Zelgadis’s arm.
White hot magma spilled over the offending limb, as smoke and steam rose up. Those violet flames covering his body seemed to act like some kind of defense, but the color of arms clad magma seemed to sizzle through them. In response, a violent surge of his purple flame erupted pushing against the magma, yet the magma was clearly winning.
Dave’s earlier hypothesis was correct. For all the power of Zelgadis’s Devil Fruit, it too was subordinate like many others beneath the supreme might of the color of ambition. So as long as he had Haki to spare, those violet flames would never reach him.
Yet, Zelgadis was undeterred, if anything he looked even more pleased by the resulting clash, as his smile grew to a feral grin. Even as drops of magma penetrated through his defenses. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air, as Zelgadis's arm was beginning to burn. Just as it seemed that Dave’s hook would pulverize through Zelgadis’s defenses, he suddenly felt almost no resistance.
His opponent's body shifted with the blow, twisting with the force, with an alacrity and grace one would not expect for someone his size before slipping further in Dave’s guard. What at once would have been a death blow had turned into a glancing one as it seemed to slide right past him. Zelgadis's grin stretched from ear to ear as his violet flames surged once more, spurned on by his will, as the color of arms blossomed across his arms. Rearing back he chambered an arm before it became a blur.
“Heavenly Destruction Arts - One Thousand Years of Purgatory True Punch!” At the declaration of his technique, Zelgadis’s body shifted to deliver a powerful straight punch that unleashed cascading vibrational shockwaves that simultaneously were transmitting through the water molecules in the air. It was like the boom of thunder, as this deadly combination unleashed a devastating effect as the shockwaves began rapidly expanding outward, washing over the space where Dave was currently at, and beyond, increasing in frequency until it was as if a veritable wall of force was repeatedly slamming into the same area. Powerful crushing and concussive forces that would quite literally blow away anyone or anything to Zelgadis’s front. This technique was meant to absolutely annihilate everything in the direction it was pointed at.
Dave didn't have time to feel the satisfaction of his magma-clad fist impacting that overconfident asshole before the retaliation, some bullshit named punch, took the air out his lungs and launched him away at speed. As Dave soared through the frozen ocean, the great impact to his sternum reared its damage and Dave coughed up a sizable glob of blood, his Logia body powerless before the might of haki. In his delirious state, Dave had barely enough cognition to note that he was about to impact the frozen sea and brace himself.
Landing in a crouching position, his back arched and his held low, Dave felt his feet dig grooves into the ice as the strength behind the attack continued to follow through with momentum. Further still did Dave continue, his feet ineffectively trying to slow his rapid departure from his opponent, merely leaving behind deep grooves in the ice as his shoes cut through.
Finally, the momentum slowed and finally ceased, and Dave collapsed onto his knees breathing heavily, Zelgadis' mighty punch had more than knocked the wind out of him it seemed. Growling with frustration Dave stood up quickly and spat out a strand of blood-soaked spit before taking stock of where he was. He could see the smug bastard in the distance, still on his cloud, still smug, but injured nonetheless, his magma was potent after all. Dave was surprised to note that he was just feet away from the beach-laden shores of the very island he was ordered to protect, and he couldn't help but take a second to appreciate the comfort of nature around him, despite the harrowing circumstances.
"Alright fucko" Dave muttered, "Lets try something else". Lifting up a leg, it quickly transmuted into magma, pants and all, before he brought his foot down in a big stomp, the lava exploding from his heel when it contacted the sand around him. In his mind's eye, Dave pictured his magma as it drilled into the earth, melting it and adding the liquid rock to his arsenal. Bringing up his arms now in a motion like he was commanding an orchestra, magma erupted in great geysers of the earth's blood, where it quickly began to form into a bubbling heaping wall of lava around him.
Grinning now, Dave looked out toward the annoying bastard floating out at sea, almost like something from target practice.
Primordial Bombardment!
Dave shouted out with glee as massive bullets of magma exploded forth from the wall of lava. Five, ten, twenty! They kept firing, Dave let loose a veritable onslaught of primordial artillery fire that erupted and sped toward Zelgadis at speeds rivaling actual artillery ammunition, the atmosphere screamed in protest as the burning hot ordnance rained down upon the fuck face atop his purple nimbus.
---
On the Marine Ship
The Marines aboard the ship could only stare in abject horror as their Commodore unleashed what could only be described as hell on earth in their general direction. Or rather in the direction of the man who was putting up a fight against him. That there was someone who could contend with the might of the Magu Magu no Mi was terrifying enough, but those strange purple flames of his? They saw the moment of panic on the Commodore's face, bore witness to how those weird flames took his magma and the wind and created that... thing that attacked their superior.
These were the monsters they joined up to fight against. But as it was, with the lot of them crowded at the aft of the ship, staring at what some might consider a small-scale buster call heading directly towards them, they realized that... they were just bystanders... no... insects in a fight between gods. The pirate would probably survive, but in the ensuing fallout, it was likely many of them would perish. But that's just how it was in the Marines, you just hoped that you survived long enough to become a monster like them. Otherwise, you're just fodder in these battles. But these brave men and women were Marines, and they were trained for this sort of eventuality and reacted accordingly.
"Helm to starboard! Helm to starboard!" One shouted. All at once it was a frenzy of movement as Marines scattered through the ship, doing everything they can to prepare for the onslaught. A burly Marine ran up to the helm and started spinning the rudder to starboard, straining under the effort. Causing the ship to begin its turn.
"Once we get in position lower the sails! Above all, we can't let the ship catch fire!" Shouted another, as they pointed towards the mast. A group of Marines scurred around to all the mechanisms and got into position ready to carry out the order.
"Get the damn fire suppressants ready, we all know what we signed up for!" The Marine's were prepared, and resigned, but willing to do their duty.
---
Zelgadis sent a pulse of hasshoken shockwaves throughout his arm, destroying the leftover magma cover it. Giving his wounds a cursory glance, he noted that he would probably have a scar for this. He grinned savagely. "Good. Scars are medals of honor for pirates!" Chuckling at the injury gifted to him by the Marine Commodore, he whistled appreciatively as he saw the spectacle before him. He was impressed that Dave would consider such a means of attack, bombardment of that scale meant his flames could do preciously little, the attack pattern was simply to chaotic to conquer effectively as he did the last attack.
But in his peripheral vision, he bore witness to the actions of the Marines. Despite himself he could not help the swelling of pride at their actions. Resigned to their fate, they still fought to survive, even in the face of overwhelming power. That was something he respected, even admired.
He shook his head chidingly. "You sentimental fool." He said to himself. He sped forward on his nimbus before dismissing it and landing on the aft of the ship. Despite his size and weight, he possessed extraordinary grace and control that he barely even caused a thud, let alone a rocking of the boat.
The Marines of course were visibly shocked by his actions, causing the once managed frenzy of movement to abruptly stop as they stared in true terror believing that the end was upon them.
"Fear not Marines, I bear you no ill will. In fact, on this day, I shall become your savior. Behold, the power of the Hellfire Tyrant!" As he shouted his epithet, he unleashed a torrential wave of violet flames that erupted out from his outstretched hand and into the air. A surge of ghastly flame spread out, greedily snaking through the air as it rendered order absolute, to submit and obey. The wind bowed before him and bent to his will. Instantly the flames were carried by a conquered gale, which whipped itself into a storm of epic proportions!
An enormous tornado formed in its place, its size and scale resplendent of the power that fueled it, dwarfing both Zelgadis and the Marine vessel. From this massive tornado of violet flame and wind, two funnels erupted from the sides taking the shape of arms, and at the head twin violet orbs shined with ghastly light! This wind elemental as it were became the shield against the onslaught as it raised its arms and charged into the bombardment of magma!
Like a soldier charging headfirst into enemy fire, it used its massive body to intercept the attacks that would have hit Zelgadis or the vessel. With its arms it swatted aside entire salvo's of magma, hurled itself forward to thwart the descent magma the size of ship cannons, howled releasing debilitating shockwaves that disrupted the flight and trajectory of the bombardment. It was a display of control and power the likes of which the Marine's could scarcely believe.
"He's... saving us? B-but why?" One questioned fearfully. Others shared this sentiment, their eyes and mouths wide open as they witnessed this display before them. It was like some cruel joke. A marine dedicated to purge that disease known as pirates had become their executioner, yet in this strange twisted world, it was the pirate himself that had chosen to place himself in the path of this indiscriminate attack.
One Marine gazed on a grim expression on his face. "We have our orders men. It doesn't matter if he's helping us now. Those of you not on detail, get your arms ready, and take aim. Once he's weak, we'll fire. He probably wont die, but we'll be able to arrest him. Hear that pirate!"
For a moment there was just silence. Then Zelgadis coolly turned his head towards them and said this, "I'm impressed by your daring Marine, but I expect no less. Do what you must." He turned back, arms raised high as he began gesturing with purpose.
Each subtle shift and movement of his arms corresponded to the wind element, it was as if he was orchestrating the spirit as if it were a puppet, his eyes closed as he allowed his color of observation to illuminate the world for him. He felt the movement of each and every attack, saw the ebb and flow of its devilish power wrought by Dave's will as they were propelled from the shore. He guided the wind spirit as if it were his own limb, a giant limb but one intimately connected to him, that it responded as readily to his commands as his own body would. However, for all the power of his own Devil Fruit, the ability to conquer, and dominate all came at a cost.
Namely his stamina.
There was physical toll on his mind and body, an appropriate price for power, and this display was draining to say the least. But it is because of this, that his own personal wellspring of willpower was so incredibly high to begin with. He had to demonstrate his power. It was a need so deep, that his color of armament flowed through his flames unbidden, further strengthening the defensive maneuvers he was having the wind spirit perform. Like a martial artist, it used its body to deflect and counterattack as if the onslaught itself were an opponent. His knee's began to shake from the strain, and he fell to one knee as he continued to hold his hands up high.
Gritting his teeth, he laughed, and laughed and laughed as violet flame flowed from him like a river, dragging more wind, creating more funnels that morphed into arms, until the wind spirit resembled an Ashura; a six armed demi-god! Wind shaped weapons and shields took form as the elemental strode forward carried on by his ambition alone!
Yet even for all of that, the power of the Magu Magu was not to be trifled with. Stray bombardment fire managed to get through, slipping past even his formidable and impressive defense. Yet nothing hit that ship. For the magma that came close, Zelgadis would release a torrent fire, and claim the magma, arresting its movement as wind, fire and magma became one before dropping it into the ocean.
Suddenly, and at last the bombardment was finished. His wind elemental, was less wind and more cooling lava than anything before the violet flames animating it dissipated, and its form fell into the ocean below. Zelgadis lowered his arms, letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. That took a lot out of him, but he still had more to give. He always did. He heard the tell-tale click as numerous hammers were cocked from the firearms held in position by the Marines.
Shifting his body he angled his body so that he was still facing forward, but could look behind him with ease. His eyes swept through the assembled Marines as they held their weapons in the ready. Some were resolute, others, not so much. Their perspective had been shaken, and some were simply not ready to fire upon someone who just saved their life.
There was a short stand-off before one of the Marines spoke, the one from earlier. "I know your type pirate. You wouldn't hurt us, not after risking so much just to save us. But you're weakened right now, I reckon when the Commodore gets back he'll still be in fighting form. You'd best surrender now."
Zelgadis waved him off. "Surrender?" He laughed. "Sei-hai-hai-hai-hai!" He turned his gaze outward, towards the shore where Dave resided. He knew the fight was far from over. Turning back to the Marines on deck.
"~Yo, ho~" He sang as he began lifting himself up from his prone stance. "~Haul together~" He stood to his full height face titled skyward. The Marines were confused, many startled, what was he doing?
"~Hoist the colours high~" Raising his arms above his head, the color of armament bloomed like flowers as it spread down from his fists, spreading from his arms to his chest. The Marines began reacting to the threat, firing their shots with no abandon.
"Fire at-will! Don't stop men!" Shouted one of the Marines. Yet it was all for naught. Their bullets bounced off of him as if they were nothing, for the color of arms served as a shield against their onslaught. With every volley, their spirits diminished, and dwindled.
"~Heave ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die!~" As he finished the chorus, the color of arms had flooded across his body cladding him in the full might of his ambition! The Marines to his rear having exhausted their ammunition, felt true terror gripping them, as they realized that nothing they did, nothing they could do mattered.
Zelgadis crouched low, a surge of violet flame erupting beneath his legs as ribbons of wind coalesced around him. With a jubilant shout he rocketed from the aft of the ship towards Dave.
---
A commotion aboard Dave's ship would have gotten his attention, but that moment was short-lived as he saw the rapidly approaching figure of Zelgadis, whom had now clad his entire body in the color of arms. He would know that the usage of that particular technique was unbelievably taxing on one's Haki. So much so that few people were ever even willing to do it! The fact that he was, could only mean that he was eager to end this battle, and soon! Etched across Zelgadis's face was a grin stretching from ear to ear as he laughed the entire time. "Sei-hai-hai-hai-hai! Sei-hai-hai-hai!"
Then, just as suddenly he disappeared, and reappeared having closed the distance between them in an instant. That technique, it wasn't Soru, or anything resembling it, just pure speed and locomotion. Zelgadis's form appeared like an angry demon god, his eyes glowing crimson in the light, as he speed blitzed before him. He unleashed a straight punch, at least that's what he thought, but what appeared instead looked as if a many armed demon had replaced Zelgadis, for dozens of attacks occurred in that split second, fists hammering away towards Dave.
"Shit" Dave muttered as he watched Zelgadis blitz toward him while covered in the unmistakable gleam of Armament Haki. Perhaps it was his instincts, or perhaps Dave had enough sense, but when he saw the pirate disappear in a blur of displaced air, he did all he could to bring the wall of magma to his front, having physically grabbed a section of the magma and draping it around him like a blanket.
Unfortunately, he wasn't fast enough to block what followed next, at least not entirely. All Dave could do was stare into the crimson hued eyes of Zelgadis as a veritable storm of fists descended upon him. He managed to block the majority with his lava, the absolute potency of the primordial liquid helped cushion the blows, but the Haki clad punches hurt all the same. "GH-KR" Dave gritted through clenched teeth as the thunderous attacks slammed into his defense and body. A lucky shot hit his stomach and Dave instinctually curled inward, his wind knocked out. With a final slam, the last fist of Zelgadis hit Dave's cheek and truck him with force enough to send him hurtling across a section of beach, before he slowed and rolled to a stop.
"HAH-HAH" Dave gasped for breath, his lungs felt like they were on fire, despite his resistance to heat. Lifting up his head and torso by his elbows, Dave looked back toward Zelgadis with a glare of frustration. From his sprawled position on the ground, Dave spat out a glob of dark crimson blood, the liquid almost resembling his magma in its viscosity.
"Keep going Dave, you've got more to give, Berry would kill you if she saw you like this" Dave muttered to himself, a pep talk almost. Slowly, Dave stood up. He stumbled slightly before find his footing and glaring out toward his enemy. "Alright! I'll admit it, you're attacks are almost as loathsome as your tongue!". Black lumpy smoke began to billow out from Dave's body, shortly followed by great splash of roaring magma that coalesced around Dave's body. The mass of burning molten rock roiled beside him, before it began to swirl and coalesce. Where just prior there was bubbling unformed lava there were now two giant red herrons, each twice as tall as Dave and therefore matching Zegladis in height more or less. The birds were both scarily lifelike, despite the explosive and destructive substance that made up their forms.
"They gave me an epithet because of this trick" Dave spoke to Zelgadis, "I just wanted to make beautiful representations of nature, but in doing so I found a useful weapon".
After that furious assault, a part of him hoped that Dave would not be beaten just yet, and with every blow that connected he was willing to resign himself to yet another victory. He landed a fair distance away as Dave was bodily thrown to the ground gasping for air, as he reeled from his injuries. He observed with almost bated breath as Dave lay there on the ground. 'Stand up boy, this cannot be the end for you. Prove yourself worthy. This is but another challenge you must overcome, embrace the power you know lies within!' He thought.
To his welcomed surprise, the boy did not submit. His grin grew as Dave stood once more. "Hah! I see you still have your wits boy if you can be so brazen!" He strode forward but paused as Dave began to wield his Devil Fruit beyond the imagination of an angry child. Marveling at the display of the two majestic herrons manifesting before him he gave Dave a congratulatory standing ovation, clapping with a great deal of excitement.
"Sei-hai-hai-hai! I must say boy, this is quite the gift you've given me. I propose a wager. Should your power challenge me, I will forgo my contract and I will aid you in repelling the Legion Pirates. But! Should your power fail to test me, then I shall indulge the whims of my Devil Fruit, turn your allies against you, and force them to bombard the town to create an opening for Legion Pirates to do what they will. Mind you, this is non-negotiable. Glory or defeat, that is the path before you. As you have done for me, I shall now do the same for you!"
The ground cracked beneath his feet as his color of ambition flared, his armament gleaming in the light as it covered his body. He gracefully shifted himself into a back stance with both arms held to his front, one with a palm facing up, the other facing down. His body coiled and tensed as vibrations and water molecules coalesced into the center between his hands, a pulse reverberating like a heartbeat.
The wind began to churn as power was concentrated into a singular focal point. The waves of the ocean becoming chaotic, and stormy as sand was swept away from the shore. Zelgadis was preparing for his next attack, and it would be a powerful one given the time he is taking to form it. A low thrum could be heard as power continued to gather between his hands, as a sphere of vibrations began to manifest, the thumping sonic hum increasing frequency as it accumulated power.
Overshadowing this phenomena was the growing laughter of Zelgadis who grinned savagely at Dave. "Now, show me the strength of your ambition!"
"Bloody nutter this one." Dave muttered under his breath. Giving a final sidelong glance at each of his birds, his vanguards as it were, Dave began his attack. With an exertion of will both herrons beat their molten wings and shot toward Zelgadis. As they flew toward him each wing left a trail of black smoke and volcanic fumes, the birds looking like meteors in their pathing.
Dave meanwhile, exploded into a mass of thick and viscous magma that bubbled in place, before plunging into the soft sand which yielded to the Marine with barely any effort. Now underground, Dave used his Colour of Observation to locate his positioning and that of Zelgadis above him, then he connected his body with some residual magma that had been infused into the ground by his earlier bombardment. There Dave let forth vast quantities of molten rock that began to shift the ground with its obstruction, causing a seismic on the surface of the beach, which intermittently spewed out geysers of lava and ash.
In the meantime Dave's birds moved to intercept Zelgadis, under Dave's will they each pulled their necks back before shooting them forward and unnaturally extending them like tentacles. The sharp beaks of each bird snaked toward Zelgadis, intent on piercing his body. As the birds were doing this, a great shift of earth underneath Zelgadis' position gave way to a geyser of magma upon which Dave rode, a single fist reared back and glowing with heat, intent on uppercutting Zelgadis while his herron's distracted the man.
"Taste MY form of Justice!" Dave shouted, before coating his glowing fist with his concentrated Will and fury, darkening his volcanic knuckles with the Colour of Armament Haki.
Zelgadis could only smile with exuberance as Dave began his attack. At last! An attack worthy defending against! He thought with zeal. Turning his focus back on his technique he sent yet another cascade of shockwaves with his outstretched hands. The heartbeat of pulsating power as it converged into a singular point, growing ever stronger with every shock caused his grin to become even more feral. This particular technique was overwhelmingly powerful, but suffered from one critical weakness - time. Its initiation sequence was quite laborious, but this was part of the thrill!
Snapping his attention towards the sound of scorching wind piercing through the air, he saw the twin molten herron's blazing a path towards him, their fiery forms alit like supernova's streaking through the open sky. Their speed was impressive, having crossed the distance with astounding velocity, but Zelgadis was prepared. Crouching low he leapt backwards into a somersault narrowly evading the twin molten comets as they carved deep trenches of destruction in the space he had been. The ground had melted instantly and turned into smoldering remains.
At the same time Dave's assault grew in vigor as the very earth began to quake, crimson spots dotting the landscape as the earth was ripped apart by geysers of lava bursting forth, belching currents of liquid fire, spewing heat and fiery death into the entire area! It was as if hell had descended and warped reality to suit its own twisted image. All the while Zelgadis danced through this chaotic storm of conflagration. His form a faint blur as he moved through the air evading scouring streams of molten retribution!
The twin herrons were relentless in their pursuit, guided as they were by Dave and his color of observation he tracked Zelgadis unerringly through this self made labyrinth of hellfire. From flaming pincer attacks, to feints and flanks, the herron supernova's torched the very sky as they left blistering heat and choking smoke in their wake. Yet, Zelgadis would dance just out of reach each time. But not entirely unscathed either. With each brush with death, he only barely managed to avoid death completely, but he was giving ground with each one. Protected by the color of arms as he was, that did little to mitigate the burning pain as globs of lava clung to his arms and legs. Even as he gave out that damnable laugh echoing with every close encounter, his lungs burned from both the heat and ash. Still, he would deftly twist to evade the fiery wings of the herron's, lunge in the gaps left in their wake of their snapping beaks, leap high and plummet down below to slip through rending molten claw, threading the needle as it were through their combined attacks!
All the while Dave awaited his opportunity, looking for that one moment where Zelgadis's guard was down, and then as though gazing through the calm of the storm, he saw it. His herrons had hemmed Zelgadis towards an erupting geyser for a three-pronged assault, but to no avail. He somehow was able to divine himself a way out using some kind of aerial maneuver. But! In those precious moments where he had to throw his body into that corkscrew of an evasion, and then re-adjust before diving forward to narrowly avoid the explosion of lava that incinerated the space he'd been, he was distracted just enough!
Leaping towards Zelgadis, molten fist reared back blazing with power and the color of arms he closed the distance between them. Throwing all of his power into his attack, the wind groaned with the sound of smoldering earth as it was literally devoured by the flame and lava tearing through the air. Yet as the inches grew close, it was Zelgadis's face that Dave saw first, that thrice damned smirk plastered all over his face that alerted him that something was amiss. He twisted his body with surprising alacrity to face Dave and held in-between his hands was an orb of pure force intermingled with water. As though he were bestowing upon Dave a gift, Zelgadis's arms extended forward almost casually before releasing the compressed power within.
An eruption of shockwaves reverberated outward like a tsunami washing over him, water scattering every which way as they too carried the force of the shockwaves. His fist collided with the cascade of shockwaves causing another eruption in of itself as the two powers collided and waged a brutal war for supremacy. It was like a thousand fists slamming into his one, the strength and power being carried through the point of impact and directly into his body. Had Dave been made of flesh and blood, he very well would have imploded. It was a valiant effort, rather admirable in fact. But the water transmitting the shockwaves were just as quickly evaporated weakening its effects, the shockwaves traveling through his lava form doing little to harm him, and the color of arms serving to further protect him.
Blasting molten lava from the lower portion of his body to increase his speed had further granted him even greater velocity and power, and in this compromised position, where Dave had terraformed the environment in accordance with his will, sapping at Zelgadis's strength through his repeated assault, to focus not only on his technique but his evasion as well. There was no doubt that had the technique been fully completed it might have won the day, but as it were, with Dave stacking the conditions and his power so effectively, it served as nothing more than another obstacle his fist had to overcome. And there was little in the way of the world that could stop the almighty power of the Magu Magu no Mi!
Dave's fist smashed through Zelgadis's attack with the sound of shattering glass before slamming his enormous fist straight into Zelgadis's body! A resounding boom like that of a detonating explosion echoed out from the impact as Zelgadis was sent flying through the air, and perhaps to his luck towards the city rather than the ocean. He bounced off the ground, not once but several times before crashing into the sands of the beach outside the hellscape Dave had crafted earlier.
All was quite, for several moments, the cloud of debris thrown up by the impact obscuring Zelgadis, but Dave could sense him. He was still very much alive. It was then, that Dave saw a hurricane of violet flame burst out of the cloud, and felt a wave of spiritual force slam into his mind. He felt his mind under an intense pressure that lasted for a few brief moments.
Conqueror's Haki.
Black arcs of lightning suffused with an ethereal violet glow arced as the cloud was cleared revealing the form of Zelgadis! His outer robe was in tatters, having been burned off entirely, and parts of his outfit were scorched black, but he was grinning madly as he gazed upon Dave. His body was enshrouded in violet flame, and the globs of lava covering him were blasted off with a flex of his will. He sported numerous burns across his body, though none were life threatening.
"I must admit, you surprised me. A part of me felt that you weren't up to the challenge. But lo and behold, you fashioned for me such a delicious attack! My hunger has been satiated. For now. So lets get down to business." He said with a laugh. Folding his arms across his chest he gestured with a head jerk back towards the city.
"If it you desire, I shall cease my attack, and aid you in removing the menace that is the Legion Pirates from this city. What say you Marine?" Zelgadis asked.
Evacuation Escalation[]
Several miles east of Rockbell Island was a marine captain stationed on a new patrol near the start of the New World. A grimace sat on his brow as he waited for a piece of news to pass his desk. He'd recently relocated and set about patrolling the quadrant with the hopes of putting a stop to any fresh-faced pirate who was cocky enough to think of taking a step into the next section of the Grand Line.
He expected action, advancement, and a chance to prove himself worthy of promotion. All the war had left him were trainees who had outgrown him and fewer threats to worry about. Bluto Harold had assumed he'd find comfort in knowing that the World Government had wiped out a portion of those Pirate scum who were bold enough to call themselves emperors. However, all it left him was an emptiness—a lack of finality.
In frustration, Bluto slammed his fist into the desk. The cold sensation of ink-stained his hand; he'd smashed his inkwell. A low groan came from his mouth as he pushed himself away from his table and was ready to storm outside and bark orders at his men.
BADA BADA BADA... BADA BADA BADA...
Click
Bluto, with the ink still dripping off his fingers, clutched the Den Den Mushi with his clean hand and listened to the order for nearby reinforcements. "A civilian extraction... Fine, we'll be there soon; I'll send my men in mass." Closing the receiver, Bluto placed his ink-covered hand on a map of the Blue Seas. His plam striking Rockbell Island, imprinting his palm. He smiled with delight as he looked at his work. "The hand of justice will grasp at the necks of the Legion pirates."
Throwing the door to his office open, he issued an order to the seaman and officers under him. "Set Sail for Rockbell Island. We have to save some civilians from a pirate raid. Infantry, locate any survivors you can. Capture units, we're facing the Legion Pirates. Many will be fodder to fill the Yonko's ranks but do not expect compliance. They will likely have abilities that outpace you. Be smart, overwhelm them, and crush all who oppose our justice. In other words, happy hunting marines. I will fly ahead and make contact first. Head to the northwestern port!"
With that, Bluto shifted into his hybrid state and took flight. It would take him some time, but he'd arrive on the island soon enough. With his squadron tailing him, Bluto's mind wandered slightly to his trainees, who may be on that field currently. Was she there? He hoped she wasn't. The last thing he needed was her defiance, especially if she got into trouble.
The Legion pirates raided their the homes, fighting against the fodder with little resistance as those who would pose a threat were already engaged in mortal combat.
A pirate with a long pipe sticking from his mouth exhaled smoke from his nose before turning to his large, axe wielding partner. "Axe, Buddy, Don't forget we have permission to kill anyone who resists. So got to town, I'd bet these losers gotta have something good on them. Wedding Rings, jewlery, the sorta things that'll make the boss lady happy." The man spoke as he leaned against a stack of crates, a massive sword resting up against his shoulder.
Standing beside the pirate stood the giant of a man holding an axe which was bigger than the pipe pirate beside him. Topless, his hair put into a ponytail, he scratched his head in confusion, as he heard the words of his comrade.
“Wedding rings, jewerly? Does Baal want to get married or are we trying to marry her with that?”
Axel asked, while lifting his giant axe over his shoulder.
Bluto reached the coastline with his fleet upon the horizon. His slow flight speed left him visible in the sky but vice versa, allowing him to see the chaos below. He witnessed as packs of pirates stormed houses and tore through the fleeting civilian defenses. The casual carnage sent a shot of burning blood through the captain's heart. The captain was reminded of his first encounter with the savagery of pirates, that sharp memory an everlasting coal in his own emotional furnace. A furnace of brutal and engulfing justice.
To Bluto, the Legion pirates were an infestation of termites that needed clearing. One that should be handled surgically, but that meant allowing them to continue their smug plight, an indignity the captain couldn't stomach. So, knowing he would forfeit any advantage, Bluto planned his first impression.
Bluto's hybrid beak opened like the cocking of a flintlock. The hammer in this analogy struck down with a boom. Bluto's beak released a fast round of ear-straining clicks as the large shoe-shaped beak focused the sound into a weaponized cacophony. Stealth was no longer an option, but it also pulled anyone in earshot of him away from the people. With the attention of those who glued their eyes onto him, he made an announcement.
"To those who stand within Caesar's contemptible cavalry, your fleeting festivities are over! I hope you enjoyed your debauchery, scum. Your pound of flesh is due. Surrender, and I'll spare your confidence, or you can make my day." He said, staring at Axel and the pipe-wielding pirate.
The man with the large sword was about to speak to Axel when he was forced to cover his ears, the loud bird catching him off guard with it's voice.
"Damn it all..." The man spoke, looking up to see the Marine in his zoan form. "Hey, Axel. Baal doesn't like loud birds, you should kill him before she gets mad at us."
Looking up in the air Axel looked at the flying bird man, before raising a finger and scratching his forehead in confusion.
“A bird is loud and speaking? Well if Baal doesn't like birds, I should cleave them all.” The big man replied, before taking a few steps ahead, as he lifted his axe over his shoulder. Giving the bird man another look, his face turned into a frown.
“Sorry. Baal does not like loud birds, so I need to cleave you, so we can steal jewelry, wedding rings and make a cake so we can ask Baal for marriage.” Axel explained only for his arms to tense in all their muscles, before swinging his axe down in a strong swing.
“Hard Swing!”
Calling out he smashed his axe down as it looked like he only hit air, only for the sheer pressure of his swing continued its path, as rocks and trees shattered on the ground, looking like they were pressed down by the sheer force of the air, Axel striked following in a patch of destruction right directed at the flying marine. Especially as even flying insects on similar height as the marine, suddenly got violently pushed down and squished by the air force of the strike.
"Excuse me?!" is all that leaves the baffled marine's mouth as he is dumbfounded by the leap in conversation. Bluto needs more context to whatever Axel is talking about as he flaps his wings to keep aloft. The other pirate seems far more conniving, in Bluto's opinion. The gears in his head start to turn on a plan of attack before he's cut off by the giant man's shouting.
"What're you on about now? I'm starting to think Baal brought a load of f- OH Shit!"
"Kamisori!" The Captain blinked out of existence in an alarmed tone. Axel's projectile continued to pass through the air with no blood or sign of a body. The air was still momentarily before a blurry mass phased back into sight. It was the captain with a flustered expression, clearly unprepared. Bluto had faced pirates with projectile attacks in his lengthy career, but Axel was a surprise—not so much his strength but his disposition, which was disarming.
"You're a contradiction, Axe. You are too direct in your words to be a trickster, and yet your disarming behavior belies strength. Hmm, I look forward to taking you in alongside your commander." Bluto looks at the man with a sword unamused. "Unlike you... There'll be no marriage today, boys, but you free to make a processional line to my vessel."
Bluto disappeared again as he kicked his long bird-like legs together. The marine was gone in a blurry blink of speed. Bluto, having several years of service under his belt, had made strides in a martial art reserved for the high-ranking marines and the agents of Cipher Pol. Rokushiki was a powerful tool for the operatives of the World Government. Bluto used it to compensate for his weaknesses. The Legion Pirates may have yet to learn, but Bluto had an average flight speed. He could be mobile, but he lacked the undetectable speed of other Zoans. So he learned Kamisori, a technique that allowed him to quickly move in the air. The captain had nothing to worry about as long as he could use his legs.
Axel and his companion could see the birdman kick his legs, flickering through the sky as there was a pause between each kick. He would appear for a moment before he blinked again. Bluto was still far from the pair as the captain moved away to avoid Axel's projectile. "I'm going to hit you both in head so hard you'll hear wedding bells. Then I'll capture up you scum and ensure your precious commander serves time in prison!" Now that he had a moment to compose himself, he approached rapidly, giving the pair a moment to prepare themselves.
Axel looked a bit confused hearing the words of the bird man, not even looking concerned or care that his attack missed. After all, he preferred to hit them directly with the axe to make them cleave into two parts anyway. What confused him most were the words that bird man spoke, as he side eyed the pirate beside him.
“Why is the birdman saying where he wants to hit us? Is he stupid?” Axel asked, confused as he raised his axe again over his shoulder ready to strike, but only waiting for the captain to do his thing.
“You think Baal likes grilled chicken? I think I can cleave him in two parts and marinate him with delicious south blue spicy seasonings.”
The man with the odachi stroked his chin, "Probably better not to cook this one. He looks rotten, probably has a disease. We should put it out of its misery." He spoke to Axel, using his Kenbunshoku to keep track of Bluto he wasn't worried quite yet despite not having a devil fruit quite yet. After all, what harm could the bird man do.
The man unsheathed his large curved sword and pointed it up toward Bluto, "Listen here, Bird Brain. Stop the yapping and come down here and fight, if you can't even bother to do that then we're just gonna go back to doing what we were doing. I don't have time for noisy pests, ya hear?!"
Bluto grew further irritated by Axel and his associate's tomfoolery. He wasn't some poultry to carve up like supper. Reaching the ground, he stared daggers at the pair momentarily. Dust was kicked up by the landing as Bluto composed himself. 'Keep a level head, no matter how inane, I don't need this operation going south.' Bluto thought to himself.
He observed the red glint in the sword wielder's eyes for a few seconds. Bluto cursed under his breath, knowing he lacked the same intuitive foresight. He couldn't allow that to deter him, though. "Alright, pirate."
Despite other sight methods, Bluto rushed the pair, using Soru to minimize his presence. He knew he could be observed to some extent, so he had to work within the situation presented to him. Rapidly jumping towards the sword-wielding pirate, He came out of his technique changed. No longer in his hybrid state, Bluto was coming at him with a mixup. His limbs were covered in Busoshoku haki. Bluto kept his arms up to defend his torso while attempting to sweep the Legion pirate's legs.
"I hope you move faster than your mouth!"
As the marine captain was about to come closer and closer to the sword wielding pirate, all of a sudden a massive object smashed between the two with such force it cracked the ground heavily and sent debris flying everywhere. Even though covered in dust, the glint of silver color was obviously visible, revealed to be the massive axe of Axel, dug deep in the ground.
“Don't touch Baal’s future husband, birdman!” Axel screamed out as he grabbed the axe, before with one massive swing not only swinging the axe in the direction of the captain, but also pulled off a massive chunk of the ground with it, sending them flying like projectiles in an even wider span than his massive axe.
The man was about to try and defend himself from Bluto's quick attack when suddenly he had to turn his attention toward the rocks flying in his direction. Turning away and toward Axel, the bearded man swung his sword to block as many shards of rock as he could.
Feeling them bounce of his skin, he cursed Axel under his breath for attacking without thinking.
Bluto jumped back as Axel's axe came down to divide the two. He hissed as his assault was halted. It was becoming apparent that he couldn't handle the sword-wielding loudmouth unless he got the drop on the dense axe-wielding pirate. "You're still on this marriage thing? I think your priorities should be on other matters."
Bluto's eyes narrowed as Axel flung a wide arc of debris at him. Dodging wasn't possible, so the captain chose to push through. "Tekkai, Spirit Cross." Crossing his arms, Bluto took a strong stance. His armament haki was stacked with the hardening of his musculature. As the chunks of rock smacked against his skin, it loudly clangs as if deflecting off the steel. The chunks shattered around his hardened frame as he locked his eyes on Axel. Bluto was unimpressed as he dropped out of his stance with no scratches.
The captain scoffed at the pair as he reached for the most prominent remaining chunk. Lightly tossing it up a few times, he felt its weight. He eyeballed an arc with a soft nod and threw a fastball pitch toward Axel. The rock blazed towards him as Bluto quickly followed to approach Axel's companion again, trying to kill two birds with one metaphorical and literal stone.
Without any warning, instead of avoiding the stone thrown at him, the head of Axel met it as he opened his massive jaw, only to catch it between his teeth, before cracking it with his jaw to dust. With even further speed, not showing any reaction to the force of the projectile, he rushed at the marnie captain, cutting off the path to his friend.
“Okay! I am bored! I will cleave you! Stop bothering the mini boss’ future husband!”
With his massive arm swinging down, the blade in an impressive show of speed rushed at the captain, like a guillotine with such force, that even if it would not be sharp it would send even a giant flying, especially as the ground started to crack by the sheer force of the swing.
Bluto gritted his teeth as Axel once again got in his path. The brick wall of a pirate had hampered the captain enough to show Bluto how much he had prioritized the wrong target. Even if the sword wielder was a potential weak link, Axel compensated for both. Axel's continued intervention meant Bluto changed tact.
As the axe came down at Bluto, he knew he couldn't tank such a strike, so he had to circumvent it with his techniques. Bluto was nearly cleaved as he moved instantly behind Axel. With the small opening, Bluto twisted around, and through a knee covered in haki at Axel's lower back. "Powerful, but telegraphed."
With the axe coming down on the ground, the ground shook from the impact, with trees far away their leaves starting to shake, with birds flying away. The ground of impact nearly exploded, as debris and pieces of rocks flew everywhere. Yet even still the pirate was able to notice that the marine was able to dodge the attack. Looking confused at the scene, the pirate was not able to notice the attack, before the knee striked down ... .only for the body not even moving at all.
The power of the strike was obviously there, haki infused and boosted by speed, but the back of the man felt extremely hard. Axel may not be the smartest outside of fights, a reason for his current rank. Yet he was noticed by his unique and rare body type. A body naturally extremely durable so far appeared on rare cases on people, like Bobby Funk. So in conclusion, evenwith haki, the body took barely or not at all damage from the attack. But it was enough for Axel to notice as he saw the captain behind him.
“Huh? There is ugly bird man!”
Axel screamed as he violently pulled on the axe. Digged deep in the ground it looked like it was stuck, even if the arms muscles of Axel tensed.
Crack
Only for a cracking sound to be heard as somewhere a crack formed in the ground, then another and another…only to become a path of cracking ground, forming after a while a giant circle. With another violent pull the image of horror started to build up, with Axel not pulling his axe out of the ground, but pulling his axe with the ground attacked on it.
“UHAAA!” Letting out a battle cry, the giant man was able to finally fully lift his axe while on it was a gigantic chunk of ground on it. Leaving a very deep hole beside it, it looked like it was the same size as half of a small city. With debris falling, the giant gave the marine and his pirate companion a questionable gaze, but mostly directed to his pirate partner.
“Hey? We will miss the wedding of the mini boss. In which direction were the shores with the marine ships?”
Even his own partner was taken aback by the feat of strength Axel showed, the man realizing now that he was in over his head in a fight with freaks like this. That said, it didn't mean he could just give up. He wasn't the sort to lay down and die without at least fighting for his life first.
"No, kill this bastard and we'll be right on time." He spoke, playing into whatever the hell Axel was talking about, it was easier that way.
However, as he readied an attack, a sound pierced the air, louder than that of that falling rocks and debris.
Purururu!
Grabbing hold of the Den Den mushi he answered it, "Azamon reporting."
Baal's voice came from the mouth of the Mushi, "Gladius Caesar has made an appearance. The Blacklight shines over Rockbell, Legion Pirates still alive are to make their way back to the ship. This is an order, consider the island gone."
A bead of sweat fell down Azamon's face, looking to both of his partner and the Captain.
"You hear that, Bird-Boy?! This place just got its death certificate signed, you wanna keep fighting until we're wiped out along with the island or should we let bygones be bygones for now and split while the splitting is good?"
Swearing under his breath, Bluto was left perplexed by the natural durability of his foe. He had other tools in his repertoire, but Axel had the unrefined strength to carve through the land around him. A fact that spit in the eyes of the Marine as he felt the ground beneath him start to give away. "You're a pain in the neck, you shit brickhouse..."
With his hybrid form, Bluto got aloft as the ground ripped out from under him. Though he had dodged the initial threat, Bluto knew he wasn't out of the woods as he stared into the mass of rock and soil before him. As Axel asked his companion, the marine's "ears" perked up, knowing that his judgment sat in the hands of a pirate. A judgment he may only survive with everything he has left in the tank.
That was until the order came through, and a new sensation hit the captain. A sharp dread stabbed into his soul and brought out sensation with the red glint of his eyes. Kenbunshoku Haki was a big step in his power, but it was not a moment of celebration. It was a chilling reminder of how little he was to younger men who had outpaced him. An emperor may have been distant, but his presence surrounded him. The feeling almost took him until the swordmen's words registered, and so did a vibration in his pocket.
Bluto pulled out the small Den Den Mushi without much thought and clicked. A distressed voice came out the other end. One of the Captain's officers. "Captain, the Pirates are pulling back. We barely held our perimeter and only found a small pocket of survivors. Your orders, sir?" Bluto's nearly blank expression tightened as he heard the offer of a truce. Bluto's conviction pulled at his soul to fight on and go down, taking these men in a martyr's death. But that only meant more useless deaths and his once pupil without a figure. His distressed expression gave way to a disgusted regret. "Captain, your orders!" screamed the voice through the worried snail.
"Make one last check and pull away from the island; Rockbell is lost. Save who you can, and get back to open waters. I will rejoin you in time." Shutting off the Den Den Mushi, Bluto looked back at the pair with disdained defeat. "Pirates, I accept your terms. After all, my mission was not to defeat you. You've won this doomed land; hold onto your victory and hope we don't meet for some time. I sure hope we don't." He muttered as he pulled back from the pair, still prepared for Axel's possible heel-turn attack.
“Uhhhhh….?” Letting out a questionable sound, Axel was confused about what to do now. This whole situation was a mystery for him, as the mini boss called for going back, yet he did not get the wedding rings or squashed the bird man. Holding the axe and giant stone now only in one arm, he used his other free hand to rub with his finger under his chin, deep into a thinking position, the gears in his head literally working into overdrive.
“So? Throw the stone or not throw the stone?” Axel asked in honest confusion, not making it really clear, to which of the two people the question was directed.
The swordsman shook his head, "Save it for another day. Let the birdman go. It's about time we head back to the ship, don't wanna be caught in whatever Caesar does to this place. Boss is gonna wanna see us anyway, right, Big guy?" He tried to convince Axel to go along with him.
"Birdman! You leave with your life today. But never forget, Memento Mori."
“Okay…….but we did not get any treasure at all. Mini boss will be sad,” Being unhappy he shook the giant rock, only for something to drop down from it on his head. Being confused he picked it up, only to smile as he spotted it was a golden ring, probably dropped from one of the fleeing people. Looking at it his smile returned, before with an excited wave he pulled his axe to the side in a victory position,...only to fling the giant rock into some direction.
“We got something!” Being so excited, the man’s body started to shift, before growing in size. Turning rounder, skin turning into deep black chitin armor, six legs shout out, as the head was replaced by a round shape, with big pincers and two feelers. Now in place of the giant man was an even taller bug, the same pincers moved to grab the swordsman’s shirt lifting him up. From the back two giant pair of wings popped out, as the giant insect started to fly as well.
“Chicken man, once we meet again ....I forget what I wanted to say.”
Axel said as he turned to the side before flying off, both pirates finally leaving the scene back to the ship.\
Bluto's eye twitched at Axel's drawn-out confusion. His mindset was geared for a potential strike in the confusing tension. That was till the swordsman broke the silence and defused the tension on Bluto's feathered brow. However, when he was threatened with the reminder of death, a chuckle left his lips. The only mark of humor the grumpy old captain had shown. "Death comes for us all, pirate. But I'll be dammed if I let Caeser's Legion of Pirates ever do me in. A drop of blood, perhaps." The captain mused as he let his confidence shine.
Bluto watched Axel pull a ring from the rubble with a complacent stare. It was one but many bruises on Bluto's ego as he had been outdone today. "Enjoy your marriage, I bet one of you will make a fine groom..." Bluto shook his head, still perplexed by the subject despite playing along.
Then came Axel's bug form, which lifted his pirate ally off the ground. Bluto noted what he assumed to be a Zoan transformation. It was fascinating, not one he had seen often. "A winged beetle, fitting for such a dense man." The captain muttered to himself. As he looked to Axel, he gave one last remark. "Don't worry; I bet you'll remember it later."
Bluto started to fly towards the shore, and scanned for his fleet. They had failed, but he hoped his soldier had pulled some survivors from the rubble and ruckus. After his fleet made it to open waters, he'd personally hand his report to a particular vice admiral.
Ore, Ice, Civilians, Oh My![]
Baal continued flying toward the city, her still black wings flapping as she made her way toward more populated areas, the sight of citizens and other marines brought a sinister grin to her face, one that faltered momentarily as she felt the pain of her chest wound ache again. "It doesn't work on all marines, but killing a few random civilians never hurt. She'll have to decide to focus on attacking me or saving my hostages. Bleh, that's what morals get you, Bitch!" Baal spoke but only to herself, Cyan was not within range to hear her. But saying it all did make her feel a bit better all the same.
While Baal spoke deliriously and surveyed the people from the sky while David and Ahab made unstoppable rescues, they had barely made it halfway through evacuating the citizens, the other half found themselves being attacked by pirates, Golums, the brazenly of many houses, fires that made people cry, a statue from the old days in honour of Rockbell's creation had just had its head cut off for declare their territory, bringing more chaos to this poor world that once had peace. Beneath the feet of David and Ahab, they felt a wave of vibration, a vibration that came closer and closer, a vibration that, without the slightest shadow of doubt, would recognize the vice-admiral. The land sprouted from the sides, opening a crack to reveal the black-haired lady adorning her hands with crystal claws. Breathing seemed short, running out of breath as she emerged from the tunnel dirt with tiredness weighing on her shoulders. Her bluish gaze scrutinized the angel in the sky, blinded by the glow of the sun that she was hiding behind, Cyan regained little by little her breath hitched by the rapid running while blood flowed from the corner of her mouth, dirtying the top of her chest exposed. Not far from David, the head quickly turned towards him and in a very authoritative voice, she declared loud and clear:
“We can no longer evacuate everyone! Come together and protect people from a future attack!! NOW!" she ordered, leaving the soldiers flinching in fear.
David stared in shock as Cyan appeared, clearly hurt from her own prolonged fight. He wanted to ensure she was okay, but before he could voice his concern, she barked her order. Like the loyal unit he was, David stood in attention and nodded. "Yes ma'am!" was all he could muster. His desire to keep her well would have to wait, her orders were his priority - the Marines communicated that and she did as well. David would tend to her after the mission was over in anyway she commanded.
He was already in his hybrid form, his strongest form as it afforded him all the power of his beast form and all the capabilities of his human form. He could further enhance himself with his Rokushiki and Haki - he knew he was formidable, he just could be easily distracted by his duties and by his admiration for Cyan. He needed the confidence to support his strength.
He looked over at Ahab. The Mink was strong and reliable, even if his shouts of a great whale were confusing sometimes. David wasn't sure if a full moon for his Sulong would be beneficial or not in this case, David pondering if he would be even more crazed. "I'm ready Miss Cyan!" David said as he hit his fists together, sparks of electricity flying off as he did.
The moment David clasped his fists together, Ahab appeared to be crossing his arms with an amused expression plastered on his face.
"Good thing you're making this quick, vice." The old-sheep mentioned, lacking any objection to not evacuate the rest that were left to their own fates, such was his former voyages. Shortly after, as the light on his cigarette began to dim, the mink made a crooked smile whilst laying eyes upon the distant Baal that was rising.
"Goin' down a tomb, I see." He muttered, finally relighting his dim cigarette.
The Cavalcade had arrived, seeming intent on stopping her. But there was none that she held any caution for than Cyan herself who'd proved to be a worthy opponent though rather that was due to the woman's skill or Baal's own arrogance throughout the fight she did not know for sure but even so, she would not let them have their way. In fact, if she could not claim this island then she would see to it that no one could.
With a smile, Baal enacted her plan, letting out a powerful wave of her own haoshoku haki in order to knock out any who would not be able to stand up to her, namely the innocent civilians whose unconscious bodies would be far harder to protect. The wave shot from her body and with it were the notable strikes of black lightning that struck nearby buildings and the ground causing them to splinter and crumble.
One citizen fell, then a second, then a third and all people, all the citizens fell one after the other like a domino and Baal didn't miss that. The once blue gaze grew visibly paler, petrified at the idea of losing many lives and above all, innocent lives will be lost in the next second. This wave of haki had made her brazen a second time again, Cyan fell heavily.
David was rushing to help settle the conflict, weaving in and out of attacks and trying to pull civilians out of the crossfire. He was given his orders and he would see to them. However, as he moved about, he noticed something he feared: his beloved Vice Admiral beginning to fall in combat. Everything else seemed to slow down as he watched in fear.
Kicking off the ground with his thunderous hooves, he used Soru to rapidly approach the woman. The man came to a sliding halt, the woman appearing as though she would crash land on his shoulders from him not stopping in time. However, with a quick spin, David threw his arms out and he caught Cyan before she landed, holding her as though she were a bride. David's face grew hot with embarrassment, but thankfully the prolonged conflict would make his blush appear hidden from his face already being red from fighting. "A-are you okay, Miss Cyan?" David asked, not even registering he was still holding her.
The black hair flew in the air following a rapid rotation, her long and silky hair fell on her tanned shoulders, nevertheless, worn by the fight. Her gold earrings sparkled and jingled with the brief jolts while her heart skipped through time. Her dazed and shocked gaze met that of another deep blue, reminding her of the reality in which they were, her pale face headed towards the dark fist of Baal for which she found herself in the sky.
“David…” She murmured in worry and as soon as she could speak, a strange tremor ensued throughout the city.
---
Earlier before the conflict had begun, Zelgadis had used the power of his Devil Fruit to conjure up dozens of sand golems held together by his ability. They were bequeathed to Baal and her men to do as they saw fit, but the allure of bounty, blood and battle had driven forward heedless of the help provided.
However the golems were not sitting idly by, instead they had made their way into town, destroying any obstacles that would impede the Legion Pirates on the ground. These golems performed their duty solemnly and without thanks, acting as a sort of shadow to the pirates who rushed into the town.
That all changed with the conclusive battle waged against Dave, who proved himself and admirable and capable fighter. Zelgadis pitted himself against the might of the Marine Captain and his infamous Magu Magu no Mi, and made a wager, and was satisfied with the result. Now he has given his sand golems a new objective; the evacuation and safety of the citizens as well as the destruction of the Legion Pirates.
To those who paid these mysterious benefactors no mind, they suddenly found themselves in stupefied from shock and awe as their previous accomplices turned against them. Massive fiery fists of sand slammed against the pirates with no abandon. Bullets and swords, and all manner of weaponry wielded against the populace found no purchase save that of sand and rock. These golems began to turn the tide of what was a one sided slaughter into a full blown mutiny.
The Legion Pirates were unprepared for the betrayal, and as dispersed as they were, became prey for the sand golems who simply grabbed them and shoved them into their bellies admist the shrieking cries of pirates before abrupt silence as they suffocated and were crushed and ground into a bloody paste.
Baal of course enroute to town to unleash her own brand of cruelty would bear witness to this betrayal. Her keen observation haki allowing her to sense that the decisive battle between Dave and Zelgadis, had abruptly ended. The enigmatic aura of Zelgadis was distinct as was the undeniable sensation that followed; conqueror's haki. Yet he seemed elated, proud even as he faced off against Dave, not of himself but of the Marine. Dave's confusion was evident but the sudden betrayal of his constructs spoke that something had occurred between them.
Regardless, the sand golems were firmly in the camp of the Marines, and wasn't it a bitter irony. Zelgadis obtained infamy for his sudden betrayal of the Yonko in the War of the Empire's turning the tide in the last climactic battle, so maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise that he would betray her here as well.
---
But that was merely the first phase, watching the citizens who remained fall unconscious from her attack her wings stopped flapping and the woman fell to the ground like a rock from the sky.
With clenched fist, coated in ice, she punched the ground as she landed and from that spot in every direction around her did massive glaciers of ice form high walls around her moving out from her like a tsunami crushing everything in their path. Houses, trees, not even their very foundations were spared as the island was quickly becoming encased in ice.
The ice spread like wildfire, caring not for house or home, man, woman, or child. It was as cold as the woman who had unleashed it and as it spread the sand golems who at this exact moment she did not know were no longer on her side too were frozen over without discrimination of any kind, she did not even spare her lackies, those who she did not hold in regard were as expendable to her as trash on the street. This is what it meant to have the qualities of a king, to be willing to do anything and everything to achieve your goals just as Caesar had taught her over these many years.
"If I can't have the island then no one can! I'll leave you all frozen like a timecapsle, you should be honored to live forever as a monument to all my sins!" Baal announced loudly to anyone who might hear her.
When the ice dust evaporated by the wind, a gentle and sinister wind moved until it interfered with a stone wall, revealing a stone wall crisscrossing along the sides. Ice formed like waves heading towards the top of the wall, having blocked only part of what it could do.
If she had a little more time, she would have given herself a lot more than that, unfortunately, it was too late. Her hands pointing upwards trembled with cold and heaviness, the vice admiral had only managed to spare a few citizens and soldiers including David and Ahab. Her eyes shook at the consequences that she and the people of Rockbell had just suffered a great disaster. The body heavy with worry forced her to fall on her knees, seeing the numerous statuses of ice, as if time had frozen while Baal had just created a sinister cemetery. Her soul was shaken by such a situation, not being able to understand that she had failed. No, lost many innocent souls, her passive gaze never stopped scrutinizing the smallest details until meeting the scathing gaze of the angel. Cyan shook her head, trying from the depths of her being to be stoic, a few words escaped her slightly frosted lips.
"My goodness..."
David looked upon the frozen figures, trying to not tear up. "Is... is there anything we can do to free them?" David asked, his voice trembling. He turned to Cyan, morphing back into his normal human form. "Surely the Marines have something that can safely unfreeze them? That fruit use to belong to one of our Admirals, surely we studied it then!" David knew, though, that it was no use.
David looked down, feeling defeated. However, the action only made him angrier, seeing a child frozen in place - their life stolen away needlessly. Tears dripped from his face as he knelt down. "I'm sorry, little one. I wish... I wish we could have done more... that I could have done more."
Feelings of anguish filled David's mind, though for the old-sheep he appeared unphased with the fates of those who were less fortunate. However, the old mink caught wind of David's grief-stricken state, approaching him before uttering something behind him with his legs knelt down to David's size.
"Wish? No Captain. If you were really grieved by the sight of this child you just laid upon yourself, you would've saved them."
Ahab muttered, with the flick of his lighter and lighting his cigarette. Before David could make any objection to his insensitive comment, The sheep lifted his finger up.
"However.." Ahab made a slight smirk in the process, "Now, who SHOULD you blame for all of this?" The old-mink then lifted himself up and started huffing out a puff of smoke.
"One would say orders, but me?" The old-sheep then adjusted his cigarette as he examined the area, covered in a desolate wasteland of ice.
"The root of evil, free their souls." Ahab cackled to himself, walking away before muttering.
"Find your whale, David.."
A voice, deep and powerful echoed from behind the Marines, "Drowning in sorrow in the face of tragedy while your enemy still stands before you? I thought you Marine's had more iron in your stomach than this!"
Seemingly floating through the air on a bed of churning winds wrapped in violet flame was the form of Redgrave D. Zelgadis. Though his clothing was burnt and in tatters whilst injuries were scattered across his exposed body from his battle, he otherwise appeared unscathed. He had a devilish smirk, even as his gaze swept across the icy field, gazing at the frozen forms of the civilians, Marines and Pirates who failed to escape Baal's insidious attack.
"At a time like this, it usually falls to the hero to save the day. Alas, you have me instead." He said with a wistful shrug chuckling to himself. "Yet, I have always enjoyed these childish tales, and fate has been quite generous in granting them these opportunities. But more than anything," He thrust his fist towards Baal allowing violet flame to bloom in his outstretched hand.
"Wiping that arrogant smile off your face as I bring challenge to your power will be even more invigorating!" Ghastly flames erupted from Zelgadis with that declaration like an inferno, spreading outward across the icy ground with such voracious hunger, the flames greedily latching onto the ice, and to the frozen civilians like a tsunami!
Then a miracle occurred.
The ice itself seemed to shake before cracks began to form all across it had touched. A spiritual battle had taken place, and in this realm, where the power of the Devil Fruits ruled, the enigmatic and mysterious flames of the Goka Goka no Mi reigned supreme! Those violet flames burned the ice, which if it had a voice would have screeched in horror as it was subsumed, conquered and then completely dominated!
All across the area, the ice seemed to peel back as though it were a mere puppet of the flames, and those encased in its icy embrace? The ice first began to steam before it simply evaporated like vapor in the wind, freeing its occupants. Yet another change occurred. Baal's previous blast of conquerors haki had summarily pummeled their consciousness into pitiable submission, and so with no conscious will to contend against the flames, the bodies of the civilians became slaves to the violet flame.
Submit. Obey.
The citizens previously knocked out by Baal shambled into a standing position, violet light shining from their eyes, before standing rigidly in formation.
Awaken.
A collective gasp could be heard as civilians let out a breath, as they were forcibly awoken from their slumber. Many shaking off the previous effects of the ice, and gazing in bewilderment at the violet flames that enshrouded them. In one fell swoop, the terror that had once gripped the Marines, that driven them to the brink of despair was no more.
The tragedy of Rockbell had been averted!
"What's happening?" Several shouted out in equal parts panic as well as dawning awe. Many more were gaining their bearings as they looked on, relief flooding their faces as the promised death was broken.
"Weren't we hit with that wave of ice?" Others questioned, unsure of the reality before them. Yet it was plain as day, the slight shivers, and the feeling of such intense brutal cold lingered, even if they were no longer in danger.
"I just remember feeling cold all of a sudden and then...." Some recounted as they recalled their final fleeting moment. Their voices began to blend together in an indiscernible mess, as uncertainty and terror began to grip their once frozen hearts. But, a pressure filled the space, one that demanded them to kneel before its presence, causing all freed from Baal's gambit to be silent.
Zelgadis released the pressure of the color of the supreme king, and gazed upon those startled faces. His grin widened as he rose into the air gaining their undivided attention.
"Citizens of Rockbell! Harken to me! That women is pirate most notorious!" He pointed towards Baal, directing their attention towards her. "A veritable angel of ice, she desires naught but your submission or your death. Before the choice could be given to you, in a moment of petulance she stole it away. Now however, I have arisen you from the precipice of eternal slumber to give you the choice you were denied. To fight. To flee. To cower."
His gaze settled on the Marines in attendance. "Which will you choose I wonder? You have but moments to decide." Turning his back towards them all he faced Baal once again.
"Come now, don't be shy, little child. You will get your slaughter." He chuckled. "But you'll have to earn it. There is a story unfolding here, and it shall have its due. So do not interfere. Lest you face my wrath." Amusement was written across his face as he made his declaration clear. "And in case it was not clear." He held up a hand and then snapped his fingers.
The ice that had been dominated by the violet flames swirled together before coalescing. Golems made of stone and sand charged from the town taking a defensive position around the deliberating civilians and Marines, and finally the whirling firestorm transformed into a majestic ice figurine, a towering but hollow ice sculpture that upon closer look mockingly held the features of Baal herself. This elemental construct hovered protectively before the people, as twin orbs of purple light gazed hauntingly in her direction whilst Zelgadis himself smirked knowingly at her.
Despite this, with her keen sense of observation Haki, Baal could discern that Zelgadis was more exhausted then he let on. It seemed that using his power like this incurred some sort of tax on his stamina given the lines of tension across his face, and the haggard breathing he was trying to hide. Even still, it was evident that his power or Devil Fruit granted him control of whatever those flames touched. Whatever choice she, the marine's or civilians were going to make had to be made soon.
Suddenly, a veritable wall of scorching air smothered the battlefield. The remaining ice surrounding the area Zelgadis hadn't taken control of melted quickly into puddles of water that then began to steam with heat.
"Vice-Admiral ma'am" a voice spoke out. Stepping out from behind Zelgadis's towering frame was Dave. He looked upon the scene around him with determination and worry. He had made a so-called "deal with the devil" by allowing Zelgadis to aid him, but he didn't regret it, the safety of the civilians, marines, and most importantly the local wildlife was at stake.
Looking up toward the floating figure of Baal, Dave let out a snarl before holding out an arm, which quickly burst into an inferno of molten earth and hissing volcanic fumes. "I should have dealt with her instead of Zelgadis" Dave muttered, his magma would have been invaluable in dealing with the ice, but he was here now at least.
"You!" Dave growled out with anger to the floating ice-woman, "Marines and Pirates the world over remember the last time our powers collided, and so too do they remember the encounter not favouring your own ability so well".
The ground around the battlefield shook with minute earthquakes as tunnels filled with searing magma that bubbled and raged under the surface. Small geysers of lava exploded from the ground, away from civilians so as not to hurt them.
"Shall I cripple you like my predecessor did all those years ago?"
Things were happening and without being paralyzed by the tragic loss of people, her perplexed eyes travelled along the city, a turnaround in the situation was going against Baal, the angel having massacred the town of Rockbell. But it wasn't just that, there was also Zelgadis and Dave who were present. The icy atmosphere had given way to the heat of the combined hell of the two, it had given her a hint of hope in herself. Just a hint to push her to continue, a sign that it was not yet too late. A brief wind blew the night-black hair, straightening her knees, the vice admiral took a few steps to join Dave's side. Her once delicate fingers wiped the remaining blood from her lip and she came back to her senses when she frowned seriously.
Cyan allowed herself to be bold and interrupt the threats made by Dave, "Dave, chance works well..." her azure eyes went towards the man with black and white hair, "We are, for the moment, lucky to have an extra helper at our side." The vice admiral reflected for a moment, a time which stopped while the wind of heat continued to hover in the corners of the city. She couldn't leave Dave to face Baal alone, it was not just a matter of protecting him with his life, but above all of preventing a new conflict from falling on Rockbell Island. Ice versus lava was one of the worst indignities to experience. As her jewelry shone with a glow, Cyan cleared her throat despite the harsh tone from her previous injury against Baal.
"You cannot face Baal alone..." and she could see that Zelgadis was out of breath, although luckily he was going to run out soon. "She's an expert in Busoshoku Haki, a single blow could be enough to make you faint" she declared to Dave, having been the victim of her terrible Infernal Destruction blow. A second time and she couldn't take it, "This time, let's stand together, this time, it's the world against Baal!" she said in an implacable tone.
Baal looked to David, she did not wear a smile on her face unhinged or otherwise. In fact, she looked offended for but a moment before laughing, reaching up to wipe a tear from her eye before she playfully scratched her chin.
"Boy you're decades too green to speak to me much less threaten. Grow some hair on that chinny chin chin of yours before you start spouting about your predecessors. I'd half a mind to kill you where you stand and were it not for your Vice Admiral, the only among you worth my attention I may have already done so." Baal spat red upon the ground before her before looking to Zelgadis and with that her expression changed to one of malice.
"Ah, the great betryer. The man who switches sides when things get tough, I should have never allowed a coward like you on my ship. You spit in the face of everything the Legion stands for. How could one such as you unlock the power of the conqueror when you don't even have the will to die fighting? How can someone with such flames always get cold feet? Your betrayal will not go unpunished."
And finally she turned the Cyan, "Stand together! It's the world against her, I was just starting to respect you and you go and say something stupid like that? Have you no shame? This is the end alright, but not for me, never for me."
From Baal's pocket did she pull from it a golden den den mushi, the light of the sun shone upon it like and glaring off it's metallic luster.
"When the Angels are in trouble who do they call upon but God himself! And you may be terrified to learn something, that the only light in Heaven... is black!"
And with that she pressed the button to summon none other than Gladius Caesar himself.
For a man like him, he lacked the grandiose entry many would expect. There was no cacophonous roar that the world would make in recognition of his arrival. There was no warning to his appearance. It abandoned the bells and whistles because those were for the boisterous fools that could not hold conviction or true might.
Before the light could reach their eyes, Gladius Caesar was there with a spear of light in hand.
“I would not have been summoned if the situation was not grave,” he said. “Baal knows the cost of calling for a King. As such, I will assume you are all enemies. I pray that you will satiate my hunger for flesh and prove yourselves worthy meals. I have been starved since that war.”
Black light gleamed off his skin. It was simply there, the world darkened as light changed colours. Haoshoku rolled from Caesar in waves. There may have been other kings, but he was a greater king than them. He was a Yonko. A conqueror. A man who could infuse kingly desires onto himself. His Haki was just stronger.
“Tell me, barbaric folk. I know you will not stand down. What do you want me to tell your families?”
Hot Day in Heaven[]
He felt the presence of the emperor just moments before he arrived. Every hair on his body tingled, every ounce of his warrior instinct awakened and began to rage as the impossible dominating force that was Gladius Caesar arrived. He appeared between one breath and another, from wherever he had come. Such speed, such overwhelming power was almost incomprehensible, it boggles the mind that such a being could even exist. And yet….
And yet…
His excitement could scarcely be contained! His pupils dilated as he trembled, and a wide ear reaching grin stretched across his face. Raucous laughter escaped from his lips before erupting into a full blown maniacal laugh as he gazed upon one of the greatest powers in this era!
“Blacklight Caesar!” Never had a name been said with such unusual zeal. It wasn’t reverence, it was something more primal. Like the declaration one might have before feasting on a delicious meal. No.... it was something like a rallying cry before a great undertaking. The Color of the Supreme King within him was beckoned by the fellow usurper, and Zelgadis released his own ambition.
Violet hued waves erupted from from his smiling form bathing his now allies in its dominating and protective embrace, a shield against the oppressive tyranny that saturated Caesars own! Yet it was obvious that the Blacklight's power was well earned for its potency and strength dwarfed Zelgadis's own. But in a battle of wills, where experience and bloodlust met such fervor that invited all challenge, there was a surprising amount of resistance.
Zelgadis, even with the power of his own color of the supreme king strained under the weight of Caesars, for it was more akin to a great void of endless night that swallowed all light, all hope, all sense of rationality and reason. He felt as if he were staring at the precipice of a yawning chasm with depths so dark he could not make out where it began and where it ended.
But he was not deterred, nor frightened. Rather, he welcomed everything it was and more. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and as he said before, fate has been very generous to him, and this is but another gift life had given him. It would be foolish, even arrogant to feel anything but gratitude and humility for such wondrous opportunities.
His smile was devilish as he gazed upon the Yonko. “How magnanimous of you to grace us with your attendance! I am Redgrave D. Zelgadis, and I welcome your challenge! For you, I will draw from the flames of my own life and bring my all to bare!”
Caesar's response was bare. "There is no challenge. This is now a burial ground for all that stand against me."
Just as quickly as he changed out of it from despair, David reentered his hybrid form as a means of defense. One of the strongest individuals in the world was now present. There was little he could do, hell, he wasn't sure even Cyan could do much against such a foe. David found himself wishing he could call in the Fleet Admiral, but he lacked any such clearance to directly contact him. "Cyan-sama," David said, his nerves reverting him to emulating Wano as he had for years, "what do we do now?"
"Necromancy, and now this." Ahab scoffed, "There is no point being here, my mortality would be better spent fighting the whale."
The old-sheep remarked, turning away before walking out of the scene althogether.
"And to think someone like him exists, such an insult to life itself." Ahab muttered to themselves, expressing resentment for a certain individual who dared challenge, but most of all, insult the course of fate itself.
The ensign left with nothing but bitter-hatred in his mind.
"I offer you all that same kindness." Caesar said. "Walk away. Embrace your cowardice and inadequacy before me, and leave. Though I pray you remain. Perhaps someone here will be worth a meal. What say you, Baal?"
As the azure gaze darkened, experiencing Ahab's voluntary flight, the Vice-Admiral had in no way ordered or said anything regarding the problematic situation. Zelgadis who was in his moment of ecstasy while David was making himself small, Dave was nothing other than a simple bee who would sting a human and then, there was herself, Cyan, all the pressure was on her shoulders. All the soldiers were counting on the Vice Admiral's orders, the simple fact that the Yonko himself showed up on the spot declaring such presumptuous words, it only made her cautious but also stored blood in her vein. temple.
"Goddamn...There's absolutely no point in trying to fight Cesar, but this is a direct attack on us. We can't let him gain the territory, how can we retreat? There are still so many innocent here...The best solution would be-" she thought, in a second of reflection, a flash crossed the bluish gaze of the Vice Admiral. An arm was stretched out in front of Dave and in a clear voice towards him, she ordered him while explaining.
"Dave, we need to contact the fleet admiral quickly! You're still too young and you have...a promising future, certainly. We can't afford to lose someone with such power," She said in a stern tone, reminding Dave how lucky he was to be the holder of the Lava Devil Fruit, which made him important to the Marine. "We are lucky that you have a sense of justice... There is no way this devil fruit will be put in danger, oh no way..." She implied that if he came to die, the Marine would not get a second chance. Her face tightened with determination mixed with annoyance. She hadn't taken her eyes off Yonko for a single second. It was the first time she had met someone of such rank, and she had heard many stories about him, which displeased the vice-admiral. Aware that she would risk her life to gain time before the arrival of the Fleet-Admiral, she cleared her throat to speak to the Yonko.
"I can assume that a discussion won't take place, is not it?" she asked calmly and the nervous drop ran down her forehead. Her tense face did not relax, maintaining her concentration.
Dave could only grit his teeth in frustration, he hated being useless. Even then, however, Dave wasn't stupid. He was an investment to the World Government, a gamble that may be able to one day drive off the monsters like the one towering in front of them now.
"I'll at least take out the grunts ma'am" Dave spat out with frustration at his weakness before he exploded into a meteor of lava that raced from the battlefield while picking off random no-name pirates in its path.
Once he arrived at the shoreline, Dave momentarily stopped to give his remaining marine comrades on the battlefield a grim nod, before he rocketed into the air like a comet and shot toward his own Navy vessel far from the shore and battlefield of the island.
"You ask for a discussion?" Caesar's voice was uncertain, very clearing holding back from rubbing his chin. "You prevent the expansion of my Kingdom, and put amongst the largest source of monetary funds for my country in danger, and you wish for a discussion? Not only am I surrounded by pigs of the government and traitors, a village fool speaks up and asks for a discussion."
Caesar tapped the base of his spear against the ground. "No. There will be no discussion. This land is now tainted by the words and intentions of you folk. I shall sink this island."
A raucous laughter burst through the tension with the man himself Zelgadis clutching his belly with childish mirth. When at last his laughter had died down he grinned viciously at the Caesar, as crimson eyes gleamed with delight.
"If a King can not keep his power, he must be betrayed. For your kingdom's prosperity to rest on the shoulders of but one domino, how fragile it must be. And the childish tantrums of a waning emperor? Is that your declaration and decree?" He questioned the would-be emperor of the sea.
As they spoke, his golems and the citizens he had rallied began evacuating the area, ironically under the graceful protection of his hellish flames. Spurned by will not their own, the very island itself seemed to move them forward as they slowly began to disappear from sight.
Zelgadis strode forward purposefully, violet flame churning beneath his feet as the ground bent to his will forming an elaborate throne, as he took a seat. Gesturing to the air, sand bound together by hellfire formed a dense cup as he reached into his robes and retrieved a flask. Corking the lid he poured himself a glass of wine, and sipped from it.
"Tell me, O Emperor of the Sea, do you always clean up the mess left behind by your pitiful subordinate?" He gestured flippantly towards Baal.
"A woman who by all means had both the power and army to conquer this charming little island?" His tone while blatantly disrespectful, had a genuine curiosity with regards to his question. To all observers it appeared that Zelgadis believed that Baal could, and perhaps even should have continued to fight. He honestly seemed rather perplexed by her recent actions.
"Yet she failed. Rather than rally her remaining troops and mount a counter offensive she abandoned all hope of salvaging her catastrophe and instead called upon you. Beckoned like a servant, and you answered. If there's going to be a discussion perhaps we should be speaking with Baal instead. What say you Baal?"
"Your lips flap with a boldness unbefitting of a man standing before me. A point well made. Baal will be punished for calling on me. And the pitiful soldiers brought here will die along with the island. Those that do not serve my country with the required skill are waste." Caesar took one step forwards. It seemed darker on the island. "But. I shall not stand for your claims."
Caesar's eyes were devoid of any light. The light that all mortals held. There remained not even a flicker. It was as if he was the inverse of man. "There are two type of men. Those that fight for blood are dead men. Such as you. But men that fight for gold fight for a purpose. You are clearly the former."
Light could move around the world over seven times in a second. So how long would it take Caesar to close the distance between him and Zelgadis?
The answer couldn't be expressed, as the distance between he and Zelgadis simply ceased, a light-speed attack that moved through intent, a dexterity that could not be met even if it was known to come. For what body could move at light speed, except for Gladius Caesar?
He went to thrust his spear into Zelgadis, and sent him into the sky, all the while the skies continued to dim.
Zelgadis understood Devil Fruits. His power allowed him to interact with them in a way few could possibly understand. He knew many as intimately as the very people who consumed them. He understood that the power of a Devil Fruit was limited only by the imagination of its wielder, and imagination is limitless. Fortunately for him many pirates and their ilk were bound by their earthly desires, their imagination caged and shackled to only what they could see. It was obvious to anyone that Caesar's ability to traverse distances as nothing more than light was simply unparalleled. No amount of strength or ability could ever compare to such unfathomable speed. But that is only if you limit your imagination.
Caesars mind wasn't moving any faster, his thoughts and feelings were not magically propelled at the speed of light either. He could be read, and understood as any other man could. As a martial artist one learns to read their opponents, to predict their next movement and anticipate their attacks. While it would be impossible to move fast enough to evade such an attack, harnessing his indominable will was something he could do. Indeed, had been doing ever since Caesar set foot on the battlefield. His conqueror's haki pushing against Caesar's own like a dam trying to stem the tide of a flood.
When Caesar's intent crystalized, Zelgadis was already reacting. He couldn't evade the attack, it just wasn't possible. Not really. At best he could mitigate as much damage as possible. To his credit, he was lucky that the strength of a spear was that all its power was concentrated on one point, and for Zelgadis that would work in his favor. He focused and harnessed all of his haki, channeling the color of armament to that singular point. The moment Caesar materialized in physical form again, his infamous spear thrusting towards him it was met with an enormous amount of resistance.
Yet Caesar was not an Emperor for nothing. He had honed his power and skill through one scene of carnage after the next, devoured the essence of mighty warriors to grow his own and reigned over the seas longer than Zelgadis had even existed. Despite his defense, in a clash between pirates on the sea, it always came down to haki, and Caesars was simply that much more formidable.
For now.
The sheer force of the thrust itself created an explosion of force that flattened the area around him and there was a moment where the spear and haki cladding Zelgadis met causing a rippling distortion with waves reverberating out as a low thrum of energy echoed. Then the moment was gone as Zelgadis was hurled with tremendous force into the air, Caesars spear having cleaved through his defense at last, but it was just long enough for him to twist his body, the concept of weight of Shadow Grappling allowing such a minor movement to create enough movement that instead of being gored through with a hole in his torso and spine, a wound that would have instantly slain him, was diverted to a non-vital area, but still very much a hole in his body.
Spinning through the air, Zelgadis unleashed a wave of violet flame, and dominated the winds so that they could arrest his movement and keep him afloat.
"You are wrong O Emperor of the Sea! Fighting for gold offers no purpose! You fight for only what you can see! There is ambition in those lightless eyes of yours! It is painfully ironic that a Devil Fruit granting you eternal light has made whatever dreams you once had become so dim!" Zelgadis moved his arms in a circular manner, yet what was strange was that it was both fast and slow, a trick of the light as static images of his motions remained visible in the air. When his hands rejoined, a shockwave permeated out in a continuous resonating sort of frequency.
"Heavenly Destruction Arts - Eight Trigrams Primordial Chaos Palm!" He shouted as the shockwaves which appeared to travel slow but maintained their propagation enveloped the surrounding area. "I learned much in my travels Caesar, were you aware that light itself can be bent and distorted with mere shockwaves?" As if to emphasize his point, the world that could be seen began to subtlety shift, objects and things growing slightly in and out of focus, multiple images overlapping with each other, in a disorienting manner. "Whatever you have planned Caesar, it will not be the power of a Devil, but the fruit of man's effort that will deny you!" He swiftly turned towards the Marines.
"Vice Admiral!" For the first time since they joined on the battlefield, Zelgadis addressed Cyan. "Are you going to stand there gaping like a fish or are you going to fight!?" Zelgadis then began gathering mobilizing the gargantuan ice sculpture in the visage of Baal that he had created earlier and directed it towards Caesar. Both his eyes and that of the ice golem glowed with violet light, and a burst of speed that was most undoubtedly a martial arts technique slammed its threw its entire body downward like a meteor on Caesar.
A vein in her temple was engorged when the bold man questioned her and despite the irritation, he was not wrong, Zelgadis was not going to do the job alone. They still had time to gain precious time, just a little to evacuate the citizens and additional reinforcements. Her arms crossed in front of her face, preparing for the offensive and at the same time, she gave a final order intended for David.
“You are the captain, you know what you have to do… be the fastest man!"
With her words, a sinister tremor shook the surroundings of the city. Reddish crystals reflected the anger of their creation and a menacing black subtlety emerged like sharp blades from the very spot where the emperor stood. As they grew at an alarming rate, turning the surrounding area into a field of devastation, cracking the ground under their weight and sending shards of rock flying in all directions.
Blades of deep will quickly wrapped around the emperor as they rose in an attempt to trap him in their deadly embrace.
Despite David's nerves, despite his fear, he seemed to calm down when he finally got orders from Cyan. David joined the Marines with dreams of being a hero. It was moments like this that tested his resolve. Maybe he wasn't cut out to be a leader, but he would always perform well under orders. The satyr-like man's hooves became illuminated with lightning as his senses heightened to the max with Kenbunshoku Haki.
Caesar was the fastest man in the world, but David's race wasn't against him - it was for them. The innocent people that were caught in the eternal conflict of Marines and pirates. Like a flash of lightning and the roar of thunder, David used his great speed in hybrid to begin collecting survivors and pull them away from the field. He grabbed a woman and her child and disappeared with them.
Not fast enough, thought David as he began to push his body with Soru - moving far beyond the speed of lightning itself. As Cyan and Zelgadis held the front, he held the civilians - entering and disappearing the battlefield like a blur. He began pulling even frozen statues from the terrain that had gone untouched, hoping to find a way to release them from their icy prison without them being shattered by the powerhouses that clashes on the island. Once he collected as many of these people as possible, he would return to assist his Vice Admiral.
The undulations in light ceased, taken away by Caesar himself. No matter the source it would always be subservient in the face of the Blacklight. “I thought you a traitor, Redgrave. Never a fool. If you believe sight is limited to what is ahead of you…it is still far too early to raise your dainty hand against me.”
Multiple things happened at once. But of course, Caesar would have no problem solving what stood before him.
The golem went to strike him. As Zelgadis knew, it was clearly some form of martial technique. Light would be refracted off ice if not coated in his Haki. So would the crystals that were rapidly being made by Cyan. Arguably, these two things were the ideal counter to Caesar’s command over the light. However, Caesar was far more than just his fruit. He had only eaten it after conquering Dressrosa.
His arm moved, slower than expected towards the golem. It moved slower and slower as it pushed through the air. Keen eyes would understand what was happening. The air itself had awoken to try and resist Caesar. The very sky that watched over them. Caesar’s clenched fingers didn’t reach the golem, or the crystals. The sudden and intense change in air pressure create a force of pure devastation. It was more than enough force to shatter the golem into pieces, it’d be more than enough to shatter the crystals that weren’t coated in wood. Metallic structures and items in the vicinity chipped, and the very island trembled and cracked in fear.
“Fragor.”
He merely jumped over the crystals as the broken ground forced them off course but for a moment, landing on the ground some yards away. The day only turned darker as light began to dim.
Caesar stood tall. “My decree remains true still. This island will be destroyed.”
"Will it now?..." Piercing through the clouds above, the sharp voice of the Fleet Admiral reached everyone present, as if the heavens themselves spoke. "You're always so dramatic, Caesar." In the presence of the monster that is Kyojin, life itself went silent, as all sounds faded. Wind became dormant as a satanic star appeared in the middle of the battlefield, with the sign of the infinity at its center. Bolts of black lightning bounced off the rocky ground, destroying it to bits before Kyojin emerged at its center.
"Shall I send you to your former emperor friends?" A grin overtook Kyojin's expression as a burst of haki erupted from his body. It was so dense and dark that it leveled the plain in an instant, sending trees, rocks, and even mountains flying as it reshaped the terrain. The fleet admiral's will was casted upon the land, bending it to his own dark will. His haki was truly horrifying, as it was known to be strong enough to paralyze even the top yonko commanders. It even was more than enough to stop two emperors from moving during the War of Empires, with only those standing atop the world able to maintain their composure in front of him.
But Kyojin seemed way different than what he normally look like, as he was shirtless with a satanic star engraved on his chest. A sign that only meant one thing, the fleet admiral came prepared for a war.
Caesar however, was not one of the fallen Yonko. He was Gladius Caesar. Unofficially regarded as the Fastest Man in the World. He stood tall against the waves of Haoshoku Haki that rolled like waves from Kyojin, though he knew no one else on the island should’ve been able to. He rolled his shoulders back. The light that had been absent from his eyes suddenly reignited. There would be no meal like Kyojin.
“Your appearance here, Kyojin, has doomed it. An all-out fight between us is not something that can be contained.” Caesar grinned. “Are these pawns of your government so disposable, you’re willing to engage in combat with me?”
Caesar remained silent for a moment before he broke out in a large grin that reached from eye to eye. “I WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY, KYOJIN!! YOU AND I! A FEAST THAT WILL SUSTAIN ME FOR YEARS!!”
"Hah! At last! The climax to this tale has finally begun!” Zelgadis ceased his technique and descended down to the ground breathing heavily. Even at this distance he was forced to release his own color of the supreme king to withstand the dual forces of overwhelming ambition that had flooded the area. Still, he was able to remain upright as he addressed Kyojin.
“A second time I stand as vanguard for your forces while you do battle against a Yonko, Fleet Admiral. Remember this when officially make my request to become a Warlord!”
With a physical grunt of pain and effort Zelgadis unleashed a tidal wave of violet flame that washed over and enshrouded the remaining Marines, and civilians still in the area as well blanketing the beach and stretches of the town. He collapsed to one knee as the violet flame continued to spread further into town.
What was strange was that it had the absence of its usual dominating effect. Yet everyone and everything it affected could feel themselves emboldened, indeed their very being surged with renewed strength and power. Yet the toll on Zelgadis was clear as he let out a few shuddering breathes.
“All that these flames touch shall be protected from the conflagration of your battle. Even if the Heavens themselves were to be scorched, these people and this town will not suffer harm. Through these flames the color of arms shall ever be vigilant.”
With that Zelgadis directed what remained of his golems to aid in the evacuation whilst the two titans prepared for their inevitable clash.
As the violet inferno washed over the islands, and two of the greatest menaces to respective society stood before each other, the colors of their conquering spirit cascading forth, knocking many to their knees if not invigorated by the pyre of Zelgadis. Among these unfortunate few were the crocodilian warrior, Hyberon. Nothing of the sort to protect himself, he was on the brink of collapse. He is headstrong and proud, but he recognized a suicide mission when he saw one. This was certainly one of those instances. Turning tail, he headed for the ships to take him away from the island. As he was reaching towards the sea, he felt a resonance in the air.
Shortly there after, came the source of the sensation: A thunderous roar of something truly colossal. The warcry of this oncoming being ratted the loose soil and shook the buildings to their foundation, the being's own haki mixing into the clash of two, turning it into a conflict of three. The shadow of the creature shourded the city where it flew over. Almost a kilometer long, this entity had come for something, and two things were in the way of that.
Flapping its wings high above the site of the two conflicting forces soared a dragon-like entity of grand proportions, glaring down at the two powerhouses. She considered herself one of them, but against these two? There was no doubt that she was in for a ride if she stayed.
But stay she would.
Diving for the ground, the sheer mass of the creature shook the earth and cracked its surface, casting up a cloud of dirt, sand, and dust. Stepping out of that cloud with a wave of her arm, came a woman of more than double the size of either man. She towered above, but she knew well enough that she was below them in status so well as name. But her smile was unwavering. Her posture flawless and elegant, her platina blonde hair rustling in the gust of air the three had been creating. "Is the size measuring contest over yet?" She asked with a nearly condescending note to it, veiled ever so shallowly by the sweet smile and curteous bow of the head. "Caesar! You've come a long way to pick a fight for a soon-to-be-rubble island. I hope I haven't upset some feelings for my little distrubance during the war. I naturally meant no harm." She spoke, telling her boldfaced lie, thinking of the numerous islands she had set on fire during the conflict for her own gain.
Turning her face towards Kyojin, her face brightened up even further. "Admiral! Happy to meet once more. I feared the war would be the last time I got to do so." She chirped, keeping up a calm and kind demeanor, all while being on high alert for anything at all. The smallest twitch, the slightest rustle. She was on edge despite her seemingly cool exterior.
Kyojin wasted no time greeting The Master, nor did he waste any time on Zelgadis and his offer, he had a far more important matter to focus on. His body emitting dark particles of light, Kyojin moved at the speed of light, a feat only achievable by the emperor in any normal circumstances. But nothing about Kyojin was normal.
"Years you say?"
Kyojin's grin grew larger as he emerged in front of the emperor, with his arm enveloped in the strongest forms of haki only accessible by those atop this era. Anticipating Caeser's response being on the same power, Kyojin was merely announcing the beginning of their fight with a clash that should silence those inferior to the due. After all, their haki was only matched by those belonging to the same league.
The only thing more important that Kyojin to Caesar was Dressrosa, his kingdom. He reacted the same way as someone who was one of the only people that could ever understand him. This newcomer. She meant nothing to Caesar. There was a veritable feast laid before him. The sundered flesh of the Fleet Admiral would a delicacy to celebrate.
Caesar, the stone-faced King, laughed with zealous glee.
“At least a few, old friend.”
Kyojin wouldn’t have to travel the entire distance. Caesar met him in the middle as the pair reached light-speed, a level of swiftness no others could reach. His own arm coated in the colour of kings, infused to the bone as Kyojin’s was. Their fists collided, and there was nothing but silence as bolts of black burst from the point of contact.
The clouds were made clear, the island thundered and quaked, the seas had their tides pulled. It was not silent from a lack of noise. The pitch of the noise made from such refined Haki was high enough that no others could hear it. A fight between the strongest in the world had begun.
The ensuing conflict was a marvel to be sure. A terrifying and horrible, but marvelous all the same. This was the power she was desiring. The stature she wished to attain. Maybe she was there, maybe she wasn't. There was only one way for The Master to know for certain, and it wasn't from behind a desk or looming over a battleplan. The fists of the two imposing men clashed, the rippling power that came from it quaking the land and scattering the seas. A not unfamiliar sight to her, but for vastly different reasons.
In a flash of a moment had she manifested as her hybrid form, growing even greater in size and being shrouded in thick layers of scale and muscle, and with a kick of her feet did she launch herself forward, the air rattling and cracking into booming roars as the soundbarrier shattered at her approach over and over again. Imbuing her fist with armament haki, she delivered her blow to the collision of fists, intending to prove to them that she was still present and she wasn't going away, a large toothy grin plastered on her face. She had a mission of her own to accomplish here. As her fist collided, her haki rattled to try and pierce and match up to these two titans. Alas, to no ones surprise, base haki had no hope of truly shaking these fighters. Great physical might and bolstered by powerful haki as she was, it would not be enough to outright contest these two.
But it didn't need to for now. She just needed to make sure they would not forget her. Ready with observation haki, she stood prepared to act in accordance to anything that would happen next. This would be the fight of a lifetime for her. For them? It might as well be another day of the week.
What was to The Master a battle to prove one's self, was merely a chance for Kyojin and Caeser to feel alive once more. This clash wasn't about who's right and who's wrong, it wasn't even about the island they fought on. Otherwise, neither of them would have been grinning their souls out as their wills clashed. Their haki was just too much for the island anyway, the sheer pressure released from their clash leveled the entire area, then extended even more. Trees, rocks, and even mountains were sent flying like they were nothing. But this was only but a greeting, and as all greetings, one must end so the battle can begin.
"You're really eager to join your former pirate friends, huh?" Kyojin had already beaten two emperors, he wasn't here for a casual fight. As the waves of haki began to fade, the entire island had turned into a battlefield for the beasts that resides on the island. Another portrayal of how far the World Government is willing to go to extend their strength and get rid of pirates.
Kyojin's body emitting light, his body moved in a zigzag motion upwards into the sky before it came to a full stop, all happening at the speed of light. He raised his arms up and an orb of light emerged at the center of the void between his arms, yet as he opened his arms wide, countless orbs formed as well. "Falling Stars!" Unleashing a torrent of light particles that would pierce through and damage anything it hit, targeting the entire area which is now deemed as their battlefield. An attack that was merely to show Caeser how easy it was for Kyojin to utilize his own power against him, light versus light.
“And you those old dogs and Admirals of yours.” Caesar’s stomach bellowed with laughter. Simply being in the same room as Kyojin was enough to get his heart racing. Because only they could add the truest thrill of them all.
He lapped his lips, as motes of light began to spin around his head and burst forth. They met each particle unleashed by Kyojin in the air. Explosions littered the darkening sky. Light collected above the air and formed a massive hand. Shadows were cast all over the island below as it simply surpassed the entire landmass in size.
“Rex Manus.”
The hand began to descend, the pressure caused by it falling causing whatever remained of the land to crack and crumble further. Flames ignited across the land as the hand only began to descend down. It suddenly shifted to light-speeds as it yearned to squash Kyojin.
Pushed back from the clash, the ferocity of their initial attack too much for her to resist. Taloned feet digging into the rock and soil to keep her steady as the rumbling impacts drove her backward, however moderate a success that it may have been. She had to use everything she had available to her as the crackling explosions resonated above.
Then the shade washed over the entirety of the land. Following the source, she beheld the colossal palm, boasting its size more so than any movements, but even so, the testament of power was on a scale that she could as of now only hope to match with such relative ease. Caesar seemed to barely be breaking a sweat over this, if he even was to begin with. This pure, unadulterated power was on a scale she could never match in the same way. At least, not as she was.
Still, standing still or possibly even fleeing was a likely death sentence. Not to mention that she still had use and need of the Fleet Admiral. Channeling the fire deep within, she applied all her might as she dashed forward, shifting into her grand draconic form, facing the hand head-on at the speed of lightning bolts. As the palm traveled its way down, The Master cried out: "Gehenna Flare!", and in the same breath, shooting a grand orb of fire, followed by a powerful and consistent stream of crimson inferno.
Seven kilometers of pure firepower, she flapped her wings to soar upward. As the flare connected, the flames caused an explosion to ripple forward with intense heat and spread. If not hampered, the clash of the fire and light alone might level a vast chunk of the island still simply from the aftermath of this confrontation. And if that happens, how is she meant to plunder and earn her due?
Her stream of crimson pyre could only keep the hand for so long, however much she may try. Soon would the flames and light cease their confrontation, and when it happened, The Master knew that she would take far too much injury for her to continue. But she needed to press on, lest the palm brings too much to an end. Pushing her lungs to their absolute maximum, her Flare attack grew in intensity and power, the flames stoked by determination and will, the flames licked and ate at the photon limb. With the heat of a nuclear blast, the shock radius of the strike and the infernal flames latching onto and burning anything nearby, now would be the moment of truth. She could only hope it to be enough. With a tremendous roar did The Master dig to her absolute deepest, and with that, she realized how wide the gap between them truly was. And htat struck fear into her heart in a way that no one else had for many a year.
While The Master was facing the giant light palm face on, Kyojin was standing on the ground of the island that was now covered in the giant shadow of the same light palm. "This world is a stubborn one." Kyojin had a sinister smirk on his face, had there been any lesser of a beast in his situation, he would have realized this was his end. But to Kyojin, this was nothing but a silly move of an emperor to try and portray his powers against Kyojin. Not a man, but an entity that stands atop this world.
"Emperors, pirates, marines, civilians..." Kyojin stood at the center of the island, the giant light palm above him, and a giant shadow palm beneath him. "Everyone are just too stubborn to admit..." Raising his arms wide open, the palm beneath him manifested as darkness emerged from the ground up, making a giant palm of darkness in an instant. After all, all the right materials were present, and he only needed to take control of them. "I own this world!"
With his arm rising up, the giant palm of darkness erupted from the ground up towards the incoming giant palm of light. And in a marvelous clash between the eternal war of light and dark, both palms collided in the heavens, quaking the world itself as the light exploded into the darkness. Which in turn, swallowed the light whole, causing a phenomena that should be known all over the world as "Eclipse." The island was deemed unstable, the seas roared as waves collided with each other. And through the world level chaos that was unleashed by the two catastrophes shaped in the forms of humans, the sea surrounding the island turned black as shadows from beneath took over, moments before multiple gigantic sea kings emerged to surface.
The world itself was indeed stubborn as Kyojin said, it naturally opposed the sheer strength of the powers that were released by the due. Their clash of haki, and now their clash of powers, it was already disrupting the laws of the world itself. After all, even a small spar between such an incredible forces would be perceived as a world level war. A war that must stop before it ends in the total and entire domination of the island which they fought for in the first place, deeming their fight unnecessary.
Meanwhile away from the island, a group of dark clouds hosted the tired body of The Master, as per Kyojin's orders, demons rushed to transport her and every other life form off the island at the speed of light. Around the dark clouds, floating were a few of Kyojin's demons, watching the fight from afar. "Master Kyojin's orders were clear, your orders were to retreat as they both resolve this between themselves." One of the demons said as he looked at The Master. Lucky enough, the demon was able to transport her right before the collision of the palms, removing her from danger's way.
Caesar's hand clung onto his chest, a manic grin in his eyes.
"KYOJIN!!" he laughed. "YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT!!!"
Caesar brought forth his spear. He leaned away, holding it forwards in a highly traditional manner. A soldier that had mastered everything the spear could do, far beyond the limits of mortal understanding. In spite of the devastation the King remained still. His eyes an unnerving calm.
The pair both knew they could strike back with their witty commentary. But in the end it would lead here. To a much more serious bout. So why go through all of those hoops? Why not simply go all out right from the start.
This part of the ocean, should the two now begin to fight seriously, would be rendered inhabitable.
"Yes I am!" Taking a stance that is known to be the hardest of the extremely rare martial art only known by the people of history, Kyojin raised his arm in front of his body in an open yet firm palm. With his other hand clenched in a fist, tucked behind his back. He stood upright, as his expression faded, easing him into a calm state of being.
"I wish I could say the same about you, Caesar. But for some reason, you look way older than you should..."
Such a fight between such monsters meant only one thing, the death of the entire region of which they fought in. An outcome that could only be described as a disaster, a major loss for the world itself, with nothing to be gained for the two beasts. "Come now, Caesar." His eyes while calm, were nothing less of that of a beast, piercing through the tension that's been built between the two. "Come now, or begone... For this is now my territory!"
As the due were ready to clash, Kyojin's words weren't mere talk, as four demons appeared at four different corners of the island. Each kneeling down as if they were waiting for something, before the begin their own operation.
“This tainted land is all yours. Corrupted by your weak foot soldiers that pedal across the seas.” Caesar clicked his tongue. Disappointment danced through his eyes for a moment, before being replaced by the sheer ecstasy of the moment. The sky flickered. It was even darker still. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Devastation. Order within chaos.
A clash between the strongest.
He thrust the spear forwards with one hand. The island split from the force, an extremely precise bullet of air that had foregone simple rules and limitations as it moved at light speed. But it did not shoot for Kyojin. It continued down through the island after splitting. Down through the ocean. Down to the crust, and piercing down into it.
A release of pressure from below exploded up, the island quaking. A tsunami rose. No, several did. Seawater sought to crush the island in its entirety. He set a timer in but a moment. As powerful as the two were, they still could not swim.
And yet, this was only a thrust.
One movement.
The second came as the base of the spear was held in place by the grip of his palm, flipped over through the air so that the spear itself clashed into the ground. He pushed the island down. He broke the foundation it rested upon in a single moment. The waters would claim it to its depths. If not that, the tsunamis would claim it. And if not that, the sheer amount of damage Caesar had done in two movements would render it into far too many pieces to be considered one piece of land.
Caesar began to hover in the air.
“Unfortunately, my friend.” Caesar said. “There is no territory here for you to claim.”
And the island sunk.
But did it really? The sound of a bell ringing inside of Kyojin's mind, accompanied with the flashing of haki through his eyes. It was only a flash of a possible future, one that Kyojin can't allow to happen. Not because of the island's importance, as it meant nothing to both parties, but it was for Kyojin's ego.
"Caesar, only I can decide such things, for I am the strongest!"
Responding to what Caesar hadn't even said yet, it was one of the benefits of seeing the future. But this was no time to flex, as Kyojin's body was swallowed by his own darkness. Growing in size in an instant, and what was once the size of Caesar was now far larger than the island itself. His head was way among the clouds, which were tainted by his darkness, reflecting the dark ocean beneath. In an instant, everything that could be seen was pure darkness, the sea and its tides, the clouds, the island itself, as well as wall of darkness that enveloped the island along with everyone inside it.
The moment Kyojin's transformation began, the four demons stood, one on each corner of the island, with their arms stretched in front of them. Generating a gigantic barrier that captured the entire island, along with Kyojin and Caesar inside, in a cube of barrier
"This reminds me of a simpler time..." The featureless black face of Kyojin emerged from between the clouds, nothing about him looked human. He simply looked like a humanoid that is made out of darkness, sitting in the ocean as if it was a kid's pool to him. "When we used to fight just for the sake of it..." His voice tremored through space itself, it was so loud, yet so clear and calm. "But we were young, back then..."
“Don’t tell me you’re feeling the effects of old age, Kyojin!” Caesar bellowed, casting aside his spear, hands resting on his stomach as his body jerked and moved erratically. The sky flickered yet again.
Since Caesar had stepped foot on this miserable chunk of land, he had been siphoning light. It was why the sky kept flickering. Why it turned darker. It had been stolen by the Blacklight. Stored deep within his core, the light of a thousand stars. Unleashing it was an attack that would kill whoever stood before him. Before they would ever be able to react, before they could pray to whatever may hear them for that chance.
Kyojin, was not whoever. He was perhaps, the only other worthy of Caesar’s focus in battle.
Caesar’s eyes gleamed with light. And his physical form vanished. Instead there was only light.
A bright flash burst out. Shining past the barrier and blinding those that were foolish enough to stare at their battlefield. Beasts fell from the sheer intensity of light, burning their eyes into their sockets. Gore sludged its way out as they collapsed into the clean waters outside the barrier’s reach.
Once again matching Kyojin’s height stood Caesar, reformed using the excess light he had stolen earlier to shape his body into that of a titan. The island turned minuscule to the both of them. They had adopted forms befitting them both, Gods of the New World. Nothing could compare. Nothing would ever compare.
Not to them.
The gargantuan man’s voice echoed out. It was both too far and felt as it was being projected directly into the ears. Disconcertion given form.
“But you’ve been saddled with a role, yes.” Caesar’s spear appeared in his hand, scaled to match their new size.
He pointed it at the only one remaining that deserved his respect. “Like the old days, then. We fight until one of us is dead, or the barrier can no longer hold us.”
"Just like the old days indeed!" Kyojin's body of darkness was already claiming the island as his own, with limbs of darkness reaching to the clouds after the waves of the ocean became his own. "I'm not sure death would be eager to meet any of us though, Caesar..." A grim grin took over Kyojin's darkened face, he for the first time in ages, was enjoying a fight. Memories flashed through Kyojin's mind, memories of their clashes, memories of their eternal battle between light and darkness.
Meanwhile back at Marineford, in the empty desk of Kyojin, a marine rushed inside trying to report a huge incident to the fleet admiral, only to realize the office was empty. "Oh shit!" Looking around in panic, the marine repeated. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!" Placing the report papers in his hands on the desk, the marine sat by the desk. "I'm screwed..."
Back to Kyojin versus Caesar...
"You gonna keep standing there with you spear pointed at me? Or are you gonna do something with it? Caesar!" Kyojin was in his own domain, and if Caesar stays dormant for longer, the entire battlefield inside the barrier will be Kyojin's domain. And darkness will swallow the light, fading it out of existence and into the unknown.
“Death will always refuse to come for us, Kyojin.” Caesar rolled his shoulder. Darkness began to spread out from Kyojin. “You are a God masquerading a hero, and I am a God masquerading as a villain. So, let us see…”
Light glistened. Almost crackling out akin to lightning. Pure power moved out in lines and waves. Gently keeping the darkness at bay. Unbefitting of the battlelusted state Caesar was known for. But this was the truth. He was a God. Worshipped by the masses. His light was benevolent, it destroyed without destruction. The darkness could never swallow Caesar’s light.
He shone too bright.
Kyojin and Caesar both took a step forwards. The Architect of Death had constructed the exact path he’d take, the exact strike. It was second nature for him. Caesar knew the road he would travel. How his arm would extend and legs rotate to bring his feathered spear of light to meet Kyojin. And so neither of them moved.
Three minutes later, they remained, unmoving.
They knew one another like they did the back of their hands. How they fought, how they thought. Long life enemies that were fighting a different sort of battle. They saw the choices the other would make again and again. And only because each was so confident in the other and themselves, could they ascertain what would happen. Kyojin and Caesar were fighting each other within their own heads.
Then, they found the lapse.
A chance. Such a trivial thing was never guaranteed with these beings. Those as fundamental to the world as its laws. But at their cores, they were opportunists. Maniacs that wanted victory above all else. And so, they would always seize on whatever chance there was. Kyojin and Caesar finally moved.
The outside world would never keep up. They could never see the motions executed by the pair. It could never hope too. Each was too fast for anyone else but them to truly perceive. The final stance was Kyojin’s fist extended out, unable to reach Caesar as the spear pushed against the outside of the forearm.
Like a stone thrown into water, ripples echoed out. Massive shockwaves of pure devastation surged across their terrain. The trees were turned into fine dust, as was anything remaining on the land. The island itself did not break or crack. It was instead simply pushed down into the water, sank because it was the unfortunate victim of a single clash.
And the invoked barrier shattered like glass.
Caesar’s titanic state was dissipated, but stored within his regular human form. The spear vanished as the man floated in the air. He knew Kyojin would follow suit. They were both conniving bastards, but they had yet to lie to one another. A twisted respect weaved through their mutual hate.
“Is it that we’ve gotten stronger,” Caesar wondered. “Or has the quality of your shield gone down?”
"That barrier was stronger than the last one, perhaps the world simply can't keep up anymore..." Kyojin's darkness were all swallowed into his body as he retained his human form, with only one cloud made of darkness, which he sat on, as both floated above the sunken island. And just like that, the island of Rockbell was no more...
Conflicting Situation[]
David finally got all the survivors he could detect to the coast. His constant running took a great deal of energy from him, showing signs of exhaustion. However, the coat presented him a new issue: there was no ship present. One was burning before him and the verge of breaking apart, another on its side with a massive hole in the hull. Was it deliberate sabotage or had the fighting caused greater damage. He needed something that could work… or someone.
Taking a deep breath, David paced himself for a final run. Running back to Kyojin and Caesar clashing, along with Baal, Zelgadis, Cyan, and the unknown Master, David felt like he was running headfirst into the lions’ den. However, he had only one target, the woman he always had his eyes on.
Running into the field, David did. It falter before the two titans that stood before him. He also thanked the heavens that two of the Yonko were put down by Kyojin before - perhaps he could do it again. Instead, he saw Cyan amongst to remaining forces. Without asking, he scooped her up and fled from the field yet again. “Sorry Miss Cyan, to save all of them, I need to save you!” declared the blonde man as he spirited her away from the battlefield.
As her long, black hair flew away at lightning speed, she expected everyone except David to take her along the way while the trio fought between the admiral fleet, the Yonko and the Master who was just getting started. Her azure eyes scanned the scene as they moved away to join the sea, Cyan clung to the blond man's neck. He had not caught it without reason and above all, without authorization, the lady had only complained of a simple hiccup. "Save? Tell me the current situation report right now, Captain David” she demanded, redirecting her serious gaze toward the horizon where the sea was.
David felt a little sad that his gesture seemed to have no effect on her, but he quickly got over it. He knew this was how she operated and he didn't mind. "The civilians have been escorted to a mostly safe beach," said David with low concern. The "mostly" was operative for the fact they were still on an island with a Yonko and the mysterious Master threatening its existence.
"However, there are no ships that remain for mass transport. The next closest island would still be too far away for me to use Soru and Geppo to transport them. So I decided the best answer was you, Miss Cyan. You can create a vessel of some sort with lighter ore, at least I think you can!" It could be chopped up to his seemingly blind faith in her, but David saw no other or faster option.
As they approached the beach with the survivors, David gently put Cyan down. "Everyone, remain calm and patient. I've brought a future Admiral of the Marines. Give her a moment and some space so we can escort you to safety!" David used his larger presence thanks to his fruit to push people away from the space around Cyan. He looked back at Cyan and smiled as she, presumably, had the space she needed.
While she was pulling up her dress correctly, her ear moved to hear his comment rather... Embarrassing, a word escaped her mouth on which David would quickly understand the message, "David..." she grumbled, a little embarrassed that he said that. However, she did not lose her seriousness and averted her gaze towards the dark beach and sea. The gray clouds blew slowly above many survivors, the waves tottered and collided with tremors. She got into a creative position, spreading her legs while tracing on the sand. The hands moved slowly before bringing them back towards the sea, so crystals came out of the sand and left towards the water. Structure by structure, a spectacle that would make the civilians of RockBell forget the tragic moment for just a single moment. As the first boat formed its lightest crystal with a bluish tone and at the same time tinged with a brilliant white, it was perhaps eye-catching, but at least it had a boat to transport the survivors.
But that's not all, the dance was far from over, as she continued to slide her steps in the cold sand and put together a new structure, one-moment allowing Cyan to build several boats enough to transport everyone. The only downside was that they didn't contain any food or water supplies and that was something she was going to have to invest in.
As her body relaxed and dropped her golden braceleted hands, the Vice Admiral glanced at the Marines and raised her voice sharply and sternly.
"SOLDIERS! Grab your longboats and get the survivors to the boats, IMMEDIATELY!" she ordered without pointing, her soldiers were not babies, they were trained to understand and listen to Vice Admiral, Cyan. They grabbed the crystal longboats and began to carry out their important task.
While the tragic event, a tragedy would leave its mark forever on Rockbell Island. But it wasn't the only one with a bitter taste, the Vice-Admiral had a bitter taste, much more bitter. This bitterness had marked her much more than on her tongue as the expression goes, but on her heart. Her heart never ceased to torment the woman's mind, so tormented, so guilty, so torn, so frustrated. An emotion that she wouldn't know what to say, she was lost in her office, hanging around in front of the huge window, plunging her tearful and angry eyes into a sea landscape, a sun setting behind the dark clouds.
This day was undoubtedly trying, this embrace left by David, the combat produced during the affront of Baal, the heroic intervention of Zelgadis and the admiral of the fleet himself came to fight against the Yonko, Caesar made her dangle her thoughts, it called her into question, questions without answers and to obtain them. Cyan had appealed to David, waiting patiently - rather impatiently, but she did not show it, at least for the moment - for the visit of the brave man.
David was doing well to recover from his fights. He had taken different attacks from his foes and had construction materials break on him as he tried to rescue people. However, his biggest moment came from catching Cyan as she fell. He was happy to be able to help her, but he couldn’t shake the thought of having held her like a bride. “Her thighs were soft…” he mumbled to himself, hoping no one heard him as he realized what he said. He was almost shocked - with how active she is, he almost expected her to have hard, muscular legs. David put his hands on his head and shook himself. He couldn’t let his mind drift to such lewd places for his superior officer. He did have feelings for her, but she didn’t seem to return them. Mixed in with her status, David felt like his chances were thin. Despite this, he was on his way to see her - having filed his report on the Rockbell Incident.
He knocked on her door and walked in. “Miss Cyan, I pray you are feeling better. I have finished the report and compiled information from other Marines present. Is there anything you need from me?” asked the man, standing in respectful attention.
When he walked through the door, her head would straighten up and her heel would turn. A few clicks of a high heel was enough to go around the office, not far from David. Her passive-aggressive gaze fluttered and her arms formed into a knot.
“David…I don’t understand, why so much generosity? Should I be better? While I let this massacre happen!” she exclaimed, pointing behind her, indicating the current dangerous situation. This affected her greatly, continually speaking, “And I should get better? I don’t deserve it,” she said again, pacing around the room. She stopped sharply in front of David, angry and teary eyes were visible, but something was holding her back, a feeling she denied.
“So, explain to me, will you?” she exclaimed impatiently, bubbling with guilt. As she crossed her arms, he prepared for criticism of how he could have done better during the mission However, as she spoke, it was criticism of herself - which shocked David. He always saw her cool, confident, and strong. To see her being emotional almost threw him off. However, it was still the Cyan he loved. “Miss Cyan, I don’t know a lot about that pirate you fought, but they are part of a Yonko crew. People like them are strong like us, but they use it out of self-interest instead of heroism like you do.”
Despite his rank, David approached Cyan with unusual confidence. “You are one of the strongest people I know and you have a heart that wants justice. You are a good person, which is harder to be than a selfish pirate.”
David looked up to Cyan’s eyes, as he was slightly shorter than her. “I fully believe you will be an Admiral one day and crush the pirates who hurt you and the rest of us here! I just… hope I’m still serving you by then,” David said with a blush. She knew how he felt, everyone did, but he still had a hard time expressing it sometimes. He stepped away a bit, feeling he had gotten too close to her in the moment. “I’ll keep getting stronger to be your right hand!” declared the young man, slipping back into his optimistic attitude.
With this declaration, David remained with Cyan to help her attend to matters behind the locked door of her office. “If you ever need me, I am always happy to help,” stated David with a larger smile than he typically did. Being dismissed, he walked with an awkward gait - happy to have spent time with his superior officer.
Cyan couldn't say a single word, she was speechless by such explanations. She was trying not to lose face, with her little furrowed eyebrows, her upturned nose and the biting of her cheek. She was convinced that she had made such a mistake that could have been avoidable, but no, the man for whom Cyan paid no attention reminded her that she was strong, human and caring. Against all expectations, she hid her face, unable to counter his arguments. A necessary need to be thoughtful as her azure eyes rested on the window before David could reach the wrist of the door, a voice cleared in the room.
“Hmrhm, Well…Do me a favour, bring me what they call the Great Betrayer” she declared, looking back at David, but this time, with more than sure eyes.
By the time the three powers were well under way, the catastrophic clash of their combined might shook the island of Rockbell whole! Shockwaves roiled from the epicenter of their battle, the skies were darkened by colliding forces of the colors of the supreme king, and the waves that lapped at the shores of Rockbell surely would have drowned the island whole.
Yet, beneath this brewing storm, Zelgadis held together seemingly the very fabric of reality together through his devilish power. He felt his stamina strain to its limits as he tried to mitigate the damage inflicted, reinforcing buildings, hurling sheets of sand and wind against the sea, and cladding whole districts with his haki. While his contribution to the battle taking place in the heavens was no longer needed, his place in this story was not yet at an end. For he provided what aid he could in ushering the civilians out, allowing his flames of conquest and domination to grant them the proverbial willpower to surge beyond the limitations of their bodies, filling them with renewed vigor.
At this point, his power had enveloped most of the major portions of the city, his violet flames running along every street corner, illuminating a path towards salvation as he directed those still behind towards the other shore where the Marines were held along with their Vice Admiral. The immense concentration and willpower required to handle so many simultaneous events was taking their price having already sapped him of the strength to move of his own volition. Although given his injuries and the glaring hole in his abdomen, it was any wonder he was still conscious at all.
Still, since he was in command of his power he was being carried through town on a construct of sand and stone, a chariot of a sort being pulled along by a facsimile of a golem horse. His destination hadn’t changed, even as those titans clashed above. Another resounding shockwave nearly rocked him from his seat, as the ground shuddered. He was breathing heavily, and his eyes were half-lidded, but as he shared senses with his dominated constructs, it was a moot point.
It wasn’t long before he reached his destination; the Rockbell Treasury. Fortunately the structure had suffered damage as had most of the rest of the town, and he was easily able to gain entrance. There inside he weakly lifted a hand, a plume of violet light ignited before spreading out in a wave, greedily spreading over the contents of this treasure room. With his power he was able to search more effectively than an entire team, and in no time he found it!
His prize.
He beheld it with a sense of wonder as he smiled broadly. The entire reason he agreed to attack Rockbell with the Legion Pirates was for this prize in his hand. Although events may have differed, he was still able to accomplish his goal.
A soft wheeze escaped his lips as he struggled to laugh, though it would turn into a wince, as more sharp pains lanced through his skull. Through his shared senses he could finally observe that nearly all the civilians were finally evacuated and aboard the ships created by the Vice Admiral. Taking the gift with his power he brought it close before stowing it away on his person. With his primary objective complete, he made his way towards the shoreline where the Marines were heading, and letting the vestiges of his power dissipate across the island.
There along the way he encountered a face he wasn’t expecting: Commodore Dave. In his current state he was barely in any condition to fight.
His power moved propping him up to a more presentable stature. “Commodore!” Zelgadis shouted though it was clear to Dave that talking was a bit of a struggle for the man.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Dave gave the man a frustrated look, full of conflicting emotions. They had fought against each other, viscously at that, and yet here Zelgadis was, casually conversing with him, albeit with some labour. Dave took a look at the chariot Zelgadis arrived in, before quickly dismissing it, just another one of the man's enthralled objects, his ghostly flame giving itself away as the purple embers licked the sandstone wheels of the chariot.
"Vice Admiral Cyan wants to speak with you, about your actions and such else, if you would please accompany me."
Dave took a look at the room that Zelgadis was so very obviously looting as well, and he gave the man an unimpressed look.
"Just-Just hide it a bit please? Plausible deniability is the most I'm willing to afford you."
Gesturing with his arm out toward Cyan's ship, Dave's ivory Marine garb fluttered in the wind, byproducts of the tumultuous battle still raging.
Zelgadis chuckled albeit a bit painfully. "The finances of Rockbell remain Dave. I took only what was mine from the start." Now that was rather cryptic, especially since it was evident that despite having opened up the coffers of the island, Zelgadis didn't appear to have taken anything of actual value. Whatever he took was small enough to fit on his person undetected.
But it was the silence that greeted Dave following Zelgadis' immediate response that caught his attention. His piercing gaze was intense, and the silence itself was loud. Then the spell was broken by his sudden widening grin. "Ah, the Vice Admiral? Yes, she would need an accounting." He breathed heavily as his head lolled to the side. For the barest fractions of a second Dave could have sworn the violet flames flickered before resuming their gentle lapping.
"I suppose I'll have to grow accustomed to this when I become a Warlord. Might as well get started now." He declared following after Dave. Whilst enroute, Zelgadis used his powers to cleanse away the excess filth and grime staining him, as he cleaned his wounds and wrapped his torso. By the time they arrived at the ship, he was more less in presentable condition and in high spirits. In fact a little ways before they got there, he dismissed his chariot and golem with a gesture and continued the rest of the journey on foot. Soon enough Dave escorted Zelgadis to Vice Admiral Cyan's office, where he was ushered inside by nervous looking Marines.
Many were unsure of how to view the man who simultaneously was a notorious pirate, but he saved their lives, freeing them from the icy prison that was Baal's power. There was plenty of mixed reactions to go around, and Zelgadis loved every moment of it.
Without warning, Cyan raised her head upwards before meeting his gold-eyed gaze, recognizing from afar, Zelgadis but also, Dave who had escorted him and before he could turn around. Cyan interrupted without allowing anyone in the room to speak.
"Commodore Dave, stay here" she ordered briefly as she packed the paperwork aside all in calm silence, with her, everything was serious. Her legs slowly crossed before her hands rested on her knees, sitting on the black seat.
"I heard you shouting nonsense to make you lose your mind. Nonsense that I take seriously" she began, bandages covering the top of her chest from the previous attack suffered by Baal. "However, I cannot deny your gesture...hmhm", she cleared her throat, it was difficult to say the word to a pirate as petty as him. "Let's say empathetic, heroic is too much, but I respect you only for sparing the citizens of Rockbell".
Her azure gaze darkened with seriousness, this discussion slightly jaded her, but it absolutely had to take place. “I'm listening to you” she declared, ready to listen.
Zelgadis threw his head back and let out a uproarious laugh. "Come now Vice Admiral, why so cold? One would think that after such a harrowing experience together that we could dispense such with formalities." Smirking he inclined his head to the side playfully.
"You're right though. You shan't deny my actions." The shadows of the room seemed to grow darker as his eyes became obscured, and his tone dipped low. "They did save your life, as well as the lives of your fellow Marines, along with the rest of the civilians! Baal had nearly driven you all to the depths of despair, brought to heel the vaunted discipline and might of the Marines. But!"
Zelgadis raised his head slightly, so that his shimmering golden eyes locked with hers. "Through my actions alone I delivered you from the jaws of defeat. I freed those people from the precipice of death, not only of the body but the spirit as well! Through my flames did I, under the siege of those titans fighting in the heavens even as we speak, protect this city and its people, giving you the opportunity to save as many as you could. That was not something as pedestrian as heroism, my dear Vice Admiral, that was a miracle." His voice thundered with every exclamation, as he hammered point after point down, remind them both of exactly what he had done.
For that was not the work of no mere mercenary or passing warrior. Even to stand up to the likes of the Caesar, and survive a clash at this level is nothing short of outstanding. He alone strode forward to face what may have been his inevitable death, and did it without hesitation. He did not begrudge them, even now there was judgement in his eyes for what they could or could not do.
With the greatest of patience, Cyan did not flinch, like a statue listening to his own praises. But in her scarlet blue eyes were rolling before the eyes of the vile pirate and when he had finished exclaiming each point that he was keen to emphasize, the Vice-admiral was keenly aware of several heroic gestures, but to mention a so-called miracle? The only comment that came to her mind was frank and direct as a dagger:
"Zelgadis, it is undeniable that your actions were crucial for our survival and the protection of civilians as well as my soldiers, but from there to qualify your gestures as miracles? You almost think of yourself as a God", then she uncrossed her long legs to cross again in the other direction, always with her hands on her knees. "In all your praise, you seem to have forgotten to mention some things much more important in the eyes of the Admiral Fleet and the World Government: The weight of your betrayal," she said calmly, noting that Zelgadis had turned the situation against the crew of the Pirate Legion and this, according to reports transmitted by Commodore Dave, although he had been useful during the rescue, how to trust a pirate man and what is more, is hypocritical and would seize every opportunity to betray high authority.
"You are a selfish man, you are here to do your business. How can I believe you?" she mocked.
Zelgadis shook his head ruefully. “So few questions,” he drawled. “-but many accusations, does my title of Pirate cloud your judgment Vice Admiral? Does your sense of justice weave a tale of deception capable of fooling even you? No matter, I will address your points in the order in which they were raised.”
He raised a finger. “To your first exaggeration. I am no god,” he chuckled, “-though I see why you might think I am. Only Nika may claim that title. You see, the hands that guided our destiny this day, do you think our survival could be anything more than providence? Or do you believe all this to be… happenstance? I beg to differ.”
Revelations of Zelgadis’ spiritual beliefs aside, his response indicated to Cyan that while her interpretation of his arrogance was born of megalomania, his repudiation of her assertions begs otherwise. There was a sense of perhaps not humility but appreciation, maybe even gratitude in his tone. His aura reeked of arrogance, but with his words she was able to sense that it was tempered by something greater than ego.
“Yet the most fascinating part of it all, is the emphasis on this supposed betrayal. To what? To whom? Surely you are not referring to Baal?” He questioned. It was clear to Cyan that he was genuinely confused, but at the same time he was most assuredly mocking the woman in question.
“Perhaps the Legion Pirates? Or maybe even Gladius Caesar himself?” He said gesticulating in the air with his hands as if trying to emphasize the sheer ridiculousness of her claim.
“One would think that you Marines would rejoice at witnessing the in-fighting between pirates. Strangely you and Baal are in agreement that I somehow violated the spirit of our arrangement. So you wish to placate your concerns over my actions. Quite the quandary, so I shall ask you this; do you believe that loyalty can be bought with gold?”
Again, this made the Vice Admiral roll her eyes, exasperated by the pirate's condescension and penchant for philosophical speeches. It was convincing in his arguments and wasn't wrong, it was a good argument, but something bothered her: Nika resonated in her mind when he quoted it. Her jaded and serious look subtly transformed into questioning and perplexity. In her past, Cyan had done many rescues and it was rare to hear about them and it wasn't with just any type of people, that is, slaves. The Vice-Admiral's energy became less reticent, she nevertheless maintained a straight and cold posture when the pirate asked his famous question.
“Relevant question that I will not answer… Zelgadis” she pronounced his name without disdain. “Should I remind you where you are? That you are in a rather terrible state?" she implied that the pirate had no other card to play in the current state of his major injuries, reminding him where his place was so as not to show any heat. "I have a reputation to maintain here, referring you to the admiral of the fleet is a risky gamble, you know... getting the position of a privateer is becoming the dog-dog of the world government, a man in your like rarely lasts long, am I wrong?" she asked impartially.
The vice admiral looked at him, her authoritarian gaze trying to understand the pirate's intentions. "So... tell me, Zelgadis, what could possibly motivate someone like "you" to seek a position so close to the heart of Marine operations?"
Zelgadis threw his hands up and shrugged his shoulders in a, ‘what can you do’ kind of manner. That damnable smile of his was still plastered on his face, and it was clear to Cyan that despite his unfavorable circumstances, his confidence had not yet waned. When he speaks his voice is filled with a self assurance that one is revealing a closely held secret.
“Sometimes, to reach true understanding, one must be guided to the destination.” he breathes, “The question appears innocent enough but it is the first of many doors you must walk through. But,” he paused and chuckled lightly, his eyes shimmering with mischief.
“You are a busy woman, and to debate philosophically with a pirate no less, seems like an exercise in foolishness.” He inclined his head playfully as he leaned forward, as if to whisper. “Shall I reveal what seems to be a secret to you: pirates seek the title of Warlord, because the title gives them the position and power to achieve an ambition or goal.”
He leans back, tall and confident, his game of secrets concluded. “The Blacklight Emperor and his empire must fall,” he says bluntly. “There are also rumblings of another, a usurper who aims to replace the fallen Sunbreaker. A former subordinate. He too must fall. My reasons are my own, but in that our interests align.”
No movement moved until he finished speaking, lively enough, a reply followed when she crossed her arms firmly.
"Well." she said dryly, her eyes shining with a cold determination, "Simplify all this, I have other fish to fry than to discuss with you. I will make sure to refer you to the Admiral of the Fleet, the common goals are there and you will have your chance to prove your worth."
A break allowed the atmosphere to grow, a palpable tension that even Dave curled up, living all the emotions of the debate of the two opposites from his dark corner. Cyan was pulling her legs to get up, her hands were on the desk, dominating the room.
"But know this, Zelgadis... If your ambitions or personal reasons endanger the Marine or the World Government. I will have warned you, believe me, there will be no further philosophic discussion next time..." concluded the Vice Admiral.
A supremely self-satisfied smile formed on Zelgadis' face as he bowed mockingly towards the Vice Admiral, but his eyes never left hers. "I would expect no less." Seeing as their business was concluded, Zelgadis gave Cyan a wink before turning around and departing. As he neared the door he abruptly stopped, and cast a sidelong glance towards Dave.
"There is still so much untapped potential in you Commodore Dave. I hope that when we next meet, you'll have ascended to the rank of Vice Admiral, and have made strides towards whatever your goal is. I say this not as a pirate, but with the pride of fellow warrior. May you ever find challenges in your journey." Without waiting for a reply, the Hellfire Tyrant left the convoy of Marines.
Bluto's wings beat against the torrent of strong winds that still pushed out from Rockbell as he led his fleet toward their rendezvous point with the surviving Marine forces. The cloudy skies boomed around him with the frantic energy of a once tense showdown of titans. A hell Bluto's fleet had been fortunate to avoid. Although, in a twisted sense, the pirates' warning, the captain had saved him and everyone onboard the vessels below. The thought sickened Bluto as his ego had been thoroughly mangled. As for the citizens, his soldiers pulled them from the shores and settled them below decks if further retaliation came from an unexpected force. However, with Rockbell Island a slowly vanishing nightmare, the seamen seemed to finally relax.
However, that was different for the tiring Captain, who still had to report to his Vice Admiral. Bluto's advising officers had told him to call in and be done with it. They all had more to be concerned about than communication. Bluto was a stubborn man, though. He wanted to deliver his report personally and meet eye-to-eye with an old colleague. The wind continued to rush past his hidden ears as he spotted the leading vessel of Cyan's current position. With a report in his prominent beak, the Captain entered a diving position as he fell towards the sea.
Bluto had at least sent a message of arrival beforehand; this ensured no false alarms. After an exhausting battle, the last thing the captain needed was to dodge cannon and rifle fire. Bluto came in for his landing approach, extending his wings several yards, gently gliding above the sea.
For a while, the leading Marine boat had made its crossing followed by several crystal boats, which contained many citizens rescued from the tragedy, moving away from the starting point. This same island called Rockbell had sunk as a whole due to the fierce and catastrophic combat of the admiral's fleet as well as the Yonko Cesar.
Black hair flowed in the wind and her hand was on the edge of the fence while she was on a higher floor, where her main office was. Her azure eyes scrutinized the well-being of the operation of the soldiers, trying to get the boat rolling while others took care of a handful of citizens present on the deck.
A short shadow passed unnoticed above the Vice Admiral, causing her to look up and see Captain Bluto hovering and on his way to his destination. As the boats had been warned of their arrival, no soldier had been alarmed and recognized only his Zoan shape, thus allowing a very calm landing.
Bluto observed the crystalline boats as they tailed behind Cyan's flagship. He was stuck with a mild curiosity, noting their likely origin. 'A practical solution. It's good to see we weren't the only ones with survivors.' Bluto thought to himself as he pulled his wings up and flapped to a stop, shifting in his human form as his shoes made contact with the deck.
The avian captain spotted Cyan, pulling the letter from between his teeth. He observed the sailors around him, expecting a stare back. Anyone who broke from their task was given a quick glare before Bluto returned to the task at hand. Pushing past anyone in the way, Bluto moved toward the aft deck with purpose, wasting no time speaking to anyone else.
"Vice-Admiral Corindon, I've come with a report from the northern task force." He said with an official tone, lacking any causal demeanor. At least for now, Bluto was being courteous, if not standoffish.
“Captain Harold…”, a voice rang out, followed by a short silence, not for a moment did she turn around, enjoying the last moments of the view of the busy sea and the brazen island.
“Always casually” she commented, the clicking of heels tapping on the wooden floor to show her azure eyes resting on him, with a straight posture and straightened jaw.
“Briefly summarize the report for me, Captain Harold,” she asked, her face calm as her ears strained to listen to what was important to say so that he would bother to move.
“Your coming is certainly not without reason, is it?"
Harold twitched at the use of his first name. A word that seemed foreign to him. Perhaps together with his family name, but it was an old wound he kept to himself. Only revealing his slight unease with a hiss.
Nevertheless, Bluto joined the vice admiral, staring out to the siking remains once the home to a new and tearful pilgrimage. "Casual? This is not the time for such a lack of formality." Bluto retorted, looking at the island's fate with disgust.
His voice rang with that same tone as he clenched the guardrail with his roughed palms. "Not after those bastards, walk away... After all they did, it, it!" His voice shook, exposing more of the boiling feelings that Cyan had seen so many times.
"The Northern Force touched down on the designated beach while I scouted ahead. I encountered two notable pirates from Caesar's ranks alongside several unremarkable raiders. Upon confronting the pair, the raiders made for the outskirts when I touched down." Bluto's voice nearly caught in his throat as he composed himself. "One was referred to as Axel, a clueless yet resilient pirate. Then his nameless companion, a swordsmen who was less remarkable despite his mouth."
"They got away after our encounter came to a stalemate on a dying island. As for the Northern Force, they had some success. We lost some sailors when Baal and Ceaser flaunted their presence." Bluto said, revealing a fact he had not mentioned in his encounter. He'd gained the ability to sense them, which he needed to adjust.
"The Northern Force formed a front and pulled civilians out while holding the line against Caesar's scavenging pirates. They only made it into the first northern town before they had to pull back, finding any stragglers before evacuating the island. We found a census taker amongst the survivors who had given an estimated 85% of the populous on board."
Bluto's eyes showed his disappointment as he finally looked Cyan in the eyes. "The rest, including some of our own, went with the island."
She understood this disappointment so well, this frustration that boiled within him, she could feel it exactly the same. Her hard, icy look turned warm to disappointment, she had already talked about it with Captain David and it had changed her outlook on failure and success. But the pirates will not remain free without punishment for all they have caused.
“There is no doubt that you are frustrated, I am the one who can better understand your anger and their unforgivable gesture will not be without punishment, believe me. I will make sure to hunt down the members of Yonko Cesear, one by one. To pluck feather by feather until he is bare. So… we will seize him and execute him on the spot, we are talking about 15% of the population… and I haven’t mentioned everything yet,” she sighed loudly, her eyes shone with a thirst for revenge, to begin by Baal, who caused a lot of harm, the one who was the trigger for Yonko's arrival.
“This little bitch hid behind her daddy’s skirts,” she mocked in a sarcastic but deeply honest tone. “In the future, believe me, I will certainly not make the same mistakes,” she repeated with greater confidence, although the disappointment was present. The story was not over, tracking down members of the Pirate Legion was now her main objective.
“She will regret the day she got in my way… Baal”
"Frustrated? No, Vice-Admiral Corindon, I'm furious with many things beyond your knowledge. However, you are right about their choices. Consequences will behalf their heads like the bloody crown their tyrant of a pirate wears." He said as his grip started to crack the handrail. An aura radiated off Bluto as he let out his rage in a verbal lashing at the long-gone pirates."
"85 percent of the Northern region was hundreds. One can see this as a victory, but I know thousands paid in blood for what was a poultry success." Bluto fumed as he listened to Cyan talk with venom towards her quarry. Respecting her confidence in Justice, Bluto's temper cooled. However, it wasn't entirely quelled as he turned to the Vice-Admiral.
"Cyan... I'm going to Paradise. It has become clear to me that, in this instance, I pose little use to my fellow men against the Yonkos. However, I know the seas of Paradise and the fact it's the spawning ground for trouble." He spoke openly, dropping the formality and revealing his plans to leave. "Paradise's scum needs a reminder of the law, and while the marines stationed there are formidable, it's clear to me more efforts are required in culling this plague," Bluto stated with unwavering confidence. A flicker of red reflected in his eye.
"I won't be swayed, but I trust your opinion. What do you think of my path?"
Cyan nodded, swallowing the fury in her throat with difficulty after speaking. Her gaze, austere and at the same time understanding of his role, she lit up her throat.
"Harold, you did this quickly by coming to Rockbell. If I called on you, it's because I judged that your strength was worth using. Otherwise, I would never have disturbed you. You don't deserve to remain stagnant with such power in your hands, but if that is what you wish...", she let out a long sigh as her azure eyes scanned the sea, "I will understand, Paradise needs a law to be imposed on the seas. Since your little brat left the seas of Paradise, the world has been upside down," she said, her head calm, her presence less imposing. Expressing her anger allowed Cyan to find peace in her mind and with Bluto hating pirates, what better to discuss it with him.
Bluto listened to Cyan's wisdom with an apprehensive expression of guilt. Perhaps his younger superior had a point; he was capable despite his lackluster results in combat. "I am honored to hear you think so highly of me. However, you are correct. I've stagnated and allowed myself to fall behind; I was foolish when I thought I had enough strength to crush piracy while the youth passed me by. But I will correct that and harness what I've gained even if I hate its origin."
Bluto nodded at her understanding of the initial statement about Paradise's pirate activity. There was a pause thought when Berry was mentioned. Bluto's eye twitched as he heard his words mirrored to him and was oddly disgusted. A sensation that confused him as his perplexed emotions bore into Cyan's eyes. "With all due respect, Vice-Admiral, she has merely succeeded where I have not. She kept her purpose like a fire burning brightly. Even if she can be childish even after everything..."
Bluto trailed off as he considered his thoughts and acknowledged Cyan's final statement. "Yes, and we must be dutiful in our writings. Speaking of Cyan, when I finish finding myself in the seas of Paradise. I would like you to teach an older man some new tricks." He asked casually. "It's time for all of us to turn the page and start a new chapter."
Cyan remained unmoved when a sensitive chord was struck for Captain Bluto, Berry was definitely his favourite soldier and without even having to say it, it was obvious from his non-verbal and it almost made her roll her eyes, but she didn't have the heart to comment, not after what she had done recently... Without delay, she answered him calmly.
"Then, I'll wait for you, Captain Harold Bluto" she agreed, brushing her long hair back from her shoulder and she held out her hand to seal an agreement.
"Don't wait too long"
Bluto straightened his posture as he gripped Cyan's hand with a confident shake. "Thank you, Vice-Admiral Corindon Cyan; I will do what must be done efficiently," he said, his voice monotone but certain. The captain may be fuming, but there was an understanding gaze as he walked past Cyan.
"Take care of yourself, Vice-Admiral." Bluto's form shifted as his face stretched and his arms sprouted feathers. In the blink of an eye, his form had twisted into the form of a large beak bird that looked at Cyan with one last glance before he lifted into the sky with a powerful kick and flap of his formed wings. In seconds, the captain started to blend into the skies as he drew further from the vessel, flying toward his original vessel to issue his final orders before returning to Paradise.