| My Old Friend, Death | ||
| Date Started: July 19, 2024 Date Finished: Ongoing Next Role-Play: Timeline: 1620 Setting: Characters Involved:
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| Participants | ||
| User:Yourlocalwreck • User:Rockett121 • User:GregOfEvil | ||
5 Long Years[]
It was a peaceful day on a somewhat quiet island. Barely a single soul stood outside their homes in the town of Lockwood. It was a solemn, quiet day. Even when the silence of the morning air was broken, it was nothing more than a simple song of a bird and a rustle of bushes in the foliage. Or the sound of tapping footsteps on a stone-carved pathway...
His face was painted with a fine smile and a sharp chin. With pale hair casting shade over his eyes, pushed down to conceal by a matte black top hat. His arms were quiet at his sides, his hands resting in pockets of black jeans. In fact, aside from his white flowing hair, every accessory the man had was black. From his shoes to his suit.
Before long, the melodic tapping of footsteps seized as the man's gaze lifted. Coming to a rest on a building of stone and glass. Without a second thought, he approached the lively establishment. Rows of tables were visible through the wall of glass that formed the building's front. And as he reached for the door handle, with the chime of a bell, he stepped inside.
His presence was immediately noticed by the shop owner. "Hello, sir! How may I help you?" A cheerful voice sounded out, "Oh, don't mind me. I am waiting on someone." He said his voice was like a welcoming melody, lovely and void of grit.
At his response, the shopkeeper nodded, turning around and stepping into the back. Meanwhile, the black-suited man took a seat near the window at a table made for two. "Hmm..." Humming to himself, he rested his chin on his palm as he gazed out the large glass window. Waiting...
But just as he sat down, the figure of an intimidating woman began to walk in front of the glass panes of the establishment, making her way to the front entrance. Her blonde hair blew lightly in the wind, trailed by her soft black kimono. She exuded confidence, or perhaps even arrogance. She swung open the door and entered the establishment. As she entered, she began scanning the room looking for a familiar face, then, she saw him.
She approached the finely dressed man, pulled out a chair, and sat down at the table. "So. It's been a while. What have you been up to.. Specter? I trust you've been doing well?" Aphrodite said, putting her elbows on the table and crossing her fingers.
Specter raised his head at the sight of his friend. "Indeed, it has Aphy; great to see your face again after so long. Still as dashing as ever I see." He said in his charming voice, what had it been? Five years since they survived that mission together. He felt left behind by the racing tide of time. "Yeah, life has been so boring lately." He complained suddenly, dropping his arm on the table surface and resting his head on it. "Nothing interesting about filing paperwork all day..." Speaking in a new, mopy tone, his actions would be considered weird to anyone nearby. A grown man looking so childly sad. But not to who he spoke with; in fact, he'd barely changed since five years ago.
In a quick change of attitude, he burst back up. "But! Aphy, I've heard you've been busy lately; I read the news." He said, referring to a specific incident that happened not long ago. "You've gotten stronger, I presume."
Aphrodite took the glass of water handed to her, swirling it around gently with her finger. “God, I hate paperwork. If I had to fill it out on the regular like I’m assuming you do, I’d probably end it all.” She said, her voice filled with disgust at even the thought of it. “And that’s part of the reason I’ve been trying to lay low y’know. Less action, less paperwork. It does get boring; but the payoff is worth it.” She watched the water spin around in the cup, clearly deep in thought before speaking again. “Not surprised you read the news already. Half expected you to be there truthfully.
“And I mean, sure. I’ve gotten stronger. But does it really help if some dude like Baji is able to just.. Waltz up to my home island and take it like that? I’ve even tried chasing after him, but once he entered the New World I’ve been unable to track him down. It’s like he vanished almost. Just have to wait for him to rear his ugly head once again and I’ll finish him off.” Aphrodite brought the glass of water to her lips, drinking it in its entirety before setting it back down. “It upsets me a lot truthfully. Seeing the havoc he wrecked on Alabasta. And then he has the balls to say he’s doing it for the good of the people?” She stopped talking abruptly, her somber tone fading away. “Sorry. I rambled. I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. Any new recruits to CP9?”
Listening, Specter shook his head. "I did try to at a minimum send some agents to the see; I truly did Aphy." Pausing for a moment, his friendly smile was replaced with a depressed frown. "Buuuuut, you know how they are." Gesturing to the ceiling with his index finger, he was referring to the higher-ups. Even higher in rank than himself and Aphrodite. "Stingy, that's how I'd describe them; the marine forces were... 'Enough' for the threat." Making air quotes as he spoke the words of the high ranked.
"As for recruits, you might have heard, ever since I took charge of CP9. Being trained from birth is no longer a necessity to be a member. As I predicted, many recruits have signed up. And I've yet to see any of the traitors I'd been warned about when making my decision." He explained freely before turning toward the counter and raising his arm. He spoke to his friend as the shopkeep walked over. "But Aphy, want anything specific? My treat, of course."
"Yeah I get it, but, I still think of if I could've done anything different y'know." Aphrodite said, her tone still somewhat sad before cheering up slightly. "And honestly, making that decision is really stupid. What's stopping a sufficiently strong enough pirate from just.. Joining the government's most advanced intelligence agency?" She said, her voice indicating her distaste at the decision. But it was her friend; She just had to trust his decision making. She leaned back in her chair before crossing her arms. "And yeah.. I'll take your offer on that. A croissant sounds real nice."
"Oh, you needn't worry; just because anyone can join doesn't mean. Anyone can join." Specter joked, while he understood her worry, that a pirate would have no chance of even becoming a chore boy. Let alone an agent of Cipher Pol. Not under his watch at least. But as she spoke again, he replied. "Excellent choice." Turning his gaze to the shopkeep, who held a notebook and was writing down Aphrodite's request. "I'll go with a burger."
With a scribble of text, the shopkeep nodded before turning for the kitchen. "And you shouldn't beat yourself up over it, Aphy; you did what you could, and that's enough." He comforted her, sensing a hint of doubt in her mind. "I cannot understand what it's like to have to protect my home as you do. But I do understand that even when I do everything in my power to stop a threat, there is still possibility of death, suffering. It's not because we are weak; it is because pain is an inevitability in all things that live. The only way to survive is to overcome that pain and push on. So please, Aphrodite, as your friend, don't bring yourself down over the past."
"You're right. I apologize, Specter. Forgive my vulnerability." Aphrodite said as she rubbed her eyes, paying attention to her surroundings again. "But I'm glad you got a hold on your groups at least. Let me know if any of your recruits need any extra training. I can hook them up with.. Something." The Rear Admiral said, just trying to keep up the casual conversation. "I just wish Baji would make his appearance again soon enough. Then we can capture him once and for all. Wonder what he's up to, truthfully." She sleeked her hair back behind her ears, keeping her appearance kept. "You uh, doing any hobbies these days, Specter?"
"Huh?" Specter looked up in confusion, "Shit, that's not what I meant." He thought to himself. But there was no point in going back on that now. "Well... I just might take you up on that offer. Heard you two are some great teachers." He laughed, though he meant what he said. As she continued speaking, he listened patiently, even getting a slight bit distracted when she shifted her hair. But when it came time to respond, he spoke. "Oh, occasionally, whenever I have time, I suppose. I like sneaking up on agents and scaring them while we're on base. Help's to make sure my agents are perceptive, and it's just funny."
Reaching for his cup, which he'd not even touched since he sat down. He took a quick sip, before setting it down. "How bout you, Aphy?"
"Truthfully, I've been too busy focusing on work to invest in a hobby like that. It's tiring. But if the pirates never rest, us good guys can't ever rest either, right?" Aphrodite said in response to Specter's question right as the food arrived. The waiter placed the food down in front of the two before bowing and walking away. Taking a fork, Aphrodite cut into the croissant gently. While she never had much of a penchant for Specter, he was the closest thing she had to an actual friend. And she appreciated it. "And yeah, I like to think I'm a good teacher. SPEAR has been thriving these days after all." She said through a muffled mouth as she ate. A slight smell of burning ash tickled her nose however, almost like an ominous omen.
Like on cue, the outside of the restaurant slowly darkened as clouds rolled over, making the light that shined through them grey and lifeless. Ash appeared to fall like rain, and rumbling echoed throughout the skies as lightning began to form. As the apocalyptic scene appeared, a man crashed through the window of a restaurant, landing on one of the tables across from Aphrodite and Specter, his silhouette shrouded by the ash that entered the building through the window. The only thing visible was a smile painted across his face and a small flame shining brightly on the horn on his head. "Don't mind me!" He yelled across the restaurant, "I only came to see the newest Navy dog!" He yelled as he stood up, the ash floating away, revealing the man.
Specter turned his head to face the commotion. Recognizing the individual as a pirate near immediately. "Do you mind? We are in the middle of a nice conversation." He mocked, not taking this foolish man seriously.
Aphrodite wiped a tear off of her cheek, looking down forlornly at the croissant on her plate. It was covered in ash, rendering it unedible. Truly one of the tragedies of the century. She turned her head slowly to Pompeii before beginning to speak, her voice slowly welling up in her throat. “Who… are you?” She asked Pompeii.
Pompeii's smile grew with his eyes widening as he stepped off the table at Aphrodite's question. "I am the best-looking man in the seas! The great Pompeii!" He yelled as he struck a pose as more ash blew in from the shattered window behind him, covering the floor. "Once I heard word that the head of the Hellacious Cipher Pol Nine and the current Star of the Marines were here, I just couldn't resist coming!" He laughed as he gripped his swords in anticipation, not yet ready to strike, and his smile turned into a slight frown. "Though I'm a bit sad you guys didn't recognize me."
"Bla Bla Bla." Specter raised his hands, gesturing with each word he spoke. "Poppie, your interrupting." He said, before turning back to Aphrodite. Though as he watched her, looking quite displeased by the state of her food. He immediately tried to make her feel better: "Don't worry, Aphy, I'll get you another one later."
"I've seen fish that look better than you, ashturd." Aphrodite snapped at Pompeii. she ignored Specter's continued playful jabs at her, focusing entirely on the man in front of her now. She hadn't heard of his name before, and his aura didn't seem very strong, either. But he appeared to be confident in himself, and that was dangerous. She decided to make her position known. She stood up, fastening her clothes as she spoke to the man. "Criminal Pompeii, as a Rear Admiral in the Marines, I will issue you one chance to back down and submit yourself to be put under arrest. If you do not oblige, I will be forced to use lethal measures to put you down myself." Her tone was thick with the heavy toxicity she had made herself known for, and her vigor shone brightly in her eyes as she spoke. Doing her duties as a peacekeeper was her true natural state, and this showed it.
Specter had expected such a hostile response. Standing up, he placed a hand on the shoulder of the shopkeep. "You should go, the World Government will cover the damage done here." Before sitting back down, he had no reason to get involved, he knew Aphrodite could handle matters on her own.
"Keeeehehehehehe!" Pompeii chuckled at Aphrodite's response as he licked his lips, his adrenaline making it hard to contain himself. "No wonder you're on the path to becoming an Admiral." His words had a mysterious undertone like he had more to say, but he bit his tongue for the time being. "Well then, let's get started, shall we?" He became jittery as he stepped forward, slamming his foot onto the ground. At the same time, he made contact with the floor; the ash that entered through the window rose like a shaken-up snow globe before it swirled and formed stars with blade-like points as a flame appeared on Pompeii's horn. "LUCKY STARS!" Pompeii yelled as he took out his sword and charged forward as the stars launched forward, threatening to impale Aphrodite.
Aphrodite watched as the stars approached her. But she didn't flinch. Rather, she tensed her muscles and braced for the attack. When the stars reached her, they failed to even penetrate her skin, falling to the ground harmlessly. "Your attacks mean nothing to me. If you want to flee, now would be the time to do so." She said, her voice exuding the confident and authoritave tone she was known for. She knew the man was using a Logia, nothing the fact he had to turn his body into the element to generate it as opposed to her own fruit. With that in mind, she sped towards Pompeii, her arm flourishing in the glorious black hue of the color of armanent. Her fingered was aimed at Pompeii's chest, extended to try and pierce the man's chest.
Pompeii took the blade and, with a quick motion of his hand, used it to block Aphrodite's attack; it turned black with armament but even with that, the sheer force behind Aphrodite's finger jab stopped his momentum and pushed him back. Pompeii smiled as he used the force to spin and swing the sword toward Aphrodite's head while simultaneously using his other arm to launch a punch at her gut, the fist looking like burning cinders, which produced scorching heat.
Aphrodite’s right hand shot up, clenched tightly, utilizing Tekkai once again to grab hold of the sword. But despite the strength she imbued into the squeeze, it wasn’t enough to chip the sword, even when used with her Busoshoku Haki. With her right hand she grabbed Pompeii’s own hand before it could reach, gripping it tightly. A thick layer of poison covered it, protecting her from the effects of the heat. But the poison touched his hand, making contact with his skin as she held on tight, squeezing with her armament infused limbs to prevent him from escaping.
Pompeii laughed as he pulled his arm away, escaping Aphrodite's grasp with his hand seemingly no longer attached to his body before her grip collapsed as ash spilled out of her fingers. "I've heard stories about your abilities!" He chuckled at the poison, which seemed to not affect him. "Like how you can create toxins that can cover islands!" He continued as his missing hand reformed, "Like you did on Graveyard Island!" His tone took a cold turn before snapping his fingers. "Lucky Stars: Supernova!" The stars that Aphrodite had deflected began to rise from the floor and start spinning like saws as they began to heat up, making the inside of the restaurant uncomfortably warm before launching themselves around the room, bouncing off walls and floors, greatly damaging them but seemingly missing everyone in the building except for Aphrodite.
The Rear Admiral watched as the stars blitzed around the room, spinning fast enough to function like a chainsaw. This Pirate was starting off strong, she couldn’t deny that. But she had seen much scarier. A few projectiles couldn’t affect her that easily. She flashed her muscles, activating the Tekkai technique once more. However, rather than the basic usage of it like last time, she performed a new variation of it. Tekkai: Ajisai. Her muscles tensed and loosened in the blink of an eye, but her timing was impeccable.
The exact moment the spinning stars struck Aphrodite’s skin, the damage was reflected back to them. The ashen stars exploded under the pressure of the reflected damage, causing the material they were comprised of to explode into the nearby air. She grinned, satisfied with the results of the counter. “Everyone’s heard stories about my powers. You’re nothing special for knowing about that.” She said coldly, her tone cutting through the warm atmosphere.
After parrying the stars with their own force, Aphrodite began to prepare her next attack. Her fingers bent, stiffening into a claw-like shape as poison began to seep out of her right hand, forming sharp talons at the end of her fingers. The black coating of armament rushed down her arm, blooming into a hardened layer of protection. She rushed at Pompeii, her hand aiming to slice across his chest, Dragon Claw in full effect.
Pompeii's face grew serious seeing Aphrodite's strength, but that look came with a tingling sensation of excitement in his fingers. He must move the fight outside if he wants to go all out. With a heavy breath, he clasped his hands, "Iron Maiden!" The ash from the destroyed stars all stuck onto Aphrodite's skin, hardening like a steel casing surrounding her until she was completely covered, the grains acting like hot sandpaper that could cut and rough up her skin.
With her now trapped, Pompeii jumped forward, landing on his hands, and using the full momentum, he aimed a kick directed at Aphrodite's chin with enough force to break through the steel-like shell and send her flying through the roof and crack the floor Pompeii stood on if it landed successfully. "Let's see how much this Star shines!"
"Now now, that I just can't allow." Specter spoke softly, his voice sounded near, but there was no visible sign of his presence. Rather, he was invisible to the naked eye. Standing beside his momentarily stuck ally. It wasn't difficult for him to discern what Pompeii was plotting. A uppercut in a sense, but in its execution, there was a flaw. Lightly grabbing Aphrodite's shoulder, Specter pulled her back. Barely enough to be noticeable, but enough to cause the strike to miss. But the contact caused his camouflage to quickly deterierate.
And as Pompeii was mid-attack, without his target being hit. There lay an opening, with an extended index finger. A coating of transperant gel formed a cone shape. Before quickly solidifying around his finger into ice. And as its shape was formed, a thin layer of ectoplasm beneath the ice and his skin caused it to spin. And to top it off, a coating of darkness enveloped his hand. "Shigan Drill" he spoke, thrusting his arm forward to hit Pompeii directly in the back.
Aphrodite had been trapped inside the ash, her opponent somehow catching her off guard. It sizzled against her skin, feeling the warmth of the ember like ashes burning her. She couldn’t breathe either, the ash forcing the oxygen out of her. But this was of little issue to her. With her exceptional quick thinking, she devised a way to escape the ashen prison. She activated Tekkai, hardening her body in place. As the technique was in use, her skin began to ooze out large amounts of liquid poison. The actual effects of the liquid didn’t matter; it was the effect they had on the environment that did. As the liquid was created from her body, it began to build up pressure inside the close chamber. Aphrodite’s Tekkai protected her from the massive pressure, allowing it to grow and grow until it’s desired goal took place. And then it did.
She broke free from the ashy entrapment with a loud explosion, the pressure built up inside of it causing it to yield under its pressure. As she stood in front of Pompeii, freshly freed from the prison, she allowed her Tekkai to remain active. The kick from Pompeii landed upon her chin, but she didn’t budge, the Tekkai granting her a massive increase in defensive power. “I’ll keep on shining to the top. But your star will only burn out. Filthy pirate scum.” Aphrodite mumbled through clenched teeth.
"Perhaps it'll burn out like a Supernova!" Pompeii chuckled through clenched teeth as his entire body collapsed to ash and blew away as Specter's attack came from behind. "But that makes me wonder! Did you say the same thing to the Preta!?"
His voice boomed throughout the building, seemingly coming from nowhere before his body reformed, crouching on top of a nearby table as he pointed at Specter, "Ya missed!" He said sarcastically as he began to laugh uncontrollably. "Keeehehehehehe!" He grasped his belly as his body became jittery as adrenaline flowed through his veins, coming from his brush with Specter's attack.
Straightening himself and wiping his tears away, he puased for a moment before pointing up with a smile, "Now, let's take this outside!" He said catching his breath from the luaghs. On cue, a giant slash came from outside, slicing the top of the building before it blew away from the storm outside peering in from a nearby cliff stood another Pompeii holding a sword with a saw-like edge.
"Ice Pistol." Specter muttered, the cone like formation on his finger turning towards Pompeii's new location. Before rapidly being launched by an aimless shigan that sent the sharp shard off his hand and straight at the pirate with the speed of a bullet. It would land at the man's shoulder—not a lethal strike but still enough to cause damage. "Don't get cocky now." He mocked, an eyeless grin carved into his face. Such a chaotic scene was quite entertaining. But he was being careful to limit himself; he didn't want to make it end too quickly.
And as the ceiling was torn away, he looked up curiously. Merely saying, "Hey Aphy, I think we're missing something." Whilst pointing at the open, blackened sky. Before his sight landed on the ash decoy of Pompeii outside. Staring at it with a maniacal grin. "I'll leave this one to you, darling." Before vanishing into thin air, his form appearing only moments later outside. Hands in his suit pockets and a nonchalant look on his face.
Aphrodite turned her head, looking at the man standing outside of the building. She ignored Specter’s playful flirting; allowing it to roll off her shoulders. Her attention redirected back to Pompeii, focusing back into the fight. Her eye flashed a bright red, Kenbunshoku allowing her to sense that only about half of Pompeii’s actual body was in that clone. Her foot tapped the ground softly, and in an instant she disappeared, leaving nothing but a soft afterimage.
She appeared behind Pompeii in an instant, her hands coated in Busoshoku Haki. They were spread out, prepared to clap the clones head and decommission it instantly.
Playing with Fire[]
The clone smiled as Specter approached him but didn't say a word, and his eyes showed no emotion, giving him an uncanny look. With the saw blade, it swung toward Specter, sending a flying slash toward him. Even though that action felt off-putting and lacked the emotion or excitement the real Pompeii had it still had that same strength it displayed before.
"Now let me get a few things cleared out-" Specter began to speak, leaving his hands in his pockets. Though as he was cut off by the clones attack, his smile turned to a frown. "It's rude to interrupt someone you know." He spoke just as his upper body bent down until his eyes grazed the sky. Looking like he was about to fall over backwards as the slash traveled on its trajectory. Missing him entirely before he raised himself back to a standing position. "As I was saying, I have no reason to go all out on trash like you, so don't expect an actual fight."
Pausing, he returned to his prior winning smile. "Now don't falter too quickly." Wasting no more time, his figure vanished in an instantaneous action. Reappearing moments later, back to back with the clone. Before immediately striking a side swipe of his leg aimed at its back. Imbuing his limb with haki to prevent any issues of not hitting. There was barely a moment of time to react, despite his clear nerfing of himself, even visible in the lack of using his arms. He was still capable of landing blows strong enough to shatter steel.
The clone looked back with the same false smile it had previously but did nothing as the leg came crashing through his chest, which turned to ash cuasing the part of his body above where the kick landed to fall down and reconnect to the bottom part. Saying no words, it raised an arm and swung it back to hit Specter in his leg with his elbow, which mysteriously got coated with Haki.
"Oh, that was quick." Specter replied, his leg still traveling through the air. In the blink of an eye, he began to turn as his foot landed, using the momentum to bring his other leg up. Striking the haki-infused limb at the base with enough force to send it flying off of the ashen body. "I can't be certain, but I'm starting to think you're dumber than you look Pomegranate." He joked, placing his leg back on the ground.
The clone's arm collapsed into ash as it landed on the ground. The clone looked at it with the same blank expression but with a hint of dumbstruck sparkle in it's eyes, turning back to Specter while a new arm grew from its body. It raised a hand, inviting the Cipher Pol agent to continue the fight before all four of its arms turned to ashen blades and rushed forward, hoping to skewer Specter.
"Oh how scary," Specter mocked, not even keeping his mind on the fight. As a blade of ash sliced through the air. His body shifted only centimeters to the side. Enough for the blade to pass by without so much as touching the agent. But of course his actions didn't stop there. Still having several blades sweeping through the air relentlessly. For each strike, he took the appropriate actions to avoid it. One after another ashen blades carved his surroundings. Yet leaving him without a scratch.
"Hmmm," He let out a exasperated sigh, giving little thought into his reflexive actions. "Soru," His figure vanished, the clone left to slash at no target. Barely a moment had passed through before Specter reappeared above its head. Only, he was upside down. Not staying that way for long though. As he spun around like he was doing a backflip through the air. His leg swerving down to strike right down the middle of the clone.
The clone turned red with immense heat, releasing a gust of wind due to the sudden difference in temperature as more blades formed on the back of the clone, who hoped to defend itself like a porcupine against Specter's strike.
The Battle of Stars! Poison and Ash[]
Pompeii's shoulder turned to molten hot ash, causing the ice-like formation to melt as it made contact with his shoulder. Though it still did some damage, it melted before it got too deep. His eyes flashed a firey orange, much like Aphrodite's, as his senses heightened with the Kenbonshoku, allowing him to sense Aphrodite's new location and her lethal attack. "What speed!" Pompeii complimented as his head turned to the black sand like ash, causing it to blow away as Aphrodite's fist flew through. And now that she was in close quarters, Pompeii stood up and spun around with one leg while he used the other to deliver a kick to Aphrodite's abdomen, the leg becoming ash and glowing red with scolding heat. "Now that we are alone! Here's a question!"
"Why'd ya become a Marine?"
“I’m not obliged to answer any questions you give me, vermin.” Aphrodite curtly said to Pompeii. As her hands met each other above the man’s head, she saw his flaming knee rise up to knee kick her. With snakelike agility and grace, Aphrodite was able to nimbly land on his rising knee. Her shoes protected her feet from burning the short time she was on the man’s knee.
The force launched the lady upwards into the air. She stopped just before reaching the ceiling. Using Geppo to remain suspended in the air, she reached down with her hands. She produced an incredibly large amount of venom from her hands and body, forcing it down on the imposing man from above. It formed itself into a clean cylinder, hoping to trap Pompeii in the liquid.
"Don't be like that, Aphrodite!" With poison coming to surround him, he jumped into the air and clasped his hands, them becoming and creating ash, which shrouded and formed a dark sphere around Pompeii just as the poison enclosed him. "Everyone has a reason to do what they do! Especially Marines like you, so what is it? Revenge against pirates for killing your family and leaving you alone and vulnerable? Thinking you must maintain order? The image of protecting that little girl from the claws and cruelty of the world? What is it, Aphrodite? What's the reason your will shines as brightly as the star you are!?"
The ash sphere began burning a bright red, which made the venom start to boil and bubble, neutralizing it as spikes shot out from the sphere, their tips emerging from the venom, and from those tips, small holes opened that released ash, which started to fill the room as it swirled and moved as it had a mind of its own before clumping up above Aphrodite, shaping back into Pompeii, who launched a flaming kick directly into her head.
"Don't use my name. You aren't deserving to utter it," the Rear Admiral spat out. "I don't know where you got the impression that you were in any position to speak to me as you are. But I have no reason to answer any of your senseless questions, nor do I need to overinflated your ego," She briefly looked him up and down. "Which I'm surprised you have one. I can't imagine losing so poorly that I'm left a cripple. How can you even look in the mirror when you wake up?"
However, without looking up, Aphrodite blocked Pompeii's kick with her upper arm. "You're no one. You'll never be anyone. No matter what you do, you will be forgotten, and you'll die with the realization you contributed nothing to this world during your pathetic life." After she finished speaking, she blew in Pompeii's face. The gas would fill the room, combining with the ash and the air. It wasn't lethal, rather, it functioned as a potent tear gas. Everyone in the immediate vicinity of it would suffer from stinging pain in their eyes and throat. And Pompeii was the direct target of it.
Pompeii clasped his hands, summoning more stars from the ash floating in the room, which blew the gas away with their powerful spins. "I thought you were different from the other dogs that patrol the seas!" He wiped his face for any gas residue as he landed back on the ground with a heavy thud. With a clenched hand and gritted teeth, he opened his eyes, which returned Aphrodite to their gaze. "I'm done dragging this along more than we need to, so I'll ask you directly and see if you are the one I was looking for!"
With his hands, he gestured for the stars to start orbiting around himself. "If you're half the marine people make you out to be, why don't you free the damned slaves still struggling even to survive?" You sure are all big talk about the scourge that is pirates, but have you ever considered the biggest subhuman fucks are protected by people like you? Hell, even children get subjected to their cruelty, yet here you are fighting pirates that have a higher chance of dying of scurvy than become big names you fear. Do you really care about the people you save, or is it all fuel for your bigoted beliefs?"
"And another thing! I'm more beautiful than you'll ever be, so don't ever try to go after my scars like that because they make me who I am."
"How much of a biased, hypocritical egoist do you have to be to speak of matters you aren't even aware of while you yourself are bringing immense pain to the innocent people around you?!" Aphrodite roared. Whereas she was just irritated with Pompeii before, she was now pissed. Not with his brazenness, but with his ludicrous statements. "If you truly gave a damn about the slaves being held, you would have joined the flaming Revolutionary Army instead of attacking a cafe minding their own business."
Her hand briefly aimed around the room, motioning to the people in the rubble of the building whom were coughing from the dust and ash produced from Pompeii, and being slightly effected by the tear gas from Aphrodite.
"These people were living their lives peacefully until you barged in, seeking to overinflate your already grossly inflated ego. But it'll never be enough. It never is for people like you." She spat the words out, hateful and toxic. "I will give you one chance to flee and think upon your pathetic actions. If you do not, I will end your life."
"Your bravado is as strong as your bigotry; I'll give you that." He chuckled as he took the time inside his spinning stars to stretch and crack his bones. "But standing here where I am will let my flames of freedom burn ever brighter than if it were ever chained down and beaten till it was black and blue by the chains of your so-called justice! You don't realize it yet, but you've sold yourself out to push an ideology that isn't self-sustainable and will soon go down like a supernova! Do you think my ego is overinflated? Look at yours! Only worrying about what you see! And not the deep-rooted problems this world is dying from!" Pompeii scoffed, his eyes narrowing and his brows furrowed before he spat on the ground. "But what do you know? All Marines are bastards anyway. I don't remember what I saw in you." He murmured under his breath.
His feeling of friendliness turned into animosity, but even then, Pompeii's breath quivered, and his body shivered at the excitement caused by the rising tension in the room; it was like a fuse was slowly reaching its fiery climax. With a sharp exhale, he readied himself by gripping his blade and pulled his leg back like a spring, ready to fire off. "If you think I'm going to flee, my first impression must've been lackluster, but I assure you the main event hasn't even started!"
"You saw nothing. You're an idiot. You tried to see kindness and mercy in me. But that is meant to be cast aside to achieve Justice." Aphrodite brought her right arm upward, grabbing hold of it with her left. Busoshoku Haki spread from her elbow to her hand. "If it makes you feel better, pirate, I never saw anything in you. Your show is going to be over before we reach the main act."
Aphrodite loosed a barrage of Shigan bullets at Pompeii, sending an uncountable amount of the ranged air bullets at the pirate. "Shigan: Zinnia." They whizzed through the air, pelting the walls with the explosive force of the bullets.
"If kindness and mercy were meant to be thrown away to achieve peace, what's the point? What you're striving for can only bear the fruit of what plant!" Haki spread throughout his arms like ink drops getting soaked by paper as Pompeii unleashed ash from his torso, creating a cloud that enshrouded him. "Lucky Stars: Supernova!" The stars that orbited began spinning faster and turning red with pure heat, their speed making them lose their shape and appear like disks.
As they spun, they began compressing and compacting, becoming durable and sharper before firing off, traveling with enough speed that they whistled and buzzed through the air. As they hit a bullet, a smaller star breaks off from its center with the same speed and force, hitting another, and as they impact, they explode into clouds of ash, obscuring the visibility of both fighters. Still, Pompeii remained composed as hundreds of explosions of ash, heat, and pure destructive force happened in front of him like fireworks.
He remained staring at the smoke screen, gripping his sword in anticipation, looking for any sign of movement, such as a bullet. One of his stars missed as it approached; he gripped his blade and launched an attack to destroy the projectile, the force of which shook and reverberated throughout his blade and into his arm, shaking his very bones, causing great pain for his muscles but no real damage. He knew Aphrodite had to be dealing with a similar problem with the stars that managed to make it through.
Aphrodite reached her hands forward, spreading them into the shape of a solid square. She tensed the muscles in her back, planted her feet into the ground. She inhaled deeply, feeling the air rush through her limbs. She breathed in so greatly, the air blew her air as she did so, dragged through the vast quantity of air she took in
“Because sometimes, you have to fight against how things are meant to operate!! You have to fight against the flow, challenge the standards set upon you! But I'm sure someone like YOU wouldn't understand that, huh?!” Aphrodite roared, allowing her lungs to swell.
And in a sudden explosion of force, she let loose her attack. With the thwoosh and boom of tons of explosives, pure compressed force made its way out of her fists and directly towards Pompeii.
“ROKUOGAN!!!!”
The stars of ash were blown away, and the heat sucked itself in and wrapped itself in the beam of sheer force. It roared through the air, tearing through the very atmosphere as it made its way towards Pompeii's clone. This would end the skirmish. She was sure of it.