| Date Started: April 13th, 2024 Date Completed: TBA Users Involved: User:Blackdagger01, User:Shadowmae, User:Princeboss1928, User:Ratmonkey333, User:The ancient terror |
Grim Trip Home[]
A small wooden vessel, adorn with the age of the cold salty sea water and blistering heat from a multitude of times facing the raising sun, sailed a seemingly endless sea. The sounds of paddles slamming against the water, propelling it forward, followed by the low tiring grumbles of the singular lion mink on board. The Lion was cloaked in a blanket of black fur with a contrasting white mane on his head and chest. His left eye was taken times ago, leaving only that of a past scar to tell tales.
He had been rowing in the small dingy of a vessel for approximately two weeks straight, attempting to find the moving island known as Zou. While rowing, he witnessed a huge cloud of low mist in front of him. A sinister smug smile creeped over his face as he was soon engulfed by the low rolling mist.
"I'll get there soon, Tenko" he muttered to himself before he continued rowing.
Yoko's eyes opened in a flash, her pupils widening to adjust her vision to the dark of the morning. She'd woken up early, earlier than she normally would. With great speed yet caution did she dress herself, not wanting to wake her grandparents in her rush.
With the stealth and swiftness of the sly fox did Yoko make her way down stairs into the restaurant kitchen, slipping on a hairnet did she set her plan into motion.
Soon the kitchen was filled with the sound of boiling broth, the sear of meat in the skillet, and the quiet humming of the young half-mink.
Dipping the ladle into the pot did she pour it gently into a small tasting saucer, blowing on it gently before tasting it. With a satisfied sigh did a smile form upon her face, baring her sharp fangs in delight.
It was then that she heard the soft mewing of none other than Vixen, her most trusted companion sleeply making her way down the stairs. The small fox walked to the kitchen door and sat, knowing better than to enter the room lest she be scolded.
"Good morning, Vivi." Yoko quietly addressed the little fox, picking up a small bowl of meat she'd sat to the side specifically for this moment. Walking out into the dining area she rested the bowl down upon the floor and with a mew of thanks did Vixen begin to eat her meal.
With that done, it was not long before the red hue of the morning sun began to make its way through the windows of the restaurant and with it came the a new sound, Yoko's ears perking atop her head as the soft pattering of feet above her could be heard and with that soon followed the sight of her grandparents opening the door that led up to the house portion of the building.
The smell of cooking had no doubt caught their noses long before they hade began their descent yet they chose to look surprised all the same when they sighted Yoko through the open window that looked into the kitchen from the dining area.
"Oh my, you've already gotten started have you? What's gotten into you this morning?" Her grandmother asked.
Yoko shook her head, "Nothing's gotten into me, I just wanted to practice this recipe. I wanna master it before mom gets back. I want her to taste it, I think I'm really close to having it just right."
Her grandparents shared a look but before the silence became awkward her grandfather spoke up with a cheery tone, his white whisker's fanning out as he smiled. "I'm sure she'll love it, Dear. You've come so far in just two years after all. She might not even believe you're the same little girl she dropped off her back then." He chuckled, before motioning for her to bring him a bowl.
And Yoko did with eagerness in every step, her grandparents taking a seat at the nearest table and awaiting their meal.
Bringing out a tray holding two bowls she set it down in front of the two. The dish was simple for the most part, a chicken broth brought to a boil with egg slowly dripped inside of it, wontons filled with chicken resting gently at the bottom. She was by no means a master after all, but she might as well have been compared to how she'd been when she'd first arrived.
Both of the old fox minks brought their spoons to the soup, making sure to get a wonton with their scoop. Taking a bite they savored the dish, taking in all it had to offer before swallowing.
"So?" Yoko prodded for their thoughts.
"It's good." Her grandfather responded.
"You're mother would be so proud." Her grandmother spoke next and though those words held deeper meaning than the girl knew, Yoko's face brightened, trying to hide just how proud she seemed to be.
"Y-yeah? Well, what can I say, I am pretty awesome." She snickered with a toothy smile.
The time for opening was soon upon them however and with that the three of them readied themselves for the breakfast rush. The smell of broth soon being replaced with that of fish, eggs, and other meats being readied for the hungry people of Kurau City.
And shortly after that was the place filled with patrons of all shapes and sizes.
Yoko took orders, bringing them to the window for her grandparents to fill, the rest of the soup that Yoko had made was being offered as a daily special, and the young half-mink's heart was lifted when she heard that those who'd dared to give it a try enjoyed it.
Soon came the ringing of a bell and with it the doors were closed as a rush of water rained down from above, the morning eruption rain was occuring. With the water came schools of sea life, fish, eel, squid, all of them rained down upon the city and as the rain drained away the sea life was left flopping about the streets.
The moment it was safe, Yoko had rushed out the door, she pounced upon a massive fish that had fell just in front of their restaurant. Digging in with claws and teeth she sought to subdue the fish, knowing it would do for some good cooking after it had been cleaned and gutted.
Raionsan had recently returned from his trip to Maine HQ and finally gotten himself resettled in. He disliked being away from Zou so long, he often found himself missing the feeling of home no matter what age he was.
Atop one of the six stone structures that overlooked Zou a lion mink with golden fur stood with his eyes closed, his dark blue cape and blue jacket fluttered in the wind as he took a deep breath. "It's good to be home," the currently no more than -something-year-old Raionsan said as he opened and arms and fell forward.
As he fell he flipped himself forward and began running down the side of the building before switching to all fours. He then leaped from the surface to a tree where he swung himself from the tree top. He looked throughout Whale Forest and smiled. Ever since he could remember this was his domain, he felt invincible in this forest. Hell, he felt invincible whenever he returned to Zou. Which was likely why he made sure he was always strong enough to protect it.
He began hopping from tree to tree, sometimes moving so fast he had to dig his claws into the bark to slow himself down, leaving scratch marks along the bark. As he stopped and looked back to see the marks he was instead welcomed to the sight of the parts of the tree he scratched being cut cleanly off. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled a bit before falling to the ground. As he hopped down he aged himself up and was now in his 30s to 40s, his jacket opening up and his cape now fitting him properly.
He flipped the cape around so the black side was now showing and placed it back over his shoulders before walking and whistling as he entered Kurau City as if he did not just mutilate a few trees.
Raionsan liked walking through Zou, it reminded him of what he was fighting for. But more than that, it reminded the rest of the Mink Tribe that despite whatever the world may call him, he was still one of them.
As he walked he waved to some people greeted others directly, and even bowed to those who were currently older than him. He recognized a few of the younger Minks immediately as his students at his School Of Combat. They bowed to him and he nodded to them. He would have to be sure to visit the school when he had time.
As he saw movement in the sky he smiled and looked up preparing for the rain from Zunesha's trunk. As he looked he saw plenty of fish and found himself to be quite hungry.
As he hopped to avoid large waves of water and waited for the water to clear atop a nearby building he saw a large fish flopping about and was about to pounce for it when he saw a young Mink pounce and beat him to it. He chuckled as he lost his prey.
He was about to compliment the Mink when she got up to reveal herself to be a half mink, one he knew. He remembered the girl as the daughter of one of the Animal Kingdom Pirates crewmen. He remembered feeling bad for the part he played in their end and finding her to be innocent in the situation. He hopped from his perch gracefully and cleared his throat, "You beat me to it young one."
Yoko looked up, the lion man at first silhouetted in the bright light of the mid-morning sunlight that shown behind him. However, as her pupil's narrowed into slits she was able to make out the features of the older mink, recognizing him. He held no personal relationship to her to her knowledge, but his reputation proceeded him. He was one of the Seven Warlords of the sea and it was his crew that controlled Zou now. And so with that she knew him to be no friend to her, nor to her mother or the rest of the Animal Kingdom.
As the fish finally stopped resisting and slumped down to the ground dead she released her grip on the thing, her teeth and claws red from the blood of the large fish under her. Even if he was no friend, Yoko knew better than to treat him as a foe. She had few if any allies here and no clue where the Animal Kingdom were or when they would arrive.
"Indeed, though if you'd still like to sample it, I plan to add it to our menu shortly." Yoko spoke in a respectful tone though her wording could use some work but what gave her away more than anything was how the fur of her tail stood uncontrollably on end.
Raionsan could tell that his presence put the young girl in a state of unease, even if she attempted to hide it. He was about to say he was not that hungry when his stomach growled and betrayed his intentions.
"Well then I just might take you up on that," he said reluctantly. Though he didn't want to further discomfort the half-mink he was hungry but more than that after the events of the meeting he had permission to begin recruitment of former Yonko commanders and crewmen. However, he knew they would not be so easy to find especially for him as they likely viewed Raionsan as a traitor, which in a way he was. But still, they would be crucial for what was to come. Perhaps fate brought this girl in his direction for a reason. Though to his knowledge she had not seen or heard from her mother since the early parts of the war two years ago she was as good of a place to start as any.
"Your name was Yoko correct? I don't believe we've ever officially met," he knelt a bit and offered his hand the sight of blood on the girl not discouraging him in the least, "I'm Raionsan, but my friends call me Rai."
The half-mink fox raised an eyebrow at her name coming from the Lion's mouth. What honor did she have to have her name known by Zou's leader or rather, what infamy had she gained? Yoko took the man's paw, rising to her feet with the other clawed hand gripping the fish tightly as she shook his hand. "You'd be correct on both fronts, so I admit I'm curious about how you know my name. It's one thing for me to know yours, but the fact that you know me makes me think I'm in trouble. I haven't done anything wrong have I, Rai ?" She asked, bristled fur still showing her growing unease along with a slip in tone that made her sound more sarcastic than she'd meant to be. She'd never encountered the man before, not that either avoided each other, Zou was simply a large island and he was a man with far more important responsibilities than getting to know the local teens.
"Yoko! There are patrons waiting to order!" Her grandfather shouted from the inside of the restaurant.
"I hope you're not being greedy again! We don't need to grab more than a few things, the rest will be available at the shops later! Yoko!" Her grandmother shouted as she exited the building in search of the girl only to stop in her tracks when she saw Raionsan there with her.
The older woman's fur suddenly stood on end but after a moment she composed herself far better than Yoko could ever hope to. "Raionsan!, what brings you before our humble business? Yoko, head inside would you? May she head inside?" She asked Raionsan for permission for Yoko to be left alone. She knew that Raionsan would know of Yoko's connection to the Animal Kingdom and just as much about its downfall. She wished to spare the girl for as long as possible. Yet every day preserving such innocence became more difficult.
Raionsan was perplexed by Yoko's question. Though she was likely surprised by his appearance surely she could connect the dots as to why he would approach given his connection to the Animal Kingdom Pirates. It wasn't until the older Mink approached them did he realized the truth. This girl had no clue about the war's conclusion. He kept the revelation to himself and smiled. "But of course, far be it from me to keep her," he said standing to his full height and looking to the girl one last time.
"Enjoy the fish, Yoko," he said preparing to leave, the girl would be no help and he was back to square one on his search for members of the Animal Kingdom Pirates. "You'll have to eat enough for me as well," he turned causing his cape to flutter as he began walking away from them, under his breath he muttered, "I've lost my appetite."
"Alright, see you around then." The girl responded, taking the fish and rushing back inside, feeling relieved by the end of the conversation.
Her grandmother continued to watch as Raionsan left, letting out a sigh once he was far enough away that she figured he would not be coming back for one reason or another. In truth, she had no ill will toward the man, but she knew his presence would cause issues. Her first priority was to protect her granddaughter. That was the task left to her by her mother when she dropped her off here. Even if one day Yoko resented her for it, she would keep the girl's dream of seeing her mother again alive even if she had to take it to her grave.
With the problem solved for now, she returned to the restaurant kitchen, helping Yoko to prepare the fish for the lunch rush that would come sooner rather than later.
Yoko herself worked silently, her ears pressed tightly against the top of her head. It was clear that the young girl was unhappy about something, but her grandparents did not have the heart to ask what was wrong.
After what felt like hours of rowing back and forth of using his own strength and the powers of his devil fruit, Horkos eventually made it to the base of the back left leg of the giant elephant that he remembers so vividly, as if he was gone for only a day. His one eye set upon the leathery skin of Zunesha, patting it, as if to recollect of past days playing an old piano.
"I'm finally back." he said in a calm grumble as he proceeded to scale the monstrosity of a limb upwards. Grabbing onto each leathery flap, it brought back memories of scaling it when Eris still had control over Zou. Those days filled with laughter and cheer sitting at a big fire made from whole trees, sitting side by side with his brothers and sisters. Each time he took a step further up, the closer the tree line got, and the more the good times flooded into his mind. As he was climbing, he looked out to horizon that sat to the left of him, while looking, he could've sworn he heard a voice call out "What are you doing down there still Horkos, the boss has a big celebration soon and we're late", it sounded just like Tenko.
The more he listened into these phantom whispers, he heard the sounds of laughter and cheering at the edge the closer he got. Hearing this, Horkos swiftly scaled the rest of the leg as fast as possible, wanting for his division to be just around the corner waiting for him, his two axes shaking violently as he sped up. Closer, closer, closer he got till...silence. When he got fully up, he looked up to see nothing but bristling forestry, still wet from the morning rain. The desperate smile on Horkos's face quickly vanished into a cold deadpan stare, looking around, there were a few fish stuck in the trees and other sorts of sea life flopping around.
Walking into the dense forest, he grabbed a fish off the ground with his razor sharp claws and ate it whole before continuing forward. As he walked the familiar forest, he pulled from his pocket a small ripped piece of paper that was fluttering forward just slightly. A grimace look enveloped Horkos's face as he ventured forth, soon reaching the edge of town. Life was bustling looking outside in, multiple different shops began to open their doors to allow customers to do business, a multitude of families were walking around with their kids looking at all the extremities out for sale. It was peaceful, a feeling that Horkos has all but forgotten, it was blissful for a few seconds, though he knew what he was there for.
Walking out from the shadows of the tree line, Horkos's black body struck every mink that saw him with a sense of familiarity, till it finally clicked for them at who they were looking at. People started to make way for the giant mink, others made quite murmurs amongst each other, but one person asked the question each of them were wondering "How are you alive?". That question...That chilling question struck Horkos cold, freezing him in place for a moment. He didn't look away from his path and instead answer the question in a calm but stern voice "I am alive because I am strong.".
Right after answering the tantalizing question, he continued on his path towards where the paper was pointing. Soon enough, he found himself in front of a busy restaurant, a restaurant he remembers going to a lot with Tenko whenever they were in Zou. A few people sitting outside looked at Horkos with fear and confusion in their face as they made way for him inside.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
His foot steps echoed inside the establishment, patrons looked at the door to see what was going on at the same time as Horkos entered.
"Where's Yoko?"
was the only question to leave his mouth.
The patrons of the establishment were left speechless for a moment, some stood up instinctively ready for a fight but upon recognizing the figure they stopped any advance they may have been thinking of making.
Among those who had not yet recovered from their shock were the ones who had recognized him instantly. Yoko's grandparents stood slack-jawed, to them it was like seeing a ghost and moreover, not the ghost they'd hoped to see.
But not all were shocked into fear or silence, to the one who had come to call this place home for the past two years, action was the only response to being called out in such a manner. Through the window through which orders were taken the half-mink leapt out, bouncing from a table to change her direction to pounce straight toward Horkos with leg poised to kick at him.
It was all too late to stop when a flash of familiarity crossed her eyes, she knew the lion man, or at least she should. But it did not matter, her kick would happen regardless, she had not the time nor the ability to stop mid-air after all.
"You've found her!" She let out, wanting to sound cool in the face of whatever mistake she was making.
The kicked launched by this tiny half mink fox girl collided with the middle thigh of Horkos's leg, though it wasn't painful to him, it was irritating that this is the welcome he gets after being away for so long. Holding back his frustration, he took a deep breath and slowly calmed himself. Not even looking at the half breed, he looked to the grandparents, they look no different than when he was last there.
"How are you doing Matiko and Jax? It's been forever since I've seen you." He spoke to the grandparents in a paradoxical excited but depressed tone. He looked at the two and down at Yoko "We need to have a conversation" he looked back towards Matiko and Jax, a tear slowly leaving his last remaining eye, but not able to be noticed as it was quickly soaked up by his black fur.
Quickly grabbing Yoko, he made his way towards the back, his massive stature knocking a few patrons to the side, thought he didn't care. Going into the kitchen, he had to keep bent down cause his head hit the ceiling otherwise. He sat down in nearby corner away from the commotion, placing his two massive axes to the side.
"Your mother is dead."
It was clear that Yoko had been about to speak in protest to Horkos carrying her around like luggage. However, as the words left the lion mink's mouth the girls expression was frozen stiff as though time had stopped. The anger in her eyes gave way to an icy emptiness, a light snuffed out.
"Horkos!" It was not Yoko who broke the silence but rather Matiko, "How dare you! How dare you barge into my home, my business, rough house my customers, and speak so carelessly to my grand daughter! Have you no heart? No shame? Has the last two years at sea truly turned you into an animal?!" Matiko stomped forward through the kitchen, grabbing from the counter a large metal skillet with which she held up toward the man threateningly.
Yoko fell to her knees, head slunk low toward the ground. Immediately Matiko's tone changed, lowering the skillet and dropping to meet Yoko on her knees.
"Hey, don't listen to him, he doesn't know what he's talking about." Matiko tried to salvage the situation as best she could.
But Yoko did not respond, not at first anyhow, silence filled the room aside from the hiss of the flame on the stove and the boiling of stew in the nearby pots.
"I know."
The half-mink responded, not to Matiko however, her head rising to look up to Horkos. "I think I've known for awhile now. I just... I didn't want to believe it. She wouldn't have let Zou be taken over by the World Government, none of you would have. So they're all gone then? Eris? Mom? All of them?"
Horkos's face was cold, unchanging as Yoko asked if everyone is dead. His fangs bared a little bit, though not in aggression but distraught. Slowly and carefully, he reached behind him and pulled part of a broken baton that Tenko would use to fight with and place in front of him on the ground. "Matiko, you know I cared for your daughter as my own flesh and blood, as if she was a sister to me." He grabbed onto his scarred eye socket, the thinginess still burning as the day he lost it "She sacrificed herself to save me from what would have been a fatal blow. Her last request was for me to seek out her daughter and look after her."
His attention steered towards Yoko, who was on the ground frozen. His face turned kind of disgusted at the human features of the little girl, however he hid them out of respect for Tenko. "While I care for you and Jax, you know my distain for humans. I'm only doing this out of respect for your daughter."
After finishing the heart wrenching sentence, he finally answered the half breed's question "Yes, we failed" Anger filled his voice as he spoke the sentence, "but there are still survivors of the war, I am living proof of that. I'm making it my mission to seek them out and avenge Eris's and Tenko's deaths, as well as all my breather that were slain." Standing up, he grabbed his axes and put them on his back then grabbed the girl and put her on his shoulder. "I'll start by reclaiming Zou and providing protection for everyone here." He began to walk out of the establishment with the girl on his shoulders out the back door.
"I heard this place was taken by the World Government, who is entrusted this place?" Horkos asked Matiko before leaving.
Matiko did not answer immediately, she didn't want Horkos to stir up more trouble than he already had. He was but one man after all, and though he was large and strong, not even the entire Animal Kingdom had been enough to fight against the World Government. "You can't do this, Horkos. Not by yourself, not even if you had an entire crew with you. You're alive now when my daughter isn't, you shouldn't waste the life she gave you. She wouldn't have wanted that for you nor would she want you to put Yoko in danger by being here. I don't know what her last words were but exactly but she couldn't have meant for this."
Vixen ran into the kitchen, past the fox minks and past Horkos to jump into Yoko's arms. The girl was back on her feet again, "The Warlord Raionsan, he passed by here not that long ago. He's here on Zou." Yoko answered the question her grandmother would not.
"I wanna go too, my mother left me behind so that she could fight in the war. I won't be left behind again, the Animal Kingdom was my home too and I didn't even get to see it go out. I was here safe and sound while everyone else risked their lives, I should have been there for them." The girl made her conviction known, holding the broken baton in her hand, the last remnant of her mother.
Horkos stood still, Yoko still on his shoulder and just looked out into the bustling city. "Matiko, is it to waste one's life to save your brother's from the tyranny of this cruel world? Tenko was my big sister, she gave me this chance to save my brothers and sisters, so I'm going to live it to the fullest." After he spoke, before Matiko could speak, he ran off, leaving a small pawprint crater in the ground.
as he ran through the town, he jump onto the roofs to scout out for Warlord Raionsan. His name struck deep within him, as he had fought with him in the war. He was a strong foe then and as Horkos could guess, would only be stronger since then. "RAIONSAN!!!! WE NEED TO TALK!!!!" he screamed into the city. Horkos wanted to talk with him immediately and was in no mood to search quietly for him.
A small figure leaped through the trees and swung from the next branch to the next until it stopped and swung onto a building just in front of Horkos swinging to a lamppost and curling it's tail around it to steady himself as he leaned against the post perfectly his legs not so much as flinching from the pressure.
"See I told you I picked something climbing up Zunesha Cap'n!" The figure said now revealing himself to be a young monkey mink with reddish-brown fur and a blue naval-looking jacket as well as a large flowing red scarf around his neck. "He's that Mink from the war!"
"Good work Rascal," Raionsan said as he emerged from the forest as well. "I'm glad you caught me before I got to far away from here," he said before massaging his ear, although I doubt I would've missed the shouting even if I was on the other side of Zou," he joked causing the monkey mink now known as Rascal to chuckle.
"Head back and regroup with the rest of the crew," the lion mink said as he began his walk toward Horkos.
Rascal was now hesitant, "you sure?" He didn't want to leave his captain alone even though he knew he was more than capable should things come to a fight with Horkos but still he knew of the strength of the Animal Kingdom pirates. "Mr. Hayes or Jasper could be here in seconds, or I could-"
He was cut off by a glare from his captain signaling it was best to just adhere to his instructions.
"Aye aye sir," he said as he swung around the lamppost and back into the trees.
Raionsan turned back to Horkos, "It's funny I just approached Yoko in the hopes of finding members of your crew such as yourself." He extended his hand toward Horkos having stopped just a foot or two in front of him, "and lo and behold here you are, almost as if fate smiled at me today."
Horkos stood silent, peering down at the tiny monkey mink, his glare like cold daggers. He was in no mood to deal with tomfoolery, he simply needed to talk with Raionsan. By this point, almost, if not, all eyes were on Horkos, who was towering over everyone waiting for Raionsan to approach him. When he extended his had to shake, Horkos looked at it with his remaining eye. The tension in the air was so tight that it was choking, all of a sudden though, as if by a flip of a switch, Horkos scowl quickly burst into roaring laughter, causing Yoko to shake up and down on his shoulder.
Quickly grabbing Raionsan by the wrist, his massive hand wrapping around his entire wrist, he shook his arm with pride "Raionsan, how have you been?!?" he asked loudly with a smile ear to ear on his face.
Raionsan was admittedly confused but refused to let it show and simply shook the Mink's hand back looking up at him and returning the smile. "Can't complain too much Horkos, some days my back aches, some days I have too much energy than I know what to do with, and some days I just hate everything," he said with a chuckle.
"But the real question is how are you?" Raionsan said trying to get an idea of where Horkos head was at. Though they were both Minks and children of Zou they were also adversaries not long ago, and Raionsan played a major role in seeing the Animal Kingdom Pirates defeated, he knew that was something Horkos would not soon forget. How could he, their was a permanent reminder on his face.
Dire Conversation[]
Looking down to Raionsan, Horkos's smile dwindled to a grin as he let go of the handshake to get onto the other main reason he was there "Let's find somewhere private to talk, I think you would be inclined to hear me out" he spoke as he turned and put Yoko on the ground. Getting on one knee, he looked at the kid and whispered "This might get rough, so stay here in case.". Before she could reply though, Horkos jumped towards the woods, waiting for Raionsan to follow him.
Raionsan turned to Yoko and smiled. "Don't worry, enough Minks died during the war, so no matter what happens today. I won't be killing Horkos."
He turned away from the young half Mink, his cape moving with grace as he did. "However, whether he keeps his other eye, that will depend on his own reaction," Raionsan said with a chuckle so small he assumed Yoko didn't hear it.
He then proceeded to jump after Horkos ready for whatever followed.
"You can't bring me all the way here just to tell me to stay put, what's the point in that?!" Yoko yelled after Horkos before gritting get teeth in frustration.
She wasn't so arrogant to think she could battle Raionsan, but she knew her Devil Fruit was versatile, surely it could be of some use.
And with that in mind she attempted to chase after the two lion minks. Even if she wasn't as fast, it was hard to lose them.
Jumping through the trees, the smell of pine and sap filling the surrounding air. It didn't just smell like nature to Horkos as he made his way through, but it smelled nostalgic of simpler times in his life in Zou. Trees were so cramped together in the thick forest that it didn't even feel like he had to jump, instead just step across. Soon enough though, he came across a massive clearing that seemed to be a training ground, a training ground that Horkos recalls using in the past. Looking around, he even saw some of his old claw marks etched into old and crumbling boulders.
He hopped out of the tree line and sat on one of the massive rocks, his body being so big however that his feet still touched the ground. He awaited for Raionsan to make his way before speaking, "Raionsan, I heard that you own this place now. Our home." pausing for a second to look around the beautiful trees and wildlife within "I respect you for protecting our brethren, so I thank you for that alone. I'm going to cut to the chase." His voice slowly went from a cheerful solemn tone to a serious and dreadful, as if by a flip of a switch "Give me Zou for mines to protect".
As he approached the rock and heard Horkos speak, Raionsan was stuck on his words. 'Our home.' That was right, Horkos was still a child of Zou, just as he was. He had to remember that, whatever come what may.
However, as he heard his words and his claim he couldn't help but laugh. "RAI RAI RAI!" His voice boomed through the forest scaring some of the nearby birds and causing them to fly away from the trees.
As he laughed his body began to shrink as his Devil Fruit powers began to activate. He began to age back to about a 10 year old making Horkos seem even taller by comparison, which was difficult given his size.
His eyes filled with a single tear each from laughter that he wiped away. "That's-Rai Rai Rai-that's the best joke I've heard in quite some time my friend."
Horkos's face didn't change from his serious mug, instead he simply replied to Raionsan's laughter "Brother, I am serious about this. I am going to reclaim the infamy of the Animal Kingdom by starting back up the crew." Slowly as he spoke, a smile peered on his face "We will show all those lesser than us that we Minks stand at the top of the food chain.".
He hopped off the rock and walked towards Raionsan, the sun behind him caused his shadow to practically engulf him. "I know we fought in the war, but I also know that you, just like the rest of my misguided brothers and sisters that work for the World Government are just being used against your will." His hands were moving as he was speaking, flailing around him "I am going to free all of our brothers and sisters from where ever they are. I plan to take down the World government and those fools of marines like they should've crumbled in the war."
Sticking out his hand towards Raionsan his face dropped his smile as he went back to dead pan serious "Raionsan, we along with all of our kind around this forsaken world can do it. Now let me protect my remaining family and hand over the rights of Zou to me. It doesn't belong to the World Government." he turned and spit on the ground as he finished speaking.
Raionsan stared up at Horkos, his laughter replaced with silence and a stern look. "First," he said pointing a finger upward, "My will is, and shall always be my own."
He held up two fingers now as he continued, "Second," he said as his body glowed and he aged up once more this time now a teen, growing in size as he did, "Zou is not under the control of the World Government, it's under my control, as it shall remain."
Again his body began to glow as he held up three fingers and aged into his 20's. His hair was now so long it went down his back and moved as his body grew. "Third, do you know what I've gone through to get this far?! The blood sweat, and tears?! The friends and foes alike I've slain?! The irreparable damage I've done to my soul?!!!"
He was now back to his prime and he only slightly looked up at Horkos, much closer to his height, "And fourth, no disrespect but how were you planning on protecting Zou? You couldn't even protect your own crew."
Horkos was listening diligently till Raionsan disrespected his ability to protect. His face went from a calm serious expression to anger as the sound of a tree being up rooted could be heard from behind Raionsan. As he turned to see what the noise could be, a giant tree was flying towards like a bat swing, it being swung by a massive green translucent glove. Horkos jumped back and took out his two massive axes, one in each hand, "You know, we could have talked this out like the civil and better people we are, however, you stepped out of line. I will just have to show you I can protect this place.
Raionsan turned to face the tree, with a calm but more annoyed expression took his rapier and thrust it forward the tip of the blade glowing, "Death Thrust!" He shouted pushing his blade into the tree. However, the thrust proved unnecessary as the second the blade made contact the tree aged to the point that the bark shed off and any leaves not thrown off from the swing died and faded either to dust or simply faded.
The remains of the tree brushed past Raionsan and he slid past the gauntlet using the momentum from his own attack to do so. As he slid against the ground he twirled himself around, embedding his claws into the ground to do so, and faced Horkos with the rapier pointed upward before pointing it at the fellow lion mink in a fighting position of his own. "Don't do this Horkos, you won't win and it will be hard to fight you without killing you."
"That will be decided in our clash Raionsan. I respect you as a brother, but I can't let a member of the World Government have our island." He began to run towards Raionsan, his arms and axes now coated black in haki "You should join me. I know that I alone can't throw over them, but if we get all of our kind to attack. WE WILL SURLY WIN". As he screamed, he threw one of his axes at Raionsan and jumped into the air. While he was falling, the axe seemed to purposefully whiz past Raionsan's head.
When it was right behind him though, a translucent hand grabbed it mid-air and went to slam down on him, quickly followed by Horkos falling towards him swinging down his ax "BEAR TRAP" he yelled out.
Raionsan covered his blade in Haki and did the same to his free hand just as Horkos fell he brought up his blade to meet his axe the clash of power and strength from the two minks caused a force of wind to be sent flying and the trees to rustle and shake. He used his now Haki-covered hand to meet the other axe grabbing it with his claws. It was a bit of a struggle using both hands but thankfully Raionsan was able to direct more strength to his blade than his hand as it was his blade that met the full force of Horkos. The ground cracked a bit underneath the weight as Raionsan swung his blade pushing Horkos back.
He did not let go of his axe however and instead, his Haki hand began to glow. "We cannot simply go to war immediately Horkos," he said as he strengthened his grip on the weapon, "but I understand where you're coming from, it's why I was seeking you out even before your arrival."
He turned to the axe, "Aged Grip!" He shouted as the axe began to slowly rust and age forward. Raionsan was stunned however as the axe simply rusted as opposed to most weapons which rust to the point of breaking. Horkos Haki was stronger than Raionsan had originally anticipated. 'The war's done nothing to weaken his resolves and power it would seem,' he thought to himself.
After the clash, Horkos didn't let up on the pressure on Raionsan. The haki clash was only a water drop compared to the lake of power Horkos had to show. "If you were seeking me out, why not give me the island. We have the same goal, I would love to have you on my crew. So stop being so fucking irrational" he screamed out.
A translucent green gauntlet appeared over Horkos's free hand as he grabbed the air between his swings. The air looked like fabric as Horkos grabbed and yanked it to the left, causing the air in front of him to be altered and shifted. The shift in the air caused Raionsan to lose his balance and create an opening.
Horkos took full advantage of the tiny gap, swinging his axe down, in attempt to slash Raionsan down the middle. However he made it to where if it hit, it wouldn't kill as he just wanted to subdue him instead of killing him.
Raionsan only had a split second to evade, Horkos was too fast and in the position, he was in he could not hope to block or dodge the incoming attack with his speed, so he got creative. In half a second Raionsan was small and an 8-year-old once more. With his now smaller height, he had more time to roll back and avoid Horkos axe but not before the goliath of a Mink nicked the back of his head causing some of his now wild unkempt hair to fall to the ground. As both of Horkos axes, including the half-rusted one that Raionsan was holding fell to the ground and embedded themselves into the stone floor Raionsan rolled a distance away and stood up to regain himself.
He felt the back of his head and looked at the hand to see blood from the cut now on it. He frowned and growled a bit under his breath before looking up at Horkos with a dark smile, "That Devil Fruit of yours is interesting, to say the least."
He wiped the blood on his cape and moved his blade back into a fighting position. Sparks of electricity began bouncing off of his body bit by bit, "I was seeking you out to recruit you Horkos, but giving you Zou? That's completely out of the question!" The sparks turned to entire trails of electricity shooting from Raionsan's body to the ground and the area around him. "I got us to this point for a reason Horkos, this is all according to my plan and you play a part."
His body was now completely engulfed as the power of Electro coursed through Raionsan's very being and he arched his foot back holding his blade in an attack position with it still covered in haki. "But until you see that I'll show you why this land belongs to me!"
He closed his eyes and then opened them to reveal them to now be blue, "Electro Dash," he said before he was gone.
Horkos looked around until suddenly something struck him across the chest as a blue light flashed past him. Then once more across his ankle, small but precise cuts kept appearing across Horkos black fur.
Horkos stood fast against the fast attacks coming all around him, his flesh slowly but shallowly getting cut to ribbons. "What are you planning Raionsan?!?!" He loudly asked as he leaped into the air, grabbing the air and seeming to float in thin air as his gauntlet covered hand held onto the air.
"What do you get from recruiting me?" He continued as he then proceeded to swing his hand downwards, causing a mass of air pressure to hit the surrounding area. The pressure being so powerful that a few trees were buckling under it.
The other glove that held his second axe quickly pulled from the now crumbled ground and sped toward Horkos, floating behind him. "If you can convince me that what you are doing is in line with my plans, then I'll hear you out. However, I need to see that you are even strong enough to go through with them." He yelled down while hanging in the air.
Raionsan, still a blue blur, was going to take cover behind the rock. When he realized that Horkos was making him prove himself to him. This annoyed Raionsan more than angered him. As the wave of pressure came toward him he raised his blade and with great power backing him swung it forward causing the air pressure that ushered toward him to split and move past him breaking two trees as it did. "Convince you? Did you forget whose territory you're in?!"
He then stuck his blade into the ground and removed his cape. "You want strength I'll give you strength Horkos," he said as his body began to glow once more but this time as he grew he did not just get taller, he got bigger, and his muscles began growing to the point his arms were the size of tree trunks. His shirt buttons broke but as the shirt itself was already too big for him it simply remained open revealing his chest and torso. His hair was much longer than before and flowed easier now. When the glowing had subsided Raionsan was over 24 feet tall. He was practically a mountain and as he raised his head to look Horkos in his eyes they looked to be white.
"This isn't my strongest form," he bellowed in a deep voice, "but it is in terms of physical strength."
He clenched his hands to fists, "I don't use it as I've been told by my crew that I tend to go overboard," a smile formed on his face, "but you can take it, can't you 'brother?"
He coated his hands in haki, "My plan is simple Horkos," he launched himself into the air by the simple force of pushing himself off the ground, the pressure cracking where he stood and causing its own smaller wave of pressure. "Get behind the World Government," he reeled his claw back now above Horkos and coming down ready to strike him in his side, "then stab them properly in the back!"
Horkos, using his gauntlet covered hand throws himself further into the air, throwing his axe into the air simultaneously, before moving the gauntlet off of his hand and onto the axe flying in the air. Both of his axes as well as his hands began to get coated in a layer of haki as he fell toward Raionsan.
His hands buzzed in blue lightning as he went to punch Raionsan with all of his might, his axes coming down on him at the same time. "If that's the case, let's work together!!!" He yelled out as his fur bellowed in the wind
"TWING FANG"
Raionsan continued to grin and turned around while still falling in mid-air.
He reeled his arms back as he took in a breath of air, “You’ve still yet to prove yourself!”
His claws began to glow in a yellow light as the rest of his arms remained in haki a bit of Electro and black lighting emanating from them. “Prove your worth to Zou's True King!”
“Near Death!” He shouted as he brought his arms forward. He first clashed with Horkos’s axes, with the Electro boost Raionsan was not able to break them but his force was able to propel them back momentarily and bring his claws to clash with Horkos fist.
The combination of powers created a concussive blast sent front the impact pushing back the surrounding area from the trees to the birds to the stony ground itself.
As the axes regained themselves and started coming back for Raionsan and they got closer to the ground it was clear that Raionsan was on the losing end of this position but it did not matter for his attack had done its work, Horkos made contact with Raionsan’s power.
For a second time seemed to slow down for Horkos, while still in the air and still punching Raionsan Horkos had aged to the point that he was a skeleton, as if he had simply died. And then in that same second, he returned to his natural state. However despite the quickness of it, to Horkos he had died.
As the two powerful beasts collided, Horkos's pupils dilated as he had just experienced what death felt like. The two fell to the ground in a rumble of dust and smoke, though onced it cleared, Raionsan could see clearly running down Horkos's cheek was a single mournful tear. The weird part though was that Horkos had a giant toothy smile spreading ear to ear on his face, "Thank you Raionsan." He spoke solemnly "I now know that my brothers and sisters felt peace in the end".
Just like that, he began to roar into laughter, it being so loud that it echoed thtough the forest. "Let us see who should rightfully own our home". In a split second, Horkos charged towards Raionsan, a trail of blue electricity left in his wake. He sent his axes to go swing at him while in a state of post clash daze in an attempt to get some damage in.
Taking a mighty step forward, Horkos lowered his hips and threw his fist forward, while still twenty feet away. A surge of haki infused electricity combined with his mastery in Electro was darting at Raionsan in unison with the axe attacks.
"Destruction Wave"
As the dust settled it could be seen that Raionsan had taken more than a bit of damage from the clash. He was not used to tanking attacks like Horkos was and it showed. He couldn't help but share in Horkos's laughter. The Mink had just witnessed his own death and he thanked Raionsan, he was either insane or... no he was simply insane.
It seemed that Horkos had indeed gotten powerful in the time of his disappearance. However, so had Raionsan.
As the attack of axes and Electro headed toward him at great speeds he began to glow yellow once more.
Right when both attacks were about to reach him Raionsan stopped glowing and was in his 70s when longer white hair that covered his entire hair save for his eyes and nose. When this change was complete he looked up to the sky and roared, "ENOUGH!!"
An eruption of Electro, Haki, and the yellow power of the Toshi Toshi no Mi came from Raionsan's very being. The roar was so loud it wasn't just the area that shook but the bedrock that had formed around him had shattered revealing Zunesha's skin for the first time in who knows how long.
Due to their Haki the axes were simply blown back however upon impact with the ball of Electro and Haki as well as the energy that followed it disappated when clashing with Raionsan’s own attack. But the attack did not stop there, it was like sound waves being sent in every direction around Raionsan.
The wave was meant to be an attack however, due to Horkos own 'Destructive Wave' being more powerful then anticipated it canceled out Raionsan's Electro. But it did not cancel out his Devil Fruit, which Raionsan knew would be the case as it was likely hard enough to maintain it for a long as Horkos did while he coated the axes as well.
As the wave passed things they began to age backwards, trees became saplings, birds became chicks, and even the grass itself began to shrink in height. And this "Age Warp Roar" was spreading throughout the entire area.
Yoko had been watching from a safe distance, out of range of the destructive power of the two lion minks as they clashed ferociously. There had been no doubt in her mind that should wouldn't be able to keep up in a bout of pure strength, but she was clever and sly, she'd waited for an opportunity when might be useful. However, as she watched Raionsan's devil fruit attack begin to digress the age of the plants and animals with a wave that was heading near her, she jumped back, retrating away from the wave out of its range. She could only hope that Horkos hadn't been caught up in it lest she be in a lot of trouble without a defender.
Horkos stood fast, watching this wave darting towards him. As he reverted everything in its path, Horkos retracted his gauntlets to cover his hands, grabbing some of the lightning from the clash prior, which resulted in his axes falling into the ground. The axe that was rusted partially returned to its normal state as the wave engulfed the haki covered ax.
Now with the gloves over his hands, he pierced the air in front of him, it seemed to warp around his fingers similar to if you grabbed a large piece of fabric. The wind surrounding him began to shift and warp violently as he began to part the air itself, causing the sound wave to warp and redirect around him. The roar sounded deep, wobbly, and distorted as parts of it passed through the gap made. Thanks to Horkos activating full body haki on himself, he was able to mitigate that bits of the power to only digress his age slower and less powerful than if it normally hit him.
Reaching out his hand once again towards Raionsan through the gap he just made, Horkos grabbed the sky once again. This time, enormous amounts of pressure exploded from his grip as he proceeded to make a vacuum. He shot his arm back, causing Raionsan to get forcefully pulled towards him. Because of the vacuum cylinder, it made it extremely difficult for Raionsan to try to escape as if he tried to escape the cylinder, the mass amount of outside pressure would crush his body slightly.
Pulling him in, Horkos moved his unused gauntlet to the hand reeled back, causing for him to have two layers over his arm. While this happened and while Raionsan was being pulled towards him, he began to mildly digressed in age...34...32...28...25. By the time Raionsan got in range of Horkos, he was 22 years.
A spark of blue lightning encased by the cold blackness of his haki emitted from his layered fist as he went to punch him with all of his might. "You may hold the title of king Raionsan, but the rightful ruler is here to take back his people." He said right before he screamed.
"KING'S FALL"
Raionsan was struggling to fight against the current of the cortex that Horkos had created, especially in his older body. Despite this, he did not waiver he held fast as the air brought him ever closer to Horkos as he took satisfaction in the fact that at the very least his power was working on him.
Thankfully as he was being pulled in he was brought past his sword still deeply rooted into the ground and grabbed it as he got closer and tried to use it to steady himself but still nothing aided him.
However, when he was close enough to Horkos a smile crept on his face, though it might have been difficult to see given the length of his beard and hair, his mustache still made the motion clear.
He thrust his blade back before letting the air take him even using Electro Dash to boost himself and in a flash maneuvered around Horkos digging his claws into the ground as he did. He couldn’t escape the vortex but when he got close enough to the air Horkos held onto he didn’t have to, he simply had to move within it. He reeled his arm back ready to deliver a blow of his own just as Horkos threw his punch.
But not the arm with his blade, no he didn’t want to meet his attack with metal he wanted to prove his strength, even in this form with his own two hands. Because while Horkos was no doubt stronger than Raionsan at the moment, in terms of power, well Raionsan currently had years of experience in battle.
“Rightful my ass, and as you said Zou has its king!” He said with more excitement than anger now in his voice.
He brought his claw coated in haki and bouncing with Electro and brought it forth to catch Horkos punch.
“It's one true king!!”
As the two clashed it caused an explosion from both sides. Raionsan’s shirt still unbuttoned from his larger transformation fluttered as the force caused it to look more like a cape. The ground around both of them shook a bit and the lighting that came from the clash sparked all over the area even from the sky one could see the collision of Electro and Haki.
However, Haki only strengthens with age, the more battles you go through the stronger your Haki gets, which is the only reason Raionsan his 70-year-old form. In this form is the version of his future where he has fought countless foes bringing his Haki to superior levels. It was how he was able to match Horkos strength the Mink’s physical strength back by his gauntlets were incredible, however thanks to his current form, Raionsan only had to worry about Horkos own strength which was still proving quite difficult.
As the clash roared out, lighting bouncing around nearby rocks, trees, and debris. A smile beamed on Horkos's face, he had not had such a good fight in months, he knew if he were to win, he needed to stop holding back. As the two fists were locked in battle, Horkos had the glove sandwiched in between his fist and the other glove to expand exponentially in size and reach out in a grabbing motion. The enormous hand engulfed the lightning and sparks flying off the two and began to condense it down using air as a vacuum for the lighting to not only remain, but to become more potent as it bounced off itself.
The translucent hand seemed to phase through Horkos and Raionsan as it floated behind Horkos. The ball of lightning was now blinding, emitting a bright white from a basketball sized orb, being held together by the gauntlet. Horkos jumped back after the clash, standing right beside the orb. He realized that some his bones were fractured from the one clash due to Raionsan's advantage in haki compared to him. "You know Raionsan. I don't disagree with your plans and I am willing to join you on the destruction of those bastards in the World Government." He huffed out a huge exhale as he caught his breath "However, this is just too much fun. So let us continue just for a little longer. We shall see who is stronger"
As he finished, the gauntlet threw the unstable ball of pure electricity at Raionsan, imbuing haki into it to not only strengthen the destructive capabilities, but so it could also hold its shape. As the basketball sized orb barreled towards him, the lighting gave it a small gravitational pull that began to absorb the rocks and rubble in the ground, leaving a long crater in it's wake. As it absorbed more debris, it got larger and larger till it was bigger than Horkos. As it grew it began to resemble that of a lion's skull, lightning crackling off of it.
"DIVINE BEAST"
"Very well," Raionsan said, though he was having fun he could not help but feel conflicting emotions. He had accomplished what he wanted from Horkos but felt the mink would not be confident until he had all of Zou under his control, something Raionsan would not allow. He needed to truly show the difference in their power.
"However you should know, any Electro-based attack is useless against me, especially in this form," he said as he raised his blade having regained himself from Horkos's separation. It was still coated in haki from earlier and had bits of black lighting emitting from it. Then the lightning stopped and it was simply a black blade. "I've spent years studying and developing Electro-based combat, hell that dash you just used was developed and perfected by me years ago."
As the explosive lion made its way toward Raionsan he brought the blade down to match and he clashed with the attack causing him to dig his feet into the ground only to be pushed back until he dug his claws in and began pushing back. The clash between the two caused the explosion to ripple destroying the area that Raionsan pushed across and everything around them.
"Nemean End!" the old Mink roared as he brought his blade fully down and seemingly cut the explosion in half causing it to split. As he fell to the ground on one knee the two parts exploded behind him on both sides.
He hated to admit it but he did not think Horkos had power like that. Had he been anyone else that would have been impossible to take on, well...save for maybe one swordman, though Raionsan would never admit that aloud, especially to the man himself.
He rose slowly, knocked off some dust, and got back into fighting position his own Electro coming from his body causing his long white hair to rise a bit. His blade returned to it's normal color, he was now wise enough to know that if he wanted to continue this fight he would need to conserve it as in this form it gave him a necessary advantage and a way to match Horkos obvious endurance.
"That was strong," he said, a smile forming from his mustache. "You should be careful when using attacks like that."
Legend in the Making[]
Seven days passed on as Horkos and Raionsan clashed on in the depth of the forest, though now the once lush portion of the forest of the island became a bald spot on Zunesha. Both minks fought, ate, and slept with each other, even though they were fighting with all of their might, they still respected each other and knew that this was for "fun" at this point. Two power houses of men go toe to toe with each other, each one dealing out devastating attacks just to receive one the next second.
The city lived on in worry though as they didn't know precisely was going on in the forest, they just knew that if they go out there, they could die. Other than that, life went on for them with the only commotion being the occasional explosions happening during the fight. It was around mid day as the two minks were clashing with each other for the seventh day in the row, both of them were bloodied and bruised. Each of them exhausted but still not ready to back down.
Standing...Bloodied...Smiling... The sounds of metal chipping at metal filled the air as sparks flung from the blades. Horkos backed away, grinning ear to ear as blood soaked the the white parts of his fur to the point it looked as if it was red. His axes were chipping as well as a bit rusted from clashes with Raionsan head on, but they were still in the proper condition to win. He was now about 37 years old now from a few touch encounters with Raionsan head on while his guard was down or a blind spot was taken advantage of.
Slashes littered his body, to where from an outside perspective, he shouldn't even be able to stand, let alone fight. "HGHHHN HGHHN" he breathed heavily "You aren't looking so good over there Rai. Don't die on me now" he roared out laughing as he summoned a gauntlet in front of him, jumping on it and having it launch him into the air, both axes in each hand, coated in haki. Summoning another gauntlet, he had it grab the the air in front of him while he was falling and distort it to make it seem as if Horkos had vanished. Which he did, as he used the gauntlet to not only distort the air, but also make a wind current to push him behind Raionsan. Swinging up his axe, he went to cut him down.
Raionsan while he didn't have as many hits as Horkos the hits he did have were quite damaging. He had a cut on his side from one of Horkos's axes and blood dripped from his jaw from the impact of taking one of the black lion mink's attacks head on. He was now in his 40's again having had to change back or risk irreparable damage to his body.
"RAI RAI RAI!!" He laughed thunderously, "your not looking so hot yourself my friend, you on your last legs already?" One could not tell if Raionsan was joking or not given they both seemed in such a state.
Raionsan quickly changed to an 8-year-old once more when he saw Horkos began to move and then vanish. He charged up his Electro and smelled the air, catching a scent of blood other than his own Raionsan quickly turned, Haki-covered blade in hand and met Horkos's axe. Although this time he altered his arm so it was now much larger and stronger so he could match Horkos's strength without changing forms completely.
As they met, metal against metal, Raionsan took the opportunity to use his free hand and cover it in Haki at an attempt to strike Horkos in his side.
Maneuvering his gauntlet to be in front of the on coming attack, he had it grab the air and rip it to the left, causing for a burst of wind to shoot past, the pressure being strong enough to push Raionsan's hand away enough to have he attack graze Horkos. Using his other gauntlet he had it dig into the disheveled dirt and rock and pull it up like a rug, causing the earth below to sway and crack. Using the blanket of ground, Horkos threw it at Raionsan as if it were a mighty ocean wave.
To double down on the attack, he also unleashed a barrage of axe attacks to hold Raionsan in place while having his second gauntlet firing beads of compressed air at him from the side. This three angled attack was Horkos's way to hopefully land a game changing blow against Raionsan. "HORHORHORHOR!" he roared out as he kept the pressure on "This is soon to be over Rai and you know it. You fought valiantly, so I'll tell you what. You can be second in command of Zou when I take the throne. HORHORHOR!".
Raionsan's laughter continued as the incoming attacks came at him.
"You know what your problem is Horkos?" He said while resting his sword on his shoulder and placing as much power in his legs as he could, "You overcomplicate things!"
With that he launched himself into the air, a bit of Electro could be seen trailing behind him, the lion resembling more of a reverse bolt of lighting, returning to the heavens instead of descending them. Below him, Horkos's attacks all collided with one another to create a massive explosion of air, earth, and simple power. It created an updraft that caused Raionsan's now tattered cape to flutter in the wind looking as bad as the Mink himself.
"Hey Horkos," he said as he began his descent landing in the spot where the attacks had collided, if one could even call it a spot as the area had been utterly destroyed leaving simple gravel-covered ground where a forest once was, "you wanna see something funny?"
As he landed he crouched down closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. As he did the yellow energy signifying his Devil Fruit power began to glow, but not from his claws or his blade like earlier, but from his wounds. Right in front of Horkos's eyes Raionsan/s wounds seemed to age and in a matter of seconds, they looked as if they had been there for years already looking like a part of the Warlord's skin, his experiences.
Raionsan knew he could do this days ago, but decided not to heal himself out of respect for the battle. But he did not want Horkos to think he would actually be taking Zou from him.
"I have to admit," he said standing back up and shaking his shoulders, "I haven't had to use that technique since the war, you sir are an incredible warrior, and if it wasn't for me, Zou would easily be yours.
"You'll be crucial for what lies ahead, my friend," he said waving his sword as he spoke.
Horkos was star struck, standing in his own destruction, for a moment as he watched in awe as Raionsan's wounds all healed in some form. It took him a second to process before he burst out into laughter "HORHORHORHOR!!!! YOU ARE A CHEEKY BASTARD RAI. HORHORHOR!!!" Taking a second to catch his breath he looked Raionsan, stabbing his axes into the ground "I see I wasn't the only one trying to respect the battle.". Both gauntlets appeared in front of him and began to gruesomely grab his gashes and mold it into itself, closing the wounds, but being excruciatingly painful as his skin got forcefully pulled and altered. "I may not be able to heal like you can, but I can keep going just as you can. So why don't we do this. An all out attack, whoever falls first, loses. One attack."
Picking up his axes, the gauntlets disappeared as he stared Raionsan down with his one good eye "This will be make it or break it, so SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!" He yelled out as a gauntlet appeared inside his body, phasing through his organs. The hand reached out and grabbed onto his heart and proceeded to pump it faster, forcing him to pump more blood through his veins. A little blood dribbled out of his mouth, however he felt nothing but numbness and hyper focus due to all the extra adrenaline going through his blood. His body began to burn up as smoke appeared from the sweat boiling away, he was in a state of bliss.
The other gauntlet grabbed the air around him, condensing it heavily before it abruptly caught a flame. On top of the fire shot out lightning from him pouring his electro through his nerves to enhance his abilities even further. Apart from Sulong, this was Horkos's strongest form "GOD HUNTER", a form that was so strong it was self destructive, though Horkos couldn't feel anything, though feeling...smelling...hearing...seeing everything at the same time. Gripping his axes tight, they caught flame as well, "Rai, if I fall here, I will follow you on what you are planning. However, if you fall, you will follow me. Now get ready my brother!" he called out.
Reaching his leg out like he was going to take a single step, he vanished, leaving sparks of lightning and fire upon the now shattered ground he once was on. Horkos set up to take the most direct and linear path towards Raionsan as possible, allowing him his fastest and strongest attack yet as when he clashes with Rai, he is attempting to bring down both axes down on him in one fell swoop.
"I accept those terms," Raionsan said quite calmly he was the calmest he'd been since the beginning of the battle days ago.
As he took in another deep breath he got into a fighting stance and raised his sword coating it in the last bit of his haki, as he took in the breath time seemed to slow for him.
He began to glow yellow once more, this time it was again his entire body, he changed to his older form of 70 years old and slowly began to swing his sword around his head. With another swing, he was 90, another and he was 8, then 20, then 30, and then back to his prime only for the cycle to begin again, the speed of his change and the speed of his swings began to increase until the flashes were too quick and bright to follow.
As Horkos zoned in on him and was right on top of him Raionsan spoke in a clear and powerful yet somehow not loud voice, "Generational," he brought down the blade on one last swing that seemed to release hundreds of slashes at once of yellow, no golden energy from it, "Blade!"
Each one was sent flying toward Horkos giant flaming figure and everything behind him around him and below him was cut and either aged or simply destroyed.
Smoke erupted from the clash of such powerful people impacting each other with some of their strongest moves in their arsenal. Silence was the only thing to come out of the bellowing smoke, the ground was dirt...trees were destroyed...birds were now either eggs or bones...there was nothing but silence as the smoke began to clear. As it did, the two minks stood roughly ten feet apart with their backs toward each other. The sun beamed down on the in a way that caused Horkos's shadow to engulf Raionsan, however, seconds later, the sun began to shift once again, causing Horkos to be swallowed up by Raionsan's.
As the last tree near them dropped its last leaf, Horkos fell as well, falling with a thud. Blood didn't exit his body however as each attack that hit him immediately aged to the point it was already a distant scar, even as the blade glided through his flesh. The fire quickly extinguished as he dropped the gauntlets, his massive axes fell beside him, causing them to indent into the ground itself from their sheer weight.
With a weakened breath, Horkos breathed heavily, laughing a little in the process, causing a sharp pain to erupt in his lung. "HORHORHOR." turning his head to the side, he lacked the energy to fully flip himself "That was a great fight Rai. I'm glad that I fell to such a powerful mink, shows that I still have flaws to work on." Laughing once more, Horkos winced at the sharp pain his lung once more "This goes to prove that Minks are the strongest as I haven't fallen to no one else since the war.".
Knowing he had some internal bleeding, he summoned the gauntlets inside his body once more to grab and temporarily close the wounds "Let's find a fucking doctor and have ourselves a nice little discussion" He spoke loudly into the ground which muffled it slightly.
Raionsan sighed as if letting out the sigh of a man who had just fought a hundred foes and sheathed his blade. He attempted to heal his wounds as he had before but he found his power running low, likely because he truly had no energy left. Horkos's "God Hunter" attack still had an effect and it took all his energy to use the Generational Blade. He was now in his teens, his long hair once again down his back.
His body was covered in wounds that almost resembled claw marks one could easily say they were just that if they had not also been smoking. Had he enough energy to use his power, he was unsure how effective it would be against such a wound. He had three large slashes that looked as if a giant creature had dug into his skin but instead of simple blade cuts, these were burns. The degree of which was undeterminable as they were still red as if Raionsan was still being burned yet he knew the attack was over. While his fur would likely grow over the wounds, he knew they would remain with him.
"You know something," he said as he chuckled and turned to Horkos body just barely making out what he was saying, "that's not a bad idea, brother."
The battle was much closer than he had liked but he still came out on top, he had continued to prove himself worthy of Zou. But even still he needed to get stronger for what was to come.
More at Five[]
The two minks made their way back to town, arms stretched over each other to prop each other up. Horkos had one of his axes on his back and the other one being used as a walking stick to assist himself a little. He knew a few bones were broken, but he didn't want to show weakness, so he walked back with a smile on his face. As they made their way out of the woods, people looked in awe and ran over to the two badly wounded warriors and started frantically asking questions.
Slightly taken aback by this, Horkos held up his hand, "Hold on now. First things first, find the doctor. Second, where is the ale." he spoke as he laughed and punched Raionsan in the arm. "No seriously though, we need a doctor." he said as he continued walking forward.
Raionsan moved over and allowed the minks to take Horkos while he moved to the side and pulled a Baby Den Den Mushi out of his cape and clicked it. "Oi Rascal!" he shouted into the communication device.
"Oweee! You don't have to shout I hear you, captain," Rascal said back in a much lower volume than his captain."
A few of Raionsan's students aided him in his trip to the doctor and one held the small snail for him to talk into. "Tell the crew Horkos and I finished our fight," he smiled dastardly as he turned to Horkos, "I beat him," he said returning his punch and rubbing his face in it.
"Nice Captain! I figured as much," Rascal said certain of his captain's victory despite his earlier reservations, "so you walked away scot-free?"
Raionsan looked down at his wounds which had only now started cooling down causing his smile to drop "more or less.”
“Anyways,” he said trying to change the subject, I’m gonna stay in town so get settled in the fortress for the time being but be ready as when I head back we’ll have some planning to do.”
“Aye aye, sir!” Rascal said the chirp of a monkey and the sound of swinging could be heard before the snail went *click!*
Raionsan put it back in his cape and shrugged his students off of him, realizing he was showing weakness. He felt better about it because it was from another Mink, but still, he was lord of these hills he needed to show it. He grabbed his cape from his shoulders and tied it around his chest and torso covering the wounds. “Now what’s this about ale?”
Appearing before the man in a flash, having blended in with the crowd like the sly fox she was Yoko's claws were coated in her busoshoku haki and through the use of her Seimei Kikan her nails extended out like bullets toward Raionsan's chest. She was going for a killing blow.
She'd bided her time, or at least that's what she'd told herself. In truth, she'd just gotten bored of the two's seemingly never ending fight and gone home. Her grandmother had scolded her dearly and with Horkos defeated it seemed that her grandmother had indeed been proven right. But what better chance would she have than now to finish him off? He was a member of the World Government, she knew he'd played some role in the fall of the people she cared for even if she didn't know how much of a role that was.
She'd spent the entire war sitting on her hands doing nothing, how could she live with herself if she didn't at least try to fight now?
"This is for my mother!" Yoko's warcry was heard loud and clear.
As Yoko ran full force towards Raionsan with the attempt to kill him, a translucent green gauntlet appeared in front of her, stopping the attack. "Girl! Watch who you point your blade at!" he roared, now in a serious tone. Walking over to her, a menacing aura followed his presence, when he got to her, he grabbed her by the scruff of the shirt and began to walk behind a building, "Give me one moment Raionsan. Also you didn't beat me. I kicked your ass just as equally. Don't be embarrassed about your battle scars.".
Once out of earshot of everyone, he put Yoko down on the ground "What. The. Fuck was that girl? Who told you to stab Raionsan like that?" his voice roared out lightly towards Yoko. After fighting with the man, he knew her attack wasn't going to do anything, but the audacity of a half breed to point their blade at a mink, no less the ruler of Zou, he was peeved. He held himself from slamming her like he would do to any other non mink in this situation because of who she is, but he was not simply let this go. "I know you were trying to do it for Tenko, but you are pointing your anger at the wrong fucking person girl." he spoke out.
Whatever hope that Yoko had held was immediately stamped out as Horkos defended the man. She had no idea what exactly had occured toward the end of their battle but whatever had happened it had ended with Horko's loss. Maybe not necessarily physically but the man had not beaten Raisonsan and that alone was a failure in her eyes.
And so, to be talked down to by the man who had waltzed into Zou so confidently now looking as bruised and beaten as the smaller pirate crews she'd watched he and her mother defeat in the past it only made her blood boil.
"Who are you to tell me what to do? You were gone for years, you and mother both. The World Government took over our home and you came here acting like you were going to get it back. Now you're acting all buddy buddy with Raionsan?! Granny was right, this was all a fools errand and I was stupid to think you could change anything. Mom wouldn't have let this happen!" The young girl berated the man, the fury in her eyes giving way to grief as her eyes began to well with tears.
"Why did you make it back and not her? It's not fair..."
Horkos's eyes widened, first with disbelief, then rage, then complexion as he had to hold himself back from striking the girl where she stood. Taking a step back, he put his hands over his face before punching a nearby wall, causing it to crack slightly "FUCK" he roared out as he tried to calm down. He walked over to the girl and took a seat right beside her, letting out a huge sigh he spoke "You're right. It isn't fair. You're mom should be here rather than me, I was suppose to die with my brothers out there." A single tear started to swell in his eye, though he fought it to not let it come out "I didn't though. You're mother didn't allow me the release of death out there, instead she saved me at the cost of her life. I understand why you are angry girl, we were away for two years and I'm the only one to return".
Without looking at her, he pulled out a flask of water and drank a bit to rehydrate a little "The reason that Raionsan and I are so close is because even though in the war, when we were on opposing side, he did his best not to kill any of our brothers, in fact most of his kills were from stray marines shooting down the minks he injured. When I fought him out there, I know he wasn't giving it his all. We both want to rid the world of the World Government.". Finally looking at Yoko "We are joining forces so what happened at the war won't happen again, he may have "beaten" me" he held up his hands doing air quotes at the word beaten "But we had already made up our minds long before the fight came to a close. I may not want you around Yoko for you are what I despise, but I am going to make sure you are safe and that you aren't going to be hurt or die. I need you to trust me" He held up his giant hand, extending out his pinky to the small girl for her to shake.
Yoko was hesitant to grasp his hand, or rather, pinkie. She did not understand how Raionsan working for the World Government nor Horkos working with him would prevent Zou or the Minks from facing loss or oppression. She was not daft or dull but rather simply immature, the bigger picture was lost to her. The animal side of her only knew the value of short term action over long term planning. That is why she'd tried to kill Raionsan when he was at the weakest she'd ever seen him, to have allowed such an opportunity to glide by without action wasn't something she could have lived with.
And then there was Horkos himself, he was stronger than her, there was no doubt in her mind about that, even in the state he was in. But to be asked to trust a man that hated her very existence, that had failed to protect her mother, and failed to reclaim Zou, much like allying with Raionsan she did not see the benefit of it. What could he or any of them do against the World Government that two Yonko crew aided by untold number of subordinates could not?
Even so, the thoughts of her mother flooded her mind. She knew that she'd trusted Horkos, she'd even died for him if the Lion Mink's story was to be believed. Would having faith in Horkos be the same as having faith in her mother? She honestly didn't know. But she had tried to kill Raionsan, and the thought of trying to live out the rest of her life in peace despite knowing everything that had happened did not set well with her either.
And so, wiping away her tears on the backs of her clawed hands she sniffled a bit but reached out and took the man's pinkie, shaking it gently. She did not trust Horkos but she could try.
Standing back up, Horkos stretched his body, groaning a little as a few bones cracked. "Ok, let's go back" Horkos began to walk back towards Raionsan "Ok, so shall we go somewhere and have a drink. Just us, a one on one."
He walked over to Raionsan and put his arm around his shoulder in a friendly manner. He didn't want to scare the citizens of the island, so he wanted to keep a cool composure till they were alone to really talk about important stuff.
"That's probably a good idea," Raionsan said as he returned the arm gesture in order to keep up appearances until he saw Yoko once more. "Just a moment," he said stepping only about a foot away to address the young half mink.
"So, have you heard the saying about taking a shot at the king and missing?"
Yoko was in no mood to entertain the Warlord's musings, her cheeks puffed up, a stubborn child to the end. "I haven't, my grandmother has a saying though: 'When at first you don't succeed, try try try again.' " Yoko shot back with a threatening remark. Though to come from someone not even half his size, surely it did not carry the weight Yoko would have liked it to.
She'd made the choice to try and trust Horkos, but she'd made no such decision regarding Raionsan. Regardless of his intentions so long as he wore the title Warlord of the sea he was a government dog. Her mother had said as much about the Warlords before, she had no reason to doubt her now.
Raionsan gave the Yoko a menacing stare before reeling back and erupting in laughter. "Rai Rai Rai! Your grandmother is a wise woman." He said wiping a single tear away as he recovered. "It's funny you know you can't kill me yet you're still willing to try, what is it with your generation?" He could not help but think of Cero and his own determination to surpass Raionsan.
"Well," his tone grew a bit more serious, "You may not understand it right now Yoko, but I am what's called a necessary evil, you may not like me, but I hope as time goes on you'll at the very least understand the role I play in keeping Zou, your home, safe."
His tone lightened up a bit more, "but if you still find yourself wanting to kill me down the line I'll tell you the same thing I told another stubborn young Mink."
He leaned down a bit as to not completely tower over the girl, "get stronger, and not to match me but surpass me, as you should never enter a fight your not certain you can win."
"Noted," Yoko responded, she didn't know what else she might say to the man. "So what happens now?" Yoko asked, unsure of where things would lead given how they turned out. Would they have to work for his crew? Would they need to do something else? Would she be forced to return to her grandparents? She hadn't thought of a situation in which Horkos would lose, she'd put all her faith in the man only the be disappointed.
"That's up for you to decide Yoko," he said standing back up, "I'm not a dictator, I'm a king, I have only asked two things of my tribe."
He raised a finger, "One reach your peak, their is no excuse not to improve your power and combat, that's why I helped found the Oasis Academy," he said referring to the school of combat he and his former mentor created. "Don't let yourself become lazy to the point that should a war break out you'll just be cattle to be slaughtered."
As he said his last remark, one of his students a cow Mink walked by and gave him an offended look causing Raionsan to rub the back of his head, "No offense Margaret."
She raised her head and kept walking past him.
"...Anyway," he said trying to move on from that as quickly as possible. He raised two fingers this time, "second I ask that when you're called upon, you heed my words, believe it or not I would never endanger my home and should I give orders, they are normally in the interest of Zou as a whole. I have never given you a reason to dislike me child, I am more than aware why you do of course. I was prepared for the stigma that would follow me when I accepted the Warlord position. But I hope down the line you'll see me for what I truly am."
He turned away from her, "in the meantime I'd suggest you figure out what's next for yourself, will you follow the path of your mother and take to the seas? Or will you stay to defend your land from anything that might threaten the choice is yours and honestly I don't care either way. Rai Rai Rai!"
Horkos walked over and looked down towards Raionsan "She'll be coming with me as her mother in trusted her to myself. She will also be present for our little discussion that we really should get to." looking at Yoko now "Come little one, you will be in the presence of a very dire conversation between us.". Turning away now, he began walking "Follow me, I know an old bar owned by an old friend that should be around here. You needn't worry about customers prying in by the way, the old bastard is basically always empty. HORHORHORHOR!" he laughed.
Walking around for a bit, they eventually got to a run down looking bar, a few boards were nailed to windows, the sign was dangling on a single chain, and the paint looked like it hadn't been touched in years. Horkos made his way inside and as the luminescent lights shined on the inside, it was a polar contrast to the disheveled outside. The floor was a nice dark oak, looked as if it had been polished yesterday, the seats and booths, though empty were very inviting with a crimson red silk lining on black cushioned seat. The bar was a beautiful dark marble with behind it a wide selection of expensive looking bottles of booze and top of the line wines. An older looking monkey mink with grey hairs lining over his whole body, contrasting with his natural brown hair, stood behind the bar in a nice looking red and black suit, wiping down a glass. He looked up and adjusted his glasses as he looked at Horkos "Well I'll be golly, Horkos, your ass didn't die yet?" He put down the glass and immediately threw a knife at him "DIDN'T I TELL YOU NEVER TO COME BACK HERE YOU FUCKASS".
Catching the knife quite easily, Horkos laughed "I missed you too George. Also, your old ass shouldn't be talking, you're how old now, 89?" He sauntered his way to the bar and sat down, handing the knife back. George took it back, wiped it, and put it back into his pocket "I'm 87 thank you. Now why the fuck are you here?". Looking back at Raionsan, Horkos spoke "I have a meeting with him and you are the only horrible business mink here that I could go to for a private meeting, you never have customers cause they are all scared off by either the outside or your personality.".
"It's not my fault they have no fucking backbone to try true elegance. Anyway, you can go to room two for your meeting, I'll bring in your usual bottle in a moment." Going to the shelf, he stopped for a moment and turned back to Horkos "Listen, I heard what happened in the war. You know I cared for all you brats on that crew, especially for Eris. I'm sorry that all happened, so this bottle will be on the house.", quickly, he went back to search for a bottle of rum.
"Thanks George, I had no money on me anyway, so this saves me a future conversation. HOROROROR!" Turning back to the others, Horkos leads them to room 2 of the small bar, the room is surprisingly spacious for such a small establishment, the furniture was the same elegant black and red as the outside booths were. Taking a seat, Horkos began talking "If we are going to take down the World Government, we need allies, powerful ones. As you know, two of the Yonkos didn't join us for the war, so we are going to need to try and recruit them for our cause to bring down the marines."
"Woah, woah," Raionsan said sitting on the other side of the booth, "before any moves or decisions or made perhaps we should decide what exactly we're going to war for. I mean is your plan really to simply kill all the Marines? Or are you planning to actually aim for the World Government? If it's the later then we'll have to be precise especially when gathering allies, you never know who you can trust with pirates after all.
Horkos stared at Raionsan with dedication in his eyes "I'm going to kill all that have harmed our kind. That is my goal, whether it be the World Government, Marines, or other Yonko's, I'm going to make sure that our brothers and sisters can live in a safe world away from slavery and filthy humans." as he said that, he looked over towards Yoko and then back at Raionsan. "I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know how to bring people to their knees when I want them to. I know pirates are untrustworthy, I've betrayed my fair share of "Allies" that were of not us, I work with the lower species to accomplish what I need and kill them. However, I never betray a fellow mink and I know they won't betray their own either.".
After Horkos finished, George walked in with a bottle of rum and placed on the table with two glasses, then proceeded to hand Yoko a juice box and a bag of peanuts before walking out. Pouring both himself and Raionsan a glass, he calmed down and continued "You work with the marines, I don't. We'll use that to our advantage. While you are inside converting people to our cause and gathering information, I will be the man on the outside that is causing havoc, drawing their attention away from you.".
Raionsan was going to say something else but then thought about things while taking the glass. He had already had his plans to betray the World Government and despite the common ground they had now reached he was a bit concerned about if their plans would contradict each other.
He downed the contents of the glass in a gulp and smiled. If he went about things the right way this could prove to work in his favor. He couldn't help but grimace a bit though at his last remark. 'Minks never betray their own.'
It was this sentence that confirmed Raionsan's thoughts. Though Horkos and he were similar in some ways there were key moments that defined them. But it wasn't entirely anyone's fault, had Horkos had some experiences similar to Raionsan he'd be more like a pirate than a warrior. Had Raionsan shared some experiences with Horkos, he'd be more honorable than ruthless. The lion minks were two sides of the same coin, but that did not mean any side had to fall for one to be on top. At least for the moment that coin would remain standing perfectly still.
"That sounds like a good plan, a bit of smoke and mirrors to distract them from our true intentions," he said wiping his mouth and pouring himself another glass. "We'll have to be sure we get our stories straight though as after our battle which will likely get linked, people mainly the Marines will want to know where we stand with one another."
Horkos grabbed his drink and followed Raionsan in drinking all of it in one take before speaking, "Tell them it was an even fight, but in the end you won, but was too injured to chase after me when I ran. Blow it up, add some flare to what you say. In the end, we want my name out there and you in the clear." Looking at Yoko for a second, he continued "The bigger of a threat I am, the more tension there is, the more tension there is equals more stress on the high ups. And one thing that stress leads to is looking for quick answers and loose lips. Use that stress to get more information on projects and other secrets, a looming threat is our blessing in disguise.".
Proceeding to pour each other another glass, he sat back in the booth, his legs crossed. The plan wasn't fool proof, but it is one of, if not, there best shot at taking down the World Government in Horkos's mind.
While the duo enjoyed their time, on the corners of Zou various mink guards stood there observing the endless horizon of clouds. And even though the minks took their job seriously, in the end it didn't change the fact that it was a tiresome and boring job. After all, barely anything would be able to even reach there or even try to reach them. So in the end it was a job of necessity and nothing more, no one really wanted to do it.
So it took the guards a double take as after a while they spotted something in the sky, something massive. They took another double take as they saw what it actually was and could not even think of anyone or anything that may give an explanation for it.
So not knowing what to do they did the only thing they thought could help and pulled a snail to contact their boss to report and ask what to do next.
Back in the bar a small transponder snail began to ring inside of Raionsan's pocket. He pulled it out, a different one from the one he used to communicate with his crew. This one was connected to the guards snails who patrolled the edge of Zou. As such it rarely rang so when it did Raionsan grew concerned.
He clicked it and spoke solemnly, "Report."
"Object spotted in the sky, Master Raionsan," A voice said on the other end of the line.
"In the sky? You sure it's not another larger bird?" He responded thinking it might be a false alarm.
"No sir...well yes sir? It appears to be a giant bird carrying a whole complex or building on its back. But on closer inspection it looks like it is actually fused with the complex....we have no idea what that is, should we shoot it out of the sky?" Raionsan contemplated for a moment then spoke once more, "standby I'm on my way."
Horkos stood up and stopped Raionsan "I think this is where Yoko and I take our leave. I'll watch from a distance to just make sure everything will be ok, but I can't be seen with you if our plans are going to work like we want.", walking to the wall, he pressed a hidden button in the wallpaper that opened up a secret passage in the wall. "This takes us straight to the forest, so we won't be seen with you as you leave. Tell the old man not to croak till I return." turning to Yoko "Come on girl, let's get going. We have big stuff ahead of us". As the two entered the hall, the wall began to close, seamlessly flushing with the wall.
After a bit of walking, the hallway led the two to a moss covered cellar door that Horkos easily opened. Outside was the forest of Zou, they had ended up in the middle of the jungle. "We'll watch from a distance as you know, so make sure you hide well" Horkos said as he seamlessly faded into the shadows of the forest, heading to watch over the town.
Yoko found herself an easily accessable hole in the side of a large tree to sit inside of. She didn't really understand what it was that was going on besides that there was a bird involved and they couldn't be seen as a result. What has going on with said bird wasn't really any concern to her anyways, it didn't seem to be any business of theirs.
She considered asking Horkos, but she stopped herself in case it ended up being some long winded lecture about things she didn't really understand, or worse, that he would just grunt at her and explain nothing.
Pulling her knees up to her chest she tried to distract herself by repeating some of her favorite recipies in her head, it had been only a week since Horkos had arrived and yet she felt like she'd lived a life time since the morning she'd woken up to cook breakfast for her grandparents, when she still hid the fact she knew her mother was no longer with them, it had been a much easier life, easier to live, easier to understand, she wondered if she was regretting getting herself involved with all this.
Bark!
Yoko's eyes shifted back into focus before she felt the cold nose of Vixen pressing against her leg.
"Vixen!" Yoko shouted in joyous surprise that the little fox had followed her all the way here. She'd thought she'd seen the last of her pet, that they might have to leave her behind. But picking her up and sitting her in her lap she was happy to have her in her company again.
Having been brought back to reality now by the appearance of her friend Yoko looked to Horkos who was watching over the town from his spot in the shadows. "Are they enemies?"
As the creature came closer, it was obvious that it was a strange hybrid of a building and a bird. With its huge wingspan, the bird looked like a normal bird, at least the parts that stuck out of the building, although its beak looked a little metallic and its eyes actually glowed blue. It stopped on a step, flew in place and watched the people on the ground, then opened its beak.
“Test? Test? Do you hear me?” A voice that sounded like it was coming from a megaphone or some kind of communication device boomed through the beak: “Hello ladies and gentlemen. We request permission to land, as we even have some gifts in exchange.”
Raionsan walked out to greet the creature and look up toward it. A young sheep Mink holding a speak approached him, likely the guard that reported to him earlier, carrying a medium-sized Den Den Mushi, and stood at attention next to Raionsan.
"Sir, who exactly are these people?" The young Mink asked curious about what was happening and if there would be a fight.
"I have an educated guess," the lion mink said as he grabbed the speaker atop the snail attached to a chord connected to the snail shell. As soon as he did, the once resting snail came to life and opened its mouth, Raionsan's voice coming out of as he spoke, now amplified. "But let's confirm shall we?" He said before bringing the speaker up to his mouth.
"This is Master Raionsan, Lord of these Hills and King of this Land, before I even think of letting you onto my island you must identify yourself and if that...bird...thing has any weapons ensure they are disabled."
“Nice to meet you, mister Raionsan. Clup has no weapons or weapon systems. She just wants to rest for a bit. As who we are? We are Screen News. The most modern and best news source all around the world!”
The voice answered, sounding excited, especially at the part where the person described themself.
“Ugh,” Raionsan said putting down the speaker as he did and rubbing the area above his nose.
“Problem sir?” the young mink questioned, a bit more comfortable knowing the identity of the stranger.
“Do you know who the most powerful group in the world is Lockley?” Raionsan asked the sheep.
Lockely pondered for a moment and then answered, “The Marines?”
“Rai Rai Rai!” Raionsan roared in laughter for what must have been the third time that day.
After this laughter died down he made a serious face, “No Lockley, not them, hell if you said the Yonko then you’d at least be closer to the mark but you’d still be wrong.”
He looked to the creature now identified as Clup, “It’s the media.”
“The media sir?” Lockley questioned.
“They might not be strong in terms of actual power, but the influence they have over the entire world is something to be wary of, he who controls the world’s view controls the world,” Raionsan said getting ready to respond to the voice coming from the bird, “a wise Mink once told me that.”
“You are permitted to land but I’ll only allow a small party to gain entry,” he said before putting the speaker back on the receiver.
“Send word to the guardsmen to keep close to me but out of sight,” Raionsan said to Lockley, “I’ll go and meet them personally.”
Lockley saluted Raionsan, “Sir yes sir!”
With the positive response the bird-building continued its path as it came closer and closer to Zou. With the creature closing the distance, it actually became obvious that the thing was actually way taller than it actually looked like. Taking one massive leap, finally lending the creature was completely massive and giant, the wings starting to flap one more time, sending dust and few nearby people accidentally away, before resting down, looking quiet relieved that it finally was not forced to fly. From the building on top it looked quite advanced. While not completely in the direction of sci-fi or high technology, it definitely had a steampunk look from the outside with a lot of metal elements, gears and pipes everywhere, with the only abnormality being a few screens here and there plastered. A hissing sound was heard, before a big door opened, before stairs started to come down, touching the ground.
“Sir. You can't go first! What if someone tries to shoot you?” A female voice replied, as out of the building going the stairs down were two figures. One in front was a tall, slim man wearing a fine suit, mostly common wear in big business companies. However all he wore or any other detail would not matter as one feature stood out the most. After all it would be hard to ignore that instead of a head there was a big screen on it, with a face on it projected. The screen itself had a smiling face on it, with electricity gathered over its head.
Behind the person was a very short woman with blonde twin tails and wearing a black suit. On her side she had a gun, her face showed concern and a bit of annoyance on it, as she side eyed the screen head person.
“But Boss. You can't just go ahead!” The woman complained, as the smile on the screen only turned a bit more teasing.
“Relax, Briar. I know what I am doing.”
As Raionsan made his way to greet the News invaders he was taken back for a moment but only a moment as the figure of one of them came into view.
"I swear Devil Fruit powers just get stranger," he said under his breath as he approached the group believing the “man’s” appearance was the result of a Devil Fruit.
"Greetings, welcome to Zou, what the hell do you want? And don't give me that 'your beast needs to rest' crap because you could have done that anywhere but you chose my island. And how the hell did you even find this place?"
Raionsan heeded his own words of being wary of the Media as he knew their opinion of him could affect the world's opinion of him, which he frankly didn't care about, but he did care about Zou. And he needed the island to keep some of its isolation. The last thing he needed was the world to know a way to not only find Zou but to think it was an easy island to enter. If necessary he was prepared to make an example of these newcomers, but that was the nuclear option until he knew more about their intentions.
Tensing up, the blonde haired woman’s eyes narrowed down in cold fury at the words, as she looked like she was about to do something only to stop at the raised hand of the screen head person. Said screen still held a friendly smile, even at the intimidating presence and words of the master of Zou.
“Oh don't be that defensive, sir. I may know, that this place may be taboo to be just casually enter, especially as one of the last bastions of your crew, but,” the screen shifted, showing a hand pointing in a direction to the bird building, which actually breathed hard and exhausted, “But it is not a lie, that our friend her could not keep up anymore. But I admit we aimed for another island close to land, but seeing our luck to spot the giant elephant I could not stop myself from showing curiosity in a mythical place like that?”
With the explanation finished, it turned back into a smiling face, as he put his hands together, showing an even more exciting look.
“But now my curiosity spiked up a bit more, seeing a legendary figure like you here, sir. I may have an idea to thank you properly to allow us to land here, well beside a few extra gifts. I think similar to people from sky islands you would like to have a bit of access to goods from the ground level, like soil, different seeds, fruits and other stuff.”
Raionsan folded his arms, it was clear the woman by the man's side was the one willing to fight but his instincts told him the man himself was the one to be wary of. And despite the state of the bird before him, no one just finds Zou. Despite Zunesha's size it is quite difficult to make him out in the fog that surrounds the , mighty elephant. Even still he did not directly contradict his story.
"Thanks to the trade routes I've set up with my crew a while ago I have access to such resources already," he said calmly. "This is not a sky island, and just because we keep the rest of the world out doesn't mean we have no means to make our way in."
He had said these exact words to the World Government when they offered to set up a trade route for Zou. He declined them then for the same reason he was declining this offer, he didn't like having Non-Minks on Zou.
"You'd better have more than food, and seeds to offer me, Mr...whoever the hell you are." Raionsan said his curiosity becoming replaced with annoyance.
The screen still remained in the same place, as the words did not even bother the person at all. Pulling out of his suit a cigar he strangely put it on his screen, as it looked like it was actually sticking in the screen, where his mouth should be. Pulling a lighter, he ignited the cigar, taking a deep breath. Breathing out the smoke, he grinned at the mink.
“Ah yes. Trading routes were probably very useful and stabile in the past, especially with the powerful figure keeping people away to bother you guys. And if the routes exist I am curious how long it takes for people getting ideas to disturb them. After all, why fear the minks being in Zou, basically hiding and not existing, without the presence of a Yonko.”
Code explained, as his screen shifted showing a state board, which lowered and lowered.
“You may be powerful, but in the end without presence everything will crumble slowly but surely. With new powerful figures rising I am curious how long it will take for other pirates, the other yonko’s or marines starting to claim the past territories and slowly getting more and more from you guys till nothing is left. Believe it or not, even though it's rare you can find the island by luck or prediction. After all, the Beast Pirates did it in the past.”
The face returning it turned back into a bright smile, as he took another drag of his cigar.
“Also my name is Code. The fact you didn't know about me, means the isolation is definitely not a good thing or else you may have noticed how the world is shifting. Explain it or try to justify it, you guys get slowly forgotten and put into an easy target. Especially for the white coats and other two emperors. But seeing you dont like my little gifts, how about I may offer you something else as a thanks for letting us land her.”
Raionsan had a long day, no, a long couple of days. He had returned home eager to bring home the news from the meeting at the World Government Headquarters only to be chastised and feared by his people. Then Horkos comes in demanding the land Raionsan had worked his entire fucking life to get. And now some screen-faced bastard stepped onto his land and insulted him.
He hated pretty much everything the man had just said. Still, he did notice that despite him acting as if he knew everything he was unaware that the incident he was referring to with the former Yonko crew, the Beast Pirates was only because they had someone on the island with a Vivre Card. He was not as smart as he presented himself to be.
There was one statement in particular the man said that Raionsan despised. ‘With new powerful figures rising.' The second he said that images of Cero flashed in his mind and he growled baring his teeth without even meaning to.
To top it off he had the gull to compare the lion Mink to Eris something Raionsan hated in particular especially considering all she did was ward people away. Raionsan was taking steps to further Zou yet no one aside from his crew seemed able to see the big picture.
"Oh I've heard of your news but I've never heard of you because no one cares who's reporting the news, just the news itself,” Raionsan said with aggravation.
“You see there are two kinds of people in this world." Raionsan pointed to himself, "those who take action and make history," he then pointed to Code, "and those who record it and aren’t forgotten because no one knew them in the first place."
“Sure there were times when names like ‘Big News’ Morgan were infamous, but nowadays no one cares about the man behind the screen, only the screen itself and despite your weird-ass head you are still the man behind the screen.”
He dropped his finger that was still pointed at Code and began to step toward him his whole body glowing yellow once more.
“Also,” he was now much larger in the same muscular form he had used to match Horko's strenght in their fight earlier towering above both Code and Briar.
“If you think presence is enough you know nothing of territory,” he said now in a deeper guttural voice.
“It wasn’t Eris’s presence it was her name that made this place untouchable just as it is mine that makes it the same. I have killed so many, I have conquered so much that everyone from the New World to Paradise knows not to fuck with Zou or risk being slain by its Monster of a King!”
“So let me ask you Man Behind The Screen,” he said towering directly above Code his Haki slipping out unintentionally through black lightning from his body, “why should I not kill you to remind this world what a beast I am?!”
It was silent as no one dared to muster a single word after the death threat. With the soft wind heard and the breathing of the giant bird in the background, it felt like ages passed, only for the first reaction to happen. Behind Code the blonde haired woman started to shift. Eyes turning wide, with her hair strangely moving and her mouth becoming a big frown, without teeth, it started right into the mink. Other minks around the theme started to feel nervous, as it was not because they were afraid of her as a threat, but more of her unnatural appearance, as it felt like a demon was about to be unleashed.
“Bzzzttt.” Only for it to vanish, as her eyes turned normal, with the screen head turned upside down, while the shoulders of Code started to shake,
“BuzBuzBuz!” Only to burst out in laughter, making Briar take a step back, the screen shifting multiple times letting out laughter of a whole audience out, showing various pictures, with electricity sparking over his head.
“You are way too prideful, you know?! Acting like I live on the top of an elephant! Let me give you a reminder!”
With that the newsman’s head started to turn back into the smile, this time it looked a bit more teasing.
“The man who made history and the one that reports it? Well that you are right, but who cares what the man did if it's not reported in the first place? Who fears the terrifying mink, if no one knew about him individually? After all either you like it or not. Zou was Under Eris. Under the Animal Kingdom. Before the war. Your feats meant nothing now, after all who cares for your name, if the terrifying name was Eris?” The screen shifting showed the visuals of the actual war, as some scenes appear in the fight between the alliance and the marines, “I really do not like to undermine someone, as I am sure you are powerful,but who cares if your name is just not known or not taken seriously? Who cared if Dracule Mihawk was the greatest swordsman and marine hunter, if no one said to the people he is?”
With the screen shifting back to his face, it gave him another teasing smile, as he patted Briar on top of her head.
“The person who just reported the history is way more important than you know. After all, the news can declare the rise of a new Yonko to the world. The news can destroy someone's reputation forever for the world. Everything is possible. After all, history is written by the one who reports it, don't you agree?”
Raising his hand he gave an actual salute to the mink, as its screen shifted into a number, showing 1.
“You have three options honestly. You could kill me and kill the person who could give you the opportunity to rise into the world, bringing someone separate and not someone being just known as the one under someone. I mean I am sure I could die and send the last short news out. The headline being: “I got killed by Raionsan. He was probably afraid of the news.” I am sure it will make your rivals and emperors respect you, instead of searching left and right to find minks and get themself a vivre card to get themself a route to Zou. I am also sure the world government would like it a lot if you kill the person who introduced their new admiral and created a positive image for her.”
The number switched to 2.
“Option 2. You should just let me go and we get nothing out of it. You lost your chance to spread your name to the world and I lost the chance to have an interview with the great Raionsan.”
The number switched to 3.
“Or option 3. You accept my offer and let your name be heard throughout the world. The choice is yours. After all your colleagues, the other warlords benefit a lot of me. I mean they even got their own advertisement.”
Raionsan’s anger simply grew, he could not believe this idiot had survived as long as he had if this was how he operated with pirates. Code had believed he had power in this situation, a situation where he was on Raionsan’s turf, called his power into question and even went so far as to threaten him.
Plus he didn’t know what power the girl possessed but he knew she wanted a fight. He did not care, despite the strength he sensed, she was no match for him especially after the week he’d had.
“I'm pretty sure I heard a threat in there somewhere so..." Raionsan said as he raised a claw emanating with Electro he was about to bring it down and kill the two in a single blow when suddenly Bere bere bere.
It was a small Smart Tanishi ringing in Raionsan's pocket. Given the situation, he wouldn't have even considered answering it, but the fact that it was his Tanishi as opposed to his Den Den Mushi meant it was an emergency. Raionsan sighed, turned his back to Code, carefully took out the small device, and clicked it.
"What?" he said knowing that the person on the other end was his Vice Captain Hayes as he was the only one Raionsan entrusted the other Tanishi to.
"Sir..." he said clearly hesitating to deliver the news, "the vault's open, and your safe is empty."
Raionsan 's face went blank and he looked ahead, frozen in time. He contemplated for a moment then processed his thoughts.
He began to shrink down back to his 40s and placed his hand on his mouth uttering a single word under his breath, “Cero.”
Unbelievable, it seemed fate itself wanted to push Raionsan to his limits today. He slid his hand over his eyes and looked to the sky.
A wicked smile formed on Raionsan's face and he began to laugh. "Rai Rai Rai Rai RAI RAI RAI!"
As he laughed his Haki erupted from him sending out a wave that knocked out some of his shoulders and even spread to the city knocking out some of the residents near the city's edge.
His cape fluttered around him as the force coming from his Haki caused winds strong enough to shake the trees.
“RAI RAI RAI! Rai Rai Rai!”
As he calmed down his laughter began to slow as well until it ceased completely.
He was left with his hand over his eyes still and he slid it back down his face and his smile was replaced with a grimace,
"You'll be under armed guard," he said now speaking to Code hoping he was at least strong enough not to be unconscious, "and you are to remain on the outskirts of my city."
He turned to Code and his smile returned once more, "and at the end of this interview I will be delivering a message, you are to make sure this message is spread like wildfire across the world."
He walked up to the man, “There are a few people I want in particular to see this message but he’s likely far away now, so make sure to send it far and wide.”
“And one last thing,” Raionsan’s smile turned wicked as he glowed yellow once more and his eyes became feral as he aged into a younger version of himself in his 20s.
“You ever and I mean ever, talk to me like that again, I will rip out Clup’s skeleton, turn it into a blade, cut off her head with it,” he said pointing toward Briar, “cut out your cords,” he then pointed toward Clup, "and use them to hang whatever’s left of your team inside at the end of Zunesha’s tail, as a message to anyone else dumb enough to piss me off.”
With the burst of the conqueror haki, the sheer aura of dominance washed over the people. The giant bird would be scared at the threat afterwards, if not for passing out from the burst, with a big drop shaking the ground a bit.
Briar’s eyes widened as a cold sweatdrop appeared on her forehead, showing the effect of the haki took her by surprise, while her body turned stiff for a moment. Taking a breath, she tried to compose herself, her eyes while still glaring at the mink it also showed curiosity and a bit of respect.
“So that's the color of a supreme king ... .it's definitely something else feeling it instead of just hearing it.” The woman muttered in an impressed tone.
However the expression of the screen head guy was completely different. His face turned into an expression of a deadpan, as his head turned to the sigh, seeing the bird passed out, only to turn back at the mink.
“Was that really necessary?” Code complained, only for the expression to shift into a thumbs up. “Crystal clear…” he muttered only for the display to show a big question mark turning left and right. “Is this area in use? Like where are we standing right now?”
Raionsan honestly hadn't meant for his Haki to go as far as it did. He didn’t mean for it to be released at all. It seemed that when he was in the form of his younger self it was hard not to tie his Haki to his emotions just as it was when he was young. A problem he thought he corrected a year ago. It seemed the day had really gotten more of a rise out of him than he thought.
He was impressed by the fact that both Code and Briar were able to stay on their feet.
Code’s response made him want to kill him even more but he desperately wanted to send his message, plus he realized this opportunity came at the perfect time. Surely word of Horko's presence on Zou would eventually reach the rest of the world, especially the World Government. It would be better if Raionsan could control the narrative himself.
“Yes, here will do,” he said as he began glowing once more and growing, turning to his 40-year-old prime self.
“No offense,” he said not caring if he offended Code or not, “but I don’t trust your people any further than this so you’ll have to make do with this.”
He extended his hands out to the area of Zou they were on, as it was the edge their were debris from ancient ruins but no real structures other than some large trees where the jungle met the rest of the land.
Raionsan knew it was little to work with and he’d be lying to himself if he said he would not find enjoyment in watching them struggle to set up.
The wave of haki took a moment to reach and wash over Horkos and Yoko. As it shook Horkos, his eyes widened in excitement. Some of his own haki began to flow off him like a low hanging mist. "That bastard.", a smile grew on his face "You are telling me you were holding back as well, you almost killed me. HORHOROROR."
In their fight, he held back releasing his Haoshoku haki in his fight out of respect for Raionsan, but he didn't think he was doing the same. Looking over to Yoko, he checked to make sure she was still conscious.
Yoko's fur stood on end, she'd felt a wave of electricity flow through her body and with it every hair on her body instantly stood. Her head hurt and she felt dizzy, but she hadn't falling unconscious from the haoshoku, though that could be because of the distance from its source. She'd rather not feel it up close and personal.
"What's going on down there, Horkos? Is it another fight?" She asked before noticing her poor Vixen was out cold.
"Ah, he knocked out Vixen!" Yoko's attention changed from whatever might be going on with Raionsan to her knocked out pet. "Wake up, Vixen. Come on, girl." She tried to wake the little fox up and with a bit of shaking she did just that.
"Thank goodness..."
Fare away from the action, a flock of birds lay scattered across the ground, unconscious from the blast of haki that was shaking Zou, apart from one lone raven with a white scarf. The blackbird sat on its branch, staring in the direction of the Haoshoku blast with great obverseration.
The display turned back into a smile as he looked at Briar before looking around and seeing the surroundings he had to work with.
“Briar!” As he turned to face the woman, the display turned into a clock, “Put it together! It's time to build a studio!”
“.......” As the blonde neither answered nor responded to Code, the display changed to a question mark, then to an exclamation mark as he realized the problem.
“Ahhhh right!” Without warning, the display went black again.
“BAAAAAAAAAA!”
A loud screeching sound escaped, causing everyone to wake up, who fainted previously, while it hurt everyone else's ears, especially the noise sensitive ones. Even the giant bird regained consciousness, but it didn't stop with the loud noises.
“MOVE YOUR ASSES! WE GO LIVE IN 10 MINUTES! PREPARE THE STUDIO!”
Briar yelled like a drill sergeant as the entire crew rushed out of the building to begin their work. The minks, amused by their efforts to set up, soon found out that it wasn't the first time they had set up the studio in a very bad place.
We Are Live[]
Even though many minks had a low opinion of their visitors, especially since they were all non-fur races, sowing the seeds of racism that had been instilled in them by the tyrannical rule of Eris, they were sentient beings and couldn't help but be amazed.
After all, they could not ignore what this group of diverse people had done in the last 10 minutes. What was once a piece of nature with ancient ruins was transformed into a veritable open-air studio. A huge podium made of old runes and wood, with chairs and a desk on it, while outside there were even bleachers set up for the minks to sit and watch the show. They even customized their equipment, as they used strange transporter snails with screens instead of eyes, all held up by wooden sticks and other things from nature to ensure that the whole environment took on the atmosphere of Zou. Even the letters “Screen News” were made from leaves and sticks.
All in all, the whole crew did an absolutely fantastic job, not just in setting up, but literally following a theme, as they all rushed to prepare the visual snails like cameras while preparing the sound.
In doing so, they also showed that they were either stupid, brave or took their job very seriously. After all, it takes a lot of courage to literally drag the ruler of Zou into a makeshift dressing room to prepare the lion-mink for the interview. The said result was a Tontanna rushing left and right, finalizing the design for Raionsan when he could see the result of his transformation.
Although he was wearing a business suit, the Tontanna made sure to follow the theme and gave it the colors of the jungle so that it looked like the tree trunks were covered in green while he made it rough on the ends, with holes, sxratxhes and loose ends, so that it was a perfect blend of wild yet professional. Even his hair and face fur were washed and made fresh and even his teeth brushed, making the Lion Mink probably look the cleanest and most stylish in his life.
Fixing the green tie, the Tontanna jumped back before bowing to the Lion Mink.
“It is done. Do you want to change anything else in the last 2.34 minutes, Sir Raionsan?”
Raionsan was frozen for a moment as he looked at himself in the mirror. He had allowed the crew to pull him inside their makeshift dressing room because he thought they would leave him afterward. To his surprise, the Tontanna quickly changed his entire wardrobe. If he was being honest he was impressed, not just with the ability of the dwarf to measure and size up Raionsan but also with his ability to make the clothes fit in matter of moments quickly, and with being able to put him in them in even less time. Even among the few members of the tribe he knew, the older lion never witnessed such talent.
However, that did not dampen his distaste for the fact that he had been touched and more importantly changed without his consent. He lowered himself down to the small member of the Tontanna Tribe, and in a calmly low but menacing voice, "Leave before I eat you."
That was more than enough for the crew member to dash out of the door in a flash so quick Raionsan swore he saw his shadow failing to keep up. He turned back at himself in the mirror and couldn't help but admire himself. He was happy he was still in his somewhat younger years as though he had a lot of upper hair he had little to no facial hair. Which was good because he likely would have killed the crewmen had they cut it off. Though the suit and fur edges may have been a bit much, Raionsan could not help but feel that even in this garb he looked like a king.
"Good," he said to himself in the mirror while messing with his cufflinks, "this should show them."
As he fiddled with them he noticed the cufflinks they had given them were golden elephants, likely meant to represent Zunesha. However, for him they represented something else, causing him to stare for a moment.
"It's my time now you bastard," he said as he raised the cufflinks as if talking to the golden elephant.
He was kicked out of his thoughts at the sound of knocking on the door, "1 minute Mr. Raionsan."
He looked at himself more before sighing and heading out the door, "guess it's showtime."
When he stepped from the room he took in the sight before him. He didn't know how else to say it but he was impressed the News team had managed to make a studio out of jungle with very few of their own materials. It made sense considering their reputation but still, it was one a sight to behold.
He was led by a person wearing a headset and holding a clipboard to the main stage where he found Code waiting.
Standing in his usual attire, his suit clean like always, Code adjusted his tie, while his face projected a neutral expression, only to turn into a smile, spotting the lion mink.
“Ah Sir Raionsan! Looks like our dress up crew did a good job!” Code praised the new mink, before more of the crew walked over, with Briar wearing blue sunglasses and also a headset, as his fellow mink all sit around in the sitting places, some looking at thier leader, while some even had popcorn in their hands, offered by a staff member having white wings on her back.
“Sir! Live Show will start in 40 seconds.” Briar said,as Code gave her a nod of acknowledgment, before giving the final words to the mink. “I am pretty sure you will do an incredible job. Remember whatever you will do, all will see. After all, it will be live.”
Raionsan smiled in an almost menacing manner which surprisingly had an even more ominous effect as he was now dressed up and looked more like a villain then a mad warrior, "oh I'm counting on it."
However, he regained himself and took a seat in the chair.
“That's what I like to hear!” Code replied cheerfully, taking his seat behind the desk with a mug of coffee beside him, before the crew moved even faster. All the snails pointed in their direction as more and more snails with lights closed down darkening the place.
“We going live! 5…4…3…2…1…Action!” Briar shouted as someone ringed a bell, before a fish-man on the side with a mic started to speak through a snail, starting the job as the narrator.
“Around all the blues, from high and low, we will search for answers. No matter the distance or dangers we will always report. After all every story, big or small, happy or sad, violent or peaceful, everything is worthy to be reported. And we take our all, that you guys will get informed, after all that is not only our job but our responsibility. We are here for you to ALL TO SEE!"
With that the lights illuminated, showing Code in close zoom in all his weird glory. Meanwhile all around the world, the newspapers from screen news, either being last editions or the current edition started to buzz and spring to life.
“Welcome to the Live-Interview! With your favorite host, Code!”
All around clapping was heard either fake created with microphones or even some minks clapping, before stopping a bit embarrassed, as they got stares by their fellow minks.
“Greetings my lovely viewers! Today we have a special case! If you notice right now on the left top corner of the display there must be a red light, which means everything you will see is live, ergo it happens right now, no recording, completely in the present. And the reason for that was that today we got a very special guest who gave us the privilege to share his views and answer the questions for the world.”
With the lights dimming down, as drums were heard, which slowly started to build tension up, the eyes of Code glowing.
“Being known as maybe the wildest man in the world, known to slay and rip apart his opponents with his bare hands. A man feared by most monsters and beasts, a man who shined in the great war of the best. A man recognized by the world government and offered the position of a warlord. A big applause for the one and only, Raionsan!”
With the words screamed out, applause filled the studio, either fake one or the ones from the mink’s as the lights all shined and the camera’s zoomed out revealing the image of the tall lion mink sitting across Code.
Raionsan looked to the camera and flicked his hand as a half wave of sorts with a smile, "reluctantly happy to be here Code." He said with a chuckle as most of the Minks cheered upon seeing him on screen while others were hesitant.
“Ah yes a bit of audience fever is natural, but don't worry I am sure you will do quite well!” Pushing the secret jab against him to the side with a small joke, “But I am glad you are present today to give the world a view of who the warlord Raionsan is!”
With his vision turning to the cameras, they zoomed right in close to his display head which quickly changed to a scene projected.
“But before we start, one important piece of information for our viewers! If you noticed, under your newspapers letters and numbers appear. Yes right now you all viewers have the chance to not only watch this in real life time, but also have the opportunity to ask a question! Tip your name or nickname into the display and enter with an #RaionQuestion and follow up with the question! If you are lucky in the second half of the interview you question will be present! Also clear insults, jokes or mockery will be out-filtered and not picked anyway.”
With the quick overview done, the cameras zoomed out again revealing the duo, before Code’s expression was fully on Raionsan.
“But let's not keep you waiting for too long. How about we start a short introduction to the warlord status. And it would all start in the great war. What was your position and experiences in the war?”
Raionsan's face remained completely still with his quiet smile displayed, he motioned casually with his legs and chuckled as if Code had just told a joke. "Jumping right into it I see?”
His mind flashed back to the events of the war as he stood beside his fellow Warlords. He watched the Marines clash with the powers of two Emperors of the Sea. He saw his fellow Minks put up a fight worthy of their tribe. He saw those same Minks fall. He had a hand in their descent.
He blinked and he snapped back to reality and answered calmly. “During the war, I held back with my fellow Warlords until we decided it was fitting to join, you know, when the Marines started losing control and realizing how in over their heads they were.”
He raised his hands with a smirk, “but I digress.”
“When we did join the fray I intentionally went away from any Mink soldiers and chose to focus on the other Yonko crew, though Eris and I had our differences I still respected her and chose to try to avoid killing and of my tribesmen. As such fighting non-minks was easy for me and I was able to help weaken their forces so the Marines could finish them.”
“It was, a troubling experience but one I learned much from and grew stronger from.”
“Understandable. Especially seeing you were close to the death of countless of your people. I think me and the viewers definitely should respect your decision and views.”
Taking his mug, Code took a slip of it, before eying Raionsan and for a very short moment, it looked like Code starred him with a different expression. Not one of pity, but honest understanding.
“Seeing we were on the topic of the war, seeing you said you respected Eris, is that why you took it on your own to conquer Zou and probably her other territories under your name? Or is there a reason beyond that?”
Raionsan smirked once more not smugly but confidently. He was once again prepared for this question. "Upon Eris's defeat, I knew pirates would go after her territory like savages."
He brushed some of his hair from his eye as he continued, "With her gone, I was undoubtedly one of the strongest Minks in the world at the time so I took on myself to claim as much of her former islands and lands as I could and made sure to instill the same policies that she had, asking for no more than she did save for offering my crew and I residency whenever we saw fit to make their lands our current base."
He looked Code in his eyes if you could call the digitally moving retinas eyes and his face grew dark, “but Zou was a different matter.”
“Before the war, I had already set plans in motions to negotiate the transfer of Zou from Eris to myself, and if necessary go to war with her.” His face returned to a smirk, “however the war took away the need for such evils, I’ll admit I would have preferred to take advantage simply of Eris’s weakened state and then convince her to give me the land.”
His face dropped a bit perhaps to hide his momentary sadness, “alas she died, on her terms just as she had lived.”
He raised his head, “as such I could not simply leave Zou unattended, what with her crew either dead,” he looked seemingly to the camera but upon closer inspection one could tell he was looking beyond it, almost into the trees, “or in the winds,” he looked back to Code, “it fell to me.”
“No matter what Zou was always my goal, being this island’s lord and master has been my dream since I was young, it was only a matter of time before it became a reality, and look,” he raised his arms as if to take the entire island in, “it seems fate thought my time was now.”
“Hmmmmmm?”
Humming in response to the answer of Raionsan, Code was silent for quiet time, as he took another sip of his cup of coffee, before letting out a satisfied sigh.
“So Zou was all your life, your dream and fate finally gifted you that. But even though you said they were dead and gone, I would lean myself out and assume there were survivors of the crew in the territories of the Animal Kingdom, like they were remaining Whitebeard Pirates, defending their territories from Blackbeard. So I am curious, if you encountered heavy resistances as well and if so how difficult it was for you to deal with them, seeing your actions you did in the war avoiding to fight your own people and well your position as a warlord, which is not really viewed in a good way from the pirate side?”
Raionsan's face was unmoving his smirk remaining. Whatever worries he had in this interview washed away as he let himself get more comfortable.
"There were of course some retainers, nothing like the 'Payback War' mind you." He used air quotes when talking about the almost ancient war between the Whitebeard Pirate retainers and the Blackbeard Pirates.
"But yes a few of Eris's former crewmates tried to hang onto to her territory but my crew drove them out." His face grew a bit darker, "or if necessary forced them out."
"And as to how I feel about fighting my people," Raionsan chuckled dryly and leaned forward a bit, he seemed to be staring at the floor looking like he was trying to burn a hole through it. "A long long time ago, I was faced with a choice."
His mind flashed back to the hardest battle of his entire life, and nearly growled but he stopped himself remembering he was still on live television. "A wise Mink once told me that the choice was what path I would follow to my future. He said, ‘The sea always takes back what it gives. Your choice will shape your destiny…make sure it’s one you can live with.”
He clenched his hands together before looking back to Code, his smirk returned, “I made my choice and have not looked back since, and considering it’s gotten me almost everything I’ve wanted in my life I’d say it’s the right one!”
He looked to the camera, “And as for how I’m viewed by pirates, who the hell cares, you’re all a bunch of criminals anyway,” he turned to Code, “The funny thing is I guarantee you each of the one’s who view me as a traitor would leap if offered the Warlord position.”
He crossed his legs and raised his hands defensively once more, “but that’s just my humble opinion.”
“Well I will say I met my fair share of pirates and I would agree with your opinion that most would jump at the opportunity.”
Chuckling with Raionsan, the display turned back into a question mark, while he put the cup to the side.
“But you made me curious, hearing you said you almost accomplished all your goals. Seeing you reached the position of a respectable and powerful figure in the world and reach your dream to be the new ruler of Zou, what else is left you wanted to achieve?”
Raionsan smiled and chuckled lightly once more, this time was different though. He looked down again as he continued smiling as if there was a joke right in front of everyone but only he knew the punchline.
He raised his hand and put up two fingers as he looked back to Code. “I want the two things that any king wants when they reach a certain point in their reign.”
He dropped one finger but kept one up, “First I want to be remembered,” he said interlocking his fingers as he dropped his hands. “Oh sure I’m Zou’s first Warlord King, and sure I’ll likely go down in history one way or another, but who wants to be known in history when they can in fact be cemented in it.”
“Which actually brings me to my second goal,” he said as he raised two fingers again.
“Second, I want to ensure that even after I’m gone, the Mink Tribe will go on for generations.” He turned toward the Minks in the audience and then to the camera. He had originally planned to announce Zou at the end of the day, but the timing didn’t matter and it was better that the entire world knew as well.
“As I’m sure many of you know I recently took part in a meeting held by the Marines,” he said now addressing the Mink Tribe and the World.
“In this meeting, I got approval for something I have long coveted since first becoming Zou’s king,” he raised his hand to the sky, “henceforth the island of Zou has been officially recognized as one of the Great Kingdoms and as such has been granted the right to attend the Reverie!”
Though the last part was still in talks Raionsan knew the higher-ups wouldn’t risk upsetting the Minks by saying no now that the news was out there.
This time the audience was silent and even the crew’s eyes widened at the declaration of Raionsan. Briar even looked surprised, her eyes widened, as there was an awkward silence in the whole studio. She was even heavily surprised that her boss was surprised, as he rarely got surprised or acted surprised. After all the years with him and even through the screen, she can guess what is fake surprise and honest surprise. And she was sure it was this time an honest surprise. Who could blame him? After all, it was incredible, world changing news. A non-human kingdom got the privilege to join the Reverie, beside the fishmen.
Thinking quickly, she pulled a board out with the big letters “Playing ads!” written on it.
Luckily for Code his surprise expression quickly vanished, after he saw the sign. Fixing his posture, his smile returned.
“Just…wow. Yes, that might go into history. The second non-human kingdom joining the Reverie, you achieved something people would consider an impossibility. As you heard my lovely viewers, not only is Raionsaan known as a powerful man and warlord, he also went even beyond that, starting to change history! And seeing that presentation and bomb dropped I am sure you all will have questions for him. Don't worry! Soon it will be your opportunity to do that, as after our ad, the viewer question round will start! See you soon as it should be enough time to recover from this shocking reveal!”
Code declared loudly as Briar made a cutting gesture, the cameras lowered, probably now playing the ad. Code’s smile slowly dropped a bit, giving Raionsan a strange look.
“Well I was expecting your message to drop at the end of the whole interview. But I must admit that's a very shocking reveal. That definitely will be in the memories of a lot of people and definitely will cause a spike in viewership. Buz! Buz! Buz!”
Chuckling a bit, another crew member came with two cups of waters, one given to Code, the other to Raionsan.
“Well you know what they say, go big or go home, and I’m not ready to leave just yet,” Raionsan said with a chuckle at his own joke.
He didn’t drink the cup as he never trusted a drink given to him by someone other than a Mink but still swirled it around a bit. His goal was to make himself known to the public and give them something to discuss so that people wouldn’t expect anything for a while. Also, to make sure that people knew his connection to the World Government was still strong. He needed to let them think he and Horkos remained enemies.
“Besides I’m sure this will be great for your ratings,” he said as he handed the still-full cup back tot he crew man, “you’re welcome.”
“Buz! Buz! Buz! Well it should be fair to thank you for that after all. But seeing your dropped the bomb so early I could not ask another question I wanted to ask, as it would destroy the peak of excitement. So perhaps you could answer it, while on the break.”
Code said, as he tapped his finger on the table.
“I did my homework and even though you answered that you sent them fleeing, I am 99% sure you had an encounter with “The Hunt”. How difficult it was to make a man loyal to his captain like that, admit defeat and make him flee or perhaps you even killed him?”
"Hmm, just 99? You need better sources then, Rai Rai Rai," Raionsan chuckled a bit at his own joke but it was more to hide his intrigue. He knew that there was no way Code and his crew arrived just as Horkos and he had finished finding by coincidence. He assumed it was the fight that brought them here in the first place. Or at the very least rumors of Horkos being on Zou had reached them.
Thankfully Horkos and Raionsan had established a cover story for their encounter already.
“Horkos still breaths,” Raionsan said confirming that much at least. “He arrived here days ago in the hopes of trying to take Zou from me, likely to launch a campaign against the World Government as revenge for the war.”
All of this was true of course and Raionsan knew that even if the cameras were off Code would be sure to spread this story. As such he needed to present Horkos as a threat to the world so he remained an ally to the World Government.
“We clashed and through a fierce battle in which I came out on top.” Also true although in all honestly, though Raionsan was the last Mink standing, standing was about all he could do. “I was about to kill him when he ran with his tail between his legs vowing that he would be back for Zou one day.”
“Buz! Buz! Buz! Hey, what can I say? If you do not say 100% nobody can sue or blame you if it turns out to be wrong!” Code replied jokingly back with a chuckle, only to be silent again, as he heard the answer humming a bit.
“I know you are the guy that everyone sees as shit, except your people, but beside that. You think the Horos holds his promise or tries to plan something? See it that way you want, just logical. You ruled Zou with your crew and now someone else takes it over, being associated with the World Government, who is at fault for your downfall at power? I would believe at least with a high chance he would try something new or plan something. But eh?”
Shrugging his shoulders, just letting his thoughts vanish again.
“You are a powerful figure and defeated him. You probably would do it again?” A crew person coming to them showed a sign with “2 Minutes” written on it. Letting out a sigh, Code tilted his head a bit.
“You may not really care about me or anything related to me. But it would be fair if you have a question for me. I would try to answer it before we start the second part of the interview, the Live-Questionnig.”
Raionsan thought for a moment, "would you promise to answer honestly?"
“Does my promise even matter to you?” Replied Code with a slight grin, yet had not really any intent or arrogance behind, as he put his hands together, “Seeing from you behavior and act around my crew, even though we may be visitors, you show clear dislike to anyone, no-mink. The reason behind it could be multiple ones, either justified or unjustified ones. In the end I don’t care or judge. But a promise only means that much if you trust the other person. So I can give you an answer, if I want to answer the question. If you believe it to be honest or not is up to you, like I can’t say with 100% accuracy, that your answers are all honest. But if my words mean anything to you, then yes. If I feel comfortable with the question I will answer it truthfully.
He explained, but his voice had no real intention in it. No hate, anger, or any emotions, other than sounding like someone talking about the weather.
Raionsan thought for a moment. Honestly, had Code presented himself in a better way on their first meeting he could see him being quite useful to the lion Mink. He might've even tried to befriend the journalist, more to get him as an ally than to form an actual friendship but still it would have been a different encounter. Even still the way he talked reminded Raionsan of an old man who had been through several experiences and come out alive through his charisma. While gaining his interest it simultaneously made Raionsan want to kill Code more.
Yet still, he had his question in mind and wanted to ask it.
"Fair enough," he said finally breaking the silence, "so, is an interview with me and letting your group and..." he turned to Clup, "creature rest truly all you want from Zou? Or is there perhaps something else you hope to gain from my land?
“Hmmmm?” Humming a bit the display had a thinking expression on it, before snapping back into a smile. “Nope! Nothing I would gain from you, as I just got lucky to find this place and can do an interview with a warlord.”
Code replied, his voice and expression make it impossible to say if he was lying or telling the truth, thanks to the lack of face features and the robotic voice replied through the screen. But before it could continue the crew member called out.
“We start going back live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Action!”
With that the cameras pointed back to the duo as the light started to turn on again, with Code having his signature smile on his face.
“Welcome back my lovely viewers to the second half of our interview. And this is the time where you guys have the chance to ask questions to this famous figure. Of course if he wants to answer the questions or not is up to him and we again apply to be respectful to each other.”
The screen on his head started to turn black, before it started to shift as it tried to build up a signal.
“Ready, Mister Raionsan?”
Raionsan wanted very much to believe Code, mostly because he did not want to deal with another headache. His face was a mystery but the older lion knew all too well you don’t look at a person’s face when you’re trying to catch them in a lie.
Raionsan smiled and looked to the crowd before nodding seemingly to signal he was ready but as he did a gust of wind swept over the crowd as if a powerful force ran past them at astonishing speeds.
Raionsan then looked to Code the smile turning to more of a light smirk and nodded, “Ready whenever you are?” He said talking to both Code and the world.
As the news reporter said his final words, the crew moved. Cameras and lights shut down and Briar pulled her megaphone out, before shouting.
“Okay guys! The show is over! Clean up now!”
The woman shouted, before the crew moved, starting to literally deconstruct the whole studio . With Taionsan and Code still sitting down, Code let out a sigh, before giving the mink a smile.
“Well it was something. The world will definitely now have a closer eye on you. And the rest of the world, which missed the live broadcast, will know it from the newspaper morning. After all, hearing a warlord defeat a yonko commander without problem will spike up interest to the readers and give more impact to your message.”
Raionsan removed the microphone under his clothes and handed it to a nearby crew member. "Yes, well now that that's done I trust you and your people will have a good journey home or wherever you were heading."
The lion got what he wanted out of the news people and every second they were here aggravated him. Plus he knew they likely possessed the ability to clean up their production set just as quickly as they had set it up, if they took longer than before he would order his soldiers to treat them as hostile and simply kill them all. After all, he had already established himself in the world and said everything he needed to say.
Not to mention with Horkos, Cero, and now the world knowing of his position he had many moves to make, both in public and from the shadows. It had been a busy week that was supposed to be his week of rest.
The mink was one more bad incident away from going feral on everyone and thing he saw.
Like the mink thought as quickly as the studio was built, so it was quickly reconstructed, before the whole crew left all into the base, with the giant bird-building looking energetic again, able to fly again, swinging its massive wings up and down.
“Indeed it is. I need to say thank you for the opportunity for this interview, but yes it is time to continue my journey. After all, the world will not wait for someone to report it!” Nearly screaming out, he and Briar rushed in surprising speed, before both were right at the door of their base, before the bird started to move its wings, before starting to fly. “Expect the newspaper to be ready tomorrow, Raionsan! I can’t wait to report your next part of your story!”
With the final promise, the bird finally flew away, before leaving Zou and taking away every non-mink with it, as the bird became smaller and smaller in the distance.
With that Raionsan let out a sigh of relief, finally one less thing to worry about.
He didn’t know where the brat was but he knew he’d seen his message he could feel it in his bones.
Plus he had reaffirmed himself with the World Government in bringing the report of Horkos defeat for the whole world to see.
And though it was not how he expected the news to be spread he officially declared Zou was one of the great kingdoms acknowledged by the Government, forever changing how the Mink’s would be viewed. The world put a slave price on the Mink Tribe, well when Raionsan was done, they would kneel before the Mink Kingdom.
He gripped his fist tightly and looked down at the elephant cufflinks again. Most importantly he had reaffirmed with the Fallout of the war Zou was his.
He threw the cufflinks behind him with so much force they went over the side of Zou. “Now then, to business.” He said as he trotted off to reconvene with his crew and prepare for a war that would begin in the shadows.
With all that happening on the outside, near the ancient giant elephant's eye, there was a small crawling sound. Metallic legs like a spider, it tapped skillfully on the flesh of the ancient being, revealed to be some kind of spider machine with a big screen as the center of its body. It crawled closer to its eyelid vanishing in sigh, involved in darkness, with the blue light illuminating the path, only to find something.
Standing in front of this machine, nowhere close to that place, there was a small treasure chest, hidden in the eye lid of this elephant. WIth the bot coming closer the screen started to flicker in an even brighter color of blue, with electric sparks coming out of it, before a hand came and grabbed the chest, before pulling it into the screen, vanishing from plain sight. Once the chest was gone, the bot made its leave, with leaving no sign at all, about what truly happened.
In a room filled with all kinds of screens, varieng from shape or size, sat the screen headed newsman on a huge seat, his expression on the screen unreadable. Right beside him stood a familiar chest, while behind him stood his head of security, Briar, who tried to have a neutral expression, but a bit of sweat formed on her forehead.
“Update?” Code simply asked, looking ahead, his gaze sometimes wandered to the inside of the chest, before his eyes wandered right on a screen, where the picture of a black furred mink sood in front of him.
“We received the treasure. They not assumed anything, as we not receiving anyone following or shooting us. The crew is informed about what might happen now and I am wearing my ear protectors right now.”
Briar answered, before putting them on, while closing the eyes…right on the time as all the screens started to bright up in violent shapes. Glitches and different images appeared, with an insane painful sound coming from all of them, with electricity sparked everywhere.
Code’s face also started to glitch, his head twitching, with various glitches on it, his hand looking nearly like claws digging in the screen, which showed Horkos face, before ripping through it till the bottom.
“Of course from all the bastards this guy lives! And not only is he alive, but also hiding like a rat and being nothing more than an insult?! I swear thanks to him I nearly snapped in front of the warlord! Bastard nearly ruined my reputation!”
Letting out a loud scream, which nearly sounded like a mechanical screeching as with a final screech all screen turned black making the whole ship fell in darkness, with the only light source being the outside and the blue screen of Code’s face, which showed his eyes turned red and the teeth sharp projected, only for him to smirk a bit before grabbing inside the chest to pull the object out from it.
“Atleast I got that, before this bastard would find it. Soon the rightful owner will get it.”
Code whispered in some kind of calmed mind, his light oh screen illuminating a red fruit with swirls on it, with a small chuckle escaping his throat as he can't wait for that day to come.
Message Received[]
On a small island on the East Blue, one so small, that only one town engulfed the entire land, there was a bar with a broken sign on it.
The sign was broken because a pirate captain named “Grey Eye” Issac was currently jammed through the sign his unconscious body half in and half out of the bar.
His head was dropped on the outside so if anyone entered the bar they would see him first until they walked through the doors and looked up to see his dangling feet.
Inside the building, there sat only one figure at the bar. A young rhino mink with a simple red shirt, black pants, and shades on that covered his eyes.
The mink took another drink of the fruity concoction, one of the island’s specialties.
As he did a pirate who wore the same colors as the pirate captain through the bar’s sign rushed the rhino with a dagger.
The rhino grabbed the old dagger with his hand and broke it in one go. The man was stunned for a moment but simply threw the dagger away and tried to punch the young mink who grabbed his fist with the same hand and refused to let go despite the pirate's attempts to pull back.
The Mink placed his glass down and was about to say something to the pirate when a radio placed on a high shelf behind the bar mentioned the name Raionsan.
The pirate began screaming and was about to use his free hand to attack the mink once more when he stopped in his tracks with a look from the rhino.
Even though they were hidden behind his shades the pirate could tell the young mink’s eyes were piercing through him with a sense of dread.
The rhino simply raised his free hand and put a finger to his mouth to tell the pirate to be quiet so he could listen and with that the pirate dropped his hand and fell silent.
The rhino turned back and listened to the broadcast.
The vast majority of it was rather boring to the Mink as he knew a vast majority of the things Raionsan revealed, though the news about Zou and the Reverie was quite interesting and something the Mink noted for the future.
Then the host said Raionsan had a message for the world and this is where his interest peaked.
As the lion mink began to speak one could hear his tone to be lighter with a hint of authority in it, as if he were a benevolent leader addressing his people.
"Greetings World, I'd like to start with a quote from my former teacher.”
“Life, as we all know, is a battlefield, and only the strongest survive, it was a simple lesson, not one we've all learned at one point or another, some more harshly than others.”
“To my fellow creatures of life trying to survive in the world, I'd like to offer a reminder.”
One could take the term creatures of life to mean all those watching. However, those who knew Raionsan knew that he was referring to his fellow Minks.
“Living in this world is not merely about survival, but about dominance. Power is the currency of our existence, and those who wield it without hesitation are the ones who shape the world. It is a relentless pursuit, requiring unwavering resolve and an iron will.”
“Amid your struggles and triumphs, never forget the principles that forged you into the formidable beings you are today. Strength, cunning, and an unyielding spirit—these are the traits that will see you through any challenge.”
“To one in particular among you, I say this:”
The rhino Mink's ears perked up as he could hear Raionsan’s tone get darker and while one could tell he was smiling from the way he talked before now he was smiling no longer.
“I am well aware of your capabilities. The shadows you cast, the echoes of our past... they are but whispers to me. Fear is a tool, one that I taught you to use but never to succumb to. Understand this: I am unshaken, unmoved by threats or veiled challenges. Our paths may cross again, and when they do, remember who taught you the true nature of power.”
The lion mink’s tone of voice changed completely, his once-dark demeanor returned to one of light.
“Now, to everyone else, let us not be distracted by trivialities. We stand on the brink of a new era, and it is our destiny to seize it with both hands. Stay vigilant, for the world is rife with opportunities for those with the courage to grasp them.”
“In closing, remember the strength that lies within you. Do not falter, do not yield. Continue to pursue the power that is rightfully yours, and let no one stand in your way.”
“Until we meet again, be ever relentless in your pursuit of dominance. Farewell.”
Thank you for that touching-” As the broadcast resumed the Rhino mink ceased listening he had heard all he needed to hear.
“You think you know fear? You old bastard?” He said as his grip on the man's fist tightened causing the man to snarl in pain and try to desperately attack, grab, and even scratch the Rhino all to no avail against his tough skin.
“Rohohoho, not yet,” he said as cracking and the sounds of bones breaking could be heard throughout the bar only drowned by the man's cries of pain. “But when I'm done!”
The rhino mink pulled the man by his grasped now shattered hand and grabbed his face with his hand, “You'll be well acquainted!!”
With that Tidae D. Cero crashed the man straight through the bar of solid oak with one hand head first.
As the dust settled Cero brushed some off his shirt and snorted through his nostrils before knocking on what was left of the bar, “Can I get a refill?” He said requesting service as if nothing had happened.
An older man reluctantly came from the back with a tray with a jug of a fruit cocktail. The man paused and slowly poured into the minks cup.
Cero drank the contents until the cup was empty once more.
“Ahhh,” he said with satisfaction in his voice, “Man that hit the spot,” he said standing up from the bar reaching into his pocket, and pulling out a few berries as he did, “I can see why you guys are famous for that stuff.”
He placed the berries on the counter and turned to leave the bar.
“Umm…” the older man said reluctantly causing Cero to turn around and stare at him to which the man reacted with a flinch.
“I’m sorry sir but…” he paused once more afraid to say whatever he wanted to say.
“Well spit it out I’ve got places to be,” Cero said already growing impatient.
“What about the damages?” The old man finally managed to get out.
“What damages?” Cero asked to which the man replied by looking around the car where there were pirates put through the walls, stacked onto each other on what were once tables, and a number of them piled on top of each other with broken bottles and glass everywhere. Some were dead, some unconscious, and some were too wounded to tell.
“Oh,” Cero sighed before finding the nearest semi-conscious pirate on the floor squatting near him and waking him up with a harsh but seemingly light slap.
“OWW!” The man bellowed before he shrunk with fear at seeing the mink who had just beaten their entire crew because their captain spilled a drink on him.
“Hey, which of you idiots has money?” The mink said without hesitation.
The man hesitated but the furrowing of the rhino’s eyebrows and the movement of his ears suggested his growing annoyance and he quickly replied, “The captain! He keeps most of our loot on his person!”
Cero looked up to the captain and turned back to the pirate, “Thanks,” he said before flicking him with so much power the man was knocked out instantly.
Cero stood up and grabbed his mace which was resting on the leg of a dead pirate who had bled out a while ago and walked over until he was under the captain.
He raised his mace and lightly hit him a few times until three pouches fell out of the man’s coat like a pinata.
Cero took two of the pouches and threw them over to the bar for the old man. “That should cover it,” he pointed his mace at the man, “and other complaints?”
The man took the pouches and shook his head so quickly he was scared it would break his neck.
Cero laughed at this while letting the mace rest on his shoulder as he normally did and took the remaining pouch with him as he left the bar.
As he did several denizens of the town looked away from him and kept their distance before swamping into the bar wanting to go in and see what was happening but too scared of Cero to enter.
“Dominance eh?” Cero mumbled to himself as he began to head for the dock. “Maybe it’s past time I began asserting myself.”