Mercer watched impatiently as the ship stood still, with the low visibility the navigator didn't want to risk going blindly.
He should have already been at the Sabaodi Archipelago, but he didn't predict that a storm would push him so far of course.
The weather in this world was...insane, only that could do it justice. It was like it had its own will and loved to mess with you for the giggles.
Alex looked up at the sky and saw the rain clouds Wouldn't surprise me if cats and dogs started to fall from the sky.
Since the rain started the marines were spending most of their time indoors, like they were made of sugar. But that gave him some peace and quiet. He shifted his eyes into those of a hawk and watched the surrounding ocean.
While he was observing the horizon, being lost in thoughts he spotted something in the distance.
Focusing more keenly on it he saw a ship hidden by the abysmal weather conditions.
It had a jolly roger.
And If his memory wasn't deceiving him, it was the ship of the pirate Foxy the Silver Fox. A weakling that used trickery but also possessed a useful ability that would make the storm fiasco worth it.
He reverted his eyes back into Shu's normal ones and slowly walked to the crews quarters. His ten men crew was taking the off time to get some warm food in their stomachs and as soon as they saw him they saluted.
"Captain" said one of them "would you join us for dinner?"
Mercer shook his head "No, I only wanted to tell you that we will be here for at least a day or so." He looked at his second in command if he could be called that "I'm feeling a little tired and will go back to my cabin to get some rest, I would appreciate it if you don't disturb me. Balgo, you're in charge."
The marines saluted.
Satisfied they wont run away with the ship while he was out hunting he made his way to the captains quarters, but instead of entering he simply jumped over the ship's side, landing on the anchor before entering the water.
When he was completely out of sight he discarded Shu's appearance and changed his lower body to that of an electric eel. From his waist up he still retained his original humanoid body since he will need his hands.
Alex made fast progress under the water until he reached the pirate ships hull, he then shifted one of his arms in his blade form and hit the vessel with all his might.
It was a piece of cake to breach the wood, hell not even tank grade armor could withstand his attacks, but it would take too long for a single hole to sink it. So he started to slice a long gash in its side.
After that it was only the matter of minutes before the end.
The ship weighted down by the water started to sink, the pirates who were already aware of the disaster started to patch the holes up, but the damage was to great and Foxy's beam had a limited range.
Mercer grinned underneath his hood when he saw all the humans now floating helplessly on the water.
"Oyabin get a hold of yourself" said Porche as she, with a punch in the gut, made him spit out the sea water. When the water started to breach the ship at full force he was quickly neutralized by the cold shower he received. She and Hamburg managed to drag him on a Kaji King so he wouldn't drown.
Hamburg could only laugh at his weakened captain, the small boat was not fit for his size so he was floating in the water beside it.
His laugh stopped when he felt something grab his leg.
That turned to surprise when suddenly he was pulled underwater.
"Hamburg what are you doing? Help me wake Oyabin" Porche said sternly.
But beside bubbles nothing emerged. She thought about a shark but Hamburg was strong enough to deal with them and no blood was seen so it couldn't be. Maybe a Sea King? It was big enough to swallow him whole, but such a large creature would easily be spotted.
As she bend over to look in the water a tentacle shoot out and coiled around her neck, in a heartbeat only Foxy was left on the boat.
He slowly opened his eyes and with a groan tried to sit up. When he saw that there was nobody here he could only get depressed "They all abandoned me."
"Oyabin, you are finally awake."
He glance in the water and saw Porche. So I wasn't abandoned he thought happily "Where are the others?"
Her sad expression told him everything... "I'm afraid most went down with the ship."
Foxy grabbed at his heart. He was a scallywag but he honestly loved his crew "Hamburg?"
She sadly shook her head.
He again became depressed, that lasted for a few minutes before it passed and he extended his hand to Porche "Not the best time for swimming, come on let's get this boat somewhere dry."
She smiled and grabbed his hand, and with a quick pull he was in the water.
It happened so fast that he didn't understand what transpired Why?!
But as he watched Porche smile, black and red tentacles engulfed her.
Instead of his loyal companion in her place was a human-snake hybrid with razor-sharp claws.
He screamed but only managed to swallow water making his lungs burn, before he could drown something sharp pierced his body and the world went dark.
Mercer smiled, today was a good day after all. He managed to gain one more power, and get more bio mass from the pirates he consumed.
He looked in Foxy's memories about the fruit and found it indeed powerful, if you knew how to use it to its full potential.
Noroma Photons? Never heard of them, but then again his science certificates were not valid in this world.
Alex made haste back to the ship, there was no reason for him to stay here any longer.
The only evidence that something happened here was the drift wood. The people who could talk were in him or on the bottom of the ocean. And dead men tell no tales he smiled.