Hey Guys, It's me again and I'm sorry for posting this chapter late cause I was busy with other stuff like writing a new OC Story, Enrolling for the next school year and Chores at home. And also, School is about to start two weeks from now and once school starts, I won't be able to work on future chapters on the daily basis cause I'll be busy in school once it starts.
I hope you understand my situations. But hey, Even though I'm busy with different stuff, I'm still active and I'll try to make up for the lost time.
But that's all for today, and Enjoy the Chapter...
P.S: The Story's Schedule is set at the end of this chapter
Chapter 5 - Swords and Devils, Straw Hat Pirates Enters the Fray
Simuna's POV
A few minutes ago, Simuna was still occupied by the bandits currently firing at him.
He managed to take down a few of the bandits, But the remaining few were still a problem to him since they all took cover behind the trees and kept on shooting at him.
Simuna: Damn! This is getting harder than I thought it was. If I don't wrap this up, The Kid won't stand a chance against Taiga all by himself...
As he started to worry about Albert's current situation due to Taiga being close to him. He wanted nothing more but to finish the rest of the bandits and go to his aid, But it suddenly has gotten worse when he suddenly hears a loud explosion, just a few meters away from his location and the direction of the explosion was from the north side of the forest.
Simuna: That must be Taiga's Doing. And whatever he did to cause that Explosion isn't good at all. I better wrap this up quick.
Then he peeks out from the tree to look at the bandits then he glances at his rifle for a moment, then he sighs afterward.
Simuna: Guess I don't have a choice in the matter.
Simuna then twirls his rifle around until he puts it back into its holster and goes out of cover to reveal himself to the bandits.
When the bandits first saw this action, they were completely confused when he suddenly walks out from his cover without a care in the world while he slightly turns his entire body at them and noticed that his eyes were completely shadowed with an expressionless look on his face
Then Simuna slowly takes a few steps towards the bandits, and The Bandits were now on alert once they notice him walking towards them.
One of the bandits tried to shoot at Simuna by the chest. But in Simuna's point of view, he easily avoids the bullet by leaning to the left with fast reflexes and kept on walking on forward while he straightens himself up after avoiding the bullet.
The bandits saw how he managed to dodge the bullet, despite the speed he used to avoid it and they didn't hesitate to fire their guns at him until they all ran out of bullets from their rifles and pistols.
But Simuna effortlessly dodges the bullets with slight evasion and fast reflexes, while one lucky bullet only managed to graze the left side of his cheek which bled a little but he didn't mind that pain at all.
Once the guns were out of ammo, They tried to reload their guns as quickly as they could. But they were already too late for that when Simuna suddenly made an intense look at the bandits and sends in an invisible wave of energy straight at the bandits and after that everything went silent.
A few seconds later, every single bandit hiding behind the trees suddenly passes out and begins to drop down on the ground like flies while Simuna sighs with exhaustion and places his hand on his forehead.
Simuna: Well this new, Using this thing gives me a headache now? Maybe I should have laid down the sake for a bit when I use this against people.
Simuna then sits down while he leans back on the nearest tree and takes a momentary rest for a bit.
Simuna: Just wait for me a little bit longer Kid, I'll be there to help you very soon.
Albert's POV
After Zoro had come out of the woods to block Taiga's Stream Slicer to protect Albert. He stood up straight after he had recovered his strength and readied his rifle while Zoro prepares himself up as they both saw Taiga coating his swords with his devil fruit power.
Albert: I should warn you first, though.
Zoro glances at him and listens to his warning
Albert: You may have been able to block his attacks. But try not to get hit by them, Cause one hit is enough to destroy a tree. And if it hits you, You're most likely to die in one hit
Zoro: Really? To me, It's nothing more than a gust of wind coming right at after me.
Albert: You better watch what you're saying swordsman, Otherwise it'll only get you killed in one of these fights.
Zoro: Like I'd lose to a guy who plays with swords and winds all the time
Albert: I said watch what you're saying, you idiot!
As for Taiga, however, He basically stood there and watched with a tick mark on his head and was gritting his teeth in anger.
Taiga: HEY! I HEARD EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU BOTH SAID YOU DAMN BASTARDS!
Albert and Zoro then turned their attention to Taiga for a moment a saw how angry he is to them. In simple terms, He's already pissed, to begin with. But for some reason, they didn't seem to be bothered by this, as they continue to argue with each other.
Albert: Great! Now, look what you've done.
Zoro: -grabs the sword placed by his mouth and holds it on the right hand- ME! Don't you blame this on me! You were the one who started it in the first place!
Albert: What are you talking about?! I only warned about his Devil Fruit, and you're the one making up insults here!
Zoro: Hey! I'm just giving an opinion, not an insult!
Albert: Then don't say it aloud, Swords for Brain!
Zoro: What did you call me, Tomato Head?!
Albert widens his eyes for a split second because of Zoro's insult (hence his crimson red hair) then he grits his teeth in anger and started to glare at the swordsman while Zoro simply glares back at him while static electricity started to spark in the middle of their eyes.
While they were busy arguing with each other, Taiga simply stood there now, with a confused look on his face. But he shook it off a few seconds later.
Taiga: Okay, This has been the weirdest argument I have ever seen. But at least I know they don't get along very well with each other.
Taiga then twirls one of his swords and sends in an air stream slash straight at the duo. But the latter knew it was coming so they jumped out of harm's way and finally stopped arguing with each other.
Albert's POV
Albert then turns his attention to Taiga after he had jumped back to avoid his attack.
Albert: Well, that was close. If I were to get hit by that, It would've hurt like hell.
Albert then readies his rifle and was about to make the first move on Taiga
Zoro's POV
Zoro turns to Taiga as well, but he glances at the ground from where he stood before and saw how powerful his wind slashes were.
Zoro: He wasn't kidding, His winds slashes are that powerful. But still, It's nothing more but a gust of wind to me
Zoro then places his sword back into his mouth and was prepared to attack as well
No POV
Taiga too readied his swords and was prepared to make his first move against the two.
Everything for a few seconds as the wind blows through the middle... Then it begins.
Albert suddenly rushes towards Taiga and fires at him with his rifle.
But Taiga took action and started to evade the bullets and points one of his swords at Albert's head.
Taiga: Stream Bullet!
At the tip of the sword. He releases a focused air stream bullet, and Albert manages to avoid it by leaning his head to the left while the air stream bullet hits a tree and destroys a branch in one shot.
Albert: Oh great, He has range attacks now? This gets more and more interesting by the minute.
Before Albert could charge at him, It was Zoro's turn to attack. He rushes himself towards Taiga and started clashing swords with him.
Their swordsmanship was almost at par with each other, but the big difference between them is that Zoro holds three swords on him while Taiga carries two.
Albert: So the rumors were true, The Pirate Hunter Zoro uses three sword style. A bit unsanitary for holding a sword with his mouth, But his swordsmanship is quite impressive indeed.
While Taiga was on the defensive, He attempted to stab Zoro to the chest. But Zoro blocks the attack with two of his swords and the sword was pointing at his chest
Taiga smirks at this and Zoro were confused at first, But when he remembered Taiga's devil fruit. He knew what his smirk meant and tried to avoid him.
But Taiga uses a Stream Bullet at Zoro and managed to hit him straight through the left side of his chest and he spat out a few amounts of blood from his mouth and Taiga kicks him a few meters away from him as he falls down on the ground.
Albert saw the whole thing and aimed his rifle at Taiga when he turns attention towards him.
Taiga: Well, that was pathetic. Now it's time to kill the Guardian.
Taiga then slowly walks towards Albert, Until...
Zoro: Is that -pant- all you got?
Taiga widens his eyes in shock and turns to Zoro, who happens to be standing on his feet with his swords on hand (and mouth) and was breathing heavily due to the wound he has on the left side of his chest. Luckily for him, It didn't hit any vital organs, but Zoro was stubborn enough to ignore the pain from his wound while it bleeds down to his shirt.
Taiga: What the?! But, How! You shouldn't have been dead by my Stream Bullet by now!
Zoro: Yeah? Well. -panting- It's nothing more but a gust of wind to me.
Taiga grits his teeth in anger and glares at him while Albert was unimpressed by Zoro's Stubbornness.
Albert: Great, He's unsanitary and stubborn as hell. If he keeps that up, he'll surely die by that injury
Taiga then charges straight at him with his swords at the ready. Once he got close, he tries to slash him with one of his swords, But Zoro blocks the attack with two swords, despite the pain he's currently feeling right now.
Albert took the opportunity to try and hit him with his rifle as he holds it like a club, But Taiga blocks his attack with the other sword.
Taiga was now getting frustrated by the current situation he is having right now. Since it's a two against one fight and the odds weren't in his favor
Taiga: That's it. This is really getting me nowhere. Stream Shock!
Taiga then uses his devil fruit powers on his feet to launch himself up into the air to get some distance between him and them
Taiga: This is quite unfair for me, you know! Two against one, That's literary unfair for me
Albert and Zoro stood up straight and turn their heads to him.
Albert: As if we care, you asshole!
Zoro: We?
Albert: You know what I mean.
Zoro shrugged his shoulder a little bit and both turn their attention to Taiga.
Taiga: Alright. Then let's even the odds.
Taiga then impales his swords on the ground and place two fingers on his mouth while breaths in for a moment
Then he lets out a loud whistling call for almost a minute and started to smirk at them.
A few seconds later a group of twenty Bandits comes out of the woods and Taiga pulls his swords from the ground while he smirks a bit.
Taiga: What do you think?
Albert and Zoro looked at each and every last bandit that came out of the woods. They only carry sabers and pistols with them, But they were unimpressed by this since they're just regular bandits.
Albert: All I see is your friends! Nothing special.
Zoro: I agree with you on that one.
Taiga instantly loses his smirk and frowns at them.
Taiga: Well that's just disappointing. -points his one of his sword at the pair- Kill them!
With order set in motion, Every Bandit that have shown earlier drew their weapons and charged straight to the duo while Taiga stood back and watched as his subordinates attack them
As for Albert and Zoro, They were unfazed by this and simply readied their weapons.
Albert: I take half of these guys. You get the rest.
Zoro: Deal.
Albert and Zoro then charged straight at the bandits and took them head-on.
Luffy's POV
Luffy was getting close to his destination and when he suddenly to his right. he saw Albert and Zoro a few meters away from him and as Taiga as well. (In case if you're confused, He point of view is behind Taiga.)
Luffy: Oh look, there they are.
He puts his hand under his chin in thought for a moment and then he pounds his fist on the palm of his other hand.
Luffy: Ah! I just had a brilliant idea!
Back to the Battle
Albert and Zoro managed to beat up Taiga's Men without breaking a sweat, But in Zoro's case. He's heavily breathing due to his injury and was nearly at the verge of passing out.
Albert: You better sit this one out Swordsman. Otherwise, You're good as dead.
Zoro: Shut up, You don't tell me what to do.
Albert stares at the injured Zoro for a bit, then he typically closes his eyes and shrugged his shoulders
Albert: Eh, It's your funeral. But don't blame me when you die by this guy.
Zoro typically looks away from Albert and focuses on Taiga.
Zoro: As if I'll lose to this guy
Taiga was now furious when he undoubtedly saw his own men defeat with ease by two guys. His grip on both swords tightens while the veins on his hands begin to show and now he's way more pissed than before.
He then twirls his swords for a bit while Albert and Zoro waiting for his next move
Then Taiga slowly takes a few steps forward towards them which made them flinch a little, while he coats his swords with his devil fruit once again.
Taiga was about to charge towards the pair in anger... Until.
Luffy: GUM-GUM ROCKET!
Out of nowhere, Luffy suddenly comes out of the woods and hits Taiga on the back and screams in pain but Luffy unknowingly launched Taiga straight Albert and Zoro.
as for Albert and Zoro, They saw Luffy hitting Taiga from behind and their eyes widen as Taiga was sent towards the two and was sent flying as well. But the difference here is that Albert and Zoro flew a few meters away while Taiga crashes into a tree.
Luffy: YEAH! I made it!
Luffy cheerfully laughs for a bit but stopped when he saw Albert and Zoro lying down on the ground
Luffy: Hey, Why are you guys lying down on the floor?
Albert then had tick marks appearing on his head, jolted up from the ground and grabs Luffy by his vest.
Albert: IDIOT! What the hell is wrong with you! You could have gotten us killed by that!
Luffy simply ignores Albert's threat and turned to Zoro was now sitting up with his hand on his head.
Luffy: Hey Zoro, When did you get that wound on your chest?
Zoro: Luffy, I swear I will kill you someday
Albert: For some reason, I agree with you.
Luffy: Shihihihi, Sorry.
After that, Albert lets go of Luffy and turns attention to Taiga. Who is currently on the ground after he had crashed into a tree.
Albert: But at least you got him, though.
Luffy: -tilts his head in confusion- Who's that supposed to be?
Albert: That's Taiga, You dimwit. You sent him flying towards a tree the moment you got here. Speaking of which, How DID you get here?
Luffy: Huh? -Remembers- Oh! I just-
Taiga: Bastard!
Luffy was cut off from what he was about to say when Taiga stood up and shouted them.
Taiga: First was Pirate Hunter Zoro, Now a Guy who came out of nowhere and hits me at back?! That's it! I'm so done with this.
Taiga then coats both of his swords again and aims both swords at them
Taiga: This time, I'm going to rip all three of you into shreds!
His then concentrates his devil fruit powers on the tip of his swords and Albert widens his eyes the moment he saw what he was going to do
Taiga: Stream!
Albert: Both of you! Get behind me!
Luffy and Zoro glanced at him for a split second, But they did what they were told. And Taiga finally releases his attack
Taiga: BARRAGE!
With the final word, Taiga fires several Stream Bullets at the three and upon impact. A large dust cloud was formed, and Taiga started to breathe for a moment, But during that time. He smirks for a bit since he managed to hit all three of them at once...
But as the smoke clears, Taiga widens his eyes in shock when he saw what he could not believe.
Luffy and Zoro's POV
Both Luffy and Zoro closed their eyes while they shield themselves from dust that was coming right through them, But once the dust settles in. They slowly opened their eyes and saw the same thing Taiga was seeing...
No POV
Inside the Dust cloud, Albert's figure was somewhat different than before. There was circle shaped form at the center of the dust cloud and Taiga thought it was another person or thing.
But it turns out it wasn't human or thing, In fact. There was a circle shaped form was actually Albert's doing and when the dust cloud clears up it revealed that Albert... Turned his entire right arm into a form that looked like a shield which has spikes on the top
A few seconds later, his shield suddenly reverts itself back into his arm and reveals Albert with Scarlet Eyes
Taiga: What the?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!
Albert takes a few deep breaths and didn't reply...
To be Continued...
Finally! Albert shows his powers, Although the first appearance of his powers is a shield. but hey, I'll work on a few more improvements on future chapters
And once again, I'm sorry for posting this late. Cause I was busy with other stuff, So I've decided that Chapters will only be posted on Tuesday, Thursdays or Sundays since school is about to start two weeks from now.
Oh and here's a question. What do you think of Simuna having Conqueror's Haki? Cause if you have an opinion, Feel free to leave a review about it. Cause I'm interested to read your opinion about it (Good or Bad is fine by me since it's your opinion not mine)
Anyway, It's time to reply to the reviews
JediMasterChris1: Yeah, I know.
And as for Albert's Powers. Why he didn't use it earlier? You'll find out soon
OnePieceFanBoy: Well, Everyone has a limit. So it's natural for Taiga to get exhausted when using strong attacks
JoeScmoe: Many reasons, But you'll find out in the next chapter
Jack Conrad: Thanks! I appreciate the compliment and I'll try to make future fights very soon
Kjack223: Well Yes. And you know how he easily provokes his enemies. So it's bound to work on Taiga as well
Anyway, that's it for now and as always. Stay tuned for the next chapter
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