Chapter 23
A New Power
"Why you!" The fishmen all rush towards Luffy, some with weapons drawn. Luffy has just punched Arlong, and now they want payback for disrespecting their leader.
"Small fries can get the hell in the back!" Sangi intercepts them all, kicking up a storm. The fishmen are all sent flying and groan when they land. Arlong, who is still conscious gets more angry.
Sanji scuffs the slime off his boot, standing near Luffy, "Jeez... Running in head-first alone like that—"
"Don't worry, I ain't gonna lose!" Luffy interrupts.
"Dumbass! When did I ever say I was worried for you? I only meant that you shouldn't hog all the glory for yourself." Sanji undoes his collar, no fight should be done in an fully dressed up suit. Luffy only cracks his knuckles, understanding.
Usopp had his nose up in the air, though he was really just nervous. He had his hands on his waist, "I d-don't particularly mind either w-w-way, Luffy."
"Ain't you gutsy?" Zoro looks back at the sniper.
Maxwell only remains silent with his staff alight, scanning the fishmen for threats. Three in particular were still standing. Kuroobi, Chew, and Hachi.
"Roronoa Zoro...!" "That's him, and the other guy! Their the ones who tricked me! How dare they take me for a ride... No, Wait. I was the one who actually gave them a ride."
Some of the underlings sit up, "That long-nossed human is still alive!" "He should be dead!"
"Pirate huh...?" Arlong reclines in the rubble, "I see... so that's how you're all related. So your goal, from the very beginning, was only to get Nami, is that it...?" He starts to laugh, "Shahahaha! Just what could 5 measly humans do!?"
"You idiots! As if Arlong would have to fight the likes of you! I'll turn you all into fish food! Come out beast!" Hachi sounds a trumpet with his mouth, and the sea begins to swell.
The villagers get nervous. Maxwell readies his staff to cast magic. Usopp panics, "W-W-W-What's going on!?" The other just look.
The water begins to break, "Come out, Momoo!" revealing the rather beat up, and admittedly cute ophiotaurus, Momoo.
*MOO...*
"...What in Andraste's merry knickers—" "AGHHHH! It's a monster!"
"Huh...?" Hachi looks at Momoo confused. Momoo started shaking when he notices Luffy and Sanji.
"Oh him?" "So he's one of them, huh?" "Wait you saw this thing before?"
*MOO...!*
The sea monster turns around, fully intent on heading back to the ocean. "Moomoo, wait! Where're you going!?" calls Hachi.
*moo...*
"Momoo...," Arlong rasps angrily, "The hell do you think you're doing...?" The sea cow stops and shakes again. "Well if you're going to run away, I ain't going to stop you, but..." Arlong intensionally trails off, knowing they can always hunt him later. Momoo is a cow, meaning beef, or perhaps sea steak. "Well, Momoo?"
Seeing as he's scared of Arlong more them, Momoo turns around and rears up to attack.
*MOO!*
"It's coming for us!" screams Usopp. The Arlong Pirate underlings all follow Momoo's lead and charge the intruders. The others get ready to clash, but Luffy won't stand for it.
"Leave it to me! They're just a bunch of time-wasters!" Luffy stomp his feet into the concrete and starts spinning like a wheel.
"The hell's he doing?" "I don't have a good feeling about this..."
His twisting does hit some of the fishmen, but the real kicker is when Luffy stretches you to grab Momoo by the horns. Him having a Devil Fruit does surprise the fishmen. The crew however gets out of the way.
"Hey, let's get out of here!" "But what's he doing!?" "He'll if I know!" "Don't question, just run!"
"Gomu-Gomu no..." "What is he...!?" "Kill him!" *MOO!* "PINWHEEL!"
Luffy undoes the tension around his torso. With his position firmly in place, Luffy starts spinning, dragging Momoo round, and around, hitting every fishman in the courtyard. And his beefy bludgeon, it knocks them all back and black out. Momoo is thrown into the ocean as Luffy's momentum slows down.
"I didn't come here to fight small fries! The one I want to beat up, IS YOU!" Luffy points a finger at Arlong.
"How excellent. I was just thinking of killing you myself." Arlong gives a shark toot smile. His three commanders aren't out either.
"Seem like we have to fight..." "How dare they hurt out brethren!" "Looks like we need to teach these humans the difference between our races—chu."
"Looks like the main force is out to meet us..." Zoro readies his katana.
Maxwell strokes his beard, considering the odds, "Hmm... 4 on 5. Almost makes me wish Luffy didn't beat them all."
The others were berating Luffy.
"That was way to dangerous!" "Are you trying to kill us!?" "Ah..."
Kuroobi speaks up as the crews face off, "If this was how things were going to turn out, we should have fought from the beginning." He glances back at his captain, "Arlong, please just sit right there."
Chew also looks back, "If we let you fight while that mad—chu, all of Arlong Park will end up destroyed!"
"Mmm! Take this! Zero Field of Vision..."
"That octopus is up to something." "First boil the octopus in salt water, slice it up, and add some olive oil and paprika to make and excellent side dish while drinking." "Uh guys, hear me out. I'm in a bit of a pickle." "What are you talking about?"
"TAKO-HACHI BLACK! OCTOPUS INK!"
Zoro, Sanji, and Maxwell jump out of the way. But Luffy is left to be splattered from head to toe. Usopp was in the back trying not to be noticed. "Agh! I can't see anything!"
"You dumbass! Why didn't you dodge that!?" yells Zoro.
Hachi doesn't stop there. He lifts up a piece of roof top. Usopp calls out, "Luffy, watch out! Dodge it!"
"Yeah, that's kinda a problem... I kinda can't move... Or see..." Luffy's legs were still stuck in the ground.
"What." "For God's sake..." "But you're the one that did that to yourself!"
Maxwell can only face-palm with Zoro.
"Take-Hachi Black! ON THE ROCKS!" Hachi slams down his giant piece of building. But the impact makes it split in two revealing Sanji, who had his leg up in the air.
"Nice one Sanji!"
"Agh, jeez... Looks like I've chosen to follow a dumbass for a captain..." the cook mutters.
"My felling exactly." "Makers's breath!" "He's amazing!"
Sanji grins, "But it's still 100 times better than being in a pirate crew that would harm a lady."
Kuroobi crosses his arms, "For a human, you're not half bad. But a pirate going around spouting chivalrous lines? How half-assed..." Sanji only smirks at the fishman.
Maxwell glances towards Luffy. Usopp had taken this moment to try and get Luffy out. He had his captain by the arms and was pulling him backwards.
"Still not yet. My feet aren't budging one bit." "Still!?"
Sanji taps his cigarette, addressing Kuroobi, "Would you like to test just how half-assed my chivalry really is, Mr. Fish? Despite what you may think, I've spent half my life as a pirate."
"It seems you fools don't understand the level that we fishmen are on."
"What about now, Luffy!?" Eh, you're only stretching it. My feet are still stuck as ever." "Are you even trying!? Is it still not coming out!?" "Now not a bit."
Hachi looks at them angrily and picks up another piece of building, "You think you can just horse around at Arlong Park!? I'll kill you all!"
"Agh! Hurry up and get your feet out already!" screams Usopp, not wanting to be crushed.
Zoro walks past Hachi, "He octopus, Those guys are busy right now." Hachi freezes realizing who's behind him, "Whay don't you play with me instead?"
"Nyu! Roronoa Zoro! That's right, I forgot!" He tries to crush Zoro with his piece of rubble, "How dare you deceive me before!" Zoro jumps out of the way. "Not only that you cut down my brethren!"
"I don't care about ancient history. It doesn't matter for whatever reason you want to kill me... The situation's different now. You guys aren't going to be the one doing the killing. It's us who's going to kill you!"
"G-Good, Zoro. I'll let you deal with that octopus. Nice work." Usopp notices something though, "Crap! I accidentally let go! Luffy!"
"AHHH!" "Hmm?"
Luffy crashes into Chew, landing the fishman on his back. Luffy shakes as he gets back to where his feet were, "Darn it, I'm back."
Chew glares at Usopp for surprising him like that, "...My bad." Usopp then runs away.
"AAAGGGGHHHHH!" "Looks like you really do want to be killed by me!" "Usopp, wait—!" "AAAGGGGHHHHH!"
Usopp runs past the villagers, who have been watching this whole time. "That's the guy who saved Gen back at our village..." "He's a pirate too?"
Chew notices Johnny and Yosaku among them, "Oh, it's you hooligans from before. You were still here? Chu—Oh? Looks like all the Cocoyasi villagers are here too. Seeing as how you're all carrying weapons, I take it that you're all rebelling. Which means you'll all be—"
"FLAME STAR!"
A pellet hits Chew in the chest, and ignites the fishman's body. Chew rolls back from the impact, but it also puts out the fire. "Brother Usopp!"
"Don't forget! Your opponent is me!" Usopp yells at the fishman.
"Fine, since you want to be killed so badly, allow me to make it quick!" Chew ignores the villagers as he chases after Usopp. The sniper screams as he leads the fishman away. Maxwell and the villagers only watch the two go off.
"...Well, that's one way to pick a fight."
Arlong had had enough and got up. Kuroobi address his captain, "Arlong, I've already asked you not to fight."
"I ain't gonna fight, but—"
"I'm gonna kick your ass!" Luffy throws a punch at the pirate captain.
Arlong catches it though, "Do you seriously think you can win against us?"
"And if we do?" "Honestly, it can go either way." "You bet I think so, you idiot! Now let go of my hand!" "Seems like he has something to say."
"No, no..." Arlong lens down and shoves a hand into the concrete and lifts. Arlong had Luffy in the air, by his arm, and a piece of cleaved cement where his feet were still stuck, "Why don't we play a game." Luffy looks down, shocked to be in the air.
"Devil Fruit users are said to be unable to swim. Well, in this situation, even a non-Devil Fruit user wouldn't be able to swim! Shahahaha!"
"Luffy!" "Don't tell me..." "He's going to throw him into the sea!?"
"Gomu-Gomu no Pistol!" Arlong catches the punch in his jaws. "GAH!"
"Fool..." "Take this!" "What...," Luffy tries to retaliate by biting Arlong's arm. But it barely does anything. Arlong throws Luffy into the pool, and he laughs.
"Luffy!" Both Maxwell and Zoro call out.
"You bastard! I'll go s—" Sanji tries to jump in the pool but Zoro stops him. "Wait you dumbass!"
"Hey Arlong!" Zoro and Sanji both look at Maxwell. "You said you wanted to play a game?" His crewmates look at him like he's crazy.
"Oh?"
"How about a wager? I jump in to free my friend, if I fail to come up, I drown. If I come up without him you kill me. If I get both of us out, you give us a fighting chance."
Arlong just looks at the mage, "...Shaha... Shaha hahahaha! We if you want to play, go right on in!"
"Thanks, but first." Maxwell disappears into the Fade Step and goes through Arlong.
"Wah—! C-C-C-C-C-Cold!" Frost cakes onto the fishman and he's left standing in place. The fog the comes around a dives into the water.
"Arlong!" Hachi and Kuroobi shout. They move to follow after the magic cloud but are blocked by Zoro and Sanji.
"Hey now!" "Let's not ruin their fun!"
Maxwell fades back into existence underwater. He had left his staff so he could use both arms to swim. Maxwell was starting to berate himself for it though. Thankfully he had taken a deep breath before jumping in. He stroked around the water, trying to find where Luffy sank.
He spotted him. Luffy was trying to hold his breath, but it was like all the energy had drained out of him.
Maxwell swam over trying to think how he could save him. He had not idea how spells worked underwater and he wasn't strong enough to punch his way through. He didn't even know how Devil Fruits caused their hosts to sink. He wished he had his staff, but then a thought came to him, something his teacher had said.
He didn't need a staff to be dangerous.
Maxwell tries to focus. He had been studying magic for over a decade and he new there were for basic arrays. Storm, Winter, Inferno, and Spirit. This world had no Veil. Which means more freedom. Less rules. More possibilities. Now he just hoped he could do it.
Calling up on all the arcane energies he can think off, he wills his magic to cooperate.
A Spirit Rune appears.
Maxwell stares at his design. He's seen it before studying that school of magic, but never had he seen it without his staff. It was incredible for Maxwell, he almost forgetting why he needed it. Refocusing, he casts Barrier.
Luffy suddenly opens his eyes and stops looking like a limp chicken. He could hold his breath better, and didn't feel his energy ebbing away anymore. The spell had temporally kept the water at bay, and all it's effects. But they could feel it though, it was quickly starting to come back. The captain can only look at his first mate. Both smiled at each other, knowing now they had a chance.
Luffy nods to Maxwell, and the mage summons another array. Maxwell knew he had to get this right. Theorizing all his knowledge he aimed an Inferno array at the anchoring rubble. It was a basic spell, but a better spell. He needs more than a single shot. What he needed a barrage.
"ENERGY BARRAGE!"
Phosphorus light streaks out at the sigil, firing at the stone that held Luffy's feat. The fire bolts attack the cement, cracking and gouging the surface. Loosening it's grip enough for Luffy to kick his feet free.
Luffy smiles and tries kicks against the sea bed, but the barrier had only weakened the effects. The captain was still an anchor. Maxwell however, traces a Winter circle and summons an Ice Wall. So Luffy catches a ride when he catches Maxwell's hand.
"Damn it!" Arlong finally breaks free of the ice incasing his body, "Who the hell was that!? Another Devil Fruit user!?" He looks down at the water.
"Shahahaha! Well if he was, he's dead now." Arlong looks at the fights between Zoro and Hachi, and Kuroobi and Sanji. "As for you two—!"
Ice suddenly springs up from the pool, surprising everybody above water. A giant glacier had erupted into existence, with two people on it.
"WHAT!? It can't be!" Luffy and Maxwell sat at the top of the giant wall of ice. They were wet, but smiling, and apparently unaffected by the cold. A weird energy was surrounding them.
Hachi and Kuroobi are distracted and shocked to see the two alive. This gives Zoro a chance for his slash to connect, not that he needed it. Sanji pulled of his cooking combo on Kuroobi, sending the fish flying with his Mutton Shot.
"That was awesome!" Luffy exclaims. He flexes his hand, seeing that his powers were back.
"Hey Luffy."
"Yeah Max?" The captain looks over at his first mate.
"Back when I first met you, you asked me what I wanted to do with my life.
...
Maxwell sat on the pier looking out at the ocean. He had fought so hard for future so that he and the others could live without fear. He had gone up against Templar's, Demons, Monsters, Beasts just to survive. He had even faced off with his family at the Temple of Sacred Ashes! Those noble Chantry fools who hadn't even considered the position he was in!
"'Modest in Temper...' my ARSE!" Maxwell through a rock out at the water. He was angry. First Enchanter Adieus had trusted him. His fellow Enchanters trusted him. The Aprentices and children he had seen at Redcliffe trusted him! He had failed!
And now it was all gone...
Maxwell dropped back onto his crate, holding his face as he wept for everything he had lost. Now he was in some other world, with no idea what to do.
"Oi. You alright there?" Maxwell glances to see Luffy standing beside him. They had returned all the treasure they had found on that pirate ship he had crashed into. Apparently a giant green tear in the sky had spat him out and destroyed the ship.
"...Go away."
"I already said this back on the ship, but I'm Luffy! You're Max, right?"
"Maxwell," the mage corrects him. Luffy stares at him when Maxwell wouldn't go on. "...What do you want?" Maxwell scathes at the straw hat boy.
"What are you supposed to be?"
Maxwell stands up, "What? The robes don't tell you?"
"...You a priest?" Maxwell stares at the lad like he was insane. He wasn't some Chantry errand boy.
"No."
"A monk?"
"No."
"Ooh! A magician!"
"..." Maxwell looks at him, not sure where he was going with this, "...Of a sort."
"Really?" the boy gets excited, "That's awesome! Can you do any tricks? Ooh! Fart fire out of your butt!" Maxwell punches him.
"I am not some two bit jester for people to gawk at!" Maxwell shakes his hand though it didn't hurt, "What in Andraste's burnt robes are you anyway? I saw you stretching like some attached arrow earlier."
"Oh, I'm a rubber-man. See?" Luffy stretches a part of his face and let's it snap back. He smiles, "Pretty cool right?"
"...That is both disturbing, and mildly fascinating," Maxwell leans in closer to get a better look. "You some sort of abomination?"
"What?" Luffy places a hand under his chin, "Well, I did eat the Gum-Gum Fruit."
"A what fruit?"
"You know, a Devil Fruit! I thought you adults knew all about that stuff?"
"Well I don't, so if you would just leave me alone now..." Maxwell sits down back on his box, away from Luffy.
"...So, you're just going to sit there?" Luffy hadn't moved from his spot, looking at the mages back.
Maxwell sighs, drooping his head, "...Yes."
"You don't have any other plans?"
"No."
"Well isn't there anything particular you want to do?"
"NO!" Maxwell stands, turns around and throwing his box. He grabs Luffy by his shirt, "EVERYTHING I'VE DONE! EVERYTHING I EVER HOPED FOR! IS GONE! I HAVE LOST EVERYTHING, EVEN BEFORE I CAME OUT OF THAT HOLE IN THE SKY! I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING! ...I don't have anything..." Maxwell drops the boy and turns away. He drops to the ground and sits, with his legs crossed, as despair begins to grip the mage.
"...You have your life don't you?"
Maxwell pauses when he heard those words. It's like everything stopped for just a moment. And those words sank into his heart.
"...And what do you suppose I do with that?"
"Shishishi, find a new dream of course!" Maxwell turns around to look at Luffy, seeing his smiling face. He looks away and contemplated on those words. What could he do?
Luffy walks over and sits down beside him, "Hey! Why don't you join my crew?"
"...What?" Maxwell looks over at the pirate, "Why would I do that?"
"Well, you're new here right? Why don't you come with me and find something to dream about? There's plenty to explore!" Luffy smiles thinking of all the adventures they might have together. Maxwell stares at the pirate.
...
...
"...Alright."
...
"When I couldn't go back, I came along with you to find out what I wanted." Maxwell conjures another magic array, "I think I have a my answer now."
"Shishishi! Really? Well, what is it?"
"I want to go beyond the simple magics.
I want to be the Greatest Sorcerer this world has ever seen!
And I want the whole world to know it." Maxwell looks over to his partner on the glacier, "That alright with you, Captain?"
"Shishishi! Well, as long as you don't try to outshine me, I think that's great."
"Hey!" Maxwell puts on a fake-insulted tone, "I follow you remember? I'll outshine you when you want me to outshine you, Captain."
"Hehe! Wouldn't have it any other way, Max!" Maxwell smiles at his captain, thankful that he could be here.
However, Maxwell does look down at the battlefield, "...Okay, moments over." He turns to Luffy, "I do believe someone is due for an ass kicking. One viva la Rubber-man."
"Ooh! Do it!" Luffy commands excitedly. Maxwell points and Luffy and directs the arcane energy upward.
"YAHOO!" Luffy is sent flying upwards, "I'M BACK!"
The villager cheer at the rubber-man's return. Nami can be seen amongst them.
"They're late." "Good now we can finish this." Zoro and Sanji look up.
"YEAH LUFFY!" Even Usopp was back from his fight.
"Damn rubber-brat...!" Arlong narrows his eyes at the rubber-man in the air. Luffy uses the ice to sling shot closer.
"Gomu-Gomu no... BELL! And... WHIP!" Luffy headbutts the fishman captain and then kicks him in the stomach.
"BULLET!" This knocks Arlong's back.
"GATTLING GUN!" A flurry of blows rain down on the fishman, surprising many how Arlong's was taking so many hits. Luffy stops his assault, "Whew..."
Arlong sits up in the dust, albeit a little slowly, "...Did you just do something...?"
"Yup. My warm-up exercises."