The Captains Clash: Fish and Tiger
Jesse looked over the now human Neru. A brief inspection turned out that he wasn't in any danger. "Well that's good. I would really have some explaining to do if the Captain found out I killed someone." He sighed with relief.
"Hey, Jesse…! Looks like you took care of your problem." The gunman raised his head at the jovial voice behind him.
"Sure did, Kain, but it looks like you brought more problems with you." Jesse stood up as he turned to face a wall of Marines with their guns trained on him.
"Yeah, sorry about that." He waved with shackled wrists, standing next to Ph'line, who was eyeing him angrily. "Don't ask. It's complicated."
Jesse couldn't tell if it was the blood loss or not, but he was really feeling a headache coming on.
"Hitman" Jesse, you are under arrest! Drop your weapons and surrender!" A marine ordered.
Jesse scanned the army of those he once called allies. He then noticed Cassidy was also with them, although she was not cuffed, strangely enough. Regardless, he was too tired and wounded to think about it.
"Well, it looks like fight or escape isn't an option, eh Commodore?" Jesse looked over his shoulder to see the shaggy-haired officer standing just behind him with his Lieutenant on the other side.
"You could, but I wouldn't recommend it, Sergeant." Ralley replied.
"Well isn't that reassuring?" Jesse complied with the order as he unbuckled his holsters and held out his guns by the belt strap.
Jaime hid a good distance away as she saw Jesse getting cuffed and taken off by the Marines.
"Oh, no. It's all my fault. Why did they wait for me?" Fear, confusion, worry, so many emotions swirled in her mind as she tried to keep a low profile and pursued the company at a safe distance.
"What do I do now? What am I gonna do?"
XXXXX
The ring was intensely quiet from the pressure the two were giving off. The low rustle of burning torches the only sound and light within the Big Top.
Basus let out a soft sigh. "Impressed?" He asked smugly as his darkened skin returned to normal as he made his way out of the small crevice.
Victor looked down at his hand as he rolled his fingers, popping his knuckles in the process. "Only because you are tougher than you look."
Basus's face dropped slightly. "Really? I was hoping for a little more… something. Most break a bone or their swords when they hit my Black Diamond Armor." He pondered as he pulled his mustache, acting as if he wasn't in the middle of a fight.
Victor merely shrugged as he aggressively chewed on his straw. "Well as you can see. I'm a bit too pissed to care about your ego. I'm more interested in stopping your massacre, you maniac."
Basus just shook his head as if Victor's words were the threats of a child. "Hmmm, nonono I highly doubt that. I mean Toro and Doreah were no slouches, but Ph'line and Neru far outclass them and they are my subordinates. Not to mention my bounty is three times yours so I highly doubt you'll even good enough to be a 1st Act. But it's not fun unless you at least show a little bit of fear…"
"So you're with the Zodiac?" Victor questioned.
"Yeah, but only because it gives me a purpose to all of this killing. Before it fun, yeah, but there was no higher meaning behind it. Now… searching for Poneglyphs that can reveal ancient weapons of unparalleled destructive power would be something worthwhile. Don't you think?"
Then a spark of realization came to Basus as he hammered his palm. "Then I guess I'll have to do something about that by pounding it into you." His statement was so joyous, that it would sound comedic if it wasn't laced with killing intent.
"Funny, I was about to say the same thing to you." Victor replied, sliding into a stance.
"That's the spirit! It's going to be fun to break!" Basus cried out as he charged.
Victor was ready as he replied in kind as the collided with enough force to ground around them to crack.
Vasus blocked a kick to his chest with his knee in a stalemate. "Not bad, but if you wish to extend your life, I suggest that you put away such trifle ideals. Cause the moment I get bored, you're dead."
Victor had a look of surprise as Basus' leg suddenly snaked around his like rope before he as swung overhead to smash face-first into the ground.
Basus laughed as he leaped into the air, hovering like a bird of prey. "Carbon Kick!?"
Victor hastily flipped backwards as the foot penetrated the earth up to his knee.
"Sea Cutter!" A horizontal shockwave flow from Victor's leg, but Basus used his arms like scissors, slicing the attack as the 2 air blades continued through the tent canvas.
"That's it, keep entertaining me! Your life depends on it!" Basus kicked through the ground, sending a barrage of rocks. Victor's hands turned into blurs as he deftly deflected the hundreds of projectiles. This was the time his enemy closed in behind him.
"Hydrochloric Fist!" Green steam erupted from his hand, striking Victor who barely had time to block as he was sent into pillar.
The fighter winced as he saw the impact corroding his skin, but he didn't have time to focus on the pain as he ducked a punch that pierced through the wood like nothing.
"Don't think you can run away from me!" He turned and his grin was removed as his head was smashed against the pillar by a fist.
"It's called dodging, not running." Victor withdrew his fist and followed with roundhouse. "3000 Brick Sekikku!"
"Like this?" Basus suddenly transformed into a small pudgy man, avoiding the swing as it tore the pillar in half like a twig.
"Diamond Cannon Ball!" Victor was hammered in the stomach as Basus hit him with a flying headbutt as from his smaller frame, sending the redhead crashing into the ground.
"What the hell are you?" Victor demanded, grabbing his sore abdomen as he wiped some blood from his mouth.
"Do you like it?" Basus returned to his original tall and thin look. "It's from the Henge-Henge Fruit, making me a Changing Man. I can manipulate my body anyway I want. Soft, hard, small, tall, even the very molecules within me are mine to command." He snickered as he boasted his capabilities. "You know that the Human body is full of so many different elements that I can arrange to make almost anything. Such as combining the oxygen in my lungs with sodium and water!"
The Ringleader's chest puffed out as he inhaled. "Blue Torch!" A beam of blue fire streaked from his mouth.
"Vacuum Cannon!" Victor countered with a punch as air and fire combined to mix and react with explosive force that filled the entire structure.
The aftermath now had the entire tent coated in fire that gave off a hellish appearance.
"A bit unorthodox to counter with air, wouldn't you agree?" The pirate mused as he observed the destruction, his diamond skin fading away. "You kind of made the situation worse in my opinion."
"Well I was relying on you getting hurt more than me." Victor replied, his body smoking from the aftermath.
"Oooo, strong and angry in the face of a superior foe." Basus quipped as a flaming pillar crashed behind Victor, giving off the ominous image of his namesake as it seemed to form into a vicious beast behind the darkened visage of Victor's eyes turning into slits.
"Now that's some killer instinct. I can feel your rage. I see now why you were named "Crimson Demon". Basus commented. "Not that it will matter seeing that it may extend your life a little longer. Now how about I show you why they call me "Dead Ringer".
Both warriors clashed in a vicious melee. Victor's frustration had turned into rage as every punch and kick was countered with his diamond armor and strange contortions. Soon the tent had become a roaring inferno during their battle, consuming the tent fabric in its light as well as the oxygen within it.
Victor was experiencing this all too well as sweat rolled down his face and every breath was becoming more difficult. Despite this, his fury was not abated as he continued to fight.
Basus, on the other hand, was not affected in the slightest. "I can see you getting slower. If it were not for my powers, this heat might affect me as well. Luckily, I can regulate my body heat as well as filter the smoke into breathable air. I doubt that you'll last much longer t this rate.
Victor roared as he tried to punch the smirk right off the weasel's face, but the man deftly dodged the fist as it penetrated the central post of the big top. Victor pulled, but his arm appeared to be stuck.
"Oh ho, so close." Basus laughed as he spun away like a top, pulling on his mustache in a bored pashion as he watched a potential fight turn into something lackluster. "It looks like you're on your last legs and I feel that this fight is coming to a close. You're not even worth killing." He said as he walked away. "I guess I'll see what the rest of my crew is doing. Let this place be your final resting place."
Victor made several more attempts before pausing. "You should never turn your back on your enemy. Especially me."
Victor reached out with his other hand and grabbed the wooden structure, digging his fingers into it as it splintered.
Basus stopped as he heard the pillar groan from the strain as he turned to see Victor breaking it. He looked with surprise as the main support of his stage, one that was 3 meters thick and more than 15 meters tall, being torn apart.
With all of his rage and remaining strength, the pillar exploded from Victor's might, taking the Supernova aback as he shielded himself from the fluttering canvas and fire.
Victor crouched and jumped high into the air, taking the entire tent with him before turning it around like a flaming spear . "Let's see how YOU like it." He shouted as he threw it, a fiery meteor of destruction.
Basus, as he saw the projectile rocketing towards him, could only watch as it struck, embedding itself into the earth.
Victor followed suit as he reared back a fist. "3000 Brick Taki!" With every ounce of power he could must, he pounded the improvised spike into the ground, drilling it with every punch until all that remained was scorched earth and the last few feet of the big top.
"Are you entertained yet?" Victor spat at the wood covered in fist marks.
A long moment of silence filled the air before the pillar exploded like a bomb as Victor was thrown back as he corrected himself midair to land in a fighting stance.
"So you had this much fight left in you." Basus said with amusement. "I'll admit, my diamond armor was to only thing that saved me, but you already knew that, right?" Basus observed that his hat and jacket had not survived the attack so he took them off. "With all of that anger inside you and you still can't cross that line can you?"
Victor's fists began to tremble. His anger, his fury, his rage… His trump card had done little in regards to hurting Basus. To think such a person who could withstand it was not something he would hope to run into.
"Is that fear I see? Good, because now it's my turn."
Victor raised his arm to block as a kick sent him flying and Basus put on some speed as he caught up with the surprised man as he punched him into the earth and kicked him again. Victor recovered as he pushed off the ground to get some air as he pulled back his hands.
"Chou Vacuum Cannon!"
Basus twisted his body into a screw as he launched himself skyward, penetrating the compressed air with ease. Victor was unable to escape as Basus reached through and punched Victor back to earth with a thunderous explosion.
Victor groaned as he reached out from his hole, his blood dripping from his hands. He fought to stand before Basus drove into him with his feet, creating a bigger hole. "Well, it looks like you have run out of tricks."
Victor growled through his teeth as he tried to push off the feet on his chest. "Whether I've run out of tricks or not, I will keep fighting."
"Unfortunately, you can't beat me, no matter how angry you get." Basus pulled back a leg and kicked him through the earthen wall, sending him rolling back onto sea level.
Victor once again pushed himself up, but Basus wrapped his fingers around Victor's neck, cutting off his air.
"Do you know how I got my name?" The ringleader asked as he lifted the struggling man off his feet. "It's because I love strangling my victims, watching the life leave their eyes as they struggle with their final moments." He maniacally explained as Victor fought to break free. "Of course, they always misspelled it, giving many the impression that I am some sort of shapeshifter, but it really should be Dead Wringer!"
Despite his efforts, the Fishman was unable to break free from Basus' iron grip. Each passing second his lungs cried for air as darkness started to close around his vision. Each passing second, his strength began to leave his hands as they fell limply to his sides.
Ba-dum
"Dammit!... He's strong!
Ba-dum
"Can't hold on!..."
Ba-dum
"I'm losing con..."
Ba-dum
"losing con…"
Ba-dum
"con….."
….
"Victor! Run away!"
Basus' smirk of satisfaction was replaced by pain he felt a crushing force from Victor's hand around his face.
(Cue haunting Gregorian chant)
In a flash, an aura of pure violence erupted from him like a shockwave, encompassing the entire island as it coated the sky in red.
XXXXX
Far in the distance, everything it washed over froze with fear.
"Commodore… sir. What is that?" The Lt asked, her voice shaking.
Commodore Ralley said nothing, his body recognizing this same feeling he had back on Club Island.
Neru, Ph'line, and Cameron fell to their knees as sweat poured down their faces, the primal instincts from their devil fruits making them more sensitive than the others.
"We're going to die. We are ALL going to die." They muttered in a panicked fashion.
Jesse and Cassidy looked at one another with worry. This was not good.
XXXXX
"What the hell? He should be a corpse by now." The Pirate thought as the raw bloodlust that radiated from the man before him like waves of heat that was actually beginning to burn his skin.
Victor's eyes flashed open, revealing blood red orbs with feral slits glowing brightly as a wide smile grew on his face, revealing a row of daggerlike teeth.
"Finally, someone that might be worth some effort."
Basus couldn't understand who or what he was staring at; it was like a completely different person, but everything told him that what was before him was something dangerous.
"Let go of me you lowly vermin!" Activating his Diamond Armor on his head, he let go of Victor to break free by prying the claw away with his hands, but the arm didn't budge. "What? Why can't I get free?"
Feral Victor howled as he lifted the man off the ground before driving his head into the street with explosive force.
Blood flew from Basus' mouth from the impact. "Argh! Even with my diamond armor, he still damaged me? Where did all of this strength come from?"
Feral Victor didn't give him time to think as he repeatedly smashed Basus into the ground, making the crater grow bigger and bigger with every impact, causing the nearby buildings to crumble.
"Don't die on me just yet. I wouldn't want my new plaything to break so soon." Feral Victor snarled gleefully.
This really pissed Basus off. "Don't think you've gotten the better of me!" He struck Victor's with an acid-coated barrage, taking advantage of the flurry to get away.
"There, messed up that pretty face of yours." He laughed, before inhaling and unleashed a large cloud of Chlorine Gas, almost filling the entire crater as the rocks began to melt from the corrosive mist.
"Now choke on that!" He laughed, waiting for the gasps to come.
Suddenly a loud clap created a shockwave, dispersing the lethal cloud instantly. "Was that your best?"
Basus could only gape in shock in response.
"Then I guess it's my turn." Victor took a step.
Basus saw a fist in his face as Victor plowed into him as he was carried through the crater wall, their bodies splitting the earth like a giant blade.
A powerful blow launched Basus skyward from the crevice with Victor appearing above him and dropping an ax kick on his back, folding the man in half as he rocketed back to the ground that erupted upon impact.
In the hole, a broken and beaten man struggled to climb out as a hand grabbed his head and raised him to eye level to stare at the toothy fishman.
"Come on. I expected more of a fight from a Zodiac. I'm starting to get bored." He taunted.
Basus did a double palm thrust that knocked both of them back. This brief moment seemed to give the Ringleader time to think.
"What's going on? He wasn't this strong before and his moves are wild with no sense of thought. What is happening?" As he stared, he could feel his instincts screaming to run away.
Him… a man who has killed many a powerful foe and led to the annihilation of countless people, was feeling scared at this being before him. It was not merely sensing a killing intent; lots of pirates have that, but this… this monster. What he sensed was something more primal. This man wanted to EAT him.
That was the only answer that his instincts told him about what he was seeing, like some sort of massive creature with infinite rows of teeth leading into a bottomless pit of hunger.
Basus spit to the side as he tore his shirt off, exposing his lithe frame as he saw his only option remaining. Raising his hands level with him, he prepared himself.
"Consider yourself one of only a handful of people to witness this! I will show you the real power of the Henge-Henge Fruit!" He let out a powerful shout as he concentrated all of his energy as he clenched his fists.
"FULL CHANGE! ADRENALINE RUSH!" Basus' body began to surge and grow muscular, as his entire body turned crystalline.
"Oh hohoho! This is my full power! Strength and speed multiplied 10 fold! A diamond hard body with senses sharpened beyond Human limits! What you faced before was nothing to what I am now!"
Feral Victor almost couldn't contain himself. "Yes, show me what's you've got!"
Basus roared as the ground upheaved from the force of his new strength. The Tiger charged and slammed his fist into Victor's face with everything he had as a hundred meters of earth and town exploded violently into the sky, leaving a deep trough in the direction of his attack.
Basus was pleased, but he didn't stop there as he charged into the cloud as thick spikes extended from his fists.
"BLOODY KNUCKLES!"
The villain then proceeded to unleash a torrent of punches down on his victim that caused the ground to seize and split like an earthquake.
"Don't say that I didn't warn you!" Basus laughed as he pummeled the prone figure beneath him. "Did you really think that you could beat me! I am one of the Zodiac! The ones who will burn the heavens to ash!"
Having not noticed from his own arrogance, his ears finally caught the sound of Victor laughing along with him.
"YES! YES! MORE! GIVE ME MORE!"
Hands caught Basus mid-strike, halting his barrage to reveal an oversized grin of fangs as he got to his feet.
Basus suddenly felt himself getting getting overpowered as he was driven to a knee. His look of shock as he was now looking up at the vicious hybrid's smile.
"You are so much fun to play with!" Leaning back, Victor hammered the pirate in the face with a headbutt that sunk him into the ground before Victor finished with an axe-handle smash on the man's head, driving him neck deep into the ground.
"Now lets see how much this new body of yours can take." Feral Victor leaned forward, his leg rising til it pointed in the sky and swung back, colliding with Basus' exposed head.
Basus was launched back, ripping apart the ground before becoming airborne. The man gasped in pain as blood and teeth flew out, his eyes blank as buildings rapidly exploded beneath him.
The destruction was Victor who was busting through buildings in his path like a runaway train before launching himself skyward.
"How is this possible? My ultimate technique… is being treated like nothing." Basus struggled to think as he stared into the ecstatic visage that beamed down on him
"More more more!" Basus didn't have time to answer as Victor, with a powerful burst of leg power as a shockwave sent them both down like a meteor, causing the entire island to visibly shake from the impact.
Basus's diamond skin was crumbling from his face as Victor looked down on him. "Awwww, my toy broke. Now how am I supposed to have fun?" He grabbed the fallen man by his arm and dragged him across the beach, leaving a trail with his body and dropping him just at the edge of the incoming tide.
Basus had regained just enough consciousness, seeing Victor standing over him. "Oh good, I was hoping you'd be awake for this." Basus felt a monstrous pressure grip his neck, causing him to struggle to breathe.
"Well it seems now I'm the one doing the wringing, isn't it? You just gotta love the irony, but how about I add a little fishman element to it." Victor said as the tide started to bring the water in as it covered Basus' face as he began to choke from the salty liquid.
Every few seconds, a new wave came in, naturally waterboarding the villain as he kicked and flailed, but to no avail as his strength faded as more water came into contact.
"Well it looks like you're all out of tricks, especially since the ocean takes away your Devil Fruit Powers. I guess if you can figure out how to grow gills in the next few minutes. You're not gonna make it." Victor said to the gasping man as the water had now risen to the point where it was more constant and the beaten man was barely to get puffs of air before it was nothing but bubbles.
As Victor relished the last few moments of life leaving Basus' mouth, the fires nearby gave off just enough light to give off a reflection.
In that moment, Victor saw himself, the face of a man who was enjoying the act of killing. He now looked at the very thing he feared he'd become. A bloodthirsty beast.
As if from impulse, he threw Basus behind him, who rolled into the sand as he desperately gasped for life.
A memory flashed before Victor's eyes as he looked down to see his hands coated with blood as he suddenly began to hyperventilate. The night, the fire, the blood, history was being repeated as he grabbed his head as he fought with himself. "NO! NOT AGAIN!" He cried out to the sky.
"FIGHTANDKILL!" His mind commanded as he clenched his body as he desperately tried to contain his urges. "FIGHTANDKILLFIGHTANDKILLFIGHTANDKILLFIGHTANDKILLFIGHTANDKILL!" The words cycled ceaselessly to him, coaxing him to finish the job.
"NO!" He shouted with finality as he slammed his head into the water. After several tense motionless seconds, he raised his head from the water. His labored breathing slowing to a more even rhythm. He let out a sigh of relief that he managed to not lose himself, although he was barely successful.
Victor's body suddenly felt heavy as he struggled to his feet, mental and physical fatigue beginning to take its toll from his ordeal. Before he could take a moment to recover, a wall of Marines stood before him, blocking his path into the town. Jesse and Kain were shackled. Cassidy was not bound as she stood with a female Marine beside her.
"Victor Betta, I finally caught up with you."
The familiar voice of Commadore Ralley hit his ears as fast as the fist that rammed into his stomach, doubling him over.
"For the atrocities you have committed across the Grand Line. I hereby place you under arrest." The Marine declared even as a hand grasped his collar as his gaze was answered by Victor's rabid glare.
"You… cheap… sonova…" Victor didn't get to finish before his head was driven into the sand by a titanic blow.
"Commadore." The Marines exclaimed, but the man's stance gave them the impression to remain where they were.
Ralley looked down at the now unconscious form… his quarry. The only man to have ever gotten away from him, his hand was still clenched with the piece of uniform that was torn when he was knocked out.
"You call it cheap, but this isn't some spar. You're a Pirate and I'm a Marine. To allow you the courtesy of a duel is for me to decide." He answered the still form before walking away.
With the Pirate Captain of the Sparrow Corp. and the Captain of the Ringling Pirates now in custody, the men cheered in celebration as they made way for their Commadore, a symbol of Marine Justice and Military Might.
Ralley didn't seem to be listening, their shouts now distant to him. "All of those wounds and you still had the strength to stand up to me. What you must have gone through to have progressed so much in such a short amount of time."
His demeanor a bit saddened at the realization. Not at having caught him, but that he was too battle-worn to have put up even a decent fight. Despite this, a part of him seemed leery of the situation. Like those fangs he bore at him were still ready to strike, even though he had lost consciousness.
"Victor, you are indeed; a monster."
XXXXX
A/N
And so concludes the Ringling Pirates Arc, a brutal encounter that shaped many lives in a single night.
The title was a slight homage to Fisher Tiger, the character that got me started on writing this story.
Now with the Sparrow Corp. in Marine custody, what will become of the group now?
Will they be able to escape? Will they be taken to Impel Down?
What was the change that Victor underwent when he fought Basus?
Questions only time will tell.
