Chapter 32: Khemenu
Dawn broke from a clear sky, the vibrant orange shimmering off the gentle waves.
At the helm, Jinbe lazily guided the wheel with one hand, while the other held a hand of playing cards. Kisame and Halibel were also with him, having set up a table for the pot. In this case, it was a mishmash of Beri from the Grand Line and Ryō from the Ninja World.
On a side-note, paper currency is only valuable as long as the vast majority of a community believes it to be. So…when it suddenly turns out that most of the rest of the world puts no value in your Beri…it quickly becomes nothing more than a collector's item. With such a chaotic situation, the Sea of Second Chances was forced to resort to either precious metals (coins or otherwise) or barter.
Considering all that, our three sharks were playing Poker over a worthless pot. But that's okay. This was Halibel's first time playing, so less pressure was good.
"…and that's when I said 'I'm a Pirate'," Jinbe recalled as he threw another hundred Beri to the pot.
"Hehehehehe…" Kisame chuckled as he matched the bet with Ryō. "I wish you'd show that rebel in you some more!"
Halibel shook her head, trying to hide her amusement. "So you donated your blood…is this when you finally joined the Straw Hats?" she asked while throwing in both Ryō and Beri.
"Bold of you to raise the bet," Kisame joked.
"Well…yes and no," Jinbe called the raise. "That's when Luffy gave the offer, but I was still bound to Big Mom's crew at the time. And I think it's time to show our hands."
Hesitant, Halibel put her cards down, revealing two queens and two threes (all Hearts and Diamonds if you're curious). "I think this is a good hand."
"Not bad, not bad at all," Kisame gave a teasing grin. "Unfortunately…" he revealed a Royal Straight Flush.
At the same time, Jinbe showed another Royal Straight Flush.
Oddly enough, both hands were all Spades.
Kisame and Jinbe stared at each other for a full five seconds.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Both erupted into laughter.
"You're good!" Kisame patted Jinbe on the back.
"Hehe…thank you," Jinbe smiled. "And you too, only Nami or Robin could slip it past me like that."
"Umm…I'm confused," Halibel looked at the matching hands.
"Oh...HMM," Jinbe cleared his throat. "When Pirates play…it's a bit of an unspoken rule…it's only cheating if you're caught in the act."
"I guess Ninjas think the same way," Kisame chuckled. "And besides…it's great for practicing with your hands."
"A game where you're supposed to cheat…how puzzling," Halibel looked at the pot. "So do we just split this all up and start over?"
"Yeah…split it up, but I don't think we'll have time for another game," Jinbe put both hands back on the wheel. "According to the map and Nami, we should be seeing Khemenu within an hour."
"Right," Kisame hoisted Samehada back on his back. "I'll start waking everyone else up."
"Me too," Halibel got up.
Before they walked down, Bell-mere came up, yawning. She gave a polite nod to Halibel, but passed by Kisame without acknowledgement.
"Miss Bell-mere," Jinbe called out. "We'll be reaching Khemenu soon."
"Hmm," she kept walking until reaching the bow, folding her arms on the railing.
Jinbe looked back down, no longer smiling, focusing on his Helmsman duties.
Kisame and Halibel gazed at the Fishman, before giving each other a look.
Without a word, they both went to gather the crew.
OoOoOoO
Soon enough, Usopp gave the shout of "Land Ho!"
As the Cutty Sark approached, the first thing the crew noticed was the oppressive heat. It was enough to convince most of them to switch into lighter clothing like T-shirts or open vests. Then, it was the circling Ibises that were the next sign of refuge from the sea.
Then, the island itself came within the rest of the crew's eyesight.
Hundreds of other ships could be seen docked in the natural harbor. Everything from Junks, barges, arcs, galleons, and even more modern steamboats. Most of the buildings were made of mud bricks and wood, all the better to deal with the heat. And there were easily thousands of those homes. Every now and then, a stone building supported by columns would show itself. These were the temples and officials' residences. An open market outside the port proper was absolutely bustling with life.
A clear blue river could be seen, with both sides covered in bountiful grain fields, clearly dutifully tended to. This river fed into the bay, trailing down from a series of mountains.
Bizarrely, six roughly even mountains were all arranged in a perfect circle around the largest seventh peak.
Around the base of all these mountains, one gargantuan building encircled them. The gate alone could fit the entire Cutty Sark with room to spare. Even from this far out, the crew could see the outer walls were covered in reliefs. The specific images were unfamiliar to the crew. A scarab rising with the sun. A mighty serpent trying to devour the sun. The great crocodile patrolling the Nile. A falcon swooping in on a dark hound.
At the top of each mountain, a stone pyramid had replaced whatever natural peaks had once been there. And at the very top of each pyramid, a golden Eye of Horus shone for protection.
As for the seventh structure atop the highest mountain, it was a massive golden Obelisk, covered in Hieroglyphs. Most prominent among them, an Egyptian woman on her knees, arms held out with wings beneath. A symbol of Ma'at, meant for the sake of balance.
Both Obelisk and pyramids had no visible entrances, meaning that the gate at the base was most likely the only way to access those peaks.
By now, the ship had entered the bay and dropped anchor.
"This time, I shall accompany you all," Sasori stated in a 'matter-of-fact' way as he unfurled his 'Hiruko'. "The defenses I've installed will suffice in my absence. And besides…an island dedicated to collecting knowledge of all worlds…this is too good to pass up."
Sanji raised a swirly eyebrow.
"Hehe…as long as you promise to be on your best behavior," Kisame laughed, earning an eye-roll from Hiruko once Sasori was secure.
Everyone made their way to the dock and dry land. The crew had just made it to the market, when two figures openly approached.
Both were rather short, young, and petite ladies. One had the appearance of a ten-year old with the black hair and style of a Japanese noblewoman, but her dark eyes belied wisdom far beyond that. A white haori and black shihakusho underneath indicated a previous affiliation with the Soul Society, specifically the Central 46.
The other girl was far more colorful. She had brown eyes and wavy shoulder-length blue hair that was tied back with a gold bandana. She wore an orange dress that barely reached down to her knees. On her left scapula, a matching orange Fairy Tail tattoo was proudly displayed.
"Levy!" Both Mirajane and Juvia exclaimed in joy at the sight of their fellow guild mate.
Levy McGarden, Fairy Tail's Solid Script Mage, seemed equally excited, if her squee, running, and embrace was any indication.
"Ooh! And who is this stunning young maiden?!" Sanji asked, barely restraining himself from sweeping all three ladies into his arms.
"I'm Levy!" She stuck her hand out, with a beaming smile.
The rest of the Straw Hats and Tsu eagerly got to speaking with Levy.
On the other hand, the rest of the crew kept their eyes on the other stranger.
Trembling, Hanataro stepped forward and lowered his head.
"Ma'am!" He managed to get out.
"Calm yourself, Officer," the woman gave an amused smile. "I must admit it's good to see another Soul Reaper doing well."
"And you are?" Sasori narrowed his eyes.
"I am Nayura Amakado, Chief Librarian of Soul Society's Daireishokairō, and member of the Central 46," the woman gave a slight bow of her own.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance," Kisame replied, though he was still clearly on guard.
"Seems this Thoth is quite thorough in gathering knowledge from all the worlds, if he managed to bring even someone like you here," Halibel observed.
"It's mutually beneficial, what with his neutrality protecting us," Amakado shrugged. "Regardless, Master Thoth has been expecting you and is eager to meet. Plus, he felt that at least one friendly face would make things easier."
"That so?" Grimmjow narrowed his eyes at Levy. "Ain't that considerate of him."
"So," Bell-mere tried to sound optimistic. "Should we really keep a god waiting?"
"Very well," Jinbe nodded. "Lead the way."
"Excellent, if you would follow me," Amakado started up the trail by the river. Along the path, the townsfolk would promptly make way for the group. Eyes stayed fixed on the strangers. Occasionally, signs of recognition would flash across the onlookers' faces. Every so often, hushed conversation could barely be discerned.
"Is that them?"
"Yeah, something big must be going down if Master Thoth let them in."
"HI, LEVY!"
And then there were the few happy souls that just wanted to say hello to Levy, who had gotten pretty popular amongst the Khemenu residents for helping out wherever she could.
Towards the end of the group, Bell-mere's head was on a swivel, eyes darting back and forth.
OoOoOoO
"Solid Script: Microphone," Levy quickly cast her spell. "HELLO! WE'RE BACK!"
"Ka-CHUNK!" An unbelievably heavy weight behind the door was moved.
"CREEK CREEK CREEK CREEK!" The absolutely gargantuan double doors groaned as a dozen burly figures operated the system of gears and counterweights responsible for the door.
Even from just the entrance, hundreds of shelves filled to the brim with books could be seen. On the floor, dozens of desks were currently in use. To those with sharp eyes, they would be able to spot at least a score of researchers from each world. Soul Reapers, Ninjas, Marines, Wizards, Scholars, and so many others could be distinguished amongst the crowd of librarians.
"AWW!"
And the air was filled with Ibises. They were flying back and forth between the shelves and researchers, carrying two books at a time in their talons. The process went a little something like this. An ibis would fly down, they'd hear what a researcher needed, they'd grab the old books, fly up to the appropriate shelf and put them back, grab the required tomes, drop them off, and then check on someone else.
"How…efficient," Nami couldn't help but be impressed.
In a corner, Kisame found his eyes wandering. A Hidden Leaf woman with messy blonde hair and incredibly thick glasses was transcribing a book that looked like it was of Ninja origin. "The Eight Celestial Gates and its Effects on Taijutsu". The ex-Akatsuki found himself pausing at that, the concept sounding vaguely familiar.
"Kisame?" Halibel seemed to notice his distraction.
"Just a stray thought," the Ninja shrugged. "Come on, let's get this over with."
And so the crew followed Amakado for a good 20 minutes as they made their way deeper into the facility. By now, they had passed the archives and library. The walls had narrowed into a single hallway that steadily climbed up. It eventually came to an end with a door on the ceiling. To the side, a series of Hieroglyphs were arranged in something vaguely similar to a keyboard. The Soul Reaper quickly punched in the relevant code, swinging the door open.
Then, they came upon a torch-lit room. It was a perfect circle with six heavy-duty stone doors equally spaced out along the wall. Each had glowing Hieroglyphs that seemed to act as locks.
But Amakado didn't seem interested in any of them. Instead, she was gazing straight up at the bare ceiling.
"In the name of Ra, reveal yourself," Amakado commanded, throwing a bit of Reiatsu behind her voice.
Sure enough, an entrance shimmered into existence.
Within it, a baboon in a well-tailored suit (reminiscent of an old-fashioned butler) stood watch.
"Password?"
"Memphis," Amakado declared.
"Memphis what?" the baboon narrowed his eyes.
Amakado rolled her eyes. "Memphis, Tennessee. Home of the one true music, Blues."
The baboon smiled. "Very good." He then pushed a button hidden from view. With a 'CLICK' a series of stairs appeared.
"Nice to see you again Amakado, and you too Levy," the baboon gave a courteous bow. "Hope things go well."
"Thanks!" Levy gave a happy wave.
"Much obliged," the Soul Reaper politely returned the bow before ascending.
After another five minutes, they'd reached the inside of the Obelisk.
At the end of the staircase, a massive room revealed itself at the peak. It was a study, with the walls replaced by four triangular windows that looked out at the whole island and dozens of miles out to sea. Golden tiles shimmered on the floor. A few dozen books were sealed in clear cases, locks made entirely of glowing Hieroglyphs clearly not budging an inch.
"Come in! Come in!"
Behind a mahogany desk, a man had risen out of his seat. He was a tall, spry, young-looking man. Wild blonde hair puffed out behind his head. He was simply dressed in jeans and a lab-coat. Said lab-coat had sleeves covered in all manner of writing. Everything from Hieroglyphs, English, Spanish, Japanese, Greek, Nahuatl, and more could be spotted. There was even bits from the Soul Society, Ninja, Wizard, and Pirate worlds that the crew recognized. Still, the dead giveaway of his divinity could be seen in his eyes. They were like a Kaleidoscope, constantly shifting in color and tone.
"Welcome to Khemenu, I'm Thoth, Egypt's God of Knowledge, Writing, History, and Magic. And you are?"
The whole crew gave brief introductions.
"And I'm Jinbe. Thank you for allowing us in," Jinbe bowed. "There is much we need to discuss."
"Indeed," Thoth's gaze traveled to Nami, and then back to the clipping on his desk from that newspaper. "So, this 'curse' happened at the same time of this battle?"
"Yep," Kisame bluntly put it.
"And this was from contact with an artifact Cipactli was personally interested in?" Thoth asked. "May I take a glance?"
Nami quickly opened her Clima-Tact…revealing the Cursed Medallion.
Thoth gazed at it for a moment. Then, he returned behind the desk. With a wave of his hand, one of the clear cases opened. The book floated over to Thoth's hand.
It was titled 'Compendium of Mesoamerican Deities and their Relics: Edited by Thoth'.
Bell-mere twitched.
"All right," Thoth placed the book down, opening it with a thump. With another wave of his hand, the pages turned until coming to an abrupt stop.
From the page, an image of the chest shone into the room. Beside it, an enlarged medallion shimmered.
"The Chest of Cortez," Thoth began his explanation. "In one of the mortal worlds, the Aztec Empire dominated the land, guided by their own Pantheon of Gods who demanded ritual sacrifice. They were led by the brothers Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, who had created the world and humanity after defeating Cipactli."
"You mean two guys brought that crocodile down in his prime without any outside help?" Kisame asked.
"Yes," Thoth simply replied. "Anyway, after around 200 years of Aztec supremacy, a small band of travelers arrived. Led by a man called Hernan Cortez, they brought firearms, steel, and disease to the isolated kingdom. Driven by a desire for riches and conquest, Cortez brought about a chain of events that resulted in the downfall of the Aztec, rallying every other tribe in the area."
Thoth paused. "When the end was imminent, the Aztecs collected 882 Golden Medallions. It was one last attempt to buy off Cortez and his Conquistadors. The Spaniard took it, and proceeded to commence the slaughter."
Nami looked sick as she gazed at the genuine Medallion.
"With their worshippers all facing utter destruction, the Aztec Gods knew their time was at an end. Their power was already waning. So, they put everything they had in one last curse."
Thoth looked directly at Nami. "Any mortal who removes even a single Medallion, shall be punished. They shall be deprived of all physical pleasure and feeling, replaced with deprivation and pain. Those who were compelled by greed…would be forever consumed by it."
Nami fell into utter silence.
"And what happened after this curse was placed?" Halibel wondered.
"That was the Aztec Gods' final act. Their worshippers were gone, so they all eventually faded from the mortal world. So far, we've managed to track down a few dozen deities."
"Isn't there anything else?" Sanji lit a fresh cigarette, trying to hide how anxious he was for Nami's sake.
"Well…there was one incident roughly 200 years after the fall of the Aztecs," Thoth elaborated. "A crew of pirates under a Captain Barbossa found the chest and plundered it as they would any other treasure."
An image shone of the Black Pearl's cursed captain.
"THAT'S HIM!" Franky shouted. "He was there at Tamatoa's Horde! He fought off our 'Witch'."
"How concerning," Thoth brought a hand to his chin. "If he's involved, then another party has clearly done their homework regarding this Chest."
"If he died and wound up here," Halibel interjected. "Then he clearly found a way to break the curse."
"Yes, once they realized their condition, the Black Pearl became a blight in the Caribbean in their quest to reclaim every Medallion. It took them 10 years, but the Curse was broken."
"How?" Jinbe was at the edge of his figurative seat.
"Blood," Thoth declared. "Every single Medallion must be returned to the Chest, along with the blood of all who took them."
Noticing Nami pale, Thoth mercifully decided to clarify. "It only takes a fresh cut on the hand and smearing it on the Medallion."
"…and Cipactli has the chest," Kisame grumbled.
"Where is he?" Jinbe asked as he rolled out the map Vulko gave them so long ago at White Castle.
"No," Thoth shook his head. "I can't stand by such a suicidal action. Taking on a God of the Sea is impossible."
"It isn't," Halibel firmly said. "We beat him before, we'll find a way to beat him again."
Thoth scoffed. "A mere shadow in a broken puppet. Mark my words, even the power of his Congregation will dwarf anything you've triumphed against. They are the power that has conquered the animal kingdom. Beast Pirates, Boss Summons, Hollows, Demons, Supervillains…they've all bent the knee to Cipactli's lieutenants."
Bell-mere's eye twitched.
"…it doesn't matter," Jinbe said, resolute.
"Our friend is suffering, and we're going to end it," Tsuyu simply stated.
Nami looked down, unable to face the rest of the crew.
"You're not seriously considering just going into the heart of a God's territory just with one crew," Sasori growled from within his Hiruko puppet. "It sounds like Cipactli has coerced hundreds just from our own worlds into his crew. And there's probably thousands more just waiting for whatever morons get close. I will take my ship right now if you go ahead with this suicide mission."
"Hey!" Franky interjected. But before he could continue the argument, Thoth abruptly rose and let out a burst of his own energy, effectively silencing everyone.
"There, you all felt that I'm sure," he gave a particular glance to Tsuyu and Bell-mere, who were on their knees.
"And when it comes to Gods, I'm just average," Thoth claimed.
"But surely something can be done," Levy nearly pleaded.
"Perhaps," Thoth sat back down. "And we do find ourselves in a unique situation."
The Egyptian God created an enlarged version of Jinbe's map.
He then zoomed in on an island hundreds of miles to the West. Before the crew's eyes, the island seemed to freeze over.
"Cipactli and Tiamat have declared war upon each other. This island will merely be the first casualty in their grudge match."
He moved to another island even further West. But even the mere image of it seemed to darken the room. A volcano violently rumbled as chunks of other islands crashed into it, making the mass grow larger by the second. Thousands of miniature figures darted about.
"That's Tiamat…and she's on the move," Thoth grimly pointed out.
"When you put it like that…" Hanataro started to realize.
"Yes…the implication is correct. Tiamat is the Island itself," Thoth revealed. "And as she advances, Cipactli himself will have to face her."
The map quickly moved back east.
"Which means that he isn't at his home base of Miquiztli," Thoth stopped the map at a gargantuan island. It was mostly covered in a thick jungle, with numerous marshes lining the island's perimeter. But at the western end of the island, a massive cave seemed to glare out into the ocean.
"And if he wants to have a chance in this war, the rest of the Congregation will join him in battle. That means he'll have to trust 'Otherworlders' in guarding his lair," Thoth surmised.
"So now's the best time to strike?" Jinbe asked.
"Perhaps," Thoth appeared contemplative. "Even so, you'll still be giving the gravest of insults against Cipactli. If he should emerge victorious in this war…"
"You honestly believe we stand no chance against him," Halibel sighed.
"That is correct," Thoth nodded. "And there's nothing I can do to dissuade you from this course?"
Kisame looked at Halibel and Jinbe, chuckling. "I suppose not."
"Very well," the God rested his head on his hand. "If that's the case, then start gathering allies…for even a crew like yours won't even manage to reach Miquiztli without Godly aid."
"Can we perhaps count you among those allies?" Jinbe asked.
Thoth was silent for a good minute.
"Sir, what of our neutrality?" Amakado spoke up. "Even what you've just divulged could be enough of an excuse for Cipactli to attack this library."
"No," Thoth replied. "All I've told them is 'common knowledge', but Amakado, let's be realistic."
He stood up, looking out at his island. "We are on the precipice of a great change. The precarious balance of this world's peace is about to be broken. Old promises and guarantees won't mean much. The time of our neutrality shan't last long."
The God stared at the six pyramids encircling his Obelisk. "Regrettably, my power is still needed here…and these scholars require a Godly patron to shield them."
"We understand," Jinbe nodded.
"But we can still come to an arrangement," Thoth pondered. "I will open the Library to you, and you may research to your heart's content for the remainder of the day."
"Your offer is most generous," Halibel gave a slight bow.
"Amakado, have Professor Clover procure whatever this crew needs," Thoth put his Compendium back in the case, conjuring the Hieroglyph lock almost as an afterthought.
"Right away sir," the Soul Reaper was about to conjure a Hell Butterfly.
Suddenly, Thoth zoomed to the window. His face fell.
"Hold that order!"
Everyone else followed the God to the window.
Thick clouds were rolling in.
"It was supposed to be clear all day," Nami noted.
"I know," Thoth agreed. "This isn't natural."
As if to show how right they were, the front clouds seemed to morph, taking the shape of a massive hand reaching for Khemenu.
OoOoOoO
(Taibhse Island)
In the highest room of the tallest tower, The Morrigan chuckled to herself.
"Hehehehe…let the show begin."
She stirred her bubbling cauldron, causing more fog to billow over the Island of Eternal Night, spreading out into the distance.
By her side, Count Dracula watched. He seemed far more contemplative, his mind wandering to his own subordinate in this fleet.
OoOoOoO
(Khemenu)
Thoth immediately moved to the exact center of the room.
"It would seem the time to take up arms is imminent," Thoth decided.
He took a seat, clapped his hands together, and began chanting in the tongue of the Pharaohs. His power seemed to become a part of the air itself.
For the briefest second, his image fluttered. Around his own head, the façade of an enormous white ibis's head seemed to manifest.
The God slowly pulled his hands apart, revealing an ethereal, glowing 'Eye of Ra' floating in the air between the palms. Then 6 golden beams of pure energy shot out, each connecting with the tip of a pyramid.
For a brief second, the pyramids seemed to simply absorb the Magic. Then, those 6 beams were amplified and shot straight into the air. Once in the sky, the beams combined into a golden sheet that fell in the shape of a half-dome.
In less than a minute, Thoth had shielded the entire island.
The hand in the clouds reached out, only to disperse after bashing against the shield. Regardless, the skies darkened all around the island. Eventually, not a sliver of sunlight could be seen through the clouds.
By now, those in the Obelisk were able to see the incoming fleet. A dozen oaken long ships were sailing right for the bay. But at the front, a triple-decker galleon made for a menacing picture with its red and black paint job. The Amazon archer figurehead glowered.
"There's someone powerful leading this attack," Thoth still kept his 'Eye of Ra' maintained. "Most likely, he'll be able to get the shield open."
"WHAT?!" Levy asked in shock.
"I hate to ask this of my visitors, but could you buy some time?" Thoth asked. "If you can keep the main force busy, my people will have time to preserve the Archive and evacuate if necessary."
"Just keep them busy?" Grimmjow cracked his knuckles. "Oh, I can definitely do more than that."
"Oh, I don't doubt that," Thoth murmured. "And if you succeed, I shall give more direct aid…since the 'Gods of the Sea' clearly don't care about my status. Now…how do you sailors put it…Step to!"
"Gladly!" Grimmjow punched the window, shattering it. Then, he was gone with a burst of Sonido.
"Damn it, Grimmjow!" Halibel made to pursue. "Apacci! Stay with the others!"
"But…" Apacci began. Still, the Hollow Queen made haste with Sonido.
"Let's go!" Jinbe hopped out and began sliding down the Obelisk.
"Hey," Kisame laughed and followed. "I'm supposed to be the one that jumps ahead for the fight!"
"Damn it!" Apacci pursued.
One by one, the rest of the C.S. went out the window.
"Fine," Sasori grumbled as he brought up the rear, wrapping up Hanataro with his tail and dragging him along in his Body Flicker.
"Levy," Thoth intoned. "Go with them, aid them…tell them everything they need to know about this island."
"Right! Solid Script: Car!" The Mage hopped on her creation and zoomed off.
"Amakado," Thoth stayed in his position. "Prepare everyone in the library. Worst comes to worse…make sure all the texts are in place. That knowledge must survive."
"Yes, sir," Amakado nodded.
"And get Mr. Chan up here with me," Thoth added. "If this coming fight is as great as I fear, I'll need his help with the barrier."
"…"
"I don't care if he has 'One More Thing' to do! This is urgent!"
OoOoOoO
"Well…it seems this island's defense is as impressive as claimed," Ares brought his shortsword to the barrier.
"Che…nothing I can't blast away!" Nnoitra impetuously stepped up and stuck out his tongue. Gold Reiatsu gathered around the tip of his #5 tattoo.
"CERO!" The blast was blinding.
The smoke cleared, revealing a completely undamaged barrier.
"Amazing," Carmilla turned to the ex-Espada. "Astounding display, really."
"Shut it woman!" Nnoitra raised that Zanpakuto of his.
"Enough," Ares coolly interjected, stopping Nnoitra with no visible effort.
"Now...give me some room if you don't want to disintegrate," the Greek God of War started floating off the ship.
Wisely, the 'Wrath of Sparta' halted its course.
"RAH!" Ares roared as he ignited his sword and swung it.
"VVOOOM" The entire ocean seemed to shake with the force of the blow.
The barrier shuddered as the God dug his flaming sword in. Then, Ares started flying up, tearing through the defense. The Greek fire spread from the opening. Chips of the barrier fell into the ocean.
"Full speed ahead!" Ares commanded his Phalanx aboard the 'Wrath of Sparta'.
"Hmm?" the God turned, sensing someone coming.
"HAHAHAHA!"
At full Sonido speed, Grimmjow slammed a fist right in Ares' face.
The God didn't even flinch.
"Oh," Ares nonchalantly grabbed the ex-Espada's arm before Grimmjow could react. "This is going to be fun." Then he hurled Grimmjow right into the ocean, slamming him hard enough to create a tsunami.
"Well now," Ares turned. "It seems the Fates are kind today."
Tia Halibel stood in the air, facing him with her sword ready. "I take it you're already familiar with me."
"Oh yes," Ares grinned. "The Morrigan couldn't stop laughing when she saw that little article with you and your two friends. And to think I'll get a chance to enjoy myself against the very same warriors that got the better of Cipactli."
"You have me at a disadvantage," Halibel intensified her Reiatsu.
"My apologies, I'm Ares, Greek God of War, Slaughter, Bloodshed, and Carnage. I am the son of Zeus and Hera, King and Queen of all!"
"RAH!" Grimmjow shot back into the sky, soaking wet. "You talk too much!"
"GRIMMJOW, ENOUGH!" Halibel shouted, a rarity for her. "Take this seriously, or you'll be a hindrance. Am. I. Clear?"
The former 6th Espada growled.
"We need to go into Resurreción, now!" Halibel commanded.
Ares simply grinned, as if he was welcoming the prospect.
One of his 'esteemed' crew wasn't nearly so patient.
"SURPRISE, BITCH!"
Nnoitra Gilga, the former 5th Espada, had flown right underneath his old 'colleagues', and was charging up a Cero at Halibel.
"YOU!" Grimmjow nearly went to beat the living tar out of the Hollow he hated most.
"FISHMAN KARATE! BLACK SHARK BRICK FIST!"
"GAHH!"
"SPLOOSH!"
All of a sudden, Jinbe and all 10 feet of his stocky muscle had pummeled Nnoitra in the side, sending both crashing into the sea.
Another of Ares' crew plopped into the water as well.
Grimmjow was just about to go after Nnoitra…only for Ares to appear right in front of him, managing to unnerve the Hollow.
"Now, now" the God actually wagged his finger at Grimmjow. "You charged and punched me, remember? And weren't you aiming for the strongest foe, anyway?"
Ares instantly went back to where he was originally floating. "Now then, you both mentioned something about Resurreción…so get on with it."
Without another word, both Espada raised their swords.
"Hunt, Tiburon!"
"Grind, Pantera!"
"Oh yes…this will be quite the entertainment," Ares chuckled.
OoOoOoO
The water erupted around Nnoitra and Jinbe.
"Fishman! How the hell did you manage to hurt me, you son of a bitch?!" Nnoitra glowered as he brandished Santa Teresa, water dripping as he stood in the air.
Jinbe didn't say a word, simply assuming his Fishman Karate stance as he floated.
"Fine! Be that way!" Nnoitra rushed forward with Sonido.
"5000 Brick Fist!" Jinbe matched Santa Teresa's swing with his blackened right fist.
In an instant, as Hollow and Fishman struggled for supremacy, a shadow swam behind Jinbe.
"HODY! STAY OUT OF MY FIGHT!" Nnoitra screamed.
Hody Jones had a mad gleam in his eye as he drew his arm back, water gathering around it.
"GIHAHAHA! Die, you damned race traitor!"
Jinbe's eyes widened, knowing he couldn't dodge without getting cut by Nnoitra.
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
From a distant puff of smoke, Kisame Hoshigaki came riding in on a large Mako Shark so fast that he managed to slam Samehada into Hody's back, sending the evil Fishman crashing into the seafloor.
"Aww, backstabbing someone while they're in another fight…only Ninja are allowed to do that!" Kisame laughed before commanding his stead to pursue.
"And nice to see you still fast as ever, Sukodu!"
"Hmm…just summon me next time you see a swordfish, and we'll call it even," the Mako said in a professional male voice.
Kisame briefly looked up, seeing Nnoitra and Jinbe resuming their bout like nothing happened. "Eh…he'll be fine."
By now, they'd reached the sea floor, where a livid Hody had gotten his bearings again.
"Another race traitor," Hody grumbled. "Willingly serving on a crew with filthy humans."
"…" Kisame's smile instantly faded. "Oh no…don't tell me."
"I'll show you the price of turning against your own kind!" Hody raised his bulging arms.
"My own kind," Kisame repeated in his head. "Oh not this crap again!"
OoOoOoO
"AIYAH! Barrier has been broken!" An aged Chinese man in early 21st Century clothing shouted when he reached Thoth's room.
"I'm aware, Mr. Chan," the God breathed heavily. "Please focus. My spell is ready for your addition."
"Right," the old Chan took a seat across from Thoth. He then help up a dried pufferfish in one hand, while making a hand sign with the other.
"Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao! Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao! Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao!"
As the old Chi Wizard continued his chanting, a green light emitted from the pufferfish, funneling into Thoth's continuous golden stream.
Then, the Chi began to actively fill in the gap left by Ares' attack.
Carmilla noticed this and snarled.
"Master Nnoitra," Tesla Lindocruz began to move to his master's aid…until Carmilla grabbed and violently shoved him back on deck.
"Do not forget why we're here…or whom you serve!" the Vampire's hand tightened around Tesla's throat. "OARSMEN! On the double!" Her other hand conjured a tendril of fire and whipped it on the back of the nearest oarsman, earning a shriek of pain.
After a few seconds of rowing, the 'Wrath of Sparta' had made it into the bay. The barrier fell onto the long ship closest behind them. The second contact was made, the ship and all the goblins aboard burst into flames, reduced to ash in the blink of an eye.
"Weaklings," Driscoll Berci, Sternritter 'O' scoffed at the lost goblins.
Outside the barrier, the ocean seemed to be in turmoil. Ten long ships worth of goblins struggled to get far away from the coming clashes. Ares laughed as Halibel and Grimmjow charged, earning an eye-roll from Carmilla. Nnoitra angrily screamed at Jinbe dodging a Bala. A whirlpool formed as Kisame and Hody bent the sea to their will.
"Look," Ezel, a Demon of the Tartaros Guild, pointed to the shore.
There, waiting for them, the rest of the Cutty Sark crew was ready for battle.
"They're just a bunch of humans!" Ezel laughed.
"Oh, don't underestimate them," Muscular, the Supervillain, laughed. "I can already tell that I'll enjoy seeing their blood!"
Uvogin, of the Phantom Troupe, grinned and cracked his knuckles.
"Phalanx," Carmilla commanded. "To Arms!"
OoOoOoO
Omake: Deadpool's Valentine Parody!
Juvia was driving the crew's new automobile across an island. Kisame was riding shotgun. Halibel was behind him, and Jinbe had to bend over to fit besides her.
As they were going along, the car hit a pothole.
"AHH!"
The passengers were all silent.
"Juvia," Kisame asked. "What was that?"
"That…was…Lucy. The rival for my darling Gray's affections," Juvia slowly answered.
"Lu-who?" Jinbe raised his voice.
"You were right, Kisame," Juvia exclaimed. "I tied Lucy up in the trunk, and then I'm going to cut her! And dump her carcass to show Gray my love!
Kisame looked back at a particularly stern Jinbe. "I did NOT tell her to do that! Something got lost in translation! Juvia this isn't how you'll win Gray's heart! (I'm so proud of you)"
Juvia turned when she heard that last part whispered under Kisame's breath.
"Drop Lucy off, safe and sound. (Kill her)," he continued.
"And just win over Gray the old-fashioned way, with your feminine charm! (Kidnap him)," Kisame finished.
Halibel turned to Jinbe, and just shook her head.
"And Cut!" Deadpool shouted from the Director's chair. "That's a wrap! Everyone go get some Chimichangas! And now I'll get my royalties for participating in this absolute clusterfuck of a fic! I mean, God, how many shows can this guy fit in here?! It's ridiculous!"
OoOoOoO
A.N. Hey everyone! Long time no see! So…I got made full-time management at my job…on top of applying for Grad School…so that's been a struggle to adjust to. Plus, I always do struggle with starting an 'arc'. But hopefully, now that the action is underway and I've adjusted to my new schedule, I'll be able to update more consistently.
Now, I had fun imagining Khemenu and its residents. Let me know what you think of Thoth!
But yeah…I'll admit a lot of this chapter is exposition for information you already know…but it was necessary for the characters themselves.
As for the fights…I'm super excited to get to them! I've always had this image of Grimmjow fighting a freakin' God of WAR…and now I get to share that! And last time I wrote one-on-ones for Jinbe or Kisame was over a year ago…man, how time flies! Plus, I'd certainly say Nnoitra and Hody are fitting opponents for them! And let's just say a whole lot of the rest of the crew will have time to shine!
Til Next Time…Have Fun! Stay Safe!