Disclaimer: Godzilla and One Piece are the sole properties of Toho Co. LTD and Eiichiro Oda respectively. KP360 claims no ownership of anything save for any OCs, abilities, and locations.
Sunken Kingdom Arc opening: Netsujou no Spectrum (Nanatsu no Taizai Op 1)
Dawn arrived with the sound of steel clanking across the stone floors. As energy filled the geothermal sun once more, the light shining across the vast city, it is an army of heavily armed soldiers that drew the attention.
The Fangs of Manda were ceremonial above else, decked in armor reminisce of their deity. They're status as the protectors of the throne may make people think that they have seen little combat, but if one were to face them in combat they would soon see their mistake. Only those who've pledged their entire lives in service of the Empress may don the golden armor of the Fangs of Manda, for once worn, you are considered an extension of Manda Himself, forever to watch over the Kingdom.
Now, the Fangs of Manda were undertaking a different sort of mission. Mu society differ in many things from the surface, but still share similarities in structure. The punishment of criminals for that matter also varies depending on the crime. A simple slap on the wrist for activities that cause public disturbance, minor detainment for those who vandalize among others.
And of course, should the crime be severe enough, execution is the only choice. Those who've taken the lives of others unlawfully will meet their ends at the executioner's blade, just like the surface world.
Though for those who've commuted the treacherous act of murdering the Empress of an entire nation, well then that's far too merciful of a punishment.
And the three currently bound in chains were being sent to the only being that could pass judgement to such a devastating crime. Perhaps Manda simply enjoyed the offerings of food, but in any case the jaws of the dragon was the gateway to hell for these criminals.
"Hey! Does anyone have any meat?" Luffy had to be led along by a stray chain, for he made it quite tedious for his captors to escort him. The Rubber boy simply did not take kindly to being bound. The solider leading him shot him a glare as he nursed a bruised cheek courtesy of the pirate's foot.
"You're honestly thinking of food at this time?" Sanji admonished, bound to a lesser degree behind his captain. Their jailers had given them only the bare necessities prior to their supposed execution, and all three were ragged and weary, but by now had all realized something heinous was going on in this kingdom.
"These people, they seemed to be unaware of what's going on." Amongst all of them, Zoro was the first to be suspicious of there being something deeper within the kingdom. From the moment the incident in the palace happened to the whispers he's heard in their cell, Zoro could tell Mu, or at least the one currently in charge, had planned something out of their hands. Meanwhile, they were all unwittingly used as chess pieces in this game, meant to be used as scapegoat in midst of a grand plan.
"So what do we do?" Sanji whispered "Everything's gone to shit, we're about to be offerings to a sea dragon, and who knows what they've done to the others?" the cook sighed, it's not looking good at all, Nami, Usopp and Chopper are still missing; he's keeping positive but can't help feeling the worst. Meanwhile, the three of them from the looks of it currently do not have any way of wriggling out of their current situation. They were battered, hungry, not to mention Zoro was also stripped of his swords along with Luffy's straw hat. What's worse is the situation of Gian and Robin, both supposedly seized by the high priest.
"What else can we do? We're kind of on the ropes here." Zoro snorted as they finally stopped at their destination: a cliff overlooking a vast whirlpool of dark swirling seawater. He sighed slightly "Gian really raised a commotion this time."
Speaking of their resident Kaiju-Zoan user, the three had plenty of time during confinement to realize many of his actions weren't adding up. Knowing him for some time now, they can't say they know all of his quirks and past, but enough to see what kind of person he roughly is. From the time they've known him, Gian had always been a rational person. Always looking at all the options, yet unhesitant to take action when needed, he's sometimes a voice of reason and the driving catalyst of many events they've been through.
To see him mercilessly slay the Empress was jarring to say the least.
"How did it happen?" Sanji questioned "I didn't even see him move, and before I knew it he was by the throne and the Empress was lying down on the ground!"
"Hell if I know… but whatever the case, Gian played right into their hands…" Zoro seethed.
"What did you guys do to Gian?!" Luffy demanded.
"Silence, murderers!" barked a soldier as he beckoned to a robed figure standing near the swirling water basin. While most executions, when they happen were done in the privacy of the palace, the execution grounds picked for this occasion is exceptionally extravagant. Multiple stone pillars, as tall as some of the buildings within the city, lined up in two rows on either side of the path leading towards the whirlpool. Each statue was carved in the shape of Manda's head, the jade eyes glowing eerily as the prisoners were corralled towards the water. The robed figure, upon receiving the signal, promptly raised a coiled horn and blew, a deep sounding rumble coursed through the area.
"This is bad…" Sanji muttered.
Zoro's eyes narrowed; it just was all too linear "I don't know what they did to him, or who's in on it completely, but it's as if everything here is going exactly the way they've wanted it to be…"
But this thought would have to wait, for the water below them had begun to churn…
Meanwhile:
"That's the ceremonial horn, they've called out to Lord Manda!" Sara gasped before turning around "Everyone remember the plan?" they were gathered in the rocky outcrop just a few distances to the side of the swirling maelstrom of water, the deafening sound drowning out their own noises of activity.
The four hooded figures nodded and got into position. Their plan was simple enough in theory: From the execution grounds it was a straight shot to the palace that passes through the city. To increase their odds, Nami and company decided to first rescue the three prisoners currently about to be sacrificed. With the amount of guards stationed by the water's edge, they have to do something big.
"I think that dragon's about to come up for food!" Usopp whimpered as he noticed the swirling mass of water began to quake, waves began splashing onto the edge. The three prisoners were still chained; even from this distance they can see distress in their eyes. Only two paths lie before them: one into the jaws of death, or being impaled by the row of weapons pointed at their backs should they attempt to escape.
"He's coming up, I can hear it!" Chopper alerted. Sure enough the long massive serpentine form soon rose out of the water, a bellow churning through the air.
Manda was massive in his own right; the crew has seen it before, and it's just as terrifying here as it was back then at the surface, when his coils almost crushed the Going Merry. His jade colored scales shone slightly in the rising energy given to the sun while his soulless eyes scoured the surrounding, taking note of the people of Mu who either were prostrate before him or, in the case of the row of soldiers guarding the prisoners, kneeling. The 3 individuals who did not do so he also noticed chained up and watching him, glaring hard.
"Hail, Lord Manda. May you be satisfied with this meager offering, and bring peace to the souls of these criminals!" the leader of the group of soldiers chanted as he held himself perpendicular to the ground.
"Hey dragon! Let me out of these chains so I can beat all of you guys up!" Of course, Luffy's fearlessness came up once again.
"Luffy, it's a dragon… I don't think it understands anything you're saying." Zoro deadpanned.
"Besides, these shitheads dragged us here as an offering, it'll just gobble us up on the spot." Sanji muttered.
"HUH?!" Luffy cried out "We're gonna get eaten?"
"YOU JUST FIGURED THAT OUT?!" the other two snapped in exasperation.
To say the soldiers were irritated beyond belief was an understatement. Even the rescuers waiting for their chance couldn't quite make out what's going on, save for the 3 pirates, who only sighed upon witnessing Luffy's simple mind once again.
And Manda himself grew tired of waiting as he reared up and let out a loud roar!
"This is bad…" Zoro gritted as the three of them braced for the inevitable attack. Meanwhile, those who witnessed the scene gasped; they need to act now!
"This is it! Usopp, Sara, do your thing!" Nami shouted, and they sprang into action.
"Kemuri Boshi!" the soldiers, too preoccupied in their bow, noticed too late as a smoke laced pellet crashed into the ground and obscured the area. In their confusion they further did not noticed multiple searing shots slamming into the ground, disorientating them further. Usopp and Sara fired further, giving as much cover as possible.
With the smoke now covering a large area of the execution grounds, even Manda could not see through the dense cover. The massive sea dragon attempted to lean his head down, but soon found another problem as multiple explosions peppered his head, disorientated him for the moment.
"I beg your forgiveness, Lord Manda…" Sara prayed quietly as she raced down the steppes towards the 3 chained individuals. With the dragon temporarily blinded, this became the perfect way to enact the next part of their plan.
Needless to say, the three prisoners were also quite perplexed by the sudden smokescreen. They could hear the shouts of alarm around them and the occasional irritated growl, but could hardly see an inch past their heads. They were however, able to tell their chains were being tampered with.
"Who's there?!" Luffy cried "Quit hiding!"
"You can relax, we are here to help." A woman's voice was his answer.
Zoro's eyes widened "That voice… but how did-"
"It seemed that I got a little lucky, your friend didn't cut as deep as he could have, though your doctor told me it was a very close call." The Empress smiled from under her hood as she worked the key she possessed; keys that accessed every lock in Mu. Zoro only blinked as he felt his chains loosen from around his body before dropping free. The other two were freed shortly after, and with their current predicament, it's clear they had a lot of questions.
"It's the Empress!" Sanji realized "But we saw you fall!"
"It's a long story, we'll tell you about it on the way. Right now we have to run!"
"Nami-san?" Sanji blinked "What's going on here?"
"OI! You guys are ok!" Luffy laughed happily.
"We won't be if we keep standing here!" Usopp retorted "The smokescreen won't last for much longer, we've got to put some distance towards the palace!"
And that's when a loud roar ripped through the air, the concussive sound enough to blow the smoke clouds away. They did manage to put some distance, but the army had now taken notice of them and immediately gave chase. Usopp let out a scream and attempted to run faster.
"Heh, looks like the fans have found us." Zoro noted the angry crowd behind them. It seemed they can outrun them, even as the Fangs of Manda showcased surprising speed in their heavy armor. But a loud thud that shook the ground made their heart jump as they looked back in horror as the leviathan came bearing towards them.
"MANDA'S COMING ASHORE!" Usopp cried.
His elongated body dragging out coil by coil, it's clear that the beast was much more at home in the water. This did not deter him in the least as Manda practically ripped up stone as he clawed his way towards them, jaws parted in an angry snarl.
"OHMANOHMANOHMAN!" the sniper wept as the dragon dragged himself closer.
"We have to move! Fast!" Sanji barked, but their problems just got a lot worse. The groups' eyes widened as they saw a cloud of dust marching towards them; more of Mu's army has arrived. It seems that their little disturbance was quickly alerted, and now they were surrounded.
"Crap… we're boxed in!" Zoro cursed. Steel pointed towards them on all sides as the dragon drew closer, it seemed that their plan had fallen apart before it even began.
Luffy pursed his lips as he took everything in; he could understand enough to know how serious this is. His friends were hurt because of whatever conflict that's brewing, and that's unacceptable.
Luffy didn't understand the history, the secrets behind it all, but at a time like this he knows he has to act.
So to everyone's surprise, they soon found his rubber arms wrapping around them and proceeded to lift them up.
"Wha-? Luffy! What are you doing?" Nami cried.
"Go on! I'll see you all when this is all over!" the captain grinned.
"Huh? What do you- WAIT!" Usopp gasped "You can't be serious!"
"He's going to try to hold all these soldiers off?!" Sara gasped "But that's insane! He's outnumbered completely!"
"Luffy! You can't!" Chopper cried "Even you have a limit!"
But the captain's smile never faltered.
"I'll be fine!" he told them "I've got a plan!"
"That's exactly why we can't let you do this!" Nami shouted "Put us down!"
"Get Red Hair lady to her castle, I'm going to give that dragon a piece of my mind!"
"HUH?!"
And to think Luffy's idea wasn't crazy enough.
"He's out of his mind!" Sara shouted "He's already outnumbered by the soldiers, yet he thinks he can last even a second against Lord Manda?!"
"Child," Mulines warned "There's only so much bravery can do. Please clear your head!"
But Luffy was already not listening as he began to swing his arms.
"Oh god…" Zoro sighed "There's really no stopping him huh?"
"Prepare for a fast landing…" Sanji mumbled. The two of them, far more acquainted with their personality, accepted his decision.
"Wait, Luffy!" one last warning went unheard "WAAAAAAITTTTTTTT-!"
The Straw Hat captain only smiled as he saw his friends propelled through the air. His throw should be enough to carry them closer to the palace. Now, he needed to buy them time as the wall of soldiers enclosed around him, their weapons pointed at him in all directions. Luffy's face was straight as he saw the soldiers moved forward to seize him.
"You have nowhere to run now, criminal!" one of them declared "Those other criminals can't run for long either! We'll stop them soon enough!"
"I'm not here for any of you!" Luffy shouted back as the soldiers glared at him.
"Insolent surface dwelling scum, are you so out of your mind that you think you'd be able to brave Lord Manda?!" the warriors of Mu all shouted angrily "You! A mere mortal!"
"Bring it on! I'll fight him just the same!"
Before the soldiers can do anything else, Manda's shadow loomed over all of them. The massive sea dragon's hard eyes peered into Luffy's own wide ones, both unflinching as they looked into the souls of one another.
They say by looking through one's eyes, you can tell what the other is thinking. But at this moment, neither Luffy nor Manda could think about the thoughts of the other. It could be due to Manda's addled mind, hazed by the powers of Axor, or simply Luffy's disregard for such matters and trust in his own abilities. But the two never cared an ounce about that, for only one thing was on their minds:
They were going to come up on top.
And the silence was broken when Manda let out a scathing roar! For ages he's been worshipped, revered as a god above the small humans he sees. The one who now stands before him showed no signs of the fear and reverence those others had. Instead, his face was full of determination and defiance.
This boy was clearly not from here, and for that, Manda will stamp him out.
"It seems you've gotten your wish" the soldier from before dismissed "Lord Manda will now attest to your retribution, personally."
Luffy said nothing, except for bracing himself and swallowing slightly; he's headstrong and confident, but this may be the biggest thing that he's gotten himself into.
Meanwhile:
"So let's be clear here, the High Priest has a mind controlling Devil Fruit and he managed to manipulate both the Empress into unlocking a national secret as well as Gian into attempting to kill her to frame us all. On top of that he's now also mind controlling our archeologist to unlock some ancient seal? All this so that he can use a lost kingdom's military tech to take over the surface?" Zoro deduced as the group continued onwards to the palace, running through the streets. The entire city was under high alert, and more than occasionally they needed to take detours to avoid oncoming guards.
"And Lord Manda, don't forget that he also mind controlled him." Sara grumbled.
"Heh, hearing all this it sounds like a historical tragedy almost." Sanji scoffed "I'm guessing the rest of us were just meant to be sacrifices for a greater goal then. Whatever, at least now I get an excuse to vent on that creep, always knew he was nothing but trouble."
"Yeah, and then you'll get mind controlled by accident." Zoro snorted.
"HEY! I'M NOT A DUMBASS LIKE YOU, MARIMO!" Sanji snapped back.
"WILL YOU TWO ZIP IT?!" Nami screeched "We need to hurry and get the Empress to the palace! Everyone's probably out to get us by now!"
The Empress, still robed, nodded "Yes, the throne room is equipped with a broadcasting system that allows Mu's rulers to speak from within the palace. If I can access that, I'll make a statement to the entire Kingdom and reveal all of Axor's crimes."
"And you'll need us to keep watch in case any of Axor's mind controlled goons come for us, is that right?" Zoro noted "Heh, not the worst thing we've been through, though they did take my swords."
"Tch, you make things so difficult…" Sanji sighed.
Their run continued to be tense, as they avoided the battalions of warriors looking for them. All of Mu's soldiers still in the kingdom must've known about them by now! Soon, however, they can see the palace gate in the distance, the pyramid shaped building casting a shadow as the sun shone overhead.
"Just a little bit further!" Mulines encouraged "From here, it's a straight shot to the palace!"
Sara continued before suddenly widening her eyes "Empress! Look!"
And their hearts sank in the process as they were forced to a halt and take shelter behind a building.
"Oh no!" Chopper gasped "They knew we were coming!"
No more than 100 fully armed members of the Fangs of Manda, backed by multiple other infantry units, barred the gates and stood with weapons drawn. And at the front of them stood 3 figures far too recognizable. Kubo's meekness had all but vanished as his eyes hardened, an arrow notched into his bow. Meanwhile, Wuhelm's entire chest was bared, his skin showing the dark ink of tattoos shaped in the form of Manda. And above all else, standing before all of them with blade pointed forward-
"Tal'shir…" the Empress whispered. The Captain of the Fangs of Manda straightened before roaring with absolute authority.
"You will go no further, murderers!" he snarled "Make this easy, and we will promise you swift judgement!"
"How are we going to get past all those soldiers?!" Usopp yelped.
"They still think we killed the Empress!" Zoro cursed "Why don't we just show her to them?"
"We can't!" Nami replied swiftly "Axor may have mind controlled some of them!"
"Then is there no other way?" the swordsman inquired again.
"Captain Tal'shir!" Sara called out "You need to step aside! This is of utmost importance!"
The armored captain narrowed his eyes "Priestess Sara, why are you with the murderers of our Empress?"
"You don't get it! You've been tricked" Sara cried out "Axor's got you all fooled!"
"Are you trying to obstruct me from delivering Justice to these criminals?!" the armored captain growled "I expected more from one who's pledged her life to our Empress and Deity."
"Captain Tal'shir please-!"
"I will hear no more of this nonsense! If you are with them, then you will be dealt the same judgement!" he raised an arm, and Kubo shouted in kind.
"Laser infantry! Open fire and flush them out!"
Though the walls prevented most of the blasts from reaching them, they couldn't go anywhere. The red hot beams pelted around the group, making them brace for any respite.
"We're gonna get punched full of holes if we step out!" Sara realized.
"AHHH THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO KILL US!" Usopp and Chopper wept, before their eyes lit up with stars.
"BUT THEY HAVE LASERSSS~!"
"NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE DISTRACTED!" Nami forcefully reminded them.
The standoff continued to be tense, as the group anxiously waited for a chance to break free as the lasers continued to pelt the walls around them.
"Guys!" Nami suddenly realized "I have an idea!"
The soldiers continued to fire, but soon found a new phenomenon occurring. One by one, they stopped and stared in confusion as a dense cloud began to billow from the walls. The cloud soon grew and expanded into a wall of water vapors that the group of soldiers could not see through.
"Keep an eye out!" Wuhelm ordered "They're trying to enter the palace under the cover of this fog!"
"Such mundane tricks…" with a single swing of his massive blade, Tal'Shir caused enough force to disperse the mist secluding the group. But when the fog lifted, he only saw 3 of the 7 criminals still remaining, for Nami, Chopper, Sara and the Empress had already managed to reach the door.
"Hey, were you planning to see me?" Zoro grinned.
"Go!" Sanji shouted "Make sure the Empress delivers her message!"
"Seize them!" Tal'Shir ordered "Don't let them escape!" but they never got the chance to, for a few blasts from Sara's staff managed to lift enough debris to shield them. When the dust finally settled, the doors were bolted shut leaving the 3 men holding them off outside.
"You're trying to buy time for your allies?" Wuhelm questioned "At the expense of yourselves?"
"Uhhh, let me just say I was roped into this!" Usopp stammered sheepishly.
"Silence, coward!" Kubo's scathing remark made the sniper wince.
"I hope you know, whatever plan you have, it isn't going to work." Tal'Shir grunted "For the murder of the Empress, you deaths will be painful and slow!"
The captain beckoned with his hand, and a row of soldiers sprang into action, weapons drawn. Usopp instantly yelped and fired a row of smoke bombs, obscuring vision once more. The soldiers did not stop their charge however, in their haste to avenge their "fallen" Empress, the result was a beatdown. Sanji, despite being weakened during his imprisonment, is still more than a match for any single Mu soldier and while Zoro had no weapons, that was about to change. Soon, the soldiers laid on the ground unconscious, even Usopp got a few hammer swings in.
More soldiers moved to intercept them, only for Tal'Shir to stop them, sword drawn.
"It clear, there's a far enough power level that simply sending regular soldiers won't be enough to subdue you…" his zweihander suddenly began steaming, glowing red hot.
"But I am the captain of the Fangs of Manda! And I" one swing caused the air around them to burn "I will bring your head to our Empress' grave!"
"There we go… we got a fight on our hands now…" Sanji sighed, before kicking 3 objects towards Zoro: 3 Zenith Metal longswords from the downed soldiers "Gear up, we'll need you at full strength."
Zoro shifted the 3 blades around a bit "Not my first pick, but it'll be enough!" it was no Wado Ichimonji, but as long as he has 3 swords he'll be able to work at his full potential.
"You may fight, but it will be futile." Wuhelm flexed, his joints cracking as he too began to steam. A bead of sweat dripped from Sanji's brow; not only was it getting hotter, but he first hand knows how a touch from a Mu would feel.
"You are facing the 2 strongest warriors in Mu, are you still confident that you'll make it out of this alive?"
The soldiers around them roared in agreement as the situation grew tenser.
"Not only them, but me as well!" Kubo shouted from beside them "Never underestimate the power of the Fangs of Manda!"
Zoro looked them over, before getting into a stance "It's strange, when I normally get into a duel, it's always against those working for a higher power in control." His eyes were level with Tal'Shir's, neither showed any weakness.
"But it's different here, the higher power was removed, yet even as a usurper takes the throne, your minds are clear. Your actions are not those demanded by those above, but by your own decree."
Tal'Shir narrowed his eyes "I do not care for your prattle, your words are empty in the face of our Empress' demise." A sword swing cut a wide swath around the two swordsmen, clearing the area for just the two of them.
"My actions are borne from nothing else save for the loyalty and devotion to my Empress! To see her avenged, it goes above even my own life!"
"Good, you're not mind controlled. Then I don't have to hold anything back!" Zoro declared.
"Wuhelm-san, take the blonde warrior. Kubo-kun, the long nose is yours."
The brawler flexed before stepping forward to meet Sanji "I remember you well, you were no match for me then, what makes this any different?"
The cook smirked before lifting a leg "Oh, there's gonna be a lot that's different this time you bastard. I'll have you know, I don't appreciate getting burned!"
"Then I'll see to it that I'll give you a reminder." Wulhem grunted, his body began to glow red hot.
Meanwhile, Usopp and Kubo were against each other, but the former was clearly not ready for a battle like this.
"Any last words?" the boy in front of him was no longer the meek and uncertain trainee he met the other day. Rage and hurt now filled him, upon seeing the form of someone he thought knew him made Kubo aching to let loose a flurry of arrows.
"Kubo-kun…" Usopp gulped "I want you to know that this isn't what it looks like!"
"I know enough! Your group slayed our Empress, and now you're back for more?" the boy snapped "I'll show you, the Fangs of Manda aren't so easily trifled with!"
"But-!"
"Enough! Not another word from you, murderer!"
Usopp sighed, the only way he could get through to them now is if the plan inside the palace succeeds. With no other option, he reluctantly strung a pellet into his slingshot.
"Roronoa Zoro, is it?" Tal'Shir addressed "For the murder of our Empress, I now act upon the sentencing of your group to death! May Lord Manda have mercy on your souls."
"Bring it," Zoro grinned "There's no way I'm going to die here!"
And then they charged.
Inside:
The doors to the throne room flung open as Chopper burst through in Heavy Point, scattering any remaining guards. Much of the palace is now empty, with its troops either out looking for the now reappearing criminals, or deployed in the invasion. The final group found themselves situated at the base of the throne, and even down here they can see an eerie green light shine from the back.
"Axor, he's begun the ritual!" The Empress gasped "We have to hurry!"
"How are we going to stop it?" Chopper asked.
Sara pointed towards the light source "No doubt, Robin-san is currently chanting the incantations as we speak, to stop the unsealing, we'd have to rouse her."
They raced towards the steps, but now have one more obstacle to get past.
"It appears I have miscalculated," the group was alert by the appearance of Mu's High Priest atop the steps "My Empress, you live…"
"Eager to see me out of the way?" Mulines growled.
"It's quite unfortunate, I had hoped you be gone by the time all this begins, as so I don't have to dispose of you myself." The Priest's eyes were dangerous "Then again, sometimes you need to get your hands dirty."
"Cut the crap Axor!" Nami shouted "You're outnumbered here!"
"Admittedly so," The High Priest nodded, before a ferocious blast of black light was flung from his hand "but nowhere near outmatched!"
The bolt of energy was so powerful, the entire throne room was rocked by its explosion, one that the group narrowly avoided.
"You've made it far, but you won't stop this!" Axor growled dangerously "I've waited too long to see this plan fail! I will bring Mu back to its glory!"
"This isn't what we wanted!" Sara shouted "The Empress told me everything! She told me the truth of what lies within those seals!"
"Ahh, my wretched accomplice." Axor seethed with contempt "I wasn't wrong when I thought you'd been too weak to finish the job. Since you're so easily swayed, I will simply continue without you!"
A swing of his staff sent a few more bolts of energy flying at the crowd down below. It soon became apparent that Axor's status as the High Priest of Mu is more than just a mere title. Even as Sara repeatedly stuck back with balls of fire, the High Priest's attacks were far more devastating, and the group down below scrambled for cover as destruction rained down below.
"What is that?" Chopper yelped "Is that a part of his devil fruit powers too?"
Sara shook her head "No, this is something entirely different. As a priest of priestess of Mu, there are skills we have to learn to be fit for the job. This is manipulation of the elements; he's using Alchemy!"
"What?" Nami questioned "I thought that term meant changing one object into another! But it almost never worked!"
"On the surface, perhaps, but down here alchemy means the creation of the elements instead!" Sara explained "Only the priests and priestesses know this skill, and Axor's been High Priest for a very long time!"
The crew down below were soon treated to an even bigger display. Axor unleashed multiple waves of attacks: fire erupted from thin air, gales of wind materializing out of nowhere. As Chopper attempted to charge at the High Priest in Horn Point, he was instead treated to a blast of ice that froze him to a nearby pillar. The group seeking to retake the throne were at a disadvantage; on top of trying to protect the Empress, they still need to stop the ritual.
"This is hopeless!" Chopper gritted as he chipped away at his prison "We can't even get close to him!"
"Sara!" Nami suddenly realized "If you're a priestess, then in theory you can do the same thing he can too, right?"
"I can… but I'm not skilled at it!" Sara revealed "It takes years to develop alchemy enough to create the elements regularly, and I've only been trained in alchemy for a little while!"
Nami mused over the thought, before becoming determined again "Do it! Any amount is good enough, we'll back you up!"
"Ok… I'll try to hold him off as best I can!" with that, the priestess ran forward, her staff twirling as it began to glow. Moments later a jet stream of fire seared towards the high priest.
"Foolish child," Axor sneered, his own staff glowing as well "Do you really think your alchemy can match up to mine?" two steams of fire clashed, neither giving an inch.
"I won't let you succeed!" Sara grunted "You nearly used me to bring Mu to ruin! I won't let that happen!"
Axor shook his head "It's as if everything I taught you was for naught. You, conducting Alchemy through that Silver Grade staff of yours." Sara's eyes widened as, in addition to a stream of fire, a bolt of lightning was added within the mix.
"But my staff was created from Platinum Grade Zenith metal! It not only handles energy output far better, but my own mastery of alchemy is far superior to yours, or have you forgotten even that?"
Sara was now being pushed backwards, straining against 3 simultaneous energy blasts. In addition to fire and lightning, a jet of water swirled around the two blasts. She was overshadowed completely.
"It was your mistake to side with these criminals!" Axor cursed "We could've led Mu to greatness together, but you scoff at our destiny!" Sara was being pushed to the brink here, straining with all her focus.
"You lied to me…" She seethed "you used me against the Empress!"
"I see now that it was a mistake to have let you in willingly." Axor pushed back "It would've been much easier from the start if I had simply brainwashed you like the others."
The triple assault from Axor's alchemy was steadily forcing Sara into a corner, one she found increasingly difficult to escape from.
"Enough! Why are you doing this?" the Empress cried out, but the High Priest ignored her.
"In the end, what was all this for? I will still be the one to bring Mu back to its glory, and all you've done is prolonged-AARGH!"
The two beams burst, for at that point Nami's Tornado Tempo slammed into the High Priest, she having been preparing it during the spiel earlier. Both of them were knocked back, struggling to get up.
"We won't let you!" the navigator shouted "The surface is our home, you won't invade it so easily!"
"Insolent…" Axor growled, his eyes beginning to glow white "Watch your world burn!"
"Nami-san! LOOK OUT!" Nami was tackled just as a blinding flash of light torched the ground where she stood.
"You wanted to see his Devil Fruit power? That was it!" She explained "To put you under mind control, Axor first influences you with his Slave Rays! If you're hit by it then you'll be under his thrall!"
"If you stand against me, I'll simply turn you against the very things you love!" more beams of light, intent on enslaving those that opposed him. Axor had nothing left to lose, he'd sooner see his plan succeed.
"We can't avoid them forever!" Nami shouted, before a heavy form landed in front of them.
"Maybe you don't have to!" Chopper grinned as his Heavy Point stood before them, the thick sheet of ice that trapped his previously now acting like a shield!
"Chopper!" Nami grinned "Is that-?"
The reindeer smiled "I heard everything! From what I can see, the Slave Rays are light based! And no matter the form, all light shares common properties!"
A stray Slave Ray struck towards them, only for Chopper to hastily raise the block of ice. Rather than putting all of them into his thrall, Axor was blinded for a mere second as the beam was reflected back, howling in frustration. His own attack can't affect himself, but he can still be affected adversely.
"It's light!" Nami realized "It can be reflected!"
"Now we no longer have to worry about being brainwashed!" The Empress smiled "Good thinker, Chopper-kun!"
"Hurry! Axor won't be blinded for long!" Sara called out.
Axor howled and unleashed more blasts of Alchemy, wildly firing them at in every direction. A few blasts of fire and ice managed to come close, but they were in the end game now, and they weren't about to lose.
"NO!" the High Priest shouted out as Chopper leaped behind him, and before he can do anything, strong arms encircled him, putting him in a headlock. Any further struggling was paused as Nami and Sara both pointed their weapons at him.
"Enough, Axor…" The Empress stood before her disgraced high priest "You plan of war will not happen!"
The High Priest said nothing save for glaring hatefully.
"Never had I fathomed that my right hand would hatch such a plot against me, never could I imagine the one I trust the most would wish my own death!" Mulines' eyes were full of anger, hurt and betrayal. An act that, in Mu's history, has thus far never been done before was faced by her. It took all she had not to execute him right then and there.
"Worst of all, for your ambitions, you could even have sacrificed all of Mu! Why…? I just want to know the reason behind all this?!"
A deep croaking laugh sounded, his features still hidden behind the snake like mask, only Axor's eyes glowed with contempt.
"Sacrifice? Empires were built on sacrifice!" the High Priest snarled "You, all of you, are short-sighted beyond belief!"
"I am not here to bring Mu to its downfall! I am here to lift it back up to where she belong!" Axor's voice was choked with rage "You see the scouting reports all the time! The surface, stripped of all our cultural influences! The world above no longer has any value! They squabble over wealth, power and glory, all the while trying to hold on to a fragile balance! They are not fit to live there while we, the predecessors who laid down the foundations for their world, hide in the depths!"
"So you would have war! You would have Mu's children clash with the surface!"
"I WOULD HAVE MU TO TEACH THEM!" Axor fired back "We were once the pinnacle of existence! We were one of the Founding Kingdoms! When we cleanse the world of its filth Mu can then rule over them and show them how to live the right way!"
"How can you be the judge of that?" Chopper shouted "You only see a glimpse of the surface! You don't know its true values!"
"You paint the entire surface with a single brush… even against people who are just trying to live?" Nami snarled. Her thoughts on her former village sprung up, with Nojiko, Genzo, Deimo, and the others, simple people who wish for nothing more than a peaceful existence. Mu's armies would devastate them, and they wouldn't even know why.
"I've seen enough, enough to make me realize my ideals are true!" Axor dismissed "When we are done with the invasion, those who survive will know the true way of life, taught to them by us! But the Empress? She instead remains steadfast in her belief in the old laws! Why should we be isolated, when we can easily overtake the surface?"
"And by doing so, you're even willing to unleash the dark past of Mu…" Mulines shook her head "For all this, you're willing to sacrifice your own people?"
"As I said… Empires are built on sacrifices." Axor seethed "To bring Mu back as the pinnacle of the world, I will use any measures necessary! For so long we worshiped that false god Manda, while the true deity that laid Mu's foundation down was sealed in darkness only because people fear what it brought."
The Empress shook her head "You're delusional… I won't allow for this…" she stepped towards the throne as a flat screen began to rise from in front of the seat "I will reveal your treachery to all in our kingdom. This foolishness is ending this second."
Axor looked on, before giving off another deep laugh.
"No…"
And Chopper suddenly yelped in pain as he was flung away from the High Priest, his grip loosening. Nami and Sara could hardly react before they too were struck heavily and landed below the steps of the throne.
"You are the one that's foolish."
The Empress gasped as soldiers rushed out of the room behind them, eyes blank and bearing spears. Down below, the three fighters were met with a much different, but even more shocking discovery.
"No…! He couldn't have!" Nami whimpered.
"Axor struck him too…" Sara stammered "He must still have-!"
"GIAN! DON'T YOU REMEMBER ME?! IT'S CHOPPER!"
But the Kaiju-Zoan user could hear nothing; his mind has already been warped and he only obeys one person now. Wordlessly he shifted his massive Guandao off his shoulders, the blade slamming into the ground with a CLANG!
"Please Gian! You need to wake up!" Chopper cried, only to be met full force by a charging Gian. The two grappled momentarily, before Gian easily overpowered the reindeer and slammed him into a pillar.
"CHOPPER!" Nami cried out.
"This is truly bittersweet." Axor drawled as he straightened "To come back to life… only to be met with death once more." And the Empress could do nothing except for glaring in despair.
"You cling to the old ways, you bring the Kingdom back to tradition…"
Outside, Luffy threw multiple punches against the massive sea dragon, only for Manda to hardly react. As he continued to dodge attacks, one stray swipe of Manda's claws slammed him into the ground. The rubber captain yelled in exertion as the beast dragged him across the ground before slamming him into a pillar. Manda roared, before continuing his assault.
"You deny that our own laws prevent us from bringing out Mu's true calling."
Zoro, locked in a sword lock with Tal'Shir was soon being pushed back. Sanji traded a few more blows with Wuhelm before a stray kick knocked him into a wall, the air blown out of him. Further away, Usopp was gasping as he ran, arrows raining around him as he cried and attempted to reload.
"But the truth is, you're nothing more than a stain of the past!" Axor roared. And below him, all three of those who accompanied her were knocked back as Gian swung his blade around, blue flames billowing around him.
"You see Mulines… You're weak. You're unfit to lead Mu." Axor raised his arms as the brainwashed soldiers drew closer to the crestfallen Empress "But don't worry, I will do all that you're supposed to do."
"ON THIS DAY!" The High Priest declared "MU WILL RISE FROM THE DEPTHS OF HISTORY, AND ONCE AGAIN BECOME THE SHINING EMPIRE THAT RULES OVER ALL!"
A/N: It may come as a surprise, but I was very unhappy with how last chapter turned out.
It was meant to lead into this, but all it did was give me an extra chapter to fill and take up more space. Overall, I could've handled it much better.
But now, the final leg of the Sunken Kingdom Arc is here! From this point. I think only 3 more chapters remain! Then, after all this, I'm going straight to Water 7, and you'll know exactly what happens there!
So for those still worried about how boring last chapter was, don't worry anymore! The next few chapters are all filled with resolution! I can't give away much, but there's going to be a lot!
Also, I am returning to school in September after a year off. While this means I'll have a better work ethic, it also means my time will be further divided. Expect updates to be slower for some of the chapters, but rest assured, we'll still be around!
G: AND I'M BACK! AFTER SOME ABSENCE I'M NOW BACK!
That you are boy-o that you are.
Responses to reviews:
To Chance Green G King:
The truth of the seals will be revealed soon! And it may come as a complete surprise!
G: HIDDEN MYSTERY!
To Noble Pirate:
G: Ow… harsh.
Though understandable. You'll see where she goes later.
To Karsap:
G: I didn't even know that was a thing.
I did, but I completely forgot about it.
G: So we using it?
Should we?
To Matt:
G: Yup, fuck organized religion!
That's not what the theme is about…
G: It is now and it will be so.
To Kristopher B:
Gian is about as tall as Katakuri during his Partial Transformation, and though I haven't explained it well, he's a head taller than Oars in his Full Transformation. The size thing is actually varies depending on what conditions the transformation is done under, as you'll see later.
G: It's Big Dick Energy
NO!
To Vergil Leonidas:
Yeah, you're right about most of it. Last chapter pretty much was done out of necessity, and it kind of fell short of what I wanted to do with it. I will say that all of it will be brought up later on, as you'll see later, but yeah I hope this chapter is a bit better, since there's a lot more that's going to happen from this point on. I'm actually even thinking about rewriting some of my older chapters to make them a bit more fluid, though that's up in the air for now.
G: Look at that, I'm popular and everyone loves me
Egotistical sack of-
To alexantony471:
G: YEET
Don't do that…
To JJsanoguel98:
G: That's a lot of sources.
Skull Island probably is the most likely of the bunch tbh.
And that's all for now! We'll see you all next time!
Leave a review and Gian will announce Despacito 2!
G: He doesn't let me reference memes but here he is…