I do not own any ideas taken from One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball, HunterXHunter, Yu Yu Hakusho or Rustage's One Piece D&D. Eiichiro Oda, Masashi Kishimoto, Tite Kubo, Akira Toriyama, Yoshihiro Togashi and Rustage are the brilliant minds behind those stories and I'm simply using them to set the stage for my story! It's all for fun so please enjoy!
Chapter 42: Pride and Glory
Mugen and Jinpachi clashed blades and leapt around the street as they clashed. Jinpachi slashed Mugen across the stomach and kicked him in the chest. Mugen stumbled back and ducked beneath both of Jinpachi's swords as he slashed at him.
Mugen leapt through the air and twisted around and sliced into Jinpachi's right shoulder as he flew over him. Mugen landed on his feet and blocked a swing from Jinpachi. They clashed bades and leapt around as they collided dozens of strikes in a few moments.
Jinpachi twirled his swords around and skipped at Mugen, they collided blades and Jinpachi slashed Mugen across his chest. Mugen gritted his teeth and leapt back through the air; he swung his sword and sent a shining bright arc flying at Jinpachi, "Getsuga Tensho!"
Jinpachi swung both of his swords and redirected the flying slash up into the air. Mugen landed on the ground and stood at the ready.
"Piercer of Heaven, huh? What a pretentious name." Jinpachi swung his swords swiftly and sent an 'X' shaped flying slash hurdling at Mugen, "X-Calibur!"
Mugen dodged to his right and Jinpachi Shaved at him, he swung and slashed an 'X' into Mugen's chest. Mugen gritted his teeth and collided with Jinpachi. They clashed blades and leapt around quickly as they swung savage strikes at each other.
Jinpachi kicked Mugen in the chest and sent another 'X' shaped flying slash at Mugen. Mugen dodged to his left and blocked Jinpachi as he Shaved at him. They clashed blades and Jinpachi slashed Mugen up both of his sides and kicked him in the chest again.
Mugen stumbled back and fell to the ground as his vision flickered.
"We come from a very long line of swordsmen." His father said and smiled.
"How long?" Mugen asked and smiled.
"Very long." His father chuckled and grabbed his sword off the wall. "This sword has been passed down for generations. Many men and women have wielded this sword and it's taken many lives."
"Whoa." Mugen examined the sword.
The scabbard was made of cherrywood and wrapped in black leather. The sword itself had a white and gold hilt with a silver spherical pommel. There was a thin gold crossguard that bent upwards and pointed away from the hilt.
"This is Fantoma, one of the thirty Supreme Grade Blades."
"Supreme Grade Blade?" Mugen asked.
His father nodded and said, "Yes. There are many swords in this world. Hundreds, thousands, millions. They've been crafted by people for thousands of years. Some craftsmen are more skilled than others. Some are even as famous as the men who wield the blades."
"And there are only thirty Supreme Grade Blades?" Mugen asked as he studied Fantoma.
"Correct." His father smiled and explained, "There are thirty Supreme Grade Blades. Forty-two Great Grade Blades. Sixty-five Skillful Grade Blades. And then there are Standard Grade Blades, these aren't as famous as others but are still better than basic swords."
"Wow, that's a lot." Mugen said simply.
His father laughed and said, "One day, this sword will be yours. So you've got to train hard and become worthy enough to wield it. Maybe you'll be the one to unlock its true ability."
"What do you mean? I thought you had mastered that sword?" Mugen raised an eyebrow.
"It's true that Fantoma and I are bonded and that I've been able to tap into it while I fight, I still haven't awakened it."
"Awakened what?"
His father smiled and said, "There's a legend in our family. That at some point in time, a Devil Fruit was fed to the sword."
"Devil Fruits are real?" Mugen asked excitedly.
His father nodded and said, "Oh yeah. Realer than real." He laughed and continued, "But somehow people have managed to feed Devil Fruits to objects. But it's a recent breakthrough. However, Fantoma ate a Devil Fruit over a hundred years ago."
"Whoa! That's so cool! What fruit did it eat?" Mugen asked.
His father shrugged and said, "I don't know. Nobody has ever awakened the fruit inside the sword. Maybe you'll be the one to figure it out."
Mugen grinned and declared, "With or without that sword awakened, I'll become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
Mugen got up to his feet and grimaced as blood poured from his chest and pain ebbed through his entire body. He gripped Fantoma's hilt and skipped at Jinpachi, they collided with savage strikes and Mugen sent a Getsuga Tensho point blank at Jinpachi.
Jinpachi deflected the flying slash upward with one sword and he swung the other one down at Mugen. Mugen moved quickly and raised his sword to block the strike. Jinpachi's sword made contact and snapped Fantoma's blade in two pieces as Jinpachi slashed downward through Mugen's left shoulder and chest!
Blood erupted from Mugen as the broken piece of blade clattered against the ground. Mugen stumbled back and coughed up blood as his grip on the hilt of his sword loosened and it fell to the ground.
"Frog in the well, do you understand now how large the world is?" Jinpachi asked as Mugen fell onto his back and laid motionless.
Tatsuki swung her sword at Shuhei and he dipped away and skipped forward, he exchanged a rapid flurry of blows and she sliced his left forearm. He sent a kick that struck her in the right side and she skipped away.
"The family rules prevent us from killing each other. It's hard to not fatally carve someone up." Tatsuki smiled and Shaved at Shuhei. He used the Afterimage technique as he Shaved beside her and jabbed her in the side with a Finger Pistol.
Tatsuki elbowed Shuhei in the head and swung her sword up at him. Shuhei dipped back and Moon Walked up into the air. Tatsuki leapt into the air and exchanged blows with Shuhei, she slashed him up the side and kicked him down to the ground.
Shuhei leapt up and used both Shave and Moon Walk to bounce around in the air quickly. He appeared beside Tatsuki and slammed a powerful punch into the side of her head. She spun through the air and landed on her feet as Shuhei charged after her.
Tatsuki ducked under a high kick from Shuhei and she jabbed a Finger Pistol into his left side. He Shaved back and Tatsuki sent a flying slash hurdling after him. Shuhei ducked beneath the attack and saw a second flying slash beneath the first! He leapt in the air and twisted between the two flying slashes as Tatsuki Shaved at him.
The siblings collided and Shuhei kicked the sword out of Tatsuki's hand. They exchanged swift blows and she kicked him in the chin with a high kick. Shuhei stumbled back and dodged four quick Finger Pistols from Tatsuki as they danced around the courtyard.
"Mother is heartbroken." Tatsuki said sadly.
"So you've said." Shuhei spat.
"She was so upset that you decided to follow in Hiei's footsteps. Running away from home and becoming a pirate. It makes the rest of us assassins look bad." Tatsuki said and Shaved at Shuhei.
They exchanged blows and punched each other in the face as they clashed. Tatsuki kicked Shuhei in the side and he punched her in the chest. They jumped away from each other and Tatsuki sent two Tempest Kicks flying at him. Shuhei dodged the attacks as Tatsuki Shaved to her sword and picked it up off the ground.
"Hiei made the right choice. I'm glad he did. It inspired me to escape the clutches of our family. Can't you feel their hands around your throat?" Shuhei tried reasoning with his sister.
"Don't speak such nonsense!" Tatsuki sent a flying slash that Shuhei leapt over.
Tatsuki leapt up and they clashed in the air. They exchanged rapid blows and Tatsuki slashed Shuhei across the chest. They landed on the ground and Shuhei struck Tatsuki in the stomach with a powerful blow.
She swung her sword horizontally and he ducked beneath the swing. Shuhei popped up and slammed Tatsuki in the chin with an uppercut. She stumbled back and blocked a kick from Shuhei and they exchanged blows again. Shuhei jabbed a Finger Pistol into her right arm and she sent a swift kick into his left side.
They skipped away from each other and breathed heavily.
Tatsuki dashed at Shuhei and he knelt down. He noticed that the stone tiles on the ground of the courtyard were similar to those in Heaven's Arena. He dug his fingers into the cracks between the tiles and yanked one of them free from the ground.
Shuhei flung the tile through the air at Tatsuki and she stopped dead in her tracks. Shuhei leapt up and shattered the tile with a powerful kick that sent rubble hailing around. Tatsuki smacked and sliced pieces of rubble as they flew at her and she looked around for Shuhei.
Tatsuki spotted him and Shaved passed rubble and stabbed her sword into his back. His Afterimage faded away and Tastuki looked around in a panic for her brother. She noticed too late that Shuhei had already fired his Spirit Gun and it blasted her in the back! Tatsuki was blasted forward and crashed through the wall of a warehouse as dust kicked up around the courtyard.
Shuhei dashed down the alley and made it back to the street he and Mugen had been on. He turned and dashed down the street and over corpses as he searched for Mugen. Shuhei found him lying motionless on the ground, a pool of blood around him.
"Mugen!" Shuhei knelt beside him and smacked Mugen's face.
Mugen groaned and his left arm twitched. "Fantoma." He said weakly.
"What?"
"My sword." Mugen croaked.
Shuhei slipped Mugen's scabbard off his shoulder and looked around. He picked up the broken piece of the blade and slipped it into the scabbard tip first. He picked up the other half of the sword and matched it with its other half in the scabbard.
Shuhei pulled out his Baby Transponder Snail and called Bulma. "Hello?" She answered.
"Send the nimbus to Southwark Avenue." Shuhei said as he stared at a street sign.
"What's happening?"
"Just do it!" Shuhei shouted into the snail as a sword stabbed through his back and out of his lower abdomen. "Gah!" He dropped his snail and stumbled forward as the blade was pulled from his body.
Shuhei spun around to see Tatsuki. Her kimono was tattered and singed, leaving her left shoulder and leg bare in the cold night air. She smiled and stumbled away from Shuhei as he collapsed to the ground.
Tatsuki cleaned her blade and sheathed it. Pain flooded through her body and her vision became shaky. She knelt down to pick up Shuhei but couldn't do it without her body screaming at her. Her vision began spinning and she decided to retreat for the night.
"We'll call it a draw for tonight, little brother. Though, I'm still standing." Tatsuki muttered as she slowly walked away from Southwark Avenue.
Zeru Shaved at Volcier and barraged a flurry of Finger Pistols that Volcier gracefully evaded. Volcier kept an eye on Ishiin as he dodged Zeru's attacks and he leapt back. Volcier extended his left arm and a bright yellow scroll appeared in his hand.
"Release!" Volcier opened the scroll and a massive bird made of ice flew from the scroll and bulleted at the assassins!
Zeru Shaved away from the ice bird and Ishiin hardened his arms and smashed into pieces as it flew at him. The ice bird erupted and chunks of ice hailed around the dining hall as Ishiin struck it.
Volcier Shaved around the dining hall, dodging chunks of ice, and appeared beside Zeru. He barraged Finger Pistols that the old man effortlessly dodged and he sent a swift kick flying up at Volcier. Volcier skipped away from Zeru and quickly blocked a heavy punch from Ishiin as he Shaved up to them.
Volcier slid several feet away from Ishiin as he blocked the strike and Zeru shot five Flying Finger Pistols at him. Volcier exploded into twelve small crows and flapped quickly across the dining hall and reformed.
Both Zeru and Ishiin sent a barrage of Tempest Kicks flying at Volcier as he reformed. He easily dodged between them and the slices erupted through the wall. A long red scroll appeared in Volcier's right hand and he opened it. A large fireball shot from the scroll and exploded around the assassins!
Ishiin and Zeru Shaved away quickly and dashed at Volcier. They came at him in a pincer formation and Volcier Moon Walked up into the air. The assassins leapt up after him and he exploded into four large crows and flapped away from them. The crows flew through the air and used their wings to send Tempest Kicks hurdling at them.
The assassins evaded the attacks and the Tempest Kicks struck another wall and blasted a large hole in it. Volcier reformed and smiled at the duo as they slowly approached him.
"Ishiin. Kill him, even if you have to kill me too." Zeru said and he transformed into a hybrid dragon form! He became taller and muscular as dark blue scales covered his body and horns protruded from his head.
"Ah." Volcier said and nodded, impressed.
Zeru Shaved at Volcier and barraged savage and swift punches that Volcier quickly evaded and skipped back. Zeru Shaved after him and kicked Volcier in the side with a swift strike. Volcier stumbled to the side and ducked under a swift Finger Pistol. Volcier blocked another kick from the old man and he slid across the floor on his feet.
Zeru opened his mouth and a swirling beam of fire and wind pressure shot at Volcier, "Blast Breath!"
Volcier conjured a large scroll and opened it, "Seal!"
Zeru's Blast Breath was sucked into a portion of the scroll and Volcier spotted Ishiin in the air above him. Crackling purple energy appeared in Ishiin's hands and he lobbed the Ki blasts down at Volcier. He quickly opened the scroll further and sucked the blast into another portion of the scroll!
Volcier ducked beneath a swift kick as Zeru appeared beside him and he closed the scroll. Zeru spun around quickly and sent a flurry of kicks that Voclier skipped away from. Ishiin appeared beside Volcier and swung a powerful punch at him. Volcier hardened the large scroll with Armament Haki and blocked the strike.
The scroll disappeared and Volcier exchanged quick and powerful blows with Ishiin. Ishiin skipped away from Volcier and hurled more Ki blasts that exploded around Volcier as he leapt away.
Volcier flew from the blast and Zeru appeared beside him. They exchanged blows in the air and Zeru kicked Volcier down at the ground. Volcier landed on his shoulder and bounced off of the ground, he spun up to his feet and ducked beneath a Blast Breath that carved a solid hole through the entire floor of the building.
Ishiin appeared behind Volcier as he exploded into eight small crows and flapped away from the assassins. They chased after him as he reformed and a large red scroll appeared in his hands.
Volcier grinned as he opened the scroll, "Release!" The building shook violently as a powerful earthquake was released from the scroll! The ruined floor of the auction hall creaked as the earthquake passed through the building and shook a part of Yorknew City. Rubble and glass shattered and fell from the building as it shook and wobbled before coming to a rest.
Ishiin and Zeru steadied themselves as Volcier Shaved at them. All three of them hardened their arms as Volcier exchanged blows with Ishiin and blocked a blow from Zeru. Zeru skipped at Volcier and they exchanged a flurry of blows. Zeru slammed a fierce punch into Volcier's chest and Ishiin Shaved behind him.
Volcier blocked a heavy blow from Ishiin and took a swift kick to the side from Zeru. Volcier skipped back and two small scrolls appeared in his hands. He opened them as Ishiin and Zeru dashed at him, "Release!" A blast of water and a blast of lightning erupted from the scrolls and the assassin's Moon Walked into the air to avoid being stunned.
Volcier turned into four large crows and flapped quickly at the assassins. The crows were each hardened as they flew at the assassins and slammed into them. Zeru and Ishiin were sent flying to the wet floor as Volcier struck into them and he reformed in the air.
The two assassins landed on their feet and Volcier sent a flurry of Tempest Kicks raining down at them. Ishiin and Zeru dodged away from the slices of air and they ripped through the floor as they danced away.
Volcier landed on his feet and Zeru Shaved at him. They exchanged blows and Zeru struck Volcier back against the wall. Zeru skipped at Volcier and trapped him against the wall with a mad flurry of punches.
As Volcier blocked the strong blows he saw Ishiin leap up into the air and create massive purple energy balls in his hands. His eyes widened as he continued blocking Zeru's attacks and Ishiin hurled his massive Ki blasts down at them..!
To Be Continued