Chapter 18: Clashes of Faith
The doctor's room was extremely large, to accommodate a wide variety of dogs. The doctor carefully manipulated her own fur into tendrils to investigate the maid's wound.
-The shape isn't that of a claw. What in the world caused thi…
The door slammed open. Tashigi and Smoker rushed forward.
-We came as fast as we could. It's best if we…
Drake pointed towards the confused doctor. Smoker embarrassedly cleared his throat.
-I-is the woman in stable condition?
-Yes, I suppose.
-Then we request that you leave, Smoker and Drake's stares forced the doctor out.
-This girl has been attacked with a Finger Pistol. Sadly, she's knocked out so we have no way of gaining information from her…
The maid opened her eyes, scaring Drake half-way to death.
-I-I'm awake. I'll tell you everything, but fast!
SWORD gathered around the maid, whose name was Doris.
-Ever since that body guard Falsk showed up Von Lassien has been acting… strange, as you already know.
-Yes, Antoin talked about it, Drake nodded, asking Doris to continue
-So today she sent me up to his room to deliver some food. I knocked but no one was there. I get curious easily, so I decided to search around his room, and that's when I found it…
Doris' face turned pale; she struggled to talk.
-Inside of his closet was… a casket filled with dead animals. Squirrels, sheep, even some creatures that don't exist in this valley. All with fur. I realized that the lord must be eating them! Then the door opened, and I hid inside the closet. Who came in if not Falsk and Reicher.
-So, the Rottweiler's and the CP0 are working together? Smoker took notes.
-Yes, while I was in the closet I overheard them talking about the summit, and how if they were going to get Von Lassien, they needed to import more of that..food. That's when I tried to escape.
In Smoker's mind, the pieces started to click together.
-Tell me, what are the effects of minks eating furred meat?
-Well, aside from being a crime against nature it makes us develop a terrible addiction…
-And there it is, Smoker stood up.
-The Rottweilers want to win the summit and CP0 is helping them by getting Von Lassien addicted to the taboo meat. Why the CP0 is helping and what the rottweiler's plan is still unsure, but…
A slow clap echoed across the hall.
Rob Lucci appeared in the doorway together with his long-nosed companion.
-Now, do tell me, why are you interfering? Drake, you're trust within the higher ranks is already on thin ice, and going up against us would be a death sentence. I suggest you back away and…
Smoker grabbed Doris and flew out the window before Drake even gave the order.
-Tashigi! Give 'em hell! He shouted before flying away. Rob Lucci sighed.
-It's always a hassle with you "freedom fighters". Let's get this over with.
Drake and Lucci both transformed into Hybrid-form. Drake dashed forward, swiping with his claws. Gentle like a house-cat, Lucci dodged out of the way and responded with faster, sharper attacks. As their deadly dance continued, Kaku and Tashigi drew their swords.
-Now, listen here, young lady. It would be best for us all if you handed over… Tashigi slashed at Kaku. Completely unphased, the agent blocked her attack with one of his swords and countered with the other, slicing up Tashigi's leg.
-Aaaaaargh! She screamed.
-You youngster's don't know the meaning of the word restraint. That sword seems to be made for parrying, not blind attacks.
-That style was created by a dishonorable warrior! It's a disrespect to the sword! Tashigi furiously decried Kaku's pragmatism. Annoyed, he pushed her away.
-Not nearly as disrespectful as neglecting their true purpose.
-Kaku, we don't have time to argue, we're supposed to meet up with Reichter in half an hour, Lucci shouted from atop Drake's knocked out body.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Tashigi attacked, forcing Kaku to block with both swords, only for his neck to suddenly extend and headbutt her unconscious.
The forests of Doggy Valley.
In order to keep up with Cooper Helmeppo rode Francois back. Bugged by the complete silence, he took a shot at conversation.
-So, ehm… Why is everyone so worried about this summit!? Helmeppo shouted into Francois' ear over the blowing winds.
-Well, a couple of months ago the golden retriever's suddenly started siding with the rottweiler's, despite their isolationist ideas! And my clan, the dalmatian's, are too scared to take a side, so the rottweiler's might actually come to power! Francois shouted back.
-Really? They aren't taking any side in the conflict? Francois shamefully sighed.
-Yeah, that's why I started training with the Boss instead of working for them!
Absorbed in their conversation, Francois did not notice that they were on a collision course with Koby, Moon Walking through the air. When he did notice, Helmeppo and Koby were already falling towards certain doom.
Acting on desperate instinct, Helmeppo stabbed his knife into a nearby tree. The screeching sound of the tree as they slid down was horrible, but it was better than… dying. Helmeppo blushed, embarrased by the embrace. Koby was slightly more concerned with the approaching wolf.
-Dodge! But it was too late. The lightning-fast paw descended upon them. Both closed their eyes, only to feel nothing.
Cooper swooped in and kicked the wolf to the side.
-Alfred! Do not think that the rottweiler's insane ramblings allow you to do whatever you please! Alfred cackled; an unpleasant, chilling sound.
-You may talk your little mouth off for all I care; when the summit is over, all it's going to do is scream.
-Tornado Mode!
Cooper spun around, shaping his fur into a deadly tornado. He jumped and bounced off a tree straight into Alfred's chest, drilling into it. The wolf swiped at him, but layers of Haki made it impossible.
-Defensive Pillar!
A pillar of fur burst out of Alfred's chest, carrying Cooper away. It engraved him into a nearby tree, but he quickly dug out. Alfred jumped forward with an open maw, forcing him to dodge.
-Brown Blur!
Cooper began darting from tree to tree, searching for an opening in Alfred's defense. He tried to attack Alfred's back, but an arm quickly grew out of it and grasped him.
-A wiser man would've figured out that with a mink's sense of smell and Observation Haki, surprises are impossible! Cooper was mercilessly brought towards Alfred's gaping mouth. Desperate, Koby jumped forward and punched him in the jaw.
There was a moment of awkward silence before Koby was shot to the ground by the natural Haki of Alfred's fur.
-You see, Cooper!? You see this pathetic drivel, who can't begin to match the strength of our fur!? It's the natural order that he is inferior to you, and that you are inferior to me! With that outsider human's tricks and cowardly politics you could deny it and throw me away, but nature shall triumph! Alfred heatedly explained.
-Yeah, that's very much possible, but have you considered eating crap? A black disc cut through Alfred's fur arm.
-That's a warning shot! Francois grew two more discs out of the dots on his fur. Alfred dashed towards him.
-101 Deadly Discs!
With machine-gun-like efficiency, Francois unleashed his dots, only for them to be torn apart by Alfred's claws in a flash of Electro. Though it didn't matter, as their real point was distracting Alfred with their Haki. Koby kicked off the ground with such strength that he managed to appear in front of Alfred's face. Surprised by his own movement, he carelessly punched the wolf in his eyes. The scream shook the entire island.
-You human rat! Alfred swiped at Koby, only to find himself restrained.
-I can manipulate my fur long-distance. When you sliced up my discs, I simply refitted them into iron-tight chains! Francisco explained before Alfred even had the time to curse.
-Perfect! Now we can bring him to justice! Koby's celebration was cut awfully short by being trampled by a giant paw. Two other wolves had appeared in the clearing; one awfully slim with protruding, feral eyes and a long, hanging tongue; the other with a square, muscular build, rugged fur and immovable demeanor.
-W-w-well, what do you know, humans! Jingo, p-please let me play with them! The wild one squealed.
-After we've interrogated them for information, Wylder. For now, we capture them and torture them for infor…
-They've already escaped, incompetent bufoons! Alfred growled.
After an entire day of desperate escape, neither of the humans could take another step. Exhausted, they set up camp at a massive branch, using some fur as fuel and sleeping bags.
-Do you still believe t-that, that I had no chance of becoming stronger? Koby anxiously asked Cooper.
-No, at least not the kind of strength that you seek; the Armament-kind that Garp wields. Your Haki is too weak for that. But those Six Powers of yours aren't designed for that; they're the tools of an assassin.
Koby didn't want to acknowledge it, but Cooper was right. The only tools that weren't made for dodging and moving were Tempest Kick and Finger Pistol, supposed to instantly kill opponents. Of course he didn't use them like that, but that was what they were.
-But, if you were to accept that weakness and instead improve your Observation Haki, you could become incredibly strong, perhaps, the ace in the hole necessary to defeat Alfred. I could absolutely train you to do that.
Koby struggled to not jump up and start doing fist pumps.
-But if I am going to train you, you'll need to understand this island's history. You'll need to know why Alfred may never leave this forest…
An action-packed endeavor! The world-building of this arc has been brewing in my brain for so long, I can't wait to get it all out! Extra lore tip #1: Dog's sizes vary wildly, from 6-15 feet. Being a tall dog is seen as very attractive, so shorter dogs will often craft long fake legs out of their fur when trying to woo someone.
