Chapter 5 - Encounter with Zaebos!
The sky flashed red, Robin ran as fast as she could, several demons were chasing her.
"Come back." howled a demon "We won't hurt you...much."
Robin didn't stop she continued to run, turned a corner and his behind a large rock.
Four demons appeared above her, her arms sprouted from the demons shoulders and smacked them across the face, as they fell she continued to punch them.
Robin took her opportunity and ran like the wind.
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Somewhere in Avernus, in a rocky wasteland, stood eight black robed men.
"We have to find these two?" asked one
"Yes." answered another
"But it's only two humans and one is a weak little girl." laughed a third robed man
"Regardless of your opinions." snarled a fourth "They are supposedly very strong."
"What's the orders?"
"To offer them a position in Bel's army." one answered
"And if they refuse?" asked a member
"We kill them." he laughed
"Let's split up and search." answered another member
The eight split and ran off in the distance
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Luffy and Nami stared in amazement as a shriveled old man stepped before them, he had short grey hair, and was leaning against a staff.
"You're the leader..." said Luffy in disapointment
"Are you really supposed to fight him?" whispered Nami
"Don't know." answered Luffy
"Welcome to my camp." said Kurtulmak "I hear you are strong."
"Too right." grinned Luffy "I'm gonna be Pirate King!"
"What can i do for you?" he asked
"We want to get out of this world and go home." answered Nami
"Where did you come from?"
"The Grand Line." answered Nami
Kurtulmak "I've heard stories of a legendary pirate who conquered the surface world. Is this true?"
"If you mean Gold Rogers then yes" answered nami "He was Pirate King."
"And you wish to take his title?" laughed Kurtulmak
"I'm going to." replied Luffy
"Then you must be very strong." smiled Kurtulmak "Tell you what if you join my army and help me defeat Bel, I'll become the new king of this world and I'll allow you pass through the gate into the next world."
"Next?" asked Nami
"Yes." replied Kurtulmak "There is only one way back to the surface world and that is too reach the final floor of Baator and pass through it's gate."
"How many floors is there?" asked Luffy
"Nine." smiled Kurtulmak "And each ruler of the worlds is even stronger than Bel, but there is one who towers above them all, the mighty Asmodeus is undefeated in battle and the ruler of the ninth and final floor, he is impossible to defeat and I wish you luck if you ever reach him."
Kurtulmak left the tent.
Nami turned to Luffy who was smiling.
"Amodus." grinned Luffy "Weird name."
"It's Asmodeus." said Nami
"Right." laughed Luffy "Asodus."
"Wrong again." sighed Nami
"Should we help him?" asked Luffy
"You're Captain." said Nami "You decide."
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Usopp and Chopper had found a small cave to hide in.
"We've got to find Luffy and the others." sighed Usopp
"But how?" asked Chopper
"Can't you smell them out?" asked Usopp
"No." answered a dissapointed Chopper "We must have fallen far away from them."
"We'll get some rest here." said Usopp "Then we'll contiue the search tomorrow."
"I hope we find Luffy." sighed Chopepr "This place is scary without him."
"He always manages to brighten the mood." laughed Usopp "Time to get some sleep..."
Usopp trailed off, he had frozen, so had chopper, they shivered and turned to face the entrance of the cave.
"What is that?" asked Chopepr as they stared out at the hooded man.
"Ready to run?" asked Usopp
"Ready when you are." whispered back Chopper
"3... 2... 1... GO!" cried Usopp
They sprinted out side the cave darted left and sped across the rocky wasteland.
The hooded figure smiled, he had sharp pointy teeth, they were black with decay.
The hooded figure laughed and chased after them, he was as fast as lightning, he had caught up to Chopper and Usopp in seconds.
Usopp barely dodged as the figure swiped at him.
"Exploding Star!" cried Usopp as he grabbed is Slingshot and fired a pellet at the hooded man.
The man disapeared in a small explosion, the smoke gradually faded.
"Was that your best?" asked the man
Usopp spun around to see the man was behind him.
"W-what are you." stuttered Usopp
"I am a member of the dark eight." he answered "And you are a human, tell em are you connected to these two." he produced two pieces of paper, one with a picture of Robin, the other of Franky.
"Robin and Franky!" cried Usopp before he could stop himself, he covered his mouth with his hand as he saw the man smile with his horrible teeth.
"You do know them."
"Shit!" snapped Usopp "How could I be so stupid."
"So then my master has asked me to find these humans and any of their comrades and invite them to join his army." said the man.
"No way!" snapped Chopper "We'd never betray Luffy!"
"Who's Luffy?" asked the man
"Who're you?" asked Usopp trying to cover
"My name is Zaebos." he answered "Now who's Luffy?"
Usopp looked around, they were in a deserted wasteland, the man was much faster than them, there was no place to run or hide "We're screwed." he thought.
"Chopper." said Usopp "Run."
"What!" snapped Chopper "No way."
"Luffy is our very powerful boss." smiled Usopp "He is undefeated in battle and will do anything to save his nakama, namely us, so you better not hurt us."
Chopper sighed .
Usopp's best tactic was to try and scare his opponent.
"Sound intresting." smiled Zaebos "So then there are five of you."
"I can't let him find out about Sanji, Zoro and Nami." thought Usopp "There's gotta be a way ot of this."
"Any ideas?" asked Chopper
"We won't join." said Usopp "Not unless Luffy does, so for now we'll take our leave."
Usopp slammed a ball into the ground, grabbed Chopper and ran as it exploded to reveal a smoke bomb.
As Zaebos lost his sight, Usopp and Chopper sprinted away.
"I wouldn't be much of a dark eight if I let you two bugs escape from me." he laughed
Usopp turned his head and saw Zaebos racing out of the smoke and straght at them.
"Crap!" cried Chopper "We have to fight."
"We can't beat him." snapped Usopp
"We won't know that unless we fight him." cried Chopper
Usopp stopped and braced himself, Zaebos flew past Chopper, knocking the reindeer to the ground, he continued straight at Usopp who felt Zaebos land his fist into his chest. Usopp gasped in pain as he felt a rib crack, he fell, coughed and wiped blood away from the side of his mouth.
"Damn it." coughed Chopper as he rose to his feet.
"You two should feel lucky." laughed Zaebos "I'm not going to kill you yet, this will be a test of your skills, fail and you die, pass and I'll let you go to find Luffy"
"Ready?" asked Chopper as he helped Usopp to his feet by transforming into his Heavy Boost.
"Not Much of a choice have we." laughed Usopp"Why does this always happen to us?"
The sky flashed red as Usopp and Chopper squared off against Zaebos in a rocky wasteland.
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To Be Continued...
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Chapter 6 Preview
Usopp and Chopper must fight and prove their strength or die trying!
Franky get's a huge surprise when he finds out what inhabits the cave he is in.
