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"One Piece." – Speaking
'One Piece.' – Thinking
One Piece. – Flashbacks
One Piece. – Devil Fruits and Techniques
Deadly Drinking Pirate
We Will Meet Again, Everyone!
Previously on Deadly Drunken Pirate,
"…I still think I should kill you for getting the marines to send one of their monsters on us for real…" It was hard to tell if it was a joke or a serious threat, the Den-Den Mushi didn't even change its expression yet Luffy was not worried. "But we will still watch over the Grand King's Brew for anyone who will want to sink her. Let's hope this Rayleigh character gets here soon. You just watch on yourself, wherever you are."
"Thank you, Franky. Best of luck." The young captain responded, tucking in the little snail back in his vest. Now, he knows that he can count on his crew to do their duty but with the marines getting ready to go after the other nine big shots scattered across the archipelago, there was this bad feeling. Like the one you get when it seems that your enemy is going to pull something under your feet.
And yet, "MUGIWARA (STRAWHAT)!" A wild roar was heard that shook the massive trees a bit, just a bit. "What the hell are you fucking shitting us over with!? You got the fucking marines to send one of their fucking monsters on us! What the fuck is your fucking problem!?" For being a pirate, the young man had a good excuse for talking like a sailor.
"Hello Eustass Kid, glad to see that there is a brain in there somewhere." It takes a lot to scare this young captain. "If you wanted to talk business, you could have just said so. Now little Aisa is going to have nightmares for weeks." Luffy's casual tone was amplified somehow with his crew glaring something terrible at the foul-mouthed Eustass. Not to mention how the little girl was watched over by the women Straw Hats like mother hens. While the Kid Pirates were trembling, Eustass and Killer just took a step back; something about a painful memory rather than fear.
"Now how about we start over, what has gotten you all worked up about?" Luffy broke the ice with a friendly tone. There was still the glare of promised pain to any fool speak out in another vulgar curse. However, "Hold that thought. We have company."
As if on cue, something large landed right behind the Kid Pirates, causing them to either scream or get on the defense. "ARRGH! What the….!?" As much as Eustass wanted to curse out in spite of the Straw Hats' warning glare, his breath was taken away from the sight. Whatever landed in their presence had stirred up a lot of smoke and as it cleared, it looked like. "Bartholomew Kuma!?"
While everyone was panicking, focused on this 'being' that truly resembles the Shichibuki Kuma, Luffy noticed something else while the massive man was standing up from its landing. Large bold letters that inscribed 'PX-4'.
"What the hell is one of the Shichibuki (Seven Warlords of the Sea) here, Captain?!"
"Is he here because we are with Mugiwara (Straw Hat), who quit the ranks!?"
"Captain! What are we going to do!? How are we going to beat one of the Shichibuki!?"
"SHUT YOUR TRAPS!" Eustass was both antsy and in a bad mood when it looks like the Shichibuki had found him at the last spot before the New World. 'Shit. Why did it have to be him!? The Government's lap dog of all the fuckers they could have sent!'
"Eustass 'Captain' Kid. Bounty worth 315,000,000 berries." A mechanical voice was heard from 'Kuma' and that scared the Kid Pirates even more. All the while, the Straw Hats noticed something off about that voice.
But thinking had to wait when 'Kuma' started to move, reaching for one of its gloves. Upon removing it off its right hand, it opened its palm to face the Kid Pirates. There was a small but strange opening right in the center. Yet Kid knew it was not good, "MOVE, YOU LITTLE SHITS!"
The Kid Pirates screamed again and scattered when a bright yellow beam shot right out of the hand of the massive man. They had to stay on their toes when the beam not only hit the ground but was turned into a makeshift laser that carved into the Mangrove. The most who were able to avoid it lost their voices when the laser blew a hole into the base of a nearby Mangrove tree. They didn't think anything from Paradise could destroy those tough trees.
And yet, 'Kuma' turned to face the Straw Hats who haven't moved from their place in front of the bar. Although Aisa and Chopper were still shaking a bit, even when they were behind their captain along with Nami and Nojiko. "Monkey D. 'Mugiwara' Luffy, the 'Liber Glade'. Former member of the Shichibuki. Bounty frozen at 80,000,000 berries. Current bounty still in pending."
This confirmed what Kid and the other super rookies were informed earlier that day. While most of the Kid pirates were wondering why the Navy has not confirmed Luffy's new bounty, the captain and his first mate had a good idea. Nevertheless, 'Kuma' raised his hand and shot out another blinding shot straight at the Straw Hats! They never even tried to evade the attack.
"What the fuck!? What the hell is wrong with them!?" Kid ranted out loud. "How did they even get here if they couldn't even…!?" Kid really felt cheated somehow until Killer took him by his shoulder and pointed at the same spot the Straw Hats last stood.
Only, once the smoke cleared, there was the biggest surprise yet. The Bar behind them wasn't damaged, not a single person was out of place. The only thing different was the captain extending his dormant right arm and had the palm out. It was almost like Luffy had taken in the laser, and hadn't even gotten a burn!
For once, Kid had no words to say. And fortunate for him too because 'Kuma' started to shake and freeze up; almost like 'he' couldn't process what had just happened. "If I didn't know you better, I would have warned you." Luffy said in an eerie calm tone. "Let's just say if you can't figure out what had happened, then you won't survive in the New World." Turning to Robin, he spoke while pointing at 'Kuma'. "Hold him down." She smirked and crossed her arms with the posture needed to use her powers.
The Kid Pirates were wondering what the Straw Hats were going to do once the shock from before had worn off. Too bad that the same can be said for 'Kuma' who got ready to fire another laser but this time, from the mouth instead of the palm. Everyone present at the scene waited with baited breath and once the laser had fully recharged, 'Kuma' had its mouth clamped shut hard at the last minute, causing the laser to backfire!
That awed the Kid Pirates and even their captain was surprised this time. But before they could cheer, something else happened to 'Kuma'. It was like its feet were stuck to the ground, with the massive man struggling to even move its shoes. Also, the head of 'Kuma' was behaving as if someone had it in a grappling hold; holding it by the chin and tugging it backward. Coupled that with its feet held down, the midsection started to buckle and crack. It took only a moment of terrible sounds heard before the big *SNAP* came with 'Kuma' broken in half like a candy cane. That got the Kid Pirates to scream out loud at the sight.
"Ochenta Furūru (Eighty Flowers) …" A woman's voice was immediately heard, whispering in the wind. "Suke Kuracchi (Clear Clutch)." As soon as she finished her sentence, Robin appeared in front of the down body of 'Kuma'; it was like a concealment had been placed on her and she lifted it off like a bed sheet.
This time, the Kid Pirates and even most of the Straw Hats were trying to figure this one out. That was until Nami's face light up like a lightbulb, which was followed by a sly smirk. "So that was what you said to Robin after you butchered that intruder who can turn invisible." Luffy didn't need to speak to show how his secret was spilled, he simply showed a sheepish expression. "And if I didn't know better, you have a type of women; with Akuma no Mi (Devil Fruit) powers."
"Every woman I came to know very well did not need an Akuma no Mi to get their point across, it is just a nice bonus." Luffy responded that time with a voice as smooth as silk, just what he needed to avoid an awkward situation in front of several watching eyes. That and the quick smooch on Nami's favorite spot, the cheek around her eye, did help a bit. He should know when his cat burglar of a girlfriend started to purr as if an actual house cat.
And yet, the Kid Pirates could only force their jaws shut; they all had been falling down so hard that their mouths hurt. 'What the living hell is with these pirates!?' That was the general thought going through all their minds. That was when yet another impact was made that got the attention of the pirates.
"You seriously fell to these lowlifes so easily!? PX-4, you are a pathetic prototype!" When that voice emerged from the smoke, no one could count on a strange man with an axe on his shoulder, with yet another 'Bartholomew Kuma' behind him!
XXXXX
"Okay, that should be everyone with the exception of Captain and his company…" Alvida was at the Grand King's Brew, doing her duties at the first mate of the Straw Hats. Once they all got the call on their mini Den-Den Mushi to return to the ship immediately, the Straw Hats did just that. It helped that the special bubbles made carrying the massive loads a breeze; it took no time at all to bring it all to the ship. Too bad they still had to move it around on deck the old fashion way.
After a few moments that felt like forever due to the tension, Usopp called out. "Okay! Everything is in place. Now we just hold down the fort and anyone that comes to sink our ship, we will sink them instead!" The past several months of going in and out of danger had paid off. The sniper now has the confidence to make the rally call without any stage fright.
And yet that all was silenced when T-bone happened to spy something in the corner of his eye, something that stole his breath away. Kuro noticed that the usual pale-looking face got worst and turned towards the starboard side of the ship. This started off a chain reaction with everyone noticing the former and alerting the latter.
"YOU!?"
XXXXX
Back at Shakky's Rip-Off Bar,
The Kid Pirates did not know what to do at this point. The first 'Kuma' attacked them as soon as it arrived but this one seems to be on standby while the other strange man kept on scolding the first on the ground, as if a teacher ripping into his disappointing student. That was until,
"It seems that, in spite of being bad, we all got the privilege of meeting the bodyguard of The Doctor Vegapunk. Not to mention, the leader of the Marine's Science Unit. Tell me, is the good doctor still mad about his prototype being stolen, Sentomaru?" The strange-looking man stopped in his ranting and turned to face Luffy with a mouth open like a goldfish. The Strawhats were stoic and unflinching while the Kid Pirates were twitching in their efforts to not drop their mouths again; they hurt enough as it is.
Sentomaru is a large man with light skin and a stocky build similar to that of a sumo wrestler. He has a large scar extending from his left eye to the left corner of his mouth. His outfit consists of a shirt that resembles a giant brown apron with an emblem meaning "heaven" on the front, and a large red and white rope. Sentomaru also has bandages wrapped around his right fist and elbows, along with the Kanji 'Sen' tattooed on his left shoulder. Sentomaru carries around a huge, two-edged axe, as tall as himself, and just as large.
It didn't take long until Sentomaru clinched his jaw shut and resumed his serious look. "Monkey D. 'Mugiwara' Luffy. The Liber Glade. And former member of the Shichibuki, our intel was spot on. You are here to journey to the New World."
"Duh, why would any pirate come here? This isn't even an island, just a bunch of Grand Line Trees put together." Luffy responded with clear sarcasm in his tone. "Now tell me why the Marines sent you of all people here? Are they tired of the Shichibuki not being their loyal dogs?"
Sentomaru narrowed his eyes, "Funny you should bring that up. Quitting on us right when we need all of you pirate scum to fall in line. War is on the horizon, for goodness sake!" That cleared any remaining suspicion the Kid Pirates had from what happened with Scratchman Apoo outside the bar earlier that day. They just weren't aware that the same news was also delivered to the rest of the Super Rookies on Saboady around roughly the same time.
"So, they are still sore for cheating on me and not getting away with it like they are used to. This is what can happen when you ask criminals to do their jobs." Luffy responded with no real worry. "But you didn't really answer my question, either."
"SHUT UP!" Sentomaru barked back, clearly not in the mood to be causal with a pirate. "I am not here with the World Government's latest pirate-killing machine just to make small talk with one of the sea scumbags-!" The large man with a woman's face widened his eyes and raised his hands as if to block an attack. Too bad for him and the witnessing Kid Pirates, it happened in the blink of an eye.
"No, no you are not. So, let's quit the lollygagging and get to it." Luffy spoke from his new location, apparently punching at Sentomaru and sent the sumo-man flying in a split second. Before the Kid Pirates could respond, their shared enemy emerged from the base of the tree was sent towards. He didn't even have a bruise.
Just as Sentomaru reached for his axe, with no more words spoken, "ENOUGH!" Captain Kid in question shouted. "I have had enough with you shitheads ignoring me! If you don't think of me as a threat as you think that annoying rubber head Mugiwara is, then I will teach you!" Suddenly, a storm of blades of various sizes and shapes appeared behind Captain Kid. "DIE!"
Luffy looked at the dozens of weapons hailing down towards Sentomaru with an unimpressed look and so did the target himself. Once again shooting out his palm, the storm of weapons stopped in midair and shattered! And they were shattered with such force the naked eye couldn't see that they were even sent flying away from their target, not a single piece even causing a cut. Nevertheless, Captain Kid had the impression of a goldfish once he saw his attack failed while Luffy's punch landed.
"PX-5, dispose of those rookies. They are nothing but pests." Sentomaru spoke coldly as the Second Kuma took off its own gloves to show an identical hand with a hole in the palm; but this time, opening its mouth as well. Both the palm of its hand and its mouth glowed bright yellow before a pair of laser bolts this time shot out towards the Kid Pirates. They screamed in the split second before the lasers will hit them but before they could raise their arms and close their eyes to await their demise, the laser bolts suddenly veered off in an angle that missed them but the shock wave still sent them toppling like dominos.
"Don't kill them, Sentomaru. I need them to be proper competition in the race to be the next king." Luffy said as if it was no big deal, to him that is. Sentomaru was about to retort or issue another order but Luffy cut him off. "Know what, never mind. Do it, Ghost Girl." Just as Luffy finished, Sentomaru's eyes widened. Suddenly his body caved in but instead of falling backwards, he fell forwards onto his hands and knees. He then started mumbling in a depressed tone while lowering his head down in shame.
This time, even the Kid himself was speechless and found it hard to respond to this sight until the air was filed with a creepy but feminine giggle. "Horo-horo-horo! I did good, right Captain~?" The Strawhats either groaned or simply rolled their eyes at the high, shrilly voice while Luffy was as stoic as a lord. Especially when a certain young girl appeared, floating in the air with the cartoonish ghosts giggling along, with her arms on his shoulder.
"I think that you are finally getting the hang of your real abilities, much more than when you were lazing away in the Florian Triangle, Perona." Luffy answered as neutral as he could. He did tolerate the advances of the little ghost girl, only losing his cool when she got into her 'crazed fangirl stage'. "Now please tell me you got your chores down, your shopping done and that you got the rest of the Super Rookies here in Sabaody." Perona nodded something fierce with the same creepy smile on her face. "Good girl, now them."
"What the fuck are you doing now, Mugiwara?! Are you going to keep looking down on us! We have killed plenty for less and-!" Kid finally got his voice back and just in time for his crew to suddenly drop one by one into the same fashion as the sumo man. He saw those same cartoon ghosts soaring and shotting right through his crew members, giggling and smiling all the way. He growled loudly and, to no avail, tried to grab at the ghosts but they were transparent to his foolish actions. Just as he turned to the one responsible, four of those ghosts shot out of his chest!
This time, Kid just landed on the ground like a deadweight. "Can't have him say anything from that month of his under your usual spell. Now he is too into it to speak at all." Luffy spoke up, answering a question that was hovering in the air for a bit. "Besides, he will appreciate this, someday."
That was when…it happened. Almost like in the aftermath of Thriller Bark, when a life signature was slowly but still burning until it was snuffed out. This time, several signatures on his radar suddenly left range. One by one, silent as lambs, disappearing without resistance. Not even a peep was heard, just the wind along the massive trees. But Luffy didn't stir. Before it happened, he felt two light and small bodies colliding with him and a voice in his ear.
"We won't see each other again. Farewell, Son of Dragon." And that was the last anyone had seen of the Liber Glade until the great turnover that will shake the world forever.
End of Chapter 61.
*Hey everyone. By now, there is no excuse for not updating in months. I am just glad to finally get this chapter finished. This year within the 21st Century is by far, in the words of Comic Book Guy; The. Worst. Year. Ever. All I am concerned about is that 2021 has a lot to make up for once it finally comes.
And if you guys figured what happened, good for you. I am just trying to squeeze it out of my head and making it as subtle as possible. I will be waiting until the big reveal we have been waiting four years to see finally arrives. It will be a big one, and every single one of us will decide if it is good or bad. I wish best of luck to all of us and pray to the Almighty Lord that we are still afloat. Good night!*