Win or Die!
The Meeting of the Shichibukai!
McIntyre blocked Rosa's swing within the last second. He deflected her blade to the side and stepped back. Both of them had become heavily injured, which meant more then likely one of them would fall soon. McIntyre only had a few minor cuts and scrapes, but he had a blow to the head that threatened to become extremely serious if he let it go untreated. Rosa was in a far worse situation, rather then just one very serious blow, she had several cuts and had to worry more about blood loss.
"Let's end this, sister," muttered McIntyre as he brought his sword back in between them and lifted it way above his head. The sword was lifted as high up as his arms would allow him to reach. His feet spread wide, preparing for a charge. He had a cocky smile on his face as he waited for Rosa to come at him.
Rosa remained where she was, wide-eyed at his stance. It was an odd stance for any real swordsman to take. While it allowed you to put an insane amount of downwards force onto your blade, but that's it. A sideways slash or a thrust from that position are both nearly impossible, not to mention even the simplest act of defense would be rendered completely impossible. It was basically a dead man's stance. "Wha-what are you doing!" she asked as she looked at that stance.
"Isn't it obvious?" replied McIntyre as he took a step forward, "I've decided. I'm going to die today on this island if not by your hand then by Trevor's, so I'm going to put all of my strength into one attack! If you can survive that then I will have no possible chance to defeat you...I am putting all of my determination into this one blow! So, stand up and take it Scarlet Rosa!"
Rosa sighed as she brought her sword in front of her and began to bring it up, but before she could take a decent stance McIntyre charged in. His gait was long and fast and he quickly closed the distance in-between the two of them. Rosa panicked with his stance, the downwards slash from his sword would be too powerful to block. She could only counter-attack with all of her might. She took a half-step forward and pivoted at the waist, bringing her sword around and at him. She brought her sword into him with incredible power, not only making use of the force from her swing, but also from McIntyre's haphazard charge. Her sword dug into his skin and knocked him back with superior force.
She let out her breath as she dropped her guard, lowering her sword down to the ground. She had won...she looked over at McIntyre as she debated if she did the right thing. At the last possible second she twisted her sword around and used the back of the blade rather then the front. She didn't want to kill McIntyre...as much of a jerk as he was...he never killed anyone innocent...he only hunted pirates and brought them down...he didn't deserve anything as drastic as the death penalty. Rosa sighed as she carefully slid her sword back into its sheath and turned around to leave.
McIntyre laid there as he watched Rosa's footsteps hit the ground as she began to leave. Turning her back on him. He gritted his teeth as he pushed himself off of the ground, she should've killed him when had the chance. He wasn't going to leave this earth a winner...his chest hurt like hell from her last strike, not to mention his head was still pounding from the earlier hit to it, but he wasn't going to let them stop him from winning. He charged bringing his sword up once more preparing for one of his most powerful strikes.
The eyes that were hiding in the shadows quickly widened and the being leapt out of the shadow, letting loose a fearsome roar as it charged forward. It brought its entire orange body up and down onto McIntyre with its pure black claws extended as it heaved itself upon him. McIntyre smashed into the ground. The large beast stayed on top of him as he turned and had its eyes meet Rosa's. The beast was a large infamous tiger, all of its teeth were barred as it turned and stepped off of McIntyre and slowly made its way to Rosa.
(-In a Marine Base-)
A young Marine walked through the halls of the awe-inspiring Marine Base. The walls were painted a luminescent white color that perfectly reflected the light radiating from the golden glass chandeliers hanging precariously above him. He himself had little care for these mundane things...they were wasted funds in his minds as well the minds of many other Marines, but the did serve a purpose. Such as today.
It was a meeting of the Shichibukais and, boy, did he hate these meetings. He was the sole Marines in a room full of devastating and famous pirates...of course, that was only if they showed up. During some of these meetings he found himself sitting all alone in a room with eight seats eating eight meals. Suffice to say that he hated meetings like these, but what could one expect...he was Marine Admiral. He was the one of the few Marines fit for being in the same room as those maniacs. A lesser Marine would be killed if one of the Shichibukais just broke a nail or was woken up from his nap.
"This has to be done," he reminded himself out loud. 'Lucky' Lin had just informed him about Trevor not only murdering quite a few of Marines, following that up he refused to return and inform the Marines of this fact. He would have to be replaced...finding a qualified pirate who would be willing to do so would be problematic. Trevor had always troublesome, but while he was under their thumb...he was only about half as troublesome while he was on their side when he wasn't, but now it was official...he had crossed the line...he was to be replaced and, if possible, imprisoned.
He sighed as he pushed aside the two iron doors specifically designed to prevent the Shichibukais from running wild in the Marine Base. He came into the room and sat in one of the seat, taking in the other seats. Most of them empty. Of course, with both Trevor and Melanie gone on their own path and then alongside that Lin only came in to inform of that and then she left...then again chances are most Shichibukais feel just as out of place in a Marine Base as he felt in the same room with seven pirates.
His eyes first fell on the young lady in her mid-twenties. She had jet black layered hair with small curls on the end. Her eyes were a similar black color. She had on a red tank top and despite the table blocked his view of her legs, based on his past meetings with her more then likely she had on black short shorts. He remembered her as 'Black Illusions' Kurai Ai...it's funny how many female Shichibukais there were during this great pirate age. The Admiral gingerly stepped forward and placed his hand onto his seat, checking it out. He gently sat down in his seat.
Aside from that there was only one other pirate in the room. Alan Fox. He smiled and waved at the Marine, "a most flamboyant welcome, Mr. Admiral!" He was dressed in suit, putting his best foot forward for this meeting although he ordinarily he wouldn't dress that way. He had thick dreadlocks that hung from his head as he looked around at the two people he would be sharing a meal with.
"I told you during our last meeting...call me, Nicholas," he said as he reached over the table and picked up one of the wine glasses and sipped it. As far as Shichibukais go, Nicholas didn't like the Fox brothers... they were of a shifty sort. They were originally one crew that caused the Marines a lot of trouble so they made them Shichibukais...but then they basically split up each one of the claiming right to the title of Shichibukai and rather then force them to choose the World Government decided to keep all three on the Shichibukai payroll...and he hated that. He personally believed that they each of them separately wasn't worth the slot of a Shichibukai, but he digressed.
"Aside from the normal meeting, we need to bring forth the recent problems that 'The Reaper' Trevor has caused for us," stated Nicholas as he slumped forward onto the table with a mean frown as he watched the two of them. He wanted to finish this job as quickly as possible. "So, the primary order would be to have me tell you both to eliminate him on sight. This, of course, also includes the Underground Rally Arena. That place is to be destroyed at a later date."
"Who is going to replace him?" asked Kurai Ai as she sat back. She was genuinely interested in the new person who was going to join with them. The Shichibukai has been pretty much the same for the past few years and they weren't many that she had interest in, hopefully there would be a new more interesting person to join.
"Well," began Nicholas as he cleared his throat as he looked at them, "we haven't had any recent ideas." He pressed his fork forward and into the turkey that he had ordered. "The Revolutionaries and the Yonkou have had a pretty recent monopoly on all upcoming talent in that area. Most of our strength comes from Marine recruits, but we need a pirate who can replace Trevor."
"What about the 'Kid Coyote'," offered Alan Fox as he leaned back with a smile. He was remembering when they met and he was pretty impressed with the kid's strength, "I mean, come on! He already attacked two Marine Bases and took them both down! Not to mention we already have Melanie chasing him down...imagine the flamboyant headlines! 'Newbie Pirate to the Grand Line becomes Shichibukai'! That will definitely send a new message to the pirates!"
Nicholas leaned backwards and paused in thought. The idea wasn't bad at all. He had to admit, the 'Kid Coyote' definitely had something behind it. Not to mention if he was still alive at the end of the week, he was at least on par with Melanie. "Hmm...I'll leave it up to Melanie to decide. If she kills him, then he isn't worth the trouble. And if she believes him to be strong enough, then he will replace Trevor. Any objections amongst the fellow Shichibukais...er, Shichibukai?" He turned and faced Kurai Ai.
She shrugged, "I have never met the guy before, I would rather meet him face to face before I make any final decisions. However, based on what I've heard I got to admit he sounds like someone I would support. Besides, you are right. The Revolutionaries have really been trying to take over the market for powerful pirates."
The door leading to the pirates' bay was knocked open. A long staff with a hook at the end came flying through and hooked onto Nicholas' shirt and pulled him closer to the pirate who just came in. The pirate was large, bigger then anyone else in the room. He was easily eight feet tall. His face was contorted into a frown right now, "I'm here to become a Shichibukai and earn my crew their freedom!"
"What makes you think there is a spot open for you?" asked Nicholas as he ripped himself free from the pirate's hook. He wanted to rip the man's head off, but the timing was perfect. That was the only reason the pirate remained standing in front of him, besides after this meeting of Shichibukai a good laugh was indeed needed.
Kraven laughed as he heaved a bag over his back and pulled out a pirate's head. "I'm pretty sure there is a spot open now!" Nicholas was taken back. That was in fact the head of a Shichibukai...or a previous Shichibukai. Nicholas couldn't help but smile. He smiled. The Shichibukai may have lost two members today, but it looks like they just got a new powerful ally.
"Good, good, good. Leave me be for awhile I file this with the higher-ups," he said waving them out towards the door. He smiled as he watched them leave. He sat back down and lifted the chicken up to his mouth. He brought his shiny teeth down into ripping through the meat, the bone, and even the fork with one massive chomp. "I love it when everything comes together for the benefits of the Marines. We are doing even better with every new step that we take, talk about your lovely meeting."
Assault on the Ship!
Problems with the Escape!
Okay...first off new characters! Kurai Ai is the work of ShinuMae! Alan Fox is the work of A. Fox! Kraven Hale is the work of Draco Oblivion! Yes, I did introduce Alan Fox before WAAYYYY back in chapter 19, but I figure it had been a long enough break for the reintroduction. Anyways, for those of you who were wondering I have introduced 6 Shichibukais, but since Trevor has been kicked out that means there are only 5 currently. So there are still two open spots. While I have an idea about who are going to fill these spots in, I am still open to new ideas.