Who Is the Beast?

The wrappings exploded from Abel's body. They tightened themselves onto Mikoto's body and forced him back, dragging him away from Abel as Abel tried to recover. Abel smiled as he realized he had avoided a close blow. That last attack from him was quite possibly a killer blow. There was no restraint behind it. Abel's head would've been snapped up and then right back down in the same second. His brain would've been thrown against the inside of his skull even if Abel hadn't died from the blow, it is entirely possible that he would've lost consciousness from it. Abel didn't mind it though. He had been face-to-face with beasts greater than a simple wolf.

Abel unleashed another maddening salvo of wrappings for Mikoto's head. Mikoto strained against the wrapping unsure of how to proceed, he was stuck straining against the wrappings. His arms tied back, he couldn't bring them forth to even help block the immense attack. His legs were stuck in the mud with the same amount of binding stuck to it, so running away and using his superior speed to avoid it was even out. That meant he had no option. No other last minute saving techniques were present. He was faced with only one option, grit and bear it. The attacks hit him hard and fast. He felt each and every blow, blast into him. It was like being in the center of a hurricane. He felt each whip tear into his skin separately as he stood still. He continued to strain against it, he didn't want to back off, but he had to keep his feet planted and survive through it. He couldn't back down, his instincts were telling him that much.

However, Abel showed no signs of his intention to let up. He kept the whipping going, searing inwards at him at an increased pace each time. Mikoto was still being held back by the wrappings. There was no way for him to move forward to land his own punch and something told him that Abel wasn't about to fall for the same transforming trick twice in a row. Mikoto kept up straining against the bindings while facing the whips, he had to break free. Mikoto had put something together though. He had lucked out against Trevor.

He knew Trevor was strong, which was possibly why he felt so proud when he beat him, but Mikoto realized something else about the fight. It was a matter of rock-paper-scissors. Trevor was strong for sure, but Mikoto's speed gave him the advantage. Trevor's Haki of Observation was rendered useless. On top of that even his devastating attacks were lessened due to Mikoto's speed…Mikoto was rock while Trevor was scissors. However, in this fight Mikoto had come to realize the exact opposite was true. He hadn't lucked out, Abel had. Abel had the ability to put Mikoto's speed on ice. The binding technique easily stuck Mikoto in the mud and made him weaker. Mikoto guessed that made Abel paper to his rock. He couldn't move that much was obvious. Stop his feet and he basically became useless. He definitely didn't like the sound of that. He pushed once more, kicking out with his feet slamming them down and into the dirt trying to propel himself forward with extra burst of speed. He needed to break free…and he needed to do it now! As soon as one leg hit the ground he slammed the other one into the ground as well, quickly kicking off of the ground with one foot and then the other. He didn't slow down, he was going to break free and slug a quick one in Abel's face.

Mikoto didn't know for sure if Abel had noticed what he was trying to do, but Mikoto assumed he did. For some reason that Mikoto did not know Abel had sped up the speed and strength of his whips. Mikoto was helpless, his arms were tied as well, he couldn't even bring them forward to guard, he was just taking each blow as he released a powerful kick into the earth again and again in attempt to break free. Suddenly he felt it, the slightest of the give in the bindings. Of course, that was the only incentive Mikoto needed. He pushed forward with another burst of his legs, he continued to strain against the whips.

The bindings finally jumped off of Mikoto's body and Mikoto immediately stepped it up to full speed. He moved forward at a brand new speed. His topmost gear. He blasted off towards Abel. His fist came forward, swinging around and into Abel's face. Abel was sent flying backwards from the punch his feet were ripped off of the ground. However, Abel was not one to be completely shown up, a wrapping from his leg snaked out and tightened itself around Mikoto neck, dragging the coyote along with him. Mikoto felt the wrapping tighten around his neck as if intending to choke the life out of him. It was a nice try, but nothing beyond that. Mikoto didn't care about being dragged along with Abel, he was trying to catch up anyways. Mikoto quickly rushed to Abel's side and armed his right fist. Abel had been blocking each and every single one of these so far. He didn't care if Abel was paper and he was rock. So what if he was faced with an overwhelming distinct disadvantage. With this punch all of that didn't matter, it only mattered if Abel was knocked unconscious or not. Mikoto's fist bit into Abel's body and chewed straight into it. The sharpness of his punch had returned in full force blowing straight into Abel's body blowing it straight down to the ground. Mikoto wiped his sweat from his brow. He was in bad shape, but he managed to beat him finally. A good single blow straight into his body was exactly what he deserved. Mikoto turned his head as he debated about heading back to the mess and helping…that guy out. He shrugged and started to head back, but a sound cut through the air that made him freeze.

(-back at the house-)

Zesiro had been blown through the air, he was rendered helpless and defeated. His side was torn and his chest had several slight scars and cuts on it from Sage's twisting Pressure Ball. He hit the ground with a hideous thud. Ridley, Hiro-Shu, and Rosa paused for a split second as they turned their heads over to their fallen comrade, but it quickly became apparent that they weren't going to be allowed a moment of reprieve. Another zombie came shambling into the circle which required immediate attention. Rosa rushed forward and with a quick swing of her sword, she sliced into the zombie's legs and brought him tumbling down to the ground. She quickly lashed out again, taking down another one. They didn't have enough time to waste worrying about Zesiro there was still an army of monsters ahead of them. When they were done then she would worry.

Hiro-Shu's fist came crashing in behind her, blowing away another zombie before it could bite into Rosa's head. But Hiro-Shu spun in again, he stepped in and brought his fist upwards and smashed it into another zombie's chin sending him sky high. "Listen," he spoke with a solemn tone. This was not a conversation he wanted be having so Rosa already knew what the issue was, "There's no way I can get to Sage. These zombies will just slow me down further. I won't get close enough fast enough and as it currently stand those pressure balls of hers are the most annoying things these enemies have on their side. We need to defeat her and defeat her first…you understand? You're the only one right now who can take her down in time." He made a harsh swallowing sound, Rosa knew this wasn't easy on him. She slowly nodded and turned her attention forward for Sage, quickly scanning the horde for her old friend.

Rosa rushed forward through the horde wasting the bare minimum amount of time. She planted her feet and rotated, skidding past each zombie. She didn't stop for a single one of them, she was too busy mentally adjusting her strength. She needed just enough strength applied to the back of her blade to deal the right blow. Anything too strong would hurt her badly, but anything too weak would only give Sage the perfect opportunity to strike back. She would need to hold back the perfect amount and she would. She would hold the perfect amount and release the perfect amount of damage. She needed to adjust her power for her current speed. She dodged to the side as another zombie lunged for her, but he was immediately burnt to a crisp by a violent blast of fire from Hiro-Shu. She needed to adjust her striking power since she was using the back of her blade. Another zombie lunged down at her, eager to bite her head, but was stopped as it met with a guitar to his head. The zombie was thrown backwards, helplessly. Rosa didn't slow down. She didn't have the time Sage was right in front of her. She needed to adjust for her rotation.

Rosa's body whipped around like a hurricane completing a circle and bringing the sword forth and into Sage's side. There was an obvious sensation of pain spread across Sage's face as her side formed around Rosa's blade. Her entire body slowly bending into a C shape from the speed and power of Rosa's rush. Sage was flipped, head over heels, as she spun through the air from the force of Rosa's swing. She floated delicately in the air for a second or two before the rest of her body followed the way of her heels and crashed to the ground in a thud similar to that of Zesiro's. Rosa paused for a second, breathing heavily and looking down at her fallen friend. She wasn't happy with what she just did, but she had to do it. Sage wasn't on their side for the time being, she'd find the man who did and turn her back. A zombie lunged at Rosa, while she was deep in thought, and Rosa completely dodged to the side, completely unaware of the zombie's attack. That only served as a reminder for her, they were still at war…no time to worry. Her blade stretched high into the sky for a split second before chopping down into the zombie's neck easily severing the head from the body.

Rosa turned around and looked at the horde. They stopped. The entire mass seemed to freeze. Rosa was amazed, did they finally understand what had happened? That they were completely outmatched. Rosa smiled, but then she immediately learned that that wasn't why they had stopped. The ground rumbled, sending tremors all around. The island was shaking, but this didn't seem like an earthquake. It originated in the center of the island. Rosa, Hiro-Shu, and ridley all directed their heads to the center of the island, towards the origin of the shaking. They were aghast at the site that they saw.

(-at the center of the island-)

The Infinity Pirate ship laid amidst a barren forest. The trees that surrounded it were burnt down, next to the small ship was a huge mountain range…or what was originally believed to be a mountain range. The rain had finally died down and the once grayish pallor of the mountain was slowly fading away. The mountain was slowly transforming into a sharp and beautifulblackhue. One of the smaller boulders was lifted into the air by a massive string of rock. Two sharp slits opened up on the small boulder revealing horrifying yellow eyes. Sleets of rock up-heaved themselves from the surface of the island and into the air, forming massive wings that shadowed the ship. The rest of the mountain range picked itself up, revealing a gargantuan beast of horror. The flying, fire-breathing terror. A dragon.

It let loose a monstrous roar accompanied with a stream of flames. It turned its head both left and right, seeking out a delicious breakfast right after a short slumber. Finally it flapped its wings and took off into the sky, eager to seek out its next meal.

Mikoto watched a little ways away, still standing near Abel's body. The monstrous beast stretched it wings, exercising first making sure it was capable of flight before booming off in a different direction in search of something to satisfy its hunger. Mikoto stood there, slack-jawed and in amazement. "That's the beast I'm hunting," muttered Abel from beneath Mikoto's foot. Mikoto snapped his neck down and looked at Abel flattened out on the ground. Abel's own eyes were riveted upwards at the monster that roamed the skies. "I've been after him for awhile ever since he betrayed my crew and flew off to this island for some reason. It is my strongest desire to defeat him." Mikoto looked back up at the sky and the beast. He admitted it, he was amazed by the terror as it rocketed around in circle encompassing the island. It was huge. The beast reared its mighty head as it scoured the sky once more. Its eyes jumping about, remaining fixated on the ground. It didn't want to miss out on the opportunity for a nice meal.

A pain shot back through Mikoto's head as he remembered what had just occurred the memories of how they wound up on this island were returning.

The crew had just left the URA and had a discussion about Mikoto's Shichibukai status. They had been at sea for maybe two or three days and things were going fairly well, aside from Rosa's rants about saving Lily and Zesiro's worrisome thoughts about Sanada and the rest of them. They had all basically been brought back up to full health and they were having fun once again. It was nice to eat Sage's meals once more. It felt like it had been forever! Mikoto's long time in Trevor's throne room didn't dampen his appetite at all. Ridley was busy playing cards with Enma and Maria. Zesiro had joined in for a hand or two, but he left to go handle other issues. Sage was cleaning the kitchen after another meal and Hiro-Shu was stealing the ship. Mikoto and Rosa both had other problems, deciding how to handle their own respective issues. Mikoto on whether or not he wanted to become a Shichibukai and Rosa on how to save her sister, though the latter was obviously more preoccupied with the issue. Mikoto probably only spent a grand total of two minutes thinking about it before signing off for a dog-nap.

It was the middle of the night when Hiro-Shu called for the crew. Ridley and Enma were the first two up, they were both night-owls and apparently their poker game had gone into overtime. Then Rosa, who Mikoto didn't think got a wink of sleep out of worry. Mikoto followed due to his superhuman speed, followed by Maria, Zesiro, and Sage respectively. At first the crew was made at Hiro-Shu, they didn't see anything of importance that was worth dragging them out onto the deck in the middle of the night until they heard the flapping of large leather-like wings. The crew looked skywards and saw it. A massive beast the blocked out the moon.

Mikoto went first, charging up the mast to the crow's nest to get closer, he couldn't very well punch a monster that was in the sky while he was on the ground. His arms didn't extend. He was in the air when he saw the monster's tail snap down with the speed of sound. He remembered a loud whack and then his body getting embedded into the wooden floorboards of the ship, but after that Mikoto struggled to remember what came next. Mikoto paused for a second as he looked up at the beast, still flying high in the air like it owned the place. Mikoto tightened his fist as he thought about how to take it down.

"It is looking for food, right now," said Abel as he stretched back against one of the trees. His sides were killing him there was a strong pain burning into it and he didn't quite feel like moving yet. He would eventually, when the time was right. If these guys were Bounty Hunters he definitely didn't want to stay around too long.

Mikoto thought for a moment, recalling the island's layout. "What food?" he dared to ask, looking down at Abel. The island was a barren wasteland, completely void of any food aside from burnt tree bark. The dragon was welcomed to eat as much of that as he wanted to.

"Here's a hint, I'd run if I were you," Abel smirked to himself as he looked at the beast, whose head had finally snapped in their direction. They were close enough for the monster to see them or possibly smell them depending on which was better. Abel just knew the monster's range perfectly from his many fights with it. He laughed as he laid his head back, "seriously, kid, run."

The dragon let loose an ear-splitting roar that tore the ground asunder as it flapped its mighty wings and leaned forward. Its body shot loose from its space in the air like a bullet. The one-ton beast shot forward, its mouth agape, eager to accept its next meal.

Coyote Versus Dragon?

Yup, this'll be a fair fight. Anyways, I just want to direct everybody around here to my profile page. I posted an 'Others' fanfic section on my story, which is basically some other fanfics that I'm working on when I can't think of a good plot twist for my main ongoing current stories. If you wanna know more about them or motivate me to write them shoot me a PM. (Please take special notice of the 'a PM' part…I don't want to get shot…)

Also, to anybody who is currently all caught up in One Piece does anybody else notice the similarities between the Dressrosa Arc and my URA Arc!? I think Oda's copying me!

Oh, also about being almost a week late with this chapter...still no schedule that is all!