The True King Coyote

"The name's Iliaster King…in other words, I'm the King Coyote!" shouted the half-beast man as he stood above Michael's body, that was nearly doubled over from the force of his punch. Michael's eyes went wide as he reeled back, the shock of the insanely fast and strong punch combined with his wear and tear from his fight with Kraven was enough to push him to the limits. He stumbled back, his vision blurring and that wasn't the only thing. Iliaster was already beginning to weave his body in perfect synch to his breathing, a technique that was hard to obtain. The ability to put your entire body into a single act, his breathing, mind, and body had all synched up into one form. That one form was slowly beginning to split, Iliaster was doing a short-ranged version of Mikoto's own after-image and put it to use better than him, creating dozens of short-ranged clones, all of which were beginning to move in on Michael.

A large gap had been made between the two users of the Inu-Inu no mi; Coyote Model…and Mikoto was on the wrong side of it. Power, speed, instincts, usage, everything was on Iliaster's side of the gap. Iliaster had taken the advantage and had run with it even this far into the Grand Line. Iliaster didn't develop the Rapid Fire, but that was because he didn't need it. He was fine with just his own natural brute strength and speed as Michael was slowly starting to find out as the punches came from seemingly nowhere. The illusion of his body movement seemed to take longer than his actual punches. It wasn't that he was leaving an after-image, it was more like he was leaving a steady trail behind him. His own image lagged behind him by a bare few seconds. Michael would actually feel the punch hit his skin before he would see Iliaster actually throw it!

Michael couldn't keep up with the speed. It was weird, watching the fake punch being thrown and feeling a real punch at the same time. It was like all of the world's laws were being re-written by this man and his feet. He had speed, technique, power…it was men like this who were destined to rule the new world. Michael smirked, it was men like this that gave him hope for the future. His son was going to be growing up in this world and in order for it to work out well, it needed to the best damn world it could be. And strong men like this made him think it was possible that it could keep changing and refining itself. However, just because this man was strong didn't mean he would see to the future. Michael stood up and swung his sword around, preparing for a straight-up exchange. However, Iliaster wasn't a man who would allow him to do such a thing.

He suppressed Michael with a high-speed volley of heavy punches. Michael brought his sword around, crossing it in front of his body like a makeshift shield, slowly allowing it to absorb the punches from Iliaster's insane barrage. Of course, the sword could only cover a certain section of Michael's body and like all natural borne geniuses Iliaster was aiming for the points that it didn't cover. However, in a way that made them predictable. Michael may not know the exact location where they would strike, but he knew the locations where they wouldn't strike. Not only that, but Iliaster was really showing his colors as a true huntsman, aiming only for the vital spots. The liver, diaphragm, neck, heart, he was like a beast on the prowl for dinner and his fists were already softening the meat. However, in terms of skills, power, and technique Michael was also well ahead of the average bunch.

"In terms of speed, you are probably currently at the pinnacle of the world," said Michael as he brought his sword around and rested it on his own shoulders, a quick draw from his shoulder. He could swing his entire body around and use the speed of his own body at a much better rate than before. Rather than relying on arm speed or leg speed, he could utilize his entire body. With this he may have just enough speed to match Iliaster's insane speed…by just barely. Iliaster's problem was he was far too frontal…he was sticking it straight to Michael's side aiming to pound his life out with his fists. "But you lack the decisiveness of a true warrior." Michael's swords swung around at an incredible speed, his entire body acting as a boost and in the end his speed trumped even the pinnacle of the world's speed for only one iota of a second…and in that iota of a second he finished Iliaster off. "You hit me so many times with that blazing fast speed, but unless you can end it during one of those exchanges you're useless…even worse…you could've ended it at anytime. The time for battle and the time for fun do not intersect." Michael stood back and looked at Iliaster who was still writhing in pain. His constant rush and lagging imagery made it hard for Michael to estimate his location, a full-bodied swing done with no knowledge of his opponent's location…a random full-throttle swing was the best thing he could bank his hopes on…and sadly it ripped through him. Iliaster had stepped in to land on of his own punches when Michael let the swing loose in other words, he stepped deeper into Michael's range and deeper onto his sword's edge. The sword swung right into him, piercing his skin and deeper through due to Michael's inhuman strength.

(-Modern times-)

"And that, Ridley," finished Kraven as he stood up, twisting around and disappearing back into his ship, "is the last time I ever saw my trusted first mate take a breath. And trust me, it'll happen to your crew as well. One of your crewmates will die before your very eyes and your captain will be hopeless to stop it. And with the way things are going it'll be today." Ridley's head swerved back to the playing field and noticed that Kraven was probably right. Aaron managed to snag an early victory and Enma and Rosa kept them in the lead with their above average talents, but in the end the small size of the Infinity Pirates was their downfall. They couldn't keep up with the completely refreshed Ghost Hook Pirates who had an armada of men to choose from. An instantaneous ability to adapt to whatever problems came their way. That was the overwhelming advantage the Ghost Hook Pirates had over the Infinity Pirates.

Ridley leaned back and tried to rest up a bit further, the match was nearly over. Lily had somehow managed to keep them in the lead due to Aaron's, Enma's, and Rosa's attempt, but she had ate up too much valuable time. Her broken spirit was slowing them down, but Ridley had to put her into an event where her much lower capabilities wouldn't get in the way. This one was the only one, asides from the boat race, he could think of. Her skills had slowed them down by a large margin and now Kraven's superior crew was starting to close in. She was too weak…

Now the match restedin Sage's hands. She managed to get to the wall before the Kraven's runner had set out, but as she struggled to rise to the top Kraven's teammate had just hit it. Her hand was hovering a few feet beneath the top. While she was ahead of him, the gap was closing fast. Victory looked like it may have been slipping out of their hands. Of course, Ridley supposed there was no helping it. The Infinity Pirates was small and they even had weak crew members on it, they needed more crew members or they needed to cover up their current weakness…or weaknesses. Not a single one of them could be considered 'perfect' hell even well-rounded was a long shot when talking about them. They had strengths and weaknesses and while that described anyone…it was especially true for them. Mikoto's power deficient, Sage's reliance on her Devil Fruit, Hiro-Shu's slow speed, they were all failing in one or more areas.

And they chose to challenge the Grand Line like this? Ridley shook his head and scoffed at them. It was ridiculous to think that they could even try something like that. What's next the New World? If they were going to keep on trying like this…they needed to get better. "Hey, Goro," asked Ridley as he looked over at the heavy smoking new First Mate of the Ghost Hook Pirates. The man took the cigar from his lips and looked over at him, "you guys have a gym on this ship?" Goro raised an eyebrow and wondered why Ridley would want something like that. "I was just thinking about it. I need to get stronger for my crew, the Infinity Pirates. I'd rather not have them be disappointed when they win me back."

Goro chuckled and shook his head, "the gym's in the back of the ship, but your crew ain't winning you back." He nodded forward and at the sight of the obstacle course as one of Kraven's men completely overtook the race, vaulting over the last few feet of the wall while Sage was still climbing down it. The Ghost Hook pirates just took the lead with no time to take it back it was obvious that the Infinity Pirates were going to win. "You may as well just throw that silly dream out of the window right now!" Goro kicked his head back and laughed, proud to be on the winning crew.

"I'm surprised," muttered Ridley walking by him and into the ship, "you've been a Grand Line pirate for this long and you even stepped foot in the New World and yet…you still haven't learned the most basic lesson of this cruel sea." Goro turned around and smirked, Ridley was trying to act all cool, but the fact remained there was no way for the Infinity Pirates to win this match. It was their loss completely. However, Goro decided to humor him and wait for his answer, "on this cruel sea," said Ridley pausing in the doorway just long enough to flip Goro off, "anything is possible until the very last minute." Goro scoffed at him, shaking his head and turning himself forward. The next match was Tug-of-War…and the fact was that Ridley was supposed to be in it so it was five-on-four…no…Goro chuckled as he looked down. They got to pick one more person to join their team…it would be five on three. It was their complete victory. However, for some reason…Goro couldn't help but pause for the briefest of seconds and look out at them. Could what Ridley had just said be true? Goro didn't fully believe in a one hundred percent victory chance, but at the same time he couldn't possibly see how they could turn this around. Even a win for the Infinity Pirates would still automatically hand the advantage over to Kraven, they had two of their crewmates, Mikoto could only claim one of them back. Goro chuckled and turned around, deciding to leave this decision to Kraven. Complete victory for them once more. Goro hesitated at the doorway once more…was there even such a thing?

Kraven smiled appearing from his ship in his glory and striding up to the stage. Zesiro, Hiro-Shu, Maria, Ridley, and Enma were all signed up to compete in this last match. Kraven chuckled to himself and paused for a second thinking of how a tug-of-war would work. Zesiro's fatigue from yesterday hasn't worn off yet, so picking him would be ridiculous. Kraven didn't know much about Hiro-Shu's abilities from only one round, but he knew Maria was something else from her match against Azu. He already had Ridley under his grasp and that just left the scrawny doctor, his choice was obvious. "MARIA! You're on my crew now!" Maria swore beneath her breath, picking herself up and moving over to the other side.

"You better get me back, brats," she muttered as her last words before transcending to the other side. Kraven chuckled, three against five. There were fewer better odds for him. He would just have to latch his greedy fangs into this match and win…a victory would push Mikoto down into the depths of despair. His crew formerly ten strong, counting Aaron and Lily, would be knocked down to seven. The loss of three crew members may be a little excessive, but sheer overwhelming victory was Kraven's goal. He moved back to his chair, the place he had been sitting in throughout all of the events. Despite being the team captain he hadn't competed in a single event throughout the entire course of this Davy Back Fight. Was this just because he was the captain? Did the events he excelled at just not appear? Or was he just weak? Or was there another reason? Was there some other reason he was saving his strength?

In the end it didn't matter. Zesiro, Enma, and Hiro-Shu strode onto the field. They wrapped their arms around the rope and tightened their grip. Three against five…or was it ten as Shane's crew should be joining them during this event? Leading Shane's crew was the captain himself followed by Suzanne, who was chanting about love power, Reymundo, who steadily walked onto the field with his sword sheathed, but his hand still on it as if he was expecting a sneak attack, and two other men who the crew hadn't met yet.

"If it is alright with the other two competitors," said Shane as he lifted his axe up into the air, "I think we'll just sit this one out." The entire stadium gawked at his declaration. "No offense, but these events don't interest me at all as a matter of fact I think I fell asleep during that last one! Besides as a final declaration of war I don't think we have any reason to partake in this event. The other two teams are plenty fired up as is."

Mikoto nodded and strode forward, flashing Shane a thumbs-up sign, thanking him for not getting in their way. In all honesty he felt like they could win against Kraven's crew, but Shane was a different matter. He had this feeling that Shane could win the match all by himself which was why he was using Suzanne and two nameless jokers as the rest of the team…because in terms of destructive potential no one matched Shane. "I think this was destined to be a one-on-one match with Kraven anyways," Mikoto glared over to the opposing captain who simply shrugged. Even if they did lose…it didn't hurt them at all. If anything it was just like a huge obstacle was removed from the finished line. Shane was a bigger problem than Mikoto's team was.

The announcer's voice cut through the air, "then let the final competition of this chaotic Davy Back Fight begin!"

Who Would You Pick?

I'm tired...this arc did not turn out how I was planning. The final events of the Davy Back Fight were impossible to write and I tried! but can you make a tug o' war full of action? Can you make a relay race overly deadly and still exciting every time around? I can't...

Anyways, another one done. Once a week updates are now commencing!