Kings of Land and Sea

"Mikoto?" asked Zesiro as the two of them began their trek up the mountain. Mikoto lifted his head and turned to face his faithful crew mate, "are you ready for this?" Zesiro's muscles tightened up and he could feel his blood beginning to race as his eyes drifted upwards and at the large mountain before them. Rosa was up there right now and she was waiting for them to come.

For the most part everybody had come to a heavy stop, only them, Ravenbone, Gan, and Shigoro were left. Apparently few people had ever fought on an equal footing with Shigoro or Ravenbone, so even their crew had had an easy day lately. Nobody was willing to fight when they heard about those two so they left and the ones that didn't were torn apart.

However, as the two of them stepped forward they were met with a group of enemies, holding swords and guns all of them took aim at his opponent. They were the 'losers' of this little tournament. "We were going to become famous by joining up under Victoria, but we were taken out by the bastard Shichibukai and Yonkou crewmate, that's not fair!" they bemoaned their own weaknesses, "and now just because you two didn't lose to them quick enough you've made it this far and people are talking about you! The only reason why you've gotten this far was because you haven't faced us!"

"We have a meeting further up the mountain," explained Mikoto as he nodded forward and up the mountain. "We are going to meet the other two right now. So please just clear out of the way and let us pass on by. Is that okay?"

"No, no!" shouted the pirates, "you have to understand our boat. Rather than kissing up to the Revolutionaries or the Marines we came here to try and convince Victoria to let us join her. Its one of those three in the new world, Marines, Revolutionaries, or a Yonkou! So if we kill you and present your head to either the Revolutionary or Marines we can gain serious foot way, maybe get our bounties wiped so we can live in this new era they are ushering in."

"I suppose we should give you one last chance," Mikoto stated as he stepped forward, a dark aura beginning to coat his arms and legs, a layer of Haki now covering him. He gritted his fangs and prepared himself. He would make sure this fight was short. He tightened his fists and looked towards his swordsman to get his approval. He was less than surprised to see Zesiro doing the same.

Zesiro had brandished his two blades and was walking towards them, a bursting amount of energy and predator instincts seemed to come from him. The pirates who were around him, were shivering in their boots. They knew what was coming and they knew they had to be careful of their opponents. They may not have been strong, but the number advantage would be troublesome.

Or worse they would just tire them out and they would be unable to put forth their best foot against the real trouble, which awaited them higher up on the mountain. Nonetheless Mikoto just shrugged it off. For the time being they would just fight these few morons. Mikoto lifted his arm up and prepared for the fight. Stepping in Mikoto noticed quite a few of the guys flinch. Mikoto and Zesiro smirked and they knew how this would go down.

Zesiro twisted his blade all around into a circle, preparing for a hefty exchange of blows. He was going to attack in a series of flowing slashes if they didn't retreat this instant. And of course, these enemies had no real interest in retreating. They stayed their ground, which was something that was actually admirable, but not right now.

Zesiro's sword stretched out and smiled, "looks like they aren't running away now. Let's just finish them." Zesiro began rapidly spinning his sword and began to approach his next opponents. A few of the men with a bit more guts and skill recognized this instantly that he had shifted into attack mode and they rushed forward, eager to get their cut of his blood.

Of course, they weren't quite prepared for Zesiro's rage. His massive whirlwind of cuts came crashing through the way. They were mad warriors who had no fear. However, this would be their downfall. They were welcome to rush to their death. Zesiro separated his swords and growled menacingly at them. He swept his swords around and tried to bait them. So many of them rushed right at him, all of them making a second fatal mistake.

Mikoto was had closed in behind them instantly. She stepped all the way and launched a powerful spinning kick right at her opponent. He closed in an spun a powerful kick right down the line and at his opponent, a quick powerful kick which zoomed in down the line and at the opponent's head. The opponent was sent flying back, but Mikoto still wasn't done. After ricocheting off of one of their's head he immediately turned around, pivoting around in a quick step and launching another quick kick at his opponent. Mikoto was swift, moving from one enemy to the next. He was like a blur as he temporary dazed all of them with a swift kick to the head.

A few of them were blown back or knocked out with that simple kick, but the ones that were still standing were now enraged, turning around to face him they immediately turned on him. Drawing their guns, they quickly managed to lock onto Mikoto showing off that they had decent skills at the very least.

"You're looking in the wrong direction," Zesiro stated as he lowered himself down behind them and let his aura burst forward, a strong stench of his predator instincts overcame them all instantly. A few of them let their guns dropped, sensing the fight was over in that instant. But that didn't stop Zesiro.

Streaming forward with all the force of a crashing waterfall Zesiro surged forward, weaving in-between them and letting his swords speak for themselves as they began to mow through the groups, blood now clinging to his blades. Zesiro appeared on the other side of the group. His twin blades held confidently within his hands as he turned around and smirked at the group. "Your gaze should be transfixed down cause your headed six-feet under."

The men who had challenged them began to fall like dominos, a cascade of dead bodies hit the floor creating an echoing thud, that didn't seem to phaze Mikoto or Zesiro as they turned on the others. They could see the wavering confidence in the eyes of the next wave. The two of them didn't have the time to let them take a deep breath and decide to keep fighting.

"Roar of the Earthquake," Mikoto stated as he dashed to the other side of the group, immediately flinging several of them aside as he stomped his foot down. The pirates in-between them took a deep breath as they all pivoted around to face one or the other.

"Clash of the Tsunami!" Zesiro rushed forward and into the mess, his two swords seeming to extend to envelope the entire group as he brought them arcing through again and again, creating a hornet's nest of sword slices, throwing the entire group into one fine point in the center of the two.

Meanwhile Mikoto was rapidly moving between them all, his own speed managing to account for his own short range and throwing the group of them into the center as well with a flurry of punches and kicks, although none of the pirates amongst that group could see what was going on. They probably only felt the punches dig into their skin and blow them back.

All of the pirates were finally focused into the center. Mikoto flipped backwards, cutting down and saw that Zesiro had perfectly matched up to him. The two of them immediately set their foot down, full of conviction, the ball of beaten pirates within both of their range. "Kings of the Land and Sea!"

The entire smashed together group of pirates were thrown in the air, the combined power of Mikoto and Zesiro sent them spiraling upwards, spinning faster and faster as they soared into the air. The group of pirates spun through the air for a few seconds before they finally landed, raining down upon them. Mikoto tilted his head to the side, smiling widely as he turned around to face Zesiro. There was nothing more satisfying to either one of them then taking down a group of pirates that didn't know their place. However, a look up the mountain confirmed their knowledge that this kind of fight wouldn't be repeating itself down the line. Their next opponents may actually feel that way right back about them. As a matter of fact it seemed like one of them had actually come down to meet them.

Shigoro smiled at the two of them and walked down towards them. Mikoto stepped forward and kept on walking. He walked right past Shigoro, causing the large brute to turn around and watch Mikoto as he passed him by. Shigoro's eyes fell upon Mikoto as he walked.

"What's the matter, captain?" asked Shigoro eyeing up Mikoto as he just ignored him and walked right on past. A single lift of his eyebrow definitely signaled his intrigue in Mikoto's actions. However, Mikoto didn't pay him much heed causing Shigoro's ire to rise. "Are you really planning on just ignoring me?"

"Your beef is with the shark behind me," Mikoto stated, "besides I got my own appointment I've got to handle."

Shigoro chuckled, "I've handled that shark several times already. Perhaps a little bit of fresh meat would soothe me." Shigoro stepped forward, but instantly froze to his spot as a new smile spread across his face.

It happened within a second. Shigoro felt the chills of a demon spread across his entire body, he was ready for it. And now he knew his opponent wasn't messing around. This was the kind of pure bloodlust only true monsters could ever generate. For awhile Shigoro had thought it was lacking from the entire crew of the Infinity Pirates, but now...now Shigoro felt confident that at least Zesiro had it.

In an instant Zesiro had drawn both of his swords and leapt into the air, his two swords narrowing in on his opponent quickly. They were already midway through their arcs like twin vicious tidal waves that had zoomed in on his opponent and were ready to draw blood.

Shigoro planted one foot and pivoted around, sending all of his muscles spinning like a top until he was face-to-face with Zesiro. However, at this point it had already grown too late. Zesiro's swords were already within inches of striking their target. One aimed high enough to slash both of his eyes, while the other lower and capable of completely taking his head off. They were well-placed sword slashes, especially given the heat of the moment and the fact that Zesiro had gone practically from 0 to 60 in a matter of moments.

Of course, perhaps a lesser being would accuse Zesiro of taking advantage of the fact that Shigoro wasn't paying him any attention and was instead talking to Mikoto when Zesiro attacked, but Shigoro had accepted that this was his own fault. The instant two predator's let their eyes meet the fight started. It was Shigoro who let his guard down mid-fight to talk to Mikoto, not Zesiro who attacked before the fight started.

Not that it mattered anyways. Shigoro would crush Zesiro all the same.

Circling Sharks