He couldn't believe it!
It took all his self restraint to not crush the soldier until only a stain remained.
"Did he say why?"
The soldier shook his head "No sir, the Admiral simply said they are setting sail now instead of tomorrow...perhaps they received some information from that traitor Shuzu that moved the departure forward."
Hardly...from Shuzu's memories he knew that the ex-Neo-Marine refused to talk even under the the cruelest of tortures the Marines thought of. So why did Kizaru leave...
"Never mind" Mercer turned around and walked back to the archives, but instead reading again on the devil fruits he will do some research on the technologically most advanced countries, his time here had certainly made him curious about all the schizo tech that this world had. To his understanding the reason for this diversity in culture and technological progress was largely to blame on the peculiarity of this world. The seas have done much to isolate the islands and force them to develop independently without trade or exchange of ideas.
His temper cooled down and he started to think about his next step. Actually he didn't really need to go with Kizaru, he already gained the knowledge about Armament Haki so consuming Zephyr was now irrelevant, though there were still the ex-marines Ain and Binz...well there's always next time.
"Excuse me" said a feminine voice from behind him.
Alex turned around and saw a woman with purple hair and round glasses dressed in a white doctors coat. What's with all these weird hair colors?! Is it something in the water?...
"Yes?" he answered staring her in the eyes. It didn't take long for her to start to nervously fidget under his cold gaze.
"Um-aaa, you see. My-my name is doctor Kobato, I was transferred here from G-8 to learn more about war caused psychological effects on soldiers, or more precisely the development of haki through battle trauma-"
Alex almost rolled his eyes at the trivial information she was giving Get to the point already...although in her defense it is a most interesting research topic she is pursuing.
"-so I was hoping that you could tell me where I can find Captain Coby" she finally finished.
Alex rubbed his forehead "You're telling me that Captain Coby developed haki while still being a Captain?" How much time could have been saved If I knew that before. I could have ended this charade a long time ago! Talk about outdated news...
She nodded a smile spreading over her face "Yes, Its fascinating isn't it! If we manage to understand the process perhaps we will find a way to artificially stimulate a person in awakening his Observation Haki!" her eyes sparkled from the possibility. Being able to predict incoming danger was surely a positive thing, the number of people that could avoid danger and death through it would definitively lighten the work and stress of the medical personal.
Mercer on the other hand had a rather different line of thought. Observation Haki...Observation Haki = Mantra = Must have²
A smile spread on his face conveniently hidden behind his vail "No I'm sorry, I haven't seen Captain Coby for some time, but I would be more then happy to look for him."
She shook her head "Oh no, its not necessary, but thank you for the offer."
"Nonsense, I don't really have anything important to do and helping a lady is always a priority" perhaps he was being too...well, slimy, but most of the people here were on the naive side so he would be a fool not to exploit such a weakness.
"Oh no you-" before she could finish the sentence he turned around and went to search for the Marines rising star. He could only smirk as her shyness prevented the doctor from doing anything, it eliminated any need for him to find more excuses to help in the search.
The first place he visited again was the docks, if Captain Coby was here his ship should be docked there. A short talk with the personal there provided him with the most delightful news, yes he was here.
He could always infiltrate the ship and wait until he comes back, but the ship was scheduled to leave in five days and he didn't plan to wait that long when he could hunt down his prey faster.
His first stop was the mess again, but he wasn't there. For the second time since he arrived at the Marine Headquarters did he curse this military maze, the man could be anywhere here.
It was already nighttime when a soldier ran up to him and saluted, caching his breath in stride "C-Captain Shu, I was asked by doctor Kobato to inform you that she managed to find Captain Coby so you can stop your search."
I knew that she would do that he smiled "I searched the whole base, where in hell did she find him?"
The Marine rubbed his head "I think she said something about the metal platforms on top of the base...not sure why there though, its rather isolated, nothing there at all"
Bingo! Shu sighted "Well, thank you for the information, you can go now."
The soldier saluted again and walked away.
Mercer made his way to the top of the base. The soldier wasn't joking about it being isolated, it was a excellent place for seagulls and snipers. You could see the whole base and the surrounding sea from it, and the giant reflector lights made it even more difficult to spot since anyone would be blinded by the light.
When he finally reached the top he could only glare in frustration. So much for that idea...being isolated wasn't the same as being alone. Beside Coby sat Vice-Admiral Garp, not only that but the former Fleet Admiral Sengoku and a blond man were also there.
They didn't even glance at him when he walked past them, too focused on the story about Zephyr to bother with him.
He could attack them now, but there was no point in risking anything by doing something hasty.
So he waited.
It took some time until the humans finished their talk, it was then that Coby revealed that he has to go and meet with the good doctor Kobato.
That was enough for Mercer, thanks to the cover of darkness nobody saw him turn a corner and step of the narrow platform making him fall down like a sack of bricks.
Before Alex impacted the ground he formed a whipfist and grabbed one of the metal cranes to slow down and ultimately halt his fall.
Mercer lightly stepped on the ground and walked out of the shadows leaving none any wiser. He then quickly made his way to the base clinic.
As soon as he entered he saw doctor Kobato writing things at her desk, she looked up and smiled "Ahhh Captain Shu, did you receive my message?"
"Indeed I have, I'm sorry I wasn't more helpful" said Mercer as he approached the doctor.
"Oh no, you helped me a lot, it was thanks to you that one soldier learned that I was looking for him" she smiled.
"I see..." he made one more step closer..and then the door opened behind him.
Did Kuro permanently take my luck or something? raged Alex while turning around and seeing Coby standing on he door.
The pink haired boy nodded "Doctor, Captain Shu. It seems I have a tendency to interrupt you whenever we meet" he said with a smile.
"Indeed" answered Mercer dryly. How in Darwin's name did he arrive so quickly?!
The doctor almost jumped out of her chair when she spotted the Captain. It was a jumble of questions directed at him and a long explanation that obviously went over his head.
Although the topic was indeed of interest to Alex he had more important things to think about, like how to consume the good Captain here.
"Could you wait until I get the dictaphone? I don't want to miss any of the explanation."
He smiled and nodded "Naturally doctor."
And with that she left the room to retrieve her little helper. Mercer could understand that, many scientists preferred to work with them, it helped them to organize and remember every stray thought that shot through their mind.
Coby turned his back to Mercer and went to look outside from the window.
Here is my chance. As the boy watched the sea Alex silently elongated his hands into claws and with a swift slash left long deep cuts on the window...but not on his target.
"What are you doing Captain Shu?!" demanded the boy that was now jumping on the air outside the hospital room.
Damn, can't anything go as planned! Growled Mercer as he also used Geppo to follow his prey outside. His disguise was already useless so might as well get the human.
Coby had barely enough time to use Soru before Shu again slashed at him. It was only thanks to his Observation Haki that he sensed the attack and managed to escape by a millimeter...well almost, he still suffered a long thin cut from the razor like claw.
Coby used Soru again to launch a kick at Shu but he aborted the attack as he sensed danger if he continued with it, so instead he used Geppo to reach the ground.
Coby watched Shu crash to the ground without any injury and crate a large crater that send rock fragments flying everywhere. A experienced Rokushiki user could use Tekkai to protect himself from the projectiles but he wasn't that experienced in it, so again he used his Haki to evade them.
"Hey whats going on here!" shouted a large Marine, behind him more of the soldiers started to gather with their weapons drawn.
What should I say? A misunderstanding? If only I knew why Shu's attacking me...
Mercer didn't care that the emergency supplies arrived so he did what he did best, he rammed his claws in the ground.
Coby sensed the threat but before he could evade the attack entirely one of the ground spikes cut a deep long cut on his left leg.
Mercer smiled at the prone figure of the young Captain with his damaged Quadriceps femoris. He exchanged his claws for his whipfist that he wanted to use on Coby but he had a change of heart, so instead he used it first on the Marines who started to irritate him with all their shouting and shooting.
Coby watched aghast as Shu stretched his arm and cut the group of Marines in half, their blood and entrails falling on the street. He glanced back to Mercer in rage...with a hint of fear.
"WHY?! WHY DID YOU DO THAT!" he shouted, but if his words had any impact on Shu he wasn't sure. The veil hid his face very good, but the cold steel in his eyes showed that it probably was no different for him then stepping on ants.
Mercer launched his whipfist at Coby...but it never reached him.
Between him and his prey appeared a man who deflected the appendage from his trajectory.
"Shu! What are you doing!" hissed Garp "have you completely lost your mind!"
Mercer ignored the old man as he exchanged his whipfist back into claws, not wasting time he used Soru to quickly close the distance between him and the Vice-Admiral and was to his surprise beaten to the first punch by the old man. The hit he received in his gut made him rocket into a wall with such force that he broke through it easily.
Mercer grunted in annoyance after he extracted himself from the rubble. And much to his dismay a bunch of marines quickly carried away his prey.
He returned his focus on Vice-Admiral Garp, the human maybe old and probably much of his strength has since faded to the merciless jaws of time, but he was still a force that he would be wise not to underestimate. Although he couldn't die from the punches they can still reduce his biomass reserves, and if he lost all he would be an easy target for capture.
This hunt spiraled definitely out of control...brute strength alone will not suffice.
Activating his armor form he used Soru to reach the nearest group of Marines. The soldiers were surprised but that soon turned to horror as thin tendrils erupted from him and easily piercing their bodies.
He had barely enough time before Garp smashed in the ground where he stood, a crater leaving the testimony to his pure strength.
But he achieved what he wanted.
The soldiers that he attacked trashed on the ground before their skin started to mutate.
The remaining humans stood horrified as their comrades changed through what happened to be a rather painful process only to leave horrible monstrosities behind.
Mercer didn't even need to give the seven Leader Hunters the command before they dashed of to do his will. There was nothing that will stand before them and their order – to bring the human whose scent they took back to their master.
The soldiers watched the monsters sprint after the retreating group, their roars sending a clear warning to those that dare to stand in their way. But those roars weren't that frightening for the men and women that survived the bloody War of the Best, so they pointed their weapons at the approaching nightmares and-
"FIRE!"
Bullets and swords bounced of the tough hides of the beasts that were once their comrades in arms.
The hunters only registered a threat in their simple minds. Food, enemies...that was what the humans were, so they stopped to tear the brave soldiers apart. Hands and legs were torn from the screaming soldiers only for their flesh to be eaten by the monsters.
After all the soldiers were dead, the Leader Hunters resumed their chase leaving only mutilated corpses behind and a street bathed in human blood and entrails.
But the sacrifice wasn't in vain as the soldiers have bought time not only for Coby's group to retreat but also sound a general alarm.
The Marine Headquarters was being invaded.