Chapter 7 - Lava
As they ran through the island to get to the other side, Zoro couldn't help but notice how Rei's grip never loosened or tightened through the entire trip. She never wavered while on his back. He also noticed her hands did not have the same softness of a child's hand. It felt rough and calloused. He wasn't surprised as Rei had started to fight at the same age he had started his own training. His curiosity got the better of him. "Oy, Know it All, what was it like training in the academy?"
"What do you mean?" Rei asked, "It was training."
"Tch. You know what I mean...Did the others give you a hard time?"
"They tried," Rei answered, "When I first arrived, I was a few years younger than the rest of them so they assumed I was weak."
"So what did you do?"
"I ignored them, of course."
"Did that stop them from harassing you?"
"No. By the end of my first year, I was already at the top of my class and also managed to injure a teacher in the process. That's what made them stop."
"You injured a teacher?!"
"We were learning hand to hand combat. I threw a punch as instructed and it broke his hand. To be fair, it's mostly because he didn't expect me to punch that hard."
Zoro smiled in appreciation. "Yeah, I broke a guy's arm once with a kendo stick. Not my sensei but one of the older guys who was three times my size. He tried to take it easy on me, thinking he needed to, but...never again."
A sudden explosion at the top of the volcano interrupted their conversation. A bright, blinding light blasted out and large chunks of rock began to fall down. Lava began to follow too.
"The volcano erupted?!" Usopp shouted.
"That's not a normal volcano eruption," Rei said, with widened eyes, "Z must have blown it up." The image of the marine's volcanic ash covered shoe crossed her mind and then she remembered the volcanic ash that floated down on the Thousand Sunny after their cherry blossom festivities. "It can't be…"
She had said it under her breath but Zoro heard her as they ran along. "What is it, Know It All?"
Rei leaned over Zoro's shoulder so she could get a better look of the volcano. She didn't notice that they were practically cheek to cheek but Zoro was very much aware of it. "There was a theory that there are magma concentrations in the New World called the End Point underneath three volcanic islands. If you unleash the magma under all three of the islands, you would be able to destroy the entire New World," Rei murmured to him.
The sky was now consumed with volcanic ash and it blocked the sun. A dark shadow casted over the entire island and the only source of light was the flaming lava pouring out of the volcano. The group dodged and weaved around the descending rocks and lava. Zoro gritted his teeth and tightened his hold on his passenger. "But it's just a theory?" he asked.
"The reports from the World Government said to have proven it to be false...but…" Rei's voice trailed off.
"But the government lies," Zoro finished for her.
She nodded. "En. Even if it isn't true, Z definitely believes it is." She closed her eyes and used her Observational Haki.
"A huge group of people are on the top left of the mountain," she said softly to Zoro, "It's at least 50 people and Z is among them."
Zoro was incredulous. "You could sense them from here? With that much accuracy?!"
Rei shrugged. "You'd probably be able to do it too if you started training your Haki early on."
"Oy, guys!" Zoro shouted out to the rest of the group, "They're at the top left!"
"Shut up, Morimo!" Sanji snapped, "I'm not trusting your directions and there's no way you can sense them already from here. Even I can't feel anything yet!"
Zoro glared at the cook, "The Know It All felt it. Not me."
"They're near the top towards the left of that crevice!" Rei added.
"You hear that guys? We're going to the top left," Sanji barked to the group.
"What's up with your change of attitude?!" Zoro snarled through gritted teeth.
Sanji lost his serious demeanor and gave Rei a warm smile, "Rei-chan, you're Observational Haki is as strong as you are cute."
"Compliment me again and I'll kill you!" Rei instinctively retorted. She tried to leap over Zoro's shoulder at Sanji but Zoro caught her in mid air.
"Oy! Know It All, as much as I'd like to help you beat up the shitty cook-"
"Watch your mouth, you stupid seaweed!"
"Now is not the time," Zoro finished, ignoring Sanji. He now had to run with Rei at his front so he hoisted her up so that she sat on his shoulder and he put an arm around her leg to anchor her down. She put a hand around his right shoulder, near the base of his neck for support.
Rei took a calming breath and looked over at the cook, who was running directly in front of them. "I'm sorry, Sanji. It was a force of habit."
"I know, Rei-chan. Sometimes a lady can't help herself," Sanji replied.
"Yeah, especially around him," Zoro quipped, "They can't help but be repulsed and angered by the Ero-Cook. He brings it out of them naturally."
"I don't see any lady treating you nicely either, you shitty swordsman!" Sanji barked back.
"Guys, now is not the time!" Usopp shouted, cutting in between the two before Zoro could draw his sword and Sanji could do a swift kick back.
Luffy had stayed uncharacteristically quiet during the whole journey and Rei watched her captain. Something had happened between him and Z. This fight between him and Z was more than just about avenging the crew and the Thousand Sunny. It was something more. Rei had seen that look on other people's faces before. Her mind flashed to the memory of Ain and the glare in her red eyes when Rei had questioned her reason to train at the academy. Luffy had that same look but it was even more severe than Ain's. He wasn't defending anything at this point. He was trying to prove something to Z.
"Captain," Rei called out to him, "King Tannenbay once chipped my daggers using his Armament Haki before. I had to send it back to the World Government's scientists for repairs."
"Why are you telling him this, Know It All?" Zoro asked.
Rei kept her attention on Luffy. "Sea Prism Stone might weaken a Devil Fruit User but it is not indestructible. It can be broken with enough force."
"Ah," Luffy finally said.
They ran up a ridge and when they got over the top, they saw Z with his men at the bottom. Ain and the vine guy were standing nearby. Rei hurriedly climbed to the back of Zoro, like a little squirrel. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
"Hang on, Know It All," he growled. He felt her nod against his back and he let go of her so that he could reach for his swords. For a brief second, Zoro felt the absolute trust Rei had in him. He felt oddly comforted and worried at the same time but then he shook off the feeling and leapt off the ridge with Sanji, Luffy, and Usopp.
"Gomu Gomu no…." Luffy yelled. He extended his arm back and let it twirl around at a vicious pace. "Rifle!"
He shot the arm forward towards Z. With a grin, the purple haired man blocked Luffy's punch with his mechanical arm. "What are you doing here, you pirate brats?"
Luffy landed at the bottom, where the rest of the Straw Hats were waiting. Sanji was lighting a new cigarette but he quickly turned his attention to Z. "Who are you calling a brat?! If you keep talking I'll kill you, old geezer!"
"Old man!" Luffy demanded, "Return my friends back to normal!"
"Ain! Binz!" Z ordered.
"Yes sir!" they responded as they rushed past their master and towards the Straw Hats.
"Let's go, Know It All," Zoro growled as he ran forward, his eyes locked onto the blue haired woman.
"Damn that morimo...Going ahead like that…" Sanji huffed. He placed his cigarette between his lips and then went after Binz.
"Right, I don't even need to fight. Go on, guys!" Usopp cheered from behind.
Ain pulled out her two daggers. Her and Zoro clashed their blades, blocking each other's attacks. "Rei-senpai, just because I showed mercy on your ship doesn't mean I'll do it again," Ain said as her and Zoro pushed against each other's weapons.
"What happened to you, Ain? You said you wanted to help people and now you're putting civilians in danger!" Rei demanded.
"I am willing to die for Master Z's ideals," Ain retorted as she jumped back to create some distance between her and Zoro. "In the long run, once all the pirates are destroyed, everyone's lives will be better."
Ain ran forward and launched another blade attack on Zoro. "What about you?" she accused Rei, "The last time I heard you were a Commander for the Beffi Army. How could you turn your back on King Tannenbay and become a pirate?"
"I didn't turn my back on him. He supported my decision," Rei said.
"Lies!" Ain shouted, refusing to believe Rei, "You were my role model! You were so strong and you did so much good on the island. And now...you've become a dirty pirate?!"
"I take baths," Rei responded.
"Oy, that's not what she meant," Zoro said between clenched teeth as he blocked another one of Ain's blades. Suddenly, Ain skidded to the side and came from behind the swordsman. "Shit!"
Slice!
With a slash of her sword, Zoro took the cut from Ain's blade that was intended for Rei. It cut shallowly across his chest but he didn't even flinch.
"Zoro!" Rei shouted but he didn't respond.
"Since when did the great legend of Beffi Island need protection?" Ain taunted.
"Idiot, don't let this get to your head. I'm not doing this to protect you," Zoro said to Rei, "A cut on a swordsman's back is a sign of shame. It was a natural reaction that's all."
A glint of light caught Rei's eyes. Light had reflected from a small bottle, lodged into the ground. Rei narrowed her eyes and saw that the bottle was holding a pink fluid with something solid floating inside. Rei gasped.
"Dyna Stones?" Rei shouted at Ain, "You guys stole the Dyna Stones?!"
Suddenly a sound of a gunshot pierced the air. Rei focused her Haki towards that direction and she could feel someone's presence grow dimmer near a dark energy that she recognized as Z's.
"Luffy!" she cried as she jumped off of Zoro's back and ran towards her captain.
"Oy, Know It All," Zoro said but he was unable to stop her since he had his hands full with Ain.
Rei ran up and over the ridges of the mountain in time to see her captain knelt on the ground, clutching his shoulder. His Straw Hat was off his head and laid in front of him on the ground.
They were still pretty far away but Rei could see Z pick up the Straw Hat. He said something but it was a low mutter. Rei couldn't hear what he said to Luffy but she heard Luffy's response as Z walked away with hat in hand. "Give it back!" Luffy screamed, "Shanks gave me that hat to take care of it."
The mention of her uncle made Rei quicken her pace. Luffy also ran after Z. "I promised I would find him and give him that hat back!"
That seemed to struck a nerve with Z and he whirled around. "The one who dragged you into this pirate business was Shanks, the redhead?!" Z shouted, "His sins are also deep."
Luffy lunged towards Z and reached for his hat. "Give it back!"
Z swung his metal arm and grabbed the rubber man. He held him tightly in his fist and lifted him high in the air. "Don't you worry," he said, "When my plan, the Grande Imbuto, gets completed, he will have the same fate as you. Those fools who call themselve the Four Emperors will all die without being able to do anything...without even knowing my plan."
"Don't mock Shanks!" Luffy seethed as he struggled against Z's grip.
"DON'T THREATEN MY FAMILY!" Rei screamed as she jumped high in the air and punched Z across the face, breaking his sunglasses.
"Ugggh," Z groaned as his face whipped to the side. HIs body was unmoving though and his head quickly shot back. He glared down at Rei and he gave a sinister smile, "Red hair, eh?"
With Luffy still in his hand, he swung his mechanical arm to the side. Rei dodged the attack and ran over to Z's other side.
"I heard a rumor that the red haired pirate had a sister and that she might've had a child with Ol' Seabird," he grinned, "Don't tell me that's you…"
He readied his arm and he swept it across in an attempt to knock Rei but she was ready for him. She leapt into the air and landed delicately on his elbow and ran up his arm towards Luffy, who was noticeably weakened with a gunshot wound in his shoulder. She threw an arm around his neck. "Linked Haki!"
"Luffy! Rei!" Usopp's voice called from the distance as Luffy and Rei slid down the side of the volcano, landing at a small plateau.
Rei sat up to vomit out the excess blood and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She looked down and saw that Luffy was unconscious next to her.
"Idiot! What were you thinking?!" Zoro barked as he, Usopp and Sanji approached them.
Usopp hoisted Luffy onto his back and Sanji immediately picked up Rei. He carried her in his arms and he looked down at her chest, which showed no signs of blood. "Chopper must've taken extra precaution this time," he observed.
"Stop staring at her chest, you pervert," Zoro snapped.
"What kind of monster do you think I am?!" Sanji shot back, "And you were looking too! Don't deny it."
The sounds of the volcano erupting again brought all of their attention back. "There's nothing we can do to stop that," Zoro said, "We need to run."
"Let's go," Sanji said as he sprinted forward.
They ran through down the mountain and through the town as the hot gas and rock trailed behind them. It was coming at them at breakneck speed. It wouldn't be long before it could overtake them.
"Gah," Sanji said, while balancing his cigarette on his lips, "How fast is that speed anyways?"
"The pyroclastic flow of a volcano can go up to 100 km an hour," Rei stated, "And an average human can only run less than a third of that."
"You're not helping, Know It All!" Zoro snapped.
"Oh! We're going downhill! I know," Usopp said as he raised his slingshot, "Sure Kill, Midori Boshi: Boaty Banana!"
The pop green exploded in front of them and turned into a giant banana with the inside hollowed out, like a canoe. "Jump in!" Usopp cried and they all climbed aboard as the boat slid down.
"We need more speed!" Sanji shouted.
"It has no engine. It's just a boat! I can't control it!" Usopp cried.
Rei leapt out of Sanji's arm and faced the back of the banana.
"Rei-chan, what are you…" Sanji started to say but Rei was deep in concentration. She rubbed her hands together and then extended her arms out.
"Wing Wind Clap!" she shouted as she clapped together with an extreme force.
A shockwave sent out around them and it launched the boat forward. It knocked Rei backwards into the boat but Zoro caught her wrist midair just in time.
"It's not as strong as my dad's," Rei said apologetically as he pulled her in and had her sit in his lap for safety, "But it does give us a boost."
"Look out!" Usopp cried and they crashed into a building. The boat turned upside down, dumping its passengers onto the ground. Zoro had his arm wrapped tightly across Rei's chest as they fell, lessening the impact for her fall.
They scrambled to their feet but the hot gas and rocks were closing in on them.
"We're not going to make it!" Usopp screamed.
Rei's attention wasn't on the incoming lava, though. She felt a presence of someone she did not expect to be on this island and that someone was standing off to the side but dangerously close to the lava, as if he was waiting for it. Suddenly, a wall of ice appeared in front of them. The avalanche of volcanic debris began to turn into ice as well, freezing it in its spot. The island went silent as it got encased in ice.
"This is…" Rei said.
"Ah," Sanji replied, dusting off his pant legs and relighting a cigarette, "We ran into Aokiji earlier at the hot springs."
"Aokiji is here?!" Usopp shrieked, almost dropping Luffy from his back.
"Guys, this is not the time to admire his handiwork," Zoro said as he pushed Usopp forward, "Let's go! Nami and them are waiting for us!"