Animals Confront! Wax Problems!
Seth was sweating. He cannot deny that, but some may mistake it for fear. Cautious he was, as well, his lips twitched slightly up in a bit of excitement.
Standing in front of him was a lion, twice the size of the dead tiger they found. It was a beautiful creature for the eyes of an explorer or a hunter. Its skin was pale white, so white it looked like snow. Its eyes were like the sun; bright and intense. It's Royal purple fur was majestic, like a living purple flame.
The creature in front of him is a rare one, and little has someone had the opportunity to see and live to tell.
"A Nemean Lion." Seth breathed out as he began to take his black tunic off. ('A lion strong enough to tank a cannonball to the face, and tear through gold with only a bite.')
"Grrrrrr~" the animal growled as it was glaring through his sunlight eyes at Seth, never losing sight of him.
"To think I would see one...and by the looks of it, it wants to fight me," Seth mumbles out, seeing the predatory stare of the beast. "Don't know if I should be afraid or proud." He threw the tunic away, followed by throwing his boots as well. "The law of the jungle, I believe. The strong must fight for dominance over a territory."
What is going on here is very simple; this Nemean Lion lives in this jungle, aka his territory. He smelled another strong beast entering it without permission, and as the Alpha of the place, it must drive off the intruder by any means necessary...including killing.
"Grrrrrrr…" the Nemean Lion growled more as it began to scratch the ground, ready to pound.
"I didn't think I would land on your territory, so this is partly my fault." Seth's hair began to extend, his lion ears coming out, his body changing to its auburn color hair, his arms turning into paws and his eyes changing into ones of a dragon. "But, I'll be a moron if I let this opportunity slide off." He dropped down to his four limbs, a predatory smile on his face. "Fine...I, the Battle Cat and member of the Straw Hat Pirates, accept your challenge!"
Without waiting, the Nemean Lion was already in front of the auburn-haired boy's face. It's mouth open and ready to bite. Seth quickly acts with his hands, stopping the jaw from closing down. With his strength, he picked the animal up in the air and threw him in the air. The NL spun in the air, positioning itself to land on the ground safely, and pound forward once again. This time, Seth jumped out of the way as the beast descended where he once stood. Using his rolling technique, he attacks the side of NL.
It connected, but the animal was unmoved.
('What? It didn't work?') Seth got taken off guard that one of his best attacks barely hurt it. His instincts yelled at him quickly to dodge, and he did as the NL jaw almost bit him. It was so hard; a metal-like sound came out.
The Straw Hat Beast stabs his claws on the ground to stop his sliding. ('Unbelievable...I knew that my attacks wouldn't do much, but it didn't flinch.') he charged once again, planting his fist on the center of the animal's face, but it merely growled at it. ('I guess in the Grand Line, anything can happen.')
"Growl!" The Nemean Lion roared hard, sending Seth flying back in the air, and that was a moment the beast took as it leaped in the air. The auburn-haired lion was a little too late to completely dodge a claw swipe, which slashes his left arm, leaving a decent cut and letting the blood ooze out. Clenching his teeth hard, Seth rolled on the floor and burst through the bushes, hiding for a few moments.
('Okay! Not having those things close!') he thought as he held his bleeding arm, letting his wound heal up. ('I almost felt my bones tremble! How am I supposed to take it down if I barely can hurt it!?') his instincts flared up as he rolled away, the bushes got smashed into small broken leaves by two big paws.
Seth quickly recovered and glared at the Nemean Lion as it removed his paw off the now dead bush. From there, the beast glared back at him, but instead of charging, it began to move slowly on the side, those sun-like pupils were eyeing him, like a predator stalking its prey while analyzing in any sudden move.
"This beast is not like that lion on Orange Town," Seth mumbled to himself. The NL wasn't like that lion that beast tamer had in control. It was faster, powerful, and better at fighting. "This will be the second time I fight a beast of this level…" Even with that disadvantage, that battle addicted smile was getting to him. "I guess you can only find this kind of strength in the Grand Line...Even more when I come, victorious!"
Boom!
The volcano erupted for the second time, and that was the continuation of the battle between Man-Beast and Beast.
(Meanwhile)
*Thud*Thud*Thud*Thud*
"Get me out of here!" Luffy yelled as he was punching the bone head of a deceased Sea King, which was on top of him and was pinning him down. "You can't go like that! You got hurt before a match! That's not fair!"
The one he was yelling at was Dorry. He stood tall with his weapon ready; however, blood was dripping down his lips, even more, when he coughs. "Sorry, young human. I cannot stop. I am a Warrior of Elbaf, swore to fight each time the volcano erupted." The giant cleaned the blood off his lips, "Even while injured. I must go...my Honor is all I have."
"Are you serious?! You can't even stand right!" Vivi yelled out while staring at the legs of the Giant, which were trembling.
"This was a judgement...the God of Elbaf doesn't protect me anymore." Dorry began to walk away. "I'm sorry for suspecting you...Someone who respects our battle wouldn't sabotage me with that rum."
"FORGET THAT! SOMEONE IS TRYING TO INTERRUPT YOUR FIGHT! THIS ISN'T FAIR!" Luffy screams of anger were nothing for the giant, who was now away. "Grrrr! Get me out of here!" He returned to try getting out of his prison.
('I don't understand.') With all this, the Princess of Alabasta could only stare in confusion. ('They just met...why does he care that his fight has been interrupted? Is not even of his concern!') Was this how pirates should act? If so, do the others work like that as well? "H-Hey, Miss Nojiko-" she turned to speak to the Second Navigator of the crew but didn't find her in her usual spot. "Eh? What the-Where did she go?" She asked and noticed the lack of people. "Oh, no...Mister Luffy!"
"What?!"
"The others are gone!" The Straw Hat captain stopped his attempts to get out to search for his crew, and sure enough, they were missing Seth, Nojiko, and the duck.
"AHHHH! SOMEONE KIDNAPPED MY CREW! I'M GONNA KILL WHOEVER DID THAT!"
"Seth! Where are you, boy?!" What those two didn't know was that the blue-haired woman had stood up and walked away, searching for her favorite beast. "That moron, why did he have to disappear, I can't even track him anymore." She complains while staring at the ground, looking at faded footsteps.
Her experience of tracking is little since she tracked down some thieves and animals that try to take away from their tangerine horde. What's the difference here? She was looking for a five-inch human with animal traits that can disappear in an instant.
She continued to search around until she saw a figure standing under a tree. "Hmm?" It was a bit dark for her to see, so she went close to look at it. Color her surprise when she saw Nami on it, "Nami? What are you doing here?" She asked her.
But the Navigator didn't say a word.
('Weird. The girl always answers my calls.') That was a bit strange for Nojiko as she walked closer to Nami. "Hello? Sis? You there?" She tried to catch her attention, but the girl wouldn't look at her.
In fact, she didn't move at all.
On pure instincts, Nojiko's body rolls out of the way as 'Nami' bursts into a white substance. "What the hell?!" The blue-haired woman didn't even know what the heck happened as she stared in shock at the white substance that appeared out of 'Nami.' "What is that?!" In her state, she felt her body scream 'dodge!' and she did as a part of the white substance shot to her right shoulder. "Okay! Running now!" And she left, running as fast as her legs could take her...That didn't happen as the white stuff caught her legs, tripping her in the process. She turns back in fear, and then, darkness consumes her view.
"Eh? Where the hell is Merry station?" Zoro asked nobody. He was lost, of course.
"I AM NOT LOST!" Whatever you say...It has been like an hour and a half, and he caught himself a big lizard (T-Rex) through his hunt. More prominent than whatever that shitty cook would capture. Now he just needs to find the ship and shove it into Sanji's face.
He continues to pull the dead animal with all his strength when he caught sight of a familiar auburn-haired resting against a tree. "Oy, Seth! Good to see you!" He walks up to him, "Hey, you know where the ship is? I have been looking for it for almost-" Whatever he wanted to say was shut by the white substance that captured Nojiko before swallowing him up.
"What the hell, you guys?!" Nami screamed at the top of her lungs.
She and the other three were heading back to the ship, which resulted in getting lost on the way to get attacked by dinosaurs, or better said, that the long nose moron left them in the dust in fear, which resulted in her being separated.
"I swear, when I get Usopp in my hands, I'll make sure that his nose is useful in another way!" She was livid! Isn't his dream to become a brave warrior of the sea?! Why would he leave a defenseless woman alone?!
"This is so unfair! Why did Seth have to go with Luffy?" Comical tears fell through her cheeks as she walked through the forest.
Then, in the corner of her eyes, she saw a familiar person and instantly smiled, "Nojiko! I'm so glad to see you!" The figure of her sister was resting against a tree, smiling at her. "Did you-" Her relief turned into horror when a white substance shot forward and then...nothing.
...
..
.
"What is going on with those two? Running away like that." Gin asked in annoyance as he and Alvida were walking through the jungle.
"I knew that they were scary cats, but this is a bit insulting." Alvida huffed. "How is that long nose boy going to be a warrior if he runs from every fight he sees?"
"Well...There are some fights he can't win with that weak body of his, so we can at least give him that excuse." Gin points out.
"Right, right." Alvida rolled her eyes as she saw the Going Merry. "Look, there's the boat."
Once the two of them reached the boat, they got welcomed by Sanji, dragging a…
"Sanji, what the hell is that?" Gin looked with widened eyes at the Triceratops that the blond cook was pulling.
"Hm? Oh, Gin! Alvida-swan!" Sanji waved at them, heart-eyes at seeing the Iron Mace pirate. "What you think, eh? Caught me a huge one, probably bigger than whatever that moss-head brings back."
"Right, just make sure you cut enough for the trip. Our captain is way too ravening." Alvida reminds the two of them of Luffy's hunger.
"Add Seth and me, and we might need to triple it." Gin embarrassing answer. After suffering days without food and hearing what Sanji said of those who hunger, food became like a blessing to him.
"Yes, of course." Sanji agreed as he slumped the animal on the ground. "Why did you guys leave the boat anyway? And Usopp and Nami?" he asked.
"Who knows." Gin non-casually answered as he was going to get on the Merry until his eyes landed on the ground.
"What do you mean you don't know? Sanji glared at him. If something happens to Nami, he'll-
"Hey, Sanji." Without looking away, Gin spoke. The tone of seriousness caught the attention of the other two. "Did you see anyone on your way here?"
"No...Why?"
The Demon-Man simply kneels to the ground, making Alvida and Sanji walk to him and look over his shoulder.
Footsteps. Footsteps were coming in and out of the Going Merry.
"Then, whose footsteps are these?" Gin asked as he touched the soil and inspected the dirt.
"We were the last one to leave, right?" Avida asked before kneeling next to Gin. "These don't look like one of us."
"No. These steps belong to someone with a bootlace." Gin confirmed. "The only ones who wear boots are Seth, Usopp, Zoro, and me."
"But Seth is with the captain and the princess." The Iron Mace pirate was feeling a bit worried, "And we were just with Usopp not too long ago."
"It can't be Zoro, that moron has a horrible sense of direction." Sanji glared at the forest, "Which means...We are not alone on this island."
"We weren't alone in the first place. Two giants inhabit this island." Gin told the cook.
"...Giants?" Sanji looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "The hell are you talking about?"
"...Of course, you don't know yet." Alvida let a sigh out.
"Please forgive me for my lack of knowledge, my lady!" Sanji went to his love-mode, causing several sweat drops to fall. "You may stomp on me if it'll make you feel better!"
"Oh god, are you a masochist?" Gin was horrified at the thought. "Anyway, we need to find the others! For all we know, these guys could work with Crocodile!" With that said, the three pirates enter the forest, intending to find the others before something wrong happens.
…
..
.
SLASH! CRASH!
"Guh!"
The sound of a body smashing against a tree echoes the area, along with the tear of flesh ripping out and blood gushing out.
Seth tumbles through the ground before jumping to four limbs and running. The Nemean Lion in hot pursuit of his tail (Pun intended).
Seth clicks his tongue as he jumps into a tree before flying over the running lion, making it crash against the tree, and breaks it. However, it did little to stop it as the Nemean Lion was already turning around and running with his jaw open.
The auburn-haired pirate quickly placed his hands forward, stopping the clamping jaws that were going to bite his head off. Positioning and putting strength on his legs, Seth threw the lion over him, sending him spinning through the air where it, surprisingly, maneuvered to land on the ground on its leg.
However, Seth was already and used his Beast Barrage on the lion, his punches hitting the animal's face. While it staggered him a bit, the animal pushed through the attack and sent for a bite, forcing the auburn-haired pirate to stop and evade it, the sharp teeth closing sharpened like swords. Seth quickly spun around and delivered a roundhouse kick to the cheek. But like his previous attack, it did little to the beast, which resulted in a massive paw to smash into him.
*Crick*
Bones cracking a tiny bit was what Seth heard before tumbling through the hard soil, his back scraping. He jumps to his feet quickly and charges at his opponent again, this time using his Max Speed to appear right in front of him, followed by using Linryuken on his chin.
*Crack*
Now that was the kind of bone-crushing sound that he wanted to hear...now, if only it would have come from the Nemean Lion.
('How fucking hard are those bones?!') Seth screamed in his head as he rolled into a ball and spun through the legs of the NL, making him panic for a moment as a cloud of dust disoriented it.
Seth took this chance to hide behind the trees. ('That was as hard as metal!') He focuses his regeneration on his arm, feeling his bones stopping vibrating. He peeks out a bit to see the Nemean Lion recovering and re-organizing his senses. "I'm going to need to do something about that. I still had problems bending metal with my strength." He mumbled to himself.
At the rate this was going, the Nemean Lion would probably catch up to his speed and gut him into pieces, and no kind of regeneration would save him that quickly.
('Heh.') Seth found himself laughing for a moment at that, ('Nami and Nojiko would probably kill me if they saw me like that.') He promised not to die, and no amount of gold will make them forgive him.
No creature can genuinely beat the anger of a woman in love.
('But what can I do?') He moved his arm around, having healed enough to continue fighting. ('If only I had something to hurt it other than my fist-') Wait...Another way to hurt it! Seth's eyes widened as he remembered something.
This situation...isn't it perfect?!
"I should try that move here!" His outburst caught the attention of the Nemean Lion, who was already at the tree he was hiding.
Hearing him coming, Seth rolled away as the lion bit off the tree into pieces. Turning into his ball form, he charged at the NL and used his Beast Roll several times, homing attacking as much as he could. The lion growled in annoyance before blocking one of the pounds with his paw, sending the reddish-yellow blur bouncing away.
('Not yet.') Seth gritted his teeth as he stopped spinning and came to a halt. ('Speed.') His hands dug into the dirt as more fur began to grow from his arms. ('I need more speed!')
When he looked forward, the Nemean Lion was rapidly approaching him, its sharp fangs, somehow, making tiny sparks of fire. Acting fast, he slammed both of his palms forward, catching two of the teeth, intending to stop him on the tracks. It ended with him getting pushed by the Nemean Lion, his boots digging on the ground and leaving a trail of dirt.
Seth could feel the animal inside him groaning as he put his strength on his legs, beginning to slow the NL momentum. With his red eyes glowing in anger, he threw himself toward the NL right eye with his right hand coming in a slashing movement.
The scream of a wounded animal echoed through the forest.
*SLASH!*
In another part of the island, there was another battle...having reached its conclusion.
*THUD*
The body of Dorry, a proud warrior of Elbast, collapsed in the ground, a bloody gash around his chest. His eyes rolled to the back of his face, and his breathing became silent. His mighty sword, the weapon that has brought him victory for years, lies a few fingers away from his unmoving hand.
In front of the fallen warrior was Broggy. Breathing heavily as his hand began to lose grip of his ax. "73,467 battles…" He began to whisper as his shaft fell, and his body began to shake. "73,466 draws…" Water began to fall to the ground as the camera looked at the face of the giant, showing that he was crying. "And...one...victory…!"
From the viewer's perspective, you would think he was crying in joy. To have come victorious from over 100-year battle.
But you are dead wrong.
He was not happy, but rather sad. Because his opponent was more than a warrior with honor...it was his best friend! How can he find joy...in taking the life of his friend in a battle for their honor?
"Well done, Mister Broggy!"
However, someone else did find joy from it.
Broggy snaps his head to the left with an angry expression, seeing the boss and the little girl that was bossing the Mr. 5 duo walking up to him, the man clapping his hands while the little girl was munching on a cracker. "Congratulations on your victory!
"Who...are you?" Broggy asked, trying to ignore that tone of mockery coming out of that mouth.
"Ah, of course. How could I forget?" The man did a quick bow for him, "You can call me Mr. 3, and my partner behind me is Mrs. Golden Week." His glasses shine, and his smile turns evil. "And we...are bounty hunters."
Before he knew, Broggy felt something clamp his feet. His balance got stolen away, and he fell forward. The moment his hands touch the ground, a well-known white substance wraps itself around the giant's hand, gluing it into the soil like massive rocks. "W-What is this?!" The giant asked as he tried to get out of the handcuff rock.
"Don't try it." Mr. 3 said as he appeared in front of the giant with a satisfying smirk. "I ate the Wax-Wax fruit and became a Wax man. My Candle Jack is slightly stronger than a rock so that they won't be coming off anytime soon." From his hand, the white substance began to drop, big piles of drops. "Is perfect for someone who is only all muscle and no brain. Isn't that right, Broggy, the Red Giant?" Broggy's eyes widened in disbelief at hearing that name, "Ahaha! Come on now. You truly didn't think anybody would remember you and Dorry the Blue Giant, right? The two captains of the Giant Pirates that terrorized the seas years ago? Your bounties are still available for the Navy. But there's no way I could be able to defeat the two of you by my hands, so when I saw that you two were fighting...I took the opportunity."
"W-What are you-?" The giant felt a dread coming up.
"I meant...that you won because of me," Mr. 3 revealed as he took a cup of coffee and drink from it, "After all, you never noticed that your dear rival got injured from the beginning."
Broggy could feel despair. Through the fight, he noticed that Dorry was acting slow. And the way he had talked about the alcohol he drank was...off.
"So, how does it feel? To know that you won because your friend was in constant pain all the time?" Why did Mr. 3 ask that? Probably to enjoy the despair even more, perhaps.
"...You puny human," To the well-dressed man's amusement, Broggy gritted his teeth in composed anger, "Even if...I didn't know...We would still fight!" Tears began to fall, his emotions going out of control, "We are proud warriors of Elbaf! Someone like you would never understand our honor!"
"Not like I want to," Mr. 3 wave of his words like nothing. Pure evil, indeed, he is. "Now then, let's bring a few friends out." with a snap of his finger, a ball of wax appeared and burst open, letting Zoro, Nami and Nojiko out.
"Ouch!" The navigator grunt in pain, she and the other two were being restrained in a wax lock. "A woman shouldn't get treated like this!"
"Stop complaining." Zoro grunt as he tried to stand up. "You'll be lucky if they treat you nice with this kind of life."
"Sounds a bit rough to me," Nojiko said with a sweatdrop. Maybe she should have stayed back home...Then why did she feel the excitement?
"Ah yes, three of the 'Straw Hats' Pirates that have caused problems for the boss." Mr 3 casually said as he extended his arms, "I welcome you."
"You...are an agent of Baroque Works, aren't you?" Zoro asked while the sisters glared at the man.
"That, I am." The bounty hunter sipped on his earl grey, "Forgive me for the rough treatment, but we are still waiting for one final guest to arrive."
"Stop being nice, you weirdo!" Nami shouted at him with a glare. "Just you wait when our captain and beast-man gets here! You'll wish-no, beg that you weren't born!"
"Hahaha! Big words, little girl!" The mocking he was doing to them was making the three of them mad. "They may have been big-shots in the East Blue, but on the Grand Line? They are nothing but little tadpoles. Insignificant compared to other pirates."
For a moment there, Zoro, Nami and Nojiko felt something snap in their brains. Whatever it was, they weren't exactly happy with it...Not one bit. But before they could do anything, two people entered the view, catching the attention of everyone.
The pirates watch in disbelief, while Mr. 3 smiles, "Ah, you were successful. Well done, Mr. 5."
The newcomers were, as you heard, Mr. 5 and Vivi, covered in bruises and dirt. "It was easy. The giant had trapped the straw hat boy in the mountain. He's unconscious, along with a Long-Nose brat and the Princess pet." the tanned man shoved Vivi forward, who fell and grunt in pain.
"Vivi! Are you okay?!" The blue-haired princess looked at the others.
"I'm...sorry." she apologized, "They...were too strong."
"Hahaha! What a delight!" Mr. 3 laughs as he traps the princess in his Candle Lock. "What about the other boy? The Lion King?"
"Ms. Valentine went to get him. Or at least, the remains of him." What Mr. 5 said in an uncaring tone made Nami, Vivi, and Nojiko freeze, and Zoro to tense his eyes hard.
"Perfect, now go and get the others. We don't want them to cause problems later on." Mr. 3 said.
"...*sigh* Fine." The man said as he scratched his nose and began to walk away. "The straw hat one is stuck, so it will take me time to get here." A grunt of understanding was enough for the Bomb man to leave the area.
"What...did he said?" Vivi asked in horror. "What happened to Seth?!"
"Ah, I guess I should explain," The wax man said as he gave his cup to Ms. Golden Week so that she could hold it. "But first! Let's make you all comfortable!"
In mere seconds, the crew found themselves trapped in a giant cake made out of wax, with candles lit on the top.
"What is this ugly thing?" Zoro asked as he looked at the weird candle face.
"I can't move my legs," Nojiko said as she looked at her stuck feet in the wax. Just then, white dust stuff began to fall on her head. Confused, she stretched her hand and caught one of them, "And this is…wax?"
"Correct, my Special Candle Jack is an instrument that I used to create living sculptures." Mr. 3 explained, "The wax that's melting will slowly transform you into a beautiful piece of artwork. Rejoice for the art that your bodies would bring to my life!"
"Ah, how about no!" Nami screamed in fear as she tried to get out. ('Like Hell, I am going to become a statue!') She is worth more than any stupid art sculpture! "And what do you mean about Seth's remains?!"
"Ah, of course." The weird haired man waved his hands as if he had forgotten about that detail. "To simply shorten the story...this island is home to not just the two giants, but also a certain wild creature that hunts this woods."
At the mention of that, a small gasp escaped Broggy, catching their attention, "No...Not that creature." His eyes widened in a tiny bit of worry, "You can't mess with that thing!"
"Oh, but I don't need to." Mr. 3's confident smile never left him, "That animal would act on his own accordingly. I don't even need to do anything."
"Oy, Broggy! What the hell is he talking about!?" Nami asked Broggy, having enough of being left out of the chat. (Not Whatsapp)
"..." Broggy moves his eyes to look at them, "There's...a Nemean Lion on this island."
"A what?" Zoro raised an eyebrow in confusion. What kind of animal is that?
"A...Nemean Lion?" The three Straw Hats look at Vivi, whose face was turning blue in terror, "T-T-There's a Nemean Lion here?!"
"Ah, I knew our dear princess knew about it." Mr. 3 said, "After all, that's one of the Grand Line's rarest and dangerous creatures to encounter." And with that, the flamboyant weirdo (OY!) began to explain about the NL. How strong they are, how fast they are, and how anyone that stands in its territory is nevermore. "Surely, you understand. Even someone like me, a superior agent of Baroque Works, wouldn't dare to mess with such a creature." And he wasn't lying. He could create plans to capture such animal, but the NL isn't some dumb animal that could fall by such trickery-
"Oh, that's it?"
Mr. 3 almost felt his brain stop for a second. He blinks a few times to comprehend the words that came out, with such an uncaring tone. Looking at the pirates, he was taken by surprise when he saw that they...were expressing a tired look.
Zoro even let a yawn out.
"You guys! What is with that attitude?!" Vivi asked in disbelief at how they are acting. "Don't you see that Seth is in deep trouble?! If he fights a Nemean Lion by himself, he won't survive!"
"And?" The princess's jaw dropped when Nami asked that. "We get that he is in trouble, but we are also in trouble." She pointed at their stuck feet. "How do you expect us to help him if we can't even get out of here?"
"That's…"
"Besides, it is not like we have to worry," Nojiko responded as she shrugged, "Our Seth isn't someone that a rare creature can simply takedown. And there's no way he would run from that kind of opponent."
"Quite the opposite," Zoro continued what the older sister was saying, "If the beast is as dangerous as this weirdo says, then he would want to fight it." He let out a chuckle, "He is probably having a blast as we slowly die in here."
"Don't say shit like that, Zoro!" Nami and Nojiko scream at him.
"You people are as terrible as other Pirates." Mr. 3 said with a stern look, "I at least would be worried for my men if they were in danger."
"Of course, we are worried," Nojiko answered with a confident smile. "We just don't need to with someone like him. Besides-"
"CHARGE!"
Just as she was speaking, Luffy, Ussop, and Carue burst through the forest, overshooting themselves behind Mr. 3, who was taken by surprise. The trio crashes and tumbles through the ground for a moment.
"We got a dependable captain and friends to help us."
The trio stood up and was ready to fight. "You bastard! Where is my crew?!" Luffy asked before his eyes landed on his friends. "Oh, there you guys are!"
"You finally show up, Luffy!" Nami shouted in joy.
"I'm here too!" Usopp shouted while riding Carue, pumping his fist in the air. "Master Broggy, I heard everything! I will avenge you!"
"Quack!" Carue did the same.
"Usopp…" The giant felt a small sense of pride for the long-nose boy. Having heard his dream of becoming a man that fights for honor.
"Oy! Luffy!" Zoro rested his sword on his shoulder, "We are fine for now! Just kick this guy's ass!"
"That was the plan!" Luffy growls in anger as he slams his fist on his palm. "I'll just beat the crap out of this idiot! Then I'll get you all out of there!"
"Hmph!" Mr. 3 wasn't impressed by the boy's words. "Big words from the second-highest bounty pirate in the East Blue." Wax began to drop out of his hand. ('Where the hell are Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine? Did they get defeated again? How pathetic.') "You won't be able to save your crew with me here."
"Just watch me!" Luffy shouted before launching himself into battle against the Wax man.
(Meanwhile)
"...What kind of house is this?"
Sanji, Gin, and Alvida were looking for the rest of their crew when they came across a white structure house in the middle of nowhere. The same one where Mr. 3 meets with his colleagues.
Knowing now that they weren't the only people on the island, they quickly sneak inside (or rather just walk through the door since it was empty at the moment) and investigate.
"The walls are made of wax." Gin said as he knocked on the hard surface, "Considering that we are in a forest and the very...artistic scenery. Our enemy is a Devil Fruit user."
"Probably." Alvida had to agree with him, "I'm surprised you could tell the possibility of a devil fruit power."
"Well, no matter how arrogant he sounded, Don Krieg did have the smartness." The Demon-Man replied, remembering his former captain's intellectual ability.
"...Wait, Don Krieg?" The Iron Mace Pirate looked at him with a surprised expression, "As in, Commander of the Armada of over a million pirates? The smartest man in the East Blue? You were part of his crew?"
"...You didn't know?" Gin raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Aren't you supposed to know all the pirates in the East Blue? I do have a bounty."
"...I mean," To the shock of him, Alvida scratched the back of her head in embarrassment, "I had a suspicion that I saw you before, but with everything that's been happening..." She stuck her tongue out like a kid, "I forgot."
That's an excuse, alright.
('Is her weight the only thing that change?') Gin could feel his sweat dripping on the corner. He had heard the rumors behind the Iron Mace Pirate, on how ruthless she is supposed to be.
"Huh, this earl grey is good," Sanji commented while sitting in the wax chair and drinking some tea.
"What the hell are you doing relaxing, Sanji?!" Both Gin and Alvida comically shouted at him.
The blonde gasped in shock, "Shit! The relaxing atmosphere of this place almost made me forget why we are here! Nami-swan, Nojiko-swan, and Vivi-chan are waiting for me!"
('Of course, is the ladies he worries about.') The two pirates sweatdrop.
*Puru Puru Puru*
The trio tensed for a second when they heard a sound. Their eyes trailed the direction it was coming from; a small basket cage.
*Puru Puru Puru*
Being the closest one, Sanji opened it and took out the thing making the sound. "Hey, look. A Transponder Snail," he said as he placed this world phone-version, a snail with a handset. He picked it up and answered, "Hello? Restaurant Le Crap, how may I help you?"
"You idiot! Why did you answer it?!" Alvida and Gin slap the back of his head.
"Enough fooling around. Tell me the report on the situation." The person on the other line had a severe tone causing the three to look confused.
"Report? Who's this?" Sanji asked.
"It's me, Mr. 0."
At that, they shut up and look with slight worry, seriousness, and (in Gin's case) slight fear in their eyes.
('Mr. 0…')
('That means that…')
('This is Crocodile, the Warlord!')
"Well? Are you going to report, Mr. 3?" Crocodile asked in the other line. "Are the Straw Hats and Princess Vivi done for?"
Sanji made eye contact with the other two, who understood what he was trying to say. Nodding at him, Sanji spoke, "Yes, sir. All those who know your identity have been taken care of."
"I see." The grunt of satisfaction went through the other line, "The Unluckies have been sent to your direction to confirm everything. Once it's confirmed, they will give you a special item."
"The Unluckies, and a package?" Sanji asked as Gin felt something through the back of his neck. He motioned Alvida, who was confused but listened to him.
"It's an Eternal Pose to Alabasta." Crocodile explained, "Once you received it, you and Miss Goldeweek will head there. The time that we began an important part of Baroque Works' objective. Further detail will be told to you when you reach Alabasta."
Sanji was about to say something when he felt a pair of eyes on him. Looking at the side, he saw an otter and a vulture with shades standing on the windows, looking at him. The otter took two shell-like knives while two rifles popped out from the vulture's shoulders.
"Is there a problem, Mr. 3?"
"...No."
*BLAM*BLAM*
"Nothing at all," Sanji answered as in the back, both Unluckies getting dispatched by Gin's tonfa and Alvida's mace. "Once the...Unluckies come and confirm their deaths I will head to Alabasta as ordered."
"I see...I cannot afford the Marines to intercept these calls. From here and out, all orders would be in the traditional way. That's all."
*Cla-chink*
"...He hung up." Sanji was perplexed at what happened.
"Well, that's rude." Alvida sighs as she looks at the unconscious otter and vulture, "So, considering that they look suspicious, are these two the 'Unluckiest'?
"It appears so." Gin said as he checked the bag that the animals were carrying around, finding what he expected. "Look here; it's one of those Eternal Poses."
"Oy, Gin." The dark snake pirate looked at the cook, "How did you know that those two were coming?"
"Heh, should it be a surprise?" Gin answered with a smile. "I was the best out of the Battle Armada; stealth is my good attribute after all. You get your senses sharpened after a while, to the point you can feel something wrong." he stood from the floor, throwing the pose up and down in his hand. "I did manage to take down your old man back on Baratie."
Sanji saw the logic in what he said. Old-man Zeff might be old, but his instincts as a pirate haven't rust one bit. Taking him down isn't easy.
"Wait, Baratie?" Alvida looked at Sanji with an incredulous look, "You're from Baratie?! The Sea-Going Restaurant in the East Blue?!" Her jaw was getting close to fall. "L-Let me get this straight: our dumb idiot of a captain, somehow, has in his crew the infamous Pirate Hunter, the rare Battle Cat, a former commander of Don Krieg's Armada, and a skilled chef from Baratie?!"
"It's an ability." Both Gin and Sanji said. Alvida finally let her jaw fall.
"...Alright, I seriously need to know who I am traveling with."
(Back to the others)
"Gum-Gum Gatling!"
"Candle Champion Punch!"
Fists colliding with each other echoed around the forest. Luffy and Mr. 3 had been fighting for a while. The straw hat kid had burn marks around him, his shirt getting obliterated. The bounty hunter had gone to a quick transformation, his body being inside a...giant suit armor-like toy.
"Hohohoho! What's the matter, Straw Hat?!" Mr. 3 taunts as he began to spin his arms like pinwheels. "Figure out that you can't beat me?!" He charges forward.
"Screw you, you stupid weirdo haired!" Luffy shouted as he jumped backward, dodging the attack.
"Leave my hair out of this!" Mr. 3 shouted with his shark-teeth. How dare this monkey insult his masterpiece hair-style!
Meanwhile, Ussop was in a fight for his friend/master's honor. "Run, Carue! Run!" Or rather, surviving a battle.
"Quack!" The duck runs as he dodges some sort of red substance thrown at them.
"So annoying." Ms. Goldenweek said with a tired expression as she moved her paintbrush quickly and threw a red circle paint. They may look harmless, but one touch and you will feel pain, asked the fallen trees that are on the ground after getting the treatment.
"Special Attack: Lead Star!" Usopp fired from his slingshot, the projectile heading to the girl's face but she simply drew a blue circle that blocked the attack. "Dammit, Vivi was right about her color's becoming weapons!"
"YOU DIDN'T BELIEVE ME IN THE FIRST PLACE!?"
"Cut me some slack!" Usopp yelled with shark teeth. "You should feel lucky to still be breathing to tell me!"
True enough, the three pirates, the princess, and the giant were still breathing and well. Most of their body was frozen by the wax, but thanks to Usopp's oil/fire pellets, they created some fire that melted the wax that was falling, slowing the solidification a bit.
"I hate to admit it, but he is right." Zoro grunt, his arm felt like a rock. "The fire is nice and all but for how long will it last?"
"*Cough*Cough* By the looks of it...we don't have much time," Nojiko said as she coughs out the wax entering her throat.
"Luffy! Usopp!*Cough*Do something*Cough*already!"Nami screamed at the free members.
"Yosh! Just give me a second-Woah!" Luffy was saying before evading a wax boxing glove.
"I'm trying!" Usopp shouted as he fired more Lead Stars at Ms. Goldenweek. He had tried to throw oil on the wax cake, but after seeing that he can create fire, the little girl had made sure that he cannot shoot his fire pellets.
"Give it up, Straw Hat!" Mr. 3 continues to taunt him. "Nobody will save you! Your Beast man is dead by now and all your friends are trapped! You have no salvation!"
"Eh?! What are you talking about?!" Luffy threw his Gum-Gum Stamp, which was blocked. "Are you talking about Seth?! He's dead?! I don't believe you!"
Mr. 3 laughs heartily at that, "You should! He probably is animal's meat by now-!"
*WA-POW!*
Mr. 3 didn't understand what happened. All he knew was that his left cheek got hit pretty hard, that his wax-powered suit was sent crashing against the wax cake and created a decent crack on it, and his glasses cracked a bit. "Who the hell did that!?" He asked as he stood up and looked around for the responsible one.
"Me. Four Eyes."
Everyone look at where the voice came from. The agents look in disbelief while the pirates smile in joy.
"SETH!"
The Straw Hat's Beast had his right fist stretch. His bare chest had bruises and scratches on his body. Blood drips out from his mouth and right eye. His left arm had a nasty gash and veins pulse through his muscle, and his chest rose up and down. He was hurt, but alive.
"No way…" Vivi spoke with a disbelief tone. "He...won?"
"You damn idiot!" Nojiko screams at him with tiny tears on her eyes. "Do you have any idea how worried I was when you disappeared?!" She was happy, relieved, and angry at him.
"Seth! You have so much to explain once we get out of this mess!" Nami was in the same boat as her sister.
The auburn-haired boy let a tired chuckle out, "That's fair for me…" He walked next to Luffy, who was in the same state as him, "And you? What happened?"
"Shishishi! Got controlled of that girl's mysterious powers and Usopp burned me up to free me!" the straw hat captain said while pointing at Ms. Goldenweek, who was busy with Usopp and Carue. "You?"
"Huge White Lion. Second strongest animal I had fought. It's a chance I couldn't pass." Seth explained.
"Impossible!" Mr. 3 could feel sweat falling through his forehead. "There's no way you could have defeated the Nemean Lion! Nobody can!" ('Where the hell are Mr 5 and Ms. Valentine?!') Mr. 5 might have been knocked out again, but Ms. Valentine too!?
"Heh, so you are the one, huh." Seth looked at the weird haired man, "What's with the stupid 3 hair thing? I thought agents were supposed to be stealthy, not obvious."
"YOU TOO!? LEAVE MY HAIR OUT OF THIS?!" First the Straw Hat kid and now the Lion Brat! His hair is not stupid!
"Sitrep." Seth ignored him and spoke to Luffy.
"Eh…" Luffy began to scratch the back of his hair, thinking. "What is that again?" He sheepishly asked.
Seth let a tired sigh out, "I appeared now, tell me who are we fighting and what's going on?" He explained.
"Ah, right!" Luffy fist bumps his palm.
('This guy is stupid.') Was the thought of everyone, except Seth, present.
"So...That guy can make cool stuff with its white powers! The guys are stuck in that giant cake! And the tiny girl can control you with its mysterious colors!" Luffy explained with a goofy smile.
…
…
…
…
…
Seth looks forward, "So, the man can make a substance as strong a rock, everyone cannot move one bit from their prison because of the falling white dust and the girl can hypnotize you with paint marks, delaying the rescue mission." He deduced.
"Right!"
"How the fuck did you understood him?!" Zoro screams at him with his eyes blood-shooting forward. If it was him, he wouldn't have even know what the fuck he was saying.
"Three years. That's all you need to know." Everyone sweatdrop at his answer. "Now, can someone tell me what is that?" Seth pointed at the cake they were stuck on.
"It's a Wax Cake!" Usopp answered as he almost fell off Carue, who was dodging another red paint attack.
"Wax?"
"That's right!" Mr. 3 decided to answer as he clashed his wax boxing gloves together. "My Wax-Wax powers are stronger than metal! No matter how strong you are, nothing you can do will destroy it!"
"Except fire."
"Except fire! Which you don't…What's with the smile?" Mr. 3 was talking like the shit until he saw the auburn-haired boy smiling.
Seth simply dug his hand into his pockets and took out a golden burner with the emblem of a lion on it. "Luffy. Want to see a cool trick?" The childish side of his captain got the better of him. "You guys! Do you trust me?!"
"Of course we do!" Zoro, Nami and Nojiko shouted.
"I...I trust you, Mister Seth!" Vivi was reluctant but she gave in.
"Go ahead, young human!" Even Broggy, even with half of his body covered in wax, said.
Seth took a deep breath, far more than a normal one, and opened the lighter, a small flame appearing.
"Huh? What do you plan to do with that?" Mr. 3 didn't see it coming.
"Fire Breath!"
The agent's eyes widened in horror as the boy blew and an inferno blast headed to his way. It was too late to dodge it as he was consumed by the fire.
"Ahhhhhhhh! It's too hot!" Mr. 3 screamed in pain as the suit began to melt, returning his body to its scrawny form.
It didn't stop there as the fire had reached the Wax Cake and began to consume the lower levels. "Hey, the fire is melting the Wax!" Vivi shouted as she could feel the area around her legs getting sluggish.
"Master Broggy!" Usopp jumped off Carue and went to help the giant by adding more fire.
"S-Shit!" S-Shit!" Having lost his power suit and, soon, the prisoners, Mr. 3 was forced to retreat. "Pull back! Let's get out of her, Miss. Goldeweek!" Following the order, the girl pulled back, picked her stuff, and 'yeeted' out of there with his boss.
"Hey! Get back here!" Luffy screamed as he chased after them, Carue coming with him.
Meanwhile, Seth went to help the rest get out of the wax prison. "Anyone want a hand?" He asked while lighting his lighter.
"Since when can you do that?" Zoro asked in curiosity.
"Meh. I am half-dragon." Seth before blowing a bit of fire, a smaller one that wouldn't hurt them. "But I'm not spewing fire; my breath is so hot that the fire of the lighter gets caught on it." He explained.
"Well, how very convenient." Nami sarcastically said as she managed to get her left foot off. "What about you? Are you okay? That Mr. 3 moron said you were fighting a Nemean Lion."
"That's right!" Vivi managed to get out first and looked at him in absolute amazement. "Is it true that there is a Nemean Lion?!"
Seth nods. "The second most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my life." His words shock them, "I was mesmerized by its mane, its scream royal all over it."
"That's...weird." Zoro tried to not sound rude at his words. "More importantly, was it strong?"
"The lion on Orange Town is a mog compared to it." The green-haired swordsman and the orange-haired thief found themself laughing at that.
"But how did you defeat it?" Vivi asked, "Those creatures aren't so easy to take down, is it a miracle to survive against one!"
At that, Seth looks down, his eyes getting shadowed by his hair, "You guys are misunderstanding." Everyone was left confused at what he said.
*FWSHHHH~*
Before they felt the sense of dread crawling through their spines.
Seth rose his face, his red-blood dragon eyes burning hot. "I haven't won yet."
"GRRRRRRR!~"