One Piece: Overlord of the Seas (Book 1)

by YinShadow

Monkey D. Luffy died in the battle of Marineford when his brother Ace died in his arms. Luffy lost the will to live and abandoned his dreams to become King of a pirate. But his spirit yearns for revenge and made a deal with an old evil that once plagued the seas to help him on his new life vengence. Dark True Pirate Luffy.

3. Dark Tower

One Piece: Overlord of the Seas

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or the Overlord game series.

Chapter 3: The Dark Tower

Astral Clock Tower (4 months ago)

"The battle in the Astro Tower commences, we slaughtered every Marine that came at us and left their bodies to be picked at by the crows and gulls out in the courtyard. The decimation of the enemy has forced them to retreat into the. I looked up at the top of this tower, where it's giant clock face gives out a mesmerising glow."

"Up there, in the belfry," said Velvet as she points at the glow emitting from the clock's face. "that is where we need to go."

"What's up there?" said Lucy

"Something that can help you, let's go" said Velvet as she rushes through the great doors of the clock tower.

"I was surprised at how adamant Velvet is when she rushed in first, knowing clear that the marines are inside waiting and ready to attack if we do enter the tower. I chuckled and followed my First Mate for I didn't want to miss the fun. I was right; the Marines were waiting for they just formed a barricade over the hall's stairway to block any entry to ascend the upper floors. They fired their muskets the moment we entered, luckily Nanaue shielded us for the bullets couldn't pierce through his thick bulletproof skin."

Nanaue chuckles as the bullets just bounce off from his body, that and it tickles him when the Marines constantly fire their rounds at him. "Pitiful Marines; don't they know that Fishmen skin is impervious to bullets?"

"Fear clouds their judgement, Nanaue," Velvet said from behind the large shark-man. "Let's exploit their fear."

Velvet casts Slow Time and uses Clairvoyance to evade the spray of bullets so she and Nanaue can approach the Marines without any issue. In the eyes of everyone, Velvet appears to be dashing in incredible speed and dodges every bullet in impossible speeds. And as she appears in in front of the Barricade and scares the Marines in a staggering stupor, she holds out her hands out and blasts a spell called an Eldritch Blast which destroyed the Barricade with the Marines behind it. Nanaue simply charges at the other Barricade like a raging Sea-Bull. He breaks through the barricades and starts tearing up the Marines apart with his teeth and brute strength.

Lucy was amazed, "Seeing Velvet and Nanaue dispose of these Marines was a sight to behold, even when I saw them battle previously against the same type of enemy. I am still amazed with their skill and strength...for it reminds me of...anyway I approached the stairway and starts ascending to the upper floors of the Astral Clock Tower.

Floor by floor, we ascended and cross more Marines who barricaded the rooms and hallways in hopes of obscuring our path to the top. They are quite persistent that we never reach the top, as if there is something valuable up there...and that only enticed me even more. I ordered the minions to charge at the foolish Marines and break through the Barricades, for I didn't want Nanaue and Velvet to have all the fun, not like that would stop them. Joining the Marines, Velvet and Nanaue rushes in their own fashion, the Shark Fishman being a tank as he takes all the shots and bursts through the barricades which the Marines made with anything tall, thick and heavy."

"So... furniture" Rayleigh said bluntly

"Pretty much," said Lucy when an amused smile. "I stayed back and in cover for I am vulnerable without my devil fruit power to protect me from flying projectiles fired by the Marine's arms. It's sickening to hide like a coward, but after being dead, it made me wise to the point that I would do anything to not die again, even if it means hide in cover from the fray until it's...safe enough for me to join the fight. Safe, being the keyword here, as it only grants me a high chance, not entirely."

"You got shot?" said Shakky

"Few times, but none of them were fatal," said Lucy

BANG

BANG

Lucy grunts when he felt bullets hit him, one on the side and the other on his shoulder, he looks ahead at a pair of trembling Marine holding their smoking guns pointing at him.

"I recall, back when I was Straw Hat, that I was shot many times, but this sensation was different. The feeling of hot lead piercing my skin and flesh, it wasn't scared for I dealt with mortal blows that wounded me before, but never from gunshot. I snarled and charged at the Marines who were too scared to even more, I draw my Craven Edge and cut them down without any hesitation. I let the black sword consume their blood, and in return it heals me and forced the bullets to exit my body.

I don't know how Velvet came in possession of this sword, but I am glad it's healing properties through blood consumption came in handy."

"Let's go," said Lucy as he pushes on for the next stairwell

"Right" said Velvet and Nanaue as they follow their captain.

We kept on ascending the clock tower and meeting more Marines that are trying to stop us from advancing, but we charged in and broke through their blockades like we did prior. And like before, we took their lives, Craven Edge drank their blood and I collected their souls which I absorbed into my gauntlet.

I can tell that I have gotten the hand on using the sword despite learning how to use it for a couple of weeks. And I would've improved more if it weren't for my rigor mortis keeping my body's motion limited. Fortunately, the treatment Velvet has given my daily during our voyage did help my limber enough to move and fight, albeit mediocre as the joints between my bones and my tendons aren't fully recovered from my death.

Mileena and Syzoth were good teachers when it comes to weapons, as it's more deadly than just using my bare fists and feet when I fight. But in truth, I did miss fighting with my bare hands, especially when I had the Gum Gum fruit powers flow through me. But now, the sword, magic and controlling my minion crew would suffice. My knowledge on magic is still limited so refrained of using it at the moment, just until I fully understand how to use it.

Belfry

"After so many floors and many forms of resistance from the Marines, we reached the top of the tower known as the Belfry. It is a vast room where the clock's mechanics are housed, but also where Wizard uses as his own private study for it also comprised of many bookshelves fill of dusty tomes, cabinets full of unique and arcane items which are displayed behind glass panes. Strange brass instruments of arcane sciences placed in corners or sides of the railed ledge which I have no idea what they are used for. And lastly a huge telescope pointing upwards through the clock's glass face into the night sky. In front of the telescope is a fancy desk and chair which is filled with piles of tomes which are left unread by the Wizard, as it shows how dedicated he is to his studies.

We entered forcefully when we used the last of the Marine resistance as a means of opening the door; I threw the big bastard in and broke the lock. As the marine stumbles on the floor, we entered through so we could marvel at the area, searching for the source of the mesmerising glow from before. The Marine painfully gets up and tries to attack, but I cut him down with Craven Edge and walked passed while the blood gets drained by my vampiric sword."

"I don't see anything that's glowing," said Lucy as he looks around to the belfry. "And what is are we looking for exactly?"

"It's called the Tower Heart," Velvet explained as she is also wandering the area to search for the item in question. "It's a mystical orb of great magic, it's the size of a boulder, it emanates a beautiful glow as if it's a fallen star. I can sense it, it's nearby, but where the devil is it."

"I kept looking to see if I can find what could resemble a large glowing boulder, I can hear the gears above ticking loudly, the clock's clockwork whirling above us, but it's not the only thing being held by the rafters and brackets above. I looked up to see what appears to be a giant model of our solar system, planets in their orbital rings each circling around a giant brass orb that represents the sun. I gazed at it with awe as I could Imagine myself sailing across the stars, seeking for adventure in far away planets...if it's possible for us to travel in space.

Then I noticed something when I turned my attention to the brass sun in the centre of this planetary model, and recalled what we are looking for."

"Velvet, remind me what this heart looks like," said Lucy as his eyes remains fixed onto the brass sun.

"It's large, about the size of a boulder, smooth, spherical and it glows like a star." Said Velvet as he kept on searching for the heart. "It can't that herd to find something that huge here."

"Unless it's in plain sight," said Lucy as he then points at the brass sun in the centre of the planetary model. "I'm no astronomer, but I do recall hearing that suns are also stars. And that sun does look big, about the size of a boulder."

Velvet looks up at the model hanging above them, then a smile starts to form in her face and chuckled.

"Oh, you clever bastard," said Velvet with a grin. "Nanaue, try and look for a switch or a crank to lower this orrery down."

"Orna-what?" said Nanaue with a tilted head for he has no idea what Velvet meant.

"The planetary model above us," said Velvet as she points at the aforementioned model of the solar system hanging up between the rafters. "It's held up by a pulley of chains, we need to lower it down."

"Got it," said Nanaue as he starts looking for either a switch of a crank to help lower the planetary model down to the floor. After about a minute or two, he found the crank and starts turning it, but it raised the model slightly.

"Anti-clockwise, Nanaue," said Velvet. "The other way."

"Got it," said Nanaue as he turns the crank, this time the model lowers down to the centre of the floor. The sound of chains chinking echoes in the room has them lengthen to help descend the model of the solar system, Lucy and Velvet continues to watch until it is completely lowered, hanging only bay a few inches.

"Nanaue, we need you to peel off this brass casing," said Velvet as she then taps the brass sun with the back of her knuckles.

"Got it," said Nanaue as he then sinks his teeth into the brass sun and tore off it's casing piece by piece. After clearing the casing, it reveals a large glowing crystal orb which emanates a beautiful blue glow as if it's a fallen star. "Whoa"

"It's beautiful," said Lucy as he is mesmerised by it's glow.

"I know," said Velvet with a smile. "I would never forget my first time seeing this."

"Where did it come from?" said Lucy

"No one knows, it was found in the ruins of Castle Gromgard, home of the dreaded Black Baron who terrorized Greenvale for 500 years, he used this heart to power his magic and help establish his dark domain on those who threatened." Said Velvet as she gazed upon the tower heart. "He even fabricated the blood feud between the Dwarves and Elves to undo a conspiracy by his treacherous step-siblings who plotted to usurp him after their father, the Old Duke left on a crusade. Alas, he was almost forgotten in the mists of time for the simple-minded folk of Greenvale didn't bother to recall him."

"Almost?" said Lucy

"Certain people, like my father still remember the tyranny of the Black Baron that they once established a guild of Heroes to ensure that nothing like that ever happened. But it was short-lived as the guild vanished from history thanks to evil. But the legacy remains in the form of the 7 heroes that defends the region of Greenvale."

"For now," said Lucy darkly.

"Aye, for now." Said Velvet as she placed her hand on the Tower Heart and starts feeling the surge of magic course through her. "With Wizard gone, we are one step closer in ending the Heroes' era for good. For this world isn't big enough for two eras."

"Killing Heroes so that the Pirate era can thrive even further, huh?" said Lucy with an intrigued look. "I like that sound of that. I never claimed to be a hero in the first place."

"Good, then you'll like this part," said Velvet with an excited smile. "Place your hand on the heart and unleash your evil into it."

"Er...ok," said Lucy as he starts to place his hand on it, but Velvet stopped him.

"Other hand, Cap'n," said Velvet as she pulled away the hand that hasn't got the gauntlet on.

"Oh," said Lucy as he puts his gauntlet-clad hand on the Tower heart. "Then what?"

"To unleash the evil within, you need to remember why you hold hostility and malice on the Marines; why you want them dead and why they infuriate you."

Lucy frowned when Velvet told him that, of course he knew why he held such resentment on the Marines and recalling it angers him even more. This causes the gauntlet to emanate a malicious crimson hue which starts to spread into the crystal orb as it bleeds into it's benevolent blue glow. But as he kept on bleeding his malice into the heart, the process was suddenly halted when Velvet pulled him away.

"Velvet pulled me away from the heart for she saw something dropping down towards me. We backed away as a figure dressed in a dark leather coat and a tricorne hat lands in a kneeling position and in front of the tower heart. This figure stands to reveal herself to be a woman with long platinum blonde hair that's in a long ponytail. Her skin is pale as stone and her eyes so dark that they're void of any life in them. Under her coat is a dark grey waistcoat and a white blouse that are stained in blood. She even wears a pair of black trousers and a pair of knee-high leather boots to match.

In her hands are a pair of swords; more specifically a katana and a wakizashi except that their hilts are custom built and unlike those you'd find any Wanonian blade."

"That sounds like Bloody Maria; the famed pirate hunter" said Rayleigh, "she uses to hunt down many pirates throughout the 4 blues and the grand line for decades, including Roger and I. She was also apprentice of Gherman the Old Hunter and master of Dracule Mihawk who succeeded her as the World's Greatest Swordsman."

"Ah, but what you don't know is that it wasn't exactly her," said Lucy to the old pirate. "The Bloody Maria we encountered is but a doll, a magical constructed that mimics the appearance and memories of the former Pirate Hunter. She was created by Wizard through a form of magic called Technomancy; similar to the method of science's robotics and engineering. You could compare Dolls to the Pacifista that the Marines have in their arsenal; magical androids with commands integrated in their memory. So, what we're facing is the guardian of the Tower Heart and the Astral Clock Tower."

The doll in the form of Blood Maria points her katana at the three intruders and leers coldly at them. Nanaue snarls at this stranger who ambushed his captain and is itching for a fight, Velvet feels unnerved when she saw Maria for her reputation as a pirate hunter is well known, including her bloodthirsty nature. Even Lucy was surprised when saw her as she reminded him of a certain swordsman with those cold murderous eyes.

"You shouldn't be here, pirates," said Maria as she cross her swords and stands in waiting. "Leave now and you'll be spared this once."

"Ha, as if we'll leave when we're so close!" exclaimed Nanaue as he then charges at Maria.

"Nanaue, dont!" exclaimed Velvet but it was too late for Nanaue was so close to Maria that the doll reacted by swinging her two blades. Maria is so quick that Nanaue only snapped his jaws at an after image and Maria instantly appeared behind the fish-man with blood straining her blades.

Nanaue grits his sharp teeth in pain as a pair of crossed cuts now split open on his chest and starts to bleed.

"Gah!" Nanaue grunts in pain, the cuts are shallow thanks to his thick skin, but they cut cleanly which caused pain. He fights off the submission to kneel and remains on his two feet, he turns to leer angrily at.

"Still arrogant as always...King Shark," said Maria coldly, "I will do what my other should've done a long time again."

Nanaue only smirked at this and turns to confront the doll.

"The government pays more if pirates were caught alive," said Nanaue as he held his bleeding wound. But thanks to his shark genes, it heals quickly to stem the bleeding and slowly closes the wound. "Maria was wise to spare me if she wanted my full bounty instead of 30% of it."

"I don't need money, so your death won't be a complete loss to me," said Maria as she charges at Nanaue again.

CLANG

"I didn't hesitate to join the fight, but only to stop her from attacking Nanaue again. After spenting weeks at sea with him, I grew to like the guy and didn't want him to get killed. This drew the doll's attention to me as my Craven Edge clashes with her two swords."

"And you are?" said Maria

"Lucifer Diablo, Captain of this crew who attacked this tower," said Lucy with a smirk. "We'll take everything, including his tower."

"Then you will die, like all who tried to take this tower," said Maria as she pushed Lucy back so she can jump away to gain some distance apart from her foes.

Nanaue moved his bloodstained hand away from his wound now that it's closed up.

"Damn it, never have thought that I face her again...sort of." Said Nanaue

"You know her?" said Lucy

"She's the reason I was left drying up in Level 3 of Impel Down," said Nanaue "Bloody Maria, a pirate Hunter of great renown. Not to be trifled with, which I should remember knowing, but it's been 40 years ago."

"You're over 40?"

"I ain't just some fish-man," said Nanaue "I'm the bastard son of a Shark God which we Fishman worship, more specifically to the Fish-man of the Shark Kingdom. I am a demi-god, but I decided to live as a pirate instead of a god."

"Why?" said Lucy

"To be a God, I need to abandon my freedom and I refused to do that," said Nanaue "Because of that, my father resented and abandoned me. Forcing me into exile to live as a mortal, which I accepted."

"I smiled at Nanaue and his love of freedom, it's like I just met another kindred spirit...and if Straw were alive, I would no doubt that he would ask him to join his crew so they could enjoy their freedom together...as crewmates. But that's all in the past, my reason to sail under the black flag is to simply exact my revenge against the Marines and the World Government. I can't be distracted by dreams and the talk of freedom.

We regrouped to confront the doll for it's a battle we must win. And if what Nanaue said about her is true, then it will not be easy."

CLANG

"I crossed blades against this doll posing of some famous Pirate Hunter, but I'm not fighting alone for Nanaue helped me with the fight, which helped for we outnumbered her. And to make things difficult for her I summoned my minions to assist us. About a dozen skeletons, goblins and imps emerged from the ground via a bunch of magic circles, they gathered around to surround Maria. The Skeletons charged to assist me and Nanaue while the Goblins and Imps form a surrounding perimeter to keep our foe surrounded.

And the reason for this is because of Velvet, Velvet wasn't in the fight against Maria and for good reason. We needed to keep Maria busy while Velvet works on the Tower Heart which empowers the doll. Cut off the supply and she'll be powerless to stop us. We just need that to happen, so we kept Maria at bay until my first mate focuses on the Tower Heart. As her own malice bleeds into the orb, Nanaue and I kept on fighting Maria with the minions aiding us."

CLANG

Maria fends off numerous swords at one, but it showed no problem for her as she kept her ground and pushes the minions off when just a nudge. But then as she repels the minions, it left her open for Lucy to charge in and makes a killing blow. Lucy smirks but it was short lived when he noticed something strange about the way she bleeds.

"I forgot to mention something about the doll. They aren't technically alive so they don't bleed like we do, instead they have magic in liquid form that kept them functioning. This magic is glowing and blue, but it also has a secret should a drop gets spilt."

The blood that spills from Maria's wound pours rapidly like water, and when it hits the floor, it suddenly combusts into blue flames which surrounds the splash zone. Any minion who got caught in the way of Maria's magic blood. Maria walks through the flames without getting much a burn mark on her, the wound starts to heal miraculously as she approached the masked pirate and his fish-man crewmate. Shocked by this, Lucy hardened his guard and waits for the doll to strike next.

She hoists her katana in her left hand until the blade is over her right shoulder, the blade starts to bleed out blood until it's completely caked in it. Then she swings diagonally at her opponents and causes the blood to fly out from her blade and form into a crimson crescent shaped blade.

"Look out!" exclaimed Nanaue as he pushed Lucy out of the way and them himself before the crimson projectile could reach them. Lucy recovered and looked back to see a long diagonal gash on the wall behind him.

"Whoa, what was that."

"It's an attack that her weapon Rakuyo can do," said Nanaue, "That blade is like Craven Edge, it's a vampire sword. Vampire swords have an affinity of using blood-based attacks. So much blood was consumed that it can use that attack, and much more."

"Whoa, I gotta get me those swords," said Lucy

"Claiming Rakuyo will do you no good, pirate," said Maria, "I know that's Craven Edge you have in your possession, you cannot wield another Vampire Sword unless you're willing to risk sating her hunger too."

Blood starts to seep out from Rakuyo's blades until it starts to lengthen twice its size.

"It's the sole reason why my original had to hunt pirates, Rakuyo's hunger is immense that she had to occasionally kill sea kings to satisfy it." Said Maria as she raises her blood enhanced sword, "Pirates are scum of the earth; they will not be missed once I hunt them and have their blood drained. And it's a while since Rakuyo had some fresh blood to drink, lucky me."

"Cocky bitch!" exclaimed Nanaue as he slams his fists onto the floor, causing it to crack and creak as the floorboards splinter and break beneath their feet. Maria kept her footing, but she did stagger for a bit which left her open. Lucy took advantage of this and charges at the doll with his Craven Edge ready to strike.

CLANG

But Maria is quick to act and blocked the strike Lucy made with her katana, only for her to counter it by thrusting her wakizashi into Lucy's side. The short blade pierced through and it starts to drink the masked pirate's blood. Lucy winced and pushed away before more of his blood gets drained. Fortunately, Craven Edge's blood magic helps close up the wound in an instant while it vibrates as if it's angry at the Rakuyo.

"Damn, that was horrible," said Lucy as he held his recently sealed wound, he felt light headed slightly but kept his footing to continue the match. "SO, it also eats blood."

"Of course, it can," said Nanaue, "I did say that Rakuyo is a vampire sword."

"Well, that's inconvenient," said Lucy, "And I doubt her blood is edible as it can burst into flames."

"My blood is liquid magic," said Maria as she displayed by cutting her palm with Rakuyo, the glowing blue blood stains the blade but Rakuyo doesn't consume it as it flows and drips off from the tip. "I am not, in a way alive, I am a doll. A magical construct that's crafted by magic, run by magic with it coursing in my veins as if it's my own blood."

"And like blood, it needs a heart for it to circulate throughout your body."

Maria exclaimed in confusion and turns to see Velvet, bleeding her malice into the tower Heart, the Heart is now discoloured for it now has a purplish red tinge instead of it's beautiful azure glow. Then Maria starts to feel strange and collapses onto her knees, she drops both halves of her Rakuyo as her strength fails her.

"W-What is...happening."

"The magic in your system has now corrupted," said Velvet with a wicked smile. "Dolls need an abundance of magic and requires a power source to keep it running."

"D-Damn," said Maria as she tries to get up. "I failed to take note of you, witch!"

"Yeah, well it's your fault," said Velvet with a smug grin. "Your original was arrogant too, her hubris was her downfall when she tried to hunt down Xebec."

"Did he kill her?" said Lucy

"No, he left her alive by denying her a warrior's death." Said Velvet. "It left a scar on Bloody Maria's pride that she was forced to retire from pirate hunting and instead taught many skilled swordsman as an instructor. One of her students became a legend himself, you might know him as Hawkeyes"

"I see," said Lucy

"IT was all in the past, but then I am still ashamed to lost to such scum that plagued the seas." Said Maria as she remains immobile, her magic is now dangerously low and she is on the verge of shutting down.

"I can see how frustrated this defeat, although it wasn't at my hands, must've been humiliating for this doll for she bears the memories of the famed pirate hunter. To learn that she once fought Xebec and lived...I don't know if he was that capable of mercy."

"He isn't," said Rayleigh, "Xebec is a demon with no remorse or respect to anyone who would dare confront him. Being spared by him is a fate worse than death, for it means you are not worthy of his blade, and to a great warrior it's a disgrace for being denied a warrior's death. This was a first I learned of why Bloody Maria giving up pirate hunting, I assumed that she was gravely wounded that she couldn't hold her swords anymore...I was wrong."

"I see, well history does repeat itself for we left her to die instead of striking her down. I'm not one to kill a weakened opponent who is at death's door. So. I approached the Corrupted Tower Heart so I can resume with adding in my own corruption. By the looks of things, Velvet only corrupted the heart enough to incapacitate the doll guarding it. We are far from finished claiming this marine base for ourselves."

"Are you ready, Cap'n?" said Velvet

"Aye, let's finish this," said Lucy as he placed his hand on the Tower Heart.

"Get your damn hands off that!" exclaimed Maria before she was kicked down by Nanaue.

"Shut up," said Nanaue as he then placed his foot on Maria's head and presses hard. "It's a shame you ain't the real Bloody Maria or else you'd be a fine meal to celebrate our victory. But I'll be content in smashing you to bits."

"Hold it, Nanaue," said Velvet as she stops the fishman before he could destroy the doll. "She could be useful to us. We need a guardian to defend this base while we're out at sea."

Nanaue was taken back by this.

"Wha- you can't be serious?" said Nanaue, "Do you have any idea who this is? She'll kill us if we ever let her functional."

"True, but you forget that the magic she'll be containing with come from us and the Cap'n," said Velvet as she watches Lucy bleed the Tower Heart with his malice. "So, if she wants to exsist, she'll have no choice but to obey us."

Maria snarls at this, but Velvet is correct, she has no choice but to obey to the person with magic. Her magic is dangerously depleting and she can't risk moving or else she'll shut down completely. Resigning to her fate she watches the masked pirate completely corrupt the tower heart until it turns sanguine red.

"The heart is now bled with my malice, it turns into a shade that matches the colour of blood. It's sanguine glow also causes the entire room to turn red, and it spreads outside the doors and windows until the entire tower becomes crimson and dark, corrupting it's once azure and astral form until it becomes gothic, dark and terrifying to those who while tremble in its shadow.

I don't what the reaction of the villagers are when they saw the clock tower changes before their very eyes, but I can imagine the dread in their faces when area becomes shrouded in a crimson hue, including the sky and the clouds above that are also turning red. I watched in awe at the now crimson night sky and then blow at town through the clock's translucent face.

I smiled when the sound of panicked screams echoed out from outside, for the remnants of the Marines all ran for the docks, along with the scared villagers as they board the moored ships in the hopes of fleeing for their lives."

Shakky's Bar (Present)

"And you let them go, just like that?" said Rayelgh, "Aren't you worried that they'll inform HQ of what happened in Astral Town?"

"That's the idea, I WANTED the Navy and the World Government that I attacked the Astral Clock Tower and corrupted into my new Dark Tower. The tower is a treasure trove of arcane knowledge of spells and mystical items that would benefit me in my hunt for the remaining 6 Heroes. Plus, the clock tower is one of Marine's formidable fortresses stationed in the North Blue, directly in the centre of that ocean, it's perfect to us to go against the enemy without them sneaking on us."

"Yet, letting the villagers go, not very pirate-like...not that I'm criticizing, mind you." Said Rayleigh

"Not all have fled, some were petrified by the sudden change of the tower that their own fear betrayed their means of survival. In fact, there were not enough ships to accomadate everyone, and those marine cowards are so desperate that they hoped on board their ships and fled without letting anyone one else on. There were other ships, but the Sanguine Skull was moored nearby and the poor souls are too scared to approach without fearing for their lives. When the marine cowards fled, those who remain were trapped and at my mercy."

"And waht did you do to the citizens of Astral Town." Said Shakky

"Nothing, for they are worthless to me," said Lucy in a bored expression as if talking about scared weaklings is not a fun topic. "I ordered Syzoth and Mileena to round them up in the town plaza, unarmed and alive. I came to the plaza to announce that the island is under my command, and they have nothing to fear. Of course, some got brave and doubted me, but it was nothing but false bravado. I also mentioned that they are free to go, but it would cost them for our...services to take them to other islands or in the mainland. 30 million beris each for the adults, 15 million for the children, it's optional but they can't leave the island without paying for their departure."

"And has any ever tried to leave without paying?" said Rayleigh.

"Some did, but Nanaue made sure to that, and I can't deny a man of his meals," said Lucy. "I wouldn't harm them for they mean nothing to me, but that doesn't mean that my crewmates aren't merciful and it's their choice to be cruel or not."

"So waht happened next?" said Rayleigh

"After that? Nothing," said Lucy as he takes a swig from his drink. "Nothing at the moment."

Dark Tower: Belfry (4 months ago)

But that was a lie, after securing his hold on Astral Town, Lucy watched the sanguine hued town below which he finds rather peaceful in a malevolent way. The minions are at work in the belfry to repair the damages which he, Nanaue made in their fight against Maria, who is now reprogrammed to follow the masked pirates every command. More minion hoards are a work, the numbers are so much that you don't have time to count, and it's pointless as the numbers will increase the moment their master kills his enemies and take their souls.

He can see the dry docks busy with the construction of partially built ships and salvaging from scuttled marine battleships in the coast to gain their armaments and provisions. He smiles as the preparations are undergoing and looks yonder on the horizon where Greenvale is located.

"You seem proud, boy."

Lucy's mood died slight when the crimson ethereal skull of Xebec manifests behind him and floating 6 feet from the floor. Lucy turns to confront this spectre and stares at it.

"Why wouldn't I be?" said Lucy "I attacked a Marine Base and slaughtered an entire regiment of marines. It's a start, much like our attack on Wizard's crew on the way here, but the small beginnings are always plesent."

Xebec chuckled as he hovers over to the clockface to saze upon the corrupted view of Astral Town.

"Velvet was wise to choose this place, the magic here is potent, it'll be beneficial for you to study magic here, and you improve on your swordsmanship as well. Your battle against that doll masquearding as Blood Maria was mediocre."

Lucy scoffs at the ghastly skull and retorts annoyingly, "Well what do you expect? I ain't held a sword before, I only learned how to use in a couple of weeks. I prefer to use my fists when I fight, not swinging some piece of sharp pointed metal.

Xebec chuckled as he continued to admire the view.

"Yes, I know," said Xebec, "you reputation as Straw Hat was well known, as well as your style of combat with only just your fists. Then again, it was Garp's preferred style to use fists than the sword. So uncivilized, typical of Monkeys."

"It's all in the past," said Lucy quietly, but still audible for Xebec to head.

"Yes, and what better way to wipe the slate clean is to learn new methods of combat. Fisticuffs is fine, but there so little it can do with just that. Focus on using the sword and magic, for they can aid you in your quest to rid the world of those wretched heroes."

"And to annihilate the Marines." Said Lucy

"Of course, our old enemies," said Xebec, "I promise you; you will get strong to exact your revenge on those law-biding navy men. Including those paragons of justice in Marijois."

"Then what are we waiting for?" said Lucy, "When do we start?"

"For now, relish in your victory, you deserve it." Said Xebec before he starts to vanish, but his continues in an echoing away before that also fades. "Take some time to rest, your body is still getting use to being alive after it died in battle."

Lucy frowned and heads for the desk so he can sit upon it, he took off his mask and placed on the desk while leaning back on his chair with a relieved sigh.

"It's overwhelming, isn't it?"

Lucy looks ahead to see his first mate Velvet enter the Belfry; he smiles as he prefers her company than some disembodied skull ghost haunting him.

"It's...getting used to," said Lucy still smiling. "But it's a start, right?"

End of Chapter