Here is the fifth chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. As usual this is slightly earlier than planned due to the next chapter being broken up into two again due to length and flow which isn't a bad thing as I enjoy releasing chapters early and hopefully will get a few more out before the end of the year but I won't promise more than one more before then. Anyway, The cordon has been decimated by Tatsumi but the crews present, along with their allies, still need to get away and now there are some powerful people inbound so this is the chaos on Sabaody has only just begun. That is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions that need answers but there is a guest review that needs a response so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.
To KGBeastboy (guest), thank you for your reviews and suggestions. I will now address them all so bear with me and this wall of text but you left nice long reviews so I will respond to them in full. The ship ideas are good, they give me a strong base to work on for the 5 crews so thank you. While I won't use all of the ideas, the colorations are things I didn't think of and this will give me ideas to work off. There are also other structures like the fore and aftcastle and where the masts are though those are more for officers and specific purposes, the levels blow deck helps a lot. Onto the specifics for the ships. For the All Might, I have a different figurehead in mind though the colors are fitting for the ship. I have their Jolly Roger in mind already though I may add that tag if it is needed. The only real thing about the below decks is that the inventing room won't be there, I think I actually revealed where on the ship that is in Chapter 2 as Mei's habit of blowing things up isn't conducive for below decks. This is a good base to work off though. As for the Black Bull ship, you pretty much got what I'm going for with it as it's the one that can change within it's hull and the stern structure due to Henry though making it from strong, black wood fits. A bull figurehead is a given for them though how it will be remains to be seen. As for the Jolly Roger, it will be a bull skull though as much as I appreciate the very subtle reference to Yami and Zoro having the same English VA with the bull's mouth holding a katana it's not the right place for it but I do like the idea of adding a katana to it though I'll stick to the colors of black and gold. I understand the red reference but remember Yami is an exile and for the moment so openly associating with Wano could be seen as working under Kaido which I doubt he wants. The standard layout is good and strong base to work off though with Charmy they'll need a large kitchen. With the Rose Pirates, color is important, it's a good reference to that aspect of RWBY so while the Captain's colors will be prevalent I'll add some for Team RWBY and JNPR as well as those four are also on the crew having joined during the Grand Line trip to Sabaody. While I have an idea for the figurehead and Jolly Roger, I may add elements of your suggestions to them as they are good ones though still keep the core of it. Again the layout is a good baseline to work off. As for the Night Pirates, that's an idea I totally didn't think of and makes a lot of sense so thank you as in Akame ga Kill, Najenda took her Imperial Arms with her when she defected so why not take her battleship as a Navy Vice-Admiral when she defects and then changes it to fit her style. It also gives her the ability to sail the Calm Belt and while the crew is only 10 it can manage. I didn't think of a figurehead but an owl does work and is a good reference plus it can tie into Najenda's past only updated for her present. As for the Jolly Roger, I actually have something special for that that's very different which I'll keep though I may add a gun to it. As a marine ship it will be easier to understand the layout but tweaked for them and this is a good base to work with. Lastly, Fairy Tail's ship. The color and style works well for Natsu and while I like the idea of how he had to buy it because Happy tried to eat it, I will likely keep that as a backstory and change the figurehead as I had a good idea for it but it would explain why they have a large ship for their crew size and are still broke. The rest of the colors do work and given some of the Devil Fruits that Fairy Tail has size is a good thing in a lot of ways so being one of the larger ships does help. The Jolly Roger is interesting, remember that unlike the other crews all members of Fairy Tail have it tattooed somewhere on their bodies (an homage to the Guild Mark) but that is different to their crest and does add to the confusion of their name but a dragon themed Jolly Roger so I'll certainly consider it. The under deck levels work well for the size and are a good base to go off like the others so thank you for all this. Now onto the Admirals. They do need codenames though as Najenda worked with them she knows their real ones and like with how Issho/Fujitora is referred to as both I'll do the same for these two depending on who's referring to them. Wolf and Rhino do fit them both well though and based on how the naming works (and google translate) that would mean that Esdeath's codename is Shirokami and Ironwood's is Guresai (literally Grey and Rhino put together and not Grey Rhino as that's a specific species that has a specific Japanese name for it) as the names are an amalgamation of the Japanese for the color and animal with the occasional letter omitted to make it better as one word. For Noelle and Juvia, their Devil Fruits will be revealed in the next chapter during the chaos on Sabaody so wait until then and there will actually be a lot of history I'm planning on both fruits as they may play into a long range subplot I'm working on that would culminate during Egghead (though not there but rather alongside it). Regardless of what their Devil Fruits are, both girls are still weak to water like any Devil Fruit user so they can't swim and will sink in water but again you'll have to wait and see what their fruits are. Lastly the Devil Fruits. I've got a different name for Shoji's that is still a reference to his power and am using Body-Body Fruit for a different character but the description works. Luck is going to be a special case that will be shown during the Black Bulls' time skip arc so I can't do any of that and it will play into other aspects down the road. Kaminari though, that's a better name than I had so I'll probably use it, thank you. The same with Toga as I was really struggling for what her Fruit should be but this actually works better and ensures that it's a Paramecia type rather than the Mythical Zoan I had initially planned for her so I can just about maintain my goal of having less Mythical Zoans than Logias. As for Twice, that's interesting in design and I may use that but his Fruit has a different name that currently works well. Good point on Shalria, she is a World Noble so you never know what she might do in the future so I'll keep that in mind and likely leave her fate unknown though they may not realize that it was Akame who attacked her. Do keep the suggestions coming and enjoying my work.
Anyway, that is enough for this long pre-chapter note so sit back and enjoy the fifth chapter in The Ultimate Worst Generation.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these great franchises.
Chapter 5: Leaving the Auction House
"That brat again? Why does he keep doing this!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku said his hand to his head as he leaned over a table the sound of an empty tea cup hitting and rolling over the floor that he'd knocked over in the wake of the news he'd just received coming to an end. "First the stuff in Logue Town, then Alabaster, Ennis Lobby, that stuff with Gecko Moria, and now this, it's just one damn thing after another with him. What the hell is wrong with that whole family? Three generations of crazy!"
The tall, seasoned, Fleet Admiral of the Navy was in a conference room in Marie Jois where he'd been enjoying tea and a meeting with two of his Admirals, Kizaru and Guresai, though the latter still preferred to be called by his real family name of Ironwood when in trusted company. The only other person in the room had been Ironwood's aid and protégé, Vice-Admiral Winter stood behind his chair at attention as he'd brought her with him for the meeting.
Everything had been going well as they discussed the plans for the impending execution of Fire Fist Ace at Marineford and the expected attack from Whitebeard to save the Commander of his Second Division. The other three Admirals were already there working on the final preparations so Sengoku had taken this time to brush up with Kizaru and Ironwood on how the day was going to go down.
Both men were seated in chairs drinking tea as Sengoku briefed them and both were in their usual attires. As Admirals they didn't need to wear uniforms under their officer coats and Kizaru did just that, the tall man wearing his gold suit under it but Ironwood didn't. True it wasn't a Navy uniform per se but he was still wearing white, high collared tunic under a gray waistcoat with a blood red tie at his throat, and white pants tucked into silver boots accented with gray.
It was a strange style but it was similar with Admiral Shirokami, though like Ironwood she preferred her real name of Esdeath, as both Admirals eschewed business attire clothes with colors associated with their Devil Fruits for a more militaristic style, even more so than the standard Navy outfits. Then again Ironwood was the picture military man, his outfit clean and pressed as he sat upright compared to the more laid back Kizaru. It made sense as he'd climbed the ranks steadily though his loyalty, determination, and thorough efficiency, all aspects that his Devil Fruit intensified.
The only odd things about Ironwood were the glove that Ironwood wore over only his right hand and the metal bar that was set into his forehead over his right eyebrow, his close cropped black hair that was gray in the temples doing nothing to hide it. Sengoku of course knew the reasons for both, they all did, but there was no need to bring it up and besides there was a benefit to keeping it a secret.
Standing directly behind him, Vice-Admiral Winter was the only person who truly seemed to understand Admiral Ironwood and was the only one he truly trusted. Groomed since joining the Navy at 15, an act that got Winter disowned and disinherited by her father which given that she was a Schnee said a lot, Winter was one of the best Vice-Admiral's around, the right hand to Ironwood and his likely successor as Admiral which given that she wasn't a Devil Fruit user said a lot to her skill.
Like Ironwood, and the others who served directly under him, Winter wore a militaristic outfit under her Navy coat consisting of a white, sleeveless blouse under a dark blue waist coat, white pants and gray thigh high boots that were attached to the waistcoat by dark blue garters with black detailing around the knees. At Winter's hip was sword she'd forged herself, a single edged, slightly curved blade with a wide crescent shaped guard over the handle and which could split in two for duel wielding.
While not a Supreme Grade blade like the saber that Admiral Esdeath carried, it was still the grade below, a testament to Winter's forging ability, and Winter was skilled in using it and a strong user of both Observation and Armament Haki. Her skills had ensured her rise through the ranks and with Admiral Ironwood as her benefactor she was going to make a great Admiral in her own right, Sengoku knew it. She would truly restore her family name that her father, who'd married into the family, had ruined. It was a shame that her sister was a damned pirate though as she too would have made a great marine.
The main reason why Winter was here was because of Ironwood's trust in her made her presence valuable or else it would have just been the two Admirals with the Fleet Admiral. It turned out that this was a good thing given the news that had just come in about what had happened in Sabaody and Straw Hat Luffy's actions were only the tip of the iceberg as the officer had more to report.
"It's not just the Straw Hats that are present." The officer who'd come in to deliver the news of Garp's unruly grandson punching a Celestial Dragon in the face said continuing his report while saluting. "In addition to them, our agents inside the building have identified the following pirate Captains: Eustass Kid, Trafalgar Law, Rose Ruby and former Vice-Admiral Najenda as being also present with either their full or parts of their crews. The total pirates present at the time of Straw Hat Luffy's assault who currently have bounties is 22 with 9 being rookies worth over 100 million."
"The Rose Pirates?" Winter asked her composure breaking for a moment, though her rigid posture remained the same as she stood at ease behind Ironwood and all present knew why she'd spoken without permission and none could blame her. "Their crew size is 8 and all have bounties, so based on your numbers it's unlikely that all of them are there but is my sister one of them?"
"I'm not sure, it's confirmed that 3 Rose Pirates are with their Captain and while all members of that crew have bounties on their heads though as only the Red Reaper is worth over 100 million so the attention was on her." The officer replied. "Plus, the key offender appears to be Monkey D. Luffy who punched a Celestial Dragon. In addition we've lost contact with the guards at the Human Shop…er I mean the Employment Office. Based on the condition of the building from outside reports and the reputations of those present the most likely scenario is that the guards have been subdued but we're expecting a few to be dead given the Night Pirate's presence as all 3 of their Super Rookies are confirmed to be there."
"Great that's just what we need to top all this off." Sengoku said his frustration growing even more at the news, especially because a disgrace to the Navy like Najenda was there. "Those butchers have the highest marine kill count out of all the notorious rookies. Thank all the gods that Admiral Esdeath isn't here, her multiple different personal issues with that crew would make her hard to restrain right now and she's already a nightmare to restrain at the best of times."
"The Admiral is openly smitten with one of the Night Pirates and used to be friends with their Captain so it's understandable that she had various issues with them." The officer said. "But whatever the case, the act of taking three Celestial Dragons hostage is a vile and unprecedented transgression."
"If the Night Pirates are there then there's a chance the Celestial Dragons are already dead, that crew is bold enough to kill them if they thought they could get away before we showed up." Ironwood pointed out. "This is an opportunity for them if they can see a path out and they're not known to hold back against those they view as evil and tyrannical."
"I don't care if they've killed the Celestial Dragons or not, the fact that three of them are there is the issue." Sengoku said not looking at anyone. "Have they made any demands?"
"No sir, there haven't been any as of yet." The officer said shaking his head and still saluting. "We don't know what the situation is inside either so we can't ascertain the status of the Celestial Dragons beyond the fact that one has been knocked out by Straw Hat Luffy."
"Well, whatever the case there's no question that immediate action is needed." Kizaru said as he took a sip of his tea that finished it while looking at Sengoku's back. "Given that the World Nobles are the victims in this, right?"
"Yes they are." Sengoku answered turning to look at Kizaru.
"Good then don't worry, I'll handle this." Kizaru said as he rose to his full, considerable, height and put down his now empty cup. "And I won't be gone for long."
"I'll accompany you." Ironwood said as he too rose. "Given who's involved we'll need two Admirals for this and better me than Esdeath when dealing with the Night Pirates, I might be able to bring them in without killing them."
"It shouldn't be an issue for me as my focus is the Straw Hats." Kizaru said as he turned and walked out. "But if you wish to bring a ship, James, then feel free to do so. There are quite a few big names there and some may know Haki so backup in rounding up the other pirates would be useful."
"It's more that if Esdeath learns of the situation then she'll charge in all the way from Marineford and I'd rather not let her loose given that she's going to be too focused on the Adaptive Monster as of late and he may not appreciate her advances." Ironwood said as Kizaru left to summon a warship so he turned to Sengoku. "That's one rookie we don't want to provoke into using his powers. We've all seen the devastation that he can wrought on an area when he unleashes his full form."
"Don't remind me." Sengoku said his hand over his face at the memory of one of their darkest moments of the last few years. "How we let that Devil Fruit be eaten, and by someone who can actually handle its power, is one of our greatest failures and that's not factoring in that he immediately joined the damned Night Pirates. Najenda was a skilled Vice-Admiral in her day and now she's a thorn in our sides who knows how we operate so can strike us harder than most."
"Part of the problem was that the unit sent to retrieve that Beast-Beast Fruit was too heavy handed in their approach." Ironwood said. "I should have gone personally as I could have handled it without wiping out that village, that was a last resort, but alas I couldn't. What's done is done, however, so all we can do now is capture him and the rest of his crew soon, it's why I'm going as well."
"Very well, see to it that you take them down but Straw Hat Luffy and his crew are the priority." Sengoku said turning back to the table. "Damn it Garp, your family can't stop messing up can it."
"Admiral." Winter said. "Allow me to go with you. If the Red Reaper is confirmed there then I don't doubt that Weiss is present as well, based on the reports it seems that those two are inseparable. I need to retrieve my sister and make sure that the rest of her crew never see the light of day again."
"What is the status of the Ace Ops?" Ironwood asked looking to Winter. "If they're already at or near Marineford then fine but if not you need to get them there right away. I understand your desire to bring in your sister and punish those who corrupted her but right now the highest priority is having all our best fighters present for the upcoming execution of Fire Fist Ace."
"Rear-Admiral Clover is already on that." Winter said formally as she gave the report her team's second in command had given her just before this meeting. "The entire team is at Marineford as we speak. I made sure that they were in position well ahead of time given what we expect to happen during the execution and Clover has confirmed that they are there."
"Very good then." Ironwood said pleased that the special forces unit he'd hand-picked was there because when Whitebeard made his move, and there was no question that he would, they'd have some of the best marines out there ready to fight his commanders. "Then you can come, let's go. I'll leave the Rose Pirates to you; I'm going to deal with a former subordinate who's insubordination has gone on for far too long."
"Yes sir." Winter said as she snapped off a textbook salute while Ironwood headed out before she followed him leaving Sengoku alone in the room.
He didn't pay them any attention as the situation in Sabaody was delicate enough that it needed his direct involvement. Sure having two Admirals on the ground was good but with the sheer number of pirates present he needed to be sure so he'd send in a few of their latest weapons as it would be a good test for them for what is to come. With that set, Sengoku went to make some calls before finding Garp to chew him out about his grandson messing things up, again.
As Tatsumi walked back into the auction house now wearing only in the ruined remains of his pants, he seriously needed to figure something out on this front as his full transformation was murder on his clothes budget which was odd as other Zoan Devil Fruits didn't rip clothes, he passed by first Pirate Hunter Zoro and Black Leg Sanji who were leading the charge out followed by the rest of the Straw Hats. With them were the Heart, Kid, and Rose Pirates as well as they all made their way out along with Dark King Rayleigh who was helping the Fishman out while Cyborg Franky carried Camie.
It seemed that they were all making their escape from the auction house which given what Straw Hat had just done was a very good idea. Thankfully Tatsumi had cleared them a nice path so they could get away and he heard the surprise and confusion as the other crews reached the havoc he'd just wrecked on the marines but he ignored it as he walked back into the auction house to find his friends were now standing having made their way to the back of room and were surveying the damage that had been caused.
"I take it that things went well." Najenda said as she lit up one of her black cigarettes and turned to look at Tatsumi. "Given that you used your full transformation out there."
"There's a path through for the other crews." Tatsumi said. "Can't really speak to how efficient I was, not much remained when I was done though I'm sure many were killed. That fire attack is damned powerful but I need better control over it if I'm to keep my transformation after using it."
"Anyone who's in the marines should know what they're getting into when they signed up, I know I did though I didn't know about the corruption and evil of the World Government." Najenda said. "A shame but until we can cut the head off the beast, the minions will be forced to pay the price that their superiors make them pay for them."
"What's the plan now?" Tatsumi asked as he reached them and Akame handed him back his sword though he didn't equip it just yet. "There are bound to be marines coming in to collect the Celestial Dragons in a moment, I could smell that there were more when I was outside. In fact I can still smell them though barley over all the blood here."
"They will and when they do we'll…" Najenda began before the badabada of her transponder snail went off. "Huh, hold on one moment."
With that Najenda picked up the snail with a 'click' and its eyes opening taking on the shade of Chelsea's dark pink eyes and a pair of ear protectors that she always word also appearing on the snail. That was unexpected but Najenda knew that if Chelsea was calling then something big was up, especially because she'd dropped whatever transformation she was using to make the call.
"Chelsea, report." Najenda said.
"Boss, I'm in Grove 27 and don't worry I'm safely hidden and ready to use my power at a moment's notice." Chelsea's voice came in over the snail though there was an explosion over it as well. "And, well, I heard what happened at the auction house."
"It was rather impressive I'll give the kid that." Najenda said with a grin that she knew the transponder snail that Chelsea was holding would pick up. "I take it that that's where an Admiral has landed."
"It is." Chelsea said. "And it's Kizaru. Currently he's engaging Destruction God Yami in a fight between Logia types but there's bound to be more incoming. He's already attacked the Magician, though he seems to be fine, while the Mad Monk and Red Flag Drake are engaging what seems to be some new weapon that's causing issues but I've not gotten a good look at it yet. Oh and the Sea Roar is hanging out on a rooftop watching the battle for some reason."
"Don't bother finding it, we'll see it on our own soon enough." Najenda said. "Thanks for the news but right now it's safer if you fall back, your strengths don't lie in straightforward battle so don't engage. Connect with Lubbock and Mine and head back to the ship. Let Su know what's going on and to have it prepared."
"Yes boss." Chelsea said and the snails eyes closed as it said 'click'.
"Right change of plan." Najenda said as she turned to her crew who were with her. "Kizaru is one that we can handle, well have a chance to handle at least, so we'll do that now as a way to test our current training levels. Tatsumi, take Akame there ahead, we'll follow. If you see this weapon, deal with it as your Haki isn't ready for a Logia type yet. Akame, the Admiral is yours though given that Yami is there there's a chance he might win already, that man's bounty isn't that high for no reason."
"Yes boss." Akame said. "But what of the Celestial Dragons."
"I hate leaving monsters like this alive." Najenda said as she looked around at the unconscious Charloss and Roswald before lingered on the growing pool of blood around Saint Shalria. "Though the woman may not make it but we're going to leave them as they are for the moment. It buys us more time if they are distracted taking care of them, which they will be given that they're the priority for the Navy right now. Kill the auctioneer though, we still need to send a message."
"Understood." Akame said and she looked to the stage and flicked her wrist. "Done."
The auctioneer, Disco, was just getting up so that he could fall back to his office and call Joker with a report on how things were, and unaware that he'd be given the auction house and left in ruins by Joker's abandonment on him, where the blade slammed into the left side of his chest. It tore through his heart and out the other side of his chest to imbed in the stage but he didn't see that, the man who sold human misery in the auction house was dead before he fell back to hit the stage his own blood adding to that of Saint Shalria's on it.
"Good now go." Najenda said. "We'll be right behind you to either back you up or pull you out if need be."
"Yes boss." Tatsumi and Akame said before Tatsumi tossed his sheathed sword back to Akame. "Here, hold onto this again. I'm going to need to be unencumbered to get us there as fast as possible."
"Of course." Akame said as Tatsumi turned and sprinted out.
Akame gave him a moments head start before she followed him as well. It was time to hunt an Admiral and they'd do all they could to take him down and send a message to the Navy that even their top dogs weren't safe from the Night Pirates.
"What the hell happened here?" Zoro asked as he and Sanji led the group out and stared at the destruction before the four Captains taking in the clear scotch mark on the ground, the black ash that was thick in the air and the fact that there were no marines before them, or any weapons for that matter. "What did you guys do?"
"My this is a sight, what am I looking at?" Brook added as he looked over the scene from next to Zoro. "And I don't even eyes, yo-ho!"
"I thought that the Captain would lose it." Shachi, one of the Heart Pirates said as he walked with the polar bear mink Bepo and Penguin by his sides. "But this is something else."
"This doesn't look like what Ruby can do." Weiss said blinking at what she was looking at. "And the heat still in the air, she's not great with fire which has to be what caused this situation."
"Well it looks like there was a little too much death but I'd say these rookies are reliable." Rayleigh said with a laugh. "They said they'd clear it out and they did."
"This isn't Kid's work." Killer said as he surveyed the scene and the four Captains who had all now turned to their crews. "There's no metal around, or bodies."
"No rose petals either." Blake noted. "So Weiss is right, it's definitely not Ruby's doing."
"And no chopped but living body's so not Law." Penguin said as Law himself headed over to a captive slave and began talking to him recognizing him as a former pirate Captain called Jean Bart and offering to free him though acknowledging the roles Straw Hat and the Adaptive Monster played in giving Law this chance. "So what?"
"It was the guy who just walked back in." Luffy said to his crew, and the others though he was only addressing his crew. "He's got this weird Zoan power and he, er…"
"Torched them to ashes." Kid said with a grin. "He turned into some kind of dragon creature that he called a Danger Beast and then obliterated them with fire, never seen anything like it."
"It's call Tyrant." Law called out. "That's the model of his Beast-Beast Fruit."
"I see, so that explains the epithet." Rayleigh said stroking his goatee as he looked around at the destruction. "Even in my day we'd only heard rummers of a Mythical Zoan that was unlike others but it was just a legend. Perhaps it's real after all, I'll have to get Shakky to look into it."
"Wait so they're dead?" Nami asked her eyes wide.
"Yup, just gone." Luffy said gesturing the ash around them to show what had happened. "Those Night Pirates don't miss a beat. Not even Ace's fire was that hot."
"Well damn." Sanji said looking around. "What kind of power can do this? We've seen the Flame-Flame Fruit and it's not like this. If Luffy says it's hotter than that then it has to be, he wouldn't lie about his brother."
"There are Mythical Zoan Fruits that allow for this kind of power, I can think of two in particular but neither are currently used by a member of the Night Pirates." Rayleigh said. "To think that that Mythical Zoan can do it as well and that a rookie has this level of control over it, it's damn impressive and he's not even the Captain."
"You ok Ruby?" Weiss asked as she, Yang, and Blake reached her and realizing that Ruby hadn't spoken yet. "You saw this as well."
"Yeah, I'm going to have nightmares just from the transformation let alone what I just saw." Ruby admitted a slight tremor to her voice as despite being a pirate Ruby was no murderer, she just loved being free which was what had led her down the path of piracy. "Those pirates don't mess around when it comes to fighting the Navy."
"Their reputation is well known though I'll give them credit that they never kill civilians unless they're evil and have been proven to be committing heinous crimes." Blake said. "Still I can't even fathom the kind of Zoan Devil Fruit that would cause this."
"Yeah this is really something else." Zoro said as the various crews huddled up on their Captains. "Luffy, what was the transformation?"
"Kid, you saw it too." Killer said. "You said it was a dragon, right?"
"It looked like one but it's not apparently." Kid said. "But it's power is no joke, the way that guy just obliterated the people here, it was something we can only dream of."
"Yeah it was…" Luffy began but before he could finish there was a shout from the entrance to the auction house and the sound of feet running towards them.
"Hey, any of you able to give me a boost into the air! Trust me you're going to want me to be airborne for this."
They all turned to see the same guy who'd strolled past them now sprinting out and down the steps towards them. Those who recognized him knew who he was and the four Captains had an idea of what was coming and Luffy for one decided that it was best to help the guy out and deal with him another time than to try and stop him.
"Sure, use my belly." Luffy said as he inhaled sharply and ballooned up, his rubber body stretching with it. "Gum-Gum Balloon."
"Thanks." Tatsumi said as he reached the ground as Luffy fell onto his back and leapt up to land both feet on Luffy's belly and use the rubber to bounce off and into the air.
As soon as Tatsumi was in the air he activated his power and his body rippled before it grew and he transformed into Tyrant once more, the wings shooting from his back and his body growing to the massive size of the monster he became when he used his Devil Fruit, well it's current look. As he did he flapped his wings to stay aloft as he roared and the wind blew down, scattering the remaining ash to the wind and getting everyone's attention as they braced in the down draft that was created.
"What is that!" Nami screamed her eyes bugging out in fear, as were Usopp, Chopper and Brook's as the first two screamed in horror at what they were seeing though they couldn't form words.
"You're right, it's a dragon of some sort." Yang said. "But…"
Before she could finish there was a flash of black and a girl raced passed all of them and leapt onto a still inflated Luffy's belly with a katana at her left hip in a red sheath and another sword on her back in a brown sheath. She paid them all no heed, same for the downdraft as another flap of wings happened while Tatsumi flew away, as she bounced off Luffy's belly and into the air as she followed him. As she did the tail flicked down and out towards her which she grabbed with her right hand before it moved up as tossed her in a flip so that the girl landed on Tatsumi's back in a crouch just as he tore off with a roar.
"That was a pretty girl." Sanji said as he tracked her as fast as he could.
"With swords." Zoro added, he'd sensed that katana and it was better than any of his even Shushi which was saying something. "What was that katana?"
"Hey, I didn't agree to the second person." Luffy complained as he let out the air in him and returned to normal. "Damn what happened."
"I'm still trying not to think of that monster." Usopp said the fear still in his voice. "What was it? Other than fuel for my next few nightmares that is."
"Technically it's called Tyrant and it's a mythical creature known as a Danger Beast, one of several that exist in legend though I only know of a few Devil Fruits that replicate them." A new voice said and they all turned to see a gray haired woman with a large green mechanical arm that those who were astute recognized as Najenda, the Captain of the Night Pirates and flanked a few paces behind her by a tall buff guy with green armor on and a strange hairstyle and a tall busty girl with short blond hair wearing only slightly more than Nami was wearing. "When it comes to Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits, that's one of the top ones out there and it takes a great will to be able to wield it. Tatsumi's the first in generations to do so."
"My what lovely ladies we have here!" Sanji said hearts in his eyes, well his visible one, as he rushed over to greet them their entrance getting his attention though he did note the other four girls present and planned to see them in a moment as well. "A cool beauty who knows how to fight and a wild girl with feline deadliness, what can I do for you ladies?"
"And he's embarrassing himself again." Zoro said with a sigh.
"Back off, I'm not interested." Leone said looking at the blond man in the Straw Hats as he reached them. "You're not man enough to handle me, I'd break you with ease."
"What!" Sanji said hurt. "Oh how your words sting but I assure you that I am more than man enough to handle any woman."
"I'd advice you lot clear out." Najenda said ignoring the man and glad Lubbock wasn't here, that could get messy and maybe force her and him to deal with the fact that both liked each other but were waiting for the other to make the first move to progress their relations. "There's an Admiral on the archipelago already, possibly two given how many of us are classified as Super Rookies. 7 right here alone with two that just left."
"Don't have to tell us twice." Ruby said looking to her crew. "Come on, let's move."
"Good idea." Weiss said. "I don't like being near Navy HQ, I'd rather my sister not learn that I'm here."
"Yeah best to head out." Blake said. "This place is about to get really hot and we don't want to be around when it does."
"We'll see you lot in the New World." Yang said as the four women turned and began to run off.
"Bye ladies I expect to see you sometime soon." Sanji called out turning towards them and waving, he'd not gotten the chance to see them and he was regretting it. "I'll make all of you feel special."
"If I may." Brook said as he walked up to Najenda and Leone. "Would either of you ladies be willing to perchance show me your panties?"
"Don't sexually harass another crew!" Nami yelled at Brook.
"Get me drunk and you may just get that chance." Leone said with a grin not caring that the man was a talking skeleton as she'd get free drinks out of him. "I like a man who's direct and not a simp though you'll have to outdrink me and I've yet to meet a man who can do that."
"My then please, when this is all said and done, allow me to buy you all the drinks you could ask for." Brook said. "You are a feisty one and I will endeavor to out drink you."
"Well the guy I want is already taken, well his heart is at least, but if you can keep up you may get a reward as you can keep what I'm wearing if you can drink me under the table when we next meet." Leone said with a wink. "You are a strange one though."
"Yes, the Revive-Revive Fruit works in interesting ways." Brook said his excitement growing. "And I assure you my dear, I will do just that."
"Damn it, why does Brook get some when I can't." Sanji said falling to his knees and banging the ground with his fist. "It's not fair!"
"Wow, she went for the perverted skeleton over you." Zoro said with a laugh. "That's low and she likes booze, seems like a good person to get a drink with."
"Now, now sugar, you're just my type." Bulat said as he knelt down and lifted Sanji's chin up. "Strong but not overly muscled and with skills beyond fighting, just what I look for in a man. Name's Bulat by the way but you can just call me handsome."
"What the hell, no!" Sanji said leaping up and away. "I like women, not men."
"Shame, I like men not women." Bulat said with a smirk. "And you're a fine looking man, Black Leg."
"Bulat, enough flirting, we need to get moving as I don't trust them to send just one Admiral which means that the second one could be anywhere on this archipelago." Najenda said and Bulat snapped to attention while Sanji protested. "Leone, follow Akame and Tatsumi and if need be pull them out of the battle with Kizaru. I'd rather everyone alive than lose someone just to take him down. We've wasted enough time here so instead of following you we're going back to the ship, meet us there as soon as possible so we can get the hell out of here."
"On it boss." Leone said with a grin as she rushed forward and leapt into the air. "Here I come guys! Don't die on me."
With that she let out a mewling roar as her body changed in midair, her whole form morphing into that of a sleek and strong looking lioness that was larger than average and still had the clothes she was wearing though she kicked her shoes off as she leapt. It didn't slow her down at all of course and she landed on all fours and bounded away running at full sprint away from them.
"Woah, she's like Lucci, a Carnivorous Zoan." Chopper said finally recovering from the monster he'd seen, that was a true monster. "A lioness."
"Yup, Leone ate the Cat-Cat Fruit, model: Lion." Najenda said with a nod. "Now if I were you lot I'd head off. It's going to get wild here thanks to Straw Hat. Great punch by the way, that bastard deserved it and more."
"Thanks." Luffy said a bit confused by what was going on.
"She's right, let's move." Rayleigh said.
"Luffy, look." Sanji said as Najenda and Bulat began to run in a slightly different direction to Leone. "They're here."
Luffy looked and grinned at what he saw. It looked like they were going to get out just fine as the Flying Fish guys led by Duval had arrived. As he waved at them, Kid and his crew took off in one direction while Law and his crew, along with their new crewmate, a now collarless Jean Bart who'd been freed by Law, headed off in a slightly different way just as the backup for the marines arrived on Grove 1.
Naturally Najenda and Bulat saw none of this as they headed off to their own ship which was in a different direction and now running to get there as fast as possible. Things were going bad but they had a good chance to possible take down and Admiral and had delivered a devastating blow to the slave trade which was good. Plus Shalria might die which was a bonus.
Of course they only made it a few Groves before they were intercepted by a contingent of marines who'd been making their way to the auction house as backup for the many marines already there and likely hadn't heard the news of what had happened to them. As soon as they arrived their officer instantly pulled out a snail.
"I've got eyes on one of the Super Rookies, it's 'General' Najenda, the Navy traitor." The officer said into it the moment his call was answered as Najenda and Bulat came to a halt. "Send back…"
He didn't get to finish as Najenda raised her right arm and blasted off the fist and forearm of her mechanical arm and at the officer. The officer was mid-sentence when the fist slammed into his face and knocked him, and several of his teeth, out as it blasted him back while Najenda reeled it back in.
"Bulat, handle them." Najenda said.
"Yes boss." Bulat said as he grinned as he pulled the long spear off his back so that it was in his hand. "Time for a bit of armor."
With that Bulat's body glowed as he activated his power and out of his body a suit of canvas and metal armor grew complete with a cape that fell to his ankles. Even though he was wearing armor, this new suit covered him as if he wasn't wearing anything else and the helm fully hid his face though the eye pieces glowed yellow as the change finished and his cape fluttered in the wind. As it did he brandished the spear and pointed it's large, triangular, red head at the marines.
"What the hell is that!" A marine asked fear in his voice.
"The power of the Armor-Armor Fruit." Bulat said as he launched himself off the ground with enough force to crack it while pulling his spear back for a thrust. "It allows me to grow armor of any design I can think of out of my body and cover myself with it. It also increases my strength and speed while being highly durable as well, not that you'll see it."
Bulat meant that as he reached the marine and slashed his spear around bisecting him at the waist, blood shooting everywhere. From there it was a simple series of slashes as Bulat spun the spear in his hands as he cut down the contingency of marines to a man, killing all of them in seconds while barely moving except for in a circle where he stood but as he was finishing he sensed a new comer and rather than wait he turned and threw his spear at the newcomer just as Najenda called out.
"Bulat, don't…"
It was too late and the spear was thrown but rather than the expected sound of it going through flesh there was the distinct clang of metal on metal. Bulat stared his eyes wide under his helmet as the spear was grasped in the extended right hand of a man in a military uniform under a Navy officer's coat that like Bulat's cape fluttered in the wind. The man had short black hair with gray temples and a glove on his right hand that was now stained red as he clenched his hand and broke the spear's head like it was nothing. To add to it Bulat didn't sense any Haki in the man's actions.
"100-Man Slayer, Bulat." The man said. "Vice-Admiral Liver speaks highly of you but you're nothing more than a butcher who betrayed the Navy who became a lowly pirate. I'm glad I get to take care of you and your traitor Captain so that you two can be executed for your treason and be examples to others should they think of betraying the Navy."
Before Bulat could say anything the man pushed forward and closed the gap in seconds, his right fist clenched as he drove it into Bulat's gut where it was canvas not plate and punched him there. Bulat gasped as he bent over the fist before he was blasted back and through three trees to crash out of sight away though thankfully he was still alive due to his armor. The whole exchange of meeting the marines to this had taken less then a minute and Najenda hadn't moved the entire time.
"If you were trying to kill him then you failed." Najenda said as the man turned to her standing in the midst of the slain soldiers with only their officer still alive though it wasn't bothering him at all it seemed. "James."
"Najenda, I came here to take you in so that you can pay for your crimes." Admiral Ironwood said looking at her, he'd arrived on the second warship though closer to Grove 1 than Kizaru who had decided to ride a cannonball into the first Grove that had been seen, and had instantly send the troops out looking while Winter went to do her own thing so that he could try and find Najenda, he'd just not expected to encounter her so quickly. "Kizaru is dealing with Straw Hat, when he figures out where Straw Hat is, but when I heard you were here as well I had to come. Be grateful it's me."
"Yes, I was worried that Esdeath would show up instead." Najenda admitted as she looked at Ironwood. "At least with you I know I can get away, she's a little trickier at the moment."
"I wouldn't bet on that." Ironwood said as he reached to his belt to draw his high end pistol that Najenda knew that Ironwood had had Dr. Vegapunk make for him and was more advanced than most pistols that existed at the moment. "You betrayed the Navy and have killed many of your former comrades along with government officials of both the World Government and affiliated nations, you're going to pay for that."
"As devoted as ever, you're still blind to the truth I see but such is your sense of justice." Najenda said as Ironwood drew his pistol and she raised her right arm again this time pointing it at Ironwood. "Or is that just the Mettle-Mettle Fruit talking, I never know which is blinding you."
"Think what you like about me, I don't care so long as justice is served, but you're all alone right now and we both know that you're a shell of your former self." Ironwood said. "Those injuries that Admiral Esdeath inflicted on you when you defected after her promotion have cut you down from your prime and you never ate a Devil Fruit. A shame as you had great potential Najenda."
"Devil Fruits don't interest me, they're strong and useful but most tend to rely too much on them." Najenda said. "And yes I may have lost a few bits but so have you. You have more metal in your body than I do, James."
"True but thanks to Dr. Vegapunk I'm not slowed down by it the way you are with that black market arm of yours." Ironwood said. "Now will you surrender peacefully."
"No, I'm not going to surrender at all." Najenda said as she fired off her right hand and forearm again. "My mission is far from done; I can't be taken in now."
"Very well, you leave me no choice." Ironwood said as he fired at the hand. "I'll…"
However he didn't get to finish as before he could the hand exploded in as if it was a grenade with all the shrapnel specially designed to blast at him the moment the bullet hit the hand. It was a special design feature of it and as the shrapnel tore into Ironwood, though he did turn to take more in the cybernetics that covered the right hand side of his body, so he only sustained a few superficial cuts, Najenda turned and sprinted away in the direction Bulat had been blasted in now missing half her mechanical arm.
It was a fair tradeoff though. James was right, Najenda wasn't what she once was. In her prime as a Vice-Admiral with all her right arm and eye still present she could have fought James, she was a gifted fighter and skilled with both Armament and Observation Haki but that had been a lifetime ago, now she was more of a commander, leader, and strategist than a fighter, that was why she had her crew to back her up.
At least James was an Admiral that they could handle. He didn't have an over powered Logia Devil Fruit and while his martial skills and Armament Haki were top tier, Akame and Tatsumi working together could take him down or distract him enough to allow for Mine to get a shot off.
However, they were busy and Najenda couldn't face James alone so she just distracted him before she ran off to grab Bulat and get clear. He might follow her, the Mettle-Mettle Fruit made James hyper focused and driven to complete his missions no matter the cost, but with Straw Hat near she was banking on James going for him while he had the chance rather than follow her. She needed to get out of here and back to the ship, hopefully Akame and Tatsumi were doing well and they'd be able to flee Sabaody with some good news.
As for Ironwood, he just brushed off his uniform and removed a few pieces of metal in him as he turned to look in the direction where Najenda had run off while ignoring the blood that was running down his face from the cuts there. He could follow her but there was little need, she wouldn't make it off the archipelago and besides, Straw Hat was the focus so he could leave her to the other marines.
He just needed to touch base with Kizaru on that and so he pulled out a transponder snail and began calling in to see who was around. The whole time he hoped that Winter was doing her own job well and taking care of the Rose Pirates as he got through to one of the marine commanders and began to get an update on the situation at hand.
"Come on, we're almost at the ship." Ruby said as she led her crew towards where the ship was docked having run straight for it from the auction house and leaving early enough to avoid any of the reinforcements that had been sent to it. "We can use that as the staging point to see where the rest of the crew is and then head out once we have them all back on it."
"Good idea." Weiss said as they ran over the strange ground of Sabaody. "We…"
"You aren't going anywhere." A female voice called out to them in an authoritative tone and from behind one of the trees a woman in her mid to late 20s stepped out from behind the tree a Navy officer's coat over her shoulders and wearing a white military style uniform with a sword at her hip though the most noticeable thing about her was the pure white of her hair as it was the same shade as Weiss's though hers was styled into a bun at the back of her head but for a long fringe that fell over the right side of her face. "As soon as I heard that the Red Reaper was present for Straw Hat's attack I knew that I had to come if I could. Hello Weiss, it's time to end this rebellious phase and come in where you belong."
"Winter." Weiss said as the girls came to a halt facing the marine who was clearly Weiss's older sister though none of them had met her before today. "I was hoping that you'd not be around while I was here but I guess the moment it was confirmed that Ruby was here you were bound to show up."
"I was with Admiral Ironwood earlier when the report came in so fortune was on my side today." Winter said. "If Straw Hat Luffy had waited a few hours I'd already be on my way to Marineford for the execution in a few days and unable to come here. Now, though, here I am and despite the situation I am pleased to see you again Weiss."
"I can't say that the feeling is mutual Winter." Weiss admitted. "This is not how I wanted our reunion to be. I presume that you came straight for us the moment you arrived."
"Naturally, I know you best so who best to bring you lot in." Winter said. "Ironwood is dealing with Najenda at the moment before he goes to aid Kizaru in pursuing the Straw Hats while the rest of the Super Rookies are dealt with by the forces we brought with us. I'd surrender now if I were you. You may be good but you can't hope to best me."
"Fat chance, you're not taking Weiss away from me, from us." Ruby said as she pulled out her scythe and activated it to its full size while Weiss flushed at Ruby specifying herself and not fully understanding why her heartbeat increased at that. "She's free from all that now so back off."
"You misheard me, Reaper." Winter said looking to the Rose Pirate's Captain. "Yes I'm going to take my sister back and use my connections to help her out, a Schnee should not have a bounty on her head so I will do all I can to get her pardoned, but the rest of you are going straight to Impel Down. With your bounty, well there's a special place for people who the Government want to forget about and that's precisely where you're heading."
"Winter, I'm not going." Weiss said drawing her sword. "I don't want to fight you but I will if I have to because we're leaving Sabaody whether you like it or not."
"I can't ignore orders Weiss." Winter said as she drew her own sword. "Please don't make me hurt you but I will if it means taking you in."
"Like you can." Yang said as she clenched her fists and cocked her arms so that her yellow gauntlets shifted to full size on her forearms. "We won't let you take Weiss or capture any of us."
"Yeah, you may be a Vice-Admiral but you can't beat us all." Blake said as she drew her short sword and her body began to swell as she activated her power. "You are defending those who buy sentients, you have no right to claim to be good or to take us in for crimes like helping people out from under the thumbs of corrupt Warlords and other officials. I have personal issues with the Schnees and while Weiss has redeemed herself and the name, you still serve those who helped oppress my people so to be you're no better than your father."
As Blake spoke she shifted into her human-beast form, her body growing several inches as what looked like black fur covered her while her canines elongated into proper carnivorous fangs and claws shot out from where her fingernails had been. At the same time a black tail shot out and whipped the air behind her as her overall musculature got leaner and more pronounced, a snarl raising in her throat as she bared her fangs at Winter. The change also unraveled her bow and her cat ears, her faunus trait, were now on display.
"A Carnivorous Zoan, interesting though that is a bit on the nose don't you think?" Winter asked looks at the girl who'd just transformed who she recognized as Shadow Cat Blake, this power explaining the epithet, who had a 65 million berry bounty the lowest of the 4 girls present. "Let me guess, the Cat-Cat Fruit, model: Panther. For a Cat Faunus that's rather blunt."
"Good guess." Black said her voice still the same despite being in her human-beast form. "And you know what those who eat Carnivorous Zoans are like, especially when we transform."
"I am aware." Winter said but she wasn't afraid of this at all. "I do know Rob Lucci after all and I doubt you're as ferocious as he is."
"Black, Yang, back me up." Ruby said as she moved Crescent Rose down by her side and lowered herself into a crouched stance her actions giving more silent orders than her words. "We'll take her. Weiss shouldn't have to harm her sister."
"Please, you think you've got a chance." Winter said as she set herself sword out and pointing at Ruby. "You've got nothing on me, Reaper."
"I will protect my crew from all who will do it harm." Ruby said as she fired a shot and blasted herself forward. "And that includes you so get ready to go down!"
"Ruby wait, Winter may not be a Devil Fruit user but she's not considered a future Admiral candidate for nothing." Weiss called but it was already too late as Ruby was on Winter and swinging her scythe at Weiss's sister.
Of course Winter was already for this and as Ruby reached her she gracefully spun out of the way, her coat flapping as she did, and slashed Ruby across the back with her sword as the pirate Captain passed her. The blow wasn't infused with Haki, Winter didn't see the need for it, and would easily cripple the Red Reaper in a single blow allowing her to be caught with ease and eventually sent to Level 6 of Impel Down where she belonged.
At least that was the plan as Winter turned to the girl who'd shot past her and was now crouched on the ground that ridiculous scythe at her side and behind her so that it was pointing at Winter's gut. However, the moment Winter saw Ruby's back and saw no damage at all, and no blood, only a few red rose petals falling through the air did she realized her big mistake. This needed to be alerted right away as it wasn't in any reports regarding Rose Ruby.
"Shit, you're a Logia…" Winter began before a grinning Ruby pulled the trigger and a bang was heard as she fired a round right at Winter at a distance that wouldn't miss.
The round slammed into Winter's belly and only her Observation Haki giving her the gut feeling that this was all a big plan, that and the whole seeing that Rose Ruby was a Logia type, allowed Winter to get the Armament Haki up and over her gut in time to take the shot there and protect herself. She still staggered back and coughed from the impact, a neat hole now in the abdomen of her uniform though if anyone could see they'd see the hardening there that was the clear indication of Armament Haki being active.
"Ruby!" Weiss shouted. "You shot my sister!"
"It wasn't a lethal shot." Ruby said turning to see Winter hunched over holding her gut. "And the round wasn't piercing, it was a disruption round, so it…"
Before Ruby could finish Winter looked up and grinned as she pushed off the ground, the center of her forehead turning black as it was coated with Armament Haki right before she slammed it into Ruby's face. This time there was an impact and Ruby yelled in pain, blood fountaining from her nose as she was blasted back and hit the ground hard, rolling over it as Winter staggered on landing and rose to her full height while Ruby lay on the ground several feet from her moaning in pain but thankfully still conscious.
"Logia types always think they're invincible." Winter said. "But they learn soon enough that someone with Armament Haki can easily beat them. Good thing I'm taking you in now or else you wouldn't survive in the New World."
"Ruby!" Yang shouted as she blasted off the ground with blasts of the special ammunition from her gauntlets and at Winter. "You'll pay for hitting my sister you bitch!"
"So you're sisters like Weiss and me, interesting, I wasn't aware of that." Winter said turning as Yang reached her, the blonde woman's fist cocked back for a punch. "Well you'll be locked up together then though you're bounty isn't high enough to be on the Reaper's level."
Winter didn't move, she just coated her cheek with Armament Haki hardening and took the punch there with a boom, grinning as Yang's fist hit her and didn't make Winter move. As she did, Winter moved her sword to her left hand and clenched her right fist, Armament Haki coating it just like it coated her cheek.
"Not bad but let me show you how to throw a real punch." Winter said before she drove her fist into Yang's gut hard and fast as Yang was removing her fist causing the woman to gasp out air and bend over it but she stayed standing as Yang clutched her gut and doubled over in pain. "Damn, I'm impressed you can take that. Have another then."
With that Winter launched a savage uppercut with her still Haki covered fist as Yang looked up so that it hit Yang under the jaw with enough force to lay her out on her back. What Winter didn't know, nor did she have time to prepare for, was that all this was part of Yang's plan though it would take a moment for it to kick in, a moment that the other two would give her as Blake let out a snarl and leapt at Winter as she was laying out Yang.
"Yang!" Blake roared as she brought her sword around and down hard.
"Now, now, you'll be with her soon enough though I'd say you're bounty is worth Level 3, maybe 4, while hers is an easy Level 5 bounty." Winter said as she swiftly turned and raised her own sword in her left hand to catch attack on it with a clang as the blades sparked though she noted that Blake's blade was as black as he fur. "And let's not let you use that ferocity of yours, shall we?"
With a push, Winter forced Blake's blade up despite the clear strength boost the Zoan user had in her hybrid form, which was on top of Blake's already enhanced strength as a faunus, as she leapt up with a spin so that she was looking at the ground with her legs over her head and fully above Blake. As she did, Winter coated her right foot in Armament Haki and drove it down onto the back of Blake's head driving her face first into the ground with a boom that partially buried her. The blow was such that Blake's transformation fell and she returned to her normal faunus form as she flopped to the ground.
"There, that's all you sorted so now…" Winter said as she twisted and landed so that she was facing Weiss but as she did she let out a gasp of pain as something fast shot past her and sliced her in the side before she could finish speaking to her sister.
All of this, all that the girls had been doing had been to set up Weiss for an attack though they'd have preferred it that she not hurt her sister if it could be avoided. However, they knew the moment that Winter appeared that they'd need to and their teamwork and trust was second to none so they'd each attacked and taken hits so that Weiss could crouch down and create a line of circular white glyphs with a spinning snowflake in them as Blake was kicked.
Then, as Blake hit the ground, she was more durable in her hybrid form but Weiss would still get her some good tea for this as that was a heavy hit that she'd taken, Weiss shot forward along the glyphs faster than Winter could register. As Weiss did she kept her sword to her side ready to strike in the split second that she could do so.
So that it would word Weiss had ensured that her glyphs were slightly off. That way Winter wouldn't notice and ensure that Weiss slashed her sister as she passed the tip of her rapier only cut a line in Winter's right side that was deep enough to cause pain and bleed to the point that it was an inconvenience but not deep enough to kill or seriously wound Winter. It was a precise, surgical, strike but Weiss had been taught how to wield a sword by Winter so she knew what she was doing.
"Damn, that was well done Weiss." Winter groaned as she turned following the disappearing glyphs to see her sister standing behind her and a few feet in front of Ruby, her rapier in her left hand the tip dripping blood onto the ground, Winter's blood. "You all planned that to land a hit that would injure but not kill me thanks to the power of the Glyph-Glyph Fruit. I see you've trained hard since I last saw you."
"You always taught me that training was important so I kept it up after you left and made sure to add more to it from the friends I met along the way." Weiss said as Winter moved her sword to her right hand and placed her left over her side to ascertain the sound that was now staining her cloths red with her blood. "I don't want to hurt you Winter but I will if it means that me and my friends can get away from you and the Navy."
"I can tell, you could have done a lot worse, perhaps even killed me if you'd wanted." Winter said pulling her bloody hand away and looking at Weiss. "With your talents you'd make a great marine, please, come in and join Weiss. I'll make sure you're cleared and you can help me restore the family name that our father ruined. I'll even let your friends go if you come with me now. What do you say?"
"What do you think I'm doing!" Weiss retorted the frustration clear in her voice at the mention of their father and focusing on that because she wasn't going to leave her friends for the marines no matter the offer. "Even after they came for him and he forced me to eat the Glyph-Glyph Fruit I knew that I had to be better than him and restore the name and that's why I joined Ruby and her crew. She was there to help me when no one else was, she, Yang, and Blake showed me what true friends and family are, they helped me break free of the prison that I didn't even realize I was in."
"That's why I joined the marines." Winter said understanding what Weiss was going on about. "I needed to be free of our father no matter the cost. I lost my status, my inheritance, and the family's Devil Fruit because of it but I'd do it again for the freedom that it brought me."
"Don't delude yourself, Winter." Weiss said tears in her eyes as she hated fighting with her sister but their paths were divergent at the moment and hearing Winter claim that she was free hurt Weiss more than she thought it would. "You aren't truly free of our father and you never will be so long as you're nothing more than a dog wagging her tail for the World Government."
"What do you mean?" Winter asked her eyes narrowing as she looked at Weiss. "I am serving the good of the world, bringing people like our father to justice who deserve it. That includes pirates like you Weiss and I will bring you in but I'll do all I can to save you from Impel Down. As I said, if you come with me now I'll even overlook your friends this once."
"If that's what you need to tell yourself so that you can sleep at night then so be it." Weiss said with a sigh and a tear rolled down her left cheek going over the lower half of the scar there but she still had hope that one day her sister would understand and she'd do her best to plant that seed now. "But out of us I am the only one truly free from father's hold, you aren't and I don't know what's come of Whitley. Do you know where I was Winter when Straw Hat punched that Celestial Dragon in the face?"
"The Employment Office." Winter said simply.
"The Human Auction House." Weiss corrected and the flash of pain in Winter's eyes told Weiss that she was right in thinking that Winter knew the truth of that place. "Yeah, you know that's bull and just go along with it because the World Nobles run the show so things like the ban on slavery don't apply to them."
"They are the World Nobles, the descendants of the founders of the World Government." Winter said. "I don't have to like what they do to serve the good of the world."
"No, you just bark when they call on you to do their bidding rather than actually doing good and arresting them for their countless crimes." Weiss said. "You know that father was part of all that misery, that he used slaves of all races, especially fishmen and faunus, in the mines that he stole from mother and grandfather when he married into the family and took over the business and no one cared what he did because he paid the right people off. You know as well as I do that he bought and sold slaves, that he did what he could to ingratiate himself with the Celestial Dragons because he wanted to become one, and now you defend the very people who yanked his chain as well."
"I…" Winter began but she didn't really have an answer for it.
"Don't bother, I know that you can't answer that." Weiss said giving Winter a hard look despite another tear rolling down her cheek. "You're not restoring shit, Winter. You're serving the same bastards that our father did. Our name is ruined because of him yes but it was Ruby who exposed it and father was taken down because they needed a scapegoat for what Ruby showed the world, it's how she earned her first bounty by the way so she became wanted for doing actual good. However, by serving those he did as well you're no better."
"I won't lie and say that I like the Celestial Dragons." Winter admitted. "They aren't gods to me and I know that what they do is evil. I'm in the marines to do good, I swear on our family name that that is true."
"I know that you are in the marines to do good but so long as the World Nobles exist you will never truly do good by serving them." Weiss said with a sigh. "I hope that one day you see that and make the right choice but until then I will fight you just as I'd fight any marines who came my way. Be grateful that you came for me, Ruby saw what the Adaptive Monster did to the marines at the auction house, I saw the aftermath and his transformation, I'm sure it will give me nightmares. I still love you Winter, I always will, so please, for me, never cross paths with the Night Pirates."
"I am aware of what Tatsumi can do, more than you as that Devil Fruit of his is exceptionally dangerous." Winter said. "I was part of the backup team that went to find out what happened to the retrieval unit sent to get it, I saw the death and destruction he caused when he first used it so I will do my best to avoid them but I won't stop doing what is right. I love you too Weiss and know that I'm doing this out of love. It's time to come in and regardless, I will only take you in, I'll let your friends walk this time as I can tell you care for them deeply."
With that Winter clicked her handle and her sword split into two and she caught the other one in her left before she leapt at Weiss intending to strike her with non-lethal blows to get incapacitate all four of them. Then she'd take Weiss with her and leave the others here, they can flee for all she cared but this would be the only time she showed them such courtesy and it was a thank you to them for looking after her sister so well.
That plan changed as Weiss raised her right hand and created a large glyph in front of her. Winter knew the Devil Fruit that had made their grandfather famous well, a fruit that had inexplicably appeared in the family's garden right after he died and was kept for her when she came of age to receive it, and then for Weiss when Winter forfeited her rights to inherit by joining the Navy against her father's wishes.
There were a lot of benefits to the Glyph-Glyph Fruit, not least of which it's low threshold for awakening, but it was still a Devil Fruit and Haki worked on them so as Winter flew at Weiss she coated her hands and swords in Armament Haki turning them black as she brought them to bear on the glyph. The moment that the glyph was hit with her swords there was a boom and air blasted out and around but the glyph held. That did surprise Winter as she pushed against the glyph with her black swords and fell to the ground, Weiss staring at her from behind it the entire time as the glyph continued to hold.
"If you'd stayed you'd have learned why the Glyph-Glyph Fruit is considered one of the strongest paramecia types out there." Weiss said as she moved her arm back. "It's immune to Haki, you won't break it with your swords."
"Damn that's rare indeed." Winter said as Weiss thrust her arm forward and the glyph pushed Winter back, her boots sliding over the grass. "But that won't stop me from taking you in Weiss."
"I know, I was only meant to distract and block you, I was never the one who was going to defeat you Winter." Weiss said with a smile. "I must thank you though, those blows you gave Yang were very useful."
"They still hurt you know!" Yang bellowed as she blasted off again having gotten up while Winter's attack was blocked. "But yeah, thanks for that now begone bitch!"
Winter turned and this time as Yang flew at her, her hair burst into what looked like golden flames and her eyes turned blood red. It was clearly a Devil Fruit power at work and Winter got her still Haki covered swords up in time to block the punch.
However, the force of the punch was considerably more than the one that Yang had used before and she quickly pushed through Winter's block and past the swords to strike Winter in the jaw. At the last moment Winter covered her jaw in Armament Haki which took the blow for a moment before it shattered and Yang's fist slammed into her jaw with an audible crack.
Winter was stunned, both physically and literally, by that as she was blasted back hard. She flew through the air and slammed back first into a tree several feet away with enough force to go through it and crash to the ground behind it before rolling away.
"Damn, your sister may be in the Navy but she's one tough bitch." Yang said shaking her now bloody right fist as she rubbed her chin with her left hand. "Thankfully the Burn-Burn Fruit that I ate allows me to turn damage, even Haki infused damage, into power that is strong enough to break most Armament Haki if I have enough of it but still that was a lot."
"Yeah I know but lets move." Weiss said as she turned to see Ruby slowly getting up with her scythe as support blood still running from her nose. "Sorry for that guys and thank you all for standing up for me, it means a lot."
"It's fine, you're one of us." Ruby said as she looked up and smiled which was eerie with the blood on her face, which itself was odd as that was the first time that Weiss had seen Ruby bleed as she'd already eaten the Petal-Petal Fruit before Weiss met her. "We'd do it again just as you'd do it for us. Now let's go, we've got a moment so come on we need to be as fast as possible. Blake, you good?"
"That was one hell of a kick but I can make it back though I'm going to need Jaune to look at my head when this is done." Black said with a groan as she finished pretending to be out cold and pushed herself to her hands and knees as her body rippled and she turned into her full beast form, a larger than normal, muscular but still lithe, panther. "I can make it back though. Get on Yang, let's go."
"Right, onward noble steed." Yang said excitedly as she turned and leaped onto Blake's back. "To the ship!"
"I'm going to bite you for that." Blake said with a slight growl as she sprang off the ground and began to run. "After we're free though."
"You're with me, Weiss." Ruby said as she put away Crescent Rose and holstered it on her back. "Let's go."
"Wait can you…" Weiss began but before she could Ruby had rushed forward and scooped Weiss up in a princess carry, the girl was a lot stronger than she looked and turned to blast off after Blake and Yang.
Blast off was quite literal with Ruby as a tornado of rose petals burst form her as she turned her lower half into them and shot through the air the way only a Logia user could while carrying Weiss. Weiss would have complained but she was too busy enjoying the carry and blushing to notice even it, or the drops of Ruby's blood did hit her white cloths and stain them red.
They'd managed to fend off Winter and while three of them were hurt they were still standing so they could quickly return to the ship and leave the archipelago. It was time to flee Sabaody and enter the New World and all that awaited them there.
Winter just smiled as she watched Weiss be carried off by her Captain while the other two also fled. She was pleased that her sister had found such good friends who were making her stronger and better than their family ever could have. Winter had never really planned to capture them but she'd actually been forced to put up a good show by Weiss and her friends, and deal with some harsh truths from Weiss in the process. It wasn't bad and once they got stronger in the New World, well the next time they met Winter might not have to hold back at all when they faced off.
Those harsh truths were what really got to Winter as what Weiss had said about her and their father wasn't wrong. No matter how Winter looked at it she was still nothing more than a dog for the World Nobles but if Winter could use that to help the common people than she would and that was how she'd free her family's name. It was her way of doing it just as Weiss had her way even if that meant that they were on opposite sides at the moment.
Winter was cut off from her thoughts by the sudden badabada of the transponder snail in her coat pocket. Knowing who it was, Winter quickly pulled it out and answered it as the metal bar thing appeared over the right eye of the snail confirming that it was Admiral Ironwood.
"Vice-Admiral, I need you to head to Grove 13 right away." Ironwood's voice said through the snail. "Admiral Kizaru and the Warlord Bartholomew Kuma, the real one not the Pacifistas based off him, have corned Straw Hat Luffy and his crew there. We need to back them up."
"Yes sir." Winter said not bothering to ask about Ironwood's own plans as the priority had always been Straw Hat and his crew despite Ironwood's claims to be here for former Vice-Admiral Najenda. "I'm on my way."
With that she ended the call and the snail went 'click'. As it did she put it back in her coat pocket and hurried off towards Grove 13 ignoring the wound she'd taken as she moved. This was the true mission and she'd do it to the best of her ability as the chaos continued to reign all around Sabaody in the wake of Straw Hat Luffy's actions.
Winter was intent on helping bring in Straw Hat Luffy for those actions. He was cornered, there was no way out for him, she was sure of it. The rest would be dealt with in the New World, for now it was time to end the chaos and capture Straw Hat.
I think that's a good place to end this long chapter off at. Originally this was supposed to cover the entire chaos in Sabaody but after realizing how long it was taking I decided to first break it up into two and now three chapters to cover various aspects of the chaos as the new crews try to leave Sabaody while dealing with the fallout of Luffy's punch. This one dealt with the background of the Admirals' arrival and the aftermath of the auction house with what happened to the two crews there though as is obvious Akame and Tatsumi still have more work to do. The next chapter will deal with more of the chaos that is going on elsewhere on the archipelago in the wake of Luffy's actions regarding some of the other crews and set up the final chapter before they all leave Sabaody but y'all will have to wait for that. Other than that there isn't much to say here, this was a standard chapter with several new Devil Fruits revealed and some action to enjoy. For those wondering, the Armor-Armor Fruit for Bulat is to cover the armor aspect of Incursio while Tatsumi, who fully maximized Incursio in the series, got the full Danger Beast Mythical Zoan and is how I chose to do the Devil Fruits of two users of the same Imperial Arms. As for Blake's, it made more sense for it to be a standard Zoan than her semblance as I couldn't figure out how best to work it what with Gecko Moria and Nacht already having shadow based Devil Fruits so a panther Zoan was a better fit. Anyway, that is all that I have for this chapter so I will leave it off here. If you liked this please favorite, follow, leave a review, or let me know in a PM and if there are any questions will posed in reviews and PMs I will try to answer them as best I can. Until next time.
Stringdog