Disclaimer: Godzilla and One Piece are the sole properties of Toho Co. LTD and Eiichiro Oda respectively. KP360 claims no ownership of anything save for any OCs, abilities, and locations.
Sabaody Archipelago opening: Sleep Walking Orchestra by Bump of Chicken (Dungeon Meshi OP 1)
(The opening instrumental pans down to the Thousand Sunny as it sails on the open sea.)
Soto kara mado wo kugutta hikari ga yuka ni tsukutta saisho notomodachi
Karappo no te wo tayasuku torarete tsuredasarete kara yume no naka
Ikutsu ka no futsuu ga kasanariau to tokidoki soko ni wa mahou gayadoru
Are wa osoraku akuma datta are kara samenai yume no naka
(A montage of every Straw Hats shows, their name on vibrant display, with other symbols belonging to them in the background as well as a vital moment when they joined the crew)
Kago no naka tori ga naite kizuita
Nakushiteita koto mou hikikaesenai koto
(An elderly man downing a bottle of alcohol is shown while reminiscing of another figure, this one sporting a familiar yellow straw hat with a wide grin. On the other hand, it shows Hachi looking in remorse at the Straw Hats, his eyes falling on Nami in particular.)
Doushite karada wa ikitagaru no kokoro ni nani wo motometeiru no
Hai ga suikonda tsuzuki no sekai nando demo haita inochi no akashi
(Another montage, this time of The Worst Generation giving an example of their power. It then shifts to a scene where a battalion of Marines have shown up, cutting to a scene where Vice-Admiral Gideon locks weapons with a woman sporting a savage grin surrounded by a lime green Aura)
Saa ima kagi ga mawaru oto sagashi mono ga sasayaku yo
Akai chi ga meguru sono subete de mienai ito wo taguriyosete
(Another montage showing the Straw Hats getting knocked down, large shadows overlooking them as they determinately got back to their feet. The scene ends with the same elderly man looking up to see the one he was thinking of step through his door, now back with multiple others, only to shift to the form of Luffy and the other Straw Hats as a smile grew on his face. The closing instrumental shows the Straw Hats reaching Sabaody Archipelago as they proceeded to celebrate)
Impel Down, Grand Line:
There were few places in the world that could be counted as impenetrable. No matter how durable something is, no matter how air tight. There will always be cracks, and there will always be holes to bore through.
None of that, however, applies to The Great Gaol of the World Government. Situated within impassable, treacherous waters and extended into the murky depths, the supermax prison is a nation all on its own, a place where the world's most dangerous criminals lived in purgatory before their fated demise. Anyone that threatens the World Government's vision of hegemony was to be sent here, locked up and essentially rendered null to the rest of the void.
For one such prisoner, such misfortune seemed to have been waiting for him.
His wounds still stung, but Portgas D. Ace's pride was what truly was hurt. Despite having the drive to do what needed to be done, he had underestimated just how cunning Teach was. It seemed as if his former subordinate had planned this right from the start, he knew that he would chase him all the way from the New World, that he'd be pushed on by the need to fulfill the blood oath of the Whitebeard Pirates. And Ace had fallen for it hook, line and sinker.
He had failed Thatch. Worse, he'd failed Oyaji.
Straining against his restraints, he managed a sitting position. The movement drew the attention of the other person within his cell.
"Ace, don't push yourself." a large fishman rumbled "Just because you've eaten a Logia doesn't mean you're invincible.
"...Jinbe?" the young pirate whispered hoarsely. Beside him, the stocky figure nodded. Despite being also incarcerated, the whale shark fishman's eyes glowed with a determined fire, his flowing robes remained pristine even in the squalor conditions of their containment.
"I heard what happened, the incident between you and Blackbeard." the former warlord stated "It was him that handed you over. It seems like he has other goals in mind."
"Damn it…" the youth's rage simmered; Oyaji had always warned him about his temper, how his impulsiveness would make him put actions above reason. Teach was for certain banking on his pursuit, but for what reason, he does not know.
"How did you get here?" Ace questioned.
"You haven't heard? News of your capture has already reached Whitebeard's ears. He is already on the move and heading towards Marineford."
"Pops is coming here…? Then that means…" Ace gritted his teeth; his poor planning has really created much trouble for everyone this time.
"That's what is expected of Whitebeard, he won't leave one of his own behind." Jinbe affirmed.
"Is that why you're here?"
"Yes, the other warlords are all being gathered already. I had refused."
"I'm sorry… Looks like my troubles have gotten even you mixed into it."
Jinbe shook his head "Whitebeard is protector of Fishman Island, I and many of my brethren owe our lives to him. I would never raise my fists against him for anything. However his being here will bring about-"
"The Knight of the Sea once again reveals his soft underbelly. How poetic." The gravelly voice alerted the two as Jinbe's features morphed into a scowl.
"I suppose you count your own circumstances much better then, Crocodile?"
The former despot of Alabasta only smirked at the comment. Brought down from his high position, his rich attire now replaced with a ragged prison outfit, Crocodile nonetheless remained unfazed, rubbing his golden hook slowly as he leered at the other 2 prisoners.
"I merely act as a bystander, seeing how such misplaced compassion will bring others to ruin."
"Of course, why else would you have so much to say?"
Crocodile scoffed "You think with your non-participation, Whitebeard would have one less foe to worry about? The old man has more enemies than you have years in your life. Half of the very people in this prison would die to get a chance to kill him!" The statement, backed by a savage chorus of agreement, got the message through enough.
"Empty threats from those who can't measure up." Jinbe growled. "Every one of those that wants Whitebeard's head have all been defeated by him. You should know that well enough yourself." Crocodile snarled at the jab.
Ace took in every comment with half a mind; it was clear what will occur now. Whitebeard will never let the hurt of one of his sons be unanswered, the old man and the rest of the crew will now be paying for his capture.
The young pirate pursed his lips; his future, now more than ever, becomes ever so uncertain.
Meanwhile:
The sea breeze and sunshine spells good fortune for those who sail under it. Their voyage has had its ups and downs,
"There! Right before us! That's the Red Line!" Nami called out. Looming over the horizon, the towering wall of vermillion stone stretched as far as the eye can see. It cannot be more clear on how far they've come. To think that mere months before the crew were all off in their own individual predicaments, the circumstances that brought them together could not have been better.
More importantly, however, this marks a checkpoint to a long journey.
"And if that's the case, it's probably the most important moment of our little journey yet!" Gian grinned "Just on the other side of that barrier is the second half of the Grand Line. Congrats, Luffy, your little squad has made it halfway around the world!"
"Yeah! We finally made it this far!"the captain cheered.
"To that just a while ago, on that rainy night…" Sanji smiled.
"We certainly aren't the same people we were back then." Zoro nodded.
"So much has happened…" Usopp wept "We've been through so much to get here!"
For the crew's oldest members, it was the moment they've been waiting for. Such an accomplishment had made every bit of struggle and turmoil worth it. For the ones that joined in later on, the emotions were palpable to them, and they too could only be impressed.
"Incredible… 50 years ago my old crew tried to make it here, I never thought I'd see it now!" Brook gazed in awe.
"Last time I saw this place was more than 30 years ago…" Franky whistled.
"I never thought I'd be back so soon." Robin murmured.
"It's so tall!" Chopper gasped "To think there'd be such a sight out here!"
"You did good, captain, we've made it farther than a good number of other pirates out here." Gian patted the rubber boy on his back.
"I managed to come here without losing anyone…" Luffy gave a determined smile "With you guys by my side, I know it now! I'm definitely gonna be the Pirate King!"
For all the celebratory mood, they were more eager to anticipate what will come after. The next destination has already been set, and they couldn't wait to see what awaited them.
"Ok, now for the elephant in the room." Gian noted, pointing below the ship "Fishman Island is where we need to go, but for us to do that…"
"Sunny isn't exactly submersible now is she?" Zoro mused.
"I did whip up something a while back," Franky revealed "we can scout it out underwater with it."
The little shark submarine could only fit 3 people, one spot in which Luffy was already quick to call dibs on. Robin and Brook decided to accompany him, mostly to keep the energetic kid out of trouble.
"See anything?" Sanji called over the communications.
"It's almost pitch black!" Brook answered back "The light on our sub can only go so far!"
"Such darkness hides a myriad of deep sea predators. They are just waiting to strike and make a meal out of us."
"NOOO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE-Ah, wait, I'm already dead! YOHOHO-!"
"Oi! Robin don't say that! That's bad luck!" Usopp snapped.
"It's so cool underwater! I saw so many fish I've never seen before! I hope I see a sea monster too!"
"AAAHHH! It sounds so scary underwater!" Chopper wept.
"Quit fooling around Luffy!" Nami snapped "Don't forget what we're looking for!"
"We will have to take this deeper. It says we're almost 5000 meters below sea level, but we still haven't found anything." Robin answered.
"Then you can't go any further!" Franky called out "You're approaching the limit of the sub, it looks like you won't be able to do anything about it, let's call it off."
"Awwww… But I want to look around more!" Luffy cried.
"Um… this might be Robin rubbing off on me, but did we really send 3 Devil Fruit users down into the depths of the sea where they can't do anything?" Gian grimaced.
"...We really didn't think about that when they left, did we?" Usopp sweat-dropped.
"Take them back up!" Nami ordered. After a while, the trio re-surfaced with much to report, though nothing regarding what they needed.
"SHISHISHISHI~! It was so much fun down there!" Luffy laughed.
"No luck huh?" Gian gave an assuring smile.
"It looks like Fishman Island is much deeper than what our vessel is capable of." Robin sighed.
"This is just like when we went to Skypiea, we had to find an unorthodox method then too." Sanji noted.
"Is there another route we can take?" Zoro inquired.
"There is," Gian noted "We only have to take the long way up the Red Line to the Holy City of Mariejois. Let's hope the Marines are in a good mood."
"Don't have to rub it in…" Franky drawled.
"In that case, we should probably lay low for now." Robin mused "Not only is the center of the World Government here, Marine HQ is not far from here either."
"We'll think of something. In the meantime, we really shouldn't make a ruckus." Nami noted "I think we've had enough fun and-" her words were interrupted as the water around them erupted and a large mass screeched as it emerged.
"THEY FOUND US ALREADY?!" Usopp cried.
"No, this is something wild!" Zoro growled as he drew his swords. The rest of the crew got a good look at their attacker, now emerged and ready to attack."
"Sea Rabbit…" Gian gritted "Just another reminder on where we are." the sea beast, with the body of a large fish and the head of a hare, growled as it sized up its potential meal.
"Pretty big sucker isn't it?" Sanji braced himself.
"Not big enough for us!" Luffy declared before leaping towards the creature "Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" With one punch, the captain sent the aggressor flying with a splash. Rearing back up, the sea beast roared as it charged again, only for Luffy to deliver another right hook. This time the sea rabbit hacked up something from within its mouth before it fell back into the sea, finally realizing that its prey had too much fight in it.
"Yeah! How'd you like that!"
"Something came out of that thing!" Chopper noted. Indeed, the crew turned to see two forms sprawled onto the deck of the Thousand Sunny.
"Ugh… I'm all sticky!" a young girl's voice complained "Ah, but I'm free now! We've been saved, Pappug!"
"Wait… is that a-?" Usopp gasped.
The girl shook out the remaining viscera from her olive green hair before letting out a big smile. The bright colors of her clothes may have attracted attention, but the crew were drawn to what's lower.
In particular, the pink-scaled fish tail she has where her legs should be.
"IT IS!" Sanji whooped in joy "A MERMAID, AN ACTUAL LIVING MERMAID!" The noise was enough to make the girl notice once she found her bearings.
"WAAAAHHH THERE ARE SO MANY HUMANS HERE!" the mermaid screamed.
"AAAAHHHH YOU JUST CAME OUT OF THAT RABBIT!" Luffy shouted back.
"AHHHHH!"
"AAAHHH!"
Overreaction aside, once everything settled down, introductions were soon made.
"It was you guys that saved us, thank you all so much!" the mermaid bowed "My name is Camie, do any of you guys like Takoyaki?"
"Eh?! That's my favorite food!" Luffy beamed "Do you have some?"
"I thought meat was your favorite food." Gian laughed.
"I can like multiple things!"
"I know someone that can make it!" Camie grinned "I help out part time at a floating Takoyaki stand, the owner is really good at making it!"
"Eh?! Really? Then we gotta go!" thoughts of delicious fried octopus balls soon dominated the single brain cell of the rubber captain. His eyes were already glittering at the news. The rest of the crew could only shake their heads sheepishly at the boy's one track mind.
"If you're working at a sea restaurant, what are you doing out here? Got lost in a grocery run or something?" Franky asked.
"I was looking for help when the sea rabbit ate me whole!" Camie lamented "I guess I just taste good to sea animals, it's happened 20 times already."
"You really need some self-defense classes…" was the general thought when they heard that.
"Oh, but I've been saved now! Normally Hacchin is the one who usually protects me but he's not here right now! Good thing you guys are!"
"And of course we'd do anything for a pretty thing like you!" Sanji swooned "I'm so happy to have finally seen a mermaid! You're the first one I've met in my life!"
"Eh? What about Granny Kokoro?" Usopp tilted his head "Wasn't she-?" the sniper yelped as an eerie aura surrounded the cook.
"...There is nothing mermaid about whatever she is…! I have seen all the horrors in Thriller Bark and elsewhere. Nothing could compare to that…!"
"Don't be so mean!" Nami chastised "She saved most of your lives!"
"To be fair, I have trouble believing it myself and I was practically raised by her." Franky commented.
"Eh? Kokoro-obasan is a mermaid? I didn't know that!" Luffy gawked.
"This is news to me as well." Gian frowned.
"Oh right, back then you two were still fighting with Rob Lucci and Gylzar while the rest of us were down in the tunnels. We were trapped underwater and we would've died if not for her." Chopper answered.
"I can't see it." Luffy shrugged, "She's too ugly to be a mermaid." Nami kicked him for that comment.
"That's way too judgemental! Don't just deny her heritage because of that!"
"Nope…" Zoro chimed in, and the other members of the crew watched in awe as the memory of Kokoro's mermaid form simply disappeared from his head space "This is the first time we've ever seen one."
"HE ERASED IT!" Chopper gave a flabbergasted shout "HE JUST ERASED HIS MEMORY!"
"She could just be a good swimmer. I've seen pictures of mermaids and none look like her." Gian snorted.
"People age, Gian." Robin pointed out "Though for right now, our new friend is rather cute isn't she?"
"I must say though, I've personally never seen a mermaid myself." Brook chimed in "And to see one so pretty as well!" giving a small bow the skeleton walked up "Hello miss-"
"Brook, give it a rest." Gian sighed, seemingly knowing where this was going to go. "She's part fish, she doesn't have panties."
"-Do you mind giving me some money?"
"WHY WAS THAT WHAT YOU WENT WITH!?" The Kaiju-Zoan user facefaulted.
"Ah, I actually have a question myself!" Luffy smacked his head "Do you poop?"
"WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?!" Nami screeched.
"Well actually I-" the mermaid started.
"DON'T ANSWER HIM!" This time it was Sanji who shoved the captain aside.
"But it was a good question, I'd understand why-" the activity died down when they heard the strumming noise of a guitar, its plucks low and melancholy.
"Camie… making friends I see… you're out there having so much fun, but aren't you forgetting someone? He's there waiting for an introduction… only to be ignored so brutally… could that person be… me?" The crew looked down to see a small orange sea star of all things, his voice drawn out and giving the mermaid a hopeful look.
"I'll be honest I didn't see you there at all." Gian quipped.
"YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO ADMIT IT!" The starfish wept.
"Don't just tell him that to his face!" Nami groaned.
"Ah I forgot!" Camie hurried over and picked up the sea star "This is Pappug, he's my pet and my master!"
"...Which is supposed to come first?" Gian blinked.
"We're both from Fishman Island. There I'm a rising star in the world of fashion design. Camie's always had a knack for clothing and she's been my disciple for quite a while now." Pappug smiled "And she also feeds me clams!"
"If you're a starfish, how are you able to talk?" Luffy questioned.
Pappug mused at that question "...I'm actually not sure myself. When I was born I thought I was a human, so I practiced speaking for a long time. When I finally mastered it, that was when I realized I was a sea star. I suppose it's a good talent to have."
"Is that really how it works?" Usopp sweatdropped.
"In any case, thank you all dearly for saving us. This girl has a big heart, and in her rush to help others she sometimes neglects to check the world around her." Pappug bowed.
"Ah! That reminds me!" Luffy turned to Camie "You mentioned there's a place where we can get delicious takoyaki right?"
"Luffy, are you seriously still thinking about that?" Nami lamented "We need to find a way to Fishman-"
"Ah that's right! I was going to bring you there!" the mermaid remembered.
"Indeed, a feast would be the perfect thanks for our heroes." Pappug agreed. And thus, Nami's question was all but forgotten.
"Come to think of it, we haven't had lunch yet." Gian noted "Fried octopus balls seem right up my alley."
"It would be nice to not have to empty the fridge just to feed our captain for a change." Zoro nodded in agreement.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" the captain cheered.
Nami sighed at the hungry group. "I suppose since they're coming with us I can just ask them about Fishman Island once we get there."
"Let me just give Hacchin a heads up, he's the one that makes all of the takoyaki and he's the best at it!" Camie picked up a transponder snail and dialed a number. A brief bit of static, before a deep voice rang from the other end.
"Is this Camie speaking? Looks like we found her at last boys!"
"Ehhhh? You're not Hachin!" the mermaid's voice turned to shock as the person on the other end of the line cackled.
"Of course it isn't you stupid girl! This is the infamous Captain Macro! I've got your friend Hachi here currently locked up in a cage!"
"That's not true! Hacchin would never be defeated by the likes of you!"
"Tch, he certainly didn't make it easy! Lucky for us we had some back up! Anyway, I bet you wanna know where we are right now do ya?"
"Don't be afraid Hacchin, Pappug and I are coming to save you!"
The transmission crackled before a new voice sounded, this one nasally and desperate "Nyu! Camie don't fall for it! It's a trick! You're the one-!"
"Shut it octopus!" The crew winced as the sounds of skin striking skin could be heard, followed by a pained groan "Like I was saying, we're currently situated in Grove 44 at the Sabaody Archipelago. If you want to save him you better hurry on over here! Be quick too, a rare specimen like him fetches me a high price, and I've got some very convincing buyers here. See you soon, Mohahahaha~!"
And just like that, the snail hung up leaving Camie on the verge of tears. The rest of the crew couldn't help but sympathize for the young mermaid; after all a captive friend is something they've all experienced at least once.
"Poor girl, they must be very close." Brook commented.
"Hey, Nami?" Gian noticed the navigator seemed deep in thought "You doing ok there?"
"Hacchin… why does that name sound familiar…?"
"D-Don't worry Camie, Hacchin will be alright! He's always beaten those guys up before!" Pappug tried to comfort her.
"He must've been trying to protect us again! I'm always getting captured by Macro and his gang, Hacchin was always there to save me…" the mermaid tightened her hands before turning to the rest of the crew.
"I have to go help him. I'm sorry Mr. Luffy, but I have to change our plans on taking you to get takoyaki. This person is our very good friend, he's always looking out for us. We can't just leave him when he needs our help!"
"Wait… you said this Hacchin is the one that makes the takoyaki right?" The captain asked with Camie giving a nod "Well then we have to save him! Those bastards just took our takoyaki meal from us!"
"You can at least pretend to care about the guy too!" Gian snapped.
"Ignoring what our idiot captain just said, leaving you two to face this on your own doesn't feel right." Nami added, "These guys are all very good at beating people up, they'll be more than capable of saving your friend! "
"YOU HELP TOO!" the men in the crew all collectively shouted.
"R-Really?" Camie whispered hopefully "But you guys have already saved me once. I can't over rely on your kindness like this…"
"We really shouldn't trouble you anymore, especially not such courtesy…" Pappug nodded.
"I'd never live it down if I let such a cute girl like you face such problems when I'm here." Sanji declared.
"More numbers could show you mean business, and this Macro guy would think twice about trying something." Gian gave his input as well.
"If you don't want to feel like you owe us, I was hoping to ask you two on whether you'd know how to get to Fishman Island anyway. We'll help you save him and in return you show us the way down there. Does that seem fair?" Camie teared up at the support.
"You guys… thank you all so much!"
"OK! It's decided then!" Luffy grinned "To the Takoyaki we go!"
Later:
The crew made the journey towards a large lagoon, situated at the very edge of the Sabaody Archipelago. They could just make out an offloading area for ships, along with numerous grass huts lining the shore.
"That's where they said they'd be right?" Zoro noted.
"It's far too quiet around here…" Gian growled. Indeed, aside from the small waves lapping at the Sunny's hull, the water was clear as glass. Even the straw houses on the shore seemed to be devoid of activity.
"I hope he's alright… over the snail it sounds like they beat him up pretty bad…" Camie whimpered.
"I see something! I think it's the cage they were talking about!" Usopp pointed towards the docks.
"And it looks like they really did keep him in there!" Franky noticed.
"I see him! Don't worry Hacchin! We're coming to save you right now!" Camie immediately tried to dive into the water, only for the others to pin her down.
"Hold your horses missy, this is very clearly a trap!" Gian complained.
"They would not just leave him out in the open like this unless they want you to see him." Robin added "The minute you hit the water is when they'll launch their attack."
"Ack! Those dastardly villains!" Pappug cursed "How could they think of such a heinous trick?!"
"IT'S THE MOST OBVIOUS TRICK IN THE BOOK! WHY DO YOU THINK YOU KEEP GETTING CAPTURED?!" Usopp facefaulted.
Sanji frowned at the sight "Uh, everybody? Is it just me or is there something familiar about that guy in the cage?"
One by one the crew looked up; While there was still some distance in between, they could see the individual within the cage much more clearly now. 3 patches of white hair, pink skin, and an elongated face. For 6 of the Straw Hats, it brought about a great sense of deja vu.
"Now that you mentioned it, yeah I definitely feel like I've seen him before." Gian muttered "But it's not like I eat takoyaki that often, why would we know some takoyaki chef?"
"You know, earlier Camie mentioned that his name was Hacchin, where have we heard that name before?" Usopp added.
"Hmm… wait, wasn't there this octopus guy in Arlong's crew named Hachi?" Gian remembered "He had like multiple arms and talked real funny and all that."
"I remember him," Zoro growled. "Bastard cut me up real good."
Nami froze at "Y-You're kidding…"
"Hah?" Luffy gasped "You're saying he's that dude?!"
"But I thought all the Arlong Pirates got arrested after Arlon's death!" Usopp stammered "How the hell did he get out?"
While the Straw Hats were debating on the identity of the prisoner, in the cage the octopus fishman almost certainly recognized them, least of all from the billowing jolly roger of the group that took out his former captain. The events that occurred in Cocoyasi was still fresh in his mind; he had since turned a new leaf, but no doubt those pirates still have a bone to pick with him.
"Nyu! Oh no! I can't believe out of anybody they've shown up! I can't let them see me!"
Using the only trick he knew, Hachi quickly coated himself with a fresh spit of ink. It was the perfect natural cover.
Or it would be, if only they were in the water.
"He…he does realize that only makes him stand out more out here right?" Gian facepalmed.
"He was never exactly the brightest." Zoro snorted.
"I can't believe it…" Nami stammered "How did any of them escape custody?"
"Well, there's no better way to find out than now." Sanji growled. Clearing his throat he shouted out a greeting "Oi! What happened after Arlong's death?"
"Nyu? After we were all defeated the Marines arrested us. On the way to prison a storm hit the prison ship and I escaped in the chaos. Now I've become the owner of a floating takoyaki stand like I've always dreamed."
"...That was way easier than I thought it'd be." Gian blinked.
"CRAP I JUST TOLD THEM EVERYTHING!" Hachi panicked.
"Why you…" Luffy growled "SO IT WAS YOU THIS WHOLE TIME YOU JERK! DON'T THINK WE'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU DID TO NAMI!" the captain glared, before swallowing as another more tantalizing thought entered his mind.
"B-But is it true? Is your takoyaki really that delicious?"
"Focus on the issue at hand captain!" Sanji snapped.
"Hmm? Do you guys know each other?" Franky asked. By now the other members of the crew have also noticed the rising tension.
"You could say that" Gian grunted "it wasn't exactly over dinner either." a quick explanation about their past confrontation, and the others were also concerned.
"Hah? So he's a bad guy?" Chopper asked.
"Old grudges die hard I suppose." Brook noted.
"I'm actually kind of enjoying seeing him like this." Zoro smirked.
"Wait, you all know Hacchin?" Camie beamed "Are you guys friends with-"
"WE'RE NOT FRIENDS!" Zoro's snarl quickly sent the mermaid scrambling with a yelp.
"In any case I'd say we just leave him here." Gian scoffed "Karma's a bitch as I always like to say."
"Yeah! I'm turning this ship around!" Luffy barked "This is what he gets for hurting our navigator! I don't care how good his takoyaki is!"
"H-huh?" Camie was shocked at the turn of events "Y-You guys aren't going to help him?"
"Camie, he's done a lot of bad things in his life!" Usopp added "He's hurt us too!"
"B-But… Nami-chin..!" the mermaid looked pleadingly at the navigator. Nami pursed her lips, doubt clouding her mind before she sighed.
"...Sorry Camie." the girl shook her head "I didn't know your friend was actually him."
The harsh words brought the mermaid to the verge of tears. Without a word, she dove into the water and sped towards the dock.
"Camie no!" Hachi watched helplessly from the cage. "They're waiting to ambush you! Please just get out of here!"
"No! I'm going to be the one saving you this time, Hacchin!" Camie shouted "You're always looking out for us, always protecting us! It's our fault that-AAAH!"
"CAMIE!"
The crew turned back sharply to see the olive haired mermaid being dragged underwater. A few seconds later, her captors emerged, laughing victoriously while the girl struggled in a net.
"Mohahaha! There you are my slippery little anchovy!" The leader, a grouper Fishman, held up his prize with glee "Should've listened to your pal Hachi after all! Now you're mine!"
"Let her go Macro!" Hachi cried out "I'm the one you want!"
"I want both of you, you idiot! You two are gonna earn us a massive pay day! And this time, Hachi can't save you anymore!"
"CAMIE! LET HER GO!" the octopus fishman cried out, trying in vain to struggle out of his restraints.
"Camie! No!" Pappug cried out, before turning a hurt eye to the group "You… You pirates really are all the same…! Whatever grudges you have against Hacchin surely can't hold a candle to a bond between friends, surely at least you would have understood that! What fools we were!"
And the Straw Hat crew couldn't find the words to argue with that.
"Hachi and Camie… they really do seem to be close friends with each other, don't they?" Nami mumbled. Her own feelings still held strong, but seeing the kind-hearted if naive girl now struggling in her restraints to same a friend, it was something she knew too well.
"We've got a lot of issues with Hachi sure enough, but that young lady has no part in any of that…" Usopp sighed.
"Well now I feel sheepish." Gian groaned "Any chance we can at least beat up the scumbag trying to kidnap our new friend here?"
"Not just that, we'll be saving Hachi too." Nami stated with determination.
The others looked at her, admittedly surprised she came to a decision so quickly.
"We know how you feel about this, you sure?" Zoro asked. Nami smiled; she couldn't have been more sure of a decision.
"It's fine really, out of everyone in Arlong's crew, Hachi was the one who wasn't all that bad. Besides, we made a promise for Camie, didn't we?"
"WRROOOGGH! NAMI-SAN'S GENEROSITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS!" Sanji cheered.
"Of course, the final say goes to our captain. What do you think, Luffy?" the rubber boy was silent, before letting out a sigh.
"We really did make a promise, and we can't go back on that." Turning to the rest of the crew, Luffy nodded as well "In that case, let's go save the octopus as well."
However, to the others, the message would've been more inspiring had he actually been genuine-
"EHHH?! HIS EYES TURNED TO TAKOYAKI?!"
"Alright then! Showtime A-holes!" Gian smirked "Let's bust some heads!"
The trio of fishman celebrating their victory didn't even see it coming. One moment they were still laughing it up, and the next one of their members was sent flying as Luffy's fist impacted between his eyes. The other met the same fate when Luffy's foot stamped into his chest.
"What the hell?!" Macro snapped and sprang into action, but a stray kick from Sanji quickly sent him packing as well.
"Luffy-chin!" Camie cried happily
Meanwhile, Hachi was still trying in vain to break out of his restraints when he felt something impact his cage. Regaining his bearings, he gasped when he saw who had arrived.
"Nyu…! B-Beast Warrior… you came back for me!"
"I didn't come back for nothing! You can count yourself lucky for finding 2 friends that care so much about you!" Gian retorted "Now hold still, this cage doesn't seem that durable."
Bunching up his muscles, Gian quickly ripped the cage door off its hinges. The octopus fishman braced himself as he felt himself being picked up and thrown onto the dock where a rather miffed Zoro awaited.
"Know that I'm only doing this because I was ordered to." the swordsman scoffed before cutting the ropes binding Hachi's wrists.
"Nyu… of course 'Pirate Hunter'. And I'm really sorry about what happened before…"
"We can get to that later. You were one of Arlong's officers, how did you get caught so easily?" Gian questioned.
His questions were answered when the waters around them suddenly erupted in a spray of foam. The crew quickly saw multiple fish emerging from the waters, fish big enough to carry a person on their back, and that was exactly what they did. If that wasn't enough…
"They can fly?!" Zoro barked.
"They can fly…" Gian mumbled.
"T-That's how." Hachi gulped "Macro normally isn't a match for me, but he somehow got in contact with the Flying Fish Riders in the area. They set an ambush, I was completely caught off-guard!"
"Shit…" Gian cursed when he saw the bandits opening fire on their ship "Everyone protect Sunny! We-!" he felt the air knocked out of him as something leapt from the water and barreled into him, sending him into one of the grass huts near the shore.
"You really had to get into our business didn't ya?" Gian gritted his teeth as he heard the scraping voice. Shaking himself off he saw the grouper fishman from before now angrily cracking his knuckles as he approached. A few ways behind, Zoro and Hachi attempted to aid him, only to be offset by the other 2 henchmen.
"This could've ended fine for you if only you knew better! You could've just walked away." Macro growled "But you just had to play hero didn't you?!"
The punch closed in on his face, only for Gian to catch it easily with one hand.
"Newsflash genius, we aren't heroes." Macro didn't even have the chance to retort when Gian's own fist collided with his jaw, nearly knocking his teeth out and launching him a few feet away. Initial shock at just how much strength the human has quickly shifted to anger as the grouper fishman sprang back up and charged towards his human foe again, only for the Kaiju-Zoan user to grab onto his arms and suplexed him back into the ground.
"Why stick your necks out for someone like Hachi anyway?" Macro growled "Last I heard you lot have more reason for wanting him dead yet here you are!"
"That's hardly your business isn't it now?" Gian glared "I could ask you the same thing! You're both fishmen, why sell him out?"
"It's all money out here boy!" Macro retorted "Bonds, kinship, none of that matters. Beri's the only language people speak at Sabaody, and anything can be a price! I originally just wanted the Mermaid, but Hachi had to stick his tentacles where they don't belong! Now I can double the money and-"
The Grouper fishman didn't even finish his sentence. Gian's fiery fist came out so fast that the trafficker almost didn't register; he was knocked unconscious until his body impacted with the wooden door of another building. This time he didn't get up. Gian's eyes were cold; blue fire flickering in his irises. The words, each one more rancid than the last, was enough to paint what's going on.
He let out an irritated sigh before turning to see how the other 2 were faring. Sure enough, while he was occupied by Macro, Zoro and Hachi had made short work of the fishman's underlings.
"3 annoyances down, now to protect the Sunny." Zoro grunted.
"Those thugs on the flying fish seem to be the bigger problem for us." Gian nodded. The Raiders, atop their marine mounts, had agility on their side, and while the rest of the crew were holding their own they had to find a way to circumvent that disadvantage.
And they soon found themselves on the receiving end too. A group of mercs soon targeted the three on shore, forcing them to be on the defensive as they were pelted by the opponent's spear guns and pistols. Individually these riders were easy enough, but they attacked in squadrons, always staying just out of range for any meaningful retaliations. "We have to take the fight to them!" Zoro growled.
"Fine by me, those fish look like a fun ride too." Gian retorted.
"Nyu! Don't be rash! These guys aren't just any run of the mill gang!" Hachi urged.
"Yeah, and they're attacking our ship." Zoro snapped back "So forgive us if we're not in the most forgiving mood right now."
"And what better way to greet the locals than to adapt to the local customs?" Gian grinned, eyes focusing on a group of Flying Fish Riders currently diving bombing directly at them. Each of them spun heavy chains in their arms as they soared towards the group.
"Let's give these lads a drink boys!" the leader of the squadron commanded, his weapon tossed out. The metal end quickly wrapped around Gian's extended fist, and the Kaiju-Zoan user soon felt the strain of another force heading the opposite direction.
"That's their plan?" Gian scoffed, digging his heels in as he resisted the pull rather easily "At least try to be somewhat original…"
"At least your guy tries to be innovative!" Zoro called out, hastily cutting apart bullets being fired at him and Hachi "We're getting the classic treatment!"
"Well this guy's either brave or a fool because he clearly doesn't-'' multiple other chains soon shot out of the water, restraining Gian across his other arm, his waist and his neck. The riders, with numbers as their main advantage, were quick to use that. Gian growled as he felt the pulling force increase, drawing him towards the water. He quickly strained back, the chains further locking around and forcing the 2 parties into a standstill.
"Drown 'em!" one of the thugs was quick to shout.
"Damn, what have they been feeding this guy?" another rider bemoaned "It's like he weighs a ton!"
"If you wanted me to go fishing you could've just asked." Gian snarled, a cascade of blue fire enveloping him for a brief moment before he emerged Partially Transformed "Now I have to drag all of you up!"
The few other riders involved were slack jawed as Gian rose up, clawed fingers grasping at the chains before ripping his captors from their mounts. With a roar of exertion he quickly spun them around before bringing them down, slamming them down into the dock and removing them from the equation. Around him, the sound of impact onto the ground indicated that Zoro and Hachi also managed to dispatch their foes.
"We have to thin the herd somehow!" Gian growled.
"Easier said than done, even with all of us we're outnumbered." Zoro replied "We'll have to hit them before they can hit us."
"Nyu…if only we can take em all out at once…" Hachi mused.
"I do have a way, but it might not be worth it."
"A few small fries such as this shouldn't warrant something that explosive." Zoro agreed.
"Hey! Everyone!" Gian called out "There's gotta be a better way than just beating them up one by one!"
"Tell me about it!" Sanji growled "Bunch of gangsters keep popping out of the water like frogs!"
"They're definitely trying to wear us down." Robin affirmed "We can easily handle them, but they outnumber us greatly."
A splash near them made the three turn their heads as they saw none other than Luffy hanging off one of the flying fish, its original rider having long been dislodged.. Despite having been dunked underwater and rendered immobile the boy seemed to be having the time of his life. Finally the fish shook him off and the rubber boy landed near them in a heap.
"Hahaha! That was so much fun!" Luffy laughed as he recovered.
"Get serious will you? There's gotta be an end to this!"
"Hey, I just remembered! If mass destruction is what you'd need, we might have something to even the odds." Franky called out from the ship.
"At this point, you can offer the choice of setting the entire sea ablaze to get rid of these fucks and I would agree."
"Nah, this'll be even better. It's gonna take us a few minutes to get it online though." Usopp also chimed in "But believe me it'll be worth the wait, the two of us have been working on this for a long time."
"We'll buy you time." Zoro affirmed "Numbers is all they have, we've fought tougher foes regularly."
And the crew was capable of just that. Between waves of atomic fire, weather manipulation, arms that can appear out of thin air, and sword techniques that seemed invisible to the naked eye, they were more than able to hold down multiple foes.
Still, their opposition had one advantage. Their mounts being adepts of both sea and sky, they had the speed and the adaptability. Another show of their arsenal of tools, and the crew were once again on the defensive.
"This is going nowhere! I do hope whatever Franky and Usopp are doing can come to fruition soon!" Brook gasped.
"How much longer you two?" Gian called out. And what he heard was exactly what he needed to hear.
"It's ready! Clear out, or you'll get caught in the blast zone too!"
"Blast zone? Just what did-?" Sanji's words stopped when the crew witnessed the Thousand Sunny's face begin to creak. Then the figurehead's mouth opened.
"Is… Is that what I think it is?" Chopper slowly broke out into a wide grin.
"I believe we're in for a good show." Robin smiled as the cannon barrel popped into place. Below deck, Usopp had a proud smile on his face.
"Fully charged now! Witness the fruit of our ingenuity!"
"Incredible…" Hachi gasped.
"Gaon Cannon, FIRE!"
Franky's earlier words rang true; with what had just been unleashed, the crew really did need to get out of the area of effect lest they wish serious injury. A compressed blast of air, its concussive force so great that it nearly bent the seas around it. The crew had to shield their eyes; the light emitted so blinding it was akin to a supernova borne from a ship.
For the gang of bandits, they were far less lucky. Those who were caught dead center found themselves suddenly lifted miles above the sea, others still in the blast zone were thrown asunder by the resulting shockwave. The collateral was hardly better; the attack easily ripped a massive hole right down the middle of their base of operations, nearly cleaving the grove in 2.
By the time the smoke cleared, almost all of the Flying Fish Raiders were incapacitated.
"Geez! Neither of you mentioned Sunny got a pocket nuke!" Gian cackled, his exhilaration at the sight far outweighed any concern "Franky my good man, you have truly outdone yourself today~"
"Yohohoho! What an incredible sight! My eyes nearly popped out of my head-ah, but I no longer have any eyes!" Brook chortled.
"What a weapon indeed." Robin nodded approvingly. The other crew members shared similar sentiments.
"That certainly did it." Zoro affirmed "Luffy, we should clear up any-OI YOU'RE GETTING WAY TOO EXCITED!" The Straw Hats' captain hardly even registered the swordsman's comments, his eyes glittering with joy as tears flowed down his face. He will always put his dream of becoming Pirate King first, but if he were to die after witnessing that, it would hurt just a bit less.
"Damn, these guys are too tough!" one of the remaining raiders cursed, surveying the destruction.
"Let's get out of here, we gotta inform the boss!" and before the rest of the crew could do much, the flying fish all slipped back under the waves.
"Thank you for saving Hacchin and me." Camie bowed.
"Nyu! We shouldn't stay here long, no doubt they're going to get reinforcements." Hachi warned as the Sunny pulled to dock "No doubt their leader will know about this soon. The Flying Fish Riders aren't just any gang, they're one of the most vicious in this area! Their boss 'Iron Mask' Duval is someone only known by reputation! No one has ever seen his face before!"
"We've definitely spent more time here than necessary," Gian nodded. "If they bring more people I'm actually going to burn this whole place up."
"If they bring back up, can't we just blast 'em with that really cool cannon again?" Luffy shrugged.
"Yeah, there's a problem with that." Franky called out from the ship "That little beauty I made can do a ton of damage but the resources needed are too much. It takes 3 barrels of cola to charge up, and we gotta spare 2 more just to fire a Coup De Vent to stabilize the ship otherwise we'd be blown halfway back to Water 7. And it just so happens we're fresh out."
"Then no more needs to be said, we did what we came for anyway." Nami nodded, but before they could disembark from the area, the remaining row of houses suddenly cracked as a dark mass surged through it.
"None of you pirates are going anywhere!"
"Oh no! He's found us!" Hachi yelped.
The crew braced themselves as a massive bison shook off the debris, giving them an intimidating snort. From atop the beast a tall man stood, hsi dark cloak billowing as he gazed at them, a cage-like helmet covering his face.
"Hey man, we already made our point." Gian warned "We just want the octopus, let's not make this hurt any more than it needs to."
"Oh I don't care about the fishman, I can recoup my losses easily. But I've heard all about you lot!" The man's voice was seething with underlying rage "I've plotted my revenge for so long, hoping to one day take the head of the one who wronged me, and here you are served up on a silver platter!"
"You're that Duval guy Hachi was talking about aren't you?" Luffy growled "We've never even seen you before!"
"Just who are you?" Usopp questioned.
"I'm the one who's very existence was ruined by one of your crew!" Duval shouted "My entire life, all the pain I've suffered, brought upon me by one vile man! And now today, I finally get to skewer his heart as he deserves!"
The tall marauder aims a harpoon gun towards the crew "Today, 'Black Leg' Sanji dies to sate my vengeance!"
A moment of silence, before:
"HAH?"
The other Straw Hats all snapped their heads towards the accused one in question. For his own words, the cook himself blinked in disbelief.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Nice going, cook." Zoro scoffed, "Your personal vendettas have landed us in hot water once again."
"Shut up! I've never met this guy in my life!"
"Because of you, I've been hunted, stalked, I had to hide this face from the very world itself! I can't even find suitable employment anywhere, I had to turn to trafficking just to make some money! You're not even aware of it, but you created me, Black Leg Sanji!"
"Sanji, why'd you create that guy?" Gian shook his head.
"How the hell is this my problem?" The cook snapped "How did I know what he went through?"
"Ah yes… they come to me in droves. Marines, bounty hunters. I'd be minding my own business, only to be accosted by the dozen. They'd be all in my face, saying things like 'We got you Black Leg Sanji!' 'There's nowhere to run Black Leg Sanji!' And me? What can I do? I can only keep telling them again and again-"
With a shaking hand, Duval gripped his mask, and with one grand gesture he tore it off.
"H-how is this…?" Franky gawked, for what they saw shook them to their core.
"I can't believe this…" Zoro gritted.
"I don't know what you're talking about! I ain't even a pirate!"
"Nyu! I never expected this!" Hachi gasped, for he had every good reason to. Underneath Duval's iron mask, his face was a warped one to say the least. Long unkempt blond hair slick with sweat were barely able to conceal rageful eyes. His wide lips twisting into a vicious snarl.
It was a face the crew now realized they knew very well.
After all, no one expected someone to have the same face as-
"Hey, isn't that your wanted poster?" Usopp snorted under his breath
"SKREHAHAHA! AIN'T NO WAY! WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL ODDS OF THAT?!" Gian, try as he might, was far more unable to contain his laughter.
"Well Sanji, I guess we'll be leaving then!" Luffy chortled.
"ALL OF YOU SHUT UP! THIS HAS GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF JOKE!" the cook roared in disbelief.
"I've had to hide this face for so long, but no more! Today I finally reclaim my life!"
"Don't give me that shit! You think I like the fact that that poster is out there?! If anyone should be angry it's me!"
"You're the one that ruined my life! Now you're taking responsibility!" Duval snapped.
"The hell I am!" Sanji balked "What you look like has nothing to do with me! Besides, if you really hate your face that much, why didn't you just find a surgeon and have it fixed up? Other people do it!"
Duval growled at the chef, before suddenly slapping his fist to his palm.
"Huh? So I could've just done that?"
"ARE YOU ACTUALLY A MORON?!" Sanji facefaulted.
"Well it doesn't matter now!" Duval declared "I have you all right where I want you! Let's get paid boys!"
The rest of the crew were taken aback as the waters erupted as multiple Flying Fish resurfaced, carrying new marauders that aimed to capture all of them, dead or alive.
"Oh no! The riders are back!" Camie gasped.
"Crap!" Gian's eyes flared "Just when I thought this'd be over soon!"
"Hey! I thought you said this was just between the two of us!" Sanji shouted angrily.
"It is, the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates are still guilty to you by association! I'm gonna kill you, and then take them all in. It'll make up for everything I lost here 10 times over!" Duval gloated.
"Then I really have no qualms beating the crap out of you!" Sanji growled as he changed forwards, to which his unlikely doppelganger smirked as he raised his harpoon gun. A flurry of barbed spears shot out, to which the cook managing to avoid the incoming rain as he dashed forwards, the harpoons embedding themselves into the stone around him
But that was not all of it.
"W-Wha-?" Sanji's eyes widened as he saw the cobblestone around him beginning to bubble and melt around the impact point of the harpoons "Just what are those things?"
""You see it , dontcha?" Duval sneered "The fate that's about to befall you? These harpoons are tipped with scorpion venom, I normally use 'em to tag any fleeing mark that I really want dead, the poison so corrosive that even a pinprick will send you to the afterlife in 3 minutes! You're dead!"
"So you're playing for keeps, then don't mind if I do then too!" dashing forwards once again, the cook's eyes were trained on the gang leader as Duval continued to empty his clip of harpoons wildly at him. Finally leaping up the bison, with a single hard kick he dislodged the gun from his foe's hand.
"Ack!" Duval gritted in pain, leaving little time to see the next incoming kick from Sanji as he knocked him down hard from his mount.
"Grrr… trample em Motoboro!" Sanji growled as the ground rumbled behind him, Duval's pet bison now joining the fray. As the bounty hunter leader hastily tried to reload his harpoons, the cook now had to deal with a rampaging bovine in order to avoid getting gored.
"Well at least they seem to be getting along!" Zoro scoffed as he cut up a net thrown at them. The Flying Fish Riders seemed to have switched tactics, now diving at them in coordinated maneuvers. They were still holding their own, but it was clear that the main goal here was to separate them from Duval's personal vengeance.
"This time we are left without something that can take out this many targets." Robin noted "Unless we can find something else that can cause a similar level of destruction." To this, she looked at Gian with a smile, who grinned back.
"Well I've certainly been convinced enough for a little show of power, this has gone on far too long." taking a deep breath, he looked back at Camie and Pappug with a nod.
"You 2 should clear some distance, make sure those fish riders don't catch you."
"Dontchu worry about us!" Pappug affirmed "Flying fish may be fast, but underwater nothing compares to a mermaid!"
"Then there's nothing to worry about." taking a deep breath Gian leapt onto Sunny's figurehead, his eyes closed as he began to focus.
"Come on, you beast, can we get a bit of consistency going on here?"
"Hey, look at 'Beast Warrior'!" One of the raiders pointed.
"What's he doing, has he given up?"
"Then let's take him first!"
A group of the riders charged at him, seemingly failing to notice the flickering blue flames beginning to take form around him. When the fire enveloped him fully however, only then did they see Gian's eyes suddenly snap open, blue as the flames around him.
The next moment, the flaming facsimile of the upper body of the monster inhabiting his body roared to life and slammed its arms down. The riders below could barely let out a scream before Gian took out a large chunk of their reinforcement. Those who did not join in on the assault at that moment wisely stayed back.
"Yeah! He got them with one hit!" Chopper and Usopp cheered.
"Ow! What a light show!" Franky beamed, slipping on some sunglasses.
"Looks like it worked that time." Zoro nodded.
"Yes, it seems he responded to that rather well." Robin smiled.
Gian sighed a relief at his handiwork; whatever limits he still had, at that moment Gojira seemed rather cooperative. Time will tell how much power the creature will continue to give.
"W-What the hell was even that?!" Duval gawked at what just happened.
Sanji sneered, "Your little ambush failed, this is your final warning: get out of here before we really have to teach you a lesson!"
"D-Don't you think you have the upper hand! I'll show you!" Hoisting up his harpoon gun, he opened fire again. But the target was not Sanji this time.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Luffy shouted. He managed to avoid the pointy projectiles all the same, but the sudden attack was something he should've expected.
"Move one more muscle and 'Straw Hat' Luffy gets skewered!" Duval warned as Sanji sprang towards him again, hastily jumping on his bison once more "I'm gonna run you all down, I'll make you feel all the pain you caused, 'Black Leg'!"
"Shit!" The cook dove to the side as the bovine charged passed him, his eyes widened as he realized the intended target of the Stampede "Luffy watch out!"
"No! We can't make it in time!" Nami cried out. Gian, Zoro and the others tried to put a stop to it, only for the remaining Flying Fish riders to intercept them. The crew could only watch as the bison barreled towards the captain, its horns intent on impaling the young man.
But the captain didn't falter, rather his gaze remained vicious.
And then they felt it.
"Ah! Something's in the air!" Brook called out, and they were quickly able to pinpoint the source. It was as if a wave of energy suddenly lashed out from their captain, the atmosphere around him heavy with authority.
"D-Did Luffy do that?" Chopper asked.
"I can't be sure," Gian gasped, "But from the looks of it…"
His eyes settled on the rubber boy. It was a surprise to be sure, but he was certain it was the same phenomenon.
He had seen it before; only one person he knew could do something like this. And that person happens to be a part of both their lives.
"Luffy… could it be that you two have the same power…?"
Stranger still was what happened after. The bison, mere inches away, suddenly stopped in its tracks. It gazed blankly at the Straw Hat Captain, its eyes unblinking before it fell to its side with a thud, completely unconscious. And it wasn't the only target to do so either; the rest of the crew were rather surprised to see the previously nimble Flying Fish Riders suddenly fall to the water, both they and their mounts overwhelmed by the strange Aura.
"W-What did you do?!" Duval stammered, the leader of the Flying Fish Riders was the only one of the group unaffected by the strange pulse, but his mind was blown away! In his shock, he didn't even register Sanji's heel slamming into his face.
"Don't make a move against my captain again!" the cook snapped "You hate that face so much? How about I make sure you never see it again?!"
"W-Wait! What are you gonna-!" Duval's protests were cut off in a pained yell as Sanji viciously landed another kick to his face, it was immediately followed by multiples more, until the cook was just a flurry of legs all striking the poor man in the face, all the while Duval's protests went unnoticed.
"Parage Shot!" Snaji bellowed with one final sweep of his leg, sending the criminal leader through the wall of one of the remaining buildings. This time, the battle was truly over.
"Let this be declared… I never wanna see that face ever again!" Sanji growled, before letting out a sign and lighting a cigarette "I need a smoke…"
"Looks like this little excursion has finally drawn to a close." Robin nodded
"Yeah, we should probably leave." Gian snorted "this little rescue mission took way longer than necessary." Behind them, Camie and Pappug quickly ran to their octopush fishman friend, inspecting him for any signs of injury.
"Hacchin! Are you ok? Did they hurt you?"
"I-It's nothing to worry about! I'm lucky you guys came when you did…!"
"Nyu! Y-You guys really came through for us." Hachi bowed "Thank you! I don't know how I can repay you guys for what you did!"
"Repay huh?" Gian suddenly began to smirk dangerously "Speaking of which, there's still some unfinished business here, isn't there?"
"Ah, right!" Luffy's head snapped back to the octopus fishman "I almost forgot, you're here!"
"N-Nyu?" the octopus began to sweat nervously. Some of the crew members quickly leaned over him, a twisted smile on their face. The others could only let out a sigh as if they saw this coming.
"Oh yes… you still have quite a lot to pay for…"
A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the delay. I had this chapter on the backburner for quite a bit. Was halfway finished around the beginning of June and would've been just a few more days of it. But then an unforeseen tragedy happened in my life. Long story short, I had to say goodbye to my 2 and a half year old dog due to an accident. And that basically took me out of any writing for the past 2 months.
But it's getting better now. I'm dealing with it. And just in time too, we finally begin the newest arc! Meanwhile in the manga Eggheard is over and the amount of worldbuilding that occured has basically forced me to rethink a couple of things. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
Meanwhile, hope you enjoy this chapter. I'll see you for the next one.