Here is the twenty-third chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. I've been away for a while but I'm back and it shouldn't take as long for the next chapter to come out as I'm not traveling for a while. Anyway, we're picking up right where we left off with Tatsumi's shocking display but is this the only shock or is there more to come as the War of the Best rages on? Well let's see as that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all though there are two guests review that need 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 Anonymous (guest), that is a very good point you raise that I'd not thought about before and who knows, perhaps someone will let Tashigi know that her belief is stupid. Only time will tell of course so keep reading and enjoying my work to find out.
To KGBeastboy (guest), as always thank you for your review and suggestions, I will address them now. In terms of Gunhead, that is a good and solid rank and explanation for him as he's a known hero in MHA but not a true big name so Commodore to Rear Admiral works for him. Certainly the hand to hand combat training is going to be a part of his whole history and the marines are going to be better for it in the wake of the War of the Best. As I've not thought much about Ochaco's backstory beyond her being from the East Blue like Deku as she joined the crew early having her from the same island as Gunhead and being trained by him works well and will help explain her hand to hand prowess though I wonder what he'd say about her decision to become a pirate and not a marine as I'm sure their paths will cross again given the other suggestions for him make him a good character to use in later arcs involving the Might Pirates. I can certainly see him teasing Smoker and Hina, and even Tashigi when she complains about Zoro, and getting along well with them, and this works really well to flesh a few things out so thank you. I can see the mistake with Killer especially with the latter's rise to infamy and might even spark a desire to arrest Killer. Finally his Devil Fruit is a good idea and works well with his Quirk and the sea prism stone spikes are a good counter and shows that he understands things like smoker does. As for Caroline Cordovin, Vice Admiral does work well for her given her position and age in RWBY and I can see her being more on the weapons side then Devil Fruits and so between that and her personality she's a New World Admiral but one kept away from HQ. That would fit with how she's basically exiled to Argos in RWBY. I'll focus more on her during the Rose Pirates' time skip arc as I feel like she'd be really useful there but the idea of her helping out Ironwood like Tsuru did for Sengoku is a nice touch even if she's kept away from Marineford due to her personality. I like the idea of the Colossus being potentially from the Void Century and tied to Atlas pre what happened and hopefully by the time I get to introducing Caroline there will be more info on the Void Century to help out. Lastly, with the non-human or giant marines, I think Equal Justice not Equality Justice would be a more fitting personal justice code for them as that works a bit better given the phrasing that is used for the various personal justices. They are fighting for pure equal treatment under the law be it positive and no discrimination or equal treatment of criminals no matter their racial background with the focus on their crimes solely being the deciding factor in sentencing. This works well for them and is a good idea, hopefully I'll be able to expand a bit more on it in later arcs. Do keep reading, suggesting, and enjoying my work.
Anyway, that is enough for this long pre-chapter note so sit back and enjoy the twenty-third chapter in The Ultimate Worst Generation.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these great franchises.
Chapter 23: Monsters Unleashed
"Yes! I knew it!" Esdeath cackled a broad smile on her face as Whitebeard Pirates and marines dropped unconscious all around them and she kicked off the air to continue pushing the tip of her rapier against the flat of Tatsumi's blade from her position above him while he pushed back on her maintaining his block. "You have it as well! I saw it the moment that I fell for you, you have the qualities of a king my love! I knew I was right to fall for you, this has just made my love for you grow even stronger. We are meant to be! Haki of the Supreme King! Conqueror's Haki!"
"I will never be with a monster like you!" Tatsumi roared looking up at Esdeath defiance in his eyes. "But I guess you are right about my power. Thanks for helping me realize that I had it and pushing me to awaken it, I owe you that much at least but that's it. Get away from Akame!"
With that Tatsumi used his strength and superior grounding, not that that really mattered seeing as Esdeath could use Moonwalk, while also tapped into the surprise at what he'd just done to push Esdeath back and away from him. As he did Tatsumi twisted his blade and slashed at Esdeath but easily missed the Admiral as she used the momentum of his push to backflip in the air to land on her feet in a slight crouch and slide over the ice grinning at him.
"Oh, this is just the start my love." Esdeath said coming to a stop and rising to her full height as Akame still processed both Tatsumi's words a moment ago and the power that he'd just showed as she looked up at him from where she was held in the ice underneath is spread legs. "Let's see if you can take what you can give. You're not the only conqueror on this battlefield."
With that Esdeath suddenly unleashed a wave of intimidation at Tatsumi despite her expression not changing. It washed over Tatsumi and Akame before either could react. However, both withstood it though Esdeath's range and strength with Conqueror's Haki was greater as she'd practiced with it and more marines and pirates fell as they were caught up in her attack.
Even though Tatsumi withstood it, it was intense as hell, and he grunted as it forced Tatsumi to take a step back and thus moved off from his position over Akame. Despite this Tatsumi was undeterred as he focused on recalling what he'd just done and used that feeling that had come from his strong desire to save Akame and stop Esdeath from killing her to fuel the power he'd just used as glared right back at Esdeath, matching her intimidation with his own.
The moment that happened there was a titanic boom as Tatsumi's newly awakened Conqueror's Haki clashed with Esdeath's. The force of the clash shook the area and cracked the battlefield around them as crackles of black lightning edged with red sparked at the impact of two users' of Conqueror's Haki using their powers on the other. If anyone wasn't watching this clash they were now and even Whitebeard raised an eyebrow as he looked at the punk who was going toe to toe with Admiral Shirokami's Conqueror's Haki.
The exchange only lasted a few seconds before it ended though in that moment, and not affected by it as her will was strong enough to resist it, Akame used the distraction to erupt blades from her body with enough force to break free of the ice. Given her position Akame left the blades connected to her body and as such pulled them back in as she flipped out of the ice and rolled away to get clear of the Conqueror's Haki battle.
Tatsumi was glad that Akame was clear while Esdeath just ignored her movements as she easily displayed her Conqueror's Haki so that when it was over, she was fine, but Tatsumi panted a bit from the exertion. He barely understood Conqueror's Haki, hell he'd not seen it before the incident at the auction house, but he clearly had it and he'd have to master it.
"It's been a long time since anyone forced me to use Conqueror's Haki, I prefer to kill outright rather than knock out those who challenge me, but you're special my love." Esdeath said as the aftershocks of the clash dissipated. "All the more reason for you to join me. With my guidance I'll groom you into the greatest Fleet Admiral the world has ever seen. Your potential is unmatched, I know it."
"I will never join the corrupt puppet masters that you serve." Tatsumi said his tone as defiant as ever. "I'll use my power and potential to tear it all down to ash. I'll make all the monsters who call themselves Celestial Dragons pay for their countless crimes and see their holy city burnt to the ground before I join you. The Navy made sure of that this would happen when they killed my entire village. What I did that day is but a taste of what I'll unleash upon the World Government especially now that thanks to you I know that I have Conqueror's Haki."
"God, you know how to turn a woman on, every time I think I'm going to do something to make you fall for me you turn it back on me and deepen my own love for you, Tatsumi." Esdeath said with a disturbing shiver, her arousal pungent to Tatsumi's sensitive sense of smile, while her words were audible to all because of the focus on their clash. "And I know that power of yours well, it's unlike any that I know of but seeing that you have Conqueror's Haki, well now I know why you survived your Devil Fruit. You talk of monsters, Tatsumi, and I don't deny that I am one, but you know that you're one as well."
"Oh, I know that I'm a monster, I don't deny that I'm one after all that I've done." Tatsumi said grinning a savage grin, his teeth sharpening, and his eyes turned red with + shaped pupils as he sheathed his sword and took off his scabbard to toss it back to Akame where she was now standing behind him having moved there the moment that she was clear of the Conqueror's Haki clash. "Akame, hold onto Incursio for me. It's time I gave Esdeath what she asked for and bring out the monster."
With that Tatsumi unleashed a loud, horrific, roar that shook many of those still standing within his vicinity as his body rippled and swelled. Tyrant wanted to come out and Tatsumi was only too willing to bring forth his beast form as he gave into the savagery of his Devil Fruit.
It only took a few seconds as Tatsumi's body grew, his muscles bulking out as what looked like dark grey plates formed all over his forearms, shoulders, chest, and legs while wings burst from his back and a tail sprouted from his coccis. This time his clothes were designed for the transformation so the wings shot out of slits on the back of his shirt and through a hole in his shorts as they grew with him. Otherwise, he took the same form as he had on Sabaody, a hulking draconic monster that towered over the battlefield reaching over 20 meters tall thus surpassing the giants present.
Well, Tatsumi was almost the same as there was one key difference. Rather than showing dark pink, muscular, flesh where the dark gray plates didn't cover, white fur sprouted from the areas instead as if to counter the cold around him and what he'd expect from Esdeath.
That was the visible difference, the other change that wasn't visible was that his armor was now tougher following what happened in Sabaody, but no one knew that except Tatsumi, and he wasn't going to give that away. Instead, all Tatsumi did as he finished his transformation was to bellow out a roar that everyone could hear as he brought his full power to bear against Esdeath and unleashed Tyrant.
"Damn it!" Sengoku said from where he was standing above and slightly behind Ace atop the scaffold as he and the kneeling, shackled, Ace both stared wide eyed at the aftermath of what had just happened as the unconscious bodies of marines and pirates lay in a rough circle around the epicenter of the clash between Shirokami and a rookie pirate that she was in love with. "That's just what we don't need right now. Another one's on the battlefield."
"That was Conqueror's Haki." Ace said his eyes wide. "Raw and uncontrolled but there's no doubting it, the effect is clear and only one thing can cause that. Who the hell is that pirate?"
"A troublesome rookie with the Night Pirates called Tatsumi who's almost at the same level as that brother of yours." Sengoku said seeing no reason to hold any information back with Ace as his execution would happen regardless because Sengoku already had plans in motion to ensure it. "And one with more marine blood on his hands than any other rookie after what he recently did on Sabaody. I'd hoped that they'd not be here, but with their Captain's personal issues with the Navy it doesn't surprise me that they are. This was really bad on multiple levels but now it's just got a whole lot worse."
"I take it no one knew he had that power." Ace said as Shirokami was pushed back by Tatsumi thus ensuring that Shirokami didn't break through the block. "In fact, I don't think he realized he had it either."
"Clearly he didn't, we both know what happens when it first manifests and how indiscriminate it can be." Sengoku said as he was aware that Ace, like himself, also possessed Conqueror's Haki. "This just adds to the threat that he poses to the world. We need to capture him, but it can't be Shirokami. She's already caused enough problems as it is."
"She did declare that she loved him." Ace said recalling what he'd heard though with the sounds of battle going on he couldn't be sure. "Right? I am pretty sure that I heard her say it."
"Yes, she said it." Sengoku snarled not bothering to deny it. "That's not good but it should be manageable as it's already known here so if…"
Before Sengoku could finish and as Shirokami and Tatsumi engaged in a Conqueror's Haki duel, a baby transponder snail went off in his pocket. Still snarling at what was happening on the ice covered harbor as it was clear that Tatsumi already had some understanding of what he had and had begun to try and use it, Sengoku picked up the snail.
"What!" Sengoku spat into it. "This had better be important."
"Sorry Fleet Admiral, but, um, we just got word that one of the transponder snails broadcasting this to Sabaody has been focused on Admiral Shirokami ever since she landed on the battlefield." The marine on the other end said nervously. "It was sent to monitor her so that we could show the world the power of the Navy without realizing why she suddenly entered the battle. It broadcast everything sir, with sound."
"You mean…" Sengoku began his eyes getting even wider as the Conqueror's Haki battle ended in a stalemate.
"Yes sir, the world just heard one of the Navy's Admirals declaring her love for a rookie pirate, multiple times in some rather blunt and inappropriate detail." The marine said. "We can't keep a lid on this anymore. Even with the revelation of Ace's father, this is going to be global news."
"Fuck!" Sengoku swore. "We can't spin our way out of this. That's it! I don't care who does it or how, but someone's got to kill that pirate! He's already committed execution worthy offenses so that's a standing order. The Adaptive Monster Tatsumi is not to leave this battlefield alive!"
"Yes sir." The marine said as he clicked off.
"That might be harder than you thought." Ace said his eyes still wide as a roar cut through the battlefield and Tatsumi began to change. "Um, I take it the reason why he's such an issue is that he's a Mythical Zoan user."
"Huh, oh shit, this is not what we need right now." Sengoku said as the Adaptive Monster lived up to his name and transformed into his beast form upon which he unleashed an even louder and more terrifying roar. "Yes, this is why we didn't want him here, well part of why given Shirokami's feelings, seeing as he wields the power of the Beast-Beast Fruit, model: Tyrant. We really don't want that unleashed on the battlefield."
"It's that bad?" Ace asked staring at the dragon-like monster towering over Shirokami on the battlefield. "What kind of creature is that anyway? I've never seen anything like it."
"Of the known Mythical Zoans it's rumored to be one the strongest but only if the user can truly maximize the terrifying power." Sengoku said seeing no reason not to hold back now as he needed to be prepared for what Tyrant might do. "It's very existence was nothing more than a legend for centuries, but the World Government still sought it out to ensure no one ever used it just in case it was real. Alas, it was real but when we found it we were too late. It had already been consumed by Tatsumi, a resident of the village that was protecting the Devil Fruit's existence, and he went on a rampage that took out a whole platoon of marines in the North Blue including one Vice Admiral. It was dangerous as we feared."
"What makes it so dangerous?" Ace asked. "I've seen Kaido's beast form and power; this isn't as big or as intimidating as that."
"The danger lies not in Tyrant's size or raw power, though both of which are strong, but rather in the core nature of this Devil Fruit." Sengoku said. "Tyrant is a mythical creature known as a danger beast and the legend says that it possessed the ability to evolve its body and adapt to any environment or condition it's in and therefore there is no clear description of what it truly looks like because it changes so much. As such the person who eats it can do just that, adapt to anything that he experiences."
"Damn that's a useful power to have." Ace agreed as the nightmarish voice of Tatsumi in his beast form carried across the battlefield while he chatted with Shirokami who was clearly not afraid of the monster before her, which given that she was an Admiral and a monster in her own right wasn't a surprise. "There has to be a drawback though. Beyond the standard Devil Fruit ones that is."
"There is." Sengoku said as his teeth clenched, and he realized they should have predicted this given what the legends said about this particular Mythical Zoan. "It's said only one person every century can eat that Devil Fruit, all others who try to eat it will die and the fruit will heal itself as it awaits the one worthy of it. For this, and likely other reasons that we never found out, the Devil Fruit was guarded by an isolated tribe in the far northern reaches of the North Blue as they awaited a worthy consumer. Clearly the stories are exaggerated, or so we thought when Tatsumi ate it and survived, but now I don't think so. I think that there was a rare condition needed to withstand that power."
"Conqueror's Haki." Ace said getting it. "The qualities of a king, the drive and determination, that would allow a consumer to overcome the dying from simply eating it."
"Yes, and we should have realized that Tatsumi had that power the moment he consumed that Devil Fruit and lived." Sengoku growled. "In fact we should have realized it from the start because Tyrant is said to be the supreme danger beast, the ultimate peak of all mythical beasts that stands at the apex of them making it their king so to speak. Therefore it would make sense that only one with the Haki of the Supreme King could wield it. This just gets worse and worse. Damn it Shirokami, either end him or come back before this truly gets out of hand!"
Ace just stared as he digested what Sengoku was saying and continued to watch the battle with his emotions all riled up as he didn't want Pops and the crew to come save him though the fight between a pirate with no connection to him and an Admiral had his full attention at the moment. Little did either Ace or Sengoku know but there was still more to come that would rock the world.
"Hey Marco, who's that little punk that's making such a scene?" Whitebeard asked as his First Division Commander landed next to him and turned off his Devil Fruit power. "I've never seen him before but he's certainly noticeable. He's got Conqueror's Haki that he's probably only just awakened while facing that bloody bitch Shirokami and on top of that he's a Mythical Zoan user with a transformation that could be on Sengoku's level. How'd we not know a punk like that existed?"
"Him?" Marco said looking over at the towering monster who'd gained all attention only moments earlier when he'd saved a crewmate, and clearly romantic partner or interest, and unleashed and uncontrolled wave of Conqueror's Haki as he defied the infamous Admiral Shirokami. "He's one of the Night Pirates under Captain Najenda and one of her two subordinates who's really made a name for himself in his own right. His name's Tatsumi though he's known as the Adaptive Monster and has a 237 million berry bounty on his head that he's earned without entering the New World. I get the feeling that Devil Fruit of his is the reason for his epithet though I've got no idea what mythical creature that is."
"Adaptive you say…I had heard rummers of a Devil Fruit that granted something like that from Rocks." Whitebeard said thinking back to his youth and the stories that he'd heard. "So, it does exist and it's on our side. That's good to have."
"Well remember that we only let that rookie crew tag along because their Captain is a former Vice Admiral who provided us with some useful intel on Marineford and agreed to aid in rescuing Ace." Marco said. "She refused to join the fleet though she did say that they had an additional power that would be useful to us. I presume that this is it."
"Probably." Whitebeard said grinning knowing that if they all survived and got Ace away then he'd have to get that crew to join the fleet at the very least as they could useful allies in the New World. "We'll make another offer after this. For now we need to focus on saving Ace and let's see how much aid those rookies give us. They no doubt have their own plans but so long as they help save Ace I don't care."
"I agree." Marco said. "Should I lend them aid?"
"No, let's see how they face off first." Whitebeard said. "I want to see what that punk can do in that form."
Marco just nodded as he and his Captain stood on the prow of the Moby Dick and watched the coming clash between a Mythical Zoan and an Admiral, one that would likely last longer than the brief one between Marco and Kizaru. The battle was early though, and Whitebeard knew that Sengoku was far from done but still, this kind of power appearing on the battlefield, and the weird stuff that Shirokami had been yelling about being in love with the wielder of the power, would throw the old Fleet Admiral for a loop and Whitebeard didn't mind that one bit.
"How unsightly." Hancock said a look of disgust on her face as she watched the transformation that occurred and heard the primal roar that the man let out when he was done. "Of course, a man would have such a Devil Fruit. To think that that's the pirate that Shirokami is in love with."
Hancock had still yet to partake in the battle, she'd seen no reason to yet and even when she did, she'd fight indiscriminately hitting marines and pirates alike, so she'd been watching all that was going on instead. Naturally, that meant seeing the sole female Admiral leap into battle and make her declaration for all to hear. That had at least sparked some curiosity from Hancock given her earlier chat with the Admiral on her way down to the harbor, so it gave her a chance to see who the man that Esdeath was in love with was and what he was like.
The Pirate Empress couldn't lie, there was clearly something Luffy-esq about the way the teen arrived and challenged Esdeath without fear or hesitation despite her reputation. Of course, he was vastly inferior to Luffy and still a man so Hancock didn't see the overall appeal, but she had to give the guy some small amount of credit for standing up to such an imposing woman.
He didn't just stand up; however, he fought her and while Hancock could tell that Esdeath was holding back the kid could clearly hold his own against a superior opponent. Hell, he even managed to almost stab the woman and then threw her to set up for a female partner who Hancock didn't recognize to leap in and join the duel and what a duel it became. The two teens were clearly close as they duked it out with the Admiral, but Esdeath was clearly just having fun and waiting for her moment. That came when she sent ice at Tatsumi to distract him and focused on the girl alone.
Hancock didn't know the way of the sword at all but even she could tell that the two women were exceptionally skilled as they dueled without Tatsumi present. This was confirmed when Mihawk actually took notice and focused on the duel rather than the battle as a whole.
He didn't say anything at first, but Doflamingo noted his interest and at that Mihawk said that the girl had serious potential, most he'd seen since someone called Roronoa, but she wouldn't be much a of threat to him given her current level of skill. However, Shirokami, Mihawk used her Admiral name, was someone he'd have liked to have crossed blades with in the past but couldn't now that he was a Warlord so for now he'd just watch her bladework.
Naturally, all that was lost on Hancock, and she drowned out the chatter from the two men and focused on the fight as she could sense something was coming. That was confirmed when Esdeath got the upper hand thanks to whatever her Devil Fruit was and kicked the girl into the ice where she captured the girl and then dove at her. However, before she could reach her the boy acted and intercepted the Admiral faster than Hancock could notice. It was impressive but what came next dwarfed all that.
In all honesty, Hancock should have expected it the moment Esdeath said she'd fallen for someone. For someone to be so noticeable to melt the heart of the icy and bloodthirsty Admiral Shirokami, and turn her into a lovesick woman, well that person had to be something special. Just like with Luffy showing it off in the arena when Hancock was trying to kill him, Tatsumi proved how special he was by unleashing a wave of Conqueror's Haki that silenced the whole battlefield.
Hancock could tell that this was his first time using the power as it was as uncontrolled as Luffy's had been back on Amazon Lily but it was still impressive, and he quickly got the hang of it and used it again to hold of Esdeath's Conqueror's Haki. Of course, Hancock knew that if Luffy actually knew what he had and got even a brief introduction he'd exceed that but still, it was impressive and Hancock was starting to see why Esdeath fell for the man right up to the moment he used his Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit and transformed into that beastly, unsightly, monster that now towered over the battlefield.
"What are you talking about, that monster's just what this battle needs." Doflamingo said licking his lips and grinning at the sight before him. "I can sense the power from here and he's facing the bloody Admiral Shirokami. Yes, this is the war I want! The blood will flow freely!"
"Kishishishi." Moria said laughing as he grinned and looked at Tatsumi. "I hope that if Shirokami kills him he remains in that form, he'd make a wonderful Zombie. If not, well I want his shadow then as it's clearly a strong one."
"Come on show me more!" Doflamingo cackled. "I yearn for blood!"
Hancock just ignored the men, the disgust clear on her face as she focused her attention on the battle while Kuma and Mihawk said nothing about the transformation, not that the latter had said anything at all since Hancock arrived at Marineford. Regardless, the other men were being as disgusting as ever which was to be expected from men.
Even with this new development, all Hancock really hoped for was that Luffy was ok and that he'd arrive to rescue Ace soon as the battle raged on. Still, with the focus now on the latest development in Shirokami's personal actions as the Admiral faced off against the man she loved and his Mythical Zoan power, Hancock could do nothing more than hope and watch the battle unfold below her.
"There it is! Your immense power my love!" Esdeath said a mad grin on her face as she looked up Tatsumi's full beast form unaware of the observations of her battle, not that she'd care about them if she knew anyway. "A little different to what I heard about from Sabaody and what you showed on our island when that abomination tried to kill us and you deepened my love for you when you killed it but as impressive as ever."
"You're in the Navy, you are bound to be aware of the true nature of my Devil Fruit." Tatsumi said as he looked down on Esdeath while Akame stood between his legs ready to act if needed, his deeper, almost nightmarish voice easily carrying over the battlefield. "I'm on ice right now facing an ice user who can freeze anything she touches, I'm more than ready for the cold."
"Yes, that you are." Esdeath said her grin broadening as she crouched down and placed her hand on the ground, frost emanating from her body as she activated her power and suddenly, she shot upwards on a pillar of ice while another one shot out to force Akame to leap back and slice it with Murasame to protect herself. "You've adapted from all the battles that you've had since I last had you in my arms just as I'd expect. That means that you can withstand this then, right?"
At that, and as Esdeath reached Tatsumi's head height so that she could look into the red eyes with crossed pupils of his Tyrant form, spikes of ice shot out from the pillar and at Tatsumi. Tatsumi didn't bother to move, none of the ice was coated in Haki and so not a threat to him. This was proven a second later as the ice struck his body and shattered on impact with his armored form. It was nothing more than Esdeath proving a point and so it wasn't worth Tatsumi's notice as the ice that remained after hitting him cracked back to the pillar and fell away. Besides, this put Esdeath right where he wanted her.
"I've felt your ice directly, without Haki coating it, it won't work on me in this form and even with it it might not." Tatsumi said as he looked at Esdeath and prepared his coming attack. "Then again you already knew that. Not that that matters, all it did was ensure that you're at eye level and off the ground."
"Of course, I'd be my love." Esdeath said. "Even in this form I love you, it shows just how strong you are and the unlimited potential that you have. Besides, I'd be a fool to stay low, I want you to show me your full power in this form as you've never used your beast form on me."
"Oh, I'll show you something alright." Tatsumi said and before Esdeath could try anything he suddenly rushed forward, the already cracked ice cracking more as he ran. "And the world at the same time!"
At that Tatsumi cocked his fist back and coated it with Armament Haki for good measure, he was really starting to get a feel for this form of Haki, before he punched forward. However rather than going for Esdeath, who instinctively and quickly erected a thick wall of ice to block the attack, Tatsumi angled his fist down and punched into the ice pillar several feet below where Esdeath was standing.
The blow caused a boom that could be heard across the battlefield as the force blasted through the ice and his fist exploded out the back of the pillar sending large chunks of ice flying outwards and crashing down onto the Marines there sending them into a panic and killing a few unlucky ones. That wasn't all, however, as the blow caused the whole pillar to shake before cracks emanated from the impact sight and ran up and down the pillar.
It was going to collapse but as it did Tatsumi yanking his right arm out of it and stepped back while slashing his left arm across his body at the top just below where Esdeath was standing. The result was a clean smash through the ice as the pillar collapsed to the ice battlefield with a crash that kicked up ice dust and debris high enough to reach Tatsumi's waist, and cover Akame where she was on the ice below him, while sending more debris sideways though that wasn't as deadly as what Tatsumi had punched out of it.
Of course, Esdeath wasn't idle during this, she'd reinforced the ice under her feet the moment that Tatsumi had hit the pillar and when he'd cut her off from the rest of it, she'd simply taken full mental control of everything above Tatsumi's second blow and left it floating in the air while smoothing it out. At the same time, she punched out the ice wall at Tatsumi's head, catching him full in the face as his left arm swung out to the side and shattering on the plating that covered most of his face.
Again, it did nothing but briefly blind Tatsumi as he grunted at the impact. However that was the goal as that was the window that Esdeath needed to get closer to Tatsumi and try to freeze him so that she could take him back to her quarters in Marineford once his transformation fell but before she could move several blades were shot down at her.
Therefore, instead of securing Tatsumi, Esdeath was forced to engage the blades and either swipe them away with Bloodletter or catch block them with ice shields she made out of thin air. There was only one person who could have done that, and she smirked as she looked up at the girl using Moonwalk above Tatsumi's head, katana in hand and blades shooting from her body.
"Not bad girl." Esdeath said as she deflected the last of the blades away and Akame stopped using Moonwalk and fell down to land on Tatsumi's right shoulder, standing there with expert balance as Tatsumi blinking his eyes clear of any small ice fragments that might be there. "Though not necessary, I am sure that my love would have predicted my attack and intercepted me. I know him too well not to know what he'd do."
"You're not getting near Tatsumi." Akame shouted back, she'd used Tatsumi's attack and the cover that it had provided to leap up behind him as high as she could manage before using Moonwalk to get into a position above him so that she could defend Tatsumi just in case Esdeath tried anything. "Yes, he'd have stopped you, but I am here as well and you're going to have to kill me if you want to take him from me, not that either of us will let that happen."
"Oh, I know, Tatsumi defied me spectacularly when he saved you from dying at my hand." Esdeath said still grinning. "I will thank you for that, it awakened his Conqueror's Haki and proved what I long suspected about my love but you won't get so lucky next time. I will kill anyone who stands between me and being with Tatsumi."
"I meant it when I said I won't let you kill Akame, I will protect her and the rest of my friends no matter what." Tatsumi said and as he spoke his bestial, draconic, maw broke into a sharp toothed grinned that caused many of the marines who were looking up at it to back away in terror. "But thank you Akame, this ensured that Esdeath is right where I need her to be without having to deal with an attempt to freeze me. All is going according to plan."
"Of course, I've always got your back Tatsumi." Akame said though she didn't know what Tatsumi's plan was but she trusted Tatsumi so left it to him. "Together we'll stop her."
"Really, well then I'm right here Tatsumi." Esdeath said matching his feral grin with one of her own as frost emanated from her body. "I know that fire blast that you have, it's as hot as Akainu's magma if I had to guess so give me your best shot, I want to see if my ice can block it. Give me your best shot, reinforce why you made me fall in love with you."
"Oh no, that's not what I'm going to do." Tatsumi said surprising Esdeath and Akame as his grin broadened. "No, I wanted you just like this so the world can see the proof and thus believe me when I reveal the truth. Thanks to this form, and your assistance in awakening my Conqueror's Haki, all eyes are on us and my voice carries."
"Haha, and what truth might that be my love." Esdeath said with a laugh. "If you're right I'll confirm it, I plan to have no secrets from my future husband."
"The truth that I know is that you've been hiding the true nature of your Devil Fruit." Tatsumi said his voice getting louder as it carried over the battlefield while ignoring the rest of what Esdeath had said beyond the fact that she'd confirm it as despite his claims this was just a theory for Tatsumi. "You're no Paramecia type like you let the world believe you are. No, you're just like me Esdeath, you're a Mythical Zoan type."
Esdeath looked at her love for a moment her grin not falling as a hush fell over the battlefield at Tatsumi's words as pretty much everyone bar a few intense fights that were in their own world looked over at Tatsumi's hulking figure and Esdeath floating on an ice platform before him. Sengoku's eyes were wide at the announcement as he'd always presumed that Esdeath's Devil Fruit was a Paramecia type while Whitebeard just quirked an eyebrow at it. Esdeath, however, just burst out laughing after a moment, her laugh carrying over the battlefield and sending chills down the spines of marines and pirates alike.
"Oh Tatsumi my love, how you keep making me fall even deeper in love with you even when I try to make you fall for me." Esdeath said as she finished laughing her grin back on her face and love, lust, and desire blazing in her eyes. "Of course you'd realize the truth, only my beloved would do so. No one has ever realized the true nature of my Devil Fruit, not even Sengoku, they all assumed I ate a Paramecia type but not you Tatsumi, you figured it out. What gave it away?"
"I've seen your power up close and in action enough times to analyze and adapt to it and I realized that it was no standard ice creation or temperature control Devil Fruit." Tatsumi said. "You can't be a Logia type with Aokiji still alive so it had to be some kind of temperature or ice Paramecia that was top tier, you are a Navy Admiral after all. You earned your rank because I can't deny that your combat prowess with or without your Devil Fruit makes you one of the strongest beings in the world."
"Mhm your praise is music to my ears Tatsumi." Esdeath said closing her eyes and swaying a bit as her pale cheeks flushed basking in Tatsumi's words. "Do go on. How'd you realize I was more than that?"
"I also know that given your personality, philosophy, and desire to be the strongest that no normal Devil Fruit would do for you." Tatsumi continued. "However I didn't have anything more than a theory until your fight with Akame when you manipulated the ice rather than create it from your body or the air around you."
"I'll give it to my rival; she annoyed me enough to do that." Esdeath admitted. "Been a while since I did that but even then no one realized what I was actually doing."
"Yes but most don't know what to actually look for when it comes to this kind of power and even if they did, few last long enough around you to truly assess it." Tatsumi said and Esdeath took that as praise even though it wasn't while Tatsumi continued. "That coupled with the whole creating ice in the air around you while also being able to create it from your body made it all click into place for me. Only one kind of Devil Fruit can grant such a wide range of power, only a Mythical Zoan can do that. As a user of one myself I know the power of a Mythical Zoan, I know that it can grant abilities regardless of whether you're transformed or not, and the range you've shown me is well beyond that of a Paramecia."
"Well, I could have awakened a Paramecia as some awakenings allow for something like creating your power out of thin air or transmuting inanimate objects into your power, but you know that I wouldn't use such a power against anyone who wasn't worthy of it." Esdeath said and Tatsumi did know that. "And you're not strong enough to see the full extent of my full power my love, no one is as far as I'm concerned, but you are correct, I ate a Mythical Zoan."
This caused a murmur to go over the battlefield and several comments from the high-ranking marines at Esdeath's confirmation. No one had known that Esdeath's Devil Fruit was a Mythical Zoan, how could they when she'd eaten it before she joined the marines and never mentioned what it was, and even now the full extent wasn't known. However, the fact that she'd eaten a rare Devil Fruit like that and kept it a secret really showed her power. It also made her a lot scarier as the power of Mythical Zoans was legendary, a power that Tatsumi himself was currently showing off.
"Oh, I don't expect you to show me that." Tatsumi said. "I never did given how you're only using what I presume are the standard advantages of it. That said, how about a little reward for figuring it out? Tell me the name of your Devil Fruit."
"For you my love I'd give you so much more, including my maidenhood, but you did earn this so very well, the secret of its type is now out so I'll tell you my Devil Fruit as it won't help you overcome it today." Esdeath said grinning and somehow Tatsumi wasn't surprised that the woman was still a virgin though a lot of people were. "And I'll add an extra reward, I'll give you a taste of my power beyond what you've faced so far and what anyone here as seen. Show me your strength and prove once more why I fell in love with you."
"Bring it." Tatsumi said grinning at the idea of facing more of Esdeath's power as it would help in the long run. "I can take it."
"Just what I love to hear from my beloved." Esdeath said as she floated up and back her right arm out to her side and her voice loud for all to hear. "You wanted to know my Devil Fruit so here it is! I wield the power of a god, that is the nature of my Mythical Zoan for I ate the Human-Human Fruit, model: Skaði. Now face this my love, Hagelsprung!"
At that, and the first named attack all but her fellow Admirals and Sengoku had heard from her, Esdeath snapped her fingers and flew to the side as a massive ball of ice suddenly began to form in the air above her and proceeded to fall down towards Tatsumi as it continued to grow. As it fell and finished growing he could tell that was easily bigger than he was, comparable to the size of the legendary Continent-Puller, Oars, and hurtled towards Tatsumi as Esdeath flew around on her platform to see what happened when it reached him.
"Get off Akame!" Tatsumi shouted as he leant back and braced himself. "Engage Esdeath if you can, I know what I need to do with this."
Akame just nodded trusting Tatsumi's plan as she backflipped off his shoulder and then turned in the air and used Moonwalk to kick off the air and get clear and in position to strike if need be as the Tatsumi raised his arms and caught the ice with a boom. Akame turned in time to see what happened.
Tatsumi was just glad that Akame was out of the way as the massive, heavy, ball of ice slammed into his chest and the side of his face as he turned it and grunted from the blow. Even in his beast form he felt it because of its weight and speed but he ignored that as he got his arms up and caught the ice, his claws slamming into it and digging in to ensure he had a hold of it as he was forced backwards by the ice ball.
The ice beneath his feet cracked and he dug grooves in it as the force of Esdeath's attack pushed him back and tried to crush him. However that didn't affect Tatsumi as he held on, ice churning around him, and grit his teeth as he fought to not get crushed by the ice ball. All Tatsumi needed to do was hold out and keep it aloft until his power kicked in and he'd be good and could use this to his advantage because the moment that he saw the attack he knew what he had to do.
True he could have blasted it apart with his fire blast, that was what Esdeath had expected, but Tatsumi knew when to fight smart and when to use that power given that it drained him it wasn't the right time to use it as he slid back. To help he lashed his tail down and into the ice for stability while digging the claws of his feet into the ice at the same time, his knees buckling but he pushed through it as he strained to hold the ice up.
Then, just as he was about to be forced to a knee and would likely have to put the ice down to prevent the ice from crushing him and potentially sending him through Aokiji's ice and into the water below, Tatsumi felt it and grinned. His power, the power of adaptation, kicked in and his body rippled before he grew again.
It wasn't much, only a dozen or so feet, but it was enough to gain height, weight, and muscle mass as his body thickened and beefed up more while everyone stared at the sudden change wondering how he could pull it off. Unfortunately Tatsumi wouldn't be able to recreate this form after transforming back to human form as it was a situational rather than environmental or post experience adaptation though the strength boost would remain. However, Tatsumi paid that no heed as he felt the oppressive weight of the ice lift and knew that he'd won and his decision to catch rather than destroy the ice had paid off.
"Thanks for this Esdeath." Tatsumi said as he suddenly pushed up clearly now carrying the ice rather than stopping it from crushing him. "Just what I needed. Time to return this to the Navy!"
At that Tatsumi roared and spun, with his size everyone who hadn't passed out when he and Esdeath had used Conqueror's Haki was clear of his feet, and churned up even more ice as he fully rotated before he launched the ice away from him and threw it at the plaza in a high arc with all his strength. As he did Akame caught onto the plan and rushed through the air with Moonwalk, going under the ice and blasting out as many blades from her body as she could at Esdeath to distract her from using her power to destroy the ice and forcing her to focus on the potential threat that Akame posed.
In that goal Akame succeeded and Esdeath was forced to maneuver out the way while turning to scowl at Akame and bat the blades away with her rapier. However, that wasn't all because right before Tatsumi had thrown the ice someone else had used the distraction of his chat with Esdeath had caused to execute his own plan.
That someone else was the 3rd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Diamond Jozu. He'd used his Devil Fruit to create a crack down to the water below Aokiji's ice and extend it in a rough circle that allowed him to grab it and heave it out of the battlefield and throw it over his shoulder, the wall to the plaza, and the plaza itself so that it was bearing down on the Admirals' position while the marines standing there stared up in horror at it. It was now on a crash course for the Admirals' position where only Akainu and Guresai remained, but it was coming down fast.
"The ice is going to crush us!" A marine shouted.
"Help!" A second added. "We can't get out of the way in time!"
"There are two of them now!" A third cried in panic as Tatsumi tossed Esdeath's ice at them as well.
"There's no place to run!" A fourth yelled realizing that packing the plaza with marines now meant that there was no way to quickly escape an attack like this.
Jozu's attack had caused panic for the marines who'd been distracted by the exchange between Tatsumi and Esdeath and not noticed until it was too late and that was only added to as Tatsumi hurled Esdeath's attack back at the marines, the arc of his throw putting it above Jozu's ice block so two were coming down at them. However, despite this, the two remaining Admirals were calm as could be as they sat there with the ice hurtling down on them. Neither moved but as the shadow of the ice fell over them Akainu looked up at the two ice blocks coming towards him a frown on his face.
"Damn those three." Akainu said as the ice fell towards him and he finally rose to his feet and walked forward a few paces. "Two cocky hotheads who rushed into things and a battle crazed fighter motivated by obsessive love. What the hell were they all thinking to abandon their posts?! What if I had as well? There's be no one left to do their damned job! Guresai is a strong Admiral but his power and cyborg parts aren't suited for attacks like this unlike the others."
As Akainu had been speaking his right fist had clenched by his side and began smoking before he turned it and his whole arm into a roiling, burning, mass of magma as marines noted that he'd stepped up. Akainu ignored that as he pulled his growing magma arm back and then punched up at the ice coming towards the scaffold while Ironwood didn't say anything and just watch Akainu work as his fellow admiral's assessment had been correct, only Akainu could handle this threat.
"Great Eruption!"
Akainu yelled his attack as he punched and the magma fist slammed into the bottom of the ice chunk sent by Jozu pushing against its descent for a few moments as he fought gravity for control. That was until what Esdeath had made slammed into it cracking it and adding its own weight to Jozu's attack.
Still Akainu pushed through it all as he increased the temperature and power of his magma showing that it was superior to this ice and to the surprise of Jozu he punched through first the ice the 3rd Division Commander had sent and then the ice that Esdeath had made to test Tatsumi until the whole fist of magma punched through it all and hung in the air. All that was left of the ice attacks were small fragments and water vapor.
"He didn't just crush or block the ice." A Whitebeard pirate said. "He evaporated it! There's nothing left!"
"Should have expected that." Tatsumi grunted his voice a low growl that still carried over the battlefield thanks to his form and a grin spread over his face as the end of the fist seemed to grow brighter and then exploded raining chunks of lava down on the battlefield past the front lines so that no marines were in the way of Akainu's counter attack. "Ice wouldn't affect them with Akainu there but at least I bulked up my raw strength a fair bit."
"Run away!" The same Whitebeard Pirate as before yelled as Akainu's block turned into an attack. "They're volcanic rocks! We'll die if they touch us!"
That reaction was to be expected as Whitebeard Pirates yelled and fled the incoming projectiles with the same level of panic that the marines had shown moments earlier when the two blocks of ice were coming down on them. The difference was that the volcanic rocks were coming in hot and fast with no way to block them before they hit so anyone in their way could expect a grizzly end. It also meant anyone in the air like Akame and Esdeath were in even worse shape as they had less time to dodge while Tatsumi, who was still in his full transformation, was a big target.
"Damn it Akainu!" Esdeath shouted as she flew around on her ice platform avoiding the attack. "You're ruining my fun! I almost had my love in my arms again!"
"Admiral Shirokami!" Sengoku yelled his voice coming over the speakers as she flew and Akame used Moonwalk to get back to the ground as fast as possible though she did have to send a projected slash of compressed air from Murasame to slice a rock in two to prevent herself from being hit by one of them. "Get back to your station now! That is an order!"
"No fun." Esdeath said but she banked around and as she did she made sure to look at her love and smile at him. "I have to go my love, orders are orders, but we will meet again on this battlefield, I know it. Keep showing why I fell for you and come find me in the plaza."
"Well then have this parting gift though if you want me in the plaza you're going to have to find me!" Tatsumi shouted as the volcanic rocks rained down around them and the Whitebeard Pirates yelled and fled while the marines backed up to the walls of the harbor. "And thank Akainu for me, been a while since I got to face heat like this."
With that Tatsumi, who'd been dodging what he could of the rocks and punching what he couldn't with Armament Haki covered fists, dropped his Armament Haki, and grabbed two of the volcanic rocks in his large, clawed, hands. They weren't comfortable but between the thick skin of his transformed form and the amount of heat resistance he'd built up since eating his Devil the rocks were manageable long enough for him to use them. Besides, this would help in the long run as he threw them at a fleeing Esdeath.
As he did the other rocks kept falling with several of them striking one of Whitebeard's ships in the harbor setting it ablaze and causing it to fall to the side ruined and only not sunk because it was frozen in ice. All of this was visible to those on Sabaody as well as the reporters and citizens there who were watching the battle unfold in real time and already sending in reports via transponder snail on all that they were seeing and hearing.
"Even in all this you're trying to kill me my love, how romantic!" Esdeath cried laughing and ignoring what was going on with Whitebeard's ship as she turned to the rocks that Tatsumi had thrown on an intercept with her and in a way that they'd land on the marines below and behind her if she avoided them. "Good effort, keep it up Tatsumi."
Rather than dodge the attacks, however, Esdeath just clapped her hands together in front of her and sent created a storm of icicles in the air around her that then shot at the rocks as they flew at her. The first dozen or so were evaporated by the heat but the sheer number cooled the rocks down until finally the icicles got through and hit them, slowing their attack, and then freezing them as the temperature of the rocks shifted from Akainu's power to Esdeath's.
This should have been the end of the rocks and the threats that they posed but as Esdeath flew back and to her original post two beams of light shot out and hit the rocks blowing them up into small, harmless, chunks of frozen stone. Naturally, the light had come from Kizaru and had been done as a precaution the moment that Esdeath's icicles slowed them down.
"They sure like to be flashy." Whitebeard said as the rocks exploded and he thrust his Murakumogiri up and into a rock that had managed to fall right towards him. "It's too bright again."
Tatsumi noticed none of this, or Whitebeard just casually blowing out the rock at the end of the weapon as if it was nothing more than a candle, as right after he'd tossed the rocks at Esdeath a third hit him cleanly in the chest, the force of the blow staggered him back and to the side a few paces.. It stung and might have started to burn him if he'd not reacted instinctively and grabbed it in both hands and tossed it away from him as soon as he could.
That was it for him and as the rock flew low and fast towards a few of the cannon emplacements on the curved wall that ringed the harbor and far away from where the other Admirals could intercept it thanks to blow staggering Tatsumi, he dropped his transformation. He could have kept it up but with Esdeath called back and the attack over Tatsumi didn't need to be in beast mode so he just shrunk back to his normal human form.
"I think I'll have ya light the candles on my next birthday cake ya magma punk." Whitebeard said as the attack ended and Akainu's arm returned to normal just before Tatsumi's last rock struck one of the cannon batteries that was still there, mainly due to the angle not being conducive for Mine's sniping to take it out, and blew it up while damaging the two batteries on either side of it and taking out several marines in the process. "What do you say?"
"Ha, ha." Akainu said with a gruff laugh. "No, I'm going to light your funeral pyre instead old man."
Akame and Tatsumi didn't hear any of this as Akame, who'd reached the ice before Whitebeard's ship had been hit and gotten clear of the volcanic rock barrage, rushed over to Tatsumi to check on him in the brief lull before the battle resumed Murasame still out and in her right hand. For his part Tatsumi was on one knee where he'd transformed back to human form with his left hand over his chest and right on the ice letting it cool the hot sting on his palms.
"Tatsumi, are you ok?" Akame asked, she knew that there was something they needed to address and that came back to her now that the immediate threat that Esdeath had posed was gone but right now there was a battle going on and she couldn't get distracted by it. "That was magma rocks you just caught and then took. Even your toughness would struggle against that."
"Yeah I'll be fine." Tatsumi said smiling up at Akame as he removed his left hand and placed it on the ice as well to cool it down so that Akame could see that his chest was pink where it had been hit but nothing more. "Feels like a bad sunburn I'd get in the summer before I ate my Devil Fruit, nothing more. I'll heal this quickly and adapt to the temperature for next time."
"Ok good." Akame said trusting Tatsumi and shifted Murasame to her left hand so that she could hold out her right hand to help him up. "And, um, thank you for, er, saving me. I don't doubt that Esdeath would have killed me otherwise, she's out of our league at the moment."
Akame's cheeks were bright red and Tatsumi smiled as he took her hand in his, his palms a bit pinker than his chest but not enough to impair him or his sword fighting, and let her pull to his feet though as Akame wore gloves while in combat the contact wasn't skin to skin. He knew that what he'd said had caused a change and was something that they'd have to talk about but like Akame he knew that they'd deal with this after the battle, provided that they survived of course.
"I'll be there for you just as you are for me." Tatsumi said as he reluctantly let go of Akame's hand. "And when the time comes we will kill Esdeath and bring her to justice for her countless crimes, we just need to get stronger."
"I know." Akame said calming down as she took Tatsumi's sword from her off her back where she'd strapped it hand handed it to him. "We will get stronger from this. Hopefully, our friends are doing well and that they're not facing anything as challenging as Esdeath."
"I'm sure they are doing fine; nothing was as challenging as Esdeath as the other Admirals didn't directly take to the field." Tatsumi said as he took Incursio back and quickly strapped it to his back before he drew it once more and the sounds of battle resumed with a volley of cannon fire at the 3 remaining ships in the harbor. "Now let's get back to it and back them up."
Akame nodded at that as she turned and together they rushed back to the front lines, swords drawn and ready to keep pushing forward towards the plaza. Esdeath's attack had been expected but she'd also overstepped and been forced to pull back giving them a reprieve and allowing the pair to resume the normal fight. Hopefully, their friends and crewmates were doing the same as the battle at Marineford raged on.
I think that's a good spot to end this chapter on after all that happened between Tatsumi and Esdeath, the revelation of the 3rd crossover character with Conqueror's Haki, and the reactions to the end of the last chapter and Tatsumi's transformation. The battle has resumed and the Whitebeard Pirates and their allies the continued their push to the plaza and the scaffold as they try to rescue Ace. The only thing to really address is Esdeath's Devil Fruit. This wasn't my first idea for it, I'll explain that when the person who I gave her original Devil Fruit to appears as it worked better for that character than it did for Esdeath, as my first idea factored in the trouble of dealing with several ice users across these franchises. However, I was able to find something that worked for her (and one other character indirectly) when researching and went for Skaði over the other finalist for her Devil Fruit because it fit better. For those wondering, in mythology Skaði is a jötunn and a Norse goddess associated with bowhunting, skiing, winter, and mountains so between the winter association and Norse history she made the most sense for Esdeath. She also has some connection to wolves it seems which plays into Esdeath's Admiral codename so another bonus for her. Lastly, Skaði, according to Norse mythology, once even managed to confront the gods of Asgard and was enough of a problem (and they wished to atone for killing her father) that offered compensation rather than face her showing a level of strength in the mythos. Naturally, I've had to take plenty of liberties to make this work for Esdeath and this is only the tip of her power but I feel like it's the best Devil Fruit for her as it's powerful and really she should be a Mythical Zoan with her ice powers. Finally, the next chapter will be a slight look back as we shift gears to look at how the battles between the other members of the Night Pirates on the front lines and the four Warlords who attacked them are going. That is all that I have for y'all so I will leave this chapter 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