The brothers moved.
Handsome screamed, and thrust out his hands. Salt erupted from his fingers, flying at Izuku in a great, white wave. Izuku leapt, somersaulting over the wall of sodium, and then thrust straight down, driving his fist into the marble floor. The floor cratered, and the two brothers were thrown back, hurled through the doorway and into the atrium beyond from the shockwaves alone.
Bandsome managed to recover first, mercury blades thrusting from his flesh. But Yamato was moving out of reach, leaping over Izuku and bringing her kanabo down on his head, its metal coated in the black Haki sheen. Bandsome jumped back, just in time as the heavy club cratered the floor; just as strongly as Izuku's blow.
Izuku looked up, readying himself as he saw Handsome, clouds of salt swirling around him, his face contorted in a look of inhuman rage. Bandsome was falling back, dodging left and right as Yamato swung her club.
And behind them were the pirates. Only moments ago, they had been following their captains in triumph, dreaming of the treasure and rewards to come. Now they could only stare, in horrified disbelief, at the twin apparitions that had emerged to terrorize them while somehow managing to push their normally invincible captains back.
"Get out of here!" roared Handsome looking back at his crew. "Get out and sack the city! Raze it to the ground!"
The pirates hesitated for an instant, and then broke into a run, thundering away down the entrance all; heedless of what awaited them outside.
"Yes, that's right," Handsome growled as he turned back towards the duo, a mad look in his eyes. "This city, my city, is going to burn; down to the last man, woman, and child; and it will be your fault, little green man."
In spite of everything, Izuku felt his face form a smirk.
"Wrong, Handsome," he replied. "Your crew will fight for nothing, unless they surrender."
Izuku wasn't entirely sure any surrenders would be accepted. But it was worth saying.
"Oh really…" hissed Handsome. "We'll see about that!"
He punched at Izuku, the salt forming around his fist and flashing out ahead of it. It expanded in size, becoming as large as an 18 wheeler truck. Izuku and Yamato dodged the salt fist, and it slammed into the throne, destroying it.
"He's using Haki!" Yamato called out, dodging a giant silver broadsword the size of a subway car. Bandsome retracted the quicksilver into him and chased after her. Izuku focused back on the plump Handsome, and he charged his fist.
"Air Force! Colorado Smash!" He leapt at Handsome, driving his fist towards the pirate captain's face. Handsome smirked as he disappeared, his body becoming a billowing cloud of salt once the air punch scattered. Izuku doubled over as the cloud washed over him, forcing his mouth shut even as he choked.
He looked up. Handsome had fallen back further into the atrium. Behind him, he could hear Yamato and Bandsome fighting, smashing up the throne room as they went with the sound of dozens of swords clashing against a single club in a dance. Him on a constant attack, her parrying every strike.
No time to worry or doubt. He had to trust Yamato. She was strong enough, and so was he.
And he had Handsome where he wanted him.
He activated Black Whip, a swarm of black serpents coiling and lashing as they flew through the air. Handsome threw out a wave of salt, blasting the whips away. But Izuku turned one with a thought, sending it wrapping around a nearby vase and hurling it at Handsome. The vase hit him and shattered, splashing him with water.
Handsome arched his back and screamed, jumping back; but Izuku could see the water soaking into his body. He leapt at the stricken pirate, driving his fist into his chest. The impact rang like a thunderclap, hurling the bulging eyed Handsome back across the atrium. He crashed into one of the planters, his now semi-liquid body splashing over it.
Izuku's heart leapt. The gamble was paying off! Water really was anathema to Handsome!
"Keep focused Izuku. This fight isn't over until he's down for good." Yoichi's voice echoed breaking Izuku's momentary celebration.
He leapt into the air, and dived down at the fallen Handsome. If he could finish this now…
Handsome looked up at him, eyes bright with malice, and raised one fist. The fist erupted, salt-water mush thrusting straight at Izuku like a drill. Izuku threw himself to the side, and the mush flashed past.
He came down hard, and paused, trying to calm himself as he coughed. Yes, Handsome was vulnerable to water. But while he could not control salt-water mush as well as dry salt, he could still use it. He was going to need more water…
A terrible roar filled the atrium. His head snapped around, and he saw the salt cloud billowing up from behind the planters, like a great white sandstorm. It rushed towards him, spreading out all around him. Izuku leapt back, but the storm kept coming, rearing up before him, the salt forming into Handsome's face.
"You dare use water on me!" He bellowed, the salt reverberating his voice.
The salt fell towards him. Izuku leapt straight up, as the salt crashed down on the spot where he had stood, spreading like a tidal wave across the floor.
His heart hammered as he ran around the room, trying to think. The salt hadn't harmed him the first time, but Handsome had been falling back, trying to get away. Now he was fighting, and he was angry. One touch of that salt wave could spell the end.
Another roar, and the salt reformed, curling upward in a great spiral, Handsome's face appearing again, eyes bright with hate.
"I loved the sea as a child you know!" he bellowed, hurling himself at Izuku. Izuku dodged, feeling the salt in the air as the white wave passed him, splashing over the wall behind him. He jumped around and away, but the wave was coming around again. Even without direct contact he could feel his throat and skin starting to dry out.
"Now I can't even touch it!!" Handsome went on, as the white mass flew at Izuku, thundering like the ocean waves. "Water is death to me! It's acid on my skin!"
Izuku dodged again, and dropped down as the salt erupted in all directions, filling up the atrium. He landed, and looked up, as Handsome began to reform above him, that round, comical face staring down at him; bitter and hateful.
"Then why!?" Izuku asked, as he understood what Handsome meant. "Why eat the devil fruit!?"
"Because I needed it!" thundered Handsome, diving down at him. Izuku leapt to the right, landing on his hands, and cartwheeling onto one of the planters, as the white tide gushed down and over the floor. "I needed power! I needed it to win, to conquer!"
Of course he did. Why else would he have eaten that wretched fruit? Izuku's stomach churned as he remembered Onigashima, and the SMILE fruits. Like them, Handsome had eaten a devil fruit, and paid the price; all for more power.
"You're an idiot!" Izuku yelled, unable to stop himself. "What kind of pirate makes himself allergic to water!?"
The atrium rumbled, and the white wave reformed once again, this time into a great whirlwind with a human shape at the top. The shape became Handsome, and he was furious.
"A pirate who wants to win!" he retorted, and thrust out his hand. Izuku leapt away, as the salt shaped into a bus-sized hammer that crashed into the planter and wall where he had stood. "A pirate who'll be a King!"
Izuku activated Black Whip as he landed, and grabbed every vase in reach, hurling them at Handsome. Handsome fell back, swinging his salt tentacle like a whip. The vases shattered, and the salt turned into salt mush, flying straight at Izuku. Izuku jumped up, aiming the Black Whip at the ceiling, the mush splattering over the orchids and bushes. He looked down, feet to the wall, and shuddered as he saw the leaves and flowers shriveling, the vibrant colors turning brown and black.
This battle was killing the plants. Killing this whole place.
That was the plan, Bach wanted it so. So long as they kept the fight here in the plateau and not into the city.
"Bastard's planning to run you dry, literally," Daigoro practically shouted, echoing what Izuku had been thinking."
"You're not a King, you're a killer!" he cried, glaring down at Handsome. "Look at this place! What can you rule!?"
"Go to hell!" Handsome screamed, and erupted straight up at him, his head growing to an enormous size, mouth opening to swallow him.
It was all Izuku could do to get out of the way in time, before the massive head flew past and crashed into the wall. As Izuku sped around, the salt began to swirl around and around, faster and faster, until it became a white tornado.
"You dare judge me!? Boy!" demanded the tornado, as it rushed at Izuku. He tried to dodge, but slipstream caught him, the wind pulling him around and around. He could feel the salt in the air, whipping at him, abrading him. He could feel its sting on his flesh, tearing at his costume.
"You think you're better than me!?" snarled Handsome, his voice echoing over the whistling wind. "I am Saltquaker Handsome! And I will be your death!"
The salt was swirling around him, more and more of it. Izuku could feel it scouring at his skin, even as he squeezed his eyes shut, and forced his nose and mouth closed with Black Whip. He had to get free of this whirlwind! He had to get away!
His power erupted, and he burst forth, crashing straight into the marble wall. The wall cracked and cratered around him, and for a moment Izuku's mind was a blank.
Then he felt himself falling. He should use Float…
No, not yet. He couldn't make that mistake, not the way he had with Malice. He couldn't show all his cards, not yet.
He threw out Black Whip, the tentacles grabbing onto the walls, slowing him down like a bungee cord. He dropped down, and turned; to see Handsome reform himself across the atrium. His clownish face was twisted in anger, his eyes full of bitterness.
He glanced around the room. There were still plenty of vases, and plenty more besides that. He needed to use more of them, to get Handsome thoroughly soaked so his blows would hit. If he could only…
Handsome punched, a fist of salt flying from his hand. Izuku leapt aside, and the fist slammed into the wall, shaking the whole atrium. Izuku landed, but Handsome punched again, forcing him to dodge again. The salt fist hit a planter, blasting it apart, chunks of marble flying in all directions. Izuku tried to move as he landed, but Handsome punched yet again. Izuku hurled himself aside, his skin burning as the fist flashed past, and slammed into one of the ceiling columns, snapping it right in half. Izuku hit the ground and rolled, barely avoiding the marble chunks as they came crashing down around him.
He looked up. Handsome was standing there, the old smirk back on his face.
"Now you've made me angry," he growled.
(X)
"Look there!"
Sabo looked up at Koala's call. They had ascended from that water tower to the roof of Tall Toby to get a better view. A handful of figures, hurrying through the open doors of Holmes Hall, out into the open space before the stairs. More and more appeared, until the trickle became a flood. Hundreds of pirates, running as if for their lives, heedless of what awaited them below.
"Would you look at that?," he asked, mystified as he looked through his binoculars. "What're they doing?"
"I don't know," replied Koala, glancing around Holmes Hall with her long eyeglass.. "I can't see anything."
The first pirates reached the top of the stairs and began to run down. Only then did they falter, as they realized the danger. Below them, the wide plaza was lined with barricades; Royal Guards and policemen arrayed behind them, muskets and pistols at the ready. In the center was Jernigan Jenner, seated on a horse, saber drawn. To their left and right, the streets leading out of the plaza were blocked by yet more barricades; arranged so that the troops manning them could enfilade anyone attacking the plaza barricades. And the iron gate that led into the city proper.
The pirates in front tried to stop, shouting and waving their arms. But those behind barrelled into them, forcing them on and down the steps.
Jernigan Jenner swept down his sword.
"FIRE!" he roared.
The plaza erupted in billowing gray smoke, followed by a crackling thundercrash. The first volley tore into the unsuspecting pirates, throwing them back against their fellows. Some rolled down the stairs, others falling off the sides. The pirates in front tried to retreat, but still more of them poured through the doorway, forcing them onward.
"FIRE!"
Another volley, and more pirates screamed and toppled as they were hit, red blood spray and stanning the stairs and floor below.
Sabo stared at the horrid scene, trying to make sense of it. This couldn't be an attack; or else the Finalem Brothers would be at the head. This was a mob, a tide of terrified pirates, running as if the hounds of hell were snapping at their heels.
His mind whirled. The Finalem Brothers were callous, but not so stupid as to let their crews be slaughtered; not like this. Something had to be occupying them, inside the palace. They were fighting something in there; something so strong that their minions fled in terror before it. But what could it be?
Sabo suddenly grinned as he realized. Shirou and Yoichi, the two who had saved King Bach at the festival. It had to be them.
Something caught Sabo's eye through the gunsmoke. He looked down, and saw a white-clad figure among the red; standing on one of the side-street barricades, right by the second line.
He lifted his binoculars to his eyes to look more closely.
Her. It was her, that young woman he had seen before. She had curly black hair done in twin tails, wore some spiked chokers and bracelets like some goth punk, and was wearing the white and blue uniform of a Marine junior officer. She was dashing back and forward, barking orders and directing fire.
"What do you see?" Koala asked, looking over his shoulder.
"It's Doll," he replied, smiling as he lowered his binoculars. "The one survivor from the Marine base. Looks like she's back in action."
A roar drew his eyes back to the stairs. The pirates were falling sideways, scattered like bowling pins, as an enormous shape barrelled through them. It drew out in front, and Sabo could see it clearly. An enormous muscular man, clad in a ragged smock, bucket helmet and bloodstained apron; hammer and saw held aloft.
"Headsplitter Helmet," he declared, recognizing the monstrosity as it barrelled down the stairs.
"Onward!" shrieked another voice. Sabo saw the tall fishwoman, racing through the gap Helmet had created. "It's kill or be killed!"
"Big Biter Bertha," Koala identified her. "And is that Sawtooth Scyther Ignatius?"
Sabo looked, and there indeed was the weasel mink, scurrying along behind his larger shipmates with his massive scythe.
"That's him," agreed Sabo, seeing the wanted posters in his mind as his blood turned cold. "That's all of them."
The three raced down the steps, the pirates charging behind them, screaming their battle cries with their many weapons at the ready. The guardsmen fired another volley, and another, sending more pirates plunging down over the sides. But they charged on regardless, on and on through the storm of bullets, shrieking their hatred of their tormentors; whom moments ago they had thought to be their slaves.
As the dreadful trio reached the bottom of the stairs, the first rank of guards fell back, abandoning their barricades and hurrying towards the second line. As they dashed through the gaps between the barricades, the guardsmen of the second line fired, sending yet another volley towards the charging pirates. Some fell, but many of the bullets thudded into Helmet's muscular chest, and Bertha's mighty form. They didn't even slow down.
Bertha roared as she smashed into the first barricades, plowing right through them and into the retreating guardsmen. Helmet was at her shoulder, laying into the guardsman with a saw and hammer. Some of the guardsmen turned to fight, lashing out with musket butt and bayonet. But they might as well have tried to fight a Sea King. Sabo watched as Ignatius piled in, lighting quick, blood and limbs flying as he worked his blade, scything like the Reaper made manifest.
And still no sign of the Finalem brothers.
(X)
Doll gritted her teeth.
They had been doing so well! They had caught the pirates off guard, gotten a couple of good volleys into them; gunning them down by the dozens. But then those three had shown up, and now the pirates were on the attack.
Most were charging after their three officers, shrieking like lunatics, maddened by the slaughter. But others were cannier, taking any cover they could find, and firing back at their tormentors. Some were using the statues and pillars lining the stairs as cover; while others were piling up their own dead comrades. Some of the bodies were moving.
"Take out the snipers!" she barked. "Adjust your sights!"
The guardsmen nearby did as they were ordered, carefully adjusting their sights and taking aim. One fired, and a pirate toppled from behind the half-wrecked statue he had been using for cover. Another fired, and another pirate fell, and another.
Doll looked back to the plaza. The first line was collapsing, the trio butchering their way through the center, their flunkies pouring in behind them. A few soldiers and police had managed to get away, as was the plan; but the three officers had been too fast. The soldiers in the second line were firing, but their firing was ragged, distracted. They would not volley-fire against their comrades stuck in the melee, and even Lord Jenner was not going to try and force them. Headsplitter even fell back to the stairs and grabbed… something large!
"Kill them all!" roared Big Biter. "Forget them! Fiiiiight!"
The three officers now broke into a run towards the second line. Big Biter and Headsplitter were in the front, the latter lugging a marble column on his shoulder, while Sawtooth Scyther scurried along behind. More pirates fell in behind them, the loose swarm becoming a ragged column.
"Fire!" Jenner roared, and the troops at the second barricade finally volleyed.
"Fire!" Doll barked in turn. Her own troops fired, sending a brutal enfilade straight into the column's flank. Pirates fell by the score, and Doll felt a thrill of hope. They were wearing them down!
Then Headsplitter turned, and threw his marble column straight at them.
"Soru!" Doll leapt off the barricade, just before the column smashed right into it. She could hear yells and cries of pain as she fell, landing hard on the plaza. Ahead of her, Bit Biter smashed into the barricade, barrelling straight through it, men and barricade sections flying in all directions. Scyther darted in behind, scythe swinging, bodies falling. Headsplitter hurried after them, as the screaming pirates poured in through the gap. Jenner regrouped on the double, and his men charged at them, swords and bayonets drawn.
Doll let out a snarl and drew her saber. The second line was collapsing, and all that remained after that was the reserve policemen. She could see them now, middle-aged part-timers who could barely fit into their uniforms, clutching pistols in shaking hands, and looking like they had just hang-glided over hell. In the middle was Commissioner Tibs, waving his ceremonial truncheon in the air, shouting to encourage them.
But then Ignatius was there, laughing aloud as he swung his scythe, green blasts of compressed air slamming into the reservists, driving them back. Doll felt sick, and sprinted towards them. It was all she could do!
But Bertha just pushed on past them, racing away down the boulevard up ahead. Helmet joined her, and then finally Ignatius. They ran out, heedless of the battle, leaving their subordinates behind.
"They broke through!" gasped Tibs, as Doll reached him. His eyes were wide, mad with adrenalin and fear. "What do we do now!?"
"Ensign Doll!"
Jenner hurried over to join them. He had lost his horse, and his fancy uniform was torn to shreds; and Doll could see blood on his saber.
"Ensign, go after them!" Jenner ordered, his voice hoarse from shouting. "Tibs! Give her anyone you can spare!"
"R-Right sir right away sir!" Tibs replied, and hurried away to his command post; where various policemen and women were chattering and shouting into transponder snails.
Doll looked back at the battle. With their officers gone, the pirates had lost their momentum. Guards and policemen were pressing in from the sidestreets, firing into them, while what remained of the second line held their ground, reinforced by the police reservists. They were keeping them contained to the plateau at the very least!
But the pirates were fighting on. If anything they were fighting harder, even though their officers had abandoned them. Had they lost their minds completely?
Or did they know where their officers were going?
Doll snapped her head round, staring down the boulevard. The trio were still running, heedless of their dying subordinates or any reservists firing at them.
Angela was out there. Either at home with her parents, or in the shop with the Minelli sisters. Barricaded in, with nowhere to run to.
She let out a snarl, and slammed her saber back into its scabbard.
"Geppou!" She leapt into the air, soaring after the trio. They were out of sight, but she could see the bloody footprints they had left behind. She landed, and sprinted after them, as if the devil himself were on her heels.
"Izuku! Yamato! Don't lose!" she silently prayed. If those two failed, it would all have been for nothing.
They could not fail! Not now!
(X)
"Where are they going?" Koala asked, as the trio raced off down the boulevard, heedless of their comrades behind them. A few hundred yards behind, that Marine was giving chase on foot.
"Looks like they're heading for Morantown," replied Sabo as he pocketed his binoculars, straightening up and cracking his knuckles. "As for why, there's only one way to find out."
"But our mission!" the orangette urged. "Dragon told us not to intervene unless it could benefit the cause."
Sabo turned to glare at her.
"So you want us to do nothing, Koala?" he asked bitterly. Koala opened her mouth to object, but then faltered.
"Evil only exists if good men do nothing," Sabo went on, reciting the words Yoichi had told him. "And I refuse to let evil have its way."
He lifted his pipe from his shoulder and took off in a leap from the great clock tower.
"Sabo!" Koala called out, but to no avail, as Sabo landed like a cat, and began to hop away over the rooftops and tall chimneys.
"Ugggggh!" she groaned, covering her face with one hand. "My first mission, belly up like this!"
Then, with a sigh, she started after him.
(X)
Yamato snarled, barring her teeth.
She stood in the ruins of the throne room, kanabo in hand, heart pounding, blood hot, and despite it all, she had a smile splitting her face.
Before her, Bandsome moved. His arm thrust out, morphing into a quicksilver spear, striking at her heart. Yamato dodged, the spear hissing as it slashed through the air, her boots screeching on the cratered marble floor. Yamato unleashed her Haki, her skin and club hardening as the tendrils struck, stabbing at her like a hundred spears all at once. Each spear dissolved as it struck, but with every blow she parried, two more took its place.
Her Observation Haki flashed, and she ducked to avoid another spear as Bandsome charged in. She pivoted on the spot, avoiding the silver scythe that had once been his leg, and swung her club with a yell.
For a fraction of an instant, she saw panic in his eyes.
Then her club struck, clanging like a bell on a hastily-conjured shield. The blow threw Bandsome back, straight into the wall, and through it with a crash.
Yamato paused only a moment, as she heard the roars echoing down the halls, along with the sound of crushing debris. It was Handsome, battling against Izuku.
No. He was strong. She had to trust him.
With a snarl, she ran at the jagged hole and leapt through. Before her, to her momentary amazement, was a silver ship, conjured out of Bandsome's mercury, right in the middle of the now-ruined throne room. The quicksilver was laced with black, the black of Haki.
"Silver Skiff!" Bandsome roared, from atop the ship. Yamato swung her club, the blow ringing as it struck the bow. Bandsome laughed, and leapt into the air, the ships dissolving into a mass of black and silver goo, spreading out all around her. She jumped back, hopping from side to side as quicksilver spears thrust where she stood. Ahead of her, a great wave of mercury reared up, carrying Bandsome upon it.
"Silver Surfer!" he bellowed, as a surfboard formed under his feet. The wave surged at Yamato, carrying him along at its crest. Yamato snarled, and drew back her club.
"Narikabura!"
She swung, sending a bullet of Haki infused-compressed air straight at the mercury wave. The blast struck, blowing the wave apart, the flying mercury splattering over the walls. Bandsome leapt, somersaulting over the blast. Yamato saw her chance, and planted her legs against the steps leading to the throne.
Haki erupted around her. It launched her forward, shattering what was left of the throne, black Haki covering her forearms and Takeru, small bits of electricity seemed to coat the weapon as well.
"RAIME!"
Bandsome's eyes widened as he saw her, but he was still falling, unable to dodge.
"HAKKE!"
Yamato struck home, her club catching Bandsome in the chest. Bandsome screamed, and thrust out his hand. The spear caught Yamato's Armament coated arm as she spun on the spot, bringing her club round. The club hit him, and Bandsome flew back, straight into the already-cratered wall. The wall shattered, and Bandsome flew on. Through multiple walls of wood, stone and steel.
Around her, the mercury was sloping down the walls, pooling on the floor in a limp, shimmering puddle.
She had hurt him. He had lost control, at least for the moment.
Yamato let out a yell of triumph, and charged towards the holes. This was what Izuku had told her. Keep the pressure on. Keep up the momentum, and do not let go!
"Narika!" she yelled, jumping through the hole, Takeru glowing with her Haki. In the next room, Bandomse lay against the far wall, mouth agape with agony, glasses destroyed. "Bura!"
She swung.
And by some dark miracle, Bandsome melted, avoiding the blast as it sailed overhead. Takeru struck the wall, and with a crash it came down, filling the room with dust. Yamato leapt back to avoid the debris, looking around for Bandsome.
And she saw him, a quicksilver blob, slithering up what was left of the wall. He was trying to get away!
"Oh no you don't! Face me like a Samurai! Coward!" she yelled, as she charged after him.
(X)
"This way!"
Sabo took a right turn, hopping quickly between a complicated array of chimney pots. Down below, he could see the trio sprinting along the deserted street.
This was getting weird. The windows and doors along the street were shuttered and boarded up, no doubt ordered by the King and the Prime Minister. But such defenses would not have held those three for long.
Why hadn't they tried to break into any of them? And if not them, why hadn't they gone for any of the major civic buildings or landmarks, like City Hall or Tall Toby? Where were they going?
Sabo glanced around, trying to think. They were coming up on the edge of the city center; beyond which lay the outer suburbs, like Morantown and Minktown. If he was where he thought he was, and those three didn't suddenly double back, then they were heading for Morantown. So what was there?
He looked up ahead, his eyes scanning the Londinium skyline. And his blood ran cold.
"Where are they going?" asked Koala, landing beside him and matching his sprint.
"There!" Sabo pointed straight ahead.
He could see it clearly now. The Morantown Municipal Gasworks; one of four that served the greater Londinium area, and Morantown's biggest single employer. Big stone buildings, interspersed with tall, cylindrical gasholders, webs of pipes running between them; the whole place practically a small town unto itself.
Sabo had been all over the city, noting all the key locations. He had spent a better part of a day watching the gasworks, noting its comings and goings, working out its functions. Every day, coal was brought by rail from the mines, and unloaded at the gasworks' very own siding; located in the waste ground between Morantown and the gasworks. Then, by a method he did not understand, the coal was rendered into gas, and stored in the gasholders, from which it was pumped through underground pipes across the city. To those who could afford it, the gas was life and comfort; lighting their streets, heating their homes, cooking their food, fuelling their kilns and furnaces.
And if those three had their way, it would be fire and death.
"They wouldn't!" protested Koala, appalled as she understood the meaning now.
"Oh yes they would!" retorted Sabo, forcing his sprinting legs to accelerate. "Those pipes are connected to the entire town. One spark and they'll burn of all Morantown at least! Blow up the whole city if they're clever!"
The thought made his stomach clench. In his mind's eye he could see it; the gasworks exploding in a fireball, the burning wreckage plunging into hapless Morantown, pillars of flame erupting inside every home, Londinium consumed in a sea of fire.
A sea of fire…
Why did that image sound and feel so… familiar? Why did it make him feel so uneasy?
"You were right Sabo!' replied Koala. "We've got to stop them!"
Sabo snapped, grinning through the thoughts.
"And we will!"
They had reached the end of the street. Beyond it was another street running perpendicular, marking the boundary between the inner city and Morantown. There in front of them was the gasworks itself, the main gate barred, the street in front of it lined with barricades, manned by soldiers and police. As the trio approached, the guards opened fire; their bullets bouncing off Bertha's bare hide.
"Come on!"
Sabo leapt, soaring high over the last buildings. Below him, the trio tore straight into the barricades, hurling men left and right, bashing them against the wall or leaving them slashed and maimed.
One of the policemen was backing away, pulling out a transponder snail. Helmet saw him and turned, saw at the ready.
Sabo gritted his teeth, and threw out his arms, shifting his fall. He had to get this right!
He landed foot-first on Helmet's head, the impact ringing like a hammer on an anvil, the ground cracking under the towering man. Helmet let out an oof and staggered, and Sabo back-flipped down to the street.
"Ow," said Helmet bluntly, turning to face him. "That hurt."
Sabo concentrated. He had hurt Helmet, but not as much as he had hoped. This was going to take some work.
He activated his Haki, and swung his pipe at Helmet. The pipe hit the man's tree-trunk neck with a thump, like punching a hunk of raw meat. Grunting, Helmet swung his hammer. Sabo jumped back. Helmet advanced, swinging his saw. Sabo parried, catching the saw on his Haki-imbued pipe. The impact made his arms vibrate.
He held the parry for a moment, glaring at the featureless helmet save for the two holes that made for those beady black eyes. Then he dropped the pipe down and spun round, bringing the pipe around against Helmet's head. The pipe struck with a clang, making Sabo's arms vibrate. Helmet swung his saw, and Sabo dropped back. Helmet came on, swinging hammer and saw like a giant human threshing machine.
Sabo fell back, glancing at the policeman he had saved. The man was talking quickly into his transponder snail, while glancing nervously at Helmet and Sabo. That was good; reinforcements would be on the way soon.
Now for this guy.
Sabo fell back some more, leading Helmet on. Nearby, Koala had landed, and was facing off against Ignatius, while Bertha was finishing off the remaining soldiers. Sabo's heart clenched. He had to get this done quickly and go and help Koala out.
He ducked, Helmet's saw whistling over his head. He fell back some more, judging the distance. Just a little bit more…
He leapt, soaring over Helmet's head and landing behind him. He spun round, pouring Haki into his pipe, and slammed it into Helmet's right hip. Helmet grunted, and staggered away from the blow. Sabo drew back the pipe and swung again, this time striking Helmet's back, knocking the enormous man forward. Helmet swung round, but Sabo was already moving, somersaulting over his head. He poured power into his pipe as he descended, then took aim, and swung it like a golf club.
The pipe struck Helmet's helmet with a clang. Helmet's head snapped over, so hard that Sabo was sure he had snapped the ogre's neck.
Sabo landed, and drew back his pipe. He glanced over at Koala. She was holding her own, dodging fast as Ignatius slashed the air with his whistling scythes.
But Bertha had downed all the soldiers, and was clumping slowly towards the gate. It was a heavy-looking thing, made of thick wood reinforced with metal, and barred and chained shut. But Sabo had seen what Bertha's kind could do. That gate would not hold for long.
Helmet's head snapped back up. He let out a roar, and slammed down his hammer, blackened with Haki; with a speed Sabo hadn't thought him capable of. He leapt out of the way as the hammer came down, cratering the cobbled street and making the ground shake. The ogre rounded on him, bringing round his saw in a lightning-fast slash. Sabo threw himself back, and the saw flashed over his stomach, slashing his shirt. He threw up his legs and back-flipped, landing on his feet just as Helmet came on again, bringing down his hammer. Again Sabo dodged, and again the street was cratered.
In the corner of his eye, he saw the windows of the houses around him; the fearful eyes peering through the shutters. He could see broken windows and cratered walls, where flying debris had struck. This battle was destroying this street, their homes.
Just as the Finalem brothers were surely destroying the palace. The damage he and Helmet were causing was nothing compared to what those two could do; not to mention Shirou and Yoichi, assuming it was those two they were fighting.
So what the hell had Bach been thinking? What kind of King let his own palace be trashed?
Sabo's heart sank, as he understood.
Then it jumped as Helmet swung again. Sabo roared as he caught the blow with his pipe, then dropped down and tackled the beast; his momentum sending Helmet stumbling backwards.
'King Bach, I understand you now,' he thought. 'You sacrificed your own palace to trap those two. You sacrificed your home so that these people wouldn't have to; and that your kingdom might see another dawn.'
He adjusted his hat, twirling his pipe as a smile broke on his lips.
'This world has few good kings… and fewer good men. So… I will follow your lead, Shirou, Yoichi!' Sabo raised his head, brown eyes aglow with determination. 'I'll bet on you. And this good king!'
"No more!" he barked. Through the eye slits of Helmet's helmet, he could see those black eyes glaring. "You won't harm a single person in this district. Not as long as I'm here!"
"Die."
A flurry of scalpels flew straight at him. Sabo twirled his pipe, knocking each one away. Helmet charged, and Sabo parried, blackened pipe meeting blackened hammer and saw. Their feet dug into the ground, the buildings around them shaking, as they glared into each-other's eyes.
This was a fight to the death.
(X)
"Am I supposed to be impressed, little girl?"
Koala gritted her teeth, forcing herself not to lose her temper. It was hard enough dodging the weasel mink's attacks as it was.
"Why don't you hold still and let me finish?" sneered Ignatius. "It's not like you can really fight."
Koala flipped back, and straightened up, glaring at Ignatius. Ignatius was a raggedly, wretched–looking creature, but he was quick and deadly. She had seen what that scythe could do; the evidence was bleeding onto the cobbles all around her.
A crash rang out. Koala looked up, and almost cried out as she saw what had happened. The gates had been blasted off their hinges, and Bertha was standing amid the wreckage.
"Finally!" exclaimed Ignatius. "Let's…!"
Koala saw her chance, and kicked hard at Ignatius. Her heeled boot caught him on the jaw, throwing him off his feet and sending him sprawling across the cobbles. She ran at Bertha, readying herself to leap. She had to take the giant fishman out! She had to buy time!
Bertha slowly turned to face her, smirking. Koala leapt, aiming her booted foot at Bertha's tusked jaw.
"Senmaigawara Seiken!"
Koala flew straight into Bertha's thrusting fist. The blow threw her back, her head ringing as vibrations from Bertha's punch coursed through every square inch of her. She landed with a crash, sliding and bouncing over the cobbles, until finally she slammed into a wall.
Her world was pain, her mind a fog. But she forced herself to look up, just in time to see Ignatius running right at her, scythe drawn back to slash. Survival instinct flashed through her suffering body, adrenalin drowning the pain. She rolled to one side, feeling the scythe flash overhead, then rolled and leapt to her feet.
"Hmm…" rumbled Bertha, gazing down at her. "Didn't expect her to survive that."
"I like it," hissed Ignatius, sending Koala a leer that made her want to take a shower; make that two showers. "Good fodder for my blade, Itachi. Another nick can be made, when I saw through'er bones."
Koala wiped her mouth of blood, glaring at the two combatants.
"Yeah well, let's kill her and get it over with," retorted Bertha, cracking her knuckles. "They won't shoot at us in the gasworks."
Koala could hear the sounds of battle nearby. She glanced over at Sabo, who was fighting desperately against the giant brute that was Helmet. While he did so, a handful of policemen and guards, all of them bruised and bleeding, were dragging away the wounded.
"You're not going in there!" she snapped, dropping into a fighting stance. "I won't let you guys have your way with this city! These people! You've done them enough harm!"
The pair laughed, their laughter grating at her soul like sandpaper on her skin.
"It's the way of the world, little missie!" declared the Bull Shark fishwoman, twice Koala's size. "The conqueror takes, and the vanquished take it! Or else they die!"
She charged, thundering across the blood-slicked cobbles.
"Iggy! Go!" Bertha roared as she closed. "Blow the gasworks sky high! I wanna bonfire to roast some meat!"
Koala's blood ran cold, but the massive Bertha was upon her. Her fist came down, slamming a crater the size of a cart in the cobbles. Koala leapt back, narrowing avoiding the flying cobbles; each one big enough to brain her.
"One bonfire!" Ignatius leered. "Comin' right up! Weeesisisisisisi~!" He laughed as he bolted for the now-open gate.
Bertha struck again, slamming her fist down. Koala tried to leap back, but the shockwave caught her, throwing her to the ground. She hit the cobbles hard, her head ringing from the impact.
She lay there, trying to master herself. She could hear Bertha approaching, her footsteps thumping on the cratered street. She had to do something! To take Bertha down quickly so she could go after Ignatius! But how? She was a Bull Shark fishwoman, and Koala had spent enough years among her kind to know what she was capable of. The fact she also clearly knew Fishman Karate to some extent only made things worse.
She looked up at the bright blue sky, praying for a miracle. She could see the stone wall of the gasworks, and the towers just beyond it.
The towers. If she remembered right, they contained gas; ready to be pumped through the underground pipes. One good hit on just one of them, and the whole place would go up like a ship's magazine after a direct hit.
Except…the towers didn't all contain gas. Some contained water too; water for cooling, and for fire control.
Yes, that one. That one right next to the wall. That was a water tower, she was sure of it!
Except she wasn't. She knew next to nothing about such things, and neither did Sabo. Could she be sure that it was really a water tower? What if she got it wrong?
Bertha entered her field of vision, like the Moon eclipsing the Sun. She was out of time.
"I'm gonna filet you like a tuna," growled Bertha, with undisguised relish. "Then I'll serve you up for sashimi."
Koala leapt, soaring up past a surprised Bertha, and up into the air. As she somersaulted, she saw the tower, and flung out her arms, aiming herself onto the wall in just the right place. She landed, and glared down at Bertha. In the corner of her eye she could see Ignatius stop by the nearby stairwell, staring up at her in amazement.
"You'll have to catch me first!" she sneered. "Take your best shot, if you think you can hit me!"
"Oh yeah?" Bertha drew back her blackened fist. "You're in the mood for punishment, missie! Senmaigawara Seiken!"
Koala jumped, the heavy shockwave flashing below her feet, and straight into the tower. The tower crumpled, and water gushed out in a mighty wave. The water hit Koala, throwing her down onto the street. She flipped as she fell, just managing to land on her feet. As she looked up, water was thundering through the broken gates, washing around Bertha like waves on a reef.
"Arrrghhhglbglbglbglb!" shrieked Ignatius, as the wave carried him out and deposited him on the wet cobbles. "What're you trying to do!? Drown me too Bertha!?"
Bertha ignored him. She strode towards Koala, eyes fixed on her.
"Well that was kinda dumb, attacking a Fishman with water," she said sourly. "Would you like to be sashimi, or tekkadon? No matter, I'll have a taste first!" Bertha roared and charged, maw open and full of razor sharp teeth, blackened by Haki.
But Koala grinned. She had what she needed. She leapt, twisting as she dodged the Bull Shark woman's bite and thrust her own Haki enforced palm straight at Bertha's head, fingers wide.
"Samehada Shotei!"
Her palm struck, and Bertha was flung backwards into the wall surrounding the factory in a crash and a cry of surprise and pain. Ignatius scrambled out of the way as she fell, so hard that she cratered the already-ruined street. Around them, the buildings shook. Even his stair rail he was trying to climb up again crumbled and broke down, whether due to the blow or how old and rickety it looked, he landed back on the ground, hand on his scythe.
"What the…!?" Ignatius stared at Koala in bewildered horror as she landed. "How can you do Fishman Karate!? You're human!"
"Rrrrgghghgh!" growled Bertha, rising to her feet, glowering with fury, both at being hit and her people's techniques being used by a human.
Koala focussed, and rushed forward, her feet stomping hard on the ground sending the water airborne. With one final stomp, she jumped up, a large amount springing up near Bertha's face. With a snap, her foot shot upward, the water seemingly coating her foot right as it made contact with Bertha's chin.
"Kachiage Haisoku!"
The blow stuck, Bertha's head snapping upwards with a thunderous crack, blood and teeth flying out of her mouth before she toppled backwards, crashing down into her crater. Koala landed nearby, dropping into the proper stance of a Fishman Karate user, the stance she had first learned when she was just a child.
"I have a good teacher," she replied with a smirk; as Bertha began to rise, glaring murderously at her as her teeth grew back in an instant.
(X)
Ignatius could not believe what he was seeing.
That prissy little girl had just laid out Bertha. And not just that; she had done it with Fishman Karate!
No wonder Bertha was angry. Fishman Karate was her people's heritage, a martial art they had developed themselves, and which only they had ever mastered. No outsider was supposed to be capable of learning it, let alone mastering it.
Yet there it was. And now Bertha would do nothing else until that girl was fried fish. Her pride as a fishwoman would not let her do otherwise. As for Helmet, he was still fighting that blonde fellow with the pipe.
So that just left him. Him alone. His Captains were tied up fighting in the palace, his fellow officers were busy with these two troublemakers, and the crew was back there, fighting the guards and police.
Him, alone.
He shook his head, focussing. The gasworks were wide open, and he knew what he could do with it. Turn the right wheels the right ways, and the city would be an inferno. He just needed to…
A booted foot caught him on the chin. He flew, crying out, through the open gateway, across the stone pavement, and straight into something wooden. The wood disintegrated into a shower of splinters, and finally he stopped, something black and heavy falling all around him.
He drew a breath, and coughed and spluttered, as his nose and mouth filled with coal dust. He staggered forward, and collapsed onto the ground; which turned out to be a railway track. He looked around, and saw a series of railway tracks laid out all around him. Directly behind him was a train of coal wagons; the wagons blasted apart, the coal spread all around.
And he was covered in it! His clothes, his fur, all black with coal dust! Someone was going to pay for this!
And he wouldn't have to look far. A young woman was striding slowly towards him, stepping over the railway tracks. She was wearing a Marine uniform, and carrying a cutlass, her hair black in twin tails and around her neck was a spiked choker. He had seen her before somewhere…not long ago.
"Gnnngh…who…the hell are you!?" he spluttered, his spittle coming out black.
The woman moved, and Ignatius moved in reflex, bringing up his scythe to parry her cutlass.
"I'm a Londinium lass, you vicious little bastard!" snarled the woman. "Here for my country, and my King…and my comrades, down in Adlerport!"
So it was her. The one who'd escaped.
"The ones you left to die!? Ha! Coward!" sneered Ignatius. He jumped back, coal dust flying everywhere. Ensign Doll charged at him, cutlass brandished high. Ignatius snarled, as he charged his scythe blade with Haki, and swung it at her narrow waist. Doll dodged, landing to his right. Ignatius swung the scythe around, slashing for her throat. He would take her head there and…!"
Then his scythe stopped with a clang. Ignatius blinked, and realized that her cutlass was parrying his scythe, its blade shimmering black with Haki, just like his own. She dropped back.
"I did my duty," retorted Doll, her eyes hard. "And now I'll finish it. Pirate scum."
Ignatius snarled, and shook his scythe, licking the blade underneath him. The taste of metal always got him riled up.
"And I'll finish you off when I cleave ya like a tree, government bitch."
And they charged, and they swung their weapons. The blades met, ringing like the judgment bell; their impact sending a gust of wind washing over them, blowing the coal dust off Ignatius.
Their eyes met. And their eyes glared.
(X)
Izuku crouched behind the semi-ruined planter, breathing hard.
"Done already, are we?" Handsome's chortling voice echoed around the room. "And there was me thinking you were a strong one! A strong mouth, maybe!"
Izuku shivered, forcing his heart to slow and his mind to clear. This battle had dragged on a long time, longer than he'd intended. He had no idea what had become of Yamato, or of what was going on outside, or even if Bach and Lawson had made it out safely. He was alone in this place, with only his strength, and his plan.
"But I can tell. There's a reason you've been resorting to these cheap tricks!" Handsome fired off a train car sized punch of salt in one direction, blasting the entire wall down. "You don't know Haki! Do you!"
He could hear Handsome moving around, searching for him. He had to lure the pirate in closer, to just the right spot. Then this might just work.
Slowly, fearfully, Izuku glanced up over the planter. He could see Handsome stalking along, a psychotic grin plastered over his face.
Izuku glanced around again, checking the remaining vases and hanging baskets, reminding himself of their locations. He needed Handsome just a little to the left.
He eased out a Black Whip tendril, sliding it carefully along the floor, just out of Handsome's sight. As it reached the right spot, he tapped it lightly against a piece of wreckage, then deactivated the quirk. Handsome's head snapped round, his mad eyes fixing on the source of the sound. Slowly, so slowly, he crept closer.
Izuku's heart was hammering. He would get one shot at this.
"Where are you hiding, little green man?" sang Handsome mockingly. "Come out now, and I'll mummify you after you're dead!"
Izuku gritted his teeth. He could hear his heart hammering in his ears.
He unleashed Black Whip. The tendrils shot out, flying through the air all around him. Handsome froze at the sound, but too late; as the tendrils struck the hanging baskets and grabbed at the vases. Izuku yanked the tendrils in, all at once; the baskets tipping over and the vases flying inward. Water poured down from the baskets, splashing all over the unsuspecting Handsome. The pirate screamed in pain, but there was worse to come, as the vases shattered against him, dumping more water all over his stricken form.
Izuku leapt up. Handsome was staggering, roaring in agony, his form sagging and glooping as if he was melting. Izuku leapt over the planter and charged, drawing back his fist. He had to…!
Handsome screamed as he saw him, and swung his rapidly expanding arm and tightening the salt as much as he could.
"ROCK SALT!" He yelled as he unleashed a frantic swipe with his hardened arm. Izuku tried to dodge, but he was too close. The arm hit him, knocking him sideways, sending him into the wall with a crash.
Izuku tried to get up. But there was something on his face, something cold and sludgy. He tried to wipe it off, but it clenched tight. He could feel it moving, trying to force his way into his mouth, his nose, his ears. Panic overwhelmed him, as he clawed and dragged at the mush, struggling to get it off.
'Froppy Style!' And with a thought, Black Whip exited his mouth and expunged all the salt off his face.
Finally he uncovered his eyes. He opened them, and saw Handsome rising up; a great mass of white mush, turning slowly to face him, a glowering face taking form atop it. Yellow ringed eyes boring down with all the hatred and malice Izuku has only seen with Tomura and Dabi.
"I take that back," hissed the monstrosity as he breathed hard, his skin inflamed and his voice verberating as he looked half melted, some parts of him human, others white slush, even half his face. "I'm going to kill you, slowly. I'm going to force my salt into your body. I'll force it into your stomach to poison you, into your lungs to choke you, into your blood to dry you out, little by little." He grit his teeth, barring them at Izuku as he marched towards him, regaining more of his human form. "And when I finally get bored of your suffering, I'll force some into your ears, reach it up into that empty head of yours and mummify what's left of your brain you fucking shitstain."
Izuku knelt on the ruined floor, breathing like a jackhammer. It hadn't been enough. All that water, and it hadn't been enough. Handsome was weakened, sluggish even. His skin looked like someone had thrown boiling grease on it. But he still wasn't down.
That left only one possibility. One small chance.
Izuku stood up, and readied himself to strike. This would take a lot of doing, and Handsome only needed to get him once. But the pirate was weakened, at least. He had a chance.
Handsome slithered towards him, teeth bared. Izuku opened the gates within, letting his power rise. He had been hovering around 45%.
Now to take it up a notch.
'One for All… 50%!'
He paused a few moments, letting Handsome draw closer, and then punched upward; a blast of compressed air slamming into the ceiling above and opening it, shattering it as debris fell around them. Massive gusts of wind broke out, the pirate standing his ground as massive air bullets slammed the ceiling and broke through like missiles.
"Uh…what was that?" scoffed Handsome, looking at him as if he had his underwear on his head. "Can't you even aim, little…!"
Then his eyes widened, and he moved; his body turning into white powder and sloshing away, as stone and glass rained down upon him. Izuku punched again, and again, pummeling the already damaged ceiling. Above him, glass panes shattered, stone arches crumbled, and metal struts bent and broke free. Down the wreckage tumbled, falling into the atrium in a terrible rain. Down and down it came, tearing through the trees and shrubs, showing the flowers and orchids in dust, bouncing and clattering on the cratered floor. All at once the rumble became a roar, and Izuku continued to punch, even the debris that was about to come down into him being blasted away by the forces of his air punches, before long, the entire roof came crashing down.
And then it was over.
Izuku looked around, mouth clenched shut against the choking dust. There was no sign of Handsome. Had he…?
Then a rumble, and a white shape emerged from under the wreckage; like a bowl of mochi come hideously to life.
"Not bad, not bad," mused Handsome. "But sadly for you, not good enough."
Izuku glanced upward. The ceiling was gone, and above him was a bright blue sky.
A bright blue sky, with white clouds slowly gathering. A little slowly. But they were gathering.
Perfect.
"You're right," he replied, smirking in spite of himself, green eyes staring defiantly towards the yellow eyed pirate, his fist glowing with a red tinge.
"It's not good enough. Not just yet."
Big thanks to Juubi-K writing this up. And to IKnowNothing and WildJoker000 for their edits and polish.
And yeah, wrote more on Sabo and Koala's battles more than our duo, but rest assured, next chapter should bring the battles to a close, given you can sense where our duo is going battle wise. And ensuring both Doll and Jenner contribute on their end as well.
Given my broken foot, it'll take a bit for me to write this up so maybe expect another update in a couple of weeks. FFESS needs my love and attention(unless I get mega inspiration and I have downtime at work whih, due to my broken foot and fewer hours I have there, isn't a lot).
Added music in as well(Spacebattles) so hope those work and fit.
Hope you all enjoyed this one! Let me know your thoughts on the flow of battle and how it goes. See you all next time.