Here is the twenty-sixth chapter released specially today outside my usual release schedule for my stories because this is the 1 year anniversary of this story's publication so I wanted to release a chapter to mark the occasion. As the War of the Best continues and the Navy reels from Tatsumi's rampage against the Giant Unit, defeat of Rear Admiral Ryuko, and their own success at stopping Oars Jr., a sudden curveball appears in the form of a battleship filled with people falling from the sky. Who are these newcomers? Why are they here? Where did they come from? And what do they want? All questions that will be answered as the latest development in the War of the Best occurs and new players enter the fray. That I have for the administrative stuff that I have but there are three guest reviews that need responses so I will do that now. Do keep the reviews coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.
To Anon (guest), thank you for your review and enjoying the last chapter, I will now address it. Tatsumi certainly wouldn't see it that way but given what he did when he first ate his Devil Fruit and since then he's ensured that many will see the World Government's actions as justified. His home is similar in a sense to Ohara in both harboring something that it shouldn't and being wiped out with one sole survivor, however unlike Ohara there is no real need to lie about everything seeing as Tatsumi did wipe out an entire platoon of marines up to their Vice Admiral in response. Esdeath just wants him to be her man and knows that the Navy could use someone of Tatsumi's power though for obvious reasons he'll never join, Whitebeard sees his potential just like he did with Ace so he's interested in adding them to his fleet when this is over but first he needs to focus on saving Ace. Tatsumi's making his mark for sure and a case to have the highest bounty amongst the Supernovas before the Time Skip starts but with Luffy's arrival things are going to get even wilder. As for Blackbeard, his mission will remain the same given how focused he is on that and he won't really have an issue replacing Whitebeard given that he'll be credited with killing him and then taking over most of his territory in the New World having been well versed in it while the other Emperors will, for the most part, stay out of it to see who rises. Of course with the expansion of Emperors and characters there will be changes and Blackbeard is going to play a bigger role in a long running subplot I'm planning that will start sowing its seeds during Whole Cake and burst into a full arc that runs concurrent to Egghead showing more of him and his crew as well as a few more Devil Fruits that he'll be after. The Vengeance Alliance won't be too concerned with Blackbeard, he's not really relevant to them until they exact their vengeance, but he'll be interested in them if he discovers Rhya's Devil Fruit and what it can do while Rhya will be shocked that the fat idiot he copied the Dark-Dark Fruit from is actually Blackbeard. Blackbeard won't have new prison recruits, he'll be getting what he does in canon, but he will be buffed up in other ways that will be seen and allow him to really match the other Emperors but that's all part of the subplot with him so just stay tuned for that. Oh I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have more tricks seeing as at the time of Marineford only Blackbeard, Lafitte, and Sanjuan Wolf had confirmed Devil Fruits with the others not getting them until post Time Skip it seems and Burgess didn't until after Dressrosa at least. Also Blackbeard does recruit Aokiji so that's a game changing recruit of his and who knows what other allies he may make going forward. I hope this clears up the general plans for Blackbeard, do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To KGBeastboy (guest), thank you for your review and suggestions, I will address them now. With Burnin, certainly having her as a marine and basically the number 2 to Endeavor similar to Winter being Ironwood's number 2 as she does come off as the highest ranked sidekick to Endeavor in MHA so this works well. In terms of her Devil Fruit, I've started to branch out of Devil Fruits for some characters, especially ones with common abilities like fire and ice, and into things like Germa tech even though I do personally prefer Devil Fruits and part of the fun is all the new Devil Fruits in this story so with Burnin I may make it some kind of experimental feature for her hair rather than a Devil Fruit. This would play into a consideration I've been toying with thanks to other reviews and PMs to have Endeavor and Dabi's abilities being based around Germa tech or something like that rather than a Devil Fruit and part of why Endeavor sought out the Half-Half Fruit for Shoto was because of the failures of the tech with Dabi and the limits on him that he felt a Devil Fruit could exceed. So Burnin being similar with her hair would fit this and her whole connection to Endeavor and keep the epithet which works for her. Finally her rank, given that Endeavor is currently a Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral would work but I'm thinking of having her a Commodore for the moment with her promotion first to Rear and then Vice during the time skip as part of Endeavor's own rise as I'm heavily considering one of your earlier suggestions regarding Akainu expanding the Admiralty from 5 to 7 to counter all the changes as it was a good one, allows me to do a fun battle chapter with all the candidates including Endeavor, Issho, Aramaki, Winter, and a handful of others who fight for the 4 Admiral spots that are now available while Akainu, Esdeath, Kizaru, and Ironwood watch. This would expand and give MHA and possibly Fairy Tail or Black Clover an Admiral as well while also playing into how Endeavor became number 1 by default so he gets the rank of Admiral but it's one of the bonus ones and not the core 5, a spot he'd failed to get twice before. If this is of interest to people I'll certainly do it as part of the time skip and we'll see the rise of new Admirals and with it those under them. As for Gentle and La Brava, certainly having them as pirates, and maybe Gentle being a failed marine as well, works for them but with them my big struggle is where to fit them in as they don't really have a good spot in this series. There may be a place to introduce them in the time skip, I've noted it in my outline and will see how it works and it could play into some long run plans for the Might Pirates so I'll see if it works. As for their Devil Fruits, certainly Gentle's would be that though I need to check to see if Bounce-Bounce is already used in my list and if so it would be the Elastic-Elastic Fruit which would basically be an inverse of Luffy's, affects things around him but not him and a tease for how Gear 5 does that as well. The design works too, it should be similar to the Gum-Gum Fruit all things considered. With La Brava, that is a more esoteric Devil Fruit but certainly works for her and shows the concept of pure support/other boosting Devil Fruits so it's certainly worth considering. The name and appearance also work given the whole Love-Love Fruit being canon so it needs another name and tying it to her own personal attraction like her Quirk at the same time. All good suggestions to work on, do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Guest review (guest), thank you for your review, I'll do my best to respond to it now. In terms of the new Warlords, remember that the World Government did kinda have to scramble for them as including Blackbeard replacing Crocodile they had to replace 5 within the span of less than a year so they were a bit pressed and the choices were for what they brought to the table. Re-Destro may be a legacy Captain but he's a legacy to a notable crew and like Doflamingo and Hancock, he's the leader of a nation that's wealthy and by joining he brings that in. Sienna is supposed to mirror Jimbei in a lot of ways with a similar bounty and history of taking over a crew that is solely one race and was formed due to historic enslavement and discrimination and who was selected to help race relations. The one difference is that Ghira is still alive and was forced out by Sienna whereas Fisher Tiger isn't (and Ghira wasn't a slave). As for Ivan, he's going to play a role in the Fairy Tail Pirates Time Skip Arc which will really look into his backstory then but suffice it to say that while he may have once had the protection of Makarov, that's long gone and he's spent around 20 years in the New World as an independent pirate Captain subordinate to no Emperor and allied to no other crew so he's earned his reputation to survive that long. Don't worry, all four will have their moments to come be it in the time skip arcs or the New World Saga. Yes, even with Tatsumi's aid, Oars Jr. did have to get past the Warlords and they weren't going to allow that, especially not Moria given how badly he wants Oars Jr.'s body. Tatsumi did do well and between taking down giants, a Mythical Zoan user and standing up to Esdeath, he's raised his profile massively and that will be reflected in his post Marineford bounty. Esdeath's motives for wanting him pardoned are of course selfish but given her position and Tatsumi's power, she can pull it off. In terms of sparing good marines, the Night Pirates understand and accept the risks, their goal is simply to take down the World Government and if they die or are captured along the way then so be it, it just shows that they were right about good marines who still came after them after being spared. As for Ryuko herself, while I won't comment on what she'll be up to in the future after Marineford, I will confirm that she's out of the battle now, she won't recover in time and she lost far too much look to get back in it even with her enhanced endurance. Luffy may be outmatched but this is Luffy, he's got a mission and he's going to do all he can to accomplish it no matter what, everyone else will just have to deal with it. Finally, when it comes to Blackbeard, right now his plan is the same as canon because he's got no reason to change it as far as he knows and even if he does notice a few things like Tatsumi's Devil Fruit, his primary goal is Whitebeard's and nothing will change that. What happens afterwards and what may change in his mind from what he notices, if he does as he can be a bit single minded at times, is in flux given all that's going on so stay tuned to see how that pans out. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
That is it for this really long pre-chapter note so sit back and enjoy the twenty-sixth chapter in The Ultimate Worst Generation.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these great franchises.
Chapter 26: Arrival of Unexpected Allies
"Er, is, is that who I think it is?" Akame asked as the figures came into view still screaming as they continued to fall, along with a Navy battleship, towards the ice. "Because if it is then you're psychic, Tatsumi."
"Which one?" Tatsumi asked not getting what Akame was referencing. "There are a few big names in that group, at least three that I can recognize and all are notorious in their own ways."
As Tatsumi spoke and watched the scene unfolding in front of the whole battlefield, he noted that by some stroke of luck the new arrivals and battleship that they had been on were plunging towards the hole in the ice that Jozu had created. Of course falling from that height into water would still painful and naturally any with Devil Fruit powers, two of whom Tatsumi knew had them, were going to need rescuing but given who the third of the new arrivals that Tatsumi could recognize was he didn't think that that would be an issue.
"Fair point." Akame conceded. "I presume that we recognize the same three but there's a fourth that I recognize. However, the one that I was asking about is the one that just shouted for Fire Fist Ace. That is Straw Hat Luffy, right?"
"Yeah its him, that straw hat is very recognizable, though he's wearing a different shirt to the one he had on in Sabaody." Tatsumi noted as the ship and men reached the water and hit it with a geyser of water shooting up from the ship's impact, along with a cloud of ice dust as well that shrouded the area in a dense mist for a moment. "Who's the fourth big name? I only recognized two others with him, the former Warlord Crocodile and current Warlord Jimbei."
"Right, you'd not know who Emporio Ivankov is as he was arrested a few years before I defected." Akame said as quiet rang out over the battlefield and the ice dust cleared to reveal the broken ship still in the water, bent in half at the middle but not sinking and some of the people who'd fallen in starting to break the surface of the water. "He, or she depending on what he's done with his Horm-Horm Fruit powers, is a high ranking member of the Revolutionary Army that the World Government managed to capture some years back."
"Huh, must have been a while then because even in the middle of nowhere we still got the news where I grew up." Tatsumi said. "And that kind of capture would be front page but I don't remember it."
"I'm not sure when it was but I was still with the Elite Seven at the time so I learned of it right away." Akame said. "Given his affiliation and rank, Ivankov was a major enemy of the World Government so he was a high priority assassination target for us. In fact he was on the overarching list so there was a competition between all the notable groups and assassins to kill him. I know for a fact that the Group of Terror, CP9, and even official executioners like the Hungry Wolf Knights and the mysterious Lady Nagant were also after him though I've only ever heard rumors about the last one and can't confirm if she exists or not."
"Ok, yeah that was long before my time." Tatsumi said. "Well good thing they landed in the water then, it's more survivable then the ice at least. That was the hole that was ripped out by one of Whitebeard's commander, right?"
"I think so, was kinda busy watching you be amazing and toss Esdeath's massive ice ball back at the marines." Akame said and Tatsumi wasn't sure he heard her right because while Akame had praised him, that was more than usual but he ignored it while Akame herself flushed at that because while it was the truth she was still grappling with her own feelings for Tatsumi and really couldn't afford to let them out or affect her right now. "But yeah I think so. All this begs one question, however."
"And that is?" Tatsumi asked.
"What the hell is going on?" Akame asked as the battle began to resume around them now that the initial shock of the arrival had ended and those on the ship were recovering from falling into the water, though marines were giving the pair of Night Pirates a wide berth given what Tatsumi had just done. "There's only one place that all of them could have come from but, well, how? It's not supposed to be possible."
"What do you mean?" Tatsumi asked, Akame was more in touch with the world than he was because of her past and while Tatsumi was quickly learning, there was still a lot that he didn't get. "Where'd they come from?"
"Impel Down." Akame said and Tatsumi knew the name instantly, any pirate who'd survived as long as he had knew the name of the Great Prison after all. "Ivankov was arrested before he could be killed, not sure how but he was, and sent there to rot for the rest of his life. Given his bounty and reputation, I'm pretty sure that he was sent to Level 5, the lowest official level."
"Huh, that does make sense as I heard that Crocodile was arrested recently as well and after the shit he pulled in Alabaster I'm not surprised." Tatsumi said before he blinked and looked at Akame. "Hold up, what do you mean by official level?"
"Impel Down is split into 5 levels with each getting worse in terms of how bad the torture is the further you go down, and the bigger the threat you are the lower you're held." Akame said matter-of-factly all while on the ship Luffy was coming too having been rescued from the water by Jimbei and was running around trying to see where Ace was. "However, there's a 6th level below it known as the Eternal Hell that is reserved for the worst of the worst, the inmates who are awaiting execution or who are so dangerous that they can't be executed and instead are dumped there and erased from history."
"What qualified for that?" Tatsumi asked.
"Notorious infamy, dangerousness, high bounties, that sorta stuff." Akame said before she shrugged. "Between our bounties and reputations, I'm pretty sure that both of us will end up there if we're caught, same for the boss. Well, I will at least, the boss will be executed and you'll be…"
"Esdeath's plaything whether I like it or not." Tatsumi said darkly. "I'd rather die than be that."
"I'd rather you not die and remain free and with me." Akame said. "You made me a promise to survive, Tatsumi."
"And I will honor it." Tatsumi said looking over at Akame and smiling as he met her red eyes. "Anyway, I'm not surprised that you know all of this about Impel Down. I take it you've been there then."
"No but Kurome has, she told me everything about the place when we were reunited following the disbanding of the Group of Terror." Akame said mentioning her sister who Tatsumi knew she'd tried to save but was too far gone due to the brainwashing and performance enhancing drug experimentations that had been done to her turning her into an addict who was nothing more than a killing machine for the World Government and who now Akame felt that she had to kill to save her. "She was trained and experimented on in Impel Down; they used the prisoners there as a way to hone their killing edge by being executioners while the prison hid their experimentation. All of this on top of the brainwashing and drugs."
"Damn." Tatsumi said looking away from Akame again and unsure what else to say on about Kurome so just leaving it at that as it was a hard topic for Akame to deal with and instead focusing on what he was seeing as Straw Hat Luffy appeared on top of the broken bow of the ship and stood on the edge of it while a cannon ball hit the water around it. "So if this is from Impel Down then that has to have been Straw Hat's doing but how? I recall that Impel Down is in the Calm Belt so how the hell did he get there from Sabaody?"
"No clue, Impel Down's only had one breakout apparently, a pirate known as Shiki the Golden Lion but that was before either of us was born." Akame said as she looked out at the broken battleship again. "But take a guess, you did predict Straw Hat's arrival so you might have some insight into how it happened as well."
"Come again?" Tatsumi asked looking back to Akame. "I predicted this?"
"Don't you remember? It was on the ship when we were meeting the contact." Akame said looking back at him. "When we were discussing keeping an eye on Straw Hat because of the trouble he'll cause once this war was over and you agreed and said that it's not like Straw Hat will fall out of the sky with a strange assortment of allies that no one expected. Well, he's done just that."
"Oh right, that was supposed to be hyperbole because of the chaos that this war would cause right after what Straw Hat had done on Sabaody." Tatsumi said recalling what he'd said as he looked back and noticed that most of the people with Luffy had gotten out of the water and were climbing up onto the ship, many in either prison outfits or, well, strange outfits that made them look like either people who bucked societal norms on certain things or, well, perverts. "I didn't expect it to actually happen! He's got no known connection to Fire Fist Ace hence why I said something so unlikely!"
"Well clearly he does." Akame said. "But the World Government has kept it a secret, which isn't a surprise at all. Now guess, we can't prove it but you were right about Straw Hat's arrival so you might be again."
"No it's not, lies, secrecy, and misinformation are all classic tools in the World Government's playbook of control." Tatsumi said with a sigh as he looked around the battlefield to see if he could figure out how Straw Hat had arrived and give Akame an answer when he noticed something odd that he'd not seen before because of how focused he was on everything else that had been going on. "Hey, Akame, didn't the boss say that Boa Hancock wouldn't be here?"
"Yeah she did, Hancock's hatred of the World Government is so strong that she'd never accept an order to aid them even though she's a Warlord." Akame said confused as Tatsumi looked out and Akame followed his gaze to see that he was staring at a tall, strikingly attractive, black haired woman in a purple dress with a Jolly Roger on it in several places and who was staring transfixed at the bow of the ship, stone statues of marines and pirates alike around her, and her face a deep red. "Is that her? I'll admit, I've never seen her before and she became a Warlord so long ago that I've never seen her original wanted poster either."
"All things considered I think so." Tatsumi said mentally noting that while she was objectively beautiful, he had no sexual interest in her whatsoever, especially seeing as the woman he loved was right next to him and not even the great Boa Hancock could compare to Akame in Tatsumi's mind. "And I've seen that expression before, been on the receiving end of it in fact though that is a softer version of it and far less predatory."
"Come again?" Akame asked her jealousy spiking and knowing that she had to accept the truth that she'd been avoiding for a while now, if she was being honest she'd accepted it ever since Tatsumi's declaration to Esdeath right before he awakened his Conqueror's Haki, but that didn't mean that she wasn't suspectable to jealousy. "What do you mean by that!"
"Well it's kind of like how Esdeath looks at me." Tatsumi said not picking up on anything from Akame but then again Tatsumi could be quite dense to this sorta stuff when it wasn't, well, obsessively obvious. "So if I had to guess, and I have no clue how this all happened by the way and this is wild speculation at best, Straw Hat somehow crossed paths with the Pirate Empress in the last week or so, did something that caused her to fall in love with him, and then had her help him break into Impel Down to rescue Ace."
"Ok that I can kinda see." Akama said thinking. "If I recall my lessons growing up we were taught that Amazon Lily was in the Calm Belt so if it's in the same part of the Calm Belt as Impel Down that would make things easier for Luffy to get to the Great Prison. Still a tall task."
"I agree but knowing that Amazon Lily is in the Calm Belt that gives this more weight because she could just agree to do her duty as a Warlord and join in this war in exchange for going to Impel Down." Tatsumi said as his theory began to make more sense to him. "That would explain how Straw Hat snuck into the prison, he used Hancock and her cover as a Warlord to do so. However, for whatever reason that didn't work as Ace was moved here before Straw Hat could rescue him so now he's come here to save him. I don't know his connection to Ace but it's clearly there and it's gotta be a really strong one, Straw Hat wouldn't be here with Impel Down escapees otherwise. All factors considered this is my best guess."
"Well you would be the expert at making women who would never otherwise fall in love do so." Akame said though she wasn't just referring to Esdeath with that but that was something she'd have to focus on after the mission was over, if she was still breathing and free that is. "So I can see that. Still…"
"Ace!"
The long, loud, emotional shout of Ace's name interrupted Akame before could add anymore to her statement. It was clearly coming from Straw Hat Luffy and the sound of it rang out across the battlefield silencing it. Then again, when you shout from atop the bow of the battleship that just fell out of the sky with you and several other notorious criminals on it, well you were going to get everyone's attention regardless.
"I'm here!" Luffy added as silence fell over the battlefield. "I'm coming for you!"
"Luffy!"
Ace responded to Luffy's yell with one of his own, a yell that everyone could hear thanks to the silence. Clearly Ace didn't want Luffy to be here but as Luffy responded with another loud 'Ace' showing that he didn't care what Ace wanted right now.
"Well, they're definitely close." Tatsumi said as Luffy said something to himself and people started to amass behind Luffy. "Oh and look at that, that is something else."
"Yeah, talk about making a statement to the world." Akame said as Ace tried to yell out to Luffy to stop but Luffy ignored him. "The Navy and World Government won't soon forget this."
"Well, sometimes you need that visible person to rally people and shine a light on the evils of those in power while we do the dirty work in the shadows to help purge that evil." Tatsumi noted as marines began to gasp at who was with Straw Hat as everyone could now see the big names that had accompanied him to Marineford. "Guess Straw Hat has no problems being that figure."
"After today I think you'll find that many know you as well, Tatsumi." Akame said. "All of this is being aired to Sabaody, everyone will have seen you stand up to Esdeath, your display of Conqueror's Haki, getting her to admit what her Devil Fruit is, and then catch a named attack from her. On top of all that, you almost singlehandedly took out the entire Giant Unit and removed one of the Navy's Mythical Zoan users from the battle. All of this before Straw Hat arrived. Whether we like it or not, our crew's notoriety has massively increased."
However, Tatsumi wasn't listening and for good reason. As Luffy crouched on the top of the bow, left hand on what was now his footing, Crocodile, Jimbei, an effeminate man with a massive head, curly purplish hair under a tiny crown, gaudy eyeliner and eyelashes and blue lipstick, and for some reason a red nosed clown in a red and white striped shirt wearing a marine officer's coat and hat with the crest of the marines crossed out all gathered and stood directly behind Straw Hat. As Luffy said something the mass of escaped prisoners behind Luffy roared as well while the Navy reeled from the arrival.
"Er, who's the clown?" Akame asked as the roar continued confused by the one member of who had to be the ringleaders that she didn't recognize. "I don't recognize him."
"Which one?" Tatsumi asked back hearing Akame now that the shock at the lineup behind Straw Hat had passed.
"Huh?" Akame said looking back at Tatsumi. "The one that's dressed in an officer's coat and hat with a big red nose, you know, the one that looks like a clown. Who else would it be?"
"The big headed one." Tatsumi said turning to look at Akame. "He may not look like a clown clown but that outfit and appearance can be described as clownish by some."
"That's Ivankov!" Akame said before she realized that she'd not been specific as to just what kind of person he was beyond that he could change his gender with his Devil Fruit. "I…never mind."
"Oh, ok." Tatsumi said opting to leave it at that. "As for the actual clown with them, I've got no clue who he is. Given his position behind Straw Hat and with the others I'd say that he must be some kind of big shot pirate or criminal who's allied with Straw Hat for this but who he is I have no clue. Given that they came from Impel Down I'd guess that he's been there for over a decade and forgotten about, likely in that lowest level you mentioned, so he's from before our time."
"Yeah that's the most likely explanation, I highly doubt that he's some irrelevant nobody who's somehow stumbled into this and is now in way over his head." Akame said not realizing how accurate she was when it came to the clown they were talking about. "He's gotta be somewhat important to be right at the front with the others, which given that we don't know him is a testament to how effective Level 6 can be at erasing someone from history. Plus all the escapees with them are a bonus to the ones at the front and the embarrassment this will cause the Navy will be hard to overlook, especially seeing as this is all being broadcast to Sabaody so they can't deny or ignore it."
"Good, that works for us." Tatsumi said. "And this has plunged the battle into even more chaos which is just what we need."
Akame nodded as the pirates cheered at the sudden, unexpected, allies that had just arrived while all around the battlefield the various high ranking pirates, Warlords, and marines gave their own impressions of what was going on. This included the rest of their crew, not that Akame or Tatsumi would notice this as they continued to watch the statement that Straw Hat Luffy was making.
"Looks like Straw Hat is causing trouble again it seems." Mihawk said his expression neutral as he looked over the arrival from the wall around the harbor. "I'm not surprised."
"Is…that…Straw…Hat?!" Moria asked his hands and teeth clenching as he enunciated every word. "I…will…kill…that…bastard!"
"Straw Hat Luffy, huh?" Ivan asked looking over from where he was on the wall after avoiding Oars Jr. "I've heard a bit about the kid, some up and coming rookie hotshot. Well good, the more here the more I can do to honor my contract and thus keep the Navy off my back afterwards."
"Given his statement, he's gotta be connected to Ace somehow." Dante said before a grin broke out across his face that reopened the two minor cuts on his cheek that that fake human had given him, not that Dante paid that any heed. "Well, the marines must execute Ace in front of him now. Oh just the thought of the new malice that I'll get to feel from Straw Hat at seeing Ace die before his eyes after coming all the way here, via Impel Down it seems, is making me excited. Breaking a kid like that and unleashing his malice will show what it really means to be sentient."
"A former and active Warlord standing side by side and hand in hand!" Doflamingo laughed from near Dante. "And to top it off we also have the famous rookie Straw Hat in attendance though the Adaptive Monster's made a bigger name for himself with that beautifully bloody rampage! This is all too good! With all these new criminals joining the fray, the blood will flow freely! I can't wait!"
"What the hell is Straw Hat Luffy doing here?" Fullbody asked as he looked over the edge of the harbor wall. "That kid is always getting in the way!"
"No idea but it looks like it's just him this time." Jango added. "And not his whole crew, guess he forgot them somewhere."
"Straw Hat, who's that?" Sienna asked as she turned from near two of Rear Admiral Hina's simps and knelt up to look over the ledge while the marine that had just finished patching up her wounds and wrapping a bandage around her heads fell back. "Oh, it's that famous rookie with a 300 million berry bounty, why's he here? Meh, that's not really important, I don't care for some lowly human like him. What I care about is what the fuck is Jimbei doing, doesn't he know the damage that he'll do to his people by siding with Whitebeard! Plus there's that former Warlord Crocodile who's got a thief in his organization and that fancy pants Ivankov who's boss hasn't done shit for the faunus. If I wasn't wounded, I'd…"
"I can't believe, look Helmeppo!" A voice that Sienne recognized as that rising marine recruit Kody said from nearby and interrupted her rant as he joined the others along the wall. "I didn't expect that! I should have though knowing him!"
"What is it! Please let it not be another surprise!" Helmeppo, Kody's friend and fellow rising marine said as he ran over before he too saw what Kody was seeing and his eyes bugged out so much that they pushed his sunglasses up. "Straw Hat! What's he doing here!"
Both of them having tried to desert but turned back when they saw Akainu murder a different deserter and been frozen in place at that. Then they'd heard the news of Ace's execution being brought forward, along with the sound of a new arrival, and had come back to see what was going on. That was when they were greeted by the current visual of Luffy accompanied by Crocodile, Jimbei, Emporio Ivankov, some clown, and a couple hundred prisoners and oddly dressed people standing on a broken battleship.
"He must have broken out of Impel Down and come here for Ace!" Kody said noting the Impel Down prison stripes on many of the people behind Luffy and deducing that that was where Luffy had been. "It's crazy! Just how much tougher can he get!"
"Now those are some big fish we're staring at." Aokiji said from where he was looking at the new arrivals as the Admirals too reacted to what was going on as well. "And it looks like Straw Hat's putting his name forward as one himself."
"Well, well, well, fancy seeing him here!" Kizaru said. "That boy sure gets around but where did Kuma send him and how'd he manage to get to Impel Down and then here?"
"Straw Hat Luffy, he's become a real thorn in the Navy's side." Ironwood said still seated in his chair as he looked out over the battlefield making him the only Admiral who'd so far never left his seat since taking it. "Well that will end today, we'll take him and those escapees in no matter the cost."
"He's impressive to have broken out of Impel Down, worthy of a little attention to see how he fights." Esdeath noted her tone the one she had when she was actually focused on her job and reminding Ironwood of why she'd risen to become the youngest Admiral in the history of the Navy. "Not the best to face here, that's still old Whitebeard, but maybe Straw Hat and the other escapees could give me a warm up as I could use a little light hunting and breaking out of Impel Down merits my attention. Course, he's got nothing on my love, Tatsumi is way better than he is and always will be. Mhm, just thinking of Tatsumi and what he's done today is enough to arouse me, my…"
"Don't say anything more." Ironwood snapped. "I don't want to hear it. At least act like an Admiral right now."
"Shut it, I've done more than you, you old tin can." Esdeath snapped back turning to glare at Ironwood. "I may have been ordered to remain here for the moment but I can still fantasize about my love and how he's going to take my virginity someday while I wait to be ordered back into this glorious battle so but out and do whatever it is that you do best."
Ironwood just meet Esdeath's glare with a cold one of his own. She may be an intimidating force of nature with the power of a god but thanks the Mettle-Mettle Fruit, Ironwood wasn't going to be intimidated by her stare or bloody reputation. At least she was following orders now and that was good enough for Ironwood as he turned back to the battle and noted that at least Akainu was taking things seriously as the man returned to the area and stood on the harbor wall far from the action staring intently at Straw Hat Luffy.
"So that's him, the grandson of our very own Marine Hero Garp and the son of the revolutionary Dragon." Akainu said from where he was and unaware that Ironwood had noticed him. "I'll make sure that that boy regrets the day that he decided to become a pirate!"
Meanwhile, the reactions on the ice were similar to the ones up on the wall and coming from the Admirals. Everyone was taking note of the new arrivals in their own ways.
"Oh Luffy, I'm so relieved to see that you're alive!" Hancock said as she continued to look at her beloved, her black hair streaming to the side in the wind as she held her hands to her cheeks. "Not that I doubted you for a second of course. Come to me my love, I'll help you out, your rescue mission is far from over. You have my support forever and always."
"Well that's gotta be the famous kid brother that Ace was always talking about." Marco noted from where he was. "He certainly knows how to make an entrance, just like Ace in that regard."
"Smoker, look over there!" Tashigi called out as she and Smoker handled some of the low ranking Whitebeard Pirates. "Quickly!"
"Huh?" Smoker asked as he turned from the pirate he'd clashed with to look which gave the pirate an opening to slash him in two but, well, all that did was go through Smoker's smoke body so he quickly downed the confused pirate with his strike form his jitte and resumed his focus on what Tashigi had pointed out taking it all in in seconds. "That's Straw Hat Luffy and Crocodile, what the hell are those two doing working together?"
"Straw Hat Luffy?" Re-Destro said as he crushed the chest of a Whitebeard Pirate that he was holding in his enlarged hand and looked over still holding the dead pirate as he alone of the new Warlords had remained on the battlefield after engaging a Night Pirate though the Warlords were unaware that all four of them had done that. "Who's that? Well, clearly he's someone of importance with those names around him. Good, he's brought more stress to the battlefield which is just what I want so I thank you."
"Huh, so he's back, that boy sure knows how to make a scene and throw a good party." Leone said as she finished ripping up a few marines and currently back in her hybrid form after she got away from Akainu's magma as she looked over. "He's got nothing on Tatsumi of course but I can see an appeal there if this is the chaos that he brings with him and those are some tough bastards behind him, not bad kid, let's get a drink sometime."
"Straw Hat Luffy, bounty 300 million berries, a Super Rookie and Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates." Su said calmly analyzing the arrivals as he cut down two marines with his mace and causing the other marines nearby to back away. "The ones with him are the former Warlord Crocodile, the Revolutionary Army's Emporio Ivankov, both of whom should be in Impel Down but aren't so they must have broken out, a current Warlord and Captain of the Sun Pirates, Jimbei, and if I recall a petty pirate called Buggy the Clown who's the Captain of the Buggy Pirates out in the East Blue and who's bounty is 15 million. The rest are notorious pirates that should be Impel Down. Interesting but that ship's a mess, it's unsightly and annoying to look at."
"Well that boy can make an entrance and he's not too bad to look at." Bulat said as he pulled the sword he'd picked up after his fight with Re-Destro out of the gut of a marine that had tried to hack him with his own sword. "He's got nothing on Tatsumi but there's a pull to him as well that's similar, I wonder what Tatsumi thinks of him though."
"Huh, what's going on?" Sheele asked as several marines backed away from her and Extase that she was still effective with despite her wounds slowing her down a bit before she looked around and noted the scene. "Oh, when did they get here? Also who are they? Well, they're not really my concern, if they help good, if not then I have Extase. I'm sure the boss knows who they are though so I'll leave them to her."
Najenda did know who they were. In fact, at that very moment, and just like everyone else, she too was assessing the new arrivals to the battlefield and the benefits that they provided the forces attacking Marineford.
"What is that?" Lubbock asked watching the ship and dots of figures fall from the sky, the screams reaching them as he stood next to Najenda, hands clenched and Cross Tail pulled tights as he maintained the perimeter defense of the ship just in case any marines tried to come for them as there were several Vice Admirals nearby who were engaging various crews of Whitebeard's fleet. "And where did it come from?"
"Where was the top of the ice but we didn't notice it because of all the action that was going on in the bay." Najenda said as she pulled out her telescope and raised it to her remaining eye so as to get a better look at what was going on. "Normally I'd just presume that it was just a battleship that had been stationed on the other side and was coming around to surprise us but got caught up in Whitebeard's attack, however I don't think that that's the case. Give me a sec to see who's falling."
Lubbock did just that as Najenda focused and she scanned the people falling with the ship. While she couldn't make out fine details given their speed and the distance she was from them, she could make out enough and saw the telltale uniform of Impel Down inmates on many. The rest were either oddly dressed or had already fallen past what she was looking for so Najenda couldn't tell but it was clear where the ship had come from and explained why it was a Navy battleship.
"I can't make out who the leaders of that group are just yet, they were falling too fast for me to see but I'm sure they'll surface soon." Najenda said as the ship hit the water where there was a hole in the ice thanks to Jozu. "But I did see that at least a majority of them are from Impel Down."
"Impel Down?" Lubbock asked confused as he looked at his Captain and the woman he was secretly in love with. "Why are prisoners from there being transported? I thought that once you were in that hellhole you never left it."
"I know of one inmate who was released, a fish-man called Arlong, but that was a favor to Jimbei when he became a Warlord, a favor that Arlong repaid by becoming a pirate in the East Blue." Najenda said. "Otherwise, no I highly doubt that that was a transfer ship as any that are transported to Impel Down are done so either from their point of capture or Ennis Lobby not Marineford. If I had to guess it's a breakout."
"A breakout?" Lubbock asked confused. "But that's impossible, right?"
"Not impossible, it has been done once before and while that was long before I joined the marines, the story is legendary." Najenda said. "However, this number is beyond what you'd expect from a normal breakout. There has to be an outside force, someone or some group that went to Impel Down and freed them but how or why I can't say just yet."
"Huh, well hardened Impel Down escapees are a good thing." Lubbock said. "Right?"
"Correct, they'll hate the Navy for sending them to Impel Down and if they came here they're no doubt following someone who's got reason to be here so they'll join that person in fighting the Navy." Najenda said as she watched and saw escapees swimming up and getting on the ruined ship while something blue and orange burst from the water and landed on it carrying several things in his arms. "Hmm, I think we'll get an answer soon enough if that is who I think it is."
"Badabada badabada." The snail on Najenda's right shoulder suddenly said going off before Lubbock ask who Najenda thought it was. "Badabada badabada."
Najenda touched it with her free left hand to answer it while still watching, the snail instantly sprouting dark pink twin tails and deep pink eyes as the call connected. That showed that it was Mine and not Chelsea though given that the latter was currently in Marineford getting valuable information on the Navy's crimes that was to be expected, hell Chelsea probably hadn't noticed what was going on so it wasn't a surprise that Mine had called.
"Boss, do you have any clue what that was?" Mine's voice came in from the snail. "I was busy helping out the others and keeping an eye on Tatsumi's actions against those giants and the dragon lady so I didn't see that."
"A ship of escapees from Impel Down has just fallen from the top of the frozen waves adding more allies to our side of this battle." Najenda said simply. "Focus on it with me, Mine, I want to know who the ring leaders of that group are. That should explain things."
"Yes, boss." Mine said.
"Man and just when Tatsumi was really showing off." Lubbock said. "He gets upstaged by whatever this is."
"Just what I'd expect from Tatsumi though." Najenda said her faith in him as strong as it was in the rest of her crew as he'd more than proved himself to her in the time since they'd taken him from his destroyed homeland and recruited him. "He's using tyrant well, held off Esdeath and I'm sure she wasn't quiet about her feelings which will be good for us as the Navy now won't be able to hide the fact that one of their strongest Admirals and most feared warriors is obsessively in love with a rookie pirate. Especially as it's with a pirate that has a bloody reputation."
"A reputation that he then backed up with those giants." Lubbock said looking back to the battlefield while the snail growled on Najenda's shoulder but they ignored it and Mine's reaction to Esdeath being, well, Esdeath around Tatsumi as anyone one with half a brain on the crew could tell that both Mine and Akame were crushing hard on Tatsumi. "He singlehandedly took out almost all of them and of the three he didn't, one had to help his comrade off the battlefield so he as good as removed him as well."
"Yes that was impressive, a shame about Oars Jr. but alas you don't become a Warlord unless you're a tough bastard and for as strong as he is, Oars Jr. is a big target and easy enough to handle for the Warlords." Najenda said. "Still, Tatsumi's made sure that one of the biggest threats are off the battlefield, 5 downed giants and two Devil Fruit users as well. Mine, did you see if those two women died or not? I couldn't tell from this far out as I wasn't watching with my telescope."
"No, I wasn't really focused on Tatsumi, I knew he'd do great out there and kick ass but…" Mine said before going quiet at what she was saying and Lubbock looked at the snail and noticed that it was blushing. "I mean that purely as a member of the crew not as in that in I was cheering for him to win and show off how strong he is because I like him as more than a friend or anything! Nothing like that!"
"Ok well can you at least check to see if Ryuko is alive or dead?" Najenda said ignoring Mine's denials and helping focus her crew's sniper on something else. "The other woman, I think her name is Yu if I recall correctly, is pretty junior as she was an ensign around the time I defected, so she isn't much of a concern. Besides, anyone that reckless needs to learn the hard way how dangerous a battlefield is, if she survived that is."
"Yu, yes that might be her." Lubbock said recalling the name while Mine searched the area where Tatsumi and Ryuko had landed looking for any signs of the Rear Admiral. "I heard that she had a Devil Fruit that made her as tall and as strong as a giant."
"The Giant-Giant Fruit, a simple paramecia but an effective one nonetheless." Najenda said. "And useful as it makes her both human and giant in a sense so she can straddle both races thus giving her more versatility than most marines. Alas she rushed into the fight with Tatsumi and may have been killed. A shame but she knew the risks and she's not one the 'Do Not Kill' list so it's not an issue if she's dead. If she survived though, who knows, maybe she'll learn from this and get better."
"About that." Mine said over the snail interrupting Najenda's musings. "I can see the blood on the ice where Tatsumi and Ryuko crashed but I can't see a body. The Navy hasn't been removing their dead, there's no time to do that in the middle of the battle, but she's not there so I'm certain that Tatsumi made sure to spare her but wound her to the point she's not in the fight. Also he's lost his jacket so I bet he wrapped her in it to help out, it's just as I'd expect from him."
"Same and that's good because Ryuko has a lot of potential and a strong Devil Fruit so she'll be vital in the rebuilt marines if we succeed in taking down the World Government." Najenda said. "The world needs the marines but not the way they are right now, they need to be run by good marines who are true to the concepts of duty and justice. I'm sure that Ryuko will come for us after losing to Tatsumi but that just shows her commitment to her job. Tatsumi made the right call there and given the whole fight that was hard."
"Tatsumi's stepped up even more than usual but boss." Mine said her voice becoming a bit hesitant. "I saw something odd earlier during Tatsumi's fight with Esdeath."
"Mine, you weren't supposed to be watching that." Najenda chastised. "You can't do anything against Esdeath's Observation Haki, that's why you were supposed to help the others out and take out cannons."
"I've hit the cannons that I can from here already, and that's including the gunners and explosives for the ones I couldn't get a clean shot down the barrels of, so I was cycling through the others to see if they needed help when I saw it." Mine said a slight indignant and defensive note in her voice. "They were all engaged with the Warlords by the way, the new ones that is. Leone was tied up by that faunus extremist Sienna and almost killed but I saved her so I'm doing my job."
"Come again?" Lubbock asked. "Leone almost died?"
"It is the risk we all take." Najenda reminded them. "Leone would know that, especially against a Warlord, but good for her for taking on the challenge and occupying one of them for a bit. What happened Mine?"
"Sienna had Leone beat and hogtied with a metal whip that she had on her so I shot at her head." Mine said. "But she's got the instincts of a tiger, literally as it would appear that she's eaten the tiger Devil Fruit."
"So the rumors about the White Fang Pirates desiring Zoan type Devil Fruits and requiring its members to eat the Devil Fruits of their faunus traits, or at least Devil Fruits that are from the same general family as their traits, are true." Najenda muttered. "That would explain why she went after Leone; the lion Devil Fruit is one of the most sought after standard Zoans out there and I'm sure that Sienna would love to have it reenter circulation. Good job Mine. That's the kind of shot I want you taking."
"Well I wasn't perfect." Mine said her tone showing that she was pissed, which she had good reason to be given her reputation and skill at sniping. "That damned bitch leapt out of the way just in time to avoid having her head blown off. I grazed her cheek and I think I hit her left ear, not the cat one on her head, the normal one, but she survived and then fled using Akainu's attack as cover. I let her go as and freed Leone so that she could get away from the magma and return to the fight but Sienna's still alive."
"That can't be helped, you made the right call there." Najenda said. "And the others?"
"All either stalemates or losses but all of them are still alive." Mine said. "Bulat's armor is different so I presume the original broke from the damage it took when facing that businessman looking guy who bulked up with some Devil Fruit power I couldn't recognize. Su was fine against Dante but Dante seems to be a Logia type so it wasn't going anywhere even if Su got his gauntlets on him. Finally Sheele faced that Ivan bastard and is hurt but paper burns so Akainu's attack likely saved her as she's got no way to fight a Logia type at the moment, not without Armament Haki and like me she's not mastered it yet."
"That sounds like the Paper-Paper Fruit but I thought some guy called Simon had it." Najenda mused. "Oh well, I guess he's dead now if it's back in circulation and with a new user. If that's the case then that's something that Tatsumi, Leone, Bulat, or Akame can deal with if need be. Speaking of Tatsumi, we've been distracted from what you noticed about him. What did you see Mine?"
"Right that." Mine said getting back to what she was confused by. "Well, there was a moment where Esdeath was in the air above Akame and had her captured in the ice, not sure how that happened, and then used Moonwalk to speed her descent and stab Akame but Tatsumi got in the way and saved her."
"Damn that's so cool." Lubbock said his fists clenching even more. "Man Tatsumi, you know how to do it when it comes to the ladies."
"Not even Akame is up to facing Esdeath at her current skill level but her and Tatsumi together can at least hold her off." Najenda said ignoring Lubbock. "But if she got that kind of shot she must have occupied Tatsumi."
"I presume so, he wasn't there and then he was so he must have been occupied but got past whatever it was and used Shave to reach Akame." Mine said. "But that's not the odd thing, a few moments into the hold Tatsumi shouted something at Esdeath and then for some reason the air warped around him and several pirates and marines that were caught up in it suddenly passed out. Whatever it was made Esdeath gleeful but I didn't stick around for it and moved on as Tatsumi managed to push her back so I couldn't linger on that fight."
"Mine, confirm." Najenda said sharply her head turning from the telescope to the snail on her shoulder and missing Straw Hat Luffy making his way to bow of the ship as she stared wide eyed at what her sniper was saying. "Did you say that the air warped and then marines and pirates were knocked out?"
"Yes." Mine said her tone a little taken aback by the sudden intensity in Najenda's voice. "Why? What does it mean? I've never seen something like that before."
"That my theory about him was right and as such we've just gained a power that is superior to all of our Devil Fruits and skills so long as Tatsumi learns how to properly use it." Najenda said with a grin. "Because the only thing that I know that can produce that kind of result is Conqueror's Haki."
"No way?" Lubbock asked looking over at Najenda again his own eyes wide as well. "Really?"
"Conqueror's Haki?" Mine asked. "You've mentioned it, it's that rare third kind of Haki that only a few people are born with so it can't be learned. Something about the qualities of a king or, well, a conqueror, right?"
"Correct and that warping and indiscriminate knockout of those who are weak willed and caught up in it are hallmarks of untrained Conqueror's Haki." Najenda said. "Of all of us, Tatsumi was the one who I thought would have it because of how he survived eating his Devil Fruit, only a conqueror could survive the power of Tyrant based on what I've heard about that Devil Fruit, and how he's inspired the crew since joining. My best guess is that the nature of this battle, facing Esdeath again, and stopping her from killing Akame awakened it in him where it's been dormant his whole life. So long as he survives, that alone makes this whole mission worth it."
"Really?" Lubbock asked amazed at Najenda's praise but to Najenda this all but confirmed something she'd wanted to do for a while but had been too hesitant to do so until now. "It's that…"
"Ace!"
The cry from the broken battleship that had fallen from the sky was so loud that it reached them and Najenda and Lubbock turned to the ship with Najenda putting the scope back to her eye while Mine focused on it once again from where she was in one of the crow's nests huts. As soon as Najenda saw who'd called she furrowed her brow.
"Well I be, that's Straw Hat Luffy." Najenda said. "I did not expect to see him today."
"What the fuck is he doing here?" Lubbock asked looking between Najenda and the ship his eyes once again wide. "And on a battleship that came from Impel Down?"
"I have absolutely no idea." Najenda said as she turned to look at Ace on the scaffold as Ace shouted back to Luffy. "But clearly they're close or else Straw Hat wouldn't be here. Presumably, Straw Hat found out about the execution, not hard as it was announced in the papers, and broke into Impel Down to try and rescue Ace but couldn't so he broke back out. Looks like he made some friends along the way."
"You could say that again!" Mine said, she was still looking at the ship from where she was and saw the gathering forces including the big names getting behind Luffy. "Look at the lineup boss! I can see at least two Warlords, a former one and an active one! They're both standing behind Straw Hat!"
"Really, let me check that out." Najenda said as she turned to it and saw the figures amassed with Straw Hat. "Well I'll be, that's Crocodile and Jimbei so yeah that's a former and active Warlord. Crocodile would have been in Level 6 even with a frozen bounty of only 80 million because that was frozen before I joined the marines and Level 6 would have been where Ace was held as well. I guess Jimbei was there too, which makes sense as he'd not agree to a war with Whitebeard after all Whitebeard's done for Fish-Man Island so they'd throw him into Impel Down until this was over to keep him out of the way. Now the other two with Straw Hat, those are really interesting."
"Who are they?" Mine asked. "I don't recognize either of them."
"The crossdressing one with the big head, a lot of makeup, and fishnets is Emporio Ivankov aka the Queen of the Queers." Najenda said. "He's a high ranking member of the Revolutionary Army who the Navy arrested a few years back and shipped off to Impel Down. Given his bounty I'd say that he was thrown into Level 5 at the very least. I don't know much about him but Akame does seeing as he was on all the assassination lists before his capture. The other one who looks like a clown, well he's just a small time pirate in the East Blue called Buggy the Clown. His bounty is enough for Impel Down but only Level 1 unless he's got a Devil Fruit power though I'll admit I don't know on that front."
"Well he does look like a clown." Mine said. "What's his story? Why is he with those other big names?"
"No clue but clearly he was vital in the escape or else he wouldn't be standing where he is." Najenda said. "He's a top pirate in the East Blue but that's the weakest Blue and his 15 million bounty was one of the highest there, third until recently when two rookies exceeded it before they entered the Grand Line. Something tells me that there's more to this Buggy guy than meets the eye, however. He wouldn't be there if there wasn't."
"Well whatever the case is, what are your orders boss?" Mine asked. "Regarding these newcomers that is."
"Keep up your work, Mine, help out our crew and anyone else who's attacking marines and if you can focus on taking out officers as that will cause chaos and disruption." Najenda ordered. "Back to work on that, this battle is going to pick up soon. I highly doubt all these new arrivals are here for the same thing, we've got Straw Hat Luffy who's clearly here to save Ace, Ivankov and presumably his followers given how they're dressed, standard escapees, Jimbei who supports Whitebeard, and Crocodile and Buggy who no doubt have their own agendas for being here. It's going to be utter chaos so just focus on what you do best Mine."
"Yes boss." Mine said and the snail clicked off causing it to go to sleep.
"What about the others?" Lubbock asked. "We've got 6 of the crew on the frontlines and Chelsea somewhere in Marineford."
"Chelsea has her mission and will execute it as she sees fit while the frontliners know their job." Najenda said as Sengoku began to address Jimbei ending the stare off between himself and the new arrivals. "And besides, we have no way to contact them so they'll just do what they are supposed to do. I trust that they'll do so."
What Najenda didn't add was that she was sure that Tatsumi would make the right decision about what to do with the new arrivals. It was almost time for it but they needed to survive this mission first and so Najenda focused back on it and the new arrivals as Jimbei resigned from the Warlords for all to hear knowing that this was just the next stage of the battle.
"Shut up!"
The cry stopped Tatsumi and Akame, well after they cut down a pair of marines that had tried to take them on that is, and caused them to turn to look towards the Moby Dick where the cry had come from. What they saw confused and surprised them in equal measures and caused the pair to stop for a moment as they were in sight and earshot of the events that were now happening on Whitebeard's flagship.
Right after Jimbei had resigned from the 11 Warlords the fighting had fully resumed and at that Tatsumi and Akame had rejoined the fray, though most of the new arrivals hadn't leapt into it just yet. The new arrivals were nice and all, there had to be at least 200 new pirates and fighters to bolster the masses along with several powerful pirate or revolutionary leaders that had joined the fight, but there really wasn't much more to the arrival than that so the fighting had quickly resumed. At least that's what they'd thought until now.
Now it appeared that Straw Hat was staring down Whitebeard himself having just told the aged and legendary pirate to shut up. Tatsumi and Akame had no clue as to why Straw Hat was there to begin with, they weren't aware that he'd shown up to protect Whitebeard from Crocodile who'd tried to kill the old man, which had been Crocodile's plan upon breaking out of Impel Down, however Luffy wouldn't let anyone harm one of Ace's friends.
They'd also missed the early part of Straw Hat's conversation with Whitebeard about the nature of the battle but that didn't matter because now the conversation had their attention. Besides, the pair knew the nature of battle well so it wouldn't have meant anything to them even they had heard it.
Regardless, that didn't matter as the pair watched the current discussion unfold. Plus, after all the death and destruction that they'd wrought so far, most marine grunts were who had any brains were not keen to face them so they had the time to see what happened. That and it was rather impressive to see a rookie stand up to one of the Eight Emperors and the strongest of the eight at that.
"You don't know that I'd get slaughtered that easily!" Luffy shouted picking up from the conversation that had caused Luffy to tell Whitebeard to shut up before Whitebeard could say anything to Straw Hat about being told to shut up and Tatsumi had to give it to his fellow Super Rookie, the kid had one massive set of balls on him. "You don't even know me! What gives you the right to presume how I'd fare on this battlefield!"
"Man that's ballsy." Tatsumi said his eyes wide as Akame nodded next to him her eyes just as wide and it took a lot to surprise her. "I wonder if his underwear can contain those titanium testicles of his, they need to be strong after what he's shown."
"Yeah, none of us are that reckless." Akame said deciding not to get in on the balls talk, and besides to her Tatsumi's were just as impressive after how he'd gone to Esdeath and stood up to her, and of course what he said and did when he saved her. "Well, maybe if you were in a blood mad Tyrant frenzy."
"For some reason I didn't feel that when I got the taste of that giantess's blood which was strange as usually the taste of blood can set off the savage side of my Devil Fruit." Tatsumi said to Akame's surprise as that was always a struggle for Tatsumi if he got the taste of blood in his mouth. "I think that it might have something to do with what happened when I stood up to Esdeath, that's the only real change so I can't think of anything else it could be. That's beside the point right now, though, what we're witnessing from Straw Hat is either insanely reckless, insanely stupid, or just gutsy as hell."
"Probably a mix of all three." Akame said silently agreeing with Tatsumi that his awakening of his Conqueror's Haki was likely why he suddenly had more control over his beast form. "But not sure how much of each it is."
"I know what you're up too old man!" Luffy shouted, his voice reaching them before Tatsumi could respond so they focused on him again. "Yeah I got it, you also want to be the King! Right!"
"I presume he means King of the Pirates, right?" Akame asked. "What else could he mean?"
"Probably, not really a concern for us." Tatsumi said. "Our focus is the destruction of the World Government and replacing it with something better so we don't care who finds the One Piece but if it can be used to help bring the Celestial Dragons down then we'll support whoever the new King of the Pirates is. However, we can't be distracted by this whole King of the Pirates shit. Still, to say that to Whitebeard, well…"
"If that's the case then first you've gotta go through me just like everyone else has to!" Luffy yelled and they watched him glare up at Whitebeard with his hands on his hips. "Got it?"
That silenced everyone. Even Tatsumi and Akame had no words for Luffy's direct challenge of Whitebeard, they just watched slack jawed and wide eyed as Luffy and Whitebeard stared each other down. Sure Tatsumi had stood up to Esdeath, as had Akame though not as impressively as Tatsumi had, but this was different, Whitebeard was one a whole different level.
All they could do was watch as the pirate Captains growled at each other before suddenly Whitebeard raised his naginata over his head and began to spin it rapidly in his right hand. The wind it generated was intense and he kept it up for a few seconds before he sliced it down and next to Straw Hat. Whitebeard then proceeded to raise it and slam the base of it into the bow of the Moby Dick dispersing the wind in a loud boom that shook the area so much that one pirate who'd been transfixed by the display fell over and everyone was watching the exchange.
However, the entire time Straw Hat Luffy didn't move or show any fear as he stood his ground. It was damned impressive and Tatsumi had to give the kid credit, he'd just shown himself a man in that moment and earned the respect of just about everyone present, including Tatsumi himself though he'd never suborn himself to someone as reckless as Straw Hat Luffy.
"Why what a cheeky little punk you are." Whitebeard said as he too clearly saw the defiance in Luffy's voice and attitude and grinned at the rookie before him. "Fine, do as you please just don't come crying to me for help if you get a few boo boos out there ya spoiled little brat!"
"Yeah right, I'm not all old like you, old man." Luffy said as he turned from Whitebeard and crouched. "Just you watch, I'm going to be the one who rescues Ace!"
"Damn, now he's competing with Whitebeard." Tatsumi said as others realized the same thing with Buggy and Ivankov making strangled sounds at the declaration from where they were watching it. "That's one crazy pirate."
"Agreed." Akame said. "I can see how that crew earned its reputation if that's they're Captain. Then again, we did see him punch a Celestial Dragon in the face in public so we already knew he was crazy."
"True, we just kill them in private and dispose of all the evidence." Tatsumi said. "That way…"
"Hey Ace, just sit tight!" Luffy called out interrupting Tatsumi as the gathered marines and pirates reacted to Luffy's declaration. "I'm coming for you! I won't let you die today!"
"Well guess that's settled then." Tatsumi said as the gathered forces processed what Luffy had said and that he was now standing again just in front and to the right of Whitebeard. "Guess there's a race to save Ace from the Navy all while we're here doing taking out as many of these bastards as possible while keeping the good ones alive. This might change things though."
"Well in that case what do we do?" Akame asked Tatsumi. "I'll follow you're lead, Tatsumi. Just give the order and it will be done."
As Akame said this Luffy turned to Whitebeard and told the old pirate about the sped up timetable for Ace's execution but that apparently things had to get all set for something first though. However, now that the main confrontation was over the pair weren't really focused on the exchange and with Tatsumi's statement Akame had asked her question before adding something that she'd known for a while but had yet to voice given their histories on the crew. Especially with how in the past Akame had been the one left in charge when the boss wasn't present.
"Huh?" Tatsumi asked turning fully to Akame his eyes wide as this was the first time he'd ever heard Akame say something like that to him. "You'll follow my lead? But I'm one of the newest on the crew and the most green given the newest's history. The rest of you have been doing this for years, I've only been with you for months."
"And? That doesn't matter to me, I completely trust you Tatsumi so I'll follow what you say." Akame said her tone deadly serious as Luffy noted that he was telling Whitebeard this because he wanted to save Ace as much as Luffy did so he deserved to know what was going on. "Yes you're the newest on the crew in terms of what we do and you had to prove that you could survive and do what we do but you've more than done that by now. All I am is an assassin, a tool for murder, but you're way more than that Tatsumi."
"Akame…" Tatsumi began pretty sure he knew why Akame was acting like this trying to head her off.
"No, listen." Akame said interrupting Tatsumi before he could put voice to his thoughts as Whitebeard thanked Luffy and Luffy treated it like it was no big deal acting like he and Whitebeard were now equals thus shocking some of his allies. "I know what you're going to say and this has nothing to do with you having Conqueror's Haki, which by the way I'm not surprised that you have, but all to do with who you are."
"Huh?" Tatsumi asked now confused as that was what he'd thought.
"Tatsumi, you've grown faster than any of us, we all know and recognize that your potential is off the charts, and you've united our crew in a way not even the boss can." Akame said. "You are a leader Tatsumi and right now, in the field where the boss can't lead us, you are our leader. Tell me what to do and I'll follow your orders because there's no one else I will follow on this battlefield. The others will as well so please, step up and embrace who you are Tatsumi."
"Alright, I won't take the trust that you place in me lightly." Tatsumi said grinning at Akame, a grin that made her heart flutter a little but she ignored it, and he turned to look around and as he did he heard Straw Hat yell to Ace to keep hanging on because he was on his way right before he leapt off the Moby Dick and entered the fray and in that moment he made his decision. "Right now we follow and support Straw Hat Luffy with all we've got."
Tatsumi paused to see if Akame would question what he'd said but she didn't. That emboldened him and he continued with his reasoning for what he and Akame, and the others if they ran into them, had to do now.
"Something tells me that he's not going to stop until he's saved Ace or died trying." Tatsumi continued. "However, I for one don't want to see such a promising pirate and world class pain the Navy's ass die today so from now on we're going to back him up, protect him, and smooth his path to Ace. Don't hold back, kill any marine who's not on the 'Do Not Kill' list and continue with what we're here for only now will let Straw Hat pave the way for us and in return we'll pave the way for him. He is our ticket to succeeding in this mission."
"Aye, aye, boss." Akame said with a grin at Tatsumi before she set her face and turned, slashing Murasame to generate a sharp cut of wind that tore at three marines who either didn't know who they were or were just stupid enough to try and sneak up on them, cutting two down with non-lethal chest wounds with the third managing to block it. "Follow and protect Straw Hat Luffy it is."
Tatsumi just smiled as two blades shot out of Akame's chest as the third marine blocked her attack and hit him in the throat downing him as well before she rushed off and towards the plaza once more making sure to keep an eye on Straw Hat and the path that he was taking. Tatsumi did the same as he followed Akame, her words of support boosting him as much as his feeling for as he too rejoined the battle that had just been boosted by the arrival of Straw Hat Luffy and his allies.
They weren't the only ones to do so, all of Whitebeard's forces along with Jimbei, Ivankov, and his New Kama forces all leapt into the battle rallied by Luffy's declaration to support him as he charged for the plaza and Ace. All it had taken was one rookie daredevil to change things around and the Whitebeard forces and their new allies were rallied and charging. Sengoku wouldn't be deterred and ordered the marines to keep following his orders as the battle at Marineford once again resumed and increased in intensity.
I think that that's a good place to leave things off at, a bit more of a reaction to Luffy's arrival chapter I'll admit but such is the nature of his arrival, it gets everyone's attention. The battle will now resume with Luffy and his new allies joining the fray and I'm sure y'all know that things are really going to pick up now so stay tuned for the next batch of insanity as the War of the Best continues. There really isn't much more to say on this chapter, it's a straightforward one that sets the tone for the post Luffy part of the battle and how the Night Pirates, mainly Tatsumi and Akame, will interact with him so just sit back and await the coming chaos. On a separate, administrative, note, I apologize for the lateness of Vivre Card XXVI which would normally accompany this chapter's upload, I've been so focused on getting this chapter out on the right day and drafting my next Black Trio chapters that I forgot about it, it is done but I need to edit the brief history part and I like to sleep between drafting and editing so it will be out tomorrow. Anyway, that's all that I have for y'all, however, so I'll leave this chapter off here. If you liked this please favorite, follow, leave a review, or let me know in a PM (I will respond either via the website or app depending on where you PM me), 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