Chapter 23: The princess uncovered! Demigods vs. Baroque Works.
The bounty hunters were shocked by Zoro's sudden disappearance, searching for the swordsman until he reappeared in the crowd. Clarisse picked up one of the bounty hunters and threw him at several of her companions.
"Hahaha! I was waiting for this moment. Let's have fun!"
"Clarisse... No, it doesn't matter. You're right."
Thalia charged her spear and began to attack and shock the Baroque Works with ease.
"What, is that all you got?"
"Damn pirate! She must have a Devil Fruit, go for her!" shouted one of the bounty hunters.
Zoro smiled, those girls were strong, she thought, while the others took it as a mockery. The people aimed their weapons and fired, but Zoro seemed to disappear once more, causing them to fire at each other.
"Seriously, how did he do it?!" wondered Apollo.
Mr. 8 turned around, angry that they couldn't kill a single swordsman, but he stood still before the sword pierced through his hair. Confidently, Zoro asked if he really needed to add another tombstone.
The hunters tried to stop Zoro, but Mr. 8 panicked at the sound of his guns.
"Igarappa!" Mr. 8 pointed a horn over his head, shooting bullets and hitting a few people in the process.
"Why do you have a trumpet gun of all things?" Ares grumbled as the others grimaced at the perhaps dead people.
Like a submachine gun, the musical instrument spat out several bullets forcing Zoro to run away to avoid them. Less reactive than him, the shooters behind Mister 8 were hit by bullets and fell in turn.
"Where is the?" He wanted to know Mr. 8 looking around. "Where is this guy?"
"Mr. 8, the girls are missing," a man told him when he saw that Clarisse and Thalia were no longer there.
"What? Damn it! These guys are too dangerous! Kill all three of them."
Leaning against a wall, Zoro held his breath as he said.
"I was warming up."
"Regrettable!" Clarisse laughed, coming to a stop in front of him. "You should be ashamed of yourself, Roronoa, for running away like that."
"Shut up! His machine gun surprised me."
"Honestly, this world surprises me more every day. But it's true; this island is a death trap. We have to get out of here." Thalia said.
"Well said, Goth Girl. Time to show them what the Drakone Slayer can do!"
Preparing to leave, the two demigoddesses stood up as Zoro questioned them.
"Are you really daughters of gods?"
"Hum?" Thalia said, turning around.
"I don't pray to any, but I never said they didn't exist." Zoro assured. "So don't expect my prayers or anything like that! Understood?"
Just stretching her smile, Clarisse simply says.
"We wouldn't ask you."
"Our parents are complicated, so even if you prayed to them, it would be hard for them to answer you." added the daughter of Zeus.
And before Zoro could add anything, he saw the demigoddesses leave to look for the bounty hunters.
"Hmm... They've got guts. Not bad, I'll give you that!"
Hearing many voices and gunshots outside, Annabeth remained half hidden as she looked out a window.
"Because of what's going on, Zoro, Clarisse and Thalia have decided to have an explanation with these guys."
Then, turning around, she sighed when she saw the rest of the boys, sleeping in the room.
"What should I do with them?"
"Leave them." She advised Nami, as she searched through the members of the house, looking for something interesting to find. "Zoro, Clarisse, and Thalia won't take long to get rid of these guys! So, once that's done, we'll just have to wait for the log-pose to fully load, before we get out of here! And, between us, luckily the girls are there to make sure! Otherwise, I wonder what they would do without us."
"Stop overestimating yourself."
Then getting up, Rachel snapped her neck as she yawned.
"Rachel, are you awake?" Annabeth wondered.
"If you think these would catch me off guard, they don't know me." She laughs at the young woman, standing up. "Where's the fight?"
"Stay here." Nami ordered him. "If someone gets there, someone has to defend us."
"So what? In case you haven't noticed, they want to kill us all! I don't know how to fight much, but I'll at least try to get out of here while I can! So what are you looking for?"
"The treasures of this city, of course."
"Pffft, given the state of the city, I doubt you'll find much there."
Then screams of agony were heard outside, showing that the battle was raging.
"Tsss! It seems to me that those three are having a good time."
"I don't know if you're joking or serious." Nami said with a drop on her head.
"I can't speak for Zoro, but Thalia is very responsible. As for Clarisse, I'll just say that she's like her father." Annabeth spoke with an annoyed sigh.
"Hahaha! I haven't felt this good in a long time!"
Clarisse laughed in the heat of battle as she thrashed the assassins, even grabbing their weapons and using them against them.
"Come help me, girl!"
However, seeing that Thalia and Clarisse could not help him, the pirate was forced to jump out of a window to hide in a house.
"He is there". A man assured, immediately entering him.
However, as her companions followed, Thalia had no trouble hearing the sounds of agony, before seeing Zoro walk out of the house as he cut down a number of men, using a single saber. Seeing him, the daughter of Zeus felt a strange sensation.
"Sandai Kitetsu…" Thalia said, as she got rid of some bounty hunters. "The cursed blade. From what Lord Hephaestus said, those swords are of good quality, but those who wield them will always have fatal fates. A sword worthy of Zoro; only a madman like him would use such a curse."
"I have you." A man roared, behind her back, directing his saber towards her neck.
Simply brandishing her spear, Thalia parried the sword with great skill. Then she, taking advantage of the initial stupor, she throws a bolt of lightning at him, incapacitating him and skewers another behind him.
Then turning, Thalia saw Clarisse facing off with a dozen men in front of her, revolvers drawn.
"You choose! Either let yourself be captured and we save you! Or we kill you!"
"Oh Ares! What a difficult choice!" Clarisse said, pretending to be scared. "Uh... I guess... I'll choose answer C!"
Picking up a pair of sticks, Clarisse smiled and turned them into a tomahawk and electric spear. The bounty hunters were shocked and looked on in terror.
"I will slaughter them all."
"Fire!"
Sending herself into the bullets, the Drakon assassin turns her spear around to ward off it. Then, once facing her attackers, she swung her ax making shallow cuts, before having fun hitting people here and there.
"Ah, what relaxes."
"Dirty demon!" a man roared, pulling again.
This time, having dropped her guard, due to her amusement, Clarisse dodged the bullet in extremis, as her slug grazed her cheek. Feeling the flow of blood on her skin, the demigod stopped laughing, before looking at the shooter.
Horrified by this simple look, the man couldn't help but back away, before running away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Clarisse asked, putting down her guns and cracking her knuckles.
She started charging at the poor man and gave him a powerful right hand to the face, (Captain Falcon style) and knocked him out as she slammed into a nearby house.
"That was a bad move, idiot." He advised Clarisse, making the weapons disappear from her. "Never demean my face again, or at least do it in a dignified manner and not with a gun."
As she rested, she finally saw Zoro, while Mister 9 had managed to grab her arm with a chain.
"I have you". The man laughs.
Should it scare me? Zoro wondered.
"Let's just say stopping you will allow Mister 8 to finish."
"Good job". The man assured him, from the top of a roof, while he pointed at Zoro.
Pulling at his bow tie, the man pulled several rifle tips out of his hair and pointed it at Zoro.
"That?" The pirate was surprised.
"It's the end for you."
"Two against one...it's a little loose." Thalia suddenly appeared.
Jumping up, Mister 8 saw her sitting right next to her with a bunch of her comrades slightly singed as if nothing had happened.
"You…?" the man wondered.
Turning to her, he took aim before firing. Anticipating her reaction, Thalia created an electrical shield, which she detonated when the projectiles hit it. Mister 8, seeing her disappear behind a cloud of smoke, rushed to grab her saxophone to deliver the final blow.
"IGARA…"
A bolt of lightning shot out of the smoke and plunged right into the mouthpiece of the musical instrument.
"That…?"
Emerging from the smoke, Thalia, without the slightest scratch on her, showed a proud smile as she snapped her fingers.
"I'm sorry, but it's over!"
Exploding, her spear of light destroys Mister 8's weapon, ejecting the man's body backwards.
"I'm impossible."
"Mr...Mr 8." Mr. 9 was scared.
A female scream was suddenly heard behind her. Turning around, she saw Rachel walk in as she pulled Miss Wednesday by her hair. Having wanted to use Luffy as a hostage, the poor woman had the misfortune to meet the Delphic Oracle, who had thus captured her.
"Whose is she?"
"Miss Wednesday?"
"Too bad for you." Zoro said, as he dared to walk towards the man, with a cruel smile. "What are we doing? Do we continue or stop?"
Realizing that he was alone, facing four people, one of whom had a price on his head and two who had Devil Fruit-like powers, Mister 9 ended up dropping his weapon and raising his hands in the air.
"I give up! I give up!"
"PI-TI-FUL!" Clarisse said, with Thalia coming out of the roof.
"You have to let go of that crazy side of you, La Rue."
"And miss out on the fun? Don't dream of it, Princess Lightning!"
"Say that to me again and I swear I'll turn you into a kebab." threatened the daughter of Zeus.
Looking around to see bodies on the ground, Rachel muttered.
"So these guys are bounty hunters? Honestly, you had to suspect it."
Throwing Miss Wednesday towards her partner, Rachel nodded.
"In the end, it's a possibility that I stayed there! Who knows what I might have done?"
"I could have prevented it." Groover snapped back.
Appearing in turn, Groover (with Tyson's help) pulled a huge duck by the leg, before launching it at Miss Wednesday.
"I'll give you that back, miss." Tyson said kindly, although Miss Wensday didn't see it that way.
"CARUE! Monsters! One moment... Why do you have goat's feet?! "AND WHY DOES HE ONLY HAVE ONE EYE!?" exclaimed Miss Wednesday, frightened.
"Hey, it was you who picked the fight." Ares replied, to everyone's surprise.
"Oh, are you two alright?" Hestia ran to see her two nieces.
"What a welcome party... They are more beasts than Uncle D's!" retorted Apollo to Dionysus' chagrin and Artemis' annoyance.
"So what are we going to do with…?" Zoro began to ask as a small object exploded on his back.
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
"Zoro?" The demigoddesses and the Oracle were surprised.
Falling to the ground, the swordsman groans in pain, as he spins around.
"Motherfucker!"
"What do we have there?" He wanted to know a man, walking towards the small group.
"Hahaha! Certainly, special agents above 5 are so weak." A woman laughs.
"Who are you?" she wanted to know Rachel, trying to make sure.
As they backed away, Mister 9 and Miss Wednesday yelled.
"Mr. 5! Miss Valentine!"
"5?" Clarisse repeated.
"From what I could understand, the lower the number, the stronger the agent." Thalia taught him.
"So they're strong, huh?" That remains to be seen." said the God of War.
"Don't be silly, they obviously have some kind of Devil Fruit." speculated Athena.
"Mr. 9, you are pathetic," Mr. 5 told him.
"Tsss! Instead of lecturing me, take care of these guys! This will take a big thorn out of our feet."
"Hum?" said Miss Valentine. "Do you really think that we have come to you to help you? Don't make us laugh."
"But then why are you there?"
"The boss asked us to kill a traitor." Mr. 5 reported. "These exact words were 'Someone tricked my secret!'
"Boss?" Rachel repeated. "I admit to being a little lost."
"Me too." said Groover.
"I'll give you a rundown later. Now, go wake up Percy and the others, we're out of here." Thalia promised, preferring to listen to the rest of the conversation. Rachel nods and runs...to grab a rifle that was owned by one of the defeated bounty hunters and points it at Mr.5 and Miss Valentine.
"Oh, what is this? A little girl trying to appear to even have a chance?" commented Mr.5, unimpressed.
"I will be a young woman, but with a very big gun." Rachel replied, much to the disgust of the assassins.
"Actually, that weapon is quite small."
"After a thorough investigation, we discovered that high dignitaries of a kingdom had infiltrated the Baroque Works to spy on us," Miss Valentine continued, picking up the conversation. "What a surprise it was for us."
"The people we are looking for are none other than Alabasta's guard chief, Igaram… or if you prefer, Lord 8! As well as Alabasta's princess, Nefertari Vivi! Is that not so, Miss Wednesday? "
Eyes widening, Miss Wednesday couldn't hide her surprise at being exposed.
"THAT?" Mr. 9 was surprised. " You're a princess ? "
"She is a princess?!" the gods were also surprised, except Apollo and Zeus.
"It was obvious." said the King of the Gods, to the clear disgust of his wife.
"How did you not notice?" The Sun God began when his sister shot an arrow at him.
"And why didn't you say anything before?!"
"It's a joke?" Clarisse wanted to know. "Did we have a princess on our ship?"
"I'm still glad she didn't say it; because knowing Nami, she would have skinned her on the spot." Rachel noticed.
"The real question to ask would be 'why would a princess risk her life by infiltrating a criminal organization?' Thalia retorted.
"That's a great question". Demeter thought
"Okay, now it's time for us to kill you, princess." Mister 5 noted, taking a step towards her.
"IGARAPPAPA!"
Having gotten up, Mister 8 managed to jump off the roof before standing in front of the duo and attacking them. When they were hit by his explosive bullets, they disappeared behind a smoke screen, while the man informed them.
"You shall not touch a hair of the princess."
Coming out of the smoke however, what looked like excrement touched the man and exploded just like he did Zoro. Sensing that his body was being pulverized, the man blew smoke out of his mouth before collapsing to the ground.
"IGRAM!"
"MR...MR 8!"
"One less." Mr. 5 said simply.
"Ha ha ha". laughs Miss Valentine. "Did she really think that she had a chance to defeat us?"
"Motherfucker". Zoro suddenly roared.
Rising to his feet, he grimaced at her charred back. Sabers in hand, he turned to the duo as he informed them.
"You will die."
"Oh? Were you able to get up? Very impressive."
"I hate to be the one to say it, but they're right." Apollo spoke, expressing the thoughts of his companions.
"Uh... can someone tell me which side we're on now?" He wanted to know Rachel, rifle in hand.
"Let's destroy these two and take the princess." Clarisse created a sword with the weapons that were there. "Afterward, we can get answers."
"Sure, and if you agree, let's order something, right?" commented the daughter of Zeus sarcastically.
"Nothing in this life is free."
"Um, girls...?"
The Oracle of Delphi couldn't help but show a disgusted look, seeing Mister 5 wipe his nose, before rolling some dung between his fingers.
" NOSE FANCY CANON! "
Sending the excrement at Zoro, Mister 5 thought to give him the final blow. However, Zoro managed to cut him off in time and the two sides separated before exploding.
"That...?" wondered Groover. "His boogers are explosive! What is that thing?"
"Scary...!" the young cyclops shrieked.
"A Devil Fruit." Thalia understood.
"I knew it." said the Goddess of Wisdom proudly.
"Okay, okay, we get it, you're smart!" complained Ares as he clashed swords with his sister and they began to fight.
"I've seen this before." commented Hephaestus, comparing the amusing situation to Zoro and Sanji's fights.
"Exactly." Mister 5 approved.
"All of the top rank agents are Devil Fruit users, each with unique fighting styles." Miss Valentine assured. "Against us, you don't stand a chance."
However, she lost her smile at Rachel shot her, brushing her arm.
"Do us all a favor and shut up, you're annoying me."
"Where did you learn to shoot like that?" Clarisse and Thalia asked her.
"In Loguetown when I was with the Marines. They were the ones who taught me how to shoot and wield a sword."
"Wow..."
As for Miss Valentine, she jumped into the air and began to float.
"She flies?!"
"I ate the Kiro Kiro no Mi! Thanks to it, I can vary my weight from 1 to 10,000 kilograms."
"When Junior said they were very diverse, he wasn't lying." acknowledged Artemis.
Pointing at Rachel, she said.
"I'm going to crush you. "
Then seeing her fatten up and let herself descend at full speed, Rachel jumped backwards and left the impact site barely. Hitting the ground, Miss Vantine created a crater as the ground cracked here and there.
"Wow, that was close." Rachel grunted.
"Stop fooling around." Ares advised her, finished with several cuts and bruises. "These guys need to be taken seriously."
"NOSE FANCY CANON!"
Seeing a new booger bomb above them, Thalia threw a lightning bolt that set it off.
"Okay, it's official, I hate that guy, he's disgusting! I'm going to spear him with my spear!"
"Are you stupid or what, you didn't realize that no matter where you touch him, he'll explode! Ranged attacks are more effective against a guy like him." the Drakon Assassin reassured her.
"No doubt I'm fighting a pig." the daughter of Zeus said disgustedly.
"I'll turn him into a boar!" furious Artemis tried to curse Mr.5, but was held back by her father's hand.
"Hello, guys?." Rachel suddenly called out to them, turning around. "The princess is gone."
"What?" her friends were surprised to discover that Miss Wednesday and Mister 9 were nowhere to be found.
"Tsss!" Mister 5 said, before turning and running away. "Come on, Miss Valentine, these kids can wait! We must kill our target at all costs."
"Yes, Mister 5."
"Hey, get back here!" Zoro ordered them, pretending to follow them.
However, a hand grabbed his leg.
"Help... Help me!" pleaded Igaram, below. "You have to... You have to go save Princess Vivi."
"Huh?" wondered Zoro. "Let go of me! Who are you taking me to?"
"Bring her back to Arabasta." Insisted the man. "The future of our entire kingdom depends on her."
"Your kingdom?" wondered Rachel. "Can you tell us what that means, what is a princess doing among these criminals?"
"Our kingdom is called Arabasta and it's at war! If we want to prevent it from breaking out, Princess Vivi must return as soon as possible! If you help us, you will surely receive a great reward!"
"Hey, I don't care, what do I know what's going on in..." began Thalia, but was quickly cut off by Clarisse.
"Wait a minute! I'm thinking about what's more advantageous between helping this princess or capturing her for ransom."
"Sometimes, I find you worse than Nami." said Groover with a drop on his head.
"Keep your sarcasm to yourself, Rachel." Nami advised him, coming in with Annabeth.
"Hum?" surprised the Oracle. "Did you find anything interesting?"
"Nothing at all." Nami sighed. "It's a real den of broke! Sorry, Hermes-sama!
"Don't worry my dear Champion, I'm honored to know that someone knows how to fight for the noble art of thievery!" said Hermes with inordinate pride.
"Oi, oi, oi!" his half-brothers and half-sisters (minus Apollo who laughs and Ares who thinks of a thousand ways to take advantage of such greed) slapped him on the head.
"Huh, let's concentrate on something more important... please?" remembered Tyson, hiding behind Thalia; he was afraid of Nami's greedy eyes.
Nami nods, squatting down in front of Igaram, she started to show a big smile, before asking him.
"Is it true that we'll get a reward if we take this princess to Arabasta?"
"Oh, no," Rachel said. "Tell me, Annabeth, do you...?"
"I'm not greedy." Annabeth confessed. "But I won't deny that we could use some substantial funds. And there, I think we'll be rushing right into a nest of trouble."
"Me, I say again, we'd better take this girl hostage." Clarisse said. "Imagine, we could make a hundred million berries, holding her for ransom! See two hundred, with a bit of luck."
Smiling then, Nami said no with a finger, as she replied.
"You're far from my level in business, Clarisse-chan! Because you see, I'm convinced that we can win not far from... A billion berries!"
"A billion?" Thalia, Rachel, Groover, Tyson and Annabeth were surprised.
"That's my girl!" Hermes was plethoric, while Athena was thankful that her favorite daughter wasn't like that.
"My Olympus, this girl is not greedy, she's the next best thing! Now I see why you wanted her to be your champion, Hermes!" Spoke the Goddess of Love, a bit jealous of Hermes.
"How many?" Igaram aghast.
"She makes a lot of money," said Zoro.
"Yes, but it's only if your country can pay this amount." Thalia retorted. "And I don't think it's possible."
"What do you mean?" asked Annabeth.
"He just said that his country is threatened by war, Annie! However, in general, a war is often caused by an economic crisis! Clearly, ordering a billion berries from this country might prove impossible."
"I... I can't promise anything." Igaram stated. "However, if you help us, I promise to make sure that I can make a huge profit! You have my word."
"Good!" said Nami, with a broad smile.
Then, turning to Zoro, she ordered.
"ZORO! GROOVER! TYSON! Go help this princess!"
"Huh?" wondered Zoro. "Hey, you made the deal with him, it's up to you! Don't you agree, Clarisse?"
However, to his surprise, he saw that the Drakon Assassin was laughing. He couldn't get out of his mind the huge reward they could get simply by helping this girl.
"One... A billion berries... I must admit, it's quite tempting! Even if we split the shares equally, each of us would have enough money until the end of our days without having to work again!"
"It's true, it would be the dream to have that much money." Annabeth said. "With a billion, we could make I don't know how many improvements to the Merry to make it even more comfortable! Already in our room, we only have two small beds, which we have to share with four! I want money to pay us for new furniture."
"You were saying...?" asked Ares buerla as Athena bowed her head, above was a cloud of depression.
"...No comment, Ares."
"Zoro!" Nami called after him. "Remember, you owe me money."
"What, hey, I gave you everything the other day! Your whole hundred thousand berries!"
"Yes! But no interest! You still owe me 300,000 berries! And if you ever help this princess, I'd be willing to surrender."
Growling then, the man ends up walking out, as he declares.
"I curse you, you dirty witch."
Then, following him, Clarisse and Groover left in turn, before Thalia and Tyson went over the rooftops (and without looking down at any time). So staying both of them, Annabeth and Nami watched them go, as did Igaram.
"Don't worry." Nami assured. "With them, your princess is now out of danger."
"How humiliating." Igaram muttered. "I, the head of Arabasta's guard, helped the pirates forced to beg to save the princess? What a shame, I could never forgive my weakness!"
"The result will be the same as long as the girl is saved." Annabeth replied. "In the meantime, can you explain the situation? What is Arabasta, and what is happening to this country for you two to be here?"
To be continued...