A/N: It has been a hot minute since I've updated, and basically that's because I've had less time to both read and write Fanfiction lately. But I'm not giving up this story, nor do I plan on putting out a rushed ending like I did for my last story. Things are just going to take a while.
Minor manga spoiler warning: In some of the latest One Piece chapters, it seems that Usopp's Devil Pop Greens can actually dissolve their targets at a pace that matters in battle. Previously I had thought they were like normal Venus Flytraps and would dissolve prey over weeks, but since they are super versions of that plant, I probably should have figured that their digestive systems would also be enhanced. For the sake of continuity, I will be editing previous chapters at some point to reflect this. The biggest change this makes though is the abilities of Pop Grimm that use Devils, though I won't be changing the abilities of the Pop Grimm that has already shown up and died. Edits should be sometime between this chapter and the next update.
Previously, since it's been a while: Franky, after proving his claims about Cola Power were true, made a deal with Ironwood to help him with that technology and helping with national security in exchange for assistance in travelling back to his world. Arlong meanwhile demonstrated his limited water manipulation Semblance on an unfortunate Leviathan, and he and some loyalist forces intend on swimming to Menagerie, starting in a river...
It was a snowy day on the island of Patch. Ruby, with a letter in hand, met up with Jaune, Nora, and Ren, all with serious expressions on their faces.
"Thank you for coming… You've all read this letter, right?" Ruby asked.
"Of course," said Ren, "Usopp… He blamed himself more than I thought. I should have realized that..."
"I suspected something," Jaune said, "But I didn't press things too hard… That was a mistake."
"We're all in agreement that he's acting like an idiot though, right?" Nora asked.
The group nodded.
"I'm going to Mistral," Ruby said, "There's no way I can let him try and take everyone on by himself!"
"Yep, no way," Nora said.
"I feel the same," Ren said.
"Of course, I'm coming too," Jaune said.
"Then let's go, We'll have to hurry if we want to catch up with him!"
"Ugh, how long is this damn river?" Usopp asked.
"It's damn long," Maria said, "But it's the only surefire way we have. I wonder who's fault that is."
"Hey hey hey, I'm sorry!"
"I wonder what you would have done if we never met... Would you still be lost?"
"No! I'd… I don't know, maybe ask a villager for directions, or something. But we did meet, and having someone strong to fight with me is encouraging. Also… having someone to talk to is nice too."
"...Originally, you were really planning on taking this journey and enemy on by yourself?"
"...Yes… I would have loved to have the friends I made at Beacon travel with me, but they're just students. They're talented fighters, but there's no way I could ask them to come with me on such a dangerous mission. After all, even the most talented one… she…"
"Hey, you don't need to talk about this if you don't want to!"
"Thanks… I… I know what kind of job they signed up for, but I don't want them doing anything dangerous. Is it too much to want them to stay safe?"
"It's not, but speaking from experience, trying to do everything by yourself is just setting yourself up for failure. Have you thought about what you would have done if you hadn't gotten incredibly lucky by being at the exact right place and time when I showed up in this world?"
"Of course I've thought of that! They're not… happy thoughts though. But it's better than watching my friends die."
"I don't think they want you to die either… I'm just saying that just maybe, your friends deserve a chance to be believed in again… Enough of all of that though. Feeling up for some training?"
"...Actually, I think I am. As long as you're up to it."
"Oh?"
"I do need this training, after all. Unlocking my Semblance just means there's another thing for me to master."
"That's true… And your Aura level still hasn't gone above 50%, right?"
"Yep. While there doesn't seem to be a time limit for how long I can turn plants into 'Warriors' with my Semblance, different plants require a different percent of my Aura, and that Aura seemingly won't regenerate until the plant is destroyed. Right now, two Impact Wolves are taking up 20% each, and the Devil is taking 10%. That percent doesn't change whether I use Dust with them or not."
"I'm sure those percentages will go down as you get more efficient at using your Aura. For someone who only recently unlocked it, you're doing alright."
"'Recently' as in like almost a year ago?"
"Most people who wish to become Huntsmen unlock it many years before they'd even be old enough to try the Hunstman Exam. So 'recently' was relatively speaking. As for today's training… Besides the standard Aura training, workouts and haki practice, sparring several times only using melee weapons should suffice."
Both people on the sidewalks and those driving cars in the streets of Mantle couldn't help but gawk at the latest 'vehicle' to grace their roads. Said vehicle was Franky, who had converted his legs into tank tracks. With some minor modifications, such as a turn signal function to his nipple lights, he was able to get approved as street legal.
Over the last few days, Franky had gotten rather familiar with both the layout of Mantle and the issues that plagued it. Repairing the walls as he was tasked with was rather trivial, but the fact that they were left in such a state of disrepair said a lot.
Pulling up at his latest destination, Franky prepared himself for a job that should be more interesting. After gently knocking on a door, it opened revealing Pietro Polendina.
"So, this is your workshop?"
"Yes indeed. If you're here, then I suppose Ironwood approved my request… Though, surely you didn't abandon your task of repairing the walls for this, right?"
"The holes in Mantle's walls are all patched up."
"Already?"
Franky nodded.
"There were quite a few, did you check everywhere?"
"Yep, unless those monsters made more holes only my way here, then it should be suuuper done."
"If you say so, Franosuke."
"Feel free to call me Franky, it's what my friends call me."
"Oh no, I'm not sure l could call you my friend just yet."
Unaware of Franky's internal screaming, he continued on.
"This next project is very special to me, so I'll be laying some ground rules. It may not fit your style, but do not by any means add any special nipple functions to my daughter. Don't add that 'Coup de Boo' feature either, and if you have any doubts on whether I'd approve of any 'additions,' please ask first. Actually, ask even if you don't have any doubts. Also, I'd like her to retain her appearance for the most part. No extraneously sized limbs."
"I won't disrespect her creator by going against his wishes. Though, speaking of Penny... It might be rude to ask, but is she really different from the robots patrolling the streets outside?"
"She is indeed. In order to make her so, I put a part of my very soul into her. To truly bring her back to life, I'll have to put in a little more."
"Eventually, that will kill you, won't it?"
"Yes… But I'll do it as many times as I need to, though I hope I never need to do it again."
"You're willing to go that far… I see. She truly is a daughter to you."
"Of course, I created her, so I'll always see her that way."
"That's how it should be. I can respect someone who cares that much about their creations. Once we're through, I can promise that you won't have to see her get torn apart ever again! She'll be a SUUUPER robot!"
"...Thank you."
Usopp was sprawled out on the ground, catching his breath. Across from him, Maria resting her back against a tree. "Do you feel like you opened up any injuries?" she asked.
"I was mostly fine… What about you?"
"It's all good on my end… Kicking your ass wasn't that exhausting."
"Hey! Though yeah, my close combat skills leave a lot to be desired."
"They're far better than they used to be though. Now why don't you go bathe in the river? Gods know you need it right now."
"Yeah, you're right about that." Usopp quickly changed into swim trunks, and Maria turned around out of courtesy despite her blindness. He briefly traced the scar on his chest with his finger before finally entering the river and cleaning himself.
Maria waited a good ten minutes before reaching for one of her scythes and firing at a spot in the water next to Usopp.
"W-what was what for?! Was there a piranha or something?"
"...I never said our training was over yet. From that reaction, I can tell that you stopped focusing on your Observation Haki. Next time I'll actually aim for you."
"Can't even let my guard down when I bathe, huh?"
"Not in this world… Anything can happen at any time, and the survivors are those who are prepared for that. Now let's-"
She was interrupted by Usopp who held up his hand. "Wait! Is that… no way..."
"I thought you wanted to tra-"
"I need my slingshot and ammo NOW!"
Recognizing the urgency in his voice, she tossed both items toward Usopp while the thing that he was reacting to entered the range of her own haki. Moments later, said thing darted out of the water straight at Usopp, who fired an Impact Wolf seed in retaliation.
Even as the person was knocked back, Usopp loaded another shot and aimed. The large man who had just attacked managed to land on his feet, but from the blue skin, saw shaped nose, shattered teeth, and webbed hands, it was now clear to Maria what kind of threat had shown up.
A Fishman? In Remnant? And he's strong...
She followed Usopp's lead and aimed her own weapons at the saw-nosed Fishman.
"You bastard… You're Arlong, correct?" Usopp snarled, "With gray hair..."
Arlong pulled out his broken teeth, regrowing them shortly. "I have no reason you answer you."
"If you're not him, then I'll let you get out of here alive." Though looking at him more closely, he has the Sun Pirate's mark in the same spot...
Just then, a small group of Faunus dressed in White Fang attire emerged from the river. "High Leader Arlong, are you alright?"
They pointed their spears at Usopp and Maria, but Arlong raised his hand. "Don't get involved, I will handle this human myself."
Members of the White Fang called him High Leader? But from the research Team RWBY and I did on the White Fang a while back, that title should belong to someone named Sierra Khan. And why would Arlong even work with the White Fang? They're not Fishmen. But that also means he's also behind what happened at Beacon… As if I needed another reason to hate the bastard.
"This is also a fight I'd rather do by myself," Usopp said, "Just make sure Arlong's men follow his orders, Maria."
"...Fine, if you say so."
Though due to the fight taking place in the river, it would have been too risky for Maria to be able to help much anyways. Of course, both of them knew there was no reason to imply to their enemies that she had Devil Fruit powers.
From the coast behind the trees, a Devil plant reached out to devour Arlong. Despite it's wishes though, Arlong easily jumped out of the way and cut at the neck of the plant with his new black and blue Kiribachi. What surprised Arlong was the light green Aura shield that reduced the momentum of his blade enough that it only cut halfway through.
Losing its gifted intellect did little to deter the Devil from trying to devour Arlong though. His moment of shock was enough for the Devil to twist around and swallow the Fishman whole.
In a perfect world he would just dissolve in there, but I can't count on that.
Usopp glanced to the coast to see one of his Impact Wolves managed to put down everything it was carrying and was now watching from the coast. He figured that the second one was having more difficulty getting the Pop Green garden off without destroying it, but he couldn't be sure as it was deeper in the forest.
"Before he gets out, let's finish this." Nodding at the wolf, it nodded back and ran towards where Arlong was trapped. Meanwhile, Usopp fired his own normal Impact Wolf seed, and the two met at each side of the Devil. Arlong had just started to pry himself out of the plant before he was hit on two sides by the devastating shockwaves. The Devil plant was unfortunately destroyed, but in return, Arlong's bloody body was sent spinning and twisting in the air before falling into the river.
That's three impacts now, and one was powered up from my Semblance… And he's still managing to swim against the current!
A few seconds passed before a saw-shaped spear of water rose from the river and impaled the powered up Impact Wolf.
There's no doubt about it… Arlong has gotten stronger. He seemed to have aged a fair amount, so it would have been nice if he was weaker instead… But of course that wouldn't happen! Can't have something easy on this cursed river!
More tendrils of water rose up and shot towards Usopp, who managed to evade every single one using a combination of his natural reflexes and limited haki skills. Seeing them tear holes through stones behind him almost made him lose focus on his Observation Haki though. After ten more seconds of avoiding deadly water spears, he frowned as he realized he was being guided into deeper waters when he should be moving to dry land.
I don't want to test my swimming mobility against Arlong, and if I get too deep in the water I'll be far slower… I'd rather not have to use Aura to defend myself. To make his attacks miss without me having to dodge, I guess I'll field test the Gravity Dust.
From his ammo pouch, Usopp pulled out a special round that used Gravity Dust he 'borrowed' from Maria. Though since Usopp was the one who originally purchased said Dust, he wasn't feeling particularly guilty. Aiming into the sky, he shot right as another saw spear was forming.
"Warrior Star: Black Hole Shuriken!"
Two dark shuriken flew into the air and their enhanced gravity pulled at the spears of water, leading them off course.
It's working, now I have to get to the shore! As those shuriken attract attacks, they'll be taken out soon. I have to hurry!
He did his best to run, but he had to switch to a backwards walk as a storm of tiny water spears shot from the river's surface. Some popped the Auras of the shuriken, causing them to fall to the ground. The rest flew straight towards Usopp, threatening to overwhelm him. He moved his body wildly, dodging what he could and blocking with his slingshot what he couldn't. In that moment of duress, his Observation Haki was working far better than it ever had before.
It wasn't enough, however. A water bullet shot through Usopp's thigh, the pain causing him to briefly lose focus on his Haki. That opened the floodgates for many other water bullets to poke holes all throughout his body. The only saving grace was that the force from the attack knocked him ashore.
Cheers erupted from the White Fang crowd until Usopp stood back up with his slingshot in hand. He was bleeding from all over his body, but none of the individual wounds were too deep.
"ARLONG! YOU'RE NOTHING MORE THAN A COWARD, TOO AFRAID TO GO ON LAND BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'LL LOSE!"
There were a few moments of silence before the water rumbled. Walking out of the river, Arlong's eyes were bloodshot with rage. "Oh don't worry, I'll finish you off with my own hands after everything you've done!"
"Everything I've done? You killed Nami's mother in front of her eyes, and then enslaved her for years with a deal you never intended to honor! And you even inspired another Fishman who took your ideals to new extremes and almost destroyed Fishman Island! And he even killed Queen Otohime as well!"
"You LIAR! Otohime was killed by one of your kind!"
"I am a liar, but I don't need to make up more reasons to hate you. Nami would be sick if she knew you were free and about… and frankly, so am I."
Usopp tried to aim a shot, but Arlong darted in too fast. He started swinging Kiribachi in a wild flurry that did not let up, forcing Usopp to duck, dodge, and weave through the blows. Through all the chaos though, it seemed that Arlong was trying to slowly but surely push him back into the river.
"And on top of everything," Usopp said, "You and your White Fang even attacked Beacon! And for what, just to get some revenge against me?"
"That… WASN'T ME!" Arlong roared. Usopp had to jump out of the way of a particularly brutal overhead swing. "I didn't even know you were in this world until Beacon fell, and even if I did I wouldn't have ordered that attack! The White Fang at Beacon was acting under someone else's orders!"
"Let me guess, it was someone who was willing to even hurt other Faunus just to get back at humanity? If you know that, then why can't you believe that a Fishman like that would show up? But I guess you must look down on Faunus like you do humans since most of them can't breath underwater. "
Arlong paused for a moment. "...You don't know ANYTHING of the twenty years I've spent here! The Faunus ARE my kind now... They are my brothers and sisters, ones that I would die for!"
"You're going to die for them today."
Usopp batted Kiribachi out of Arlong's hands with Black Kabuto and tossed two open vials of Dust high in the air over Arlong's head. I hope this works…
Rather than picking Kiribachi back up, Arlong opted to drive his head forward with the intent to impale Usopp's throat with his nose. Said saw nose was caught by Usopp who had to drop Black Kabuto in order to use both of his hands, which were now bleeding from the sharp edges.
What a reckless strategy, Maria thought, but I'll do my part to distract.
"Usopp, no!" she yelled out as genuinely as she could. She ran towards the two fighters along the river's shore, drawing the attention of Arlong's men who moved in to stop her. Some were surprisingly skilled, but what mattered is that everyone was looking in her direction and away from the forest.
With his own hands free, Arlong clasped his hands around Usopp's throat. "You're the one who's going to die!"
In response, Usopp channeled Aura into his arms and with all of his strength, snapped Arlong's nose. Howling, Arlong smashed Usopp's skull into a rock on the ground using Aura, utterly destroying the rock and causing his eyes to roll back. But Arlong didn't relent. With Usopp's throat in hand, he smashed Usopp into another rock. Still feeling a pulse, he did it again, and again, and again. It wasn't until he heard a roar behind him did he stop to turn around.
From the trees, another Impact Wolf jumped over the White Fang members who were giving their attention to Maria and landed right behind him. Dropping Usopp and picking up Kiribachi, Arlong slashed at the plant from the side. In the middle of his swing, he noticed two vials of Dust fall and land on the Impact Wolf. An Aura shield shimmered around the plant for a second before the Dust was absorbed, forming a carapace of rock. It's spikey back was topped off with ice, creating a mountain range like appearance.
Undeterred, Arlong still tried to cut the wolf in two, but the blade got stuck part of the way in the rock. Realizing too late that the rocky armor was far tougher than normal Dust formed rocks, he couldn't avoid it's destructive impact bulb. Beside the normal shockwave that still did a number on him, hard rock and cold ice shrapnel burst from the bulb and embedded themselves into his gut, knocking him into the river. Unconscious, he was unable to swim and was thus carried by the currents.
"HIGH LEADER ARLONG!"
"He lost?!"
"At the very least we should finish off that man!"
Maria jumped away from the people she was fighting to position herself by Usopp and the Mountain Impact Wolf. "If you want to live, you'll follow your leader."
The group hesitated, but with the wolf still active and their desire to treat Arlong's injuries, they returned to the river. It wasn't until all of them were out of her haki's range that she sat down and started tending to Usopp's wounds.
"Usopp… you sure have a talent for getting injured. And you weren't even sure if that plan of yours was going to work, were you?"
There was no response.