Chasing the Warlord - Fishman Island Arc

"Whoever it is you may value. Back down from following after us or bear the burden of seeing everyone dead. This is the only time you actually get a warning ... Lady Liliana herself is more than enough to kill everyone on her own .. And she is the "weakest" of the 5 offsprings ... farawell. I hope we never cross paths again, for your sake, that is." The man softly, almost in a whisper, replies back to her question. His tone held no cruelty or evil, it felt like a genuine warning towards a human being and lives revolving around said being's call and desicion.

But more importantly, the way all this was phrased, it seemed to imply that his group was considering themselves as being followed by her and her "crew". Did he literally just told her they were the people they were after? But even so, what would she do, blow up her cover and try to lash out at them, or play along? She was alone at that point, if she'd fail to grasp any meaningful initiative against them, she was probably done for. All three of them held bounties over half a billion mark, with her's nearing the billion barrier. They could only be ...

"Eratos, hurry on already, will you? Oh, hey, hope we meet again, darling. Just do not forget ..." Liliana calls out to Eratos, who nodded at her, while seemingly attempting to "cut his own arm to redeem himself for keeping his master waiting", an act largely ignored from her, and turned her attention to Jade, sporting a fake smile again. However, that turned into a malicious, and extremely intimidating, sadistic, grin. "No one opposes the might of a Yonko."

Jade eyes him, exasperated and ready for this entire interaction to be complete.  "A fine tome, brother.  I a grateful for you time and wish you safe passage." Her attention flickers back to the woman who also seems to be extending a parting greeting. ... a Yonku - of course she was affiliated with a Yonku - why the fuck not?  Everything else that could have gone wrong did.  She didn't even know where the hell her crew was, she was stuck in a ridiculous costume of sorts, and was being escorted by a glorified babysitter in a uniform. She felt reckless, putting on a snarky smile as she called out to the woman.  "Do count on it, my sweet ..."

She began walking with the guard who had turned grey and was mumbling about not being payed enough for shit like this and why did Lexana's cousins have to be so stupid?  Jade began peeling bits of her ornate collar pieces and head dresses off of her body, feeling suffocated by them.  She tore and tugged at the nonsense she had been wrapped into until all that was left was a blue silk dress embroidered with tiny gold sea kings and keys, a gold sword belt around her waist, and black riding trousers under it. Her hair was still a dark brown - nearly black, tossed in the sea air.  She felt more like herself but was still unrecognizable.

"Ah, finally, my sweet sweet pool!" Liliana exclaims happily, and casually strips herself and jumps into the, actually very shallow, pool. The ship was actually now moving away and towards the canal to lead it to the other side of the island, which in turn would lead to the entrance to the New World. From within the shadows, a new figure emerged. Not much was visible regarding this one, outside of being cloathed into a thick layer of crimson red cloths. "My lady, you are back! ... Um .." the figure turned its back to them, and left out some sqeal-like sounds.

"Ha, if it isn't our beloved "Chameleon!"" Liliana laughs to herself, an act that seemingly pleased the creature greatly. "Perfect work ..." she adds, with a sadistic smile forming. The Fishmen had searched everywhere and found nothing out of order. Yet, on that same locker, the princess was still there, tied up and injured. But so was another woman. "Who is that?" Liliana questioned the creature.

Introduction Box:
Member of the "Fortune Maker" Crew, under Lady Liliana's Command
Sidisi "Chameleon" Allikratis
Fruit user, ability: Unknown
Bounty: 300,000,000

"S-she appeared out of the blue while you were missing, m-my Lady! But, fear not, for I took care of her!" Sidisi hissed, pleased with herself and delighted that she made her master happy. Meanwhile, the other person that now shared the same cell with the princess was actually Brosko's wife. Indeed she had entered the ship, just like the apeman was told at Cleyra.

---

"So, I underestimated you ..." A calm voice speaks, a blade nearing his neck. At an unknown location, Hawks had apparently accomplished more than just free himself from the shackles and the prison box he was contained into. For, in front of him was his captor -in perfectly good healthy mind you, now on the receiving end of a chilly, precarious line of steel, inching towards the flesh of his throat. Nearby were several unconcious men, probably his minions, all seemingly uninjured, yet still knocked out. "I have a proposition ..." Hawks calmly remarks, and the glassied male sighs, then chuckles. "Aren't you a kind one ... I really hate that about you, blonde."

Jade paused to watch the party depart - Younkou ... probably was who she was looking for but she wasn't stupid enough to take them on alone - well, she was but her restraint came fro carrying the fate of millions within her own blood. It hadn't held her back so much in the past due to proximity. The close she was to the island the more real the threat was - and now that she knew more than one group of people were actively trying to attain the weapon, she has to be more cautious.

she watched almost in admiration as the woman disrobed, her crew barely batting an eye. What would it be like to have such respect that your body and its state of undress was never questioned, gawked at, nor molested by your comrades? Even that was an illusion. It wasn't respect; it was fear - not even fear of her but fear of her father. The audacity of an heiress.

The guard had notices she had been shedding her bulkier clothing items while watching the departing woman. "Um - please stop disrobing I am certain she is not doing that for your benefit - she's ... not your type."

Jade raised a brow at the guard, annoyed. "I'm not getting naked, idiot - I'm trying to pair away enough of this contraption I'm wearing to so I can walk without catching on fire."

Annoyed with her babysitter, she popped around the corner of the next building they approached. Then the guard tried to pursue her, he turned the corner to find an empty street with nothing but a golden cat sprawled in the sun, lightly licking its paw. It paused to look at him for a moment, then deciding he wasn't of interest or edible, the cat continued with its bath apathetically.

Suddenly, the guard fell to the ground, holding his stomach, an act that was a follow up to a sudden sound of a strike. Bit no one was around. "Phew, I am glad my kitty cat is safe and sound." A familiar voice is heard from within the alley, and all of a sudden, Hawks appears, literally out of thin air, accompanied by a pair of people she probably didn't knew.

"Uh, would be better to kill off the guard." One of them, with greasy, long dirty blonde hair and a pumping mask hiding his face laments, but Hawks glaring at him made him shut his trap.

"Alright, we need to get to the ship ... erm, I will explain later." He says, as if attempting to persuade them that Jade was literally just a cat, but the other, glassy individual fixed his glasses onto his face, and coughed. "You know very well that my ability shows me of her ability, how did you think I was able to track her down anyway?"

Jade paused as she heard a scuffle, her fur bristling and she hissed, startled. A distinctive voice suddenly calmed her and a sense of relief washed over her. He was safe. She restrained herself from trotting over to enthusiastically - even if she was still a cat. She needed to know what happened but for now, it seemed she would have to pretend to be a loyal pet.

She began to trot over with the half hearted enthusiasm as a cat receiving her second favourite meal. She froze as it was revealed the others knew what she was. She decided to remain a cat because it was less embarrassing that the bullshit Lexana had dressed her in. She scouwed at the glassy creature. "And you sir - who might you be, other than someone who ruins everything?" She began to lick her paw apathetically, before brushing her cheek and promptly walking away before she could be answered, having lost interest. "Don't kill that guard ... he is not the king's man - though, he was returning me to the fish instead of bringing me one."

She entwines herself between the magicians legs a few times, purring, before looking up with inquisitive bright green eyes. She stares at him to establish unsettling eye contact, as though hunting before taking an abrupt leap and landing effortlessly on his shoulder. She softly headbutts his cheek. Despite technically being herself, part of her behavior and priorities turn distinctively feline in this form. "Where have you been? - I was worrrrried. I can't find anyone and the fish's wife-woman-roommate-human put me in something obnoxious and now we are cousins - and more importantly without fish or meat. Have you got any fish? I think I accidentally got myself a fine date with the yonkou's daughter. She likes brunettes and bad clothing. Did you bring me a fish?... or ..." Her green eyes begin to sparkle and her next words are partially infused with purring."... or a dish of cream?!"

"Right, we should all go back to the ship and talk there ..." Hawks explains, while jerking his hand to the side, causing what appeared to be small fishes to sprawl into existance, a token towards his favorite feline. "Don't worry about them ..." he adds, the glassy individual once again fixing the glasses into his eyes, sporting an awkward, surely meant to look intimidating and confident but ultimately looking just odd, smile, while the masked one was fidgetting around nervously. "They are on our side. For now."

---

"Can't believe we were able to escape ... for now at least, phew!" Brosko sighs loudly, but his mouth is then sealed by Mark's furry hand. "If you don't tone it down we will have to find another spot to hide, he's still around. I can sense him." Not too far off, the prince was searching for them; they all, him and them were pretty battered-looking.

"What did you heard?" Mark whispers after a while, seeing that the Fishman was going the other way. "Mr. Xan's parents mentioned that they have dealings with a "new guardian" and that, if their son keeps butting in, they will have to .. kill him."

Jades eyes sparkle as she sees the fish - she nuzzles the magician's cheek, purring before leaping down to seize upon the fresh treats. After batting them around for a bit, she make short work of them. She licks her paws and begins delicately cleaning her whiskers. She eyes the two men and then Hawks. "You keep the oddest company." She begins brushing her fluffy cheeks with her paws, seemingly oblivious to the irony of how his talking cat contributes to the "odd company" he keeps.

A passing moth catches her attention as she begins to swat at it. She chases it a bit, knocking it out of the air and pouncing on it before she notices she had spent so little time in this form that she forgot how to control her cat form and tell it 'no'. She knew she would be able to focus on anything but food and random prey. She lifts her paws, allowing the moth to escape, bright green predatory eyes following it as it flutters away.

She sits up, her tail elegantly wrapping around her as golden wings begin to grow from her back. The begin to fold around her as they grow large and larger until there is a 6ft bundle of wings. The wings slowly unfold revealing Jade's human for before they disappear, leaving behind a golden sheen on her skin. Now that she was fully herself, it was more difficult to restrain herself from pouncing on the magician for worrying her and for reasons.

She approaches Hawks looks like she is going to attempt to hug him but instead gives and awkward handshake. "It is good to know you are alive, old friend." The handshake lasted to long and got more awkward before she released his hand. "Ah - our ship was guarded - I think I lead most of them away. The cat fellow was guarding. Xan and his wife seem to have a rift with his parents - they are after it too - that thing that does not exist ... and now there is a yonkou with an apparent litter of annoying, entitled children to deal with. We may be ... how do you say ... fucked?"

------

After trying repeatedly to send Lexana away, she refused to go. When they emerged from the tunnle out of their villa, they found them selves surrounded by his fathers guards. She instructed her to stay behind him only to see a blue blur dash out. He had drawn his sword to fight only to see a flash of spinning silver, the air littered with crimson droplets. Within a few moments, the guards all lay in a heap covered in blood. Lexana stood nearby folding her ribbon sword methodically back into her hand, her delicat cheeks now spattered with blood. "We should hurry," she said flatly.

Xan stood there mouth agape as he sheathed his own blade. What the hell kind of monster to her marry? Urumi swords were the most difficult in the would t handle and she just took out more than a dozen guards with expert precision in seconds. His parents unwittingly gave him a weapon of mass carnage without knowing it. "So. Um. That was... h-... that was something. What other horrifying skills have you been hiding from me?"

In the Royal Chamber, the king, visibly agitated, had just hung up on his communication with someone. After some heavy sighs, he tried calling someone, but there was no response. His fury becomming more apparently manifested as he crushed the hopeless Den Den Mushi with his bare, mighty hands. Quickly, he turned and grabbed a large trident that was leaned against the nearest wall. Before he got to leave the place however, a sound of a call, this from a snail hidden into his chest area, stopped him. "Yamaharo ... where the hell are you? I need YOU to arrest him immediately. Bring him alive to me ..."

"Worry not, father, for was already on the move to do that ..." Yamaharo grins widely, and halts communication, as he had just come face to face with Xan and Lexana. "My my, old brother, you went on and caused us a mess now ... must I assume that those two vagabonds that fled from my wrath are your friends?!" he was now getting circled by an increasing amount of heavily armed and armored mermen, all towering even Xan in size. "Father is displeased ... why are you sneaking your shitty nose on matters that you shouldn't, brother? Will you follow me politely, is what I should say before using force to apprehend you both ... but ... AS IF I WILL DO THAT!" He sadistically adds, cracking his fists. Clearly there was bad blood between them. "And as for you, bitch ... father only asked for my brother to be captured alive so ... you get it."

Xan spat at Yamaharo's feet.  "Of course you would be tied up in their corruption.  You are truly their perfect child - always running to do their selfish bidding no matter the cost to innocents and your owns soul." He pulled his blade from his scabbard.  "You always called me the weak one but your were never strong enough to stand up for any ideals of your own - you gave up your identity to be their henchman always living for the next fetch-quest. Do you even know what you want?"

Lexana's demeanor changed as Yamaharo appeared. Her eyes reflected pure hatred and murder. "Oh I get it.  You've been on my sushi menu for a long time, fishy fuck-boy." She spiraled her flexible blade around herself creating a tornado of of steel and she brought it over her head to flicker there like a gather storm cloud.

She had no love for her brother in law.  She never told Xan what he did to her - what he did to her to get at Xan - the way he attacked her to take something that 'belonged' to Xan.  She wouldn't allow him the satisfaction of using her inability to fight him off to destroy his family - she was a diplomat and a professional, not a pawn.  ... but it didn't matter.  It wasn't a family worth saving and now nothing holding her back. All of those years of self loathing and collecting boy toys she could feel more powerful than was over. Her blade began to flicker with surging waves of light, sparks flickering off the edge. "Let's dance, bitch - I swore that day I would see you draw your last breath."

Xan watched Lexana, confused and horrified by the skill suddenly coming from someone he thought he knew.  They were allies in diplomacy, usually putting their assets on the table to move them about like chess pieces and now she was a blood thirsty blade dancer harnessing electricity.  Something about the way she spoke chilled him more than her abilities.  His eyes darkened as he turned to his brother.  "What the fuck did you do to her?"

Completely disregarding Lexana, he drew a piece of cloth and begun to clean up his hands, which seemed to be soiled. Soiled with blood. While doing so, he nodded to some of the mermen closest to him, and they, in response, seemed to be giving the signal to someone else. "Will you really try to lecture, or rather, accuse me of anything, traitor? Who is your family? Where does your bloodline originate from? Certainly you can understand that ensuring that we thrive comes first. Your idiotic denial of understanding that can cost us more than just our lives ... I thought that you valued the people living there ..."

A very loud sound was heard, a sound of machinery mobilizing and gears moving. Soon, water, first as droplets, and then from several points, begun to pour down, slowly causing the floor to turn into a pool. "You and your stupid friends are putting this entire island in jeopardy! And all because you just so darn want to oppose our father! What are you, a five year old?!" he finally turns to Lexana, but still addresses to Xan. "That is none of your business .. oh, big brother. You should worry more about what a moron your woman is ..." he places one hand into the water, which by now was about as deep as two feet. "Did you forget, what kind of a creature I am?" he smiles, the mermen leaping upwards. Needless to say, not to far away were civilians. "DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT SPARKLES CAN SPOOK ME?! ELECTRICITY IS MY GAME, WEAKLING! JOLTING SURGE!" he releases a formidable spike of electricity, certain to zap anyone in the water.

Xan took a moment to observe the thin waves of sparks waving across the blade, finally realizing they were coming from here and not the sword - he never would have guessed a formidable logia would be hiding there.

Lexana's eyes flickered with rage, sparks of electricity dancing across her pupils as orbs of electricity began orbiting her before flying in the direction of several henchman. "I've waited a long time for this ... your powers are limited by your species, mine are limited to ambient electricity I could absorb from the environment ... including yours. Your fighting will only make me stronger and every nightmare will have been worth it."

Xan was growing annoyed with this situation "Like hell it isn't my business - what did you do to her?!" Venomous spines began protruding from his skin as his rage blazed. "Don't lecture me about this blighted family - if you think that you three are the most important things and everyone else deserves to suffer for your comfort than this island deserves better leadership than this family. Strength is not how much you can take it is how many you can protect for what you belief is right. You can apparently only manage to protect your own ass ... oh wait -- not really, since father had to rescue you not two months ago from capture. Good job, brother. Your blind loyalty has made you both weak AND stupid."

"What? A fruit user? When did you .. urgh, curses!" He leaps backwards just to make sure he has enough distance between them while he was trying to figure out of another way to handle the situation. "Open the floodgates all the way, let this block be engulfed in water, that will teach her!" he then switches his attention to Xan, cracking his fist, then preparing it for a fist, while seemingly aiming with the other. "Stop with your babbling! You, the second son, such a disgrace that father would rather have me in charge of the Elite Corps. What a joke! 5,000 TILES BREAK SNAP!" he sents a powerful shockwave towards his brother. "What was your rating on that, 2 thousand at best?!"

Back into the ship, everyone sans Brosko and Mark were gathered, discussing about the matters. And it was the glassy one that gave them a very important bit of information. "If we somehow cause a crisis, the ports will have to be closed ... meaning that you can trap your target in this island."

Far off, but close enough to be able to witness that something was about on between the princess, a shadowy figure smiled widely, whilst rubbing his hands in delight. His smile was broad, tough, intimidating. Fearless. "Excellent ... the time has come for that King and Queen to fall ..." he speaks to himself, and begins to walk, his long black robe and hood hiding most of himself outside of what seemed to be a tail protruding from the garments. A tail that seemed to be having a fiery tip.

Lexana had formed an electric orb launching it toward the fishman as he demanded area flooding.  She would have to seek high ground at some point.  "Running away to the sea, are we coward? Too afraid to know what its like to be overpowered and ravaged by a monster out to hurt his brother that he's too afraid to directly confront.  Pathetic."

Xan leveled a gaze at his brother, his glare darkening. "Rating?  I wouldn't know - haven't actually measured that since I was just a child trying to please father.  Something I see you have not grown out of. I use my strength for the real world not a scorecard to show my parents in exchange for a affection I'll never get.  They didn't want children - they wanted free-labor minions. They got two 'traitors' and a ... you." Xan flexed his arm, causing a fin to fan out in front of him, fortified with with a bone-like material as he absorbed the blast, minimal blood trickling down his arm and forehead. "Grow up, little brother and leave your childish scorecards behind.  This isn't a game. Where is the princess? There is more at stake than your precious island." Xan held out his out hand, hundreds oftiny, venom-laced spine pieced the air toward his brother.

Back on the ship Jade was perched, sitting on a barrel with her legs crossed. She still didn't trust the pair of alley thug Hawks randomly adopted but they were short on allies and shorter on time so she didn't question them.  "What sort of crisis?"

"Ugh, you both are so irritating! Quit bitching around and either get yourselves arrested or do me the favor and get killed off!" Yamahano roars, narrowly avoiding being grilled alive, via using a bubble attached around him to allow him to float; useful, since even he'd probably be damaged from electricity of this magnitude. The people behind however were electrified severely. "You advocate, yet all I see is YOUR attacks hurting civilians! Traitors like you must be eliminated. Now, why is the water supply not going any fas-?!"

Whatever was causing the pumps to release water into this portion of the area had completely halted. "What in the world?!" the Fishman tried to contract the men in charge but received no response.

Up, to the portion responsible for connecting the areas into the ocean above, Mark was lighting up a cigarette, while Brosko was spinning a large helm. Around them were a multitude of defeated guards. "Well, that should do it. Our friends below have nothing to worry about now." Mark calmly remarks.

The mysterious man, as if he just spontaneously appeared from place to place, had already arrived into the outskirts of the royal chamber. "Who is this?!" the guards yell and approach him. Due to all the events taking place, most of the defences meant to be stationed near or within the Royal areas were now occupied elsewhere. And the mysterious man seemed both informed of, and pleased by this. "Now, to cause some ... crisis! Ceeeeeeebrororororororo!"

It was convenient that the fishman made himself a floating bubble that separated him from the civilians. Lexana prepared another blast of electricity to send in his genral direction while be blade continues their artful trajectory as she approached the area. "Dearest husband, I hope you don't mind if I dispatch your trash brother..."

Xan had moved around to the other side of his brother, the venomous spine now protruding from his hand waited for an opportunity for a clear shot. "... unless I kill him first."

-----

Back on board her ship, Jade had taken the time to get back into her familiar clothing, her hair pulled into a high pony tail as she came back on deck adjusting her freshly sharpened katanas at her hip. She strummed her clawed glove on the deck. "Who do I need to eat to find the crew, rescue the princess, and get the hell off of this accursed island? I tire of playing hide and seek ...."

"Enough ..." A broad voice echoed into the entire area, a stern and firm demeanor and tone that showcased that the bearer was one of strength and valor. And indeed, the voice came from a towering merman, with a height that must have been easily beyond 12 feet, a broad, well-toned and strong physique, and fins that signaled that his species was shark-related. "To return home to see nothing more than my family fight one another ... how much more can my opinion about you all be tarnished."

He raised his right arm, and the water, that entire, huge mass that had already reached deep enough that it could easily drown Lexana if she was to reach the ground again, begun to swirl upwards, creating huge vortexes. Yamahano, who was striken by the thunderous assault but narrowly avoided being poisoned to death, fell to the ground, coughing up blood, and eyeing the newcomer intensely. "Y-you are ... back?" the newcomer then turned his attention to Xan, a crooked smiled forming. "I don't know why this is happening, but that glare of yours ... your honor and sense of justice seem to be maturing. If only father could see that."

Introduction Box:
First-born, and former prince of the Fishman Royal Family
Gekidoburu, the prince that left this land to become a pirate
Bullshark Merman

Everyone immediately fell on their knees and bowed, most in delight they couldn't hide. "Prince Gekidoburu!!"

---

"It is simple ... if the nation declares an emergency, then surely no one will be allowed to just leave. That gives you time to do ... whatever it is you wish to do. It will take 6 hours to reach the other side of the island, so that means that your target is still here." the glassy one, Martinez, explained to her, trying to act unfazed about her statement regarding eating someone.

"Right, that is a solid point ... and most of us are here now. Even if she is a "commander", she can't beat all of us on her now." Catz explains, seemingly pleased to hear that they still had something they could utilize.

"Actually ..." Martinez fixed his glasses once again. "Given the information I have here ..." odd, floating booklets, each with an imprint of each of the crew's face on each one, were around him. Apparently he had a really weird, complex ability, too. "Your chance of beating her, if you all battle her and she fights alone are ... let me subtrack that, add this, count that ... 3%."

Xan had to hault his attack to captuer Lexana who was currently riding on his shoulders looking wet and annoyed. He freezes as the new figure appears. "Geki?! Why have you come back? You can't POSSIBLY believe father cares in the slightest about justice - isn't that why you left? So you wouldn't have to do the bidding of our criminal parents - I was too naive to see it before but there seems to be more honor in piracy than staying here. I envy you, brother. This place, such as it is, cannot be salvaged ..."

.....

Jade was slowly losing her mind being stuck here with bothersome statistics and no action. There were too many enemies and they were logistically unsound. The fishmen monarchs and yonkou were after the princess and the weapon, and half their damn crew was still missing. She was growing angry enough to savage and eat the first enemy through her way as the frustration set in. She narrowed her eyes at the glassy creature, her voice dark and husky as her teeth began to sharpen. "Oi - don't ever tell me the odds."

"I left because the world around us is oppressed; not just us living down there. How can I remain down there knowing that there exists a place next to us that is the symbol of bigotry and evil?" Geki responds, his tone and overall body language that of a man that clearly struggled and suffered by the injustice in this world.

For his parents, he was a vagabond that rejected an arranged marriage plan, and instead abandoned these waters in search of what he called "freedom". Eight years have passed since then. And, while considered a traitor amongst his peers, for the commoners, him leaving was a great blow, but at the same time, for them he was nothing short of a hero. A hero that wanted everyone to be free, equal, and working for the better of this world.

"But fret not, my brother, for I have come to face them again. Our parents. I left because I couldn't stand all of this, but deep down in my heart, I cannot reject the fact that they view me as a detriment. At the very least, now, even thought it has been so long, I wish to face them and-!!!"

A colossal explosion, one so formidable that even Jade's group, several miles away from Xan and the others, felt their shockwave and powerful boom. "What on earth?! ..." Geki turns towards the source, and his eyes widen up in disbelief. "W-why ... WHY DID THE ENTIRE ROYAL MANSION BLEW UP?!"

---

"Erm, a-am sorry ..." The glassy one tried to act calm and collected, once again adjusting his glasses. Then the ship violently shook, as the sound of an explosion reached them. "What was that?" Hawks quickly dashes outside to see plumes of smoke over the horizon. "You said something about us causing a crisis, didn't you ... it appears that we arrived just as one was on the verge of erupting ..." he remarks.

Dagon was dripping with sweat. He had never had a teacher that drove him so hard before. Namor knew that Dagon's best results come from high-risk, high-intensity, high-difficulty situations, and so he always set the circumstance so he would be forced into the most precarious of events. Forcing Dagon to use what he learned to survive. Very clever. Dagon noted how quickly he had learned as a child when he had had no other choice but to learn. Dagon was learning merman combat.

It was pitch black and sounded like the rushing of an army. This was a broken down area of the ship graveyard, the darkest of the slums. A series of garbage pits that happened to reside over a natural cave system. The currents naturally pull the piles apart slowly and pull the trash into pockets of molten materials and into nooks and crevices all along the walls. In this cave system, survival of the weak was 0%. No amount of luck could save you from being trapped inside a high-speed vortex with a riptide, carrying shrapnel, rock, and rot within its corks and screws. Namor had weighted dagon down with enough steel bars that he couldn't freely move for fishman karate, and was too slow for fishman jiujitsu. His only option was to use merman combat to create his own path out of the cave network, within which he had only navigated a third of. He had lost track of how long he had been stuck in this training session, but it was torturous.

Right as dagon had seemingly found his way, a shockwave propelled him forward into the riptide and suddenly he was in the main vortex again, heading straight for a volcano. He had just enough skill, or luck, to force the water to soften and allow him to grip again against the side of the wall, discovering a tunnel out. He climbed the tunnel quickly to find Namor waiting at the top, remarking about how subpar Dagon was. Apparently he had been in there for days, and the shockwave that influenced his freedom was the palace exploding. The mid-level of the island was beginning to flood and it appeared the entire barrier could be at risk before long.

"Derge isn't going to like this. You should call him."

Namor handed Dagon a com system almost as soon as the word call left his throat. Derge bestowed him a mission to capture those responsible, and insure his interests. Dagon realized this was his duty now, having sold himself to derge, but it seemed such a pain. Dagon was not interested in hunting down idiots, especially when he had training to attend to. Dagon had realized from his battle with Namor and Bruce that Dagon understood he was holding himself back by not learning it, as he saw how much control and efficiency the style allows. If he wanted to use fishman judo to its fullest potential, he had to create a new style to compliment and support it. And the only way for him to do this would to first learn merman combat. Nothing else would work. Dagon had tried to learn moleman arts, and he even tried mimicking Vice Admiral Cortez, but he had no natural aptitude for it like he did with everything else he had ever learned. He had no progress, and he realized that it was a lost cause. Merman Combat was the answer, no doubt about it, and he was not the kind to use time unnecessarily. He did take comfort, and even perhaps excitement in the fact that it was, at the very least, a change in pacez

Dagon removed his weights, enjoying how feather light his body was without tons of steel on it. Dagon sighed. He hadn't even had time to check up on the coffee shipments or the local black market and ensure all his interests were in order. So much work to do, with the greatest amount of urgency. The palace had been destroyed. He could hardly stand idly by when his first home and the territory of his boss was under direct attack. He was already under stress from his training, but as powerful as he had become, he was confident he would be able to handle anything. None of the organizations had caught on, but Dagon had far eclipsed the already low bounty he had. He chuckled at the fact. It was too easy to hide the truth, make himself appear to be weaker than he was. As his main professions are assassination and underworld transactions, having the ability to catch people off guard was very important. But right now he wished that his bounty reflected his power, so he could strike terror into fools that dared to interfere within the territory of the worst of the yonkou. He laughed to himself quietly. He was about to have a lot of fun.

Laxana observed Gekidoburu for a moment, her eyes almost reflecting awe as flickers of electricity danced along the serface of her irises. It was such a relief to not have to hid her power any longer. Her parents had never fully trusted the arrangement and had her consume the fruit before her marriage as a means of insurance to secure their interest with this powerful and notoriously cut-throat family. He was a majestic thing like Xandrian but more regal, his movements like effortless charisma with a speaking style that you could follow into hell - no wonder the people love him so much. She had not seen him since she was a child visiting her home island - even in his youth he seemed to command respect without trying.

In the most unexpected twist was that the fishman she was forced to marry, the second eldest child of the ruling family had risen up against his family and become her most trusted friend. She never could have predicted this outcome but still felt guilty for keeping so many secrets from a husband she always viewed as a necessary relationship with a likely enemy.

Xandrian has to admit he was relieved to see his older brother despite their sometimes turbulent relationship. He had always been both envious of his brother for getting away from the island and also angry because it seemed selfish he would abandon him family. He now had greater empathy for Geki because he knew that his parents could not be changed no matter how persistent of well intentioned he was. There was no overcoming the monster of greed that possessed their every move - now the stakes were so high that every one on the island and beyond was at risk. He needed he brother more than ever so his prior bitterness would have to wait. He was pleased to have an ally as powerful as Geki - deed down, he knew he would never measure up to his brother not in the eyes of his parents nor their subject. He was liked well enough but no one had charisma like Geki, Xan's own strenths wre in strategy and infrastructure. "Brother. It is good to see you again. Welcome home, Geki."

Just as he extended his arm toward his brother, the shockwave rattled the ground so violently that Lexana was tossed from his shoulders. He reached out catching her before she hit the water upon remembering the weakness of her powers, of which her recently learned about. "What the hell was that?!" His eyes widened as he realized it was the palace that he been destroyed. Despite his current disdain for them and his father threatening his life earlier that day, a heavy pain almost took his breath away as he was forced to accept that his parents had likely just died.

------------

Jade had resigned herself to go on a rampage to stir up as much chaos as possible just as the tremor from the blast knocked her off of her barrel perch. She landed hard before leaping to her feet following Hawks. Her wings emerge, the heat from the blast allowing her to catch an updraft for a moment to see the source of the tremor. Her eyes widen as she sees what was once the palace reduced to ashes and rubble. She returned to the ground, landing near Hawks. "The palace. It's gone. Xan did not live there and was suspicious of his parents and would not have been there unless captured. They were after the weapon - they must have been too close and someone else wanted to get there first. What are we supposed to do now? The yonkou's daughter departed - I knew I wouldn't be able to stop her - do you think she is headed for the island .. for... home?" Her green eyes were were full of a mixture of sadness, fear, and a quiet rage rooted in self loathing of her bloodline. "I fear she has the princess - I should have attacked her when I had the chance."

"Brother, we have to inspect immediately!" Geki shouted, and immediately leaped towards the direction of the explosion, with a speed parallel to that of a top merman or fishman swimming, yet he was actually doing that while floating in mid-air.

Behind them, a buzzing, zapping sound was emitted, and Xan's other brother, Yamahano, raised himself up, his rage obvious as thunderous spikes were spontaneously sparking around himself. "Whoever dared attack our parents is going to turn into a sizzling smudge!" he dashed forward, following their older brother.

Meanwhile, up above, Brosko and Mark had witnessed the massive blast. Striken with shock and awe, they were now trying to make up their minds on what they should do next. "I ... I think we should follow Master Xan! He is our ally and he might get in danger once he arrives at the eruption point!" Brosko bemoans.

---

"Do not be naive nor foolish, you did the right thing ... this is one of a Yonko's right hand subordinates, you can't just jump on her and expect you can deal with her ... more importantly however, why would dealings with someone of that stature take place? This land, it is meant to be already part of the protectorate of that monster of a Yonko ... a clash between two of them regarding turf? No, it has to be ..." he looks at her, then looks away, not to let her see his expression. She was in far greater danger than they had imagined. It seemed that way too many powerful ones were involved into this. However, just then, an epiphany hit him. Or rather, an idea so insane that no one with his mind in the right place should ever consider attempting. "Hold on ... what if we ... somehow ensure that we can provoke hostilities between two of the Yonko ...?!"

---

"Cebrorororo ... seems that I missed actually vaporizing you ..." the mysterious man was holding the Queen by the throat, suspended into the air, while flames and falling debris were surrounding the entire alley around them. "Y-you monster! Unhand her now!!" The King, visibly injured from this calamity, swiftly approaches and attempts to stab the figure with his trident. Oddly, the hit landed, yet the figure was unharmed; the trident didn't pierced him in the slightest. "That won't work on someone of my caliber!" the man remarks, and, as he drops the unconcious woman, attempts to lash out at the battered Fishman, only to be intercepted by Geki's kick. "YOU HEATHEN! TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THEM!"

"Oh my, a strong one has arrived. You must be the ... eldest son? Let's play if you want ... hm?" He suddenly turns to the right, as if looking at something. Geki punched the male, only to notice that he didn't even budge. "What is that body made of?! Who are you?! ..."

*Who is this man ... that wasn't a weak punch, mind you ... he didn't even noticed?! Are you kidding me?!*

Just as the others were arriving, the mysterious man turned at Geki, this time blocking the next hit. "That one would hurt a bit if I'd just let it land ... would stick around but ... see, this certain man is actually approaching. Don't really wanna fight him AND all of you at once, it'd be a pain. Just keep something in mind ... your parents, it is their fault. TELL THEM THAT THIS ISLAND BELONGS TO THE ONE KNOWN AS THE WORST OF THE 4! See, your foolish parents were on to some fishy dealings ... do not assume that the one known as "Fortune Maker", or his children, can oppose that man and his authority, so, I, the saint of this land, came to remind them not to fuck around ...!"

Float - Shift

Dagon quickly beelined to the ruins of the palace with his ever useful mobility techniques. He had not risen to full speed as to remain quiet. Emitting shockwaves is very noticeable. When he arrived he couldn't smell royal blood, and there were no signs that the explosion came from the throne room. It was a logical conclusion that they were captured. Dagon knew if Derge was to tell him anything, the first thing would be to hunt down the bomber. He would also most likely know the whereabouts of the king and queen, so capture was of the upmost priority. While he was investigating several merman whose faces he recognized dashed by. Dagon watched as they continued on. Dagon investigated the ruins a bit longer examining for signs of rare abilities or additional signs of mischief, finding nothing.

He shifted towards the others, but stopped a decent distance away, just far enough away to hear. He arrived just in time to hear the phrase worst of the 4. Dagon smiled when he heard the ranting. His very next sentence admitting that he was the one responsible. Dagon had found his prey. Just as the man told them not to fuck around is when he noticed dagon, dark blue on a dark blue background, hovering there letting him dig his own grave. The man immediately showed surprise. Dagon chuckled for just a moment, before remembering that someone might have heard. He deduced that the prey would try to escape at the median between himself and the island, which would get him away from all 3 of his possible sources of danger. Well, 2 at least.

Dagon dashed outward in the direction he predicted the man of going while keeping a close eye on him, waiting for the best moment to approach. Dagon was confident that nothing would go wrong, but he was an assassin who represented both a yonkou and a shichibukai's organization. He could not take unnecessary risks haphazardly. But he also knew that the man had seen him. That being said, the man likely knew who he was given his response to seeing Dagon there watching and listening. Dagon was sure the man understood the position he was in, that dagon would not let him escape, but was simply watching. For the time.

Dagon realized Namor had went a different path. Namor wasn't with him, and hadn't been for several minutes. He must have noticed something dagon wouldn't have been able to handle at the moment... Or he could be doing derge's dirty work. Regardless, his ally was not in the vicinity anymore. Dagon simply had to have faith that whatever Namor was doing was important. He began wondering if bruce had gotten back to fishman island since the coffee shipments had been established months ago. Dagon reeled himself in. Best not get distracted. He was in pursuit and could not afford mistakes.

Xan stared at the rising smoke and the reflection of the flames danced in his eyes.  I took him several moments before he realized he was shaking with rage.  He nodded to Geki as his hand tightened around the hilt of his katana. What had their parents gotten themselves into?  No matter the case, they needed to investigate.  Despite every awful thing that happened, it should be Xan and Geki that deal with their parents, no some strangers. They had no right to invade their home like this. For now, they would have a truce with Yamahoto as they went to investigate.  "Brothers - we must go to them. Lexana - stand down for now - this is bigger than our quarrel with Yamahano - we may need your abilities with what horrors we find at the palace."

-------

Jade knew it was best to have left the woman be because even if she could have taken her down, she had siblings and a yonkou who would avenge her, putting this island in danger ... and worse if that caught her and found out who she was, put the world in danger.  Too many people were looking for what she could unlock and with all of them so close and actively looking for that key, she couldn't be in a worse place to be drawing attention to herself. There was such desperation to find it that yonkous were bold enough to invade each others territory ... to risk that kind of war was a grim reminder of the weapon's power. It was dangerous for her to stay but she couldn't just run away.  She was the guardian of her home and she would die protecting it - hopefully for anyone knew who she really was ... that would fix everything.  

"If we provoke them to fight each other they will not hesitate to take out civilians in each others territories.  Millions of lives will be lost if they clash - can we really do something so destructive?  We can't even locate the rest of the crew - which reminds me -- where is Katz-kun? He was guarding the ship before ..."

-----

Xan's eyes widened as the man spoke.  His parents had been working with one yonkou while under the protection of another - how could they be so stupid ... so reckless.  They knew such a thing would get everyone killed and the entire island wiped off the face of the map.  Idiots.  What would be worth something so risky.  

Xan dashed over to check on his mother who was still unconscious on the floor.  His eyes darken as he levels a glare at his father. "Baka - What have you done?  What right did you have ... to sentence this island to certain death, father?!"

Lexana climbed down from his shoulders and knelt neck to the queen, placing a hand on her neck. "No pulse ..." She took a deep breath, watching Xan for a moment before she placed a hand in the middle of the woman's chest, small pulses of electricity leaving her finger tips and dancing along the queen's skin. After several pulses, she could feel a weak heartbeat return. "Only so you can answer for what you've done ... to your sons."

"Lexana ... you ... run away. Do not oppose that man ..." she faintly mumbles, while the shaking, greviously injured father of those 3 sons barely got up, extending his trident towards the direction of the enemy. "This is not what you think ... we just wanted .. to protect this country. You don't understand!"

"Hey, bro, give me a hand, let's all attack him at the same time!" Yahamano growls, strings of lightning escaping from his skin and zapping the watery pavement below. Geki raised his hand towards them both however, nodding negatively. "Father and mother are both alive ... and if you looked carefully on our way here, all of the guards and otherwise defenders to this establishment were taken out outside this place. The casualties are thus, limited. And our parents with us .. you said you wanted to leave. Then please do so, immediately ..."

It wasn't that he felt cowardice. He could just tell on the spot, there was no point in trying to fight the man. Because he was just that much stronger than he was. A needless fight would just raised the death count.

The man, pleased, smirked widely at Geki. "Here's one that actually thinks before he acts. You could make a proper monarch of this place, you know. Hopefully that dastardy monster will be able to tell, too. Adios, consider this a favor." the man leaped forth, and disappeared from their sight, moving at an unfathomable speed.

---

"Are you out of your mind, ya kitty-cat, am right here!!" Catz gasped, seen cleaning the decks with a mop, for some reason sporting a napkin tied over his head and even aν apron. "Cleaning up aside, don't know about this, but am saying we go and get this done! Hawks, let's go, you, me and the hormone weirdo, and kick that woman's ass!" he says, oddly impatient and agitated.

---

Meanwhile, near the edge of the other side of the island, the sounds of battling could be heard. A lone, large ship, was moving forward, while some figures ahead were decimating anyone resisting. "Tsk, how annoying, they dared tell us we cannot pass due to an emergency ... Eratos! Get to my father. We no longer need to keep this a surprise. We have the princess .. therefore, that alliance we had in mind with Fishman Island ... we no longer need it. Let it burn at the wrath of their older protector ..!!" Liliana says, a wicked, sadistic smile forming.

---

The hooded figure had traveled quite some distance, before he abruptly stopped, and begun observing his bearings. Letting out a sigh, he removed his hood, looking up. "I know that am being followed. Your boss, he should know that I just did him a big favor, you know. So, do you mind?"

Seeing that there was no response whatsover, he shook his head, then threw away his cloth. "Fine then ... show yourself, and let's duke it out, Cebrorororororo!!!"

Introduction Box:
Former Commander of the 9th Division of the Black Cross
Cebros "Hellhound" Hades
Bounty: 936,000,000 Beli