Azuma slowly came to as the feeling of cold steel around his wrist came into focus. His eyes snapped open, only to find himself bound to a rough, stone wall within the tumultuous Storm Surge floor of Aqua Bastion Prison. The shackles on his wrists emitted an eerie turquoise glow, causing questions to form.
Without warning, rain lashed at his face from an opening above, with chilling wind that cut through his soaked taffy clothing. Thunder rumbled ominously overhead, punctuated by blinding flashes of lightning. The Storm Surge floor lived up to its name, subjecting it’s inmates to the relentless fury of nature.
With a grunt, Azuma tried to move his arms, but the shackles held him firmly in place. He flexed his muscles, testing their strength against the restraints, but they seemed unyielding. Azuma couldn't help but wonder how he had ended up in this dire situation.
As he struggled against the bonds, memories of the confrontation with Baron Bones and Leo flashed before his eyes. He had been on the brink of victory, tapping into an awakened form of his magika abilities when everything had gone black. It seemed his triumph had been short-lived, and now he was at the mercy of Aqua Bastion Prison.
Azuma knew he had to find a way to escape this watery prison. His determination burned as fiercely as the storm around him. With gritted teeth, he began to devise a plan to break free from the shackles and weather the unforgiving tempest that surrounded him.
He looked around the dark circular room, watching rain raging around him. The only thing he could see was a stone platform a few feet up with a barred doorway that seemed to lead out into the other parts of the prison floor. “T-there...I need...to get up there if I ever hope to escape from here”
Taking a deep breath, Azuma attempted to heal using his magika ability...but nothing happened, he was still injured and exhausted. It was as if he couldn’t use his magika ability anymore. That’s when it clicked, he looked down at the shackles on his wrists, they still seem to be glowing. “W-what is this...does the sea corporation really have the technology to stop a magika user from using their powers!?”
Azuma's realization sent a chill down his spine. The fact that the Sea Corporation possessed technology capable of sealing a magika user's powers was deeply unsettling. It meant that his abilities, which had been a source of strength and resilience, were now rendered useless within the confines of the prison.
Frustration grew within him as he strained against the shackles, trying in vain to summon his magika energy. The turquoise glow from the restraints mocked him, a symbol of his helplessness. The storm raged on, the rain soaking him to the bone. “Huff...huff...they might’ve sealed away my ability to heal...but maybe I can still use seinshin”
Closing his eyes, he attempted to focus what little seinshin he had left. The shackles glowed once more as the pirate concentrated on as much seinshin he could manifest. He could feel his restraints draining him of his power but refused to give up, even with the raging tsunami of rain striking his body. He refused to succumb to the shackles siphoning. Despite the relentless rain and the draining effect of the turquoise restraints, he focused all his willpower on tapping into his seinshin.
Summoning every ounce of seinshin energy that remained within him, the veins on his body throbbed with intensity as he channeled his life energy, a surge of purple electricity crackled and whipped around him, creating a mesmerizing display.
The shackles, unable to withstand the unleashed power, began to crack and splinter. Azuma's muscles bulged as the captain strained against his restraints, his determination driving him forward. With one final surge of energy, the shackles shattered into pieces, falling away from his wrists and freeing him from their grasp.
Breathing heavily, Azuma stood tall in the midst of the storm, his body still soaked and battered, but his spirit unbroken. He had found a way to break free from the shackles, proving that even without his magika ability, his strength and seinshin prowess were formidable. With the restraints shattered, Azuma looked up at the platform above his cell, his dark-hair blowing in the harsh winds of the storm.
Clinching his fist, he took a breath once more, this time his wounds quickly healed, allowing him to move his body more freely with less soreness. “Now then...it’s time to rescue my crew” The pirate ascended into the air with a seinshin-infused jump, escaping the raging water below as he landed on the stone platform before him.
Gripping the steel bars before him, he forced them apart, allowing him to slip through. Stepping out into the prison corridor, he could see rows of prison cells aligning both sides of the gray stone hall. That’s when a sea corp soldier spotted him. The soldier wore a gray sea corp uniform with a small blue sun logo on his front torso and a large one on the back.
“Halt prisoner! Take another step and I'll open fire!” The thin and wimpy guard aimed a shotgun in the pirate’s direction, his hands shaking in fear of the 1 million bounty pirate. Azuma just looked at him with an emotionless expression as rain ran down his still soaked body.
The thin sea corp soldier let out a high-pitched scream, firing a single shot from his shotgun in a panic. A barrage of bullets tore through the corridor, only for Azuma, to effortlessly evade every bullet, the raindrops around him seemed to slow as he weaved past them.
Closing the distance between him and the mere solider in an instant, Azuma delivered a swift blow to the back of the trembling soldier's head. The guard crumpled to the cold stone floor, unconscious, the shotgun slipping from his grasp.
Azuma stood over the fallen guard, his stoic expression unchanged. He decided to take off the taffy clothing Kiozen had made for him and put on the tight but comfortable Aqua Bastion prison uniform, hoping to blend in with the others and avoid unnecessary confrontation. He put on the gray coat leaving his muscular chest visible and placed the gray cap on his head to further cover his identity from the other guards on the floor.
Azuma continued down the dimly lit corridor, his senses alert as he searched for any signs of his imprisoned crewmates. He knew that rescuing them and escaping from Aqua Bastion Prison would be a challenging task but couldn’t let them rot or possibly die in such a dark and treacherous place. The young pirate began to check each cell, many prisoners also enduring similar fates with rain surging like a tsunami around the bound prisoner.
That’s when he heard a faint dry voice nearby: “Hey you? I can tell you’re no guard” Azuma turnned to a nearby cell, where he found a slender hooded man sitting in a small cell, his presence eerie and unsettling. The pale blue-haired man spoke with a dry and sinister voice, "Well, well, what do we have here?" The prisoner’s violet eyes staring into Azuma, his expression twisted with an unsettling mixture of amusement and malevolence. "Another lost soul, trapped in this watery abyss. You must be new, or perhaps just unlucky"
Azuma regarded the figure with a sense of caution. The man's aura exuded an air of danger, and his unsettling presence raised more questions than answers. "I'm looking for my crew" Azuma replied, his voice firm. "Have you seen anyone from my crew around here? Or new arrivals?"
The man’s thin lips curled into a chilling smile. "Crew, you say? Well, it's not every day we get a newcomer with such ambitions. As for your crew, who's to say? This place has a way of swallowing people whole, leaving nothing but echoes in the dark" Azuma couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine at his words. It was clear that the stranger held valuable information, and Azuma was determined to learn more about Aqua Bastion Prison, even if it meant dealing with someone as unsettling as him.
Azuma glared at him stepping closer. "Do you know or not? I don't have time to waste on someone who just plays mind games” The hooded man's grin widened, his unsettling chuckle echoing through the cell. "Impatient, aren't you?" he sneered. "But I can see it in your eyes, that burning desire to reunite with your crew. Tell you what, I might have some information that could help you find them, but you'll have to do something for me first"
Azuma narrowed his eyes but listened intently. "What do you want?" The pale man leaned in closer, his voice a low, conspiratorial whisper. "Set me free from this wretched cell, and I'll assist you in your search. I know the ins and outs of this place, and I might just know where your crew is being held"
Azuma hesitated for a moment, weighing the risks. It was a dangerous proposition, but he was running out of options. With a frustrated nod, he extended his hand toward the cell door. "Fine, but remember, cross me and you'll regret it" His new ally merely chuckled, his dry and sinister laughter filling the corridor as Azuma abruptly struck the prisoner’s bound shackles with a seinshin-infused strike.
The prisoner laughed wickedly as the shackles shattered, his sinister glee echoing in the corridor. With newfound freedom, he grabbed the cell bars, causing them to crumble and disintegrate. His voice took on a chilling tone, "Freedom tastes so sweet, doesn't it? You can call me, Vergil" he sneered. "Now, let's get to work, Captain. I'll show you the way to your precious crew, but remember, this world isn't kind to those who hesitate"
The pair dashed down the stone corridor, passing the endless rows of cells as other trapped pirates and criminals cried out to be freed from their cells, the sudden uproar of prisoners caused a squad of armed sea corp soldiers to come running into the cell block where Azuma and Virgil were. The sea corp soldiers blocked the hall, their weapons ready as one of them barked orders for Azuma and Virgil to get down on their knees.
The tension in the air grew as the standoff unfolded. However, A sinister grin grew across Vergil’s face. He leaned toward Azuma, "Stand back, captain, and witness the power of my decay magika!" he hissed. Virgil slammed his palm onto the stone floor with a surge of power. The ground and walls around the sea corp soldiers crumbled away, leaving them standing on a precarious platform surrounded by a dark abyss leading to the floor below.
The soldier's expressions a mix of terror and disbelief as they clung to the unstable ground as Virgil's Decay Magika proved its devastating might. Azuma couldn't help but be both amazed and unnerved by the destructive power at Virgil's command.
As the sea corp soldiers found themselves standing on the crumbling platform, their expressions contorted with terror. The hooded criminal taunted them from the stable side of the hall. "Well, well, are you fools willing to let us go free now? I’d be happy to let the rest of the platform crumble away"
The sea corp soldiers held on to the crumbling ground growing more desperate, exchanging fearful glances before nodding vigorously, confirming their willingness to comply with Virgil's demands. The once-authoritative figures were reduced to trembling, helpless mice under the ominous power of the decay magika.
Azuma couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the display of Virgil's formidable abilities. The path ahead seemed uncertain with this dark ally by his side. “Shall we continue?” The cold prisoner asked before leaping across the dark abyss with an air of excitement, Azuma followed suit, his seinshin-infused jump carrying him effortlessly to the stable side of the corridor.
Once they had both safely crossed, Azuma couldn't help but worry about the sea corp guards who were simply doing their jobs. He turned to Virgil and suggested, "We should at least ensure the guards don't fall to their deaths"
Virgil, however, seemed uninterested in such concerns. With a groan he raised his hand causing a shockwave that sent the guards tumbling to safety on the stable side of the corridor. It was clear that Virgil had a penchant for chaos and destruction.
"Let's move on" Azuma ordered, his voice tinged with caution. "We have to find the others" As the duo continued through what seemed like a maze of similar-looking corridors, they finally spotted a stairwell leading up towards the next floor at the end of the hall. But just as they prepared to run, a steel wall began to form before the stairs, blocking the pair’s way up. It was as if liquid metal slowly condensed together into a solid steel wall.
“W-what the hell!” Azuma cried out. Before them a figure appeared, floating in the air above the blocked stairwell. The newcomer donned a lengthy gray coat, reminiscent of the standard prison guard uniform but distinctly more regal and adorned with an imposing cape that trailed behind him. His cap concealed his short, unkempt hair, and his pale skin created a striking contrast against the dimly lit corridor. But it was his golden eyes that held an eerie allure, as if they emanated power. The assailant seemed to defy gravity with his ability to float using seinshin. He regarded them with a calm and authoritative demeanor crossing his arms. his voice deep and imposing, as he addressed the intruders.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Valgrim...the guard of the 8th floor of Aqua bastion prison, and You both are not going anywhere" he declared, his presence exuding an air of power and control that made it clear they were facing a formidable adversary. Valgrim remained eerily composed as Virgil advanced towards him, a sinister chuckle escaping from the shrouded man.
Virgil's fingers stretched out towards Valgrim, attempting to grab him, but the prison guard reacted swiftly. With a casual yet precise motion, Valgrim manifested a massive steel great sword within his grasp, the weapon materializing with seamless precision.
Virgil made contact with the blade, the steel of the great sword beginning to corrode and rust away, disintegrating like a fragile illusion. Valgrim looked down at Virgil with a disinterested expression, his golden eyes unflinching in the face of this display of power.
Azuma watched the exchange, unsure of how this confrontation between his newfound ally and the 8th-floor guard would unfold. Valgrim glared at Virgil with a calm and detached demeanor. He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a glob of liquid metal manifested around Virgil, encasing him within a thick steel ball.
"You may be capable of decaying my creations, but I doubt you can keep this up" Valgrim remarked, his tone stable and analytical. But his words were cut short as Virgil's decay surged to life once more. The steel ball shattered into pieces, sending rusted metal in all directions with the prisoner emerging unscathed.
Azuma couldn't stand idly by any longer, he focused seinshin energy into his fist, preparing to launch a powerful attack at Valgrim. Throwing a fierce punch, he sent a shockwave of force towards the 8th-floor guard. Valgrim quickly manifested a protective sphere of steel around him, absorbing the impact of the shockwave. The sphere rattled and groaned under the force of Azuma's attack but held firm, protecting Valgrim from harm.
The standoff continued, each side assessing the other's strength. “Are you just going to keep hiding behind your metal creations instead of fighting back!? Azuma snapped back growing angered towards the defensive opponent. The guard of the 8th floor remained calm and confident, his golden eyes never wavering from his opponents. Valgrim showed no signs of faltering, he converted the steel barrier around him back into liquid metal, and in a swift and calculated move, he transformed the liquid metal into numerous sharp knives that surrounded him. All sharp blades aimed towards Azuma and Virgil.
Valgrim's transformation of the liquid metal into a lethal array of knives was executed with cold precision. The blades glinted dangerously in the dimly lit corridor, forming a deadly circle around the 8th-floor guard.
The air built with tension as Valgrim warned them, "You both are far out of your league, I suggest you admit defeat before you’re nothing more than lifeless corpses at my feet" he declared, his golden eyes locked on them. That’s when Vergil began to utter sadistic laughs as he lowered his head with a dark grin. Virgil's sinister laughter echoed through the corridor. His sadistic amusement filled the air as he prepared to unleash one of his most deadly techniques. “Decay Resonance...” The very atmosphere seemed to shudder and distort as Virgil released a dark-purple aura, enveloping the area and causing Valgrim's composed facade to waver.
Valgrim's golden eyes widened in surprise as the resonance disrupted his concentration, causing him to lose control over the knives he had created. The blades began to corrode and break apart, disintegrating into rusted fragments. Valgrim was momentarily caught off guard, his once-confident demeanor now replaced with uncertainty.
Virgil couldn't contain his sadistic joy as he taunted Valgrim with a chilling. "Looks like your little metal tricks won't save you this time, Guard. Ready to watch as your body crumbles into dust?" he sneered, reveling in the psychological torment he was causing his adversary. Without warning, Valgrim pulled out a golden cube, transforming it into a massive great sword made entirely of gold. The blade gleamed ominously, unaffected by the decay aura that had corroded the previous steel weapons.
Valgrim's confidence was partially restored as he wielded this new, formidable weapon. With renewed determination, his golden eyes focused on them once more. “It’s time I ended this worthless battle, you both have wasted too much of my time. Prepare yourselves for my finishing attack!”
Valgrim infused his golden sword with seinshin, the blade surging with golden energy as he prepared for his finishing attack. With a cold resolve, he brought his large blade down upon them. However, just as he was about to unleash his devastating strike, Azuma lunged forward, the pirate captain clapping both hands around the golden sword as his purple seinshin flared with fierce radiance. The sheer force of their clash sending shockwaves through the corridor, rattling the very foundations of the floor they stood on. The two combatants were locked in a battle of strength and willpower, neither willing to yield.
Their target now open, the blue-haired criminal lunged past Azuma, gripping Valgrim’s face with one hand. “What!?” Azuma watched as the sadistic man used his decay magika ability to decay the guard’s entire body in a horrific display.
With a swift and almost graceful movement, his hand closing around Valgrim's face like a vice. Azuma could only watch in shock as Virgil's sinister decay magika took hold. Valgrim's form began to disintegrate at a horrifying speed. It was a gruesome and nightmarish sight as the once-powerful guard crumbled into a mass of dust and bones fragments. The decay spread rapidly, consuming Valgrim's entire body in a matter of moments. His once-confident golden eyes lost their luster, replaced by an expression of sheer agony as he was reduced to nothingness.
Azuma couldn't tear his eyes away from the gruesome spectacle. The pirate just stared at the remains as the obstacle blocking their path slowly reverted to a puddle of liquid metal. The corridor fell silent with Azuma trying not to visualize the gruesome scene that had occurred. “W-we should keep going” He stuttered, still shaken by the event.
The pair made their way up the stone stairwell to the 7th floor of Aqua bastion...
Making their way up to the next level, they found themselves standing before a corridor filled with water flowing through the hall like a river, with some of the water draining into the cells below. “So that’s where the water was coming from” Azuma commented as he remembered getting hit with a constant flow of water in his cell. “Either there’s a leak somewhere, or this prison really likes to punish people using sea water”
Walking through the three-foot of surging water, they could see fellow prisoners trapped within steel pods filled to the brink with water, forcing the poor prisoners to swim constantly to avoid drowning. Azuma waded through the corridor, the water flowing around his legs as he observed the grim conditions of the cells. The sight of prisoners trapped within steel pods, struggling to keep themselves afloat in the constantly rising water, was undeniably dark and harrowing. He couldn't help but feel a sense of despair for those unfortunate souls.
"This is... it's beyond cruel" Azuma muttered, his voice heavy with empathy for the suffering inmates. Vergil, with a tone that carried a hint of madness chimed in with unsettling words. "As much as I love the sweet melody of despair, this is just a taste of the symphony that Aqua Bastion has to offer. There are fifteen floors in this grand orchestra of suffering, each more torturous than the last. These prisoners are the lucky ones compared to the lower floors"
As they pressed on through the waterlogged corridor, the weight of their mission and the cruelty of the prison pressed heavily on their shoulders. That’s when Azuma spotted Kenzu in one of the steel pods, he had lost consciousness and was floating beneath the flowing water.
“Kenzu!” The concerned captain struck the steel pod with a fierce seinshin strike to the thick glass, causing it to shatter with the swordsmen hitting the wet floor. They noticed the glowing shackles bound to his wrists as he laid there out cold. “I’ll deal with this Azuma” Vergil responded in his usual dry tone. Placing his hand on the steel shackles, it slowly began to decay before eventually crumbling into fragments of rusted steel. “There, he should come around soon now with the shackles no longer siphoning his life force”
While Vergil watched over Kenzu, Azuma began to feel cold...that’s when he realized that all the water in the 7th floor corridor was freezing at an accelerated rate as the once flowing water froze instantly around them. Before they could react, a tall and commanding figure stepped forward from the end of the frozen corridor. She had long blue hair, captivating blue eyes, and an aura of confidence and power that was unmistakable. Her prison guard uniform clung to her, soaked and revealing her striking presence.
The woman's voice resonated with authority as she spoke, her tone confident and unwavering, "Impressive, isn't it? The power of the 7th floor, the Floor of the High Priestess. I am Siara Okara, the guard of this floor. You better not disappoint me, otherwise you’ll die a sad death" Her words carried a certain air of allure and dominance as she assessed the intruders before her.
Azuma and Vergil were now faced with another formidable adversary, one who could manipulate water in ways they hadn't yet encountered. She smirked taking a step forward, the moment her foot made contact with the floor, a barrage of piercing icicles sprouted up from the ice, each one growing closer to them. Azuma felt the icy tendrils of Siara's power wrap around his legs, immobilizing him. However, with a burst of seinshin-infused strength, he shattered the ice around his feet, breaking free from its grasp.
Siara's malicious laughter echoed through the frozen corridor as she observed Azuma's defiance. Her blue eyes gleamed with sadistic delight, and her lips curled into a wicked smile.
"Such spirit," she purred with a dangerous allure. "But you'll find that breaking free from my control won't be so easy" As she spoke, the barrage of icicles continued to sprout and advance, creating a deadly maze of sharp points closing in on Azuma and Vergil. The captain's determination flared as he harnessed seinshin energy once more. With a flick of his finger, he unleashed a burst of pure force, shattering the approaching ice into countless shards. The deadly maze of sharp icicles crumbled around them, giving the pair a momentary respite from Siara's relentless assault.
However, the female guard smirked with a seductive look of interest as she raised her hand, commanding the water around her. Siara's smirk took on an even more sinister edge. With a flick of her hand, she sent the surrounding water into a frenzied spiral, creating a devastating water cyclone. The cyclone unleashed a barrage of sharp ice needles in random directions, turning the corridor into a deadly labyrinth of frozen projectiles.
Azuma without thinking, moved in between the incoming projectiles and his allies. Throwing both arms out, he felt several ice needles pierce his body as blood dripped onto the ice floor. Azuma's selfless act of shielding his allies from the deadly ice needles left him wounded, but he remained unshaken.
Vergil, however, was less impressed by Azuma's sacrifice. “Sigh, your crewmate isn’t awake to see your selfless act Azuma, just who are you trying to impress?” He muttered under his breath, calling Azuma a fool for risking his life in such a manner. Nevertheless, Vergil unleashed his decay resonance, that disrupted the delicate balance of Siara's control over the water. As the dark purple aura spread, the ice needles and water cyclone began to melt and disintegrate, leaving behind only remnants of their once formidable power.
Siara, however, was far from defeated. She watched the decay spread with a mix of frustration and fascination. This battle was far from over, and she was determined to prove her strength against these intruders in her domain.
“Sigh, you both truly are an annoyance, I'd hope to have a bit more fun with you both, but seems I'll have to end this before things get harder for me” Clapping her hands together, the hallway abruptly got far warmer as the once frozen ice was now steam filling the stone hallway.
Azuma could feel himself struggling to breathe from the immense heat and steam filling the room. Vergil fell to one knee, his vision blurring from dehydration. As Siara manipulated the environment, raising the temperature to sweltering levels and turning the frozen ice into scorching steam, the situation grew dire. Azuma and Vergil found themselves in the midst of a suffocating heatwave, their bodies drenched in sweat, struggling to cope with the sudden change.
"Damn it, this is getting on my nerves!" he grumbled, his vision blurred from dehydration. Azuma, despite the oppressive heat and lack of oxygen, tried to focus his seinshin. Sweat rolled down his face as he fought to maintain his concentration, determination burning within him even in the face of such adversity. “F-focus strike...level two!” With every ounce of power he had, he sent a full-force punch in the guard’s direction, the force of his attack so powerful, it sent Siara smashing through several walls of the prison causing her to black out.
As the corridor slowly went back to it’s normal temperature, Azuma hit the ground passing out from exhaustion...
Meanwhile at The Sea corp Headquarters...
Saber made his way down the long white halls of the base, into the sea corp commander’s office. “Hey commander, I managed to capture Azuma and his crew, they’re all being held down in Aqua Bastion prison. ‘I've come to claim their bounty, if I'm correct, it’s 2.2 million gold for their overall bounty"
The Sea Corp Commander, his chair turned away from Saber, responded in a stern and cold voice, "I'm not willing to pay you 2 million for such a simple task Saber, I'll offer you 1 million gold for their bounties. Take it or leave it"
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Saber couldn't help but burst into sarcastic laughter. "1 million gold, Commander? You must be joking. Do you really want to risk me leaving the Seven Laws of the Sea over such a paltry sum? You know I'm not one to be trifled with. Pay me what we agreed upon, or you'll regret it"
The Sea Corp Commander swiveled his chair around to face Saber, a cold glare on his face as he responded in a harsh tone, "Oh? And where will you go without the Sea Corp's protection and income, Saber? You'd be nothing but a common criminal without us. You'll take the 1 million, and you'll like it"
In a moment of anger and frustration, Saber used his magika ability to freeze time, bringing his blade close to the Sea Corp Commander's throat. As Saber's blade glided dangerously close to the commander's throat, the commander remained frozen in time, oblivious to the impending threat.
With a sigh, he sheathed his blade, allowing time to resume it’s flow. He turned and walked towards the door, Saber's voice laced with a threatening tone as he responded, "I'm done with the Sea Corp, and I'm resigning from the Seven Laws of the Sea. You can keep your 1 million gold"
As Saber approached the door, the Sea Corp Commander snapped back, his voice rising to a furious yell as he shouted, "Don't be a fool, Saber! If you walk out that door, I'll send the other Laws of the Sea after you! You'll regret this!"
Saber remained resolute, his back to the commander as he stepped out of the office. The door closing behind him, leaving the commander seething with anger and frustration alone in his office. Saber had made his choice, and he was no longer bound by the Sea Corp or the Seven Laws of the Sea.
As he made his way towards the large great doors of the headquarters to leave, the commander’s voice could be heard from over the intercom: “Attention all Sea corp soldiers, the former 7th law of the sea known as Saber is now to be treated as hostile! Capture him by any means, his bounty will now be placed at 1.5 million!”
Saber grinned with excitement as he faced the incoming wave of Sea Corp soldiers. "In the world of pirates and outlaws, the line between ally and enemy is always blurred. I've walked that line for years. But now, I'm done with the Sea Corp and their rules. From this moment on, I'll be a thorn in their side, a rogue of the Seven Laws of the Sea. Let them come, for I've always been one to embrace chaos" Saber's voice echoed with defiance and determination as he readied himself for the approaching battle. His smirk was unwavering as bullets began to rain down upon him along with dozens of guards charging forward, determined to capture the former 7th Law of the Sea.
As the bullets and guards closed in on Saber, he made a quick hand motion as time froze within the lobby. The guards and bullets were suspended in place, unaware of their situation. With a swift and precise motion, Saber unsheathed his blade and unleashed a powerful slash within the frozen time, creating a shockwave that pierced through the entire horde of mere soldiers. Blood could be seen gushing from their wounds, frozen in mid-air.
Saber stood amidst the frozen chaos of bullets and guards, his blade gleaming with power. Slowly he sheathed his weapon and calmly walked out of the frozen massacre. As he moved away, he released his control over time, allowing it to flow once more. The lobby erupted in pandemonium as the suspended bullets soared in different directions while the guards hit the ground, their wounds bleeding profusely. Saber's message was clear: he was no longer bound by the Sea Corp's rules, and he was ready to embrace the chaos of the pirate world...
Back within Aqua Bastion Prison...
A tall imposing figure sat in the control room of Aqua Bastion Prison, his eyes scanning the numerous security cameras that monitored the facility. As he observed the events on the 7th and 8th floors and witnessed both guards’ defeat, his frustration boiled over. He slammed his fist on the control panel, causing sparks to fly. With a stern and serious expression, he turned his attention to a red button on the panel. In a deep voice he muttered, " As much as I'd like to see just how far those three can get, I'd rather end this before all my guards are defeated" With a dark glare, he pressed the red button with the words: “Enforcer protocol” Written beneath it.
Back on the 7th floor, Azuma awoke to a smack to his face. His vision coming into focus, he saw Vergil and Kenzu standing over him. “Look, I know you need your beauty sleep, but we really should get going before we have more shit to deal with” The prisoner urged. Azuma slowly got to their feet before racing towards the 6th floor stairwell.
As Azuma, Vergil, and Kenzu made their way up to the next floor, the sudden blaring of an alarm and flashing red lights filled the corridor. The atmosphere grew tense as an automated, robotic voice echoed through the halls, announcing their bounties with a cold and mechanical tone.
"Targets identified. Bounties confirmed:
Azuma – 1.2 million gold.
Vergil – 1 million gold.
Kenzu – 350,000 gold. Proceed to capture and detain"
The trio exchanged surprised glances as they realized they were now being pursued by a formidable adversary, the Aqua Enforcer Mk.1. “Since when do the sea corp have robots!?” Azuma shouted in surprise. All they could see was the silhouette of the robotic assailant as it slowly approached them from the opposite end of the hall.
In that moment, a blinding ray of golden light emanated from the robot's mouth. Before they could react, a powerful golden beam fired toward them at incredible speed. The trio attempted to evade the attack, narrowly avoiding the deadly beam as it struck the corridor’s stone wall, leaving a scorching mark in it’s wake.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me, that thing can fire beams of energy at super-sonic speed? Tssk, give me a break. I’ve already had to deal with breaking out and taking out two guards, now this shit? Good grief” Azuma sighed in frustration. “Fine...seems I'll have to go all out against this thing, if we just play around, we increase are chances of getting blown up by that thing’s lasers!”
Azuma's frustration boiled as he faced the formidable Aqua Enforcer Mk.1. He clenched both fists tightly, allowing the power of his healing magika and seinshin to surge through his body constantly.
As the energy coursed through him, Azuma's aura began to intensify, he could feel his body responding to the heightened power. His wounds started to close, and a visible surge of purple energy surrounded him. In this state, he was prepared to face the Aqua Enforcer Mk.1 head-on, ready to unleash the full extent of his abilities to protect his comrades.
Azuma's newfound power surged within him, transforming him into a formidable force. His aura pulsed with intensity as the purple energy enveloped him, making him an imposing figure in the corridor. Once more the Aqua Enforcer fired another supersonic beam, only for Azuma's enhanced reaction time allowing him to lean just an inch to the side, narrowly evading the deadly projectile. The beam sailed past him, leaving a trail of destruction just behind him. Azuma could feel his body growing weaker by the second and knew this wasn’t the time to be stalling.
The Aqua Enforcer's robotic voice crackled to life, analyzing the situation with cold precision. It scanned Azuma's heightened form, evaluating his threat level and probability of success. After a few moments of assessment, the mechanical voice declared Azuma's threat level to be far greater than anticipated. "Increased threat detected. Target's threat level: 2 million gold. Probability of success...20%"
Azuma's bounty had skyrocketed, reflecting the newfound power he wielded in his Stage 2 form. The situation had escalated, and the Aqua Enforcer recognized the danger posed by this transformed prisoner. Kenzu and Vergil were in shock as the robot declared Azuma's staggering 2 million gold bounty. The transformation had not only enhanced his combat abilities but had also catapulted his threat level to unprecedented heights.
Before they could react further to this revelation, the Aqua Enforcer wasted no time. It unleashed a relentless barrage of super-sonic beams in Azuma's direction, intending to eliminate the perceived threat immediately. Azuma, moved full speed towards the enforcer, dodging nearly every laser that came his way, his incredible speed and agility allowed him to evade the majority of the Aqua Enforcer's deadly beams, but two of them found their mark, piercing through his abdomen. The intense pain surged through his body, but the Regen Flow within his Stage 2 form accelerated his healing, sealing the wounds almost instantly. The toll on his stamina and the duration of his enhanced state were becoming apparent.
With the Aqua Enforcer preparing to launch another assault, Azuma knew he had to act swiftly. Gathering his strength and focusing his seinshin to it’s peak, he unleashed focus strike Level 3, a devastating technique he could only employ in his Stage 2 form. The energy radiating from his attack was far more intense, and with a powerful swing, he aimed to intercept the oncoming threat with an overwhelming force.
Azuma's Focus Strike Level 3 was a display of overwhelming power. The shockwave generated by his attack rippled through the prison with such ferocity that it shook the entire facility. The Aqua Enforcer was sent hurtling through several layers of stone walls.
The impact was cataclysmic, causing structural damage to the prison. Sea water began to flood in from the sixth floor and rapidly flowed through the corridors, engulfing the lower levels. The once-controlled environment of Aqua Bastion Prison was now in chaos as the floodwaters surged, turning into an underwater labyrinth.
Kenzu and Vergil, witnessing the immense power of Azuma's attack and the ensuing flood, could only brace themselves for the impending turmoil that had been unleashed. “We need to get out of here Azuma, there’s no time!” Vergil snapped in his try tone.
“No, I can’t leave without-” As the prison floors began to flood, Kenzu and Vergil had no choice but to carry the unconscious Azuma and make their way up through the rising water levels. As they reached the 5th floor, they were startled to encounter Kiozen, who had managed to free himself from his cell.
Kiozen's eyes widened as he saw the trio. "What's going on!? What happened to our captain!?" he cried out, a mix of confusion and concern in his voice. Vergil explained to Kiozen in a concise manner, "Azuma pushed himself too far against some kind of robot, he managed to send it into the ocean, but caused sea water to start flooding the prison. We need to hurry and escape before we’re all underwater”
Kiozen nodded, “You both get the captain out of here while I look for the others!” Kenzu, speaking with urgency advised Kiozen, "Don't be a fool, Kiozen. We need to stick together to get out of here alive. There's no time to search for the others now. We'll find them once we're out of this mess"
Kiozen shook his head, no...I won’t take the risk of any of the crew drowning!” Kiozen's determination to save his fellow crew members was evident in his actions. As Vergil and Kenzu assisted Azuma in making their way to the surface, Kiozen continued his search for any of their crew members who might still be trapped in the rapidly flooding prison.
Time was of the essence, the situation grew more perilous with each passing moment. They pressed on, driven by the hope of escaping the aquatic disaster that threatened to consume them all.
Meanwhile In the control room...
The dark figure still sat watching the chaos unfold. The warden, consumed by anger and frustration, stared at the buttons labeled "Open cell block 1-5" in the control room. Realizing that he had no other choice, he reluctantly pressed them.
Over the prison's intercom system, his voice echoed with a deep serious tone as he announced his desperate decree, "All prisoners on the 1st to 5th floors, you are hereby granted temporary freedom. Anyone who eliminates Azuma and his crew shall be rewarded with their combined bounty of 2.2 million gold. Do not let them escape!"
With that chilling declaration, chaos was unleashed within the prison as prisoners from the lower floors were granted a chance at freedom, and a deadly pursuit of Azuma and his crew began. As Vergil and Kenzu carried the unconscious Azuma up to the 4th floor, they suddenly found themselves confronted by a horde of prisoners charging towards them, hungering for their bounties.
The situation appeared dire until, from behind the pursuing mob, an inferio fluttered past the, engulfing the crowd in a fierce explosion. The smoke and debris cleared, revealing Seraph, who had unleashed a devastating attack to protect his comrades. He joined the group, ready to assist in their escape from the flooded prison.
Seraph, with a graceful smile, greeted the group in a feminine voice that had a touch of elegance, "Hello, my dear crew members, it seems you could use a helping hand" He chimed, his tone carrying a sense of poise even in the chaotic situation. Seraph's face contorted with disgust as he observed the brutish behavior of the incoming prisoners. Seraph criticized their attackers with a touch of disdain. "My, what a pitiful display, these brutes lack the grace and beauty that one should possess. It's truly unfortunate" His words carried an air of sophistication even as he prepared to fend off the relentless attackers.
He crossed his hands before him, manifesting a horde of inferios around him, the fiery entities roared to life, ready to defend their group against the oncoming onslaught of adversaries. Seraph's demeanor remained poised even in the face of chaos, his graceful disposition contrasting sharply with the brutishness of their attackers.
The prisoners, driven by the promise of a substantial bounty, continued to shout and charge towards the group, determined to capture Azuma and his crew. However, Seraph, with a swift snap of his fingers, unleashed the power of his inferios. In a devastating display of fiery explosions, the attackers were obliterated, their cries silenced in an instant. Seraph's elegance and power remained unmatched.
Intrigued by the man's unusual magika ability, Seraph couldn't help but express his curiosity. He inquired, "Oh? how did a brute like you come to possess such a unique magika ability?" His voice carried a mix of fascination and surprise as he observed the man's transformation into platinum. “As much as I'd love to know more about you and your ability, I'm afraid I haven’t the time to waste on a brute like you”
Seraph, intrigued but not willing to linger any longer, decided to act. With a snap of his fingers, he manifested a singular, larger inferio than his normal entities. This fiery entity soared toward the platinum man. The brute crossed his arms, attempting to take the impending explosion head-on, relying on his platinum body to shield him.
As the inferio detonated, it caused only minor scratches on the man's platinum form. With a hint of arrogance in his tone, he addressed the situation with an uninterested demeanor. "Hmph, is that all you've got? Your fiery tricks won't work on my platinum body " The man's words emanated with self-assuredness, seemingly unfazed by the attack.
That’s when he felt a soft hand on his shoulder as a seductive female voice whispered: “Forget about them…you have the chance to escape from here” Rosera attempted to hypnotize the prisoner, his eyes briefly turned pink. However, he quickly snapped out of her influence, realizing her intentions. In a fit of anger, he attempted to strike her, but to his surprise, Rosera burst into a horde of bats, evading his attack, before reforming beside Seraph.
With a sigh, she expressed her relief to Seraph, "It's good to see you again, Seraph" Her voice carried a sense of warmth as they faced their adversary together. Rodera threw her palm out, sending a horde of bats flying straight for him. The platinum man charged straight through the swarm of bats, his body slamming into both Rosera and Seraph, knocking them out of the way. His strength and defense were formidable, he seemed determined to overpower them despite their unique abilities.
The platinum man, having easily brushed off their attacks, looked down at Rosera and Seraph with a condescending tone, "Is that the best you can do? Surely your bounties wouldn’t be this high if you couldn’t fight back" he taunted, his platinum form gleaming with arrogance. Despite their adversary's mocking words, the group refused to submit. That’s when Vergil let go of the unconscious captain, placing one hand in his pocket as he stepped between Rosera, Seraph and the platinum brute. “Sigh, I think it’s time I tag back in this endless fight. You both might wanna step back...it’s about to get very...intense”
Vergil declared, ready to take on the formidable foe one on one. The platinum man, not one to back down, continued to taunt Vergil. "Intense, huh? Well, let's see if you can back that up" he jeered, preparing for a battle that promised to be nothing short of fierce.
“Don’t be a fool! Surely you can’t beat him all on your own!” Roser shouted back. But Vergil just grinned as a dark-purple aura flowed around his body. He began to slowly approach the assailant as the stone floor beneath his feet began to crack apart from his decaying aura.
Both prisoners started deep into one another’s eyes, Vergil with a sadistic grin while the platinum man just looked down at him with an emotionless expression. “You’re rather confident in your ability, aren’t you? Very well then...show me what you can do!” Clinching his shiny fist, the prisoner threw a fierce punch right for Vergil, sending a blood-curdling blow to his abdomen, sending him soaring across the prison floor, impacting the steel wall before hitting the ground.
Blood trickled from Vergil's lips, but he managed to muster a faint laugh. Confused by Vergil's reaction, the platinum man demanded an explanation. That's when Vergil directed his attention to the fist he had struck him with, revealing the shocking sight of his platinum form decaying and disintegrating from his entire right arm.
The man was taken aback, his platinum body deteriorating rapidly. It seemed Vergil's decay ability had finally taken its toll, leaving the adversary in a state of shock. “Tsssk! You may have decayed my arm, but I can still finish you all off with one arm! Nothing will stop me from-”
Just then, goofy male laughter began to echo throughout the halls, that’s when everyone in the hall began floating as if all gravity had vanished within the prison. "Ahahaha! Well, well, well! What do we have here? Seems like someone's in a real sticky situation, Gravity's a funny thing, you know? One minute you're up, the next minute you're down! But I'm the master of gravity, folks! Just call me Gravity Gin, the jester of the skies! Now, what's all this commotion, huh? A little party without inviting yours truly? Ahahaha!" Gravity Gin's words were punctuated with exaggerated laughter and theatrical gestures.
All looked up to see a man floating upside down above them. Gravity Gin, the eccentric master of gravity, sported an aqua bastion prison uniform that appeared to be tight on him. His short round figure made the outfit look even more comically small. His unruly orange hair stuck out in all directions, and his wide, childlike green eyes perpetually sparkled with amusement. A perpetual grin stretched across his face as he floated upside down above the bewildered group, a stark contrast to the serious atmosphere that had dominated the scene moments ago.
Despite his seemingly clumsy appearance, his eyes held a mischievous glint, hinting at the unpredictable nature of his magika abilities. With a playful wave of his hand, Gin seemed to defy gravity itself, causing the floating individuals to bob up and down like balloons caught in an invisible breeze. His laughter echoed through the prison halls, filling the air with an infectious, carefree energy that was hard to resist.
Rosera and the others struggled to hold onto Azuma as they drifted through the air while the platinum brute began losing his patience. The platinum brute, growing increasingly frustrated by the antics of Gravity Gin, clenched his platinum fist, sending a shockwave of force rippling through the air with a powerful punch. The wave of energy struck Gin, causing him to bounce around the walls and ceiling like a rubber ball. With each impact, Gin let out exaggerated cries of surprise and comical yelps.
His laughter, even in the face of danger, filled the air as he ricocheted off the walls, his movements resembling those of a cartoon character caught in a zany chase. Despite the gravity-defying chaos, there was an undeniable charm to Gin's antics that left those watching torn between amusement and exasperation.
The goofy figure hit the ground, his head spinning in dizzy confusion. Finally, Gin regained his composure and looked up at the floating adversary. The once-goofy smile on his face transformed into a solemn frown. With a serious tone that contrasted sharply with his previous antics, he warned the platinum man, "Yohohoho! You see, my friend, when I stop laughin', things get reaaal heavy"
As Gin spoke, the gravity around the platinum man began to intensify dramatically. The immense pressure bore down on the brute, causing him to impact the floor before the intense weight caused him to crash through the prison floor as if it were made of paper. Gravity Gin's voice retained its playful tone, but the threat was unmistakable. The platinum man's fate was sealed as he plummeted into the depths below, out of sight and out of the battle.
The round man chuckled heartily as he witnessed the platinum man plummeting through the prison floor. "Yohohoho! Well, folks, looks like we're back in business! C'mon, follow me to freedom, my new friends! Yohohoho!"
With Gravity Gin leading the way, the group followed the comical pirate, who seemed to defy both gravity and convention. His laughter filled the air as they ventured through the prison, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in their quest for freedom.
The crew ran up each floor carrying Azuma and Vergil as they followed the floating man who filled the halls with his laughter. They ran into Roxie near the top as they reached the 2nd floor. As the crew ascended the prison floors, carrying Azuma with them, they encountered Roxie near the top of the prison. Gravity Gin couldn't contain his excitement, and his voice resonated with exhilaration as they approached their destination, just one floor away from freedom.
"Yohohoho! We're almost there, my friends! Just one more floor to go, and we'll be out of this place!" Gravity Gin's laughter echoed through the hallways, adding a sense of anticipation to their daring escape. The crew pressed onward, determined to break free from Aqua Bastion Prison and continue their journey together.
As most of the Azuma pirates reached the 1st floor, they could see the large steel gates wide open before them. “W-we’re almost there Kenzu huffed out of breath with him and Rosera carrying Azuma while Seraph and Roxie carried Vergil. That’s when Roxie exclaimed: “Wait! Where’s Roxie and Kiozen!? We can’t leave without them!”
Before anyone could answer, cries of despair and agony could be heard outside the prison walls. They all raced outside, only to see the dozens of prisoners who decided to escape rather than go after them, were being struck with a beam of red energy, paralyzing them as each prisoner hit the ground stunned, red electricity surging around their body.
As the majority of the Azuma pirates reached the 1st floor, they found the massive steel gates wide open, a sign of their imminent freedom. Despite their exhaustion, they were determined to reach the outside world and escape from Aqua Bastion Prison. Kenzu and Rosera carried Azuma, while Seraph and Roxie held Vergil.
However, Roxie's concern for Kiozen and herself could not be ignored. She exclaimed, "Wait! Where's Kiozen!? We can't leave without them!" The urgency in her voice resonated with the group as they realized that two of their comrades were missing.
Before they could formulate a plan, cries of despair and agony echoed from outside the prison walls. Everyone rushed to the scene, their hearts heavy with concern. There, they witnessed a disturbing sight: dozens of prisoners who had chosen to escape instead of pursuing them were struck by a beam of red energy. Each prisoner hit the ground, paralyzed and writhing in pain, while red electricity surged around their bodies.
High above the grassy field outside the prison, a figure dressed in black floated in the air with boots that kept him repelled in the air. They wore a dark-caped suit with a red star emblem on their back and left sleeve. Their glove's index finger emitted the paralyzing red beam which sent many of the low bounty prisoners in a panic. The figure had long red hair that floated in the wind as he precisely struck down each target with calculated accuracy.
That’s when his scanner alerted him in an A.I voice: Warning! High bounties detected within 50 meters!” The figure, known as Benimaru, turned his attention to a new threat that had registered on his scanner: Azuma and his crew, whose high bounties marked them as a significant threat.
With a heroic and determined tone, Benimaru addressed his targets, "You there! You all seem to be quite the prize with those bounties. Prepare yourselves, for you are now in the presence of the Red Star of the Dark Stars Syndicate! Surrender peacefully or prepare to face the consequences!" His words carried an air of confidence and purpose as he floated above the grassy field, ready for a fight.
As Benimaru issued his challenge, Gravity Gin floated over to him with his characteristic goofy demeanor. Gin spoke with a whimsical tone, "Well, well, well! Look at you, all serious and heroic! You must be the life of the party, eh?" He chuckled as he maintained his playful demeanor, despite the tense situation.
Benimaru regarded Gin with a raised eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with the levity of the situation. However, he remained focused on the task at hand, ready for a confrontation with Azuma and his crew. Without hesitation, the Red Star of the Dark Stars Syndicate, Benimaru, struck Gravity Gin with his electrified fist. A fierce surge of red electricity coursed through Gin's body, causing him to convulse with goofy cries of surprise and discomfort. He was sent flying across the field, “YOHOHOHOHO!” Benimaru's attack had effectively taken Gin out of the battle, leaving him incapacitated in the grassy field.
“Gin! Rosera cried out, worried about the poor pirate. “You bastard! How dare you hurt our new friend!” Taking a deep breath, Rosera exhaled a cloud of pink gas, attempting to hypnotize the high-tech assailant. As Rosera exhaled her hypnotic pheromones, a technological barrier appeared around Benimaru, shielding him from the effects of her powers.
Rosera let out a frustrated groan as her attempt to hypnotize the high-tech assailant was thwarted. “Ugh, why doesn’t my ability work on anyone here!?” She shouted. Benimaru remained undeterred, his red-star emblem gleaming as he faced the crew of the Azuma pirates.
As the tension rose, Roxie, unable to stand by any longer, stepped into the fray. With determination in his eyes, he declared, "I should've been by my captain's side all along, but now I can finally protect him and the crew!" His words were filled with resolve as he prepared to face Benimaru.
Roxie's determination burned bright as he stepped forward, feeling the weight of his newfound resolve. He didn't hesitate. His hands moved with purpose, forming a barrier around the others for their protection. “Barrier formation: Titan!” He pushed his abilities to their limits. Forming another barrier around himself as it began to take on a new shape, growing larger and more imposing. It transformed into a massive humanoid titan made entirely of his silver transparent barrier material, with Roxie at its core.
Inside the titan, Roxie was a force to be reckoned with, his barrier armor granting him incredible strength and protection. With newfound power, he stood ready to face Benimaru and protect his captain and crewmates. Roxie's colossal barrier titan threw fierce punches with overwhelming force, but Benimaru displayed incredible agility and speed, effortlessly evading each blow with quick precision. His movements were like a dance, weaving through the air as he avoided the titan's attacks.
Benimaru's red-star emblem gleamed as he continued to outmaneuver Roxie's strikes. His confidence remained unwavering as he sought an opportunity to counter and bring down the colossal barrier titan. Benimaru's keen eyes spotted an opening, and with a swift and electrified kick of his boot, he unleashed a powerful attack. "Crimson Dagger!" he cried out. The electrified kick struck the colossal barrier titan's left arm with incredible force, causing the barrier to shatter like glass under the might of his suit's fierce power.
Roxie grunted as his titan's left arm disintegrated into shards of energy. The loss of a limb didn't deter him, though, as he continued to fight. “No, I won’t fail my captain again! I don’t care who you are! But you won’t get to my captain!”
Benimaru spoke firmly to the Azuma pirates, "As pirates and criminals, I won't let any of you get away! You'll face justice for your actions!" His words carried a resolute determination as he continued to confront the crew, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to his mission.
“Tsssk! If that’s how you feel, then just try it!” Roxie launched a powerful strike with his colossal barrier titan, aiming to shatter Benimaru's digital barrier. With a fierce impact, the barrier shattered, sending the dark star member hurtling across the island. He was propelled by the force of the blow, but his rocket boots quickly engaged, slowing his descent allowing him to regain his footing, albeit with visible strain.
(H-he broke through the barrier!? How is that possible!? Father assured us that our dark star suits’ barrier could handle anything a mere pirate could hit me with...is my suit faulty? Or perhaps father miscalculated the kind of power pirates and other criminals are capable of? Tssk! Doesn’t matter! The red star Benimaru won’t be defeated by such evil)
Blasting off with his boots, he flew back to the battlefield. With a driving spirit and focus on his mission, he taunted the Azuma pirates and the crew. "Your evil ways won't prevail against a member of the Dark Star Syndicate!" Benimaru declared. As he concentrated power into his glove, it became clear that he was prepared to give his all in the battle against the crew, showcasing the tenacity and motivation that defined him as the red star of the syndicate.
With unwavering determination, Benimaru returned to the battlefield, his resolve unshaken despite the setback caused by Roxie. He confronted the Azuma pirates and the crew with a resolute declaration.
Channeling power into his glove with a fierce cry, he released the built-up energy in a devastating beam of red light. "Crimson: Starburst!" The intense red energy shot forth from his left palm, aiming to strike down the foes before him.
Roxie attempted to block Benimaru's devastating attack with only one arm. However, the power of the crimson starburst was overwhelming. The intense red energy beam tore through Roxie's barrier titan, disintegrating it into shards. Roxie himself was scorched by the intense beams of energy. All watched in horror as Roxie hit the ground covered in burns lying motionless off in the corner.
“No...Roxie” Tears filled Rosera’s eyes as the pain of her friends getting hurt was becoming too much for her to bare any longer. As the dark star member prepared to fire yet another blast in their direction, a calm familiar voice spoke: "Such a troublesome situation you've gotten yourselves into," he remarked, his tone laced with an air of superiority. "But worry not, I shall ensure that things remain... interesting"
Suddenly, the ground erupted with sand, forming a dense sandstorm that enveloped the island in a dome. Amidst the swirling sands, Baron Bones manifested, standing between Benimaru and Azuma's crew. His intervention added another layer of intrigue to the already complex situation, leaving both the crew and the Dark Star Syndicate to ponder his true motives.
Amidst the swirling sandstorm, Baron addressed the Azuma pirates and their crew, making his intentions clear. "Do not misunderstand," he stated with a clod tone. "I did not come here to save you. I simply don’t want the dark star syndicate to get to you first" His words carried an aura of mystery and intrigue, emphasizing that his actions were guided by his own motives and interests.
With Baron Bones' arrival, the dynamics of the situation had shifted once again, leaving the crew to contemplate their next moves in the midst of the sandstorm. “Baron, I suggest you not interfere, you’re already a target for the syndicate and I'll worry about you once I deal with Azuma and his crew”
Baron Bones chuckled softly, his voice carrying an air of confidence. "I'm afraid I won't be able to sit idly by. However, rest assured, I'll do my best to keep him from your reach" In a moment of intense anger, Benimaru clenched his teeth and fired a beam of red energy straight through Baron Bones' chest. The blast struck Baron with incredible force, leaving a gaping hole in his abdomen. However, to Benimaru's shock, instead of falling, The villain’s smile remained, as sand began to pour into the wound, filling rapidly. The hole in his chest closed up, appearing unharmed.
"You're foolish if you thought such a desperate act would be enough to kill me" The sand pirate remarked with a smirk, his confident aura undiminished. "But I'm not one to be defeated so easily" Turning his attention to Azuma and his crew, Baron Bones gave them a warning. "I suggest you all leave while you still can. I’d like to keep you all alive…for now”" With a swift motion, he manipulated the sand around them, forming a condensed cyclone of sand that engulfed the crew.
The Azuma pirates found themselves trapped within the swirling cyclone, unable to escape it’s fierce grasp. Baron had separated them from Benimaru, leaving them in an uncertain and perilous situation as they struggled against the raging sandstorm.
Everyone grabbed ahold of Azuma and each other, keeping the crew from separating again. That’s when Roxie cried out: “Wait! We left Kiozen and Naiomi inside the prison!” The others realized he was right, Kiozen hadn’t returned from the lower levels of the prison and there hadn’t been any sign of Naiomi ever since they were brought to the prison…