Inari's POV;
Slich and Slash makes my blade. “Hehehe,” I couldn't stop myself from giggling. The red blood was flowing so beautifully. I pulled the tip of my sickle out of the neck of its latest victim. The guard wasn't even able to notice that he would die.
Ah, being free is great. And I have to thank my two Mistresses for that. Lia-sama and Lara-sama are such two great people. They freed me, gave me a place within their group and Lia-sama even showed me how I could make my tail more lustre and soft.
And yet I can't be my true self while near them. I can't show them this side of me. I have a hard time already controlling my Sulong form, it is so strong that it even bleeds through outside of the transformation. Lord Nekomamushi speaks about confronting ones nature and accepting what we are, but during my exile, I have come to the conclusion that most people don't like me when I show my true feelings.
I'll just have to hide it and let it out when no one can see me, like right now.
I sneaked silently through the corridor of the fortress. I had little trouble infiltrating it through one of the destroyed gun emplacements. The few guards that were trying to clear the rubble were easily decapitated.
There isn't even a need for staying quiet, an alarm is blaring loudly. But what I found strange was the lack of guards. Shouldn't there be more of them here now? From the looks of it the prison was attacked before we arrived. Shouldn't then there be guards at the upper levels or is there a riot inside?
Well, once I find the guardroom I'll see. They must have surveillance transponder snails. And usually, these rooms are in the middle of the complex. Far away from any possible intruder or prisoner.
I opened some rooms along my way. There were no guards or soldiers inside. Most had supplies or stacked cannons for their artillery. There was enough ammunition to last them a few days with all of their cannons intact.
Fiara-chan had given me some of her bombs before I got off the Raptor. Some of them are detecting movement, others can be activated from a distance. The later placed in between the many barrels of gunpowder and cannonballs.
Other rooms had food or clothes. I also found a large storeroom with clothes and weapons that must have been owned by the prisoners. Some of these looked to be valuable, too bad that I can't take them with me.
I even found a guard room. There was food on the tables, half eaten and then left in a hurry. The guards must have had a break when the alarm started. The room held not much of interest. However, there was one thing that will be important. There was a map of the upper level of Impel Down. Nothing about the prison itself, but the fortress above sea level. With it, I will be easily able to find the control room.
A few minutes later I found the control room, the map helped enormously. A room guarded by four guards. They all held net-cannons in their hands. Maybe sea stone nets against Devil Fruit user? Whatever they were using, it wouldn't help them against me.
I pulled my blowpipe out and placed a dart inside. After aiming carefully I blew and the dart flew out. It pierced the neck of the guard that was the furthest off of me. He grabbed at his neck, but by then the strong narcotic had already done its job. He slumped to the ground. He'll die of a lung paralysis in a few minutes.
His three co-workers asked him worriedly what happened and were distracted. Long enough for me to fire a second dart, before then darting out of my cover and close to their position.
The moment their second friend fell down they knew that they were under attack. Yet, it was too late. I threw my right sickle at the guard that stood at the right. The sharp tip of the blade skewered itself into his skull and he died with a funny gurgle.
His friend had now seen me and opened his mouth to shout a warning to whoever was inside the room. I couldn't have that, so I activated my Electro and punched his larynx. He choked and was then burned to death by the high voltage.
A quick look around told me that no one had noticed their death, so I placed my ear on the door and listened. Poor lesser minks, they have such bad sight, hearing and sense of smell. Only Lia-sama has a better sight and hearing than me. But Lia-sama was special. Thanks to my own stronger hearing I could easily listen in on the conversation that happened inside.
“Vice Warden Hannyabal, Warden Magellan is still fighting Shiliew at level 4. Blackbeard has freed many prisoners on level 6 and is on his way back up. It will only be a matter of time until they escape, what are your orders?” Asked someone his obvious superior, Vice-Warden sounds fairly high.
“Hmm, seal every level from 1 to 6 they are not allowed to escape my prison. Oh wait, it's not yet mine. Anyway, once the blast doors are shut they will have a hard time escaping. Are there information about the escaped prisoners from level 6. Other than those that escaped with Straw Hat?” Replied another man, he sounded quite arrogant.
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“Some sir, we know that along with his normal crew he has allied himself with Avalo Pizarro, Shiliew, Sanjuan Wolf, Vasco Shot and Catarina Devon. All of them are highly dangerous criminals.”
“Once the doors are sealed, flood the prison with TX6 gas, they won't be able to flee from my prison if they are not able to move. Oh, wait, sorry it isn't yet mine. Also, what is the status of the prisoner that tricked the control room? The prisoner Bon Kurei, from the reports it was obvious that he was one of the main instigators.”
“He is in medical bay four, Warden Magellan has dosed him with a sleeping toxin. Once this is over we can start the interrogation.”
“Good good, what about the attack from the outside? More forces of Blackbeard? We need to know more, they have taken out all of our artillery placements. We're sitting ducks here! Magellan gave me the order to defend us against any outside threat, how can I become the Warden if I fail that important task?” The man in charge began to sound more stressed.
“Sir, we checked the ship design with every known pirate ship of the World Governments databank. We think it is the ship of the Kage Pirates, it is called the Raptor.”
“WHAT?! The Kage Pirates are attacking? Why do I learn about this only now? They are here to free Basilisk. Do you have any idea what will happen to me if they are allowed to free him? It will cost me my job!” The voice of the man became frantic. I'll think I should leave before he storms out of the room.
It's interesting to know that they are still under attack, it will make it easier for Lia-sama to strike. I'll better get back to the Raptor. This Bon Kurei might know relevant information. We still don't know the layabout of the prison itself. Having someone who was one of the main forces behind a prison break will be helpful.
I placed some of Fiara-chan's bombs at the door, before leaving. They will explode the moment someone opens the door and burn everything inside the corridor and the room behind the door. I had just turned around the second corner when I heard the explosion of my charge. My cover is blown now, I'll have to hurry. Luckily, there wasn't much resistance on my way out. I had to evade a few groups that were rushing towards the room I had just bombed, but none of them saw me.
Funny how people never look up when they are in a hurry.
I reached my entrance point without being seen and jumped into the air. The Raptor was still circling around the prison. Lia-sama was giving me cover by letting rain down her pebbles.
“Any trouble Inari?” Asked Lia-sama the moment I touched down on deck. She gave me a quick look to make sure that I am not hurt, which made me feel happy. Having people that are concerned about my well being feels nice. It was really hard leaving my family and friends behind.
The rest of the crew was also present or close enough to hear what I had to report. “No Lia-sama, they haven't spotted me. I bring information about a prison break. I could overhear a conversation about a prison break led by Straw Hat Luffy as well as another attack by the pirate Blackbeard.
Straw Hat Luffy does not seem to be still here, but the Warden of Impel Down is trying to fight back the escape of Blackbeard and a group of prisoners that are said to come from level 6. Some of the names I have heard are pretty big. They plan to seal the different levels of Impel Down and flood the whole prison with some kind of gas. I don't know if it is deadly, or just a sleeping gas. They've called it TX6.
They also know that it is us who are attacking from the outside, but without their cannons, they have no way of defending themselves. They must be running low on guards, I haven't run into many of them, at least far too few for a normal prison of that size.
Also, there is a wounded prisoner at their medical bay 4. He awaits questioning about the attack of Straw Hat. Having him guiding us might be helpful, his name is Bon Kurei.”
“Thank you Inari, this will be helpful. We're going to land some distance away from the prison. I don't want Blackbeard attacking our ship when we are inside Impel Down.
We will use waver skates and then search for the medical bay. Keep your masks on, I don't want anyone of you getting poisoned.” My tail was waving proudly, being useful to your master or mistress is the highest honour a Ninja can have.
Lia-sama turned to look at the assembled crew but stopped her gaze on Nami, the navigator of the Straw Hats. The orange haired girl had been fidgeting from the moment she heard that Straw Hat had been part of the prison break.
“Nami, any idea why Luffy was here at Impel Down?”
“He might have wanted to rescue Ace before he got shipped to Marine HQ. Fire Fist Ace is his brother and I am sure that not even Luffy could have missed the news of his execution,” answered Nami after only a short moment of thinking.
“Then he will be at the Marine HQ by now. I'm sure that he will survive the war, he is pretty durable.” The words might have been meant to sound calm, but the utter lack of any emotion lessened the effect. “Maybe Lara sees him and gives him some help.”
“Anyway, you are going to stay on the Raptor. Impel Down has guards and soldiers that are many times stronger than your normal Marine soldier. You aren't used to fighting alongside us. Having you with us will be a liability. Take care of the Raptor and take some distance if you see Blackbeard. Underestimating a man such as him is deadly,” she then continued without a pause. Nami nodded in acceptance. She didn't look happy about it, but that wasn't important.
Lia-sama then turned back to me. “Inari, you as well. We have tried to integrate you into our fights, but less than a week is not enough. Please help Nami and protect the ship. We would be in quite a lot of trouble if it gets destroyed.” I bowed deeply. Guard duty was as important as the attack itself, how are we going to leave without a ship?
“It will be done Lia-sama.”
“Thanks, the rest of you know what to do. Josef, pack some antidotes and smelling salts. We might need Bon Kurei. The rest of you get ready, we will leave once everyone has their waver skate strapped on.” Everyone followed Lia-sama's command quickly. Josef-san runs inside the ship to get the last needed medical supplies and the others were checking their equipment.
It didn't take them much time to get ready and all seven of them went on their way towards the prison. Now only I and Nami-san were left. From the sight of it, she was pretty nervous. She doesn't have to worry, I will make sure that nothing happens. I can't disappoint Lia-sama.