Chapter 14: Leo the MVP
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As they approached the grand palace of Arlong Park, home to the island's unlawful ruler, Nojiko gave Nami a gentle nudge while they both rode atop Leo.
"Ouch, Nojiko, why'd you do that?"
"Just trying to bring you back to reality. Stay focused, Nami."
Arlong, who had reveled in laughter with his crew after deceiving Nami, lounged on his stone throne, lost in dreams of a grand future where his kind ruled and humans were enslaved or exterminated at will. His current dominion over this island felt too limited, leaving him deeply unsatisfied. Engrossed in his visions, the sudden explosion that blasted the doors off jolted him back to reality.
Boom!
The walls of Arlong Park crumbled under a mighty blow, and as the dust settled, the assailant was revealed. Hector, wielding Yubashiri, had sliced through the walls and now regarded the Fishmen before him with an icy stare.
"You Fucker! Identify yourself!"
Arlong, the towering saw shark Fishman, bellowed at Hector, who ignored him and proceeded to tally their numbers. It was then he noticed a girl's bleeding body in Arlong's grasp.
"Get rid of her."
With a flick, Arlong tossed the lifeless form toward his henchmen. Hector, swiftly used Shave, slicing through the Fishmen that the girl was tossed towards, reaching for her he cradled her body, retreating with Shave to Leo. He placed the girl on top of Leo near Nojiko and Nami, then summoned support.
"Shirohime, Baskerville, Bell, Dusk, assemble!"
Shirohime materialized with her usual characteristic elegance. Baskerville's entrance was dramatic, igniting the earth beneath him as if a beast from Hell had breached into the mortal realm, a towering 2.5-meter-tall and 4-meter-long hellhound. Dusk, just like another Shadow Soldier, arrived without fanfare.
Bell, a new Ranger Shadow soldier, had risen to Elite rank alongside Dusk, at the cost of half the Marines' souls. Clad in standard Ranger armor with a hood shrouding her head and face, she immediately caught the attention of Nami and Nojiko, who seemed to recognize her from their past.
Hector gestured towards Shirohime, Baskerville, and Bell.
"Fight them, kill as many as you can. Dusk, see if the girl can be saved."
He ordered the trio to begin a ruthless assault on the fishermen, while Dusk attempted to assess and save the girl. After a brief attempt at healing magic, Dusk ceased and nodded gravely.
"Master, I'm sorry, she's gone."
Nami desperately administered CPR to the girl.
"Breathe, please breathe!"
Despite her efforts, the girl's spirit had departed.
"No, no, no, no, no, noooooooooooouuuu!"
Nami wept at the sight of the girl's disfigured face, so young and similar in age to her own.
Hector had held a sliver of hope, but Dusk's confirmation crushed it. He had felt it—the extinguished spark of life—the moment he touched her. The sight of her bloodied, desecrated body obliterated any naive hopes for a peaceful resolution, and he charged into the fray.
Baskerville began charring and tearing apart any Fishman insight, and one brave Fishman stepped up as the hero.
"Foul Beast, do not underestimate us Fishmen. I, Kuroobi, a level 40 practitioner of Merman Karate, will stop you. Taste my Thousand Brick Fist!!!"
With a single, decisive, and explosive punch, Kuroobi blew a hole through Baskerville, tearing a gap that ripped through his body.
"Hahaha. Now, can't you all see? Nothing can beat the power of us Fishmen!"
His triumph was fleeting because seconds later, Baskerville's body reformed and pinned him to the ground.
"No, this cannot be. This is not—AHHHHHHHHH!!!"
With Kuroobi pinned, Baskerville began cooking the top half of his body. Once Kuroobi was well-cooked, he tore his head off and then moved on to another prey.
Among the group of three, Bell had the highest body count, her primary weapon being a bow and arrow. As an Elite Rank, she could face D Rank fighters, a few of whom were in the fight; only Along and officers were high D Ranks, while the weakest were E Rank.
"Filthy Humans, I'll kill you! Once we're done with your little rebellion, we'll crush the villagers next."
Chew clenched his teeth in seething rage, but his eyes widened as an arrow aimed straight for his head. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the shot, and continued dodging as Bell kept firing until she stopped.
"Hahaha! You're just a weak human, what can you do?"
The next moment, he felt himself spinning and didn't understand why he was looking at his back. Chew never realized that he was being herded towards Shirohime's path, where with one swift slash, she decapitated him.
As Shirohime joined the battle, she dispatched every Fishman in her path with a single, graceful slash, her precision nearly flawless. She was, in essence, a living blender.
"Nyu, don't be so cocky!"
An octopus Fishman brandished his six arms at them furiously.
"Nyu, you won't last even a minute!"
He clasped his hand over his elongated mouth and emitted a high-pitched trumpet call.
"Nyuuuu, come forth, Mohmoo! Show them what you're made of!"
A massive wave surged from the ocean, racing towards the Park with alarming velocity. The wave barreled through the open water gates and into the pool, bursting outward to unveil a sea monster with the head of a cow, bellowing at the humans.
"Oh no, that idiot summoned Mohmoo!"
Nami cried out, her legs trembling.
"Destroy them, Mohmoo!"
Hachi commanded.
"Roar!!!"
That trembling roar didn't come from Mohmoo, but from Leo, who flung Nami, Nojiko, and the lifeless body from his back as the Sea Cow charged at them. He leaped into the air, seizing the Sea Cow by one of its horns with his jaws, hoisting it from the water and skyward.
"HE'S LIFTING THE SEA COW!"
Nami and Nojiko screamed, their eyes bulging.
Mid-twist in the air, Leo hurled the soaring Sea Cow directly onto the land, about 50 meters from Arlong Park. The Sea Cow plowed through trees like they were bowling pins, and when it finally came to a halt, Leo licked his lips and pursued Mohmoo, leaving everyone else behind.
"Nyu, this will be over quickly!"
Hachi unsheathed six swords with his six arms.
"..."
Shirohime remained still, her gaze fixed on Hachi, as memories of that fool Zoro surfaced.
"Alright, octopus, you're my opponent now."
Shirohime grinned, recalling all the challenges she had faced.
"Nyu! I don't know who you are, but I'll demonstrate the superiority of my six-sword style over your single-sword style!"
Hachi assumed a fighting stance.
"Be quiet, octopus!"
Shirohime sheathed her sword, preparing for a quick draw slash.
"Let your swords speak for you."
"Nyuuu! Take this! Shikai Zero: Takohachi Black!"
Hachi expelled a jet of black ink at her.
She deftly sidestepped the ink.
"Tch, another dishonorable swordsman. Fight me with your sword, not your spit, you cursed octopus!"
With her sword in its sheath, Shirohime charged at Hachi.
"Don't underestimate me! Witness the might of my six swords! Takoashi Kiken!"
Hachi lunged at Shirohime, his swords tracing wild arcs through the air.
She narrowed her eyes, dodging two swords before ducking under another slashing right. Hachi frowned, spinning to slash with all three swords in his left hand.
Shirohime grinned and executed a swift draw slash with KuroWado Ichimonji, severing Hachi's three left arms, then proceeded to slice off his remaining arms and then his legs, leaving him a helpless stump.
Hachi anticipated the first attack but couldn't evade it, so he sacrificed his three left arms in hopes of countering with his right. However, he hadn't expected a triple attack; the second strike cost him his right arms, and the third, his legs.
"Now, tell me how your six swords are superior to mine!"
Shirohime smirked, ensuring he landed upright on the ground.
Hachi growled, scowling at her.
"You'll regret this! Shikai Zero: Takohachi Black!"
Slash!
With another graceful slash, she beheaded him before he could eject his ink at her.
"Will I ever encounter an honorable swordsman, or am I condemned to forever battle these despicable foes?"
-Rewind to when Leo threw Mohmoo -
"Hector, did your pet lion just abandon us?"
Nami asked, astounded while lying on the ground.
"For the last time, Nami, Leo is not my pet. Remember, he's quite capricious and always gets what he desires!"
Hector retorted, just as Arlong attacked him from behind with his Kiribachi.
"Filthy human, you're dead!"
Arlong roared, losing his composure and lunging at Hector, who parried with his Yubashiri. Hector maintained a calm demeanor, as if strolling through a park, further infuriating Arlong.
Arlong's grave error came when he executed a massive power strike. In those precious seconds, Hector activated Conqueror's Infusion, turning Yubashiri pitch black with purple markings. As the swords clashed, emitting sparks of purple lightning, Arlong expected his Kiribachi to shatter Yubashiri. Instead, it was Yubashiri that cleaved through both Kiribachi and Arlong's right arm across his chest.
RACE: Human■■■■■■
NAME: Hector Barbossa■■■■■■
Level: 13
Health Points: 5,480
Mana Points: 4,160
Stamina Points: 2,740
Attunement: 208
Vitality: 137
Endurance: 137
Strength: 137
Dexterity: 137
Perception: 137
Skill: 137
Safe Rewards From Daily Quest:
+Stat Points: 40
+Skill Points: 6
Skill Tree:
+Haki:
-Observation Haki: C Rank
-Armament Haki: C Rank
-Conquers Haki: S+ Rank
+Rokushiki
-Moon Step: E Rank
-Iron Body: E+ Rank
-Tempest Kick: E+ Rank
-Shave: E+ Rank
-Finger Pistol: E+ Rank
-Kami-e: E- Rank