A Redbeard pirate ducked for cover behind a stack of sand bags. The Fleet had been able to take a decent foot hold in the initial crescent bay of Marine HQ. And thus were able to occupy and clear out a few of the trenches. Though, it meant that they were surrounded on all sides.
Many of the Trenches were interconnected by dugouts and tunnels that acted like corridors, this meant that the Redbeard pirates that weren't strong enough to use the Spiritual Powers of the stronger members, or have the skill to be fast enough, they were ground troops. Much like how the ensigns were. But there was a guarantee that a good 10 to 13% of the Redbeard pirates on the Island that were these Ground Troops were far weaker than even the lowest ranked ensign.
As it was a popular rumor, and indeed truth, that a singular Ensign could wipe an entire city block off the map!.
"Shit! Take cover!" Troile, a decently strong foot soldier said as he forced Jansen to take cover. Pushing him down onto the concrete floor that was covered with wooden planks. The moment Jansen looked up after the Cacophony of Noise settled down for even a moment, he saw that his face was covered in blood, and Troile had now taken cover, a deep grimace across his face with sweat pouring down his face. He'd been shot through the shoulder! Blood pulsing in a crimson trail and staining the boiled leather torso that he had
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"What the fuck…Kinda gun is that?!" Trolie said "Captain said nothing about this kinda weaponry…!" Troile said to himself as he held his shoulder. He was from an island where the most advanced weapon was a slow burning matchlock! Most people fought with iron. Steel was hard to make due to the conditions!
This was just a fact of the world…So many different islands. Different conditions, different points of Advancement! The most advanced Island on the entire planet was the one that Dr. Tehertz resided it known as Ampule Island! It was said that the technology he had was hundreds of years into the future!
But there were still islands across the grand line that was cut off for centuries from the rest that could still be considered primitive! Even if a good 55% of Islands in the Grand Line had some form of Sailing Technology, and were in some form of Metallurgy and Industrialization, there was still that 45% of Islands that could be advanced due to the government like Arabasta, 'Backwaters' like Jay Vanem. And all inbetween. Even if the Government controlled a majority of the world, that by no means meant that they gave that Technology to everyone…
"I-I don't know! I've never seen guns shoot that fast! I mean…Look at this thing! Its more metal than wood!" Jansen said as he held up the Mk 4 Submachine Gun. The Magazine sticking out of the side with a large drum. It was made of pressed and formed steel! The only wood was in the stock…
"I can barely figure out how to work this thing…." He said as he finicked with the open bolt.
"It doesn't matter now…We just gotta keep going right! Commander Polo and Father Redbeard will make sure we're okay! We'll get Azar back!" Jansen thought to himself.
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"Yeah…But whats the point of getting Azar? Going through….Ngh…All of this…?" Troile's face was beginning to pale. The Lead round from the Rifle of one of the Marines must've shattered and numbled. Nicking or Cutting a vein in his shoulder…
Jansen stumbled over, Dropping the Firearm and putting his hand on the mans chest. "Hey! Hey! Stay with me now! We're here because Azars important! He protects all of the islands under redbeard as the Second Division Commander remember!"
Troile's breath began to pick up. He'd lost maybe have a litre… "Yeah. Yeah. I remember when he came to my island on that machine he rode on…I still think…Until today. That was the most Advanced machine I'd ever seen."
"It was because of him that the Idea of Pirates….Aren't that bad. And people like Pa, are protecting this world and us…At least…I think so…"
"Exactly!" Jansen said. Tearing the leather chest plate off of Troiles body. And beginning to pack his wound with seeds and gauze. The seeds acting as a coagulant and the gauze stopping the bleeding as he began to adhere another flat bandage onto him.
"Even the medicine you use…Where I'm from. We'd have just use corn husks or linen…And here you are using that fancy bandage…"
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"Don't worry about it! You're going to make it out of here! And you're going head back to your Island and this will be a crazy Story to tell your family!" Jansen attempted to assure him "Yeah…Yeah…I- Agh!" Troile Groaned and grabbed his stomach. Jansens eyes lowered and noticed that…There'd been another wound he hadn't seen…Three holes had slipped between the chest plate and pierced his gut!
"Shit! Shit! Wait a second! I'll fix thi-" Troile brought a cold hand to Jansens hand. "Don't…Theres more people in this…Line that you can help than just me…" Troile said looking down the line where bodies of Marines and Pirates laid. But Jansen could hear that there was more around the bend….
"Take this. Make sure Azar is safe! Not just for you or my island…But for all of the Islands under Redbeard…Preventing those….Beasts from killing us!" Troile raised up his sword. It was a finely made shortsword. A Rutger type.
"No matter how…Many of us die…We need to make sure that Execution is stopped!" He breathed…So much blood was gone he couldn't think…
"Jansen…"
"Yeah?"
"Tell my girl. That their papa didn't die like no coward."
"Of course." Jansen said as he stroked Troiles head in his last moments…And wasn't long before he was gone…
With new found determination. Jansen stood to his feet, Sword in hand, and picked up a discarded Mk 4 .38 Revolver. And began to head his way down the rest of the line! He was a doctor! And he'd be damned if he let his commander Polo or Pa Redbeard down!
Atop the Scaffold. Azar watched and heard as the reports of Battle sounded out from around. There were so many emotions broiling within his chest as his hands sat cuffed behind his back. Forced down to his knees.
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No amount of force would allow him to break free of the Sea Stone that was sapping him of his strength moment by moment
"Everyone…Why…Why do this…For me?!" He pleaded quietly. And a specific Marine heard him well
"Perhaps its because of your Naive imagination that Pirates are the 'Good' and 'Just' force in this world. Maybe if you hadn't become a pirate in the first place. Hadn't even been born as the Spawn of Roger…Those you see as Family wouldn't be dying for your sake…"
"If…I hadn't…"
"If I Hadn't…"
Azar closed his eyes tight. And the sounds of the War began to fade as he remembered…Years ago
4 Years Ago.
Goa Island
When he Left Mamtha and Leroy to become a Pirate…