A crack of thunder split the air as Enel flashed back into view. Karl, Bunsen, and Aderian strode over from the rubble-strewn street.
"You all right?" Karl asked, scanning faces.
"We're fine—just had our good mood wrecked," someone muttered.
"Uncle," An said, voice frosty as winter, "that fat pig with a fishbowl on his head said he was going to 'take both my aunts home' as wives."
Karl's gaze slid to the Celestial Dragon. Pressure rolled off him in a wave.
"Low-born filth!" the pig-man spat. "You dare defy the will of a god—"
"Aderian," Karl said mildly.
"On it, Captain."
Bang!
A single shot. A neat hole opened in the dragon's forehead. He toppled like a felled post.
For a heartbeat the CP0 escort froze—no one had believed anyone would actually kill a Celestial Dragon. Then they lunged as one.
"These ones are yours, Enel," Karl said. "We'll meet on Grove 1. Clean up and catch up."
"I'll be quick. Ye-ha-ha-ha! Thirty million volts—Thunderbird!"
…
"What? A Celestial Dragon killed on Sabaody?!" Sengoku's eyes bulged.
"So scary~ Someone dared to kill a dragon. Been a long time since we've seen that," Borsalino drawled, filing his nails.
"Wahahaha! Sengoku, don't blow a gasket. If they're dead, they're dead," Garp chuckled.
"Garp! Zip it!—Kizaru, get over there. You will bring the culprit in!"
"Yes, Sengoku-san." The admiral became light and vanished.
Grove 1
"Captain, why here?" Aderian asked.
"If this turns into a fight, fewer innocents get caught up. This side's a lawless zone anyway."
"Yo yo~ how scary. Are you the ones who killed a Celestial Dragon?" A languid voice drifted down.
"Oh, Uncle Two again? What, no one else at HQ? I'd take Akainu too," Karl grinned.
"Mm? Have we met?" Kizaru's eyes narrowed as recognition clicked. This would be… troublesome.
"Ye-ha-ha, Captain, let me," Enel said, a spark lighting his eyes. A pure speed matchup excited him.
"Fine. Careful. Uncle Two's got that 'double the pay and even an Emperor gets folded' reputation."
"Kizaru, he's Enel. Do me a favor and knock some sense into this 'I'm the second-greatest after heaven' guy."
"Oh? Rumble-Rumble Fruit? How scary," Kizaru murmured, interest piqued. It'd been ages since a speed equal appeared.
A laser flashed. In a bloom of light Enel scattered into static.
"Lightning Flash!" A spear of blue-white tore for Kizaru's chest—only to pass harmlessly through light as the admiral preemptively turned intangible.
Enel's flippancy faded. This was no ordinary opponent.
"Thirty million volts—Beast!"
"Yasakani no Magatama. Ame-no-Murakumo," Kizaru intoned, skipping aside on a mirror of light, then drawing his storm-sword to close in.
"Electro Field—Discharge!" Enel lit up like a sun, a corona of crackling air turning the ground into a no-go zone.
"Sixty million volts—Thunder Dragon! "
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Beads of light shredded the air. Enel vaulted higher, dodging the storm of photons, then threw his own trump.
"El Thor—Ten Thousand Thunders!!"
Grove 1 buckled under the exchange, shattered trunks and exploded bubbles everywhere.
"Wahahaha—so it was you, Karl. Figures, only you would kill a dragon," Garp's laugh rolled in as he landed.
"Karp Vice Admiral! Long time. How's life?" Karl greeted him like an old neighbor.
"You planning to go full pirate? Your crew's no joke."
"Misunderstanding. We don't even have a Jolly Roger. That pig disgusted me, that's all."
"So? Want to go a round?" Karl asked.
"Wahahaha! Better not. If we start, Sabaody might not be here by morning. Anyway, the Government's gonna slap big bounties on you. I'm guessing you don't care."
"Not really." Karl tossed him a bottle. "Sky Island brew. For you."
"Enel, we're done."
Enel blinked back at ground level, aura ragged, a little scuffed. Kizaru looked as nonchalant as ever.
"Let's move. Vice Admiral Garp—until next time."
They melted into the groves.
"Do you know them, Vice Admiral? Scary kids," Kizaru said, eyes more serious than his tone.
"Mm. Let's head back first."
"How was it, Enel? Trading blows with a top-tier?" Karl asked once they regrouped.
"Strong. I'm not there yet," Enel admitted.
"He's one of the Navy's peak powers. Your Haki is still green. It's normal."
"Jerry—bring the ship. Time to get coated."
"On it, Captain."
Back at Shakky's Rip-Off Bar:
"How'd it go, Karl boy?" Shakky asked.
"All good. We cut down the dragon. Kizaru and Garp showed; Enel traded with Kizaru, then we disengaged. Don't worry—unless HQ sends everyone, they can't cage us."
"You killed a dragon—on Sabaody?" Shakky blinked. Even here, that was audacious.
"Yup. Which is why we're heading for Fish-Man Island in two days. Red Line's their turf. Haha!"
"Rayleigh, I'll need your hands on coating. Jerry might not make the deadline alone."
"Ha! No problem," the Dark King grinned.
"Fish-Man Island! Uncle, are we going to see mermaids?!" An's eyes sparkled.
"Yep. It's beautiful."
"Karl, if you go, what about this concubine?" Hancock fretted.
"When we're back from the New World, I'll fetch you to Tiger Roar Island. We're in the Calm Belt too." He leaned close and whispered, "We'll make a baby there."
Hancock flushed scarlet. "Mm… this concubine will wait!"
"So your base is the Calm Belt… no wonder you never showed on the maps," Shakky mused.
"We kept to ourselves—until now," Karl said.
Two days later, Tiger God gleamed under fresh coating.
"Karl! This concubine can't bear parting!"
"Soon. When we're back, I'll come get you. Be good." He slipped aboard as Hancock darted to her ship, still crimson.
"See you!"
"Jerry, take us down."
The Tiger God sank beneath the bubbles.
Marine HQ—Briefing Room
"Their captain's name is Karl," the briefer droned. "Ambivalent toward the Navy, openly hostile toward the World Government—especially the Dragons."
"Evidence places him at the Mariejois slave-liberation incident. The masked man was him. Counting the recent one, two Dragons have died to his hands."
"Bounties have been approved."
"'Bloodsword' Karl—Devil Fruit user, ability unknown. 2,290,000,000."
"Enel, Rumble-Rumble Fruit. 1,230,000,000."
"Bunsen—possible Zoan, unknown ability, extremely strong. 1,420,000,000."
"Aderian—possible Devil Fruit, unknown ability. 830,000,000."
"Jerry—Fish-Man shipwright. 310,000,000."
"Karine—ship's cook. 160,000,000."
"Ellie—ship's doctor. 210,000,000."
"An—swordswoman, Chill-Chill Fruit. 80,000,000."
"That's the lot."
Sengoku folded his arms. "The Government wants them captured. But the New World is… busy, and we're stretched thin. Surveillance only, for now. Tsuru—you have it."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
"Wow! Karl, look at all the fish!" Ellie pressed to the viewing port as mountains of scales drifted past the hull.
The deep sea still had the power to make even veterans feel like children.
"This leg's Jerry's home turf," Karl said. "He's in charge."
"Haha, leave it to me," Jerry said proudly.
"Uncle Jerry, are we there yet? It's so dark," An asked.
"Still a ways to go. We're around six thousand meters now—sunlight can't reach. Fish-Man Island sits about ten thousand meters down, but the roots of the Sunlight Tree Eve bring light to the island." Jerry's voice warmed with pride.
"Those sea kings are as big as the ones back home in the Calm Belt. My trigger finger's itchy," Aderian joked.
"You'll get us sunk before you scratch it," someone snorted.
"Heh—kidding!"
"Ocean's nastier than land, some days," Karl said.
Half a day later, the arch flared into view—the gate to Fish-Man Island. With Jerry vouching, the Tiger God slipped through without a hitch.
"Pretty!" Ellie gasped. "Karl, where are the mermaids?"
"First time here too—you'll have to ask Jerry."
"Hahaha! Dock first, then the palace. Once King Neptune hears you helped free the slaves of Mariejois, he'll want to thank you personally." Jerry beamed.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/FicHaven786