"What the hell monkey man! I was spending some quality time with my beloved patient and you tore me away from him." Vaeg shouted.
"Quit... your... complaining!" Barbosa huffed, out of breath.
Jimmy stumbled over to Barbosa, Whatz D Face and Belsari being dragged behind him.
"Belsari is severely injured and Whatz D Face collapsed. Vaeg help them." Jimmy ordered.
"No manners, how disappointing." Vaeg pouted.
"This isn't a joking matter. For once, be serious!"
"Death is pretty funny if you think about it. Everyone tries to escape it but it always catches up no matter how hard they run. Life is futile."
"Really not the time."
"I don't like your manner of tone. Just relax and laugh it off."
"Just heal them," Jimmy paused, "without taking their organs."
"I don't take orders from anyone."
"Fine. I'll heal them then."
"No! Now I, the great Vaeg, have just come to a realization. If I help them free of charge, then they'll be in debt to me."
"Whatever, please just heal them without fiddling with vital organs. Also, does anyone know where Tim Tim, Nargo and Jenkins are?"
Ronin sprinted towards the group, fur matted in blood and his eyes panicked.
"HAHAHAHA! FLUFFY FRIEND, DID YOU MISS ME?" Leroy shouted excitedly but Ronin ran straight past him, grabbed Jimmy and sprinted off back in the direction he came.
"F-FLUFFY FRIEND JUST LEFT ME HANGING! BUT WE'RE BROS!" Leroy teared up.
"Leroy, you go find your brother and I'll go after Ronin. Vaeg, I'm trusting you not to do anything too terrible." Barbosa ordered around.
"I might've left the stove on again." Vaeg mumbled.
"YOU WHAT!?" Leroy and Barbosa shouted.
"You couldn't have told us whilst we were on the boat." Barbosa slammed his fist into the ground.
"THAT GIRL SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN IT OFF RIGHT?" Leroy blurted out.
"What girl?" Vaeg's interest peaked.
"We were joking. We... uh... meant the ship's spirit. Yeah! The ship's spirit." Barbosa stammered.
"Oh, that cobswallop. The ship's definitely burning down then." Vaeg grinned.
"We've got more important things to do. We'll deal with you afterwards." Barbosa cut off the conversation.
Jimmy was put down by Ronin in the middle of a street surrounded by weapons. There laid three people, two severely bloodied. Jimmy waded through the weapons, shattered metal also littering the ground. Nargo was sat down with his back supported by his chains barely conscious. Tim Tim was surrounded by a pool of blood with Kuzaname a few metres away, lifeless.
Jimmy rushed over to Tim Tim and checked his pulse. It was incredibly faint and Jimmy started bandaging up Tim Tim. Jimmy noticed thousands of tiny cuts etched into Tim Tim almost unnaturally. He had a large cross across his chest and a deep cut on his side. Gary suddenly appeared, his daughter, who had turned the stove off and left the ship to help out, behind him carrying a crate of healing potions.
Veronica dropped the crate immediately after seeing Tim Tim's state, grabbed a couple of healing potions and rushed over. Jimmy stopped her before she could force the potions down his throat.
"I don't know how many he's taken so far. If he overindulges, he will die." Jimmy explained.
"B-but the little bunny! He needs medical attention." Veronica shouted.
"Will everyone shut the fuck up?" Nargo regained full consciousness, lighting his cigar.
"I see you're alive and kicking." Jimmy joked half-heartedly, extremely worried about Tim Tim's worsening condition.
Barbosa appeared and was mortified by the state of his crewmates.
"Nargo, how many do you think he's taken?" Jimmy asked.
"Healing potions? I think four. Maybe five." Nargo replied.
"I need a definite answer! If he takes six or more in 48 hours, he will die!"
"I don't fucking know, ok. My memory's hazy as it is due to me overusing my fucking powers. All I know is that bucket boy won't kick the bucket just yet."
Whilst this was going on, Tim Tim drifted back into a dreamlike state and met Zendu once more. This time, however, Zendu was hammering something Tim Tim could not identify.
"Mister Zendu, we meet again." Tim Tim broke the tension.
"What do you want boy?" Zendu asked coldly.
"I did what you assigned me. I may even die from my injuries but if I die, I want you to accept me as your master before I do."
"Foolish boy. How could I accept such a weak master with such weak ambitions?"
"Because I asked you to. If this doesn't work then I'll have to force you into submission."
Zendu grinned madly, "You? Force me into submission? Hah, where did you suddenly get this confidence from? Fine, if you beat me in a duel, I'll accept you as my master and allow your body to live since I'm the one draining its life. As an added bonus I'll even heal you to a certain extent so you can fight once more.
However, if you lose, you will let me take control of your body and I kill that bastard Kozo myself and as a final penalty for losing, I'll stab your heart afterwards. So how about it, boy, are you willing to accept my terms?"
"I don't have any other choice, do I? I accept."
Zendu's face morphed into a frightful, agonising smile. He grabbed the unrecognizable object he had been hammering at and split it in half. Chucking one half to Tim Tim he said, "This object will transform into a weapon corresponding to your soul."
As Tim Tim caught it, the object started slowly transforming. Zendu's weapon was clearly the same as the physical sword in reality. Pitch black blade with a white and gold hilt. The white represented the little innocence still within Zendu whilst the gold was his pride. The black was obviously the darkness in his soul.
Tim Tim's object split into two, and became swords as well. One of them was blindingly white whilst the other was also pitch black, similar to Zendu's. However, the hilts were the opposite colour to their blades. Chains linked them together and Tim Tim prepared to fight.
"How interesting. You have a great darkness within you yet it's countered by your innocence. Not many have perfect balance. Tell me, why do you have such resentment trapped within you?" Zendu pried.
"I don't have time for your chatter, old man Zendu. Let's get this done quickly."
"My, my. Look who's impulsive now. Very well, we may begin."
Tim Tim charged at Zendu but Zendu easily deflected his strikes.
"You weren't taught fully how to use a sword, were you?"
"Shut up!"
Tim Tim jumped and slashed down with both his swords but yet again, Zendu blocked it and then kicked Tim Tim away.
"This is really disappointing. I was expecting much more. Looks like you won't be returning to that body of yours."
Zendu decided to go on the offensive and started hacking away at Tim Tim. Tim Tim dodged most of the strikes but was caught a couple of times leading to blood trickling down his face. Zendu raised his blade and Tim Tim tried to deflect the blow with one of his swords. Tim Tim's sword was shattered on impact, Zendu's blade slicing deep into Tim Tim's shoulder.
"Wha- How did it break?" Tim Tim stuttered.
"Your resolve is too weak. You're hypocritical. You are weak."
Zendu pulled his sword out, which was now drenched in blood. Tim Tim fell to his knees, clutching his other sword. Zendu raised his sword once more.
"You speak of peace, yet you border on the line of good and bad. How do you obtain peace when the darkness could easily tilt the balance? You kill with no concept of consequences. You are naïve. I won't accept you as my master!"
"Let me kill Kozo!" Tim Tim shouted.
"Why!? I deserve my revenge on him. He tore away everything. Surely I should be the one to throttle the bastard myself."
"He's done the same to many families. If I kill him it may bring some peace of mind to hundreds, maybe even thousands, of families. If you kill him, you won't be able to turn back. I know you want to meet your family again in the afterlife, so let me kill him. Let me take all the pain and if you help me on my adventure, I'll free your spirit at the end so you may finally rest in peace. You've got to trust me."
"Enough of your blabbering boy. There is no afterlife. There is no second chance. My family is gone."
Just as Zendu went to bring his blade down, Tim Tim wrapped the blade around Zendu and put him off balance. Then with his sword, Tim Tim ran Zendu through.
"This will be the last time we meet until your promise. That means no more plot armour healing from me, ok?"
"I understand. Also, where's the exit, again?" Tim Tim asked.
"On your right, Master Tim Tim."
"I never break a promise Genuichiro Zendu." Tim Tim exited his subconsciousness.
Zendu started pulsing, alerting Jimmy and the others to back off. Tim Tim's injuries seemed to reverse. Each cut inflicted by Zendu's curse ceased to exist. Each droplet of blood lost, absorbed back into the body. The only injuries left were those inflicted by Kuzaname, which had already stopped bleeding. Tim Tim's eyes opened in shock and Zendu stopped.
"Hey everyone. I hope you weren't too worried about me."
Ronin and Veronica rushed over to Tim Tim, incredibly relieved he was still alive.
"Why the fuck is everyone so excited to see the bucket boy still alive? Where was the worry for my injuries?" Nargo complained.
"Nargo, you had no injuries. Just exhaustion." Jimmy glared at him.
"Mister Nargo we did it! We beat the swordsman." Tim Tim started jumping up and down but immediately started keeling over in pain.
"How many potions have you had, little bunny?" Veronica said, helping Tim Tim to sit back down.
"Four, I think." Tim Tim replied.
"Take this." She shoved the potion into his hand.
"No, I couldn't. I haven't paid for it." Tim Tim tried giving it back.
"Just drink it dumbass." Barbosa insisted.
"Fine."
The massive cut on Tim Tim's side remained but the cross mark injury he received on the chest closed up.
"Mister Gary, is that you?" Tim Tim asked, excited to see him.
"Gary is here. Gary thanks you for your help in rescuing Gary's daughter. Gary is forever in your debt."
"It's fine, really. Your daughter would've made it out by herself anyway. She's capable enough." Tim Tim said, slightly embarrassed.
"Ack! The little bunny is so cute and modest." Veronica screeched, hugging Tim Tim tightly.
Vaeg and the others returned, Whatz D Face and Belsari barely able to walk but were alive.
"Where's Leroy and Jenkins?" Jimmy asked.
"How the fuck should I know? I'm supposed to be on strike but here I am helping you dumbasses out of the goodness of my heart." Vaeg complained.
"Which organ did you take, Vaeg?" Jimmy sighed.
"I'm offended that you'd ask that! For your information, I took a couple of their bones for... science! Don't worry, I gave these swabbies artificial bones with my ability."
"How nice of you." Jimmy said sarcastically.
"I know right. Anyway, I'm taking the injured to good old Gary's tavern to relax and have a couple of beers."
Nargo pretended to keel over but Jimmy said, "Oh, no you don't. We've got a job to do."
"Vaeg, take me with you please?" Nargo pleaded.
"That's it. Grovel beneath your omnibenevolent God."
"Stop encouraging the psychopath Nargo." Jimmy reigned Nargo back in, "All injured casualties head towards Gary's tavern with Gary. Before anyone goes, where did Sam go?"
"I dunno. Said something about looking for survivors and walked off." Barbosa recapped.
"Ok, Tim Tim you should go to the tavern as well. Barbosa with us." Jimmy said.
"Nope. I'm staying with you three. I've got my own personal reasons for facing Kozo. And before you lecture me about my injuries, you should look at yours. Two broken ribs and blood seeping through your shirt." Tim Tim said defiantly.
"Fine. Now let's g-"
"WAIT GUYS!" Jenkins screamed from down the streets.
Jenkins arrived a few seconds afterwards, covered in blood and had two holes in his body.
"Are you alright?" Jimmy asked concerned.
"Where's Leroy?"
"Yeah that's the problem. Him and Sam have to gone to face Kozo and the giant."
"Jenkins you go with Vaeg and the others and rest up. Us four will go save Leroy and Sam." Jimmy said.
"You owe me a fucking drink after this." Nargo complained.
"Maybe focus on staying alive first." Jimmy replied.
Tim Tim, Jimmy, Barbosa and Nargo sprinted off towards the final fight.
Although, the two bosses were going at each other's throats still, there seemed to be no sign of Leroy and Sam.
Suddenly, a massive booming cry appeared, shaking the very heavens themselves. A voice so mighty, not one other person could replicate the almighty glory of, "LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYY!"
The man, no, God stood at the base of the giant. Both the giant and Kozo awestruck by the incredible war cry. Leroy grabbed onto the giant's foot and lifted the giant five feet in the air. He started spinning and spinning, his muscles bearing the weight of a giant. In fact, Leroy's muscles just seemed to gleam more in the face of the impossible. Leroy, a mere mortal, spat in the face of God and launched the giant miles into the air.
"I-IMPOSSIBLE! HOW COULD A HUMAN, A PIRATE, BEAT ABSOLUTE JUSTICE!? HOW COULD I, RONZE BE BEATE-" Ronze was cut short as he landed face-first into the ground, sending out powerful shockwaves and creating a massive crater in the land.
Leroy withstood the shockwave with no effort, turned his back with radiating glory and shouted, "SPECIAL TECHNIQUE: LEROY'S HURRICANE CRUSH!"
"Um... did he just?" Tim Tim said awestruck.
"Yes. Yes he fucking did just do that." Nargo said, also amazed.
"So, he definitely didn't need saving." Jimmy added.
"Come to think of it, where is Mister Barbosa?" Tim Tim asked, looking around.
Everyone looked around and saw Barbosa had been sent flying by the shockwave into a tree and knocked out.
"I can't wait to fucking tell Vaeg about this." Nargo laughed.
"Let's leave him here. We need to find Sam and Kozo." Jimmy said.
"What? This treacherous scum?" An ice-cold voice pierced the trio.
The three of them looked behind them and saw an abhorrent sight. Sam had been injured severely and his left eye seemed to be missing.
Stood behind him, a knife to Sam's neck, was a tall, buff man with a horrid grin, slightly bleeding from his battle with the giant.
"I'm Captain Kozo and I'm going to enjoy ripping you limb from limb, ignoring your pleas for mercy. My first mate should be here soon as well, not that I need that retard."
"You mean the one I killed?" Tim Tim replied, his voice actually sounding menacing.
"So now you're playing with my property, are you? Buckle up, you're going to wish you were dead now."
Author's explanation of healing potions:
Healing potions only heal small amounts of damage. They can essentially revive people on the brink of death if five of them are taken simultaneously. But, the potion is made of certain ingredients that if lots are used, it actually poisons and paralyses the body, thus killing the user. The ingredients are extremely common but only certain people on each island are permitted to manufacture it. Therefore, the price of healing potions is pretty expensive