Chapter 87: Towards Baterilla Island
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Over at the Harbor, with minutes after the clash between Vlad and Garp ensued, the effects of their colliding powers was enough to scare Eleine who never felt such a pressure rush over her, not even when seeing Nihiloors full body.
"What about Vlad?" asked Titania holding tight on Eleine's hair, while turning her head over to see the Castle getting far from her.
"We don't have the luxury to negotiate with such a strong enemy. Don't worry, Fairy. Vlad would not allow himself to die against that old man, nor is he the type of person to stay limp and allow people to take advantage of him."
"It's all my fault … for having such a family." commented Bonney who was held by Eleine, as she blasted most of the Royal Guards standing in front of her.
"Don't stress yourself, little Bonney. Now you are with us, and we'll do everything to see you safe." replied Eleine, as she entered into a cold state of mind, focusing all her power in her legs.
Using her innate agility that Vlad was enhancing, she kicked harder on the ground having the area around her footing shook, while the young lady called out in her mind the ability of her Master.
'Phantom Steps'
The Royal Guards who initially could see Eleine sprinting with an impressive speed, suddenly saw her disappear like a ghost, reaching closer to the entrance to Everfall City, and while she entered the City, various people wearing Marine Uniforms appeared.
She couldn't recognise them, increasing her sense of vigilance and reaching the idea that King Taelar and Queen Conney sent the Marines after them.
Appearing in a couple of minutes at the Harbor, she saw Dalyon already taking the Caravel from the harbour, making her frown believing the Lunarian was planning to escape alone.
"Little shit, do you by chance think you can survive by fleeing with my ship?" asked Eleine with a cold tone, after jumping toward the ship to catch it departing from the harbour.
Her aura changed, morphing into a murderous state as she placed Bonney down on the main deck, especially when she looked at the white-haired man who wrapped a cloth around his body to cover his black wings.
"Quiet down, you foolish woman. You are in no place to question my decisions.
Haven't you seen the man who stepped on this Island? I'll be a moron to think I can defeat that person who holds such incredible Haki."
Eleine still stepped to the Officer's Quarters where the steering wheel was located, and with her expression remaining cold akin to a Banshee, she saw how Dalyon remain calm when facing her.
"Vlad still has to arrive, move the ship around the shore of the island." said Eleine with an ordering tone, only to be denied by Dalyon who continued to take the Caravel toward the high sea, escaping from the Marine's Flagship that anchored at the Harbor.
"Listen, woman. That guy is done for if he is facing the old marine guy. You are lucky you managed to escape alive, and shouldn't be yelling in my face."
"Don't forget who you are talking with, weakling." mentioned Dalyon who released some of his flames around his hair before extinguishing them for worry someone with their Observation Haki would perceive his Race powers.
Aware of the disparity between herself and Dalyon, she could only give him a cold look, as the Caravel was distancing away from the Sorbet Kingdom, leaving out the Soul of the crew to deal with a difficult challenge.
Yet, as she watched the shrinking City along with the girls, there was a figure who was flying at a high altitude, approaching their ship and minutes later dropping on the ship that it created an impact.
"Hah, hah. My legs hurt like hell … and still, I am a weakling compared to those people.
To think I believed I could take them down with my meagre strength. Blind faith, that would lead to my demise…"
The girls who rushed at Vlad's side saw him drenched in sweat, with his legs muscles pulsing around from the strain they received in him going all-out in the fight.
On the other hand, Eleine heard Vlad's disappointed murmuring, targeting his inability of facing on equal heights the Vice-Admiral, and as she dropped on her knees beside him, she took his hands, calling out with some encouraging words.
"That's not true, Master. If that old man was your age, would he be capable of defeating you? Not in a million years, so don't be down about this. It is as you said...
"What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."
"…"
Hearing her words, while also feeling her warmth he extended his hand and caressed her face from his lying position.
"Good job, you anticipated that I would be late, and already had taken the ship on the sea… You've had your thrilling experience, little Eleine?"
"Mhmm, but I'll rather see you in that confident state of yours, instead of you lamenting over something that isn't in our control."
"My, my, who would think my little Eleine is nowadays a Stoic."
"Stoic?"
"Something that I will discuss with you for another time.
Now stop giving me that look as if I got myself beaten so badly. I still managed to land a good strike on that old man … while also losing terribly."
"Of course you lost, Dracul. Do you even know who that old man was?
That was Garp the Hero, the one who defeated the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
To him, we are just brats who try to entertain him, a bored old fuck with monstrous power capable of killing both of us in seconds."
Eleine looked at Dalyon with cold eyes, before touching Vlad's hands to soothe the sensation he gained from losing, but found herself watching the black-haired man laugh in a bountiful manner.
"Dalyon, you aren't wrong about that. That old man maybe, or might be capable of killing us, but he would for sure find it easier dealing with a brat like you, who still needs to stick his head from his ass."
"Enough with this stupid sensation that it's the end of the world if I lost a battle. We should be celebrating right now for a total victory.
What do you think, Bonney? The first minutes of freedom?"
"What do you mean, Vlad?" asked Bonney who looked at Vlad as he got up on his feet, while picking Eleine up.
"Remember that Prince I've told you about in Yehimal? After he managed to free himself from the chains controlling his life, he felt a sense of relief, the sweet freedom, while his dreams and targets started growing inside his mind and heart."
"I still haven't thought about it, can I respond after a couple of hours?"
"Anytime. Now, Titania, come with me to the Captain's Cabin and let's check on the map.
Our next Island is Baterilla Island, but without the right coordinates, we might as well go to Roshwan Kingdom overcomplicating the journey."
Titania who was standing on Eleine's shoulder, flew up landing on his nose, later on looking into his black eyes where she noticed they were calm, instead of being angry or upset over his defeat, and while she was now alone with him, she heard his confused remark.
"Titania, I think I found more leads toward my own origins, apart from the necklace I got in Calmaria Island …
Queen Conney mentioned to the Admiral in an attempt to stop him from going all-out that ``I am one of the Princes of Kaysang Kingdom."
"Wait, really? This is an unexpected lead for sure." commented Titania while continuing to stay on Vlad's nose, finding out this place to be the most comfortable when she was alone with Vlad, now that he grew larger.
"Or it might be a deceit to confuse both of me and the old man. Eitherway, it worked as she intended."
Vlad discussed with Titania about the incidents that happened in the Rock's King Castle while they were staring at the large map of the South Blue granted by old Patrick, and it was evident that they had to turn around from Everfall, and reached to the North, but they still kept pondering about Vlad's identity.
"Didn't you say the old lady gave you her snail number? Would it be easier for you if you just call her and ask directly? … Not now, but when everyone calms down from what we did."
He took his golden necklace and using Anathema which he formed into a perfect fit for the key, he tried again to unlock the necklace but it failed on him.
"I did promise her that I will inform her of Bonney's progress, so with that occasion I will call her."
Pushing away these small troubles of his about an origin that would do nothing for him, now that he was Vlad Dracul, he looked closely at the Map and adjusted his glasses.
He took out the navigation tools he never used because he was blind when Patrick trained him and started to chart and plan his way to his new destination.
"Wow, you are faster than me, even though I've been doing this our entire journey." commented Titania watching how Vlad was drawing various lines on the map, making him to smirk ever so slightly.
"And who was the one to teach you, Titania?"
"Well, obviously, you … but this is the first time you are doing this, and I am just surprised at how quick you are, not that I could do it as fast as you."
"If you feel bad for stealing your job, tell me and I will make space for you to take us to Baterilla, "Captain"."
"Cut it off, I am not the "Captain". Besides, it's always better if we do this together."
Vlad nodded and in no time he finished plotting his journey to Baterilla, which followed him into taking over the steering wheel spinning around the wheel and turning the ship in an 360 °.
He detoured the Island of Sorbet Kingdom and for a decent part of his new journey, he steered the ship toward the North of his magnetic compass.
Eleine, Bonney and Titania were around him as they checked on what he was doing, curious about how their mysterious captain was so flawless in his movements.
"Wow, Titania you really are lacking compared to Vlad." jabbed Eleine who was at Vlad's right side, peeking at him as he was holding the compass.
"Hmph, at least I know how to navigate unlike someone else."
"Vlad, do you mind if you explain to me how to read charts and also follow the compass?" asked Bonney, who was at his left side, and the answer to her curiosity was something she expected.
"In a bit, since I am prepared to do the 340 ° shift in the direction of Baterilla, afterward, I'll respond your questions regarding navigation, at least to the extend my abilities allow me."
As he waited patiently observing the weather that was still in a typical Sorbet Kingdomwinter climate.
He encountered a new serious challenge while navigating with his eyesight particularly recovered, his glasses were getting fogged by the condensation created by his breathing and cold air and snow drifting over the white veil of snow he entered.
It was truly spectacular, losing yourself in a world of white, where it gave you the illusion you even lost your footing, an effect he initially didn't bother to register since he couldn't see anything, instead just relied on his other senses to navigate the world.
Now this phenomenon was a first even for himself and Dalyon who got walked out of his cabin to watch the new sights of this new journey of his that revolved around his idea of defeating Vlad, for which he needed to train.
Hours passed without Bonney, Eleine or Dalyon having a clue where they were directing, apart from knowing they were "Going to Baterilla" since Vlad and Titania remained mysterious in telling them more details.
Yet the important moment arrived after 3 hours since departing from Sorbet Kingdom, where they spent almost 2 hours in sailing this white misty world, being the point where Vlad started spinning the steering wheel again, taking the wheel directed to 340 ° as he mentioned to Bonney.
"Now, my ladies, you can relax since this journey of ours will take a full week, and from my calculations we are due to arrive on 4th or 5th of September." said the navigator who secured with the Caravel's ingenious mechanism of blocking the steering wheel on a direction like some well wheel.
Saying that the Caravel made its way out of the snowy-white mist formation, and the effects of the warming temperature was felt immediately, with Vlad taking off his winter coat, leaving out only his white-silk shirt that he began opening up.
"Staying 3 months in a winter climate and returning back to a temperate climate can actually affect your biological mechanism, or so it said the author of an old book from the year 1389, and sensing it myself, I can tell how uncomfortable it can get.
Eleine too started taking off her coat, revealing a stylish red shirt that kept bound her large bosom, while Titania started pulling around beginning to sweat because she was wearing winter clothes.
Meanwhile, Bonney who saw the sun shining bright over them, warming up this part of the sea they were traversing, initially didn't understand the first changes of those who experienced a warm climate home.
Only after a couple of more minutes than the rest, did she feel uncomfortable, taking off her coat and resuming wearing only her long trousers and shirt that she started pulling around to make space for her milky white skin to breathe.
"I'll be in my Cabin … Bonney if you are still curious about navigation knowledge, you can check on me. Titania, see that those Gulls are being fed some wet bread, while Eleine, you are free to do whatever you wish."
"What about that winged guy?" asked Eleine standing beside the black-haired man who watched over the horizons.
"Same approach. I'll not lower myself into checking on him, knowing he wants to defeat me. Also, from what you've told me, he behaved himself and didn't cause too much ruckus while I was away."
"Yeah, but today … He was the one who took the ship from the harbor, and I had to catch it myself. Vlad, it's clear he planned to ditch us, and we can't let such a threat travel with us, without constraining him down."
"Ohh, so it was him who took the ship out. He probably felt the Haki of that old man, since he is also a senzory type like myself. Good on him, it was the right decision."
"Senzory type? What do you mean? Are you referring to your Observation Haki?"
"Mhm, do you remember what I taught you, Eleine, about what I believe the Observation Haki abilities should be?"
"You said that Observation Haki is like the 3rd eye that stopped developing at our stages of conception."
"Haha, that's just my analogy, Eleine. But the essence was reaching there. When you open this 3rd eye, you feel as if you can see a different dimension, a different plane of existence where if you focus yourself things move slower in front of your eyes.
You can feel different states of mind, which I like to call Aura, and the most important to one's survival, being able to grasp the deepness of power in other people."
"You can do all of those with this new ability you awakened?"
"Actually, this ability people call Observation, was in a half awakened state for me but I failed to realise it and strive on fully awakening my Observation.
How comes it was only half-awakened? That can be attributed to the time I was blind when I had to teach myself and learn to perceive the World with different eyes.
I could feel the movements of people going slower in my direction and even their auras, but it wasn't to the stage I can feel it right now."
Eleine, Bonney and Titania were listening to Vlad speak about his new abilities and were still left shocked by how impressive it sounded in theory.
Only Eleine who reached far into his training tasted the miserable defeat she received because of this ability that nullified any of her attempts on delivering a clean strike on him.
"We'll also be able to reach this state? To awaken our Observation Haki? The Armament, where you coat your hands and weapon in that black luster?
How long would it take me to awaken my Haki?" asked Eleine, watching the tall man with serious eyes and his response as he departed toward the Captain's Cabin, left her and the girls thinking.
"You will awaken your Haki for sure, as long as you are training in the manner I teach you. While for your last question, only you can answer that question, since it's not up to me if you awaken or not."
"... An estimate maybe? Come on, give me some hope at least."
"Eleine, it only depends on you. All I can do is teach you from experience, and ready you for an easier awakening when that happens.
It could be weeks, months, or even years before you find that enlightening moment."
Leaving the girls to ponder on what was said, Bonney and Titania touched the black-haired woman's shoulder, giving her an encouraging look before commenting to lift her spirits up.
"I am sure you'll reach those abilities faster than me … I am certain of that."
"Says the lazy Fairy who doesn't even train?"
"Sis … I still don't understand much of what Vlad talks when he expresses his thoughts about Haki, but I hope you'll reach that state, and help me to awaken too."
"... I'll get to pester that flaming chicken, and test around various of my ideas of what Vlad talked when referring to Haki."
"But aren't you on cold terms with him?"
"Hmph, if he remains petty over a misunderstanding, that he is just a brat who will never be able to make Vlad get worried in a possible future fight.
Besides, I learned a lot about that guy, and once you peel his lairs he is actually easy to approach."
"Why tell Vlad that he is dangerous, if you actually managed to understand him a little bit? I don't dislike Dalyon at all, especially from the moment he cooked for the kids." commented Bonney while hearing Eleine's shrewd remarks, something that was supported by Titania who nodded.
"Indeed, he isn't a bad guy per se, he just doesn't know how to express himself and socialize. And gets flustered when he tries to talk with us, or bursts in flames when we give him the impression we make fun of him."
"Why? I don't know, I just don't like his face at times. Always acting arrogant and smug, makes me want to punish him, and make it harder for him."
"..."
"Could it be... that are you interested in Dalyon?" asked Bonney with her face full of amazement, leaving Eleine's face to crumble like bread crumbs that Titania was preparing for the gulls.
"Impossible. You think I would be interested romantically in that arrogant flaming chicken?"
"I mean, you are the one who got closer the most to him, helping him around in the ship. Sooo??"
"Again, stop with the absurb comments. There's nothing between me and that Dalyon guy... I am just using him so I could catch up to Master."
Titania threw Eleine a look, an "Ohh really" expression, before jumping to Bonney, whispering to her something that made her blush, before also departing on their own private room, leaving Eleine to barge inside the room, and question them.
"You think I am joking? You better don't dare scheme something on me, or you'll get in big trouble with me! You two better remember that I will be the one to make Master mines."
"The last time I remember talking with Vlad about this, he said he isn't interested in you in that way." commented Titania, not wanting to bother herself with Eleine's jealousy episodes.
"That was 4 months ago, it's old history. Things are always changing each day, and this matter also changed."
"... Okay. Are you sure that you don't have a perverted complex for Vlad, because of his dark personality?? Maybe is your kink or something...
Also, are you sure, that there's nothing between you and Dalyon?" jabbed Titania, enjoying herself when seeing Eleine all this agitated over the fact they were labelling her as interested in Dalyon.
"If you continue annoying me with me being interested in that flaming chicken, pray that you get some sleep in the following weeks. I'll be like a ghost haunting your dreams especially when they get sweeter."
"My, my. Eleine is tsundere. Hehe, understood. I'll never comment about it."
.
The sea travel for Vlad became something manageable for Vlad now that he had the addition of 2 members to his Caravel, even though one was more like a Ghost who rarely interacted with.
The addition of Bonney to the Ship was something that was like a balancing weight between Titania and Eleine's bickering, who were having arguments in their private room, with most of them being centered on him, and who he picked.
Now that Bonney was around, those discussions centered on him diminished tremendously, especially with his new training regime, which left Eleine in constant pain and numbness, while Bonney too reached to the next stage, but far easier than the black-haired woman who at times, Vlad could tell was turning into a Wraith.
Any person with two eyes could tell that Eleine was a woman with a lot of potential, and enormous untapped potential that he was digging out with each day of their training.
In fact there was such a night discussion inside the Captain's Cabin between a man and a black longsword happening thanks to a deeper connection linking their own spirits.
'Do you still look down on that doll of mine after what you've seen today?'
{Dracul, I can agree on this point with you, this woman is indeed something special for sure. She has a touch of Madness from how high her drive is to improve herself, working herself up until you need to pick her up from the floor.}
'Of course, but the credits can be attributed to me too, since I am such a great instructor.'
{Most humans would collapse mentally if they would be subjected to your tyrannical training. So if you want to inflate your already large ego, the match of characters was perfectly found.}
{What surprises me, is that it wasn't you who picked her up, instead, it was she who was drawn to you.}
{She has an affinity with Observation Haki too, sensing Auras, otherwise, she wouldn't be attracted by your disposition and Aura.}
'Regardless of the circumstances of our meeting … If I didn't pick the optional island of my journey, Athkatla, she would probably have died by not knowing how to satisfy her twisted desires, dying like a lowly whore.'
{That's something out of our reach. There's usually a grander play in this Chaotic World.}
'Hah? Aren't you talking about Fate? Besides, I don't believe in such concepts, they seem too far stretched even when considering the reality we live in, where talking swords exist, and fruits capable of granting inhumane abilities lurk around.'
The back and forth between the man and the sword, ended with Vlad releasing an evil smile, while commenting with expectations for an interesting future.
'I am looking forward to seeing her mature herself. This is just the beginning, since I have so much to teach her.'
.
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A/N: The End ...
This was the Sorbet Kingdom Saga, hope you guys enjoyed reading this 30+ chapter Arc as I enjoyed writing it. Maybe give out your thoughts in the comments or a batch of new reviews? It wouldn't hurt me and my little ego.
Now, we are going to Baterilla, exploring the footsteps of people of the past. The pace will be increased, since the power-level for Vlad increased, and probably only the Guardians placed by Atlas would prove to be a challenge.