" What is wrong with you?! Why did you goad the marines into a battle out at sea?!" Goenma shouted through the Den-Den Mushi. His usual calm and playful personality had subsided for his anger to come out. " I haven't earned the King's full trust yet. If I'm not careful, he could end up switching sides to the Marines."
" Exactly. You still need to work on things proper. Even if he's sworn loyalty to us." Jinshi told the man. " The two of us are very big-time pirates, so if the Marines had the chance to actually start snooping around the island, then sooner or later they would have discovered our plot. And then everything you've been working on would have gone up in flames, and our time would have been wasted. Don't you see? This was the only option we had." Jinshi explained to the man.
Goenma hated Jinshi's extreme actions, but he had to admit that what Jinshi had said, made sense. Logically, thinking, the Marines would have quickly discovered their presence, especially if they were to see pirates roaming the city. It would just make things even more difficult.
" I see. Alright, then Jinshi. Just try not to get caught." Goenma told the man. Goenma doubted every word that Jinshi uttered. But he had little choice in the matter now. It was a mistake to trust him in keeping an eye on the Marines while he relocated the princess.
" That's not gonna be a problem." Jinshi told the man.
..........
" What is going on?" Markus wondered.
" What do you mean, Lieutenant?"
" Look at them. They've not only stopped firing, but they've completely committed to running. It doesn't feel right. It feels like we're being led into a trap, doesn't it?"
" Maybe." Dalmatian muttered.
" Perhaps we should call off the chase. We managed to hand the brothers off, but Norin is still on board, if we aren't careful, we could end up drawing her into this fight." Markus told the man.
* Clank! Clank! Clank!
The distinctive sound of wooden shoes clanking against the floor rang clearly.
Markus and Dalmatian turned around to see that the woman had gotten out of bed and had walked her way up to the front deck with no help from anyone.
" My health is no concern. As long as we take them down, then that's all that matters!" Norin exclaimed. There was a fire in her eyes unlike ever before. Markus knew she wasn't going to back down from this.
" Sir?" Markus turned to Dalmatian and asked.
" If she's ready to continue ahead, then so be it. Let's keep going." Dalmatian ordered.
Markus shook his head and sighed. " You really want to do this?"
" Even if it means death."
" I see. Okay then." Markus spoke. Markus hated the idea of it, because he knew that he was going to have to cover for her, but he realized there was nothing stopping this woman from seeing things through. So, Markus decided to just accept it and move along and try his best to keep her out of trouble as much as he could.
...........
The Marines chased the pirates for hours, which to the Marines it just didn't sit right with them. Reports on the Black Lion Pirates always painted them as highly aggressive pirates that were known to actively attack Marine ships. Running away was never mentioned, not once.
" What do you think they're doing?" One of the marines onboard asked.
" Leading us somewhere, probably to a trap. Just keep on them." Dalmatian told the man.
" I don't like this, Dalmatian-San. This is beginning to feel a lot more like a set up." Markus told the man. " I just can't get this nagging feeling out of my head."
................
On the Black Lion's Pirate ship.
Jinshi was standing on the front of his ship, staring out at the sea in front of him as the crew led the Marines on a chase across the North.
" Captain."
" Hm?" Jinshi turned around as his vice-captain approached him from behind. " Oh, Himejima? Are you as excited as I am?" Jinshi asked the mountain man.
Red Lion Himejima, was a giant amongst his peers. He stood well over 15' tall, easily towering over, Jinshi. He had short orange-red hair and had a solid scar going across his forehead.
" Yes, the excitement is palpable. We've almost reached the island. What do you want to do once we get there?" Himejima asked.
" They probably think it's a trap. Let's just invite them in. After all, it's the proper way to give a greeting. Right?"
" Right." Himejima spoke.
A few more hours would go by. The Marines continued chasing after the Black Lion pirates, following them all the way through the Northern Sea. However, mysteriously, as the sun began to fall over the horizon, the Black Lion pirates began heading straight to land. This confused the Marines.
Why would these pirates willingly dock at an island? Were they encouraging them to a fight?
" Of course. They chose an island to fight us on." Markus lamented. " Their captain, Black Lion Jinshi..." ' He's practically asking us to fight him. Well then.... I have no problem's obliging.'
" Are you ready? These are the big timers. Pirates with experience in the New World. Those brave enough to challenge the strongest and survive." Dalmatian asked the man.
[ Luffy's fierce attack]
" Of course, I am. It's no longer any question of if I'm ready. I need to be. If I run away... If I can't beat these pirates, then I have no right to call myself a Marine. The rest of you men! Prepare yourselves! We'll destroy them here!" Markus exclaimed. " Do you hear me?! We'll crush you here once and for all!"
Markus voice echoed across the waves.
" HAHAHAHAHA! Do you hear that Himejima? That brat?! I know him... He's the one they called the hero of the blood red beach. The one that fought that bastard Queen and trampled over Kaido! I swear, I thought I heard him say he was going to crush us." Jinshi muttered. " Fine then... You can have the Vice Admiral... I want to see what this kid is made of." Jinshi spoke.
" Very well." Himejima responded.
The Black Lion's ship came to a halt in front of the island and Jinshi stepped out onto the beach.
" Open fire on the ships." Dalmatian yelled.
The Marine ship took advantage of the black lion's being in one place and tried blasting their ship into the sea.
However, before the cannon balls hit the ship, a wall of flames went up right in front of the ship, blocking the cannon balls and melting them immediately.
Dalmatian furrowed his brows in annoyance. " Damn. Guess it was too much to think it would be that easy." Dalmatian exclaimed.
The wall of flames quickly dispersed and Jinshi was laughing.
" That bastard's laughing at us. Alright then. The old-fashioned way. Let's go!" Dalmatian shouted. The old dog was close enough to the shore now that he didn't have to worry about the sea. So, Dalmatian along with Markus, leaped from the ship.
There was no further point in delaying things.
" I'll handle, black Lion. You take care of the rest." Dalmatian exclaimed.
" Right!"
Markus and Dalmatian landed on the beach, together. And immediately rushed The Black Lion together.
However, before either of them reached the giant man, Himejima appeared and quickly snatched Dalmatian up into his arms and dragged him off into the forest.
" Dalmatian-San!"
" Watch yourself, brat." Jinshi spoke. He swung his massive fist at Markus' head, and Markus jumped backwards to avoid it.
Meanwhile, Himejima continued dragging Dalmatian.
" Sorry, But the captain's orders. You're fighting me." Himejima told the man.
' Damn! He's strong!' Dalmatian remarked. He could feel his head being swallowed up entirely by Himejima's hand and he did not like it.
Those two men continued moving further and further into the forest, while Jinshi and Markus faced each other on the beach.
" That was a nice dodge. You have pretty good reflexes for a kid so young." Jinshi spoke.
" Thanks. I get that a lot." Markus muttered. " You don't think you'd be willing to tell me, why you brought us all the way to this island? Would you?"
" Why, it's to fight of course. What other reason does a pirate need? Now, stop the talking and let's go. Show me what you can do."
" Fine then. I've been itching for a brawl myself. Especially after what you did the Frost Kingdom."
" HAHA! You like to run your mouth, don't you?! I told you already, the time for talk is over.":
" That's fine. I've never been one for words myself. Do your worst!" Markus exclaimed.
Markus and Jinshi both exploded from where they were standing, and headbutted each other.
" UGN!!!!" Markus and Jinshi grunted.
Streaks of black lightning radiated out from their point of impact. The energy that came from the two of them caused members of Jinshi's crew to begin passing out. But he didn't care.
All he cared about was the young man in front of him, with the qualities of a king.
" A conqueror?!" Jinshi grinned in anticipation.
Markus felt his own excitement being bolstered by Jinshi's. Soon he found he too was grinning ear to ear.
This was already proving to be his toughest fight since he came to the North. And he loved it.
What will happen when two conquerors, who both relish in the heat of battle come head-to-head? Find out NEXT TIME ON DRAGON BALL... Oh!
.............
Alright guys, I know this one might not be the most entertaining chapter to date. But I promise, I got loads of crazy stuff incoming in the next few weeks. And I promise, the Hand of Buddha......
Well, I can't say that yet, can I? Don't wanna spoil you guys.
Anyways, let me know what you guys thought of the Chapter by leaving a comment below. See ya later!!!!