Making their way through the small town, they spotted a tavern on the side of the street called: "Star Tavern" It was a small wooden tavern between two large buildings with dual doors. Making his way inside, Azuma found himself inside your typical tavern; wooden floors, a long bar, round tables and barrels for chairs.
As he and his crew made their way inside, Azuma couldn't help but notice some of the people looking at them with hostile expressions. The captain sighed walking towards the bar when a tall buff man with short brown hair dressed in a white sleeveless shirt and tan pants blocked his way.
"Where do you think you're going...pirate? We don't allow your kind here. Maybe stardust casino does, but in here...that's a whole other story. So why don't you just turn around and get back in your ship before things get ugly?"
His crewmembers grew frustrated, glaring at the man but once more Azuma motioned them to calm down. That's when the thug placed his hand on the captain's coat snapping: "Hey! You got shit in your ears!? I told you to get out of here! Or would you like me to bash your head in!"
Without a word, Azuma gripped the man's hand touching his coat, gripping it firmly before a loud crack echoed through the tavern. "AAAGGHHH! MY HAND! YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Gripping his broken hand, the assailant threw a strike with his right fist. All citizens watched with mouths dropped as Azuma caught his attack with one hand, a cold glare on his face.
"I'm tired of everyone treating all pirates as if we're monsters...if I'm correct, you threw the 1st punch, so that means I'm justified to defend myself" Pulling the thug closer by his fist, Azuma bashed his head against the man's, leaving a bruise on both of them. While his healed in seconds, the tall man hit the ground out cold.
Naiomi slowly walked over to her captain, placing her hand on his shoulder. Azuma...are you ok?" He was silent for a moment, looking down at the defeated brute before answering: "I'm tired of being hated for being a pirate, no one should judge another for being something they want to be. I chose to be a pirate, do I really deserve to be shamed for it?"
Naiomi held him close comforting him. Naiomi held him close looking around to see the others going back to eating and drinking, scared of the woman's cold glare. Taking a deep breath, Azuma assured them he was fine and made his way over to the bar. The crew sat at the bar, taking up most of the row of seats as their captain placed three gold coins down before the bartender who was a young woman with long blue hair and green eyes dressed in a brown bartender uniform.
"Five root beers please" He ordered before resting his hands on the bar. That's when Kiozen turned to him a few seats away asking: "By the way Azuma, I never asked you...how did you get your magika ability? If I Rember correctly, you have the ability to rapidly heal at super-human speed, correct?"
"Y-yea...I was given this ability because at the time, all I wanted was to survive, to be given a 2nd chance at life. My old crew betrayed me and left me to bleed out on a random island. Luckily, I found a magika crystal I used to hydrate me, but instead woke up to my wounds quickly healing. If I hadn't eaten that crystal...I'd probably be dead"
His crewmates grew annoyed, with Roxie asking: "Do you know where those bastards are? We should find them and kick their ass!" Azuma sighed. "I'm afraid I don't know where any of them are, I've just been waiting to run into them. If I wasted all my time hunting them down, I wouldn't have time to grow stronger. Trust me...when we find them, they'll get what's coming to them"
Meanwhile...
A sea corp soldier ran through a large white corridor, past fellow soldiers as he burst through two large steels doors into a dark office as the silhouette of a man sat at his white desk. In a deep serious tone, the man spoke: "What is it, Yuto?"
In a worried voice the tall thin soldier held up a paper revealing Azuma's bounty poster. "I-I'm sorry to bother you commander...but it seems the pirate known as Azuma Kenousa along with his crew have defeated one of our A-rank bounty hunter squads. What do we do sir?"
The dark silhouette glared in the corner. "Tell me...which squad did this pirate managed to defeat might I ask?"
"it-it was the phantom shade sir" Without warning, the commander slammed his fist down on his desk in anger. "Tsk, to think one of our highest ranked bounty hunters could be defeated by nothing more than nameless pirates!" Swiping the bounty poster from the man's grasp, the commander of the sea corp took out a black marker, changing the pirate captain's pathetic 20,000 gold bounty to a surprising 200,000 gold!
"That pathetic pirate may have gotten lucky, but let's see him try to hide now that his bounty is 200,000. Update the posters soldier and order S.D 10 to capture the runt as well as his crew. Someone with mere luck will have little to no chance again the secret division, even if it's our weakest of the 10 squads"
Bounties
Azuma - 200K G
Naiomi - 150K G
Kenzu - 50K G
Roxie - 10K G
Kiozen - N/A
The crew finished drinking at the tavern, making their way back to the ship to rest until they were ready to head to the next nearby island. Kiozen and Roxie had to share a room with Roxie passing out in his bed while the candy man created a hemic made out of taffy thanks to his magika ability.
Meanwhile Kenzu decided to sleep in Naiomi's room while the blue assassin made her way over to the captain's quarters. She knocked on the door with one hand on her waist. "Azuma are you still awake? I let Kenzu take my room for the night so I thought I'd sleep with you tonight. A seductive grin on her face. That's when she thought she could hear Azuma groaning in pain. She tried to open the door but it was locked. "Tssk, sorry about this captain" With a fierce kick, the door swung up, revealing a green humanoid creature, it's green human like hand over the pirate's mouth as wings suddenly sprouted from it's back before he looked in the woman's direction.
"Hmph, seems you made too much noise you fool...either way, I, Kasuka of the SD 10 have been ordered to capture you alive and keep you prisoner until my higher-ups decide what to do with you!"
"You're not taking him anywhere you bastard!" Naiomi pulled out a kunai, sending it right for her target's green skull, only for the target to dodge at immense speed, their wings moving at rapid speed.
"Heh, I move far too fast for mere projectiles to reach me. I'll be taking your precious captain, but don't worry...me and the other members of division 10 shall come for the rest of you" The seven-foot humanoid mantis took off through the window into the night as Naiomi watched them disappear into the distance.
The blue assassin began grinding her teeth in rage as she struck the wall beside her causing it to crack. "No one...takes...MY CAPTAIN!" A blue aura illuminated her body as her cries awoke the rest of the crew. Roxie awoke half-awake groaning: "Ugh, w-what's going on? Some of us are trying to sleep"
"He's gone...a bastard in the form of a seven-foot mantis with human arms and legs grabbed him and flew off before I could kill the bastard" The crew gathered on the deck as she explained what happened.
Kenzu thought for a moment with a pondering look. "Hmm, did the kidnapper give any info on where he said he was taking him?" Naiomi shook her head before remembering one thing. "Wait, he said something about being a member of something called: "Division 10" Does that sound familiar to any of you?"
Kiozen and Kenzu shook their heads when Roxie abruptly spoke up: "Division 10...also known as S.D 10. A.K.A secret division 10. They're a squad of four or five members as well as part of 10 different units around the world controlled by the sea corp. Think of it like this: sea corp soldiers and most bounty hunters are mere pawns while the Secret division are semi-bosses. Next are the admirals who watch over said units. 2nd in control is the fleet admiral with the leading commander being the head of the sea corp itself"
The group stared at him in shock with Naiomi exclaiming: "H-how could you know all of this!?"
Roxie sighed, looking down with his arms crossed. "Because...my father is part of the sea corp" The crew cried out in shock at the revelation. "I-I didn't want any of you to know because...because I feel you won't accept me if you knew I had blood ties to the sea corp"
Naiomi and Kenzu looked at one another before Naiomi comforted the crewmate. "Don't worry Roxie, we wouldn't leave you just because your father is part of the sea corp, look at Kenzu, he was part of a bounty hunter squad who had ties with them as well and he still fights alongside us as a true crewmate and pirate"
The swordsmen placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't let it get to you, just because your father chose that path...doesn't mean you have to follow him. Live your life the way "you" think is right. No one can tell you how to live your life"
"Y-you're right, thanks everyone"
"So...how are we going to find Azuma? We know which squad of the secret division we're looking for. Should we ask the people in the tavern? They seem to dislike pirates which means they might have some info on the sea corp" The candy man suggested.
"I guess it's our only starting point, hopefully one of them might know something" Kenzu responded before they made their way back towards stardust tavern...
Meanwhile...
Azuma struggled to break free from the humanoid insect as they flew over the sea. The creature's green arm wrapped around his neck keeping him from escaping. (Tssk! His strength is insane, no matter how much I pull or strike his body, it seems to have no effect on him! Could it be his exoskeleton protecting him like some kind of armor?)
"Hehe, quit your pointless struggling you foolish pirate, in this form my body is as hard as steel. It'll take far more than mere scratching and strikes to break free of my iron grasp" That's when Azuma saw something off in the distance, a small island with what looked like a steel white base in the center with bold black letters reading: "SD 10" In the center of the fortress with large steel doors just below the text. Kasuka descended down to the base as a small camera focused on them. A deep male voice then spoke in an annoyed tone through the camera: "What is it Kasuka?"
"Boss, I've brought you Azuma as you ordered, the 200,000 gold pirate" The camera focused on the captured pirate's face, scanning him with a blue light. "Hmph, well done Kasuka, I'm rather impressed you managed to capture him so quickly, perhaps the sea corporation miscalculated this man's threat. If you were captured by Kasuka, then surely, you're no threat to the secret division, especially division 1 which is said to rival that of an admiral"
The large doors slid open, allowing the SD agent to fly inside still carrying Azuma in a firm grip. With the doors closing behind them, the large hallway lit up with white walls and a blue carpeted floor. The kidnapped pirate watched as dozens of sea corp soldiers walked throughout the halls nearly ignoring them as Kasuka finally reached the end of the hall in front of a black steel door reading: "Cell Block A" Relasing his right arm off Azuma's throat, he began typing in a four-digit code in the keypad to the left of the secured door.
(Shit! I don't have much time left before they throw me into a cell!) With all his strength, he smashed the back of his head into the green creature, finally causing them to let go of him. (Yes!) Without hesitation, he darted in the opposite direction of the cell block, taking a random route in the maze-like corridor.
"A pirate's loose! Capture him men!" One of the soldiers cried out pointing in his direction as the dizzy man took a right, attempting to lose the horde of guards. "Ugh my head...this was so much easier when I was fighting in the tavern"
Still running, a line of guards blocked his path aiming guns in his direction. "Halt or we'll open fire!" Seeing no other way to go, Azuma charged towards them in the white hallway as they fired several shots right for him. Just before the bullets connected, he slid across the floor, evading the barrage of projectiles.
"Out of the way weaklings!" The pirate pushed the scrawny guards out of his way when he saw a tall man dressed in a black suit with long black hair and red eyes standing down the hall glaring at him. His glare soon grew into a smirk as he slowly pulled his fist back. "Focused strike: 1st stance" The guards ran in fear as Azuma put his guard up.
(What's he doing?) In a swift punch, the assailant sent a fierce shockwave straight for him, shaking the entire hall in the process. Azuma crossed his arms attempting to block the coming attack when the sheer force of power broke his guard, sending him flying across the hall smashing into a wall leaving a small crater causing the wall to crack.
"W-what the hell..." The injured pirate choked, the air knocked out of him as he hit the ground...
Back On Stardust Island...
Kenzu led the others inside the tavern as they searched the room for the man that had threatened Azuma hours ago. That's when they spotted him sitting alone at the right end of the bar, his face still bruised. Slowly approaching the brute, he noticed them coming and took a big chug of his drink before slamming it down on the bar.
"Ugh, you runts again...just what do you want with me? You already embarrassed me in front of half the town, what more do you want?"
"Our captain was taken by someone claiming to be part of secret division 10, we were hoping you might know where they might've taken him" The swordsmen explained with a serious glare while the thug just looked at the wall avoiding their gaze.
"What makes you think I know anything? If you ask me, he had it coming, attacking me only increased his chances of it happening sooner or later"
"Bastard..." Naiomi murmured. That's when Kenzu unsheathed his blade, pointing it towards the man's head. "Anyone who doesn't want to get hurt, get out!" Most of the people rushed out aside from the bartender and a few others. "Kiozen...bind him up"
The brute groaned about to take another drink when Kiozen's taffy shot down from the ceiling, binding his arms before forcing him into the air, the lower part of his body beginning to be wrapped in thick taffy like a chrysalis. Slowly walking around the trapped target with his blade in hand, Kenzu continued: "I know you know something about S.D 10...we aren't leaving until you tell us where they've taken our captain"
"Hmph! You're wasting your time, I don't know anything about the secret division. They just show up now and then and leave...as simple as that"
"Really? Then let's see if you're really telling the truth. Kiozen...use the technique you used on Roxie, the crystal creation process"
"A-are you sure? That could possibly kill him, Roxie was lucky to survive nearly an entire siphon"
"Do it!" Kenzu snapped. Kiozen frowned but nodded approaching their target. Gripping the man's face with his left, he opened his right forming a white gumball. "Spirit siphoning" All watched as the white gumball began to slowly turn red indicating how much life energy he had take from his target.
"Agggh! W-what is this, what's happening!?" The man's hair began to grow longer before turning gray, his face becoming wrinkled and aged. "Alright that's enough, I think that's enough" The pink-haired pirate released his grip on the man as the gumball was now half red and half white, meaning 50% of the victim's life force had been pulled from his body.
The now withered old man hung motionless in the pink cocoon when the swordsmen slapped him across the face waking him back up. "So...still don't know anything about division 10?" The aged man shook in fear, looking down at his now pale old body. "F-FINE, I KNOW WHERE THEY TOOK YOUR FRIEND! It's...it's on a small island east of here. I-if you head 60 degrees east in from here, you should come across a small island with a base. It's not hard to miss"
"See? Was it that hard? Kenzu responded before signaling Kiozen to free him. The candy user caused the gumball to burst in his hand, allowing the stolen life force to flow back inside the old man. The taffy cocoon opened, causing him to hit the floor. "Alright, we know where to go...let's hurry before something bad happens!"
Kenzu ran out with the others following close behind. Meanwhile the aged human slowly regained his youth as he laid on the floor overwhelmed with fear. The once tough brute now balled up on the floor...
Back In S.D 10...
Azuma awoke inside a small steel cell with other high-tech cells aligning both sides of the hallway of cell block A. "D-damn it, what was that attack he used? It-it was like he used the force of his punch to attack me from a distance"
"Close, it's an attack only those with intense physical training can achieve...think of it like a physical manifestation of seinshin...You are aware of the concept of seinshin are you not?"
Azuma slowly stood up thinking for a moment... "I've heard the term before. You mean that colorful aura that outlines your body?" The man that had knocked him out stepped out from the corner, standing before his cell with a smirk, his arms behind his back.
"So...you've witnessed the use of it firsthand have you? What you're describing is unstable seinshin, when one becomes so consumed by a certain emotion that it causes their life energy to grow out of control. Seinshin is what we call one's life energy...specifically, the control of one's own energy. Though...by what I've already seen from you, you clearly have no idea of how to even awaken your seinshin, even to amateur levels and yet you call yourself a real pirate. Hmph, I've faced those who could use it to boost their capabilities to super-human levels. But you...you're just some human, trapped in the limitations of a mere human"
"W-why are you telling me this? What do you hope to gain through me?"
"1st...answer me this, why do you want to be a pirate, what do you hope to gain on this fruitless endeavor?"
"I-I want to become the strongest pirate and claim the title of pirate lord" The agent looked him dead in the eye, glaring intensely before taking a step back. "What a fool you are...you easily fell to one of my attacks and yet spout these words of becoming the so-called: "pirate lord" You're either holding back...or severely delusional"
He placed his black shoe on the bars still closely watching his target. "Hmmm, if you truly intend on reaching your goal, tell me...who was the last pirate to hold the title of pirate lord?"
"Uh...I don't remember his name, I just remember he was seen as the strongest and most feared pirate, after I was left to die on an island by my old crew, I vowed both to make those bastards pay and become the pirate lord"
The SD agent slightly shook in anger, slamming his foot against the cell bars causing them to slightly bend. YOU DARE TELL ME YOU WISH TO BECOME LORD OF THE PIRATES AND YET HAVE LITTLE TO KNOW KNOWLGE OF THE ONE BEFORE!? You truly are delusional. Sigh, I'm not going to waste any more time with the likes of you, you can stay in this cell until I decide whether to turn you in or kill you myself"
With that the man walked away, leaving the pirate alone in his cell. Azuma sat in the middle of his cell, thinking about what the man had said. (My dream is to become the strongest pirate of this world...but I feel so helpless, unable to do anything against each new threat that appears. He spoke about seinshin, the control of one's life force. Maybe if I can somehow tap into it, I can get myself out of here before that bastard comes back)
Crossing his legs and sitting in a meditative state, Azuma began to focus on the energy within him...As time passed, he felt as though he wasn't getting anywhere. Nothing felt different and there wasn't any aura around his body. "Tsssk, come on!" Standing up he took a deep breath, slamming his fist against the cell, only to cause it to hit the ground with a loud crash.
"Whoa, so it's true...by focusing the life force within me, I can boost my normal capabilities to inhuman levels" Free from his cell, Azuma once more took off down the hall, this time stopping at a black door with a keypad. Taking a deep breath, Azuma pulled his arm back attempting to replicate the SD 10 Leader's attack. "Focus strike....1st stance" With all his strength he struck the door, only to slightly break his hand leaving a slight dent on the door. "D-damn it! What am I doing wrong!?"
Before he could try again, something sliced through the steel door as it hit the ground split in two. Azuma looked to see Kenzu as well as the rest of his crew in front of him. "Kenzu!, you guys found me!" Before anyone could respond, the SD 10 leader appeared at the end of the hall behind Azuma.
"I'm afraid you all won't be going anywhere, surrender foolish pirates" The crew turned to see the agent preparing to launch another long-range strike in their direction. That's when Kiozen slammed his palm face down on the floor.
"Candy creation: Gumball bolder!" The others watched as gum began forming around them until they were sealed inside a 10-foot pink gumball. Meanwhile their assailant clinched his fist tightly. "Focus strike: level 2" An abrupt aura of purple seinshin energy began to illuminate his body as he unleashed a fierce punch in the crew's direction.
"Here it comes!" Kiozen exclaimed. As the entire base shook from the man's godly strike. A cyclone of force drilled through the hall, destroying anything in it's path before connecting with the massive gumball. Kiozen threw both arms out trying to nullify the impact of the strike by making the gum stick to the floor as best he could. Sadly, the force of the attack was too much, causing them to launch back like a cannonball crashing through several walls of the S.D base before landing outside, just a few meters from their ship.
The gumball cracked open, falling to the ground in a pile of pink gum as Kiozen swayed side to side, dizzy from the attack. "We're almost there, we just need to make it to the ship!" Azuma cried out pointing to their ship docked on the beach of the island.
That's when the division leader backflipped out from the crater in the wall they had made moments ago, preparing an attack in mid-air. "I told you, you aren't going anywhere" Focusing seinshin into his fist, he sent a fierce shockwave straight for them.
Azuma and the others watched as the fierce burst of force flew past them, impacting their ship head on. "WHAT!?" Sweat ran down the pirate's face as he and the others watched their ship break in half by the godly attack. All they could do was watch as their only way off the island now laid in ruins before them. "M-my ship! You bastard...I don't care if it kills me...you're going to pay for this!"
"Heh, and just how are you going to do that? I'm the leader of secret division 10: Yugo Tempest...not just that, I'm not your only opponent...KASUKA!" The pirates watched as the humanoid mantis came flying out of the base landing beside him.
"You called sir?"
"That's right...it's finally time to make use of your magika ability Kasuka, show them why even a unit like ours is made to be feared by mere pirates"
"Yes sir!" The green creature faced the pirate crew with it's green armored hands up preparing to attack. Meanwhile Yugo just crossed his arms and watched from the sidelines.
"YOU TOOK YOUR EYES OFF ME!" He cried moving right for Azuma who had been focused on Tempest instead. With his fast-moving wings, Kasuka advanced straight for the captain, striking him across the face with his armor-layered fist. All watched as a green blur flew past their poor captain, causing him to spit out blood before landing on his back.
"Hmph, you all really are noobs if you can't even keep up with me and even if you did somehow beat me, my unit captain's far stronger than me. You may as well submit before you're all killed"
At that moment Kasuka realized one of the pirates was missing. "Wait, where's the swordsmen!?" The moment he realized what was happening, Kenzu came down from above him, slicing off his left arm in one swift blow before slowly sheathing his blade back to his side.
"Seems you're the one who shouldn't take your eye off me you grotesque insect"
"Hehe, don't worry...I'll make sure not to make that mistake again" All watched as the humanoid mantis' decapitated limb began to slowly regrow like vines wrapping around each other until it was completely reformed. "You all should have known I can regenerate my limbs just like a typical praying mantis. So, cutting off my limbs are just a fruitless endeavor"
"Sigh, don't worry...you're not the only regenerative bastard I've delt with before and unlike him...I was much slower back then" A red flame-like aura began to flow around Kenzu as he slowly gripped his blade.
(Seinshin!? Wait, has he figured out how to tap into the power of his life energy!?) Azuma exclaimed internally as he and the others watched in amazement. Kasuka put his arms up in an offensive position, preparing for the swordsmen's attack, only for him to vanish in a flash of red light, a trail of red energy left behind by his fierce movements.
Before anyone could realize what was happening. The division agent instantly blocked the swordsmen's strike with his armored fists as sparks flew from his blade. "S-see, I said you couldn't kill me, even with your use of seinshin to enhance your speed, I'm still stronger"
Kenzu remained silent as he glared at his opponent with a cold stare. That's when the spiritual aura around his body traveled from his entire body to only his katana. "Don't worry monster...if I can't beat you with speed...I'll just beat you with strategy" Gripping his blade with both hands, Kenzu prepared to combine his unstable seinshin with his blade to maximize it's damage and range.
"Seioshin: Guard break strike!" Lifting his blade up with both hands, Kenzu unleashed a wave of pure red energy straight for the humanoid insect. The man froze in place, letting out a final scream in terror as the attack scorched the ground before it, piercing through Kasuka's green armored body with ease as the foe was split in half by Kenzu's unstable power.
Yugo's eyes widened as he watched his only ally get vaporized by such concentrated spiritual energy. (Such power...however, just what should happen if he recklessly continues to use such power with the proper training?) The crew was speechless as the agent laid split in half in a pool of green blood.
That's when Yugo stepped forward, a calm look in his eye as if what just happened had no effect on him. "Impressive display Kenzu, you certainly have a gift. However...knowing your lack of both knowledge and training in the art of seinshin, I'm sure you don't know what happens next"
All were silent for a moment when the swordsmen felt a sudden pin in his chest. "TSSK!" He gripped his chest in pain clinching his teeth before collapsing on the ground. "What did you do!?" Azuma cried out in anger.
"I'm afraid I had no part in what's occurring, as much as I do enjoy this, I'm afraid the pain he's feeling is from his own ignorance in the arts of seinshin. Think of it like coffee...in the moment you have a vast amount of energy, but after a few minutes your body finally crashes, leaving you drained and out of energy. In short: Your heart is the battery and seinshin is pushing that battery to overdrive"
That's when Kiozen clapped his hands together. "Candy form: Cookie titan!" Azuma and Roxie watched as a 10-foot golem made of chocolate chip cookie dough burst of the ground, blocking Yugo's way. The titan threw a punch straight for the agent's face, only for him to condense his seinshin into a protective barrier around himself.
The cookie titan struck it's target full-force, only for it to have no effect against the man's spirit barrier. "Heh, I can guess what some of you are thinking...if he's this skilled in seinshin, why is he in the lowest ranked unit of the secret division? Heh...I've been asking myself the same thing for years"
The crew watched as the cookie's fist cracked apart before hitting the ground. "Tssk! Fine! I still have more tricks up my sleeve! Taffy armor!" Crossing his arms, a large blob of pink taffy wrapped around his creation, forming into battle armor made of thick taffy. "Let's go cookie titan!" Kiozen leapt into the air, firing small balls of taffy from his finger like a gun as they landed all around the target.
"Oh? So, you're actually going to fight too? Rather than hide behind your creation?" The agent commented with a smirk. That's when the small globs of taffy shot up from the ground like tentacles, grabbing Yugo by the arms and binding them together as the giant cookie formed a sword made of hardened taffy before bringing it down upon the enemy.
Azuma clinched his teeth watching as the sword struck the spiritual barrier, only for the taffy to melt on contact as if his aura were pure flames. "Damn it! Just how strong is this guy!?" He looked over at Naiomi who was watching over Kenzu. "Fuck it...seems I'll have to do what Kenzu did and use as much seinshin as I can"
"Really? Are you seriously foolish enough to use it, even after witnessing what it did to your friend?" Azuma walked over to Kenzu, picking up his katana and aiming it towards the division leader. "Don't worry...it won't be the same, thanks to my magika ability" Focusing on the energy flowing through his body, a purple aura illuminated the captain's body.
"I didn't take you as a fool Azuma, but so be it. Let's see just how long you can maintain that state" Both stared one another down as their seinshin flowed around their body like flames. Letting out a calm breath, Azuma vanished in abrupt gust of wind. The crew looked around but saw no sign of their captain. That's when Yugo clapped his hands together, stopping the blade just before it could connect with his skull.
"Impressive, you and the swordsmen are quite skilled in aspects of speed. However, speed means nothing if it's all you rely on" Yugo kicked Azuma in the ribs, sending him flying across the beach, slamming into a tree. He quickly got up still dazed by the attack when Kenzu's sword flew past him, impacting the tree just inches from his head.
"Fine, you think speed is all I can do?" Azuma tightened his fist letting the power build up within him. "Seinshin fist!" Concentrating most of his power into his fist, Azuma threw a single punch in the man's direction, unleashing a shockwave even stronger than Yugo's focus strike.
The agent used his barrier to keep himself from staggering as a fierce cyclone of force rushed past him. He could feel himself slowly sliding back but still maintaining his balance. Meanwhile Azuma began to sweat now out of breath from using so much energy at once. He could feel pain Aching from his chest but used his regenerative ability to heal himself.
"Ah, so that's it isn't it? You plan on using your ability to heal yourself from any internal damage done from using too much spiritual energy. Clever, but it's not a fail proof plan...even your magika ability has it's limits" Yugo advanced towards Azuma, preparing to strike head on as he threw a punch right for the pirate, only for it to be deflected, sending a burst of force right over them.
"As good as you are, even you can't keep using this much seinshin either" Azuma commented before their feet clashed with both sending fierce kicks at one another. The assailant jumped back with one hand in his pocket.
"Sigh, though I do so love a good challenge, I'm afraid you've wasted enough of my time...it's time to finish you with one strike just as I did before and this time, I won't be as gentle as I was before" All watched as red wisps of seinshin energy began to gather into the agent's fist. "Prepare yourself Azuma...focus strike: seinshin execution!"
The pirate could feel his body quivering in fear, but knew now wasn't the time to hesitate. Crossing both arms, he began focusing as much seinshin throughout his body as fast as he could with red electricity surging around his entire body. "Seinshin: Full spirit cloak!"
The others watched as Yugo unleashed a single strike in his direction, the entire island rapidly shook as a fierce blast of force struck Azuma head on. The attack broke his guard with both arms breaking from the immense strain. Their captain went flying through the air before landing back at the base.
(I-I can't feel my arms...m-my body can barely move) He laid there, struggling to get back up with blood running down both fractured arms. "N-no...this can't b-be how it ends!"
Meanwhile Yugo turned his attention towards the remaining crew: Naiomi, Kiozen and Roxie. The blue assassin held Kenzu close, afraid to leave him open to attack. Meanwhile Roxie pulled out small smoke bombs, one between each finger. "Tsssk, I've been part of this crew for a while now and yet all I've done is just sit and watch while the others risk their lives for me! It's time I stop being a coward and help...even if it means I die!"
Roxie tossed the smoke bombs over to Yugo as they landed at the agent's feet, filling the entire beach in thick gray smoke. That's when Roxie had an idea. "Kiozen! I need you to do something for me!" The candy man looked at him, surprised by the thief's sudden enthusiasm. "I need you to create a magika crystal and give it to me!"
The pink-haired man was confused looking at him as if he was crazy. "A magika crystal? But where am I going to find enough spirit energy to replicate an entire crystal!?"
"Use the ones still in the base, doubt anyone would miss a few soldiers. Now hurry and gather the energy you need...I'll try to buy time for you" Though unsure about the thief's plan, Kiozen shot a string of thick taffy over to the base, using it to pull himself over the smoke and land at the entrance. He saw a small puddle of blood but no sign of a body. Shrugging it off he rushed inside, searching each corridor for any sea corp soldiers.
Back outside Roxie watched as the smoke finally cleared, revealing no sign of the division leader. "What!?" That's when a fierce surge of pain struck Roxie in the back, causing him to cough up drops of blood before hitting the ground on his stomach. "N-no, damn it!"
"You might be the most arrogant of all the Azuma pirates" Yugo commented from behind. Roxie gripped the dirt, his body already shaking in severe pain. "I-I don't care what you say you bastard...if being arrogant means I stop being a coward and start helping my crew, then so be it! I'm tired of watching my friends fight while I sit here and watch! If I don't risk my life like they do for me, then I don't deserve to be part of their crew!"
"Aw, how touching, maybe they'll forgive you...when you're all floating dead in the ocean" Once more Yugo pulled his fist back as seinshin built up around his fist. Just as the tyrant prepared to send yet another strike in Roxie's direction, an abrupt shockwave struck him head on, sending him soaring off the island, landing several meters into the water.
"H-huh?" Roxie turned to see Azuma standing up on the hill near the base, his left palm steaming from using so much power at once. "Azuma!? I-I thought that bastard killed you or at least knocked you out!"
"D-don't worry, it'll take more than this to kill me. This is the captain of the Azuma pirates we're talking about" Naiomi blushed, attracted to Azuma's confident attitude as she continued to stare at her captain while holding the unconscious swordsmen.
That's when a fierce burst of water erupted off in the distance. Azuma looked to see Yugo moving so fast across the water, it was as if he were running on water. "He's coming back, I'll do all I can to buy you and Kiozen more time for the magika replication, but you better not let us down Roxie"
"Yes captain!"
"AZUMA!" The assailant cried out enraged. Azuma took a deep breath as his arm quickly healed. "ENOUGH OF THIS! YOU'RE NO MATCH FOR ME YOU WORTHLESS PIRATE!" His body slowly getting used to focusing seinshin, he unleashed a surge of energy, increasing his defensive and offensive power. A red aura with electricity whipped around his body as he advanced right for his opponent.
"IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SKILLED YOU GET WITH SEINSHIN! I'M THE VICTOR!" Imbuing both hands with spirit energy, Yugo clapped his hands together in mid-air, sending a fierce shockwave of energy towards the entire crew. Azuma instantly moved in front of the incoming wave, defending Naiomi and Kenzu as he struck the shockwave with his bare hand. They watched as his focused energy split the shockwave apart, sending it past them in two directions.
"Huff...huff...give up Yugo, at this rate your body will give out while my body heals"
"Shut up, you talk as if you've already won this fight...but I assure you...I still have one last trick up my sleeve, a seinshin technique that an admiral taught me only to use in a life-or-death situation. As much as I'd hate to use it, seems the day has finally come"
Just then a voice called out: "Roxie, catch!" All watched as Kiozen tossed a blue magika crystal over to them. "A MAGIKA CRYSTAL!? WHERE DID YOU FIND IT!? TSSSK, I WON'T LET YOU HAVE IT!" Yugo aimed his hand towards the falling crystal attempting to destroy it. With a sudden flick, he sent a blast of force right for it only for Azuma to jump in the way, getting struck in the abdomen before flying back hitting a tree.
"WHAT!?" Yugo exclaimed in anger before watching Roxie catch the blue crystal with one hand. (Azuma...I've barely done anything to help you as a member of your crew...from this moment on...I will do all I can to protect the crew, just as you have for me) Consuming the ice crystal, Roxie felt a tingling feeling inside his stomach.
"I'LL KILL YOU BEFORE YOU EVEN FIGURE OUT YOUR MAGIKA ABILITY!" The enraged agent rushed his target, throwing a punch right for the thief. A shockwave shook the island as the trees blew in the fierce gust of wind.
"ROXIE!" Naiomi cried out. The crew watched as the dust cleared, reviling him to be ok, as if the attack hadn't even made contact with his body. Yugo's eyes widened as he found himself standing in front of his target, but something was keeping his fist from getting any closer. "W-WHAT IS THIS...S-SOME KIND OF BARRIER!"
A smile then grew on Roxie's face. "Heh, so much for not figuring out my magika ability. Seems I'm capable of manifesting a large transparent barrier that only I can see. Which means, so long as I remain within this barrier, you can't hurt me"
"RRRAAGGGHH!" Yugo's eyes grew bloodshot as he unleashed a barrage of seinshin-surged strikes to the pirate's barrier, only for it to have no effect. The SD agent began to feel dizzy from using so much power at once as his vision began to blur.
"Hmm, if I can manifest a barrier at will, I should be capable of changing their form as well" Taking a deep breath, the transparent field shrunk down to a protective barrier outing the man's body. Clinching his fist, Roxie formed a 2nd barrier around his fist, throwing a punch straight across his opponent's face.
Azuma and Naiomi watched in shock as Yugo staggered back, swaying side to side before hitting the ground out-cold. A sudden sense of relief washed over the captain as he sat beneath a tree out of breath...
CHAPTER 7 A Crew Worthy Of A Name
"Sigh, we should leave before the bastard wakes, last thing we need is a rematch with the division leader" His crew regrouped as they looked out into the sea as their once great ship now laid in ruins. Naiomi placed her hand upon her captain's shoulder responding: "How do we escape from this damn base? Are only way off is gone.
That's when Roxie spoke up: "I might have a way we can escape from here, though it'll be a pain in the ass to reach the nearest land" Azuma brushed himself off, still covered in blood and bruises. "Hmm, I'm interested to see what your idea is for getting off this island"
Walking over to the edge of the island, Roxie took a deep breath before slamming his left foot on the ground. The fellow pirates watched as a transparent bridge made of Roxie's barrier slowly manifested before them. Taking a step onto the barrier, he made sure it was stable enough before signaling the others. "We can use my barrier magika ability to walk across the water without the need of a ship"
"Wow, impressive Roxie, seems you're adapting to your magika rather quickly" Azuma commented before following behind the pink-haired pirate with the others following close behind. Naiomi and Kiozen both carried Kenzu with one hand over each over their shoulder as the wounded swordsmen slowly came to. "W-what's going on?"
"Kenzu! You're awake!" The candy pirate cheered with excitement as they continued to carefully walk him along the transparent path created by Roxie. Azuma stopped, turning towards the conscious warrior with a smile on his face. "Heh, you did good out there, you were the one who killed Yugo's ally as well as gave me the courage to use seinshin. Without it...we might've lost to him"
Kenzu weakly looked up at his captain before giving him a faint smile. "Heh, I appreciate that captain" The crew continued to walk across what felt like an endless path across the seas that splashed just below.
1 Hour Later...
As the moon illuminated the flowing seas around them, that's when Roxie spotted a large wave headed right for them. "Shit! Everyone watch ou-" the strong wave knocked Roxie into the sea causing the barrier to vanish beneath their feet. Azuma watched as he and the others fell into the strong currents of the ocean as he was dragged under by the merciless tides.
Roxie threw both hands out, creating a large sphere barrier, managing to keep most of the crew from separating from the strong currents. That's when he realized Azuma had already been carried away by the tides and was nowhere to be seen. "No, captain!" Roxie clinched his teeth in frustration failing to save their captain, but knew if he let go, the barrier would vanish and cause the entire crew to go flying in different directions.