Hello again dearest readers, this update is a day later than I had intended, so I'm sorry. I got preoccupied with something yesterday. But here is the latest free release. There are 4 more chapters updated on my Patreon.
Chapter 2
The Straw Hats Vs. Angel
Nami needed several moments to process everything she had just heard.
Luffy's mother is a vice admiral? And this creepy guy with angel wings wants him to help her destroy her?
"What the hell?!" Luffy shouted with the sort of anger that was reserved for most hated enemies. "What the hell?!"
Angel's expression remained the same. "Have I said something so strange, Luffy-kun?"
"How do you know my name?"
"That's a silly question, considering everything you have done since you became a pirate, including but not limited to your achievements at Alabasta and Enies Lobby, wouldn't it be strange not to know who you are? Although, I've actually known about you well before you debuted as a pirate. Since the day you were born and earlier, too."
"Since I was born…?" Luffy looked at Angel with disgust.
"Yes. Of course, I'm aware of your father, too. In fact, I probably know more about your family than you do, Luffy-kun."
"…"
"I never actually met, Dragon, though. Never had the pleasure. I have tried, but unlike you or your mother, he's pretty good at moving around undetected. But I have a hunch I'll get to meet him real soon."
"…"
"But enough about your worthless parents, for now. I want to talk about you. Let me offer you my praises. In less than half a year you have done things that have put the eyes of the entire world on you. You defeated Crocodile. You bested the World Government at Enies Lobby. And all that before you even reached the New World. Bravo. Really, well done."
For the first time since Angel showed up, Luffy smiled goofily.
"Ah, shucks!"
"Don't be flattered by this creep!" Nami shouted angrily. "He's trying to get you help him kill your mother!"
"Oh, right!" He said, as if he had forgotten.
"I need to correct you, Cat Burglar-kun," Angel said, referring to Nami by the epithet on her wanted poster. "I'm not merely trying to kill Luffy-kun's mother, I want to destroy her very being. I want to reduce that detestable woman to a mere shell of her former self. And once I finally accomplish that, I won't even kill her, nor will I let her die. I'll just have her continue to live with her broken self. That, you could say, is my reason for existing."
He said those cruel and terrible words with the innocence of an honest man. The disparity between his intentions and his demeanor sent shivers down Nami's spine. She had never in her life encountered such a sociopath.
"But it's not easy," he continued in an almost regretful voice, as if he were letting people down. "That woman is truly resilient. Look at her son and you will understand why he is the way he is. She's endured a lot without breaking. The death of friends. The death of her first love. I've been trying to break her for more than ten years now. I even murdered some of her dearest subordinates over a year ago."
At that, Luffy flinched, a fearful look on his face, which made Angel smirk.
"Don't worry, your beloved godmother and godfather are still alive, as well as your cousins. Yuki-kun, too, of course. Although, I did try and succeed with some of her other subordinates, but still she can smile. It boggles. Did she not care about them? I simply cannot understand other people."
"So, recently, I wondered if I should execute an idea I've had in my back pocket. Which is to make her experience the death of her children."
Nami paled. This man was insane! A monster as horrible as Arlong. Worse even.
"I've actually considered this for a long time. I even went to your birthplace on Dawn Island several times since your tenth birthday."
"Huh?!" He gasped. "You tried to kill me when I was ten?"
"No, fool. Listen. I may be a monster in your eyes, but unfortunately I am bound to a rather strict moral code. No killing children and civilians for me. However, that bothersome code doesn't prevent me from observing you."
"What?" Luffy was feeling disturbed.
"Whenever I had the time I came to watch you and your friends and family on Dawn Island. Never while Lilia or your grandfather Garp were around. They would have discovered me and that'd be troublesome."
"WHAT?!"
"I must admit, it was a nice escape. Watching you and your cohorts everyday life was like watching the comic strips of the news coo come to life. I got quite a good laugh from observing your misadventures."
"Ah…!" Luffy was speechless.
"Of course, some visits were more boring than others. When that happened, I would throw something at you to spice up the monotony. For example, do you recall that boulder that chased you, Kyosuke-kun, and Sona-kun?"
"That was you?!" Luffy shouted so loudly that Nami stared at him with concern.
"Yes, that was me," Angel said calmly.
"That thing chased us around the entire forest like it was possessed!"
"My ability makes controlling inanimate objects like that quite simple."
"That big rock destroyed half the forest!"
"Yes."
"We were nearly killed!"
"If you did, that would be all of any of you would be worth. And you three were certainly worth more, weren't you?"
Luffy growled angrily. "You're twisted."
"One man's twistedness is another's straight and narrow. Surely, you of all people can understand that?"
"As if anyone could understand a twisted mind like yours!" Nami shouted. "Watching kids and putting them in danger. You're a freak and a pervert! You're worse than Franky!"
"You wound me. Anyway, about my offer, Luffy-kun. Will you and your crew join me in destroying your mother?"
Luffy didn't even need a second to answer.
"Hell no! No chance in hell I'd help you hurt mom! You're out of your mind!"
Angel actually looked surprised at Luffy's refusal. "What loyalty do you have towards her? She's barely a mother from my point of view. I've done the math. With all of her marine work, she hasn't even been with you half your life. Doesn't sound like a very good mother to me."
Luffy glared darkly at him. Almost murderous. Nami had never seen Luffy look at anyone like that.
"Shut up. You don't know me, and you sure as hell don't know my mom, you moron!"
Angel made a strange face showing his confusion. "Oh, dear. It appears I misread the situation yet again. I really am awful at reading people. I assumed you'd jump at the chance. It would have been such a sight to see her reaction of her precious son joining forces with her mortal enemy to destroy her. Oh, well. Guess I will go with my original plan. Bring her the freshly severed head of her dearest son. Or maybe I should just capture you and kill you right in front of her? That might just destroy her. Alright, Luffy-"
"GUM-GUM ROCKET!!!!"
In the middle of Angel's psychopathic mutterings, Luffy launched himself upwards at him, intending to drag him down to the ship. However, Angel reacted flawlessly by turning his body gracefully midair out of Luffy's path.
Before gravity could pull him downwards, Angel grabbed Luffy by his neck. Luffy struggled to break free but the man's slender arm kept a tight hold on him.
"Let go!"
"Come now, Luffy-kun. I know you aren't as foolish as you present yourself. You must have realized the difference between you and I the moment you saw me. The gap between you and I? Yet you still came at me head on. I'm not sure whether to call you brave or foolish. Which would you say?"
"Shut up…!"
"I'd imagine Kyosuke-kun would have made a more intelligent choice. Sona-kun would have been more clever as well."
"Keep their names out of your mouth!" Luffy gripped the arm holding him tightly. His grip stretched would have normally snapped a man's arm, but his arm didn't give in. In response, Angel squeezed his neck tighter.
"You three were amazing together, not unlike your fathers and grandparents, but on your own, you and just you are worthless."
"You think that's an insult!" Luffy raised his fist and attempted to punch Angel, but he caught it easily. "I already know how useless I am on my own. That's why I have a crew!"
"Fire Star!" Usopp shouted from the ship. A ball of fire came hurtling at them, colliding fire into Angel. He lost his grip, freeing Luffy.
Luffy towards the ship. He stretched out his rubber arm to grab the Sunny's mast and get back on the ship. When he landed on the main deck, the entire crew was already there and ready for a fight.
"Thanks Usopp!" was the first thing he said to them. His long nosed sniper had a super tall sling shot in his hands.
"N-No problem," Usopp said anxiously. "But can you explain what's going on, please?"
"Yeah, who is that creep?" Sanji asked.
"Whoever he is." Zoro said, eyeing Luffy's neck. "He's strong to do that to a rubber man."
The skin of Luffy's neck had become noticeably marked and bruised from the stranglehold. The Angel was a slender, almost effeminate looking man, but his strength was the real deal.
"Luffy!" Nami ran to him in concern. She gingerly touched the bruised area on his neck. "Are you hurt?"
"That looks like your neck was severely strangled!" Chopper said worriedly. "I should examine you!"
"I'm fine!" Luffy said agitated. He glared angrily up at Angel, whose wing was on fire from Usopp's attack. But he was not fooled into believing that it would be enough to stop him. The bastard didn't even pay attention to his burning wing. He was just looking down at them with the same attention a child would pay to a line of ants.
"I heard everything, Luffy!" Robin said urgently. "So I understand your agitation. But we shouldn't fight that man. He's the Angel! One of the Pseudo-Emperors! They're pirates who have the power and influence to challenge the Four Emperors of the Sea!"
Robin's words terrified the more weak and easily scared members of the crew, and worried the more brave of them.
"Red Haired Shanks was considered a Pseudo-Emperor before he became an official Emperor four years ago."
In other words, he was a pirate of comparable strength to Shanks.
"Why's a guy like that bothering us?" Franky asked.
"Because of me," Luffy said, surprising the guys. "He wants to kill me, so he came here."
"Afraid you have it wrong, Luffy-kun," Angel said before anyone else could ask questions. "It's not your fault that I'm here. It's your mother's fault. If you weren't her son, I wouldn't be here bothering you."
"Luffy's mother?" Usopp said, surprised. "What does he have anything to do with this?"
"Luffy's mom is a vice admiral," Nami answered. "This guy is a creep who's obsessed with her and wants to hurt her."
"Your mom's a vice admiral, Luffy?" Zoro said in exasperation. "How many more marines do you have in your family?"
"That I know of?" Luffy said. "Just her and grandpa."
"Oh, he's holding out on you kids," Angel said almost fatherly. "Luffy-kun's entire family is filled with interesting people. From the sound of things, he hasn't told you much about himself. Wait there. I'll tell you everything there is to know."
It was creepy how casually he spoke while one of his wings was on fire.
They all knew immediately that they definitely didn't want him on the Thousand Sunny.
"We need to get away, now!" Robin urged. "Fighting him would be like fighting an admiral!"
The memory of their encounter with Aokiji was still fresh in all their memories. They certainly didn't want to fight anyone at his level right now.
Franky felt the same. He was the only one who wasn't there when they fought Aokiji, but he'd been around long enough to understand that Admiral's were no joke.
"I don't think he'll just let us go, though," Zoro said.
"Pirate Hunter-kun is right," Angel shouted from above. "Since I took the effort to come all this way, I'm not leaving having done nothing. If you run away, I will give chase. And on the off chance you do manage to escape my reach, I will head over to your home island of Dawn Island and do what I was going to do to you, Luffy-kun, to your precious younger sisters, Riruka-kun and Layla-kun."
Luffy glared at Angel. "You bastard! You just said you wouldn't hurt innocent people!"
"Luffy-kun, from the bottom of your heart, do you actually consider any of your sisters innocent?"
Luffy made a conflicted face that suggested he didn't.
"That doesn't mean you can hurt them! They're not even pirates or marines or anything!"
"What else do you expect me to do?" He asked honestly, as if being burdened with a troublesome duty. "I don't know where your twin Lucillia-kun is. Luma-kun is a member of Seventeen, so she's tricky to reach. Your older sisters Reina-kun and Aiko-kun are also a challenge. Who else can I go after?"
"How many sisters do you have?!" Usopp, Nami, and Sanji shouted.
"…Six," Luffy said, shocking his crew. "Yeah, six. And none of them are okay. If you're going to mess with anyone, mess with me!"
"If you say so," Angel grinned.
His wings began to shine brightly, as if emitting the light of heaven. He flapped his wings and the fire was immediately extinguished. The wing that was on fire appeared undamaged, as if nothing had happened to it.
The light morphed and a staircase of light descended down from his feet, leading all the way down to the Sunny's surface.
He began climbing down the staircase of light he had created. Moving slowly and deliberately.
Zoro attempted to slash the steps with his sword, Wado, but it was ineffective.
"I don't think these stairs can be broken through normal means," Zoro said, sounding annoyed but unsurprised. "Not that it matters. He's got wings. This is just a performance and a mind game."
Zoro was correct. Angel could have just flown down, but instead he chose to create the light staircase and take his time climbing down in order to tell them it didn't matter if he hurried or not. The results would not change.
"I don't think we can escape with Coup De Burst now," Franky said, observing the light staircase. "This thing is probably attached to the Sunny now."
"It appears so," Robin said regretfully.
"So, what? We can't run!" Usopp wailed in distress.
"What do we do?" Chopper asked in concern. Angel didn't make any hurried movements. At his pace, he would in just over a minute. His footsteps could be heard the closer he got. It was like a countdown to doomsday. Ironic, given the man's theme.
"So, you have six sisters?" Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette. There appeared nothing else to do but wait. Even if the tried to attack him as he approached, it probably wouldn't do much good. And while waiting and buying time might not be the most hoped strategy, given that they were effectively isolated in the middle of the sea, it might've been their best option.
"Is that really the most important thing to ask," Usopp asked dryly, but couldn't help but feel curious. "Seriously, six?"
"Yup," Luffy said, keeping his eyes fixated on Angel.
"Are they all beautiful?" Sanji asked in a serious voice that earned him dirty looks from some of the crew.
"I don't know. They're girls."
"Are they strong?" Zoro asked, two swords in his hands. His third sword, Yubashiri, was destroyed at Enies Lobby, so he had to rely on Two-Swords style until he could obtain a worthy replacement.
"Yeah," he said with a fond smile. "They all are."
"And your mother is beautiful, too, I take it. It's a complete sin that he would dare threaten women. Let's kick his ass!"
"It's sick that this guy threatened your little sisters, Captain," Franky said in disgust, thinking of his little sister figures, Kiwi and Mozu. He raised his hand cannon, ready to fire when the fight began. "I'll help you protect them!"
"I think 'sick' is that guy's whole personality," Nami said, looking fiercely at Angel while holding her Clima-Tact. "He creeps me out. Let's get rid of him!"
"I wish we could avoid fighting him," Robin admitted, getting into her cross armed stance. "But if we can't, then let's kill him or get killed trying."
"Robin… That's a bit much," Chopper shivered at Robin's dark joke, but then transformed into his human point. "But I want to help Luffy's family, too!"
"Ah, dammit!" Usopp cried, lamenting the situation. "Fine! If we can't run, let's fight! I'll save Luffy's family with all I got!"
Despite it all, Luffy smiled. He already knew time and again his crew was loyal, but hearing their resolve to fight for his family moved him in a way it never had before. "Everyone… thanks. But stay out of this. I'll fight him on my own."
"?!"
The crew was shocked at his declaration.
"This isn't fighting a rival pirate. He's trying to hurt my family. So, let me handle him on my own."
"That's insane!" Nami shouted angrily.
"That's not a good idea, Luffy," Robin said. "He's dangerous! Perhaps worse than even the admirals."
"I don't care," he said coldly. "It's my fault he's here. So, let me handle this. That's the captain's orders."
Some of the crew were conflicted between following the pirate rules, or following their hearts and fighting with their captain. The others were upset that he would try to do this on his own.
Nami was especially angry. She wanted to smack him upside the head for his hypocrisy.
Zoro was among the most level headed. He would follow the captain's orders if that was what he wanted, but he was going to tell him it was a bad idea.
But before anyone could say or do anything, Angel suddenly appeared in the middle of them, despite having only been only half way down the heavenly staircase.
"You've got quite the loyal crew, Luffy-kun. Congratulations."
'He moved so fast!'
The Straw Hats had kept a sharp eye on Angel the entire time, but not even the sharpest eyes among them could see him move when he suddenly decided to cease his slow descent and go on the offensive.
Luffy was quickest to react. He lunged at Angel but the slender looking blonde man moved quicker. He slammed his palm into Luffy's side. It didn't look like a particularly strong blow, but Luffy was still sent flying to the head of the Sunny. Or he would have if he wasn't stopped mid air, held in place by some sort of light binding that kept him from moving.
"What the hell?!" Luffy grunted, trying to break free, but the bind wrapped around him would not break. He was trapped. "What the hell is this?!"
"Luffy!" His crew shouted. Zoro attempted to cut Angel, but he dodged with a blur of speed. He appeared at the railing of the ship, standing casually.
"You don't listen well, do you, Luffy-kun? I keep telling you that my vendetta isn't against you. It's against Lilia. You're correct in thinking that I only came to this ship because of you, but Lilia's the reason for all of this. It's your mother's fault!"
"Shut up, you creepy bastard!" Luffy shouted. "Stop talking about my mom!"
"You're a loyal son," Angel nodded. "I realize that now. You would never turn directly against your mother without reason. Even then, it would be an understandable reason that neither of you would hold against each other. Neither of you would hate the other. That's how strong your mother-son love bond is. Perhaps because I avoided observing you when Lilia was around, I didn't realize?"
Luffy stared at Angel with an awkward expression. "I mean… that's a weird way to put it, but I guess that's true."
"So, I came up with a fun game while I was coming down here," the man with a childish look that made the pirates uneasy. "If the son has no hate for his mother, why not force him to hate her by murdering some of his friends in her name? Then no matter the facts or circumstance, you'll always know that your beloved crew was killed because of her. You'd have no choice but to hate her then, no?"
"You're stupid!" was Luffy's answer, but merely shook his head.
"Don't believe me, think of your beloved big brother, Fire Fist Ace-kun. The guy doesn't even know his father, but he hates him wholeheartedly. You think you're better than Ace-kun?"
"You don't know anything about Ace!"
"That's enough!" Zoro said in a strong and commanding voice. "We're through talking, The bottomline is you're trying to kill us, right?"
"Not all of you," Angel said. "Maybe just or two of you. Believe it or not, I don't enjoy picking on the weak. Tormenting the strong is so much more enjoyable."
Angel wasn't the type who made it a habit to kick a harmless puppy that could do nothing and couldn't fight back. He was the sort who enjoyed poking and prodding bears and tigers and the like, earning their murderous wrath and winning anyway. That was who he was.
And if murdering and torturing the pups and cubs was what it took to earn the ire of the beasts of the world so be it.
"I'll give you rookies a fair shot. If any one of you can land even one blow, regardless of damage, I'll go away and leave you all alone. That includes Luffy-kun's sisters and other loved ones."
"And we're to take your word on that?" Sanji said skeptically.
"Ask Devil Child-kun. I'm sure she knows my reputation."
"...The Angel is known to be ruthless and sadistic," Robin said. "But it's said he never lies."
"See? So, ready when you all are."
Franky made the first move.
"If all we need to do is hit you, then I'll just blast you and be done with It!"
He fired his hand-cannon directly at Angel. Heavy duty bullets headed straight for him, but with undeniable grace he moved between the bullets, completely avoiding contact.
Robin didn't waste a second before using her ability, but Angel vanished out of her sight. If he moved too quickly, her Flower-Flower Fruit power couldn't function properly.
Zoro and Sanji moved simultaneously to strike. They could better keep track of him now compared to before. While they'd like to believe that it was because they had adapted to his speed, the truth was the angelic pirate simply dropped to a level that they could manage.
It was frustrating and humiliating, but for the sake of the crew, they pushed those feelings away and focused their efforts on landing a hit on the devilish angel.
"Two-Swords Style!" Zoro called. "180 Calibur Phoenix!"
"Collier!" Sanji shouted, aiming for his neck.
Their timing was perfect, but Angel could still maneuver past them. Coolly, he walked past them. He stood in front of the Weakling Trio, who shook in fear of him.
"So… what do you three do?" He asked in a smooth tone.
"This!" Nami thrust an electrically charged Clima-Tact at him, but he dodged it. Chopper, in human point, attempted to punch him, but again, he dodged. Usopp, knowing he'd just dodge if he took the time to load Kabuto, just tried his luck and threw a package of spikes at him.
A dozen spikes exploded in the air and flew towards him. With a a focused gaze, he caught them all in his hands with lightning reflexes. Usopp screamed in fear and despair.
"Not bad," Angel mused, tossing the spikes over his shoulder at Luffy. They all tensed but the spikes all missed Luffy by a hair, leaving him unharmed. None of them doubted that was on purpose.
The angelic bastard was toying with them!
"Not bad at all. Clearly, this isn't a crew where just the captain is the star. You guys are all rather capable. Truly, you are all worthy of being the crew of the future King of the Pirates."
The Straw Hat pirates eyes widened.
"Surprised? I did spy on Luffy-kun and his little friends periodically for years. I know most of their dreams and secrets. I'm actually a fan of his. Straw Hat Luffy-kun will definitely become the King of the Pirates. I guarantee it."
For a moment, the Straw Hat pirate crew was speechless. A dark feeling of murderous violence welled up in each of them. The strongest and the weakest of them. The calmest and the most emotional. The kindest and the cruelest. They all felt the same thing in that instance. It couldn't be helped. Angel crossed a line.
The man openly mocked the mission they all shared since Luffy had invited each of them onto the crew.
"…YOU'RE DEAD!!!" They all shouted, prepared to jump on him with everything they possessed. They didn't even care about landing a hit any more. They just wanted to punish him.
SHINE
Angel's wings glowed. Seven feathers of light ejected out of his outspread wings, flying towards and hitting each of them. In their anger induced haze, none of them could avoid it.
The same light binds that trapped Luffy, now ensnared the entire crew. They were paralyzed. Helpless.
"You guys!" Luffy screamed as he watch his crew struggle in their light constructed bondage.
"Well, guess I win," Angel said breezily.
"Dammit!" Sanji cursed. "We let him get in our heads!"
"Disgraceful!" Zoro growled, self-deprecatingly. No matter what, he should not have lost his cool. Even if that bastard earned his rage.
"N-Now what do we do?" Usopp asked as he tried to escape.
"What else," Angel answered. "One of you dies today."
Terror spread across each of the pirates' faces.
"You creepy bastard!" Luffy shouted at him. "Stay away from my crew!"
He had tried to stretch his body at him to attack, but the light bindings he used seemed to inhibit his devil fruit power.
Angel ignored him. "So… which of you should I execute?"
He walked towards Zoro, who was on his feet, but unable to move his arms and legs.
"According to my sources, you were the first to join this little crew, Pirate Hunter-kun. Is that true?"
"It is." Zoro glared wrathfully at Angel.
"Then how poetic would it be for you to be the first one he loses?"
"Go ahead," he said, fearlessly. "But do it swiftly, or else you'll regret it."
"You truly are something. I think I'll spare you." He moved towards Usopp, who unlike Zoro, was very afraid and didn't hide it. "You are trembling, Sniper King-kun."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Usopp stuttered. "Sniper King is the hero of Sniper Island. I'm not him!"
"Really, but…?" Angel shook his head. "It doesn't matter. You are definitely Usopp, son of Yasopp, aren't you, though?"
"You know my dad?!"
"Of course. My crew has had to clash with the Red Haired Pirates many times over the years. Your father has nearly shot me down quite a few times. It's quite irritating. Wouldn't killing his son be a nice way to pay him back?"
His fear replaced with hate, Usopp glared in defiance. "You're seriously twisted. Whatever you do to me, don't bring my dad into it!"
"What a loyal son you are to a father you never knew. Luffy-kun over there has a more complete relationship with your father than you ever did. Doesn't that make you envious?"
"No way!"
If his dad didn't befriend Luffy, then maybe they'd never be pirates together. Usop truly believed that.
"I really can't understand you guys," he muttered. He moved to stand above Sanji. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "So, are you Black Leg-kun?"
"Yeah. What of it?"
"You look nothing like your poster."
"Obviously! That's a crappy drawing!"
"Too bad. I wanted to meet the one on the poster."
"As if anybody actually looks like that!"
Somewhere in the Redline, Duval sneezed. He correctly assumed someone was talking about him. He cursed that wretched bounty poster that had his face on it and vowed to one day punish the real Black Leg.
"Regardless, your eyebrows give away who you really are, Vinsmoke."
Sanji gritted his teeth at the mention of the name he threw away.
"Don't call me that!"
"So, you're a son who actually hates his family? Not that it matters. What interests me most about you is the fact you're a cook from that sea restaurant in East Blue run by Red Leg Zeff."
"Why are you bringing him up?"
"He was a true pirate back in his glory days. Plus, I heard his food is delicious. I always wanted to go to his restaurant and have a meal during my visits to the East Blue, unfortunately for discretion's sake, I couldn't afford to let my presence be known. So, one day, I attacked a pirate ship that left your restaurant with food, killed the crew and ate all the food they got from there. You'll be happy to know I consumed every last morsel. It was delicious."
"You…" but Sanji couldn't come up with the right words to describe what he was feeling. To murder to steal food greatly offended his sensibilities as a chef. Even worse, he did it to customers of Baratie. That in itself was a new low. "Pig."
Angel appeared to enjoy the hate spewing at him from Sanji-the entire crew. He moved onto chopper, who was forced into his hybrid form after getting restrained by the light bonds.
"I really have nothing to say to you, Cotton Candy Eater-kun. Other than I wonder how much it'll hurt Luffy-kun if I killed his pet?"
"I'm no pet!" Chopper screamed. "I'm a pirate! And a doctor!"
"Oh? A doctor you say? Well, knowing how accident prone Luffy-kun is, you're certainly important. If he lost you, it'd hurt him on multiple levels."
Angel moved onto the next Straw Hat to torment. He stood in front of Robin, who kept a cold veneer of indifference as he stared at her.
"…I'm curious what you have to say to me," she said in a dark tone. "I hope it's interesting."
"…You really have no idea how funny and ironic it is that you ended up on Luffy-kun's ship, of all people, do you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"For you, the destruction of Ohara was probably the worst day of your life, but to others, it was the beginning of everything. At the very least, your beloved captain over there might not have been born had it not happened."
"What?!" Robin lost her composure at the mention of her homeland, and its destruction being the reason Luffy was born. "…What do you mean by that?!"
"It's a secret~" Angel said in a sing-song voice. He moved to stand in front of Franky.
"So, I'm next, huh?" Franky said sardonically. "What poison are you going to spill on me?"
"I doubt you'll consider it poison, Cyborg-kun, but I thought you'd like to know that your beloved mentor Tom, who created both Gold Roger's ship and also the infamous Seatrain, is alive and well."
"You liar!" Franky shouted. He tried to lunge at him for attempting to toy with his heart, but the light bond kept him frozen in place no matter how hard he tried to break it. "You flashy bastard!"
"My, my. Does the idea that your beloved master has been alive all this time bother you that much? You never actually heard he was executed after his arrest, did you?"
Franky's face froze. It was true that he had never actually heard any reports that Tom was executed, but he assumed it had happened. The World Government was ruthless. His recent experience at Enies Lobby had proved that much. It was perfectly in character for them to just execute Tom without informing his loved ones and be done with it
But… Robin said that Angel's reputation was that he didn't lie.
"Tom the shipwright was recruited by Vice Admiral Aura D. Lilia shortly after his arrest. For most of the time since he was taken from you, he's been on her ship, living rather comfortably."
Franky shook with an indescribable feeling.
"You can doubt my words, but Tom is very dear to Yuki-kun, who has a special relationship with your captain. Although, it wouldn't surprise me if she never mentioned him. Those people really are poor communicators."
Franky turned his head at Luffy, who shook his head to say he didn't know.
"So, how tragic would it be if you died here, after just discovering your dear master was alive? It's a compelling story, don't you think?"
Franky glared with more hate than he even had for Spandam. "…You-"
"Yeah, I know what you're thinking," he said dismissively. "And it does tempt me, but honestly…"
He walked to where Nami was. She was the last of the crew to be addressed by the maniac. "Sorry, Cat Burglar-kun. You're the unfortunate winner."
Nami's eyes widened in fear.
Angel raised his arm. The light gathered and it formed a bright sword of light.
"Truth be told, I was probably always going to choose you no matter what."
"Nami!" Luffy cried.
"Nami!" The others screamed as well.
"You bastard!" Sanji snapped. "You dare kill a woman?! Have you no honor and shame?!"
"Honor and shame? I don't think so," Angel answered without looking at him. His eyes were fixated completely on Nami, who stared up, terrified. "I do have a useless code that keeps me from harming civilians and the like. But pirates and marines? They're fair game, regardless of gender."
"If you want to kill somebody, kill me!" Sanji demanded. "Cause if you kill Nami-swan, I might as well be dead."
"Then die." Angel said unfeelingly.
"You jerk!" Luffy shouted. "If this is only about my mom, then just kill me. Leave my friends out of it! She won't care if you kill anyone else but me."
"No! Kill me!" Chopper shouted.
"No, kill me!" Usopp screamed .
"It's me you should kill!" Zoro roared.
"I'm the one who will make you regret it," Robin vowed. "Kill me!"
Hearing everyone beg to be killed in order to save Nami's life, Angel merely sighed. "What are you? Children?"
The Straw Hats were stunned by the disappointment in his voice.
"It's clear to me now, this crew has yet to taste the bitter taste of true defeat. I'm sure you all faced losses here and there, but judging by your track record, this crew has gone undefeated up to this point.
"Alabasta, Enies Lobby, and everything in between. You've left every place you've been to victorious. I'll admit, you're impressive for accomplishing that. It doesn't take only power, but intelligence, skill, and a lot of luck to be able to accomplish what you all have.
"Still, this is the Grand Line. The strongest sea that is the battleground for the mightiest sailors in the world. None of you are stupid, so it must've occurred to you all at least a few times, but most of your success was thanks to luck. Not that you rookies aren't incredibly capable, but since most of the strongest pirates, and therefore marines, are congregated near the Red Line or in the New World, you kids didn't face the true monsters of the world in any of your exploits. Or even if you did, you barely squeaked by thanks to a factor of luck and the other party's mercy. Or disinterest."
Angel was aware of the Straw Hat's encounter with Aokiji through the rumor mill and his own information network. Of course, that also included the hijinks they went through with Garp.
In truth, he had been keeping tabs on Luffy and certain other young fledglings since they had officially begun their journeys and began making waves.
"You must understand that despite your successes and incredible feats, you all are still very much small fish in a very big pond. There must have been a voice in the backs of your head asking, "We survived this time, but what about the next time? When is the other shoe going to drop?""
The Straw Hats were silent. Truthfully, most of them had thought like that. Most of them weren't as pessimistic as Usopp, but there were thoughts in their minds that did fear the day their luck would run out and that they'd one day face an enemy that was just too much for any of them.
"It appears that I am the shoe that has dropped. Or is it you, Cat Burglar-kun?"
Nami trembled. In the face of a cruel death with no escape in sight, that was all she could do.
She couldn't help but find it pathetic, but she wasn't Luffy or Zoro or Sanji. She couldn't laugh at or stare death in the face. She wanted to live.
"W-Why me, anyway?" She asked. If she was going to die at a cruel man's whim, she wanted to know the reason. Perhaps even buy time for someone to save them, although that felt like a lost cause.
Angel flashed his inhuman smile. "What? Did you want me to pick one of your other crewmates."
"No way," she said with a lethally dark expression. She could be selfish, but she'd never betray her friends. That much she knew. "You said you had chosen me from the beginning. Why? What makes me so special?"
"Oh, nothing really. It's just that I saw you with Luffy-kun when I arrived. You two were sharing something of an intimate moment together. I realized you have special feelings for him, don't you?"
Nami suppressed her embarrassment at the secret feelings she may or not have being revealed by this sociopath. "…So what if I do? What does that matter?"
"The girl I keep mentioning, Yuki-kun, also has special feelings for Luffy-kun. I figured she'd appreciate me getting rid of a rival for her. I think I'd prefer it if she won over you. Also, I think she'll always hate that she was used as a reason to have one of her beloved's crew killed."
At that ridiculous logic, Nami could only sigh in exasperation. She was about to be killed over this sicko's enjoyment of watching other people's dramas and despair. It was frustrating and made her so mad.
"How about I give you an out, Cat Burglar-kun?"
"Huh?"
Nami looked up in shock at Angel's surprise offer.
"I'll spare your life. This will still be your last day on this ship, though. I'll just send you to a random island. Whether that island is safe for you is up to my whims, though."
Nami didn't like the sound of that, but it was better than being killed here and now.
"…What's the catch?"
"I won't kill you… if you forsake your captain and your place on this crew. Say you quit and will never return. Ever. Do that and you will live."
Nami's jaw dropped. Out of the horrible things this man had said since coming here, this was the worst to her.
"So? Are you gonna say it? Or will you die?"
'Do it, Nami!' Luffy urged. 'It's fine. Just live!'
The entire crew urged her to just say the words. Angel didn't lie, so he at least wouldn't kill her. Whatever happened after that, they'd deal with it. She just needed to live.
It wasn't a good deal, Nami thought. Still it was better than being killed like a dog.
All she had to do was say the one thing she'd never say.
It wouldn't be out of character for her. She survived eight years as a thief who only stole from pirates by doing all sorts of sneaky, shameful things. She never regretted any of it because she was doing it for the people she loved.
She took a look around the ship. Her friends. Luffy. Her eyes lingered on him.
It was easy to say.
Too bad she was Bellemere's daughter. A woman who'd never forsake those she loved, even to survive.
Nami took a deep breath and screamed at the top of her lungs. "I… AM A STRAW HAT PIRATE!!! I AM THE NAVIGATOR OF THE MAN WHO WILL BE THE KING OF THE PIRATES!!! NOTHING YOU CAN SAY OR DO WILL EVER MAKE ME SAY OTHERWISE!!!"
Silence. A waterfall of tears streamed down Nami's beautiful face. A wide sad and desperate smile spread across her face."
Everyone stared incredulously at Nami.
Except for Angel, who only looked mildly surprised.
"Hm. I thought you were a more frivolous woman than that. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. These types always get the loyal ones. Oh, well. Time to die."
"No!!!" The crew shouted pitifully. Luffy's face became pathetic, crying hopelessly. Snot and tears squirted out of his face.
"If you want to blame someone, blame Lilia!"
Angel swung his sword of light at Nami's neck.
Time slowed for everyone. Luffy most of all. At that moment, he hated himself. His weakness. His helplessness. Even his dream that led him here.
He would trade it all to save her.
'So, babies, I am going to teach you crap machines something before we go.'
An unfamiliar voice sounded in Luffy's head. He had no idea whose it was.
'It's called Haki. It's a special power buried deep inside every one.'
Haki. The power to manifest one's will. Everybody had it. Few could actually use it.
There were three basic types. Armament. Observation. Conqueror's, which only a select few had.
That's what the voice told him.
'I'm going to show you babies a special Haki trick. It's one of my special moves!'
'What are you doing, Ryuuhei?'
Another voice appeared. It sounded vaguely familiar to Luffy.
'I'm teaching the babies about Haki.'
'For a genius, you sure think of stupid things. Why would you teach infants and newborns something like that?'
'Actually, at this age, they absorb everything like a sponge. They may not remember anything, but perhaps this lesson will prove to be worth it down the line. Who knows?'
The image of an incredible attack appeared in his head. One that parted the clouds.
'What about you? We're leaving soon. Might as well say what you want to say, Dragon.'
'Hmph. Very well. Um, Lucillia. Luffy. Luma. Riruka. And Kyosuke, Sona, and baby Hiyorori, too. I will be leaving soon, and I am taking your fathers with me. I am sorry. I am sorry for any hardships you all will have to go through because of our absence.'
His voice was truly kind. That was the feeling Luffy had, anyway.
'I can't give you much, but I can at least say this. There will always be bullies who try to hurt you and the ones dearest to you. Don't give in. When the world tells you to give up, don't. Even in the darkest times, stand your ground, find your will, and unleash it. All of it.That's all I can offer you. I hope you all have the strength to fight for your destinies.'
'That was a lot of heavy words to tell to babies. Weirdo.'
'You said I should!'
The voices stopped.
In times of great stress, the brain can do incredible things. It will go into an extreme state in order to find a solution to the problem that causes the stress.
And if possible, it will execute that solution.
"ENOUGH!!!!"
BOOM!
Luffy screamed powerfully. Something came out of Luffy. Something intangible, and unseeable. Yet it could not be missed.
The light bonds restraining Luffy shattered like glass. The bonds trapping his crew did the same.
And the sword of light that was about to sever Nami's head… shattered the instant before contact.
"What…?" Nami gasped, surprised that she was alive. Confusion spread across the entire crew. Angel was not an exception.
For the first time, his composed and in control attitude had been replaced with true shock, confusion, and Awe.
"Conqueror's Haki…?" He whispered. "You unlocked it now?"
He was at a genuine loss for words. Of all the convenient asspulls. He would laugh if he wasn't already amazed.
He stared at Luffy, who was now emitting a black smoke-like miasma he was all too familiar with.
"Even that…?"
"Luffy…?" Nami stared out in confusion at Luffy. He was eerily, scarily silent. The dark miasma around him warped and danced as if reflecting his volatile mood. She saw his eyes, which were glowing red like a blood moon.
None of the Straw Hats understood what they were witnessing. It was as though they're goofy, childish, immature, kind, caring captain had become something else.
Something demonic.
To be continued. Well, I hope you enjoyed all of that. There's something really fun about writing a psychopathic and cruel character like Angel. One of the things I struggled most with writing this fanfic is just how best to show to introduce all the OCs I've thought up. Luffy having six sisters and all that. It was difficult to figure out how best to introduce them all. Infodumping tends to be pretty boring. Providing it all in bits and pieces is definitely how I like to do it.
Anyway, a lot of lore in my version of the One Piece was teased this chapter so I hope you'll continue reading to enjoy the pay offs.
You can continue on my Patreon for continued access. Currently there are 6 chapters published there for this fic. Go to Patreon.com/TheWorldForger if you want to become a patron and support me.
With all that said, I'll see you next time.