*RIIIP* *CRUNCH*
Takako deposited another tentacle full of uprooted trees after clearing the branches.
Franky was hard at work building a towering monument. His speed was immense, but even so he did not skimp on safety or quality. In fact, he had enough time after processing the felled trees and putting them to use that he could carve reliefs into the pillars, depicting people climbing up to reach for the heavens.
Of course, his quick progress did not go unnoticed. Even without Itomimizu announcing to the whole world that the tallest point on the island was officially the top of the tower. Whitebeard's men had been paying attention.
And they hadn't just been paying attention, no. They straight up stole the idea, since their own shipwright was taking part in this particular game!
The game became less 'King of the hill' and more 'Tower Defense'. Both teams were building and protecting the towers they built, whilst sending forces to attack the other.
Takako let out a thunderous gurgle as she shifted tracks from helping Franky gather trees to walloping aggressors.
"Phew, this is a real workout without my sword," Vista stated, jumping out of the way as a tentacle threatened to crush him into paste. "It's a good thing she's as big as she is. I can't imagine facing this monster if she were quicker."
"Oof!" Namur crashed into the ground next to him after he got clipped. "Why is this Kraken so strong?! I swear I've seen bigger sea kings, but they paled in comparison!"
Vista regarded Namur with surprise. The shark fish-man didn't usually speak so much, a man of few words.
Rakuyo danced over, sweating heavily. "This is getting ridiculous. We've got five division commanders on offense, and not one of us has gotten so much as within ten meters of that damned tower. I hate to admit it, but that Franky does great work, and fast too. Fossa just can't keep up."
They all had to scatter because Takako brought four tentacles to bear down on them, then reconvened with Blenheim and Kingdew joining as well.
"The other men can't even get close. If they got hit, they'd be dead meat," Blenheim sighed.
"If they were dumb enough to face that thing unarmed, then they'd deserve it, and we'd be better off without them getting in the way," Kingdew snapped.
"It's not like you to be so callous, Kingdew," Vista reproached lightly. He did somewhat agree with the sentiment, though. The Whitebeard pirates might be more family than crew, but it wasn't like every recruit was held in the same regard by the old man. You had to earn your spot and your keep, and dying like an idiot was a good way to show you weren't meant to be here.
"Pops should have protested this," Kingdew complained. "At this rate, we'll lose another island. At least Fishman island, however strategic its location, is not really a loss given how much we had to invest into protecting it from all those upstarts."
He did have a point. Fishman island was the only way to get from Paradise to the New World unmolested by the World Government. Well, if you discount hopping up to a sky island and waiting until it floated over the Grand Line, but that could take months if you didn't get the timing perfect. Even so, being so deep beneath the surface and requiring coating any ship that went there… It wasn't a small expenditure, to say nothing of the risks involved in the journey.
"Alright, let's forget the tower for now. This kraken has got to go," Rakuyo declared, receiving assents from the other four.
Trying to skirt around the beast and attacking it head on were entirely different matters. They weren't division commanders under Whitebeard for nothing, so even without their weapons, they'd be able to handle it.
Without another word, they moved in unison. Years of fighting by each others' sides made teamwork seamless and communication unnecessary between them. They already knew what the others would do before they did it.
Takako's eyes glinted as she smirked at her challengers. Vista was the only one who realized that something was wrong, aborting his forward momentum at the last second.
*BOOM* *CRASH* *BANG* *SKADOOSH*
Takako displayed a speed and range of motion far greater than she had revealed prior. The four aside from Vista were caught completely off guard by the change and were punished severely for their folly.
All four were sent flying across the island where they slammed into the side of the tower being built by Fossa. Vista could already hear Fossa shouting at them and winced. The four of them likely weren't out for the count, as they did manage to put up some defense due to their experience, but it also might not be much of an exaggeration to say that if they returned, they'd be crawling back for more.
"That was sneaky," Vista narrowed his eyes at the creature. What a fool he was, underestimating the intelligence of an octopus, especially one so divergent from its kin. He was too focused on how it stood out physically, and hadn't considered it would lie to them.
"GURGLE~!" Now it was taunting him. Even if he didn't understand it, that was clear as day.
And it was working, damn it. Vista was never the type to take his brothers in arms getting hurt lightly. Did it also have social skills??? Wasn't this a bit ridiculous.
Vista heard something like a big pile of wood toppling over and didn't even need to turn around to know what it was. Their tower had just been knocked over, and judging by the distinct lack of cursing, he could guess that Fossa got taken down as well.
"This is a right mess," Vista stroked his mustache. They'd thought leaving Haruta and Curiel with Fossa would be enough to dissuade the other Straw Hats from accomplishing anything, since four of their best fighters had been used up in the first game. Another miscalculation.
There was only one thing for it. Vista had to be at the top of the Straw Hat's tower at the end of the game, and he'd probably have to do it alone.
What he wouldn't give for a sword right about now…
…
"This…" A figure watched the projection from a den den mushi in the dark confines of his quarters. "Why are you there, playing some stupid game?"
His claw clenched on the arm of his chair, turning it to mulch. Once it was a work of art, but many decades of exposure to the brine of the sea had made it all but worthless even before he'd damaged it.
He studied that face, the one he could never forget no matter how many years past him by. He hated and loved that face in equal measure. He longed to see its owner die in his grip, but knew he could never bring himself to do it, given the chance.
His anger washed away like a tide, replaced with the cold apathy that served as his only companion. He knocked the snail over and stood to make his way to the deck of his ancient vessel.
"Calypso…"