"YOU CANNOT HELP her!" Shouts Dagon, "she has agreed to one-on-one unarmed combat with me. Any outside interference will be considered an automatic forfeit on her part. Making her my personal slave for life."
Blackbeard points his scimitar at Urchin. "Then ye shall be me opponent."
"Very well. I accept your challenge. I am General Urchin of The Vodyanoy unit.
"I be Captain Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach of the Bone Pirates."
"Take your fight somewhere else. Dagon and I still have our own fight to finish." I say, slowly getting to my feet.
"Ye alright lass?"
"Peachy. His last attack knocked a few memories loose."
"𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 'ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑓𝑒𝑤 𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒." Quipped Proteus.
" 𝑍𝑖𝑝 𝑖𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟."
Blackbeard nods and walks off.
"You recovered much quicker than I expected. Your resistance must be on the high end."
"You ready to end this?"
"Not quite yet. Dark Magic: Darkness Regeneration!" Dagon's injuries are completely healed.
"Regenerative capabilities. I guess I'll have to beat your ass so fast that those regenerative powers of yours won't be able to keep up."
"You're not fast enough."
"Challenge accepted."
Dagon makes the first move. He rushes Kino with speed that beguiles his size. If this had been anyone other than Kino his speed would have overwhelmed them.
But to Kino, he appeared as if he was moving in slow motion. This was due to the skill she had activated.
****
Let's rewind a bit. All the way back to when Kino was at Assassin School.
"Today I'll be teaching you a new skill, Kino?"
"Oh, what kinda skill is it, Headmaster Nemo?"
"One that'll make you untouchable without your Shoe's of Hermes."
(Nemo's appearance is that of a teenage boy.)
"Sounds good. What's it called?"
"Silent Mind."
"What's it do?"
"By putting yourself in a heightened state of alertness and increased brain activity you become more aware of your surroundings and the details within them. Making everything seem as if time itself is moving in slow motion. Thus making it seem like you're untouchable."
𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑒𝑟-𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑠ℎ, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑖𝑑𝑏𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓.
"Um, if there's increased brain activity how's the mind silent?" I asked.
"Not the mind, but your ability to hear is temporarily lost." Answered Nemo.
𝐴𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑠ℎ.
"Setting the name aside, it sounds like a good skill to have. How long does it take to learn?"
"That all depends on the person." Answered the headmaster.
"Who learned it the fastest?"
"I won't divulge the name, however I will say it took them three years to fully master."
"Three years, huh… I'll do it in one day."
****
𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐼 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙. 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔. "Silent Mind."
Just as Dagon reaches Kino she strikes first. Fast. Hard. "Close Combat: Dragon Strike!"
Kino starts off with a multitude of punches, straight to Dagon's stomach.
"Close Combat: Lightning Flask Kick!"Next she kicks both of his knees straight on – breaking them. Moving behind him she grabs Dagon by his tail, spins him around and around, and then lets go.
He sails through the air and just as he starts to drop Kino's there to kick him upwards, he hits the ceiling – gravity takes effect, and as Dagon plummets back down Kino appears on the ceiling above him.
Using the ceiling as a platform she pushes off.
"Close Combat: Meteor Strike!" Her kick nails Dagon in his chest – accelerating his fall. Upon impacting Dagon continues through the floor creating a five meter crater straight down.
Kino lands near the lip of the crater and peers over. "Hey, you still alive down there?"
If Dagon could respond he would. But that last kick to his chest not only caved it in, it caused his heart to explode killing him.
"Ye all done, lassie?" Asked Blackbeard, walking up and standing next to her.
"Yep. You?"
"Of course. I cleaved him to the brisket."
"Huh?"
"I cut him across the chest from shoulders to stomach."
"Got it. I could also use a bite to eat."
"I could use a clap of thunder."
Kino just turns and gives him a look of what the fuck are you talking about.
"It's a strong drink, lass."
"Sounds good. Let's go… wait, what about the black crocodile?" I asked.
"I'll take it with me. There's a certain captain I know who has a great fear of crocodiles. It'll be amusing to watch him squirm."
Blackbeard walks over — pats his thigh bone a couple of times, and says "come on ye let's go."
"You know it's not a dog right?"
Blackbeard just shrugs and walks off. Surprisingly the black crocodile follows after him.
"Are you gonna give it a name?"
"Hmm… perhaps Peter."
"𝐼 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒. 𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝐵𝐶."
"BC?"
"Ye say something lass?"
"Apparently this is BC."
"Ye can communicate with animals?"
"Yes, it's my Converse skill. It allows me to talk with all creatures."
"Ye never cease to amaze. Would ye like to join me crew, lassie?"
"While I do appreciate the offer, I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I'm already a member of The Rising Sun Party. Along with my twin brother Kiyomaro, and my friends.
Kino leaves out the bit about temporarily leaving her party.
"Tis too bad. Would ye consider being an honorary member of the Bone Pirates?"
"Does it come with any perks?"
"𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘." Offers BC.
"𝑆𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢."
I climb onto BC's back. "Blackbeard, I accept ye offer of being an honorary member of ye crew, but could ye extend the offer to me party?"
"Aye lassie, that can be arranged."
****
"I'm glad to see you're… why are you riding a black crocodile, Kino?!"
"Isn't it obvious Bay, Kino is a certified badass and my new bestie. I'm glad I saved her."
"Ahem!" Jafar clears his throat. "Your Majesty, please refrain from cursing. It is quite unbecoming of our future queen."
Ceto sticks out her tongue in response, to which Jafar just sighs.
"You're more than a mere bodyguard aren't you."
"You are correct, Kino. I am also a royal tutor."
"Oh my, your Captain Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach, are you not?"
"Aye, that be me, princess."
Ceto nervously approaches. "Um… could I… perhaps… if it's not too much of an imposition could I…"
"Take a breath lassie, and tell me what ye need."
"Can I see your Kraken?!" Blurts Ceto.
"Phrasing!" I shout. Which got a few chuckles — mostly from the pirates.
"Princesses Ceto, kindly refrain from speaking in such a manner that could easily be misinterpreted." Jafar rebuked.
"What are you talking about? I merely wish to see the famous Bone Pirates ship The Kraken."
"Ye wish to see me ship, princess?"
"Yes, very much so."
"Very well. I shall show ye me Kraken."
"So how'd things go on your end?" Bay asked.
"We were successful." Replied Murrissey.
"What about you guys?"
"All Gill-man, Deep Ones, Vodyanoy, and Kappas have been dealt with." Said Seymour.
Upon their return the pirates and merfolk begin celebrating their victory. Indulging in food and drink. Even Seymour, who's normally standoffish, is cutting loose.
(The Ranger)
"Fascinating, just fascinating. How in the world did a black crocodile end up in a place like this?"
From the moment we returned Stephanie had been going gaga over BC. Examining it from snout to tail.
"Hey Kino, can you ask the crocodile how it got here?"
"First of all its name is BC, and yes I'll ask."
"BC, as in black crocodile. Isn't that a little on the nose?"
"Don't ask me, I didn't name him"
"Ask him that too."
It's at that moment Yukino hops onto BC's back. "𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙?"
"𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑑'𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑡, 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒."
"𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒'𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑡." Growled BC.
"𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑?" I offered.
"𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑡."
Stephanie puts a hand on my shoulder. Allowing her to temporarily use my Converse skill via thought transference.
"𝑌𝑢𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑜, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒'𝑠 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒?"
"𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠." Yukino answered.
Meanwhile over on The Kraken. Princess Ceto is taking a tour of the ship, accompanied by Murrissey.
Bay, Jafar, Benjamin, and Ian are discussing what comes next.
"Now that everyone's back. How the hell do we get outta here?" Ian asked.
"And there's the rub," said Bay, "the blood of a royal family member gets you into the sea labyrinth prison, but it doesn't get you out. Asmodeus designed it that way to avoid the very issue we just went through."
"Don't tell me Asmodeus is the one who has to let us out."
"No, not Asmodeus, but Levitation."
"Okay, so how do we get in touch with Levitation?"
"It's already been taken care of," said Jafar, "now we just need to wait."
"For how long?" Ian asked.
"Considering you and your wife have been reported missing and now found. I wasted no time fetching you." Leviathan said, suddenly appearing on the deck of the Kraken. Dressed in a well fitted black on black suit.
"Missing? Have we really been gone that long?"
"Two months apparently. Belphegor was looking for you two."
"Oh, she must have come across something quite extraordinary if she was looking for us." Said Ian.
"She did. And she's chomping at the bit to talk with you both about it. So the sooner you tell me what happened the sooner we can go."
Bay takes the opportunity to greet Leviathan properly now that the conversation had ended.
"Greetings Lord Lev…"
Leviathan holds up a hand. "Bay, I abhor being called lord, or did you forget?"
"Forgive me. It's been far too long since you visited last.
Leviathan just waves it off. "Let's get down to it shall we."
Bay takes Leviathan through everything that transpired within the sea labyrinth prison, and what happened to the people of his kingdom.
"Let me correct you on one notion, Bay. There was no attack on your kingdom. Its citizens are safe."
"I'm glad to hear that my people are safe, Levi." Said the princess, having returned from her tour. Murrissey and Edward right behind her.
"Hello prin… I mean Queen Ceto."
"I'm not the queen yet."
"All in due time."
"How long will you be visiting?"
"Trying to get rid of me already princess." Joked Leviathan.
"Of course not. You are our suzerain. I want to make sure your visit with us exceeds expectations."
"I shall remain for your crowning ceremony, attend the funeral of your parents, and help with anything else that may arise. So don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you Levi."
"Don't mention it. Say, is that girl over there Kino?"
"It is. How do you know her?"
"She's friends with Princess Abaddon and she also had a foot race with Prince Teru."
"It appears I owe her an apology." Remarks Jafar.
"You can apologize later, once we depart this dreary place. Now go get everyone so we can leave."
****
"Ships spotted, starboard side!" Shouts a sailor from the crows nest.
"Do you recognize the ensigns?!" The captain shouts back.
"One is The Ranger from Eleanor Trading Company and the other one…"
There's a long pause as the sailor tries to come to terms with what he's seeing.
"Well?!"
"It's… the jolly roger of the Bone Pirates! I say again, it's the Bone Pirates! They're headed straight for us!"
"All hands prepare for battle!" Orders the captain.
"What's going on, captain?"
"Sir, the Bone Pirates have been spotted, and are sailing towards us."
"We'll lend you guys a hand."
"I cannot allow that sir. You and your escorts are our guests. We couldn't ask you to help." Explained the captain.
"Right now I'm a soldier and able body willing to fight. You'll need all the help you can get going up against the particular crew."
"You're still a crown prince. How would I explain to your father that I got his son killed?"
Prince Jamison doesn't hesitate to answer, "tell him I died a warrior's death."
"That still doesn't change the fact that you're of royal blood, and being escorted by a no name adventure party."
"We're mercenaries, not adventures, and captain, you were personally asked by His Majesty to escort Crown Prince Jamison to the Harmonia Empire as a representative of the Britannia Empire, and we were asked to escort him so I could reunite with my little sister.
"So I don't give a damn about some pirate ship. No one and I do mean no one will keep me from seeing my little sister."
"I'd advise you to listen to him, captain. For when it comes to his little sister, Ryo will stop at nothing to see her."
"King's right. Riho is the only family he has left." Said Izumi.
Jamison nods his head in agreement. "Well captain, it's four against one."
"This is still my ship."
"Make a choice captain." Repeats Jamison.
"Alright fine I concede. Crimson Moon can lend a hand. But Your Highness will remain below deck. I'm not risking your life."
"Very well. I'll head below now."
"Thank you captain." Ryo bows his head.
The captain nods and walks off — barking orders to his crew.
"'The only family I have left.' You laid it on kinda thick didn't you, King?"
"It worked didn't it."
"I'll go inform the others." Said Izumi.
As ships draw closer, someone and something small and black is briefly spotted running atop the water. Before the sailor up in the crows nest can say anything they're already aboard the ship.
A black pup at her side, shakes itself off, and the white kitten just curiously looks around from the girl's arms.
"Who's in charge here?"
"I am," said the captain, stepping forward, "names Isaac, Captain Issac Hands. And who might you be?"
"Kino Kurosaki. I have a message here from Captain Benjamin Hornigold." I say pulling out the letter and handing it over.
While Issac reads it over, Ryo approaches Kino. "Did you say Kurosaki? What's your relation to Kiyomaro Kurosaki?"
"Who's asking?"
"I'm Ryo Takashi."
"Doesn't ring a bell. Then again I have been having memory problems. But to answer your question, Kiyomaro is my twin brother."
"Are you SS ranked like your brother?"
"I am."
"Please train me."
"Why?"
"I wish to fight your brother again. However, as I am now, fighting a SS rank warrior would be like swimming up a waterfall."
"There's a legend from my homeland that says, 'when a lone koi fish successfully leaped over a waterfall it impressed the gods so much they transformed the koi into a magnificent dragon.' Do you know why the gods did that?"
"No."
"They were impressed by the koi's perseverance to overcome obstacles and the potential growth it showed.
So tell me Ryo Takashi, do you have what it takes to take on this challenge?"
As she's speaking, Kino is giving off overwhelming pressure. Making her seem like a towering giant.
Ryo swallows the lump in his throat. Takes a step forward and responds with a resounding "yes!"
"Good. Now tell me, does your party have an assassin in it?"
"We do not."
"Well you do now."
"Then allow me to introduce you to the rest of the group. From left to right: King, C rank hunter, Emmy, C rank tank, Angel, our healer, Izumi, a C rank mage, Igz, a C rank summoner, and then there's me, Ryo, I'm an A ranked warrior. We are the mercenary group Crimson Moon."
"I am Kino Kurosaki, an SS rank assassin and otherworlder."
Having taken on everyone from The Ranger. Captain Hands continues on his way.
Leviathan, Stephanie, and Ian, head back to The Netherlands Empire on the back of a Simurgh, one of Leviathan's summons. A gigantic wigged bird that looks like a peacock with the head of a dog, and the claws of a lion.
****
Later that night BC makes its way into Blackbeard's quarters, Seymour follows behind, closes the door, and takes a seat.
Once shut, BC pushes off with its front legs to stand upright and begins glowing — transforming.
Its short legs turn into normal size arms and legs with webbed hands and feet, green scaly skin replaces the black scaly skin, fins appear on the forearms/head.
When the glowing fades BC blinks its now blood-orange eyes a few times, then takes a seat next to Seymour, across from Blackbeard.
"Like I told your messenger, Umiko. I can and will get you out of that prison."
"I never doubted you for a second, Blackbeard. I knew this was going to be a waiting game from the start."
"Now that you're finally free, Boss Yacuruna, what's next?" Asked Seymour.
"For now let's get as far away from here as fast as possible. Then I will uphold my end of the deal."
"Will Umiko be joining us?" Blackbeard asked.
"No. She was decapitated by Kino. Even my former generals believed I died at her hands."
"How'd you pull that off?"
"I'm a master at trickery and hypnotism, Seymour. Now let us get on our way."
"Seymour, The Range is now a part of our ever growing fleet, and it is now yours. Congratulations Captain Seymour Dukey."
Seymour places a hand on his non-existing heart, "thank you, Captain Teach."
****
"Sir, everyone is waiting on you."
"I've been doing this job for a long time now, and this is more nerve-wracking than my first day on the job. Do you know why?"
"No sir."
"It's because this is a history-making moment. Something that'll be documented and spoken about for years, centuries even. And all of us are a small part of it."
"Then I suggest you get out there and make it so."
"Thank you. I feel better now."
"You're welcome, now go."
As the man steps through the gate and makes his way center stage he's greeted by thunderous applause and cheers. Now standing in the center he slowly turns, taking in the splendiferous sight.
It takes a full ten minutes for things to quiet down. The man activates a Sounding Stone; a magic stone that amplifies the user's voice. This'll allow all present to hear him.
With his feet shoulder-width apart, he throws his hands up, snaps his head back, and though he doesn't need to, he takes a deep breath in and yells.
"FINALLY! WE! ARE! BACK!"
Once again the Hyacinth Colosseum is whipped into a fervor at JoJo's announcement.
TO BE CONTINUED. End of Volume 3