Battle Royal.
The Premise is simple. 100 hundred individuals arrive to the Island of Mimah. And no matter what it takes. Only one of them can come out in working condition, alive, or otherwise.
Mimah was a populated island. Spilt into five islands. There were flatlands, barrens, wildlands, outskirts, small towns, and the closer into the middle third island, the more urban and metropolitan it became. With skyscrapers, concrete, brick, glass and steel buildings filling the skylines of narrow streets for Carriages, Cars, Horses, and masses of people moving.
Above all else.
They did not know that this was about to happen. The island that was going to be used had never been disclosed.
People amidst the streets, in the shadows of massive monoliths made from stone, steel and glass, as if walking in a valley with high walls from a canyon to surround them. They went about their days as if nothing wrong was was passing. Smiles on their faces, children playing in the streets tossing a ball between one another, adults getting into petty arguments…
But high up above. The whirling of propellers filled the sky. A low rumbling shook the air.
Ever since the Marine Air Force made its debut two years ago. Aeronautical vehicles were starting to pick up pace. Contracts being taken by private organizations and corporations from the Government to begin manufacturing for them. This also meant many entered into a patent cold war. Who could get information from these government organizations to get their own contracts with or give to the government and accrued more resources and material.
The dark holds of the large bomber sized jets held 25 people per.
The information he was told about Mimah was sparse. But he had been able to not only piece together that the Island was random, but that he could sense with Observation Haki that the Island was still filled with people.
Leroy, still in his disguise, held his hands together, leaning forward on his knees. All around him, from the dark red lantern light that barely illuminated the people around him as nothing but mere silhouettes of limited detail.
Not a single one of them was awake. All of them Foamed from the mouth. He had no remorse for people like this. A single blast of Conquerors Haki, and they were all overwhelmed, brains short circuiting and being left limp.
The Pilot in the front had no idea what was going on in the rear. A small siren began to blare, flashing light from the corner near the bay door indicated the metal beginning its descent. Beams of light edging their way into the metal coffin.
His feet pattered against the textured flooring. Face, now no longer being covered by the bandana, had light flush against his face. With a limp hand, he pushed his palm against the metal wall. Hand beginning to glow with a dark strokes lining the flame like cloud emanating from his hand. The Power of Conduit, and its Persistent Ability 'Elemental Flow'.
"There are many different forms of Conduit. Including its elemental manipulation abilities. Just how Conduit itself is about positive and negative flows. So too is the elements. Earth, Water, Fire, Air. The more 'solid' the element. The more negative energy needed. The less 'solid', the more Positive Energy required." Leroy spoke out loud partially. Remembering the lesson from Zeke.
In only a few seconds, he remembered the rest "All of Conduit requires positive and negative energy. Energetic and Static. Sharp and Dull" Zeke demonstrated this by tossing a rubber ball between his hands to emphasize each change in word.
"Just like how there is no pool of Armament Haki, merely usage of it. Reiki fueling its use. So with Conduit, essentially you need to focus. Visualizing your Haki pool, and a piece of it 'Disconnecting', like pinching a piece of clay from a mound. You can then turn this small piece into Conduit Haki. Positive or Negative, giving you a piece to pull from preemptively until you can do this on the fly."
It was to let the user have a useable reserve. As doing so quickly, in the middle of combat can be incredibly draining without training. So when they get better, more skilled. They can do it with second nature.
In his minds eye. The Haki swirling before coallesing into a smaller separate piece that then split in two, leaving three pools. One began to vibrate and crackle. Positive. The other slowed and worbled. Negative.
"Air…And Fire." The cloud of conduit began to dissipate into clear but visible streaking wind, sparks and ribbons of the flames before both touched and mixed within the cloud. A massive surge of sparks and lightning burst after only a second! Conducting through the metal, the electronics, and even sending a jolt through the pilot! A loud sound burst the from the wing as a rutter exploded.
Leroy, with out a second to waste, let himself fall out backwards from the plane. Wind whipping through his hair and rustling the clothes.
The final words from Zeke echoed in his mind. "Be mindful of your affinity. It determines how your Haki functions. Especially in Conduit and Firmament. The names are self explanatory. Your elements and flows will always be broad. Your firmament a broad area."
KA-BOOM
The Plane above exploded in a massive fireball of fire, pressure and smoke! Filling the air!
A small grin of satisfaction spread through Leroys lips.
In a casual use of Fundo, he used Haki to reorientate himself in the sky to begin descending with speed in his skydive. He could see figures close by. Others far away. He quickly counted. Already 50 in this area–
FWOMPH! Something slammed into the side of Leroy! It was?! Another person! He was starting to grapple with Leroy! Striking him in his face! Leroy hadn't activated his Observation yet!
"Another one of you?!" Leroy's eyes darkened. The deep crimson markings forming around his eyes. Hand blackening as he slams his knuckles into the jaw of the short, white haired man!
Francis Hound!
Known as the Mongrel…The Man from the Desmare. Leroy and the Red Sashes hadn't ran into them. But Leroy had read over the papers from Sabaody. Read up on the thirteen disasters and their exploits, Pirate Journals, Periodicals, Gossip pieces and the like.
"Do I know you?" Francis barked back. Hand shifting into its Zoan form, coating in black armor to slash across Leroys face! Aural sparks flying, his cheek coating in protection!
"Guess–" Thwham! Strike straight into his clavicle! The torn dark blue denim like Jacket fluttered from the impact! Sending him zipping down through the air! "Not!"
"Lead Hound!" Hounds hand shot forward as he recovered in midair! Already, smoke and fire was rising from the destruction of the buildings nearby. Massive plumes of concrete dust washing through the streets!
From the mans knuckles, a dark band of energy formed into canine skull with long pointed ears! Clutching around Leroy, constricting his arms against his ribs! "Hngh!"
'K-Konseki! Immediately manifested–Simple grappling, complex form, decent reach! Manifester? It's an object…Simple Like Heft. But Utility similar to Tools-' His teeth grit, suddenly being tugged! Francis gripping down the bands lengths and whipping around in the air! Taking Leroy along with him only for the Dogs Maw to be released! Slingshotting through the remaining 500 meters in only One Hundredth of a Second!
Only to slam through a entire skyscraper! Each floor blowing out the sides through the windows before exploding in a hundred enormous chunks!
THAM! Francis landed in the crater. Lead Hound still manifested. This told Leroy that it did more than just latching and connecting to a target. 'More than one capability. Not decisively a destructive…'
Leroy slowly began to rise to his feet. Hand pushing against his knee. Dust covering his slick body.
"Let me guess–" Leroy wiped his mouth. "Manifester Type Konseki?" His eyes locked on Francis. Viewing through Aura Sense the paths of his Haki. He was able to, thanks to the Tournament, keep two Abilities active at the same time. He bet he could do three if he really pushed it.
That was what marked Yan Liu. Not advancement of use, but efficiency and ease of such.
The Dogs head panted. Francis' hand coming up to the side of it to stroke gently. Feeling the rough almost follicle like texture of the construct. "That easy to tell? Or are you just really good at deducing?" His eyes shifted from coddling to then at Leroy with a hard gaze.
"Bit of both." Leroy grinned.
"Hound Chaser!" Hound screamed! Suddenly shooting forward! Commanding his Konseki to take the charge! A pin prick, and Leroy leapt to the side! Fangs slamming only inches away from his leg! Quickly, with a quick use of Haji, ceased movement to quickly flam back through the air! Haki Veil activating!
"Vulcan Slug!" Black fist slammed into his Humerous! Bones cracking beneath the force! Lifting him up from his feet and zipping through the building surrounding them!
'Sh-Shit!' Pain wracked his arm! 'It-, His aura! It felt like- Like it was rough and hot! Like a rock!' Francis' sharp canine teeth that began to grow, body shifting in size as his full Zoan shifted his body.
'He must be using Kime…Or rather, his Haki's Kime is unique. Rough, hot and harsh. But it didn't actually burn. Merely gave the sensation.' The fur finished blooming, The Mythical Zoan Ice Wolf.
Sniff Sniff! 'There!'
Leroy, meanwhile, had took his moment to get away! Catching people from precarious situations, threatening to fall, or have rubble crush them! "You alright?" He asked a child, knees scrapped, cheeks flush as snot dripped from their nose.
"Mm-" They whimpered. "Shhh…It's okay! I'm here to help." He lowered down to Eye level "Where are your Parents?" His voice softened, but the revelation shook Leroy. The kid, arms wrapped tight around a stuffed animal, pointed to a large piece of rubble…
Where blood pooled from beneath it.
"Hagh…" His eyes closed for a moment. "Can you turn around for me?" He gently asked. Kid nodding, shifting their tiny, shoeless feet against the coarse, settled dust.
"Hmph!" With no effort, Leroy lifted the massive chunk of Rubble and tossed it to the side! A small sigh of relief. The mother was…Dead. But not too messed up to traumatize the Child too much. Her current condition would give them at least a small bit of hope.
"Momma!" They screamed as Leroy lifted her up into his arms. Leroy bent down to hold both "Hold her hand tight alright? We'll both do our best to make sure she's alright, okay?" He softly directed the Kid.
They gave a quick soft nod. Squeezing their mothers hand tight. "Cmon momma! I'm here! This man's gonna help you!" The words panged the Captains heart. His aura flared, covering the both of them. Protecting them from the sudden speed he moved at! To the child and fading spirit of the Mother. It was warm. Heavy. But like a blanket. The opposing side to the same Texture Francis had felt.
"Thank you!" The child screamed as Leroy sat the two of them back at a spot where he'd left others. He gave a reassuring smirk to the kid before snapping into gear. "You!" He pointed to a larger man who had minor injuries.
"You look strong. See if you can get some more people near by out of the collapse! Anyone here that knows basic first aid, use what ever you go to patch the others up! This Mother needs compressions to her chest." He mimicked the hand motions. "Push deep. If you feel anything break, don't stop. Their dead already. It's better to get a broken bone and them alive than risk keeping them dead!"
He continued to repeat the same basic First Aid he had learned when he was young, and was expanded by Dezzi themselves.
"I'm gonna keep getting people and bring them back here!" He thumbed behind him.
The strong man posed a question. "Are you gonna be alright? Are you with them? Whats going on?"
"I'll be fine, they brought me here. But Im not with him. A death game Battle Royale is being put on to find the strongest person to fight the the guy doing all of this.And I'm aiming to kick the shit out of him for it."
"Who?" A old woman asked.
"Taek Don Gall." They knew that name…The same name from years back. Almost twenty years ago. A known 'Terrorist' and Pirate that clashed with Roger, Redbeard, and others. Some say he never had a crew because he had been rejected by the Roger Pirates when he was younger, before Roger himself had become so notorious. By now. He'd only be in his late thirties. Just what things escaped such a young mans mouth to shake even pirates such as them…
"Arm yourselves." Leroy commanded. "Guns, Knives anything. You've got a chance to fight for something better here. Fight for each other, and hopefully come out the other side. Don't bet on the Marines saving you. Gather up as much stuff as you can to survive on your own, take back what you can. For yourselves."
"Theres strength in numbers…" His face was hardened, softening when the final question was heard.
"Wh-Who are you…" It was…From the kid.
He thought about it for a second. But only for a second. They needed something. Anything to latch onto. The Marines wouldn't believe them without evidence from one of their own, and it was doubtful that amidst all of this chaos he would be the one focused on.
"Leroy. Captain Leroy." The words came so naturally. And nothing more needed to be said by the man. For their ears, to some, knew what that meant.
Already, Leroy had gotten nearly a hundred people in such short amount of time from leaving Francis to safety. Such immense speed and dexterity giving him the edge in such fast paces rescue. Carrying dozens of people per arm per trip.
He was in the middle of looking over a corpse inside one of the Skyscrapers when a looming shadow casts over him! Filling the windows and shattering through the steel and concrete not moments later!
Tackling into him was Francis! Back again for more!
"GRAOW!" His maw barked! Clamping onto the armament of Leroys Forearm! "Angh! Back again, Mutt?" Face screwed in pain as his claws pierced his arm! In a blur, Leroy threw Francis off once again! Slamming against the far wall and through an office desk!
"The hell you doin this for anyway?" Leroy pursed his brow. Beginning to pace. Francis himself moving in tandem. Both circling each other in opposite directions like predators sizing each other up.
The Mythical Wolf smirked. Mouth flaps retracting to show the enormous teeth. "Why not. Pirate are here…And I kill pirates. Part of the Contract…"
"Contract?" The other questioned.
"Whatever. Marine Contracting work. Not Bounty Hunting. I was in the Marine for a while. But never took order well. Now I'm just a contractor that takes on Jobs they don't want on their paperwork. Gotta report it to them either way."
His eyes narrowed. Contracting. Made sense. He'd encountered Bounty Hunters before. Mercenaries too. After all. Hornigolds own 24 Karat Fleet were private contractors for Security and Military work. The Marines themselves had hired many from him before, at a discount given he was a Marshal and thus the Government was by contract; Required to relinquished a part of their plunder.
Individuals outside of Bounty Hunting made all the more sense too.
"So you just let a bunch of Innocent people die?" Leroy barked back. "Really are a Marine ain'tcha?" The Snide snipe irked Francis. A deep growl vibrating his throat.
"Aww…Whats wrong Pooch? Did I hurt your feewings?" Leroys face shifted to a mocking pout. "Do we need to get back to playing now?" As if to drive it home. He stuck his bottom lip out.
"HRAH!" Francis crashed across the distance! Slamming Leroy back through another Skyscraper! Dust cloud blowing out the side and a small trail of it following the two fighters exit!
The Ice Wolfs claws began to freeze! Ice spreading across Leroys shoulders! "Shale Ice Breaker!" The claws, coated in armor, slammed into the ice coated chest of the Pirate! The skin peeling and cracking against the elemental chill!
"ACK!" Leroy screamed! Bouncing across the street, the turned over automobiles, cratered streets and fallen buildings disrupting from the disturbance. Blood streaking across his face and mouth.
His hands clench…Red and Orange Firmament Dots radiated from his hand. He watched as Francis' canine, digitigrade feet slamming and cracking the ground with each stride!
"Phooo…..Heee…Phoooo…." He breathed. Slowly. Preparing himself. "Cmon….I've been practicing for this…Sketching. theorizing ." He remembered how he drawed the same thing again and again. Looked at his hands, the same hands he'd always had, again and again. Clay, Sculpting it.
A Red form began to shape around and from the floating, radiating dots. Combining and bubbling into a- Limb! A Hand! Fingers fat, tipped with points, growing around. 'This how you did it, Hound?' he thought when he was only a few meters away!
"Lead Hound!" The Dog manifested and shot through the air! Writhing, slithering up and through the air! Trenching it with each downward curve!
"Helix Shot!" The Red, murky almost gelatinous, putty like construct stretched forward! Slamming against the hounds maw! Snapping it shut, Leroy twisted his wrist harshly!
Causing the Konseki to warp and twist upon itself! The Lead Hound was far more rigid! Not able to keep up with such flexibility, causing the construct to snap! A wolfs howl releasing as it did, disappearing into wisps of energy.
"Hngh!" Hound grimaced, the sudden destruction of his Konseki took a chunk of stamina from him. As if like breaking a bone! "Little…Shit! Where'd you pull that from?"
As if like wearing large, clawed gloves, Leroy snarked "From you~"
"Why you-" In a sudden burst of speed, Leroy cleared the distance! Suddenly appearing next to Francis! The others eyes moving slowly, incapable of fully processing such a immense boost of speed!
"Savage!" The Helix hit first, then a moment later, his physical fist slammed against him in a follow up! Each hit from Leroy's Helix Coated fist was a dual impact! "Shot!" Without even coating his fist in Armament, the damage was immense! Francis' mind reeling from the impact!
"Savage-" A sudden flurry of blurs! Slamming into Francis' furred body! Ten punches, the moment they finished, became twenty! Thirty became sixty! Fifty to a hundred! Five Hundred to a thousand! "Vulcan Volley!"
With a final blow! Francis went soaring back! Crashing through empty buildings!
"Hah…Haff….Huff…" Lungs burned. Too much…Time. But it was to be expected. Neither were pacing themselves. Even just an hour or two or battle was leaving Leroy breathless and burning, on top of the drain that Helix was causing.
He breathed sharply. Wheezing leaving his throat. A quick peak through his Observation Revealed that the fighting that was going on, distances away in the city and even further away, albeit very fuzzy to him, was not just the 100 Battle Royale competitors. But also–
The Civilians!
Using this opportunity. Leroy began to run. Heading for the Southern Beach that was said to be the exfiltration point! Even at the worst estimate of 74 people remaining. Leroy was in the middle of clearing his way through faceless cannon fodder that made up the weak masses of a hundred participants. Helix slamming them out of the way! Nearly seven arms sprouting from his body, crushing, lifting, and pushing enemies, rubble and obstacles!
Tap tap tap…Tap.
Leroys feet came to a slow.
A few dozen meters away. Leroy saw…Something- Incredible?
A group of a handful of people wearing dark clothes and red bandanas across their foreheads, were all bent forward and surrounding wounded civilians. But this…Militia wasn't the surprising part. In the back pocket of a tall, long haired woman, a dark red almost black book. The title in a gold embroidery, 'Fight Back' with the byline being nothing but an acronym. 'CRS'.
"Heh…" A small chortle escaped his lips. Freddie had said there was a lot of commotion behind that book. An 'Agitation Polemic' by many. Spouted as Pro-Militia Radical Extremist writing.
It didn't take much time for Leroy to fully leave the City and begin to wander through the suburban and rural smaller sections of Mimah. Only to once again come to a slow when the grassy coasts came into view. A ship had already docked there. A Man in glasses and a smoke hanging out the side of his mouth, stood in wait.
"Hey!" Leroy shouted. Catching the mans attention. He wore nothing but shorts, tank top and the aforementioned shades. Curly brown hair like a nest amidst his scalp.
"Hell you doin' here! Royale ain't done yet! Get back out there!" He spat back, in an attempted reprimand.
"Look man. There ain't gonna be another guy left standing." Leroy's voice began to take a frantic almost worried tone. "Those fuckin people? Yeah! They ain't so innocent! I think this fuckin' Island was a secret uh…Fuckin'-- Terrorist Cell! Those guys looked like Militia Members! Big scary guns and shootin' the competitors!"
The mans eyes narrowed. A bead of sweat, that Leroy noticed, trickled down his forehead.
"I got a bunch of em down, and those other Participants. But- There aint no one left in the City. So the only ones still in play is out in the other islands!" Leroy Lied through his teeth.
"Hnnn…" The man grimaced. "That means that Marines are on their way…Bossman ain't gonna like it if they Follow our trail to the island…I heard marines can follow Ships like bloodhounds!" Quickly, he pulled the lit tobacco from his lips and threw it to the ground, extinguishing it with a stamp and twist of his sandals.
"Alright. Cmon! Let's get the fuck outta here!" The man said, slowly clambering up over the side of the landing craft, shaped almost like a truck, the tailgate so to say lowering to become a metal gang plank for Leroy to walk up. He didn't even wait for Leroy to finish before the vessel bounced and shook, pulling away and off of the coast. Speeding across the blue sea!
"Ah…Shit shit shit…." The man scratched the back of his head. Words slurring. Beneath the glasses, there were deep, tired and baggy eyes. But not of exhaustion but like those of someone who was intoxicated or relied on being such.
"Aye! Bossman!" The mans voice suddenly shifted, picking up the receiver for a Den Den Mushi. The voice that came out the other side was hoarse, booming, and deep. But on the higher end of the Baritone spectrum. "What is it?"
"Battle Royale's done! Had a guy totally clean house! Man you shoulda seen the place! It was a disaster!" His eyes betrayed the mans tone.
"Takakaka! Wonderful! We're ahead of schedule! Whats the winners name?" Taek questioned.
"Lee! I think this is that Lee guy!"
"I'll be damned! I knew I saw something in that guy! Well don't dawdle! Bring over quick! I'm itchin' for my fight!" That confused Leroy…Had– Taek Don Gall been at the Arena? Or was he too watching from a Signal Screen?
Leroy, took the time. A few hours to reach the nearby island, to lower his body to a state of Fukai. Allowing his body to stop flowing Haki even passively, letting the body to recover quickly. His lungs easing quickly, and the wounds slowing and pushing against each other to be sealed.
The time, came and went quickly.
"Alright! We're almost there! I just gotta pull up to the dock and you'll take the elevator up to the top of the mountain!"
Before the Watercraft, was a massive singular mountain of an island. There seemed to be no coast, or surrounding cities or town. It was nothing but a sheer dark rock structure that rose over a kilometer into the air. It was most certainly…Lage. Over two dozen kilometers wide.
"The top huh?" Leroy began. Walking up behind the man. Leaning down and looking through the window. "Anyway else up?"
"Yeah. You could scale the side and reach the pent house up at the top! It ain't expose!" The man began.
"Thanks." Leroys voice shifted. "Yeah no prob-" SLAM! Leroy's hand slammed into the back of the mans hair, crashed it forward into the dashboard! The metal warping and crushing, boat coming to a slow, engine forced off.
Sustaining his Fukai. Leroy placed his foot against the edge of the ship. Pushing himself up, and falling forward! Hands pushed palm to palm, fingers flat, and breaking through the water!