One Piece : Wild Hunt

Waking less than a minute after he had collapsed, Thomas attempted to jerk to a seated position but found his head pressed down by a tiny yet powerful hand, its owner, Benienma, stating, "Please calm down, Master. You just fainted from shock. Give yourself a chance to recover, dechi..."
Though he relaxed a bit after hearing the familiar voice, a fresh wave of nausea and vertigo nearly overwhelmed Thomas as the aroma of blood invaded his olfactory senses. In response, Benienma did something he never expected, using her apron to cover his face as she supported his head with her tiny yet pillowy thighs.
In the most soothing tone she could manage, Benienma whispered, "It's going to be okay, Master...those men were evildoers who would have wronged many others throughout their life. You should not feel guilty about sending them to Hell..."
As a former torturer from Hell, Benienma had very little compassion for those who lived life at the expense of others. Gally and his crew were far from the worst sinners she had encountered, but the auras that exuded from their bodies were far from righteous. They weren't beyond redemption, but they could always discover it in their next life, once her fellow torturers had finished purifying them of sin...
With Benienma reminding him that there was, in fact, an afterlife, some of Thomas's anxiety waned. That was one of the things that hit him hardest once he came to terms with the fact he wasn't dreaming. Before, he wasn't sure if 'anything' awaited him after death. However, with people like Zelretch existing, alongside the possibility of moving between worlds, he now knew with absolute certainty that someone or something would be waiting to judge him. It was the kind of thing that made a guy want to live on the straight and narrow...
After taking and exhaling several deep breaths, Thomas muttered, "I'm fine now...thanks..."
Though she removed her surprisingly fragrant apron from Thomas's face, Benienma didn't let him rise immediately, stating, "You should stay put for the time being. Taichou can handle negotiating with the Marines and the staff of the Baratie. Master need not push himself, dechi..."
To incentivize Thomas to stay put, Benienma placed her hand on his forehead before running her fingers through his increasingly mane-like hair. He hadn't cut it since his arrival in the world of One Piece, but as it didn't make him look like a homeless person like it did in his previous world, Thomas was letting it grow out. It frequently got in the way, but he was willing to tolerate a few minor inconveniences to look cool...
Closing his eyes, Thomas allowed Benienma to comb through his hair for several minutes until Caenis abruptly returned from searching the enemy ship, landing next to them as she asked, "What happened? Did you take a stray shot or something...?"
Smiling wryly, Thomas rose from Benienma's lap, nearly regretting it immediately as there was still a tremendous amount of blood covering the deck. The nausea he had only recently gotten over returned, but he did his best to maintain a brave facade as he awkwardly replied, "I overestimated the durability of my opponents and ended up making a bit of a mess..."
Looking around at the bloodied deck, Caenis's eyes narrowed as she remarked, "I can see that." Then, with an 'approving' smile, she added, "Congratulations on your first kill. You might not think it now, but it will get easier with time. Also, don't let the deaths of this trash bother you. You know damn well what would have happened if we were too feeble to protect ourselves."
Punctuating her words, Caenis waved her hand in a seemingly casual manner that produced a strong, persistent gust of wind that gradually removed the blood from the deck. Her Divine Core of the Sea God(B) gave her the Sub-Skills Authority of Water and Authority of the Ocean. The former, as its name implied, allowed her to manipulate water. The latter sounded similar but manifested as an authority over weak-willed sea creatures, ocean currents, and storms. Once she reached her final Ascension, she would even be able to produce continental hurricanes and smite foes with divine lightning.
Once the deck was slightly cleaner, Caenis met Benienma's gaze as she said, "I'll take over from here. The only thing of note on the enemy ship is a few barrels of fresh water and poor-quality ale. They have a fully-stocked larder, but the only items inside are dry biscuits, canned beans, salted beef, and some dried tangerines. If they have any actual treasure on board, I couldn't find it."
As she didn't possess EX-Rank Luck or the coveted Golden Rule Skill, Caenis decided to return early and leave the more thorough search to Drake. She didn't mind hauling things over, but it seemed like a waste of time. The only thing of value on the enemy ship appeared to be the ship itself.
After shooing the petite sparrow girl away, causing the feathers on Benienma's apron to become visibly ruffled, Caenis sat down in a surprisingly girly manner, smacking her meaty thigh as she said, "If you're still feeling dizzy or nauseous, come and put your head down. I'm sure you would prefer my thighs over some brat's."
With the feathers around Benienma's collar ruffling to the point it appeared she had a fluffy mane, Thomas half-expected her to get in an Iaido, sword-drawing stance. She clearly didn't approve of Caenis's attempts to supplant her care but didn't lash out. Instead, she turned her attention to him, ostensibly awaiting his response.
As tempting as Caenis's offer was, Thomas didn't want to see the two at odds with one another. He also felt it would be kind of pathetic if he continued lying in the middle of the deck and letting someone comfort him, so he said, "Thanks, but I'm mostly okay now. If anything, I need to get up, walk around, and get some fresh air..."
Following his words, Thomas forced himself to stand, fighting against the weakness in his knees. When he attempted to stand upright, his guts felt as though they were twisting about, the color draining from his face as he adopted what he intended to be a reassuring smile but came across as someone in desperate need of a toilet.
Staring at Thomas with furrowed brows, Caenis remarked, "There is a difference between bravery and folly. Pushing yourself during training is fine; pretending you're okay when you're not is just stupid."
Rising to her feet, Caenis stepped in before Thomas could respond, wrapping her arm around his body to support him as she ordered, "Put your arm over my shoulder. I'll help you over to the sick bay. And no, this isn't up for debate. Say something stupid, and I'll carry your dumb ass like a princess..."
Swallowing the words that were about to leave his lips, Thomas did as Caenis instructed, linking his arm around her shoulders and letting her walk him over to Asclepius's laboratory-like examination room. He felt like he 'needed' to push through the discomfort he was feeling, but he wasn't going to protest if someone like Caenis insisted he takes it easy or receives treatment...
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While Thomas was receiving treatment, Drake had a smile on her face as she sat across from a fairly tall man with brown skin, pink hair, thick eyebrows, a scar on his right cheek, and metal bolts seemingly drilled into his knuckles. He was presently out of uniform, wearing a pinstripe suit over a dark blue dress shirt, but he was actually a Commissioned Officer in the Marines, specifically holding the Rank of Lieutenant. This was the third-lowest Rank an Officer could have, but as he hailed from Marine Headquarters, the pink-haired man was extremely proud of his status, flaunting it every chance he got.
Despite Drake informing him that they were the ones attacked, the pink-haired man, Lieutenant Fullbody, 'insisted' that she accompany him for a meal so they could discuss the matter in greater detail. His intentions were as transparent as a glass of water, but Drake humored him to see how far he was willing to exploit his authority. The moment he crossed the line, separating himself from the 'naive fools' that just wanted to protect their friends, family, and the innocent masses, she would shoot him square in the forehead.
While waiting for their meals to arrive, Fullbody openly ogled Drake's substantial cleavage as he asked, "So, you and your crew are Bounty Hunters? If that's true, why have you set sail with a black flag? Even children understand the implications of doing so..."
Adopting a sly smile, Drake mused, "You should consider familiarizing yourself with the ordinances you're intended to uphold. There are no statutes outlining the color and appearance of a ship's flag, only that it is easily identifiable and doesn't misrepresent their association to any publically recognized organization or group."
As he didn't appreciate being lectured about Marine bylaws, the smile on Fullbody's face faded as he restated, "I'm a Lieutenant from Marine Headquarters. You would do well to remember that when you speak to me. Depending on the contents of my report, both you and your crew will be labeled as Pirates for the rest of your lives..."
Maintaining her smile, Drake narrowed her eyes in amusement as she questioned, "Is this the reason you became a Marine, Lieutenant? To lord your status over others and threaten them with false accusations? You must suffer from the world's worst 'handicap' if you need to resort to threats to have your way with women..."
Understanding what Drake was insinuating, Fullbody's already furious expression turned into a cold glower as he practically growled, "Only a Pirate would dare speak against a Marine Lieutenant like this..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Drake replied, "My crew has never attacked a civilian vessel, confronted the Marines, or assailed a coastal city. If you want to label us as Pirates just because your feelings are hurt, feel free to do so. Just know that your stupidity will jeopardize the lives of countless Marines. My crew won't just hold out their wrists and accept being apprehended for crimes we never committed. You can take your tyranny and shove it up your ass, Lieutenant Foolhardy."
Slamming his fist on the table with enough force to shatter it, Fullbody rose to his feet, bellowing, "You've crossed the line, wench! Now both you and your crew can rot in Impel Down...!"
Rolling her eyes, Drake was about to cripple Fullbody when a glass of wine suddenly flew by the pink-haired man's face, followed by a loud and gruff voice shouting, "The Marines have no jurisdiction here, and I won't tolerate violence against women in my restaurant! You and your men are no longer welcome here, Lieutenant Fullbody...!"
Accompanying the voice, a tall, elderly-looking man with blonde hair, a braided mustache, a peg leg, and a comically tall Chef's hat walked over with an enraged look on his face. Drake had noticed him among the people watching the 'show' earlier, but now that she was seeing him up close, her sapphire blue eyes narrowed at the number floating above his head. It was hazy, unlike the pure white Bounties of others, but the number 87,000,000 floated above his head...
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After a quick examination from Asclepius, Thomas was informed that he was in shock, the symptoms of which were low blood pressure, an increased heart rate, and a debilitating degree of nausea bordering on incontinence. Instead of providing him medicine, however, the taciturn God of Medicine provided him a cup of cocoa and told him to lay down on Caenis's lap. Trying to suppress the effects of shock with medical intervention could leave sequelae in the form of mental trauma, so his 'prescription' for Thomas was hot chocolate and a thigh pillow...it was surprisingly effective...
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(A/N: Drake is about to ignite a powder keg...)

Hearing the mustached man say he was no longer welcome in Baratie, Fullbody's expression turned especially ugly as he growled, "Don't say anything you're going to regret, Chef Zeff. The neutrality of Baratie and the surrounding seas is predicated on the fact that the Marines allow it. If I informed Headquarters that your restaurant willfully serves Pirates, how long do you think your permit would last?"
Undaunted by Fullbody's words, Zeff snorted through his nose, stating, "As if a mere Lieutenant possesses such authority. Go ahead and file a false report, you little shit. I've been operating this business and paying taxes for twelve years without incident. We'll see how long you maintain that little commission of yours once your actions come under the scrutiny of your superiors. Cowards like you can't prevent the more honest men on their crews from disclosing the truth."
Though he clenched his teeth and balled his hands into fists, Fullbody didn't say anything. Baratie was one of the most reputable restaurants in the world and one of the most prominent locations in East Blue. Several higher-ups from Marine Headquarters frequented the floating restaurant, so it wouldn't take long before someone questioned the integrity of his report.
As his career was marginally more important than petty revenge, Fullbody took a moment to pop his collar as he said, "I'll remember this incident..." Then, with a nasty expression on his face, he directed his beady-eyed gaze to Drake, adding, "I'll be monitoring the activities of the 'Wild Hunt' closely from now on. Greedy bastards like Bounty Hunters always turn to piracy sooner or later. The moment you do, I'll be there waiting to arrest you..."
Exhibiting even less concern than Zeff, Drake mused, "You can run along now, little boy. Pray our paths don't cross again. Because if they do, I can promise you'll live to regret it."
Narrowing his eyes, Fullbody cast one final look at Drake's breasts before storming out of the restaurant. As much as he resented her, she was still one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. If she were willing to express a bit of 'sincerity,' he was certain they could reach an agreement. Until then, she and her Wild Hunt had secured the second spot on his shit list...
As Fullbody stormed off, Drake shifted her attention to Zeff, a teasing smile on her face as she asked, "Are you going to kick me out as well? I don't mind, but a certain member of my crew would be disappointed."
Shaking his head, Zeff replied, "Though you violated the sanctity of these waters, it was in self-defense. As this is your first visit to Baratie, I will not disbar you for standing your ground."
Finished with what he had to say, Zeff turned around and retreated to the kitchen. In his wake, a slim, muscular, long-legged man with short blonde hair, a sparse goatee, and swirly eyebrows made his way over to Drake with a bottle of wine in hand, saying, "A bottle of wine for the pretty lady. Consider it an apology for the trouble you've had to go through."
Narrowing her eyes in recognition, Drake mused, "My, what a gentleman," as she accepted the bottle of wine, uncorked it, and downed its contents in a single go. As she did, she felt the blonde-haired man's gaze shift to her breasts, but by the time she exhaled a contented sigh, he was staring at her face with a cool and composed look.
Adopting a fairly charming smile, the swirly-browed man mused, "Quite the drinker, aren't you?" before pulling out a handkerchief, offering it to Drake as he added, "My shift ends at eight. If you're still around by then, I'd be happy to pour you a few drinks privately..."
Exhaling a light chuckle, Drake left the blonde-haired man disappointed as she teased, "Sorry, kid, but I like my men with a bit of meat on their bones. You're plenty handsome, I'll give you that, but your arms and legs are even thinner than mine. Feel free to ask again once you fill out a bit."
Punctuating her words, Drake gave the tall and lanky man a comforting pat on the shoulder before walking past him with confident strides. In her wake, the swirly-browed man pulled out a cigarette, stepping out onto the balcony before lighting it up, inhaling a deep drag, and exhaling a sigh as he watched Drake depart the Baratie and return to her ship...
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Although Caenis's thighs weren't as soft as Benienma's, they were pliant, springy, and comfortable. Before Thomas realized it, he had dozed off for nearly six hours, only waking once Musashi came over to inform them that dinner was ready.
As he was originally planning to eat at Baratie, Thomas was more than a little confused when he heard Musashi's words and noticed the ship was swaying from side to side, accompanied by the familiar vibrations of the Hind cutting through the water.
Preempting Thomas's query, Musashi explained, "Because of an incident that occurred at the restaurant, the Captain decided to weigh anchor and vacate the premises. Don't worry; we weren't booted out or anything. Our fearless Captain just had a bit of an altercation with a Marine and refused to step down when he tried to throw his weight around. We already shook them off, but we should expect them to badger us for the rest of our stay in the East Blue."
Exhaling a sigh, Thomas said, "I'm not surprised. Not with Drake, but with the Marines. Since East Blue is considered the 'weakest' of the Four Blues, it's where outcasts and troublemakers with no upward mobility are sent to rot. When Luffy and his crew first embarked on their journey, nearly every Marine Officer they encountered was either a swindler or a corrupt tyrant ruling over their posts with an iron fist. If not for a literal rat-themed cunt named Captain Nezumi, Nami's village wouldn't have had to suffer under the tyranny of Arlong and his crew..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Musashi replied, "Well, the Conomi Islands are less than a day's journey away. If we sail through the night, we can be in the area first thing tomorrow morning. Once we get there, Benienma or I can take out this 'Captain Nezumi' without anyone realizing it."
Though she didn't have Presence Concealment, Musashi's Emptiness(A) let her move about undetected and even phase through objects. If they wanted to make it look even more like an 'accident,' they could also have Caenis attack the ship from below. She could breathe underwater and, if given time to prepare, conceal their movements by generating a powerful storm. Either way, this Nezumi guy clearly needed to die if they wanted to avoid being demonized by the Marines.
Hearing Musashi's proposition, a serious and somewhat conflicted look marred Thomas's face. He was initially planning to wait until Luffy made his debut, but if he could end the suffering of Nami and her village sooner, shouldn't he? The only reason not to was to ensure she met Luffy, but so long as he didn't recruit her to join the Wild Hunt, there was a fairly high chance they would meet.
As it was the 'right' thing to do, Thomas eventually nodded, saying, "We'll discuss our plan of action tonight. I kind of wanted to learn how to control my strength a bit before we fought, but I vaguely remember Luffy leveling a multi-story building to take Arlong out. I'm nowhere near that level yet, so I doubt I could defeat him if I held back..."
Deciding to chime in, Caenis assured, "I'll keep a close eye on you during the battle. If it looks like you won't be able to defeat him, I'll intervene and beat the shit out of him. Though, if he's only 10-20x stronger than an ordinary human, you should be fine. Your punches have high penetrative power, so he should drop pretty quickly if you catch him in a soft spot on his body."
Prompted by Caenis's words, Thomas recalled the scene of his fist sinking into the body of the watermelon-themed man. His complexion noticeably paled, but his stomach didn't twist and turn as intensely as before. He still felt a little queasy, but he willed himself to overcome it as he said, "Arlong is a specist asshat that has tormented humans for decades. When the two of us face one another, I won't hold anything back..."
Understanding that Thomas's words were more for himself than either of them, Caenis and Musashi remained silent, permitting his words to settle before the latter suggested, "Let's discuss this over dinner. Come on; you must be hungry after skipping lunch."
As he had gotten used to eating upwards of five meals per day, Thomas nodded his head, answering, "You're right." before rising to his feet and following after the buxom samurai. Then, alongside Caenis, the three of them made their way to the galley. Benienma had prepared a light meal that was easy on the stomach, so, even though he still felt a little sick, Thomas managed to get down quite a bit as they discussed their plan of action...
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As Drake was more than happy to see some action, she violated her usual policy about never sailing at night to ensure they would reach the Conomi Islands by morning. Astolfo had already circled the entire archipelago and made stops at each of the twenty-three communities occupying. She had also flown over the base of the Arlong Pirates, Arlong Park, several times, so they had a detailed map of the enemy base and its surroundings.
Before conducting their raid, Drake dispatched Astolfo to scout the sky, Benienma to scout the interior of Arlong Park, and Caenis to survey the sea floor. The Arlong Pirates were known to swim out and sink any ships that tried to come close, but that wasn't much of a concern for Drake as even Musashi would struggle to cut through the Hind's hull, at least with 'normal' attacks. The only reason she dispatched the trio to scout was to ensure there were no civilians present before she started bombarding the park from afar.
Though she had every intention of letting Thomas fight, Drake wasn't just going to sit on the sidelines. She was the Captain of the Golden Hind and the Wild Hunt, so she at least wanted to lay siege to Arlong Park and take out most of the fodder. According to her, if Arlong and his Officers were too weak to withstand even a 'light' salvo, they weren't worth the time it would take to disembark and face them directly.
Once Astolfo and Benienma had returned, Drake sneered as she made the Hind rise into the air. She wanted Arlong and his crew to feel as helpless as the people of the Conomi Isles, so she planned to bombard them from the sky while Caenis blocked off the sea route. The latter was markedly more powerful underwater than she was on land, so she could intercept and incapacitate any Fishmen that attempted to flee into the sea.
With most of her preparations completed, Drake turned to Thomas with a vicious smile, sapphire eyes glistening as she asked, "Do you know what time it is, my esteemed Master~?"
Though he had misgivings about Drake's plan, Thomas adopted a smile of his own as he answered, "Hunting time...?"
Blinking in surprise, a look of genuine bafflement briefly adorned Drake's face before she regained her grin and shouted, "Ding, ding, ding! That's the correct answer~!" before aiming her pistols toward Arlong Park. The moment she did so, four additional canons materialized around her as the front-facing batteries of the Hind hummed to life. Overhead, dark clouds began to gather rapidly, followed by rainfall as Drake began to unleash a salvo of highly destructive lasers on the unsuspecting Fishmen...
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(A/N: There's no kill quite like overkill...)

Though it wasn't his first time flying in the Hind, Thomas couldn't help feeling a little giddy as he peeked over the ship's railing and down at the sea below. He had Caenis standing nearby, and Drake had forced him to tie a thick rope around his waist, but it was hard to feel safe when flying 3,000m above the sea, standing on the open deck of a ship...
Of course, as terrifying as the height was, it was nothing compared to the massive Sea Kings that would occasionally poke their heads out of the water, some nearly reaching the Hind's altitude as they came up to absorb sunlight. The anime and manga simply didn't do the monstrous creatures justice, and even though he had seen several realistic Kaiju-themed movies, Thomas's mind struggled to comprehend what it was seeing right in front of him.
Even the largest Godzilla, standing at 300m, couldn't compare to the size of some of the larger Sea King's heads. A few even looked like they could swallow entire islands, much less the renowned Titan, in a single bite...
Demonstrating that Thomas wasn't alone in his disbelief, Caenis had a fairly skeptical look as she questioned, "There are people in this world that can fight monsters like this? With their bare hands...?"
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "If the feats I witnessed in the anime and manga are accurate, then yes. That's one of the reasons I don't want us rushing into things. You and the others are very powerful, but the strongest people in this world are capable of bisecting mountains, destroying small islands, or irreversibly changing the terrain with their awakened Devil Fruit abilities..."
Though he knew Caenis wasn't really afraid, Thomas turned to her with a smile as he added, "Luckily, we have someone like you on our side. Your ability to manipulate the sea and produce tidal waves is a hard counter to many Devil Fruit users, and your durability should put you on par with some of the world's strongest. I just prefer to be safe than sorry..."
Snorting through her nose, Caeni groaned, "There you go again..." before crossing her arms and adding, "Well, with a convenient system like 'Bounties,' it's only a matter of time before we accumulate enough belief to Ascend. Once I regain my strength as a Divine Spirit, nothing in this world will be able to stop me."
While he didn't know how powerful Caenis and the others would be once they ascended, Thomas doubted Zelretch would have given him a power system that was 'useless' in the world of One Piece. He knew that Musashi could theoretically kill anyone, even in her current state, but he couldn't know for certain until she faced off against Mihawk. If even she lost, they were in for a rough journey...
Nodding his head, Thomas replied, "I'm looking forward to it." with a sincere expression and tone. This earned him a disproving look from Caenis, but, as she had already said she didn't mind him behaving like an idiot, she ultimately remained silent...
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After three days of flying through the sky and sailing, the Hind had completed a journey that would have taken even a seastone-coated Marine Battleship, capable of voyaging over the Calm Belt, weeks to complete. However, instead of the Conomi Islands, their first stop was a large, three-story ship with a white fish head on one end and a fin-shaped tail on the other. It was painted a combination of mint green, mustard yellow, and ketchup red, giving it a fairly unusual appearance, but Thomas couldn't help smiling as the Hind pulled up alongside the three other ships present, a large civilian vessel, a Marine ship, and a predominately red caravel bearing a Jolly Roger.
Seeing the Hind pull up alongside them, the pirates that had stayed behind to watch over their ship immediately took an interest in both the vessel and the people onboard.
Though the Golden Hind was fairly small as far as ships in One Piece were concerned, its sleek design and unique features made it stand out like an ornate dagger among a large collection of dull swords. It had an appearance that would make anyone want to possess it, even if there weren't a bevy of beautiful women occupying the deck.
Ignoring their Captain's orders, one of the thirteen Pirates that had been left to watch over their ship pulled out a flintlock pistol and attempted to shoot Thomas. He was the only man present, and his large size, combined with his recent 'glow up' in terms of outfit and appearance, made the group of Pirates believe he was the Captain. The mangey-looking marksman thought that, so long as he could get rid of Thomas, he and his crewmates could claim both the Hind and the women on board as their prizes.
Though Thomas immediately erected a Mana veil around his body, it was ultimately unnecessary as Caenis caught the bullet with her bare hand, scowling as she said, "So much for the rule about not fighting in and around the restaurant."
Rather than his usual wry smile, Thomas had a solemn expression as he said, "Pirates wouldn't be Pirates if they followed the rules..."
Just as Thomas was thinking about asking Caenis to throw him over and onto the enemy's deck, the jarring sound of rapid gunfire sounded from his left as Drake unloaded on the thirteen Pirates. When she was done, she spun her ornate flintlocks around her fingers before blowing the smoke off their ends as she said, "They aren't worth our time."
As one of her abilities as a Captain allowed her to see the Bounties of others, Drake could tell the group of Pirates were utter trash. Thomas needed his 'first blood,' but if it were a completely ordinary person, he might waver or be traumatized by the experience. If he felt it was his life over his opponent's, he would feel 'accomplished' to have survived the encounter rather than feeling guilt.
Before Thomas could say anything, Drake looked to Caenis, ordering, "Hop over and see if they have anything of value worth stealing. Don't worry. Your beloved Master is in safe hands with Benienma, Musashi, and myself protecting him."
Though she didn't like the idea of entrusting Thomas to Drake, Ceanis only hesitated briefly before leaping over to the enemy ship. The East Blue was known to be the weakest of the Four Seas, and, according to Thomas himself, the most powerful Pirate currently in the region was a Fishman with a Bounty of 20,000,000 Bellies. Three months ago, she had sunk a ship that had gotten a little too close to their private island, the Captain on board being worth around 50,000,000 Belly. If Arlong was even weaker than that, Benienma should be able to cut down him and his crew before they even knew what happened. With the added protection of Musashi, Thomas was safe even without her babysitting him.
To make Caenis's job easier, Drake fired grappling hooks from the side of the Hind, piercing the enemy ship and pulling it closer as she turned to Thomas and mused, "Shall we head inside? I'm certain our resident sparrow is eager to see these chefs of 'Baratie' for herself."
Regaining a wry smile, Thomas looked to the entrance of Baratie to see several Pirates and Marines running out. The grappling hooks fired from the Hind originated from their portside cannons, so the sound of explosives had attracted the attention of pretty much everyone inside the floating, fish-themed restaurant. This included the Captain of the Pirate vessel they were currently pillaging, a man with orange hair, a hooked mustache that could give Whitebeard a run for his money, and a similarly hooked beard that looked like he was afraid of letting even a single crumb escape while eating.
Seeing what was happening to his ship, the stereotypically-dressed Captain shouted, "You scoundrels! How dare you attack my ship and crew in neutral waters! Once I get onto your ship, you're dead...!"
While the man and his two remaining men ran over to a small dinghy, the smile on Drake's face revealed considerable amusement as she remarked, "The man in the center has a Bounty of 4,500,000. His two crewmen have Bounties of 1.8 and 1.3 million, respectively. They're all pretty weak, but they're yours if you want to try fighting them."
Though he felt his throat tighten, Thomas replied, "I'll do it..." as he began gathering Magical Energy into his fists. Doing so caused a pale blue light to gather around them, similar to the hazy veil covering his body but 'a lot' more prominent.
While the Marines, restaurant staff, and several guests watched on with curious and somewhat judgmental expressions on their faces, Thomas waited for the trio of men to board the Hind, his expression uncharacteristically severe as he said, "Surrender now, and you'll at least have a chance at life..."
Snorting in contempt, the leader of the trio pulled out a black and white cutlass, a murderous expression on his face as he asked, "Do you fools have any idea who you're dealing with!? I am Gally of the Gally Pirates! The man fated to be the next Pirate King! Even if you throw down your weapons and beg for mercy, I'll skin the lot of you! Men, women, children; it makes no difference...!"
Though he secretly intended to capture Drake and the other females present to 'serve' on his ship, Gally first intended to strike fear into their hearts by dealing with Thomas in the most brutal way he could imagine. He was presently unaware of the fact that every other man on his ship had been killed via shots to the head, so he was lively and full of murderous intent as he charged toward Thomas, shouting, "Eat steel...!"
Surprised by how slow the man was, a skeptical look marred Thomas's face as he side-stepped Gally's excessively telegraphed slash. Part of his training had involved sparring with Chiron, Caenis, and Musashi, so Gally's movements almost seemed...childish in comparison.
Reacting without any input from his mind, Thomas landed a left hook on Gally's face that caused the man's head to spin. He didn't think he put much strength into the blow, but it was apparently enough to kill a 5,000,000 Belly pirate in an instant as Gally's head turned nearly 500 degrees before he plopped to the deck, frothing at the mouth as his body violently spasmed.
Though he felt a sudden and intense urge to vomit, Thomas did his best to remain focused as the remaining two members of Gally's crew, a tall, rotund man that resembled a watermelon and a short, incredibly lanky man with striped hair and a jaw wider than the upper half of his skull. The former wielded a giant club while the latter had six dagger's in between his fingers like some knock-off Wolverine.
With Magical Energy concentrated in his left hand, Thomas caught the watermelon man's spiked club with his open palm. Then, even though he felt it was a little excessive, he redirected it to the side, intersecting the path of the wannabe wolverine. The heavy club smashed into the man's face, but it actually did less damage than Thomas's punch, only breaking his nose and shattering several of his teeth. His watermelon companion wasn't nearly as fortunate...
Though he lessened the concentration of Magical Energy around his fist, the color drained from Thomas's face as he unexpectedly found himself up to his elbow in the rotund man's torso. A pungent smell of iron filled his nostril as the heat and pulsations of the man's insides caused his stomach to flip and twist. Then, despite having sustained no injuries, darkness crept in from the edge of Thomas's vision as he abruptly lost consciousness...
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(A/N: When everyone you train against is exponentially stronger than you, holding back isn't easy...)

Chapter 20: Tension