One Piece : Rise Of The Merchant Clan

Zen move quickly, he was hoping that he still had time in getting far away. But with how the man he left down in the library acted, he might be already to late.

"Ok, don't panic I don't even know the situation yet. Who knows, they might have miss something to my advantage." Zen tried to keep himself in a optimistic mood, it wasn't really working, he just hope that he wasn't going to face any vice admiral or admiral.

Hell anything over captain rank of strength might spell his doom. Sure he had allot of knowledge on how to fight, but most of it was more on the theory of it, then the actual practice. His fate would no doubt be slavery if they caught him, he would be lucky if no one knew he had a devil fruit. All thing consider, his own powers they wouldn't be the best in helping him escape any form of imprisonment, at least not yet.

Coming out the door, he stop and looked around. Men and women in occult robes were running in all direction in a panic. There were sh.i.p.s at the dock being pack full of people, lots of screaming and shouting going on. He caught some words, something about right and privilege of being an elder. He could also see one ship was already in the water, their was even some few who we're trying to catch up to it by swimming.

Pandemonium, that was the only word he could use in describing the situation. Out in the far distance at sea he spotted at least a dozen marine battle sh.i.p.s creeping closer. From the speed they were going, he knew that only a fast ship might have a chance in getting away. As for the big over burden sh.i.p.s at the docks, would only be sitting targets for the marines as they got closer.

"Okay, so that a big no. Dozen of sh.i.p.s at the front, yeah not getting out that way." Zen turn away from the crowd, he ran for the other side of the island. "Please, please, please." All the way he keep repeating this until the other side came into view.

On the horizon he could see five sh.i.p.s making their way toward the island.

"Crap, looks like they have someone with brains." Zen turn toward a camouflage net, removing it and revealing smaller ship, crafted for a single person or a small crew.

This had been his own little secret for years, using his ship in leaving discreetly away from all the chaos, had been the plan, but now it came crashing down. This same ship had been how he would from time to time, leave the island so he could run some errant or acquire thing he needed.

Unfortunately it seem he would be undoubtably spotted in his attempt at escape, but comparing the number of sh.i.p.s from the two sides. He had a better chance using the back of the island then the front, also being the only passenger on board would not hinder him so much on weight.

This ship was far from invincible, it didn't have any canon on it. He had it made for speed, not combat, it couldn't take to many hits maybe one or two direct hits. Before it would start to sink, so he would have to escape in a zig zag pattern. That wouldn't be so bad if he was against normal sh.i.p.s, except he wasn't facing five normal one but five fully armed marine battle sh.i.p.s.

"My best chance, is if I aim for one the three middle sh.i.p.s. If I can get past one of them, then I have a chance to slip away. The only real big issue is which one? Also, which one has the highest commanding officer on board. If I get to close to one who's boss, and I can't beat him or her quickly, Im going to be so screwed. Any delay in the fight or flight will see me in chaines." Zen was calculating as he got on the ship, getting it ready to go. If only he would've knows that the marine were attacking so soon, he would have left last night.

He had only heard whispers about this raid few weeks ago, but he allowed his own greed to get the better of him, by wanting to finishing a few more books before leaving. The more annoying thing about all those books, was that he could have found other sources, but he'd grown accustom on his easy access to knowledge. Him being here, working in the library, had been a true oasis when he needed it most.

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"Lieutenant Commander Kibin! Their a single ship coming from the beach sir. Should we notify, the rear admiral, sir. It could there leader trying to escape, sir." A Ensign said as he saluted his superior officier.

Kibin looked at the ensign and gave a sigh, he was bored. He wave his hand up in a lazy wave. "There no need, the leader was already spotted, on the first ship that sailed from the docks. Who ever is on that ship, should be some nobody, that will get caught by us. Just advance, no doubt once we come close, the idiot will surrender, once they realize that their is no escape." Kibin said, he was disappointed in the whole mission.

It been a open secret the plans of grander, this sorry excuse of a rebel group had, for years order from above was to only observe, not to interfere. One of the big noble family son, had a weird hobby in mashing all kinds of fanatic together, all in the goal of creating a cult. He spread some lies about having the power in seeing the future. He then got a bunch of desperate morons on board, who found some stupid or just plain desperate pretty girls. And voila, he had his own private sect, of course this little orgy party had to be far from the family.

As soon as the son express his boredom with playing sect master to a bunch of misguided demon worshiper. The order came down, clean up all the evidence leaving no alive, well at least none that the young master decided to 'save'. Since this place had a whole bunch of books, that belonging to the same noble family who allowed this farce to last for so long. The option of a buster call was refuse. Instead the marine had to get in closes and personal, in eliminating everyone on the island.

Kibin watch the ship come closer, he lost interest when he spotted a young teen in the ship. "Ensign."

"Yes sir?" The ensign answered in a hopeful and anxious tone.

"Have a few marine board the ship,capture the kid if he resit your clear in killing him. Il be down bellow deck taking a nap, come wake me when the mission is done." Kibin said, as he walk away giving out a yawn. He wasn't going to fight a kid, it would no doubt be boring, so he might as well get some sleep.

"Yes sir. Don't worry Il get the little rebel sir!" The ensign said in a spirited tone.

Kibin just wave him off as he close the cabin door, no longer caring about the possible fate of the teen.

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"Either, Im the luckies persons in the world. Or they don't event want to waste ammo on me." Zen grumble, he found that both notions, were a mix of insulting and calming at the same time.

"Once I get into shouting distance, I wonder if they'll do the villain speech or the arrogant one?" He looked at the sh.i.p.s getting closer, he was sailing in his preplan zigzag motion. Even if they hadn't fired a single shot, he didn't want to temp fate.

The five marine sh.i.p.s were getting closer, zen made sure not to use the sh.i.p.s full speed. He hope to use that to his advantage.

"If they haven't blasted me out of the water by now, then they will probably attack by boarding. Or they cloud just decide to blast me, once I'm in the middle of two sh.i.p.s. Either way I better set the ship straight just in case, i need to move around protecting the ship, or just fighting off the marines if they come aboard." Zen grab the rope that was by his side, it was connected to a mechanist that had a sort of auto pilot function.

This system was only good for a few minutes of unsupervised sailing. If you needed to leave the wheel to do something else real quick, but you had to set the direction you wanted to g, before you lock it in. It had been quite expensive, but he concluded it would no doubt prove useful in the futur. This was designs with only the four calm seas in mind. If you use this anywhere else, you would be inviting disaster on your self. Taking a nap while this was on, wasn't recommend if you valued your life.

As both side drew closer, the Ensign could be seen on the third ship. His back was straight he had red pink hair, dark eyes a strong chin, and a arrogant air about him.

Zen took one looked and had a gut feeling he was going to get the arrogant speech.

"Rebel sc.u.m! You are to stop your ship. And surrender to Justice, your crimes and sin have met their end today. For you have met your match, prepare for your doom maggot. No matter..." The Ensign speech keep on going. A feeling of pride came radiating off him.

Zen just watch, the Ensign keep on going. He seem to have prepare a whole speech, zen wonder if he should respond with one. Then his mind started to wander about various things, he would resurface from time to time, but the guy was still talking. He notice some of the other marine also seem bored.

He inevitably cross eyes with one, both were a bit surprise but in an odd twist they shared a moment of complete silent communication. Zen and the marine both nodded as if the distance and words held no longer any meaning. Both would speak with there eyes, they would laugh at the joke the other made. Some tears could be seen from them as they silently told each other, their own sad tale.

"Hey, did you hear me!?" The ensign shouted. A vein could be seen pulsing from his head.

"Ah, sorry I tune you out a while back. If you want you could start over." Zen said, he then turn to the marine he had been in silent communication. He then mouth the words 'I'm sorry' to him, for a reason he couldn't explain he felt a little guilty for breaking eye contact with that marine.

On the marine ship, private Thomas was a little freak out, for a good solid few minutes. The rebel kid had been intently staring at him, at first he'd just laugh it off. Only to have the rebel also laugh, he then became a little sad since, the kids was no doubt going a little mad with sorrow as he saw some tears. But once their eyes broke the connection, he started to get worried, when he saw and any other marine notice, the kid turning to him and mouthing the words 'I'm sorry' directly at him. His back became filled with cold sweats, as felt the accusing eyes from his fellow marines.

"ARE YOU F.U.C.K.I.N.G KIDDING ME!" The Ensign yelled, he had a whole speech plan out. Weeks and months had gone into it, and this little shit dare ask him to start over. He exploded in rage, he would have that little rat bastard head.

Zen blush a little in embarrasment, at the same time he was hoping this awkward situation could last longer, giving him more time to cover more ground in his escape. Just as he was about to try and ask his new friend on marine side for help.

"Attack, I want his head!" The Ensign shouted as he jump overboard, he and few other marine landed on Zen's ship.

"No, Paul how could you! After everything we shared!" Zen shouted, as pointed to a marine who had followed the Ensign.

A moment of complete confusion caught the marines suddenly. Everyone turn as one, all to see Private Thomas having a livid shock face in this completely surreal moment.

"Who! You f.u.c.k.i.n.g Bastard! Catch the traitor!" The Ensign yelled. Only adding to the confusion. He pointed at private Thomas.

Before anyone could begin in untangling this siuation. Zen move, at this point he was clarifying his delusion. He figure that not getting to interact with other, and forming any meaningful relationship over four long years of isolation. Had cause him to create some dangerous projection on others, it was official he no doubt had stayed far to long in that bas.e.m.e.nt.

All that took only a few seconds in his mind, to which he form a semi plan when he saw the commanding officer reaction. It seem interrupting the mans speech had affected his stats of mind more then he could have hope.

Zen arrive in front of his first opponent, as the marine was still turn away from him. He slam his fist up in an uppercut, sending the first marine up in the air straight into the sea. The other marine turn at the sound.

"Paul! You said I had nothing to worry, that the attack wasn't for a few hours later!" Zen shouted, as he zoom toward his next target.

At this point a few more sharp minded individual begun to doubt the whole confusing situation. Unfortunately the Ensign wasn't among them.

"Bastard!" The ensign turn to the private and attack him, he was still fuming about being interrupted in his speech he just wanted to vent. So anything that set him off, was now a target for his rage.

"Sir, Im innocent!" Private Thomas scream in desperation, as he barely block the ensign vicious attack.

Other marine who had boarded also came to the same conclusion, that Private Thomas was being framed. But their focus were on the rebel that was kicking them around, like they were a bunch of pinatas.

Zen race towards the other marines, sending them flying off his ship, as he did so he keep saying stuff that seem to fuel the rage of the commanding officer. It keep the rest of the marine in a stats of confusions slowing down their reaction as he attack.

"Sir! Stop! The rebel is lying, Private Thomas is innocent. The bastard is calling him Paul, when his name is Thomas." A marine yelled from one of the sh.i.p.s.

The Ensign froze, his rage fuel mind finally calm down. He look down on the beaten down Private, who was knock out on the deck. He turn, his rage coming back but this time, his target being the origin of all his wrath. He charger, making a beeline to Zen.

"Oh crap!" Zen barely manage to block the ensign attack.

"Die sc.u.m!" The ensign threw a punch, his fists were holding on some brass knuckles.

Zen felt his right forearm bone crack, as he stumble back several steps, if he had any other paramecia or zoan devil power. His arm would no doubt have been broken, by the power of that punch. As it was, he felt like a few more hits like that, and the Ensign would break his bones.

Before he could recover, the Ensign charge him again. The other marine still on the ship, they also join in the fight with a renew focus.

Zen was on the back foot, as he dodge what he could, wincing every time he block the heavy fists of the Ensign. His lack of battle experience, was showing as he was taking a lot more hits, then he was giving. Ironically the Ensign rage induce beatdown, was giving him a better chance of surviving this fight. If the Ensign had been calm, the fight would have been over by now.

The other marine join in by attacking Zen sides and blind spots. Now not only was he dodging and blocking the Ensign hits, he was also doing the same for all the other marine. Who were attacking making him scramble around in a desperate attempt at survival. As more and more hits came down, Zen became frantic as he started to despair.

Finally a heavy blow from behind smash into his head. He went down, a few marine gave him a few more hits as he laid down dizzy and confuse.

With a clean hit in the jaw darkness greeted Zen.