Days soon passed since the failed ambush of the marines from the G-2 base. Sweet Caroline underwent extensive damage from the stern of the ship. Vice-Admiral Comil made it apparent to attack while they were twirling the ship towards the reinforcement.
Ikari and his merry band of seven patched and sealed the holes of the vessel. Fortunately, the rudder was fine and not harmed in any way. They were only a few knots away from their next goal, the Caribbean Island.
"Any new or unmentioned information about our next island? I can't be unaware like last time. No next time!"
Bepo sadly looked at the floor, he felt that he was responsible for the damage to the ship. So, he re-read the record multiple times, afraid that it might have new information he didn't know.
"It is the same as I previously mentioned, Captain," he said in a low voice. "I—I am s–sorry for unknowingly withholding such important data from the record. I promise to not cause trouble again!" he sobbed depressed.
Ikari looked at Bepo, shook his head, and stepped toward the bear. "I am sure that you didn't know that it was of significance. But, be sure to remind me of every detail that goes on our trip. Even minuscule or ridiculous statements might help us avoid unfortunate situations. " he placated his first mate.
Bepo hysterically sobbed as snots poured out of his nose. Law quietly handed a handful of tissues he readied beforehand. Fortunately, Shachi brought food. It smelled really good, that the grieving bear somewhat stopped and looked over the man.
"Thankfully the fridge and food storage room didn't suffer any harm. We might have to starve to death, though Captain can just catch a sea king or two if necessary. "
"That's a piece of good news. "
Ikari busied himself with stuffing his mouth. It somewhat stabilized the crew's mood. The unexpected strike done by the marines shattered their peaceful adventure so far.
"This is our first defeat. So, as I and Law discussed, we will be recruiting new members to the crew. You will manage one man each. Be sure to have them disciplined. We need gunmen, cannon men, sailors, and other positions." Ikari listed his requirements.
Law by his side also handed sheets containing the protocols and required methods to have the recruits aligned. Might makes right, as their pirate code indicated.
"You guys need to know management skills. Our crew will be, in the near future, an Emperor sized pirate group. Also, a fleet is required to survive and dethrone one of the four Emperors of the New World. We will be the division commanders, inspired by— the Whitebeard Pirates. " Law stated as matter of fact. His thought to kill and destroy the Donquixote Pirates motivated him to no end.
The crew's reaction varied as his words fell. Bepo had his eyes shine, expecting to command a ship of his own and join the fleet in combat. Though it made him uncomfortable to manage a recruit, he soon resolved himself.
Shachi and Penguin only glanced at each other and fiercely glared at Law. They wanted to be the first division commander. And challenging Law was on their minds.
Caribou furiously licked his lips with his long tongue. The thought to command a division inspired him. He fought humandrills back at Kuraigana Island and saw the General of the humandrills execute orders. Making him a division commander while sailing in a large fleet made his heart and ambition flare up. Meanwhile, his brother Coribou aimlessly turned his head, thoughts unknown at the moment.
Edward Faust had the most adverse emotion on his face. As he just joined the crew, the encounter a few days ago made him want to get stronger immediately. And hearing the claims and future vision of the Captain stimulated him. He would not settle for less in his future division, making it the strongest.
"Now that the vision of the crew is established. I want to address the most pressing issue. " Ikari looked around and saw them eyeing him. "Haki will be introduced as early as they joined the crew. But only mention it once they stepped foot on the ship. Training your men will be your mission and they will be your liability. Foundation is always important, remember that. Once they showed signs of awakening their spiritual energy, only then will you train them, understood?"
Caribou frowned at his words. "What about those who are still in the process of learning haki? Or those who have not yet even started. " his eyes landed on the newcomer.
"As Ikari said, only when they awaken their spiritual energy will they able to learn and train haki. So, our priority in teaching haki is the three of you. Amassing large crew members will only be logical when we enter New World and have territory. " Law explained slowly to his crewmates.
"I can see the island!" Bepo yelled from the cockpit.
After the crew docked in the harbor of the Caribbean Island. Ikari let Coribou remain and defend the ship if necessary. He was told by Caribou that his brother would be under him, so Ikari only needs to recruit four men.
Ikari was interested if Shachi and Penguin would do the same so he approached the two brothers. "Caribou had his brother under him. What about you two?"
Shachi and Penguin glanced at each other and sneered at each other. "Captain, I am my own man. Being under some guy just because of age is disrespectful to my strength," answered Shachi immediately.
"Hmph! I don't need some guy below my age as well. Captain, who is the first division commander of the ship?" Penguin asked with a hint of curiosity.
"Well, it has not been decided yet. Law has been my advisor and strategist since we decided to sail the sea. The structure of hierarchy was formulated by Law and I approved of his proposal. He will be the chief of staff, meaning that the first division is vacant at the moment." Ikari wore a wide smile, competition inside the crew is a double-edged sword. They deliberated on encouraging such an attitude, but still proceeded eventually.
...
Marine G-1 base, Marineford.
In an office full of stacked paperwork in every corner. There was a man with a hat signifying the symbol of marines. Wrinkles formed on his forehead and clutched his hat as he threw it angrily at the man sitting on the couch.
Munch! Munch!
An obnoxious munching resounded in the room. The said man with gray-white hair instantly moved his free left hand and caught the flying seagull hat. "Whatcha doing Sengoku? Wanna have some rice crackers?"
A tick mark appeared on Sengoku's temple and viciously slammed his palms at the top of the desk. The paperwork flew from the shockwave emitted from the slam. "This is the Marine Fleet Admiral's Office! Garp!! ... Even if you are my old friend, can't you at least spare me that annoying sound coming from your mouth!?"
Suddenly, the door of the office slammed open. A brown-haired man emerged and immediately saluted. "Marine Fleet Admiral! Marine G-2 base sent a piece of information about their previous attempt at capturing the Crescent Moon Pirates!" he stepped forward nervously and handed the folder to Sengoku's desk.
Sengoku only spared a glance at the marine captain and nodded his head. "Hm. You are dismissed. " he turned his eyes to the folder before him. Sengoku placed a hand on it and brought the folder in front of him. His eyes skimmed the full account of the report and read the summary.
"What island did Kuzan report he rested in?"
Garp rolled his eyes to the ceiling, recalling Kuzan's report earlier. "Hm. If my memory serves me right, it should be called Caribbean Island... The place bounty hunters and pirates usually visited in the grand line. "
Sengoku hurriedly pressed the snail responder and dialed Kuzan's number. The den-den mushi rang in the closed office.
Beriberi! Beriberi! Beriberi! Beri— Kacha!
"Ha~ah!" an overdrawn yawn sounded from the snail responder. "Admiral Aokiji speaking..."
"Have you moved from your previous position?"
"... Hm. " Aokiji paused for a few seconds. "... No. I'm still resting here. "
"There's a pirate crew expected to land on that island. Crescent Moon Pirates... They sunk two marine vessels from the G-2 base and reported that their ship was damaged and might take a while to depart from Caribbean Island. "
"So... "
Gathering every bit of his strength to not smash the snail responder in his hand, Sengoku responded. "I want you to arrest and capture them. Dead or Alive... Prioritize their vice-captain, Trafalgar Law, the consumer of the ope-ope fruit. "
Kacha!
"That lazy bastard!" Sengoku couldn't hold it anymore and squashed the snail responder in his hands and roared in annoyance. "You... You taught that brat, Garp!! Kuzan was not like that when he used to be in Marineford! ... Your laziness affected the brat. "
"Bwahahaha!" Garp laughed hysterically while holding his abdomen. "He was always like that... That kid. "
...
A black curly-haired man held his emerald and purple sleep mask and placed it on his forehead. He wore a lax and laid-back expression. Standing up from his prone position, Kuzan towered at 298 centimeters. He was a slim, tall, yet muscular man and wore a standard outfit consisting of a white buttoned-up vest with a standing collar over a long-sleeved navy blue shirt, with matching white trousers and black dress shoes.
He opened the door of his room and got out of the inn. Kuzan strolled casually in the town and noticed a sign erected in the plaza. "Crescent Moon Pirates recruiting in the harbor. Anyone interested can visit and head to Sweet Caroline... Interesting..."
His eyes landed on the wanted poster glued at the bottom. The striking green-haired man holding a blue patterned white waves katana, Uzuki Ikari. Kuzan ripped the poster and clutched it while walking toward the harbor.
As soon as he arrived, the lines crowd filled the harbor to the brim. He stood still at the back, waiting for the right time to strike. Although he exhibited a lazy expression, there was still the marine admiral pride inside his heart. Seeing the aspiring crowd joining a pirate group in front of his very eyes irritated him.
However, a sudden burst of incredible spiritual energy shot out from the bow of the ship. Kuzan's eyes widen in shock, despite encountering various pirates from the New World. This has somewhat surprised him, especially in the first half of the grand line.
The crowd before him soon fell and fainted with their mouths foaming with saliva. Kuzan noticed odd individuals still standing, four of them leaning their hands on their knees.
"Come aboard," he saw the man responsible for the burst of Haki, the same man in the wanted poster. His green hair tied in a simple ponytail fluttered from the breeze. "Only four held out in the end. " a disappointing tone voiced by the man.
Kuzan met his pitch-black eyes and decided to take the mission seriously. If the captain was capable of such feats, then he expected the same from his vice-captain. He noticed Ikari leaping from the bow of the ship and landing distance away from him.
"You three, quickly board the ship," Ikari said without looking over his back. "A marine officer of your rank should be in Marineford, no?" as his words fell, the four pirates had wide eyes and rapidly dashed to the ship.
Kuzan raised an eyebrow at his remarks. "Excuse me... " he paused for a few seconds. "Hand over your vice-captain... and I'll be out of your hair..." he replied in a lazy tone.
Ikari scoffed and spat on the ground. "You should know what your words mean... Asking a Captain to hand over his crewmate is the same as disrespecting his honor and dignity. " his eyebrows almost reaching each other, veins popping out of his temple.
"It didn't hurt trying... " Kuzan spoke slowly. Chilling ice covered the side of his face and extended to his right arm. He suddenly vanished from his spot, and dust spew from the ground.
Swoosh!
Kuzan instantly materialized in front of the dumbstruck Ikari. Extended his arm straight out and moved it forward against Ikari's neck.
"Ice Time!"
His freezing arm touched Ikari and hastily froze him, making him an ice block.
Creak! Creak! Crack!
Ikari rapidly melted and broke down the frost enveloping his body. He places his right hand on the hilt of his katana. Rapidly unsheathing the blade out of its scabbard.
Kuzan hopped back and raised his arms in front of his chest, aiming them at Ikari. Four blocks of ice materialized out of the thin air, they had sharp edges intending to nail him.
"Ice Block: Partisan!"
The blocks of ice skewered their way towards Ikari who deflected it effortlessly. Seeing his attacks not giving him any advantages, Kuzan crouched down and had his fingers touching the soil.
"Ice Age!"
White frost shot out from his position and extended towards the whole area. It covered the slumped pirates and froze them completely. The clawed its way towards Ikari, and it froze him as well.
Foreseeing the outcome, Ikari manipulated his temperature to the highest degree and left him unscathed.
"Oho... Heat heat devil fruit...?" inquired Kuzan lightly.
"You don't have to know..." Ikari thought that it was foolish to hold back. He sensed that the opponent's haki was tremendous making him cautious.
"Absolute Sun Sword Technique," the heat collided with the ice around Ikari, and mist formed. He manipulated the temperature of his environment which supported him against Kuzan.
"Fifth Tempo, Eternal Blazing Sun!"
Ikari rushed forward, his entire being radiating brilliance and extreme heat. Flames combusted around his Uzuki Kitetsu as the armament haki exploded. This transformation took a toll on his stamina.
"Ice Pheasant Beak!"
Clang! Clang!
The haki-clad pheasant was casually sliced in half. Ikari sprang with his contracted legs and instantly met face to face with Kuzan.
"Ice Saber!"
Clang!
Kuzan blocked the incoming thrust to his guts. His haki-clad ice saber continuously deflected the cuts and slashes aiming at his vitals.
"Ice Puncture!"
Ice spears stabbed Ikari's legs, frostbite clawed its fangs. He jumped back away from Kuzan, purple wounds and blood spurted out. It stung and hurt to take a step foot forward.
Gritting his teeth in pain, Ikari swung his katana with all of his might and continued to send out a barrage of cuts. "Sixth Tempo," Kuzan all of a sudden felt he was cut in half on his abdomen. He focused all of his armament haki on his abdomen.
"Annular Solar Eclipse!"
Crackle!
A crackling ring of fire shot out of Ikari's flaming katana. He twirled 360 degrees and Kuzan was sent out from the impact of the attack.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kuzan crashed heavily on multiple buildings in the harbor. He breathed out, panting heavily as he closed the bleeding wound on his abdomen. Freezing the entire harbor and stopping the enemy ship from sailing came to his mind.
"Uzuki One Sword Style,"
Kuzan's gaze landed on Ikari, who dashed rapidly while clenching his teeth. He hurriedly got on his feet and created an ice saber again.
"Ragnarok!"
Ikari suddenly vanished in front of his eyes.
"Kragh!"
Swish! Kacha!
A sheathing of a katana was heard. Kuzan looked down and saw a gaping slice on his chest. Scarlet blood flowed out of his chest, the slash almost cut through his bones and cut him in half.
Thud!
Ikari's gaze landed on the marine's collapsed body. He didn't bother checking and slowly walked away with his aching legs, as he limped to the ship...