The wind on Xyli Island blew. Tashigi pulled her thick, fur-lined coat tighter around her shoulders. She thought it was pretty cold. She let her breath and saw her white mist. Tashigi adjusted her glasses and wiped the frost.
She thought there was a big war coming soon and this King decided to do this. She thought people could be selfish.
She looked around to see hundreds of footsteps everywhere in the snow. She wondered if Ben was here. She thought of the kiss. Her heartbeat fluttered. He stole her first kiss. Her cheeks were flushed.
At that moment, her Den Den Mushi chirped inside her coat. Tashigi took it out and looked at it. "Tashigi here," she reported.
"We have a report from the coastal watch," a Marine scout's voice crackled through the receiver. "There's been a massive engagement out at sea. Multiple explosions were sighted just off the shelf. One of our observers saw a pink ship and it destroyed everything in minutes," the voice said.
Tashigi's eyes widened. She looked back toward the direction of the coast. She thought of the pink ship. She knew they were around here. "The Miss Love Duck," she whispered to herself.
"Captain? Did you say something?" the scout asked.
"No," Tashigi replied. "Stay on high alert. If that ship is here, the situation just became ten times more volatile," she said as she tucked the Den Den Mushi away and stared at the footprints again.
She looked back at her men who had just caught up. They were panting. "Tashigi we are here," one said.
"We need to keep going," Tashigi said as she looked at the tall mountain.
"She does not even care for us," another Marine said.
Tashigi looked at them. "We need to stay alert,"Tashigi said.
"She does," the Marine said.
Tashigi sighed. She thought they needed to focus. She looked in the distance and saw several figures.
In the distance, Carina and Uta were sprinting through the snowy fields. They were panting. "How did they track us?" Uta gasped as she looked over her shoulder.
"I don't know! Just keep running," Carina shouted back as she grabbed Uta's hand to pull her through a thick snowbank.
"But where do we go?" Uta asked as she looked at the snowy area.
"I don't know," Carina admitted. "But we can't stop. We need to keep moving," she added.
Before they could reach the clearing, a metallic rattle hissed through and struck Carina.
"Chain Lock," Mad Treasure said as the heavy iron chain shot forward and wrapped around Carina's ankles.
Carina let out a sharp cry as her feet were swept out from under her and sent her face-first into the snow.
"Carina," Uta screamed as she skidded to a halt and reached out for her friend.
"Go. Just get out of here," Carina hissed as she struggled against the cold links that refused to budge.
"Jararara," a raspy laugh echoed through the trees. Mad Treasure stepped out from the shadows. His eyes gleamed with greed as he slowly retracted the slack on his chains. "And where do you think you're going? The hunt is over, girls," he added.
Both Carina and Uta looked up at him.
Uta thought of her father. She thought if only he was here. She then thought of Luffy, her friend. She was about to say something.
"Leave them alone," Tashigi said as she rushed into the clearing. She drew her blade, Shichiseiken. She swung her sword at the chain binding Carina. The metal clanged loudly. The reinforced iron didn't break but the force of the blow sent a vibration up the link that snapped it backward. The chain released Carina's legs.
Mad Treasure smiled. "And who do we have here? A little Marine bird lost in the woods?" he asked.
Tashigi stood her ground. Her glasses fogged slightly as she narrowed her eyes at him. She recognised him. "You're the infamous hunter, Mad Treasure," she said.
"The one and only," he chuckled. The chains on his arms rattled ominously. "And you're standing between me and a very big payday, little Marine," he added.
"Tashigi-sama," a Marine said. "Leave her alone," he added as a group of Marines were charging towards them.
From behind Mad Treasure, Naomi aimed her bow and arrow. She fired the arrow. It streaked towards Tashigi and struck the ground in front of the charging Marines. It exploded and created a massive smoke cloud. The Marines were sent flying and they crashed into the ground. There was a massive thud.
"Everyone," Tashigi said. "Leave them all alone," she added "Shockwave Projection," Tashigi said as she swung her sword in a wide arc to release a powerful, vorpal shockwave that tore through the air. It went towards Mad Treasure.
Mad Treasure moved to the side and dodged the attack.
"He dodged it," Tashigi said as she looked at him. She gritted her teeth. "Mystic Fire," she said as she scraped her sword against the ground. The friction ignited a green-flamed projectile that hissed through the air.
Mad Treasure didn't even flinch. He swung a heavy chain and batted the flame aside as if it were a mere insect. "Is that all, Marine?" Mad Treasure mocked.
"Captain, let me fight her," a man approached from the forest. Psycho P held his sword and walked out.
Tashigi looked at his crewmates. She thought she was out numbered. She looked at the two girls who were helping each other up.
"No they are my prey," Mad Treasure said as he moved forward. "Chain Hammer," he added as he wrapped the heavy chains around his fists and lunged. He swung his fist at Tashigi.
Tashigi parried the punch. However the sheer weight of the blow sent a shudder through her arms.
Mad Treasure didn't give her a second to recover. "Stay still, little bird," he barked as he swung his chained fists forward. The heavy links whistled like a gale and forced Tashigi to block the attack. Her blade clanging against the metal in a shower of sparks as she parried the first two strikes.
However, Treasure's brute strength was overwhelming. Mad Treasure then swung his hand forward and punched her stomach.
Tashigi felt the blow connect. The air left her lungs in a sharp gasp, and she spat blood. She thought it was a big attack. She looked at him. She was not going to lose.
Mad Treasure let out a jagged laugh as he swung his fist forward. "Is that all you got," he said.
Tashigi managed to pull her sword up just in time to block the strike aimed at her head, but it was a trap.
Mad Treasure smiled and used his other hand which was covered in chains and shot it forward like a piston. The iron-clad fist slammed into her chest with a sickening thud. The force threw her backward. She skidded across the ice. Her coat was torn and her breathing frantic. She struggled to keep her grip on her sword through the blinding pain.
"Why do you want them?" she asked.
"It is nothing personal, just a contract," Mad Treasure laughed.
"How cruel," Tashigi said as she dragged her blade along the ground again.
Mad Treasure didn't even bother to dodge. He stood his ground with a contemptuous smirk. As the first orb reached him, he raised his fist and punched the orb. There was a small explosion and black smoke. Mad Treasure dashed forward from the smoke with a grin. He continued to move forward and punched the remaining orbs out of the air as if he were swatting away flies. There were small explosions against his hands however it did not phase him. "Is that the best your 'mystic' toys can do?" he mocked as he closed the distance. "You're trying to burn a man who was forged in the heat of the hunt," he added.
Tashigi gritted her teeth. There was blood trickling from her mouth. She swung in a wide, desperate arc. "Shockwave Projection," she said as she sent a shockwave tore through the snow.
"Chain Saw Whirlwind," Made Treasure said as he countered his chains. He spun them with lethal speed and shredded her shockwave.
He then jumped into the air and swung his fist forward.
Tashigi raised her blade and blocked the attack; however, she skidded back.
Mad Treasure then quickly moved and swung his leg and kicked Tashigi in the face. She flew to the side and hit a tree. She spat blood and some blood came from her forehead. She panted and looked at him.
"No," Uta shouted as she tried to move towards her.
"Dont," Carina said as she got up. She remembered how scary he was.
Tashigi got up and held her sword. She was panting.
"You've got spirit, I'll give you that," Mad Treasure laughed. "You'll make a fine addition to the collection. Once I put the collars on you. You'll be the most obedient slaves I've ever owned. Jararara," he said.
"Slaves?" Tashigi said. The word ignited a furnace of rage within her. She thought of the people she swore to protect, of the honor of the sword, and the sheer filth of the man standing before her. "How dare you?" she said. At that moment, a sudden, violent pressure erupted from her. The air seemed to crack as a wave of invisible force rippled outward.
Naomi and Psycho P were taken back. "Is she?" Naomi questioned.
Mad Treasure stumbled back. His eyes widening in genuine shock. "What?! You have it?" he asked. "A mere Marine," he said.
"It is like Father`s," Uta said.
Carina looked stunned. She could feel her knees weak.
Tashigi stood. There was anger in her eyes. Her sword glowed with a blinding intensity. "Mystic Destroyer," Tashigi said. A massive concentrated pillar of green energy surged from her blade. It flew through the air at great speed and slammed into Treasure and blasted him backward through several pine trees.
"Captain," Psycho P said as he saw him go flying back.
"She sent him away," Carina said.
Tashigi panted. The sudden release of her drained her remaining strength instantly. Her vision blurred. She felt her legs giving out.
Mad Treasure knocked the trees to the side as he got up. He spat blood. "That packed a punch," he remarked. "You definitely will be mine," Mad Treasure added as he walked towards them. There was a sinister smile on his face.
Tashigi saw him coming. She had no strength. She felt herself falling into the cold snow.
Before she hit the ground, a pair of strong, familiar arms caught her. She looked up through heavy eyelids and saw a sharp jawline and determined eyes she had been thinking about all morning.
"Rest now, Tashigi," Ben said. "I've got you," he added as he looked at Mad Treasure. He was angry.
The rest of the girls emerged from the treeline behind him.
"Who are you?" Mad Treasure asked.
"Your worst nightmare," Ben replied. As he spoke, he began his transformation into his hybrid form. His fingers lengthened into razor-sharp black claws, and a pair of powerful wings erupted from his back. A thick black tail lashed behind him, while two dark horns tore through his hairline. His eyes were solid red with no pupils.