The Red Damnation had been on the sea for some time after the raid of another pirate ship for provisions and other supplies.
Just ahead of them was a long cloud of fog stretching from North to South. There was no way to escape if they truly wanted to continue West to Moon Island. Leonard glanced from the log pose in his hand to the fog before them, he grimaced but didn't dwell much on it because one of the points was still aiming straight ahead. And it is known that weather conditions on some islands in the New World are said to be bizarre. There are some islands that experience constant thunderstorms, some are said to have an eternal winter as the inhabitants have never experienced the warm touch of the sun. However apart from all these weather phenom there was something more
Leonard strode to Kael, comfortably perched on his bow seat. He was peering into the approaching fog
"Are you alright with this? Moving straight into the fog?" Leonard asked
Kael didn't answer immediately, he wore his serious look, sharp eyes and brows furrowed beneath his forehead. "They are masking their presence" He finally commented "And the mist looks natural to me"
"So it seems." Leonard nodded "I say it may be the work of a devil fruit" He added
"Yeah and there's only one way to find out. Maybe that navigator did trick us"
"You may be right"
Leonard and Kael remained quiet and watched patiently as they got swallowed by the great fog. The air thickened , each breath sent cold air down their nose and into their lungs, it was like shads of ice blades puncturing their chest from inside.
The fog was about rendering their sense of vision almost useless. It was hard to see the whole deck.
"They are close," Kael whispered into the quiet sea.
Leonard could feel stinging gazes peering all over him, they were everywhere but nowhere in particular. They were far but yet close, so close he could feel them standing beside him. This sensation made his skin crawl, he held his scabbard and drew out his blade.
He glanced at Kael, he was standing like a tree rooted to the ground, his eyes darting from one empty space to another.
"They are here" Kael drew out his blade then something shot out from the fog, he cut the air with a measured swing and a steel ball fell to the deck floor. It was cut in half
"There's was no gun shot" Leonard noted
"Yeah"
It was now clear that whoever was shooting these bullets was also involved with the fog.
"You must have an awful taste to cower behind the fog" Leonard shouted, his voice echoed and sank into the sea. There was no response"Come on out let's talk, we are a reasonable bunch" There was no response either. Leonard glanced at Kael, he shook his head. "If it's a fight you want at least have the decency to fight us like men—"
"Who said anything about Men?" A girl shot out from the fog aiming a kick at Leonard's face. Leo moved to the side dodging the attack, she landed on the deck, her features were hard to take note of due to the fog
"Momo, Now!!" She yelled and again bullets shot at them, Leonard and Kael swung their blades deflecting and cutting through them, by the time they had turned back the girl had gone.
"We can do this all day and go nowhere or you can just decide to come out so we can talk things out" Leonard suggested again
"We will let you leave this place alive if you drop all your provisions and money" A voice echoed, it was that of the girls
Leonard shoot a look at Kael as he was already getting impatient "You sound pretty confident for someone that result to cowardly tactics like this—"
"As long as we win. And besides we are not the ones stuck in the fog. We can see you, we can attack you but you can't do anything to us" Her voice vanished
Leonard sighed and whispered to Kael "I don't think they will give up"
Kael's wore a stern expression he paced to the upper deck close to the bow of the ship
"My question is straight. And i want an answer" He began "Yes or No. Silence is death" Leonard looked at him, a smile appeared on his face
Kael continued "We never wanted this. But someone has to pay—"
"Ohh look who is being confident—" the girl spoke but Kael snatched her words
"The person behind the fog. Are you a man or a woman?" Kael asked and got no response. The silence grew, so much so that Leonard could hear his own breathing
"Silence it is" Kael dressed back, he raised his blade to his side as it surged. His voice came out hushed almost inaudible
"Die"
He swung his blade in a quick arc releasing a surge of black-red flying slash that blitzed through the fog causing a clearing. A chilling scream echoed then sunk deep into the sea. Silence came again
The clouds of fog cleared, washed away by the chill breeze that followed, revealing a huge battle long ship a few kilometers away from them. At the side of the ship a blade mark ran down the hull of the ship . It was from Kael's attack
There were seventeen of them in total, some had striking features taking the appearance of animals. They wore grim faces as they surrounded their crewmate, bleeding out from Kael's strike that cut from chest to waist.
"I gave you a choice" Keal said looking at the person bleeding "I'll give you another choice, surrender your belongings or die"
"Captain" Leonard whispered and shuffled to his side "I'm never going to question your decisions and actions, do we really need to do this?"
"What do you mean?" Kael asked
"Look at their jolly roger," Leonard pointed out 'The hundred beasts' pirate flag "That's the beast pirates. One of the Emperor's of the sea, Kaido. Taking them out will be picking a fight with him"
"But they attacked us first"
"I know Captain, but I'm just saying—"
"They attacked us first" Kael repeated, his voice sounded hollow the second time
Leonard dressed a step away from Kael "I understand Captain" He looked at the Beast pirate crew. "The terms we offer are simple. Surrender and live, fight us and die"
"Screw that and screw you" The girl who had attacked them stepped up, her limbs were replaced with that of a cheetah with furs. Whiskers sprouted from the side of her lips and her pupils were orange and straight. She climbed onto the rails of her ship with both hands and feet like an animal. Hunched her back and the cat walked. Fury burnt in her orange eyes "Momo!!"
A man with the features of a sheep pulled up with two guns in his hands. The nuzzles were straight and pointy. He shot multiple bullets at them which they had no problem blocking and dodging them. The cheetah girl sprang forward at Leonard, she was fast.
Steal echoed as Leonard's blade met with her sharp claws, he performed a spin and planted his feet in her guts sending her to the rails. He ran towards her to subdue her when Momo, the sheep-man shot at him.
Kael stepped in blocking the bullet with a slash. He leaped to the rails and blitzed to the deck of their ship. He was immediately surrounded. Their features were distinctive. Some looked like reptiles, fouls and big cats. Kael engaged them
Leonard was still looking for a way to deal with the cat girl without Momo the sheep-man getting involved. He blocked the bullets heading to his face and turned mid air and crossed with Cat girl sharp claws. His steel blade flashed in front of her, she raised her claws and blocked but sheer force sent her backwards.
Cat girl had inhuman strength, coupled with her insane agility and speed. Under normal circumstance she was no match for Leonard, but she was a girl and there was Momo to cover her openinga
Kael was done hacking down everyone that stood before him on the deck including the sheep-man. Leonard was able to overwhelm Cat girl but didn't inflict any threatening injury on her.
Kael walked to the girl swimming in her blood. She was turning pale white as her life sources were almost drained. Kael inspected the injury then turned to the cat girl
"She's dying"
"After what you did to her, it's a miracle she's still breathing" Cat girl scoffed
"Do you have a doctor on your ship?" Leonard asked , he stood over her
"He's probably among the men your Captain cut down" she answered
Leonard looked at Kael waiting for his call. Since they had won should they take the spoils and depart or should they leave them as they are, take nothing and leave them to sort their problem
"There's an island West from here…" Kael said "...from what we heard people live there. We can find a doctor for your friend"
"We..?" Leonard whispered to himself
Cat girl laughed mockingly "That's not gonna happen. You think we just spawned in the middle of nowhere. The people of that island are technical and strong and unwelcoming to pirates. They won't allow you to come near the island, if eventually you do manage to step foot on the island they will blow you up before you reach the kingdom. The Moon Kingdom can't be trespassed by any kind of pirates"
"We still have to try" Kael insisted
A banging noise came from the cabin of the ship. Kael turned as the door slammed open and a girl ran out. She had short green hair and eyes, and an athletic build that was covered with worn and patched clothes. Her body was bruised and battered.
A second person burst out from the cabin. He was fat, almost round like a ball. He was panting and huffing like his life depended on every breath he drew.
"I'm so sorry, she picked the lock and ran…out" the whole situation outside took the words out for him
The girl raised both arms above her head while looking at Kael, just then she noticed the bodies laying on the ground and the bloodied rapier in Kael's hands
"You're not one of them" She muttered letting her guard down a bit. She snapped and suddenly appeared before Kael
"Hey! Please I really need your help"