Anchor D. Popeye, Yosaku, Mont Blanc Cricket, and Hatchan, the undercover members of the Straw Hat pirates, stood together, eyeing their opponent.
Around them was destruction, bodies of agents and marines lay unconscious. Even the two giants that guarded the gates fell quite easily against them.
So seeing the new challengers, the group of battle-crazed pirates were then happy to fight.
The straw hat crew knew the opponents they were going to face. The CP9 were a unit that specialized in assassination, they were like ghosts to the ordinary man. They were the best at doing the dirty work of the World Government. And they had skills that made them a threat. But for the crew, it was just another day of walking in the park.
Before them, Rob Lucci, Kaku, Jabra, Kumadori, and Fukuro of CP9 blocked their path. Captain Very Good was also on their side.
The Straw Hat crew was clearly at a number disadvantage here. But in front of personal power, numbers didn't matter.
Anchor looked directly at Rob Lucci. The agent had a smirk on his face.
'Huh, a confident one, isn't he?' Anchor thought, 'At least I know who I'm gonna be fighting…'
"That one is mine," Rob Lucci said, pointing at Anchor, before looking at his group, "He's my prey. You can take on the rest of the scrubs…"
Jabra who was by his side growled, "You are ticking me off, you cat-bastard."
Lucci, as usual, ignored him. Kumadori and Fukuro laughed, while Kaku just sighed. "Can we not do this…"
But he was cut off, "Oi, long square nose!" Cricket called out, pointing his sword at him, "You gonna fight me!"
Kaku opened his mouth, but someone else spoke up.
"Nuh-uh," Yosaku said, crossing his arms over his head, "He's fighting me… you can take on someone else."
"Oi, I said it first," Cricket said, not backing off, "And he looks like a swordsman… so he's fighting me. You can take on the guy with the stupid face…"
"See, even the pirates agree on you having a stupid face…" Lucci said, pissing Jabra off even more.
"Fine," Yosaku said, even pouting. Which didn't go well with his shaved bald head and bulging muscles, "But you owe me one."
"Eh… doesn't that leave me with three opponents?" Hatchan said, pointing his right three arms at the three remaining ones. Fukuro, Kumadori, and Captain Very Good.
"Stop complaining, Hatchi," Yosaku said, "All of them are weak." Hearing that both of the CP9 agents and the marine captain was pissed off, "And besides, didn't you have your fight with the mud guy…"
"That was too long ago," Hatchan whined, "But oh well…"
"Enough!" Captain Very Good finally roared, making everyone shut up. "We're not here for petty reasons. These pirates are here because they want to disturb the peace…" But before he could finish his sentence he popped out of existence. Well, not exactly, in his place was a wooden log. It was almost as if someone switched him.
"What the…!" Jabra and every one of the CP9 agents tensed up, jumping away from the long. Not knowing what just happened.
"It seems one of their allies used some kind of devil fruit ability," Kaku deduced, holding his sword tightly.
"Damn, he's gotten better. Well, it seems our doctor took care of him," Yosaku shrugged, knowing exactly what happened. "That leaves only two for you, Hatchi."
"Eh… manageable," Hatchan shrugged, before disappearing from his spot by using soru and appearing right in front of Fukuro. Slashing all of his swords at the same time, but the CP9 agent was tough, using Tekkai at the last moment.
The six blades clanged as if they met steel. But Hatchan was stronger than he let on and the Tekkai broke under the assault and Fukuro was thrown backward, crashing into a building, going through it, almost losing consciousness. Kumadori, who was by Fukuro's side, also attacked Hatchan.
And like that, all of the pirates attacked their respective targets. None of them were holding back. CP9 agents were scum that threatened the safety of their crew. And even managed to kidnap one member. So yeah, things would be getting heated pretty soon.
Cricket went after Kaku, attacking with his sword. "You are going down!"
Kaku sighed, locking blades with Cricket, before a smile dawned on his face. Sparks flew as both of them exchanged blows, before jumping back in air, "You are better than you look. But… Tempest Kick Barrage!"
Cricket smiled before disappearing from his spot, appearing right by Kaku's side and slashing his blade. Kaku managed to dodge the attack mid-air, but was surprised that his opponent could not only use Soru, but Geppo as well.
While that was happening, Yosaku went for Jabra. As the wolf zoan user was pissed off, he directly attacked the pirate in his hybrid form, not holding back.
Jabra lunged at the axe user, with his claws out. But Yosaku blocked his attack with his bare arms, not even using his shield, he had to make a point. Jabra looked shocked when he saw that the man's skin didn't penetrate.
"Tekkai? Rokushiki? What the fuck? Does everyone and their mother know it now?!" Jabra growled.
"Well, your mama, so, ugly…"
While all of them fought their opponents Anchor and Lucci just glared at each other. Before both of them disappeared from their spot, meeting in the middle. Their fists collided with each other. Sending shockwaves through the air. With that mid-air, both started to exchange blows.
Lucci threw his fist at Anchor, attacking with a volley of punches, but the pirate was fast enough to dodge and counter each of them. It seems both of them were evenly matched.
Lucci sent a tempest kick that threatened to decapitate the pirate. But Anchor ducked under it, before trying to use Shigan on Lucci but the CP9 agent caught his fist. "Soru, now Shigan… you guys really do know the Rokushiki," he said before grabbing the pirate by the arm and throwing him off. "But you guys are amateurs compared to us!"
The former marine landed on a rooftop, without taking any damage, before moving away as Lucci went after him in his half-zoan form. Clearly being physically superior in his speed due to his zoan form. With his half-zoan form, he was larger than before easily reaching 20 feet in height. The extra pounds of muscles weren't just for show, boosting his strength and speed.
Anchor tried to use Soru to move away from Lucci but the CP9 agent was faster than before and easily caught up to him. "You might be tough, but against my zoan form you can't stand a chance…"
"Do you ever shut up?"
Lucci tried to kick him in the face, but Anchor moved away with Soru. Only to come face to face with Lucci, who was standing right in front of him, "Soru, again. Haven't you learned yet… I'm better." He smirked, before moving his hands and unleashing a barrage of Shigan, hitting Anchor. "Let me show you what's the difference between the two of us. Shigan: Madara!"
Anchor crossed his arms immediately and braced himself against the incoming attack, his muscles hardening to Iron-like consistency, and it wasn't because of Tekkai. The tips of Lucci's fingers brushed against his skin, but there was no pain, but it did push the pirate back, digging a path behind him.
Anchor's skin shined and now sported a metallic glint.
"A devil fruit," Lucci mused, a grin on his face. "So, you do have some skills… but it won't save you."
"I will admit… you are strong. But I have something that will even the odds." Anchor said taking a steel-can from his pocket, there was something else that Anchor had that could easily end the fight. But the pirate wanted to challenge himself a bit. And besides, there was something satisfying in crushing your opponents with your own bare hands. So why not?
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A/N: There is another reason why Anchor went after the Baku Baku no mi (Munch Munch fruit). The first Popeye, the Popeye the sailor man, was also the supposed user of the fruit.
It was hinted at a while back, and I wrote it here. Just for a reminder.
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