Ramos and his team walked from the shore to the path leading to the town. The Island was dead silent; the salty air was filled with smoke. Reaching the town entrance they were greeted by a sight that would haunt their nightmares, bodies piled on top of each other like rubble, wooden stakes connecting their bodies like a twisted art experiment. Children sat with their legs crossed, their hands joined by a bobby wire, around the town hall.
This was beyond cruelty, this is pure evil, only the Celestial Dragons could match.
Many of Ramos's men were hunched over, emptying their stomachs, some in shock, and the brave few asking for his instructions.
"S-Sir...w-what do we–" A Seaman stammered.
"Keep moving–don't look away, you'll be burying them later so pay your respects. " Ramos ordered, eyes scanning the scene, clear evidence of sadistic acts. "Truly disgusting. " He clicked his tongue.
Tashigi grasped her sheathed blade tightly; her breathing was ragged, and her eyes tried to avoid looking at the corpses. 'Stay calm Tashigi, Ramos told me to be strong.' She tried to psyche herself.
The Marines moved further down the town, reaching the town hall, and they saw two bodies crucified on the steps. One was an elderly man, and the other was a young man with her eyes pierced by bobbed wire.
Before they could react, Ramos felt his haki flare, "Get down!" He ordered
Bang-bang-bang.
Bullets rained down on them. Ramos hardened his body to counter the ambush, Tashigi deflected bullets with her blade, and the screams of officers unlucky to bare the fire were heard. The ambush was worsened by a swarm of pirates approaching them.
"Kill them!" One pirate yelled, blades out, pistols aimed at the Marines. The ambush was swift and brutal.
"Ahhh!" The screams of Ramos echoed through the town, bodies dropping, blood painted the earth, and the laughs of pirates sent shivers down Ramos' body.
"Tashigi–don't hold back!" He barked, slamming his fist into a pirate's jaw.
Crack.
His fist moved in blurs, sending enemies flying back, crushing ribs with minimum effort, and sickening punches to the face that would leave them permanently disfigured.
Tashigi on the other hand, was cutting through her opponent's, her nimble movements made it easy to avoid attacks and counter swiftly with cuts to tendons and occasional fingers to render their weapon useless. She muted their cries and focused her fury on them like the beasts they are.
Swish-Sling-Slash.
Blood splattered on her glasses but that could matter less as the bodies piled up around her.
"Die b*tch!" A pirate yelled from behind her.
Dagger aimed at her spine, Tashigi scowled before countering at the blink of an eye, her sword chopped his hand holding the dagger, blood gushing out like a broken faucet, his screams were cut off by a surgical pierce to his heart.
Thud.
The body fell like a puppet with no strings. Tashigi looked around the litter of bodies, all the pirates dead, a few Marines lost, the majority injured, and Ramos was glued to the town hall.
"Let's end this."
[Town hall]
François was in the mayor's throne, chin resting on his open palm, his other hand was toying with the heart of the mayor, the organ is his favourite part of the body." The part that brings life, also brings me pleasure. " He hummed, eyes on the doors that hadn't been entered in a minute. "My–these Marines must be strong~"
Bang!
The doors were sent flying off, and François was unfazed by the occurrence. In front of him was a tall, blonde-haired man with fury in his eyes, and next to him a black-haired maiden with glasses, holding a sword covered in blood.
"Bloody Jean."
"Marines –I see my men have been defeated. " He mused, still toying with the hearts in his right hand.
"You sick man! What type of monster does this to people –women and children turned into horrific displays for what?" Tashigi urged him to respond, tears stinging her eyes, sword gripped tightly with all her will.
"Tashigi...calm down," Ramos ordered.
François smirked at the outburst, "A shame you ruined the banquet...the dishes would've been to die for." François chuckled, throwing the heart in his hand at Ramos' face.
"Tsk–bastard." He spat out, avoiding the organ aimed at him. His moment of distraction was all François needed to flash towards them, sword gleaming in the light.
"Time to dance."
"Tashigi! Be careful. " Ramos warned, his student, was in the reach of François's attack.