A ship sailed through rough waves and powerful rain, thunder booming in the distance and cold spray lashing its deck. Each time the hull slammed down, the wood groaned and shuddered, slick with rain and salty foam. The biting wind howled through the rigging, carrying the sharp scent of seawater and wet rope. The deck was slippery and treacherous, waves crashing up to leave puddles that rippled beneath the assault of the storm. All around, the chaos of nature pressed in, overwhelming the senses and leaving the vessel rocking to and fro roughly without much guidance or challenge.
No one fought the Storm; no one was on deck. Making the ship resemble a ghost ship. However, the white sail bearing a blue seagull and the proud words "marine" was so eye-catching and prevalent that it was clear the ship was well-maintained and new.
The cause of this was simple: below deck, a group of people lay battered and injured, each one unable to move due to how extensive their injuries were.
6 of the 7 had manageable wounds, while the last lay there, littered with wounds and near death.
"Damn it, Lucci, why'd you do that!" Shouted one of the 6 towards the injured man, Jabra, in anger. As he looked at his teammate, who was sitting near the group, eyes closed.
"Yo yoi! Lucci, you have saved our lives!" shouted Kumadori in his usual drawl.
"Damn, you've done it now, Lucci." Muttered Kaku.
"The world government won't be happy, Chapapapa!" Chimed Fukurou
"Why Lucci?" asked Kalifa
Lucci, who was breathing heavily from the strain of his recent actions, opened his mouth. "I couldn't let them kill you guys," he groaned out. While looking at another man, 'I'm sure Blauno felt the same, '" Lucci spoke.
"Yeah," spoke Blauno while breathing heavily as well.
The current situation was a result of Lucci's rash actions.
They were put under investigation after the events of Enies Lobby. And most of the members of the CP9 group were to be executed in order to keep the number of people who knew the real events of that day at a minimum.
With Lucci being a skilled fighter and Blauno's Devil Fruit ability being too useful, they were exempt from the execution, but they were going to be sent to a Cypher pole secret base to be re-educated.
Lucci, for one reason or another, couldn't bring himself to let everyone else die while he survived. While they didn't get along much, he still considered them close friends.
They'd been through much together, suffering through the training under the world government to be elite soldiers. Many died during those days, many of whom he also considered friends. Now that the last of them were to be killed, he just couldn't accept it.
He closed his eyes, listening to the raging storm outside and the rocking of the ship.
"You know were going to be killed, right?" asked Kalifa calmly.
"Yes, I am sure they will try," muttered Lucci.
"Lucci, you bastard, those damn geezers will send those CP0 guys, and you know how powerful they are," said Jabra.
"Once again, I am well aware no need to state the obvious," he said calmly.
"Then why are you so calm!" shouted Jabra.
"You need to calm down, Jabra. Lucci just saved our lives, so there is no need to yell," spoke Kaku before looking at Lucci. " However, Lucci, he's right, your nonchalance is concerning. Do you have a plan?" asked the man.
"Yes, I do have a few ideas, I know a few ways to make it difficult for the world government agents to catch us, atleast for a few years,," spoke Lucci calmly while opening a single eye, and looking at the group.
"Really?" asked the group in surprise.
"Yeah, hiding is a simple matter, but…" muttered Lucci, his face scrunching up in clear discomfort. "I am no fan of hiding," he said.
"It's not like we have any other choice though," spoke Kalifa.
"Unless we fight!" spoke Jabra.
"Ya Yoi, yes we either fight or hide, those are our two options, how sad, how truly disheartening. Our lives are on the line, and soon we might join my dear departed mother in heaven," spoke Kumadori in his theatrical manner.
"So what is the plan, Lucci?" asked Kaku.
Lucci opened his eyes, ready to answer, but his vision was double. "Damn," he grumbled, feeling the lightheadedness sink in. "Sorry bu…" he couldn't finish speaking, and just fell over unconscious due to the blood loss. After all, he had to fight his way out of the base to free his friends before having Blauno take them away with his abilities, plus the wounds he suffered when facing Luffy have not healed yet.
"Lucci!" cried the group, as the man fell over.
"Get him to a room," commanded Kalifa,
.oOo.
Lucci presumed that he was unconscious, which would be similar to sleep; in fact, he was sure it was similar. However, at this moment, something strange was happening. The world was flowing all around him, strange scenes played like a movie, he couldn't quite understand.
What he saw was the life of a strange creature, one his mind couldn't comprehend. It was like seeing things through a thick fog and seeing just silhouettes. Then that shifted to a will born with a singular goal of meeting its creator once more.
It did everything for that singular goal, manipulated many, killed even more and nearly destroyed the world.
However, it was defeated, and then a lot of its power was drained away, but the will itself survived. Crossed through the void, then soon appeared before him in this form, a form of human similar to Lucci himself, aside from the thick golden wings were on its back.
"Master, my name is Michael. A manas born from the ultimate skill: Justice King Michael," spoke the man with a light bow.
"You're the one who helped me save the others," spoke Lucci, recognising the presence of the man. The feeling coming off this creature was similar to the one that he felt when he was told what was to happen to his friends.
"You are correct, your strong desire called for me, and I am here. I will be your closest companion throughout your journey from now on," said Michael.
Lucci closed his eyes, "Thank you," he said simply. While still confused about the last part, he still felt gratitude; he didn't know how it felt to be free, but now he understood. He now knew what is was like to do something because he himself made the choice to do it, what it was like to chase a goal he himself set.
He smiled and looked up, "I am not sure who you are, or what your intentions are, but for once I was able to make a choice for myself, for my own goal. You might be some hallucination, dream or devil fruit-induced apparition. Regardless of all that, I am happy," muttered Lucci as he placed a hand on his chest, feeling it pump his blood despite his current state.
He remembered the thrill of saving his friends and the freedom he felt when making that choice. He looked to the lifeform before him and raised a hand. Michael did the same, and both shook hands.
"No need to worry, I will not take away your free will, after all, you are my master," was the response from Michael, while Lucci just smiled.
"Now you might want to wake up. Your friends are in danger," said Michael, and Lucci nodded before closing his eyes.
[You have acquired the ultimate skill…Justice King Michael.]
.oOo. END OF PROLOGUE .oOo.
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