Return! #47

Hello everyone! Today's chapter comes with important news!

The first chapter of my new fan-fic (Marvelous Pals) is now officialy out. It's about your average guy, dying and finding himself inhabbiting the body of a thug in Marvel. The gist of it is that he's in deep shit, but wait! What's this? He can actually travel to yet another world. 

So yeah, basically it's a cross over between Marvel and Palworld, so do give it a look once you're done with this chapter!

....

Leaning against the wall of the building, Double Six raised an eyebrow as he watched Law emerge, wiping the blood from his blade. "Is that really okay?" he asked, noting the carnage behind Law. "You killed all the gang bosses and their top men, yet you spared the leader of the smallest gang?" He sounded genuinely puzzled.

Law gave him a calm, almost bored look. "That guy was smart. When the others drew their guns, he chose to wait," he explained. "And when it was clear they were losing, he started killing his own allies," he added, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Smart people are easy to handle as long as you make it very clear that they don't stand a chance against you," he said as he walked away.

Double Six frowned, still confused. "Alright, pretend I'm an idiot and break it down for me," he said, hurrying to catch up with Law.

Law sighed, glancing at him. "What do mean pretend?" He said, giving Double Six a once over. "But to answer your question... smart people are a boring bunch, they prioritize their own survival over all else..." He explained, trailing at the end of his sentence. 

"Put the fear of god in them, and they'll find a way to be useful to you," Law continued, a smirk tugging at his lips. "In that guy's case, he'll be working to unite the now headless gang... and once it's all said and done, he'll hand over anything of value to us," he went on. "Not a bad deal for either of us, is it?"

Double Six's eyes widened in astonishment. "You... you're pretty sharp, aren't you? What are you some kind of underworld mastermind or something?" he said, feeling genuinely impressed by Law's planning abilities. 

Law shot Double Six a pointed look. "No. You're just easy to impress because you're an idiot," he said with a scoff. "Anyway, I'm done here so I'll be heading back to the ship," he added, quickening his pace to leave Double Six behind.

Much to Law's chagrin, Double Six still caught up, almost jogging despite his injured leg. "Stop following me!" Law exclaimed, turning to glare at him. "Go home already!" he chided angrily.

Double Six, his face blue from the pain of jogging with his injured leg, managed to squeeze out a smug smile. "I already told you, I have nowhere else to go. Besides, your captain allowed me to stay," he stated, causing Law to sigh in resignation.

"Speaking of which... where is your captain anyway? I haven't seen him in a few days now," Double Six asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Law rolled his eyes. 

"He's off training. Said something about needing to stay in top form after all this mess," he replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Double Six nodded slowly, though there was a hint of confusion in his tone. "Training? That monster? Does he want to destroy the world or something?" He wondered aloud. "Still... it's strange that you're taking care of everything..." 

Law gave him a sideways glance. "It's difficult to explain..." he explained, not slowing his pace. "He might not be as dumb as you, but our captain is an idiot in his own right... it's better for me to handle such things," He added with a sigh. "Why am I even explaining all this to you anyway?" 

Double Six grinned and pushed through the pain, determined to keep up. "You know, for someone who acts like he doesn't care, you sure do seem to put a lot of thought into things," he teased.

Law snorted. "Don't read too much into it. I'm just making sure everything runs smoothly. Now shut up and move," he snapped, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips as they continued toward the ship.

Back on the ship, Law couldn't help but sigh, rubbing his forehead in frustration as he watched Penguin chase after Asher, who had just picked his pockets. 

...

One day later, aboard the ship...

Law sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead in frustration as he watched Penguin chase after Asher, who had just picked his pockets. 

Nearby, Shachi was scolding Bepo for slacking off and being weak-willed, while Bepo kept apologizing, creating an endless loop of scolding and apologies. Sif wasn't sitting idly either, as she climbed over the main mast, howling loudly as she after a News Coo that was running for its life. 

Most irritating of all to Law was Double Six, rolling around on the deck and laughing at the chaos, his loud cackles like nails driven into Law's brain one after the other.

"Can you all be quiet for a moment?" Law shouted, lunging at Asher and giving him a solid knock on the head. "And why are you here, you little brat?" he demanded, pointing a finger at the boy.

Asher rubbed his head, looking defiantly at Law. "Because of you, I have a target as big as this ship on my back!" he exclaimed. "All the gangs are after me to get to you! You need to take responsibility and protect me!"

Law's annoyance hit its peak. 

"This all started because you picked our captain's pocket! I should just throw you overboard and—" he began, but he stopped short as a gigantic sea beast emerged from the water beside the ship.

The enormous creature, with razor-sharp teeth and scales that glistened in the sunlight, let out a deafening roar. Everyone on deck froze, their arguments forgotten in an instant.

Double Six stopped laughing, his eyes wide with shock. "What in the world is that thing?" he muttered, scrambling to his feet.

Shachi instantly readied himself for battle. "Everyone, prepare yourselves! Bepo, go and get the—" He started, aiming to instruct the polar mink to fetch their weapons. 

However, he had to pause as he noticed Bepo lying on the ground, head dramatically turned, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. "Stop playing dead and get the rifles!" he shouted, kicking Bepo and sending him toward the lower deck's entrance.

The crew tensed, all eyes on the menacing sea beast, except for Sif, who looked at it with an almost amused curiosity. The creature's frantic gaze shifted behind it, seemingly spurred by some unseen threat. Then, without warning, it dove back into the water, revealing a figure soaring in the sky behind it.

Law squinted, trying to discern the silhouette. "Isn't that... Blake-ya?" he asked, surprise lacing his voice.

Double Six, still processing the sudden turn of events, tilted his head in bewilderment. "Hey... just now..." he began hesitantly. "Didn't it look like that sea monster was running from him?" He alternated his gaze between the rapidly approaching Blake and the spot where the sea beast had vanished.

Using Geppo, Blake floated with practiced ease onto the deck, water cascading off him. "Miss me?" he said, a grin spreading across his face. "Give me a second, and I'll join you down there..." His expression grew more focused as he looked down at the spot where the sea beast had disappeared.

He raised his index finger, which began to glow with an otherworldly light akin to the stars. Without warning, a thin beam of multicolored light shot from his finger, piercing the depths of the water. For a moment, nothing happened. 

Then, suddenly, water splashed violently as if an underwater explosion had occurred. Moments later, the sea beast's corpse floated to the surface, its head crushed.

Everyone turned to Blake in astonishment, but their expressions shifted instantly as Blake began to lose balance and started falling into the water. Law's eyes widened in surprise, but he reacted quickly, activating his devil fruit powers. 

"Room! Shambles!" he exclaimed, switching Blake and Double Six's places, causing the latter to plunge into the blood-stained sea.

Double Six surfaced, spluttering and looking thoroughly bewildered. "What the hell?!" he shouted, thrashing in the water.

"What happened?" Law asked with a frown as he supported Blake and leaned him on the railing, ignoring Double Six's exclamations of alarm and confusion. 

Blake chuckled as he regained his footing. "Thanks for the save, Law. I just tried something I've learned recently and ended up overdoing it..." he said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

Double Six continued to struggle against the seawater. "Hey... at least use someone... who can swim... you bastard!" He exclaimed, his head bopping in and out of the water as he flailed his arms. "I'm... drowning... someone... save me!"