108 Chapter 107

A trail of blood paints the sky as Hina's gloved fist leaves the face of one CP9 agent. Another one attempts to seize the gap he thought to be open, however, is blocked by Bastille's greatsword—one that was swung in a surprisingly quick manner given its huge size.

"Shigan."

As Rob Lucci vanishes from his spot, indicating the use of Soru, Who's-Who, who does not deem the current situation as tricky to deal with, simply fires a Shigan from his spot. Hina simultaneously sees at the corners of her eyes that there is a CP9 agent transformed into a wolf.

Gazing at the approaching hostiles up ahead, Hina narrows her eyes.

__________

[Flashback; Sometime around 1508]

"Stand back up."

Lying on top of a cloud-like platform with a soft texture was Hina, completely wasted. Standing in front of them, the figure of an old woman, Tsuru, stood, sighing at the weakness of the future generation.

"To truly be considered someone capable, strength is a must in this sea. After all, justice or whatnot... there exists no better evidence than the strength to back up your ideals."

Frustrated by her incompetency, Hina bit her lips, "..."

In Logue Town's training camp, Hina was considered a prodigy. Quick to learn and adapt, people spoke of how she's received the blood of her grandfather. Hina, although she didn't admit, held some degree of pride in her—that she indeed was special. And that probably wasn't wrong.

However, the experience in the Grand Line was something else. Bastille, Maynard, Dalmatian, Doll—she was surrounded by monsters whom she had no idea where they came from. And above all... Smoker.

'How are you so strong, Smoker?' Such was a thought that Hina, although she did not speak out loud, always wondered, 'Is it because you are unafraid? Is it because you are crazy? Where does your power stem from? How do I become as strong as you?'

"Tsuru-san," Hina muttered, "How do I get strong?"

Tsuru closed her eyes, huffing. She replied, "I too was like you in the past, surrounded by Garp and Sengoku—the strongest marines of my generation. I used to complain, of why they improve so quickly yet I am stuck in the same place. Then I saw one night... when I saw how the two of them, instead of sleeping, were pounding their fists on the past Fleet Admiral Kong's warship."

Hina was dumbfounded, "...What?"

"They had one goal in mind: to wreck Kong's ship so that he and his division won't 'steal' their mission."

"They're... crazy."

Tsuru nodded and said, "The point is, what drives us to become stronger is our motivation, a desire so strong that we may appear crazy in the eyes of others. That burning passion that I saw in the eyes of those sorts... they are absent in you, Hina my girl."

"Desire... a dream." Hina stared at her open hands, "But Hina does have a dream, which is to change this world for the—"

Tsuru narrowed her eyes, "That sounds like someone else's dream, doesn't it?"

Hina, with her mouth open, mumbled,

"...Huh."

__________

Three CP9 agents—Rob Lucci, Who's-Who, and the wolf CP9, Jabra, were rapidly closing in at Hina and Bastille.

Swinging his broadsword in a circular motion, Bastille prevented the further approach of three CP9 agents.

"Hn," Bastille eyed the other CP9 agents were recovering, before confidently dashing at Who's-Who, "There's a saying that to win a war, you need to defeat a leader-dara!"

"Tck!" Who's-Who, whose approach toward Hina was prevented by Bastille, clicked his tongue. However, Rob Lucci and Jabra were now at the front and back of Hina,

""Shigan!""

Rob Lucci and Jabra blasted their respective techniques at Hina's head. However, Hina, instead of dodging, grinned,

"Hina's victory."

the index fingers of Rob Lucci and Jabra, instead of puncturing a grotesque hole, sank into Hina's head, and then, phased through it as if passing by a ghost.

"Lock."

Rob Lucci and Jabra's right hands were now tied together by steel-like metal cuff.

"W-What?!" Jabra exclaimed in surprise before his cheek was blasted by Hina's backheel kick.

"Ugh—" Rob Lucci, as Jabra was sent flying, was pulled alone due to the existence of the cuff. Annoyed, he attempted to break the cuff, however, didn't see that Bastille was waiting for the two of them at the back. Who's-Who, to prevent Bastille from hitting the two, tried to propel himself from the ground below, however, found his feet stuck.

"Ha?!" Frowning, Who's-Who stared down and saw that his ankles were tied in a steel-like cuff that was connected to the ground below. Raising his head up in panic, he saw Hina smirking as she raised her index finger and pointed its tip at him.

"Bang."

BOOM!

The blood splashed as Bastille's greatsword slammed right onto Jabra and Rob Lucci and Hina's Tobu Shigan struck onto Who's-Who's forehead. Three most competent CP9 agents fell down, having gone unconscious, and the rest of CP9 agents who stood back up, having recovered, swallowed their saliva, evidently shocked by this turnout of a circumstance.

"W-We... we were never informed that they will be this strong!" One agent cried, "Who's-Who is someone who's won against a former Vice Admiral before! So how come he's defeated so quick—"

SWOOSH!

At the next moment, all the remaining CP9 agents felt a sensation of something passing through them. Behind them stood Hina, who operated Soru in a split second.

"Lock."

On the bodies of CP9 agents, there existed numerous metal rings that confined them. Unable to maintain their balance any longer, they fell to the ground.

"Is this really the CP9-dara?" Bastille questioned, "Seems a lot weaker than what I heard."

"Hina did hear that the Chief of CP9 changed recently," Said Hina, "But that's not the concern currently."

Turning around, Hina stared at the Foolshout island behind, "We need to join back with Smoker and get out of here."

"HEY!" Then, one of the confined agents shouted, "Where do you think you're going?!"

Hina, growing a tickmark on her forehead, snapped her fingers. In response, the metal rings around said agent's body became tighter,

"GAHHHH!!"

earning a pain-filled scream out of him.

'Hina, after a thorough thought, learned what Hina truly wishes for.'

Hina's smirk softened into a light smile as she thought,

'Hina wants to spectate how you change the world, Smoker. And to do that, Hina has to become strong—strong enough to survive through the turmoil.'

Hina and Bastille then proceeded to walk out of the scene, and it had only been 5 minutes or so since the fight had begun.

__________

'Why did I join the Marine in the first place?'

Hollowly, Maynard thought, sitting by the rock at the edge of the Foolshout island.

Who is 'Demon Heir' Douglas Bullet? The past crew member of the Pirate King's crew. The warmonger whom Garp and Sengoku had to collaborate to capture and imprison. The violent yet surprisingly keen fellow who loves violence above all.

There will be deaths, Maynard thought.

<...W-What? >

Maynard was shocked back then. Borsalino and Tensei, they ordered him to fall back, even with all this evidence.

"...Hah," Maynard chuckled, pained by the harsh reality, "And I thought I already gave that up before."

It was the same in the past. He, along with Bastille, Dalmatian, and Masterson, were on the way back to Marineford after the successful capture of 'Overflowing' Sasaki. Then came an abrupt attack by 'Martini' Hook, and by the time he woke up, Dalmatian and Masterson were dead, and Hook had become a Warlord.

Out of fury, Maynard thrashed. He roared directly at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, screaming that this wasn't right. However, nothing changed in the end, and there was nothing he could do, and he realized that he wasn't strong enough.

So he entered Sakazuki's division—one that was well-known in Marine for being the harshest and strongest above all soldiers. He joined the harsh journey in the New World, and while fighting alongside Sakazuki, got to see the man's incredible strength. Then, when he saw that even Sakazuki complied and obeyed the words from the World Government, he 'learned' that it is futile to fight against them, for the World Government is the world itself.

"...I thought it was over for you," Muttered Maynard, "When you successfully escaped with many others, I snorted, wondering how long you would manage to last until they catch up on you. And... it has been 4 years, and you are alive still."

Maynard turned around and faced Smoker, who was staring far into the island where Koala was found firmly shaking her head. An orange-haired woman—presumably her biological mother—looked crestfallen.

"I am lost. When I think of why I joined the Marine in the first place, Smoker, I can't... I can't remember. Then I asked myself, what goal am I chasing after in today's world? Why do I serve as a Vice Admiral in this organization? I... I couldn't find an answer for this either."

Placing his hand over his face, Maynard quivered.

"Smoker, what should I do...? It's... it's the Douglas fucking Bullet we're talking about here!!!"

Smoker's eyes turned serious, knowing full well what that name meant.

"He will kill everyone there!!! And if Admirals don't head there themselves—"

"...Then you came to the right person."

Maynard's breathing stopped as Smoker spoke. As Smoker saw Koala running out of the village, he grinned,

"For once, you were courageous. To quit the organization you've been in for a lifetime and give up your status just to give me this message..."

Turning to Maynard, Smoker reached his hand out to the former,

"You have no idea how many lives you managed to save just now."

Maynard hesitated. But gathering his mind, he gritted his teeth and held Smoker's hand with his own.

He wanted to know—if he made the right decision or not.

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