32 Chapter 31

◇New world, Zou◇

◆Shikage's POV◆

Combining with that large shadow made me feel like I'm a giant.

The shadow around me is anchored to me and becomes my extension of will.

With this, I can deal heavy damage! Including, sending a Mammoth flying.

Oh, my body is at the forehead of the humanoid semi-liquid shadow avatar.

It's quite large since the hybrid Jack only reaches our knees! So I can say that I'm going to bully this little animal in front of me.

"You good, [Doppelman]?" (Shikage)

『No problemo~ Shikage!』

"Nice~ Then, Let's kick this asshole to his oblivion!" (Shikage)

Even with our huge figure, We can still use the Six powers so we used [Soru] to catch Jack off-guard since he's assuming a slow attack!

*Swoosh*

A massive gale formed when we are swinging our feet!

*Slam*

We kicked him with a force that's enough to send him flying to the edge of the Dukedom.

If we used Haki, I'm sure he's already at the bottom of the ocean.

*Thud* *Thud*

Even our slow walk causes so much disturbance. Although it's not enough to make a huge crater, There are still footprints imprinted every time we walked.

This [Blackening: Susanoo] form is destruction incarnate!

I am just holding back to avoid the destruction of the Dukedom.

That's why I wanted to change the location of our battle, away from this country. To the forest and the end part of the elephant's back.

And so, I got there and saw the injured pirate. He's having trouble getting up to his feet.

I may have beaten him already but I wasn't satisfied yet. He only received one attack from my form. I'm starving for a good battle.

Looks like the commanders of an Emperor isn't enough to battle me. I guess I need to wait for the big battle to be satisfied.

Jack's form is also at his human form. He doesn't have much strength inside of him to continue battling. Well, As far as I know, He's tough, right? Even the Samurai who sliced him didn't beat him.

Or maybe I'm just stronger than that Samurai and our attacks are on a different level.

"Argh... Impossible..." (Jack)

Jack's gazing at me while his eyes are shaking. He didn't come to terms yet. He's still underestimating me.

"What now, monster? Should I just kill you here right now or capture you? What should I do~?" (Shikage)

"... Kaido-san wouldn't stand this. He will surely come to kill you. YOU WILL DIE!" (Jack)

"..." (Shikage)

Huh? You're still goading me, even if your life is in my hands. What an Idiot.

And then I look around our surroundings, It was filled with gas and minks who wanted to know our battle. I'm sure they saw the destroyer of their Dukedom on the ground in front of me.

"[Black Box]." (Shikage)

I made a miniature box for us. I need to have some privacy. The minks who have protection have finished taking care of the foot soldiers that Jack brought to this place.

Well, My team did it so I guess we won.

By the way, It's not like I defeated him without a scratch, He also did a little damage to me from the shockwaves that Jack did.

But it is minuscule. So I have totally overwhelmed him.

He's still badmouthing me and threatening me after being surrounded by shadows.

I guess he doesn't know how to be weak and meek. All he does is threaten and force the other party into submission.

Then let me educate this savage man.

"Listen well, Jack. I'm not one to fall into threats like what you are doing now. It doesn't matter who's backing you and how big it is. I do know the scale of your pirate group... I am here to hunt you! So, your backing doesn't matter to me. Your fate is in my hands! Understand?" (Shikage)

He saw my cold eyes watching him like a shinigami. He couldn't help but trembles when he finally knew that I wasn't afraid of his backing.

"... What do you want? We have a lot of weapons! Money! Anything you want." (Jack)

Hooh~ He changed in a heartbeat. He sure does adapt quickly.

"Do you know how to remove the gas? I mean You bought it from Caesar right?" (Shikage)

After being surprised again by the name-dropped, Jack shook his head and explained that they can't remove the gas.

I decided to spare his life and let him rot at Impel Down. Well, If he does escape, Then I'll have another reward waiting for me.

I only saw him as a treasure. I have captured a 1 billion ฿ bounty price.

The [Black box] surrounding us was canceled and dissolved. Making us visible to the onlookers.

Some of the masked minks have come to see the defeated pirate. Even the leader of the Dukedom came to my side.

"Goronyanya~ That's incredible! Kage-kun. You have our thanks." (Nekomamushi)

"Neko-san, I'll take care of him and the pirates, We need you all to stay hidden from the gas and wait for a specialist. Unfortunately, Jack doesn't have the remedy for 'Koro'." (Shikage)

Suddenly, A phoenix is soaring above us.

"Shika! I'm done with the ships!" (Marco)

As soon as he drops, He turns to the large cat monster.

"Neko! It's been a long time since I saw you." (Marco)

"Yeah, It's good to see you too, Marco." (Nekomamushi)

I left the two for their small reunion and waited for the day while gathering the prisoners.

Although we have saved them from the pirates, We still haven't saved the minks from the gas.

There's still a lot of victims who have inhaled the gas and we couldn't do anything.

My group had already helped the others but we're not good at medical stuff. Only Marco can help and do his best to stop the gas from taking other victims.

◇A few hours later◇

It was finally daytime.

It also means that the ruler for the Dukedom would also change. Duke Inuarashi immediately came along with his warriors to defend the Dukedom.

Before they left their home, there's a lot of gas masks at the entrance. They almost breathe the gas if it wasn't for the instincts of their ruler. After taking those masks, They charged to the town square where Jack was supposed to be. These minks are prepared for anything just to drive those pirates away from their place.

But what they saw was a different scene than they expected.

"What happened?! Why is Neko still up?"

The 2 rulers of the Dukedom met each other! Carrot and the others couldn't understand what's happening right now.

"Oh, It's just Inu. Look, We have an old friend who visited us." (Nekomamushi)

"Where's Jack, Neko? hmm... Is that you, Marco! It's really an old friend!" (Inuarashi)

"I'm glad to see you both~yoi. But I have something to discuss with you all first." (Marco)

And so, Marco chose a place where the gas doesn't reach to be their main medical base. With his flames of regeneration, He can slow the effects of the gas.

Duke Inuarashi has a bunch of questions for Nekomamushi.

Like what happened to Jack?

What is this gas?

Where are the pirates?

And many more. It was answered right away.

But the dog mink only heard one name that sticks to his mind. It's Shikage.

As for where he is, He's at the ocean sailing to the Navy Headquarters to deposit Jack and to get the bounty price.

Only Marco was left at Zou.

"To think that we would be saved by that kid's protector. Goronyanyan~ Raiden is fortunate to meet him." (Nekomamushi)

"You're right, Neko. I still haven't thanked him myself. But for now, We should be careful of this gas. It's sticking to our bodies. We need the proper equipment." (Inuarashi)

"Don't worry~yoi, I have looted protective suits when I destroyed the ships, We'll use them. Where's the doctor of this country?" (Marco)

Eliminating the gas is very hard. They require the right person for this job. It's the man who has the ability of the Gas Gas fruit.

If the correct plot proceeds as natural, then the saviors would arrive in three to five days.

So, Marco would only need to hold on until that time.

The timer starts now!

◇Shikage's POV◇

I am now a certified S-rank!

The news has already spread throughout the world that I have captured a big-name pirate.

I even outshined the news of the Straw hats reunion.

Also, I have received the reward for Jack. I won't run out of money any longer.

The hunters in my Guild were greatly motivated according to Kalifa. I am glad that I managed to do something for the Guild.

Currently, We are in the New World. It's a simple matter for me to travel anywhere in the world nowadays.

My Devil Fruit has already transcended the ordinary Paramecia DF. I am ways ahead of Moria in using the fruit.

(What else should I do with this ability? Thanks to the Divine being, I have some ideas on using it. There's a character that eats and uses shadows... Hmm...) (Shikage)

After contemplating for a bit, I went on my way to the science division of the Navy. It's time to get my weapon.

You see, Because of the merit, I got from capturing Jack. The WG wanted to reward me.

Since I wanted to test how much would the WG spend to do it, I have requested a Special request.

I wanted a weapon that ate a Devil Fruit.

What an outrageous request right? I initially thought that they wouldn't do it but to my surprise, They made it. Dr. Vegapunk is a man filled with secrets but his accomplishment is known throughout the world and the Navy. He has a lot of technologies that he made including the Pacifista.

And this guy made my weapon. A scythe that ate the Inu Inu no mi: Model Black Wolf.

I named the wolf and the weapon, Fenrir. This would be the main weapon of my [Doppelman]. I can't have him fight using fists all the time. Although He can transmute his body into a weapon, I still like for [Doppelman] to use Fenrir.

Now that the weapon is collected, my business with the WG is finally over. I don't plan on taking its side from now on since the abolishment of my title is closing soon.

But I'm not going to the point of fighting the WG. Overall, my Guild is Neutral. I'm only hunting pirates because they deserve it. But soon, I'll be making a new branch of operatives in my Guild.

It's called the Vigilante. These people would be the judge for the corrupt and injustice officials in the Government based institution. I planned on giving either Zephyr-Jiji or Kuzan the authority to command these operatives.

For now, I'm just bidding my time until we're truly independent. I am still a subordinate of the WG. Lucky for me, I didn't receive any troublesome requests from the WG.

Anyways, I need to go home. I walked towards the port of the Navy Headquarters.

"Hey~! Come here~ Shikage!"

Hmm?

Did someone call my name?

I turn to look where the voice came from and viola~

A man with white hair eating rice crackers is there together with his pet goat.

Naturally, I took a seat beside him and converse with him.

"Hello, Sengoku-san... is something wrong?" (Shikage)

"Hmm... No, nothing's wrong. I just want to check up on you. So, How's life, kid?" (Sengoku)

That's a bit philosophical. Damnit, Sengoku-san, What do you want?

"Uhm... It's normal. how about you, Sengoku-san?"

"Normal? You just captured a pirate worth of billion and you say it's normal? It's funny..." (Sengoku)

Well, If you say it like that, Then I guess I did something great. Oh, the Navy couldn't handle the New World right? So, that's why the pirates here don't get arrested by the Navy.

"Uh, If it does surprise you Sengoku-san, then I guess you have to be prepared for the future. This is only the start..." (Shikage)

Sengoku sharply gazed at the young man in front of him. To think that he would say something like that so boldly, then he would have to believe it.

"I see, Then I will look forward into it...*Ehem* By the way, How's Zephyr doing in your land?" (Sengoku)

Aah, So this is the main reason. You're crafty you know, Sengoku-san.

It can't be helped, I'll indulge you for now since I really respect you.

"Hmm... He only stayed for 2 months so, It's a short story you know?" (Shikage)

"It's okay, Let me hear them. I have snacks, You want one?" (Sengoku)

*Crack*

*Meeeeeeh*

The rice crackers and the goat were a bit distracting but I told him the story.

It was time worth 2 months after all.

So, we did bond with each other and I also felt good being treated like family.

I told everything I can share with the old man in front of me. Including the time when Zephyr tried to spar with me, when Zephyr perform a demonstration to the people using me, when Zephyr wanted a fight, when Zephyr asked for a beating, and so on... Eh?

Huh? Huh??!!!

All that guy ever did is to a have fight with me?! Damn that battle maniac!

Now, I'm feeling indifferent. What the hell is that old man thinking.

"Hahahahaha~! I see that he took a liking to you. I thought that you guys would be sipping tea or something. But that musclehead is still the same." (Sengoku)

(Grrr... Sengoku-san! Want me to fight you now?) (Shikage)

And so, The storytelling becomes my rantings for the old man. Sengoku-san and I continue to talk with each other.

At some point, Some of the various students and friends of Zephyr came to us and joined.

Zephyr-Jiji, You see, You're not alone! You just didn't realize it. You made a mark on the Navy. It's only the WG that made you disappointed in the Navy.

I'll make sure to tell you this when I get home.

◇◇

(a/n: A little bit anticlimactic with jack but his new move is on another level than Jack.

Anyways, Let's hit 300 before the next schedule for the new chapter! I'll release a chapter :)

Schedule: MWF if we somehow reach 500 in weekends, I'll release a chapter too!