[Episode] The Secret Down Below

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Quest Details:

The clothes maketh the man, so the saying goes. Castor had been acting out his new character quite swimmingly. Saving cats from trees, breaking up disputes between merchants in the Kingdom, acting as a baby sitter for the Nobles brats and even sitting in on the other Knights meetings as council. The real question is, how, in the world is a wanted criminal gaining such access. The answer is all in the duds. Castor's new blacksmith wannabe Dax, had replicated the armour of the Knights they'd killed the fortnight. Using the cover story of being sent from neighbouring towns to investigate the three Knights murderers, they'd been parading around as Elites. Hilarious, isn't it?

As with everything Castor does, his obsession with the role was unparalleled. For his six days in the role, he'd turned in at least four groups of Bandits who'd been on the run in the Kingdom for crimes he'd done himself thrice over in his small time here. It was beautiful sunny day, the wind blowing in from the surrounding country sides left a rejuvenating feeling in exhale. Lvneel was truly beautiful, both in architecture and flora.

Doing their usual three squad patrol, Nox, now going by the alias of Bastion, joined in on the Knights stroll through the Capital. Unloading in the distance from their current position, ahead were several Marine Vessels carrying troops and goods to the local merchants, and the G-9 base that existed in the Capital.

Whistling, the Knight's gawked at the enormous number of troops that now occupied the bay.

"This is the third Warship today. What is the King thinking letting this many marine set up residence here. We have resources from last season but... It's not like our crime rate was high in the last year." one of the Knights chimed in, a burly of a man by the name of Hagus.

"Have you been living under a rock? One of those damn Super Rookies have been spotted in the countryside. Now... The Capital. Damn pirates." The second Knight, Ragan commented.

"How about you kid? Your small but pretty strong. The Frankish Family has always been against piracy. Despite their Viking history that is." The Knight said as he'd tap his knuckles against the symbol on the chest plate of Castor's set.

Pausing momentarily before responding, "I've never cared much about traditions honestly. Pirate. Marine. Likewise, anyone who threatens our peace... I'll fight." Castor said nobly.

Wrapping his arm around the Knight and shaking him violently, a gesture of agreement, "That's the stuff shorty. The Four Viking Clans that bowed to King Montblanc... Gave us our peace. No more pillaging the seas as criminals." Hagus stated.

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"There's something I have meant to ask you lot since I'm new to the Capital." Castor declared, breaking the intermittent silence.

"Sure short stuff shoot." Hagus stated.

"Who truly holds the most power here in the Capital? The King or the Celestial Dragon?" Castor inquired with a pretty blank expression.

The two knights stopping their stride, altered their entire friendly demeanor to a much more stern stance.

"Bastion. Never ask that question among any of the elder knights. Especially... A knight by the name of Stain." Hagus declared anxiously, running along the words in his sentence at comparable speeds to a steamed powered vehicle.

The heavy cold sweat that was prevalent on the Knights' bodies allowed Castor to know he'd hit a sore spot of some kind. Just a few meters ahead, a platoon of newly stationed marines approached. All of them had on a standard marine attire except one person, who'd been dressed pretty snazzily, he resembled more of an aristocrat.

Gashi Gashi Gashi

Breaking out into laughter to cease the awkward silence, "Statues. Your expressions froze like Gah! That's priceless." Castor declared in a very dry, but yet emotive manner. "Sorry I asked. To be honest, the Knights back home are very anxious about the state of affairs too." Castor declared trying to disarm the situation.

Exhaling, "Right! Who wouldn't be after witnessing-," Ragan announced in relief only to be cut short by a glare from Hagus. The awkward mood returned once again, however after coming so close to a confession, Castor was determined to have the information he needed to understand the politics of Lvneel. Not paying attention to his course of direction however, busy glaring upwards to apply basic human psychology to analyzing the Knights facial cues, Castor would be on a crash course. Which Nox, being the opportunist that he is, would use to his advantage.

Bumping into one of the marines, Castor bowed humbly, "Sorry. My apologies. Allow me to make it up to you by treating your lot to a drink. I recently just came into some Beli. Plus the mood is pretty tense in my group too." Castor stated smirking devilishly.

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"It'd be my pleasure." Castor stated bowing once again. As the two groups merged into one, the other two knights tried to get closer to the female marine. Shuffling into a nearby pub, the hostess setup a table for around twelve for Castor and Anton's group. The other marines had heard about the kind knight's swollen pockets and decided to crash in on the festivities.

Wasn't really a concern of his how many showed up, after all, it was bad luck to be cheap with a dead man's purse. Ordering the first round, Castor would meekly just observe everyone's mannerism. It was his kind of game. People tend to get pretty loose under the influence, and it was their inebriation that'd ultimately be the truth serum he needed.

Turning towards the aristocrat dressed marine, adjusting his own golden mask to reveal his mouth only, Castor would motion to refill the carrot head's mug. "I was eavesdropping a bit earlier. Something you said about horror stories just sparked my interest. Is that what you're into or did something happen on your voyage here?" Castor inquired. The golden mask was Castor's ode to the age of masquerading, a practice that was common to the protagonist in his favourite novel.

Clearing his throat, "Forgive him. He's an inquisitive man. As talented as he is with a sword, is he with his sliver tongue." Hagus interjected, chugging down his fifth flagon.

The mood was vibrant, it was the middle of the day but the crowd was ready to drink away the hardships in their heart and the stress from their daily duties.

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"Supernova. Ah. I think I've heard about them before." Castor exclaimed, refilling the Warrant Officers flagon. "My two associates we're just filling me in since I'm from the countryside. Pirates huh? I only wish for the people to be safe." Castor stated, grinning broadly. What happened next was even more interesting, as the intoxicated Marine revealed his platoon's reason for being in Lvneel, the two Knights that were busy slobbering over the female marine, immediately froze once again, similar to earlier.

"People going missing in the Capital? With such a large crop of Knights and a marine base present... As an outsider... I find that ridiculous." Castor stated, chugging down his mug full of ale.


"If I didn't know any better... I'd suspect foul play." Castor concluded, draining the wooden vessel of its every drop.

Lunging from his seat, partially intoxicated, Hagus would toss a stray punch towards Castor's direction. Shifting his head slightly, Nox would avoid the punch but would purposely push himself backwards, flinging his chair onto the ground to add drama to the scene. The loud thud of the Knight's armour collapsing against the ground, drew the attention of everyone at the table.Earlier... I just took it as you being inquisitive, but that's the second time you've been digging for information shorty. The Capital is fine! Our King is awesome. Your young... You have no idea what it was like for us before the Montblanc's took over the Kingdom. Our King united not only your family but the other three Viking families that had a long bloody history of piracy. Giving us the power we needed to join the World Government!" Hagus shouted.

"Hagus! That's-," Ragan interjected.

"No. Let me finish!" Hagus retorted rudely.

"Shorty. To imply that us Knights here in the capital are incapable of doing our job is nothing less than treason." the burly knight declared.

"People are often more afraid of the things they've never seen before rather than the threats right in front of their eyes." Castor responded calming, picking up the chair."It's those threats that could break what your so proudly trying to protect. If something... and I mean hypothetically of course is going on in the Capital... Wouldn't now, with the surge of marines and knights... Be the perfect time to correct the issue?" Castor inquired.

"Unless... It's something external to the Kingdom stopping you. Is it the fear of the Celestial Dragon - Sinclair?!"Castor announced raising his voice only on the last sentence.

It'd be at this point the two Knights broke down in tears.

"T-here's nothing... We could've done. That man's... A monster." The two knights said simultaneously.

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Confidently responding to the marine woman's suspicions, "As I stated earlier, I'm from the countryside. My King sent me here to serve in the Capital. However, we've been receiving rumours about this specific Celestial Dragon's involvement for awhile now."

After the pressure applied by the marine, Celia, the men began to spill their guts.

"We could be court-martialed... For even telling you this. Don't think because you're marines you'll get off scot free either." Hagus whispered, pulling back his seat toward the table. The loud and brash speaking voices from the last outburst had now diminished to that of two spies exchanging intel.

"This isn't anything new... It's been going on since about fourteen years ago. Locals to the Kingdom would know this. The Celestial Dragon Sinclair took interest in this Kingdom after finding out that our country accepts people of all races. It's always been the King's Dream to live in harmony. With the Viking Kings at his side... He had the power to make those calls." Ragan chimed in.

"That changed when Sinclair got involved. The Celestial Dragon's are above the law itself. He sent one of his Slavers here and appointed him Senior Knight. A man by the name of Stain. Grotesque to even look at but his power is unparalleled." Hagus added.

"Ah. That's why he told me to be weary of the senior knights earlier." Castor thought.

"Stain has silenced all knights through one on one combat. No one is even close to his level. The only person who could stand against him was executed. A Knight by the name of Jules." Hagan commented nodding.

It would be at this moment that Castor lost his composure momentarily. Digging his fingers into his own flesh until it blood shed, as the memories of that day came flooding in of his master's execution day.

"Or one of the King's of the Veil of Four. However, the Montblanc's have been silencing their efforts. I guess that's part of why you've been sent here shorty." Hagan continued.

Taking a deep breath and then exhaling gingerly, now severely irritated at even the sound of Jules name, Castor's laid back tone now took a more authoritative one.

"Spill it. You've been beating around the bush. Are you saying that the disappearances have to do with the Celestial Dragon's puppet; this Stain fella?" Castor inquired, his North Blue accent slipping out, as his former proper manner of talking faulted.

Before the men could even start their sentences, two arrows penetrated their cranium, dropping them to the floor, deceased. Then suddenly, the bar was set ablaze. Rolling out from the men's pockets were small Den Den Mushi's, about the size of a tennis ball, shriveling up from the heat.

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"Tch." Castor exclaimed in disgust. Tuning into his Erlang's Radio-Telepathy, Nox tried to listen into nearby conversations to identify the assassins. Closing his eyes to focus, murmurs from about eighty meters east of their position began to register.

"Got em. Don't forget to cover the perimeter of the pub with enough gasoline." the unknown assailant muttered.

Entering into his intangible state, Castor exited the pub, following the direction of the malicious words. Eventually, he'd stumble upon two masked archers, set atop the roof of a two story building. Returning into his tangible state behind the two men, he'd sink his sword into the heart of the leftmost shooter.

Grinning menacingly, violently removing his Nodachi from the man's chest, Castor cleaned the blade of the strangers blood. When his partner's body hit the floor, the next shooter turned behind him in a stunned manner, only to end up beheaded in an instant.

"Hi." Castor exclaimed.

Flinging his blade once more, Castor would return Summer Rain into ita sheath. Back tracking towards the burning pub, Castor would continue to listening into the conversations around him. Before leaving, he'd raid the dead corpses, among their possessions were: A Den Den Mushi, a notepad with a schedule and several pairs of handcuffs.

"This is shaping up to be interesting." Castor exclaimed smirking.

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Slaver Captain - Helix:

Slaver Captain - Ugo:

Creating a perimeter around the front of the pub, 20 Slaves covered in shackles and carrying various weapons stood shaking violently, seemingly locked in strange state. Snarling at the marines and patrons who'd now managed to escape. Behind them we're two men who seemingly controlled the lot, one large man standing at around 7ft but from the distance it'd look like more and another man around 5'6 who kept a constant cocky grin planted on his face. The larger man didn't smile much, his hands stood rested in his pocket for majority of the time, with a pair of gauntlets that'd been seemingly covered in fresh blood hanging around his neck, connected by a metallic string, in similar fashion to that of boxing gloves.

Reemerging from the East, using his intangible form to circle around the Marines Position, Castor blended in with the patrons momentarily but once he'd asset the situation, he'd float more so to the back of lot, even if it was momentarily.

"GOOD EVENING YOU PACK OF SHITS! HOW ARE YA!?" the large man shouted, instilling fear among the already hysteric crowd.

Clearing his throat, "Obviously... Seeing something like arson first hand is a bit unsettling but fear not! Our orders come from Head Knight Stain-sama!" the man shouted.

Looking around, Castor had now noticed it was night time, how long exactly were they drinking?!

"My name is Helix. I am a retainer in his care. I manage his product-yes." Helix shouted.

"Unfortunately for you lot! Among you seems to be some treacherous criminals to the Kingdom. I see some marines and knights among you... Would you kindly turn over those in the crowd to me... As of today, they are all property of Mr.Stain. Which means... They are property of God. Oh. You should come along to help me escort them. I just have to make sure no more of you hold ill will towards the Kingdom." Helix shouted aggressively.

The people in the Capital that were once watching this spectacle, began to run in terror once Stain's name was mentioned. All of the surrounding houses shut their windows, mothers clutched to their young in dread and among the patrons in the crowd, many of them began to burst into tears because as the sunset in the sky this last decade, they understood what was about to happen. Far off Knights turned their eyes, alerting other Knights to stay away from the area.

Marines of the G-9 created an outer perimeter, making sure no-one could escape via any route. Other marines hustled to put out the pub's fire, as the message was clearly delivered. However, the only person that was oddly amused by this all was the golden masked knight, Castor.

Gashi Gashi Gashi Gashi

As Castor busted out in laughter, Helix gawked at the tiny knight intrigued via his Kenbunshoku Haki, wondering what was so funny about the situation at hand. Had the Knight gone mad? Maybe it was fear that drove him to laughter, it was common among slaves he'd broken into for the first time. The pain so intense or the psychological damage so grand that their wit simply didn't hold up.

"Man. This is a riot." Castor exclaimed still submerged within the crowd. As he'd laugh, electricity would began to spark around his body, heating up the air to levels that melted the golden armour, reducing it to nothing but a puddle of gold. His headband eviscerated revealing his Third Eye, his regular kimono bearing his family 'comma' as a symbol revealed and his usual monstrous aura oozed outward. Molding a droplet of the gold into a head piece - the size of a scrunchie, Castor put his hair up in one.

The crowd that once concealed him dropped like flies, others running for their lives. At the end of it all, the only person left was Castor O. Nox, Supernova, with his full identity exposed. His third eye looking from side to side assessing the situation, especially the distance between himself and the Slavers. About 25 meters he'd reckon, give or take.

"Here I was in the bar just having a good ol' glass of ale. And I ended up having to kill a Knight and use his armour to blend in. Though I'd never be caught dead in public wearing that ugly gold crap. Your declaration made me change my mind though. Property?" Castor exclaimed in a calm manner, reaching at his waist for his Nodachi, Summer Rain. Resting his hand on the hilt, "Tell your boss and this 'god' of your's to go fuck himself. Any world where god's angel hires cockroaches like you to carry out his missions... I'm definitely an atheist in it." Castor stated smirking, omitting several million volts of electricity.

"Ah. I hope that cover story holds up when this is all over." Castor thought to himself. "Did I sound meancing enough... I manage to avoid making the joke about the gold melting... I thought it'd be funny though... It would've added pizzazz." Castor continued inwardly.

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Wasting no time, Castor surged in his elemental form towards Helix, reforming at his hind leg, slashing his Nodachi along the back of the man's kneecap, drawing blood. Nimble for his size, Helix jumped into mid-air, the pressure from the man's jump pushed Castor backwards by a few inches, the Pirate Captain sheathing his blade and reaching towards his shoulder to remove his spear, which sat wrapped, attached to his back laying horizontally.

Hang time in play, Helix covered his appendages in Busoshoku Haki, leaving a jet black armament visible. Sliding his hands into the Bladed Gauntlets, the man entered into a spiral, creating a revolving swiss blade motion which was similar to that of factory grade blenders. As the descent came to an end, Castor dashed backwards swiftly, avoiding the two slashes that left claw shaped craters in his wake.

"You're a quick little shit." Helix stated scowling, clutching at his knee.

"Catch me if you can." Castor responded grinning.

Spinning Iris in the palm of his hand, Nox tossed the spear in a javelin like fashion, extending his arm to close the fifteen meter distance. Skewering the bone in the man's kneecap, until the spearhead exited the other side, and retracting it in one compact motion. (LT)[Drill]

In retracting his arm, Helix spun his right fist towards Castor, using his blades to slash into his left arm, through the use of Busoshoku Haki. The logia broke his arm free from being wedged in Helix's blade, using his own Buso to reject it. Wincing in pain, Nox's arm returned to a tangible state. (LT)[Strike]

"He's dangerous. I never thought it'd meet another Haki user so soon. Especially in the North Blue." Castor thought. Resting his spear on his shoulder, Castor extended his right arm, manifesting it in the form of a lighting bolt, landing a strike firmly against the centre of Helix's chest. The crash of the lightning tossed the slaver aback, sliding the sole of his feet against the concrete. (LT)[Volt]

"GAH!" Helix exclaimed, crying out in pain, only to follow up the screech with a broad smile. "Logia User. You'd be a nice addition to our slave camp. A rare fruit user as yourself could go for quiet the penny." Helix stated smirking. "Fruit user? Logia? That sounds pretty familiar... I think Newport used to tell me something along those lines. Sorry. I've had these abilities for as long as I can remember. I just always thought I was blessed or cursed... Depending on your opinion." Castor retorted.

"Now that I think about it... Since I ate that strange blue pineapple... I became able to become Lightning." Castor thought. Creating an after image of himself, Helix closed the distance between the two once more, slashing his gauntlets against the squirt's chest. (LT)[Ripple] As Castor's blood shot out, the Three Eyed lunged his spear once more into the open wound in Helix's knee cap, causing the man to cower in size.

Floating onto his shoulders, entering an intangible elemental state only to reform in whisper distance, wrapping his legs around the man's neck. The piggyback ride ended with Castor extending his two arms towards the heavens. Concentrating 10 Million Volts around the man's skull, the visage of two wolves gnawing against the Goliath's dome, cleared as the exhaust from being electrocuted violently left the man staggering. (LT)[10 Million Volt - Raiju] However, in the last moments, covering his hand in Buso, Helix grabbed Castor tossing him into the floor. A loud wicked thud could've been heard, as the pirate captain went shoulder first into the concreate.

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As Castor's body hit the floor, a memory came to him of Jules. He was around eight years old at the time, frolicking around the Castle's garden. Jules had been hiding from her Father once again about wedding talks, and since the garden reminded the King of her mother, he dared not step a foot in it but didn't have the heart to have the area renovated.

"Hey. Kid. Come here for a minute." Jules said, sipping her rice wine from a gourd with the Kanji - Spirit on it.

Walking over to the massive woman shyly, Castor gawked up with curious eyes, as Jules laid sideways soaking in the sunlight.

"Out of all of the squires here... Do you know why I choose you?" Jules inquired.

Castor nodded his head to gesture no.

"I have the ability to see the hearts of others clearly. Yours is like a plain white sheet. I fear one day... It'll be stained by substances even you can't imagine to wipe away. That's okay. Shit happens to all kinds of people. Good. Bad. In Between. The important thing is to survive. I'll teach you tricks to disarm enemies stronger than yourself... bigger than yourself but ultimately... To win, you gotta have the Will to Survive. It's you or them. Always remember that." Jules stated.

Flicking Castor on his forehead right below his eye and smiling warmly, the Three Eye Child continued to dance around the garden happily.

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Returning to current times, the imprint of Castor's body in the stone street made Helix let out a murderous battle cry in pure glee. Exhaling, steam like air gushed from the man's body similar to that of a steam engine.

"Before I became enslaved... I was a pretty peppy pirate myself kid. That's how I learnt Heat Heart. I can change the temperatures of my body and reflect my will onto my weapons. Combined with my Buso... These claws of mine can rip warships apart." Helix stated.

Stumbling to return to his feet, his shoulder slightly out of place, Nox began to grin widely. Popping his shoulder back into place, Castor began to disburse a thick electrical field outwards for about two hundred meters in the radius around himself. The electrical bolts began to cluster together similar in shape to Dandelions. As the spores touched Helix at first, he felt a light surge, nothing more than a few hundred bolts. However, as the spores began to stick to the man's massive figure, each one sunk beneath skin level, soaking into his pores like skin lotion. (MT)[Enlil's Curse]

Helix began to convulse, screeching in agony but shouldering the weight of the attack standing. The electricity began to work on his body inward, similar to that of a CPR machine on the heart but the surges were so violent that the slaver began to salivate rapidly. Drool streamlined from the man's mouth like a fountain, except as every ounce of fluid his body loss, youth wasn't the reward for bathing in the stream of secretions. Scowling, Helix began to accelerate his heart to increase the heat around his body once more. This time consuming his entire body in a jet-black coat, Helix disappeared once more before Castor's eyes.

Using his Kenbunshoku to sense the man's prescience, Castor countered his attack, intercepting the man's right claw with his spear but was too late on the draw with his Nodachi to counter the other. Dragging his claw along the formerly dislocated shoulder towards Castor's stomach, Helix's steaming black claws were countered with Castor's own Buso. The clash of wills left visible scars on Castor's body, but no vital organs were nipped. (MT)[Driver Strike - Black Cutter].

The two men didn't waste any distance, the warriors began to exchange a series of high impact strikes to each other, each barely managing to use their Buso in negating the full damage of the constant barrage.(LT)[Rush]

Wedging Iris once more into Helix's damaged knee cap, Castor drew his Nodachi, wedging it into the man's adjacent knee, this time penetrating his shin bone.(LT)[Impale] Transforming his entire body into his element, Nox side tackled Helix at an angle, buckling him onto his knees finally. (LT)[30 Million Volt - Orko's Whim] The electrical disburses was much more violent than his last rally, causing the giant of a man to momentarily deactivate his Buso coat.

Accelerating, Helix jetted pass Castor, leaving two more gashes, this time along his ribcage. It looked brutal as a spectator, the difference in sizes looked like an ant being ripped apart by a mammoth. (LT)[Ripple]However, Castor's blood was heated, the smile on his face wouldn't fade.

"Jules always used to tell me... The real test of a warrior lies neither in gender or genetics. Wins or Losses. What makes a warrior great is the ability to enjoy even the most bitter of losses, just as he'd enjoy the luxuries of being victorious. I never relied on this blessing of mine to fight... Before my lightning capabilities... I've always survived with one thing. My will. It burns hotter than anything else." Castor stated, licking his lips to smear the blood from his top lip, which came trickling from the gash above his right eye.

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