Re: [Arc] [Rubeck Island Conquest][Part 2] Last Tango in Rubeck

Mon Jan 08, 2024 12:26 pm

Thankfully, the frightened rat wasn’t the only one suffering here. Some poor saps were currently going through blunt force trauma. Repeatedly. Meanwhile, another patient was sneezing up a storm. It gave him a desperately needed moment to catch his breath.

The crook started correcting his messy clothes. Needed something for his hands to do, see. “Is that so? Fancy that.” He grumbled to the ominous offer. His numb fingers struggled with the shirt buttons.

Nevertheless, the businessman tried to remain polite. Professional. “Look, friend, unless you can conjure new limbs out of thin air, then I fail to... see...” And that’s when his shaken head finally caught up to his chatty mouth.

Richard retreated into the library of his mind. Opening a tome titled ‘The Spider Miles Heist Incident’, he refreshed his memory. Leafed through some gilded recollections. His greed immediately snatched certain fleeting pictures from the pages.

It whispered awful, wonderful ideas in his ears.

There was probably some infection of irony the doctor was missing here... But he was too busy daydreaming to notice. If the aptly named Goldmonger was suggesting what he was guessing, then it might be worth hearing the man out...

Like an oft-worn mask, the entrepreneur donned his usual smile. “I mean... I’m open to ideas.” With a glint of gold in his eyes, he adjusted his tie. “How do you propose you might be able to help? And...” His eyes narrowed. The smile sharpened.

“What’s the catch?”

There was always a catch. A hook. Just the nature of the business.

Words: 256
Total: 17 878 / 13 500

Tue Jan 09, 2024 8:20 pm

The Goldmonger knew the color of greed all too well not to recognize it in the rat's eye. Calling back to the time on Spider Miles, the doctor was more than willing to get his hands dirty for a payday.

A devilish grin stretched ear to ear, the golden maw reflecting the distorted image of the doctor at him. A jewelry-clad hand slowly caressed the rat's thigh until it reached the bandaged stump. Gently pulling away, and with a snap, the twinkling flakes all around him began to meld together.

Forming a bubbling, writhing mass of metal, "Hold still now." An ominous shift in his tone, the pirate snickered. The metal warped and slithered around the rat's leg, snaking its way around the stump, growing, moving, and shaping the form of a golden leg.

It was like the limb was never lost, ya know, aside from the fourteen-carat upgrade, but who's really gonna complain about that? Narrowing his own eyes and sharpened smile, "No catch, that's what friends do, ya~?"

WC 170/19,154/13,500

Wed Jan 10, 2024 7:16 am

By curiosity -and simple exhaustion- the rat resisted the innate urge to scamper away. If all rodents walked into traps so easily, exterminators would’ve been out of a job pretty quickly. Though, in his defense, this trap had the shiniest bait...

Richard watched carefully, as the gleaming mass took form. It was a rare occasion to study one of the cursed fruits up close. While he still considered the entire concept highly unscientific, the naive, young researcher in his soul never really went away. It just... grew old and cynical, over the years.

The doctor appraised the golden prosthetic with a keen eye. Not quite as bright and vibrant as pure gold... Eighteen or fourteen karats, if he were to guess. It seemed like the leg of a mannequin, a replica crafted to masterfully mimic the real thing. Yet, it didn’t move like one.

That was going to be a problem.

Keeping the pleasant facade, the crook scratched his chin. “Ah, but of course. Just what friends do.” In another life, the gold-enthusiast would’ve made for a great poker player. Feeding people bullshit and calling it a sandwich without a hint of hesitation...

Lifting the leg, the entrepreneur turned it idly. “Impressive craftsmanship, I must admit... It’s almost like the real thing...” He placed an odd emphasis on the word.

Richard cast a knowing look at the Goldmonger. “Really, it’s only lacking a knee joint. A hinge, if you will.” Wagging the stiff leg weakly, he dangled the hint in front of the man’s nose. “Of course, if that happens to be beyond your skills, well...” He trailed off, leaving the thinly-veiled challenge lingering in the expectant silence.

Words: 277
Total: 18 155 / 13 500

Mon Jan 15, 2024 11:28 pm

He snarled as the obvious hook dangled before him, like a shark sizing up its prey until the right moment.

"The fuck you mean.."

Wham, and there it was. His golden maw clamping so hard on the hook that even the most novice of anglers would notice.

"Beyond my skills...? The fuck do I look like to you doc..??" He asked as hands adorned with gold arrogantly flicked the pink feathered boa that hung from his neck.

With a snap, the gold reformed itself into a hinge to act as a knee for the maimed rat. The range of motion was limited and control of the hinge would take years of practice to fully master. But like all cornered rats, the Goldmonger had the utmost confidence the good doctor would adapt quickly.

"Like, holy shit man, that's like, pretty badass." The mink's lips smacked as he rolled the tobacco around in his mouth. "Like, fuck man, you got a gold fuckin leg. That's fuckin dope as fuck, man. Fuck..."

"Who the fuck is thi-... ahh...Ahhhh... AHHCHOO!"

"Dude, like, what the fuck is your problem, man? Cause like, that's gross man..." The irony of the mink's own habitual spitting, leaving large wads of soggy tobacco leaves wherever he went, was lost on him.

"My problem?!" Dax snarled back, "You are the one wearing some kind of colo-...ooo...AHCHOOO!!... FUCK! Ahhh, fuck, god, just... get back, just get the fuck away from me!" Waving his arms in an effort to scare away the allergen-inducing beast.

"Sorry about that!" Hina shouted with an innocent smile, no trace of the demon that inhabited her just moments ago. "My brother and his friends just can't seem to stay out of trouble."

"Isn't that right, Kazu?"

"Y-yea... right" Sweat dripped from Kazu's brow throwing both his hands up nervously, something his newfound monkey troupe mimicked. With the beasts now sharing their leader's fear of his sister.

The rest of the Wharf Rats tended to their wounds while Kazu and Hina met with the pirates.

"So, who's this scrawny fellow..?" Hina asked, pointing at the soggy rat on the ground.

WC 352/19,506/13,500

Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:46 pm

Hook, line and sinker. In another life, the crook could’ve made for a decent fisherman. Suppressing a smug grin, he let the fish devour the bait. He kept his mouth shut and let the metal maestro work.

Unscientific or not, these fruits certainly something... With a literal snap of fingers, the golden leg went from a mannequin piece to a functional prosthetic. The hinge filled in where the ruined knee failed. No amount of surgery could’ve saved it. Better to replace it.

Richard raised the leg, feeling how the hinge responded to the weight. Sure, it was heavy and unwieldy compared to the real thing, but... “Impressive. Thank you, friend.” It was still preferable hobbling around with sticks, for one.

While the ‘Monger and the Mink got acquainted, the rat went back to fixing his clothing. A wasted effort, really. Much too soggy and shredded... But appearances were important. No matter the mask he wore, he wanted to look his best. Er, well, the best he could, under the circumstances.

And on the topic of masks...

The sharp-dressed pirate’s polite demeanor didn’t even waver. “Well, nice to meet you too, young lady.” It only took a hint of sarcasm. “I am Brook, someone who doesn’t judge others based on appearances.” He lied as naturally as he breathed. Granted, the former was proving easier than the latter, at the moment.

However, Hina didn’t seem all that convinced. She squinted at the man. “Uh huh... Sure thing, ‘Brook’...” After a suspicious pause, she turned to her reckless friend. “Why is this guy even here?” She ignored the pointed stare she got from ‘this guy’.

Kazu seemed to snap out of his fearful stupor. Recent events rolled back into his mind. “What, him? He was here for the barber battle, ‘cuz I need to beat Jiro to get his help for...” A little more. There it was, the spark of realization.

“Oh, shit! Moletown!”

The new boss passed a glance at his freshly recruited posse. “Right, we gotta fuckin’ fight!” His fervor quickly got the monkeys agreeing. They didn’t even know who they were fighting or what for, but they were ready to raise hell all the same.

Richard, meanwhile, chuckled at the entire conga line of misguided words. ...It hurt to laugh.

Hina marched over to the soggy man and prodded him with her foot. “What’s so funny, rat-face?”

“Oh, so we’re moving to insults now. Classy.”

Her stare narrowed. “Answer the question.”

The doctor scoffed. “First, there is no ‘we’.” Digging into his pocket, he produced a brown bottle without a label. “I am going to get out of here, see. Lay low until the heat dies down.”

Carefully, he popped the cork open and dropped two pale pills into his waiting palm. His gaze lingered on them. “Assuming I don’t bite it first...” After brief hesitation, he added a third, before downing all in one painfully dry gulp.

They scraped his throat, as they tumbled down.

He coughed.

“Se-cough-ond... There won’t be a fight.” He cast a cold look at the kids. “There’ll be a massacre.” Twenty years ago, he might have felt something. Pity, probably.

Now, he felt nothing.

Richard slowly pushed himself onto his feet. The golden leg slipped against the wet stone. “You fine folks can throw your lives away if you’d like. Don’t let me stop you.” He brushed his clothing out of habit, before realizing how pointless it was to even try.

Kazu, however, wasn’t having it. Not after coming this far. “Hey, fuck you! We’re not just leaving the boss to face all those shits alone!”

The rat raised a brow. “Boss...?” Who on earth would be dumb enough to...? Oh. He got hit by a memory from two decades ago. A very shaky, rattly memory. How could he ever forget?

Richard’s polite mask soured. The fake smile fell to a slant. “Ah yes, the bear... In an ideal world, he might stand a chance against the Queen.” Naturally, there was a ‘but’ coming. “But this is not an ideal world. She’s got an army at her beck and call.” He knew the people. Knew the rules...

“Even that old monster can’t hope to take on all of them at once.”

Kazu folded his arms with a firm nod. “Right. You’re saying that if we wanna even the odds... We gotta cut off the head of the sink.”

“Snake.” Hina helped.

“Yeah, that.” The boy agreed.

Finally, the polite mask cracked. From beneath it peeked a blank stare of disbelief. “What? No. I am saying that-” He cut himself off there. First, why did he even care?

Second, the reckless youth were already discussing their suicidal strategy. There was no stopping them. That much was obvious.

“...I feel like you’re not listening.” He muttered bitterly.

Words: 801
Total: 18 916 / 13 500

Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:04 am

Dax snickered at the good Doctor's attempt at subterfuge, the man doing his best to play the part of 'Brook'. And aside from hiding his amusement kept quiet for once, taking in all that was said around him.

The Goldmonger watched as the pompadour delinquent rallied his newfound monkey army. Hooting and hollering, they bought into what the Wharf Rat leader was selling. His passionate words and hard-boiled pompadour ensured their unwavering loyalty in the matter.

While Hina and 'Brook' managed to find a mutual dislike of one another. The doctor's words were harsh and cold, spoken like a man who had been in this situation before. Having learned firsthand all those years the trouble such ambition bred.

Something clicked at the mention of the boss and the face Hina made. Oh~? A devious smile crept onto the pirate's face, the hamster picking up pace on his golden wheel as ideas flooded his mind.

"Listening?!" Hina shouted as she grabbed the rat by the collar, showing off her inhuman strength once again. "You're the one not listening, 'Brook'!!" She shouted, holding back the tears.

"A useless, weak piece of trash like you could never understand, so don't you ever talk about my dad again. Got it?!" Rage mixed with dread, her fears bubbled to the surface. Her father had always been invincible in everyone's eyes, even Moletown's. It's what kept them at bay for so long, it's what held twenty years of tenuous peace together.

"If you aren't going to help, and let's be real, what kind of help would a weak shit like you even provide?! THEN. GET. THE. FUCK. OUT!"

"H-Hina..." Ichiro spoke up, doing his best not to earn her wrath himself. He pulled out a crumbled piece of paper from his pocket, his hands shaking as he handed it to her.

"What is thi...." Her words trailed off and her grip loosened on the rat's collar. Her eyes shook as they darted back and forth from the paper to the rat.

"Hmmm~?" Dax mumbled as he leaned over the girl's shoulder. "Well I'll fuckin be, 'Brook', buddy, this piece of paper here sure looks an awful lot like you..." His golden maw formed a devilish smile as he locked eyes with the good doctor.

"Holy fuck..." Kazu mumbled as he leaned in after the Goldmonger, staggering back before falling to the ground. "He's worth over...Two.... TWO HUNDRED MILLION BELI?!?!?!"

WC 403/19,909/13,5000

Thu Jan 25, 2024 12:34 pm

In a heartbeat, the criminal was grabbed and rattled by a painfully vivid déjà vu. Like father, like daughter, apparently... Clearly, she had inherited more than just the man’s temper.

While the beast in girl’s clothing howled, the rat dipped a hand into his pocket. Gently, he brushed against his options. Soaked bills, cracked vials... Ah, there. His fingers coiled around a small and icy piece of metal. It felt like the handshake of an old friend.

Again, some sensible part of him chimed up in the furthest depths of his mind. With a weak, wavering voice it asked if he really was going to stab an upset and frightened girl. Hardened criminals were one thing... But this was just a child worried for her father. Right...?

...His grip on the shiv tightened.

However, before the coward could do something that someone would regret, things promptly went from bad to worse. His eyes were drawn to the flutter of an awfully familiar piece of paper. Emphasis on awful.

Richard recoiled, as the offending hand suddenly released its iron grip. Wheezing for air, he adjusted the collar. “T-that could be anyone.” He lied, out of reflex and mostly to himself.

Hina’s shaky stare swept the words beneath the photo. “Terrorism... Arson... Mass murder...?” She read slowly, fighting back the wave of sheer disbelief. Glancing up from the paper and seeing the sorry rat-faced mess only made the whiplash worse. There was no way...

“...Explain, Plague Rat.”

Richard cringed at the epithet. “Well, I didn’t pick it myself, if that’s what you’re asking.” He averted his gaze, glancing down at the hefty suitcase. “You work as a doctor for twenty years and nobody remembers, but you accidentally cause ONE plague...” Life was unfair, see.

The girl blinked at the grumbling man. “What? No, I meant-” She showed the poster, tapping an insistent finger against the hefty bounty. “-this! Is any of this actually true?!” Her patience had run out three arguments ago.

Squirming beneath the fierce questioning, the doctor tried to find the words. And a better smile than the painfully fake one sitting awkwardly on his face. “Er, well, y-you see... It’s all a big misunderstanding, really... I am merely a humble entrepreneur trying to make a living...” His trembling legs tried to carry him away, one shaky step at a time. The golden one struggled to find traction.

And he just..

Could not...

Shut up.

“People put too much faith in those numbers, see. It’s not really a reliable measure of power or threat level. I mean, just look at me. Do I really look like the kind of guy who is even capable of anything heinous? Furthermore-”

Hina listened to the rat’s rambling for a moment, before turning her attention back onto the poster. “So, it’s all true then.” She decided bluntly. Someone here was spouting blatant lies and it wasn’t the silent piece of paper.

Richard snapped out of his poorly improvised excuses. “Hey! Don’t just leap to the opposite conclusion!” He was frankly wounded that someone would so readily label him a crook. Wounded!

Limping past the insulting implication, the definitely-not-a-crook tried another approach. “And didn’t you just shout my ears off about how I’m weak and useless?”

The warrior girl measured the disheveled man before her with her gaze. Something about him had been giving her the creeps this entire time. “Just because something is weak doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous. My father told me so. I thought he was talking about wounded animals...” A chill of warning ran down her spine...

“But I think I finally get what he actually meant.”

“I feel like that’s another jab directed at me...”

The gorilla disguised as a girl was not swayed by the rat’s whining. She stomped closer and poked the crook in the chest. “You are going to help.” Her tone didn’t leave any room to argue.

...But Richard hadn’t let that stop him before. “And what makes you think I will help you?”

Hina’s glare narrowed. There was a storm brewing behind those eyes. “Because if you don’t...” The poking finger swung to point off the nearest cliff. “I’m throwing you down the mountain.” It wasn’t as much a threat as it was a promise.

The crook tried to swallow the fear that was forming a clump in his throat. “...Y-you wouldn’t survive the a-attempt.” Now that was meant as a threat. It would’ve been more menacing if he could’ve managed more than just a squeak.

Words: 753
Total: 19 669 / 13 500

Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:09 pm

Foggy Boggy | Rubeck Island

The smell of iron lingered in the air, the ground was littered with cold flesh and steel, and crimson painted everything.

"Tch.... You shitty shit..." Momoiro choked on his blood, "Shoulda killed ya...cough... when I had the chance...."

"Kawkawkawkaw...." Karasu chuckled as tears ran down his slender cheeks.

"Quit...cough.. laughing ya shitty bird..."

"Kawkawkaw..cough..Kawkawkaw.. How can I stop...cough.. in a situation like this...?"

"How about both of ya shut the hell up, eh?!" Nise snapped as he chomped on his discount cigar.

"Hit a..cough// sore spot, ya shitty traitorous shit? Eh?"

"I said shut it!" The knockoff king snarled as he twisted the blade in the tracksuit's gut.

"Arggghhh....!!"

"Ya fucks never respected me before, why should I expect ya to change now?!"

"Knockoff Nise, huh?! I bet this pain ain't off-brand now is it?!"

"Tch...." Momoiro's teeth clenched hard enough to bite through leather as the blade tore through his gut. "I've taken shits..cough cough... argggghhh...." He fought through the pain to stare through Nise's eyes and into his soul.

"I've taken shits that hurt worse than your little prick of a blade, you cheap ass little bitch. You always hid in the boss's shadow like a little wuss ass, pussy little shi-...!"

"SHUT UP!! SHUT UP!!"

Snickt!

"SHUT UP!! SHUT UP!!"

Thud.

"SHUT UP!!"

Momoiro's blonde head rolled across as Nise's blade cleaved the air to finish its swing. Ragged breath and face red, "Stop..Stop it. Stop Staring at me! Stop it!" The deadman's glare never left Nise as it tumbled across the ground.

"STOP IT!" Nise shouted, slipping in blood as he kicked the head into the woods. His knockoff golden robes were stained with crimson and brown as he desperately flailed about in the mud.

"Kawkawkawkaw, cursed! You're c..cough..cursed! A Deadman's curse! A curse! A curse! A curs-...."

"STOP MAKING FUN OF ME!!" He shouted as he scrambled across the ground. "STOP IT!! SHUT UP!!! SHUT UP!!" He plunged his knife into the scarecrow over and over, seconds felt like minutes, and the minutes felt like hours.

In out, in out, the blade repeated its pattern over and over again. All the while Nise screamed until his throat was bloodied and hoarse.

"Shut....up..." With a ragged breath and throbbing skull, he rolled off the butchered corpse. "Shut......" He took one last deep breath before exhaling. ".......Up."

Base of the Mountain Monkeys | MoleHill Hot Springs

Dax snickered as the rat's crimes were listed out one by one, "Not bad doc, didn't know you had it in ya."

"I'm genuinely fuckin impressed." Giving his pal a friendly punch in the arm.

"Oi! Are you fucks ready to go yet?!" Kazu shouted, his sentiment echoed by his newfound monkey army.

"Let me ask!" Hina said kindly to her brother before looking back towards the Plague Rat.

"Are we ready to go yet?" Her grip tightened around Richards's neck as her eyes drifted to the edge of the cliff.

"Now, now." Dax butted in, "No need for violence of this kind right? We are all friends here, ya?" He slowly grabbed Hina's wrist and pulled her hand away as she begrudgingly released.

"That's it, that's it. Alright." Dax smiled as he cautiously moved towards the rat and helped him settle back on his feet.

"Okay, cool, let's just move past all that bullshit, right? Cause you guys got someone ya wanna fuck up, ya?" Doing his best impression of the imp to take a more diplomatic approach.

"That's right, we fuckin do, so let's get this fuckin show on the goddam road!!"

Puru Puru Puru Puru

"Huh..?" Hina pulled out a Den Den mushi from her pocket.

"Hello?"

"H-Hina...?!" The transmission was muffled and full of static.

"Nelson..? Nelson is that you..?! Is everything okay?!"

"We...bzzzzt...Attacked...tzzz...tsshhhh.. Nise.....Moletown...click.."

"Nelson...?! Nelson...?!?"

"What the hell was that?! And what did they say about Nise?!" Kazu shouted.

"I... I don't know... But we need to get back to Pebble Beach now!" Hina shouted as her body instinctively had her scrambling down the mountain side.

"Huh?! W-Wait.. We.. We need to go to Moletown!"

"Fuck Moletown!" Hina shouted, "What's the point of fighting them if we don't have a home to fight for!"

WC 704/20,613/13,500

Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:48 pm

There was an old saying out in the Paradise about how ‘real recognizes real’. Upon feeling the friendly punch, the doctor gained some insight on what that meant. He wasn’t quite sure whether this was better or worse than the girl’s reaction, however... Something about the genuine approval just filled him with deep, deep shame.

See, all that glitters is not necessarily gold...

Still, in the name of politeness, the crook mumbled something non-committal that vaguely resembled a thanks. Despite the differences in... Professional approach... He didn’t have anything personal against Goldmonger. This was all just business.

Before the rat could try sneaking away, the gorilla in a girl’s guise caught him by the collar. Or the throat, rather. He could feel his eyes bulging out of their sockets. Rather unpleasant, really. Wouldn’t recommend it.

Fortunately, someone else here had the golden touch, when it came to appeasing the horribly violent girl. Almost dropping like a sack of potatoes, the criminal wheezed for air. Sweet, sweet air... “Thanks...” He managed between the raspy gasps. And this time he meant it too.

The coward focused on catching his breath. His eyes frantically sought an escape route. Call it a hunch, but something told him this was his last chance to slip away. If he stuck around for any longer, he was bound to get wrapped up in this mess.

Worse yet, the rowdy troop of monkeys were drawn to their new boss like furry magnets. They had no regard for anyone’s safety. Including their own. They were ready to bash some heads and not much could stop them now.

So, while the kids were busy panicking, the old doctor took a step back. ...Except his new leg still wasn’t quite cooperating. It felt heavy... Slipping against the slick stone... Dragging him towards the edge. It took serious effort to fight the terrain, as well as gravity in general.

Richard snagged his suitcase and slowly staggered away from the group. It could hardly be called sneaking. Not with the steady clink-clink-clink made by his new limb. Just a couple more steps and... Fwomp. His retreat was stopped by something soft and fluffy.

Freezing on the spot, the rat immediately went through the worst possible options to run into at this very moment. Could be a hungry bear. Or that zoinked out llama mink sneaking up on him. It could even be-!

“Baa-a-a-a-aa.”

A rather annoyed bleat startled the coward. He yelped and spun around, only to find a fluffy, white mass staring right back. Sturdy body, strong legs, curved horns... Its long facial fur strongly resembled the mustache of an esteemed elderly gentleman. Kind of majestic, actually. Savvy travelers -and zoologists- were sure to recognize a model specimen of a Rubeckian Ram.

...Wait, scratch that, a whole herd of them.

Upon seeing no bears, or llamas, Richard had the absolute nerve to breathe a sigh of relief. “Phew...” Lady Luck didn’t like that and neither did the territorial animals. Their huge-horned leader scraped the ground with its powerful hoof. It drew sparks.

“Oh no...”

Approximately five seconds later, an entire herd of rams barreled down the narrow mountain path. While Kazu and his crew were savvy enough to dive out of the way, others may not have been as lucky...

Cuzco, for one, was way too high for any kind of evasive maneuvers. Instead, he got dragged along for a ride. And ride, he certainly did, cruising on the wave of fur and fury with relaxed ease. “Yo, surf’s up, dudes! Llamamama~!”

Richard, meanwhile, was clinging on for dear life. Somehow, through a cruel trick of fate, he had managed to dodge the horns... Only to accidentally fall on top of the animal. Memories of a certain desert town, a powerful pirate and a runaway camel flashed before his eyes... This always happened to him around animals...

What had he done to deserve this?!

...Don’t answer that.

The runaway herd rushed into the dark tunnel, following their leader like a sea train on a track. Richard gave up on praying and focused on holding on for dear life. His only solace was that this ride would be swift and brief. Though, he didn’t even want to imagine where they might end up...

Words: 710
Total: 20 379 / 13 500

Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:24 pm

Clink....Clink.......Clink...

"Quiet as a fuckin mouse there Richard.." Pausing his mumblings for a moment as he looked at the sopping heap of a man, "Or, ya know, rat."

Though, before his dear friend could quip back what could only be described as a series of unfortunate events unfolded.

"Y-....YO!!" Kazu shouted to Maxwell as he made his escape, "WHERE ARE YOU GOING...?!.... Hey!!?"

"Well fuck..." Kazu mumbled as his attention snapped between Hina running off to her death and the loss of their heaviest hitter.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." Back and forth, his neck was likely to pop off at this rate until his body finally darted off down the mountain after Hina.

"Boss..?"

"Kishishishi, did you really think he would ditch Hina, Koji? Kishishishi." Ichiro snickered as he was the first to follow.

The Goldmonger watched as the rag-tag group fractured in every direction. No longer heading towards a unified plan focused on Moletown, this was a free-for-all all, each one prioritizing their mission above another's.

"W-Wait for us, boss!" Shohei shouted as the rest of the Wharf rats fell in with the monkey troupe and Kazu as they tore off down the mountain after Hina.

Meanwhile, the good doctor made his exit stage left, hitching a ride with the thundering herd. "Well, well, this could be interesting..." Not one to be left behind, the Goldmonger held out his hand until he caught a handful of passing ram. Getting yanked along with the rest of them.

Foggy Boggy | Rubeck

An eerie silence fell on the bog as Nise's breathing finally slowed to a reasonable rate. The Knockoff King was bruised and battered, covered in blood from head to toe. Though none of it was his.

Rather, it belonged to all the men and women he sent to their deaths trying to kill just two men. Two dozen men and women to be exact. All were allegedly handpicked and supplied by the Queen herself to kill not a tracksuit and bird, but the bear himself.

"Bullshit..." Nise mumbled, "Ain't no way this would've killed him...."

No shit ya shittin traitor...

"What?!" Nise shot up from the ground and scanned his surroundings, "W-Who said that....? Who's.. Who's there?!"

"S-Show yourself..!!" Desperately his eyes darted to the dark tree line, the fog kicking up as his feet twisted and turned.

Puru Puru Puru Puru.

"AAH!!... Oh... oh..." he took a deep sigh of relief.

Click.

"Hello..?"

However, he was greeted with nothing but silence before a venomous voice seeped from the line. "Oh, Nise.~"

He gulped, "M-My.. Qu..-"

"Let's stop you there dear Nise, I'm in, well, a bit of a rush you see..." She paused for a moment, the knockoff king knew this was when the queen nursed her tobacco for dramatic effect.

"And it seems there are a few very key points to my, well, let's be honest, otherwise perfect plan."

"M-my queen, you see, I jus-.."

"Where is she, Nise?"

"I-I...." He stuttered, "You see.."

"Where is she?"

WC 499/21,112/13,500

Sat Mar 30, 2024 4:18 am

True to the name, Mole Hill was teeming with tunnels every which way. It was a labyrinth of darkness and death. The routes went everywhere. Even for seasoned smugglers, it took planning, manpower and genius levels of intellect to figure out all the paths. ...Alternatively, a bunch of fools could blindly rush in where demons fear to tread.

Richard rode the ram recklessly. Closing his eyes made no difference. It was still just as dark and terrifying. In his desperation, he muttered prayers to every deity he could think of, from Poseidon to Davy Jones. Unfortunately, divine intervention probably didn’t work so close to Hell.

Meanwhile, the rams were rather enjoying their rampaging romp. To them, even the faintest bits of bioluminescence was like a lighthouse cutting across the shadows. Lean left, tight right, jump, they barreled through the tunnels.

And, against all odds, at the end of the tunnel there was light...

Meanwhile, the Contraband Queen trying not to chew through her smokes out of sheer frustration. First, some bold idiot dared to kill her property, while on her property. Next, Richie and Bob both go missing, not answering calls. And now this... The single most important piece for winning this stupid, little chess game was, somehow, still not in her grasp!

What else could go wrong?

Well, the unspoken question got an answer, when the door suddenly flew open. A wheezing henchman leaned against the frame, struggling to catch his breath. “Now what?!” The sharp demand sped up the process considerably. “I-it’s the Plague Rat!” He blurted out.

“What...?”

With eight muscular tentacles, the octopus woman flew down the stairs at a speed that would’ve put a spider to shame. She burst into the cellar of her war operations to witness... The strangest travesty she had seen in ages.

A whole herd of Rubeckian Rams was harassing the remaining workers. Headbutts sent hapless goons flying. A llama mink was laughing his ass off and ranting something about cosmic karma. There was even a stranger decorated in gold, familiar from a poster. In the middle of it all, the Plague Rat was trying to collect his bones. He looked like shit.

The baffled mermaid stared at the chaos, struggling to drink in the cocktail of emotions roiling up inside her. Tch, never mind all that... First things first, damage control. Once she had her tentacles around the situation again, she could take her sweet time strangling it all into submission...

So, deep breaths.

And big smiles.

Wearing the sweet smile like a well-crafted mask, the Contraband Queen clasped her hands together. “Oh, thank goodness you are alright, Richie~!” Like her sultry voice, the woman herself drifted across the floor with the ease of a ballroom dancer. She offered a tentacle. “I was so~oo worried when you went missing~ Here, let me help you up-” However, instead of a thankful hand accepting her help... She found a gun pointed at her.

Richard stared at the towering woman the same way a Chihuahua looked at a stranger. Wide-eyed, trembling and seconds away from snapping. Only his gun remained as steady as a surgeon’s scalpel.

The plastered smile cracked ever so slightly. “Hmhmhm~mufufu~” The menacing mermaid hid her twitching lips behind her hand. Suddenly, a loud laugh echoed through the cellar.

“Oohohohoho~!”

Wiping a tear, the Queen shook her head. “Oh, Richie, darling, you’re too much~ Ever the jester~” She leaned closer, passing an icy whisper beneath her breath. “I know you didn’t just pull a fucking gun on me.” Why, a less merciful ruler might take that as a threat.

The venomous woman passed a quick glance at the two other surprise guests. A welcome surprise at that... “And won’t you introduce me to your new friends~?” Her men had been looking for the golden boy all over the place, only for him to pop up right in her cellar. And to think a wanted superstar had been hiding in her backyard as well. Silver linings.

She knew the people.

Yet, Richard didn’t respond or relent. The moment he put his gun down, he was a dead man. It could be quick, or it could be agonizingly slow, but the Queen would not let this go unpunished.

He knew the rules.

Since the stand-off was going nowhere, the Queen eventually slithered back a step or two. “My, my~ You drive a hard bargain~” A deceptive gesture. Her reach was far longer than she ever let on. “Fine then, let’s negotiate. You put that thing away... And I’ll let you live.”

Words: 761
Total: 21 140 / 13 500

Fri Apr 19, 2024 11:05 am

The herd of rams spilled out into the light, rampaging across the cellar as they bucked and bayed. The mink and rat rode in first, followed by the Goldmonger, whose ram sent him flying into the wall.

"That... fuckin....hurt..." He mumbled, rubbing his nose before wiping the tears from his eyes. "Where the fuck..?" His eyes adjusted to his newfound surroundings as he witnessed the chaos before him. However, his attention quickly turned to the towering woman who slithered down the steps in a fury.

Her voice was seductive and laced with venom, with a hint of a familiar sweetness. One with fond memories but has soured over the years, a tone Dax recognized all too well. "Huh, didn't know the doc was into that kind of shit."

Dusting himself off, the gold-covered pirate made his way through the herd and cronies. Leaning over to the rat, he whispered, "So, you uhhh, clapped that, huh?" His eyes studied the many tentacles the women possessed. Then her face, albeit the years hadn't been kind, the remnants of a once great beauty could still be seen.

Without waiting for a confirmation of an answer he already knew, he offered a fist bump of the highest honor.

"Nice."

Pebble Beach | Rubeck

"Tch, these blokes ain't nothin." Smooglie smiled as he ground his heel into a villager's back. "Don't know why it took us so long to take it."

Removing his bladed boomerang from another, he wiped the blood before addressing his partner. "Simple my good chap, the demon bear and his cubs."

"Ya, ya, didn't impress me none. Bowed his 'ead like the bitch he is." Snickering he called over a woman to light his cigarette.

"It's... unsettling to say the least that you can't go anywhere without a woman at your side," Dastardly remarked disgusted.

"Sometimes I get urges.." Gripping her tightly to his body, "And I just gotta do it, ya know mate?" His eyes were full of lust as he leaned in closer to her.

"Disgusting."

"B-Boss....!!!" A man came running, "B-Boss, there's... there's a problem..!"

"What's it now, eh?" Smooglie snarled.

"Y-You're gonna wanna see this...." He said amongst his panting.

Confused, the smuggler followed his men to the inner gates of the town, taking the spy glass for himself.

"W-what..?!" For a moment he couldn't believe his eye as he double-checked what he saw.

"Smooglie?" Dastardly asked, "What do you see?"

"I, uhhh.... Here..."

Taking the spyglass, Gulliver saw for himself a small army of Monkeys swinging from branch to branch as they swarmed down from the moment. Looking closer, he saw Hina and the Wharf Rats leading the charge.

"Prepare for battle!" Gulliver shouted to the men, "Smooglie, snap out of it, its time to fight!"

"B-but...." Smooglie stuttered as he stumbled backward, "M-monkeys...?!" Scrambling to his feet he darted behind his men who created a wall around him.

Gulliver and his men, rightfully confused at his behavior, gave a collective what the fuck was that about.

"As a child, Captain Smooglie was walking through the jungle one day when he was jumped and beaten within an inch of his life by monkeys."

"Since then, he has had a crippling fear of primates."

"You gotta be fucking kidding me." Dastardly sighed.

WC 545/21,657/13,500

Fri Apr 26, 2024 7:01 am

A stand-off didn’t always have to end in violence. Sometimes, the stalemate could be broken by a negotiator stepping in to tip the scales. ...Or a sly dog whispering something completely unexpected to a nervous wreck. Whatever worked.

For the umpteenth time today, Richard found himself caught completely off-guard. Or caught in the Goldmonger’s pace, rather. Dumbfounded, he returned the highest honor out of pure reflex. He fancied himself a quick-witted salesman with a silver tongue... But what on earth were you supposed to say to that? “Uh... Thank you...?” Eh, good enough.

Once the initial shock wore off, the rat shook his head vehemently. “Wait, no, I mean, yes, I mean, it was just one time, I mean...” Words fell out of his rattled brain and through his mouth in a messy string.

By now, Venoronica had caught on as well. She was well-versed in hushed whispers. It was, after all, the lingua franca of the underworld. ...Granted, her old flame’s reaction made it pretty easy to guess the topic. It was funny, really. In a medical setting, the man could be perfectly professional and oh so cold regardless of what was shown to him. But off the clock... Hm, well, a lady never tells~

Taking advantage of the distraction, the mermaid slithered closer. Deftly, her tentacles coiled around the duo akin to a fence. Or a trap. Wearing the sultry smile, she snatched the doctor into a smothering hug. “Aw, Richie, no need to be bashful~ I missed you too~” ...And made sure to pin his gun arm into a place where it couldn’t cause harm.

“Besides, it was waaay more than just one time~”

Beneath the seductive show, the Contraband Queen was carefully counting the pieces on the board. Despite what she may have said -or done- in a fit of anger... Both of these fine, strapping gentlemen were worth far more than their bounties suggested. Especially if she could keep them on her side of the board. She simply had to... Motivate them.

Pull their strings...

And watch them dance~

Keeping the struggling rat pinned against her chest, the calculative Queen turned to the golden guest. “Ah, but where are my manners~? I was so excited by this touching reunion that I completely forgot to introduce myself.” Her powerful tentacles slithered along the floor like snakes, drawing ever closer. Just a little closer, and she would have them both in her grasp...

The menacing mermaid tilted her head and batted her lashes. “I am Venoronica Belladonna, the Contraband Queen~ But you may just call me Queen for short.” She liked to think that despite the years rolling on, she still got it. “And any friend of good ol’ Richie here is a friend of mine~”

A quiet protest was muffled between the mounds.

Creeping ever closer, the cruel ruler measured the visitor with her gaze. Her voice drifted like smoke, but there was venom hiding behind her hungry eyes. “Now, who might you be? And what brings you to my humble cellar, hm~?” She feigned innocence well, but any denizen of the underworld knew what women like her were all about. Sometimes, the shiny things and glittering words were just fool’s gold, as the titular monger should well know.

Words: 543
Total: 21 683 / 13 500

Wed Jul 10, 2024 7:16 pm

War. War never Changes

"STORM THE FUCKING BEACH!!" Kazu shouted as he unleashed his howling horde of fur and hair gel on Pebble Beach.

Snapping and snarling, the army of beasts broke through the retiring fog, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. The once tall timber gates were reduced to splinters and the landscape changed hues from green to red with every passing moment.

"Whaa...?! WHAT IS THIS?!" Smooglie cried out in fear as he desperately tried to scramble away. Leaving his men to the jaws of the swarming primates.

"THIS IS THE POWER OF THE FUCKING POMP!!" The Wharf Rat's words echoed by the thud of his fish bat, imprinting its shape on Smooglie's skull.

"You fuckin ninny!!" The hunter shouted as his bladed boomerang felled its share of the beasts.

"COME ON!" Dastardly shouted, boomerang in each hand as the troupe slowly surrounded him.

"Last man standing.." Kazu snarled as the horde made way for their master. "Any last words?"

"Last words...?" Dastardly snickered.

"Wait!" Hina shouted, "This one is mine..."

"Yours...?" His snicker turned into a roaring laugh, "Ya know what, girlie?! Let's do it!!"

"YES, I WILL GIVE YOU THE HONOR OF TAKING ON DASTARDLY GULLIV-...?!" However, his words were cut off by the sound of his jaw breaking against Hina's fist and his screams were drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

Unken Centurion | Moletown | Rubeck

"Touching is... an interesting word choice.." Dax mumbled as he leaned away from the toxin-dripping tentacles as they slithered and slimed their way around him. Though, slithering and slimy were things he was more than familiar with.

"Queen, huh? Does that make ol' Richie boy here a fuckin king?" Snickering at the rat's current predicament between brick and bosom. "Cause it sure looks that way, with ya stuck between some rock and a soft place like that. Bwahahaha"

The Doctor provided what could only be assumed as his amusement in the form of muffled laughter. The self-proclaimed queen found it to be less than funny.

She smelled of sweet nectar and nicotine as she leaned in ever closer, the black venom lipstick glistening on her soft lips. Her deadly words masqueraded in a sultry innocence as her soft smoke-laced breath fell on the goldmongers skin.

Goose bumps ran down his back as every fight or flight reaction in his body went off at once. A rush of ecstasy and fear, excitement at the thought of staying, and the urge to run as fast as you can and never look back.

"Freeze....?" Her words were hushed and soft, and her venomous eyes were hidden behind big bashful lashes and the promise of more. All the while her tentacles crept in ever closer and closer.

After all these years, she knew the effect she still had on men when she tried. Once they fell for her she had them wrapped around her tentacles, and those that didn't fall in love fell into a grave.

"Now..." She whispered, moving in for the kill, "I do believe I asked you a question~?"

"Oh, that you did.~" Dax mused back, "But before you go getting any ideas on using that fuckin tentacle ya got there for any non-consensual intrusions... Why don't ya take a look down there for a second.."

"Well played Mister Morgan... Well Played.~" Her words betrayed her angered expression reflected in the ruby eyes of the golden cobra as she slowly backed away from the venom-laced fangs bore on her neck.

"Now, as to what brought us to your horrible cellar would be those fuckin goats. Other than that, I'm just as lost as you are."

"Oh, I'm not lost honey, I am the only one who is right where they need to be..~" She snickered before stealing a puff and blowing the smoke out of her nose.

Moletown

The air was palpable with rage as the Demon Bear walked the shanty town streets of Moletown. His Haki and killing intent sat thick and heavy on it like a summer humidity you can't shake.

Every step was accompanied by slamming shutters and doors locking as the streets emptied in his wake. He left behind nothing but an eerie silence, like the calm before the storm. It was almost peaceful.

That is until he came upon the -Unken Centurion. The two-story shack was an eyesore known all around as the staple of Moletown. A bar that had been around longer than the town some said. Others say that it was around even longer than that.

However, all they ever said after this day was how the Demon Bear Okuma cleaved the tavern and the cliffside behind it in two.

WC 781/22,438/13,500

Sun Jul 14, 2024 5:06 am

Some men would have no doubt envied the rat’s current predicament. Fools would fall to their knees, pound the dirt and cry out how it was not fair, or how it was supposed to be them and not him. He would’ve switched places with such fools in a heartbeat.

A muffled laugh rose from the soft valley. Gallows humor was Richard’s only solace right now. He could feel the coiling tentacles squeezing him tighter. His cracked ribs creaked in protest. Air was getting scarce. His head was spinning. The words surrounding him sounded so distant.

All of a sudden, the tavern split open like an overripe pomegranate, the loose furniture spilling out like seeds. Natural light seeped into the cellar through the wound in the ceiling. An ominous shadow stretched over the startled cockroaches.

In the heat of the moment, there was a violent twitch...

Followed by a disgusting crack.

The distracted mermaid yelped, recoiling in pain. She lost grip of the slippery rat. Her tentacles fumbled as if trying to grab a bar of soap in a bathtub. The results were equally fruitless. Glancing down, she muttered several foul words. A weeping set of teeth marks decorated her chest.

Richard staggered back on unsteady legs. Crimson dripped from his lips. His former gun arm flopped in ways that joints weren’t supposed to bend. He stopped to grip his elbow and twisted. Pain rang through his entire arm. With another vile crack, the joint found the socket. Though the fingers curled and the arm moved, the doctor knew this would be swollen tomorrow...

If he survived that long.

The cellar floor trembled, as the hulking silhouette crashed down. Dust exploded across the ruined room. Every intelligent animal fled, bleating in panic. Each approaching step sounded like thunder.

All of a sudden, Richard found himself between a rock and a soft place all over again. In front of him was the soft place, visibly pissed with her cosmetic injury. Behind him was the rock, radiating bloodlust like a volcano belching smoke.

Quivering, the rat used the last ounces of his bravery to glance over his shoulder. His eyes met the hellish embers of a demon. A single word reverberated in his ears. “YOU.” Swallowing nervously, he squeaked back. “Me...”

The last thoughts went to die inside the crook’s mind. His trembling fingers dipped into his pocket, searching for an escape, any solace he could find... A potent medicine, a dangerous drug, a vile poison... Please, gods above, anything!

Without, the cornered rat acted on pure instinct. In his grasp gleamed a large scalpel, stainless steel, sharper and sturdier than any measly prison shank. It could cut through any living tissue like butter. It... Bent on contact with the wall of muscle.

Likewise, without wasting further words on a mere rat, the demon bear brandished his blade. It felt like time itself slowed down to watch the spectacle. Each muscle worked in beautiful harmony, bulging with raw power, as he swung the sideways guillotine. Its blurred shape resembled a brush, painting a flash of steel in the air.

Richard could only begin a startled squeak.

“Oh SHI-!”

Words: 525
Total: 22 208 / 13 500

Sun Jul 14, 2024 9:01 am

"The Fu-..?!" Dax yelled out as he shielded his eyes from the explosion of dust and debris. The baying and bucking of the goats all but disappeared with the short-lived cloud as the room began to clear.

"Oh fuck me..." His jaw dropped to the floor when he realized the demon bear was the one who cleaved the building in two. "This ain't fuckin good.." Doing his best to stick to the shadows while the beast's attention was focused on the good doctor.

"You...~" No longer were the queen's words laced with feigned innocence. This was all venom. "How dare you..!" She grits her sharp teeth and uses a tentacle to yank her dear Richie from harm's way, like a toddler taking their toy back from a playmate.

"Me.." The Bear responded coldly as his eyes watched the pieces that remained of the rat's hat slowly drift to the ground. "How dare I? No.. This was not I." His expression was apathetic and calm, a calculated anger unleashed in controlled waves. "We could have lived in peace..."

"Screw your peace!" The queen barked, "I want it all!!" Snarling her fanged teeth while her tentacles slithered around the room, hunting for anything she could use as a weapon.

Nothing escaped his cold gaze, "Nothing you find can save you..." He paused for a moment as he caught sight of the golden-clad youth desperately tucked behind a barrel.

"Y-you...." He mumbled quietly, pausing for a moment as if to run the numbers in his head. Then it hit. "Where...." He huffed frantically as he whipped his head back and forth.

"WHERE IS SHE?!?!" His behavior grew more erratic as he began to flip barrels, tables, shelves, and anything else in his path across the room as he closed the distance between himself and the goldmonger.

"WHERE!?!?" He shouted pulverizing the barrel Dax hid behind into splinters with a slap. "IS MY DAUGHTER?!?!"

"H-Hold on I can explai-....?!?!?!?" A desperate plea from an untrustworthy man, the Bear had no time for such trivial things. The moment the Goldmonger reached up to explain the beast flicked his wrist.

It was blink and miss moment as the pirate's golden-clad forearm fell to the damp cellar floor. The razor left a cut so perfect that for just a moment it forgot to bleed and the goldmonger forgot to feel pain.

"AAAHHHHH FUUUUUUCCCCKKKKK!!????? MY FUCKING ARM!?!?? YOU CUT OFF MY FUCKING ARM?!?!?!?"

WC 405/22,843/13,500

Sun Jul 14, 2024 10:04 am

The rat saw his life flashing before his eyes. It started off beautiful, but all too soon the flick corrupted into a mess of fear and regret. Just before the reel could reach the present, final moments... His legs were stolen from beneath him.

A shriek lodged itself in Richard’s throat and refused to leave, as the blade passed mere inches from his head. Instead of his head, the foe had carved his hat. Rest in peace, old friend. It had cost a whole thousand belly and had served him valiantly all these years.

While the demon bear raged, the battered doctor rolled across the floor with his best rag doll impression. His head hit something hard, yet comfortingly familiar. Through his swimming vision, he noticed his trusty suitcase, his oldest friend... And his strongest ally. It opened with a nostalgic click.

Struggle was the key to growth. To struggle was to learn, to grow, to evolve. Challenges were to a person as fertilizer was to a flower. Sure, one could bloom without it, but it certainly helped. In fact, the strongest warriors in the world were forged in the fires of combat. Extraordinary people grew stronger while dancing with death.

Some could even muster supernatural power from the strangest things... Like, say... A very special hairstyle. The kind of hair that shaky hands hastily swirled into a defiant spire, held together with hopes, dreams and generous a splash of gel.

...Richard, however, was not an extraordinary person. His attempt at mustering the mighty pompadour once more drooped like a broken sausage. He had no secret techniques up his sleeve. There were no eleventh hour superpowers for a painfully ordinary fellow such as him. No fate would ever choose a man like him to fulfill an ancient prophecy. He didn’t even get a moment of roaring rage or tranquil fury. No, he only got desperate.

Yet, in many ways, desperation was far more dangerous.

A reasonable man knew that certain things you simply couldn’t do in a fight. There were weapons you should never use, even in the face of certain death. Some tactics simply commanded too heavy a price. A desperate man, on the other hand, was already scrambling for the big, red button.

Thus, the rat found himself grasping a vial brimming with hideously green liquid, like sewer water in a bottle. It sloshed wildly, eagerly, excited to break free. The doctor stared at the concoction. Was he really going to do this? Live up to the epithet he loathed?

YES.

The vial shattered against the floor.

No sooner had the glass shards settled, when a massive cloud of puke green swallowed the entire cellar. It stung the eyes and reeked of death. Worse yet, it brought gifts. Nausea, tremors, sweating, fatigue, shortness of breath... And, of course, that lovely dizzying feeling of the entire room spinning. Weaker folk coughed and wheezed, collapsing in troves.

The queen took full advantage of the smoke screen. Savvy to her former darling’s tricks, she knew to hold her breath. Her tentacles snatched every promising weapon they could chuck or swing at the bear. Violent bombardment kept the hero busy. Barrels, crates, blades, henchmen... Fuck the resale value, fuck the damages, fuck all of it. She just wanted that crazy, old bastard dead.

Just like in chess, she was the strongest piece!

Likewise, the rat was immune to his own concoctions. Hiding in the haze, he scampered across the floor, dragging the suitcase with him. Thankfully, he didn’t need to see. The screaming was a loud lighthouse in the suffocating sea of toxic fog.

The doctor found the patient in a state of shock. Understandable. While his mind raced, his body was moving on old reflexes. Tourniquet... Disinfectant... Bandages... Enough drugs to revive a dead elephant... Everything came together with the singular purpose of saving a life.

Richard needed this man alive. ...Well, no, not this screaming mess. Rather, he needed The Goldmonger, the ruthless pirate who had turned that factory heist in Spider Miles into a bloodbath.

He needed a monster.

Words: 680
Total: 22 888 / 13 500

Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:16 pm

The doctor skillfully made his way over under the cover of the green haze. Quickly covering the goldmongers face, signaling to close his eyes and mouth. With speed and precision, the doctor began his triage of the wound. Two inches below the elbow of the right forearm now lay lifeless on the floor.

The bear snorted in disgust at the rat's desperate play, Poison, the former yakuza knowing all too well the weapon of cravens and women. He expected no less from this den of vipers and vermin.

With a turn of his razor and an upward flick and twist of his wrist, a gust of wind sent the noxious green cloud soaring. Using the weapons flattened broadside like a fan the fumes disappeared into the wind.

"Pitiful." The beast growled as he quickly reduced every projectile sent to nail and splinter.

"Get the fuck off me!!" Dax shoved Maxwell to the side as he held out his bloodied stump, "YOU CUT MY FUCKING HAND OFF, YOU FUCKING CUCK!!"

"Quiet boy!" Okuma roared as he flooded his haki through the room, forcing the golden glad boy to his knees. However, he left them all conscious.

"Now, where is my daughter?

WC 200/23,043/13,500

Sun Jul 21, 2024 6:57 am

Panic grew into a thick, cancerous lump inside the rat’s chest. His work was hardly halfway done, when he lost the safety of his smokescreen. Sweating bullets, he willed his shaky hands to work faster. The results didn’t have to be pretty, as long as it stopped the bleeding.

Stumbling back from the less than grateful patient, the doctor protested with a rather nastily worded squeak. He scampered to gather his equipment and flee. The golden leg wasn’t cooperating, however, feeling slippery against the stone floor.

A wave of pure, bone-chilling dread shut down the escape attempt. The coward collapsed to his knees, wheezing for air. A hundred questions ran through his skull, starting with... What the hell was that...? His entire body was screaming at him to get away. A man of science didn’t believe in that folklore nonsense about willpower having tangible effects on the world... But...

Richard recoiled at the question, turning an unhealthy shade of pale. “H-how should I know?” Defensive hands flailed, trying desperately to deflect suspicion. “I haven’t seen your daughter in decades.” He lied like he breathed... Poorly.

Wrong answer.

Eyes burning with fury and wisdom in equal measure, the old warrior shot a fierce glare at the rat. If looks could kill... “Do not lie to me, vermin.” He wasn’t born yesterday. That cowardly crook always knew something. It was just a matter of squeezing the truth out of him and separating it from the toxic lies.

A large shadow slithered behind the bear...

Without even turning, the hulking man seized the creeping queen by the throat. A man of his size had no right to be that quick... “She was stolen from me once. It will not happen again.” Powerful fingers squeezed like a vise, eliciting a strangled gasp. “Where. Is. She?!” Bones creaked beneath the slowly growing pressure.

While the queen struggled, a muffled ringing noise of a snail drifted underneath all the shouting...

Words: 324
Total: 23 212 / 13 500

Thu Aug 22, 2024 9:09 am

Puru Puru Puru

The muffled sound continued to ring as the bear squeezed tighter and tighter, "M-May...I...?" The queen managed to whisper amongst her gasping, motioning to her chest.

A simple nod of approval was all he returned.

"Ri-right..." She choked, reaching into her cleavage and pulling out a tiny snail that continued to ring.

Puru Puru Puru

"He-..Hello...?" She coughed as he loosened for just a moment.

"B-BOSS??! BOSS IS THAT YOU?? OH GOD IT'S AWFUL, ITS LIKE A FUCKING MASSACRE DOWN HERE!!"

"What...?! What is going on?!"

"IT'S... OH GOD, THEY ARE FUCKING EVERYWHERE!! ITS THE FUCKING MONK-... AHHHHH!!!" A thud echoed across the line as his screams echoed through the static. Accompanied by the howling of monkeys and firey chaos, a singular voice stood out to the keen ears of the old demon bear.

C'mon, just alittle more!!"

"Hina..." Okuma let out a soft sigh. Like a storm, the worst had seemed to pass. The wind had died down and the lightning ceased, leaving no trace of the deafening thunder he had brought with his arrival.

From a rampaging monster to a relieved father, it was a sight most would shed a tear for. A touching moment to be captured. He closed his eyes and let the light peer through the splintered wood onto his face.

However, all the Goldmonger saw was an opening for revenge. Like a spider his severed hand scattered across the floor and up the wall. Distorting the shadows on Okuma's face.

"Hmm...-?! WHAT!?" The hand dropped onto the monster's face and shoved two golden spikes into his eyes.

"RRRAAAHHH!!" Okuma roared as he ripped the puppeteered hand from his face and broke every bone with a single squeeze.

WC 289/23,332/13,500

Fri Aug 23, 2024 3:32 am

The air tasted cold and bitter, but the doctor knew he had to breathe. His shaky body desperately begged for the oxygen. Ideas tried to bubble in the flasks filling the laboratory of his mind, but the results were no good. Too risky, too unlikely, too expensive. His plans were missing a vital ingredient. He needed...

An opening!

Heroes often claimed to have moments where their body would move on its own. When the stakes were high, instincts took over. They acted upon the impulse most natural to them. Well... Who’s to say villains and vermin couldn’t have those moments too?

Richard’s brain didn’t quite register it, but his body was already scampering across the floor towards the blinded beast. Like the beady eyes of a cornered rat, his gaze gleamed with terror and hatred. By the time his mind caught up, it snapped like a rubber band. Swift. Violent. Nasty little ideas flooded his skull, each crueler than the last. The tendons... Go for the tendons!

A sharp scalpel flashed, painting a streak of red. Something snapped and curled like a cut violin string. One of the bear’s legs buckled, his ankle twisting beneath the weight. Yet, as his knee struck the floor like a hammer, he refused to fall any further.

Muscles bulging with rage and resolve, the hero let out a warcry. “HRGGHHHRAAAH!” His meaty fist swung with enough strength to put a sledgehammer to shame. Richard could vouch for that. He had felt both. And this... This was far worse.

Retching blood, the rat went skidding across the floor. He didn’t even want to count how many ribs were broken... Or not broken, for that matter. Eyes brimming with tears and disbelief, he stared at the mountain as it defied all calculations...

And stood up yet again.

The leaking light painted a halo over the hero’s head. Despite the crimson tears seeping from his ruined eyes, it felt like he was staring right at the villains. It should’ve been impossible. He should’ve been blind and crippled.

So how was he still standing?!

Richard shuddered at the blind man’s stare. “W-what... are you...?” He spat out the blood filling his mouth. “What the HELL are you?!” Any pretense of politeness was as shattered as his ribs.

Words: 378
Total: 23 590 / 13 500

Sat Aug 24, 2024 8:17 am

The demon bear stood battered and bloody, eyes gouged, tendons severed. Yet still he stood. He was fiction made fact, the doctor and queen knew the stories—legends of the unbeatable yakuza monster. Hell, they had seen him fight twenty years ago. They knew what he was capable of.

Or so they thought.

If you had asked the queen who would have won before all this, she would have been all in on herself. She was. Her entire plan revolved around stealing the cub and killing the bear in his confused rage. Her men would secure Pebble Beach with ease and she would have it all.

Now all she could do was sit and tremble at the voracious beast that was about to devour her dear Richie. Oh poor, poor, Richie.

He could not see, yet his piercing gaze was all that could be felt. He did not need eyes to know where filth and vermin like these pests hide.

With every ominous step, everyone's breath grew more ragged, and desperate. They did not need haki to see the future, there was only one way this would end.

"What the HELL are you?!" The words escaped before Okuma's giant paw grabbed him by the throat.

"A reckoning." He growled in response to the rat's desperate plea.

WC 215/23,547/13,500

Sat Aug 24, 2024 12:35 pm

Richard squeaked. Gritting his teeth, he kicked, flailed and scratched. Pages fluttered in the medical journal of his mind. The words were vivid before his eyes. ‘When asphyxiated, blood flow to the brain and oxygen flow to the lungs is halted. Adrenaline kicks in as a last resort...’ His body was dying. It was all going black...

In chess, the pawns were expendable. Rooks, bishops, knights... Expendable, every last one of them. You couldn’t win without sacrifices. Only one piece stood above the rest, carrying the fate of the whole game. The most important piece was the king, right?

Wrong.

The king was nothing more than an empty figurehead, unable to accomplish anything on its own. It was the queen that controlled the entire board. If you lost the queen, you lost the whole game. All that planning and preparing... Every carefully calculated move... None of it mattered without the most important piece.

With that thought in mind, a handful of foolishly brave pawns came crawling from the debris like cockroaches from beneath a fridge. They couldn’t stand seeing their boss being treated like a rag doll. Grabbing whatever weapons were still intact enough, they charged the beast of a man.

Naturally, the Demon Bear was not easily toppled by a bunch of opportunistic gnats. He endured their steel biting into his flesh, before swinging his mighty paws around. The gnats scattered with pained thuds.

However, the distraction was enough. Suddenly, strong tentacles surged up and around the thick arm. Toxins kissed the skin with an audible hiss, leaving behind a hideous blemish. At the same time, the mermaid wrenched herself backwards. It was just enough to get her free from the iron grip.

Poor Richie wasn’t as lucky, though...

The rat was doing his best dead fish impression, bluish skin and all.

As the queen tumbled back, she shot a commanding glare at her pawns. “Help Richie!” The pawns, though, dared to protest. They wanted to get her away from the beastly man, to flee back into the shadows. Under any other circumstances, she would have agreed with them. But not this time.

Leading by example, the desperate woman snatched stray swords with her tentacles. “He’s just an old relic with one foot in the grave!” She assured them. ...And herself. Slithering around, she eyed for an opening. She needed every advantage and helping hand she could get. With a tentative lash, she tested the range.

The foe didn’t even flinch.

Meanwhile, strange sounds were creeping from a particularly messy and murky corner of the cellar. Someone had managed to stay in the shadows, unnoticed. ...Purely because the poor guy was too scared to even register as a threat.

Cuzco was sitting in a shady corner, hiding underneath loose planks. He stared at the wall with bloodshot eyes, chewing a splintered barrel like it was bubblegum. Between the nervous bites, he mumbled something to himself. “Oh man, somebody catch me... I’m comin’ down hard...” In his defense, it was difficult to fight when you had no idea what planet you were currently on.

Words: 514
Total: 24 104 / 13 500

Sun Aug 25, 2024 8:22 am

Unbowed, Unbent, But definitely Broken.

Like an ancient ruin that refused to fall, Okuma seemed to tower over everyone in the room simultaneously. A presence that was as suffocating as his grip.

"Vermin, that's all you are... That's all you'll ever be.." The words were deep and raspy, delivered with winded breath. The damage had begun to take its toll. Blue shimmering liquid rushed through his veins as the poison quickly spread and his back looked like a pin cushion from the tiny blades that stuck in it.

"D-Don't let up!! The old bastard is almost done!" Venoronica shouted as she closed the distance between herself and the bear.

"Fool." He roared, a flick of his wrist cleaved off several of her tentacles before she was able to do anything besides become another victim.

He reared back to deliver a final blow when he suddenly froze. A look of anguish washed over his face as he keeled over gripping his gut. "Raaaaggh... W-what..?!"

"You good, homie...?" Dax Snickered as he stood behind the beast with an outstretched arm, his fingers closing slowly to make a fist. The tighter it got the more pain the beast seemed to be in.

"W-what... are you...?! Arrgghh.."

Dax moved in closer, ever the arrogant sadist. "Oh man, you don't look so good, I wonder..." He paused for dramatic effect as a wide, devilish grin appeared on his face. "Was it something you ate?"

A moment of shock appeared on his face as he had thought back to the day before. "S-Sushi...."

"Good thing the fuckin pipes don't work like they used too, eh? Bwahahahaha!"

WC 270/23,817/13,500

Mon Aug 26, 2024 8:11 am

Somewhere on the border of life and death sparked hope. Memories came flooding back, starting all the way from the beginning. Most of them whizzed past in a blur. The old man had looked back at them enough.

One, however, lingered...

Warm sunshine caressed Okuma’s rugged features. Salty breeze rustled his clothes. Childish laughter competed with the gleeful gulls. They were all here, under the shadow of the old lighthouse. Kazu, Hina, Jiro, Momoiro, Karasu, and Nise... All of them here. With him.

As the old yakuza watched those dearest to him splash in the warm waves, an even warmer smile snuck onto his weathered features. His heart was still. At ease. He felt young again, younger than ever. More alive than ever. Not a worry in the world.

Yes...

This was worth fighting for.

Back in reality, the doctor finally got his monster. And not a moment too early. As the unspeakable agony got the demon bear to lose his grip, the limp rat fell to the floor. The painful thud passed through his torso. His heart took offense to that, beginning to hammer like mad. Get back here, it demanded. We’re not done.

With a wheezing gasp, Richard filled his strained lungs. Even unfiltered, the air tasted smoother than any cigarette. The surrounding world was a mess of noises and motion. Something grunted and cursed. Vile laughter rattled in the air. Someone was shrieking, demanding another to ‘finish him off!’

It took a moment for the consciousness to fully cycle through the rat’s skull. As his eyes flickered open, he immediately felt his heart trying to jump out of his throat. Slowly, his gaze scaled the mountain rising above him. Unwavering. Unyielding.

...Unmoving.

Trembling from every limb, the doctor assessed the situation. Logically speaking, he knew a cadaver when he saw one. Couldn’t possibly be alive anymore. Dead. Had to be. Instinctively, however, he was not taking any chances. His hands were already moving, scrambling to find an old friend.

Then came the rumble... Like a sleeping volcano shaking awake. “Hina... I... promise...”

Driven by pure reflex, Richard leveled his good friend at the monster. The gun sang its song, until its throat ran dry with a click. Click, click and a click for good measure. It begged for another round. The trembling hands couldn’t find one.

After countless wounds both deep and shallow... Enough toxin to slay a sea king... And a golden kiss of death... The only honest heart present finally stopped beating. Yet, the hero would not fall. He stood proud, a legend to the very end.

The Queen slithered over, clinging to what little regal air she had with bloodied fingers. “Oh, Richie...” She sighed. It was awful to see her darling like this. Reluctantly, she raised a hand. Three solid smacks rang through the air. “Richie! He’s dead!” She tried to smile... Tried to relish the moment. “He’s finally dead. We won.”

Richard snapped back to reality. He stared up at the venomous woman with wide eyes and bruised cheeks. Dead...? Won...? His eyes drifted onto the gun in his grasp and narrowed. “No... Not yet...” With surgical precision and swiftness, he reloaded. His unblinking stare darted back onto the head of the snake.

“We still have a loose end.”

Words: 547
Total: 24 651 / 13 500

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