Chapter - 54
Everyone on board the barrier platform had no reaction to the appearance of the creature. They had a far more dangerous one on their side.
The high councilor turned around nodding to Bartolomeo who in turn nodded to Marco the Phoenix. They were beginning to put their plan into motion.
"So be it Neptune." Luffy spoke snapping his fingers, leaping high into the air.
Bartolomeo slammed his hands on the barrier causing it to seal the group with the exception of Marco in a box. Activating his awakening from his devil fruit ability, Marco remarkably transformed into his Flaming Phoenix form. It was truly a spectacular spectacle to witness, the others couldn't help but stare in awe.
"We all know the plan, we only have an hour so let's make it quick." Raleigh spoke. Within an instant Marco the Phoenix clutched the top of the barrier box with it's talons. Letting out a final stretch before diving into the depths of the ocean.
Only moments after they submerged, Neptune realized what their plan was.
"Get to the island now! Protect everyone with your lives." Neptune yelled to his royal guards, they immediately followed his orders pursuing the group into depths.
Neptune looked up to see the high councilor flying down to earth basked in hellfire.
"Chaos Flame Jet Pistol!" Luffy shouted throwing his outstretched flaming fist towards Neptune. The king was able to dive deep enough under the water quick enough to avoid a devastating blow.
Landing in the water Luffy expected to drown but his new form's wings combined with pills he received from Dragon, allowed him to experience the water like he'd never had before. Luffy had always had an obvious fear of the sea ever since he ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi fruit. It was truly his greatest weakness and fear—sinking to the bottom of the ocean hopelessly drowning. Now there was nothing left to fear in his mind, if he could conquer the sea like he had land and air—the heights to his powers were truly limitless.
Opening his eyes he came face to face with Neptune.
"I thought you would sink like a rock for sure. I don't know how you are able to breathe under water, but it will not save you from your fate, devil." Neptune charged the high councilor hurling an ultramarine attack.
The water came fast and furious forcing Luffy to block the massive force with his wings. Other than flying through the water a good distance he was relatively unharmed.
"You don't have to do this Neptune, just surrender your lands. Not a single drop of blood needs to be spilled." The High councilor argued. "Don't be a fool."
"The only fool here is you boy." Neptune spoke coldly snapping his fingers again. A massive roar rang out, seven gigantic appendages shot out from the depths. The kraken finally emerged.
Luffy didn't bat an eye at the creature, it was nothing he hadn't seen before. The kraken let out a massive roar in turn causing Luffy to prepare his attack.
Pulling his hands together he began gathering hellfire within his hands focusing it into one area for a few moments, before pulling them apart— fully extending his arms to his sides, revealing a hellfire lance.
Luffy looked at the kraken before grabbing the spear.
"Don't move you overgrown cephalopod, stay right where you are. Lanza Del Infernio!" The high councilor shouted throwing the spear directly into the Kraken's mouth.
For a few seconds nothing happened, the kraken let out another massive roar before combusting into a large explosion sending the Kraken's corpse flying for miles. The hellfire continued to burn even in the water.
Neptune was shook by his opponent's strength. It shouldn't come as surprise as this was the ruler of the free world for a reason. He defeated Blackbeard, overthrew the government, destroyed the capital of the world, all because of a terrible tragedy— Neptune understood the young man's pain all too well.
"I know your pain all too well Straw Hat." Neptune spoke looking anywhere but the high councilor. He focused on the descending corpse of his beloved kraken.
Neptune swam closer to the young man who kept his distance.
"You don't know shit about me, just surrender." The younger man said growing impatient.
Neptune grew angry at the stubborn rubber man. "I know you lost your loved ones and now walk the path of vengeance." The merman spoke wisely only causing Luffy more anger. Neptune continued, "My wife, My Queen, my Otohime, was assassinated by the man you defeated, Hordy Jones. I understand your pain, your loss, the need for revenge." The king had to continue to buy time he was planning to end this fight soon.
"Then why are you against me?" The high councilor asked a confused expression on his face. He couldn't wrap his mind around why he wouldn't personally see to that bastard's execution.
Neptune looked solemn before answering.
"Her dream was to always have integration with the surface world. But I refuse to side with someone who feeds into the need for revenge no matter their reasons. I chose to preserve her ideals rather than give into my selfish desires for revenge. I chose my family, would about you? What do you gain by ruling the world."
"You're unbearably naive. If you couldn't kill the man who murdered your wife and tore a hole in your family— you're weak, there is no place for fragile rulers like you. Neptune you don't deserve to be King." Said Luffy angering Neptune even further. He began charging his fist with a water based attack.
"I see now you are truly an enemy I can't come to terms with. One of us will die here and it will determine the ruler of the free world." The older merman spoke knowing his secret attack would work, he just needed to get close.
Neptune prepared his water strikes hurling towards Luffy with great speed. The rubber man was also coming right for him aiming directly for the King's heart.
"YOU FOOL! YOU DARE TO CHALLENGE THE GOD OF THE SEA!" King Neptune shouted ready to unleash his attack.
Luffy was reeling his fist back ready to deal the lethal blow when something below Neptune caught his eye. A moderate sized squid was carrying his trident heading for his open hand. Luffy realized it was too late that he'd been baited into a trap. The trident was plunged through the high councilor's stomach trapping him.
"I told you, I am the God of the Sea!" Neptune yelled holding Luffy and the trident above his head triumphantly.
The more Luffy struggled the more he became entrapped by the trident. Another large creature caught his eye as it was heading straight for him, ready to devour him whole.
"You gotta be fucking kidding me." Luffy said to himself before curling his wings around him before being eaten by Neptune's pet great white shark.
King Neptune laughed triumphantly holding trident above his head. Never in his mind had it occurred the fight would end this way. The high councilor was overrated as he expected. His pain and rage only ran so deep. The king couldn't help reminisce when the straw hat captain briefly visited the island. He was seen as hero before all of this, even going so far as to challenge Big Mom for them. Neptune compared his tragedy to the fallen rubber man's. He understood all to well the hunger for vengeance. However once certain lines were crossed there was no going back, even he knew that. Despite ridding the corrupt world government, destroying a majority of the navy, and bringing a certain peace to the world— The high councilor was a mass murderer. All the innocent families of everyone who had no choice in how they lived their life. Celestials, nobles, and slaves alike all had a right to live, they didn't deserve to be executed without judgement.