the best band.

-Fire Fist! - Deuce shouted.

The flames engulfed the entire palace made of paper, used as a shield by Simon, which extinguished in an instant under the licks of the flames. Defeat was imminent, the exhaustion accumulated from burning papers and the new paper production left a state of emptiness, strained by the fire that continued to damage Simon's physical body. Fire was the natural enemy of paper.

-I can't lose; I am divine, a blessed being since childhood, - said Simon, who gradually began to lose composure. His actions fluctuated, going mad as the papers began to fill the room, but they were only fuel for Deuce's fire.

Accumulating more papers and sending paper blades at a dizzying pace, without giving room to breathe. Deuce concentrated power in his fists and unleashed a thick fire tornado in response to the paperman's counterattack.

Axel ran to Simon and performed a water technique that broke the shield structure, while Deuce pierced through the papers like a flame. The next blow was a strong punch to the stomach, enough to make him double over in pain, followed by kick after kick. Simon's threat to Deuce was over. His paper blades couldn't harm the fire that burned inside Deuce. Fire was indeed a powerful Devil Fruit, and Deuce's martial abilities had improved, causing trouble for Simon, who had always relied on his Logia abilities to win battles.

-Diabolic Kick! - Deuce shouted, hitting Simon in the torso with a furious blaze resembling a Rokushiki Rankyaku, but made of fire. Simon couldn't withstand such punishment and ended up unconscious on the ground after spitting blood.

-That's it, - Deuce said, breathing heavily. Despite having such an obvious advantage, his opponent was more versed in the art of Logia fruits, and the attack as the defense was harmonious, allowing him to attack repeatedly without rest, something Deuce couldn't do.

-It took longer than expected, - Axel said, surveying the disaster in the west wing, which was completely burned.

-He had superior control over me; his Devil Fruit was used in many ways. I think I understand what you said about the user's creativity. He used paper to create many attacks and constructions. I'm his natural enemy; defeating him is no problem for me, but that defense would surely give you and anyone else willing to face him some trouble, - Deuce explained.

-Here, Sea Stone handcuffs. They'll hold him for enough time while we save the others and put an end to the tyranny of this kingdom, - Axel said, handing the handcuffs to Deuce, who placed them on Simon.

-Kuro didn't put up much of a fight, - Deuce remarked.

-No, the combination of water between the Blue Queen and me is formidable. Agatha said she would go to the ship with Kuro and prepare a delicious meal when we arrive, - Axel replied.

-She told you to go to hell, - Deuce argued.

-Yeah, - they both laughed.

-It's good to have you back, Deuce. The team isn't complete without you, - Axel said.

-Agatha already let me know, - Deuce replied, nervous about what Axel might say.

-Come on, let's go for our comrades. Before some of the guards get too clever, some of them must be under Simon. Tashigi must be in trouble, - Axel responded.

-Tashigi?" Deuce asked.

-Yes, our new teammate. You'll like her; she's a very calm and dedicated person, - Axel said.

-We have a new teammate? - Deuce asked, surprised.

-Ah, yes, she's a swordsman, - Axel replied.

The journey to the castle lost its noise, and silence dominated the atmosphere. They reached the grand entrance door and pushed it open with a resounding thud that echoed through the air. A line of guards covered the central hall, and the young king sat there on an imposing wooden throne adorned with vines.

-The notifications haven't arrived yet; therefore, the final boss is this seated child king. The old man accompanying him is the Secretary of State, in a wheelchair. His gaze is sinister and chilling. That guy is cruel, - Axel thought.

-I see that the pirates have lost. Pirates are pirates, after all. You can only rely on your abilities to get things done, - the child king said with a cold and monotone voice.

-I think it's our turn for a second round, - Deuce told Axel, his partner in crime.

-Don't hurt people too much, - Axel said.

He took a deep breath, and his lungs filled with the essence of combat. Since mastering the water sword, his fighting style had evolved into the aquatic style as the primary artillery, along with complementary florid sword techniques.

It can be said that he has dedicated his skill to the sword, using it repeatedly, and his style incorporates physical abilities as escape aids, like boxing in a corner.

-Fourth breathing stance, Tide Strike, - he attacked from multiple angles against the different guards.

Deuce unleashed large fire flares. He hadn't reached the limit of using superior abilities like Ace's fireflies or a meteor strike like Akainu.

-Diabolic Kick, - Deuce said, launching three successive fire kicks.

In three minutes, the small battalion of guards lay unconscious at their feet. The king remained unmoving, showing no signs of fear on his throne.

-I see you've defeated my guards, but I am the king, and my desires are orders. Withdraw and beg for my forgiveness, - the king said.

Axel approached the throne slowly, where the young ruler followed him with his gaze, unchanging in behavior.

-Where is your secretary? - Axel asked.

-A king doesn't answer to the people; a king only commands, - the young man said again, his eyes wide open without blinking, in an unpleasant way that caused a feeling of panic in Axel, like he had never felt before.

-I think there might be something darker than I initially thought, but what can I do, - Axel thought.

He hit the king on the head, and he didn't respond. He continued with his cold, dead-fish eyes.

-Let's take this guy to the kitchen. Something is disturbing about this whole scene, - Axel told Deuce.

-The kitchen? Are you hungry? - Deuce questioned.

-No, just look, and you'll see. There's something off about this whole thing, and I have an experiment that might work if I handle it well, - Axel said.

-With the king? - Deuce asked.

-Yes, - Axel replied as he checked the pantry.

-What are you looking for? - Deuce asked.

-Salt, - Axel searched under the pantry and found it. - Here it is, - he said.

-Prepare a bucket of water; he needs to be awake first, - Axel instructed.

At the moment of his awakening, Axel gave him a spoonful of salt, and the change in expression was magnificent; his eyes opened wide, and his gaze changed completely.

-Where is Fellas? - the young man said hastily.

-Fellas... -

-Yes, Fellas, the Secretary of State. I've been trapped in my own body for half a year. Every day, he came to my room and whispered orders. I carried out killings, raised taxes, and voted my family out of the kingdom, - he replied quickly, with immense sorrow in his heart.

-He was just beside you twenty minutes ago, -- Axel said. -- Is there any place you know Fellas might be? -

-The dungeons. He's been going back and forth to the dungeons for a long time. It's been almost two years since he started going to the dungeons regularly. At first, I suspected, but one day, he told me he couldn't go, and everything stopped. I forgot about going to the dungeons, - the king said in a rush.

-Let's go; there's no time to waste. We must go; our comrades must be there, - Deuce said.

The journey to the dungeons was long, located at the eastern end of the palace, underground. Without Deuce's fire ability, they would be finished; darkness was a vivid fog everywhere, preventing them from seeing their own hands.

-It's this way, - said the king. A two-meter guard stood at the door.

-Master Fellas has ordered that no one enters the dungeons without his consent, - the guard said.

-Gasparde, it's me, Cadmios Fosstres, the king of this kingdom, - said the boy.

-Master Fellas has told me not to let anyone in without his permission. From what I see, my sword will be the one to enforce the orders, - Gasparde said, raising his knife and delivering a powerful slash to the king, saved by Axel, who reacted in time.

-Fire Fist, - Deuce said.

-Nooooo! - Cadmios screamed as he saw the flames consuming Gasparde.

-Calm down; he's just testing the waters. This guy is also under Fellas's spell, - Axel said.

Deuce let the sword point at his neck, which passed without causing harm. He grabbed the blade that pointed at him, and it changed to a bright orange. Gasparde let go of the sword with a roar, taking two steps back to feel a kick to his head that left him prostrate.

Axel rummaged in his pockets, taking out the salt bag. He was sure there was more than one person under Fellas's enchantment in this kingdom; Fellas's roots ran deep.

The royal guard, unable to withstand the onslaught of Deuce, was seasoned under his flames. Axel approached and poured a bit of salt into his mouth.

-Fcovff...fcovof, - Gasparde's eyes opened, grabbing his head with a severe headache, ending up unconscious with white eyes.

-What happened to him? - Cadmus asked.

-I have no idea. But he was certainly under Fellas's effect. Such a reaction is not normal. Maybe it's an effect of exhaustion; Gasparde must have suffered a lot under Master Fellas's control, - Axel said.

The child king approached and kissed Gasparde's forehead. -- Poor Gasparde, you were always loyal and cooperative. Rest well; your torment has passed, -- Cadmios said.

They entered the dungeon and found Ussop and Tashigi in a cell. Alongside them were Din, Zabal, the fish-man Gad, and Nipthal, all handcuffed to a wall.

-Axel, you came, - Ussop said, hope gathered in his heart.

-I think there are things to tell, aren't there? - Axel said, unsheathing his sword and trying to cut the iron bars, only to fail. His sword would only fail against one thing: sea-prism stone, one of the hardest elements in the world, and the one that least communicates the voice of things—it's a tough element to break.

-It seems my sword can't handle this element. Where are the keys? - Axel asked.

-On the guard's desk, - Gad said.

His comrades looked at him.

-What? -- Gad said. -- That Fella's guy betrayed us. Captain Simon initially wanted to kill you all for failing, but he changed his mind when the old decrepit man gave him different options and wanted to hand over your bounties to the Marines. You know Impel Down, it's a crappy prison, -- Gad finished.

-Good, - Zabal said.

-You don't have to help these guys; they are the ones who defeated us before, - Din told Gad.

-You'll help us, right? - Gad asked Axel.

-I am, -- Axel replied. -- Where is the old Fellas? - he asked them.

-The old man left, through that door. He hasn't come out for some time," Ussop said, rubbing his hands due to the sea-prism stone handcuffs.

-Alright, you're all free now. You can continue on your way without causing trouble in the kingdom, - Deuce said.

-Don't worry. First, we have to settle a debt with that Fellas guy. He tricked me, and I ended up trapped in this dungeon, - Gad said in a bad mood.

-We won't be going. We're leaving this island - Din said.

-Let's go. I also think that turning us in has broken the agreement, and he deserves to pay, - Zabal said.

-FINE, - Din said, resigned.

-Wawawawawa, - laughed Gad. -- I'll break that fool's face, - Gad said.

They entered a large corridor and saw numerous people locked up in the prison—countless women, children, and men—all captured. Finally, they entered a door of black wood, again sea-prism stone. How could an East Blue kingdom afford such sea-prism stone? The cellar was well-lit and full of gold and valuables. In the center, two men in black suits and fellows in his wheelchair.

-It seems the prisoners have escaped, - said a man in a black hat.

-Hmm, the old Fellas looked at us with hatred. Your Highness, rest in your room, - Fellas said.

-It doesn't work anymore, Fellas. Your vile abilities have been exposed. It's better if you tell everything that happened in the past year and a half. There are many things you've done in this kingdom that have caused a lot of harm, - Cadmios said.

-It's not obvious; his highness is a greedy old man who only wanted to profit from his kingdom's assets. Look at this wealth; it's clear that he's engaged in the most deplorable deals of this world, slavery, - Axel said aloud.

-Everything has been compromised; only eliminating everyone involved remains, - said the man with the hat.

Three more figures jumped from the shadows, each wearing a neat and unobtrusive black suit—nothing flashy—except for a large man about eight feet tall, Axel estimated.

-The World Government sure knows how to do things, - Axel said aloud.

...

.

patreon.com/vin_modeus12.