Chapter 153: Minotaur

Dialogue "sample"

Thoughts 'sample'

Author notes -sample-

Disclaimer: One Piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.

Chapter 153: Minotaur

"There is something ahead. I don't think is human." Said Vivi after they were done climbing stairs and reached some flat area for a change.

"It must be one of Sadi's 'Demon Guards'..." The little demon said while trying his best to avoid looking at Vivi.

"How cute, he is terrified of me." Commented the blue hair girl.

"Well…after what you said…" Nami had a deadpan expression.

"Guys, look!" Pointed Chopper.

After crossing a hallway, they arrived at a big open space. With its back against a wall, was what looked like a giant cow, standing on two legs and holding a metal bat with spikes.

"Is that one of those demon guards that you mentioned?" Asked Nami.

The demon nodded. "That's the Minotauros…."

"Then…I'll d-" Luffy started to walk forward when Chopper stopped him.

"Wait, Luffy! Let me do this!." Asked the deer.

"You want to fight?" The Captain was a bit surprised, Chopper usually avoids fighting unless there is no other choice.

"I have spent the last 2 years improving myself…I want to show you some of the results." He looked at his Captain with expecting eyes.

Luffy smiled gently at this. "Okay, show me what you have learned."

The deer nodded and looked at the Minotaur, who had not moved from the spot the entire time like it was waiting for them to get closer before attacking.

"Heavy point!" Chopper's body grew in size until he was around 4 meters(13 feet) tall.

He then walked towards the other beast.

As soon as he approached, the Minotaur made its move. The beast disappeared from its spot with incredible speed and the next instant was in front of Chopper while launching a horizontal attack with its spike metal club.

Chopper did not seem surprised or worried. With great skill, he moved forward and blocked the attack by placing his left hand at the lower part of the club, where there were no spikes. He then used his right arm to perform a powerful kidney punch. The hit was strong enough to make the Minotaur lose its balance and almost fall down.

"Oh?, not bad. Those are some fast moves." Appraised Sanji.

"He seems to be using boxing techniques," Vivi observed.

The beast was not defeated yet, it took a step back to gain some distance before charging again at Chopper, this time with a vertical attack.

"Guard point!" The deer turned into a ball of fur that absorbed the impact from the club. The bounciness of this form made the heavy club bounce back with a lot of force, leaving the beast completely open.

"Arm point!" Chopper changed shape once again to its most offensive one.

"Kokutei Cross!" He placed both his hoofs together and sent a powerful attack at the Minotaur's belly.

The impact made the beast drop its club and was sent crashing against the wall behind it, breaking a hole into it from which the beast fell down into the giant cauldron from the level below.

"You did it, Chopper!" Shouted Luffy.

"That was great, Chopper." Commented Vivi.

"Yeah!." Added Nami.

Sanji nodded in approval. "Not bad."

Buggy and Saldeath stared at Chopper in shock.

"Even that tiny animal is so dangerous…whats with this crew?." Muttered the little demon.

"I told you they are all monsters!" Exclaimed Buggy.

"So…this is the wall you mentioned?" Nami pointed at the big wall where the hole was made.

Saldeath recovered from his shock to answer.

"Yes, you can already see the smoke. That comes from the caldera at the level 4."

"So we just jump down from here?" Asked Luffy after approaching the hole made by Chopper and looking down.

"Can't really see anything. There is too much smoke!"

"We can't jump down!." Shouted Saldeath. "If we land on the caldera or any of the fire pits, we will be roasted."

"So, there is a safe way to get down there?." Asked Nami.

"Of course. There is a set of stairs behind a giant door, that way!" The devil pointed with his finger.

"But you can be sure that it will be heavily guarded."

"Lead the way, little guy!" Ordered Luffy.

"I'm not little!, I'm still growing up." Complained Saldeath.

"So, you are a kid after all." Said Nami.

"Really?, I seriously thought he was some sort of demon dwarf or something." Admitted Vivi.

"Is he really a demon thought?" Asked Sanji.

"I don't know, the demon wings seem real." Vivi used her free hand to pull them.

"Ahh!, stop that!, it hurts!" Yelled the little guy.

"See?, they look well attached," Vivi said.

"I told you already. I am a member of the devil race!, like the Chief Warden." Complained Saldeath.

"Well, I suppose there are a lot of weird races in the Grand Line…" Sanji concluded.

"Arggg!. Let's go already!, is that way!" Saldeath directed them to the stairs.

"I can't wait for my uncle to teach you all a lesson" The little devil whispered to himself.

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They only had to walk for a few minutes to find the giant door, but there was something strange in the place.

"Where are all the guards?, this place is empty, other than the Minotaur," Nami said with suspicion.

"Yes, it is strange. It seems like they gave up in trying to stop us. Surely they know where we are going by now." Commented Sanji.

"Do you sense anyone here, Vivi? My observation haki is a bit dull in this place for some reason." Asked Nami.

Vivi nodded, her senses were also dulled, probably due to some protection in the prison. But she could still feel the auras in the close vicinity.

"There are a lot of people in the lower level. And someone very strong that way, down below." She pointed at the door.

"They must have realized that sending normal guards will not accomplish much and instead they sent one of the higher-ups to stop us." Concluded Sanji.

"It doesn't matter who they send, well beat them up and continue until we save Ace!" Said Luffy with determination.

"The Captain is right, there is no point in overthinking it, let us continue." Added Vivi.

They opened the giant doors and started to descend the stairs at a brief pace.

This time, they did not encounter any ambush or found any kind of resistance and reached the door to level 4 with no issues.

"I have a bad feeling…" Said Nami with worry.

They opened the door, and on the other side was a single man. A very big man with black devil wings on his back and horns like the ones from Saldeath but this one looked a lot more threatening.

"This is as far as you go, Strawhats." The Chief Warden has arrived.

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