Chapter 5: It’s all coming together!

*BANG**BANG**BANG*  Markus knocked on the Shack's door violently.  He waited a few minutes before knocking again.  After a few more minutes he knocked again.  He repeated for almost an hour when the door slowly creaked open letting Markus see disheveled blonde hair and a dead blue eye.  Markus was actually shocked to see the man.

"Who are you?"  The man didn't even seem to be asking.  It was like he wasn't even there.  Markus looked at him with interest before smiling.

"I'm Markus!  I'm a Pirate!"  The man seemed uninterested and sighed.

"I already have an agreement with the Iron Gut Pirates.  I just want to live peacefully."  Markus's smile grew.

"Yeah that sounds nice!  I also wanna live peacefully and happily some day!  Now come on!"  The man looked confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"Hm?  Come on man, let's go!  I wanna kick Iron Gut's ass then dip before tomorrow I got a crew to build!"  The man was stunned and gained a slight light that quickly disappeared.  Markus still noticed it.

"What?!  I don't know what you want to do, crazy man but I just want to live a peaceful life."  The man tried to shut the door but Markus put his foot in the door with a smile.  He pushed his head in to get a full look at the man seeing him in disgusting sweatpants and a dirty shirt.

"Yeah well so do I!  If you want to live Peaceful and Happy you need to be strong so I'll be the Strongest.  I'm gonna be the strongest man, creature, and swordsman!  I'll become the King of the Pirates!  I'll discover the All Blue!  I'll accomplish all the dreams I've ever had just because I can!  I'll be King of the World!  I'm Markus of the Celestial Dragon Pirates!  Join me!"  Markus unleashed some Conqueror's with his words making the man stumble back.

"Wha-wha-what?!!  Celestial Dragon?!  Join you?!  Dreams!?!  You don't even know me?!"  Markus froze and started sweating before looking embarrassed.

"Right, sorry… What was your name?"  

"Harlen."  The man, now Harlen, answered before he could think but ignored it still in shock.

"Well Harlen, let's get moving on!  We got a pirate's ass to kick and a crew to build!"  Harlen gained some light in his eyes as he got up and shouted back.

"Wait a damn moment?!  Who said I joined you!  I don't want to be called the Celestial Dragon Pirate?!  I refuse!  I refuse!"  Harlen waved his hands in denial but Markus bellowed with laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!  I refuse your refusal!  Now come on my Vice-Captain!  We'll get you cleaned up and fed then we can attack Iron butt!"  Harlen was stunned before getting angry.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?!"

"HAHAHA!! Your captain!"  Markus smiled and wrapped an arm around Harlen.  "Come on!  I saw you!  I've been there!  You ain't got a reason to live!  So why not be useful and live for me!"

Markus decided to not beat around the bush and smiled softly at Harlen.  Harlen was stunned.  He had lived alone for almost a year now not knowing what to do but he wasn't sure about becoming a pirate.  Markus seemed to notice his hesitation and laughed.

"Don't worry!  We may be pirates but we're all free!  My word may be law but I won't take advantage of anyone and I promise to accomplish any dream you may have!"  Harlen looked at Markus incredulously before slightly shaking his head.  He lowered his head, hiding a faint smile before going back to his blank face.

"Not like I have a choice."  Markus patted his back with Armament Haki making Harlen fall over.

"HAHAHAHAHA!!  Now you're getting it!"  Harlen sighed and got up before looking around his home.  He slowly went into a room to change before grabbing a few things and sighing.  

"So where are we going Cap'n?"  Harlen asked while seemingly back to his depressed demeanor.

"Hahahaha!  A quick learner indeed!  We're heading to get you some food then head into the caves!  I saw some people in chains with my Haki so we'll free them and cause some chaos!"  Harlen was quickly confused.

"Wait wait wait!  Haki?  Chaos?  What are you on about?"  Harlen questioned.

"Haki is a power anyone can learn and I'll teach ya later but for now food!  As for Chaos that's for future us to worry about so let's go get some grub!"  Harlen sighed but followed Markus into a random bar.  Markus noticed Harlen was getting a few wary looks making him hum in thought.

"So what exactly is this Haki?"  Harlen questioned while eating some fried rice.

"MM! *Gulp* Haki basically comes in three forms!  MM delicious! *Gulp* Observation, used to sense around you, see further and predict attacks on oneself! so good *Gulp* Armament, a layer of armor like willpower to hit harder and defend against attacks and can hit all devil fruit users!  You gonna finish that? *Gulp*"  Markus asked Harlen who shook his head and pushed his food towards Markus having lost his appetite seeing Markus stuff his face.

"What about the third form?"  Markus swallowed some rice and clicked his tongue, forgetting about it.

"Conqueror's is a rare power only one-in-a-million have that lets someone overpower others' wills with theirs knocking them out, stunning them, or even causing damage if you're good enough though it's really hard."  

"I'm guessing you have all three?"  Markus's smile became arrogant as he leaned forward.

"While I may not be the strongest yet, the only ones to have all three forms of Haki at my level should be in the higher ranks of Marines and in the second half of the grandline.  You'll need to learn quickly because once our pirate name is out we'll be hunted by the World Government and Haki is basically what decides the battles for the strong.  Roger had no devil fruit, only Haki after all."  Harlen was stunned and thought hard about this new information considering everything he knew was now flipped upside down.

"The world is such a big place…"  Markus laughed as he kept stuffing his face,

"Yeah… it's nice.  I can't wait to explore it all."  Harlen looked at Markus's peaceful smile with complex emotions confused how Markus could be so natural and almost normal for such a pushy pirate.  He found Markus to be rather… unique.

"What exactly is your goal?"  Harlen looked at Markus seriously.  Markus ignored the serious atmosphere and smiled brightly.

"I already told ya!  A lot of things but ultimately to be the King of the World on the empty throne and have a happy and peaceful life duh!"  Markus answered like it was obvious, which to him it was, but to Harlen it was crazy.

"Do you have any idea what you are saying?!  The empty throne is empty for a reason Markus!  If you even got strong enough to take it, what makes you think the world will be okay with it!"  Markus became confused again before laughing.  He had forgotten his Vice-Captain didn't know what he did.

"Of course I do!  You might not know this but a guy named Im actually sits on the throne for the last like 800 years which is crazy but I just need to beat him!  Not too bad, just kick his ass and take the throne!  If I die at least I died trying ya know!"  Markus smiled at a stunned Harlen struggling to understand this.

"Wait.  Hold on, that can't be true Captain?  That's just impossible!"  Markus shrugged.

"Meh it doesn't matter if you believe me or not I'll just show you by beating him and taking the throne someday.  Don't worry too much, that's our future problem, let's focus on the now!"  Harlen looked at Markus before shaking his head.

"What the hell did I get into…"  Markus threw an arm around Harlen and laughed.

"The best crew in the Whole World!  Welcome aboard Vice-Captain please take care of me!"  Harlen sighed and took a sip of Sake to hide a faint smile and his redding face.  Markus patted his back hard before going back to eating.  After having their fill and talking some more about mundane stuff they eventually left the bar and headed back towards Harlen's home.

Harlen was going to question going back to his home before realizing they were heading to the mines and kept quiet.  Markus led Harlen to the cave entrance where Markus put his hand on his sword handle and started walking.  Harlen slipped some brass knuckles on noticing the atmosphere and gulped slightly.

They walked for almost ten minutes before reaching a wooden pulley as an elevator.  They stepped onto the swaying platform and pulled the lever to descend.  Markus kept a smile on his face but Harlen could see the disgust in his eyes and was curious why.  He didn't question at the moment and followed his new crazy captain deeper into the tunnels.

They eventually stopped and walked through more tunnels before seeing a light.  They walked towards it.  Markus kept the same expression while Harlen gained an angry look.  He had known the pirates used slaves to mine but…

Harlen looked around at hundreds of dead bodies, men, women, children, elderly, all around the cavern chained to barely alive slaves mining away at what seemed to be just normal stone.  Harlen felt sick smelling the intense stench and looked around frantically.

"HEY!"  Harlen focused on Markus as he shouted curiously what he was about to do and why he got not only the slaves but also the pirates that were around attention.  "I'll give you pirates one chance!  Bring me Iron gut and let the slaves go!  If you don't by the count of three I'm going to kill you all!"  

Everyone including Harlen were stunned.  They couldn't understand Markus's audacity.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?!/You know who we are and still threaten us?!  You fucking arrogant bastard!/You think you can boss us around!?"  The pirates protested and started making their way towards Markus.

"1."  Harlen took a step back seeing over fifty pirates and looked towards Markus.  "2."  

Harlen gulped as the pirates got closer.  He tightened his fists and raised them ready to fight.

"3.  Don't say I didn't warn ya!"  Before the pirates could insult him more Markus had moved.  His Haki exploded around him causing the pirates to kneel before he flashed around, decapitating them quickly.  Markus killed all 43 pirates in just a few minutes causing silence from Harlen and the living slaves.

"Find the keys.  Once you freed a few, get them to free the rest then find those enforcer guys I'll help but my target is Iron Gut.  If you see him, tell him I'm looking for him!"  Harlen sighed but ran off to search for the keys while Markus confidently strode around the caverns blasting his Haki at any pirate he met telling them to tell Iron Gut he was looking for him.  However he always contradicts himself by killing them before they could agree and moving on.

Markus confidently hunted the pirates not even noticing he had killed one of the enforcers considering them part of the cannon fodder.  He moved through the tunnels quickly, killing over three hundred pirates with Harlen elsewhere still freeing slaves.

Harlen sighed while handing a set of keys to some slaves before hearing a few gasps.  He turned around and saw a fat man walking into the cavern with a scowl.  The man was large and sweaty with short shaggy hair smoking a cigarette.  Harlen identified the man as Bastion, the strongest Enforcer and Right hand to Iron Gut.

"You.  I thought we had an agreement about you staying out of our business kid."  Harlen sighed but lowered his body and raised his fists.

"So did I Bastion.  Too bad my new Captain has other plans.  You're in his way so I guess I gotta move you."  Bastion grew a tick mark and bit the butt of his cigarette so hard it fell.  He spit the butt out and glared down at Harlen's much smaller physique.

"The captain said you weren't easy to deal with but I always thought you were just some bastard child or something but it doesn't matter.  You're trying to destroy what we've built so sorry kid.  But you gotta die."  Bastion started walking up to Harlen with his fists clenched.  Harlen watched him intensely and let his hands loosen.

Harlen took a breath as Bastion started with quick wide punches trying to use his superior strength to win but Harlen easily weaved around his attacks and laid in a few hard hits of his own.  Harlen stepped back dodging another punch and went under it to punch Bastion in the jaw before hitting his liver and backing up again.

"STOP RUNNING!"  Harlen kept a calm blank look.

"No."  Bastion became angrier and charged Harlen.  Harlen simply dodged and kicked Bastion's thigh before hitting his liver again and backing up.  Bastion kept trying to hit Harlen but he dodged and hit the same three places.  He went back and forth between Bastion's jaw for a possible knock out, liver for the same thing, and thigh to disable him.

Bastion for his credit held strong simply getting angrier with each hit but couldn't touch Harlen.  Bastion went for a jab that Harlen easily dodged but was surprised to see a hook in his face sending him sprawling across the ground.  Bastion laughed and started walking towards Harlen but Harlen was faster as he realized what happened and recovered quickly getting up and squinting.

"And here I thought you were just some dumb brute."  Bastion's jaw tensed as he grinded his teeth.

"You know, brat.  I'm gonna enjoy this."  Harlen froze for a second before softly smiling.

"Surprisingly.  So will I."  Harlen raised his fists as Bastion walked towards him.

Markus whistled a tune as he killed another enforcer with ease as he explored the different tunnels.  He stopped for a second before heading down another tunnel that his Observation Haki spotted.  He skipped into the cavern and looked around at the slaves at work before smiling at a man standing with his back to Markus.  He seemed to be talking with a tall woman in a suit.

"How long is Bastion gonna fucking take?!  Get those damn slaves under control damn it!!  AND WHERE THE FUCK I-  WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU!?!"  The man Markus quickly guessed was Iron Gut shouted, noticing Markus casually looking at him with disdain causing Tadado to shout,  "THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU LOOKING AT LIKE THAT?"

"A dead man."  Iron Gut and the woman were stunned before the pirates around them started laughing.  Markus looked around with a smile before laughing with them, liking their mood.

"You are quite funny!  You the one causing problems round here?  How about joining me instead?"  Iron Gut glared at Markus but kept smiling.  Markus' smile was friendly but quickly became cruel causing Iron Gut's scalp to tingle.  

"Nah.  Can't serve someone weaker than me that would just be stupid."  

"Weaker?  GAaGAaGAa!  You gotta be fucking with me!"  Markus shook his head and lowered his body and grabbed his sword.

"Some people only learn from practical experience.  Don't say I didn't warn ya."  Iron Gut lowered his own body and seemed to tense his body.

"I'm gonna put you in your place kid."  Markus smiled in response.

"Who said I'd target your gut?"  Tadado was stunned seeing Markus's blade going for his neck.  Markus was quickly surprised to find Iron Gut move like paper and dodge his attack.  

"You know Haki?" 

"You know Roukushi?"  They glared at each other before both moving.  Markus easily used Observation to dodge but was surprised to find Tadado's Paper Arts actually still allowed him to avoid attacks making Markus grunt in annoyance.

"Why is someone with Haki here?  Are you with the Revolutionaries?  What do you want with the slaves?!"  Iron Gut attacked with Shigan rapidly but Markus blocked each one with his Armament-covered blade.

"Yawwwnn!!  Boring!  Don't really care!  Not gonna tell and I'm not a part of the revolutionaries!  I'm Markus!  Captain of the Celestial Dragon Pirates!"  Tadado and all the slaves froze hearing him.

"Wha…what?  What did you just say?  GAaGAaGAaGAa!!  This some sick joke?!  You actually dare to call yourself the Celestial Dragon Pirates?!"  Markus's smile widened as his Conqueror's Haki exploded out violently.  Tadado took a step back while the slaves kneeled seeing him.

"I'm going to kill the Celestial Pigs and become the King of the World!  Of course I dare!"  The slaves were stunned and looked on in shock.  Tadado was completely blown away, confused how someone of his caliber had gone unknown.  Tadado felt fear as his audacity.  Iron Gut bit his cheek and glared at Markus.

"SO WHAT!  I don't care if you have the King's Will or not!  I have a mission from the REAL Celestial Dragons!"  Markus felt his eye twitch as he sheathed his sword.

"REAL?  I'll show you what a REAL Celestial Dragon should look like!  Flow!  DRAW!"  Markus used Thrust and pierced through Tadado's shoulder.  Iron Gut was stunned Markus's Armament broke his Tekkai.  He grabbed Markus's Sword and tried to hit him with a Shigan but Markus jumped over him using his body and the sword to steady in air before coming back with an Armament dropkick.

Tadado was kicked off his sword and sent flying.  Markus landed on his feet and sheathed his sword with a smile.  He walked closer.  

Harlen took a punch to his arms knowing he couldn't dodge and quickly kicked Bastion's leg a few times before using his leg to jump back barely avoiding Bastion grabbing his head.  He huffed feeling tired but rolled his shoulders knowing he needed to win.  He didn't know why but he knew he needed to and that was all that mattered to him at the moment.

Markus dodged another Shigan and went for an Eroded Century behind Iron Gut but he used Paper Art again this time in fear of taking the attack.  Markus knew he was going to win.  He was confident in his strength.  He just wanted the man to break.

3000~ Words