Chapter 21 Boss Picker

As the group marched towards the pirates' base they felt a bit of tension in their hearts. 'Calling for reinforcements at this point would be useless, the boats would be left undefended and the delay may ruin our element of surprise.' Kaf debated as they headed towards the enemy.

Although he was outwardly very cruel and vicious which he indeed was, that didn't mean he lacked prudence or lacked foresight, but he did have something to prove.

Naturally a seasoned commander would have retreated rather than continuing the charge, they would have awaited the enemy to send more and more scouts, and whittle down the number more and more, before then launching a full assault but Kaf wasn't such a person, at least not yet anyway.

Simultaneously much further ahead Arch and Alonso had arrived underneath a small hill. The sky was beginning to grow dark as the sun was setting on the horizon, flames began to be set alight atop the hill behind the defences of their wooden stronghold.

"This is going to be harder than anticipated." Arch muttered, Alonso nodding to the side. "Sir if I may be so bold, I have an idea." Alonso whispered, before explaining his thought to Arch hearing his plan Arch widened his eyes.

"You're on cruel bastard." He joked before the two of them began to climb the hill. "Hey did those scouts ever come back?" One of them asked as they stood watch. "As far as I remember no, but knowing those oafs they probably got lost on the way back." The other pirate joked.

As the two continued their conversation, a leaf suddenly blew next to the first pirate's torch and caught fire. "Put that out." The other pirate said hurriedly, when out of no where a few more leaves blew over being also set alight. "What the fuck?" The first pirate said as the leaves blew further away onto the thatched roofs of the camp.

Seeing the possible danger those leaves posed, one of the two pirates keeping guard went to put them out. Luckily it seemed the roofs wouldn't be burnt through. Unbeknownst to them a burning leaf was left unaccounted for as it burnt at the edge of the wooden barriers.

Normally this wouldn't be an issue, but the another leaf moved towards the original leaf also catching on fire, then another and another until eventually a small pile of burning leaves formed. "Don't worry this is just the beginning." Alonso assured Arch as the pile of leaves suddenly entered the camp, the group of pirates were immediately shocked.

"THERE'S A BUNCH OF FLYING LEAVES!" One of them screamed as they ran away from the pile. "Leaves? It, no it can't be, Vidar L. Picker!" A pirate exclaimed as suddenly the camp was in an uproar.

"Boss Picker you're back!" Some of them cheered as they looked at this pile of leaves flying around nonsensically, who could it be if not the previous boss of Lawless, Vidar L. Picker?

Just as some pirates were rejoicing, others were despairing, especially in regards to the pirate alliance. "Deals off, Boss Picker is back so I am not part of this anymore." One of the pirate captains backed off seeming especially loyal, but in reality he was just scared of the threat Picker would be. "I am also backing off." Another captain agreed. "As am I."

In total 3 out of the 9 captains had backed off, but the other 6 didn't seem to bothered. "Since you want to go join Picker then you can meet him in hell!" A large man with a club exclaimed as he swung his weapon at the 3 captains.

Jumping back, 2 out of the 3 captains managed to dodge the blow, but unluckily for one of them he was hit so hard he was blasted out of the makeshift house.

"BOOM!"

"C-Captain Spin! Who did this!" The Spin Pirates said in shock when suddenly the Captains of the Mellow Pirates and Ink Pirates dashed out of the building with the Captain of the Club Pirates on their tail.

"Mellow we're following boss Picker slaughter your way out!"

"Ink Pirates follow the Mellow Pirates!"

"Spin Pirates follow them!"

The captains commanded as immediately fights broke out throughout the camp as they began retreating. Captain Spin was lucky his crew was in the vicinity or else he would be as good as dead with how much damage he took from Captain Club.

"It seems everything is going as planned." Alonso smirked as heard the various sounds of fighting from the hill. He then commanded the leaves to go into their store house still ablaze and in a matter of seconds.

"BOOM!"

The gunpowder exploded. 'This must be the Tigrian special technique.' Arch laughed as flames consumed the camp. They then dashed into the camp "WE'RE BOSS PICKER'S SUBORDINATES ALL THOSE WHO FOLLOW BOSS PICKER COME WITH US!" Arch screamed as loudly as possible catching the attention of the entire camp.

"We Ink, Mellow, and Spin pirates are followers of boss Picker!" One pirate exclaimed before cutting down a pirate approaching Arch and Alonso. "Good, Boss Picker wants to reclaim Lawless so kill the traitors and reclaim our land!" Arch screamed once again before charging and punching a pirate square in the face knocking them out.

Alonso sliced through one pirate after another with his dagger as they dashed further and further into the camp. They were headed for the 6 burly men who looked much more prominent than their counterparts.

"So Boss Picker is really back!" Captain Ink said in joy he had gotten himself in a sticky situation by accidentally provoking Club. "Don't worry about it we're here now help us fight these guys off!" Arch commanded before dashing at the weakest looking Captain at full speed.

As if he disappeared Arch dashed past the captain leaving an after image behind, the captain was now on the ground with a fist size indentation on his forehead. Hearing Arch's command Captain Ink and Captain Mellow were about to book it but seeing his power they decided to stay and fight.

"You! Fight me!" Club demanded his club swinging for Arch's head. The captains, Arch and Alonso ended up in a team fight 5vs4. As the club approached, Arch coated his fist in haki before punching the club dead on.

"Boom!"

The impact was powerful to say the least, as a small shockwave spread out. Club was quite surprised when he noticed Arch was still standing. "Huh, I've never met a man who could match my strength, this will be a good fight!" Club snarled his face like that of an ogre.

"And I've never met a man so ugly, come at me brah." Arch decided to let loose too as he got ready to fight. Not even a second later Club once more swung his club towards Arch this time in a downward swing.

Rather then block the attack Arch moved to the side before dashing forward hitting Club square in the abdomen, his gigantic frame caving in from the impact.

"Agh!" He groaned, stumbling back from the pain. Not letting this chance go Arch kicked off the ground punching with both his fists at once hitting Club straight in the chest. "Argh!" Once again Club felt immense pain as his anger flared up.

"YOU, YOU BASTARD!" Club roared as his power increased dramatically, this time it was Arch was in for it the club striking his side powerfully as he was sent flying.

"BOOM!"

Arch crashed into a makeshift house before rising from the rubble. "...You actual dog." Arch mumbled clearly annoyed, a small trickle of blood dripped from his arm where the club impacted.

"Since you want to go all "super saiyan" on me, then I'll show you true power!" Arch declare turning into his half beast mode. He grew slightly in height as his tiger ears and tail grew out with fur spreading across his body.

"D-Devil fruit!" A pirate exclaimed as they watched Arch's body morph but Arch paid him no mind. His gaze was completely focused on Club.

Dashing towards the oaf Arch's arms spread apart as he seemed to be grabbing the air. As if heeding his call the air blew violently emitting out of his palms, Arch then brought them together as the wind violently clashed against itself the pressure continuing to rise.

In less than a second Arch had reached his enemy, pushing his palms out the air exploded with great force penetrating Club's chest and creating a large hole in it. "Wha-" The man mumbled before dying on the spot.

On the other side Alonso had finished up his fight having killed 2 captains, Alonso had ended up having to help Captain Mellow due to him struggling against his enemy, while Captain Ink made it out victorious but heavily injured.

"You guys are super strong!" Mellow exclaimed in shock, when he suddenly felt like he lost his breath. Alonso had slit his throat. Seeing this Ink was alarmed but before he could even react he felt something sharp pierce his temple.

The surrounding pirates were shocked to say the least, some of them had already lost all hope, while others thought they were going to make it out of this as the winning crew, but now all all of them could think about was 'Who the fuck are these guys?'

Sadly as certain people who are known for murdering and being hobos say "There is no medicine for regret" the pirates had reduced their numbers from a whopping 1500 to just a mere 700 and their strongest fighters were dead.

But the worst had yet to come. "CHARGE!" Kaf commanded as suddenly 600 soldiers charged into the base. With the terrifying duo and the 600 new arrivals, the pirates knew that they had lost and what they mean to say is they had lost their lives.