Chapter 21: Royal Raid!

"Wow!  This is one huge castle!"  Markus marveled at the extravagant castle along the border of Elden Village.  Harlen walked up and knocked on the gate with his knuckles.

"This is some high quality metal just for the outer gate.  I say even a cannon ball wouldn't be able to break this."  Anderson stopped behind them.

"I could just cast a line over for us to climb."  Rebecca sighed and shook her head.

"You think the captain will do something like that?"  Hector nodded in agreement.

"I may be new but Captain is pretty extra."  Markus looked back and laughed loudly.

"You got me there Doc!  I just can't help but embrace extravagance!  It's a curse honestly."  Markus chuckled and looked back to the gate.  Malcolm walked up wearing a solemn look and glared at the castle.

"How can y'all joke at a time like this?!  Aren't you about to raid this place?!"  Malcolm snarled while Markus laughed and patted his back with Armament much to his annoyance.

"No need to be so angry!  Don't worry about it!  We'll handle it no problem!  Just watch and learn!"  Markus nodded to Harlen who smiled back and walked up to the large gate.  He slipped on his brass knuckles and pulled his left arm back before it turned a shiny metallic black.  His fist blurred as he launched it forward into the center of the gate.

*BANG*  *BOOM*

The gate launched backwards broken from its hinges and slammed into the large door of the castle knocking it over.  Malcolm's eyes were wide open in disbelief.  Hector handled it better having heard and seen some of the insane stuff Markus and Harlen did on a daily basis just for training, but was still surprised seeing the destruction.

Almost instantly guards filed out of the castle rapidly in  a panic while an alarm sounded throughout the castle.  Markus laughed heartily and drew Ascalon.

"ATTACK!!"  Harlen and Markus charged forward together while the rest stayed behind firing guns into the crowd of guards.  Markus jumped over the first wave of enemies and came down with Advanced Flow: Canal unleashing a slash creating a trench and effortlessly cutting guards down.

Harlen behind him charged head first into the first wave of guards crashing into one with an Armament infused shoulder check.  Harlen swung wide throwing guards around like toys knocking multiple out with each attack.

Inside the castle the King of Pooke island, Pooke Lambstrung, was cursing up a storm demanding the intruders were dealt with quickly.  With the king and queen of Pooke island resided three men in black suits.  

The first man was short with a scar running down the center of his face from forehead to chin smoking a cigar.  The second man was just as short with no distinguishing features and a tophat on.  The last man was the most distinguished with a handsome face and long blond hair in a viking braid with a large sword on his back.

"Don't worry King Pooke.  CP 7 were sent here on the off chance the Celestial Dragon pirates came to this island.  We've received word they arrived eight hours ago and caused some problems in a local shop.  We were going to deal with them tonight but they've come here themselves."  The man with a scar took a drag of his cigar while talking and puffed out circle clouds.

"We'll kill the Blasphemous crew before they ever reach you King, we can guarantee it."  The second short man nodded along while the tall man simply stood to the side with no comment.  This group of Cipher Pol were specifically tasked with protecting royals affiliated with the World Government.  They received notice a few days before to be on the lookout for Markus and his crew.

"Enough talking.  Let us kill the Blasphemer and his crew."  The tall man spoke for the first time and walked away while the shorter men bowed to the King and quickly followed.  

"Yo, Kegan!  What's the plan?"  The cigar smoking Cipher Pol agent asked the blond man. 

"Simple."  The man stopped to look back with cold dead eyes.  "We kill them."

The other two agents got chills but nodded and quickly followed their team leader through the winding halls of the castle.

Markus laughed loudly as he unleashed his Conqueror's and easily dealt with the remaining guards. 

"Man this is almost too easy."  Malcolm muttered while knocking out a guard.  The crew all froze and turned to glare at the Mackerel Fishman before Rebecca smacked the back of his head.  "OW!  What the hell was that for?!"

"Never tempt Murphy!!"  Rebecca shouted into his face, making the fishman become sheepish.

"Oh come on!  What could go wrong now?"  This only intensified the glares he received and another smack to the back of the head this time from Anderson.

"So this is the so-called Blasphemer and his crew?  I'm not very impressed."  The bland looking CP7 agent made his presence known before using Soru to try and attack Malcolm.  Unfortunately for him Harlen caught him with his Observation and used his own Soru to catch the man's kick.  The Cipher Pol agent grunted in annoyance before jumping back barely dodging a right hook and glared arrogantly at Harlen.

"How funny!  To be bested by a pirate, have you no shame Ralph?"  The cigar smoking man chuckled as he walked out of the castle calmly.  

"Shut up Ricky!  They know the Six Powers as well!"  The bland looking man was caught off guard not knowing they knew the Rokushiki.  Markus chuckled before his eyes flashed red.  He disappeared using Soru, quickly blocking a Rankyaku with his Armament and Tekkai aimed at Hector.  He was surprised to be pushed back a few feet and looked up to see the tall blond CP7 agent looking at them with disdain.

"Enough arguing.  Kill them!"  The man disappeared at a blazing speed, reappearing next to Markus and kicking his side.  Markus used Tekkai and Armament again but was thrown away, almost spitting bile up.  Markus quickly became serious and stabilized himself using Ascalon by piercing the ground.  He slid across the ground a few feet before using Soru and charging the man just for him to disappear and reappear behind him.

Markus's eyes flashed red and he used Soru again to appear in front of Rebecca taking a Shigan to his crossed arms.  Markus grunted in pain as the CP7 agent backed up.  Markus cracked his neck before his eyes flashed red once again.  His eyes widened in anger as he disappeared and reappeared behind Rebecca slashing down Ascalon with Flow: Eroded Millenia destroying another Rankyaku before sheathing his sword.

"You're really starting to Piss me off!"  Markus glared at the blond Cipher Pol agent before unsheathing his sword faster than the eye could see.  "Flow: Thrust!"

Markus stabbed the man in the gut and pinned him to the castle.  Or he thought for a second before noticing a metallic shine on the CP agent's stomach.  He tilted his head dodging another Shigan before kicking the man through the wall, not doing much damage to the agent.  Markus huffed before smiling viciously.  This was going to be his hardest fight yet.

Harlen ducked under a Rankyaku before pushing off the ground with his hands and flipping over another one.  Coming down Harlen dodged another before limboing back dodging one more.  Standing tall Harlen cracked his neck and glared at the cigar smoking Cipher Pol agent.

"Cool move bro.  Right back at ya!"  Harlen kicked out unleashing his own Rankyaku but the agent simply sidestepped it with a glare.

"Using our own moves against us?  How preposterous!"  The scarred man bit his cigar, dropping it before using Soru to charge Harlen.  Harlen threw a punch out and used a combination of Armament and Tekkai to stop Ricky dead in his tracks.  The CP agent grunted and ducked under Harlen's arm avoiding most of the damage to his own arm before rising with an uppercut.

Harlen leaned back barely dodging it before kicking out with another Rankyaku.  Being point blank the Cipher Pol agent couldn't dodge and had to tank it using Tekkai.  Harlen followed up with a barrage of punches that the CP agent returned with his own ignoring his bleeding chest.  

Anderson threw his fishing line out using the hook covered in Armament to block the plain CP agent from attacking Hector.  The agent grunted in annoyance before using Geppo to take highground.  Ralph came down quickly intending to kill Hector but an Armament covered fishing line ensnared his leg and sent him flying into the ground.

"Stay away from my crewmates!!"  Anderson slung the fishing rod the other way, flinging the agent into the ground before pulling back and slamming him into the ground again.  The agent used Tekkai to tank the damage but was angry getting tossed around like a fish.

Anderson ended up throwing the agent into the castle wall releasing him before getting between the man and his crewmates.  Rebecca and Hector backed up and watched closely as the battles began.

Anderson reeled his fishing line in before using Observation and barely dodging a Rankyaku.  The plain looking agent lowered his leg and started walking towards Anderson before disappearing in a Soru.  Anderson wasn't proficient in the Rokushiki but training with Markus and Harlen he grew accustomed to fighting those that could.

"Too slow!"  Anderson ducked under a kick before raising his rod smacking the agent in the chin with an Armament covered pole.  The agent was thrown back but easily recovered to glare at Anderson and attack with a Shigan Anderson easily dodged.  

He side stepped multiple Shigans at high speeds before winding up his fishing rod like a baseball bat and swung hard into the agents chest throwing him across the ground.  The agent stabilized himself using Geppo and launched back at Anderson who's Observation caught the fast moving attack.  He ducked under the attack and started weaving around every attack the agent threw at him.

With each punch he would duck or jump back and with each kick he would sidestep it or stop it with his fishing rod.  He countered each attack with some effort but didn't capitalize on any openings.  The plain looking agent insulted Anderson in his head for his lack of combat awareness as he increased his assault hoping to end him quickly.

While throwing another kick a white glint caught the agent's eye.  The agent traced the white glint to a thin line making his eyes widen.  Before he could attack again the white line turned black and ensnared the agent's arms and legs leaving him open.  Hector and Rebecca already stood behind the man while Anderson stood to his side all with guns raised.

*BANG**BANG**BANG*

The agent used Tekkai blocking the bullets and tried to flex the fishing line off before he was thrown into the air.  Anderson reeled the line in as fast as he could and pulled the fishing rod back.  It glowed a metallic black before he slammed it into the man's jaw as hard as he could flipping the agent through the air.

Anderson huffed and reeled the agent closer before raising his pole into the air and started slamming it into the agent repeatedly.  Eventually Anderson looked at the broken fishing rod and dropped it on top of the unconscious nearly dead agent with a huff.

Harlen countered a punch with his own before both he and the scarred agent used Rankyaku slamming both air blades into each other.  They both jumped back and glared at each other before using Soru and clashing once more.

Harlen kicked out but the agent used Geppo and avoided it so he followed the agent with his own Geppo.  Mid air they started punching and kicking each other before Harlen grabbed the man's wrist with his left hand and smiled.  The agent tried to pull away but was surprised to find Harlen's grip was like a vise.

They started falling through the air as the Cipher Pol agent used Tekkai and Harlen mounted him and started punching his face.  They quickly slammed into the ground but Harlen didn't let up with his assault, throwing his fist rapidly.

The agent had enough and released his Tekkai before using Geppo against the ground to throw Harlen off him before using Soru and distancing himself.  Ricky huffed and wiped blood from his face before glaring at a smirking Harlen.

"Your lover is already down, be a good boy and drop dead will ya?"  The agent's glare intensified.

"Fuck you 'Dead-man!'"  Harlen shook his head and sighed.

"Hey!  Don't say I didn't give ya a chance!"  Harlen used Soru and Geppo to launch himself towards the agent.

"Stop being so damn arrogant!!"  The agent used Tekkai and held strong as Harlen slammed into him with Armament infused fists.  Harlen remained suspended in air for a split second before they rocketed towards the gate.  The agent slammed into it dragging his feet through the ground the entire time before going limp.

Harlen looked down at the agent with a cruel smile before raising an Armament covered foot and slamming it into the agent a few times.  He huffed and looked at his crewmates watching his fight with deadpan looks.  He sheepishly rubbed his head and smiled, "I guess the Captains rubbed off on me a little bit…"

"Sure.  Just a little."  Rebecca huffed while Anderson chuckled.  Hector shook his head before looking around.  

"Hey where did Malcolm go?  He was still injured!"  Anderson and Rebecca both shrugged before Harlen spoke.

"He followed the Captain so he'll be fine!  Come on, we should start taking everything of value while they deal with that other agent and the royal family."  The Celestial Dragon pirates nodded and followed Harlen through the busted down door into the castle.

2500~ Words