Chapter 22 – Marco the Phoenix
Two ships sailed through the stormy sea as cannonballs rained down.
BOOM! BOOM! KABOOOM!
Explosions echoed as seawater was blasted into the air by the constant barrage.
On the pirate ship, one man growled,
"Why is it taking so long to sink their ship?"
Another man turned back.
"Seems their ship's crew is experienced. Understandable. Kaido wouldn't just send any Beast Pirates members to accompany his son and daughter."
Caterpillar stared at the ship with narrowed eyes.
"Keep attacking and close the distance. We will engage them in direct combat."
"Yes, sir."
A man replied without any emotion and walked inside.
Caterpillar continued staring at the Beast Pirates' ship, his eyes reflecting the vessel and the Beast Pirates' flag.
"For the Holy Land... we cannot let those two go back."
---
On the deck, Ragnar and Yamato stood with their clothes completely soaked by seawater and rain.
"Hmm... looks like they're done with cannon fire and want to attack directly."
Ragnar said.
"MOHAHAHAHA! So I can finally have some fun?"
Yamato muttered with sparkling eyes.
A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
CRRRRK...
The deck beneath her slowly started freezing.
"Hey, Toto, what do you say?"
Ragnar asked as the reply came immediately.
"It does indeed seem like they're done with long-range attacks, so they'll most likely close in soon."
Inside the cabin, Toto grinned with his fox-like face.
"Kekekekeke... but who said they can just attack us and close in so easily?"
Toto picked up his previous Mini Den Den Mushi.
"Alright, you bastards! Those damned no name pirates are coming! You all know what to do, right?"
Toto asked.
"Kakakaka! Of course we know!"
"Let's blow some ships apart! Hahaha!"
"The ship will be in range soon! Prepare it!"
The pirate ship continued charging toward them as the cannon fire increased.
Yet Ragnar's ship suddenly stopped firing its cannons.
"Coming..."
"A little more..."
"Now!!"
Toto grinned as the ship suddenly changed course.
WHOOOOOOSH!!
A massive wave lifted the ship high into the air.
Toto laughed.
"Boys... aim."
Every cannon turned toward the enemy ship.
"Kekekekeke... FIRE!!"
At Toto's command, every cannon roared.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
On deck, Yamato and Ragnar stared with wide-open mouths as their ship was practically lifted onto a gigantic wave.
"THIS IS SOOO COOOL!!"
Both shouted with sparkling eyes.
On the CP ship, Caterpillar's face turned pale.
"What!?"
They had no time to react.
The unexpected maneuver caught them completely off guard.
They had thought the Beast Pirates were preparing to dodge the wave since they had stopped firing their cannons.
But who would've thought those madmen would ride the damn wave?
"Damn it! Everyone prep—"
Before Caterpillar could finish shouting his orders...
WHIIIIIIISTLE!!
The cannonballs descended from above like bullets guided by gravity.
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOOM!!
Their ship was struck by three cannonballs.
The sailors instantly lost control of the ship.
"Damn it! Abandon the ship and attack them!"
Caterpillar roared as they prepared to fight.
Because of riding the wave, the Beast Pirates' ship had been thrown extremely close to them.
If they used Moonwalk, boarding wouldn't be a pro—
SPLAAAASH!!
As the Beast Pirates' ship escaped the wave, it crashed back onto the sea beside the pirate ship with a massive splash.
---
"Woooo! That was fun! Now it's our turn!"
Yamato shouted as she rushed ahead and crouched.
"Hey! Let me give you a buff!"
Ragnar shouted as a crystal-white spear of energy gathered before him.
"Ice Beam!"
Ragnar fired the attack directly at Yamato.
Yamato turned around and opened her mouth.
The Ice Beam was devoured as if her mouth were a black hole.
Ragnar grinned.
'Hah... if I still don't recognize the Devil Fruit Yamato ate after seeing her attacks on Hachinosu, I'd be a complete idiot.'
After all...
How many mythical creatures used attacks like Ice Dragon's Iron Fist?
'The only Mythical Zoan I can think of is the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Mythical Zoan, Model: Ice Dragon King.'
'But what's its name?' Ragnar was curious after all he don't know of any ice Dragon from Fairy Tail. "Hay Yamato tell it already what's its name ? "
Yamato devoured the Ice Beam and grinned.
"Ryu Ryu no Mi, Mythical Zoan, Model: Ice Dragon King—Glaciona."
"A Ice Dragon Empress and the eternal rival of Fire Dragon King Igneel."
After saying that, Yamato turned toward the pirate ship ahead of them.
She inhaled deeply.
"Freeze in eternal ice for me..."
"ICE DRAGON'S ROAAAAARRRRRR!!"
A bluish-white magic circle with a dragon pattern appeared before Yamato's mouth.
FWOOOOOOOOOOSH!!
An Ice Dragon's Roar blasted toward the pirate ship.
The ocean beneath the beam froze solid.
Raindrops falling from the sky froze in midair.
On the pirate ship...
Caterpillar didn't even have time to react.
The white beam slammed into the ship.
All he felt...
...was cold.
A bone-deep cold.
There was no explosion.
When Toto and Hayori came outside...
All they saw was the entire pirate ship frozen solid...
...along with the sea surrounding it.
And the ice was still spreading.
---
Toto snapped out of his daze.
"Move the ship away from them, or we'll get stuck in the ice!"
He ran back inside as the ship quickly turned away from the frozen battlefield.
Yamato stood proudly with her head held high.
"Easy peasy."
Ragnar grinned.
"Glaciona, huh?"
"Never heard of her."
"But if she was Igneel's eternal rival... that alone speaks of her strength."
"Hey, why didn't you tell me your Devil Fruit's name before?"
Ragnar turned toward Yamato.
The pride on Yamato's face vanished as her cheeks turned red.
"Hmph! Why should I tell you?"
She turned her head away.
"Hmm..."
Ragnar looked at her thoughtfully.
Sweat slowly formed on Yamato's forehead.
A devilish smile spread across Ragnar's face.
"You—"
Yamato gulped.
"Y-You... wh-what?"
"You can't transform into your Beast Form yet, right?"
Yamato froze.
"W-Who said that?"
She whistled while trying to look innocent...
...but the sweat running down her face gave everything away.
Yamato slowly turned toward Ragnar.
Veins popped on her forehead.
"Don't."
"You."
"Dare."
She said through gritted teeth.
But—
"PFFFT—"
"MOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Ragnar couldn't hold it in anymore.
He dropped onto the deck and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The moment he did—
WHOOSH!!
Yamato disappeared from her spot...
...and appeared directly behind Ragnar.
Ragnar looked at her.
She looked back at him.
Ragnar quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
"Ummm... showwwwy..."
he said with the most innocent eyes he could muster, his voice muffled behind his hands.
Yamato looked down at him.
"What was so funny?"
That day...
Ragnar experienced exactly what Muzan had felt when Yoriichi asked him,
"What do you take life for?"
'Waaa... Brother Muzan... I feel your pain!'
Ragnar shuddered as Yamato slowly cracked her knuckles.
CRACK! CRACK!
Hayori, using her smart brain, quietly entered the cabin and closed the door.
Ragnar could only roar in his heart.
'TRAAAITOOORRRR!!'
---
When Hayori came back out...
Ragnar was peacefully sleeping on Yamato's lap.
Ahem...
If one ignored all the bandages covering his body.
Toto and Coco looked at Ragnar and gulped.
As the ship continued toward Wano, the entire crew suddenly decided it was a very good day to work.
They immediately began inspecting the ship for any damage from the cannon fire.
Everyone was very busy.
Not like they were trying to ignore Ragnar's glare or anything.
Lying on Yamato's lap, Ragnar looked at everyone as his heart screamed.
'YOU F*CKING TRAITOOORRSSS!!'
The crew ignored—
Ahem.
They were simply busy working.
After eating and resting for half a day, the ship continued sailing toward Wano.
Just then, a voice echoed above the ship.
"Wooow... the pirates on Hachinosu really did a number on you, huh?"
"Don't expect them to beat Kaido's son this much, yoi!"
Hearing the voice, Toto froze as he rushed outside.
The moment he looked up into the sky, his eyes narrowed.
"M-Marco?"
The crew also froze.
Hayori looked at the pineapple-head man.
"Marco?"
Toto continued glaring into the sky.
"Marco, also known as Marco the Phoenix."
"First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Also widely recognized as Whitebeard's right-hand man."
Hayori looked at him more closely.
"Whitebeard Pirates, huh?"
Yamato also looked up.
"Oi. What do you want?"
Marco looked at her and then at the bandaged Ragnar.
"Hmm... judging by those horns, you must be Ragnar, Kaido's son."
"And you must be Kaido's daughter, yoi."
"Huh? So what if we are?"
"You wanna start a war or something?"
"Or are you here just to ask that stupid question?"
Ragnar asked as he stood up.
"Well, not at all, yoi!"
"But I do have a job."
"You see, Pops wants to meet you."
"So would you be kind enough to stop your ship, yoi?"
Marco asked with a smile.
"Oi."
"We don't have time for your Pops."
"Tell him to come to Wano if he wants to talk."
Yamato said while cleaning her ears.
Ragnar also waved dismissively.
"Yeah, got lots of things to do."
If Whitebeard was coming, so what?
Kaido and Whitebeard had already fought once over Oden's death.
Though it had only been a brief clash.
"I'm not asking for permission, yoi."
"That's an order."
Marco looked down at them from the sky.
"Pfft... mhahaha."
"We don't even listen to the old man's orders."
"So why should we listen to you?"
Yamato snickered.
Ragnar sighed.
"What kind of day is this?"
"The entire trip is cursed."
"One after another everyone keeps coming to pick a fight."
"Don't you guys have anything better to do?"
In an instant, the crew prepared for battle.
After all...
Newgate wasn't here yet.
Marco alone wouldn't be enough to stop them.
"Toto, keep moving forward."
"Let's see who dares stop the ship."
Yamato said as she grabbed Takeru.
Draconic scales spread across her arms.
Two bluish-white dragon wings burst from her back.
"Yes, Lady Yamato!"
Toto replied.
"Alright! You heard the orders, boys!"
"Keep the ship moving toward Wano!"
Toto shouted.
"Yare yare... you guys are taking me too lightly, yoi."
Marco shook his head and dived toward the ship.
WHOOSH!!
Yamato also shot into the sky with a flap of her wings and swung Takeru.
"Hiyori, I leave the ship to you."
Ragnar said without taking his eyes off Marco.
Hiyori nodded.
"Well, I'm the only one who can't fly."
"Makes sense."
"Leave the ship to me."
She smiled confidently.
Ragnar smiled.
"Thanks for always being there."
"With you around, Yamato and I can go all out without worrying."
As he spoke, his body began transforming into Rayquaza. His massive draconic body shot into the sky.
"Well..."
"Don't die too soon."
"I still need to take Wano from you and become the first female Shogun of Wano."
Hiyori said.
Ragnar merely smirked.
"Well then... I can't die here."
"After all..."
"I haven't seen many places yet."
"And I still have many more princesses to save."
With that...
He flew into the sky.
Hiyori, Toto, and Coco's mouths twitched.
"PERVERT!!"
They shouted in unison, their teeth turning shark-like in anger.