Looking at the extremely thick and somewhat sturdy fog, Kaizen felt drawn to impose his Conqueror's Haki on it.
A quiet terror stirred. The world buzzed for a moment as it lost all color. Soundless arcs of void ash lightning peeled off his skin as a feeling of finality descended upon the entirety of the ship and beyond. Though it did not affect those upon the ship as much as it affected what lay ahead, they felt it. The declaration of his will.
Everyone stared for a moment, their own personal thoughts kept quietly within their chests, stirring with a multitude of emotions. They had never seen such a unique and terrifying Conqueror's Haki.
Kaizen ignored them, grasping the feeling within his Conqueror's Haki as he unleashed it in a controlled manner. He knew that the moment they crossed over, all means of sailing would be expelled. As though the world deleted it.
There was no current there, no wind, no nothing. Knowing this, the World Government had this ship tweaked and modified by Vegapunk's engineers, equipping it with motor operated propellers.
A CP4 member moved hurriedly, heading towards the back of the ship, starting up the ship's engine. The ship vibrated, the engine beating like a mechanical heartbeat.
Propellers turned beneath the ocean as the sails were unfurled and the ship began to move forth, nose touching the thick blanket of fog.
Kaizen guided his Conqueror's Haki towards the fog, the void ash lightning tearing into the fog creating a pathway as they were propelled forward. The moment they crossed over, they felt it. The switch.
It was almost immediate. If Kaizen's Haki silenced sound, this vast and dark oceanic expanse deleted it. The members felt odd, they felt unwelcome. All but one man.
Kaizen.
He looked around, his eyes surveying the ocean. Pitch black water that remained calm and unbothered. The sky, which was previously blue and cloudy, was now red without a single cloud within.
Looking closer at the sky, at several different areas there were different groups of creatures that remained frozen in motion. As though time stopped them and resumed everywhere else. From seagulls, to pterydactals, to large creatures of the night.
Monsters from different eras, some that even looked as though they were brewed within this space—they all remained motionless in the air. Kaizen knew that this was not Stillreach.
A CP3 member couldn't help but speak as realization dawned in, "This isn't Stillreach—"
Another CP3 member filled in, "This is—This is the Margin!"
The atmosphere shifted at those words. Kaizen looked onwards to the edge of the distance. At its far end, that same damned fog could be seen.
His eyes narrowed. His thoughts swirled. Deep down, he a bad feeling about this.
He said nothing but made sure to keep on high alert. Seconds—they were unaccounted for.
There was no telling how many seconds to minutes had passed.
But they felt it. Their perception of time shifting, blurring into a hopelessness. As if on cue—Off in the distance, the still, black water suddenly churned.
Something moved, as though disturbed by their presence. At the same time, an aura almost otherworldly leaked out from that very area.
It was not rushed, nor was it a flare. It was simply as it was, dominating. But not just wild dominance, no. It was controlled. It was aware. And that was what caught the attention of all men upon this ship.
Kaizen's Conqueror's Haki had been drawn out already, he fearlessly announced his presence to the opponent. As though on cue, the waters from afar moved.
One by one, heads, grotesque and mutated, peaked out. They came, one after the next.
A predator even amongst those at the top of its food chain.
Seven whole heads, each larger than a titanic ship and seven long necks all connected to one body. This was a—
"Hydra." Kaizen said grimly. He felt its aura, his Observation Haki peering into the beast before him. He sensed its strength. It seemed as though this beast was in some sort of juvenile state, wielding the strength of only an Admiral Candidate.
Why did he think of it as a juvenile stage beast? Kaizen knew of creatures like this from his old world. Mythical Beings said to be the sin of Gods, the conquerors of monsters. The wronged of Dragons.
Even if its true nature was just a mutated Sea King, he knew not to underestimate it. Though he wondered, was the environment so insane that it could force a Sea King to mutate to such a level?
His gaze landed elsewhere upon scanning the creature. He quickly noted. Its unnaturally impenetrable scales, and powerful constitution gave way to an incredible defense.
Kaizen spat into the sea. His shoulders tensed for a moment before visibly relaxing. He no longer stifled his Haki.
He let go of its shackles. His Conqueror's Haki rolled out like a turbulent ocean.
His fists shone as they were swallowed in a pitch blackness. His body tensed up briefly. Not in fear.
But with a sense of judgment.
"It is not your time yet." He uttered before simply, vanishing with a muffled boom.
Doom Step—
Behind him, Raze extended his arms in a controlled manner, a blue glow enveloping them as he locked onto the mutation of a creature before him.
"Crushing Devastation." A force impossibly powerful, latched onto the heads of the Hydra, pulling them together in a crushing collision.
Nyx moved next, her fingers clawing into the air as she called upon her Devil Fruit. Her shadow grew, elongating before splitting into a myriad of thick wires.
"Steel Shadow Threads: Severe Sever!"
Her voice commanded several metallic like threads formed of her shadow, coated in Armament Haki to wrap around the seven necks of the Hydra.
At this time, Kaizen had long appeared above the Hydra. He used Geppo to stay afloat, his eyes scanning the beast as he called out on his Haki.
Armament Haki twisted with Conqueror's Haki, merging into something far greater. It was rough, not perfected but it was enough.
Kaizen moved—and so did his power.
Arcs of void ash lightning, soundless yet eroding its surrounding with nothing but a colorless hue, flashed around the arms of Kaizen.
Ascendant Ruin Style—
Left Wing Overflow.
VWOOM!
Right Wing Treble.
BOOM!
His arms to elbows gleamed dangerously, the void ash lightning coiling around them promising a heavy impact as two respective 'booms' were stifled by the unnatural phenomena of The Margin.
Kaizen's pupil-less eyes narrowed, his presence within The Margin was, in that moment, solidified.
At the same time, the Hydra had already begun its counter. And though bonded together by Raze and Nyx, It resisted.
All seven mouths opened up, a simultaneous gathering of energy, corrupted and unbelonging of this world began. It was weird. It felt wrong.
Up above, stood Kaizen. Staring at the charging beams of raw, destructive power, a flicker of controlled madness passed through his eyes.
His breathing was steady, his eyes were expressionless. Then—he moved.
Zoom!
Kaizen's attack carried intent. He drew it out with an act of dominance. Before the Hydra could finish its charge, Kaizen powered through.
Ascendant Ruin Style—
Null Impact.
A fist shimmering with his Armament and Conqueror's Haki flew forth, rings of air pressure forming from the sheer weight and power of the devastating fist.
Then—in mere seconds, it collided with the center most head of the Hydra. The air directly shook, as though it was on the verge of shattering.
Shlung!
In one moment the Hydra stood there, charging a joint breath attack, the next? It was seen flying back, its body tossed out from the water itself, high into the air before crashing into the black water roughly.
This feat alone garnered a wave of shock from those spectating. Corvin threw out a clenched fist, his Devil Fruit ability coming to life. As the Hydra recovered, it charged forth, three of seven heads hung open, condensing three brutal balls of energy.
Corvin worked his Devil Fruit as he silenced the area surrounding the three heads, before sealing the mouths closed with precise control.
In that instance, the three balls of energy imploded. Smoke rose as a deep, gooey substance—ectoplasm, leaked by the buckets from it's mouths.
A soul churning, gut wrenching silent screech that tore at their very being was released by the other four heads. It's frontal stampede coming to an abrupt halt.
Kaizen utilized this moment. His body moved with a blur. The world groaning as he shot forward, his Conqueror's Haki surging endlessly.
At this moment, Raze acted once more. Increasing the pressure of his gravity on the beast almost twenty-fold.
Nyx on the other hand, strained herself as she pushed past her limit, refining her shadow with Armament Haki, increasing its durability and sharpness. She dug into her palms as her fists clenched with an increased intensity.
The force was too much. The Hydra looked as though it was literally being suffocated, like it was being strangled.
Kaizen knew what needed to be done as he now floated directly before the suffering creature. He knew Raze, Nyx and Corvin were utilizing most of their strength, the rest of the CP members practically useless against this impossible tank.
His mind flashed back to five aged men. 'Fuckers.'
His right leg gathered with a blackness that matched the sea below, void ash lightning coiling around it as he called out his final attack.
Ascendant Ruin Style—
Great Axiom Descent!!!
VWOOM
Though sound was delayed, almost nonexistent, the echo of this attack moved the very waters below. A horizontal slash, black and white in color stretched across to the necks of the Hydra.
Sensing imminent danger, the beast struggled, its seven pairs of eyes widening with dread and horror.
However, it was too late.
Shnkk!
Splash!
Seven heads severed, falling one by one into the ocean with a resounding splash.
Its body shifted, morphing in and out of a stable form before it began flickering in and out of existence. It was reminiscent to a dying holographic figure.
Raze and the others looked on with shocked expressions. They didn't understand. No, rather, they couldn't. Was what they faced even real?
Kaizen however, knew of something. As he looked at the flashing body belonging to the Hydra, flickering in and out of existence as though it wasn't real to begin with, he learnt something immediately.
'They disappear like this because their very essence does not agree with this world. These Forbidden Zones and its mysteries—That Elder God that sent me here, really messed up this world…'
'…And now I'm the only one capable of setting things right.'
A tired bitterness rarely seen in the man known as Kaizen arose suddenly. However he quickly buried it back down as he turned towards his ship, leaving behind his floating figure, absolute decimation.
Appearing on the ship, the other members finally released the long breath they'd been holding in. Their bodies straightened as they looked at this man—this, anomaly differently.
Especially CP4. Whatever doubts they had about the man before was no longer there. Kaizen had his eyes scan them all before finally, it landed on a certain three.
Raze, Nyx and Corvin.
In that moment, Kaizen wore a different expression. An expression of simple respecr and acknowledgment of their aid in that battle. He nodded to them before walking forth.
Those around him cleared way, allowing his massive frame to pass through. Kaizen returned to his quarters with the intent to rest. He did not show it on his face but truthfully, he was at his limit.
That battle took far more from him than he had imagined it would. Dropping atop his bed, he sighed. A tired, almost sleepy breath escaping his mouth.
His eyes closed in that moment, his thoughts a swirl of many things.
'These Forbidden Zone—they're going to be more difficult than I initially thought.' Those were the words of valiant conqueror. It was his honest truth. But he was not the type to concede so early. Somewhere in that mind of his, he anticipated his next battle.
Little did he know, he would come to regret that hasty feeling of anticipation.
TO BE CONTINUED! I