MARINES - A ONE PIECE story (ENGLISH) - Part I

CHAPTER XLVIII - The prince of the abyss

Zell gasped loudly as everyone urged him to repeat.

- When I left the cave where I had confronted Taurus, the walls began to crumble. They were cracked, and water began to seep in. I ran as fast as I could !

- Damn it... Myr grumbled. How much time do we have left ?

- Ten or fifteen minutes before everything floods, I'd say.

- Five minutes can make all the difference, Leroy simply commented. Look at this cave. It, too, has been ravaged by the battle that took place there. The walls may not hold.

Everyone was busy looking for a plan to escape. The ship was nowhere to be found, and neither were two of their comrades.

- Oh my... ! Haru suddenly exclaimed. By the Fountain, I can only feel one presence, the other two have grown incredibly weak !

- Helio ?! asked Leroy.

- No, Arthur.

These words were not spoken by Haru, but by Myr. Arms crossed, eyes fixed, he was confident : his student was the best, he could only come out victorious of this duel. When Haru confirmed it, the vice-admiral nodded silently and closed his eyes. On his wrinkled face, under his thick silver moustache, a slight smile appeared, full of pride.

- Good. That solves one problem, he said without further emotion. We still have to find them, recover the ship, and escape from this place. Otherwise, it will become our tomb.

Suddenly, the cavern began to crack everywhere. Its rocky walls vibrated, fracturing noisily, and water began to seep in. Then, even more noisily, a whole section of the cave collapsed, releasing a terrible salty torrent, which came to wet the soldiers up to their calves. While Jorge, weakened, started to stagger, Leroy pulled himself up on a stone pillar. He waved both hands, and a large clay platform formed above the water.

- Come and perch on it ! he shouted to the recruits. You'll be safe there, don't worry.

Myr ruminated. There were fifteen of them in all, including their prisoners. Among them were five devil fruit users (Jorge, Leroy, Emmy, Cancer, and Taurus), who might slow them down. They had to act quickly.

- Leroy, Myr shouted to his comrade, can you make a clay shield big and strong enough to protect us all ?

- The fifteen of us ? It should be fine. But even if I can decide how strong my clay should be, make it as hard as I want, it will eventually dissolve if it takes too long to get out of the water.

- Fourteen people, Myr corrected him. Once you are encased in this clay protection, I will carry you to the surface.

Leroy shuddered.

- Are you crazy, Myr ?! That cave is too deep, you won't survive it ! And what about our two students, still trapped behind those huge rocks?

Myr took a moment to think, but his thought was interrupted by a voice he did not expect to hear any time soon :

- I think I can help you, said Pisces as he struggled to get his feet, massaging his aching chest.

- Stay quiet, pirate ! ordered Leroy.

- As a fishman, I am the best swimmer here. I could rescue your students, and my master, and bring them back here. It wouldn't take two of us to bring all these people back to the surface, would it ? he asked Myr.

The old soldier hesitated for a moment.

- And how do you plan to get to them ? The tunnel is blocked, it would take us too long to clear those rocks.