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

CHAPTER LXI - The wonder child

Dear readers, The pace of publication is really slow at the moment : I am on vacation and have less time to write. But do not worry : the rhythm will resume in September ! For the moment, enjoy this sixty-first chapter ;-)

As Haru, victorious, returned to the A team box, the thunderous applause addressed to her did not falter. Her domination over her opponent was total, absolute, as was the supremacy of the entire team in this competition. A team three members had already fight in the arena, and all had won their respective duels. The two remaining ones were going to do the same. Jorge was next in line, as he had drawn number 6. Jun would be the last one to go, as she had drawn number 8. Two members of team A, three of team B and three of team C had still to fight.

When pair number 5 walked in the arena, it confirmed everyone's fear : it was possible to be pitted against a fellow team member.

The first fighter was Charlie Blue, commander and fighter of team C. He looked very noble, his long blue hair gathered in a ponytail behind his head, and he wore a shiny, gem-encrusted scabbard on his belt.

Next to him stood Kaju Da, apothecary of the same team, also a commander. The young woman wore a long greenish cloak over her official clothes. Her face was largely hidden by a long jingasa, a conical red cap, strangely reminding the hat of a mushroom...

As soon as they were face to face, the tension became palpable in the stadium, and Arthur understood at once an obviousness which had escaped him until then : in the other teams also, the recruits were cohesive. Probably as much as he did, Hector and Hana considered their comrades as their own family. He imagined himself facing one of his friends, having to defeat them, and realized that the situation of Charlie and Kaju was quite complicated...

When the gong sounded, the two opponents prepared to attack, but did not find the strength to do so. They stared at the ground, their jaws clenched, refusing to hurt their comrade. In the stands, Leroy smiled : he seemed genuinely moved by the bond that had formed between his students.

Still, they had to do it, and Kaju Da acted first : her face could not be seen under her jingasa, but her trembling lip was showing her pain. From her cloak she drew two kunai, short, extremely sharp blades, which she wielded backwards like Jun sometimes wielded her knives. When she struck Charlie, he stood by and deflected the attack with his sword, which he also wielded with grace and speed. Their eyes met for a moment but, embarrassed, they quickly looked away. Again and again, their blades clashed, like a controlled and infinite waltz, out of time and space. Yet Kaju Da broke the rhythm by varying her attacks : as Charlie Blue was rushing towards her, she raised her palms in front of her, tensed. Before he could strike, she cried out :

- Spores !

Immediately, a yellowish cloud spread in the air, up to Charlie's face, and he started coughing and rubbing his eyes.

- A devil fruit ? asked Jorge, curious.

- It seems so... muttered Arthur, analyzing the young woman's fighting style. It looks like she's trying to neutralize her opponent without hurting him, only by incapacitating him.

Before Charlie could get up, Kaju charged at him and delivered a powerful kick to his ribs. He rolled in the dust but got up before crossing the arena's boundary. It was then up to him to charge her. As he was about to hit her with his elbow, she cried out :

- Kaen-Take, horns of fire !

Several reddish appendages, similar in shape to deer horns, immediately sprouted on the apothecary's body where Charlie was about to strike. The young man's elbow touched these strange appendages, and he recoiled in disgust.