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

CHAPTER LXXXII - The worm

Zell was getting out of breath. His torso was rising with difficulty under his damp shirt, soaked with his sweat and stained with his blood. On the tattoos that adorned his arms, dark red droplets were slowly dripping. His dreadlocks were falling on his forehead, blurring his vision.

- Damn it... he breathed between his teeth. It never stops...

Under the beams of the chapel, above the young soldier, Mothra was flying with grace. Around him, a dark cloud whirred, a thousand black petals swirling. When Zell had thrown himself at his opponent, the cloud of black petals had come to his defense. Zell's skin had been slashed and torn, and he had remembered the similar swirl created by Hana. One thing was different, however : these were not paper, but terrible insects. Butterflies, hundreds of them. Their wings whirring, their mandibles snarling furiously, ready to defend their master.

Zell wiped his slashed forehead with the back of his hand.

- Do you recognize these gashes, my dear friend ? whispered Mothra.

- The old Tollpatsch had the same ones the night he was attacked in Mistown. I don't need to ask if it was you, I already know the answer. I knew it the moment I saw you.

Mothra gently caressed his face and contorted himself strangely. A small laugh escaped from his thin mouth.

- How perceptive. Tollpatsch was a fool : we offered to spare his life in exchange for his silence, but the despicable fool panicked when he saw you coming to his town. We had no choice but to eliminate him.

A butterfly landed on his left eyelid, covering his eye with its large black wings.

- These marvels are Karuka butterflies, from South Blue. My friend Stinger manages to make them voracious by injecting a toxin into their cocoon : once they mature, they feast on the blood of their prey. If you're not careful, they'll suck every last drop out of your body.

Zell's face suddenly frowned.

- I've defeated dozens of pirates, you punk, and you'll come next. A few bugs aren't going to kill me, I'm tougher than that.

Mothra then let out a terrible laugh that chilled the shipwright's blood. The laugh of a mad man.

- If only it could be so, my friend ! But I cannot be defeated. Charged by my mistress to travel the world in search of preys, I capture them and bring them back, accompanied by my marvelous swarm. I am the shadow in the night, I am the nightmare of women.

As the words came out of his mouth, his body twisted to reveal monstrous features. His voice, now discordant, terrifying, echoed against the cold walls of the old chapel. His large wings spread out behind his back.

As he witnessed this complete transformation, Zell raised his chisels to his swollen face. He was no longer facing a man, but a terrible, nightmarish beast. But he did not care. If he had been facing a bloodthirsty army, a titan or a dragon, things would have been no different : this monster had kidnapped Haru, had hurt her. The shipwright was ready. It was his honor to kill this enemy.

...

Jorge was leaning miserably against the rock walls. Out of breath, a trickle of blood running down his left eyelid, he was watching Hopper. The pirate wasn't moving. His face smashed against the ground, his battle suit destroyed, his eyes revolting with the specter of his terror. The terror he had felt when he had seen Jorge's face before the soldier had crushed him. Jorge closed his eyes for a moment, and without being able to repress it, a slight smile appeared on his exhausted face. He had won.

But his victory was only an isolated feat in a battle that was far from over. For now, he had to find his friends and help them in some way.

He tried to stand up once, but the friction of his broken ribs made him cry out in pain. He fell back heavily and had to try again to get up on his legs, with infinite precaution. Once he was up, he raised his nose and sniffed the air to find Haru's trail. Just before Hopper had attacked him, he had managed to perceive Arthur's smell, but also, in a more surprisingly, little Lola's. Now, a new smell was added to this great scent, a smell that he recognized immediately : Jun's. She was close. At once, his face lit up. There was no time to lose : he had to find her immediately.