Trinket of Syzygy | One Piece fanfic

013.

Chapter 13: A Timely Exit

After the constellation along with mystic phenomena have taken its place in the skies, tortuous streams of rain intensified. Thanks to its affinity with the stars, Stagna was restored. However, the disaster has yet to cease; for its people are in a state of turmoil. Countless citizens have jostled their way across the city, some of which even leaving innocent children out of pure cowardice. "STAGNA IS UNDER SEIGE!" 'EVERYONE, EVACUATE!" "GET OUT OF THE WAY, YOU LOUTS!" Roared, the masses; as their voices cushioned the pitter-pattering of raindrops. Ruby and Rogue were on their way to the mansion, when suddenly, they were met by a frenzied mob of individuals, concentrated on nothing else but their own safety. "Everyone, simmer down!" Ruby yelled as loud as she could. Though, it was not enough for them to hear, much less understand amongst the unintelligible pandemonium. Not even anywhere near it. Rogue placed a palm on Ruby's shoulder. "It's best if we leave them be. For now, we have to focus on the source of this chaos. It'll only fester, as long as we engage in this neverending hysteria." He pointed a finger at the distant mansion. Three familiar figures could be seen thereon. Two in front of the mansion and one at its pinnacle. Ruby eyed down Rogue for a while, briefly pondering over her own response to the situation. Before long, she settled on a decision. "Let's go." She expressed in a deep, solemn tone. And there they were, subsequently thrusting their way through the seemingly endless tangle amidst the crowd.

"Rectified? Hah! Just what is it that you're yapping about? The only thing that's gonna be rectified is your skull right after I crush it into dust!" Hilda, in an attempt to provoke Quince, arrogated to herself. Quince smirked, tittering in his typical playful tone. "Oh yeah? Then why don't you try coming up here first? That is if you're sane enough to know how to climb!" As Hilda heard Quince's remark, her temper grew uncontrollably. "You lousy bastard!" The blue ribbon surrounding Hilda's ankle gleamed. At the top of a hat, the fibrous woman swiftly leapt across the low pitch pavilion roofs and left an impactful dent after each hop. Eventually, she tirelessly reached the mansion's peak and met eyes with Quince. "Wow, you actually arrived here faster than I expected." Quince exclaimed in a cheeky, yet snarky manner. A massive grin wrinkled Hilda's visage. "You're in no position to say that, especially after I tear your guts asunder!" Impetuously, Hilda charged towards the silver mane boy headfirst and heftily swung her war hammer at his stomach. Although, as soon as the tip of her hammer made contact with Quince's body, Hilda instantly realized something was strange. She found herself hitting what appeared to be a bright red substance. Then in a matter of seconds, her weapon, albeit known for its stark durability, easily broke down into pieces. "What the hell?!" Hilda exclaimed, genuinely driven by dread and shock. Quince began uttering calmly, though in a completely different voice. It was as if someone else was speaking through him. "Rubae's Benediction." Hilda collapsed on her knees, as her entire face quivered. A gush of fear, anger, and resent rumbled in her chest. "Now you're being possessed?! You cheeky brat.. What else do you have up your sleeve? Cheating isn't going to get you anywhere, no matter how hard you try!" Hilda mildly recovered and lifted herself up. Quince was simply idling, whilst he awaited her next attack. Now that her war hammer got obliterated, Hilda was left with her bare fists. Thus, she threw her strongest punch against her ram-like opponent. A resounding crackle spread briefly, yet broadly. However, Quince stood still; seemingly suffering no amount of damage whatsoever. "SHIT!" Hilda screamed out, grasping onto her now broken wrist. "Just how durable are you?!" Hilda questioned, clearly vexed. "You done, yet?" Quince stared her down, despite the woman's sinewy figure.

Momentarily, silence took over. "Figured as much. Now it's my turn!" Quince pulled back his hoof and began prepping what seemed to be a newly improvised attack. Hilda slowly stood up, shuffling a few steps. Her broken wrist was left dangling by her waist. "Heh. If you can easily withstand my advances, then I'll just return the favor tenfold! So go ahead! Allow me to secure your own death!" Hilda spread her arms apart, biding to endure his upcoming blitz. Quince smirked. "Try not to die yet." Then, he muttered. "Emeraude's Benediction: Power Pulse!" A coat of emerald grew cumulatively across Quince's fur until it fully coated his body like armor. Then, he lanced towards Hilda with jet speed. Hilda arrogantly attempted to block the attack, but it was all for naught as Quince with his restored power aimed for her abdomen, jumping her body into the sky and gunning for the ground below. Hilda coughed up a massive load of blood. "I'll take better care of this place than you and Casey! Nothing will protect you from this!" He then slammed her and the impact left her heavily injured. Upon finishing the blow, Quince panted heavily, as he hobbled over to Hilda. Deep cuts and wounds dotted the entire map of Hilda's stout body. She gritted her teeth. "So now that your power has come back you think you're hot shit Aries!? Drill this into that brawny head of yours, you will always remain below me! You may have won today, but everything is but a mere fluke. It just so happened that the stars took your side. This was never a fair fight!" Quince gave the woman a majestic yet sinful glare. "It's funny how you think that fairness matters at this point. You murdered one of your companions. That alone is enough for me to prove that you belong to nothing but the depths of hell." Quince delivered a crescent kick toward Hilda's face, which sent her flying off the mansion's roof. Quince plucked off one of his ram horns, before it morphed into a silver javelin. "This is the end for you!" Quince tossed the javelin at the plummeting Hilda, and before her body made contact with the ground, the javelin's tip snagged a part of her garment. "You-!" Was all Hilda could utter before anything else. As the javelin attached to the dirt, various kinds of crystals ensnared her whole body in an indefinite capsule. A breeze swept over Quince, as he looked up into the sky. The constellation that once conquered the ether has utterly disappeared and the climate restored to its former condition. "Thank you, Scutum." The silver haired boy in his now tattered clothing, whispered to himself gently.