The Dreaming Seas: Louie's Odyssey

Chapter Nine: The Buster Call

The acrid scent of smoke still lingered in the air, mingling with the echoes of chaos that had enveloped Marine HQ. Louie's senses swirled in a dark fog, silence pressing against him like a heavy shroud. He could feel the primal instincts clawing at his consciousness, the awakening of his devil fruits—the Soru Soru no Mi, the Hito Hito no Mi model Nika, and the newly awakened Neko Neko no Mi—fusing his body and soul into a fierce whirlwind of power.

He recalled flashes: the Marines, their faces turning pale, eyes wide with terror as he fell into the abyss of his own fury. The fragmentation of their ranks under the ferocity of his assault echoed through his mind, but now, he was trapped in a pitch-black chamber where only the remnants of his actions echoed back to him. How long had he fought? What destruction had he caused? He didn't truly know how long he had fought for, he had been fighting for 3 hours putting up a strong fight against the 5 vice admirals.

Moments later, an explosion shattered the haze of his thoughts, and light poured through—a stark contrast to the darkness he had known. The sounds of naval cannon fire, clashing steel, and cries of surrender filled his ears as he regained awareness. But there was something wrong. The eerie calm in the middle of all that chaos felt too permanent.

As the dust settled, he found himself standing amid ruin, the silhouettes of battle ships burning on the horizon. Ten massive vessels lay wrecked, the water around them stained red. Five vice admirals had fallen to his wrath bloodshed everywhere around him, their pride snuffed out like candles in a storm. And yet, the harsh reality slapped him back as the cold grip of chains and sea prism stone cuffs encircled his wrists, constricting tighter, stinging his skin. He was captured—a trophy for the Marines.

His eyes darted around the desolate shores of Marine HQ, seeking answers in the aftermath. His friends, having sailed away to safety on Egghead Island, were beyond his reach. Did they escape unscathed? The question gnawed at him more fiercely than any physical wound.

The black hoods of cloaked figures emerged from the shadows, footsteps echoing behind him. They were agents of justice, their intentions clear. A prison ship loomed ominously nearby, the insignia of Impel Down emblazoned on its side—a reminder of his fate. Louie's heart raced as the guards approached, their eyes glinting with the thrill of capturing a devil fruit user like himself.

"Take him," one of them hissed, a malicious smile twisting his lips. "Level 6 will teach this beast the value of humility."

Louie fought against the restraints, gray fog enveloping his vision again as anger coursed through him. But it was futile due to the sea prism stone cuffs suppressing his devil fruit powers. Soon, he was whisked away, the world slipping out of focus as they dragged him toward the depths of the infamous prison.

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When Louie came to, he found himself alone in a dark, dank cell, far removed from the heat of battle. The walls bled shadows that twisted and wriggled like haunted souls. Each flicker of torchlight illuminated the horrors of the dungeon—a detestable place that reeked of despair and defeat. Chains rattled and groans echoed through the corridors, a symphony of souls lost to hopelessness.

But beneath the weight of despair, a familiar fire smoldered within him. The primal instincts grumbled at the corner of his mind, yearning for liberation once more. He remembered the blood on his hands, the taste of victory over the Marines, and the surge of adrenaline that had pushed him to the brink of insanity. But this? This was a different kind of fight.

He closed his eyes, centering himself. The soft whispers of the Soru Soru no Mi beckoned, nudging him toward enlightenment. Louie breathed deeply, envisioning every form he could take: the smoke and echoes of his past battles, the boundless energy of Nika, and the feline grace of the Neko Neko no Mi. Each aspect filled him, merging until he became not just a weapon but a force for chaos and change.