They stood amid ruin.
The room that had once been a pristine, hyper-advanced laboratory was now a shattered war zone. Entire walls had been torn open. The ceiling sagged in places where it hadn't already collapsed. Live wires spat blue sparks across broken metal and shattered screens. Smoke drifted in thick layers, lit from below by emergency lights and the dull red glow of the Seraphim's burning backs.
Across the destruction, the three Seraphim stood unmoving—S-Hawk, S-Wolf, and S-Bear—lined up like living weapons, eyes empty, fire steady, waiting.
Kaku's voice cut through the tension.
Kaku: there see! You can't protect us! And win against those things! You have to let us help you before it's late!
Itsuki let out a slow breath, as if the words tasted bitter.
Itsuki: either we work together or we die together, I think we need to swallow our pride and do this already
Ryo's ears flattened.
Ryo: would you stop talking, you're voice is hurting my ears!
Zoro: He's right! I don't want to get distracted when some throwing you around!
Itsuki/Kaku: Were you even listening!!
Luffy tilted his head, utterly misunderstanding the tension.
Luffy (cheerfully): I don't know you guys were friends
Ryo and itsuki/Kaku and Zoro: We're not!!
Kaku: shut up!
Zoro: you shut up!
Itsuki: damn fox boy
Ryo: stupid scorpion
From the drifting dust, Shaka stepped forward, coat torn, helmet faintly scorched.
Shaka: CP0, tell me the truth, what is your mission
Lucci sat fully upright, chains clinking as he lifted his head. His voice was calm. Almost bored.
Lucci: The elimination of dr vegapunk, all seven of you
Kaku's head snapped toward him.
Kaku: what is wrong with you! How could you say that too his face!
Itsuki groaned.
Itsuki: how are you both a legendary assassin and an absolute idiot at the same time
Ryo sweat-dropped.
Ryo (thinking): So lucci is like the luffy of their group, noted
Shaka didn't react.
Shaka: and what about Stussy, who betrayed you to help us, I don't suppose you'll let her off easily
Lucci: that's right, she'll get what's coming to her
Kaku (angry): just digging our graves deeper and deeper aren't you!
A high-pitched scream echoed faintly through the corridor beyond the destroyed wall.
Ryo's ears snapped up.
Ryo: wait was that?
Luffy: Nami!
Zoro's grip tightened on his swords.
Zoro: that was nami's scream, there must be more seraphim here
Ryo's jaw clenched.
Ryp: dammit, it's all five of them, which means that none of us are safe
