New Foes

The marines charged at Ryomen and Luffy, their battle cry echoing across the island.

The ground trembled under the weight of nearly a thousand marines rushing forward.

Bullets and cannonballs tore through the air, explosions booming in the distance as chaos erupted on all sides.

"Ryomen!" Luffy shouted, his voice cutting through the noise.

Ryomen immediately nodded, understanding Luffy's intent without explanation.

Luffy stretched his arm, wrapping it around his crewmate's waist. With a mighty heave, he flung Ryomen into the air.

"Bungee!" Ryomen growled, gripping Luffy's extended hand tightly. With all his strength, he hurled Luffy even higher, launching him like a rocket.

"Gum!!" Luffy's grin widened as he expanded his body with Gomu-Gomu no Balloon, turning himself into an airborne wrecking ball.

Ryomen, meanwhile, brought Luffy's body to the ground with a thunderous slam. The impact triggered a shockwave that sent marines sprawling in all directions, with Luffy flying once again.

As the cannons on the backlines finally came into view, Ryomen's eyes narrowed. "Dismantle." He muttered, slashes slicing through the air. In an instant, the artillery shattered into pieces, rendered useless.

"Gomu-Gomu no…Rocket!!" Luffy roared, stretching his arms to latch onto a nearby tower. He launched himself at breakneck speed, crashing through the structure with incredible force.

"It's falling! Get back!" Marines shouted in panic as the collapsing tower blocked their path, sealing off reinforcements.

…

In the Tower of Justice.

"What's the situation at the main gate?" Spandam demanded, his voice sharp and impatient.

"Our forces are holding off the intruders as best as they can!" An agent replied through the transponder snail.

"And those two pirates?" Spandam asked, leaning forward.

"About them…I estimate they've taken down around…six hundred." The agent hesitated, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Six hundred?!" Spandam's confusion turned into rage. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

From the transponder snail, faint voices and the sounds of battle bled through. "Storm/Armament!!"

"Casualties, sir!" The agent clarified.

"Six hundred officers?! That's impossible!" Spandam shouted, slamming his fist on the table.

"Uh, sorry, I'll have to revise that estimate." The agent stammered, watching as even more marines fell unconscious around him.

"Of course you will! They're just two boys! My guards aren't weaklings! They can't lose to–"

"Right now, the count is closer to seven—"

"Out of our way!" A voice boomed from the background, followed by the crash of bodies and silence.

"Fool! You mean seven guards, right?!" Spandam barked before slamming the transponder snail down in frustration. He slumped into his chair, trying to mask his unease.

"They're just running around like idiots." He scoffed, convincing himself. "No one would be stupid enough to face an army head-on."

His laugh echoed in the room, but no one joined in. Yorozu's unimpressed gaze lingered on him.

"What's with that look, Yorozu?" Spandam asked, his tone growing defensive.

"Nothing. Just surprised someone who's lived on the Grand Line this long hasn't developed an ounce of survival instinct." She replied with a smirk.

Spandam clenched his fists but quickly composed himself, placing a hand on his forehead.

"Don't worry, boss, no wrinkles yet!" Fukurou chirped, earning a glare from Spandam.

"That's not what I was checking!" Spandam snapped.

"Idiots…" Yorozu muttered, shaking her head with a sigh.

Before the argument could escalate, an officer burst into the room.

"Director! Mr. Lucci's group has arrived!"

"He's here? Let him in!" Spandam barked, a mixture of relief and urgency in his voice.

"Lucci!?" Yorozu leapt to her feet, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes.

"Oh no…" Jabra groaned, rubbing his temples.

…

Back Outside.

Ryomen and Luffy stood amidst the chaos, watching as most of the marines began retreating.

"Half of you, get to the island gate!" An agent barked orders. "Pirates have breached the perimeter and entered the city! Stop them!"

"They came? Great!" Luffy cheered, punching an officer who got too close. "This'll make things more fun!"

"Not like we've had much trouble so far." Ryomen said with a chuckle, cracking his knuckles.

"Where do we go next?" Luffy asked, turning to his crewmate.

Ryomen glanced at the tower ahead, massive gates looming like a fortress. "The last building. If they're anywhere, it's there."

"Got it!" Luffy grinned, and the two charged forward, cutting through the remaining marines like a storm. No one able stop them.

…

Inside the Tower of Justice.

The enormous doors groaned open as the CP9 agents entered the main hall.

"It's been a while…Director." Lucci's cold voice echoed through the room, carrying an unsettling weight.

"Welcome back! Lucci, Kaku, Blueno, and Kalifa!" Spandam exclaimed, nearly tripping over himself in excitement.

"That's sexual harassment." Kalifa said flatly, adjusting her glasses.

"Just from saying your name!?" Spandam shrieked, flailing in confusion.

Before anyone could respond, a sharp voice cut through the room.

"Like anyone would even want to get close to you, Kalifa."

Everyone sighed heavily, already anticipating the trouble.

A blur then darted through the hall, stopping in front of Lucci with dramatic flair.

"Yorozu…" Lucci muttered, his indifferent gaze betraying a flicker of irritation.

"Lucci!" Yorozu cried, her face flushed and eyes gleaming. "My heart yearned for you. Has yours done the same?" She reached toward his chest, only for Lucci to grab her wrist mid-motion.

"I hoped this foolery would have subsided over the years." He muttered, noticing the faint glint of a hidden blade beneath her palm.

"The one and only reason she didn't join us on the mission…" Kaku chuckled under his breath.

"My love for you has only grown stronger, my adorable little kitty!" Yorozu declared, her hands outstretched theatrically as jagged spikes erupted from the floor.

Lucci dodged effortlessly, his expression darkening further.

'Adorable…kitty?' The phrase echoed in the minds of everyone present, triggering suppressed laughter—except Jabra, who had no restraint.

"What a woman you've got there, Lucci! Hahaha!" Jabra howled, clutching his stomach.

"Knock it off, you two. We just got back." Kaku said, though his grin betrayed his amusement.

"That's why I have to make up for lost time!" Yorozu snapped.

"Try to act professional for once." Kalifa scoffed, earning a sharp glare from Yorozu.

"Professional? Don't tell me you actually became a glorified secretary." Yorozu shot back with a sneer.

"At least I'm still sane." Kalifa replied, her tone like ice.

"And at least my family isn't a parade of failures." Yorozu countered with a smirk. "Laskey must be so disappointed—imagine dreaming of raising assassins, only to end up with a nurse and a secretary."

The two continued to harshly glare at each other.

"My friends, we shouldn't fight amongst ourselves!" Kumadori exclaimed, striking a dramatic pose.

"Yeah, yeah! Chapapa!" Fukurou added, though his grin suggested he was enjoying the chaos.

"I have to agree with Kalifa." Blueno interjected calmly. "You're too unpredictable, Yorozu."

"I don't care what you think." Yorozu flipped her hair, her gaze locked on Lucci. "His opinion is the only one that matters."

Lucci sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You should care, because you're bat shit insane!" Jabra yelled from his seat, throwing his hands in the air. "Last mission, she started wiping out revolutionary agents just because the targets didn't match the number she wanted!" His voice rose with exasperation.

"And she would've kept going, if not for that K-Kas…uh, what's-his-name…that revolutionary guy!" Jabra sputtered, stumbling over the name and gesturing wildly.

"And you're a dumbass! Seems like we all have our flaws!" Yorozu snapped, brushing him off before turning her attention to Kaku. "Speaking of…Kaku, while I was gone, you didn't let that woman corrupt my precious Lucci, did you?"

"W-What? No, of course not! Hahaha…" Kaku scratched the back of his head, avoiding her sharp gaze.

"That woman?" Kalifa's tone was calm, but the edge in her voice reignited the simmering tension.

Before the two could launch into another heated exchange, Spandam leapt in, waving his arms dramatically. "This—this is exactly the kind of behavior we need to fix! Yorozu, stop being so dismissive of everyone but Lucci, and Kalifa, try to get along with her for once!"

"That's sexual harassment." Yorozu and Kalifa deadpanned in unison, their expressions flat.

"Y-Yeah, just like that! Work together!" Spandam stammered, trying to regain control of the room, only to clear his throat awkwardly.

"The targets have been brought. They're outside." Lucci cut in, steering the conversation away.

"Good, good. And what about 'The Cursed Being' Ryomen?" Spandam asked, rubbing his hands together greedily, his earlier embarrassment completely vanishing.

"He has openly declared his stance against the World Government." Lucci said, his voice as steady as steel.

"Bah! It doesn't matter. He'll die soon enough. The Elders barely consider him a threat." Spandam scoffed, waving dismissively.

"My friends, how about we test our strength now? It's been so long!" Kumadori chimed in cheerfully.

"That's right! Chapapa!" Fukurou nodded enthusiastically.

"I wouldn't mind seeing how far I've progressed." Blueno added, stepping forward.

Without hesitation, everyone struck Fukurou, sending him flying across the room. The others watched, unfazed by the sight.

Fukurou sat up, dusting himself off, and began concentrating. "Kalifa's doriki…630. Blueno…820. Kaku…2,200! And Lucci…" His voice trailed off as his eyes widened in shock.

"Four thousand five hundred!"

"What!?" Jabra's jaw dropped. "That's unheard of!"

"Haha, as expected of my dear! The only one above me!" Yorozu chirped, sidling up to Lucci.

"Wait…What do you mean by that?" Kaku asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Her doriki is…three thousand seven hundred! Chapapa!" Fukurou revealed.

"So high!?" Kaku blinked in surprise.

"Of course. I can't fall behind my dear!" Yorozu boasted, puffing out her chest.

"Damn…how can I fall to third place…" Jabra wallowed to himself.

"How peculiar…" Kalifa muttered, adjusting her glasses with disdain.

"No need to get jealous. It's not like you had a chance to begin with." Yorozu shot back with a smirk.

"You don't have one either…" Jabra muttered under his breath.

"Hey, didn't you get dumped by that waitress just yesterday?" Yorozu countered smoothly.

"H-How do you know that!?" Jabra stammered, flustered.

"I told her! Chapapa!" Fukurou laughed.

"You little—!" Jabra lunged at him, only to be stopped by a wall of liquid metal suddenly rising between them.

"Stop it. Save that for later, just like me and my Lucci~" Yorozu teased, caressing Lucci's face, who looked about ready to murder her.

"Anyway…" Spandam interjected, his voice cutting through the tension. "Excellent work on your five-year mission. Later, there's something special I want to give you." He gestured dramatically before his grin widened. "But first…introduce me to the last hope of this world!"

At his cue, Robin, and Franky—still bound in chains—were escorted into the room. The two stood before the CP9 agents, tension crackling in the air.

"Hohoho…what a day for justice!" Spandam cackled, his grin spreading unnaturally wide. "To have both of you here—right within justice's grasp! So many sacrifices had to be made along the way, but isn't that a small price to pay for world peace?" His laughter bordered on hysteria.

Then his voice sharpened, venom dripping from his tone. "Anyone like that filthy merman who defies justice deserves nothing but death!"

Franky's teeth clenched, his body trembling with rage. "You bastard…Tom gave his life to protect the blueprints—so scum like you could never get your hands on them!" With a roar, he lunged forward, his mouth opening wide as he sank his teeth into Spandam's head.

"W-WAAAH! Get him off me!" Spandam flailed, his voice shrill.

"YES, SIR!" Kumadori responded theatrically, swiftly knocking Franky to the ground with a single strike. Robin remained motionless, her expression unreadable.

Panting, Spandam adjusted his disheveled suit. "Ahem! As I was saying—things have gone so smoothly, I didn't even need to use the Buster Call!" He puffed out his chest, his delight palpable.

"The…Buster Call?" Robin finally spoke, her voice calm but her eyes betraying her shock.

"That's right! All thanks to Admiral Aokiji's authorization!" Spandam declared proudly.

"Why would Aokiji…entrust you with such power?" Robin asked cautiously, her gaze narrowing.

Spandam froze for a moment before his face twisted with anger. Without warning, he slapped her, sending her to the ground. "How dare you question me, you insolent woman!" He barked.

"Robin!" Franky shouted, his voice filled with concern as he struggled against his restraints.

"You abominable devil!" Spandam sneered, towering over her. "Your very existence is a sin! If it weren't for me, you'd have nothing! From now on, your life will be nothing but unimaginable suffering—you'll beg for death!"

Robin's hands curled into fists, her body trembling, but she kept her head low, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.

"Oh, and by the way…" Spandam's tone turned almost playful. "Those fools who tried to take you back…they're here."

Robin's head shot up, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What?!"

"Most likely caught by the guards by now." Spandam said with a smirk. "An army of ten thousand soldiers is more than enough to deal with them. I'll have them sent straight to Impel Down. That should be fitting compensation for their foolishness!"

"You…you promised they'd be safe!" Robin cried, tears welling in her eyes.

"Lucci." Spandam snapped, motioning toward him. "Recite the exact condition."

"The seven Straw Hat members, excluding Robin, will depart from Water Seven in peace." Lucci said flatly, though his tone was latched with irritation as Yorozu clung to him.

"They sailed from Water Seven safely, didn't they?" Spandam sneered.

"That's not what you promised!" Robin protested, her voice shaking.

"They tricked you, Robin! That's how these bastards operate!" Franky growled, his voice raw with anger.

"What was that?" Spandam's voice dropped, his expression darkening.

"You filthy scum! Who gave you permission to speak?" He began kicking both Robin and Franky, his fury unrestrained. "There's no point in keeping promises with criminals like you! We trick pirates and catch them fair and square—completely justified under the name of justice!"

"Coward…" Robin muttered weakly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

"You…you dare insult me?" Spandam leaned in close, his face a mask of malevolent glee. "Let's see how much longer you can hold that tongue. I'll make sure you both die together. You're powerless in the face of true justice!"

Blueno, observing from the side, leaned toward Fukurou. "The Straw Hats are here?" He murmured.

"Yep. Recently arrived. Lost seven of our men, but nothing major. Chapapa!" Fukurou whispered back.

Spandam, oblivious to the quiet exchange, continued his gloating. "CP9 will be applauded for this victory! We'll raise a glass aboard the ship to celebrate my genius!"

"I'm in no mood for a toast." Lucci interrupted coldly, his voice cutting through Spandam's rambling.

"What?!" Spandam turned toward him, his expression a mix of surprise and irritation.

"Our duty is to execute missions perfectly." Lucci said, his eyes narrowing. "Not to endorse your twisted ideals."

"You make a sound point…" Spandam replied, his voice suddenly uncertain. "Well, then…what do you want?"

Lucci's lips curled into a dark smile, his body beginning to expand as fur sprouted across his skin. "Blood." He growled, his transformation into his hybrid form commencing. "Here…even murder is justifiable."

Yorozu's eyes lit up, a twisted fascination taking hold of her. "Oh my…Lucci never ceases to amaze. I wonder how glorious he'd look drenched in blood…"

Her words caused a ripple of unease among the agents as they instinctively stepped back.

Spandam, paralyzed by the murderous intent emanating from Lucci, glanced nervously at the other CP9 members. 'Such terrifying individuals…But they're mine! With them by my side, I can't lose to anyone!'

…

On top of the final gate, Luffy and Ryomen stared at the Tower of Justice.

"So, that's the last building, huh?" Luffy asked, eyes alight with determination.

"Yeah. Can you stretch that far?" Ryomen asked, scanning the gap between them and the tower.

"Don't know. Let's see!" Luffy grinned, preparing to stretch, but a door suddenly materialized in the air.

"What's that?" Luffy asked curiously.

"Luffy, step back!" Ryomen grabbed his arm, pulling him away as a figure stepped through.

"You're with that pigeon guy!" Luffy exclaimed, recognizing Blueno.

Blueno glanced at them with mild annoyance. "Looks like our intelligence underestimated you."

"Hey, what did you just do? Are you a magician?" Luffy asked excitedly.

Blueno sighed. "Let's handle this quickly."

A woman stepped through the door behind him.

"Who…?" Ryomen's eyes narrowed, assessing the unfamiliar face.

"This will only take a moment." Yorozu said cheerfully. "Lucci promised me a proper fight if I dealt with you two."

"He just wanted you out of the way." Blueno muttered under his breath.

"Tsk, a new agent." Ryomen growled, stepping forward.

"Let's take care of them!" Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles.

"Your confidence is admirable, but…just how long do you plan on struggling?" Blueno questioned with a cold tone.

"Till I die!" Luffy responded, his grin not fading for a moment.

"Hohoho, I hope you'll remain so courageous while I rip you apart!" Yorozu laughed in amusement.

"Don't even think about laying a hand on him." Ryomen said coldly, his stance shifting as he prepared for the fight ahead.

....

Hellooo!! Sorry for the two week absence. For some reason I didn't have that much motivation to write, and having to start going to school again didn't help at all.

Anyway, I'm gonna have to yap now, so to get this out of the way, would you want me to do some of the movies too? Or should I just stick with the main story?

And regarding POV's, I'm trying to mainly stick with what Ryomen does in the story, but I feel there are times where that can ruin the story. Of course I'm doing this based on the fact that anyone who reads this story already watched One piece, so they know what the other characters were doing, even if I don't show it. But I'm still gonna ask for your opinions, whether I should show the perspective of other characters more often, or not.

And lastly, for anyone who is still reading this, what do you think about the story this far? I know I might've asked this before, but it's something important for me, because I want to grow. Most people who are reading this story might be doing it because it's mildly interesting, and because the chapters don't look like they were put into Google translate and left like that.

But my goal isn't to make an okay story, but a good one. Be it these two I'm currently writing, or any other fic's I'll make in the future.

So please give me your honest opinion. Is it full of plot holes, cringe, or overall not good.