A Piece Kanou Chapter 3 : The Kanou Massacre

• Addiden Zhao
• Short Story
• 2023

Kanou, Island One...
"Attention, all citizens of Kanou! We will soon begin your termination! Do not argue! Do not attempt to escape or rebel! We promise you that this will be short and quick! We have the Zoan Army here too - so don't act out! You will all be gone by sunset!" came the massive announcement from the Marines. The citizens of Kanou froze. The villager Arc was talking to yelled in fear. "Do not fear! We are beginning your termination in 3...2...1!" broadcasted the Marines. Arc grimaced. "So the new Fleet Admiral and the Zoan Army are here? We'll deal with them! Fajita, Oxford, Viper, Foliage! Prepare for battle! We're going in!" roared Arc as he leapt towards the massive podium where all the Marines were gathered. "Divine Departure!" Arc roared, with his sword infused with both Aura and Flow Aura. A massive ledge on the podium was sliced off and a few hundred Marines fell with it. The slash hit another thousand Marines and Arc leapt onto a balcony that was slightly elevated above the podium. The Marines scrambled around, aiming their guns and cannons, trying to locate the source of the slash. The Zoan Army began marching up to the podium to investigate when the samurai, Viper and Foliage, leapt out of their hiding spots and slashed in unison, cutting away the forces of the Zoan Army. Arc leapt from the balcony and towards the podium, drawing his sword. "Soaring Slash!" he roared, his sword imbibed with Aura. A huge slash came from Arc's blade, cutting the podium clean off. The Marines and the Zoan Army yelled in fear as they fell. Arc leapt again, about to land the finishing blow, when he was suddenly grabbed by a long, thick branch. "You fool! Of course there had to be pirates here!" scowled a massive tree that was holding Arc. Arc gasped, he recognised this person. "Aramaki! You - you were at Lileptorontea! How did you escape? You're the new Fleet Admiral, aren't you? Hey, let go of me!" Arc yelled in fear, writhing to escape the tree's grasp. "Yes. Entangle!" replied Aramaki calmly as he created vines, branches and roots to take hold of the falling podium and stabilise it to stop it from falling. "Aim at his head!" Aramaki cried, still holding Arc aloft. The Marines took out their firearms and prepared to shoot when Fajita, Oxford, Viper and Foliage all leapt out at Aramaki, launching attacks. But Aramaki was ready. "Entangle!" he cried and the four ambushers had been bound and detained by branches, roots and vines in a matter of seconds. The Marines lifted their firearms higher and higher and finally, at Arc's head. "On my count! 3...2... ARGHHH!" cried out Aramaki. A red blur had whizzed through the skies and cut off the branch that was holding Arc. Arc fell to the podium and ran as Aramaki roared in pain and fear as his tree body caught on fire. The fire spread and released Fajita, Oxford, Viper and Foliage. Aramaki transformed into his human shape and the fire disappeared. "What was that?" growled Aramaki, looking around. A figure leapt down and landed on the podium. "Speak up! Who are you?" roared Aramaki at the figure. Viper and Foliage looked up in awe as the figure stood straight up. "I am... Akazaya! The man who cuts with and through fire!" cried out the figure, wielding a flaming sword, "and I am one of the Eight Trigram Samurai!" Arc, Fajita and Oxford froze as they heard Akazaya speak. "Then there's five now! Viper, Foliage, Gunem'all, Karnarnia and now there's also Akazaya!" Oxford remarked. "Akazaya! Long time no see! Gunem'all will be really happy to see you!" cried out Viper, as he and Foliage bounded forth to greet their fellow Eight Trigram Samurai. "I was watching the Marines from the uppermost balcony. I saw you and Foliage - which I was very pleased about - and I also saw one of the Four Emperors of the Sea," exclaimed Akazaya, pointing at Arc, "quite recently appointed, I should think. In this morning's paper! I am so delighted to see you two - but where's Gunem'all and Karnarnia?" As he talked to Viper and Foliage, his sword burst into flames. "Well, Gunem'all and Karnarnia were with us when we came here by boat but they've gone to the second island now. We'll meet with them soon. By the way, Arc here, the one you called the 'recently appointed Emperor of the Sea', is one of our allies - he wants to help us defeat Marvel! There's also Fajita and Oxford - right there - and Law and Cypher and Marco - who aren't here right now! They're also going to help us. I'll introduce you to the ones that aren't here when they get here," replied Foliage. "Delighted to meet your acquaintance," said Akazaya, shaking hands with Arc and saluting to Fajita and Oxford. "Enough! Kill them all!" cried Aramaki and the Zoan Army sprang into action. The Zoan Army, all transforming into beasts and myriad in number, quickly overpowered the samurai as they fought. The pirates fought the Marines but they too were soon overpowered. Aramaki, transformed into his tree form, once again grabbed Arc. "Die, you rotten punk!" roared Aramaki as he squeezed Arc's throat. But Fajita used his Gravity Fruit powers to smash a rock down onto Aramaki and freeing Arc. "You brat! If I can't have him, then I'll have you!" screamed Aramaki, grabbing and squeezing Fajita's neck. Fajita writhed in pain as he started to lose oxygen. "No!" screamed Arc but he was trapped by Aramaki's Entangle. The Zoan Army, triumphant, had suppressed and detained the samurai as they watched Fajita's slow death. Oxford ran forward to save Fajita but it was too late. Fajita's body, cold and unmoving, lay on the ground, never to move again. "NO!" yelled Arc, tears flowing down his face, barely daring to believe it. Oxford roared in anger and grief. Fajita was gone. "NO!!! You - you can't!" screamed Arc, jumping to fight Aramaki. But he was struck back down by Aramaki's Entangle. "So... that's how powerful an Emperor of the Sea is? Ara ra ha ha ha! One of his subordinates, brutally killed, as he lays defeated by the Fleet Admiral of the Marines! The Kanou citizens have been defeated. Your samurai friends have been captured by the Zoan Army. One of your subordinates is bound - the other, dead. You lay there, defeated as the Fleet Admiral is about to execute you. Ara ra ha ha ha! Entan-" began Aramaki, but he was cut short. Law and Cypher had fallen out of the sky and in unison with their attacks, they created a massive explosion, freeing the bound samurai and pirates and confusing the Zoan Army and Marines. Law and Cypher looked at Fajita's body. "One of our comrades has fallen. And you will pay for it," roared Law coldly. Aramaki laughed. "What can you do? Even an Emperor of the Sea has fallen to me!" he scoffed. Marco, transformed into a phoenix, swooped from the skies, carrying Gunem'all and Karnarnia (who greeted Akazaya happily, but mourned the loss of Fajita). Marco flapped his fiery wings as all living people on the island of Kanou watched on in anticipation. Aramaki who, for once, looked scared, backed away as Marco exploded into a geyser of flames around Fajita. And then, the Marines fled. The Zoan Army followed quickly. No one dared to fight the right-hand man of the fallen King Egghead. The pirates buried Fajita, not whispering a word, but they knew what was going on in each other's hearts. The samurai, together, and the mourning pirates said their last words to the fallen one and they departed onto the ship, going to Onigirishima.

TO BE CONTINUED In the Next ARC : Onigirishima!!!