Unholy Holy Land

The Sun's Judgement
The sun began to slowly rise over the isle of Mokoko, illuminating the houses and sandy beaches that surrounded it, pushing back the darkness that was brought forth by the night before. The forest was amongst the first places to awaken under the sun's rays, completely exposed to the shimmering rays of light as the animals climbed from their trees and caves to go about their god given tasks.

Amongst the first to awake from their slumber, Brazzers D. Brennan lied his head resting on his hands as he stared off towards the ceiling, his mind running even throughout the night, not able to sleep for more than an hour before the nightmares plagued his minds. Whips lashing, chains clanging, heat branding, and the cries and screams of those in anguish and agony, and among all the smell of the feet of his oppressors and a single face, most impressionable, even in silhouette form.

Brennan rolled to his side to look up into the sun before dragging his body up and rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Today's the day," Brennan mumbled to himself, looking over to a few packed bags in the corner of the large room, then turning back to see two sleeping bodies, one boy and a blonde-haired girl, his eyes more heavily drawn to her than anything else. A glint was seen in his eyes as his brain flashed images on her hair rushing past the light and sparks flying, her beauty and brawn going hand and hand.

As Brennan sat, trapped in his mind, the footsteps of another rang through the halls of the home, walking slowly towards the room, tapping against the wood in a hushed tone to keep the house in a resting state for as long as possible. Just then, the door slid open, a tall silver-haired man peering into the room, watching the troubled boy before stepping into the room, a sword held in his hand being used as a can of sorts, moving before him, almost like a third leg.

He moved to the boy's side, leaning on the blade and descending to the ground beside him, crossing his legs, giving his old bones a moment to settle into his new position. Brennan didn't even look up to him, his eyes going between fond memories and those of anguish and fear, his eyes sheening over with a small tear, but it wouldn't dare escape his eyes.

"I sense an imbalance in your thoughts, would this have anything to do with your plans for the next few days, or are you just gonna miss me that much?" The man finally spoke in a low and soft tone, his eyes shut and looking off as he spoke.

Brennan didn't even look up from his gaze as he attempted to unpack the man's question. "I just don't want her to get hurt. I've lied to her enough, but I know that if she knew, she could end up with a fate worse than my own." Brennan responded, his voice low and soft, something uncharacteristic for Brennan, his personality much like an active volcano, rather than the dormant one he was currently representing with his words.

"I know you don't want to hear this. But you can't protect everyone. You have to let people walk their paths, and from there all you can do is hope it's not the wrong one." The man thoughtfully responded, looking over to Brennan with a more caring gaze, his words of wisdom dwindling at the hard exterior Brennan put up around himself.

"No, I can't do that, I won't do that. I'm the wrong path, I knew what I came here to do and I hid it from here, I can't let her become like me." Brennan snapped back, still in a hushed tone, though for a moment causing the house to rise from it's sleep, the wood creaking around the room for a moment as he spoke. his words touching every floorboard, dispelling his thoughts from his mind for a short moment, way too short.

"Ugh. You'll see one day, that being a stone wall does nothing but get you blown down and broken." The man sighed deeply, his words lowering as he gave up for a moment, leaning his sword on his hap and he looked back out towards the window, a bird sitting on the sill as the sun shined behind it.

"I can't worry about that now. I need to make sure that I can complete what I came here for, whether I die or not, my life means nothing if I do nothing." Brennan said deeply, his words echoing around the room as he looked up to the same bird as the man beside him, leaning on the wall and his pillow behind him, watching the bird preen at its feathers.

"I wish I could be a bird, so useless, yet so important." Brennan ranted, his words making less and less sense as he spoke, his mind blocking out his fears as he slowly drifted into anger at himself, and that anger was visible.

"So, what's your plan to attack the not so Holy Land then? You shouldn't plan to die there, I can't let you go if you don't at least want to survive. I can't handle her tears alone and lord knows that other bird brain can't." The man remarked with a small snicker, almost beckoning the sleeping boy out of his slumber.

"Ummm..." Brennan muttered, a dumbfounded look on his face.

"Don't tell me...You don't have a plan, do you? Do you even know how you would get up there, how you'd deal with the thousands upon thousands of guards that protect its gates?!" The man ranted, looking into Brennan's blank face as he stared at him with a dumb look on his face, having no words.

The young man on the nearby bed tried to snuggle deeper into his bed and pillow, but no matter how low the duo spoke, everything they said was heard clearly by him. He tried to ignore it and pass off as being asleep, but the words spoken resonated with him. Among them, he probably knew best how Brennan felt, having gone through the same hell during his childhood.

A slight breeze seemed to enter the room, however, it was caused by the boy who had swiftly sprung from his bed into Brennan’s own, squatting on it until he reached Brennan’s eye level. With a big smile on his morning face, Draco D. Zephyr waved his hand right in between Brennan and Seijuro.

“Pssst! Hey! I can help!” He said with an eager face, and with quite a loud tone, unbothered by the fact that Levi was still asleep. “If it’s a plan you need, count me in! I can take you and sneak you into that hellhole! It’s been my plan to go there too!”

His eyes quickly turned somber, as he sat beside Brennan. He lowered his gaze and stared at his feet. “Mackarennan, I know how you feel. I used to not be able to sleep at all, sometimes the nightmares still plague me...but that’s why...” he extended his left arm, the one covered with the strange tribal-like tattoos. “I turned the cursed mark they gave me into something that keeps me driven to my goal every day...I don’t care that people look at me strangely because of these markings, I don’t care because ultimately, I am the one responsible for my life. And even though I failed at slaying my demons once, I will not stop, because now I’m fighting for something greater!”

He clenched his fist as his eyes became intense and driven. “I fight to prevent others from going through what I...no, WE went through. Big bro Komparennan, let me help!”

"For the eightieth time, my name is Brennan, Brazzers D. Brennan." Brennan remarked in a stern but low tone, not exactly fazed by the boy's sudden awakening, more worried that their voices would wake up Levi than Zephyr finding out his secrets.

Brennan listened to what Z had to say, his words touching him in a way a normal persons couldn't, even in a way Seijuro's wise words couldn't, it came from a place of understanding, a mutual pain the two shared at the hands of the dragons who sat in the sky, looking down upon them. He looked at Z's arm. Brennan himself had never been branded, mostly because he never stood still long enough for them to do so, not even while knocked out, he always thrashed about and after a while, they just accepted it and kept him in chains. Brennan took a deep breath, almost as though he was taking a step in accepting some of the wisdom Seijuro preached to him every day, and alas, he spoke.

"Okay, you can help. Only because my path and yours are already joined, and honestly, climbing the entire red line might be a bitch to do. I'm no ." Brennan remarked, a small laugh coming out after his sentence, his spirits began to raise, the "normal" Brennan was peaking into the surface, with a touch of maturity as well, he was growing, whether or not it was for the better or worse, he was still growing nonetheless.

"Jesus. Two dumbasses charging into the Dragon's Domain, what have I trained?" Seijuro muttered under his breath, looking at the bird as another landed on the perch beside it, preening next to it as they plucked each other's feathers for a moment.

"So now that you have some form of transportation. How do you plan to get into the Domain of the Gods undetected?" Seijuro questioned, posing an important fact to put into consideration, there's another gate to break down before even getting to the den.

"Easy! I'll break it down!" Brennan responded in a hardy and more childish tone, clenching his fist as he looked up to a disappointed Seijuro shaking his head at the boy's answer, but even he knew there was nothing that could stop Brennan from doing just that.

Zephyr clenched his fist in unison with Brennan, nodding at his words. “Yeeaah!” He exclaimed. But before anyone could interrupt him to tell him to lower his voice, he jumped in again. “Yo, yoo. For the old man’s peace of mind, I can not only carry you there, but I can also do so...stealthy,” he whispered proudly.

He puffed up his chest. “Ya’ know, whipping up a storm and moving clouds at my leisure is child’s play to someone as great as me! And...” he whispered once more, leaning closer and pointing at Levi, “If hottie here uses her electric powers thingy, we could whip up a cataclysmic hurricane! And those damned fatsos won’t see you coming, Breckard! Nin...nin!” said Zephyr with a devilish grin in his eyes while he made ninja signs with his hands.

"No!" Brennan said sternly, creating a think layer of tension in the room for a moment, even losing control of his volume. "Levi's not coming...She won't even know about this." Brennan responded in a now lower tone, unclenching his fists.

"Ahem. Now that you at least have that sorted, we'll set off about noon, I'll keep Levi busy with some remedial tasks in the meantime." Seijuro confirmed, dispelling the tension a bit as he cleared his throat.

Zephyr nodded, respecting Brennan’s decision of not taking his close friend. Suddenly, something struck him. “W-W-Wait, we are at least having breakfast, right?” His stomach grumbled.

He smiled towards the duo, “I need my strength for such a long journey!” He said while casually flexing his arms.

"It’s good to see that you aren’t idiots..." Suddenly, the sound of Levi’s voice echoed through the area as her tone was filled barely concealed rage and sadness as she stepped out, revealing she was awake to hear their little discussion. The arcs of electricity expelled from her body as she glared at the idiots in front of her who had decided to hide such important information from her and now wanted to leave her in the dark as they ran off!

"YOU ARE DOWNRIGHT RETARDS!" Levi screamed aloud, slamming her foot into the ground as the electricity flared around her body even more.

"Oh shit..." Brennan flinched as Levi raged behind him, the flashes of lightning blasting through the room as the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He turned around slowly to address the woman as scarcely as he possibly could. "Levi, I did this for your own good, I can't see you getting hurt because of my revenge. You have to understand why I decided to hide this from you." Brennan pleaded, looking back to Z and Seijuro for support in convincing her.

Sei looked Brennan in the eye as a bead of sweat dripped from his forehead. Sei simply stood up and left, going into the kitchen for a cup of tea, leaving Brennan to quench the anger of Levi, hoping they don't destroy his home in the process.

Zephyr jumped and hid behind Brennan’s back, looking over his shoulder at the angry girl. “Big bro, kiss her or something...she’s scaaaaryyy!”

Levi glared angrily at Brennan as she clenched her fists tightly in rage. The mere idea of him attempting to keep her in the dark filled her with incredible anger and deep sorrow as a myriad of thoughts swarmed her mind like a Buster Call. Did he not trust her despite his claims and being his First Mate? Was she weak in his eyes even after the training she underwent?

For a second, she found herself back on Weatheria, being within the presence of the Daddy L. Legs, the "Strongest Woman in the World" and one of the Yonko. Levi recalled the overwhelming power of the woman and how she spoke to Noir and herself about the flames of the world. She remembered her declaration as she walked through the flames, never once screaming or heading back. She took it head-on and she swore on that day she would make sure Brennan would be able to rely on her! She would take on the flames of the world for him! After all, it was for the sake of her foolish Captain and she would never hesitate.

Grabbing Brennan by the collar of his shirt, she pulled him in as their noses were practically touching as she said in a voice of calm fury. "I don’t care why you did this, you don’t need to make choices for me! I’ll snuff out whatever the world throws at you or me! If the world breaks my bones, I’ll force ‘em back in place! If it tries to wipe me from existence, I’ll defy it!"

Her eyes were now a brilliant electric blue as she stared directly into Brennan’s eyes, allowing him to see the emotions flowing through her very soul. "Nothing is gonna stop me no matter what! Not even you!" The very words she once spoke to Legs were now being used on the person she would follow till the ends of the world. Her point was clearly made.

Brennan felt the intensity of Levi's feeling, from the look in her eyes to the feeling of the room, it was intense to say the absolute least. Albeit, while she gave her speech, all Brennan could imagine was what could happen, god forbid she was hurt or even worse. Just like Levi, he was taken back to Weatheria, his emotions seeing her get defeated and injured making his blood rise.

Brennan rose to his feet, towering over Levi as her hand was dragged up to his level. His eye's turning a deep and intense red like orange as he stared down at Levi. "YOU MIGHT NOT CARE, BUT I DO!! I CAN'T SEE YOU GET HURT, IT'S HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES BEFORE...I can't see another person I love get hurt." Brennan cried out, breaking down as he spoke, his anger turning to sadness and sorrow, his feelings for Levi bursting out in an instant.

He threw his arms forward, wrapping them around Levi, dragging her into a sorrowful embrace, pushing past her hard shell of flashing lightning, he crumbled into her, holding her in his arms. "I love you, Levi." Brennan muttered in a low voice, his mouth at her ears as he spoke.

"I know I can't stop you, so I'll protect you as much as I can and I won't hide things like this from you again." Brennan spoke, having a change of heart from only a few moments ago, his arms hugging her even closer as Brennan shed a single tear, it sizzling as it rolled down his cheek.

As tears streamed down her face, Levi smiled as she hugged Brennan with as much love and care she possibly could. If she was going to stand by him, she couldn't deny her feelings any longer. "I love you too, you idiot. That's why I want to stay with you." It was so odd to hear herself confess to loving Brennan when a year ago, she panicked over the idea of even looking at him in such a light. However, it simply felt right now as if it made her stronger now. She would have kissed him now but hearing the confession of his feelings was already too much for her and they were in the middle of something important right now.

There would be plenty of time for that later.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked up at him with a grin before looking at everyone else. "Now, come on. You guys have a plan and I'm getting involved no matter what. So, let's get this show on the road."

Brennan's heart stopped for a moment before jumping with glee in response to Levi's words, squeezing her in his arms even harder. "Did I just hear you right?! Did you just say you love me?!" Brennan scooped Levi into his arms, twirling her around, his tears now gone, his sorrow erased for the moment, now he only felt sheer joy and happiness.

Brennan held Levi out in his arms, holding her entire body up by her shoulders almost like a child before pulling her in and kissing her on the forehead in happiness. "SHE LOVES ME!" Brennan exclaimed, turning to Z who had been standing aside the entire time.

"You hear that Z! SHE LOVES ME!" Brennan shouted again, shouting his feelings to the rooftops, his joy knowing no bounds at the hand of his new love.

“Uh? Aah yeah...” Zephyr had been picking his nose, his eyes focused on the birds outside.

“You guys were so lovey dovey it made me shiver, but, congrats Brandon, now you can get some pu-WOAH!...” Zephyr ran to the window, “that’s a cool ass bird!” He said as he pointed to a hawk, completely dismissing Brennan and Levi’s passionate moment, and ignoring Brennan’s excitement, though not necessarily on purpose.

“Grrr” Zephyr’s stomach growled. “Welp! Time for breakfast!” Exclaimed the hyperactive young man as he stormed off.

"MY NAME'S NOT BRAN- Nevermind, I'm too happy right now!" Brennan remarked, glaring at Z as he ran out. "But anyway, let's go get some breakfast, all this emotion's made me hungry." Brennan said, his stomach growling under his clothes as he made his way to the door.

"You comin?" Brennan asked, half out of the door, smiling back at Levi as he was ready to head out.

With a smile on her face, Levi moved through the door and grabbed Brennan's arm to pull him through the door as she said. "Just make sure that you can keep up with me or you'll end up eating my dust."

"Keep up with you?! You need to keep up with me!" Brennan remarked, taking off down the hall past Levi, swiftly going to turn the corner down the long hallway. Just then, a small wooden pole came out in his way, tripping him and leading him slamming face-first into the wall before him.

"ACK!"

Seijuro came around the corner, covering his mouth as he snickered loudly, holding his sword in his hand, being exactly what he used to trip Brennan a second ago.

"WHAT THE FUCK, OLD MAN!" Brennan shouted, rubbing his face in pain as he screamed, a tear welling up in his eyes, though more so from the impact than the pain.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just so old I didn't see you there. Whoops" Seijuro said in a dramatic tone, clearly lying as he scurried into the kitchen to reveal breakfast sitting on the table before him, Z already in front of a plate as a bird flew around his head.

Brennan took a seat without a second thought, chowing down on his food. However, he looked up to Levi, stopping as he ate his food, something he never really did before. "C'mon, I don't wanna keep eating before you start." Brennan remarked, waiting for Levi to take a seat.

A light, cool breeze, gently passed on through the dining table. Shortly, a whispered chuckle was heard from the corner. Zephyr munched on his meal, struggling to control his laughter.

He then smacked the table, and with his mouth half full, addressed Seijuro. “Oi, old man Gambiro, you gotta teach me more of that “Haki” stuff! But!” He glared at Brennan who had his entire attention on Levi. “I hope that Haki doesn’t make me into a lovestruck fool”, he continued to chuckle, as Brennan had yet to realize, Z had stolen part of his breakfast with that earlier breeze.

Levi flipped off Zephyr without looking at him as she focused on Brennan as she had a puzzled look on her face. "You know I wasn't going to ask initially because I'm following you no matter what but I'm just too curious. Why do you want to head-well, attack Mary Geoise? It seems a little out of the blue for you."

"Smack the table again and your jaw won't be in place to call me outside of my name, young man." Seijuro menaced, glaring at Z with contempt in his eyes. Brennan glared at Z for a moment as well, not realizing his food was taken right off of his plate, but alas, he turned his attention back to Levi. "You wanna know why? I guess I can tell you one story since I'm in a sharing mood." Brennan remarked, taking a hardy bite from his meal, his mind drifting off into the past, a flashback was on the horizon. "It was maybe 10 years ago..." Brennan muttered under his breath, his voice low and mind drifting, even more, a small pain returning to his chest for a short moment.

Not So Noble Nobles
"Takatakatakataka." The sounds of footsteps could be heard running through the halls of a lustrous building, the walls lined with beautiful satin curtains and paintings created by only the most delicate and talented hands, the walls held up by marble pillars, with gold etched in the top and bottoms, the hallway was gorgeous and long, very, very, long...

A small darker-skinned boy ran through the halls, a basket in his arms and a large bag on his back as he took off as fast as he could, the sounds of his footsteps echoing throughout the halls as he raced at immense speeds towards a specific direction. The boy donned a sleek black opened blazer over a pearly white button-down with the top button open and some sleek black slacks and no shoes. The ensemble seemed a bit odd considering the quality of the space and the clothes he did have on, but nonetheless, he ran, and ran, and ran.

Soon he got to the end of the corridor, a big steel door at the end as he sped up, his chest pumping and his breath raging in and out of his body as he pushed himself to the limits to run and run. The boy made an abrupt stop, taking a second to catch his breath before pulling a large ring from his pockets with more than several keys attached to it. He fumbles with it for a moment before finding a boring brass key and sticking it into the lock without a second thought and swinging the large steel door open with all his might.

As the door swung open and light escaped into the room, only dust and darkness flooding out, small ivory-skinned arms leaped out of the darkness, open and out as they clashed into the boy's body and grabbed him in a large embrace. Behind those arms was a small girl with two ratty blue pigtails and a tattered brown dress, she despite her appearance had a look of pure and absolute joy on her face as her eyes met with the boy's own.

"Big Bro! You're here!" The girl exclaimed, rubbing her dusty cheek against his own in joy as the boy gave her a large hug back for a moment before jolting up with her in his arms.

"Shhh! Somone'll hear ya. We gotta get inside." The boy lifted her on his back and crept into the rook, turning around to close the door behind him, peering into the hallway to make sure they weren't followed. He slowly shut the large door as not to lock it behind him, shutting it as much as he could before turning to the girl and giving her a large hug.

"I've missed you so much, Morgie! It was like hell being away with that fatass, I'm so happy to see you!" The boy chanted, giving him her hardiest and largest hug as she embraced him in great joy. They released each other after a minute of embrace, the pure joy apparent in both of their eyes.

Morgie took the boy by his hand and led him deeper into the dungeon and through a tunnel, leading him to a large town-sized room filled with darkness and tattered homes, along with the bare minimum to live off of and people crowding the streets of what seemed to be a hidden city.

"GUYS! BRENNAN'S BACK!" Morgie exclaimed loudly, leading to many turned heads and smiles, they all made their way to the pair of children. From all around the two happy people came to greet the boy with hugs and kisses, their bodies nearly withered away and skinny, they were barely living, but something about the boy brought hope to their lifeless eyes, giving them another shred of hope as he brought the light along with him.

Brennan set down his basket and bag to greet a few more people before opening up the bag to reveal food. things from cakes and cookies to meats and milk, he had it all and the people couldn't have been happier to see it. Their eyes gleamed and hope entered their eyes as they shared out the spoils and broke off pieces for them all to share.

Brennan then turned to Morgie, bending down slightly to get to her level and reaching into his pocket. "Here ya go, Morgie. This is one of my favorite snacks, and I want you to try it." Brennan said, pulling a pack of bright blue jello from his pocket, a wood spoon attached to the top of it. "Here, try it."

Morgie's eyes widened, anything Brennan liked she liked as well so not only was she ecstatic, but it made her love for Brennan grow that much more. She peeled the top off of the jello and stuck the small spoon through its odd textured form, taking a nice scoop and spooning it into her mouth. To her delight, she was met with a beautiful flavor. she loved everything from the texture to the taste. "Thanks, Big Bro!" Morgie exclaimed.

"No problem!" Brennan said proudly, a large smile on his face. As he watched Morgie devour the sweet treat he looked off into the town, which was, in fact, the slaves quarters, made up of all the personal slaves of Monsieur Rogue. Brennan got angry just at the thought of how he treated these poor people and he hated that bushy stashed bastard even more than he did before, but for Morgie's sake, this day was just about fun.

"Heya, Morgie. Where's your mom?" Brennan questioned, his eyebrow raised as he looked deeper into their small cave community.

Morgie's face took a hard turn from happy to sad, her head now held low and her arms draped down at her sides. "She's out with Ludwig right now..." Morgie muttered, tears welling up in her eyes as she thought of what her mom would be forced to do as she was dragged on chains and ordered around by a tyrant such as Bathory Ludwig.

Brennan smashed his fist into his open palm, his fist crushed so tightly his nails dug into his skin, anger spilling from his eyes. "C'mon, Morgie. Where gonna go free your mom!" Brennan snatched onto Morgie's wrist and dragged her to the door, going through a tunnel and entering the main corridor, standing before the large door.

"I don't know about that, Big Bro. What if we just make things worse. He may not be able to really hurt you, but he doesn't care about us. He's heartless." Morgie studdered, clutching her body close to Brennan's own as she stood in fear of what his plan could end in.

"I'll never let dat happen, Morgie. I'll never let you get hurt! I've only been able to stand by and watch you get beat, but I've been training and I'm ready to take action!" Brennan barked, and aura of safety and intensity from him as Morgie looked up at him and awe, tucking her head into her back with a nod.

"Let's do it!" Morgie said determined, tagging along behind Brennan as he creaked open the door and made his way into the bright walls of the building. She shook in fear for a moment, having never been out of her small dark home without some kind of chains on her back, but within that fear, she had a sense of liberation, standing alongside Brennan, she felt safe, she was truly her big brother.

"Here we go! Let's save your mom and beat the stash off the face of that smug dick!"

Liberation from the Unholy Man
Brennan and Morgie had made their way undetected through the entire building, checking every spot Ludwig could have been at before stopping in the bathhouse. As they snuck in, the walls were lined with tile paintings and marble all over the walls, a screen of steam engulfing the entire room with heat. Brennan snuck through the heat, following the sounds of running water before reaching a large doorway and peaking around the corner for his enraged eyes to be met with a naked Ludwig, lounging in a pool of bubbles and steam.

"SCRUB HARDER!!" The large man ordered, his hand swinging up and cutting through the smoke before slamming down and smashing into the face of a young woman who held a loofah in her hands, her face smashing to the wet floor as she held back the tears.

The woman rose back up from the ground trembling under the man's gaze, his chest pumped high as his hands moved from his side to her face. He crushed her face in his hand with his large grip, pulling her close to his body and into the water.

"You think I like laying a hand on you disgusting mud rats?! Maybe is you did your job right I wouldn't need to do that! Or would you like another job to do?" Ludwig threatened, his other hand moving from his side to her breasts, yanking her body closer and running them down her body, moving her tattered and wet dress aside as it hugged her body.

She tried to push away in fear but her malnourished and small body couldn't fight his strength, she begged him with her eyes to let her go as the few other slaves who resided in the bath stood aside, not daring to move an inch as they were locked in their fear.

His hands moved from her breasts to her lower body, his other arm dragging her in as she shed tears from her eyes, pushing off of him with all the might she could muster from her small body.

"S-stop." The steam began to clear as the water shut and now the pair of kids would be able to see her clearly as Ludwig embraced Morgie's mother as she teared up more and more, the fear of this man breaking down her body and spirit as he moved closer and closer to him, her dress nearly off as he gently caressed her face, wiping her tears away and pulling her closer, their bodies now touching, the only thing between them was the water that rolled from their skin and into the bath.

Brennan's eye's widened in anger and confusion as he watched Ludwig defile Morgie's mother right before their eyes. Brennan couldn't help but do something, he stood before Morgie, hopefully blocking her eyes before she realized just what was happening, taking a deep breath for a moment, his anger being bottled up in his body, ready to burst out.

"STOP!!!"

A wave of heat engulfed the room, forcing the steam away and pushing forward, the look in Brennan's eye's a gleaming red. The slaves who stood aside fell to the ground unconscious, slamming to the wet ground. Brennan made his way into the bathroom, the anger in his eyes growing every moment as he began racing towards a debilitated Ludwig, cocking his fist back and slamming it into the man's face, forcing Morgie's mother from his arms as she fell to the ground, draped on the edge of the bath.

"WHAT IN THE HELL!" Ludwig yelled as the heat took over his body, making him light-headed as his body became light, drifting him into unconsciousness, only to be dragged out as Brennan smashed his fist into his face, sending him across the bath and away from Morgie's mother.

"MOM!" Morgie cried out, running to her mom, sliding across the wet floor and slipping her knees under her head as she sat in her lap. Morgie caressed her mom's head, beckoning her back out of her unconscious state, tears rolling down both of their faces.

Morgie looked up to Brennan as he stood chivalrously above them, his fist clenched together as he protected them in any way he could. Morgie couldn't help but smile, but for just how long would it last this time.

Marching sounds could be heard approaching the bath, the steel clattering of swords and armor chanting towards the room. It grew closer and closer as the sheen of the metal turned the corner, four knights appearing before them.

"We heard the ruckus and came as soon as we could. What's going on here!" The knight standing to the front questioned, his eyes meeting Brennan first, then sliding to Morgie and her mother, and lastly to a knocked out Ludwig and the current situation became immensely clear.

They each rushed from where they stood, two going to tend to Ludwig, one racing to subdue Brennan, wrapping him in a headlock and holding him in the air, the remaining one clanking chains down on Morgie and her mother.

"LET ME GO!" Brennan cried out in anger as he watched Morgie and her half-unconscious mother get dragged from the ground and held on chains.

"YOU BRAT!" Ludwig cried out from across the bath, holding his jaw as the knight gave him a towel for decency. "YOU FUCKING MUD RATS, HOW DARE YOU LAY A HAND ON ME YOU HEATHEN!" Ludwig howled, walking over to a held down Brennan, throwing his arm back then forward, smacking Brennan across his face.

"I'LL KILL YO-" Brennan barked, the knight covering his mouth with his steel gloves as to stop the noise.

Ludwig dusted himself off and turned to Morgie and her mother, his eyes flaring with even more anger. Not only one insolent child, but now two. He had to do something, he couldn't take this disrespect lying down.

Ludwig walked towards Morgie and her mother, reaching his arm out and snatching them by their hair, dragging them to the floor as Morgie screamed in pain.

"STOPP!!!" Morgie cried, her body too weak to do anything else but scream in pain.

Ludwig kicked Morgie in her side as he dragged her by her hair, causing her to scream in pain as he dragged them chains and all down the hall, going back to their small dwelling.

"L-LET EM G-" Brennan muttered, his voice muffled as he yelled and screamed the entire way down the hall, kicking into the knight's back as Morgie and her mother were dragged by their heads down the hall.

The remaining Knight moved in front of the group to open the large steel door before them and Ludwig lifted them up by their hair and threw her mother into the room, slamming her to the ground.

However, before he could throw Morgie, the wooden spoon she had saved in her pocket, she broke mid-walk and when she could, she jabbed it into Ludwig's side as he screamed.

Ludwig began to grow feathers and talons, his arms growing to wings as he slammed Morgie down to the ground and stomped on her repeatedly, slashing at her body and beating her till she was bloody.

Brennan's eyes widened in anger as he bit at the man's armor and forced his way out of the knight's arms, though it was too late.

Ludwig kicked Morgie into the slave's quarters as she tumbled across the ground and slammed to the floor. Brennan watched as the doors closed before him, running to the room as fast as a child his age could, but alas it was too late, the door slammed shut before he could get to her and unbeknownst to him, he'd never see her again...

Charge the Castle
"Well there it is, now let's get going." Brennan rose from his seat, his heart clenched in his chest, tears just behind his eyes as he held his head down, making his way out of the room and into his own, presumably to get ready to charge the holy land.

Seijuro's disposition was a serious one, he truly felt for the kid, and even in his many years as a killer and fighting in wars, he's never seen a child take on so much pain and come outstanding, he just hoped revenge wouldn't be Brennan's end.

He simply took another sip of tea, cutting a bit of the tension in the room. "Go on, get ready. I wouldn't keep him waiting." Seijuro remarked, glaring above his cup and over to the pair left at the table, even the bird that once flew above Z sat melancholy and sad, his wings low, his own mood implemented by the powerful feelings of the emperor before them.

Zephyr had been awfully quiet after his loud antics before. His tattoos on the left side on his face seemed to ache. He rubbed his fingers on his face, below his eye, where the number “IX” had been placed. He had covered the mark of the dragon they had painfully placed on him, however, he left that small mark, that which reminded him how he was treated as less than cattle. A number, that’s how he was referred by those despicable nobles.

He went through experiences similar to Brennan’s own, how powerless he was to fight against his situation. Now, he had the power, and determination to save others from that hell, and was determined in helping his new “big bro” to fight his demons.

Zephyr clenched his fist, and was about to slam the table again before he recalled Seijuro’s rage, so he controlled himself, jumped to his feet, and went to get prepared. He got in the shower and dressed in ten minutes, picked up his new staff, a kairoseki staff he had stolen from the Marines before arriving here, which Seijuro asked to keep hidden and covered as the energy radiated irritated Brennan and Levi, and rushed outside. Zephyr began stretching, warming up, before he began meditating, floating in midair, in preparation for the dangerous task ahead.

Levi clenched her teeth tightly, barely containing her rage as small sparks of electricity surged from her body. She expected something horrible but the story she just heard showed just how monstrous these so-called "Celestial Dragons" were, believing they stood above everyone else. It was disgusting to know there were people like that out there and those who supported them. To know these people did such a thing to Brennan caused that anger to amplify by twice fold. However, she forced herself to calm down. She needed to be ready for this battle and then, she would give him everything he needed to be happy once this was over.

"I'm going to enjoy killing some 'Dragons'" Levi muttered to herself as she prepared herself for the coming battle on the Holy Land.

Brennan slid he room door opened, walking out into the hallway, ready for battle, a black blade at his side, his eyes sharp like a shark's own, he seemed like the perfect predator. He made his way to the front of the man's home, walking out and to his gate, placing his large sack nearly the size of the doorway itself to the ground, awaiting the arrival of his comrades, his disposition cold and menacing, as the fateful hour closed in, his body and mind became aligned in a single goal, killing Bathory Ludwig and slaughtering as many nobles as he possibly could.

"I'll get revenge for you, Morgana. I'll make him regret laying a hand on you." Brennan mumbled to himself, his mind flashing back to the many traumatic events that took him to where he is right now, his fist clenched tight and his body enraged, ready to storm the holy land.

The Celestial Dragon's Swords
"Where is the guard?! they don't expect me to walk around with these lesser nobles with no guard do they?!" Ludwig screamed, his neck shaking in anger as he looked up and down the street, awaiting the arrival of his guard, an enormous woman in a fur coat to his left and a small oranged toned man to his right.

"How shameful! This is how they treat us?! These god damn Cipher Pol agents just don't know their places." The large-bodied woman yelled, her forehead dripping in sweat from just standing on her own two legs for a short time.

"Calm down, Celine. Your legs can't handle such stress." The small man laughed, covering his mouth with his hand as he laughed more and more, all at the woman's extent.

"HOLD YOUR TONGUE!" The woman barked, swatting at the man with her hand, closing her coat to cover the many rolls underneath in anger, her flustered attitude causing her to sweat even more. "Where are these damn agents!" Celine barked in a posh tone.

"You called?" said a green-haired woman. She had practically appeared out of thin air, right next to Celine. Her partner, a much taller man, appeared on the other side.

"Took you long enough." Celine scoffed, lifting her hands and clapping her hands in the most condescending and commanding way she could. In an instant 4 slaves with large muscles came from the building behind her, connected by chains and holding onto a large but majestic platform like bed.

They lowered the bed before Celine. She lifted her dress and stepped onto it, slamming it to the ground as she laid down on the bed, propping her head up with a pillow, her rolls settling in the plush lining of the bed.

She clapped her hands once again, and as she did, the slaves struggled to lift the bed to their shoulders, laying it down on the permanent indent on their shoulders as their bodies all drifted inwards in agony.

"Alright, now that she's ready." Ludwig said with contempt and annoyance in his eyes as he glared at the woman. "We have business to attend to." Ludwig began to walk through the holy land, on his arm was three chains. He dragged along three slaves, two nearly dead, but one young girl with blue hair, her eyes full of passion, her body near dead, but still toned, she was an oddity among slaves, but an oddity easily overlooked.

The trio and their guard soon arrived to a small and elegant building, hidden deep in the holy land. They all stood in front of the door for a moment, looking back to the guard in unison. "Are you not going to get the door?!" Ludwig demanded, a posh scoff in his voice acting almost like an entitled brat, which was all to familiar to his affiliates.

Zy yawned. "I'm sorry, did you say something? Did he say something Lester?"

Lester shrugged his shoulders.

"I apologize, but you're going to have to repeat yourself."

"I said get the door, mud rat!" Ludwig demanded back, the eye's of his slaves and associates all drifted towards him and the guard as he stood, seething in anger.

"Okay, now I know I didn't hear you right," said Zy, "because I know you wouldn't call the person responsible for keeping you alive a mud rat."

"That's exactly what I did, Mud rat. And if you wanna stay in your position, I advise you open the damn door!!" Ludwig barked once again, his chest high as if he was looking down on Zy, raising the eye's of many other guards and nobles.

Zy shrugged. She brandished her clawed gloves, quickly swiping her hand through the air. The door was sliced to pieces, splinters of wood flying everyone. Zy and Lester seemed unperturbed by the shrapnel. "There, door's open."

"How dare you!" Celine shouted, fanning herself off as the shrapnel got caught in her coat, her slaves in so much pain the cuts they would get mattered not.

"I will have your head for this. You're lucky I have business to which I must attend." Ledwig dusted himself off in anger, stepping over the shrapnel and into the darkroom, standing to the front of the room, awaiting proper greeting, his chest just as high as before.

A series of footsteps echoed throughout the building. Someone was coming. Within a few seconds, the someone in question had reached the door. His hair was neat and cut, a white mask with black eyes obscuring a majority of his face. His attire was a long black coat and sleek style. Anyone in the fashion world could connect such glamour to Donatelli Designs. Mauricio Kerrim made his appearance, but under his Underworld persona, Macchia.

As he stepped through the door, he bowed to greet Ledwig. "Pleasure."

"Yes, to meet me is the highest of pleasures." Ludwig remarked, pumping his chest up and looking down on Macchia. He began to walk past the man, yanking his slaves on chains. Once again, the blue-haired girl stood out, she didn't allow herself to be dragged, instead, she moved on her own volition, much to Ludwig's dismay, but he let it go when he realized just who it was who pulled the chains back. "I don't have time for this insolent brat's antics" Ludwig thought.

Something about her aura was special, it was pure yet damaged, like a pale blue flower, crushed in someone's hands and dropped to the ground in winter. Her eyes were cold, so was her disposition, but something deep within her was hot, almost as if the flower knew of an oncoming spring where it would bloom again, but everyone knew, that was impossible for them, or so it seemed.

Celine clapped her hands, her slaves carrying her past as she held her neck high, that being the only part of her disgustingly obese body she managed to carry on her own. Woods walked along behind her, for such a small man it was near impossible for him to be so high and mighty, so he simply gave the man a nod and kept on his way.

"So Macchia, do you have what I came for?" Ludwig begged the question, his eyes shutting to a glare as he looked back to Macchia.