Chapter 83

Grandline, Paradise, Impel Down

Standing there on the deck of the ship with Robin crying against his c.h.e.s.t Azul took stock of the situation they were currently in while trying to sooth the distraught woman who slowly calmed down and with it her shacking body returned to normal though she refused to let her pillar of security go for some more time until she was ready to somehow tackle the world once more.

'Ironic how a few simple conversations can help someone who has been isolated for her whole life forge a connection as a means to venture forwards once again...' Azul thought while watching Robin straighten her back after wiping her cheeks clean of her tears before she stepped next to Azul, not saying anything.

Deverting his gaze away from Robin, Azul spotted the big man in the weird red suit with the curly blue hair and said mans entourage that were speaking with Crocodile. Walking over to the former warlord Azul simply wanted to find out who else was on their ship that he didn't yet know. All the while Robin followed behind Azul which he knew but simply chose to ignore.

"And who are you?" Azul asked the big man that set his eyes on Azul who for the first time met somebody that was just as tall as himself, both towering over the rest with a height of 4,5m. Azul though possessed alot more muscles. The clown, for a lack of a better word, on the other hand had covered his body in some tatoos and only covered some parts of his body, all contained in his weird swimming suit like thingy.

"Oh my, aren't you a big fellow yihahahahaha" The big man laughed weirdly while some members of his entourage courageously oggled Azul who only raised an eyebrow in their direction making them step behind the large man that laughed once more upon their interaction.

"I apologise for my overenthusiastic subordinates. I am the current king of the kingdom of Kamabakka, home to the s.e.x.u.a.lly freespirited of this world. Emporio Ivankov be my name yiiiiiiiihaaaaaaaa!" the large man said, bringing a slight tick to Azuls eyebrow at the weird outcries of the king before him.

"So you were prisoners as well then? Otherwise I'll have to ask you kindly to get your arses off this ship." Azul said, his eyes wandering from each member of the entourage until they came back to rest on their king, whos face never lost its toothy grin.

"Do not worry about us being members of the world government. In fact we are their opponents! How would you like to join the revolutionary army? We could use someone of your strength, yiiiiihaaaaaa!" Ivankov's words finally enlightened a lightbulb in Azuls head.

"Not interested but thanks for the offer..."

After hearing the groups statement and saying his piece he simply turned around and walked to the railing to sitdown against, before motioning Crocodile and Nami over to join him. Robin all the while never left his side like a shadow, starting to worry Azul slightly if she maybe had been more impacted by the whole ordeal than he originally had thought.

Looking into her eyes though and searching her soul he only found an image of him that radiated security which pulled all the fears from Robins subconcious mind and converted them into positive energy. Understanding what was happening to her he didn't question it further and simply let her stay. Though he hoped that she would finish the assimilation process before the fighting picked up once more since he could not look after her all the time when he played the biggest role on their ship.

While waiting for Nami and Crocodile to join him Azul looked into the distance towards Impel Down and witnessed for the first time the true might of the buster call. Hundreds of canonballs blackened the sky under their rapid fire as they blasted the prison into pieces under the echoing screams from the remaining marines, guards and prisoners that were still on the pier and fighting for their lives.

Turning away from the sight, Azul adressed an issue that they would have to take care of sooner rather than later and he would need their help to solve the problem.

"Alright, so far we have been able to get some distance between us and the buster call but it will not always stay that way. After the marines have completely eradicated Impel Down and anybody in its vicinity they will turn their eyes on us and unfortunately we are in their teritory right now, giving them all the power which makes us very vulnerable. As soon as the marines close the two open gates of justice the gigantic whirlpool in the middle of them will come back into existence once more, possibly swallowing us after some time. Our only hope of escape is to somehow get the giant gate to open up which would lead us to Enies Lobby, from where we can easily disappear from under their radar. To get to this point though we need that gate open which is a huge problem. Do you have any ideas on how to get it to open?" Azul asked the group which were deep in thought.

"I could buy us some time with the whirlpool through smart navigation but that will only get us so far. I cannot help with the gates unfortunately. Though, out of curiosity, how are they opened?" Nami asked in return making the rest of the small group turn back to Azul who had a small idea in his head that grew more insane by the second and worried the group slightly after they had spotted the growing toothy grin on the mans face.

"The gate opens from the outside through a lever that is situated on a patch of land or some kind of base. That doesn't matter though as I've thought of something rather fun. You probably won't like it though, hahahaha" Azul said with a slight laughter escaping his mouth causing Crocodile and Nami to step back a little in aprehension while Robin grew a smile on her face, soaking in the positive energy that Azul radiated at this very moment.

"What? Do you want to break open the gate of justice that leads through to Enies Lobby by force or something?" Crocodile asked a little confused. He simply had no clue what the man may have thought of in the minutes they were talking.

"We will not break through by force and it will not be the one that leads to Enies Lobby. No. We will escape through that gate of justice!" Azul said with a shining grin on his face, turning around while pointing right at the open gate that lead straight to the marine headquarters.

"You are mad!" the others muttered in utter shock at the ridiculous idea. Azul though couldn't help but laugh louder.

"Maybe a little, but who cares about semantics anyways hahahahaha" and with those words the marine ship they were currently travelling on changed course from the middle of the three gates of justice straight towards marine headquarters.