One Piece: Undying Dream

A giant of a man, with a crescent white mustache standing to the captain's right crossed his massive arms. "Is this really necessary? These people are already slaves. They've suffered enough without us razing their island."

The rose-pink haired woman beside him nodded slightly. "He raises a fair point. Once we find the text, we could simply leave them be."

The captain turned toward them, his grin never faltering though something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "Getting soft, are we? Need I remind you both why we're here in this backwater? The World Government believes their secrets are safe, hidden in forgotten places like this." He gestured broadly at the island. "This 'slave trading post' is just a cover. Beneath it lies information that will lead us to weapons that can challenge even the Celestial Dragons."

A floating man with a mane of golden hair, flowing wildly laughed sharply. "Always the grand speeches! If your information is correct for once, that would be refreshing." He adjusted his flamboyant captain's hat. "Though I must say, the South Blue is hardly worthy of my talents. We should be conquering the New World, not scavenging in this pond."

"Nobody asked you," the captain retorted without looking at him. "You're welcome to leave my crew anytime... if you think you'd survive the attempt."

The tension between them was palpable, crackling like electricity in the air.

A massive woman—easily two or three times the height of an ordinary human—stepped forward, her booming laugh cutting through the growing hostility. "MAMA MAMA MAMA! Boys and their squabbles! While you're busy measuring your pride, we could be collecting what we came for." She looked down at Dagon with undisguised contempt. "This worm is stalling for time. I can smell his fear."

Beside her a slightly smaller, youthful muscular man with black hair in a ponytail snorted. "I'll handle it. I'll tear this place apart and find the text myself."

The giant woman patted his head condescendingly. "Patience, little one. You're still too green to understand the value of subtlety."

The youth shrugged off her touch with obvious irritation. "I didn't join this crew to stand around waiting."

"Are we really waiting an hour?" asked another crew member, A ragged man with sunken eyes, swaying as he stood.

"Of course not," the captain replied, his grin widening. "This was never a negotiation. I merely wanted to see the fear in his eyes before we begin." He turned to the black haired youth, clearly eager to prove himself. "Consider this island your test. Show us what you can do."

The young man's face lit up with malicious anticipation. "With pleasure."

"But the —" the mustached man began.

"Will survive whatever destruction our young friend unleashes," the captain interrupted. "These World Government vaults are built to withstand natural disasters. The same can't be said for the people here."

The blonde man floated forward. "Captain, if I may... If ancient text is actually here. Shouldn't we exercise some... strategy?"

The captain's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Questioning my judgment again?"

"Merely suggesting that a blind rampage might damage what we came for," the blonde man replied smoothly, though his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"The South Blue outpost was supposed to be a simple extraction," the mustached giant said quietly. "We're drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves this far from our territory."

The massive woman laughed again. "MAMA MAMA! Always the conscientious one! We're already here because that fool with the axe got himself captured by Marine Intelligence. The Government knows we're looking for the ancient weapons. Subtlety is long past."

The pink-haired woman touched the bearded giant's arm lightly. "The slaves, at least, could be spared. They're innocent in all this."

"Your concern for the weak is touching, but misplaced," the captain said, his voice suddenly soft and all the more menacing for it. "There are no innocents in this world—only the strong and the prey."

Dagon, still kneeling in the sand, raised his head slightly. "Captain... the text you seek... perhaps we could come to an arrangement? We can give—"

The captain moved so quickly that Roku missed it—one moment standing still, the next driving his fist into Dagon's chest with such force that the warlord was lifted off his feet. Blood erupted from Dagon's mouth as he collapsed back to the sand, gasping.

"Your hour just expired," the captain said casually, wiping his bloodied knuckles on Dagon's shirt. "Begin."

The recruit stepped forward, cracking his knuckles with anticipation. "The whole island, Captain?"

"The whole island. Leave nothing standing." The black haired man dashed off.