Chapter 11: My Name!

Our fists clashed in a burst of powerful Haki. I swung a left hook at him but he blocked it with his harm and threw a punch forward, but I leaned out of the way and swung a fist into his chest. He threw his whole arm at me and I had to duck to dodge it before I used all my body weight into shooting a punch right into his stomach.

I was taken by surprised as he uppercutted me in the gut, then followed up by punching me across the face. I stumbled back from the force of the blow, but quickly regained my balance, spitting out a glob of blood and sloppily wiping my chin before I charged in again with a battle cry.

I threw a reckless punch which he blocked with crossed arms, but I followed up with another, then another, attempting to pressurise him with an onslaught of punches. When he saw an opening, he threw a punch, and I just barely dodged, his fist painfully grazing my left cheek.

Taking advantage, I smashed my fist into his stomach, making him cough from the force before I crashed my fist into the side of his face, making him grit his teeth hard as his head was thrown to one side. I went for a third hit to the ribs, but he forcefully knocked my punch away with his arm then tried to hit me again, only managing to sweep through my air as I swung a punch into his rib, feeling a rib bone craxk from the force.

I was too careless however, as X punched me right in the face. Pain flared from the impact and I cried out as I gained a black eye and a wound covering my face. I refused to clutch it in agony though, focusing on using both my fists to retaliate through a series of punches to his stomach.

I quickly swung my leg into his, making it buckle, hoping for him to fall to his knees, but he stood strong and smacked me across the face with a right hook, making my eyes widen as my whole body was tossed to the side and I was forced to regain my footing.

We roared before clashing again. Punch after punch, fists meeting fists every time. Knuckles cracking, fingers burning from fatigue and pain, but neither side relenting as we continued to match blow for blow, getting more battered and bruised each time. I hit him in the arm and made him clutch it in pain, before he hit me in the chest and made me wheeze as the air was knocked out of my lungs, hurriedly regaining it in frenzied gulps for air before we once again clashed fists.

We both staggered back, and I bent over, supporting myself with my battle weary fists on my grazed knees, breathing heavily as tiredness overcame me. I looked up at X to see him clutching his chest as he gave out short, ragged breaths.

"Hah...Hah...ha...hahahaha!" He suddenly laughed. "That's it, Ellix! Keep coming at me again and again! Give me the feeling of being alive!"

"Arrrrrrrgggghhhhh!" I complied as I ignored my body pleading to stop and ran forward again, throwing a stright punch which he threw back with a sweeping hook. I dug my heels into the ground and threw my weight into a rising punch which X met with a falling one, our fists clashing fiercely, as I just barely managed to overpower his and smack him across the face.

I wasted no time in delivering a strong punch to the stomach, and he responded by doing the same thing, making me cough up spittle from the force of impact. I tilted my head back and threw it forward, headbutting him in the chest and pushing him back, before he kneed me in the gut, making me take several steps back from the impact.

I leaned on a rock next to me, clutching my chest as I panted heavily, with X allowing his body posture to droop as he breathed deeply. This was a true battle. No abilities. No Devil Fruits. Just a clash of pure power, Haki, and wills against one another, both refusing to relent to the other.

Again, we rushed each other, throwing punch after punch at each other. Neither of us bothered to block anymore, enduring each and every hit, each and every flare of pain, at this point it was no longer a hindrance; it reminded us that we were still fighting, still struggling, still living.

X roared as he slammed his fist into my chest, sending me skidding back from the force. I attempted to charge at him, but my legs suddenly failed me and I fell to my hands and knees, breathing heavily as my body ached and burned all over.

"Hah...Hah...Hah..." X panted.

"Hah...hah...n...not yet!" I punched the ground, making it crack underneath my fist as I forced myself to my feet, glaring at him with all the strength I could muster, before taking a deep breath.

"I AM WODOS T. ELLIX! THE MAN WHO WILL BECOME...THE STRONGEST ROKUSHIKI USER!" I screamed, before letting loose a gutteral battle cry.

"MY NAME IS X! THE MAN WHO WILL LIVE FULLY UNTIL HE DIES!" X shouted, unleashing a ferocious war cry.

Using every last ounce of my strength, I threw a straight punch, as did he, and our fists clashed. I ground my teeth and my face twisted into strained anger as I pushed against the force of his punch, whilst X bared his teeth as his temple pulsed furiously, both of us trying to over power the other, forcing each others fists to back down.

Until...

My fist gave way, and X's fist, now unapposed, barreled straight into my face with a powerful crash.

My eyes rolled into the back of my head as it was thrown backwards. My mouth flew open as a stomach load of blood shot out and splattered the rocks behind me. I stood there, back arched, eyes whitened, mouth hanging open, blood covering my face, immobile.

My vision began to blur...everything was growing dark...my body began to feel numb...

It felt like I couldn't hold on for much longer...

...

But I refused.

I clenched my teeth and fists as hard as possible, the pain forcing my vision back into focus as I pulled my body back.

"Rrrrrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh..." X's eyes widened in shock as I threw my body forward.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!" I clenched my fist as hard as possible, and threw my arm forward.

My fist smashed atraight into his stomach, the sound of ribs cracking filling the cavern as my fist caved his whole midsection in and bulged out of his back, X coughing up blood as he felt the full impact.

For a moment, nothing happened. I felt as if I would collapse at any moment, my legs threatening to give way beneath me.

Then...X took three slow steps back...and collapsed.

I had won.

We both breathed heavily now that it was over, and I stood at my full height whilst X lay on his back.

"Hah...hah...I lost..." X stated. "This damn sickness...hah...I wanted to enjoy it...hah...for just a little longer...hah...still though...I'm grateful...hah...you can end me now, Wodos T. Ellix..."

"Hah...I've regained my pride, as well as the honour of the Rokushiki technique...hah...that's all I wanted..." I told him.

X grinned. "Leaving a man on something like that?...Hah...you pirates really are cruel..."

I looked up through the cavern, and saw a passageway up. I instantly knew where to go, and began walking.

"Where do you think your going?" X asked me.

"To my nakama." I said. "They're up here...I know it."

"Don't be ridiculous." X growled as he forced himself to his feet, clutching his chest in pain. "Your too injured, you cannot make it like that."

"Your one to talk." I hissed as he began walking. "What do you think YOUR doing?"

"I am going to my captain and my wife." He said sternly.

"That's stupid." I muttered. "Your far too injured, just lie down and rest, moron!"

"I'm fine you little brat! Your the one who needs to lie down and stop whining!" He replied.

"Screw you! Sickly Idiot!"

"Piss off! Pirate scum!"

We continued hurling insults at each other as we climbed through the cavern. In a way...we were helping each other. Pushing the other to keep going, to not fall down now that we were so close, forcing ourselves to outdo the other.

Finally, we exited the cavern into what looked like the base of the volcano. I stumbled forward, and looked to see my crew standing over at a distance.

"Ellix!" Nami called to me.

A weak smile covered my beaten face. "You guys..." I managed to take one more step before I felt myself fall forward into the dirt.

"Ellix! Ellix!" I felt someone pick me up, and I looked up to see two chocolate brown eyes and orange hair look down on me. "Are you okay!? Ellix!"

"Nami..." I breathed. "Your back to normal..."

"So are you." She nodded, smiling, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Ellix." Luffy came into my vision, grinning happily. "Awesome job."

"Waaaaaah! Ellix! Don't die!" Chopper screamed.

"Well done, Ellix-san! Yohohoho!" Brook laughed.

"Great job not dying." Zoro snorted.

"Shitty dreamer...don't make me worry like that!" Sanji growled.

I couldn't help but smile as my nakama surrounded me, and I looked over to see X surrounded by his friends.

"X...it's over...I'm sorry." Z huffed. "...I'm just glad your safe."

"Don't worry about it..." X chuckled. "We'll just have to hold off on that drink."

"X! Do not worry! I am here for you!" Binz cried.

"X, your mask..." Ain whispered, looking at him.

"It's alright, Ain..." He gently took her hand. "I'm okay..." She smiled lightly, before the two of them kissed, and I felt myself smile.

"It seems everyone is gathered here." I immediately scrambled to my feet at the horribly familiar voice, and we looked up to see a certain Marine Admiral, with countless soldiers, Captains, and Vice-Admirals boring down on us.

"Kizaru!" Robin gasped, or Borsalino, as I knew him.

"It's a shame that Strawhat and Master Zephyr are so close to death." Kizaru sighed. "But seeing as your all going to die anyway, it's just the same."

"Damnit, at a time like this-!" Usopp muttered.

Z, however, just smirked. "Heh, you brought them all." He began walking forward. "In the end, I did what I wanted. Now I have to pay the price for doing just that. Or I wouldn't be able to face those who went before me." He grinned widely as he put on his shades. "Strawhat Luffy. You have your own adventure, don't you? Leave this to me, Z!"

"Ossan!" Luffy gasped.

"Master!" Ain cried, when suddenly, a great wall of ice emerged between them.

"Kuzan..." I mumbled, before looking around and realising. "Hold on! Where is...!?"

"So...this is where I die." Z muttered.

"Not alone." A voice said as a figure stood next to him.

"Xenack?" Z glanced at him, though not sounding all that surprised.

"Don't think I'm gonna let you have a last stand alone." X told him. "So don't go spouting crap about honour or some bull."

Z laughed. "You stubborn little...you knew as soon as you took off your mask, didn't you?...Your an idiot."

"Master! Xenack!" Ain pounded on the wall of ice, but to no avail. "Xenack! Please!"

On the other side, X looked over his shoulder, and gave a long sigh, as he walked over to the ice and placed a hand on it. "Ain...I'm sorry."

"Xenack..." Ain placed her own hand on the ice.

"I've known ever since before I joined the Marines...that my illness would claim my life far too early." He spoke gravely. "And yet, knowing that...I fell in love with you, prepared to leave you before we could experience so much more together...I never meant to hurt you."

"Don't say that!" She sobbed. "I don't regret a single thing! Everything we've done together! I wouldn't...I don't want it to..."

"I'm not long for this world...but I have lived more then I ever thought possible. Now...here, fighting beside Zephyr...knowing that I am protecting you...I can die without regrets..." He nodded. More for his resolve then anything else.

"So, please...live for me, Ain. Live and be happy. And know...that I will always love you." He took his hand away from the ice and walked into the battlefield.

"No! NO! Xenack! XENACK!" She screamed desperately.

On the other side, Zephyr and Xenack fought fiercely, beating back wave after wave of Marines.

"Yasakani no Magatama!" Kizaru declared, generating a gathering of light.

"Borsalino!" Z roared.

"Sayonara, Master Zephyr." The Admiral unleashed a storm of light bullets that blast into the two fighters and making them stagger back against the ice wall coughing up heavy amounts of blood.

And the Marines cried...as they fought against their old mentor, and their young upstart friend.

X couldn't help but grin. "It's been a pleasure, Zephyr."

Z grinned back. "Same here, Xenack."

The two of them stood tall. "We're gonna give you one last lesson!" And the two of them charged into battle one last time...together.

And as we sailed away, me and Luffy looked back at the destruction, and the ruin...to the sacrifice that they made for us.

xxxFilmxZxxx

Two graves stood side by side facing the rising sun. The large one on the left had the Battle Smasher wrapped around it, whilst the left had an oxygen mask hanging from it, with a golden wedding ring placed on top.

Ain and Binz stood in front of them, trying and failing to hold back their tears at the memorials of their master, their friend, and in one case, their husband. Kuzan stood behind them, holding a bottle of Cherez.

"Don't cry!" He yelled. "They ended their lives as they wanted to." He looked at the graves. "Don't you think they're incredible?"

And the sun shone brightly on the weapons battle scars, in recognition of their worthy carriers...and the opponents who fought them.

xxxFilmxZxxx

We returned the weaponry and clothing to Mobston, then continued on our journey. The Sunny was unnaturally quiet as we sailed, with everybody not really knowing what to do with themselves. Luffy sat on the figurehead, arms crossed, staring out to sea, I honestly didn't know what he was thinking about.

Meanwhile, I sat on the railing, looking across the never-ending expanse of blue. A lot had happened, too much to even think that it hall happened within the span of a few days...and it was kind of sad just to dwell on it.

"Hey..." Nami said as she sat beside me. "Your thinking about them, aren't you?"

"We all are." I told her, which she silently agreed.

"Ellix...you know Marines better then any of us...what did you think of him?" She asked, and I took a while to think about that before I responded.

"X was...an opponent I respected. He gave up his life in order to fight me, to protect those he held dear...I don't think I'll ever meet someone like him again. So, now that he's gone I'm...I don't know...sad?...Disappointed? Maybe I would have liked to know him a little better."

We sat there for a minute whilst Nami processed what I just said. "He reminded me of you." She said. "Maybe because you met someone like that...someone you could see as a Marine version of yourself, the path you didn't take, you wanted to know more about him, and you enjoyed fighting with him."

I looked at her in surprise, I hadn't thought of it like that before. But maybe it was true...a part of me did see the route I hadn't chosen in X...a strong, kind Marine who protected people for the sake of Justice. People like him were actually, sadly, so few in the Marines. It was a major loss...

"I'll never forget him." I said.

"I know you won't." Nami turned my head towards her and kissed me gently, making me grip the rail so as not to weakly flop over the edge.

"Hehe..." I blushed.

"Sorry." She giggled. "I've just really missed that. Being a kid for so long was such a pain."

"Yeah, that was a real hassle." I chuckled. "No more clothes like that for me. I'm glad we're all back to normal."

"Oh, really?" Suddenly, Nami held her impressive chest in front of me. "Are you sure it's not just because you missed my boobs?"

"Phwargh!?" The shock made me fall back and bang my head on the lawn. "N-Nami!? What the hell!?"

She instantly burst out laughing. "'Phwargh'!? Hahahahaha! What on earth was that!?"

"D-Don't change the subject!" I stammered, my face burning red.

"Ah! Ellix! Your face!" Chopper panicked.

"What did you do, you stupid beanpole!?" Sanji raged.

At the front of the ship, Luffy was snapped out of his glum state and looked over his shoulder at the commotion, making him smile and laugh. "Shishishi!"

I sat there in a huff as everybody...my nakama...crowded around us, the gloomy mood instantly lifting.

And I couldn't help but smile and stare up at the bright sun above us.

'Thank you...X.'

Ellix's journey continues...in One Piece OC Arc: Punk Hazard

And that is that! Film Z is officially done! Man, it's been a wild ride! And I've really enjoyed writing this!

Just to let you guys know, I'm gonna take a bit of a break from One Piece before I start Punk Hazard in order to focus on some of my other stories. So, if you guys wanna check out some of the stories I'm focusin on at the moment, I'll list them here:

Alternatale: An AU Undertale story with a focus on story with half being combat.

RWBY: Shadows: A RWBY OC story focusing on story, combat, character development and later, major feels.

Pokemon Quest Life: A Pokemon RPG-esque SYOC set in a unique world, focusing on story, world building, combat and later character development.

Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-VOC: A Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V OC story focused on Duels, characters, and character development.

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Y'know, I just realised something. I started off on FF writing Strong World. And now, 2 years later, here I am writing Film Z...it's been a long way.

So, I want to thank FourthWallBreaker, Vergil Leonidas, XFangHeartX, HikariLight99, Martyn, pokemonking0924 and KP360 for reading and reviewing this story. Some of you have been with me since Summit War, some of you have only just joined. But all of you know I am extremely grateful to your support, which encourages me to keep writing and improving myself, even now, two years on.

...But also...I want to thank animebella09. I'm not oblivious, you've been with me ever since I posted the first chapter of Strong World up until now, and know that for doing so, I am very thankful to you.

And of course, thank YOU for reading this story all the way through, unless you just skipped to this end chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it, and I shall see you all soon!