Chapter 2: Puck tells a tale.

A/N: well here's to chapter 2, for this chapter I will finally get rid of those pirates, seriously as a pirates of the Caribbean fan those guys make me cry, From this point is also my own way of continuing the story, but I keep as close as I can to the characters, setting, themes, etc…oh and I do not do main character deaths (well not the good guys). Anyway enjoy the battle with the sea god, Puck's story and what is gonna happen with Guts and Casca alone for the first time in a while?. Read on.

In the dark and dank cavern that was the heart of the tunnels under the island the sea god slithered along the slippery rock that were currently above water level due to the tide, it was obscured in the shadows despite the large crack in the ceiling that let in the bright moonlight. The Cavern itself was massive, expanded by no natural force, likely made so by the sea god, there was a rock floor ring almost completely smooth and level due to water and the resident's modifications, from the walls all around the ring extended about 30 feet. The center being a hole that was filled with water and dark, the hole was wide, maybe 40 feet in diameter, the ring was nearly a perfect circle but for a few cracks here and there. It was likely a route underwater for the sea god's tentacles to swarm out instead of the cave entrance which would be too easily seen. The walls also had changes made by the beast. There were shelves and small caves dug, possibly stairs built along from each shelf to cave as though it was in the effort of making it accessible to humans, whether willing or unwilling guests it was hard to say since there were piles of bones on some of the ledges indicating previous victims but the stairs carved into the sides of the walls were a true mystery.

Guts stood in the shadow of rock near the end of the tunnel entrance to this cavern. It was he who made all these guesses from a short gaze sweeping the room. He could see a rough shape in the far corner, due to the current angle of the moonlight streaming into the cavern it was hiding in the darkest side. He then heard a momentary pause in the slithering sound, then what sounded like a large shifting mass.

"Guts" Schierke whispered

"Ya, it knows" He said as he decided to get his first look at his enemy already knowing he wouldn't have been able to get an ambush. He cast aside his previous made plans saving his thinking for when the battle started.

"Casca!" Farnese shouted as the canon ball that took out part of the ship's railing was much closer to her then to the child, she also saw large splinters ready to rain down on the boy and Casca who had their faces towards them and the oncoming shrapnel.

Before, Serpico, or Isidro could do anything to help Casca made her move. With reflexes of one who had spent many years in the life by the sword she turned and scooped up the child hunching over making her a smaller target and also protecting their heads and faces. She also fully shielded the boy leaving only her back in the line of fire, she then further displayed her prowess and agility in drop lower and rolling to her left towards the edge near the gaping hole where the railing and a small, missing slice of the deck that Casca was getting close to. However she stopped herself just as she reached it and was back on her feet the boy in her arms holding him protectively.

The others were momentarily taken back at the amazing display but the sound of return canon fire from the sea horse shook them back to reality. Farnese was first to reach Casca touching her shoulder to more or less confirm that this was the same Casca.

"How did you do that?" she asked in spite of knowing she could not answer

"Auu" Casca replied in her child like gurgle, holding the boy in her arms tightly, the tone of that gurgle was different from the child like one, it was stronger, more confident. It was like she was hearing the Casca that Guts must have known before.

This is the woman who impressed him she thought as she realized the meaning of Casca's gurgle, they had to move.

"Lady Farnese we had best move towards the stern, there is less canon fire there" Serpico said.

"Right" Farnese nodded as she kept her thoughts focused as she had to keep in mind that if she forgot about the Formation of the four cardinals it would dissipate. She glanced at the gleaming walls and steadied her breathing as the sea battle raged on, so long as the ship did not move she had a reprieve to guide Casca before putting her main thinking into the shield.

As they moved to the stairs leading up to the stern and the wheel the enemy ship had closed the distance with eerie speed, along with it came a fog the reeked of death and decaying fish. The shadow of the masts and ragged sails covered them all as the inhuman sounds of the no longer human pirates as they called out guttural cries of looting and killing.

On the main Deck one shadow of a silhouette stood out with a clear shape that most of the crew and passengers recognized.

"Ah crap not him again" Isidro said aloud as he ducked as some debris went flying the small group, his words were heard by the captain of the ship just as they reached him standing calmly by the wheel.

Roderick of Iith nodded to the fiery headed boy's words "That Pirate certainly is persistent, but something is different, right about now he would be making his famous speech, as most pirates enjoy doing but all they have done I swoop in, and expertly for such a damaged boat. Now they just sit there silent and ready, that's clever for hitting morale, but this is very different from past behaviour"

Just then a voice rang out, not the salty slur of the Captain called Sharkrider. This one was feminine and strong, yet still inhuman. It started with the amused chuckled of a woman seeing a man show off.

"My such a shrewd observation from such a handsome man, I really must get to know you better" The voice said, it was coming from the mouth of the pirate captain, thanks to their shield the light hit his face, it was blank and void of any emotion or life, save for his mouth moving and his slow mechanical steps down to the main deck railing.

It was then Farnese gasped as her own level of magical awareness shivered, she was not so adept that she could see what Schierke must have seen but she senses terrible malevolence and hatred from whatever was speaking to them. It was an overwhelming sensation like she was being smothered with a blanket of malice emanating from whatever was, possessing this ship now. With a quick glance to the seemingly lifeless body of her master that was laying against the railing only a few feet from her she suddenly wished Schierke was here to guide her, or Guts to stand with them and give her some look or word that would quench her fear.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her arm, suddenly aware she had been shivering slightly. Looking over her shoulder there was Serpico.

"Don't let it scare you Lady Farnese, remember you built this shield, this light in the dark, and we are with you" He said quietly but his words were all she needed to hear.

With a nod of thanks she took a step forward to stand next to her Fiancée Roderick to offer her advice.

"Roderick, that thing is not the pirate captain from before, I think something possessed him, his crew and maybe the ship, and I think I know what it is" she said speaking into his ear in a whisper, her voice was quiet but her resolve was clear now.

The prince of Iith nodded then turned to speak to who they thought was staring down at them.

"To what to do we owe the honour of an assault not by the sea god herself?" he asked following Farnese's advice.

The female voice coming from the pirate's mouth laughed; there was a brittle quality to it, as though her current behaviour was only a front.

"Well now out of all the men I have had the pleasure of…meeting, only a few have made the correct guess so soon, you and this other handsome warrior in black armour will make fine additions to my collection" the sea god said.

The others all shared a collecting glance at that. They all knew the sea god meant Guts, meaning either he was injured, dead, or somehow the sea god was speaking to them and fighting him at the same time. While this thought was shared amongst most of them only one stood out among them, a girl who walked to the railing and was staring at the possessed pirate captain as though she knew him.

It was Isma, the only surviving inhabitant of the island. She was a young girl about the same height as Isidro but her appearance suggested she may be a year or two older already on the cusp of adulthood. She had long, wavy, brownish hair that often hung past her eyes. She had a collection of freckles on her face that suggested a heavy outdoor life further indicated by her slim, but very fit physique, she wore a simple dress and shoes like any fisherman's daughter but Schierke had mentioned to them all about how something was different about this girl.

As Isma stepped forward a deadly silence came over the ghost ship and a strange shadow seemed to arise behind the ship, as though it was the aura of the sea god watching over.

"You" said both Isma and the female voice. Isma is surprise and the female voice in malice.

Back in the cave the apostle sensed the approach of a mortal into its lair. A long time had passed since a mortal dared enter this cavern of their own free will, normally it was those already under the sway of her demonic allure or soon to be victims dragged kicking and screaming making a pleasurable chorus to her home.

This one she could tell was different. He had an aura about him that said he had meet with those blessed by the five angles before, and live.

"My, my this is certainly a full moon festival to remember, first I felt that wind of the blessed angels sweep across the world and now a ship comes bearing some remarkable men and women for my pleasure. However you stand apart from the rest, why is that I wonder?" the feminine voice said as it turned its attention to Guts who was standing in the light from the hole in the ceiling.

Not bothering with stealth anymore Guts stood, dragonslayer in hand the point low to the ground, his eye scanning the dark side of the cavern that the apostle stood in, although his face was nearly covered in his partially possessed state what little of his facial expression could be seen was a blank one, minus the sparkle in his eye, a mix of rage, battle lust, and a few others that were anyone's guess.

Meanwhile Schierke was wide eyed with wonder as her perception was not limited to light and dark. She could see the thing's aura, it was massive and shifting like it covered if some kind of massive cloak almost that surrounded the core of od she could not see as easily thought the shroud.

There is something different here…the last time I saw these apostles I felt a clear od of the astral realm, but this thing's od is not the same, it's almost like it's both demon but something else elemental in nature.. wait it feels like that girl… could it mean?

"Gut's listen to me" she whispered into Gut's ear telling him her theory about the sea god.

As she was doing so the slithering sound arose as the demon moved into the light revealing itself finally.

It was massive Gut's thought as he looked it over. Clearly it was larger in size then the apostle form of that demon Grunbeld he had fought, but it was covered with sea weed. In fact it looked like it was made of sea weed. Its entire body was green, slimy and constantly shifting. Its overall shape was not human but something like those large clay dolls that had guarded Flora's home.

Guts took a step forward "Well now, that's an interesting kind of armour" he said bluntly after listing to what Schierke had told him.

Just as he spoke the shifting of the seaweed stopped, then a low female laughter could be heard "naughty, naughty little witch. I thought I saw her little ghost clinging to your back and spoiling the surprise. Yes your right the sea is my domain and my armour. Those tentacles you fought are my hands and feet. So rude of you to cut so many, but now I am letting my little pirate ship toy do the work while I entertain myself with you. Ah by the blessed mother Slan what a glorious gift she has sent me" the female voice said.

Guts frowned hearing the voice, but seeing no mouth in the seaweed. In fact he noticed how the words seemed to come from within after the seaweed stopped moving. This was all information that could prove useful. He felt the sharp pain in his brand, even thought it had ceased to act normally since that strange wind but the pain of being this near an Apostle was still the same, even the mentions of one of those god hand members seemed to make the brand tingle, especially the one who took such an interest in him.

Finally the mass of seaweed started to move again and Guts could hardly believe how massive this demon was. It was nearly taking up a third of the cave, that's gonna make moving around hard, but those small fry are this things tentacles, and I'll bet she can't have too many in here to use effectively they look like they are all reaching out into that tunnel in the middle along with those weird pirates to attack the sea horse…no matter Farnese has built a shield and Roderick can handle anything on the water.

"Well that's a new one calling one of those bastards like some kind of parent but not surprising how you freaks might think that" Guts replied to the Sea god's announcement.

The sea weed writhed to match the screech of fury that came from within "how dare you! You wretch how dare insult my beautiful mother and the other angels. I know of you anyway O black swordsman, enemy of us children, marked by King Femto as sacrifice to us".

The Sea God's next rant was suddenly cut short by a screech of pain as in suddenly something bite into her sea weed body, it was clear it was a body from the way it bleed almost like a living one.

Turning to follow the blur that gave her the bite she saw the black swordsman standing with his sword raised forward in both hands. Something about his was different his aura was darker and much more furious.

Schierke had all but screamed in fear at Gut's sudden flying leap to cut a deep wound into the side of the sea god's body followed by a scream of pain, anger, and surprise. She was so shocked at how close she came to losing her grip as a body of light on Gut's back and keeping him in control. At the mention of name, King Femto, his rage exploded in such a cold and focused direction.

Gut's eye widened as he noted something of interest as he glanced at the wound "Look I don't give a shit about your rants or damn bitching about your so called mommy. I got something much more important to me waiting on that boat and I mean to get back to her, so the last thing I wanna do is listen to you talking about him, and get me pissed off" Guts said with more venom in his voice that Schierke could say she had ever heard from him before.

The sea god meanwhile stopped streaking in pain and was now seething anger so much the water in her sea weed body seemed to bubble. Just then two tentacle monstrosities that they had encountered before burst from the pool in the centre of the cavern, teeth gnashing in hunger for his flesh followed by another rant.

"Enough of your defiance! I shall break you, your body will pleasure mine until this festival ends I then I will devour you to sustain me until the next festival, and I know who you refer to on that boat I see your woman now…she will make a fine mea- ahh!" the sea god's rant again ended in painful shriek.

Guts was like a dark shadow with one sharp blazing eye as he moved, the intimidating quality of his amour seemed to be enhanced by his rage as his sword flashed in a powerful arc slicing two the heads of he two tentacles in a heartbeat. Then he leaped onto the body of on them, technically being arm of the body that was the sea god. He ran up the arm with his enhanced speed and agility aiming to do more damage to that earlier cut he'd inflicted.

"Guts you're not going to?" Schierke asked over his shoulder.

Guts grunted then spoke "I think I got her figured out, that girl Isidro brought with him gave me a clue" he said as he reached the body then leaped high towards the cut he'd made earlier.

The inside of the sea weed body was like something of a 100 spider cobwebs of more sea weed. Strands weaved together to form substitutes for muscles, and ligaments to move the actual body. There was nothing to suggest any bone structure however.

Schierke looked around in awe, I think I understand, this body is just a web of more sea weed inside but still flexible with no bones like a jelly fish so that it can move around easily in the water and even above…Gut's? What are you staring at? She asked following Gut's line of sight to something not the sickly green color of the Sea weed and was also the source of the angry howling and hissing that was much louder now.

In what was likely the center of this mass of sea weed was a humanoid looking body. It was a woman.

"You insect!" She yelled "You dare defile my body?" She asked in both icy anger and possibly in fear

Guts took his signature stance letting his blade rest on his right shoulder staring her down only barely able to see her amidst the writhing ropes of sea weed "I thought I told you I don't have time to mess around, so no talking about him, and no threatening her" He said the last in a tone that made Schierke look at him slightly different.

They were all aware of Guts and his dark nature, but they all noticed something, it was like seeing a lone candle light in a dark room, what they all realized was that whenever Casca was in danger, or even the focus of attention that light seemed to be much stronger that his apparent black rage.

Guts kicked at a stray strand of sea weed eliciting another hiss of anger "Why don't you at least show your face mermaid" he said.

Both Schierke and the sea goddess gasped as it appears Guts made a discovery. It was then the strands of sea weed cleared and the true body was revealed. She was a woman with waist like vine like green hair, her face was youthful and mysterious, eyes a bluish grey like the sea and a stormy sky mixed together, and she had full sensual lips the color of blood that would draw the attention of any man. Her skin was almost alabaster in tone like from lack of direct sunlight. Her body was lithe like but with full breast bare and exposed, she was completely naked to the waist where that is where she was connected to the sea weed mass. The woman's face held a look of pure shock and surprise; she was like

aloud her thoughts "it's true even though she is an apostle her origin is that of a being of the spirit world, and mermaids are native to the sea which has a connection to the moon already, so that would make sense that her power weakens and rise's with the cycle of the moon and to why she would live so long since she would likely sleep when not strong enough" she said.

The sea goddess meanwhile seemed to recover from her shock and in a way slid forward towards Guts, with enough common sense to fear Guts' sword and his skill, unlike so many apostles in his past.

"Hmm clever man… now there's a hard thing to come across. Indeed I know of that girl, who is the daughter of one of my former kind, she is like a cousin you might saw. I was once like her and those other foolish sea hags, protectors and watchers of the sea, but time passed and superstitious men of the sea thought us vixens and dangerous when we were meant to be allies, I grew angry but our leaders taught us to temper our fiery emotions, men are short live they said they forget we much not. Then one night my own sister was seen in the arms of a human, what passion they had" She said her stormy eyes growing dark.

"What a traitorous bitch! How dare she consort with such ignorant and savage beast, it was like she pierced my heart that I swore she would only ever be allowed into, I imagine it was the human who had corrupted her mind so I tried to kill him and she struck me down claiming I had allowed darkness into my heart….it was then I saw the blessed stone.. ah my beautiful Behelit sent to my by mother Slan, I took it and pushed it into my punctured heart and from it I was reborn, my sister now lives within me as she was my sacrifice and I took such pleasure in freeing her from that man as I devoured him slowly before she was cleansed and her spirit made one with me" the mermaid said reliving her horrific origins as an apostle.

Guts meanwhile seemed unmoved "you know I've heard that bullshit story from so many apostles like you I think it's finally starting to put me to sleep, you claim your sister's spirit got joined with yours? That's pretty delusional even by your kind's standards. Do you know where she really is?" he asked as his flashed her his bestial grin at the chance to take another apostle down a peg "she's in hell, that torrent of lost souls that anyone who gets mixed in with those 5 high and mighty bastards, in there she's nothing but a fish in the sea you could say no different than any other and you're the one who put her there" he said in his dead tone.

Suddenly the sea weed around him exploded "You son of a Bitch!" she yelled as the weeds encircled Guts

"Damn" he breathed as his sword cut deep into one but his body was becoming tangled and before long he was caught like a speck of food in the jaws of a beast hearing the sea goddess's laughter.

"I see the title of Struggler fits you well, save your energy you're going to need it for what I have planned for you my future lover, but first I'll go and take care of those friends of yours, and of course let you watch as I devour your woman" she taunted as her body dove into the submerged tunnel likely heading for the ship.

Guts could feel the movement but no water reached him and he didn't have the leverage to manoeuvre his sword, he tried to wiggle his right hand so he could fire a shot with his cannon but Schierke stopped him "no you won't do much damage if this sea weed is her shell she could just drag more to her while in the water, we need to get her core out of the water somehow".

"Almost there I see that useless pirate ship is having no luck, oh well enough of them I'll burst through its hell and shock them all with my glorious appearance" the mermaid apostle said.

Guts heard her speak and got an idea "Schierke can you return me to normal and get back to your body?" he asked.

Knowing to trust Guts on his instinct and battling apostles she nodded "Yes I can force your ego back into control and just let go of you I'll be flung back to my body easily" she answered.

"Good then I got a plan for the captain. Listen".