Azuma Pirate Lord

Within the dim confines of a desolate cave, a man lay sprawled amidst a pool of his own blood. His once-vibrant black hair now matted with dirt and sweat across his face, contorted with pain. His hazel eyes dulled by the harsh reality of his predicament. Clad in a tattered pirate coat of black and red, he was a lone figure abandoned on a small, forsaken island. 

The callous crew of pirates had pillaged his belongings and plundered his supplies, leaving behind nothing but his weather-beaten ship to mock his misfortune. 

As the cold tendrils of death threatened to ensnare him, a glimmer of hope caught his eye—a solitary red ice crystal nestled behind a jagged rock. Summoning the last vestiges of his strength, he dragged his battered body toward the small object, praying for it’s icy embrace to quench his thirst and sustain his dwindling life force. 

Bruised and bleeding, his clothes torn and his hat cruelly taken by the marauding pirates, he clung to the faint hope of survival amidst the unforgiving cavern. 

As he reached the small glimmering gem, his parched lips faintly bleeding, wasted no time in devouring it’s cold, refreshing essence. With each desperate chew, he felt a fleeting sense of relief wash over him, the icy shards melting against his parched tongue, soothing the urge of thirst that consumed him. But as the last remnants of the crystal dissolved within him, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion struck him, sending him into the depths of unconsciousness. 

CHAPTER 1 A New Chance 

After an hour of drifting through the empty darkness between life and death, The man awoke back inside the cave still in pain. He rose to his feet, still drenched in his own blood. The weak pirate made his way outside as the pain began to subside. He opened his shirt to see his wounds closing at a fast rate. “How strange, but I don’t have time to worry about this right now” His name…was Azuma Kenousa… 

Emerging from the mouth of the cave, the healed pirate squinted against the gentle rays of the fading evening sun, it’s golden light casting a warm glow across the tranquil beach. A soft breeze brushed across his torso, carrying with it the scent of salt and seaweed. The sand beneath his feet was cool and slightly damp, a testament to the tide that had recently receded. 

His gaze shifted to the shoreline, where a group of men in black suits moved with purpose, their figures silhouetted against the backdrop of the vast ocean. They hauled cargo with practiced efficiency, ferrying it to a large ship that bobbed gently in the water nearby. Azuma's eyes narrowed as he observed their movements, a plan forming in his mind. 

"Hmmm, without my sword, this will be difficult," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the gentle lapping of the waves. "But if I wait too long, I'll miss my chance of taking their ship and getting off this damn island" 

His attention was drawn to two figures seated by a crackling campfire not far from the shoreline. Their swords lay within arm's reach, glinting faintly in the dying light. A sense of urgency pulsed through him as he weighed his options, his eyes scanning the beach for any signs of opportunity. 

As Kenousa charged towards the group of adversaries, their startled shouts filled the air, followed with the harsh clicks of pistols being drawn. "The bastard's alive! Kill him!" A deep stern voice commanded, their voices laced with surprise and alarm. 

The men in black suits turned towards him, their expressions a mixture of shock and hostility. Among them, a large bald brute stood out, his muscular frame imposing as he bellowed orders. His sleeves were torn, revealing muscular arms that bulged with strength. The rest of the squad resembled C.I.A agents, clad in sleek suits and sunglasses that obscured their eyes, giving them an air of enigmatic menace. 

Without hesitation, the agents unleashed a barrage of gunfire, their pistols flashing in the dim light of the evening. However, Azuma was already ahead of them, his movements fluid and agile as he slid beneath the hail of projectiles with practiced ease. "Your aim needs work," he taunted, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. 

In one swift motion, the pirate shot to his feet, delivering swift, precise strikes that sent the three gunmen sprawling to the ground, their weapons clattering into the sand. The pair of swordsmen, undeterred by their comrades' defeat, charged towards him with deadly intent. 

"Hmph, I may not be good with guns, but swords are another thing," Azuma remarked confidently as one of his assailants attempted to cut the young pirate down with one slash. With lightning reflexes, Azuma caught the blade between his three fingers, halting it’s deadly arc just inches from his skin. 

"If you call yourself a true swordsman, then you overestimate your skill," he chided, a smirk forming at the corners of his lips. With a swift kick to his foe's ribs, Azuma sent the thug stumbling backwards, releasing his grip on the blade. 

As the sword spun through the air, time seemed to slow for a moment, each rotation imbued with a sense of anticipation. Then, with a satisfying clatter, the weapon landed squarely in Azuma's waiting grasp. He hefted it, feeling the weight of it’s blade and the promise of the edge. 

"Heh, finally I at least have a weapon now," Azuma muttered, a fierce determination gleaming in his hazel eyes. The scene crackled with tension, the clash of steel and the rush of adrenaline filling the air as Azuma stood ready to defend himself against all odds. 

"Tsssk, you bastard!" The other swordsman charged at Azuma, his blade gleaming in the dim light. With precision born of years of combat experience, Azuma deftly parried the oncoming strike, his own blade clashing against his foe's with a metallic ring. 

In an abrupt motion, he closed the distance between them with alarming speed. A sharp crack rang out as Azuma's forehead met the swordsman's nose with bone-jarring force, breaking it instantly. 

Blood spurted from the wound, painting the sand crimson as the swordsman staggered back, clutching his face in agony. “Y-YOU BASTARD!” Seizing the opportunity, Azuma struck swiftly, delivering a powerful blow to the back of the man's head with the hilt of his sword. 

The swordsman collapsed to the ground unconscious, his sword slipping from his grasp. Azuma stood over him, his chest heaving with exertion, a grim determination etched across his face as he surveyed the aftermath of the brief but intense skirmish. 

"There, now to find their captain. A group this big is bound to have someone pulling the strings," Azuma comented, his voice carrying a quiet intensity before retrieving the second sword from the unconscious thug. With a swift motion, he twirled the blade in his hand, it’s sharp edge catching the faint light of the setting sun. 

As he approached the assailant ship, his eyes caught a closer look upon the vessel. It was a typical sloop pirate ship, it’s sturdy frame casting a formidable presence against the backdrop of the evening sky. However, it was somewhat smaller than the average pirate vessel, a compact design that hinted at swift maneuverability and agility on the open seas. 

The ship's hull bore a light brown shade, weathered from years of sailing the tumultuous seas, while black flags fluttered ominously from the masts, marking it as a vessel of piracy and adventure. 

Before anyone could respond, panic erupted among the men as one of them seized a nearby gun. In a desperate attempt to defend themselves, they fired a shot straight at Azuma. With lightning reflexes, Azuma's blade sliced through the air, intercepting the bullet with a burst of sparks that illuminated the dark beach. 

The sharp clang of metal meeting metal echoed across the beach as Azuma smoothly slid his sword back into it’s sheath, his eyes still fixed on the trembling men before him. “I will ask you all once more…where can I find your captain” 

"No need to search for him, the captain is right here, feel honored to be killed by one such as I. You may call me, Captain Kazamo" a deep, stern voice spoke up across from the deck above. Kenousa's gaze shifted past the trembling crew to behold the imposing figure of Captain Kazamo. Towering over the deck of the ship above him, the captain's bare torso revealed a tapestry of black tattoos etched across his tan sun-kissed skin, a testament to years spent under the relentless glare of the sun. 

His eyes, a piercing emerald green that bore into Kenousa with an intensity, sending a faint shiver down his spine. Dressed in nothing but black pants, Captain Kazamo exuded an aura of raw power and authority, his very presence demanding respect and obedience from all who stood before him. 

“If anyone’s going to die…I’d say it’ll be you” Azuma unsheathed his blade aiming it toward the captain. “So then, are you going to make a move, or should I?” 

"Tsk, if you want to die that badly, then I won’t stand in your way," Kazamo growled, his movements a blur as he unsheathed his blade with lightning speed. Just before his strike could find it’s mark, Azuma's own blade intercepted it with a resounding clash. "Sword slash: Sudden strike," Azuma declared, his voice filled with determination. With swift footwork, he maneuvered to the side, launching a relentless barrage of sword strikes that seemed to blur into one seamless motion. Kenousa found himself standing behind his opponent, the captain's bare back now exposed to him. 

Kazamo froze for a moment, his expression darkening into a sadistic grin. Despite the blood gushing from his wounds, staining his back and chest crimson, he remained standing, his eyes gleaming with malice. A long, deep slash marred his back, the blood oozing from the wound, while several pierces crisscrossed his bare chest, forming a gruesome tableau of agony. 

A pool of blood collected at his feet. Yet, amidst the pain, his grin remained, twisted and malevolent. "Hehe," he chuckled, his voice tinged with sadistic pleasure. His eyes gleamed with malice. "Hehe, you’re pretty quick, aren’t you, brat? Looks like I’ll have to show you who you’re dealing with," he taunted, his voice dripping with venomous amusement. With a stretch of his hand, he aimed his palm at the ground, preparing to unleash his power. 

As the built man aimed his bare palm toward the ground, a chilling silence fell over the beach. The crew members of the ship, terror etched on their faces, scrambled aboard their vessel in a panicked frenzy. They knew all too well the dreadful power their captain wielded. 

A malevolent purple mist began to seep from his palm, slithering along the ground like tendrils of darkness. With each passing moment, the mist thickened, obscuring the sand beneath. Without warning, skeletal forms began to emerge from the mist, their bones creaking and rattling as they took shape. 

The skeletons, grotesque and eerie, stood tall around Kazamo, their hollow eye sockets glowing with an otherworldly purple light. Some were missing limbs, their bones jagged and broken, while others clutched rusted weapons in their bony hands. 

The crew watched in horror as the undead monstrosities rose from the ground, their fear palpable in the air. Kazamo's sinister grin widened as he surveyed his newfound army, reveling in the terror he inspired. 

"Now then, let’s see how you fare against my undead horde," Kazamo taunted. The skeletons surrounded Azuma, their empty eye sockets fixed on their prey. Meanwhile, the dark captain watched from a distance, his smirk growing wider as he crossed his arms in satisfaction. 

As the legion of undead closed in, Azuma remained calm and focused, drawing his second sword. The undead horde unleashed a barrage of sword strikes, only for the skilled pirate to deflect each attack with precise movements. 

Sparks erupted from his blades with each deflection, illuminating the darkness around him. Kenousa's dark hair flowed in the air, swept by the force of each strike. The legion of undead let out deep, demonic groans as they pressed their assault, their movements driven by their master's dark will. 

Despite overwhelming odds, Azuma stood his ground, his determination unyielding as he faced the relentless horde. 

“You must really be underestimating me if you think these bags of bones are going to be able to defeat me” Gripping both his blades He spun as fast as he could, shredding through each one of them, their bones shattering into the sand before he came to a stop. The captain watched as his horde of undead cracked apart, falling to pieces all around him. 

The tyrant clinched his fist enraged, advancing right for his target before sending a fierce  punch right for the pirate’s face. “YOU PIECE OF SHIT!” Azuma moved his sword at immense speed before slowly sliding it back into it’s sheath. Kazamo hit the ground lying dead in the sand. “There, time to take his ship and make my way back to town. I will gather a new crew and hunt down the ones that betrayed me” 

Forcing the crew off the ship, the pirate sailed away from the island heading out for the nearest town to form a new crew… 

[Flashback] 

Azuma stood upon the deck, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the violet sun dipped below the edge of the sea. The calm breeze brushed past his face, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of sea salt that filled the air. He wore a large crimson red tricorn captain's hat adorned with a grand white feather, adding to his imposing presence against the backdrop of the open ocean. 

As he pondered the vast expanse of the sea, Azuma's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of his second-in-command, Saido Oranami. Saido, with his striking white hair, approached Azuma with concern in his green eyes. He was dressed in a sleek black cloth shirt paired with pristine white pants, the contrast of colors accentuating his authoritative demeanor. 

"Captain, what are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you get some sleep for tomorrow?" Saido inquired, his voice carrying a tone of respect and loyalty to his captain. Despite the late hour, the sense of duty and responsibility never wavered aboard Azuma's ship. 

“I can’t sleep, I want to find something rare, something no other pirate has found before. I Azuma Kenousa will become the next pirate lord” 

Few Hours Later… 

The captain, Azuma, lay sprawled in a pool of his own blood, his vision blurring as pain coursed through his body. Saito, his once loyal second-in-command, stood over him, pressing his boot against Kenousa's injured cheek. A cold, calculating look gleamed in Saito's eyes, his features twisted into a sinister smirk as he delivered his betrayal. 

"Sorry, captain, I'm done following your orders. The crew and I have agreed that we'll do better without you. I'm taking your crew and ship as my own. Enjoy dying alone on this worthless island" 

Behind Saito, the crew members sneered and laughed sinisterly at their fallen captain, their loyalty now shifted to their newfound leader. Azuma's world spun as he lay helpless on the ground, the bitter taste of betrayal heavy in the air as darkness threatened to consume him. 

[End Of Flashback] 

“Saito you bastard, when we meet again, I won’t hesitate to kill you” Making his way to the captain’s quarters, Azuma entered a large wooden room with a king-sized bed with white sheets and dark-red pillows with a dresser and mirror right above it. “Sigh, now it’s time to finally get some shut eye before I reach land tomorrow, after getting betrayed then fighting off that fellow captain, I’ve gotten really tired” 

As the pirate drifted into a restless slumber, his ship bobbing gently on the open sea, a smaller vessel emerged from the distant horizon. With practiced ease, the newcomers tossed ropes over the side of the larger ship, hauling themselves aboard. Among them was a group comprising three men and a woman, the latter assuming the role of their leader. 

"Alright, men," she commanded, her voice carrying authority. "Search for any treasure or items of value while I locate the captain of this ship" 

The group dispersed across the deck, their eyes keen for any sign of plunder. Meanwhile, their leader strode confidently through the vessel's corridors, her determination unwavering as she sought out the ship's master. 

The woman had long blue hair with hazel eyes wearing a blue hooded cloak. She was tall and had a calm but serious expression as she made her way across the deck towards the captain’s quarters. Azuma awoke and could hear footsteps above him up on the front deck. “Ugh. Can’t I go a few hours without something interrupting me?” Rubbing his eyes, he got out of bed grabbing his blades, walking over to the door. He opened it to find the area empty. “Hmph, they must all be on the upper-floor” 

“Don’t move” A female voice uttered behind him. The blue pirate stood behind him wielding a knife to his back as she looked at him with a cold stare. “Hehe, you really think you can beat me with a mere knife? Your stance shows that you have experience killing others with a mere knife-“ 

The woman cut him off, stabbing him in the back before pulling the blade out drenched in blood. “Now lay there and die, you could never beat me, Naiomi the blue assassin” The man turned towards his attacker, kicking her into the captain’s quarters as she hit the ground. “Like I said, it’ll take more than one mere knife to kill me” 

That’s when a small knife with a blue handle darted past him piercing his cheek, causing blood to drip from his cheek before it quickly closed back up. “Sigh, how many times do I have to tell you, a knife won’t be enough to kill me” Azuma slowly walked over to the assassin lending his hand out to her, I’m not one to kill those that don’t deserve it” She looked at him looking into his hazel eyes as he gave her a calm look. 

Her face went red as she blushed standing up. “Just who are you? I know my blade struck your cheek, yet there doesn’t seem to be a wound” 

“After being marooned on an island by my mutinous crew, I was at the brink of death when I found a crystal. I originally was going to use it as a water source to keep myself alive. Though, once I regained consciousness, I somehow gained the ability to regenerate at a fast rate. So if you want to continue our little shuffle then be my guest. But I’ll just keep healing until you’re out of stamina” 

Just then the trio of men appeared behind them with two of them being thin wimps wearing tan clothes aiming pistols at the pirate captain. “Step away from lady Naiomi!” The idiot fired a shot missing Azuma aimed right for their leader when Kenousa quickly pulled out his sword, deflecting the bullet. 

“Hmph, watch where you fire dumbass” The blue assassin blushed once more looking at the pirate before pulling out two knifes. “Two of you are nothing but fools, I have no further use for you both aside from Kenzu” In a sudden movement, the two men on both sides of the woman’s 2nd in command were struck in the throat by her knifes as they collapsed, dead before they even hit the ground. 

“Naiomi, was that really necessary? You know you could’ve just thrown them overboard” The man responded with a sigh. He wore a black cloak with red eyes and a scar across his left eye along with black hair. “Sometimes you can take things a little far, but you’re lucky I have nowhere else to go” 

“We both know if you really wanted to leave you would’ve left by now. So, what’s your name…captain? Anyone this strong is surely someone I’m willing to work with so long as I’m 2nd in command” She gave him a seductive smirk standing close to him. Kenousa started at her with a look of suspicion before turning away from her. “If you really want to join my crew then go ahead, but if you try anything…I’ll kill you without hesitation” 

The woman gave him a pouty face before replying: “Alright fine, it’s only fair you wouldn’t trust me at first, but I’m sure you’ll warm up to me” She leaned on him with a smile before walking past him. “Kenzu, you will be taking orders from Azuma as well from now on, if you have a problem with my decision…I’d be happy to stick you to the wall of the ship” She pulled out a knife between each finger. 

“Hehe, come now Naiomi, you know your threats have never worked on me like those two dead fools. But fine, orders are orders, makes no difference to me. So long as I get a good meal and some beer, I really don’t care” 

The captain looked at his new crew and smiled crossing his arms. “Alright then, from this day forward you’re part of my crew. Our first priority is getting to land and find a way to get supplies. I’m sure there’s some food and drink aboard this ship, but probably not enough to travel a far distance. So we need to find the nearest town and plan our next step” 

“That won’t be an issue, as a traveling assassin, I’ve managed to get a few maps from other low-rank pirates as well as draw up my own map of each island and country I’ve discovered or traveled to. With the amount of gold I’ve saved up from hunting pirates and sometimes finding gold aboard their ship, getting supplies will be easy. But you owe me” Naiomi blew him a kiss before going down the hall over to the 1st mate’s cabin to use as her room while Kenzu fell asleep against a large crate down in storage... 

After a few hours of sailing, they finally reached Anamoa island, an island that was one entire town in the middle of the ocean. They made their way up to the docks and stepped onto land looking at the active town as citizens were walking in and out of shops. 

“Hmm, feels like it’s been a while since I've seen such a lively town, hopefully we can find some good resources here” Azuma commented. 

“We should captain, this town seems like it has plenty of things to sell, maybe you can think about getting yourself new swords while we’re here” The blue assassin remarked. Azuma looked at her, explaining that they should wait till they save up more gold before buying things like weapons and armor. “At the moment, we should only use the gold for either food, water or an inn if we plan to stay somewhere or if the worst should happen to our ship” 

"Of course, captain," Naiomi replied with a warm smile, stepping beside Azuma as they traversed the bustling streets of the town. The buildings loomed tall around them, their brick facades casting elongated shadows in the dim light of dusk. The roads and pathways, mere dirt trails worn smooth by countless footsteps, crisscrossed through the town like a labyrinth. 

As they wandered, Azuma's keen eyes caught sight of a quaint shop nestled among the other structures, it’s wooden exterior illuminated by the soft glow of lantern light. Intrigued, he veered towards it, the aroma of fresh fruit and vegetables wafting enticingly through the air. 

"Good evening," Azuma greeted the merchant standing behind the wooden counter with a friendly smile, his tone amiable as he addressed the bald thin man behind the counter. The merchant, clad in a simple green cloth shirt, black pants and dark complexation, hesitated upon seeing the trio standing before him. “Sorry, would you three happen to be pirates?” He asked with a slight worried tone. 

Azuma's smile faltered slightly at the merchant's cautious question. “Yes, why is there a problem?” 

“Uh, yes sir, I'm sorry but all pirates spotted are to be arrest on sight and if struggle are to be executed. It’s not my decision, but the sea corps general is very harsh, if I pretend I didn’t see anything, I could be arrested as well” 

Kenzu's gaze narrowed, a glint of murderous intent shining in his gleaming red eyes as he hovered his hand over his blade, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. "Should I keep him from alerting the sea corps?" he offered, his voice laced with a hint of threat. 

Azuma shook his head, his expression thoughtful yet decisive. "No, I have a better idea," he replied cryptically, a plan already formulating in his mind. 

A few minutes later, a group of sea corp officers appeared, patrolling the area with a sense of authority. They were dressed in crisp white suits, adorned with the emblem of a blue sun on their torsos, proudly displaying their allegiance to the sea corps. 

The merchant waved both hands, signaling the sea corps officers to approach as they made their way over to him and Azuma. Kenousa, his voice a low whisper: "Get ready," he instructed, a hint of urgency in his tone. 

As the sea corps officers stopped in front of them, the merchant pointed accusingly at Azuma. "I found a pirate!" he called out, his voice echoing through the quiet streets. The officers turned their attention to Azuma, who tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. The situation was becoming increasingly precarious, and the crew of the Azuma Pirates braced themselves for what might come next. 

Naiomi and Kenzu had crouched behind a stack of crates, as they witnessed their captain's plight. A gunshot echoed through the night air, causing Azuma to stagger back, a pained grimace contorting his features followed by blood seeping from his shoulder. Though he managed to catch himself, his grip tightened around the wound as he struggled to remain standing. 

"Let’s go, pirate!" the middle officer ordered, his voice laced with authority as he approached Azuma. With cold efficiency, he seized Azuma's arms before forcing them behind his back. His grip unyielding as he led the wounded pirate towards Anamoa prison. 

The blonde-haired officer's eyes gleamed with a mixture of triumph and disdain as he fulfilled his duty, unaware of the brewing storm of vengeance that awaited him and his comrades... 

CHAPTER 2 A unique Prisoner 

As the pirate was forcibly led down the hallway by the officers, he found himself enveloped in a dark corridor, the cold stone path stretching endlessly before him. Cells lined both sides of the corridor, their iron bars casting eerie shadows in the dim light. Surprisingly, not many prisoners occupied the cells; most were empty, their doors creaking open ominously. Rust and dirt coated every surface, evidence of neglect and abandonment. 

The air was thick with a stale odor, a mixture of mildew and decay that seemed to cling to the walls. Rats scurried across the floor, their tiny claws echoing in the dead silence of the prison. Each step echoed ominously, the sound reverberating off the damp stone walls like a haunting refrain. It was a place of despair, a labyrinth of forgotten souls trapped within it’s suffocating embrace. 

(Hmph, expected a lot more people to be trapped in here, either this town doesn’t have much crime...or the citizens are just that scared of the sea corps) The young captain thought. Azuma then staggered forward as he was shoved into the cold, dimly lit cell, the force of the push sending him crashing to the ground. He caught himself just in time, his hands gripping the cold steel bench bolted to the wall below the barred window. Dust and dirt billowed up around him, coating his clothes in a layer of grime as he rose to his feet. 

The cell door then slammed shut behind him. “Wait here pirate, we’ll be back tomorrow for you’re punishment” The blonde officer announced as the trio of men laughed with dark smirks on their face before walking away. 

Pulling himself up, he surveyed his surroundings, the faint light filtering in through the barred windows offering little solace. The cell was small and cramped, the walls closing in around him. Despite the dimness, Azuma's eyes gleamed with purpose as he searched for any sign of a way out, his mind already working on a plan to save not only himself, but any innocent souls trapped within the prison's grasp. 

It was then that a voice called out to him from the cell beside his, breaking through the oppressive silence of the prison. 

“Don’t bother trying to find a way out, the only way out is obviously a key which the guard carries when he makes his way through the hall every 12 hours” 

"So, what, we wait until the guard returns and steal the key?" Kenousa snapped back, his voice tinged with frustration. A smirk spread across the face of the stranger standing in the adjacent cell. 

Azuma observed the man's appearance in the dimly lit prison cell. He had vibrant, shaggy pink hair that stood out starkly against the drab surroundings, his piercing blue eyes seemed to hold a hint of mischief. The stranger was clad in a stylish white jacket adorned with intricate black designs, paired with form-fitting black jeans. On the left side of his torso, Azuma noticed a small heart emblem, and a larger heart adorned the back of his jacket. 

The young man stepped up to the bars, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. In a swift and unexpected move, he kicked open the door of the cell with a rusty screech, revealing his confident and daring nature. 

“How did you get the door open so easily!?” Azuma questioned, his face filled with surprise and minor frustration 

"Simple…I stole the guard’s key hours ago and have just been sitting in here deciding when to leave. I was planning on jumping the guard for fun but then you showed up so might as well change plans and leave now. Heh. It’ll still piss him off when he finds out I’ve escaped. So why did you get thrown in here?" 

The pink-haired man twirled the stolen key on his index finger with a practiced ease, his aqua blue eyes glittering with mischief. Despite his casual demeanor, there was a hint of cunning in his gaze as he leaned against the cell bars, keeping one hand tucked in his pocket. 

Azuma rested his left arm against the cell door, his expression unreadable as he studied the stranger before him. The dim light of the prison cell casting shadows across his features, emphasizing the glint in his eyes as he regarded the enigmatic figure with a mixture of caution and curiosity. 

Azuma watched as the man walked over to his cell door unlocking it. “Alright pirate, it’s time to leave before the warden and his lackies return. I’m not sure, but I think unlike his mere guards, the admiral has some super-human ability, if I’m right, taking him on won’t be an easy feat, I’ve seen plenty of guards and citizens scared the moment he arrives. Either they’re just cowards, or my assumption is correct...By the way, you can call me Roxie” 

“I’m Azuma, I came to free any pirates imprisoned here,” he declared, his voice echoing softly in the dimly lit corridor. Roxie chuckled lightly at the statement, a hint of amusement in his voice. "A bit too late for that I'm afraid," he replied, his tone tinged with sarcasm as they navigated through the shadows cast by the moonlight filtering through the barred windows. 

As they approached the door, they caught sight of the warden making his way towards the jail. His blonde hair shimmered faintly in the dim light, contrasting with the stern expression on his face. Dressed in the same uniform as the guards but adorned with a golden star on his left torso, he exuded an aura of authority. 

“You both aren’t going anywhere. This will only end two ways…either you both will return to your cells or die beneath my heel,” the warden threatened, his voice carrying a menacing tone as he faced Azuma and Roxie. 

Azuma unsheathed his recovered sword, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the prison corridor, ready for action. Beside him, Roxie grinned mischievously, reaching into his pocket for something. 

“Let’s see just how skilled you are, old man,” Roxie taunted, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.With a swift toss, Roxie sent a few small pink smoke bombs at their target's feet, the area abruptly engulfed in a thick cloud of smoke. Within the haze, Azuma and Roxie prepared to face their adversary head-on, their resolve unyielding as they stood strong, the halls fading into the thick white mist. 

"Heh, let’s see what you can do when you can’t see!" Roxie taunted, his voice echoing through the smoke-filled corridor. The pink-haired pirate pulled out a knife, ready to throw it at their unseen adversary. 

Before Roxie could make a move, a pillar of earth erupted from the smoke, taking the form of a massive hand. In an instant, it pinned Roxie against the cold stone wall of the jail, the force of impact causing the room to quake with a slight crack forming across the wall. Roxie let out a groan of pain, his body pinned against the unforgiving stone wall. "H-heh, not bad, old man," Roxie managed to choke out through the pain, his voice strained as he struggled against the restraining force of the earth hand. "But you've got a lot to learn about dealing with pirates like us" Despite the pain coursing through his abdomen, he couldn't help but maintain his cocky demeanor. 

Azuma stood frozen in shock, his eyes widening at the unexpected turn of events. The realization of the warden's power sent a chill down his spine, but it also ignited a fire of determination within him. 

“You youths are nothing but fools. I wouldn’t be in the position that I am if a mere brat like you could beat me” The smoke cleared as the admiral stood glaring at them with a cold expression. Azuma advanced the sea Corp admiral. Roxie once more, sent a knife aimed right for their assailant when the tyrant’s left arm morphed into an earth-golem-like arm, blocking the coming projectile as it broke on impact. 

As the smoke dissipated, revealing the cold gaze of the Sea Corp admiral, Azuma's heart raced with adrenaline, his grip on his blade tightening. The captain took off, his hair blowing in the wind, running full speed. Blood trickling from Roxie’s bottom lip, grimaced in pain as he watched. Despite the setback, he remained confident, his eyes flashing with defiance as he prepared for the next move. 

“Foolish brats” With a powerful punch, the admiral's colossal fist soared toward Kenousa, forcing the pirate to take a defensive stance. His blade was poised to intercept the incoming strike. However, the force of the admiral's blow was overwhelming, causing Kenousa's blade to shatter into fragments of glimmering steel upon impact. The sheer force of the attack sent him staggering back, the air knocked out of his lungs as he collided with the stone wall beside Roxie. 

“D-damn it! What are we going to do against someone who can manipulate earth!?” The captain fell to his knees with blood dripping from his mouth. Taking a deep breath, he could feel his injuries slowly healing as the blood vanished. 

“Ah, I see you too have gained some special ability from the mysterious ice crystal. However, healing yourself will only delay the inevitable” Raising his morphed fist towards the weakened pair, surrounded by menacing earth spikes. Azuma felt a wave of utter despair wash over him. The realization of their impending doom weighed heavily upon him, he gazed into the cold, emotionless eyes of their adversary. Despite his best efforts, the admiral's words replayed in his head, a grim reminder of their dire situation. With each passing moment, the sense of inevitability grew stronger, casting a shadow over their desperate struggle for survival. 

In that moment, a chilling silence descended upon the chaotic scene as a katana pierced through the officer’s chest, blood dripping from the tip. The admiral's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, his grip faltering as he slowly turned his head to see Kenzu standing behind him, his blade thrust through the attacker's body. 

The tyrant spat out blood, the air heavy with tension as Kenzu stood over the wounded adversary, his expression cold and devoid of empathy. With a decisive motion, he slid his blade out from the admiral's body, the sound of metal against flesh piercing through the night. 

The stone hand crumbled, freeing Roxie while Naiomi and Kenzu walked over to their captain. “Glad to see you’re still in one piece captain, it’s not easy to defeat a warden, especially one with a super-human ability” Naiomi congratulated. 

“I doubt I would’ve beaten him if it wasn’t for Kenzu” Azuma insisted. The swordsmen shook the blood from his blade before sliding it back to his side. “Tsk, I was just doing my duty of protecting my captain...also if I hadn’t saved your ass, I'm sure I wouldn’t hear the end of it from Naiomi” 

“Well now that he’s taken care of, we should leave before more enemies show up” Kenousa suggested making his way towards the exit. 

“But what about our supplies before we leave captain? We still haven’t gathered food and drinks yet” The blue assassin questioned.  Azuma was about to answer her when Roxie approached them. “You guys need supplies? Don’t worry...let me show you how a true thief does it...” 

The crew waited on the ship while Oda D. Roxie walked over to the merchant. “Excuse me sir I'd like to buy a crate of food and some wine” 

“Alright sir, that’ll be 110 gold” 

"First, I'd like to see inside the crate so you're not tricking me," Roxie demanded, his voice laced with suspicion. The merchant shrugged, turning around to open the crate as Roxie's smirk widened. In a swift and calculated move, he struck the unsuspecting merchant in the side of the neck, rendering him unconscious with a precise blow. 

A few minutes later Azuma and the others looked over the ship to see Roxie approaching with multiple creates of supplies as he pushed them on wheels, up the wooden ramp before taking them to the lower deck where they keep storage. “Here’s your food and drinks, I thought about it and decided I'm coming with you guys” 

Azuma frowned responding: “Why would you come with us? You don’t seem like the type to follow orders and those who won’t obey my command have no place aboard the ship” 

Roxie smiled as the sea breeze brushed across his pink hair. “Heh, true I hate taking orders from those I see as weak or boring...but you seem interesting...you don’t care what happens so long as you reach your goal...so we are two of a kind, I will be your thief and make sure we steal the treasure. How’s that sound, captain?” 

Azuma Kenousa looked at him intensely before letting out a sigh. “Very well Oda D. Roxie, welcome aboard my crew” 

“Thank you, captain! I will do my best to aid you in capturing all the riches this world has to offer. But first, we should name the ship” Kenousa looked at him as if he had said something stupid. “A name? What’s the point of naming a mere ship?” 

That’s when Naiomi spoke up: “Actually captain, it is common to name your ship, especially amongst pirates. If you want to make a name for yourself, coming up with a unique name for your ship and crew is the 1st step for any pirate” 

He thought for a moment before responding: “I can’t think of a name” The young captain responded perplexed. 

“A name isn’t just something you come up with, it has to have a deep meaning behind it that represents the crew. In time it’ll come to you” The young thief told him. 

CHAPTER 3 The Real Adventure Begins 

With supplies and their crew grown, they set out onto the deep sea while Naiomi placed a large blank sheet of paper on a board against the wall in her room. She plan to keep track of where they traveled, slowly drawing a map for them to use for easy navigation once they’ve explored the entire world. 

Azuma stood at the bow of the ship, his silhouette cast against the backdrop of the moonlit sea. The salty breeze tousled his hair as he gazed out into the vast expanse of ocean, his arms crossed in contemplation. The moon hung high in the sky, its gentle glow painting shimmering streaks across the water, illuminating the dark waves below. Small fish darted in and out of the moonlit patches, their playful splashes adding to the rhythmic melody of the sea. As Azuma sighed, the sound of waves lapping against the hull provided a soothing soundtrack to his thoughts. 

“So, this is how you spend your free time? Staring out at the sea like a statue?” The man turned around to see Roxie sitting on the gaff of the ship looking down at him, his hand on his knee casually. “I’m just waiting until we reach our first destination, hopefully we’ll find some treasure or at least some weapons, could use something better than the warn out blade I stole from a group of low-rate bandits” 

Walking to the back of the main deck, he responded: “I’m going to take a nap, wake me up if you see land” 

"Aye-aye, captain!" Roxie responded with a playful salute, leaping from the gaff to the main deck with a grin plastered across his face. Meanwhile, the pink-haired thief strolled up the worn wooden steps, leaning casually on the galver—the ship's steering wheel. As Azuma made his way down the narrow wooden hallway, lanterns affixed to the walls casting flickering shadows, guiding his path. The ship's timeworn planks creaked beneath his weight, bearing the scars of countless journeys across the open sea. Passing by Naiomi's room, he paused to admire her serene sleeping form, bathed in the warm glow of the lantern light. With a soft smile, he continued on to his own quarters, the ship's rhythmic sway lulling him into a sense of calm. 

He carefully settled into his king-size bed, sinking into it’s plushness adorned with several black pillows and a thick white quilt. The softness enveloped him like a calm embrace, lulling him into a state of tranquility. From his bed, he had a perfect view of the port through the open window, the moonlight dancing on the surface of the sea beyond.

A wooden desk and chair were positioned nearby, inviting him to sit and lose himself in the mesmerizing expanse of the ocean. With the gentle sound of waves lapping against the hull of the ship filling the room, his eyelids grew heavy, and before long, fell asleep... 

Phantom shine Island ARC....

Azuma groaned before reluctantly opening his eyes, the dim sunlight filtering through the window of his cabin. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he pushed himself up from the bed, feeling the stiffness in his muscles protest with every movement. His hair, tousled and unkempt, a testament to the restless night he had endured. 

Dragging himself to his feet, Azuma couldn't shake off the lingering fatigue that weighed heavily upon him, like an anchor dragging him back into the realm of slumber. Each step felt like a Herculean effort, his limbs heavy with exhaustion as he trudged across the cluttered floor strewn with dust and debris from the fight prior. 

Meanwhile, Kenousa, remained vigilant, making his way down the narrow passageway of the ship, the creaking of the wooden floorboards beneath his boots echoing in the stillness of the morning. His senses sharpened as he neared Naiomi's room, the sound of her voice drawing him closer. 

Pausing at the doorway, Kenousa's breath caught in his throat as he beheld the sight before him. There stood Naiomi, bathed in the soft glow of the morning light, her figure outlined by the delicate lace of her undergarments. A flush of warmth spread across his cheeks as he averted his gaze looking down. 

"Huh?" Naiomi looked to see her captain blushing at her with his hand on his torso unsure of what to say. Naiomi blushed until a smile grew across her face as she walked over to him. "Hello captain didn't think you'd stop by my room so suddenly" She stood inches from him with a seductive smile. 

Just as Roxie strolled into the corridor, his eyes widened at the sight of Naiomi, her presence exuding an intoxicating allure that seemed to fill the air with her hypnotic perfume. His face flushed bright red, a trickle of blood escaping from his nose as he struggled to maintain his composure. 

"Tsk! Can't you see me and the captain are busy!?" Naiomi snapped. In a fit of rage, the assassin swiftly retrieved a concealed knife from the confines of her panties, her movements fluid and precise as she hurled it towards the startled thief with deadly accuracy. Azuma watched in astonishment as the blade whizzed past Roxie, embedding itself into the wooden doorframe mere inches from his face. 

Caught off guard by her sudden outburst, Roxie stumbled over his words, trying to diffuse the tension with a nervous joke. "Well, I guess you could say...we've got a lot on our plates!" He chuckled awkwardly, his face flushing with embarrassment. 

Sensing the awkwardness of the situation, Roxie quickly backed away, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. "Anyway, I'll just, uh, leave you two to it then!" With a nervous grin, he made a hasty retreat, leaving behind a lingering sense of tension in the air. 

"So then, where were we?" She winked. Azama blushed telling her: "We need to focus on the task at hand Naiomi" She gave him a sad expression before her captain walked outside onto the main deck as an island came into view. "Finally, we've reached our first stop" 

"Yea, that's what I was gonna tell you before... that happened," Roxie remarked, his voice tinged with nervousness as he rubbed the back of his head, offering a sheepish smile. 

Meanwhile, Azuma made his way to the front of the ship, drawn closer to the island by the sight of a vibrant carnival. The air buzzed with the sounds of laughter and excitement, colorful lights illuminating the night sky. 

As they approached, Kenousa voiced his curiosity, "Hmmm, I've never been to a carnival before. It would be nice to explore it." 

Naiomi and the others joined him at the bow, the assassin's eyes alight with anticipation as she took in the lively scene unfolding before her. Naiomi's excitement was palpable as she eagerly awaited the chance to explore the carnival's delights. 

"I haven't been to a carnival in years! This definitely will be a great stress reliever for our first exploration!" Naiomi exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she anticipated the festivities ahead. 

However, Kenzu remained stoic, his arms crossed and expression unchanged as he leaned against the mast. His demeanor spoke volumes of his disinterest, seemingly unfazed by the prospect of the carnival. 

Roxie, always one for lightheartedness, placed a reassuring hand on Kenzu's shoulder, attempting to break through his tough exterior. "Come on, sword boy," he chuckled, his tone playful. "You don't need to act tough all the time. Everyone needs to relax from time to time." In the background, faint strains of carnival music drifted through the air, adding to the anticipation of their upcoming adventure. 

As they stepped onto the shore, the crew of the Azuma Pirate Lord found themselves on a picturesque island, bathed in the warm glow of the sun. Azuma led the way onto the grassy field, his crew trailing behind him. 

A narrow path beckoned them into the dense forest ahead, its entrance framed by towering trees. Through the foliage, colorful lights twinkled like stars, casting a vibrant spectrum of hues onto the surrounding vegetation. The distant strains of music drifted through the air, growing louder as they approached. 

Azuma's keen eyes caught sight of a bold red sign with shimmering gold letters that read, "THIS WAY," pointing in the direction of the lively festivities. He tightened his fist, a silent reminder to his crew to remain vigilant as they ventured forth into the unknown. With determination in his stride, Kenousa led his crew down the path, ready to uncover the mysteries that awaited them on the island. 

As they ventured deeper into the forest, Azuma led the way with Naiomi at his side, her steps light and graceful. Behind them, Roxie sauntered along with an air of nonchalance, his hands idly tucked behind his head. 

With a weary sigh, Roxie broke the silence, his boredom evident in his tone. "This better be worth it," he muttered, "My body's stiff from all that time on the ship. I could use a good fight to shake off the rust" 

His words hung in the air, a subtle reminder of the adventurous spirit that burned within. Despite the peaceful surroundings, an undercurrent of anticipation coursed through them; eager for whatever challenges lay ahead. 

Kenzu lingered behind, his watchful gaze scanning the surroundings with a trained eye. His hand rested casually on the hilt of his blade; a silent sentinel ready to spring into action if needed. 

In the distance, the cheerful melody of chirping birds filled the air, accompanied by the gentle rustle of leaves swaying in the breeze. Finally, they emerged from the forest into a sunlit clearing, greeted by the vibrant spectacle of Phantom Shine Park. The entrance loomed before them, marked by a large blue sign adorned with bold purple letters that proclaimed the park's name to all who approached. 

A sense of excitement stirred among the crew as they stood at the threshold of adventure, anticipation coursing through their veins as they prepared to explore the wonders that awaited past the carnival's gates. 

"Seems we found it" Azuma proclaimed, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction. The crew approached the entrance, where a striking figure awaited them. Dressed in a sleek black tuxedo, the man exuded an air of elegance, his long purple hair cascading down his shoulders and his piercing blue eyes alive with curiosity. He stood at the booth, a welcoming smile playing upon his lips as he awaited their arrival. 

"Welcome, all," the man greeted with a melodious voice that carried over the bustling sounds of the park. He gestured towards the array of attractions with a graceful sweep of his hand. "Phantom Shine Park offers a plethora of culinary delights and thrilling amusements for your enjoyment. The admission fee is merely one silver piece per guest" 

As Naiomi brushed past Azuma, a gentle breeze stirred, causing her hair to lightly brush across his face. With a confident smile, she reached the counter, her presence commanding attention. Placing four gleaming gold coins on the polished surface, she declared, "This should cover the fee" 

"O-oh, I'm sorry but I might not have enough change for this" The dressed man apologized with a worried look on his face. 

"Don't worry about it" She wrapped her arm around Azuma's waist, pulling him past the entrance into the park as they found themselves in a large park with a red paved street, many different rides and attractions for miles. "Alright, me and Azuma are going to go try out some rides, you both can feel free to do what you want till we're done and Roxie, don't do anything stupid" 

"What!? Why am I the only one being called out!?" The thief groaned in exasperation, his hands dropping to his sides in disappointment. A slight pout formed across his lips as he grumbled under his breath, feeling singled out and frustrated by the situation. The disappointment weighed heavily on him, evident in the slump of his shoulders and the dejected look in his eyes. 

"Because you're a known thief, plus you have the kind of attitude that seems to spell trouble. So don't be an idiot or I will personally stick your head on the wall" He looked to see her revealing a concealed knife before hiding it. 

"Y-yes ma'am," Roxie stammered, his face flushing with fear as he acquiesced to Naiomi's command. As she dragged the captain away, Kenzu remained stoic, his arm still resting casually on his blade. He sighed softly, his gaze wandering across the carnival grounds. "It's nice to finally relax, though a carnival isn't really my thing" Kenzu glanced back at Roxie who had a faint smirk. "But I'm sure if I just let you go off on your own, you probably would do something stupid" 

Kenzu straightened up, responding: "Come on," Gesturing for Roxie to follow. "We're going to explore the park for anything of value. Plus, it would be nice to get some fresh air away from the sea" 

"Awww, but I wanted to try out all the rides!" Roxie whined before giving the swordsmen a sad expression. The dark-haired man sighed once more closing his eyes in frustration before telling him: "Fine do what you want, but I'm looking around for a while, better than wasting time on these pointless rides" 

Roxie dashed off with excitement, heading straight for the towering blue ferris wheel, while Kenzu strolled down the long, winding red path. He passed by spinning teacups and other familiar carnival attractions, his gaze surveying the colorful scenery. 

As he walked, his attention was drawn to a large, pink fun house standing conspicuously among the other rides. A tall, thin man dressed in a black tuxedo with a red boutonnière on his left torso caught his eye, his face adorned with white clown paint and topped with a whimsical black top hat. Kenzu couldn't shake the feeling of unease that washed over him, but continued his path nonetheless. 

Just as he was about to pass by, the clown stepped forward, blocking his way with an outstretched black gloved hand. "Wait, sir!" the clown exclaimed. "Surely, you want to try out the House of the Phantom before you leave!" His voice carried a hint of excitement and goofiness, but Kenzu couldn't help but feel a slight shiver run down his spine at the man's peculiar demeanor. 

Kenzu's gaze narrowed as the clown's hand made contact with his shoulder, a chill running down his spine at the unexpected touch. He instinctively reached for the hilt of his blade; his eyes locked onto the strange man before him. 

"Fine," Kenzu relented, his voice edged with reluctance and frustration. "If entering this damn fun house will get you off my back, then so be it. Let's get this over with already." With a deep breath, he followed the clown into the ominous depths of the House of the Phantom, his hand never straying far from his trusted blade. 

As they approached the entrance, Kenzu couldn't help but shudder at the sight of the large, creepy clown face looming before them. It's mouth served as the entrance, it's red painted eyes seemingly following their every move with an eerie intensity. With a sense of foreboding settling over him, Kenzu steeled himself for whatever lay ahead as they stepped into the chaos within. 

Stepping inside, the pirate found himself in a narrow pink hallway, the walls adorned with faded posters of clowns and circus acts. The floor beneath him was a disconcerting black and white checkered pattern, seeming to twist and contort with each step he took. Venturing deeper into the funhouse, he reached a doorway that led him into a large pink room. 

Before him stretched a dizzying array of staircases, each one seemingly leading in a different direction and painted in vibrant hues. Some spiraled upwards into darkness, while others curved sharply to the side or looped back on themselves. Kenzu couldn't help but feel slightly disoriented as he gazed upon the chaotic maze of stairs, unsure of which path to take next. With a deep breath, he steeled himself and prepared to navigate the perplexing labyrinth. 

"Ugh, never really was one for mazes," Kenzu muttered to himself, his voice echoing faintly in the eerie silence of the funhouse with only the carnival music faintly heard outside. With a sense of trepidation, he chose the stairway in the middle and began ascending the white steps. 

The stairs spiraled upwards, seeming to stretch on endlessly until Kenzu finally reached the top. Stepping onto solid ground, he found himself in yet another large room, however, this one had been warped and bathed in an ominous red light. Before him stood a figure cloaked in pure darkness, it's form shifting and swaying as if in a drunken stupor. It's eyes glowed a malevolent shade of red, fixing upon Kenzu with an unsettling intensity. 

Kenzu remained strong as he confronted the mysterious entity before him, instinctively unsheathing his katana. With a wary gaze, he prepared himself. 

"What is that thing? It seems too real to be a prop or a man in a costume," Kenzu thought, his mind racing with uncertainty as the creature before him lurched forward with sinister intent. Without hesitation, Kenzu gripped his blade and swiftly sliced through the air, his sword cutting through the darkness as if it were merely smoke. 

He watched as the entity dissipated into particles of darkness, exhaling a sigh of relief. His heart still pounding with adrenaline. "I knew there was something off about this place," he told himself, his voice tinged with unease. "I should get out of here before another one of those shadow bastards reappear" With a determined stride, Kenzu turned on his heel and began retracing his steps, eager to escape the ominous depths of the House of the Phantom. 

He attempted to go back the other way, only to find the stairwell had vanished with no way back. "Of course, why am I not surprised. Whatever, seems forward is my only option" Kenzu raced down the large warped room when he spotted the same clown that had insisted he'd enter the fun house in the first place. 

A smile grew across the clown's face as he placed his hand upon his top hat. "Hehe, I only wanted you to enter the fun house so I may steal your soul and use it to become stronger...I'm weak, but once I absorb enough life essence of the souls of the living, I shall be strong enough to make those who ruined my life pay" 

"YOU'RE CRAZY! WHO WOULD BELIVE THAT BULLSHIT OF A STORY!?" Kenzu lashed back in utter vexation, his voice edged with disbelief and frustration. Without warning, the clown broke into a sadistic laugher, a chilling sound that echoed through the room. That's when Kenzu's irritation turned to shock. 

With a slow smear, the clown wiped away the face paint he was wearing, revealing a grotesque visage beneath. Half of his face was decayed and undead, the skin rotting away to reveal bone beneath. The sight caused Kenzu to freeze, his eyes widening in horror as he stumbled back, his left hand tightening it's grasp around his sword. 

"W-WHAT THE HELL!? JUST WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!?" 

"Hehe, do you believe me now!? For years I've spent trapped in this undead body...the feeling of cold being the only thing I can feel. I should've died, but the bastard revived me using some power to raise the dead into an undead corpse. The man began to cry but no tears could be seen from his shriveled body. "I-I just want to die, I can't stand being in this body...between life and death. Then one day, I found something, a crystal that when consumed gave the person power. Since I wanted to live again, I was given the power to steal the life essence of anyone I came in contact with. From there I've regained my strength over time, siphoning the life of all who enter" 

"Who's the one that resurrected you, if he did this to you, he's also the one that can undo it!" The pirate questioned, his blade still in hand. 

"Why would you help me? You have nothing to gain from it, you're nothing more than a stranger... just submit and let me steal your life essence!" The clown's voice filled with malice as he clenched his gloved fists, lunging at Kenzu with an unnatural speed. 

Kenzu's heart raced with unease as he evaded the oncoming attacker, the sense of dread intensifying with each passing moment. Gripping his katana tightly, he waited for the perfect opening, his muscles tense with anticipation. 

In one focused strike, Kenzu exhaled, steeling himself before slicing through the air once more with deadly precision. The clown's head was decapitated from his body, rolling to the ground. It's skeletal eyes still fixed on him with an unsettling intensity. 

Before Kenzu could exhale a sigh of relief, the severed head spoke with a chilling resonance. "Shadow art: demon fist!" With those words, a colossal fist made of darkness erupted from the tiled floor shaking the entire fun house. The titan-sized fist hurtled itself toward the swordsman with unstoppable force. 

Reacting quickly, Kenzu raised his blade to guard, the impact of the shadowy limb sending shockwaves reverberating through his entire body. The sheer force of the blow sent him staggering backward, the air knocked out of him as he crashed into the pink brick wall of the room. 

His sword slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground. Kenzu struggled to push himself up, his heart pounding with adrenaline-fueled panic. The once-mist-like darkness had transformed into a formidable adversary, and Kenzu realized with a sinking feeling that he was facing a foe far more dangerous than he had ever imagined. 

"I knew you would try something like this, sadly for you I can just form a new body" Kenzu watched as the body of another shadow entity formed, attaching the clown's head onto it's shoulders as he slowly approached the swordsmen. "Now then...you've given me far more trouble than I would've liked, I can't afford to waste my precious strength on a nobody" 

The pirate reached for his weapon when his assailant grabbed him by his throat, beginning to siphon the life from his body. Kenzu's once black hair began growing gray as his face grew wrinkled. "Since you're about to turn to dust, I shall tell you my name...my name is-" Just then a knife flew through the room, piercing the clown's arm, causing him to drop the weakened swordsmen, turning to see Azuma and Naiomi. 

"How did you two get inside my funhouse!? Tsk, I guess it doesn't matter, you'll just be more life force for me to consume" 

"We'll see about that, you chaotic freak! I won't let anything happen to Kenzu!" Naiomi's voice rang out, laced with decisiveness as she pulled three gleaming knives from her pocket. With practiced precision, she hurled them toward the undead clown, each blade finding it's mark with deadly accuracy. 

The sharp projectiles pierced through the decaying flesh of the clown's cheeks and one embedded in the center of his skull. Naiomi's lips curled into a smirk. "Heh, I hope that hurt!" she taunted, her voice tinged with satisfaction at having struck a blow against their sinister foe. 

That's when their target, undeterred by the atack, slowly advanced toward them, plucking the sharp projectiles from his cracked skull with an eerie calmness. "I'm sorry, my dear... but I no longer feel pain," he intoned, his voice laced with a chilling certainty. "But I'm sure you still do!" 

With a sudden toss, he hurled all three blades back at them. The crew braced themselves for the incoming attack, but to their astonishment, the flying blades were abruptly swallowed by a small, purple swirling rift, vanishing from sight in an instant. 

The air crackled with tension as the crew exchanged wary glances, their apprehension rising in the face of this new display of otherworldly power. 

"W-what th-"As Azuma's mind raced to comprehend the sudden danger, time seemed to slow down. "CAPTAN WATCH OUT!" His eyes widened in shock as Naiomi suddenly propelled him out of harm's way, her movements almost graceful amidst the chaos. The assassin's push was like a forceful gust of wind, sending him staggering to the side just as the lethal blades shot forth from the rift beside his head. 

The air crackled with tension as the blades sliced through the space where he had stood moments before, one after the other disappearing into the darkness of another rift. Across the room, Kenzu lay sprawled on his back, weakened from the assailant's siphon ability, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he watched the events unfold with a mixture of shock and fatigue. 

"Hehe, Haha! This may actually be fun to watch. Even if you manage to dodge one of them, they'll just be sent through another rift until one of them pierces you!" The undead clown giggled throwing his arms out as he watched the madness unfold. 

"Damn it, he's saying he can just teleport our own projectiles around us like pinballs until we're hit!? Sigh, what a pain" Azuma stood back up when seven rifts manifested around the pair. 

With lightning reflexes, Azuma instinctively ducked as the knives rushed past him, the rush of air brushing against his face. Meanwhile, Naiomi executed a graceful backflip, her lithe form contorting effortlessly to avoid the deadly projectiles. They danced through the air in a deadly ballet, darting in and out of the rifts at a rapid pace, each movement calculated to strike their targets with precision. 

The small blades seemed to have a mind of their own as they moved through the air, their gleaming edges reflecting the dim light of the room. The pair remained on high alert, their senses honed to anticipate the erratic movements of the knives as they continued to evade each deadly strike with agile finesse. 

"Tssk! Fuck this!" Tired of the same old tactic, Azuma threw both hands out, using himself as a wall when all three projectiles pierced through him all at once, two in his abdomen with the 3rd in his back. Blood began to seep down his body staining the floor, his body shaking in pain. "Huff...huff, enough of your little tricks. I've got b-better things to do than waste my time with the likes of a mere undead clown" 

Azuma gritted his teeth against the searing pain that shot through his nerves as the knives pierced his flesh. However, Kenousa refused to yield, his resolve unwavering even in the face of adversity. Blood welled from the wounds, staining his clothing and pooling the floor beneath him. 

Despite the excruciating pain coursing through his veins, Azuma's voice remained steady, laced with a steely resolve as he addressed his adversary. Each word was punctuated by labored breaths, his body trembling with exertion, yet his spirit remained unbroken. With a fierce glare, he stared down the undead clown, his eyes ablaze with an unwavering will to overcome whatever challenges lay ahead. 

The tension in the air was palpable as the pirate stood defiant, refusing to succumb to the pain that threatened to overwhelm him. Though battered and wounded, he remained resolute, his mind sharp and focused on the task at hand. 

A smirk grew on the villain's face as he responded: "Oh really? And just what is so important that you should live?" Azuma slowly lifted his head looking him dead in the eye. "I'm going to become the next pirate lord...and to do that...I need to become stronger. Until that day comes, I won't die" 

"HAHAHAHA! A pirate lord!? You can't be serious! You're nothing more than another drop of rain in a vast ocean, what makes you so special!? Pirate lord is a title given only to those who've accomplished great feats as well as made the sea quake with their power. What have you accomplished?" 

The clown's mocking laughter echoed through the chamber, reverberating off the walls as he taunted Azuma with biting words. His voice dripped with sarcasm and disdain; each syllable laden with contempt as he belittled the pirate before him. Drawing closer, the clown closed the distance between them, his eyes boring into Azuma's with a malevolent gleam. 

With a wicked grin plastered across his decayed visage, the clown leaned in close. Despite the looming threat, Azuma met the clown's gaze head-on, his own eyes burning with defiance and confidence. Azuma stood his ground, refusing to be cowed by the clown's derision. Though his body was battered and bloodied, his spirit remained unbroken. 

The corpse's eyes widened in astonishment as he witnessed the miraculous healing of Azuma's wounds. Each knife previously embedded in the pirate's body, slid out with a clatter, hitting the ground as if released by an unseen force. A puzzled expression crossed the clown's decayed features as he observed the wounds rapidly closing, the torn flesh knitting itself back together before his very eyes. 

A sense of disbelief washed over the undead as he watched the injuries vanish without a trace, as though they had never been there in the first place. The villain had never witnessed such a display of resilience and regeneration and could only stare in shock. 

As the last of the wounds disappeared, the figure's amusement turned to frustration and anger. His plans thwarted and his pride wounded, he glared at the pirate with renewed intensity, his goal to defeat him burning brighter than ever before. 

"Impossible, you have a magika ability!?" The villain gasped. Without a word, Azuma lunged forward, gripping the fiend's rotting skull with his bare hand, crushing it with ease as the figure collapsed to the floor. Naiomi watched in shock, unable to form words of what just happened. 

He looked down at the remains of his foe. "I will...become the next pirate lord...weather it takes 10 years or 100, I will overcome any obstacle that stands in my way. Even death won't block my path" Stepping over the remains, Azuma walked over to Kenzu who's gray hair slowly reverted back to it's youthful black hair as he slowly rose before his captain. 

"C-captain Azuma? When did you get here?" 

"About a moment ago, you were getting attacked by that sadistic clown, luckily Naiomi managed to draw the monster's attention just before the life was drained from your body" The blue assassin slightly blushed looking away, embarrassed that the captain was giving her credit for saving Kenzu. 

With a slight cough the swordsmen slowly got to his feet. "Thank you, Captain, you too Naiomi, I knew I should've gone in this damn funhouse, especially with my gut telling me something with wrong to begin with" 

As they made their way outside, Azuma spotted Roxie having fun in the spinning teacups by himself while he and Naiomi walked Kenzu over to a bench that sat along the path of the park. "Sigh, I should give that thief a kick in the ass, but I'll let him enjoy himself for now" 

"Are you sure captain Azuma? I could give him a light stab in the back if you wish" The blue assassin offered. Azuma sat beside the swordsmen looking up at Naiomi who gave him a smirk wielding a knife as if ready to throw it right at her own crew member. 

"It's fine, we deserve to relax from time to time, but eventually I want to explore the rest of this island, I'm sure if that freak was here, there's bound to be more magika users around..." 

Chapter 4 Beyond The Park 

As the crimson sun dipped below the tree line, it sent an eerie veil of red light over the carnival grounds. Azuma slowly rose from the bench with Naiomi and Kenzu remaining steadfast at his side. They proceeded down the red stone path, heading towards the northern part of the park where Roxie could be seen riding the towering Ferris wheel. 

The atmosphere was tinged with a sense of unease, the carnival now bathed in the surreal light of dusk. Shadows danced across the grassy expanse, elongated by the fading sunlight, lending an otherworldly aura to the surroundings. Despite the ominous backdrop, the trio pressed on, unshaken by the strange occurrence within Phantom Shine Park. 

As they approached the towering Ferris wheel, the joyful laughter of Roxie drifted through the air, blending seamlessly with the distant melody of carnival music. With each rotation of the giant metal structure, the young thief's exuberance seemed to grow, his carefree demeanor evident as he reclined in the spacious pod. 

With hands clasped behind his head and legs casually crossed, Roxie leaned back, allowing himself to be enveloped by the thrill of the moment. The wheel ascended to it's climax, allowing him to gaze out at the sprawling expanse of the carnival below, a grin of pure delight spreading across his face. 

For Roxie, this was more than just a simple amusement park ride; it was a fleeting moment of joy in an otherwise chaotic world. As the wheel came to a gentle stop, leaving him suspended high above the carnival grounds, he savored the feeling of freedom and exhilaration that coursed through him, "Ahhh, best day ever" 

Azuma stopped in front of the red steel steps of the ride looking up at the pod his crew occupied. "Roxie! It's time to move out, I've given you a few hours to enjoy yourself while we on the other hand were attacked by a magika user!" 

The pink-haired rogue groaned in protest, "Aww come on, can't we relax just a little longer!?" His plea for more relaxation falling on deaf ears. Azuma exchanged a knowing glance with Naiomi, a silent agreement passing between them. With a resolute nod from his first mate, Azuma's expression hardened. 

Naiomi drew her knife, the glint of steel catching the fading sunlight as she released the blade, sending it hurtling through the air towards the pod where Roxie lounged. The sharp projectile soared towards it's target, embedding itself in the steel pod just inches above Roxie's head. 

In that moment, the stern resolve in Azuma's eyes spoke volumes, a silent reminder that even in moments of relaxation, their vigilance could never waver. He allowed himself a brief exhale, his gaze unwavering as he awaited Roxie's reaction. 

Opening his eyes to see yet another blade just inches from his skull, he let out a gasp as his eyes widened with fear. "ALRIGHT, I'M COMING!" They watched as the scared thief leapt from his pod, running down the support beams before landing in front of them. "Huff, here I am. Now what's so important you had naiomi throw yet another knife at my head!?" 

His captain gave him a serious look. "As much as I want to relax, Kenzu was attacked by a clown that seemed to possess a magika ability...I'm not sure how rare it is for people to acquire a crystal since I was lucky to be stranded on an island that had some growing, but it's still suspicious some random clown had one. 

That's when Kenzu spoke up. "When I was fighting him, he told me he was resurrected by someone and trapped on this island. It's a long shot, but maybe the one that confined him here is somewhere on this island. If not, it's all we have to go off of" They turned to Kenousa who thought about it for a moment. "You could be right, but why would they stay here? What value does this island have to them? Either there's something on this island we need to find, or whoever trapped him here is long gone and we won't be able to find him until we have more info" 

As they approached the northern end of the park, the atmosphere grew increasingly ominous. The once vibrant carnival now seemed to fade into the background, overshadowed by the foreboding presence of the Phantom Forest. 

Roxie's unease was palpable, mirroring the sense of apprehension that hung in the air. His footsteps faltered slightly as they reached the exit, where a warning sign stood sentinel, it's red hue a stark contrast against the surrounding darkness. Bold black letters spelled out a dire message: "WARNING: Phantom Forest, enter at own risk!" 

Azuma paused, a momentary hesitation flickering across his features before he steeled himself. With a deep breath, he stepped over the red chains that marked the boundary, his crew following closely behind. Each footfall seemed to echo off into the silence within the depths of the forest. 

"Cap' are you sure it's a good idea to leave the park? The sign clearly says enter at your own risk" Roxie commented a little unsure about exploring the woods. Azuma continued to walk as he replied: "Are you worried something's going to eat you Roxie? I thought you'd be confident like you normally are in these kinds of situations, what's got you so scare all of a sudden?" 

Roxie clinched his fist. "I-I'm not scared...I just think we should wait until morning to explore the forest so we can see better" 

"Ah, so you're scared of the dark is it? Tell me Roxie...what in this forest could possibly be a threat to us? Kenzu is well enough to use his blade as well as Naiomi's quick reflexes and accuracy with her knives and other weapons. With all that, you shouldn't have a reason to be scared so long as you actually stay with us. Though knowing you, I'm sure you'll do something stupid that gets you lost" The young captain remarked with a slight smirk. 

As they ventured deeper into the heart of Phantom Forest under the cover of night, the surroundings underwent a surreal transformation. The once menacing dark woods gave way to a fantastical landscape straight out of a fairytale. Trees adorned with fluffy pink foliage reminiscent of cotton candy towered above them, their hues illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the dense canopy. 

The forest floor, once obscured by shadow, now lay blanketed with a carpet of vibrant green grass that seemed to shimmer like emerald under the moon's beams. Despite the whimsical allure of their surroundings, Azuma pressed on, leading his crew deeper into the enchanted depths of the Phantom Forest, driven by the promise of discovery that awaited them amidst the surreal landscape. 

As Azuma strode along the path, his footsteps resonated with a soft, muffled sound, hinting at the peculiar material beneath his boots. The ground felt firm yet yielding, as if he were treading upon solid chocolate, it's rich aroma wafting up to tantalize his senses. 

Flanking the pathway, a line of marshmallows, perfectly aligned like railing, stretched into the distance on both sides, their soft, fluffy forms creating an ethereal distinction against the backdrop of the enchanted forest. 

Amidst this fantasy setting loomed a grand mansion, walls constructed entirely of gingerbread, adorned with intricate white icing designs that glistened in the moonlight like delicate filigree. The air was suffused with the sweet scent of sugar and spice, emanating from the confectionery masterpiece before them. 

Azuma's incredulous gaze swept over the fantastical structure, his mind struggling to reconcile the surreal sight before him with the rational world he knew. "What is this, some kind of fairytale?" he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Who builds a house made of candy in the middle of the forest on a random island!?" 

Despite his skepticism, curiosity gnawed at him, urging him to uncover the mysteries hidden within the sugary walls of the gingerbread mansion. With his interest peaked, Azuma took a step forward, his heart set on unraveling the enigma that lay ahead. 

Roxie let out an excited cry preparing to run towards it when Azuma gripped him by his collar with a stern glare. Roxie ran in place full of energy, unable to escape the captain's tight grip. "Look at all that candy! I have to try some!" The thief cried out. Meanwhile Kenzu gave him a cold glare crossing his arms. "Sigh, you really are stupid, aren't you? You let your greediness get the better of you instead of wondering why a forest of candy is just sitting here. It could just be a trap for those who get lost. How do you know the candy isn't poisonous or there's some kind of trap set around the house for dimwits like you?" 

Roxie looked at his captain with sad eyes hoping to convince him to try the candy. "Tsk, if you want to risk it then be my guest, Kenzu, keep watch over him incase this really is some kind of trap" Azuma responded, tossing the pink-haired pirate towards the house as he landed on his feet racing towards the house filled with excitement. Meanwhile the swordsmen followed behind, his arm close to his sword with an agitated expression. 

"So, you think it's some kind of trick?" Naiomi questioned standing beside the young captain. He sighed, crossing his arms. "If this really is just a ruse to lure innocent people by dark means, it's best we deal with it to ensure it doesn't happen to anyone else" 

Without warning, Roxie's desperate cries pierced the eerie silence, the trio's instincts kicked into overdrive, propelling them towards the source of the commotion with urgent haste. Their hearts pounded in their chests, matching the frantic rhythm of their footsteps as they closed in on the gingerbread mansion. 

Arriving at the scene, their eyes widened in horror at the sight before them. The once innocuous red licorice window now resembled a gaping maw, it's jagged edges contorted into a grotesque semblance of a red mouth. From within this warped aperture, a serpentine tendril, slick with an oily sheen, shot forth like a monstrous tongue, seizing Roxie by the throat with a vice-like grip. 

Terror painted across his face letting out faint coughs. Roxie struggled against the relentless force, his futile efforts only serving to tighten the tentacle's grip around his neck. With a sickening lurch, he was yanked through the window's threshold, disappearing into the depths of the sinister abode. 

The trio stood frozen in shock, their minds reeling at the nightmarish spectacle unfolding before them. "ROXIE!" The trio cried as the window reverted back to normal as if it had a mind of it's own. Azuma and Naiomi rushed over to the swordsmen who gripped his katana, preparing to slice through the wall of gingerbread. "Kenzu what happened!?" 

"I'm sorry captain, one second the idiot was in front of me, the next he was getting pulled inside before I could sever whatever grabbed him. Don't worry...I doubt a mere gingerbread mansion is strong enough to withstand a strike from my blade" With a firm grip of his blade, Kenzu unleashed a sudden slash across the left side of the mansion as the wall began to crack before crumbling to the ground. 

As the dust-like sugar faded, they could see a large library with a gingerbread floor, licorice pillars and marshmallow furniture. The trio cautiously stepped inside, examining the candy-filled room with both surprise and disbelief. 

Walking over to one of the gingerbread bookcases, Azuma pulled out what he expected to be a fake book made of candy, only for it to be a real book. "Huh? Seems this book is real, which means all these books must be real unlike most of this house. Though, if there's real books here, that must mean someone actually lives here. We need to find Roxie and the bastard that took him" 

"Yes sir!" Naiomi responded as they searched the library for any secret pathways or clues on where Roxie could've been taken. Kenzu walked out of the library, finding himself in a large lobby where the floor was solid chocolate, stairs in the center of the room leading to the 2nd floor which were made of white chocolate with licorice as the railing. 

"Hmm, I guess I'll check the 2nd floor while Azuma and Naiomi search the library" As he walked up the stairs, he thought he heard something just up ahead. The swordsmen walked slowly up the stairs, quietly unsheathing his blade as he reached the 2nd-floor corridor. He started closely at the dark-chocolate hallway with rows of doors aligning the hall with candy cane doorframes. 

That's when high-pitched giggles could be heard from behind the doors. Kenzu took a step forward when the doors slowly creaked open all at once before him. Kenzu grew unease when a small figure slowly leaned it's head out the door, it was a small gingerbread man with a creepy smile on it's face. It let out high-pitched giggles standing motionless before the man. 

That's when more and more laughter could be heard as a gingerbread man stuck it's head out of each doorway looking right at him as if from a horror movie. "W-what the hell is going on here!?" That's when a horde of them began charging towards him like gremlins as they let out sadistic laughter. 

Kenzu could feel himself slowly backing away before he realized what he was up against. "T-these are just gingerbread men...cookies, I'm a trained bounty hunter! Tsssk, stay back!" Gripping his sword with both hands, Kenzu brought his blade down with one abrupt slash. He watched as a fierce wave of force pierced right through the center of the horde, slicing the demonic cookies to pieces as half of them hit the floor. 

"Sigh...that's right, you pipsqueaks are nothing to a trained bounty hunter like me" The horde stopped as they circled around all the broke figures lying on the floor. That's when they all began to pile on top of each other, there once high-pitched laughter began to become a deep-tone laughter as the small cookies merged into a 7-foot-sized gingerbread man. 

"W-what the hell!? G-get back!" Sweat tripped down the bounty hunter's face as he sent a barrage of fierce sword strikes right for the merged entity, only to watch as it's wounds quickly healed as if it was made from soft dough, each slice slowly closing back up. "TSSSSSK!" Unable to think of a way to stop the tall laughing figure, Kenzu leapt from the railing, landing in the grass where he rushed back into the lobby. 

"Captain! We have a problem! Some gingerbread golem is upstairs and is making it's way down here! I've tried cutting it to pieces, but it seems to have no effect on it!" 

Azuma gave him a confused look before responding: "This isn't like you to make jokes Kenzu, but we don't have time for this, we need to find-" Just then the large gingerbread man smashed through the doorway staring right at them with it's creepy red eyes and frosting smile as it continued to laugh with it's deep voice. 

"This day just gets weirder and weirder. Naiomi, Kenzu get out of the way, I'll deal with this large bastard" His crew members nodded as they ran past the large candy brute. "Alright, bring it on you candy bastard" It looked him in the eyes before charging right for him, it's feet stomping with every step. Azuma dashed forward, throwing a punch right to his target's face as he struck the right gumdrop eye of the creature. 

It let out a deep bellow stepping back as it placed it hand to it's eye before smacking Azuma across the room, causing him to impact one of the book frames, causing it to break as dozens of books hit the ground. "Sigh, you're a tough bastard, aren't you? Well, if I can't break you...then let's try this!" 

Advancing towards his foe once more, Azuma gripped the gumdrop eyes on the gingerbread man's face, taking them away before jumping back. (Hmmm, if this works, it won't be able to see me anymore. Though it could've just been for show and I took these for nothing. But at this point, nothing would surprise me) 

Closing his fist to hide the eyes, he looked up at the creature who began to let out loud cries of despair as it's once smile turned to a frown as it proceeded to flail it's hands around, smashing the library in an attempt to reclaim it's gumdrop eyes. 

(Hmm, if it actually does need these to see...does this mean it also has internal organs as well?) Placing the gumdrop eyes in his pocket, he snuck up on the raging monster, throwing a punch right for the creature's back as he punched right through it's gingerbread skin. 

"Hmph!?" That's when he realized his fist was stuck inside it's back. "D-damn it...I-I can't free my hand!" The gingerbread began to slowly travel up his armor as he was pulled inside the golem... 

Meanwhile Kenzu and Naiomi searched the house for any sign of Roxie, only to find nothing but empty rooms. As they raced down the stairs, they came to a halt at the sight of a tall buff man with pink hair, red eyes wearing a white cloak and black pants. "Hello...I see you're looking for something...allow me to help you both" 

Before the pair could react, the figure shot his arm out right for them, his arm becoming pink taffy as his fist struck the pair across the face knocking them out... 

Kenzu and Naiomi awoke chained to the wall in a large basement where they spotted the same man standing before them along with the giant gingerbread at his side. "Ah, I see you're both awake. Welcome trespassers to my hidden lab where I bring those stupid enough to trespass on my property" 

The pair struggled to free themselves from the tight chains but in the end was in vain. "Hehe, try all you like, but you all have no chance of escaping from here. I suppose you're wondering why I bring trespassers down here...torture? Imprisonment? Or perhaps I just kill them for the fun of it? Well, you'd be wrong. The reason I've brought you all down here...is because years ago, I discovered something that would change the world...Magika crystal creation" 

The pair's eyes widened at his words. "Magika....creation? No...it's not possible, no one can just create crystals, it takes time" Kenzu commented as both looked at him as if he were insane. He slowly walked up to them, looking the bound swordsmen dead in the eye. "You're right, it does take time...but that's only if they're created naturally like plants or oxygen. How are magika crystals created? From a buildup of natural energy that then condenses into one spot until a crystal grows in that area like a tree or fruit. That's when I realized...life itself is a natural form of energy. So, I thought if I can drain the human body of it's life energy, I then could condense their life essence and replicate the creation process of the magika crystal!" 

Naiomi continued to struggle. "Just how do you expect to drain the energy from us? Something like that just sounds like a psycho's fantasy" 

"Oh really? Have you heard of spiritual energy? It's the physical manifestation of one's own life force that can be used to enhance one's own capabilities as well as supernatural abilities. Allow me to demonstrate" 

The pair watched as the tall gingerbread man opened it's stomach, revealing Roxie in the center, his arms and legs bound by the thick dough of the entity. Standing before the unconscious pirate. The man placed his left palm against Roxie's face while opening his right to reveal a gumball. "Now watch, as I siphon his spiritual life force from his very body and transfer it to this mere gumball" 

"NO STOP YOU BASTARD!" The blue assassin cried out as she struggled with all her might to free herself from the chains. "Don't worry my dear, it won't hurt him, he'll just grow weaker until his heart stops. Like one dying in their sleep" A purple aura began to transfer from Roxie's face as the gumball began to emit a purple aura as well. 

"Behold, thanks to my magika ability to turn myself as well as non-living things into candy, I can transfer his spiritual energy into this gumball thereby condensing natural energy into one location ergo replicating the process of crystal creation. To you both it might not make sense, but to one who's spent years alone in these woods...one only has time to think and study. I had come to this island many years ago...back when I was a mere boy. I loved phantom Shine park, the rides, the people...but after awhile, I grew bored, I wanted to explore the rest of the island much like you. But sadly, it wasn't long before I grew lost in the endless forest. Days soon became months as the only source of food were fruit and berries that I'd find on rare occasions. As the food grew slim, I thought I'd be finished, however...as I was struggling to survive in these woods, I saw it...a pink crystal...sticking out of the ground like a plant" 

Another gingerbread man entered the room as the man continued. "With no other option, I ate the crystal thinking it was ice. At the time I had no knowledge of magika crystals and their existence. But after awaking hours later, I realized whatever I touched would turn to candy. The grass would become cotton candy, the trees turned to lollipops. My need for food must've manifested that crystal to insure my survival. So as the weeks passed by, I used my new magika ability to keep me alive, using the food to feed myself as well as transform the environment into my own personal wonderland. I'm sure you're wondering how I've managed to stay sane after all these years...about a year into my isolation, I decided to make these gingerbread men as both guards and friends to talk to...but I soon realized, they were sentient...they could react and respond to me as if alive" 

Just then the gingerbread man that had just entered suddenly crashed apart as Azuma jumped out before the assailant. "What!?" The pink-haired pirate was caught off guard as Azuma pierced his blade straight through his target's chest. 

That's when the man began to laugh. "Hehe, you really think it would be that easy? One quick stab of my heart and I'd be dead...that is what you were thinking wasn't it? I'm afraid this vessel is nothing more than a form I created out of candy, why else would I be in such Prestine shape from only eating sweets?" 

Azuma backflipped away from the target as a pink substance seeped out from his stab wound. "Hmph, so you're saying most of your body is nothing more than transfigured candy made to look human, is that it? Well then...seems I'll just have to strike you until I find your real organs, I know underneath that facade of a body, there's vital organs that are weak to a blade's strike" 

The young captain aimed his blade towards the psychopath, a determined look in his eyes as he gripped his blade tightly. "Are you sure you want to continue this little scuffle of ours? I already have one of your friends right here" He held out the small pink gumball as Roxie's purple aura flowed around it. 

That's when Azuma had an idea, a slight smirk grew across his face as he lowered his blade. "I have a better idea, how about we make a bet, if you win...I'll let you absorb my spiritual energy without resistance" 

"Oh? What an interesting bargain, you've piqued my interest, continue" 

"I wager I can strike a vital organ in this next attack" His opponent grinned opening both arms out, leaving himself wide open to an attack. "Go on then, if you miss, your spirit energy shall contribute to the creation of a new breed of magika crystals!" 

Gripping his sword with both hands, Azuma dashed forward, piercing his blade right into the leg of the candy man. Both blood and pink goo splattered to the ground as the pirate's eyes widened in shock. "Im-impossible...h-how did you know where m-my vital organs were!?" He shook in pain before falling to one knee before Azuma who looked down at him with a serious expression. 

"The first time I struck, I could feel your heartbeat in a lower part of your body, so I knew it had to be either in your leg or feet. Aside from that, I just got lucky not piercing your heart but rather a kidney...Now then...return Roxie's energy back to his body, unless you'd rather I pierce your heart this time" 

Asuma aimed his blade towards the man's right leg with a cold look in his eyes. Clinching his teeth, the candy man dropped the gumball as the purple aura flowed back to Roxie's motionless body. All watched as the thief opened his eyes, his vision returning. "W-what happened? Just a moment ago I saw some kind of light off in the distance of a dark void. 

"Now, release my crewmates from their chains" The pink-haired pirate lowed his head as the pirates were free from their traps as they stood before the defeated villain. 

"We should hurry and kill him here, someone this sadistic and heartless has no right roaming freely" Roxie snapped angrily towards the wounded pirate. Azuma put a hand up signaling him to calm down. "That won't be necessary Oda, I think I have a better idea" Crouching down before the bleeding foe. Azuma asked: "What is life to you? Just a source of energy used to create power? Or something precious? Something needed to be protected at any cost?" 

All watched as tears of red candy syrup began running down the man's face as he struggled to hold back his sorrow. "I...I'm sorry Azuma, being isolated from society for so long has made me forget the importance of life...for years I hated the outside world as if they abanded me, but with the creation of my gingerbread guards, I thought they could fill the gap inside me, but like me...they were nothing but hollow creatures just following my orders like mindless drones. I'm sorry for hurting your friends and understand if you never forgive me" 

That's when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "What is your name?" The man looked up to see Azuma kneeling before him with a smile on his face. The fellow pirate answered: Kiozen...Kiozen Kiyoko" The pirate captain smiled responding: "Why don't you come with us Kiozen? Away from phantom shine island, away from this hollow and isolated place? We'll travel the world together, seeing new lands and meeting new people, both friend and foe. With your candy abilities, I'm sure you'll be a great addition to the team" 

"WHAAAT!?" The others cried out in shock. Roxie clinched his fist pointing at Kiozen. "You really want to bring that heartless psycho with us!? What if he tries to kill us again!?" 

That's when Azuma stood up, glaring at his crewmate with his back still turned to him. "Do you have a problem with my decision as captain Oda? If so, say it, I won't leave him here to wallow in loneliness. I can tell he's not a heartless monster unlike the others we've faced before, he's just broken...feeling rejected by this world. I know what it's like...to be rejected by those around you...left for dead as you feel the end drawing near. So I ask you again Roxie...do you have something to say?" 

Kenzu and Naiomi stood and watched as Roxie clinched his fist in frustration before looking away. "No captain..." 

Stardust Island ARC

After saying goodbye to phantom shine park, the crew set sail, making their way towards an island not far from them. "It's called Stardust Island, I've read about it through books I've found as well as using my gingerbread men to spy on the people within phantom shine park. Unlike what you've all seen, I'm capable of creating small gingerbread men I can use to spy and scout large areas"

"Hmm, that can come in handy, so then...what exactly do you know about this, stardust island?" The candy man thought for a moment before responding: "I've heard those looking to become rich, or those already wealthy come to this island, to stardust casino, one of the most popular casinos in the world"

Docking on the shore of Stardust Island, the crew could see a large town before them with a large casino in the center as lights and music blared off in the distance. "Hmph, they really want tourists to know there's a casino here, don't they?" Azuma commented before descending off the ship onto the sandy beach of stardust.

The others jumped down behind him beside Kiozen who jumped off the ship, shooting pink taffy from his pale palm, pulling himself onto the beach. The captain carefully surveyed the area before approaching a flight of stone steps that led from the beach up to the streets of the town. "Let's go check out the stardust casino, perhaps we can gather some interesting info from the people inside"

"Maybe even earn us some gold!" Roxie gleamed in excitement, his eyes lighting up as he smiled. "Sigh, try not to draw attention to us Oda, I know you're excited, but also know you have a habit of stealing items of interest. Try not to do anything stupid...Kenzu, you'll be the one to watch Roxie while Naiomi and I search the area for anything of interest"

"What should I do captain Azuma?" The pink-haired pirate questioned with his hand over his chest in a respectful manner. Azuma stopped turning his head to the side responding: "Use your magika abilities to gather info on the people of the casino. Places like these tend to have vital information we could use"

"Y-yes Azuma" They continued towards the casino as some of the civilians took notice of the pirate and his crew walking through the streets. They reached the large golden building. The casino was a large four-floor building made of solid gold with the name: STARDUST CASINO" written in red letters on the center floor of the structure.

"Hmmm, strange how a plane looking town like this one has such a high-quality casino in the middle of town" Azuma and his crew walked through the golden doorway to find red carpet floors and black walls in the large lobby. The main lobby was filled with slot machines and a bar in each corner of the room, with many customers indulging in all the casino had to offer. Many of the people within the lobby seemed to be from different parts of the world, some poor and others average. "Strange, there's no sign of anyone wealthy in the main lobby, then again...they could just be in some kind of VIP area for those with more money. Alright, Kiozen, go and see what you can find and Roxie...I swear if you do something stupid"

Oda put his hands up backing up. "Yea, yea I get it, I won't steal anything while we're here" With that, Roxie rushed to check out all the many kinds of games with Kenzu following him, his hands folded and an annoyed look on his face. Meanwhile Naiomi followed close behind Azuma as he walked past the lobby, spotting a corridor leading deeper into the casino.

As the pair walked through the large hallway, a figure watched them from a distance, they had long black hair covering one eye wearing a brown poncho with black pants with a gun at his waist. He watched them carefully before tailing them through the long corridor... 

"So, captain...we haven't been alone in a while, after all this is over, we should have some fun in your private quarters hehe" Naiomi blushed smiling seductively at her captain. Azuma looked in her direction with a serious face before responding: "We'll see Naiomi, 1st we need to gather some info from this place and hope we find something of use. My gut tells me many important people come to stardust island which means there's plenty of secrets some are hiding within these walls"

As they reached the end of the hall, Azuma saw a red door with the letters: "VIP" written above it in pink lights. Just as he proceeded towards the door, a male voice called out: Stop right there pirate...or should I say Azuma Kenousa...the sea Corp has placed a bounty on you as well as the girl beside you, I believe her name is Naiomi, also known as the blue assassin. Heh, what fun it'll be to reap the bounty of such an infamous assassin such as you Naiomi" 

Slowly lifting his hands up, Azuma carefully turned to face the man that had been tailing them. "Just who are you then?" The bounty hunter stared deep into the pirate's eyes, his pistol aimed right for his target's chest. "My name is of no importance, you both will be dead in mere moments. Be careful about your next action, one wrong move and I'll shoot right through you...filthy pirate"

That's when Azuma slowly approached him, keeping his hands up as he took each step forward until they stood mere inches from one another, the bounty hunter's firearm now pressed against his abdomen. "You seem very confident in yourself, but do you actually have the guts to pull the trigger in point blank range?" 

Naiomi watched in unease as both men continued to stare one another down. Without warning, the dark-haired hunter fired off a single shot straight through his target's chest, blood staining the carpet as the bullet went straight through Azuma's body. Many in the casino began to run in fear as Naiomi watched in shock, her captain collapsed before her in a pool of blood.

"You...YOU BASTARD! THAT WAS MY CAPTAIN!" The blue haired assassin was thrown into a fierce rage as a blue aura illuminated her body. You'll-YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" Pulling out a dozen knives, Naiomi threw them right for the assailant. Reacting quickly, the trained hunter threw his upper body back, dodging nearly every sharp projectile beside one as it pierced his left shoulder.

He rose to his feet gripping the bleeding shoulder with a slight smirk. "Heh, impressive...I-I didn't think you'd be capable of Seinshin, though I can't use it myself, I'm told it takes a lot of spiritual concentration to use" 

Naiomi remained silent, still consumed by rage. That's when a leg shot up, kicking the pistol into the air as Azuma jumped up, catching the firearm in one hand, aiming it right for the attacker. "Hmph, I'm not sure just what seinshin is, but I'll have to look into it, thanks" With a smirk Azuma fired a single shot into the bounty hunter's chest as blood dripped from the wound.

"W-what!? B-but I thought you were dead!?"

"I was just pretending to bleed out. Seems you didn't know I was a magika user did you?" With a final shot, the pirate attempted to kill their opponent when a tree branch sprouted up from the red carpet, stopping the projectiles.

Breathing heavily, the man commented: "About time Kimosu" With a slight laugh he fell back when a tree monster came up out of the ground as if phasing through the ground. The creature looked like a humanoid tree with wood for skin but had arms and legs. It's eyes were black with a faint purple glow in the center.

It spoke in a deep male voice: "You both won't escape the phantom shade, the ocean's most skilled bounty hunter trio!" Suddenly it unleashed long thin branches right for them, attempting to subdue the pair.

Naiomi, now more under control, watched as Azuma unsheathed his blade, slicing through each branch that came his way, shrapnel of wood flying past her as he continuously sliced through each moving branch. (I-I need to help him before he runs out of energy!) Taking a deep breath, Naiomi jumped over the relentless branches, throwing a punch right for Kimosu's head.

"Hmph, you should know trees don't feel pain assassin, you just made it easier for me to capture you" With his ally in one hand, the entity used his other to send sharp tree branches up from the ground, trapping the young assassin within a cage of tree branches. "Stay there, I just need to deal with your captain and this little hunt will be over"

Just then, a pink gumball flew over Kimosu's shoulder, landing just past his feet. "Hm?" In a burst of pink goo, the gumball burst, covering him in sticky gum. He could feel the weight growing heavier as he struggled to even move. "Mph!? Is this gum!? Where did it come from!?"

"Don't bother struggling, the longer my gum is attached to something, the thicker and sticker it becomes, I'd suggest you admit defeat before you embarrass yourself" Azuma looked past the large blob of gum to see Kiozen walking up to them with a smirk, placing his hand on the column of pink goo.

"Sigh, nice timing Kiozen, didn't think I could back his damn branches any longer"

"No worries captain, it's the crew's job to support their captain anyway they can" That's when Azuma realized... "Wait, that tree monster said the phantom shade was a trio, if that's true...than where is their third member? You don't think they could've found Roxie and Kenzu 1st could you!?"

Meanwhile... 

Roxie sat at a poker table playing against a random player while Kenzu stood and watched in the corner, his arm resting on his blade with a bored expression on his face. That's when the pink-haired man threw his deck down shouting: "Full house baby! Look like I win!" He pulled his opponent's chips towards him to add to his own when the man gripped his hand commenting: "Wait...how about we have one last match, winner take all?"

"You want to go again!? Fine by me! But you'll have to get more chips to bet against!" That's when the man lifted his head, he had a black bowler hat with black hair, green eyes dressed in a black vest, red long-sleeve under shirt and black pants. "Oh, don't worry...I have plenty of money" 

The abrupt change in tone caused Kenzu to turn and see the man quickly reaching for something under the table. (Shit!) Without wasting time, the swordsmen unsheathed his blade, dashing right for his crewmate. Knocking Oda out of his seat, Kenzu deflected the assailant's quick shot as the bullet ricocheted off his blade hitting the ceiling.

"I knew you would come here...Amizaki" Roxie rose to his feet exclaiming: "Wait, you know this guy Kenzu!?" A smirk grew across the man's face as he rose to his feet.

"Yeah Kenzu, do you know me?" Gripping the tip of his hat, the assailant threw it right for the swordsmen as blades abruptly came out from the outline of the cap. "Tsk!" Gripping his blade with both hands, Kenzu blocked the incoming projectile. It's blades sent sparks across the room as it drilled against the pirate's katana.

"Seems you're still as quick as ever, which is why I've been wondering...why did you join a pirate? I thought you hated pirates? Or perhaps...have you changed your mind?" Amizaki pulled out a pistol aiming it right at Kenzu's head from the other side of the table. "Hmph...I guess it really doesn't matter, you're no longer the bounty hunter I once knew, and I have my orders to kill the pirate known as Azuma as well as his crew. Such a shame...I would've loved to see you again under different circumstances. How cruel fate can be"

As the assailant prepared to fire, the swordsmen kicked off from the poker table, causing the spiraling hat to go flying into the wall past him. "So, this is how you treat your old boyfriends Amizaki? As normal trash ready to be killed? Here I thought you actually cared about me, we were the perfect duo, your quick shots and my master swordsmanship. Did that mean nothing to you? Or perhaps...you were just faking the feeling you had for me"

The once calm and focused gunman began to shake as sweat ran down the side of his face. Roxie was confused for a moment before piecing everything to gather. "Wait! Are-are you saying this creep is your ex-boyfriend!?"

His crewmate nodded. "This is Amizaki Yukoda, both my former partner when I was a part of the phantom shade, as well as my boyfriend at the time. He was the 1st one to see the world the way I do, we didn't care about who we killed or how it was done, all we cared about was payment, using the money to make life...a little less depressing. But as time went, the phantom shade partnered with the sea corp and focused strictly on killing pirates. As much as I hated pirates, many of those we killed didn't seem as heartless as the admirals made them out to be. That's when I decided to turn my back not only on the corporation, but also on the phantom shade as well"

That's when Roxie was surprised to see Amizaki beginning to cry, his body shaking as tears ran down his face. His hand holding his firearm shook rapidly to the point he couldn't aim properly. That's when he finally dropped his weapon, looking at the ground in sorrow. "I can't do this Kenzu...not to you...Please tell me...why....WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME COME WITH YOU!"

Once more the bounty hunter broke into tears as he fell to his knees with Azuma and the others running up to them at that moment. Kenzu's once uncaring expression then became one of surprise as his eyes widened towards the crying man at his feet.

"Y-you told me not to follow you...you said it was better if I stayed with them...WELL LOOK WHERE THAT LED! IT STILL BROUGHT ME TO THIS MOMENT WHERE I HAD TO EITHER KILL YOU OR BE HUNTED BY THE SEA CORP AS IF I WAS A PIRATE TOO!"

To everyone's surprise, Kenzu knelt before the sobbing man, placing his hand upon his shoulder. "Look Amizaki...at the time I was sure staying away from me and moving on was the best action, forgetting about me...forgetting about all the pain I caused you. But, I can see that was the wrong thing to do...all I did was cause even greater pain to you and I'm sorry. This time, you can come with me if you want, that is...if captain will allow it"

Amizaki looked up at him, his face red with dried tears as Azuma looked at him with slight distrust. "Sigh...I don't trust you, especially if you work for the sea corp, but if Kenzu is willing to keep an eye on you, then fine...we'll need to search for a bigger ship in the meantime, we don't have enough space for anymore crewmates even if each crewmate slept two per room. Our only choice is to stay here for a while and try and gather enough gold for a bigger and more pristine ship"

"T-thank you Azuma" He thanked still on his knees. Just then the ground began to shake beneath them. Rushing back into the hall, the crew watched as Kiozen's gum incasing Kimosu began to Strech as sharp branches began tearing through his gooey prison.

"He's using his branches to free himself, we have maybe a few seconds before he frees himself captain" Kiozen warned him. Azuma frowned pulling out his blade once more as his crew prepared for round two. That's when the gum finally tore open, falling to the ground with Kimosu standing before them still holding his leader in one hand.

"It'll take more than mere gum to contain me! My magika crystal gives me the ability to manipulate nature itself!" Noticing Amizaki amongst the squad of pirates, he gave him a cold look. "Hmph, I never thought you'd be stupid enough to betray the phantom shade, just like-" He then spotted Kenzu standing beside him. "Ah, I get it now, you're so obsessed with Kenzu, you'll throw your own life away to be with him...is that it?"

Amizaki clinched his fist, his once anxious demeanor abruptly changed as he quickly aimed his pistol towards his former squad member. "Shut up! I once thought we were doing the right thing, keeping the world safe from heartless pirates who were a threat to the innocent...but now, I can see that Kenzu was right, the phantom shade aren't the heroic hunters I once thought they were, we're nothing more than ruthless killers, willing to end the lives of those who won't stand in line of the sea corp's view of the world. As far as I'm concerned...you and the sea corp can go to hell!"

Without warning Amizaki fired off each bullet from his magazine until he was out. Roxie and Kenzu watched in shock while Azuma and Naiomi stood silently with serious expressions on their faces.

That's when Kimosu began to let out deep utters of laughter. "Hehe, you fool, you really are a fool if you think mere bullets were enough to kill me! You've learned nothing after all these years have you!?" In one abrupt attack, Kimosu transformed his right hand into a large spear-like weapon, launching it right for Azuma, attempting to kill their captain in a single attack.

Before the pirate could react, he felt someone push him out of the way just before the attack could connect. "What!?" Looking behind him, all saw to their horror Amizaki, pinned against the wall of the corridor, blood splattered across the wall as the man shook in pain, the spear pierced straight through his chest.

Kenzu was in utter shock at the sight of his once lover, now dying before him. That's when he began to speak in a weak tone: "I-I'm sorry I didn't go with you Kenzu...I-I hoped it won't end this way, though...I'm glad, as my last noble act, I was able to give up my life for your captain. I-I will forever love you...Kenzu" A tear of blood ran down his cheek before dropping to the floor as the man became motionless.

"Hmph, I was aiming for their bloody captain, but, one less pest to deal with I guess" Kimosu's words caused the grieving swordsmen to snap as a red aura began to flow around the outline of his body.

"You bastard...how dare you kill the only one I ever loved and then act as though he was nothing more than mere trash" Slowly turning to face their assailant, Kenzu gripped his katana closing his eyes. The vibrant red flow of energy growing stronger. The crew watched as Kenzu vanished in a flash of light, a single tear floating in midair where he once stood.

"Huh! Where did he go!?" Kimosu pulled his extended arm back to him just as a slash of red light pierced across his chest. He could hear Kenzu's voice as the swordsmen moved past him at immense speed. "In this world, those with no heart...have no place"

The wooden entity gripped the gaping wound in his chest. (Impossible, I can feel the cut from his blade! But how!?) "TSK! YOU WON'T KILL ONE WHO HAS THE POWER OF NATURE!" Turning around he saw Kenzu standing behind him, the swordsmen's back to him. "TSK! DON'T YOU TAUNT ME!" In a fit of rage, Kimosu threw both hands out, firing a barrage of thorns straight for him.

Just as the thorns were mere inches from Kenzu, the swordsmen vanished in a flash of red light, advancing towards his opponent as if the thorns moved in slow motion. Gripping his katana firmly, Kenzu prepared to land the finishing blow. "Form number 24...spirit isolation" 

Unleashing a blitz of sword strikes infused with this newfound energy, Kenzu slowly sheathed his blade, his back towards his opponent as red slashes began appearing all over the tree entity. "WHAT!? WHAT IS THIS!" With each slash, Kimosu's body began to break apart as he was reduced to ash.

The entire crew, even Azuma was shaken by Kenzu's immense power. "W-what the hell was that!?" Roxie cried out in a frightful tone. That's when their captain had a realization...he thought back to when he had been shot and Naiomi went into a blind rage, she also was engulfed in a light of pure energy that seemed to boost her speed and power.

"I'll have to look into this at some point, but for now...are you alright Kenzu?" Azuma walked over to the swordsmen, the red aura completely gone. His crewmate was silent for a moment, looking at the floor and facing away from the others.

"I'm-I'm fine...can I please just have a few minutes to myself captain?" 

"Sure, we'll wait outside so you can have some time to yourself" Azuma motioned the others outside while Kenzu walked over to his lover's lifeless body still up against the blood-covered wall. That's when he suddenly burst into tears. Falling to his knees, Kenzu looked up at his fallen lover.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you Amizaki...I always worried more about getting my next bounty done rather than enjoying the time I had with those around me" Gripping the floor tightly, Kenzu took a deep breath. "I won't make the same mistake twice...Azuma and the others are my 2nd chance at enjoying life. I'll do my best to make the best of it. Thanks...Amizaki"

After standing outside for a few minutes, the crew watched as the casino doors opened behind them. They looked to see Kenzu carrying his fallen lover's body in his arms. "I want to bury him on the beach, will any of you help me?"

"Yes, we will do what we can to help" Azuma answered before looking at the others who nodded aside from Roxie who was unsure what to say at this point. They carefully made their way down to the beach as the sun began to set. After about half an hour of digging a hole, Kenzu carefully placed Amizaki inside before the others began filling the hole...

That's when Kiozen realized they had forgotten something. Quickly going inside the now destroyed casino lobby, He found the phantom shade's leader who had just regained consciousness. Before he realized what was going on, Kiozen fired a string of pink taffy from his palm, wrapping it around the disoriented bounty hunter's torso keeping his arms pinned behind his back. "We almost forgot about you"

Dragging him out by his collar, Kiozen called out: "Captain! What should I do with this one!?" The crew turned to see the leader of the phantom shade in the candy man's grasp, struggling to break free. The moment Kenzu recognized him, he gripped his blade with a frown.

"Captain, please give me permission to end his worthless life, he's the boss of the phantom shade, he could've prevented this whole thing!" Azuma saw the pure hatred in his crewmate's eyes, the lust for revenge boiling within him.

"Wait...I want to speak with him before I decide what action to take. Don't forget, they'll probably look for someone to blame for the destruction of stardust casino, it's best to have him take the fall for this since he ordered the attack in the 1st place"

Approaching the struggling bounty hunter with Kiozen gripping his collar tightly from behind, Azuma ordered his crew member to uncover the man's mouth so he could speak to him. The pink-haired pirate removed the taffy covering the man's mouth as the assailant finally caught his breath.

"You bastards! What do you do with Amizaki and Kimosu!?" The pirate glared down at him before slapping him across the face. "Shut up...they're already dead. If you hadn't been such an idiot, I'm sure they'd still be alive. Kimosu killed Amizaki after the man found out Kenzu was with us, ultimately causing Kenzu to kill the creature in a blind rage"

"K-kenzu, Kenzu is here?" His vision coming back into focus, he saw the dark-haired swordsmen glaring at him, his red eyes staring him down. "Kenzu!? Please, help me! We're best friends...aren't we?"

"S-shut up Jin...the man you once were is gone, the person I once called a friend is nothing more than a memory. I may have formed the phantom shade with you all those years ago, but that means nothing to me anymore"

"Wait, you formed the phantom shade with this bastard?" Azuma asked curiously. The swordsmen sighed with a nod crossing his arms. "It was about five years ago...I had already trained as a lone bounty hunter. However, I and others like me could tell there were more and more bounties being placed on pirates, some with impressive power. It soon got to the point where I couldn't defeat or capture the higher ranked pirates alone, I then resorted to forming the phantom shade with Jin in hopes of evening the odds against the growing bounties of strong pirates"

All listened as he went on. "Jin and I formed the duo and began taking down many of the B and A rank threats that came through our bounties. Though...as time went on and we found Kimosu and Amizaki, it felt as though something changed in Jin...he became more about wiping out pirates and earning money rath than ridding the world of the evil ones. The final straw was when he joined the sea corp, he didn't care if the pirate was evil or even had a bounty, he treated all pirates as trash or criminals. Once I saw what kind of monster he'd become, I left the squad"

"That's because pirates are nothing more than criminals who steal and kill those that get in their way!" Jin shouted back. Before Kenzu could respond, Azuma put his hand up motioning him to hold on. "So...you say those who steal and kill are presumed pirates in your eyes correct? Well then...what about the sea corp? They order the deaths of those who are innocent just for looking like a pirate, then steal their gold and either keep it or use it to pay men like you to do the same. Both sides seem to steal and kill a fair amount...so tell me...what's the different between the corp and us pirates?"

Jin stood there trying to answer but was unable to think of an answer. Azuma smirked walking around him with his hand on his hip. "That's right...you're beginning to realize that you, as well as the sea corp are nothing more than hypocrites....Using any excuse you can to either kill or earn gold.

The man's eyes widened as his irises began to shake from the realization. "N-no...all those pirates me and my men killed...t-they were criminals...weren't they!?"

"Some probably were...but the real question is...how many of them weren't...how many of them were just innocent people that were killed by your hand?" Azuma's words echoed through the bounty hunter's head as he finally snapped, letting out a cry of despair. The world around him seemed to shake as he began to lose his sanity.

"We're done here, Kiozen, pin him somewhere in the casino so they have someone to blame for all this, we should leave before we're the ones they assume did this"

"Yes Azuma" Kiozen dragged the mentally broken man back inside, setting him on the carpeted floor, binding his arms and legs to the floor with his strong taffy. As the pirate left him all alone, Jin shook anxiously on the floor as he began to lose his grip of reality.

"N-no, I'm not a monster...I-I was trying to save this world from pirates!" He closed his eyes trying to calm down. But, that's when he heard a weak man's voice: "You're a monster" Still shaking he opened his eyes, finding himself sitting on the red carpet, but within what looked like an endless void of darkness. As time went on, he began to hear the whispers of all the innocent people he had killed over the years.

(I-I didn't know...I-I'm sorry) Tears ran down his eyes as he held himself in fear. "Please...I don't want to die..." That's when a dark figure stepped out from the darkness in front of him, it wore a black hooded cloak like the grim reaper as it walked towards him in silence. Jin could feel the room growing colder as the entity came closer. "P-please...not like this" He uttered in fear.

The hooded figure stopped inches from his shaking body, the room so cold, he could easily see his breath. Now shivering and anxious, Jin could only watch as the faceless entity revealed it's boney hand, raising it up towards the frightened man's face. That's when his soul began to get pulled from his body as blue light began to flow out of him, into the creature's hand until the light finally left his eyes...

CHAPTER 6 Preparation For Their Next Sail 

Making their way through the small town, they spotted a tavern on the side of the street called: "Star Tavern" It was a small wooden tavern between two large buildings with dual doors. Making his way inside, Azuma found himself inside your typical tavern; wooden floors, a long bar, round tables and barrels for chairs.

As he and his crew made their way inside, Azuma couldn't help but notice some of the people looking at them with hostile expressions. The captain sighed walking towards the bar when a tall buff man with short brown hair dressed in a white sleeveless shirt and tan pants blocked his way.

"Where do you think you're going...pirate? We don't allow your kind here. Maybe stardust casino does, but in here...that's a whole other story. So why don't you just turn around and get back in your ship before things get ugly?"

His crewmembers grew frustrated, glaring at the man but once more Azuma motioned them to calm down. That's when the thug placed his hand on the captain's coat snapping: "Hey! You got shit in your ears!? I told you to get out of here! Or would you like me to bash your head in!"

Without a word, Azuma gripped the man's hand touching his coat, gripping it firmly before a loud crack echoed through the tavern. "AAAGGHHH! MY HAND! YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Gripping his broken hand, the assailant threw a strike with his right fist. All citizens watched with mouths dropped as Azuma caught his attack with one hand, a cold glare on his face.

"I'm tired of everyone treating all pirates as if we're monsters...if I'm correct, you threw the 1st punch, so that means I'm justified to defend myself" Pulling the thug closer by his fist, Azuma bashed his head against the man's, leaving a bruise on both of them. While his healed in seconds, the tall man hit the ground out cold.

Naiomi slowly walked over to her captain, placing her hand on his shoulder. Azuma...are you ok?" He was silent for a moment, looking down at the defeated brute before answering: "I'm tired of being hated for being a pirate, no one should judge another for being something they want to be. I chose to be a pirate, do I really deserve to be shamed for it?"

Naiomi held him close comforting him. Naiomi held him close looking around to see the others going back to eating and drinking, scared of the woman's cold glare. Taking a deep breath, Azuma assured them he was fine and made his way over to the bar. The crew sat at the bar, taking up most of the row of seats as their captain placed three gold coins down before the bartender who was a young woman with long blue hair and green eyes dressed in a brown bartender uniform.

"Five root beers please" He ordered before resting his hands on the bar. That's when Kiozen turned to him a few seats away asking: "By the way Azuma, I never asked you...how did you get your magika ability? If I Rember correctly, you have the ability to rapidly heal at super-human speed, correct?"

"Y-yea...I was given this ability because at the time, all I wanted was to survive, to be given a 2nd chance at life. My old crew betrayed me and left me to bleed out on a random island. Luckily, I found a magika crystal I used to hydrate me, but instead woke up to my wounds quickly healing. If I hadn't eaten that crystal...I'd probably be dead"

His crewmates grew annoyed, with Roxie asking: "Do you know where those bastards are? We should find them and kick their ass!" Azuma sighed. "I'm afraid I don't know where any of them are, I've just been waiting to run into them. If I wasted all my time hunting them down, I wouldn't have time to grow stronger. Trust me...when we find them, they'll get what's coming to them"

Meanwhile...

A sea corp soldier ran through a large white corridor, past fellow soldiers as he burst through two large steels doors into a dark office as the silhouette of a man sat at his white desk. In a deep serious tone, the man spoke: "What is it, Yuto?"

In a worried voice the tall thin soldier held up a paper revealing Azuma's bounty poster. "I-I'm sorry to bother you commander...but it seems the pirate known as Azuma Kenousa along with his crew have defeated one of our A-rank bounty hunter squads. What do we do sir?"

The dark silhouette glared in the corner. "Tell me...which squad did this pirate managed to defeat might I ask?"

"it-it was the phantom shade sir" Without warning, the commander slammed his fist down on his desk in anger. "Tsk, to think one of our highest ranked bounty hunters could be defeated by nothing more than nameless pirates!" Swiping the bounty poster from the man's grasp, the commander of the sea corp took out a black marker, changing the pirate captain's pathetic 20,000 gold bounty to a surprising 200,000 gold!

"That pathetic pirate may have gotten lucky, but let's see him try to hide now that his bounty is 200,000. Update the posters soldier and order S.D 10 to capture the runt as well as his crew. Someone with mere luck will have little to no chance again the secret division, even if it's our weakest of the 10 squads" 

Bounties 

Azuma - 200K G

Naiomi - 150K G 

Kenzu - 50K G

Roxie - 10K G

Kiozen - N/A 

The crew finished drinking at the tavern, making their way back to the ship to rest until they were ready to head to the next nearby island. Kiozen and Roxie had to share a room with Roxie passing out in his bed while the candy man created a hemic made out of taffy thanks to his magika ability.

Meanwhile Kenzu decided to sleep in Naiomi's room while the blue assassin made her way over to the captain's quarters. She knocked on the door with one hand on her waist. "Azuma are you still awake? I let Kenzu take my room for the night so I thought I'd sleep with you tonight. A seductive grin on her face. That's when she thought she could hear Azuma groaning in pain. She tried to open the door but it was locked. "Tssk, sorry about this captain" With a fierce kick, the door swung up, revealing a green humanoid creature, it's green human like hand over the pirate's mouth as wings suddenly sprouted from it's back before he looked in the woman's direction.

"Hmph, seems you made too much noise you fool...either way, I, Kasuka of the SD 10 have been ordered to capture you alive and keep you prisoner until my higher-ups decide what to do with you!" 

"You're not taking him anywhere you bastard!" Naiomi pulled out a kunai, sending it right for her target's green skull, only for the target to dodge at immense speed, their wings moving at rapid speed.

"Heh, I move far too fast for mere projectiles to reach me. I'll be taking your precious captain, but don't worry...me and the other members of division 10 shall come for the rest of you" The seven-foot humanoid mantis took off through the window into the night as Naiomi watched them disappear into the distance.

The blue assassin began grinding her teeth in rage as she struck the wall beside her causing it to crack. "No one...takes...MY CAPTAIN!" A blue aura illuminated her body as her cries awoke the rest of the crew. Roxie awoke half-awake groaning: "Ugh, w-what's going on? Some of us are trying to sleep"

"He's gone...a bastard in the form of a seven-foot mantis with human arms and legs grabbed him and flew off before I could kill the bastard" The crew gathered on the deck as she explained what happened.

Kenzu thought for a moment with a pondering look. "Hmm, did the kidnapper give any info on where he said he was taking him?" Naiomi shook her head before remembering one thing. "Wait, he said something about being a member of something called: "Division 10" Does that sound familiar to any of you?"

Kiozen and Kenzu shook their heads when Roxie abruptly spoke up: "Division 10...also known as S.D 10. A.K.A secret division 10. They're a squad of four or five members as well as part of 10 different units around the world controlled by the sea corp. Think of it like this: sea corp soldiers and most bounty hunters are mere pawns while the Secret division are semi-bosses. Next are the admirals who watch over said units. 2nd in control is the fleet admiral with the leading commander being the head of the sea corp itself"

The group stared at him in shock with Naiomi exclaiming: "H-how could you know all of this!?"

Roxie sighed, looking down with his arms crossed. "Because...my father is part of the sea corp" The crew cried out in shock at the revelation. "I-I didn't want any of you to know because...because I feel you won't accept me if you knew I had blood ties to the sea corp"

Naiomi and Kenzu looked at one another before Naiomi comforted the crewmate. "Don't worry Roxie, we wouldn't leave you just because your father is part of the sea corp, look at Kenzu, he was part of a bounty hunter squad who had ties with them as well and he still fights alongside us as a true crewmate and pirate"

The swordsmen placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't let it get to you, just because your father chose that path...doesn't mean you have to follow him. Live your life the way "you" think is right. No one can tell you how to live your life"

"Y-you're right, thanks everyone" 

"So...how are we going to find Azuma? We know which squad of the secret division we're looking for. Should we ask the people in the tavern? They seem to dislike pirates which means they might have some info on the sea corp" The candy man suggested.

"I guess it's our only starting point, hopefully one of them might know something" Kenzu responded before they made their way back towards stardust tavern...

Meanwhile...

Azuma struggled to break free from the humanoid insect as they flew over the sea. The creature's green arm wrapped around his neck keeping him from escaping. (Tssk! His strength is insane, no matter how much I pull or strike his body, it seems to have no effect on him! Could it be his exoskeleton protecting him like some kind of armor?)

"Hehe, quit your pointless struggling you foolish pirate, in this form my body is as hard as steel. It'll take far more than mere scratching and strikes to break free of my iron grasp" That's when Azuma saw something off in the distance, a small island with what looked like a steel white base in the center with bold black letters reading: "SD 10" In the center of the fortress with large steel doors just below the text. Kasuka descended down to the base as a small camera focused on them. A deep male voice then spoke in an annoyed tone through the camera: "What is it Kasuka?"

"Boss, I've brought you Azuma as you ordered, the 200,000 gold pirate" The camera focused on the captured pirate's face, scanning him with a blue light. "Hmph, well done Kasuka, I'm rather impressed you managed to capture him so quickly, perhaps the sea corporation miscalculated this man's threat. If you were captured by Kasuka, then surely, you're no threat to the secret division, especially division 1 which is said to rival that of an admiral"

The large doors slid open, allowing the SD agent to fly inside still carrying Azuma in a firm grip. With the doors closing behind them, the large hallway lit up with white walls and a blue carpeted floor. The kidnapped pirate watched as dozens of sea corp soldiers walked throughout the halls nearly ignoring them as Kasuka finally reached the end of the hall in front of a black steel door reading: "Cell Block A" Relasing his right arm off Azuma's throat, he began typing in a four-digit code in the keypad to the left of the secured door.

(Shit! I don't have much time left before they throw me into a cell!) With all his strength, he smashed the back of his head into the green creature, finally causing them to let go of him. (Yes!) Without hesitation, he darted in the opposite direction of the cell block, taking a random route in the maze-like corridor.

"A pirate's loose! Capture him men!" One of the soldiers cried out pointing in his direction as the dizzy man took a right, attempting to lose the horde of guards. "Ugh my head...this was so much easier when I was fighting in the tavern" 

Still running, a line of guards blocked his path aiming guns in his direction. "Halt or we'll open fire!" Seeing no other way to go, Azuma charged towards them in the white hallway as they fired several shots right for him. Just before the bullets connected, he slid across the floor, evading the barrage of projectiles.

"Out of the way weaklings!" The pirate pushed the scrawny guards out of his way when he saw a tall man dressed in a black suit with long black hair and red eyes standing down the hall glaring at him. His glare soon grew into a smirk as he slowly pulled his fist back. "Focused strike: 1st stance" The guards ran in fear as Azuma put his guard up.

(What's he doing?) In a swift punch, the assailant sent a fierce shockwave straight for him, shaking the entire hall in the process. Azuma crossed his arms attempting to block the coming attack when the sheer force of power broke his guard, sending him flying across the hall smashing into a wall leaving a small crater causing the wall to crack.

"W-what the hell..." The injured pirate choked, the air knocked out of him as he hit the ground...

Back On Stardust Island...

Kenzu led the others inside the tavern as they searched the room for the man that had threatened Azuma hours ago. That's when they spotted him sitting alone at the right end of the bar, his face still bruised. Slowly approaching the brute, he noticed them coming and took a big chug of his drink before slamming it down on the bar.

"Ugh, you runts again...just what do you want with me? You already embarrassed me in front of half the town, what more do you want?"

"Our captain was taken by someone claiming to be part of secret division 10, we were hoping you might know where they might've taken him" The swordsmen explained with a serious glare while the thug just looked at the wall avoiding their gaze.

"What makes you think I know anything? If you ask me, he had it coming, attacking me only increased his chances of it happening sooner or later" 

"Bastard..." Naiomi murmured. That's when Kenzu unsheathed his blade, pointing it towards the man's head. "Anyone who doesn't want to get hurt, get out!" Most of the people rushed out aside from the bartender and a few others. "Kiozen...bind him up"

The brute groaned about to take another drink when Kiozen's taffy shot down from the ceiling, binding his arms before forcing him into the air, the lower part of his body beginning to be wrapped in thick taffy like a chrysalis. Slowly walking around the trapped target with his blade in hand, Kenzu continued: "I know you know something about S.D 10...we aren't leaving until you tell us where they've taken our captain" 

"Hmph! You're wasting your time, I don't know anything about the secret division. They just show up now and then and leave...as simple as that"

"Really? Then let's see if you're really telling the truth. Kiozen...use the technique you used on Roxie, the crystal creation process" 

"A-are you sure? That could possibly kill him, Roxie was lucky to survive nearly an entire siphon"

"Do it!" Kenzu snapped. Kiozen frowned but nodded approaching their target. Gripping the man's face with his left, he opened his right forming a white gumball. "Spirit siphoning" All watched as the white gumball began to slowly turn red indicating how much life energy he had take from his target.

"Agggh! W-what is this, what's happening!?" The man's hair began to grow longer before turning gray, his face becoming wrinkled and aged. "Alright that's enough, I think that's enough" The pink-haired pirate released his grip on the man as the gumball was now half red and half white, meaning 50% of the victim's life force had been pulled from his body.

The now withered old man hung motionless in the pink cocoon when the swordsmen slapped him across the face waking him back up. "So...still don't know anything about division 10?" The aged man shook in fear, looking down at his now pale old body. "F-FINE, I KNOW WHERE THEY TOOK YOUR FRIEND! It's...it's on a small island east of here. I-if you head 60 degrees east in from here, you should come across a small island with a base. It's not hard to miss"

"See? Was it that hard? Kenzu responded before signaling Kiozen to free him. The candy user caused the gumball to burst in his hand, allowing the stolen life force to flow back inside the old man. The taffy cocoon opened, causing him to hit the floor. "Alright, we know where to go...let's hurry before something bad happens!"

Kenzu ran out with the others following close behind. Meanwhile the aged human slowly regained his youth as he laid on the floor overwhelmed with fear. The once tough brute now balled up on the floor...

Back In S.D 10...

Azuma awoke inside a small steel cell with other high-tech cells aligning both sides of the hallway of cell block A. "D-damn it, what was that attack he used? It-it was like he used the force of his punch to attack me from a distance"

"Close, it's an attack only those with intense physical training can achieve...think of it like a physical manifestation of seinshin...You are aware of the concept of seinshin are you not?"

Azuma slowly stood up thinking for a moment... "I've heard the term before. You mean that colorful aura that outlines your body?" The man that had knocked him out stepped out from the corner, standing before his cell with a smirk, his arms behind his back.

"So...you've witnessed the use of it firsthand have you? What you're describing is unstable seinshin, when one becomes so consumed by a certain emotion that it causes their life energy to grow out of control. Seinshin is what we call one's life energy...specifically, the control of one's own energy. Though...by what I've already seen from you, you clearly have no idea of how to even awaken your seinshin, even to amateur levels and yet you call yourself a real pirate. Hmph, I've faced those who could use it to boost their capabilities to super-human levels. But you...you're just some human, trapped in the limitations of a mere human"

"W-why are you telling me this? What do you hope to gain through me?"

"1st...answer me this, why do you want to be a pirate, what do you hope to gain on this fruitless endeavor?"

"I-I want to become the strongest pirate and claim the title of pirate lord" The agent looked him dead in the eye, glaring intensely before taking a step back. "What a fool you are...you easily fell to one of my attacks and yet spout these words of becoming the so-called: "pirate lord" You're either holding back...or severely delusional"

He placed his black shoe on the bars still closely watching his target. "Hmmm, if you truly intend on reaching your goal, tell me...who was the last pirate to hold the title of pirate lord?"

"Uh...I don't remember his name, I just remember he was seen as the strongest and most feared pirate, after I was left to die on an island by my old crew, I vowed both to make those bastards pay and become the pirate lord"

The SD agent slightly shook in anger, slamming his foot against the cell bars causing them to slightly bend. YOU DARE TELL ME YOU WISH TO BECOME LORD OF THE PIRATES AND YET HAVE LITTLE TO KNOW KNOWLGE OF THE ONE BEFORE!? You truly are delusional. Sigh, I'm not going to waste any more time with the likes of you, you can stay in this cell until I decide whether to turn you in or kill you myself"

With that the man walked away, leaving the pirate alone in his cell. Azuma sat in the middle of his cell, thinking about what the man had said. (My dream is to become the strongest pirate of this world...but I feel so helpless, unable to do anything against each new threat that appears. He spoke about seinshin, the control of one's life force. Maybe if I can somehow tap into it, I can get myself out of here before that bastard comes back)

Crossing his legs and sitting in a meditative state, Azuma began to focus on the energy within him...As time passed, he felt as though he wasn't getting anywhere. Nothing felt different and there wasn't any aura around his body. "Tsssk, come on!" Standing up he took a deep breath, slamming his fist against the cell, only to cause it to hit the ground with a loud crash.

"Whoa, so it's true...by focusing the life force within me, I can boost my normal capabilities to inhuman levels" Free from his cell, Azuma once more took off down the hall, this time stopping at a black door with a keypad. Taking a deep breath, Azuma pulled his arm back attempting to replicate the SD 10 Leader's attack. "Focus strike....1st stance" With all his strength he struck the door, only to slightly break his hand leaving a slight dent on the door. "D-damn it! What am I doing wrong!?" 

Before he could try again, something sliced through the steel door as it hit the ground split in two. Azuma looked to see Kenzu as well as the rest of his crew in front of him. "Kenzu!, you guys found me!" Before anyone could respond, the SD 10 leader appeared at the end of the hall behind Azuma.

"I'm afraid you all won't be going anywhere, surrender foolish pirates" The crew turned to see the agent preparing to launch another long-range strike in their direction. That's when Kiozen slammed his palm face down on the floor. 

"Candy creation: Gumball bolder!" The others watched as gum began forming around them until they were sealed inside a 10-foot pink gumball. Meanwhile their assailant clinched his fist tightly. "Focus strike: level 2" An abrupt aura of purple seinshin energy began to illuminate his body as he unleashed a fierce punch in the crew's direction.

"Here it comes!" Kiozen exclaimed. As the entire base shook from the man's godly strike. A cyclone of force drilled through the hall, destroying anything in it's path before connecting with the massive gumball. Kiozen threw both arms out trying to nullify the impact of the strike by making the gum stick to the floor as best he could. Sadly, the force of the attack was too much, causing them to launch back like a cannonball crashing through several walls of the S.D base before landing outside, just a few meters from their ship.

The gumball cracked open, falling to the ground in a pile of pink gum as Kiozen swayed side to side, dizzy from the attack. "We're almost there, we just need to make it to the ship!" Azuma cried out pointing to their ship docked on the beach of the island. 

That's when the division leader backflipped out from the crater in the wall they had made moments ago, preparing an attack in mid-air. "I told you, you aren't going anywhere" Focusing seinshin into his fist, he sent a fierce shockwave straight for them.

Azuma and the others watched as the fierce burst of force flew past them, impacting their ship head on. "WHAT!?" Sweat ran down the pirate's face as he and the others watched their ship break in half by the godly attack. All they could do was watch as their only way off the island now laid in ruins before them. "M-my ship! You bastard...I don't care if it kills me...you're going to pay for this!"

"Heh, and just how are you going to do that? I'm the leader of secret division 10: Yugo Tempest...not just that, I'm not your only opponent...KASUKA!" The pirates watched as the humanoid mantis came flying out of the base landing beside him.

"You called sir?"

"That's right...it's finally time to make use of your magika ability Kasuka, show them why even a unit like ours is made to be feared by mere pirates"

"Yes sir!" The green creature faced the pirate crew with it's green armored hands up preparing to attack. Meanwhile Yugo just crossed his arms and watched from the sidelines.

"YOU TOOK YOUR EYES OFF ME!" He cried moving right for Azuma who had been focused on Tempest instead. With his fast-moving wings, Kasuka advanced straight for the captain, striking him across the face with his armor-layered fist. All watched as a green blur flew past their poor captain, causing him to spit out blood before landing on his back.

"Hmph, you all really are noobs if you can't even keep up with me and even if you did somehow beat me, my unit captain's far stronger than me. You may as well submit before you're all killed"

At that moment Kasuka realized one of the pirates was missing. "Wait, where's the swordsmen!?" The moment he realized what was happening, Kenzu came down from above him, slicing off his left arm in one swift blow before slowly sheathing his blade back to his side.

"Seems you're the one who shouldn't take your eye off me you grotesque insect"

"Hehe, don't worry...I'll make sure not to make that mistake again" All watched as the humanoid mantis' decapitated limb began to slowly regrow like vines wrapping around each other until it was completely reformed. "You all should have known I can regenerate my limbs just like a typical praying mantis. So, cutting off my limbs are just a fruitless endeavor"

"Sigh, don't worry...you're not the only regenerative bastard I've delt with before and unlike him...I was much slower back then" A red flame-like aura began to flow around Kenzu as he slowly gripped his blade.

(Seinshin!? Wait, has he figured out how to tap into the power of his life energy!?) Azuma exclaimed internally as he and the others watched in amazement. Kasuka put his arms up in an offensive position, preparing for the swordsmen's attack, only for him to vanish in a flash of red light, a trail of red energy left behind by his fierce movements. 

Before anyone could realize what was happening. The division agent instantly blocked the swordsmen's strike with his armored fists as sparks flew from his blade. "S-see, I said you couldn't kill me, even with your use of seinshin to enhance your speed, I'm still stronger"

Kenzu remained silent as he glared at his opponent with a cold stare. That's when the spiritual aura around his body traveled from his entire body to only his katana. "Don't worry monster...if I can't beat you with speed...I'll just beat you with strategy" Gripping his blade with both hands, Kenzu prepared to combine his unstable seinshin with his blade to maximize it's damage and range.

"Seioshin: Guard break strike!" Lifting his blade up with both hands, Kenzu unleashed a wave of pure red energy straight for the humanoid insect. The man froze in place, letting out a final scream in terror as the attack scorched the ground before it, piercing through Kasuka's green armored body with ease as the foe was split in half by Kenzu's unstable power.

Yugo's eyes widened as he watched his only ally get vaporized by such concentrated spiritual energy. (Such power...however, just what should happen if he recklessly continues to use such power with the proper training?) The crew was speechless as the agent laid split in half in a pool of green blood.

That's when Yugo stepped forward, a calm look in his eye as if what just happened had no effect on him. "Impressive display Kenzu, you certainly have a gift. However...knowing your lack of both knowledge and training in the art of seinshin, I'm sure you don't know what happens next"

All were silent for a moment when the swordsmen felt a sudden pin in his chest. "TSSK!" He gripped his chest in pain clinching his teeth before collapsing on the ground. "What did you do!?" Azuma cried out in anger.

"I'm afraid I had no part in what's occurring, as much as I do enjoy this, I'm afraid the pain he's feeling is from his own ignorance in the arts of seinshin. Think of it like coffee...in the moment you have a vast amount of energy, but after a few minutes your body finally crashes, leaving you drained and out of energy. In short: Your heart is the battery and seinshin is pushing that battery to overdrive" 

That's when Kiozen clapped his hands together. "Candy form: Cookie titan!" Azuma and Roxie watched as a 10-foot golem made of chocolate chip cookie dough burst of the ground, blocking Yugo's way. The titan threw a punch straight for the agent's face, only for him to condense his seinshin into a protective barrier around himself.

The cookie titan struck it's target full-force, only for it to have no effect against the man's spirit barrier. "Heh, I can guess what some of you are thinking...if he's this skilled in seinshin, why is he in the lowest ranked unit of the secret division? Heh...I've been asking myself the same thing for years"

The crew watched as the cookie's fist cracked apart before hitting the ground. "Tssk! Fine! I still have more tricks up my sleeve! Taffy armor!" Crossing his arms, a large blob of pink taffy wrapped around his creation, forming into battle armor made of thick taffy. "Let's go cookie titan!" Kiozen leapt into the air, firing small balls of taffy from his finger like a gun as they landed all around the target.

"Oh? So, you're actually going to fight too? Rather than hide behind your creation?" The agent commented with a smirk. That's when the small globs of taffy shot up from the ground like tentacles, grabbing Yugo by the arms and binding them together as the giant cookie formed a sword made of hardened taffy before bringing it down upon the enemy.

Azuma clinched his teeth watching as the sword struck the spiritual barrier, only for the taffy to melt on contact as if his aura were pure flames. "Damn it! Just how strong is this guy!?" He looked over at Naiomi who was watching over Kenzu. "Fuck it...seems I'll have to do what Kenzu did and use as much seinshin as I can"

"Really? Are you seriously foolish enough to use it, even after witnessing what it did to your friend?" Azuma walked over to Kenzu, picking up his katana and aiming it towards the division leader. "Don't worry...it won't be the same, thanks to my magika ability" Focusing on the energy flowing through his body, a purple aura illuminated the captain's body.

"I didn't take you as a fool Azuma, but so be it. Let's see just how long you can maintain that state" Both stared one another down as their seinshin flowed around their body like flames. Letting out a calm breath, Azuma vanished in abrupt gust of wind. The crew looked around but saw no sign of their captain. That's when Yugo clapped his hands together, stopping the blade just before it could connect with his skull.

"Impressive, you and the swordsmen are quite skilled in aspects of speed. However, speed means nothing if it's all you rely on" Yugo kicked Azuma in the ribs, sending him flying across the beach, slamming into a tree. He quickly got up still dazed by the attack when Kenzu's sword flew past him, impacting the tree just inches from his head.

"Fine, you think speed is all I can do?" Azuma tightened his fist letting the power build up within him. "Seinshin fist!" Concentrating most of his power into his fist, Azuma threw a single punch in the man's direction, unleashing a shockwave even stronger than Yugo's focus strike.

The agent used his barrier to keep himself from staggering as a fierce cyclone of force rushed past him. He could feel himself slowly sliding back but still maintaining his balance. Meanwhile Azuma began to sweat now out of breath from using so much energy at once. He could feel pain Aching from his chest but used his regenerative ability to heal himself.

"Ah, so that's it isn't it? You plan on using your ability to heal yourself from any internal damage done from using too much spiritual energy. Clever, but it's not a fail proof plan...even your magika ability has it's limits" Yugo advanced towards Azuma, preparing to strike head on as he threw a punch right for the pirate, only for it to be deflected, sending a burst of force right over them.

"As good as you are, even you can't keep using this much seinshin either" Azuma commented before their feet clashed with both sending fierce kicks at one another. The assailant jumped back with one hand in his pocket.

"Sigh, though I do so love a good challenge, I'm afraid you've wasted enough of my time...it's time to finish you with one strike just as I did before and this time, I won't be as gentle as I was before" All watched as red wisps of seinshin energy began to gather into the agent's fist. "Prepare yourself Azuma...focus strike: seinshin execution!" 

The pirate could feel his body quivering in fear, but knew now wasn't the time to hesitate. Crossing both arms, he began focusing as much seinshin throughout his body as fast as he could with red electricity surging around his entire body. "Seinshin: Full spirit cloak!"

The others watched as Yugo unleashed a single strike in his direction, the entire island rapidly shook as a fierce blast of force struck Azuma head on. The attack broke his guard with both arms breaking from the immense strain. Their captain went flying through the air before landing back at the base.

(I-I can't feel my arms...m-my body can barely move) He laid there, struggling to get back up with blood running down both fractured arms. "N-no...this can't b-be how it ends!"

Meanwhile Yugo turned his attention towards the remaining crew: Naiomi, Kiozen and Roxie. The blue assassin held Kenzu close, afraid to leave him open to attack. Meanwhile Roxie pulled out small smoke bombs, one between each finger. "Tsssk, I've been part of this crew for a while now and yet all I've done is just sit and watch while the others risk their lives for me! It's time I stop being a coward and help...even if it means I die!"

Roxie tossed the smoke bombs over to Yugo as they landed at the agent's feet, filling the entire beach in thick gray smoke. That's when Roxie had an idea. "Kiozen! I need you to do something for me!" The candy man looked at him, surprised by the thief's sudden enthusiasm. "I need you to create a magika crystal and give it to me!"

The pink-haired man was confused looking at him as if he was crazy. "A magika crystal? But where am I going to find enough spirit energy to replicate an entire crystal!?"

"Use the ones still in the base, doubt anyone would miss a few soldiers. Now hurry and gather the energy you need...I'll try to buy time for you" Though unsure about the thief's plan, Kiozen shot a string of thick taffy over to the base, using it to pull himself over the smoke and land at the entrance. He saw a small puddle of blood but no sign of a body. Shrugging it off he rushed inside, searching each corridor for any sea corp soldiers.

Back outside Roxie watched as the smoke finally cleared, revealing no sign of the division leader. "What!?" That's when a fierce surge of pain struck Roxie in the back, causing him to cough up drops of blood before hitting the ground on his stomach. "N-no, damn it!"

"You might be the most arrogant of all the Azuma pirates" Yugo commented from behind. Roxie gripped the dirt, his body already shaking in severe pain. "I-I don't care what you say you bastard...if being arrogant means I stop being a coward and start helping my crew, then so be it! I'm tired of watching my friends fight while I sit here and watch! If I don't risk my life like they do for me, then I don't deserve to be part of their crew!"

"Aw, how touching, maybe they'll forgive you...when you're all floating dead in the ocean" Once more Yugo pulled his fist back as seinshin built up around his fist. Just as the tyrant prepared to send yet another strike in Roxie's direction, an abrupt shockwave struck him head on, sending him soaring off the island, landing several meters into the water.

"H-huh?" Roxie turned to see Azuma standing up on the hill near the base, his left palm steaming from using so much power at once. "Azuma!? I-I thought that bastard killed you or at least knocked you out!"

"D-don't worry, it'll take more than this to kill me. This is the captain of the Azuma pirates we're talking about" Naiomi blushed, attracted to Azuma's confident attitude as she continued to stare at her captain while holding the unconscious swordsmen.

That's when a fierce burst of water erupted off in the distance. Azuma looked to see Yugo moving so fast across the water, it was as if he were running on water. "He's coming back, I'll do all I can to buy you and Kiozen more time for the magika replication, but you better not let us down Roxie"

"Yes captain!" 

"AZUMA!" The assailant cried out enraged. Azuma took a deep breath as his arm quickly healed. "ENOUGH OF THIS! YOU'RE NO MATCH FOR ME YOU WORTHLESS PIRATE!" His body slowly getting used to focusing seinshin, he unleashed a surge of energy, increasing his defensive and offensive power. A red aura with electricity whipped around his body as he advanced right for his opponent. 

"IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SKILLED YOU GET WITH SEINSHIN! I'M THE VICTOR!" Imbuing both hands with spirit energy, Yugo clapped his hands together in mid-air, sending a fierce shockwave of energy towards the entire crew. Azuma instantly moved in front of the incoming wave, defending Naiomi and Kenzu as he struck the shockwave with his bare hand. They watched as his focused energy split the shockwave apart, sending it past them in two directions.

"Huff...huff...give up Yugo, at this rate your body will give out while my body heals" 

"Shut up, you talk as if you've already won this fight...but I assure you...I still have one last trick up my sleeve, a seinshin technique that an admiral taught me only to use in a life-or-death situation. As much as I'd hate to use it, seems the day has finally come"

Just then a voice called out: "Roxie, catch!" All watched as Kiozen tossed a blue magika crystal over to them. "A MAGIKA CRYSTAL!? WHERE DID YOU FIND IT!? TSSSK, I WON'T LET YOU HAVE IT!" Yugo aimed his hand towards the falling crystal attempting to destroy it. With a sudden flick, he sent a blast of force right for it only for Azuma to jump in the way, getting struck in the abdomen before flying back hitting a tree.

"WHAT!?" Yugo exclaimed in anger before watching Roxie catch the blue crystal with one hand. (Azuma...I've barely done anything to help you as a member of your crew...from this moment on...I will do all I can to protect the crew, just as you have for me) Consuming the ice crystal, Roxie felt a tingling feeling inside his stomach.

"I'LL KILL YOU BEFORE YOU EVEN FIGURE OUT YOUR MAGIKA ABILITY!" The enraged agent rushed his target, throwing a punch right for the thief. A shockwave shook the island as the trees blew in the fierce gust of wind.

"ROXIE!" Naiomi cried out. The crew watched as the dust cleared, reviling him to be ok, as if the attack hadn't even made contact with his body. Yugo's eyes widened as he found himself standing in front of his target, but something was keeping his fist from getting any closer. "W-WHAT IS THIS...S-SOME KIND OF BARRIER!"

A smile then grew on Roxie's face. "Heh, so much for not figuring out my magika ability. Seems I'm capable of manifesting a large transparent barrier that only I can see. Which means, so long as I remain within this barrier, you can't hurt me"

"RRRAAGGGHH!" Yugo's eyes grew bloodshot as he unleashed a barrage of seinshin-surged strikes to the pirate's barrier, only for it to have no effect. The SD agent began to feel dizzy from using so much power at once as his vision began to blur.

"Hmm, if I can manifest a barrier at will, I should be capable of changing their form as well" Taking a deep breath, the transparent field shrunk down to a protective barrier outing the man's body. Clinching his fist, Roxie formed a 2nd barrier around his fist, throwing a punch straight across his opponent's face.

Azuma and Naiomi watched in shock as Yugo staggered back, swaying side to side before hitting the ground out-cold. A sudden sense of relief washed over the captain as he sat beneath a tree out of breath...

CHAPTER 7 A Crew Worthy Of A Name 

"Sigh, we should leave before the bastard wakes, last thing we need is a rematch with the division leader" His crew regrouped as they looked out into the sea as their once great ship now laid in ruins. Naiomi placed her hand upon her captain's shoulder responding: "How do we escape from this damn base? Are only way off is gone.

That's when Roxie spoke up: "I might have a way we can escape from here, though it'll be a pain in the ass to reach the nearest land" Azuma brushed himself off, still covered in blood and bruises. "Hmm, I'm interested to see what your idea is for getting off this island"

Walking over to the edge of the island, Roxie took a deep breath before slamming his left foot on the ground. The fellow pirates watched as a transparent bridge made of Roxie's barrier slowly manifested before them. Taking a step onto the barrier, he made sure it was stable enough before signaling the others. "We can use my barrier magika ability to walk across the water without the need of a ship"

"Wow, impressive Roxie, seems you're adapting to your magika rather quickly" Azuma commented before following behind the pink-haired pirate with the others following close behind. Naiomi and Kiozen both carried Kenzu with one hand over each over their shoulder as the wounded swordsmen slowly came to. "W-what's going on?"

"Kenzu! You're awake!" The candy pirate cheered with excitement as they continued to carefully walk him along the transparent path created by Roxie. Azuma stopped, turning towards the conscious warrior with a smile on his face. "Heh, you did good out there, you were the one who killed Yugo's ally as well as gave me the courage to use seinshin. Without it...we might've lost to him"

Kenzu weakly looked up at his captain before giving him a faint smile. "Heh, I appreciate that captain" The crew continued to walk across what felt like an endless path across the seas that splashed just below. 

1 Hour Later...

As the moon illuminated the flowing seas around them, that's when Roxie spotted a large wave headed right for them. "Shit! Everyone watch ou-" the strong wave knocked Roxie into the sea causing the barrier to vanish beneath their feet. Azuma watched as he and the others fell into the strong currents of the ocean as he was dragged under by the merciless tides.

Roxie threw both hands out, creating a large sphere barrier, managing to keep most of the crew from separating from the strong currents. That's when he realized Azuma had already been carried away by the tides and was nowhere to be seen. "No, captain!" Roxie clinched his teeth in frustration failing to save their captain, but knew if he let go, the barrier would vanish and cause the entire crew to go flying in different directions...

Dread Rot Island Arc...

A few hours Later...

Azuma slowly awoke on the beach of a strange island. His vision slowly came into focus as he found himself lying on a beach with black sand. He sat up looking around, there was a strong mist flowing around him making it hard to see where he was. Looking down at the strange black stand, he carefully scooped some up, examining it before it all fell out of his grasp back onto the beach.

"Strange, I've never seen black sand before...what is this creepy place?" The young pirate captain felt himself growing uneasy with every step he took across the misty beach. The mist brushed over him with a cold sensation. Finally spotting a dirt path off the beach, Azuma made his way along the path into a dark and eerie forest. Many of the trees in the foggy forest were dark and deformed, with barely any leaves on them aside from a few dead ones barely hanging on as they blew in the faint chilling breeze. "Sigh, it's just a dark old forest...but why do I still feel uneasy? It's as if the harder I try to ignore this feeling of fear and anxiety, the more it weighs down on me. There must be something super-natural going on in this forest"

He reached for his sword, only to realize he had lost it back in the sea when he was dragged under and lost consciousness. "Damn, seems I have no choice but to go on bare-handed from this point until I can find a weapon or regroup with my crew. Even with my magika ability to heal...I'm too exhausted to heal back to my full strength. I shouldn't try to use seinshin unless I have to"

The young pirate made his way along the cold dark path, carefully looking around even with the strong mist blocking his sight from all directions. As he continued forward, the path behind him seemed to gradually fade into the endless mist around him. Not long into his walk, the sound of something dragging through the dirt could be faintly heard from behind him.

Just as he stopped to turn around, a sadistic cry rang out. Azuma darted around to see a pale zombie charging straight for him. "W-what the hell!? Ducking out of the way, the undead creature staggered past him hitting the dirt. Before it could get up, Azuma picked up a sharp piece of dead wood, destroying the monster's head with one quick strike.

"Sigh...now I know something strange is happening on this island. I never thought I'd be attacked by a zombie of all things. Someone must have a magika ability to control corpses, the only question is...did that zombie attack me specifically, or did the one who revived it give it free will to roam around on it's own?"

He brushed himself off, making his way further through the dark cold forest. With only the faint sound of the wind brushing across him, he could hear his heart beating from the slight unease. That's when he spotted a large mansion just up the road, it gave off a faint red glow towering over the rest of the dead forest like a fortress.

"Sigh, something tells me whoever lives there won't take too kindly with me just walking right up to the door...Best I try to sneak my way inside without alerting anyone. Sigh...this sounds more like something Roxie could handle"

Making his way up the dark dirt path, he noticed all the windows of the gothic mansion giving off a red glow. Azuma did his best to focus on his objective and made his way before the mansion's courtyard entrance. The entire property was surrounded by a 20-foot-high stone wall and steel gate to keep trespassers from merely jumping over the wall over walking right up to the front door.

He took a few steps back before advancing straight for the wall, he pushed off the wall attempting to grab onto the top of the stone wall, only to miss by a foot. "Tsssk, fine...seems I'll have to do this the risky way. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes as his body outlined with a purple aura. (This may be a stupid thing to do given my weak state, but I don't have time to waste trying to get over a mere wall.

Azuma pushed off with both feet, using his seinshin to launch himself over the wall with ease before landing in the large courtyard before the strange house. The pirate lost his balance for a split second, falling to one knee with a siring pain surging through his legs. (Shit, I knew using any seinshin would have negative effects if I used it. B-but I can't worry about it right now, I need to see who lives here and if there's anyone that might be willing to help me either escape this island or at least find my crew"

The young captain forced himself back to his feet, only to find himself standing at the entrance of a large hedge maze creating a labyrinth of towering walls of red hedges before him. Azuma could feel his heart drop at the sight of such a puzzle. "Ughhh, I hate puzzles, especially mazes! Tssk, when I find the owner of this house, I'm going to shove my foot up his ass" Taking a deep breath to prepare himself, the dark-haired pirate ventured inside the blood-red labyrinth.

He could see the top of the mansion towering over the large hedges, so he could at least tell if he was getting close or not...

Not long into his exploration, he found himself standing within what seemed like the center of the labyrinth where in the middle was a large stone fountain with red liquid flowing inside it while the maze split into four different paths, one in each direction. That's when he thought he saw a shadow moving around the stone pavement near the fountain.

Turning his attention upward he realized a man had been watching him from above. The figure had long blonde hair, blue eyes and dressed in a black and red formal cloak with bat-like creatures keeping him suspended within the air. Azuma just stared in disbelief at the strange man looking down at him with a seductive grin.

Without a word the stranger dropped from the air, landing perfectly on the top of the fountain without getting a single drop on his suit. "Apologies for the delay, allow me to introduce myself, I am the one who guards this labyrinth as well as watches over this entire manor. There isn't anywhere you can go that I won't see you" The man spoke with a femininely elegant voice as he grinned.

"Heh, is that so? Then how did I get over the wall without you stopping me?" The man let out a slight laugh as Azuma felt something on his shoulder. Looking to his right he found a blood-red eyeball with black wings resting on his shoulder looking right at him. "WHAT THE HELL!?" As he went to smack the small vermin off his shoulder, the blonde pirate called out: "Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you"

"Huh? Why's that?" The captain watched as the small monster flew back to it's master with the flock of demonic creatures just flying beside the strange man. Placing one hand on his hip his target responded: "You don't seem that bright, though you are a fetching man I'll give you that. Hopefully you're not just a pretty face. Might you also have the skill to back it up?"

"A-are you suggesting I fight you?"

"Hehehe, fight? If you're as foolish as I think you are...then this certainly won't be much of a fight I'm afraid. But before we begin...allow me to know the name of such a breathtaking man"

"Azuma...I'm Azuma of the Azuma pirates"

"Oh? Rather narcissistic of you to name your crew after yourself, isn't it? My name is Seraph Rosveil of the vampiric veil pirates. As much as I'd love to get to know such a handsome man such as yourself, I'm afraid I must eliminate you before my dear captain realizes someone's entered her manor without her permission"

Brushing his long blond hair out of his eyes, Seraph threw his hand out towards the intruder before him. "Go my darlings and show him why my inferio bats are nothing to scoff at" The bats let out small high-pitched chirps as three inferio bats soared straight for their target.

Azuma evaded the first two, darting to the left and right when the third caught him off guard, flying right into his face. Azuma put up his guard as the small creature erupted in a small but fierce explosion, burning the pirate's wrists from it's intense heat.

"H-hot! Damn it...fine, seems if I want to beat the crap out of you...I'll have to get within close range" Seraph just chuckled evilly upon the fountain while Azuma advanced right for the assailant. The horde of tiny creatures swarmed Azuma as the already wounded pirate struggled to dodge each and evrey pest that darted past him.

That's when Serph snapped his fingers, causing every single inferio bat to freeze in place, Azuma then realized he was surrounded by the annoying monsters as they had formed a dome around him from all sides utterly trapping him. The dark-haired pirate looked up at his opponent who's once elegant and seductive grin had become a cold serious frown before him.

"Fair well" He uttered in a dark tone. With an abrupt snap of his fingers, all of his bats ignited in a devastating explosion of light and fire. A large scorch mark stained the paved ground with Azuma flying into the air, unconscious from the attack as well as the injuries he had sustained at the division 10 base.

He hit the ground motionless, half of his clothing burned off from the immense heat of the attack. "Hmph, so sad to have to put down such a devilishly handsome man, but I'd rather not have to face my dear captain when she's angered, she sure can be cruel when she's in a bad mood. Jumping off the fountain in an elegant flip, Seraph touched down just a few feet from his opponent whose body laid battered and burned from the fight. Slowly approaching Azuma's motionless body, the blonde pirate thought he heard something come from the man. Manifesting an inferio bat beside him in a burst of flames, Seraph sent the small creature over to inspect Azuma.

The small monster inspected the pirate's body, using it's demonic eye to see the inside of his body. Azuma's heart seemed to still be beating. That's when Seraph noticed something strange about his insides, his injuries seemed to slowly be healing themselves at a super-human rate.

"How odd, not only is he still alive...but he seems to possess the ability to heal his own wound at an accelerated rate. I'm sure our captain would be interested to hear of such a person" Extending both arms out Seraph summoned dozens of his inferio bats as they carried him and Azuma into the air towards the manor...

Meanwhile Out In The Middle Of The Ocean...

Roxie, Kiozen, Naiomi and Kenzu found themselves drifring through the endless waves of the ocean as the pink-haired thief struggled to keep the barrier maintained. That's when Kiozen had an idea. "Roxie, make an opening at the top of the barrier, I think I have an idea to keep us from drifting away as well as help you from draining the rest of your stamina"

"A-are you sure? We can't risk losing anymore crewmates in the ocean!" The candy pirate nodded with a determined expression on his face. Without any other option, Roxie made a small opening in the sphere as drops of sea water splashed the inside of their barrier. The others watched as Kiozen launched himself into the air with a powerful kick.

Clapping his hands together in mid-air, a small island-shaped foundation formed beneath the crew's spherical barrier as they found themselves on a small 20-foot island made of gum. Roxie released the barrier as he fell onto the sticky pink surface. Kiozen touched down in front of them, aiming his hand at the island surface, he formed a rainbow-colored dry sugary shell over the island to cover the stickiness of the gum. "There we are, now you all can sit on the island without the need to worry about getting gum stuck on your shoes or in your hair"

"T-thanks...appreciate it" Oda responded before collapsing on the candy shell surface, resting from the prolonged use of his ability. Kenzu sat down looking around at the endless waves flowing by their small island. "Sigh, I can't help but feel this is my fault...if I had reacted better, then maybe we'd still have our ship...we'd still have the captain here with us"

Naiomi placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, our captain has been through worse than this...I just know we'll find and reunite with him" The swordsmen looked at Naiomi who gave him a hopeful smile. That's when Kiozen noticed something off in the distance.

"That's rather odd, what would a ship be doing way out here in the middle of nowhere?" Kiozen tried to figure out what kind of ship it was, but it was too far to see any distinct traits. After a few minutes, he realized what it was. "Guys, we may have a problem, it seems a sea corp ship is headed in our direction"

The others slowly stood up, turning their attention towards the approaching ships all except Roxie who continued to rest on the ground with hands crossed behind his head. "Sigh, it's fine...it's probably just more mere soldiers coming to try and claim our bounty like the many others who tried and failed, the only kind of ship we need to worry about is a ship with the fleet number 55 or below"

"V.A - 50 The Neptune Monarch" Kiozen commented reading the name written on the side of the large white sea corp ship. The moment he said that, Roxie quickly jumped to his feet to see the large ship stopping just in front of the small candy island. The ship docked as a large steel ramp dropped down in front of them. Without warning dozens of soldiers aimed their guns towards the four pirates. "DON'T MOVE FILTHY PIRATES! TAKE ONE WRONG STEP AND WE'LL FIRE!"

Naiomi slowly reached for one of her knives when an old man's deep voice called out: "Now-now men, is this really any way to treat my son and his little crew?" All looked to see a tall old man with short black hair, green eyers dressed in a black vice admiral's uniform. The low-rank soldiers lower their weapons as the man looked down at Roxie with a grin.

"Long time no see eh, Oda? Last time I saw you, you were rotting in some prison on Anamoa Island where I heard you and your captain managed to beat the warden of the jail who even had the magika ability to manipulate earth. Impressive feat for a runt like you. Are you sure you don't want to join my fleet in the sea corporation? I feel you would make a great marine given the proper training"

Oda clinched his fist as tears began to run across his face. "I-I told you...I WILL NEVER JOIN THE SEA CORP! ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT HAPPEND TO MOM! YOU LEFT HER TO DIE INSTEAD OF PROTECTING YOUR OWN WIFE! ALL YOU'VE EVER CARED ABOUT IS YOUR WORK! BUT WHAT ABOUT HER!? WHAT ABOUT MY MOTHER WHO WORRIED ABOUT YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY, ONLY TO DIE BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T THERE TO HELP HER!?"

[Flash Back]

Oda's early childhood was filled with warmth and laughter, living with his loving mother Aria. Like him, she had pink hair and green eyes. They resided on a peaceful island, far away from the harsh world of the sea corporation. His father, Vice Admiral Ryota, was a dedicated officer, known for his exceptional skills and unwavering loyalty to the corp. However, his devotion to his work often took precedence over his family. He would be away on long missions, leaving Oda and his mother to fend for themselves.

Aria was a gentle soul, and she worried endlessly about Ryota's safety whenever he was away. She raised Oda with love and taught him valuable life lessons. Oda cherished his mother's presence and the warmth of their home, even though he missed his father terribly. One fateful day, while Vice Admiral Ryota was on a critical mission, their island was unexpectedly attacked by bandits who sought to steal the island's resources. Aria, valiantly trying to protect her home and son, fought off the invaders as best as she could knowing that help might not come in time. Tragically, the bandits overpowered her, and in the chaos of battle, she sustained fatal injuries. Oda, who was just five years old at the time, watched in horror as his mother lay injured and fading away before his eyes. There was no sign of his father, and it became clear that he wouldn't be there to save them.

Aria's last moments were spent comforting Oda, assuring him that she loved him and that he must stay strong. With Her final breath, she sang him a small poem: 

"In your heart, my dearest one,

The love we shared, the setting sun.

Though I must leave, and part we must,

In memories and dreams, in you I trust.

With pink hair and eyes so green,

In your strength, my love will gleam.

Hold on to hope, let it guide,

In this world so vast, let love abide.

Remember, my child, the love we knew,

In your heart, let birth a new.

Though tears may fall, and shadows creep,

In your dreams, my love shall keep"

The words of his mother left a lasting scar on Oda's heart, as he felt abandoned and betrayed by his father's absence during their darkest hour.

Vice Admiral Ryota eventually returned, victorious from his mission, only to find his wife's lifeless body and his son traumatized by the loss. Oda's resentment grew, and he blamed his father for prioritizing his work over the safety and well-being of his family.

From that day forward, Oda vowed never to join the Sea Corporation, rejecting his father's world and choosing his own path. The memory of his mother's sacrifice fueled his determination to become stronger and independent, standing firmly against the organization that had taken his father away and, indirectly, his mother's life...

[End Of Flash Back]

Roxie struggled to keep the tears back as he cried out: "YOU LEFT HER! LEFT HER TO DIE! I...I WAS THE ONLY ONE BY HER SIDE! SHE HELD ME IN HER FINAL MOMENTS! SINNGING A SONG TO ME WITH HER LAST BREATH...Since that day, I vowed I would never become anything like you! You may say whatever you want, but it won't change the fact that my mother is gone...the one who always loved me for who I was"

Some of the soldiers could be seen crying from Roxie's sad story while Ryota just stood at the top of the ramp, arms crossed with a serious expression on his face. "Hmph, maybe you're right Oda...maybe I am the monster you say I am...but I can't just disobey a direct order from the Leading commander himself...if I were to just ignore a direct order, he'd have my head over it! The man's ruthless, he's willing to kill those he deems unfit to sail under the sea corp even if you're a civilian"

The others just watched as Oda whipped the tears from his eyes, glaring at his father. "Whatever, why are you here anyway? Have you come to turn me in to the worthless corp?"

Ryota closed his eyes letting out a sigh. "I'm afraid that's how it has to be...if you're not willing to join me...then I'm afraid I must place you all under arrest by order of the sea corporation" The tall built admiral took a step forward, a faint aura of power brushed over the crew.

"Like hell you will!" Naiomi quickly pulled out throwing knives from a hidden pocket, throwing them straight for Ryota. The man's eyes widened as he unleashed an abrupt surge of black seinshin electricity around him, causing the sharp projectiles to hit the ground. "You're out of your league young ones, I wouldn't be the rank I am if I could be stopped by mere projectiles"

The soldiers prepared their weapons ready to fire when Ryota motioned them to stop. "That won't be necessary men, I can handle four mere pirates with nowhere to go"

"Y-yes sir!" They responded lowering their weapons once more as he slowly walked down the ramp, a faint surge of black electricity flowing from each step. Oda clinched his teeth throwing his hand out forming a barrier around the admiral ship with his father inside. "Don't get any closer you bastard! It's bad enough I have to be in your presence!" The thief cried out.

Without a word Ryota slowly clinched his fist, a black aura outlining his body as he struck the barrier with a single punch. All watched as the entire barrier was fractured to the point of breaking, yet somehow remained intact.

"Whoa, he was able to fracture Roxie's barrier with a single punch!" Kiozen exclaimed in shock. "That's because you're dealing with more than mere bounty hunters now you brats, you have no one to blame but yourselves" With another seinshin imbued strike, the transparent barrier shattered to pieces as their foe stood before them on the small arena-sized island.

"Tsk, I won't let you come any closer!" Kiozen manifested a gumball in his left palm advancing right for the admiral, attempting to siphon his life force and seal it within the gumball. Just as the pirate reached out for the assailant's face, Ryota unleashed a wave of energy so strong, it kept the pink-haired pirate from getting any close with it's repelling force.

"Tsk, pathetic" Kiozen was backhanded across the face, sending him soaring off into the ocean. "No! Kiozen! Oda cried out as his ally landed in the ocean. "E-ENOUGH! I'VED HAD IT WITH YOU, YOU BASTARD!" Forming barriers around his fists like gloves, Roxie charged towards the admiral filled with rage and hatred for his father. He clinched his protected fists, throwing a punch right for the admiral's face with all his power.

All watched as the condensed sphere struck the side of Ryota's face, sending him staggering onto the ship with many soldiers in shock. "H-he hit the admiral! I-I didn't think anyone could land such a blow on him!" One of them cried out as they all looked down at him as he laid on his back on the ship.

"Sigh, not bads brat, those fists of yours sure do pack a punch...but it's going to take a lot more than your force field ability to keep me down" Ryota slowly got up, unharmed by his son's attack. Naiomi and Kenzu tried to come up with a way to fight back, but in the end had no plan to fight someone so fluent in seinshin.

Just then, Kiozen came soaring in on a cotton candy cloud he used to fly through the air right for their assailant. "Marshmallow mist!" Taking a deep breath, he unleashed a breath of white mist that began to fill the area, blinding everyone in the area from seeing more than a foot ahead of them.

"What?" Ryota looked around, only to see a thick white fog blocking his view. That's when he saw a silhouette running straight for him. With a quick blow, he struck straight through the figure's chest, only to realize it was a clone of Kiozen made of solid chocolate. "Tssk! I'm getting tired of these measly candy tricks!" 

As he tried to pull his arm out of the chest hole of the clone, he realized the chocolate was beginning to slowly travel up his arm, becoming harder and thicker. "Y-you little-" in an abrupt surge of energy, he shattered the clone's body as it hit the ground in a puddle of chocolate. "Alright I'm tired of these silly games!" Focusing immense levels of seinshin within his left arm, he swiped his hand through the air, sending a vast surge of power across a mile of land.

The surge of power caused the mist to disperse allowing him to see once more. Before he could continue, a basketball-sized jawbreaker fell from the sky, landing at the admiral's feet. The moment he looked down at it, a surge of pink seinshin surged around it as it cracked open, unleashing a devastating explosion before the fleet. Roxie formed a protective dome around the crew to keep them from getting blown away as the ocean filled with a blinding ray of light. 

The ship and all on board were sent flying off into the distance while Ryota was sent hurling into a random part of the ocean miles away. As the light faded, Kiozen landed beside the dome, his hair a mess as he fell to one knee out of breath. "Huff...it's been a while since I've had to pull so many tricks out at once during a fight. I forgot how exhausting it can be sometimes, especially that jawbreaker bomb, I condensed as much of my energy into it as I could to make sure it would be enough to send that bastard flying"

"Good job Kiozen, you and Roxie really saved our ass" Naiomi cheered. Kenzu nodded. "Without my sword and all these injuries, I can't be of much help in a real fight. I may know how to tap into my life energy, but in this condition...there's no telling what kind of damage I'll do to myself"

The candy pirate manifested another cotton candy cloud helping the swordsmen and the others on top of it before it slowly ascended into the air, flying over the water. "Sigh, can't believe I didn't think of this sooner, then again, I've always been one to be a quick thinker in stressful times like this rather than just out of nowhere. At least you can finally rest Roxie" He said sitting in the center of the cotton candy cloud with his legs crossed. Oda nodded slowly laying down before falling asleep...

Meanwhile...

In a random part of the ocean, the waves began to speed up as Ryota burst out of the water, using the fierce force of his seinshin to keep him levitating in the air almost as if he were flying. "Those damn brats...they think they've beaten me, but I'm sure I'll see them again" A slight smile grew across his face as he looked off into the distance. (Oda...you certainly have gotten strong...)

Back On Dread Rot Island...

Azuma awoke in the center of a large dark throne room, bound to a steel cross with chained binding his arms, torso and legs. "Tsk, what the hell!?" That's when a young female voice called out: "Oh? I see you've finally awakened, and here I thought you'd never come to"

His vision focusing, the pirate looked in front of him to see a set of dark-red stairs leading to a black and gold throne where a tall woman dressed in a black dress sat with one leg crossed over the other and her chin resting upon her wrist as she smiled seductively at the pirate.

Azuma couldn't help but notice her unique features, she had purple skin with glistening red eyes, long white hair as well as vampire fangs. A look of both shock and confusion washed over the young captain. "Who are you? Why did you bring me here? Would've been easier to just kill me back in the labyrinth rather than bring me to the mansion?"

That's when he noticed a man standing beside the throne with long black hair dressed in a black formal suit approaching him. Without warning he back-handed Azuma cross the face responding: "How dare you speak to our captain in such a manner, Rosera must only be spoken to as the queen she is!"

The seductive vampire looked down at Azuma who just glared at her in frustration. "I hope to become lord of the pirates one day so that nothing can ever be taken from me again, I don't know who you are Rosera, but I truly don't care, all I want is to find my crew and surpass the strength of any other pirate!"

The vampiric woman gasped in shock as well as the man standing before him and Seraph who stood in front of the large black gates of the throne room behind him. The unknown man grew furious as his eye twitched rapidly with his body shaking. "You-YOU BASTARD!" With all his strength he slapped Azuma across his face once, this time leaving a red handprint across his face. "You ungraceful peasant! Apologize to Rosera while you still speak!"

Just before he brought his hand down once more, the vampire exclaimed: "That's enough, Velric...I'll handle this" She slowly walked across the black tiled floors of the throne room with a hand on her hip as she moved seductively with each motion.

"My captain are you sure? Surely you don't want to waste your time on such a disrespectful welp like this?" Azuma watched as she stopped right in front of Velric before looking him dead in the eye, her eyes giving off a pink glow. "I said I can handle it, get out of my way" The man watched as her crewmate's eyes lit up pink as well before they bowed stepping aside.

Rosera smirked leaning in close to Azuma as her irises lit up once more. "Hehe, as you can see....I'm very persuasive with men. Now...why don't you tell me why you were sneaking around my manor? Are you some little thief? Or perhaps you came to try and have your way with me hehe?"

Azuma's cold glare remained as he looked her dead in the eye. "I washed up on this island a few hours ago and was looking for my crewmates or someone that could help me find them, that's it. I didn't know anything about this island before coming here"

Rosera looked him dead in the eye, trying to find a hint of doubt in his eye but saw nothing. "Hmph, you appear as if you're telling the truth, but let's see if you can still say that when you look into my eyes" Azuma watched as she slowly opened her eyes reviling their pink radiance as before.

He could only stand there and watched as the vampire attempted to use her hypnotic gaze on him, only for it to have no effect on the young human. Her eyes reverted to their normal red glow as she stood in disbelief. "It-it can't be...no man should be able to resist the temptation of my hypnotic gaze. Tsssk!" Grabbing his face with one hand she pulled his eyes to meet hers once more using her pink hypnotic eyes.

Still, he was unphased by her ability. Blood began to run down her face like tears as she released her grip, looking away in a fit of rage. "NO, NO NO! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!? HOW CAN YOU RESIST MY HYPNOSIS LIKE IT'S NOTHING!?"

Azuma just stood bound as silence filled the room. That's when Rosera angrily sat back on her throne glaring down at her victim. "Tssk, if you're capable of resisting my vampiric gaze so easily, then let's see what you're capable of!" With a snap of her fingers the chains fell to the ground, freeing him.

"Let's see what you can do fellow pirate. You may've lost to Seraph, but what can you do against my 2nd in command Velric?" Azuma looked to see the strange man standing between him and Rosera as he opened his hand with an evil smile on his face.

"No one shall touch my captain while I still stand, especially not one as low as you. Prepare yourself fool, for I won't hold back!" Azuma took a deep breath, the rest of his injuries finally healed after being out-cold for so long while still wearing his scorched attire. "Don't get so full of yourself, a title means nothing if you don't have strength to back it up" 

Velric clinched his teeth in anger as his fingers began to grow long and sharp like claws. "Time for you to feel despair!" Seraph and Rosera watched as the sadistic pirate charged straight for him, moving his long sharp fingers right for his target's bare chest, only for Azuma to jump back, evading the piercing slash by mere inches.

"Hmm, so you're magika ability is to grow your fingers out like razor sharp claws? That's an interesting ability, but can it match the power I weild?"

"HA! Power!? All you seem to be capable of is regenerating your wounds, what good is that in an offensive battle!?" That's when Azuma slowly raised his fist up to his face as he took a deep breath as he looked Velric dead in the eye. "I'm not referring to my magika ability"

"What!?" He cried out in both shock and confusion. Azuma smirked as a purple aura began to manifest around him like purple flames. All watched in disbelief as Azuma slowly pulled his arm back preparing to attack. "1st stance...focus strike" Using the seinshin technique he had copied from the S.D captain, Azuma unleashed a punching motion, sending a fierce drill of force right for Velric. An abrupt burst of force struck him in the abdomen, sending him impacting the stone wall just past the throne as cracks formed around him.

Seraph and Rosera just stood there in shock, unable to utter a word. Meanwhile Velric fell off the wall, hitting the ground lying on his stomach. "B-bastard...I don't know what just happened, but I assure you...I can still f-fight" As the man slowly pushed himself up, Rosera sighed ordering him to stand down. "There's no need Velric...I have another test in store for this interesting man"

Her crew watched as she slowly stood up and slammed her foot on the ground. A black coffin with a red cross rose from the ground beside her. The feeling of the room seemed to change when Azuma noticed a worried loom on Seraph's face. "Allow me to know your name young pirate, once I open this coffin, your death is certainly all but assured"

He looked up at her with a serious expression. "Azuma..." Her eyes lit up with surprise. "Azuma...cute name, it's too bad you'll die here, I would've loved to have gotten to know you more. Now prepare to meet your death Azuma" With a snap of her fingers the coffin door fell to the floor, reveling the skeletal remains of a samurai in a purple kimono with a black katana leaning against the inside of the coffin beside it.

Rosera smirked stepping closer to the deceased figure before blowing a purple mist from her lips into the skeleton's face. That's when the skull's eyes illuminated with a purple glow as it began to move and crack loudly. Azuma could feel a sense of unease as he watched the reanimated skeleton step out of the coffin, wielding the dark blade.

"What is this? You're having a mere undead fight me instead of fighting me yourself?" Velric sadistically grinned as Rosera responded: "You don't recognize this kimono do you Azuma?"

"No, what does his kimono have to do with anything?"

"Take a look at his symbol" she motioned. Azuma looked to see a dark-purple crescent moon with a star inside it. But just looked at it in confusion. "I haven't seen that crest before, what significance does it have?" She groaned in frustration sitting back on her throne responding: "I'll allow him to explain to you since you clearly have no Knowlege of this world's history" All watched as the undead samurai slowly raised it's head in Azuma's direction. It's jaw remained motionless as an elderly male voice spoke: "It seems I've been awaked, tell me young one, why have you summoned me?"

"I want to teach him just how ignorant he is about this world's history, teach him about the past and show him just how powerful you are" The vampire commented, her cheek resting upon her cheek with her legs resting over the arm of her throne.

The undead samurai looked at Azuma with curiosity before sitting on the floor, his legs crossed in a meditative position. "Sigh, very well...you wish for me to tell you about my life as a samurai back in my prime? Then allow me to start back when I met the pirate lord himself....Soichiro Akamatsu...." The undead samurai began his tale, his voice carrying the weight of countless memories. "My name is Sinyugia and I was a samurai in service to the Pirate Lord Soichiro Akamatsu who was renowned as the strongest pirate of the last two generations"

Azuma listened intently, the room seemed to fade away, as he listened to Sinyugia's words. "In those days, the world was a perilous place, ruled by powerful pirate crews and marauding creatures. Soichiro Akamatsu was not only a pirate, but also a man of honor. He sought to bring balance to the chaos of the seas, and for that, he gained both allies and enemies"

His spectral gaze seemed to pierce through Azuma as he spoke of the legendary pirate lord. "Soichiro was a master swordsman, known for his unique fighting style that combined elements of samurai techniques and pirate ferocity. His crew, the Crimson raven, was feared and respected across the sea. But it wasn't just his strength in combat that set Soichiro apart, he had a vision for a world where pirates could coexist peacefully, and he worked tirelessly to achieve it"

He and his crew often aided those in need, and they earned the loyalty of many. But with great power comes great opposition"

The samurai's voice grew somber as he recounted darker times. "Rival pirate crews and the sea corp saw Soichiro's vision as a threat. Battles were fought, and many lives were lost. But Soichiro never wavered in his pursuit of a better world. Eventually, the clashes grew more intense, and Soichiro faced his greatest challenge. He engaged in a legendary battle against the sea corp's top admirals, as well as other legendary pirates. Each clash shook the very foundations of the seas"

The room seemed to tremble with the intensity of the tale. "Soichiro fought valiantly, but in the end, he disappeared without a trace. Some say he perished in a battle against another pirate, while others believe he chose to go into hiding, waiting for the day a new pirate worthy of his title would appear"

Sinyugia's voice grew distant, and he looked out of the room's window at the dark island beyond. "The Crimson raven disbanded after Soichiro's disappearance, and the world moved on. But his legacy lived on, and his dream of a world where pirates could find a place of their own continued to inspire"

Azuma couldn't help but be moved by the story of Soichiro Akamatsu. "Do you believe he's still out there, waiting?" Azuma asked, his voice filled with a newfound determination. The samurai turned his gaze back to Azuma. "It's difficult to say young one, Soichiro was a man of mystery, and his fate remains unknown. But what matters is that his ideals endure, carried by those who believe in them"

As the undead samurai's story concluded, Azuma felt a renewed sense of motivation. He had been touched by the legacy of the legendary pirate lord. With gleam of hope in his eyes, he looked at Rosera and said, "I may not know the full extent of this world's history, but I know one thing: I will continue to improve, become strong enough to protect those who can't protect themselves or those they care about!"

Rosera watched him with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue. The room was filled with a sense of anticipation as Azuma turned to Sinyugia. "Please show me what your generation was capable of Sinyugia, I want to see just how far I have to go to reach your level"

All watched in silence as the undead swordsmen looked deep into his eyes, seeing the burning passion within him. "Sigh, I'm not sure that's a smart idea child...undead I might be, but I still maintain the fighting prowess I acquired over my 60 years of life. It's best if you don't ever have to face me in a real fight. With my cursed blade of Amaterasu, you'd be cut down with in an instant"

That's when a smirk grew across Rosera's face as she slowly raised her hand, almost as if she were controlling a puppet. "Actually, I'm interested to see just how he'll fair against one of the strongest swordsmen of this world. Her eyes gleamed red as she took control over the undead samurai with her ability to reanimate the dead.

"C-captain, is this truly necessary? Surely you don't expect Azuma to take on one of the legendary swordsmen, his cursed sword alone is said to inflict devastating wounds with a single slash" Seraph uttered with a sense of worry for the pirate. The vampire glared at her crewmate. "I'm surprised to hear this from you Seraph, normally you follow my orders without question...why is it, you suddenly have a change of mind? Have you somehow grown attached to him? He's nothing more than another pirate intruding on my island. Handsome he may be, but an intruder is still just that"

That's when Velric cried out: "Are you siding with the intruder Seraph!? Lady Rosera won't stand for such disobedience! If you continue such disrespect towards our dear captain, I'll have no choice but to take it as a sign of betrayal and rid my dear captain of your presence!"

Azuma could see that Seraph was hurt by such accusation and looked away with a sad expression upon his face. "Now then, shall we begin...Azuma?" With a quick flick of her index finger, Sinyugia gripped his sheathed blade at his side before moving with a swift instant motion. Before Azuma could even react, he felt a burning pain across the center of his chest, only to realize he had been pieced by the cursed blade without even knowing.

"S-shit!" He looked down at the slash across his torso that seemed to glow purple. "Tsssk! Once strike won't stop me from continuing this fight" Taking a deep breath, Azuma attempted to heal his wounds, only to realize the wound caused by the cursed blade wouldn't heal properly, leaving a purple scorch mark across his chest. "W-what is this!? My wound won't fully heal!"

"Sigh, I'm sorry young pirate, any pierced by my blade will forever be scarred by it's dark essence, even Soichiro himself never healed from the single strike I managed to inflict of his chest all those years ago. It's best if you give up now and leave before you're forever crippled by my blade. Unfortunately, I am not the one in control right now and I have no idea what this vampire will do next while I'm under her control"

Azuma took a deep breath, letting the calming breath flow through him as he focused seinshin through his body. "Don't worry...I'm nowhere near done" All watched as his purple life aura began to illuminate his body with immense power. "I've already come so far in such a short time and won't let it end here, neither you nor Rosera can stop me"

Pushing off with his foot, Azuma advanced straight for the samurai who spun around, stopping his opponent's fierce punch with his blade as the entire manor shock by the clash. "You certainly are a resilient one, but you have a long way to go before you reach my level" 

Without warning, an abrupt shockwave was released from the blade sending Azuma staggering back, impacting the wall on the other side of the room before hitting the floor. He could feel his entire body beginning to ache from both the impact and using so much life force just to take on the powerful swordsmen. "D-damn it...I-I used so much of my power just to try and keep up with him only to be knocked back as if it were nothing. Just how powerful is this man?"

Once more the young captain rose to his feet, this time out of breath with his entire body beginning to ache from his use of seinshin. "Huff...huff...I'm not...finished yet...I have one last trick up my sleeve" 

That's when Rosera commented: "As much as I'd love to see that, I think I've had my fill of you embarrassing yourself, it's time to finish you off so I can finally get back to relaxing. Such a waste of a good-looking man like you, next time be more careful where you wonder in your next life"

With another motion of her wrist, Sinyugia prepared to unleash the finishing blow, gripping his sheathed blade, that's when Seraph stepped in between him and Azuma, keeping the samurai from attacking. The elegant man met Rosera's gaze, his once worried look was now a cold glare towards his own captain. "Enough Rosera, as much as it sickens me to say this, but I won't let you go any further with this...Since I met this man, I've sensed no ill intentions from him, you're the only one who's been hostile to him sense he's entered this manor. I may've fought him, but I was just doing my job as you ordered to keep intruders out, but this? You're just torturing him now and I shall not be a part of such disgraceful actions. I beg you Rosera, please stop this before you force my hand"

The tension began to grow thick as the pair stared one another down without flinching... After nearly a minute of silence, the vampire released her control over Sinyugia lowering her hand. "Hmph, very well, but don't ever order me around ever again. As for you Azuma, I suggest you leave before I change my mind"

That's when the swordsmen walked over to Azuma, holding out his cursed blade to him. "Here, take my sword boy...I have a feeling you'll mage great use of it in the future"

"What!? But this is a legendary blade! What will you do without your S-tier blade!?" A smile could be seen on the skeleton's face as he placed the sheathed sword in the pirate's hands. "Don't worry young Azuma...I have no more need for such a thing. I already carved a name for myself on this world, my generation has come to an end...it's time for your generation to create a new era, one that seeks the ideas of the pirate lord himself, so long as you do what you think is right, you will become a great legendary pirate one day"

Azuma watched as the skeleton began to slowly decay into dust before him, he couldn't help but feel a tear fall from his eye onto the remains of the once great swordsmen. Just before anyone could speak, the large doors of the throne room burst open as Azuma's crew burst in.

"AZUMA!" Naiomi, Kiozen and Roxie cried out in joy as they raced towards him. That's when Velric jumped across the room, landing in front of them, blocking their path with his long sharp fingers like a gate made out of his long-deformed fingers. "Not a step closer! No one is allowed near miss Rosera without permission! Leave now or be killed!"

That's when Roxie raised his hand towards the assailant, sealing him within a transparent barrier to keep him from moving while the others simply walked past him over to Azuma as Naiomi and Kiozen hugged him tightly. "AZUMA! WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE OK! WE WERE SO WORRIED YOU MAY'VE DROWNED OR WORSE!" Naiomi cried out, that's when she noticed half his upper attire had been burned off.

"What happened to your clothes captain? Did one of these bastards burn you or something!?"

"It's fine Naiomi, I had a battle with one of them and I ended up losing, they hurt me really bad, but I luckily healed from most of it thanks to my healing ability all aside from one scar" He smiled at her but realized she was filled with rage as she looked at him with a cold emotionless expression. "Which one of these bastards hurt you captain? Was it the bitch in the chair?" She accused pointing at Rosera who grew angered by the statement.

"Hold your tounge, I won't hesitate to kill you myself if you continue to disrespect the ruler of this island" Naiomi frowned pointing in her direction shouting: "I don't care who you are, anyone who hurts my dear captain will see just how angry I can get when someone I love is hurt!"

That's when a smirk grew across the vampiric captain's face as she looked down on the enraged assassin. "Someone you love hmm? Are you sure he's not out of your league? Such a handsome man shouldn't have to settle for an average girl like you when he can have a vampiric queen like me. A child born from my vampiric blood would be stronger than anything your human genes could birth"

Everyone's mouths dropped at Rosera's words as Naiomi's face grew red. "YOU BITCH...HOW DARE YOU!" The blue hair assassin charged towards the throne, a blue aura of seinshin flowing around her body. Consumed by rage she threw a strike straight for Rosera, only for her to tilt her head an inch to the right mere moments before the attack made contact. All watched as a massive crack formed across the entire wall from Naiomi's fierce strike.

"Heh, you know what? I've changed my mind...I don't want you to die Azuma...I want to join your crew" This caused everyone in the room to freak out with shocked looks on their face as all except Azuma cried out" WHAT!?"

Velric, who was still trapped inside Roxie's barrier cried out: "My captain you can't be serious! Must you truly lower yourself to their pathetic level!? His crew are nothing more than peasants!" That's when Roxie clinched his fist as the barrier began to slowly compress, becoming cramped for the tall thin man. Roxie smirked. "Our pathetic level huh? If we're so pathetic, then why are you the one trapped?"

Velric clenched his teeth in anger as he sharpened his fingers, clawing at the barrier's walls with all his might, only for it to have no effect. "Damn you" He muttered. Rosera slowly rose from her throne as she walked down the red carpet over to her sealed crewmate. "Quit complaining Velric, it's not like there's anything to do on Dread rot island, aside from sitting in the manor and scaring trespassers, it's awfully boring here. I only stayed here so I could escape from all those that treated me as nothing more than a monster"

That's when Azuma grew curious, walking over to her as the rest of the crew circled around them aside from Velric who remained trapped. "What happened Rosera? Who saw you as a monster?" Red tears that resembled blood began to run down her face as she turned away from him. "I-I don't want to talk about it...please, can we just forget about it?"

The others looked at one another with sad expressions while Azuma stepped closer, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Rosera...tell me what happened" He spoke with a calm and concerned voice, truly worried about her.

"They-they all hated me...I grew up on an island called Star fall island...it was an island that was one large city, filled with towering buildings and high-class houses, the city was controlled by a rich man known as Baron Bones, with his great wealth he easily took over my home town and manipulated others of power to follow any command he wished. As for me, I grew up in an average size home, seen by many as lower-class in comparison to the many wealthy citizens that flaunted their money around like it was nothing"

All listened as she continued. "When I was only 12 years-old, I stumbled upon a strange purple crystal lying near the water of star fall beach near my house, As I picked it up brushing off the sand, I realized I hadn't eaten that day, my mother was at her job as a barmaid in Baron's casino near the center of town several miles away. As my stomach ached for food, I eat the ice crystal quickly before feeling a strange nauseous feeling, that's when I realized my hair went from it's normal black color, to the white you see now, my pale white skin also became purple as I grew fangs and my eyes glistened with a red glow"

She sighed, looking Azuma in the eye as her long white hair covered her right. "I was too young to understand just what had happened at the time, but as I stood on the beach out in the blazing sunlight...I could feel a searing pain all throughout my body as if I were being burned alive by the sun itself. I was too young to know I had been transformed into a vampire...I managed to run inside and take refuge in my room, closing the blinds of my windows to keep any ounce of light from entering my room"

Rosera wiped the tears from her eyes trying to be strong. "But when my mother came home, she looked at me in horror, as if I were nothing more than an ugly monster in her eyes. The long on her face hurt me more than the sun ever could. My mother was a tall thin woman with long red hair and green eyes, she always treated me with love and care. But the moment she saw me as this vampire, she didn't see her daughter anymore, all she saw was some gross creature she wanted nothing to do with"

Tears built back up as she went on. "Once the citizens of star fall found out about me, they attempted to capture me and leave me outside to burn in the sun. Luckily my mother helped me escape off the island in the middle of the night, as much as she hated the sight of me, she knew she couldn't just let me die over something I had no control over. Once I escaped the island, I just survived off the animals of different islands, living in dark parts of the islands to keep any sunlight from reaching me"

Many of the pirates couldn't help but shed tears from her story, even Azuma did his best not to cry, only for a single tear to escape his eye as it hit the ground before everyone. 

"I'm sorry you had to experience such a traumatic event in your life, especially at such a young age Rosera. But I want you to know I'm here for you, you're not the only one who's felt the pain of someone close to you, treat you as if you're nothing more than mere garbage. My 1st crew left me on the brink of death, stranded on a random island with nothing but the clothes on my back. If there hadn't been a magika crystal near me, I probably would've succumbed to my injuries and bled to death on the beach"

Rosera was caught off guard as Azuma pulled her closer, softly embracing her as he placed his right hand on her head as she rested her face against his chest. She blushed for a moment before looking up at Naiomi, winking at her with her tounge out in a taunting manner. Seeing her captain holding another woman caused the blue-hair assassin to clinch her fist growing furious once more before taking a deep breath letting herself cool down.

Letting go of Rosera, Azuma walked towards Velric commenting: "Your captain wants to join my crew, but you don't seem so willing. If you're going to be a problem, you can always just stay here by yourself on this dark and empty island...though chances are you'll probably go mad after a week of isolation from any other people"

Velric just glared at him with utter rage when the pirate leaned in close to the barrier with a cold look on his face. "You can either follow my command and we'll let you join us, or you can be trapped on this island with no way off as you remain here alone, talking to yourself as your thoughts become too much and you slowly slip into madness"

"Sigh, just leave him here Azuma, if he's going to make such a big deal about it, then clearly, he won't be of any help to us when there's actually a real situation" Rosera groaned placing a hand on her hip as all looked at Azuma, waiting for his decision. "You're right Rosera, might as well leave him here so he doesn't hold us back. "Let's get out of here, I'm tired of feeling the cold breeze on my back and need to buy new clothes since mine were burned to crisp from my fight with Seraph"

The blonde elegant man lowered his head in embarrassment, getting down on one knee before him. "My apologies captain Azuma, I was only following my former captain's orders to stop all intruders, I meant no disrespect towards you sir!" 

Azuma looked down at him as his serious expression became a slight smirk. "Don't fret Seraph, you were only doing as you were asked, that shows you have loyalty and after that fight, I know you had not intention to kill me, you knew I was alive and could've killed me if you wanted too, the fact you spared me shows you're not some heartless brute that seeks to kill. I have hope that you'll be a great addition to the Azuma pirates Seraph, don't let your thoughts get the better of you"

The vampiric pirate looked up at his new captain who offered his hand out to him with a smile. "Welcome to the Azuma pirates Seraph.

Tears of joy filled his eyes as he took his hand rising to his feet. "T-thank you sir, I'll do my best to show my loyalty for both you and the crew!"

"Now then, let's be off, there's a certain island that deserves my attion"

"Wait captain, should I free this wimp from the barrier or just leave him inside?" Roxie questioned, pointing to Velric. "Sigh, I'd say you can let him out once we're off the island, can't have him following us" The crew made their way towards the door as Velric began crying out to them: "Wait! You're not seriously going to leave me here are you!?"

Without a word the crew left the pirate within the transparent barrier, unable to escape. As the newly expanded crew reached the shore of Dread Rot island, Azuma ordered Kiozen to create something to help them off the island.

A smirk grew on the candy pirate's face. "Of course sir, I've been coming up with many new ideas with my candy magika to add some versatility. Candy formation: Cotton candy ship!" Throwing his hand out before the shore, a bundle of cotton candy began to form together until it took the form of a small ship. "There you are captain, this such suffice until we can get a proper ship"

"Impressive work Kiozen, your candy ability certainly has many uses when it's used in the right ways. Let's hurry to Star fall island so I can get new clothes as well as find this "Baron Bones" You were talking about Rosera, no one should get away with not only making someone feel like a monster but planning to kill them as well!"

As everyone boarded the cotton candy ship, it soared into the air, flying like an air-balloon flowing through wind. Rosera's eyes widened as she realized what Azuma had said. She placed her hand on his shoulder, pleading for him not to go to star fall island. "Please captain, I don't think it's a good idea to go to star fall island, it's filled with corrupt people that threat low-class citizens as mere trash!"

Azuma's face grew serious as he responded: "That's why we're going Rosera, what if there's others there being treated as badly as you were treated when you were little, I'll do anything to keep people safe, that's one of the main reasons I became stronger and will continue to improve myself, I want to help those unable to protect themselves. If I can save even one person from that corrupt city's influence, I would've achieved something even if it's viewed as minor. You can stay on the ship if the pain is too much Rosera, but I won't ignore those that could be in trouble"

"Y-you're right captain...I-I can't let my own trauma keep me from stopping that bastard from hurting anyone else"

"So, we're headed to Star fall island captain?" Kiozen asked. Azuma nodded. "Which direction is it?" He asked Rosera. She sighed pointing northeast. With that, the candy ship changed course towards Star Fall Island...

Star Fall Island ARC 

Azuma and Kenzu sat in a meditative position, their legs and arms crossed as they kept their eyes closed, letting the flow of seinshin move through their body in constant flow, allowing themselves to grow used to manipulating their life force more efficiently. Kiozen stood at the front of the candy ship, watching as they drifted gracefully through the sky like a cloud. Meanwhile Naiomi and Roxie were fast asleep in the corner of the cotton candy cloud, it’s soft feel allowed them to fall asleep with ease as the soft breeze washed over them. 

Seraph sat near the front of the vessel near Kiozen, asking about his magika ability, fascinated by it’s versatility. “So Kiozen, just what all can you do with your magika ability? I’m rather intrigued in such an ability” 

“I’m not entirely sure myself...I've had this ability for years and yet...it seems I always find a new use for it’s capabilities when I'm in a situation, I can create items or even sentient creatures from basically any kind of candy and use them as I see fit. I can also use my Knowlege of seinshin to pull the life force from a person and seal them within a mere gumball. As harsh as my childhood was, sometimes I'm happy I was able to have such a unique ability. Though, if I'm being honest...sometimes I wish I could just give it to our captain, I'm sure he could make great use of my ability. Only having the ability to heal your own wounds might sound great on the surface, but it’s still a limited ability. No disrespect to you captain” 

Azuma sighed getting up from his seinshin training, walking over to the pair at the front of the ship. “Don’t worry Kiozen, I was given this ability for a reason, if I was given your ability to manifest candy, I might’ve died before my journey even began, the best I could do is make bandages out of cotton candy and using sharp candy canes as stitches. Though it could sustain me for a few hours, I doubt I would’ve made it to a medic in time. So, don’t let it bother you” He placed his hand on Kiozen’s shoulder smiling before looking over at Seraph who started at his face and exposed torso. 

Seraph looked away blushing as Azuma smiled back. “Heh, I'm glad you decided to join our crew Seraph, I know you and Rosera will be great additions to our crew” The blonde elegant pirate blushed more looking down before responding: “T-thank you captain, that means a lot, I'll do whatever I can to help you accomplish your desires!” 

Rosera walked up to them with a smirk on her face, her red eyes glowing within the night. “Heh, it sounds like our captain has already taken a liking to you Seraph, you should feel honored to be seen in such a high regard” 

“I-I do miss Rosera, it brings tears to my eyes at the thought that our captain already sees me in such a way even after our fight” Azuma just patted the man’s head before looking out over the endless seas before them. That’s when Rosera tapped him on the shoulder. 

“Uh...captain...this might be a strange thing to ask...but can I have some of your blood? Being on that damn island made it hard to find blood that wasn’t from mere forest animals” 

Seraph gasped shouting: “Miss Rosera! Why would you ask such a thing to our captain!? He needs to be ready and alert when we reach the island, drinking his blood will surely weaken him!” 

To Seraph's surprise, Azuma sat down closing his eyes. “Go on Rosera, I won’t have one of my crewmates dying of hunger while I'm around. Just make sure not to take too much” This caught Kenzu’s attention who had been deep in focus with his seinshin training. He spun around still sitting on the floor and commented: “Are you sure it’s a good idea captain? What if she takes too much? We can’t have you passing out on us” He gave Azuma a serious glare before looking up at the vampiric woman. 

“I’ve made my choice Kenzu, you all can voice your options, but know that as captain, my world is final” Rosera walked over to Azuma, sitting beside him before leaning towards his neck as she opened her mouth reveling her sharp fangs. 

“My captain” She whispered seductively in his ear before biting into his exposed neck. Azuma felt a sharp pinch but just endured it as the vampire ran her hands along his body drinking his blood. A cold numbness could be felt in his fingertips as it slowly traveled up his palm. 

After about two minutes, Azuma nudged her with his hand motioning her to stop but she kept going. “That’s enough Rosera, you’ve had enough” After no response, Azuma closed his eyes...Without warning his eyes snapped open as Rosera was launched back in an abrupt shockwave of seinshin. She bounced off the soft walls of the ship landing on her stomach before her captain. 

He looked down at her with a cold glare as the bite marks in his neck could be seen quickly closing from his healing ability. “Nice try Rosera, but I had a plan in case you couldn’t control yourself” She looked up at him with a smirk as his fresh blood dripped from her bottom lip. “Heh, you really are strong captain, no wonder that samurai trusted you with such a powerful sword. He must really have a lot of trust in you” 

That’s when Kenzu noticed the black blade at his captain’s side. “Captain, where did you get such a blade? It feels as though it gives off a dark aura, as if it were alive” Their captain rose to his feet once more. “I was given this blade by a legendary samurai by the name of Sinyugia, he told me this is a cursed blade called the blade of Amaterasu. When he struck me with this sword, it was as if I couldn’t heal from it, it seemed to nullify my healing ability. Such a sword is a force to be reckoned with. I’m not sure why he entrusted me with such a weapon, but I'll do my best to keep it from falling into the wrong hands” 

Kenzu stared at the sheathed weapon, feeling as though it’s dark essence were calling out to him. “May I hold it Azuma, I'm curious to feel such a blade for myself. Surprisingly Azuma shook his head. “I’m sorry Kenzu, though you are a well-known swordsman and I trust your swordsmanship, this sword particularly I can’t allow anyone but myself to wield, Sinyugia trusts me with such a godly weapon, and I will not break his trust” 

Kenzu started into his captain’s eyes for a moment before nodding. “Y-yes captain, I'm sorry for asking such a thing” 

An Hour Later... 

The sun began to rise over the horizon as the seas gleamed from the sun’s illuminating embrace. “Kiozen, form a barrier over Rosera to keep the sun from hurting her” 

“Yes captain!” Clapping his hands together, an igloo made of gingerbread formed around the vampire’s sleeping body, protecting her from the sun’s harmful rays as she slept. “Good, now that we don’t have to worry about the sun hurting her, we should be able to leave her somewhere safe until we’re done or at least until the sun goes back down” 

Azuma and the others still awake noticed an island off in the distance, as it came into view, they saw a massive city with a large wall made of solid gold protecting the outskirts of the city. All they could see was the wall with a few large stone buildings with one black and gold building towering over all the others. “Hmph, not hard to see people of star fall island enjoy showing off their wealth to an absurd degree Azuma commented in an annoyed tone. 

“It would appear so captain, though...how will we hope to get within the city? surely we can’t just fly over the wall without getting spotted and or attacked by the ones who run the city” Seraph answered with his elegant feminine tone. 

“You’re right, luckily, I have a few plans up my sleeves to get inside, hopefully it’ll be a plan that doesn’t involve just breaking our way through. As much as I want to make the citizens of this city pay for what happened to Rosera, I'd rather try to avoid too much damage to innocent bystanders and just focus on the man known as Baron Bones, I'm sure he’ll be somewhere around that exaggerated tower within the city” 

The candy cloud reached the shores of star fall island as they slowly landed within the forest that spread out between the city and the island’s shores. “This should be far enough from the city to keep from any wanders from finding Rosera while she’s sleeping. Just to be sure, I'd say place a guard near the gingerbread igloo just to be safe” 

The pink-haired pirate nodded as the ship vanished leaving the brown candy igloo in the middle of the forest. Slamming his bare palm onto the ground he yelled: Candy formation: gingerbread golem!” The others watched as A seven-foot muscular figure made of gingerbread formed before them as it stomped over to the igloo guarding the entrance. 

“Alright let’s get goin-” That’s when Azuma heard a loud snore from behind them, that’s when they turned to see Roxie and Naiomi still fast asleep now laying in the grass. Azuma groaned about to walk over when Seraph stopped him. Wait captain, I have a better way of waking them up” All looked at the blonde-haired pirate with curiosity as he slowly raised his fist up to his lips, blowing a kiss as two tiny inferios flew over to the sleeping pair. With a mischievous grin, Seraph snapped his fingers as the tiny creatures burst in front of the pair like mere firecrackers. 

“Aaghh!” The two cried out sliding across the dirt before realizing what had happened. “W-was I asleep too long? Forgive me captain, I didn’t mean to sleep for the whole ride” Oda confessed rubbing his eyes while Naiomi brushed the dirt from her clothes. “I’m sorry as well Azuma, I wish we could’ve spent some time together during the trip, I just felt so tired and just passed out from the soft feeling of the cotton candy vessel” 

“Heh, well...now that everyone's finally up and ready, we should hurry and make our way to star fall city so we can beat the crap out of those who treated Rosera like a monster!” 

“Wait? Where is Rosera?” Roxie asked confused. That’s when the others pointed to the igloo just past the thief where the vampiric pirate was fast asleep. Without another word, Azuma proceeded onto the forest path with the rest of his crew following close behind. 

As they marched along the dirt path of star fall forest Azuma commented: “That reminds me, I doubt they’ll let me in wearing nothing more than scorched leggings and shoes...Kiozen, do you think you can make me some clothes with your magika ability?” 

“Heh, at this point, what can’t my ability accomplish? Hold on, let me see if I can create something close enough to your attire...candy couture” snapping his fingers, a black coat made of black thick taffy formed around Azuma’s torso with the inside layered with thick layers of cotton candy to resemble the feeling of cotton wool. “There you are captain, I did my best to make a coat that resembles your original one but with a black dye. Also, I layered the inside with a special kind of cotton candy to keep you from feeling any stickiness or discomfort from the taffy outer-layer" 

“Wow, once again you’ve certainly out done yourself Kiozen, you’re definitely the most skilled magika user I've ever met” 

“Thank you captain, your praise is greatly appreciated!” Kiozen smiled as they continued through the forest path with nothing but rows of trees on both sides of them. After about 30 minutes of walking, they could finally see the large golden gates of Star fall city where a tall built man with short black hair stood guarding the entrance. He wore black shades with a black suit on as he stood motionless beside the large gate with both arms at his sides. 

The crew stopped behind a large tree within the forest just a few meters from the entrance. “What should we do captain? Should we rush and take him out? Or hope that he let’s us through?” Oda asked curiously as the crew started at the large guard. 

“I have better idea Roxie, Seraph...you’re up” The guard looked up to see the elegant pirate walking up to him, his long blonde hair flowing in the wind. Seraph looked at the guard with a confident expression as if looking down on the brute. “I would like for you to open the gate for me, I’m in a rush to meet Mr. Bones and I'm sure he wouldn’t want you wasting his time...would he?” 

He looked down at Seraph who just glared deep into his eyes with a cold expression as he brushed his luscious blonde hair out of his eyes. That’s when the once composed guard began to shake with unease as he responded in a deep voice: “Y-yes sir, allow me to open the door up right away!” Pressing a button on his wristwatch, the door slowly slit open before the man as the guard bowed in respect to him. 

With that, Seraph and the others made their way through the star fall gate as the colossal gates slowly closed behind them with a loud boom. “Now then, we just need to make our way towards that large tower off in the distance, no doubt Baron is on the top floor like any big shot would be. Let’s try and be careful, there’s no telling what lies within this city. Azuma warned as they stood before a massive city none of them had ever seen before. 

The city was filled with towering stone buildings with a turquoise shade on every single one of them except the tallest one there, a skyscraper made of black and gold steel with two golden letters on the top: “BB” Azuma pointed to the golden letters responding: “No doubt those letters stand for Baron Bones. Whoever this guy is...he certainly enjoys telling people how rich he is. Sigh, it makes me sick to see such corruption in this large city. Anyway, we’ve wasted enough time as it is, let’s make our way to the tower before one of his men realizes why we’re here” 

“Yes sir” They answered. As they proceeded down the fresh-paved sidewalks of the city, a woman dressed in a black-hooded cloak watched them from an alleyway, her face concealed by the hood with only her long pink hair and smirk visible. The Azuma pirates walked past the many well-dressed citizens of the city, many appeared to be high class men and women wearing either black formal suits or dresses covered with diamonds and other jewels as if they were all headed to a high-class party or wedding. 

(How strange, these people seem to all wear such luxurious clothing out in public as if going to a special event, however...many seem to just be doing normal daily activities such as going to the store or work. Something doesn’t sit right here) The young captain thought squeezing past the many people walking up and down the streets like robots, no actual emotion, just blank stares as if walking on autopilot. 

As they finally made their way downtown, the people around them seem to become livelier with rave music playing throughout the streets. Many were dancing in the streets with others inside the taverns that aligned the streets or buying things from merchants just outside. Azuma stomped in front of the street where the event was happening and just started at it with a feeling of unease. 

“Captain? Is something wrong?” Naiomi asked with a worried tone as his crew stood beside him also looking at the partying residence. That’s when their captain spoke up: “Something’s not right here...many of the citizens behind us are walking up and down the streets like dolls with no free will...but here...they seem free and happy as if nothing’s wrong. How could such a feeling shift so drastically from just a block away?” 

Kenzu nodded. “You’re right, this can’t be normal. Something strange is definitely going on within this city” Azuma clinched his fist taking a step towards the street filled with many partying. As he got closer towards the crowd, it felt as though a warm feeling was flowing through him, all his pain and worries seemed to melt away as he felt himself drawn to the party. 

(T-this feeling...is this...pure happiness? The trauma I once felt...I don’t feel it, all the weight of my pain is gone...) Tears filled Azuma’s eyes as the joyful feeling rushed through his body. Kenzu looked at Azuma, watching as he smiled with tears filling his eyes. 

“C-captain...are you alright? You don’t normally act like this, especially not in public” 

“Y-yes I am Kenzu! I feel better than ever! Why don’t you all come join me?” Just as the others prepared to join him, Kenzu threw his arm out, stopping them from getting any closer. “Wait...I think I realized what’s going on...think about it, why are so many people in star fall lifeless puppets, but this one area is filled with such happiness? The moment Azuma stepped closer, his whole demeanor changed” 

Without warning a needle flew past Kenzu, barely missing his face as it struck a light post a few feet away. All but Azuma darted their heads back to see the tall woman dressed in the black-hooded robe standing before them. 

“Hehe, seems you figured out our little conspiracy pirate, too bad my orders are to kill all those who threaten to reveal the truth to the people of the city. Please submit and make this easier for yourselves, I'd hate to have to actually fight all of you” 

Suddenly Kiozen clinched his fist, causing a thick layer of gum to sprout out of the ground, sealing the assailant within a massive sphere of pink gum. “Let’s see you escape that” The candy pirate taunted while his crewmates just stood beside him watching. After a moment of silence, the ball of gum began to vibrate with pink electricity surging around it. “S-seinshin!?” He exclaimed in shock as the barrier of gum burst open. 

“Hehe, what? You didn’t think a beautiful girl like me was capable of using seinshin? Aww how cute” She spoke with a playful voice pulling back her hood reveling a young beautiful woman with long pink hair and green eyes. My name is Vespaira, but you may call me Ms. Midnight. 

With a seductive grin on her face, she blew a kiss releasing a pink pheromone towards the pirate crew. Many of them tried to cover their mouth or hold their breath but sadly succumbed to the assailant's magika ability. 

A massive weight of stress and anxiety washed over them as Seraph, Naiomi and Kiozen wrapped their arms around themselves falling to their knees, shaking with an overwhelming feeling rushing through them, as if they were on the verge of a mental breakdown. “W-what is this...it’s as if...I'm having a panic attack!” Seraph shouted in utter terror. 

“That’s because my magika ability allows me to release a pheromone that affects your emotional state like your dear captain over there. I can take away all your pain for a brief moment...or send you into a panic attack leaving you unable to fight back” That’s when she noticed Kenzu and Roxie unaffected by the gas-like substance flowing around them. 

“How strange, not many can ignore the power of my pheromones so easily, you both must really have traumatic pasts to have such an immunity” Kenzu reached over taking the Amaterasu blade from Azuma who was still hypnotized by the joyful gas. “I’ve already experienced enough anxiety and trauma in my life...no amount of your pathetic pheromone will affect us” 

Vespaira could feel herself beginning to shake with unease but did her best to keep herself composed before her targets. “Hehe, y-you may be immune to my ability, but I still have my seinshin! I doubt most of you are even capable of such a feat! Seinshin is only capable to those with a strong ambition to grow stronger as well as the patience to understand one’s own life energy which I doubt traumatized men like you both could ever hope to comprehend!” 

The pair watched as Ms. Midnight crossed both arms in different directions with a pink flame-like aura emanating from her body. “Seinshin formation: spiritual bind!” Before the pair could react, chains made of pure pink seinshin shot up from the pavement, binding their arms behind their back. 

“W-what the hell is this!” Roxie exclaimed. “This...is seinshin when one learns to master one’s own life energy in order to form powerful constructs with one’s own life force. There are many uses for seinshin, though most only use it to enhance their abilities which is merely one of it’s many uses. With each person’s seinshin being uniquely different, there’ll always be new ways to use the limitless potential of life energy itself” 

Kenzu gripped the Amaterasu still in his grasp behind his back, focusing his seinshin into the blade. He could feel himself struggling to focus his seinshin, but continued to pour as much energy into the blade as he could. The once purple aura of the cursed blade began to glow red from Kenzu’s seinshin before the immense buildup of power caused his seinshin chains to shatter to the ground, vanishing in a mist of pink wisps. 

“IMPOSSIBLE! YOU BROKE THE CHAINS!?” The woman cried out in disbelief. With a stern look in his piercing red eyes, Kenzu advanced right for Ms. Midnight at immense speed, unleashing an instant slash with the cursed blade before coming to a halt just behind her, sliding the blade back into it’s sheath. 

An abrupt surge of pain rushed through her body as her eyes widened in shock. Roxie noticed blood dripping from the woman’s lower torso as she struggled to stand. “Tssk! Y-you bastard! How dare you injure me with such a filthy blade! I-I'll make you pay for that!” Vespaira began to focus all her life force into her heart, ultimately planning to use herself as a bomb and take all of them out with her. 

Just as she began to build up energy, Roxie formed a transparent barrier around her. “Go ahead and try...you’ll only succeed in ending your own life. If you’re willing to resort to such an act, you might as well admit you lost this fight and take us to Baron Bones” 

“Why would I do that!? If Mr. Bones or his other members were to find out I was helping you, I'd surely be killed on the spot!” 

Kenzu walked over to the barrier aiming the dark blade in her direction with a cold look on his face as his hair blew over his eyes. “You can either get us inside the tower, or I'll kill you on the spot” Vespaira fell silent...unable to think of what to say. “Sigh...fine, I'll help you into Baron Bone tower...though I can’t promise to get you to the top, even I am rarely permitted up there unless the boss specifically asks for me” 

Kenzu nodded to Roxie, signaling for him to free Ms. Midnight. Roxie sighed, lowering his hand as the barrier vanished. “Alright, if I'm going to get you all into Baron Bone tower, you’ll all have to pretend you’ve surrendered to me and act like I'm taking you to Mr. Bones to be arrested” 

“Alright, fine” Kenzu agreed. Vespaira made a swiping motion with her palm, causing all of her pheromones in the area to fade away. The others snapped back to normal getting off the floor with Azuma walking over, confused on what had occurred. “W-what happened? I remember feeling a warm embrace and then it went blank” 

“Don’t worry captain, Vespaira here has agreed to take us to the tower so we can meet Baron Bones himself” The swordsmen commented handing him back his cursed blade. “Hmm, if you say so Kenzu, I'll trust your word for it” 

With that, all of them made their way down the long busy streets, making their way up to Baron Bone tower as it casted a shadow across the city from it’s staggering height compared to the rest. The crew stood before the large black and gold building with a large entrance before them. The sign above the rotating glass door read: “Baron Bone Casino” 

Azuma could see a red-carpet floor with a few slot machines in view of the glass windows. “The 1st floor is a large casino where the rich come to try their luck or just gamble their money away, that’s one of the ways Baron Bones keeps money flowing through the tower at all times. Let’s hurry inside before someone becomes suspicious” 

They followed close behind the pink-haired woman as they pushed past the rotating door into the casino. They could see rows of slot machines all across the large room with dozens of people waiting to use them. The walls inside were made of a glossy black steel as employees worked in small counters serving free food and drinks to customers.  

Vespaira made her way across the casino floor towards the elevator when a guy playing poker at one of the few green poker tables commented: “Where do ya think you’re going Ms. Midnight?” He spoke with a deep Italian accent wearing a black striped mafia suit and a fedora. He spun around looking at her with a cold expression with a lit cigar in between his fingers. 

“O-oh, I'm here to deliver these pirates to Mr. Bones himself to decide their fate, so if you’d excuse me” As she took a few steps forward, the mafia boss responded: “Heh, ya really think I don’t see what ya trying do Vespaira? You’ve never really been good at hiding things from me” Azuma and the others watched as a poker card floated out from Vespaira’s shirt over to the man’s hand. “My boys heard everything that happened with you’re little scuffle with Azuma there. I’m afraid...i’m gonna have to dispose of a rat like you” 

“Pulling out a deck of poker cards from his suit pocket, he tossed a single card onto the floor before them, reveling it to be a five of hearts with the picture of a tall thin mafia member in the center. The card burst into wisps of light as five men dressed in similar attire appeared before them aiming their guns towards them. Those who noticed the rising tensions between them ran out in fear, clearing the room for them. 

Placing the cigar in his mouth he turned away from his targets. “Blow em down” He uttered. Just as the five men prepared to fire, Vespaira blew a wave of despair pheromone in their direction, only for it to have no affect. 

Nice try Ms. Midnight, but sadly ya little perfume won’t work on us” The boss taunted. His men unleashed a barrage of bullets towards the pirates, only for Roxie to form a barrier just in time. Azuma watched as the wave of bullets ricocheted off the transparent barrier, flying in different directions. 

“Great work Oda!” The captain exclaimed charging right for the gang as the pink-haired thief dropped the protective field. Focusing energy into his fist, Azuma threw a punch in the group’s direction, sending a fierce pillar of force bursting right through them as all five of them were sent flying in different directions, two landing on pool tables with the others hitting slot machines. 

“Sigh, I have a feeling ya gonna be more troublesome than I thought...no matter, I have more tricks up my sleeve. Holding three cards between his fingers, the assailant threw them straight for Azuma. Just as the pirate prepared to move out of the way, the cards lit up in a blinding flash of light catching him off guard. 

Two of the cards turned back into knives as they soared through the air at great speed. Both blades pierced him in the ribs causing him to hit the ground as the third card reverted into a bomb as it came within a foot of Azuma’s face. 

Just before it exploded, Kiozen sealed it within a jaw breaker, keeping the bomb from doing any damage. The mafia boss clenched his teeth onto his cigar growing impatient. “Tssk! Ya little rats! I’m growing tired of ya bull crap! I was hoping not to use it, but it seems I haven’t gotta choice. Pulling out a single card from his deck, he held it between two fingers with a grin on his face. I’m sure ya remember this one Vespaira” He grinned. 

The moment he revealed the card to her, her blood ran cold, she knew just as dangerous that card was in his possession. “Heh, by the look on ya face, I can already tell...you know just how dangerous this one card can be. Now then, allow me to show ya the immense power of Ace Cappello!” 

All stood ready for the mafia boss’ attack as black energy began to emanate from the card. With an abrupt toss he threw the card right for Kiozen. Just as the candy pirate attempted to form a gum barrier around himself, the card slipped through the closing barrier, phasing into the pirate’s body. 

“Heh, that should keep ya busy for a while, as much as I wanna keep playing around with you lot, I have better things to deal with” Ace proceeded towards the elevator calling it down. The others looked at the large gum barrier around Kiozen when it abruptly fell to the floor in a puddle of gum. 

“Kiozen...are you ok?” Naiomi asked with a worried tone. That’s when his eyes opened, reveling to be black soulless eyes. Before anyone could react, he grabbed the girl’s face with one hand, forming a gumball in the other. 

“Shit! I know that technique! Kiozen stop!” Azuma gripped his cursed blade with one hand, moving at super-sonic speed slashing through his crewmate’s hand attempting to decapitate it. That’s when he realized his possessed crewmate had detached his arm at the last second before reteaching it like gum. 

Seraph crossed both arms out in front of him summoning dozens of inferios, sending one towards Ace Cappello while the horde flew right for the controlled pirate. Forming rings around him with the bat-like creatures, the blonde man clinched his fists, causing a devastating eruption that shock the entire building. 

As the smoke cleared, Naiomi laid on the red floor, her once glossy blue hair now old and gray as she laid there in the body of an elderly version of herself from most of her life force being drained from her. Azuma grew furious at the sight of one of his crew members in such a state, he turned to see the mob boss step into the elevator pushing a button to go up. His eyes filled with rage, he moved at fierce speed into the elevator just as it closed, leaving the others to fend off the powerful pirate themselves. 

With Naiomi now out of the fight, all that remained was Kenzu, Roxie, Vespaira and Seraph. The squad watched as the smoke cleared with Kiozen standing before them, half his body blown away from the devastating power of Seraph's explosive inferios. That’s when the gum all over the floor drifted into the air, reattaching to his body until he fully recovered from the damage. 

“Ugh, he really has a broken magika ability! It’s like nothing hurts him and he can make almost anything out of candy! Is there even a limit to his ability!” Roxie groaned in frustration. That’s when the tall woman stepped forward with a serious expression on her face. “You all go up the stairs and meet Azuma at the top, I'll stay here and hold your friend off as long as I can” 

“What!? But you can’t fight him alone! Kiozen has one of the most versatile magika abilities there is, it’s better if we help you!” Roxie cried out. That’s when Vespaira shook her head. “No, this isn’t about whether I can win or not, it’s about finaly putting up with Baron and Ace’s crap after all these years. Now hurry and go!” 

Kenzu lifted Naiomi’s wrinkled body over his shoulder and turned to Roxie, giving him a nod before walking towards the stairwell in the right corner of the room. Roxie hesitated but just nodded with a worried look on his face. With Her and Kiozen now the only one’s in the room, she took a deep breath, filling the room with a pink pheromone, attempting to overwhelm her target with fear as she had before. 

However, the controlled assailant just looked at her, unphased by the gas. He aimed his palm in her direction, firing candy canes sharpened to the point they could easily pierce the skin of their target. She focused or seinshin, using it to evade the incoming projectiles as they flew past her by mere inches. “Huff...I see you’re not messing around. Seems I'll have to do the same” 

Jumping into the air she threw her hand out, causing seinshin chains to form around his arms weighing them down to keep him from moving. That’s when he took a deep breath, spitting out a jaw breaker before her. To her horror it began to morph into a seven-foot golem made of the unbreakable material of a jaw breaker. It grew eyes and mouth as it let out a deep bellow before her. 

She could feel her knees shaking in fear at Kiozen’s potential when he’s serious. She took a deep breath, advancing right for the jawbreaker golem, sending a fierce blow to it’s abdomen with the streets shaking from her immense power. Vespaira looked up, only to see her attack had only left a mere crack in the brute’s torso. “What!?” Without warning the golem picked her up by the throat, choke slamming her to the ground in a fierce shockwave. 

“F-fuck...I-I can’t move...” She could taste blood running from her lips as she laid in a small crater of the casino “G-guess he was right...Seems I wasn’t strong enough to beat this guy. The golem stepped aside as Kiozen stood over her opening his palm. Several sharp candy cane spears manifested around him aimed right for her. She could feel tears fill her eyes as she closed her eyes in utter fear... 

Meanwhile a few Floors up...     

trapping Cappello with the enraged pirate. Without hesitation Azuma clinched his hand around the mafia boss’ throat, lifting him off the ground with utter rage in his eyes. His irises glistened with purple energy, matching the emanating aura around his body. “I don’t care what you do to me...you can hurt me, break me or even kill me....but when you cause my crew to have to fight one of their own...I WON’T FORGIVE YOU!” 

Ace swiftly pulled out a poker card, revealing it to be another bomb as it blew up in the confined space. “Cough, cough! How did that feel ya little runt!” As the smoke cleared, Azuma remained standing, his face covered in burns but were quickly healing from his regenerative ability. 

“That was your free shot...now it’s my turn” He responded in a dark tone. The elevator beeped signaling they had reached the 30th floor while Baron Bones was known to be on the 50th floor of the tower. Azuma threw Ace into the steel doors, striking him square in the abdomen with his seinshin-infused fists. The force of his strike caused the elevator doors to break from their restraints, hitting the corridor floor with Ace Cappello sent flying across the gray corridor, landing in the middle of the hall. 

“Huff...huff...w-what kinda monster are ya brat!? N-no mere pirate can use seinshin with such ease!” 

“Who said I was a mere pirate? After I had everything taken from me...I vowed to never let it happen again. My goal is to become the strongest pirate and protect the ones I care about. Those who stand and my way...shall be crushed by my burning will” 

A look of fear washed over Ace as he slowly crawled away on his back out of fear of the enraged pirate. Azuma stepped out of the narrow elevator, taking a step forward. “Shall we continue? Or do you realize just how weak you are compared to me? I Azuma Kenousa shall become the pirate lord and shape this world the way I see fit, no more sea corp, no more corrupt pirates, just people who wish to live freely” 

“Hehe, y-you may be a strong pirate Azuma, but strength doesn’t always equal power, you could be the pirate lord himself and still be unable to sway fate over this world. The title of pirate lord is nothing but a worthless title given to those who seek to waste their lives chasing a worthless dream. Do ya self a favor...and give up on such a worthless endeavor” 

“Enough, all I want is to deal with Baron Bones and make you lift the possession of Kiozen. You have one chance...or I'll knock you off this building and let you fall to your death” Cappello glared deep into his assailant's eyes, only to see the man was serious about the threat. 

Azuma clenched his fist, aiming it in his target’s direction. “Here’s your chance to do the right thing...try anything and I'll send you flying across the city with a single punch” After a moment of silence, Ace groaned holding his hand out as the joker card he had implanted within Kiozen came flying up the elevator shaft into his hand, emanating it’s black aura. 

The suited man slowly rose to his feet holding the single card between two fingers. “Sigh, very well...I won’t stand in ya way any further...but don’t expect this to be the last time we see each other” Tossing the card into the air, it manifested into a pink rift that pulled the mafia boss inside before vanishing. 

“Now that he’s gone, I just need to make my way to the top floor and deal with Bones himself. Azuma walked over to the elevator beside the one he had taken up and pressed the “open” button hoping it would take him the rest of the way up. After nearly two minutes of waiting, Azuma groaned walking over to the 1st one, opening the escape hatch on the ceiling allowing him to get on top of the elevator. He could see the endless elevator shaft before him but knew this would be faster than taking the stairs. 

Taking a deep breath, seinshin flowed through his body as he pushed off with all his leg strength. He jumped several floors into the air before running up the steel shaft, using his super-human speed to keep him from falling. Purple light filled the shaft with him moving full speed towards the top floor... 

Meanwhile On The 50th Floor... 

A man dressed in a black suit with white stripes sat at a desk made of solid gold in a black leather chair covered in jewels. He had long white hair with pale-white skin wearing red shades and a black overcoat. 

He sat at his desk counting a large stack of gold pieces when the elevator in front of him illuminated with purple light. He smirked placing the gold down as the steel doors burst open, flying across the room landing just behind the man. 

Azuma stood before his target who just looked at him with a sly grin. “Ah Azuma, I was wondering when you’d finally arrive, you sure took your time getting here. So...what does a nobody pirate like you want with me? My sources told me you’ve been quite clear in targeting me specifically. Are you some kind of hitman hired to assassinate me like the many others before you? If so, that makes you the 2nd hitman that’s made it this far” 

“You could say that...I’m here to avenge a young girl who once lived here before the people of Star fall city attempted to kill her for being a vampire!” The man leaned forward with his elbows on his desk, pondering...ah yes, Rosera was her name correct? I’m rather surprised she’s still alive, I expected her to die of lack of blood consumption within the 1st work of banishment. Fascinating she's managed to survive for this long. So what? You’ve come to kill me just cause some brat was stupid enough to eat a magika that turned her into a blood-sucking monster?” 

“Either you apologize to her face to face, or I'll kill you myself, this city alone feels like nothing, but a society filled with corruption. Half of your city were mindless husks while the other half were living a false hope because of one of your member’s magika ability to affect one’s emotional state through pheromones. But now the citizens of this city will see the truth about this horrid city, that you don’t care about anything more than what you can profit from!” 

“Heh, you think you have it all figured out, don’t you? I'm just another corrupt businessman that’s willing to step on those beneath me...that’s what you’re thinking right? Well, what if I told you, you were wrong...what if I said I cared about the people of this city?” Baron Bones leaned back in his chair, still wearing that sly grin, and began to speak with calm and precise words. 

"Ah, Azuma, you perceive me as just another cog in the wheel of corruption but allow me to elucidate. I do care about the people of this city, for they are a vital source of my power and influence. You see, manipulation is an art, and I have perfected it. The emotional turmoil, the despair, even the false hope you mentioned – these are my tools. Through them, I maintain control, fostering an environment where I prosper" 

He paused, his red shades concealing his true thoughts. "As for Rosera, I must confess that her transformation was unintended. My associate's magika experiment went awry. But does she truly wish for an apology? Or perhaps, her thirst for vengeance is what motivates you. Either way, Azuma, you underestimate the complexity of this city's web, and your noble intentions might just become entangled within it" 

Azuma gritted his teeth snapping back: “What does that even mean!? You sure don’t look like one who cares for the people of this city! Just sitting up here while the people suffer below you! You’re nothing more than scum!” 

The man, known as Baron Bones, continued in his calm and precise manner, still wearing that enigmatic grin behind his shades. "Scum, you say? It's a simplistic label, Azuma. You see, I am a realist in this world. True, I reside in luxury above, but it is the foundation of the city's suffering that ensures my dominance. To care for the people directly would disrupt this balance. I offer an illusion of prosperity, and in return, I maintain control. It's a delicate dance, one that requires finesse" 

He leaned forward again, steepling his fingers. "As for your judgment, you are entitled to it, of course. But understand this: noble intentions alone rarely change the course of history. Should you seek to dismantle this city's structure, you may find that the consequences are not as straightforward as you imagine. Proceed with caution, Azuma, for the path of upheaval is fraught with unforeseen challenges" 

Baron maintained his cool demeanor as he raised his hand, palm upturned. In a seamless display of magika mastery, sand began to swirl around him, forming an intricate chessboard. The pieces carved themselves from the sand, knights, bishops, and queens. "This chessboard, Azuma, represents the delicate balance of power and prosperity in Starfall City. Each piece symbolizes a player in this grand game. I manipulate the very foundation of this city, much like I control the sand beneath my fingers" 

He gestured to the chessboard, and the sand pieces moved, mirroring the moves of a high-stakes match. "Consider this a lesson. Power isn't always as it appears on the surface. The illusion of prosperity, like pieces on this board, can be moved strategically. With my magika, I can mold and reshape the very ground you stand on" Baron Bones fixed his gaze on Azuma, his voice unwavering. 

"I am not heartless, but I see the world as it truly is—a realm of subtlety and manipulation. If you still wish to challenge me, Azuma, know that you face not only my wealth but also my mastery over this city's very foundation. Are you prepared to make your move in this perilous game?" 

Azuma step forward, a look of pure determination in his eyes. “Your view of the world is nothing more than a twisted view of false justice, if the people of this city aren’t willing to step up and rebel against you, then I'll be the one to free them from your evil grasp” Baron Bones couldn't help but chuckle, a mirthless sound that echoed through the opulent office. "Ah, the idealistic hero, ready to defy the perceived villain. How quaint, Azuma" 

With a swift, calculated motion, he slammed his hand onto the desk, sending forth shards of condensed sand in his direction. The shards moved with blinding speed, a testament to his control over the very element of sand itself. "As they say, actions speak louder than words," Baron spoke calmly as their battle commenced. "Let's see if your determination can withstand the might of true power" 

The shards of sharp sand flew towards Azuma with precision and lethal intent, each one a testament to Baron Bones' mastery over his magika. The young pirate dodged each project that came his way as the projectiles pierced the black marble walls of the office leaving cracks from their sharpened tip of condensed sand. The man continued to manipulate the sand, his control over it growing more formidable with each passing moment. As Azuma dodged the relentless sand projectiles, Baron's calm and calculated demeanor remained unwavering. 

With a swift movement of his hand, Baron formed colossal hands made entirely of sand that reached out to grab Azuma. The massive hands managed to grab ahold of the pirate, attempting to crush him. "Your determination is admirable, Azuma. But remember, strategy is not solely about power. It's about understanding your limitations. Do you truly believe you can escape the grasp of my control over this battlefield?" 

The sand tightened around Azuma, increasing the pressure. "In a battle of wits, one must seize every advantage. Power alone cannot win the day. You see Azuma, it is not enough to defy the illusion of power and prosperity. One must also possess the means to dismantle it. And you are not yet equipped for such a task" With a snap of his fingers, the colossal arms threw the trapped pirate out the window as it shattered to pieces. 

Azuma could feel his life flash before his eyes as he fell from the tower towards the city below. (T-this can’t be the end...I...I can’t die here...I WON’T DIE HERE, NOT NOW!) Focusing as much energy into his fist as he could, he threw a punch straight for the streets below, releasing a devastating shockwave of power. The amount of power was just enough to slow him down as he hit the streets. His attack had destroyed nearly a mile of land leaving it in ruins as he laid in the crumbling remains. 

“I-it worked” He choked out with a faint smile. The pirate slowly stood up as his wounds began to heal once more. “You won’t get rid of me that easily Baron, this fight’s just beginning” Keeping his eyes locked on the top floor of the tower, Azuma prepared to take it down with everything he had. “Focus strike: LEVEL 2!” With all his strength he sent an immense pillar of force right for the tower. 

The entire tower quaked violently as every single window of the tower instantly shattered with glass falling from the sky. That’s when he spotted his target fly out from the tower, floating high above him with sand flowing around him. Baron looked down on him with a frown as his coat fluttered from the flow of sand around him. 

Baron, now suspended in the air, gazed down at Azuma with a mixture of irritation and curiosity. Despite the destruction, his composure remained unshaken. "Remarkable resilience" he mused, his voice echoing through the chaotic scene below. "But do you truly believe that such brute force will be enough to defeat me? You are but an insignificant speck" Baron taunted. "Prepare yourself, Azuma Kenousa, for you are about to witness the futility of your resistance" 

With a raise of his hand, Baron Bones manipulated the surrounding sand, creating a towering golem of tremendous proportions. It stood at a daunting fifty feet, casting a foreboding shadow over the ruins below. Its jagged form resembled the ancient titans of myth, composed entirely of compacted sand and dust. 

Baron extended his sand-covered index finger, firing a discharge of relentless barrage of bullets made of condensed sand. These projectiles soared toward Azuma with uncanny precision, a deadly symphony of destruction that sought to overwhelm the determined pirate. 

As the golem loomed over Azuma, Baron watched with a sly expression, ready to showcase the sheer gap in their power. "You see, Azuma, your struggle against me is utterly futile. This is the reality of power" The golem let out a deep below that seemed to shake the entire city before it set it’s sights on the pirate, sending a colossal fist right for him. 

As the captain prepared to retaliate with an attack of his own, a large transparent barrier formed around him, protecting him from the golem's crushing blow. A gust of wind traveled across the city from the creature’s attack as cracks began to form around the barrier. The colossal sand golem's fist created a shockwave that reverberated through the city as the ground quaked, the barrier straining to withstand the immense force. Inside the protective sphere, Azuma gritted his teeth, feeling the immense pressure from the blow. 

The tyrant observed the situation with a keen eye, noticing a young man nearby, their presence maintaining the protective shield around Azuma. Baron’s usually composed demeanor began to crack, irritation seeping into his expression. Roxie steadfast and determined, held the barrier with all his might, his face contorted with effort, struggling to keep the golem's attack at bay. 

His loyalty to Azuma was unwavering, with his actions speaking for his determination to protect the captain. Baron Bones couldn't help but be vexed by this unexpected development, as the power of their resilience became increasingly apparent. His calm facade began to show signs of frustration, a stark contrast to his earlier confidence. 

His irritation growing more by the moment, continued to fire sand bullets at Roxie from his index finger with astonishing precision. The bullets darted through the air towards Roxie, Baron couldn't help but mutter to himself. "Seems I should erase you of this accusation if I'm to continue my little game with Azuma" His focus on Roxie remained unyielding as he sought to eliminate this perceived interference once and for all. Azuma turned to see sand bullets pierce through Roxie’s body as blood dripped from the thief's jacket. “No, ROXIE!” 

Azuma's cry of despair echoed through the chaotic scene as Roxie was struck by the deadly sand bullets, his pink hair stained with blood, his body collapsing to the ground. The thief of Azuma's crew had fallen, and an overwhelming wave of anger surged through the pirate captain.  he turned his gaze back to Baron Bones, his eyes once more glowing purple, burning with fierce hatred. 

"BARON!" Azuma cried out, his voice filled with fury. His opponent looked down on him still high in the air with sand flowing around him. “Hmph, seems I've dealt with the weak barrier user, now to finish this little scuffle” His irritation turning into confidence, looked down at Azuma, who was now filled with rage. He raised his hand, commanding the colossal sand golem. "Golem, finish him," Baron ordered, his voice commanding and resolute. The towering sand behemoth, still standing tall amidst the chaos, prepared for its devastating final assault on Azuma Kenousa. 

Just as the towering creature prepared to attack, a massive sphere of gum in the shape of a colossal meteor came descending onto the sand titan. The colossal meteor, comprised of seinshin-infused gum, crashed into the towering sandy titan with an earth-shattering impact. Upon contact, the gum immediately released its seinshin, causing a blinding explosion of pink energy that engulfed the entire area in a dazzling display of power. 

The explosion tore through the sandy titan, disintegrating it into countless particles of sand and gum. The shockwave radiated outward, shattering windows and sending debris flying in all directions. The force of the explosion rocked the entire city, rattling buildings and causing the ground to tremble. 

When the burst of pink seinshin energy finally subsided, there was no trace left of the once-mighty golem. It had been utterly annihilated, reduced to nothing more than scattered grains of sand and dissipating remnants of gum. 

Baron Bones, who had been caught in the explosion, emerged from the chaos battered and disheveled. His coat was tattered, and his demeanor had shifted from arrogance to bewilderment, surrounded by the aftermath of the colossal explosion. 

Azuma Kenousa, standing amidst the dissipating gum residue, stared down at his opponent with a cold glare. With the destruction of the sand golem, the tide of battle had shifted dramatically in his favor, and he was ready to seize the opportunity to end Baron Bones' reign of terror once and for all. Baron, despite his battered appearance, managed to collect the scattered grains of sand, absorbing them into himself to facilitate his healing. As his wounds slowly closed, his composure returned, but this time it was accompanied by a simmering rage. 

He fixed his gaze upon Azuma, who stood resolute amidst the dissipating gum residue. The tyrant's voice, previously calm and composed, now thundered with anger as he bellowed at his opponent. "Insolent fool! You dare injure me and disrupt my carefully laid plans!? You will rue the day you crossed my path Azuma Kenousa! Prepare yourself for the consequences of your recklessness!" 

With newfound fury burning in his eyes, Baron prepared himself for the next phase of their battle, fully intent on putting an end to the upstart pirate's resistance once and for all. “Sand creation: Chaotic sandstorm!” Azuma watched as the entire city was engulfed in a fierce sandstorm so thick, he could no longer see the city around him, only the flow of sand closing in on him. 

Amidst the blinding sandstorm that enveloped the city, Baron Bones initiated his devastating "Chaotic Sandstorm" technique, transforming the urban landscape into a nightmarish swirl of sand and debris. The tempest threatened to consume Azuma, closing in on him from all directions. 

Baron's body began to disintegrate into pure sand, and he flowed into the storm itself, vanishing from sight. As the grains of sand inched closer to the pirate, Kiozen stepped into view. With precision and speed, Kiozen conjured a small piece of gum, almost invisible amidst the chaotic sandstorm, firing it from his index finger with pinpoint accuracy. It latched onto Baron's sandy form as the gum began to rapidly expand and solidify, encasing Baron in a rapidly forming cocoon of hardened candy. 

Baron struggled against the unexpected trap, his sand form trapped within the growing candy shell. The battle between sand and candy raged within the confines of the sandstorm, creating a surreal and colorful spectacle amid the city's turmoil. Azuma, momentarily shielded from Baron's assault by Kiozen's intervention, observed the clash within the sugary prison, preparing for the next phase of their confrontation. The fate of their high-stakes battle hung in the balance as the sandstorm raged on, concealing the epic showdown from the eyes of the city's beleaguered inhabitants. 

As Baron Bones found himself trapped within the rapidly hardening candy shell, his sand form struggled fiercely against the unexpected prison as Baron's determination burned brightly as he sought to escape the candy's sweet embrace. 

With a sudden and surprising transformation, Baron's head morphed into pure sand, separating from his sandy body within the candy trap. The sand hovered above the candy shell before sand flowed into one spot as Baron reshaped back into his human form. He glared down at Kiozen, who met his gaze with a serious expression. 

Their silent confrontation spoke volumes, an unspoken challenge between candy and sand, each representing opposing forces in the ongoing battle. The sandstorm continued to swirl around them. Azuma nodded to Kiozen to continue the fight as he rushed over to Roxie who laid motionless in a pool of blood. Both magika users stood ready for the next phase of their confrontation, as the surreal battlefield remained locked in a fierce struggle between Baron Bones and Kiozen. 

“Candy creation: Sour candy acid!” Taking a deep breath, the candy pirate unleashed a breath of green mist in the target’s direction. Baron could feel a tingling feeling throughout his body as he realized his sand was beginning to dissolve from the high acidic levels of the pirate’s breath. Baron Bones cried out in a mixture of anger and fear, his voice echoing through the storm. As the sour candy acid engulfed his sand form, he could feel the disintegration and weakening of his once-formidable defenses. The acidic onslaught threatened to corrode his control over the sand, leaving him increasingly vulnerable to Kiozen's candy-based onslaught. 

In this moment of desperation, Baron realized that he might have underestimated the candy pirate's cunning and mastery over his unique abilities. His overconfidence had led him to this dire predicament, and he now faced the very real possibility of defeat at the hands of his relentless adversaries.

“N-no, I can’t die at the hands of you fools! I shall take my revenge another time you can have Star fall, it’s not worth losing my life over!” Slamming his palm onto the destroyed pavement, he dissipated into grains of sand, flowing effortlessly through the cracks of the road and escaping the battle scene as the sandstorm gradually dissipated from the city... 

“Sigh, it’s finally over” Azuma turned back to Roxie as Kiozen carefully sat him up in his arms. “I’m sorry I took so long Oda, if I had been faster, this never would’ve happened. But don’t worry, I should be able to extract the sand bullets from your wounds with little to know trouble” Holding the incapacitated pirate up with his right arm, Kiozen aimed his left index finger towards the bullet holes, manifesting thin strands of cotton candy from the tip of his finger. Azuma watched as the thin pink strands borrowed into the thief's wound pulling out each of the condensed sand fragments with precision. 

“That does it for the sand, now I just need to patch up his wound” Placing his palm over the multiple wounds, he stitched the wounds closed with seinshin-infused Licorice. “There we are, with my seinshin flowing through the Licorice, it should keep them from snapping and causing any unnecessary injury” 

“Thank you Kiozen, you’ve helped us so much since you joined us, I doubt we would’ve made it this far without your magika ability’s versatility for nearly any scenario” Azuma placed his hand on his crewmate’s shoulder while looking at their unconscious friend. 

“Don’t worry captain, he she be up and about in a few hours once his body properly recovers. I’ll make sure to watch over him until then” Just then Seraph came bursting out of the tower running over to his captain before getting down on all fours kneeling bow him. “I’M SO SORRY CAPTAIN! I WISH I COULD’VE AIDED YOU IN YOUR FIGHT! BUT WAS TOLD TO STAY AND WATCH OVER MS. NAIOMI PLEASE FORGIVE ME!” 

Azuma looked down at the young blonde pirate with a look of surprise before placing his hand upon the man’s shoulder. “Don’t worry Seraph, Kiozen and Roxie came to my aid when I needed it, the fact you were beside Naiomi in her time of need is all I could ask for in my crew. Great work Seraph” 

Tears of joy filled the elegant man’s eyes as he looked up at his captain. “T-thank you captain! That means so much to me!” Azuma looked past his crewmate to see Kenzu walking out of the tower with Naiomi’s arm wrapped around him as she struggled to keep her balance. Though her youth had returned thanks to Kiozen. 

“You all wait out here, I'm going to check something inside the tower” 

“Are you sure we shouldn’t come with you captain? What if there’s more enemies still lurking within the tower!? Seraph exclaimed, his voice filled with worry for him. Azuma assured them they were all gone but they were welcome to follow if they wanted. 

Making his way back inside the destroyed casino, he pushed the “open” button on the working elevator and to his surprise it opened before him, allowing him, Seraph and Kenzu up to the top floor rather than using seinshin. As the door opened before them, Seraph and Kenzu found the once luxurious office now in ruins covered in sand with shattered windows. 

Azuma walked across the white and black checkered floor over to the desk of solid gold. The desk somehow remained intact even after their intense fight. He looked down to see gold coins scattered across the room from the battle with Baron. “Seraph, will you pick up all the gold while I examine the area for anything that could help me figure out where Baron could’ve gone?” 

“Yes, my dear captain!” The elegant pirate responded with positivity. While he sent his inferios all across the room to collect coins, Kenzu stood there with his arms crossed, watched his captain look around the disheveled room. All that was in the room was a large bookshelf in the right corner and the solid gold desk. 

“Hmph, this office looked more impressive at 1st glance, seems there’s only two places he could keep something of utter importance...the desk, and behind the bookshelf. One of you check for anything suspicious about the bookshelf while I get this desk open” 

“Hmph” Kenzu responded in frustration walking over to the dozens of books on the shelf. He began feeling around the wooden frame while Seraph pulled out random hardcover books skimming though them for anything of use. 

Placing his hand upon the desk drawer, Azuma used his seinshin to heat up the gold until it eventually melted just enough to get the drawer open. To his surprise, the only thing in the drawer were more pieces of gold and a few golden rings. “Damn, all that’s in here is more gold. Then again, Baron didn't seem like the kind of person to just leave anything of importance lying around” 

That’s when Seraph pulled out a black and gold hard-cover book titled: “Myths of the old world” The book was an encyclopedia of myths around the world. As Seraph skimmed through the book, he realized there was a loose page in the book. Quickly flipping to the page, he realized it wasn’t a page of the book, it was some kind of map Baron had hidden within the book. 

“Captain, I think I found something that might be what we’re looking for” Seraph's words brought Azuma closer. He leaned in to get a better look, tucked between two pages of the book was an old and weathered sheet of paper, showing signs of age and use. Its parchment had turned a pale, delicate beige over time, and the ink lines that formed the map's details had faded slightly. Despite it’s worn appearance, the map still retained an air of mystery and adventure. 

On the map, one could see the general shape of Starfall Island, marked by its jagged coastline. To the northeast of Starfall Island, across the open expanse of water, there was another landmass depicted. A simple "X" was etched onto this island, signifying a significant location. 

Beneath the "X" the words "Frost Drift" were carefully written in elegant script, as if by someone who wished to keep the island's existence a secret. The text was slightly smudged, suggesting that the map had changed hands and seen it’s fair share of use over the years. 

Despite it’s simplicity, the map held the promise of adventure and discovery. It hinted at untold secrets waiting to be uncovered on Frost Drift Island, and for Azuma and his crew, perhaps even the answers they sought about their enemy’s location. “Alright, seems we found a clue to where he may be heading, now we just need to hurry and get there as soon as we can” 

The sun began to go down as a beautiful sunset filled parts of the city with warm red light. That’s when Rosera met them at the entrance of Baron tower. “I’m sorry Azuma, I wish I could’ve help beat that asshole into the ground alongside you rather than hiding from the bloody sunlight. Kiozen told me everything that happened, how you confronted Baron Bones nearly by yourself but was saved by him and Roxie” 

“Yeah, I'm thankful they were here to have my back when it counted, without Kiozen distracting him and Roxie protecting me with his barrier, I probably would’ve died” Rosera hugged him tightly causing Naiomi to glare at her with jealousy. 

“I’m just glad you’re ok captain! I don’t know what I'd do with myself if you’d been killed and all I could do was just hide from the sun like a coward!” 

“Stop it Rosera, you’re not a coward, I'd rather you be safe than rising your life just to help me while also trying to avoid the sun. If you can only help at night, that’s ok, I'm not going to think any less of you for something you have no control over. Besides, we have some good news: we searched through Bones’ office and found a map leading to an island by the name of "frost drift” have you or Kiozen heard of such a place?” 

Kiozen and Rosera pondered for a moment before the vampire spoke up: “I-I think I heard about it as a child, it was said to be an island once populated by Hydrosapiens, better known as fish people. They were fish-like creatures with humanoid features capable of breathing in land and sea. The stories and rumors people spoke of said the hydrosapiens once flourished upon the island before it became covered by an endless blizzard, ultimately freezing the ocean around it. They must’ve abandoned the island and that’s how it became known as Frost drift island. At least...that’s what I can put together with the bits I can remember" 

“Seems the only way to know for sure is to head to the island and see for ourselves. That island holds some kind of significance to Baron and we’re going to figure out what it is!” Just as Azuma prepared to walk away from the tower, Rosera gripped his hand tightly. “Wait Azuma...what about the people of Star fall city? Who will the people look to for help and guidance now that the tyrant is gone and there’s no one to step up to take his place and rebuild this city into something greater?” 

The pirate captain thought for a moment before letting out a sigh, looking up at the vampiric pirate. “This is your home Rosera...if no one Is willing to step up, it’s probably best if you become the leader, you want this city to have. I’m sorry...but it seems we must part ways here. I'd hoped we go on so many adventures, but it seems that’s not what fate had in store for us” As tears filled Rosera's eyes, she looked at Azuma with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Azuma, I don't know if I can do this on my own. I've never led an entire city, I'm scared of the responsibility. Is there really no other way? Can't you stay with me, at least for a while longer? We still have so many adventures to go on, and I don't want to lose you" 

Azuma placed a comforting hand on Rosera's shoulder, understanding the turmoil in her heart. He replied softly: "I wish I could stay, Rosera. But there are other places that need help, other battles that need fighting and deep down, I believe in you. You've shown incredible strength and determination. You're not alone; you have the potential to be a great leader, and I'll always be here for you, even if I'm not physically by your side" 

He wiped away a tear from her cheek and continued, "Remember, Rosera, you have the support of the people who still believe in a better Starfall City. Seek their counsel, listen to their voices, and together, you can rebuild this city into something beautiful. I have faith in you" 

As Azuma prepared to depart, Rosera nodded, her eyes still glistening with tears. "Thank you, Azuma. I won't forget your words. Please, promise me you'll return one day. I'll be here, waiting for you!" 

With a final, bittersweet embrace, Azuma began his journey to new adventures, leaving Rosera behind with the weight of leadership on her shoulders, but also with the hope of a brighter future for Starfall City... 

Frost Drift ARC       

Back at The Sea Corp headquarters the commander sat at his desk, his glare visible within his dark office when the young soldier Yuto stepped into his office, worried about the commander's reaction to the news update. "I...I have some b-bad news commander" He spoke with a slight squeak for his fear of the commander. 

The commander let out a deep groan before rising from his chair. "Spit it out Yuto...what's happened now" The young dark-haired soldier held a blue folder and began to read off the reports he'd acquired recently. "R-right! The pirate known as Azuma as well as his crew managed to defeat S.D 10 as well as defeat the wanted pirate known as Baron Bones at star fall island. I was told Baron Bones himself had a bounty of over 1 million gold! That's all I have to report sir...what should we do?" 

The Sea corp commander walked past his desk stepping into view, he wore a black coat with a purple suit underneath. He had gray hair that slid back with a thick mustache. His face was wrinkled with age, but still seemed to give off a menacing feel. "No more games, Yuto...raise his bounty to 1,200,000 gold! No one will be stupid enough not to attempt to turn the pirate in! Seems it's time to send one of the seven after him.." 

"A-are you sure that's a good idea commander? I feel that's a little excessive for a pirate of just 1.2M gold" That's when a violet aura of seinshin began to emanate from the old commander's body as he glared at the mere soldier with a cold look in his eyes. The amount of power was so much, it caused Yuto to fall to his knees from the amount of pressure weighing down on his weak slim body. 

"Never question my orders again soldier, next time I won't be so lenient. Now...tell the 7th to head to Star fal city and haunt down Azuma before he causes anymore issues for us!" 

"Y-YES SIR!" Overwhelmed with fear the scroney solder runs out of the office... 

Bounties 

Azuma - 1.2M G 

Kenzu - 350K G 

Naiomi - 300K G 

Kiozen - 250K G 

Roxie - 200K G 

Seraph - 100K G 

Kiozen had created a large ship made of gingerbread for a more realistic ship with gum layering the bottom to keep the candy ship from sinking. They sailed across the seas as moonlight shined over them. Azuma decided to finally rest for once given he had barely got any sleep. 

The crew either looked out on the water or stayed close to their captain as he laid on the soft deck in a deep sleep... 

One hour Later... 

It began to grow cold, causing Azuma to snap awake as snow softly fell from the sky over them. "W-what the? Why is it snowing? Surely, we still have a month or so until winter" Azuma commented gripping his candy coat tightly as he began to shiver. 

"This may help captain" Kiozen filled his captain's coat with extra layers of cotton candy to retain more heat and hold back the cold. There you are, that should allow you to stay at a decent temperature without the need to worry about a winter coat. 

"Thank you Kiozen" The crew looked out to see what could only appear to be frost drift island. As Azuma and his crew approached the shore of the Island, the snowfall intensified, blanketing the landscape in a pristine layer of white. The island's coastline was a stunning contrast of icy cliffs and frozen beaches, where the relentless waves of the frigid sea met the frozen land. 

The sea itself appeared dark and foreboding, its waters seemingly untouched by the warmth of the sun. Large, jagged icebergs floated lazily in the distance, and the crew could hear the eerie cracking sound of icebergs shifting and colliding in the icy waters. 

The shore was strewn with massive chunks of ice, Crystal-clear icicles hung from the rocky overhangs, glittering like nature's jewels. Footprints of various animals crisscrossed the snowy landscape, evidence of the island's resilient wildlife. 

As their ship came to an abrupt stop by the solidified sea around them, they were forced to leave the ship. Walking across the icy frozen waters, they made their way towards the island's shores. The crew members could feel the crunch of snow and ice beneath their boots. The air was bone-chillingly cold, and their breath formed clouds of mist as they exhaled. 

Azuma and his crew couldn't help but marvel at the desolate beauty of Frost Drift Island. Without warning they heard the sound of ice cracking behind them. All of them darted their heads to see the ice cracking apart headed right for them. Naiomi, Kenzu and Roxie ran as fast as they could while Kiozen sprouted wings made pink taffy, allowing him to fly towards the island. Azuma knew he could use his seinshin to leap over to the island but didn't want the shockwave to shatter the ice around. 

That's when Seraph threw both hands out, summoning his inferios to grab onto to his crewmates, caring them over to safety. The moment they reached the shore, the inferios let go of them, causing them to hit the icy sand. "Ugh, we just got here and we're already having problems...m-maybe you should just leave me here" Roxie groaned lying on his back out of breath. 

"We can't just stop because of a minor inconvenience Oda, if Baron Bones really is on this island, we need to hurry and find him" Azuma snapped rising to his feet. Roxie, still catching his breath, flashed a cocky grin as he responded in a playful yet arrogant tone, "Well Captain, you know I'm always up for a little adventure, but I thought you'd want to give me a breather before we go chasing after that sand-shifting bastard. Guess I'll just have to suck it up for now until this is done with" 

Azuma couldn't help but smile. Despite the challenges ahead, he couldn't help but laugh at Oda's attitude. The crew found a long narrow path blanked by thick snow that led them through Frost drift forest. The forest was filled with layers of thick snow with dozens of trees surrounding the area. 

"As strange as this island is, it certainly has a calm and peaceful feel to it" Kiozen commented as the crew admired the quiet forest around them. That's when they noticed a few small wooden houses spread out across the forest. The crew ventured further into Frost Drift Forest where they stumbled upon the first of several abandoned villages. These villages appeared frozen in time, their wooden houses nestled amidst the snowy landscape, covered in thick blankets of snow and ice. The chill hung heavy in the air, giving the surroundings an eerie, almost surreal quality. 

The houses themselves were quaint, with steeply pitched roofs designed to withstand heavy snowfall. The windows were frosted over, and icicles hung from the eaves, glistening like fragile crystal daggers. The doors of the houses were aged, creaking softly in the cold breeze. 

Despite the frozen appearance, it was evident that these villages had once been inhabited. Footprints in the snow led from one house to another. The crew explored the interiors of the houses, discovering remnants of daily life preserved by the cold, leaving their homes untouched by time. As they moved deeper into the forest, more abandoned villages appeared, each with its unique character and history. The crew couldn't help but wonder what had driven the inhabitants away, leaving behind only echoes of their former lives amid the icy solitude of Frost Drift Island. 

"So much for a peaceful island...why would so many villages just up and leave their homes and leave so much behind? Could something have happened here? So many questions are popping up" The young pirate responded heading further through the narrow forest path. That's when Kiozen spoke up: "You're right, seems strange to leave all these homes all of a sudden...I wonder if it has something to do with the cold, seeing as though this island's winter isn't natural, it's safe to say something or someone might've caused this, pressuring the island's inhabitance to abandon this island" 

Azuma contemplated the mysterious abandonment of the villages as he continued to lead his crew deeper into the snow-covered forest. Seraph, with his elegant and feminine voice suggested: "Perhaps I could employ my Inferios to conduct an aerial search of the surrounding area, Captain. They can cover more ground from the skies and provide us with a better perspective" 

Azuma nodded in agreement, appreciating Seraph's willingness to offer his assistance. "That sounds like a good plan, Seraph. Let's use every resource we have to uncover the secrets of this island. We need to find out what happened here and why it left these villages deserted as well as the possible location of Baron" The crew continued their exploration, knowing that they were slowly unraveling the mysteries of Frost Drift Island and village frozen time... 

Their curiosity grew as they explored the abandoned villages. Kiozen with his cotton candy wings soared into the sky as he began his aerial reconnaissance. From above, he scanned the surrounding area, taking in the eerie, frozen landscape. And then, a glimmer of something caught his eye-a massive stone castle nestled in the heart of the island. He descended to join his crewmates, excitedly reporting his discovery. 

"Captain, I've spotted a colossal stone castle at the center of the island!" Kiozen exclaimed, his voice tinged with excitement. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen before. This could be a key piece of the puzzle, and possibly where Baron Bones is hiding" 

Azuma's eyes filled with both excitement and surprise. "Good find, Kiozen. That castle might hold the answers we seek. Let's make our way there and uncover the truth behind Frost Drift Island!" With Seraph's inferios leading the way, the crew set their course for the mysterious stone castle, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in their quest for answers. 

The crew advanced through the snowy landscape. As they ascended the large hill, they were greeted by the imposing sight of the stone castle. The fortress stood tall and resolute, seemingly unaffected by the harsh blizzard that had engulfed the island. It's massive gray stone walls were complemented by roofs of a striking deep blue, creating a stark contrast against the snowy surroundings. 

At the forefront of the castle's grand entrance, a colossal gate towered above them. The gate bore the symbol of a blue seashell, intricate and finely detailed. This emblem, a testament to the island's maritime heritage, capturing the crew's attention, hinting at the castle's history. 

A grand stone staircase, adorned with ancient carvings and flanked by weathered statues of mermaids, led from the stairs to the castle's entrance. The crew exchanged glances, their anticipation growing as they prepared to cross the threshold of the enigmatic fortress. The castle held the promise of answers and perhaps the key to uncovering the truth behind Frost Drift Island and Baron Bones' presence. 

They ascended the stone stairs, ready to face the mysteries that awaited them within the formidable stone castle. "Time to finally get some answers to why out of all the islands, why did he choose this strange place" The pirate commented as he and his crew stood before the large gate. "Now how do you suppose we open it?" Seraph asked. 

That's when a figure dropped from the window above, landing before the crew. Their eyes widened in surprise as they beheld a pakari, a humanoid creature with distinct animal features. This particular pakari bore the visage of a lion, with a majestic, snow-white mane of hair that framed his face. His lion-like features were accentuated by sharp, retractable claws that peeked out from his fingers. 

The lion pakari was clad in a sleek black coat that fluttered slightly in the frigid wind, and matching black pants that gave him an air of mysterious elegance. His presence exuded an aura of wisdom and confidence. 

As he addressed them, his voice was calm and measured. "Greetings, travelers. You stand before the gate of Frost Drift Castle. If you seek entry, you must prove your worthiness" His eyes, a deep and piercing blue seemed to examine each member of the crew. "I am Leo, guardian of this castle. Only those who possess strength, and a pure heart shall be granted passage. Are you prepared to proceed?" 

Azuma and his crew exchanged glances, ready to accept Leo's challenge. Azuma stepped forward putting his fists up preparing for the coming fight. That's when the lion commented: "I'm afraid we won't be using weapons, please give your blade to one of the others if you would" 

A little confused Azuma nodded handing his blade to Kenzu to hold before turning to face Leo. "Very good...now let us begin" With a swift elegant burst of speed, Leo vanished from the pirate's sight before reappearing behind him as if in slow motion. "I may be large human, but I can still move swift and precisely, perhaps you're just a mere pirate with no unique fighting capabilities" Leo bared his claws, sending a fierce strike right for the human's back with his index claw. Leo's clawed hand descended toward Azuma's back, only for the pirate captain to react with a burst of seinshin-fueled speed. He caught Leo's hand mere inches from his back, their clash creating a dazzling display of sparks and energy. 

"I may be a pirate," Azuma replied, his voice filled with determination, "but that doesn't mean I lack unique fighting capabilities" He pushed back against Leo's hold, his seinshin-infused strength amplifying his efforts. The tall pakari jumped back, looking down at his opponent with surprise. "Fascinating human, not often have I met such a human with the mental stability to wield seinshin so easily...But our battle is just beginning, can your use of seinshin really keep up with my mastery?" 

Once more Leo began to move at immense speed, this time moving so fast it appeared as if there were three of him. Azuma's display of seinshin-infused strength seemed to catch Leo off guard, eliciting a flicker of surprise in the lion pakari's eyes. However, Leo quickly regained his composure and acknowledged Azuma's unique abilities. 

Leo circled Azuma repeatedly, making it incredibly challenging for the pirate captain to keep track of his movements. Despite his best efforts, Azuma found himself struggling to land a hit on Leo, who effortlessly evaded each of his attacks. Then, in a lightning-fast maneuver, Leo struck one of Azuma's vital areas with his index claw. The sharp claw found its mark, causing Azuma to collapse in pain, momentarily incapacitated. 

Gasping for breath and nursing his wound, Azuma knew that he had to adapt quickly if he hoped to overcome this formidable opponent. He shook on the icy stone pavement struggled to move, as if Leo had struck a nerve to intentually keep him from moving. 

"Give it up pirate, my mastery over seinshin as well as ability to sense and strike one's vital life force areas, you may as well be nothing more than a moving target. You have talent, I'll give you that. But this is a fight you surely can't win" To his surprise, Azuma slowly rolled over onto his stomach pushing himself back to his feet as his body quickly healed from the vital wound. 

"What? How could you recover from such an attack so quickly? A normal human would be stunned for hours after such an attack!" Azuma cracked his neck before advancing straight for the large furred beast. Purple energy surged around his body as he made a flicking motion in his target's direction. "Force flicker strike" With abrupt flick of his fingers, he sent a condensed shockwave of power right for Leo, striking him in the chest as he was sent soaring off the castle grounds out into the blizzard. 

"Sigh, w-what did that guy do to me...it feels like it's harder to focus my seinshin into a simple attack...He said he struck my life force areas, wait! He knows how to disrupt a person's flow of seinshin with a precise strike!?" 

"Are you alright captain!?" Naiomi called out. That's when they abruptly head something soaring straight for them. That's when Azuma realized it was Leo flying straight for him, a blue aura illuminating his large torso. "Wait he can fly!?" Roxie cried out in disbelief. The crew just stood and watched as Leo flew right for the already drained captain, moving around him at super-sonic speed as his sharp and precise index claw struck the pirate's vital area repeatedly before coming to a halt, the pakari floating just behind him. 

Azuma opened his mouth to groan in pain, yet nothing but silence escaped his lips as his eyes were wide with sheer shock by the brutal attack. The crew watched as their poor captain collapsed before them. "AZUMA!" The crew cried out in shock. 

The lion pakari slowly turned towards them announcing: "Don't worry, your captain is still breathing, he's just in shock from his vital points being struck relentlessly. Though, he definitely has a strong will...most humans can't survive a head-on blow to their life force points, so the fact Azuma is somehow still alive is a feat in it's own" 

After pondering for a moment, looking down at the defeated pirate, Leo smirked focusing seinshin through his large white paw. "Seinshin pulse!" 

"WAIT WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Kenzu snapped gripping the Amaterasu intensity. Before the crew could intervene, Leo struck Azuma's chest with an abrupt strike of his palm as an abrupt ray of blue energy filled the area. To their surprise, Azuma let out a cough before opening his eyes. 

Azuma's vision slowly cleared, finding himself staring up at the lion pakari who had struck him with an incredible force. Despite the pain and shock of the attack, he could feel that his flow of seinshin had been restored. He pushed himself up to a sitting position, still breathing heavily. 

Leo regarded Azuma with a calm and wise expression, his aqua blue eyes filled with a sense of respect. "You are indeed a powerful opponent," he spoke calmly, "I sensed no ill intentions in you, which is why I used my Seinshin pulse to restore your life force" 

Azuma nodded, slowly regaining his composure. "Thank you... I didn't expect such a formidable challenge. You seem skilled in striking your opponent's weak points" The lion pakari extended a large, furry paw toward Azuma, offering to help him up. "You've proven yourself worthy to enter the castle, I sense that you seek answers about this island. Follow me, and I shall guide you to where those answers may lie" 

The crew watched in amazement as Azuma accepted Leo's offer, and together they entered the stone castle. Little did they know that their journey on Frost Drift Island was far from over, and more mysteries awaited them within the ancient fortress... 

Meanwhile On Star Fall Island... 

A man with black hair brushed to the left; hazel eyes dressed in a black jacket, white inner shirt and black pants stood on the shores of star fall island with a Katana resting on his shoulder. He looked up at tower fall tower with a smirk when his black wristwatch with a small illuminating purple crystal in the center began to flash on it off. 

"Sigh, Saber here" He sighed with a slightly annoyed tone yet still smiling. That's when his communicator began to pick up a high-pitched man's voice: "Sir, I really think you should have some support in your mission to capture Azuma and his crew! I and my fleet are ready whenever you give the order!" 

Saber, with a calm and confident tone responded: I appreciate your concern, but a law of the sea like me doesn't need mere soldiers to help, risk is a part of the performance" He paused for a moment, looking up at Star Fall Tower with a mischievous glint in his eye. "But, I suppose, if things get too exciting, I might just call upon your fleet for some backup. After all, it wouldn't be as thrilling without a bit of a challenge, right?" 

But sir i-!" Before he could continue, Saber turned off his gem turning back to the tower before him. "Chronostasis" He uttered in a soft tone as a dome made of silver energy formed around the tower. Saber, utilizing his magika ability, manifested a time-stopping space around the entire Tower Fall Tower. 

As time froze within the field, the world turned monochromatic, and Saber walked casually through the suspended scene. Citizens, frozen mid-action, were unaware of his presence as he advanced toward his intended destination, demonstrating his mastery over time manipulation. As he entered the stairwell past the casino, he released his Chronostasis ability to save stamina for his targets. 

Saber continued his leisurely stroll through the tower, heading straight for the top floor where the boss' office was located. As he ascended the stairs reaching the office door, he couldn't help but maintain his cocky smirk, feeling the anticipation of the encounter. He pushed the office door open with a sense of drama, ready to face the young leader of Star Fall Island. 

Rosera was sitting at her new desk in the center of the repaired office when she spotted Saber standing the room, a smirk on his face with his katana still resting on his shoulder with one hand. 

"Heh, I was informed Azuma and his crew might be here, but it seems I'm mistaken. Care to tell me where he is? I'd rather not waste time here" The young vampire looked him dead in the eye with a cold stare before responding: "I'm afraid I don't know where he is, he was here yesterday but sailed off somewhere. I'm sorry, but I can't help you" 

Saber lowered his head still smiling. "Oh that's too bad, I was hoping he'd be here, my mistake. Sorry for bothering you miss" Saber maintained his playful demeanor, seemingly accepting Rosera's response. Just as he reached the door and turned the handle, Blood splattered all over the desk from the vampire's chest as she let out a shocked gasp. 

Saber, still grinning with his back turned to her, continued to question her. "You know, I have a knack for noticing when someone's lying. It's a useful talent in my line of work." He gestured casually to the blood-soaked desk with his free hand. "Now, tell me, Rosera, where did Azuma and his crew really go?" 

The vampire clenched her teeth in pain and frustration but remained defiant. "I've told you the truth. I don't know where they've gone" Saber turned around slowly, his eyes locked onto Rosera's with a calculating gaze. "Well then, I suppose I'll have to search for myself. Thank you for your cooperation" With that, the assailant brought time to a halt, sending a fierce sword strike across the woman's chest before resuming time once more. She spat out blood collapsing on the titled floor motionless. 

With the vampire pirate unconscious, Saber brought his communicator up to his lips. "Rosera the vampiric pirate has been dealt with, hurry up and come get her before she wakes up!" Ending the transmission he headed down the tower back outside as multiple ships filled with sea corp soldiers began to flood into the city... 

Back On Frost Drift Island... 

Azuma and his crew followed close behind Leo as the lion pakari opened the large wooden doors of the castle. As the large wooden doors of Frost Drift castle creaked open, Leo led Azuma and his crew into the ancient fortress. Inside, the castle held an aura of history and secrets long buried beneath the ice and snow.

With a regal tone in his voice, Leo began to explain the castle's significance. "Welcome to Frost Drift castle, a place that holds the legacy of the hydrosapiens, a remarkable race of humanoid fish. These beings possessed the unique ability to breathe both underwater and on land, making them formidable in any environment. Their strength was unmatched, and their swiftness in the water was legendary"

Leo continued to speak as they walked through the castle's gray grand halls, his voice echoing with reverence. "This castle, as you can see from the emblem on the gate, was once the seat of power for the hydrosapiens. It served as their stronghold, a testament to their dominion over the seas and their mastery of both the aquatic and surface world"

The crew listened intently, picturing what a race of humanoid-fish would look like. The presence of the castle on the island hinted at the importance of Frost Drift Island in the grand tapestry of their world.

"As you explore this castle, you may uncover more about the Hydrosapiens and their connection to this island" Leo added, his tone filled with anticipation. "They were guardians of great knowledge and secrets, this castle may hold clues to what you seek. Let us continue our journey and see what mysteries await us within these ancient walls"

With Leo as their guide, Azuma and his crew delved deeper into Frost Drift Castle, ready to uncover the secrets hidden within it's icy embrace. As they ventured deeper within the old stone castle, Azuma couldn't help but hear something across the narrow corridor. "Do you all hear something?" He asked the group coming to a stop in the middle of the hall.

They all looked around, unaware of the faint sound nearby. "Apologies Azuma, I'm afraid I don't hear anything unusual" Leo responded with his hands formally in front of him. His curiosity getting the better of him, Azuma walked down the narrow hallway before reaching a large wooden blue door with a golden seashell in the center.

As he slowly reached for the golden door handle before him, Leo snapped: "Wait Azuma! That room is off-limits to those not of hydrosapiens descent!" The young pirate paused for a moment before forcing open the door before him, reviling a large library with turquoise coral bookshelves and old-aged chairs made of large purple clam shells. The room was dark with barely any light reaching through the frozen windows.

As Azuma cautiously entered the forbidden library, his curiosity ignoring the warning, he found himself surrounded by the eerie ambiance of the room. The turquoise coral bookshelves and the large clamshell chairs created an otherworldly atmosphere. The lack of light filtering through the frozen windows added to the sense of foreboding.

Just as he took another step forward, a sinister presence manifested in front of him. Baron Bones appeared before him, his form coalescing from the very sand he had concealed around the room. He floated before Azuma, His voice smooth and calculated as before, echoing through the dark library.

"Ah, Azuma," Baron Bones purred, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. "I knew you couldn't resist the temptation of following me here, in fact, I wanted you to find it. You see, the map to Frost Drift Island, the key to our ultimate prize, is hidden within these ancient tomes"

Azuma's eyes narrowed as he confronted his nemesis. "You may have led me here, but that doesn't mean you'll get your hands on that map" Baron chuckled softly, the sound chilling the air around them. "Oh, Azuma, you misunderstand me. I don't intend to take the map from you. No, I intend to force the location of the pearl out of the guardian of this castle, only he knows the location of the hydrosapein's new kingdom beneath sea. Once I possess the celestial pearl of Poseidon, I will be unstoppable"

"Pearl of Poseidon? What are you talking about Bones? What does a pearl have to do with anything!?" Baron Bones smirked as he revealed his grand plan, his voice emanating with confidence. "The Celestial Pearl of Poseidon is a legendary artifact, said to grant its holder immortality. With it, I can take over one island after another without the fear of old age or death...no one will be able to stand in my way"

As Azuma processed the gravity of Baron's words, Leo rushed into the room, determined to stop the villain. "Don't worry Azuma, I shall stop him in his tracks!" With a swift and precise strike, he lunged at the assalient, aiming for the side of his head with his index finger claw. However, to Leo's shock, his attack passed right through Baron's sand body.

Baron chuckled wickedly as part of his head fell to the stone floor into a pile of sand before flowing back into place as if he was never touched. "You may be a skilled warrior pakari, however, your physical attacks have no effect on my sand body. Any injury I sustain from you will just be filled in with a new layer of sand"

With that, the sand magika user formed a condensed sandstorm around the room. Compared to his sandstorm that covered star fall island, in such a confined space, the sandstorm was far thicker and harder to get through. Baron's sandstorm raged within the confines of the library, making it nearly impossible for Azuma's crew to advance. They struggled to push through the thick layer of sand, but the fierce winds and abrasive particles forced them back, rendering them helpless against the onslaught of Baron's magika.

In the midst of the chaotic storm, Baron materialized a large hand made entirely of sand and swiftly grabbed Leo by the throat. The lion pakari found himself trapped in Baron's sand grip, struggling to breathe as the malicious pirate began his interrogation.

"Tell me, Leo," Baron hissed, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. " You know the location of the Hydrosapiens' kingdom beneath the sea, and I need that information to find the Celestial Pearl of Poseidon. Speak, or your fate will be a slow and agonizing one"

Leo, caught in Baron's sand hand, could do little more than glare defiantly at his captor. The battle for control of Frost Drift Island had reached a critical juncture with the guardian unable to physically wound his assailant. My apologies for the oversight. Let's continue with Azuma in the room with Baron Bones and Leo.

As Baron tightened his grip on Leo's throat, Azuma knew he couldn't allow Baron to continue any further. With his seinshin-infused speed, Azuma dashed toward Baron, making a dagger with his fingers close together. Purple energy surged around his palm as he struck Baron's sand-formed body with incredible force, causing it to ripple and momentarily lose its shape. The grip on Leo's throat weakened as the guardian collapsed to the floor. The lion pakari coughed and struggled to regain his composure, while Azuma confronted their sand-wielding adversary once again.

The room was filled with tension as Azuma faced off against Baron Bones, determined to protect Leo and uncover the truth behind the Celestial Pearl of Poseidon. "Seems I'll have to defeat you once more Bones, maybe this time you'll learn not to step on those you see as beneath you"

Baron Bones laughed menacingly, his voice echoing through the room as he corrected Azuma. "Oh? But it wasn't you who defeated me last time; it was your candy-coated friend. But that doesn't matter now, because this time, I'll deal with you without his childish antics"

As Baron taunted Azuma, he unleashed a barrage of sand bullets from his index finger, sending them hurtling toward the determined pirate captain. Azuma attempted to dodge the incoming projectiles, only to be shot several times with blood splattering onto the stone floor. Azuma's body shook in pain with blood seeping from his bullet holes as his assailant just smirked looking down at him.

Baron's voice took on a sinister tone, "You see, Azuma, the world is a place where only those who use their power to excel can truly succeed. Those who waste their time on pointless heroics are destined for mediocrity, forever trapped in their own illusions of grandeur"

Despite the pain, Azuma's spirit remained unbroken. He knew that true strength wasn't measured by power alone, but by the purpose for which it was wielded. With unwavering determination, he sought a way to overcome this formidable foe and protect Leo. As Baron continued his speech, Azuma's resolve grew stronger. He understood that true strength came from the purpose behind one's actions, not just raw power.

Just as Baron prepared to launch another assault, something changed within Azuma, His eyes glowed with a vibrant purple light, and an aura of electric purple magika energy surrounded him. The room seemed to tremble as his awakened form manifested.

Baron's confident expression faltered as he witnessed the transformation. He realized that he might have underestimated Azuma's potential. Azuma, now in his awakened state, stood ready to face his adversary with newfound power and determination. Stage 2 of his magika ability had been unlocked, and the battle was about to take a dramatic turn.

"W-what is this!? I Thought your only ability was to heal your wounds, but this...it's something more isn't it!? Well...no mater! I can still defeat you and the guardian with ease in such a small space!" The tyrant was filled with unease. With fierce determination, Baron unleashed a barrage of sand shards, each aimed at Azuma's vital areas. However, Azuma's injuries healed at a rate faster than Baron could inflict them. The wounds closed almost instantly, leaving no trace of the damage.

Azuma's awakened form had granted him an incredible healing ability, one that outpaced even Baron's relentless attacks. The room was filled with the sound of sand shards clattering to the floor, their intended target now a symbol of resilience and power. Baron gritted his teeth, realizing that defeating Azuma had just become an exponentially more challenging task.

Bones couldn't hide his fear and astonishment as he struggled to comprehend how Azuma had acquired so much power in such a short span of time. His voice quivered as he asked, "How... how is this even possible!? How did you gain such incredible abilities in a mere instant!?"

His voice steady and filled with newfound knowledge Azuma replied, "Healing, is not merely mending wounds. It's the act of creating life energy from nothing... I realized that by continuously healing myself without stopping, I could generate an excess of energy within my body. This surplus energy not only accelerates my healing but grants me incredible resilience. Though it may drain my stamina at an accelerated rate, it's worth it if it'll give me the power I need to finally stop you"

Baron's confidence continued to wane as he grasped the implications of Azuma's explanation. The tide of battle had shifted dramatically, and Azuma now stood as a formidable and seemingly invincible opponent. Azuma's explanation left the white-haired man stunned, his fear growing as he realized the depth of his opponent's newfound power. He attempted to retaliate, but Azuma's speed was now beyond anything he had ever encountered. The pirate moved at super-sonic speed, too fast for Baron to see or react.

In an instant, Azuma struck him with his bare palm, channeling a fierce burst of seinshin energy through Baron's sand body. Agonizing pain surged through him as his form began to disintegrate. He cried out in torment as half his body fell apart, the sand scattering in all directions.

To The pair's surprise, Baron began to slowly float away from Azuma shivering in fear, half his body remaining with the other half nothing more than sand slowly falling from his body. As Baron Bones continued to disintegrate, he was consumed by fear and desperation. His voice trembled as he spoke, "P-please," Baron stammered, his voice a mere whisper. "Have mercy... I-I didn't realize... your power would become... this overwhelming... I beg you... spare me..." He huddled in the corner of the room, his form flickering and incomplete as fear and despair took hold. The once-menacing sand magika user had been reduced to a pitiful, broken figure, frozen in fear of Azuma's might.

The awakened magika user glared into his eyes, a look of pure hatred filling his glowing purple eyes as he slowly approached the frozen man. As Azuma's hand began to quiver with the intent to deliver the finishing blow, he heard a voice out in the hall speaking the words "Chrono-stasis!"

Suddenly, time came to a screeching halt within the castle, freezing everything and everyone in place. Azuma's crew, Baron Bones, Leo, and Azuma himself were all suspended in time, locked in place like mere statues.

Then, as quickly as it had stopped, time resumed it's natural flow. Azuma and his crew members hit the ground, slowly consciousness. Baron Bones and Leo shared the same fate. The abrupt change in events left them bewildered and vulnerable.

Standing over the weak pirate with a playful smirk on his face, was Saber. He looked at the fallen figures with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Well, well, what have we here?" he mused, "Seems like you were all having quite the party without inviting me. Don't worry, I'll make sure to clean up this mess" Saber chuckled to himself as he surveyed the scene, fully in control of the frozen time within the castle.

Azuma and his crew had been momentarily thwarted, their quest for answers and their nemesis temporarily slipping from their grasp. With Saber's unexpected intervention, the mystery of Frost Drift Island had grown even deeper, and their adventure had taken an unforeseen turn...

Aqua Bastion Prison ARC

Azuma slowly came to as the feeling of cold steel around his wrist came into focus. His eyes snapped open, only to find himself bound to a rough, stone wall within the tumultuous Storm Surge floor of Aqua Bastion Prison. The shackles on his wrists emitted an eerie turquoise glow, causing questions to form. 

Without warning, rain lashed at his face from an opening above, with chilling wind that cut through his soaked taffy clothing. Thunder rumbled ominously overhead, punctuated by blinding flashes of lightning. The Storm Surge floor lived up to its name, subjecting it’s inmates to the relentless fury of nature. 

With a grunt, Azuma tried to move his arms, but the shackles held him firmly in place. He flexed his muscles, testing their strength against the restraints, but they seemed unyielding. Azuma couldn't help but wonder how he had ended up in this dire situation. 

As he struggled against the bonds, memories of the confrontation with Baron Bones and Leo flashed before his eyes. He had been on the brink of victory, tapping into an awakened form of his magika abilities when everything had gone black. It seemed his triumph had been short-lived, and now he was at the mercy of Aqua Bastion Prison. 

Azuma knew he had to find a way to escape this watery prison.  His determination burned as fiercely as the storm around him. With gritted teeth, he began to devise a plan to break free from the shackles and weather the unforgiving tempest that surrounded him. 

He looked around the dark circular room, watching rain raging around him. The only thing he could see was a stone platform a few feet up with a barred doorway that seemed to lead out into the other parts of the prison floor. “T-there...I need...to get up there if I ever hope to escape from here” 

Taking a deep breath, Azuma attempted to heal using his magika ability...but nothing happened, he was still injured and exhausted. It was as if he couldn’t use his magika ability anymore. That’s when it clicked, he looked down at the shackles on his wrists, they still seem to be glowing. “W-what is this...does the sea corporation really have the technology to stop a magika user from using their powers!?” 

Azuma's realization sent a chill down his spine. The fact that the Sea Corporation possessed technology capable of sealing a magika user's powers was deeply unsettling. It meant that his abilities, which had been a source of strength and resilience, were now rendered useless within the confines of the prison. 

Frustration grew within him as he strained against the shackles, trying in vain to summon his magika energy. The turquoise glow from the restraints mocked him, a symbol of his helplessness. The storm raged on, the rain soaking him to the bone. “Huff...huff...they might’ve sealed away my ability to heal...but maybe I can still use seinshin” 

Closing his eyes, he attempted to focus what little seinshin he had left. The shackles glowed once more as the pirate concentrated on as much seinshin he could manifest. He could feel his restraints draining him of his power but refused to give up, even with the raging tsunami of rain striking his body. He refused to succumb to the shackles siphoning. Despite the relentless rain and the draining effect of the turquoise restraints, he focused all his willpower on tapping into his seinshin. 

Summoning every ounce of seinshin energy that remained within him, the veins on his body throbbed with intensity as he channeled his life energy, a surge of purple electricity crackled and whipped around him, creating a mesmerizing display. 

The shackles, unable to withstand the unleashed power, began to crack and splinter. Azuma's muscles bulged as the captain strained against his restraints, his determination driving him forward. With one final surge of energy, the shackles shattered into pieces, falling away from his wrists and freeing him from their grasp. 

Breathing heavily, Azuma stood tall in the midst of the storm, his body still soaked and battered, but his spirit unbroken. He had found a way to break free from the shackles, proving that even without his magika ability, his strength and seinshin prowess were formidable. With the restraints shattered, Azuma looked up at the platform above his cell, his dark-hair blowing in the harsh winds of the storm. 

Clinching his fist, he took a breath once more, this time his wounds quickly healed, allowing him to move his body more freely with less soreness. “Now then...it’s time to rescue my crew” The pirate ascended into the air with a seinshin-infused jump, escaping the raging water below as he landed on the stone platform before him. 

Gripping the steel bars before him, he forced them apart, allowing him to slip through. Stepping out into the prison corridor, he could see rows of prison cells aligning both sides of the gray stone hall. That’s when a sea corp soldier spotted him. The soldier wore a gray sea corp uniform with a small blue sun logo on his front torso and a large one on the back. 

“Halt prisoner! Take another step and I'll open fire!” The thin and wimpy guard aimed a shotgun in the pirate’s direction, his hands shaking in fear of the 1 million bounty pirate. Azuma just looked at him with an emotionless expression as rain ran down his still soaked body. 

The thin sea corp soldier let out a high-pitched scream, firing a single shot from his shotgun in a panic. A barrage of bullets tore through the corridor, only for Azuma, to effortlessly evade every bullet, the raindrops around him seemed to slow as he weaved past them. 

Closing the distance between him and the mere solider in an instant, Azuma delivered a swift blow to the back of the trembling soldier's head. The guard crumpled to the cold stone floor, unconscious, the shotgun slipping from his grasp. 

Azuma stood over the fallen guard, his stoic expression unchanged. He decided to take off the taffy clothing Kiozen had made for him and put on the tight but comfortable Aqua Bastion prison uniform, hoping to blend in with the others and avoid unnecessary confrontation. He put on the gray coat leaving his muscular chest visible and placed the gray cap on his head to further cover his identity from the other guards on the floor. 

Azuma continued down the dimly lit corridor, his senses alert as he searched for any signs of his imprisoned crewmates. He knew that rescuing them and escaping from Aqua Bastion Prison would be a challenging task but couldn’t let them rot or possibly die in such a dark and treacherous place. The young pirate began to check each cell, many prisoners also enduring similar fates with rain surging like a tsunami around the bound prisoner. 

That’s when he heard a faint dry voice nearby: “Hey you? I can tell you’re no guard” Azuma turnned to a nearby cell, where he found a slender hooded man sitting in a small cell, his presence eerie and unsettling. The pale blue-haired man spoke with a dry and sinister voice, "Well, well, what do we have here?" The prisoner’s violet eyes staring into Azuma, his expression twisted with an unsettling mixture of amusement and malevolence. "Another lost soul, trapped in this watery abyss. You must be new, or perhaps just unlucky" 

Azuma regarded the figure with a sense of caution. The man's aura exuded an air of danger, and his unsettling presence raised more questions than answers. "I'm looking for my crew" Azuma replied, his voice firm. "Have you seen anyone from my crew around here? Or new arrivals?" 

The man’s thin lips curled into a chilling smile. "Crew, you say? Well, it's not every day we get a newcomer with such ambitions. As for your crew, who's to say? This place has a way of swallowing people whole, leaving nothing but echoes in the dark" Azuma couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine at his words. It was clear that the stranger held valuable information, and Azuma was determined to learn more about Aqua Bastion Prison, even if it meant dealing with someone as unsettling as him. 

Azuma glared at him stepping closer. "Do you know or not? I don't have time to waste on someone who just plays mind games” The hooded man's grin widened, his unsettling chuckle echoing through the cell. "Impatient, aren't you?" he sneered. "But I can see it in your eyes, that burning desire to reunite with your crew. Tell you what, I might have some information that could help you find them, but you'll have to do something for me first" 

Azuma narrowed his eyes but listened intently. "What do you want?" The pale man leaned in closer, his voice a low, conspiratorial whisper. "Set me free from this wretched cell, and I'll assist you in your search. I know the ins and outs of this place, and I might just know where your crew is being held" 

Azuma hesitated for a moment, weighing the risks. It was a dangerous proposition, but he was running out of options. With a frustrated nod, he extended his hand toward the cell door. "Fine, but remember, cross me and you'll regret it" His new ally merely chuckled, his dry and sinister laughter filling the corridor as Azuma abruptly struck the prisoner’s bound shackles with a seinshin-infused strike. 

The prisoner laughed wickedly as the shackles shattered, his sinister glee echoing in the corridor. With newfound freedom, he grabbed the cell bars, causing them to crumble and disintegrate. His voice took on a chilling tone, "Freedom tastes so sweet, doesn't it? You can call me, Vergil" he sneered. "Now, let's get to work, Captain. I'll show you the way to your precious crew, but remember, this world isn't kind to those who hesitate" 

The pair dashed down the stone corridor, passing the endless rows of cells as other trapped pirates and criminals cried out to be freed from their cells, the sudden uproar of prisoners caused a squad of armed sea corp soldiers to come running into the cell block where Azuma and Virgil were. The sea corp soldiers blocked the hall, their weapons ready as one of them barked orders for Azuma and Virgil to get down on their knees. 

The tension in the air grew as the standoff unfolded. However, A sinister grin grew across Vergil’s face. He leaned toward Azuma, "Stand back, captain, and witness the power of my decay magika!" he hissed. Virgil slammed his palm onto the stone floor with a surge of power. The ground and walls around the sea corp soldiers crumbled away, leaving them standing on a precarious platform surrounded by a dark abyss leading to the floor below. 

The soldier's expressions a mix of terror and disbelief as they clung to the unstable ground as Virgil's Decay Magika proved its devastating might. Azuma couldn't help but be both amazed and unnerved by the destructive power at Virgil's command. 

As the sea corp soldiers found themselves standing on the crumbling platform, their expressions contorted with terror. The hooded criminal taunted them from the stable side of the hall. "Well, well, are you fools willing to let us go free now? I’d be happy to let the rest of the platform crumble away" 

The sea corp soldiers held on to the crumbling ground growing more desperate, exchanging fearful glances before nodding vigorously, confirming their willingness to comply with Virgil's demands. The once-authoritative figures were reduced to trembling, helpless mice under the ominous power of the decay magika. 

Azuma couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the display of Virgil's formidable abilities. The path ahead seemed uncertain with this dark ally by his side. “Shall we continue?” The cold prisoner asked before leaping across the dark abyss with an air of excitement, Azuma followed suit, his seinshin-infused jump carrying him effortlessly to the stable side of the corridor. 

Once they had both safely crossed, Azuma couldn't help but worry about the sea corp guards who were simply doing their jobs. He turned to Virgil and suggested, "We should at least ensure the guards don't fall to their deaths" 

Virgil, however, seemed uninterested in such concerns. With a groan he raised his hand causing a shockwave that sent the guards tumbling to safety on the stable side of the corridor. It was clear that Virgil had a penchant for chaos and destruction. 

"Let's move on" Azuma ordered, his voice tinged with caution. "We have to find the others" As the duo continued through what seemed like a maze of similar-looking corridors, they finally spotted a stairwell leading up towards the next floor at the end of the hall. But just as they prepared to run, a steel wall began to form before the stairs, blocking the pair’s way up. It was as if liquid metal slowly condensed together into a solid steel wall. 

“W-what the hell!” Azuma cried out. Before them a figure appeared, floating in the air above the blocked stairwell. The newcomer donned a lengthy gray coat, reminiscent of the standard prison guard uniform but distinctly more regal and adorned with an imposing cape that trailed behind him. His cap concealed his short, unkempt hair, and his pale skin created a striking contrast against the dimly lit corridor. But it was his golden eyes that held an eerie allure, as if they emanated power. The assailant seemed to defy gravity with his ability to float using seinshin. He regarded them with a calm and authoritative demeanor crossing his arms. his voice deep and imposing, as he addressed the intruders. 

"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Valgrim...the guard of the 8th floor of Aqua bastion prison, and You both are not going anywhere" he declared, his presence exuding an air of power and control that made it clear they were facing a formidable adversary. Valgrim remained eerily composed as Virgil advanced towards him, a sinister chuckle escaping from the shrouded man. 

Virgil's fingers stretched out towards Valgrim, attempting to grab him, but the prison guard reacted swiftly. With a casual yet precise motion, Valgrim manifested a massive steel great sword within his grasp, the weapon materializing with seamless precision. 

Virgil made contact with the blade, the steel of the great sword beginning to corrode and rust away, disintegrating like a fragile illusion. Valgrim looked down at Virgil with a disinterested expression, his golden eyes unflinching in the face of this display of power. 

Azuma watched the exchange, unsure of how this confrontation between his newfound ally and the 8th-floor guard would unfold. Valgrim glared at Virgil with a calm and detached demeanor. He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a glob of liquid metal manifested around Virgil, encasing him within a thick steel ball. 

"You may be capable of decaying my creations, but I doubt you can keep this up" Valgrim remarked, his tone stable and analytical. But his words were cut short as Virgil's decay surged to life once more. The steel ball shattered into pieces, sending rusted metal in all directions with the prisoner emerging unscathed. 

Azuma couldn't stand idly by any longer, he focused seinshin energy into his fist, preparing to launch a powerful attack at Valgrim.  Throwing a fierce punch, he sent a shockwave of force towards the 8th-floor guard. Valgrim quickly manifested a protective sphere of steel around him, absorbing the impact of the shockwave. The sphere rattled and groaned under the force of Azuma's attack but held firm, protecting Valgrim from harm. 

The standoff continued, each side assessing the other's strength. “Are you just going to keep hiding behind your metal creations instead of fighting back!? Azuma snapped back growing angered towards the defensive opponent. The guard of the 8th floor remained calm and confident, his golden eyes never wavering from his opponents. Valgrim showed no signs of faltering, he converted the steel barrier around him back into liquid metal, and in a swift and calculated move, he transformed the liquid metal into numerous sharp knives that surrounded him. All sharp blades aimed towards Azuma and Virgil. 

Valgrim's transformation of the liquid metal into a lethal array of knives was executed with cold precision. The blades glinted dangerously in the dimly lit corridor, forming a deadly circle around the 8th-floor guard. 

The air built with tension as Valgrim warned them, "You both are far out of your league, I suggest you admit defeat before you’re nothing more than lifeless corpses at my feet" he declared, his golden eyes locked on them. That’s when Vergil began to utter sadistic laughs as he lowered his head with a dark grin. Virgil's sinister laughter echoed through the corridor. His sadistic amusement filled the air as he prepared to unleash one of his most deadly techniques. “Decay Resonance...” The very atmosphere seemed to shudder and distort as Virgil released a dark-purple aura, enveloping the area and causing Valgrim's composed facade to waver. 

Valgrim's golden eyes widened in surprise as the resonance disrupted his concentration, causing him to lose control over the knives he had created. The blades began to corrode and break apart, disintegrating into rusted fragments. Valgrim was momentarily caught off guard, his once-confident demeanor now replaced with uncertainty. 

Virgil couldn't contain his sadistic joy as he taunted Valgrim with a chilling. "Looks like your little metal tricks won't save you this time, Guard. Ready to watch as your body crumbles into dust?" he sneered, reveling in the psychological torment he was causing his adversary. Without warning, Valgrim pulled out a golden cube, transforming it into a massive great sword made entirely of gold. The blade gleamed ominously, unaffected by the decay aura that had corroded the previous steel weapons. 

Valgrim's confidence was partially restored as he wielded this new, formidable weapon. With renewed determination, his golden eyes focused on them once more. “It’s time I ended this worthless battle, you both have wasted too much of my time. Prepare yourselves for my finishing attack!” 

Valgrim infused his golden sword with seinshin, the blade surging with golden energy as he prepared for his finishing attack. With a cold resolve, he brought his large blade down upon them. However, just as he was about to unleash his devastating strike, Azuma lunged forward, the pirate captain clapping both hands around the golden sword as his purple seinshin flared with fierce radiance. The sheer force of their clash sending shockwaves through the corridor, rattling the very foundations of the floor they stood on. The two combatants were locked in a battle of strength and willpower, neither willing to yield. 

Their target now open, the blue-haired criminal lunged past Azuma, gripping Valgrim’s face with one hand. “What!?” Azuma watched as the sadistic man used his decay magika ability to decay the guard’s entire body in a horrific display. 

With a swift and almost graceful movement, his hand closing around Valgrim's face like a vice. Azuma could only watch in shock as Virgil's sinister decay magika took hold. Valgrim's form began to disintegrate at a horrifying speed. It was a gruesome and nightmarish sight as the once-powerful guard crumbled into a mass of dust and bones fragments. The decay spread rapidly, consuming Valgrim's entire body in a matter of moments. His once-confident golden eyes lost their luster, replaced by an expression of sheer agony as he was reduced to nothingness. 

Azuma couldn't tear his eyes away from the gruesome spectacle. The pirate just stared at the remains as the obstacle blocking their path slowly reverted to a puddle of liquid metal. The corridor fell silent with Azuma trying not to visualize the gruesome scene that had occurred. “W-we should keep going” He stuttered, still shaken by the event. 

The pair made their way up the stone stairwell to the 7th floor of Aqua bastion...   

Making their way up to the next level, they found themselves standing before a corridor filled with water flowing through the hall like a river, with some of the water draining into the cells below. “So that’s where the water was coming from” Azuma commented as he remembered getting hit with a constant flow of water in his cell. “Either there’s a leak somewhere, or this prison really likes to punish people using sea water” 

Walking through the three-foot of surging water, they could see fellow prisoners trapped within steel pods filled to the brink with water, forcing the poor prisoners to swim constantly to avoid drowning. Azuma waded through the corridor, the water flowing around his legs as he observed the grim conditions of the cells. The sight of prisoners trapped within steel pods, struggling to keep themselves afloat in the constantly rising water, was undeniably dark and harrowing. He couldn't help but feel a sense of despair for those unfortunate souls. 

"This is... it's beyond cruel" Azuma muttered, his voice heavy with empathy for the suffering inmates. Vergil, with a tone that carried a hint of madness chimed in with unsettling words. "As much as I love the sweet melody of despair, this is just a taste of the symphony that Aqua Bastion has to offer. There are fifteen floors in this grand orchestra of suffering, each more torturous than the last. These prisoners are the lucky ones compared to the lower floors" 

As they pressed on through the waterlogged corridor, the weight of their mission and the cruelty of the prison pressed heavily on their shoulders. That’s when Azuma spotted Kenzu in one of the steel pods, he had lost consciousness and was floating beneath the flowing water. 

“Kenzu!” The concerned captain struck the steel pod with a fierce seinshin strike to the thick glass, causing it to shatter with the swordsmen hitting the wet floor. They noticed the glowing shackles bound to his wrists as he laid there out cold. “I’ll deal with this Azuma” Vergil responded in his usual dry tone. Placing his hand on the steel shackles, it slowly began to decay before eventually crumbling into fragments of rusted steel. “There, he should come around soon now with the shackles no longer siphoning his life force” 

While Vergil watched over Kenzu, Azuma began to feel cold...that’s when he realized that all the water in the 7th floor corridor was freezing at an accelerated rate as the once flowing water froze instantly around them. Before they could react, a tall and commanding figure stepped forward from the end of the frozen corridor. She had long blue hair, captivating blue eyes, and an aura of confidence and power that was unmistakable. Her prison guard uniform clung to her, soaked and revealing her striking presence. 

The woman's voice resonated with authority as she spoke, her tone confident and unwavering, "Impressive, isn't it? The power of the 7th floor, the Floor of the High Priestess. I am Siara Okara, the guard of this floor. You better not disappoint me, otherwise you’ll die a sad death" Her words carried a certain air of allure and dominance as she assessed the intruders before her. 

Azuma and Vergil were now faced with another formidable adversary, one who could manipulate water in ways they hadn't yet encountered. She smirked taking a step forward, the moment her foot made contact with the floor, a barrage of piercing icicles sprouted up from the ice, each one growing closer to them. Azuma felt the icy tendrils of Siara's power wrap around his legs, immobilizing him. However, with a burst of seinshin-infused strength, he shattered the ice around his feet, breaking free from its grasp. 

Siara's malicious laughter echoed through the frozen corridor as she observed Azuma's defiance. Her blue eyes gleamed with sadistic delight, and her lips curled into a wicked smile. 

"Such spirit," she purred with a dangerous allure. "But you'll find that breaking free from my control won't be so easy" As she spoke, the barrage of icicles continued to sprout and advance, creating a deadly maze of sharp points closing in on Azuma and Vergil. The captain's determination flared as he harnessed seinshin energy once more. With a flick of his finger, he unleashed a burst of pure force, shattering the approaching ice into countless shards. The deadly maze of sharp icicles crumbled around them, giving the pair a momentary respite from Siara's relentless assault. 

However, the female guard smirked with a seductive look of interest as she raised her hand, commanding the water around her. Siara's smirk took on an even more sinister edge. With a flick of her hand, she sent the surrounding water into a frenzied spiral, creating a devastating water cyclone. The cyclone unleashed a barrage of sharp ice needles in random directions, turning the corridor into a deadly labyrinth of frozen projectiles. 

Azuma without thinking, moved in between the incoming projectiles and his allies. Throwing both arms out, he felt several ice needles pierce his body as blood dripped onto the ice floor. Azuma's selfless act of shielding his allies from the deadly ice needles left him wounded, but he remained unshaken. 

Vergil, however, was less impressed by Azuma's sacrifice. “Sigh, your crewmate isn’t awake to see your selfless act Azuma, just who are you trying to impress?” He muttered under his breath, calling Azuma a fool for risking his life in such a manner. Nevertheless, Vergil unleashed his decay resonance, that disrupted the delicate balance of Siara's control over the water. As the dark purple aura spread, the ice needles and water cyclone began to melt and disintegrate, leaving behind only remnants of their once formidable power. 

Siara, however, was far from defeated. She watched the decay spread with a mix of frustration and fascination. This battle was far from over, and she was determined to prove her strength against these intruders in her domain. 

“Sigh, you both truly are an annoyance, I'd hope to have a bit more fun with you both, but seems I'll have to end this before things get harder for me” Clapping her hands together, the hallway abruptly got far warmer as the once frozen ice was now steam filling the stone hallway. 

Azuma could feel himself struggling to breathe from the immense heat and steam filling the room. Vergil fell to one knee, his vision blurring from dehydration. As Siara manipulated the environment, raising the temperature to sweltering levels and turning the frozen ice into scorching steam, the situation grew dire. Azuma and Vergil found themselves in the midst of a suffocating heatwave, their bodies drenched in sweat, struggling to cope with the sudden change. 

"Damn it, this is getting on my nerves!" he grumbled, his vision blurred from dehydration. Azuma, despite the oppressive heat and lack of oxygen, tried to focus his seinshin. Sweat rolled down his face as he fought to maintain his concentration, determination burning within him even in the face of such adversity. “F-focus strike...level two!” With every ounce of power he had, he sent a full-force punch in the guard’s direction, the force of his attack so powerful, it sent Siara smashing through several walls of the prison causing her to black out. 

As the corridor slowly went back to it’s normal temperature, Azuma hit the ground passing out from exhaustion... 

Meanwhile at The Sea corp Headquarters... 

Saber made his way down the long white halls of the base, into the sea corp commander’s office. “Hey commander, I managed to capture Azuma and his crew, they’re all being held down in Aqua Bastion prison. ‘I've come to claim their bounty, if I'm correct, it’s 2.2 million gold for their overall bounty" 

The Sea Corp Commander, his chair turned away from Saber, responded in a stern and cold voice, "I'm not willing to pay you 2 million for such a simple task Saber, I'll offer you 1 million gold for their bounties. Take it or leave it" 

Saber couldn't help but burst into sarcastic laughter. "1 million gold, Commander? You must be joking. Do you really want to risk me leaving the Seven Laws of the Sea over such a paltry sum? You know I'm not one to be trifled with. Pay me what we agreed upon, or you'll regret it" 

The Sea Corp Commander swiveled his chair around to face Saber, a cold glare on his face as he responded in a harsh tone, "Oh? And where will you go without the Sea Corp's protection and income, Saber? You'd be nothing but a common criminal without us. You'll take the 1 million, and you'll like it" 

In a moment of anger and frustration, Saber used his magika ability to freeze time, bringing his blade close to the Sea Corp Commander's throat. As Saber's blade glided dangerously close to the commander's throat, the commander remained frozen in time, oblivious to the impending threat. 

With a sigh, he sheathed his blade, allowing time to resume it’s flow. He turned and walked towards the door, Saber's voice laced with a threatening tone as he responded, "I'm done with the Sea Corp, and I'm resigning from the Seven Laws of the Sea. You can keep your 1 million gold" 

As Saber approached the door, the Sea Corp Commander snapped back, his voice rising to a furious yell as he shouted, "Don't be a fool, Saber! If you walk out that door, I'll send the other Laws of the Sea after you! You'll regret this!" 

Saber remained resolute, his back to the commander as he stepped out of the office. The door closing behind him, leaving the commander seething with anger and frustration alone in his office. Saber had made his choice, and he was no longer bound by the Sea Corp or the Seven Laws of the Sea.

As he made his way towards the large great doors of the headquarters to leave, the commander’s voice could be heard from over the intercom: “Attention all Sea corp soldiers, the former 7th law of the sea known as Saber is now to be treated as hostile! Capture him by any means, his bounty will now be placed at 1.5 million!” 

Saber grinned with excitement as he faced the incoming wave of Sea Corp soldiers. "In the world of pirates and outlaws, the line between ally and enemy is always blurred. I've walked that line for years. But now, I'm done with the Sea Corp and their rules. From this moment on, I'll be a thorn in their side, a rogue of the Seven Laws of the Sea. Let them come, for I've always been one to embrace chaos" Saber's voice echoed with defiance and determination as he readied himself for the approaching battle. His smirk was unwavering as bullets began to rain down upon him along with dozens of guards charging forward, determined to capture the former 7th Law of the Sea. 

As the bullets and guards closed in on Saber, he made a quick hand motion as time froze within the lobby. The guards and bullets were suspended in place, unaware of their situation. With a swift and precise motion, Saber unsheathed his blade and unleashed a powerful slash within the frozen time, creating a shockwave that pierced through the entire horde of mere soldiers. Blood could be seen gushing from their wounds, frozen in mid-air. 

Saber stood amidst the frozen chaos of bullets and guards, his blade gleaming with power. Slowly he sheathed his weapon and calmly walked out of the frozen massacre. As he moved away, he released his control over time, allowing it to flow once more. The lobby erupted in pandemonium as the suspended bullets soared in different directions while the guards hit the ground, their wounds bleeding profusely. Saber's message was clear: he was no longer bound by the Sea Corp's rules, and he was ready to embrace the chaos of the pirate world... 

Back within Aqua Bastion Prison... 

A tall imposing figure sat in the control room of Aqua Bastion Prison, his eyes scanning the numerous security cameras that monitored the facility. As he observed the events on the 7th and 8th floors and witnessed both guards’ defeat, his frustration boiled over. He slammed his fist on the control panel, causing sparks to fly. With a stern and serious expression, he turned his attention to a red button on the panel. In a deep voice he muttered, " As much as I'd like to see just how far those three can get, I'd rather end this before all my guards are defeated" With a dark glare, he pressed the red button with the words: “Enforcer protocol” Written beneath it. 

Back on the 7th floor, Azuma awoke to a smack to his face. His vision coming into focus, he saw Vergil and Kenzu standing over him. “Look, I know you need your beauty sleep, but we really should get going before we have more shit to deal with” The prisoner urged. Azuma slowly got to their feet before racing towards the 6th floor stairwell. 

As Azuma, Vergil, and Kenzu made their way up to the next floor, the sudden blaring of an alarm and flashing red lights filled the corridor. The atmosphere grew tense as an automated, robotic voice echoed through the halls, announcing their bounties with a cold and mechanical tone. 

"Targets identified. Bounties confirmed: 

Azuma – 1.2 million gold. 

Vergil – 1 million gold. 

Kenzu – 350,000 gold. Proceed to capture and detain" 

The trio exchanged surprised glances as they realized they were now being pursued by a formidable adversary, the Aqua Enforcer Mk.1. “Since when do the sea corp have robots!?” Azuma shouted in surprise. All they could see was the silhouette of the robotic assailant as it slowly approached them from the opposite end of the hall. 

In that moment, a blinding ray of golden light emanated from the robot's mouth. Before they could react, a powerful golden beam fired toward them at incredible speed. The trio attempted to evade the attack, narrowly avoiding the deadly beam as it struck the corridor’s stone wall, leaving a scorching mark in it’s wake. 

“You’ve gotta be kidding me, that thing can fire beams of energy at super-sonic speed? Tssk, give me a break. I’ve already had to deal with breaking out and taking out two guards, now this shit? Good grief” Azuma sighed in frustration. “Fine...seems I'll have to go all out against this thing, if we just play around, we increase are chances of getting blown up by that thing’s lasers!” 

Azuma's frustration boiled as he faced the formidable Aqua Enforcer Mk.1. He clenched both fists tightly, allowing the power of his healing magika and seinshin to surge through his body constantly. 

As the energy coursed through him, Azuma's aura began to intensify, he could feel his body responding to the heightened power. His wounds started to close, and a visible surge of purple energy surrounded him. In this state, he was prepared to face the Aqua Enforcer Mk.1 head-on, ready to unleash the full extent of his abilities to protect his comrades. 

Azuma's newfound power surged within him, transforming him into a formidable force. His aura pulsed with intensity as the purple energy enveloped him, making him an imposing figure in the corridor. Once more the Aqua Enforcer fired another supersonic beam, only for Azuma's enhanced reaction time allowing him to lean just an inch to the side, narrowly evading the deadly projectile. The beam sailed past him, leaving a trail of destruction just behind him. Azuma could feel his body growing weaker by the second and knew this wasn’t the time to be stalling. 

The Aqua Enforcer's robotic voice crackled to life, analyzing the situation with cold precision. It scanned Azuma's heightened form, evaluating his threat level and probability of success. After a few moments of assessment, the mechanical voice declared Azuma's threat level to be far greater than anticipated. "Increased threat detected. Target's threat level: 2 million gold. Probability of success...20%" 

Azuma's bounty had skyrocketed, reflecting the newfound power he wielded in his Stage 2 form. The situation had escalated, and the Aqua Enforcer recognized the danger posed by this transformed prisoner. Kenzu and Vergil were in shock as the robot declared Azuma's staggering 2 million gold bounty. The transformation had not only enhanced his combat abilities but had also catapulted his threat level to unprecedented heights. 

Before they could react further to this revelation, the Aqua Enforcer wasted no time. It unleashed a relentless barrage of super-sonic beams in Azuma's direction, intending to eliminate the perceived threat immediately. Azuma, moved full speed towards the enforcer, dodging nearly every laser that came his way, his incredible speed and agility allowed him to evade the majority of the Aqua Enforcer's deadly beams, but two of them found their mark, piercing through his abdomen. The intense pain surged through his body, but the Regen Flow within his Stage 2 form accelerated his healing, sealing the wounds almost instantly. The toll on his stamina and the duration of his enhanced state were becoming apparent. 

With the Aqua Enforcer preparing to launch another assault, Azuma knew he had to act swiftly. Gathering his strength and focusing his seinshin to it’s peak, he unleashed focus strike Level 3, a devastating technique he could only employ in his Stage 2 form. The energy radiating from his attack was far more intense, and with a powerful swing, he aimed to intercept the oncoming threat with an overwhelming force. 

Azuma's Focus Strike Level 3 was a display of overwhelming power. The shockwave generated by his attack rippled through the prison with such ferocity that it shook the entire facility. The Aqua Enforcer was sent hurtling through several layers of stone walls. 

The impact was cataclysmic, causing structural damage to the prison. Sea water began to flood in from the sixth floor and rapidly flowed through the corridors, engulfing the lower levels. The once-controlled environment of Aqua Bastion Prison was now in chaos as the floodwaters surged, turning into an underwater labyrinth. 

Kenzu and Vergil, witnessing the immense power of Azuma's attack and the ensuing flood, could only brace themselves for the impending turmoil that had been unleashed. “We need to get out of here Azuma, there’s no time!” Vergil snapped in his try tone. 

“No, I can’t leave without-” As the prison floors began to flood, Kenzu and Vergil had no choice but to carry the unconscious Azuma and make their way up through the rising water levels. As they reached the 5th floor, they were startled to encounter Kiozen, who had managed to free himself from his cell. 

Kiozen's eyes widened as he saw the trio. "What's going on!? What happened to our captain!?" he cried out, a mix of confusion and concern in his voice. Vergil explained to Kiozen in a concise manner, "Azuma pushed himself too far against some kind of robot, he managed to send it into the ocean, but caused sea water to start flooding the prison. We need to hurry and escape before we’re all underwater” 

Kiozen nodded, “You both get the captain out of here while I look for the others!” Kenzu, speaking with urgency advised Kiozen, "Don't be a fool, Kiozen. We need to stick together to get out of here alive. There's no time to search for the others now. We'll find them once we're out of this mess" 

Kiozen shook his head, no...I won’t take the risk of any of the crew drowning!” Kiozen's determination to save his fellow crew members was evident in his actions. As Vergil and Kenzu assisted Azuma in making their way to the surface, Kiozen continued his search for any of their crew members who might still be trapped in the rapidly flooding prison. 

Time was of the essence, the situation grew more perilous with each passing moment. They pressed on, driven by the hope of escaping the aquatic disaster that threatened to consume them all. 

Meanwhile In the control room... 

The dark figure still sat watching the chaos unfold. The warden, consumed by anger and frustration, stared at the buttons labeled "Open cell block 1-5" in the control room. Realizing that he had no other choice, he reluctantly pressed them. 

Over the prison's intercom system, his voice echoed with a deep serious tone as he announced his desperate decree, "All prisoners on the 1st to 5th floors, you are hereby granted temporary freedom. Anyone who eliminates Azuma and his crew shall be rewarded with their combined bounty of 2.2 million gold. Do not let them escape!" 

With that chilling declaration, chaos was unleashed within the prison as prisoners from the lower floors were granted a chance at freedom, and a deadly pursuit of Azuma and his crew began. As Vergil and Kenzu carried the unconscious Azuma up to the 4th floor, they suddenly found themselves confronted by a horde of prisoners charging towards them, hungering for their bounties. 

The situation appeared dire until, from behind the pursuing mob, an inferio fluttered past the, engulfing the crowd in a fierce explosion. The smoke and debris cleared, revealing Seraph, who had unleashed a devastating attack to protect his comrades. He joined the group, ready to assist in their escape from the flooded prison. 

Seraph, with a graceful smile, greeted the group in a feminine voice that had a touch of elegance, "Hello, my dear crew members, it seems you could use a helping hand" He chimed, his tone carrying a sense of poise even in the chaotic situation. Seraph's face contorted with disgust as he observed the brutish behavior of the incoming prisoners. Seraph criticized their attackers with a touch of disdain. "My, what a pitiful display, these brutes lack the grace and beauty that one should possess. It's truly unfortunate" His words carried an air of sophistication even as he prepared to fend off the relentless attackers. 

He crossed his hands before him, manifesting a horde of inferios around him, the fiery entities roared to life, ready to defend their group against the oncoming onslaught of adversaries. Seraph's demeanor remained poised even in the face of chaos, his graceful disposition contrasting sharply with the brutishness of their attackers. 

The prisoners, driven by the promise of a substantial bounty, continued to shout and charge towards the group, determined to capture Azuma and his crew. However, Seraph, with a swift snap of his fingers, unleashed the power of his inferios. In a devastating display of fiery explosions, the attackers were obliterated, their cries silenced in an instant. Seraph's elegance and power remained unmatched. 

Intrigued by the man's unusual magika ability, Seraph couldn't help but express his curiosity. He inquired, "Oh? how did a brute like you come to possess such a unique magika ability?" His voice carried a mix of fascination and surprise as he observed the man's transformation into platinum. “As much as I'd love to know more about you and your ability, I'm afraid I haven’t the time to waste on a brute like you” 

Seraph, intrigued but not willing to linger any longer, decided to act. With a snap of his fingers, he manifested a singular, larger inferio than his normal entities. This fiery entity soared toward the platinum man. The brute crossed his arms, attempting to take the impending explosion head-on, relying on his platinum body to shield him. 

As the inferio detonated, it caused only minor scratches on the man's platinum form. With a hint of arrogance in his tone, he addressed the situation with an uninterested demeanor. "Hmph, is that all you've got? Your fiery tricks won't work on my platinum body " The man's words emanated with self-assuredness, seemingly unfazed by the attack. 

That’s when he felt a soft hand on his shoulder as a seductive female voice whispered: “Forget about them…you have the chance to escape from here” Rosera attempted to hypnotize the prisoner, his eyes briefly turned pink. However, he quickly snapped out of her influence, realizing her intentions. In a fit of anger, he attempted to strike her, but to his surprise, Rosera burst into a horde of bats, evading his attack, before reforming beside Seraph. 

With a sigh, she expressed her relief to Seraph, "It's good to see you again, Seraph" Her voice carried a sense of warmth as they faced their adversary together. Rodera threw her palm out, sending a horde of bats flying straight for him. The platinum man charged straight through the swarm of bats, his body slamming into both Rosera and Seraph, knocking them out of the way. His strength and defense were formidable, he seemed determined to overpower them despite their unique abilities. 

The platinum man, having easily brushed off their attacks, looked down at Rosera and Seraph with a condescending tone, "Is that the best you can do? Surely your bounties wouldn’t be this high if you couldn’t fight back" he taunted, his platinum form gleaming with arrogance. Despite their adversary's mocking words, the group refused to submit. That’s when Vergil let go of the unconscious captain, placing one hand in his pocket as he stepped between Rosera, Seraph and the platinum brute. “Sigh, I think it’s time I tag back in this endless fight. You both might wanna step back...it’s about to get very...intense” 

Vergil declared, ready to take on the formidable foe one on one. The platinum man, not one to back down, continued to taunt Vergil. "Intense, huh? Well, let's see if you can back that up" he jeered, preparing for a battle that promised to be nothing short of fierce. 

“Don’t be a fool! Surely you can’t beat him all on your own!” Roser shouted back. But Vergil just grinned as a dark-purple aura flowed around his body. He began to slowly approach the assailant as the stone floor beneath his feet began to crack apart from his decaying aura. 

Both prisoners started deep into one another’s eyes, Vergil with a sadistic grin while the platinum man just looked down at him with an emotionless expression. “You’re rather confident in your ability, aren’t you? Very well then...show me what you can do!” Clinching his shiny fist, the prisoner threw a fierce punch right for Vergil, sending a blood-curdling blow to his abdomen, sending him soaring across the prison floor, impacting the steel wall before hitting the ground. 

Blood trickled from Vergil's lips, but he managed to muster a faint laugh. Confused by Vergil's reaction, the platinum man demanded an explanation. That's when Vergil directed his attention to the fist he had struck him with, revealing the shocking sight of his platinum form decaying and disintegrating from his entire right arm. 

The man was taken aback, his platinum body deteriorating rapidly. It seemed Vergil's decay ability had finally taken its toll, leaving the adversary in a state of shock. “Tsssk! You may have decayed my arm, but I can still finish you all off with one arm! Nothing will stop me from-” 

Just then, goofy male laughter began to echo throughout the halls, that’s when everyone in the hall began floating as if all gravity had vanished within the prison. "Ahahaha! Well, well, well! What do we have here? Seems like someone's in a real sticky situation, Gravity's a funny thing, you know? One minute you're up, the next minute you're down! But I'm the master of gravity, folks! Just call me Gravity Gin, the jester of the skies! Now, what's all this commotion, huh? A little party without inviting yours truly? Ahahaha!" Gravity Gin's words were punctuated with exaggerated laughter and theatrical gestures. 

All looked up to see a man floating upside down above them. Gravity Gin, the eccentric master of gravity, sported an aqua bastion prison uniform that appeared to be tight on him. His short round figure made the outfit look even more comically small. His unruly orange hair stuck out in all directions, and his wide, childlike green eyes perpetually sparkled with amusement. A perpetual grin stretched across his face as he floated upside down above the bewildered group, a stark contrast to the serious atmosphere that had dominated the scene moments ago. 

Despite his seemingly clumsy appearance, his eyes held a mischievous glint, hinting at the unpredictable nature of his magika abilities. With a playful wave of his hand, Gin seemed to defy gravity itself, causing the floating individuals to bob up and down like balloons caught in an invisible breeze. His laughter echoed through the prison halls, filling the air with an infectious, carefree energy that was hard to resist. 

Rosera and the others struggled to hold onto Azuma as they drifted through the air while the platinum brute began losing his patience. The platinum brute, growing increasingly frustrated by the antics of Gravity Gin, clenched his platinum fist, sending a shockwave of force rippling through the air with a powerful punch. The wave of energy struck Gin, causing him to bounce around the walls and ceiling like a rubber ball. With each impact, Gin let out exaggerated cries of surprise and comical yelps. 

His laughter, even in the face of danger, filled the air as he ricocheted off the walls, his movements resembling those of a cartoon character caught in a zany chase. Despite the gravity-defying chaos, there was an undeniable charm to Gin's antics that left those watching torn between amusement and exasperation. 

The goofy figure hit the ground, his head spinning in dizzy confusion. Finally, Gin regained his composure and looked up at the floating adversary. The once-goofy smile on his face transformed into a solemn frown. With a serious tone that contrasted sharply with his previous antics, he warned the platinum man, "Yohohoho! You see, my friend, when I stop laughin', things get reaaal heavy" 

As Gin spoke, the gravity around the platinum man began to intensify dramatically. The immense pressure bore down on the brute, causing him to impact the floor before the intense weight caused him to crash through the prison floor as if it were made of paper. Gravity Gin's voice retained its playful tone, but the threat was unmistakable. The platinum man's fate was sealed as he plummeted into the depths below, out of sight and out of the battle. 

The round man chuckled heartily as he witnessed the platinum man plummeting through the prison floor. "Yohohoho! Well, folks, looks like we're back in business! C'mon, follow me to freedom, my new friends! Yohohoho!" 

With Gravity Gin leading the way, the group followed the comical pirate, who seemed to defy both gravity and convention. His laughter filled the air as they ventured through the prison, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in their quest for freedom. 

The crew ran up each floor carrying Azuma and Vergil as they followed the floating man who filled the halls with his laughter. They ran into Roxie near the top as they reached the 2nd floor. As the crew ascended the prison floors, carrying Azuma with them, they encountered Roxie near the top of the prison. Gravity Gin couldn't contain his excitement, and his voice resonated with exhilaration as they approached their destination, just one floor away from freedom. 

"Yohohoho! We're almost there, my friends! Just one more floor to go, and we'll be out of this place!" Gravity Gin's laughter echoed through the hallways, adding a sense of anticipation to their daring escape. The crew pressed onward, determined to break free from Aqua Bastion Prison and continue their journey together. 

As most of the Azuma pirates reached the 1st floor, they could see the large steel gates wide open before them. “W-we’re almost there Kenzu huffed out of breath with him and Rosera carrying Azuma while Seraph and Roxie carried Vergil. That’s when Roxie exclaimed: “Wait! Where’s Roxie and Kiozen!? We can’t leave without them!” 

Before anyone could answer, cries of despair and agony could be heard outside the prison walls. They all raced outside, only to see the dozens of prisoners who decided to escape rather than go after them, were being struck with a beam of red energy, paralyzing them as each prisoner hit the ground stunned, red electricity surging around their body. 

As the majority of the Azuma pirates reached the 1st floor, they found the massive steel gates wide open, a sign of their imminent freedom. Despite their exhaustion, they were determined to reach the outside world and escape from Aqua Bastion Prison. Kenzu and Rosera carried Azuma, while Seraph and Roxie held Vergil. 

However, Roxie's concern for Kiozen and herself could not be ignored. She exclaimed, "Wait! Where's Kiozen!? We can't leave without them!" The urgency in her voice resonated with the group as they realized that two of their comrades were missing. 

Before they could formulate a plan, cries of despair and agony echoed from outside the prison walls. Everyone rushed to the scene, their hearts heavy with concern. There, they witnessed a disturbing sight: dozens of prisoners who had chosen to escape instead of pursuing them were struck by a beam of red energy. Each prisoner hit the ground, paralyzed and writhing in pain, while red electricity surged around their bodies. 

High above the grassy field outside the prison, a figure dressed in black floated in the air with boots that kept him repelled in the air. They wore a dark-caped suit with a red star emblem on their back and left sleeve. Their glove's index finger emitted the paralyzing red beam which sent many of the low bounty prisoners in a panic. The figure had long red hair that floated in the wind as he precisely struck down each target with calculated accuracy. 

That’s when his scanner alerted him in an A.I voice: Warning! High bounties detected within 50 meters!” The figure, known as Benimaru, turned his attention to a new threat that had registered on his scanner: Azuma and his crew, whose high bounties marked them as a significant threat. 

With a heroic and determined tone, Benimaru addressed his targets, "You there! You all seem to be quite the prize with those bounties. Prepare yourselves, for you are now in the presence of the Red Star of the Dark Stars Syndicate! Surrender peacefully or prepare to face the consequences!" His words carried an air of confidence and purpose as he floated above the grassy field, ready for a fight. 

As Benimaru issued his challenge, Gravity Gin floated over to him with his characteristic goofy demeanor. Gin spoke with a whimsical tone, "Well, well, well! Look at you, all serious and heroic! You must be the life of the party, eh?" He chuckled as he maintained his playful demeanor, despite the tense situation. 

Benimaru regarded Gin with a raised eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with the levity of the situation. However, he remained focused on the task at hand, ready for a confrontation with Azuma and his crew. Without hesitation, the Red Star of the Dark Stars Syndicate, Benimaru, struck Gravity Gin with his electrified fist. A fierce surge of red electricity coursed through Gin's body, causing him to convulse with goofy cries of surprise and discomfort. He was sent flying across the field, “YOHOHOHOHO!” Benimaru's attack had effectively taken Gin out of the battle, leaving him incapacitated in the grassy field. 

“Gin! Rosera cried out, worried about the poor pirate. “You bastard! How dare you hurt our new friend!” Taking a deep breath, Rosera exhaled a cloud of pink gas, attempting to hypnotize the high-tech assailant. As Rosera exhaled her hypnotic pheromones, a technological barrier appeared around Benimaru, shielding him from the effects of her powers. 

Rosera let out a frustrated groan as her attempt to hypnotize the high-tech assailant was thwarted. “Ugh, why doesn’t my ability work on anyone here!?” She shouted. Benimaru remained undeterred, his red-star emblem gleaming as he faced the crew of the Azuma pirates. 

As the tension rose, Roxie, unable to stand by any longer, stepped into the fray. With determination in his eyes, he declared, "I should've been by my captain's side all along, but now I can finally protect him and the crew!" His words were filled with resolve as he prepared to face Benimaru. 

Roxie's determination burned bright as he stepped forward, feeling the weight of his newfound resolve. He didn't hesitate. His hands moved with purpose, forming a barrier around the others for their protection. “Barrier formation: Titan!” He pushed his abilities to their limits. Forming another barrier around himself as it began to take on a new shape, growing larger and more imposing. It transformed into a massive humanoid titan made entirely of his silver transparent barrier material, with Roxie at its core. 

Inside the titan, Roxie was a force to be reckoned with, his barrier armor granting him incredible strength and protection. With newfound power, he stood ready to face Benimaru and protect his captain and crewmates. Roxie's colossal barrier titan threw fierce punches with overwhelming force, but Benimaru displayed incredible agility and speed, effortlessly evading each blow with quick precision. His movements were like a dance, weaving through the air as he avoided the titan's attacks. 

Benimaru's red-star emblem gleamed as he continued to outmaneuver Roxie's strikes. His confidence remained unwavering as he sought an opportunity to counter and bring down the colossal barrier titan. Benimaru's keen eyes spotted an opening, and with a swift and electrified kick of his boot, he unleashed a powerful attack. "Crimson Dagger!" he cried out. The electrified kick struck the colossal barrier titan's left arm with incredible force, causing the barrier to shatter like glass under the might of his suit's fierce power. 

Roxie grunted as his titan's left arm disintegrated into shards of energy. The loss of a limb didn't deter him, though, he continued to fight. “No, I won’t fail my captain again! I don’t care who you are! But you won’t get to my captain!” 

Benimaru spoke firmly to the Azuma pirates, "As pirates and criminals, I won't let any of you get away! You'll face justice for your actions!" His words carried a resolute determination as he continued to confront the crew, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to his mission. 

“Tsssk! If that’s how you feel, then just try it!” Roxie launched a powerful strike with his colossal barrier titan, aiming to shatter Benimaru's digital barrier. With a fierce impact, the barrier shattered, sending the dark star member hurtling across the island. He was propelled by the force of the blow, but his rocket boots quickly engaged, slowing his descent allowing him to regain his footing, albeit with visible strain. 

(H-he broke through the barrier!? How is that possible!? Father assured us that our dark star suits’ barrier could handle anything a mere pirate could hit me with...is my suit faulty? Or perhaps father miscalculated the kind of power pirates and other criminals are capable of? Tssk! Doesn’t matter! The red star Benimaru won’t be defeated by such evil) 

Blasting off with his boots, he flew back to the battlefield. With a driving spirit and focus on his mission, he taunted the Azuma pirates and the crew. "Your evil ways won't prevail against a member of the Dark Star Syndicate!" Benimaru declared. As he concentrated power into his glove, it became clear that he was prepared to give his all in the battle against the crew, showcasing the tenacity and motivation that defined him as the red star of the syndicate. 

With unwavering determination, Benimaru returned to the battlefield, his resolve unshaken despite the setback caused by Roxie. He confronted the Azuma pirates and the crew with a resolute declaration. 

Channeling power into his glove with a fierce cry, he released the built-up energy in a devastating beam of red light. "Crimson: Starburst!" The intense red energy shot forth from his left palm, aiming to strike down the foes before him. 

Roxie attempted to block Benimaru's devastating attack with only one arm. However, the power of the crimson starburst was overwhelming. The intense red energy beam tore through Roxie's barrier titan, disintegrating it into shards. Roxie himself was scorched by the intense beams of energy. All watched in horror as Roxie hit the ground covered in burns lying motionless off in the corner. 

“No...Roxie” Tears filled Rosera’s eyes as the pain of her friends getting hurt was becoming too much for her to bare any longer. As the dark star member prepared to fire yet another blast in their direction, a calm familiar voice spoke: "Such a troublesome situation you've gotten yourselves into," he remarked, his tone laced with an air of superiority. "But worry not, I shall ensure that things remain... interesting" 

Suddenly, the ground erupted with sand, forming a dense sandstorm that enveloped the island in a dome. Amidst the swirling sands, Baron Bones manifested, standing between Benimaru and Azuma's crew. His intervention added another layer of intrigue to the already complex situation, leaving both the crew and the Dark Star Syndicate to ponder his true motives. 

Amidst the swirling sandstorm, Baron addressed the Azuma pirates and their crew, making his intentions clear. "Do not misunderstand," he stated with a clod tone. "I did not come here to save you. I simply don’t want the dark star syndicate to get to you first" His words carried an aura of mystery and intrigue, emphasizing that his actions were guided by his own motives and interests. 

With Baron Bones' arrival, the dynamics of the situation had shifted once again, leaving the crew to contemplate their next moves in the midst of the sandstorm. “Baron, I suggest you not interfere, you’re already a target for the syndicate and I'll worry about you once I deal with Azuma and his crew” 

Baron Bones chuckled softly, his voice carrying an air of confidence. "I'm afraid I won't be able to sit idly by. However, rest assured, I'll do my best to keep him from your reach" In a moment of intense anger, Benimaru clenched his teeth and fired a beam of red energy straight through Baron Bones' chest. The blast struck Baron with incredible force, leaving a gaping hole in his abdomen. However, to Benimaru's shock, instead of falling, The villain’s smile remained, as sand began to pour into the wound, filling rapidly. The hole in his  chest closed up, appearing unharmed. 

"You're foolish if you thought such a desperate act would be enough to kill me" The sand pirate remarked with a smirk, his confident aura undiminished. "But I'm not one to be defeated so easily"  Turning his attention to Azuma and his crew, Baron Bones gave them a warning. "I suggest you all leave while you still can. I’d like to keep you all alive…for now”" With a swift motion, he manipulated the sand around them, forming a condensed cyclone of sand that engulfed the crew. 

The Azuma pirates found themselves trapped within the swirling cyclone, unable to escape it’s fierce grasp. Baron had separated them from Benimaru, leaving them in an uncertain and perilous situation as they struggled against the raging sandstorm. 

Everyone grabbed ahold of Azuma and each other, keeping the crew from separating again. That’s when Roxie cried out: “Wait! We left Kiozen and Naiomi inside the prison!” The others realized he was right, Kiozen hadn’t returned from the lower levels of the prison and there hadn’t been any sign of Naiomi ever since they were brought to the prison… 

Panora Island Arc 

As the swirling sand cyclone began to settle, it softly touched down onto an island. The sand dissipated, revealing a surreal landscape filled with giant, colorful mushrooms and dense forests. Though they had escaped the grasp of the red star Benimaru, they couldn’t help but feel frustration and guilt for leaving two of their comrades back in Aqua Bastion prison. 

Roxie, overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility, anger, and regret, punched the ground with all his might. "I'm sorry everyone"  His voice filled with remorse. "I let us get separated again, and now Kiozen and Naiomi are still in that prison!" 

Kenzu placed a reassuring hand on Roxie's shoulder with a faint smile despite the difficult circumstances. "Don't blame yourself too much, Roxie," he spoke in a calming tone. "Both Kiozen and Naiomi are skilled pirates who've faced tough situations before. Kiozen's magika ability is incredibly versatile, and I'm sure they'll find a way to survive to join us again. We just need to focus on regaining our strength and wait until the captain comes to" 

Roxie nodded, still feeling a sense of responsibility but finding solace in his crewmates' support and words of encouragement. “Y-you’re right, I doubt they’ll be defeated so easily, I just need to worry about our captain for now. Who knows what kind of creatures live in a strange place like this. I’ve never seen such colorful mushrooms before, especially ones as big as these” 

The crew looked around, seeing towering mushrooms of many different colors; red, blue, green, purple. It kind of gave the island a slight fantasy vibe… 

Meanwhile… 

The Warden, now tired of watching his prison become nothing more than a playground, stared at the camera where he saw Baron Bones and Benimaru facing off against one another. “Tsk! Enough of these childish games, it’s time I step in” Smashing the camera with his fist, he walked over to the corner of the room where the Amaterasu blade hung up on a shelf with other confiscated weapons. 

The dark figure tightly gripped the blade before stepping outside his office, finally reviling himself. He stood tall, his physique imposing, with spiky jet-black hair that seemed to defy gravity. Adorned in a grand zebra fur coat, it swayed in the breeze, exposing his well-defined chest and powerful presence. He wore sleek black pants along with shades that reflected the sunlight, adding an air of mystery to his striking appearance as he made his entrance into the courtyard. 

The imposing figure, clad in his striking attire, approached Baron and Benimaru. He gazed silently at Baron and Benimaru, his presence alone speaking volumes about his intentions and the gravity of the situation. Benimaru aimed his hand toward the imposing figure and commanded, "Identify yourself!" His voice echoed with authority as he sought to unveil the mystery shrouding the newcomer. 

Baron Bones, his form composed of swirling sand, manifested a handful of sand in his hand as he spoke. "That's the warden of the prison" he explained calmly, the sand grains shifting and flowing within his grasp, preparing to attack if needed. 

“Oh, you’re the warden!? My apologies sir, I’m here because I was alerted of a prison break nearby, allow me to help you capture Baron Bones!” The warden stood motionless for a moment, his expression inscrutable, as he observed Benimaru. Then, without warning, he activated his magika crystal, causing his arm to transform into a fearsome white fur bear claw. His voice dripped with disdain as he retorted to Benimaru, "I don't need help from some kid playing hero" 

The tension in the courtyard rose as the warden revealed his own formidable abilities, setting the stage for a potential clash between these powerful figures. “I have no use for a member of the dark star syndicate, you’re all nothing more than false heroes only seeking to gain from other’s misfortune. Though I believe in serving justice against both pirates and criminals, I don’t trust your corrupt syndicate” 

Benimaru's voice carried a hint of shock and frustration as he responded to the warden's accusations, shouting passionately: "You've got it all wrong! We're not just seeking to gain from misfortune! We're here to ensure the safety of the people and enforce justice among criminals, just as you do!" His words were filled with emotion as he emphasized his team's commitment to their mission and their belief in their cause. 

Baron Bones spoke calmly, "I agree with the warden to an extent, while You might not be as corrupt as some of the other dark stars, clearly, it seems you’re oblivious to the corruption within your own team" 

His words added an element of complexity to the situation, hinting at potential hidden agendas and conflicts within the dark star syndicate. Benimaru's conviction wavered as doubts crept into his mind. He began to quiver, his unease growing at the thought that his own family, the syndicate, might not be as righteous as he had believed. The complexity of the situation weighed heavily on him, casting a shadow over his once unwavering commitment to the cause. 

As Benimaru grappled with his inner turmoil, he charged energy into his glove with an overwhelming sense of desperation. His mental breakdown reached its peak as the once heroic figure fired a searing beam of red energy straight towards both the warden and the sand tyrant. Bones burst into a scatter of sand as the beam went straight through the gap between the gusts of sand. 

The warden instantly transformed into a humanoid polar bear, evading the fierce beam of light by mere inches. His body expanded and bulged with dense muscle, covered in a thick layer of white fur. Towering on his hind legs still wearing his zebra coat, black pants and shades, he stood with a fearsome and imposing presence. His head featured sharp, predatory teeth that radiated a cold and menacing aura. 

Massive claws extended from his humanoid paws, each capable of delivering bone-crushing blows. The warden's transformation into a polar bear reflected the raw power and ferocity he possessed, making him an even more formidable opponent in this intense showdown. 

With his massive claws extended and his towering polar bear form, his voice rumbled like an avalanche as he spoke: "You've attacked the warden, for that...you shall be dealt with like any other criminal in this prison" he declared with a cold and resolute tone, his words carrying the weight of his authority and strength. The warden's declaration resonated through the courtyard as he moved with incredible speed, his polar bear instincts guiding him effortlessly. He dodged Benimaru's searing beams with the agility of a wild beast, closing the gap between them in an instant. With a powerful head-butt, he struck the dark star member in the torso, causing significant damage to his suit. 

The force of the impact sent Benimaru spiraling backward, his suit showing signs of wear and tear from the warden's relentless assault. As the red star attempted to fly away using his boot repulsers, the transformed warden proved his agility once again. With a powerful leap into the air, he grabbed the back of Benimaru's head, slamming his face down onto the courtyard with tremendous force. The impact created a sizable crater in the ground, leaving the injured man battered and out-cold as blood ran down his face. 

The warden's voice, resonating with cold determination, echoed in the aftermath of the brutal exchange. "One target down. All that's left is you, Baron" He turned to face the magika user who stood there with swirling sand still flowing around him. “Hmph, I’m surprised you didn’t think to flee while I was busy with the dark star member, were you too taken aback by my fierce speed and agility? Or perhaps, you actually believe you can beat me single handedly?” 

The sand pirate, undisturbed by the warden's taunts, smirked in response. "You see, you have something that I desire greatly. It would be rather foolish of me to leave without obtaining such a valuable item" His words holding an air of intrigue. 

“Oh? And just what would that be? I’m rather interested to know what I would have that interests a known criminal like yourself” The sly man pointed towards the cursed blade at the warden's waist, his smile never wavering. "You see, it's that cursed blade of yours. A mere warden has no business wielding one of the legendary swords" he remarked, his words laden with a hint of sarcasm. 

Baron Bones crossed his arms continuing. "I happen to know that blade was stolen from Azuma himself" he stated casually, his tone laced with subtle threat. “I'm afraid I'll have to take it back by force if necessary" The white beast slowly unsheathed the amaterasu blade. "If you even dare to try and take it from me, you shall regret it" he warned. 

However, unphased by the assailant’s threat, the pirate slammed his palm onto the grass, filling the entire yard with thick layers of sand mimicking a desert-like landscape. Baron Bones seamlessly merged with the sand, vanishing from the warden's sight. 

However, as the beast scanned his surroundings, he suddenly found himself surrounded by four identical figures that looked just like the sand tyrant, forming from the swirling sand, hovering above him from all sides, creating a daunting and surreal sight. The warden's eyes widened in disbelief. 

In a fit of frustration, the bear raised his amaterasu blade, attempting to cut down the sand-made doppelgangers. However, to his shock, with just one slash, the entire blade was set ablaze with black flames, his furry paws searing with pain, burnt by the dark flames. He recoiled in agony, gritting his teeth against the excruciating sensation. 

The middle sand duplication, with an air of smugness, responded with a calm and calculated tone. "Cursed blades, as their name suggests, are called cursed for a reason. Very few can hope to wield one without suffering injury or even death" he remarked knowingly. His voice was both confident and calculating, emphasizing the danger of such powerful weapons. 

“Tsssk! I am Heidrum, the warden of this prison! I refuse to be made a fool once more by a filthy pirate! His anger boiled, causing him to throw the sword directly at the middle sand duplication with an intense growl. However, as the blade hurtled through the air, a swarm of sand shot up from the ground surrounding it, creating a thick, impenetrable barrier of solidified sand that sealed the cursed blade within. The barrier submerged the blade into the sand, leaving it trapped and inaccessible. 

“I appreciate your cooperation my dear Heidrum, but I'm afraid I can’t waste any further time with you. The beast watched as the sand all flowed back inside Bones as he reformed his body beginning to fly away with the sphere of sand holding the blade at his side. “I WON’T LET YOU ESCAPE SO EASILY!” Heidrum pushed off with all his beast form’s power, reaching out with his sharp clawed fingers attempting to grab the fleeing target. 

As the sand pirate began to reform his body and fly away with the sphere of sand holding the Amaterasu blade at his side, the transformed warden, Heidrum, wasn't about to let him escape so easily. With a surge of his beast form's power, he pushed off the ground, reaching out with his sharp, clawed fingers in an attempt to grab the fleeing target. 

However, just as Heidrum's claws were about to make contact, the sand pirate’s entire body turned into complete sand in an instant, causing the beast's claws to pass right through him. Heidrum was left momentarily suspended in the air, his attempt to seize the sand pirate thwarted. The white beast fell back to the prison courtyard, leaving a large crater in his wake. The sand pirate had managed to elude his grasp once more. 

Laying in the large crater, Heidrum reverted back to his normal form, letting out a defeated sigh. The capture mission had taken a toll on him, and he had reached a moment of clarity. With a sense of resignation, he uttered: "I give up being a warden, clearly I'm not cut out to be one if so many managed to escape" he declared, his voice carrying the weight of his decision. Slowly, he climbed to his feet, his body weary from the intense confrontation. 

He looked over at Benimaru still out cold. “Sigh, this is someone else’s problem from now on, I'm done with this place” Without looking back, he began to walk out of the prison courtyard, leaving his role as a warden behind. The prison and it’s conflicts were no longer his concern... 

Back On Panora Island... 

As Azuma remained unconscious within Rosera’s arms, his companions continued their journey through the vibrant and peculiar landscape of Panora Island. The forest path they treaded upon was bathed in the gentle glow of the bioluminescent mushrooms adorning their surroundings. Seraph and Roxie, captivated by the unique beauty of the area, found joy in the enchanting atmosphere. 

The towering, colorful mushrooms cast a soft and mesmerizing light, creating a surreal ambiance that seemed to dance with every step. Rosera and Kenzu exchanged glances, appreciating the moment of tranquility amidst the trials they had faced. 

Roxie couldn't resist the allure of the mushrooms and reached out, gently touching one. To his surprise, the mushroom emitted a musical chime, adding an auditory symphony to the visual spectacle. Seraph joined in, tapping another mushroom with a delighted grin, creating a harmonious melody that echoed through the forest. 

As they strolled further, the path unveiled various wonders – from 10-foot flowers to sparkling streams, each contributing to the mystical charm of Panora Island. Even in Azuma's unconscious state, he seemed to be surrounded by an ethereal aura, as if the island itself recognized his presence. 

Kenzu, taking the lead, guided them through the enchanting terrain. Despite the beauty, he remained vigilant, ensuring the safety of his crew. The island's magic was undeniable, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there might be hidden challenges awaiting them. 

The forest whispered with secrets, and the crew continued their journey, unknowingly stepping into the next chapter of their adventure. 

The crew approached a large, tranquil spring fed by a waterfall, creating a bath-like oasis amidst the vibrant forest. The gentle sound of flowing water added to the serene atmosphere, and the crew took a moment to appreciate the beauty of the scene. However, as they neared the spring, Kenzu's sharp senses detected movement in the trees beside them. 

With a sudden halt, Kenzu raised his hand, signaling the others to remain still. The once lively forest fell into an eerie silence, the only audible sound being the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Kenzu's eyes narrowed as he scanned the surrounding trees, searching for the source of the disturbance. 

The crew, now on high alert, followed Kenzu's lead, their senses heightened. The magical aura of Panora Island seemed to intensify, creating an expectant tension in the air. 

After a moment of tense stillness, Kenzu slowly relaxed his posture but remained vigilant. "We're not alone," he whispered to the others, his voice barely audible. "Stay sharp. Panora Island may be beautiful, but it holds secrets" 

As Kenzu's warning lingered in the air, a sudden movement from the trees on the right caught their attention. In a flash, a tall rabbit pakari, standing at an imposing seven feet, leaped out, dressed in a black sleeveless cloth shirt and puffy black shorts. The rabbit humanoid brandished a green bamboo staff, swiftly aiming to strike Kenzu. 

Reacting with swift reflexes, Kenzu crossed his arms, blocking the incoming attack with a combination of his martial skills and the enhancement of seinshin. The impact resonated through the air as the bamboo staff collided with Kenzu's defensive stance, the pirate’s seinshin absorbing most of the strike’s force. The crew watched in anticipation with them guarding Azuma who began to finally awake. 

The rabbit pakari landed gracefully, maintaining a poised stance, it’s expression stern and serious. The forest seemed to hold it’s breath as the standoff unfolded, the crew facing this mysterious creature in the heart of Panora Island. 

As Kenzu lowered his arms, demanding an explanation from the rabbit pakari, Azuma, fully awake, approached, holding a palm to his aching head. Confusion marked his face as he inquired about the unfolding situation. 

"Why did you attack us?" Kenzu questioned, his tone firm yet composed. The rabbit pakari remained silent for a moment, studying the group with a discerning gaze. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm and measured. 

"I can sense immense energy coming from one of you...Panora Island is a place of peace and harmony, strangers are not always welcomed. I am Harek, guardian of these woods," the rabbit pakari introduced himself. "I sensed a disturbance and acted to protect the sanctity of this place. Who are you, and what brings you to Panora Island?" 

Seraph, adopting an elegant tone, stepped forward to Harek, "Fear not, noble guardian. We come in peace and humility. We find ourselves here without full understanding, taken to this place against our will. If there's been any disturbance, it was not our intention. May we know more about this beautiful island and the energies you sensed?" Seraph's words carried an air of sophistication and diplomacy as he sought to assure Harek of their peaceful intentions. 

Rosera couldn't help but roll her eyes at Seraph's eloquent speech, muttering under her breath, "Drama queen" 

However, all attention shifted when Harek's gaze fixed upon Azuma. The pakari, convinced that Azuma was the source of the disturbance, advanced towards him, wielding his staff. Azuma, fatigued but aware, masked himself within a powerful red aura of seinshin. When Harek's staff collided with the aura, it broke in half, proving ineffective against a mere staff. The crew watched the unfolding spectacle, intrigued and cautious. 

Azuma, cracking his neck with a yawn, glanced at Harek with a puzzled expression. "What the hell was that for?" he questioned, his glare indicating he was ready to defend himself if need be. Harek, jumping back and staring at his broken staff in surprise, then shifted his gaze to Azuma with a look of shock. 

Before anyone could react, a deep voice called out, "Harek, what's going on here? I hope you're not causing issues amongst visitors again" All eyes turned to see a seven-foot wolf pakari with black fur and green eyes, dressed in a turquoise cloak, black pants, and brown boots. A katana hung at his side, and his gaze was fixed on the scene unfolding before him. The forest seemed to acknowledge his presence as a moment of tense silence followed. 

The rabbit pakari nervously stood as his ears perked up. He quickly offered an apology, bowing respectfully to the imposing wolf pakari. "I apologize, Yoriko. There was a disturbance, and I sensed a potential threat to Panora Island's sanctity," Harek explained, his voice carrying a tone of respect towards the wolf named Yoriko. The wolf approached the group, his green eyes assessing each member of Azuma's crew. 

Yoriko slowly approached Azuma, their eyes locking for a brief moment. A tense silence enveloped them before Yoriko broke into a smirk. He placed his clawed hand on Azuma's shoulder, reassuring Harek. "Fear not, Harek. I sense no malicious intent from this one" Yoriko declared, his green eyes narrowing slightly as if scrutinizing Azuma. 

In a commanding tone, he instructed Harek to scout the area. "Harek, scout the area. Cease harassing these pirates unless you want a rematch of our last duel...and I think you know how that ended" Yoriko declared, glaring at his ally. His stern gaze lingered on his ally. The rabbit pakari, picking up the pieces of his broken staff, swiftly took off into the further parts of the forest. 

Yoriko turned to Azuma's crew, offering an apology for Harek's paranoia. He explained that many terrible things had happened to the pakari in recent years, contributing to his cautious nature. Roxie stepped forward, adopting an arrogant and playful tone. "Hey, no hard feelings, furball. Just give us a heads-up next time before you go all ninja on us" he remarked, his words carrying a mix of arrogance and humor. 

As Roxie delivered his playful comment, Rosera, with a swift motion, tripped him with her foot. She snapped at him, "Show some respect! Don't call Yoriko “furball” It can be seen as disrespectful to some!" 

Seraph, with a refined chuckle, commented, "Ah, dear Roxie, one should always watch their words around Miss Rosera" Roxie groaned in pain as he got up. "Not cool, man" Kenzu stood off to the side with his arms crossed, while Azuma wore an amused smirk, finding the situation entertaining. 

Without warning, Azuma's eyes widened in realization, a feeling of shock washing over him. "Wait... where are Vergil and the others?" he asked, a sense of concern creeping into his voice. Roxie spoke with a somber expression, "Azuma, we...we couldn't save Kiozen and Naiomi. As for Vergil, we haven't seen him since Baron Bones sealed us in a sand blizzard, sending us off the island to here" The weight of these words hung in the air, and a solemn atmosphere settled over the crew. 

Azuma's once confident and calm demeanor shattered as the reality of his friends' fate sank in. He fell to his hands and knees, tears streaming down his face. "How could I let this happen? What kind of captain am I to leave my friends back in that hell hole!?" The weight of guilt and grief bore down on Azuma, the crew stood in silence around their grieving captain. 

Rosera walked over and placed her hand on Azuma's shoulder, speaking with a comforting tone: "Azuma, don't blame yourself. Naiomi and Kiozen are strong and durable members of the Azuma Pirates. I doubt any prison can truly hold them back. We'll find a way to rescue them, I promise" Her words carried a reassuring warmth, attempting to console the grieving captain in the face of their shared loss. 

Azuma's breath quivered as he struggled to contain the storm of emotions raging within him. With a trembling hand, he wiped away the tears, struggling to regain his composure. "Y-you're right," he conceded, his voice barely above a whisper, "They're strong, they'll find their way back to us" Rising to his feet, he met the gaze of his crew with a newfound resolve, seeking strength in their unwavering support. 

Before Yoriko, Azuma's eyes softened, gratitude mingling with regret for his momentary lapse. "Forgive me," he murmured, his voice laden with sincerity. "Thank you, all of you, for standing by me. We'll weather this storm together, like we always have" 

Roxie's fist shot into the air, his grin stretching wider than usual. "Yeah! That's the spirit, Captain! We've faced tougher odds before and come out on top! Naiomi and Kiozen will be back with us in no time, mark my words!" His voice rang out with a beacon of optimism in the face of uncertainty. 

Seraph nodded with a serene smile. His voice smooth and composed, "Indeed, Roxie speaks the truth. Our comrades are resilient. They’ll find their way back to us. We must have faith and remain vigilant" 

Rosera's smile was a gentle reassurance, her voice carrying regal confidence. "Azuma, you are not alone in this. We stand by you, now and always. Together, we will overcome any obstacle, no matter how daunting" 

Kenzu's smirk spoke volumes, his arms crossed in a stance of unwavering resolve. "Hmph. Count me in. We've got a crew to lead and a promise to keep. Naiomi and Kiozen will find their way back to us, but until then, we press on" His words held calm assurance, mixed with determined grit. 

The wolf Pakari extended his black-furred palm in a kind gesture, his deep voice resonating with warmth and joviality. "You've endured much, but here in our sanctuary, you'll find respite and nourishment to replenish your strength. Please, come and rest. You are safe here" His words were a soothing balm to their weary souls, offering solace and refuge amidst their trials and tribulations. 

Azuma's smile widened before he gripped the Pakari's hand firmly. "We accept your generous offer, Yoriko," he replied, his voice resonating with gratitude and exhaustion. "After all we've been through, a moment of respite is exactly what we need" He glanced up at Yoriko, his emerald eyes sparkling with appreciation. 

Yoriko's voice echoed with warmth and hospitality. "It will be a joyous occasion indeed," His tone filled with anticipation. "We welcome you with open arms. Come, let us celebrate your newfound freedom with a feast to remember!" 

Azuma and his crew followed behind the wolf Pakari, venturing down the dirt path. Lush green forests enveloped them on both sides, their towering canopies casting dappled shadows on the ground below. Ten-foot colorful mushrooms and vibrant plants dotted the landscape, their otherworldly hues adding to the enchantment of the surroundings. 

A soft, cold breeze brushed past them, carrying with it the sweet scent of wildflowers and the earthy aroma of the forest. The sound of leaves rustling in the gentle wind created a soothing melody, a symphony of nature that seemed to welcome them with open arms. As they journeyed deeper into the forest, a sense of peace and tranquility washed over them, washing away the weariness of their recent trials and filling them with a renewed sense of hope and wonder. 

Rosera breathed a sigh of relief the moment they made their way through the shaded path, her smooth vampiric skin finally finding rest from the sun's blistering rays. A slight flinch ran through her body, a lingering echo of the pain she endured for an extended period of time. Seraph glanced in her direction from the corner of his eye, his voice carrying concern, "Are you alright, Miss Rosera?" His gaze held a flicker of worry, his keen perception not missing the subtle signs of discomfort in his master. 

Rosera nodded, "I'll be fine, Seraph," she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of willpower, despite the discomfort. "Just a bit sunburnt, but nothing serious. A little rest and I'll be back to my usual self in no time" Her words were accompanied by a reassuring smile, a testament to her resilience and unwavering spirit. 

Azuma's gaze shifted downward, his expression clouded with guilt the moment he realized his oversight. He had forgotten about Rosera's vulnerability to daylight, a fact that weighed heavily on his conscience. Wind brushed through his dark hair as he let out a sigh, his resolve wavering for a moment before steeling himself to press on with the others. 

(Rosera...I'm sorry. I should have been more mindful of your condition. We'll find a suitable place for you to rest until the sun goes down) Despite his self-reproach, Azuma's goal to ensure Rosera's well-being remained steadfast. His mind now focused on finding a safe haven for his vampire crewmate until nightfall. 

Meanwhile, Back At Sea Corp Headquarters... 

The Commander's office was a somber space, bathed in shadows cast by the dim lighting. His imposing figure still sat behind his large desk, the surface cluttered with paperwork and maps detailing the ongoing operations of the Sea Corp. The Commander wearing his black coat draped over a crisp purple suit. 

As Yuto timidly entered the room, the Commander's piercing gaze fixed upon him, causing a shiver to run down the young soldier's spine. Yuto's thin frame seemed to shrink under the weight of the Commander's scrutiny, his eyes darting nervously around the room as if seeking an escape. 

The Commander's face, weathered by years of command and hardened by the trials of leadership, bore the marks of age and experience. Deep lines etched across his brow and around his mouth, serving as testament to the countless battles he had fought and the challenges he had overcome. Despite his advanced years, there was an undeniable aura of power and authority that emanated from him, commanding respect and instilling fear in equal measure. 

As Yuto hesitated before him, the figure let out a low, rumbling grumble, the sound reverberating through the room like distant thunder. His voice was rough and gravelly, carrying the weight of decades of command and authority. With a curt nod, he motioned for Yuto to approach, his eyes narrowing, awaiting the soldier's report. 

Yuto's timid voice faltered as he delivered his report to Commander Masaru, the weight of the Commander's presence bearing down on him like a heavy burden. With each stuttered word, he struggled to convey the gravity of the news he carried. 

"Um, Commander Masaru," Yuto began, his voice barely audible above a whisper. "I-I've come to inform you that a new recruit has come, hoping to take the place of Saber as the 7th law of the sea" 

At that moment, a flicker of interest sparked in Masaru's eyes, cutting through the veil of indifference that had shrouded him moments before. Leaning forward, he placed both palms firmly on his desk, his expression growing stern and focused before listening intently. "Who dares to think they're worthy of such a prestigious title!?" the Commander demanded, his voice resonating with authority and command. "The rank of Law of the Sea is reserved for only the most skilled and dedicated officers of the Sea Corp. It is not a position to be taken lightly, nor is it easily earned. Tell me, who is this newcomer who presumes to challenge the established order of our ranks?" 

The weight of the Commander's gaze bore down on him, Yuto swallowed nervously, acutely aware of the significance of the claim before him. With a shaky breath, he steeled himself to reveal the identity of the ambitious newcomer. 

The figure stepped forward, his silhouette cast against the backdrop of light filtering in from the corridor, before emerging into full view. He stood tall and confident, exuding an air of confidence and charisma that demanded attention. With shaggy black hair framing his face and piercing hazel eyes that seemed to gleam with determination, he wore a sleek black coat, white inner-shirt and black pants, adorned with the emblem of the Sea Corp—a striking blue sun emblazoned on the right torso—A larger version of the emblem adorned the back of his coat, a symbol of his allegiance to the organization and his commitment to upholding it’s ideals. 

With a confident grin playing at the corners of his lips, the newcomer addressed Commander Masaru and Yuto with a deep voice that carried the weight of perseverance. It was a voice that resonated with the spirit of adventure, a serious yet also playful tone. 

"Commander Masaru," he began, his tone firm yet laced with a hint of playful charm. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rokuro Enoshima, the one who seeks to challenge the established order and vie for the title of Law of the Sea. With your permission, I seek to prove myself worthy of this esteemed rank and honor the legacy of those who have come before me" 

As he spoke, his words rang with conviction and resolve, leaving no doubt as to his determination to carve out his own path within the ranks of the Sea Corp. With his confident demeanor and unwavering resolution, he stood ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead on his journey to greatness. 

Commander Masaru's stern gaze bore into the man, his eyes betraying none of the thoughts swirling within his mind. With his chin resting on his aged, wrinkled wrists, he contemplated the officer's bold declaration, silently weighing the implications of his request. 

After a moment of contemplation, the Commander lifted his head, his expression impassive yet tinged with a hint of curiosity. In his dry, stern voice, he posed a question that cut through the tension. "Are you prepared to prove your worthiness?" he inquired, his words carrying the weight of power and expectation. "Willing to undergo a trial to demonstrate your will to take on the mantle of a Law of the Sea?" 

The newcomer, Rokuro, met the Commander's gaze head-on, his hazel eyes sparkling with determination and resolve. With a confident smirk across his face, he clenched his fist in a gesture of readiness, channeling the spirit of a true officer. "I'm prepared for anything you throw at me, Commander," Rokuro declared, his voice echoing with a blend of seriousness and playful confidence. "I welcome the challenge, and shall prove myself worthy of the title: “Law of the Sea”, no matter what trials await me" 

With his declaration, Rokuro signaled his readiness to face whatever tests lay ahead, his unfaltering spirit shining like a beacon in the dimly lit room. As the old man considered his response, the stage was set for a trial that would determine Rokuro's fate within the ranks of the Sea Corp. 

Yuto watched in stunned silence as Masaru rose from his seat, his movements deliberate and measured, approaching the young officer with a cold glare. The atmosphere in the room seemed to fill with tension as Masaru's cold voice cut through the silence, laying out the terms of the trial with authority. 

"If you can manage to bruise me, you will earn the title of 7th Law of the Sea," the Commander declared, his words carrying the weight of his decades of experience and power. "But if you fail, you will be stripped of your title and banished from the Sea Corp for wasting my time" 

Despite the gravity of the situation, Rokuro met the challenge with a confident chuckle, his hands raised in a stance of preparation, prepared to face off against the aged figure before him. His demeanor unwavering, his confidence unshaken as he stood ready to prove himself worthy of the title he sought. 

With the tension in the room reaching it’s peak, Yuto's heart raced with fear, his instincts urging him to flee from the impending conflict. With a sense of urgency, he dashed out of the room, hoping to escape the crossfire and avoid becoming collateral damage in the battle that was about to unfold. 

In that moment, the stage was set for a showdown between youth and experience, determination and resolve pitted against the cold, unyielding judgment of the Commander. The outcome of the trial would shape the fate of Rokuro and determine his future within the ranks of the Sea Corp. 

Tense silence enveloped the room, both Rokuro and Commander Masaru remained motionless, their eyes locked. Then, without warning, Rokuro lunged forward, his fist propelled by a surge of determination and adrenaline. 

As his fist shot forward, it elongated like elastic gum, stretching toward its target with unnatural speed. However, Masaru was quicker still, his reflexes honed by years of experience. With a subtle movement of his head, he evaded Rokuro's attack with effortless grace, the rush of wind brushing against his face as the fist sailed past him, missing it’s mark by mere inches. 

Despite the realization that his opponent possessed magika abilities, Commander Masaru's expression remained stoic and unyielding. Rokuro took a deep breath, a confident glint flickering in his eyes. His muscles tensed the moment he prepared to unleash his next attack. With a resolute cry, he cried out: "Kanjin Barrage!" 

In an instant, Rokuro's arms shot forward like coiled springs, delivering a rapid-fire barrage of strikes. Each fist flew with incredible speed and force, aimed squarely at his opponent. 

To his surprise, Rokuro's onslaught was met with swift and precise evasion. punches soared across the room, only for Masaru to move with grace and fluidity that seemed almost otherworldly. 

In a blur of motion, the Commander evaded each attack with lightning-fast reflexes. With a series of deft sidesteps, Masaru seemed to dance effortlessly through the air, dodging Rokuro's fists with a precision that bordered on the supernatural. 

After each evasion, the Commander's movements seem to leave faint afterimages in his wake. It was as if the man possessed an instinctual understanding of his opponent's every move, effortlessly predicting and countering each strike with uncanny precision. 

As Rokuro's onslaught continued unabated, the Commander's evasion became more intricate and elaborate, he seemed to vanish and reappear in the blink of an eye, leaving Rokuro's fists grasping at empty air. 

  

Despite Rokuro's relentless assault, the Commander remained unfazed, his movements guided by his heightened seinshin, enhancing his reaction and agility. sweat ran down Rokuro's face, his breaths growing strained, as he felt a surge of frustration welling up inside him. Each evasion from the frail, wrinkled man seemed to mock his efforts, leaving him feeling increasingly desperate. 

Suddenly, the old sea officer vanished once more, disappearing from Rokuro's line of sight in the blink of an eye. Startled, Enoshima halted his barrage, his eyes darting around the room in search of his elusive opponent. But before he could react, he heard the old man's voice, chillingly close behind him. 

Commander Masaru's voice rang out with a stern, unimpressed tone as he addressed Rokuro's impulsive actions. "You are thoughtless, young captain," he began, his words laced with disapproval. "Attacking at random will only lead to your downfall. In a real fight, such recklessness would cost you your life" 

Before Rokuro could respond, the Commander delivered a swift strike to his neck. The blow send a jolt of pain through Rokuro's body before everything went black. 

With a thud, the young officer collapsed to the cold, tiled floor. The room fell silent, save for the sound of working officers outside the office. Masaru groaned audibly, a disappointed expression crossing his face as he placed a palm to his forehead. With a shake of his head, he cast his gaze down at the motionless captain, lying defeated on the floor before him. 

In his dry, stern tone, Masaru addressed the unconscious captain, his voice tinged with frustration. "Rokuro," he began, his words carrying a weight of disappointment, "you have much to learn if you wish to earn the title of Law of the Sea" 

Crossing his arms over his chest, Masaru continued with a note of determination. "I will assign you to Vice Admiral Ryota's fleet, under his guidance, perhaps you will finally grasp the gravity of your position and the discipline required to fulfill it" 

With a final, decisive nod, Masaru turned away from Rokuro's prone form, his thoughts already turning to the next steps in the young captain's training. It would be a long road ahead, but Masaru was determined to see Rokuro reach his full potential as a member of the Sea Corp. 

Meanwhile, Out In The Middle Of The Sea... 

Vice Admiral Ryota stood tall and commanding upon the deck of his ship, Neptune's Monarch, his imposing figure silhouetted against the backdrop of the setting sun. His short black hair neatly combed back, framing a weathered face adorned with a neatly trimmed mustache and beard. 

His piercing green eyes, set beneath furrowed brows, bore the weight of years of loyalty and unwavering determination. A grim expression etched upon his features, reflecting the gravity of his responsibilities as a vice admiral of the Sea Corp. 

Dressed in uniform, Ryota's black coat billowed slightly in the sea breeze, the golden star insignia emblazoned on his left torso gleaming in the fading light. His posture was rigid and authoritative, arms crossed over his chest in a gesture of quiet strength and resolve. 

Despite the tranquility of the moment, there was a palpable sense of purpose emanating from Ryota as he stood upon the deck of Neptune's Monarch. With every line etched upon his weathered face, he embodied the steadfast commitment to justice and order that defined his role within the Sea Corp. 

Vice Admiral Ryota's stern expression softened slightly as he turned his gaze towards the approaching wimpy soldiers dressed in the typical white uniform, their voices filled with a nervous urgency. With a furrowed brow, he listened intently to their report, his piercing green eyes narrowing in concentration. 

The soldiers stumbled over their words, their voices trembling with fear as they relayed their sighting to Vice Admiral Ryota. "Sir, there's something...something in the water," one of them stammered, his voice quivering with anxiety. "It's big...really big!"    

"What's this about something in the water?" The vice admiral questioned, his voice carrying the weight of authority but tinged with a hint of annoyance at the interruption. As the soldiers stammered out their explanation, Ryota's expression grew more serious. 

Another soldier nodded vigorously; his eyes wide with terror. “We...we're not sure what to do!" Their fearful expressions mirrored the tension in the air as they awaited Ryota's response. The unknown lurking beneath the waves filled them with a sense of dread, and they looked to their commanding officer for guidance, hoping for reassurance in the face of uncertainty. 

With a deep sigh, he ran a hand through his neatly trimmed beard, contemplating the situation. "Keep a close watch," he ordered, his voice firm and commanding. "I’ll take a look at it" 

With Neptune's Monarch under his command, he was prepared to face whatever laid beneath the waves. Just as the man took a step forward towards the side of the deck, a pale muscular arm gripped the side of the ship, causing the other weak soldiers to let out screams of panic. The soldiers' screams pierced the air as they recoiled in terror, their panic palpable as they stumbled backward, tripping over each other in their haste to get away from the unexpected intruder. They clutched each other, their faces contorted with fear. 

Ryota remained calm amid the chaos, his gaze fixed on the figure that had emerged from the sea. With a single raised eyebrow, he observed the newcomer's arrival. 

The mysterious figure gasped for breath, his bare muscular chest heaving with exertion as he struggled to regain his composure. His long black hair clung to his skin, slick with seawater, his bare torso glistening in the fading light. With a weary sigh, he pushed himself upright, his gaze meeting Ryota's with a mixture of anger and exhaustion before landing upon the deck laying aboard the ship. 

The vice Admiral approached the panting figure with measured steps amidst the chaos of his trembling crew. As he reached the intruder, he cast a stern glance back at his whimpering crew, his voice booming: "Shut it!" he barked, his tone sharp and authoritative. "Stand at attention and prepare yourselves. This is no time for cowardice" 

His words cut through the air like a whip, causing the soldiers to fall silent, their whimpering subsiding as they straightened their postures and focused on their duties. With a satisfied nod, Ryota turned his attention back to the exhausted stranger, his expression expectant as he awaited an explanation for the unexpected intrusion. 

That’s when he recognized the exhausted figure before him. With a gruff voice, he addressed the man. "Hehe, well, if it isn't Yugo from Secret Division 10," he remarked, his tone carrying a mixture of surprise and amusement. "What brings someone of your caliber out here in the middle of the sea, far from the S.D. 10 base?" 

With a heavy sigh, the S.D. 10 agent opened his weary red eyes, his gaze meeting Ryota's with a sense of anger. He spoke in a calm yet defeated tone. "I was...defeated," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of shame and frustration. "By the pirate known as Azuma Kenousa" 

A flicker of frustration crossed Ryota's face at the mention of the notorious pirate's name, but he remained silent, allowing the agent to continue. 

"I find it...embarrassing," the agent confessed, his expression clouded with self-doubt. "To have been bested by such a pathetic pirate. Stranded on an island for days before deciding to swim to shore...or to a ship I could climb aboard" 

His words hung in the air, the weight of defeat palpable as he recounted his ordeal to Vice Admiral Ryota, awaiting the admiral's response. 

Ryota then let out laughter that echoed across the ship, his deep voice booming with amusement as he responded: "Haha! Well, it seems you've been beaten pretty good If it broke a will as strong and confident as yours, Yugo!" he chuckled, his eyes crinkling with mirth. 

  

The vice admiral's jovial demeanor contrasted with the agent's defeated expression, but there was a hint of camaraderie in his laughter, acknowledging the agent's reputation within the Secret Division. 

Yugo's glare bore into Ryota, his red eyes flashing with defiance as he rose to his feet, his voice taking on a stern demeanor. "Don't take me lightly, Vice Admiral," he warned, his words sharp. "I could easily end your life here if I wished" 

The tension thickening between the two men, as Yugo's declaration hinted at the danger lurking beneath his calm exterior. The crew huddled together in the corner, their hearts pounding with nervous anticipation as they observed the tense exchange between Ryota and Yugo. 

The admiral’s voice boomed across the deck once more. "Do you honestly believe you stand a chance against a vice admiral?" he questioned; his tone resolute. "The Secret Division 1-10 may excel in stealth and intelligence gathering, but combat is not their specialty" 

Yugo slowly raised his bare left palm toward the towering figure, his long, wet hair swaying in the sea breeze as he spoke in a threatening voice. "Do you truly wish to talk down to one of the strongest members of the division?" he questioned; his voice laced with a dangerous edge. 

However, instead of backing down, a grin spread across Ryota's face as he cracked his knuckles and neck loudly, growing visibly excited at the prospect of a challenge. With a confident voice the fleet captain remarked: “It’s actually been quite a while since I've had a good work out, this should be some good exercise to get the old muscles going” However, before he could ramble on further, Yugo unleashed a shockwave of pink seinshin from his palm, propelling the vice admiral off the ship with incredible force. 

Ryota soared through the air, his laughter ringing out across the vast expanse of the sea, a mix of exhilaration and excitement. With a resounding crash, he collided with a needle-shaped boulder sticking out of the water, breaking off it’s tip before landing heavily on the flat remains just above the water’s surface. 

Coughing up seawater, Ryota's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation in the fading light of the setting sun. "Finally, someone who can give me a real challenge!" he exclaimed between breaths, his voice booming across the waves. "Let's see what you've got, Yugo! Show me what the secret division is made of!" Despite the impact and the swirling currents threatening to pull him under, Ryota's determination remained unyielding. With a grunt, he pushed himself up, standing tall on the rocky foundation, ready to face whatever came next. 

With a steely glare, Yugo locked eyes with his target, his voice carrying a chilling resolve as he spoke, "You've underestimated me Ryota. Now, prepare to face the consequences of your arrogance" Focusing his seinshin through his body, he ascended off the ship with a powerful leap, "I'll show you the true power of the Secret Division" 

Yugo Tempest surged ahead with incredible speed; his body enveloped in a radiant, pink-hued aura of seinshin that flickered like flames. With each movement, he unleashed a barrage of lightning-fast kicks, each strike honed to perfection with advanced seinshin. The air crackled with energy as his bare feet blurred in a whirlwind of motion, aiming to overwhelm the confident admiral. 

However, Ryota had channeled his formidable life force, manifesting a transparent barrier of black seinshin that crackled with gray arcs of electricity. With each of Yugo's kicks, the barrier shimmered and hummed with power, absorbing the impact of the onslaught. Despite the ferocity of the attacks, the elite officer stood resolute, his expression unimpressed as he met each blow. 

The clash between the two warriors sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the sound of their collision echoing across the open sea. Yugo's relentless assault tested Ryota's defenses to their limit, while the vice admiral's steadfast composure held firm against the barrage. 

Ryota maintained his composure, crossing his arms in a gesture of nonchalance as he watched the relentless assault from Yugo. Despite the agent’s power, his expression remained unimpressed, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Is that all you've got?" The old man taunted, his voice carrying over the sound of clashing seinshin. "I expected more from a member of the esteemed Secret Division" His words dripped with sarcasm; a challenge thrown down to his opponent. 

With each kick absorbed by his barrier, Ryota's confidence only seemed to grow, his stance unmoved in the face of Yugo's relentless assault. The vice admiral's taunts echoed across the sea, a bold declaration of his dominance in the unfolding battle. 

Ryota D. Roxie's laughter echoed across the waves, a thunderous sound that matched the energy surging around him. With a confident grin, he taunted Yugo, boasting that he would show him what real seinshin looked like. “Watch and learn youngster, this is what real power looks like!” 

While he clinched his left fist, the air sparked with black lightning, swirling around his arm like a tempest gathering strength. With a mighty roar, the elite officer unleashed the full brunt of his power in a single devastating punch. 

The impact was cataclysmic, a shockwave of unparalleled force that shattered the sea itself, asunder for miles around. The water parted like a curtain, revealing the ocean floor in all it’s glory. 

Yugo put his guard up crossing his arms in a desperate attempt to withstand the colossal force bearing down upon him, only to find himself overwhelmed by the sheer might of the admiral's attack. The force of the blow sending him hurtling through the air, his form disappearing into the distant horizon. 

As the echoes of his powerful attack subsided, Ryota D. Roxie found himself standing alone amongst the floating rock, the waves crashing all around him, surrounded by the aftermath of his devastating attack. Despite his easy victory, he couldn't help but grumble to himself, his hand rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Guess I might've put a bit too much energy into that one," he muttered, his voice carrying the gruff tone of self-reflection. "Didn't expect him to go flying off like that" 

With a shake of his head, Roxie turned his attention back to the vast expanse of the sea, his confidence undiminished despite his momentary lapse in judgment. There would be more battles to come, more challenges to conquer, and he would face them all with the same will that had brought him this far. 

As Ryota returned to the vessel with a powerful leap through the air, propelled by the force of his own power, a sense of unease gnawed at his conscience like a relentless tide, his thoughts drifted to a place of introspection and remorse. 

Memories of his son, Oda, flooded his mind, each recollection tinged with regret and sorrow. He couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that weighed heavily upon his heart, a burden he carried with him like an anchor dragging him down into the depths. 

As he landed back aboard his ship, the shockwave of his own power reverberated through the vessel. Roxie’s gaze fell upon the horizon, the vast expanse of the sea stretching out before him like an endless abyss. In that moment of solitude, amidst the tranquil beauty of the ocean, he found himself questioning the path he had chosen. 

Was this relentless pursuit of glory truly worth the sacrifices he had made? Had he strayed too far from the path of righteousness, forsaking the bonds of family and the values he once held dear? 

With a heavy heart and a soul weighed down by doubt, Ryota grappled with the turmoil raging within him. The echoes of his past mistakes echoed in the recesses of his mind, haunting him like specters of regret. 

In that fleeting moment, Ryota found himself at a crossroads, torn between the relentless pursuit of ambition and the longing for redemption. He stood upon the deck of his ship, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The path ahead seemed fraught with uncertainty. 

At that moment, Ryota's crew rushed over, their voices ringing out in jubilant cheers, they congratulated their admiral on his victory over the secret division agent. "You showed him who's boss, Admiral Ryota!" one of them exclaimed, clapping Ryota on the back with hearty enthusiasm. 

"Yeah, that'll teach those secret division guys not to mess with us!" another chimed in, pumping his fist in the air. 

"Admiral Ryota's the strongest in the sea corp!" a third added, his voice brimming with admiration as he joined in the chorus of cheers. But despite their words of praise and encouragement, Ryota couldn't shake the weight of his own inner turmoil. 

With heavy steps, the officer walked past his cheering comrades, their voices fading into the background as he retreated into the solitude of his personal quarters. His heart weighed heavy with the burden of his own doubts and regrets, his mind consumed by thoughts of his son and the choices that had led him to this point. 

Ryota's voice carried the weight of sorrow as he spoke to his crew, his tone somber and resigned. "I need some time alone," he murmured, his words tinged with sadness. "Please, do not disturb me" With a heavy heart, Ryota retreated into the sanctuary of his quarters, seeking solace in the silence as he grappled with the ghosts of his past and the uncertain path that lay ahead. 

In the solitude of his personal quarters, Ryota stood within a small white room before a full-body mirror, his reflection staring back at him with accusing eyes. The room, though modest in size, felt suffocatingly quiet as he grappled with the weight of his own emotions. 

His gaze locked on his own reflection, a tempest of guilt and self-doubt that threatened to consume him whole. His brow furrowed in a mix of frustration and self-hatred, Ryota clenched his fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white with the force of his grip. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he had made a grave mistake, one that he couldn't undo. 

The silence of the room was deafening, broken only by the sound of his own ragged breaths as he struggled to come to terms with the choices he had made. Each moment felt like an eternity as he stood there, locked in a battle with his own conscience. 

In abrupt surge of anger, he smashed the mirror with his bare fist, the resounding sound of shattering glass piercing the silence of the small quarters. Tears cascaded down his cheeks, each drop a testament to the weight of his grief and guilt, as the shattered remnants of the mirror lay scattered at his feet like fragments of his fractured soul. 

He Collapsed upon the floor, anguished cries echoing off the walls, a primal release of emotion long suppressed. In the midst of his despair, his gaze fell upon a small wooden portrait lying on the floor, a reminder of happier days. With trembling hands, he reached out to grab the picture, fingers tracing the contours of his late wife's smiling face. 

Aria's presence in the room was both comforting and haunting, her serene countenance a stark to the chaos surrounding him. Memories of their time together flooded his mind, each recollection a bittersweet reminder of what he had lost. Yet, amidst the pain, there was solace in her unwavering love, a beacon of hope in his darkest hour. 

Clutching the portrait to his chest, Ryota sought refuge in the warmth of her memory, finding fleeting comfort in the midst of his anguish. Though she was gone, her spirit lived on with him, a guiding light in the depths of his despair. He then whispered her name like a sacred vow, a solemn promise to carry her with him always. 

Amidst his tears, Ryota's voice wavered as he spoke, his words choked with emotion. "Aria...please forgive me," he murmured, his tone heavy with remorse. "For all the pain I've caused, for the lives I've shattered...I can't bear it anymore" Each syllable was a plea for absolution, a desperate cry for redemption in the face of his own self-condemnation.... 

Back On Panora Island... 

  

Flames danced and flickered, casting an ethereal glow across the faces of Azuma and his crew as they sat in the warmth of the tepee campfire's embrace. Around them, the village of the pakari stretched out with huts and tents nestled among the trees, their wooden structures blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings. 

Yoriko, the leader of the pakari, sat on the opposite log of the campfire, his arms crossed with one leg over the other. The fellow pakari moved about the village, tending to their tasks with a sense of purpose and camaraderie that filled the air with a palpable sense of unity. 

As the fire crackled and popped, sending sparks spiraling into the night sky, the scent of wood and smoke mingled with the crisp, earthy aroma of the forest, creating a sensory tapestry that enveloped them all in a cocoon of comfort and tranquility. Here, in the heart of the pakari's village, amidst the warmth of the fire and the gentle embrace of nature, Azuma and his crew found themselves at peace, if only for a fleeting moment, in the midst of their perilous journey. 

Yoriko's deep voice resonated with warmth and sincerity as he offered, "Would any of you care for something to eat?" he asked, his tone inviting. His words carried a sense of warmth and sincerity, inviting them to partake in the comforts of the pakari's village. 

As Yoriko extended his head, a tall, female wolf pakari approached, she had white fur dressed in a brown cloth shirt and black shorts. She carried a large wooden tray laden with an assortment of food—meat, bread, and fruit—offering it to the hungry visitors with a kind smile and a gentle demeanor. 

That’s when Roxie's excitement burst forth in a high-pitch voice. "Yes, please! My stomach has been growling for hours," he exclaimed eagerly, unable to contain his hunger. Just when Roxie attempted to get up, Rosera playfully extended her foot, causing him to stumble and fall with a comedic thud. "Whoops, looks like someone's a bit too eager," she teased, her tone light and playful. 

With a face full of dirt, Roxie scrambled to his feet, his voice echoing frustration mixed with hunger as he shouted, "Hey, knock it off! I'm starving here!" His tone filled with impatience and hunger. Rosera couldn't help but smirk at his plight, her voice taking on a sarcastic tone. "Oh? but there's nothing stopping you," she teased, her words dripping with amusement. "You're just a tad clumsy" 

Yoriko let out a deep laugh, carrying a sense of warmth and camaraderie. With a friendly demeanor, he reassured Roxie there was an abundance of food for everyone. "We have plenty for all," he declared, "All of this," he gestured grandly to the spread before them, "was farmed, caught, and expertly prepared by the skilled members of our tribe" 

Turning his attention to the pakari standing before them, Yoriko introduced her with a respectful motion. "And this is Okara," he announced, his tone filled with appreciation. "She's the culinary genius behind this feast. We owe her a great deal for this delicious spread" 

Kenzu remained seated but bowed respectfully, his demeanor showing gratitude. Seraph, on the other hand, rose to his feet with grace, bowing in a sophisticated manner with his palm across his chest. With an elegant and refined tone, he expressed their sincere appreciation for the generous banquet. "We are truly grateful for your hospitality and the delicious feast you've prepared," Seraph conveyed with poise, his words reflecting his refined mannerisms. 

Rosera placed her soft, cold palm on her captain's responding, "Thank you for the hospitality Yoriko, we are grateful" She leaned on Azuma slightly, her cheeks tinted with a blush from being able to hold her captain. 

Roxie grabbed a large drumstick of meat and began devouring it eagerly, thoroughly enjoying the food. Meanwhile, Azuma took a piece of bread and skillfully divided it into smaller portions, passing a piece to each crew member. "Thank you for the meal," he expressed his gratitude, "I can't recall the last time we ate this well" 

The dark wolf nodded with a warm smile, "I'm glad we could provide for you," he reassured Azuma. "Here on our island, we believe in extending hospitality to those in need. It's far better to forge bonds with strangers who grace our shores than to resort to conflict. For in the end, fighting only brings pain and loss. It's through friendship and understanding that true harmony is achieved" 

Seraph then interjected with admiration. "Indeed, it's a sentiment as beautiful as the starlit sky," he remarked, savoring his small piece of bread with grace. 

In the shadows beyond the warmth of the fire, the white rabbit pakari observed them with a guarded gaze, his hazel eyes betraying a hint of mistrust. His large ears twitched, attuned to any potential threat, as he remained alert, silently observing the newcomers. 

Yoriko lowered his head with a sigh, addressing Harek with a stern voice. "Harek," he called out, "if you're not willing to come and make amends, to formally meet our guests, then you can head back to your tent and wait for me there" 

Harek let out an abrupt outburst that startled the others, his usually gentle demeanor replaced by a tense urgency. "I-I'm just...concerned," he stammered, his ears flattening against his head. "We don't know these outsiders. They could be dangerous. I won't let anything happen to our village!" His words came out rushed, betraying the paranoia that gnawed at him. 

The once serene atmosphere around the fire pit now crackled with turquoise energy. Harek's gaze faltered under the weight of Yoriko's cold glare, the realization dawning on him that he had overstepped his bounds. 

Kenzu shifted his weight subtly, his hand drifting closer to the hilt of his katana, a silent signal of readiness. Azuma however, maintained his composure, watching the unfolding confrontation with measured curiosity. 

The other pakari exchanged wary glances, their instincts telling them to stay out of the brewing conflict. Even Azuma's crew, accustomed to high-stakes situations, felt a shiver of unease at the sheer power radiating from Yoriko. 

The pakari leader's commanding presence seemed to suffuse the very air around them, his aura pulsating with a turquoise flame-like intensity. Each step he took sent vibrations through the soil beneath their feet, a testament to his latent power. 

In a voice that brooked no argument, he spoke with the authority of a seasoned leader, his words cold and stern, "Harek, this is your final chance," he intoned, his words laced with a quiet intensity. "Return to your tent now, before your actions lead to consequences you cannot undo" 

His voice held a solemn warning, a clear indication that further defiance would not be tolerated. The pakari leader's gaze remained fixed on Harek, his green eyes burning with fierce emotion. 

With a defiant glare, Harek vanished into the shadows of the forest, retreating from the village. Okara's voice cried out, her voice filled with genuine concern for her fellow pakari. "Don't go, Harek!" she pleaded. Azuma and his crew exchanged worried glances with Yoriko's shoulders slumped, his claws retracting as he let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, everyone, it seems Harek is not in the mood for diplomacy tonight." He glanced back at the village, a furrow forming on his brow. "Please, enjoy the hospitality of our village. I'll see if I can talk some sense into him" 

Yoriko's figure became a blur as he darted through the dense forest, the wolf moved through the forest with the agility and grace of a seasoned ninja. Each step was a blur as he raced through the foliage. Pushing off a branch, he glided effortlessly through the air, covering several meters before landing gracefully on the next sturdy bough. With each leap, his cloak billowed behind him, a streak of turquoise against the dark backdrop of the forest. His senses sharp, scanning the surroundings for any sign of his friend amidst the shadows. 

Yoriko's frustration was clear as he shook his head in dismay, his voice just above a whisper as he pondered aloud why Harek always chose to run instead of following orders. "My friend, why must you always flee instead of heeding my words?" Yoriko's voice resonated with frustration and concern. "Harboring hatred towards humans will only breed more animosity. Acceptance can never be achieved by treating others with the sins of their kind" 

Meanwhile Near the shores of Panora... 

Harek moved through the forest, dashing at full speed before finally reaching the northern shore. The moonlight illuminated the sandy beach, casting a silver glow upon the waves that crashed against the small beach. The scent of salt lingered in the air, carried by the gentle breeze that tousled Harek's fur as he skidded to a stop, his chest heaving from the exertion of his run. 

He took a moment to catch his breath, his ears perked up as he listened to the rhythmic sound of the waves. The tranquility of the scene belied the turmoil within him as he wrestled with conflicting emotions. 

Harek's frustration bubbled to the surface, his voice echoing with the intensity of his emotions as he ranted into the night. "Why can't Yoriko see the threat humans bring to us!?" he demanded, his voice tinged with bitterness. "All they care about is themselves. Why can't they just leave us alone!?" 

Harek struggled to contain his anger, despite the tranquility of the scene, Harek's heart roiled with resentment, his mind consumed by thoughts of betrayal and mistrust. The air surged with energy as Harek's fury reached it’s peak, faint blue electricity danced around him like a tempest unleashed. With a primal high-pitched cry, he brought his fist down upon a nearby rock, his cry echoing across the desolate shore. 

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the stone, shattering it into fragments that scattered across the sand like fallen stars. Tears streamed down his furred cheeks; his heart heavy with a tumult of emotions. 

In that moment of unbridled rage, Harek felt the weight of his despair pressing down upon him like a suffocating blanket. The world seemed to blur around him as he grappled with the darkness that threatened to consume him. 

As Harek's anger subsided, memories of his childhood flooded his mind like a relentless tide. He found himself transported back to the tranquil village of his youth, nestled among the verdant trees with laughter and joy echoing through the air. But those idyllic scenes soon turned to horror as the sky darkened with billowing smoke and the air filled with the agonizing screams of his kin. 

The flames danced with an insatiable hunger, licking hungrily at the wooden huts and thatched roofs, casting flickering shadows that twisted and contorted like the faces of demons. The acrid scent of burning fur mingled with the sickening stench of charred wood, choking the air and filling his nostrils with dread. 

In his mind's eye, he saw the faces of the humans who had descended upon their village like a merciless storm. Their eyes glinted with malice as they brandished weapons forged from cold steel, their voices raised in cruel laughter as they hunted his people like animals. 

Harek could hear the desperate cries of his friends and family, their voices echoing through the forest like a haunting melody of despair. He remembered the terror in their eyes as they fled from their attackers, their once carefree spirits shattered by the violence and brutality of those who sought to destroy them. 

But for many, there was no escape. He saw them fall beneath the relentless onslaught, their bodies torn and broken by the merciless blades of their assailants. 

The memories burned like fire in his mind, searing his soul with the horrors of the past. He felt the weight of their suffering pressing down upon him like a suffocating blanket, threatening to crush him beneath it’s unbearable burden. 

Yet, amidst the darkness, he vowed he would never forget the pain and suffering of his people, that he would carry their memory with him always as a testament to their resilience and strength. 

With a heavy heart, Harek turned his gaze once more to the moonlit shore, the tears of his ancestors mingling with the saltwater of the sea. The weight of his memories bore down upon him like an anchor dragging him beneath the waves. 

Just then, a calm and elegant male voce spoke up above him, "Ah, such turmoil in such a small creature," the voice echoed, smooth and calculated. "What could be troubling you so deeply?" 

Harek's heart raced at the sound, his instincts warning him of danger. He darted his head up, only to see Baron Bones floating above him, sand trickling from the enigmatic being's form. Baron wore a sleek black formal suit, the fabric billowing from the cold breeze, his long white hair flowing like strands of silk in the wind. His piercing gaze bore down on the frightened pakari, a sinister smirk curling his lips as he observed Harek's distress. 

With trembling hands, Harek backflipped over to the forest, retrieving a stout branch from a nearby tree, brandishing it like a bo staff against the intruder. His eyes fixed on the mysterious figure. His heart pounded with fear and uncertainty as he clutched the branch ripped hastily from it’s tree. "W-who are you!?" he stammered, his voice betraying both his fear and defiance. "What do you want here? Leave this island at once, or I'll...I'll..." His voice faltered, but his grip on the branch tightened, ready to defend his home at any cost. 

Baron Bones' laughter echoed across the desolate shore as he descended gracefully, his feet touching down on the soft sand with an eerie calmness. His amused gaze fixated on Harek, his lips curling into a sly smirk. "Oh, how adorable," he mused, his voice dripping with condescension. "To think such a primitive creature would dare to issue commands to one of superior stature" He raised a hand to his lips, as if suppressing a chuckle, his eyes glinting with amusement. 

With a swift motion, Harek lunged at Baron Bones, his weapon raised high as he let out a battle cry. But to his horror, the branch passed through the man's form as if he were nothing but a mirage made of sand. Stumbling, Harek fell to his knees, his breaths coming out in panicked gasps as he stared up at the figure before him. 

Baron Bones let out a weary sigh, his expression one of mild annoyance tinged with amusement. "You're lucky, little one," he remarked in his calm and sophisticated demeanor. "I have no interest in causing trouble. Otherwise, a creature as insignificant as you would already be nothing more than a memory at my feet. Creatures such as yourself are but a speck in the grand scheme of things" 

Harek remained rooted to the sand, his limbs heavy with the weight of his despair. The world seemed to blur around him as Bones strode away, leaving behind a trail of unsettling silence in his wake. The pakari's ears drooped, his gaze fixed on the shifting sands beneath him, his mind clouded with self-doubt and anguish. 

Each passing moment felt like an eternity as he grappled with the crushing realization of his own inadequacy. How could he, a mere pakari, ever hope to stand against the formidable forces that threatened his home? The thought gnawed at him, chipping away at his already fragile resolve. 

As the echoes of Bones' footsteps faded into the distance, Harek remained alone with his thoughts, the weight of his failure pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. He felt adrift, lost in a sea of uncertainty and doubt, his spirit battered and bruised by the harsh realities of the world. 

He couldn't help but wonder if he truly belonged in this world, if he had what it took to protect the ones he loved. Harek found himself grappling with a profound sense of despair, unsure of where to turn or what path to take... 

After about ten minutes of lying in the sand, Harek's ears perked up at the sound of approaching footsteps, he slowly lifted his gaze to see Yoriko standing before him. Despite the turmoil in his heart, a flicker of relief washed over him at the sight of his ally. Yoriko's presence offered a semblance of comfort in the midst of his inner despair. 

The wolf pakari's calm, deep voice cut through the silence, his expression one of concern tinged with understanding. With a gentle hand resting on his waist, Yoriko regarded Harek with a mixture of surprise and empathy, "I must admit, it's rather unusual to find you lying in the sand like this," Yoriko remarked, his tone measured and reassuring. "You're not one to let your emotions get the better of you, even in moments of anger or frustration" 

Harek's eyes fluttered shut briefly as he exhaled a sigh of relief, the tension in his body gradually easing with Yoriko's reassuring presence. His voice, carrying a hint of regret and humility. "Yoriko, I...I apologize for my behavior," Harek began, his words tinged with remorse. "I shouldn't have let my emotions cloud my judgment, especially not when we had guests to attend to. I've ruined the banquet Okara and you prepared for Azuma and his friends" 

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, wide with alarm and urgency. The rabbit leaped to his feet, his demeanor shifting from contrition to frantic concern. His voice, now tinged with panic, spilled forth in a rapid stream of words as he relayed the imminent danger. 

"But there's no time for that now! An intruder, a man who can turn himself into sand, has landed on the island!" Harek exclaimed, his voice trembling with urgency. "He could be heading towards Okara and the others as we speak!" 

Harek's declaration struck Yoriko like a thunderbolt, his normally composed demeanor giving way to a flash of raw emotion. With fierce disbelief in his eyes, he clenched his fists tightly, his voice booming with shock and command as he shouted. "Are you absolutely sure about this, Harek!?" Yoriko demanded, his voice resonating with a sense of pressure. The confirmation from his fellow pakari only fueled his fears further. 

Without wasting another moment, they sprang into action, each moving with their own unique agility through the dense foliage of the forest. Harek bounded forward with remarkable speed running on all fours, each powerful leap propelling him several meters closer to their destination. Meanwhile, Yoriko glided effortlessly through the canopy above, his movements swift and graceful as he maintained a vigilant watch over the forest below. 

Together, they raced against the clock, their hearts pounding with a sense of impending danger as they sought to reach the camp before Baron could pose a threat to Okara and the others... 

Back In The Village... 

Azuma's head abruptly shot up, the pirate’s gaze scanning across the camp with a stern intensity, his brows furrowed in deep thought. Seated on the log beside Seraph and Rosera, he maintained his vigilance, his posture rigid with a sense of unease. Meanwhile, Kenzu remained in the distance, standing near a tree with his arms crossed, his keen eyes scanning the village, ever watchful for signs of danger. Amidst the scene, Roxie indulged in his meal with gusto, devouring his food with immense hunger. 

Feeling the weight of her captain's unease, Rosera reached out, her cold palm resting gently on Azuma's shoulder. Her vampiric gaze held concern as she questioned him, her voice soft yet filled with a sense of worry, seeking to understand the source of his distress. She inquired about Azuma's sudden unease. "Azuma? Why do you seem so troubled all of a sudden?" 

In response, Azuma's tone shifted to one of seriousness. "I can feel it," he explained, his voice carrying a weight of foreboding as he expressed his sense of impending danger. "There's something or someone approaching. I can sense their seinshin growing stronger with each passing moment" 

Kenzu's voice cut through the air, "He's right,” his words carrying a chill of confirmation as he acknowledged the faint yet discernible energy growing nearer. "I can feel it too. It's faint, but it's definitely there" Kenzu's hand hovered near the hilt of his blade, the metallic sheen catching the firelight as he prepared to defend the camp against the approaching threat. Okara's voice trembled with fear, her words soft and hesitant as she sought clarification. "W-What's happening?" she asked, her white tail curling protectively around her legs as a shiver ran down her spine. 

In a soft but firm voice, Azuma directed Okara to seek refuge in one of the nearby huts with the others, urging her to remain there until it was safe. With a nod, she scurried off along with several other pakari, seeking shelter within their wooden tents. Meanwhile, Azuma and his crew stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a protective line between the looming forest and the flickering flames of the firepit, their faces set in determined expressions as they braced themselves for the arrival of the mysterious figure. 

Azuma's gaze hardened as he observed the figure emerging from the darkness, revealing itself to be none other than Baron Bones. Surprise and disbelief flickered across his features at the unexpected sight of his former adversary. Kenzu, recognizing the intruder, loosened his grip on his blade with a resigned sigh, his tone tinged with a hint of annoyance. "Oh, it's you," he muttered, before inquiring about Baron Bones' purpose for seeking them out in this secluded spot. 

Baron's lips grew into a slight smirk as he addressed them with his calm and sophisticated demeanor, "Ah, Kenzu," he remarked, amusement lacing his voice. "Stubborn as ever, I see...let's not forget, it was I who saved you all there, back in Aqua Bastion. Without my timely assistance, you might have met a less fortunate fate at the hands of the warden, or the Dark Star Syndicate" 

Kenzu's gaze remained fixed on Baron, his arms folded across his chest in a display of firm resolve. "That's the only thing that's keeping you breathing," he stated, his voice carrying the weight of his conviction. Meanwhile, Baron's smirk widened ever so slightly, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement at the subtle tension in the air. 

Baron's voice, smooth and composed, carried a hint of mockery as he addressed Seraph. "You may think you have the upper hand, but do you truly understand the nature of your opponent?" he remarked, gesturing casually towards the floating eye with dark purple bat wings behind his own head. "With a mere detonation, you won't achieve much," Baron continued, his tone almost taunting. "My existence is far more fluid than you realize. Even if you were to detonate it at point blank range, I'd simply reform from the sand beneath our feet" 

Seraph's expression tightened, his hand slowly retracting as he weighed his options. The unsettling truth of Baron's resilience settled heavily upon him, leaving him momentarily uncertain of his next move. 

Crimson red flames of seinshin flickered to life around Azuma, casting an eerie glow upon his features as he confronted Baron Bones. His voice, though controlled, held a steely edge as he demanded answers. "You brought us to this island, but for what purpose? If we were of no further use to you, you could have easily left us to our fate. So, why are you here? What is it that you hope to gain?" 

Baron Bones, his expression unreadable, regarded Azuma with a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "Ah, the ever-perceptive Captain Azuma," he mused, “You are correct in your assumption, I had my reasons for bringing you here" He took a step forward, the sand beneath his feet shifting subtly. "But rest assured, I did not intend to leave you to die. After all, you may prove to be valuable assets in the coming future" 

Azuma clenched his fist, his eyes narrowing as he studied the figure before him. "Valuable assets?" he repeated, a note of skepticism creeping into his voice. "And what exactly do you intend to gain from us?" 

Baron's smirk widened slightly, a glint of something inscrutable dancing in his eyes. "All in due time, Captain," he replied cryptically. "For now, let us simply say that our interests align—for the moment, at least" 

In a surreal display, a dark energy began to materialize from the center of the magika user's chest, coalescing into the form of the cursed tier blade, amaterasu. The sinister black blade emerged from the sandy soil with an ominous presence, a dark aura swirling around it like a shroud of malevolence. 

Baron Bones stood before them, his torso transforming into a swirling vortex of sand as the blade slid effortlessly from his body. The grains of sand cascaded down from the cavity where his chest once was, forming a small mound at his feet. His face remained impassive, betraying no hint of the turmoil within as he watched the blade emerge. 

The air crackled with tension as all eyes remained transfixed on the unearthly sight before them. The blade, once thought lost, now stood embedded in the earth, radiating an aura of foreboding power that seemed to suffuse the very air around it. 

As the dark blade amaterasu emerged from Baron Bones' chest, a collective gasp escaped the lips of Azuma and his crew. The dark aura of the cursed tier blade sent shivers down their spines, evoking memories of their encounter with the undead samurai Sinyugia on Dread Rot Island. 

Azuma's gaze narrowed as he recognized the ominous weapon, his mind flashing back to the fateful moment when Sinyugia bestowed the blade upon him. He remembered the weight of it’s curse and the darkness that it symbolized. 

The purple aura surrounding amaterasu cast an eerie glow across the campsite, it’s presence a reminder of the dangers they faced. With a sense of determination, Azuma stepped forward, his hand reaching out to grip the hilt of his once lost sword. Though he knew the risks that came with wielding such a weapon, he also understood the necessity of confronting the darkness head-on. 

With a deep breath, Azuma closed his hand around the hilt of amaterasu, he felt a surge of dark energy coursing through his veins, familiar yet unsettling.  It’s presence casting a shadow over the campsite as if beckoning to the darkness within. 

Closing his eyes, Azuma took a deep breath, steeling himself against the eerie sensation that enveloped him. Despite the cold heaviness of the blade’s aura, he couldn't deny the sense of empowerment that surged through him—a reminder of the formidable power that a cursed-tier weapon possessed. 

With a steady hand, Azuma withdrew the blade from the earth, the purple aura swirling around him like a tempest unleashed. As the katana glinted in the firelight, he couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence coursing through him. 

Standing tall amidst the flickering flames, Azuma's gaze hardened with power. With the cursed tier blade once again at his side, he knew that he would need to tread carefully. But with it’s power at his disposal, he was prepared to confront whatever darkness dared to threaten their path. 

With his arm at his side, Azuma tightened his grip on the blade, his eyes locked in a steely glare at Baron Bones. heavy with suspicion and distrust, Azuma demanded answers. "What is it that you need from us?" Azuma's voice cut through the silence, resonating with a firmness that brooked no evasion. "You wouldn't just return my sword without expecting something in return" 

Baron's demeanor remained unchanged as he brushed the hair from his eyes, the sand that had comprised his torso flowing back into its normal form. With one hand casually tucked in his pocket, he met Azuma's gaze with a steady calmness, his voice measured and deliberate as he finally revealed his intentions. 

"The reason I saved you and returned your sword, Azuma...is because I require your assistance in retrieving a certain artifact....the Celestial Pearl of Poseidon, located within the Aqua Kingdom" 

Kenousa and his crew exchanged stunned glances, their eyes widening in shock as they processed the gravity of Baron's request. Even Kenzu, known for his unshakable composure, was visibly taken aback by the revelation. 

"And why," Azuma spoke, his voice edged with caution, "should we help you retrieve this artifact? What is it’s significance to you, Baron!?" 

Baron faintly smiled; his eyes gleaming with a hint of intrigue. "The celestial pearl of Poseidon is a relic of immense power," he explained, his words laced with a sense of reverence. "With it, one could achieve the very apex of existence...immortality " 

The weight of Baron's words hung heavy in the air, the implications of his request echoing through the minds of Azuma and his crew. Azuma's voice cut through the air like a blade, his words sharp and resolute. "Immortality!?" he scoffed; his tone laced with disdain. "You expect us to aid you in obtaining such power!? You must be out of your mind. I would sooner see the seas dry out than allow a man like you to become immortal!" 

His eyes blazed with defiance as he faced Baron, his stance unwavering despite the weight of the situation. The very idea of granting such power to someone like him was unthinkable to him, a betrayal of everything he stood for. 

"We will not be pawns in your twisted game," Azuma declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "You may have saved us once, but that does not give you the right to dictate our fate. We will find another way to stop whatever madness you seek to unleash upon the world" 

  

The words dripped from Baron's lips like venom, his voice laced with icy disdain. "Oh, Azuma," he began, his tone smooth and calculated, "I had anticipated a more amenable response from you" 

With a flick of his wrist, sand erupted from Azuma's sword, swirling violently before shooting towards him. The grains snaked their way into Azuma's mouth, slithering down his throat like a suffocating serpent. 

Azuma's eyes widened in shock and horror as he choked and gasped for air, dropping amaterasu with his hands clawing at his throat in a desperate attempt to clear the obstruction. The sands bound him, rendering him powerless as he collapsed to his knees, his strength failing him. 

Baron watched with cold detachment, a cruel smirk playing upon his face as he witnessed Azuma's suffering. "Surely now you realize Azuma," Baron's voice echoed in the night air, dripping with malice, "you must see the futility of resistance now. Submit, and the torment will cease. Persist, and it will only grow more agonizing until your breath has diminished" 

“AZUMA!” Each crew member's cries echoed through the night, a chorus of anguish and fear as they watched their captain's struggle for breath. Seraph, his voice a blend of elegance and fury, demanded Baron to release Azuma before facing dire consequences. "RELEASE HIM...AT ONCE!!" Seraph's words carried a weight of authority and utter hatred as he extended his hands, his golden locks flowing in the wind. With a flourish of power, he summoned forth a colossal inferio, it’s dark-purple bat-like wings unfurling with a menacing grace. The inferio's large orange iris fixated on Baron, emanating a tense aura of hatred that seemed to intensify with each passing moment. 

As the colossal inferio loomed behind them, it's dark-purple wings veiled shadows over the forest with Seraph's rage reaching it’s breaking point. His usual elegance was replaced by raw fury, his jaw clenched so tight it seemed as though his teeth might shatter under the pressure. Each beat of the creature's wings shook the forest itself. 

Roxie's voice quivered with fear, his words stuttered and breathless as he struggled to comprehend the sheer magnitude of the inferio's presence. "W-What...what the hell is that thing?!" 

Baron Bones, the epitome of calm in the midst of chaos, spoke with a chilling confidence. His elegant demeanor only served to amplify the terror of the moment as he calmly reminded them of his formidable power. "Have you forgotten Seraph? even if you were to obliterate me, I would simply reform from the sand around us" 

Kenzu's voice carried the weight of uncertainty, his words laced with the fear of the unknown. "Is this truly our only recourse?" His gaze flickered to Seraph, silently pleading for reassurance in the face of impending danger. 

Rosera's fury blazed like wildfire, her vampiric instincts driving her to protect her beloved captain at any cost. With fangs bared and eyes glowing crimson, she hissed a menacing threat at him, her voice dripping with venom. "Release Azuma now, or I'll make sure you regret ever crossing paths with us!" 

Each member of Azuma's crew poised on the edge of action, their fates hanging in the balance as they confronted the looming threat before them. 

Azuma's desperate struggle for breath intensified, his body wracked with spasms as he lay helpless on the forest floor, his vision blurring with each passing moment. The sheer terror of suffocation tightened around him, draining the color from his face as his strength waned. 

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of turquoise seinshin soared through the air, slicing through the darkness with a force that split trees in it’s wake. The impact sent wood crashing to the ground, echoing the chaos that ensued. Baron Bones, momentarily split vertically down the middle by the powerful strike, stood in astonishment as his form began to fragment, each half quivering with instability. 

But the tyrant's control over his own body proved formidable. With an eerie flow, the separated halves began to merge once more, seamlessly rejoining to restore his form. A chilling display of power, a reminder of the formidable adversary they faced. 

At that moment, Yoriko and Harek touched down between Azuma and the assailant, electricity surging around the pakari's furred body. With each step, their presence exuded a formidable energy. The sudden appearance of Yoriko and Harek brought a surge of hope to the tense scene. With unwavering resolve, his piercing gaze locked onto the assailant, a silent promise of protection for his island and the inhabitants. 

Sensing the shift in dynamics, Seraph reacted swiftly, dispersing his inferio with a wave of his hand. The colossal creature dissipated into nothingness, leaving only the determined stance of the wolf pakari as the last line of defense against the encroaching threat. 

Yoriko's eyes held a determined gleam as he turned to Azuma's crew. "You all retreat for now. We'll defend our island like true Pakari" His voice resonated with conviction; a leader ready to protect his home at any cost. 

Harek's expression softened, a mixture of remorse and determination flickering in his eyes. He stepped forward, his voice tinged with sincerity. "Please, allow me to make amends. I'll fight by your side. I want to atone for my foolishness and defend our home as a true Pakari" His words carried the weight of his past mistakes, a solemn pledge to right his wrongs. 

The dark-wolf smiled, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, as he nodded to the white rabbit. Together, they turned to face their opponent, ready to defend against any threat. 

The suited man's laughter then filled the air, carrying an unsettling calmness. His voice, calm and sinister, mocked their resolve. "Do you truly believe two mere animals can best one who has mastered their magika abilities?" As he spoke, a golden aura illuminated Bones, the air around him crackling with intense seinshin, causing the sand to sizzle and swirl around his body. 

"Impudent creatures, your actions only make it easier for me to rid this island of every last one of your kind. As much as I detest mindless violence, I have no more time to waste on this pitiful island" 

With a swift motion, Harek sent Azuma's cursed blade spinning into the air with a kick, catching it effortlessly in one hand. "The pakari will give their lives for Panora and its people," he declared, his words echoing with the weight of his conviction. 

As the magika user advanced, he summoned forth a swirling tempest of sand that enveloped the entirety of Panora Island in a dome-shaped shroud. Within its confines, the storm raged with ferocity, obscuring sight and sound alike. Yoriko and Harek stood at the heart of this maelstrom, surrounded by a thick tsunami of sand that left them at the mercy of the chaos unfolding around them. 

Yoriko stood resolute, drawing his obsidian katana with a practiced hand. Infusing it with his own energy, he unleashed a powerful slice of seinshin into the air. Harek observed in awe as the slash cleaved through the sandstorm, briefly unveiling their adversary: his left side severed from his body before the veil of sand swiftly obscured their vision once more. With a chuckle, Yoriko called out to their assailant, declaring that no matter how he might hide within the sand, his scent would always betray him. 

Within the confines of the wooden tent, Azuma and his crew sought refuge from the relentless assault of the sandstorm. Outside, the tempest raged with a ferocity that seemed almost palpable, the swirling sands battering against the thin walls of their shelter. Huddled together, the pirates exchanged worried glances, their faces drawn with concern as they listened to the tumultuous roar of the storm. 

Meanwhile, amidst the chaos of the sandstorm, Yoriko and Harek stood as lone sentinels, their forms barely visible amidst the swirling maelstrom of sand. With each passing moment, swords of condensed sand materialized from the dense blizzard, hurtling towards the pakari duo with deadly intent. 

But Yoriko was undaunted, his movements a blur of speed as he wielded his katana with unparalleled skill. With each swing of his blade, he shattered the oncoming sand projectiles, his seinshin-infused weapon cutting through the sand like a hot knife through butter. 

Beside him, Harek moved with a fluid grace, his movements a dance of agility amidst the chaos of the storm. With each step, he deftly evaded the deadly sand swords, his keen eyes scanning the battlefield for any sign of weakness in their opponent's onslaught. 

Together, Yoriko and Harek stood firm against the fury of the sandstorm, their blades flashing in the dim light as they fought to protect their island home. Through the thick haze of the sand-filled air, Yoriko's keen senses cut through the chaos, detecting the faintest hint of their adversary's scent. With a fierce grip on his blade, he launched into action, his movements a blur of agility as he unleashed a flurry of sword strikes. Each slash cut through the air with precision, sending a vivid cascade of colorful energy rippling through the storm. 

As the last of Yoriko's strikes echoed through the battlefield, the swirling sands began to dissipate, revealing Baron standing before them. His once-confident demeanor had faltered, his breaths labored and ragged as he struggled to regain his composure. Sand poured from his body, evidence of the severe slashes that marred his form, the wounds slowly knitting themselves back together with each passing moment. 

Despite his efforts to maintain control, the strain of conjuring the sandstorm and repeatedly healing his injuries had taken it’s toll on the magika user. His aura of confidence had waned, replaced by an air of exhaustion as he faced the relentless defiance of his opponents. Though he remained a formidable foe, it was clear that even his unique powers had their limits in the face of such determined resistance. 

Baron's once composed demeanor shattered in a crescendo of fury, his eyes blazing with rage as he clenched his jaw, his voice resonating with seething anger. "YOU INSOLENT PESTS! TREMBLE BEFORE THE MIGHT OF A TRUE MAGIKA MASTER!" he bellowed, his tone dripping with malice. 

With a forceful slam of his palm upon the ground, the earth trembled beneath his touch, sand began to swirl around him in a furious cyclone. Rising into the air, he became enveloped in the swirling tempest, his form obscured by the raging sands. 

Yoriko and Harek exchanged a tense glance, bracing themselves for whatever came next. "What's he planning now?" Yoriko growled, his voice a low rumble of suspicion. 

Harek's gaze remained fixed on the swirling sandstorm. His voice tinged with uncertainty responded, "Whatever it is, it can't be good" 

As the cyclone intensified, shaping itself into a formidable barrier around Baron, the magika user's voice echoed from within the swirling sands. "Behold the might of my sand golem!" he declared, his words carrying over the howling winds. "With this, I shall crush you both!" 

Yoriko tightened his grip on his blade, his seinshin-infused katana crackling with energy. "We'll see about that," he retorted, his voice firm with determination. "Let's bring this sandcastle down!" 

“R-right! Harek agreed as both gripped their blades firmly. The sand golem loomed, it’s towering form casting a menacing shadow over the forest. Each step it took sent tremors through the earth, causing the trees to shake violently as if quivering in fear. It’s eyes glowed with a malevolent purple light, illuminating the darkness around it. 

Yoriko faced the golem with a cold glare, his green eyes shimmering with determination as he met the creature's gaze. His turquoise cloak billowed behind him, caught in the fierce winds generated by the clash of forces. With a deep thunderous roar, the golem swung it’s massive fist toward them. 

In response, Yoriko took action, his movements swift and precise. With a deft motion, he brought his blade up to intercept the golem's attack. Around them, seinshin crackled and surged like turquoise lightning, the clash of wills between the wolf and the formidable golem, sending shockwaves through the air. 

As Yoriko clashed with the sand golem, Harek stood by, his eyes wide with shock and admiration for his courageous leader. His long ears fluttered in the strong breeze, accentuating his anxious expression as he watched the intense battle unfold before him. 

Suddenly, Harek's attention was drawn to the sand golem as it opened it’s mouth, preparing to unleash a deadly attack. "Yoriko, watch out!" Harek shouted, his voice filled with worry. "It's about to strike!" 

Without hesitation, driven by instinct, Harek launched himself into action. "I won't let you!" he declared, kicking off the ground with all his strength, hurtling himself into the path of the incoming shards. The sharp projectiles pierced through his torso and right arm, sending pain shooting through Harek's body. 

"Argh!" he grunted; his voice strained with effort. "I've got you, Yoriko! You focus on the golem!" Despite the pain coursing through his body and the blood staining his once pristine white fur, Harek remained steadfast. With gritted teeth, he huffed from the pain but refused to falter, his gaze fixed on the golem. 

As Yoriko's blade clashed relentlessly with the golem's fist, cracks began to form along the surface of the monstrous appendage. Harek's eyes widened in anticipation as he sensed the imminent victory. 

"Keep pushing, Yoriko!" he cried out, his voice strained but resolute. "You've almost got it!" With a final surge of power, Yoriko's blade proved too much for the golem to withstand. The creature's right arm erupted into a cascade of sand, the particles scattering in the wind like grains of dust. 

The golem's roar echoed through the forest, a deep and primal sound that seemed to shake the very earth beneath their feet. It’s right arm disintegrated into swirling sand, lost to the overwhelming power of Yoriko's blade. Yet, undeterred by the loss, the creature unleashed a furious onslaught, launching a barrage of sharp sand spikes from it’s remaining hand. 

With a swift and decisive motion, Yoriko raised his arm, his turquoise cloak billowing behind him in the wind. Channeling his formidable seinshin energy, he created a protective barrier that rippled outward in a shimmering shockwave. The barrage of sand spikes met this barrier head-on, their sharp tips shattering upon impact, reduced to harmless fragments before they could reach their intended targets. 

Yoriko stood amidst the chaos, his gaze focused and calm, a testament to his mastery over his life force power. Beside him, Harek watched with a mixture of awe and respect, his admiration for his fellow pakari growing with each passing moment. 

As the golem’s colossal form hurtled through the air, rage seemed to ignite a transformation, contorting it’s body into a monstrous mass resembling an asteroid plummeting toward the earth. The trees thrashed wildly as the creature descended with relentless fury. 

Yoriko's breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles protesting from the strain of channeling so much energy. Yet, despite his weariness, an unyielding resolve burned within him, propelling him forward. With a surge of adrenaline, Yoriko launched himself into the air, his powerful leap carrying him high above the forest canopy. The wind roared around him, his cloak billowing in the fierce gusts as he ascended, his eyes locked on the approaching behemoth. 

Yoriko's voice cut through the howling winds, "If this is to be our end, then so be it. I shall meet it defending those I hold dear and the land that nurtured us!" 

That’s when he saw Harek beside him, Harek's tone matched his resolve. "I stand with you, Yoriko. I'll gladly give my life for our fellow pakari and this sacred land. Should death find me, let it be at your side, an honorable death" 

Their words echoed through the chaos, carrying the weight of their burning will and the strength of their bond. With all their might and seinshin prowess, both warriors sent their blades slicing through the air, connecting with the colossal ball of sand. The duo's seinshin synced together, creating an electrifying display of power as the forest quaked and pale blue seinshin lightning crackled around them like a thunderstorm. 

Inside the tent, Azuma laid unconscious with Rosera sitting beside him while his crew watched the clash, their breaths held as they witnessed the intense battle unfolding before them. Roxie, his voice trembling with a mix of excitement and fear, exclaimed at the incredible display of seinshin. "I've never seen anything like this! It's like a storm of pure energy!" 

Meanwhile, outside, the forest echoed with the clash of blades and the rumble of the earth as Yoriko and Harek struggled against the swirling mass of sand. 

Baron's sadistic laughter pierced the air, his voice a chilling echo of impending doom as he mocked the pakari duo. "You pitiful creatures, you stand no chance against my full power!," he sneered, "Prepare yourselves, for the end of the pakari race draws near!" 

With adrenaline filled hope, Yoriko and Harek pressed on, their blades piercing against the mass of sand with steeled resolve. Slowly but steadily, cracks began to form on the surface of the sphere, spreading like fissures across it’s golden expanse. 

Baron's expression twisted in disbelief as he watched the cracks widen, his confidence fading in the face of the pakari's unyielding might. "Impossible..." he muttered, his voice barely audible over the tumultuous roar of the swirling sand. 

Before he could utter another word, the sphere erupted in a blinding burst of golden seinshin, engulfing Yoriko and Harek in radiant light that hurled them into the earth below. Once the dust settled, a deep crater remained, a silent testament to the fierce battle that had taken place. 

As the sand relinquished hold on Azuma's body, he gasped for air, his chest heaving as he struggled to regain his senses. Blinking rapidly, his blurred vision gradually cleared, revealing the worried faces of his crew hovering over him. 

"Captain!" Rosera's voice rang out like a bell, filled with relief and joy as she enveloped him in a tight embrace. "You're ok!" she exclaimed, her words a mix of excitement and gratitude as she held him close. 

Kenzu couldn't help but smirk, a wave of relief washing over him at the sight of his captain's recovery. "Looks like you're tougher than you look, Captain," he remarked, his voice laced with admiration. 

Seraph's elegant demeanor remained intact as he expressed his joy. "I must say, Captain, I was quite concerned for your well-being. It's a relief to see you back on your feet," he remarked, his tone filled with genuine happiness. 

Roxie's voice carried a buoyant tone as he chimed in, "Man, am I glad you're okay, Captain! We were all worried sick about you," he exclaimed, his words brimming with genuine relief. 

Azuma struggled to his feet, his movements slow and unsteady as he brushed the dirt from his clothes. Despite his dizziness, a faint smile graced his lips as he thanked his crew for their vigilance, apologizing for his lapse in judgment. 

"It seems I let myself be caught off guard," he admitted, his voice strained. "But thanks to you all and Yoriko, I'm still here" Together, they approached the large crater where Yoriko and Harek lay. 

Yoriko breathed heavily, his body trembling with exhaustion as he struggled to move. Azuma's heart sank at the sight of his comrade in such a state. “Hold in there, me and my crew will get someone who can help you both!” Azuma cried out in a worried tone. 

Harek's voice, barely audible over the rustling of leaves, could be heard, "I...I fear it's too late for me," he murmured, his breaths shallow and labored. "A shard...pierced something vital..." Despite the pain etched on his face, there was a serene acceptance in his tone, as if he had already made peace with his fate. 

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he spoke of his brief moment of camaraderie with Yoriko. "It was an honor to fight beside you, for that moment...I felt...truly... like a pakari. I...I'm sorry," he whispered, I judged too quickly...I thought all humans were the same...but I see now...there are good ones... good ones like you..." 

His breaths grew softer with each passing moment, but he pressed on, wanting to express his deepest sentiments before it was too late. "I...I wish...I could have met them," he continued, "The...the good humans...the ones who...who see beyond... beyond the surface..." 

A flicker of sadness crossed Harek's eyes as he spoke, regret, with the acceptance of his fate. His chest rose and fell one last time, a sigh of resignation escaping his lips as his eyelids fluttered shut. In that moment, the forest seemed to fall silent as if paying homage to the fallen warrior. With Harek's final exhale, his body went still, the weight of his sacrifice echoing in the somber tranquility of the clearing... 

A Few Hours Later... 

As the gentle breeze whispered through the leaves, a solemn silence enveloped the gathering of mourners. Yoriko knelt before the freshly turned earth, his head bowed in reverence for his fallen comrade. Around him, the pakari formed a solemn circle, their presence a testament to the unity and strength of their tribe. 

Azuma and his crew stood among them; their heads bowed in respect for the fallen warrior. Despite their differences, they shared in the sorrow of loss, acknowledging the sacrifice made. 

  

With a heavy heart, Yoriko spoke words of farewell, his voice carrying a mix of sorrow and gratitude. As they laid their fallen comrade to rest beneath the sheltering branches of the tree, they knew that his legacy would endure, a reminder of the bonds that united them as a tribe. 

Soon after, Azuma approached Yoriko with a heavy heart, his expression reflecting the weight of his decision. "Yoriko," he began, his voice tinged with regret, "it's because of us that Baron Bones came to this island. More pakari blood shouldn't be spilled because of our presence here" 

Yoriko looked up, meeting Azuma's gaze with a mixture of understanding and sadness. "You think it's best for you and your crew to leave," he stated, more as a realization than a question. 

Azuma nodded solemnly. "Yes," he replied, his tone resolute yet pained. "We've already caused enough trouble for your tribe. It's time for us to go" 

Yoriko placed a hand on Azuma's shoulder, a silent gesture of gratitude and respect. "Thank you, Azuma," he said softly. "For everything" 

With a final nod, Azuma turned to his crew, conveying his decision to depart. As they prepared to leave the island behind, they knew that their time among the pakari had left an indelible mark on their hearts, forever shaping their journey ahead. 

Upon reaching the shore, a hushed whisper of sand stirred before them, coalescing into a faint silhouette that sent shivers down their spines. The pirates, taken aback, stood frozen, their breath caught in their throats as they beheld the mysterious apparition. 

Then, as if carried by the breeze itself, Baron's voice, though barely audible, reached their ears with an unsettling cryptic message. "What you seek...is on Emerald Island," he intoned, each word dripping with enigma and intrigue, before the ephemeral figure dissolved into the ether, leaving nothing but a lingering sense of foreboding. 

The pirates exchanged wary glances, their minds racing with questions. Yet, a flicker of curiosity ignited within Kenousa, wondering just what elusive answers awaited to be unraveled on Emerald Island... 

Sea Corp Infiltration ARC