Two days later, the merchant ship finally reached its next stop.
Slime Island, the first of three islands on the way to Pet Island.
Their luck had held steady.
The skies were clear, the sea calm. After the nightmare of Devil Island, the journey felt almost too peaceful, as if all their misfortune had already been spent.
When the merchant ship pulled into port, it immediately drew stares. But once the crowd noticed the armored guards with broadswords stationed on deck, most of those greedy eyes quickly turned away.
A ship this size was a prize but not an easy one. Even with the heavy losses suffered on Devil Island, fifty hardened guards remained, plus seasoned sailors who'd fought storms and pirates alike.
Without those losses, the ship's strength would have been even greater. Out of the men who had set foot on Devil Island, more than forty had died. Barely eighty returned.
The ship only planned a short stop here, an hour at most.
Teach and Mobius stepped onto the island. The moment their boots touched soil, they sank slightly.
"Whoa! My feet are sinking! The ground's like jelly!" Mobius shouted, stomping experimentally. Each time his foot pressed down, the ground gave way, then smoothed itself out the instant he lifted it.
Teach chuckled. "This place is called Slime Island for a reason. The whole island's made of soft yellow mud. Don't worry, it'll hold."
The two of them walked toward town. Teach's coat was shredded, his shirt in tatters. He looked more like a beggar than a pirate. First order of business; new clothes.
Some pirates hanging around the port noticed his ragged appearance. They snickered, pointing and whispering.
"Boss Teach, want me to shut them up?" Mobius growled, clenching his fists.
Teach waved him off. His grin was cold. "Mobius, never waste energy on gnats. If the strong take pride in crushing the weak, it just proves that's all they're capable of. These fools? They don't even deserve death."
Just then, a gang of ruffians swaggered over. Eight in total, knives, iron rods, cheap sneers.
"Oi! You two. Hand over your valuables," the leader jeered. "Otherwise, you might leave here missing an arm or two."
"Boss, look at his clothes. He's broke!" one lackey whispered.
"Idiot!" The leader smacked him upside the head. "You questioning me?!" He twirled a dagger theatrically, though his hands gave him away. Flashy, but not dangerous.
Teach didn't even blink. "Mobius. Show me what you've learned."
Mobius stiffened. Eight against one. His heart hammered, but then the eagerness bubbled up. He wanted to see for himself just how far he'd come.
He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. His frame stretched upward, his long arms hanging loose. "Hmph! If you want Boss Teach, you'll have to go through me first."
The thugs laughed, but Mobius ignored them. He reached up, grabbed his right shoulder, and with a sharp crack, dislocated the joint. One by one, he popped free his elbow and wrist joints.
The ruffians gawked. Just watching it made their stomachs twist.
"Doesn't that hurt…?" one muttered.
Mobius gritted his teeth through the sting, then loosened his left arm as well. A grin spread across his face.
The leader snarled and lunged with his steel pipe. "Enough tricks! I'll smash your skull in!"
"Snake Hand: Entangle."
Mobius' arms lashed out like serpents, wrapping around the pipe and wrenching it free. The leader stumbled forward, wide open.
"Snake Hand: Wild Strike!"
Mobius' arms snapped like whips, slamming into the man's face again and again.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Each blow left a fresh welt. Within seconds, the man's face was swollen red and purple, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed unconscious.
Mobius panted, exhilarated. For some reason, the thrill of whipping these bullies felt… good. Too good.
The remaining seven ruffians were frozen in terror.
"D-devil!" one squeaked.
"Long-arm freak!" another cried.
Mobius' grin faltered at that last insult. His eyes narrowed.
"Snake Hand: Frenzied Wild Strike!"
He tore into them, his snake-like arms lashing out in a blur. Faces ballooned under the blows. One by one they dropped, groaning, clutching their swollen heads.
Teach watched, arms crossed, a small smile tugging at his lips. He's coming along nicely. Still a long way from snapping trees in half, but the progress is real. Hah… though maybe he's enjoying this a bit too much.
Mobius finally stopped, chest heaving, sweat beading on his forehead. A shiver suddenly ran down his spine, as if someone had just thought something unsavory about him.
The beaten ruffians lay in the dirt, groaning. Teach clapped Mobius on the shoulder. "Good. Now let's get those clothes."
They found a large clothing shop in town. The owner, a sharp-eyed man used to pirates of all kinds, greeted Teach without flinching at his ragged state. One glance at the emerald bracelet around Teach's neck told him this wasn't just any vagabond.
"Welcome, sir. Looking for something in particular?"
"Zehahahaha! A coat, a shirt, and trousers. Black for the coat. Money's no issue."
The owner's eyes lit up. He quickly measured Teach's shoulders and waist, then returned with a set. Teach tried on a blue-purple plaid shirt, dark trousers, and finally a black captain's coat trimmed in gold and silver. On the back, two white claws crossed in an X. It suited him perfectly.
"Good," Teach nodded. He gestured toward Mobius. "Fit him as well."
Soon, Mobius was strutting out in a striped shirt and shorts, grinning ear to ear.
They wandered the streets for a while, snacking and picking up supplies. Mobius even spotted a silver snake-shaped necklace to match Teach's own. Without hesitation, Teach bought it for him.
By the time they returned to the port, the crew was already gathering back on board. Teach paused, glancing around with a faint smile.
"Boss Teach? Something wrong?" Mobius asked, sensing his mood.
"Zehahaha… nothing. Just a little bug crawling toward our ship."
Mobius nodded grimly. He knew what that meant.
Pirates.
Hidden in the alleys, eyes glinted from the shadows. Den Den Mushi relayed whispers. The scent of greed thickened in the air.
On another ship, a burly pirate captain lounged with a naked woman in his arms. A Den Den Mushi crackled.
"Captain, the merchant ship's about to leave."
The man shoved the woman aside without a second glance, stood, and pulled on his coat. His eyes gleamed.
"Tell the boys to gather. Tonight, fortune smiles on us. With this prize, I'll rise to greatness."
He threw his head back and laughed.