Near the Kraken Kingdom, dozens of islands ring the waters around Kanosfa Island, home of the Tirisfal Kingdom. Most of these islands remain uninhabited and perilous, shaped by their proximity to the Calm Belt.
The Calm Belt carries a strange magnetic environment and shelters swarms of Sea Kings. Even the islands here are home to monstrous wildlife, with legends whispering of creatures that verge on the mythical.
Among the most celebrated are the ancient North Sea Kraken and the Eight Foot Raven that once haunted the South Sea Forbidden Zone. Their traces have vanished from the world, yet stories of them continue to ripple across the seas.
On one such deserted island near the Kraken Kingdom, a new group of visitors arrived unannounced.
Three pirate ships eased into the shallows and anchored near the coastline.
"It's been almost a day and the Captain is still training. Let's get off and rest first. Watch yourselves. There should be beasts here," Wallace said as he eyed the dense jungle. His warning came too late, since half the crew had already left the ship.
Nelson, dressed in a neat black suit with a top hat, was perched on a tree branch like a silent owl, staring far into the trees.
Pito, in black denim and a dark blue beret, hopped down with a half-chewed dried fish dangling from his mouth before strolling into the forest.
The newly joined Laffitte tipped his top hat with a pleasant smile, tapping the tip of his cane as he disembarked with that unsettling gait of his.
The two young monks had already disappeared into the foliage, shouting in excitement.
Pouf unfurled the shimmering butterfly wings on his back, purple and blue scales spiraling in the wind. The sudden gust plastered his clothes to his body, sending his robe fluttering behind him like a banner.
The one who ran the fastest was Gar. He had already vanished from sight. For him, every island was a chance to indulge the raw instinct that rattled in his blood. Hunting at sea was fun, but the water muted something primal in him. Land was where he felt free.
A roar echoed through the forest, deep and thunderous. That was Gar's voice, saturated with excitement and release.
"Hehe. We should head out too. Wouldn't want to miss the fun," Van Augur said with a faint smile as he polished his beloved rifle, Colt.
Wallace nodded and followed. Both men stepped off the ship, leaving only Kaguya behind.
Whenever the crew landed on a new island and Teach was occupied, the rest explored. Some wandered alone, others in pairs. Kaguya, though, spent most of his time training. Aside from Teach himself, no one trained longer hours than Kaguya. He slept only four hours a day and filled every waking moment with rigorous practice.
They had barely scattered across the island when a massive disturbance shook the center of the jungle. Something was fighting. The crew felt the surge of force and immediately raced toward the source.
The scene rewinds.
At the center of the island, atop a huge boulder, stood a tall, striking man with long purple hair. He was over three meters tall, clad in a noble purple robe marked with strange motifs. His presence alone made the surrounding air feel heavier.
Sensing something, he tilted his head toward the forest.
"Someone is coming?" Redyat murmured, frowning slightly.
"Kraken Kingdom patrols?"
This island fell within waters commonly patrolled by Kraken Kingdom warships. Though they were fewer in number than the Navy, the kingdom still commanded over twenty warships. For a non-World Government kingdom, that was impressive. A handful of such ships could raze a small island.
Redyat sensed an intense aura sprinting through the forest. It seemed to be chasing a wild beast. Unfortunately for both of them, their path pointed directly toward him.
He did not move. He waited, curious.
On the other side of the forest, a five meter black panther tore through the brush. Its eyes were filled with terror. Blood streamed down its flank from a deep, vertical wound. The king of the jungle had become prey.
Behind it ran Gar.
His white lion mane rippled in the wind, and he carried a double edged hunting knife in his right hand and a shining adamantine claw on his left. Fresh blood stained one side of the knife. His eyes gleamed with wild excitement.
He kept a perfect distance from the panther, close yet never touching, letting the creature feel hope just long enough to crush it. The more it struggled, the more exhilarated he became. Against the weak, he liked to savor the hunt. Against the strong, he simply wanted their blood.
The panther burst into the clearing at the island's center. It staggered, weakened by blood loss. Gar licked his lips and raised both weapons, eager to end the chase.
A purple crescent flashed.
The slash cut through the panther mid leap, slicing it cleanly in half.
Gar froze. His fury erupted like a bomb.
His kill had been stolen.
He snapped his head toward the top of the boulder.
Redyat stood there calmly with a black longsword in hand.
Gar's grip tightened. Rage drowned out every instinct except violence. Even though he sensed the danger radiating from this man, he no longer cared. His aura turned feral and oppressive.
Redyat frowned. He had not expected to anger anyone. He realized the slash might have been unnecessary.
The mink's posture, his weapons, and the unique aura he carried made Redyat pause. Recognition flickered briefly in his eyes.
"I apologize. I did not know," Redyat said with surprising sincerity.
"Too late. Fight me," Gar snarled.
He roared like an enraged beast and launched forward with staggering speed.
"So a fight it is," Redyat sighed.
He raised his sword as Gar struck. The impact hurled Redyat backward, though he landed steadily.
Gar appeared overhead in an instant, his adamantine claw descending toward Redyat's skull. Two crescent slashes cut through the air, a product of Gar's raw power and air pressure.
Redyat sliced both slashes apart and blocked the claws. The hunting knife came next, aimed for his neck, coated in sinking black Armament Haki.
Redyat caught it with his bare hand, his own Armament hardening across his palm.
Gar roared, pushing with everything he had. The ground cracked beneath Redyat's feet.
Redyat chuckled softly.
He leapt, released the weapon, and spun through the air. His heel slammed into Gar's waist with explosive force.
Gar flew like a ragdoll, smashing trees as he skidded across the earth before crashing to a stop.
Pain tore through his torso. Still, he forced himself upright, trembling violently but refusing to fall.
That one kick felt like Teach himself had struck him.
Gar roared again, his spirit refusing to break. His body began to swell, stretching upward from four meters to six, then to over seven. Silver light shimmered from his fur.
Moonlight.
Redyat's eyes widened slightly.
"Drawing power directly from his bloodline without a medium? Interesting."
"Roar!"
Gar spread his arms and howled, the thunderous roars rolling across the island like shockwaves. The sound rippled through the trees in pulsing waves that shook the ground beneath Redyat's feet. The air itself seemed to tremble as the moonlit energy wrapped around the massive mink's body. His fur stood on end, glowing faintly as his muscles swelled and tightened with raw, instinctive power.