Marine Headquarters
I walked around the corridor. As I neared a certain office, I saw the sign above the door.
'Fleet Admiral'
*Clank*
"Vice Admiral Fury Reporting!, " Saluted Fury, he saw the four figures having a serious meeting.
"Sit down, " Said Fleet Admiral as he pointed at a nearby chair around the table with the three Admirals.
"Where were we? Ya! So, Admiral Mia. You fought against him two times, what do you have to say about him, " Asked Fleet Admiral while he looked at Mia with anticipation.
"About that… , " There was some hesitation in Mia's mind before she reached a conclusion.
"I think what I want to say is that, the answer is 'Empty', " Said Admiral Mia, to her the rest of the people were confused.
"What are you saying?, " Asked Admiral Yoru, he stared at Mia with a question mark.
"Empty meaning… It felt like I fought not someone but something, " Finished Mia. Now the office was somewhat conflicted.
"You mean that he is just a shell?, " Came the voice of Admiral Wild, he closed his eyes and thought of many things.
"No! It's not! I fought him, and also not, " Said Mia, she didn't exactly know how to express her feelings.
While the four went on with their conversation, Admiral Wild was still in his thoughts.
Then, his thoughts came to a result. He opened his eyes and his aura stopped the four of them.
"What is it?, " Asked Fleet Admiral, he felt the Conqueror Haki of Admiral Wild.
"He is a… ".
* * *
Skypiea
Upper Yard forest, it's the forest that covers the entire island.
In the forest, a huge altar made of large stones was located around a lake.
The Sacrificial Altar is a place located in the northeast portion of the Upper Yard. People who commit a Class-2 Crime are sent there to be executed.
It was also at this place, 300 years ago, that Mousse was about to be sacrificed to appease "God".
Here, 51 people were present. 20 of whom were priests and the rest were soldiers of Shandia except the one.
All of them had small wings which were the symbol of being from the Sky Island.
"Priest Uva, let us start the prayer, " Said one of the 20 priests. To him, Uva the priest nodded and walked to the top of the altar.
Lying on the top of the altar was a woman in her 20s, she could be said to be the most beautiful woman in the entire island.
* * *
"To the Almighty God! Let we, the people of Shandia! Pray with our hearts to you!".
"She! Goun Shandia! Be offered to you for watching after us and helping from the sky!".
"I, Uva Shandia! A priest! Be the way to the offer!".
Taking a knife, Uva put it on Goun's neck. A teardrop was visible on her eye as she was also a being, scared of death.
"All for Shandia!, " Said the woman as the knife cut her neck and warm blood splashed on the altar.
"All for Shandia!, " Muttered Uva, he was the father of Goun. Soon enough, he regretted his actions and fell on his knees.
"Priest Uva, this is for the future!, " Said Juku, the priest. He supported Uva as both of them walked down the altar.
*Boom!*
At the top of the altar, something or someone landed from the sky.
"I-Is it G-God!, " Muttered Uva, he then saw the shadow of a man in black suit and a metal bat over his shoulder.
"You are not God! Who are you!, " Shouted Uva with rage. The soldiers surrounded the 20 priests.
"I don't want to be a God! I am… a Devil!, " Said the man as he jumped from the top towards the soldiers.
"Hm?, " But before he could reach them, a wooden stick stopped his metal bat in the mid air.
"Why so hurry?, " Said the old man to whom the stick belonged. Akuma was surprised at the old man's strength.
"Hey!, " The old man was stunned at how the man attacked him with his bat after he stopped the man.
"Die!, " Said Akuma, he swung his bat at the old man with all his might.
"I am still young to die!, " Replied the old man as he jumped and dodged the incoming bat.
Turning, Akuma swung towards the old man who was in the air. When the bat and the stick made contact, the atmosphere was pressured.
"Chief!, " Called out Juku, the old man was the Chief of Shandia village and also the main hunting captain.
'Why can't I see his future? Why am I feeling strange?, ' thought the old man as he exchanged strikes with Akuma.
The old man, Suzuran, is also the strongest Mantra user in the sky. But he couldn't see it, the man's future when fighting.
Suddenly, the speed at which Akuma swung his bat increased. The old man with his weak body couldn't adjust fast enough.
"Aahhhgg!, " Blood filled his mouth as the bat hit his left side with incredible force.
Only now did Suzuran know the strength behind the swing which even made the air turn.
"No! Chief!, " Shouted Uva and the rest in union. The soldiers leaped towards Akuma to attack him.
"Stand back!, " But his voice was useless as the soldiers were smashed by the bat one after another.
"Damn!, " Cursed Suzuran, he clenched his stick and dashed forward at Akuma who was busy with the soldiers.
"Bastard!, " The wooden stick was covered with armament haki as he aimed at Akuma's head.
Akuma's head was hit by the stick and he was thrown in the lake.
"Go! Run!, " Said Suzuran, he held his side and looked at the remaining people.
"But Chief!, " Voiced Uva but he was glared at by Suzuran. Grinding his teeth, he hurriedly stepped on the boat with others.
But, the water behind the boat started popping bubbles and a vortex was formed.
Then a creature's head came out of the water. It was like a dragon's head with wide gills.
Soon, it increased in size and covered the entire lake with just it's stomach.
"I am back!".