On Jaya Island, Grand Line, a young hunter was preparing for a rather strange quest.
The young man was remarkably handsome with some unusual features, such as his grey eyes and height, standing at three meters tall despite being just twenty-one years old.
His weapon was anything but common as well, as he held what looked like a scythe with a chain connected to its lower end.
His well-defined muscles throbbed as he sped deep into the ancient forest. He was concentrating ahead but seemingly aware of his surroundings at the same time, navigating the terrain with ease.
His speed was nothing to scoff at either, as his feet left deep marks on the ground and the trees wherever they happened to land with each step.
He didn't run for long, though, as he had already spotted his prey. Just ahead, there was an ugly creature speeding into the distance. It was a half-fish, half-bird, a strange combination that was anything but pleasant to the eye.
It was a Sea King that normally hid in the sea where it resided, but sometimes it would come out and intrude on the island, specifically into this thick forest.
Ivar didn't know exactly why, but from his observations, he always felt like it was running from something.
But he didn't actually care. He was hell-bent on slaying it to fulfill his late father's test and finally be able to venture out to the sea.
He didn't really like his father, as he was a stubborn son of a bitch who had nothing in his mind other than hunting pirates, but he respected him greatly for his strength and teachings.
Pushing the distracting thoughts down, Ivar took a detour and headed to the South. It was a strange move, as the beast was still heading east.
But Ivar knew that catching a flying beast by just running after it was a fool's dream, so he was taking a shortcut of sorts. Just ahead was a steep cliff overlooking an unexplored part of the island, as there was no easy way to get there.
Ivar himself had tried to explore the place, but he always retreated because of the steep cliffs surrounding it on all sides. Coupled with its hard but smooth rocks, it was damn near impossible to go down or back up.
Unless you could fly, of course, just like the damned monstrosity up ahead. Thinking of this made a huge grin form on his face.
"I'll get your head this time, bastard!"
Just as Ivar was a few moments away from the edge, the beast unexpectedly did a sharp turn in the air, flapped its wings to gain altitude and speed, and then took a nose dive to the center of the hole surrounded by cliffs in the forest shortly after.
Taking the scythe from his back, Ivar jumped off without the slightest hesitation, the grin on his face never faltering.
"I created this weapon, trained with it for a couple of years, just for you, damned bastard! So be grateful! HiHaHaHa!"
With a crazed laugh, he threw the scythe forward in perfect timing, just for it to embed itself in the beast's flesh.
The beast got enraged and started swinging its tail violently, nearly killing Ivar in the process.
But Ivar had already anticipated this. While concentrating, he could see the beast's movements in slow motion, dodging with ease.
In truth, overpowering the beast was never a problem for him. The strength he could exert with his body was immense, and even though his appearance didn't scream stealth, he was actually a speed-oriented fighter.
He had learned how to track, chase, and corner his prey from the young age of five. His father had taught him something called Observation Haki, which he had mastered after years of training.
His father had hunted pirates in the New World, and according to his words, he needed to at least master a type of Haki if he wanted to survive and thrive there.
Ivar took this to heart and learned the only type of Haki his father knew and could teach.
He was a hunter, in body and soul, a born predator in instinct and drive, so this power suited him perfectly.
Predicting the chaotic, uncoordinated attacks of the beast was a piece of cake, but actually staying in the air to take advantage of his superior agility was the problem.
But not this time. Just as the scythe blade was embedded in the beast's flesh, Ivar caught the other end of the chain, using his hands to pull himself left and right, dodging the incoming attacks in the process.
"HiHaHaHaHa!" Feeling the wind on his face, the adrenaline rush, the thrill of battle, and knowing the fact that he could die at any moment with the smallest mistake, Ivar couldn't help but laugh like a maniac.
It wasn't long before the beast neared the ground. It couldn't fly back up earlier because of its falling momentum and its huge body preventing it from changing its trajectory quickly.
But in the short time spent battling Ivar, it had slowed its descent enough to fly up again. This was exactly the moment Ivar had been waiting for.
He couldn't kill the beast while it was up in the air, as he would fall to his death afterward. But at this moment, they were very close to the ground, so he didn't hesitate.
With a small nudge, Ivar pulled himself toward the beast and sent a wave along the chain that separated the scythe blade from the beast's flesh.
Finding himself propelled into the sky, he caught the scythe mid-air as he concentrated whatever strength he could muster, his muscles bulging slightly.
"Give me your head, damned beast! HiHaHaHaHa!" With a final laugh, he launched his attack—a swift strike that didn't seem to do much for a moment, only to separate the beast's head from its body a second later.