The East Blue was vast, but not endless. Weeks of sailing had taught me that much. Every island, no matter how small or remote, seemed to hold a piece of the puzzle that was this world. Some were bustling ports filled with gossip and danger, while others were quiet, forgotten places where even the Marines didn't bother to tread.
After barely escaping the storm and the Marine ship, we'd spent days in relative silence, repairing the schooner and licking our wounds. The Warlord had taken up a constant post at the bow, its crimson eyes fixed on the horizon, while Harlock busied himself maintaining our meager supplies.
Me? I was trying to figure out my next move.
The System had been quiet since the storm, but the shadows' whispers hadn't stopped. They were softer now, almost cautious, but they were always there, a constant reminder that my power came with a cost.
It was midday when the island came into view, its jagged cliffs and sprawling forest rising above the water like a beacon. A small village nestled along the coast, its docks bustling with activity. From a distance, it looked unassuming, just another stop on our endless journey.
But as we drew closer, something about it felt... different.
Harlock leaned on the railing, his glowing eyes scanning the shoreline. "This place has an air of trouble," he said, his tone grim.
I raised an eyebrow. "You're saying that like it's new."
"No," he replied, smirking faintly. "But it feels familiar, doesn't it?"
I didn't answer right away. He wasn't wrong, there was something about this place that tugged at the back of my mind, like a memory I couldn't quite grasp.
"We need supplies," I said finally. "And a real meal wouldn't hurt either."
Harlock nodded. "I'll keep watch."
The Warlord didn't speak, but its presence was enough. Its towering frame loomed over the deck as if daring anyone to approach us uninvited.
The dockhands barely gave us a second glance as we tied up the schooner, their attention focused on unloading crates of fruit and barrels of fish from the other ships in the harbor. I pulled my hood up, keeping my face hidden as we stepped onto the dock. The last thing I needed was someone recognizing me from my bounty poster.
"Keep a low profile," I muttered to Harlock as we walked.
He snorted. "As low as a man my size and a shadow the size of a mountain can manage, Master."
The village itself was quiet, almost quaint. Small wooden houses lined the cobblestone streets, their windows adorned with flower boxes. Children ran through the square, laughing as they chased each other, and merchants called out to passersby, hawking everything from fresh bread to trinkets carved from driftwood.
It was... peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"This place doesn't look like trouble," I said under my breath.
Harlock grunted. "Looks can be deceiving."
We made our way to the marketplace, scanning the stalls for anything useful. I picked up a few basic supplies, fresh vegetables, dried meat, and a handful of strange-looking fruits that the merchant assured me were edible.
But as I handed over the beli, I heard it.
"Straw Hat Luffy," someone said, their voice carrying over the market chatter.
I froze, the words hitting me like a bolt of lightning.
I turned toward the source of the voice, my heart pounding. A group of villagers stood near the well in the center of the square, talking animatedly.
"Did you see him?" one of them asked, his eyes wide with excitement. "He's got that hat, the one everyone's talking about!"
"Yeah," another said. "And his crew! There's a swordsman with green hair and a girl who's got a map bigger than her!"
"They're pirates, right?" a third voice added, sounding more nervous. "Do you think they'll cause trouble?"
I barely heard the rest. My mind was racing. Straw Hat Luffy. There was no mistaking the name.
"They're here," I muttered under my breath.
Harlock's eyes narrowed. "Who's here?"
"Straw Hat Luffy," I said, turning toward him. "The future Pirate King."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And why does that matter to us?"
"Because if they're here, then the Marines aren't far behind," I said, my voice low. "We need to figure out what they're doing before this place turns into a battlefield."
We followed the whispers of the villagers, their excitement leading us to the outskirts of the village. The trail led to a wide hill overlooking the harbor, where a large mansion stood at the top.
It wasn't hard to spot them.
Luffy was sitting under a tree, his iconic straw hat tilted back as he stared up at the sky. Zoro stood nearby, his green hair unmistakable, his swords resting against his hip. Nami sat on a nearby rock, a rolled-up map in her hands, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon.
For a moment, I just watched them. It was surreal, seeing them in the flesh. These weren't just characters in a story, they were real, living people. And despite everything I'd been through, I couldn't help but feel a spark of awe.
"Master," Harlock said quietly, his tone cautious. "Is this wise?"
"Probably not," I admitted. "But I need to know why they're here."
I stepped forward, my hood still up, the shadows coiling faintly around my feet.
Luffy was the first to notice me. He sat up, tilting his head as he squinted in my direction.
"Hey!" he called, waving. "Who are you?"
I stopped a few feet away, my heart pounding. "Just someone passing through," I said carefully. "I heard the villagers talking about you."
"About us?" Luffy grinned, his excitement practically radiating off him. "Cool! Are they saying good stuff?"
Nami shot him a look. "Luffy, focus."
Zoro's hand drifted toward his swords as his sharp gaze fixed on me. "You don't look like you're just passing through," he said. "Who are you, really?"
I hesitated, my mind racing. I could feel Harlock's presence behind me, the weight of the Warlord's gaze from further back. If this went south, it wouldn't just be a misunderstanding.
"Katsuki D. Rook," I said finally, pulling my hood back. "But you probably know me by my bounty."
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "Forty-two million, huh? The 'Shadow Reaper.'"
"Yeah," I said, my voice dry. "That's me."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Luffy stood up, his grin widening.
"You've got shadows!" he said, pointing at the faint tendrils curling around my feet. "That's so cool! Are you here to fight us?"
"What? No!" I said quickly, throwing up my hands.
"Good," Nami said, rolling her eyes. "We don't need more trouble."
Zoro didn't look convinced, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword. "So why are you here, then?"
I hesitated, glancing between them. "Because wherever you go, trouble follows," I said honestly. "And if the Marines find out you're here, they'll come for me too. I want to know why you're on this island."
Luffy's grin didn't falter. "We're here for Usopp!"
"Usopp?" I frowned. "Who's that?"
"You'll see," Luffy said cheerfully.
I wasn't sure what to make of them. They weren't what I'd expected, especially not Luffy, whose carefree attitude seemed completely at odds with the chaos he left in his wake.
But as I watched them, I couldn't shake the feeling that meeting them wasn't a coincidence.
The shadows stirred faintly around me, the whispers soft but insistent.
"Paths converge," they said. "A storm brews."
I clenched my fists, my gaze drifting back toward the mansion at the top of the hill.
Whatever was happening on this island, it wasn't over yet.
Luffy's grin remained unwavering, his energy as infectious as it was overwhelming. It was like he didn't have a care in the world, despite the fact that his presence here was likely drawing attention from every direction, pirates, Marines, and bounty hunters alike.
"Usopp lives here!" Luffy explained, pointing up the hill toward the large mansion in the distance. "He's a friend of mine. Well, he will be once he joins my crew."
Nami pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something under her breath about how they didn't need more mouths to feed. Zoro's sharp gaze never left me, his hand still resting on his sword hilt.
"You're worried about the Marines," Zoro said, cutting through Luffy's rambling. "But if you're telling the truth, that bounty of yours is big enough to draw them here anyway. So why should we trust you?"
He wasn't wrong. Even if I didn't mean them harm, my presence was a liability. My bounty had spread across the East Blue like wildfire. Wherever I went, trouble wasn't far behind, and now I was standing in the company of the future Pirate King and his crew.
"I don't need you to trust me," I said finally, keeping my voice level. "I just need to know how long you're staying here, and whether I should expect the Marines to show up."
Luffy tilted his head, looking genuinely curious. "You're really scared of the Marines, huh? They're not so bad once you punch them a few times."
"Punching a few Marines is fine," I said, my tone dry. "But when they start bringing captains, lieutenants, and fleets, it's a whole different story. You think this village is ready for that kind of attention?"
That seemed to get Nami's attention. Her expression turned wary, and she crossed her arms. "He's got a point, Luffy. If the Marines show up, they're not just going to come after us. They'll target the village, too."
Luffy frowned, scratching his head as if the thought had just occurred to him. "Hmm... I guess that wouldn't be good."
"No, it wouldn't," Nami snapped.
"Look," I said, glancing at the mansion again. "I don't know who this Usopp guy is or why you're here, but if you're planning to stay, I suggest keeping your heads down."
Luffy grinned again, his carefree demeanor returning. "I'll think about it. But I don't like keeping my head down, it's boring!"
Zoro snorted, muttering something about how that was the understatement of the century.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. This wasn't going to be easy.
Behind me, I could feel Harlock's presence looming, the weight of his glowing gaze heavy on my back. The Warlord was further off, standing near the edge of the tree line, its crimson eyes fixed on the distant mansion.
"Master," Harlock said quietly, stepping closer. "The shadows are restless."
"I know," I replied, my voice low.
Luffy perked up at the word "shadows," his grin widening. "What's that mean? Are you some kind of shadow guy? Do you have powers?"
I hesitated, my grip tightening on the Orb of the Forgotten King hidden in my pocket. "Something like that," I said vaguely.
"That's so cool!" Luffy said, practically bouncing on his heels. "You should show me sometime!"
"Maybe," I said flatly. "But right now, I think you've got enough to worry about."
"Why don't you come with us?" Luffy said suddenly, his grin widening even further.
"What?" Nami and Zoro said in unison, both of them sounding equally incredulous.
"Yeah!" Luffy said, pointing at me. "You seem strong, and you've got cool powers! We're going to talk to Usopp, and then we're gonna go on an adventure. You should come!"
I stared at him, completely caught off guard. "I'm not exactly the 'adventure' type."
Luffy tilted his head, looking genuinely confused. "Why not?"
"Because I'm busy trying to stay alive," I said, my tone sharp. "And dragging more attention to myself isn't going to help with that."
Luffy laughed, completely unfazed. "That's what makes it fun!"
Before I could argue further, a sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching fast. Harlock moved in front of me immediately, his axes at the ready, while Zoro and Nami turned toward the source of the noise.
It was a boy, a lanky teenager with a long nose and a slingshot slung over his shoulder. He was running toward us, waving his arms frantically.
"Luffy!" the boy shouted. "The Black Cat Pirates, they're coming! They're heading for the village!"
My stomach twisted at the name.
"Black Cat Pirates?" I asked, my voice tense.
The boy, Usopp, I assumed, skidded to a stop in front of Luffy, panting heavily. "Yeah! Captain Kuro's crew! I saw them sailing toward the island! They'll be here any minute!"
"Kuro," Harlock said, his tone grim. "That name is familiar."
"It should be," I said quietly. "He's one of the most dangerous pirates in the East Blue. The guy faked his own death and went into hiding for years. If he's back, it's not good news."
Luffy didn't seem fazed at all. In fact, he looked excited. "Awesome! A real fight!"
"This isn't just a fight, Luffy," Nami said, her voice sharp. "If Kuro's crew is here, they'll tear this village apart!"
Usopp nodded, his eyes wide with fear. "We have to stop them! Kaya, she's still in the mansion! If they get to her, she, "
"Kaya?" Luffy said, tilting his head. "Who's that?"
"She's... she's my friend," Usopp stammered, clutching his slingshot tightly. "And she's in danger!"
Luffy's grin widened, his energy practically radiating off him. "Then let's go stop them!"
I stared at Luffy, my mind racing. This wasn't my fight. I had no reason to get involved with Kuro or his crew, no reason to risk my neck for some villagers I didn't even know.
But then I looked at Usopp, at the fear in his eyes, the desperation in his voice, and something inside me shifted.
The shadows whispered faintly in the back of my mind, their voices soft but insistent.
"Paths converge. Fates entwine."
Harlock stepped closer, his glowing eyes narrowing. "What's the call, Master?"
I clenched my fists, the weight of the Orb heavy in my pocket.
"We stop them," I said finally, my voice firm.
Harlock smirked, his axes glinting faintly. "As you wish."
Luffy's grin widened even further. "Awesome! Let's go!"
As we made our way up the hill toward the mansion, the shadows around me grew darker, thicker. The whispers grew louder, their voices mingling with the distant sound of the sea.
The Black Cat Pirates were coming.
And so was the storm.
The hill stretched out before us, the mansion looming at its peak like a beacon, or a target. The air grew heavier with every step, the faint whispers of the shadows mingling with the rustle of leaves in the wind.
Behind me, Harlock carried his axes with practiced ease, his glowing eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of the enemy. The Warlord, as imposing as ever, followed at a slower pace, its crimson eyes fixed on the path ahead. Luffy walked beside me, his usual energy unfazed by the danger looming over the village.
"So, these Black Cat Pirates," Luffy began, his tone casual, like we were discussing the weather. "What's their deal? Are they strong?"
"Strong isn't the right word," I muttered, my grip tightening on the Orb of the Forgotten King. "Kuro's not like most pirates in the East Blue. He's fast, calculating, and he doesn't fight fair. If his crew's here, they're not coming for a fight, they're coming to destroy."
Luffy tilted his head, his grin unfaltering. "That just makes it more fun!"
"Fun?" Nami snapped, her voice dripping with frustration as she kept pace behind us. "This isn't a game, Luffy. If Kuro gets to that mansion, he's not going to leave anyone alive. You get that, right?"
Luffy didn't respond. His grin never faltered, but there was something in his eyes, a spark of determination that hadn't been there a moment ago.
"He knows," Zoro said, his hand resting on one of his swords. "And he's not wrong. If we're going to do this, we need to move fast."
Usopp, walking just ahead of the group, stopped suddenly and turned to face us. His hands were shaking as he gripped his slingshot, but his voice was steady.
"I don't care how dangerous Kuro is," he said. "We're not letting him hurt Kaya. Got it?"
I glanced at him, my expression unreadable. "You're brave," I said finally. "But bravery only gets you so far."
"Yeah?" he shot back, glaring at me. "And what about you? You don't even know Kaya, so why are you here?"
I hesitated, the weight of his words settling over me.
"I'm here," I said slowly, "because I've run from enough fights to know that some are worth standing for. Even if they're not mine."
Usopp blinked, his mouth opening as if to argue, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned back toward the mansion and started walking again.
When we reached the crest of the hill, the first signs of trouble became clear. The once-quiet mansion grounds were alive with movement, figures darting between the trees, their silhouettes unmistakably feline.
The Black Cat Pirates had arrived.
They moved with an eerie precision, their catlike movements almost too fast to track. At least a dozen of them were already on the grounds, their weapons glinting in the fading light.
And standing near the mansion's front gate, his long black coat billowing in the wind, was Kuro.
He was exactly as I remembered from the stories, tall and lean, with glasses that glinted ominously in the low light. His hands were hidden in his pockets, but I knew what lay beneath: razor-sharp claws capable of slicing through steel.
"Kuro," I muttered, my chest tightening.
"That's him?" Luffy asked, tilting his head. "He doesn't look so tough."
"He's not someone to underestimate," I said, my voice low. "He's a strategist. He'll try to outthink us before he outmoves us."
"Good thing we don't do much thinking," Zoro said with a smirk, drawing one of his swords.
Nami groaned. "You're impossible."
Usopp's hands trembled as he loaded a pellet into his slingshot, his eyes fixed on Kuro. "We have to stop him," he said, his voice shaky but resolute. "No matter what."
I took a deep breath, gripping the Orb tightly. The shadows coiled around my feet, rippling with anticipation. This wasn't like the battle with the Marines, there was no running this time. If we didn't stop Kuro here, the village would pay the price.
"Harlock," I said quietly.
He stepped forward, his massive frame blocking out the fading sunlight. "Orders, Master?"
"Take the left flank," I said. "Cut off their reinforcements."
He nodded, his axes glinting faintly as he vanished into the shadows.
"The Warlord," I called, turning toward the massive figure. "Hold the gate. Don't let anyone through."
The Warlord didn't speak, but its crimson eyes flared brightly as it strode forward, its greatsword humming with power.
"What about you?" Zoro asked, glancing at me.
I pulled my hood up, the shadows wrapping around me like a second skin. "I'll take Kuro."
The battlefield erupted into chaos as the Black Cat Pirates sprang into action. Harlock's axes flashed in the fading light, cutting down the first wave of reinforcements with brutal efficiency. The Warlord held the gate, its massive frame blocking the pirates' advance as its greatsword carved through the air.
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami joined the fight, each of them moving with a precision and coordination that was almost mesmerizing to watch.
But my focus was on Kuro.
He stood at the center of the chaos, his hands still in his pockets, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"So," he said, his voice calm and measured. "You must be the infamous 'Shadow Reaper.' I've heard about you."
I didn't respond. Instead, I stepped forward, the shadows pooling around my feet.
"Interesting," Kuro said, his smirk widening. "You don't look like much. But I suppose appearances can be deceiving."
In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
My instincts screamed at me to move, and I barely managed to dodge as his claws sliced through the space where I'd been standing. He reappeared a few feet away, his glasses glinting as he adjusted them with one hand.
"Fast," I muttered, my heart pounding.
"Faster than you," he said, vanishing again.
This time, I was ready. The shadows surged around me, and I activated Shadow Dash, slipping into the darkness and reappearing behind him. My dagger lashed out, aiming for his exposed back.
But he was faster.
He twisted midair, his claws deflecting the strike with an almost casual ease.
"Predictable," he said, his smirk returning.
I gritted my teeth, the shadows coiling tighter around me. This wasn't going to be easy.
The duel raged on, Kuro's speed and precision forcing me to rely on the shadows more than ever. Every time I thought I had him cornered, he slipped away, his claws cutting through my defenses like paper.
But the more I fought, the more I felt the shadows growing stronger. The whispers in my mind grew louder, urging me forward, pushing me to take risks I wouldn't have considered before.
"You can't win," Kuro said, his voice calm even as he dodged another strike. "You're strong, but you're undisciplined. Power without control is nothing."
I clenched my fists, the Orb pulsing in my hand. "Maybe," I said, my voice low. "But I've got something you don't."
"And what's that?"
I smirked, stepping back as the shadows surged forward, forming a wall between us.
"Allies."