The Oro Jackson rocked slightly as Douglass Bullet, halted mid-attack, was sent flying back toward the ship. The force of his trajectory threatened to shatter the deck, but before impact, a blur of gold and brown intercepted him mid-air.
Scopper Gaban.
Silent until now, Gaban leaped gracefully from the ship, twin axes glinting in the cold light. He caught Bullet by the collar and planted his feet firmly in the air using Geppo. With a grunt, he spun and tossed Bullet onto the deck like a rag doll, settling him down without much effort. Bullet snarled in frustration, but Gaban only gave him a hard stare.
"You need to cool down, Bullet," Gaban muttered.
The moment Bullet landed, he sprang back to his feet, blood leaking from a small cut above his brow. His fists clenched, muscles quivering with rage. He was far from done fighting.
"Who the hell interrupted my fight?!" Bullet roared, Haki radiating off him like a storm.
Roger, still standing calmly at the bow, laughed heartily. "Easy, Bullet. There'll be more fights than you know what to do with soon enough."
Meanwhile, Rayleigh tilted his head slightly, his half-drawn sword making a soft click sound, ready for the next move.
The rest of the crew, as if on instinct, leaped off the ship and took battle stances. Even the injured Shanks stood his ground, his eyes gleaming with determination despite his fractured ribs from practice on the ship. Buggy, though clearly terrified, mimicked the stance of his crewmates, muttering curses under his breath.
From the edge of the forest near the shore, five figures emerged from the shadows.
At the front were two girls, twins no doubt. Both had the same twin ponytail hairstyle but wore distinct, contrasting colors, one in bright red, the other in icy blue. They grinned mischievously, making no effort to hide their amusement.
"Look, Kiki," said the one in red, her voice light and mocking. "He really got mad, didn't he?"
"He sure did, Keke," the one in blue responded with a smirk. "That was fun! My hands are shaking!"
Bullet took a step forward, veins bulging with frustration. "You think this is funny?! I'll rip you both—"
"Enough," came a deep, commanding voice.
The twins instantly fell silent as the leader of the group stepped forward. He was a towering figure—easily 15 feet tall—with a presence that made even the seasoned Roger Pirates feel a shift in the atmosphere. His skin was dark and scarred, and his eyes were unnervingly white, completely devoid of sight. Long scars ran vertically through each of them, hinting at battles fought long ago.
Despite his blindness, the man's posture was rigid, his senses keen. He exuded authority, the kind that only comes from absolute mastery of Haki.
"You," the blind man said, his voice steady but cold. "Are you the Roger Pirates?"
Roger grinned, the excitement practically radiating from him. "Heh, you've heard of us?"
The air was thick with tension, the kind that precedes an inevitable clash. Rayleigh's fingers twitched on the hilt of his sword, while Gaban tightened his grip on his axes. The twins stood nonchalantly, still grinning like they were in on a joke only they knew.
[Deep in the Ravine]
As the rest of the crew prepared for battle on the shore, Draco continued his exploration, letting his instincts guide him. His sandals crunched over the frozen ground as he walked around.
A strange energy radiated from the depths, like an ancient heartbeat buried beneath the island. Draco's eyes narrowed with excitement as he stared into the abyss.
"Finally!" he whispered with a grin.
Without hesitation, descending through the darkness with the precision of someone who knew no fear. He landed softly on a narrow ledge overlooking a vast underground chamber.
The air down here was colder—unnaturally so. Icicles lined the walls, and strange symbols were etched into the stone, glowing faintly with a blue light. In the center of the chamber was a large, circular pedestal. On it rested an object shrouded in frost—something ancient, powerful, and almost pulsing with energy.
Draco's grin widened. He stepped toward the pedestal, his sandals echoing in the silent chamber. Whatever this was, it was unlike anything he'd encountered on Earth.
What stood in the middle of the circular pedestal was a Poneglyph, to be more accurate, a "Historical Poneglyph".
[The Battle at the Shore]
Back on the shore, the blind man continued to size up the Roger Pirates, his expression unreadable. The twins, Kiki and Keke, stood at his side, playfully shifting from foot to foot, as if eager for whatever came next.
"I've heard stories about you," the blind man said, his tone almost curious. "But stories are never quite the same as seeing for yourself."
Roger's grin widened. "You're not wrong."
Before anything more could be said, Bullet—now fully enraged—leapt back into action. With a mighty roar, he launched himself at the twins, his fists coated in Haki.
But just as Bullet closed the distance, the two girls moved in perfect unison. Their blades flashed through the air, meeting Bullet's strike with a powerful counter.
{TRUE TWIN COUNTER}
The clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the sheer force of the collision blowing snow and debris in every direction. Bullet was sent flying backward, skidding across the ground toward the Oro Jackson Again!
This time, however, Gaban was ready. With a quick step, he caught Bullet mid-slide, planting him firmly on his feet.
"Enough, Bullet," Gaban muttered. "This isn't the time to lose your head."
Roger chuckled, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Heahahaha! What strong foes!"
Rayleigh's half-drawn sword clicked once more, signaling his readiness for whatever came next. The twins stood with their blades drawn, smirking as they prepared for round two.
The blind man, however, remained still, his expression calm. "This fight isn't for fun," he said quietly. "We've come here for answers."
Roger tilted his head, his grin unwavering. "Then I guess you'll have to earn them."
And with that, the battle was set to begin.