"Cap'n, we're spotting land!" Bonesaw Bill's gruff voice cried down from the crow's nest as he scoured the horizon through a spyglass.
"Good, good," Zadael murmured in a low voice, sweeping his deep green eyes across the horizon, anticipating the arrival of civilization. The ship awoke underfoot with excitement as the crew bustled around him. The Spicy Shells had been home for too long; it was time to put The Shell Pirates onto the world stage! He took a deep breath and former thoughts were blown to the wind, briefly tossing his long hair into a tussle.
"All hands on deck!" Zadael roared over the intercom, and the crew sprung into action. The sea giants lumbered into their positions, casting their long shadows on the wooden planks. Tessa the cat mink sprang with ease from rope to rope, her tail flicking in delight. Cookie stepped out of the galley, a fine cutlass in his hand, clear intent in his eyes to protect the ship's supplies.
But as they got closer to the island, Zadael spotted the familiar Jolly Roger of The Kid Pirates billowing in the village-not a Jolly Roger to draw smiles and friendly waves, but one to send a chill down one's spine. His heart sank, knowing Eustass Kid's reputation for leaving desolation behind. "Seems like we've got company," he announced, unreadable with his frown.
"Kid's crew, eh?" Bonesaw Bill snapped over the side of the ship. "Not surprised-Cap'n. They beat us here. But since you've got the lead, I reckon we still got half a chance at some of that loot!" The pirate's declarations reaffirmed the determination of the crew, unfazed by the competition.
"Aye," Zadael nodded, his gaze impassive. "We have a strategy, and we adhere to it. Tessa, muster up the minks and get a lay of the land; I want to know what to expect when we walk in."
Tessa nodded curtly, her eyes flashing with the excitement of the challenge. "On it, Captain!" Like a ghostly spray of darkening color over shadows, Tessa disappeared into the jungle with the other minks racing behind her. The ship was quiet, waiting for her report; the tension palpable as muted waters slapped against the hull and behind-distant cries of seabirds were heard.
"Looks like we're going in hot," Zadael said calmly, hand resting on the pommel of his sword. The crew looked to their captain for guidance; he gave a firm nod. "Seems like they already started the party then. Let's crash it." Cheers echoed back at him and clatter of weapons being drawn. The human pirates went to check their guns and knives so they could prove fit to stand under Zadael's command.
The sea giants flexed their huge arms, hopeful to see just how strong they were, all the while keeping stared. "I hope I don't mess up my cooking hand," Cookie stammered, still gripping the cutlass. He quickly added that with a nervous laugh to ease the tension; it worked, and the crew laughed as they filled with the thrill of what lay ahead.
When Tessa dove back, everyone turned to the bow of the ship. She had swung down from a branch of a tree to land softly on the deck. "Cap'n, the village is in shambles as expected. The Kid's crew is rampaging through it like a tornado." The tuft of her whiskers wiggled.
Zadael hardly flinched. "I see." He already knew of Eustass Kid's crew—the one that was feared for being ruthless and efficient. "Watch out for their leaders, Heat, Wire, and, of course, Killer. They're not to be trifled with."
As they neared the village, the sounds of battle increased, bringing on the smoke smells and the villagers' cries upon the winds. Zadael clenched his jaws at the sight of the destruction: this was no mere raid—this was a massacre. "We're not here to save them," he reminded his crew steadily. "We're here for the loot. But, if we're able to, let's leave a few of them alive. They might just be able to give us some important information."
The Shell Pirates landed with a heavy thud as they stepped onto the shore. Zadael was leading the way, his dark frame filling the horizon. The appearance of the sea giants from the jungle kept the villagers very much scared, while only a few dared to lift their eyes from the sand to look upon the hope emerging.
"Spread out!" Zadael ordered, his deep voice booming out even through the sounds of skirmishing. The crew split in the smaller groups, going quickly through the village. The minks opened up their keen senses, roaming freely throughout the debris in search of any tell-tale signs of their enemies, as the human pirates were scouring for treasure and danger.
The first to encounter the Kid Pirates were the giants of the sea. They moved across the central square of the village, their footsteps shaking the ground. A party of men belonging to Eustass, led by lanky, fire-mauling Heat, turned to contest the approachers. Before they could even raise a sword against him, Zadael advanced, his eyes enveloped in a glare of occult light.
"Your loot," he pronounced, as the thunderous words echoed throughout the village. "It's mine now."
Heat laughed scornfully, his wavy blue hair dancing in the wind. "You think you can just come in here and take what's ours?" He swung a fire-punch at Zadael but, other than an amused smile, the captain paid no attention, his hand turning in fast fashion as a snake's. In a swift upward arc, Zadael brought his sword up to intervene against Heat's fist, efficiently killing the flame's force and sending him away through the air.
The village square, afte the momentary bang of the contest rang in silent echo. The Kid Pirates, under their surprise at the display of power, segregated themselves in the blink of an eye. "Who the hell are you, you bastards?" came Eustass Kid's frigid voice as he peeled from the burning debris ahead, narrowed eyes upon him with little regard for the new sense of threat.
"I am Zadael," the captain announced, his booming voice echoing over the quiet terrain. "And we are The Shell Pirates."
Eustass Kid, his red hair flowing over his eyes like a once-dancing flame, snarled at the new arrivals. "Never heard of you," he spat, noticing his hand twitch for the Devil Fruit. "I don't like pirates that think they can steal from me."
Zadael chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest. "You're the one doing the stealing from these villagers," he gestured to the smoldering wreckage around them. "We are just here to collect our toll." His gaze shifted to Wire and Killer, who stood side by side with Kid. The tension grew thick, as the two crews diametrically opposed each other in their long shadows cast by the setting sun.
"Killer, Wire, you know what to do," Kid snarled at Zadael. "Get rid of these fools." The two strong fighters moved forward, deadly weapons poised for an attack. Killer coldly unscabbarded his gauntlet blades, and Wire twirled the red trident.
Zadael's smile widened, a challenge in his eyes. Yes, he knew these men and their reputation, but he knew his strength too. With a quick heartfelt prayer to the Lord, he felt a surge of power swell inside him; his muscles became rippled, and a pale aura of light formed around him. The crew watched in awe as their captain grew stronger verse by verse in real time.
Killer moved in, his dual gauntlet blades gleaming. "Do you think you're the only one with tricks up his sleeve?" Eustass Kid sounded for Killer contemptuous. But once Zadael dashed at him with his size, he proved that nothing was more astonishing than speed. He sliced so fast and so hard that it made a sounding booming from thin air. The blow hit against Killer's weapons and catapulted them against a nearby tree.
Wire, however, seized the chance to sneak in from behind, trident twirling. But Zadael was ready, ducking, letting the weapon whistle over his head, and grabbing Wire by the throat. "Your leader has made the mistake," he growled. One-handed, he lifted Wire off the ground. "You should have made a better choice of crew to bully." In a fierce roar, he hurled Wire into a pile of rubble.
Eustass Kid's eyes went wide with shock at the instant destruction of his and his comrades. "You will pay for that," he yelled, charging forward as if the earth trembled beneath him. The air grew hot with magnetic power; metal burned in his body when he whipped his hand forward, attempting to crush him hoist.
Zadael remained untroubled whilst being hefted off the ground by the force of the blow, opening the blunt side of his sword, sending Eustass Kid staggering in disbelief. "Your power is nothing compared to mine," came his surprisingly calm voice amid the uproar.
The Kid Pirates stared in disbelief as their commander was toppled into oblivion. The villagers peeked out from all hiding spaces, fear giving way to hope.
Zadael walked nearer Eustass Kid who struggled to regain his footing. "I have heard of your Magnet-Magnet Fruit," Zadael said, clam but firm. "But you seem somehow to have forgotten the true power of the sea."
Kid's eyes narrowed as he gritted his teeth in anger. "So you think you can walk in here and take over?" he said, crackling magnetic energy dancing over his hands as he prepared to let loose a shower of metal shrapnel.
Zadael was unfazed, his own power surging through him again as stark evidence of divine intervention he had called upon. "It's not about taking over, Kid," he shook his head. "It's about survival."
The Shell Pirates reclined, eyes wide in wonder and apprehension. Bonesaw Bill tightened his grip on his weapon, prepared to charge. Cookie, his apron tied tautly across his chest, held in readiness his cutlass, his ardent expression completely at odds with his geniality.
The sea giants encircled their captain like steadfast shields. Tessa and the other minks crouched low, tails twitching ominously, eyes searching for signs of trouble.
The sword swept through the air, singing a fiery arc that commanded the sky to bear witness to the battle. The blade struck Eustass Kid right at his chin with a sickening crack, sending the infamous pirate sprawling onto his back, and with an unnerving glint, it knocked him out cold. The Kid Pirates bated breath, frozen in disbelief. All of them had been none the wiser and felt the deafening silence around.
Even the fires of the village held their breath until Zadael was comfortably settled, after the dust had finally settled around his feet. His bewildered crew gazed speechless, their newfound respect for their captain etched on their faces.
Bonesaw Bill let out with a rollicking chuckle. "Well, I daresay we have found ourselves a true captain!" and slapped Zadael on the back for good measure. The sea giants let out a low rumble of approval, fists slamming the ground in unanimity.
Tessa padded up to Zadael. "What, what... what happened?" she managed. Not quite a whisper. Zadael move his sword on to his back, the buoyancy in his eyes fading, as he turned to face his crew. "A demonstration of power," he said simply. "Now, let us gather what we have come for."
The Shell Pirates moved with powerful synchronization, standing spread in the village. The residue of the Kid Pirates offered very little resistance; their spirits broken by the defeat of their captain, they were no match for the gathering strength of Zadael's pirates. They were easily snatched up by the sea demons, hoisted up in great powerful hands closing like steel traps around little men. The minks shadowed their periphery to see if roaming or sodden members went away with the loot.
The villagers paralyzed with terror had begun to timidly come out of their shelters. They stared at Zadael, looming over the fallen pirates in an unreadable expression. The presence of smoke from burning wood and fear lingered thickly in the air, yet the green giant did no harm to them. "Take what you need," he directed his crew. "But leave enough for these people to rebuild."
Sly Bonesaw Bill advanced, with a shining expression in his one eye perceptibly divided between respect and hard-set greediness. "Aye, Captain," said Bonesaw Bill, who, while rough around the edges, emitted the renewed awe in his tone. The crew began memorably filling their sacks with gold and jewels, quite recently won from Eustass Kid's raid. They wasted no time, fearing to test their luck with the hospitality of the villagers.
While the stuff was collected, Zadael stood off to survey the havoc. His heart was heavy; he knew this was the wit of pirate life, yet he was remorseful since he was newly aware of the nature of the burden of power. He walked to an elderly woman with Herculean composure and laid a bag of gold into her grip. "For you," quelled he. She took herself, eyes wet, and bowed with thanks.
Now, the loot gathered and the village close to recovery, The Shell Pirates turned back towards their ship. The return journey was filled with a fusion of excitement and sober thoughts. The crew exchanged hushed talks about how incredible Zadael's talent was, as well as how easily he had dealt with Kid Pirates noted for their notoriety.
Once on board, Zadael assembled everyone in the main cabin. The sea giants had to bend to avoid hitting themselves against the ceiling, their eyes intently fixed toward their captain. Cookie set a plate of his famous meat pies on the table, but rather serious than a jovial respect.
"Well, today was a job well done," Zadael remarked, scanning his crew stood before him all together. "However, do remember, this is just the beginning. You know those Marines will not be far behind us with a bounty on our heads." The room bore quiet at this as their eyes traveled around the room; realization sunk in. "We need to be prepared. They're going hunting for us, and, in turn, we will become hunters. We will stick to each other, we will watch each other's backs, and we will make a name for ourselves."
Bonesaw Bill stood up and joined the side of Tessa, his serious face completely different from what was expected. "Captain, you can count on us. We knew from the very start what we were signing in for." Murmurs of agreement resounded in the room, a dueling chorus of commitment from the mixed-race crew.
Tessa's tail swept through the air when she leaned against a barrel. "What now, Cap'n? With a bounty on our heads, we can't just go back to the sea and party like nothing happened." Her eyes identified Zadael's like a paladin searching for information on his strongest foe.
"We'll keep on moving, keep on growing," said Zadael, eyes flickering and reminiscent of fire. "We'll become a crew of pirates that no one wants to mess with. And when the Marines come, we will have a way out."
The crew nodded, the determination evident in their expressions that firmly mirrored their captain's. They knew the way ahead would be anything but easy, but the promises of huge wealth and infamy were like blank checks for this crew. A thrill ran down Tessa's spine as she finally realized that she had made the right decision in joining The Shell Pirates.
Zadael's eye fell on the map in front of him while his long fingers traced the route leading towards The Grandline. "No change in destination," said Zadael, lingering on the mythical waters. "But we'll have to lay low for some while to build our name and strength. The Grandline won't show any mercy."
The crew nodded in acknowledgment, the realization of their situation settling in on them. They knew the road ahead was lined with blades, but the thought of realizing their dreams was simply too intoxicating to push away.
"We'll start from the smaller islands and build up our resources," said Zadael, his watchful eyes hovering for signs of encouragement. "We'll steer clear of the big players for now. We need to build up before we go one-on-one with them." He looked up at his crew, lingering on each one of them. "But have no fear; we will make sure we're known. The Shell Pirates will not be forgotten."
Bonesaw Bill smiled and shone brightly within the dim cabin light. "Aye, Cap'n, we shall show 'em what we're capable of!" The crew broke into cheers, the sound strangely muffled against the outer wooden walls. Cookie lashed out against a sea giant, the roar of its laughter rumbling through the ship.
The partying lasted way into the night with the aromatic waft of food and rum intermingled with job candidness. As the celebration continued, Zadael sat in his cabin, deep in thought. The victory was sweet, yet it was merely a play on the scoreboard. He knew that the real test lay ahead on The Grandline. The stories of its dangers were legendary; he had to ensure that his crew was ready.
He began to pray for The Lord for more personal strength and for that of his crew. Having been an avid One Piece reader in his past life, he knew his place in One Piece history would truly be secured if he had a Devil Fruit despite having a cheat. Every great One Piece character had a devil fruit and exceptions like Shanks and Roger were up there, but what about those with crazy haki that never made it up there? He couldn't take the risk even with a cheat and it'd be cool to have a Devil Fruit anyways in addition to being advantageous.
His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. "Cap'n?" Tessa's voice was hesitant. He summarily bade her enter, and she did, her eyes roaming across the cabin before finally settling on Zadael. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked, burning with curiosity concerning the enigmatic captain.
Zadael stopped his prayer. "Of course," he said, gesturing to the chair opposite of him. With her tail curling around a leg of the chair, she sat in front of him. "What is it that is bothering you, Tessa?"
The young mink took a deep breath. "I...I would like to know about you, Captain." She explored him for any glint of the true man behind that stoic face. "Where do you come from? What's your story?"
Zadael leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin beard with a reflective design on his face. "I am hailing from The Mirage Isles," he began in a low voice. "It's a desert island where sand is hot and people are dark as the blackest moonless night."
Tessa leaned in, her eyes glowing and enormous. "The Mirage Isles? I have heard of a place like that, but I never know anyone who has been there."
Zadael nodded. "A country of extreme events. Hot by day, cold by night. Only the strongest survive. Such strength provides a rare type of piracy." He took a deep breath as his face grew solemn. "We live by the whims of the sands. They give, and they take away. It is there I learned to fight, to lead." He gave a half truth and half lie, the rest was covered by The Lord. But the best lies were ones that were half-truths.