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[Captain's Quarters, The Titanic]
It was a relatively empty yet dark room filled with a stench of death itself.
There were cracks all over the room; even the treasured ore and its characteristics seemed to decay under the might of a primal force against life itself.
A fog of black mist filled the room as two human outlines remained visible.
"So you want to leave, Shakuyaku?" a wild and raspy voice questioned. The voice lacked emotion and had nothing more than a sliver of curiosity.
The black-haired woman stood rather stiff, trying to hide the trepidation in her eyes. She cleared her throat and remained strong, "Yes, Captain."
"..." Rocks studied the woman before him, his crazed eyes scanned thoroughly.
Cold sweat broke out from the woman's neck as her breath grew heavy under the glare of the Abyssal Sin. Even though the man wasn't trying to be overly malicious, his body naturally released a certain aura that anyone else would perceive as fatal.
The silence was lifted after what seemed like hours to the female pirate. "Xahaha… alright, little girl. You fulfilled your end of the bargain years ago. You can leave as you wish and continue flying my flag over Amazon Lily."
He then returned to his drinking, his mind elsewhere on a different event that would take place not too long from now.
----------------------------------------------
[Few Days Later]
Damien and Newgate threw a feast on Shakky's departure.
Practically everyone except Rocks joined in. Even with their numbers greatly lessened, many men and women did not get well together. However, the magic cure of alcohol tended to alter that result.
It lasted five days and five nights; the entire sea of pirates was left drunk and sleep-deprived. That aside, another thousand men died throughout the party; whether it was being stabbed while drunk or smashed apart by Kaido, it was nothing new.
…
It was a new day, and the Titanic finally returned to Hachinosu!
The entire trip lasted around two months. Every last pirate that arrived knew that some fateful event was creeping up from far away. They weren't sure what it was or when it would happen, but it would flip the world upside down when it did.
While others would be filled with anxiety about such a pivotal day, the Rocks Pirates were instead quite excited, vying for blood!
…
[Fourth Division Headquarters]
"So," Damien addressed the stranger in a questioning tone, "You chose my Division?"
The one he spoke to happened to be donning a white mask with an indifferent face, seeming quite mysterious.
"Hensō the Faceless," came another voice belonging to the reticent Indra. "He held down a Vice Admiral for my mission onto Ox Lloyd's Warships, a Super Rookie alongside Nomu and Agon."
The swordsman passed Damien a poster documenting a reward:
-----< WANTED >-----
< HENSŌ >
< 'The Faceless' >
< 𝔅 489,000,000 - >
< DEAD or ALIVE >
------------------------
Damien hummed, inspecting the pirate.
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
[Hensō]
[Age: 31 years, 3 months, 23 days]
[Height: 9' 2"] (2.79 m)
[Devil Fruit: Mask-Mask Fruit (Advanced Mastery)]
[Fruit Rating: 6 Stars]
[Skills: Primitive Moonwalk, Primitive Shave]
[Haki: Intermediate Mastery of Observation and Armament Haki]
[Strength: Bottom Tier Yonko Commander]
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
[Mask-Mask Fruit (Hensō Hensō no Mi)]
[Paramecia Fruit]
[Fruit Rating: 6 Stars]
[Allows the user to equip different masks, each personifying a particular emotion and granting their corresponding abilities, making them a Faceless Human.]
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
The pirate in question slightly shook under Damien's undisguised gaze. He felt his entire history was being read like a book… and it was!
Henso, alongside Wang Zhi and the other extras, were recruited into the Rocks Pirates, granting them the chance to choose a Division. "Supernovas are usually unruly. Why come to me?"
Henso took a deep breath through the opening of his mask and slowly answered, "My entire crew was wiped out in the war, and I have nowhere else to go." His voice wavered in uncertainty as he finished, "I feel aimless, and perhaps an anomaly like the Sin Incarnate give me ideas of what my life shall be henceforth."
Damien reined in his Haki, allowing Henso to calm down. "Alright, go find Kaen, he'll show you around."
The faceless pirate nodded and wandered off.
.
Indra stood to the side, his usual confidence shadowed by a lingering uncertainty.
"Have you sensed it too, Indra?" Damien asked, his tone sharp yet curious.
The dark-haired swordsman turned to his commander with a solemn gaze. "The air… is foul. The island has always been putrid but has a vile atmosphere this time."
Damien slowly nodded. "It looks like we need to up our guard," he calmly stated. "With Shakky-nee leaving, it seems that quite a lot of rats will come out from hiding."
Indra understood the gravity of the situation, slowly nodding.
Damien looked at the swordsman with the corner of his eyes. He could feel Indra was a little off since the Scorched Sea War. The usual stoic demeanour was ever-present, but the slight trepidation hidden deep down did not escape the Sin Incarnate's observation.
"Whatever's holding you down, spit it out already."
Indra matched his commander's eyes while bringing out the grip of a katana with no blade. "The sword you gave me was destroyed in the battle."
"Who gives a shit? It was just a Great Grade Sword. I have like twenty of them from Wano," Damien casually replied.
Indra shook his head, absently gripping at the remnants of Kyoran. "The sword means everything to our creed… losing the sword bestowed upon us is akin to the greatest failure."
The emotions surrounding Indra were clouded with apology and self-anger. Such a state of apprehension caught Damien by surprise. "Your creed," the Sin Incarnate echoed. "The Warborn of Polemos Island, yes, I've read up on them."
"From all the books I've read and the intel I've gathered, the Warborn, its entire society, ended over two decades ago as a consequence of their special nature."
Damien paused his recollection, studying the silent Indra. The slight tremble down his arms, the vice-like grip of his broken weapon, the inability to maintain eye contact—quite obviously a troubled past.
"I don't need you to revisit past pain," Damien cleared the air in a forthright tone. "But I will need your aid in the coming war, which requires you at one hundred percent."
The shiver in Indra's arm immediately stopped, the heightened heart rate returned to normal, and his wavering eyes regained composure. The Hellspawn who had terrorized the Navy was back in full force, standing tall and proud to an unnatural degree.
'It's a subconscious response,' Damien frowned to himself. 'He was raised to be a warrior, a machine, born for blood and combat.'
"Tell me, what keeps you so loyal to me that you're willing to butt heads with Admirals?" he then asked, giving the swordsman no time to breathe.
"The sole purpose behind the existence of my people is to become the most destructive weapon in our master's hand," Indra replied, unshaken. "It is what we were bred for."
But his concise reply was met with a scoff. "I don't care about all that 'sole purpose of existence' nonsense." Damien's casual words left the warborn speechless.
The undying pirate crossed his arms and continued, "I've already trusted you before to hold back Basara, and you did that with flying colours. My grievance with Kurowashi was even more important to me, and you didn't fail me there."
Damien stepped forward, looking straight into the slightly shorter Indra—red eyes met black ones. "The coming year will put the Scorched Sea War to shame," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of past sorrows and unyielding resolve. "Everything I've fought for since my home was razed to the ground and my mother's death before my helpless self will be on the table."
"Now I need to know if my right-hand man will remain as reliable as ever."
Indra had long been used to his boss' direct style of talking, and this time, he picked up the tension hidden behind Damien's words. It was to the point where the undying monster feared by billions was reduced to a shallow flame in a sea of uncertainty.
The swordsman let out a deep exhale and returned a firm nod. "I won't let you down."
.
'He's back to his usual self,' the Sin Incarnate concluded based on the look in Indra's eyes. 'But whatever mess his past was, it really did a number. He's been practically stripped of emotion with the sole purpose of following orders.'
"I meant what I said to you when I first met you. The day where you slew ninety-nine men to come under my Division," Damien said with a smirk. "I look forward to the day you share your story."
He then extended his right hand, holding it in the two-meter gap between the young men. "Until then, you'll need a new weapon."
Indra nodded, awaiting his commander's following words. And they came with a surprise.
"Both you and I need a catalyst for our respective strengths to be at least somewhat prepared for the imminent future. I'm planning on heading out to sea for a few months. While I'm gone, I expect you to make good use of these two things…"
*Vvooo!* A sharp gust blew about as an item was brought into the pirate's palm, gracing the world with its beauty.
"I'd be damned if someone says I don't know how to reward the loyalty of my people. Like my Ryushi, this blade is of the Supreme Grade," Damien stated with an appreciative tone. "'Sacred Blade' Tenmei, its graceful nature suits you well."
Indra was lost in the brilliant white katana, absently reaching out to grab it, and the instincts of a swordsman couldn't help admiring the craftsmanship.
Damien grinned as his subordinate stopped himself from unsheathing the blade and extended his Haki through it.
Indra held the blade with both hands, the right on the grip and the other on the white sheath. With a melodious shing, the Supreme Weapon was unleashed, gracing the world with its divinity.
"It's a beautiful sword…"
Indra appreciated the blade's mist-like design, feeling its sturdiness like a dozen mountains. He continued to pour in Haki, but surprisingly enough, it didn't turn black; instead, the white design over the sword began to glow brighter, taking on a genuinely sacred appearance!
[Haki-clad Tenmei Image (in Discord)]
The undying pirate heard the voice of the treasured blade, hearing its hum. "Tenmei approves of you."
After a short while, he clicked the weapon back into its dormant state.
Still holding it with both hands, he looked up with great resolve, much to Damien's satisfaction.
.
"Well, that's the first of two tools I will give you."
"Commander, this is already priceless–"
"Wrong," Damien shut his words down in a sharp voice, leaving Indra unable to form words. "Even the legendary Ope-Ope Fruit, which can supposedly grant eternal youth, can be given a price."
The Sin Incarnate smirked at his right-hand pirate and said, "The only thing truly priceless in this broken world is loyalty."
Without losing eye contact, another goodie poofed into Damien's hand. Its complicated nature made it evident to be a Devil Fruit!
He tossed over the fruit, leaving Indra no choice but to reach to grab it. "You said your people exist to become the most destructive weapon, right? Take these 'priceless' treasures and prove it to me."
The swordsman gulped at the absurdity of the rewards bestowed upon him. In one hand was a sacred white sword, and in the other, a blue fruit with a stem resembling a lightning bolt coursing with power.
"The invincible power—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
----------------------------------------------
[A Few Days Later]
[Hachinosu Docks]
A specific ship was preparing to leave, and by considering the luggage, it seemed like a one-way ticket.
The weather was not friendly. Pouring rain and chaotic tides were forecasted. It's not something anyone with a hint of IQ would want to sail in.
"You don't have to come with me, Damien-chan." The black-haired woman smiled towards the younger man beside her.
"It's nothing much. Plus, I already told the Captain I'll be gone for a few months. Might as well accompany you, Shakky-nee."
The two stood on a small ship that had just left the docks, slowly disappearing into the distance. Shakuyaku had bid farewell to the very few people worth saying goodbye to, namely Whitebeard, Silver Axe and Indra.
As for her Ninth Division, it had disbanded! Without her direct supervision, it wasn't worth much.
Amber, Shakky's right hand, had also left with some other Ravens. They had promised to keep in touch with the Black Death and to keep a chain of information ready; Shakky's worldwide news network remained stable.
*Puff* A cloud of smoke drifted about as the short-haired woman sat on the ship's railing. She wore her usual with long legs revealed in their full glory. "I must say, I didn't expect you to have the legendary fruit that had gone missing for over a century and a half," the woman said. "Let alone give it away so casually."
Obviously, this refers to the ability in Indra's hand that only she was privy to.
Damien shrugged, "Well, it's better than lying around unused. Plus, Indra's name is quite literally from a Storm God. I'd say it was fate."
Shakky hummed, embracing the chaotic winds of the New World. "Anyways, where do you plan to go?" she gave him a teasing grin, "Ara~! Could it be to meet your two little sweethearts you told me about?"
Damien, who was leaning against the mast, rolled his eyes. "I'm going to a more hellhole of an island first."
Shakky raised an eyebrow, "Well, don't keep in suspense."
"I recently arrived at a block in my fruit powers. I need a little push…"
Shakky tapped her chin and remarked, "You don't mean that hellish place?"
Damien nodded as he saw her expression and dropped the bomb, "That's right. I want to go to the Isle of Disasters—Extinction Valley!"
To Be Continued…
----------------------------------------------
Author's Corner.
This was an essential chapter for Indra's character. You've become privy to some pieces of the Warborns, but they remain hidden under a fog of mystery, one that Damien hopes to one day uncover. For now, he lays his trust in a capable subordinate for the fateful day on the horizon. After all, those treasures aren't worth much collecting dust in his inventory.
Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q
[2950 words]
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[Five Days Later]
A cheery morning rose in the mellow lands of the Sabaody Archipelago.
The people were embraced in the warm rays as the birds did their usual flyover. It was peaceful. The crowd was bursting as usual. Some pirates could be seen here and there.
Perhaps it was the serene weather, or the Celestial Dragons had stopped appearing beyond the safe walls of Mariejois for a few weeks now.
And under the unsuspecting eyes of the public, two people walked through the mangroves. One seemed like a woman, her head covered with a hood while wearing a loose cloak. The other was a man who donned a simple hood and dwarfed most.
"Ara~! Even I can't sense you with my Haki," the woman whispered. "You've really grown up from that cub I found in the West Blue."
Damien gave a wry smile, taking her blunt words with grace. "Well, revealing my identity right now could bring a lot of trouble to your establishment, Shakky-nee."
They continued their march through the many zones of Sabaody.
The lush grassy roads of the Archipelago were well maintained, perhaps for the luxury of the Celestial Dragons that like to roam here. The usual design was found throughout the land, a wide street with food stalls and markets for the crowd.
…
[A While Later]
[Grove 13]
The two then made their way up the hill and onto a plateau. It was at least a hundred meters above the ground. Yet nothing was compared to the sheer massiveness of the mangrove, which stood even taller before their very eyes, seemingly scraping the skies.
"Here we are!" Shakky said with a satisfied smile, evidently excited.
Damien eyed the area. Grove 13 was near the center of the Archipelago. It was connected to the other more prominent industries: the amusement park, the hotel area, the tourist zone and even the lawless region.
The one place it was far from was the marine base at Grove 66, which was quite an excellent location for a pirate establishment to flourish.
.
There was already a building prepped and ready. Its impressive craftsmanship spoke of the masterful workers behind it.
"I paid a large sum to the best underworld construction company in the seas… they did a decent job," the woman complimented in excitement.
This building featured a large, dome-shaped green roof with a sign displaying "Shakky's Rip-off Bar." The structure had a rustic, cylindrical design, complete with ivy growing on the exterior and a charming blend of stone and wood materials. Multiple windows with wooden frames allowed light to flood in, and the entrance was a wooden door with an "OPENING SOON" sign.
Damien rolled his eyes at the bar's name. "Well, at least you're honest."
[Bar Image (in Discord)]
The duo entered, breathing the smell of freshly sawed wood and new furniture.
Shakky hummed with a smile, throwing off her shroud and rushing in with her heels clicking the floorboards.
Damien also took off his cloak while surveying the establishment. The bar's layout mirrored what the younger pirate remembered from his past life—small, simple, and cozy.
A sigh of relief exited her mouth as she took her place at the center seat of the bar, turning to Damien with a smile.
She flashed a teasing look in her eyes as she commented, "I'm glad I'm not the only one trying something new."
The Sin Incarnate blinked at Shakky's gaze, appreciating his new clothes. "Oh, this," he mumbled, looking down, "well, a certain someone was pretty stubborn about me changing my wardrobe."
The older woman leaned in with interest, narrowing her eyes. "Now I know only a beautiful young lady could get someone as routine-oriented as you out of that edgy trench coat."
The corner of Damien's lips twitched from the sharp comment. "Hey, I resent that! It wasn't edgy, it was stylish," he pleaded his case.
"Stylish?" Shakky mused with an intriguing smirk. "Yes… spicy young men like you tend to mix those words up."
The newly-fashioned pirate took the words on the chin and stepped ahead, sitting on the seat next to the Black Death.
.
"..." The two remained quiet for the next few minutes, taking in the quiet of Grove 13. Life at Hachinosu had made both of them numb to death, slaughter and misery; the calm, serene and free air of Sabaody was a breath of fresh air.
"You know Damien-chan," Shakky began, staring at the empty bartender's side. "Since Captain Rocks' crew came to be, I had weeded out hundreds of Cipher Pol agents and thousands of undercover marines. The number of pirates who tried to attack at night with poison or sneak attacks wasn't low either."
She blew out a large cloud of smoke and continued, "My Ravens were almost always there to take out these threats before they swelled up too much. But with that gone, the infighting and the betrayal will balloon."
Damien narrowed his eyes in thought and couldn't help but nod. "Mhm, even with the captain's overwhelming spirit, the number of men trying to swipe the absurd bounties on our heads is only increasing."
He paused, "But Shakky-nee, you should know I care little about a bunch of living corpses."
"Ufufufufu!" The former pirate burst out into a hearty chuckle. "Of course, I know that. Some weak pirates who rely on sneak attacks can never take you down. But the one you need to be careful of is Cipher Pol."
*Poof* Another cloud of smoke came into being as the woman spat out a name: "Xerxes."
[A/N: Xerxes is pronounced "Zerk-seez".]
"I was able to get one of the CP-3 agents to speak. Xerxes is the one who will surely have his rats sneak in. I wouldn't be surprised if they were already on board. Plus, his Deputy Chief Typhon Kade is a sharp one, too; he's zeroing in on your missing princess."
Damien naturally knew of them, too. "Well, even the Gravity Fruit as a smokescreen would eventually fail to fool some people." A solemn look passed his eyes, "But Cipher Pol will be busy with the mess from the Scorched Sea, and Kade's glaring eyes will be diverted away from Fulcrum for long enough."
Shakky felt relieved now, knowing his thoughtfulness on the topic, and moved on, "There'll also be peeping eyes from the Navy's side."
Damien's lips warped into a disdaining smile, "SWORD, yes, the Navy's super undercover force. I already found one of them, Rahaha! Though it's more fun to keep them thinking their cover is still intact."
Shakky shook her head with a defeated smile, "Well, just take care of yourself."
.
"Puru," "Puru," "Puru," the familiar tune broke their conversation. Shakky went through her pockets to pull out a transponder snail.
"Katcha~!" "This is Shakky."
The snail took on the appearance of a gorgeous white-haired woman. "Shakky! You finally got out from that monster's flag-nyo!"
"Oh, Gloriosa, how've you been?"
The snail heaved a sigh, shaking its head. "I still can't believe you went to the monster's lair… you should have let me take your place-nyo!"
The smoking barkeep harrumphed, "You were lovestruck and zombie-like. I couldn't let you aboard Rocks' ship; you'd die!"
The snail lowered its eyes in shame. "I, I… ugh, damn lovesickness!" she roared.
Shakky sighed as well, taking another gulp of her cigar. "At least it all worked out. By flying the Abyssal Sin's flag, Amazon Lily kept its Empress and its safety."
.
Damien was naturally interested in the political scene. He knew Gloriosa was a previous Empress who fled from her home with her Kuja Pirates, leaving Shakky on the throne.
Years later, Shakky fell under Garp's radar for some mischievous behaviour at Sabaody, only to be saved by Xebec. It was then that Shakky convinced Gloriosa to return home before leaving to work under Rocks and allow Amazon Lily to fly his banner.
"I'm just glad things worked out," the ex-Empress relented, blooming a smile. "How's Toritoma?"
"Good, very good! I've trained that little girl with the throne and the Kuja Pirates. She'll take over nicely when the time is right," Gloriosa answered with evident joy. "I'll make sure she doesn't get caught up in the hurricane of love… damn that lovesickness!"
[A/N: Toritoma was revealed as the Empress after Shakky and before Hancock in SBS 109.]
"Anyway, Shakky. Aren't you coming back home-nyo?"
The black-haired woman smiled and shook her head. "No, Gloriosa. You've done great things in my absence. You deserve your post as the Empress. I'll have my Ravens help Toritoma with intel."
"Okay, Shakky. I know I can't convince you anyway."
The women laughed at one another; their friendship was evident.
Shakky then turned to the other person in the bar and slightly nodded. "I'll talk to you soon, Gloriosa."
.
Damien was glad Shakky had the chance to escape the coming hell. She had helped him a lot, whether it was guiding him through Hachinosu, training him in Observation Haki or simply being there to recruit him from the ignorant West Blue.
The newly crafted wood boards creaked as the Sin Incarnate stood up. "I should be heading out now, Shakky-nee. It will be hard to find Extinction Valley once the night hits."
The woman sighed, knowing the troubles on the horizon. "Visit from time to time; you're always welcome here," Shakky said as she hugged the far taller Damien.
"I know you have a big goal in mind, Damien-chan," she said as they separated, barely reaching his upper chest. "I've seen you grow from a young seedling to a strong and stable tree that even the World Government can't cut down. I guess I can only watch from the newspapers now," she said, chuckling at the last part.
"I'll be rooting for you from my little bar here. Good luck, Damien."
The undying pirate nodded slightly, noticing Shakky's lack of joking demeanour. "I'll see you when all of this is over."
The woman reputed as the Black Death could only stare at the horizon as the young man disappeared, returning to the untold horrors of the New World.
"I feel like he'll make me worry even more than usual," she hummed, walking back into the bar.
…
[A Few Hours Later]
A flash of black and red pierced the sea of clouds. Damien was jetting through the skies, utilizing his Hadean Form in a more reserved version.
'Awakening is fully understanding the true capabilities of one's Devil Fruit's power,' he thought.
Awakened Paramecia gained the ability to turn the surroundings into their powers, alongside a significant boost to their overall capabilities.
A few notable Awakened that Damien had met in battle were Enigma, Basara, and Sol.
It was the next step for him now.
---
"Sibyl, tell me about Awakening?"
A voice erupted in his mind, [Every fruit's final stage is complete mastery, known as Awakening. This is part of the devil fruit's nature, and each fruit is restricted by a limit, summarized as the Fruit Rating scale.]
Damien nodded. The System Fruit Rating ranged from one to seven stars. The highest, seven-star fruits, were dubbed the Ultimate-Class, while the 6.5-star fruits were called the Exceptional-Class. Damien's Pulverize-Pulverize Fruit belonged to the latter.
"Is there more to the star system?" he asked, whizzing through the skies.
[Each fruit follows a specific path and has inferior or superior versions of itself,] Sibyl explained. [For example, the Chill-Chill Fruit is weaker than the Cold-Cold Fruit, which is weaker than the Ice-Ice Fruit. Similarly, the Ignite-Ignite Fruit leads to the Fire-Fire Fruit, then to the Magma-Magma Fruit.]
[These differences are reflected in their star ratings. If the Ice-Ice Fruit is a 6.5-star fruit, the Cold-Cold Fruit would be a 6-star, and the Chill-Chill Fruit a 5.5-star.]
Damien understood the main idea, "Does my fruit follow this pattern?"
[Yes, the Compress-Compress Fruit leads to the Divide-Divide Fruit and finally to the Pulverize-Pulverize Fruit, rated 5.5, 6, and 6.5 stars, respectively.]
"So, they can reach the 7-Star category?" he asked.
[Usually, the 7-Star category is minimal, representing fruits that embody the universe's governing qualities. There are twelve such Authorities:]
[Life, Death, Eternity, Infinity, Mind, Time, Space, Soul, Power, Reality, Creation, and Destruction.]
Damien nodded, recalling several he had already encountered. "Linlin's Soul Fruit, Toki's Time Fruit, Enigma's Mind Fruit, Whitebeard's Tremor Fruit, Xebec's Death Fruit, Sol's Sun Fruit, and the Op-Op Fruit," he listed.
[A/N: Tremor Fruit → Destruction; Sun Fruit → Infinity; Operation Fruit → Space + Eternity.]
.
Alas, the young pirate came to a final thought. "All of this begs the question: Can you evolve a fruit into its next star level?" he mumbled. "What do you say, Sibyl?"
[It is not possible.]
Yet her pessimism didn't convince Damien, who returned a grin fit for a pirate. "Never say never, Sibyl. I'll find a way to subvert your calculations. Just wait!"
[...]
Damien chuckled at her speechless demeanour and continued his journey through the starry skies of the New World.
----------------------------------------------
[Seven Hours Later]
Damien had been continuously speeding through the clouds, leaving behind a trail of broken air. The man was on a mission, for sure.
He put aside the thought of Fruit Evolution and focussed on his Awakening. The same thought remained in his mind as he neared his destination. Rocks had gone to the Isle of Spirits—Death Valley to fully master his fruit.
Now Damien made his way to Extinction Valley, one of the other two Valleys.
Death Valley was a constantly mobile location that resided in an eternal hurricane. The howls of the fallen spirit were the legend that kept these winds ever-raging.
As for Extinction Valley? The accepted legend states that every natural disaster known to man could be found at this hellhole. And that all the terrors that have ravaged the world originated from here.
According to some conspiracy theorists, the Isle of Disasters was where quite a few destructive fruits first grew. These included the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the Tornado-Tornado Fruit, the Hurricane-Hurricane Fruit, the Volcano-Volcano Fruit, the Havoc-Havoc Fruit and many more.
Alas, there were no documented survivors from the valley and the only piece of intel to reach there was to simply turn left off the entrance to the New World past the Red Line.
…
After 17 hours of northward flying, Damien arrived at something unusual. Beyond him were the usual turbulent seas, except the natural wonder was what was beyond it.
He could see the giant tsunamis from far away. They weren't regular waves either. "The waves are... upside down," Damien was left stumped. "That doesn't even make sense."
The land within his vision was bathed by tides that seemed upside down!
Powerful bangs erupted as endless waves smashed down the rocky lands. It was a giant land of coastal tsunamis! Added to the constant rain, it was quite the terror of a spectacle.
Damien took out a parchment. The large brown paper seemed weathered by age, left crinkly and considerably oxidized.
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
[Map of Surroundings {Refined}]
[Shows all land and sea area within 100 kilometers in all directions.]
[Deprived of all impurities and imperfections, granting it a new quality of Past Preservation.]
[Past Preservation: By studying prior human interactions, the map can also generate specific descriptions about distinct regions found within the map.]
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
"I haven't really used this since I got it all the way back from the items of the previous System user," Damien muttered.
The refined parchment seemed like it could be blown away any second; alas, it began to flutter. Damien felt the subtle vibrations as the map was blessed with ink!
Slowly but surely, distinct and exact imaging became apparent as a map was drawn titled Extinction Valley.
.
The undying pirate studied the map. The island was encircled by mountains, creating a valley within. Eleven major regions made up this valley.
In the south, where he stood, was the "Tempest Channel." Further east lay the "Desert of the Starved." To the west extended "The Unknown Regions," and to the northwest was a land ominously named "Hell."
At the center of the valley was a circular region called "The Ring of Untold Horrors," within which was a smaller area known as "The Haven." Moving west from the ring led to a smaller land called "Tremor District," which in turn connected to "The Savage Lands," ultimately leading to "Stormy Beach."
Two islands lay off the main one. Off the coast of Stormy Beach was the "Tundra of Fleeting Hope." Finally, to the north from the ring's edges and across a stretch of sea was the isolated and aptly named "No Man's Land."
[Extinction Valley Map Image (in Discord)]
.
"Garp, Roger, Whitebeard. These guys are all Top Tier Yonko right now, yet to arrive at their peak strength. God Valley is the end of an era where everything can begin and end."
Damien clenched his fists, breathing into the chaos and disorder of the hellacious land. "Awakening is my key to survival. Either I get off this rock with newfound powers or be swept away in the storm that spelled damnation on the Rocks Pirates."
Black lightning arched around the Sin Incarnate's body, sparking the thunderous air with his ambition.
It had been eleven years since he departed from Renaissance, where his mother still rests.
Flashes of the past decade and more went through his mind. But even under all the carnage were bright lights in the form of his Fourth Division, Shakky and Whitebeard at Hachinosu and Aurora, Toki and Kuzan at Mortem Island.
A resolute smile was worn on the young pirate's face as he welcomed the coming era, "Well, let's begin."
To Be Continued…
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Author's Corner.
In the original series, I had the platonic bond between Shakky and Damien, and severing it to obey canon felt wrong, so I made the new lore incorporate the changes.
Otherwise, this is the catch-up point; the rewrite is complete. There will be a break until we continue to Chapter 126; I'll specify it tomorrow.
Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q
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