Chapter 23: The Unforgiven
North Blue, Sakura Island
Unknown POV
This island used to be governed by a king until that happened... Now, this land is full of chaos, thugs roam the streets, and the person that ruled this place is but a puppet. The sakura trees that we are known for no longer bloom like they used to, the kids running around playing are now replaced by their starving and begging cries.
"What went wrong?" I murmured.
The only beautiful sight on this island is the untouched sky. Every day I wake up, I see the bright sky that reminds me of those beautiful days when my mother protected me, when my brother and I ruled the streets, and when my father would teach me how to wield a sword.
Sigh "I can't seem to forget the past."
Getting up, I held my sword tight and unsheathed it as I turned around and split an arrow in half.
"When will it stop?"
I heard about a dozen footsteps running towards me, fully armored with their swords hitting their heavy armor plates. I can tell. I can tell because of the wind, the cursed wind that always leads me to death, not my death at least.
As they came up from the hill, I saw their faces, full of hatred. They are the current "police force" that roam the island searching for the remaining people of that event. These guys were loyal to the last king, and still are.
"Stop right there, you criminal!"
"..."
"I finally found you, you bastard. I will bring justice to the kingdom that you and those bastards destroyed!"
The guy yelling was their leader, his name is Henry, a loyal captain that served the late king. He used to give us a lot of trouble when we were kids; my brother and I would always make fun of him when we had the chance. Now look at him, a swordsman who looks like he hasn't eaten in days. Armor full of blood, greasy dark hair that's tied into a ponytail. Yet even with those blood all over his armor, that armor still shined the brightest out of every armor.
"What do you want, Henry?" I asked.
"You! Do not utter my name, you bastard! And you know what I want, I want your head!"
With those words, he unsheathed his sword and swung it using both of his hands towards me, which I quickly dodged with ease and made him fall to the ground. He is currently malnourished; he is nowhere near capable of fighting.
"Kill me? You can try."
I unsheathed the sword that I was holding and struck it forward towards Henry's right leg. However, my blade did not touch his leg, but there was a swirling of winds that started from my shoulders to my blade that struck Henry's leg, penetrating it.
"ARGGG!"
Looking down at Henry, I sighed then looked at the group that came with him. They all looked terrified and just like Henry, they were all malnourished and not suited for battle.
Turning back, I said while walking away, "Hmp.. No cure for fools."
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Upper Yard
"W-W-WHAT IS THAT?!" Yelled Usopp as he hid behind Luffy.
While Luffy was picking his nose and looking at a dark shadow standing still laughing, the other Straw Hats were looking at the shadow warily and scared.
"Kekekeke. Relax~" The shadow said.
"Who are you?" asked Sanji.
"Kekekeke. It's me, Baal. The guy who saved your guys' asses."
The "shadow" was Baal, who recently got his body and could not physically interact with the world around him as he pleases.
"Y-You were the one that fought with those other guys right? I knew it wasn't Zoro," said Nami while also behind Luffy.
"Yes, that was me. Wasn't I the best?" said Baal while grinning.
"Creepy! You should have listened to Luffy and gotten rid of that thing, Zoro!" yelled Nami with sharp teeth forming in her mouth.
Zoro said nothing and just looked at his sword and looked back at Baal. Seeing Zoro look at him, Baal grinned and spoke, "Now now, I had to take over and help him. And besides, I haven't been free for hundreds of years... Even a god would feel bored. Just you, alone in a contained space with no one else to talk to... I would go crazy kekekekeke!"
"You already are crazy," murmured Usopp.
With a bow, Baal continued, "Allow me to make it up to you by teaching you something great!"
Baal threw a thick book towards the Straw Hats, which Robin picked up. When Robin opened up the book, she was shocked. She looked at the book then looked at Baal, who was still grinning.
"This..." whispered Robin.
"What is it, Robin?" asked the emergency food supply.
"It's.... Instructions for Haki!"
"Haki? What's that?" asked Luffy while picking his nose.
"Well... I have only read about haki a few times, and it is said that haki gives you the ability to interact with the 'body' of a Logia user."
"That's one type of Haki," Mentioned Baal.
"You mean there's more?" asked Robin.
As Baal explained the different types of Haki and how it can help them achieve their dream, Zoro, Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji began their training, with the rest of the Straw Hats not being interested in it.
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North Blue, Sakura Island
Unknown POV
As I walked on a bustling street full of merchants, beggars, starved children, thieves, thugs, and animals, I noticed four men following me closely. I could tell they were skilled and highly trained; they were making almost no mistakes when following me. Their breathing is also very stable for such a mission. They must not be from gang members who want me dead but from those lowly pigs.
"They never learn."
I turned to a corner and walked towards the place my brother and I used to play around with other kids, the abandoned orphanage. It's an open place with no one around but the souls of the children that used to live here.
I sat on the stairs that lead up to the main gate of the orphanage. Then, I looked at the alley where I turned and said, "Come out." It took a few seconds, but four men came out of the shadows. All of them were wearing a white suit with a black tie alongside a black hat. They were also wearing masks that hid all of their faces.
"Who are you? Who sent you bastards to die?" I asked.
"Come with us," The guy in the middle demanded.
"Or what?"
The guy on the left and the one on the right quickly disappeared and appeared in front of me, throwing a punch. However, their hands were cleanly cut before even making contact with my face, making them step back to their original place.
"Do not underestimate him; he is the student of Sou-"
The leader was cut short with his head falling off before he could even finish his sentence.
"Do not utter his name with those filthy mouths of yours."
The three other guys looked at me with horror and were ready to fight again until they were all killed with a pipe hitting their head. After they all fell down dead, I saw a man standing behind the three holding a pipe.
The guy looked no older than I was. He was wearing a hat with goggles on them. He also wore a black suit with a blue shirt under it and a white tie. He was a blond guy with a scar on his face that looks like a burn scar mark.
The two of us stared at each other with him having a smile on his face. He broke the silence by putting his hand out for a handshake and saying,
"Hello, my name is Sabo."
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Hello guys! I am terribly sorry for no updates. I was really sick and I was getting ready for midterms that I honestly forgot to update..... I know that sounds like i dont care about this ff but I do, I am just terrible at updating.
And for those of you wondering, THIS IS NOT DROPPED!!!!
Anyway, the skypia arc is now over, we will be moving on to the next arc. I know some people might not like the sudden POV, but I think it adds to the story, and for this next arc you guys will have to get used to it xD. Tell me if it's getting out of hand and if I need to slow down a bit.
Thank you guys for staying even tho i havent updated in a while!
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