Island Wano Kuni

[God_Usopun]

Wano – Udon Prison #6
@Ichimonji @Sea​

While Kage opted for solitude, X saw a different path. Following Prometheus, he has been granted access to the Spada homies. This potential intel trove was too valuable to ignore. But his vigilance remained an ever-present shadow. Every interaction, every word exchanged, would be meticulously dissected, searching for hidden agendas and potential betrayals.

The allure of accompanying Prometheus to the Flower Capital is undeniable, yet X remains tethered to caution. He prioritizes his independence and is determined to assess the situation with his own keen eyes. While acknowledging the temporary benefits of following the Firebringer, X remains vigilant and ready to adapt his plans immediately.

The tense silence explodes as a shrill scream shatters the air. X's gaze rockets towards the source, landing on a young girl fleeing atop a monstrous chimera. The remnants of that accursed Beast Pirate crew still festered within this land. A cold fury flares briefly, then recedes, replaced by a spark of curiosity. This wasn't part of the plan.

"Gifters," Prometheus confirms, echoing X's suspicions.

X's mind races with possibilities. This unexpected encounter presents a unique opportunity.

"Hold on, Prometheus," X interrupts, his voice laced with a hint of urgency. "These Gifters... could they threaten La Spada's operations?"

"Wouldn't it be wise if we, shall we say, 'took care' of this little problem?"

 

[Larsi]

The Silver Incursion #7​

Neko Port - Outskirts of Town
The Gifters launched their assault, emerging from the shadows like predatory hunters. Suddenly, a thunderous crack reverberated through the town as a colossal figure shook the earth with each step, ensnaring many of the Gifters underfoot. Their desperate screams were abruptly silenced, crushed by the sheer power and mass of the newcomer. Those who managed to escape being crushed felt an icy chill of fear grip their throats, freezing them in place as a wave of overwhelming will washed over them. Their bodies stood immobilized, trembling like the beasts they had transformed into.


The giant turned towards the group that identified themselves as The Nine Scabbards. The Leader, who had abruptly halted his confrontation with Isshen, the young samurai, now joined his comrades in facing the towering figure. Sporting the traditional Tengu mask of samurais, the Leader calmly sheathed his sword and observed the giant with keen eyes, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. He waited patiently until the giant drew closer before addressing him.

[Leader] "What business does Silver Hair have in these lands? We've had our fill of your kind."- the man curtly said, an odd comment from one from an isolationist country​

Isshen and his two comrades seized the opportunity to approach the old samurai. With concern etched on their faces, they attempted to lend him a hand to rise, but the old samurai refused. Instead, his eyes were etched on the Leader's silhouette with a defiant expression.


The Incarnations, having retreated towards the forest when the battle began, shifted their gaze on the giant figure that appeared. Their eyes widened before they disappeared into the shadows of the forest, swiftly departing from the area.

Incursion Into Hostile Territory #8 @Ichimonji​

Larsi watched for a moment as the stragglers fled the battlefield, knowing that it would likely would be trouble, but also knowing it was little he could do now. He smiled seeing the samurai sheathe their weapons, despite their hostile words. Standing up straight, he faced the samurai head on, his weapons still hanging from his back. Then he bowed towards the man, even more common here as a sign of respect than other places in the world.

I am hunting someone. Larsi said, his voice calm as he raised his head again. I am told they are our common enemies, I would rid you of them. The remnants of the Beast Pirates still linger in these lands.

I will rid you of the scourge that are those pirates, then leave. Larsi said.

 

[Sea]

Wano – Udon Prison #8
@God_Usopun @Ichimonji​

While Akira opted to travel alone, he wasn’t exactly far away from Prometheus and X - after all he is also walking towards Flower Capital. Throughout his trek towards he would notice the transformative land that has taken place, seemly by Homies which howls creepily as it seems to be directing the way of some sort. Eyes are on them, making it even strange how La Spada was not able to find the Poneglyph despite terra-forming the land into an island of eyes essentially. Even without Hera, Akira’s actions are most likely quickly seen through the eyes of other Homies, though perhaps not instantly. The boy could not believe how much has changed since he last step foot into Wano Kuni, the powers of the Grim Reaper has managed to grip the land by her claws, subjecting everything into her whims.

Just then, a scream came, though given his distance towards the source as compared to X and Prometheus it wasn’t as loud as they would hear it. A girl atop a strange beast was running away from a group of figures even further away. The boy has no clue who they are or what’s happening – he wasn’t close enough to Prometheus to recognize the Gifters. But he could somewhat contextualize the situation. Unlike X, Akira did not wait to run towards the little kid and her mount. He opted not to transform, unsure what is exactly going on. But he is no stranger to fighting groups of monsters.

Putting himself in between Tama and the Gifters, Akira withdrew his sword. For Tama, it is more than likely watching a shadowy figure run by her, and for the Gifters, what they see is a mysterious figure that just withdrew their weapon on them. Should the group of Gifters choose not to stop, likely trying to charge past Akira, the boy would swing his weapon horizontally from right to left, firing a powerful blast of shockwave in front of him – which should force the herd to stop, though if they are sufficiently close enough they would be hit by the shockwave and likely blasted back.

Spoiler

Name: Winter’s Dawn
Rank: A
Description: Using his physicality, the user swung his sword horizontally in front of him which generates a powerful shockwave as a result. This allows the user to blow away not just bullets, arrows but also even humans may be hit and be blown away by the shockwave. [Pic 1] (81 Shuurin, 81 Strength)

Akira's DPR: 101-119: 4. City Block Level + A: +3 = 7. Mountain Level

Akira did not have to ask them to stop, nor does he have to say anything. To him, the answer is clear and day. The girl is a citizen of Wano, and is very much more valuable and useful to him going forward. Though his reasons aren’t exactly logical – him defending Tama is also pretty much something Akira do more often than not – for he is human.

 

[Ichimonji]

The Silver Incursion #8​

Neko Port - Outskirts of Town @Larsi
The planned exchange involving the old Shimotsuki and La Spada's Incarnations came to an abrupt stop. With swords sheathed, the Red Scabbards ceased their confrontation with Isshen, the young grandson of Shimotsuki. A fortunate turn of events occurred when Larsi encountered the Red Scabbards, learning of their intertwined fate with the Beast Pirates from an elderly woman.

Silver Hair proposed a potential agreement. The Leader, donning his distinctive Tengu mask, deliberated for a moment before motioning for his companions to stand down from their aggressive postures. With measured steps, he approached Larsi, coming to a halt near the giant's feet and meeting his gaze as an equal.

[Leader] "If what thy say is true. Perhaps we can help each other. The Beast Pirates are using our name to spread chaos. In fact, wh-"- the man said​

​

In a swift and calculated maneuver, the Leader materialized behind Larsi's right knee, his hands poised at the culmination of his attack. Employing an iai technique, the masked figure harnessed his remarkable speed (101) to execute a surprise assault on Larsi, aiming to cut his patella and hamper his movements. The combination of close proximity, lightning-fast speed, and Larsi's towering stature made for a truly remarkable sneak attack.

​

[Leader] “SHHHEEEEAAHHHHHHHH!l“- the man screamed after his move was finished, his mask flying off​

With astonishing mastery of the sword, the old Shimotsuki swiftly drew his blade, air slicing through the Leader’s mask as if it were paper right after his attack. Simultaneously, similar events unfolded across the battlefield: a towering figure restrained Isshen with an iron grip, while another transformed individual aimed a drawn bow at Zahel’s head.

As the masks of the three Red Scabbards were removed through sword or transformation, the true identities of the combatants were revealed.

​

Spoiler: IC Reveal

The leader was revealed to be a muscular man of tall stature, sporting light blonde hair and goggles. His arms had transformed into formidable horns, earning him the codename Sheepshead. The second figure appeared as a large man with light blue hair, his legs morphed into a massive serpent, now constricting Isshen in a boa grip. Known as Poker, he held the young samurai hostage. Lastly, a wide man with blonde hair and a flamboyant superhero costume emerged, identified as Gazelleman.

The samurai, along with the old woman who had limped to the end of the street, watched Isshen with deep concern.

Each of the three men bore the symbol of the Beast Pirates emblazoned somewhere on their bodies, marking their allegiance.

[Poker] “Oooooonnnneeee muscle twichhsssssss and he gets my venomssssssss to diesssssss.”- the snake man said, his fangs and claws centimeters from Isshen’s throat​

​

[Gazelleman] “Ha! You dumb pirates! You could never keep up with us or our speed!”- said Gazelleman, his hooves striking the ground with pride​

Spoiler: Hints That It Was Beast Pirates

However, if you seek opposition against the Spada Pirates, seek you the Incarnations. Rumor has it dark samurais have been attacking the meeting points.

Despite the Leader's formidable strength, his swordsmanship prowess was being overshadowed by the young samurai.

[Old Man] "Swordsmanship of amateurs. Quite an insult, wouldn't you agree... Oden-san?"- the old man whispered to himself

[Leader] "What business does Silver Hair have in these lands? We've had our fill of your kind."- the man curtly said, an odd comment from one from an isolationist country

 

[God_Usopun]

Wano – Udon Prison #7
@Ichimonji @Sea​

X, meanwhile, observed the scene with a hint of amusement that quickly morphed into a sarcastic smirk. "Interesting," he remarked, his voice dripping with a touch of mockery. "Looks like our friend Kage has a sudden case of misplaced heroism. Charging in like some righteous marine? Naive, wouldn't you say, Prometheus?"

He paused, his gaze flickering between Akira's decisive action and the fleeing girl. Momentarily, a cruel glint flickered in his eyes, a fleeting reminder of the predator lurking beneath the surface. But it was quickly replaced by a calculating glint. This unexpected development presented an opportunity, a wrinkle in the carefully laid plans.

"Didn't peg him for the white knight type, especially considering his past," X continued, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Pirates rarely shed their old skin so easily, do they, Prometheus?" He cast a sidelong glance at the Firebringer, a silent challenge in his gaze.

Internally, X scoffed. "Or maybe he's just bored," he mused, the thought sparking a dark chuckle. "A reformed pirate playing hero? Now that's a story I'd pay to see." A cruel glint flickered in his eyes, starkly contrasting the supposed "heroism" he witnessed.

"Though honestly," X continued, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "I wouldn't last five minutes pretending to be some do-gooder." There was a hint of self-mockery in his tone, but beneath it lay a deeper truth. X reveled in the chaos, the game of manipulation and power. Playing the hero held no appeal for him. His agenda was far more complex, far more ruthless.

He watched with morbid fascination as the situation unfolded, his mind already calculating the potential outcomes and how they could benefit him. Akira's impulsive act had thrown a wrench into the works, but X thrived on such unexpected turns. It was a reminder that even the most meticulously laid plans could be disrupted and that true power lay in the ability to adapt and exploit such disruptions.

 

[Ichimonji]

A Grim Punishment - #11
@Sea @God_Usopun ​

Flower Capitol Outskirts
The young girl and the lion sprinted, pursued by Gifters with relentless determination. The approaching stampede of animals gradually drew nearer. Prometheus identified them, indifferent to whether they disrupted La Spada's schemes or not. The reliance on the formidable figure was unwavering. With a transformed stance, Akira intercepted the Gifters, unleashing a shockwave to halt the oncoming stampede. The Gifters came to a halt as they beheld the man, narrowly evading the attack. Tama spun around, her eyes widening in astonishment.

Suddenly, a looming shadow fell over them. A human bat loomed over the Gifters.

​

[Batman] “Halt! Stand back, you fools! I-I-I-It's 'Kurai'! The girl's not worth it! The Tobiroppo will understand.”- a voice clamored from the sky, forcing the Gifters to retreat​

With a bounty of one billion, Kurai's mere presence was sufficient to deter the Gifters. Uncertain if they were still being pursued, Batman and the Gifters gradually disappeared over the horizon. Tama and Komachiyo came to a halt, while Prometheus muttered curses under his breath, answering X's question. The girl still seemed apprehensive.

[Tama] "Thank you! Those ugly things were trying to hurt Komachiyo."- said the girl, pointing down at the lion. "I'm Tama! I'm looking for my sensei, Shin-"- the girl said, before being interrupted by Komachiyo's growl​

​

[Tama] "W-What's wrong?! H-H-Hey, are you all bad guys too?"- Tama asked, now realizing they may be a threat​

Komachiyo growled, his attention fixed on X and Prometheus. Audibly sniffing the air, the lion's gaze eventually settled on Prometheus's hip, where Beretta and Colt lay holstered.

 

[Sea]

Wano #9
@Ichimonji @God_Usopun ​

Akira’s presence is powerful, enough to not only stop the Gifters, but also enough to cause them to quickly back off, thanks in part to Batman’s orders. Akira himself have no reason to chase after them, though Batman’s words of the ‘Tobiroppo’ has cause some concerns. It seems that the Beast Pirates have indeed took upon his words and return to Wano, but instead of doing what he would expect them to, the Beast Pirates instead tried to harass the people of Wano. The boy thought for a little bit. Perhaps dealing with the Beast Pirates first should help improve his standing with Wano, he should look at the map to get a rough idea where these Gifters ran off to later on. Tama would speak, thanking Akira for himself them which prompted his attention as he turns to face her.

As the boy turned around, Komachiyo started growling, though the beast’s eyes did not seem to be affixed upon Akira but the two behind him, which cause Tama to find the identity of the trios be suspicious, or villainous, questioning them quite innocently.

“Yes.”

Akira responded to Tama almost without hesitation. There’s no reason to lie, and it’s better to get in the good graces of the people of Wano if Akira wanted to succeed.

“You should head home before more things come your way.”

Akira quickly tells Tama to go home, his eyes seems less of looking at X and Prometheus, but rather his surroundings, where La Spada’s powers have spread and corrupted the land. The boy would sheathe his weapon, before walking towards the town that stood before him, known as Ebisu if he wasn’t interrupted by anything else.

Here, perhaps Akira can inquire about the state of Wano, the Beast Pirates remnants and perhaps clues to the Poneglyph. While it is unlikely that they would know such things, and even if they do unlikely they would tell. The boy however, would have to change the way he would approach and question the people of Wano.

 

[God_Usopun]

Wano – Udon Prison #8
@Ichimonji @Sea​

X, a smirk playing on his lips, stepped forward, his voice smooth as polished obsidian. "Just a curious observer, little one. Witnessing the bravery of the new guard in Wano Kuni."

His gaze flicked towards Akira, a glint of challenge in his eyes. "Seems like chivalry isn't entirely dead among pirates these days." The last word dripped with a hint of mockery, testing the waters of Akira's true nature.

Internally, X rolled his eyes. Dealing with naive idealists wasn't exactly his forte, but exploiting their misplaced heroism could prove advantageous.

"Though," X continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "playing hero can be a dangerous game in this twisted land, wouldn't you agree?"

He cast a pointed look towards the direction the Gifters fled, his words laced with a veiled threat. "Especially with the Beast Pirates still lurking in the shadows."

This was his opportunity. By subtly mentioning the Beast Pirates, X hoped to pique Akira's interest and potentially leverage it for his ends. Perhaps this "hero" could be a valuable pawn in the complex game unfolding within Wano.

Meanwhile, X kept the map Prometheus provided tucked away, a silent reminder of his own agenda, an agenda quite different from playing knight in shining armor. The Poneglyph and its secrets remained his primary objective.

 

[Ichimonji]

A Grim Punishment - #12
@Sea @God_Usopun ​

Ebisu Town
The girl innocently asked the interlopers if they were "bad" guys. Much to her surprise, Akira answered in the affirmative. The other claimed to be an observer. Both responses terrified her, prompting a yelp from the girl and a growl from the large lion. X commented on the Beast Pirates lurking in the shadows, but Prometheus showed no concern. Perhaps chaos was exactly to their liking. However, X's deduction could not have been closer to the truth. The mention of the Beast Pirates sealed the deal for the girl, who hastily climbed onto the lion. Without saying another word, she departed in the opposite direction.

Prometheus made a sly comment to Akira about his benevolence, followed by pointing to Ebisu Town as their next destination. If X and Akira followed, Prometheus would lead them through the gates of the town. As they approached, the sound of laughter from a large crowd reached their ears.

[Crowd] "HAHAHAHAHA!!! LORD YASUIE IS GONNA DIE!! HAHAHAHA!!!"- voices could be heard in the distance​

The group would be greeted by a desolate entry to Ebisu Town. It was a small and humble town, with houses made of rotting wood and decaying metal. Signs of poverty were evident everywhere in the area. The laughter emanated from the northeast edge of town. If the group were to follow the laughter, they would come upon a large plaza and a sizable crowd gathered at the border of Ebisu Town. The entire town seemed to be congregated at the steps of a platform overlooking the Flower Capitol, which housed rich structures in the distance.

In the middle of the platform, a man was tied to a post.

​

[Voice] "For crimes of sedition against the Spada Pirates. We, the Red Scabbards, have condemned you, Yasui Shimotsuki, the Hero Oddball of Ebisu Town, to DEATH!"- a voice overseeing the execution echoed​

​

[Yasuie] “Cover the children's eyes! Nay, the friendly oddball of Ebisu Town shall make the Final Grand Journey! In fact, I think I'll go singing! AND A-ONE, AND A-TWO!”- a voice clamored from the post, tiers in his eyes​

In defiance, the man sang. The more he sang, the more laughter he drew from the crowd. Ebisu Town was laughing in the face of the execution and their leader. A Shimotsuki, a name that most would recognize as one of the ruling families of Wano. A name revered. The people were laughing at his execution. Overseeing the execution was a small army of men with eye masks. Leading the execution were three men in white cloaks, all bearing Tengu masks.

The men wore a recognizable symbol on their back: The Nine Red Scabbards.

[Yasuie] "Forgive me, Toko... Forgive your father for leaving you behind! BELIEVE IN THE RED SCABBARDS!”- the man said, as bullets penetrated his frail body​

The group arrived too late, witnessing bullets penetrating the man's body. They would be witnesses to a grueling execution. Suddenly, a girl's voice pierced the crowd with unnerving laughter.

​

 

[God_Usopun]

Wano – Ebisu #9
@Ichimonji @Sea​

A sardonic chuckle escaped X's lips as the girl bolted, fear etched on her young face. Naivete was a dangerous luxury in this twisted land. Prometheus, ever the enigma, remained impassive to the whole ordeal. Perhaps, as X suspected, chaos was the melody he truly craved.

The gates of Ebisu Town loomed ahead, a stark reflection of Wano's decay. Rotting wood and rusting metal mocked any semblance of prosperity. Like a discordant symphony, laughter bled from the town's heart, drawing them closer with morbid curiosity.

The sight that greeted them was a grotesque caricature of justice. A man, bound to a post in a makeshift plaza, faced a crowd baying for his blood. "Sedition against the Spada Pirates," the executioner declared, his voice booming across the throng. "Yasui Shimotsuki, the so-called 'Hero Oddball,' is condemned to death!"

The condemned man, however, remained defiant. His voice, though ragged, held a sardonic edge. "Spare the children's eyes!" he boomed. "The Hero Oddball embarks on his Final Grand Journey! Let us sing a song! ONE, AND A-TWO!" This was a chilling counterpoint to the grim scene.

But the crowd didn't share his defiance. They roared with laughter, a grotesque symphony that turned the execution into a macabre spectacle. This man, a Shimotsuki - a name that whispered of Wano's fallen nobility - was a mere jester in his final act.

Then, as if on cue, a young girl's laughter pierced the air, a chilling counterpoint to the twisted merriment. Yasuie Shimotsuki's defiance ended with a hail of bullets, the final note in this disturbing opera.

Disgust churned in X's gut. This wasn't just Wano's suffering laid bare; it was a calculated display of cruelty.