Island Whole Cake Island

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Rubble #27
@Ichimonji @Kaka ​

A swing of his sword, just as Sasaki returns to his consciousness from beyond after a brief moment between the clash. Immediately transformed into a bolt of lightning as he flew up, making use of the speed of lightning to quickly escape Akira’s attack. Now above him, the boy continued his attack – spinning further to generate a powerful air blade upwards to the sky, and towards the incoming warship. But with Sasaki now above them, it makes it much easier to deal with the incoming attack and protect his ship from damage. Spinning his staff, descending down onto air blade as he swung hard against the attack. Black lightning clads upon the staff, showing an appropriate response to the attack, the air blade cleanly careens through the air at incredible speed – a monstrous power surging towards its obstacle – Sasaki. In that one single moment – a powerful clash could be seen from afar, the two forces collide generating shockwaves that would ripple through the air – causing smoke and dust to arise from the ground even from afar.

As the smoke settles back onto the ground. Sasaki remained above him, having equal forces clash would mean no further damage could be dealt to both Sasaki or his ship. Here, the man started to generate several coloured balls around him, floating about in the air when he would pull apart a rope. Soon a massive black orb would start to descend, forming seemly from the stratosphere. The incredible phenomenon that would cause heavy rains and storms, following with powerful wind currents quickly picking up all around him.

Almost immediately, thunderbolts would bolt down into the earth, targeting at the Spada Pirates, for Akira’s case – he would quickly avoid it, backing away from the lightning strikes with relative ease. Yet despite having seen and experience something similar to before, the boy did not expect the lightning would be able to disperse into waves of static electricity. Though an argument could be made due to the different circumstances, that Akira was in close proximity to the lightning bolt – and this time the boy was sure to be further from the point of impact. Electricity surges through the boy, causing minor damages internally speaking as it surges through from head to toe before grounding back itself into ground. Suffering from minor paralysis once more, though not to the same effect as before due to having back off. The boy’s movement slowed once more. Above him, Sasaki started to transform – shrouded himself in lightning as it took shape, manifesting into a large humanoid form.

The more the boy sees however, the more he understands what exactly he is dealing with. The boy is one with great perception, though not necessarily one that understand certain topics well. Yet the boy did not immediately do anything in response to the new form that Sasaki undertook, not yet anyway. But he kept his sword tightly gripped, should Sasaki continue to attack the boy would likely be forced to deal with it. Twilight Edge continues to maintain a blue glow. But this time, Akira didn’t go on the initiative. The boy knew of the lightning capabilities well enough not to put himself in a position of vulnerability.

Right now, the boy can contend with simply dealing with attacks that come their way.

 

[Ichimonji]

Whole Cake Island - #21
@kakashi19283 @Sea @Guren
​

WCI Palace Rubble
For a split second, the two ancient souls were re united in memories. Consciously, La Spada was not aware of it. Unconsciously, La Spada felt something important held deep within the monkey, something that she hated down her bones, a hate ancient. The monkey turned into lightning to evade Akira’s attack. The Shadow followed suit to attack the ship, clearly collecting lightning. Thunder rained down. These, compared to Big Mom’s lightning, at least for now, we’re considerably weaker. La Spada merely used her hook shield to block. The paralyzing agent had no effect on bones.

[La Spada] “Yah’ pathetic weakling! I gave yah’ an order to stop that thing!”​

”Weakling”. That is the word La Spada barked at Akira, as his body tensed up. Insults were the norm in their relationship, from Spada to Shadow. After being her right hand for so long, The Shadow knew it was La Spada taking her anger on him - for she was the one weak today; the battle with Big Mom having been disabling, literally. Yet, with infamous will, La Spada stood up on her leg and ice peg. She drew Shodai Kitetsu and cocked it back. Staring into Sasaki‘s eyes, the clouds that Ark Maxim was using suddenly began to part - A King’s Will came. Surrounding La Spada were black marron lightning strikes and souls summoned to her blade - the Planet Level attack that felled a Yonko.

Suddenly, the black marron lightning, Will of Kings, was swallowed by one with thirst.

[La Spada] “GRRRR!! How dare yah’ defy me now, Shodai Kitetsu?!”​

​

Suddenly, the will of both armor and Kings, was swallowed by Shodai Kitetsu. The cursed blade drank her fill, exploding in a dark aura that absorbed La Spada’s spirit. The once white healthy bones of her right arm became grey and rotten, as spirit was siphoned from it. La Spada gritted her teeth before falling into her knees once more. The souls she had summoned no longer were being kept in this world by her spirit - they went back to Hell. La Spada could no longer control her cursed blade. The Grim was so weak, she could not overpower the curse. The infamous woman could not use her Color of Kings or use her most powerful attack. Cursed by blade, the Empress looked up with a scowl.

An eerie cackling sound echoed. Not from La Spada. Nay. Shodai Kitetsu cackled madly. No loyalties lay, only curse. Shodai laughed as she drank her fill. If one was detailed enough, one could see the blade darkening with that will. After years and now with an ocean to drink, Shodai Kitetsu was darkening permanently - slowly etching into a Black Blade, at the cost of her master, La Spada.

The Kitetsu curse reared it’s ugly head.

 

[Kaka]

The rain poured. The gales billowed. The lightning crackled and thundered. A storm that aimed to swallow La Spada up. Would it succeed? Nothing had managed to kill La Spada thus far, through hundreds of years. The lightning blasts had showered the battlefield with electricity, aiming to paralyze the two pirates. Expectedly, it had no effect on La Spada, whose body was made of bones. However, it did affect Akira, to an extent. Sasaki, transformed into his godly Amaru form, was floating up in the sky, overseeing the battlefield.

A burst of Conqueror's Haki blasted forth from La Spada, a will so powerful that it could even attempt to split the skies.

However, as soon as the blast of Conqueror's Haki came, it, too, disappeared. La Spada fell to one knee, the bones of her arm siphoned of all of their power. The Shodai Kitetsu, one of the 12 greatest swords in existence, bore a curse, and in La Spada's time of weakness, it had turned on her. The time to strike was now - the time, was running out. Undoubtedly, Zeus would be at a disadvantage, and he would not be able to hold out for much longer.

Sasaki was ready for his attack. Putting the Monkey King's staff on his back, Sasaki formed two massive swords made out of lightning and held one in each hand - fit for his large Amaru form. Raising his left sword up toward the sky, Sasaki took control of some of the lightning within the Raigo. Swinging his sword downward, Sasaki guided the lightning down toward La Spada and Akira. Multiple, continuous and rapid lightning bolts, each one the size of an El Thor, descended downward, aiming to engulf La Spada and Akira.

Using the massive, rapid and bombarding lightning attack was a setup, Sasaki disappeared from the skies, moving with lightning speed. He appeared on the ground, a hundred or so meters away from La Spada and Akira, in the area behind them. As they were likely dealing with the lightning strikes, Sasaki lifted his right sword up to the sky. The lightning sword suddenly turned into a black lightning sword, imbued with black Busou-shoku no Haki. Red lightning, of his Conqueror's Haki, started to rumble around the black lightning sword as well. Sasaki's eyes glowed with power, and he swung. He was betting it all on this attack.

Amaru's... Ikoku...!!!

Another attack copied from the Yonkous, this one performed by the Giants of Elbaf. Sasaki could only perform it in his Amaru form, which benefitted him with the needed size. Combining the Ikoku with the powers of the Goro Goro no Mi, as well as his Haki, Sasaki unleashed a blast from his sword swing. A blast of shockwave energy, powerful lightning, black Busou-shoku no Haki and advanced Conqueror's Haki. The enormous blast raged toward La Spada and Akira, aiming to engulf them.

Spoiler

DPR (first lightning attack): 120: 5. Town Level + 120: 5. Town Level + S+:+5 + COA: +2 = 12. Large Continent Level

DPR (lightning Ikoku): 120: 5. Town Level + S+:+5 + COA: +2 + COC: +1 = 13. Moon Level

Won't be going for my Z-rank, so as to give you guys the stage now. Next post Sasaki will be gone. <3

 

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Ruins #28
@Ichimonji @Kaka ​

As the boy backed away to avoid the lightning though admittedly still struck by its electrifying effects that would flow through Akira’s body, shocking him slightly as slight paralysis would hit parts of his nerves. Yet such attack did not affect La Spada, for her skeletal body has no nerves that could be paralyzed by. Unlike Akira, what happened above them would come to place tremendous pressure and perhaps even extreme danger to La Spada – that feeling in which she quickly let outs in anger, lashing at the Shadow for not stopping what is happening. Yet the boy did not seem to mind what La Spada said – paying no heed to her, such provocations are dime a dozen for years. Insults no longer faze Akira that easily. But even then he knew that even without the lashing out – Sasaki is extremely dangerous in regards to what he is seeing. A powerful storm unlike anything he has ever seen is brewing above him – thunder and lightning encircling around the giant mass of black orb. But soon, things would take a turn for the worst as La Spada’s weapon would seemly turn against her – lightning crackling upon her blade as La Spada’s body frame starts to wither on her arm, dropping onto her knees once more. A sound of evil permeates, echoing eerily – but not from La Spada herself.

The boy would only watch but before long his attention soon returns to Sasaki as his new form would start to manifest a pair of giant swords made of pure lightning energy. With a gesture, a single motion of his sword lightning beckons to his call – and soon multiple large lightning bolts struck down towards La Spada and Akira. Not willing to let Sasaki take opportunity to what has happened, the boy moved slightly closer, though his speed affected by paralysis – the distance between himself and La Spada isn’t significant enough to be of the matter, allowing him to defend both at the same time. Swinging his sword in a thrusting-like motion as if stabbing into the sky above them, Twilight’s Edge glowed blue – and with each thrust, a long slicing-like air blade fires from the tip of the blade, blacken projectiles with red wisps of energy dancing around the length of the air blade. The boy would meet lightning with air blades, aimed to stop Sasaki’s attack.

Spoiler

Name: Autumn's Storm
Rank: A
Description: Similar to Pelting Rain, the user thrust and slice while firing an air blade at each strike, which can be done from a distance away to create a powerful flurry of air blades. It has enough power to take out multiple targets in an area at once. One of the few flashy and destructive moves that this particular style has. [Pic 1] (71 Shuurin, 71 Movement, 71 Strength)

Akira's DPR: 6. City Level (121+, Zoans only) + CoA: +3 + A: +3 = 12. Large Continent Level vs Sasaki's DPR
Result: Equal force. Both attacks cancelled out.

With each air blade meeting each lightning bolt, a powerful clash between pressurized gale of wind and lightning would hit hard, but with equal force between both attacks would cause the clash to implode, causing smoke to birth from its clash. Obscuring the vision between Sasaki and the Spada Pirates. Here Twilight’s Edge would stop glowing, though maintaining its blue edge – despite not fighting to the point of absolute exhaustion like his peer, the boy maintains the need to conserve energy, for it is difficult to predict the future where more fighting is required. But it was a mistake.

What would soon be a successful defense would be quickly followed up by an incredible show of might and tactics by Sasaki, whom appeared behind them already in motion to strike during the midst of the boy dealing with the attack. Having only just stop the usage of Haki and is slowed by paralysis was barely able to react, enough to make a single leap forward to stop the attack as he defensively postured Twilight’s Edge to block the powerful shockwave. The timing was incredible strict, the boy did not have time to conjured any attack to deal with Sasaki’s blast of shockwave energy, accompanied with blackish red lightning.

​

Spoiler

Name: n/a
Rank: n/a
Description: The user plants a foot forward, bends a little and uses force to dash forward, which allows the user to propel slightly forward for the next step but with increased momentum, allowing one to strike with greater intensity which forms the basis for the fighting style. It can also be used in tandem to spin by twisting the body, resulting in a quick spin or two to create momentum. This technique can be used in conjunction with any basic attacks or certain techniques. [Pic 1][Pic 2] (Follows Soru rules: 11 Shuurin, 21 Movement Speed; The user's movement speed is increased by Mastery/5; 1 turn cool down at 100 mastery)

Akira's DPR: 6. City Level (121+, Zoans only) + Invisible Haki: +2 + A: +3 = 11. Small Continent Level vs Sasaki's DPR
Result: Attack is 2 DPR higher: Overwhelms the weaker attack but loses 3~DPR.
New Sasaki DPR: 10. Large Country Level

Akira's Durability: 8. Island Level (121+, Zoans only) vs 10. Large Country Level
Result: DPR 2 or more higher than dura: super effective

In a single moment, blast of shockwave would hit Akira, pushing him back slowly but surely. But soon, the arm wielding Twilight’s Edge would shake from the vibration – trembling forcefully before finally, his arm gave way. CLINK. As if a powerful force deflected away his defense. A lapse of judgement coupled with the paralysis has caught the boy off-guard for even a split second. A costly decision The remaining force behind the shockwave would hit Akira, blasting him away. A combination of blunt force and vibrations alongside lightning shakes the boy’s body, lightning surging through his body with incredible power as blood would splatter around his body from the pressure of the attack. But the resilience and durability of the Zoan has enhanced Akira’s survivability to a large extent that despite being inflicted with quite massive injuries, the boy was able to quickly recompose himself to swing his wing downwards, forcing his body to drop onto the ground, sliding the boy backwards, far back behind La Spada.

Lay onto the ground, more parts of Akira’s Raid Suit are further damaged to the point of nearly being destroyed. Deep breaths, the boy huffs and puffs – regaining as much energy as he could before he would slowly stand up, blood trailing from almost every part of the boy’s body. Were there any bones broken from the attack? More than likely. Yet Akira did not complain, one of his eyes closed from blood dripping from forehead, likely the wound reopening from the fight with Katakuri. Without much hesitation, the boy immediately swung his blade once more, this time glowing blue with blackish smoke emanating from its blade. A powerful air blade fires from Akira once more, the same massive air blade that Sasaki has dealt with just before – blackened with red wisps of energies flowing through it. Aimed right towards Sasaki, yet another dangerous attack to deal with, but this time made with the intention to take the man down. Anger, pain. The hidden emotions that could only be displayed through the young man's eyes.

Spoiler

Name: Nightingale’s Fall
Rank: S+
Description: The strongest form of air blade in the Shuurin style, unlike the typical air blades – this air blade is longer and massive, and is shape much more like a bird’s head. Depending on how the user swings the blade, the air blade may swirl accordingly – making it harder to move out of the way than a normal air blade would be. [Pic 1] (120 Shuurin, 100 Strength)

Akira's DPR: 6. City Level (121+, Zoans only) + S+: +5 + CoA: +3 = 14. Planet Level

 

[Ichimonji]

Whole Cake Island - #22
@kakashi19283 @Sea
​

WCI Palace Rubble
Weakling. La Spada barked towards Akira. That evil voice permeated the air, Sandai Kitetsu’s curse rearing its ugly head. With thirst unquenchable, Kitetsu drank La Spada’s haki and King’s haki, darkening the sword black permanently, as if darkening one’s soul. The injuries from Big Mom we’re too severe. One does not take down the Queen of the Seas without sacrifice. The same reared it’s ugly head. The Grim was vulnerable. In front of the monkey man’s substantial abilities, in this state, La Spada was at risk.

Then, kingdom come. Two humongous attacks descended upon them.

[La Spada] “Who tha’ fuck do yah’ think you are?!””​

La Spada snarked back as the attacks descended. The anger was palpable. La Spada met the monkey today and he attacked thus. Though their souls were familiar, the consciousness was not. Here, in the cusp of taking the throne, La Spada felt the same was as when Big Mom made thunder rain down on her in the seas. Suddenly, Akira stepped up. The man came through and blocked both attacks, one with blade and another one with the body. The Zoan man’s body was throttled back, showing his incredible Zoan durability - without it he may not have survived. La Spada side-stepped to avoid the aftermaths of the clash, the electicity in the air with no effect on old bones.

Yet, La Spada fell again, as Kitetsu withered her bones. With a snarl and roar, La Spada used all her might to sheathe Sandai Kitetsu, the latter growling menacingly as she finished siphoning the spirit of the Grim.

As the dust settled, La Spada stood up, in a state of bones withered and cracked. A seldom sight.

 

[Kaka]

The ferocious lightning descended upon La Spada and Akira, aiming to engulf them both - however, Akir, unleashing a number of sword swings, fired a volley of flying slashes up toward the sky, meeting the lightning bolts head on one by one. Using this opportunity, Sasaki disappeared from the sky. In his Amaru form, he was lightning incarnate, able to truly move at his fastest speed. He appeared a hundred meters away from La Spada and Akira, in the area behind them, and swung his sword. Lightning. Black Busou-shoku no Haki. Advanced Conqueror's Haki. The fire of Kitsunebi-ryū. The vibrations of Hasshō-ken. The technique of the Giants. It all combined for one grand attack, ripping through the air and the ground underneath it as it traversed the distance toward the two pirates. The massive blast consumed Akira, who was in the way, sending him flying hundreds of meters away.

He came to a stop a good distance behind La Spada, his Raid Suit in tatters, blood spilling. La Spada, standing up with her body in ruins, cursed, angered by the state of affairs. Akira, realizing how dire the situation was, especially with their injuries and the Raigou looming above, unleashed a powerful attack, this time with clear intent to kill. Swinging his sword, he fired a flying slash toward Sasaki, one so grand and large it could cut a mountain. In that same moment, a plea for help.

SASAKI-SAAAAN!!! I-I-I MESSED UP! H-HELPPP!!!

A call for help from far away, that only Sasaki could hear, thanks to his ability to hear over the span of an entire island. His eyes widened in shock, his time was up. He crossed both of the large lightning swords in front of himself, putting up a guard - the swords imbued with black Busou-shoku no Haki. The moment Akira's flying slash collided with Sasaki's guard, the powerful attack started to drive him back at high speed. Sasaki was being pushed back hundreds of meters, realizing that with Akira's powerful fighting abilities, he would not be able to get to La Spada in time, while also rescuing Zeus.

Sasaki... had failed.

All of the lightning that put together the form of Amaru, erupted in the form of a grand thunderclap, one so strong and loud that it could be heard far away. Together with the thunderclap, Sasaki also uncrossed his swords, aiming to push Akira's attack back. The area around Sasaki erupted. A shockwave. Lightning. Slash marks - the terrain erupting into diced up cubes. By the time it cleared, Sasaki was gone - the result of Akira's last attack unknown for now. The Raigou started to fade away, and Sasaki's presence could no longer be felt.

 

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Ruins #29
@Ichimonji @Kaka ​

A powerful air blade fired towards Sasaki rushes towards the man with great intensity, aimed to cut the large lightning form in half along with Sasaki in it. Prompted to a defensive action, Sasaki’s massive form guarded the incoming attack with a pair of lightning swords in a cross. And with that the powerful attack clashes hard against him, causing even the giant form of Sasaki to be pushed back at high speed over hundreds of metres, a grand display of powerful beings fighting against each other.

As the distance between Sasaki and the Spada Pirates widen rapidly, from afar – a loud thunderous clap could be heard the environment, the ground that Sasaki was on exploded, a trail of skid mark follows Sasaki could be seen stretching far across. The terrain vaporized from the combination of shockwave, lightning and pressurized wind. And then, the clash finally exploded. Smoke and dust arises from the explosion, obscuring the vision of Sasaki. But before long, the thunderous orb above the skies would slowly disperse away, likely returning the skies to normal. The massive form that Sasaki has enveloped into, disappeared alongside the man. The Spada Pirates have succeeded in forcing Sasaki away.

Huff huff…

​

The boy starts to slow his breathing more using his mouth to inhale more oxygen, regaining his composure. His raid suit is nearly destroyed, only that the normal black clothing and his bandages around his head mainly covered the entirety of his body. Parts of what remains of the raid suit are broken up here and there. Another powerful hit and the raid suit would be destroyed. Sheathing Twilight’s Edge onto the holster due to a lack of a proper sheathe. The boy’s adrenaline starts to revert, his body starting to calm down. Pain. It could be felt everywhere around his body, his arm perhaps still hurt, but having most acclimated the pain becomes less of an issue, there’s not much difference from the pain everywhere at the moment. With only La Spada and Akira remaining by the ruins of chateau. A victory, costly it may have been but a victory nonetheless. The boy has not much to say, preferring to quietly recuperate and rest his body as much as he could – reverting his Zoan form back to his human form. Although unlikely to be attacked once more given what is the most likely situation. The boy still kept his guard, unsure if there are more enemies waiting for them. Though his facial expression is still hidden thanks to his face cover, the deep slow breathing and bleeding from every part of his body indicates nothing more than exhaustion. Not to the absolute point that La Spada is, but the toll of constant fighting is wearing the boy out quickly.

 

[Ichimonji]

Whole Cake Island - #23
@kakashi19283 @Sea
​

WCI Palace Rubble
A seldom sight. Akira swallowed the attacks through both blade and body. The Monkey King had both down and ready to deliver the last blow, until the bell rang. Time was up. On the other side of the land, Zeus called on his last leg. Promises to friends were more important. As quickly as it appeared, the calamity of the sky left, leaving behind destruction. It took a few seconds, almost a full minute, before there was any movement. The two heads of the Spada Pirates had survived with their lives… and the throne. Pride swelling, The Grim‘s bones straightened, chest puffed. La Spada was here to stay. A new Queen would be born.

From the smoke that engulfed them, a snake appeared, slithering over the waiting La Spada. The one whom she’s been waiting, waiting to deliver the end of the bargain. Then, La Spada had left Amazon Lily untouched. Untouched for one favor in return: using the ties to the WG when the Yonko falls. From the smoke, Salome the snake came, her back carrying a video den den mushi, bearing the symbol of the WG.

[La Spada] “Kuhahahaha! History is written by tha’ victor! Let’s write!””​

The next was the den den mushi pointing at La Spada. Akira, the masked man, was behind her. Below her, a statement. The Grim sitting magnanimously on top of Big Mom’s dead body. This was not just any feed. This was a feed to the world, to the major networks. A message of supremacy. A terrible message to shake the heavens.

Eyes burning with infamous Will, La Spada spoke words terrible, ousting the world.

[La Spada] “700 years ago. Void Century. History erased. Those at tha’ government’s throne play yah’ ignorance - puppets! Poneglyphs. Those red. I already hold three of tha’ four. Whoever brings mah’ tha’ fourth, shall live what I will bring forth... Go and find it!”​

​

[La Spasa] “To topple the heavens, tha’ Underworld shall rise. In two years time, I will flip tha’ world on its head. Tha’ Void Century shall come to light! Tha’ world will know PAIN. FOR IT IS NOT THE DEAD WHO SHOULD NOT BE AMONG THE LIVING, BUT THE LIVING WHO SHOULD NOT BE AMONG THE DEAD!”​

​

[La Spada] “THIS IS NOW MY ERA!!!!”​

This was not bluff. Big Mom was dead proof. La Spada had killed the strongest woman on the seas, and ousted the world. Wano Kuni. Zou. Whole Cake Island. Only one remained. A statement to shake the world: Hell was coming.

 

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Ruins #30
@Ichimonji

Minutes past, nothing happened. All of the threats have now left Spada Pirates. They have succeeded in their objectives, the Big Mom Pirates – routed. The Marines retreated. Nothing could stop the Spada Pirates over their victory in Whole Cake Island. The fall of one Yonko has led to the rise of another. And with that, from the smoke came a snake – making its way over to La Spada, and from her back carried a den den mushi – one made for broadcast. La Spada quickly got atop of the corpse of Big Mom, a massive entity that La Spada temporarily fashions into her throne to sit on. The boy did not stand directly behind her, but a distance away from La Spada – such that the Shadow’s face remained unknown to the public, in fact perhaps only the bottom half of the boy’s body could conceivably be seen from the video feed. Unlike La Spada, Akira care not about fame, or in this case notoriety. He had preferred not to be known after all, for he is the Shadow, the myth of La Spada’s powers. His identity would only diminish that myth.

The boy’s eyes closed, taking his time to slow his body’s adrenaline as he stabilized his breathing completely, at the same time – La Spada started her message to the world. Speech of grandeur, of promise that the Underworld would rise. La Spada has achieve a major milestone with her goals. And for the boy, he too would become part of this grandeur that La Spada has talked about. Fear. Power. La Spada has given Akira both – to become powerful, enough to serve her as the right hand man. One of the pillars of what made Spada Pirates so dangerous and powerful, and what happened to the Big Mom Pirates is proof of that power. With only two entities, they have brought Big Mom Pirates to ruination.

​

Thump Thump.

Nervous. Anxiety. Excitement. What are the emotions that now swirl within the boy? The heart beats progressively faster. They have become one of the top dogs of the New World and soon the world itself may bow to the Spada Pirates. The sounds of his heart beats drowns out his surroundings. The words of La Spada’s speech almost became inaudible to the boy’s ears. The boy increased his breathing to match the rising heartbeat.

Thump Thump Thump.

[La Spada] “-NOT BE AMONG THE LIVING, BUT THE LIVING WHO SHOULD NOT BE AMONG THE DEAD!”

Thump Thump.

Thump.

And then.

Silence.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

[La Spada] “THIS IS NOW MY E-”

SHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGG

​

Out of the blue. Akira suddenly appeared in front of La Spada in the midst of a motion landing just in front of the camera where the snake is but towards the side, and on his right hand wields Twilight’s Edge already at the end of the hand motion, swung towards the right to a horizontal end. The blade glowed blue – blackish smoke emanating from its blade. But it’s not the only thing that is on it. Blackish red lightning crackles around the blue blade. The broadcast wasn’t able to fully capture the boy, only parts of his body. No words are spoken. Not once from Akira. But soon, La Spada would realize what truly happened. Akira has swung several times, numerous to the point of being impossible to really track in a second. There weren’t any emotions, but the now amber glint eyes of the boy could be seen on the other side.

​

Spoiler

Name: Autumn’s Thousand Cut
Rank: S+
Description: The user swings horizontally at seemly impossible speeds, making a large amount of horizontal cuts in seconds as the user run pasts the target – allowing one to completely shred the target into pieces. [Pic 1] (100 Strength, 100 Shuurin)

Akira's DPR: 101-119: 4. City Block Level + S: +5 + CoA: +3 + CoC: +1 = 13. Moon Level

 

[Ichimonji]

Whole Cake Island - #24
@Sea
​

WCI Palace Rubble
A message of supremacy. A terrible message to shake the heavens. La Spada had defeated one of the Yonko, taken her treasure, and aimed for the heavens. A message to make those on the throne shake, tremble. Lies unraveled before the whole world. Rio Poneglyphs. There was a new Queen. Welcome to the coronation, built on the corpse of the one who ruled the seas for decades. Enter Yonko La Spada. Eyes burning with infamous Will, La Spada spoke words terrible, ousting the world.

Suddenly, live for all the world, as quick as she took the crown, the new Queen was cut down.

​

[La Spada] “THIS IS NOW MY ER-”​

Those words were cut short. A being appeared slanted on the camera: face out of shot but the blue blade for all to see; Twilight’s Edge. La Spada’s eyes turned from maddening to blank in a moment. The Spada Pirates were a treacherous bunch. However, this was her right hand man. The Shadow had almost given his body to protect from the Marine - that had the Grim lower her guard. La Spada was not just cut down, her spinal cord, her body, was severed in various places, turning the once great Grim into a severed pieces, crashing into the ground dramatically. The green soul had ejected, yet the blade had cut that too: the Twilight’s Edge of prophecy.

The world stood still. La Spada’s skull turned to look at the man who now magnanimously gave his back to her. He saw someone else, one of prophecy. Suddenly, a pained voice spoke, wavering.

[La Spada] “K-K-K-Kuari Takeuchi?!”​

A name that echoed through the live feed. As La Spada’s breath left her, as the light of life began to wane, those words, that name, would trigger a flashback. Soul cut and bleeding on the heavenly Twilight’s Edge blade, Akira would be plunged into it as well. Souls locked and bonded, triggered by the coming Death. Emotions triggered memories of old. Decades ago. When La Spada heard that name for the first time: Kurai Takeuchi. The incident known as The Epiloge, came across their minds. Where Akira turned from boy to assassin. From a nobody to a Spada. Those fires never sated.

An island. A simple dojo taught dozens and dozens of kids. No parents were around, only the senpais. Orphans of all ages. One in particular, colored with black shaggy hair. A boy around 14 years of age. Soon, those would show fire. The dojo destroyed in the fires of invaders. Fires brought by a flagged ship. The flag seemed to once have a symbol on it, bearing the infamous Spada flag. The Epiloge of one as a boy. Enter The birth of the nickname “The Grim”.

If the Shadow would forget, he’d have the paintings in Valley of End as a reminder, down to the last detail.

 

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Ruins #31
@Ichimonji

A shocking betrayal from the Shadow of the Grim Reaper to Isis, one that was perhaps suspected but never expected at this point considering the amount of sacrifice Akira took to do it. He could have helped Sasaki take her down but did not. It was never about a heroic story of what one would expect from Akira to take down an Evil. The young boy care not about heroes and villains. It was about revenge – a selfish act that the boy believed only he should be the one to kill La Spada, and only him. His revenge. No one could interfere, Akira wouldn’t allow it. Him protecting La Spada created a moment of vulnerability. The damage he took for her sake; she could not expect him to do all these just to betray her at the very end even if she would suspect that the betrayal is but an eventuality. Turning around to face La Spada, Akira swung against the broadcasting Den Den Mushi, the boy destroyed the broadcasting feed, stopping the entire broadcast as white noises filled the screen that the world was hearing from, sizzling out. In her pain and perhaps fear as her life began to quickly flicker out, La Spada spoke of a name – Kurai Takeuchi. Thunderous roars could be heard from above as lightning streaks from the sky, the aftermath of Sasaki’s lightning storms has brought about an incoming storm looming above them.

Huff Huff…

The boy started to breathe heavily but he wasn’t showing signs of exhaustion, it is as if he held his breath the entire time. His heart beats rapidly but finally stabilizes once more. Death by a thousand cuts, the attack was so severe and powerful that with his blade it cuts through her very soul. Droplets of rain starts to fall. Rain has come.

​

Kurai Takeuchi. The two words ring loudly within the boy. A memory. Repressed. Long has Akira always said that his past is but a blank in his mind – that he doesn’t remember much of it.

But was it truly the case?

……..
​

Birds chirping. Suddenly the scene is no longer Whole Cake Island, but a small village in North Blue. The skies are no longer dark. A single large wooden building could be seen surrounded by trees overlooking the seas by the cliff side on the mountain side.

BOOM

Like artillery falling down from the skies, cannon fire bombards the island and its inhabitants. Smoke and fire could be seen from a far in the village centre. From the mountain pathways a group of children lead by several adults make their way off the mountain, running. Sounds of cannon fire whistling from afar.

“Quickly kids! We must head for the village centre!”

BOOOOM

A cannonball stuck just near towards the front of the group, causing an explosion as it blasted away the group despite not at its epicentre. What would have thought to be a complete tragedy would soon be the turning point of a destiny. A single kid slowly crawls forward, barely awake but still manage to eventually find his way up from the ground – Lady Luck smiled upon him for surviving the explosion effectively unscathed. The boy looked around what would be a splatter of blood everywhere, the rest of the children were unresponsive and completely bloodied, but were they all dead? The boy did not know nor did he check. Confusion arisen from his state of mind horror struck him speechless, unsure what to do at all.

Alone. That’s all that’s in the boy’s mind and he is completely frozen. But a squeak of a sound came through – an adult whom is buried under the dirt and a fallen tree, dressed in kimono. A teacher of swordsmanship. To the boy and perhaps the rest of the orphans he is their foster father, a family now almost gone in the eyes of the boy.

“A-Akira….”

Mortally wounded by a stray cannon shot, the teacher coughs out blood as strength rapidly dwindles away from his body. Akira, the boy however ran to the teacher – mustering his strength to try and lift the fallen tree, but the boy is a mere child, one that never knew the outside world, he has no such strength.

“G-Get to the village…! B-Before they…!”

Mustering his strength to speak, the teacher is in no position to see if anyone else survived but he needed to save at least one. One that is still alive. They do not have time, for the adults of the islands have attempted to buy time for the rest of the villagers to evacuate at the village centre, especially the children but the villagers are not soldiers.

“B-But... -sniff- Master... What about everyone…?”

The boy continues to attempt to lift, tears now rolling from his cheeks as reality starts to set in, confusion slowly dissipating as the boy’s mind starts to rationalizing what is truly happening. But it won’t be long before the teacher would push Akira’s hands away from the tree trunk, though bloodied and almost a lack of strength in his motion. More blood was coughed out by the master as he gathered more strength into his voice, blood nearly filling his throat.

“R-Run…. A-Akira! …. RUN!”

A few steps back from being pushed away. His foster father’s eyes would begin to close as his life flickers out. Akira’s eyes and facial expression – he wasn’t just teary eyed but he was projecting a face of complete fear and confusion. His heart beats rapidly as tension and anxiety overtook the boy. In just seconds, the boy finally turns and sprinted down the mountain path and towards the village centre, tears rolling down his cheeks.

​

 

[Guren]

WCI 49

The wind howled, breaking through the soft clashes of combat that echoed throughout. From his weakened slumber the mighty Kallavan had awoken, the realisation of losing an arm only now fully set in. The marine lay nearly motionless on his stomach, using his other arm to crawl forward, a trail of blood from his left arm coated the struggle.

"Reduced to this...preposterous."

The Vice-Admiral said in disgust to himself. Behind him Captain Kid and Bege walked slowly, toying with their prey. Bege shot the marine in the leg, making him cry in agony. His entire body was in a completely broken state and it was screaming out.

"It's just business, your head is worth a lot....Hero." Bege said, mocking Kallavan's moniker.

Soon Kid would join in on the fun and fired several screws into the man's body, effectively pinning him in place. Depriving him of even the ability to crawl on his right arm.

"Where're you going? The fun's just about to begin!"

Kallavan, now locked into place grit his teeth and clenched his right fist, the pressure of his nails onto his skin drawing blood. The man's blood was boiling but it did not translate into anything. The man was spent and there was nothing from within himself that would help him get out of this mess. Not until a shining ray of light, blitzed between the men.

The flying sentient bolt of lighting, Zeus-kun.

"Get away from Kallavan-saaan!"
The living cloud shouted, having turned dark with rage it flew through both Bege and Kid, engulfing them with pure lightning. The two are now immobilized by this insane current of lightning gritting their teeth and redirecting their plans towards this cloud. Kid was the first to break through the intense pain, voicing his frustration.

"The marine is already at death's door, you're mine!"

Zeus snapped out of his irrational anger and quickly flew off in the opposite direction. Kid, rushing behind him. Bege fell on his back, having lost consciousness from the sudden surprise attack. Leaving Kallavan in his still trapped position. During the commotion, however, Thorkell the fox had finally shown up. By a miracle, the little fox had survived the rampage and found itself back in Kallavan's company.

"Not quite the sight you imagined huh?" Kallavan said, voice coarse and frankly quite unwell.

All of a sudden Kallavan could feel the bullet in his leg being removed as were the screws. Hell even his pain was being eased to a certain extent, just what on earth was happening. With the ability to turn his body again, Kallavan looked at the source of this strange sensation.

"Wh...what are you doing here?"

"Vice-Admiral Kallavan. Whole Cake Island is not your place to die. It is where your legend will only start."
"What are you talk?!"

And before Kallavan could finish his sentence, Kuma flung his right hand towards the Admiral. Zapping him and Thorkell to someplace else. A location that was unknown to even the Admiral. But one thing was certain the cogs of fate were already turning.

The will of a new zoan already beckoned him and was forcing him forward. Kaido's fruit followed closely behind him. Not physically but the cycle that all devil fruits go through was already taking place. The fruit, formed at the exact position where he'd land. Like the pass of a baton, it had found its new ruler. And perhaps the one who could be one with its will.

 

[Ichimonji]

Whole Cake Island - #25
@Sea
​

WCI Palace Rubble (flashback)
The Grim Reaper beckoned. The once sunny skies were now clouded by the smoke of canonfire and blazed houses, turning the dainty dojo into a living hell. Fires roared among the screams, as artillery shells continued to rain down. The fires cast shadows, stalked by the humanoid creatures called Lunarians. Ruthlessly, the adults felled. Blood became the ground’s fertilizer. The cackling of the man was only drowned by those desperate screams, trying to hush the children out. A Doni’s future had been turned upside down. A debt cast many years ago. The Grim had come to collect.

One boy out of many had survived. Run.

​

[Vocie] “No! P-P-P-please! I-I-I-ll do anything! I’ll tell you where he is! J-J-Just spare me!”​

A voice cut through the blood mist and fires. Young Akira would trip on bodies, severed. The trail led to the voice of the woman, mere feet away. Face-up, the woman was embraced by a bent-down shadow in a black cloak. The face in the cloak could not be seen. Yet, those eyes in fear screamed into the hood as it approached slowly and dramatically. In that moment, the woman, one of the elders, tried to trade for her life. Suddenly, Akira would be witness to horrible. The elder’s breath was taken, materializing, and a light blue light was inhaled by the hood. This was no execution. This was a sacrifice.

Devoured.

The body thumped against the floor, eyes wide open, staring at Akira, lifeless. Slowly, with the fires and screams as her intro theme, the hooded figure stood up. Slowly and dramatically, the figure turned, its hood now exposed. The soul of the elder being devoured lit up the hood. Skeletal face, luscious red lips, beady slit yellow eyes, maggots slithering between bones. A living nightmare. A cigar was bit as the unyielding terrible killing intent focused as the eyes looked upon the boy’s eyes.

Enter the Grim.

[La Spada] “Kuhahahahahaha…”​

 

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Ruins (Flashback) #32
@Ichimonji ​

The boy ran. He would have to get to the centre of the village to escape, tears flowing down his cheeks as young Akira made his way down the mountain paths. As he ran down the path, the skies started to turn blackish orange as smoke starts to obscure the sky. Has the village been completely overrun? The boy could not see; the mountain trail is surrounded by trees but the smokes are not a good sign. Eventually, Akira would finally make his way down to the base of the mountain, past the forest clearing leading into a clear view of the fields ahead. While the mountain trails heading towards the village centre has quite a fair bit of road in between, the village however is already burning even from afar.

​

The boy only stopped for moment to process the new environment, but he would soon continue to run into the village, it is his only path forward however – there is no other way to escape the island. The island they lived in is rather isolated, Akira would either die from exhaustion or starvation making his way to the next closest island or be eaten by the Sea Kings. The village centre wasn’t just a hub for the villagers, the reason why their evacuation being at the centre is that it leads to secret underground exits outside the village that the villagers can use to escape into the sea with small boats. Akira could only hope that he would made it in time to escape as well. Yet he would find the wheels of fate and fortune has long been set in motion, his destiny is about to collide with the devil.

​

A scene of gruesome brutality overwhelmed the eyes of the boy. Blood. Screams. Death. Fire. The boy has managed to reached the village, but all that he sees in his eyes are death and cruelty. It is not known how many managed to escape, he would try to continue finding his way to escape, but eventually with the bodies on the floor, as well as the emotional state of a mere child – he would find himself tripping upon bodies, sometimes even fully tripped onto the ground. Severed, or even blasted apart. Who lived, who died – the boy’s confusion would greatly impact his ability to make any meaningful decisions or to make any deductions. His heart beats rapidly – echoing in his ears as Akira continues to run. But soon, destiny finally collided. A trail of a voice that Akira has unknowingly or perhaps subconsciously ran towards.

​

Before his eyes, the devil came. Sucked the life of one of the villager heads. Yellow eyes shot through from the devil, like a demon hidden within its cloak as the empty husk of what remained of the elder stared right into the heart of the boy. The boy suddenly clutched his heart, an intense moment so strong that the child’s heart couldn’t take it as if the heart is about to explode. Weakness swells within him. The boy started to breathe hard. Almost as if out of breath, a possible combination of mental exhaustion and physical, after all the boy ran from the mountain down towards the village. His presence detected by La Spada did not just end there. The boy wasn’t necessarily hiding in the first place – and that eventually the rest of the Spada Pirates would catch on to the boy’s location. A few of the pirates eventually notice his presence, smirking as they found a new body to kill. Fresh right in front of them. Their swords at the ready. Akira could not move. Frozen by his own state of mind, the pirates did not need to run, it was almost child’s play to deal with Akira. Yet, he was able to barely grab onto the weapon on his feet despite the seemly weakened state, a sword left either by the pirates or the villagers. But it did not matter of its origin. He could barely defend himself in any notable stances as if all the training in the dojo has left him, shaking as the pirates completely closes in onto him.

One of the pirates would raise their swords. But soon, time starts to slow down – the boy could only hear his own breathing, his own heart rapidly beating as he watched the pirate in motion of killing Akira. Sweat. The boy’s life flashed upon his eyes.

​

His time in the dojo, the students, his master. They were like a family. Training all day, all night long – hard to learn how to defend themselves. And then, the explosion came – the lives of his ‘family’, gone. Or so he would believe to be. Then, a complete different emotion starts to run rampant in the boy’s mind and soul. Anger. Pain. Before he knew it, the boy subconsciously tightens the grip on the sword. Time starts to reverts to the normal flow of time – adrenaline starts to take over the boy. In a swift motion, Akira remembered his trainings, however little it would have applied against a real fight. The boy suddenly run inwards past the vertical swing from one of the pirates, taking them by surprise. Using the sword, even without incredible strength whatsoever, the sword is sharp enough with little pressure to cut through flesh as the boy swung against one of the pirate’s waist – cutting deep. The pirate screamed in pain as he fell onto the ground. The other, despite being surprised by what happen swung his weapon with almost no hesitation, forcing the boy to defend himself with the weapon. The strength difference however is enough to completely overwhelm a mere boy. Pain hitting hard against Akira’s side. Yet Akira was considered a prodigy amongst his peers. Perhaps a frog in its well. But nonetheless talented, even though overwhelmed – the boy in his adrenaline and anger was able to ignore pain, using the momentum of the pirate’s swing that push him towards one side to grab onto the pirate’s clothings, and pulled him along with his own self to manoeuvre behind the pirate, in one thrusting motion – Akira stabbed the pirate behind his back using the other hand, more than likely killing him.

The second pirate slumped onto his knees and finally dropped face first onto the ground. But these were not the only pirates barring La Spada. The boy took a few seconds to pull the sword out of the pirates’ back. His now red eyes stared deep into La Spada before the boy run towards her at full speed in complete anger, ready to swing the sword against the Grim Reaper as if something is telling him – in his heart, she is the reason for all these.

She. Must. Die.

 

[Ichimonji]

Whole Cake Island - #26
@Sea
​

WCI Palace Rubble (flashback)
The madness continued. In the fires of war, the screams of many was the chorus of the sonata that the Spada Pirates birthed. The dojo was in uproar, decimating the inhabitants. Pirates and Lunarians were everywhere, trampling over corpses. The boy, having come back, came into the attention of the Grim Reaper, felling the Elder who called someone to be exchanged for their safety. Devoured. In the middle of the battlefield, a boy was awakened. Fueled by adrenaline and motivated by hate, the boy went into a frenzy, showing why he was the prodigy of the island.

La Spada’s eyes never left the boy as he cut down the pirates, his eyes red with hate. The Grim curled a satisfied grin, almost giddy as to what she saw. Suddenly, the boy turned to her, hate guiding his blade.

[Sound Effect] Sheeen! Boom! Clang!​

There was a quick flash of green light. The boy’s blade had entered the cloak, hitting nothing. The blade was flipped upwards. The next moment, the boy was face-up, head banged against the hard gravel, the sheathe end against the boy’s open mouth. Complete and utter defeat. Against the strength of a demon, the young boy’s consciousness would be wavering. The events happening next would be clouded by subconscious and trauma, blocked. For as the boy’s eyes wavered, the Grim unsheathed her blade. With a sadistic grin that would become infamous, the skeletal demon brought her blade upwards, bringing it down to sever the boy’s head.

The blade would never make it.

[La Spada] “Who tha’ hell are yah? Are yah’ willing to sacrifice yah’ life because he is tha’ Boy of Prophecy’?​

​

The camera widened. Straddled in front and of the young Akira was a beautiful middle-aged woman. Luscious blue hair covered the shadow over her eyes. Features that showed there was no actual blood relation. Pearly white skin was stained from the blood splattered from intercepting the sword strike with her own body. A fatal hit, the organs were severed. Yet, the woman stood, her knees locked and unmoving. Unmoving such that the world’s strongest hate could not move her. The words of La Spada, angered by the act, echoed through the crackling fires around them. That last description: ‘Boy of Prophecy’, forced the woman to react. Through the blood that poured from her mouth, the woman scoffed.

Those unyielding eyes stared directly into death, with a will that made even Death shiver.

[Woman] “H-H-H-He is not the b-b-b-boy of p-p-pprophecy. H-H-H-He is… my son.”​

[Woman] “FROM THIS DAY FORTH, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE HIM! I WILL MAKE SURE OF IT! HATE CANNOT DEFEAT LOVE!”​

Those words made the Grim’s eyes widen in anger. With a snarl, the Grim pulled her blade from her body and struck again, finishing the job. The woman fell in her pool of blood; that satisfied smile prodded on her face an image La Spada could not delete from her mind. Licking the blood of the woman from her blade, La Spada took a step forward, over the young boy, intent on finishing the job. As the blade came down again, a blue light stopped the blade cold. Enraged, The Grim brought the blade down again and again, unable to pierce the moving blue shield that protected the boy. That color, the color of soul, was familiar.

That same hue of blue color was birthed from Twilight‘s Edge.

…

When the young Akira woke, he’d find the fires dying down. The body of the woman was no longer next to him, only the copious amount of blood of another. As the boy recovered, he’s see a group of villagers, the last survivors, still fighting strong, at a stalemate with the pirates. A eerie sound of blade scraped against a rotting tongue came from behind Akira. Behind him, as imposing as before, the cloaked woman stood above him. Her shadow cast over him, to cast dread. When the young boy turned, a different blade was thrown at his feet. This one was different. The hate and bloodlust the blade had matched the boy’s own, the one the boy showed when he went after La Spada. It was in fact his own hate materialized. A blade with a red hue. One that would come with an ultimatum.

Muramasa.

 

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Ruins (Flashback) #33
@Ichimonji ​

Anger. The boy’s face revealed his emotions to his peers. He ran straight towards La Spada without even thinking of the consequences. The boy was supposed to make his escape, but his anger in regards to what has happened up till now has cause him to lash out at what he perceives is the cause of all these tragedies. He ignored the remaining pirates around her, tunnel visioning upon his targets in front of his eyes. And he would get away with it, or so he thought. A single swipe of his blade, it would cut into cloak – but an accompanying flash of green light would reveal that the blade hit nothing. In almost split seconds the blade left Akira’s hands as before he knew it his head slammed hard against the hard gravel, back first onto the ground. Slamming hard against the ground produce a large amount of pain onto the boy’s head as the scabbard tip presses hard against the boy’s face, dug into his mouth in particular. Exhaustion and pain sets in, his adrenaline is slowly being overcome through the series of events that transpire so far. Such hard hitting slam would concuss the boy fairly easily, slowly losing consciousness as he could not see very clearly what is going on. Her blade brought up into the air. The boy knew. He would be dead as his eyes slowly darkens around his peripheral, though barely and forcefully kept conscious by young Akira’s own will. But as the blade went down, suddenly – the boy’s vision became completely blocked by an appearance of a lady as blood splatters onto his face, his eyes widen at the sudden turn of events.

​

A woman, though impossible to know who is it from where the boy is looking from. Already teetering between blacking out and staying awake, the new change of events and seeing more blood quite on literally in front of his eyes alongside his rapid heartbeat has completely overcame his adrenaline and allowed pain to fully set in. Shock from his supposed death overtook his mind. Akira lost consciousness. Words were then exchanged between La Spada and the woman, but for the boy those words weren’t heard from his conscious mind. But those words could still be heard subconsciously. Yet whether or not the boy would remember them at all is another, or that those words are but a dream, or rather a nightmare that the boy would not want to ever recall.

Time passes. And soon the boy would regain consciousness. Jolting up as if he woken up from a nightmare. Before him the flames are slowly dying down but before him is the reality. The fight was not yet over, perhaps not much time have likely passed. The boy recalled a woman before him, but now she is but gone. Words haunt the boy, but he does not remember beyond a few words that came onto his mind. Not that he would correlate what is a dream, or a nightmare which he would believe so and what is reality is. Prophecy. Hate. Love. A blank in his mind. He could not remember. The back of his head starts to hurt, a pain from before. Yet a lurking darkness approaches from behind, her shadows casts down onto Akira as a metallic sound scraps behind. The boy would turn – which would immediately cause the boy to jump as a blade would be thrown onto his feet. A bloodied sword, red. The boy did not stand up, only to look with confusion as La Spada spoke.

An ultimatum. The words of La Spada, there is no sound as if a silent film is being played. For the conversation between Akira and La Spada were but their own. Time continues to past, but the facial expression of both changes dramatically. One of fear, and another perhaps of elation. Then defeated. Akira finally stood. His hand held the bloodied sword, Muramasa. Around him, Spada Pirates gathered as if carefully watching his every step. There is no way out. The boy could only walk forward. By the time Akira has walked to what remains of the invasion, the villagers are left subdued. They never stood any chance, it is only that by buying time that they could rescue whoever that could been rescued. And Akira is not one of them. Tied behind their backs and left kneeling down. They waited for their doom. But what they would not expect is Akira. The boy that stood in front of them with a blade in hand, and behind him the Devil. Silence. The Devil’s mouth moved – her sadistic smiles trying to spur Akira into action. The ultimatum. Kill. Or be killed. Tears starts to flow from the teary eyed boy, his hands shake from fear and stress, tensing up into tremors.

Like a guide, the Devil slowly inches the boy closer to his would-be victims. It was obvious. The boy could not do it. It is not in his self and soul to do something so evil. The Devil chides the boy, it was futile. And his futility to heed her words would be his demise. The end of his life. But then, the villagers cried. They are adults. Their lives were forfeit the moment they had chosen to buy time for the rest to escape. Their lives for a child. They would plead for Akira to do it. One more life to save. And perhaps the Devil would not be in delight of such circumstances happening. But regardless, one thing is for sure. The corruption of one soul. The taking of lives, especially of ones that are innocent. Blackens one soul. The boy has no choice. His stress, his emotional state wildly rampant. His confusion could not process any thoughts that gave him respite. His eyes closed. The boy finally screamed his heart out - a release of emotions.

And then.

​

A blade thrust on the final villager. Struck hard as the boy’s tears could not stop. His face in immense pain as he gritted his teeth as the hand tremors did not once stop. Even if they aren’t family. The villagers are part of the boy’s childhood. The mundane life of a kid in this world, but happiness of one living in normalcy. Shattered by the Devil, and finally ended by himself. The last villager would slump onto the ground. The desires of the Devil satiated for the time being. Following the villager, the boy dropped to his knees as he lets go of Muramasa. His hands cover his face hardly, almost as if trying to rip his own face off – the boy lets out a scream of pain and distress he faced upwards. Suddenly, a powerful burst of Haoshoku Haki accompanied Akira’s distress, blasting several of the weaker Spada Pirates unconscious. Soon, the scream would stop. The emotional trauma and distress put through Akira has finally reached beyond the limit the boy could take emotionally speaking, the boy collapsed onto the ground.

Before he would know it. The next time the boy of prophecy would regain consciousness would be in a brigs of the Spada Ships.

 

[Ichimonji]

Whole Cake Island - #27
@Sea
​

WCI Palace Rubble (flashback)
The ultimatum. A devious plan to break the child who lived. The spirit is strong, but able to be broken. To be consumed by hate is something La Spada knew to well. A leash called hate would be tethered to the young boy. The surviving villagers were placed in a line, waiting for death. Death that would come from the boy. Those clamors of encouragement from the villagers only served to further traumatize - for how could one save those so noble? The cold boney hand of La Spada ushered the young boy forward towards the blade that glowed with a red hue. A blade who bore the hate that the young boy had displayed. Almost feeding off it. A blade who screamed for blood. Then, it happened. The boy broke.

The King's Will slipped through the cracks of his broken psyche.

The infamous La Spada, still standing behind the boy, would be shook. Underneath the hood, where no one could see, those orbital bones widened. The Grim's eyes widened at what she saw and felt. This boy... the Will of Kings. La Spada was one who knew of it well - she bore it. This one, however, was uncontrolled buried. A weapon that slept beneath a broken psyche. A weapon that would serve her well. In that moment, La Spada thought back to the woman who saved the boy, her words, and the word 'prophecy'. As the boy's body collapsed in the pool of the villagers blood, La Spada was drawn to a sword in the rubble pass the bodies. A blade that glowed blue. The most famous blade of the village, now glowing with that soul of the one who had saved Akira - a mother's soul. Twlight's Edge.

On her orders, the one who had struck down La Spada on her first attempt at resurrection, now an ally, picked up Akira. La Spada examined Twilight's Edge, as the voice of a fallen angel came.

[Gabriel 'The Archangel'] "The heavens flow through this boy. Strike him down now. Otherwise, one day he shall strike you down. A day I will look forward to."​

​

[La Spada] "Today is not tha' day, Gabriel. A curse protects him. Take this blade of blue. Banish it to tha' other side of the ocean. Bury it in history at whatever tha' cost. They shan't ever meet again."​

The camera distorted as Gabriel faded with the blade and the boy to the darkness. The camera opened in the brigs of the Spada flagship: The Styx. If Akira looked down at his exposed chest, he'd see a symbol on the right side of his heart: a Spada crossbones. Implemented within him was a piece of the soul malignant. That symbol glowed.

-----------------------------------------

Back in the present, that same symbols faded until there was nothing. The symbol slowly disappeared from Akira's chest, like a vivre card expired. The boy was free. The green soul that was ever present around La Spada began to fade. The Twilight Edge blade did not just cut the bones; it cut La Spada's very soul - for only a soul could cut another.

La Spada's last words: Kurai Takeuchi, were tempered by a defining of The Grim's aura. Decades of hate. All leading to one moment.

La Spada was dead.

 

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Ruins #34 (Flashback)
@Ichimonji ​

….

Argh….

The boy opened his eyes in the dark lit rooms of the brigs, the back of his head a throbbing mess. It took him almost 10 seconds before his mind fully processed his surroundings. He is alive. Despite the ultimatum, the boy thought he was dead anyway. It jolted him up to sit up defensively as he looked around the room. Dark and cold. A jail cell. Just then, his chest throbbed quite painfully prompting the boy to clutch his heart momentarily as the pain passes. Despite clutching his own heart, a greenish glow on his heart could be seen permeating through the gaps of his fingertips, shocking Akira in his confusion. Once the throbbing pain eventually pass, Akira release his hands onto the chest, revealing a strange symbol – crossbones. What did the pirates do to him? The boy could not understand, but he knew one way or another he is taken abroad by the Spada Pirates but for what? And what are they planning to do with him? The boy is confused.

Yet this allowed the boy to slowly process his thoughts, alone. Pain, confusion, grief. All sorts of conflicting emotions stuck onto the boy’s head. The memories flood back into Akira, his head pounding with distress as he recalled everything. Clutching his heads with his two hands once more, the boy’s heart implodes from dragging his memory back into the light. A depressing scene for a kid whose own actions has scarred him. It wouldn’t be before long that the Spada Pirates came, and as they arrive – it wasn’t one of friendliness nor empathy. Taunts and provocations as they deliver the bare minimum of food to ensure the survival of the kid. That would be the life of Akira, a prisoner aboard the ship. It would happen day in and day out, until one day. The Spada Pirates started to change.

They need Akira to break. They have a plan for him.

The Spada Pirates took violence to achieve their plans, it has been how they operate – and there’s no reason not to continue that method. Dominance through fear and might. That is how Spada Pirates achieves their goals. And for Akira it is no difference. Before the boy knew it, he was quickly subjected to bully and torture under the guise of training. Pain, injuries, scars. They become part of the boy’s life. Each day, the boy was getting bruises and cuts, all sorts of injuries from his ‘trainings’, every time the boy gave up during these ‘trainings’, he was constantly beat up, punched and kicked by the pirates and it didn’t just end at physical abuse, the pirates constantly reminds Akira of his actions back then, and that chides at the boy’s weakness and inability to save anyone. And every day after all the brutality forced upon Akira, he was then thrown back to the dark, cold and dirty cell.

​

The life on board of Spada Pirates is miserable, yet the relentless violence from the Spada Pirates has improve the boy’s skills day by day, after all it is the only way to avoid as much beating as possible. But all these only serve to change Akira, a way to break him – hatred. La Spada requires Akira to have hatred in order to mould him into something worth a tool to be used, yet eventually they would succeed. One night after his ‘trainings’ the boy would lie on the cold hard cell, rats squeaking as they scurry around the boy. Blood and bandages could be seen all around Akira’s body. Fear and despair continues to grow upon the boy, but another swirls painfully within Akira. Anger and hatred. Having forced into such a hostile environment of cruelty and brutal violence, these emotions are something that would eventually grow. But it wasn’t the start of such emotions. Ever since the boy’s life was taken apart, crushed by La Spada. His anger and hatred never left. But it was purposefully concealed. Especially after the first few days when the pirates did not like the face that Akira shown and beat him up the boy learned to hide his emotions very quickly, especially towards several of the pirates. But such thoughts would fester.

The boy shifted into a child’s pose as he suddenly punches the ground several times in his silent anger causing blood to bleed from the bandages, reopening wounds. It wasn’t just today that the boy’s anger has shown such outburst in silence within the cell. Blood could be seen completely dry out at the floors of the brig. His fist clenched hard. The boy’s teeth bite into his own lips. His emotions turn into frustrations and desperation, slamming his head onto the ground several times. He could not do anything. He could only lash out at his environment.

​

He hated La Spada and her band of pirates. But he also hated the Marines, the World Government. Their inactions failed to stop evils like La Spada. For a regime that would claim to protect the world, they have failed utterly. His opinions of them completely twisted. Selfish as it would be. But for the boy, his trauma and pain has created such hatred and anger, misdirected at everything. He hated the world. His tears flowed, but not a lot. Dried from his sadness and pain he endures daily. The boy breathes hardly despite the lack of physical exertion, but soon he would slow down. Something suddenly changes within the boy, a thought swirling from the festering of his darker emotions.

​

Revenge.

Akira’s mind starts to focused on a single thought. He wanted La Spada to feel the same as he did. The pain. The fear. The despair. His face turns into anger. His cries of tears slowly stopped. But how would he do that? Silence. Calm. The boy’s demeanour starts to change. Directing his hatred into a single focus. A single objective. La Spada’s dreams. Her objectives. What was it? The boy does not know. But he would believe. If La Spada were to die just before she would accomplish her dreams, her goals. The fear of failing. The pain of losing all she has. The despair that she would feel. The boy calmly thinks it through. She would experience what the boy would experience back at the village. His eyes lit with anger, but he would quickly change those expressions. He would remove fear and despair from himself, as much as he could from here on out. He would do what La Spada asks. To help her achieve goals. And when she is about to achieve her dreams.

Akira would rob her of it.

As that night passes. Spada Pirates would notice the change. Though perhaps they would expect it. The cold demeanour as if Akira has finally broken. Focused on training to completely hone his skills and might, the prodigy rapidly starts to improve his skills at such a short amount of time which shocks even the men of Spada. From beating a couple of Spada Pirates to even killing groups of lowly ranks of the crew, the Devil cares not of her men, choosing to merely expend those men to improve Akira. The act of moulding the boy into a weapon of the Grim has finally shown its results.

And years later, the boy from North Blue has transformed into a weapon of La Spada, the Shadow of the Grim Reaper.

​

--------------------------
Present

La Spada’s injured body, the boy has done it. But he did not choose to laugh, nor to smile. His eyes coldly stared into the eyes of the dying La Spada. Is he elated? The boy’s conflicting emotions swirls within him; he cannot truly process those thoughts well. But one things for sure. Like a calm storm in the seas, he knew. His goals accomplished. The symbols upon his chest glowed green momentarily, but slowly dissipates, though the boy wasn’t able to see due to what remains of his Raid Suit and he was too focused on La Spada to truly notice.

Before La Spada would finally pass, she would only hear the cold whispers of the boy. One that would remind her of Akira’s despair, his pain, his fear.

“This is for them. And for her.”

Twilight’s Edge would glow blue, like it always does. La Spada would finally slumps onto the ground, dead. Rain would continue to fall upon them. A silence. No laughter, no happiness. Perhaps he has been with Spada Pirates for too long, the mask not easily tossed away. The boy closed his eyes as he faces up to the sky for a moment. His breathing slows down as he calms down. For just a few seconds, the boy would finally sigh a breath of relief. His raid suit deactivated. The boy spins Twilight’s Edge for a moment. Peace. The boy felt. He would turn, slowly walking away.

 

[Ichimonji]

Whole Cake Island - #28
@Sea
​

WCI Palace Rubble
Decades had last since that fateful day at the quaint dojo. Decades had passed since a boy of Prophecy was broken down to the studs, mind broken, hate born. Dubbed “The Shadow”, the hellish Captain of the Spada Pirates never got around to slaying the boy. As he grew, the boy’s usefulness grew, finding no bounds. Utility prevented the boy‘s demise. To achieve her dreams, nay, her goals, La Spada kept her Shadow close, slaying those who stood in her way. That utility rose all the way to taking down Big Mom and finding the Road Poneglyphs, on the cusp of becoming the new Emperor, the strongest woman of the seas. With her Shadow, La Spada was poised to resurrect Ivalice, those souls carried over from the other world.

On the cusp of achieving it all, The Shadow slew his caster. The world witness.

[Akira] “This is for them. And for her.”​

Those words were low and deliberate. Words that fell on dead ears. La Spada was no more. Akira had taken everything from her a moment before attaining it all. The rain pelted the dead bones of an infamous woman. The rain sang the chorus of a decade-long struggle. The rain sang a chorus to the end of the Spada Pirates.

Suddenly, the rain stopped.

As Akira walked away, he’d feel the clouds began to part. As Akira walked, he’s see the slivers of sunlight slip through. As Akira walked, he’s see his Shadow retuning, cast by the sudden light from the sky. The Shadow was still alive. The rain had stopped, clouds swung open violently. The symbol once gone on his chest, a trace began to appear. Time would seem to slow. Time would seem to move in slow-motion. A feeling of dread took the area. Suffocating. Akira had felt this intense feeling only once before: the day the dojo was attacked. Bear witness. As Akira turned, he’d see the pebbles on the ground next to the corpse of La Spada shake. Slowly and dramatically, something impossible happened.

The bones of The Grim moved. Eyes formed and glowed like a frightening lighthouse in the dark night. A voice infamous spoke sarcastically.

[La Spada] “Don’t look so surprised, mah’ dear. You should know by now I cannot be killed. I am hate incarnate. Nothing can defeat hate. I AM HATE! Kuhahahahahaha!!”​

That cackle was not just a grim reminder of the evil. The cackle was a stab at Akira’s past. The cackle with the same pitch as all those years ago. Hate and love. A pendulum Akira swung and knew well. The words of a woman in his subconscious, her last, would come to his mind. La Spada had died. Died and resurrected. Only one with the Yomi could do such a thing. La Spada was truly invincible. Taking the last of the slain Big Mom children’s soul, kept tucked away, La Spada pulled the souls into her and consumed them. Before Akira’s eyes, the terrible would happen. La Spada’s bones, once severed and broken, would connect to each other and heal. Souls used to resurrect the body. Souls of the fallen, thrown into hate.

The terrible pirate would raise her right hand, the only one she had. Swirling on her palm was a black substance, like a tornado of spirit and will compacted and whirled. The souls of the dead, bringing a Chill of the Underworld and dread, came. Akira had never seen it before. Combining the power of the Yomi and Soru, La Spada had not just resurrected them, she shaped the souls wicked. A terrible attack infused with King’s haki that would shake the earth, black marron lighting spawning off it. A descending baseline took the area as La Spada spoke again, that terrible pitch to eat away at a young boy’s mind.

One cannot kill Death. Enter Yonko La Spada.

[La Spada] “Yah’. Have. Failed. Yah’ expended yah’ utility, boy. Today, I will finally do what I promised tha’ filthy woman decades ago as I slew her.”​

​

[La Spada] “Today, yah’ die!”​

​

 

[Sea]

WCI – Palace Ruins #35
@Ichimonji ​

Akira walked away from the corpse of La Spada and Big Mom, his heart slowly releasing its grip of tension, the boy slowly dropped the mask he held, a difficult task that he managed for so long. It was a sigh of relief, the pressure of the heart released that gave him comfort of peace. A burden no longer. In a sense, the boy is free. The rain stopped, clouds beginning to part as sunlight slowly returns after the light drizzle. It’s as if a new beginning would arrive, a light that washes away the dark.

​

But then.

A throbbing sensation starts to lightly bothers Akira, though different from the sensation from that day, the boy recognizes that sensation, a pain now diluted but still maintains some form of identity. A trace of green glow slowly appeared, but it was not what would suddenly alert the boy. No. As if time has stopped, a feeling of dread suffocates Akira. An emotion that he long forgotten, it was washed away but now returns stronger than ever. A feeling that something just went wrong, an unshakable feeling. Like time moving in slow motion, the boy turned as his eyes widen, shocked at this undeniable dreadful feeling. His mask dropped – no longer hiding his true feelings, laid bare for peers to dissect. Even as he turned around he notice the pebbles from the gravel shaking from his peripheral vision.

​

The impossible has happened.

Like a frightening visage of horror, the bones of the corpse moved as glowing eyes immediately manifested, permeating brightly. The voice of La Spada spoke. Almost immediately the boy’s face became serious, almost angry. But his emotions have long been understood. No matter how he would try to mask his true feelings, La Spada has already seen it. She would proclaim her immortality, for hate could not be defeated. Here the boy would see the reformation of La Spada, bones reconnecting to rebuild her skeletal frame.

Impossible. The boy thought. He was absolutely sure that he has extinguished her soul. Was his attack not deep enough to kill her off completely? The boy has many questions, but he did not have time to think it further. With one hand, a black substance starts to swirl about her palm, eventually forming into a tornado permeating chill that struck even the boy from afar. He has never seen any of these that La Spada has shown. Was it the power of Big Mom? The boy could only stand as he watched the new powers manifesting within La Spada, not realizing he became enroot onto the ground. Shocked. But within the boy, dread has start to crawl into his skin and perhaps, before the boy truly realized his emotion – he may have felt despair once more. His emotions are wild and chaotic. But the boy didn’t realize he wasn’t just rooted the ground because of shock, but because he was frozen by the dread that has managed to creep into his body and mind.

Shaking away his emotions, the boy hides them once more. He held Twilight’s Edge tightly, its blade glows blue as its blackish-blue smoke emanates mysteriously from the sword. The tornado grew greater in power, blackish red lightning crackles at its core expanding outwards, tremors shaking the very ground that they stood on as ear piercing scream hellishly at the boy. La Spada laughed, Akira no longer have any utility to her – for she has succeeded in her goals and today she would deliver that promise to her.

The boy’s face changed from serious to concerned as the tornado screams at Akira, sweating rolling off his cheeks. But Akira stood without relenting, he is not the same as the young boy that La Spada would know from that day. Whether is it fear, or despair, the boy tightened the grip on Twilight’s Edge. His brows frowned and his teeth gritted hard. No matter what La Spada has become. The boy has sworn to kill her. That very motivation grants the boy strength to fight on even in the face of despair.

​

The camera pans away, showing only the back of the boy and his blade against the growing black tornado as the Grim Reaper stood beside her attack.