A Bid For Glory

**Date Completed:** ongoing
**In Role-Play Year:** 1584
**Next Role-Play**:
**Users Involved:** User:Eazzymacc, User:Berserkchart486, User:MKK977, User:Sekiro of the mist
**Setting:** New World
**Characters Involved**: Fukuoka Koyuki, Ilphen Lazarus, Marciel D. Klaus, Fuyuhiro Sekiro

## The Gods' Call

"The great serpent rose up high, blocking out all the light of the sun! All seemed lost..."

"Until Dolgthrasir appeared with his spear in hand, ready to slay the serpent!" Two men stand in front of a crowd of people. Each man acts out parts of the story as they tell it. Every member of the audience is captivated by the performance these men are giving.

"The serpent stared down at the man before it and bore its fangs! It's body tensed and it's head shot forward to eat the warrior so foolish as to challenge the great serpent!" As he speaks the man stands tall, moving his arm in an imitation of a snake. He uses his hand to strike like a snake at the other story teller, which causes some of the younger audience to let out yelps of surprise and fear. Without missing a beat the other man steps to the side and pulls out a wooden spear.

"The serpent struck with the confidence of a beast that knew no equal! But Dolgthrasir was no mere man as the serpent assumed! Dolgthrasir was the hero of legend, the one who took the stars as his cape and the wore the seas as his beard! With the mighty spear he had carved from a root of the World Tree he engaged the serpent in a bloody battle!" He punctuates his words by stabbing the spear at the other performer. The two men go back in forth and in dramatic fashion. Kids squeal in excitement and adults enjoy a laugh from the show. After a short struggle the man playing the serpent falls to the floor in a dramatic death scene.

"The mighty serpent has been slain by the warrior Dolgthrasir! Let us remember his great name, the name of the god who united his brothers and sisters to create what is good!" The performers bow to cheers from the crowd. With the performance over the mead hall is quickly filled with chatter and laughter.

"That was wonderful, the Billingr brothers have outdone themselves this year." Lagatha smiles up at Lazarus from her seat in his lap as the play ends. Lazarus takes a drink from his mug before nodding.

"They really did, I was on the edge'a my seat the whole time! Hehehohahaha!" Lagatha rolls her eyes at him but before she can continue a man wearing dozens of animal pelts approaches them. He waits for Lazarus to wave him over and he bows when Lazarus does so.

"Forgive me for interrupting, but I have an urgent message from chief Godi Magni Orvar." As he speaks he straightens up. He takes a scroll from a pouch at his waist. Lagatha takes the scroll and reads silently. She smiles and hands it to Lazarus who then reads it as well.

"Hehehohahaha! Oh this oughta be good! Oi, go tell the old man that I'm on my way." A wild smile spreads across the Berski chief's face. The messenger nods and runs out of the hall. Lagatha also smiles, she recognizes the excitement that is plastered across Lazarus' face. She slides off his lap and takes his massive hand in hers. She kisses the back of his hand.

"I hope Magni has some good news for you Laz. We can continue our celebration when you get back." Lazarus leans down and kisses her forehead before he stands. As if on queue two of the Ivaldi warriors walk forward, one holding Setsugen and the other holds Volund. Lazarus takes his weapons and finishes his mug with a loud *ahhh* at the end.

"Whatever news the ol' man gives me, we'll make the besta it like we always do." With one more kiss to Lagatha he steps out into the howling winds with a smile. It doesn't take him long to traverse the winding roads that connect his home village to the Grand Lodge Asgard, where the Berski Goði live.

The tall walls that encompass Asgard have stood strong for decades and are a welcoming sight to Lazarus. The intricate knotwork designs that weave across the stone brings back memories of his younger days. As a kid he spent many years training and meditating on the Godi teachings within these walls. He stands before the massive gates that tower over even a man as tall as he. His eyes trace the engravings, stories of gods battling mythical creatures, heroic tales of previous Berski warriors conquering powerful foes. The gates groan as they are opened and he enters.

In contrast to the loud celebration that is going on in his village, the Grand Lodge is quiet and peaceful. Lazarus bows slightly to the two monks that opened the gates and continues inside. The layout of the Lodge is similar to that of a medieval castle town. The buildings all share the Celtic style knotwork that adorns the outer walls. Berski runes intertwine the knotwork in patterns meant to offer protection, calm and rejuvenation for both mind and body.

Stopping occasionally to offer respect to the Godi that he comes across Lazarus eventually finds himself at the Grand Lodge itself. He takes a moment to gather his thoughts and admire the beauty that is the Lodge. He pushes the doors and walks inside, looking around for the ancient Godi that summoned him.

"Oi, Magni ya ol' coot! What did ya call me up here fer?" No sooner did he speak did a puff of smoke appear in front of him. A fourteen foot tall man steps through the smoke and bows to Lazarus. Two large, engraved spikes protrude from his shoulders and dozens of charms hang from them. Wood and bone charms clank against each other as he moves.

"Well if it isn't the young chief! I wasn't sure you'd come so soon, I heard you and Lagatha have been spending a lot of time together. And with tonight being the start of the harvest festival I figured you two would be-" A growl from Lazarus causes the older man to stop and rethink his words. He flashes smile that reveals teeth that all go in different directions.

"Ah, I suppose that isn't any of my business until you want a blessing for your child. Anyway, that talk can wait. I've divined that the gods' desires will be made more clear tonight. It could prove to offer direction that will provide you and our clans a course to follow for further prosperity." The man stands to his full height, well that is if he could stand fully without a hunched back. He turns and begins to walk further into the Lodge, gesturing for Lazarus to follow. The doors to the Lodge slam themselves shut and Lazarus follows.

"Tonight you and I will ponder the runes and listen for the gods' words." Magni explains. "I do not know what we will discover but as the current unifying chief you will decide how the clans will proceed based on what we learn." Lazarus simply nods. A mix of excitement and nervousness builds within him.

Magni opens a final door revealing a large round room. A stone pedestal with a wide bowl sits in the center of the room. The stone floors have runes carved in specific patterns that swirl from the edges of the room and end at the pedestal, traveling up its base and into the bowl itself. Lazarus sits cross legged in the center of a ring of runes while Magni approaches the bowl. The old man produces a number of ingredients from the pouches on his person. Once the last ingredients are added a small blue flame erupts in the bowl. Magni looks at Lazarus and continues when he receives an affirmative nod. The ancient Godi takes carved bones in his hands. He shakes them while chanting in the Berski tongue before tossing them into the fire.

The fire grows larger and fully engulfs the bowl with the addition of these bones. Magni takes his seat across from Lazarus in another runic circle. Blue smoke rises from the bowl and both men close their eyes and begin their meditation. The smoke dances up from the flames but instead of rising to the ceiling it turns and flows to the two men. The smoke circles their heads and as they take deep breathes it enters their mouths and noses.

Lazarus opens his eyes to see that he is floating in the air miles above the sprawling ocean. He looks around and finds nothing before he turns his attention to the scene below him. A single island sits below him. At first it appears to be a peaceful place, people enjoying their time on the islands shores, multiple buildings that look to be resorts of some sort dot the island as well. As he watches the island he sees something that is not like the other people. A strong aura grabs his attention and as he focuses on it his vision becomes more clear. He sees a woman he has never met before but the power she exudes tells him that she is no ordinary resort goer. He watches as she spends time with people he assumes to be her family but all seems normal.

As he continues to observe her form begins to shift and contort. Transforming from a ordinary woman she sprouts multiple limbs and grows to a tremendous size. Lazarus' attention is then pulled to another scene. The previously peaceful island is covered in fires and the buildings are destroyed. He sees a massive creature towering above the island battling another creature of equal size. The clashing of the creatures sends shockwaves out across the island and into the ocean. As he fights the multi-limbed creature turns it's gaze to him.

Opening his eyes again Lazarus is greeted by a beam of morning sunlight the fills the room from a window at the center of the room. The flames in the pedestal have long since burnt out. Lazarus stands and Magni does the same. Both men approach the pedestal and study the bones laying in it.

"I take it you saw the same creature I did?" Magni glances at Lazarus and he nods. "I see...this is an interesting sign, is it not? A location, a mighty beast? Surely the gods call for a battle worthy of becoming legend." He turns his full attention to the carved bones. After a few minutes he smiles at Lazarus.

"The runes speak of a grand challenge. A battle whose outcome could shake the world around us, but bring great ruin as well. What do you think?" Magni gestures for Lazarus to study the bones as well. The Berski chief does as suggested and looks at the bones. A wild smile spreads across his face.

"I think the gods have blessed me on this day! They've shown me the battleground an' presented a creature that many call unsurmountable. I need ta prepare my best men an' set out right away. This story will either bring the clans a man worth following or death worth celebrating. Hehehohahahaha!" Lazarus slaps Magni on the back, getting an *oof* from the old man. "Prepare yourself ta travel, old man! We set out tomorrow mornin'!"

Magni nods, sharing the wild smile of his chief. It has been many years since he travelled with a clan chief on a journey of this scale. Whether Lazarus will succeed or not will only be determined by the man himself. As the oldest Godi he will record the battle in detail and commit it to memory before engraving it for all the clans to see. As Lazarus leaves to return to his home Magni sets about gathering the gear he will need.

Stepping outside the walls of the Grand Lodge Lazarus waits for the gates to close before he begins walking. He takes a den den mushi out and picks it up. The snail begins to ring as he walks through the freshly fallen snow. Though this is a story for the Berski, there is a man he wants to have join him in this battle. Marciel D. Klaus is a strong man with powers that Lazarus believes will be useful in this endeavor. Whether he can fully trust Klaus or not might not be entirely clear, Lazarus knows that the man seeks adventure and knowledge so if nothing else Lazarus has something to offer him for his services.

Meanwhile at the Grand Line, on the island known as Kuraigana Island, the current base of Marciel D. Klaus. Drinking a glass of wine as he only wore a white loose unbuttoned shirt, revealing a golden cross necklace on his chest. With a mustache and a goatee styled to resemble the great marine hunter Dracule Mihawk. Klaus sat where once Mihawk sat, reading a newspaper while taking a sip of fine wine.

While across the room, Taka came flying with a den den mushi between his claws. "Klaus you idiot!! You're not Mihawk! You fucking excuse of a pirate!"

Klaus raised his sight slowly in a dramatic way as he looked at Taka. "Did you beat my monke?"

Taka wasted no time as he threw the den den mushi at Klaus before he made a hard turn mid air and flew out of the room. Klaus caught the den den mushi and answered the call. "Hello? This is Drac..." He paused for a moment. "Marciel D. Klaus. What's up?"

Howling winds are the first thing to greet Klaus via the Den Den Mushi. Then a familiar voice breaks the noise.

"Eh? Drac? Klaus are ya drunk right now? Eh wait, I am too. Bah never mind that! I got somethin' I think ya might be intrested in. If ya come ta Berski Island I'll give ya the details. If ya wana go 'long with what I tell ya I'll make it worth it fer ya." Klaus can hear the barely contained excitement in every word Lazarus says. Klaus has no way to know what the Berski warrior could be so worked up over but for him to call Klaus out of the blue like this it must be important.

Klaus raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of wine. "I might be on a few drugs." Nodding. "There might be some alcohol in my body, not gonna deny that." Looking at the table in front of him with so many different colored pills. "Okay, I might be on a lot of drugs." Scratching the back of his head. "What are you offering?"

Holding the den den mushi's device on his shoulder, placing the glass of wine on the table, Klaus reached for the pack of cigarettes on the table in front of him. He took one out and light it up, keeping it in his mouth as one hand held the newspaper, while the other hand held the den den mushi device.

"Well, there are some ritual spots on the island that we don't let many outsiders see. I'm sure ya'd enjoy checkin' em out and learnin' 'bout em. There might be some loot in it fer ya too." Lazarus grins knowing he has more to offer. The screeching winds die down indicating Lazarus has gone indoors.

"Let me ask ya somethin'. Ya ever been ta Wano?"

A grin formed on Klaus' face as his eyes were filled with excitement. "Secret ritual spots?! Count me in!" Klaus didn't even hear Lazarus' request yet, nor did he care about it. If it would allow him to explore a new unknown of the world, he would accept without any hesitation.

"Wano? While it has been on my list for a while, but no. I haven't been to Wano yet." Resting the newspaper on his leg as he gave the call the entirety of his focus. "Why do you ask about Wano?"

Lazarus smiles at Klaus' response. He knows he already has the explorer's aid but decides he will divulge more. Entering his grand lodge the sounds of laughing and chatter come across the den den mushi. He grabs a mug as he walks through the hall and goes into his own room. He shuts the door and the noise dies down.

"The gods have blessed me with a vision this night. I saw an island though it ain't one I know. I saw a grand beast, one that will tower over any island it walks. I'm gathering my strongest men to hunt the beast many believe to be unstoppable: Fukuoka Koyuki." His voice has become eerily calm. The previous excitement has become something more. The is no fear or apprehension in his words, only a respect that one warrior gives to another.

Klaus couldn't share Lazarus' excitement to fight Fukuoka Koyuki, as his mind only locked on the fact that he will get to visit both Wano, and the secret ritual locations of the Berski during the same adventure. He was hooked like an addict, with his poison doubled in dosage.

"We're going to Wano?! I'm on my way!"

"*Gacha*"

Ending the call without giving Lazarus the chance to tell him anything else, Klaus stood up, causing the newspaper to fall on the ground along with a lighter, some pills, and a half empty pack of chips. Reaching his face with his hand, he took off the fake facial hair, as he messed his hair up with both hands.

"TAKA!! We're going out! Prepare the ships!"

Taka flew into the room confused. "What ships?"

Klaus paused for a moment. "Yeah... Prepare the hoverbike!"

Taka sighed as he flew out the castle to the already prepared hoverbike, and landed on it, waiting for Klaus so their journey towards Berski island can begin. Minutes went by and Klaus finally walked out the doors of his castle, wearing his trademark outfit, while holding his black feather coat, folded in his arm.

Getting on the bike, Klaus put his sunglasses on, turned on the hoverbike and drove off into Purgatory, heading for Berski Island.

Lazarus doesn't mind being hung up on so abruptly. He recognizes that Klaus is excited at the chance to explore places that would otherwise be incredibly difficult to see. He places the den den mushi on his desk and finishes off his mug. He sits quietly for a few minutes. He thinks about the journey ahead of him. This would be unlike anything he has experienced before, he is sure of it. Previous battles, even the fight against Chief Birger and his scuffle with Valor would pale in comparison to what he is about to do. The thought he could die crosses his mind but hardly bothers him. To die in locked in battle with such a great monster as this would surely grant him a seat at Dolgbrasir's table. With the prospect of either gaining his gods' favor in this world or the next fresh in his mind Lazarus leaves his room to rejoin his people with a smile on his face.

## War High

Some time passed by on the island of Berski, all the way to the north resides the graveyards of the brave berski warriors. A rocky gravestone to empty graves, built to respect the fallen warriors, even after the cremation of their bodies. And from a specific grave, phasing through the ground up, was none other than Marciel D. Klaus.

Scanning the area as he cracked his neck with his hand on his shoulder, Klaus looked at all the graves around him. "Graveyards... This never gets old..." Klaus walked outside the graveyard and crouched down, electricity started emitting from his feet as a grin formed on his face. Before he was launched towards the sky, opening his arms and legs as his cape danced with the wind. Klaus scanned the whole of Berski, an island he visited a couple of times before.

Landing in a big crowded city, Klaus' legs were visibly larger as electricity emitted from them in his safe descendant. Standing up, his legs went back to normal. Reaching into the inner pocket of his jacket, he took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He placed a cigarette in his mouth lighting it, before he placed the pack and the lighter back into his inner pocket.

"Hello people... What's up? Anyone seen Lazarus lately? I'm here to visit."

A small crowd of people are visibly surprised to see Klaus suddenly land in their town. A few women grab their children and move away trying to avoid his attention. Everyone steps back and gives Klaus space as they aren't sure what he intends to do. Almost immediately a group of four men in chainmail armor arrive and stand in a circle around Klaus. They each hold a short sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

"State your name! What business do you have with the chief?" The man in front of Klaus speaks with the firm authority of a veteran guardsman. His short hair and long beard are greying from the deep black that they had been in his youth. The other men around the pirate captain are much younger but hold themselves as trained guards as well.

Raising his arms in a surrendering position, Klaus grinned as he looked each of them in the eyes. "Oh no please... I have children..." Pausing, before he raised his finger asking for them to wait. "That sounded wrong, didn't it?" Lowering his arms down slowly not to trigger them into attacking him, Klaus' grin faded as he sighed. "I'm here to see Ilphen Lazarus. The name is Marciel D. Klaus. And I wouldn't suggest you attack me with those swords as you will only be harming yourselves."

The guards tense and glare at Klaus but before they are able to act a woman's voice stops them.

"Men that's enough! This is the man that chief Lazarus asked for. Didn't he tell you Marciel D. Klaus is a rather powerful man? I understand wanting to test someone who has been granted a meeting with the chief but there is no need." A tall raven haired woman approaches the group of men. The tense atmosphere that had been caused by Klaus' sudden arrival breaks when the people see Lagatha. She is dressed rather plainly in warm furs and she carries a quiver and bow on her back. The guards lower their weapons and bow their heads.

"Sorry Lagatha, I was caught off guard by his sudden arrival." He turns to Klaus as well. "I meant no disrespect." Lagatha smiles and waves the guards off. The men nod and walk back to their usual patrol routes. Lagatha towers over Klaus, standing five feet taller than him and most everyone in the area.

"It is good to finally meet you face to face Marcial Klaus. Lazarus has told me a little about you and I look forward to seeing what you can do myself. But let's talk somewhere warmer." She gestures for Klaus to follow as she turns and begins to walk. The area Klaus landed in is a market district and they pass dozens of stores and carts. People selling everything from cabbages to arms and armor can be seen in the busy streets. Most people give Klaus a curious look as he passes but being with Lagatha eases any concerns they would have.

Klaus also notices there are people of many races walking the streets. Fishmen, minks, long arms, and many more walk the town and chat with each other without a care in the world. The sizes of these people also ranges wildly. Men and woman half Klaus' height to more than double it operate storefronts that they pass.

"I don't know what Lazarus managed to tell you on the den den mushi, but if you have any questions before you meet him I'll answer as best I can." Lagatha smiles to him as she walks. Leaving the shopping district they arrive in a less crowded section of the town. The smell of charcoal and fire permeates the air. It doesn't take an expert to see this is where the town's forges are located. A few storefronts can be found here selling arms, armor and jewelry that have all been handcrafted right in this spot.

"I have always admired you people, your island, your history. The first time I visited this island was a few years ago, and while it was fun, I didn't have the chance to fully explore the mysteries of this island." Looking Lagatha with a smile on his face. "Perhaps a tour with a lovely lady can compensate for that." Looking at all the different races, Klaus remembered a similar scene he witnessed on another one of his explorations. An island with so many races living under one true king, all living together in peace and harmony.

"Lagatha, how about we start with places with the best view? I'm sure you have a few you favor above others."

Lagatha returns his smile with her own. She nods and points off in a direction towards the center of the island. Even with the swirling snow obscuring vision the faint outline of a mountain can be seen standing tall into the clouds.

"Skadiborg, or Skadi's Castle, is the tallest mountain on the island. It can be treacherous to climb but the sights along the way are beautiful. The view of the mountain's peak is otherworldly. I have only been blessed to see the peak twice. Perhaps we will have a chance to make the journey after our business is complete." Lagatha continues on, greeting those that stop and greet her along the way.

After a short time the pair find themselves standing at the doors of the largest building in the town. Massive doors decorated in carvings of great heroes of old stand twice Lagatha's height. The roof of the building looks to have been made by flipping a huge ship and fitting on top of the stone walls. The ship itself looks ancient but in remarkably good shape. Lagatha places her hand on one of the two large steel knockers on the doors and pulls.

The door swings open with little effort and the pair are immediately greeted by the sounds of laughter. Klaus sees hundreds of warriors gathered in the massive hall. Three tables span the length of the hall and wooden pillars are spaced throughout. Each table is crowded is dozens of different foods and drinks. Men and women of all races and sizes sit side by side and enjoy the feast in front of them as equals.

At the far end of the hall sits Lazarus on a large throne made of carved bone accented by gold and silver carvings. Behind this throne are dozens of trophies in the forms of pelts, banners, weapons and skulls. Some of these trophies look to be older than Lazarus himself as they had been there from past chiefs. Setsugen and Volund rest in straps holding them to the back sides of the throne, easily within Lazarus' reach.

It only takes a moment for Lazarus' attention to fall on Lagatha and Klaus. With a wide smile he stands and the chatter in the hall dies down. He raises his mug in Klaus' direction and all eyes turn to the new arrival.

"Hehehohaha! It looks like the guest of honor has finally arrived! The great explorer Marciel D. Klaus has come ta answer my call! Come, my friend! Let's share a drink as we talk!" The men and women in the hall let out an ear splitting cheer once Lazarus finishes speaking. Mugs raise in a salute to Klaus has Lagatha leads him through the hall to Lazarus' throne. Two sits are already ready by his sides. Lagatha kisses Lazarus before sitting in the seat to Lazarus' right hand. A barmaid brings a tray of drinks for Lagatha and Klaus to pick from. Lagatha takes a mug and the barmaid smiles to Klaus and waits for him to take a mug as well.

Klaus had an annoyed expression on his face, feeling like Lagatha tricked him into skipping an adventure. Yet he still reached his hand for that mug of drinks, holding it in his hand as he reached in the pocket of his pants, taking out a round red pill, which he dropped into the mug before taking a sip.

"Blonde. As always, you know how to throw a party!" Taking another sip. "So. Where are the ritual spots? When do we leave?"

"Eh? Yer always so serious when ya come here! Why don't ya jus' relax a bit?" Lazarus grins and takes a few long glugs from his mug. He thinks for a moment and looks at Lagatha. A nonverbal conversation seems to take place and she nods with a smile. Lazarus turns to Klaus.

"Well I guess it can't really be helped eh? Ya like ta 'splore so 'splore ya shall! Tomorrow we are plannin' ta go ta a ritual site not far from here. We'll perform a ritual we do before we go off ta war. I'm sure the runes and talismans around the site will intrest ya. Not ta mention the ritual itself." He takes another long drink, emptying the mug. Without having to say a word another barmaid brings him a new mug and takes the empty one away. His tone shifts to be more serious as he speaks.

"But before we get ta that I should tell ya why I asked fer yer help. I think ya got some skills that'll help us find and fight this great beast. I'm gatherin' my strongest warriors here and we plan ta leave in the day after next. The runes give us a general direction but yer powers let ye do some stuff we can't. I ain't guna ask ya ta fight if ya don't wana, this is a Berski adventure after all and ya ain't need ta risk yer hide over people who ain't yers. I plan ta use ya to scout the island and find their guard posts and communication hub. Once we got information on the island's defenses we're guna send in groups ta knock out their communications and then attack full force. If we take out their communications quick 'nough they won't be able ta call fer help and hopefully we jus' have ta deal with those at the island. After it's all over someone will take ya to some of the ritual sites here and ya might even get yer chance to 'splore Wano." He pauses to take another long drink. He eyes Klaus to see how the man will react to this plan.

Klaus paused for a few moments, no expression on his face, not a single reaction out of him. "I didn't understand a word you said..." Taking another sip of alcohol, Klaus' vision started getting blurry as the faces of those around him started to seem off. Their eyes bigger than their heads, with fairies dancing in front of them.

"I'm always serious because one doesn't know when you guys gonna cut a man's head off. I wouldn't wanna disrespect anyone here by mistake and cause an unnecessary slaughter." He lowered his voice. "On your end that is..." Taking another sip, the pill started affecting Klaus, as he became high. Laughing as he spoke, yet his speech was still as clear. "If I get to explore both ritual locations and Wano, then I'm in. Even though you need to explain that plan again when you're more sober, Blonde."

"Hehehohahahah!" Klaus' reaction is just what Lazarus has come to expect from Klaus. "Yer a smart man after all! I'll have Lagatha teach ya more 'bout our customs at some point so ya can relax a bit! But I duno if I'll ever get ta tell ya the plan again though. Ya want a time fer me ta be sober fer it then it ya might die of old age ferst! Hehehohahah!" Lazarus puts a hand on Klaus shoulder in a friendly manner. He raises his mug in another salute before downing it once more.

"Enjoy yerself tanight as my guest, ya won't have anyone comin' at ye cus then they'll need ta answer ta me. Tomorrow we perform our ritual an' we'll talk again after." With that Lazarus grabs another mug and motions to someone nearby. A large bone pipe is brought to him and he packs it with care before lighting it.

The feast continues long into the night and only comes to an end with the last people falling asleep or passing out. The morning light shining through the tall windows of the hall rouses people from their slumber. One by one people gather their gear and leave the hall, some in worse shape than others. Klaus finds himself being shaken awake by Lagatha. He is shirtless and laying face down on one of the tables. Food and utensils stick to him as he gets up.

After giving Klaus time to wake up Lagatha leads him through the town. They pass houses instead of stores as they go through a section of the quiet residential area of town. The pair continue passed the large gates that protect the town and into the wilderness beyond. The winds are peaceful this morning and snow falls lightly on the ground. Dozens of footprints are present in the snow and all look to be going the same direction that Lagatha leads.

They travel through a wooded area whose thick trees reach high to the cloud above. Coming to a clearing Klaus sees the ritual site he had been told about. Stone pillars are set up around the outside of the circular clearing. Each stone bears a different set of runes across their weeather worn faces. In the center of this ring stands a shrine made up of a dozen stones forming an arch. Two short pedestals sit on either side of the shrine forming a square. Like the pillars these stones are well worn and engraved with runes.

Lazarus and an ancient looking man that Klaus recognizes as Magni Orvar kneel at the base of the shrine. Dozens of men and women kneel around the perimeter of the ritual site in silence. Lagatha leads Klaus to an open spot and kneels down next to him. Everything is quiet, even nature itself seems to be quietly waiting for the ritual to begin.

After a few minutes of this silence Magni stands. All eyes are on him as he chants in the Berski tongue and places a small carving in each of the pedestals. Each carving bears the appearance of a warrior, three men and one woman, in traditional Berski attire. After the last carving is placed Magni raises his hands. Hi wrists glow and two balls of fire burst into existence in his hands. He lights the four pedestals and then takes out three pieces of carved bone. He attaches them to each other and as the last piece is in place it melds into a longsword.

Sword in hand Magni turns towards Lazarus. At this time Lazarus rises to his feet. Klaus notices that he is wearing clothes he has never seen on the man before. A cape of white fur bearing blood red runes rests on his shoulders and thick steel bands are wrapped around his biceps. He wears no shirt beneath and in place of his usual plain trousers is a simple loincloth. Seemingly at Magni's direction two men in robes remove the cape from Lazarus' shoulders. weaving between his existing runic tattoos are additional markings in the same blood red that adorn the cape.

Setsugen is brought out and Lazarus takes his blade in hand. Magni releases the straps that hold the large wooden spikes to his shoulders and they hit the ground with a thud. With some creaks and pops Magni stands at his full height without slouching. Both men wear a serious expression on their faces as they stand across from one another.

After a pause both men step forward and swing their blades. Steel and bone collide with a ring and the fires within the pedestals grow larger. Lazarus and Magni swing their blades again and again, maneuvering around the inner circle of the ritual sight. Lazarus lunges to stab Magni's torso but the old man easily brings his blade down and deflects the blow. Using Lazarus' momentum against him, Magni spins and brings his sword down to slash the bare back of the chief. With quick footwork Lazarus manages to outmaneuver the attack. He turns with his natural momentum and his sword comes across his body to intercept the blow.

Having recovered, his sword the slices through the air from the ground. Magni is able to step back but Lazarus presses the attack by bringing his horizontally across to slice Magni's chest. Magni places a hand on the back of his blade as Setstugen crashes into it. With a movement of his wrist and push from his hand Madni redirects the strike once again. Taking this opportunity he presses his own offensive. He ducks down and brings his sword across Lazarus' waist. This time Lazarus' footwork was already setting him up to counter. He brings his blade down to meet Magni's and again the two blades crash together.

Those gathered around watch in awe as the two men battle. As they continue the become faster and quicker, their moves ebbing and flowing against each other. When one man finds an opening the other skillfully counters. Their movements become less of a fight and more of a dance. Not only their feet and bodies, but their blades dance with each other.

As the two men dance the smoke billowing from the pedestals crawls across the ground. The smoke obscures their feet and seems to cling to their swords as they move through it. The flames grow taller and taller until they suddenly erupt in four bright pillars. The light given off by these pillars of flame give the warriors an eerie appearance as they continue to exchange blows in the smoke.

This continues for ten more minutes before the pillars suddenly cease entirely. Once the flames are gone Magni and Lazarus step back from each other and lower their weapons. Lazarus returns to the base of the shrine and kneels once more. The white cloak is placed on his shoulders once again as Magni goes to each of the pedestals. He removes the carved statues and they have no damage on them despite being engulfed in flames. He places the statues in the base of the shrine, the center of the arch. He then kneels next to Lazarus and all the Berski present lower their heads, pressing their foreheads against the frozen ground.

Magni speaks in Berski once again and when he finishes everyone raises their heads. Magni collects the statues and places them within his pouches, doing the same with the bone sword. He turns to Lazarus and the serious expression fades from his face.

"Rise, Clan Chief Lazarus! Your journey has been blessed by the gods this day! Go with the pride of your people in your heart and the fire of victory in your mind!" Magni smiles at Lazarus as he stands. Lazarus smiles as he turns to gaze at each person present.

"Today we complete our preprations, spend time with yer loved ones and leave behind no regrets. Tomorrow we sail for glory!" Lazarus shouts, raising Sestsugen in his hand to the sky. The Berski stand and cheer, some barely able to contain their excitement. The people leave the ritual to prepare and Lazarus approaches Klaus and Lagatha.

"Feel free ta look around. This place has been here for nearly as long as the Berski people have called this island home." Lazarus gestures to the pillars and runes that cover the area.

Klaus not only joined in on the ritual, but also carried it out by replicating what the other berski warriors were doing. Enjoying the ritual so much, when Lazarus offered him to look around, he was still mumbling some of the words he didn't understand in a low voice.

Looking up at Lazarus' face then switching to Lagatha. "The pillars does indeed look old, well preserved, but old. How far back does the Berski people go anyway? A couple hundred years?" Placing his hand on his chin as he walked around, observing each pillar and the runes over it. "Did you know that I once on one of my many explorations, stumbled upon a thousand years old land?" Touching the pillar with his finger, then sniffing it. "It even had a race of human looking people that ties back to the original founders of that island, a thousand years ago." Looking back at Lazarus. "Can you imagine?"

Walking back towards Lazarus and Lagatha. "There is something that I can't get out of my head. Have you ever heard of a kingdom that only the people with the strongest wills in the world can enter?" Putting his hands in his pockets. "A friend of mine told me that he went with his whole crew, and it felt like they hit an invisible wall that pushed them out. Not only that, but the closer they got, the more of them were knocked out." Klaus looked at the ground in a disappointed manner. "He refused to tell me the name of the kingdom out of an explorer's sense of competition. But he sailed for that kingdom again, and he never came back."

"The Berski have called this island home for nearly nine hundred years, though the island itself is much older. This site is believed to be at least eight hundred and fifty years old and nothing has been touched. The runes were carved and have never needed to be carved again." Lagatha says with a hint of awe and wonder in her voice.

"Eh? An island that knocks out people who come near it? It ain't somethin' I ever heard of before but seein' some islands in the New World it wouldn't surprise me at all. Ya know how some people can knock out others with their aura? Maybe the island can do the same thing, or someone on it I guess." Lazarus strokes his beard a few times as he thinks. An island that physically stops people with a barrier and knocks out those too weak willed? That was something he had never heard of before.

"I wonder if Magni would know anything about an island like that?" Lagatha asks Lazarus. She then looks at Klaus "He has been alive a long time and seen many things. Even if he hasn't seen it he might know of it. We could check the older legends as well to see if there are any hints hidden away there."

"Eh that will have ta wait though. Magni is preparin' the last of his stuff for the journey aheada us. If ya wana ask one of the other Godi ta look inta it while we are gone ya can. After this is all done we can see if they find anythin'." Lazarus looks over the ritual site for a few moments. "It really is somethin' ta think about, ain't it? Warriors long dead have done the same thing we did taday. The gods' have watched them and now watch us. Time is somethin' I don't really like ta think 'bout cus ya can't really do nothin' 'bout it, ya know? Time's guna do what it does an' all we can do is try an' make a mark on it." He grins and shakes his head.

"But this ain't the time fer that! I gotta go make sure the rest of the supplies are ready ta set sail in the mornin. Ya two can hang out here long as ya want. After I make sure everythin' is ready I'll be in the lodge." Lazarus kisses Lagatha before giving Klaus a pat on the head. He walks off into the trees with a wave.

Klaus' ears twitched as Lazarus gave him a pat on the head, swiping his hand through his hair to mess it up. "His hand is really really big, which means..." Klaus smirks a creepy smile as he looks at Lagatha raising his eyebrows a couple of times, before he laughs it off. "BAHAHAHAHA!!"

Reaching the back of his hip, Klaus checked if he had his backpack on, closing his hand a few time he realized it's missing. "Oh... I must have left it back at the feast thingy location. Let's go grab it and catch up with Blonde." Klaus started walking back towards the feast location, yet he turned around all of a sudden, placed his hand on the top of his head as if he's holding a hat, and moonwalked back a few meters on the way.

Lagatha blushes at Klaus' implications of Lazarus but quickly walking ahead. "R-right, well let's go make sure we have all of our things in order. We leave early in the morning."

The town is lively when Lagatha and Klaus return. It seems everyone has taken a break from their usual routines to ensure the voyage sets off without any issues. The unity and pride the Berski people have is evedent in how they are helping supply the embarking warriors. Armor, weapons and any supplies one would need on a long journey have been provided and everyone has offered more than their fair share.

Walking to the docks Klaus sees that all the supplies are being loaded onto a small island. Dozens of buildings are built on this smaller island and Lazarus stands at the edge of it making sure everything is delivered to it's place. He notices Klaus and Lagatha and waves them over.

"There ya are! I hope the site was intrestin nough fer ya Klaus. I'll take ya ta few more when we get back. I'm actully lookin forwards ta it. The supplies are almost all loaded. We'll have a feast with the entire town tanight and in the morning we set off."

The rest of the day goes by rather plainly as the last of the preparations are made. Klaus sits next to Lazarus and Lagatha once again in the grand hall. While everyone is drinking and laughing the atmosphere is drastically more reserved than any Berski party Klaus has attended before. The gravity of their task hasn't been lost on anyone present, this could go well or end in their complete destruction. Despite knowing the worst case scenario the warriors have eagerly gathered under Lazarus' banner.

Klaus notices among the warriors present there are a number wearing crests he has never seen. While Lazarus and his men wear crests or carry symbols of the bear, these warriors carry symbols of wolves and winged leopards. A server quietly explains that these men come from the other clans that reside on Berski. Lazarus hails from the Great Bear clan and rules them as their chief but there a numerous clans on the island. While each clan has their own chief they all currently acknowledge Lazarus as the High Chief of the Berski people. Out of their desire for glory and respect for Lazarus each clan agreed to his request for their greatest warriors. Everyone setting off on this journey are the best of the Berski people, save for Klaus himself.

The drinks flow late into the night and a few minor scuffles break out between the various clansmen. While it is incredibly common for the clans to butt heads due to their rivalries Lazarus' firm voice and powerful presence prevents anything major from happening during the feast. Klaus notices that despite how rough a people the Berski can be, when they have a strong presence to unite them they seem to be a force to be reckoned with.

The morning sun greets the warriors as they say their goodbyes to friends and family before boarding the small island. Once everyone has gathered aboard Lazarus shouts out to the island itself.

"Alright Mindri! Let's get goin!" A moment after his orders the island shakes and begins to turn. The water at what can now be seen as the front of the island erupts high into their air. A massive turtle's head breeches the surface and lets out an affirmative chirp. Lazarus gathers the one hundred men and women that have taken this journey with him.

"Taday we ail fer our pride as Berski warriors! We ain't doin' this fer our clans. This fight is fer all of our people! Clan lines don't exist on this ship now. Yer all my clan. Bear, ice wolf, kuglot, it don't matter now. We are the strongest men an women our people have, and tagether we will take down this great beast! I don't wana see anyone holdin' grudges or any of that petty shit as long as we are on this quest. Make yerselves busy till ya get orders ta do otherwise." Lazarus grins as he looks around at the warriors' expressions. He knows some have deep rooted issues with rival clans but he truly couldn't care less about such squabbles right now. This is the strongest force his island has produced in a hundred years and he is eager to see them rage in battle together.

## Bustling Preparations

The Flower Capital had been transformed into a bustling metropolis, advanced by the technological innovations of Mathison Fischer, one of the greatest scientific geniuses in the entire world and supported by the steady stream of Anima mined by the empire. Since Koyuki and Isshin had taken the reigns, restoring the Imperial Power of Wano as the seat of power, the small country that had long since been reduced to the edges of the Mount Fuji had grown into an empire of several archipelagos, encompassing much of the New World. As the capital of that expansive power, Flower Paradise City was a land of opportunity for all.

Miles beyond the city, and situated towards the peak of Mount Fuji, was the imperial capital, home to the imperial family and the seat of the monarchs of the Empire of Wano. Built by the famed miners and smiths of Wano, led by the Zatoichi Clan, who had been awarded Kuri for their service, the castle was a true marvel. The castle was thousands of meters above the Wano mainland, which was thousands of meters above sea level, positioned amidst the White Sea. It was not only difficult to penetrate because of that, but equally as difficult to traverse.

Still, that did not stop the castle from employing thousands of Wano citizens, having them traverse the conditions through a gondola, not too dissimilar to the one employed by the World Government. There were hundreds being transferred from Wano to the Imperial Castle, exiting into the courtyard and then permeating through the miniature city that populated the top of the mountain, dedicated entirely to the benefit of the royal family and their immediate constituents.

But, even the royal family was in a scatter of activity.

Koyuki moved, scurrying across the room.

“I-Is this how big this place really is?” she inquired, basically jogging from one end of the room to the other. Her body was unusual.

“Isshin! Where are the clothes that they bought for this body? I can’t seem to find them!!”

"The clothes are on your bed, Koyuki!" Kosaka Isshin said from a different part of the room. He chuckled to himself slightly, as Koyuki had to learn the struggles of living with someone her size for so long. While he was used to it, being Koyuki's husband and all, Koyuki never had to deal with these particular struggles. So, he had to hold his laughter back as much as he could, lest Koyuki get angry for some reason.

"Specifically on the bottom right-hand corner!"

"**All the way over there?"** Koyuki groaned, huffing as she looked up the bed in frustration. She flicked her disheveled silver-hair from over her face, pinning it behind her ears. "I-I can't...how do you even get up there? Don't tell me you climb?"

"Depends on my mood, really. Sometimes I climb, other days I merge with the air and fly up. The other day I climbed while jumping on my sword, so you'll see scratch marks around. Sorry about that." Isshin responded, having finished his packing and managing to reach to an area in the room where she could clearly see where Koyuki had to go.

Koyuki blinked.

"Isshin!? You are not telling me that you cut into my bed," she stated, though by her tone it was framed more as a rhetorical inquiry than anything. His silence was indication of her answer.

"Isshin! This bed was expensive!!"

"Koyuki, my sword is as big as the smallest nail used to keep this bed together. I'm sure it's fine." Isshin responded, trying to deflect responsibility. "Shouldn't we get going?"

She glared in his direction, and a wave of Haoshoku emerged as she did momentarily, crushing a portion of the bed frame directly beside her.

"We are **not** finished about this," Koyuki admitted, before sending a stream of energy into the palms of her feet. With it, she leapt upwards, completely clearing the bed in a single leap. The clothes awaited her, as well as a suit case that had been neatly placed beside it.

"Tell me, are Soren and Izumi both ready? I asked Soren to make sure that his sister was aptly prepared, but, I fear that he's not exactly the strictest brother when it comes to dealing with her," Koyuki explained, packing the clothes as she talked, "Besides, even if he were, I doubt she'd listen all too much."

"...!" Isshin was briefly stunned, and took a step back before Koyuki leaped up to her clothes. "Uh, yeah...Sorry." Isshin said, a bead of sweat rolling down his face.

"As for Soren and Izumi, they should be ready by now. Let's go pick them up."

She stuffed the last bit of clothes in her bag, disregarding folding them for now, not that she had folded the other ones particularly well. Some of the blouses were folded different from the others, none of the shirts were folded at all, and instead were stuffed where they could fit, and her jeans were rolled into balls of some sort.

"Gotcha!" Koyuki called out, zipping the suitcase, and leaping off the bed with it.

Her busoshoku haki shot from the palms of her feet, softening her landing like a nanny with an umbrella.

She rolled her suitcase beside her as she began walking from the bed to the door, which appeared to stretch literal miles.

"Wait a second...when did the door get this far away from the bed?"

"That's how far it has always been." Isshin said, as he began to walk forward. "How do you think I maintain my physical fitness despite my advanced human age, hm?"

Koyuki smirked. "Well, you *act* plenty young in some othe--"

Her statement was interrupted by the thunderous creek of the door opening and the presence of a giant-sized woman entering. It was one of her advisors, Akemi, a member of the Kumamushi Tribe. Beside her were several carriages and horses.

Her eyes immediately fell to Isshin and Koyuki.

"I arranged from some transport," Akemi started, pushing her glasses up onto her face more. "I figured that with the Queen's new experiment, you would both be behind schedule."

The horses galloped towards them.

"Oh, thank the heavens!" Koyuki exclaimed. "I hate walking."

"Thank you as always, Akemi." Isshin nodded with a smile. It was rare to see Koyuki enjoy the simple pleasures of life, so he took it to himself to act a little more mischievously, a little warmer, than he otherwise would. He did not get to spend much time with Koyuki like this, after all.

He waited for Koyuki to climb up to the carriage, before climbing himself.

The inside of the carriage was elegantly designed, which was a marvel for her considering that she rarely had the opportunity to ride inside one. There were few animals equipped in the world to carry her, and even fewer people equipped to command those animals. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she glanced around.

“Ooo, and the seats are so plush!” Koyuki acknowledged, leaning backwards, sprawling herself across them. “You really should have told me the wonders of these carriages sooner, Isshin.”

"It's hard pressed to get you to listen when you're so high-up, Koyuki." Isshin chuckled, "That said. We should hurry up and get Soren and Izumi, otherwise we might miss our booking."

Isshin sighed slightly, "Crazy, isn't it. Even Yonko can't keep up with holiday bookings!"

Koyuki nodded, tapping the walls of the carriage. “Hurry, hurry!”

The driver spurred the horses into action, and they took off towards the door of her bedroom. Minutes passed as they escaped the room, then a few more as they went into the hallways. The entire way, Koyuki slammed her face against the glass windows, mesmerized by the journey. Then, they approached Izumi’s room, where Soren and her daughter would have been waiting.

Much to their surprise, they both were dressed, prepared, and standing outside her room awaiting the carriage.

The driver stop ahead of them.

Koyuki spared no expense, and opened the door herself.

“All aboard!! Wait…that’s the wrong thing. That’s for trains.”

Hands clenched around the straps of her backpack, Izumi stood with the widest smile on her face, which had already been covered in red from excitement. The backpack she wore had a sleeping back at the stop, flightlights, pans, and pots hanging off the side, appearing as some sort of tree with dangling ornaments. What made matters worse, was the fact the backpack was two times taller than she was. How she was even able to hold the backpack was a feat in of itself.

"I'm ready!" Izumi said, it had been a while since the entire family was together like this and she was too young to have experience the full treasure of that feeling. Izumi had prepared her bag and luggage weeks before planned date and she couldn't get it out of her mind.

Finally, while the world wasn't at peace, they were at a position where Koyuki could finally *act* like a mother and whether or not she wanted to, so long as this role could be kept, Izumi honestly didn't mind. Where Soren was a spitting image of Koyuki with his blue hair, she was a spitting image of Isshin with her white hair.

"CAN WE LEAVE?!"

"Let's go!" Soren said with glee. He was also quite well-packed. He did not have a bag quite as tall as Izumi, but instead of one bag, he carried three. It was surprising for a short vacation, but Soren had become accustomed to changing his outfits and look regularly due to his disguise habits, and it was something not easily broken. If he had the chance, he'd change his clothes even five times a day!

He leaped into the carriage, before looking to Izumi. "Would you be able to jump with all that baggage?!" He asked loudly.

"Of course she can!" Koyuki called out, gripping Izumi's backpack with a single hand. She pulled upwards, lifting her into the carriage.

"And, even if she can't, that's what family is for, isn't it?"

"Yep, that's true!" Soren said with a beaming smile. "Say, do you know when we'll get there?" Soren asked.

"I couldn't quite remember how long the travel was...Do you, Koyuki?" Isshin asked.

Izumi looked to Koyuki with upset lips and gripped hips, "I'm not a kid anymore." Izumi said, pondering whether she wanted to make the situation bigger than it was. "And yes, Soren." She said, batting her eyebrows at her elder brother. "I could have easily made that jump."

Koyuki chuckled at the interruption by Izumi, patting her on the head as she sat down in the carriage.

“The trip will take about three days starting from when we leave the port. It’ll take us a few hours to even get out of Wano, anyway,” she notified, sitting back. She folded her leg over the other.

“I have **so** many festivities planned for us. We have hot-rock massages, volleyball on the beach, a personal luau party! It’s going to be faaaantastic~!!” she cheered, singing the last word with a dramatic flair.

Sometime later on the lands of Wano, and as the family of Koyuki traveled from the palace towards the docks. Klaus kept track of all of their movement, wearing a kimono similar to that of the Wano citizens, he kept his distance, watching from a far. Phasing through space in one spot, watching for a few hours, before he phases back into Purgatory again to catch up to them from a new spot. From the tops of buildings, trees, mountains, and whatever he could watch from. All while being in a *Limbo*, so he won't be detected by anyone.

"So they are going for a trip..." Using his Kenbunshoku Haki, Klaus scanned the carriage, raising an eyebrow as he was a bit confused. "Blonde must make sense out of this..." Klaus tracked them for days, all while talking to Lazarus over the den den mushi to keep him in the loop, up until they reached the dock. Reaching into his inner pocket, he took out the den den mushi to call for Lazarus.

**"Prprprprprprp"**

"Come on, Blonde. Pick up!"

## A Famed Luau

Days had passed since Koyuki and her family departed Wano, accompanied by a legion of her finest warriors. They were guarded by literal hundreds of shinobi, samurai, pirates, mercenaries, and whomever else could be mustered as security detail. It had been about a week since they had arrived at their destination. The family frolicked as any family would, occasionally argued as any family would, laughed and gestured as any family would. To the people of Krakatua, they would have never known that a Yonko occupied their space, had there not been a stream of rumors and whispers. It didn’t take them long to discern who was the famed yonko, though, there was no doubt that she looked different to them all. Above everything, she was the height of a normal woman.

Not many had seen Koyuki in person prior to this, but the legends spoke of a towering figure. She was hardly anything but. She was jovial, silly, energetic even. Currently, her family hosted an extravagant Luau, decorated with various dancers, tables of the finest foods and liquors imported from across the world. The entire coastline of Krakatua seemed to be reserved specifically for it, and the royal family of Wano interacted with the populace, dancing and signing as they saw fit.

Koyuki smiled as she twirled around with Isshin.

“Ooo! Pee time!” she interrupted, breaking from his grasp. “I’ll be back! I’m going to run back to the house super quickly.”

Before she could even allow a response, she simply disappeared from her place. It wasn’t long before she reached the manor that they rented. It was as massive as it could have been, but it was notably humble for what the royal family were used to. There was a courtyard, a hot spring resort, and dozens of rooms with their own respective amenities. There was only one kitchen, however, and one family room; it was why Koyuki had chose it.

She used the bathroom, and stepped out, heading directly into the neatly decorated family area. There was a three-piece couch set, a den-den mushi projector on the wall, and a fireplace. For much of their time, they had spent a great deal here, in this area, together. It was not often that she was allowed to spend time with her family, and sometimes, she doubted if they wanted to spend time with her. She was often busy, dismissive, tired, cranky, annoyed…. she shook her head to disrupt herself of the ill thoughts. But, that wasn’t all.

“You do know that I’m not a simple woman, correct? I can sense you from right here.”

A short figure steps out from the shadows. She is small for a human, about half the height of grown woman. A dark robe wraps around her body and obscures her features and breaks apart her outline against the shadows she had hidden among. Black runes are tattooed across her face and upon a closer look they seem to wave on her skin like smoke.

"I had no doubt that ya would know I was here. I am simply here to deliver a message." Despite her best efforts she can't keep her nerves completely suppressed. Even if Koyuki is in this smaller form she is a Yonko, and that is not lost on this shady messenger. The small woman slowly removes her arm from her robes. In her hand she holds a sealed scroll. The wax seal has an emblem that resembles a runic squid. Koyuki recognizes this symbol as the same symbol that Chief Birger had worn when they had fought in the past. The woman gently places the scroll on the couch.

"I wish ya a good night." She begins to walk backwards into the shadows hoping to simply leave the area as quickly as possible.

"Hehehohaha! Sara is a brave one, aint she? She volunteered ta be the messenger! I like her spirit!" Lazarus laughs from his seat on the wooden deck that rests on Mindri's back. Lagatha, Ori and Vitki stand around a table set up in front of their captain. A map of the island is pinned to the table. Small carvings of soldiers are placed around the island's coast as well as in a couple spots around the island's center. A group of soldiers with red paint are placed where the Wano royalty's party is commencing. A small scattering of civilian carvings are placed across the map as well.

"Aye, she's a brave girl. I trained her myself after all! With Magni Orvar's runes on her she should be able to sneak right into their house. Only Koyuki and her best men will be able to sense her at all. I just hope the Yonko doesn't feel the need to swat the lil fly we sent to buzz around." Ori's eyes scan the map while he speaks. "We have soldiers stationed across the island, and we know where the majority of her soldiers are. I still don't think it was a good idea to let her know we are coming. The element of surprise would have been a great asset." Ori shoots a glare at his captain.

"Oh come on Ori! Ya know that ain't guna werk fer me! This ain't like ona our usual raids after all. I wana fight her and her men. I don't wana make em waste time on worryin' 'bout civilians while we attack." Lazarus shrugs off the scolding of his Gaetir, or island guardian. Lazarus knows Ori is a wise man and has more experience than he does when it comes to warfare, but this is how Lazarus wants to proceed.

"Pft, we don't even know if she gives a damn about the people on this island! We could be throwing away that advantage for what? Your ego? We should have used the civilians to our advantage if she does care about them. You're making the same mistakes Birger did all those years ago." The older man scoffs. He had been at Birger's side when the Berski had first attacked Legs and her crew at Whole Cake Island. Birger had wasted opportunities to press advantages and he had lost. While Lazarus is more powerful than Birger he is making the same mistakes and Ori knows he cannot hold his tongue any longer.

"Ori, my friend, it isn't about my ego. This is a mission given ta us by Dolgthrasir himself! You believe jus as I do that our gods' love ta have a good show. Usin' civilians, bein' sneaky, that is good fer winnin' wars but that ain't why we're here. We are here ta put on a grand display! We are here ta battle a beast that most say can't be defeated! By givin' em a chance ta spare their people we can have a greater battle! It ain't bout us comin' in an' killin' em, it's bout us becomin' legends fer our people in a grand display!" Lazarus stands and raises his arms. He smiles at the warriors gathered around him. Many of them come from clans outside his own but they all follow him into the teeth of a wolf. He knows they feel the same as he does, the thrill of the battle and the bliss that comes with it are why they are here.

"Ori I respect yer opinions an' I value yer wisdom. I know yer mad at me but I ain't changin' my plan. These warriors know what they came on fer, an' ain't a one of em guna wana do this any other way." At this the men and women gathered around let out a roar of approval. This only causes Lazarus' smile to grow wider and Ori's scowl to deepen.

"You have my support, chief Ilphen. But after we win this battle I'm guna beat some sense into that thick ass skull of yours." Ori's threat is met with laughs from the crew. Lazarus smiles at the short man knowing that Ori fully intends to keep that promise. Lazarus raises a mug to his lips and drinks as he sits back down.

"Sara shoul' be givin' the message 'bout now, yeah? So everyone get yer sorry asses ready fer battle!" Lazarus barks his order and the crew cheers again as they disperse to finish their preparations. Lagatha sits on Lazarus' lap and rests her head against his chest. He looks down at her and places a hand on her head.

"I know yer worried bout me. I wana tell ya not ta worry but I know ya still will."

"I wish you would listen to Ori. This is so much more dangerous than anything we have done before. I...I'm worried I'll lose you." Lagatha wraps her arms as far around Lazarus' much larger body. He feels her shaking and gently rubs his hand through her hair.

"Did I ever tell ya how I ferst started usin' my devil fruit?" She looks up at Lazarus and shakes her head. He smiles down at her as he continues. "I ain't know what it was but I was starvin. Ain't eat fer a few days cus I had no money an' no where ta go. I was wanderin a forest lookin' fer an animal or some food ta scrounge up when I saw this fruit. It was unlike anythin I had ever seen. Blue as the water, strange tendrils dancin' 'round it like it was in a breeze, an' swirls all over. I wasn't even thinkin' when I took that ferst disgustin' bite. But I was desperate an' I ate the whole thing. Nothin can compare ta that taste. I'd rather eat Grimnir's dirty socks than taste that fruit again." This elicits a brief giggle from Lagatha and Lazarus continues.

"I knew what it was after I ate it. I had some kinda knowledge put inta my head bout it. I spent a few days practicin' with it before I got a hang on it. Once I figured out how ta make people appear I'd talk ta em so I wouldn't feel alone as I trained. Do ya know who the ferst person I imagined was? It was ya, Laga. I missed ya somethin' fierce an' I didn't even have ta try to make ya appear. I knew it wasn't ya of course but it helped. It kept the hole in my heart from gettin' too deep. I realized I needed ta get back ta ya." His massive hand strokes Laga's long dark hair with the care of a man in love.

"Jus' like back then, I'll always come back ta ya. Yer too impertant ta me ta leave ya all alone in this world. I shoul'nt have done it back then, an' I ain't guna do it again." Tears fall from Lagatha's eyes as she buries her face in Lazarus' chest. He wraps his arms around her, holding her tight.

"I hate that you can talk like that right now...why do you have to be so sweet under all that tough guy act." Lagatha smiles as she holds her captain and lover. Despite the situation they face she feels a sense of relief come over her. She trusts Lazarus and regardless of the hardships they will find themselves in she knows he will do everything he can to make it back to her.

"Oi, oi, don't go 'roun tellin' people 'bout that. The boys are guna think I'm goin' soft." Lazarus jokes. He leans down and kisses Laga's head.

"Captain, we all already know you ain't nothin but a big teddy bear." Vitki breaks the sweetness of the moment. He laughs as a bottle smashes against a shimmering blue wall in front of him.

"Oi, I thot I tol' ya ta go get ready!"

“Hold on girl,” Koyuki called out, glancing at the insignia embroiled onto the scroll. “You’re one of Birger’s soldiers, huh? It’s been over twenty years since I’ve seen his face.”

She opened it, revealing the contents of the scroll. It was a simple message. Something about there is going to be an attack focused on Koyuki and her men, evacuating the civilians, the normal stuff issued before a declaration of war. This is exactly what it was. A declaration.

Except, the handwriting was different. The smell was different. This was not Birger.

“Oh, this must be his protégé. That one he spoke about so long ago…it seems that he was correct, him and that amazing seer of his,” Koyuki monologued. She licked her lips with a devilish smirk. Without much haste, she threw the letter behind her onto the table behind her. “Alrighty then! Could you take this new chief of yours a message for me? It’s going to be more verbal than anything. You’ll have to hurry though. If you don’t, he’ll waste too much time setting up those unnecessary defenses.”

She began walking towards the exit of the door.

“See, there’s absolutely no need for him to engage any of my men, nor any need for me to evacuate any civilians. I’ll be the only combatant. It’ll be an interesting test for me in this new form,” Koyuki informed, gesturing the woman forward out of the door. Sara followed, stepping first, carefully watching the Yonko. But, by her movement, there was no hostility in her voice, nor any signs of it from her body language. She was really letting her go.

Koyuki walked ahead this time, stepping in front of her as she stepped into the forest. “My family is having a luau on the north side of the island with the townsfolk. I’ll meet you all on the south side of the island. Not much activity there, and most of my men won’t be there. If they head that way, I can defeat your armies and your chief uninterrupted.”

She turned back towards her.

“I am the first line of defense. Do not concern yourselves with the second. It is beyond your reach.”
With that, Koyuki strutted into the forest, disappearing from her sight.

Sara exhaled a deep breath. "T-That's what she said! Those words exactly." She gasped for air, having literally sprinted and then swam to Lazarus's current position.

"W-What's the plan!?" Sara's question was met with a stifling silence. The pirates looked around at each other, unsure of what they should do. Ori sighs but right before he speaks he is cut off.

"Hehehohahaha! Everythin' is goin' jus' as we thought it woul! She's a confident lass ain't she? I like it!" Lazarus stands to his full height, hefting Volund to his shoulder. He gazes over the crew that he brought for this grand undertaking with a smile. He can see that some are nervous if not out right scared but this doesn't deter the Berski chief in the least.

"Now that we're so close some of ya are quakin in ya boots! She's a yonko so I'd 'spect nothin less. Bein scared don't matter at all! If ya ain't got some fear in ya then yer either stupid or a dumbass!" Some chuckles can be heard throughout the crowd. Lagatha sits on a nearby table and watches her love. She's always admired the way Lazarus was able to talk with people and understand them without needing to hear anything. His natural charisma drew in just as many people as his immense strength had when they announced this journey in the first place.

"We are all here ta fight a beast! We're all here ta engage in our people's greatest tradition! A grand battle beneath our gods' eyes!" Lazarus looks up at the night sky with a wide smile on his face. "Whether yer scared or not don't matter as long as ya put on a strong face and fight. When we fight well our gods take notice and they bless our people. We have done this fer generations after all. Don't fear the call of Valhalla! When the Valkyries lead us ta the Great Hall rejoice! Don't fret over who ya left behind, the gods will bless them and our people will care for each other as we always have." He pauses as murmers go through the crowd. He looks from face to face, lingering on Ori's stern expression and then on Lagatha's sparkling eyes. He smiles at her and nods before he looks back at teh crowd.

"All that said, if ya ain't up fer the battle then stay on the ship. There ain't no shame in knowin when yer out of yer depth. Everyone that still has their nerve will sail with me ta fight this legendary beast!" Lazarus lifts his war hammer triumphantly to the crowd's cheers. Some of the pirates still cannot find it in themselves to face such a powerful foe as the yonko. Those that decide to stay back are mostly ignored by those that get ready to sail. Lagatha offers words of comfort to those embarresed by their decision but the majority of the pirates are too excited to pay them much mind.

"This is guna be some fun." Lazarus smiles as he stands on Mindri's head floating in the water. She lets out a low groan and he laughs. "Nah we ain't guna kick out the ones that stay behind. What kinda cruel man do ya take me fer? I don't want anyone ta fight that aint got their heart in it. We are bouta fight somethin' none of us has ever seen before. Once the crew is off go out ta sea a ways so ya dont get caught in the fighting." Lazarus pats the giant turtle's head lovingly. Mindri groans again and begins to pick up speed as she swims to the meeting area.

The shining stars reflect in Lazarus' golden eyes. He stands on Mindri's head with Setsugen in hand. Remembering back to the ritual he and Magni had performed he walks through each step. His mind empties of everything that is unrelated to the coming fight. As he performs each sequence of the war dance he grows increasingly joyous and calm. He can feel the smiling eyes of his gods upon him.

Lazarus continues his war dance until the giant turtle arrives just off the coast of the designated area. The area is wide and emppty just as Koyuki had said it would be. Mindri reaches her neck out to act as walkway for the Ivaldi crew. Dozens of warriors arrive on the beach ready for battle. Some bang their weapons on their shields while others are eerily calm. Lazarus stands on the beach with his crew next to and behind him. Vitki, Ori and Ilphen Lagatha stand by his sides. He holds Volund on his shoulder with Setsugen resting in the sheath at his waist.

Koyuki was unusually situated for someone prepared for battle. She rested her head against the sands of the beach and stared into the night sky as if she was lounging. Her hands were crossed behind her head, and her silver hair rested between her fingers. Even the presence of an army didn’t spur her into action. Her Kenbunshoku revealed to her the ruse anyway. Not one of them was stronger than the man who had challenged her years ago.

“Please tell me that this is a joke,” Koyuki begun. She continued counting stars. “You arrived to challenge me with this entourage?”

Her question was rhetorical. She knew the answer to that. No one would challenge her and *hide* their strongest. Not when she welcomed them to do so with open arms. But there was always a possibility that they did not believe her. Yet again, her kenbunshoku was the source of her disappointment. There was no one else. This was it.

“Where is your chief, boy?” Koyuki inquired, this time directing her question to Lazarus. His strength was far superior to anyone else’s in the crowd. Still, it wasn’t enough.

Meters near Koyuki, sat Klaus in *Limbo* as he watched her with a mixture of confusion and admiration. *"So this is the giant monster reignin' over the seas? Fukuoka Koyuki..."* Resting his hand on his knee, while the other is resting on his thigh as he sat on the sandy beach.

"Don't be startled... I'm only here at this point due to curiosity alone..." Klaus began, as he locked his eyes on her. "I didn't in a million years imagine the scary monster to be as beautiful as a princess. And I did watch ya'll enough to know for sure that you are indeed Fukuoka Koyuki." Standing up, Klaus started walking towards Koyuki as the little sand scattered off his clothes. "I hope you don't mind me being so close." Smirking. "Not that you can do anything about it..."

Klaus could mask his presence by entering an alternative dimension. Koyuki didn’t discern the truths behind his devil fruit, but she at the very least knew that he was able, through some means, hide himself. Even if he desired to be, he was no threat to her. Even less so than the supposed chief before her.

“A pesky fly is always confident until it’s caught in the spider’s web,” Koyuki replied. She exhaled and sat up. Her eyes were focused on Lazarus and his crew. “Now, I’ll ask one more time. Where is your chief?”

"Oi, oi, jus cus I'm lot younger than ya don't mean I'm a boy. I've united the Berski Islanders as the high chief. No chief stands above me." Despite being in the presence of a yonko Lazarus stands tall and proud, his voice calm and determined. His smile hasn't wavered since he stepped foot on the cool sands. His golden eyes meet Koyuki's with intensity.

The men and women gathered around Lazarus have become much quieter. Some murmurs go through the crowd. A man mentions hearing Koyuki was a giant monster, not a small woman. Another states this can't be the famed yonko but others quickly quiet him. Vitki stands just as casually as he would meeting any other pirate. Hands in his pockets but ready to act at a moment's notice. Ori grips his large two handed axe till his knuckles turn white.

"It's been a few years, hasn't it Otti Vattr?" Ori addresses Koyuki. His voice is even despite the tight grip on his axe and the beads of sweat that run down the side of his face. He does his best to suppress the feelings this Dread Beast brings up in his mind. The years have not been long enough since the last time Ori had stood next to a berski chief against this fearsome yonko. Bergir had fought fiercely and despite losing managed to leave with his life. Ori casts a quick glance at the tall chieftan that stands next to him now. Lazarus is younger than Bergir had been but Lazarus was powerful in his own right.

Klaus tilted his face, raising an eyebrow as he placed his hand on his chin. "Spidey already calling me a fly..." Turning towards Lazarus, then back at Koyuki. Observing the intense interaction between the yonko and his crew mate, while he's at ease, seemingly having his guards down. As serious as the situation is, Klaus looked unconcerned, yet whether he actually doesn't care or if it's a facade wasn't clear.

Koyuki picked herself off the ground and patted the sands off her crimson dress. For the first time since their arrival, a sly smirk crept onto the edges of her visage at the sight of that man. She remembered him clearly from their battle before. He was a fine warrior by her own admissions. At some point, she had wanted to claim him for herself, but his devotion to his tribe superseded his will to live. It was honorable.

“Remind me what those words mean again, Ori,” Koyuki replied as she cupped her hands behind her back. She leaned forward playfully. “Dreadful Being, right? Kumomomomomo~! How wonderful that was. The fights, the glory, the fame, the honor. Birger was *truly* wonderful. It’s a shame that he never came back to challenge me again.”

She exhaled. “Though, no one does. Even when they promise….”

There was a fraught silence that succeeded her statement. But then, her eyes lit up with excitement.

“Hey! Ori. How about you and I go at it again, for old times sake? This time, if I win, you join my crew.”

"Aye, Dreadful Being. A name only given to something beyond a beast in our language. Reserved for creatures of legend, that is before we encountered you." Ori takes a step forward and slams the handle of his axe into the sand. "If it's any consolation Bergir was eager to return but the Godi prevented it for the perceived benefit of the clans. He had every intention of returning and dying by your hand in his last battle." His left hand remains grasped tightly to his axe and his right hand is balled into a fist. He stares at the woman who defeated the first man he thought was unbeatable. Now he stands by the only man he believes can challenge Koyuki.

"Lazarus might be young but he is powerful. Bergir saw the potential in him. He saw Lazarus fit for his final battle, and that is meaningful in itself. While I might not be strong enough to defeat you, I want to show the power I have attained over my years. I will not fail Bergir again!" He shouts his last words defiantly. Without another word he reaches into a pouch on his hip. He tosses out a handful of small soldier statuettes.

The soldiers increase in size until they land on the sand as ten foot tall black metal warriors. Each warrior wields a double bladed battle axe and stand between Ori and Koyuki. Ori next drops another metal statue at his feet. The statue expands and forms around the short man as an armored suit. The black armor encompasses Ori's entire boy, including his head, and increases his height to ten feet as well. The head of each warrior resembles Bergir's younger face.

Vitki looks at Lazarus with a mixture of intrigue and concern. The young chief's smile hasn't faltered in the slightest. His golden eyes sparkle at the sight of Ori stepping forward. The pride that Ori exudes spreads throughout the warriors gathered behind him. Many of them cheer him on despite the monster that he faces.

"Ori! Battle fer Bergir an' our gods watchin' down on us! Give em a show that'll give em cause ta celebrate!" With Lazarus' exclamation Ori and his golems charge forward, axes raised.

At that point, Klaus was still standing close to Koyuki, yet as the soldiers charged towards her, Klaus jumped a few times backwards. Exclaiming to himself as he did so. "Oh shit! This escalated rather quickly!" Not too far away, barely ten meters from Koyuki, he stood to watch what's going to happen next, with excitement filling his eyes, slightly grinning.

The thunderous stampede of Ori and his soldiers crafted a veritable fanfare; their feet slamming against the molten sands evoked thoughts of percussion, their battle cries and screams manifested like vocal hymns. This was the fanfare of battle, and it was a tune that Koyuki was most accustomed to. To the people, she was a decent politician, a decorated empress, and a scholar. But, to herself, she was none of those things. Isshin was the one who ruled her empire from behind the shadows. Her Golden Orb Weavers put into place policies and laws that would extend her rule and better the lives and productivity of her people. Her Huntsmen moved to determine the best territories to conquer and pillage. In the modern age, all she did was sign papers and address her people with speeches designed by her staff.

However, even with all of them, without her, the Black Widows would not be Emperors. Even with all their talent, the widows were made Yonko for might. There was no one mightier than she.

Koyuki moved to counterattack their charge with one of her own. Her movements started out at a slow pace that gradually trended into a jog. Simultaneously, **hard gum** poured from the tips of her fingers, and coalesced into the shape of a naginata. Spider silk was hard on its own. By some measures, it was even stronger than steel when it came to tensile strength. Therefore, she could form her silk into a variety of makeshift weapons, especially when she lacked any as was the case here. She showered the silk construction in a sheath of Busoshoku Haki, giving it the appearance of a metal.

The Haki poured from the makeshift naginata and manifested itself as a dense coating of ghostly, green luminescence. For her opponents, it was easy to forget that she was a native of Wano. After all, she was a worldwide celebrity, a pirate of historical infamy. Much of her history was lost to the myths and rumors of her might, but, before she was ever a Yonko, and before she was even a pirate, Koyuki was one of the most promised shinobi of Wano. Before that, she was the scion of the Kumamushi Tribe, and their hope for the future. There was no one in the entirety of Wano who knew their techniques and practices better than she did. There was no one gifted with more technique, instinct, and passion for combat than she, and it demonstrated in the power of her spirit.

Most of Koyuki’s own weapons could hardly contain the intensity of her spirit, and what she wielded was no meito. In fact, it could hardly be considered a weapon at all. It was an imitation, a desperate one at that. But it was her spirit that held it together, and the mystical powers of the silk she had crafted from her fruit.

As she closed in onto the army of Ori and his golems, she stepped forward a single time and established her pivot foot. Concentrating the power into her hips, she swung her naginata forward, despite being several meters away from the group. When she did, the winds responded with a ferocious screech as the force of her swung churned the breeze forward into a violent tempest that surged in the direction of Ori and his troops. It moved with remarkable precision and purpose as it was amplified by the presence of a tremendous wave of Haki that followed it, having been released and imbued into the wind as it overflowed from her naginata, like a tide rising above the shore.

The destructive, haki-infused gust was as wide as it was powerful and was more than capable of encapsulating the soldiers cast before her. If they were going to initiate and take advantage of her stature by strengthening their size, she planned to counter by casting a destructive, wide-ranged technique so that their size would impede their ability to dodge.

The wave of destruction released from Koyuki's attack caused images to flash through Ori's mind. Images of a great battle, hundreds of warriors being blown aside by the strikes of a single woman. Granted the Empress was much larger in that fight, her power here no less impressive. Ori grits his teeth and without a word the golems converge in front of him to shield him from the gust. The haki infused wind destroys the first golem, obliterating it upon contact. Chunks of metal scatter across the ground as the second golem is destroyed though not to the same degree.

The powerful gust continues past the squadron of golems into the army of warriors behind Ori. Men and women are knocked from their feet from the force. Lazarus' blonde hair dances on the wind and he smiles wide eyed at the show of force, knowing it is just a simple move. When the wind hits his body it bursts away harmlessly. Vitki squints and raises his hand to shade his eyes from the wind and sand that is kicked up. The debris blows around him as if a barrier had formed in front of him.

Ori drops another statuette onto the hot sand at his feet. This statue springs to life as a writhing worm that grows as it sinks into the sand. The two front golems launch forward with their axes raised, one going to Koyuki's right and the other to her left. They prepare to cleave into her with powrrful downward strikes. At the same moment the next golem in line is revealed to have drawn a large crossbow made of the same metal as it's body. A huge black bolt is fired with the twang of the crossbow's string, whistling through the air at the Empress' chest.

As those three golems preform their attacks another kneels on the ground, placing its forehead to the sands with its hands on either side. The golem's body cracks open as a canon barrel rises out from it's back. Another golem kneels next to the newly formed canon and rests a hand on it. Metal creaks as it's hand fuses with the canon and the two become one unit, one becoming the weapon and the other the ammunition. The ammo golem shudders as a piece of it is transferred to the canon. The barrel of the canon glows and then a boom erupts from it. A ball of black metal blasts forth at Koyuki.

The remaining golems gather around Ori and place their hands on his armor. Metal creaks again as they are absorbed into his armor, each one adding their mass to bolster their master. Black spikes sprout from his helmet, shoulders, feet and arms, his axe grows larger and the blades gain a serrated edge. Ori now stands twenty feet tall in his armor and the thickness of it has increased drastically. The once short man now resembles a dreadful golem warrior.

The rumors of Ori’s ingenuity were not misplaced, and even in their first battle, Koyuki had been impressed by his abilities. With his power to craft golems, he could conjure forth an army of durable soldiers that he could beckon into self-sacrifice. But what was more annoying than anything was the overwhelming force. Each were somehow connected by his conscious, and all could act in unison. There were almost no holes in his offense, and while he decorated himself, Koyuki was bombarded terribly by four other golems.

Each attack was calculated, but, above all, they were staggered perfectly. The axes would smite her first, then the crossbow, and then cannonball. If she dodged one way, the next attack was calculated for the spot that she *would* escape to, and so forth. Ori was a tactician, and he was strategically attempting to manipulate her into place. Had it been anyone else, it may have worked, especially considering the worm beneath was waiting to pounce. Fortunately, she had her naginata.

Koyuki lifted her weapon into the air and spun it around her head like a turbine. The centrifugal motion aided her in countering the axes that moved from above, catching them along the hardened surface of her naginata, and stalemating the golems in a battle of strength. Her left hand shot forward from the naginata directly in front of her, releasing a pool of **hard gum** from her hands that stretched out like a blanket in front of her. There was no need to harden it. It was beyond sticky, and even more powerful. The crossbow that surged was caught between the intricate webbed blanket, and the cannonball managed to push the construct slightly, if at all.

She closed her hand, and the web followed. With the crossbow and cannonball trapped within it, the construct resembled a ball and chain; Koyuki smirked as she swung it backwards, aimed directly towards the golems that lay behind her. Even if the golems had decided to move, they would find their axes glued to Koyuki’s naginata, which had now become a barren white, indicating the lack of Busoshoku being channeled through it. Instead, the armament haki had been transferred to her newly formed construct.
They broke into pieces, not too dissimilar to the two Golems that were unfortunate enough to experience her first attack.

“Take those other two golems over there into yourself too, Ori.” Koyuki dropped the ball and pulled her naginata down to her side.

“They won’t help you as they are. You’ll need more firepower if you’re going to move me from my place in the sand,” she continued. “I’m smaller, but I still have my strength.”

Ori grimmaces from within his golem armor. It was true the yonko was much smaller but she clearly was not weaker for it. Despite his pride telling him to ignore her words as mere taunts, he recognizes his current force isn't enough. He does as his opponent suggests and walks towards the canon and ammo golem that rest in front of him. With a thud the canon golem is shoved into place on Ori's right shoulder and the remaining golem is then worn like a backpack.

The massive metal golem takes a step forward that causes a rush of sand to blow out from beneath him. In this armor Ori sacrifices most of his speed in favor of thicker plating and more powerful attacks. In normal circumstances a single blow from this golem is enough to end whatever fight it is used in, but this fight is different. Despite the overwheleming force he is facing his mind hasn't stopped analyzing the battlefield.

Ori lunges forward with his axe raised high for an overhead strike. His haki coats the already black metal axe as he attempts to cut through Kuyoko's initial defenses in a single strike. As he attacks, the canon on his shoulder shifts and turns to keep its barrel trained on his enemy. Ori holds the canon at bay for the time being, waiting for the perfect opportunity to unleash its bolstered payload.

Far beneath the sands lurks Ori's last weapon. The worm-like statuette he had dropped previosuly slithers through the ground. As he moves it eats from the land itself, growing in size as more rock and mineral is added to it. The worm is one of Ori's greatest golem inventions. A creature capable of devouring entire armies once it reaches it's proper size. He has not used on an opponent of Kuyoko's caliber but the prospect of seeing it swallow the woman who defeated Birger brings a smile to his face.

The excitement on his face did not betray the interest he held deep in his heart. He basically poured with intent, and that intent was ever more visible to Koyuki through her own mind’s eye. For her, Kenbunshoku was a wonderful tool; she was so exceedingly skilled in its usage that she could even peer into the future. She had foresaw everything that was to take place before Ori had even moved. The very instance that he imagined it, and planned it within his mindscape, it revealed itself to Koyuki like a faint apparition. It made things easy, but far less interesting. For her, however, her spirit was so powerful that there was simply no other alternative. She was *forced* to peer into the future of those around her, even if she held no desire to do so.

Upon Ori’s arrival to her area, he would’ve realized that her naginata was already positioned to counter his metallic axe with its own shroud of armament haki. Though, as opposed to earlier, the concentration was even *greater*, as the blade of her pole-staffed began to illuminate a dark, purple color.

“Time to see who has the stronger **spirit**, Ori!!!” Koyuki replied in an enthusiastic, yet sadistic shout. She bore her fangs with a malicious scowl as she swung her blade forward, clashing with the metallic axe with an extent of her power. Though, before the tip of her sword could even approach the axe, an electrical current of haki poured through the blade, strengthening it with the fullest extent of her spirit: conqueror’s haki.

Ori grits his teeth as he closes in on his target. It comes as no surprise to him that Koyuki is already in a position to intercept and counter his attack. He had seen her in action many years ago, defeating warriors before they could even begin their attacks by being in the right place at the right time. That is the caliber of warrior she is.

Even without the use of Haki to peer into the future Ori is a strategist with years of experience. His axe closes in on it's target but the intense haki Koyuki pours into her weapon is much stronger than he has faced in many years. The axe in his hands strains from his opponent's strength and cracks begin to appear across the metal. In this moment he activates the canon attached to his shoulder. With a boom the canon fires a chain bola, four canon balls attached to each other via black chains.

While Koyuki might be able see the future, that doesn't mean she can react to everything in it. Or so Ori hopes. With this thought in mind Ori activates the next part of his plan. He presses his attack, his haki infused axe clashing with Koyuki's sword. Though her haki and weapon are stronger Ori shows no signs of fear. His mind was made up when he joined Lazarus on this journey.

Black spikes begin to rise from the sand in a twenty foot circle around the two combatants. The ground shakes as these spikes grow into tall pillars. Ori doesn't know if Koyuki saw this in her visions or if she is just intelligent enough to figure out what he is doing but he acts as quickly as he can. His chain bola, locking his weapon with hers, even the massive weight of his armor are all part of his plan to have the famous pirate swallowed whole. The black pillars, the long teeth of the worm Ori had set loose in the ground, continue to move. Rising and then coming closer to each other as the worm comes up from the ground and attempts to swallow both Ori and Koyuki.

From the point of view of the onlookers the scene is rather wild indeed. The intense clash of the two warriors becomes obscured, first by sand then by the massive teeth of Ori's worm. Like his other statues, the worm is a slick black metal beautifully crafted with his devil fruit. The black body wriggles as it rises above the ground and devours the fighters.

Then, in an unexpected turn of events, it did exactly what it set out to do. The worm erupted from beneath the ground, and in a singular motion, opened its mouth and then devoured both Ori and Koyuki. It wasn’t necessarily that Koyuki allowed it. If she could have prevented it, she may have, but she just hadn’t anticipated it as a threat. In her mind, she witnessed countless futures of varying possibilities, and not one bothered her.

As the two plummeted into the metallic stomach of the massive worm, enthralled in a warrior’s embrace—implying that Ori’s metal net had been heaved in two—Koyuki’s smile finally broke.

“I was starting to think you were never going to come back, Ori.”

"Tsk. Had silly clan politics not interfered, Birger and I would have returned many years ago. To die by a worthy opponent is the desire of the truest of our people, and few are as Berski as Birger." A hint of pride reflects in his voice. Despite the sequences of this battle going how he planned Ori knows that he has yet to truly endanger his opponent. With this in his mind he fights on.

## Two Paths

The moonlight reflects off the worm's metallic form as it twists in the air, heading back towards the earth. Lazarus watches on as his old friend and advisor fights a battle he has already won. For in the eyes of the Berski and their gods Ori has done what no other has done before. He survived a battle with the Dread Creature and has returned to battle it once more. Lazarus grins knowing that Birger is cheering on his friend from Valhalla's hall.

While the Berski warriors were admiring the fight of Ori's lifetime, Klaus was analyzing every bit of the empress. Barely able to contain himself on the sidelines as his body trembled due to his adrenaline levels spiking, like a wild animal waiting for his chance to pierce his fangs through another wild animal. While inside his mind, Klaus had countless questions, so many different aspects didn't make sense for him at first, but the more he observed and the more he analyzed, he came to understand the weight of the situation.

Klaus didn't think of this as a major event, nor did he anticipate it to reflect on his life in any specific way. Yet, now as he witnesses a fight of such caliber, he knows exactly what he needs to do. His life's goal flashed in front of his eyes as he saw a glimpse of freedom, with his eyes widening, yet keeping his natural frowny expression. He looked to his side, seeing Lazarus standing in front of his warriors, all of them enjoying the fight.

"Blonde..." Walking closer to where Lazarus was standing, Klaus stood right next to him. "How much more do we need to wait? I can barely contain myself here." With his hand clenched on the hilt of Satan so hard his veins appeared like roots covering his arm, his eyes sharply focused on the metallic worm as it headed back towards the earth.

"Eh?" Lazarus shifts his gaze down to Klaus. He can tell that the normally aloof half mink is more worked up than he is letting on. "We aint *need* to wait at all. We are givin' Ori what he wants, even if he's too proud ta ask fer it. Ori acts like a noble man that wants to put the clans before himself, but he did that once and still regrets it. He wanted ta fight Kyouki next to Birger so they both coul' earn their way to the Great Hall. Dyin' as warriors to a beast like no other. But the Godi said it was selfish and they swayed him. Ori is the reason Birger never came back ta fight her and that's his greatest shame as a warrior. But now he has a chance ta do what he an' Birger should have done. None of us are guna prevent that." Even while speaking to Klaus, Lazarus is able to sense the two warriors in the stomach of this giant worm.

Letting out a sigh, Klaus turned his head looking up at Lazarus' face. "I agree with the Godi. This is selfish, both because I also want in on the fun, and because..." Ending his sentence there. "Nevermind. Let it be however you want, for now..." Letting go of his sword's hilt, Klaus crossed his arms together, switching his vision again to the worm, keeping up with the fight using his Kenbunshoku Haki.

Lazarus knows what Klaus is getting at, but he doesn't feel the need to address it here. He can't help from smiling though, it seems Klaus has underestimated Lazarus to some degree. It's true that he is content to watch Ori try and claim some glory but that doesn't mean he isn't preparing for what is to come.

Hidden from all but the most observant individuals, Magni Orvar has been quietly altering the battlefield. The runes carved into his own skin offer him a degree of stealth that would make even the most experienced ninja jealous. The power of his curses, granted to him for being the most learned of the Godi, stem from the Niba Niba no Mi. While Koyuki and Ori battle Magni sets up a barrier of his runic curse marks. These curses, infused with his knowledge of the deep magics, will greatly weaken anyone unfortunate enough to be the target of their ire. Slower wits, sluggish reactions, heavier limbs, and even fragile skin are just some of the effects Magni has infused into these marks.

Silently Magni thanks Ori for his performance. If the veteran warrior had not taken to the stage first he might not have had enough time to properly prepare such a powerful ability. While he dislikes throwing away a life in such a manner, Magni offers a prayer, a bid for glory for the proud Ori.

Izumi rested around the campfire that had been used to make their dinners during the vacation. Then, shutters traveled down her body and shook it. She lifted her head, Soren was nowhere insight. "Onii-san?" Her head turned again, "Koyuki-sama?"

Then, her gaze altered. The giant worm immediately caught her attention. Her body stood on top of her feet. Against her own will she was flung across the terrain, body jumping as she lept from tree to tree making her way towards direction of where she sensed the coming of these vibrations. Sensations channeled these vibrations, the princess had felt them before, in fact she dealt with them constantly.

Quick on her feet, but silent as the still wind, her training as a Kunoichi couldn't have been better taught. She ripped her kimono off of her body and underneath was a set of armor.

Her feet tapped on the air, but there was no platform. "Koyuki..." She darted her attention to the worm within it she could feel the presence of her mother. Her fist balled up and veins stretch across her knuckles, hand, and forearm area. An entire crew stood before the worm, but none were attacked by it. Not even rocket science could have solved this equation so quickly.

Lazarus and Klaus stood at the forefront. Izumi, leaped from the tree at the duo, but her target seemed to have been the man mixed with furry ears. Fist out, a bubble appeared around it, the ground literally shook as she took her path towards the duo. It would have been a last minute pick up with how fast, aigle, and silently she moved to strike Klaus, but there was definitely time for him to dodge.

Vibrations traveled between the space of her fist and Klaus' body, even Lazarus would have felt them. Even if he would have been able to evade, the shockwaves would have traveled to and through Klaus' body anyway. The ground they stood on crushed under the girl's immense strength, but the amplification of her devil fruit only made her strike that much stronger.

Izumi thought her swift and silent steps wouldn't alert Klaus, and perhaps she would have been right had he not been on his guard, using his Kenbunshoku Haki to keep up with the fight happening in front of him. Seeing Izumi coming, Klaus raised an eyebrow, both confused and annoyed, as he wanted to keep his focus entirely on the empress. Infusing his arm with Busoshoku Haki, he jumped in Izumi's direction, meeting her quaking punch with his own.

The ground underneath them quaked as the shockwaves generated with Izumi's powers ran through it, yet Klaus' body seemed to not take much effect as the waves passed through his body as well. Which is due to his muscle manipulation on a cellular level, allowing the quaking waves to pass through his body smoothly, without causing much damage. Mixed with his unique heritage of a half mink, and years of training and fighting powerful creatures over the world. And taking the the scale of Izumi's attack into account, which only quaked a small portion of the terrain.

Adding more force behind his punch using his muscle manipulation once more to distribute his muscle mass into his arm. Klaus aimed to not only repel Izumi, but send her flying away from himself.

Shockwaves spewed off of her fist, the air continued to crack and extend over the rest of the terrain, as Izumi pressed forward against Klaus. Her facial expression was idle and her lips rested without her teeth even gritting. She simply clenched her fist tighter and called the shockwaves back and their cracked paths slowly retracted back to her hand.

Then, a bubble formed around her fist. She was no longer focuses her vibrations around inflicting the spanning area and instead into the central point of her fist. She release the built up force of her quake bubble in the form of a highly concentrated earthquake at the front of Klaus' fist to overpower him with unexpected force.

"**Ninpo: Kijoshin**!"

The moment Izumi full force were put behind her attack, a smirk formed on Klaus' face as Izumi's orb as well as her fist began phasing through Klaus' own. Which is one of the benefits of his devil fruit, which allows him to partially send his body into **Purgatory** while only leaving an image of himself in the real world, an ability which is called **Limbo**. With the force she put behind her attack, there was no way she could stop herself from falling forward towards Klaus, who phased through her body while turning around to face her back. Moving at an incredible speed, Klaus the moment his body phased all the way through hers, phased his body back into the real plain. Having his sword unsheathed in his hand, coated in haki, as he sent a horizontal slash at her back.

"**Manshinsoui**..." Klaus calmly mumbled as he sent one of his lethal sword techniques, that allows him to inflict multiple wounds on his opponents with one swift yet steady slash of his sword.

Her eyelids widened as her Kenbunshoku Haki flared. It was already activated, but it focused by sending signals to her brain that Klaus was now going to strike from behind. Yet still, no matter how fast these signals reached their intended destination, if her body couldn't keep up there was no point in receiving them so fast.

Twitching, Izumi attempted to turn her body completely around but before she could she was smashed at by Klaus' sword strikes. Each slash hit against her back, each pilling one after another before sending her flying across the battlefield into a tunnel of trees. They began to topple one after another just before a cloud of smoke masked the area where she decided to stop at.

The princess slowly rose back to her feet. She rotated her head in a circle, pulling on her neck to crack her bones. "That's Klaus..." Said Izumi to herself, reaching to her back only to find that her armor had been pierced through by Klaus' strikes. Small cuts could be seen on her skin through the cracks in the armor, as blood painted it.

"And that other-" she flared, her nostrils expanded wide. Balling both of her fists, she slammed them both to the open area at both of her sides. At the moment of impact a ripple broke through the wind like shattering glass and the island immediately quaked.

"But I don't sense Valor, I can't expect much from the group." She prepared herself from something much bigger.

Keeping his relaxed expression, Klaus was looking in Izumi's direction before his expression changed to that of annoyance. Placing his arm on his abdomen as he looked down.. "*Blech!*" Vomiting on the ground. Even though his muscle manipulation managed to pass the quakes through his body with ease, it didn't fully protect his internal organs. Which while not lethal to someone like him, could have more effect than it's showing. "Damn quakes..." He mumbled to himself as he reached in his pocket, taking out a piece of cloth wiping his face with it.

Resting his sword on his shoulder as his other hand rested on his hip, Klaus looked towards Lazarus' direction only to see another of Koyuki's children join the battlefield. "Soren, Izumi... If they really have a reason to be concerned for their mother, then maybe I was worried for nothing." He mumbled to himself as he returned his gaze in Izumi's direction.

A single kick at the air and Izumi flipped herself backwards just before landing to the bottoms of her feet. She dragged her hand along the ground, creating a trail from the amount of force from her quake bubble.

"What the?" She asked herself. As much as she wanted to knnow what was going on with her mother, the fact that Klaus was able to take two of her strikes amplified by her Gura Gura no Mi didn't make sense. The power of this fruit was hailed as being able to grant its user with the ability to destroy the very world. Yet, when in contact with a mere man--albeit furry--he showed to only exert vomit.

She stood up straight, the pieces of her battle armor clanked and creaked from every small movement. "You were never this strong before," The Demon Princess claimed.

"It's called training." Klaus's condescending tone reflected his arrogance. "You also never seen me take anyone seriously before." Pointing his finger at Izumi. "You have no idea how strong I am..." As Klaus spoke his words, he took a few steps to the side, where his body gradually faded as if he was stepping behind an invisibility curtain, only for him to appear gradually in the same manner behind Izumi. Due to how his powers work, Izumi wouldn't be able to detect him, not even with Haki.

"Do you want me to take you seriously? Do you want me to kill you here, Izumi?" Speaking in the same condescending tone, Klaus didn't initiate any attacks, and it wasn't clear whether he's trying to tease Izumi into attacking him, or whether he's threatening her in a serious manner. Both sounding menacing and dangerous at the same time, before he broke character, as a slight smile broke through his expressionless face. "Pfft!" Raising his head as he laughed. "AAHAHAHAHA!!" Keeping himself open, careless of any possible attacks as his body was in **Limbo**, even though to anyone, he wouldn't seem any different.

"I'm joking with you, Izumi. I'm not here to kill you or anyone else, I'm merely here to make an announcement to the world." Raising his finger as if he got a good point. "And what better way to do so than to attack the strongest creature in the world?"

Klaus has always been the smart observant type, yet when it came to the structure of the world of piracy, he wasn't the most knowledgeable. His reasons weren't the best, and his actions backfired many times through his time at sea, whether it be as an explorer or as a pirate. Yet, in a world that didn't make sense for him, he learned to embrace his chaotic senseless ways, even if everyone around him believed he was an idiot.

## Son's Responsibility

"Oh, it seems Izumi is coming behind me...and she's catching up fast." Soren spoke as his body, transformed into termites, flew through the forest at exceptional speed. He had noticed the gigantic worm with his father, and Isshin had sent him to check up on, not his mother, but the state of the island. Isshin was already calculating the budget he would have to keep aside in order to pay for the damages, and sighed.

"Hehe, it seems Mum can't help but be involved in a fight wherever we go." Soren spoke fairly cheerfully as he reached close to the area where the worm was. It was truly a marvel to see, but he wasn't concerned. He was interested to see who exactly would attempt to assassinate Fukuoka Koyuki in this sort of remote island.

As his eyes darted across the battlefield, he noted that Izumi had begun engaging with her own opponent. "*Wow, already? I suppose I should keep an eye on her, just in case.*"

Soren's gaze finally landed on individuals who seemed to be idle, and he jumped down from the trees to greet them. "Hey! Which one of you is fighting Mum?"

Lazarus turns his head from the black worm whose stomach has become the new battleground for Ori and Koyuki. The Berski captain looks at Soren with his golden eyes. "My friend Ori is fightin her now. If she happens ta beat em, then I am guna fight her." He speaks with confidence and an air of someone who has steeled themselves for what is to come.

Soren looked at Lazarus up and down. He recognized him from a newspaper he was reading a while back. "You're...a member of the Moon Pirates, yeah? Did that Valor guy *really* put you up to this? Or did you plan this attack yourself?" Soren thought, stroking his chin.

"Well, anyways. No matter. Both of you have your fun, I'm not worried about her in the slightest. I'm just here to make sure she doesn't completely destroy the island, and to look after my sister. If anyone else feels like fighting, I wouldn't mind entertaining you while the stage is set! Murarara!"

The eerie sounds of a lone flute danced in and out of the realm above. Mixing with the howls of the winds and the low drum of an enormous heartbeat. Sitting upon his mount above the clouds, Sekiro Approached the islands shores.

While he played the Ryuteki, Sekiro's eyes remained closed. Utilizing his Kenbunshoku. He could sense the battle taking place, as well as the enormous energy signatures that lit up like pillars.

Taking the flute away from his mouth. Sekiro opened his eyes, revealing them to be pure white, accompanied by the signature blue glow that signified the use of his abilities. "Takemi, lower me below the clouds. I am Home..."

Soren heard a voice from elsewhere, and his eyes moved upwards. "Huh? Someone else here too? Man, I hope you guys didn't bring a fleet."

Less than a second after Soren stopped speaking. A frozen sword stuck itself in the ground. Sekiro stood atop the blade. A second after a gust of wind that came down in a vacuum around him.

In response to the question, Sekiro took it upon himself to answer. "No, we brought a dragon" He said while pointing upward, revealing a hole in the clouds. Through it, apart of Takemi's underbelly could be seen flying overhead.

"A dragon..." Soren smirked. "I see, I see. That sounds like an interesting opponent." He looked towards the person who showed their face. "And you are?"

Sekiro remained silent, The Widow's queen made sure all eyes where on her, Friend and foe alike. For Him seeing the woman Was like a boon, As it made his next words hold much more meaning.

Inhaling, Sekiro drew Benzaiten out of her sheath, The moment the moon blessed sword was revealed underneath the night sky, it glowed with the same icy hues as the celestial body overhead. Sekiro brought this blade parallel to face making sure Soren could see his face clearly. "**I am First mate of the Ivaldi, Ryujin Sekiro, Son of Asami and Shion, and heir to the Ryujin clan which your people extinguished.**" Sekiro's words where powerful as he projected his voice, he didn't need to shout thanks to the added silence of The empresses. He declared in front of all who could hear his voice. And Sekiro made sure that Everyone present could.

Soren listened to the words Sekiro spoke and looked him in the eyes. He could feel the anger emanating from the man's spirit but didn't seek to respond in kind. The Black Widow Pirates had hundreds of enemies. To take every enmity seriously would be the death of the Fukuoka Clan.

"I see." Soren responded in kind, although he did not draw his blade yet, and simply stood with his arms crossed. He snuck a glance against Izumi once more to ascertain her safety, before looking back. "Are you here to enact vengeance? If so, tell me."

Soren's thumb pointed towards the battle between Klaus and Izumi while locking his eyes on Sekiro. "Are you as strong as the man fighting my sister right now?"

Sekiro frowned, seeing that Soren Stood with his arms crossed rather than taking up any stance with his sword. Even in reading the mans breath, he could tell he had no intention of doing it in the foreseeable future. And so he sheathed the blade.

"My soul may howl for the lost, But I am just the dragons ghost. I am here as a guide to its new dawn." He said while turning his head to the direction of Klause and the girl, Under his gaze they became two moving forms of energy. "Strength is Relative, and while there are aspects where I am stronger. I have found the best way is to gauge it yourself." Sekiro says to Soren, His voice a far cry away from moments ago when all could here him. Now he was calmly delivering his message with no ill intent.

With it he now turns and finally gives an answer. A light mist beginning to emit from his body as he does. "Revenge, Only leads to the circle of destruction. In simple terms, I am here to gain the right to Regain what was lost."

"Now. Show me How Fukuoka Soren Fights."

"Well, let me tell you. I did not personally take anything from you. In any case..." Soren, surprisingly, drew his blade in its most natural form. A completely white, shapeless blade. Its beginning and end could not be seen by the visible eye, for it was something that only Soren could control. The strongest blade in history, once wielded by the Strongest Man in the World: Hima Nobiji.

"You have one more chance to tell me to hold back. The way *Fukuoka Soren* fights is very different from how I want to fight right now. Though, I suppose..."

Soren briefly contemplated his words. "No, I should not even give you the option to take back your words. You have already made the decision to attack my mother. As the Black Widow Pirates' formal enemies, I am sure you have come here...with the resolve of facing death."

Smiling now that Soren took up his blade, Sekiro brought Benzatens Grace from her sheath just the same. His sword taking on the ice cold qualities of the moon once again. "I never attacked her,I am just guilty by association."

Taking up his stance once more, The mist around Sekiro only grew larger. So much so that it began surrounding the both of them and almost blocking them off in their own space. Only the glow of their blades illuminated their figures. It was a domain where calmness mattered above all else. Because in his domain, the slightest thing could lead to defeat.

"If you can guide me there, then death can have me." Letting his words trail away, Sekiro steps forward while tightening his grip. The mist around his hands folds itself around his form before a trail of ice sprouts throughout the edge of the katana. It alone cut through the veil he created, the sword then shifted its direction with a flick,. In Sekiro's hands it glided through the folds of space and flourished forward.

Bringing the blade down in a semicircle he let loose two slashes in an x. Causing two horizontal arcs of ice to fly forward. He allowed his sword to follow its weight and land at his side. In perfect timing with the movement, pushed off of the ground. His figure became distorted as he flashed in front of the two slashes he had just launched. Before touching the ground the mist formed itself into the shape of a cube, Before freezing into existence. Sekiro landed on the small foothold. he then sent his sword forward creating a massive curved strike, while sending himself backwards just as the first two strikes caught up.

As his attack commenced, Sekiro's eyes glowed with with the mark of observation. He had long heard stories of how the widows dominated any who sought to challenge them. Even looking at his master Raiko They where not a force who could be taken lightly. And Soren, He was a force that wove in and out of the widows web. He carried a legacy on his own without relying on the name gifted to him, However everything becomes meddled with relation and rumors. Sekiro wanted to see firsthand, what the source of these stories where.

Soren looked around as the mist enveloped the area. While normally people would find mist and cover like this a hindrance, this was in fact a blessing to him. People often forgot, in the overblown stories told by the media, but Soren was primarily raised to be a Shinobi. He was never truly a fair fighter. Whether it was hidden in the mist, or hidden in the leaves, all terrains with cover were Soren's battleground. After all, he had defeated the Xros Pirates' greatest shinobi as well.

Soren initially observed the creation of the slashes, albeit the mist had obscured his vision. However, Soren did not lean on his vision, nor did he require it. With but a breath, Soren's body was surrounded in a red aura. This red aura radiated from his own Kenbunshoku Haki, which Soren had mastered with much greater finesse than others. He was not *seeing* what was in front of him, but rather, he was feeling everything around him. The shuffling on the ground, the whispers of the wind, the crunching of ice. With all of this sensory information provided to him, Soren was perfectly able to understand not only the initial strike Sekiro had launched at him, but his complete plan of attack.

"*Outspeeding two slashes is quite a feat...*" Soren thought to himself, before preparing to retaliate in his own way. Soren thought it might be quite drole to simply cut through everything in front of him, so he instead pushed forward into the hostile mist of his own volition. What he found before him were three slashes, all from different angles, intending to slice him into equal thirds.

A smirk caressed Soren's lips as he brought Hima Nobiji up to his chest, and performed a horizontal slash into the frontal slash of ice that Sekiro produced. He intentionally weakened his strike, so that Sekiro would believe he was caught in his three-pronged attack. Unfortunately, this was Soren merely taunting the former Samurai.

His blade glowed briefly as it cut an inch into the ice. It transformed from a mere katana into something more akin to a butcher's cleaver. The increase in its size granted Soren complete control over the chunk of ice. He rotated his own blade ninety degrees, so that the point of his blade was facing the sky. In turn, the vertical slash had instead become horizontal. This created an almost perfect shield for Sekiro's first strike, which had quickly collided with both the ice from Sekiro's third slash, as well as Soren's own blade. It left Soren completely unharmed as the ice shattered all around him, while he compressed Hima Nobiji back into its katana form.

"An impressive display of speed." Soren told Sekiro, although he could not see him in the mist. "I will admit, though. If you think hiding in the mist will actually be of *detriment* to me, you're going to regret it. I *am* the greatest shinobi of the Fukuoka Clan right after my mother, you know?"

Soren's figure seemed to disappear into the mist as soon as he said those words. Small, bug-like shadowy figures dispersed rapidly and concealed themselves in the dense mist. A humming sound could be heard in the distance, but its exact location would have to be weeded out.

"Since you've come all the way here, let's see if you're worthy to face my strength." Soren spoke, his voice echoing from all angles.

However, his voice slowly consolidated, seemingly in the east. "Let's see if you can find my form..."

Yet, the humming of termites in the west. "Hidden in the mist."

Intent.
 It was all that mattered within the veil. Sekiro had grown up judging people by that very mental aspect his whole life. So for him, it was easy to discern Soren's. But he was met with the goal of humiliation, to utterly destroy his confidence almost in response to a greater motive. Like a trickster plotting to use his cunning to deceive and claw his way to victory. Of course, it was respectable in its own right, Battles are ruled by strategy. However, that didn't mean he had to like it. In fact, He hated it.

"Tell me your goal is not to toy with me until I break. " His voice traveled through the reaches of his domain. And rung like the sound of the morning training bell. Sekiro steadied his breathing, in a continuous cycle of inhales and exhales. As he did, the sound of chaos and war cries began to die down. Eventually, they even stopped, as Sekiro Reached the void. The only things he could feel or hear now spanned just toward the reaches of the mist.

A sudden crescent-shaped flash glowed into existence. As it stopped the ronin was now standing with his sword pointing toward the ground. "let me add on, You may rule any place with shadow or haze, even the limelight could be your playground. But here under the moon, Everywhere this mist Reaches, Is my domain." Sekrio then dropped the katana, Allowing it to sink to the ground. The moment the very tip of the blade hit the earth below Ice spread outward like the ripples of a wave.

At the same time, a whispy aura began to overtake Sekiro, He took in one final breath. Before Exhaling and allowing the aura to overtake him entirely.

*"Shattered throne"*

In the span of a blink, no even faster. the Tan sand beneath their feet. Turned white from frost. The air popped from a temperature drop so steep the water in the air itself began to freeze over. A line of condensed air even trailed through the mist like a tranquil river. Sekiro who had been standing still since he dropped the blade into the ground. Suddenly erupted with a flurry of ice slashes going in all directions. Yet Some of them originated from different angles. One slash came down from the heavens while another would fly in from the reaches of the mist. The only thing they all shared in common was an almost liquid form. The slashes which were comprised entirely of ice were several shattered pieces that resembled the petals of a Cherry tree. All moving in a way that appeared to be flowing lighting. It only took moments for the entirety of the mist to be turned into a cyclone of flowing slashes with Sekiro as the epicenter.

Soren would almost instantly be consumed by the ice no matter where he hid. Sekiro Quietly stood and awaited the next move. While a grin began to creep up his face underneath the mask.

"Oh, what a surprise." Soren noted as his disguise had been broken by Sekiro's overwhelming control over the mist in the area. Soren's body had been floating in the air, the bottom of his body replaced with termites that kept him afloat. The dozens of slashes cut through any attempt at hiding Soren. Truthfully, Soren expected Sekiro to flounder at least a *little* before finding him. Alas, it wasn't his day.

Soren's transparent blade was coated black as some of the various slashes made their way towards him. While the slashes were nothing stronger than what Soren could handle, being frozen by them would prove troublesome. Before they could make contact with Soren, he focused his blade at the core of his torso.

"Taifu Kekkai!" Soren exclaimed as his eyes lit a bright blue. His first slash struck forwards, releasing a burst of pressure that sought to part Sekiro's own frozen slashes. However, that was not enough for Soren, or rather, for Hima Nobiji. Soren's intent was to overwhelm with power, but Hima Nobiji was playful. Without letting Soren's body rest, he was forced to slash to his left, then right, then his upper right, even below his body. Pulled in every direction like a marionette, Soren let the thousand blades of Hima Nobiji guide his arms. Each sequential slash added to the momentum of his strikes until he was surrounded by a vortex of high-speed winds that had become impenetrable. The sheer movement speed of Soren's body and his slashes generated so much heat that anything that sought to strike him had melted before it could even come into contact with him, forcing it to merely land to the ground like large raindrops.

Soren's eyes returned to their natural state. "Ah, they're so frustrating, those kids." Soren chuckled. "How did you like that, hm? That was my master's swordsmanship. The Shingetsu Arakaze-ryu! Though, I wouldn't blame you if you hadn't heard of it. The one who had it was a no-name Samurai who died a long time ago..."

"Shingestu?" Sekiro trailed off, The words where like a key, but not to him.
Truth be told he was perplexed. Seeing the spirit of sorren was an unusual sight. Anyone using their spirits eye could see that he was powerful But Sekiro saw different. Soren was one, But He was also many. He seemed to be split but whole. But that was no suprise, Even from the start of their exchange he could tell Soren was an anomoly of large porportions. His display just now semented that even further.

But what was with that name. Sekiro new for a fact he had never heard of it before. Surely he hadn't. *Focus boy. There is no time for questions. All you must now is the history between you and the other is more intetwined than you know." Sekiro heard a voice in his head that made him falter, in fact it was so much of a sudden shock he took a step back.*

It was then that his field of view was flooded with the image of a winter landscape that he had seen before. And what confirmed it was the Dragon that loomed overhead, and the lady playing the Biwa. Sekiro gazed on and felt the woman look at him. He could instantly tell he was supposed to know the woman, She had features similar to his even how her hair formed looked familiar to his own. But what struck out the most, where those peirceing golden eyes. They where the same color as his. But it didnt stop there, Sekiro looked behind the woman and saw the dragon. "mother"

"Search your blood, the answers will find their way to you but your focus is here. Echoed just before sekiro as he came face to face with... Himself. No it was someone different. Sekiro knew the answer before the question even formed. It was his father. But none of this made sense. Sekiro then looked at benzaiten, the blade itself had been a gift from his... HIS FATHER!"

"Your master Fought my father" Sekiro whispered. If it could even be considered a whisper. Thanks to the vision he saw, Sekiro was in the worse position he couldve been in. Sekiro was a master of observation, and an early one at that. it got to the point that his entire personality was indicitive of the skill. but when he panicked or got confused, well. It wasnt good

Unknown to him, his voice was transmitted into the mind of only those who could hear clearly relaying his words without the interferance of battles or the enviorment to distort them.

"...Is that so?" Soren thought to himself. His cheerful disposition momentarily disappeared in a cloud of memories, before he snapped back into reality.

"Well, then, I don't think it's fair we have all these other abilities in our way then!" Soren cheered enthusiastically. "Your captain and them are all trying to deal with my Mum's full power, so I'd rather not waste too much energy if I have to try and calm her down later. How's this sound, Sekiro? A battle of blades between you and I, nothing else in between, just like what our masters would have wanted! Murararara!"

There was a pause, Sekiro looked up dumfounded at Soren because of what he just heard. "Wha... WHAT!?" He almost screamed. "First how did you hear me, Second Why has your breath changed? You were toying with me just seconds ago." Sekiro went on confused but to no avail. Soren could have been masking his emotions after all, he did hail from a clan of shinobi. As far as Sekiro had heard, Soren and his mother were among if not the best in history. Why would he give up the tactical advantage and take the fight to just trading blows?

Whatever it was, He was ashamed it worked. Sekiro took the time to read the breath of Soren hoping to find something. Nothing. He couldn't find a thing. Letting out a Sigh Sekiro obliged. He then Exhaled in such a sharp manner it almost sounded like a hiss. Quickly the mist around them began to dissipate. Quickly it retreated into the folds of the earth. What little that was left continued to swirl around the Ryujin. As much of a benefactor it had been to Soren, It was also Sekiro's He wasn't dumb enough to think he was on a true level playing field to Soren, not yet. He regained his composure and his aura was back in check. But he was still curious. There was no Cover for miles and He was in the middle of a beach with the moon reflecting off of him and his sword. He really did look like a ghost against the sands. Soren stood out because he was flashy in his own right. A trait that Sekiro hatted to admit they shared. The deeper he looked into Soren's story he saw many similarities, too many in fact.

"I'll admit I'm at a loss, What are you planning exactly?" He asked.

"Oh, I heard you because my Haki is- Well, no. I probably heard you through, uh, what was it called...Voice of All Things? Yeah, that. I have a very strong affinity to gossip!" Soren grinned as he chimed, cheerfully.

"I don't have a big plan, don't worry. I simply don't think it's worth us staking our lives over a fight my mother isn't even going to take seriously." Soren said, somewhat disappointed that Sekiro didn't get it.

"I mean, let's pause our little skirmish for a second so you can take a look over there." Soren pointed his thumb to the fight between Koyuki and Lazarus. "Do you really think my mother looks like she's afraid to lose? Even slightly?"

"O-oh I see" Sekiro was both disappointed and astonished. He had felt their fight sure, but truly seeing it that was another story. Sekiro saw the two of them coming into a clash and the resulting shockwave of his captain being ragdolled away. and he saw how his captain got back up once more.

Sekiro sighed, and began to sheath his sword. "I know you have good eyes, so Im wondering something its clear all of us on this battlefield have used some kind of illusion or trick to attempt to gain an edge. However one thing has been bothering me. Why does it feel like everyone's just facing a younger mirror of themselves?"

"I'm not a citizen of Wano, I don't know the current system you all have in place but I know me and you have similarities. As for those two. Sigh Iv'e only seen that woman for the total of a minute and I understand how you feel. Neither of them fear death here only difference is one knows they aren't going lose, and the other embraces even the thought of it."

"Well, my Mother is fighting a battle against people much weaker than her. Perhaps she's projecting her youthful naivete onto them, and that's what you're seeing?" Soren thought, crossing his arms as he continued to observe the battle. "I'm not sure if they *don't* fear death, Sekiro. We all avoid death at a primitive level. What they *hope* from this battle is a chance to overcome death and become greater than they were. However..."

Soren simply let out a smug grin. "My Mother might not even give them the privilege of a near-death privilege. Mostly just to spite them, I think."

Sekiro waved his hand on the ground and created a stool from ice. Well it was more like a stump. And he did the same for Soren, offering the man a seat. "I've never seen things that way. I guess it's just due to my Uncle. I've seen things the Samurai way for the longest time. But Shinobi see things more grounded than we do."

He paused. "We crossed blades, Our families are both responsible for killing members of the other. I came with an invading party to your homelands. Yet here we are now having a chat. Why, Is it my weakness or... AHHHHH" You're one of the only people I can't read, She's clearer than you." Sekiro stated while pointing at Soren's sword.

## In His Name

Amid the battles that ensued upon the sandy beaches, the worm that tunneled through the magma-ridden forest suddenly ceased in its movement. Its metallic frame contorted violently as if it was possessed by a ghastly apparition, and, from its eye sockets, a reddish metal dripped like blood. Its body slammed against the ground, sending tremendous quakes throughout the land. However, suddenly, it stopped.

A deep flame enveloped the worm, a black, evil fire. And, just as quickly as the worm was seemingly created, it was snuffed out by flames of the underworld. There were no remains. There was no charred metal, no dilapidated gears, no fragment of the trees that it ripped through. There was barely a speck of grass that remained. In fact, the only thing that did walk through the scorched world was the woman who it had consumed earlier.

Her presence commanded the attention of those around her. She silenced every voice, ceased every battle. As she walked through the scorched field, Ori, the man that had fought her before, was held carelessly in her hand. His body was almost unrecognizable. His reddish mane was no more. Instead, in its place, was a blackened chin, scarred from the burns he suffered. His tattoos were all but unrecognizable as his melted flesh dripped from his backside. For all that could hear the voice of others through Kenbunshoku, his was extinguished.

As Koyuki came back into view, positioned only a few dozen feet from those on the battlefield, she tossed Ori’s body onto the ground. The uncomfortable thump of a lifeless body broke through the fraught silence.

“Ori was a fine warrior,” Koyuki began. Her face did not betray her emotions. The blank expression that rested upon her visage was genuine. “I brought him back for your men to take back to Berski Island. Birger isn’t here, but I know how important he was to him. To your people.”

She beckoned one of the men in Lazarus’s presence to come forth to grab him.

“I know that it’s your custom to burn your dead warriors, as a final send off for them. I’ll apologize for the scarring, but it was unavoidable. He laid out a splendid trap, in the end,” she continued, taking a step back from his body.

“But, as much faith as he had in his trap, he had even more in you, child.”

She squinted.

“Show me why his faith was not misplaced, in you. As he watches from the heavens, do what he cannot,” Koyuki monologued. She took a few more steps away and turned towards him. The men had already moved to grab the body and scurried back towards their chief.

“Entertain me. Before I send you home to him.”

"I, and my people, thank ya fer that kindness. Ori will be sent off with a celebration of who he was as a warrior, and more 'portanly as a man." Lazarus' face seems like it is carved from stone as he steps forward. He knew that death was not a possibility but a guarantee for many of his men when this journey began. Ori's death cuts him deep. The loss of a great commander, a cunning warrior and a dear friend fuels the fire that swells within his chest.

"“Lo, there do I see my father. Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers. Lo, there do I see the line of my people, Back to the beginning! Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them, In the halls of Valhalla! Where the brave may live forever!” In a soft yet commanding voice Lazarus recites this poem. It's words reaffirm that death isn't the final step for the Berski people but only a transition. His golden eyes glow with excitement, rage and sadness as he takes Volund in his hands and steps forward.

"Shoul' I go home ta em I will go with yer head as a gift!" Lazarus grins and launches himself in a direct line, hammer ready to crush the woman who slew his friend. From Koyuki's view she sees Lazarus begin his charge and split into three separate men. The three Lazarus charge in a wide trident formation, one man attacking from each side while one charges up the middle.

A grin formed on Klaus' face as he saw Lazarus joining the battle, and he wasn't about to waste any time. Preparing his sword, Satan, Klaus entered **Limbo** so Koyuki wouldn't be able to sense him through her haki, dashing towards her from behind as she anticipates Lazarus' triple attack from the front. With his sword pointed towards her back, aiming to stab her by phasing his sword inside her body, before leaving **Limbo**. Such an attack is sure to bypass any defenses and inflict internal damage directly as the blade of his sword cuts through her internal organs.

Klaus was no fool, he knew that anyone who managed to stay in such a high position in the world wouldn't be so easy to be harmed. Yet, this first attack was done for the sole purpose of testing out his theory, to be able to strategize a battle plan. "*Let's see how strong is the strongest creature in the world!*" He thought to himself silently.

The power of Koyuki’s spirit revealed to her the ruse of their assault, even before the duo had initiated it. However, it did not detail the mechanics behind it. The power of her soul was tremendous, and earth-shattering. A walk, a glance, a momentary loss in control could render the earth uninhabitable. It was a power that could rebuke the natural laws of this world. Every time her eyes flashed red, she peered into a separate reality, and viewed another opportunity. However, in none of them did she ever find anyone worthy of her might. Even now, she did not. Still, she applauded their attack. The two moved well and in unison. From her initial perspective, they had fought a few battles together. Or, perhaps they had just prepared more than she had thought.

Lazarus seemed to possess an ability to clone himself. It was a rather common ability. Afterimages, and such, but her eyes were better than that. They seemed real. Their forms, their shadows, everything about them was much more vivid than a mere after image. It was clearly a devil fruit ability, perhaps a paramecia, but she couldn’t be certain. Perhaps the Birger protégé had devoured a mythical zoan, as she had. However, she couldn’t commit entirely to his assault. She had witnessed Klaus’s assault in one of her realities; his ability to phase was tremendous, and intriguing.

If they were going to pincer her from several angles, Koyuki only had one response. She took a step forward and **slid**. The flicker of her frame from sight was silent as it was quick. The technique was an ancient martial art, a reputable ability of the Fukuoka Family which had pushed them into infallible fame among the shinobi of Wano; it was a version of Soru that they had developed centuries ago, dedicated to allowing for the quick movements necessary, while retaining the silence of an assassin. It matched the ebb and flow of the world. Where the wind blew, the flicker blended, and the feet danced along the earth like tree leaves. In that moment, specifically, they had become one with the world around them: **Void Step.**

Koyuki wasn’t attempting to hide from Klaus nor Lazarus. In fact, by their ability to simply withstand her presence, she determined their Haki was sufficient to follow her to the ends of the island if they absolutely needed. She just needed to close the gap between Lazarus and his clones. She lifted both of her arms upwards above her head as she approached the clones of Lazarus, drawing Klaus, who was moving swiftly, towards the entourage alongside her. Then, in a furious motion, she flipped forward onto her hands, and propelled herself into the air within a literal millisecond of the collision between the associated parties.

Her intention was to draw Klaus and Lazarus close enough to one another, and to cause a collision between them as they both sought to smite her simultaneously.

Each clone of Lazarus collided into each other just as Koyuki expected. Perhaps not exactly as expected since their bodies stick to one another. Each clone binds with the other clones it's skin touches. Their skin appears to be made of gum as it sticks and stretches from their movements. The three clones merge together in an amalgamation of limbs and faces. The clone increases in size slightly as arms sprout out of random places of it's body. Six arms total, two normal ones at the shoulders, one jutting from the stomach, one coming from his back, one reaching out from his right thigh and the last sprouting from his left calf. Each arm swings Setsugen in an arc around it's body.

One head resides atop the creature's shoulders while one appears on the right shoulder blade and the last on the left side of his ribs. A truly horrific creature, Lazarus quietly applauds himself. He always has enjoyed creating these bizarre creatures to psych out his opponents. He holds little hope that the creature will cause any fear in the yonko, he simply hopes to keep her attention.

While the creature moves faster than something of it's build should, it isn't a fast being. Six arms swing in a calculated frenzy, each blade attempting to predict where the next best attack should go. Lazarus remains unseen by everyone within his power's affect. He watches the creature attack and when he finds an opportunity he dashes forward with his sword ready to strike at Koyuki's left side. **Gin Kala** the runes on Setsugen glow faintly as ice spreads out from them. Haki and ice coat the blade.

Meanwhile Klaus' phased through the fabric of reality as if he passed behind a curtain, which happened simultaneously with Kuyoki's movement. Disappearing from the scene entirely, only to reappear above the amalgamation created by Lazarus, with his hand on the hilt of Satan, his sword. Klaus unsheathed his sword, coating it in haki as it began to emit a dark bloody red aura.

"**Satan's Sacrifice!**" Klaus mumbled as he unleashed a piercing aura of pressurized air that is mixed with his flowing haki, aimed to pierce through Kuyoki's head as she's busy dealing with the amalgamation. Klaus' movements were fast enough a blink would make all the difference, as Klaus was built for speed, with his teleportation as a bonus.

Even with Koyuki’s ability to see the future, the duo’s attack was completely unexpected. The vision she foresaw was skewed and unfamiliar; the creature was manifested, but she was completely uncertain of how it came to be. Now, as she witnessed it, it made sense. However, she was far too late to respond as she could have moments ago. In the heat of battle, those few seconds made a difference.

Still, Koyuki smirked.

She pulled her fist alongside her hip as the duo moved towards her, coalescing her tempered spirit on the surface of her hand. The air crackled from the pressure of her tumultuous soul. With haste, she threw her first forward directly in their direction, intent on preventing both Klaus **and** Lazarus’s creation from getting too close with a wide-range attack, utilizing both an ejection of haoshoku and busoshoku haki to deliver a massive shockwave in front of her to repel the duo. But there was something unfamiliar.

The amalgamation, while it was slowed, continued moving forward at a relative pace. Despite her assault, it was largely unaffected. She pivoted slightly and threw her other arm in front of its blade. The way that Koyuki utilized haki provided her with a defense that most wouldn’t, for her emission of Haki was a flow of excess spirit. Therefore, her entire body, every time she used Haki, was always showered in a thin layer. However, even *that* was hardly enough.

The creature’s blade struck true, and so did Klaus’ own blade, sending her frame soaring through the air onto the ground, tumbling across the earth like a rock skidding on the surface of a pond. Her body bounced uncontrollably for several moments, until she eventually regathered control with a graceful flip onto her feet. But, the blood that dripped from both her arm and forehead was an indication enough that she been damaged.

“What the…?”

She blinked as she rubbed the blood from her face. It had been a long time since *anyone* had drawn blood from her.

“Why were they so tough just now? I thought that I was aware of their power, but it seems…” Koyuki murmured. “No, I still don’t sense that type of strength in them. So what’s going on?”

She exhaled.

“Sorry for underestimating you both. It seems that I may finally have to get serious a little bit. So, why don’t you both **come closer.”**

"Come closer." "Come closer." "Come closer." Koyuki's command was answered by her own voice. Even as each of the heads of the creature before her spoke another mouth appeared at her feet. The mouth was unquestionably her own despite it being large enough to swallow her feet.

"Come closer." Koyuki heard her voice whispered as a mouth opens on her left shoulder. This mouth resembles Klaus' as it bares it's mink fangs, an evil smirk on it's lips.

"Damn..." Lazarus stood a short distance behind Koyuki, his presence masked entirely by his devil fruit powers. Sweat drips down his brow as he prepares his next moves. *"Haoshoku and busoshoku in such a wide range attack...Birger knows how ta pick a good woman."* He chuckled to himself. Even though he had been able to avoid that attack Koyuki's power was nearly overwhelming. These thoughts only cause Lazarus' smile to grow larger across his face.

Just as Lazaurs was about to act he sees the old sorcerer Magni Orvar out of the corner of his eye. The old man had told Lazarus to avoid fighting until he had finished setting up his runes, though naturally Lazarus and Klaus had not waited. But now the oldest of the Godi was ready to activate the runes he so carefully laid out.

"**Kringlaugd wierd, ein spadi for qvoki ne skeifr drpr munni ne svinhqfdi!**" Magni's voice bellowed out across the battlefield as he slammed his staff into the sand. A dozen small rock talismans carved with runes that he had laid out around the combatants come to life with a bright blue glow. Instead of simply projecting light like a torch the light from these runes snakes through the air as if seeking out something. One by one these wisps of light circle around Koyuki.

"Wither to dust, crumble to dirt, fade to darkness!" With each word the old man chanted a wisp of light becomes a floating rune around Koyuki's body. Curses to cloud her mind, numb her reflexes and weaken her body bombard her form. The strain of using his devil fruit to such an extent is clear on Magni's wrinkled face. His brow furrows and his eyes remain tightly closed as he focuses his spells on such a strong target.

Meanwhile Klaus landed on the ground with Kuyoki's blood on his blade, reaching inside his pocket, he took out a lab vile. "He better pay me good for this." With a grin on his face, he poured the blood inside the vile, filling it halfway. Before he looked both sides. "Taka! You know where to take this!"

Taka arrived flying and landed on Klaus' shoulder, looking at the vile. "Not again..!" He shouted in annoyance as he flew towards the vile, grabbing it with his claws.

"Wait, go through Purgatory, it's safer with all the allies we have inside." Klaus said as he opened his palm for Taka to sit on, and as Taka did, he was sent inside Purgatory. Bringing his focus back at the battle, Klaus noticed the magic runes and the effects that are to be applied on Kuyoki. Sheathing his sword back, he focused everything on his Kenbunshoku Haki, seeing splits into the future, as well as scanning the entire battle field. "Time to do some damage!"

Jumping upwards only to seem like he teleported, Klaus appeared meters above Kuyoki. With Satan unsheathed, he locked it backwards as it began emitting an aura of haki and a mysterious grim aura fused together. "**Memento Mori!**" As Klaus uttered these words, a figure of a grim reaper formed above him. As Klaus moved his sword backwards passing his shoulder, so did the reaper with his scythe. Swinging his sword in Kuyoki's direction, the reaper swung his scythe in the same direction, with its blade bleeding haki as it aimed to reap Kuyoki's head.

Klaus was fast. Koyuki knew that much from her assessment of his skills, but with each attack, her idea of his skills became clearer. Initially, she had anticipated that he possessed speed-enhancement, but, at this point, it was clear that he was teleporting. However, it was not instantaneous. For her, it was proof that it was through a medium. Now that there was a grim reaper bearing its fangs, it was more than enough for her to deduce the truth behind his abilities.

For her, it was clear that he wouldn’t be an issue any further. Or, that would have been the case had Magni not shown up. It wasn’t that these two were powerful. No, instead, Koyuki was weak. This form that she bore was already weaker compared to her normal body, but the runes only amplified her lack of power. It seemed that the two hadn’t come without a plan, but, even still, it wasn’t enough. Not for the strongest emperor.

*Come closer~!!!!*

Koyuki glanced momentarily at the mouth on her shoulder. It was clear it wasn’t Klaus’s work. It had to be the other one. But what devil fruit allowed him to manifest appendages? If she could recall, the consumer of the Hana was Soren’s friend, Damon. Was he dead?

“Apologies for this one,” Koyuki answered, breaking herself from her over analyzation of the duo’s abilities. As Klaus’s blade came towards her, her own arm shot forward without hesitation, drenched in armament haki. It slammed against the sword, revealing to him the ruse of it all. It was layered in a dense exoskeleton of spider-chitin: Koyuki’s partial transformation into a tsuchigumo. Meanwhile, her other arm did the exact same, catching the reaper’s scythe in the same manner. The attack was halted by the power of her strength.

Her eyes fell towards Magni on the other end of the battlefield.

“But I’ll need to take care of that one first,” Koyuki finally admitted. Hard gum, spider-silk, poured from her fingertips onto the weapons themselves. Then, she simply let go of their weapons, and dashed forward towards Magni.

"Oi, oi, I'm gettin too old for this shit! Nibababah!" A derranged laugh escaped the shaman's lips and his eyes went wide as Koyuki charged directly at him. Though he knew what they were facing, he had been there when Birger and Ori first crossed paths with the Dread Beast after all, he still could not fully shake the intense aura the Yonko emitted. His decades of experience with the people and creatures of this world were hardly adequate when it came to this beast.

Lazarus grinned as he charged to intercept Koyuki. Magni was a key tool to their strategy and Lazarus wouldn't let her get to the shaman so easily. Making sure to remain hidden from Koyuki's senses, Lazarus gripped Setsugen and focused on one of the runes carved along it's blade. Brenna, the rune of fire, glowed in response to his will and flames spread across the steel.

The mouth that had grown on Koyuki's shoulder suddenly bit down upon itself. As the mouth bit it twisted and writhed in pain. Koyuki would feel the pain as the mouth twisted, tore at the skin on her shoulder and then fell to the ground. At a glance she would see that her shoulder bore a wound that resembled that of a large bear.

Lazarus hoped the pain or shock from his trick would distract the Yonko for at least a moment as he rushed forward. Distracted or not, Lazarus took the chance to change where Koyuki thought Magni stood. To her eyes Magni, without any movement of his own, stood off to her left twenty feet away. This doppelganger of Magni continued to speak and move in the exact way the original Magni had. Now unseen and unheard by Koyuki, Magni scrambled towards Lazarus and whatever he could put between himself and the Yonko.

The pain was unusual for Koyuki. She was not used to pain, but for her, it was *real*. It felt real. She almost couldn’t remember how to react, but it was that moment of pain that finally showcased the ruse of Lazarus’ deception.

She didn’t even continue to charge as she simply stopped moving, snapping her fingers as if she had just worked through a difficult problem.

“It’s an illusion!”

Her eyes turned towards Lazarus as he swung his blade. She hadn’t even sensed him. In fact, it was utter *instinct* that caused her to turn that way. His enormous sword of fire struck her directly on, sending her skidding across the ground like a pebble on a lake. The earth quaked from the force of his strike. Koyuki’s body slammed into the forest, ripping it apart; dozens of trees fell atop her small frame, crushing her under their enormous weight.

But what none of the people there knew, Klaus had already seen this chain of events unfold. Waiting for Kuyoki's fall into the forest, hidden underneath the exact spot of where her frame would end up stopping. Only to phase his hands out of the ground attempting to take her inside of his Purgatory, where she would be separated from the real plain. Taken into an entirely different world of its own, mirroring the real plain in its base structure, but different in its aesthetics. Where the sky is covered by dense black clouds, with just a few random patches revealing the white sky above it. The deep red sea that is filled with Infected creatures, swimming and eating each other. The island was there just like in the real plain, but it had nothing on it but long black grass and red roses.

In the real plain, and regardless of his plan working or not. Klaus appeared at the middle of the battlefield, seeming to have teleported along with Kuyoki's bleeding body. With his white sword Wyrmeus unsheathed, he stabbed her in front of everyone as she stayed silent, before he phased along with her body through space, to disappear from sight.

During the fighting that took place, Isshin was actually processing paperwork, before he quickly noticed a substantial drop in Koyuki's Haki reserves through his own Kenbunshoku Haki. After all, the body that Koyuki was in was designed specifically by Isshin to contain her power. It was, in actuality, the size of a dwarf. However, by fusing with Koyuki's real body, her original body was drastically compressed along with her power, while the host body expanded in size to roughly match a regular human's height.

Koyuki's Haki reserves diminishing in this form only meant that Koyuki was in a modicum amount of trouble, so Isshin quickly left his room and dashed towards where he could feel Koyuki's presence the strongest. As husband and wife, Isshin could sense Koyuki's Haki effortlessly even through the vast displays of Haki that his children and the other opponents were exhibiting. He only needed to consciously use Kenbunshoku Haki once to determine her location.

He initially fused with the air to speed up his movement. Gusts blew through the forests that were housing the battle, and Isshin had finally come close to the location where everyone else was fighting.

What he saw *did* surprise him, specifically Koyuki being supposedly stabbed by Klaus, and her Haki disappearing from his ordinary Kenbunshoku Haki. Unfortunately, what these children didn't know, was that Isshin and Koyuki weren't bound by just the physical realm. Isshin was currently wearing his wedding ring, an artifact designed with Koyuki and his own powers, that bound both of them spiritually. He could draw onto all of Koyuki's powers, briefly, so long as he wielded the ring.

Despite the sight of Koyuki being killed in front of Isshin's eyes, Isshin's soul was aware that Koyuki was alive and well, but probably taken to a place she didn't want to be.

"Whatever illusion this is, I'm fairly impressed." Isshin commented as he approached the area, "Unfortunately, you're all a bit too naive." Isshin smirked. "Ketteki."

Isshin merely snapped his fingers, knowing exactly what would happen next, no matter where Koyuki was. So long as her heart was beating, the white threads that bound her would sever, and her true power would return to her.

"*Don't cause too many damages, my dear.*" Isshin thought with a grin.

## Power

It was vast and endless. It wasn’t dark. It wasn’t bright. It was a deep grey, a horrid color of static. It was indicative that there was nothing here. There was no life, no death. The world was still and motionless. Unmoving, unyielding, inanimate, and stone-like. This was purgatory, or at least a fine representation of it. It was not a boundary between life and death, but rather a crack. A prison for those who could not ascend nor descend. It was not death. It was not life. Rather, it was immortality.

The feeling was foreboding and disgusting.

Koyuki’s silver hair framed literally cracked into pieces before Klaus’s very eyes, and from it emerged a gargantuan shadow that drowned the earth in its dark presence. But, as quickly as it emerged, it dissipated into the grey of the world. The shadow was weak, yet the woman that held it was not. That was much was visible from the look of her eyes, and the presence of her spirit. Even in this world of immortality, and stillness, her soul reigned supreme.

There was no illusion that masked her face. The still world revealed everything about her. Her white horns that reached into the heavens, her three-hundred and fifty-foot frame—still growing in some ways—her pearly white teeth that bore fangs. Her devilish, yellow eyes gazed at Klaus’s figure in sadistic delight. Her form was sleek and petite, unbefitting of a monster of her physical prowess. She was decorated in a red, low-cut kimono with purple highlights and a gold obi. All in all, she looked to be an empress of some sort. But, Klaus, as a seasoned veteran of the sea, was probably aware of what she truly was.

An Ancient Giant.

Her smile widened.

“Well, if this isn’t a surprise. The one who I detected no ambition from rose to the occasion and trapped me here,” Koyuki announced. Her voice echoed throughout the still world. “Perhaps that was a strategy of yours, or perhaps there was something in me that sparked some interest in you after all. Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter. You didn’t finish me off before Isshin could unleash my full strength. You’ll lose now.”

There wasn’t a semblance of arrogance in her tone. She was not condescending or demeaning. Anyone’s kenbunshoku would have revealed the expression of her emotions: honesty. There was not a speck of anxiety or worry layered in her voice. At the very depth of her heart, Koyuki genuinely believed that there was no opportunity for Klaus to win. If her words didn’t make it clear, nor the expression of her visage, her overwhelming intent did. She saw no defeat at hand.

“You did put me in a bit of bind, though,” Koyuki informed. She cupped her hands together in an unusual arrangement. Her fingers were specifically organized, delicately positioned to resemble a shape of some sort. “So, I’ll have to be a little rougher than I would otherwise be with a youngin. If you survive this, I think you’re worthy of your name.”

She exhaled.

“**Ninpo: Kumo Kumo no Jutsu**—**Spider’s Web**”

A flush of esoteric power rushed from the balls of Koyuki’s feet and flushed into the world like a tsunami. However, it intersected with every piece of matter, every molecule, and every atom, intertwining, and weaving within them. The landscape began to change. The still world was moved into motion, spurred into life by the presence of her anima. The earth that was barren and gray was galvanized into a deep brown. Though, the earth was cracked. Beneath it was molten magma, and igneous rock that protruded from the unholy soil. In the distance, there was a lake of flames conjured in a deep crater, and the sky was encapsulated in outer darkness. The air that moved in this unholy world was suffocating and harsh. With every breath it scorched the lungs of those that dared to intake it, a purple hue and venomous odor imposed onto it, like a spider’s poison.

For the average spectator, what occurred would be unbelievable. Klaus wielded the power of observation Haki, and he wielded it well. It was expected that this would happen. In fact, the future that he saw was etched in this. How it came to be would always be a mystery even for a seasoned expert of kenbunshoku, but it was clear to him what Koyuki’s intent was.

Hell.

She had shifted the realm that Klaus occupied into hell itself. It was twisted and dark, sadistic in some ways, but beyond anything it was playful. It was condescending. It was disrespectful. Koyuki didn’t care to *just* defeat Klaus. She wanted to do it at his own game. She wanted to demonstrate to him that even his castle, and his world of his own, she was the **one true queen**. Therefore, she took her anima, and breathed life into her imagination; her thoughts were brought forth into reality, and the very world that Klaus had come to know had been entirely replaced and consumed by her very wishes.

“Are you ready, Klaus?”

Breathing heavily, Klaus' eyes were widened as he couldn't believe how different the world became. No, he did believe it, he had seen it, experienced it, lived through it. He felt like he was nothing as he stood in front of her in all her might, his world became hers. "So this is the power of an emperor of the sea..." He thought to himself silently, droplets of sweat crossed his face, as he swallowed his fear. He felt useless, like he couldn't even move, and even if he moved, all would be for nothing.

Unsheathing Satan, Klaus broke the first of his chains, he accepted death. "I am..." No more running, no more hiding, it was time for him to make a stand against the world. A stand against himself and everything he stood for prior to this moment. "Come at me! Empress of the sea!" Challenging her with every bit of courage he still had, his sword ready in his hand, as he stood firmly on a large chunk of the ground surrounded by magma.

Koyuki’s hands shifted into a separate array. “Unfortunately, you lost the moment you spoke against me, Klaus.”

He had taken a breath. In fact, he had taken several, and they were deep. They were the breaths of someone who was afraid, nervous, anxious. They were heavy. Koyuki saturated the air with her mythical venom—Klaus was free to be manipulated, the very same way that Koyuki had been earlier. That was her aim.

She crossed her fingers together.

“**Ninpo: Kumo Kumo no Mi—Sensory Overload.”**

The illusion she crafted was one of immeasurable proportion. He could see the universe, the stars, the ants that roamed their ant hills, the birds that chirped in the trees of the forest, the children that scurried the dense jungles of their respective islands, the babies that were born and cried from the comforts of their cribs. He could smell it, taste it, hear it, feel it. There was nothing that he *didn’t* experience from the illusion. Not a single thing.

But, because of that, she had her doubts that he could process anything. When shown everything, what could the brain do other than experience it? Was there anything left other than to perceive?

Koyuki sought to use that to her advantage. She sought to keep Klaus immobile for that moment. For him, it would be an eternity, as even he could perceive all of time in the scale. However, for her, it was but a fraction of a second. A literal moment that he would experience the entirety of the world.

Her hand tickled the hilt of the katana that rested on her hip.

“Shinji-ryu!” Koyuki called out, releasing the blade from the scabbard so quickly that it was nearly invisible to the naked eye. In the same motion, she coated it immediately in Haki, the sparks of her conqueror’s spirit electrifying the metal of the sword. “Chichi Sishi!!”

A powerful blast exploded from Koyuki’s sword as he swiped it forward, and a beam of energy surged across her makeshift landscape towards Klaus like a raging storm.

Klaus' senses went numb, he found himself in a deep black hole. "What's happening..." He wasn't scared anymore, he was numb. "I can't see anything..." It's like he was stranded in the dark space. "I can't feel anything..." Floating for an unknown fate. "Am I dead?" But then his eyes widened. "No..." As images started overwhelming his brain, he couldn't even process what was happening, or perhaps he did. "I can see everything..." A wide smile formed on his face. "Life is so beautiful..."

Koyuki's sword beam did what it was supposed to, breaking the world further more, as it sent Klaus. bloodied, the entire chunk of land he stood on, and everything around it flying in the form of debris. Leaving a huge crater that filled with magma in no time in its place, Purgatory was indeed hell at this point. Fire and magma stretched across as far as one could see, smoke, ashes, and the smell of burning dirt. Yet, Klaus laid on his back, his body covered in his own blood, staring at the sky which wasn't above him. The clouds of which weren't there, the birds, the cold breeze of air.

"Maybe I shouldn't try anything... It's so peaceful in here anyway..."

Yet, a few images flashed into his brain, his calmness despite the dire situation he's in allowed for his Kenbunshoku Haki to stretch to its limits then beyond. Seeing himself from a third person perspective, laying on the ground, with his arms open as if he's about to hug the sky. "That's me..." Looking in the other direction, there was the demon that turned his world into her own hell. "Koyuki..." Klaus couldn't feel anything, as this was a mere vision, an out of body experience fused with his haki. "I have to do something..." Looking at his body, Klaus started talking to himself. "Come on... Get up! You have to fight! You can't accept it ending here! Not when it's on her terms!"

And his body did listen to him, sitting up gradually as if he was being sat up by someone, Klaus tried speaking, but instead ended up coughing blood. "Koyuki..." Raising his head slowly attempting to match her eye level, Klaus had a grin on his face, yet his eyes still looked like he was some place else. "Are you that afraid of me..." He began to stand up, supporting himself by the knees. "Am I that much of a threat to you..." His questions meant one of two things, either he lost his mind, or he's that much of a delusional.

As he looked Koyuki in the eyes, she would notice they were different, they were glowing with golden light. It wasn't just his kenbunshoku haki at play, it was a mixture of haoshoku haki and kenbunshoku haki. He was forcing his body to move like a puppet through haoshoku haki, while watching it from a different plain entirely with kenbunshoku haki, forcing his will on his body. His brain was in shambles, almost splitting his very own personality into multiple ones, or perhaps it had already happen.

Opening his arms, Klaus challenged Koyuki once more. "Come at me!" Shouting with a grin on his face. "Kill me!" His grin was a mischievous one. "Kill me so we can both spend eternity in this world!" Was he really willing to sacrifice himself to rid the world of Koyuki's terror? Or was he making a point to grant his life? His brain was constantly switching between the surge of information Koyuki's illusion implanted into his brain, and his kenbunshoku vision. Unstable was a word to describe him, perhaps even a little unhinged.

“You’ve awakened to some of your potential,” Koyuki noted. She had never witnessed a technique of the sort. To control your body with Haoshoku was an **advanced** application of the conqueror’s haki. It was interesting and innovative. Combining it with Kenbunshoku didn’t seem to make him entirely immune to the effects of the poison, but it did provide him with some slight relief. He wasn’t using it to combat the illusions, but rather to read her intentions, which allowed him to predict what was real and what wasn’t. It allowed him to view the world from an external perspective.

His fragmented mind was more beneficial than anything though to Koyuki. For her, it was a source of power. Right now, Klaus was a generator of anima, a power-plant. She would rip the illusions from him, refresh them, and then rip them all over again while his mind was split. It was a cycle of power, and for Koyuki, it was easily achieved. However, for Klaus, his haki was finite. It was bound to run out, eventually. Therefore, all she had to do was continue her process over and over, and she was bound to finally achieve her desires. Once his haki was depleted and his mind was hers, she would simply command him to open a portal from purgatory back to reality. There was no need to kill him, yet, at the very least. Not without Lazarus seeing another comrade fall to her vorpal blade.

Klaus’s makeshift technique was impeccable, and innovative beyond all belief, but it was desperate. It was *borrowed* strength, and it was bound to falter eventually.

"*Okay...*" Klaus said to himself silently. "*She didn't go for the kill, which is good. But at this rate, either I run out of haki, or my body runs out of blood...*" Looking at himself, Klaus knew he had to surpass every bit of his capabilities, he had to become limitless. He only saw one way out of this situation, and unlike every other situation he has been through were his one option was to escape, this time, his one way out was to go all in.

A grin formed on Klaus' face as his eyes closed, his body leaned forward, his arms dangling down as if he had passed out standing. His body began to shift, his muscles tensed and deformed, closing his wounds to stop the blood loss. "*Awakened?*" He asked himself silently, this conversation was one he needed to have with himself. "*Yeah... I can also do that... I just need to stop doubting myself...*" He switched his vision to Koyuki, she resembled everything that Klaus wasn't. The embodiment of strength and power, but more importantly, control.

Klaus looked inside his own body, his kenbunshoku haki travelled through his own body molecules, scanning it entirely. "Yes, my powers had always been a problem for me to use..." He spoke to Koyuki, his voice was low and shallow, like a defeated man. "I even had to surpass my limits over and over again, just to be able to use the very base of my powers." He referred to his kenbunshoku haki, he had trained it enough for him to be able to observe the real world while still inside purgatory. "But you know..." His head was still down, eyes closed, and body seeming to be unconscious, yet he still talked.

"Maybe it's time to surpass even that... I don't want to die anymore, nor do I want to stand at the side lines." His tone began to pick up, it wasn't rage, it was determination. "You provided me with the key!" A shockwave that mimicked his own heartbeat was released from his body, fluctuating the very fabric of the purgatory world, bending space in a spherical wave that expanded until it faded within purgatory. "Awakening is indeed what I need to do!" His body tilted backward, his eyes remained closed. And then another wave was released, then another, and with each wave, more anima was ripped from his body. These waves were infused with haoshoku haki, which was focused on his body as well.

"This world that you took over, it's my world..."

Floating above the ground, his body seemed frozen in space, as he slowly opened his eyes. Seeing less and less of Koyuki's illusions, but it wasn't due to him cleansing his body, he was actively phasing her poison outside of purgatory back into the real world, and with it, her illusions. Klaus had reached the pinnacle of his potential regarding his devil fruit powers, he had awakened.

“Awakening is when your mind and body finally connect with one another. When they’re in perfect sync,” Koyuki speculated. “The fact that you were able to do that with your mind splintered by my poison is nothing short of amazing, Klaus. You’re strong.”

Klaus had cast away the illusions by fading the poison from his body into the real world, but it didn’t erase his previous injuries. He had been struck, defenseless, by her haoshoku infused attack. Even if he had awakened, he was going to lose blood, he was going to be weak. He was still injured. Koyuki knew that as he was now there was nothing that he could do to recover.

**“Ninpo: Kumo Kumo no Jutsu—Clairvoyance”**

Her eyes twinkled a bright red like a bedazzled ruby. It was a rather simple technique in application, but for Koyuki her Haki was tremendously enhanced by the presence of *anima* feeding her spirit. Her powers of observation were multiplied tenfold. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t see, or sense. Her eyes could see various divergent futures, her body could sense the strength of her opponent, and the strength that lay dormant in them, and dig out their deepest, most secluded emotions and thoughts. For her, it was the closest she could get to Aoshin’s own powers of perception.

“Ah, so this is the view…”

She gripped her blade tightly and inhaled deeply. The air traveled to every muscle in her body.

“I won’t kill you, Klaus. However, it’s time for me to go back. You’re not exactly ready yet, but perhaps there will come a time where you are. For now, goodbye.”

A bustle of energy burst into her blade and darkened the edges in her obsidian spirit. Sparks of black lightning crackled around it summoning forth a symphony of thunder. She lifted the blade over her head. Her busoshoku rushed to extend the size of it by literal hundreds of feet.

“Survive and surpass the future I’ve seen for you, Klaus.” She exhaled. “Five Element Breathing Method: Void.”

She pulled her blade downwards. As it fell from the heavens of purgatory, the blade ignited like a meteorite falling from space. The wind that followed forced the very world to nearly split as massive shadow of her enormous. Her haki touched the earth before her blade would if it ever did. It was the power of imbuement forced with infusion.

"*I can see it...*" Klaus' voice was calm in his mind, but he was silent. "*That's the gap between my powers and her own...*" His eyes locked on the coming meteor-like sword, already knowing how it will end, but he just couldn't believe it. "*This is what I want... Yeah. I want to be even stronger than her. I want to be way stronger than that!*"

He finally spoke before the sword went down. "Yeah... Next time will be different, Koyuki! That's a promise!" Using his new awakened powers, Klaus moved his floating body by sending it flying away from Koyuki. Before realizing it, he was all the way at the other side of the island. But his powers were at their limits, as he fell down to the ground and ended up in a crater. "I should rest for a few minutes..."

Meanwhile back at Koyuki's location, her attack, fused with her immense haki was nothing like his world ever seen. It was so dense that the world itself began to collapse, tares appeared through the fabric of space with the real plain existing behind them. Koyuki was indeed on an entirely different level from Klaus, and everything he had faced up until this moment. His very own world that withstood extreme and unnatural powers is collapsing in the face of Koyuki's haki, with her sword gown down, it indeed did break that part of purgatory in half. Koyuki would be able to see the cracks, the tares that are her way out of purgatory, which was now left in shambles.

The world had utterly collapsed at the behest of Koyuki’s power. The power of a sword that could slice even through dimensions was the ultimate expression of her swordsmanship. It wasn’t surprising that she was a swordsman, though. She was, after all, a warrior of Wano. But, even more so, she was the prized pupil of Aoshin, the former greatest swordsman in the world. As Klaus looked at Koyuki as his goal to surpass, Koyuki had turned to Aoshin decades ago. However, for her, it was unknown whether she had surpassed him yet. She, unlike Klaus, would never have the opportunity to find out anymore. Aoshin had gotten himself lost in the storm centuries ago. He stole strength from the world. Koyuki only wanted to nurture it. She wanted to make a generation of warriors that could rival her. She and Aoshin were far from the same. He feared tipping the balance. Koyuki knew she was the balance.

*“It’s about potential.”*

*Koyuki turned her attention towards Aoshin as she slid her foot forward. Her wooden katana came down from over her head onto the makeshift wooden dummy constructed for her frame. She slammed it against the head as she chanted the famed samurai’s shriek.*

*“What are you even talking about this time?”*

*Aoshin closed his eyes. “Your form is wrong, for one. Your foot needs to be just a step forward.”*

*Koyuki corrected it. “We’ve already taken over Wano and you’re **still** treating me like some protégé?”*

*“You haven’t reached your full potential. That’s why. I won’t stop training you till you do that.”*

*Koyuki turned back to face Aoshin. “What is this potential thing that you keep speaking about? I’ve heard you talk about it for a while now.”*

*He didn’t answer immediately. He seemed to gather the words. “Potential is your ability of strength. Everyone is born with it. It determines how powerful you can become. Of course, devil fruit abilities complicate it, but everyone is born with a finite amount of potential. You, of course, were born with a tremendous amount of it. Because of that, it’ll take you longer to reach yours. But, you, Koyuki, are a fast learner. You can do it if you follow my trajectory.”*

*Koyuki blinked. “Eh? You telling me I’m going to just stall out?”*

*Aoshin nodded. “Everyone does.”*

*She nodded in disagreement. “Not me. I’ll get as strong as I want when I want.”*

*He sighed. “That’s not how the world works.”*

*Koyuki puffed in frustration. “Well then, how do you get more potential, Aoshin-sensei?”*

*“By stealing someone else’s.” His voice grew somber. “There’s no other way but to take the potential of another.”*

*“If that’s true, how does everyone become strong?”*

*Aoshin opened his eyes for the first time in this conversation. “They don’t. I’ve already told you that before. That pipe dream of yours is unrealistic, Koyuki.”*

*“Hmm….” Koyuki hummed. She dropped her blade onto the ground and crossed her hands. “Hey, you remember that anima stuff I awakened a while ago.”*

*Aoshin didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes raised in curiosity.*

*“It feels like food, life, almost. I wonder if I can use it for more than I have before. I mean, it’s a weird energy, right? Metaphysical? Can I use it for this?”*

*Aoshin’s eyes widened. “K-Koyu”*

*There was a noticeable glow that encapsulated her frame for a moment as she channeled the anima into herself. There was nothing that physically changed. But, Aoshin’s eyes would see it before anyone else could. He was in noticeable shock.*

*“What did you just do? H-How?”*

*She smiled. “I just decided to feed my potential, right? If I give it life, and food, that means it’ll grow like anything else! What else is there to it?”*

*Aoshin couldn’t believe it. For the first time in his view no one had even come close to expanding their own potential, and yet, Koyuki did it easily. His entire vision of her future shifted. It wasn’t bright, nor dark. In fact, it was ambiguous, and etched in grey. It was still and everlasting.*

*He feigned a smile.*

*“Well, you just proved me wrong,” Aoshin said, standing up. “But, I got something to take care of. I’ll be supervising your training from Ringo,” he commented.*

*“H-Huh, that-“*

*He gave her a thumbs up. “Go on, I’ll let you know when you made a mistake.”*

*Koyuki huffed and picked up her blade. She turned back towards the puppet and swung her sword downwards.*

*Aoshin blinked from her space onto a new one, utilizing his advanced application of Rokushiki to virtually teleport across space. His own protégé, Drake, was biding his time outside of the capital grounds. He was disguised as he always, but Aoshin could recognize him based on his lineage factor alone.*

*“Are you sure that this isn’t a bad idea?”*

*Aoshin shrugged his shoulders.*

*“Seriously, I just saw what she did from here. You and I both know that we cannot allow Joy Boy to return. If he does—”*

*“She’s no Joy Boy. She’s the furthest thing from it.”*

*Drake didn’t understand. Aoshin could see the confusion in his brain. He had no need to look at faces when he could read thoughts.*

*“She was born in the perfect era. Before I had become Soren. The stars aligned perfectly to birth this miracle. But, she is not Joy Boy. I have killed many potential Joy Boys, but they are nothing like her,” Aoshin explained. “She’s a singularity. A first class one.”*

*“A singularity?”*

*Aoshin snapped his fingers as he walked. “A black hole. See, Joy Boy is supposed to be a hero. They defeat the bad guys and save the world and change it for the better. New bad guys show up, and the cycle repeats itself. Even becoming pirate king just restarts the chain. But, Koyuki wasn’t born for that. She wasn’t born to save this world. She’s a **monster**, born to curse this world and devour everything.”*

*Drake’s eyes widened. “So we need to end her!”*

*Aoshin nodded in disagreement. “Too late for that. When she was born, she shifted the balance of the world. Stopping her won’t do anything. Besides, I’m not sure if killing her is even an option anymore for us. We might weaken ourselves starting a war with that monster.”*

*“So what’s the plan of action, sir?”*

*Aoshin exhaled. “I’ll monitor her and keep her at bay. Now that she can increase her own potential, I’m not sure of what she **can’t** do. We’ll continue to ensure that no one else rises up, but, I think I understand now why more kids are being born with tremendous amounts of potential now.”*

*Drake nodded. “Yeah, it’s because of her. It’s like when an unbreakable record gets broken, or when an insane athlete enters the fray. Everyone has to step up their game so that they don’t get left behind.”*

*Aoshin’s voice fell somber.*

*“When Fukuoka Koyuki was born, the balance of the world shifted.”*

For Lazarus and them, it had only been a few minutes since the woman dispersed. Klaus’s plan was to bring Lazarus into his realm and finish the Yonko off; they had discussed it previously. He was waiting for it. Everyone was. But a single crack emerged in the world. Then another, and then another.

Koyuki, alone, stepped through the rips in time and space. Then, as she did, they disappeared behind her and cracked into pieces.

It became clear to everyone at that moment.

Fukuoka Koyuki was the victor.

Setsugen remained engulfed in flames as Lazarus had waited for Klaus to pull him into purgatory to join the fight. He had remained ready to leap into action and seeing Koyuki appear caused his excitement to raise even further. He assumed Klaus was dead, he didn't know the man's powers well enough to know how to escape purgatory but the death of the fruit user made sense enough. It was now his turn to fight the Emperor in ernest.

"Hehehohaha! Oi, oi, don't tell me ya ate em or somethin? Ya ain't guna return all my boys ta me?" Despite his smile and the calm face he put on Lazarus itched with excitement. He wasn't sure what would happen when Klaus took Koyuki into his realm but the possibility of him losing was kept in mind. This was an Emperor of the sea after all, nothing they had come across up until now could even compare. Even when Lazarus had scuffled with Valor he didn't get *this* feeling, the utter power that radiated off of her was intense.

Just as Koyuki escaped one realm she found herself in another. Though unlike the realm that Klaus had taken her to, this one was bright and snowy. Snow fell softly and covered fields that stretched seemingly for miles. Impossibly tall mountains bordered the distant edge of the fields. Lazarus stood across from the Emperor alone and eager. The snow melted around his flaming blade and against his skin. Koyuki would feel the same sensation of the slight chill, though due to her size it would have next to no effect on her.

Perhaps what would be most surprising to Koyuki would be that Lazarus now stands at equal height to her. They can see each other eye to eye, a feeling Lazarus was sure she wouldn't be used to in this form. Lazarus was using his fruit to a large degree, larger than he has ever needed to before. He removed the presence of all his men from Koyuki and made her experience a world he created. Unlike Klaus' purgatory this realm was simply a mirage, an illusion created by altering the senses of his opponent. No one other than Koyuki and himself would see this realm of snow and and glory.

## Trial by Error

“It took me a while to discern the nature of your powers,” Koyuki admitted. She didn’t care about the world around her. It would come to aid her later, after all. “You use illusions. You alter the senses of those around you.”

She tilted her eyebrow in curiosity. “But, I do wonder exactly how you cast it. Unlike my own illusions, it doesn’t seem to have a medium. So, I thought about it more. If there’s no actual conduct, then I can only assume your paramecia is range-based. You create a field in the world that these mirages can be cast.”

Koyuki glanced around. “So, I wonder if I escape the boundary that you’ve created, will the illusions go away. What defines the boundary, even? Are you the center of this illusive-field? There are so many questions I have about your powers, Lazarus.”

Her hand moved to the hilt of her katana which remained sheathed along her hip. “Though, I guess you can tell me that information **after** you’ve become one of my commanders. I’ll treat this as your first mission.”

"Hehehohaha! Yer not jus' all power then, ya got some thinkin' skills too. I'm glad that I intrest ya, but do ya think tha's all there is ta it?" He grinned at the Yonko. A feeling grew within him that he didn't often get to experience. He felt the weight of his actions on his shoulders, the sheer impossible nature of the task he had taken on. The feeling might crush the spirit of some but Lazarus savored it. He was about to engage the greatest creature he had ever crossed paths with and he would make sure his gods enjoyed his performance.

"I'm flattered that ya want me ta join ya, but I don't jus' follow anyone that comes 'round. What of yer goals an' ambitions, eh? I've had my fill of leaders tha' jus' look ta hol' their power an' stop lookin' fer glory." As he spoke his body began to shift. The arm that held his flaming blade bubbled and separated into a pair of arms. He now held two flaming blades in his right arms. While the real Lazarus moved his giant doppelganger would act as a decoy.

Even while Lazarus spoke to Koyuki he set his attack into motion. She saw the berski chief across from her while his true form secretly moved into a new position. While he could conjure an version of himself in Koyuki's mind that was her size he could not truly become that large. He launched his first attack at the giant's left ankle. A brief thought flashed through his mind. He had always been large for a human, but now his size meant little. The difference in size was almost enough to make him laugh.

She could not **see** through his illusions. To her, Lazarus was her size and standing across from her, but she would have been a fool to believe the deception after she had uncovered it. Her kenbunshoku revealed his intentions. The attack that struck her, the idea of it. Therefore, she turned her senses off. She *deactivated* her kenbunshoku entirely.

The blow struck her directly against her ankle, striking her giant flesh with remarkable strength. Koyuki felt it against her bare skin, but the blow wasn’t **powerful** enough to even force her to move. He needed more power. A lot more power.

“So that’s where you’re really hiding!!” Koyuki called out. As he struck her ankle, she launched her other foot towards his body, intent on striking him as if he was a soccer ball of some sort.

Just as Koyuki kicked out at Lazarus the giant Lazarus struck out. Twin blades stabbed forward to skewer the stomach and chest of the giant empress. Even if she knew the giant was created by Lazarus' devil fruit she would still feel it's strikes. She would feel the heat radiating from his enormous blade as the flames licked at her skin. The giant's strike would carry the impact of a real attack.

Lazarus braced himself as the giantess' foot came for him. Haki coursed through his body as he attempted to protect himself as much as he could. The flames dancing along Setsugen's darkened blade grow more intense as they react to Lazarus' will. Even as the gigantic foot threatens to crush him the Berski chief feels no fear of what might come.

"**Logi Onikuma**" Lazarus swung his blade over his head just as Koyuki's foot came into range. Due to their massive size difference his blade would slip between her toes to strike closer to her foot. He didn't know what to expect but part of him hoped that the flesh on the giant's foot would be more tender. As the thought crossed his mind he laughed at the absurdity of it.

However, it was not that absurd of a thought. Lazarus's darkened blade, the engravings and runes enchanted into the precious metal, and the flames empowered it beyond what it would have normally been. The sword dug into Koyuki's flesh like a razor blade onto a man's chin, scraping the flesh with its intensity. It may have went further, but his body was met with the full brute of her foot and its momentum that launched him throughout the air as if he was a projectile.

The tinge of the flame scorched her foot like a small burn.

"Is that one enchanted too!?" Koyuki called out. "I can feel a bit of blood coming from that scrape!"

"Gha-" The impact that sent Lazarus flying caused blood to spray from his mouth. He flew across the island at high speed and crashed through trees as he went. He hit the ground with a hard thud and rolled to a stop. His clothing had been torn to shreds from numerous impacts and bruises already were showing up across his body. His haki had offered some protection, possibly enough to save his life, but he was still greatly wounded.

"A single kick from tha' beast is wild! Hehehohaha..." Lazarus laughed softly as he rolled onto his back. He could feel that a few bones had broken all over his body. Setsugen remained in his grip and he grinned. He forced himself to his feet and shook his head. Sweat and blood were tossed from him as he shook twigs from his wild blonde hair.

All effects of Lazarus' devil fruit had come to an end the moment Koyuki's foot sent him flying into the distance. The giant form of Lazarus vanished as if it had never existed, which in truth it hadn't. The snowy tundra Lazarus had conjured was returned to the island as it was previously, though with the damage incurred from the battle. Luckily for the Berski pirates the curse runes created by Magni were still present. The old man's power continued to sap Koyuki's strength though without Lazarus to battle her these curses would only accomplish so much.

Thankfully for the invaders Lazarus was more eager for battle than he ever was. The muscles in his legs and arms bulged as he let the ecstasy of his pain wash over him. He knew she had seen through his devil fruit's power but he had more tricks to play. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself back towards the giant.

Seeing that the area had reverted Koyuki would know that the incoming Lazarus was the real one, at least for the moment. He was never the fastest warrior when it came to speed but he charged forth like an angry bear. He twisted his body as he launched himself towards Koyuki's stomach. The flames from his sword wrapped around him to form a flaming drill.

Even as Lazarus returned back to the battlefield the flames around his body began to dance wildly. Suddenly the large fireball that was Lazarus erupted into three separate pillars of fire. One aimed to strike Koyuki's face, one her chest and the last her stomach. No one other than Koyuki would experience this attack. Whether intentionally or through his instincts Lazarus had focused his power entirely on the Yonko.

There was another illusion cast onto her. Koyuki had made the earlier mistake of not siphoning the power of the illusion earlier, and it had escaped from her entirely. Though, in her defense, she was uncertain of the conditions behind his devil fruit. Did he require focus to maintain his powers? It wasn't passive or induced by a specific requirement like hers? They weren't adaptive? Assuming that there powers were alike was a grave miscalculation on her part, and she wouldn't make it again.

The moment the illusion was cast onto her, Koyuki activated the powers of her mythical zoan; a biological ability of the Tsuchigumo to **consume** illusions and transform them into Anima. The idea of taking a fake life and birthing actual life energy was a famed ability of the mythical beast. Humans, when they ran, sweat. When they ate, they pooped. For a Tsuchigumo, this was the biological waste of consumption. It was why she wanted Lazarus in her crew. His ability to cast illusions would mean that she could always have a constant stream of anima. He would be the generator to her empire.

As the illusion dissipated from sight, all that was left was reality. Reality was Lazarus' army watching him carefully in anticipation as he charged forward with his flaming sword in hand. Reality was Magni maintaining the enchantment that left Koyuki without her full power. Reality was Soren engaging with Sekiro in the distant background. Reality was realizing that Lazarus stood no chance at the moment.

She moved her hand towards the hilt of her katana, still sheathed alongside her hip, and placed her leg forward.

"Ninpo: Flowing Sakura no Jutsu—Shockwave Slash."

Koyuki utilized the principles of Iaido in her movement. The way she drew her blade from its scabbard was near instantaneous, and smooth. There was no delay in her movements, nor a sound that indicated that the blade was even drawn. The only indication was the visual that appeared before the spectators. In that same moment, her immense figured disappeared from sight as she virtually teleported across the battlefield, utilizing the famed Fukuoka Family technique, **Void Step**. The effect was nearly the same as the Soru that the marines used. It differed in application. It was built around being silent, manipulating one's body and blending in with the world to prevent their next move from being calculated. While Koyuki's leg slammed against the ground ten times to generate the force needed to disappear into an afterimage, she did not launch herself. Instead, she slid, utilizing her own armament haki to make her virtually friction less as she guided herself across the world.

Before anyone could see, Koyuki had met Lazarus at the middle of their charge. Her darkened sword crackled with infused haoshoku haki as she swung it towards him, seeking to meet his own slash at the pinnacle.

"Let's make this a clash to remember, Lazarus!"

The speed of someone so large amazed Lazarus. Koyuki moved so quickly, so quietly and with so much *power*. Lazarus' flame covered blade met Koyuki's blade but the difference in strength was evident. Despite his years of training and warfare she was a mountain that he would struggle to climb. When he felt her power his desire to conquer that mountain was only strengthened.

The pair came together but only Lazarus was knocked back. His bones rattled from the collision with the Yonko and he tumbled backwards once again. He gathered himself and his feet left a long divot in the ground as he slid across the island. He searched for another strategy, something more he could try to fell the giant. He knew that if he continued to simply charge her he would lose. His devil fruit was still affecting her but he could tell that there was more going on than she let on.

Lazarus locked Koyuki as his focus once more. He charged forward once again and attempted to confuse her perception once more. Each step that Lazarus took caused his body to blur and split. There was one warrior, then two, then four, then sixteen, each one held their flaming blade ready to engage once again. This was not all though, as Koyuki would feel a strange sensation. Her skin began to bubble and in spots all across her body her skin morphed into elongated limbs. Each limb looked like the giant's usual limbs but sharpened claws tipped each finger. As the small army of Lazarus closed in the arms would grab at Koyuki to restrain and dig their claws into her flesh.

The warriors charged into her body like insects gnawing at her flesh. For Koyuki, the sensation felt as real as anything she had ever experienced. It was genuine pain. Her brain was absolutely convinced that what was happening to her **was** happening. However, Koyuki's tongue could taste the falsehood of the world she was experiencing. As she licked her lips, tinges of the illusions stuck to her tongue. One of the warriors disappeared, then another, and then one of the limbs moved. Koyuki was *literally* devouring Lazarus's illusions as if it was ice-cream on a cone.

"You'll need to evolve just a bit more," Koyuki murmured. She opened her mouth and deeply inhaled, ridding her body entirely of the illusions that Lazarus had cast. She slammed her blade into the earth, creating a fissure that sought to split the land in two. She clasped her hands together. "Fighting for your own pleasure won't make you strong. Man only becomes powerful when he has something to protect."

"**Ninpo: Kumo Kumo no Jutsu—Spider’s Web**"

The surrounding area began to transform as if a new world enveloped it. The sky became dark, the clouds turned a bright red, and the air itself became contaminated in a purple mist that was composed of the toxic venoms of Koyuki's mythical fruit. Her liquid venom bubbled from the ground and flushed over it like a tsunami, sitting ankle level to most normal sized people. This was no illusion. Lazarus, and everyone around him, would determine that quick enough. Koyuki had done the unthinkable. Manifested her imagination into reality, and transformed the landscape into something of her own creation.

"This is my ultimate technique. By shifting the world into something of my perception, I can change the entire environment. But, more importantly, it's a guaranteed strike for my mythical ability," Koyuki spoke. "And everyone in the immediate vicinity is affected. Even...."

Her eyes moved to Magni, the sorcerer who had been suppressing her strength all this time.

The change in environment amazed Lazarus. He could alter someone's senses to his own benefit at will but this was different. His senses were his own but the world was Koyuki's. He didn't let her show of power break him though. He pushed out the voice in his head that called for him to flee as he stepped forward. His knuckles went white as he gripped the hilt of his sword. If Magni were to fall the already miniscule chances of victory would be all but lost.

"Ya think I'm tha' selfish, eh? I migh' fight fer myself mos' the time bu' it ain't jus' cus I wana. I gotta fight ta be strong 'nough fer my people. We all want ta die in a glorious battle, bu' if we ain't got people strong 'nough ta give us our freedom then tha' can't happen. Slaves don't get ta choose how they die." He ran forward to place himself between the Yonko and his old friend. He didn't want to admit it out loud but he admired Koyuki. He wanted to have the power she held to protect his loved ones. He wanted the safety that level of power provided for those under his banner. The flames around Setsugen burned hotter as Lazarus prepared for another attack.

He leapt forward with his blade raised over head. He wanted to drive the beast off. He wanted to make sure she couldn't slay the men around him. His focus had intensified and he could feel something within in him change. He wasn't sure what the feeling was, it could just be his instincts trying to get his body to perform beyond the usually limits for all he knew. As he swung his sword an arc of flaming energy erupted and carved through the air. Little did Koyuki know that this attack would be different than anything he had done so far. She would feel the attack as if it were real, as she had with his other illusions, but this time her body's belief in the attack would be further exemplified. Lazarus' power would cause the damage she felt to manifest as the damage she felt became reality.

The flamed blade carved through any defense that she may have had. Koyuki felt the burning sensation as the illusion of the blade moved through her body, but it was different. It **felt** real the previous time. This time it felt the same. But, this time, what she tasted on the tip of her tongue was a genuine musk of blood and scorched chitin. Her eyes lit up in excitement. Lazarus, in all of his efforts, had finally begun to awaken the truth of his fruit. If only his body and mind were on the same page, he would have wielded the perfect offense. The ability to carve through any physical defense with his will alone was a strength wielded by a slight few.

Still, it was too late, for Koyuki's illusions had overtaken the army. Fueled by her venom within their system, she wielded the perception of everyone around her. As Lazarus charged, even as he spoke, he was taking in her own venom. Whether he could manipulate his own senses was something to be seen, but Koyuki simply lifted her fingers into the air and crossed them.

“**Ninpo: Kumo Kumo no Mi—Sensory Overload.”**

The illusion she crafted was one of immeasurable proportion. Everyone could see the universe, the stars, the ants that roamed their ant hills, the birds that chirped in the trees of the forest, the children that scurried the dense jungles of their respective islands, the babies that were born and cried from the comforts of their cribs. They could smell it, taste it, hear it, feel it. There was nothing that they *didn’t* experience from the illusion. Not a single thing.

But, because of that, she had her doubts that he could process anything. When shown everything, what could the brain do other than experience it? Was there anything left other than to perceive?

They were immobile, trapped in a world of infinite experiences.

Koyuki lifted her blade into the air.

Lazarus froze in place as he saw *everything*. He had felt the venom course through his body but the effect was more than he could handle. He saw things he had never even thought were possible. He knew that Koyuki was about to do something horrible to his people but he couldn't move. His mind fought against the onslaught of information but it was no use.

Magni had also fallen to the affects of the yonko's power. His decades of experience and the talismans he had created to protect himself could only aid him so much in a situation like this. His mind was stronger than most everyone that hailed from Berski island but this power was truly worthy of the one called the Dread Beast. As his mind struggled his body slowly moved. He managed to take hold of a talisman that dangled from his shoulder. It glowed softly from his touch and a small barrier shimmered into existence around him. It wouldn't do much, in fact he doubt it would do anything but his pride as a warrior wouldn't let him die so easily.

The world in front of Lazarus opened up. It was a different view than before. Instead, the scene had shifted to a cabin. He stood up from his bed, and a brisk warmth rushed over him from the fire that emerged from the fireplace. There were distinct sounds of snow being shoveled outside that he could hear, and he was pulled to it. He grabbed his coat from the door and stepped outside.

Her raven black hair stretched down her back.

"So, this is the form that you're most comfortable with," the woman spoke. Her voice sounded just like Lagatha's, Lazarus's wife. But, the dialect, the inflection of her speech was slightly different.

She turned around. Her face was exactly like Lagatha. She was identical in every way.

"Your wife is very beautiful, Lazarus."

"Aye, the mos' beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on." The tone Lazarus spoke with was stone cold. He tried his best to hide his emotions but that was never something he was very good at. His eyes had gone wide and his jaw tensed. His head spun. The information he had been bombarded with was so overwhelming that hardly any of it would make a lasting impact on his mind. The scene before him was different though because it was so personal.

The Berski people believe warfare is a natural part of life. Warfare brings joy and sadness in almost equal measure. The Godi teach that all people have an after life that is influenced by when and how one dies. The dead are not mourned in a traditional sense. When a warrior falls in battle their bravery and courage are celebrated as they are believed to join their ancestors at Dolgthrasir's grand hall. Lazarus wasn't afraid to die because he believed he would be welcomed by all in the hall.

But he wasn't prepared to lose Lagatha. She had been a guiding force in his life for so long, a voice of reason and comfort when he had nothing but rage and hopelessness. He saw his wife's face before him, heard her voice speak to him now, but it was not her. It wasn't right. He was filled with a sense of suffocating dread and burning rage unlike anything he had felt before. He wasn't sure if it was Koyuki's power that stayed his hand or the whirlwind of emotions that tore at his heart and mind.

"Wat 'ave ya done with her?"

"Everyone outside of this realm apart from a few are either dead or in critical condition," Koyuki replied casually. She let the air vibrate with tension. "Including you."

She gave him a pointed look.

"But, that was my intention when I cast this illusion. I thought I wanted you in my crew, and I still do, but I'm not sure if you'd ever commit to me after what I've done to your army."

She smiled. "Such is the duality of war."

"Dead..." His jaw clenched and a vein popped in his neck. His mind raced as he thought about his men on the shores. He knew they came here with the knowledge they could die, he just hoped they were able to fight back. Then his eyes went cold and sweat formed on his brow. He wanted to lash out, to tear her apart. How could he though? He knew it was a trick but the woman before him appeared to be his beloved. He wasn't sure if it was her power that held him in place or the inability to strike down Lagatha's likeness.

"Were any of 'em able ta fight back?" His voice was calm but the storm of emotions that he felt was barely veiled. He had lost brothers in arms before but the thought that they were killed without being able to fight worried him. It wasn't their way to die without a fight, but surely the gods would understand? He hoped the warriors' bravery was enough for them to earn their seats in the Grand Hall.

Koyuki's smile faded. "As much as you were able to. Though, I doubt that even you are in the best condition after my last attack. I nearly wiped out the entire beach. If your men didn't drown, the sheer force of my strike would have killed them."

She snapped her fingers. "But, that's not what I'm here to talk about. I wanted to talk to you about your goals before I left."

The sudden question of his goals surprised him. His exhaustion had caught up to him and he was unable to hide the confusion form his face. His goals? What was the Dread Beast's goal, did she want to hear his goals so that she might try and crush his dreams? A tinge of anger and pride sparked to life in Lazarus' eyes.

"My goals...I wana see my people grow an' live 'ow we wana." He paused for a moment as he stared at Lagatha's face. It was true he wanted to be a great leader for the tribes, but that wasn't all. He realized he wanted something more than that. "I wana keep her safe, happy an' give 'er the life she 'serves. An' I will move mountains ta make sure she gets that."

"You'll join my crew then," Koyuki concluded. "That's the type of man you are."

She exhaled.

"Lazarus. My first mission to you is to heal. I'll use you when I build my empire. At my side, you'll watch me become the greatest to have ever lived."

Lazarus stood still for what felt like an eternity. He tried to process all that had happened and what he was just told. He knew that should he refuse they would all die here. He had known the Beast was powerful but the plan he, Klaus and Magni had come up with was nowhere near enough. He tasted true power, an overwhelming force that surpassed the tales he had been told. But he was a Berski warrior at heart and the defiant streak that ran in his heart wouldn't be so easily ignored.

"I will do as ya say fer now. I woul' be a fool ta not wana see more of wha' ya can do. Bu' don' think this is the end, I will learn from ya an' become stronger. Ya might be the Otti Vattr bu' every beast is 'ventually slain. Hehehoha-" He coughed violently as he tried to laugh. He wasn't even sure if he laughed from some sort of relief or from how silly his words actually sounded.

She turned away.

"Then wake up."

The scene that was pushed was one of a literal catastrophe. Pulled from the illusion revealed to Lazarus the ruse of the world. The island itself had been carved in half by the force of Koyuki's slice, creating a waterfall that phased into the ocean. The scorched sands transformed to glass in some places, reflecting the dead bodies to the world that lay upon it. Even the finest warriors, Lazarus included, found themselves nearly critically injured. In fact, Koyuki had her doubts that anyone apart from Lazarus was even capable of consciousness.

She stood at the edge of the island with her family members resting upon her shoulders.

"Even he couldn't...Isshin."

## Extending Bridges

The level of destruction, the amount of damage, and all the ruined plans. This was the power of the strongest empress of the sea, where no plan was ever gonna work without the proper strength backing it up. But this wasn't a loss for Klaus, on the opposite, it was a win, it was a step forward. Phasing through space as it fluctuates like the surface of water, Klaus was back at the battle area. Wearing new clothes, his wounds are all closed, and he looked as fresh as ever. He looked at Koyuki, then switched to Lazarus, he had to rest his kenbunshoku haki, and so he wasn't able to keep up with what happened on this side of the planes.

"Jeez, ya'll really went all out huh?" Looking at Lazarus, Klaus knew it in his heart that the warrior not only did his best, but far surpassed that. Something he had always admired about Lazarus, which is another reason why this was a win in Klaus' eyes. "Koyuki!" Turning around to face the empress, Klaus spoke so casually. "Leaving so soon? Let's have a drink at least." Klaus spent a lot of time with Lazarus and the Berski people, he knew the only proper action after a battle this brutal was to share drinks, to bury the losses, and celebrate the wins.

Koyuki was visibly surprised.

"You're still alive, and on top of that, you're moving pretty well," she spoke. "But as you can see, Klaus, my work here is finished. My vacation has been interrupted, and my family is annoyed."

Her eyes grew a bit more stern.

"Are you interested in also becoming a member of my crew?"

"Yeah, I'm fully healed now and twice as strong!" Stretching as he stood between Lazarus and the leaving Koyuki. "I see..." Yet, as he heard Koyuki's offer, Klaus understood what had happened in his absence. Turning his gaze towards Lazarus instantly, he knows Lazarus agreed to joining her crew. Switching his gaze towards the empress, all the memories of how his work under the Moon Pirates flashed into his brain.

"I will tell you my decision soon in Wano!"

This time, Klaus didn't sound like a challenger, his tone was way too casual. He's growing to not only respect the empress, but actually like her. She was nothing like Valor who Klaus loathed, she was the opposite. Koyuki had the strength that allows her to be merciful, her power while cruel in nature, allows her to be kind. She could have killed everyone present, taken hostages, tortured them and went for more blood. That's what Valor would have done, but not Koyuki, even though it was her family vacation that was ruined.

"Yeah. I will see you in Wano, Koyuki!"

"Good," She smiled.

"Until then, take care of everything you must. Once you arrive to Wano, there will be no time to continue dilly-dallying," Koyuki added. "You'll be a high-ranking member, which means you'll be swamped with work and task for whatever Wolfgang decides to assign you."

She turned away from Klaus.

"Oh, but do know that in the Black Widow Pirates, we do not tolerate defeat. No one is allowed to lose until I become Queen of the Pirates."

A smirk emerged on Klaus' face, queen of pirates, king, a dream he had heard many aspire to achieve, but no one got close to it. This was the first time he had seen someone who was actually close enough to it, someone who is able to achieve it. "We will see about that!" His smirk turned into a grin, before it faded as he turned around to face Lazarus.

"Let's go, you look like you need a bit of rest too."