Blood centrifuge (Male reader x One piece harem AU)

The Bond of Beasts

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the endless expanse of jungle as I made my way back to the shoreline. The ocean stretched out in front of me, vast and indifferent. A reminder of how far I was from the world I once knew—and how determined I was to return to it.

The day's training had been grueling, my body pushed to its limits once again. But now, I had a plan. If I was going to leave this forsaken island and take my vengeance on Akainu, I needed a way off. I couldn't rely on being stranded forever, and I wasn't the type to wait around for fate to lend a hand.

A boat. That was my next step.

I scanned the tree line, searching for the right wood. The trees here were ancient, their trunks thick and sturdy—perfect for crafting a seaworthy vessel. I walked over to one, laying my hand on its rough bark, feeling the coolness of the tree beneath my fingers. It would do.

With a sharp flick of my wrist, I summoned my blood-sword. The crimson blade shimmered in the sunlight, its edge keen and deadly. I took a deep breath, calming my mind, then swung.

The sword sliced cleanly through the tree trunk, the blood-infused blade cutting through the wood with ease. A deep, resonating crack filled the air as the tree began to fall, and I stepped back, watching as it crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

I moved quickly, my body on autopilot, slicing the tree into manageable sections. Each cut was precise, each piece of wood exactly the size I needed. My hands worked with purpose, shaping the logs into planks, the beginnings of a small boat taking form before me.

Sweat dripped down my forehead, my muscles straining with the effort, but I didn't stop. I couldn't afford to. The sooner I finished, the sooner I could be on my way.

As I worked, my mind drifted back to the Marines, to Akainu's face twisted in that grim, merciless expression. The memories still burned. The innocents he had sacrificed, the lives he had thrown away in the name of "justice." My fists tightened around the hilt of the blood-sword. It was only a matter of time before I'd face him again.

But for now, I had to focus.

The rhythmic sound of wood being cleaved filled the air as I continued crafting the boat. I was lost in the work, the repetitive movements, when suddenly, a low growl cut through the silence.

I froze.

My grip tightened on the sword as I slowly turned to face the source of the sound. Another wolf.

This one was smaller than the first, but its eyes were just as wild, just as hungry. It stood at the edge of the tree line, hackles raised, lips curled in a snarl. The beast was poised to attack.

Not again.

I could've killed it in an instant. The blood-sword was already in my hand, and my reflexes were sharp. But something stopped me. Maybe it was the exhaustion, the fact that I was sick of spilling blood, or maybe it was the glint of fear I saw in the wolf's eyes.

It lunged.

I sidestepped easily, spinning to face it as it landed where I had been standing. Before it could recover, I raised my hand, summoning a spear of blood in the air beside me. It hovered, sharp and deadly, waiting for my command.

The wolf growled again, its eyes narrowing as it prepared for another attack.

But I didn't strike.

The spear floated beside me, ready to be thrown, but I held it there, my eyes locked onto the wolf's. It was just an animal. A creature trying to survive, just like I was. There was no reason to kill it. Not this time.