𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑 // 𝐓.𝐋𝐀𝐖 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂

1 : The Reaper

The eerie silence of the Marine base was shattered by the slow, deliberate footsteps of Lieutenant Commander Valeria.

Each step echoed against the cold stone walls, sending shivers down the spines of the Marines standing at attention.

Though the wind was still, an unnatural chill seemed to follow her as if her very presence drew the warmth out of the air.

Valeria's skeletal mask glinted faintly in the dim light, the jagged crown of golden spikes around her head casting twisted shadows that danced across the walls.

Her subordinates stood straighter as she passed, though many couldn't hide the subtle tremble in their hands or the cold sweat forming at the nape of their necks.

"Lieutenant Commander..." one whispered under his breath, his voice shaking.

He dared not speak any louder, for fear that even a whisper might catch her attention.

She didn't need to acknowledge them. The weight of her reputation—the legend of the "Reaper of the Grand Line"—was enough to silence any doubts they might have.

It was said that wherever she walked, death itself followed, and though no one had seen it, they all felt it in their bones.

Valeria moved with an otherworldly calm, her eyes scanning the path ahead, unfazed by the terror she left in her wake.

As she passed one particularly young Marine, barely past his training, he flinched, his hands gripping his rifle tighter.

His wide eyes followed her, drawn to the hollow, empty sockets of her mask.

The mask was alive, or so they said—fused to her face by a curse that gave her the power to see beyond the physical world, anticipate danger, and sense fear.

And right now, the air was thick with fear.

Valeria continued on, the flow of her black cloak swirling gently with each stride, until she disappeared into the shadows at the end of the corridor.

The moment she was out of sight, the Marines let out quiet, shaky breaths, as if they had been holding them the entire time.

Some exchanged nervous glances, while others wiped the cold sweat from their brows.

One of the veteran soldiers turned to the young recruit who had flinched, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"Don't stare at her too long, kid... unless you want the nightmares."

The recruit nodded quickly, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Valeria had seen him—even through the mask.

Just as the tension in the air seemed to dissipate, a calm, lazy voice broke the silence.

"Oi, Valeria," came the drawl, accompanied by the familiar sound of boots dragging across the floor.

Vice Admiral Aokiji, the towering Marine admiral, appeared from a side hallway, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, his breath visible in the slight mist he always carried with him.

"Quit scaring the kids, will ya? I know you like the whole Reaper look, but you're freaking people out—even your friends."

His tone was as casual as ever, but there was an amused glint in his eyes as he stopped in front of her, towering over her skeletal form like a glacier looming over the ocean.

Despite his teasing, Valeria stood unfazed, her cold gaze locked onto him through the sockets of her mask.

It wasn't fear or even intimidation that kept her from responding—she simply didn't need to.

The silence between them might have been awkward for anyone else, but Valeria thrived in silence, her stillness only broken by the slight tilt of her head, as if asking if Aokiji really expected her to care.

Before Aokiji could say more, a snort of laughter echoed from further down the hall.

"Oh, come on, Taichou! You know Val can't help it. It's that charming personality of hers,"

Lieutenant Commander Darwish, a burly man with wild red hair and an infectious grin, emerged from a nearby room, shaking his head.

Unlike the rest of the Marines, he seemed completely at ease with Valeria's presence. His booming laugh filled the corridor as he sauntered up to the group.

Darwish slapped a hand on Valeria's shoulder—though it was more for show, since she didn't even flinch under his touch.

"Honestly, if looks could kill, we'd all be dead by now, huh?"

Valeria's eyes narrowed slightly behind her mask, and though she remained silent, there was the faintest flicker of amusement in the air—something only those who knew her well could pick up on.

"You two never change," Aokiji sighed, scratching the back of his head lazily.

Darwish laughing, " Valeria being all spooky... sometimes I think the Marines have more interesting characters than the pirates we catch."

Darwish grinned, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Well, somebody's got to keep things interesting around here, right?"

Valeria finally spoke, her voice low and cool like the dead of night. "You talk too much, Darwish."

Darwish threw his head back in another hearty laugh. "Yeah, yeah, but you know you'd be bored without me."

Aokiji smirked, watching the two.

"Just don't freeze the poor recruits in terror before lunchtime, Valeria. Let them survive a few more hours, okay?"

Valeria's head tilted slightly once again, giving nothing away. Then, with a soft rustle of her cloak, she resumed walking, her presence still commanding but not as oppressive now that Aokiji and Darwish had broken the spell.

Behind her, Darwish chuckled, shaking his head. "Always the same old Val... but that's why we love her, right?"