Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
━──── East Blue was known for its seemingly calm waters, yet it held a trove of mysteries and hidden dangers, cloaked by an air of deceptive tranquility. Though widely regarded as the weakest of the four seas, its allure wasn't for the faint of heart. Strange, untamed islands dotted its waters, each one a potential trap for the unwary.
One such place was the island of Sixis, notorious among seafarers for swallowing those unfortunate enough to land upon its shores. This was no island of monstrous creatures or perilous jungles. There were no venomous beasts lurking in shadowed undergrowth, no carnivorous plants waiting to ensnare the careless. In fact, the island was eerily devoid of typical wildlife, save for a few isolated colonies of massive, predatory bird-like creatures. These monstrous birds nested high up in a colossal, cylindrical rock formation at the island's center, their shrill calls echoing from countless caves that scarred the stone. But these birds were not the true threat here.
It was the ocean──a wild, volatile force surrounding Sixis like a living barrier. The currents churned with a sinister, unnatural rhythm, crashing against the shoreline with relentless intensity, as if the island itself were a trap set by the sea. Any ship or raft daring to approach would find itself torn to pieces, leaving the unlucky few stranded and cut off from escape.
Ace leaned heavily against a broad, sun-dappled tree, his chest heaving as he fought against the weariness clawing at his bones. Hunger gnawed at him, a hollow ache that dulled his senses. He dragged a hand through his messy black hair, feeling the grit of salt and sand that had accumulated over weeks on this wretched island. Every attempt to escape had been in vain, each idea dashed by the merciless waves. He glanced to the side, a small frown tugging at his lips as he thought of his one-time companion, Deuce. Even he had abandoned him once he'd learned the truth.
Ace's fingers curled into a fist, his knuckles pressing into the bark of the tree as he swallowed down the bitterness that lingered. The journey he had barely begun──was it going to end here, on a forsaken rock in East Blue?
"I shouldn't have talked so much," he muttered, lips pressing into a grim line. His own words echoed dully in his mind, each syllable laced with regret. Why had he mentioned him? Maybe he'd run out of other things to talk about──Luffy, the bandits, the hunts. He kept memories of his other brother, the one who had walked away from them, buried deep. But his father... his mouth had run away with him, and he had let the truth slip.
The son of Gold Roger. He could still see the shock, the horror that had twisted Deuce's face. How could he expect anyone to react otherwise? The Pirate King's legacy was one of chaos, a shadow cast over everyone who bore his blood.
