[91] Den of Scum
[2600 words]
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[The Next Morning]
The bright sun shone down on the revived Mortem Island.
Its warmth graced the newly-birthed trees, causing them to lean ever so slightly toward the west.
Damien woke up alongside the sun, wiping his sleepy eyes.
He felt the weight on his chest, glancing at the two arms draped over him. Suffice to say that Damien and the girls started the year off with a bang.
"..."
He quietly extricated himself from the two women, making his way outside.
It was a nice morning: clear skies, gentle seas, mellow wind.
"Sibyl, bring up my stats."
[Coming right up…]
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
[Einar D. Damien]
[Age: 18 years, 10 months, 17 days]
[Height: 11' 7"] (3.53 m)
[Status: Thriving]
[Devil Fruit: Pulverize Pulverize Fruit (Advanced Mastery)]
[Fruit Rating: 6.5 Stars]
[Weapon: Ryūshi of the Supreme Grade Series]
[Ryūshi Combat Arts Comprehension: 54% ↑]
[Notable Characteristics: Black Bones (III), Fishman-Hybrid, Seastone Resistance]
[Skills: Titanic Recovery (+), Titanic Vitality, Evolvable Anatomy, Voice of All Things, Will of D., Rokushiki, Life Return (Advanced Mastery) ↑, Destiny Perception {NEW}, Empathy {NEW}]
[Haki: Observation Haki (Grandmastery (I)) ↑, Armament Haki (Advanced Mastery) ↑, Conqueror's Haki (Nigh-Advanced Mastery) ↑]
[Strength: Bottom Tier Yonko]
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
Empathy was just a form of Emotion Sense which Damien had picked up recently. It had the simple ability to perceive the underlying emotions in a person with inferior Haki.
However, there were other things of significance in the stats update that caught the pirate's eyes.
"So that itch in my body wasn't just an illusion, looks like I can evolve my Recovery!"
Although there was a slight complication, "My Vitality is not ready for evolution though, which probably needs my Black Bones to be maxed out."
Damien sighed.
Both his Recovery and Vitality go hand-in-hand, keeping them at an imbalance could be unwise.
.
"Still a Bottom-Tier Yonko, that's crazy," Damien muttered to himself, scratching his head.
He has been at this stage for a year now! The rapid increase in strength the Sin Incarnate had gotten used to had greatly died down.
"Sibyl, any thoughts?"
The System answered right away, her soft yet plain voice echoing in the pirate's mind:
[The reason you were able to enter the Yonko stage so early on was due to your ability to use attacks with the power that exceeded those in the Pseudo-Yonko stage and also due to having the titanic durability.]
[But in the Middle Tier of the stage, it is expected to have multiple Advanced Masteries and even a couple of Grandmasteries over a Colour of Haki. Whereas, Top Tier Yonko has multiple Grandmasteries.]
Damien sighed, relenting to the scenario at hand.
"Puru," "Puru," "Puru."
The buzzing phone shifted the young man's attention as he brought out the snail.
"Katcha~!" "This is Damien."
"Ufufufu, it's been a while since I've heard your voice, Damien-chan," came a teasing reply.
The pirate smiled at the sight of the snail that had taken on the appearance of the black-haired woman.
"Shakky-nee, good morning to you too."
The snail puffed on a cigar, even creating smoke on Damien's end, "Maybe for the Grand Line, but Hachinosu doesn't have many good mornings."
"Have they gotten rowdier?"
Shakky nodded through the snail, "Ever since the Valkyrie Pirates wholly merged with the Rocks, well, let's just say things got a little hectic."
"There were even questions about the current Division Commanders as many young and feisty rookies want those spots."
Damien was not bothered, rather he found it amusing, "Rahahaha! If it was that easy to grab those spots then we would have hundreds of Division Commanders now."
The snail puffed another cloud of smoke, "Tell me about it, these idiots think they're something, it's almost funny."
.
Her tone then turned chipper, "So, Damien-chan, can I expect your return soon?"
The young pirate looked at the distant horizon, knowing what awaited him. A thin grin appeared on his face as he talked into the receiver, "Yeah, I'll be there shortly."
The face on the snail widened into a smile of its own, "Very good, I look forward to seeing how you've grown."
"Katcha~!"
Damien pocketed the device, thinking over the imminent future.
The time had come to return to hell.
…
[An Hour Later]
Everyone else had gotten up, it was around five in the morning.
Toki prepared the final breakfast, leaving Damien to have a quick chat with Aurora.
"The Underworld is getting calmer, even the other Emperors have quieted down; a little too quiet," Aurora finished her quick report.
"However, the World Government levied higher taxes as per the Heavenly Tributes. It was originally 40% of a nation's annual value but now it's hiked to 45%."
Damien narrowed his eyes in pity, "Blood-sucking leaches... But it isn't surprising. The constant disorder in the seas is ever-demanding on the budget from all government agencies."
The purple-haired girl nodded in agreement, "I'm sure that number will only go further up when you return."
The last few words drew a smile from the girl as she remembered that most of the chaos was in some way, related to the Rocks Pirates.
Damien chuckled at her comments with a smirk, "Well, causing mayhem is a mandate for us."
.
The subject went back to where it started as the Sin Incarnate advised, "Be careful in those shady seas while I'm gone. There's no problem in slowing down if things get tough."
Aurora's lips stretched into a smile as she heard the gentle words. "Don't worry, I can handle the rats down there," she replied with a nod.
"I've also developed a new ability to keep track of their endeavours."
She held a hand in Damien's direction, fuelling it with her powers.
*Vrooo~*
A quiet wind erupted as the purple mist began to transform into a creature of sorts.
Wings, talons and sharp beak.
"I will have these Night Ravens surveil the other Emperors' territories. They each will return their respective homing stones with any important information."
She also held a purple rock in hand, one which the raven flew straight toward, latching its talons onto it.
"They feed off the night, recharging when the sun sets."
[Night Raven Image (in Discord)]
"Good, I'll leave it to you."
Aurora beamed a small smile, akin to her reserved nature, "Mhm."
…
[Two Hours Later]
Damien and the other three now stood at the docks of Mortem Island.
The Sea Skimmer, Damien's trusty boat floated in the sea in front of them.
"When will you be back?" Toki lightly questioned, trying to mask her sadness.
"I'll swing by in maybe a year, but I won't be cleared to return till another year after that."
His expression soon turned solemn, "Let's just say that some big things are coming."
He then turned to Kuzan who seemed down and instructed, "Listen to Toki, I look forward to seeing just how far you come, Kuzan."
"Maybe by then you can actually land a hit on me," Damien cheekily said, raising a fist.
The boy smirked and met the fist bump.
"I'll turn you into a popsicle!"
.
Damien hugged the two girls together, topping it off with a kiss to each of them: "I'll need your help with the hell that is about to come in the next few years."
Toki just smiled, going for another hug to memorize the warmth.
Aurora simply linked her hands with Damien's, meanwhile, her bright gem-like eyes were glued to his.
"I set up many outposts in the New World, they will give you any resources you'll need."
Damien nodded, breathing his final breath of the peaceful getaway island.
Thud!
His towering body landed on the boat, sending a dull ripple through the water below.
*Grurururu*
The engine fired up, credit to the Dials harvested from Skypiea.
"Stay safe!" the green-haired girl yelled from the edge of the docks, waving her hand.
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[Two Days Later]
[Fishman Island]
Unlike before, Damien chose to enter the island without hiding his presence.
The coated ship, credited to the Coating Dail again from Skypiea, arrived at the island beyond the depths of the seas.
*Purrup*
The vessel permeated through the dual bubble defense, shuttling on in.
"Halt!"
Dozens of Fishman guards encircled the boat, their weapons raised.
They watched with great aggression, evident in their solemn faces reeling with threat.
A shadow stepped out with his hands raised, "Looks like the chaos upstairs has made its way down here too."
The guards paused, examining the threat.
"You are…!"
…
"You should have told me you were coming-jamon," came a hearty voice. "I would have received you myself."
"No worries."
Damien walked beside the giant merman through the streets of the bountiful land.
Neptune sighed, "Ever since the Government lost grasp on the New World, things have gotten harder for us."
"Many enslavers sneak in every day, trying to capture mermaids as treasure. It leaves us all furious-jamon!"
Damien did not speak, letting the Knight roar his frustrations.
"You seem to be stepping up quite a lot, Neptune."
The Fishman dryly laughed, "I'm afraid the King is about to pass on, if I don't step up as his chief Guard then who else will?"
"You'll make a fine king."
Neptune blinked, "Hoh Hoh Hoh! I sure hope so-jamon."
He then turned to another subject, "Damien-kun, are you in need of something?"
The pirate smirked, "Well, I was to swing by the Sea Forest once more, revisit the red stone."
…
[Sea Forest]
The duo now stood before giant stones.
One blue, one red.
"Neptune, I hope you can deliver a message to anyone else who makes their way to this location."
The Knight seemed a little confused.
Damien eyed the towering merman and explained, "I plan on taking the red one with me."
Neptune raised a single one of his bushy eyebrows, "You want to take it with you? Why not just make a copy?"
Damien turned back to the crimson cube, conveying his thoughts, "That thing is probably worth all the Four Outer Seas combined."
"What-jamon!?"
Damien hummed, "You will soon take on the mantle of King. I'm sure you know of the fate of the Mermaid Princess."
The words brought great shock to the fishman's eyes.
He could not help but float to the side, looking at the pirate with a tense look.
.
"I found a Poneglyph at a Sky Island, leading me here to find that great weapon—Poseidon!"
Damien matched the shaken merman's eyes, making his point clear, "Neptune, you are the future king, sworn to protect your nation. While I'm the pirate from the seas above."
Damien's keen senses could easily feel the merman's grip tightening over his trident, but chose not to speak on it.
"When you take the throne, you will have to cut deals with pirates, there's no changing that fact. I hope you choose wisely."
"..."
The Great Knight of the Sea, Neptune, was left at a standstill.
Thoughts flashed through his mind, envisioning a future with hordes of pirates swarming the seas; it would not be long before his nation would be overwhelmed.
Even the World Government saw his home as more of a treasure chest than anything else.
His eyes drifted through the terrain, landing on Damien once more; a confident smirk.
.
Neptune heaved a sigh, calming his drumming heart.
"Damien-kun, you're right. If you can find out about Poseidon, I'm sure it is a matter of time before someone else does so too-jamon."
He then matched the glowing red eyes, "I believe you will be a great ally to the Fishman in the future… I will pass on your message."
His words left a wider grin on Damien's face, one of satisfaction, "Tell anyone who seeks the missing stone to come and find me, that's all."
Neptune nodded, removing the blanket of tension from the Sea Forest.
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
He watched as the Sin Incarnate took some steps forward, reaching out to the Road Poneglyph.
*Poof*
And just like that, the stone was gone!
A square crater was all that remained to indicate that something was once here, accompanying the blue Poneglyph. One of the four keys to vast, forbidden knowledge was now in the pocket of the Sin Incarnate.
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[Six Days Later]
[The New World]
In the New World sat an island with a rather distinct appearance.
The size of the island was rather small but the giant skull erected out into the sky was the real knocker.
This is the Pirate Island of Hachinosu!
A rather loud atmosphere resounded on the island as constant violent booms and bangs went off.
Blood stained the cracked grounds. Perhaps one day this island was home to vibrant forests and booming wildlife, but now it was a den of chaos.
The skies themselves were covered with black clouds to further amplify the hectic atmosphere.
The air had a dull red hue to it, with a taste of metal. It was from all the incessant bloodshed!
The men here were the absolute scum of the seas.
They killed, massacred, pillaged, robbed, ravaged and destroyed everything in their path.
They were the strongest and the scummiest of men in the world. Tens of thousands of them gathered all over Hachinosu.
The main activities were the following:
Eat. Drink. Sleep. Party. Fight. Kill. Sex. Loot. Massacre.
If a normal human were to speak on this island they would immediately feel shell-shocked. Whether it was the reeking smell of death or the endless corpses lying about, it was truly a despairing sight.
…
[Muerta Bar, Hachinosu]
A small broken-down bar sat near the core of the island. A few corpses were set as decoration near the corners.
"Hey, did you get the message? The big bosses are comin' to town!" A pirate exclaimed as he drank some rum.
"That's right, I feel all tingly inside!"
The man nodded his head, "You should be! I was there at the Angelic War where the Commanders Shiki and Charlotte Lilin fought and took down Herja, they're monsters!"
"What division are you guys in?" The man asked with vile intent.
"Hmm, I'm in the Ninth Division."
The man grumbled, "You lucky idiot! You got to be in Big Sis Shakky's Division!"
"Yayayaya! I haven't seen her though, I heard she went to Sabaody Archipelago recently."
He then asked, "What about you?"
He took a quick sip of his drink, "I'm in the Second Division with the legendary Golden Lion himself!"
*Thud*
"Ayy boys," A gray-haired man joined the conversation, "I got into the Seventh Division, you know who's in charge of it?"
One replied with a grin, "That Division was wiped out by the Marines… so why don't you join 'em in hell!?"
The man jolted out of his seat, a hidden blade in hand.
*Swish!*
The blade hummed in delight as the fresh blood sprayed out in its wake.
A head fell to the ground with a thud, its eyes perpetually widened.
"Oy, Oy, why'd you do that?"
The killer gave a fearsome grin and licked the dripping blood from his blade, "Bladada! I didn't like the way he looked!"
…
Under the gloomy island came a loud commotion, one that overshadowed all other treacherous activities.
Suppressed gasps went off while the pirates mumbled amongst one another.
A pin-drop silence plagued the den of scum, leaving the worst of the worst to feel a chill down their spines.
"Boya, what's happening?" A lanky witch of a woman asked her human dog, lightly petting his long blue hair.
"It's the Division Commanders… T-They are returning, one by one!"
To Be Continued…
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Author's Corner.
This was the last chapter of the Vacation Saga as Hachinosu welcomes its top predators back home.
Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q