One Piece : Herald of the Abyss

The sea grows darker as Kael ventures north, following the directions of the island that Jax provided. The air is heavy with tension, the distant sounds of shouting and laughter breaking through the otherwise eerie silence.

Kael jumps into the island from his boat and starts following the sound of gunshot and smoke rising to the sky.He goes silently into the island forest.

Kael crouches behind a thicket of trees, his sharp eyes observing the rival gang's encampment. It's a chaotic sprawl of tents and crates, with armed men milling about. A bonfire crackles in the center, casting flickering shadows across their faces.

Kael : "Amateurs. This won't take long."

Kael moves like a ghost through the trees, his footsteps silent. He draws his dragon claws , its edge catching the faint moonlight, and slips into the camp.

The first guard doesn't even have time to react. A single, precise slash cuts through the air, and the man crumples silently to the ground.

Kael advances methodically, eliminating several more guards with brutal efficiency. The gang members don't realize they're under attack until it's too late.

A shout finally rings out as one of them spots Kael.

Gang Member "Intruder! We're under attack!"

The camp erupts into chaos as the gang scrambles for their weapons.

Kael steps into the open, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the firelight. The gang surrounds him, their weapons gleaming.

Gang Leader : "Who are you and what are you doing? Big mistake coming here alone, pirate."

Kael smirks, his voice cold.

Kael : "Alone? I'm more than enough."

The gang charges, but Kael is a whirlwind of destruction. His clawed hands swing and stab with terrifying precision, cutting through the attackers with ease. His movements are fluid, almost graceful, as he dodges and counters with devastating power.

Gang Leader :"What is this….his hand, why is it like that, well no matter" angry

The gang leader, a burly man wielding a massive axe, steps forward, roaring in anger.

Kael meets the leader's charge head-on, their weapons clashing with a deafening roar. Sparks fly as the two exchange blows, but Kael's superior speed and skill quickly turn the tide.

With a final, decisive strike, Kael disarms the leader and drives his blade through the man's chest.

The leader collapses, and the remaining gang members scatter, their morale shattered.

Minutes Later

He then picks up the corpses of the leader gang and throws it to the bonfire and watches as the body burns and melted skin.

Kael surveys the now-silent camp, the bodies of the fallen strewn around him. He turned his clawed hand back to his original and began inspecting the crates stacked near the bonfire.

Breaking one crate open, he finds the stolen goods Jax had described.

He loads the crates onto a makeshift sled, tying it securely with ropes he finds in the camp. With a final glance at the destruction he's wrought, Kael begins the long trek back to the cove.

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Couple Hours Later

Jax waits nervously at the cove, pacing near his shack as Kael approaches, dragging the sled laden with Adamwood and stolen goods. The guards step aside, their expressions a mix of awe and fear.

Kael dumps the sled in front of Jax, the stolen crates tumbling to the ground.

Kael : "Your goods. And more. Now, the Adam wood."

Jax : "I'll admit, I didn't think you'd pull it off. But a deal's a deal. The Adamwood is yours"

Jax signals to his men, who bring out a stash of the rare timber. Kael inspects it, running a hand over the smooth, metallic surface.

Kael : "Perfect."

Jax smirks, his confidence returning.

Jax : "If you ever need more... or another job, you know where to find me."

Kael doesn't respond, He turns and walks away and says

Kael : "Send this wood to the shipwright at the cliff" he order them

Back at the shipwright's workshop, Kael looks at the delivered Adamwood at the man's feet.

Kael : "The wood you wanted. Start building."

The shipwright looks at the timber, his eyes wide with amazement.

Shipwright : "You really are something else, pirate. With this, I'll craft you a ship unlike any other."

Kael nods, his purple eyes fixed on the horizon.

Kael : "This is the beginning of the storm. Let the world brace itself."

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Days Later

Kael sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the small dockyard, his golden eyes observing the shipwright and his crew as they toil under the sun. The massive Adamwood beams are being shaped and assembled, each strike of the hammer resonating across the quiet bay.

The structure of the ship is already taking shape, its imposing frame a testament to the quality of the materials and the ambition of its future captain.

Kael leans back against the rock, his expression unreadable.

Kael : "A ship strong enough to conquer the Grand Line. Strong enough to carry my vision forward." Kael muttered to himself

The villagers, still wary of Kael, keep their distance, whispering amongst themselves about the enigmatic criminal.

Night falls, and Kael remains in his spot, the glow of the moon casting long shadows over the half-finished ship. A small campfire burns nearby, the only source of warmth in the cool night air.

As Kael sits in silence, a young boy approaches cautiously, clutching a small basket of food. The boy hesitates, his eyes wide with fear and curiosity.

Kael notices the boy but says nothing, his gaze shifting back to the fire.

The Boy : "I-I brought you this. My mom said you might be hungry."

The boy sets the basket down and steps back quickly, his hands trembling. Kael looks at the basket, then at the boy, his expression softening slightly.

Kael lets out a low chuckle, the sound both unsettling and strangely warm.

Kael : "Go home, kid. And tell your mother… thanks."

The boy nods quickly and runs off, leaving Kael alone once more.

.

Days later, the shipwright approaches Kael, wiping sweat from his brow.

Shipwright : "We're making good progress. Another week, maybe less, and she'll be seaworthy. The strongest ship I've ever built."

Kael nods, his gaze fixed on the nearly completed vessel.

Kael : "Good. Make sure every detail is perfect. This ship will be my weapon, my legacy."

The shipwright hesitates before speaking again.

Shipwright : "You know... you could use a crew. A ship like this isn't meant to sail empty."

Kael's smirk returns, cold and confident.

Kael : "A crew will come. The kind of people I need will find their way to me when the time is right."

The shipwright nods and returns to his work, leaving Kael to his thoughts.

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