Before Ling set sail for Shapu Island...
Afternoon, Shimotsuki Village.
A little girl stood in front of a green-haired man with three swords at his waist, her expression serious.
"It's said that lately, homeowners have been cut down by a thief who sneaks in during the dead of night," said Himari, a short-haired girl with a sharp tongue and a curious mind.
She was speaking to Zoro, who leaned against a wooden post, his arms crossed and a jug of sake in hand.
"Many of the victims were people who knew their way around a sword. Just the other day, a dojo in a nearby village was attacked. The people there were nearly killed," Himari explained, her tone low.
"Apparently, the adults in Shimotsuki Village are so scared, they've forbidden anyone from going out at night."
Zoro frowned.
"How foolish…"
He glanced off toward the horizon, the tip of his boot tapping the ground.
"I'd like to fight this coward myself—someone who cuts down people in their sleep."
Himari gave him a look.
"It may be cowardly, but that's still a way to win in this world," she said bluntly. "And according to the rumors… this thief might actually be a renowned swordsman. Some are saying… he could be the strongest swordsman in the world."
Zoro raised an eyebrow, now interested.
"And who's that supposed to be?"
Himari leaned in and whispered, as if afraid to even say the name aloud.
"Hawk-Eye Mihawk."
Zoro stared at her for a moment—then snorted.
"What a stupid rumor…" he muttered, shaking his head.
"There's no way one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea would come all the way here just to sneak into homes and kill swordsmen in their sleep. Mihawk? A coward in the dark?" He scoffed and took a long drink, finishing the last of his sake.
"Whoever started that rumor must've had one too many."
Night - Sixis Island, East Blue.
A boy wearing an orange hat sat upright, his back resting against a palm tree as he stared out at the sea.
Next to him was a man with blue hair and a mask covering his face. The two sat in silence, grateful they'd finally eaten something...
And even more grateful they'd found a way off this cursed island.
They had been stranded on Sixis Island for nearly a month.
The boy was Ace. After setting sail a few months ago, he had scoured the East Blue in search of famous wanted men, hoping to defeat one and make a name for himself.
But after nearly two months of fruitless searching, he turned his attention elsewhere, toward a treasure.
He'd heard rumors of hidden riches on Sixis Island, a place also known as "The Island Closest to Heaven."
Drawn by curiosity, and the eager to get famous, Ace came here.
And now he was trapped.
It earned its nickname for good reason. Once you set foot on the island, it became your final resting place.
Powerful sea currents surrounded the land like a curse, pulling in ships and refusing to let them go.
Anyone who approached was dragged in. Anyone who entered never escaped.
Ace stared at his fingertips.
A flicker of flame, dancing gently at the tip.
"So this is a Devil Fruit…"
He watched the fire twist and writhe.
"Interesting," he muttered.
The masked man beside him finally broke the silence.
"Do you know a lot about Devil Fruits?" asked Masked Deuce.
Ace looked at him.
"I told you I had three brothers, right?"
Deuce nodded.
"I don't know about Sabo since I haven't seen him in seven years," Ace said, his voice softer now.
"But two of my brothers has one. His name's Ling. And our younger brother has one too."
He smiled faintly.
"His name is Luffy. Though I used to beat him every time." Ace chuckled.
Masked Deuce looked stunned.
"You guys sound like a wild bunch. How the hell do four brothers end up with three Devil Fruits between them?" he exclaimed.
Ace grinned.
"My little brother's a rubber man. He ate the Gum-Gum Fruit. It's pretty funny."
He raised his arm and mimicked Luffy's stretching.
"His arm goes like...whoooosh!"
Deuce blinked.
"And Ling…" Ace's expression turned more serious.
"He has the power of time. The Time-Time Fruit. He can send things, or people into the future."
Masked Deuce's jaw dropped.
"I never managed to beat him," Ace added with a sigh.
Then, in a blink, Ace returned to his usual carefree self.
"I kinda like the idea of being like them now. But honestly? This Devil Fruit stuff is a real problem on this island." His smile faded.
"Now that I can't swim, if my boat sinks again, I'm finished. I'll never get off this rock."
He made an exaggerated expression of mock despair, waving his hands dramatically.
He looked down at his palm, now covered in flames. The fire lit up the night around them.
His concern wasn't unfounded.
Masked Deuce furrowed his brow in thought.
Then his eyes lit up.
"Ace!" he said, snapping his fingers.
"You can control that power, right?"
Ace shrugged.
"Well, I might need a little practice, but it seems easy enough."
Deuce leaned forward, excitement in his voice.
He began explaining the principles of propulsion, how fire could push them forward, and regulation, how controlling the flames could steer them across the sea.
Ace listened intently.
Meanwhile, back on Ling's ship…
The sails fluttered as they finally reached the harbor of Kakushu Village on Shapu Island.
Ling and Golass hopped off.
"Hm?" Ling narrowed his eyes.
"There's people out this late?"
"Hey, Golass. Is there a festival or something?"
Golass shook his head.
"I don't remember any celebration around this time."
"Then why are they all..."
Before he could finish, three men approached them from the village path. Each had a sword on their waist and torches in their hands.
"Who's there?" one of them called out, squinting at the ship behind them.
Since Ling hadn't made a jolly roger yet, they though it's just another type of ship.
Then one of them stepped forward, eyes widening.
"Wait… is that you, Golass?!"
Golass looked closer. His eyes narrowed, then softened.
"Shojo?"
Shojo smiled and held out his hand.
Golass took it.
"It's been twelve years… Since you and Saga left."
He looked behind Golass.
"Where's Saga?"
Before Golass could answer, a distant call echoed from the village.
All three swordsmen tensed.
"What now…" Golass muttered.
"Follow us. I'll explain on the way," Shojo said, taking off into a run.
Ling and Golass followed close behind.
As they entered the village, they saw at least ten other swordsmen gathered. Some were fully geared up, others only half-dressed.
"Did they find the culprit?" Shojo asked one of them.
"Not here," the man answered.
"But they struck again. This time, in the next village over."
"Should we go?" someone asked.
Golass spoke up.
"What's going on?"
All eyes turned to him.
"You're back…" one muttered in surprise.
Some looked pleased. Others didn't.
They don't that he was an ex-mercenary or a pirate maybe, but they do know have a bounty on his head.
Shojo stepped in.
"I'll explain."
He looked around at the others before continuing.
"The other night… five houses were broken into."
"The swordsmen in those homes were nearly killed in their sleep."
Golass didn't say anything. He just listened.
Shojo's expression darkened.
"And Master Togee… he suffered the most."
"When we came to the dojo that morning, we found him lying on the floor… blood on the floor."